Han Dang is stronger

Chapter 366
In the Spring and Autumn Period and the middle and early stages of the Warring States Period, chariots were well-deserved absolute kings on the battlefield in the Central Plains. However, after King Zhao Wuling implemented Hufu riding and shooting, chariots had to gradually retreat to the position of auxiliary arms, and even gradually became tasteless. , It's tasteless to eat, and it's a pity to lose it.

There are many reasons for the gradual decline of the status of chariots. The speed of maneuvering is not as good as that of simple cavalry, and its flexibility is not as good as that of infantry. It is also severely restricted by terrain and roads. It cannot be used on battlefields with many terrains. The high technical requirements of the royal horse, coupled with the high cost, are doomed to gradually retreat to the second line.

But of course the chariot is not completely useless. It has strong impact, durable leather, can undertake transportation tasks, and can be used to build a temporary defense line when camping. These are the advantages of chariots, especially when the terrain conditions are suitable. The destructive power of chariots to the enemy's formation is far higher than that of cavalry or infantry, and it is the best weapon for breaking the formation.

The Western Chu army had such good luck this time. The decisive battle battlefield chosen by the Han army was not only flat and open, suitable for chariot combat, but also let the main force of the Chinese army line up across a road tens of meters wide. It is so flat that there is not even a pothole, so it is naturally more suitable for chariots to charge and break through the formation. Therefore, after Zhou Yin arrived at this battlefield with the main force of the Western Chu Army, he just observed the terrain for a while, and immediately decided to rely on chariots. The idea of ​​rushing to win, and the various tactics that followed, also revolved around this decisive tactic.

Facts have proved that the long preparation and waiting are definitely worth the money. After more than [-] heavy chariots all pulled by four horses charged, they quickly increased their speed to the fastest on the open and flat terrain. Like three hundred or so primitive tanks, roaring and roaring with billowing dust and smoke, they rushed straight to the Han army's central position protected only by long shields.

At this moment, many soldiers of the Western Chu Army even seemed to see that the long shield defense line of the Han Army was like paper, and was easily torn apart by their chariots. It directly penetrated the bodies of the soldiers of the Han army, rushed out bloody paths in the dense queue of soldiers of the Han army, and directly broke through the infantry phalanx of the soldiers of the Han army!
What surprised and overjoyed the generals of the Western Chu Army was that when they saw their chariot convoy launching a dense charge, the Han army made a mistake in their busy schedule. They dispatched five hundred light cavalry from both sides of the Chinese army's position. To block the way of their chariots!Mantis' arm is like a car, and a gnat is shaking a tree, it is simply overreaching to the extreme!
"The traitors are stupid." These were the psychological words of all the chariot soldiers of the Western Chu Army who were charging. Li Zi, the general of the Western Chu Army who was in charge of the chariot soldiers, laughed grinningly, increasingly convinced that his first victory in breaking the formation was within easy reach.

To the surprise of the Western Chu army, when they were about to hit their chariot, the cavalry of the Han army that rushed out from both sides suddenly broke into pieces, rushed towards their chariot in twos and threes, and at the same time threw some black cavalry one after another. The husky pottery vase, with green smoke still lingering from the mouth of the vase, rolled and hit the horses pulling the chariot, and then, before the soldiers of the Western Chu Army figured out what happened, there was an earth-shattering explosion. The sound has already sounded on the battlefield one after another...

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The successive bursts of loud noises numb the eardrums of the Western Chu army's chariot soldiers, and the eardrums of the Western Chu army's chariot soldiers were perforated and blood flowed out when the distance was particularly close. Many Western Chu army chariot soldiers were caught off guard and fell down in shock Sit in the car.

Even if the soldiers were like this, of course, not to mention the horses pulling the carts. Frightened by the loud noise when the primitive grenade exploded, many frightened horses stood up immediately, and the momentum of the charge disappeared suddenly. , directly bumped into the standing horses with their legs raised, and the horses couldn't resist, or fell on their backs, or stumbled and knelt down. Many chariots lost their balance and overturned directly, throwing the soldiers of the Western Chu army on board. He fell out of the car and fell heavily to the ground.

