The long snowstorm has also fallen in Shandong.
Since the end of the Battle of Damingfu, in the past year, all parts of Shandong have been starving and the people are struggling.
The more than 200,000 Han troops sent by Wanyanchang to encircle Liangshan completely destroyed the local order that had already collapsed. The ordinary people could no longer survive, and the hungry rebels, refugees, horse thieves, and bandits had disappeared. The big difference is that the planted grains are scrambled and harvested by various forces before they are mature. A hill of fields carries the blood of a hill of fields, and a truckload of grain is often accompanied by more than a truckload of corpses. Some survivors have even become accustomed to human flesh. the taste of.
Since the summer, the Yellow River has burst its banks several times, and each time it has taken a lot of life. The two sides occasionally clashed, but it was just for a bite or two of food.
After the autumn harvest, which was better than nothing, the fighting between the two sides was the most intense. Zhu Biao and Wang Shanyue led the elites from the mountains to come out and fight the autumn wind fiercely. The two Han armies in the south of Liangshan with more than 30,000 people were completely dispersed, and the food they looted was transported back to Liangshan.
After the army was disbanded, the soldiers could only become refugees, and it was a question whether they could survive the winter. Some of the Han army changed their minds when they heard the news. Several troops that had been temporarily separated due to insufficient food supplies in the vicinity moved closer together. After the leading generals met, many people contacted Liangshan privately, hoping that they would stop "beating their own people". ".
"... We can't live anymore. We were driven here by Wanyanchang. You are fierce and fierce. Go and beat Wanyanchang. There is really no food around, so why bother to beat us... In this way, just raise your hand. , we are willing to hand over some food..."
People living in the cracks always do some ridiculous things. The army that was originally driven to encircle Liangshan privately paid Liangshan a "protection fee". Zhu, Wang and others were also welcome. After receiving the food, they secretly began to send people to win over and rebel against the bloody generals in these teams.
That is, shortly after the autumn harvest, Liu Chengzong's troops arrived in Liangshan, and a large-scale attack was launched again, defeating the surrounding net near Shuibo. Several troops who had shown reluctance in the previous act of paying the "protection fee" were scattered, and the rest of the troops fled, retreating and watching the development of the matter.
In November, Wanyan Chang ordered the general Gao Zongbao to lead 40,000 troops to the south to deal with the black flag of Liangshan. These 40,000 people are not the Han army collected hastily, but the official army that was mobilized from the Jin Kingdom after Wanyan Chang was in the Central Plains. Gao Zongbao was a famous general among the Bohai people. Military exploits.
In Wanyanchang's view, at the beginning of the battle of Damingfu, most of the black flags and the army of the Wu Dynasty in Shandong had been damaged and only existed in name only. For the past year, he has trapped Shandong into a dead place, and the people in it have been starved to the ground, and the combat power will definitely be difficult to restore. The only thing to worry about is Liu Chengzong's army, but they were engaged in trouble near Xuzhou before, and they fought a lot of battles back and forth. Now the number is only 5,000, and the supplies have long been exhausted. The female real-style army is pressing up, even if the opponent hides in the water village and it is difficult to attack, but the loss should not be eaten.
It's just his idea.
In the actual use of troops, in mid-November, Gao Zongbao and Heiqi won the first battle. Liu Chengzong and others fought and retreated, seeming to want to retreat to the back road. Gao Zongbao was in high spirits and commanded his division to rush forward. Zhu Biao, Wang Shanyue and others were waiting for the moment when he rushed forward. Liu Chengzong's troops suddenly showed their edge and attacked.
The 40,000-strong army transferred by Jin Guo did have some veterans as skeletons, but when it comes to combat power, it is naturally not comparable to the real Jurchen elite troops. It was only at this moment that Gao Zongbao realized that something was wrong. When he reorganized his troops to take on a full-scale battle, he realized that both the front and the rear, what he encountered was already refined steel without the slightest bells and whistles.
Gao Zongbao also wanted to set fire to the baggage, but the 40,000-strong army collapsed. And the opponent's army is really the elite among the elites of the black flag. For example, an assault group led by Luo Ye, who chased after him all the way, is said to have won the first prize in the internal competition of the black flag army. Both offense and defense are strong, and the most difficult "madman" team.
Wanyanchang was nearly smashed to the ground by this defeat, and by Gao Zongbao's bragging rights to gloss over the defeat. In the past few months, not only the situation in Liangshan has become tense, but also Liao Yiren, who had an advantage in Jindi, has also retreated under the attack organized by Lou Shuwan, Yu Yulin and others, and has continued to attack the Jurchen side. Request support.
Although in order to support the war in the south and to consider the future rule, Wanyan Chang's search for the Central Plains was based on the principle of exhausting the lakes and fishing and exhausting all the potential of the Central Plains. But at this moment, the incompetence of these cultivated forces is indeed shocking.
