Chapter 259 Try
There is no doubt that the desire for war is very strong for the grassland nomads who are short of resources.

Compared with the Central Plains army which is used to a good life and doesn’t want to fight, this is a huge natural advantage.

If the Liao people only needed to shout and countless people would follow them to fight.

So……

In the Central Plains, if you want to mobilize the soldiers, you have to pay more money.

Moreover, as long as they can have a full meal, most soldiers in the Central Plains are not willing to fight for their lives.

April, the sixth year of Jiayou.

Before the war, although the war had not yet begun.

However, in order to boost morale, Zhao Xin had to distribute the rewards for the expedition to them in advance.

With the money distributed before the expedition, and Zhao Xin’s prestige from regaining Hengshan and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in two battles, the morale of the Song Dynasty army is now very high.

As for Zhao Xin, there was nothing much to say about the pre-war mobilization.

He only said one sentence, “This battle is for the sake of building a great cause!”

But things like protecting the people of the world and working for the people of the world are so lofty that Zhao Xin was afraid that they would not understand.

The core force for this expedition totals 30,000.

The rest are miscellaneous jobs.

It consisted of Zhao Xin’s Li Yuan army of 3,300 men, Zhao Xun’s 5,000 elite cavalry, 10,000 light cavalry, 10,000 infantry, and 2,000 flintlock dragoons.

Zhao Xun’s five thousand elite cavalrymen are already able to achieve the goal of each man having three horses.

Even if there are 10,000 light cavalrymen, each of them can ride two horses.

In addition…

There were also some flintlock and rifle rangers independent of the official organization.

It is mainly used for front-line reconnaissance and sniping of key figures.

In fact, if it was a head-on confrontation, Zhao Xin would not be too worried. The only thing Zhao Xin was worried about was that he would become Zhu Di, and fight five expeditions to the northern desert in vain.

This requires understanding the Liao Dynasty’s psychology.

even……

Before the war begins, some psychological tactics have to be used.

Mid-April.

The entire army left the Liaoxi Corridor and detoured westward, targeting Zhongjing of the Liao Kingdom.

It can be calculated based on the number of troops under Yelu Tiebu, the governor of Zhongjing of the Liao Dynasty, and the number of soldiers in various tribes of the Liao Dynasty.

The Liao Dynasty’s standing army usually numbered around 100,000.

However, three years ago, he had already defeated at least two and a half of the five capitals of Liao.

One Nanjing, one Zhongjing, and half of Xijing.

The elite forces of the Liao Kingdom at this time were estimated to be no more than 50,000.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that Yelu Hongji used the past three years to expand the Liao army to 100,000 again.

But even so!

Zhao Xin also didn’t think that these 100,000 were all humanoid Gundams.

During the war, the morale of our side is even higher than his.

The only thing Zhao Xin is worried about now is that the other party doesn’t dare to fight with him.

……

Early May.

The information that the Song army had left the Liaodong Corridor was discovered by the Liao Kingdom.

At this time, Yelu Hongji had just completed the deployment of his troops.

Ten thousand people besieged Datong.

Ten thousand men harassed Wuzhou, Xinzhou, and Guizhou.

Two thousand people attacked Gubeikou.

Two thousand people attacked Xifengkou.

Five hundred people, headed straight for Weizhou.

The rest of the people followed him to the east and headed south along the Liaoxi Corridor.

It can be seen that the other methods are all used to delay the opponent and make the opponent impatient.

The real main force is actually in the east.

The Liao Kingdom has no choice now.

Either defeat the Song Dynasty in a head-on decisive battle, take back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, and continue to enjoy a good life.

Otherwise, the whole army will be wiped out and they will have to stay on the grassland and eat bran from then on.

After the Liao Kingdom detected the actions of the Song army, the monarchs of both sides quickly exchanged letters before the battle even started.

Zhao Xin wrote to Yelu Hongji: “Han and Khitan are one family. Now is the time to integrate them.”

Yelu Hongji replied: “You have invaded my land and betrayed my loyalty. I will punish you!”

Zhao Xin wrote back: “Don’t be angry. When the time comes, you can marry your daughter to my son, or I can marry my daughter to your son. We can rule the grassland and the Central Plains together, and then we can go on a great voyage together. Isn’t that good?”

