I studied in modern times

Chapter 620 Battle Situation (2)

Dingxicheng, controlling the southern exit of Ma Xian Mountain.

In August of the fourth year of Yuanfeng, Li Xian commanded the troops on Qinfeng Road and Xihe Road. It was from here that he crossed Xixia's Ma Qian Mountain defense line, and then went down the Ruzhe Valley to capture Lanzhou.

Therefore, the so-called Ruzhe Valley is actually a river (it should be today's Yuanchuan River, which is a first-class tributary of the Yellow River). It is just because the river cuts through the valley and forms a natural north-south canyon passage, so it is called: Ruzhe Valley. cover.

Ruzhe Valley originates from Majian Mountain, stretches straight to Lanzhou, and joins the Yellow River in Lanzhou.

Therefore, Ruzhe Valley in the Song Dynasty belonged to two different defense areas.

From the west of Ruzhe Fort, it belongs to the Tongyuan Army, and from the north of Gonggu City, it belongs to the Lanzhou District.

Renxu (the seventh day of the lunar month) in the ninth month of the first year of Yuanyou.

Zhao Xi moved his strategy and appeasement envoys from Lanzhou to Ruzha Fort to command and coordinate the Baili Horse Mountain defense line from Dingxi to Huichuan.

Before that, Zhao Xi had already led his people to Ruzhe Fort on Bingchen of September (the first day of the lunar month) and began to patrol the entire Ruzhe Valley.

Now, he has finished inspecting the entire Maxian Mountain defense line under the control of the Song Dynasty.

I already have confidence in my heart.

"As long as Dingxi is not lost, the Western bandits cannot threaten Fanchuan, Ruzhe, and Gonggu. If Fanchuan, Ruzhe, and Gonggu are not lost, Lanzhou will be as stable as Mount Tai!"

Zhao Xi waved his whip, looked at the stretching mountains and river valleys, and said with pride: "As long as our government controls Lanzhou and Dingxi, it will be like a human hand strangling the throat of the Western thieves, making them unable to breathe!"

"In his year, if we can defeat the Western bandits, everyone knows that Li Xian will be among the top three in terms of merit!"

As a civil servant, it is actually very incorrect for Zhao Xi to have such a high evaluation of a civil servant like Li Xian.

But Zhao Xi is about to retire, so he doesn't have such a lot of psychological burden.

After this battle, as long as nothing goes wrong, he will definitely be able to become an official with the title of Grand Scholar and Military Envoy.

This is the official treatment of a veteran.

At that time, who would dare to accuse him of this?

At most, he said a few words behind his back to be weird.

What does it matter?
He won't let him lose a piece of meat. On the contrary, he will say good things about Li Xian, which will be beneficial to him and his family's business in Xihe.

There is no way, Li Xian has great prestige in Xihe.

Especially its influence among the Tibetan officials is unparalleled!
Sure enough, upon hearing Zhao Xi's high praise for Li Xian, the generals who gathered around Zhao Xi immediately showed bright smiles.

"What your husband said is true!" Zhao Sizhong, who led the army to help from Qinzhou, replied almost without thinking: "If Li Duzhi hadn't captured Lanzhou back then, we would be able to be as safe and secure as we are today. Are you growing cotton in Xizhou, Minzhou, Taozhou and Huizhou?”

After hearing this, brothers Bao Shun and Bao Yue nodded in agreement.

Even Ren Duo Baozhong, who returned to justice last year, said: "Although I have never met Li Douzhi, if it weren't for Li Douzhi, I would have been killed by the Western bandits long ago!"

"Where is the opportunity to bathe in the kindness of my uncle from the Han family and enjoy the blessings of China?!"

Zhao Xi looked at these officials.

Everyone is a powerful person!

And since Xining opened the border, they are not the leaders of the big tribes who have brought their entire tribes to Yiyi; they are also the big nobles who have brought their troops from the Western Bandits to Yiyi.

For example, Zhao Sizhong is Mu Zheng.

This is the eldest grandson of Gu Siluo! He was also the true legal heir of Tubo after Dong Fei's death.

When Wang Shao moved to the side, Zhao Sizhong couldn't beat him, so he took his six brothers and surrendered together.

The six brothers brought over 30,000 to 40,000 people alone, as well as hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep, and livestock.

The late emperor gave names to his six brothers one by one, and then appointed them officials and made wishes.

The brothers Bao Shun and Bao Yue are the largest wealthy family in Xihe Road. This year, Xihe Road will organize their households and register them as residents.

Finally, statistics showed that there were almost 200,000 people with the surname Bao on Xihe Road!

Although, this is the result of the old, weak, women and children added together.

But there is no doubt that the largest family in Xihe is the Bao family.

Although the others are not as strong as brothers Zhao Sizhong and Bao Shun.

But they all have their own weapons.

Even Renduo Baozhong, who returned to Yiyi last year, had fled to the Song Dynasty with hundreds of his confidants.

For nearly a year, people from the Western Bandits kept coming to seek refuge with him.

As a result, he gradually had almost 1,500 elite soldiers.

