PFC Chapter 93 Confident Li Congjia
Chapter 93 Confident Li Congjia
Chapter 93 Confident Li Congjia
Inside the dilapidated government office in Yangzhou.
Shi Shouxin looked anxious and paced back and forth, occasionally glancing outside the yamen, as if waiting for some news.
After capturing Yangzhou, Shi Shouxin sent out numerous scouts to constantly monitor the news of Zhao Dezhao's army. He was particularly uneasy when he heard that Zhao Dezhao had been defeated and retreated into the heart of the pseudo-Tang territory. He could not eat or sleep and several times could not suppress the urge to lead his troops across the river.
Fortunately, he was still rational and knew that Lin Renzhao's army was waiting outside the city, while the Song army had just gone through a major battle and was exhausted. Therefore, he did not rush out of the city.
But His Highness the Crown Prince is still in danger. As Zhao Kuangyin's sworn brother, how could he sit idly by?
Therefore, he has been looking for opportunities to help Zhao Dezhao.
When news of the previous battle at the pontoon bridge arrived, he was a step too late. By the time he had made his arrangements, Zhao Dezhao had already retreated to Cuiping Mountain again.
Left with no other choice, he had to send out more scouts to keep a close watch on the enemy's movements, not daring to relax for a moment.
Just as he was becoming increasingly anxious, a scout rushed into the government office, excitedly exclaiming, "General! There's news of His Highness the Crown Prince!!"
Upon hearing this, Shi Shouxin's spirits lifted instantly. He suddenly grabbed the scout's arm tightly and urgently demanded, "Tell me quickly!"
"Reporting to the General, after His Highness the Crown Prince retreated to Cuiping Mountain, he took advantage of the enemy's inability to complete the encirclement and led his troops in a surprise attack, capturing Runzhou in one fell swoop!"
The scout, panting heavily, reported all the information he had gathered, his tone filled with disbelief.
Shi Shouxin's pupils also contracted sharply, his mouth gaping open. It took him a long time to react, and he asked again, seemingly in disbelief, "You're saying the eldest prince has captured Runzhou?"
"Reporting to the general, this is the information I have gathered." The scout was not sure if it was true.
Surrounded by a large army and after days of continuous raids, they were still able to capture Jingkou, a key town of the pseudo-Tang dynasty. This is truly unbelievable!
"What are the movements of the pseudo-Tang?" Shi Shouxin remained silent for a moment, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and asked again in a deep voice.
"The false Tang crown prince Li Congjia has led an army of 30,000 across the river and is heading towards Runzhou City. He has also ordered 100,000 naval troops and 20,000 soldiers to surround Runzhou from the east, north, and south." The scouts hurriedly reported.
One hundred thousand naval troops, fifty thousand soldiers —
Upon hearing this number, Shi Shouxin's previous excitement vanished instantly, his face turning grim. He then added, "Has there been any movement from Zhu Lingyun's troops?"
"No, Wu and Yue were controlling it at Taihu Lake."
"————" Finally, there was some good news, and Shi Shouxin's expression softened a bit.
If 200,000 troops were to besiege Runzhou, let alone send reinforcements, even if he reached Jiangnan, he would probably only be left to collect Zhao Dezhao's corpse.
Even so, an army of 150,000 could be considered the full force of the pseudo-Tang dynasty!
How long can the eldest prince hold out?
Shi Shouxin was truly uncertain and dared not delay, so he immediately ordered: "Report this matter to His Majesty via express courier."
After giving the most important instructions, he pondered for a moment, his gaze becoming resolute, and then issued another military order: "Pass on my command that the three armies immediately prepare provisions and weapons, and at dawn, march south to reinforce Runzhou and relieve His Highness's siege!"
"Here you go!"
The messenger hurriedly left.
As dawn broke and the morning light pierced through the thin mist, a heavy atmosphere of murderous intent enveloped the area outside Runzhou City.
On the Yangtze River north and east of the city, sails were like a forest, densely covering the water's surface. Banners embroidered with the character "Tang" fluttered in the morning breeze, creating an imposing sight.
Jiang Rao and Zheng Yanhua, with a combined navy of 90,000, have completely blocked the waterways of Runzhou.
To the south of the city, Zhou Chengzhao's 20,000 infantrymen had already set up camp, with fortifications stretching out, banners fluttering, and soldiers lined up in formation, eyeing Runzhou with predatory intent.
