Chapter 243: The Theory of Xiangyang

"Tea again." Lu Wende suddenly remembered the scene of drinking tea in Tongle Building, the tea made by His Majesty the Emperor himself is not so delicious, this is like Hongmen tea at the Hongmen banquet, but this tea cannot but be drunk.

Lu Wende respectfully took the teacup I handed over: "Thank you, Your Majesty for the tea." ”

"Good dragon well." I smiled and said, "Lu Aiqing, you two brothers have guarded Xiangfan for many years, and they have worked hard for the country and the people." ”

Lu Wende didn't know my intention to praise him, so he had to reply cautiously: "For Your Majesty, it is the duty of a minister to protect the territory of the Great Song Dynasty." ”

"It's a good duty, Lu Aiqing is not arrogant, and he should be a model for my dynasty, but I can drink this cup of tea made by myself."

"Your Majesty has won the award, but the minister does not dare to be it."

"Yes, let's get down to business, Lu Aiqing, in your opinion, the Mongols will choose where to break through when they go south on a large scale."

"Back to Your Majesty, if the Mongols invade the south, the minister thinks that Kublai Khan will definitely adopt a strategy of multi-head concurrency and key breakthroughs, and the first of these points will definitely be the Sichuan Theater, followed by the Xiangfan Theater."

"Well, what Aiqing said, I basically agree that the two Huai theaters are blocked by the Huai River, and the Mongolian naval division is at a disadvantage compared with our dynasty, and the situation of the two Huai is not conducive to a large-scale assault by the Mongolian cavalry, so it will only make a noise and not attack strongly, the Sichuan theater has always been the key breakthrough point chosen by the Mongolian army, and every time there will be no exception, however, I think that the Xiangfan theater will be the focus of the next Mongol attack."

Lu Wende was a little puzzled and said: "Ah, why is Your Majesty so sure, is it no longer the Sichuan War Zone that is the first choice." ”

I nodded and said: "Lu Aiqing, the Mongols have attacked the Sichuan theater several times, generally speaking, each time in vain, the Song-Mongolian War lasted for more than 40 years, and the current Great Khan of Mongolia Kublai Khan is eloquent, and with the help of Liu Quan, he will naturally not repeat the mistakes of the past, so I expect that Kublai Khan will definitely sum up the lessons and lessons of the previous two attacks on our dynasty, change the direction of the main attack in a timely manner, and will vigorously develop the naval division, in the future southern invasion, he will take the way of containing the two wings and concentrating forces, If Xiangyang is lost, Kublai Khan can go straight to Lin'an, so that the battle line can be shortened and the connection between the east and west of our country can be severed, so that our army will be divided and surrounded by the Mongol iron cavalry and passively beaten. ”

Lu Wende looked at the map on the table and said thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, if the Mongols focus their attack on Xiangfan, the ministers will swear to live and die with Xiangyang." ”

"Aiqing's courage is commendable, but I only want Aiqing and Xiangyang to coexist, not coexist."

Lu Wende heard my concern this time, and said with a slight emotion in his heart: "Yes, Your Majesty, I swear to coexist with Xiangyang." ”

"Well, Lu Aiqing, I heard that Xiangyang City, known as the iron-beaten Xiangyang, is a place where soldiers must fight, is there such a [***]."

"Back to Your Majesty, Xiangyang City runs through the north and south, Chengqi east and west, since ancient times it is a traffic point, there are many roads and thoroughfares, Xiangyang is named because it is located in the Yang of Xiangshui, in ancient times, Chu is the North Jinxu, has a history of 2000 years, all dynasties are military important places, from the geographical point of view, Xiangfan is located at the southern end of the Nanyang Basin, Xiangyang and Fancheng are sandwiched between the north and south of the Han River, interdependent, 'across Jingyu, control the north and south', the terrain is very dangerous, and indeed the soldiers must fight for the place."

I said: "Xiangyang's upper gateway, Ruluo in the north, Qinshu in the west, Huguang in the south, and Wuyue in the east, is indeed a traffic artery, Lu Aiqing, why is the iron-clad Xiangyang named, and what is the defense in the city today." ”

"Your Majesty, after Marshal Yue Fei recaptured Xiangyang from the hands of the Jinren, he began to strengthen the city wall, and in the past hundred years, the successive generations of guards have been constantly consolidating and maintaining, and the defense points are in accordance with the layout of Marshal Yue back then, which is why there is an iron fight, and therefore the minister dares to say the oath of coexistence with Xiangyang."

"It turns out that this is the case, Marshal Yue is a peerless general of our dynasty, and there must be no mistake in the defense strategy he set, you rely on the solidity of Xiangyang City to fight a defensive battle, it is not wrong, but Aiqing has not thought about it, if the Mongols surround Xiangyang, what will be the consequences."

Lu Wende seemed to think of something, hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, even if the Mongols surround Xiangyang, my Xiangyang army and people will definitely be able to hold out for several years, and Your Majesty would have already sent troops to rescue Xiangfan at that time, so that it may be possible to form a joint internal and external attack and strangle the living force of the Mongolian army." ”

From the summer of 1261, Kublai Khan began to build earthen walls, long walls and more than ten castles on the east, south and west sides of Xiangfan in the name of protecting the Mongol goods.

I just mentioned that the Mongols surrounded Xiangyang, but it made Lu Wende's heart tremble, Lu Wende is very clear about the situation around Xiangyang, if the Mongolian earthen walls and castles are all built, then Xiangyang will be surrounded, Lu Wende is helpless, remembered to use Xiangyang as a bait, of course, I don't know this, just Lu Wende's heroism, in order to sacrifice himself to achieve the goal of eliminating the Mongolian army,

"In this way, the two sides are likely to form a situation in the Xiangyang area to encircle each other and send reinforcements."