With the recommendation of Xiang and Gao, the current official family appointed him as the inspector of Huizhou in April this year.

These Tibetan officials were relatively free in the Song Dynasty.

Their status is similar to that of local officials in Jisi Prefecture. In addition to their official official duties, almost everyone also carries the title of envoy to the military capital or deputy envoy to the military capital of their own tribe.

This is the imperial court's permission to use tribal customs and traditions to handle relevant internal affairs within its tribe.

Each one is a country within a country.

After Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji took office in Xihe, Mianzhuang and these people were fully tied together.

Every Xihe fan official is the owner of the cotton village!
Even Renduo Baozhong, who only joined last year, led his people near Lanzhou to cultivate more than a thousand acres of cotton fields before spring plowing.

So, these people are no longer bitter officials.

They are all extravagant!

In terms of wealth, I'm afraid it's not inferior to the wealthy families in Bianjing.

Because now the cotton fields in various places in Xihe have basically been picked.

The first batch of picked cotton bolls has been loaded into trucks and sent on the road to Bianjing by two national relatives, Xiang and Gao.

There are more than 10,000 kilograms of cotton bolls in total, which is said to be enough to fill thirty or forty flat trucks.

These cotton bolls should have reached Qinfeng Road by now.

The cotton bolls to be picked are being escorted back on their way back one after another by the young and strong peasants who escorted grain from Qinfeng Road, Yongxing Army and other places.

Two national relatives, Xiang and Gao, are now specifically responsible for doing this.

It is estimated that in the end, all the cotton bolls added up should weigh hundreds of thousands of kilograms.

The value is conservatively estimated at one million!
For example, the 10,000 acres of cotton fields owned by the Bao family could get at least 100,000 yuan!

Thinking of this, Zhao Xilian's voice became much gentler: "What you all said is true, Li Zhicheng is a famous commander in the country!"

There is no way, in the society of the Song Dynasty, everything is about money.

Whoever has money and whoever speaks loud enough makes sense!
As the saying goes: Everything is inferior, only reading is superior.

And studying requires money!

Where there is more money, the imperial examination results will be better!

Typical examples are the three roads of Zhejiang and Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi.

The local hair solution test has been rolled up to heaven.

why?
Because these three ways are rich!

Academies are blooming everywhere, and wealthy families are trying their best to train their children to take exams.

Therefore, places like Fujian were imperial examination deserts during the Tang Dynasty and early Song Dynasty.

Now, relying on his ability, he conquered the city in the imperial examination!

Now in the DPRK, there are more than a dozen ministers of Fujian origin who are waiting to be appointed as ministers or above!

Including a former prime minister (Cai Que) and two ruling officials (Zhang Dun and Lu Huiqing).

There will be more to come in the future!

Horror!
Only the Jiangxi gang and the two Zhejiang gangs can barely resist.

And Xihe Road is the next Fujian Road!

There is no doubt about this.

Not to mention, just a few days ago, You Shixiong of Xizhou announced that he had invited many classmates with Jinshi status to come to Xizhou to give lectures.

Zhao Sizhong and Bao Shun took the lead, and the Han and Tibetan wealthy families in Xihe donated a large amount of livestock, money, and servants to Xizhou Prefecture Xueyi. Some even directly donated cotton fields to serve as prefectural Xuexue fields.

It is precisely for this reason that Zhao Xian wants to say good things to Li Xian.

Because he had already planned to let his descendants move to Xihe after he became an official. Of course, these are things for the future.

The key now is to win the war at hand.

To win this battle, we need the full support of these leaders.

Fortunately, these people no longer need to do anything to mobilize.

Defend Xihe, defend Lanzhou, and defend Dingxi City.

Nowadays, it is not just a matter for the Han people.

It’s the business of everyone on Xihe Road!
Therefore, all Zhao Xi and his Economic and Strategy Department have to do is to make arrangements and command.

"Report!"

Just as Zhao Xi was about to continue talking to the Fan officials, a soldier reporting a message from afar came galloping in the direction of Zhao Xi on horseback.

"The fifth general of Xihe knows that Qin Gui in Dingxi City is urgently reporting!"

"The thieves have been attacking Dingxi since the Xinyou day. In one day, ants attacked them more than ten times!"

Zhao Xi listened and immediately stepped forward to receive the urgent report.

When he opened it and took a look, he immediately looked at the officials in front of him with a smile: "The thief has exhausted his skills!"

"My lords, it's time to serve your country!"

"go!"

"I will follow you back to Ruzha Fort to make arrangements for attack and harassment."

Liang Yibu, the Prime Minister of the Western Bandit State, raised troops from Nanmouhui in the eighth month of Renzi (27th month) and came in full force.

It claims to have 400,000 troops, but in fact the total strength will not be less than 150,000!

Among them, the elite Tie Yaozi, Poxijun, and Bubazi were all brought.

On Renchen in the ninth month, his army came to Dingxicheng.

Then the siege of the city began. While setting up camp, building momentum, cutting down trees, and transporting stones, a small group of cavalry was sent around Dingxi City, deep into the Ruzhe Valley, and engaged in battle with the Song Army's cavalry.

