Chapter 438 is planned to trap Xiangyang

Next, Wen Tianxiang came out and said: "Your Majesty, the reform of the provincial system of our dynasty has been completed, and one of the key tasks of the government council in the next stage is to improve and amend the various laws and regulations of our dynasty. Ms. Nina, who has just joined the Law Department, agrees with the laws of our dynasty, and has added a number of their Western views, many of which are difficult for ministers and officials of the Law Department to understand and judge whether they are feasible. ”

I nodded and said, "Yes, Wen Aiqing, when you return from Xiangyang, I will summon me to consult with the relevant legal departments." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Ruan Aiqing, how is the issuance of war bonds?"

"Back to Your Majesty, the progress is going well, and the officials, businessmen and people in Lin'an City are becoming more and more enthusiastic, and the relevant data ministers will report once a month."

"Well, these bonds are all used to pay for the war. Ladies and gentlemen, the war between Song and Mongolia is becoming more and more intense, although today's government is mainly military affairs, but the government affairs system must not be half relaxed, economic development is one of the key tasks of our dynasty this year, this must be guaranteed, in order to complete this year's tax revenue, I have said many times before, the war is fought in the back is a competition for financial resources. In addition, the building of a clean and honest government should not be relaxed, and the integrity of the imperial court is gradually being restored, and we must not let the corruption of a few officials affect the hard-won good situation. Everyone, today's court meeting is here, everyone performs their duties, works hard for the great Song Dynasty, and retreats from the dynasty. ”

Outside the city of Xiangyang, in the big tent of the Mongolian Chinese army in the Baihe City Field, the marshal of the southern capital of Zhengnan, Ashu, convened the first military meeting since the siege of Xiangfan by the Mongolian army.

Ah Shu, who was sitting in the center, looked at the generals and spoke first: "Generals, our army has completed the land encirclement of the Xiangfan area of the Southern Dynasty, and the next stage should be to implement the encirclement and reinforcement task mentioned by the Great Khan. In view of this situation, let's talk about the next strategy of our army. ”

Ali Hague, who sat on the left side of the lower head, said: "Marshal, the reinforcements of the Southern Dynasty have not shown up for a long time, although Yingzhou in the south of Xiangyang City and Suizhou in the east are stationed in the army of the Southern Dynasty, but if they do not come to aid Xiangyang, will our army attack Xiangyang?" ”

Shi Tianze, the veteran who was in the first place on the right, said: "General Ali Hague, besieging but not attacking, besieging and feintting is the established policy of the Great Khan, which cannot be easily changed. ”

"Well, General Shi is right." Ah Shu agreed, "It has been several months since our army arrived in Xiangyang, and today's meeting is to invite you to discuss together how to make the reinforcements of the Southern Dynasty come to Xiangyang, so that our army can surround the point and send reinforcements. ”

Zhang Hongfan, the young pioneer of the southern expedition, first said: "Marshal, the city of Xiangyang is strong, there is a lot of grain and grass in the city, and the Xiangyang army is very tenacious. ”

"General Zhang, keep talking." Ah Shu is quite familiar with Zhang Hongfan, and knows that although he is young, he is resourceful.

Zhang Hongfan continued: "Marshal, generals, the last general thinks that Xiangyang Lu Wende will definitely not go out of the city to fight, and our army can not be impatient, if Xiangyang is stormed, it will inevitably cause a large number of casualties to our army, therefore, our army should concentrate all the large siege equipment such as stone throwing machines and siege crossbows, and make every effort to bombard the east gate of Xiangyang City, where the terrain is suitable, and the attack of siege equipment in turn will not only hit the city wall of Xiangyang City, but also the confidence of the army and people of Xiangyang City. As long as there is a gap in Xiangyang City, then Lu Wende will not be able to survive, and he can't wait to ask Lin'an for help, and when General Liu Quan's warship is built, he can block the Hanshui River Basin and completely make Xiangyang an isolated city. At that time, the Southern Song Dynasty court in Lin'an would be in chaos and send troops to help. ”

Shi Tianze praised: "Dashuai, Hongfan's suggestion is good, and the general will approve it." ”

"It's a good idea to focus on the attack, guys, any other suggestions?"

Ali Hague said: "Marshal, according to the will of the last general, can you give the last general 5,000 elite soldiers while besieging Xiangyang, and the last general will first capture Suizhou east of Xiangyang." ”

Ah Shu said: "General Ali Hague, this point has already been thought of by this marshal, no. ”

"Why?"

"Although the road to Suizhou is not far, but it is full of rugged mountain roads, Suizhou City is built by the mountains, and its surrounding six or seven are mountains and hills, easy to defend and difficult to attack, which is not conducive to the advance of our cavalry, this is one, and second, if the Southern Dynasty army sets up an ambush on the way to cut off the connection between Suizhou and Xiangyang, then our Eastern Expeditionary Army will become a lone army, so that it will be in trouble."

Although Ali Hague seems to be rough, he is not a reckless person, and he thought for a while and said, "The big handsome man is reasonable. ”

Kong Yuan said: "Marshal, the battle of Xiangyang is the top priority of this southern expedition, our army needs to be prepared to fight a protracted war, Xiangyang is surrounded by mountains, so the stone of the stone thrower can be guaranteed, and the last general also agreed to General Zhang's proposal, fight steadily, step by step." ”

Kong Yuan, one of the commanders of the southern capital, Han Chinese, in his forties, once followed Shi Tianze, attacked Jiaohu, Siege Shouchun, Baxi Fort, and Zheng'anfeng, his courage and good fighting, wisdom and strategy were extraordinary, plus every battle, he was the first soldier, and his achievements were outstanding, and he was quite important to Kublai Khan.

