Since the reinforcement of Xining Prefecture came, Zhao Ta decided to use troops.

He wanted to knock down all the places under Zhuo Luo and the Southern Military Division, and then expand his power north to the area of the Great Wall, and then break through Liangzhou in the west first, and then seek Xingqing Mansion.

It may not cover the entire territory of Western Xia, the Western Xia is sparsely populated, as long as Xingqing Mansion can be broken, then Western Xia can basically be declared extinct.

For such a small country whose territory is not very vast, often the capital is captured, and it is powerless to return to the sky.

There were about two million people in Western Xia at the moment, which was not the peak period, and the population of Western Xia at its peak was about three million.

According to Zhao Ta's estimation of 250,000 troops, one out of ten Western Xia people will be a soldier, and this proportion of joining the army is extremely consuming of national strength.

Therefore, Western Xia could not fight a war that was too protracted, and it would drag the country down.

In fact, including the Jurchens, if it weren't for the fact that they later occupied the vast land and population of Liao, they just stuck to the white mountains and black waters, and the war continued to consume constantly, and they would not be able to withstand it for a long time.

Zhao Ta hung up the map in the hall at this time and pointed it out for everyone to see, Du Yan, Shi Jin, Zhang Xian, and Lu Jiang were all there, and even Yang Zhi and Xu Ning also rushed over from Gai Zhucheng.

He held a bamboo stick similar to a whip, circled the range of Zhuo Luo and the Southern Military Division on the map, and said: "Zhuo Luo's rule is more western, compared to the barren military division in the east, there are only two lower counties in total, a military city, Gai Zhu has already taken, and the two lower counties Yongzhu and Tiandeng are in the northwest direction, especially Tiandeng, not far from Liangzhou, and the Great Wall is on the back." ”

There is the Great Wall in the territory of Xixia, which was repaired in the Han Dynasty, after the champion Hou Huo went to the disease and defeated the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu ordered people to extend the Great Wall west to Jiuquan in the Hexi Corridor first, and then extended to Dunhuang, placed Yumen Pass and Yangguan, and set up four counties in Hexi to isolate Qianghu.

The so-called isolation is actually to block the northern Xiongnu and Qingtang Qiang exchanges, to ensure the smooth flow of the Silk Road, later, the Great Wall extended to the west of the Western Regions Hanging Sand Sea Qiuzi, the Hanging Sand Sea is Lop Nur.

The Northern Wei Dynasty and the Northern Qi Dynasty have strengthened this section of the Great Wall, and by the time of the Sui Dynasty, they had built seven times to prevent the Turks and Khitans in the north, while the territory of the Tang Dynasty had long exceeded the Great Wall, and the territory of the Song Dynasty had retreated far within the Great Wall, so the two dynasties did not continue to build.

Zhao Ta pointed at the two places of Yongzhu and Tiandeng with a bamboo whip, and said: "The county land of Western Xia is not as good as the Central Plains, and it is not as good as the south of the Yangtze River, it is about like a town in a prosperous township. ”

Shi Jin was puzzled: "Lord Wang, Western Xia is so unbearable, how can the Western Army still have no advance for more than a hundred years?" ”

Zhao Tan smiled silently and looked at General Lu.

General Lu immediately explained: "There is a word called the door opening, Gaizhu City and Zhuo Luo City are the gateways to the southwest of Western Xia, and the gateways of Jingyuan and Huanqing are Huizhou, Xishou Baotai Military Division, Weizhou, Jingsai Military Division, Jianing Military Division and other places, these portals are not broken, even if the inside is weak, you can only sigh, originally Gaizhu City is not easy to go, let alone Zhuo Luo, even if it is barely broken, it is difficult to hold it, our army is just catching up with a rare opportunity, these two places are empty, so they can easily occupy it with clever tricks." ”

Shi Jin said: "So that's the case. ”

Xu Ning said: "In fact, there may not be no reason for the deliberate neglect of the Western Army, there are many factions in the Western Army, although there are loyal to the court and want to eliminate border troubles, but there are also those who want to support the army and raise thieves for self-respect."

