"The festival hall of the Wei Zhao Division is temporarily located in the foreign houses in Binh Duong City. When the four swept through the east of the river, most of the people of Pingyang fled, and this house was owned by a large family, and there were many houses, which was very open. The guest hall was used as a meeting hall, and important staff members and generals lived in adjacent rooms for consultation. At this time, Xu Wei led Wang Yu and summoned major commanders such as Yao Pingzhong, Zhang Qing, Zhang Jun, and Yang Yan to solicit Wang Yu's opinion on the arrangement of the city defense. "Xu Zhao, this official has inspected the city wall of Pingyang in detail, in a word. It was built to be very unreasonable. The affairs that your army is busy with now can be said to have little effect, and Wang Yu's first sentence negated the efforts of the Pingyang defenders in the past few days. Most of the generals in the tent showed displeasure on their faces, and because of his status, it was inconvenient to talk more. Xu Wei doesn't think it's strange to be an expert, if he doesn't speak amazingly and is not unconventional, how can he show that he is an expert? He smiled and asked, "Qing Na Ben would like to hear the details "First of all, the top of the Pingyang City Wall is too wide, and although more soldiers can be arranged, it greatly increases the chance of being hit by stone bullets. And it is still a female wall with buttresses, it is no exaggeration to say that when a stone is bounced down, the buttresses are gone. In addition, the corner of the city is a straight turn, and the enemy building is a single floor, so the shortcomings will not be listed one by one. Wang Yu paused here when he said this, and while beckoning the soldiers behind him to take an object, he added, "If Pingyang wants to hold on for a long time like Taiyuan, there must be two conditions, one is sufficient materials, and the other is targeted defense."

At this time, the generals had already noticed that he was holding an extremely long picture scroll in his hand. Seeing the opportunity, Zhang Qing ordered his soldiers to carry a long table and place it in the hall, on which Wang Yu unfolded the scroll, which was more than four feet long and more than three feet wide. Everyone stepped forward and saw that what was drawn on the scroll was a map of city defense. Enemy towers, city walls, equipment, dwellings, and even the equipment of the siege party outside the city, the military camp are marked, and seeing this painting, a tragic picture of urban attack and defense suddenly appears in front of people's eyes.

Zhang Jun, forty-five years old, although he was born majestic, but his appearance was not flattering, especially the whale mouth, which was not only big, but also had extremely thick lips, and it was estimated that he had sausages to eat all year round. After seeing this map of the city's defense, he nodded frequently. It's surprising that among the generals under Xu Wei, it is relatively good for defending the city. Count him as experienced. Since he has this attitude, it seems that Wang Yu is worthy of his reputation.

"I'm sure that the Jin army must be in the city, and the most important thing is to raise the robe carts and bombard Pingyang day and night. One is to destroy the city defenses, and the other is to demoralize. Therefore, the first thing that the shameful defenders wanted to destroy was the exit of the robe group Wang Yu, which made the generals who thought he was a master just now suspicious.

The enemy captured the city. There are often thousands of robes and carts built, and the locations are far and near, and they are different, how to deal with this? Is there any other way than to shoot the giant crossbow with rockets and destroy it out of the city?

Zhang Jun had been carefully examining the city defense map, and he was in an unusual place. on the figure. Not only are there groups of robes and chariots painted outside the city, but there are also inside the city! But anyone who has been a soldier for a few days knows that this robe is a siege weapon, what is the use of placing it in the city? The blind cat went to pounce on the rat and hit it with his eyes closed?

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is common sense to inference that the enemy's robe must have been set up three hundred paces away from the city wall." Wang Yu pointed to the picture and said. "Sixty paces forward, the enemy has prepared trenches, ladders, and rams. Sixty to one hundred paces ahead are the front-line siege equipment, such as goose carts, rushing carts, etc. If you want to hold out for a long time, or even repel the enemy army, you can't defend passively, you must take the initiative and give a strong blow before the enemy deploys. This requires that a large number of robes and chariots be erected in the city to make alum from robes."

When he said this, Zhang Jun finally couldn't listen anymore. Interrupting his words, he questioned: "Lord Wang, I have been in Jingyuan for a long time, and I have obeyed orders on the front line of Xia several times, and I have also participated in dozens of defensive battles. The robe chariot was placed at the head of the city, and the humble post had seen it, which was set up in the city, and the officers and soldiers who operated the chariot were all black-eyed. Why hit targets outside the city? ”

When Wang Yu heard this, he said in a somewhat disdainful tone: "That's because you are not in Taiyuan!" Most of my soldiers have a stunt."

