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"Little Yazi" Li Congke was ordered to lead 1,800 cavalry out of the camp, approach the Xiangyuan battlefield, detect the movements of the Yan army, and try to eliminate some of the Yan army's cavalry and regain the right to maneuver on the battlefield.
Li Congke is not old, but like the real "Yazi General" Li Cunxu, he has many years of combat experience. The 1,800 cavalry he led this time were almost all the Han horse infantry and cavalry under Li Siyuan. With an army of cavalry in hand, Li Congke was not afraid of any enemy.
When fighting the Xuanwu Army, Li Congke dared to lead dozens of cavalry to attack the Xuanwu Army that was ten times his own. He also used a hundred cavalry to shake Zhu Youning's formation in the southern suburbs of Xi County, and finally chased tens of thousands of Xuanwu Army and drove out ten Five miles away. With this achievement in hand, Li Congke is very confident.
However, Li Congke was not blindly arrogant. He knew that Hebei was also a place rich in cavalry, and the Hebei cavalry was not weaker than the Hedong cavalry. Li Siyuan once talked to him about the combat power of the Hebei cavalry, and he highly praised the Badu cavalry back then.
In the fourth year of Qianning (897), Lulong commander Liu Rengong "betrayed" Li Keyong. Li Keyong was furious and sent his army eastward to crusade against Hebei. This crusade was part of Li Keyong's "promoting the army out of anger" , the final failure was not surprising, but it was the Battle of Ansai that directly led to the defeat of the Hedong Army. The Badu Cavalry and the Hedong Cavalry started a cavalry showdown in Ansai. The Hedong Cavalry lost to the Badu Cavalry, which triggered the total collapse of the Hedong Army.
Later, when the news that Badu rode in ambush in the green grass slope and was almost captured by Xuanwu general Zhang Cunjing reached Hedong, Li Siyuan sighed for a long time and said "what a pity" several times. Li Congke was beside Li Siyuan at that time.
Therefore, although Li Congke was confident of winning the cavalry field battle, he was full of vigilance in his heart and was cautious along the way.
When he was five miles away from Xiangyuan City, Li Congke did not continue south. Instead, he took a detour to the west. Without knowing the enemy's situation, he did not want to go deep into his opponent's "controlled area." Li Congke's goal was very clear, which was to go straight to the main force of the Yan Army's cavalry. ——Shidang Mountain where the Liaodong Security Army is stationed. Shidang Mountain is thirteen miles away from Xiangyuan City. If the two sides fight, even if Xiangyuan City wants to send troops for reinforcements, it will give Li Congke at least two hours.
After walking only a few miles, Li Congke discovered the Yan Army cavalry squad. The enemy did not panic and run away like the Xuanwu cavalry, nor did they shout like the prairie cavalry, but silently moved away from the distance. After reaching a certain distance, they turned around and followed Li Congke two miles to the right of the cavalry. During the whole process, the Yan army cavalry behaved very calmly, and their unhurried atmosphere was impressive.
From the beginning to the end, this Yan army team with only ten cavalry has always maintained a strict order of action, whether it is going straight or turning around, whether it is walking slowly or galloping, or going up and down the slope. Every cavalryman in the queue has The position has not changed. Li Congke noticed that when this group of cavalry jumped up a small slope, the horse of the second cavalry paused for some unknown reason and did not follow. The cavalry on the horse urged several times, and his crotch The horse just started to climb the slope. This situation caused the distance between him and the first cavalry to increase by more than ten positions.
The key is that the third cavalryman immediately reined in his horse. Without surpassing the second cavalryman, the fourth and fifth cavalrymen behind him... including the last cavalryman all stopped in place and waited until the second cavalryman.
After restarting the war horses, the entire queue continued to move forward.
This detail repeatedly lingered in Li Congke's mind and became a lingering shadow.
