Jia Kui rode on his horse, watching the soldiers on the road dragging the artillery with all his might, and felt irritable. It had just rained the other day, the roads were muddy, and the artillery transportation was very troublesome.

Hao Zhi, the general of his subordinates, said: "Tai Lieutenant, now that it is raining a lot and the roads are muddy, why don't you wait a few days to transport artillery?" ”

Jia Kui shook his head again and again: "If you don't ship it now, when you use it, it's even too late." The bottle-shaped village is Xiongzhou, Hedong, where the Khitan is very tightly guarded. Without artillery, it would not be easy to attack there. Only by accompanying the army with artillery and taking the Khitans by surprise can it be foolproof. ”

After deciding to start a war with the Khitan on Hebei Road this autumn, the Privy Council ordered Pang Ji to replace Jia Kui with the trained soldiers and horses on the Hedong Road, and ordered Jia Kui to lead his troops to Fanzhi County, Daizhou. Make all preparations, and once the war starts, immediately lead a large army to attack Lingqiu and capture the flying fox. Once Feihu County was occupied, the Song army seized the initiative in this battle, and Taihang Mountain was owned by itself.

In the battle of Hebei Road, the status of Taihang Mountain is very important. Whoever occupies Taihang Mountain will open up the connection with Hedong Road, and can use the power of Hedong Road. If the enemy is not careful, he may be cut off. Jia Kui's army of 50,000 came all the way from Shuozhou, and it was not easy. Especially now that there is a lot of rain, the roads are muddy, and it is not easy to transport artillery, grain and grass.

After looking at it for a while, Jia Kui said: "If you go and find some horses, it's not easy to walk all the way, how can you rely on people to pull it?" ”

Hao Zhi said: "Daizhou Feng Zhizhou, father Feng Wenyigong, accumulated merit and came to this position." All the healthy horses in the country have been accepted as military horses, and it is not easy for civilian horses to be hired. When Taiwei saw Feng Zhizhou, he didn't explain that he wanted to use horses, so how could his subordinates negotiate with the state government? ”

Jia Kui said: "Now that the war is coming, there must be horses in the army, where are there so many rules!" Do you have to take the warrant from Pang Xianggong to give the horses to the state? Just send someone to the state government and let Daizhou allocate 500 horses first! ”

Hao Zhen didn't dare to reply, so he could only agree. There was no herald, so he took the seal letter and went to Daizhou to borrow a horse.

Feng Xingji, the governor of Daizhou, is the son of Feng Zheng, the former prime minister, and Enyin is an official. In terms of status, Feng Xingji is similar to Ma Huaide, the governor of Xiongzhou, Luxiong, Hebei. They are all military generals, who have been in the army for a long time, and they are also pacifying envoys. However, Feng Xingji was born in a wealthy family, and he also had a lot of merit as an official, and he was quite dissatisfied with the training of the forbidden army in recent years. When Jia Kui's army came to Daizhou, Feng Xingji's attitude was cold, and he was not as active as ordinary magistrates to help the army.

Jia Kui is also dissatisfied with this Daizhou governor. However, Feng Xingji did things in a very measured way, but he didn't take the initiative to help, and he didn't make trouble for the army, which made people helpless. Without local help, Jia Kui's trip was extremely difficult.

The sun rose to mid-heaven, the scorching sun was scorching, and there was no way to go, so Jia Kui could only order the whole army to rest. Wait until noon has passed, and then go on your way.

Under a big pine, the soldiers put some melons and fruits, prepared tea, and asked Jia Kui to rest.

After taking a sip of tea and eating a melon, Jia Kui said: "This season's march is a sad death. To the east of Daizhou, there are valleys. It rained a few days ago, and the roads in the valley were muddy, how could you get a gun truck! It would be much better if we could get a local government to recruit people. ”

Hao Zhi said: "Taiwei, as long as there is no Pang Xianggongjun's decree, Feng Zhizhou will not allow it, how can it be possible to recruit people." Besides, on such a hot day, there will inevitably be many deaths and injuries if the people are recruited, so it is better to go by yourself. ”

Jia Kui sighed: "Speaking of Feng Zhizhou, I have met him a few times before, where did I think it would be so difficult to speak now." He did not violate the laws of the court, and he had nowhere to sue if he wanted to. I hope that when it comes to wartime, Feng Zhizhou will not make anything happen in the back. ”

