On November 26, the third year of Zhonghe, it snowed heavily in Xiazhou.
Shao Shude cut off a piece of mutton with a knife and ate it with pancakes. After a long time, he said, "The sheep sent by Tuoba Sigong are also fat, tender and delicious."
Li Yanling, Zhu Shuzong, Zhe Siyu, Wang Yu, Zhou Rong, Linghu Jing and others who were accompanying the banquet in the hall burst into laughter.
"Your Majesty, Tuoba Sigong only sent people to bring cattle and sheep, but did not come to pay a visit. How can he be tolerated for being so domineering?"
Shao Shude took a look and saw that the person speaking was actually Linghu Jing. Everyone here could guess what he was thinking, but Linghu Jing was the first to say it. Whether it was for fun or to show loyalty, it was a good thing. Actively integrate into it.
The martial arts circle that I have established by myself, without trying to isolate myself from the outside world, can still be used in the future.
The banquets in Xiazhou are very simple. Shao Shude is not a person who likes extravagance. Although his wife and concubines were all born with gold spoons in their mouths. They grew up with fine clothes and fine food, and even the meals at home have developed in the direction of exquisiteness, but that
It's at home. In formal banquets, especially when he entertains shogunate officials or military generals, it is always relatively simple.
Hu cakes, Biluo, soup cakes, mutton, and wine are the most common foods eaten by rough men in the army. Wontons are only served on important festivals, such as New Year, Shangyuan, Hanshi, Zhongyuan, Double Ninth Festival, and the twelfth day of the lunar month.
, oily rice, Dongling porridge, Ullum cake, rice cake, daylily noodles and other festival foods.
He also had regulations on food expenses in the state. For example, the shogunate provided lunch to all subordinate officials, and officials who went to the yamen to serve directly could eat for free, but lunch only consisted of steamed cakes, corn rice, a small amount of mutton, and seasonal vegetables. The problem was solved
In all the post stations in the four states of the army, for those traveling on business, only those with a special rank and above can eat high-end foods such as millet porridge, milk porridge, bean paste and sugar porridge, beef and mutton, etc., while those below can only eat steamed cakes or corn rice.
, couriers who strictly control their expenses to deliver urgent messages may not be subject to this restriction.
"Your Majesty, when will Tuoba Sigong be so domineering?" Zhe Siyu asked with a red face after drinking a lot of wine.
Shao Shude glanced at him and said: "There is no hurry. Although Tuoba Sigong has not arrived, he has sent twenty horses, one hundred cattle, and five hundred sheep. What is this? Tuoba's strength
It's not enough to openly rebel, so if that's the case, let's just stop him for now."
Zheji Yu was a little disappointed when he heard this. As a member of the Zhe family, he had vaguely heard the news. Chen Cheng, the commander's confidant and the judge of the Tielin Army, went to Linzhou to discuss the matter of "hunting" the grassland.
Grandpa doesn’t seem to object. In the north of Xia Sui and in the west of Zhenwu Army, the three tribes of Huang Ni and the Mingwei tribe have always been respectful, but the four tribes of Wu Yi, the fourteen tribes of Luo Yi, the Luoshu tribe, and the Laer tribe are arrogant and domineering.
, relying on the support of Tuoba Sigong, he did not take them into consideration at all. If the general sends troops to conquer, he will be able to eliminate a lot of harm.
It's just that it's better not to attack Tuoba's headquarters directly!
Oritsugu wanted to persuade him again, but after thinking about it, he finally said nothing.
"Your Majesty, Suide County came to report the day before yesterday that Dangxiang Zheyu's family presented 500 cattle and sheep. The old general Pei of Yinzhou also reported that Dangxiang Zheyu's family presented 300 cattle and sheep, and Xili family donated 50 horses.
"Chen Cheng put down the wine bottle and said: "These are all obedient people who are frightened by the king's military power. If something happens in the future, they can be directly ordered to send out Tibetan troops to fight."
