The prince is more stable

Chapter 563: Retreat and Pursuit
Yanyun, outside Xijin Prefecture, the battlefield of Snake Head Mountain.

The war is almost over and the outcome is no longer in doubt.

The Song army also suffered casualties in this battle. Under the crazy command of Yelu Chun, 40,000 Liao troops launched a charge at the same time and finally broke through the first line of the Song army.

Zhong Jianzhong decisively ordered a retreat to the second line of defense and continued to shoot and kill the Liao army.

But when the first line of defense was broken, many Song soldiers were caught off guard and killed by the first wave of Liao army.

In terms of the physique of the soldiers of the two countries, it has to be admitted that the physical fitness of the Song army soldiers is indeed not as good as that of the Liao army. The northern nomadic peoples' fierce and desperate fighting style did put the Song army soldiers at a disadvantage in close combat.

After the Liao cavalry broke through the first line of defense, thousands of Song soldiers were killed or wounded immediately, but they quickly reacted and switched to swords to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Liao army.

After the close combat, the scene on the battlefield became more tragic and cruel. The soldiers of both sides entangled with each other and fought to the death. The number of casualties increased sharply. The battlefield was full of broken limbs and the miserable deaths of soldiers on both sides.

As the main general, Zhong Jianzhong remained expressionless when the Liao army broke through the first line of defense. He calmly ordered the troops to retreat to the second line of defense.

The distance and time of the retreat allowed some Song soldiers to fight in close combat with the Liao army, which was won by their selfless dedication. It can be said that this part of the Song army was sacrificed.

The meaning of "A kind man cannot command an army" can only be experienced firsthand on the battlefield.

When more than 10,000 Song troops retreated to the second line of defense, the Liao army fighting with the Song army noticed it, and then the second round of shooting began.

This time, the Liao army was completely frightened. If they wanted to break through the second line of defense, it would mean paying a heavier price in casualties, and every step would be on the corpses and blood of their comrades and enemies.

Under such circumstances, the Liao army, which had broken through the first line of defense, began to desert again.

Many people have lost hope of victory. Victory is too slim, and their own death is highly likely. In this situation that tests human courage and will, it is not surprising that deserters appear.

After all, there are not so many brave warriors who are ready to die in this world, but more ordinary people.

Many Liao soldiers who were fighting fiercely with the Song army on the first line of defense suddenly turned around and ran away, screaming in despair as they ran. The generals supervising the battle stepped forward and chopped down many deserters, but they still could not stop the growing scale of the rout and escape.

The Song army retreated to the second line of defense and, under the command of the general, immediately began to fire at the Liao army fighting in the first line of defense.

There were familiar bursts of gunfire, and countless Liao soldiers were shot and fell to the ground. The clever Liao soldiers decisively lay on the ground to avoid the bullets of the Song army. However, the remaining Song soldiers on the first line of defense refused to let them go, and they reaped countless lives with their swords.

The Liao army, which had just broken through the first line of defense, could no longer hold on after the close-combat of swords and spears and the long-range fire attacks. No matter how the generals shouted and killed, the rout was unstoppable.

After a fierce hand-to-hand combat, the Liao army withdrew from the first line of defense.

The Song army soldiers rushed forward again, reoccupied the first line of defense, and continued to fire at the fleeing Liao army.

Yelu Chun, who was far behind the Liao army, sighed with a gloomy expression.

Such a result was not unexpected to him. Yelu Chun had been mentally prepared long before the war began.

The crushing force of the Song army's firearms on the Liao army equipped with cold weapons was beyond human control.

Facts have proved that the tactic of using human waves to add fuel to the fire was indeed effective. After paying the price of countless lives, the Liao army did break through the first line of defense. However, the Liao army at that time was already at the end of its strength and could not hold on to the results of the battle. In the end, defeat was inevitable.

Looking at the Liao army soldiers retreating like a tide, and the gunshots from the Song army reaping lives, Yelu Chun's eyes were red, he gritted his teeth, and was almost crazy with heartache and anger.

The rationality of a veteran on the battlefield forced him to calm down. Yelu Chun could not blame the soldiers too much for their defeat. He knew very well that the Liao army soldiers had tried their best.

Now facing the firearms of the Song army, the Liao army soldiers almost had a mentality of fighting against God. It was already remarkable that they had the courage to pick up swords and charge.

When the Liao army was defeated and retreated, Yelu Chun did not say much, but just gave orders with a cold face.

"Orders are sent. Gather all soldiers and return to their respective units. The entire army will rest in place. We will launch a second charge against the Song army in one hour."

Looking at the Liao generals gathered under the general's banner, each of them covered in dust and dirt, some even broke down and cried, Yelu Chun had a heart of stone and shouted sternly: "Everyone, cheer up! His Majesty has issued a strict order. We have no way out!"

"In one hour, continue the charge. Today, it's either you or me who will die!"

Seeing Yelu Chun's tough attitude, the Liao army generals stamped their feet in anger and turned around to reorganize their soldiers.

Yelu Chun took a deep breath. Although he had spoken in a tough tone just now, he was already thinking about his way out.

Yelu Chun should not be the one to pay for the Liao court's strategic mistakes, and he did not want to pay for it.

However, Yelu Hongji issued a strict order, and Yelu Chun had to obey.

