Chapter 819 The Yellow River Beach prepares for the enemy
When Li Chongbao's troops bypassed Linjin County, Li Guangbi had already led his 500 soldiers to cross the Yellow River from Pujin Ferry. He was greatly disappointed when he found that there were only two regiments of captains stationed on the river beach on the other side.
.He only knew that Wang Sili was defeated at the hands of Li Siye, but he did not expect that his military strength would be so depleted.
He immediately left 500 soldiers at the ferry to strengthen his defenses and headed to Puzhou City alone.
At this moment, Wang Sili was waiting outside Puzhou City with the officers of his Zhaoyi Army, looking towards the direction of the Yellow River, as if looking through the autumn water, and his heart was in agony. But at dusk, only one man riding alone appeared at the end of the land in front of the city gate.
and two Yuhou.
They didn't pay much attention at first, thinking they were travelers in a hurry, but when Li Guangbi's figure gradually became clearer and he came to him, Wang Sili finally lost his composure and quickly stepped forward, folded his hands and said, "Li Sikong finally
coming."
He subconsciously glanced at the distance behind him, and the subtext was to ask where is the army you are leading? The emperor won't just send you here, right?
Li Guangbi didn't bother to talk nonsense with him and asked directly: "How many soldiers and horses are left in Puzhou now? The county soldiers in each county also count."
Wang Sili quickly crossed his hands and reported: "Li Sikong, there are more than 5,000 people in Puzhou City, more than 1,000 people in Linjin County, 1,200 people in Yishi County, and more than 800 people in Yongle County.
Including Baoding, the total number of people in Wanquan and Hejin is only twelve thousand."
"What a nonsense! At this time, what are you doing with your troops dispersed? Immediately send people to Linjin, Yishi, and Yongle counties to order all county soldiers to arrive at Pujin Ferry within four days, and this
All troops in Puzhou City will be withdrawn to defend the ferry! The three counties of Baoding, Wanquan and Hejin will concentrate on Longmen Ferry."
Wang Sili was puzzled and followed Li Guangbi into the city, chasing after him and asking: "Don't you want this Puzhou City? The last few days have sent people to strengthen the city's defense, and have decided to live or die with the city."
Li Guangbi stopped, the armor on his body clanked, and turned to him and said coldly: "Now the top priority is to defend the ferry. No matter how strong the broken city is, as long as Li Siye sends people to attack and occupy the ferry, Tongguan's reinforcements will be blocked.
If we can't get across to the other side, how long can you, thousands of people, hold on?"
Wang Sili asked dumbly: "The imperial reinforcements haven't arrived yet?"
Li Sikong lowered his head and blew out a dull, turbid air from his nose: "It's almost time. It may take five or six days. That's why I want you to occupy the ferry in advance and build fortifications. As long as you welcome the imperial army to cross the river, Guanzhong may
There is still hope.”
Wang Sili quickly resigned to organize his troops, withdrew all 5,000 troops from Puzhou City and went to Pujindu Beach to build fortifications.
…
On the second day after Li Chongbao set off, he led the Flying Tiger Cavalry to bypass Yishi County and march day and night. Three horses per person could be fully replaced to prevent the horses from running out. Two of the horses were replaced and the other camel was replaced.
Transport supplies. When the road cannot be seen clearly at night, he dismounts and leads the horse forward on foot.
The scouts he sent back came back and reported to him with arms crossed on their horses: "My eldest son, Li Guangbi crossed the Yellow River alone and entered Puzhou City. He has mobilized all the troops in the city to defend Pujin Ferry."
Li Chongbao's face suddenly darkened. He didn't expect that Li Guangbi would do this to him as soon as he crossed the river. It was really difficult to prevent him.
He asked eagerly: "How many are there?"
"There are only 5,000 remnants of the Zhaoyi Army, and together with the ferry defenders, there are probably 6,000 people."
His lieutenant beside him asked worriedly: "Elder Master, what should we do now? The Kamatsu Ferry has been defended, should we withdraw?"
"Why retreat!" Li Chongbao tightened his grip on his horse's reins and loudly spoke for the troops: "The Hexi army is the strongest in the world, and Feihuqi is the best among the best in Hexi! If you can't even fight one against two, what's the point?
What a flying tiger! Speed up the march and we will arrive at Pujin Ferry at noon tomorrow at the latest."
