Prince of Song Dynasty

Chapter 565 The battle that determined the life and death of the Southern Tang Dynasty

If someone can stand at a high altitude and look down, they will find that there are countless dog-tooth fights on the banks of the Yangtze River outside Chizhou. The flames burned the forest and howled in the wind. Among the short mountains, there is an indescribable deterrent force, and the huge flag is still waving in the wind in the dark.

Not many people in the Song army expected that Pan Mei, a young general of the Song Dynasty, would have such a battle against the always weak Southern Tang army.

Noisy voices surrounded the surroundings. On the mountain, Lin Renzhao was wearing a cloak and riding his war horse. His eyes were fixed on the situation of the entire battlefield. He would occasionally issue an order to send out a reserve team or make adjustments to the army formation. , to deal with the changes on the battlefield.

In this battle, the number of troops on both sides was equal. Not to mention the 6000 naval divisions on both sides of the various water battles in the Yangtze River, the Song army on land was 8000, plus the 10 Chizhou defenders who surrendered, there were 18 troops. 6000 people.As for the Dajiang Gang, they naturally drove the warships they secretly built to help the Song Dynasty Navy.Lin Renzhao led the Southern Tang army with nearly [-] people.The total strength of the two sides on land reached [-].

In later modern times, 2000 people can fill an entire playground, and the number of people has increased by fifty times. The mountains and riverbeds are densely packed with people.Of course, a real famous general can clearly see the form of the entire battlefield in such chaos, identify the affiliation of each army, and even predict the evolution of the battlefield beyond the mountains and fields that cannot be seen.

Lin Renzhao was No. 1 in the Southern Tang Army. Anyone who participated in the battles between the Song Dynasty and the Southern Tang Dynasty more than ten years ago would know Lin Renzhao's ability. He is a well-deserved famous general in the world.For example, Zhao Kuangyin, the emperor of the Song Dynasty, Cao Bin, Li Jixun, Gao Huaide and other veterans all had a deep understanding of Renzhao's power.Although a rising star like Pan Mei had heard about Lin Renzhao's deeds, she didn't take it seriously at first.However, as soon as the battle started today, Pan Mei, who is also a famous general, realized Lin Renzhao's strength and difficulty.

From the beginning of the battle at noon on this day, Lin Renzhao had mobilized the strength that his army could exert to the extreme. When the front lines of both sides unfolded, there were front lines that were several miles long. At this time, the distance between the two sides' fierce battle exceeded 2 miles, and nearly [-] people left their blood and lives on both sides of the riverbed. Up to now, it is difficult to see clearly the outcome.

Lin Renzhao's entire body was trembling slightly in the gap where others could not detect.He knows very well what the Southern Tang court and other armies are like now, so from the very beginning he knew what the final victory or defeat of the war he commanded in front of him meant. Tang's life and death.Because apart from his large army, Southern Tang has no soldiers capable of fighting, and apart from him and the few generals trained by himself, Southern Tang has no more generals to fight.

If he loses, it basically means that the Southern Tang Dynasty is about to die.So at this moment his whole life seemed to be burning.

He wanted to defeat the Song army and keep the country of Southern Tang.

At the beginning of the day's battle, the cavalry of the Song Dynasty rushed forward, aiming to defeat the entire Southern Tang army with the most severe blow, while Lin Renzhao organized a tight defense with arrows and spears.At the same time, his own cavalry pierced through Song's defense, without giving in at all.For a moment, Lin Renzhao wanted to personally lead the whole army to attack and charge directly to Pan Mei's main formation, because he could tell that the opponent was underestimating the enemy.

If he really takes such a decision, the battle in front of him may directly decide the winner after both sides launch the fiercest offensive.However, Pan Mei is also famous, the most important thing is that Pan Mei can block, Song Jun loses this battle, and can make a comeback, but Lin Renzhao can't afford to gamble, so he didn't dare to gamble like this.

At this time, the Song State was worthy of being the strongest army in the world except Khitan, and Pan Mei was worthy of being a famous general of the generation. Step back slightly.Song people were very good at using cavalry in field battles. Before Lin Renzhao's eyes, the opponent's cavalry array galloped and killed like thousands of wild dragons, and he quickly organized the coordination of arms. The cavalry kept approaching the opponent's battle formation, tearing everything apart into a canine-toothed chaos.

Five hours, more than 30 miles of fierce battle.The Song people's offensive changed from violent to cautious, and now the two sides are playing steadily like chess. Lin Renzhao can understand that at this time, Pan Mei may have truly realized her strength, and at the same time won the respect of the other party.But this is not a good thing.

Jinling.

In the light of the fire, the situation in the Northland was marked on the huge map. When the Prime Minister Han Xizai and the National Teacher Lou Yanming reached a consensus for the first time, Li Yu and the ministers gathered together.Lou Yanming, Han Xizai, Wang Dongyang, Xu Xuan and even Li Congshan, who seemed to be doing nothing at home, set up a Ping An Bank under Ye Chen's secret instruction and devoted himself to making money, were all sitting in the corner of the room at this time .