This is still considered good, frightened by the loud explosion close at hand, more horses pulling the chariot were frightened and ran wildly, pulling the chariot uncontrollably and rushing wildly on the battlefield, or walking around the battlefield. They made a circle, or rushed directly to other directions, and some chariots simply turned their heads and rushed directly to other chariots behind and the Western Chu Army infantry brigade that followed, regardless of how the drivers on the chariots shouted. Unable to control it, they overturned many self-army chariots one after another, and even rushed into the crowd of infantrymen of the Western Chu Army, plowing bloody paths among the dense crowd of infantrymen of the Western Chu Army.

Almost in a blink of an eye, the chariot convoy of the Western Chu army that had been charging in order was in complete chaos, with people shouting and screaming, but the cavalry of the Han army still refused to give up, and continued to shoot one after another, which was actually very lethal. The small primitive grenade, also tried to smash the primitive grenade on the horses of the Western Chu Army chariot and exploded, causing more horses to run wild in fright, causing more and greater chaos in the Western Chu Army convoy.

The hissing of war horses and the crashing of chariots had already merged into one stream. The out-of-control chariots of the Western Chu army were rampaging on the open battlefield, knocking down other chariots of our own army one after another, rushing into the ground. The crowd of infantrymen of the Western Chu Army who followed smashed a road paved with flesh and blood in the soldiers of the Western Chu Army. Countless infantrymen of the Western Chu Army had not even been able to figure out what happened, or they were killed by their own army chariots. The front broken spike pierced the body, or was hung upside down by the wrong hub of the self-army chariot, and died tragically under the wheel or the feet of the companions. Even though the sun has not yet set at this moment, the light is still very bright. There have been countless cases of trampling on each other.

Zhou Yin closed his eyes in pain in the Western Chu army flag formation, and couldn't bear to look at the miserable scene on the battlefield ahead. Xiang Sui, the general of the Western Chu army who led the infantry attack, shouted like crazy in the chaos, screaming desperately He asked the chariot soldiers to hold the horses and not to hit their own family with their chariots, but how can a chariot with four horses galloping at full speed be controlled by one driver and two chariot soldiers?Therefore, the out-of-control chariot is still rampaging among the infantry crowd of the Western Chu Army, invincible, constantly taking away the precious lives of the soldiers of the Western Chu Army.

There was no general who could control the army under such an impact. In a blink of an eye, the infantry brigade of the Western Chu Army fell apart, and the soldiers fled screaming, and the out-of-control chariots rushed in all directions Yes, the first round of offensive launched by the main force of the Central Army of the Western Chu Army completely disintegrated on its own without hurting any soldiers of the Han Army. The casualties were extremely heavy, and the morale of the army was also severely damaged.

Not to mention, after completely blowing up the convoy of the Western Chu Army, the cavalry of the Han Army immediately raised their sabers, shouted and rushed towards the chaotic infantry crowd of the Western Chu Army, wantonly massacring the already chaotic Western Chu Army infantry crowd like a tiger descending a mountain. The infantry of the Chu army, and at the same time the Han army's central army's position, there were more than a thousand cavalry each, like two dragons sailing out of the sea, galloping towards the dispersed infantry brigade of the Western Chu army.

On one side are the elite cavalry who have been recharging their energy for a long time, and on the other side are panicked and chaotic frightened birds. As soon as they come into contact, the infantry of the Western Chu Army is even more defeated. Army infantry, men and horses roar like the wind, like an avalanche on a mountain, unstoppable.

In order to save the front infantry as much as possible, Zhou Yin had no choice but to urge the rear army to block the Han cavalry and cover the retreat of the defeated troops of the own army. Joining the battle with the newly arrived Western Chu Army, relying on the maneuvering speed of the horses and the advantages of being able to fight on horseback, all they can do is to chase down the defeated Western Chu Army who escaped from the two wings, and cut down the poor Western Chu Army's defeated soldiers. It was ghosts crying and wolves howling, flesh and blood flying everywhere, and falling to the ground constantly.

