Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 598 Subcutaneous Cancer
Emperor Yelu Hongji of the Liao Kingdom happened to be in Liaoyang Mansion in Tokyo at this time. Yelu Hongji was extremely shocked by the news of the annihilation of the navy.

In recent years, Liao's finances were beyond its means, and its treasury was empty, which led to the gradual intensification of domestic conflicts. In addition, the Chongyuan Rebellion led to political instability, so Yelu Hongji had to adopt the method of diverting attention and launching a war against the Song Dynasty.

His purpose is to blackmail the Song Dynasty, so that the Song Dynasty's annual coins will increase to at least one million taels of silver and one million pieces of silk. On the other hand, he also builds warships in an attempt to occupy Kunzhou and obtain an important source of wealth.

However, the entire naval army was destroyed and the shipbuilding factory was burned down, which made his years of hard work go to waste. Yelu Hongji was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

In Danyang Palace, Yelu Hongji listened to the report of Xiao Weixin, the privy envoy of the South Court with a gloomy face, and Zhang Xiaojie, the prime minister who followed him on his southern tour, stood beside him.

"There is no news about the fleet going to Kunzhou, but someone found a mast on the shore. According to this, our fleet may be in danger. I don't know if it encountered the Song army or was hit by a storm."

"So, the fleet doesn't have accurate information?" Yelu Hongji asked.

"The humble job is just a guess, and it just feels that there is more danger than good luck."

Zhang Xiaojie next to him said: "I don't think so!"

Although Zhang Xiaojie was a Han, he was highly trusted by Yelu Hongji, and he was named Prime Minister of Beifu. His position was second only to Yelu Yixin. He was of medium build, with a beautiful beard of one foot, fair skin, and gentle temperament.

Yelu Hongji glanced at him and said, "Master Zhang, tell me your opinion!"

Zhang Xiaojie stroked his beard and said calmly: "If the entire army is wiped out, there will not be only one mast. Now that the north and west winds are blowing, even if there are real wreckage, they will be piled up on the coast of Japan, so the mast found should be the same as ours. It has nothing to do with the army, maybe it has existed for a long time, and it was just discovered just now, it should be left after the sinking of the merchant ship in Xia Tian."

"But how does Zhang Xianggong explain that the shipyard was burned? The shipyard was attacked shortly after we set out to sea."

"These are two different things. The fleet is the fleet, and the shipyard is the shipyard. They should not be confused."

What Zhang Xiaojie said made sense, Yelu Hongji suddenly had a ray of hope in his heart, and asked again: "Can the shipyard be restored?"

Xiao Weixin carefully reported: "The recovery is possible, and the shipwrights are all safe and sound, but it will take at least three years to rebuild the big ship."

"why?"

"This is a shipbuilding process. The keel and planks have to be dried for a long time. I have repeatedly confirmed that it will take two and a half years at the earliest."

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Weixin said again: "In addition, Liaoyang's treasury is empty, unable to build ships, and the imperial court needs to transfer money, at least 30 taels to carry out

Prepare materials. "

Yelu Hongji snorted heavily. Although 30 taels can be obtained, there are too many places to use the money. He has already allocated millions of taels of silver to build ships, which caused dissatisfaction in the court. be opposed to.

After a while, Yelu Hongji said: "Let's talk about it after we get the news about the fleet!"

At this time, a report came from outside: "Jinzhou urgent report!"

"Come in!"

A guard came in, knelt down on one knee and said, "The Song army occupied Juehua Island, and Xingcheng County was attacked!"

"what?"

Yelu Hongji's eyes widened, and there was no sound in the room.

Yelu Hongji stepped forward, grabbed the guard's collar and asked, "When did it happen?"

"An eagle letter has just arrived!"

Xiao Weixin also said anxiously: "Explain the situation a little more clearly."

The guards took out the eagle letter, Yelu Hongji snatched it, opened the eagle letter, and there was indeed only this sentence in it, 'The Song army occupied Juehua Island, and Xingcheng County was attacked. '

Yelu Hongji was very annoyed. He didn't even need to think about it. He knew that this was the work of the Song Dynasty navy. Although there were not many troops there, its strategic position was extremely important. Nanjing connection.

Thinking that Juehua Island would become a subcutaneous tumor in Liaodong and cut off the Liaoxi Corridor, he couldn't bear it anymore, and immediately said to Xiao Wei: "You immediately lead the army to Jinzhou, and take back Juehua Island for me at all costs!"

The Liaoxi Corridor has always been an extremely important strategic location. The corridor stretches from Jinzhou in the north to Yuguan in the south. It is the most famous pass in the Liaoxi Corridor.