"In any case, the strength of the two armies of the Song Dynasty is clear. They are attacking from the north and the southeast. Although they are fierce, Changzhou and Xinzhou in the southeast have been lost, but Zhao Zan's strength is limited, and our defense is sufficient. On the east road, we have more than 20 troops of various types, which is three or four times that of Zhao Zan. In the north, Commander Lin Renzhao’s army was stationed, so there would be no major problems, but the Huaxia Weifu was able to build a pontoon bridge on the river. The army easily crossed the natural danger of the Yangtze River, but according to the news from Chizhou in the north, the army led by Lin Shuai should have fought with Pan Mei at this time. I deduce that they will be able to stick to the front line of Chizhou, as long as Lin Renzhao is undefeated, our country of Tang will be able to stand still."

At this time, the one in the room who was pointing to the map was Han Xizai, the prime minister who has always been known for his knowledge of soldiers. After he spoke for a while, Li Yu, who looked a little better, said, "Lin Renzhao is a loyal minister and good general. He has trained soldiers for several years. , will not disappoint Gu.”

On the issue of using Lin Renzhao, no matter it is Han Xizai, Lou Yanming, or Li Yu himself, they have always been the biggest push. To be honest, Lin Renzhao has been given more official titles in the past few years. Sometimes Li Yu doesn't want to, Lou Yan Both Ming and Han Xizai must push forward with all their strength.The reason why Li Yu and the leaders of various factions in the Southern Tang Dynasty were like this was because they knew very well that Lin Renzhao was the only one who could resist the Song army and was the last hope of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

At this time, Han Xizai and Li Yu were not so much determined as they were emphasizing their vision, or expressing the last hope in their hearts. Naturally, everyone would not object.

Lou Yanming, who hadn't spoken much all this time, sighed in his heart, looked at the map, and said, "My lord, Lin Renzhao's victory or defeat in Chizhou is really too important, so I suggest that my lord buy bones with a thousand dollars."

He paused, and then said: "Now that the state of Song has ripped off its face and started war against us, the lord of the country is no longer the lord of the country, but the emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty. As long as Lin Renzhao can hold the front line of Chizhou, His Majesty will give him the greatest reward." Even if you make him the king, you will give him all the Chizhou area, so that he will be your Majesty from generation to generation, guarding the natural danger of the Yangtze River."

Before he finished speaking, Wang Dongyang and several others stood up and shouted, but Han Xizai's eyes lit up, he raised his eyebrows, and said decisively: "The country is about to perish, so why not. If you can defeat Song Jun If you fight back, His Majesty will also give you the title of king."

In the palace, Li Yu saw that the national teacher and the prime minister said so, and waved his hands suddenly: "The national teacher and the prime minister are justified, and I have made up my mind, so I want to give Lin Renzhao such a reward! You have a good discussion with me, tomorrow The imperial decree must be sent out!"

In the same night, on the bank of the Yangtze River outside Chizhou, tens of thousands of troops fought on the battlefield for five hours.On the side of the army formation, there has been a change.

This silent change, at the moment it was discovered, made both sides of the battle a little unexpected and unclear.However, not long after, a mouse hole suddenly appeared on a huge embankment, and then naturally collapsed
At the moment when the change quietly appeared, Pan Mei was talking about Lin Renzhao with the generals in the opposite Song Army's main formation. They were also extremely surprised that Lin Renzhao had such an ability to deploy troops.

"Earlier, I heard that His Royal Highness the King of Xiangfu used Lin Renzhao as a talented scholar to play tricks on Lin Renzhao, so he looked down on this veteran, but he didn't expect Lin Renzhao to give me such a big surprise this time... Uh..." Pan Meizheng looked a little serious As he spoke, he frowned suddenly. In the darkness, he looked to one side of the battle formation, and raised his whip, "What is Lin Renzhao up to now?"

The general next to him also squinted his eyes for a while: "Retreat? Or reorganize the attack?"

"Order Cao Wei and Yang Tingjun in the northeast to slow down and gather at the headquarters of the Central Army. No rash advance is allowed, and fraudulent actions are strictly prohibited! Hurry up!"

Following Pan Mei's order, the messenger flew down, the rocket rose into the night sky, and the entire Song Army's main formation began to operate even more noisily in a tense atmosphere.

On the opposite side, Lin Renzhao looked at the situation on the flank, and subconsciously rode his horse forward for a few steps, then stopped: "What's going on! Why back off!"

"Part of General Xu and Yang's troops"

"I know it's Xu Yaoxing's people. They suffered losses when they attacked Chizhou and didn't take a good rest. I also let them fight the autumn wind on the side all the time, only making small feints, but why did they withdraw my order and let them They will move forward to me even if they die, and they must never retreat."

(End of this chapter)