After the monarchs and ministers of the Liao Kingdom figured out the route and purpose of Su Jin's army, instead of feeling relieved, they became even more worried. It was obvious that the destination of this army was to go to Beijing, and it was clear that they would attack their hometown.
The eldest son of Xingzong, Yelu Hongji, is currently staying at Shangjing Road. Yelu Hongji is only seventeen years old and has not experienced any major battles. The reason why he is left behind to take charge is, on the one hand, because Shangjing is far inland and there is no danger at all.
There are a group of veterans staying behind to help.
But now, the Song Dynasty's 200,000 troops are rushing towards Beijing. Yelu Hongji and those old officials are no match at all. Going to Beijing is in danger.
"Your Majesty, for the current plan, we have to consider returning troops to destroy Su Jin's army. We must not leave the capital behind." Xiao Hui said.
Yelu Zongzhen, Xingzong of the Liao Dynasty, flashed in his mind the horrific scene of the capital city being destroyed and the empress dowager, queen, prince and princess being robbed, raped and humiliated by the Song people, and he couldn't help but get goosebumps all over his body.
"No, brother, you must not return your troops." Yelu Chongyuan said loudly.
Yelu Zongzhen frowned and said: "What if we don't return to the capital? Are we going to sit back and watch my capital be destroyed? There are many royal relatives there, including the queen mother, queen and princes."
Yelu Chongyuan said: "Our Daliao army is pressing down on our territory, and the Song people are already tired of dealing with it. The reason why they sent Su Jin'er to secretly enter our Daliao to cause trouble is to trick us into returning to our defense. How can we fall into the trap?"
Yelu Zongzhen said: "What should I do if I go to Beijing?"
Yelv Chongyuan said: "Immediately mobilize the defenders on the eastern border of Goryeo and the border of Jin to defend. These two places are our vassals of Daliao and do not require heavy military surveillance. There are nearly 200,000 troops in both places, although most of them are retinues."
There are new soldiers, but it shouldn't be a big deal if they stick to Linhuang Mansion on Shangjing Road. Su Jin's army has to attack far away. As long as they are held back, they will worry about being surrounded and annihilated, and will never be willing to fight. And our army steps up the attack, but we have to see
Whoever plundered whose capital first?"
Xiao Hui hurriedly said: "It's necessary. The Jurchens and Koreans have been acting aggressively in the past few years, so the imperial court has stationed heavy troops in prison. If they are transferred to Linhuang Mansion, what should we do if there is a disaster in two places?"
Yelu Zhongyuan sneered and said: "You are Xiao Hui who looks forward and backward. You might as well change your name to Xiao Wugui. I ask you, what if we retreat and the Song people cover up and pursue us? The current situation is not as good as a fish to the death net. If we go to Beijing and break the net, what will happen?"
Let’s use Bianliang as our capital. If they take our family members and parents, we will take their family members and parents, and no one will suffer.”
Xiao Hui said angrily: "Your Majesty, please speak with more respect. You call me Xiao Hui like a turtle. You need to know that I am a descendant of your mother, so who are you?"
Yelu Zong was really annoyed when he heard Xiao Hui and Yelu Zhongyuan arguing endlessly. He waved his hands and shouted: "Shut up, everyone. Is there any decency in making such noise? In front of so many generals under your command, don't you be ashamed?"
?”
Xiao Hui and Yelu Zhongyuan stopped talking. They glared at each other and turned back to their seats. Yelu Zongzhen rubbed his forehead for a long time before saying: "I decided to take a compromise strategy. Since we are in an advantageous position on the frontal battlefield, we must not give up this great opportunity.
, but Linhuang Mansion on the way to Beijing cannot be lost. That is where our Daliao Dragon Veins are. If Linhuang Mansion is lost, the morale of the people will be lost. I decided to dispatch 50,000 cavalry from the Left Route Army to quickly detour to return reinforcements, and to mobilize the two Korean and Jurchen frontiers.
A total of 100,000 troops were stationed in Shangjing, and the state governments along the way were ordered to use all their strength to hold back the Song army and buy time for the army to return to the defense. The 150,000 troops were stationed at Linhuang Mansion and it would be no big deal. According to my imperial edict, all the concubines, princes and princesses in the palace were ordered to withdraw.
Defend the Darugu tribe in the north to avoid disaster; our army cancels its rest and immediately launches a fierce attack. They force us to return to defense, and we will also force Su Jin's 200,000 people back."
Xiao Hui hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, you can't do this. This is not the best strategy. There are gaps everywhere in the repair, and there are many hidden worries."
"No need to say more, I have decided that you no longer need to stay in Daizhou. You can go back to camp overnight and launch an attack immediately." Yelu Zongzhen waved his hand and returned to the inner tent to rest.
