"Rulin, what do you think?"

Han Gang values Zong Ze very much, which is known to the DPRK. Even when Yang Congxian reported to Han Gang on official business, Zong Ze was also left by Han Gang to observe.

Zong Ze had just sent Yang Congxian back, thought about it, and said, "Manager Yang must have understood Xianggong's intentions. ”

"What's in mind?"

"Harbor." Zong Ze was concise and to the point.

Han Gang raised his hand and motioned for Zong Ze to continue.

"Goryeo, Japan, Liaodong, and the North Sea, there are many ports to choose from. Once the imperial court intends to pacify Liao, the sailors can attack across the sea. But without the support of the minister, how can Yang Congxian make meritorious service when the time comes? ”

"That being said, the water master has never fought a decent battle, which is difficult to reassure."

"The Liao State has captured Goryeo and Japan, and there are many more ports to be guarded against. As long as you pick a soft persimmon and pinch it, how can the Liao army defend it? ”

Han Gang nodded.

Yang Congxian kept saying that he could take down whichever port he wanted, just to curry favor in front of Han Gang. He was promoted by Zhang Tun, and he also had the brand of the New Party, although he was also very valued in front of Han Gang before, but Yang Congxian was a martial artist, and he knew what it meant to be a party and a different party. Now say a few more words in front of Han Gang, and in the future, he will be able to avoid obstruction from the political affairs hall. A military general like him, if he wants to make meritorious contributions, without a good backstage and a good popularity, he will not be able to make meritorious contributions at all.

However, Yang Congxian's thoughts were not the focus of Han Gang's asking Zong Ze to ponder.

He got up, took out a map with his own hands, and asked Zong Zezhang to hang it up.

The map of Kyushu in the world.

On the map, there are not only the roads of the Great Song Dynasty, but also the countries of the Quartet. There are five capitals of Liao in the north, Goryeo in Japan in the east, and the green mountains in the west, and the small countries around the South Seas in the south.

But that's not the only map. Under this map, there is another map, and Han Gang also asked Zong Zezhang to hang up.

Liaoguo Wujing map.

Han Gang took a few steps back, pointed to the map, and asked Zong Ze, "If the imperial court attacks Liao, in Rulin's opinion, where should the sailor attack first." ”

Zong Ze raised his eyes and looked at the map: "Xingcheng, Juehua Island." Liaoning West Corridor. ”

Xingcheng, Juehua Island, the outer islands in the western Liaoning corridor. Hundreds of years later, it was one of the strategic points to resist the southward movement of the northern fishing and hunting peoples. And the name of the corridor comes from after Han Gang. First the Hexi Corridor, then the Liaoning West Corridor.

"Why not Japan, Goryeo?"

"The purpose of the sailor is not to defeat the enemy, but to threaten the weakness of the enemy." Zong Ze was categorical, "Japan is far overseas, and three or five cruisers can blockade Japan." Although Goryeo was possessed by the Liao State, the people's hearts were not attached, and the imperial court really wanted to attack Liao, so that the king of Goryeo could cross the sea from Tamna to restore the country, attracting the local Liao army to the south, and there was no need for the official army to directly capture it. Moreover, these two places are too far away from the mainland of Liao, far away from the mountains, rivers and seas. If the Liao people did not dare to use all their strength in Hedong, Hebei, the only way to do this was to quickly take Liaodong with a naval division, attack Liaoyang if they entered, and defend Suzhou if they retreated, directly threatening the heartland of the Liao State. Although the Liao army is numerous, once the troops are divided into Liaodong, the troops can be stretched. ”

Han Gang listened and nodded again and again. These words, which sound simple, are not easy to say. In this era, there are not many people who have a certain understanding of the geography and naval application of Liao. Zong Ze's insight can be said to be very rare.

The level of vision can affect the level of future achievements, although Yang Congxian is not a famous general, but he at least knows how to use the water army. This is also the reason why Han Gang values him for nothing. Hangang hopes that he can lay a solid foundation for the start-up sailor for future development.

"I just don't know how the Privy Council will use the water master at that time."

"Don't underestimate Zhang Zihou."

"Zong Ze doesn't dare." Zong Ze hurriedly said.

"I once discussed with Zhang Zihou that the biggest problem in attacking Liao is their cavalry." Han Gang took his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Cavalry, clutch soldiers." If you want to win, you must let them fight a decisive battle on the battlefield of our choice to offset the advantage of being scattered. ”

Zong Ze frowned and groaned: "Xingcheng Island can't attract the cavalry of the Liao State. ”

"Xingcheng is also very suitable. However, with the strength of the water division, there is no need to limit it to a few places. ”

Zong Ze looked back at the map and asked, "And Suzhou?" ”

There are many places in Liao that have names that are directly copied from the Great Song Dynasty, such as Yizhou, Yinzhou, Chenzhou, Wuchang and other place names, all of which are on the Tokyo Road. And Suzhou in the Liao State is the Dalian of later generations. The tip of the Liaodong Peninsula.

"Ru Lin, think about it, this is a national battle!"

Zong Ze thought about it for a while, nodded and said, "...... Zong Ze understood! ”

If it is to attack Liao, Hebei will be divided into east and west, and Hedong will also send troops from Daizhou, Shenwu Army and Shengzhou. The North Sea Division is not an independent force, and although it is different from land and sea, and has a number of gunboats with unparalleled firepower, it must also cooperate with the strategy of advancing troops on land, rather than fighting alone.

Han Gang's question is a trap, and no matter which place he answers, it is not a perfect answer.

