Yi Song

Chapter 228 The Uneasy Song Army General

On the road beside Wuding River, a group of people galloped north.

This avenue was extremely busy, with ox-carts and horse-drawn carriages one after another, loaded with food, ordnance and other supplies, heading north.

On the other side, vehicles one after another were heading south. Most of them were empty, but some of them were filled with wounded people who were wrapped up tightly and had dull eyes.

Every three miles, there will be a soldier wearing a green coat standing in the middle of the road directing the passing vehicles. He held a copper whistle in his mouth and blew it from time to time. The sharp sound cut through the air and was very harsh.

Sometimes the vehicle would get stuck in the mud, and the green-shirted soldiers would stop the vehicle, organize the drivers, and work together to push the vehicle out.

If a heavily loaded vehicle is too deep, the green-shirted soldiers will organize people to unload the goods, pile them to the side, push the vehicle out, and then load them back up.

The whole road was busy and bumpy, but running smoothly.

Seeing this group of cavalry galloping towards them, the flag at the front was: "Reserve Corps Commander Liu", the green-shirted soldier directing the traffic blew the copper whistle, commanded the carriage, and made way for them.

Liu Zhongwu, who was wearing a military uniform and a fox fur coat, watched these silently, and drove straight into Yinchuan City (Yongle City).

Zhong Shidao glanced at him, lowered his head, read all the documents in his hand, and handed them to the adjutant, "Everyone, go down."

Two officers came out and caught Liu Zhongwu and his party.

After Liu Zhongwu finished speaking, he couldn't help but ask: "Uncle Yi, how did this battle end like this?"

No matter how we fought, Fulin and Jinning's troops were trapped in Jialuchuan and Tuweichuan, your right army was trapped in Yinzhou and Longzhou lines, and Liu Fa's middle road was blocked at Shangyi Pass and was in trouble.

But what's the point of playing well in Hehuang? It's beyond our reach, and it won't have much impact on our war situation. "

"Mr. Ziwen, you're here." Master Zhong lost a lot of weight, and there were dark spots under his eyes. It looked like he stayed up late and worried too much.

After seeing the ceremony, he took Liu Zhongwu and his personal entourage, squeezed through the bustling crowd, passed through the south gate of Yinchuan City and the school field, and entered the house in the middle.

"Yes!"

Liu Zhongwu continued to ask: "Uncle Yi, have you understood the fight so far?"

People were coming and going, and it was busier and more crowded than Xiangguosi Street in Bianjing.

"Uncle Yi, I have to come." Liu Zhongwu took off his fox fur coat and handed it to his subordinates. He took the hot water from Zhongshi Dao's soldiers, held it with both hands, and sat down on a chair.

Master Zhong sighed: "At the beginning, I was also very surprised. How did this battle end like this? Until now, we have even deployed all strategic reserves. If we are not careful, we may end up like Haoshuichuan and Yongle." The city is in ruins!"

Zhong Shidao shook his head and said: "Obviously, the Xixia Kingdom's current strategy is to abandon the Hehuang land, stick to the Liuling and the Yellow River line, and devote all its efforts to the central and eastern fronts. In addition, Li Huangshi is among the Tubo tribes reputation, so it is easy to fight.

There are also three combat brigades stationed in Yanzhou City just in case. "

"Ziwen Gong, how many people did you bring here?"

Only Li Shizi's side defeated Kuozhou, Jishi Army and other places, and the Tubo, Hehuang Qiang and Tubo tribes such as Xige, Jianzha, Danan, Baodun and others who were attached to Xixia rebelled one after another. "

Liu Zhongwu stroked his beard and looked solemn, "Isn't it a good idea to start the war? The Fulin and Jinning armies went out from Jialuchuan and Mingtangchuan to attract the attention of the heroic army in the left wing of Xixia. Then you led the troops to besiege Yinzhou City and pulled out all the troops. Come down to this city. This war will be over.

Zhong Shidao stood up and sat down next to Liu Zhongwu.

"I led four combat brigades and 23,000 horse infantry troops to Mizhi Village. Liu Yanqing led four combat brigades and 21,000 horse infantry troops to Weiqiang Village and met with Yao Laoer (Yao Gu). Rendezvous.

Yinchuan City is not big, but it is crowded with people. For more than 20 miles outside the city, tents are densely packed and surrounded by several camps of different sizes.

"Understood! Ours is just an ordinary war. Well, according to the Operations Section of the General Staff Office, it is just a local war. It is expected that only 50,000 to 60,000 troops will be mobilized and the fight will last three to four months."

Master Zhongdao sighed.

"This is just what we think, but the Dangxiang people opposite don't think so. They treat it as a national war. Yinzhou and Longzhou quickly gathered most of the main forces of the Left Wing Shenyong Army and Xiangyou Military Division , with a crowd of 60,000 to 70,000. Weiming Anshi, the military envoy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Divine Brave Army in the left wing, we have dealt with before. A famous general of Xixia, the Optimus Prime of the Eastern Front. As soon as he took action, he defeated Fulin and Jinning. The soldiers and horses were forced back. Then they constantly mobilized troops and generals to pile up on the front lines of Yinzhou and Longzhou to fight with us.

