Chapter 21 Strategic Directions

He Xi said: "Along the Yellow River, there are hundreds of thousands of southern troops, and Xu Da is the commander. Not to mention, Xu Da is difficult to compete, even if we can beat it, how big will our losses be? And we have to learn from the experience of the battle between the rivers, that is, to open up more battlefields. The more battlefields we have opened up can keep the scale of firepower from decreasing, and even if the Southern Army has manpower, it is difficult to have comparable firepower."

"Hold on to the southern army along the Yellow River and open up another battlefield? What battlefield to open up? Shanxi?" Zhu Xiongying asked.

He Xi said, "I haven't thought this through yet. However, opening up a different battlefield is the most in line with our strategy."

There are some inappropriate battlefields in Shanxi.

Shanxi's heavy rocks are stacked with obstacles, and only a few passes need to be held, even if there are more troops, they can't exert themselves.

Not to mention that it is Geng Bingwen who guards Shanxi.

Although Geng Bingwen and Yan Wang did not have a good performance in history, Geng Bingwen's best thing is not offense, but defense. He is an expert in defensive warfare, and uses his lone army to contain Zhang Shicheng's main force.

This is not something that anyone can do.

There is also a direct attack on the northwest region without attacking Shanxi. There's a problem with that too.

That's the logistics.

From Beijing to Shaanxi, it is the closest to pass through Shanxi, and after entering Shanxi, you can also use rivers such as the Fen River for water transportation. However, it is not impossible to bypass Shanxi and directly cross the Yellow River from Datong into northern Shaanxi.

Yes, theoretically.

Without him, the efficiency of land transportation is too low.

For thousands of miles of transportation, the freight is several times that of the transported materials, but more than ten times. It's not worth the loss at all. Especially in the age of firearms, the army's dependence on logistics is also completely different. In the era of cold weapons, it is also possible to fight without food to the enemy.

But in the age of firearms, it was almost impossible.

From Datong to northern Shaanxi, this offensive line is almost impossible to maintain a full-fledged army operation. In other words, bypassing Shanxi and entering Shaanxi to fight will certainly make it difficult for the southern army to parry, but it will also make it difficult for the northern army to maintain, not to mention whether Geng Bingwen in Shanxi will do anything to the logistics line.

The overall idea of opening up another battlefield is certain. It's not that he doesn't fight along the Yellow River, but he doesn't seek a definitive victory along the Yellow River, and he even worries that the army crossing the Yellow River will be used to replace the army with water.

Don't overestimate the bottom line of the generals of this era.

In the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, sometimes the lower the bottom line, the more people can survive and succeed.

It's just that now, everyone has become famous and rich. But they were cornered. They may not be reluctant to go back to their old jobs.

"Is the military budget for the Battle of Zhangdefu allocated?" Yang Shiqi asked.

He Xi was stunned for a moment and said, "This money hasn't been issued yet?"

The Battle of Zhangdefu was actually the Battle of Northern Henan envisioned by Sheng Yong. Zhangde Mansion is the Anyang of later generations. Ye Shen and Tie Xuan had long wanted to continue to fight south and knock down this place. Although Tie Xuan is now only the governor of Hebei. But the lands in Shandong, Henan, and the Yellow River are all under his control.

Today, Tie Xuan is a governor of the Great Hebei.

After the world is determined in the future, Tie Xuan is indispensable as a cabinet scholar.

In fact, after the battle between the rivers, the situation can sweep away Zhangde. It's just that the battle between the rivers has never been less than all kinds of endings. This one thing was delayed.

Yang Shiqi said: "The following is urging a lot, but I always have to leave some margin for the imperial court."

Yang Shiqi's mind is also very simple, after the battle of Hejian, the imperial court spent a lot of money. There are even some expenses, and before spending them, Yang Shiqi doesn't know how much. At this time, the cash you can grab is the most important thing.

The battle of Zhangde, strategically, is a ripe peach, and it is within reach. Even the longer it drags on, the bigger the problem. However, in Yang Shiqi's view, the temporary victory or defeat of the front line is not as important as the financial health of the rear.

He Xi said, "Then give it. The sooner the better."

Yang Shiqi said, "Yes."

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He Xi finished these things and returned home.

The following people came to report, and there was a contact who visited him many times.

