The sky was gloomy and the moon was obscured. Although there was no excessively cold wind, it was a winter night and there was no need to say too much about the chill. But under such circumstances, a battle between two sides was fought on both sides of the South Fork of the North Yellow River.
The battle is going on with the number of soldiers actually approaching 100,000.
But the entire battlefield presented a strange state in the dim night.
Daming City to the east of the river and Yuancheng to the west of the river are undoubtedly the core focus of the battlefield. The coaches of both sides plus the actual headquarters of both sides. The Chinese military camps are facing each other across the river. The straight-line distance between the two fronts may only be six to seven hundred meters.
However, due to the existence of a large river, they had to maintain a confrontation.
What makes people even more uneasy is that although the channel of this river will not be easily reduced, the water in it is getting shallower and shallower, and it is more and more likely to be completely frozen, making it a smooth road and a reversal anytime and anywhere.
The key to the battlefield situation.
Heading south from the two cities, the Song army had no less than ten thousand soldiers, led by several commanders. Under the leadership of Tang Huai, they suddenly crossed the river, making it very lively and powerful... There were loud noises, shouts of killing, plus large and small noises.
The fire spread for more than ten miles, creating the most noisy and chaotic place on the entire battlefield, and the brightest place after Yuancheng.
However, the commanders of both sides knew very well that this was the least important place. As Tang Huai crossed the river this time, the main task for now was to make some noise.
Going north, although there are also stars and firelights, the overall situation is quiet and silent.
The commanders of both sides also know that this is the final foundation of this battle and a place that contains murderous intent, because further north, in Guantao, there is a huge main force of the Jin army stationed. If they are not provoked, they can go south at any time.
Sweep this area and support Yuancheng at any time. If the Song army wants to attack the city, it must take the initiative in this open area and block the Jin army's reinforcements.
This gap is essentially a trap and bait.
Going west, that is, in the Jin Kingdom-occupied area further west of Yuancheng, the firelight gradually dimmed. When we reached the Yongji Canal, or the West Fork of the North Yellow River, there was no movement or firelight at all, just like a thick black background.
It is conceivable that in the originally dense towns there, after most of the young men were taken away to serve as signing troops, they would be very cautious when facing the war to the east.
However, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, there will be a huge main battle force that can be recorded in the annals of history in any era, and an unprecedented cavalry and infantry army will gather there.
Going east, that is, the area where the main force of the Song army behind Daming City is generally occupied. Although there is no deliberate noise or wantonness, the lights of various strongholds, the constant coming and going of soldiers, and the crowds, the movement and the overall light cannot be obscured at all.
.
The final success or failure of tonight's operation is brewing here. Ships are crossing the land, and civilians are doing their best to prepare fortification planks, pull fibers and transport them, and even cook pots. A huge elite main force is also waiting for orders.
However, the strangest place after all is the central node of the battlefield. The huge Yuan City where Gao Jingshan, the commander of the Jin Army’s Daming Mansion Marching Division, lives, is brightly lit. There are strict orders and orders outside the city. At the same time, the Song Army in Hebei
The small Daming City where the front army marshal Yue Fei was located was completely dark. Except for the necessary lights, it was eerily silent.
There is no way, this is a 'stowaway', it should have been launched in the first ten days of this month when there is no moonlight, but now in the middle of the month, we have to choose a night when the sky is gloomy and the moon is blocked. In this case,
Daming Castle 'must' reduce the amount of light as much as possible.
It is precisely because of this that the light on the increasingly narrow river between the two cities seems particularly obscure.
However, on the river where light and dark are intertwined, there are some things whose strong presence cannot be easily ignored just because there is not enough light.
Tian Shizhong was waiting for orders in the north of the city, and Wang Gui was commanding land navigation in the old town. Zhang Rong was nowhere to be seen. As for the other generals, many of them had taken over the task and left early. At this time, in Daming City, there was a gate near the water gate on the west side.
Yue Fei was sitting alone on a chair next to the high platform dedicated to releasing hot air balloons. Within dozens of steps around, there were only Yu Xuexue, a counselor of the Imperial Navy Navy, and a conductor named Bei who was specifically responsible for hot air balloons.
Words follow.