Yelu Hongji replied: “I don’t understand what you are saying. Stop talking nonsense and let’s fight.”

Zhao Xin said, “What I mean is…you grassland people and us Central Plains people should not just fight and kill each other. Peace is the best.”

Yelu Hongji replied: “You still have the nerve to talk about peace.”

Zhao Xin replied: “I am only doing this for the sake of peace for the next ten million years. There cannot be two tigers in one mountain. One of them must surrender to the other before this fight ends. How about we make a bet? Whoever loses the fight must honestly surrender, submit to the other, and become one family.”

Then Yelu Hongji ignored Zhao Xin.

because……

The main forces of both sides are almost ready to meet.

of course!

Yelu Hongji was not in a hurry at all.

Chatting and exchanging letters with Zhao Xin was exactly what he wanted.

From the intelligence obtained from their own reconnaissance, they learned that the Song army had no troops in other directions.

If the Song army knew that Datong and other directions had been attacked, Zhao Xin would definitely be anxious, and once he was anxious, trouble would easily arise.

This will deal a heavy blow to the morale of the Song army.

however……

What would the Liao Kingdom do? Wouldn’t Zhao Xin understand?
Of course he knew that the Liao Kingdom would definitely attack Tongzhou and other places.

therefore……

Before coming out, he naturally strengthened the deployment of various defensive locations.

Fortunately, the current Song Dynasty imperial guards are not the army of the late Ming Dynasty.

At least, we in the Song Dynasty can still pay salaries.

Just based on this point, it is much better than the end of the Ming Dynasty.

In addition…

In order to better stabilize the soldiers’ morale and strengthen the defense of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, Zhao Xin also brought their families over.

If they quit, their families will suffer as well.

and so……

In this battle, they will only defend to the death and will not retreat.

In addition, a lot of crossbows were added on the city walls.

There is basically no problem using it for defense.

Along the Hexi Corridor, there are Runzhou, Qianzhou, Laizhou, Xizhou, Jinzhou, etc.

These states generally have a small population, and most of them are estimated to be only a few thousand people, all of whom are scattered populations that migrated from various places in the Liao Kingdom.

After Zhao Xin captured Youzhou City three years ago.

In these states, many people simply fled.

of course!

Only people from Runzhou and Qianzhou, which are nearby, travel more.

Places like Laizhou, Xizhou and Jinzhou were still under the control of the Liao Kingdom.

Yelu Hongji did not expect that Zhao Xin would choose the Liaoxi Corridor as the battlefield.

how to say!

You know, this is all plain area.

This is clearly beneficial to the performance of their Liao cavalry.

The widest part is more than fifty or sixty miles long, and there are many angles that can be used to bypass.

Doesn’t this create opportunities for their cavalry?

but……

Yelu Hongji couldn’t care less.

Anyway, since both parties have chosen this route unanimously, and it is a route that is beneficial to them, why not do it?
Since this place is closer to Tokyo Liaoyang Prefecture, naturally, Yelu Hongji also transferred all the troops from Tokyo Liaoyang Prefecture here.

Then…Yelu Hongji ordered his men to hide a cavalry in the valley to his right.

He himself led his men to confront Zhao Xin head-on.

of course!

There are still some considerations on where to confront Zhao Xin head-on.

Although the Liaoxi Corridor is indeed a plain, it also has many rivers.

In some places, people and horses can pass directly across these rivers, but in some places, they can only cross after building a bridge.

As long as Yelu Hongji was not stupid, he should know that he should force the enemy to fight a desperate battle, while he should wait for an opportunity to attack when the enemy is halfway across the river.

exactly!

Almost in the middle of the Liaoxi Corridor, there is a river called Liuzhou River.

If we can make good use of it, we might be able to achieve good results.

As for Zhao Xin…

Of course, people had been sent to scout the terrain on the front line in advance.

His current location is just on the north side of a river called Gaoer River.

The Liao army was mainly stationed on the north side of Liuzhou River.

At this time, the two sides were less than forty miles apart.

Seeing that the Liao army was all on the north side of Liuzhou River, Zhao Xin naturally thought that the other side must be planning to launch a surprise attack on them while they were crossing the river.

Because it is often difficult for soldiers to form a battle line when crossing a river.

but……

In fact, this does not have much impact on Zhao Xin.