Of course, Li Congke would feel very uncomfortable with such an enemy squad monitoring him. In fact, he also sent several cavalry squads to expel them, but the enemy was very cautious and always stayed two miles away. At this distance, Li Congke
He had no choice but to recall the cavalry that was going to expel it. Li Congke was very familiar with this cavalry cruising method. It came from the nomadic cavalry outside the pass. Li Congke could even know what methods the opponent would take to avoid chasing while maintaining a surveillance distance.
constant.
Therefore, Li Congke urged his men to speed up and ignore the Yan Army cavalry squad. He wanted to reach Shidang Mountain before the enemy reported back, without leaving enough time for the enemy to prepare - this was the only way to deal with it.
As soon as Li Congke's cavalry brigade picked up speed, the Yan Army cavalry squad in the distance blew the horn. The sound of the horn spread to all directions, echoing in the hills and fields. Li Congke couldn't help but feel nervous, but he didn't panic too much and used the horn to convey the warning.
It is common sense to signal, but a simple horn sound cannot convey detailed military information. Even if the enemy knows that there is a warning situation and needs to be alert, they do not know the degree of danger or the scale of the enemy attack.
Of course, there are also some generals who are more proficient in using cavalry tactics. They will set several ranks among their subordinates and blow different long and short trumpet sounds in different ways to represent the different levels of threats. But even so,
The information conveyed was also very limited, and Li Congke was not too worried about this...
However, Li Congke's expression changed, and the horns of the Yan army's cavalry seemed to be a little different. The horn sounds were long and short, fast and slow. At first, Li Congke thought that the other party's breath was disordered, and he blew such a completely out of tune sound. But it continued.
This happened several times, making Li Congke go from ridiculing to silence, from silence to awakening, and even to admiration.
It turns out that horns can be used in this way. By combining them with changes in length and speed, more and more detailed messages can be conveyed! Li Congke didn't know what information the Yan Army cavalry's horns conveyed back, but this idea is completely
It can be borrowed, as long as a fixed corresponding relationship is set in advance.
Li Congke began to hesitate. He didn't know whether he should rush to attack quickly as planned or terminate the order. After thinking about it, he decided not to make changes for the time being and take a look at the situation.
After walking forward for a while, another Yan Army cavalry squad was found on the left front. After a while, another cavalry squad was also attached behind them. More and more cavalry squads appeared around. This situation finally confirmed Li Congke's guess.
, the horn sound of the Yan Army cavalry could convey far more news than I expected, and the Yan Army cavalry in Shidang Mountain should be well prepared.
Li Congke immediately made a decision, raised his right arm and made a gesture to stop advancing, and the cavalry under his command stopped while slowly decelerating. Taking advantage of this gap for the horses to rest, Li Congke carefully thought about the next plan, and finally, he decided
Take the cavalry further to the west, outside the control range of the Yan army's cavalry. If the Yan army is willing to have an upright cavalry battle with him, he will not mind at all. If not, it will not delay him from searching from the periphery.
Fighters are actually a greater threat to the enemy.
After resting on the spot for a while, Li Congke directed the cavalry to turn southwest. At this moment, he heard a crisp explosion in the sky. He heard it, and a black cloud suddenly appeared in the quiet sky. Immediately afterwards, he heard a crisp explosion in the sky.
It was the second and third explosion, and two black clouds appeared together.
Three black clouds just appeared here. There were three more explosions in succession over there, and three more black clouds suddenly appeared in the sky together, then three more, and three more...
The weather in July was very hot, but Li Congke couldn't help but shudder. There was something unspeakably evil about this situation.
Many of the cavalry led by Li Congke had just experienced being "expelled" by the Yan army's cavalry a few days ago, and they couldn't help shouting: "Yao Yun! It's Yao Yun!"
"Thunder is coming!"
"It's the Five Thunder Methods!"
Li Congke suppressed the panic in his heart, forced himself to calm down, and asked his officers to suppress the panic-looking subordinates. Then he accelerated towards the southwest. On the way, there were explosions and black clouds appearing in the sky from time to time, accompanying this group of troops.
The panicked cavalry brigade.
