Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 376 0371 [Your chance to make meritorious service has come]

Chapter 376 0371 [Your chance to make meritorious service has come] (addition for the leader Wangyunshan)
Until the next day, Liu Yanqing finally came back.

All the generals looked at him with resentment in their eyes. This old man had already run away more than once.

But he has connections in the imperial court, and it's okay for Fa Liao to bury nearly [-] troops, and he will be rewarded when he returns to Tokyo!

Calling the generals again for a meeting, Liu Yanqing first praised Wang Yuan and recorded his great achievements in defending the camp.

Wang Yuan said: "I have a strong general named Han Shizhong. He once led his troops to capture Fang La, and he also made meritorious service in the campaign against Liao. He also contributed to defending the camp this time."

"Well, I've made a note of this person." Liu Yanqing said perfunctorily, not mentioning Han Shizhong again.

In fact, after Han Shizhong killed Fang La, his military achievements were embezzled by Xin Xingzong, and his reputation had already spread throughout the Western Army.Firstly, the military exploits are too great, and secondly, being robbed of meritorious service is sympathetic. This kind of news spreads very quickly.

But Xin Xingzong is Tong Guan's absolute confidant, the generals of the Western Army dare not mention this matter publicly, for fear of being hated by Tong Guan.

Yang Weizhong, who had a broken calf, was sitting crookedly in the tent at this time: "The thieves definitely don't know any fairy magic or sorcery. From my point of view, they must be a kind of artillery cart, and they can hit three or four miles at the farthest."

In fact, the maximum range of the four cannons in the main village is less than three miles.

The reason why they can fight so far is because the stockade is located on the mountain.Condescending, and then fired at a 45-degree angle, the shell fell far beyond the normal range.

Liu Yanqing's face was a little ugly, he would rather the bandit soldiers know how to bewitch, and it would be too embarrassing if it was a cannon.

Liu Guangshi took over the conversation: "The thieves have this sharp weapon, how can they break through the thieves' stronghold?"

Yang Weizhong said: "It is not easy to manufacture such a sharp weapon. The Zhu thief has built an army for almost a year, and only a few have been built. You can tell the whole army that although the thief's gun chariot is useful, it takes a long time to throw it once. It can hit a few people. Let them not be afraid of some sorcery and magic, so that the whole army can avoid panic."

Liu Yanqing became even more annoyed in an instant. If this matter spread to the whole army, where would he put his face?
Tangtang, the leader of the road, was frightened by several gun carriages and abandoned his army to escape.

Yang Weizhong said: "The morale of our army is low now, there are not many infantry armor left, and most of the god arm crossbow is lost. It is necessary to boost morale and encourage the warriors to attack the bandit camp with heavy rewards."

That being said, how many people are willing to sacrifice their lives?
The terrain is really disgusting. None of the several passages from Shaanxi to Hanzhong is easy to get through.

The degree of difficulty and danger of the Tangluo Road is second only to the Meridian Road in the east!

In the next half month, Liu Yanqing set up the Chinese army's position farther away, and the bandits' "cannon carriages" really couldn't attack.

However, the Western Army organized repeated attacks and was always attacked by artillery.Although there were not many direct casualties, it greatly affected morale. Every attack did not even get close to the cottage, and was defeated by falling rocks, rolling logs, and bows and arrows halfway up the mountain.

Liu Yanqing had no choice but to appease the soldiers: "Don't be discouraged, everyone. Before I sent troops, I asked scholars who knew history. In the past dynasties, they took the Tangluo Road from Hanzhong to the south, and none of them were able to win quickly. At least they had to fight a few times. months, and we will have to fight for another year or two. We are less than a month away, and we have just begun, and there is always a chance to break through the bandits."

The generals were even more speechless after hearing this, how could anyone motivate the soldiers like this?

Liu Yanqing suddenly said: "I know there is an old road on the Tangluo Road, and it has been in disrepair for a long time and it is even more difficult to walk. We didn't take the old road when we came here, but we can also go along the mountain when we get here. Maybe the bandit village there is easier to fight." .”

Yang Weizhong said: "The army cannot be moved temporarily, otherwise our army's food and roads will not be guaranteed. Even if we want to go west, we can only send two to three thousand elite surprise attacks."

