Chapter 294 When to Use Is a Science

Within a month, the Liao Kingdom successively captured three important towns: Bazhou, Xiongzhou, and Baoding.

Half of the country in the north was in danger. The sons of the Han family were brutally slaughtered, and the women were made into slaves and prostitutes for the Liao people to humiliate and entertain.

No matter the scholar-bureaucrats who were well-read in poetry or the common people living at the lowest level, at this moment, they all became the four-legged slaves of the Liao people.

The men were tied up with iron chains and used as civilian husbands to support the Liao army.

Women were naked and gathered in the streets. If a Liao soldier fell in love with a certain woman, no matter what her previous status was, she would become a tool for showing off.

However, what is surprising is that those Liao people did not attack the children.

They gathered unenlightened children together and began to transmit a terrifying concept in their minds - the Liao Kingdom was the only orthodox country in the Central Plains, and the Great Zhou Dynasty was exhausted!

For a time, not only some state capitals in the North, but also Bianjing and even the entire Central Plains were in panic.

Only on the Jiangnan side, people were still singing and dancing and were not affected by the war at all.

It was only then that the scholar-bureaucrats in the capital suddenly realized that this war was not just a local conflict.

The Liao Kingdom really wanted to take over the Central Plains and become the next orthodox regime to succeed the Central Plains Dynasty.

This is no longer a simple national war, but a competition between civilization and barbarism. It is a war that will determine the future direction of the Central Plains.

At this moment, people in Bianjing City were in panic.

Prince Zhao Xi appointed Xu Changzhi as the general of Zhenbei, leading 200,000 cavalry to rush to the aid of Hejian and calm the two prefectures, officially kicking off the campaign against Liao and Xia.

One country is fighting two countries, and the war is on three fronts at the same time. The imperial court is under great pressure.

In Zhao Zhen's bedroom.

Prince Zhao Xi sat in front of the dragon couch, sometimes looking like he was hesitant to speak.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen, who had just woken up, couldn't help but sigh and said after listening to Wang Anshi's report on some state capitals in the North.

"My dear son, Mo Ruofu, I know that you want Wei Yuan to return to the capital?"

Zhao Xi nodded, "With this kind of national war, Marquis Zhongyong should not be allowed to remain idle."

Zhao Zhen nodded slightly, "You have to use it, but when to use it and how to use it. This is a science. You have to judge the situation."

Zhao Xi frowned, stood up and cupped his hands and said, "Father, please teach me."

Zhao Zhen shook his head and said: "This battle is a disaster for our country, as well as for you and my father and son, but it is even more of a disaster for you."

"How to fight this battle and how to employ people is your own decision. As a father, I believe in you."

He did not call himself ‘Father’.

Zhao Xi took a deep breath and said, "My son, I understand. What your father means is that it is not the time to use the Marquis of Wei yet?"

Zhao Zhen remained silent.

Zhao Xi did not dare to disturb his rest, and then exited the hall with Wang Anshi.

He asked in confusion: "My father has promised to let Mr. Wei return to Beijing, but my father does not want Mr. Wei to return to Beijing as soon as possible."

"In terms of fighting, Young Master Wei is stronger than General Xu, and even better than General Qin. Why not send the guards back to the capital in time?"

"As long as the guards can lead the troops, I believe that our army and people of the Great Zhou Dynasty will lose many lives."

Wang Anshi stroked his beard and said, "Official officials say that when to use a Weihou is a science."

"I'm guessing without permission. At this time of crisis, someone needs to stand up and turn the tide, and this person cannot be the Marquis of Wei."

"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince transfers the Marquis of Wei to the capital and entrusts him with important tasks, then the people will only take credit for the victory of the Liao Xia after they defeat the Marquis of Wei."

"If the situation is really critical, His Highness the Crown Prince will defy all opinions and transfer the Marquis of Wei back to the capital, and personally sit in the center and direct the overall situation. By then, the credit for repelling Liao Xia will only be attributed to the Crown Prince."

"When the crown prince succeeds to the throne, even if you are young, no one from the officials of the country and even the barbarians inside and outside dare to say that the new king of our country can be bullied at his young age."

As a minister, Wang Anshi said these words, which was already treason.

But he needed to give Zhao Xi an explanation.

Otherwise, Zhao Xi would have eagerly recalled Wei Yuan to the capital the moment he entered the Xuanzheng Hall.

Zhao Xi frowned and said: "Because of me? Because of the so-called overall situation? What if the front is defeated?"

Wang Anshi bowed and said: "The situation is still controllable now, but it has not reached the point where it is uncontrollable."

Zhao Xi said: "Master Wang, have you calculated how many more people will die?"

Wang Anshi shook his head.

Zhao Xi said: "Since the fall of Bazhou and Xiongzhou, there have been accounts that you haven't calculated, but I have."

"There are nearly 400,000 dead and injured people in the North. This is only the number reported by the Imperial City Division. Are there any who have not been reported?"

