Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 743

After resting for a day in Shucheng, Zhao Zhen and his entourage, led by Tong Guan and Liu Guangshi, set off with 5,000 infantrymen from Shuhe to Yanchi County in Cangzhou. There, they joined Wang Huan and headed north to drive away the Liao scouts and cavalry who had invaded Cangzhou.

Zhao Zhen mobilized a large army and marched north into the territory of Mozhou, intending to recapture Xiongzhou.

[Shenjuzi] Ma Ling went ahead and ordered Shi Wengong and others to be the vanguard and rush to Xiongzhou.

Meanwhile, after Zhang Qing captured Baoding Army, he sent Yu Chi Xu Jin to deliver the news. On the way, he encountered five people: Xue Tou Tuo Guang Hui, Bao Guang Ru Lai Deng Yuan Jue, Suo Ming Gui Wang Fei Bao, Wu Ming Hao Han Bo Long, and Tie Shan Zi Gao Ang. Xu Jin reported the situation at the front to them, and then continued south to find Zhao Zhen and deliver the news.

When Xu Jin finally found Zhao Zhen's army in Mozhou after going around in circles, the battlefield situation had changed again.

With the arrival of Guanghui's more than 10,000 troops, Zhang Qing and others discussed the matter and then went directly to the Seven Fortresses, which had been incorporated into Qingzhou and occupied by the Liao army.

Although the terrain here was advantageous for defense, with Gao Ang, the Iron Fan, leading artillery and soldiers, and a flying thunderbolt, the seven fortresses of Zhouhe, Diaoyu, Tianjia, Langcheng, Foshengwo, Lujiao, and Lixiang were captured by Guanghui and others in less than a day.

Zhang Qing and his men left only Wang Feibao, the "Life-Taking Ghost," and Han Bolong, the "Nameless," with two thousand soldiers to guard seven fortresses. The main army continued its advance, heading towards Cangzhou.

Cangzhou is located right next to Jizhou of the Liao Dynasty.

Cangzhou consisted of five counties and five fortresses. Qingchi County, one of the five counties, was located in the center of Cangzhou, while the other four counties were in the south. The five fortresses of Qianfu, Xianggu, Sannü, Nigu, and Xiaonanhe were all north of the prefectural seat, Qingchi County.

When Zhang Qing and his troops attacked, Wang Huan had already moved his troops there to defend the area.

While Tong Guan and Liu Guangshi were still on their way, Wang Huan, who was guarding Cangzhou, saw the Liang army heading north and also led his troops to the northernmost part of Cangzhou.

Since the war between the Liao and Song dynasties over ten prefectures began, Tong Guan had revealed to everyone his intention to defect to the Liang state. After several battles with the Liao state, Wang Huan and others tacitly agreed to this.

Duan Pengju was among the first to surrender to the Liang Kingdom, and has now gained the approval of the Liang king, becoming the general leading the army. When the army passed through Qingchi County, Wang Huan paid them a special visit.

Knowing that the King of Liang valued military merit, Wang Huan mobilized the entire army of Cangzhou and dispersed them to five fortresses, awaiting the attack of the Liang army.

After Zhang Qing and the others arrived, Wang Huan took the initiative to join them.

The generals joined forces, with Zhang Qing, the "Featherless Arrow," as their commander. They had 4,000 cavalry, 20,000 infantry, and 7,000 archers who had volunteered in Cangzhou.

The army of over 30,000 men stormed into Yutian County from Sannüzhai.

The defending generals of Yutian County were Liao generals Tianshan Yong and Baomi Sheng, with only 5,000 soldiers. Seeing that 30,000 troops had besieged the city, the two generals conscripted able-bodied men from the city to defend it, while sending troops to Jizhou Prefecture to request reinforcements.

[Double Swords] Su Ding was the first to challenge them, but Tian Shan Yong and Bao Mi Sheng on the city wall did not accept the challenge.

Su Ding sent men carrying a woman's garment to ride merrily around the city walls, committing the most humiliating acts.

Seeing that the Liao general dared not fight, Zhang Qing raised the Iron Fan high and set up the cannons again to fire at the city walls.

After an hour of bombardment, the artillery fire ceased, and Wang Huan donned his armor and went into battle to challenge the enemy.

