Meng and Fan did not dare to get too close. They reined in their horses and only wandered about seven or eight hundred meters away from the west gate of Yingtian Mansion. Sometimes they pointed their weapons at the city wall, and sometimes they laughed, as if they were demonstrating. He didn't take the Yuan army in the city seriously at all.
Boyan looked sternly and said: "According to the news sent back by the scouts, the Southern Dynasty army is still a hundred miles away. The Nanbo Village where its vanguard camp is stationed is also fifty miles away. Meng Tianxiang is brave enough to dare to come alone to visit the camp. Marshal Ashu, you are here to raid the formation for Boyan. I and the three generals Ali Hague, Achahan, and Zhang Hongfan will go out of the city to drive them away to boost the power of our army."
Ah Shu nodded and said, "Okay."
For Boyan, A Shu and other generals of the Yuan army, they were all eager to use a victory to boost their morale. Even if it was just a trivial victory.
"Brother Meng, someone is coming out." Although Fan Liangfu had never seen Boyan and others, he could sense from the aura of the four of them that the person who came was not good.
"Well, these four people are Yuan Army generals Boyan, Ali Hague, Ashahan and Zhang Hongfan." Meng Tianxiang identified them carefully and said. "These Yuan Army generals are all highly skilled in martial arts. The leader is the deputy general of the Mongolian Middle Route Army. Handsome Boyan. His martial arts skills are still superior to mine. Brother Fan, let’s retreat.”
Meng Tianxiang knew how powerful Boyan was. Although he was not afraid, the four generals on the other side were all very powerful. Once they were handed over, it would be difficult to get away. Now was not the time to show the courage of an ordinary man. At this thought, Meng Tianxiang turned his horse's head and joined Fan Liangfu. Walk away.
Ali Hague chased him dozens of steps and shouted loudly: "Meng Tianxiang. Since you dare to come, why don't you dare to fight?"
Upon seeing this, Ah Shu on the city wall immediately beat the war drum. A group of guards beside him shouted loudly: "Marshal Boyan is mighty. The enemy has escaped."
Boyan did not pursue him. He called Ali Hague back to the city.
Ah Shu smiled bitterly and said: "Marshal Boyan. I have been in the army for many years. This is the first time I have used such a 'victory' to boost morale."
Boyan also smiled bitterly and whispered helplessly: "Marshal A Shu, the matter has come to an end. It's not that we can't do anything. It's that the firearms of the Southern Dynasties are too sharp. Maybe General Shi Yuqi is right. The power brought by advanced technology It’s not something we can compete with.”
Ah Shu said: "Now I can only hope that the emperor can imitate the musket as soon as possible."
"Yes." Boyan nodded and said to the guard on the side. "Give me the order. Once the Yingtianfu city is destroyed, leave the city from the east and north gates and go to Xiangzhou."
"Yes, Marshal." Boyan's soldier replied.
When Meng Tianya returned to his base, I led tens of thousands of troops and arrived at Nanbo Village. Although this village named Nanbo was not big, its location was the original capital of the Shang Dynasty in ancient times. Later, due to the southward expansion of the Yellow River, Frequent diversions, floods and corresponding silt accumulation buried this ancient name underground. The majestic palaces and bustling streets of that time have never been seen.
"Your Majesty, Yingtianfu City is not tall. It is far inferior to Bianliang. Its strength is not as strong as Dengzhou." Meng Tianxiang and Fan Liang reported.
"I understand. Meng Tianxiang, Fan Liangfu." I snorted coldly.
"The end will be here."
"Why did you two go to Yingtian Mansion alone?"
Seeing my serious expression, Meng Tianxiang hurriedly knelt down with Fan Liangfu and said, "Your Majesty, the general's original intention is to inquire about the defense situation of Yingtian Mansion."
"Since you two are the vanguards on the left and right, you should perform the duties of the vanguard. Leave thousands of soldiers behind and do the scouting work yourself. Is this appropriate?"
"Your Majesty, the general will finally realize his mistake. Please punish him, Your Majesty."
"Okay. Get up. This is the first time that I have taken care of you. I will not punish you. But you must remember that you are the generals of my Song Dynasty army, not the wanderers."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep this in mind."
"Well, everyone, listen to the order. Have a good rest tonight. Attack the city tomorrow."
After three days of continuous bombardment by forty artillery pieces, the defenders of Yingtianfu gave up their resistance and abandoned the city.
After entering the city, I only stayed in Yingtian Mansion for half a day. I left an infantry corps to garrison Yingtian Mansion. Then I ordered the army to continue marching north and approach Xiangzhou, an important town in northeastern Henan. On March 16, the Mongolian Middle Route Army gave up again. They arrived at Xiangzhou, which was under shelling, and continued northward, retreating to Mingzhou in southern Hebei (today's Handan, Yongnian area).
Mingzhou began in the Northern Zhou Dynasty and was the governor of Wu'an County. At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the peasant rebel army Xia King Dou Jiande and Liu Heitai successively established their capitals here. It was called Mingzhou because it was an important pass from Henan to Hebei and even Dadu. In addition, it was built between two mountains, so it was reinforced and renovated at the end of the Jin Kingdom. After the Mongols destroyed the Jin Dynasty, especially in recent years, after Kublai Khan defeated Alibaba and ascended the throne, he sent people to reinforce it again. We arrived at Mingzhou City. Although this city was not big, its strength was comparable to that of Yingzhou, a stone city in the Song Dynasty.
