The prince is more stable

Chapter 560 Another surprise attack
After dawn, the Liao army camp had assembled and lined up.

On the open plain outside the city, in the bleak autumn wind, 40,000 Liao army soldiers were in strict formation, quietly gazing at the commander's tent in the camp.

No matter how much you deny it, the facts cannot deceive you.

Although they were already fully prepared for battle, this time the Liao army was no longer as relaxed as before, and their momentum was no longer as indomitable.

In the team of tens of thousands of people, no one spoke. It seemed as if a huge rock was pressing on everyone's heart. Many people looked at the ground with their eyelids drooped. Although their expressions were calm, their slightly trembling hands still betrayed their thoughts.

They knew what kind of enemy they were about to face.

Who could have imagined that the Song army, which was cowardly and collapsed at the first blow two years ago, has now become such a powerful enemy, like facing a mountain that is impossible to destroy with human power.

What changed all this?
Ordinary Liao army soldiers couldn't figure it out. They were not qualified to think about such high-level issues. They could only charge towards the Song army's positions under the command of their generals, risking their lives, regardless of casualties.

The Liao army suffered two major defeats before, and this result had already spread to every corner of the Liao Kingdom. The Liao army officers and soldiers changed from their previous arrogance and arrogance to their current fear and cowardice. The process of transformation was very natural.

Now, when it was time to go to the battlefield, the soldiers' faces were pale and the only way to maintain their former pride was to try to keep a calm expression.

After a long time, a roar suddenly broke out in the general's tent. It was the pre-war mobilization of the Liao army generals by the commander-in-chief Yelu Chun. The generals were full of vigor and roared at the top of their lungs, as if they were crazy and were being possessed by gods.

Then, the curtain of the commander's tent was lifted, and a group of generals walked out calmly and found their respective troops.

Yelu Chun was the last one to walk out of the general's tent. His expression was calm but full of murderous intent. His eyes, as sinister as a hungry wolf, coldly swept over the tens of thousands of Liao soldiers.

Slowly walking out of the gate, Yelu Chun said without further ado, but raised his voice and said, "My men, my warriors, do not forget the glory of our Khitan people. In this battle, we must fight to the death!"

The generals at the front of the team raised their right arms and shouted in unison: "Fight to the death, fight to the death!"

Emotions are contagious, especially in the military.

Yelu Chun's simple words seemed to carry an inexplicable magical power, instantly infecting the team of tens of thousands of people.

When all the Liao army soldiers raised their arms and shouted "fight to the death", Yelu Chun's sinister look eased slightly.

Yelu Chun waved his hand vigorously and said, "Go! Chop off the enemy's heads. I will use them as wine vessels and fill them with fine wine to celebrate the victory of the warriors!"

The Liao army soldiers roared more and more crazily, and the momentum that had just been declining suddenly rose again, and the air was filled with a strong murderous aura.

Then, under the command of the generals, the Liao army soldiers set out and galloped south.

Yelu Chun and his personal guards walked at the end. Their excited expressions just now turned serious again.

Boosting morale is one thing, but as a head coach, he is well aware of how powerful the enemy is.

The Song army is no longer the same as it used to be. The biggest mistake made by those emperors and ministers who were out of touch with the real world in Shangjing was that they still looked at the Song army with the same old eyes.

The arrogance and contempt that are ingrained in one's bones are like a possessed devil that can never be changed.

Yelu Chun was the only sober person. After he submitted a memorial to advise, he was reprimanded by Yelu Hongji. At this time, he could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.

As the Liao army marched south, a rider came up against the current, dismounted, and reported, "Your Highness, our scouts report that the Song army, fifty miles away, broke camp an hour ago. Over ten thousand soldiers are heading towards us. In an hour, the two armies will likely meet near Snake Head Mountain."

Yelu Chun's eyes flashed, and he raised his hand and said, "Bring me the map."

The map was spread out in front of him. Yelu Chun stared at the map and found the location of Snake Head Mountain.

Seeing that there was a plain near Snake Head Mountain, Yelu Chun's eyes did not relax.

For the Liao army, the plain is the most advantageous terrain for them, because the Liao army mainly fights with cavalry charges, and the plain is the terrain that is easiest for cavalry to play their strengths.

But now Yelu Chun doesn't think so.

Plains are certainly conducive to cavalry charges, but they are also conducive to the use of firearms. After all, in areas with a wide field of vision, firearms can be fired without obstacles, making it easier to kill enemies four hundred steps away.

The opposing Song army generals obviously deliberately chose the location of the decisive battle near Snake Head Mountain. In other words, they did not care whether the Liao army cavalry could play to their strengths, they only cared about where it was more convenient to kill the enemy.

What confidence this is.

Yelu Chun felt increasingly heavy-hearted, but he had no choice.

"Pass the order, divide 10,000 soldiers on each side, and infiltrate from the north and south sides of Snake Head Mountain to form a left and right encirclement of the Song army. Move when ordered and attack when sounded, and launch a charge against the Song army at the same time!" Yelu Chun said in a deep voice.

I have to say that Yelu Chun is a qualified coach.

Despite being in such a disadvantageous position, his command remained calm and his tactical decisions were flawless.

He was like the last lone brave guardian of the old civilization. He used up his last bit of strength and launched the final tragic charge towards the new civilization without hesitation.

He knew that he would fall on the way to charge, but he remained unafraid because the new world on the other side did not belong to him.

…………The Song army, a team of 15,000 people, marched north.

Zhong Jianzhong rode his horse in the middle of the team. The team was galloping forward, raising a cloud of dust. A murderous aura was faintly visible in the rolling dust.

