Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 466: Learning with Life on the Battlefield

All the generals under Fang Chongyong were very dissatisfied with this battle. Not only did the Tianbing Army suffer heavy losses, but almost half of the civilians who were let go by the bandit army died, and less than 10,000 people successfully returned to the Tang Army!

Many of them died at the hands of Sun Xiaozhe's cavalry.

The key point is that they had a lot of spare strength at the time, and even most of the troops in the army had not yet come into contact with the enemy!

On the way back to Taiyuan, everyone was holding their breath, but they couldn't question Fang Zhongyong's decision. After all, although it was a bit of a loss, they finally brought back many military families, and gave an explanation to the local people of Taiyuan.

The team was not moving very fast and the sky gradually darkened.

"General Jie, why didn't the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army take action to kill those bastards?
If it weren't for those cavalrymen stirring up trouble behind us, we wouldn't have suffered such a huge loss!"

When Fang Chongyong was dozing off on his horse, he suddenly heard He Changqi's complaints in his ears.

He felt that he should not have backed down at the last moment of the battle. At that time, the battlefield was already in chaos, and the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army Cavalry would not suffer any loss if they attacked.

"No need to say more, the commander will give you an explanation."

Fang Zhongyong said in a deep voice and waved his hand gently. He was waiting for a message.

In less than half an hour, scouts hurriedly caught up from behind the team.

The man was Tian Chengsi's brother Tian Tinglin, and this time Tian Chengsi was in charge of the rear guard. When he saw Fang Zhongyong, he hurried forward and saluted, saying, "General, as you expected, Cai Xide's army really turned back to Shouyang County, and there were no scouts on guard along the way."

Upon hearing this, Fang Zhongyong's heart finally settled down.

"He Lao Hu, tell them to set up camp on the spot, and have the officers come to this section. I want to arrange military affairs."

Fang Chongyong instructed He Changqi.

"Order!"

He Changqi took the order and left. Soon, all the officers and soldiers who were still alive, including Tian Chengsi, gathered around Fang Zhongyong.

“Everyone, a battle during the day is just a strategy of this section commander to daunt the enemy.

The reason why we need to control the scale of the battle is, firstly, to paralyze Cai Xide and the enemy army and make them think that we dare not fight a tough battle.

Secondly, it saves your energy and gives you the opportunity to display your true strength.

After the previous battle, the enemy army will definitely think that our morale is low and we are unable to fight a decisive battle, and we should return to Taiyuan for rest and recuperation.

Therefore, this time, the commander will let them know what it means that a mighty army cannot be insulted lightly!

In this section, the commander now asks a question: those who do not want to seek revenge can take a step back and will not be punished.

Once the army sets out, anyone who hesitates to move forward will be considered a coward and will be subject to military law!"

Fang Zhongyong drew out the Swift Wind Phantom Blade, looked around at the generals and asked.

All the generals knelt on one knee and asked for battle, shouting loudly: "We will follow the general till death!"

"Very good, the army's morale is good! But we don't need so many people.

Some people will follow this general into battle, and each of them will select 100 cavalrymen.

I will personally lead a thousand cavalrymen of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army, gather a total of three thousand people, and set out after half an hour.

Each department has selected those who are brave and fearless of death. This time we will take revenge and complain!
General Tian Chengsi will lead the infantry to follow behind us to support us and be prepared for any eventuality."

Fang Chongyong gave instructions to the generals.

Upon hearing this, Tian Chengsi immediately clasped his fists and asked, "General, the road between Yuci and Shouyang County is long and narrow, which is not convenient for cavalry to deploy and is easy to be ambushed. Isn't it a bit dangerous to chase the enemy army with 3,000 cavalry?"

He asked a very important question.

After hearing this, some of the hot-headed generals gradually calmed down. They had not considered the terrain before, and only thought that now was a very good time to attack.

But after hearing what Tian Chengsi said, he felt that Fang Zhongyong's plan was very risky.

"Everyone, have you ever thought about why Cai Xide abandoned the people?"

Fang Zhongyong asked. Seeing that no one answered and everyone was lost in thought, he emphasized in a very firm tone:
"The rebel army has no food or fodder. Cai Xide's troops are just a small detachment of the rebel army, used to raid Taiyuan and take advantage of the situation.

