A knife in love

Chapter 645

At this time, everyone had already walked down the hillside, and there was a stone road at their feet, which meandered and stretched to a valley tens of feet away.Everyone walked up Yuntai Mountain through this place the day before, so after knowing that they have left this valley, they have already walked out of Yuntai Mountain.

Huiqing, Huijing and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the Wuji Guanmen didn't come after them.

Li Qiufeng was just thinking about what Sun Guangming said, feeling puzzled, and said: "I don't know about this Li, please ask Mr. Sun to explain the reason in detail."

Sun Guangming looked up at the sky, and said leisurely: "Cao Bin defeated Pan Mei and other famous generals. He is known as the number one general in the Northern Song Dynasty. He is really unique. This man is good at using troops, but he also knows how to protect himself. Song Taizu died that year. Unexplainably, Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi became emperor, fearing that others would say that he was wrong, so he wanted to recapture the sixteen prefectures of Youyun, and suppress the mouths of everyone. Therefore, in the third year of Yongxi, he ordered the Song army to attack northward in three ways Liao Kingdom, this is the famous Northern Expedition of Yongxi. At that time, Cao Bin was the commander of the Eastern Route Army, controlling generals such as Cui Yanjin, Mi Xin, Du Yangui, etc., and the soldiers pointed directly at Youzhou. General Tian Chongjin, as the chief general of the Central Route Army, led his troops out of Feihukou to capture Weizhou and other places, preventing the Liao Army from entering the Taihang Mountains from the west, thus threatening the rear of the East Route Army commanded by Cao Bin. The West Route Army was led by General Pan Mei As the main general and Yang Ye as the deputy general, he led the troops out of Yanmen, first captured Yunzhou and other areas behind the mountains, and then together with the Central Route Army, assisted the East Route Army in besieging Youzhou.

"At the beginning of the Song army's attack, the momentum was like a broken bamboo, forcing the Liao army to retreat. They were about to attack the city of Youyun. In Yixue, Shi Jingtang was willing to be the emperor's humiliation. Unexpectedly, the Song army won first and then lost, especially Cao Bin The troops were defeated by General Yeluxiu of the Liao Dynasty at Qigou Pass, and had to flee back to the territory of the Song Dynasty with heavy casualties. The Central Route Army and the West Route Army learned that the main force of the Song Army on the East Route was defeated. They retreated one after another, and General Yang Ye died in this battle."

When Sun Guangming said this, he took a look at Li Qiufeng and said, "Hero Li is working in Jinyiwei, so he is naturally a person who is very proficient in literature and ink. He probably knows a thing or two about Yongxi's Northern Expedition?"

Li Qiufeng nodded, and said: "Li also knows something about this battle. I remember that at the beginning of the Northern Expedition of the Song Army, it was indeed overwhelming. But before sending out troops, Zhao Guangyi told Cao Bin to show momentum along the way. There is a huge and strong attack on Youzhou, but after the troops are dispatched, the march must be prudent and slow, and not greedy for merit. The purpose of the Eastern Route Army is to contain the Liao Kingdom's army near Youzhou and buy time for the Central Route Army and the West Route Army to attack. After clearing the Shanxi area and the Liao army in the northern states of Youzhou, the three-way army gathered in Youzhou to win a complete victory. Xu Da, a famous general of our dynasty, once said that Yongxi’s northern expedition’s tactics were to contain the front and outflank the rear. The commander of the three armies It must be presided over by a first-class military commander, so that he can judge the situation and deal with the enemy flexibly. Otherwise, the armies of different groups are far apart. If they stick to the rules and cannot fight according to the situation on the battlefield, if they are defeated all the way, the other two groups will be defeated like an avalanche. Cao Bin then He was dazzled by the victory in the first battle, thinking that the Liao army was not strong enough, so he even forgot Zhao Guangyi's order and rushed forward greedily. Zhuozhou stagnated for more than ten days. As a result, the army's food supply was not available, and Liao army general Yeluxiu led his troops to approach. Cao Bin was panicked, so he had to lead the Song army to withdraw from Zhuozhou and wanted to go to Xiongzhou to get food.

