In Hejian Mansion, Jingtai, Zhang Qi, Dou Shunqing, Jia Kui, Liu Jianji, Liu Ji and Ma Huaide sat on both sides. Du Zhongxiao sat in the middle handsome seat, next to Fu Bi, Zhao Zi, Li Fugui and Li Zhang. The imperial court has agreed to counterattack, and several commanders have come today to assign tasks.

Du Zhongxiao said: "The imperial court has replied to the chapter and agreed that we should immediately counterattack. I have called you here today to discuss how to counterattack and how to march into the army. Let's discuss, go back separately, and don't delay! ”

All the generals crossed their hands together and said yes, and they were all a little excited. The Khitan is already at the end of the crossbow, and everyone can see this. After waiting for so many days, it was finally time for a large-scale counteroffensive. This war is particularly important for the two countries.

Du Zhongxiao said: "The big reason why this battle can come to this day is that the Khitan knew that it couldn't be done, so it just came. The two emperors contended, and the Khitan fought for several years, and the country was already very tired. In the first battle of Mayi last year, hundreds of thousands of troops did nothing in the face of tens of thousands of people. But they just don't believe it, they think that their military is strong and their dynasty is vulnerable. Raise the troops of the country and come south. This is a good opportunity, this kind of opportunity, it is difficult to come across without relying on the other party to make mistakes. If we encounter it, we can't catch it, and we can't explain it. ”

Fu Bi said: "That's true. Since Taiwei led the troops to save Tanglong Town, this dynasty won consecutive battles, destroyed the party, collected the Western Regions, and achieved great martial arts. It's just that when the Khitan established itself, it had the advantage of the Central Plains and never believed it. ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled: "Actually, if they don't believe it, it's not all right. Now many Khitan generals should have found that their military strength is not as good as that of this dynasty. It's just that this kind of thing is understood in the heart, but it can't be said. Even Yelu Hongji may not be unincomprehensible. But he had just defeated Chongyuan Deng, and he was still short of popularity, so this battle must be fought. For the Khitans, they needed a chance to retreat. As long as it can be justified, even if it is actually defeated, it can block the opportunities of the population. Now the Khitan is short of food, and if we don't attack immediately, the lack of food may be an excuse. ”

Speaking of this, Du Zhongxiao looked at everyone and said, "For more than two months, we have been defending, and the Khitans have been attacking. In the days that followed, it was our turn to attack. Now Zhao Zi will arrange the offensive line, everyone listen carefully. ”

Zhao Zi crossed his hands and said loudly: "Shuai Si is scheduled to launch a comprehensive counterattack on the Khitan on the ninth day of the twelfth month of the leap month. The tasks of the armies are as follows. Zhang Qi's troops attacked Yongqing and Wuqing. Wuqing County is the place where the Khitan transported grain and grass, and most of the collected grain and grass were stored there. After capturing Wuqing, 15,000 people were left to defend the city, and the rest of the men and horses went north to take Pingzhou. All the way is wasteland and ponds, and it is not easy to march, so you must prepare in advance. ”

Zhang Qi got up and crossed his hands and promised. Said: "Taiwei, now that the grain and grass in Youzhou have been exhausted, it is impossible to collect it." I have an army of 50,000, where will the food and grass come from? ”

Zhao Zi said: "Grain and grass come out of Xiongzhou. Your army is equipped with 20,000 grain bearers and 20,000 pack animals to carry grain with your army. Nearly 1,000 miles to Pingzhou, transporting grain is not an easy task. The specific arrangement will be discussed by Mrs. Li with you. ”

Zhang Qi nodded and sat down. 20,000 horses and horses transported grain and grass, which is equivalent to his army is all soldiers, so he doesn't have to worry about grain and grass.

Zhao Zi said: "Jingtai led the army from Baozhou to the north and took Yizhou. After the breakthrough, along the foothills of the Taihang Mountains, the Jinfu will be attacked. All the Khitan walled cities under Taihang Mountain must be uprooted. The grain and grass used were arranged by Taiwei Li. ”

Jingtai fork hand singing promise.

Zhao Zi said: "Jia Kui's department, go north to take Xincheng County and attack Zhuozhou. After breaking through Zhuo Fraud, sweep the Khitan walled city along the road, and will attack Jinfu. ”

Jia Kui stood up and sang a promise with his hands crossed. The Khitan army moved eastward, and Zhuozhou was already empty. Although the city has been repaired, it should have blocked the heavy artillery in the army.

Zhao Zi said again: "Dou Shunqing, Liu Jianji, and Liu Ji's three armies went north to take Gu'an and Anci, and then attacked Jinfu. This is the main force, and the three armies, with Liu Ji as the commander, are desperate to surround Xijin Mansion as quickly as possible. As long as we take Xijin Mansion, we will seal the retreat of the Khitan army back to Zhongjing, which is the key. Now there are not many garrisons in Xijin Province, but it is a big city, and the walls are strong, so you must redouble your efforts. ”

The three of them stood up and said yes. Xijin Mansion is Youzhou City, that is, the Beijing City of later generations, and has been the center of this area since ancient times. Occupying there, it blocked the Khitan road to Yanshan and controlled the surrounding area. The current Xijin Mansion is Khitan Nanjing, where there are palaces and a huge bureaucracy. The central yamen of the Khitan was originally located in Xijin Mansion, and its status was not comparable to other places.

