Li Laiheng dismounted first, and then Zhang Pizhu also dismounted. Following the movements of the two of them, after a burst of clanging swords and rapid climbing sounds, the pro-military knights almost used the exact same movements and rhythms.
Get off the horse.
There is no impatience or frivolity on the overly young faces of these knights. They have been on the battlefield for a long time, and their faces are as deep as Liu Fangliang. Among hundreds of people, except for the sound of swords and armors clashing, there is no other sound.
Noise.
Such discipline also made Liu Fangliang look at Li Laiheng with admiration.
"Have the officers and soldiers started attacking?"
Li Laiheng asked anxiously about the current movements of the Ming army. Liu Fangliang waved his hand and said: "Currently, the Baigou River section near Heyang Town has completely frozen, but the Ming army seems to be very cautious and does not see any tendency to launch an offensive.
.”
"Sun Chuanting had 30,000 Qin soldiers, and Liu Zeqing, who fled from Shandong Province, also had thousands of soldiers. In addition, Xuanfu, Juyongguan, Changping, Jizhou, Shanhaiguan, and Ningyuan all had their own soldiers. Ma Shiyao said that there were at least 30,000 enemy soldiers across the river.
Above, it is very likely that Sun Chuanting personally supervised the troops here."
Liu Fangliang agreed with Li Laiheng's speculation and said: "Old grandson must have personally led the troops here... Datong has a steep terrain and there are many forts. Old grandson probably thought that the area around Baoding was flat and without dangers, which was conducive to attack but not conducive.
That’s why he wanted to pick our group to make a breakthrough.”
"Then according to the master's wishes, should we defend or attack? Although His Highness is still in Shaanxi, it is estimated that it will not be too late to pacify the northwest and return to Shanxi. Moreover, Uncle Yufeng also has tens of thousands of troops in Shanxi. As long as Sun Chuanting is short,
If Baoding cannot be taken within a short period of time, Uncle Yufeng will send troops from Datong to attack Juyongguan, and Sun Chuanting will definitely return to defend."
Liu Fangliang stared at Li Laiheng and asked, "Do you mean to focus on defense?"
Liu Fangliang's sharp eyes like a sharp sword fell on Li Laiheng's face, which made Li Laiheng feel a little uncomfortable. He looked at Liu Fangliang's fighting eyes and understood what he meant, so he said:
"Master thought we should focus on attacking? It's just that I thought that the main force of the invasion army is still in the northwest. If something happens... maybe it would be better to keep it quiet? After all, Uncle Yufeng is stationed in Shanxi, and it is impossible for Sun Chuanting to concentrate all the main force.
In the direction of Baoding. As long as we hold on for a few days, the Ming army will inevitably shrink back to the vicinity of Jifu when they see that they will not get any advantage."
Li Laiheng was always haunted by the shadow of the quick defeat of the Chuang Army in history, so from an overall perspective, he always wanted to pursue a more stable and defensive posture. If possible, Li Laiheng even felt that it would be best for the Chuang Army to fully switch to defense now
In this situation, it is best to stabilize all control areas for a year and a half before continuing the war.
Therefore, Li Laiheng was of course somewhat opposed to Liu Fangliang's desire to attack.
"Sun Chuanting's 30,000 Qin soldiers are all a division that has suffered many defeats. Their morale is not high and their morale is low. If we blindly defend, we will only increase the momentum of the Ming army and help old Sun'er boost the morale of the officers and soldiers."
"Otherwise." Li Laiheng retorted, "Sun Chuanting has always known that the Chuang army is best at luring the enemy deep and then making roundabout and interspersed tactics. When he sees us taking a defensive posture, he will definitely not dare to attack in depth rashly. As long as a few days have passed
, when Uncle Yufeng discovered the movements of the Ming army and set out from Datong to threaten the Xuanfu, Sun Chuanting had no choice but to retreat. In this case, there is no need for a fierce battle, and the Ming army will retreat without a fight."
"You are too cautious and conservative in using your troops like this. If you continue to fight like this, the morale of the Ming army may really be restored."
"When using troops, you should first seek to achieve an invincible position, and then seek victory."
Liu Fangliang saw that Li Laiheng's objection to taking the initiative to attack was very obvious. Considering that both of them were at the rank of General Quan and had equal status. Although he himself was superior to Li Laiheng in terms of qualifications and had served as Li Laiheng's gun and stick instructor, what Li Laiheng said
It does make sense.
"Okay... But we can't be completely passive. How about sending a light cavalry to go north from Heyang Town to fight with the Ming army's vanguard for a while, to find out what Sun Chuanting's strength is, and then make other plans?"
"Okay. That's not a problem."
After some discussion between Li Laiheng and Liu Fangliang, they decided to first dispatch two thousand cavalry from the Zuoying and the front camp. The Zuoying still sent one cavalry led by Ma Shiyao, and the front camp Li Laiheng sent one cavalry led by Ma Bao to attack.
Because Ma Shiyao was General Guo Yi and was higher in military rank than Ma Bao, Ma Shiyao was responsible for overall command.
