On the matter of attacking the Song Dynasty, Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan had a great disagreement. As the commander-in-chief of the Jin army, Wanyan Zonghan was leading an army of 60,000 to besiege Taiyuan, an important town in Hedong, and the famous Battle of Taiyuan broke out.
Zhao Huan knew that Zhe Keqiu's army had suffered heavy losses while going to provide support, so he sent someone to order Zhe Keqiu to garrison Fencheng and not to make any rash moves without his orders.
The Song army's inaction emboldened the two Jin commanders who already looked down on the Song army. Wanyan Zonghan boasted that he would capture Taiyuan within ten days and massacre the city as punishment for the rebels.
Wanyan Zongwang, who had just successfully crossed the river, was extremely excited and called Guo Yaoshi over.
"This humble general greets the Commander-in-Chief!"
Wanyan Zongwang laughed heartily, quite pleased: "General Guo, these Song people are indeed as you said, cowardly and afraid of death. Our Great Jin army has marched south with unstoppable momentum. Now the Song people's capital, Bianliang, is right in front of us. I will conquer Bianliang and make this cowardly emperor of the Zhao family kneel before me!"
Guo Yaoshi said, "No Han emperor has ever been captured before. The commander-in-chief is going to set a precedent for all time and will surely be remembered in history!"
Seeing Guo Yaoshi's flattery rising again, Wanyan Chamu snorted coldly and said, "Guo Yaoshi, my spies reported that the new emperor of the Song Dynasty is a ruthless and decisive man. On his first day of court, he beheaded four prime ministers. I also heard that he wants to live and die with Bianliang. These reports are quite different from what you said before!"
Guo Yaoshi cursed Wanyan Chamu in his heart, but on the surface he was extremely respectful: "General, killing the prime minister at this time is not a wise move. It is the way to destroy a country. I have heard that the new emperor not only killed four prime ministers, but also executed the entire families of twelve important officials. Our Great Jin army is already close, and the young emperor of the Song Dynasty still dares to play such a game. Isn't this digging his own grave? Therefore, I believe that the general should attack the city immediately. Speed is of the essence in war!"
"No, General, the Marshal is still in Taiyuan. We agreed that the two armies would join forces to attack the Song capital. Now that Taiyuan has not been captured, we have avoided Hejian and Zhongshan. If the Marshal cannot advance south in the short term, and the Song emperor's various reinforcements arrive, we will be in trouble." The speaker was none other than Liu Yanzong, Wanyan Zongwang's confidant.
Liu Yanzong was originally a minister of the Liao Dynasty, but later defected to the Jin Dynasty. He was on good terms with Zongwang and was extremely resourceful. In orthodox history, he later served as the Chancellor and Privy Councilor of the Jin Dynasty.
What official rank is this equivalent to? It's equivalent to a prime minister who simultaneously holds both civil and military power, a higher rank than the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty.
He had naturally considered Wanyan Zongwang's actions, but Wanyan Zongwang had already taken a risky tactic, abandoning Zhongshan and Hejian, and advancing rapidly. Lacking supplies, if a swift victory was not achieved, he would definitely be forced to retreat.
"Has there been a reply to the letter sent to the marshal?"
"Not yet...not yet."
At this point, someone rode up on horseback: "Report! A letter from the Marshal!"
Wanyan Zongwang hurriedly took it, opened it, and was inevitably disappointed. Wanyan Zonghan was determined to fight Taiyuan. Such a good opportunity to supply the Song Dynasty was right in front of him. As long as Wanyan Zonghan agreed to go south, the Northern Song Dynasty would have no chance to turn the tide.
Guo Yaoshi added, "General, speed is of the essence in war. If we can capture Bianjing before Song's reinforcements arrive, it won't be difficult. This is an opportunity that will not come again!"
Wanyan Zongwang looked at the others: "What do you think?"
Wanyan Chang said, "General, I think Guo Yaoshi's idea is feasible. We march south as if we were entering an empty land. The only Song soldiers who blocked our way were crushed into mincemeat. Even the garrison on the Yellow River scattered like birds and beasts as soon as they heard that our Great Jin army was coming. Therefore, I think there is no need to worry. The Song people are all sheep in a flock. How can sheep be a match for wolves? I am willing to lead the vanguard to attack the city!"
"Wanyan Chang, don't be foolish! Bianliang is wealthy. If the Song people hold their ground and refuse to fight, reinforcements from all sides will arrive soon, and we will be in a very passive position!"
Guo Yaoshi continued, "Lord Liu, forgive my bluntness, but you have never fought a war, so you are simply incapable of having an objective and correct view of war. This time, the commander-in-chief has come all the way south and has seen firsthand the true nature of the Song army. If we don't attack now, when will we?"
Wanyan Zongwan pondered for a moment: "We have already crossed the Yellow River and cannot turn back. General Guo is right. Last year, we attacked Liao together with the Song people. The Song army's performance was terrible. If it weren't for the help of our Great Jin, tens of thousands of Song imperial guards would have been played with by a few thousand Liao soldiers. I have never seen anyone with courage in the Song army camp! Except for a soldier named Yue Fei. It's a pity that the Song people value civil officials over military ones. The Song people will never use someone like that!"
"Therefore, I have decided to attack Bianliang swiftly! As for the Marshal, let him go. Letting him hold Taiyuan is also a great thing for us."
Liu Changzong quickly said, "Since the commander-in-chief insists on attacking Song now, I have a suggestion."
"Mr. Liu, please go ahead."
"The lifeline of the Song Dynasty lies in the Hebei and Hedong regions. If the Song loses Hebei and Hedong, its last military strength will collapse. Our army is deep in enemy territory and should not fight for a long time. It would be better to attack the city with all our might, and then send envoys to negotiate peace. The conditions for this peace are that the weak Song must pay tribute to the Jin Dynasty every year, and cede the three towns of Taiyuan, Hejian and Zhongshan to the Jin Dynasty. In this way, we will cut off the source of the problem, and it will be easy to destroy the entire weak Song Dynasty!"
Wanyan Zongwang's eyes lit up, and he asked again, "Is the Song emperor willing to sue for peace?"
"The entire Song court is eager for peace. Our army only needs to teach Bianliang a lesson, and then they will know the value of peace."
"That's a brilliant move, sir!"
Guo Yaoshi, Wanyan Chamu, Wanyan Chang, and others all felt that this plan was the best strategy.
On this day, Zhao Huan was also thinking that Wanyan Zongwang would definitely use both offense and peace as means, combining kindness and force, to intimidate the officials and the useless emperor of the Song Dynasty.
This tactic was extremely effective in official history books, putting psychological pressure on Emperor Qinzong of Song, causing him to give up resistance and dismiss Li Gang.
"Wanyan Zongwang, come on, let's see if I don't depose you!"
Just as Zhao Huan was having a good time, He also came running over excitedly.
"Long live the Emperor!"
"No need for formalities. Where is the person I want?"
"Your Majesty, Lord Zong is waiting for you outside the palace."
Zhao Huan's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, causing the teacup to fall to the ground and shatter. He Ye jumped in fright, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"
Zhao Huan ignored him and quickly said, "What are you waiting for? Let him in!"
"yes!"
Zhao Huan was quite excited. He didn't know much about the Song Dynasty, and he had only glanced at many things. He had forgotten most of them. However, among the people he could not forget about the Song Dynasty, Zong Ze was one of them.
Before his death, Zong Ze cried out three times in grief: "Cross the river! Cross the river! Cross the river!"
This is truly a case of unfulfilled ambitions and dying with regret!
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