The three of them sat down, and Zhao Zi said: "Ma Huaide's army, try to absorb the 150,000 Khitan army of the Qianning army." If they retreat, chase them immediately so that they don't get lost. Wu Song and Liu Lian in the south, with 100,000 horses, have already arrived at the Yongjing Army and will attack north. Wait until the two armies arrive, and then join them in flanking the Khitan army. As long as the Khitans are attracted and they are not allowed to flee north, it will be a success. ”

Ma Huaide stood up and promised. By now, they are the real commanders, and the army under them is no longer the patchwork force of a month ago. Not to mention attracting the Khitan army on the opposite side, he felt that if he let go of the attack, it would not be difficult to win.

After arranging the offensive routes of the various armies, Zhao Zi sang a promise to Du Zhongxiao and sat down.

Du Zhongxiao said: "This time, more than 400,000 troops have launched an all-out war with the Khitan, which is not trivial. The key to this battle was to occupy Xijin Prefecture and Pingzhou as quickly as possible, cutting off the Khitan return route. Occupy these two places, and the army can turn back and fight to the death with the Khitan. In addition, the Holy Lord has already sent the Dragon Guard to Xiongzhou, and it is estimated that they will arrive soon. Most of the Khitan are cavalry, and we don't have many cavalry, so it will be difficult to fight with them. With 50,000 cavalry of Longwei, plus 50,000 Japanese troops in the south and 100,000 iron cavalry, the Khitans couldn't run if they wanted to. ”

Fu Bi said: "100,000 iron horsemen, even if the Khitan wants to escape, they can't escape." This battle of Khitan is a soldier of the country, and we are also a soldier of the country, and it is a battle of national fortune. Ladies and gentlemen, this battle has been fought well, and the Khitan is no longer a temporary power. If you don't play well, hmph-"

Speaking of this, his face became stern, and the generals looked cold. After the arrival of the Dragon Guard, most of the main forces of the Song Dynasty's army have arrived, and it can be said that it is almost a national army. The duel between the two armies is really a battle of national fortunes. Whoever loses is likely to fall.

Du Zhongxiao looked at everyone and said, "This is a big war, and many things can't be explained clearly in a few words. You all stay here for two days, discuss the wartime plan carefully, and don't go to war in a daze. In addition, the rations, grasses, and materials of various armies should also be discussed with Li Fugui. More than 400,000 troops are coming out together, and how to ensure logistics is a university question, and there is no sloppiness in the slightest. ”

Li Fugui got up and said: "The grain and grass materials that went north this time were mainly transported from the two places. One is Baozhou, the other is Xiongzhou. In the past two months, a lot of supplies have been stored in these two cities, enough for the whole army for a month. There are also more than 300,000 pack animals, and more than 200,000 people have been requisitioned from Hebei Road to transport grain and grass materials for various armies. Now the plan is to divide the transportation into two parts. One is the transportation of each army itself, and the other is the transportation of the people under my command. How to cooperate between the two, to be foolproof, but also to discuss with you. ”

Hearing this, Zhang Qi said: "With so many people, as well as pack animals, it shouldn't be difficult to transport grain and grass. It's just that my army went to Pingzhou, and this way went too fast, are you afraid that the Khitan will cut off the grain route? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The Khitan army should be sealed south of Wuqing and not allowed to go north." The Khitan forces in other parts of Youzhou are not worth mentioning. We have already found out clearly that this time to the south, the Khitan has concentrated almost all its forces, and the rear is extremely empty. In their eyes, it is estimated that we will not be considered at all that we will counterattack. Even if we counterattack, their cavalry can quickly return to help, and it will not fail. It's just that at this point, many of the pre-estimates are useless. Moreover, how to arrange our troops, the Khitans are afraid that they can't figure it out. ”

Du Zhongxiao was clear about the situation of the Khitan, and in turn, the arrangement of the Khitan for the Song army was not clear. Just like the Qianning Army, Gu Yi became more and more difficult to fight, and what was reported to Yelu Hongji was that the Song Army had increased its troops by 200,000, which was nonsense.

The Song Dynasty was strong and clear, and there was no source. The Khitan did not pay attention to intelligence, so it became one-way transparency. Of course, Li Zhang's management intelligence in recent years is not to say how good it is, at least it is decent, and it is not comparable to the Khitan.

At this time, the Khitan's judgment of the Song Dynasty was not that it could counterattack at any time, but that it could defend well. In each city, the Khitans believed that there was a large army to garrison them, and they did not have the strength to advance north. As for the Song army, which has always maintained a strong mobile force, the Khitans do not know. Even if there is occasional news, it is also treated as a joke. Under the 400,000 heavy troops, how can the Song army be relaxed?