Outlaws of the Marsh

Chapter 316 The Lonely City Doesn't Keep It (Please Subscribe!)
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Stay Division.

Liang Zhongshu was furious: "A small courtyard has been captured for such a long time. What are you doing to eat? Do you know that the former army of the Erlong Mountain bandits has broken through three places, which are only thirty or twenty miles away from our Daming Mansion?" They will be approaching the city in less than an hour, and if they cooperate with each other, our Daming Mansion will be in danger!"

Wang Taishou whispered to the side: "Don't worry, Enxiang, the walls of our Daming Mansion are as high as solid gold, and we have six or seven thousand elite soldiers. How can the little Erlong bandits break through?"

Liang Zhongshu calmed down, and said: "If there are no bandits in the city, I am not worried, but there are three or two thousand bandits in the city, how can we guard the city with peace of mind? If one does not check, they will rush out and seize the city gate , how should this city be defended?"

In the era of cold weapons, a solid and towering city wall is definitely a headache for all the attacking parties. Similarly, it is definitely one of the greatest confidence for all the defending parties.

But there is one case that is an exception, and that is the loss of the city gate.

If the city wall is lost, the defenders may still organize forces to counterattack, but if the city gate is lost, it will undoubtedly bring a devastating blow to the morale of the defenders. In that case, the city will be breached in all likelihood.

Speaking of this, Liang Zhongshu was furious again, and scolded: "One and two of you are worthless, you can let three or two thousand thieves from Longshan sneak into the city, and let them build a solid courtyard, you are all The sinner of Song Dynasty!"

Wang Taishou accompanied Xiaoxin, said: "It's really strange, when did this group of bandits sneak in?"

the other side.

Yan Qing said to Lu Junyi: "I parted ways with the governor in Shuanglin Town, the governor took people back to Liangshanbo, and then ordered Brother Shi Xiu and Brother Shi Qian to bring their people into Daming Mansion in pieces. Little Yi guessed, the governor had already decided to attack the Daming Mansion at that time."

Lu Junyi said: "You mean, the governor planned for the Daming Mansion two or three months ago?"

Yan Qing said: "It should be so."

Lu Junyi was puzzled and said: "Why did the governor want to attack the Daming Mansion? He is a courtier of the Song Dynasty."

Yan Qing saw it more thoroughly than Lu Junyi, and said, "Mostly it's because of the money."

Lu Junyi frowned and said, "Money and food?"

Yan Qing analyzed: "Master, think about it, the governor has so many troops to support, and also helps the victims of disasters all over the world, how much food can he use?"

After Yan Qing's analysis, Lu Junyi suddenly realized, and said: "Yes, when I came back from Erlong Mountain, I passed by Liangshanbo, and was invited by the governor to go up the mountain for three days. In the camp on his mountain, I saw no less than 5 horses. , To raise so many horses, it is indeed a lot of money, and the refugees at the foot of the mountain are probably no less than 20, and countless money is needed to relieve them."

Yan Qing said: "There are 5 to 20 horses in Liangshanbo alone. Doesn't the governor have to have 1000 horses? My dear, and with the support of those refugees, even if the governor has 1000 million coins and [-] million stones of grain, it may not be enough. In this way, it is not difficult to explain that the governor of the capital conspired with the Daming Mansion."

Daming Mansion is [-] miles north of Kaifeng Mansion, about [-] miles away from the border of Liao Kingdom, facing the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain in the west, and the vast North China Plain in the southeast and north.

The three river systems of the Yellow River, the Zhang River and the Yu River constitute the well-developed waterway transportation of Daming Prefecture, and have become an important transportation line for grain transportation.

The Daming Mansion is also the distribution center for the transportation of materials from the south to Hebei, and is known as the throat of Heshuo.

With such a superior geographical environment, Daming Mansion's economy is naturally extremely developed, and its business tax and liquor tax are both closely behind Kaifeng Mansion in Tokyo, ranking second in the entire Great Song Dynasty.

In addition to its outstanding economic status, the famous mansions of all dynasties have been regarded as places that must be contested by military strategists. Since the founding of Zhao Kuangyin, the Liao State has always been the number one threat to the Song State. Whenever there is a war, Hebei has become the main battlefield of the Song and Liao struggle. The Daming Mansion naturally became the command center and material transfer center of the Yuliao Kingdom.

