Dieri took a bite of the jerky and scolded: "Straight lady thief, I have come all the way south for nearly two hundred miles, and I don't see a single family." Did these Song people all move into the city? In the villages and towns here, even if the people are gone, there should be food left, but they can't find it! ”

The pro-soldier on one side said: "Food is the lifeblood of farmers, how can they stay?" Not far to the east is Qianfu Village, many people boiled salt in the past years in this area, and they were all salt people. Now in winter, they can't do any work, and recruiting them to the city is exactly what they want. ”

"There are reeds everywhere here, send a few people to shoot some game, so that you can eat some meat and warm your body." ”

The soldiers listened to the order and went to arrange people. Wild ducks are everywhere in this area, and it's not difficult to shoot.

The Khitan soldiers on one side are all eating fried rice there. This is their most common military ration, and most of the soldiers carry it. The nearby well water has an astringent smell and tastes bad. However, most of the Khitan soldiers were hard-working and didn't care.

Not long after, a few soldiers brought a few wild ducks, made a fire, and roasted them. Dieri took a sip of wine, looked at the beating firelight, and didn't speak for a while. I knew that the Song Dynasty was strong and clear, but when I really went south, I was surprised to find that there was no family outside the city, and there was not a single grain of food. I never thought that the Song Dynasty would be able to do it so thoroughly. How much does it cost?

In fact, it is mainly people who are taken away by Jianbi Qingye, how can all the grain be transported away? Especially here in Cangzhou, the land is vast and sparsely populated, and there are a large number of salt farms, so the distance to transport grain is too far. In fact, most of the grain in the villages and towns is hidden nearby. If there is a cave, or a marked place, dig a hole and bury it. When the Khitans retreated, the people came back and dug it up again. It's just that the Khitans are not familiar with the place, and they are in a hurry and can't find it. For the Khitans, if they can't find food, the journey is extremely difficult.

In addition to bringing their own rations, the soldiers also had to bring horse feed, and each person had to bring dozens of catties of grain. In the army, there were basically one man and two horses, taking turns to change horses, not attacking the town, and galloping all the way to the south. When the Song army in the city saw it, they did not go out of the city to chase after them, and let them leave.

Early the next morning, Dieri had to turn over his horse and ask his soldiers: "All the way to the south, how long will it take to lead the Yongjing army?" ”

The soldiers forked their hands: "There are still three hundred miles." However, if there is a Song army out of the city to intercept, it is difficult to say. ”

Dieri pouted: "Which one dares to go out of the city to fight?" The Song army along the way was frightened by us! The army marches forward, as long as it reaches a place where there are no strong walls and clear fields, it is a good day! The Song Dynasty has always been rich, and when the time comes, Erlang will grab a game, and he will have what he wants!"

The army cheered yes, startling a nearby crowd of birds.

In Hejian Mansion, Liu Ji walked into Shuai Si quickly, and bowed his hand to Du Zhongxiao: "Taiwei, the Khitan people stayed near Qianfu Village last night, and they should be able to reach Cangzhou today." Cangzhou guards the official document in the future, and will close the city gate and not fight with it. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "It's okay if you don't fight." If the Khitans want to attack our weak points, let them take a good walk. Two days ago, the Yongjing Army had been ordered to clear the walls of several states, and when they arrived, they could not grab a little food. If they don't finish the food they bring there, we'll have the southern states lock down again. If you want to grab food, you will starve them to death! ”

Liu Jidao: "When they arrive at the Yongjing Army, it is impossible for them to move forward. An army of 10,000 people, with a maximum of ten days of rations, and then go south, they will really starve to death. It's just that the defenders around the Yongjing Army are not strong, and if the Khitan forcibly attacks the city, I don't know if they can hold it. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "10,000 cavalry, hundreds of miles south, without siege equipment. If you can't keep it for a few days, what use will it be! The imperial court has sent Shisanlang to lead 50,000 soldiers along the railway to Qizhou. The Khitans went further south and ran head-on. ”

Liu Jianji was taken aback: "Sent troops to Jingdong Road?" If we can block it head-on, our army will advance eastward, and we can completely annihilate the Khitans! ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "According to the report from the front, the Khitan army of more than 300,000 has gathered in the Xin'an Army, and it is estimated that it will soon go south." The 10,000 Khitan cavalry in front may just be their vanguard. What we need to pay attention to is the Khitan army. It is because of your soldiers and horses here, you must hold on and wait until the Khitan army goes south, and then go to meet it. ”

