The number of foreign merchants in Linhuang City has dropped sharply in the past few days, and almost no merchants have come from the east. The soldiers all guessed that it was because General Wanyan Asai had robbed merchants so harshly that he scared the merchants away from coming.
But no one thought that this was a precursor to the coming of the Western Army. After all, Linhuang Mansion was too remote. Even if a war broke out, it would be Liaodong who started it first. Everything was safe there, let alone their turn.
At noon, two young Khitan businessmen entered Linhuang Mansion. They led a dozen mules carrying cloth to Xiao Dan's inn.
"Let's find Shopkeeper Xiao!"
Xiao Dan nodded, "I am!"
“What’s the price of old man’s ginseng from the east?”
"It's very expensive. Even if you have 10,000 taels of gold, you can't buy it!"
The secret order was absolutely correct. Two Khitan soldiers took out the Western Army badges. Xiao Dan took them inside and whispered: "It's not safe here. Manager Zhang and his men have been transferred to my uncle's house."
"Take us there!"
Ever since Wanyan Asai searched twenty wooden barrels, Xiao Wanmu suspected that someone was watching the inn, otherwise Wanyan Asai would not have gotten the news so quickly. He did not dare to let Zhang Lu go to the inn again, so he simply hid in the inn.
At home, his brother-in-law Xiao Dan was responsible for delivering the news.
Soon, two Khitan soldiers met Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu read Niu Gao's letter and said, "Give me an hour and I will reply to you soon."
Xiao Wanmu's son called his father. Xiao Wanmu pondered for a moment and said: "I am not on duty tonight, but the day after tomorrow happens to be my mother's birthday. I can be on duty tonight instead. At the third watch, I will open the west gate.
Take the fire on top of the city as a signal!"
The two Khitan soldiers immediately left Linhuang City and rushed to report to Niu Gao.
Niu Gao's 50,000-strong army has arrived in the southwest of Linhuang Mansion, only thirty miles away from Linhuang City. The Western Army finally stopped moving forward. It was already dusk. Niu Gao decided to march at night after getting the news. He
At noon, two Khitan soldiers were sent into the city disguised as merchants, and he needed to get the exact response information.
Among all the senior generals of the Western Army, Niu Gao was the most kind and kind. His principle was not to kill women and children. This time, after Shao Jichun wiped out 5,000 nomadic cavalry, he also massacred three tribes. From a strategic point of view, there was no problem.
, which cut off the possibility of the Linhuang garrison getting the news first.
But the massacre made Niu Gao very unhappy. He could have confiscated their horses and drove them westward with the same effect. But Shao Jichun did not do this and instead adopted the simplest and most brutal method.
In the end, Niu Gao did not blame Shao Jichun, but took over the responsibility himself. It was he who failed to warn Shao Jichun. He only ordered him not to leak the information, but did not tell him what to do.
When night fell, the two Khitan soldiers finally came back. The sergeant immediately took them to the commander's tent. Niu Gao read the confirmation letter Zhang Lu gave him. There were 15,000 troops in the city. At the third watch, it was just right.
Raid the enemy camp.
Niu Gao then left 10,000 troops to guard the camels, and led 40,000 troops to march towards Linhuang City under the cover of night.
Linhuang City Wall has a circumference of more than 30 miles. It is made of large bluestones. It is tall and strong. It also diverts Huangshui to form a wide moat, making Linhuang City a strong city that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.
The Western Army did not carry siege weapons and marched thousands of miles to attack Linhuang City. Once discovered by the enemy, they would not be able to capture it and they would have to return defeated.
Niu Gao was also very nervous. This was the first battle to attack the Kingdom of Jin. If he lost, he would really have no face to see King Yong.
Ten miles away from the west gate of the city, the 40,000-strong army stopped again. Niu Gao found his deputy Wang Duo, Shao Jichun and Niu Gui. He said to Wang Duo: "Enter the city, you lead 10,000 troops to attack the military camp. Zhang issued an order.
Your men are at the city gate, and they will lead the way. The tactic is to attack with fire and use crossbows. Set fire to the camp first, and the enemy will inevitably flee. You block the two exits and shoot them with crossbows without mercy.
, try to wipe them all out."
"I humbly obey orders!"
Niu Gao then said to Shao Jichun and Sanzi Niu Gui: "You two follow Wangdutong in the raid and obey Wangdutou's orders!"
"Follow the order!"
Soon, there was still half an hour before the third watch. Niu Gao led the army to continue moving forward. Wang Duo's 10,000 vanguards were ambushed 300 steps away from the city gate, while Niu Gao led 30,000 troops in ambush.
Three miles behind.
If the army presses too hard, it will be easily discovered by the enemy.
The guard of the West Gate is Commander Xiao Wanmu. He has a thousand Khitan soldiers under his command. They have a relatively low status. They do the most painful and tiring tasks, such as guarding the city at night.
Xiao Wanmu has five centurions under his command, each commanding two hundred soldiers. These five are his confidants and have followed him for many years.
At two o'clock, Xiao Wanmu summoned five centurions and told them the secret of the Western Army's upcoming attack on the city.
The five people were shocked, but immediately expressed their willingness to follow the leader.
"We are just like dogs in the eyes of the Jurchens. We have given up doing this for a long time. We are willing to follow the general!"
Xiao Wanmu nodded, "Now the Western Army is outside the city. The city gate will be opened at the third watch. In order to prevent accidental injuries, all brothers have their left arms tied with white cloth. The Western Army will not attack us. Once the Western Army enters the city
, we need to leave the city immediately to avoid being injured by street fighting."
Everyone agreed and immediately split up.
At the third watch, Zhang Lu also led thirteen of his men to the west city gate. His men were responsible for leading the way for the Western Army to raid the Jurchen Army camp.
Xiao Wanmu stared outside the city. It was completely dark outside the city. Nothing could be seen a hundred steps away. One of his subordinates came to report, "General, it's time for the third watch!"
Xiao Wanmu nodded, "Open the city gate, lower the suspension bridge, and light the fire!"
The city gate slowly opened, the drawbridge creaked and lowered, the soldiers lit the pyre, and the fire immediately started burning.
Wang Duo saw it clearly and immediately shouted: "The army is entering the city!"
Ten thousand cavalry suddenly mobilized and rushed towards the city gate. Shao Jichun and Niu Gui took the lead in rushing into the city. Two soldiers stepped forward and said: "We are under Zhang Shuling, and we are here to lead the way!"
"Lead the way!"
Two men urged their horses to lead the way, followed closely by 10,000 cavalrymen. They also slowed down and controlled the sound of their horses' hooves.
The Jurchen camp was in the west city, less than a mile away from the city gate. In just a few moments, the Western Army arrived at the camp. Wang Duo ordered Shao Jichun and Niu Gui to each lead 3,000 men to block the two gates, while he led 4,000 men on the outside.
Deployment, once the enemy soldiers escape over the wall, they will be shot by them.
Hundreds of soldiers sprayed kerosene into the camp with kerosene bags, and then thousands of rockets were fired into the camp. The burning kerosene balls were thrown into the camp by the soldiers.
In the camp, more than a thousand golden soldiers and sheepskin tents were set alight, and they quickly started to burn. The fire spread rapidly and gradually engulfed the camp.