He Xi asked indifferently, "Is there anything special about this person?"

With He Xi's status improving, it is not an easy thing to see He Xi. I don't know how many people want to see him, no matter how many days I wait, how many times I visit, if there are no special circumstances, the people below will not report it.

"My lord, this person is from the Southwest Hall."

"Southwest Hall?" He Xi said.

"Exactly." Said the person below.

He Xi secretly said in his heart, "Mu family."

He Xi naturally knows the background of the Southwest Hall. He Xi doesn't care about this person, but he must care about the Mu family. Needless to say, the status of the Mu family in Yunnan is needless to say. Now the status of the Mu family in Yunnan is not as good as that of the late period of history, when the Mu family had been guarding Yunnan for several generations.

Now the Mu family is the second generation in Yunnan.

Even the Mu family itself didn't realize that the Mu family would be in Yunnan.

From the downstream of history, the town of Mujiashi in Yunnan seems to be taken for granted. But in fact, there are many coincidences in Yunnan, the town of Mujiashi. Among them, the battle of Jingnan is a big coincidence, after Jingnan, during the Yongle period, although the southwest surrendered to the king of Yan, but there is a great uncertainty in it. Otherwise, Yongle would not have been looking for Jianwen Yu Party all his life.

The Mu family has become an important tool for Yongle to stabilize the southwest.

In addition, the southwest toast is indeed very chaotic and needs to be guarded.

After a long time, Mujiashi Town became a fact. Later, the imperial court followed.

If the later dynasties intend to continue the situation of the Mu family's town, then the Mu family itself may not have the idea of this town at the beginning.

But that's all for later.

He Xi paid attention to the Mu family because of the strength of the Mu family. Although Beijing has some advantages over Nanjing, on the whole, the situation of the north being weak and the south being strong still exists. So at this time, someone can be pulled from Zhu Yunwen's camp. Both weakened the enemy and strengthened itself.

Why not?

He Xi said, "Have you checked?"

"I checked, it's from the southwest. But I don't know exactly what the situation is in the southwest." The person below replied.

He Xi also understood that his intelligence network could not reach the southwest region. It's normal to not understand. But knowing that the other party is from the southwest, this is enough.

He Xi said, "Let's see."

A moment later, Zhao Zongshou came over. When he saw He Xi, he immediately saluted and said, "The grass people have seen Lord Shousuke."

He Xi said, "Get up. What did the Mu family send you for?"

Zhao Zongshou said, "The grass people were not sent by the Mu family. But it can also be regarded as sent by the Mu family."

It's not that Zhao Zongshou hasn't thought of other ways, but after thinking about it, there is really no way. He is not familiar with the place in Beijing, and he can't enter He Xi's door by himself. I can only find a way to borrow someone else's name. can borrow the name, and only the Mu family is there.

After all, the Mu family is the largest mountain in the southwest.

But borrowing a name is borrowing a name, but there are some things that cannot be done too blatantly. If he says it is from the Mu family now. There is no need for He Xi to come forward, when He Xi's subordinates meet Mr. Bai, wouldn't it be exposed.

At that time, I didn't know how to die.

That's why it's a bit vague.

He Xi didn't talk at all, just listened coldly. Listen to what Zhao Zongshou has to say.

Zhao Zongshou originally wanted to wait for He Xi to ask, but seeing that He Xi didn't ask, he could only continue: "Caomin, it is Zhao Zongshou, the governor of Longzhou, who was exempted by the Nanjing puppet dynasty. Nowadays, the toasts in the southwest have been suffering in Nanjing for a long time. I also ask Lord Shousuke to uphold justice."

He Xi listened to Zhao Zongshou's official position, and he couldn't help but think in his heart, and finally remembered who this Longzhou governor was.

He thought for a moment, had already thought about many things in his heart, thought about his own southwest policy, and finally decided

Definitely, Zhao Zongshou must be given a chance. After all, in He Xi's view, it is not bad that the historical land reform and return to the southwest will be the king. But if you calculate the cost and output, it is not too cost-effective. If the Southwest Toast gives a big enough boost, He Xi doesn't mind having some concessions. said, "Since you have an official position, don't call yourself a grass people."

Zhao Zongshou was overjoyed and said, "The lower officials obey the order."