After hearing Li Tingzhi's analysis, I suddenly thought that Xiangyang City in history was able to hold on for five or six years. In addition to the strong city and the efforts of the Lu brothers, perhaps Kublai Khan deliberately delayed time and waited for the Song army to come to rescue. Well, Lu Wende is right. Kublai Khan and I most likely have the same idea. We surround the point to provide reinforcements. We both want to take the opportunity to eliminate the opponent's effective forces outside Xiangyang City. In this way, the battle of Xiangyang may be better than I imagined. It's a little more difficult.
However, this is good. It saves me having to find a way to surround Kublai Khan with a heavy army.
"If you want to fight, I will fight." Let the outside of Xiangyang City become the testing ground for our weapons.
I recovered my thoughts and said: "Everyone, now assume that White River City is also occupied by the Blue Army. Li Aiqing and Xia Aiqing. In addition to the flags placed on the sand table, each small flag next to it represents five hundred soldiers. The slightly larger flag represents Two thousand soldiers. The largest flag represents ten thousand soldiers. The red and blue flags are the same. Four dear friends, you can start."
This is the first time for Lu Wende and others to conduct a simulated battle on the sand table. Although I also know that the discrepancy of this kind of simulated battle may be very large. It may not mean anything at all. But I still let them try it. .
Li Tingzhi and Xia Guijun were famous generals in the world. Especially Li Tingzhi, they were highly regarded by Marshal Meng Gong. And Lu Wende and Lu Wenhuan were also experienced in many battles. Otherwise, they would not have been able to hold on to Xiangyang for six years. I asked them to conduct simulation exercises. Firstly, I wanted to see how they responded to the Battle of Xiangyang. Secondly, I also wanted to see the tacit understanding between Li Tingzhi and Xia Gui. Although in the Battle of Anfeng, Xia Gui sent his most elite soldiers to Li Tingzhi. The Luzhou Army is very grateful for the help. But if I order Li Tingzhi to serve as the commander of the Jianghuai Military Region, the senior Xia Gui will definitely say yes on the surface. However, in the actual process of the war, I am worried that the Luzhou Army will inevitably have a yin and yang. violation.
Communication in ancient times was backward. After a war breaks out, once there is no clear authority, when conflicts arise, it is very likely that no one will obey the other. By the time I receive their battle report and make a decision, it will be too late. .
In the Battle of Xiangyang in history, the armies of the Song Dynasty acted in their own way and did not obey orders even if they had a subordinate relationship. This was one of the main reasons for the failure. Naturally, I will not repeat the same mistake, which has made later scholars lament.
Xia Gui and Lu Wende were more impatient, and both were quite familiar with the terrain in Xiangyang. They started to move on the sand table first, constantly changing the flags in their hands. Although they were very fast, they did not lose their order. They seemed orderly and orderly, which is enough to see. Both of them were proficient in forming troops. Xia Gui, Lu Wende and Lu Wenhuan were from the same hometown. They were both from the Anfeng Army on Huainan West Road (now Shouxian County, Anhui Province). After Lu Wende joined the army, he was followed by Zhao Kui. Xia Gui joined the army. Later, he served under Zhao Kui's brother Zhao Fan. Both of them were promoted from the bottom step by step due to their accumulation of military merit. They also often cooperated in fighting, so they were very familiar with each other.
Li Tingzhi and Lu Wenhuan remained calm. They just watched the changes in the flags on the sand table quietly.
Xia Gui divided 30,000 blue troops to guard Lumen Mountain and Baihe City. Another 20,000 soldiers surrounded Xiangyang, but did not launch an attack. As the main attacking force, there was a 70,000-strong army. Its target was directly at Fancheng. The remaining Thirty thousand soldiers were on standby outside Xiangyang City.
It can be seen from the number of red flags in Fan City that there are 15,000 defenders. Fan City is located on the north bank of the Han River. It is much smaller than Xiangyang City. The city is also far less solid. There is a pontoon bridge connecting the two cities. .can support each other.
Xia Gui's purpose was very obvious. He pretended to attack Fancheng and induced the Red Army to send reinforcements from Xiangyang.
Of course Lu Wende understood Xia Gui's intention. The city gates were closed tightly and only support came back and forth from the pontoon bridge. However, the Blue Army could do nothing.
"To capture Fancheng, we must first burn down the pontoon bridges on the Han River. The navy. This is the importance of the navy." Xia Gui muttered in a low voice. "Master Li, what's your clever move?"
Li Tingzhi smiled: "Master Xia, this Xiangyang city is known as the iron-clad Xiangyang. If the blue army attacks, they will definitely kill 800 enemies and lose 3,000. If they attack Xiangyang with one to two times the force, it will be difficult to win. Fancheng is small. The 70,000-strong army is too numerous to be deployed at all. I believe that under normal circumstances, we can only encircle rather than attack by force. We first build fortifications at Lumen Mountain, Baihe City and Baizhang Mountain, and adopt a step-by-step approach to narrow the encirclement. The Red Army was trapped in Xiangyang and Fancheng. At the same time, efforts were made to build warships, block waterway hubs, and completely block Xiangyang's connection with the outside world. When Xiangyang City ran out of food, military supplies and other supplies, coupled with the long-term lack of access External news and assistance will cause internal problems, and a feeling of despair will arise in the heart. At that time, we will concentrate our forces, take Fancheng first, and finally force Xiangyang to surrender."
Xia Gui thought for a while and said: "Master Li's words make sense. First use fortresses such as Lumen Mountain and Baihe City to encircle the points for reinforcements. Eliminate the Red Army's foreign aid. Let the Red Army in the city fight alone for a long time and finally collapse on its own."
The historical Battle of Xiangfan. Its course was basically consistent with Li Tingzhi’s prediction.
