Li Heng ordered the Longxiang Army commanded by Yu Chaoen to be mobilized from Tongguan to Puzhou. This army only had more than 2,000 people when Li Chongyun founded it. After continuous expansion in the past few years, it finally became an army with 30,000 people.
A mighty army.
After Yu Chaoen received the emperor's order, he was not very happy, because although he was led by Guo Ziyi in Tongguan, the emperor also appointed him as deputy marshal. Therefore, their relationship was on an equal footing. But now the transfer
The imperial edict he sent to Puzhou said that he would fully accept the leadership of Li Guangbi, which was really unbearable.
We are all ministers of the Tang Dynasty. Why should Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi be above him? Is it just because he is a eunuch?
The emperor also sent Ma Fu as his deputy general. Ma Fu was originally the deputy military envoy of the Anxi camp, but after the military envoy Feng Changqing was unjustly killed by the emperor, the Anxi army, which was originally short of troops, became disintegrated.
Li Fuguo, who was in charge of the government, had no intention of appointing a new military governor, and because the Anxi Army was closely related to Li Siye, he simply canceled the position of military governor of the Anxi camp, and the various departments of the Anxi Army were also split up and assigned to various armies.
, he, the deputy envoy of Jiedu, was also appointed as General Youlongxiang and subordinated to Yu Chaoen.
Nowadays, in this court where eunuchs are in charge, being able to submit to the eunuchs is actually a good means of self-protection.
The two of them led the army out of Tongguan and headed upstream to Pujin along the Yellow River. Originally, it was a good choice to cross the river from Fengling in Tongguan to the east of Hedong, but Fenglingdu was backed by the Zhongtiao Mountains and the mountain road was much higher than here.
It is a little more difficult to walk, and the pontoon bridge built at Pujin Ferry is the largest bridge in the entire upper reaches of the Yellow River. It is faster for 30,000 troops to cross the bridge than a ferry.
From receiving the imperial decree to reorganizing and setting off, the army marched for a total of three and a half days before finally arriving at Pujin Ferry. Yu Chaoen held a fly whisk in his hand and looked across the Yellow River. He saw a battle that seemed to be going on on the river beach, and there was a vague high-pitched roar.
The shouts of death penetrated the river bank and reached here.
He trembled his lips and said in surprise: "I didn't expect that the Hexi Army's progress was so fast. They have occupied the entire Puzhou. Our army was still a step behind after all."
Ma Li quickly crossed his arms and said to him: "Envoy Yuzhong, the Zhaoyi Army is fighting with the Hexi Army on the other side of the Yellow River. Seeing that the pontoon bridge is still in our hands. Please give the envoy an order. I am willing to personally lead the right army to cross the river from the pontoon bridge to rescue Zhaoyi."
Rebels."
"Don't misjudge the situation." Yu Chaoen glared at him and said, "Right now, the Hexi Army is in great power, but the Zhaoyi Army has been defeated after several defeats. Now we are the only ones left in Guanzhong and the 89,000 people in Tongguan.
, we must not be buried here in vain.”
"Why is this a waste in vain?" Ma was so anxious that he almost cursed: "General Lieutenant General, the Yellow River alone cannot stop the enemy. Only when Puzhou on the other side is in our hands can Guanzhong be truly safe. Today
The Zhaoyi Army is still resisting the enemy on the other side, and the enemy's situation is unknown. Even if the enemy is worried, they should first send a troop to find out the true situation and then provide assistance."
Yu Chaoen asked him coldly: "Do you think you are better at fighting than me? Do you think I still need your teaching?"
These two powerful questions completely suppressed Ma Phosphorus' momentum, causing him to stand there with his head lowered and not speak.
"Our family has never fought before, but we don't completely understand the principles of fighting. Didn't you see that the Hexi Army on the other side was pressing the remaining Zhaoyi Army on the river beach, without even a chance to counterattack? Our family has in our hands
There are only 30,000 people crossing over such a narrow bridge, and they can’t even spread out their troops. Doesn’t it mean that just by crossing over, we will add fuel to others and get beaten?”
Yu Chaoen sat down from the river beach and suddenly felt something was wrong. He quickly ordered the soldiers: "Quickly cut off the iron chain. If it continues, set a fire to burn the pontoon bridge! We must not let this happen.
The Hexi Army is attacking from the other side!"
"What?" Ma Li almost jumped in fright after hearing this. Doesn't this mean that he gave up the Tang army on the other side in vain? They are still holding on because they saw their reinforcements from the other side, and sometimes a battle
The key to victory lies in these mental strengths.
