Chapter 217: Encirclement of Bianjing

"I heard from the Emperor that the Southern Dynasties' army is coming from three directions, east and south. According to my inference, there is not much time to encircle Bianjing." Babur reported the situation to Kublai Khan.

At this time, Kublai Khan was obviously much older than before. In the past, Kublai Khan was full of energy and was calm and energetic under all circumstances. Even when facing Zhao Qian's army, he was calm and calm. Now, this vitality and calmness are still there, but the blow to him by a series of defeats is already very obvious, and his face seems a little old.

It is no wonder that if anyone in his position would perform like him after a series of heavy blows. This has been proven by history and can be given a dozen examples. During World War II, the performance of the head of state at the beginning of the war attracted the German generals, but when the German army was defeated, he changed. He no longer liked to listen to the opinions of the generals, but only liked to act arbitrarily and become hysterical, which disappointed the German generals.

Kublai Khan did not ask about the situation of the war, but asked with concern: "Babur, how are your injuries? Are you getting better?"

Babur was really unlucky, maybe it was God's punishment for people like him. Although he escaped from the Dangshan Fire, he also suffered many burns. It was a lucky thing that he could survive from death. For Kublai Khan, this year was very unfavorable, and for Babur it was also unfavorable. During the decisive battle on the Eastern Front, the shells seemed to have eyes, and a shell was hit directly at him. If his personal soldiers had not seen the opportunity and poured him to the ground, he would have blown into pieces.

Even so, his left body was blown up to blood and his left arm was broken, and he had to be sent to Bianjing to recuperate. Kublai Khan was missing a resourceful military assistant. Although Babur was seriously injured, he had to be energetic and act as a good assistant.

"Go back to the emperor, I'm much better." Babur answered truthfully. His injuries improved significantly under the treatment of the imperial physician.

Kublai Khan was a little relieved and asked, "Is there any news about loyalty?" Kublai Khan had a special liking for Guo Kan, the most capable strategist, and was always concerned about his whereabouts.

"I haven't received any news from Lord Guo yet." Babur replied, "I have sent a spy. Whenever there is any news from Lord Guo, I will report it immediately."

Kublai Khan was still satisfied with Babur's handling and asked, "What's wrong with the third brother? He clearly had the opportunity to rescue the siege on the Eastern Front, so why did he give up? Even if he didn't want to rescue the remnants, then on the Southern Front, he also had the opportunity to rescue Zhonghe's army, but why didn't he take action? He always maneuvered."

"Your Majesty, I have nothing to say about Irhan." Babur knew the truth of "disturbance and reunion". Although he was trusted by Kublai Khan, he was an outsider after all, and it was difficult to participate in the affairs between Kublai Khan's brothers.

Kublai Khan looked at him and said, "The third brother can come to Middle Earth from the West. This friendship is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea. I will always remember it. But what I can't understand is why he didn't do his last skill? What did you hear? You said."

Babur had to admire Kublai Khan for seeing the opportunity, and he actually guessed it, so he could only say bluntly: "Master, before Irhan arrived at the Eastern Front, he fought a battle with Egyptian Sultan Baibar. I think it was this Baibar that made him change his decision."

"He is trying to preserve his strength so that he will not be able to deal with it when Baibar has any abnormal movements." Kublai Khan said in a word and sighed: "Third brother, you have ruined my major affairs. There is a saying that 'If the skin is not preserved, how can the hair be paid?' If the decisive battle in the Central Plains fails, you can return to the west completely? The army of the Southern Dynasties has not surrounded you and gathered to annihilate it. Third brother, you have been smart for a lifetime, but you are confused for a while."

People do not have selfish intentions and often see things brightly. Once they have selfish intentions, even the smartest person may become confused. This is particularly obvious in history.

Babur didn't dare to interrupt, so he had to shout quietly.

Kublai Khan changed his tone and asked, "How is the situation on the Eastern Front?"

