The Jin army was making a lot of noise in their retreat, and was quickly discovered by Xia army scouts.
Before closing, Xia Sanmu made a prompt decision and selected 3,000 men. After the attack, in front of the tent, Shenjie's second army and the bandits guarded the camp, and the attack ended in failure.
The Zhangqian Army currently still has 4,000 infantry and cavalry, and the Shenjie Army still has 3,700 soldiers, which is not much less than the Xia Army in Daning City.
On the 17th, the 1,500 black soldiers who had previously fallen behind gathered together, recaptured Madou Pass, occupied Yonghe County, and threatened the Jin army from the flanks.
On the same day, the Jinglue Army and the Heiji Army launched an attack again. The enemy's front troops had retreated the night before, leaving only more than 3,000 Czech troops behind.
After a fierce battle for half a day, the bandit army was defeated.
Ma Sixun, the commander-in-chief of the Black Army, led his troops in pursuit and beheaded more than a thousand people. Unexpectedly, he was so happy that he became sad. During the pursuit, he fell head-on and was ambushed and returned with heavy losses. Ma Sixun was hit by several arrows and was seriously injured.
As a result, no one dared to chase him.
On the 18th, Lu Huaizhong personally led more than 12,000 people from the right wing of the Wuwei Army to Daning, and also brought the latest news: they captured Jin general Li Sibi in the mountains and forests east of Jichang, and Li Chengsi was still missing.
After listening to the report, Lao Lu only nodded and did not express any opinions.
An organized retreat and an unorganized retreat are, of course, not the same thing.
Of course, retreating from mountainous areas with complex terrain and retreating from unobstructed plains are not the same thing.
Being caught in the trap can be said to be careless or careless, but it is unavoidable.
If you are cautious at all times, you will sometimes miss the opportunity to pursue and kill, and you can only rely on the general's judgment.
"Jing Lue, how many people are there in the Second Black Army?" Lu Huaizhong asked.
"There are still more than 6,500 people." Xia Sanmu replied.
This includes the 1,500 people who were left behind and the hundreds of auxiliary soldiers who were grazing outside.
"There are still five thousand people in our department," Guan Kairun replied.
But there are only three thousand in Daning. There are still one thousand chasing and suppressing the remaining enemies, five hundred are on the way back to Jian from Wucheng, and five hundred cavalry are left to guard Longmen.
"Yeah." Lu Huaizhong nodded again, still cherishing his words like gold.
The Wuwei, Jinglue, and Heiji armies lost about 8,700 people, and the number of captured and killed enemy troops should be more than 25,000, maybe more.
Of course, this data is definitely not consistent with Kang Junli's. This is because people do not regard Tutuan countrymen as human beings, and do not count these countrymen who have swords and guns, can defend strongholds, and attack cities as part of their own army numbers.
When Li Chengsi was besieged, there were 12,000 Jin soldiers in the camp, consisting of 7,000 Kuangba and other yamen troops, and 5,000 Cixi Xiangyong. When they broke out, there were 6,000 soldiers left, and finally the entire army was wiped out.
In one battle, according to the Jin army's statistics, they only lost 7,000 people. According to the Xia army's statistics, they beheaded 12,000 people, which is normal. Because I did wipe out 12,000 people face to face, so why did I lose 5,000 people?
Does bravery count? Does someone not know how to shoot an arrow or how to kill someone?
"How many Jin soldiers are there in Hengcheng?" Lu Huaizhong asked again.
"There are more than ten thousand soldiers." Xia Sanmu replied.
This number is not guaranteed because it was obtained by prisoners during torture and may change at any time.
"What's the composition?" Lu Huaizhong asked.
Are the so-called "more than ten thousand Jin soldiers" more than ten thousand government troops, or are they mixed with state and county soldiers, Tibetan soldiers, and local warriors?
Do Tibetan soldiers have bugles? If they have bugles, they should be treated with caution. If they don’t have bugles, they are brave.
Are the rural warriors from the Hedong provinces, or are they the local warriors conscripted by Ci Xi?
They are all Jin soldiers, but their composition is different, and their combat effectiveness will be very different.
"I don't know." Xia Sanmu said honestly.
Lu Huaizhong was silent for a moment.