The Zhemashan family of Suizhou and the Zheyu family of Yinzhou have some connection with the Zhe family of Linzhou, and they also call themselves the Zhe family to the outside world. Of course, this is all according to the old Chinese calendar. In fact, these three families have their own lives and have little contact with each other.
On the other hand, the Xili family lives in the northern border of Yinzhou and has always been respectful to the Zhe family of Linzhou. But now they show their favor to the king by offering horses. This is because they are looking for a new master to join them.
Zhejiyu was actually a little disappointed. The Zhe family was indeed inferior to the Jiedushi of the Dingnan Army with more than 20,000 troops. Even the Tu people in the mountains could see this clearly.
Shao Shude nodded when he heard the words. In fact, these three tribes were not the only ones to show their kindness to him. The Tuoba Yu tribe in Yinzhou also donated hundreds of cattle and sheep. At the same time, he also complained that Yinzhou was tyrannical in taxation and frequently plundered cattle and horses. Shao Shude asked carefully
After doing some research, I found that it was exactly when I borrowed horses from General Pei. Khan, a considerable part of the horses and oxen that General Pei gave me were "raised" from party items in the country. It's incredible! I also
Don't know what to say.
Generally speaking, the parties in Sui and Yin Prefectures are quite submissive. Especially after he returned from the crusade against Huang Chao, he was frightened by the force of the army. Many tribal leaders donated cattle and sheep, and they did not plunder the Han people's farmland again.
The fields are gone.
In fact, these are familiar households who have always paid tribute, that is, cattle and sheep. When the imperial court conquered the Tibetans or Uighurs, they would sometimes send troops to conquer them, and they could still win over them. For example, the Zhemashan clan was a member of the Western Army of the Northern Song Dynasty.
With many of their people, Zhongshi Dao led five thousand Party Xiangfan troops, and many generals defeated the Mashan clan and fought against Xixia all the year round.
If they can show kindness to themselves or express neutrality, it will be of great benefit to the northern expedition to the grassland. At least the rear area will be peaceful.
It's a pity that there is no big clan, they are all small tribes with thousands or tens of thousands of people.
But then again, it seems that it would not be a good thing if there were a big family with tens of thousands of people in the Sui and Yin states. Since they are strong, they will naturally not be so respectful. You must pay attention to this in the future, and you must not let it happen.
If they annex each other, it is best if they hate each other, attack each other, and consume each other.
"Everyone, I have decided to send out a large army to the grassland after the beginning of spring to collect tribute. The grassland tribes, living in Xia and Youzhou, have not paid tribute or performed military service for many years. The previous commander-in-chief did not care, but
I want to take care of it. All the debts accumulated over the years will be collected this time. I want to see which tribe dares to refuse to pay." Shao Shude threw the meat cleaver on the table and said loudly: "The 20,000 troops in the state have spent a lot of money.
It is so huge that the Han people cultivate the land all day long and pay taxes, but how can the Tibetan people be exempted from it?"
"The commander is wise," the generals said one after another.
****
"Your Majesty, the dispatch of troops this time must be quick, accurate and ruthless." After the banquet, Chen Cheng stayed and discussed the details with Shao Shude.
What was said at the banquet just now can be regarded as a mobilization order. Once the generals know it, they will naturally make targeted preparations in advance. But the details, such as when to send troops, how many troops to send, marching routes, etc., are still unclear.
It must be discussed carefully.
"What Judge Chen said is absolutely true. I don't plan to lead more soldiers. The Tielin Army has more than 7,000 men."
"Your Majesty, it's best to lead Zhou, one of the two generals Linghu, and ten thousand people to go north. The battle will be safe, and the state will be safe as well." Chen Cheng suggested.
After Shao Shude heard this, he made some calculations. If he led Tielin's army and Linghu Jing's army to the north, and the army numbered ten thousand, and combined with the thousands of people from Linzhou Zhejia's army, they would be almost invincible on the grassland. They were not professional warriors, they were all herdsmen.