At the critical moment, Xiang Sui, the general of the Western Chu Army, made a fatal mistake of being too conscientious. He didn't seize the opportunity to fight on horseback. As a result, he was quickly targeted by a group of Han cavalry, who roared and killed him directly in conspicuous armor. The soldiers around him were too flustered, and all only cared about running for their own lives, and no one stood up to stop Han. The cavalry pursued, causing the cavalry of the Han army who charged on horseback to quickly catch up behind Xiang Sui.

Luck was also against Xiang Sui at this moment. Seeing that the Han army cavalry was approaching, when Xiang Sui subconsciously kicked his horse to accelerate, an infantryman of the Western Chu army panicked and rushed from the slope, just in time to stop his horse. , Xiang Sui's war horse directly bumped into the infantryman's body. Although he knocked over the infantryman directly, the horse lost its balance and fell to the ground with a stumble. The Xueliang saber had already slashed with the sound of wind, directly cutting on his neck.

The blood sprayed into the sky, the sword had no eyes, but Xiang Sui, who had a very deep relationship with Xiang Kang, unexpectedly became the No.

People shouted and horses neighed, and infantry and cavalry were intertwined. Of course, Zhou Yin did not know that Xiang Sui had been killed in battle at the first time. Holding the last ray of hope, Zhou Yin asked his soldiers to display the banner again, so that Xi Chu, who came out later, would be killed. The army infantry charged the Han army's central army position in an attempt to entangle the main force of the Han army's central army by attacking, and defeated the right wing of the Han army for the superior Xiang Guan's troops, reversing the overall situation on the battlefield.

It is a pity that the disastrous defeat of the chariot soldiers has seriously affected the morale of the Western Chu Army. Xiang Guan's troops of the Western Chu Army, which had already launched a general offensive, had already messed up the ranks in the fierce battle. The control of the army with arms and fingers can only be done by letting the soldiers under their command fight on their own, and continue to besiege the solid circle of the right-wing Han army. However, the right-wing battlefield of the Han army was still at a stalemate, and neither the Han army nor the Western Chu army could do anything to each other.

On the contrary, the only left-wing Han army that took the offensive made a breakthrough first. Seeing the victory of the Chinese army, the morale of the left-wing Han army led by Wang Ling was naturally more aggressive. The northern army could not even catch their breath. At the same time, after seeing the disastrous defeat of the central army of the Western Chu army, the morale of the Jibei army was also seriously affected. The soldiers panicked and their fighting spirit became more exhausted. The square formation of the rear team also had to quickly change into a circular formation to resist the fierce attack of the Han army.

At this time, the news of Xiang Sui's sacrifice had also been reported to Zhou Yin. Zhou Yin's tiger eyes were full of tears, but he had no choice but to keep urging the Chinese army forward and storm the Han army's central army positions at all costs. However, the Han army's central army position has always maintained a strict formation, relying on its strong formation to calmly resist the attack of the Western Chu army. People turned on their backs and fell to the ground constantly.

In fact, judging from the situation alone, it seems that the Western Chu army has always maintained the upper hand and has been attacking the Han army's center and right wing, but Zhou Yin knew very well in his heart that he was almost out of cards to play. If the central army or right wing of the Han army is defeated before dark, then the Western Chu army, which is not prepared for this decisive battle, will undoubtedly be defeated. Therefore, Zhou Yin has been biting his nails and calculating whether to put all his eggs in one basket and launch an all-out general offensive, completely Take a gamble?
For a comprehensive general attack, if the Han army's central position is still not taken, then the Western Chu army will definitely collapse once the momentum is over. It is difficult for Zhou Yin to make up his mind.But Uncle Zhou helped him make up his mind. When the sun was about to set on the top of Taihang Mountain in the west, he saw that the Western Chu Army on the right-wing battlefield was completely disorganized, and it was impossible to form an formation to fight. Uncle Zhou just gave an order and lined up. The main force of the cavalry of the Han army behind the Han army's central formation immediately slapped their horses out, holding up their sabers and shouting to kill the Western Chu army on the right.

