Song Dynasty

Chapter 222 Zhang Yong ([-])

De'an Mansion, Sanlonghe, Zhangyong Laoying.

Such a hot day, such a big sun.

Zhang Yong has been squatting on his buttocks, lying on the earth base in an indecent posture, and has been observing the Sizhou army camp in the distance for a long time. At this moment, it is the time when the red sun is rising, and the sun is rising from the eastern horizon. As soon as it rises, it radiates light as soon as it jumps out, making people unable to open their eyes.

The two armies were separated by twenty miles, but on this wide open plain and in the extremely clean air, the enemy camp on the opposite side appeared so clearly.

Wang Shen's Sizhou Army had penetrated deep into the hinterland of De'an Mansion after completely annihilating Li Hong's troops. In the past few days, they had captured the official roads and highlands on both banks of Yunmeng and Huanshui, and cut off all the main traffic routes of the Fuchengsuo.They went around to recruit civilians and gather military rations, which turned the whole Anlu upside down.

In order to open up the official road and meet the soldiers and horses from various rebels who came to help, Zhang Yong constantly sent scouts to occupy strategic points.

The cavalry from both sides fought back and forth within a radius of a hundred miles, and there were burning castles, villages, and docks everywhere, and the corpses of a few horses and horses floated down from time to time in the river.The cavalry tactics of the Sizhou Army and Zhang Yong's scouts belong to the same family, and they fight each other very well, and no one can take advantage of the opponent.

However, Zhang Yong's cavalry is very limited, and one dies one less.On the contrary, Wang Shen has a lot of war horses, and they are all first-class horses.Even if it was a one-for-one exchange, Zhang Yong couldn't afford the consumption.

Seeing the corpses of scout cavalry being transported back again and again, he trembled with distress.In this era, infantry are nothing but consumables. If you want, you can easily gather a large group by setting up a flagpole and spreading out a handful of grain.However, technical arms such as cavalry and archers require years of training, which also consumes a lot of materials.I am just a rogue now, eating one place and then another. There is no tomorrow, so naturally I don't have the energy and material conditions to train riders.

A powerful cavalry requires the support of a huge imperial finance, which is the real weapon of a great country.

While the cavalry was fighting in the field, the infantry of the two armies were not idle.

In the past few days, Wang Shen kept mobilizing troops to attack the city and pull out the stronghold, and kept pushing forward.

In a big battle involving more than [-] horses, not all the troops of the two sides were engaged in the battle at the beginning, and they fought against each other on the Great Plains.In the early stage, there were countless small-scale skirmishes, just like two people who are playing Go, quickly making moves on Wenping, occupying favorable terrain, fighting real enemies in circles, and accumulating momentum.It wasn't until there was no room for both sides to maneuver, that they began to strangle, rob, and end in the middle of the game, and the winner was determined.

Zhang Yong used to be a great hero in Hebei Province, but after he raised his army, he was experienced in hundreds of battles. He learned wars from wars, and he thought he was proficient in the art of war.Especially during the days when I stayed behind in Tokyo, I learned the formation map and recruited a large number of Western Army remnants to make up the backbone of the army. .

He had also heard about Wang Shen before, and knew that this man was a Liao native who had fled south from Tang County, Hebei, and had never led troops to fight before.

Although this man is as cunning as a fox, Kong Yanzhou also died under his knife, now Li Hong has suffered another big loss.But Zhang Yong still has strong confidence in defeating the Sizhou Army: it is just a group of stragglers who have not undergone formal training. They dare to offend Anlu, and ask Wang to look at the art of war passed down by his grandfather.

However, just today, his confidence was a little shaken.

During the outpost battles these days, his fortresses and camps were constantly being pulled out by the Sizhou army.Unknowingly, the battlefield situation began to change.At this time, Zhang Yongcai was stunned to realize that without knowing it, Wang Shen had completely controlled the initiative of the war.In the past, he seemed like a frog in lukewarm water with nothing to investigate, and only when the situation of victory and defeat changed hands did he realize that the problem was serious.

"Is it time to fight Wang Shen?" Zhang Yong murmured, he touched a scroll in his sleeve, unable to make up his mind.

That scroll was the array map that Zongze Zong Rulin passed to him when he was in Tokyo that year, and it was called "The Array of Changhong".

Because of the lack of war horses, the Song Army paid attention to the formation and then the battle, so it attached great importance to the battle formation, and formulated strict tactics that could not be easily changed.Later, even so harsh that the army went out, the Privy Council would formulate a detailed and debilitating plan in advance, and give the formation map, ordering the leading generals to arrange troops according to the plan of this formation map.

Regardless of whether this set is reasonable or not, I have to admit that the Song Army's infantry tactics are very clever, and they can also achieve a good winning rate in foreign wars.

But the problem is that due to the lack of means of pursuit, it is impossible to expand the results of the battle after defeating the enemy.And once the battle is lost, because of the low mobility, it can easily turn into a big collapse.

Of course, the battle method of the Western Army may not be effective against the Jurchen who come and go like the wind, but it is still easy and pleasant to deal with Wang Shen.