They came with great force, but the grain transport route from Hebei had to pass through Jingxing, and it was very rugged.

Without food, they certainly cannot feed the people of Hedong, so naturally they will have to throw the burden to us.

Cai Xide's bandit army was now feeling relaxed. They thought that they had just won a victory and had gotten rid of the heavy burden of tens of thousands of civilians, so they were simply invincible.

How do you think we will pursue?

Under normal circumstances, how could we possibly give chase?"

Fang Chongyong asked a series of questions.

It's getting darker and the visibility is getting worse, this means the weather is not right.

The road is narrow and there are mountains on both sides, so it is not suitable for cavalry pursuit. This is because the terrain is not favorable.

The army has just received the civilians who escaped back, and the morale of the army is in turmoil. This is because the people are not harmonious.

The Tang army does not have the advantage of time, place and people. What are their chances of winning if they go into battle now?
It was normal for the Hebei rebels to underestimate the enemy. From the fact that Sun Xiaozhe had "walked alone" on the battlefield before and Fang Chongyong did not send cavalry to fight him, it can be seen that General Fang was "very cowardly" or very cautious.

How could such a person lead elite cavalry in pursuit?
Impossible, completely impossible!
Even the generals under Fang Chongyong thought it was impossible to go into battle.

On the other hand, can this be considered a kind of "attacking the enemy by surprise"?

Everyone present was caught up in a dilemma of "betting on the size of the odds".

To use Fang Chongyong's words from his previous life, if he won the bet, the Young Model Club would win, but if he lost, the rooftop would reopen, which was really exciting.

However, this kind of "gambling" is not pure luck, but the product of various power comparisons and conspiracies and calculations.

It's not just about strength, but also about determination and will!
Until the battle is over, no one can say for sure whether they will win or lose.

In the history of war, many battles that seemed almost certain to win were lost because everyone could see the high odds, and naturally, opponents would come up with surprise counterattacks and kill.

However, there are also many battles that seem to be a life-or-death struggle, but they are won because the odds are too small and the opponents are complacent.

Before the battle begins, it's like a black box, no one knows what's inside.

This is the ability and responsibility of a commander-in-chief.

They can use the existing resources to the greatest effect. It is common for a country to be founded or destroyed in one war.

"General Ji, I will be the vanguard in this battle!"

Seeing that no one said anything, He Changqi stepped out, clasped his fists towards Fang Chongyong and asked for instructions.

"I want to fight too!"

"I want to fight too!"

Then a lot of people stood up.

Tian Chengsi felt that the people around him were looking at him with contempt, and he quickly explained: "General Jie has made a brilliant plan. I think that thief Cai will definitely suffer a setback."

He actually knew Cai Xide, and knew that this man was cautious in using troops in the Youzhou army and was a mature and prudent person.

That’s why I think Fang Zhongyong’s plan is very risky.

But as the old saying goes, if you don't fight a war, you won't know who will win in the end. If you can determine the winner by comparing the number of people on both sides and the battlefield environment, then why fight a war? Everyone can sit at a table and compare the data of each army to determine the winner!

Now that the situation has come to this point, what else can Tian Chengsi say?

If they don't fight, he won't be able to finish the job, and Fang Chongyong won't be able to finish the job either.

After all the generals had dispersed, Fang Chongyong took a deep breath and stared towards the east.

As long as Cai Xide ambushed someone on both sides of the mountain road, he would be doomed in this battle and would not be able to escape even if he wanted to.

But precisely because of this, Cai Xide and the Hebei rebels had the capital to be complacent.

In ordinary battles, both sides have no flaws, and they have to pile up lives to win. Only at this critical moment of alternating between offense and defense will the flaws be revealed.

Whoever can use a surprise attack will have a chance of winning. This is what is said in the art of war: "Use the normal to attack, and the surprising to win." If you don't use a surprise attack, you can only hope that your opponent is a fool if you want to win.

Who is really a fool?

Fang Zhongyong held the whip tightly and suppressed the fear in his heart. At the critical moment, he could not retreat, and could not even show a trace of cowardice.

When troubled times come, only those who are not afraid of death deserve to live well.

