"These are elite weapons used to resist the enemy's iron cavalry," said Zheng Yunming: "First, you must train diligently. How to cast General Zhu and how to shoot and master it."

"Secondly, you must take good care of it and do not let the gunpowder get damp. If you do not fire it, it will cause a big deal."

"The third thing is to ensure safety. The gunpowder depot must always be next to the well, and soldiers must be sent to guard it closely. No idle people should be allowed to enter. The fire source must be strictly inspected."

"Okay, everyone knows these things." Yang Xuan said: "Don't recite them repeatedly like an old woman."

"That must be careful, and military weapons should not be ignored." Zheng Yunming said: "If something goes wrong with military weapons, I will not be merciless at that time."

Everyone saluted and said, "See the teachings of the general."

"So, that's all for the time being?" Zheng Yunming asked, "What else should I report?"

"If not, start from tomorrow, the division of troops will officially start to prepare for war to come at any time!"

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Zheng Yunming's words came true, and the war came soon.

September of the second year of Duanping (1235th year of the Christ's calendar), it was the clear and refreshing autumn season. The atmosphere in Xiangyang City was particularly tense.

A few days ago, the commander Zhao Fan ordered Quan Zicai, the governor of Suizhou, to lead 20,000 elite troops to recover Tangzhou occupied by the rebels. Unexpectedly, it triggered the Mongolian prince stationed in Henan, and personally led a large army to rescue Tangzhou. Quan Zicai was frightened by the Mongolian army during the Bianluo Battle. Once he heard the news of the arrival of the Mongolian cavalry, he immediately burned down all the siege equipment and supplies and fled to the south overnight.

"We have reached this point, and we have to take the initiative to provoke. The Mongolians must come, right?" "The Mongolians must come, right?" So there were such discussions everywhere in Xiangyang Prefecture City.

Zhao Fan disagreed with this: "Just, the battle of Bianluo has already torn apart. Even if you don't attack Tangzhou, can you keep the peace in Jinghu?"

But he didn't expect that retribution would come so quickly.

It was originally a beautiful morning. The gate of Xiangyang City opened to the north, and the bustling crowded into the city. Every shop on the street set up door panels and swept in front of the door to prepare for a day's business.

But soon someone saw that the soldier wearing half a broken iron armor was escorted in by the city guards at the north gate, and directly escorted into the yamen of the commander of the commander.

"The Tartars invaded the Zaoyang Army! The whole city was besieged! Fan Dutong ordered the villain to fight to the death to report!" The man cried and reported to Zhao Fan: "If the commander did not send reinforcements, Fan Dutong and thousands of brothers would be really finished!"

Fan Wenbin, who had arguing with Zheng Yunming who was ordering rations on the street, was now besieged in Zaoyang City in the north.

"Save, or not?" Zhao Fan couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart as he looked at the generals under the tent.

Huang Guobi and Li Boyuan, you look at me, I look at you, and I don’t want to say anything.

The Mongolians are coming in large numbers. At this time, those who dare to face the enemy's blade north must be very courageous and responsible.

Huang and Li are obviously not.

It would be fine if the companions of his Northern Army were surrounded, but thousands of southern soldiers were surrounded. Even if Huang and Li were willing to send troops to rescue him due to the face of the commander, their soldiers would not be willing to fight for the Southern Barbarians.

Seeing these generals staring at each other, Zhao Fan naturally knew that relying on these people to rescue Fan Wenbin was just a matter of mirrors and water. However, if he asked him to say the word "not to save" in person, Zhao Fan, as the general manager, was still ashamed to speak out.

"Master, I want to say a few words." Luo Jian suddenly spoke under the tent.

Zhao Fanying said: "Sir, you might as well say anything bluntly."

"The Zaoyang Army cannot save it." Luo Jian said loudly.

Zhao Fan's mouth curled up slightly, and then said sternly: "Do you want me to look at the thousands of brothers and hundreds of thousands of people in Zaoyang but do nothing under the blade of the Tartars? Sir's words are too much!"

"Master, please listen to me first." Luo Jian replied calmly: "The Zaoyang Army cannot be rescued, there are five reasons."

"First, the Zaoyang Army was originally a newly surrendered military state, and the people in the city never knew the prestige of the court. The most important thing to guard the city is to be united. If the people in the city have a different intention, even if they send thousands or tens of thousands of troops, how can they keep the city safe?"

"Second, the Zaoyang army is too close to the Mongols and too far from Xiangyang. The Tatar army is the main position, but it has become a guest position against our army. The situation of host and guest is reversed, how can we win?"

"Third, President Fan Wenbin has always been brave enough to fight. Even if he really can't stand it, he can still break out of the siege and protect himself."

"In addition, Zaoyang is located in a plain and open field, which is conducive to cavalry rushing and rushing. Where can we reach Xiangyang, there is a natural danger of the Han River. It is a fool's plan to send our army to a large number of enemy horses without any shield."