After all, if it was difficult for him to cross the river, the same was true for the other party.

What Zhao Xin fears most now is the mountain on his left.

It is not impossible that a cavalry group might suddenly appear from any mountain path in these mountains.

They must first do a good job of reconnaissance and then move forward step by step.

After some reconnaissance by hot air balloon.

really!

Zhao Xin soon discovered that a cavalry of two thousand men was ambushed in the upper reaches of Liuzhou River.

on the contrary……

The Liao Kingdom did not seem to be so sensitive about the hot air balloons in the sky.

of course!

This must also be related to the fact that the hot air balloon was still very far away from them and the target was very small.

That night, Zhao Xin sent two thousand flintlock infantrymen to kill the Liao cavalry hiding in the mountains and upstream of the river.

night.

All sounds are silent.

It can only be said that the Liao army would hardly have thought that the Song army would appear in this place.

Mainly because during the day, they couldn’t see that the Song army had any intention of exploring this side.

It was not until the Song army suddenly attacked that the two thousand people reacted.

It was too late to put on armor or anything like that.

Therefore, most people could only find their horses immediately after hearing the sound, and then ride their horses to escape.

On the other hand, the Song army was marching forward in a circle, each holding a flintlock rifle.

After one night…

The next morning arrived.

According to rough statistics, 500 enemies were killed.

Liao military camp.

Yelu Hongji was speechless when he saw the elite cavalrymen fleeing back in a panic.

Let you ambush upstream of the river, so that the Song army can find you.

I can only say that I am really convinced!

But what impressed him even more was that the Song army actually traveled at least twenty or thirty miles at night to counterattack them.

“Your Majesty, please convict me!”

“never mind……”

Before he could continue, someone outside came to report, saying, “The Song army has already set out to the south bank of the Liuzhou River.”

Upon hearing this, a minister said, “The ambush plan has been leaked. I’m afraid we can only face it head-on.”

“Fortunately, this is all plains, which is still good for us!”

“Should we send someone to attack the Song army while they are crossing the river?”

Then one of the ministers said, “I am willing to go!”

Yelu Hongji said, “No! The Song army will not cross the river before sunset today. Send someone to see if they can get behind the Song army. Maybe after this, the Song army will relax.”

Yelu Hongji still wanted to launch an attack when the Song army was halfway across the river.

But there is nothing we can do about it.

If you confront the Song army head-on, can you succeed?
You forgot how you were defeated by that weapon.

In fact…

For the past three years, Yelu Hongji would think about how to crack the artillery before going to bed every night.

Use heavy cavalry to charge?

It is a method.

But the problem is…

One, this method will kill one thousand enemies but lose two thousand of your own.

Another thing is that the other party will use caltrops to block the road.

Even if they really rushed to the other side, the caltrops would block their way.

Except for using heavy cavalry to charge.

If there is any other way, it is to go around.

Or go around to where the enemy has no artillery deployed.

This is also the reason why Yelu Hongji was so persistent in sending people to get behind the enemy.

in fact……

Faced with weapons like those of the Song Army, they really had no good solution.

Or……

Can the infantry be allowed to ride horses to increase speed, and then dismount and form a battle formation after reaching a certain distance?
The issue is……

If this is done, how many infantrymen can be transported to the front?
Feel……

The only thing we can do is to take some slaves from other tribes and try it.

Use human lives to test the other party’s strength.

and……

The opponent’s weapons can’t be used unlimitedly, right?

This is the third method.

As for the fourth method.

Since that thing has incredible destructive power, they might as well give it a try and use some things to resist it.

Ordinary shields don’t work, so they use shield carts.

As long as the shield car can be made stronger, it may be a solution.

Attack forward step by step.

As long as the infantry that can cover them can get close to them, it will be fine.

of course!

Except for the detour, it is hard to say that the other methods will have any significant effect.

This is mainly because it is definitely not enough to just think about defending against the opponent’s weapon attack.

You have to break up the opponent’s formation.

otherwise……

Even if you get close to someone, what can you do to him?

There are countless archers and crossbowmen behind them.

even……

If he had seen it correctly, there seemed to be other new weapons.

All it takes is one soldier, simply holding it in his hand.

No matter what, if you want to defeat your opponent, you can only try these methods one by one until you find a working method.

(End of this chapter)