"I want to drink tea again." Lu Wende suddenly remembered the scene of drinking tea in Tongle Building. The tea brewed by His Majesty the Emperor himself is not that delicious. It is like the Hongmen tea at the Hongmen Banquet. However, this tea cannot Don't drink.
Lu Wende respectfully took the tea cup from me: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the tea."
"Longjing is the best," I said with a smile, "Lu Aiqing, you two brothers have been guarding Xiangfan for many years, and you have made great contributions to the country and the people."
Lu Wende didn’t know the intention of my complimenting him, so he could only answer cautiously: “For Your Majesty, it is my duty to protect the territory of the Song Dynasty.”
"What a good job. Lu Aiqing takes credit without being arrogant. He should be a role model for our court. But he can still drink this cup of tea that I brewed myself."
"Your Majesty has given you the reward, but I dare not accept it."
"Really? Let's get back to the topic, Lu Aiqing, in your opinion, when the Mongols move south on a large scale, where will they choose as a breakthrough point?"
"Your Majesty, if the Mongols invade the south, I believe that Kublai Khan will adopt a multi-pronged strategy to break through with key points, and the first priority will be the Sichuan Theater, followed by the Xiangfan Theater."
"Well, I basically agree with what Ai Qing said. The Huaihe River blocks the Huaihe War Zone. Compared with our country, the Mongolian navy is temporarily at a disadvantage. Moreover, the terrain of the two Huaihei is not conducive to the Mongolian cavalry's large-scale assault, so we only The Sichuan Theater has always been the key breakthrough point chosen by the Mongolian army, and there will be no exception every time. However, I believe that the Xiangfan Theater will be the focus of the next Mongolian attack."
Lu Wende said with some confusion: "Ah, why is Your Majesty so sure? Isn't the first choice no longer the Sichuan War Zone?"
I nodded and said: "Lu Aiqing, the Mongols have attacked the Sichuan war zone several times. Generally speaking, they have failed every time. The Song-Mongolian war lasted for more than 40 years. The current Mongolian Khan Kublai Khan has great talents and bold strategies, and he has won Liu Zhengzhi will naturally not repeat the same mistakes. Therefore, I expect that Kublai Khan will sum up the experience and lessons of the previous two attacks on our country, change the direction of the main attack in a timely manner, and vigorously develop the navy. In the future southern invasion, he will We will adopt the method of containing the two wings and concentrating our forces in order to forcefully tear a hole in our Xiangfan battle area. If Xiangyang is lost, Kublai Khan can go straight to Lin'an. In this way, we can shorten the front line, cut off the connection between our east and west, and cause our The army was divided and surrounded by Mongolian cavalry, and was passively beaten."
Lu Wende looked at the map on the table and said thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, if Mongolia focuses its attack on Xiangyang, I swear to live and die with Xiangyang."
"Your courage is commendable, but I only want your love and Xiangyang to coexist, not to live and die together."
Lu Wende heard my concern this time and was slightly moved in his heart: "Yes, Your Majesty, I swear to coexist with Xiangyang."
"Well, Lu Aiqing, I heard that Xiangyang City is known as the iron-clad Xiangyang, and it is a battleground for military strategists. Is there such a saying?"
"Your Majesty, the city of Xiangyang connects the north to the south and connects the east and west. It has been a transportation hub since ancient times and has the reputation of having many thoroughfares. Xiangyang was named because it is located in the Yangtze River of Xiangshui. In ancient times, Chu was called Beijinxu, and it has been With a history of 2,000 years, it has been an important military location in the past dynasties. From a geographical point of view, Xiangfan is located at the southern end of the Nanyang Basin. Xiangyang and Fancheng are sandwiched between the Han River to the north and south, and they are interdependent. It is a dangerous place, and it is indeed a battleground for military strategists."