"Finally, if the rescue in Zaoyang fails and tens of thousands of troops are annihilated by the Tatar cavalry in the wilderness, how can we be able to defend Xiangyang City? Xiangyang is the backbone of the world, and if Xiangyang is lost, the great Song Dynasty will be in danger! Consider the overall situation." Luo Jian bowed to Zhao Fan and said, "Zaoyang army cannot be saved!"

Huang Guobi also quickly stood up: "Mr. Luo is talking about the truth. The general, the Zaoyang army is really hard to save,"

He signaled Li Boyuan to his eyes, and Li Boyuan quickly stood up.

Zhao Fan glanced at everyone, walked back and forth in the tent, gritted his teeth and said, "If you can give up the rescue, everything depends on Tong Fan's loyalty and courage."

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Although Fan Wenbin had all kinds of problems like other Song generals, he did not let down the word "loyalty and courage". Surrounded by more than 100,000 Mongolian troops, Fan Wenbin only led thousands of soldiers to defend with all his heart.

The Mongols erected dozens of large cannons with seven and nine cannons outside the city and attacked day and night. Fan Wenbin also removed wood from the houses and caused the large cannon to fight back. The Mongols erected fences outside the city to block the Song army from leaving the city. Fan Wenbin sent a suicide squad out of the city to demolish the fences.

In order to conquer Zaoyang City, the Mongolian general led by the general Qu Hui can be said to have done all kinds of tricks, and Fan Wenbin also worked hard all his heart.

In the end, the Mongols had no choice but to send more troops from Henan to step up the siege, and fought until September 23, and finally captured the southwest corner of Zaoyang City. A large group of people flocked into the city to fight the Song army in street fighting.

Fan Wenbin had no choice but to lit the firewood piled in the southwest corner, hoping to use the fire to alleviate the fierce offensive of the Mongolian army. Unexpectedly, the will of heaven was aroused by the will of the people. That night, the wind suddenly changed, and the fire that spread to the Mongolian army outside the city rushed into the city, burning many Song troops guarding the city. The Mongolian army took advantage of the fire and broke into the city and occupied the city. Fan Wenbin saw that the city was not defended and was forced to hang himself. With his life, he died with Zaoyang City.

When the Mongols occupied the city, a large number of Song Dynasty soldiers and civilians rushed out of the city and tried to escape to Xiangyang. Unexpectedly, the southern gate was surrounded by the Mongolians with numerous fences and it was difficult to stand out. Zhang Rou, a Mongolian Han Han, led his subordinates to rush into the people and chopped them freely. Most of the more than 100,000 people were squeezed into the river and drowned. Shi Tianze, a Han army, led his troops to attack again. Seeing the rise of Zhang Rou's killing, the general general Qu Qiu sent people to remind him to pay attention to safety several times, but Zhang Rou refused to give up until he killed all the old, young, women and children who escaped from the city were killed.

After this battle, except for forty monks, Taoists and craftsmen who were ordered to be preserved, all 140,000 soldiers and civilians of the Zaoyang Army were killed.

The terror of the Mongolian army was like a stone thrown into the lake, causing layers of ripples in the entire defense zone of Jinghu Lake.

Soon, the garrison of Dengzhou, Zhao Xiang, the surrendered general of the Jin Dynasty, expelled the Song Dynasty officials in the city and led the whole city to surrender to the Mongolian army.

Later, the surrendered generals in the northern part of De'an Prefecture also seized the opportunity and launched a rebellion and surrendered to Mongolia.

The war almost immediately spread from Henan to the city of Xiangyang.

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Even Lu Xunzhi, who rushed back to Laoya Mountain from Xiangyang, felt the imminent war. Earlier, the commander formally issued an order to clear the fields of all prefectures and counties north of the Yangtze River.

Qingye naturally drove all the people in the villages and suburbs into the city, confiscated all property and grain, demolished the houses, burned crops that were not available for harvest, cut down trees near the city and mountain villages, and even poisoned the water well. In short, block all resources on the territory that may be used by the enemy.

Despite Zheng Yunming's repeated declaration of military discipline, many robberies still occurred during the process of clearing the world. It was not until Zheng Yunming became angry and hung the heads of several prisoners at the gate that the robbery craze came to an abrupt end.

Lu Xunzhi came south from Xiangyang, and could no longer see any people in the mountains and fields. Only a few wild dogs barks shrillly, setting off the sad atmosphere of the wild mountains and rivers.

Even he himself was a little surprised that the Tulong Army's operation efficiency was improved so quickly.

When we arrived at Daying, the scenery was different. The nearby farmers all lived in the village with their property and their families. The camp, which was so serious and neat on weekdays, became much lively. Every day, bored idle men and village women gathered around the avenue directly in front of Daying and watched the training of the Tulong Army soldiers.
Chapter completed!