After the capture of Yiyang City, the troops of Xiao Tang, Wei Dingguo, and Shan Tinggui could only temporarily station themselves for rest and reorganization, because going westward, they would reach Yongnian City, where the Mingzhou government seat was heavily guarded by the bandits from southern Hebei. "
When the commander-in-chief Wang Huan, deputy commander-in-chief Kai Zhang Wenda, Xue Yuanhui and other generals were dispatching their troops to Yiyang City, a battle report came from the south of Mingzhou named Wang Huan, and the two commanders Zhang Zhang were filled with anger:
Chen Zhu, Wu Bingyi, and Ma Wanli were defeated in Feixiang County, Mingzhou.
Originally, Wang Huan's strategic plan was for him to lead his troops into Quzhou County, and then Chen Zhu and other governors of the western capital of Beijing would go north to encircle them and station them on the south bank of the Ming River. After breaking through Yongnian City, the seat of Mingzhou, if Zhang Di fled west
, Chen Zhu and others can lead the army westward to Handan, Cizhou, to cut off Zhang Di's retreat.
Hedong Road is also a place where banditry is rampant. Zhang Di wanted to escape to Hedong via Hebei West Road, but he was blocked by the majestic and steep Taihang Mountains going straight west. He could only enter Cizhou from the west of Linming Town, and then go south.
He 1 Bei Xiangzhou and then turn into Hedong Road Longde Mansion.
If Chen Zhu and other governors can conquer Feixiang and march to the east of Cizhou, then Wang Huan and Zhang Kai will lead the imperial army of Xiao Tang, Wen Da and others to the east of Zhang Didi. They will be blocked by the Taihang Mountains in the west and Xingzhou, Zhaozhou and Zhending in the north.
The Imperial Guards in the prefectures and prefectures were waiting in strict formation, and in the south there were Chen Zhu and other governors of the capital and west leading their troops to intercept... Zhang Di had no way to go to heaven and no way to go to earth, so why don't you worry about teaching him how to subjugate the law?
But now with the massive defeat in Feixiang County, all strategic plans have become delusional.
"Bah!" The fiery man opened his hand and slapped it hard on the table, with his face as heavy as water, and said sternly: "Those chaotic idiots! If we get away from Zhang Di this time, I will definitely make those guys look good in the Privy Council!
"
Xiao Tang and his subordinates joined Wei Dingguo, and Shan Tinggui had been stationed in Yiyang. He had just received the battle report, but did not know the details. Xiao Tang asked: "Most of the bandits in southern Hebei are thieves who are not trained in military affairs. The so-called alliance
They are just a mob, and now most of the rebels are gathered in Linming. Yongnian, the three captains and more than ten battalions of soldiers and horses, how can they be defeated in Feixiang? "
Wen Da laughed and said to Xiao Tang: "Brother Xiao, I don't know. The Western Jing Army was fighting with Zhang Xiong and Fan Yuming, the thieves of Southern Hebei Province, in Feixiang. According to the battle report, they had the upper hand, but suddenly a group of soldiers came out to ambush them."
The ambushing bandit army was led by a big man wielding a big axe. They rushed into the middle army and fought with Chen Zhu and other generals. The combined strength of Chen Dujian, Wu Dujian and Ma Dujian was not that big man's.
Opponent! In addition to the ferocious helpers around the big man, seven or eight people were killed just by the commander, General Ya, etc. The thieves took advantage of the situation to counterattack, and Chen Dujian and others were defeated and retreated south, and they were almost out of Mingzhou territory."
Hearing Wenda's expression showed a hint of schadenfreude, obviously he had taken revenge on Chen Zhu for ridiculing Hebei generals last time. When Xiaotang heard what Da said, his expression changed, so that the big man with the big ax could do this again, wasn't it?
Then who else could Bian Xiang be?
Xiao Tang knew the martial arts of Chen Zhu, Wu Bingyi, and Ma Wanli. In the Water Margin, they were just three people who gave life to the five tigers and eight husbands of Liangshan to gain experience. With Bian Xiang's martial arts, he was Xiao Tang for a while.