Shi Jin said: "I think the Xin family is!" ”

General Lu said: "The Xin family is still a little worse now, but Xin Xingzong has hung up the commander of the Western Route Army to conquer Liao this time, and after returning from the recovery of the sixteen states of Yanyun, I am afraid that he will have to change the cultural resources and pass through one side." ”

Yang Zhidao: "What if that is...... What about the defeat of the expedition? ”

"Defeated?" When everyone heard this, they all looked at him, Yang Zhi suddenly felt that he was speechless, he had a heavenly mold star cover in the first half of his life, what to do, what to eat, and nothing left, so he developed a habit, but if he didn't think about success when he encountered something, he would think about failure first, and at this moment he would talk about it.

"Yes...... Defeated? Shi Jin wondered.

"This ......" Zhang Xian said on the side: "How can the outcome of the battle be easily predicted, even if the strength is superior, but there is no absolute thing in the world, the battle of Chibi in the far Three Kingdoms, and the battle of Hubu Dagang in the near are all unexpected endings." ”

Lu Jiang shook his head: "Defeat is not enough, the time and place are favorable, and everyone occupies it, just look at how many points it can win, whether it is a big victory or a reluctant victory." ”

Shi Jin looked at Zhao Ta: "What does the prince think?" ”

Zhao Ta smiled: "The army is impermanent, the war is impermanent, knowing yourself and knowing the enemy, you can not be defeated in a hundred battles, you don't even know who is in charge of the army on the Liao side, how to arrange it, just talk about victory or defeat, what is the difference between talking about war and traveling on paper?" ”

Shi Jin was suddenly ashamed and said: "It's the subordinates who are ignorant." ”

Zhao Ta said: "It's okay to read more military books and battle strategies, you are also the commander of an army now, and you only know that it is not good to be brutal." ”

Shi Jindao: "When my subordinates turned around, I borrowed it from Commander Lu, and he had a lot of books there, so he brought a box." ”

General Lu was puzzled when he heard this: "Commander Shi, did you see me bring a book?" ”

Shi Jin said with a smile: "I saw it, I saw it, I thought that Commander Lu was bringing some kind of goods, but then I secretly went over to open it and watch, but it was all books." ”

Lu Jiang said angrily: "Without the permission of the master, how can you look at it at will?" How could Commander Shi be so rude! ”

Shi Jin spread his hands: "Who let you leave the outside of the box unlocked, it's just a moment of curiosity......"

Zhao Ta said: "Don't fight, let the two of you lead the troops to take Yongzhu and Tiandeng counties, can you be sure?" ”

Shi Jin hurriedly said: "Lord Wang, your subordinates will definitely win and succeed!" ”

Zhao Ta nodded, and looked at General Lu again, and General Lu said: "Lord Wang, your subordinates please order to fight Tiandeng." ”

Zhao Taqi said: "Why choose Tiandeng? ”

Lu Jiang said: "Tiandeng County is close to Liangzhou, and there is the ancient Great Wall behind it, so the geographical location is relatively important. ”

Shi Jin said unhappily when he heard this: "What does Commander Lu mean? Can't you beat the sky? ”

Lu Jiang shook his head and said: "I didn't mean that, I just admired the scenery of the ancient Great Wall for a long time, and I wanted to see the desolate scenery!" ”

Shi Jin opened his mouth, not knowing how to refute, so he had to look at Zhao Tan.

