The atmosphere of the meeting was somewhat solemn.
Wanyan Zongwang led nearly 60,000 people south, and together with the troops recruited and surrendered along the way, the total force was close to 70,000.
Losing three or four thousand doesn't seem to be a big deal.
However, the Jurchen tribe's population is scarce, and even counting the tribes from the Northeast who surrendered early on, the number of tens of thousands of elite soldiers is already the limit.
This attack on the Song Dynasty had a strong political nature, and it was a good opportunity to rectify the internal affairs and attract more ethnic groups to join the Meng'an Muke system.
For example, in the Bohai region, the Bohai Bamengan was compiled.
In addition, the tribes of the Xi people have been married to the Khitan for a long time, and the two parties are really involved. This time, a large number of Xi people were taken away from the south, and the fighting in the front was still secondary. Wu Qimai took the opportunity to digest the power of the Xi tribe in the rear.
During the two attacks of the Jin Kingdom on the Song Dynasty, the household registrations of Xi people and Bohai people were reduced by half, and they were reduced to the level of the early Liao Dynasty.
After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Xi people were moved collectively to the Song Dynasty, and the Xi people disappeared from Chinese history books.
Wanyan Zongwang only had 3,000 Hezha Mengan and about 10,000 elite Jin soldiers under his command. The rest were all Han, Xi and Khitan soldiers.
Many of these non-Jurchen soldiers have different aspirations. Some have been organized into Meng'an, and some are still part of the issued militia. Once the Jurchen soldiers lose too much, the morale of the soldiers of all ethnic groups will be unstable. Although they will not rebel immediately, they will 100%
Choose paddling when you know how to fight.
Those attending the meeting today were all Jurchen nobles, and even Liu Yanzong, the commander-in-chief of the Han army, was not qualified to attend.
Everyone spoke openly, and Wanyan Talan was the first to speak, saying to Wanyan Zongwang: "I know that the second prince is dissatisfied with me, and I am also dissatisfied with the second prince. But in the next battle, we must unite, and the Jurchen people can no longer have a big enemy.
of damage.”
Wanyan Talan's political base is actually Han and Khitan people. Even he said this, which is enough to prove that the top brass of the Jin Kingdom are wary of all ethnic groups.
Wanyan Zongwang nodded in agreement, and then said: "According to the cavalry who escaped back, the Fifth Prince was trapped in a tight siege before Guo Yaoshi changed sides. The strength of the Zhu thieves should not be underestimated. Anyway, the food nearby has been almost robbed. From now on, only
Send light cavalry from all tribes out for reconnaissance, and don't send out elite soldiers casually."
"Should we withdraw our troops temporarily?" Wanyan Digunai suddenly asked.
Wanyan Liang's Jurchen name is also Wanyan Digunai.
But the Digunai in front of him was a fierce general who had been following Aguda for a long time. His Chinese name was Wanyan Zhong.
His behavior was indeed very loyal. In the second year after Wu Qimai succeeded to the throne, Digunai took the initiative to move out of the original tribal residence and paid full field tax in the new tribal residence, which was equivalent to completely surrendering to the new emperor militarily and economically.
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Wanyan Zongbi asked: "Why did the old general say this? It was just a small defeat, is it because he is afraid of the red thieves?"
Digunai said: "Although our army sent cavalry to cover the battlefield, it was mainly to allow Han soldiers to go to the countryside to collect food. The Zhuthi camp is backed by the county seat and blocked by a river. Until now, we still haven't figured out where the Zhuthi came.
How many soldiers have been mobilized? Even if our entire army is dispatched, the Zhu bandits can retreat into Xianping County."
Digunai looked at the generals: "The Kingdom of Jin is becoming more and more powerful now, and it is less and less fearful. In the early years, I followed Taizu in the wars. Although I was not afraid of death and fought bravely, I always fought with fear.
We are very cautious, because if we lose the battle, we will lose everything. Now? From Yanjing to the Yellow River, we dare not even abandon the food road. If we don't have enough food and grass, we dare to go hundreds of miles south. We don't know how many soldiers the red thieves have.
