Chapter 550: The oil is exhausted and the lamp is not extinguished
Tai'an Prefecture is located at the southern foot of Mount Tai. Its name means "the country is peaceful and the people are safe". It is the only way from the south to Jinan Prefecture. On May 17, the three armies of the Northern Expeditionary Army on the East Road of the Song Dynasty successfully met in Tai'an Prefecture. After that, The army received Li Tingzhi's order to rest and recuperate on the spot. It was completely different from what most soldiers imagined. It did not go all out to continue marching north to launch the Jinan Campaign.
Although most of the road from Tai'an to Jinan is mountainous and rugged, there is also a plain for nearly twenty miles. This flat land is very suitable for the Mongolian cavalry. The situation is quite similar to that between Dengzhou and Nanyang. for similarity.
After discussion with other generals, Li Tingzhi, Xia Gui and other generals decided to follow Xie Daolin's suggestion and postpone the direct attack on Jinan Prefecture. They would report the situation to the emperor while stabilizing the areas that had been recovered.
Although it has a reorganized division of musketeers, compared with the Central Northern Expeditionary Army, Li Tingzhi's firearms are still far inferior.
During this period, officials at all levels sent by the Lin'an court to Henan arrived in Bianliang City one after another under the personal leadership of Wen Tianxiang, dean of the Government Affairs Council. Many of these officials were students who were about to graduate from Lin'an University. After a short training , graduated early and came to Henan with other transferred officials.
In Bianliang City, Wen Tianxiang discussed with Jia Sidao, Zhao Shunsun, Jiang Wanzai and others, and soon formulated the duties of these officials.
Although they cannot be compared with officials in later democratic societies, they are much improved compared to officials in the Yuan Dynasty. Especially the young people from Lin'an University are very passionate and have relatively advanced democratic awareness. They don't have too much official airs. The imperial court's policy tilt towards Henan allowed officials of the Song Dynasty to quickly win the support of the Han people in Henan.
For most people in ancient times, as long as they can meet the basic conditions of food, clothing, and housing, they can generally accept it. If the local parents and officials can be approachable and make decisions for the people, then they should recite Amitabha.
In the last years of the Jin Kingdom, politics was corrupt, and the Han people in the north were in dire straits. Although the Mongolian war to destroy the Jin Dynasty only took 23 years, it still caused great harm to the local people. After the Mongols took over, although There are many Han officials who love and care for the people, but Han and Mongolia are different after all. The lives of most Han people have not improved and they are living a very difficult life. In the past two years, with the beginning of the Song-Mongolian War, the Mongolian court's tax revenue has increased. As the tax increases, most of these newly increased taxes are passed on to ordinary people, making their lives even more difficult.
This is like a hungry and thirsty person who will burst into tears of gratitude as long as he gets a steamed bun. The Song Dynasty officials who took over the people not only gave them steamed buns, but also gave them a piece of meat, and even gave them the hope of a bowl of meat. Naturally, it was easy was supported.
Henan is a close neighbor of Hubei in the Southern Song Dynasty. In recent years, the lives of the Han people in the south have improved significantly, which has more or less given confidence to the fallen people. Wen Tianxiang not only brought a large number of officials, but also many recent people. In recent years, refugees have fled from Henan to the Xiangfan area. The return of these refugees has become the best way of publicity.
In Xiangfan, and even in the whole of Hubei, everyone has land to cultivate and something to do. The government's taxation is reasonable, which is enough to feed and clothe people. In their spare time, they can go to the city to work part-time to subsidize their families. If they have some skills, they can also Being able to get help from the government to carry out manual production, and most of the officials in the Song Dynasty would not bully the people, it was easier to get along with them than the fierce officials in the Yuan Dynasty.
Isn’t this what ordinary people want?
Since late April, the weather has become a bit sultry. Although it rains heavily every once in a while, it is still hotter every day.
In mid-May, in Anyang City.
"Your Majesty, it seems like it's going to rain again," said Gongsun Xiaochen, who had just come in from outside.
"Really?" I sat on a recliner and said lazily, "Xiao Chen, have you found out all about the distribution of the Yuan army in Hebei Province?"
"Your Majesty, after more than a month of inquiring, our military scouts, with the cooperation of local dragon teeth, have basically figured out the situation in Hebei," Gongsun Xiaochen took out a newly drawn military map of Hebei and said excitedly, " Your Majesty, please see, this is the result of the past two months,"
I got up and walked to the map and read it carefully. After reading it, Gongsun Xiaochen said: "Your Majesty, the main force of the Yuan army is concentrated in Mingzhou and Dadu. Among them, the troops stationed in Mingzhou are A Shu and Boyan's middle route army. In addition to the original 50,000 horses, nearly 10,000 new troops were added. There are more than 100,000 troops stationed in and around Dadu, including 25,000 Qixue troops and 30,000 elite cavalry troops. There are 40,000 people, and there are 10,000 capital guards. As for the garrison troops in other places, there are very few. The landforms in Hebei Province are complex and diverse. The terrain slopes from northwest to southeast. The northwest is mountainous, hilly and plateau. There are basins and valleys distributed, and the central and southeastern parts are vast plains. This is completely consistent with the university geography compiled by the emperor."
