met free Page 1777
Page 1777
Maritime merchants preferred to sell spices, ivory, and the like for tens or hundreds of times the price.
Nobody wanted to sell grain.
Moreover, the grain from Jiangnan is sufficient to supply the entire country.
If Lingnan were to become a major grain-producing region again,
This will only cause a sharp drop in global grain prices.
At that time, no one will want to farm.
Moreover, transportation costs are high in Lingnan.
They were inherently at a disadvantage in competing with the grain from the Jiangnan region.
If it weren't for the century of peace during the Song Dynasty, the population of northern China would have grown rapidly.
Large quantities of grain from the Jiangnan region were transported to the north.
There is no market for grain in Guangdong.
Zhao Yuan also considered obtaining some grain from the Yue-Li Dynasty and transporting it back to the Central Plains.
To resolve this year's tight food supply caused by drought and locusts,
It turned out to be a completely unreliable idea.
They even had to solve the problem of supplying their own army with provisions.
Although transporting grain and fodder from Guangdong greatly reduced the logistical burden on the army,
However, transporting grain from Guangdong to Guangxi takes more than ten days.
Zhao Yuan frowned and asked, "How much food do we have left in the army?"
Li Jun said, "There are still 10,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) left."
The army's provisions were all transported by the navy along the Yu River.
A navy was used to transport supplies.
Only then was the army able to advance rapidly.
Zhao Yuan looked at the map.
"From Yongzhou, through Menzhou, directly to Thang Long Prefecture,"
"The journey is about eight hundred li,"
"There is only one city, Menzhou, in the middle,"
"We should be able to reach the outskirts of Rising Dragon Mansion within half a month."
The Yue Kingdom used to consist of villages.
There was no city.
It wasn't until the Viet Ly Dynasty that the construction of the city began.
However, they only built cities on the border and in Thang Long province.
The army marched south during the dry season in Lingnan.
In addition, many regions are suffering from drought this year.
The army rarely encountered rainy days as it marched south.
Zhao Yuan did not want to gamble on when the drought would end.
Once it starts raining continuously...
Even if no plague breaks out in the army,
The number of soldiers suffering from acclimatization problems will also increase significantly.
Li Gong understood what the King of Liang meant, and after thinking for a moment,
"The lower reaches of the Fulang River are all plains,"
"A significant amount of rice is also grown,"
“The food supply for Thang Long Prefecture comes from the plains downstream of the Phu Liang River.”
"If we advance quickly,"
"Perhaps we can manage to seize some food,"
"But the population of the Vietnamese Ly Dynasty cannot compare to that of the Central Plains,"
"We want to seize enough provisions for over 100,000 people,"
"I'm afraid that's still impossible."
Zhao Yuan left five troops to guard Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi as he marched south.
At this time, he still had five units of troops under his command.
However, soldiers who suffered from acclimatization issues were left behind to recuperate along the way.
The four armies numbered only around 40,000 men.
Including Li Gong's 10,000 Guangdong soldiers,
However, the barbarian soldiers of the Thirty-Six Caves numbered nearly 100,000.
The army that marched south to conquer the Ly Dynasty of Vietnam numbered 150,000.
Xu Guanzhong remained silent.
I feel like I've overlooked something.
Suddenly clapping his hands,
"The Yue people must defend Yongzhou to the death,"
“There must be grain supplies in Yongzhou,”
"Why don't we search for food supplies in the city?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan
His eyes lit up.
"Yes, the grain that the Yue people looted from Guangxi must have been transported to Yongzhou."
"Tomorrow, the entire army will search for food in Yongzhou City."
Amidst the charge of hundreds of elephants
Yongzhou city was razed to the ground.
Several fires also broke out.
The elephants simply knocked down many houses.
This also prevented the fire from spreading.
The fire did not burn the entire city down.
Night had fallen when the army had shot down the elephants in the city.
They only extinguished the fires in the city.
They captured some surviving Vietnamese soldiers.
They didn't have time to search the city thoroughly.
Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Then let's call it a day."
"Let's see how much food we can find tomorrow before deciding how to deploy our troops."
Nothing was said that night.
The next day, the army began searching for food in the city.
They quickly found more than 100,000 shi of grain in the city.
Zhao Yuan immediately summoned his generals to discuss the route of advance.
Li Jun said, "The navy can only reach the border along the left bank of the river."
"Once they reach the border, the navy will be unable to transport supplies."
Li Gong said, "The grain and fodder can be transported by oxcart."
"Guangxi has no shortage of cattle,"
“Every year, merchants smuggle large quantities of cattle from Guangxi to the Jiangnan region for profit,”
“We can requisition water buffaloes from the tribes along the Zuoshui River and the border to transport grain.”
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "Okay."
"Then let's use the navy to transport grain to the border first,"
"Then we'll use an oxcart."
Hua Rong said, "There are no cities or passes within the territory of the Viet Ly Dynasty."
"After breaking through Menzhou,"
"The army can then advance unimpeded,"
"The cavalry can go first,"
"To prevent the Yue people on the north bank of the Fulang River from crossing the river,"
"They could even seize ships,"
"A surprise attack on Thang Long Province on the south bank."
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "I want to wipe out the Yue people."
Chapter 1815 Rising Dragon Palace
If they escape across the river...
It would take a lot of effort to catch them.
Your primary task is to intercept the Yue people crossing the river.
If it were possible to cross the river
Just block their retreat.
The cavalry's assault on Thang Long Phu was a waste.
The northern grasslands are where your talents will truly shine.
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Hua Rong
This also put an end to any thoughts of taking credit for the work.
Xu Guanzhong said, "Our army can march sixty li per day."
"But the barbarian soldiers probably can't keep up with our army's marching speed,"
"Moreover, the presence of Yue villages behind them is also a potential hazard."
Li Gong said, "Li Qiande's 100,000 troops were completely annihilated."
"There are not many soldiers left in the territory of the Viet Ly Dynasty."
"Our 50,000 troops are enough to take Thang Long."
"We can let the barbarian soldiers follow behind the main army,"
"Rampage all villages on the north bank of the Fuchun River,"
"Also, search and rescue the Han Chinese who were abducted,"
"At the same time, capture the Yue people."
Zhao Yuan nodded and said, "Okay."