Uncle Zhou's choice of counterattack once surprised Zhou Yin. He never expected that Uncle Zhou would choose to attack Xiang Champion first, instead of the Jinbei Army with a weaker combat effectiveness. However, seeing the cavalry of the Han army charging in groups easily entered Xiang Champion's chaotic crowd At that time, Zhou Yin also immediately understood why Uncle Zhou chose to counterattack the right wing - the combat effectiveness of the Jibei Army is relatively weak, but more than half of the Jibei Army ranks are still quite complete, and it is difficult for the Han Army cavalry to move this It is a tough bone, but Xiang Champion, who was in chaos after a full-scale attack, has no way to form an array to intercept the charge of the Han cavalry. The Han cavalry can be more comfortable on such a battlefield!

"It can only be a gamble. Even if we keep the rear and retreat to the camp, we will definitely lose. Why not gamble everything and fight the traitors to the death!"

Having made up his mind, Zhou Yin had no other choice, and immediately ordered the sound of the general attack drum, and personally led the rear army of the Western Chu Army to charge the Han Army's central position, putting all his chips on the line. .

Still helpless, Zhou Yin's desperate gamble only forced the Han army's central army to fight in a circular formation, but still failed to break through the Han army's central army position. On the contrary, the main force of the Han army's cavalry force But it was very easy to kill and disperse the Western Chu Army on the right-wing battlefield one after another. The Han Army Chongda Division, which had been suppressed and beaten before, also took the opportunity to counterattack. Xiang Guan's troops were defeated one after another, and the soldiers kept fleeing.

When it was getting dark, the Western Chu army on the right-wing battlefield was completely defeated. The exhausted soldiers of the Western Chu army fled in all directions, including some middle-level generals such as Wubaichang and Qianchang. He was also targeted by the cavalry of the Han army, and was chased by the cavalry of the Han army and fled here and there. He was so embarrassed that it was only a matter of time before he completely collapsed.

The defense line of the Jibei Army was also crumbling. Seeing that the defeat on the right-wing battlefield had been decided, and there was no hope for the Chinese army in the battlefield, the morale of the Jibei Army was seriously shaken. Some generals even ran to Tian Xin to speak out, saying: "General, we We've already lost, let's run, if we continue to fight, if the Western Chu Army collapses, it will be difficult for us to escape even if we want to."

Tian Xin's face was as gloomy as water, and he wanted to lead the army to escape for his life countless times, but considering that if he did so, the Western Chu army would definitely cut him into pieces, and Tian Du, who obeyed Xiang Yu's words, would definitely not let him go However, Tian Xin was hesitant to make up his mind. He could only turn his attention to the only battlefield of the Chinese army that was still on the offensive, hoping for a miracle that the Chinese army of the Western Chu army could suddenly defeat the Chinese army's central army.

The miracle did not happen, and the Western Chu Army on the right-wing battlefield could not escape the doom of complete collapse. While being chased and killed by the cavalry of the Han Army with all their strength, Xiang Guan and his direct troops rushed here and there, and gradually moved away from the center of the battlefield. The Western Chu army had no one to restrain it, and I don't know who shouted to run, and suddenly it collapsed. The generals and soldiers fled in all directions. After being completely defeated, they shouted and chased after Xiangguan Banner who had fled far away.

Seeing that the situation was overwhelming, the guards had no choice but to pull Xiang Guan's rein and flee southward for their lives. At first, Xiang Guan shouted to stop him, and even chopped down two guards who were pulling him to escape with his own hands. When the cavalry chased after him, Xiang Guan could only be a pair of war horses, leading his own soldiers to flee to the south, crying loudly while fleeing, hating his cowardice and incompetence, but also helpless.

