Under the city of Cangzhou, Yelu Hongji was on the watchtower, watching the artillery attack below. The artillery of the Song army was in the city, and the range was longer. And because the Song army strengthened its defense before the war, the artillery above was not comparable to the regimental artillery, and the Khitan artillery was suppressed.

Yelu Hongji looked anxious and said, "It has been five days, and this wall is like a steel cast, and there is no damage at all. How can it go on like this? It's better to try it on a different side, maybe you can break it with one shot. ”

Yelu Xiantong arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the artillery at the head of the Song army is even more powerful, and we don't dare to get too close." In addition, the walls of the Song army are indeed strong, isn't that it? Besides, most of the cannonballs transported by Gu Yin are too light, and the power should not be enough. ”

Yelu Hongji was silent for a while, and said: "The cannonball from the Song army fell to the ground, and after a while, it exploded. Those lighter shells can be blown up, but we can't use them. It is really inappropriate to use them to hit the city walls. Why don't we open a few furnaces outside the city, find some iron, and cast cannonballs? With iron bullets, it is even more useful to hit the city walls! ”

Yelu Xiantong said: "Your Majesty, having said that, where can I find iron?" The Song army was strong and clear, and the surrounding area was like a wasteland, there was not a single grain of grain, and there was no need to think about iron. The swords in the hands of the soldiers are life-saving guys, but they can't be melted. ”

Yelu Hongji said: "Or, how about transporting it from Youzhou?" ”

Yelu Xiantong shook his hand again and again: "I can't help it!" Not to mention that there is not much iron in Youzhou, and it is difficult to transport, so it is destined to not be transported. The grain and grass of our hundreds of thousands of troops have to be transported, and other things are really not transported. A few days ago, he was careless and was robbed by the Song army, and these days the ancient hiding department of the Qianning army can only eat one meal a day. If you are not careful, you will starve. ”

Hearing this, Yelu Hongji was a little anxious. Since the entry of the Khitan army, the Song army has been stubbornly defending, and if the Khitan does not attack, the Song army will not leave the city. After a long time, the Khitans also relaxed their vigilance. As a result, a few days ago, the Song army in Diaoyutai Village, with only more than 2,000 people, robbed a large amount of grain and grass.

Yelu Hongji has been fighting for the emperor with Yelu Chongyuan for several years based on Youzhou, and the foundation of Youzhou has been hollowed out, where can he still provide food and grass for hundreds of thousands of troops? Before Daqian set off, he transferred grain and grass from other places to Youzhou. These days, the grain and grass stored in advance have long been used up, and they can only be transferred from other places. Transportation is inconvenient, a lot of manpower is wasted, and every grain of food on the front line is precious.

After a long while, Yelu Hongji said: "When will the grain and grass for Gu Yin be transported?" ”

Yelu Xiantong arched his hand: "Two days later, we should go to Qianning Military City." In order to prevent accidents, thousands of soldiers and horses escorted this time. ”

Yelu Hongji nodded: "Order Gu Yin, send troops immediately after getting the grain and grass, and you must defeat the Song army!" With artillery, Cangzhou City is still inconvenient to capture. If you don't win a few battles, morale will hardly be low! ”

Jeremiah said yes. He also said: "Your Majesty, now the grain and grass are all transported from Zhongjing and Tokyo, and the road is far away. To transport grain on the road, it is necessary to sign an army of 400,000 people, and it is necessary to recruit people from Tokyo Province and Nakakyo Province. In more than a month, the grain and grass in those places were also empty, and the troops had to be withdrawn. ”

Yelu Hongji said hatefully: "Hundreds of thousands of troops, how can you explain the withdrawal of troops like this?" ”

Yelutong sighed: "There is no way, the Song army is strong and clear, and we can't break through the city, so we can only retreat." After a few years, when the grain and grass are sufficient, then go south. can't grab grain and grass from the Song Realm, this battle is really difficult to fight. ”

Now the Khitan generals all know how great the difficulties caused by the Song army's fortified walls and clear the wilderness. I haven't withdrawn yet, but I really can't swallow this breath. Youzhou can be used as a base for the Khitan to go south. But in the land of several states, it is still difficult to supply hundreds of thousands of troops. When the Khitan went south, he had to be able to grab the grain and grass of the Song army, otherwise it would be very difficult.

