The first day of April.

The Qi army, stationed on the south bank of the Sanggan River, finally began to move.

More than 80,000 troops crossed the Sanggan River and rushed towards Xijing Datong.

"Report, the front army of the Qi army crossed the Sanggan River, fifty miles away from Datong Mansion!"

"Report, the front army of the Qi army is close to Baishan Mountain, thirty miles away from Datong Mansion!"

"Report ......"

One battle report was transmitted back to Datong Mansion from the front line.

"Probe, report!"

In the barracks outside the city, after Yan Zonghan waved his hand, and after giving an order, he continued to discuss with his generals about dealing with artillery firearms.

Among the generals, Wan Yan Lou has the most right to speak, he has seen the power of firearms in Nanjing Road last year, this time besieging Shenwu Town, and once again experienced it personally, which can be described as experienced.

I saw him say in a deep voice: "After the war between last year and some time ago, I have roughly figured out the artillery firearms. The power is indeed sharp, but to say that the mountain cracks the rock, it is indestructible, but it is not necessarily true. Firearms and artillery mainly rely on iron pieces to shoot and hurt people, and can wear three layers of heavy armor, but they will be blocked by cotton armor. ”

"Really?"

Wanyan Zonghan's face was happy.

Wan Yan Lou nodded solemnly: "That's true, when besieging Shenwu Town last month, my son and daughter climbed the city tower and was bombarded by field artillery, and she was hit by three bullets at that time. Living girl, take off your armor and show it to the marshal. ”

Hearing this, the girl didn't say a word, took off the iron armor, dragged off her clothes, and revealed her bronzed sturdy body.

He has long hands and feet, and he looks lean when he dresses, but when he drags off his clothes, he immediately reveals a strong body of tendons.

I saw that the chest of the living woman was covered with large and small scars, among which there were three scars the size of copper coins that had not yet healed completely, revealing pink tender flesh.

Pointing to the three scars, Wan Yan Lou explained: "Marshal, please see, these are the three wounds." I have compared the wounds of other soldiers who have been bombarded by field artillery, and I found that my son's wounds are the shallowest because of the extra layer of cotton armor under the iron armor. Although it was still pierced by iron pieces, it was only a skin wound and did not penetrate deep into the heart. ”

Hearing this, Wanyan Xiyin frowned and said: "Although cotton wool is not a precious thing, it is not linen cloth, and it cannot supply 120,000 troops. Even if there were, it would be too late to make it in such a short time. ”

At this time, cotton is still a rare ornamental flower, and Han Zhen commissioned the Agricultural College to study it the year before last.

However, although there is no cotton, there is a kapok tree, and the cotton wool produced can also be used to keep out the cold, and the poor people naturally cannot afford it, and the well-off families can still buy one.

Wanyan Zonghan waved his hand: "There is no need to supply the whole army, just step up the production of more than 1,000 cotton armor to ensure that the elite front army wears it, cooperates with the big shield, and resists the firearms of the Qi army." ”

"Yes."

Wanyan Xiyin thought about it and felt that the feasibility was very high.

At this time, Wan Yan Yinshu, who had never spoken, spoke: "Firearms and artillery killings are secondary, but they make a loud thunderous sound when they are triggered, which has a huge impact on the war horse. The last general suggested that before the battle, plug the ears of the war horse. ”

"Not bad."

Wan Yan Lou echoed.

When he was in Nanking Road, he witnessed the scene of 20,000 horses being frightened and going crazy.

Wan Yan Yinshu could continue to analyze: "When the last general and the Qi army were in the field battle of Dangwu Valley, they had witnessed the Qi army's military formation, which was often in the place where the artillery was placed, and the formation was relatively loose and weak, after all, it was too tight, which was not conducive to the play of artillery. In the end, I feel that this may be an opportunity for us. ”

He and Wanyan Lou are both famous generals, and they are extremely sensitive to the situation of the battle, and they only fought with the Qi army once, and they keenly discovered the flaws.

This is talent, if you can't envy it, it's hard to make up for it by the day after tomorrow.

