Xiongzhou's newly established Shuai Si, Du Zhongxiao, Fu Bi and Zhao Zi sat together, looking at the official documents sent back from the front. Today, the whole army was dispatched, and hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Juma River and headed straight for the Khitan. Jingtai's army is farther away, and the public civilization day has only arrived. The other armies all set out from the vicinity of Xiongzhou, and there was an official document back on the same day to report the state of the march.

Putting down the official document, Du Zhongxiao said: "Zhang Qi went to Yongqing, and he was not blocked all the way. He said in his official document that the people he saw on the road were extremely difficult because of the Khitan grain requisition. After marching for dozens of miles, the people did not have a grain of surplus grain, and most of the people survived by eating tree roots. I heard that in recent months, I don't know how many people have died on the other side of the river. When the people saw the army of this dynasty, they all knelt down to greet them, thinking that the king's teacher could save them from fire and water. ”

Fu Bi sighed: "I only know that it is not easy for the Khitan to collect grain, but I didn't expect it to reach this level." In the land of a state, the people have no surplus food, and even the seeds that come to see have been requisitioned. Such a situation is unexpected. ”

Zhao Zi said: "When the army goes out, the most convenient thing is actually to collect grain and grass on the spot. Relying on transporting grain from behind, three or five hundred miles is fine, but it is difficult to travel thousands of miles. Although we are well prepared, there are also countless difficulties. Youzhou is like this, the people have no surplus grain, isn't it comparable to the strong walls and clear fields of this dynasty? ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "That's true." It seems that the scope of this battle cannot be too large, otherwise the pressure of grain and grass will be unbearable. Originally, I thought that if the war went well, I would take advantage of the victory to advance north and take the Khitan Zhongjing Road. Forget it, it's enough to occupy Youzhou. ”

Fu Bi said: "Yes, if you want to go north, you must rest in Youzhou for a year." From Xiongzhou to Youzhou, a total of more than 200 miles, we can support the grain and grass. If you cross Yanshan, it will be much more difficult. ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head, and could only let go of the ambitions of the previous days. The scope of this battle could not be expanded, and it was better to use Youzhou and Cangzhou as the battlefields and do everything possible to eliminate the main Khitan forces. Elsewhere, let's wait until next year. If there is a railway to Youzhou, it will be much easier to go north. Under the technical conditions of this era, the railway could only be repaired to Youzhou, and then to the north, it was very difficult.

Zhao Zi said: "Jia Kui came to report that Rongcheng County fired a few cannons, and the army in the city surrendered the city." The new city was even smoother, and as soon as the army reached the city, the county commander in the city sent people out to dedicate the city. In one day, he connected two cities, and he was like a companion army. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The Khitan has transferred all the troops to Cangzhou, and there are very few defenders in the cities of Youzhou. This is not surprising, the Khitan originally thought that the southward march of the army was unstoppable, and there was no response to the counteroffensive of the current dynasty. It seems that Youzhou is now a dilapidated house, and if you go up and kick it, the house will collapse. ”

Fu Bi and Zhao Zi laughed when they heard this. Originally, today was the first day of the army, and everyone was very nervous and worried about the day. After listening to Du Zhongxiao's words, the atmosphere relaxed.

This is indeed the case with the current Khitan, which has been overdrawn, just waiting for the Song army to come forward and take their lives.

In this era, traffic is slow, and information flows slowly. It is difficult for people's minds to keep up with the drastic changes of the times. In the eyes of the Khitans, they are still the invincible empire, and the military strength of the Song Dynasty is by no means comparable to themselves. Even those who have doubts will be brought to this inherent understanding by the general environment. In fact, with the Song army's achievements over the years, the Khitan should not have gone south at all. But all kinds of factors are tangled together, that is, no one raised this point, and still chose to raise the country's army.

When they went south, the Khitans knew that Youzhou could not support hundreds of thousands of people. Their plan was to quickly go south, plunder after entering the Song Realm, and support their army. Even if you can't capture Kaifeng Mansion, just like the Battle of Lanzhou, and finally retreat, you can loot a lot of property. No matter how you calculate it, it will not be a loss-making business. Unexpectedly, the Song army was strong and clear, and the city was particularly difficult to break, and hundreds of thousands of troops found nothing in the Song realm. All the grain and grass needed had to be transported from the mainland, and Youzhou was the hardest hit recently.

