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Chapter 276 Xixia is attacked from both sides
September [-]th, Double Ninth Festival.

"Double Ninth Festival" is named after "Yang Yao is nine" in the ancient book "The Book of Changes".

In the "Book of Changes", "six" is defined as a negative number, and "nine" is defined as a positive number, which is also "extreme number", referring to the height of the sky as "nine layers".

"Nine" is the old yang, which is the number of positive poles. The two positive numbers are repeated together.

Therefore, the ancients believed that Chongyang was an auspicious day worth celebrating, and there was a custom of drinking banquets to pray for longevity.

In the south, the ninth day of September represents reunion and respect for the elderly, but in the northwest, it also means harvest.

Unlike the south where you can have two or even three crops a year, most people in the northwest plant one crop a year (there was no corn at this time), and September is the time for the autumn harvest of crops.

Sun Zheng stopped his offensive after capturing Xining Prefecture on the day the empire was founded, and sent a letter back to Guangzhou dedicating Xining as a congratulatory gift to the founding emperor of the Chinese Empire.

As of today, the army of the Western Expedition has been resting for almost ten days.

"I didn't expect that standing on the top of the city gate and watching the autumn scenery in the northwest would be quite unique." Sun Zheng had just hosted a banquet for the army general at noon and had no time to inspect the city defenses in the afternoon.

"General Sun, winter is coming soon. What should we do next?" Zhe Keqiu asked.

Sun Zheng, who had already experienced the cold winter in the northwest last year, did not believe that the army could make any big moves this winter.

"Nothing can be done. Rest, recruitment, reorganization, and all offensives can only wait until spring tomorrow." Sun Zheng replied.

"It's a pity. I heard that Yelu Dashi has already reached Xuanhua Mansion. I thought we could also enter Xixia and get a share of the pie." Zhe Keqiu said with a little regret.

Originally, he needed to go back to Xuzhou with those northwest generals for training and education, but due to his familiarity with the northwest and his own request, Sun Zheng finally stayed here.

After this period of performance, Zhe Keqiu has gained initial recognition from Sun Zheng.

After all, he is a veteran and is indeed very capable.

"Entering Xixia? We don't fully grasp the Qinfeng Road and Yongxing Military Road, so how can we have the energy to enter Xixia." Sun Zheng smiled and shook his head.

He understood that Zhe Keqiu did not join the empire when it first started to develop and missed the bonus time, so he was eager to make great contributions.

"General Lai didn't fully control Hedong Road before, so he didn't send troops into the Kingdom of Jin." Zhe Keqiu retorted: "I think there is no difficulty in the remaining state capitals on Qinfeng Road and Yongxing Military Road. They only need to spend a lot of money." We can occupy them all in time, and just leave these small battles to my subordinates."

"Do you want to enter Xixia?" Sun Zheng asked rhetorically.

I have to admit that there is nothing wrong with the judgment that it can be done in a hurry.

With the establishment of the Chinese Empire, the morale of the imperial armies in Hebei increased greatly. After the news came, the resistance of the former Song Dynasty forces in the north also dropped sharply. I believe that soon some states and counties will take the initiative to contact the imperial army, thinking There's going to be a peaceful transition.

According to Zhe Keqiu's idea, with the cooperation of the Kaifeng Group Army and the Zhe family in Fuzhou, it can be said that the two northwest routes are already in the possession of the Kaifeng Group Army.

"Of course, Yelu Dashi wants to attack Xixia because he wants to border us and accept our weapons funding. If we don't enter Xixia, he will occupy a lot of Xixia territory. If we enter Xixia, we will curb his erosion. I think it is necessary for us to enter." Zhe Keqiu explained.

It was still so reasonable that Sun Zheng couldn't refute it.

Xixia was completely helpless under the fierce attack of the Liao Kingdom. If the imperial army joined in, it would definitely accelerate the destruction of Xixia.

"Land as fertile as the Hetao should not be given to the Khitans." Zhe Keqiu's words were the final word.

"You are right." Sun Zheng nodded: "But the previously established strategy must still be implemented."

Seeing that Zhe Keqiu wanted to persuade him again, Sun Zheng raised his hand to stop him: "Listen to me."

"I still have to keep an eye on the two northwest routes, but you can free them up." Sun Zheng planned to meet Zhe Keqiu's needs. Didn't he want to make a contribution?Just give him a chance: "The troops you had before Zhejia will be returned to your command. I can also help you contact Fuzhou Zhejia and give you an imperial army." After calculating this, Zhe can ask for and use the army. It can exceed [-].

"You will command the imperial army to enter Xixia and join forces with the Liao Kingdom."

"Thank you, General Sun!" Zhe Keqiu responded happily, without any hesitation or refusal, which showed that he was really urgent.

The land within the borders of Xixia was basically desert in later generations, but it is different now. Excluding the fertile Hetao area, there are more grasslands in other places, so it is not considered barren.

"No need to thank me, you earned this yourself." Sun Zheng waved his hand.

"I plan to prepare for two days before continuing to the northwest without waiting for winter." Zhe Keqiu requested.

"Okay, I will provide thick cotton clothes to all the troops that follow you to the northwest." Sun Zheng supported it with practical actions.

"Thank you, general. If Xixia is destroyed this time, the general will take the lead."

"Hahaha! As long as you have the intention, I don't dare to take credit."

The two chatted animatedly, as if Xixia had been destroyed.

This kind of self-confidence, this kind of vitality is exactly what Chen Xun wants to see.

To dare to fight, to be able to fight, to be victorious is Chen Xun's only requirement for the imperial army.

Only with this quality can he realize his ambition of spreading military power across the five continents.

In fact, in the conversation just now, Sun Zheng did not reveal his entire strategic plan in half.

The capital of Xixia was Xingqing Mansion (later Yinchuan), located in the upper reaches of the Hetao area of ​​the Yellow River. If calculated carefully, it can also be regarded as the Hetao area.

Xingqing Mansion is located directly north of Huaide Army on Qinfeng Road, only more than 200 miles away.

Huaide's army is east of Xining, thousands of miles away.

If Zhe Keqiu goes northwest to join Yelv Dashi, he will only get further and further away from Xixia Xingqing Mansion.

According to Sun Zheng's strategic plan, after the beginning of spring, he will lead his army all the way east along the northern border of the original Song Dynasty, and first capture all the state capitals on the northern border, of which Huaide's army naturally belongs.

When he arrived at Huaide's army, Sun Zhenghui would choose to divide his troops and go north, letting his men continue eastward, while he would lead his army into Xixia and go straight to Xingqing Mansion.

It turned out that there was some worry that a large number of Xixia troops would be left near the Xixia capital, and that our own forces would not have an advantage.

Now, Yelu Dashi has attracted part of the Xixia army, and Zhe Keqiu has attracted another part of the Xixia army. When Sun Zheng goes north from Huaide's army next year, what will be left for him is a Xixia capital with basically empty troops.

We are all soldiers and generals. Who doesn’t want to destroy the country?

Sun Zheng is also a human being, and he wants it too.

Although I don’t know what Zhe Keqiu’s plan is, he must first join forces with the Liao Dynasty before he can implement his combat plan. If this comes and goes, it will be impossible to counterattack to Xingxing in less than three to five months. Qingfu.

Coupled with the influence of winter, there is basically nothing to claim for the credit for destroying the Xixia capital.

"Hey hey." Sun Zheng thought beautifully while chatting with Zhe Keqiu.

Both of them have their own plans, and it depends on who is faster.

(End of this chapter)