Chapter 294: The Road to the South (Nine)

The number of cavalry in the Northern Han army was about 6,000. Judging from the proportion of infantry and cavalry, the Northern Han army was higher than the Great Zhou imperial guards and lower than the Khitan army. Six thousand iron cavalry galloped across the Great Zhou camp, with arrows raining like weaving, shooting towards the Zhou camps, looking at the Zhou army without anything.

The Zhou army was like a turtle retracted into its shell, allowing the Northern Han cavalry to shuttle back and forth, and only fought back with a crossbow, and would never step out of the barracks.

As the sky was about to be clear, the Northern Han army came and walked suddenly and quickly. As the last team of cavalry shouted in the Pinzi-shaped camp, the Northern Han army disappeared without a trace. They walked in a hurry, and the soldiers who were shot down by the Zhou army's crossbow arrow were abandoned in the local area.

After the Northern Han army retreated, the Zhou army's cavalry sneaked back to the camp from all directions.

Hou Dayong has always attached great importance to reconnaissance work. In addition to the scouts of the front and rear troops, Hou Dayong also specially established a ten-person reconnaissance team directly belonging to the Zhuyuan Fengsha. These ten people came from the old reconnaissance cavalry of the Lion Camp in Hou Dayong's personal guard. They were active on both sides of the Zhangshui River, and their intelligence was much faster and more accurate than other reconnaissance cavalry.

This time, the Northern Han army suddenly left the camp, and the reconnaissance team discovered the situation in time. However, the Northern Han army was dispatched too quickly and headed straight to the Zhou army camp. They had no time to return to the camp to report the news, so they had to hide in the distance and watch the two armies fighting. After the Northern Han army retreated, they immediately followed a section and found a large number of fresh foot marks on the road to Zezhou. They also found a body of a Northern Han soldier who was killed by an arrow, and then they returned to the camp.

Wang Yansheng was trapped in the camp, looking at the remaining fire in the trench, and his eyes were spewed out of the murderous aura. When he saw several war horses neighing outside the camp, he turned over and came out of the village wall, asked the soldiers to hand over a long wooden board, stepped on the wooden board and walked towards a wailing war horse.

The war horse was circling around a rider uneasy. When he saw Wang Yansheng, he immediately showed a warning look.

This is an extremely young Northern Han sergeant. His young face was covered with acne and a thick crossbow arrow stabbed on his right chest. The light of his life was about to disappear. He couldn't even make a moan. He just looked at the sky farther and farther away with his eyes.

Wang Yansheng had never fought such a fierce battle, and his heart was filled with anger. Seeing the half-open eyes of the sergeant on the ground, he pulled out his waist knife and cut off the head of the Northern Han sergeant with one knife. Then he turned over and ran on the horse, holding the head and running wildly on the open space with a font shape.

After listening to the report of the detective, Hou Dayong looked at the map for a long time and fell into deep thought. He had just clarified his mind. He heard loud shouts from the camp outside. He took Fengsha to the watchtower. He saw Wang Yansheng, who was like a madman, just holding a head and shouting in a strange voice. His behavior attracted all the soldiers to echo.

Hou Dayong frowned and looked at Feng Sha for a while, and said to Feng Sha: "I heard that the soldiers in the front hall called Wang Yansheng an evil general in the past. It's really true."

Feng Sha looked at the battlefield that was trampled into mud by war horses and smiled and said, "Wang Yansheng is an evil general in the front office of the Palace. He is not weaker than Guang Zitu and He Wulang. His words and deeds are vulgar. He is also the notorious person to kill prisoners. Although he has made great contributions, he is the first person to lead his army into Youzhou City, but he is always unable to be promoted to the official position."

Wang Yansheng was just when he was proud. Shi Shouxin rushed out with several personal guards. Shi Shouxin was a veteran general in the front office of the palace and had always been Wang Yansheng's boss. He said angrily: "What are you crazy? Go back to me."