Fortunately, although black clouds appeared from time to time, there were no lightning and thunder fires as expected. This allowed Li Congke to gradually calm down and also allowed the cavalry brigade to avoid the fate of disintegration. If there is really an expert in the Yan army, he will summon thunder.
If so, then there will be no need to fight this battle, and Li Congke will immediately order the withdrawal of troops. How can manpower resist the power of God? Isn't that a joke?
However, Li Congke secretly made up his mind. After returning to the camp, he immediately suggested to His Highness the King of Han that the sergeants collect dog blood and feces...
If Li Congke could transform into an eagle and look down from a high altitude, he would definitely turn around immediately and turn north. Just fifteen miles away, a large group of Yan Army cavalry was rapidly approaching in the direction in which he was traveling.
On the approach, the Yan Army cavalry continued to fire rockets into the sky, but what exploded in the air were clouds of white smoke. Under the summons of the rockets, groups of cavalry were coming from all directions to join them.
, the large group of cavalry gradually swelled like a snowball.
Li Congke led the army forward until the afternoon. The sun had already set in the west, and the sunlight was so bright that the cavalry could not open their eyes. At this time, Li Congke made a judgment. He believed that based on the distance of the detour, he was far away from the activities of the Yan army.
Although those pesky Yan Army cavalry squads were still circling around like flies, the threat had actually been eliminated. He estimated that it would not be long before night fell and he would be able to shake off the disturbance of these flies.
So he made a decision and prepared to turn due south. Of course, before turning, he also needed to let the army rest, eat something, drink some water, and restore power at the same time.
After running for a long time, the soldiers were covered in sweat. They took off the leather bags from their saddles and poured water into their mouths. Some of them couldn't bear the heat, so they simply took off their light armor and lay on the ground to catch their breath. There were also some who cherished their horses.
, not caring about drinking water to detoxify the armor, he took off the saddle of the war horse, loosened the reins around the horse's neck, and gave his beloved war horse water and food.
Li Congke knew that when the army was resting, it was also the most dangerous time. If it were on the battlefield, he would never allow the soldiers to disarm. At most, they would just dismount to eat and drink water, and relax their muscles and bones that were sore from the long-term bumps.
But now that we are far away from the Yan Army's control area, this risk does not seem too great. Compared with seizing the time to let the soldiers and horses recover their physical strength, a little risk is still worth taking. But for the sake of joining the army,
After many years of experience, he still sent hundreds of cavalry, divided into four directions and spread out for a mile to guard against those pesky little flies of the Yan army.
After taking a short rest, Li Congke summoned several captains and captains who led the team to discuss the next step. As veteran Hedong soldiers who have guarded Luzhou for many years, they don't need maps at all. The surrounding geography, mountains and rivers are all in their hearts.
, you can speak out just by opening your mouth.
Some people suggested that after dark, go around to the southern foot of Shidang Mountain and raid the Yan Army cavalry camp from behind. However, if you attack at night, it is impossible for the whole army to go. The soldiers who can see at night do not make up the majority in the army, and they need to be discussed.
A more secure approach.
Some people also suggested walking an extra fifteen miles south, then east, to attack the Yan army camp at Wuyang Mountain south of Xiangyuan City. There was a large amount of baggage stored there. If they could be destroyed and burned, it would undoubtedly be of great significance.
Some people even suggested that they simply go straight to the gates of Luzhou City and look for opportunities to capture Luzhou. Although this idea was bolder, it was also more nonsense, and Li Congke just laughed it off.
Li Congke listened to his subordinates' suggestions and thought about it in his mind, gradually forming a complete strategy in his mind. He planned to pull back and forth in the south of Xiangyuan, triggering the main force of the Yan army's cavalry to attack, and then stay in Yutun at Mopan Mountain, which was the most convenient place for an ambush.
Set up an ambush at the junction and destroy the main force of the Yan army's cavalry in one fell swoop!
A ray of breeze slowly blew over from the east with a heat wave, rolling up pieces of white dandelion flowers. Li Congke was slightly distracted. Watching these flowers drifting away to the west, he felt an inexplicable heart palpitation. (To be completed.)