Touching the formation map in the sleeve, Zhang Yong suddenly remembered the night when Zong Ze gave him the formation map.

It was three months before Grandpa Zong passed away. At that time, his health was already very bad. He had countless affairs every day, but he could only eat a small bowl of rice for each meal.If there is little food and many things, how can it last long?

That time, Zhang Yonggang repelled a Jurchen army, beheading more than 200 people, while his own side sacrificed more than [-] people, which can be called a tragic victory.Even he was wounded all over.

However, Zong Ze was very happy. After listening to his report, he left him for dinner and taught him all the formation diagram and tactics.Finally, he said with emotion: "General Zhang Yong, do you know why the old man gave this map to you? Really, when it comes to charging into the battle, you have the heart of a soldier. You are not as good as Li Cheng and Li Boyong; when it comes to arranging troops, you are inspired You are not as decisive as Cao Cheng; as for prestige, you are even more inferior to Wang Shan. You are also extremely conservative in battle, but you have one advantage, that is, you are a pure and kind person. The method is just suitable for your disposition. As long as you learn it well, lead the army and form a thick formation, there are not many people in the world who can break your formation. After you go down, you will be able to study well and contribute to the country in the future. Don’t worry. Let the old man down."

"Mr. Ru Lin, I will let you down in the end. It's really...that old thief Du Chong is too deceitful." Thinking of Zong Ze's eyes full of expectations, thinking of his unwilling expression on the day of his death, and his desire for recovery The longing for losing ground, Zhang Yong felt as if he had been stabbed in his heart, the pain was unbearable.

Yes, Mr. Ru Lin is not only his boss, but also his teacher, the elder in his mind, his father.

Just as he was feeling sad, there was a booming sound from below. Zhang Yong realized that his body posture was indecent, so he quickly stood up and looked back.

I saw a figure like a thin bamboo pole climbing up the wooden ladder. Who else could it be if it wasn't Li Hong?

This Li Hong had long arms and legs, and he climbed onto the mound after only a few ups and downs.

Zhang Yong patted the dust on his palms, and asked with concern: "General Li Hong's illness is getting better, why don't you rest in the tent and come here to find me?"

"The defeated general, fortunately, thanks to the leader's elder brother to take him in, that's why Li didn't become a bereaved dog. My brother was just caught in the rain and cold that day. When I wait for the warriors to come and go in the wind and rain, it is common for me to catch a cold and have a fever. Just take a few doses of medicine and you'll be fine." Li Hong arched his hands and said gratefully: "I heard that the Sizhou army king bandits have signs of attacking our army's stronghold, my brother is not at ease, come and have a look."

That's right, he lost so badly that day, tens of thousands of horses, all of them were wiped out by Wang Shen, and he was powerless to pay back.Just waiting to ride the horse and gallop all the way desperately.Relying on his martial arts, he finally managed to fight his way out.

However, the troops under him also lost everything.

The leaders of the eight so-called rebels in De'an Mansion were all former colleagues of the Left Behind Division in Tokyo. After leaving Kaifeng, they all formed an alliance, and Zhang Yong, the strongest, was the leader.

But Li Hong knew in his heart that the so-called brothers were just talking.When it is profitable, everyone fights for it.Once you lose power, there is no guarantee that others will try to attack you and take your troops and territory.If you vote for someone else now, you may die faster.

Immediately, I feel that the world is vast, but there is nowhere to live.

Fortunately, at this time, Zhang Yong sent people to pick him up to Sanlonghe.

Not only did Zhang Yong not do him any harm, but instead comforted him with gentle words, which made him grateful: there is still such a loyal brother in this world.

At this moment, his gaze could not help falling on Zhang Yong.

I saw that this was just a 26-year-old young man. When he spoke, he showed his neat and white teeth, with a cheerful smile on his face, and there was a kind of coolness unique to Yanzhao men in his brows.

Only such a character can become the leader of a group of rebels, and only he can convince everyone.

Zhang Yong grabbed Li Hong's hand and said sincerely: "Your brother is not a brother, brother Li is older than me, just call him brother. Victory or defeat is a common matter in military affairs, but it's just a loss for a while. The sky won't fall down." As long as the eldest brother is in good health, I am relieved. This time, the Sizhou army is coming aggressively. It seems that Wang Daosi's posture is to completely take down the entire De'an and drive us all to the north. This man named Wang, marched and fought. There are quite a few tricks, not an easy one to deal with."

He had a slight wry smile on his face: "In the past few days of fierce fighting, our army has shown signs of restraint. Brother Li, you don't have to worry. Wang Daosi has been majestic this year, but I, Zhang Yong, are Don’t be afraid. You can live with me with peace of mind. When Wang Shen is defeated, I will still return my filial piety to you to raise soldiers. If you have money, food and territory, you are afraid that you won’t be able to recruit soldiers? By the way, if it wasn’t for your internal strife, you wouldn’t have As for the big loss suffered by the Sizhou army in Xiaogan, then, the lord will give you justice."

Then, he said enthusiastically: "Brother Li's martial arts are top-notch, and the military situation is urgent. I am short of people here, and I will leave it to you to take care of the former army."

(End of this chapter)