Fenghou

Chapter 668 Elder

In the end, Orihiko only stayed in Jingzhao for two days, had two talks with Jiang Yanxian, and basically completed the mission of this trip to Jingzhao. He reached an agreement with Jiang Yanxian and Zhou Kuan, and the court paid one million yuan for military expenses , food [-] shi, and support the Western Army to attack Xixia. This is one of the two autonomy granted by the imperial court to Zhe Yanzhi, and he can sign the agreement on behalf of the imperial court.

Although Jiang Yanxian did not have Chen Qing's authorization, but he had the signature of Xuanfu envoy's wife, so he could reach an agreement with the court on behalf of Xuanfu envoy.

In addition, the Sichuan-Shaanxi Xuanfu envoy agreed to hand over the two Jurchen nobles, Wanyan Helisa and Wanyan Qi, to the imperial court. The first request is to ask the court to approve the roster of generals he submitted for promotion as soon as possible;

The first request is not a big problem, the imperial court has approved it, and the approval is already in the middle. The second request is that the imperial court also expressed that it can be discussed, mainly for naming rights. The examiner must be selected by the imperial court, of course, the chief examiner recognized by both parties.

The key is the third requirement, which is also the real purpose of Orihiko's mission to Jingzhao. This must be decided by the emperor, and Orihiko cannot give any answer.

Orihiko then left Jingzhao and returned to Lin'an.

At the same time, Chen Qing's army also completed the substantive occupation of southern Xixia. Liu Cui's army spent a whole month of hard work and finally opened up the southwest military road, and the army arrived in Yingli County. .

They built seven iron cable bridges, repaired the plank road for more than [-] miles, and opened up the Southwest Military Road. Lanzhou's grain and grass materials began to be transported to Yingli County by camels, but heavy catapults, siege ladders, and siege Large-scale siege weapons such as battalions cannot be transported on chain bridges and plank roads. They can only be transported on the ice after the Yellow River freezes in winter.

At this time, the Song Army had assembled [-] troops in the southern part of Xixia, mainly distributed in Yingli County, Mingsha County and Weizhou City. It is only two hundred miles from Mingsha County to Xingping Mansion, the southern gate of the capital city of Xixia, and the cavalry can kill them in a day. Chen Qing sent dozens of scout teams to the hinterland of Xixia to investigate intelligence.

At this time, Chen Qing was inspecting the defensive deployment at Shatuoguan. Shatuoguan is one of the most important strategic places in Xixia. It consists of two parts: Shatuo Town and Shatuo Fort. A large military fort was built, and the military road had to pass through the city. The Shatuo Fort was three feet high and built of large stones.

If the Song army hadn't captured Yingli County in the rear, cut off the logistics supply of Shatuobao, and forced the Xixia defenders to retreat after running out of food, Liu Cui's eastward army might not be able to capture Shatuobao in the end.

But Shatuo Castle is special in that it is not only the entrance to the Southwest Military Road, but also the starting point of the Xixia Hexi Old Road. After passing through Shatuo Town in the north, it enters a large desert area, and then to the north is the boundless Tenge Li desert, walking hundreds of miles west along the desert edge of the desert, they arrived in Liangzhou.

Similarly, walking northeast along the northern foot of Henan Mountain on the edge of the desert and crossing the vast Gobi, you can also reach the northern part of Xixia. The northern part of Huili County retreated, and they were unwilling to take the Gobi Road.

Chen Qing led a large group of generals to the north of Shatuo Town on horseback. After a few miles, the dry Gobi Desert was within a few miles. The Gobi Desert alone was tens of miles away, and there was no desert in sight.

Chen Qing pointed his horsewhip in the northeast direction, and said to Guan Tao, the guard of Shatuo Gate: "Although it is unlikely that the Xixia people will come from the Gobi Road, we still have to be careful of their surprise soldiers. Now that the Southwest Military Road has been opened, I suggest building two forts here to guard against the Xixia Raiders."

Guan Tao quickly bowed and said: "The humble job will arrange the construction as soon as possible!"