I said: "The upper gate of Xiangyang connects to Ruluo in the north, Qin and Shu in the west, covers Huguang in the south, and overlooks Wuyue in the east. It is indeed an important transportation road. Lu Aiqing, how did the iron-clad Xiangyang get its name? The current defenses in the city So what,"
"Your Majesty, after Marshal Yue Fei recaptured Xiangyang from the Jin people, he began to strengthen the city wall. Over the past hundred years, successive guards have also continued to consolidate and maintain it, and the defense points were all arranged according to Marshal Yue Fei's arrangements. Only then With the saying "iron fight", I dare to swear to coexist with Xiangyang."
"So that's it. Marshal Yue is a peerless general of our dynasty. The defense strategy he set is definitely not wrong. You are right to rely on the strength of Xiangyang City to fight a defensive war. But have you ever thought about it, Ai Qing? What will be the consequences if the Mongols heavily surround Xiangyang?"
Lu Wende seemed to think of something and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Your Majesty, even if the Mongols surrounded Xiangyang, our Xiangyang soldiers and people would be able to hold on for several years. Your Majesty would have sent troops to rescue Xiangfan by then. In this way, perhaps a combined internal and external attack would be possible to kill. The effective strength of the Mongolian army,"
Starting from the summer of 1261, Kublai Khan began to build earthen walls, long walls and more than ten castles on the east, south and west sides of Xiangfan in the name of protecting Mongolian goods. The latest one was Kublai Khan's adoption of Liu Zheng's strategy , sent an envoy to bribe Lu Wende with a jade belt and a good Mongolian horse, and asked him to set up a quarry outside the city of Xiangyang (now Xiangyang, Hubei).
I just mentioned that the Mongols besieged Xiangyang, which made Lu Wende tremble in his heart. Lu Wende knew the situation around Xiangyang very well. If the Mongolian earth walls and castles were all built, Xiangyang would be surrounded. Lu Wende had no choice but to I thought of the strategy of using Xiangyang as bait. Of course, I didn't know this. I just thought it was Lu Wende's heroic spirit, sacrificing himself to achieve the purpose of wiping out the Mongolian troops.
"As a result, the two sides are likely to form a situation in Xiangyang area where they are encircling each other for support."
"Yes, Your Majesty, this is extremely possible."
For this kind of intensive war in one place, the effectiveness of firearms can be brought into full play.
I smiled and said: "Lu Aiqing, the future battle of Xiangyang may be the watershed between our dynasty and Mongolia. As long as we can delay or eliminate the new Mongolian army in Xiangyang, it will lay the foundation for victory in our dynasty's Northern Expedition."
"Your Majesty, I will definitely hold on to Xiangyang. Even if it costs me my own life, I will contribute my small contribution to Your Majesty's great cause."
"Lu Aiqing, according to my prediction, the Mongols will launch an attack in the autumn of the third year of Xianchun (1267) two years later. Xiangyang City only needs to defend for one or two years to buy me enough time."
"It only takes a year or two,"
"Well, by then my guns and artillery should be able to be put into the battlefield in large numbers. With the power of firearms, we can reverse the passive defense situation of our country in the past. My dear, do you think, if our army has hundreds of cannons and tens of thousands of cannons? Even if they face hundreds of thousands of Mongolian troops, they will not be afraid of muskets at all. Even if the city of Xiangyang is tall, can it block hundreds of artillery salvos? What's more, there are no Mongolians outside Xiangyang City to rely on."
Although Lv Wende could not imagine how shocking the power of a salvo of hundreds of artillery pieces was, but from the test firing of a single cannon by the Gunpowder Department, we could vaguely feel how powerful it was. It was indeed beyond the power of human power: "Your Majesty, if Hundreds of artillery were firing at Xiangyang, and I could not predict how long Xiangyang would be able to defend it. At least the solid city wall could not withstand repeated artillery attacks."
I nodded again and said with a smile: "Yes, Aiqing will know the specific power when the time comes."
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
"My dear, when you go back, please let Xia Jiangang's five thousand Forbidden Army return to Lin'an. I will reorganize the Forbidden Army starting next month."