This is not because they are not careful in their work. It is normal that they cannot find out. It is because they are too demanding.
But until now, it is indeed quite annoying to not even know the composition of the "40,000 Jin soldiers" brought by Kang Junli. An elite government soldier is a "Jin soldier", and so is a temporarily recruited peasant.
"Jin Bing" is unclear and difficult to make decisions.
"Killing 30,000 enemies is a great achievement." After a moment of silence, Lu Huaizhong finally opened his mouth. At the same time, he added some water to the future battle report. He only heard him say: "Send more manpower to eliminate the rebel scouts and ambush the troops.
Wait for Chishui, Xiaojie and Hezhong Township to arrive bravely, and then head north. In addition, we will recruit 5,000 native troops in Cixi Prefecture."
"Yes." Xia Sanmu and Guan Kaiyun responded at the same time.
In the next three days, the Wuwei Army was mainly dispatched. They dispersed among the mountain trails in groups of thousands to clean up the thieves.
Don't tell me, I actually encountered several groups of Jin people who were hiding among them and planning to ambush them. A short and fierce battle broke out between the two sides, and the Jin people retreated due to loss.
The Wuwei Army also transferred an additional infantry commander (2,000 people) and a cavalry commander (500 people) to bypass Madou Pass, join the 1,500 Heijian Army, and drive towards Xizhou.
On the 20th, more than 18,000 troops from the Xiaojie Army, Chishui Army and Hezhong Xiangyong arrived near Daning.
Lu Huaizhong ordered the right wing of the Xiaojie Army to be the vanguard, followed by other armies to attack Hengcheng Town.
****
Kang Junli left Xizhou City.
The war situation was unfavorable, and he no longer had much hope in defending Xizhou.
There are still more than 5,000 people in Hengcheng Town, and the main force is the Shenjie Army. There are still more than 6,000 people in Xizhou, and the main force is the Zhangqian Army. A portion of the Tuojun Army, with more than a thousand horses grazing in the mountains, is considered a cruising force.
The rest of the troops retreated all the way north to Shilou and up to Pingguan area.
The entire Xizhou war situation was under the charge of Shi Shaoyong, the military envoy in front of the tent.
He didn't expect to be able to hold off the Xia army for long. He just wanted to continue to drain their energy. When the veterans of his division were tired, he would have no choice but to switch to defense. By then, he would have more options.
Therefore, his order to Shi Shaoyong was to defend if he could, but not to retreat, but he had to do his best.
After Kang Junli left, Shi Shaoyong was also a little panicked. He ordered the sergeants in front of the tent to be ready to retreat at any time, and then went to Hengcheng Town in person, bringing a few pigs and sheep that he had looted to comfort the sergeants.
At this time, outside Hengcheng Town, arrows were flying, swords were flashing, and the war was fierce.
The brave men from various counties in the river braved the situation and took turns to charge forward.
They were sad. They were clearly dissatisfied with the Xia people, but they had to serve them, consuming the arrows and energy of the defenders.
Of course, Cixi Xiangyong who defended the city was also very sad. They were also dissatisfied with the Jin people, but they had to fight to defend the city for them.
Lu Huaizhong's siege rhythm was more conscientious than others. Basically, Xiangyong attacked in one wave, followed by Xiejie Army, Chishui Army, and Wuwei Army, and attacked in rotation.
The attack lasted all day on the 23rd, and the town's earthen walls were damaged in many places.
Shi Shaoyong was shocked, and a sergeant came to report that Xia Jun appeared in the southwest of Xizhou. He hurriedly left Hengcheng Town and returned to Xizhou at night.
More than a thousand cavalry from the Assault Army met the Xia Army coming from the direction of Ma Douguan. After a fight, a cavalry commander from the Wuwei Army retreated.
But after Shi Shaoyong heard this, he was not happy at all.
From Madouguan Ferry, you can reach Daning in the east and Xizhou in the northeast. Who knows if the Xia army will continue to reinforce from there.
He did not dare to neglect, so he sent people to the Chang'an plateau in the southwest of Xizhou to set up a stronghold, and put up many banners, thinking that the soldiers were suspicious, and the Xia people were confused for a short time.
At the same time, the materials in the city were transported away at night to avoid slowing down the retreat.
