Chapter Laba Porridge
Jiacheng was defeated under the fierce attack of the Song army in one day, which far exceeded the idea of Tuo Huan and others. This not only included the defeated generals such as Badu, but also Ma Shao, who was stranded in the city. No one expected that the Song army could counterattack them in the field, and it was still unstoppable when they were defending the city. Especially the continuous and invincible artillery fire left a deep impression on them, and the city was in panic.
The combat effectiveness of the Song army once again refreshed Tuo Huan's previous understanding. He had always thought that the reason why the Song army lost one after another was because of the strength of the Song army's naval army, which prevented them from crossing the strait and allowing them to exist by chance. Although the battle in Jiacheng was not large in scale, it was obvious that from building bridges to covering the attack, to destroying their catapults, they all fought with rules and regulations, showing their well-trained and superb skills.
But Tuo Huan was still lucky. After all, Jiacheng was a dirt city built in hasty and was not strong. Moreover, the troops guarding the city were temporarily formed from private soldiers who were signed by wealthy families in the city. They usually guard the house and fight alone, but the army not only pays attention to courage, but also has tacit cooperation with each other. However, these private soldiers were organized for a very short time, and they were not subordinate to each other in the past, and they did not know each other, and had not been trained, so there was no tacit cooperation at all. Faced with the brave attack of the army, it would be good if they did not disperse.
As for the Ding Zhuang who was recruited, Tuohuan had long understood that it was simply a delusion to expect a group of mobs to be able to kill people with their swords for the first time. In addition to being a coolie, at best, it was just a scene of standing up and cheering. Therefore, in this battle, the Mongolian army, as the main force in the city, only appeared in the counterattack battle, and the casualties were not large, and more were private soldiers and Ding Zhuang.
Tuo Huan would not take the casualties of private soldiers and Ding Zhuang in his heart. In his heart, these people were not only cannon fodder, but also enemies. Even those wealthy families who bowed to him and the wealthy merchants were no exception. When they rebelled against Song and surrendered to Yuan, they would rebel against Yuan and surrender to Song when they were at a disadvantage. As long as they used the Song army to remove their minions, they would have no help even if they were willing to surrender. And they could easily suppress them with their army.
However, the combat power shown by the Song army still made Tuo Huan feel timid. When they occupied Jiacheng, they had to face the fierce artillery fire of the Song army. Even the seemingly solid city walls made them worry irresistible. After the Song army captured Jiacheng, they shot a letter and persuaded surrender, so they encouraged Ma Shao to go out of the city to negotiate peace, delaying the time of the Song army's siege, and waiting for the situation to turn around. He still believed that the emperor's brother would not give up on him and would definitely send troops to support, because a dignified prince of Yuan was captured or killed, which was not a decent thing for him, and the emperor's brother who was worthy of face could not afford to lose this person.
After this period of contact and seeing what he did, Ma Shao still didn't know who Tuohuan was. He used himself to usurp the military and political power in Yangzhou City, and it can be said that it turned this place into his own private land. It was only then that he realized that Tuohuan had never given up on his mind to take up the throne, nor was he willing to be the King of Freedom for the rest of his life, but still fantasized about restoring his former glory and becoming a King of True Sites.
As for whether Tuo Huan had the intention to usurp the throne, Ma Shao was not clear. But it can be concluded that this time he completed the integration of Yangzhou City's military power by siege, holding an army of tens of thousands of people. If Yuxi Timur was defeated, he would be the most powerful prince in the Lianghuai region. As long as the city is guaranteed to be unrealized, he could use this to threaten the court and the Khan and become the King of Zhennan, guarding the north of the Yellow River.
Unfortunately, it was too late for Ma Shao to wake up and was unable to change the current situation. He was even entangled in it and became his accomplice. He was not willing to go out of the city to negotiate peace, but Tuo Huan advised him to think about the military and civilians in the city, endure humiliation and deal with the enemy. This reason made Ma Shao unable to defend himself, and could only sacrifice his reputation to achieve the overall situation, accept this humiliating task, and go to the Song army camp to beg for peace.
"We are in charge of team, let's go quickly, otherwise we won't be able to drink Laba porridge!"
"Laba Porridge?" The words of the Song army's detective cavalry leading the way made Ma Shao, who was depressed all the way, pricked his ears.
"You are indispensable. Even if it is too late, the fire army will leave a share!" Team leader said with a smile.
"Team Master, hurry up, you can only eat it once a year! Think about adding walnut kernels, pine nuts, lotus seeds, red dates, longan meat, and lychee meat to Laba porridge. I can even drool when I think about it." The soldier licked his lips, looking intoxicated by the aftertaste.
"Zhangpu, adding these things is the way to eat Jiankang, which is sweet and greasy. The Laba porridge in Lin'an is made of citrus, water chestnuts, walnut kernels, pine nuts, water chestnuts, red dates, chestnuts, and black fungus, which is delicious." Another detective sneered and said authentically.
