As soon as he said a few words, Fan Liangfu stopped and glanced at me secretly. Then he continued: "However, the common people think that the Mongols have been operating in the Central Plains for decades. Our army is going to win the Northern Expedition. It is not possible. One day's work. Don't rush for quick success. You should plan for it slowly. Therefore, the common people, the common people..."
"Good recovery. But it doesn't matter."
Fan Liangfu mustered up his courage and said: "Your Majesty, the common people believe that our army should give up the plan to attack Nanyang for the time being."
"Give up." I was a little surprised and a little unhappy. After the battle of Xiangyang, I made a battle plan for the Northern Expedition Army to take Dengzhou and Nanyang first. However, Fan Liangfu proposed to give up the attack on Nanyang. This made it difficult for me to accept it for a while.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The only road from Dengzhou City to Nanyang is through Lianhe Town. The terrain of this road is wide and very suitable for the Mongolian cavalry. Unless the firearms of our dynasty can completely restrain the Mongolian cavalry, our own casualties will also be very high. Therefore, the grassroots people suggest that we use a surprise army to go north first and go straight to Bianliang."
My heart moved and I asked, "What's the reason?"
At this point, Fan Liangfu seemed to speak more fluently: "Your Majesty, the reasons are as follows. First of all, Bianliang is the capital of our dynasty. Restoring Bianliang has great significance and influence. It can not only inspire the people of our dynasty, but also It can touch the hearts of the northern Han people who belong to the Yuan Dynasty; secondly, the main Mongolian army is divided into three routes: east, middle and west. The east and west armies are respectively restrained by the Jianghuai Army and Sichuan Army of our dynasty. The center army is all in Nanyang From Dengzhou to Bianliang, there are basically no Mongolian troops stationed along the way. Even in Bianliang, the defenders are less than 5,000, and they are not elite. As long as our army is fast enough, we should easily capture Bianliang; again It can be seen from the burning of the Wadiandu Bridge on the Mongolian Middle Road that their thinking is the same. Our army will immediately send troops to Nanyang. Therefore, the army will gather near Lianhe Town. It is hoped that the speed and impact of the cavalry will be used on the wide ground. Attack our army. Therefore, our army's march north to Bianliang can be regarded as a surprise. Finally, once Bianliang City is recovered, the Mongols will definitely send troops to recapture it. But where will they send their troops? There are two possibilities. One is the new Mongolian capital in Dadu. The army may be Qixue. Although the Qixue army is powerful in combat, it is small in number. It may not be able to get a good result in a siege battle. The 100,000 new troops recruited by Kublai Khan still need to be trained for at least two or three months before they can have a certain level of effectiveness. The second is A Shu's Central Army. As soon as the Central Army moves, our Dengzhou City army will follow suit. By then, A Shu's troops want to recapture Bianliang, so they will naturally not besiege and not attack. No matter which way it is, our army can rely on the strength of Bianliang City to carry out city defense battles. It may be another Xiangyang Battle."
After listening to Fan Liangfu's long speech, I suddenly realized that I had made a mistake. I was too impatient. I always thought that firearms were invincible. I hoped to eliminate the main force of the Yuan army in the shortest possible time. Therefore, when considering the problem, I always maximized the benefits. We set out without a comprehensive assessment of the situation. Moreover, many of my generals were also subtly affected by their blind obedience to me. But Fan Liangfu was young and could say whatever he wanted. Secondly, he had not had much contact with me. He was not influenced by me, so he was able to analyze the current situation comprehensively.
I built myself into a god. But what if the god made a mistake? Since the end of the Battle of Xiangyang, the trajectory of history has completely deviated. My prophecy has also come to an end. I need to consider the problem comprehensively so as not to lose it. of bias.
"Generals, Fan Liang just replied to what Fan Aiqing said. What do you think?"
Fan Liangfu felt happy when he heard that I called him Fan Aiqing. Apparently, the emperor had agreed with his opinion.
After a moment of silence, Lu Wenhuan said first: "Your Majesty, Fan Liangfu's strategy has no conflict with our army's plan. It only delays our army's attack on Nanyang. The general agrees. Our army can send a group of troops to surprise Bianliang."
Lu Wenhuan is experienced. He just used the word "delay" to replace the word "give up" mentioned by Fan Liangfu. It sounds much more pleasant.
Jiang Wanzai said: "Your Majesty, the last general also agrees. Our army will divide its forces and capture Bianliang first by surprise. In this way, we can give full play to the strengths of our army and annihilate the Yuan army in the city defense battle. Use firearms It will not be a problem to defend Bianliang; it will also allow Ah Shu to focus on one thing and not the other, so that our army can gain the initiative and the best opportunity to attack Nanyang."
"Okay." I thought for a moment and made up my mind. "In that case, let's discuss a plan to divide the troops immediately. The so-called troops are valuable and fast. I have decided to send troops immediately tomorrow. Which general is willing to lead the troops to attack Bianliang."
"I will go there eventually." Xie Daolin first asked for the order.
"The last general Wu Songhan is willing to go."
...
A group of generals all competed to be the first to recapture Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty. They should be remembered in history. Everyone would be willing to take credit for such a feat.
Jiang Wanzai said: "Your Majesty, I did not participate in the Duanping invasion of Luo more than 30 years ago. This time, I will let the veteran lead the army to recover Bianliang."
I feel confident about Jiang Wanzai's ability. According to Fan Liangfu, it is not difficult to capture Bianliang City. But what happens after that is relatively unpredictable. It is not difficult to defend Bianliang. But the road leading from Dengzhou to Bianliang Food routes may become the only big problem.