Wang Yansheng was not afraid of heaven, but he was convinced by Zhao Kuangyin and Shi Shouxin. Now Zhao Kuangyin is dead, and only Shi Shouxin in the army can restrain him. Seeing Shi Shouxin getting angry, Wang Yansheng threw the head in his hand into the sky and complained: "I have fought for more than ten years and have never fought such a bird battle. If General Zhao was still there."

Shi Shouxin's face changed. He turned around and looked at Hou Dayong's military camp, and saw Hou Dayong was on the lookout table. He whispered, "If you want to survive, don't say these words. Why can't you change the food? Shut up after returning to the camp." Wang Yansheng was so angry when he saw Shi Shouxin, he grinned and said indifferently: "Okay, let's not talk, I'll go back now." He walked and whispered: "What a fucking bird fight."

Feng Sha saw Wang Yansheng and Shi Shouxin return to the military camp, and said, "As expected by the Prince Hou, the Northern Han Army, should have wanted to raid Zezhou."

The cold wind blew on the watchtower, making Hou Dayong's lichen collar "huh, huh" sound. Hou Dayong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since the Northern Han army chose to go south to Zezhou, its intention must be to mobilize our army to go south to reinforce Zezhou, and then attack halfway. This is a typical strategy of surrounding the point and attacking aid. It seems that Liu Jiye is a guy who likes field battles."

Hou Dayong recalled the fight at Round Ridge and thought to himself: "Liu Jiye is indeed very skilled in martial arts. I don't know how good the command level is. The Yang family generals who have been passed down for thousands of years must not let me down."

Feng Sha was familiar with Hou Dayong's plan, but he was still a little worried and said, "If the Northern Han army unexpectedly took Zezhou and went down the Qin River, it would soon approach Daliang. This would probably be cursed by the ministers in the capital, causing unstable court situations."

Hou Dayong looked up at the gradually brighter sky and said, "Su Wensen and Kuang Cao are both one of the five captains of the Black Eagle Army. I believe their ability. As long as Su Wensen can defend the Tianjing Pass south of Zezhou and Kuang Cao can defend the Spike Pass, it will be difficult for the Northern Han army to go deep into the hinterland. The Zezhou garrison Murong Yanzhao is also a powerful general. If the Northern Han army wants to eat Murong Yanzhao, they may be beaten to their teeth."

Murong Yanzhao was originally the commander of the Iron Cavalry's Right Angle Commander. He entered Youzhou City as the second echelon. The personnel losses were only slightly smaller than those of the left Angle. After the Battle of Youzhou, Murong Yanzhao was appointed as the governor of Zezhou and left the imperial army. This was the result of the fight between Fan Zhi and Hou Dayong at that time.

"Even if Liu Jiye passed through the obstacles and killed the generals, when he arrived at Daliang, there were 40,000 people in Longwei Army, Iron Cavalry Army and Bianhe Naval Division. These elite troops were waiting for their work. Will they still be afraid of Liu Jiye? Liu Jiye claims to be invincible and naturally would not do such a moth to the fire? His main purpose was to make trouble and mobilize our army to fight him in the wild. He was really confident."

Several unknown water birds were looking for food by the Zhangshui River, sometimes flying up and sometimes diving down. In a snow-white world, these little water birds seemed particularly lonely and helpless. Hou Dayong suddenly felt emotion, "I haven't heard the sound of a pigeon whistle for a long time."

"I haven't seen General Shi Hu for three years, and I don't know if he is still devoted to Buddha?" Hou Dayong remembered Shi Hu's extremely serious expression, and there was a hint of warmth in the center.

The two were chatting on the lookout platform. Some war horses came out from the front and back camps one after another. Hou Dayong smiled slightly and said, "Shi Shouxin and Wang Tengxiang must be unable to bear it."

The visitors were Shi Shouxin and Wang Tengxiang.