Liu Ji thought for a while and said, "The Khitan is not good at attacking cities. Even with hundreds of thousands of troops, they still can't break through the city. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The Khitan just doesn't want to attack the city. If the army goes south from the Xin'an army, there is no army stationed there, and the army must always be sent to meet the attack, so let the Khitans go all the way to Jingdong Road? The idea of the Khitan fight is only afraid that it is a field war with our army. ”

Speaking of this, Du Zhongxiao pointed to the map and said: "The battlefield of the Khitan candidates, according to my estimate, is here - Cangzhou!" ”

Looking at the map, Liu Jianji was a little puzzled: "Why Cangzhou?" It's not a land, if the Khitans attack, we just let it go. If they break through, they will only break an unimportant city, and they will naturally retreat in the spring. ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "By now, the Khitan should see clearly that they can't win this battle." If Cangzhou can be breached, what if the spring army retreats? Always breaching the city, it is not considered a failure. The 700,000 army gathered in Youzhou, and the Khitans wanted to retreat, but it was not easy to retreat. If there is a victory, no one will say anything if you go back. After these few days of fighting, the Khitans understand that if they can't break through our heavily guarded city, how can they win this battle? It's good to be able to win a game, and there is an explanation inside and outside. ”

Liu Ji looked at the map, and after a while, he said, "What Taiwei said also makes sense." If not, what is the use of them going south from the Xin'an Army? It is only suitable for partial division attacks, and it makes no sense for the army to go there. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "If we don't aid Cangzhou, the Khitan army of hundreds of thousands can fill it with human lives, and we can also fill people on the city wall." If our army goes to the rescue, it will be in the field with us. As long as they don't attack the city, I'm afraid the Khitans will still have the confidence to fight. ”

Liu Ji shook his head: "The field is not afraid of them. When the three armies of Dou Shunqing, Liu Jianji and Jia Kui arrive, plus the soldiers and horses trained by Hebei Road this year, our army of more than 200,000 is just fighting to the death with them! ”

Du Zhongxiao let out a sigh: "This matter is not urgent. Wait until the army comes, and then discuss it slowly. If the Khitan army goes south, this battle will be decided! Just win them, I'm afraid it's not enough. Go and call Zhao Zi, let's discuss. ”

Zhao Zi entered the official hall and sat down below. Du Zhongxiao said: "The Khitan army of hundreds of thousands has arrived near the Xin'an army and will go south at any time. How the Khitans will attack and how we will defend must be carefully considered. ”

Zhao Zi said: "I have ordered Dou Shunqing, Liu Jianji and Jia Kui to take the train to Hejian Mansion." Six days later, the three armies should arrive. At that time, we will have five armies with a total of about 200,000 people to face the Khitan. If you add the army trained by Hebei Luyuan, it is not far behind. ”

Du Zhongxiao waved his hand: "The two armies are fighting, and it is not appropriate to only look at the number of people. In the front, the Khitan attacked the mouth of the Great Wall, and the 50,000 army did nothing, which can already be seen. If it's not the Khitan 100,000 people, we have 100,000 people, and the two sides will be evenly matched. Rather, it depends on how many armies of each side can be equal in strength when they exchange troops and fight normally. The number of people can deceive, don't be sure! ”

Zhao Zi said: "According to what Taiwei said, there are more than 300,000 Khitan people, how many troops can we match?" ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "To tell you the truth, we didn't work much on this matter before, and now I can't say it well." But one thing is certain, our 200,000 troops will definitely be able to defeat the Khitan 300,000 army. What will happen if there are fewer people, then I can't say. ”

Liu Jidao: "In this way, if the three armies are transferred, we will have a victory over the Khitan." ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "There must be a victory!" And if the whole army attacked, it would not be difficult to defeat them head-on. The difficulty is that the Khitan army is all cavalry, how can they be kept after defeat! ”

Liu Ji was stunned: "Does the captain want to destroy the Khitan army in one battle?" ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Not bad!" This is a good opportunity, the Khitan army is coming, if it can be annihilated here, the Khitan will no longer have the strength to fight. Whether our existing army can do it, whether it has the strength or not, I don't know the bottom of my heart now. ”

Liu Ji looked at Zhao Zi, and both of them were shocked. Unexpectedly, Du Zhongxiao had this thought. The first battle wiped out the main Khitan force, all 700,000 troops, this scale has never been seen. If it is really done, this battle is rare in history.

The Song Dynasty was on Hebei Road, and now there are two or three hundred thousand troops, can it really be done? Liu Ji and Zhao Zi were both a little unconvinced.