Eastern Jin Dynasty: My powerful father

Chapter 205 Battle with Hongchi ()

Murong Ke didn't know that it was not easy to lure the enemy into defeat, but Huan Wen and Wang Meng were determined to take a defensive position. Compared with directly attacking the phalanx of the Chu-Liang coalition forces, this was the only way they could do it.

If both sides take a defensive stance, there is no doubt that it will become a stalemate as Murong Ke said. Both sides come to the battlefield to see each other every day and return to camp on time at dusk.

Huan Wen and Wang Meng stood on the defensive. This was a helpless move because the cavalry was at a disadvantage. At the same time, time was also on their side.

When Zhou Cheng and Lu Hu had decided to wait and see the outcome, Chu's national power could fully support Huan Wen's stalemate with the enemy. Even if it was not possible, they could allocate grain from Kansai via the ancient trade route.

Huan Wen was determined to win this battle at all costs.

But no matter how high Murong Ke's status was in the Yan Kingdom, he was not in charge of the entire country. Murong Jun was the emperor of the Yan Kingdom.

If it continues to be delayed, Murong Jun will definitely order Murong Ke to withdraw his troops. He will not empty the treasury of Yan State in order to rescue Luoyang.

Therefore, when Wang Meng asked Huan Wen for advice, he said that the best strategy was to delay, which was a sure-fire way to win.

This also destined that Murong Ke must be the active offensive party in this battle.

Murong Chui suggested:

"The enemy's cavalry is under the protection of the infantry phalanx. Since we want to deceive the enemy into defeat, I think we might as well attack the enemy's heavy armored infantry. Agan doesn't have to go all out, he just needs to test its quality."

Murong Ke nodded when he heard this.

There is no doubt that Huan Xi's heavy armored infantry is destined to be regularly involved in wars with Yan in the future.

No matter how you avoid it, you have to face it eventually, so why not take this opportunity to try their skills and feel them out, so that you can know what they are like when you encounter them in the future.

Murong Ke and Murong Chui agreed. Following Murong Ke's order, the Yan army's 50,000 cavalry pressed forward, and in an instant, dust rose up all over the sky.

When Wang Meng saw this, he was not panicked.

Liang Jun had already arranged a defensive formation. The sword and shield bearers stood in the first row, the spearmen stood in the second row, and the third row were soldiers holding long-handled swords. Behind them were the infantry archers.

When the Yan army's cavalry rushed to the front of the formation against the arrows of the Liang army's archers, the large shields they erected withstood the impact of the cavalry's speed.

The spearmen stabbed the Yan army horses who were squeezed in front of the formation through the gaps between the large shields.

Although the damage was limited, it also forced the Yan army's cavalry to slow down and stay at a safe distance.

This also gave the sword and shield bearers and spearmen an opportunity to retreat. As Wang Meng's order was conveyed, five thousand Liang Jun soldiers holding long-handled swords stood in the front row.

Thirty thousand soldiers are already the elite of Guanlong, and these five thousand soldiers are even more elite among the elite.

They were armed with long-handled double-edged swords. This kind of weapon had never been seen before, but it became famous in later generations. It was the Modao.

The Mo Dao is one foot long, that is, about three meters, and weighs twenty kilograms. It has two blades, capable of cutting cavalry upwards and horses' legs downwards. Especially when facing cavalry that has lost its speed advantage, it is invincible.

Since the swordsmen and spearmen had withstood the Yan army's charge, now was the time for Mo Daobing to show off his skills.

Wang Meng ordered:

"Mo Dao Army! Charge!"

On the noisy battlefield, Mo Daobing certainly couldn't hear Wang Meng's order clearly.

But there are drummers beating ginger drums.

Five thousand Mo Dao soldiers heard the sound and immediately launched a counterattack.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

They shouted, advancing like a wall, raising the Mo Dao in their hands, and slashing at the men and horses in front.