There were only two or three torches around the entire high platform, and it was impossible to see Yue Fei's face clearly. You Xuexue was no longer as calm and unrestrained as he was in front of his home Jiedu. He just crouched down under the high platform next to him with his hands folded in some dejection.
He didn't dare to move. As for Bei Yan, he was obviously panicked and at a loss at this moment. At the same time, he didn't dare to move easily. He could only stand there boringly accompanying the two of them and endure it.
That's right, it's just enduring, and all three of them are enduring it.
Standing in this place, although the shouts of killing from the south can be clearly heard, it cannot cover up the whistling sound of the Jinguo stone cannon hundreds of steps away, nor can it cover up the dull thumping sound of the cannon balls hitting the water, or the sound of the wood hitting the ground.
The crisp impact sound...the last sound is the most unbearable, even more unbearable than the occasional screams.
Because no one knows whether behind this crisp sound, whether the Song army was unscathed or whether it was a larger-scale damage.
And this is exactly why what Xiao En and his subordinates did is so unacceptable, why Zhang Rong is so entangled, and why You Xuexue is almost collapsed at this time, but he doesn't dare to do it at all.
A place of escape.
This is not an honorable sacrifice on the battlefield, nor is it the blindness of swords and guns in large-scale battles. Rather, from an intuitive point of view, the lives of such a group of heroes are a waste. This kind of raid is destined to pay huge casualties.
It is a kind of illusory attack, and no one dares to guarantee that it will be absolutely effective. It is just a feint that seems necessary from the highest level and from a strategic point of view.
But the problem is terrible, because in this case, its usefulness or uselessness seems to be completely based on the level and judgment of the commander Gao Jingshan on the opposite side. At the same time, although everyone may still understand in their hearts,
However, Song Army coach Yue Pengju could not provide clear evidence that these people's actions were critical and necessary.
You can't get it for your superiors, you can't get it for your subordinates, you can't get it for Xiao En and his subordinates, and they can't get it for other officers and soldiers who may be dissatisfied because Xiao En and his subordinates take the credit afterwards.
The overall battle plan went smoothly, but so many good men had to sacrifice their lives for nothing.
There is no way. The so-called Imperial Camp Army is just an army that was created and integrated eight years ago. Although it is already a complex system with mature routines, such as the secret system, the commander system, and the
Pro-military culture, etc., but there is still no specific military terminology for this specific tactic, so that people can generally recognize the value of this kind of sacrifice, just like everyone will recognize the necessity of sentry cavalry without saying anything.
Of course, Yue Fei in the city and Xiao En in the river are undoubtedly establishing this mechanism... because when Yue Fei issued this military order, Xiao En carried it out without hesitation.
Yue Feikong sat there, not knowing what Xiao En was thinking, nor what You Xuexue was thinking, but for him who was already good at thinking, he couldn't help but feel a little dazed at this moment... Compassion does not control soldiers, justice does not control soldiers. If you don’t have money, you can speak out your words lightly, and you can write military orders with gritted teeth, but when you really sit here and force yourself to listen to the sounds of cannons and rocks flying into the air, smashing ships and hurting people, you will realize what you really are. What have you done.
The Northern Expedition is just, the recovery of the two rivers is necessary, and the reunification of the country is great. No one can deny this, just like what Zhao Guanjia said in the latest issue of the Di newspaper... At this point, no one can deny that the great The Song Dynasty and this era are jointly writing a grand chapter of their own... This somewhat convoluted and weird statement, when read for the first time, can not help but make people suspect that the Zhao Guan family was overjoyed after the Yangliang Nanguan at the southern end of Queshu Valley was broken through from the east of the river. Something written when drunk.
How to write articles in the Song Dynasty?
Era refers to a period, a period of time, so how can one write an article?
Still writing together?
However, when I read it carefully, I feel it has a different charm.
The last issue published an old poem recited by King Han when he was about to go to battle. It shook the roofs of Tielingguan on the spot. After it was published in the newspaper, it shocked the world. But he just said that he could "solve the affairs of the king and the world, and win fame before and after his death." , those who pursue it diligently are just leaving their names in history. But people can leave their names in history, countries are made by people, times are made by people, and countries and times write articles together, which makes people feel that the metaphor is wonderful.
