Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 801 Breaking the Army
After the sun went down, the battle continued.

The Long Sword Army was indeed fierce, and the Flying Dragon Army fought against it, but they were actually repelled, and the loss was not small.

At the third quarter of the unitary hour, the Zhongwu Army also selected three thousand elites to fight.

The Liang people hurriedly got up to fight, because they had to dispatch most of them to guard against the cavalry charge. After finally killing the Zhongwu army, they retreated panting.

"Whoo! Whoosh!" The bow and bow shooting between the two sides continued. The soldiers of the Long Sword Army who defeated the enemy and retreated to the chariot formation were very irritable. tired.If it weren't for the support of the obsession to go home, this fight would have been impossible.

"Kill!" More than [-] cavalry rushed over from the rear with overwhelming momentum. Seeing their imposing manner, they seemed to be about to launch a desperate battle.

The sound of drums and horns sounded, and everyone dressed neatly and held the equipment in their hands.

The officers yelled loudly and passed on various orders. The Long Sword Army was mobilized and stood ready for battle.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" This was the sound of the step bow shooting out, but there were very few victories, because the Xia people spread out horizontally at the edge of the arrow, and circled in another direction.

Obviously, they didn't come close, they were just harassing outside.

"Fucked again!" A military academy stomped his feet angrily.

Wang Zhongshi's face was also livid, and he immediately ordered the withdrawal of some of the sergeants on guard, and they rested in batches.

If this continues, they will be played to death sooner or later.

The battalion who received the order left the cart and rested in the open space, but they were not allowed to disarm.

Wang Zhongshi urgently discussed countermeasures with several old subordinates.

"Liu Yu destroyed Nanyan in the past, how did he do it?" Wang Zhongshi asked.

He fought on the Eastern Front before, and it was not that he had never encountered cavalry.But Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin's cavalry were rather stupid and liked to charge directly at the infantry, so they were naturally defeated.

Xia Bandit's cavalry, first of all, far surpassed Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin in number. In addition, they did not charge directly, but mainly harassed them, which was very annoying.

"Liu Yu first took a boat, and there was a boat to transport grain and grass, and there were crossbows on the boat, so the thieves and cavalry dared not approach. After disembarking in Xuzhou, he built a city within [-] miles, hoarding grain, equipment, and sick people." Someone said.

Thirty miles, just within the range of the infantry's one-day march.That is to say, Liu Yu's infantry has a place to live at night, even if they can't live in the city, they can go to the city to fortify them.

The long sword army didn't go down to the stronghold today, and they rushed to attack as soon as they reached the ground. Meng Lang was gone.

In the final analysis, it was caused by the insecurity of fleeing for one's life.Hurrying to go home, rushing to break through the enemy's blockade.What if there is a delay in going to the village and being surrounded by more enemies?
It's too late to say anything now, seeing the thieves like that, we won't give them a chance.

"After Liu Yu entered Qingzhou, he surrounded the queue with a large cart. There was a curtain on the cart. The thieves could not see what the people inside were doing from a distance, so they dared not rush."

"Liu Yu's car is much better than our baggage car."

"It's not about the carts. Li Keyong used grain carts to surround the camp. Can those big cavalrymen in Hebei have anything to do with him?"

"This is not the main reason. There are too many Xia bandits. Not only are there more cavalry troops, but there are also many infantry troops."

Master Wang Zhong listened silently, the reason became clearer and clearer, and his heart became more and more sad.

Most of Xia's bandits are the key, and the main force to stop them is the Feilong army.

The cavalry can still be dealt with, but the combination of cavalry and infantry is difficult for you to deal with. This is the most deadly thing.

Today, they were challenged and harassed repeatedly by thieves in turn. The soldiers were tired and hungry.Obviously, they won't let you sleep at night, how long can you last?

As soon as the mind turned to this level, another group of bandits came to kill in the darkness.Looking at them like that, they must be mounted infantry of the Flying Dragon Army.

Wang Zhongshi strongly propped up his tired body and ordered to fight.

Shao Shude had already returned to the camp, listening carefully to the continuous reports of the generals.

"The thieves should be extremely tired. To repel our troops, we need to temporarily mobilize a second batch of soldiers to help."

"Our department went to battle at the third quarter of Xu time, and the bandits were obviously out of strength."

"The last general just led the army, and when the battle reached the third quarter of Haishi, the bandit army was obviously unable to stop it." It was Zhao Yan who spoke last.

His face was pale with a trace of blood, and he was the one who fought just now.

Shao Shude did not underestimate these sons and nephews of the Zhao family.

Although some people have a literary background, such as Zhao Lu, their martial arts are not bad.During the war against the Chao army more than ten years ago, Zhao Lu led the "sharp soldiers" and fought many times.