The Tangqi team in front suddenly turned back and reported: "Report! There are about a thousand county soldiers more than five miles ahead, heading towards Puzhou City."
Li Chongbao raised his whip and shouted loudly: "They must have gathered at Pujindu. General Zuoying led his people to disperse them. It is an appetizer before the war!"
"Here!" General Zuoying who was following him immediately crossed his arms, put his flag behind his shoulders, and ordered the deployment behind him: "Brothers, follow me!"
Zuoying separated from the cavalry group advancing like a torrent and accelerated towards the loess road. After five or six miles, he saw a scattered team in front of him.
Seeing that the general was eager to hunt, the general immediately took out his horn bow from his horse, shook the reins and shouted: "Kill them within a cup of tea!"
The cavalrymen held their bows in their hands and charged forward with the reins in one hand. The clatter of horse hooves alerted the county soldiers in front. The county magistrate raised his sword and shouted loudly: "Don't panic! Form a formation to meet the enemy!"
These county soldiers were all strong men drawn from the local area and had never been on the battlefield. When they saw the flying tiger cavalry charging towards them, they were frightened and ran around like headless flies.
When the Flying Tiger Cavalry approached them more than 70 steps away, they freed up their hands, fully drew the bowstring and started shooting. The fleeing county soldiers were hit by arrows in the back and fell to the ground. Those who were not shot fled faster.
When the county magistrate saw this posture, he hurriedly threw away the knife in his hand and ran away, but the enemy's horse had already caught up with him. He pointed his rifle at his chest and dug in hard. The head of the gun penetrated his chest.
He fell to the ground and died. The remaining people either fled in all directions or were killed on the spot.
This small interlude did not last longer than a cup of tea. By the time Li Chongbao's large troops caught up, they were already cleaning the battlefield.
The two thousand cavalry led by Bai Xiaode had much the same experience as Li Chongbao. They had bypassed Baoding County and Wanquan County and gradually approached Hejin.
…
Before Pujin crossed the muddy beach of the Yellow River, soldiers of the Tang army were digging trenches for trapping horses. More soldiers made wooden stakes from nearby trees and nailed them into the mud to form a row of walls.
Li Guangbi stepped on the mud with his feet and looked anxiously at the other side of the Yellow River from time to time. The towering Stork Tower on the hill downstream looked even more vicissitudes of life under the red sun. He turned his gaze towards Puzhou City again.
, secretly hoping that the Hexi Army would not attack so quickly, and even more hoped that his guess was wrong. Perhaps Li Siye was seeking stability and would not come up with such a surprising and dangerous move to win.
Pujin Ferry is the most famous ferry on the Yellow River. Puzhou was also called among the world by Sima Qian. It is the hometown of Emperor Yan, the birthplace of ancient China. To the east is the famous Pujiu Temple, and to the southwest is the Yellow River.
What I am looking at is the Stork Tower.
What they want to defend is the Yellow River pontoon bridge at the ferry. This bridge was built under the personal supervision of Prime Minister Zhang Shuo during the Kaiyuan period. The wooden piles were changed into iron oxen weighing more than 40 tons, and the two sides of the Yellow River were connected with iron chains.
A pontoon was hung below and wooden boards were laid on top to serve as the lifeline of Guanzhong and Hedong.
Li Guangbi called Wang Sili to the iron ox of the pontoon bridge, handed him the torch and ordered: "You lead more than a hundred people to guard here. If we can't hold on in front, you will cut off the iron chain of the pontoon bridge. Even if you can't cut the iron chain,
chain, but also a fire to burn the pontoon bridge."
Wang Sili was shocked, but before he could speak, suddenly there were scouts galloping in front of him. He came to Tieniu, turned over and dismounted, walked two steps quickly, knelt down on one knee in front of them and crossed his hands and said: "Report, the Hexi Army brigade is far away from us."
Less than fifty miles!”
Wang Sili asked hurriedly: "How many are there?"
"About three to four thousand people."
He breathed a long sigh of relief. There were only three to four thousand people, so they should be able to defend it.
Li Guangbi frowned deeply, stretched out his hand to support Tieniu and said, "The ones coming must be Hexi's elite Flying Tiger Cavalry. Unfortunately, our walls and fortifications have not been completed yet."
"Immediately send an order to the entire army not to repair any more! Everyone will rest and eat solid food on the spot and prepare to fight the enemy!"