A thought flashed in Xu Wei's head, don't say it's a blind snipe, right? It was a trick to play the game before the difficult crossing, this is a real knife and a real gun, a life-to-life fight, no joke.

"For every ten robe cars, there is a commander who stands at the head of the city, visually surveys the distance and direction of the target in advance, and directs the robe car group in the city to bombard the target outside the city. With a range of 300 paces, strike at the enemy's robe position; A robe with a range of two hundred and fifty paces. striking at the positions of the enemy's trench-filling troops; A robe with a range of 200 paces to strike at the enemy's front-line siege weapon positions, this is a robe made of robes! When Wang Yu said the last sentence, his palm slapped violently on the table, and his pride could not be concealed.

Although most of the faces of the generals in Pingyang were not very good-looking, they were all people who led the troops after all, and once they clicked, they immediately understood the other party's intentions. It should be said that it still works to set up a group of robes and chariots in the city and order people to command at the head of the city. In addition, if the robe cart is framed on the top of the castle, it can be directly and accurately attacked, but it is also vulnerable to attack.

"Dare to ask Lord Wang, this kind of tactic has been prepared for actual battles before?" Zhang Jun asked.

Wang Yu shook his head: "No, this is a method that the official has been thinking about for a long time after the Taiyuan Defense War, and he has not had the opportunity to put it into practice."

Hi. Speaking of Dajitian, Zhouyang is just talking on paper, and there is no cool example of applying actual combat at all, who dares to guarantee that it is sufficient and effective. The robe cart with a slightly greater power and a slightly longer range, one often requires hundreds of people to operate, and a hundred robe carts can occupy 10,000 troops.

For the king, "robes are made of robes." , Xu Wei did not have too many surprises. Even if this tactic is extremely effective, it is not very meaningful for Binh Duong at the moment. First of all, the front-line troops of ordnance could not build it, and there were neither craftsmen nor technology. Relying on weapons and equipment is a matter for each academy, not the military. Second, Wang Yu's tactics are still at the stage of talking on paper, and there are no actual combat examples, and if they are adopted on a large scale, the risk will not be

Wang Yu saw that most of the generals did not think so, and his heart was displeased. If it weren't for the old breed's order. And then for the sake of your Purple Gold Tiger's resistance to gold, why did I go all the way from Fengxiang to Hedong? Since you have this attitude, it's simple, Wang will go back.

Just thinking about this thought, Xu Wei clenched his fists and said politely: "Brother Wang, it is the cool autumn right now, and the Jin Army may suddenly appear at any time." This is a robe made of robes. It is good, but due to many limitations, I am afraid that it will be difficult to complete it for a while. Is there still any?"

"Xu Zhao, it is not Wang's intention to show off, as far as the current situation is concerned, using robes to make robes is the most direct and effective way. Any other tactics are passive defense, and the Jurchens are no longer in the realm of raising troops against Liaona, and their siege equipment is quite well-made, if the other party can successfully set up a large-scale group of robes and chariots outside Pingyang City. We can only wait to be beaten. When defending Taiyuan, there were only a few thousand soldiers in the city, and the chance of being attacked was very high, but what is the strength of Pingyang now? Since the Xianggong wants to avoid the field battle and rely on the city to consume the Jin army first, he must ensure that Pingyang will not be breached, and Wang Yu is indeed telling the truth.

Xu Wei was silent for a while, pacing slowly alone. Wang Yu stubbornly guarded Taiyuan, and when he was in a desperate situation, he still refused to surrender to the Jurchens several times, and there was no problem with his character. With thousands of soldiers, he guarded Taiyuan for more than half a year. His talent is also unquestionable. Although people are a little proud, the important thing is to have real talent! He rushed from Fengxiang to Hedong to listen to my moderation with the rank of fourth-rank official, which is already very revealing.

Don't use suspicious people, don't doubt people, dragging mud and water is a taboo for generals!

"The generals will obey!" Xu Wei turned around and shouted suddenly.

"In". The generals responded in unison.

"From now on, Wang Yu will serve as the commander of my recruitment division, and in response to the layout of the city defense and the mobilization of troops, it will be decided by the recruitment envoy and the capital. Those who violate their military orders will be disobeyed by me! Regardless of the generals of the forbidden army, I will engage in military law! No toleration! Xu Wei said with a solemn face.

"Order".

Wang Yuzhi was taken aback, he really didn't expect that as soon as he came to Pingyang, Zijin Tiger would be entrusted with the important task of "controlling the capital". What is the meaning of "metropolitan control". "The Song army went out on an expedition, although it was led by Wenchen, but often selected one of the generals with more talent and qualifications than ordinary people, entrusted with the important task of managing the army, and under the instruction of the commander-in-chief, controlled all the officers and soldiers, and the position was high and powerful. However, this is only a temporary dispatch, and the troops will be relieved as soon as they are dismissed.