Scouts arrived on horseback one after another, reported the latest military intelligence, and then hurriedly mounted their horses and left. Zhong Jianzhong kept adjusting his battle strategy based on the military intelligence reported by the scouts.

"Report! General Zhong, 40,000 Liao troops have left the camp and are heading south to meet our army. In an hour, the two armies may encounter each other near Snake Head Mountain."

"Report! The Liao army has adjusted their formation. Ten thousand cavalry will be deployed on each side to encircle Snake Head Mountain. They are likely to encircle our army from the left, center, and right!"

Zhong Jianzhong's expression was calm, and he was unmoved by the influx of military intelligence. He had enough confidence to deal with all the movements and deployments of the Liao army.

He turned his head and looked at the deputy general Zhang Rong next to him. Zhang Rong was transferred by Zhong Jianzhong yesterday to serve as the temporary deputy general. Zhong Jianzhong valued Zhang Rong's flexible and slippery character. Such a person may not be useful on the front battlefield, but he is very talented in playing conspiracies and tricks.

"Zhang Rong, you must immediately take over the 5,000 soldiers and horses that went around to the north of Xijin Prefecture this morning." Zhong Jianzhong said.

Yesterday, a stupid general proposed to surround three sides and leave one. Zhong Jianzhong immediately asked him to lead 5,000 soldiers and horses to set off early, bypass Xijin Prefecture, and intercept the defeated Liao army in the north.

Now Yelu Chun led 40,000 Liao troops out in full force. Zhong Jianzhong suddenly realized that the opportunity had come and changed his tactics without hesitation.

Zhang Rong was stunned: "Why would I take over that army?"

Zhong Jianzhong said slowly, "With 40,000 Liao troops coming out in full force, Xijin City must be empty. You lead the 5,000 men to attack the city!"

Zhang Rong was shocked: "Five thousand troops attacking Nanjing of Liao?"

Zhong Jianzhong smiled slightly: "Are you scared?"

Zhang Rong's neck stiffened. "What am I afraid of? I'm just worried that we won't be able to take it down..."

Xijin Prefecture was the Nanjing of the Liao Kingdom. Under normal circumstances, the city had at least 20,000 garrison troops. However, Zhong Jianzhong had guessed Yelu Chun's intentions. He wanted to deal with the Song army's firearms with all his strength, so he would not dare to take it lightly. Therefore, he would definitely try his best to mobilize all the available troops.

Facing the firearms of the Song army, there is currently no other way except the tactic of adding fuel to the fire with human waves. Yelu Chun has fought against the Song army many times and probably understands this principle. At this time, there must not be many troops left in Xijin Prefecture, and at most 10,000 regular garrisons are left.

Seeing Zhang Rong's worried look, Zhong Jianzhong said with a smile, "You don't necessarily have to capture Xijin Prefecture. You just need to feint an attack on Xijin Prefecture and let the news reach Yelu Chun's ears, and your mission will be accomplished."

Zhang Rong suddenly realized: "Besiege Wei to save Zhao? Make a feint to the east and attack in the west?"

Zhong Jianzhong said coldly, "If you are ignorant, don't show off everywhere. It's shameful to use military tactics indiscriminately."

Zhang Rong blushed and continued, "General, what you mean is that we should use the news of our army's detour to attack the city to distract Yelu Chun's 40,000 Liao troops and influence his decision-making on the battlefield. Is that what you mean, General Zhong?"

Zhong Jianzhong nodded. "That's understandable. The Liao army's main force fought a decisive battle with our army at Shetou Mountain, but Xijin Prefecture was attacked by our army. I really want to see how Yelu Chun reacts. If we withdraw our troops to rescue Xijin Prefecture, we will die. If we don't rescue it, we will also die. Haha."

"What if the remaining garrison at Xijin Prefecture leaves the city and engages our army?"

Zhong Jianzhong's face darkened as he said, "I couldn't ask for more! If the defenders leave the city to engage in battle, then we can turn the feint into a real battle and capture Xijin Prefecture. Can we do that?"

Zhang Rong was inexplicably excited, puffing out his chest and shouting, "Yes!"

Zhong Jianzhong smiled and said, "If good fortune comes, and you really capture Xijin Prefecture, tsk! Conquer Nanjing of the Liao Kingdom. Such a great achievement, His Highness doesn't know how to reward you."

Zhang Rong's entire body convulsed violently, as if he were having a seizure. "General, General...wahahahahaha!"

A powerful blow ruthlessly shattered Zhang Rong's dream.

Zhong Jianzhong's face turned cold and he said, "Why don't you go quickly? What are you doing with your hysteria?"

An hour later, at the Snakehead Mountain Plain.

The two armies eventually met.

The Song and Liao armies were several miles apart. Yelu Chun squinted his eyes and looked at the Song army's neat formation in the distance. As an experienced veteran, he only needed to glance at them to roughly know the number of troops on the other side.

"More than ten thousand people, that's quite a lot..." Yelu Chun muttered to himself, his expression still solemn, without any contempt in his eyes.

Although the Song army was small in number, Yelu Chun knew very well that once the two sides engaged in battle, the Song army's firearms could completely crush the Liao army. The Liao army could only rush forward with the tactic of adding fuel to the fire with human waves. If they wanted to win, their only hope was to break through the Song army's first line of defense before all their own troops were exhausted.

A cruel fact that only the commander-in-chief knows is that most of the 40,000 Liao troops under his command today are cannon fodder who take bullets for victory.

Perhaps, more than most.

Yelu Chun pursed his lips. On the empty and silent plain, the two armies faced each other from afar. The bleak autumn wind whistled past, and the general's flag behind him fluttered in the wind.

"Beat the drums, blow the trumpets, and prepare to attack!" Yelu Chun ordered.

(End of this chapter)