They can't even muster the last force to fight for their own living space.
After Gaozongbao lost the battle, Zhu Biao, Liu Chengzong and others had essentially mastered Shandong, although in such a snowy winter, they could not see much change. Wanyan Chang sent some troops south to gather up the defeated troops, and then ordered the Han troops to strengthen their defenses. He was sitting in Baoding, and the more than 20,000 elites under his command remained motionless.
On the third day of the first month of December, Baoding Mansion was covered in white snow, and the wind and snow were shouting. A man in a big fashion braved the wind and snow to enter Wanyanchang's palace. Wanyanchang, who was on business, greeted him with a smile.
The one who came to visit was the Jurchen general who was on the verge of death during the war at the beginning of the year. At this time, a deep scar was drawn across the face of the female general, and he was stunned, but the arrogance of the soldiers was still hard to hide in the tall body.
"The last commander heard about Gao Zongbao's defeat, and couldn't help but want to ask the prince what his plans are for the enemy of Liangshan."
Wanyan Chang and Shu Liesu could be regarded as lifelong comrades-in-arms, Shu Liesu was a pure general, and Wanyan Chang, who was Aguda's cousin, assisted Zongwang and Zongfu successively, was more like a reliable old uncle. The two met, and after Shu Lexu entered the living room, he directly expressed the doubts in his heart.
"Can the general teach me?"
"The last general is willing to lead the troops to the change of Pingliang Mountain!"
"Does the general want revenge?"
"Your Majesty wants to keep the same and respond to all changes?"
"Of course, if we want to suppress it, I have ordered people to mobilize an army of 150,000 within three months to attack Liangshan."
"My lord, please forgive the last general to say bluntly, the chariot of Xiaocanghe is in front of you. In the face of troops like the Black Flag, no matter how many Han troops go, they will only be chickens. , so the last general dared to ask the lord to give me a good soldier. The last general... I am willing to carry the coffin and fight!"
In a war at the beginning of the year, facing the black flag, Shu Lisu had decided to die if he failed. Who knew that later he and Lu Junyi exchanged a knife, and the war horse rushed to save both of their lives, and Shu Lisu woke up. After that, every time I thought about it, I felt ashamed. At this time, this Jurchen general will talk about carrying the coffin to fight again, and there is a decidedly murderous look on his face.
Knowing the heroism and loyalty of these companions, Wanyan Chang was silent for a moment.
"... After the battle of Daming Mansion, the top of Liangshan's vitality has been damaged. Even if the newly arrived Liu Chengzong's troops are added at this moment, the number of soldiers that can be fought is only more than 10,000, and the damage in the Central Plains is limited. Furthermore, the east and west armies are heading south, occupying more than ten thousand soldiers. The benefits of the autumn harvest, and now the food and grass in the south of the Yangtze River are all in my hands, whether it is Zongfu or sticky, I have no worries about food and grass in half a year. I do have more than 20,000 elite soldiers, but after thinking about it, there is no need to take risks. Returning, no matter whether it is Liangshan or Jindi, it will be swept away naturally, this is also... everyone's idea."
The "everyone" in his mouth naturally has many people with interests. This is what he can say to Shu Liesu. As for other reasons that cannot be explained clearly but they both know each other, there may be other reasons why Shuliesu was a general under Zonghan of the Western court, and Wanyanchang supported Zongfu and Zongbi of the Eastern court. .
The speed was silent for a moment.
"... In this southern expedition, the commander, Gu Shen, etc. have said the most, not the difficulty of the expedition, but the stability of my Dajin in recent years... Wang Ye can still remember, although the Taizu revolted, what it was like. With a gallant mood, Hu Bu Dagang won with 20,000 hits against a 700,000-strong army, and made my Jurchen invincible... In the past, we had 20,000 soldiers, but we could conquer the world, but now... My lord, we have Stay here, don't you dare to go out?"
Shu Liesu's words were actually a bit fierce, but Wanyan Chang's temperament was gentle, but he was not angry.
"...What the general said, I don't know... Then, let me think about it."
This may be perfunctory, but the speed of the surgery did not insist anymore. At this time, the wind and snow were shouting and cheering in from outside the door. Although the two of them were getting old, they did not sit down at this time.
"I was so heroic back then, the last will still remember... If the prince makes a decision, the last will be willing to die for the Jurchen!"
However, until the spring of the second year, Wanyan Chang was unable to make up his mind to attack.
****************
The situation in the Central Plains made Wanyan Chang feel bitter, so naturally, Lou Shuwan and others on the other side tasted a little sweetness more or less.
Yu Yulin attacked the city, and Liao Yiren retreated steadily. When the heavy snow fell on the mountain, although it was summed up in the book, one could still feel the tension of countless mouths waiting to feed, but in general, the dawn of hope finally showed in front of us.