"Sharp Soldiers" can't be moved by everyone.Especially the sharp soldiers who went out to fight in the city, generally they had to be fierce generals to be qualified to lead them.But Zhao Lu really came from elementary school literature, but in today's world, it is obviously impossible to only know poetry and articles, but not martial arts riding and shooting.

Either learn martial arts, or have both civil and military skills, this is a common choice for local powerful children.

"Isn't the Long Sword Army all iron men?" Shao Shude exclaimed.

It is impossible for them to be unable to rest and eat due to continuous harassment and challenges, but it is true that the rhythm of rest has been greatly disrupted.Besides, they were still on their way during the day, even with the mental bonus of going home, their will to fight was really strong enough.

But the stronger they are, the happier Shao Shude will be.

The "military assets" created by the separatist rule of the Central Plains for more than a hundred years is a considerable wealth-yes, people are also part of military assets, even the most important part.

Incorporating the remnants of the Changzhi Army has already given him a taste of the sweetness.With them as the backbone, the second army of Heizhu and Jindao was transformed into mounted infantry, which made the Tatars scream.Under Zhu Quanzhong's command, there are still many such powerful soldiers whose individual fighting power is not weaker than Xia Jun. After surrendering, they will reorganize and digest slowly.

Since this war, Zhe Zongben has captured tens of thousands of people, mainly Yang Shihou and Zhang Quanyi. He released the Tutuan peasants and eliminated the old and weak. There are still [-] strong and strong, and he plans to hand them over to Luoyang after a while.

Qi Bizhang captured nearly 5000 people from the Feilong Army.

Shao Shude defeated Ge Congzhou and Wang Jingluo, and captured more than [-] people. If the Tutuan peasants will be released in the future, there will be about [-] good soldiers left.

There are already 5 people in total, and they will all be sent to the Shanzhou Academy in the future to expand its training force to [-].

As a result, there are [-] sergeants in Lingzhou and Shanzhou No. [-] Hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Dujiaomen Yamen, and the proportion of surrendered troops is quite high.

After this year's battle, it's time for a major reorganization.

This time it is a comprehensive and thorough reorganization. There will be changes in the establishment and number of each army, and some military numbers may be abolished.

Eliminate the weak and keep the strong, and reorganize the army. This is what Zhu Quanzhong did in history after defeating Er Zhu and Wang Shifan, and deepening his sphere of influence into Guanzhong.

He compressed more than 20 troops into 10,000 to 20 to [-], and eliminated those who were too old or too young, those who were dawdling, and those with average combat effectiveness. can win.

Zhu Quanzhong fought in Henan every year, and sometimes he went on a large-scale expedition more than once a year. If he didn't follow the route of elite soldiers, the financial pressure would be quite huge.

Shao Shude understood this quite well and was ready to follow suit.

After all, they're just like each other.They are all doing the same thing, collecting power, cutting down the vassal, and reorganizing, all in order to weaken the foundation of the separatism of the vassals and towns.

Zhu Quanzhong, I understand you, we are "comrades" on the same road, but I still want to kill you, inherit your legacy and...

"Your Majesty, the last general is back." Zhao Lu entered the camp in a chaotic manner with more than [-] troops.

Shao Shude glanced at him.

Zhao Lu lowered his head in shame, and said: "Xiangyong collapsed first, and the soldiers of the Zhongwu Army were affected, and they also collapsed back."

"It's okay." Shao Shude said gently: "Tell me carefully."

"Back to the king, the bandits are no longer fit to fight." Zhao Lu raised his head, he looked a little excited after losing the battle, and said: "I can't beat Changshe and Xiangyong with one blow, the bandits are declining."

After thinking for a while, Shao Shude said with a smile: "I don't think he will die either."

"Your Majesty!" Qi Bizhang stepped forward and said loudly, "Feilong Junerlang has rested enough and can go to battle."

In fact, from Qi Bizhang's point of view, the whole army can already be overwhelmed, and custody can win.Even in his opinion, when the bandits arrived during the day, they could fight.

But the king didn't allow it, and he took the example of Taizong beating Dou Jiande to explain why.

Why didn't Taizong fight Dou Jiande from the beginning?If you have to hide in the city and fight with him for more than 30 days, it will deplete Dou's army food, supplies, and morale.On the day of the final decisive battle, they deliberately asked Dou Jun to cross the river, and let them stand in formation for a whole day. They were tired, did not eat, and competed for water.
Don't underestimate any enemy.

Taizong attached great importance to Dou Jiande's army, and he was not sure that he would win the decisive battle when he was in good condition.

Shao Shude would not underestimate the Long Sword Army, he must exhaust them to the extreme, and then launch a thunderous blow to destroy them.

"Distribute food and water to everyone, and rest for a while. Go to battle at Yinshi!" Shao Shude said: "This time the whole army is suppressed, and the culprits must be wiped out!"