Hao Zhi said: "Now it seems that Feng Zhizhou has also done what should be done. However, he does not take the initiative to cooperate, and there is always a lot of trouble. Captain, why don't you write to the Privy Council and explain the matter. If you replace Feng Zhou before the war, don't wait until the war to cause trouble. ”

Jia Kui shook his head: "If I go to the court, won't I offend him to death?" In the future, I will be an official in the same dynasty, so forget it. ”

Hao Zhi said: "Then how to stabilize the rear in wartime?" ”

Jia Kui thought for a while and said, "I had to write to Pang Xianggong and ask him to send a general to negotiate with Feng Zhizhou." Our grain, grass, guns and ammunition were specially transported by the Privy Council, and they had little to do with Zhizhou. The people of Daizhou, I think it's hard to use. ”

After speaking, he said: "This annoying weather is really hot. If you have water and wine, it is best to drink two sips to quench your thirst. ”

The soldiers on the side heard this and hurriedly ran to find water and wine. Not long after, he brought a jar of wine, put down two bowls, and poured them for Jia Kui and Hao Zhen.

After drinking a bowl of wine, Jia Kui said: "When I arrive in Fanzhi County in a few days, I want to use your department as the vanguard to open the way for the divisions." The bottle-shaped village to Lingqiu is an important place, and the Khitan defense is particularly tight. It is important to prepare well in advance and not to waste time there. ”

The bottle-shaped village is the junction of Lingqiu County of Khitan and Fanzhi County of the Song Dynasty, a valley road in the Taixi Mountain. This place, in later generations is extremely well-known by its name, Pingxingguan. This road is the valley road in the mountains that passes through the Taihang Mountain to the Hebei Road from Hedong Road, and in the sixth year of construction, Li Sheng had led troops out of Dingzhou, and traveled along this road to Daizhou.

Once the bottle-shaped village occupies the spirit soldiers, the front out threatens the flying fox and controls the main road from Hedong Road to Hebei Road. If the Khitan wanted to take advantage of the road in the mountains, it would be impossible to bypass the rear of the Song army. Lingqiu and Flying Fox directly affect the battle situation on Hebei Road and Hedong Road, and are the main roads of Taihang Mountain. However, this road passes through the mountains and ravines, and it is not possible to walk all over it, and there are few supplies along the road, which is not conducive to the movement of the army.

Jia Kui has 50,000 people, and it is not easy to take this road. With artillery again, the operation was very difficult. That is, now that the Song Dynasty has sufficient materials and there is no shortage of pack animals, it can do this. Otherwise, it would be difficult for 50,000 people to move with only 50,000 people of food and grass.

Du Zhongxiao, Zhao Zi and others carefully studied the war in Hebei, and they all believed that Lingqiu and Flying Fox had a significant impact on the battle situation. Once occupied, the initiative over the Khitan was grasped. So he ordered Jia Kui to prepare in advance to seize this road. In the autumn, if the Khitan army went south, he immediately led his troops to attack Lingqiu. Before the Khitans reacted, capture the Flying Fox.

The flying fox is an important place in the Taihang Mountain, and once it is occupied, it will ensure the safety of the Taihang Mountain and protect the flank of the Song army. At that time, the Song army could be fully deployed and fight with the Khitan in the Youzhou region. At that time, the Song army of 500,000 troops could fully exert its might.

After drinking two bowls of wine, it was not as hot as just now, Jia Kui said: "If the Khitan soldiers come, I don't know if there will be any changes in Datong Mansion." Pang Xianggong led tens of thousands of troops to defend Shuozhou, although it should be safe, but he always felt that it was not so reassuring. ”

Hao Zhi said: "Taiwei, there is still an army of Taiwei Wang in the north." With those 50,000 people here, Datong Mansion dared to send troops. ”

Jia Kui nodded: "Yes." Wang Taiwei's department was brought out by Du Taiwei when he was training in Suizhou, and it was the most complete. It's a pity that since the first battle of Tanglong Town, it has been guarding the northeast of Hequ Road, and there is no big war, and I don't know what is going on now. ”

Hao Zhen said with a smile: "That is the army that Captain Yang has led for several years, with a complete structure, complete guns, and the most capable of fighting." If there is a change in Datong Mansion, Wang Taiwei will lead his troops south, and he may be able to go down in one fell swoop. Taiwei, with them, we don't have to worry about Datong Mansion. As long as you go down to Lingqiu in this battle and occupy the flying fox, the front and back of the mountain will be in the hands of the imperial court. ”

vertex