"It is still resisting. There is still some time for the Southern Dynasties to arrive in Bianjing. However, I think it is only a matter of time, so please make plans early." Babur reminded Kublai Khan.

Babur was implying that Kublai Khan should order Hulagu to move closer to Bianjing, so as not to eat him too far from Bianjing for the Southern Song Dynasty. He was a smart man, and knew the truth of being ignorant and not being close relatives. He did not say it clearly and woke him up in a tactful way.

Kublai Khan didn't understand the truth. He looked at Babur and said, "You are very good at speaking. However, I don't like you to go around the corner. Well, it's time to urge my third brother to retreat to Bianjing quickly. We will join forces to guard Bianjing together. I think he should do his best this time."

"General Liao, let us let go of our hands and feet to fight. As long as we try our best, the Tartars will not be able to resist it. We will arrive in Bianjing soon." General Sun Wainian said dissatisfiedly: "You need a quick knife to kill the mess, but you use a dull knife to kill the chicken. Can this be killed? We are obviously strong, but we are not allowed to use it. It's a madam..." The words afterwards were too intense, and they stopped talking unnaturally.

His words were responded by the generals and said, "Yes, sir, General Sun makes sense. Let's fight a good battle."

Liao Shenggong has always been easy to talk, but this time his performance was not easy to talk. He looked around everyone and said, "Don't say anything, just ask you to fight slowly, just fight slowly. If anyone beats too hard, it will violate the military order and will suffer a serious consequence." After speaking, his tone has become very strict.

"How can you do this? If you fight well and you have to be punished. If you fight poorly, you won't be rewarded?" The generals found it difficult to understand this strange command and began to think in reverse.

Zhao Liangchun corrected: "It's not that you will be punished if you fight well, but that you will be punished if you violate the military order."

"This military order is too unreasonable." Sun Wainian was still unable to understand and started to nag.

Liao Shenggong laughed and said, "General Sun, don't be dissatisfied, let me tell you a brief moment. I want to fight to Bianjing as soon as possible. I want to restore Bianjing now, but I want to do so. But the emperor doesn't allow it."

"Is this the emperor's order?" the generals asked in unison. Li Jun has always been wise and the orders issued by the soldiers always convinced him. Such an unreasonable order has not passed yet. The generals have no surprise when they hear it.

Zhao Liangchun nodded and said, "You can't believe it, this is normal. I am the same as you. When I receive this order, I can't figure it out. When I figure it out, I have to admire the emperor's wonderful ideas. This is the emperor's trick."

The generals were already a little confused, and after hearing Zhao Liangchun's words, they became even more confused. They widened their eyes and looked at Zhao Liangchun and Liao Shenggong curiously, not even knowing how to say anything.

It's no wonder that the attack is not allowed to use all strength, and if you fight too well, you will be punished. This kind of thing can only be unreasonable and do not understand the tactics of war, but it is said to Zhao Liangchun as a strange plan. Anyone who hears it will react like the generals.

"The lights are not turned on, and I can't speak clearly. I'll tell you clearly." After obtaining Zhao Liangchun's consent, Liao Shenggong decided to explain to the generals so that they would not clamor for harsh beatings all day long, and said, "I believe you will strictly abide by the military rules and will not leak them out. Even if someone leaks them, you are not afraid of Kublai Khan. Even if he sees them out, he will still be deceived. This is the emperor's cleverness. The reason why the emperor asked us to slow down the attack and surround is because the emperor decided to use Bian Jing as bait to fish Xulagu. If I don't say anything, you will understand the importance of Bian Jing. If we surround Bian Jing now, or even hit him down, Xulagu may not move closer to Bian Jing."

Sun Wainian immediately expressed his opinion: "Sir, even if Xu Lagu doesn't move closer to Bianjing, the Central Plains is so big. Where can he go? This is the world of the court, are you afraid that he can fly to the sky?"

His words made a lot of sense and were immediately unanimously agreed by the generals.