, Hua Rong, Suo can withstand the siege of three people, let alone these three who are not very capable?
It’s just that now that Bian Xiang has accomplished such a great feat, he will definitely be more important to Zhang Di. If we meet him again on the battlefield, let alone persuade him to surrender, how can we save him when he takes the lives of many officers and generals?
Xiao Tang was just thinking, and he opened his mouth and cursed loudly: "What kind of big man can use an axe? The two commanders, Xiao Superintendent and Dezhou, sent only five battalions of soldiers and horses to conquer three cities in a row, but these idiots almost They were kicked out of Mingzhou! According to me, those stupid guys were afraid that I and Wang Jiedu would pursue them for their defeat, so they lied and made up some character to cover up the blame. There really is such a thief, More than a dozen battalions of soldiers and horses can't stop him!?
If grandma is in mourning, if this time an official sends an envoy with a sword medal (the military system of the Song Dynasty, the emperor appoints a general to lead the expedition, and gives him a sword or a gold medal to kill the person who violated the military order. The military punishment will be implemented after the implementation of the military law) After hearing this, the commander-in-chief was given great powers of military trial in the war, and the military powers granted him were immediately withdrawn after the war. This was similar to the power of military generals during the Han and Jin Dynasties (Jijie Yue) who went on expeditions. I first beheaded these donkey heads to punish them. !”
Although Zhang Kaifeng had been recruited for many years and was a member of the officialdom, he still did not change his fierce and tough habits when he was roaming in the green forest. Now he was furious because Chen Zhu and others were dragging down the fighter plane, and he even cursed with foul language. Will come.
The old romantic Wang Huan had worked hard for decades and was far better at cultivating Qi than Zhang Zhang. When he saw Zhang Zhang, the deputy commander, yelling at himself, he said: "Brother Zhang Zhang, you are from the green forest. For the green forest thieves, Naturally, you know very well what methods of fighting are used. Most of the thieves and soldiers fight against the officers and soldiers. Strictly obeying the military orders and practicing the troops are secondary, all based on their momentum. If the momentum overwhelms the enemy, each one will be like a wolf. Tigers are ferocious and arrogant; if their momentum is overwhelmed by others, they will collapse and scatter like birds and beasts.
The two commanders, Xiao Superintendent and Dezhou Wei and Shan, made their troops well-trained. They first planned to capture Xiazhou City by cooperating internally and externally, and then used Geng Gong, the surrendered general, to deceive Yiyang City. Both of them killed the bandits by surprise, and the thieves were caught off guard. The momentum of the army has been captured, so our army is invincible. Although most of the people who gathered in the mountains and forests are wild bandits, there are also many brave and resourceful people. If Chen Dujian and others really encounter some extravagant and powerful people, some of them will This defeat is not surprising."
He opened his mouth and said angrily: "Why should Wang Jiedu excuse those stupid birds who are afraid of swords and afraid of death?"
Wang Huan smiled slightly and said, "How can I excuse those three people? But I know myself and my enemy. The strong men in the green forest are all poor in their strongholds. The same goes for our officers and soldiers in the Song Dynasty. The remaining divisions and command divisions of various military prefectures Those who are responsible for overseeing the capital, appointing governors, and commanding envoys who are diligent and conscientious in their duties may be able to train elite soldiers. However, the military affairs of the Song Dynasty... I don’t need to go into details, brother Zhang Kai, you must also know it very well."
Although Wang Huan was speaking to Zhang Kai, his eyes glanced at Xiao Tang, with a profound meaning. Although Wang Huan was unable to express it clearly, Xiao Tang understood the meaning of Wang Huan's words. Now he is serving as a military escort in Daming Prefecture's Left-behind Department. , it has long been seen and heard that various ministries are drinking blood from soldiers, eating empty pay, slacking off in training, and redundant soldiers with low combat effectiveness.
