After Jia Min returned from Goryeo, Shi Liu set out from Tongyang Fort that night, marched 150 miles overnight, and began to attack Xishuitai at four o'clock the next morning.

Here, there were originally 300 garrisons of Han Tiankui, and later because Jia Min, Zhao Dahai and Nanwendula cavalry arrived close to Shengjing, they reinforced 600 people in Xishuitai.

The arrival of reinforcements did not seem to have made any difference, and after an hour and a half of attack, Shi Liu succeeded in taking Xishuitai.

Xishuitai, although not very important in its strategic location, is an important source of raw materials, producing high-quality coal and high-grade iron ore.

Therefore, there are many iron-smelting workshops here. The pig iron here has naturally become Shi Liu's main trophy.

It also produces a type of coal called white coal, which has a very high calorific value and is the fuel that Dai Zhi named.

Xishuitai is about 150 miles away from Shengjing, and it also has certain advantages in transportation.

Except for Xishuitai, near Shengjing, no coal is produced.

Coal and iron are currently the two main raw materials that arsenals need most.

Therefore, the capture of Xishuitai is of great strategic significance for the Beihai Volunteer Army.

Three days later, Jia Min led a large army to Guanxiangtun, about five miles away from Shengjing, where Dai Zhi's arsenal was located.

After leaving the Third Brigade here, the soldiers and horses of Chang'an and Liu Fang and others were combined into one, with a total of nearly 10,000 people. It is stationed in Chenjiaji, which is five miles away from Guanxiangtun.

The 30,000 Tatar cavalry was stationed in Lijiaji, which was eight miles away from Guanxiangtun.

Zhao Dahai, Temir and others' Southern Wendula soldiers and horses, a total of more than 11,000 people, were stationed in the Tiger Terrace in the north of Shengjing.

At the same time, Wei Ruolan and Jia Lian's Fourth Brigade had moved forward from Shoushan and also arrived close to Shengjing. Stationed in Damitun, which is eight miles away from Shengjing.

At this point, Jia Min's soldiers and horses all the way, from the east, south and north, formed a situation of encirclement of Shengjing. Only the west side is left, which is the passage that Shengjing can connect with Songshan Fort and Ningyuan, and then lead to Shanhaiguan.

Jia Min followed the Third Brigade and stayed in Guan Xiangtun.

Because it is in the middle of several of its own troops, it is more convenient in terms of command.

In this era, wireless communication and wired communication cannot be discussed, and there are generally three ways to convey information when commanding an army to fight.

First, it is communicated orally by the herald, which is relatively inefficient due to distance and speed. Sometimes the situation changes before the order is delivered.

The second is to use the flag language, that is, to use the order flag. In this way, the speed is fast enough, but it is limited by the distance.

The third is the use of drum sound, that is, drum language. However, it is also limited by distance and is often interfered with by the enemy.

Due to the limitations of communications, the army that a commander can command is actually very limited.

Most of the time, being able to effectively command and control an army of 50,000 is the upper limit.

At the beginning, Han Xin told Liu Bang that he could command 100,000 troops, and Liu Bang immediately regarded him as a god, which is the truth.

As for the large corps operations, of course, there are also them. However, in that case, it will have to be agreed in advance.

If there is some kind of accident that causes the soldiers and horses to not act according to the original plan, it is actually difficult to make adjustments in time.

Another reason why Jia Min stayed in Guan Xiangtun was because the arsenal and the materials he got back from Goryeo were all here. This is the foundation of his attack on Shengjing, and even the future attack on the imperial capital.

Three days after arriving at Guanxiangtun, the commanders of all roads gathered at Guanxiangtun, where they analyzed the current situation, formulated a battle plan, and prepared to start attacking Shengjing ten days later.

The mission of the offensive consisted of the North and South Wendula cavalry, Zhao Dahai, Princess Chang'an, and part of Chen Yeqing's Third Brigade.

Jia Lian's Fourth Brigade. It moved to the west of Shengjing and moved in the Taishan area.

Taishan is the only way for Ningyuan and Songshan Fort to lead to Shengjing. Their mission is to monitor the enemy in the west here, and if necessary, to block the enemy who reinforces Shengjing here.

After the meeting was adjourned, the generals returned to their units on the same day.

On the third day, Wei Ruolan and Jia Ping came back from reconnaissance in Shengjing City.

"Why did you come back so soon? Aren't you planning to come back tomorrow? ”

Jia Min felt that something new must have happened.

"Song Kuan has arrived in Shengjing."

"Oh, Song Kuan is here. That's a tough opponent. This guy is still very capable, whether it is political or military talent, he is one of the best in the San Francisco. ”

"He just arrived yesterday, and the purpose is unknown."

"If it's just Han Tiankui, we wouldn't be too afraid, but now with Song Kuan, it's a bit tricky. Song Kuan used soldiers, far above Han Tiankui. ”

Jia Min stood up and paced to the window.

It was already winter, the windows were glued, and there was nothing to see.

After pondering for a while, Jia Min turned around.

"Jia Ping, you immediately send someone to inform all the troops that the original plan has been canceled and the operation is temporarily suspended. All units have strengthened their vigilance and are on standby. Only Jia Qiang's mission of the Fourth Brigade and One Regiment in Taishan remained unchanged. ”

"Chief Min, do you really want to cancel the original plan?"

