There are a series of important cities and fortresses along the south bank of the Yellow River. Kaifeng to the west, is the Tiger Pass, is Luoyang, is Shaanxi County (Sanmenxia), is Tongguan. As long as you break through the Tong Pass, you can enter Shaanxi. Not far from Tongguan is Chang'an.

Hao Ren's gaze swept over these important cities on the map, and then returned to Dadu. It is about 1,200 miles from Bianliang to the capital, and for the Mongol army, this distance is not even an expedition. Raising his gaze, Hao Ren said to Boyan, who was sitting on the main seat: "Dashuai, this battle will probably be protracted." ”

Boyan didn't answer immediately, he looked at Zhang Hongfan with a cold gaze, and Marshal Zhang Hongfan immediately replied: "Marshal, we probably can't fight head-on with the Song army in the field." ”

A few years ago, the Mongol army and the Song army had a frontal battle with the Song army outside the city of Guide Province. Although the Song army had a city behind it and took advantage of the geographical advantage, the Mongol army, which was four times larger than the Song army, was still defeated head-on in the field. Zhang Hongfan was deeply impressed. The Song army occupied Bianliang, and if the Mongol army attacked the city again like last time, it probably would not be able to get any benefits.

Seeing that Zhang Hongfan was also in this tone, Boyan sighed: "My Great Mongolia has never been good at attacking cities. Since Bianliang was lost, it was up to the cavalry to deal with the Song army. ”

Hao Ren also thought about this problem, and he sighed: "But no matter what, in the end, there will be a fierce battle under the city." If it is looted along the way, what else is there to rob in this Henan? ”

Henan was tossed very miserably when the Jin State was destroyed, the Jin State guarded Bianliang, and millions of people died because of the plague alone, and after the Mongols broke the city, they started to slaughter the city. The last emperor of the Jin Kingdom, Jin Aizong, then ran around Henan and fought many battles. According to the urine nature of Mongolia, various places were also slaughtered. After that, Henan was designed to engage in pastures in Mongolia, and there was no intention of resuming agriculture. There is nothing to grab in a pastoral area.

Listening to Hao Ren's frustration, Zhang Hongfan replied: "We went south to loot Guidefu and Xuchang. ”

Hao Ren replied angrily: "Let's not say if we can grab it, let's just say that we can grab it, how can we withdraw it?" ”

Successful looting means a lot of supplies, and transporting a lot of supplies means a lot of escorted troops. There was no way to hide a team of this size, and when the Song army was attacking in a dignified manner, the Mongol army still had to face the dilemma of field warfare.

Zhang Hongfan couldn't refute the scene described by Hao Ren, he wanted to ask: When did my Great Mongolia become so weak. But he couldn't say it. After hesitating for a while, Zhang Hongfan spoke: "Maybe the Song army outside the city of Guide Mansion is the strongest in the Song army, and the other Song troops are vulnerable?" ”

After saying this, Zhang Hongfan himself felt a little embarrassed. I want to know which Song army is weaker, so I can only rely on frontal combat. But when it encountered the powerful Song army, the Mongol army only lost its troops. No one wants their army to be the sacrificial one.

Facing this group of cowardly guys before fighting, Marshal Boyan said coldly: "In the past few days, the Great Khan is probably going to send troops. ”

Marshal Boyan was right, after about a month of preparation, the Mongolian army was finally ready to go on the expedition. On the sixth day of the fifth month, the Great Khan Kublai Khan ordered people to read the text on the conquest of the Song State, and just read the part of the text that expressed indignation at the Song State's killing of the Great Yuan officials, Fan Wenhu had already sobbed in a low voice, and the ministers looked at him with tears streaming down their faces, and they didn't know what to say.

After the crusade was finished, Fan Wenhu first said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty Shengming!" Then he knelt on the ground and cried "woo~~~~". The ceremony was quite large, not only Fan Wenhu participated, but also Lu Wenhuan, Gundam, Xia Gui and other generals. Looking at Fan Wenhu's performance, the generals were full of emotion in their hearts. They knew Zhao Taiwei's attitude towards the Song traitors, and the Song State's action to eliminate the Song traitors was attacked by Kublai Khan's military attack, and the generals did feel that the Great Yuan was more kind than the previous Song State. But although Fan Wenhu's performance should be, this kind of exaggerated and fierce action made the general feel ashamed. The generals even thought that Kublai Khan might be angry.

looked up at the Great Khan Kublai Khan, but saw that the Great Khan Kublai Khan actually showed a rather moved expression. These generals immediately had three black lines on their foreheads, is this okay? Just when he was embarrassed by this embarrassing situation, he saw Fan Wenhu put away his sorrow, kowtowed three times, stood up and wiped his face with his sleeve, and said in a slightly blocked voice: "The minister is rude, please atone for your sins." ”

Kublai Khan waved his hand to signal that it was okay, and then stood up and announced, "The day after tomorrow, the army will be dispatched!" ”

When it came to the day of sending troops, the streets of the capital were really fluttering with banners and embroidered ribbons, and the large number of cavalry gathered outside the south gate of the capital, and the people ran outside the city to see the excitement. Tens of thousands of troops and tens of thousands of people dragged their families and mouths, making the outside of the capital look very lively. Seeing the pro-guards surrounding the Great Khan Kublai Khan and the crown prince Zhenjin from a distance, the people knelt down and saluted. Seeing the almost invisible people from the guards, Kublai Khan smiled with satisfaction. Prince Zhenjin's face flushed with excitement.