Of course, Xiao Tang could rely on his relationship with Liang Shijie, the left-behind prime minister, and Wen Da, the military supervisor, so that he would not be tied up in the left-behind department of Daming Prefecture. He could even entrust Suo and other brave generals who were good at fighting with heavy responsibilities to supervise the military under his command.
However, both Liang Shijie and Wen Da, while maintaining a certain combat strength of the imperial army under their rule, also used the army as a channel to collect money in accordance with the custom of various states and governments to emphasize civil affairs over military affairs.
As for Li Cheng, another military supervisor in Daming Mansion, his misdeeds were particularly bad. Xiao Tang also had a cold relationship with him. Firstly, Li Cheng was not as kind as Wen Da (although Wen Da was a bit arrogant and arrogant, and was ridiculed as "the big sword is not known for hearing it"). , "You are so crazy about showing off your skills," and he also suggested that lighting up lights during the Lantern Festival would help Liangshan conquer Daming Palace. When Yang Zhi was competing with Daming Palace in Dongguo and Zhou Jin, even though one was an army corpsman and the other was a low-ranking sergeant, they were still He, a high-ranking soldier, noticed that Xiu had accidentally injured his colleague, so he proposed to test the spearhead with a piece of felt dipped in lime). He was a person with a narrow and sinister personality. Secondly, Xiao Tang knew that Li Cheng later turned to the traitors. Under Liu Yu's tent, he just thought there was no chance to take his life, so how could he have any friendship with him?
Daming Mansion is still a famous city with a strategic location in the north of Hebei Province, and the situation in other state capitals must be even worse. What Wang Huan wanted to say to Xiao Tang was obviously: If you want to continue in the military circles of the Song Dynasty, follow the military career The higher you go, the more problems you will face that will make you unable to deal with them. How will you deal with them then?
Of course, Zhang Kai, who had gotten to know Wang Huan, understood what Wang Huan was saying. He scolded: "Zhi Niang thief! If these were the soldiers I led..." At this point, even he, a brave and fierce general, also I couldn't help but shook my head in annoyance. Although Fang Jiedu is an official with outstanding martial arts, it is just a false title that enjoys a generous salary but no real power. When I go on an expedition, I call you to command. On weekdays, you can only command three or two battalions of soldiers. .The generals do not know the soldiers, and the soldiers do not know the generals. The real power of training the army and supervising the military affairs is not as good as the control of a military state, and the supervision of the soldiers and horses.
Zhang Zhang gave a low hum and brought the topic back to the crusade against Zhang Di. Back then, he was also a tycoon in the green forest. What about Zhang Di, a man who was unwilling to make a living by cutting trails in the mountains and forests, and went around recruiting and gathering strong men to make a living? His actions could not be more clear. He said: "Zhang Dina is an ambitious man. If he sees that the momentum is not right and leads his people to flee to Hedong, the court will blame him. In three to five years, this guy will make trouble again!" "
"Since we can't intercept him, won't we chase him?" Wang Huan laughed loudly and said, "But the most important thing at hand is how to capture Yongnian City."
When Wang Huan, Zhang Kai, Xiao Tang and other generals were discussing strategies to attack the city, a sergeant suddenly came to report: "Report! There are fifty or sixty thousand people coming from the direction of Yongnian City, heading straight for our army camp!"
"What?" He raised his eyebrows and frowned, cursing: "Fart! Where did the thieves in southern Hebei come from with 50,000 or 60,000 troops!? Didn't they just fall from the sky?"
The sergeant who came to report grinned and said with a wry smile: "Deputy Commander Zhang... none of the people here are thieves..."
In front of Wang Huan's military camp, there was a crowd of tens of thousands, but they were all villagers. Most of them shouted for heaven and earth, howling and crying bitterly. When everyone saw Wang Huan and other generals, they said one thing to the other and shouted to the other, making a roaring noise. In one group, Zhijiao Xiao Tang and others were dumbfounded.
