The immigrant army marched desperately under the scorching sun. Regardless of the complaints of the people, the soldiers showed their swords and guns and forced them to march with force. They marched with all their strength. Now, they can only rely on their fists to reason.
It's time.
Everyone was sweating profusely, and even Cheng Dexuan and Yang Hao who were riding on horseback were looking miserable and miserable. However, even if they hurried slowly, they were overtaken by the Khitan's pioneer cavalry at noon the next day.
Just after noon, the team had just had lunch and were rushing forward. Suddenly, they saw birds in the air flying quickly over their heads. Yang Hao turned around and looked into the distance with his hand on the awning.
A black spot appeared on the horizon. The black spot quickly grew in size, and gradually it became clear that it was a cavalry team approaching at a gallop.
Yang Haoyou suddenly changed his color and shouted: "No, the Khitans are really coming after me."
Of course, it is possible that the pursuers are the Song Army, but in such a hot weather, not only people can't stand it, but also horses. If there are Song Army cavalry behind them, they have no reason to gallop like this, so even though they can't see clearly at this time.
The costumes and appearance of the troops made it obvious that they must be Khitan people.
Cheng Dexuan also saw the pursuers at this time, and immediately drew his sword and shouted: "Quick, quick, move forward quickly, ordering everyone to move forward immediately. Leave everything that can be left behind, why are you panic, you, you, you..., how dare you
Anyone who runs around without obeying orders will be killed without mercy!"
Cheng Dexuan took on this important task for the first time. He drew his sword in panic and gave orders incoherently. A man galloped up from the rear. Although the weather was hot, the man was still neatly dressed. He galloped to the two imperial envoys Cheng and Yang.
He said loudly: "Two adults, we can't leave anymore. Unless we leave these people behind, it is impossible for us to escape from the pursuing soldiers. If we run desperately at this time, the formation will inevitably be in chaos, and the soldiers will be too courageous to resist.
Then the situation is over. From General Mo's point of view, this is a vanguard force of the Khitan people. Although their soldiers are sharp, they are not large in number. We may not be able to fight, but now we must quickly arrange our troops to meet them.
"
This young general was handsome in life, and his armor made him look more heroic. Because of the hot weather, his fair face was flushed, faintly stained with sweat. Yang Hao took a look and recognized this man as Luo Kedi. He was the commander-in-chief of Yuhou, the capital of the army.
These two thousand forbidden soldiers and horses. Yuhou of the military capital is the deputy of the commander of the military capital. Under the four-level military organization of Xiang, jun, camp and capital, he is already a senior general at the army level. Because he is affiliated with the forbidden army, he is directly under the control of Cheng Dexuan
, so Yang Hao didn’t have much contact with him.
Cheng Dexuan shouted: "The enemy's cavalry is galloping like tigers and wolves. We have fifty thousand people as burdens. How can we fight with them? Army Lord Luo, follow my orders and quickly lead your troops to stop the enemy. I and Yang are both
It is better to lead people on the road and take as much as they can, rather than to stop and wait for death."
Luo Kedi said anxiously: "Sir, the terrain here is open and flat. Even if the general leads his troops to meet the enemy, the enemy may not be willing to obey me. If the enemy rides around my chariot and attacks the people from the flank, then who will
Can you stop this tiger and wolf army? My lord, now we can only gather our troops and prepare for battle. This is no longer possible."
Yang Hao immediately expressed his position and shouted: "Master Cheng, I think what Army Commander Luo said is true. If we run away blindly, the entire team will be dragged into a long snake. Once it is cut into pieces by the Khitans, it will only
We can let them slaughter us. Now it seems that the Khitan vanguard is not very large, so it is better to obey the Luo army leader and fight with them, maybe there is something we can do."
Yang Hao has never led a soldier or read a military book, but he has a good understanding of people. It is true that Cheng Dexuan is knowledgeable and talented, but this does not mean that he is proficient in the art of war and has rich experience in battle formations. Although in Yang Hao's heart, he is just like Cheng Dexuan
, when he saw the Khitan cavalry chasing after him, he instinctively wanted to escape. The faster the better, the farther the better. However, he believed that Luo Kedi, who was born in the army, had his reasons. Just because he didn't understand, it didn't mean what others said.
That's wrong. At this time, instead of placing hope on Cheng Dexuan, who was born as a scholar, it is better to bet on Luo to defeat the enemy.
Luo Kedi didn't know that this Yang Qinqi was just betting on him because he was suffering from a sudden illness.
I couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
Seeing the pursuers getting closer and closer, Cheng Dexuan ran out of ideas for a moment and had to say: "Okay, Commander Luo, I grant you the power to make arbitrary decisions in battle. What do you think we should do?"
Luo Kedi was overjoyed and said: "Two adults, look over there. There is a barren mountain two miles away from here. Please ask the two adults to speed up the people to leave the road and move down the mountain. At the end, we will gather the chariots behind to protect them. According to the terrain,
In order to block the pursuing troops, the Khitans cannot bypass us and attack the rear formation, so they have no choice but to fight with me to have a chance of survival."
Now that Cheng Dexuan had delegated power, he no longer came up with random ideas. Now he couldn't help making any more ideas. He immediately said: "Okay, Mr. Yang, let's speed the people back to the foot of the mountain on the left."
Immediately, he ordered to go down. For a while, people on the road were shouting horses, donkeys howling and mules braying. Some were crying and some were cursing, but no one hesitated. The huge team left the road in a panic and fled under the leadership of the Song Army.
At the foot of the bare mountain on the left, the road was empty of people and horses, but there were many baskets and jars left behind, as if the market had just been robbed.
Liu Shixuan, Fan Laosi and others shouted at the top of their lungs and drove the people to gather at the foot of the mountain like cattle and sheep. The people crowded together and looked at the Khitan cavalry in fear as they ran closer and closer. Luo Kedi saw the Khitan cavalry approaching.
Immediately gather all the chariots to form a hollow triangular formation with two layers inside and outside, and let the archers and crossbowmen use the chariots as shelters to hide inside. The fleet was spread out, barely blocking the front of all the people, and only an arrow away from them.
land.
Then he ordered the battalion commander Xu Haibo and two generals from Helongcheng who were affiliated with the Forbidden Army and Cheng Shixiong to lead the cavalry and infantry to form two small formations of wild goose feathers on the left and right flanks of the vehicle formation to protect the civilian flanks.
Inside, the spearmen were in front, the infantry crouched down, their rifle shafts resting on the ground, and the big guns pointed forward, like a sharp steel forest.
The large formation had just taken shape, and Luo Kedi's flying cavalry sent people to inform the two imperial envoys behind them, Cheng Dexuan and Yang Hao, to gather their own soldiers as preparations. However, when they saw the large formation, the two small formations rushed to supplement them wherever they were tight. Here.
The arrangements had just been made, and the Khitan cavalry had already arrived.
This enemy cavalry was indeed just a small vanguard force of the Khitan people, as Luo Kedi analyzed. After learning that the people of the Northern Han Dynasty had been kidnapped by the Song people, Emperor Liu Jiyuan of the Northern Han Dynasty met his Khitan heroine as if he were in mourning.
Then he cried and complained that he was wronged.
After Empress Xiao heard the whole story, she also knew that the Song people's plan was too vicious. If they really succeeded, the Northern Han Dynasty would be either dead or dead in less than two years. Although the Khitan's sending troops to divert troops to digest internal conflicts was the reason,
But if the Northern Han Dynasty could not be saved, it would be meaningless to make such sacrifices to protect the Northern Han Dynasty. So after Zhao Kuangyin led the main force of the Song Army to retreat on his own initiative, she immediately sent several thousand-man teams to search separately to find out where the main force of the Song Army was.
, and the second is to find the whereabouts of the Northern Han people they moved away.
The commander of the thousand enemy cavalry on this road was named Ke Pibao, and he was a general under King Yelu Dilie of Ji who died on the banks of the Tongtian River. Yelu Dilie had a violent temper, and he always made no progress or retreat in his military use. The generals he admired and promoted naturally had the same temperament.
Like-minded people, most of them are impulsive and arrogant, and when fighting, they focus on bravery rather than strategies. Luo Ke's enemy is afraid that he will not charge head-on. If he leads his cavalry to attack one of his wings, the temporary formation he has set up cannot guarantee the mutual success of the three formations.
Echoing, Ke Pibao was overjoyed when he saw that he had found the relocated people of the Northern Han Dynasty. A great achievement was right in front of him. He slapped his horse and shouted loudly. He just wanted to kill the Song army in front of him, and there was no way he could avoid it.
When the enemy is strong, attack his weakness.
The Khitan soldiers on this road were all his subordinates, and they were all arrogant and arrogant. Due to Empress Xiao's victory this time, even the Emperor of the Song Dynasty fled, and he did not take the Song troops who were protecting the people on this road into consideration.
