Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 413 Grand Transport or Mining Cards: A Difficult Choice

Gaoliang River, also known as Gaoliang Water.

It used to be the main channel of the Yongding River. Later, the Yongding River shifted south, and the remaining main channel became the Gaoliang River.

This river itself is only a part of the Yongding River system.

Similar small rivers are countless across the vast land of Central China.

Its great fame stems from the spectacular performance of a famous race car driver.

Knowing this story, Lin Dao not only mocked the chariot god for his skill in driving the donkey cart, but also increased his attention to the Liao army.

The Liao Dynasty, which was also in its early stages of development, was not weak in combat.

Strategically, one can despise the opponent, but tactically, one must take them seriously.

"His Majesty."

Pan Mei, carrying twenty lashes of debt, came to report the military situation: "Our troops have arrived at Gaoliang River in succession."

"Emperor Yelü Shulü of Liao personally led an army of 200,000 men to stand with their backs against Youzhou City and to form a battle line on the opposite bank."

Lin Dao nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Tell me your thoughts, how do we fight this battle?"

Each general expressed his own opinion.

Shi Shouxin, who was the leader of the generals, stepped forward and said, "Sun Tzu said, 'When a guest comes across the water, do not meet him in the water. Let him cross halfway and then attack him. This will be advantageous.'"

"Although the Gaoliang River is not large, it is still a river."

"If we force our way across the river, we risk being attacked by the Liao people while they are crossing."

Having first laid out the difficulties, Shi Shouxin then revealed his plan: "We should secure the river to defend ourselves and send a surprise force to bypass the distant mountains and cut off their supply lines."

"The Liao people had a large army and livestock, and their need for food and fodder was enormous."

"In that case, the Liao people will naturally retreat without a fight."

Shi Shouxin's tactics were somewhat passive; while holding his ground, he sent men to cut off the supply lines.

However, it also gained the approval of some people.

After all, the Liao army was different from those they had fought before.

At this time, the Liao Dynasty had not yet been corrupted by Confucianism, and its boasting was not so excessive.

Of the 200,000 troops, at least 100,000 were actual soldiers.

Although they were tribal soldiers, they had too many cavalry. The powerful fighting force that stormed into Bianjing City ten years ago and destroyed the Later Jin Dynasty was still fresh in everyone's memory.

A conservative approach, or even a passive avoidance of war, is understandable.

This kind of combat tactic... Lin Dao nodded slightly and asked again, "Who else?"

Eager to make a name for himself, Cao Bin stepped forward and bowed.

"His Majesty."

"I have connections with wealthy families in Youzhou City."

"They said they would assist in surrendering the city if His Majesty would promise to let them keep their property!"

"I believe that we should select elite troops to launch a surprise attack on Youzhou City while the main army is engaged in fierce fighting, and take over the city with the help of wealthy families."

"In this way, we will be able to launch a two-pronged attack on the Liao people!"

Cao Bin's proposal was the traditional method of having an inside agent surrender the city.

The Later Jin and Manchu Qing dynasties were experienced in doing this kind of thing.

This approach was significantly easier, and more generals expressed their support.

Logically speaking, it should be a very good choice.

However, the key issue is Lin Dao's attitude towards local powerful families.

It all depends on whether Lin Dao is willing to let the wealthy families of Youzhou City take the place of the powerful through merit.

Lin Dao nodded again and continued to ask, "Who else?"

"Yang Ye, tell me."

Yang Ye, who was named, was clearly prepared.

He raised his voice with great vigor, "Your Majesty, I believe our army is at its peak, and there is no need for so much trouble. We should just break through the enemy lines, sink our boats, and cross the river to defeat them!"

Without a doubt, Yang Ye received the most support.

Some of them agreed with the idea of ​​going straight for it, while others were there because Lin Dao specifically mentioned Yang Ye, and they offered their support.

"Your tactics." Lin Dao first looked at Shi Shouxin. "No ruthless plan is more vicious than cutting off their food supply, and no evil plan is more wicked than arson."

"The Liao people are not mindless fools; they will definitely guard the grain routes very carefully."

"and."

Lin Dao added, "Although the Liao Dynasty has become much more Sinicized, it still retains its herding habits."

"They brought a large number of cattle, sheep and horses, enough to sustain them for a long time even if they only drank milk and ate meat."

Pan Mei instinctively blurted out, "But cows, sheep, and horses also need to eat grass and fodder!"

Lin Dao glanced at him and pointed outside the tent.

Pan Mei was a smart woman and quickly came to her senses.

Both banks of the Gaoliang River are fields that are almost ripe!
In reality, most of the land in Youzhou today is still farmland.

It was several decades later that the Khitans began converting farmland into pastures on a large scale.

The soon-to-be-ripened grain is sufficient to provide fodder for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses.

Shi Shouxin hurriedly admitted his mistake, but Lin Dao simply waved his hand and then looked at Cao Bin.

"Those wealthy families in Youzhou that you mentioned are not ordinary wealthy families."

"They were wealthy families who had pledged allegiance to the Khitans."

Lin Dao tapped the table in front of him with his fingers. "He served as an official under the Khitans, received their salary, and his daughter married a Khitan as a concubine."

"These powerful families, who bear the heavy responsibility of defending Youzhou City, are so willing to betray us so easily?"

"What if we lead our elite troops into the city and get trapped like turtles in a jar?"

Cao Bin's face flushed red. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

He wanted to say, "Your subject is willing to accept the military command."

But then he worried that what Lin Dao said might be true, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"This is something we can give a try."

Lin Dao then changed the subject, saying, "You continue to contact them."