"Yes, Song Kuan is not Han Tiankui, he is not so easy to deal with. Chief of the guard, you say, Song Kuan is here, what will he do? ”

"Chief of Staff Feng and Chief Chen are about to pacify the entire south, and go north to approach Zhili, and then threaten the imperial capital. He Jialin, Zhou Tong and Ma Qingshan threatened the imperial capital from the northwest and had already arrived in Zhili.

"A large part of the soldiers and horses of the three feudatories are all on the line from the imperial capital to Shengjing. I think Song Kuan wants to remove the threat here as soon as possible and transfer troops to deal with the threat from the northwest and south. ”

"That's how it should be. It's just that if they want to take the initiative to attack, they will fight us in the plains around Shengjing, which is not an advantage for them. ”

"Yes, whether it is the firearms of the volunteer army or the Wendura cavalry, they have the advantage in plain warfare, and if they want to take the initiative to attack, they will definitely pay a huge price."

"I think the problem should be with the superiority of firearms."

Jia Min seems to have captured inspiration.

"Sir Min, are you saying that Song Kuan is coming for our firearms?"

"I think so. Our main reliance on attacking the city is firearms. Once there are no firearms, it is difficult to rely on the Windula cavalry alone. ”

"I see. Song Kuan should have taken into account that we don't have much ammunition and wanted to destroy the ammunition factory. Don't let us produce ammunition. Not only is it difficult for us to storm the city without ammunition, but he can fight a war of attrition with his superior forces. In the end, we will most likely be consumed by him. ”

"Song Kuan is a very discerning person, he must have foreseen that we don't have much ammunition. As long as our ammunition factory is destroyed, we will have to fight a cold weapon war with him. Our firearms advantage is gone. Tall and strong, go and call Brigade Commander Chen, Dai Zhi, and Liu Cheng. ”

After a while, Chen Yeqing, Dai Zhi, and Liu Cheng came.

"Mr. Dai, how long will it take for the ammunition factory to be put into operation?"

"Seven days at the earliest."

"Seven days, so long? Can you hurry up? ”

"Chief Min, this is already the fastest time. It's winter, and the iron-making furnace has just been built, and it's not dry yet, so I can only make a small fire and dry it slowly. If a fire is burned, the furnace will crack. ”

"Okay, you guys go down, in seven days, you must put it into production."

Dai Zhi and Liu Cheng left, and Jia Min told Chen Yeqing about his judgment with Wei Ruolan.

"It seems that we have to resist Song Kuan for seven days, Brigade Commander Chen, is there any problem?"

"Then it depends on how many people Song Kuan comes. He actually came to the arsenal, and I think there will be no shortage of people. I'm afraid it's not enough. ”

"yes, he's going to take a gamble. Fortunately, since he made him think about the arsenal, we used the arsenal as a bait to attract his troops, and also saved the siege of the city. The order went down and told the cavalry of Wendula in the north and south to prepare and support Guan Xiangtun at any time. ”

"His Royal Highness Chang'an's soldiers and horses, as a reserve. The Fourth Brigade's Jia Qiang Division's blocking mission remained unchanged. The rest of Jia Yun and Jia Zhi feinted to attack Shengjing City, contain Han Tiankui, and make him dare not come out. At the same time as the feint, he was ready to reinforce Jia Qiang at any time to block the incoming enemy in the direction of Guannai. ”

Everyone went down to prepare, and Jia Min called Wei Ruoshui again.

"Take your people and sneak into Shengjing City the night after tomorrow. Two tasks, one is to assassinate Han Tiankui's officers as much as possible and disrupt his command system. The second is to set fire to his grain, grass and ordnance, weakening his baggage supplies. Cause panic in the city. The people who called the propaganda team also followed. and withdrew at dawn. ”

"Okay, Sir Min, this time there is work to do."

On the second day, there was no movement in Shengjing City, and on the third day, there was still no movement.

In the evening, Wei Ruoshui was preparing to set off with the special combat team and propaganda team, but was temporarily stopped by Jia Min.

"When the enemies in the city come out, you will go in again."

didn't wait for Song Kuan, but at night, he waited for news from Jia Lian's Fourth Brigade.

It turned out that the Tianshun army of Ningyuan and Songshan Fort had been dispatched yesterday to reinforce Shengjing. More than 20,000 enemies have come, and they are currently fighting fiercely with Jia Qiang in Taishan.

Jia Qiang urgently asked for help, and Jia Lian had already led the second and third regiments to rush to reinforcements.

The original plan to feint the attack on Shengjing City could no longer be carried out.

The situation has changed, and Jia Min's plans have been disrupted.

"This Song Kuan is really clever. There's no movement here, but it's the first move over there, Gao Ming. ”

"That should be his response action, his main goal, should still be here."

Wei Ruolan and Chen Yeqing both hold the same view.

However, he can't wait long before he can act. Wait a few more days, and our ammunition will come out, and he will be late. Song Kuan is a smart man and should understand this. ”

A few people were talking, and before they knew it, it was snowing outside.

After dinner, Jia Min, Wei Ruolan, and Chen Yeqing came together again. After discussing for a while, Jia Ping came in.

"Report to Chief Min, there's movement in the city."

"Oh? Let's be specific. ”

"After the east and south gates were closed, they were opened again, and some soldiers and horses went out of the city."

"What are Song Kuan and Han Tiankui's plans? Do they want to fight us in a night battle and a snow war? ”

Even Jia Min was a little surprised.