Although the strategic position is extremely important, the Liao Kingdom has not paid much attention to the defense of the Liaoxi Corridor in the past century. First, the Song Army was cowardly and signed the Tanyuan Alliance with the Liao Army early. Secondly, there is Nanjing ahead, which is Yanshan. As a buffer, the Song army could not gain a foothold even if it only occupied a Liaoxi Corridor.

However, Fan Ning made an excellent move and occupied Juehua Island, which is close to the Liaoxi Corridor, so that the Song army could gain a foothold in the Liaoxi Corridor. They could retreat to defend the island, and advance to cut off the border between Liaodong and Yanshan Prefecture. Contact, how could Yelu Hongji not be extremely annoyed.

Under Yelu Hongji's strict order, Xiao Weixin immediately led an army of [-] to Xingcheng County.

Although Yelu Hongji did not want to leave Liaoyang Mansion, but considering that he had been away from Shangjing for too long, the court was still unstable, and the impact of the Chongyuan Rebellion was still there, he had to return to Shangjing under the escort of a hundred thousand troops. I am afraid that there will be no news about the expected Liao navy until next spring.

Mid-November is the lunar calendar, and it is already mid-December in the Gregorian calendar. Liaodong has entered winter and the first heavy snow has fallen.

The weather was very cold, the wind was bitter, and the snow was one foot thick. The [-] troops were struggling to move forward on the official road. At this time, they should be hiding in the room to warm themselves by the fire. When Chengxian went to seize Juehua Island, the soldiers complained and had to lead the horses.

"Privy Envoy!"

Lieutenant General Yelu Dongtu said loudly to Xiao Wei in the cold wind: "I'm afraid we have no way to capture Juehua Island. I just checked it, and the sea is not frozen."

Xiao Weixin sighed and said, "I don't know if there is a way to take Juehua Island back, but I know that if I don't go, the emperor will peel my skin."

"Then what if we go to Xingcheng County?"

"I don't know either, let's go and talk about it first!"

The marching speed of the army was extremely slow, stopping and going, and bringing a lot of food and supplies, and it took five full days to reach Xingcheng County.

Xingcheng County has become an empty city, and the people have fled to Jinxi County, [-] miles away to the south. Prevent the Song army from burying sulfur, kerosene and the like in the city.

Soldiers entered the city one after another, seized houses, lit fires to keep warm, and cooked to satisfy their hunger, but the horses could not squeeze into the small county town, so they had to build livestock camps outside the city and raise the horses in tents.

Xiao Weixin brought a group of generals to the top of the city and looked at the sea in the distance. It was almost dusk at this time, and the sunset on the sea dyed the sky red, but Juehua Island, which was more than [-] miles away, could still be clearly seen.

The waves on the sea were undulating, and there was no sign of freezing, Xiao Weixin took a long sigh, where did he ask him to engage in boat crossing operations?He had already received news before that the Song Army had seized more than [-] cargo ships from Xingcheng County, and there was no other ship around.

Yelu Dongtu said in a low voice: "Private envoy, the distance is not too far, can you use a raft?"

Xiao Weixin groaned and said nothing, leather rafts are generally used when crossing the river, the last five or six miles, even crossing the Yellow River is a bit too far, let alone the twenty-odd miles of sea, the risk is too great.

But apart from the raft, they really have no other way.

Xiao Weixin had no choice but to say slowly: "Let the soldiers rest for two days first, and then it depends on the situation."

At this time, the soldiers brought several monks, "Private envoy, how many monks are asking to see you!"

"Bring them up!"

After a while, several monks were brought up, and they saluted Xiao Weixin with palms together, "See Privy Secretary Xiao!"

Xiao Weixin sized them up and asked, "Which monastery do you belong to?"

"We are all monks from Juehua Monastery."

"What about Abbot Wenhui?"

"The abbot took other monks to Hongye Temple in Yanshan Prefecture. We wanted to go back to Liaoyang Prefecture, so we didn't follow."

Xiao Weixin nodded, "Let me ask you, how many Song troops have come to Juehua Island?"

"About a few thousand people!"

Xiao Weixin was a little dissatisfied and said: "2000 people are thousands of people, and 9000 people are also thousands of people. How much is it?"

"We don't know. It shouldn't be too many. It is estimated that there are two to 3000 people."

Xiao Weixin gave them a hard look, ordered them to give them some food and sent them to Liaoyang Mansion.

Several monks thanked them and left. Yeludong Tu said: "If there are only two to three thousand people, then it is completely feasible to cross the sea with rafts."

Xiao Weixin nodded, "We'll talk about it tomorrow after observing the sea conditions!"

(End of this chapter)