Zhao Ta smiled and said: "That's it, Commander Shi will go to fight Yongzhu, Commander Lu will fight Tiandeng, I will give you two of you 3,000 infantry troops and 500 cavalry, is it enough?" ”

Shi Jin said: "Enough is enough, enough is enough." ”

General Lu pondered for a few breaths: "Lord Wang, my subordinates still want to have five hundred more rides!" ”

Zhao Ta looked at him for a moment and nodded: "Okay, then give Commander Lu another 500 people, just a thousand cavalry." ”

Seeing that Zhao Ta was so refreshing, General Lu became a little embarrassed: "The prince doesn't ask his subordinates what they want people to do?" ”

Zhao Ta said: "It always makes sense, remember to guard it after taking Tiandeng, and you must not lose!" ”

"Subordinates obey!" General Lu hurriedly saluted.

After the discussion, Zhao Ta dismissed everyone, and then took the two brothers of the Bai family and called Yuanguo to wander around the city.

At this time, the city gate of Zhuo Luo City has been opened for a limited time, one hour a day, for some vegetables and fruits to enter the city, filth out of the house, but the investigation is very strict, non-farmers, workers and livestock owners, absolutely not allowed to pass, and will also be arrested and interrogated.

But even so, the commerce in the city began to flourish, after all, Zhuo Luo City is the largest city on the southwest border of Western Xia, and there are a lot of businesses in it, and the war was sudden before, and many people were trapped in the city before they had no time to escape.

Now that everything is settled, these businessmen don't want to leave, the businessmen are profit-seeking, seeing that Zhao Ta's army does not loot, and issued a decree strictly prohibiting disturbance of the people, so they ponder that it is an opportunity, after all, Zhao Ta brought a lot of soldiers, and these soldiers are potential customers to spend money.

Zhao Ta took the three of them to visit the market, looked at a lot of goods, and found that the local specialties of Western Xia were not expensive, even if the price of sheep and livestock was much cheaper than that of the Great Song Dynasty, but the price of silk satin silk and some handmade items that came from unknown channels in the Song Kingdom was very high.

He said: "This is a good business route, buying and selling, and exchanging back and forth to make a lot of money." ”

Yuan Guo answered on the side: "Gongzi is reasonable, the Song Dynasty here in Daxia is rare, but sheep and cattle are common, sometimes the people are in the same thing, there is no money to buy, they will directly trade livestock, of which the merchants earn ten times and eight times." ”

Zhao Tan nodded: "The two countries of Song and Xia have been at war all year round, and the occasional exchanges are also sent by the Great Song Dynasty to buy horses. ”

Yuan Guo said: "It is true that as the prince said, every time Song things are scrambled in the territory, many things are often sent out to buy in the palace." ”

Zhao Ta sighed: "Why bother, if Xixia bows down and becomes a vassal, the two countries trade with each other, what do you want?" It can also save the disaster of swords and soldiers, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, but unfortunately Wei Mingqianshun can't figure it out. ”

Yuan Guo's eyes rolled: "I see that Gongzi observes the people's feelings, and he has issued an order, it is to be in Zhuo Luo for a long time......"

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Ta looked at him with a smile: "What? Wish I had left early? ”

"Where, where!" Yuan Guo hurriedly said: "How dare the villain think so, where the son goes, the villain will go, and the villain will follow the son." ”

Zhao Ta suddenly reached out and patted him on the shoulder: "Camp Commander Liu, do you know who the two women who came a few days ago were?" ”

"Two women a few days ago?" Yuan Guo was stunned, thinking to himself, wasn't that you, the evil king, picked up from the city to make fun?

"Villain...... Ignorance. He shook his head.

"Hehe, that's what your sister sent to ransom you!" Zhao Ta said.

"Huh? Yes! Yuan Guo was shocked when he heard this: "Childe...... So, those two women were sent by my sister? ”

"Yes, it was sent by Yuanjing!" Zhao Ta said lightly: "You said that you wouldn't let this king sell you, so this king let the two of her see you and sent them away." ”

"But, but ......" Yuan Guo immediately broke out in a cold sweat, "Childe, why didn't Childe tell the villain at that time." ”

"What!" Zhao Ta's face immediately turned cold: "Are you complaining about me!" ”

"Ah, the villain didn't dare to ......" Yuan Guo fell to his knees with a pop.

