The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 528: Fierce Battle at Xinkou
In the Pioneer Army camp, the sergeants were packing their bags and preparing to set off at night.

In the big tent, Shi Yanchao and Pan Mei were studying something in front of a marching map.

Zhu Xiu entered the tent. When Shi Yanchao saw him, he immediately became alert and said, "What are you doing here? Are you trying to steal from me the job of the commander of the vanguard capital?"

Zhu Xiu was speechless and glared at him fiercely: "Your Majesty's military order has been issued. Even if I want to snatch it, it's too late!"

Shi Yanchao thought about it and thought it was true. He grinned and said, "So, you are here to see me off?"

"That's right." Zhu Xiu walked aside and sat down.

Pan Mei winked and looked questioning.

He knew Zhu Xiu very well. He always went to the Three Treasures Hall for no reason. The vanguard army was about to set off. Zhu Xiu would not come unless there was something particularly important.

There were no outsiders in the tent, so Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "I wonder how General Shi will march here? How will he fight if he encounters an enemy?"

Shi Yanchao said carelessly: "Your Majesty ordered me to lead the army to Liaozhou to join the army of King Wei. I will march in accordance with the order.

If you encounter enemy troops on the road, fight if you can. If you can't fight, rest nearby and wait for reinforcements. "

Zhu Xiu smacked her lips and said nothing.

Shi Yanchao glared at him and said, "Why, don't you think that I, Shi Yanchao, and the [-] infantry and cavalry troops are all stupid? We were beaten to a pulp when we encountered the Northern Han soldiers?"

Zhu Xiu laughed dryly: "General Shi was joking, of course I don't mean that!"

"That little guy has a weird look on his face, as if he's constipated? I'm going to get angry just by looking at him! If you fart, hurry up!" Shi Yanchao scolded.

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "The general is leading his army to the north. When he encounters the soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty, he will naturally be overwhelmed. But has the general ever thought about it? In fact, the real enemy of our army is not the Northern Han Dynasty!"

Shi Yanchao stroked his weed-like beard and said, "From your tone, are you worried about the Khitans?"

Zhu Xiu clapped his hands: "General Shi hit the nail on the head!
General, just imagine, Liu Chong was defeated in Bagongyuan, and Zhang Yuanhui was defeated in Jiangzhuling. The morale of the Northern Han soldiers was greatly reduced, and there was not much room for resistance. All they could rely on was the danger and majesty of Taiyuan City!

On the other hand, in Khitan, although Yelu Dilu is dead, Yelu Talie, the great king of the Southern Academy, has a strong army, and the Northern Han Dynasty is an important bargaining chip to contain our dynasty. The Khitan people will never sit back and watch Liu Chong be wiped out!
I guess at this moment, the Khitan troops and horses are already being mobilized, and there will be news back soon!

When the general leads his army to the north, he will definitely meet the Khitan people, so don't take it lightly!
Even if you win one or two field battles, you cannot underestimate the enemy. The worst thing is to avoid advancing alone and losing touch with the support army!
General please keep this in mind! "

Shi Yanchao frowned, "His Majesty asked you to warn me?"

Zhu Xiu smiled slightly and said vaguely: "His Majesty naturally expected the Khitan's movements. However, in order to avoid shaking the morale of the army, His Majesty did not emphasize too much in the previous imperial meeting. In private, he asked me to come down and give instructions to the general."

Shi Yanchao bowed towards the camp of Jiedu Mansion in Luzhou City and said solemnly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Please report back to Your Majesty. I will never forget this teaching!"

"Very good!" Zhu Xiu chuckled.

After discussing the marching route, Shi Yanchao said goodbye and left. He still had to prepare his military affairs and prepare to leave.

Only Zhu Xiu and Pan Mei were left in the tent.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Pan Mei asked suspiciously.

Those words just now did not sound like what His Majesty said, but instead they sounded like what Zhu Xiu meant.

Zhu Xiu looked solemn and said in a low voice: "I saw that General Shi's hall was darkened and his face looked ominous. I'm afraid it would be dangerous to go north. I came here to ask him to turn the bad luck into good luck!"