Wang Anshi was stunned.

He did not expect that Zhao Xi would pay attention to such a number.

"You guys always talk about the common people in the world. In fact, the people who pay the least attention to the common people in the world are you, including me."

Having said this, Zhao Xi slowly exhaled a breath and continued:

"You are right. The credit for this battle to defend the country cannot fall into the hands of the guards. I must seize it with my own hands."

"No matter how many people die in this battle, I will use ten years to compensate the people of the North."

Having said this, Zhao Xi slowly closed his eyes and said in a deep voice:

"Master Wei, you often tell me that there is nothing more important than life for all people in the world. Human life is greater than the world, the country, and the country. I deeply believe this, but human life is not as important as the overall situation."

Wang Anshi remained silent.

He was thinking that the prince was only nine years old this year.

A nine-year-old child's mind is already so complex. In the future, he will either become the emperor of the ages, or he will be someone like Emperor Yang of Sui or King Zhou of Shang.

Fortunately, the Prince's Young Master was not someone else, but Wang Anshi himself.

Everything is still too late.

As long as the prince does not go astray, that is enough.

But Wang Anshi never thought that because of some so-called overall situation, leaving a general who had experienced hundreds of battles in Jiangnan was already a crooked path.

In early December of the seventh year of Jiayou's reign, Xu Changzhi went north under the order and started a battle with the main force of Liao general Yelu Xinxian at Qizhou City on Jingdong Road.

Because Xu Changzhi had traveled a long way and was exhausted, he lost the first battle and retreated to Qizhou City. It happened to be rainy and snowy, which delayed Yelu Xin's advance in attacking the city.

This was also the largest large-scale, large-corps battle in which the Liao army captured the most territory in the Zhou Dynasty since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty.

Although Xu Changzhi returned from the first battle defeated, his strategic purpose had been achieved, which was to hold off the enemy in the Yucheng and Linyi area for seven days, cut off Yelu Xinxian and Yelu Renxian's plan to join forces, and reduce the pressure of the war in various regions of the Central Plains.

In late December of the seventh year of Jiayou's reign, Yang Huairen was ordered to lead the Shun'an army to defend Gaoyang City and confront Yelv Ren head-on.

In the same month, there was heavy snow in the north. Yang Huairen thought that it would be impossible for Yelvren to attack the city again.

At this time, Gaoyang City was on the way.

Yang Huairen and Pan Shu, the eldest son of the Korean father-in-law, are currently inspecting Gaoyang City.

According to folk rumors, there are many conflicts between the two grandmothers.

In fact, there are not too many conflicts between the Yang family and the Pan family. After all, they are both from Wuxun families, so how can there be any inextricable hatred?

"General Yang, the snow fell just in time. I think Yelvren didn't dare to attack the city for a while."

Pan Shu said with a smile.

Yang Huairen stood on the top of the city, looking into the distance, and he also thought deeply:

"As long as we hold on until the end of the year, when all the armies arrive, we can fight back. By then, these barbarians will be allowed to flee wherever they come from."

Pan Shu said: "We don't have to worry too much here. There is also Fu Guogong in Daizhou who is personally in charge."

"What I'm afraid of now is whether General Xu can hold on. As long as the two armies of Yelu and Yelu are not united, we can drag the Liao army to death even if this battle is delayed."

Nowadays, half of Hedong Road has been lost, and Qizhou is also facing an embarrassing situation with no danger to defend.

If there hadn't been a heavy snowfall that froze the city, it would have been difficult for the Liao soldiers to launch a large-scale siege.

Otherwise, for Xu Changzhi, the best way is to fight while retreating, and use the favorable terrain and strategic depth of Jingdong Road to fight a protracted war with the Liao army.

The Liao army's front line is getting longer and longer, and there must be problems with their logistical supplies.

And with Xu Changzhi's backing to the land of plenty in the south of the Yangtze River, he would definitely have plenty of money and food. This was his biggest advantage.

But looking at the overall situation, even if the two Yelu tribes cannot join forces, the Imperial Army troops of the Great Zhou Dynasty have been scattered by the Yelu tribes. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are fighting independently, and it is difficult to effectively unite them into a rope to unite their combat power. Collapse on the line.

At this moment, the scout came to report urgently, "General Yang, Yelvren ordered the camp to be pulled out first."

strike camp?

Pan Shu frowned deeply and said: "The road is blocked by heavy snow, and their horses cannot move fast. Once they get stuck in the deep snow, they will be lambs to be slaughtered. Where have they gone? Could it be that they have withdrawn?"

The scout said: "Heading towards Mozhou."

Mozhou?

Yang Huairen was shocked and turned pale. He quickly came to Wengcheng and opened the detailed mountain map of Hedong and Jingdong Road. He stared in the direction of Mozhou City and asked:

"Have the Jing'an troops stationed in several important towns in Nanpi and Linjin been transferred away by General Xu?"

Mozhou is only more than 200 miles away from Gaoyang City, which Yang Huairen is responsible for guarding.

