aircannonsinc Chapter 165 Discussing the Takeover of Shandong
Chapter 165 Discussing the Takeover of Shandong
Chapter 165 Discussing the Takeover of Shandong
As Zhao Kuo listened to his wife's arrangements, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He stopped abruptly, looked up at the north, his face no longer showing any hesitation, only coldness.
"Third brother, don't blame me," he said softly. "This throne is rightfully mine."
Outside Shou Kang Palace, in the shadows of a side hall.
Wang Huai'an sat cross-legged in the shadows, his eyes closed and his ears twitching slightly.
He heard every word of the conversation between the couple inside the hall.
Ever since Zhao Yu left the capital, he has been personally overseeing Shou Kang Palace on the orders of Lin Chaoying.
During this period, he diligently practiced the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual, and with Zhao Yu's guidance on internal energy cultivation, his progress was extremely rapid, given his existing martial arts foundation. His six senses were also far superior to before.
Even through a palace wall, the whispers inside the hall could be heard clearly.
Once there was no more movement inside, Wang Huai'an slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.
He picked up a pen and laid out paper, quickly writing down all the plots he had just overheard, put them in an envelope, sealed it with sealing wax, and handed it to the little eunuch beside him.
"Send it to Kunning Palace immediately and present it to the Emperor. This is a matter of great importance and must not be made a mistake."
"yes!
'
The young eunuch took the letter, bowed, and quickly disappeared into the night.
Inside the Kunning Palace, Lin Chaoying was sitting under the lamp reading a book.
Dressed in plain, simple clothes, with her long hair loosely tied up, her cool and aloof face gained a touch of softness in the candlelight.
Lin Hongyu strode in and presented the secret letter: "Miss, this is an urgent letter from Wang Daban."
Lin Chaoying took the letter, opened it, glanced at it, and paused slightly.
"I couldn't hold back any longer."
She lit the letter over the candle flame and watched it slowly turn to ashes.
"Red Jade".
"Miss?
'
"Go to the cabinet and tell Huang Laoxie that the fish have taken the bait and it's time to reel them in as planned."
"yes!
'
Lin Hongyu bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quickly left.
The hall fell silent again. Lin Chaoying looked up at the northern night sky, her eyes filled with tranquility.
While Zhao Yu fought valiantly at the front, she was responsible for dealing with the demons and monsters behind him.
This grand drama should come to an end.
Inside the city of Zaoyang, in the council hall of the temporary commander's mansion, officers and soldiers gathered.
A large map hangs on the wall, with passes, prefectures and counties clearly marked.
After a two-week rest, the Song soldiers had recovered from the fatigue of days of bloody battles. They stood tall with their eyes shining with the vigor of a great victory.
Wang Chongyang stood before the map, pointing to the area north of Xiangyang: "Your Majesty, after news of the great victory at Zaoyang spread, Tangzhou..."
More than ten county towns within Dengzhou changed hands, their garrison troops either fleeing or surrendering to the Great Song Dynasty. Along the way, the people welcomed the royal army with food and drink.
"However, the Jurchens reacted quickly. The troops stationed on the northwestern border have begun to move southeast, and reinforcements have been added to all the passes along the way. If we continue north, every step will be difficult."
,
Upon hearing this, the generals below the hall all became more solemn.
Although Wanyan Kuang's army was defeated, the Jin state was still large and had a strong foundation. If the whole country were to fight, it would still be a formidable enemy.
Zhao Yu, seated in the main seat, chuckled upon hearing this: "When Wanyan Kuang led his army to the border, I didn't find it difficult at all. Now that we've won a battle, are we suddenly becoming hesitant and timid?"
He glanced at the crowd and said, "If the Jurchens can come, we can fight them. My ministers need not worry. I am confident that we will fight our way back to Kaifeng."
"Your Majesty is mighty!"
Qiu Qianren immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and proclaimed loudly, "Your Majesty's strategic brilliance has led to a decisive victory against the Jin army with fewer troops. With Your Majesty in command, the mere Jin people are nothing to worry about. This humble general is willing to serve as the vanguard and clear the way for the army!"
The generals echoed their sentiments, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively.