"What on earth is going on?" Wang Huan, a veteran who was used to seeing things like wind and rain, couldn't help but wonder, and ordered the soldiers around him to shout: "Fellows, don't panic! But they are all people from Yongnian City? Let's call a leader. Come and answer!"
The crowd was surging, and suddenly a man dressed as a scholar squeezed out. When he saw Wang Huan, he immediately paid homage to him: "I have been promoted to the official position in Mingzhou, Chen Zhi, and I have met Lord Jiedushi!"
Wang Huan hurriedly asked: "Chen Tuiguan, what happened in Yongnian City? How come you and the people are here?"
Chen Zhi, with a mournful face, replied: "My lord, the thieves in southern Hebei Province broke into Yongnian City that day, and many of the prefect's military supervisors were killed by the thieves. In recent days, I heard that your Excellency led the army to break several cities in a row, and the thief Lu Hui in the city ordered the thief generals.
The first-ripening crops outside the city were plundered, and a large amount of grain and grass was stored to guard the city. The people in the city were plundered, stripped, and stripped of their property, money, and food, and all were driven out of the city. The people in the city were starved of food, so they had to come all the way to join the adults' camp.
I hope you will understand the suffering of the people and take care of them!"
Strong walls and clear fields?
After listening to the recommendation officer surnamed Chen, these four words came to Xiao Tang's mind, but this method is not the right way to use it on the conquering officers and soldiers, right?
This "fortifying the wall and clearing the field" refers to a defensive strategy in which the defender strengthens the city defense and harvests all the food outside the city, so that the attacker cannot capture the stronghold and cannot grab supplies, and has to retreat after running out of dry food and grass. However, this is a defensive strategy mostly used in country-to-country, two-way battles.
It is a combat method for forces to resist the enemy's invasion for a long time. Now Wang Huan leads a large army to conquer the bandits in the Song Dynasty. If the food and grass are not enough, they can be continuously replenished by the surrounding state capitals. How can we make the army retreat after running out of food?
After hearing this, Wang Huan snorted coldly and said: "It seems that the thief is taking advantage of the danger of the city wall to fight our army to the end."
After hearing what Wang Huan said, Xiao Tang thought about it and roughly came up with an idea. The thief saw that the eastern company of Mingzhou had captured three cities, and the army reached Yongnian City. He could not gain the upper hand in a field battle with the officers and soldiers, so he had to borrow
The power of the city wall consumes the army's strength.
In the battle to defend the city, the thieves' food reserves in the city were the top priority. Now that they had plundered all the crops around the prefecture, they were also prepared for a long period of attrition with the government and army. As for the people in the city, although they were ferocious and brutal during the Song Dynasty
There are many strongmen, but there are very few examples of people in the city being used as hostages to threaten the government and the army.
Although this move is not in line with the morality of the world, the main reason is that in the past when thieves were suppressed, ruthless generals in the army often killed good people who took advantage of their merits. From the perspective of thieves, the officers were greedy for profit.
If you only want to achieve meritorious service and get promoted, how can you care about the common people?
Zhang Di has no plans to cede territory and become king at the moment, so the people in the city have become a burden that consumes food and grass. Instead of supporting tens of thousands of people in the city, why not expel them all out of the city and give the instructors a headache?
However, the thief Lu Hui made this plan because he wanted to use the city's defense power to the end... Xiao Tang was thinking in his mind that the siege battle would inevitably cause a large number of casualties. How should he take Yongnian City...
Down?
At this moment, Shan Tinggui, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked Chen Zhi, the judge: "So, now Yongnian City is full of thieves and there are no good people at all?"
When Chen Zhi saw that Shan Tinggui was the general beside Wang Huan, he replied: "I would like to teach this general to know that except for some incompetent scoundrels who are jealous of thieves who want to make money and flee, there are few good people in the city."
Shan Tinggui nodded and murmured: "Yongnian City is low-lying, surrounded by water, and the Mingshui River flows through the territory to the north..."