In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 202 Willing to form an alliance with Xixia to resist Mongolia

Guo Zhengsun has always loved the people like his son in office, which was hard to accept for a while.

Seeing his change of color, Meng Gong had no choice but to persuade him: "Being kind to the enemy is being cruel to yourself. If the enemy breaks the city because you can't bear to do it, it will be our own people who will be killed or injured."

"When the people are forced to attack the city, they will definitely die. Since they will die, why don't they turn around and fight the enemy desperately? If everyone is determined to kill one to earn money, and kill two to earn one, what enemy country dare to bully? We Song people?"

"Now His Majesty decrees that all merits and demerits shall be borne by His Majesty. Prefect Guo should understand His Majesty's painstaking efforts."

Guo Zhengsun could only smile wryly.

Meng Gong walked along Fengxiang City for nearly an hour, and the civil servant Guo Zhengsun also accompanied him for an hour. It was a hot day, and several of them walked profusely.

Meng Gong almost took a look around Fengxiang, and then pointed out together with his elder brother Meng Jing and the prefect Guo Zhengsun that it needs to be reinforced, that it needs to be fired, and that it needs to have more archers.

Meng Gong asked Guo Zhengsun to organize craftsmen in the city to build an arrow-proof canopy.

It is said that it was designed by the emperor, that is, to connect the front and rear sections of the city wall and build iron and wood frames. (similar to building canopies on the city wall)

The canopy is built at the cannon, which can be used to prevent rain and prevent bows and arrows from being thrown under the city.

With iron rods as the support, a layer of iron plate is laid on the top, then a layer of stones is laid on the iron plate, another layer of wood is added, another layer of stones is laid, and a layer of iron sheet is added, which can also protect the artillery and gunners.

After getting down from the head wall, Meng Gong continued to walk around the city, followed by Guo Zhengsun, Meng Jing and others.

According to the emperor's order, the whole city has been re-planned. The residential area is the residential area, the military area is the military area, the farm area is the farm area, and the craftsman bureau belongs to the craftsman bureau. The entire city is managed militarized. Register your identity to prevent spies from getting in.

At this time, everywhere in the city is busy. Immigrants come in from outside, and then someone will register and distribute them, or they may be sent to other places.

Some people are putting fish fry in the river, some are reclaiming new fields, some are building warehouses, and so on.

They demanded that the city be able to store food for more than a year, and also try to be self-sufficient, so Guo Zhengsun, Meng Gong and others tried every means to raise pigs and chickens in the city, and even raise fish like Diaoyu City.

A large amount of nearby farmland is basically outside the city, but in order to prevent the city from being besieged, nearly [-] mu of land has been reclaimed in the city, occupying a large area in the city, mainly for growing vegetables.

Meng Gong said again: "When the relocation of the people is over, according to His Majesty's request, all border defense cities must be fully counted and the population registered once."

"Every household makes an iron ID card, and strictly guards against spying."

"In the future, people who are not registered in the city and who enter and exit will be strictly investigated."

"Within [-] steps from the city gate, all the folk buildings should be cleared out. During wartime and when the city gate is closed, no one is allowed to approach without order within [-] steps, or they will be killed."

Then he said: "Mobilize the people and soldiers again, cut down all the trees ten miles outside Fengxiang City, and transport them into the city."

"Then cut down the ones ten miles away."

Anyway, as long as there is time, before the enemy troops come, they can cut down all the trees, and eventually there will be no trees within fifty miles of Fengxiang City.

Meng Jing was dumbfounded.

I have fought with my father for many years, and I have never seen such a defense.

They had been at war with the Kingdom of Jin back then. Looking at it now, the Mongols seemed to be terrible. They did their defensive work to such an extent.

Will it be too much?He asked cautiously.

Meng Gong shook his head, and said in a deep voice: "With Sichuan as an important town in the upper reaches, the land of Shu is rich and solid, and there is no disturbance from military revolution. Officials think it is a happy land."

"As long as there are no Mongols coming in here, we in Sichuan will be the rear of the Great Song Dynasty."

"A steady stream of military rations, a steady stream of soldiers and armor can support the Lianghuai and Jinghu regions."

"As long as we keep Fengxiang well and the Mongols can't come in, it's a great achievement."

"The whole of Sichuan can provide a steady stream of support for Da Song."

At this time, Sichuan had a population of nearly ten million, far surpassing that of Shu.

Zhao and Rui can build this place into a huge rear area to support the consumption of other battlefields in the Southern Song Dynasty.

In Zhao Yurui's plan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi and other provinces will all play the role of the rear just like Sichuan.

Historically, the Southern Song Dynasty received almost no support in Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. Except for the income of the Shibo Division in Quanzhou and Guangzhou, the contribution of military sources, resources, and even food was small.

After Meng Yuan entered, Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian surrendered all the way, which did not work at all.

And these places, like the current Sichuan, have not experienced war from beginning to end.

Therefore, Zhao and Rui should make full use of it, link these provinces and Sichuan into a front line, and specifically support the front line.

When Meng Gong had an interview with Zhao Yurui, he was also shocked by the emperor's grand strategy.

With his ability, he only saw that Sichuan and Xiangyang are connected in a line, which can establish an important line of defense, but he has not considered the issue of rear supply. After all, in the eyes of generals like them, this kind of thing is what the court and the emperor care about , is not what they can think of.

"Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and other roads can send troops, money, and even various materials such as copper, nitrate, and sulfur."

"We need to show the Jin people and Mongols that our Great Song Dynasty not only has Lianghuai, Jinghu and Jiangnan, but also Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian."

Keeping Sichuan well is a great achievement?Guo Zhengsun and Meng Jing seemed to understand something at this time.