, seeing that there were more Song soldiers in formation than them, the Khitan cavalry were not afraid at all. They were like tigers and dragons. They rushed towards the Song army's formation with a fierce energy that destroyed everything, trying to fight.
And overthrew the Song army's chariot formation, killing them all like pigs and sheep: "The heads of the Song army can be taken back to receive rewards. Among the tens of thousands of people behind, there are countless young girls who can't lose their money, haha
! This good job was snatched away by us. Could it be that the spirit of King Ji in heaven protects us?"
Luo Ke was standing in front of the enemy's cavalry formation alone, with a spear across his saddle. Seeing that the enemy's cavalry neither slowed down nor had any intention of avoiding the impact of the formation, he couldn't help but feel happy. He secretly calculated the speed of the enemy's cavalry, and saw the enemy's cavalry rushing forward.
Xiao Yanchen swooped over, suddenly raised his gun, and shouted sternly: "Fire the arrow!"
The archers were already ready, and a row of sharp arrows immediately roared out. Among the Song army's arms, archers were equipped with the most. Each soldier in the capital was equipped with eight swordsmen, sixteen gunmen, and more than seventy others.
They were all archers and crossbowmen, and the proportion of close-combat personnel was extremely small. This round of arrow rain was overwhelming, and when it shot down from the sky, it was the time when the Khitan cavalry forwards were able to rush into the land of an arrow.
The arrows were like rain, and the Khitan soldiers were rushing forward. Most of them had no time to take out their leather shields to defend themselves, and they were immediately shot to the point of being turned upside down. Unmoved, Luo Ke's enemy waved his gun and shouted again: "Fire the arrows!"
The second round of arrow rain came out again. The Khitan people relied on the speed of their horses and rushed forward with strange shouts and screams under the rain of arrows. They ignored the dead and wounded. By the time the third round of arrow rain came out, the Khitan cavalry had already rushed forward.
Within a few steps, the ferocious facial features of the person rushing at the front were clearly distinguishable.
Luo Kedi shouted coldly: "Zhang Nu, shoot!"
The trumpeters behind him immediately waved their flags. The crossbowmen were also veterans with rich battle experience. Seeing the enemy approaching, they did not panic. Following the commander's orders, they stood with the chariot as cover.
There, they all lowered their hard crossbows, pedaled dryly with their feet, bent down and straightened up, opened the crossbow strings with a creaking sound, and slid in the crossbow arrows. There was only a sound of "clang clang clang", and countless crossbow arrows shot from the side of the chariot, and the chariot
The Khitan cavalry roared away from above.
The crossbow arrows were more powerful than bows and arrows, and could be fired flatly. At this time, the Khitan people were closer, and the crossbow arrows were easier to aim. They immediately shot down nearly a hundred Khitan knights. Seeing the Khitan knights rushing forward, they overturned their horses. Because of the rapid momentum, many of them were killed.
The war horse fell to the ground and rolled more than two feet away, causing the Khitan cavalry behind to stop its momentum. Luo Kedi immediately issued an order to actively attack: "Chariots, charge into the formation!"
Dozens of chariots rushed forward, rushing towards the Khitan cavalry whose charge formation had been scattered. Every unit has its advantages and disadvantages. If Ke Baabao used the cavalry's high mobility to focus on one wing of the Song army,
, forcing the chariot formation to move and disrupt the position, and then use the army to cover it up. Luo Ke's enemy's chariot formation will never be able to exert such power. At this time, Ke Baabao has lost the opportunity, and the cavalry is trapped in the chariot formation, which is really worse than the infantry.
.
Yang Hao looked at it from a distance and saw that the Song Army's vehicle formation tactics were quite similar to the tank tactics of later generations. They first used "artillery fire" to attack from a distance, and then relied on armor to make a brutal collision. The infantry of the brigade followed behind to take advantage. At this moment, it was
In this way, the chariots rushed into the enemy formation and entangled the enemy cavalry. The chariots wielded axes and swords, cutting people's heads upwards, and hacking horses' legs.
, the knight on horseback was unable to dodge, and was immediately killed.
This tactic is the most advantageous means of arranging formations on the plains to deal with cavalry. Later, the Song army defeated the Jin army in the Dayi Town, Tuogao and other battles. It was this tactic that the northern warriors also admitted. The Central Plains army, the Great
The best thing is the bow and arrow, the next best thing is the broadsword and heavy axe, and there is nothing to fear. Now this Khitan cavalry just cooperated so well that the Song army perfectly executed the attack tactic of a chariot formation and heavy axe.
The dog did not dare to see the daylight, so he hid in the car and asked nervously: "Hey, old Taoist priest, has Uncle Yang Hao defeated the Khitans?"
