Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Zhang Gen said, "Liangzhou is a long and difficult journey."

"A large number of laborers need to be conscripted,"

“Countless provisions were consumed during the march.”

"Huizhou can indeed be taken,"

"But it would be better to send troops as a deterrent,"

"Force the Western Xia to negotiate peace and relinquish lost territory!"

Zhai Ruwen also said, "War could break out at any time on both the north and south fronts."

"It is best to negotiate with Western Xia."

According to the established combat plan,

Actually, on Li Bao's side...

They should have fought Zhong Xiang long ago.

But after this year's summer harvest

Sudden flooding in the Yangtze River basin

Jingnan and Jingbei were almost completely submerged in water.

It flooded a large area of ​​both sides' territory.

Although the floodwaters have receded,

But in the suburbs of many states and counties,

It turned directly into a swamp.

The territory of the Ming Dynasty is somewhat better.

Several small-scale water conservancy projects were carried out successively.

Moreover, the dikes were reinforced urgently before the flood arrived.

After the flood, the government also organized relief efforts for the victims.

However, Zhong Xiang's side did not undertake any water conservancy projects.

The lower reaches of the Jingjiang River even branched off and changed course.

Even veteran helmsmen couldn't understand the hydrological conditions.

Large warships would likely run aground if they sailed over there.

Rice in the flood-stricken areas

This year's harvest was almost nonexistent.

Zhong Xiang and Li Bao each gathered their troops to prepare for battle.

They were all dumbfounded by the massive flood.

As for the northern front...

There was also a severe food shortage.

Including local soldiers from Shanxi

Zhang Guangdao had 40,000 troops.

However, they did not have enough military rations and conscripted too many civilian laborers.

He simply put the Shanxi soldiers in charge of transporting the grain.

They attacked and captured Shouyang County nearby.

Then send the Shanxi soldiers back to garrison Taiyuan.

He personally led his troops to garrison Shouyang.

We'll wait until next year when we have enough grain before we launch a campaign to pacify the region.

After conquering Pingding, conquer Chengtianzhai (Niangziguan).

Then we can open up Jingxing Pass.

Together with Zong Ze and others, they launched a two-pronged attack on the false emperor.

As for the Jin Kingdom...

This year has been spent digesting Liao territory.

They also included some Bohai people and Xi people.

They were forcibly relocated to various prefectures of Youyun.

It can both replenish the dwindling population there,

This would also reduce the risk of rebellion by the Bohai and Xi peoples.

There have always been rebellious forces within the Jin Kingdom!

The Jin dynasty expanded too quickly.

In less than ten years,

The territory doubled, doubled, doubled again, and doubled once more.

Moreover, many areas are experiencing persistent famine.

Faced with famine and rebellion,

The Jin Dynasty also introduced some benevolent policies.

However, in practice, the effect was not significant.

It's always resolved by force.

Kill all the rebels.

Rebellion and famine will no longer be a problem.

The Jin Dynasty relocated a large number of tribes this year.

We must wait for the wheat from these tribes.

Large-scale troop deployment can only be carried out after next year's harvest.

This is not just a matter of military rations.

It also involves the sentiments of the migrating tribes.

They were not allowed to harvest a single wheat crop.

People who have just moved to a new place will not feel at ease.

The soldiers conscripted from these tribes also had no will to fight.

A rare peace emerged across the entire northern battlefield.

Only small-scale frictions broke out.

Zhang Guangdao's capture of Shouyang County was already considered a major victory.

The calm before the storm,

The less action there is this year, the better.

The war next year will be even more intense.

Gao Jingshan said, "No matter how we negotiate, we must take Yokoyama back."

"If we can't reach an agreement, we'll send troops to take Huizhou and then we'll talk again."

"It's very close to Lanzhou,"

"It won't consume too much military rations."

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Li Renli, the envoy from Western Xia, has been in Tokyo for two or three months."

"Enjoying delicious food and drink, they were so happy they forgot about home."

"We should call him in to discuss serious matters."

.....

People in the streets were cheering.

The Western Xia delegation, however, was as if they had lost their parents.

"It's fake, it must be fake!"

Upon returning to Duting Post Station, Cao Changyong addressed the assembled envoys,

"The Ming Dynasty may have won the battle,"

"It's true that they took over the Southern Army Commandery,"

"But it is absolutely impossible for us to have killed or captured more than 100,000 soldiers of our Great Xia!"

"Han people have always loved to boast,"

"Enthusiasm for exaggerating battle results,"

"It's even exaggerated tenfold."

Chapter 1743 Return of the Land

The envoys all nodded in agreement.

This explanation is acceptable.

Li Renli asked, "What if the Great Xia army only loses ten or twenty thousand men?"

Will the Prince of Jin abandon the alliance with the Southern Army Commandery?

Cao Changyong was speechless for a moment, then after careful consideration, he said...

"Perhaps the Prince of Jin is only retreating temporarily,"

"Find an opportunity to take back He Nan Army Commandery."

"That's also possible."

Li Renli hoped so.

They weren't in the mood to go out and have fun.

The discussion continued at Duting Post Station.

Through the simple information displayed by Lub,

To infer and reconstruct the course of the battle at that time.

This is pure guesswork!

That afternoon, the two were summoned by the Crown Prince.

They went directly to the Grand Marshal's Mansion.

The Tokyo locals I met along the way,

The Western Xia envoys all walked with their heads held high and chests out.

The guards of the Grand Marshal's Mansion

Also, full of joy,

He deliberately winked at the envoys.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

The two bowed at the same time.

Their attitude became much more respectful.

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Please sit down."

The guards brought over a chair.