Meng Gong stayed in Fengxiang for three days, and then rushed to the three passes and five states without stopping. All the first-line pass cities had to be inspected. Who are the generals, the deployment of troops, why these officers and generals are used, what are their advantages and disadvantages, etc.

Although it is more troublesome than before, Meng Gong can understand that the emperor attaches great importance to this place.

When he left Fengxiang, he recruited his third brother Meng Jing alone. Meng Jing's abilities were mediocre. Meng Gong knew it, but he also knew that the third brother didn't make mistakes very often.

"Guo Zhifu is capable of writing and martial arts, and he is also a rare talent. My eldest brother usually learns from Guo Zhifu. No matter in the future, Mongolia, Jin, or Xixia, you just need to guard, don't go out to fight in the city, and don't learn from Ma Di , as long as you don’t make mistakes and guard Fengxiang, it’s a great achievement.”

"Fourth brother, don't worry, I understand my ability, and I will never embarrass the Meng family." Seeing his younger brother's expression of disbelief, Meng Jing said again: "Even if your sister-in-law is outside the city, I won't go out, so you don't worry?"

"Hahaha." Meng Gong laughed.
-
In mid-August of the first year of Baoqing.

A huge team of horses headed southeast from the pasture of Xiliang Mansion (Liangzhou) in Xixia. The mighty team of horses covered the sky and covered the sky, almost thousands of horses. We arrived in Lanzhou two days later.

The young Gao Zhiyao was riding on a war horse, jogging and looking at the group of horses around him, frowning thoughtfully.

Gao Zhiyao, who is only 19 years old, is the son of Gao Lianghui, the Right Prime Minister of Xixia, and he is a staunch alliance against Mongolia.

After the new Xixia emperor Li Dewang succeeded to the throne, he immediately changed Shenzong's policy of attaching Mongolia to trying to fight against Mongolia.

In February of the second year of Qianding (1224), Li Dewang heard that Genghis Khan had not returned from his westward expedition, so he sent envoys to contact the tribes in Mobei that had not been conquered by Mongolia, and formed foreign aid to jointly fight against Mongolia. Leading the army to attack Xia again, first attacked Shazhou, but did not take it for more than a month. Genghis Khan divided his troops to attack Yinzhou. Li Dewang had no choice but to surrender, and promised to send his son as a hostage, and the Mongols withdrew.

Also in March of this year, the Mongols sent envoys to Beijing to ask Li Dewang why he didn't send the protons?
At that time, Prime Minister Gao Lianghui and Privy Envoy Li Yuanji both advised Li Dewang to keep his word and send a hostage there, but Li Dewang had just formed an alliance with Jin and was unwilling to sacrifice his son in vain. Determined to fight against Mongolia.

In June of the same year, Li Dewang asked to speak out in middle school.Zhang Gongfu, the censor of the palace, wrote to Dewang seven opinions on rectifying state affairs: one is to close the collapse to strengthen the hearts of the people; the other is to strengthen the alliance and trust to alleviate the national crisis; The fifth is to unite with the beacon to stand up and support; the sixth is to advocate frugality to enrich the army reserve; the seventh is to observe the convenience to break the enemy's power.In a nutshell, it is to strengthen the national strength, unite gold and resist Mongolia, especially in terms of the covenant, it must not be repeated as before, no matter who you form an alliance with, don't repeat it.

Before Li Dewang, the Xixia Emperors were all emperors, and for a while they allied with Mongolia to fight against gold, and for a while they allied with gold to fight against Mongolia.

Dewang appreciated and recognized Zhang Gongfu's appointment very much, and promoted him to Yushi Zhongcheng.

Just after Zhang Gongfu's seven strategies were finished, the new emperor of the Song Dynasty sent envoys to Xixia, asking for an alliance to resist Mongolia and do business for mutual benefit.

At that time, Li Dewang was ecstatic and couldn't believe it.

After the Southern Song Dynasty, very few Song envoys went to Xixia. After all, the lands of the two sides are no longer connected.

At this time, the envoy of Song Dynasty came suddenly, and Li Dewang received him very grandly.

Song people didn't talk about forming an alliance with Jin, but only said that they would form an alliance with Xixia to fight against Mongolia.

To put it simply, let Xixia trade war horses to Song, and Song give Xixia sugar, tea, and silk.

At that time, some ministers in the court disagreed, feeling that the things traded by the Song people were useless for war and could not increase national power.

But things like sugar and tea are indeed in short supply in Xixia, and even the upper class needs things.

Song Envoy said, if you don't trade it to us, will it be plundered after being broken by Mongolia?
The city of Yinzhou was destroyed, and Xixia lost hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses, including tens of thousands of war horses.

Fat the enemy and weaken yourself.

The Song envoy also said that before you traded poor quality war horses to the Kingdom of Jin, the best war horses were taken away by Mongolia, and then the Mongols used your war horses to invade your country and kill your men and children. Stealing your war horses, money and food, and humiliating your mothers, wives and daughters, is this really what you want to see?

At that time, the Xixia courtiers were angry, and some people wanted to kill Song envoys.

But Prime Minister You, Zhang Gongfu and others strongly opposed it.

Song Envoy's words were harsh, but very reasonable.

During the time of Xixia Shenzong, he traded with the Kingdom of Jin and deliberately used poor quality war horses to the Kingdom of Jin. Now the retribution has come. It was said by the Song people that the Mongols treat Xixia as their own home. They come and go whenever they want. Every time they came, they would plunder hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses.

Thinking that Yinzhou City had just been robbed of tens of thousands of war horses, Li Dewang was furious.

He immediately decided to make a deal with Song, but he also added a requirement, that he needed some iron or copper coins.

(End of this chapter)