The old Taoist seemed to be awake and stared at the battle ahead without saying a word. The dog barked again: "Hey, old Taoist, is my uncle Yang Hao okay?"
Fuyaozi twirled his beard and rolled his eyes but still ignored her. Gouer had to change his words and said, "Grandpa Taoist, please tell me quickly."
She saw that the Taoist priest had black hair and seemed to be much younger than Grandpa Liu who was driving the car, but he also had a lot of wrinkles on his face, so she changed her words obediently and called him Grandpa Taoist priest. Fuyaozi laughed and said, "Uncle Yang Hao."
He stood there calmly and watched the enemy's formation. He neither struck a blow nor shot an arrow. He was protected by more than a hundred soldiers around him, and he never went into battle with a sword. What could happen to him?"
After hearing this, Gou'er felt relieved, patted his chest and said, "It's good that uncle didn't go into battle. Grandpa Taoist, I heard the shouting of killing outside is really scary. Have we won?"
Fuyaozi squinted his eyes and saw Luo Ke Diqin leading his chariot into the enemy formation, using the advantage of heavy equipment to suppress the maneuvering space of the Khitan cavalry, causing the enemy cavalry to completely lose their combat advantage of maneuverability and agility.
The Song army commanders were all experienced battlefield veterans. At this time, they had also seized the opportunity to lead the cavalry and infantry to outflank the enemy from both wings. The infantry charged into the enemy's formation, and the cavalry surrounded the enemy's rear.
Seeing that the whole army was wiped out, he twirled his beard and smiled and said: "We win, we win, don't worry, this Khitan cavalry came to attack alone and abandoned its strength. This battle will be completely defeated."
When Gou'er heard this, he couldn't help but wished he couldn't run out and see with his own eyes the majesty of Uncle Yang Hao's victory. The majesty of Uncle Yang Hao? That's natural. What does it matter if he didn't go into battle? In Gou'er's heart, he
She was a high-ranking official, so even if she didn't go into battle, her Uncle Yang must have personally commanded this battle.
In Gou'er's mind, "General Yang", who had as many strategies as Zhuge and was as brave as Zilong, was standing idle side by side with Cheng Dexuan, watching in stunned silence as the Song army slaughtered the Khitan people to pieces.
However, although the Song army won this battle easily, he also knew that there was some luck in it. If the Khitan soldiers were really so ineffective, heroes like Zhao Kuangyin would not have to lead the army to escape far away.
Seeing Xu Haibo and the two commanders of Helongcheng led their troops to outflank them, the overall situation was settled. Cheng Dexuan couldn't help but be overjoyed, as if this battle was all his fault, and said with great joy: "Our Song Dynasty soldiers are really brave, haha
, although this Khitan people are coming with a fierce force, they are actually vulnerable to a single blow. Yang Dujian, do you think our army can wipe out all the enemy cavalry in this group?"
Yang Hao shook his head slightly and said: "Sir, unless none of the Khitan soldiers in this group wants to escape, it would be... very difficult to annihilate a whole cavalry group."
At this time, the Khitan soldiers saw that the situation was not good and broke out of the encirclement and fled towards the road. Cheng Dexuan sighed and said regretfully: "It's a pity, it's really a pity. However, I can severely damage the enemy's cavalry in one battle and make them flee. This
That’s enough.”
Seeing that he was a little carried away, Yang Hao couldn't help but remind him: "Master Cheng, now that the fish that have slipped through the net have escaped, I am afraid that a large group of enemy cavalry will arrive soon. Although we have won this battle, our purpose is to kill this enemy."
Bringing tens of thousands of people safely into the Song Dynasty, I'm afraid this task will become even more difficult."
Cheng Dexuan frowned slightly and thought for a moment: "How long will it take before we get to the nearest defensible city in the east?"
Yang Hao thought for a while and replied: "There are still more than six hundred miles." His voice was a little bitter: "We support the old and the young. I'm afraid... we can't outrun the Khitan cavalry on this section of the road."
Cheng Dexuan glanced at him with some contempt and said lightly: "Master Yang, are you afraid?"
Yang Hao suppressed his anger and argued: "Sir, I am indeed afraid. Instead of worrying about my own safety, I have to consider tens of thousands of women and children. Now that the Khitan people have chased us and discovered our traces, I'm afraid we are
We cannot bring these people safely to the southeastern roads. What if... we follow the second route designated by the government and go south, then west, and across the river to the Yan'an Prefecture area?"