Pan Mei was shocked: "Really?!"

"General Shi's nature is like a blazing fire, and he is fearless on the battlefield, fearing death, and makes the enemy frightened!
But I'm worried that if he encounters the Khitan people he might be ambushed because he is so eager to achieve great results! "Zhu Xiu said with a bitter smile.

Pan Mei swallowed her saliva: "Please help me take a look. What can I see from the face?"

"You?" Zhu Xiu glanced at him with slight disgust, "You are on the battlefield, your nose is sharper than a dog's, you can't hide any disturbance, what danger can you pose?"

"That's good!" Pan Mei stroked her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately his expression changed again, and he said angrily: "Why do you sound like you are scolding me?"

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "Okay, you just need to assist Shi Yanchao well, don't let him be impulsive! Remember, the more smooth the battle is, the more careful you are! Because that means that the enemy is likely to set up I’m laying an ambush, waiting for you to get out of me!”

Pan Mei stroked her beard: "Don't worry!"

That night, the vanguard army set off, and seven days later left Mangcheguan in the north and entered Liaozhou.

Chai Rong's army also left three days after the vanguard army set off.

Half a month later, good news came frequently from all armies.

First, Wang Yanchao, the governor of Hezhong, reported, and Dong Xiyan, the defense commander of Fenzhou, presented the city to surrender.

The army on the West Route successfully advanced to Qi County, entered the Taiyuan Basin along the Fen River, and headed for Taiyuan City.

Later, Zhang Hanchao, the governor of Liaozhou, also surrendered the city. Fu Yanqing and Shi Yanchao successfully joined forces and prepared to attack Yuci County first, cut off the retreat of the Northern Han troops, and then march westward to encircle Taiyuan.

Just when the troops of Fu Yanqing and Shi Yanchao on the east road entered the territory under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture, an urgent military situation came from Xinzhou. Tens of thousands of Khitan troops crossed Yanmen Pass and rushed to Xinkou!

The Khitan commander is indeed the King of Nanyuan, Yelu Talie!

Chai Rong urgently ordered Fu Yanqing and Shi Yanchao to lead the Eastern Route Army straight to Xinkou to intercept the Khitan army!
Xinkou is sandwiched between Yunzhong River and Wutai Mountain. It is an extremely important strategic fortress and is known as the northern gateway of Taiyuan. As long as the Khitan soldiers and horses are blocked outside Xinkou, the Khitans will be unable to break the siege of Taiyuan.

At the same time, Chai Rong's army and Wang Yanchao's army from the West also successfully arrived at Taiyuan City. They laid siege to the city for more than [-] miles, but did not attack. They waited for the outcome of the Xinkou Battle before deciding on the next siege plan.

Since the Zhou army invaded the territory under the jurisdiction of the Northern Han Dynasty, the military discipline has been strict and no harm has been done to the people along the way. The people in Hedong widely spread the word of Zhou Lord Chai Rong's kindness, and all hope that the army will regain their homeland in Hedong and become people under the rule of the Central Plains court again.

In May, the weather was hot and the rain increased. When Fu Yanqing and Shi Yanchao's army passed through Yangqu, they encountered the Muma River rising and flooding the fields. The roads along the way were muddy, seriously slowing down the march.

The Khitan cavalry moved south quickly. When the Zhou army passed Yangqu, it had already received a call for reinforcements from Chitang Pass. Shi Yanchao and Fu Yanqing discussed it and decided that he would lead the only two thousand cavalry to reinforce Chitang Pass.

After Shi Yanchao arrived, he fought a fierce battle with the Khitan soldiers and narrowly defeated them, trying to protect Chitang Pass.

The Khitan troops retreated along the way. Shi Yanchao took a short rest and led his troops in pursuit, winning a few small battles along the way.

The Khitan soldiers retreated again and again until they reached Xinkou, and Shi Yanchao also pursued them to Xinkou.

The terrain of Xinkou is dangerous, with Wutai Mountain on the right and the river on the left. The branch of Wutai Mountain abruptly cuts the valley basin into two halves from the east, leaving only an intersection on the left side of Xinkou near the river.

