Chapter 930: Driving away wolf and tiger (eighteen)
Three messengers from the Liao Kingdom stood in the big tent, belching and drunk. The gifts they brought were placed in the middle of the big tent. The seals of the three large wooden barrels had been opened, and the pungent smell of kerosene inside filled the tent.
Yelu Zongzhen read Xia Guo's reply. The Xia people had a gentle tone and expressed regret for his previous provocative words, but they did not say anything bad.
"...Since your country is unwilling to retreat, I, Daxia, have to fight with you. After the snowstorm, my Daxia cavalry will launch an attack. You will know who will win by then. We heard that your army is short of fuel for making fires and that the soldiers' camps are The weather is so cold for several days. Even if your army is brave, it will be difficult for you to use firewood to keep warm. It is a virtue of human beings to provide charcoal in the snow. We, the benevolent and righteous country of Daxia, cannot just watch your soldiers freeze to death, but who taught Are you and I a hostile country? Although we have the intention to help each other, the reason why we are helping each other is to ask your army's messenger to bring back three barrels of kerosene as a gift, and a fox fur cloak, which is for His Majesty the Emperor to keep warm. Please accept it. "I hope that His Majesty the Emperor will take care of himself, have enough food and stay warm, and be sure not to freeze until the day when you and I have an army to duke it out."
Yelu Zong's sincerity was like a boulder falling into water, sinking straight to the bottom of the valley. He put down the letter and walked to the kerosene barrel. He ordered someone to scoop out a few ladles and put them in a copper basin. He lit them on fire, but saw light blue flames rising up. The whole camp instantly became warm.
Although the tent is warm, my heart is getting colder.[
"Your Majesty, this is indeed the best kerosene. It is very expensive and difficult to refine. Will the Xia people use this as fuel to keep warm? I don't believe it." Zhang Jian shook his head.
Yelu Zongzhen looked at the three drunken messengers and shouted: "Have you ever noticed the situation in the Xia people's tents? What do the Xia people eat? What do they use for heating?"
One of the messengers burped, shook his head and said: "You guys, how can you not pay attention to this? The Xia people did suffer from severe cold in the past few days, and many people died; but the news we have heard is that they have never Kedun City brought fuel and a large amount of beef and mutton. It was dinner time when I was walking around the Xia people's tents. I passed dozens of tents. The aroma of hot pots, wine and meat was all in them, and they were all burning this kind of fire oil braziers. , it’s not cold at all, their lives are much more comfortable than ours.”
Yelu Zongzhen shouted: "Don't talk nonsense, where can they get wine and meat to eat? The Xia people can't even supply food and grass, so why talk about wine and meat?"
The three people quickly knelt down and said: "We saw it with our own eyes and reported it based on the facts. We don't dare to make it up."
Zhang Jian said: "Your Majesty, maybe it was a show by the Xia people to deceive us, Daliao. However, I think it is difficult to tell the true from the false. If it is false, it is fine, but if it is true, our army will be different from them." If this consumption continues, they will suffer a great loss. This is the territory of the Xia Kingdom. With the city of Ketun as their back and the strength of the whole country, it is indeed possible to fully supply the army's food, grass and fuel. Unlike our army's supply line, which needs to pass through the Helan Pass, the wind When the snow spreads, the luck will arrive."
Yelu Zongzhen frowned and said nothing, with an extremely troubled expression on his face. He understood that if the other party was in need of food, clothing, and warmth, then they would be seeking death if they continued to fight with them. They even had to attack, and they just had to wait for their army to starve to death and freeze to death. , after the army's morale was weakened, it failed to attack.
"Brother, I don't understand, where do the Xia people get the kerosene? We have been dealing with the Xia people for so many years, and we have never heard of where the kerosene can be found in the Xia Kingdom. According to my opinion, it must be the Xia people. They are bluffing and trying to scare us into retreating." Yelu Chongyuan stepped forward and said loudly.
Yelu Zongzhen frowned, walked forward and circled around the three large wooden barrels to check. He saw a palm-sized square fire sign mark on the outside of the barrel, and suddenly asked: "Where is the 'Suji Baoshan Fire Oil Valley'? Xia
Does the state own this place?”
"Su Ji Baoshan Fire Oil Valley?" The generals were stunned and were silent for a long time. Suddenly someone exclaimed: "Your Majesty, I know where this fire oil comes from. I was on an envoy to the Song Dynasty last winter and visited the Song capital.
In Bianliang, officials and common people were all burning a kind of cake-shaped charcoal. I asked about it and learned that it was a kind of charcoal called Suji Baoshan coal cake. I was interested in asking about it. This Suji company name
It is Su Jin, the envoy of the Northwest Fourth Route of the Song Dynasty. Look, the name on this fire sign has the words Su Ji Baoshan. It must be from the same family. It seems that the kerosene comes from the Song Dynasty."
