The battle for the most important positions on the front line, as well as several must-win intersection control points, was extremely fierce.
By controlling these places, you can restrain the enemy's movements and take the initiative on the battlefield.
Shen Yi was on a high ground in the rear, holding a telescope and watching the battlefield.
The situation on the battlefield is not very optimistic.
It's not that the Huai'an Army has poor military strength or poor combat effectiveness, but that there is something wrong with the configuration of the arms.
There is a shortage of war horses in the south, and there are very few cavalry. Even though Mr. Shen spent a lot of money to raise a cavalry, it is still far behind the cavalry of Northern Qi.
Nowadays, the combat effectiveness of the Huai'an army's infantry, even on the frontal battlefield, is much better than that of the Northern Qi army. However, with only infantry and no cavalry, fighting in the wild is somewhat disadvantageous.
To put it simply, the two sides have different priorities.
In field operations, the Huai'an Army will suffer a loss, but if it relies on a city to defend it, as long as it is a slightly decent city, with the Huai'an Army's fighting will and gunpowder firearms, the Huai'an Army can defend it without leakage.
But now, Shen Yi needs to fix the war situation in the north and is unwilling to retreat to Shandong to defend Jinan. Naturally, he will suffer a bit on the battlefield.
He watched from a high place for half an hour before his face darkened.
From the 8th year of Hong De's reign when he sent someone to work in Jiankang to build the army until now, even if he does not take advantage of the overall battle situation on the battlefield, he will definitely not suffer in terms of battle loss ratio.
But now, the left route army of the Huai'an Army he led single-handedly is suffering real losses!
Basically, it takes one and a half Huai'an troops to replace one Qi man!
Moreover, in such a large-scale battle, even if the two sides are not in full contact, the Huai'an Army's Left Route Army alone consumes more than a thousand troops every day!
This kind of consumption made Shen Yi feel heartbroken.
He no longer had the time to look at the battlefield, and a senseless anger rushed straight into the sky. He clenched his fists angrily and gritted his teeth: "When my battle line is spread out, you will have to repay the losses I suffered today tenfold and a hundredfold!"
In the past, when he was not leading troops, Mr. Shen read history books and often did not understand why some generals were so cruel and frequently massacred the city without leaving any one behind.
Now that he was in this position, he had some understanding of the generals recorded in the book.
Sometimes you can't control your emotions.
Watching his brothers, and even people he knew well, fall on the battlefield one by one, this feeling is not pleasant, and it is easy to get addicted.
Shen Yi is a little on top now.
After the battle for position was finally over, Su Ding hurried to Shen Yi and lowered his head to report the results: "Mr. Shen, the Qi people are to the north of us and have increased their troops again!"
"Although the number of additional troops is unknown, it is certain that it should exceed 10,000."
Su Ding looked up at Shen Yi and gritted his teeth and said: "Mr. Shen, their cavalry are harassing us. We have no means to counterattack. Our cavalry cannot catch up with them, and our cavalry and shooting skills are also much worse."
"What the general means is to temporarily retreat to Jinan and use Jinan City to fight against the Qi people, so that we can advance or retreat."
Mr. Shen looked up at the sky and said silently: "Let me tell you about the battle losses in the past few days."
Su Ding was silent for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "Including the seriously injured, our army's casualties are almost over 5,000."
"The Qi people's casualties were only over 3,000, probably less than 4,000."
Shen Yi took a deep breath and murmured: "It seems that the Qi people have completely ignored Shanxi."
"At this time, we are still adding troops to the frontal battlefield."
Having said this, Shen Yi closed his eyes, pondered for a while, and then continued: "In Yanshan to the east, we have a temporary army, which has barely become an army now. If it is still so difficult to fight in the past two days, I will Let them go north to attack Cangzhou."
"Northern Qi can ignore Shanxi, but it cannot ignore their capital. When the time comes, the pressure on you will suddenly be relieved."