"Hu Qing, if you don't want to eat sweet things, you can eat salty things, and vegetables and cooked oil will be added to it." Zhang Pu sneered.
"Salty is the way people in the Central Plains eat it, and it is even more unpleasant!" Hu Qing shook his head and said.
"Drinking Laba porridge in the palace has always been salty to show that we will not forget our hometown." After Zhang Pu finished speaking, he suddenly looked at the team and said, "It's broken. If so, our imperial camp will probably have to change it to salty porridge!"
"No way? That day, I saw that the grain ship on the canal carried red dates and chestnuts, which must be for making porridge." Hu Qing couldn't help but feel a little vague and said.
"What are two new recruits?!" The team was laughing at their conversation, "Don't worry too much. The guards have been doing Laba for many years and can make porridge of various flavors. If you want to eat whatever you want, only His Majesty eats salty porridge!"
"Dare you guys, do you want to eat Laba porridge today?" Ma Shao listened to the interesting conversation between several people, and Tima crossed his guard and asked.
"Enter Ma, not only does the entire army eat, but even the husbands who follow the army are the same. Our emperor never favors one or the other. Isn't it there?" The team turned his face to see the envoy of the Mongol Yuan, and replied with a gamble. He did not discriminate because both sides were fighting troops, and of course he did not flatter because he was a high-ranking official.
"Same, same!" Ma Shao replied with a stunned smile, but he smiled a little reluctantly. After the fall of Jiacheng, the city was paid on a daily basis. He knew that Tuohuan was worried that someone would take advantage of it. After all, someone would die in battle every day, so it might be a good idea to get the dead. So it was difficult to get the ingredients needed to make porridge, even whether you could eat enough was a problem. But in order to save face, he could only slap the face. However, he also knew that Song Jun claimed that a 100,000 army besieged the city, and the daily food required was massive, and it was very difficult to supply. He still couldn't believe that the whole army drank Laba porridge.
"I heard that Yangzhou City is a big city in Jiangbei and has always been rich. It seems that it is worthy of its reputation!" The team nodded and said.
"Haha!" Ma Shao laughed dryly with a little embarrassed look and said, "Let's go faster too, so as not to go back too late, and delay the guys drinking porridge."
"The Ma Envoy was too careful. The Laba porridge was enough. There were only hundreds of ships of various beans and dried fruits. The ingredients were delicious. The Ma Envoy could also taste it. We were full of food." The team said with a smile.
"As such a large number, I'm afraid it was already prepared as soon as the river crossed, right?" According to Ma Shao's thought, 100,000 people drank porridge and only purchased them. It would take a long time to prepare these materials. In this way, the Song army invaded Yangzhou in the north seemed to have been ready for a long-term siege, which was a bit strange.
"It doesn't take so long, three days is enough. Although our army is currently in Jiangbei, we can eat the vegetables harvested yesterday in Jiangnan today!" The team was waving his hand and saying.
"Oh, it's here in one day!" Ma Shao said in surprise. He didn't expect that the logistics support of the Southern Dynasties was so perfect. Although the two places were separated by an Yangtze River, the speed of such rapid material delivery was unbelievable. Thinking that if they went north along the canal, the speed would be faster than riding a horse, and they could cross the Yellow River in a few days. In this way, Yangzhou's defeat in the two Huai Rivers would be unable to stop the Song army's northern expedition. He couldn't help but feel heavy again and no longer interested in continuing to speak.
"Enter Ma, we will come to the camp to report later!" During the silence, the group arrived at the gate of the camp, and the team was holding Ma Yan and said.
"I came to visit the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty this time and prepared some small gifts. I'm sorry to present the gift list on my behalf!" Ma Shao also dismounted and ordered Zhang Ting, who was accompanying him to deliver the gift list and stuffed a few golden leaves into Guzheng's hand.
"Thank you for your kindness to the envoy, it is our duty to send a gift list. Please take back this bribe!" The team was taking the gift list, but returned the golden leaves handed over by Zhang Ting, and said seriously.
"This..." It was common for the Mongolian Yuan bribery of the disciples and the officers, but it made people feel uneasy if they didn't accept them. Zhang Ting looked at Ma Shao and said in embarrassment.
"Don't dislike the little gifts. You guys have worked hard all the way, buy a glass of wine!" In Ma Shao's eyes, a small team was just a sesame official and could not catch it at all, but people now had to bow their heads under the eaves. Thinking that Emperor Tuohuan was the most greedy for money, his subordinates must be the same. They thought that he disliked the light gifts, and then took off a jade pendant hanging from his waist and handed it over to speak.
"Is Envoy Ma trying to kill us? It is a death sentence to accept bribes from the enemy in our army!" Not only did the bribes fail to accept them, but he also took a step back and said sternly.
"Oh... I'm reckless!" After being rejected by a soldier, Ma Shao's old face turned red and bowed his hands and said embarrassingly. The team was raising his hand to salute, turning around and leading the horse away.
Chapter completed!