Looking at Yelu Hongji's appearance, Yelu Xiantong could only sigh in his heart. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that even the small city of the Song army cannot be broken, and the Khitan does not have the strength to go south at all. If it weren't for Yelu Hongji's victory over Chongyuan, if the Khitan Emperor's foundation was deeper, he would have withdrawn his army a long time ago. The problem is that Yelu Hongji's foundation is unstable, and he will withdraw from the army before he has made an inch, and which of the following tribes will still obey?

Outside the Qianning Army City, Gu Yi looked at the army transporting grain and grass that came, and almost cried. These days, the whole army only eats one meal a day, and when it comes to the back, it is getting thinner and thinner, and it is almost impossible to stand up. At this time, they don't dare to go to war, otherwise in the event of a setback, the whole army may be scattered.

With the enemy transporting grain, Gu Yi said: "The general is really the life-saving benefactor of our army!" In the barracks, the food and grass are almost exhausted, and if you don't come again, I don't know what to do! An army of 100,000 is really a big joke if it is forced to retreat by lack of food. ”

The enemy is not an ancient road: "There is no way, there is no grain in Youzhou now, so it can only be transported from Tokyo Road." It was robbed by the Song army last time, and it was difficult to get food and grass for a while. General, there is an order from the imperial court, you have grain and grass, and you must fight a few battles with the Song army as soon as possible. ”

Gu Yi said: "Don't worry, eat a full meal today, and start a war tomorrow!" Now the grain and grass are precious and abnormal, and the soldiers in front have nothing to do for a day, and they don't know how many white bones there are in the rear, I naturally understand this truth! ”

The enemy Bugu nodded again and again: "When the general says so, we are relieved." Now that the grain is being transported, there is no escort from a large army, and they do not dare to leave at all. It is really difficult to supply the first hundreds of thousands of soldiers and travel thousands of miles. To tell the truth, there is not much grain and grass in Tokyo Province, and if you don't win a few battles quickly, I'm afraid that there will be chaos. Alas, in two months, I am afraid that there will be no food to transport. ”

Along the way, the enemy saw many grain carriers dying on the side of the road. I was walking a lot, and someone suddenly collapsed. For another two months, it will be time for the signing army to rebel. Most of the men in Youzhou were transferred, and after this battle, what to do in the follow-up is a headache.

Gu Min just nodded yes. Without the lack of food these days, Gu Yin would not have realized how bad the situation ahead of him was. There were only a few thousand Song troops in Diaoyutai Village, and if they robbed it once, they could not move their 100,000 troops, and the Khitan grain route was too fragile. Crossing the Song army's city and moving south, there are countless hidden dangers in the rear of the Khitan, which makes people dare not take it lightly.

After unloading the grain and grass over there, Gu Yin did not say to the enemy: "The general has worked hard all the way, and he will pick up the wind for you tonight." Have a good night's rest, and then hurry back tomorrow. I have been short of food here for too long, and many soldiers have already been looking forward to it. When the grain and grass came, it was time for a good meal. ”

When I entered the barracks, I saw a group of Khitan soldiers, all of whom were jubilant. A group of small leaders received the food happily. Although hungry for a few days, the morale of the Khitan did not decline. The enemy looked at it and couldn't help nodding his head again and again.

When he entered the tent, he lit a fire inside, and a sheep was roasted on it. No matter how difficult it is, the commander of the 100,000-strong army is still indispensable for wine and meat. Pu Gu and Tu Gu Ci and other generals accompanied him, and raised a glass to drink.

After three rounds of drinking, Gu Yi said: "Tomorrow morning, the sun will rise, and we will attack the Song army." More than 10,000 iron cavalry will surely crush the Song army's formation. The Song people relied on their own sharp artillery and were very arrogant. Let's take a look at it, how are our iron horsemen? ”

Pu Gu forked his hand: "General, I'll fight the first battle tomorrow!" If you can't win, you're willing to be punished! ”

Gu Yi nodded repeatedly: "Okay, I'll press the formation behind for you." In this battle, we must win a big victory, thank you for the grain and grass from the rear! ”