sbdcsierra Chapter 260 Fame
Chapter 260 Fame
"Old General, are these Khitans crazy? They actually chose a snowy night to raid our military bases. Aren't they courting death?!"
As the great-grandson of Cao Bin, a famous general of the founding of the Song Dynasty, Cao Ping had previously participated in Han Ming's "Five-Way Attack on Xia".
Although his performance on the battlefield was not satisfactory and he did not show the majesty of the 'Cao Family Generals', his well-behaved state made Han Ming see that he was a steady and good general.
Therefore, he communicated with the other party several times and pointed out a way for Cao Ping. Since he could not become a top general like his great-grandfather Cao Bin and his fourth uncle Cao Wei, why not become a good general who was steady in marching and fighting?
As the saying goes, a good warrior may not have great military achievements. Cao Ping felt that he could try this way.
Therefore, he devoted himself to learning from Yang Wenguang. This experienced "Yang Family General" treated Cao Ping as his own grandson and taught him carefully, intending to pass on his military tactics and martial arts.
Cao Ping lived up to everyone's expectations. He was very down-to-earth and steady in learning things, and his ability to apply what he learned to other situations was quickly honed.
At the same time, this young general was fond of literature and history, and his calligraphy was in regular script. He was a man of both civil and military talents, a kind of smaller Han, and was nicknamed "Little Han Ming", or Han Ming mini.
This time, he was assigned by Gu Tingye to Yang Wenguang as his deputy. His main job was to help share some of the old general's military affairs and combat command.
"Although Yelu Hongji admires the culture of the Central Plains, he is, at heart, the same Khitan-style hero as his father, Yelu Zongzhen."
"They prioritize the military over people's livelihoods. Everything they say and do can be seen as a temporary deception. They prefer to resolve all problems with force."
"People like this are too strong and easily broken. They are very difficult to deal with as enemies, but they also have many flaws."
Yang Wenguang stroked his white beard, looking inexplicably emotional.
"He chose a snowy night to launch a surprise attack because he knew that our Song Dynasty infantry and cavalry wouldn't dare to leave the city and engage in a night battle."
"Of course they won't attack the city with cavalry. They probably want to take a detour!"
Yang Wenguang, worthy of his many years of military experience, saw through Yelu Hongji's plan at a glance.
"Old General, do we still need to go out of our way to fight the Liao army?"
In Cao Ping's eyes, since the enemy wanted to take a detour, there was no need to engage in excessive confrontation with them. He should avoid their attack and strictly defend the city.
"It's not that I'm going forward on purpose, but I have to go forward!"
Yang Wenguang knew that these young generals had no impression of the strength of the Liao army, so he could only explain it to them earnestly.
"The Liao army was mainly composed of cavalry, and they were not good at siege warfare."
"Most of them chose to bypass the border defense line and raid the villages and towns behind it, burning, killing and looting."
"Large and medium-sized cities can still hold out for a while, but ordinary cities will collapse at the first blow."
"Besides, most of the main forces of the Song Dynasty are on standby near the capital, and there are simply not enough troops stationed in the local areas."
"In this way, once the border defense line is breached, the Liao army will be able to advance all the way deep into the Central Plains."
"At this time, the entire Hebei East, West, and Hedong Road areas are in an important stage of new policy reforms, and people's livelihood is steadily recovering."
"If we allow the Liao cavalry to break into the heart of the Central Plains and stage another 'Chanyuan Treaty', everything will be over!"
Yang Wenguang was not just a military general, he also had a very deep understanding of politics. At least he could understand the direction of many of the court's policies.
To put it bluntly, this war between Song and Liao was an escalation and continuation of political conflict.
The Liao Kingdom wanted to use force to threaten the Song Dynasty to abandon its new policy reforms, while the Song Dynasty was even more determined to set up a game to compete with the Liao Kingdom.
It worked. The rise of the Song Dynasty was unstoppable. If it lost, it would not just be a return to the pre-liberation era, but it would most likely be a replacement of the dynasty!
Everyone in the Song Dynasty knew the importance of this battle, so the main force of the central imperial guards was deployed, and the entire northern border was basically blocked to prevent the Liao army from moving south.
The Western Army, including the one in Shaanxi Province, was also on high alert. Part of it advanced to the Yanzhou area, forcing the Western Xia Army to retreat strategically so that it could not easily participate in the war between Song and Liao.
The second part was led by Wang Shao to keep a close eye on the Zuo Siluo who were ready to move to the Qingtang area.
The last part of the main force was concentrated in Shizhou, ready to take the route through Xixia and directly enter Liaoxijingdao if the war situation became unbalanced, in order to make a feint to the east and attack in the west.
In short, under the current situation between the two countries, the former thorn in the side, Xixia, now wishes to become invisible and try its best not to get involved in the war between the two giants.
Including the strongest Black Mountain Army led by Li Moling, they were also trying their best to shrink their defense lines and avoid conflicts with the border armies of Liao and Song.
Under such circumstances, Song and Liao could finally let go and have a showdown between "real men".
As a result, the Liao army performed very poorly in the first game.