He secretly encouraged himself.

In less than half an hour, the cavalry troops preparing for the counterattack had assembled, and they were all composed of the best soldiers in the army. In particular, the various units of the Hedong Army were full of fighting spirit, and they all wanted to regain their ground tonight and avenge their previous humiliation.

Seeing that the morale was good, Fang Chongyong felt more at ease.

He pointed his phantom blade at the road to the east and roared, "The opportunity to avenge the people of Hedong has come! Everyone, follow me to defeat the enemy! I will not return until I defeat the Cai bandits!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The officers and soldiers around him shouted in unison, making people's blood boil.

……

"Fuck you! You damn Cai Xide, I'll never let you go!"

Sun Xiaozhe, who was riding on a horse, jumped off and kicked a tree on the side of the road wildly, venting his inner dissatisfaction.

His shouting and cursing could be heard from far away in the valley.

Although he had made a lot of gains, it was like breaking military law. Cai Xide ordered him to lead his troops to cover the rear, and also took away almost all of their horses, and asked them to deploy defenses in a place called Wuming Valley.

It is euphemistically called "What's the use of horses in an ambush?"

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Cai Xide was taking advantage of his position to bully Sun Xiaozhe.

Why do I say so? Because Cai Xide not only wants Sun Xiaozhe to defend the rear, but also to deploy defenses in key valleys, but he does not give them enough resources.

This situation is commonly known as wearing small shoes.

If they really wanted to defend, they would need manpower to make chevaux de frise and prepare rolling logs and rocks, which was not something Sun Xiaozhe's thousand-plus men could do.

In fact, under the current circumstances, there is really no need to set up an ambush in the deserted valley. No one thinks that the Tang army will pursue, including Cai Xide.

To put it bluntly, Cai Xide was using the rules to play tricks on others. He knew clearly that it was impossible for the Tang army to pursue him, but he still had to pretend to be "defending tightly".

He just wanted to make Sun Xiaozhe and his subordinates who didn't obey his orders suffer a little in Wuming Valley. Let them blow the cold wind at the wind outlet of the valley for a night, and then think carefully about who is the father when they work under Cai!
Even if Shi Siming asked, Cai Xide could evade the question by saying "it's military business".

I asked your godson to make a contribution, and you still blame me?

Cai Xide knew that Shi Siming was not easy to mess with, but he was not made of clay. Shi Siming could not say that this "weird" military order was wrong!
After all, based on Sun Xiaozhe's performance in this battle, it was more than enough to be beheaded for the crime of "inciting chaos" as a warning to others.

Sun Xiaozhe cursed Cai Xide behind his back for being unkind, and the latter wanted to scold him for disobeying orders and trying to be stubborn!
Now, the conflict between Sun Xiaozhe, the "military supervisor", and the main general Cai Xide has become increasingly serious. The two are like water and fire, and it is only a matter of time before the outbreak occurs.

"General Sun, it's very windy here. Why don't you find a big rock to hide from the wind? Then make a fire and roast some lamb legs to satisfy your craving.

Let’s have some good wine to appease our cravings.”

The guard came up to Sun Xiaozhe and whispered a suggestion. As for what Cai Xide said about "defending the rear", what the hell! Not even a dog would defend!

Everyone in Sun Xiaozhe's army knew that Cai Xide was deliberately looking for trouble. Any soldier would trust their direct officers and would not take the "nominal" military orders seriously.

The Tang army was as cowardly as dogs. With more than 10,000 soldiers in the formation, they didn't dare to say a word just watching their 1,000-plus cavalrymen galloping back and forth killing people.

"It's good to light a bonfire. It would be even better if we could find a woman to light it."

Sun Xiaozhe put away his anger, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said as if he didn't care.

Haha, when he sees his adoptive father Shi Siming, he will definitely sue that bastard Cai Xide!
Let this guy pay the price!
Soon, more than a thousand people set up military tents on one side of the valley, built a bonfire, took out the dry food they brought with them, processed it simply, and started working.

It has to be said that Sun Xiaozhe was not a good person and had an even worse temper, but he was quite good to his soldiers. He often fought for enough rations for his men and there was never any talk of courtesy among the various units in the army.