In September, the Black Flag Army from Shandong came to Jin secretly, and temporarily borrowed some supplies from Lou Shuwan for Liu Chengzong's northward journey. Lou Shuwan transported some of the food she saved between her teeth to the other party. During this period, she also scolded Ning Yi and the other party for half a month in front of the Huaxia army officials who came to ask for help in a low voice. She didn't dare to retort, which made her feel spiritually satisfied.
In October and November, Liu Chengzong and others defeated Gao Zongbao's army near Liangshan. This news not only boosted the morale of the anti-gold armed forces in Jin, but after capturing Gaozong's grain and grass, the Huaxia army also gave back to Jin. Lots of baggage as a gift. Lou Shuwan made a lot of money in this investment, and the whole person seemed to have gained three points.
In December, the "woman" was in a good mood, and often told people that she would have a good year this time.
In fact, this is the first time that Lou Shuwan has mentioned the matter of "Chinese New Year" to anyone since she left Hangzhou for many years.
The southwest was shrouded in war. Throughout November, there were not many breakthrough changes. Occasionally, news came out that the offense and defense of the two sides were either "tragic" or "anxious." Under the gaze of the outside world, Wanyan Zonghan, the hand of the Jurchen, showed his strongest fighting power and firmest determination to open a hole in the southwest world. And the Huaxia Army blocked this overwhelming offensive and stood still at the pass in the southwest. For a whole month, what the outside world could vaguely see was only the tragic casualties of the Jurchen side and the will to never die. With such a firm willpower of the Jurchen, no one would doubt that the black flag of the southwest could stand there. There must be a huge price to pay.
If in the previous discussions and fantasies, people still had a little doubt or contempt for the Southwest Army's combat power, at this moment, the longer and longer offensive and defensive time is enough to erase the superficial doubts in everyone's heart. Now that the Central Plains have fallen and the Wu Dynasty has fallen, the two forces that can really be called the strongest in the world are the two forces that are fighting in the southwest.
Southwest's ability to withstand the first wave of attacks is also one of the reasons that makes Lou Shuwan better. She reluctantly expects that the Huaxia army will survive this war. Of course, it is best to have a relationship with Jurchen. Both sides will suffer, and the world will be happy for it.
In this mood, there was also a small episode in the land she ruled. A newly rising force from the northwest had sent someone to contact them in the Central Plains and wanted to buy iron from Lou Shuwan. Cannons, explosives, etc., and it is said that they also brought a lot of money to bribe officials.
Lou Shuwan refused.
The northwest has always been a small corner that people in the world don't pay attention to. In the past, it was the Zhejia supported by the Jurchen who dominated, and the rest were nothing more than riotous bandits composed of buns, who occasionally wanted to go to the Central Plains to get some benefits, but the only result was that their claws were chopped off.
Recently, the land of Jin has been too chaotic, and Lou Shuwan has no time to take care of it. I only heard that the Zhe family could not hold back the scene and there was a civil strife. Next, one can imagine that there must be a scene of countless horse bandits vying for the top of the mountain.
This force wants to buy cannons from the Central Plains, and their courage and ambition are not small, but Lou Shuwan's materials are tight, and they are not enough for their own use. Where can there be leftovers to sell. There is no prerequisite for a transaction. On the other hand, when life was so tight, Lou Shuwan made great efforts to maintain the integrity and impartiality of the officials below, and to maintain the good reputation she finally won among the people. Bringing food and grass made Lou Shuwan's perception even worse.
She rejected the offer of the merchants.
At the same time, a group of people with the same purpose visited Liao Yiren, who was still in charge of a large area.
Zhongyuan couldn't see it, and his territory was under the aggressive offensive of Lou Shuwan and Yu Yulin. Liao Yiren kept asking Jurchen for help, and anxiously thinking about the way back. The treasures originally collected by the Zhejia brought by the Northwest Caravan are exactly what he likes. Once he wants to go to Dajinguo to retire, he can only take gold and silver treasures to open the way. The other party can also allow him to bring troops, knives and guns with him. past
On the other hand, the opponent needs a lot of iron cannons, gunpowder and other items, indicating that the opponent has someone in their hands, and they are all desperadoes from the northwest. This kind of cognition made Liao Yiren think about it. After testing each other, Liao Yiren proposed a new idea to each other.
In the eleventh year of Wu Jianshuo, on December 27th, in the whimpering wind and snow, Liao Yiren and the children of the Liao family saw the horse team coming from the snow and the front of the horse team with novel eyes. That tall figure.
Zhamuhe, the leader of the Mongolian Zalanda tribe, with the will of the legendary steppe Khan King Tiemuzhen, officially set foot in the Central Plains in the last days of this troubled year.
Liao Yiren, open the door to welcome guests.
"welcome!"
At this moment, the wind and snow roared past.
His ebullient voice has left traces on the historical scroll of later generations.