That's it. Later Li Jiqian fled to Dijinze, and the professional warriors of the Northern Song Dynasty taught him a lesson, and even his new wife was lost.
Chen Cheng's words also make sense. After all, Zhou Rong and Linghu Jing are not his direct relatives. It is indeed not safe to leave five thousand people in Xiazhou. It is better to take half of them away. But what he wants to bring is Zhou Rong, and Linghu Jing has integrated into his circle.
That means, then we might as well let him stay in Xiazhou. Coupled with the state soldiers in Wang Yu's hands, Xiazhou's old nest should be worry-free.
If he acts quickly, he can finish the grassland matter in a few months, and then lead the army with a great victory. Tuoba Sigong will not dare to make any changes. Later, let’s explore Hengshan Dangxiang’s intentions and see if he can win over them.
, in short, the principle is to do everything possible to cut off the Tuoba clan's wings, isolate them, and finally win by force.
In the history of Tuoba Sigong, it seemed that even the Chao army could not be defeated. They were defeated in three battles and lost their troops and families. And it didn't look like letting go. After all, they lost a lot of men and horses, and there was no such way to let go. They
Although the strength should not be underestimated, it should not be overestimated. Even with the bonus of local operations, the combat power is equivalent to that of the Chao army that still had combat effectiveness in the first year of Zhonghe.
After cutting off his wings, his available soldiers and sources of wealth will be reduced. If he sends out a large army to attack again, with about 20,000 people, the chance of winning is still very high. The Xiazhou Army marches westward, which is the main battlefield.
On the secondary battlefield, attack from both sides and strive for a draw.
The Dingnan Army only needs one core in the four states. Shao Shude cannot tolerate independent forces in the town that can challenge his authority. He has no dislike for Tuoba Sigong, and even thinks he is a good person. But this is naked
The power struggle, how can we allow others to snore on the side of the bed!
After making the general decision, the entire Xia Sui military machine began to operate slowly. Their military industry foundation was relatively weak, and many ordnances used to be supplied by the imperial court. Shao Shude spent three years in Guanzhong and recruited a large number of craftsmen, and these craftsmen also came one after another.
I hired more apprentices, but the production capacity is still not enough.
There is no other way but to prepare in advance.
Suizhou has now established an iron smelting industry that is not inferior to that of Xiazhou. With the iron reserves purchased from Hedong and Guanzhong, it has begun to make equipment, mainly swords, spears and armor, from the end of November.
They are making bowstrings, feathers, arrows, leather armor and other items. In short, the two places are working hard to stockpile war supplies.
Logistics supplies such as grain, horse feed, draft animals, vehicles and vehicles are also in a state of secret preparation. Like ordnance, Shao Shude's requirement is to be enough to fight two large-scale wars to cope with emergencies.
And with the start of the war machine, the little money and food in the three states of Xia, Sui, and Yin began to be spent like water. If they go north to the grassland next year, if they can't get enough loot, they will really lose money.
No, you won’t lose money! If you can’t get enough trophies, you won’t be able to fight, and just take a gamble, that is, go to Youzhou to raid. Anyway, if you can’t get cattle and sheep, you can’t give rewards to the sergeants.
If you can't explain it yourself, then you might as well just go ahead and fight to the end.
Of course, the above is only an extreme situation. In fact, according to the information provided by Linzhou Zhejia, the troops in the grassland are weak and scattered. It is not difficult to eat this pile of loot.
The only obstacle is the Ordos Pastoral Area. Xia Sui only occupies half of it, and the other half is under the control of Zhenwu Military. This is also the main reason why he found Linzhou Zhejia. He needs them to provide guides and internal support, and let the tribes that obey them provide them.
Supplies and even troops were sent. In addition, Zhe Zong's official status was also clear. The Zhenwu Army knew military envoys in the five towns along the river.