First of all, the Mongols set up a grazing field outside Xiangyang. This led to the Mongols quickly establishing a foothold in the Xiangfan area. Later, they built earthen walls in the grazing field. In the end, Xiangyang City became an isolated city. It can be said that the war did not start yet. The Song Dynasty had already lost one move; secondly, the Song court's command was weak. The troops that went to the rescue were doing their own thing. Zhang Shijie, Xia Gui, Fan Wenhu and others were ordered to rescue Xiangyang, but they all retreated. Later, Li Tingzhi was ordered to assist again. But because Fan Wenhu didn't listen to his orders, he retreated in defeat.
Of course, the failure of the Xiangfan War was ultimately due to the corruption and incompetence of the Song Dynasty. This is beyond doubt.
Seeing that it was almost done, I said: "The outcome of this war does not depend on the gains or losses of Xiangyang City itself. It depends on the encirclement and counter-encirclement outside Xiangyang City."
Lu Wende said: "Your Majesty, please make it clear."
"Since Kublai Khan issued the southern expedition announcement, I have had a long discussion with the Military Affairs Council and the Ministry of War. I have decided to use Xiangyang as bait to launch a war of attrition of encirclement and counter-encirclement in Xiangfan area. Since it is bait, then... We need to give the Mongols a little sweetness. This is why I tolerate the Mongols setting up a foraging field outside Xiangyang City. As you all know, the strength of the Mongolian army lies in its cavalry. It is said to be invincible in field battles, but in positional battles, the strength of its horses But the role is no longer prominent. Of course, Xiangyang, as a bait, will naturally fall into a hard battle. Lu Aiqing must be mentally prepared for this."
Lu Wende saw that I had taken over the business. He looked at me gratefully and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Even if Xiangyang becomes an isolated city, I can guarantee that there will be no problem in ten or eight years."
"Lu Aiqing, it won't take so long. I estimate that it will only take three or five years at most." I smiled and pointed to Xiangyang on the map. "Everyone, please take a look. Regarding the upcoming Xiangfan war, my idea is to start from Xiangyang.
Military Region Six and Seven
Ten thousand regular troops, regimental defenses of the two cities, and strong civilians will defend the city. I will personally lead the Lin'an Military Region, the Yulin Army and the Navy to Xiangfan for reinforcements. We must eliminate as many effective Mongolian forces as possible outside Xiangfan City."
Lu Xiufu, who heard for the first time that I wanted to lead a military expedition in person, hurriedly advised me: "Your Majesty is a man of great wealth. How can he go to the front line so easily? I think it is enough to choose a good general from the court to lead the expedition."
Fan Wenhuan and Lu Wende immediately agreed: "Master Lu is right. Your Majesty must not take risks."
"Your Majesty, please do not take risks." Xia Gui and others also said.
"What? Do you think my soldiers can't protect me?"
Lu Xiufu said: "No. That's not what I meant."
"Let's not discuss this matter for now." I waved my hand and said. "I am very confident about the Battle of Xiangyang. Of course, I will not be blindly impulsive. If the Mongols except the 150,000 people of the Central Army
If there are reinforcements, I will also dispatch reinforcements from Yangzhou and Luzhou Military Region. In short.
I will treat this war with an optimistic attitude and a cautious approach. Next, we will discuss another matter. That is after the war breaks out. I estimate that it will be the year after next. I plan to move the Yangzhou Military Region, Lu
The prefecture military region will be merged into the Jianghuai military region. What do you think about this matter?"
Li Tingzhi and Xia Gui looked at each other and said, "I agree with your Majesty's decision."
I nodded and put the question outright: "The purpose of combining the two into one is naturally for unified command during the war. This must have more advantages than disadvantages. But what makes me hesitant is who should be in charge of the Jianghuai Military Region.
As the envoy, is it Li Aiqing, Xia Aiqing, or someone else from the court?"
Xia Gui said without thinking: "Your Majesty, I am already old. The Jianghuai Military Region will take on the important task of the Northern Expedition in the future. Therefore, the old minister recommended Li Tingzhi, Mr. Li, who is in his prime, to take up this position. I will support Mr. Li unconditionally.
He is familiar with the topography of the Jianghuai River and is versatile in both civil and military affairs. He is indeed the best candidate."
I didn't expect it to be so simple. I asked the question directly, and Xia Gui answered easily.
Xia Gui has been an official for many years. He has matured with age. From Xia Qing and Xia Song, Xia Gui already knew that I secretly created the Longya organization after I ascended the throne. And Li Tingzhi was one of the first big names in the military to join Longya.
1. He can be said to be my number one favorite in the army. Although Xia Gui can feel it and I also value him quite a lot, he is still incomparable to Li Tingzhi.
The DPRK has always called for the establishment of the Jianghuai Military Region. Before coming to attend the meeting, Xia Gui and his son Xia Song seriously discussed the matter. If the imperial court proposed the merger of the two military regions, they would go along with the situation.
Lu Xiufu said: "Master Li is both civil and military. He is also the true successor of General Meng Gong. I also agree."
Jia Sidao also said: "Old minister also agrees."
"Okay. After the war broke out, the Yangzhou and Luzhou Military Regions were merged and the Jianghuai Military Region was established. Li Tingzhi was appointed as the envoy and Xia Gui was appointed as the deputy envoy."
After the merger of the two major military regions of Yangzhou and Luzhou, the number of people could reach more than 100,000. It was definitely the largest military region in the Song Dynasty.
"My minister Li Tingzhi, my minister Xia Gui obeys the decree."
"Well, Li Aiqing. In the past, Marshal Meng Gong fought on the battlefield for many years, but failed to leave any successor. You can be regarded as his half-disciple. I wonder if you can pass on Marshal Meng's skills."