1 "Then what you mean is that Yuan cannot accept our control of Songcheng? We can only exchange it?" Jiang Feng said lightly.

"The prince, I can't say that completely, but my subordinates thought that if Songcheng could be exchanged for Yuan's concessions in Bozhou and Yingzhou, we would actually make a profit." Meng Chong did not retreat because of Jiang Feng's doubts.

"Tell me." Jiang Feng didn't have much inclination in his tone.

"Songcheng is indispensable to the Yuan family, because only by obtaining Songcheng can the entire western and southern Songzhou form a whole. On the contrary, the eastern and northern Songzhou will be looser. We can consider incorporating Caozhou or establishing Danzhou." Mengchong spoke slightly faster, "and we can obtain Xia Cai, Shansang, Yongcheng, and Linhuan, which not only makes the new Suzhou more stable, but also greatly strengthens our control over the middle of the Huai River. In addition to the advantages of our southern navy, the entire Huai River basin is actually under our control. This is of great benefit to establishing a stable rear, especially when we are facing the battle with the Shatuo people for the Central Plains and the Heshuo strategy of the county prince."

Jiang Feng praised it in his heart, but his face was expressionless.

Mengchong's view is somewhat close to Cui Shang, consolidating the basic structure of the Huai River Basin, but it expanded from Huainan to Huaibei, which includes the current Huaiyou Town and Wuning Town, including Guang, Xu, Shou, Lu, Hao, Chu, He, Shu Bazhou, Wuning Town, Xu, Si, Suzhou, and the newly established Danzhou.

Huaiyou is undoubtedly the best basic conditions. It has irrigation facilities such as Huaihe River and its tributaries and Shaobi. It has always been a granary. It has developed industry, commerce and transportation, and its surrounding power is not strong. It is an excellent rear.

Huaibei is not far from being a little bit short. Although it was destroyed by the ravages of ant thieves in the past few years, it has slowly recovered in the past two years. In addition, Huaiyou vigorously developed a water conservancy irrigation system, so it is easy to catch up. These two lands rely on the developed irrigation and transportation system of Huai River, as well as the rapid development of industries such as iron smelting, ceramics, tea making, shipbuilding, etc., are enough to support the confrontation between Xuzhou and any powerful vassal.

Of course, Xuzhou will definitely not be able to bear to fight against the Shatu and the Khitans independently, but if he faces one of these two alone, Jiang Feng feels that he will not be afraid of the other party.

If he could wait for another two or three years, even if the Khitans and Shatuo people joined forces, he would not be afraid, and he would have such confidence.

So the best way is to delay time. In the past two or three years, we must avoid large-scale wars as much as possible so that Xuzhou can have more energy to seek development.

The strategy proposed by Chen Wei and Cui Shang at that time was that the three towns of Pinglu, Ziqing and Tianping should focus on restoration and development, consolidate the current situation, and maintain strategic pressure on the surrounding areas. The two towns of Huaiyou and Wuning should increase their efforts to develop the economy. If possible, even if they can seize Xuanzhou or Chuzhou, they can further consolidate Xuzhou's economic strength, as long as they do not put Xuzhou into a full-scale war, they can be considered.

But considering that it is possible to confront the Khitans, Jiang Feng believed that when necessary, he should take appropriate offensives in the north, such as capturing the lands of Dizhou, Dezhou and Cangzhou. The governor of Chengde, Zhang Chujin, now has a terrible control over these states. It can be said that Xuzhou really wants to capture these states, and Zhang Chujin can't come up with many solutions. This strategy is also strongly supported by Wang Miao.

In Cui Shang, Chen Wei and others' opinion, Wang Miao was a little selfish, which could easily arouse hostility from the three towns in Hebei towards Xuzhou. However, Jiang Feng confirmed that Wang Miao's idea did not have many selfish thoughts, or in other words, it was in line with Xuzhou's interests and was not contradictory.

Zhang Chujin's status among the three towns in Hebei was not high, and his relationship with Lu Long, Liu Shouguang and Wei Boluo and Zhou Han was very poor. In addition, his main bases were Zhen, Ding and Zhao, and Jizhou. Although Jizhou was the garrison of the Jiedushi, his control over the eastern prefectures was far less than that of the western prefectures, Ding, Zhao, and Shenzhou. Therefore, the eastern prefectures also repeatedly mutiny and rebelled, and became a state that was almost as banished as it was.

In Wang Miao's view, now is the best time to take over the three prefectures of Di, De and Cang. We should take advantage of the fact that the Khitans did not penetrate Lulong enough and build the three prefectures of Di, Cang and De into bridgeheads to resist the Khitans' southward movement. Relying on the Zhang River, Hutuo River and Fox Lake as barriers, it can curb the Khitan cavalry's southward movement. As the first line of defense for protection, again, the Yongji Canal can also be the second line of defense. This step-by-step defense can effectively prevent the Khitan cavalry from moving straight into.

It has to be said that Wang Miao's views are more proactive than Cui Shang and Chen Wei, especially the rivers and canals of Yongji Canal, Zhangshui and Hutuo River canals can be used as barriers to exert the advantages of the northern naval army. At the same time, if the northern naval army, which was born in the East Pirates, can fully utilize the frog jumping combat skills and harass the northern hinterland of Khitan, it can also effectively restrain the Khitan's movement to move south.