"Yes, I will inform General Xia immediately after I return."
"Well, as for Lu Xin, you can rest assured that he is in Lin'an. I will let him stay at the Military University for two or three years. If I feel he is qualified, I will ask him to return to Xiangyang as a reserve candidate for the future establishment of the Xiangfan Theater. ,if not qualified,,,,,,"
Before I could finish speaking, Lu Wende said first, "The dog is at your Majesty's disposal."
I laughed loudly and said: "My dear, I didn't say that I would deal with Lu Xin. If he is not qualified, I will let him return to Xiangyang, but I will just change it to other matters."
Lu Wende was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Although the son of a humble minister has an impatient temper, he is definitely not a coward on the battlefield. Please rest assured, Your Majesty,"
"Okay, Lu Aiqing. As the saying goes, a tiger father has no dog son. I believe in Lu Aiqing, and I also believe in Lu Xin. I hope that Lu Xin can learn more new knowledge and new ideas at the Military University. In the university, Lu Xin can also make friends with many of us." The young talents in the Korean army will be of great benefit to Lu Xin's future development in the military."
"I would like to thank Your Majesty again for your kindness,"
Lu Wende knew that Lin'an Royal Military University must be the cradle for the emperor to train young generals, and that this group of people might dominate the future Song Army.
"Okay, you can return to Xiangyang tomorrow. After you go back, you and your brother will discuss how to strengthen military training and how to go deep into enemy-occupied areas. When you return to the court to report on your duties at the end of the year, please bring your brother Lu Wenhuan with you. So that I can see the elegant demeanor of your Lu family,"
"Yes, I obey your order,"
"Also, you don't have to go to Jia Sidao to say goodbye. You can just leave the city tomorrow."
Lu Wende smiled coquettishly, knowing that I was doing it for his own good and was embarrassed to go, and said: "I understand."
"Well, Xiao Qi, tell them all to come in,"
"Yes, official family,"
"My dear friends," I said after everyone entered, "the life-and-death battle between Song and Mongolia will break out in a few years. In the past few years, both sides will dig deep holes, accumulate grain widely, and engage in arms storage competition. The goals of both sides are the same. There is only one, completely defeat the other side. Your main task after returning is to train your troops to prepare for the coming war. Our Chinese clan has lasted for thousands of years and will never lose to the Mongolian Iron Riders. Now you all know my thoughts and determination. , and everyone knows that I was born in response to the destiny of God. God has brought me advanced firearms and advanced strategies and tactics. Do you have the confidence to defeat Mongolia with me and restore the Central Plains?"
"Your Majesty, I am very confident,"
My eyes scanned the faces of the four people, and then I stood up and said: "Our Great Song Dynasty will definitely stand on top of the world again, and our Great Song Royal Army will definitely become the number one invincible army in the world. For hundreds of years, Come, our dynasty has been repeatedly invaded by foreign invaders and will no longer exist. The giant dragon of the Song Dynasty is about to take off, and you are the first to witness the miracle. My dear friends, please work hard for the rise of the Song Dynasty."
Lu Xiufu and the four envoys also stood up together and said in unison: "Work hard for the rise of the Song Dynasty."
"Okay, today's meeting ends here, Jun Shi,"
"I am here,"
"In the evening, please invite the four dear friends to Room 1, Tianzi, Tongle Building, have a good meal, and discuss the military council's future plans."
"Yes, I understand,"
"Oh, by the way, Jun Shi, please call Lu Aiqing's son Lu Xin too. He has always wanted to visit Tianzi No. 1 room. Also, let Li Beiyang, Xia Song and Ouyang Jianqing also participate. ,"
Lu Xiufu said: "I will act in accordance with the order."
After Lu Wende heard this, he immediately felt grateful. He understood that I was allowing him to meet Lu Xin before leaving Lin'an, and at the same time, it also allowed Lu Xin to integrate into the future Lin'an military led by young generals such as Xia Song and Ouyang Jianqing as soon as possible. Among the main backbone groups of the university,