Li Laiheng was originally worried whether Ma Bao would have any objections to this, but Ma Shiyao and Ma Bao were both from Shaanxi, so they could be considered to be of the same clan due to their relationship.
The two of them gathered together and learned about things happening in their hometown in Shaanxi, as well as some famous stories in the history of the Ma family, as well as local customs and characteristics, etc. There was simply endless things to talk about, and their relationship quickly heated up.
Li Laiheng's worries were simply unnecessary.
Although the elite cavalry of Zuoying are also known as the "Three Walls" cavalry, the tactics they use are completely different from those of Li Laiheng's "Three Walls" cavalry.
The "Three Walls" cavalry in the Huguang Army adopted the phalanx charge tactic. After learning about the many problems caused by the too dense wedge formation of the Army's cavalry in the Battle of Dangshan, Li Laiheng listened to the frontline general Hao Yaoqi.
With the opinions of Ma Bao and others, the specific formation of the Phalanx was changed, reducing the density of cavalry in a wall charge in a single wedge formation, and strengthening the intensity of the overall wall charge between the wedge formations of each cavalry unit.
Zuoying's "Three Walls" cavalry is still relatively traditional in terms of training and tactics. However, after the continuous victory of Chongzhen for fifteen years, the equipment of Zuoying's Three Walls cavalry has also been greatly improved, and it is relatively obvious.
The elite cavalry of the army are at least not left behind.
Li Laiheng asked Ma Bao to focus on blunting the enemy's sharpness and vigor, and not to tremble too much with the main force of the Ming army.
Ma Bao nodded and said: "Commander, how many times have the Qin army been defeated by the Chuang army? Hun'er has already collapsed. We can just fight casually."
Since Ma Bao defected to the camp, he has become more and more skillful in his military use. In the Battle of Dangshan, he performed beyond his level and defeated the elite soldiers of the Eight Banners, which had been a nightmare for the Ming army for many years.
As he spoke, he seemed to be at the top of his game for a while, and he could see the arrogance of everyone.
Ma Shiyao said: "This is a very strange thing... I crossed the river to investigate and saw that the Qin army had very few flags. Instead, I saw the Ming army setting up flags waving Guan Ning soldiers everywhere."
This attracted Li Laiheng's attention, and he asked: "Guan Ningjun? Do you know the banner of Guan Ningjun? Make sure it is correct?"
Ma Shiyao has a heavy responsibility, but he is a person who can make decisions very well. He smiled without any psychological pressure: "Twelve years ago, we also fought against Guan Ningbing during Chongzhen's reign! Even that Hong Chengchou, we
I’ve seen him face to face.”
"The Qin army has fewer flags, but Guan Ning has more flags..."
Li Laiheng pondered: "Sun Chuanting dared to go south to attack me. Is it because Chongzhen was determined to abandon all the lands outside the pass? In this way, the Ming army could mobilize the defenders of Ningyuan to join the battle."
He then said to Liu Fangliang: "Master, the Guan Ning soldiers are the most powerful force in the Ming army. Wu Sangui, the chief military officer stationed in Ningyuan, fought against the Qing army many times without losing.
Feng. If this powerful enemy is also on the other side of the Baigou River, we must be extremely careful."
Like Ma Shiyao, Liu Fangliang, a former subordinate of the Chuang Army, also fought against Guan Ning's soldiers in his early years. He recalled how the rebel army was severely damaged by Guan Ning's soldiers several years ago, and his heart was slightly shaken.
But Liu Fangliang's courage was extraordinary. It only took a moment for his courage to fully recover and he said with a smile:
"The Guan Ning Army is known as an elite army supported by the world's wealth. Aren't many of our rebel army forced to come this way by the Liao's salary that supports the Guan Ning Army? In this way, the Guan Ning Army and us
Brothers, we have a very deep connection!"
Liu Fangliang said with emotion: "If Guan Ning's army has gone south, it really should not be insulted. Laiheng, you stay in Gucheng Town... No, Laiheng, how about you go to Heyang Town to coordinate the overall situation on the front line? I will take Ma Shiyao and Ma Bao with me.
Go and try Guan Ning’s edge for you!”
Liu Fangliang actually wanted to personally lead the troops in the first battle!
Li Laiheng knew that many rebel army commanders had the habit of leading by example, and many generals of the insurgent army also had a fighting tradition of personally going to the front line of the battlefield to conduct reconnaissance.
This tradition of the rebel army ensured the cohesion of the rebel army during the ups and downs of its hard-fought career, and also ensured the prestige and status of the heroic leader.
However, the Dashun Army and the Daxi Army later had many commanders and generals "beheaded" by the Qing army. This is closely related to this tradition of leading by example!
Li Laiheng wanted to dissuade Liu Fangliang from taking such a risk, but when he saw Liu Fangliang's determined eyes full of fighting spirit, he knew that there was no point in talking more.
"Master... the army is behind us, and I will ensure that you have a safe retreat. Once the situation changes, the main force of the invasion army will attack across the board to respond to you!"
Liu Fangliang laughed heartily, took the horse from the soldier, and said generously: "Song's military adviser has already said that the Eighteenth Son is the master of the divine weapon, and the destiny lies with the Li family. The army will surely win every battle!"