Fan Zhongyan sighed and said, "Yes, this is what I am worried about."
"So if we want to completely resolve the crisis, we must inflict a heavy blow on the Liao Kingdom and cut off their ability to move south."
Zhao Jun looked at the crowd and said, "So, in terms of grand strategy, I think we should reorganize. During the standoff with Li Yuanhao in the northwest, we should effectively establish defensive lines to prevent Li Yuanhao from defeating us one by one. If we can set traps, severely defeat him once, slay tens of thousands of his men, and force him to flee back to Xiazhou in disgrace, then we will have won the first stage."
"Victory in the first stage? And victory in the second stage?"
Zhao Zhen was curious.
Zhao Jun nodded. "The second phase is that Old Fan can send people to pretend to prepare a large-scale attack on Xiazhou. Once Li Yuanhao is defeated and internal instability occurs, you can contact the Xizhou Uighurs, the Yellow-headed Uighurs, and the Qingtang Tubo to attack Xixia from both sides, causing panic."
Fan Zhongyan pondered for a moment and said, "If Zhao Yuanhao heard this, he would probably immediately send people to the Liao Kingdom to ask for help."
"Yes."
Zhao Jun nodded and said, "Once Emperor Xingzong of Liao hears this, he will surely lead his troops south to attack Hebei without delay. If Old Fan strikes back and defeats the Liao army, then everything will be fine."
"Defeat Xixia first, then Liao. These two battles will surely help stabilize the Song Dynasty and keep the rivers and mountains safe."
Lu Yijian said happily.
"Don't be too happy too soon. This battle will definitely severely damage Xixia's vitality and will no longer be able to invade. However, the Liao Kingdom is a strong country with sufficient military forces."
Zhao Jun poured cold water on him, saying, "Emperor Xingzong of Liao needed a major war to establish his authority. Historically, the Liao-Xia War was fought twice. Li Yuanhao defeated the Liao Kingdom in quick succession, inflicting heavy losses on the Liao, and then quickly sued for peace, which brought the war to an end. If the Song Dynasty hadn't inflicted heavy losses on the Liao, Emperor Xingzong of Liao would have undoubtedly returned to avenge his previous humiliation."
"In other words, we may have to fight at least two wars with the Liao Kingdom?"
Zhao Zhen looked embarrassed.
The Song Dynasty's rulers and ministers were still quite afraid of the Liao Kingdom.
"Yes."
Zhao Jun said, "So we must be prepared for a tough battle and never take it lightly. Lao Fan."
"Um?"
Fan Zhongyan responded.
Zhao Jun looked at him and said, "Go to the northwest after the New Year. Remember what I said: store up food, build high walls, and construct many forts. The Western Xia cavalry can move like the wind, and the Song army will definitely suffer if they engage in mobile warfare. We should instead engage in positional warfare. We must exploit the terrain, construct trenches, and build bunkers to restrict the cavalry's movements. Only then can we achieve victory."
"rest assured."
Fan Zhongyan said in a deep voice: "You told me that this is what I did in history. I would not be so stupid as to send infantry out to fight Zhao Yuanhao to the death without cavalry."
"You have a bit of Han Qi's connotation."
Zhao Jun smiled and said.
Everyone started laughing.
Han Qi was so outrageous in history that he took the initiative to send infantry out of the city to fight, but was completely wiped out by Li Yuanhao.
Now it has been regarded as a joke by everyone.
Anyway, it is impossible for Zhao Zhen to send him again. In the future, Fan Zhongyan will be the only one in charge of the northwest, with full authority over military and civil affairs. This is also the trust Zhao Zhen gives him.
Everyone talked for a while about strategies for dealing with Li Yuanhao. At the end of the Chen hour, Wang Shouzhong came in and told everyone that the sacrifice had begun.
Just one chapter today, I'm off to watch a game...
(End of this chapter)
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