In mid-September, Liu Renzhan's 30,000 Jiangnan troops and Gao Yanchou's 20,000 Jiannan Shu troops arrived in Hebei. Liu Renzhan took over the new city at the intersection of the old Caoqu and Juma River; Gao Yanchou's troops built another city at the intersection of the Sanggan River and Caoqu in the east, and established a new administrative system, Jinzhou.
The Zhou army in Hebei had more than 100,000 infantry and cavalry.
The commander of the Liao army in Youzhou, Yelu Xiu'ge, refused to go into battle and petitioned the capital for immediate reinforcements because the gap between the Liao army's strength in Youzhou and that of the Zhou army was too great.
Inside the palace hall on the hill of Shangjing, the light was dim, and the fire in the copper basin shone with an orange-yellow light. At this time, the weather in Shangjing was already a bit cold, and the doors and windows were closed, and everyone seemed to be staying in a cave.
Yelu Jing picked up the wine bowl with his thumb and index finger, took a big gulp, slammed it on the wooden table, and looked at the people below.
The atmosphere was very strange, and because the situation was so complicated, no one spoke up easily.
Not long ago, the Liao emperor and nobles heard the news that Yelu Xiu'ge had won a great victory. They were very happy that the Zhou army soldiers set up a Jingguan to show off their military prowess. They rewarded Yelu Xiu'ge and initially conferred him the title of Duke of Zhou. For a time, he became a hero that was talked about on the grassland.
But now it has attracted a large-scale invasion by the Zhou army, which is something Yelu Jing is very reluctant to see. The Liao Kingdom is also unwilling to engage in a large-scale war.
Finally, someone started to curse angrily: The Zhou people are more shameless than the southerners in the past. They are not ashamed of their repeated defeats, and they still have the nerve to come and cause trouble.
Yelu Xiuguo failed to inflict any losses on the main force of the Zhou army. They were not hit where it hurt, so they had no fear. The main force of the Zhou army should be killed. This is the most effective way to make them obey.
Yes, yes. This time we must find the right opportunity to destroy the main force of the Zhou army.
Yelu Jing had a stiff beard and a green face, looking fierce, as if to say: What are you talking about? He opened his mouth and asked: What on earth do the Zhou people want to do this time
A noble said: I guess he still wants to take Youzhou.
Yelu Jing said coldly: Yang Gun reported that the Zhou army only annexed the area near the Juma River and did not approach Youzhou. The Zhou people have changed their tactics or do not intend to attack the Liao Dynasty.
People were talking about it, and most of them believed the former. The Zhou army changed its strategy of raiding Youzhou because the Khitans had been in contact with the Han people for many years and had a relatively good understanding of the affairs in the Central Plains. It would be very difficult to mobilize the Han army on a large scale and it would consume a lot of energy. It was unlikely that they would spend a lot of effort just to make a show of harassment.
Yelu Jing asked: The Zhou army occupied Gu'an County in Zhuozhou and built two cities. What is so special about these places
General Yelu Xizhen placed his hand on his chest, bowed and said: “Your Majesty, it is probably because we rely on the river.”
The Liao army's expeditions usually did not last more than two months, and they carried food and fodder with them and got food nearby. The southerners were different. They usually relied on their numbers and focused on decisive battles. Their large number of troops required a lot of food and fodder, and their heavy baggage and slow movement meant they had to stay in place for a long time to defend when the situation was unfavorable, so they relied heavily on food transportation roads.
The land-based grain route requires a large number of laborers and is extremely costly; water transportation can transport more grain and does not require a worry about water sources, so relying on water routes is the best route for southerners.
Yelu Jing then asked about the rivers near Zhuozhou and Xincheng and in the south, but no one could explain it clearly. Most of them could only give a general idea without giving details. Many nobles present had never been to Youzhou, and those who had been to Youzhou did not know much about the terrain in the south.
Yelu Xizhen could not help but say: Mr. Xiao, the Deputy Privy Councilor of the Northern Court, had guarded Youzhou for many years and must know the details.
Yelu Jing asked, "Where is Xiao Siwen?" Everyone looked around and found that Xiao Siwen was not here today.
The Liao emperor was somewhat displeased and shouted: Go find Xiao Siwen and have him see this Khan.
After waiting for a long time, the Liao emperor drank a whole pot of wine in public, his face flushed, and Xiao Siwen was hurriedly brought into the hall. Xiao Siwen bowed and said: "I am late, please forgive me, Khan."
Humph, after the Liao Emperor drank, his temper became worse than usual.
The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and everyone was worried. Everyone knew the temper of the Liao emperor very well. This alcoholic was actually quite good at ordinary times, but once he got drunk, he would be unreasonable and irritable, taking the opportunity to vent his usual forbearance; maybe he would express regret after sobering up, but others could do nothing about it, after all, if he did something wrong after drinking, he would have an excuse.
People felt that Yelu Jing had drunk almost enough, and they quietly looked at the empty wine bowl on the table, hoping that he would stop drinking.
Xiao Siwen bowed respectfully and said: "I heard that the Khan summoned all the ministers to discuss matters today. I guessed that it was about the Zhou army's invasion of Youzhou. So I hurried to prepare at home. Otherwise, even if I arrived at the palace, I would not be able to answer anything when the Khan asked me. Isn't that disrespectful?"
Yelu Jing heard Xiao Siwen's respectful tone and attitude, so he did not get angry and said: "I just asked someone about the river in the south of Youzhou. You have been preparing for so long. Are you ready?"
Xiao Siwen immediately took out a roll of paper from his arms: This is a map of the main rivers in Hebei, including the approximate width of the flow direction within the Zhou Kingdom. Please take a look, Your Majesty.