Speaking of this, Gongsun Xiaochen showed a hint of admiration.
"This is common geographical knowledge that all middle school students know," I thought to myself, and then smiled and said: "Once Mingzhou is defeated, we can approach Dadu. Xiaochen, Xiuyan, the political situation in Henan is now stable, now that we have figured it out Once you know the enemy's situation, you can go to war. Send the order and let the generals come here to discuss matters."
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
On the night when I held a military meeting to discuss continuing the journey north, Cai Enjiya and Yin Tianya from Dadu jointly conducted a celestial deduction.
It seems to be the first time that two of the most powerful Mongolian warlocks have joined forces to deduce.
This deduction was conducted in extremely secretive circumstances, and even Kublai Khan, the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, did not know about it.
At dawn, when the calculation was over, Yin Tianya, who looked exhausted, said to himself: "What does this mean?"
Cai Enjiya, who was also exhausted, said: "This kind of celestial phenomenon is very strange, and it is called 'the lamp is not extinguished when the oil is exhausted',"
"The lamp has not been extinguished even after the oil has run out," Yin Tianya said puzzledly, "there is still such a celestial situation."
Cai Enjiya nodded slightly and said: "I once saw a general treatise on celestial phenomena written by seniors in the Valley of the Kings in the Valley of the Kings. It contained seven lost celestial phenomena. One of them is that the lamp is not extinguished even after the oil is exhausted."
"Your Majesty, what does this celestial phenomenon mean?"
"According to common sense, when the oil is exhausted, the lamp will go out. To put it simply, the lamp is not extinguished when the oil is exhausted. It means that there is still one breath of change in a desperate situation. According to the meaning of the senior, it means that when you are in a desperate situation, you will A vision suddenly appears. It is difficult to say whether it is good or bad, but it will create a certain opportunity and instantly reverse the outcome. This situation may be what the Buddhist school during the Li and Tang dynasties called epiphany. ,"
"Sir, what is this opportunity?"
Cai Enjiya looked at the sky, shook his head and said, "I don't know this either."
After a while, Yin Tianya continued: "Sir, our dynasty is destined to be in a desperate situation."
Cai Enjiya sighed and said: "God's will has this sign. Although it may not necessarily lead to a desperate situation, it is an indisputable fact that the situation is not good. Although our muskets have been produced one after another, not to mention the effect. But the more powerful artillery and fire bombs have never been discovered."
"Your Majesty, what should we do?"
Cai Enjiya thought for a while, and suddenly her expression changed. She changed from her usual gentle and gentle look, and said with a fierce look in her eyes: "Although the Southern Emperor has many guards around him, and they are all masters, the one who can truly be called a peerless master is There is only one Yuan Ji, and together with Fang Chenqian, we have three people who can compete with Yuan Ji. One day, if our court is in dire straits, then the three of us will mix with the cavalry and attack Zhao Yu. The fortune of the Southern Emperor Star will be at its peak. , although there are many stars, but the core is Zhao Yu. As long as this person is eliminated, our dynasty will be able to turn the crisis into peace."
Yin Tianya couldn't help but shudder. Although what Cai Enjiya said was possible, even if the attack was successful, the three masters on his side would definitely be killed by the thousands of troops of the Southern Dynasty.
"Why, I don't want to," Cai Enjiya seemed to see through Yin Tianya's thoughts.
Yin Tianya hurriedly said: "No, Your Majesty, I am thinking about how the three of us can break through the firearms blockade of the Southern Dynasty army."
"Really?" Cai Enjiya smiled and said to the door, "Ah Da, go and call Ah Er."
After a while, Ah Er came inside and said, "Sir,"
"Ah Er, is there any progress with artillery and fire bombs?"
"My lord, my subordinates have searched through the documents in the palace and finally found the remaining information about the Jin people. According to these incomplete information, although the artillery of the Southern Dynasties and the Thunder Thunder are similar, their power is not the same. Also, therefore, my subordinates infer that the reason for its firing may be completely different. If there is no actual artillery, I have no clue. The same is true for fire bombs."
Cai Enjiya frowned and said: "Ah Er, if anyone asks, just say that it is being studied. Maybe, maybe there will be results soon. At present, we must give the Great Khan and the army confidence,"
"Yes, sir," Ah Er said, "What if the emperor asks?"
"It's the same thing," Ciengyago asserted.
"Yes, sir, I understand,"
"Okay, you go down first,"
After A'er left, Yin Tianya hesitated for a moment and said cautiously: "Supreme Lord, I'd like to ask if we should be prepared to withdraw to the desert."
"In the end of the world, the rise and fall is determined by heaven. Although God's will is like this, as shamans and gods, we must also do our best. Judging from the current situation, Zhao Fu is indeed the leader of the Han people. The firearms of the Southern Dynasties are likely to be According to the guardian in the Valley of the Kings, this is something we cannot compete with. You are right, we should prepare early. Ah Da, go and call Fa Jue and Xiaosi."