Cheng Dexuan hesitated for a moment, shook his head slightly, and Yang Hao continued: "This place is a straight line to the east. It is very easy to catch up with the flat plains. Moreover, the entire route is too close to the north. They can catch up from behind, or they can notify the domestic garrison.
, cross-border interception at any time, with such a large team of people, the possibility of entering a safe area safely is very small. If we immediately change the route and go south along this mountain range, then go west, cross the river and head southwest, the Khitan
People must not dare to go deep into the Song Dynasty and chase them there. Only in this way can we take people out safely. Now we have a small victory, which just serves to confuse the enemy. The enemy cavalry will search the road ahead if they are chasing.
They didn't expect us to suddenly change our route. When they realize that we have arrived at the edge of the Yellow River, we will be able to reach the Song Dynasty safely without losing any troops or horses."
Yang Hao spoke sincerely, but Cheng Dexuan knew in his heart that Zhao Kuangyin did not want to bring these people to the Zhe family's sphere of influence in the southwest. He did not want to take this road unless he had to. If he could bring all these tens of thousands of people to the east road,
This merit is perfect and can win the favor of the officials. It seems that he only hesitated for a moment, then sneered: "Master Yang is a bit alarmist. The Khitans are still searching for the official's troops everywhere, how can they deploy heavy troops to pursue them?
We, the generals, are brave and good at fighting. With them protecting us and blocking the enemy, we travel all the way eastward day and night. How do we know that we cannot reach the Song Dynasty safely?"
Before Yang Hao could say anything more, Cheng Dexuan had already stepped forward and said coldly: "The Khitans have retreated. Let's go visit the soldiers. Let's not mention the change of march route for now."
Seeing Cheng Dexuan leading his soldiers to happily greet the bloody soldiers, Yang Hao shook his head gently and sighed: "If you are not afraid of enemies like tigers, you are afraid of comrades like pigs. Don't bring these tens of thousands of creatures with you." It’s better to be in a desperate situation.”
Fan Laosi spat out the chewed grass stalks and said grimly: "Sir, as long as you kill that pig, are you worried about someone holding you back?"
Yang Hao knew that the upper-class people still cared about saving face, but the gap between the Northwest Zhe family and the imperial court made the lower-class soldiers and the imperial soldiers very distinct and often hostile to each other. But he never thought of soldiers like Fan Laosi. He didn't take the majesty of the imperial court at all and actually said such treasonous words. He was afraid that Fan Laosi would really commit some crime and bring disaster to the nine clans, so he couldn't help scolding him sternly: "What nonsense are you talking about?" , get rid of your gangster spirit, do you want to turn yourself into a bandit? Don't cause a big disaster for me."
Fan Laosi's gloomy look disappeared as soon as he drank it. He put on a ruffian look, rubbed his hands, and said with a dry smile: "Isn't a humble job just about talking as much as you like? Sir, why do you still take it seriously? , Hehe, it’s just a joke, it’s just a joke.”
Yang Hao was angry and funny. He glared at him fiercely, then kicked his horse and chased after Cheng Dexuan.
Seeing the Khitan soldiers rolling in like a violent wind and flowing like flowing water, the frightened people suddenly started shouting wildly. However, the burly old man in his fifties showed neither joy nor anger on his face. He only glanced at the victory returner. Song Jun, with his hands on his knees, narrowed his sharp eyes and looked up at the sky. There was a goshawk in the sky, circling several times in the air, fluttering its wings and flying north. He sighed softly and shook his head slightly. Shaking his head: "The road ahead is bumpy and I may not be able to make it."
Mu En, a big man standing by the side, said in a deep voice: "The Khitan people have an eagle to deliver the news. I am afraid that the cavalry from the Northern Kingdom will rush into the Song Dynasty to intercept them at any time. The road ahead is no longer safe. Do I want to remind those two Song Dynasty soldiers?" grown ups?"
The old man smiled lightly and said, "What are you going to do?"
Mu En said anxiously: "Your Majesty, if the Khitan people come to kill you, your Majesty may be injured during the war. Let's..."
The old man said calmly: "I have been drifting with the tide and being manipulated by others all my life. I have lived a life like a walking zombie. Now that I am old, what else do I have to hope for? Just live one day at a time. Whether it is a Song Dynasty or a Khitan, what does it have to do with me? ?”
"My lord..."
"Don't be impatient!" After the old man said this, he closed his eyes and regained consciousness. Mu En stopped talking. He stamped his feet fiercely, looked at the place where the eagle disappeared in the sky, and let out a long sigh.