"You only know one thing, not the other." Liao Shenggong laughed and said, "The Central Plains is the world of the court, that's right. Now, the court has won several great victories, and the Tatars' army has been severely damaged and has almost lost. However, don't be blinded by victory. The current situation in the Central Plains is very chaotic. The main reason is that many scattered soldiers and raiders are rampant. The court has to concentrate its forces on Hulagu and Kublai Khan. It is still time to wipe out these scattered soldiers and raiders."

In a large-scale war like this, there will inevitably be many scattered soldiers and brave men, rampant everywhere, oppressing the people and creating chaos. This is normal. The generals also understand this truth and nodded to say yes.

"The most important task of the imperial court is to completely annihilate the remaining Kublai Khan's army and Hulagu's army." Liao Shenggong continued: "These two things are actually one thing, and the two can be completed together. Bian Jing is still in the hands of the Tatars, Hulagu will move closer to Bian Jing, because only by doing this can he have the opportunity to support him. Even if he can't support him, Hulagu will find a way to serve the plane across the Yellow River, as if he is waiting to be annihilated in the Central Plains."

General Zhong Wenzhong said: "The court has a strong navy and sealed the Yellow River tightly. Even if he wants to jump north, he has no chance."

Liao Shenggong nodded and said, "You are right. Last time, Hulagu was too lucky to be able to cross the Yellow River and reach the Central Plains. This time, General Zheng divided the navy into three parts and deployed them in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Even if one section is blocked, the other part can still be rushed."

Zhao Liangchun took over the conversation and said, "When he returned to the north of the Yellow River, Hulagu still had a road. He could not pass through the Yellow River, but flee west along the Yellow River Nan River, and then go to the Ganliang Land, and return to Dadu or to the Middle East."

"General Zhao said it well. If the court defeated Bianjing now, Hulagu would definitely do this. You are all soldiers, and you all know a truth: as long as you can preserve the military affairs, you should do it." Liao Shenggong then analyzed: "So, Bianjing cannot be defeated now, so as not to Xulagu will jump west and cause trouble for the encirclement and annihilation of the court."

Zhao Liangchun concluded: "Even if Hulagu jumped westward, it would be difficult for him to return to Dadu. However, that would add a lot of difficulties to the court's encirclement and annihilation operation. It would save much more trouble to attract him to the vicinity of Bianjing to annihilate him."

Speaking of this, no one still doesn't understand. The generals praised in unison: "The emperor's plan is so clever!"

Sun Wainian thought for a while and said, "The play should be performed realistically. The imperial army should appear under the city of Bianjing, which will put more pressure on the Tartars. Kublai Khan will urge Xulagu to move closer to Bianjing. This is twice the result with half the effort."

"General Sun, you have a good idea, and the emperor has made arrangements. The army from the east and south directions advances in unison and heads towards Bianjing, but it is just a cover. What you want to do in secret is to encircle Hulagu so that he will not escape." Liao Shenggong said very applaudedly: "Leave the matter of the troops coming to Bianjing to General Zheng's navy."

On the Yellow River in Bianjing, Zheng Jinghe stood on the bow of the boat, quietly looking at the south bank, with tears in his eyes. Zheng Jinghe has the precious quality of Mount Tai collapsed before him and his color remained unchanged. He was calm and calm, not influenced by emotions. However, at this time, he couldn't help but burst into tears and wet his clothes.

There have been so many heroic stories in the Bianjing section of the Yellow River, especially the more stories played by the Song Dynasty on this section of the river, which makes people sad and indignant. The Jurchens broke through Bianjing and forced the Song Dynasty to move south, and the fall of the Central Plains. Although it was a story a hundred years ago, General Zong Ze's shout "Cross the river! Cross the river! Cross the river!" is still the most important thing, and every Chinese citizen remembers it in his heart.

How could he not be excited when Zheng Jinghe arrived here? What's more, he led countless Southern Song navys, and the ships covered the river. In other words, the operation to restore Bianjing officially opened the tent. Not to mention General Zheng Jinghe, even if anyone else was excited when this scene was happening.

