Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 829: The Strategy of Fighting to Support the War
Yangzhou, a prosperous city in the south of the Yangtze River, has been known as Jiangdu since ancient times. Especially during the prosperous Sui and Tang dynasties, Yang Guang used this place as his palace during his several southern tours. In the Tang Dynasty, the poet Li Bai left behind the eternal masterpiece "Yangzhou in March with Fireworks", which endowed this city with endless elegance and charm.

Now, Su Chen stepped out of the gentle water town south of the Yangtze River for the first time and stepped into the vast land north of the river. Yangzhou became the first stop of his Northern Expedition, and also a fortress for storing troops, storing food, and making plans.

This place is adjacent to Runzhou, and there are frequent boat traffic at the Jinling Ferry. Food, fodder, and military supplies can all be quickly transported here. It is truly a strategic throat and a place that military strategists must fight for.

The troops under Su Chen's command poured into Yangzhou City like a tide, vowing to wipe out all resistance.

Inside the city, the remaining Song troops still resisted stubbornly, fighting bloody battles in the streets and alleys in an attempt to retake the city gates and regain control of the situation. However, their strength was already spent and it was difficult to turn the tide.

Seeing that there was no hope of breaking out, some Song army officers and soldiers took off their heavy armor, mixed in with the civilian population, and hid in alleys and houses, intending to take advantage of the chaos, wait for an opportunity to act, or evade pursuit, attempting to continue to stir up trouble in the dark.

Su Chen knew very well that although Yangzhou had been taken, undercurrents were surging in the city and hidden dangers had not been eliminated.

He needs to proceed step by step, both to appease the people and to suppress the rebellion with an iron fist, so as to ensure that this place becomes a solid backing for his Northern Expedition, rather than a soft spot that will be attacked from all sides.

Su Chen was not in a hurry to step into the gate of Yangzhou. Instead, he made plans outside the city and continuously sent elite soldiers and generals into the city. He not only escorted the prisoners out of the city, but also closely guarded the granary supplies and household registration files. It was obvious that he had far-reaching plans and intentions for the use of this Yangzhou city.

"General Pan, in your opinion, who is stronger, the Yangzhou defenders or the imperial guards of Bianjing City?" Su Chen asked with a sharp gaze.

Pan Mei pondered for a moment, shook his head, and slowly said: "The Yangzhou garrison was recruited from all over Huainan. Their quality is uneven and far from meeting the strict standards of the imperial guards. Moreover, the north has been at war for years, whether it is against the Han or the Khitan, and all those sent are elite imperial guards. They have fought in many battles and have experienced the baptism of war. They are experienced and have extraordinary combat power. The local garrisons have been away from the battlefield for a long time, and their actual combat capabilities are much worse than before. Compared with the imperial guards, they are naturally dwarfed."

Pan Mei's words are full of gems, revealing his profound insight and objective evaluation of the current situation of the Song army.

He had fought in many battles during the Later Zhou and Northern Song dynasties and was well aware of the Song army's troop deployment, the quality of its officers and soldiers, and its tactics. This analysis came to him with ease.

The reason why Su Chen placed Pan Mei by his side was because he valued his rich military experience and in-depth understanding of the Song army. As the Art of War says, if you know yourself and the enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger. With Pan Mei's help, Su Chen was able to grasp the battle situation more accurately and discuss strategies to fight against the Song army.

In addition, Pan Mei was a surrendered general of the Northern Song Dynasty. If he was allowed to lead the army alone, he would inevitably be instigated to rebel. Su Chen kept him by his side as a deputy general, which was both an appreciation of his talent and a clever check and balance.

All the soldiers under his command are Su Chen's trusted elite. Such an arrangement can not only ensure that military orders are carried out smoothly, but also effectively prevent Pan Mei's possible betrayal. It is really a strategy that kills two birds with one stone.

"It seems that when we face the elite imperial guards of the Song Kingdom in the future, we need to be extra cautious and not slack off in the slightest." Su Chen looked solemn, and his words revealed his deep worry about future wars.

Pan Mei took over the conversation and continued to analyze, "Although the Song Dynasty's imperial guards are famous throughout the world, they are actually divided into different levels. Most of the imperial guards defend the capital and rarely experience battles, so their actual combat capabilities are greatly reduced. Only the 200,000 imperial guards who have been fighting outside for many years are composed of northerners. They are used to long-distance raids and can return to Bianjing to rest after the battle. These imperial guards are the real backbone of the Song Dynasty army. They are powerful and should not be underestimated. In the future, when we fight against them, we must pay attention to the use of tactics to defeat the enemy."

At this point, a gleam of wisdom flashed in Pan Mei's eyes, and then he suggested: "If we want to strengthen our army's strength to fight against the Song army, we might as well recruit soldiers from Huaibei, Qi and Lu and other places. The people here are tall and strong, and they are familiar with the northern climate. If they can be recruited into the army, given strict training and excellent equipment, they will surely become a powerful force to fight against the Song army. In this way, we can avoid the loss of combat effectiveness of our army due to acclimatization, and effectively reduce the casualties of soldiers in the south. It is indeed a good strategy to fight to support the war and strengthen ourselves." Su Chen heard this, and a glimmer of approval flashed in his eyes.

He knew that to defeat the Song Dynasty's imperial army, the existing forces were not enough, and he had to constantly expand the source of troops and improve the overall quality of the army. Pan Mei's strategy was exactly what he wanted.

Using war to support war and recruiting northerners into the army can not only enhance the strength of the army, but also reduce the losses of trusted troops. It is really a move that kills two birds with one stone.

Only in this way can we gradually accumulate advantages in this chaotic world, eventually defeat the Song Dynasty, and unify the world.

Su Chen nodded and said: "Next, we will develop in Jiangbei, fight to support the war, seize the initiative, win the hearts of the people, and turn these occupied territories into the territory of our Wu Kingdom!"

Pan Mei bowed without saying much, but he still admired Su Chen in his heart. He saw the spirit of a young heroic ruler in this young man.

Fierce street fighting broke out in the city starting from dusk, and the deafening shouts and cries of killing gradually subsided until dawn the next day.

Yangzhou, a famous city in the south of the Yangtze River with a long history, finally fell into the control of the Wu army.

As the morning light broke, intensive cleanup work began in the city. The cold bodies were properly disposed of to restore the ancient city to its former tranquility.

At noon, Su Chenfang led the generals into the city of Yangzhou, which had experienced the baptism of war.

Although the houses near the city gate and some streets were severely damaged, the overall architecture in the city is still intact, with buildings arranged in an orderly manner, elegant houses quiet and secluded, small bridges and flowing water, willow trees swaying in the wind, and rivers winding through the city. The unique charm of the Jiangnan water town can still be seen everywhere in Yangzhou City.

Su Chen and his entourage worked non-stop, inspecting key places such as the government office, armory, granary, etc. to ensure that everything was in order.

Immediately, he ordered the posting of notices to reassure the people, and at the same time organized people to clean up the streets and set up relief stations to relieve the people's urgent needs.

For this Northern Expedition, Su Chen brought a group of elite doctors from the Medical College with him. They also served as military doctors and quickly built a temporary clinic in Yangzhou City. Whether it was the wounded soldiers of the Wu army, the wounded soldiers of the Song army, or even the innocent injured people in the city, they all received equal treatment here.

This move not only demonstrated Wu Jun's benevolence, but also played an important role in calming the people and promoting harmony in the city.

Su Chen knew very well that the support of the people was the basis for victory, and this benevolent heart of a doctor was the key to winning the hearts of the people.