But the key is how to reasonably arrange the time nodes.

Whether it is to seize Xuanzhou or seize Di, Cang, and Dezhou, you need to seize the opportunity.

Xuanzhou is now controlled by ant thieves, but as time goes by, the thieves' spirit has gradually lost, and the war with Li Wu and Qian Yue has also reached a deadlock. Xuanzhou not only has a vast territory, but also has copper mines and smelting bases. If it can be taken down, it will greatly supplement Xuzhou's strength, and at the same time it can also expand Xuzhou's sphere of influence to both sides of the river. However, how to seize the opportunity to seize this place also requires careful planning.

The strategy of the three states of Di, Cang and De is relatively simple in Jiang Feng's opinion. The Chengde army is not worth mentioning, especially when the relationship between the garrisons of these three states and Zhang Chujin has always been tense, it is not difficult to capture these three states. The key is how to capture it so as not to stimulate Wei Bo's army and Lu Long's army, but this needs to be grasped well.

Wei Bojun is better. Luo Zhouhan is facing the collapse of the backing mountain and Liang, and he is unable to take care of himself and has no way to take care of anything else. However, Lu Long and Liu Shouguang will definitely be unacceptable to this move. However, Liu Shouguang's greater pressure comes from the Khitans. As long as Liu Shouguang does not completely surrender to the Khitans, he will not be able to intervene in the affairs of Di, Cang and Dezhou. At most, it will be just a threat, protest, or a little trick. This is nothing for Xuzhou.

However, the action against these three states still needs to be more appropriate to stabilize the relationship with the Shatu people, otherwise it will be easy to get out of trouble.

"Dalang, do you think Yuan will accept our request? I mean, exchange Songcheng for Shansang, Qingxian, Yongcheng, Linhuan, Yingshang and Xiacai." Jiang Feng thought for a while before saying again.

"Qing County is probably a bit difficult. Wei County is a member of the eastern department of Bozhou. Once Wei County is lost, Qiao County will open its doors, especially when Xiayi is controlled by us, Yuan will not agree." Meng Chong thought, "Yingshang is also a bit difficult. Yingzhou only has four counties. If Yingshang is handed over to us, Yingzhou will only have two counties, and it will be difficult to become a state."

"Qing County is indeed a bit difficult. Qiao County is the capital of Bozhou Prefecture and its status is important. However, if we do not take Yingshang, the section on the north bank of the Huai River will always lack a support point, and the navy's activities lack depth, especially the scope of the Yingshui River is greatly limited. We must find a way to get it." Jiang Feng pondered: "Of course this may require a tug-of-war."

"The premise is to see if we can fight well in Songcheng. If we have a truce now, our subordinates will probably find it difficult to negotiate with Yingshang and even Yongcheng may not be able to do it," Meng Chong said hesitantly.

"Hmph, I have informed the Ziqing Army and Wuning Army of all the situation and revealed my intentions. As for whether we can fight and how far we fight, I believe they can understand it." Jiang Feng snorted lightly, "If you talk, you will fight. If you can't negotiate well, fight. If you fight, then you will talk. You can always talk, but the time is limited, so it depends on whether the Ziqing Army and Wuning Army can bring good news to me."

*********************

The arrival of Wuning's army in Songcheng made the atmosphere in the whole city suddenly become even more tense.

The fierce battle between the Ziqing Army and the Caizhou Army in the western part of Songcheng for several consecutive days made the entire western part of the city a battlefield. Many houses were requisitioned by the armies of both sides, and a large number of long-range strike equipment, defense equipment, and magical equipment were widely used. It is obvious that neither the Caizhou Army nor the Xuzhou Army were willing to accept such a result.

The Caizhou army received reinforcements from Chenzhou and Qiao County. In addition to the casualties of the two sides' fierce battles during this period, the Caizhou army still had more than 30,000 troops entrenched inside and outside the Xicheng. However, with the arrival of the main force of the Wuning Army, the Xuzhou army, which occupied most of the Songcheng, had more than 50,000 troops, and its advantage in military strength was even more obvious.

"Governor, Governor Wang and General Hong are here." Chai Yong stepped into the door and said.

"Please!" After a day or two, Liu Yansi's injuries had recovered most of his injuries. The only thing that was a little troublesome was the damage caused to him by the Tongtian ring.

He still underestimated the harm caused by this kind of master-level magic weapon. He still has not been able to completely repair the damage caused by that magic power. It is estimated that if he really recovers, he will have to wait until after this battle.

Fortunately, Chai Yong is not weak. Now with the arrival of Wang Shouxin and Qin Han, there are as many as four powerful people in the Xiaotian rank. The Xuzhou Army is no longer afraid of any challenges and dares to launch a battle.

"Liu Lang, how is his injury recovering?" Needless to say, Wang Shouxin and Liu Yansi's friendship, Hong Kui also asked about his injuries as soon as he came up: "There are two pills that the prince refines last year, which may be helpful to the governor's injury."
Chapter completed!