"Beckoning the prime minister to stand up straight and salute, Wang Yuwang was waved off by Xu Wei when he opened his head." Brother Poison, don't worry, since I, Xu Wei, have spoken in front of the generals, I will never break my promise, since I worship my brother as the ruler of the capital, I have absolute trust in you, Brother Wang will let it go, and I will take care of the rest

Frankly speaking, before Wang Yu came to Pingyang, although he had heard of Xu Wei's name for a long time, he had only heard of it after all. He himself is old and has a high status, and imagines that the Purple Gold Tiger is probably just a young and ambitious brave general. Now it seems that this person is worthy of being the son of Xu Zhang, and he does have the style of a general!

"Wang Mou will never call it to ask for the prime minister's regret today!" Wang Yu bowed and bowed very respectfully. But later, he asked, "What about the robe and cart?" ”

Jingzhao, in front of the Xuanfu Division, for several days, although there was an endless stream of officials coming in and out to report the matter, they were busy. Even the pedestrians in the market had a premonition that something big was about to happen.

A civil official got out of the sedan chair and rushed into the door of the mansion quickly, even exempting himself from the report, and went straight to the second hall. When he arrived outside Li Gang's office, he stopped and asked someone to pass it on his behalf. Not long after, an order was issued to announce the prime minister, ordering him to enter the meeting.

"The lower official Wan Qishang, after seeing the civil official Xuanfu Xianggong entered, he bowed his hand and said. This person is nearly fifty years old, with a thin face, a tall nose, and a pair of eyes that are deeply sunken, showing a half-squinted state at any time. The expression is gloomy, not at all.

Li Gang was reading an official letter from the Privy Council to the Xuanfu Division of Shaanxi, which was written by Xu Shao himself, conveying the emperor's promise to Xu Wei. As long as he can defend the east half of the river, let Xu Wei build a festival, the so-called Jianjie, is to be promoted to the "festival envoy", which is a great honor for the military ministers, and the festival envoy in his twenties can be said to be unique. From this, it is not difficult to see that the imperial court attaches great importance to the defense of Hedong and the defense of Shaanxi, and does not hesitate to promise such a grand reward for fear of losing.

"What's the matter?". Li Gang knew that if there was no urgent matter for these ten thousand merchant officials to visit Shaanxi to mention the prison and the chief of the prison department, generally speaking, they would not go to the Xuanfu Yamen.

"After the official heard that after announcing the successive grain and salary to Hedong, he collected a large number of materials, and even gathered craftsmen from nearby workshops to prepare to go to Hedong. Wan Qishang asked.

Li Gang put down the official letter in his hand, nodded and said, "This is indeed the case, does Wan Ti have any objections to the punishment?" ”

Wan Qishang sighed before speaking, and then said solemnly: "Xuanxiang." Xu Wei. and young to discuss Hedong with him. The court actually delegated the power to dispose of it, "the system of the middle court is gone!" That's it, why did Xuan Xiang continue to send materials to Hedong from Xu Wei's request again and again? You know, yes, Xu Wei has now gathered the power of Hedong, if he funds food, ordnance, and craftsmen, Xu Wei's recruitment department seems to be independent of Shaanxi, doesn't Xuan Xiang think this is a dangerous message? ”

Li Gang was speechless for a while, for a long time, left the public case, came down to the court, first asked Wan Qishang to sit down, and then sat on the side, and said loudly: "Hedong has always relied on Xu Ziang to maintain, and the righteous army has always been only looking at him, and the imperial court wants to protect Hedong and defend Shaanxi, so it must be used." Li Wei swept Hedong and suffered considerable losses, and it is understandable that Shaanxi should support some of them. There is no need to worry too much about the sentence, and besides, although Xu Wei is young, his loyalty and courage are known to the world, and he is the general of the official family, so why should he doubt it? ”

Wan Qishang was speechless, and said after a while: "The lower official is not deliberately obstructing, but his duty is just where his duty lies, so I have to remind Xuan Xiang." Xia Guan heard that Xu Wei widely mobilized the rebel army in Hedong, and even selected tens of thousands of elite rebels to enrich the city defense. And the equipment and salaries of these generals were paid by Shaanxi. Xia Guan was worried. Xuanxiang painstakingly operated. Don't lose the money you have saved for no reason. Second, I am afraid that Xu Wei is young after all, and it is inevitable that there will be incompleteness in his actions, and if Xuan Xiangxiang places too much expectation, he may lose more than he gains. ”

"In order to solicit envoys, he already has the right to act cheaply, which is the official appoint, needless to say. For its talents, the true appearance is also assured. Li Gang said, paused for a while, saw that the other party no longer replied, and said earnestly, "Wan Ti Punishment, the situation is unpredictable, the Jin Army may have a sign of war in the near future, and it is not easy for Xu Wei to recruit Hedong." I think he is standing before he is young, but he often leads the army to gallop forward, bravely goes to the country, and turns the tide of the war several times, making great contributions to the country and the dynasty. For him, when it is within the laws of the imperial court, try to give it as convenience.