"After receiving Cao Bin's urgent report, Zhao Guangyi stomped his feet angrily, and said to the left and right, how could there be any reason why the enemy army retreated to get food instead? Cao Bin made a mistake and must be taken advantage of by the Liao army. He urgently ordered Cao Bin was not allowed to go to Xiongzhou, but went along the Baigou River to meet up with Mi Xin's troops. After Pan Mei's West Route Army wiped out the Liao army, they encircled Youzhou together.

"However, Cao Bin's generals heard that the Song Army's victory was reported frequently from the Central and Western Routes, while the Eastern Route Army, as the main attacking army, lingered, worried that they would not be able to make great achievements, so they persuaded the commander Cao Bin not to wait for Pan Mei's West Route Army. The Eastern Route Army alone was able to take Youzhou. Cao Bin, as the chief general, was unable to convince his subordinates. Perhaps he himself wanted to take the lead in capturing Youzhou. Therefore, he did not obey Zhao Guangyi's order, but joined Mi Xin After that, he led the army to attack Zhuozhou again.

Yeluxiu, the commander-in-chief of the Liao army, was overjoyed when he heard that the Song army on the East Road underestimated the enemy and rushed forward. He assembled all Liao troops and prepared to encircle and wipe out the Song army on the East Road.At the same time, a small group of cavalry was sent to continuously harass the East Route Army, specifically to beat down the soldiers of the Song Army who were alone.The Song army couldn't help themselves, so they could only form a square formation, and while advancing slowly, they dug trenches on both sides of the road to prevent the Liao army cavalry from sneaking in.

"The weather was hot at that time, and the Song army lacked drinking water all the way, so they could only find some muddy water to drink. Therefore, the march was slow, and it took more than 20 days to reach the city of Zhuozhou again. At this time, the Song army was already exhausted, and the stored food was about to be exhausted. However, the rescue troops of the Liao army were about to arrive in Zhuozhou, and the Song army was not only powerless to attack the city, but also faced a massive attack from the main force of the Liao army, which had been recharging their energy for many days. In desperation, Cao Bin had no choice but to continue Zhuozhou withdrew troops. Brother Yeluxiu decisively sent troops to pursue the Song army and defeated the Song army at Qigou Pass. The defeated soldiers of the Song army fled desperately and had to cross the Juma River at night. Brother Yeluxiu sent elite troops to pursue the victory to the Juma River. , Countless people were drowned. Cao Bin and Mi Xin led the remnant army to flee to Yizhou. When they were burying pots and cooking food near the Shahe River, someone in the army suddenly shouted that the Liao soldiers had arrived. The entire Song army collapsed. , More than half of the drowned died, abandoning armor like a mountain. It is said that the corpses cut off the Shahe River.

"Zhao Guangyi saw that the general situation was over, so he had to order Cao Bin and Mi Xin to lead the remnants back to the Song Dynasty. Then Tian Chong entered Tunding Prefecture, Pan Mei withdrew to Daizhou, and Yongxi's Northern Expedition ended in a disastrous defeat. Since then, the Song Army was unable to advance northward and ended in the Northern Song Dynasty Once upon a time, there was no longer any ambition to take back the Youyun Sixteen States."

Having said this, Li Qiufeng sighed, and said, "Cao Bin is known as the number one general in the Northern Song Dynasty, but this battle fell short, and there was no way to advance or retreat. It is said that Song Taizu thought that Cao Bin was prudent, and it was quite dangerous. The wind of the famous general who never changed his color before, even if he encounters a surprise attack, he will not be defeated. It's just that when he meets the elite Liao army under the command of Brother Yeluxiu, he is almost collapsed at the first touch. He is a good general. What's more, when Zhao Guangyi made the plan for the Northern Expedition, he wanted to use the Eastern Route Army to attract the main force of the Liao Army and create opportunities for the Liao Army after the Song Army in the Middle Route and the Song Army in the West Route cleared the mountains. The Army of the Route Army suffered a disastrous defeat. Although the Song Army of the Chinese and Western Routes had won, it was meaningless. On the contrary, it was very easy to be cut off by the Liao Army. The defeat of Yang Ye, the vanguard and general of the Lu Song army, was rooted in the defeat of Cao Bin."

