On November 15th of the third year of Jianji, it was snowing heavily and freezing cold.
In fact, it has been snowing for several days, and the Yongji Canal has been completely frozen. The rivers, fields, villages, and cities are all shrouded in white snow.
Military operations in North China have been greatly affected, but the war is still going on.
On the Daibei battlefield, the Rouzhou camp basically shrank back after the forage withered. The five states of Shen, Rou, Xin, Yi, and Gui mostly went on the defensive, trying to reduce consumption as much as possible, and even killed some livestock to survive until next year. Spring begins.
Fortunately, Li Siyuan and Li Sizhao on the opposite side were not interested in provoking the Xia people too much. After breaking through several small fortresses, they did not send any troops to stay behind and simply gave up and withdrew to Daizhou.
Li Cunxiao in Guizhou was already killing horses to satisfy his hunger, and kept begging for food and grass support from Rouzhou. Guizhou was quite desolate. Before Li Cunxiao surrendered, he was close to Hedong, and Youzhou was nearby to provide relief. Now that he has surrendered, it all depends on Rouzhou. The business distributes some grains and beans and brings livestock, but it is a drop in the bucket. After all, Johor itself is very poor. It can be maintained in summer and autumn, but it is always difficult when there is no pasture in winter and spring.
Just a while ago, due to changes in the war in Youzhou, when the Jin army withdrew its troops, Li Cunxiao wanted to abandon Guizhou and go all the way west. Not to Rouzhou, Shenzhou, Yunzhou and other poor and scummy places. , instead went to Shengzhou to eat. If Liang Hanyong hadn't severely reprimanded him and sponsored a small amount of food and grass before the snow started, Li Cunxiao would have most likely given up on this place where the more people were beaten, the fewer people were there and the poorer he became.
He never expected that the Xia people, who were always known for their wealth, would have their supply capacity drop so drastically once the pastures withered, almost to the point where they were almost like a pure grassland tribe.
On the battlefield in Youzhou, more than 10,000 soldiers and horses led by Shao Siwu were attacking Shunzhou.
Shunzhou had few soldiers and temporarily recruited many local warriors, which was enough to defend the city. However, when the Xia army came to attack in large numbers, they did not dare to go out to fight in the field. Shao Siwu did not take it seriously and focused on plundering the scattered Tibetan tribes. Get supplies.
These tribes did not farm much land, and for many years they mainly grazed. In winter, they relied on accumulated hay to feed cattle and sheep, and slaughtered a small number of livestock to make a living. When the Xia soldiers came, cattle and sheep were robbed in large numbers and became their supplies. The life of the tribe can no longer go on, and there are only two ways in front of it: first, desperately snatch the cattle and sheep back; second, ask for relief from Youzhou, or plunder the people of Youzhou who farm the land, regardless of whether they are Han or Tibetan.
As for surrender, that is impossible, because the Xia people are also short of food, and what they are robbing is your food. If you surrender, where will they get food?
Shao Siwu's behavior actually caused some controversy. Some people thought that he was too immature politically and offended these Tibetan tribes too much, pushing him to the side of the Jin people.
But the reality is that there is no other way. Shipping has stopped long ago, and the only way to get food and grass is to rob it.
Among the two troops heading north to Youzhou, one of the Tianxiong Army has just captured Gu'an and is collecting (grabbing) grain (township) and grass (li); the other has already left Youzhou after Ke'an. Only dozens of miles away.
Long Xiang's army mainly attacked Zhuozhou. The troops were divided into many groups and fought several battles a day.
Just yesterday, An Fuqian suffered a heavy defeat and retreated to Zhuozhou City; Li Luoluo joined forces with Wang Gao to rescue and defeated Long Xiang's army at the foot of Fanyang City.
According to the prisoners who were tortured, they learned that Li Keyong had returned to Jinyang and was planning to send Li Sizhao to lead his troops out of Daizhou and join the Zhuozhou battlefield.
The Yi Congjun of Dunbing Mozhou suppressed the local armed forces who were revolting and attacked Boye, trying to invade Dingzhou and Shenzhou, suppressing the soldiers and horses in these two towns so that they could not interfere with the war in Youzhou.
The Tiande army stationed along the Yongji Canal stationed troops in Jingzhou and continued to advance westward, threatening the direction of Jizhou.
In short, Ge Congzhou's strategy was to drive away the disruptors, throw the main force into the Youzhou battlefield, eat up this Jin army that had been greatly weakened as soon as possible, and completely capture Yan.
In other words, whoever is weak should be attacked, first weak and then strong. After conquering Youzhou, then treat yourself as invincible while waiting for the enemy to be victorious. The idea is very clear.
Information from various battlefields is naturally transmitted to Cangzhou all the time.
Shao Shude carefully reviewed every letter and discussed it with ministers. After reading the latest military report, he was somewhat planning to go north and put more troops on the battlefield.
He is now in Cangzhou, serving as the general and Gongchen, and more than 40,000 troops from the three armies are stationed nearby to become his bodyguard. It is really too extravagant and unnecessary.
"Why does your Majesty need to personally take risks?" Xiao Yu said: "Shuai Ge has dealt with it well. Tianxiong's army has entered the southeast of Youzhou. If King Zhao wipes out all the Tibetan tribes in Shunzhou, he can also attack the northeast of Youzhou. The situation is very good, why bother?
Woolen cloth?"
Shao Shude was very unhappy after hearing this. He just heard him say: "Since I came to the throne, I have been unhappy in every way. I can't go here, and I can't take risks there. I think back when I personally went to the front line, boosted morale, and even charged in personally, what's the point?
Afraid?"
The more soldiers you have, the broader your generals will be, but the people below will not allow you to visit the front line in person, which is simply outrageous.
