Chapter 291 The Battle of Shanyang between Han and Liao Dynasties
For the Liao Kingdom, the consequences of the Xi people's surrender to the Han were serious. The most direct ones were the loss of a Zhuguo minister, the loss of tens of thousands of Khitan soldiers, and the opening of the way for the Han army to go north, giving
The Han army's northern attack on the empty Shangjing created very favorable conditions.
In the long run, this created an irreparable loophole in the Liao Kingdom's defense against the Han Dynasty. This loophole was more serious than the fall of Liaodong and the chaos in Northeast China. Through the Xi tribe's territory, the Han army could march to Beijing for a long time.
Starting from any other city gate in the Han Dynasty is much closer and more convenient. Liao Shangjing Linhuang Mansion is no longer a safe rear.
Moreover, if the Xi people are lost, they will also lose a long-term source of troops, war horses, money and food. If the rich pastures and hundreds of thousands of people belonging to the Xi people are digested by the Han, they will become the main force for the Han to continue to attack the Khitan in the future.
Powerful assistance.
The serious consequences and far-reaching impact can be imagined, but for the Liao Emperor Yelu Xian, who had not received the news, he was not in the mood to feel the pain for the time being. Even if he knew about it, he would not have the energy to deal with it.
The situation is so severe that we cannot see the future.
At this time, Emperor Yelvxian of the Liao Dynasty was in a dangerous situation. He was personally experiencing the dangers and difficulties that the Liao army had experienced in the past, and he was experiencing the panic of being surrounded by soldiers and the roar of the wind.
After Yelvxian made up his mind to withdraw his troops, his ability to move was still strong, and there were no obvious omissions in his withdrawal plan. He took into account the retreat, sent troops in advance, controlled the intersection, and maintained safety and smooth flow.
At the same time, we also prepared for the pursuit of the Han army, and evacuated in batches in an orderly manner, leaving elite soldiers and powerful generals behind in case of unexpected events. However, in many things, good results cannot be achieved unless you do what you are supposed to do.
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When there is the external factor of the Han army, the development of the matter is obviously not something that can be determined unilaterally by the Liao army. The external force of the Han army is full of hostility and desire for destruction, and it is endless. It does not seek success, but seeks failure.
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Facing the northward retreat of the Liao army, the Han army in Yunzhong held it down until the end under the auspices of Jiuyuan Marquis Li Wanchao. Only after all the Liao army had departed did they agree to Tian Chongjin's departure with his troops.
The Han army that followed Tian Chongjin in pursuit had only 9,000 infantry and cavalry, 5,000 cavalry, and 4,000 foot soldiers. Compared with the nearly 100,000 Liao army at the front and rear, the force was too weak. However, this was Tian Chongjin's initiative.
Sufficient emergency forces must be left in Yunzhong to prevent unexpected pursuit and accidents.
However, although there are few soldiers and horses, those who are recruited are all elites from the clouds. The sources of troops are from the northern frontier army. Most of them have experience in guarding the border and fighting. Tian Chongjin has a tough style and the courage to risk everything.
The determination to succeed.
Following the northward retreat route of the Liao Army, Zhongji advanced, defeating the lagging behind-the-scenes raids of the Liao Army's three rear cavalry troops along the way, and vigorously caught up with the Liao Army's rear troops south of the Great Wall. Then, regardless of the exhaustion of the advance, which lasted for more than 40 miles, they advanced
With the spirit of daring to fight and fight hard, he led his troops, made some adjustments, and continued to launch the attack on the Liao army.
The Liao army was naturally prepared for the pursuit of the Han army. They left behind their fine cavalry to ambush and attack in the southern part of Sainan. However, Tian Chongjin led his men and broke through. The Han army, which fought in coordination with infantry and cavalry, once again demonstrated its outstanding performance in attack and defense.
Its power, even without giant crossbows and heavy artillery, relied solely on the sharpness of the bows and crossbows, the Han army also burst out with strong combat effectiveness in this rapid transition to combat.
The commander-in-chief of the Liao army who was responsible for the defense of the rear was the emperor's uncle Yelu Daoyin. Regardless of Han or Hu, when the critical moment came, they still trusted their own family members. This was almost instinctive. Yelvxian also specially transferred five thousand Pishi troops to Yelu.
Dao Yin, obey his command to fight.
Yelu Daoyin did not only rely on his status as an imperial uncle to be reused. Thanks to the good traditions and family education of Yelu Bei, as well as his own talents, Yelu Daoyin was a versatile man in both civil and military affairs. He had a calm personality and did not panic in times of crisis.
He is not afraid of danger and has strict orders when using troops.