Yang Wenguang and Cao Ping thought that Yelu Hongji was going to give them a big shit, but it turned out to be a huge shit. The master and apprentice almost died of laughter.
It is said that after Gu Tingye issued the military order that night, all the generals returned to their camps and marched out.
Yang Wenguang and Cao Ping led 3,000 vanguard soldiers across the Juma River and intercepted the Liaozhong Army.
On the south bank of the Juma River, seeing Yang Wenguang's flag enter the designated position, Zhang Qiao said nothing and directly ordered the army to change its formation.
"Everyone in the army, change the formation—Pingrong Wanquan Formation!"
As soon as Zhang Qiao finished speaking, a small defensive formation slowly unfolded, located on the south bank of the Juma River, ready to resist the Liao army at any time.
The so-called Pingrong Wanquan Formation was created by Emperor Taizong of this dynasty himself and authorized for military practice, so it was highly valued.
The formation is composed of five armies in front, back, left, center and right, forming a large square formation of about seventeen miles. The expansion of the depth of this formation can compress the space for enemy cavalry maneuvers to a certain extent.
At the same time, the main infantry was deployed in the center of the formation, the chariots were strengthened, and three chariot camps were formed to enhance the infantry's defense and attack capabilities.
The cavalry was then deployed in the front, back, left and right to guard and protect the central formation.
This is a fairly conservative defensive formation. Under certain circumstances, it can allow the Song army, which is mainly composed of infantry, to fight against the cavalry of the northern nomadic peoples on the plains.
As a master of defensive warfare, Zhang Qiao was adept at not only defending cities but also deploying defensive formations between two armies.
The main point is that if you can't break my turtle shell, I will break your head!
Yang Wenguang and the other man on the north bank of the Juma River, as well as the scouts who were always observing the movements of the Song army, all looked sideways slightly, thinking that this Defense Envoy Zhang really knew how to defend!
"Who is coming? Tell me your name!"
Yelu Xiyin, as the commander of the advance army, rode out on his horse and pointed his spear at Yang and Cao.
Yang Wenguang was just about to declare his name in earnest, but Cao Ping beside him was unhappy. He said, "At the age of thirty, what qualifications do you have to show off in front of my master?"
Cao Ping only said that he fought cautiously, which did not mean that his deeds were not hot.
Their Cao family was the first of the founding generals of the Song Dynasty. His great-grandfather Cao Bin and his fourth uncle Cao Wei were both "Zhaoxun Pavilion Meritorious Officials." Was this earned through reputation? This was a real achievement.
Although Cao Ping is not as glorious and powerful as his ancestors, he is not a coward!
"Hey! You're blind! Can't you see the 'Yang' character on the flag?!"
"This is the army formation of General Yang Wenguang, the Commander-in-Chief of the Dingzhou Road, the Commander-in-Chief of the Four Wings of the Dragon God Guard, and the Chief of the Infantry Division of the Imperial Guards!"
"Who are you from the Liao army? How dare you act so arrogantly in front of the old general!"
Cao Ping's loud voice could be heard for miles, blending with the whistling north wind.
Seeing this, Cao was afraid that the other party could not hear clearly, so he directly called on all 3,000 soldiers to shout in unison to move forward.
My goodness! This shout scared many Liao soldiers on the front line. Some of them got leg cramps and fell off their horses, and others were so scared by General Yang’s four big words that they almost peed their pants.
Even the commander of the advance army, Yelu Xiyin, frowned and cursed inwardly: "The Song court is truly inhumane. They actually sent such an old general into battle. Isn't this going to shorten his life?"
Everyone knows that this old antique followed his father Yang Yanzhao to beat up the Liao army when he was young. The Yang family is like a piece of shit plaster, and is naturally unlucky for the Liao Dynasty.
"General Yang is here first. I, Yelu Xiyin, the Commander-in-Chief of the Liao Kingdom's An Second Army, would like to greet you, General!"
Seeing that the other party immediately changed his attitude, Cao Ping did not press him any further and immediately retreated behind Yang Wenguang to wait for orders.
"I remember your father's name was Yelu Wande, right? Back in the battle at Xiaonan River, I slew him completely. So, are you here today to avenge your father?!"
As soon as Yang Wenguang finished speaking, Yelu Xiyin's expression darkened. After all, the beating his father had received might now befall him.
"What are you talking about, old general? Xi Yin is here just to follow orders, and knows nothing else!"
Yang Wenguang himself was not capable of scolding, so he could only play dumb and pretend that he knew nothing.
"There's no point in saying more! Today, standing before the Juma River, only one of us can survive. I want to see what kind of talent Yelu Wande has raised!"
Yang Wenguang also had a bad temper and was easily provoked. Before anyone could react, the old general raised his spear and jumped on his horse, approaching Yelu Xiyin.
Fighting General——!
Cao Ping and Yelu Xiyin's faces changed. They didn't expect that this old general was a ruthless man of few words. He just said a few words and started fighting.
"Ah this?!"
Cao Ping didn't have time to stop the other party, and could only watch Yang Wenguang fly forward and pierce Yelu Xiyin with his spear.
"Everyone in the army is ready to charge the enemy and support the old general!"
"Yes--!"