In the current Youzhou, except for a small number of Khitan loyal ministers, most of them have long been eager for the Song army to come. If the Song army does not come, the difficulty of supplying Khitan military supplies is really unbearable.

Outside the Yongjing Army, Shisanlang said to Liu Lian: "Tai Lieutenant, this is going to Cangzhou, it is said that we should divide into two roads." It's just that I am a cavalryman, and your department is an infantry, and the two armies are separated, and it is not beneficial. Why don't you just join forces in one place, and my cavalry will be on your left and right flanks, and how about taking the Khitan directly? ”

Liu Jian said: "This is the best. Cangzhou has more than 200,000 Khitan soldiers and horses, and we can only compete with them by joining forces. Shuai Si ordered us to hold back the Khitans and prevent their main force from returning north, which is not easy to do. ”

Thirteen Lang said: "Not necessarily. Judging from the previous examples of fighting on Hequ Road, when it comes to the number of 50,000 troops, it is like the Khitan army, and no matter how many troops there are, it is useless. It's just that it is difficult for us to destroy them, and it is also delusional for them to defeat us. ”

Liu Jian said: "In the battle of Hequ, the Khitan and the party did not know the power of artillery, and they were careless for a while, so it could be so smooth. Now it's different, the Khitan not only knows that the power of artillery is amazing, but also makes its own artillery, which is different. ”

Thirteen Lang smiled and did not refute again. Whether it is his own people or enemies, he always finds all kinds of reasons to explain Du Zhongxiao's amazing exploits in opening up the river meandering road. I just don't want to admit that Du Zhongxiao has that ability.

The Yongjing army is more than 100 miles to Cangzhou, and the Khitan is 50 miles away, and there is a military camp of 50,000 people, which is dedicated to defending Thirteen Lang and others.

The two armies set off, and when it was nearly evening, they arrived ten miles away from the Khitan military camp.

Liu Jian said: "Why don't we rush some roads to the vicinity of the Khitan military camp." Tomorrow morning, we will be able to attack. ”

Thirteen Lang shook his head: "Tai Lieutenant, the request of this battle commander is for us to entangle the Khitan army and prevent them from returning north." It's not that tight, it's not a day or two. We will camp here tonight, and tomorrow when the army is ready, and we will discuss how to fight, and then it will not be too late to advance. ”

An army of 100,000 people, not ten people rushing, it is impossible to set off together and go somewhere together. Wait for a day, in fact, it is impossible for all the troops to arrive, but they are only roughly together. An army of 100,000 people was unfolded, including a very large area, and the arrangement was not a day or two. The small army below can fight, and the large army must be well planned.

Liu Jian said that if you arrive today and fight tomorrow, you will definitely be very careless. Like the previous forbidden army, there was no careful planning, and many things depended on luck. Now it is different, we must first reconnoitre, we must understand the geography, understand the enemy's situation, and each division and regiment will assign tasks. Before the war, it was necessary to set up artillery emplacements, set up barracks, many things.

Set up camp, Thirteen Lang and Liu Jian sat in the tent and discussed the war. The rangers and scouts of this army urgently went out to reconnoitre, understand the local geography, and observe the enemy's disposition. The staff officers next to him discussed the battle plan overnight.

After serving tea, Liu Jian said: "Fighting now, unlike before, there are too many things. In my opinion, there are no two days when such preparations cannot be completed. What if the Khitans are in a hurry and come to challenge tomorrow? ”

Thirteen Lang said: "Then the defense is." Your troops are in formation, what have the 50,000 Khitans done? There are our cavalry next to them, and they can't threaten the flanks. Just a frontal attack, how many people are enough for your artillery to bombard? ”

Liu Jian nodded, still a little uneasy. Coming out of the military academy, this is the first time he led the troops to fight. Many of the contents of military schools are skeptical. What really reassured Liu Jian was his previous war experience.

However, although he will be skeptical, Liu Jian has learned solidly. It is clear what preparations should be made for war and what situation should be understood. Quick and handsome, well organized, and does not look flustered. These armies were formed by breaking up the Beijing Military Academy, and many of the officers in them were instructors of the original military academy, and there is no need to doubt their professional knowledge.