"The Admiral agrees." Atahai and Azhuhan also expressed their positions.

Atahai is the leader of the young generation of Mongolian generals, the grandson of Tahai, the founder of Mongolia, and the son of Buhua. When he first joined the army, he went on an expedition to Dali with Ashu, taking the lead and making great achievements. Asahan was also a young Mongol general, the son of the generalissimo of the Mongol infantry army, Liugan, who made his debut in Kublai Khan's victory over Ali Buge.

Liu Cheng saw that the rest of the generals were no longer speechless, and said cautiously: "Marshal, the last general thinks that General Zhang's method is feasible, and at the same time, the last general suggests increasing the number of our army around Xiangyang City, the art of war is cloudy, ten are to surround it, five to attack it, and to fight it if it is doubled, our army is the main attack, and Xiangyang City is extremely strong, so as a siege party, at least a multiple of the enemy army is needed to form an effective threat." As long as the number of our army reaches more than 100,000, it is expected that Lu Wende will have to ask Lin'an for help. ”

"Yes." Ashu said, "General Liu, I have a total of 150,000 troops in the middle of the road, and there are currently 85,000 people under Xiangyang City, and the rest are being reorganized and trained in the area of Nanyang City, and it is estimated that it will be completed by March next year. Also, before Ben Shuai came out, the Great Khan said that the giant fire cannon of our dynasty will be built by the end of next year 50 to 100 gates, and all of them will be transferred to Xiangyang, this kind of giant stone thrower can throw 150 catties to 200 catties of stones, no matter how strong the city of Xiangyang is, it can't stop the bombardment of hundreds of catties of boulders. ”

"One hundred and fifty pounds?" Liu Cheng exclaimed.

Shi Tianze said with a smile: "General Liu, this matter is indeed true, I also heard the Great Khan mention it, and it can also be equipped on the naval division warship, so that the attack power of my naval division will definitely increase greatly." ”

"That's very good." Liu Cheng said excitedly, "The stone thrower of the Song Dynasty sailor can only shoot stones weighing eighty catties at most. ”

Ah Shu smiled and said: "Generals, from tomorrow, all the stone throwers and siege crossbows of our army will be placed in the east of Xiangyang City, Ah Thorn Han, the east gate is your war zone, according to General Zhang's law, your army assists the artillery battalion soldiers to bombard the east city wall in turn, and strive to smash a gap in the wall of the east gate of Xiangyang." ”

A Tinghan said: "Yes, the commander, the last general will take the order." ”

"The rest of the armies, when they are free, take turns collecting stones in the mountains for two hours a day to ensure that the stones of the stone-throwing machine are sufficient."

"Yes, Marshal."

"General Liu Quan, the matter of building a shipyard in Wanshanbao has been approved by the Great Khan last month, and you and General Zhang Xi, the head of the naval division, should hurry up and urge the officers and men of the naval division and the engineering personnel of the Ministry of Engineering to complete it as soon as possible. At the same time, according to your plan, the Great Khan has recruited 70,000 sailors in various places, and is currently training in Sichuan, Shandong and other places, and it is expected that by the end of next year or the beginning of the next year, it will be completed, and all 70,000 sailors will be commanded and dispatched by you. ”

"Yes, Marshal, the last general will obey."

"General Atahai."

"The end will be."

"You are responsible for the construction of the fortress of Wanzhang Mountain, and you must connect the fortresses of Lumen Mountain, Baihe City and Wanzhang Mountain by June next year."

"Yes, the last general commands."

"Ali Hague, Kong Yuan, the two of you continue to besiege Fancheng."

"Yes, Marshal."

"General Zhang Hongfan."

"The end will be."

"You are responsible for the attack on the north gate of Xiangyang City, and the 15,000 people of your vanguard battalion can make a feint, the purpose is to make the Xiangyang army tense their minds and maintain the fighting spirit of our army."

"Yes, the last will obey."

"General Guo Kan."

"The end will be."

"This marshal ordered you to lead 10,000 soldiers to besiege the west gate of Xiangyang City, and the method and purpose are the same."

"Yes, Dashuai, the last general Guo Kan will take the order."

"General Shi, you will play the Great Khan on the strategy of our army in the next stage."

"The last general will respect his life."

"Report." Just as Ah Shu was about to announce the end of the meeting, the cowardly Xue army all entered the inner road, "Great Shuai, Great Khan ordered." ”

"Read."

"Yes, Marshal." Huaidu said, "Ah Shu Aiqing and generals, the battle of Xiangyang is a long-term and protracted war, according to the established policy, trapping Xiangyang instead of capturing Xiangyang, you must remember not to be in a hurry, rash and rash. ”

Ah Shu praised: "The Great Khan is wise, thousands of miles away, and he even knows the situation in Xiangyang. At the end of the meeting, everyone took their seats. ”

Three days later, the Mongol army, under the command of the Zhengyin vanguard Asahan launched another attack on the eastern gate of Xiangyang City.