The two of them were talking about a surprise attack on Huaishu Pass, the old Tangluo Road leading directly to Huaishu Pass, which even smugglers detested.

From the end of Tang Dynasty to the Northern Song Dynasty, Huaishuguan had not been repaired, and only the foundation of the wall remained when Zhu Guoxiang took over.It took several months to re-ram the earth for restoration, and now only [-] rebels are stationed.

If the Western Army takes Huaishuguan, they can go straight to Zhenfu County along the river.

After occupying Zhenfu County, it can threaten Yangzhou City to the west, and cut off Yang Zhi's grain road to the east.

However, when fighting away from home, unless it is absolutely necessary, they generally do not take risks by surprise.

Because success or failure is not in your own hands, but depends on whether the enemy is negligent.Even if Huaishu Pass can be taken by surprise, Zhenfu County has to be taken by surprise again.

And Zhenfu County, at this time, is the material transfer station of the Yangzhou Rebel Army.Not only is there a large amount of military rations stockpiled here, there is also a reserve force on standby at any time, Yang Zhi will support Yang Zhi in an emergency, and go to Huaishu Pass to rescue the officers and soldiers at Huaishuguan.

On the contrary, in Yangzhou City, the military strength is very empty, and only some Yaqian officials maintain law and order.

Liu Yanqing couldn't make up his mind and decided to check the situation again.

……

The pursuit battle that day strengthened Yang Zhi's perseverance.

A large number of routs attacked the camp, but the Western Army was able to hold on, indicating that there were capable people among the enemy generals, and the morale of the Western Army was not bad.

Yang Zhihe's generals were naturally afraid of the Western Army and had no confidence in winning the field battle.

So I couldn't hold on.

This move disgusted Liu Yanqing.Even if he sent elite feints to lure and set up ambushes in the hilly area, it had no effect at all.

Because Yang Zhi was too cautious, or rather cowardly.

The main village's pursuit of the defeated soldiers was determined not to cross the river, and the rebels from the two deputy villages chased down the mountain, and they would also be recalled by Ming Jin under the order of Yang Zhi.

The confrontation lasted for another month, and if counting from the departure of Yuu, Liu Yanqing had led his troops south for more than two months.

An inch of work has not been built, and life and death are stuck here.

A messenger came from Fengxiang, but it was sent by the eunuch and supervising army, and asked Liu Yanqing why there was no news.

Liu Yanqing could only answer that the terrain of the Thieves' Village was dangerous and difficult to break through, but they had won a few small victories, and it was only a matter of time before they captured the Thieves' Village.

After finally dismissing the envoy, Liu Yanqing called the generals for another meeting.

Yang Weizhong said: "We can only attack by force regardless of casualties."

In a word, use human life to pile up.

And whether it will work or not, we can only resign ourselves to fate, which is even more difficult than siege.

At least you can use all kinds of equipment when attacking the city, and you can also dig tunnels, pile up mountains, or use giant flattening guns to smash rocks.

But here are all copycats, no equipment can be used, and the leveling gun is also difficult to work.

Liu Yanqing muttered in a low voice: "Can the Western Army in our hands still attack by force?"

Yang Weizhong was speechless for a moment.

The Western Army is a collective name consisting of the Forbidden Army, Xiang Army, Fanbing, and Xiangbing.

The Forbidden Army and the Xiang Army are regular troops, but their numbers are relatively small.

Both Fanbing and Xiangbing are temporarily recruited, and Fanbing is an ethnic minority army.

In the Shaanxi-Gansu region, there are a large number of ethnic minorities. They probably belonged to the Han nationality in the Tang Dynasty, but they have gradually become tribalized since the end of the Tang Dynasty.Either out of compulsion or out of livelihood, he served as a soldier in the Song Dynasty and Xixia.

Fan soldiers on the Song side were often decapitated by friendly troops.

So the imperial court made a special rule that Fanbing must tattoo on his face, so that the guy who killed the friendly army and took the credit would not be able to succeed.

The reason for the large number of rural soldiers in the Western Army is that the border areas are barren and the supply of military rations is very difficult, and it is impossible to support a large number of troops for a long time.So when there was a war, they were drawn as soldiers in Shaanxi. In principle, one of the three strong men would be drawn.