Shao Shude knew that they meant well, because now there was no need to risk his life as before, but the various measures to restrict him still made him unhappy.
He is the founding emperor, so that's all. If he were a later emperor, would it still be possible to conquer the country personally?
"You also know that the situation is good now. But do you know that if there is heavy snow in the second half of the day and the ground is seven feet deep, and the transportation of grain and grass is not efficient, how can we fight? Do we have to rely on looting?" Shao Shude said: "I want to go to Youzhou.
Are you going to celebrate the Chinese New Year?"
"This..." Xiao Yu didn't know how to answer for a while.
The saints have all gone to Youzhou, how can he not go? This is what happened!
"If your Majesty goes north, please take the Jizhou Road." Chen Cheng knew that he could not change the saint's mind, so he retreated and tried the next best thing, admonishing him.
Jizhou Road means going north from Cangzhou and then arriving at the southeastern border of Youzhou. This way, it will be safer if it is a little further away from the line where the two sides are fighting.
Shao Shude pondered for a moment and said, "That's fine."
That is to go north to Lutai Army first, then go north-east, heading straight to Sanggan River. After crossing the river, you can either go north to Jizhou or go northwest to Youzhou, which is indeed relatively safer.
"Let the Xiaojie army go first and escort the grain and grass northward." Shao Shude ordered.
The Yongji Canal cannot be left, and now all materials have to be transported by land, which greatly reduces the efficiency. This is also the main reason why the frontline departments are looting places wantonly to reduce some logistical pressure. After all, it is snowy in winter and the road is really difficult to walk.
"The Tiande Army dispatched three infantrymen to command and four cavalrymen to command the eastward march to Cangzhou."
"All the civil and military officials, palace servants, concubines, chariots and servants all stayed in Cangzhou."
"Cangjing Dedi traveled to the seven states of Yingmo and collected carts, mules and horses, grain and grass, and tried his best to transport supplies."
"Tujiang, Gongchen, and Yin'an will follow me northward."
"Your Majesty, I am waiting..." Chen Cheng said quickly after hearing this.
"Choose a few to go with me." Shao Shude glanced at him angrily and said, "Go to the Zhuozhou front line in person and tell Ge Congzhou that his stall is a bit big.
The soldiers are coming. But fight as you should, don’t think too much.”
If it were an ordinary person, the emperor was waiting impatiently at the rear and came up in person, which would probably be a huge pressure. But Shao Shude believed that Ge Congzhou could handle this well. If he couldn't bear this and was anxious and messed up, then it would be a fart and I would go up in person.
.
****
Outside the ancient city of Lutai, mules and horses screamed endlessly, and carts were everywhere.
Zhou Da brought half a bag of grain and bran, mixed it with water and fed it to the mule.
"Eat slowly, eat slowly." Zhou Da looked at the tired mule with sympathy and sighed: "We are all poor people. We have to fight on a snowy day, how can we not be mules?"
Woolen cloth."
The husbands next to me who spoke with accents from various places were still busy and busy.
They sent the tired draft animals into the ancient city, then put the leather harness on the resting draft animals and walked slowly along the snow.
The sky is full of snow and the road ahead is long.
The warriors were risking their lives to fight the enemy, so why weren't they risking their lives to transfer supplies?
The ancient city is adjacent to the Yongji Canal in the north, which is now solidly frozen. However, a wooden bridge is still erected on the river to connect the north and south banks. People and horses may be able to walk on the ice, but carriages will certainly not dare.
On the other side of the river is the Lutai Army. The vanguard of the Xiaojie Army, more than 3,000 men, has just arrived and is resting.
These people left in a hurry, taking almost nothing with them, and even had to cross the river to ask them to borrow cooking utensils.
They are all miserable people!
Qin Li boarded a carriage returning south with the help of others, still cursing.
The snow was slippery, and Uncle Qin unfortunately broke his leg and had no choice but to go back.
After Zhou Da finished feeding the mule, he came to see him off in person.
"Don't worry, our military tickets are all in our bags. We can't throw them away." Qin Lizheng patted the baggage under him and said.
After Cangzhou was captured, the saint rewarded the entire army, and even the Tutuan villagers each received a piece of Wudi silk cloth. As the starting point of the Northern Maritime Silk Road, the silk weaving industry in Wudi County was quickly spawned, and there were
We got the local specialty, Wudi silk cloth, the quality is really above average.
At this time, the money and silk have been transported to the rear. Sergeants, local warriors, and Tibetan soldiers can receive rewards with signed military tickets. The tickets can be redeemed immediately. The reputation is good, and everyone has long been accustomed to it.
"Take care." Zhou Da was very worried and didn't know what to say for a while.
Qin Lizheng sighed and said, "You're going north in a few days, right? Are you going to Youzhou?"
"Yes. As soon as the Holy Driver comes, we will leave." Zhou Da said.
"You are blessed." The expression on Qin Lizheng's face was very complicated. He didn't know whether it was regret or luck: "Following the saint is much safer, but there is no chance of making achievements. Yesterday, there were rumors in the army that the Gongchen Army would continue.
Due to the expansion, many people are eager to try it out and want to eat the imperial food. But they are all from Bian, Yun and Yan. Whether you can enter depends on luck."
Zhou Da hesitated to speak, he was actually not very enthusiastic about this.
"Your martial arts skills are actually not bad. Zhou Heidan taught you well." Qin Lizheng said, "It depends on fate. It really depends on fate."
The clear ringing of bells rang in the distance, and it was still clearly audible even in the snowy sky.
The two turned around and saw a long gray dragon appearing on the snowfield, winding to the horizon.
The military situation is like a fire, and the army is marching northward, day and night.