Lord Ziwen, I suspect that Brother Richard, the King of Jin from the Hexi family, is here. "

"Brother Richard? Liu Fa's old rival in Liuling in Hehuang. Although he is young, he should not be underestimated. One month ago, intelligence said that he was in Weizhou. Why do you think he has come?"

"In Yinzhou, there are about 50,000 to 60,000 Xixia troops, in Longzhou, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 troops, and between the two places, there are about 20,000 to 30,000 troops deployed.

According to the situation of the Reconnaissance and Protection Branch of the Enemy Pointing Division on our right, Xiazhou and Shizhou are still gathering troops in a steady stream. The total number is more than 150,000. It is impossible to mobilize so many soldiers and horses based on Wei's reputation alone. "

Liu Zhongwu pondered for more than ten breaths and nodded slowly.

"Is this King Jin from the Hexi family crazy? Is he going to give Liu Jieshuai a blow?"

Zhong Shidao said angrily: "I don't care whether he's crazy or not, or whether he wants to show off his power. What I'm worried about now is, how can we continue this war?"

Liu Zhongwu frowned and said hesitantly: "The current battle situation is in danger. We have almost the entire army on the Huanqing and Fuyan roads. It is dangerous. If you are not careful, the battle of Yongle City in the fifth year of Yuanfeng may happen again. I’m going to do it once.”

Zhong Shidao raised his head and glanced at him.

Liu Ziwen said half of what he said, but he understood it clearly.

The two groups of soldiers and horses, plus the elite strategic reserve corps originally belonging to the Jingyuan and Qinfeng groups, were all deployed. There were more than 100,000 soldiers and horses, and more than 200,000 civilians. They were not far different from Yongle City in the fifth year of Yuanfeng.

The biggest drawback of the Song army is that the more soldiers and horses it has, the easier it is to lose the battle.

The more people there are, the more fetters they have, the more thoughts each person has, and the more weaknesses they expose. As long as the opponent seizes the opportunity and breaks through it, it will cause an avalanche-like chain reaction and the entire network will collapse.

There was silence in the tent for a while, then Zhong Shidao asked: "Where is Commander Jie? Are you also in Yanzhou Xuanfu Xingsi?"

Liu Zhongwu replied worriedly: "No, there are only counselor Li Miao and military officer Liu Ziyu in the Xuanfu Executive Department. The military orders received by the right wing were all issued by these two people."

Judge Murong Yewang is in Yanzhou, busy mobilizing supplies and weapons for you. Jieshuai said he went to Lanzhou. "

"Lanzhou? Does Marshal Ji want to break the deadlock from the western front?" Master Zhong asked in surprise.

"maybe."

"What's the use? The Western Front is far away from the hinterland of Xixia. Not to mention the six ridges conquered, even if Liangzhou is captured, it will not be a fatal blow. Water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the near!

What's more, the current war situation is very precarious. If the front line of hundreds of miles collapses, big problems may occur, and he will not be able to break the deadlock on the Western Front! "

Zhong Shidao burst out full of resentment and complaints, "Didn't he talk to us about a big detour and a big outflank? Didn't he talk about avoiding the real and attacking the weak? What about now? The Eastern Front is in full swing, but he went to the Western Front.

After all, he still only wants to take the lives of the 300,000 soldiers of the Western Army to seek his promotion and promotion! "

Liu Zhongwu opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"Report!"

"Say!"

"I just received an urgent report! Deputy Envoy Yao was attacked by Xixia cavalry in Gandungou outside Longzhou City, including an iron kite. Our army was caught off guard and suffered heavy casualties. Deputy Envoy Yao could only lead his troops to retreat to Qingping Fort.

Deputy Ambassador Liu of the Reserve Corps led the troops to respond, and encountered an ambush by the Xixia Army in Shilijing. It was said that there were capture troops from Henan and Hanhai tribes, as well as mountain blackmail troops and strong crossbow troops.

Deputy envoy Liu failed to support him and retreated to Weiqiang village. After the deputy envoy Yao led his troops to retreat, he asked to stick to Weiqiang Village, but the deputy envoy Liu insisted on retreating to Tumen Pass. After a quarrel, the deputy envoy Liu led the reserve regiment to retreat to Tumen Pass. Deputy Ambassador Yao had no choice but to abandon Wei Qiang Village, Xi Qiang Village and Yumou Fort, and retreat to Wan'an Fort. "

Liu Zhongwu was shocked, and Zhong Shidao was so angry that he slammed the table and cursed: "Liu Yanwu, Yao Gu, you two bastards who fail to achieve anything but fail!"

(End of this chapter)