Having said this, Mr. Shen looked to the east and said in a deep voice: "If it doesn't work, my navy will also move."
"If the frontal damage is still like this at that time, I will consider returning to Jinan, using defense as offense, and slowly rest and then make plans."
Su Ding lowered his head: "I will finally understand!"
Shen Yi looked at Su Ding, who looked a little embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and patted his shoulder.
"General Su, this is the most difficult time right now. I know you feel distressed."
"I feel bad even before I try it, but no one has been able to do something like the Northern Expedition in seventy years, not even crossing the Huaihe River. Now if we do it, there is no reason for us to reach Yandu in a smooth sailing."
"There are always difficulties. At this time, you generals must endure it."
Su Ding took a few deep breaths, lowered his head and said, "Mr. Shen, it is common for people to die on the battlefield. The general understands in his heart that not all of us in the Huai'an Army will die, but none of our Huai'an Army soldiers will die."
"The general just thinks that Mr. Shen..."
"It seems a little too hasty."
Su Ding gritted his teeth and said: "If you step back at this time, Qi people will immediately be in a dilemma."
"You can't just think about the home front."
Su Ding raised his head and looked directly at Shen Yi: "The rear is important, but the soldiers on the front are equally important!"
Shen Yi took a deep breath and said slowly: "I understand the reason behind this, but if you want to achieve great things, you can't just fight a tough battle."
Shen Yi looked calm: "If we don't want to fight a tough battle, we will never reach Yandu."
Su Ding slowly exhaled a breath and lowered his head slightly: "General...I understand..."
While the two were arguing, a horseman came over in a hurry, almost jumped off the horse, and knelt down directly in front of Shen Yi. He looked excited and lowered his head in salute: "Master Marquis! An urgent report from the Di Bureau!"
Shen Yi's heart moved and he said loudly: "Tell me something!"
The man took a long breath and said: "Master Marquis, please report to the department urgently that General Xue entered Taiyuan two days ago and has successfully occupied Taiyuan!"
"Now, the vanguard army is resting in Taiyuan City."
He lowered his head and continued: "General Xue reported to the Marquis urgently, asking whether to attack the flank of the main force of the Northern Qi Dynasty, or simply go directly north and continue to share the pressure on the front line!"
Mr. Shen froze on the spot and did not speak for a long time.
After a long time, he came back to his senses and looked at the intelligence officer from the Diji News Department in front of him.
"Can you say that again."
The man quickly lowered his head and presented the document in his hand with both hands: "Master Marquis, General Xue has captured Taiyuan!"
Shen Yi finally came to his senses. He breathed a long sigh of relief, and his whole body relaxed with this breath. Because he was too relaxed, his body was almost unsteady.
He reached out to take the document, looked back at Su Ding, and couldn't help but be a little excited: "General Su, did you hear that?!"
Su Ding was also in a daze at the moment.
Because this is incredible.
Twenty to thirty thousand horses entered Shanxi in a little more than half a month, and unexpectedly...
He actually occupied the provincial capital?!
This is so unreasonable.
Master Shen read the report, laughed heartily a few times, and said: "Go and send a message to Xue Wei, telling him to rest where he is for half a month, and then leave some people to garrison Taiyuan, and everyone else will leave the city to wait for opportunities. And move!”
"Go to your residence and report to the department and internal guards. The news of our army's capture of Taiyuan must be spread throughout the capital of Yan as soon as possible!"
The man from the newspaper office immediately lowered his head.
"I obey my orders!"
After saying that, he got up, mounted his horse, and flew away on Pegasus.
Shen Yi put away the document and felt relaxed all over.
He turned to look at Su Ding, with a smile on his face.
"General Su, do you know what the defeat of Taiyuan means?"
Su Ding was stunned: "The last general is stupid..."
"It means that except for Yandu, there are almost no big cities in Northern Qi in the north."
Mr. Shen raised his eyes and looked north, his smile brightening.
"When a dynasty collapses, the first thing to collapse is always the people's hearts."