Only the western part of the city, towards Cuiping Mountain, is wide open.
"Brother Crown Prince, why don't you order the western part of the city to be surrounded as well?" Zhou Nuying stared at the blank space in the western part of Runzhou City on the sand table, and tugged at Li Congjia's sleeve with a face full of curiosity.
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As the art of war says, "When besieging an army, leave an opening."
Li Congjia raised his hand and ruffled her hair, a refined smile in his eyes, and explained softly, "If we surround them from all sides, the Song army will have nowhere to retreat and will definitely fight to the death. At that time, even if our army can break through the city, it will only increase our casualties."
"But if we surround three sides and leave one open, then it will be different. When the Song army sees a seemingly feasible way to retreat, their will to fight to the death will be greatly reduced, and their fighting strength will be less than one-tenth of what it used to be."
Zhou Nüying nodded as if she understood, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "What if the Song army really escaped from the west?"
"I'm not afraid he won't come, I'm just afraid he won't dare to come," Li Congjia laughed.
Seeing this, Zhou Ehuang couldn't help but smile and reminded her, "Nüying, don't forget, we are still on Cuiping Mountain."
Li Congjia picked up where Zhou Ehuang left off and continued, "Zhao Dezhao retreated to Cuiping Mountain three times precisely because Cuiping Mountain's terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and its dense forests make it easy to hide. This time, he will surely use the same trick again."
"But he never expected that I had already woven a large net for him in Cuiping Mountain."
As he spoke, he pointed to Mount Cuiping on the sand table, his tone filled with extreme confidence, and declared with his head held high, "This is the place where I captured Zhao Dezhao!"
"I see—Your Highness is so amazing!" Although Zhou Nüying only vaguely understood what Li Congjia was saying, her eyes lit up with admiration when she saw Li Congjia's confident and composed demeanor.
It must be said that Li Congjia was already handsome and refined, and his unusual double pupils added to his extraordinary demeanor, making him seem like a saint in the world.
Li Congjia smiled and waved his hand, about to say a few words of modesty, when suddenly a personal guard's urgent report came from outside the tent: "Your Highness! Scouts report that Shi Shouxin is leading 40,000 Song troops in a fierce attack on Zheng Yanhua's naval forces north of the city, intending to build a pontoon bridge to cross the river!"
Upon hearing this, Li Congjia was not surprised but delighted. He suddenly stood up, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "It seems Zhao Dezhao is planning to break through by crossing the river from the north of the city!"
He strode out of the tent and ordered his personal guards, "Pass on my command: order the Jiangrao navy to land immediately and join forces with Zhou Chengzhao's troops to launch a full-scale attack on Runzhou from the east and south!"
"Issue another order to Zheng Yanhua: instruct him to hold off Shi Shouxin's troops at all costs. There's no need for a direct confrontation; just defend the terrain and harass the enemy constantly. We absolutely cannot allow them to build a pontoon bridge!"
"Yes, sir!" The guard received the order and rode off at full speed.
Not long after, the Jiang Rao navy and Zhou Chengzhao's troops, totaling 70,000 men, which had received the order to attack the city, launched a fierce attack on Runzhou.
Arrows rained down, stones flew everywhere, and shouts of battle shook the heavens and the earth; clearly, they wanted to force Zhao Dezhao to break out from the west of the city.
However, to Li Congjia's surprise, four days passed and the Song army in Runzhou City simply closed the gates and held out stubbornly with the city's defenses, showing no sign of trying to break out of the city.
Even in the west of the city, where the gates were wide open, there was no movement from the Song army.
This unusual behavior filled Li Congjia with doubt, and he frowned deeply.
But none of the military books he knew taught these things, and for a moment he was at a loss.
"Could it be—that he's waiting for Shi Shouxin to cross the river so he can launch a pincer attack and help him break through?"
Thinking it over, Li Congjia realized he understood Zhao Dezhao's intentions, and a smile returned to his face.
He immediately dispatched another messenger to the camps of Zhou Chengzhao and Jiang Rao's navy, issuing the same death order: "The entire army must attack the city day and night in shifts, and must capture Runzhou within three days!"
Meanwhile, inside Runzhou City, Cao Bin calmly summoned his generals and issued the first military order left by Zhao Dezhao: "Gather three thousand elite troops, and escort another three thousand surrendered soldiers as bait, to break through to the north with me!"
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