The cavalry has lost its speed and flexibility. For Mo Dao soldiers, it is not much different from the straw men they chop down during daily training.

Facing the three-meter-long Mo Dao, the Yan army's cavalry were helpless.

"Back off! Back off!"

In this tentative attack, the Yan army retreated in panic after leaving more than a thousand corpses behind.

Among Mo Dao's troops, there was someone who was eager to kill and was about to pursue him.

But Wang Meng remained calm and stopped the pursuit amidst the cheers of the soldiers.

The Mo Dao Army wore more than fifty kilograms of armor and held twenty kilograms of Mo Dao.

Not to mention whether they could catch up with the fleeing Yan army cavalry with just two legs, carrying a load of more than 70 kilograms.

If they were really separated from the protection of the infantry phalanx and the Yan army took the opportunity to turn around and fight, the Modao army would be in danger if they faced the cavalry charge alone.

After all, without the sword, shield and spear soldiers to withstand the cavalry attack, how could the Modao army slaughter the Yan army's cavalry like chopping melons and vegetables.

As Wang Meng ordered Mo Daojun to return to the phalanx, Murong Ke and Murong Chui both had frustrated expressions on their faces.

It's not that Murong Ke couldn't withstand setbacks. He faced Ran Min's tired army with superior strength and lost ten of ten battles. However, Murong Ke's confidence in victory was still not broken, and he captured Ran Min alive in the final battle.

But today is different from the past. Murong Ke and Murong Chui originally planned to fake defeat to lure the enemy. However, this time the temptation was really failed. There was no element of acting at all. However, the enemy army remained unmoving. This also made it impossible for Murong Ke to fake defeat. The thought of luring the enemy.

Even if the Mo Dao Army had to rely on infantry phalanxes, with the cooperation of sword, shield and spear soldiers, to fight the Yan Army cavalry, it still had the inherent shortcomings of the heavy infantry, that is, insufficient mobility.

But if Wang Meng refuses to attack and just forms a defensive formation, at least for now, Murong Ke has nothing to do against Liang Jun's heavy infantry phalanx.

But in this battle, the Chu and Liang coalition forces were able to give up the attack and focus on defense.

Xi Luoteng said angrily:

"I only regret that our armored cavalry is still in Hebei, otherwise, we will definitely be able to defeat the enemy's formation!" The Yan State had an armored cavalry of several thousand people, but they did not follow Murong Ke southward.

It is still unclear whether the armored cavalry can break through Liang Jun's heavy infantry phalanx.

Murong Ke said in a deep voice:

"Ming Jin! Retreat the troops!"

The clear and loud sound of the gong spread throughout the battlefield, and the Yan army left in anger.

The Chu-Liang coalition forces burst into cheers that resounded throughout the sky.

Murong Ke felt even heavier when he saw that Huan Wen and Wang Meng did not pursue them, but also led their troops to withdraw from the battlefield.

Returning to the camp, Murong Ke immediately called a meeting of the generals.

He glanced at everyone and asked:

"Huan Wen has made up his mind and will not attack. Do you have any strategies to defeat the enemy?"

Murong Chui fell into deep thought, while the others looked at each other in confusion, looking like they were at a loss what to do.

Only Zuo Changshi Shenyin said solemnly:

"If we can attack it, we must save it and force Huan Wen to send troops."

Murong Ke shook his head when he heard this. Both Yan Jun and Huan Wen were fighting away from home.

Even if Murong Ke divided his troops to attack Yique Pass, it would not be possible to cut off Huan Wen's retreat and food routes. After all, there are two counties of Xiangcheng and Yingchuan in the southeast, which would allow him to advance and retreat freely.

There is not much difference in the strength of the two sides. Once the Yan army divides its troops, the frontal battlefield will also be at a disadvantage.

If he chooses to avoid fighting, it will be equivalent to opening up the way for Huan Wen to go north. Huan Wen can occupy the river bridge and in turn cut off the Yan army's return route.