In terms of the task of fighting at the rear, Yelu Daoyin also lived up to Yelu Xian's trust and was very effective in handling the command. Facing the fierce pursuit of Tian Zhong's march, he was keenly aware that the pursuit was tail-to-tail and fierce, while the Liao army
Although they took the initiative to evacuate, they retreated after all. The morale of the army was difficult to unite, and they decisively gave up entangled with the Han army on the plains.
Instead, they changed their tactics. Instead of quickly defeating the pursuing Tian Zhong's advance, they switched to involving attrition and retreating while fighting. The result was that the Han army's infantry and cavalry were not as flexible as the Liao army's full cavalry.
However, no matter what the Liao army's tactics were, the Han army led by Tian Chongjin always used a desperate style of play. They would seize any openings and occupy the space. Regardless, they would move forward without hesitation and attack the Liao army, blocking the way.
, they will all be destroyed.
About twenty miles from the south entrance of the Great Wall to Jiaoshan Town, Yelu Daoyin set up two lines of defense for Tian Chongjin and launched a wave of ambush. The result was no surprise. The Han army was like a brainless barbarian, with only
The Liao army only focused on one direction, heading north, chasing and killing, and continuing north!
There was no escape route, no fear of ambush, no fear of siege. This kind of performance shocked even a calm man like Yelu Daoyin. By the time they reached Jiaoshan Town, the attacking Han army had already suffered more than 2,000 casualties. If
In a head-on confrontation, if there are such casualties, even the Han army must consider retreating...
Jiaoshan Town is also the bottom line of the Liao Army. Further north, most of the Liao Army's central army has not yet completely withdrawn. When Yelu Daoyin commanded the army to retreat here, he also changed his previous weak tactics and strictly ordered the troops to
Resist firmly.
The truly fierce and cruel battle also started around Jiaoshan Town. The Liao army refused to retreat, while the Han army refused to let go. There was no reason to give up. Here, the Han army inevitably suffered some losses.
The pursuit lasted for more than 80 miles, and they fought several battles without much rest in the middle. They even had meals during the battle, taking turns. Many officers and soldiers even had no time to excrement and urine, and could only drop it in their crotches. The anxiety of the war was intense.
, one can imagine.
As for the Liao army, they had much more strength. Although Tian Zhong's advance was unyielding and he defeated them several times, they were all calmed down by Yelu Daoyin and the Pishi army suppressed the formation. However, their pressure came more from
Evacuation operation to the north.
Therefore, even if they need to dismount and fight the Han army in the mountains of the Great Wall, they still rely on their superior strength to counterattack the Han army. Yelu Daoyin even commanded the army and launched several waves of counterattacks. Although it was difficult to break through the Han army's formation,
But it also had an impact on their offense.
In order to seize the Liao army, Tian Zhong's advance did not dare to stop fighting, nor did he want to stop. Fortunately, Tian Zhong's advance was not the only one fighting. First, the Han army from Yunzhong came to support from the north, and later there were reinforcements from Hedong.
Two days later, under the command of Kang Yanze, the main reinforcements from Hedong arrived as scheduled after resting. When the Han army gathered together, the pressure on Yelu Daoyin's rear army was even greater.
Jiaoshan Town could not be defended, so he chose to set fire to it, abandoned part of the army, and continued to retreat north. The defense of Jiaoshan Town also gave them room to continue retreating.
Although the battle in the south was fierce and had many casualties, it was not fatal to both Han and Liao. In contrast, the battle in the north was much more brutal, but the offensive and defensive sides traded trades, with the Liao army taking the main attack.
The Han army was in charge.
The Han army, which consisted of about 11,000 infantry and cavalry, was led by the brave general Kang Baoyi. They merged with the Shengzhou Baoning Army, passed through Baidaosan, entered the water at Yan'an, and rushed to the south of Baishuiluo.
This journey to the east was not easy. The journey of more than 800 miles required climbing over mountains and ridges and crossing rivers. By the time they arrived south of Baishuiluo, the Kangbao army was already very tired.
Their original plan was to set up a stronghold at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, cut off the Liao army's return route to the north, and rest at the same time. However, the changes on the battlefield were not what the Han army wanted, and there was not much time for rest.
The Liao army was ordered to come north.
This can be regarded as an encounter, but this battle unfolded much faster than the pursuit battle to the south. The Han army was mostly exhausted, and the Liao army was not relaxed either. The Han army was ordered to intercept, while the Liao army fought for survival.
Break the obstacle to the northward retreat.
After learning that there was an attack by the Han army and intercepting it, there was no need for Han Derang and others to suggest it. Yelvxian led his troops northward to join the attack on the Kangbao army and supervise the battle. There was an interception in the front and a pursuit in the back. This kind of
In this case, there is no other choice at all.
If there was any choice that the Liao army failed to make during the retreat, it was that the army carried too many captured and bulky materials, which delayed the Liao army's actions and consumed their manpower. The choice of giving up was