After he sent the blueprint, he said: At this time, the area occupied by the Zhou army is in a Z-shaped situation. The Laishui Liuli River flows eastward in the north of Zhuozhou, flows eastward and southward, and merges into the Juma River; Zhuozhou and Gu'an control the two banks of the Laishui Liuli River and the north bank of the Juma River respectively. The western waterway can be controlled by relying on the two cities; in this area, as long as the Liao army approaches the waterway, it will be under the threat of the Zhou army's city.
There are two more places in the west where troops can be stationed, Jintai and Qiugouguan, which will provide depth and support for the Zhou army's front line.
The eastern line is the Juma River and Baigou River, which flow from east to west. This line is located in the south, and there are two intersections from west to east. The first is Xincheng, where the north-south Caoqu is the confluence of the Yongji Canal built in the Sui Dynasty and the Juma River. The Zhou army built a new city here to control the important gateway for transporting food and grass from the south to the north.
The second place is Jinzhou, which is close to the East China Sea and is the easternmost opening of the Zhou army's battle line. This is the intersection of the Sanggan River and the canal in the north; the two rivers flow eastward into the East China Sea, flow northward along the Sanggan River into the south of Youzhou City, and connect with the Juma River in the west, opening up the southern waterway.
The Zhou army built Jinzhou in the northeast of the intersection, echoing the new city in the east and west, and controlled the southern section of the Sanggan River and the northern section of the Yongji Canal.
After Xiao Siwen finished speaking in detail, his expression was somewhat solemn, and he frowned and said: From this, we can see that the Zhou army is not just chasing Yelu Xiu'ge northward this time, but is deliberately planning and coming well prepared. They quickly established a very tight battle line, pushing Yi Xiongba's position, which was originally along the Juma River on the border, northward for a while; and established a complete water transportation.
After hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought and the atmosphere became more and more urgent.
What I was worried about finally happened. Xiao Siwen sighed, bowed and said, "Khan, our Liao Dynasty must prepare for another war."
Yelu Jing did not dare to play around at this time and asked: Yelu Xiu'ge wrote a letter asking for reinforcements, but Youzhou is not in danger now. Is the Liao Dynasty going to mobilize troops
Xiao Siwen said: It would be fine if the Zhou army attacked Youzhou urgently. The situation would be similar to that at the beginning of the year. Your Majesty could send reinforcements from Shangjing to the south to relieve the siege.
Yelu Jing was silent and thoughtful.
Xiao Siwen bowed and said: You can order Yelu Xiu'ge to send light cavalry to harass and lure the enemy, and lead the Zhou army to the city of Youzhou.
Yelu Jing said: Yelu Xiu'ge does not have enough troops and is unwilling to go south at this time.
Xiao Siwen frowned and said: If the Zhou army defends this line, the Palace Army will move south immediately and still be unable to defeat them. The Palace Army and Youzhou Army will not be able to fight a decisive battle with the main cavalry of the Zhou army; and they may be surrounded.
Only by gathering the tribal troops, and perhaps commanding some troops from the Five Capitals and Jingzhou, and marching the army southward, can we use the unfinished cities of the Zhou Kingdom as a breakthrough point and tear apart their front line.
It would take two months to gather troops to Youzhou. At that time, the rivers were frozen, which was also conducive to the Liao army's march.
Yelu Jing was somewhat puzzled and hesitant: According to Yelu Xiu'ge's report, the Zhou army only had more than 50,000 elite cavalry at most, plus some surrendered infantry and cavalry, a total of more than 100,000 people in Hebei, so the Liao Dynasty needed to mobilize the tribal army and the Jingzhou army.
Xiao Siwen said: In my opinion, in a few months, the strength of the Zhou army on this line may increase to 300,000 to 400,000. The current signs of the Zhou army are that they are determined to fight us with all their national strength. The Liao Dynasty can't resolve the crisis by only sending out some light cavalry.
Yelu Jing leaned forward, looking a little restless. But he might also suspect that Xiao Siwen was exaggerating. Is it worth it for the southerners to fight for Youzhou
Xiao Siwen added: "I think that if the Liao Dynasty does not mobilize its full strength, the next target of the Zhou army will be the intersection of the Wenyu River and the Sanggan River. Khan, please look at the blueprint I presented. This place is east of Zhuozhou, near the East China Sea."
The Sanggan River reaches Youzhou directly, and the Wenyu River reaches Juyongguan, Deshengkou, Xishan. The two rivers attack Youzhou from both sides, forming a siege. If the Zhou army controls this place, the situation will be very bad.
Some nobles murmured: Fortunately, Lord Xiao is not from Zhou.
Xiao Siwen shook his head and said: "In terms of using the terrain of mountains and rivers to attack and defend, the southerners are better at it. If you know Go, you will know a thing or two."
He looked around: Youzhou is related to the destiny of the Liao Dynasty. Guo the blacksmith is an ambitious person. He will do such a thing sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.
Strategy is strategy, but in the end it all depends on the management of each party. The internal situation of Zhou is not so stable and simple. They spend money without regard for the cost, and something may go wrong. In the future, it is not strategy that matters, but management.
From now on, all ethnic groups in the Liao Dynasty should unite as one and overcome difficulties together. Anyone who has ulterior motives and acts inappropriately at this time will be an eternal sinner for the Liao Dynasty and the Khitan people. I will be the first to lead the Khan and let him die without a burial place.
Yelu Jing was very satisfied with Xiao Siwen's attitude. After all, he said this in front of the most powerful nobles of the Liao Dynasty. If Xiao Siwen were to deal with the Khan too soon, he would certainly lose the trust of all ethnic groups.