Therefore, they eat better on weekdays and can enjoy big bites of meat from time to time.

Sun Xiaozhe put aside his worries and sat around the campfire with his bodyguards, telling dirty jokes.

While they were eating meat, they also drank the treasured wine. These wines were stolen from the wealthy families in Yuci County. They were usually kept in wine bags and were not allowed to be drunk. Cai Xide, who was strict in his military discipline, also did not allow them to drink.

Now that we finally have the chance, we must make the most of it!
The more you drink the wine, the warmer it gets; the more the bonfire burns, the more vigorously you chew the lamb leg, the more delicious it becomes!
If I can find a beautiful woman to have sex with later, this life will be so beautiful that even a god wouldn’t change it!
Everyone was thinking secretly in their hearts.

"Eh? Did you hear the sound of horse hooves?"

Sun Xiaozhe suddenly felt a little hallucinatory, and there was actually a sound like a galloping horse in the wind.

Like thunder!

"General Sun, where does the sound of horse hooves come from? General Cai will not send anyone to convey military orders.

Don't worry, just keep drinking and I'll go get you some more wine."

A bodyguard said drunkenly.

"No, no, I really heard the sound of horse hooves."

Sun Xiaozhe suddenly sobered up, stood up and looked around.

I saw a large number of dark shadows flashing on the west side of the valley, coming towards me.

The sound of horse hooves is getting closer!
"Oh no! There's a large group of cavalry! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Get up quickly!"

Sun Xiaozhe was so scared that he couldn't speak clearly! He was so anxious that he danced with joy!

He was a cavalry commander himself and was very familiar with the sound of horse hooves. He just didn't like to use his brain on weekdays, but he had solid skills and tactics in commanding a small cavalry squad.

Otherwise, Shi Siming would not have allowed Sun Xiaozhe to join Cai Xide's team.

Sun Xiaozhe shouted loudly, seeming very excited and anxious. However, most of his subordinates were drinking and eating meat tonight, so happy that they did not expect the danger to come!
Even if Sun Xiaozhe was shouting there, they just thought that their general was scolding Cai Xide as a good-for-nothing again, and did not take it seriously at all.

puff!
The sound of the arrow piercing the flesh exploded in my ears!

Sun Xiaozhe saw the soldier beside him fall down with an arrow in the neck. The Tang cavalry, who were proficient in horseback archery, had already appeared in his sight, and it seemed that they could pass by in just a breath!

"Run!"

Someone under Sun Xiaozhe's command shouted loudly, and the simple camp was immediately thrown into chaos!

In this situation, resistance is meaningless and impossible. Most people can't even find weapons, let alone have the will to fight.

Not to mention something as life-and-death as fighting. In Fang Chongyong's previous life, if a group of people were having fun drinking, eating meat, and suddenly the scene changed and they were asked to play basketball in a basketball hall, could they beat the professional players who had warmed up and practiced early in the morning?
It’s amazing if you can touch the ball!
Seeing that the situation was not good, Sun Xiaozhe didn't want to lead the resistance at all. He staggered towards the tree where his horse was tied and tremblingly untied the reins.

He had just mounted his horse and was rushing down a small hill when the horse, perhaps stepping into a hidden pit on the ground or tripping over a large rock, half-knelt on the ground with its front legs, throwing Sun Xiaozhe far away!

Shi Siming's adopted son fell to the ground, dizzy and disoriented.

When he stood up unsteadily, a knife was already at his neck.

"Marshal, I think I caught a big fish! Look at this military uniform! It's even embroidered with flowers!"

He Changqi shouted to Fang Chongyong in the distance.

From a distance, the uniforms of the Tang army officers and soldiers all looked similar, but there were very noticeable differences in the belts, linings, cuffs, and other parts, and the fabrics were also different.

"Find a few people to escort him back to Taiyuan. This is just an appetizer. The main course is still to come. Don't waste time."

Fang Chongyong walked up and took a look at Sun Xiaozhe. He just felt that he was a little ugly, and there was nothing special about him.

He waved impatiently at He Changqi, then looked towards the road to the east.

In the darkness, everything is unknown and it is hard to predict good or bad fortune.

(End of this chapter)