Upon seeing this, Bao Misheng said to Tianshan Yong, "General, the Song people are arrogant. If we keep avoiding battle, I'm afraid the morale of the soldiers in the city will be completely shattered. When the Song army attacks the city, I'm afraid we won't be able to defend it."

Tian Shan Yong said, "Of course I know, but there are only five thousand soldiers in the city, half of whom are old and weak. How dare they go out of the city to fight the Song army?"

"It's a pity we weren't the first to storm Cangzhou. Otherwise, we would have been the ones to receive the troops. Now that the deputy commander has given the order to transfer troops from the city, who would dare to disobey?"

Bao Misheng said, "It was because the Song army attacked Tanzhou Bojin first that he seized the opportunity to invade Xiongzhou. He then captured several Song states in succession. Our commander, the Imperial Brother Yelü Dezhong, has returned to Yanjing. The four junior generals guarding Jizhou are of lower rank than Bojin, and half of their troops have been transferred away by him."

“General, the Song army below the city is arrogant. Why not shoot one of them with an arrow? If we can kill this Song general, let’s see if he dares to be so arrogant again.” Tianshan Yong glanced down and said, “That’s right. Let this southern barbarian take a hit with our crossbow bolt, so he won’t think that our Liao Kingdom has no one to rely on.”

With that, Tianshan Yong took his crossbow from his guard, hid at the crenellation, and carefully aimed at Wang Huan, who was swaggering down below the city wall. He stared intently at him and shouted, "Go!"

A streak of black light flashed past, and a crossbow bolt struck Wang Huan squarely in the chest.

Upon seeing this, the guards who had come to challenge him quickly snatched Wang Huan back.

Upon hearing that Wang Huan had been wounded by a crossbow bolt from the city wall, Zhang Qing rushed to visit him.

There was a foot-long, jet-black iron-feathered arrow stuck in Wang Huan's body. The crossbow bolt had pierced through his armor and penetrated nearly three inches into his flesh.

Wang Huan died shortly after being carried back.

Zhang Qing, Guang Hui, and the others were all furious when they saw this.

He ordered Iron Fan to raise his voice, concentrate the cannons, break down the city gates, and urge the soldiers to attack the city in preparation for revenge.

As for the news of Wang Huan's death, it was temporarily concealed.

Gao Feng received orders and unleashed the cannons in his hands.

The cannons roared, and those on the city walls were suppressed and dared not show their faces.

Guanghui and Deng Yuanjue, clad in heavy armor and using ladders, were the first to scale the city walls.

Bao Misheng rushed over to fight, brandishing his large spear, and engaged Guanghui in battle.

Seeing this, Deng Yuanjue assisted from the side. The two of them worked together and after more than ten rounds, Bao Misheng was beheaded by Guanghui with a single blow.

Without Bao Misheng's obstruction, the two giant tigers pushed and slashed the Liao soldiers on the city wall.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Tian Shanyong went down the city first, mounted his warhorse, opened the north gate, and headed north.

Below the city, Zhang Qing and his men also stormed in through the city gates opened by Guang Hui, Deng Yuanjue, and others.

Upon hearing that the city's commander, Tianshan Yong, had fled through the north gate, Zhang Qing immediately led his troops in pursuit.

After chasing for twenty miles and killing several hundred people, Tian Shanyong was still picked up and taken away by the Liao army who came to his aid.

The two sides held their positions. Among the Liao army that came to their aid were Yelü Zongdian and Yelü Zonglei, the third and fourth sons of Yelü Dezhong, the younger brother of the Liao emperor.

Upon receiving Tian Shanyong, Yelü Zongdian asked, "General, has Yutian County already been breached?"

Tian Shanyong looked ashamed. "Young general, the Song army is truly formidable. Even Bao Misheng was killed by a monk and a hermit. I barely escaped from Yutian County, only to be chased and killed by this fellow along the way. Fortunately, you two young generals led troops to rescue me, otherwise, I would have perished here as well."

Yelü Zong telegraphed, "Tianshan Yong, what do you think we should do now?"

"Young general, we should now withdraw our troops and return to the city. With the city fortified, we may be able to hold out until Youzhou sends troops to rescue us."

(End of this chapter)