Murong Ke looked at the map on the table, his eyes fell on Gaowang City and Puban, and said to everyone:

"For the current plan, we can only wait for news about Fu Jian. If he can open the way to attack Guanzhong, Wang Meng will be anxious to return reinforcements.

"The Chu army with only Huan Wen left behind is easy to deal with."

Shen Yin said doubtfully:

"I heard that Fu Jian was depressed because of Fu Xiong's death. I'm afraid it's hard to place hope on him."

Murong Ke shook his head and said:

"Now Huan Xi is meeting all the alliance tribes in Hexi, and Huan Wen is attacking Luoyang. If Fu Jian doesn't want to make progress, he will just sit back and wait for death.

"Fu Jian has always been ambitious. Even if he is saddened by Fu Xiong's death, he will never neglect important tasks because of it!"

Murong Ke's judgment was not wrong, and Fu Jian did not sit still and wait for death.

It's just that after Fu Jian was frustrated at the gate of King Gao's city, he had given up all thoughts of attacking Guanzhong. Now he was leading the elites of Yu State to kill all of Dai State.

It’s no wonder that Murong Ke didn’t anticipate Fu Jian’s attack on Dai.

Because the strength of Dai State was not weak, Fu Jian attacked rashly without civil strife, and the outcome was unpredictable.

Even if Dai Guo was defeated at a heavy price, it would be difficult to recover for a while, and how could he face Huan Xi's attack.

If the attack is unfavorable, it may fall into a three-sided siege by Huan Xi, Huan Wen, and Tuoba Xianbei.

Murong Ke didn't know that Tuoba Shijun and Tuoba Jin had regicided and seized power. Naturally, he only thought that Fu Jian deliberately released false news to deceive the people who stayed behind in Guanzhong.

Its purpose is to attack Kansai after all.

Murong Ke was helpless and could only hope that Fu Jian, who had been focusing on holding back Huan Xi in the past, could go all out this time and force Wang Meng to return to aid.

At the same time, there was a scene of joy in Huan Wen's handsome tent.

Although today's battle was huge, both sides gathered a total of 170,000 cavalry at Hongchipi.

But the casualties were almost negligible, just over a thousand people.

The thunder is loud and the rain is light.

What really made the coalition generals happy was that the Yan army was helpless in the face of the coalition forces that focused on defense.

In the commander's tent, General Deng Qiang of Liang State smiled and said:

"The barbarians will attack when they see an advantage, and stop when there is no advantage. Chu Gong only needs to strengthen his defense. It won't take too long for Murong Ke to retreat."

Everyone agreed.

Huan Wen's face was also full of spring breeze. Today's battle in Luoyang between the Huan family and the Murong family was just like Wang Jian's destruction of Chu.

Wang Jian sent 600,000 troops from the Qin State to attack Chu, but he remained entrenched in the Chu State for a whole year. He even participated in stone-throwing competitions in the army every day as entertainment to pass the time and dragged the Chu State to its knees.

In order to cope with Qin's attack, Chu State recruited strong men from everywhere, and finally gathered an army of 400,000.

The two sides were in a stalemate for a whole year. Qin could certainly afford it, but how could Chu continue to insist? Xiang Yan made a mistake in a hurry, which finally gave Wang Jian the opportunity to defeat the enemy in a battle.

Previously, Huan Wen sent Meng Jiabai camp to proactively seek a battle with Murong Ke in Hongchi.

In fact, they wanted to use Liang Jun's heavy armored infantry to catch Yan State off guard, hoping to end the battle as soon as possible and have a good battle.

Now that Murong Ke had not been fooled and his trump card had been exposed, Huan Wen would not fight easily again. Instead, he wanted to rely on his seven years of accumulation in Jingzhou to engage in a stalemate with Murong Ke and fight a war of attrition.

　Next chapter at 9 p.m.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)