…
After conquering Raozhou, the passage to Linhuang Mansion in Shangjing has been opened. There is only one city lying on the road, and that is Zuzhou three hundred miles away. Su Jin still adopts the scorched earth strategy. Although he does not kill the people, he still
Burning houses, destroying city defenses, taking away whatever food you can, and setting fire to whatever you can't take, the people fled one after another. The Song Bureau neither killed nor chased them, and allowed them to wander. Su Jin had no choice but to do this, and only the momentum created
The bigger the enemy was, the more serious the damage would be, which would attract enough attention from the Liao army, so he didn't feel particularly guilty.
At this time of the year, the homeless people would not freeze to death, and the Song army would not snatch the food, cattle, and sheep from the people's homes. This was the limit of what Su Jin could do.
In three days, Raozhou was in ruins. Three thousand soldiers were lost when attacking Raozhou. The 200,000-strong army was reduced to 190,000 soldiers along the way. This made Su Jin extremely satisfied. He attacked three
City, annihilating 20,000 to 30,000 enemies, the price paid was not high, and the number of war horses increased by more than 20,000, and the number of horses used for transportation increased by 40,000. This army already has 150,000 people who no longer need to walk on two feet.
After two days and two nights of rapid march, the army arrived outside Zuzhou City, the last barrier of Linhuang Mansion. What surprised Su Jin was that he thought that the Liao Kingdom had no fortified city, but unexpectedly Zuzhou turned out to be a truly fortified city.
, although there are no high mountains and dangerous valleys nearby for defense, the densely forested mountains, complex terrain, and numerous lakes are very unfavorable for attack. Zuzhou is surrounded by mountains and rivers, so it cannot be attacked from both sides. The only places that can be attacked are the east and north.
However, these two city walls are both high and thick, and are completely different from other state capitals.
Su Jin scratched his head. He didn't know that this Zuzhou had a great background. The Yelu family of the Liao Kingdom originally originated here, and it was the place where the Yelu family had lived for generations. Yelu Abaoji, the Taizu of the Liao Dynasty, also lived here before he gained the throne.
Later, after the Northern Territory was unified and Daliao was established, the place was named Zuzhou because its great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all born here.
It can be imagined that this is the birthplace of the Dragon Vein of the Yelu Royal Family and the key point of Linhuang Mansion. Naturally, the city is strong and the ground is dangerous, and the defense is tight. There are not many soldiers and horses in Zuzhou, only 5,000 regular troops and 10,000
Hu Congjun, but these 15,000 people occupy the advantageous location and are more than enough to defend the two city walls, let alone Su Jin's army, which has no means of siege.
Two days after the army arrived, they could not think of a good attack method. Pan Jiang tentatively used a simple ladder to attack, but soon discovered that this was impossible. The casualties were simply too great. There were actually hundreds of giant beds on the city wall.
The crossbow, a thick-armed crossbow, fired a series of arrows, taking away the lives of more than a thousand people in one round three hundred steps away. Pan Jiang was so frightened that he quickly called a stop. Good guy, if this is a force attack, I'm afraid thirty or fifty thousand people will die.
It won't work anymore, and Su Jin will never agree to use this kind of human wave tactic, because the more troops are lost, the more difficult it will be later. If the army becomes rogue bandits, how can it serve as a troublemaker?
Some people suggested using fire to attack, and bringing kerosene with the army. Rockets would not be a problem. However, Su Jin immediately rejected this suggestion after observing the terrain. The city construction in Zuzhou seemed to be prepared to prevent fire attacks, and the houses were all made of bluestone.
Outside, there are actually very few trees in the city, which is a huge contrast to the lush and lush scenery outside the city; moreover, the southern city wall is actually built on the water, and half of the large lake outside the south gate is in the city, and half is in the city.
Outside the city, it can be imagined that the entire city must have ditches to divert water for circulation. Even if there is a fire, it is easy to put it out.
After this proposal was rejected, there was no good solution. Su Jin was anxious and anxious. He couldn't afford it. He could imagine that several armies must have gathered from all directions to come to Beijing. If the delay continued, the Liao people would pull in a few thousand here and ten thousand there.
, can also form a huge defensive army. At that time, I can only leave Shangjing Road in despair.
On the evening of the third day, Su Jin rode on horseback and took the four dynasty mahan Zhang Long and Zhao Hu outside Zuzhou City to relax and march along the embankment of the lake. Su Jin suddenly discovered an interesting phenomenon. The terrain was generally high in the west.
It's lower in the east and higher in the north and lower in the south, but here it's a little different. Several streams beside the lake actually flow into the lake from south to north. Maybe it's because of the abundant rain in summer. The lake is full of water. It fills the embankment and is only half a foot away from the top of the embankment.
far away.
Su Jin's heart moved. He shook the reins and walked along the South Embankment, looking left and right. He galloped until the sun set, covering dozens of miles, when he suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed.
Monk Zhang Er, who was following behind Wang Chao Ma Han and others, was confused. He thought the young master was crazy and wanted to come forward to comfort him, but he heard Su Jin loudly say: "God help me, Zuzhou will be destroyed."