On the 24th, there was another day of fierce fighting in Hengcheng Town. On the road leading to Xizhou, there were already Jin soldiers fleeing north in twos and threes - mostly brave soldiers from Cixi Township.
"Envoy, it's time to withdraw." The staff looked anxious and kept urging them.
"Where is the assault force?" Shi Shaoyong asked.
"Some Xia thieves took a detour through the mountain path, and the assault troops went to intercept them," the staff member replied.
"Damn, the defense line is leaking everywhere." Shi Shaoyong cursed.
After scolding, his brows furrowed again.
It's not that he is not brave, it's not that he doesn't dare to fight, but after Kuang Ba, Feiteng, Yin Husui, Wan Sheng and other armies were defeated, the morale of the army was dampened. Kang Du didn't even want to fight, so he left them behind to wear down the Xia army's energy and send them to the enemy.
He hoped to turn defeat into victory. In such a situation, he was also in a dilemma.
Once the troops in front of the tent are all lost, how will they be replenished? Will they go home idle? This is a question.
"What should I do with the Shenjie Army?" Shi Shaoyong suddenly asked.
Hengcheng Town should not be defended, or the defense should have a stricter system. The Xia army detoured from the southwest and went straight to Xizhou. They were already behind Hengcheng Town. Who advocated giving up easily at Ma Douguan? Er
, seems to be Kang Junli.
That's it, that's it. That's it. There's nothing more to say.
"Military envoy, I'm afraid the Shenjie Army has no choice." The staff replied honestly: "They are stuck. It's not that easy to retreat. But we still have a chance and we can't control so much. There are so many people in King Jin's tent.
There are many soldiers and horses. The troops that were all-powerful in the early years, how many are left now?"
In the first year of Dashun, the King of Jin held a military parade in Jinyang. At that time, there were Yi'er, Zuo Ying, You Ying, decisive victory, rampage, sudden formation, personal cavalry, sudden cavalry, flying cavalry, Wuyuan, Xiongwei, Tingzhi, Wan
Sheng, Kuangba, Ma Qianzhi and other more than ten troops.
Ten years have passed, and at least half of these armies are gone. They were not consumed, but were reorganized into other units.
I think back then, Zuoying, Youying, Tingzhi, and Ma Qianzhi were all the main front-line troops. Now, it is the tent front, Gongwei, Kuangwei, and security forces that play the leading role.
Ten years in Hedong, ten years in Hexi, every time there is an adaptation, there are people going up and down, and everyone sees it.
"Alas, I can't even have a good fight." Shi Shaoyong sighed, his expression looking very sentimental.
The staff lowered their heads slightly and waited quietly for the Lord to make a decision.
"Send people to set up more suspicious formations along the road, put up more flags, and set up more war drums." Shi Shaoyong made a decision and said decisively: "Once the Shenjie Army retreats, if these suspicious soldiers can work, they can recover some of the defeated troops. On the other hand,
, tell the assault troops to stop running in a hurry and set up an ambush in the valley south of Shilou County to somewhat deter the enemy."
The terrain in Cixi is so complicated that it would be a pity not to set up an ambush. Even if it is unsuccessful, it can delay the pursuit of the pursuers, make them stop, and spend time clearing the mountains or dense forests on both sides, which can play a big role.
"The military envoy has done his utmost to be benevolent and righteous." Upon hearing this, the staff immediately praised him.
Early in the morning on the 25th, more than 6,000 soldiers from the army in front of the tent and Cixi Township Yong looked northward in a hurry, rushing all the way towards Shilou.
In the afternoon of that day, Hengcheng Town, which had held out for three days, was defeated. The Jin troops were defeated and swarmed northward in darkness.
The Jinglue Army acted as the vanguard and pursued endlessly.
At six o'clock on the second day, they captured Xizhou City, which was almost deserted.
The war was fought in one breath. The situation was so good at this time, so naturally we had to pursue him to the end.
Just when they had finished resting and wanted to continue heading north, Lu Huaizhong ordered the troops to stop on the grounds that the Administrative Forces were exhausted from a hard battle. At the same time, more than 2,000 men from the right wing of the Houtiao Army were asked to act as vanguards and pursue the attack northward.