Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 690 Reinforcements will be arriving soon!

At three o'clock in the morning, Wang Wujun, the vanguard commander of the Guanzhong Army, led 10,000 troops from Xin'an County and marched eastward.

When they reached Cijian, it was noon of the next day, so he ordered to set up camp and cook.

There is a record in the Classic of Mountains and Seas: "…30 miles west of Zhanzhu Mountain is the Zhanzhu Mountain. There is a lot of gold on the sunny side and a lot of patterned stones on the shady side. A little water flows out of the shady side. It controls and guides many streams to form a river, which flows eastward into the valley. People call it Cijian."

This place is very famous, and there are official records of it as early as the Western Han Dynasty.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong fought a fierce battle with Wang Shichong's elite troops here, but was blocked by Shan Xiongxin and almost lost his life in the army. This place was not ignored by An Shouzhong, Li Huaiguang and others, but there were reasons for it.

An Shouzhong is not a fool, and Li Huaiguang is not a fool either. There is a reason why they do not defend Xin'an County.

People who do not know how to use troops always think that they can rush all the way from Xin'an County to Luoyang and achieve their goal unexpectedly. In fact, this underestimates the cold weapon warfare of that era.

As a highly risky and professional killing activity, everything that can be studied has been studied and the results have been recorded.

The distance between Xin'an County and Luoyang is such that a mixed infantry and cavalry team would need at least one and a half to two days to march at normal speed, and three days at a slower pace.

If they rushed forward without caring about anything, by the time they reached Luoyang City, their troops would be exhausted and it would be hard to say whether they could use their weapons. There was no need to fight at all, it might be better to just lie on the ground and let the enemy kill them.

Cijian is right in the middle of the two places, and it is also where the army camped. If we camp here at noon, it will be midnight when we reach Luoyang. The guards are relaxed, which makes it easier for our scouts to investigate the terrain.

So whether it was An Shouzhong or Li Huaiguang, they did not send troops to occupy Xin'an County, not because it was not important, nor because they had forgotten or ignored it, but because it was beyond the range of an army.

In a normal attack, their troops could not stop it, so it would be enough to give them an early warning. In a surprise attack, they could not arrive in a day and a night, and if they set up camp on the way, they would expose their target.

Li Baochen wanted to strike the Konghe Army unconsciously because not only was the Konghe Army seriously injured, but they also had to clean up the battlefield.

The weapons and ceremonial objects left behind on the northern battlefield of Jinyong City need to be picked up, the wounded need to be taken back for recuperation, and the exhausted soldiers need time to rest.

This is not something that can be accomplished in a few days.

Li Baochen did not mean to launch a surprise attack by throwing a hammer out and not caring about anything, nor did he mean to have a situation where the soldiers of the Control Crane Army woke up and found the enemy rushing to their doorstep.

Li Huaiguang learned the news that Wang Wujun had set up camp in Cijian at noon that night!
He was so angry that his teeth itched, but he also knew that no one would come to save him. What they did in Chang'an back then made many people want to kill them, or to use Li Baochen to kill them.

Even if they didn't want to get involved, they could always just stand by and watch. For example, the well-respected Marshal Fang in Bianzhou didn't seem to want to get involved in this matter.

Li Huaiguang called Han Yougui to give him instructions in person.

The latter also knew that Li Baochen had already set up camp in Cijian, and had already considered whether to send troops now.

When the enemy army breaks camp tomorrow morning, the Crane Control Army will rush to them! Why wait until the enemy arrives at Luoyang City at night?

But doing so is also very risky. After all, after suffering a disastrous defeat, the Konghe Army had already fought in Huaizhou once, in Heyang and three cities twice, and in Jinyong City for the third time.

Even if everyone has skin of steel, they are now exhausted.

Moreover, Li Baochen was not like An Shouzhong, he had much more soldiers and horses, and it was hard to say that Wang Wujun's troops had no backup. The troops currently stationed in Cijian might only be the vanguard.

"Take the Zuosheying Camp and go to Bianzhou to ask Fang Qing to send troops.

Since Fang Qing is not here, just ask someone in charge and ask them to send troops to rescue Konghe Army!

If they don't send troops, you don't have to come back. Wait for Fang Qing to return to Bianzhou and avenge the Konghe Army!"

Li Huaiguang said with gritted teeth.

Fang Qing is the son of Fang Youde, and the Control Crane Army was brought up by Fang Youde. If there is anyone in the world who would lend a helping hand to the Control Crane Army, it would be Fang Qing.

I only hope he still remembers this sentiment.

"General, let's retreat. Li Baochen will definitely not dare to attack Bianzhou!
As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood! "

Han Yougui clasped his fists and asked for instructions.

He did not suggest that he must fight Li Baochen to the death.

In fact, the main generals in the army all know what the current situation of the Konghe Army is.

As the old saying goes, human power is limited. Even if Fang Youde were here, he would avoid fighting at this time.