It was his duty as a subject to launch a charge against the Song army, and sacrificing countless Liao soldiers was also a gesture he had to make to the court in Beijing to prove that he had tried his best, did not fear fighting, and persisted to the end like a warrior.

But Yelu Chun knew that the outcome of this battle was inevitable and no one could change it. An hour later, the Liao army launched a second charge, which was the limit of what he could do as a subject.

After the second charge, he could calmly order a retreat and return to Xijin Prefecture to hold out and wait for reinforcements. The progress of this battle was sent to Shangjing, and Yelu Hongji could not blame him for his poor command of the troops.

After the Liao army retreated, the generals gathered the defeated troops, counted the number of people, and reported to Yelu Chun.

In the first charge, the Liao army suffered nearly 20,000 casualties.

Most of them were shot and killed by Song army's firearms during the charge, some were killed in close combat after breaking through the first line of defense, and some fled from the battlefield and disappeared.

Looking at these tragic figures, Yelu Chun felt heartbroken.

For the first time in his life, he realized with great clarity that the Liao Kingdom was doomed and its end was near.

In just two or three years, the Song army had become so powerful that the Liao Kingdom lost its former glory and its national fortune was declining.

What about the future? What will the future hold for the Liao Dynasty?

The Liao Dynasty was already at a disadvantage, and the emperor and his ministers made such foolish and wrong decisions. The Liao Dynasty was doomed, and who could save the country from collapse?
Yelu Chun tried to correct and persuade him, but he was ultimately unable to change Yelu Hongji's decision.

It is very difficult for a country to become strong. I don’t know how many people with lofty ideals will sacrifice their lives, work hard, and spend the lives and blood of several generations to make it climb to the top.

But the decline of a country is too easy. Sometimes it only takes a natural disaster, or a wrong decision by the emperor, and unstoppable rot from the root.

Yelu Chun now clearly felt that after this battle, the Liao Kingdom would be plunged into a precarious situation, and the fate of the country was like a carriage running downhill, which could not be pulled back or stopped no matter what.

The one-hour wait was torture for Yelu Chun and the Liao army soldiers.

The morale of the army had dropped to freezing point, and the soldiers' cries of fear, roars, and curses could be heard from time to time.

Yelu Chun still had no expression on his face. He knew very well that the second charge would also end in failure, but he had to carry out the emperor's strict order. Even if he knew it was wrong, he had to carry it out.

An hour passed, and the Liao army soldiers became more and more desperate, but Yelu Chun was hard-hearted and was about to order the beating of drums and blowing of trumpets to signal the charge.

At this time, a scout came riding over in a panic.

"Report to the Prince! Urgent military information from Xijin Prefecture! Five thousand Song soldiers have arrived at the gates of Xijin Prefecture and launched an attack on the city. The Song soldiers are equipped with firearms, and the defenders dare not show their heads. Under the cover of firearms, they have already begun to attack the city!"

Yelu Chun's body swayed and he almost fell off his horse.

Then Yelu Chun's eyes widened with anger, and he finally lost his usual calmness and composure.

Xijin Prefecture was the Nanjing of the Liao Dynasty. Including the capital Shangjing, the Liao Dynasty had five capitals, and Xijin Prefecture was one of them. Moreover, Xijin Prefecture was located within the scope of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

If Xijin Prefecture was lost, it would mean that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun had fallen into the actual control of the Song army. Yelu Chun himself did not dare to imagine what kind of punishment he would face.

Now it doesn’t matter whether or not to fight with the Song army. Yelu Chun wants to find a chance to survive for himself and his family.

Yelu Chun's eyes were red, and he immediately screamed, "Order the entire army to retreat and support Xijin Prefecture! Quick!"

So, a burst of rapid horn sounds suddenly came from the Liao army, which was ready to launch a second charge against the Song army.

With the sharp knocking of metal, all the Liao army soldiers retreated like a tide, retreating in a very hasty and panic manner, galloping towards Xijin Prefecture. Their formations and queues had become disorganized, like a mob.

Inside the Song army formation, Zhong Jianzhong watched the Liao army retreat with a cold gaze, his lips curled up slightly.

"Yelü Chun, you finally made your choice. Very good!" Zhong Jianzhong murmured, "From now on, the Liao Kingdom is doomed to fail. The Great Song... has finally turned the tide!"

For some reason, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes. Zhong Jianzhong looked up at the gray and gloomy sky. The dim and not dazzling sun in the sky seemed like the souls of the heroes who had been killed by the Liao people in the past hundred years.

The heroic spirits have been comforted, and the sky has cleared.

"Send the message, leave two thousand men behind to clean up the battlefield. His Highness has ordered that no prisoners be taken."

Zhong Jianzhong continued, "The remaining 10,000 troops will pursue the Liao army all the way to the city of Xijin Prefecture. Together with Zhang Rong's troops, we will attack from both the north and the south. We must completely annihilate the Liao army and capture Yelu Chun alive!"

The rapid rhythm of war drums sounded. In contrast to the Liao army's hasty retreat to the north, 10,000 Song soldiers raised their arms and cheered, then sorted out their guns and ammunition. Under the command of the generals, the soldiers pursued forward with great momentum. The vanguard was already biting the Liao army tightly, and bursts of gunfire rang out again.

In a moment, the tragic battlefield suddenly became empty, with corpses and wounded soldiers from both sides lying on the ground.

(End of this chapter)