The Ziqing Army was confronting the Hebei Army in Puzhou, and both sides were unwilling to launch an offensive easily. At this time, Li Zheng had arrived in Rencheng County, Yanzhou, and an army of 20,000 people led by his eldest son Li Na was stationed here. Their goal was of course
Xuzhou, but the imperial court seemed to be on guard, and also stationed 20,000 troops in Xuzhou, which made Li Na dare not act rashly for a while.
Li Zheng and his party arrived at the camp, and Li Na quickly welcomed his father into the tent.
"What is the background of General Xuzhou?" Li Zheng asked as he walked into the tent.
"Reporting to my father, the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou is Guo Song."
"It's him?"
Li Zhengji frowned, "Wasn't he dismissed from office? Why is he here again?"
Of course, Li Zheng has his own intelligence system in the capital. A complete intelligence network has been formed. Various major events in the capital are sent to Qizhou through pigeon mail every day, so that Li Zheng can keep abreast of the trends in the capital at any time.
Of course Li Zheng already knew what happened to Guo Song in the capital, but the focus of his concern was not Guo Song, but the Prime Minister Chang Gun. Chang Gun was fined one year's salary and given a warning for impeaching Guo Song, which meant that
If Chang Gun's re-election is in danger, who will inherit the position?
Although Guo Song resigned on his own, everyone knew that this was no different from dismissal from office. It was just puzzling how he appeared on the battlefield in the Central Plains again and became the independent commander.
"Father, I think that the burning of the warships on the Yellow River and the burning of the warships on the Huai River were all done by Guo Song. He never showed up until Li Zhongchen's entire army was destroyed. Apparently he had been hiding in the dark.
"
His son's reminder made Li Zheng suddenly realize, that's right, Guo Song was a hidden chess piece deployed by Emperor Li Yu on the battlefield in the Central Plains, so his dismissal from office was a deliberate act to confuse everyone, okay
One move can hide everything from the sky.
However, Li Zhengji really didn't take Guo Song seriously. He was an assassin and fought two victorious battles against the Xue Yantuo people in Fengzhou. This capital was still too thin in his opinion.
It is useful when fighting alone, but it has no effect in a decisive battle with thousands of troops.
It is also because the emperor Li Yu likes to use dark methods that assassins like Guo Song have the opportunity to be reused. In any dynasty, things that cannot be put on the table will not be put on the table.
"Guo Song can pay attention to him, but there is no need to be afraid. Xuzhou must be captured, and it must be done as soon as possible. We must get everything we deserve before Tian Chengsi's army is finally resolved. There is not much time left for us.
Already."
Li Na nodded slowly. His father was here to urge the fight, and there was no point in continuing the confrontation.
That night, Li Zheng returned to Puzhou, and Li Na also broke camp and went south, leading an army of 20,000 to attack Xuzhou in a mighty manner.
Guo Song also sent many scouts. As soon as Li Na's army moved, he immediately got the news in Peixian County, but Guo Song still stood still.
In the big tent, Guo Song stood in front of the map and took a closer look. The water network from Rencheng to Peixian was densely covered with dozens of large and small rivers, so it was more likely that the opponent's logistics supplies would take waterways.
He called Liang Wu over and said to him: "According to our old rules, if you lead a thousand brothers to harass the opponent's grain road, you must be careful to preserve your strength and do not take risks or rush in."
Guo Song then said to Yao Jin and others: "You are all experienced veterans. You must persuade General Liang and don't let him take risks and fall into other people's traps."
Everyone bowed and saluted together, "I will obey your envoy's order!"
That night, Liang Wu led a thousand Fengzhou cavalry to leave. They detoured behind the enemy's rear and specifically harassed the enemy's food routes...
Two days later, Li Na led 20,000 troops into Xuzhou and advanced to Xinping Town, about 20 miles away from the Tang Army's camp. The Ziqing Army also set up camp south of the town.
The situation is so interesting. To the north, the Ziqing Army and the imperial army joined forces to fight against Tian Chengsi's Wei Bo Army. To the south, the Ziqing Army and the imperial army opened a battlefield again, preparing for a big battle.
At noon, a Ziqing Army cavalry galloped over, one hundred and fifty steps away from the Tang Army's camp. He shot an arrow at the camp gate, and naturally a letter was stuck on the arrow.
A soldier ran up to pick up the arrow letter, hurried back to the camp, and presented the letter to the coach Guo Song.
This turned out to be a letter of challenge, inviting him to a decisive battle tomorrow morning. Guo Song smiled and tore the letter of challenge into pieces. He was not in a hurry and let Li Na rush.
Guo Song pondered for a moment and summoned all the generals to the commander's tent for discussion. Not long after, more than twenty generals including generals and above gathered together. Guo Song slowly said to everyone: "I just received Li Na's letter of war. He invited me.
The decisive battle tomorrow morning, what do you think?"
There was a sudden discussion in the big tent, and everyone expressed their opinions. Most of them were in favor of a decisive battle with the Ziqing Army.
Seeing Zhang Duo, the lieutenant general of the First Army, Guo Song was silent and asked, "What do you think of General Zhang?"
Zhang Duo shook his head and said: "I just feel a little weird about the humble position. Although Li Zhengji is a feudal lord, on the surface he is still a courtier of the Tang Dynasty. He is also the Inspector of Schools, Tong Zhongshu's Ping Zhangshi, Raoyang County Prince, his
How can the army openly declare war on the imperial army? I think it is very strange for a humble official."
Guo Song smiled slightly and said: "Actually, this is what I thought when I got the letter of challenge. But thinking about it again, I'm afraid this letter of challenge is just a trick to confuse us. I think he has other intentions."