If he retreats into Xianping City, it will be even more difficult for us to defeat him. And if we can’t defeat the huge Kaifeng City, then what on earth are we doing here?"
Wanyan Talan said: "You only care about fighting and nothing else? Soldiers from all ethnic groups were mobilized south to follow us to attack the Song Dynasty. If we withdraw after one or two small defeats, what will the soldiers from all ethnic groups think of the Jurchen warriors?
?They left their hometown and delayed production, but did not get much food from the Song Dynasty. Will they harbor resentment in their hearts? When they harbor resentment in their hearts and feel that the Jurchen warriors are no more than this, will there be anyone who returns to their hometown?
Rebellion?”
Digunai said: "Whoever dares to rebel will send troops to suppress it."
Digunai suppressed many rebellions in the Jin Kingdom!
"In the past, our territory was very small. If there was a rebellion, we would be able to suppress it quickly," Wanyan Talan said. "But now our territory has become several times larger. Today there is a rebellion, and tomorrow there is a rebellion. Even if we can suppress it, it will cost us a lot of money."
How much food, grass and population? I am the supervisor of the East Route Army, and soldiers of all ethnic groups are also in the East Route Army. The order given to me by His Majesty the Emperor is to unify the soldiers of all ethnic groups through war and make them truly become Jin people. It is not superficial submission, but
We sincerely become Jin people. Therefore, we must fight and win the war."
Wanyan Zongwang also said: "Hebei was exploited too poor by the monarchs and ministers of the Song Dynasty. Several state and county towns were conquered along the way, and the government warehouses were all empty. If you want loot, you have to rob rich households. But in a county town,
How much wealth can the rich households have? If we rob a few more cities, the wealthy households in other places will know about it and will definitely recruit militiamen to defend the city desperately. How can we have so many troops to consume? We can only stay in Kaifeng to scare the kings and ministers of the Song Dynasty.
Only by asking them to cede territory and pay compensation can we get the most benefits with the least casualties!"
Digunai said: "But now there is a red thief disrupting the situation. If we don't defeat this person, how can we scare the kings and ministers of Song Dynasty?"
Wanyan Zongbi said: "Let's go and rob Chenliu. It's very close and it's a big city. If you can scare the Chenliu officials into surrendering, you can make a huge profit, and you can also give an explanation to the various officers and soldiers."
Digunai whispered to himself: "I don't know where the bird slave (Wanyan Zonghan) was beaten."
The eastern and western armies of the Jin Kingdom have long been cut off from contact, and they are completely fighting each other.
Wanyan Zonghan is still blocked in Taiyuan and cannot be defeated even with all his strength.
Although Wang Zhen and his son had already taken refuge with Ju Ming, the general in charge of Taiyuan was temporarily replaced by Yang Weizhong. Zhang Xiaochun, the Xuanfu envoy to Hedong and the prefect of Taiyuan, was now no longer a traitor and investor, but a civil servant who dared to fight in the streets with the Jin people.
(Historically, Zhang Xiaochun most likely never surrendered the money. He was imprisoned by Wanyan Zonghan for four years. No matter how he tried to persuade him to surrender, he was thrown to the puppet emperor Liu Yu and announced his betrayal. Furthermore, he was forced to serve as a puppet emperor for one year.
Prime Minister Zhang Xiaochun took the initiative to resign.)
Both the civil and military forces decided to defend Taiyuan. They were all elite Western Route Army troops of the Jin Kingdom. They could only be blinded when facing the fortified city of Taiyuan.
On the contrary, the Zhe family army who was ordered to rescue them was severely defeated by the siege and reinforcements. Zhe Keqiu retreated to Fuzhou and did not dare to come out.
Wanyan Zonghan failed to attack Taiyuan for a long time, and lost news of the Eastern Route Army. At this time, he took the main force to Hebei, leaving Yin Shuke behind to continue the siege of Taiyuan.
The Eastern Route Army ignored the grain road, and Wanyan Zonghan was going to help wipe the rear and capture Dingzhou and Baozhou that were blocked there.