After reading it at that time, he, Yue Fei, did have a feeling of "this is what a man should be like" - I, Yue Fei, also wanted to write a grand chapter of my own.
Moreover, combined with the previous ten years of hard work and experience, Yue Fei has enough confidence and courage to tell everyone, just like what the official article said, this chapter is just, necessary, great, and cannot be tolerated. Doubt belongs to the category where we and the enemy are clearly distinguishable.
However, between light and shadow, light and darkness, while listening to the sounds in the river ahead, Yue Fei had to admit that this chapter was too big, huge enough to crush anyone.
The despair of the people of the two rivers that lasted for ten years, the emptiness of the Central Plains for several years, and the heavy taxation of the people of the southeast that lasted for many years are all footnotes to this chapter.
This is not helplessness and selfishness, nor is it self-consciousness and greatness without sacrifice. It is just the sheer insignificance of individuals and their insignificance in the tide of the times.
It was as if at this moment, the lives of countless heroes were easily melted away by those sounds in the night.
"marshal."
The one who broke the silence was Bei Yan, who had been in a state of panic. He suddenly stepped forward and shouted hastily.
"What?"
Yue Fei responded in a deep voice.
"The sound of cannon stones falling into the water increased by half," Bei Yan explained hurriedly. "Either half of the ship was lost, or half of it was broken through, or the ship was damaged and couldn't move, and was crowded together..."
Yue Fei glanced at this acquaintance, and he suddenly realized that the other person was reminding him that whether it was a real attack on the river or a feint attack, the battle at this time was either successful or failed, and there was no need to continue.
I just don't know if Bei Yan, as a low-level officer, could have guessed that it was a feint attack.
Of course, this thought only lasted for a moment. Yue Fei immediately forced himself to calm down and listen carefully to the unbearable sound of cannons and rocks. And sure enough, as the meticulous and cautious Bei Yan said, the sound of the Jin army's cannons and rocks hitting the water was There were obviously a lot more dull thumping sounds.
However, it was still difficult for Yue Fei to give the order, because he only knew that a dozen ships had landed before the war, and Wang Guixianza had not yet told him how many ships had successfully arrived in the river behind Yuancheng at this time.
What's more, tonight is more than just a ferry.
As if he had read through Yue Fei's mind, Bei Yan quickly said cautiously: "Marshal, if it is a feint attack that prevents the Jin army from paying attention to other places, our high-profile rescue itself can actually delay time... We have lost so much and still don't retreat. I'm afraid it will make the other party suspicious."
Yue Fei was finally startled, and then he looked up and down at this old friend who was less than two or three steps away from him, as if he was meeting each other for the first time... But after just a moment, he put away his unnecessary thoughts and made a decision on the spot:
"In that case, light a fire immediately and go to the river to rescue!"
After the military order was issued, You Xuexue and Bei Yan were relieved, but they hurriedly rushed to deliver the order. Suddenly, the sergeants on standby in the city swarmed up, and instantly illuminated the entire Daming City as brightly as Yuancheng on the other side.
Then some Song troops came down the river embankment and shouted loudly, asking the navy brothers in the river to abandon their boats and armor and flee directly back to this shore.
Seeing this scene and hearing the sound of abandoning the ship, the Jin army on the opposite side cheered and felt that they had won a great victory. However, the Yuying navy army, who was suffering in the river but did not even know the casualties, was also relieved.
But soon, new problems appeared.
"Marshal, there are a lot of sunken ships in the river, but there is not enough light. Many of our wounded people cannot find their way out." You Xuexue, sweating profusely, came back in a hurry to report. "There are so many people bumping, bumping, and freezing in the river. It would be fatal to wait even a moment."
It turns out that at this time and that time, the Song Army's "raid on the river" should have avoided the lights as much as possible, but since it was about to retreat at this time, and the Jin Army's artillery carriages were in fixed positions, no matter what, this kind of "firepower" It is fixed. At this time, it needs enough light.
The brighter the river, the greater the chance that Xiao En and his men will survive after abandoning the ship, and the greater the chance that the wounded will be rescued.