What's more, before every decisive battle, Fang Youde always let the Konghe Army have enough rest and conserve their strength, and he never said anything about fighting by willpower.

Perhaps Li Huaiguang also realized that it would be difficult for him to win this battle.

There are some tacit words that everyone understands but cannot be said because saying them will make people discouraged. Morale should be boosted but not dampened.

But not saying it doesn’t mean you don’t know, nor does it mean you still have illusions.

"I cannot bring disgrace upon the reputation of the Control Crane Army.

Zuosheying is the essence of the Konghe Army. It was first created by Marshal Fang and it cannot be destroyed in my hands.

You take the Zuosheying Camp to ask for help. If Fang Qing has any conscience, he will definitely send troops to Luoyang.

If he doesn't come, then... you should stay in Bianzhou and live there."

Li Huaiguang sighed and was determined to die.

Han Yougui originally wanted to persuade him, but seeing Li Huaiguang's fearless expression, he felt that it was futile to continue talking.

Although Marshal Fang is gone, the soul of the Konghe Army is still unruly, good at fighting, and arrogant!
Afraid, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Escape is impossible.

At least Li Huaiguang, the commander of the Control Crane Army, would not run away. He could not bring discredit to the Control Crane Army, and he did not want to be called a "slippery general" in later history books.

The soldiers of the Control Crane Army slaughtered Chang'an because they could not stand the tyranny of the Tianlong nobles;

They plundered the land because they were hungry and had nothing to eat;
They killed An Shouzhong in return because the other party had gone too far and they attacked him with a club.

The soldiers of the Control Crane Army dare to do anything, except being cowards!
Although Han Yougui was still resentful about Li Huaiguang's order to massacre Chang'an, he had to admire him as a real man.

"Commander..."

"No need to say more, go ahead. I will guard Luoyang myself.

Li Baochen is just a coward who takes advantage of every opportunity, so what is there to be afraid of? "

Li Huaiguang waved his hand and said, his face indifferent and without any fear.

"Understood! I will go to Bianzhou to ask for help!"

Han Yougui turned around, strode away to receive the order, his steps as fast as the wind.

After Han Yougui and Zuosheying left Luoyang City, Li Huaiguang summoned all the generals and ordered them to go out immediately, preparing to attack Li Baochen head-on on the road from Xin'an County to Luoyang!
Damn it, only cowards will guard Luoyang City!

A real man will die in the enemy's camp!
I want to die on the way to charge!

……

Wang Wujun knew the fighting power of the Crane Controlling Army very well! On the night of camping in Cijian, he was on guard at the gate of the camp and did not sleep all night, fearing that the Crane Controlling Army would raid the camp.

After all, winning in chaos is what the other party is best at.

Li Baochen had already made comprehensive arrangements, and even a few miles to the west was Li Baochen's camp.

Once Li Huaiguang led the Crane Control Army to attack the camp, he would immediately light the huge bonfire that he had prepared, and then set off fireworks to send a message. By then, Li Baochen would be ready.

Wang Wujun had no choice but to believe. After all, belief is also a kind of power.

Li Baochen had studied the characteristics of the Crane Control Army in depth, and his method of dealing with it was a stupid method, but also a good method.

Common name: pad the knife. The Konghe army's knife is fast, so push some of your own people out to pad the knife and let Li Huaiguang chop them.

If the Konghe Army's sword is still fast, then use another sword.

There will always be a time when the knife makes a cut.

Li Baochen had seen that An Shouzhong had taken so many risks for him, and he thought that the Konghe Army was almost at the end of its rope.

At this time, you should take charge of the battle yourself and stop expecting outsiders to act like fools and do the job for you.

However, even so, Li Baochen still pushed Wang Wujun out "just in case", showing his experience in using troops.

The last move of a trapped beast is often very dangerous, and many masters have fallen into this trap.

Marshal Baochen is experienced and a real veteran on the battlefield.

Wang Wujun also knew that he was pushed out by Li Baochen as a cushion, but what else could he do?

Isn't that what war is all about?

People decide life and death, battles decide victory and defeat, what else is there to say?
They moved camp tremblingly, but before they had gone a mile, scouts came to report that the Konghe Army was attacking!
Wang Wujun cursed Li Huaiguang in his heart for being shameless!
The other party started their action an hour earlier, and they still had the protection of the camp. They could use the wooden fence of the camp to buy time and wait for changes.

If we start an hour later, they will have rested enough and will be just the right time to take up our swords and go into battle.

As a result, Li Huaiguang and the Konghe Army appeared just after the soldiers had packed up the camp and were about to set off.

This was the time when Wang Wujun’s team was most tired!
This situation is a bit similar to when Fang Chongyong was in high school in his previous life. He just ran a 3,000-meter race in the morning and then immediately had to take a mid-term physical test.

