At this moment, in a Forbidden Army camp in the northern suburbs of Bianliang, Chen Dezheng was tightly wrapped in a bearskin cloak, stamping his feet, breathing into the palms of his hands, and cursing Zhao Jiong in his heart.
Before the expedition to Taiyuan, various imperial armies pre-allocated areas for siege in Taiyuan. Cui Yan, the commander of the Heyang Festival, attacked the east wall, Li Hanqiong, the commander of the Zhangde Festival, attacked the south wall, and Cao Han, the commander of the Guizhou Observation Room, attacked the west wall. Zhangxin Jiedu envoy Liu Yu attacked the northern city wall. The Anxi Army only had 300 people following Chen De. Instead, they took advantage and only served as retinues in the Forbidden Army camp under Zhao Jiong's personal command. In fact, they had no combat missions.
Although many troops and horses of the Song Dynasty were already marching towards the frontier of Hedong, and although the main force of the Forbidden Army prepared to accompany the imperial commander personally did not move, Chen De and the three hundred Anxi guards were sent to a vacant military camp in the northern suburbs of Bianliang by an imperial edict. This military camp is surrounded by the elite Longjie Army and Hujie Army commanded by Cao Han. Three hundred Anxi troops are stationed in the middle, acting like a guard. The weather is freezing. Although there is no shortage of military resources, they always have to go to Bianliang. To get it from the south of the city, it was nearly a hundred miles in one trip. There were many rules for tormenting the soldiers in this way, which made the Anxi Army complain endlessly because of the torment.
Ever since he was forcibly stationed in the Forbidden Army camp, Chen De had almost completely lost contact with the outside world. His only pastime every day was to read the military reports of the Forbidden Army's Northern Expedition to Hedong. He was bored, and even after several invitations to compete with the Hujie army were rejected, After the drill, Chen De, Zhang Zhongyao and others observed the forbidden troops next to them.
?According to Chen De's observation, the ranks of the Forbidden Army at this time were in order, but there was still a lack of bravery. The grassroots were not as brave as the Anxi Army. They paid more attention to humiliating military discipline, and the Forbidden Army did not advertise hand-to-hand victory. The crossbow is the most important weapon in the Forbidden Army. Chen De watched the Hujie Army practice the crossbow formation. With an order, thousands of strings sounded. Arrows in the sky were like locusts, covering the sky and the sun. The heavy armor used as a target in the distance was often raped. The crossbow penetrated again and again, becoming like a hedgehog.
The Forbidden Army mainly uses short-sighted soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. Although each command is equipped with a small number of long-armed soldiers, most of the soldiers practice with broadswords and waist knives on weekdays. Some soldiers even purchased their own heavy short-soldiers such as hammers and maces. As a self-defense weapon, judging from the situation at the training ground, the Forbidden Army's preset scenario for hand-to-hand combat is mainly melee. This is consistent with the Anxi Army's emphasis on long soldiers, insisting on fighting in formations even in hand-to-hand combat, and not disbanding formations unless absolutely necessary. Different interest.
However, the army originally advocated the courage of a man to defeat the enemy, attack the enemy's formation, and sweep thousands of troops. Under the deliberate guidance of the imperial court, the status of personal bravery in the Forbidden Army has been greatly reduced. A large number of officers who strictly follow the law have been promoted, and the Forbidden Army has The top and bottom are filled with formation experts who have arranged a large number of soldiers and horses in order and can advance and retreat freely. The Forbidden Army of the Song Dynasty was gradually transforming into an army that relied on organizational systems and rigorous formations rather than individual heroism to achieve victory.
While the lower-level soldiers increasingly regard being a soldier and eating food as a normal occupation, the upper-level Forbidden Army still maintains the tradition of offensive operations left over from the Five Dynasties. In daily drills, defense only accounts for a small part. Both the Czech Army and the Tiger Army conducted exercises with a preset field battle decisive victory. At the same time, the concept of following formations is extremely popular in the army. In the Anxi Army, if an officer can obtain the greatest results with the least casualties and distribute them fairly, he can win the support of the sergeants. But in the Forbidden Army, a recognized good general must be proficient in formations, and must have the courage to discipline his soldiers to perform skillfully. A large number of promotions are determined based on drills rather than battles. Drills are similar to those of literati to a certain extent. The imperial examination, but the actual battle is mixed with too many unpredictable factors such as faction, luck, and the strength of the enemy.
The military reports from the front line come one day at a time, and they are all news of the imperial army's victories. Even the common people in the market spread word of mouth that the imperial imperial army had won consecutive battles in Hedong, and the whole Kaifeng government and the public were filled with an atmosphere of excitement and jubilation. Only Zhao Pu and the few others who knew that the government would immediately raise troops to retreat after capturing Taiyuan were worried.
At the same time, when the news of the envoy¡¯s beating reached Beijing, the entire Liao government and people were shocked to the point of being unable to react. However, until dozens of days after Ta Ma Changshou unobtrusively left Bianjing in a carriage to return to the Liao Kingdom, the heavily guarded Forbidden Army stationed in the Heshuo area did not suffer the expected revenge from the Liao people. For a time, an optimistic atmosphere filled the air. The atmosphere in Bianliang and the Liao Kingdom was just the opposite. Although the court did not want to have a large-scale conflict with the Southern Dynasty in the Youyan area, rumors that the Song Dynasty would soon launch a northern expedition to recover Yanyun spread like wildfire among the Han people. , even the Khitan people who settled here began to feel uneasy.