"The Privy Council also attaches great importance to the water master, and it also wants to use the water master to restrain the Liao people." Han Gang said to Zong Ze: "If you fight with the Liao people in the first two years, you are ready to occupy Juehua Island according to what Rulin said." Cut off the western Liaoning corridor, and threaten Tokyo and Nanjing! Ru Lin, tell me, if you do this, what will the Liao people do? ”

“…… Overseas islands are not easy to attack. When the army is gathered, it feints to attack Juehua, and waits for the opportunity to go south. ”

"That's right. At the earliest, the strategy of attacking the Liao State drawn up by Zhang Zihou and I was to wait for the attack and gradually consume the national strength of the Liao people. Capture the Bohai Island with the advantage of the water division, force the Liao people to raise troops to the south, and fight a decisive battle on the border of Hebei. ”

"That's a good idea."

In any case, the biggest risk of attacking Liao with the whole country's army going north is the cavalry of Liao, and the army is halfway through the march, and a team of palace troops is killed, even if the equipment is excellent, the possibility of defeat is not small.

If the Great Song Dynasty sailors captured Juehua Island, it would directly threaten the main road in western Liao, and for the Liao people, it would be a bone in the throat. But this bone is difficult to pull out, so the only way to put the Liao people in front of them is to attack the Song Dynasty in the south, and after gaining the advantage, force the Song people to withdraw their own army.

"But there are two challenges to doing so. The first problem was the warship, and it was necessary to blockade the strait for several miles, so that the Liao people could not compete with the warship. The second problem ......" Han Gang stopped, raised his eyes and smiled at Zong Ze, "Ru Lin, what are you talking about?" ”

"Walled Fort." Zong Ze immediately replied. Apparently he had thought about it in his heart.

"It's a walled fort indeed." Han Gang nodded with satisfaction and smiled, "If the war starts as expected, in order to stabilize Juehua Island, it is necessary to build a walled city on the island. However, the sea near Juehua Island was frozen for half a year. From October to March, the ships were useless. In the depths of winter, you can step on the ice to land on the island. The city could not be repaired in just a few months, and when the Liao army came on the ice, this battle would be lost without fighting. ”

"It's not hard now." Zong Ze said.

In recent years, the city walls of Hebei prefectures and counties have been rebuilt on a large scale to build fortresses using artillery. After a long time, the number of officials who could command the work increased significantly, and many of them were favored by Han Gang.

Moreover, there are many fortresses built, and there is experience in how to build them, and after seeing the terrain and getting the requirements, you can have a rough prediction. In half a year, it is not very difficult to build a fortress with one or two thousand soldiers and horses stationed to control the inside and outside of the island, and at the same time make it difficult for the enemy to attack. Especially for experienced Hebei soldiers and civilians, it is by no means difficult.

"It's not that hard. However, the strength of the official army is stronger now, much stronger than when it was originally planned, and it is getting stronger every day. If you wait a few more years for the war to start, you don't need to be so troublesome, and you can directly wave your army north. At that time, the purpose of the sailor will no longer be auxiliary, but the main attack. ”

"On the shore of Kyaw Hwa Island? Or go directly to attack Yuguan? Zong Ze stared at the map again, frowned and asked.

Yuguan is Shanhaiguan. The lock and key of the two capitals are incomparable, and the first pass of the Great Wall of China. These two sentences, at this time, the previous sentence can still make up. Yuguan controls the main roads of Nanjing and Tokyo in Liao, and is also one of the most important passes in Liao.

To take Juehua Island on the sea, he lit a fire on the tail of the Beiyu, but when he captured Yuguan, he aimed at the hole under the tail and pierced it with a spear.

The Liao people will go crazy.

"That's a way to do that, too." Han Gang nodded, then smiled again, "However, Ru Lin, do you know that the Sanggan River and the Liao River can pass through boats. ”

Zong Ze asked in surprise, "Can the battleship enter the estuary?!" ”

He had heard that the battleships had a shallow draft, and that some ports could not be entered at all.

"If you can't get in, it's difficult for cruisers. However, the largest number of flat-bottomed sand prevention boats in the North Sea do not have to worry about running aground when entering inland rivers. Sailing quickly against the current is not just a way to sail. ”

"Can artillery be loaded?"

"Of course." Han Gang took a sip of tea.

"That's easy to do, as long as the number of such warships is larger, and one or two thousand soldiers and horses are transported to Liaoyang City, or Xijin Mansion City, and if you are caught off guard, it will be easy to directly capture the two capitals."

Han Gang smiled and nodded.

"But the difficulty is to be caught off guard." Zong Ze said solemnly, "It's not easy to do two things secretly. If you want to capture the two capitals, you must be prepared, and once you start to prepare, there will inevitably be a possibility of leakage. ”

"It's okay to leak it, it doesn't hurt to look at the situation, just get on the boat and leave, and the Liao people can't stop it."

"But the hydrology of the river is unknown." Zong Ze said, "The main channel may be easy to sail, but it is not easy for the Liao people's boats to block the river, but it is not difficult to block the main road in the river." ”

"There are a lot of merchant ships on the Liao River and the Sanggan River."

Zong Ze didn't say it, behind those merchant ships, there must be spies, and these things are not something he should know.

"Has the ship been repaired?" Zong Ze asked.

"It's going to take a few more years. There is no need to rush this matter. The further the future, the farther the difference between the strength of the Northern Captives and China will be, and this is not something that one or two Ming monarchs and virtuous ministers can change. ”