Hao Ren was not far from the Great Khan, and he was also moved by such a magnificent scene, but Hao Ren was against this battle, and this emotion was greatly reduced. Because he was born in the technical arm of the navy, Hao Ren has a deep feeling about the role of technical weapons in war. What kind of personal prowess is so vulnerable in the face of densely designed guns. Compared to guns, the Mongol army was really no match for the Song army.

However, Hao Ren also knew that this was not the time for him to oppose at all, and this war was already inevitable. Following the Great Khan's procession forward, Hao Ren looked at the ranks of the troops this time. Compared with the last southern expedition, many of these soldiers are familiar faces. That is, a few years ago these people went to war. A few years passed, and these people were still in the Mongol army. Hao Ren thought helplessly, the veteran was at least more reliable.

After some rituals, the Mongol army followed the Great Khan. This time, 150,000 troops were dispatched, of which 100,000 went to Bianliang and 50,000 went to Shandong to fight. The way to Shandong did not start from Dadu, they were led by Marshal Ashu and had already marched into Shandong.

Only more than 10,000 people actually set out from the south of the capital, and the other troops were assembled at various starting points and took different paths. If 100,000 men march along the same path, they can tread the road into a deep ditch.

Looking at the back of the team, Hao Ren, who stayed in the capital, was a little uneasy in his heart. The reason why he did not support this dispatch was because he felt that this dispatch would definitely not be beneficial. But he couldn't help it at this time.

When I turned back, I saw that there were still some flags in the empty square, and many of these flags were flags of various religions. The flag of the Crucidian religion has changed its style. It is an equilateral triangle with a long side and a narrow bottom, and a triangle with a short side and a wide bottom is cut off at the bottom, leaving a shape that looks like an arrow. On the red flag, the four of these shapes are all white, with pointed ends facing the center, and the top, bottom, left and right are put together to form a pattern that looks like a cross.

This kind of cross is completely different from the previous cross with a vajra, and is more like a beautiful pattern that is quite eye-catching. Hao Ren felt that this pattern was much lighter and more agile than the previous look.

He urged the horse to go back, and when he passed the street, he saw the priest who sold the cross again in the midst of the bustling crowd. Hao Ren didn't dismount this time, he beckoned his men to call the priest over. The priest held a shiny thing in his hand, and after listening to Hao Ren's entourage with a humble expression, he immediately trotted all the way to Hao Ren. After bowing, the priest continued: "Your Highness, I don't know what your Excellency commands. ”

Hao Ren was about to ask, when he saw that there was such a guy among the big shiny things in the priest's hand, he pointed and asked, "What's the matter with this red cross?" ”

The priest hurriedly said, "Oh! Your Highness, this is the Maltese Cross. Emblem of the Knights Hospitaller. This kind of cross was used in the church of His Majesty's Mother, and the Great Khan ordered that this symbol be used as a symbol of the Cross religion in his army. ”

Maltese Cross, Knights Hospitaller, these words are all words that Hao Ren has never heard. Looking at Hao Ren's curious eyes, the priest immediately continued, "Your Highness. You see. This Maltese cross is enamelled. Copper gold-plated. There is no chain, but a button. It can be buttoned on clothes, and there are ribbons, which can be buttoned on the neckline. Your Highness, this is the style that His Majesty the Great Khan's mother values. As he spoke, the priest held up a Maltese cross and shook it at Hao Ren.

Hao Ren didn't know why he was moved, and he really bought one for two times. I have to say, this thing is very beautifully made. There is a feeling of pressing the hand. The gold plating on the back should be real, and the two dollars are not a loss. Holding the exquisite artwork, Hao Ren was also quite satisfied in his heart. But on second thought, the Song Kingdom knew the situation in Mongolia and the exquisite craftsmanship displayed on such small objects. His feelings about war were even more uneasy.

Kublai Khan's knowledge of the Song army was no less than that of Hao Ren, but the Khan had no fear. Of course, this may be because the Great Khan doesn't have to brave the hail of bullets to lead the charge. After the troops were dispatched, the march went quite smoothly. However, three days after going out, the Great Khan received a report. Tens of thousands of Song troops actually crossed the Yellow River and set up camp on the side of the Yellow River opposite Bianliang.

"Probe!" Kublai Khan commanded. After finishing speaking, he added, "Take a closer look at what the hell Song Jun is doing!" ”

After crossing the Yangtze River, Kublai Khan fully realized that the Yellow River was not as suitable for sailing as the Yangtze River. However, with the width of the Yellow River, it is very difficult to cross the river. When the Song army of tens of thousands crossed the Yellow River, it became a lone army. The Song army was an army dominated by infantry, and so many tens of thousands of infantry crossed the Yellow River in formation, preparing for a decisive battle with the Mongol cavalry?

Although he didn't mean to underestimate Zhao Jiaren, Kublai Khan really didn't understand how Zhao Jiaren came up with such a move. If you want to annihilate the infantry, the cavalry has countless means, and the cavalry will not make a stupid charge.