"It's just stupid!" Xiao Zhen angrily threw the credentials issued by the imperial court to the Southern Dynasty to the Southern Dynasty to denounce the matter. In the credentials, he only used a routine tone to describe what happened to the Daliao envoys in Bianliang. He protested the insult and declared that if the Song Dynasty did not handle the matter properly, it would greatly damage the country.The image of the land of etiquette in the Song Dynasty and the overall situation of the friendly relations between Song and Liao.
As a Khitan, especially one who has lived in the Youyan area for a long time and is familiar with the situation in the south, Xiao Zhen almost wonders if the heads of the royal family and nobles who came to Beijing were kicked by donkeys, "Can't they see that this is Is the Southern Dynasty trying to test our country? At this time, the more tolerant Bianliang is, the more unscrupulous Bianliang will be in their conquest of Taiyuan, and it will even stimulate their ambition to directly attack Youzhou!" Xiao Zhen said angrily, not only him, but also the envoy After the humiliation incident, many Han people in the Youyun area began to secretly communicate to the south. Even the Khitan people believed that the dynasty planned to abandon Youyan. Some Khitan nobles who came to make money have even begun to look for opportunities. Turn back to the north.
"Hmph," Seeing the indignant look of his subordinates, Handrang coughed. The untamed Khitan people were raking grass in the valley in private. After being taught a lesson several times by the imperial guards stationed in the south, they had already accumulated a lot of experience. They were very angry. Now, the Khitans, who were stimulated by the humiliation of their envoys, were coming and going to their residence in Nanjing every day, demanding that troops be sent to the south immediately for revenge. "Don't they know that the interests of Daliao and the interests of the powerful people in Beijing are not completely different?" Consistently?" Han Derang sighed in a low voice, looking at the magnificent color of the glass cup of wine in the sun with amusement. Since the founding of the Liao Dynasty, these Khitan nobles have learned nothing else, and their ability to scheming and seeking personal gain has become the same as that of the Southern Dynasty bureaucrats. It was almost the same. Because of this, knowledgeable people in the Liao Dynasty and the public, such as Emperor Yelvxian, Empress Xiao, Brother Yelvxiu, and Han Derang, were eager to end the war with the Southern Dynasty and took action. While the elite troops of the senior generals in the court were still there and the Khitan people's vitality had not yet been completely worn out, they wiped out the powerful barbarian enemies such as Goryeo, Jurchen, Shiwei and so on in the north one by one without leaving any future troubles. Until the end of the Liao Dynasty, the north was always more important than the south for troops.
"There are hundreds of thousands of cavalry in the Liao Dynasty, and countless servant tribes and small countries. If the north and the south really fight, Bianliang will naturally not be able to take advantage. However, the thoughts of the royal family and nobles are not here, but in Beijing." Ta Ma Changshou was originally Yelvxian's close followers were considered to be upright among the Khitan nobles who had their own thoughts and were ready to act. At this moment, he was humiliated, and most of the other nobles were laughing at the joke. Handerang thought to himself that Yan Yan would not be able to bear this tone if it were not for the suppression of the royal family and the powerful people. However, the powerful people thought that this would calm the matter. They were wrong. Hundreds of thousands of the Southern Dynasty Forbidden Army had already prepared their troops. They were afraid that they would be destroyed as soon as the first month came out. The Northern Expedition was about to be carried out. At this time, he deliberately humiliated the Liao envoys. If Beijing did not make a strong response, I was afraid that the Southern Dynasty would no longer have any scruples in its actions.
Han Derang said in a deep voice: "We can't just sit back and watch as the Beijing side ignores our fate. Once the Song army captures Taiyuan, Youzhou is likely to be the next target. There are only more than 20,000 troops in the city, and we are outnumbered. That's right. It is said that extraordinary things are done in extraordinary times. Once the Song army begins to invade Youzhou and attack the city from all sides, I am afraid that the defense force will be too weak. I think Chen De's method of governing the households with military law in Lanzhou is good. From now on , then we must start to organize the whole city's people into ranks, and prepare to carry bows and arrows to the city."
In the Southern Dynasties, the activities of Xizuo were rampant in the city. The law of joint sitting should be implemented in the military and among the people. If one person collaborates with the enemy, the whole family and neighbors will be punished. " He closed his eyes slightly, showing a trace of compassion that was not noticed by others. This method of sitting still caused countless deaths, but it was just a matter of urgency and had no choice but to do so. "Also, the Southern Dynasties conquered Hedong. , there must be burning, killing, raping and looting, and the crimes will be announced to the people in the city, letting them know that guarding Youzhou City is not for the Liao court, but for the safety of their own families. He paused for a moment, looked at Xiao Zhen who was carefully writing down his instructions, and asked him to repeat his instructions again. He lowered his head to think about any omissions, added a few more sentences, and asked him to go back and write it down. strategy.
Han Derang opened the window and saw the biting cold wind filling the entire attic without any obstruction. He couldn't help but feel refreshed. In early spring in February, the Northland was still covered in ice. The Song army chose this time to attack Taiyuan. I also wanted to take advantage of this period of lean period when the Liao cavalry was unable to mobilize on a large scale. However, the Northern and Southern Dynasties at that time had vast territories and strong national power. Once the war started, how could it end in one spring and summer? Chen Deshang was in Bianliang. Couldn't he see that the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom were mortal enemies, and he had no time to spare, which was convenient for him to gallop in the northwest. Thinking of this, Handerang couldn't help but reveal a smile. Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi. Now Chen De is still weak and needs Liao and Song to contain each other. After that, Daliao will use troops in the Northeast. Can he also be used to contain them? Where is the imperial army of the Song Dynasty? This game of chess in the world is really becoming more and more interesting. He slowly raised his hand and drank the bright red blood-like grape wine in the cup.
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