Wang Tengxiang once participated in the Qingshui River Battle and was familiar with Hou Dayong. He said bluntly: "Xiao Hou told me in Qingshui River that offense is the best defense. Why is this time so passive to defend, giving the enemy freedom of action, and the food outlet will be cut off sooner or later."

Shi Shouxin has been thinking about Hou Dayong's intentions. This time, the imperial guards did not show full strength. The Longwei Army, Bianhe Naval Division, Iron Cavalry Army and other imperial guards were not used. In addition, there were also horses available for dispatch in Zhengzhou and Daming Prefecture, but Hou Dayong only used 30,000 troops. These troops were not too many, and they were in a dilemma by the Zhangshui River.

Shi Shouxin kept remembering Zhao Kuangyin's lesson in his heart. He suggested tactfully: "The Northern Han army is mobile and fierce, and Luzhou has many soldiers. If the troops are not increased as soon as possible, it is unlikely to have a chance to win."

Hou Dayong was as steady as a mountain and smiled and said, "Luzhou is in a dangerous terrain. If we make a large increase in troops, Li Yun is very likely to retreat to Luzhou and stick to it according to the danger. In this way, it will be difficult for us to pacify it in a short period of time, attract Li Yun's heavy troops in Cizhou, and find a complete annihilation of its main force. This is the best strategy."

He waved his hand and said, "We will hold on for a while. As long as the time is right, we will launch a general attack. One battle will determine the two states of Lu."

Shi Shouxin and Wang Tengxiang looked at each other.

Since Hou Dayong led his army north, he has always adopted a strategy of avoiding war and has never taken the initiative to attack the rebels. Unexpectedly, he actually thought about annihilated the enemy in Cizhou. However, Cizhou has 30,000 Northern Han troops and nearly 80,000 Luzhou troops. The Zhou army and Zhang Yongde's men had only about 50,000 people, and it was a bit unreasonable to use 50,000 people to wipe out 130,000 people.

Shi Shouxin and Wang Tengxiang walked out of Hou Dayong's military camp. Just as the two broke up, Shi Shouxin couldn't help asking: "General Wang participated in the Battle of Qingshuihe and must have a deep understanding of Hou Prime's methods. Can you reveal some secrets?"

Wang Tengxiang smiled bitterly and said, "There is no trace to be found."

The troops remained unmoved on the south bank of Zhangshui River, but the other battlefields were fighting fiercely.

On December 10, the Northern Han army suddenly appeared outside Zezhou City, and suddenly met with the 5,000 troops of the Zezhou garrison Murong Yanzhao in Changping. The Northern Han army confronted head-on with a force, and the cavalry suddenly emerged from the left wing. Murong Yanzhao's troops were defeated and retreated into Yingcheng City had lost most of the losses.

Subsequently, the Northern Han army ignored Yingcheng, and 6,000 cavalry headed straight to Zezhou. Outside Zezhou City, they met the main force of Murong Yanzhao's army. The Northern Han cavalry fought and retreated, intending to lure Murong Yanzhao's main force into the ambush circle. When Murong Yanzhao's troops were about to be deceived, Murong Yanzhao saw through the plan of the Northern Han army and led the army to retreat slowly. The Northern Han army turned to attack. Murong Yanzhao was defeated again and retreated into Zezhou City and could not stand.

The Northern Han army did not stop in Zezhou. In the middle of the night, they turned eastward and attacked Yingcheng. After replenishing supplies, they gave up Yingcheng and walked south. After arriving at Tianjing Pass, they saw that the Zhou army was well prepared, so they retreated without fighting and hid in the mountains, without seeing them.

Zezhou was an important barrier to Daliang. Zezhou was surrounded and the dynasty was shocked. The call for a new army to go north was rising in the court. However, the military power in Daliang City was actually handed over by Hou Dayong to the commander of the Bianhe Naval Commander Shi Ying. Shi Ying did not agree to send troops, and it was difficult for one soldier and one soldier to transfer out of Daliang City.
Chapter completed!