Of course, this is the words of the Prime Minister's family, please consider the punishment. ”

As soon as Wan Qishang heard this, he hurriedly got up and bowed: "Xuan Xiang's words are serious, and the lower officials have been taught." ”

"Hehe, where is it, there is no need to be too humble in the punishment." Li Gang reassured.

Wan Qishang was silent for a while, and he wanted to speak several times, but finally whispered: "Xuanxiang, there is a sentence that the lower officials don't know whether to say or not." ”

"It's okay to be outspoken." Li Gang nodded.

"The last time the Sanlu Western Army was defeated, Xuanfu asked for punishment, although the court did not pursue it. However, Taiwan may not be without opinions. This time, Xuan placed such high hopes on Xu Wei and spared no effort to support him, in case Xu Wei fails, I am afraid that Xianggong will be implicated. At that time, "Wan Qishang did not finish his words, but the meaning was already obvious. If you do this, it is equivalent to betting on Xu Wei, two on a rope, and the ants will not be able to run away from him, nor can they leave you. In case Xu Wei suffers a big defeat, and the Jin army fights all the way to Guanzhong, I'm afraid that your position as a Xuanfu envoy will not be able to sit steadily.

When Li Gang heard this, he was stunned for a while. Admittedly, Wan Qishang's words are not unreasonable. He has also thought about it these days, but now that he has been reminded by others, he feels more intense. He supports Xu Wei so strongly, in case he is defeated and loses half of Hedong, which then affects Shaanxi, even if the court does not pursue it, he can only take the blame and resign. Since he was expelled from Tokyo and unable to participate in the military and political affairs of the central government, he has devoted all his energy to economic strategy to Shaanxi. Looking forward to the eight hundred miles of Qinchuan can become a place for him to display his ambitions, if he is dismissed as a Xuanfu envoy, how many chances will he have if he has passed the year of the Mandate of Heaven?

Seeing him like this, Wan Qishang whispered again: "Xuan Xiang, even if Xu Wei is defeated, with his uncle Xu Shao in charge of the cardinal mansion, and Xu Zhang's grace, there will be no catastrophe, but my grandfather's situation is probably not good." These words should not have been talked about by the lower officials, but since the lower officials saw the prime minister and announced the public soothing of Shaanxi, they have worked hard and done their best, and they really can't bear it, so they don't vomit or feel unhappy. If there is any offense, please forgive me. ”

Li Gang was about to reply, when his mind suddenly flashed. Hey, strange thing, Xu Weiyuan is in Hedong, why are you so familiar with his situation? Even his recruitment of the rebel army to strengthen the city defense is clear? Even I can only peek at the leopard from Xu Wei's official documents, isn't your punishment Si Mo greater than my Xuanfu Si supernatural powers?

If you think about it, it's not hard to understand. In addition to the Xuanfu Division, who else has a connection with Hedong? Naturally, it is the "Hedong Economic System Division" who was ordered to draw special funds to Hedong, and who is the acting economic system envoy of Hedong?

With a shallow laugh, Li Gang asked, "I don't know if Wan Ti's punishment is Ran Nian's ascendant?" ”

Wan Qishang was stunned for a moment, and blurted out: "Xuanxiang has forgotten that you and I are both ascended to the second year of Xuanhe." The same list of Jinshi. ”

"Yes, I think twenty years ago, when you and I ascended to the top, who wasn't enthusiastic and generous to serve the country? Now that he is getting older, he has suffered great changes that have not been seen in the more than 170 years since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, and everything is gradually inadequate. For example, Xu Wei and other young talents, rich and strong, it is the time to serve the country loyally, as a senior officer, we should be within the system, to give support and care, this is also for the country, the future of the country, the world, the successor. Even if I don't want to be for the society and the court, I also think of you and I when we were young, with the ambition of serving the country, but I want to be embarrassed by having no way. Do not do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Li Gang spoke earnestly, and his words were full of shame and speechless. (To be continued)