Now that he had decided to abandon the war and save the country, Yue Fei refused to obey. He quickly issued another military order, went to the surrounding areas to gather torches and braziers, and piled fuel on the river embankment to light the fire.
But once again, after the devastated river was illuminated for just a moment, the Jin army on the other side also realized the problem. While they continued to bombard the river, they gradually extinguished all except the artillery positions. All unnecessary light sources except .
Above the river, it once again became a state of light and darkness. Coupled with the light mist that drifted in at some unknown time during the night, it made the river dark again.
But this time, whether Yue Fei or Yue Fei, including the Song army that had hastily started, they were really powerless for the moment... They could only decide the light and darkness on one side, how could they control the light source of the Jin army on the other side?
At the same time, the artillery vehicles on the other side continued to fire.
Under this situation, even Yue Fei was a little panicked inside, and he just tried to stay calm... This was really an unexpected sudden demand and unexpected event.
"Marshal, I have an idea!"
At this moment, Bei Yan suddenly rushed in front of Yue Fei. "It can not only light up the river, but also show that we are really defeated, not just pretending, so that the other side will continue to be paralyzed..."
"What method?" You Xuexue grabbed the other party, his hands were shaking.
"It depends on whether the marshal is willing to part with it!" Bei Yan dragged You Xuexue and tried his best to see Yue Fei. "There's not much wind tonight."
Yue Fei wanted to scold him, but he realized the other party's method almost instantly, and then sighed: "You are willing to give up, how can I not be willing to give up? Do it quickly!"
Although You Xuexuu didn't understand what riddle the two were playing, he immediately let go of his hand. After just a stick of incense, he knew what the trick was... In the dark night, the river was still filled with cannons and rocks. Song Song The army was still trying hard to rescue and save themselves. At the same time, a huge hot air balloon was carefully and quickly placed on the launch platform. Then the furnace was lit and wax oil was stuffed into the furnace regardless of the cost. An unprecedented effort to blow up the bellows.
With this kind of effort, coupled with the fact that the cold winter night is suitable for the use of hot air balloons, about a quarter of an hour later, the balloon swelled slightly, and then moved the surrounding ropes, and roughly revealed a tiger pattern... But at this time , this tiger was a little sluggish, as if he dared not wake up from his sleep, which made both Yue Fei and You Xuexue feel that it was a bit unreliable, and he was just treating a dead horse as a living horse doctor.
As for Bei Yan, he was sweating profusely. He held the basket, assessed the strength, and kept giving orders, asking people to pour charcoal and firewood into the basket on all sides. At the same time, he kept reducing the sandbags outside, and then paid attention to the intensity of the fire and the The degree of inflation of the balloon to maintain balance.
Gradually, the tiger finally opened his eyes. At this time, the hot air balloon was actually still unstable and the balloon had not been completely inflated. However, for the purpose of this operation, it seemed to be enough.
After guessing that it was almost done, Bei Yan gave the last order, which was to pour some lard in the four corners of the frame, and finally threw in four torches at the same time. After doing all this, he quickly left the area around the basket. , shouted orders and cut off all the ropes on all sides, leaving only an extra long tow rope, which was dragged along with dozens of sergeants.
Immediately, the hot air balloon, which had lost its restraints but was still stable at first, floated into the air at a slow but steady speed. At the same time, under the efforts of Bei Yan and dozens of other sergeants, it slowly but surely It changed its direction slightly and drifted towards the other side of the river.
During this period, the fire in the basket became more and more intense, and the company's long rope was quickly released. However, this did not delay it from the beginning. It attracted the attention of everyone in the two cities and armies. In the end, when it was owned by both armies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, When people were stunned and turned into a blazing torch, burning like a burning moon over the river, tens of thousands of people on both sides of the river were probably attracted by its beauty and heat.
It was obvious that even the rhythm of the Jin army's artillery and carriages was confused. At the same time, the river was as clear as day, clearly illuminating dozens of ships or shipwrecks in the river. Many former soldiers of the imperial camp were at the beginning. After falling into a trance, he began to rush down the river desperately to save people first.
Many imperial navy soldiers also plucked up their courage again, either shouting with all their strength, or working hard to head east.