"Yes, Your Majesty Shengming, this possibility is extremely great."

For this kind of intensive warfare, the effectiveness of firearms can be brought into full play.

I smiled and said, "Lu Aiqing, the future battle of Xiangyang may be a watershed between our dynasty and Mongolia, as long as the new Mongolian army can be dragged or eliminated in Xiangyang, it will lay the foundation for the victory of our dynasty's northern expedition." ”

"Your Majesty, the minister will definitely stick to Xiangyang, even if he pays his own life, he must also contribute to the great cause of His Majesty."

"Lü Aiqing, according to my prediction, the Mongols will attack in the autumn of the third year of Xianchun (1267) two years later, and Xiangyang City only needs to hold for a year or two to buy me enough time."

"It only takes a year or two."

"Well, at that time, my muskets and artillery should be able to be put into the battlefield in large quantities, and with the advantage of firearms, we can reverse the passive defensive situation of our dynasty in the past, Aiqing, you think, if our army has hundreds of cannons and tens of thousands of muskets, even in the face of hundreds of thousands of Mongolian troops, it will not be afraid at all, even if the city of Xiangyang is tall, can it block the salvo of hundreds of artillery, not to mention the Mongols who have no city outside the city of Xiangyang."

Although Lu Wende couldn't imagine how shocking the power of a salvo of hundreds of artillery pieces was, he could vaguely feel the huge power of a single cannon from the Gunpowder Division's test firing, which was indeed not something that could be competed with by manpower: "Your Majesty, if hundreds of artillery pieces are fired at Xiangyang, the minister can't predict how long Xiangyang can hold on, at least the strong city wall can't withstand the artillery attack in turn." ”

I nodded again and smiled: "That's right, Aiqing will know the specific power then." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Aiqing, let Xia Jiangang's 5,000 forbidden army return to Lin'an after you go back, I will restructure the forbidden army from next month."

"Yes, the minister will inform General Xia as soon as he returns."

"Well, as for Lu Xin, you can rest assured that he is in Lin'an, I will let him stay in the Military University for two or three years, and if I feel qualified, I will ask him to return to Xiangyang as a reserve candidate for the future of the Xiangfan Theater, if he is not qualified, ,,,,,。"

Before I could finish speaking, Lu Wende preemptively said: "The dog is at the disposal of His Majesty." ”

I laughed and said, "Aiqing, I didn't say that I would dispose of Lu Xin, if he is not qualified, I will also let him return to Xiangyang, just change to other affairs." ”

Lu Wende was overjoyed in his heart: "Your Majesty, although the surname of the son of Weichen is impatient, he is definitely not a bad breed on the battlefield, please rest assured Your Majesty." ”

"Okay, Lu Aiqing, the so-called tiger father has no dog, I believe in Lu Aiqing, and I also believe in Lu Xin, I hope that Lu Xin can learn more new knowledge and new ideas in the military university, and in the university, Lu Xin can also make friends with many young talents in our army, which is very beneficial to Lu Xin's future development in the military circles."

"The minister once again thanked His Majesty for his kindness."

Lu Wende knew that the Lin'an Royal Military University must be the cradle of the emperor to train young generals, and in the future Great Song Army, it may be the world of this group of people.

"Okay, you will return to Xiangyang tomorrow, after you go back, you and your brother will discuss how to strengthen military training, and how to go deep into the enemy-occupied area, and when you return to the court at the end of the year to report on your work, by the way, bring your brother Lu Wenhuan with you, so that I can see the demeanor of your Lu family."

"Yes, I obey."

"Also, you don't have to say goodbye to Jia Rudao, just go out of the city tomorrow."

Lu Wende smiled, knowing that I was also for his good, but he was embarrassed to go, and said, "The minister understands." ”

"Well, Xiao Qi, pass them all in."

"Yes, official."

"Ladies and gentlemen." After everyone entered, I said, "The battle of life and death between Song and Mongolia will break out in a few years, in the past few years, both sides will dig deep holes, accumulate grain, and carry out an arms storage competition, both sides have only one purpose, to completely defeat each other, the main task after you go back is to train the troops, in order to meet the arrival of the big war, my Chinese clan has lasted for thousands of years, and will definitely not lose in the Mongolian iron riders, you all know my thoughts and determination now, and you all know that I was born in response to the mandate of heaven, and God has brought me advanced firearms, With advanced strategies and tactics, do you have the confidence to defeat the Mongols and recover the Central Plains with me? ”

"Your Majesty, the ministers are full of confidence."

My eyes swept over the faces of the four people, and then I got up and said: "My Great Song Dynasty will definitely stand on the top of the world again, and my Great Song Dynasty Royal Army will definitely become the first invincible army in the world. ”

Lu Xiufu and the four envoys also stood up together and said in unison: "Work hard for the rise of the Great Song Dynasty." ”

"Okay, that's the end of the meeting today, Junshi."

"The minister is here."

"In the evening, you invite the four Aiqing to go to the No. 1 room of Tianzi in Tongle Building, have a good meal, and discuss the plan of the Military Affairs Yuan in the later stage by the way."

"Yes, I understand."

"Oh, by the way, Junshi, you also called Lu Xin, the son of Lu Aiqing, he has always wanted to go to Tianzi No. 1 room to have a look, and let Li Beiyang, Xia Song and Ouyang Jianqing also participate."

Lu Xiufu said: "The minister does what he is told. ”

After hearing this, Lu Wende immediately felt grateful, he understood that I was asking him to meet Lu Xin before leaving Lin'an, and at the same time, Lu Xin could integrate into the main backbone group of Lin'an Military University in the future headed by Xia Song, Ouyang Jianqing and other young generals.