Li Jia actually didn't know when the Sleeping King was killed, but no matter when it was, the summer of the tenth year of Shenwu (969), was the time for the Northern Expedition.

It is enough to prepare for half a year in advance.

There were about 200,000 troops dispatched, of which there were 100,000 imperial camps, leaving behind 50,000 troops stationed in Luoyang, 50,000 troops stationed in Shandong and Hebei, and 50,000 troops stationed in Shanxi Prefecture.

As for why the grain was stored in Cangzhou, it was located in Zhangshui and the Yellow River was measured, and it was very convenient to transport grain and grass. Secondly, its area was vast and although it was close to Youyun, it was relatively suitable for a granary.

Third, Cangzhou has always been under the Henghai Army. The city is strong and the fortifications are complete. There is no need to worry about being stolen.

The difference between the city and the city is self-evident.

Like Guo Rong, he also stored grain here during the Northern Expedition.

In addition to the army, the operation of food and grass is also a top priority when marching and fighting.

For example, in addition to rice and sorghum, there are also pickles, meat and vegetables, wine, clothes, shoes and hats, arrows, crossbows, catapults, etc.

The sorghum, buckwheat and oats eaten by horses must be bred in advance. Starting today, we must also start to gain weight and replenish our strength in advance.

For example, a catapult cart requires a large amount of stones, so local people need to recruit civilians, dig mountains and open stones in advance, select suitable stones, and transport them to Cangzhou.

For example, if millions of arrows are created, just tens of thousands of pounds of feathers on the arrows, the prefectures and counties in various places have to be busy for a while.

At this time, the Yellow River Navy suddenly came in handy.

A large number of ships were constantly transporting food, grass and supplies to Cangzhou for storage.

Even if some boatmen are still needed, the manpower and material resources they save are indescribable compared to land transportation thousands of miles away.

The ships on the Yellow River, like ants moving, began to move in a steady stream, and built warehouses in Cangzhou.

In the whole first month, the materials consumed exceeded 500,000 stag, and the food and grass in the operation exceeded 200,000 stag, and the remaining supplies and equipment were incurred.

In a sense, it is easier to expedition to Youyun in the Northern Expedition than Taiyuan, after all, the logistics is helped by water transportation.

In Li Jia's view, in history, the Northern Song Dynasty first attacked Taiyuan and then Youzhou, which was a mistake.

Not to mention anything else, fighting Taiyuan is equivalent to fighting one or two. The Khitans will rush thousands of miles to rescue, but fighting Youzhou will naturally find it difficult for the Northern Han Dynasty to help.

Secondly, the attack on Youzhou was a surprise attack. After the first failure, the attack was lost, and the suddenness was lost, which gave the Khitans the opportunity to recruit tribal cavalry, which greatly increased the difficulty.

After thinking about it, Li Jia was very confident about the battle of the Northern Expedition of Youyun.

Compared with history, his most important purpose is that his purpose is different from Zhao Guangyi.

What Zhao Guangyi pursued was to recover Youzhou and possess natural dangers.

What Li Jia pursued was to defeat the Khitans back to the tribal era and block their path to sinicization.

Therefore, this time, he still often used the conventional way of marching - the soldiers divided the way and surrounded them together.

Shanxi and Hebei attacked each other, while Shanxi's route was not a feint attack, but a main attack on the flanks.

As mentioned earlier, the so-called Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun are not just Youzhou, but also to the north of Shanxi, that is, to the north of Yanmen Pass, such as Datong, Yingzhou, Shuozhou, etc., which are also part of it.

Datong Town was the key to the later Khitan Xijing, which controlled the Hu tribe in Monan.

Fengzhou was the Tiande Army during the Tang Dynasty. Later, Yelu Abaoji went west to fight and changed it to Yingtian Town. The southwest Zhaoyao Department was established, which was located near Yinshan and suppressed the tribes in the northern desert.

Later, Emperor Tianzuo of Liao, Yelu Yanxi, hid here for two or three years, survived and was still captured alive.

Whether it is Datong or Fengzhou, they are important barriers to control the grassland and maintain the northern region. How could Li Jia and the Tang Dynasty be ignored?

Therefore, a decree was issued from Luoyang and arrived in Taiyuan after several days.

The commander of the Shanxi Army's Chief of the 20,000 troops in Shanxi, Li Jixun, was appointed by the emperor's order.

"Anbei Chief Executive?" Li Jixun was quite surprised when he heard this title. This name was too big.

This reminded him of the Anbei Protectorate in the pre-Tang Dynasty, which was a giant who controlled the southern and northern deserts.

"Does Your Majesty mean to the North?" Looking at the name Li Jixun called out, Shanxi Prefect Ma Feng was so envious that he asked directly, stretching his neck from time to time and exploring.

"The saint does intend to go north!" Li Jixun gathered the imperial edict and said in a pretentious manner: "This is a military secret, so don't spy on the magistrate!"

"Hmph!" Ma Feng snorted coldly and sat upright, "The court intends to go north. The money and food that the respondents are not supplied by Shanxi Prefecture. General Li is so strict with him, so it is probably too much!"

"Hahaha!" Li Jixun smiled and shook his head, handed him helplessly, and said, "At that time, I will really trouble the prefect."

Ma Feng hurriedly took it, looked at it for a while, then sighed and said, "I never thought that the government actually made such an action, which is really amazing!"

"It's a saint--"

"Yes, saint!" Ma Feng quickly changed his words, "Just now, even Datong and Fengzhou have to be swallowed by whale. Such a large place is not easy to eat."

"It's not a problem!" Li Jixun thought for a while and said, "It's fine to Datong. I've fought for a while last year, and I guess I was scared out of my courage. Fengzhou is too far away. I heard from merchants that it's probably not easy to be near Yinshan!"

When Ma Feng heard this, he folded the imperial edicts and shook his head and said, "This time he went north, there were only 20,000 people in Shanxi Prefecture. What can we do? In my opinion, the prefecture and prefecture will definitely be recruited. Ten thousand cavalry and ten thousand cavalry will be 20,000 cavalry, a total of 40,000 people, which is enough."

"Where is Shanxi Prefecture without troops?

Li Jixun suddenly realized and then said.

"General, you forgot that the inspection department of Shanxi Prefecture, and the county and counties together, there are 20,000 people. Although the field battle is not allowed, it is still possible to defend the city."

"This is quite feasible!"

Li Jixun stroked his beard and raised his head and smiled.

Last year, he was a wing, and he only added hundreds of fiefs to a viscount. But now it seems that although this time is also a wing, it is also a main attacker.

As the commander of the whole country, he commanded tens of thousands of troops, where is the viscount? Once he succeeds, he will never mention anything else, so the count will naturally look forward to it again.

"This time I have Datong and look forward to Fengzhou. After the matter is over, I will definitely be able to win a count!"

The pleasure in my heart overflowed, which surprised Ma Feng on the side.
Chapter completed!