All the way south from Mozhou, thousands of miles of fertile land belong to Hedong Road.

Hedong Road is an important province guarding the Central Plains.

Pan Shu nodded thoughtfully, "It seems so."

"In other words, Hedong Road, Nanpi and other important towns have no troops to defend?" Yang Huairen said as if facing a formidable enemy:

"If the Liao army penetrates Hedong Road and Jingdong Road, Bianjing will be in danger!"

The so-called Hedong Road, Jingdong Road and other areas are today's Hebei, Shandong and other places.

Now, the Liao army's intention is very clear, that is, to first capture parts of Shandong and Hebei, and then launch a general offensive into the Central Plains, echoing the Xia army that is invading the border.

After understanding the main strategic intention of the Liao army, Yang Huairen believed that the next thing would be much easier to handle.

"General Pan, I will give you 80,000 troops. We must rush to Nanpi at starry night. We must last until after the New Year."

This heavy snowfall is a double-edged sword.

It also caused problems for the transportation of materials within Dazhou.

For example, if there is heavy snow, it will be difficult to travel through the canal, and the water conservancy aspect will be lost.

And if the snow accumulates thickly, it may be difficult to travel by land.

Now, the enemy and we are fighting to see who can survive to the end and who can survive this period of heavy snow.

Pan Shu bowed and said, "It won't be too late. I'll set off right now."

"Damn it, since the Liao army went south, we have been led by their noses. To be honest, it's so damn uncomfortable!"

After complaining, Pan Shu received the general order and went to order the general.

How could Yang Huairen not know about his complaints?

Yes, since they decided to fight the war on multiple fronts, every step they took was led by the Liao army. At this moment, they urgently needed a backbone who could carry the banner.

Now, nominally, the supreme commander of the Great Zhou against the enemy is Qin Lie, but even young generals like Yang Huairen do not obey him, what's the use?

In addition to the active resistance of the Liao army in the north, the battle in Xixia is also in full swing.

Fortunately, the main task of Xixia is to contain the 300,000 lions in Yanbian of the Great Zhou, so the war did not decide the winner for a while, but fell into a state of anxiety.

It is worth mentioning here that no matter whether the military report written by Yang Huairen and Xu Changzhi is to be sent to Daizhou or Bianjing, it is indispensable to write another copy to Jiangnan.

At this time, although Wei Yuan is still in Jiangnan, in his heart, there is always an extremely detailed strategic planning blueprint.

Whether it is his own side or the enemy.

Suzhou, Taihu Villa.

Except for eating, Wei Yuan has been living in the room with the sand table.

At this moment, in the room, he is interpreting the military deployment of the Liao army.

Today, the main direction of the Liao Kingdom's attack is still the prefectures of Hedong and Jingdong Road.

Wei Yuan once asked himself, if he led his troops south, the first place he would occupy would also be part of the areas of Jingdong and Hedong.

Only in this way can the Liao Kingdom take the initiative in the war and be able to attack and defend.

But Wei Yuan always felt that the real goal of the Liao Kingdom was not Qizhou.

Even if Qizhou was taken away, what would happen?

Because he couldn't figure this out, he simply asked Lin Zhaoyuan and Chen Daniu beside him,

"If you were the Liao army and wanted to attack the city of Bianjing, what would you do?"

Chen Daniu was very reckless, "What else can you do? Just gnaw on one city after another."

Lin Zhaoyuan fell into deep thought, and after a long time, he responded:

"Open a route for transporting supplies, and then rely on the occupied towns to fight and support the war. It would be best to be able to directly break through the Hebei East Road area."

The so-called Hedong Road and Jingdong Road are both large roads, that is, larger provincial political area divisions.

In these large provinces, there are also some branches, such as Hebei East Road and Hebei West Road mentioned by Lin Zhaoyuan. In fact, from the overall situation, they belong to Hedong Road.

The reason why it is so complicated is that the transformation from roads to roads has not been thorough, resulting in detailed and complicated divisions of administrative regions.

"What did you just say?"

During Lin Zhaoyuan's conversation, Wei Yuan entered a state of selfless thinking, so that he did not listen too carefully to what the other party said.

Lin Zhaoyuan had to narrate it again, "Build a route for transporting materials, and then fight to support the war?"

Wei Yuan shook his head, "The last sentence?"

The last sentence?

Lin Zhaoyuan clasped his fists and said, "I am also joking. After all, it is not easy to drill through the entire Hebei East Road."

Hebei East Road?

Suddenly, Wei Yuan's pupils shrank, and he stood in front of the Great Zhou topography map in an instant. Then, he clenched his five fingers into a fist and placed it heavily in the direction of Hebei East Road,

"Damingfu!"

Damingfu? !

Beijing City?

The real purpose of the Liao army is to attack Damingfu?

Are they crazy, or is the Marquis crazy?

If we take Daming Mansion directly, it will easily lead to an ambush from all sides!