The Song army in Xihe responded quickly and immediately provided support.

Zhao Xi ordered Li Hao to lead Xihe's first and second generals to stay in Lanzhou, and then he led the third and fourth field generals out of Lanzhou.

He also made great efforts to protect the people in the Xihe prefectures and gained a hundred thousand people.

Half of them were to be used as garrison troops in various states, as well as to transport food and fodder, and the other half were selected from the elite, young and strong to accompany him.

On the other hand, Qinfeng Road and Jingyuan Road were also invaded by Western bandits.

However, Qinfeng Road and Jingyuan Road still used some of their strength to flank Xihe Road.

At the same time, the Yongxing Army and the Baibo Sanmen Expulsion Division continued to transport grain to Xihe at any cost.

Under such circumstances, Zhao Xi has made a plan to use Dingxi City as bait to consume the Western thieves.

As long as it drags on, Liang Yibu won't be able to capture Dingxicheng when he runs out of food.

Then, the Song army could take advantage of it to withdraw, cover up and follow up.

As a veteran, Zhao Xi does not expect to be able to accomplish all his achievements in one battle.

We even dare not imagine annihilating the elite Iron Yaozi, Poxi Army, and Bubazi of the Western Bandits.

What he was interested in was the young women and children brought by Liang Yibu from this battle.

This is a total of 150,000 people!
……

Dashun City.

Qu Zhen stood at the top of the city and looked at the Western bandit cavalry on the edge of the fortification area from a distance, escorting the young men slowly back.

A cruel smile emerged from the corner of his mouth.

"The bandit army will withdraw?"

"Hey!"

"How can it be so easy?!"

Qu Zhen was able to leave Yongle City and Zhuicheng City, and she was even able to escape the pursuit and interception of the Western bandits with hundreds of soldiers, and successfully retreated to the Song Dynasty.

Naturally, he has a lot of experience in how to escape.

Now that he saw the movements of the Western Bandits, he knew that the Western Bandits' Youzhou soldiers and horses could no longer be exhausted.

They wanted to try and move the young men and livestock back to Baibao, Jintang and other strongholds.

Of course, this could be a temptation or a trap.

But it doesn't matter, Zhang Xianggong's shallow attack technique was specifically designed to target the actions of the Western thieves.

"Light the smoke and notify Huanzhou!" Qu Zhen waved his hand and ordered.

In the past ten days, the Song Dynasty defenders in the Dashun City fortification area and Huai'an Town fortification area, under the supervision and command of Qu Zhen, strictly followed Zhang Kai's tactics.

While holding on to the city, they continued to take advantage of the relatively close distance between the forts and they could cover each other. They commanded the cavalry in the forts along the border to attack the Western bandits.

The point is not how many enemies you kill.

The point is to prevent the thief from attacking with all his strength.

After more than ten days, Qu Zhen was almost unable to figure out the strategies and tactics used by the general in command of the Western bandits on the opposite side.

So, the Western bandit soldiers and horses were dragged here by him.

The Song army relied on the fortified city and the light cavalry wandering in the fortification area to stalemate and consume it.

Now, since the Western thieves want to withdraw.

At least they made a gesture of withdrawing their troops.

Then it’s the second stage of the shallow attack strategy.

……

Huanzhou.

Zhang Kai climbed to the top of the city and looked at the beacon smoke lit by Qu Zhen in accordance with the agreement.

"good!"

"The thieves are trying to escape!"

He looked at Zhe Keshi and said, "Zunzheng, we have to entrust big things to Zunzheng!"

Zhe Keshi clasped his fists and bowed: "Please rest assured, Sir, I will definitely fulfill my mission!"

The shallow attack tactic has gradually taken shape since it was proposed by Zhang Kai and Fan Chunchun and brainstormed by the generals on Huanqing Road.

In the first stage, hold on to the fortress, use light cavalry to harass and contain the bandits, and tire them out.

In the second stage, wait for the thieves to be tired, slack, and retreat or want to leave.

Then he used elite cavalry to attack from the flank.

Either cut off their food routes, find their commanders, and carry out beheading attacks, or attack their logistics and transportation areas, burn their grain and grass, and kill their livestock.

If you achieve any of the above three points, the shallow attack method will be successful.

Then comes the third stage.

As long as the elite assault in the second stage can achieve any of the three points.

Then the Song army on the front should immediately launch a full-scale attack after discovering that the rebel army was in chaos.

This is a shallow strike.

It is also in line with the strategy of "victory by surprise and victory by right combination" in the art of war.

Zhe Keshi and the 1,500 elite strikers he brought with him were the sharp blades Zhang Kai chose to use to execute shallow strikes.

There was no way, the Song Dynasty had few war horses and even fewer excellent cavalry.

Only by folding the family can we stably produce elite and excellent cavalry troops.

Only the excellent war horses cultivated in the rich pastures of Fuzhou and Linzhou can undertake the tasks of flanking elite cavalry assaults in shallow attack tactics, cutting off their food routes, finding their commander-in-chief, or destroying their logistical equipment.

(End of this chapter)