But after Yan Zongwang held a meeting, he sent light cavalry from various tribes to conduct reconnaissance patrols, and led the main force of the Jin army to attack Chenliu. They suffered a defeat at Ju Ming's place, so they had to find another place to make up for their losses. Chenliu, which was the closest, was a good target.
When the Jin army arrived at Chenliu City, they found that the place was well prepared and they had to attack the city with great effort if they wanted to enter the city.
A wealthy man captured from outside Tokyo was sent to shout outside the city: "Don't shoot arrows. I am from the Song Dynasty. I live in the west of Tokyo. I was forced to persuade him to surrender! Which official is the guard? If it is a sacrifice,
If the city surrenders, the Jin people say they will give you a heavy reward."
"Archery!"
At the command, more than a dozen arrows were fired, and the rich man fell to death on the spot.
The magistrate of Chenliuxian County ran away long ago, and the person currently in charge of guarding the city is Chen Yuyi, the wine tax official.
He used to be an official in Tokyo, but because Ge Shengzhong offended the eunuch Li Yan, he was demoted to Chenliu. Originally, he could be reinstated when the new emperor ascended the throne, but Ge Shengzhong defected to Ju Ming again and was appointed as the prefect of Yingchang.
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As the eastern and southern suburbs of Tokyo were plundered by the Jin, a large number of country gentry fled to Chenliu, bringing news of the Jin's cruelty and cruelty.
The high-ranking officials were so frightened that they all fled, and Chen Yuyi, the wine tax collector, had no choice but to step in.
He asked the wealthy households in the city and the escaped gentry to contribute money and food to recruit militiamen. Not only the people in the city were organized, but many archers from the surrounding countryside also came to join the army to defend their hometown. (After Wang Anshi's reform in Kaifeng Prefecture, a large number of civilians
Archers. Although Song Huizong canceled the archery club a few years ago in order to save money, these archers are still alive).
"Mr. Chen, if the Jin soldiers attack by force, we will not be able to defend it," said an archer named Xue Guan and a deserter from the Xiang army. "The imperial court is useless. I heard that Marshal Zhu is nearby, so we must send people to break out."
Please rescue Marshal Zhu!"
Chen Yuyi muttered: "That's a thief after all."
Xue Guan said: "Didn't Mr. Chen read the "Essay on the Pursuit of Gold"? I have only read the book for a few years, but I can still understand the article. Marshal Zhu said that there is a difference between subjugating a country and subjugating the world. Subjugating a country is just a change of dynasty, and it is still us.
China is coming to heaven. But if the world is to be destroyed, it will lead to beasts and cannibalism, and the people will become slaves of the barbarians. Marshal Zhu said that every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world. I am a common man who joined the army not to protect the Song Dynasty, but to protect China.
The world!"
A wealthy businessman named Lu Zhiqi next to him also said: "It's like this. As long as we block the Jin soldiers, who cares who comes to save us? Even if Marshal Zhu is a thief, he is still a thief of the Han family, and he is a thief of the Jin Kingdom."
The difference is that instead of falling into the hands of the Jin people, Chen Liu might as well be given to Marshal Zhu!"
"That's the truth," said a squire who escaped from Tokyo's suburbs. "Marshal Zhu has a very good reputation in Tokyo, and I believe he is a benevolent and righteous man. I am afraid of being robbed by other thieves, but I can trust Marshal Zhu, and Mr. Chen still trusts him."
Send someone for help!"
Everyone spoke one after another, wanting to ask Ju Ming to send troops to rescue him.
Chen Yuyi was caught in the middle and could not go his own way. He could only express his position: "When the red thieves come, I will go back to my hometown. Mr. Xue Zhuang, you have been in the army, so you will lead people to ask for reinforcements."
Everyone was overjoyed and felt that there was hope. As long as they defended for a few days, Marshal Zhu would definitely come to rescue them.
Chen Yuyi looked at the Jin soldiers outside the city and then looked in the direction of Tokyo, wondering what was going on in this world.
His good friend and Bole Ge Shengzhong gave up his official position and went to seek refuge with the Zhu Thieves. The people in front of him also hoped that the Zhu Thieves would save their lives.