It is precisely because of this that the Daming Mansion hoarded a huge amount of supplies that outsiders could not imagine.

In fact, Li Yan's attack on the Daming Mansion was mainly for the huge material hoarded by the Daming Mansion.

It is no exaggeration to say that Daming Mansion hoards more supplies than Jeju Mansion, Dongping Mansion, and Dongchang Mansion combined.

And although it's not like Yan Qing guessed that Li Yan's supplies have bottomed out, but Li Yan, who has several lands to support, is indeed exhausted at present.

If things go on like this, you can only get in and out, even if you are as rich as Li Yan, you can't stand it.

After all, Li Yan doesn't know how the future harvest of his territory will be, whether it will be as good as he imagined.

Moreover, in the next few years, there will be either a severe drought or a severe flood, and the flooding of the Yellow River will become more common. Naturally, more reserves will be insured.

In addition, the Daming Mansion has not only money and food, but also a huge amount of military supplies, which cannot be bought even with money.

Liang Zhongshu adjusted his mood, and said: "In the face of the great enemy, you still need to comfort the people and appease the hearts of the people, Wang Taishou, this is your duty, you should do your best."

Wang Taifu responded immediately: "The next official will go and issue a notice to comfort the people in a while!"

Liang Zhongshu said again: "Organize the three classes of yamen servants to go up to the wall to help defend, and order all the soldiers in the three camps of Yujiatuan, Feihuyu, and Huaishupo to abandon the village and retreat to the city to help defend..."

Wen Da carefully suggested: "Enxiang, if this is the case, our Daming Mansion will become a lonely city..."

Liang Zhongshu said: "I don't want to do this either, but although our Daming Mansion has six or seven thousand soldiers and horses, four or five thousand of them are horse troops, and there are only two thousand infantry. It is useless to defend the city. There are also three or two thousand bandits, if we don’t need four or five thousand cavalry to watch them die, how can we safely defend the city?”

It turns out that Daming Mansion is the most important town in Hebei, but Daming Mansion is not a front-line city after all, but mainly serves as a transit emergency. Therefore, the main force is the horse army with better mobility, and there are not many infantry troops.

Wen Da also knew that what Liang Zhongshu said was true, but the lonely city did not guard...

Li Chengdao: "Thieves are approaching the city. The situation is urgent. If you hesitate, you will be lost. Enxiang's move is indeed an expedient measure... The villain also has three suggestions, which I want to refer to for Enxiang."

Liang Zhongshu said: "Speak."

Li Chengdao: "Your kindness can write a letter from the family, and send a confidant to the capital at night to report to Cai Taishi to know about the matter, and ask Cai Taishi to mediate from it, so that the imperial court can dispatch elite soldiers to come to the rescue early. This is the best policy; In writing, let the neighboring prefectures and counties deploy troops early to respond, this is the middle policy; third, recruit civilians to go to the city to work together to protect the city, and at the same time prepare wood and cannon stones, step on crossbows and hard bows, gray bottles of golden juice, and prepare at dawn and night. It's a last resort."

Liang Zhongshu said: "I have sent people back to Beijing to report and Taishi knew that Erlongshan was attacking Beijing. I also ordered Wenxiang, Ci, Ming, En, Bo, and Yi states to send troops to rescue them quickly. Prefect, you are also responsible for this matter!"

Wang Taishou said: "Yes, the lower officials will try their best to recruit civilian husbands."

Liang Zhongshu looked around, and then said coldly: "Everyone, don't blame me for not reminding you, this Daming Mansion is one of the four capitals of the Great Song Dynasty. It is an important defense town in Hebei, and its position is very important. If it is broken by thieves, I have my father-in-law and grand master to protect my life , you don’t, if that day comes, you can just wait to be buried with the Daming Mansion!”

When Wang Taishou and others heard this, they were all stunned, knowing that Liang Zhongshu's words were true. At that time, they would be Liang Zhongshu's scapegoats, and Liang Zhongshu would just change his official position at most.

Therefore, Wang Taishou, Li Cheng, Wen Da and others said in unison: "Dare you die for your kindness!"

……

(End of this chapter)