Therefore, the Shanxi men in the Northern Song Dynasty, regardless of being farmers, were very likely to have been on the battlefield.

When fighting against Xixia, Fanbing was often used as cannon fodder first, followed by rural soldiers as cannon fodder, and the imperial army and Xiang army were thrown into the critical moment.

This kind of combat system, after hundreds of years of Song and Xia battles, has gradually honed a strong army.

In its heyday, the temporarily recruited Shaanxi soldiers did not need any training at all. They put down their hoes, picked up their weapons, and could fight Xixia on the battlefield.

However, after Song Huizong ascended the throne, he frequently used troops against Xixia, and was in arrears of food and salaries for a long time, resulting in fewer and fewer elite Western troops.

And the defeat of the Liao Dynasty was ruined countless times.

Many of the Shanxi township soldiers recruited now have never fought in battle. They were raised by the death of their father and brother.As for the regular troops such as the Forbidden Army and the Xiang Army, there were also very few left, and many of the rural soldiers who fled back from the Liao Kingdom directly joined the regular army to make up the number.

I have lost my energy!

I can't fight a tough battle anymore!

Once setbacks, even the regular army will flee.

In the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Western Army was still able to carry it, thanks to Zhang Jun.

At that time, a large number of Shaanxi people fled south. Zhang Jun used Sichuan money and food to train Shaanxi township soldiers to rebuild the Western Army.Although the name of the army has changed and it is no longer called the Western Army, the composition of generals and soldiers has not changed much.

And in this time and space, how can there be money and grain from Sichuan to train soldiers?
"Straight thief!"

Liu Yanqing was so depressed that he slapped his thigh: "The Zhu thief father and son, good-natured officials and improper officials, insist on rebelling. The bandits occupy a favorable location, and our army is working hard on an expedition. How can it be easy to beat them down? The eggless supervising army came to urge again, This is putting you and me on fire!"

Yang Weizhong said: "It's better to procrastinate for a while, maybe Hanzhong will be in chaos. Or the bandits and soldiers will not be able to provide enough food and grass, and it will not be too late to attack by force."

Liu Yanqing smiled wryly and said: "Our food road stretches hundreds of miles, and it is all supported by new wheat. We will be the only ones who are short of food and grass."

Without the urging of the eunuch and supervisor, Liu Yanqing would continue to confront, but now he had to make a decision.

Liu Yanqing said: "Choose [-] elite soldiers to surprise Huaishu Pass. If they can be defeated, the battle will turn for the better. If the surprise attack fails, then the whole army will attack the stronghold. Sooner or later, we will have to attack by force, otherwise we will not be able to deal with the officials. .Instead of procrastinating and lowering morale, it is better to attack early and have a two-point chance of winning. Who is willing to lead troops to surprise attack?"

No one spoke.

Wang Yuan said: "I have a fierce general named Han Shizhong under my command."

Liu Yanqing immediately remembered this person: "Let him go, give him three thousand soldiers!"

Han Shizhong was robbed of merit by Xin Xingzong. Xin Xingzong was afraid that the matter would be "revealed", so he always suppressed him from being promoted.This person died as soon as he died, which was considered an explanation to Tong Guan.

If Han Shizhong is lucky enough to make a great contribution, then he will take the credit away.

Wang Yuan went back to talk to Han Shizhong: "You have always wanted to make meritorious deeds, and now the opportunity has come. But the danger is unpredictable, and if something goes wrong, run away. Don't try to be brave. If you make extraordinary achievements, Yang Dutong and I will try our best to keep it for you." Some."

"There is no one who does not fight desperately!" Han Shizhong smiled while holding the knife.

He seemed very impatient before, but now that the opportunity to do meritorious deeds has come, he has become calm instead.

(PS: The Thunderbolt Cannon in the Song Dynasty was not a cannon, but a catapult for throwing incendiary bombs.)
(Old Wang was brainwashed by "Future Negatives". He felt uncomfortable if he didn't listen to it for a day, and he had a new understanding of the lyrics every day. Highly recommended!)

(End of this chapter)

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