Zhao Yu raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, then looked at Wang Chongyang: "Continue, besides military intelligence, how are the logistics and supplies?"
'
Regarding provisions and supplies—
Wang Chongyang paused for a moment: "The surrounding prefectures have all sent provisions, cattle, and sheep to reward the troops, and the quantities are quite large. However, the provisions and pay sent from Lin'an are three days late. Minister Lei replied that there were some errors in the allocation of grain transport along the way, and that it will be made up in another three to five days."
He pointed to Dasanguan Pass on the west side of the map: "If our army advances westward in the future, Dasanguan Pass will be the only way through. It is still in the hands of the Jin people. When the army penetrates deep into the territory, the supply lines will be long, and we must be vigilant against the Jin people harassing the supply lines."
Zhao Yu's eyes flickered slightly, and he understood.
The delay in the delivery of grain and provisions to Lin'an was not due to any problems with the grain transport.
The time bomb he planted himself is finally about to explode. Zhao Kuo is probably getting impatient and wants to make a move from the rear.
He remained calm and waved his hand, saying, "There's no need to worry about supplies. The autumn harvest has just been completed, and the granaries in each prefecture are still sufficient. We can't cut off the army's supply lines. As long as we protect the supply lines, logistics will be fine."
,
The generals were all seasoned veterans and knew that Zhao Yu was right, so they said no more.
However, when it came to the strategy for advancing the troops, a disagreement arose in the hall.
"Your Majesty."
Wang Chongyang spoke first, his expression solemn: "In my opinion, our army should take advantage of the victory and advance westward, first capturing Dasanguan Pass, and then marching straight to Chang'an along the Chencang Road. Guanzhong is a fertile plain with a strategic location. Once we take Chang'an, we can hold the pass and recuperate for several years before heading east out of Tongguan Pass to attack Kaifeng. This step-by-step approach is the safest course of action."
As soon as he finished speaking, many veterans nodded in agreement.
The Guanzhong Plain is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and has been the foundation of imperial power since ancient times.
Taking Guanzhong after a great victory is indeed in line with the current situation of the Song army.
But Zhao Yu shook his head.
He stood up, walked to the map, and pointed eastward along the Huai River, finally landing heavily on the Shandong region.
"My intention is not to take Guanzhong, but to take Shandong first."
These words caused an uproar in the hall.
Wang Chongyang's expression also changed, and he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Taking Shandong is too risky, and the consequences are numerous."
"Shandong has many plains and open fields, which are advantageous for the Jurchen cavalry to roam. Our army is mostly composed of infantry, which is disadvantageous in open field battles. Furthermore, Shandong is rich and has been cultivated by the Jurchens for many years. They will not give it up easily and will surely send a large army to fight for it."
,
"If our main force moves north to Shandong, Henan to the west will be left undefended. If the Jin army marches out from Nanjing and advances east to Suzhou and Sizhou, they will be able to cut off our retreat and supply lines. At that time, our army will be attacked from both sides and will be in grave danger."
Wang Chongyang's words hit the nail on the head, and the generals below discussed among themselves, most of whom felt that advancing westward into Guanzhong was the best strategy.
After the murmurs subsided, Zhao Yu slowly spoke: "General Wang's words are not without reason. But in my opinion, taking Shandong has three advantages, far surpassing Guanzhong."
"Firstly, there are numerous righteous armies rising up in Shandong, with the Red Turban Army and other groups gaining considerable strength and continuously resisting the Jurchens. If I were to use my imperial name to offer them pacification and promises of official positions, they would surely respond in droves. With this combined effort from within and without, taking Shandong would be twice as easy."
"Secondly, Shandong is the former territory of the Song Dynasty, and the people's hearts are with the Song. The people have suffered under the Jin for a long time, and when the royal army arrives, they will surely welcome them with food and drink. With the help of the people, food and supplies will not be a problem."
,
"Thirdly, I have the advantage of a navy. Deploying troops and transporting grain along the Huai River and the Grand Canal is far more convenient than taking the Shu Road. Although the supply line is long, it is safe because of the availability of boats."
He went on to explain, and the murmurs in the hall gradually subsided, with many people looking thoughtful.