After the discussion, Wanyan Zonghan immediately instructed his subordinates to collect cotton wool in the whole city and the surrounding areas, gather tailors and women, and rush to make cotton armor overnight.

Don't look at the Qi army is only thirty miles away from Datong Mansion, it is just the former army.

When all the grain and grass of the Chinese army and the rear army arrive at Datong Mansion, it will take at least three or five days.

The army travels, and it can't be fast.

One soldier and three husbands are standard, and a soldier needs at least three men to transport grain and grass.

If you go thousands of miles away to fight, the ratio of soldiers to civilians even reaches 1 to 5.

Why is Alexander's crusade fake?

How many people were there in Europe at that time?

How much grain is there?

Spanning thousands of miles to the east, the amount of logistics personnel and grain and grass needed is astronomical.

Counting the cattle, sheep, and grain in the whole of Europe at that time, it was not enough for the soldiers to eat.

Genghis Khan and Ögedei's three expeditions to the west were different, first of all, the Mongols were nomadic people, and secondly, they also brought hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep, horses and other livestock, grazing while fighting, and relying on horse milk and milk to satisfy their hunger.

It was only by the external war that the problem of grain and grass was barely solved.

So Alexander's crusade is simply full of loopholes in the eyes of people with a little bit of historical common sense.

……

Just when Yan Zonghan was in full swing to prepare for the big battle, Yelu Dashi in the north was borrowing grain from everywhere.

Although they have laid down several border counties and towns, they have also grabbed food, but they are not enough to eat at all.

The men on the grassland are very simple, but they are also very realistic, I helped you fight the gold people, because you want to live a good life after driving away the gold people, but you can't even eat enough, so you still fart?

It's better to go back and continue grazing.

Therefore, in order to stabilize the soldiers under his command, Yelu Dashi can be said to have done everything he could, and even found Ma Kuo, promising that if Qi State could support grain and grass, Zhongjing Dao would give it to Qi State.

Ma Kuo couldn't help but laugh and said: "King Liao, you and I have formed an alliance between the two families, and we should advance and retreat together, if you can, you don't need to mention it from the King of Liao, and this official will play the meeting to allocate grain and grass to help King Liao tide over the difficulties, but the current problem is that the grain and grass can't be transported!" ”

"Alas!"

Yelu Dashi couldn't help but sigh.

Ma Kuo asked, "King Liao, what did the Western Xia side say?" ”

"Li Qianshun is willing to borrow grain, but the road is far away, it will take three or five months to arrive, and when the grain arrives, the soldiers under the command of this king have all run out." Yelu Dashi smiled bitterly.

Ma Kuo pondered for a moment and proposed, "For the sake of today's plan, we can only borrow food from Fenig." ”

Yelu Dashi didn't think about looking for Fenig, but the military rations of the army of thirty or forty thousand had to completely empty out the lost parts of Moge.

He also planned to try to win over Bunig, after all, the Moge Lost Tribes were the strongest in this grassland.

But if you forcibly borrow food, the other party will succumb to the might of the army, and you can only pinch your nose and admit it, but you must be resentful in your heart, and it is almost impossible to win it in the future.

Ma Kuo's proposal also has this consideration.

As the minister of the Qi State, he naturally has to think about the Qi State.

How can Your Majesty's mind be unaware?

I want to use Yelu Dashi, but I don't want the other party to be bigger, otherwise I will drive away a Jin country and a Liao country.

Yelu Dashi's expression changed for a while, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, find Fan Nige to borrow food, bother Ma Shangshu, and go with this king to Mo Ge to lose his department." ”

"I don't dare to ask for ears if I want to."

Ma Kuo smiled slightly, and his heart was overjoyed.

Yelu Dashi is indeed a masterpiece of a generation, and he admires it very much, but as a Qi minister, he should be loyal to the country.

Politics, there are no emotions to speak of.

Moreover, His Majesty is eloquent and strategic, swallowing mountains and rivers, and wants to recreate the prosperity of the Han and Tang Dynasties, which is also his lifelong wish.

After the decision was made, Yelu Dashi immediately led 5,000 cavalry and galloped towards the lost army of Moge with Ma Kuo.

(End of chapter)