This kind of terrain is like beating a dog with a closed door. Once you penetrate deeply easily, the enemy will easily take the retreat.

Shi Yanchao did not dare to show off when he arrived. He did not enter Xinkou rashly. He only set up camp more than [-] miles north of Tangmo County and waited for the army from behind to arrive.

On the seventh day of May, the sky was gloomy, and just after noon, heavy rain poured down.The camp hurriedly built by Shi Yanchao's former army was washed away by heavy rain. The entire camp was soaked in rainwater, with mud and water soaking up to the knees.

Shi Yanchao ordered the entire army to move to nearby high hills. What was annoying was that as soon as the camp was moved, the heavy rain stopped.

Shi Yanchao climbed up to a high point on a rocky slope, wiped the rain and sweat from his face, looked at the sunshine gradually emerging from the horizon, and spat hard.

This thief seemed to be playing a joke on him.

"General, our army does not have much dry food left, and some of it has been washed away by the rain. It can only last for two or three days. It is better to withdraw to Tangmo County and wait for the arrival of King Wei's army."

Next to him, the deputy general suggested.

Shi Yanchao touched his left arm. There was a cloth tied there and there was faint blood oozing out. It was painful to the touch.

This injury was caused by the enemy's pursuit of the Khitan a few days ago.

The person who shot and wounded him was a brave young Khitan general, whose name is unknown, but his riding and shooting skills were really sharp.

The Khitan people are nomadic people, and their riding and shooting skills are excellent. The Khitan young general's shooting skills are even more superb.

Shi Yanchao has been chasing him all the way from Chitang Pass to this place, that Khitan general is really cunning, relying on his excellent horses, he led more than a thousand riders to come and go like the wind, and never run far, always staying where Shi Yanchao can catch up place.

Shi Yanchao was a veteran in the battlefield, so he could tell that the Khitan general was deliberately seducing him.

After chasing Xinkou, this place was really dangerous, and Shi Yanchao did not dare to go deeper.

But the Khitan general and the thousand or so cavalry under his command also disappeared without a trace.

After pondering for a while, Shi Yanchao asked: "Where is Pan Mei's department?"

The lieutenant general replied: "The news came two days ago and he followed us to Tangmo County. He should be on his way to us by now."

Shi Yanchao nodded and said nothing with a sullen face.

It was precisely because Pan Mei followed with five thousand infantry that he dared to pursue the enemy all the way.

The two agreed to send horses to contact each other to ensure that the front and rear armies were not out of touch.

Shi Yanchao did not forget that Zhu Xiu conveyed His Majesty's instructions before leaving.

What's more, the Khitan's tactic of luring the enemy deep was so obvious that he was very confident that he would not fall into the trap.

Just as he was hesitating whether to return to Tangmo County, suddenly, the deputy general pointed to a low hill a mile away and shouted: "Look, general! Khitan soldiers!"

Shi Yanchao quickly looked around, and sure enough, more than a thousand Khitan cavalry roared around the hills and rushed towards where they were.

"The whole army is on horseback and ready for battle!" Shi Yanchao roared angrily, put on his pocket and carried his spear, and stared at the Khitan soldiers under the high slope.

The leader, wearing black armor and a wolf-head iron helmet, holding an iron spear and carrying a long bow, was the Khitan general who shot him!

This man has the arms of an ape and the waist of a wasp. He has a faint aura of a tiger and a wolf in his galloping horse. He is truly extraordinary.

"Whoa!~"

After rushing half a mile away, the Khitan general raised his hand and ordered his cavalry to stop, and sent a horse forward to call for formation.

"My general said that he has heard the reputation of General Shi Yanchao for a long time. He is known as 'the number one in horse battles and invincible in battle'. Today there are only two cavalry troops here, you and me. How dare you go out and fight in the field?"

The Khitan cavalry shouted in unskilled Chinese.

Shi Yanchao looked gloomy and stared into the distance.

The Khitan general waved his iron spear at him from a distance, which was full of provocation.

The deputy general said in a low voice: "The Khitan cavalry is only more than half of our army, and they still dare to provoke. It is obviously a scam. General, please don't be fooled!"