"Obey!" Qi Bizhang and others responded.

The second half of the night is the hardest, when people's energy and physical strength will drop to the lowest ebb.

Master Wang Zhong was leaning on a long spear, and his whole body was sore.

The officers and soldiers of the Long Sword Army fell crookedly on the ground, and everyone was exhausted and dying.

More than [-] riders came rushing from a distance.

Master Wang Zhong spat heavily, but he hadn't drank water for a long time, his mouth was so dry that there was almost no spittle to spit out.

"Get up, get up! There are bandit soldiers!" Wang Zhongshi stood up with difficulty, and knocked on the soldiers beside him with a stick.

The drummer cheered up and began to beat the drums to gather troops.

The soldiers got up silently, numbly preparing to fight.

"Boom, boom, boom..." The sound of drums sounded in the distance.

Master Wang Zhong was stunned for a moment, and then quickly reacted, shouting: "The Xia Thieves' infantry is in battle. Get up, get up, hurry up!"

Under the moonlight, one battalion after another of the Xia army came out of the camp and lined up in the open space.

Five hundred, one thousand, one thousand five...

They formed a large formation of 6000 people.

No, it seems more than that, the number is still increasing.

The Zhongwu Army dispatched 2000 people, and Changshe Xiangyong dispatched another thousand people, a total of [-] people.

The sound of horseshoes became more and more intensive, and it sounded from two directions, and a total of [-] cavalry appeared on the field.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The flying dragon army in formation shouted three times and began to advance.

Thousands of soldiers of the Long Sword Army struggled to get up, silently looking at those Xia soldiers who seemed to be alive and well.

Three hundred steps, two hundred steps, one hundred steps, they walked very steadily.There was no sound in the queue, only a murderous aura.

"Hum!" Arrows fell overwhelmingly. This was a long-distance projectile. It was not accurate or powerful. It was purely to damage the morale of one's own side.

The soldiers in the front row of the Long Sword Army lowered their heads one after another, and the clanging sound kept ringing.

Seventy steps, fifty steps, thirty steps, the arrows became more and more dense, and the screams became more and more loud.

Someone from the Long Sword Army fought back, but the effect was not satisfactory.

Archery is physical work, without a good rest, it is difficult for you to keep up with the rhythm of the enemy.

"Woo..." The final horn sounded.

"Huh!" The soldiers of the Flying Dragon Army laid down the long spears one after another, making them neatly arranged in the darkness.

The sound of rustling footsteps became more and more dense, and the rhythm became faster and faster, and the sound of nail leaves colliding all the way rang to my ears.

"Kill!" The deafening roar sounded like thunder, and the soldiers of the Flying Dragon Army who rushed to the front jumped up and jumped onto the grain truck.

Fierce hand-to-hand combat erupted instantly.

The soldiers of the Flying Dragon Army, who had been recharging their energy for a long time, rushed into the bandit formation with unstoppable courage, killing Liang Bing and retreating steadily.

Wang Zhongshi roared and stabbed the long lance out, then swung it sideways, sweeping away the last people one after another.

A member of the Flying Dragon Army was so brave that he grabbed his pole and pulled it hard.Wang Zhongshi's physical strength was so weak that he couldn't pull this fellow.Without hesitation, he let go, took off the long sword, and fought hard.

It is difficult for one person's bravery to save the overall situation.

At the beginning, Wang Zhongshi had his own sergeant beside him, but as he continued to fight, Xia Bing was almost all around him.Looking out of the corner of his eye, more and more Xia Bing jumped into the chariot formation, and his side obviously couldn't stop it.

There were Xia people everywhere, and they even allocated some people to break through the obstacles and carts, allowing more people to rush in.

The cavalry was also getting closer.

Without the harassment of the infantry archers, the prairie backs gave full play to their archery skills, causing great damage to the soldiers of the long sword army.

The crash happened almost instantly.

The sergeants, whose physical strength and energy were at their limit, retreated. Someone opened the car barrier and rushed into the wilderness, without caring about anything.

One did, and soon there was a second.The resistance collapsed steadily, and the rout was out of control.

The cavalry soldiers who stared at them like a pack of wolves surrounded them.

They did not rush forward immediately, but followed behind, keeping a certain distance, and first shot and killed the sergeant with long swords who showed their backs to them with riding bows, and then drew short lances, iron maces, short swords, and sabers , passing by from the flanks and rear, like a seasoned hunter, carefully planning the escape direction of the prey, waiting for them to exhaust their last courage and will, and then stepping forward to capture them.

Master Wang Zhong roared in grief and indignation.Suddenly a Gu Duo hit him hard on his back, and Wang Zhongshi flew out without saying a word.

The Long Sword Army followed in the footsteps of the Jiama Army.

(End of this chapter)