However, this is completely different from Duan Ping's entry into Luo back then.
I thought for a while and said, "Jiang Aiqing obeys the order."
"The end will be here."
"I appoint you as the commander-in-chief. You will lead the Kui Division of Lu Division in the 19th Wing of the Xiangyang Military Region, the Wen Zhang Division of the First Division of the Imperial Forest Army, the Donglou Division of the Xingfu Army Section, and the Meng Tianxiang Division of the Loyal and Shun Army. We will set out tomorrow night and march into Bianliang."
"Yes. The last general honors your order."
"General Zhao Huai listens to the order."
"The end will be here."
"I appoint you as deputy commander-in-chief. Assist Jiang Aiqing in commanding the battle against Bianliang."
"Yes. The last general honors your order."
"Fan Liangfu. I will appoint you as marching counselor and marching guide. You will be given the rank of sixth grade for the time being. We will discuss your merits and reward you later."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will comply with the decree." Fan Liangfu said with great joy. Firstly, the Emperor accepted his suggestion. Secondly, the exam was considered passed.
"Gongsun Xiaochen. Immediately send people to Bianliang. Notify Longya in the city to make preparations. Stock up on food first."
"Yes. I will obey the order."
"Jiang Aiqing, please gather relevant personnel to discuss the attack on Bianliang."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"General Lu Wenxin listens to the order."
"The end will be here."
"Starting tomorrow, for three consecutive days, you will personally lead the soldiers of the Black Carbon Regiment to explore the road leading to Lianhe Town in Nanyang."
"Yes. The last general honors your order."
"Tian Xiuyan."
"The end will be here."
"You lead the 17th Army of Lin'an Military Region to explore the road to Wadian Town in Nanyang. And make preparations to build a bridge. Let Ah Shu know that our army will attack Nanyang at any time."
"Yes. The last general honors your order."
"General Wu Songhan, you will send a battalion of troops to garrison Dengzhou City and be responsible for the security of the city. Remember not to disturb the people. Except for this county government, no other places are allowed to trespass. If there is no resting place for the time being, even if you sleep among the people You are not allowed to enter private houses under the eaves of a house. Violators will be punished by the military."
"Yes. The last general honors your order."
"Okay. The rest of the people will follow me back to the camp outside the city."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
On the evening of the next day, according to the plan discussed by Jiang Wanzai and others, 20,000 Song troops marched north one after another. In line with what Fan Liangfu said, they basically encountered no obstruction by large numbers of Yuan troops along the way. Even if there were a small group of Yuan troops .was also quickly wiped out by the Zhongshun Army, which served as the vanguard.
Perhaps Kublai Khan believed that the Song army adopted a step-by-step approach. It would not be like the Duanping invasion of Luoyang, where the army would go deep alone. Once the retreat was blocked and food and grass were insufficient, it would be in a dilemma.
Along the way, they marched day and night, bypassing Xuchang and other important towns. In the early morning of September 14th, the army successfully arrived at Yangzhengmen Village, thirty miles south of Bianliang City. This village is built against the mountains and is very secluded. It is perfect for hiding. soldiers.
Arriving in front of the village, the marching guide Fan Liangfu said: "Master Jiang, this is Yangzhengmen Village. When my subordinates traveled to the north before, they rested here because the Bianliang city gate was closed at night. About five miles from the north of the village, we left the mountain. After that, the terrain became flat."
Jiang Wanzai nodded and said: "It's almost dawn. Send the order and rest on the spot. General Lu Shikui. Send a battalion of troops to blockade Yangzhengmen Village. General Meng Tianxiang, your troops will go to the mountain pass in front and be responsible for security."
"Yes, sir."
At the end of Chen Shi (9 o'clock), Fan Liangfu changed his clothes and went straight to Bianliang with Wen Zhang, who was also dressed in casual clothes.
Since the age of fifteen, Fan Liangfu has been traveling alone for two to three months every year under the arrangement of an unknown monk. When he was eighteen, Fan Liangfu met a low-level officer in the Mongolian Han army in Bianliang City. Menghuan Mountain. This Menghuan Mountain once worshiped under Master Zhiyun of the Daxiangguo Temple in Bianliang and learned good boxing skills. Master Zhiyun was also a registered disciple of the unknown monk. It was in the Daxiangguo Temple that the two of them got their first training. They met and had a spar with each other. Fan Liangfu won a small victory with one move, which impressed Meng Huanshan, who was fond of martial arts. Meng Huanshan saw that Fan Liangfu was young and fell in love with him. They immediately became brothers.
Looking from a distance, I saw a dozen soldiers of the Yuan Army standing outside the gate of Bianliang City, checking people entering the city.
Fan Liang replied: "General Wen, it seems that the guards in Bianliang City are much tighter than before. You will follow my subordinates for a while. I will be aggrieved for the moment and act like a mute. Don't let the defenders recognize your southern accent."
"Okay, General Fan. Let's go."
Everyone entering the city needs to show their identity certificate. They will be released after being inspected by the defenders.
When it was Wen Zhang's turn, Fan Liang replied: "Master Jun, this is my scholar. Because he was born deaf and mute, the government office did not apply for an identity certificate for him. I hope Master Jun can make it convenient."
When the defenders saw Fan Liangfu's gorgeous clothes, they were quite polite: "Master Fan, I have an order from the top. From the beginning of this month, no one without identity documents will be allowed to enter the city. Master, please don't make things difficult for me."