He quickly advised Jianyu Chaoen: "Yu Gong, there is no need to burn the pontoon bridge now. We should immediately send people to lead the army to rescue."
Yu Chaoen pointed at him and said angrily: "I have to say that you generals, all you think about is yourselves all day long, thinking about how to achieve meritorious service and become a marquis in exchange for a wife. When do you think about it in your eyes?
Crossing the Saint, you want to lead the army to help in the battle and win the battle, but you have thought that once the Saint's family is damaged and reaches the other side, if the enemy army chases us along the pontoon because of this battle, we will be the sinners of Chang'an, too.
You sinner of a saint! Come here, burn the bridge for me!"
Ma Fu decided not to persuade him anymore, and just endured the pain and stood aside with his hands folded and said nothing. These Longxiang soldiers did not care whether burning the pontoon bridge was good or bad for the court. They just listened to the orders from above.
Two soldiers were standing on the pontoon bridge holding torches. Several soldiers brought oil in wooden barrels and retreated to the shore while pouring oil on them. Yu Chaoen personally grabbed the torches from their hands and threw it onto the bridge.
On the river, raging flames immediately rose, and the boats below were also burning. Due to the strong wind on the river, the flames quickly spread to a height of several feet. Looking from a distance, it made your cheeks hurt. Thick black smoke was rising on the river.
It transformed into a ferocious black dragon, and like the dark clouds before the rain, it gradually dispersed and rose into the sky.
…
Li Guangbi and the rest of the Tang army stood firm around the Yellow River Floating Bridge, holding tower shields in their hands to form two square formations. The shield soldiers were still acting as defense outside, and the spearmen placed their spears on the shields. The entire formation was like hard armor.
Their bodies were covered with hedgehog spikes, and the crossbowmen stood in the center and fired arrows at the charging enemy troops. They cooperated with each other nervously to face the cavalry charging at them from all directions.
He stood calmly in the center of the formation, with the Iron Ox on the beach of the Yellow River behind him. His mission prevented him from retreating. He had commanded hundreds of battles in his life, but he had never been as skillful as he is today. There were only a few hundred people to his front, back, left and right.
Brothers, they listened to his dull and thunderous shouting and commanding, and the order was as flexible as his arms. Every time a brother fell, soldiers behind him would take the initiative to take over the former's responsibility.
Li Chongbao, wearing iron armor and riding a horse, stood high on the river beach, looking at the hundreds of phalanxes on the edge of the Yellow River with menacing eyes. The three iron cavalry under his command took turns to charge against these Tang troops. He saw them fighting like Tian Heng's eight hundred warriors.
Fighting to the death, I feel like I am the villain in this battle, and the kind that makes people hate me.
But the opponent is truly a hero worthy of praise and praise. If he fails today, he will not feel aggrieved. His defeat at the hands of Li Guangbi is worth mentioning. Moreover, the opponent is superior to him both tactically and spiritually. Now
It's just something called the right time and place.
"Li Sikong! Why can't the Tongguan reinforcements reach the river?" An old soldier beside Li Guangbi asked loudly after he shot the enemy cavalry off his horse.
"Can't figure it out? If you can't figure it out, just keep on guarding!"
Under the cover of the rear cavalry's horned bows, the Flying Tigers continued to attack the Tang army's formation from the side, gradually whittling down the iron-barrel-like phalanx like peeling potatoes. However, this could not shake the formation at all, but it was a loss to the cavalry.
It is also gradually increasing.
Li Chongyun frowned. The Tang army's casualty rate had exceeded 30%. Even the most elite army in the feudal era would have been defeated if it suffered more than 20% casualties. Li Guangbi and these people were really holding on with one breath.
He suddenly raised his head and looked at the other side of the Yellow River. Flames were rising on the bridge there, and thick smoke filled the river.
Li Chongbao laughed unconsciously. It seemed that he was not the only villain in this battle. The enemy had his helpers. The victory or defeat was now decided.
"Look! What are you still holding on to? The imperial court has abandoned you!"
The soldiers of the Tang Army looked back, and the thick smoke over the Yellow River seemed to be floating in front of them, reflecting in their eyes full of sadness.
Li Guangbi poked the horizontal knife in his hand on the ground and said absently: "Winning and defeat are meaningless. Those who are willing to surrender should surrender, and those who are unwilling to surrender can swim across the other side."