His leg was trapped by a wooden board, and Xiao En, who struggled several times and failed several times, stared at the fireball above his head, suddenly burst into laughter, but also regained his courage amidst the noise and shouted for help.
Outside the river, countless people were also stunned.
Yue Pengju fixed his eyes on the fireball that was constantly burning. He never thought that a military weapon that he was so familiar with could actually gain such a strong self-worth in such a way.
Even after the flames took off, the tiger head on the hot air balloon had completely swelled and was believed to disappear soon. It seemed that in response to Yue Pengju who looked down on him, he was also showing his teeth and claws.
In the attic of Yuancheng, Gao Jingshan, who had personally ordered the southeast of the city to turn off the flames and the artillery trains to stop, completely lost his composure. He no longer sat there eating fish, drinking, chatting, and reading newspapers. The fish soup was evaporated the moment the fireball rose. It had been overturned to the ground by him, the newspaper was soaked in the fish soup, the wine was spilled, and the attendants were busy disposing of the remaining charcoal in the stove.
At this time, Gao Jingshan was just holding the window in astonishment, with the same expression as Gao Qingyi next to him, staring at the fireball and losing his mind.
There is no way, this scene is too spectacular and too bizarre.
Of course Zhang Rong also noticed the fireball, and his reaction was the simplest - he dropped the rope, ignored the cotton-padded jacket, got on his horse, and galloped towards Daming City.
The fireball attracted everyone's attention, but it did not last long and could not penetrate the increasingly dense fog. It spread its light all over the battlefield. In just two quarters of an hour, the flames burned from the outer layer to the entire battlefield. On the tiger's paw, the entire balloon twisted and swayed, and smashed towards the ground in the southwest.
Immediately, as if fearing that it was not safe, the second hot air balloon also took off, continuing the journey of the former and continuing to attract everyone's attention.
this is a good chance.
"How much time has passed?"
It was late in the third watch, and as the fireball in his field of vision gradually disappeared, Tian Shizhong, who was squatting beside the river in the south of the city, eating cakes and drinking soup, turned around to look at each other.
"Before the fireball started, there were seventeen small ships and eight large ships." Zhang Zigai blurted out. "There are also two broken ones on the shore."
"Then there are estimated to be twenty small ships and ten large ships now... right?" Tian Shizhong squeezed the pancake in his hand and looked at each other calmly.
"Yes." Zhang Zigai gritted his teeth and answered.
"Is the pontoon bridge ready?" Tian Shizhong asked in a deep voice, ignoring the dense pontoon bridge that had been built in front of him.
This time, Zhang Zigai did not reply.
"Then let's go!" Lieutenant Commander Tian put the crushed pancake in his hand into his mouth, swallowed it in one gulp, then stood up and spoke to each other in a slightly bulging tone. "After crossing the river, you lead the Wei army and continue to rest. Recharge your batteries, no need to work, no negative pressure!"
Zhang Zigai nodded heavily, then stood up with the other party and said goodbye.
After Zhang Zigai left, he saw in the dim light that Tian Shizhong and one of his personal guards lifted up an object from the ground where they were sitting that looked like a shield, but was much larger and longer. , then picked it up with all his strength, and led the way, carefully walked onto the pontoon, and headed to the other side.
Upon seeing this, the surrounding soldiers, from the commander down to the commander, followed suit one after another. Then there were countless sergeants from the front army who were waiting for orders, and civilian men recruited with the army also acted together. Soon, in the dark night, a tide began to flow from The east bank of the river swarmed to the west bank - the Song army began to cross the river in large numbers in the south of Daming City, heading towards the Jin Army's cavalry sweep area, which was almost equivalent to a death trap, that is, the narrow area south of Yuancheng City.
As for Tian Shizhong's thing, it is actually a thing made of three pieces of wood, fixed by ropes and horizontal boards, and sharpened at both ends.
This is one of the most common things in the army. It is used for setting up camps. Whenever they go to a place, the civilians first cut down the trees, then build these things. Finally, they dig the soil and connect the pits, and when they are gathered together, they form a walled city.
The boards, which only require the final step of digging a hole and burying them, are piled up on the east bank of the river.
PS: I don’t expect anyone to forgive me, I just hope that I can write as well as possible and be a good person.