"Looks like you'd love to go back!" Zhao Tan snorted.

"The villain doesn't want to go back, he doesn't want to go back at all, the villain doesn't mean it......" Yuan Guo said in horror: "The villain said so many derogatory words about her sister at that time, I'm afraid it will reach her ears......"

"The pass is sure to pass on." Zhao Ta said expressionlessly: "Battalion Commander Liu, are you afraid of Yuanjing?" ”

"Villain...... I'm a little afraid of her! Yuanguo gritted his teeth and said, "I've been a little scared since I was a child." ”

"Oh?" Zhao Tan raised his eyebrows and said, "This is strange, what are you afraid of her doing?" ”

"The villain can't beat her, and he can't say that she can't say it, and now that she is the imperial concubine again, how can the villain not be afraid of her." Yuan Guo cried and said: "The villain's words smeared her that day, she will definitely be angry after hearing it, the villain is afraid of her resentment in her heart, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate!" ”

"You are now in Zhuo Luo, as long as you follow this king and completely break off from Western Xia, where can she find you for revenge?" Zhao Ta sneered: "What's more, even if she redeems you back, do you really think it will be fine?" Even if you don't die, I'm afraid you'll have to peel off your skin! ”

"The villain can save it, save it!" Yuan Guo hurriedly said: "If the villain doesn't go back, it will be nothing more than a crime, but Li Qianshun can't catch me, and the villain must defend himself when he goes back, but how can such a major event be easily exonerated from the crime, even if he is lucky not to die, he will be imprisoned, I am afraid that he will have to be tortured and served, and then life is better than death." ”

"You're not stupid enough to figure out the joints!" Zhao Ta said: "Get up!" ”

Yuan Guo trembled and got up from the ground: "Childe......"

"Which restaurant in the city has the best food?" Leading the way ahead, Ben Gongzi is a little hungry. ”

"Okay." Yuan Guo wiped his sweat and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, not to mention that his sister came to redeem him, even if his ancestors came to redeem him, he would not leave, how could it be so easy to argue with himself? Who knows if Yuan Jing wants to exchange his life for the lives of other people in the family, he doesn't believe anyone at the moment, not even his own mother, his own life is the most important!

"Childe, the best restaurant in the city is called Songtao, not far away."

"How is it a Chinese name?" Zhao Qi wondered.

"It was driven by the Han people, and it has been some years, and the villain led the way for the son." Yuan Guo said, bending forward and ......

At the north gate of Zhuo Luo City, the opening time of one hour a day was about to pass, but at this moment, two sheep herders came from outside the city.

There are not many sheep, about a dozen heads, and the sheep are driven by the old man and the old woman, who are not young.

The sheep were stopped by the soldiers in front of the city gate, the old man took out a piece of leather paper from his body and handed it over, the soldiers looked at it, it was the identity certificate of the Xixia herdsman, but this thing is useless at the moment, you have to be able to show the pickup card that lives around Zhuo Luo City, and the pickup card will specifically list the residence of the holder.

He was just about to order the people and sheep to be detained, when he saw the old man take out another thing from his body, which was a pickup, and then said in a hoarse voice: "Commander, our husband and wife are shepherds in Erzhai ten miles away, and this time we are sending sheep to the city." ”

The soldier carefully inspected the pickup, which looked new, but it was real, and he asked, "Where are the sheep going?" Someone is here to pick it up! ”

The old man saluted and said: "Back to the army, it was given to Songtao Restaurant, but no one came to pick it up at the moment, and it used to be sent by appointment, but the contact was delayed before the war, and it was only too late to now, if the military head does not believe it, you can send someone to follow." ”

The soldier thought for a while, and said to the side: "Go and follow the two people, and ask after going to Songtao Tower." ”

Immediately, the two soldiers came out, shouted, and followed the old man and the old woman towards the city......

(End of chapter)