At this time, everyone has entered the valley.Just in the afternoon, the sun slanted westward, and the sunlight was blocked by the hillside on the west side, making the valley extremely deep.The cold wind rolled over the withered grass and dead trees on the top of the valley, making whimpering hisses.

Sun Guangming listened to Li Qiufeng criticize Cao Bin's misbehavior during Yongxi's Northern Expedition, but he didn't take it seriously, and said with a smile: "Hero Li came to this opinion after reading the books in the palace. But from Sun's point of view, I'm afraid Cao Bin took the blame for others."

Li Qiufeng was startled, turned his head to look at Sun Guangming, and said, "I would like to hear more about it."

Sun Guangming said: "Cao Bin is the most prudent man. Among the founding generals of the Song Dynasty, he is famous for being cautious and careful. He has the legacy of Zhuge Wuhou. Song Taizu Chen Qiao had a mutiny, and he was dressed in a yellow robe. There are many powerful generals under his command. However, he lamented that military generals are domineering and their tails are too big to lose, which often lead to disasters, so he took precautions against those arrogant soldiers. In the battle of Shu, Song Taizu still used the mighty general Wang Quanbin as the commander, and most of his subordinates were old generals, all of whom were cruel. Killed. Cao Bin was the capital supervisor, and Liu Guangyi assisted another way. After the city of Chengdu was broken, Wang Quanbin and other generals feasted day and night. The generals were not allowed to fish and hunt the common people, and they asked for the class teacher many times, but Wang Quanbin and others refused to listen. Soon Quan Shixiong and others rebelled and gathered an army of 10 people, which almost destroyed the Song army's attack on Shu. Cao Bin and Liu Guangyi defeated the rebels in Xinfan and finally pacified the Shu rebellion. At that time, the generals took more treasures from their children, and Cao Bin only had books and clothes in his luggage. After returning to the court, Song Taizu handed over Wang Quanbin and others to the officials for punishment. He thought Cao Bin was innocent Lian Jin was appointed envoy of Xuanhui South Court and envoy of Yicheng Army Jiedu. Cao Bin went to the palace to meet Song Taizu, but declined the reward, saying that all the soldiers who conquered the west were punished. , You have made great achievements, but you don't boast about your achievements. Even if you have minor faults, what is there to mention about Wang Quanbin and others? Carry out the regular code of exhorting ministers to be loyal to the country, and there is no need to decline.

"After Song Taizu conquered the Northern Han Dynasty, he took Cao Bin as the former military commander, because he took a fancy to his calm and steady temperament. When the Southern Tang Dynasty was destroyed, Cao Bin was the commander-in-chief, leading the Song army to fight steadily. Don't rush forward, and finally destroy the Southern Tang Dynasty and capture Li Yu. Break Jinling City without killing the soldiers and the people, how many famous generals in ancient times can have such a mind?"

When Sun Guangming talked about the past, his originally pale face turned a little bloody, and he was obviously quite excited.Li Qiufeng was secretly surprised, but he heard Sun Guangming continue: "Hero Li might as well think about it, with Cao Bin's temperament, how could he make so many big mistakes during Yongxi's Northern Expedition? Abandoning Zhuozhou, an important place to conquer with all his strength, and retreating to Xiongzhou to get food. Then he suddenly advanced and retreated, wasting his troops, marching without any rules, and finally led to a great defeat. Li Daxia, even a man who does not understand the art of war at all I am afraid that such a reckless man would not make such a big mistake, let alone Cao Bin, the famous general who conquered Houshu, conquered the Northern Han Dynasty, and destroyed the Southern Tang Dynasty? Cao Bin's battle to destroy the Southern Tang Dynasty, Li Daxia is also very familiar with it. Kaibao In September of the seventh year, Cao Bin was ordered to crusade against the Southern Tang Dynasty. He mobilized his troops and horses very cautiously, and only led the army to set off in October. The Song army would never advance rashly, and put safety first, and Cao Bin would never take any risks until he surrounded Jinling .Just imagine how careful he was when dealing with the weak enemy Nan Tang. However, when he attacked the Liao Kingdom, which was ten times stronger than Nan Tang, did he become frivolous and irritable instead?"

(End of this chapter)