On the night I entered Xiangzhou, I received the good news from Lin'an Palace. Queen Quanjiu gave birth to a son on March 2. This little prince is also the historical Emperor Gong of the Song Dynasty. The seventh emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xian. However, the date of birth was advanced by two years and four months.
The next day, in the name of the birth of the prince, I ordered all the soldiers to rest for a day and temporarily slowed down the pace of the attack.
After recapturing Xiangzhou, the entire Henan is under the control of our army, but the main force of the Yuan army is still there. The longer our defense line is, the easier it will be broken by the Yuan army. After all, the current firearms are limited, so it is not possible yet. The entire army is equipped. Therefore, the next step is to stabilize the defense line to avoid losing again.
After lunch, I asked Gongsun Xiaochen to call all the generals in Xiangzhou and arrange and deploy the tasks of each army in the next stage.
"My generals, the entire territory of Henan has been recovered. However, there are still 50,000 elite troops in the Mongolian Middle Route Army. There are also many Yuan troops in the surrounding provinces. Therefore, I have decided to rest in Xiangzhou for a while and wait until the military and political affairs in Henan are stabilized before proceeding. Heading north. To this end, I have drawn up the following plans and discussed them with the generals."
"I will talk about government affairs first. First, I order Taishi Jia, Lu Aiqing, and Zhao Aiqing of Xiangyang City to set off immediately and rush to Bianliang to take charge; second, I order Wen Tianxiang, the president of Lin'an Government Affairs Council, to personally lead the team and lead a group of officials to station. All major cities in Henan will establish the Henan Provincial Government and restore normal order in various places as soon as possible; Third, in late April, I plan to conduct a special imperial examination in Henan to select a group of provincial, state, and county officials; Fourth According to the special situation of Henan, a series of preferential policies, such as tax exemptions, tax reductions and other measures or regulations that are beneficial to the local economy, will be discussed after the Grand Master and others arrive. Gongsun Xiaochen. The above three Click. You send someone to notify the relevant personnel to implement it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Let's talk about military affairs." I continued. "The first is the expansion of the Bianliang Military Region. At present, the Bianliang Military Region has two armies. I plan to recruit troops locally in Henan in the near future. I will try to recruit troops by the end of May. Previously, the full establishment of the three divisions of the Bianliang Military Region was completed. Dear generals, most of our Northern Expedition troops are from the south. Once the great cause of unifying the country is completed, many soldiers will return to the south. Therefore, in the future, the source of troops for the northern garrison will mainly rely on the north. Regarding this point, everyone must have no opinion; secondly, regarding the selection of the envoy of the Bianliang Military Region, generals, do you have any suggestions?"
As the candidate for the head coach of the first military region in the north, it is of great importance. Moreover, this issue is also relatively sensitive. Therefore, all the generals have not spoken out. No one is willing to be the one who stands out.
After a period of silence, the military commander Lu Wenhuan stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the general proposed that Mr. Jiang Wanzaijiang temporarily serve as the first commander and deputy commander of the Bianliang Military Region. The commander recommended the commander of the seventeenth wing. Let General Fan Tianshun take up the post. General Fan Liangfu can serve as the chairman of the Senate of the military region and the commander of one wing. As for the commanders of the other two wings, they can be selected from the local area."
I praised: "Very good. General Lu's suggestion is good. Do other generals have different opinions?"
Yin Yinglei said: "Your Majesty, I will add one last point. A group of students who are about to graduate from Lin'an Military University can be transferred to the Bianliang Military Region and let them serve as middle and lower-level generals."
"Well, General Yin's suggestion is also very good. Once you learn it, you must be able to put it into practice. Otherwise, you will become Zhao Kuo, who is just talking on paper." I saw that the others had no intention to continue talking, so I said, "Okay. I Agree with General Lu's proposal. General Fan Tianshun, the commander of the 17th Wing of our army, was transferred to the Bianliang Military Region as the deputy commander. General Niu Fu, the former deputy commander of the 17th Wing, was appointed as the commander of the 17th Wing. Gongsun Xiaochen .Tell Lu Xiufu what I mean and let him handle it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Third, as firearms become more and more abundant, I plan to mobilize some troops from the Northern Expeditionary Army on the central route to support the east route. General Xie Daolin. I have decided that you will lead the troops of the Second Division of the Royal Forest Army and two artillery battalions to the east. Road. Cooperate with Li Tingzhi's troops to take Shandong."
Xie Daolin said without hesitation: "Yes. I will obey the order."
Yin Yinglei said: "Your Majesty, General Li and General Xia on the East Route are on par with Mongolia's East Route Army. As long as we have the support of the Royal Forest Army and artillery, we can quickly recover the entire territory of Shandong. By then, .The Northern Expeditionary Army on my middle route and the eastern route gathered at the foot of Dadu City to capture Kublai Khan alive in one fell swoop."
I smiled and said: "General Yin. Don't forget that there is also Li Beiyang's Song Dynasty Navy."
Yin Yinglei chuckled and said: "That's right. Your Majesty, it will be the time when the three armies will meet in Dadu."
However, at this time, I did not expect that Li Beiyang did not follow the previous arrangements. Instead, he chose to land in the Sanshanpu area of the Liaodong Peninsula (now part of Dalian).
"Fourth. Regarding the situation in Mingzhou City, General Lu will work with the Senate to formulate a battle plan. As soon as Mingzhou is defeated, all of Hebei will be exposed to our army."