Shi Yanchao shouted: "You don't have to say it, of course I know!"

Seeing that there was no movement from the Zhou army on the top of the rocky slope, the Khitan general rushed there in person, pointed his iron spear in the distance, and shouted: "I didn't expect that Shi Yanchao, who was given the title of fierce general by Zhou Lord Guo Wei, turned out to be a cowardless person!
Since you don't dare to fight, retreat quickly and ask Chai Rong to send Li Chongjin, Zhang Yongde, Bai Chongzan or someone else!
Shi Yanchao, you are old, don’t embarrass yourself here! "

The Khitan general spoke Chinese very well, and there was nothing awkward about it. Instead, he had a Han accent from the Youzhou area.

Shi Yanchao's expression suddenly changed, fierce fighting spirit emerged from his eyes, and he shouted with a loud voice like thunder: "Khitan thief general, do you dare to name me!"

The young Khitan general laughed and pointed his gun in the distance: "Remember it! The person who killed Zhou General Shi Yanchao was Brother Yelvxiu, Yili Jin from the second room of the Great Khitan!"

The clear voice spread across the wilderness along with the sound of wind.

Shi Yanchao flew into a rage and clamped down on the horse's belly. The horse neighed and rushed down the rocky slope!

"Don't leave, those wild barbarians!" Shi Yanchao shouted violently and charged towards Brother Yelvxiu with his sword!
The deputy general couldn't stop him in time, so he could only order the whole army to attack and follow Shi Yanchao into the formation!
"Well done!" Brother Yeluxiu waved his spear, and the Khitan cavalry behind him also shouted and rushed forward, shouting something wildly!
Brother Yelu Xiu took the lead, brandishing an iron spear to fight against Shi Yanchao!

"What are you barking at, you bastards?" Shi Yanchao, riding on horseback, turned around and shouted at the deputy general.

The lieutenant general yelled: "The Khitans shouted 'fight to the death'! General, be careful!"

Shi Yanchao was taken aback, the battle had just begun, and the Khitan soldiers were screaming for a deadly battle, what do you mean?
Before he had time to think about it, Brother Yeluxiu shot his gun in front of the horse. Shi Yanchao thrust out his sword straight, and the gun barrel and the gun rod passed by each other, causing a piercing golden roar!

Shi Yanchao felt the majestic power coming from the tiger's mouth in his hands and did not dare to be careless. He mustered up his energy to fight with all his strength!
This young Khitan general is not only outstanding in cavalry and shooting, but also in close combat skills!
He claimed to be Yili Jin of the Broom Division, that is, the leader of the Broom Division, and he should belong to the northern official ranks. How could he go south to join the war?
These questions flashed through Shi Yanchao's mind without thinking about them.

Soon, Shi Yanchao understood the meaning of the Khitan cavalry shouting for a deadly battle. The Khitan soldiers first used their cavalry and archery advantages to hunt and kill Zhou Bing.

The Khitan cavalry changed their previous tactics, abandoned their superiority in cavalry and archery, and fought to the death with the Zhou army in close combat!

The more he fought, the more Shi Yanchao felt something was wrong.

This Khitan cavalry army with only a thousand men bit the Zhou army like a mad dog, and had no intention of retreating at all!
"Woooooo~"

Suddenly, from the northwest corner of the position, there was a sound of horn horns. The deep sound was like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of every Zhou army soldier!
There was a rumbling sound from the ground, and a black line appeared from the narrow pass in the northwest!

A Khitan cavalry army was charging down the rocky slope like a tide!
The Khitan people howled wildly, as excited as if they were threshing grass in the valley!

Shi Yanchao's eyes were splitting. It turned out that the Khitan cavalry was fighting to the death to hold them back until reinforcements arrived!
"Retreat!" Shi Yanchao raised his sword and shouted.

Brother Yelvxiu killed the Zhou soldiers holding the flag of the vanguard general with one arrow, put down his crossbow and sneered: "It's too late to retreat now!"

The Khitan cavalry roared and chased the Zhou army.
(End of this chapter)