"Restore Bianjing!" Zheng Jinghe, excited, raised his arms and shouted.

The soldiers around him followed him and shouted: "Restore Bianjing!"

Their shouts were immediately echoed by the soldiers on the ship, and they shouted in unison: "Restore Bianjing!" In just a short while, countless sounds of "Restore Bianjing" gathered into a magnificent song, which went straight to the sky.

"General Zong, have you heard it? The court has begun to restore Bian Jing." Zheng Jinghe murmured to General Zong Ze's spirit in heaven.

"What's wrong with you?" Kublai Khan asked Babur who was in a hurry.

After Babur finished his tribute, he said, "Return to the emperor, the Southern Dynasties' navy has arrived in Bianjing. They shouted "Restoring Bianjing" on the river, and the sounds surged into the sky. It took a long time to stop. Judging from the ministers, they have a large number of people."

Kublai Khan looked calm, as if he hadn't heard this huge bad news at all, but the keen Babur still found that Kublai Khan's pupils had shrunk significantly.

After a while, Kublai Khan said, "What should come will come eventually. What are they doing now?"

"Preparing to land." Babur replied, reminding Kublai Khan: "Master, will you urge Irhan again?" In this situation, Hulagu rushed to Bianjing and joined forces to one place, which was much more beneficial.

Kublai Khan nodded and said, "It's time to urge him again."

After reading the letter in his hand, Hulagu sighed slightly and ordered: "Order all troops to stop and move closer to Bianjing for a moment."

Luo Sike asked, "Khan, is Tian Khan urging me again?"

"Ask a question knowingly." Hulagu said coldly.

Luo Sike hesitated for a moment and said, "Khan, I have a saying that I don't know whether to say it or not."

"Tell me." Hulagu said very simply: "Speak everything in your heart."

Luo Sike said carefully: "Khan, I think we don't have to move closer to Bianjing. The Central Plains are so rich that we can create a new world. When I was in the Middle East, I heard that there was a general named Ka who was in Italy for 16 years and had not received reinforcements from all soldiers and soldiers from other countries. We have 300,000 troops, which can be better than him."

"You are talking about the famous Carthage general Hannibal." Hulagu rejected his proposal and said, "That's impossible. This is the Central Plains, not Italy. What else can we go besides moving closer to Bianjing? It's better to retreat west along the south bank of the Yellow River than your idea. The road to the west is no longer open and was sealed off the Southern Dynasty. Now, only the road to the north can still be accessed. If we were late, there would be no road to this road."

Hannibal stayed in Italy for 16 years and did not receive reinforcements from Carthage's soldiers. The reason was only two aspects. One was Hannibal's outstanding military and political talent, which made Scipio, the first general of the Roman Empire at that time, also believed that it was impossible to defeat him in Italy, so he strongly advocated attacking the basic land of Carthage and forced him to withdraw his troops. After hard work, this goal was achieved.

The second reason was that the Roman Empire rose at that time and conquered many ethnic groups in Rome. The Romans had not yet assimilated these ethnic groups, and these ethnic groups had not yet integrated with the Romans, making Hannibal feel like a fish in water here, and he wanted troops and food.

But the Central Plains is different. The fundamental importance of China is that all Han people, the same nation, have the same ancestors, the same civilization, and the same cultural foundation. The people will not cooperate with Hulagu at all. Luo Sike thought of imitating Hannibal was really fantastic. Hulagu, a Mongolian hero who destroyed dozens of countries, would not understand this truth and reject his proposal.

"Report, Hulagu's front team will arrive in Zhuxian Town soon." The spy gasped and told Zhao Liangchun the great news.

Zhao Liangchun said excitedly: "Okay, it's a good thing." He patted the cannon and said to Zhu Ruixiang: "General Zhu, look at you. As soon as Hulagu arrives, you don't have to be polite, give him some ruthlessness."
Chapter completed!