Who can bear this horse riding?
Wang Wujun, who was full of anger, suddenly remembered that they were sending troops to Luoyang now after the Konghe Army had fought a life-and-death battle with An Shouzhong in Luoyang, without giving the other side any time to breathe.

It seems a bit unfair.

So I felt relieved.

On the battlefield, everyone uses every possible means. Who is more despicable than who?
"Pass the order, form a battle array!

Anyone who disobeys orders will be beheaded, anyone who retreats will be beheaded, and anyone who pursues without authorization will be beheaded!"

Wang Wujun gave orders to the messenger beside him, saying "behead" three times in a row.

The vanguard of the Guanzhong army began to form up very quickly and raised Wang Wujun's own flag.

After all, they are the elite troops under Marshal Baochen and are still very capable.

Although the roads around Cijian are not dangerous, they are very narrow and there are no forks.

There are roads on the east and west sides, mountains on the north and south sides!
Although Wang Wujun's ten thousand men were not a large number, due to the narrow space here, their formation was densely packed, with not only very small gaps between them, but also an incredibly thick formation.

He had a bad feeling in his heart.

In this kind of terrain, the troops cannot be deployed fully and their advantage in strength is weakened.

The elite and capable soldiers are more important.

Wang Wujun's face was calm, and he tightly grasped the handle of the horizontal sword in his hand. He knew that he would definitely suffer a loss today.

War is so helpless, there is no fairness or unfairness. If the conditions are unfavorable, you can only endure it.

If I can survive the war, I will review it carefully, hoping that I will have the opportunity to use it next time.

He muttered to himself.

In a flash, the Crane Control Army had already rushed over.

"The personal guards will lead the battle, and those who retreat will be killed!"

Wang Wujun personally held the flag of the vanguard army and calmly gave the order. The guards around him immediately rushed forward to the rear of the battle line, all of them looking ferocious.

The knife was almost against his own back!
"Kill!" "Kill!" "Kill!"

Loud shouts came from the front of the formation, the formation line shook violently, and the people in the back row retreated one after another.

Wang Wujun had seen blacksmiths forging blades on armor. Now it felt like a heavy hammer hitting a thin piece of iron.

Sparks flew, and then the iron sheet deformed violently.

The left and right sides of the battle line seemed to be cut off by a knife, and a large number of soldiers fell to the ground! It was like an iron fence that trapped a wild beast, and it had been deformed by brute force.

A trapped beast will still fight, and a desperate attack from a ferocious beast can really cause serious damage!

"The central army should advance! Where is the flag bearer? Raise the flag! Follow me!"

Wang Wujun shouted until his throat was hoarse.

He drew out his sword and chopped down several fleeing soldiers in succession. He personally stepped forward to supervise the battle, and only then was he able to stop the left wing's front. Fortunately, the road was not wide, and he could barely block the gap. If this had been a fierce battle on the plain, the formation would have collapsed.

According to experience, the next thing that happens is that the collapse spreads from the left wing, and within a stick of incense, they will all become deserters.

Wang Wujun grabbed a messenger and shouted at him, "Go and inform the general to send reinforcements. The vanguard can't hold on any longer! Go quickly, or else something bad will happen! Go! Go! Get out of here!"

However, Li Baochen's ideas seemed to be slightly different from Wang Wujun's.

A few miles away, the central army of the Guanzhong Army had already been deployed on the hills on both sides of the narrow road, and almost everyone was holding a horn bow and crossbow.

In front of the road, there were four or five layers of wooden fences, chevaux de frise and other obstacles.

The messenger who came to ask for help almost died on the chevaux de frise. He quickly pulled the reins, dismounted and came to Li Baochen, anxiously reporting: "General, General Wang in front can't hold on, the enemy's army is very fierce in breaking through the formation."

"Got it. I'll be there soon."

Li Baochen said calmly.

He said he was going, but in the end he showed no intention of moving at all.

The messenger wanted to make some further explanation, but when he saw Li Baochen's cold gaze, he swallowed his saliva, got on his horse awkwardly, and headed east.

A kind man cannot command an army, and a general is often hard-hearted!

The Konghe Army will fight to the death and might even cut off Wang Wujun’s head, but so what?

Li Baochen just wants to win, and he will deal with other things after he wins.

An incense stick of time passed, then half an hour passed, and Li Baochen stayed next to the military band. Anyone who dared to give orders would be killed on the spot. He had no intention of reinforcing Wang Wujun at all.

"Marshal, there are no deserters here?"

A lieutenant general couldn't help but whisper to Li Baochen.

“No one has escaped back here, that’s right.

You don't want Li Huaiguang to roll up the pearl curtain and kill me, do you?"

Li Baochen looked at the general with a bad look and asked back.

"I have said too much, General. I will take the Five Army Sticks myself."

The lieutenant general saluted with a guilty look on his face.

"Save your energy for the battle, the Crane Control Army is coming."

Li Baochen snorted coldly.

(End of this chapter)