Zhang Duo's eyes lit up, "Is the other party coming to steal the camp tonight?"
Guo Song nodded, "I think it's very possible!"
...........
Night shrouded the wilderness. A few miles north of the Tang Army's camp, an army of 5,000 people was quietly approaching the Tang Army's camp. The leader of this army, Cai Wensheng, was a veteran who had followed Li Zheng for many years. He was experienced and good at making surprises.
It was he who suggested to Li Na the plan of "building the plank road openly and using it secretly".
He openly issued a letter of war to the Tang army, demanding a decisive battle tomorrow morning, but secretly made preparations to steal the camp. As long as the Tang army's camp could be set on fire, the Tang army would be in chaos without a fight, but they were completely defeated in one battle.
I have to say that this is a good plan. They have made full preparations for this. They have specially trained a group of 500 throwing soldiers. Each of them carries thirty torches on his back and can throw the torches thirty steps away.
, and it is very accurate. This throwing force alone has been training for half a year, just for this moment.
As long as the army can break into the enemy's camp, these five hundred people can quickly set hundreds of tents on fire, plunging the entire enemy army into a sea of fire. The main force will be responsible for encircling and suppressing the escaped enemy soldiers on the periphery.
The idea was great and the plan was perfect, but it was a pity that they encountered Guo Song who was better at sneak attacks.
Just to the north of the camp fence, ten thousand crossbowmen were ready, and six thousand cavalry were ambushing on both sides of the camp. Everything was as usual, very quiet, even the sentries were pacing back and forth on the sentry tower as usual.
"Attack!"
When he was still a hundred steps away from the camp, Cai Wensheng gave an order and five thousand soldiers rushed towards the Tang army's camp. Five hundred throwers were mixed among them. They needed the army to open the camp fence and capture part of the camp before they could
Throw torches deep into the enemy camp.
At this time, the sentry discovered the enemy troops coming to kill him. Dang! Dang! Dang! The alarm bell sounded. Everything was so tacit, as if the Tang army camp was defenseless.
Hearing the sound of the alarm bell, Cai Wensheng felt relieved. The other party was indeed unprepared. He knew that the sneak attack would be successful tonight.
Five thousand soldiers were running closer and closer, and when there were still thirty steps left, a banging sound suddenly sounded in the camp. This sound shattered Cai Wensheng's confidence and made his heart fall into the abyss.
Thousands of arrows were fired in the Tang army's camp. Five thousand soldiers were hit by arrows and fell to the ground. In an instant, there were more than two thousand casualties. The remaining soldiers turned around and fled. The second round of arrows was fired, killing more than a thousand people from behind.
At this time, six thousand cavalry rushed out from both sides to chase down the fleeing soldiers.
Li Na and the main force of the Ziqing Army, who were preparing to take over from behind, heard about the ambush and retreated one after another. The Tang Army pursued them all the way and chased them for nearly ten miles. They stopped their pursuit when they were blocked by a river.
In this battle, the Ziqing Army suffered more than 6,000 casualties, of which nearly 5,000 were killed and more than 1,000 were seriously injured. The casualties accounted for nearly 30% of the total force. Even the chief general Cai Wensheng died in the rebellion, which was a heavy blow.
The morale of the Ziqing Army.
On the morning of the next day, Guo Song led an army of 20,000 people and slowly arrived in front of the Ziqing Army barracks. Li Na raised a no-war sign. Guo Song gave an order and the army launched dozens of heavy trebuchets. The soldiers pushed the winches and threw long trebuchets.
The rod is bent, and the soldiers load the huge fire cloth balls into the trebuchet. This kind of fire cloth ball is hollow inside, and the cloth strips on the outside are soaked in oil and then dried in the sun.
fireball.
The soldiers lit the fireballs with torches and threw them out. Huge fireballs flew through the air and flew towards the opponent's camp. The shooting range of this heavy trebuchet was 300 steps. It was also the weapon of the Tang Dynasty.
It is the most powerful trebuchet at present, and the Uighur people tried every means to get its blueprints.
Fireballs shot into the enemy camp one after another. After landing, they bounced high and continued to rush forward. They rushed into the large tents and instantly ignited dozens of large tents. Even the commander's tent was destroyed by a fireball.
Injected, the handsome tent was set on fire.
Li Na shouted anxiously: "Tear down the tent! Tear down the tent!"
There was chaos in the military camp. Guo Song pointed his halberd and shouted: "The giant shield spearmen advance!"
Three thousand infantrymen holding huge shields and spears marched towards the camp step by step. Arrows were fired in the camp, but they could not hurt this army. This army was getting closer and closer to the camp, followed by the crossbow army.
An army of 15,000 cavalry and infantry attacked the enemy camp like an overwhelming force.
When Li Na saw this, he sighed and ordered: "Send the order for the army to abandon the camp and retreat northward!"
Li Na knew that he would be defeated today, so in order to preserve his strength, he had no choice but to abandon the camp and retreat north.
But just as the Ziqing Army withdrew from the camp, six thousand cavalry from the Tang Army came from the left and right. Guo Song ordered a full-scale attack. The morale of the Ziqing Army was low and they no longer wanted to fight. They had to rush to fight under Li Na's forced order.
, at this time, Liang Wu led a group of cavalry to attack from behind, and the Tang army attacked from both sides.
The Ziqing Army only persisted for less than a quarter of an hour before completely collapsing. The soldiers threw away their helmets and armor and ran as hard as they could. The entire army was defeated.
The Tang army pursued them for dozens of miles and killed more than 10,000 enemies and 20,000 troops. In the end, Li Na fled back to Qizhou in panic with only more than 2,000 people.
Guo Song took advantage of the situation to march and regain Yanzhou and Caozhou.