Chen Qing laughed again: "Another way is to put only three days' supply in Shatuo Fort, and Yingli County will send a batch of supplies by camel every three days. Tuobao, but it won’t last for a few days, and once Yingli County doesn’t find any camels returning, it will be vigilant and send troops to check.”

Liu Qiong nodded and said: "Dutong's method is good, I agree with it, and I will send someone to be responsible for the supply delivery."

At this time, Liu Cui asked: "We have assembled an army of [-], and we have enough food and supplies. Why doesn't Dutong continue to march northward? Is it because the siege weapons are not in place?"

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "It has little to do with siege weapons. Yingli County was captured before with a simple battering ram. The main reason is that now Xixia feels the crisis of destroying the country and is very united. There are actually conflicts among them. Very deep, brother Li Cha did not hesitate to kill Chu King Tuoba Aqu’s family in order to raise money and food. Let’s wait for a few months, when their sense of crisis gradually fades, internal fighting will definitely resume, and when their internal disintegration begins, it will be Xixia When the country is destroyed."

After a pause, Chen Qing said again: "Of course, appropriate provocation is still required, Liu Cui and Gao Ding."

"The end is here! The end is here!"

Chen Qing took out the command arrow and slowly ordered: "You two can each lead [-] cavalry to thresh grain and grass in various regions of Xixia. No matter men, women, old or young, you will be escorted southward, and those who resist will be killed!"

"Follow the order!" The two took the arrow and left.

At this time, a cavalry came rushing forward, clasped their fists and said: "The cavalry is in command, and three elders of the Qiang people have come and are waiting in Huili County!"

Chen Qing nodded, "Go back to the county first!"

Chen Qing met three Qiang elders in Yingli County. They were all very old, at least seventy or eighty years old. Elderly people of this age were rarely seen. Although they were not chiefs, they had a high status among the tribes. , Many tribes recognized them, escorted by hundreds of Qiang cavalry.

Since the founding of the Xixia Kingdom, the Qiang people have been oppressed by the Dangxiang people, just like the Uighurs, Tubo, Han people, and Khitans. The Qiang people are also the second largest ethnic group in Xixia, and most of them live in mountainous areas. Xiao Heda's rebellion can persist for so long , The momentum is huge, but also because of the support of the Qiang people.

This time to attack Xixia, Chen Qing did not intend to go it alone. The Huangtou Huihe Cao Changchun's army would attack Xixia from the north, where the Uighurs gathered.

The Han people are the most oppressed nation, they are basically slaves, plundered from all over the Song Dynasty, they are waiting for the rescue of the Song army.

The Qiang people have their own forces, and their territory is mainly in the mountainous areas in the east and south, such as the large hilly pastures south of Mingsha County, which used to be the pasture area of ​​the Qiang people. Before that, Chen Qing had sent Huyanlei to Xiazhou. Living in the largest tribe of the Qiang people.

The Qiang people have already broken with the Xixia court because of their support for Xiao Heda, but the Xixia court has not had time to clean up the Qiang people, so Huyanlei came at the right time. All the tribes of the Qiang people responded to Chen Qing’s suggestion and were willing to send troops to cooperate with the Song army to destroy Xixia. .

This time, the three elders were also entrusted by the tribes to come to meet Chen Qing, and at the same time they had to finalize the final cooperation plan. In fact, it was to let Chen Qing personally promise their interests.

The three elders all have white beard and hair, and are thin and small. They sit cross-legged on the futon like three clay bodhisattvas. The head elder is called Hong, who is also the oldest. Chen Qing calls him Elder Hong. elders.

"As support for the Song army, we will send [-] sheep. In addition, we have prepared [-] warriors. They are very good at fighting in the mountains, and they will be handed over to the Xuanfu envoy to command together."

Chen Qing liked dealing with the Qiang people very much on Xihe Road. They were obedient and had no ambitions. As long as they could live a peaceful life, they were satisfied. Even if they had an army, they would not fight independently, but attached to the Song army.

Chen Qing said happily: "There are also [-] Qiang soldiers in my army. They are stationed in Lanzhou. I will treat your [-] troops equally without any discrimination. I will treat them like brothers."

(End of this chapter)