"As long as you make meritorious contributions, surrender the city, and assist in defeating the Liao army, I can be lenient with you."

At most, it would just mean the family is split up, and they wouldn't know about their assets, but they would still receive extra rewards.

Lin Dao looked at Yang Ye and said, "It's possible to defeat them directly, but we need to be well prepared." As always, he preferred to defeat the enemy head-on.

If there is a way to reduce casualties, Lin Dao would not mind using it.

"All departments, prepare yourselves."

"The decisive battle will begin three days later!"

In the historical Battle of Gaoliang River, Zhao Er obtained a superhuman donkey cart.

What was lost, however, were the elite troops that had been honed through countless battles over the decades in the Central Plains!
Without this elite and courageous army, the weak Song Dynasty lost its ambition to expand outwards.

At this time, Lin Dao's troops were far more powerful than the force led by Zhao Er.

The training, equipment, morale, and fighting spirit are all strong.

If that's the case, then let's have a head-on battle.

Lin Dao naturally wouldn't be idle during those three days.

He brought over a dozen simple steel pontoon bridges from the modern world.

It's not that we can't get more, but that we don't have enough trained engineers.

In addition, a large quantity of wine, meat, and canned fruit were brought in so that the soldiers could eat and drink to their hearts' content.

"His Majesty."

In the Liao army's main camp, in the golden tent, Yelü Xiuge, the chief of the Da Tiyin Division, took the initiative to advise Yelü Shulu: "The southerners are taking advantage of our Liao state's lack of talent. They indulge in wine and meat all day long, and the soldiers have many complaints."

"I am willing to send troops to attack them and blunt the morale of the Southerners!"

Yelü Shulu shook his head and said, "No."

He then explained, "Xiao Siwen led the elite troops of the Southern Academy on a night raid, but they were almost completely wiped out, and he even lost his own head."

His meaning was clear.

Even a renowned general like Xiao Siwen suffered a crushing defeat; you, a mere young man, should just give up.

Just like many generals in Lin Daojun, who felt that the Liao army was very strong.

Among the Liao army, many believed that the Southern army was equally strong!
The brutal battles fought by hundreds of thousands of professional warriors at the end of the Tang Dynasty were clearly witnessed by the Khitans, who had not yet risen to power at that time.

They harbored fear.

The real contempt for Southerners began after the establishment of the Song Dynasty.

"I think," Yelü Shulu frowned slightly, "that the Southerners are too powerful. Perhaps we should negotiate peace?"

"How about we take Baigou as the boundary and become brotherly states?"

Inside the golden tent, all the civil and military officials were whispering among themselves.

Han Yanhui, the prime minister of the Southern Prefecture, stepped forward to pay his respects.

"Your Majesty, both sides' armies are now assembled, and a great battle is imminent."

"Even if we are willing to negotiate peace, we should finish this battle first."

"If the Liao Dynasty wins, we can demand benefits from them."

"If the Liao dynasty fails to win, it can use the peace negotiations to delay the Southern army."

“In that case,” Yelü Shulu nodded in agreement. “Then reward the army and prepare for war.”

He wanted to negotiate peace, not because he loved peace.

In reality, the Khitans were not much different from the nomadic tribes of the north throughout history.

The only reason for proposing peace was that the Southern army was too strong.

Because of their strength and fighting prowess, even the most ruthless bandits will feel fear and try to exchange smiles for peace.

If someone is weak and helpless, they will show no mercy when it comes to violence.

For more than a hundred years during the Northern Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty raided Song territory every year, causing great suffering to the people living on the borders.

This is the true nature of the Khitan people.

Yonghe Time and Space, Armory.

"Wipe it clean."

Lin Dao instructed the soldiers who were working that "appearance is very important."

The soldiers, carrying buckets of water and rags, responded in unison.

They meticulously cleaned the 100-ton king truck, heavy mining trucks, various armored vehicles, and even tanks.

They worked very diligently, cleaning these steel behemoths until they were extremely clean.

Especially those huge tires, which were washed again and again.

The only problem is that scratches on various vehicles and tire wear cannot be repaired.

These soldiers are all veterans; Lin Dao always brings the vehicle back to be cleaned after each use.

They washed vehicles covered in bloodstains and fragments, their tires crushed with flesh and various deformed metals.

On the forest road side, a large reconnaissance drone is being tested and its battery is being charged.

"Good luck to the wealthy families in Youzhou City."

If they genuinely assist in surrendering the city, Lin Dao would not mind pardoning them and relocating them to new lands after the division of the houses; they would receive even better conditions.

But if one harbors ill intentions and sets a trap.

There's not much more to say, they're all from your special group~
With the drone ready, we strolled among the enormous steel behemoths, occasionally reaching out to touch and tap them.

His current consideration is which one to use when war breaks out.

"The Liao army has a large number of cavalry, so armored vehicles with strong firepower are suitable."

"However, the armored vehicle is not imposing enough in size and cannot play a sufficient deterrent role."

"Killing a few hundred or a few thousand people has little effect on the massive Liao army."

I stepped up to the 100-ton Great Wall and reached out to touch the numerous scratches caused by the impact.

"This one is quite suitable, but I'm worried that if I run over it too much, it will clog the tires."

People, horses, weapons, armor, and various kinds of dirt and debris.

These things, constantly being crushed and piled up, will greatly affect the use of trucks.

After all, the Liao army was simply too numerous.

He turned his head and looked at the even larger mining truck.

"This one is bigger, more powerful, and has a greater deterrent effect."

"In that case, I'll choose you!"

(End of this chapter)