A fearful chain reaction also followed. The Western Chu Army on the right was the first to flee. Tian Xin, who was in command of the Jibei Army, was not only not disappointed, but on the contrary, as if he had let go of a heavy burden, he immediately shouted: "Ming Jin, retreat!"

The golden gong had just sounded, and the Jibei Army, which had been unable to hold on for a long time, immediately collapsed. The generals and soldiers rushed to the self-army camp in the south, throwing down the Western Chu Army, which was still fighting fiercely. The main force of the army didn't care anymore, and ran away so much that they only hated their parents for giving birth to two legs for them.

The same is true for the Central Army of the Western Chu Army. Seeing that the two wings collapsed and fled one after another, the soldiers of the Central Army of the Western Chu Army, whose morale was already extremely depressed, did not have the courage to continue fighting. If I escaped too late, I would be caught up by the Han army. Uncle Zhou was not polite when he saw it, and immediately ordered to beat the drums of the general attack, and personally led the army to launch a full-scale counterattack. The Han army soldiers shouted and charged, and the offensive was like a prairie fire.

The disastrous defeat was already doomed. Out of duty, Zhou Yin immediately arranged the rear of the army in an attempt to cover the main force to withdraw to the camp, but he didn't know whether the soldiers did not convey the order in place, or they were unwilling to stay and die after receiving the order. Zhou Yin named the Western Chu army at the back of the palace and did not stay to stop the Han army from counterattacking. They rushed and fled faster and more fiercely than other troops. Zhou Yin did not have the courage to lead the army behind the palace in person, so he could only rush to be surrounded by his own soldiers Fleeing south with all their strength, they trampled on each other and fled to their own army camp.

The distance was not very far, and the defeated crowd of the Western Chu Army quickly fled to the front of the camp of their own army. What made Zhou Yin tremble with anger was that although the Western Chu Army who stayed in the camp immediately dispatched to respond, they guarded the fence of the camp to block it. The Han army pursued the soldiers, but the defeated crowd of the Western Chu Army under extreme panic was like a tide, directly smashing down the camp gate and a large fence, and also disrupting the rear army of the Western Chu Army who lined up behind the fence. The pursuers took the opportunity to cover up and enter the camp, killing the rear troops of the Western Chu Army, which had mostly auxiliary soldiers, into even more chaos.

Not only that, in order to survive, countless defeated soldiers of the Western Chu Army directly crossed the camp, grabbed the previously built pontoon bridge to escape across the river, squeezed on the narrow pontoon bridge, and fell into the water countless times. Knowing that withdrawing directly to the south at this time will definitely cause heavy losses, and knowing that if they continue to stick to the camp, they will definitely become abandoned by the Western Chu army and be completely wiped out by the Han army on the north bank of the river, so they simply did not enter the camp and let the rear army lead After boarding the already depleted food and supplies, they retreated to the lower reaches of the Sishui River with all their strength, and the Han army also used most of its strength on the Western Chu army. The defeated soldiers of the Western Chu army fled faster and fell into the water more. The corpses piled on top of each other and quickly piled up in the river, and the large amount of water didn't even flow.

In fact, Zhou Yin also hoped to retreat to the lower reaches of the river, but he had already lost control of the army, and the Han army was chasing after him. If there was any delay, he would be decapitated immediately, so he had no choice. However, Zhou Yin could only quickly take the defeated soldiers who could still be restrained, and rushed south across the Sishui on the corpses of his own soldiers. At the same time, Uncle Zhou also led his pursuers to the Sishui River. But Uncle Zhou still refused to give up, and resolutely led his army to chase and cross the river, shouting: "Chasing! Try to wipe out the defeated bandits! Otherwise, these defeated bandits will take advantage of our southern allies in vain! "

It is human nature, and while roaring, even Uncle Zhou couldn't help but look forward to the surprised expressions of the allies on the southern front when they learned that they had defeated the main force of the Chu-Ji coalition forces on the Sishui battlefield, and how he sent his troops south to the Julu battlefield to defeat the first one in the south again. The beautiful scene of the main force of the Zhao Qi coalition forces withdrawing.

(End of this chapter)