All the ministers were shocked. These words were like a blow to the head, making everyone dizzy. Song people would never trade extremely important strategic materials such as kerosene with the Xia people. They were all materials controlled by the government and could not be smuggled.
Impossible; but since the Xia State's army has Song State's fire oil, it can only mean that the Xia State's strategic materials, food, grass and fuel are secretly supplied by the Song State, and the fire sign on the oil barrel is exposed.
The truth of the matter.
"Your Majesty..." Zhang Jian's voice trembled a little: "Su Jin is the Northern General of the Song Kingdom, and the commander-in-chief of the Song Army who originally agreed to cooperate with the Liao Dynasty in the north-south attack. The Song people betrayed their trust and secretly colluded with the Xia people. Now,
Now even important materials such as kerosene are supplied to the Xia State. This is obviously a plan to drive away wolves and swallow tigers. This is to force the Xia people and I, Daliao, to fight to the death at the expense of food and grass materials, and both sides will suffer in this fight.
It is not difficult to explain why the Xia army had plenty of wine and meat and used kerosene as fuel. Fortunately, they did not understand the wonderful uses of kerosene. It is indeed a waste of money to use it for heating, but even so, we must not continue to consume it."
One of the messengers staggered and exhaled a breath of alcohol and said: "Yes, you guys are really envious when you see the Song soldiers wearing fur underwear and eating and drinking meat and wine. If there is a fight,
, how can we survive?"
Yelv Zongzhen slammed the table and shouted: "Take these three dogs out and chop them up, and order you to deliver the letter. You should be neither arrogant nor humble. A few cups of yellow soup from the Xia people will make you confused."
, and also revealed that the situation in our military camp was known to Xia Jun. This was a meticulous operation. Someone came, cut off the heads of three people, and hung them on the flagpole for public display."
The three soldiers who delivered the message were so frightened that they suddenly woke up from the drunkenness. They all knelt down and cried out for mercy. Yelu Zong really ignored them and ordered the guards to pull out the tent and slashed it with three swords, immediately settling the matter.
Yelu Zongzhen was still angry and shouted angrily: "What should we do now? You asked me to pretend to refuse to test my reaction before, but now it is self-defeating. The Xia army has decided to fight to the death with me. The Song people secretly supported the supplies and provided the Xia army with food, grass and fuel.
I'm full of energy, but I can't endure it any longer. It seems I can only fight to the death?"
Zhang Jian said: "Your Majesty, don't be upset. Now that we have learned about the Song people's intention to gobble up the tiger, we must not fight this battle. Otherwise, both sides will be hurt by the Song people's deception. The best strategy now is to withdraw our troops quickly."
, we took advantage of the wind and snow to retreat overnight to the north of Helan Mountain. As long as we have one night, we can retreat at least forty miles away. Even if the Xia people know about it, they will not be able to catch up. "
"Sir Zhang, this is a dangerous move. Once the army retreats, it will be like an overwhelming force. If the Xia army takes the opportunity to attack, it will be difficult to organize a counterattack. It is dangerous." Xiao Hui shook his head slightly.
"I don't know how dangerous it is, but I am sure of it, because the Xia people proposed their own retreat in the previous letter. According to my analysis, they must also be aware of the Song people's tricks. They don't want to lose all the main force. It's just inconvenient.
It's just a clear statement; if they find out and pursue hastily, regardless of the unfavorable pursuit on a snowy night, even if they catch up, how can we get away with it if we fight to the death? Therefore, I think they will turn a blind eye even if they know
Closing one eye, bluffing at most, and never fighting to the death, both sides retreating without using swords is not only my Daliao idea, but also the Xia people's idea."[
Xiao Hui thought for a while and said: "Zhang Shangfu's analysis is reasonable, but in order to ensure the safety of His Majesty, I suggest that the Imperial Army be ordered to escort His Majesty first. At the same time, the front army will change and the rear army will be cut off, and be prepared for the enemy's surprise attack."
Yelu Zongzhen sighed and said: "It is taboo for military strategists to attack distant places at the expense of their troops. What's more, the Song people are cunning and cannot be allies with them at all. It is my responsibility to return in vain after this expedition."
Everyone advised: "Your Majesty, why should you blame yourself? It is indeed the best policy to retreat unscathed under such circumstances. The country that has betrayed its trust can punish it calmly."
Yelu Zongzhen gritted his teeth and said: "I, Yelu Zongzhen, swear here that from now on we will be at odds with the Song people. After the war, the army will gather on the front line of Bazhou. I will send my army south and attack Bianliang. I will personally capture Zhao Zhen and ask him.
Ask him why he dares to break his trust with me, and the Song people will pay a heavy price for it."
All the ministers said in unison: "I am willing to follow your majesty to conquer the Song Dynasty."
Yelu Zongzhen sneered and said loudly: "Come here and send a message to the summer camp for me. I agree with their suggestion and thank them for the gift. As soon as the wind and snow stop, the two armies will start fighting to the death!"