Five Dynasties River Mountains Fengyue

In early April, a heavy rain took away the last of the chill, and the weather began to gradually become hotter.There was another heavy rain in the afternoon, and the crackling raindrops joined together in the woods, drowning out all the sounds between the sky and the earth, and the mountains were covered with a thin layer of white mist.

The scorching heat in the air cleared away, and even brought a little bit of coolness. The trees in the north were not so dense and not so high, and the ravines were vertical and horizontal. It didn't become too muddy, only some dry and hard loess mountains, stubborn and hard, like a layer of lard, it was terribly slippery to step on, and if you were not careful, you would fall down the hillside, which was very unfavorable for the march of the group. Most of the terrain appears on sunny hills.

The rain did not stop until it was dark, and the sky cleared, revealing a river of bright stars.

Yelu Xiezhen, who had eaten the rain all day on the mountain ridge, spit. They dared not hide in the valley. They could only stare at the mountain at Yunchu on the ridge and pray for the rain to stop. There is a small earth cave in the south, which should be The nearby villagers used it for digging clay, and they dared not go in to shelter from the rain, fearing that the rain would lead to landslides.

The rain in the early summer came and went quickly, and they dared not go to the valley to hide for fear of encountering mountain torrents, so a group of people could only bite the bullet and wait for the rain to stop under a small forest. Drenched chicken.

Yelu Xiezhen spat. This time he brought more than 300 people, one person and two horses. He wanted to be a forward. Instead of taking the road, he quietly went to see the situation at the north entrance. The army stopped more than 50 miles behind. He was going to see See if the Qin people have repaired the pass city at the north entrance, and whether the Qin army has deployed defenses in the gap in the east wall, but it rained heavily halfway.

Now the whole body is cold when the wind blows, and this area is very close to the north entrance, they dare not start a fire, so they can only cover their hands in wet, blow the night wind, and watch the stars.

"We went there at night, it just rained, Qin Jun must not have thought of it." Yelu Xiezhen trembled, and whispered, although he was a little chilled from the cold, but this was indeed a good opportunity.

Whether the Qin army has repaired the north entrance and whether it has set up defenses in the gap is related to whether the army's southward march will be smooth, so he must come and see it in person, and he is not at ease handing it over to his subordinates.

Everyone was shivering from the cold, their lips turned white, but they still nodded in agreement.

So they set off again carefully under the starlight, but the roads in the mountains were mostly slippery due to a rain, so they had to leave the horses where they were, leaving one-third of the people to look after the horses, and the rest to unload the horses. Put on the armor, set off lightly, and use hands and feet to grope the slippery mountain road to the south.

After walking for less than half an hour, someone slipped his foot in the dark and rolled down the steep valley in an instant. Even the screams stopped. In the darkness, only the sound of rolling and falling in the valley was heard, as if rolling down a hillside. A boulder is no different.

People around were breathing heavily, Yelu Xiezhen also took a deep breath, said in a deep voice: "Be careful!" Then he continued to lead the people forward.

In the middle of the night, two hundred or so people went down the mountain and came to the main road in the valley. Because of the overnight journey, their bodies were steaming, and the coolness of the first half of the night was dispelled. With the night wind, their clothes were almost dried out.

Fortunately, looking from the avenue under the starlight, they could already see the high Guancheng in the south, with a flag on it, which collapsed on the side of the flagpole.

Yelu Xiezhen can be sure that the Liao army has never set up a flag here, and the Beikou Pass City has been abandoned for many years, so it must have been planted by the people of Qin.

He immediately ordered in a low voice to disperse the people and hide them in the woods on the east side of the road, "Two people go over to see if there are any Qin people in Guancheng. Be careful."

The general beside him ordered a skilled man, nervously groping southward along the inner side of the avenue, ready to go through the woods on the slope, but he was stopped by Yelu Xiezhen in a low voice: "Come back! "

When the officer came back, he couldn't help asking, "What are you doing in the woods!"

"The woods are hidden..." the officer said with some doubts.

Yelu Xiezhen looked at the subordinate in front of him with some annoyance. He was the leader of a team, and his subordinates led more than 500 cavalry. He didn't even know this kind of common sense of marching.

"It's all dark now. Qin people can't even see the shadows along the inner side of the road. They get into the woods. Don't the trees move? You treat them as blind!"

After finishing speaking, he looked at the frightened captain in front of him through the starlight. He was so young, maybe only around twenty, Yelu Xiezhen was a little dazed, and then sighed, "Forget it, I don't blame you, I will take someone there , you respond here."

He suddenly understood why these young officers were so unfamiliar and inexperienced, because Shi Congyun killed all those middle and low-level officers who had experienced many battles and opened up territories for the Daliao Kingdom...

That was Shi Congyun's vicious method. In the Battle of Three Passes ten years ago, after slaughtering their elites, Shi Congyun released a group of senior officials and some soldiers like Xiao Peng, but executed many middle and low-level officers. The same is true for the battle of the Communist Party of China, so that a large number of middle and low-level officers in the army are inexperienced newcomers.

When he followed the shadow on the inner side of the avenue, he boldly touched about [-] steps away from Guancheng. Looking at it through the starlight, there was no one at the top of Guancheng. What surprised him even more was that the city was already in ruins, and the gate below was broken. The hole was opened, Qin Jun did not repair the city gate at all!

what's the situation!

Yelu Xiezhen was a little puzzled for a while, did the Qin people just come to plant a flag and retreat south?

Or is it some kind of trap?

He didn't dare to look closely, in case the Qin army was cunning and had an ambush, they would be exposed.

Now there is a more important point, which is to confirm the gap in the eastern section, where is the main place for the army to pass through.

After he turned back, he led a large group of people along the north side of the mountain and quickly reached the gap in the east. The gap was hidden behind a bush. It took them many years to demolish the city wall for more than half a mile, which was enough for the army to pass through easily.

After they climbed up the tree to confirm, and sent a few people to investigate quietly, they finally confirmed that the Qin army did not set up an ambush, did not try to block the gap, and the weeds were waist-deep in some places along the long gap, and the Qin army did not garrison nearby. To prevent them from crossing the gap.

In an instant, Yelu Xiezhen breathed a sigh of relief, very excited!

This means that their army will be able to cross the Great Wall at Beikou without hindrance. This section of the ancient Great Wall that has been built for hundreds of years is what they are most worried about. That's it!

I don't know whether it was the Qin army's carelessness or the lack of troops. They didn't make good use of this section of the Great Wall.

For a moment, countless conjectures ran through Yelu Xiezhen's mind. Maybe Qin Jun didn't find this gap?

Maybe they were short of troops, there were not so many people going north, and only a small army arrived at the north entrance. After arriving, they found that they couldn't close the gap, so they didn't dare to station here and went back to Chanzhou?

It is also possible that their occupation of the south was not stable, and there were still many cities, prefectures and counties defending against the Qin army and loyal to Daliao, which caused a large number of their troops to be dragged to the south.

In either case, the current situation is extremely favorable to them!

I originally thought that the biggest obstacle and the most embarrassing danger was the Great Wall left by the Northern Qi Dynasty near Beikou. After the Qin army occupied it, they might use it to defend and block it, which would cost them a lot.

Unexpectedly, looking at it now, Qin Jun didn't send anyone to guard it at all!They can easily cross the Great Wall at Beikou, enter the wide valley of the road, and go straight down to Tanzhou!

"Immediately go back and tell the Chinese army that Beikou is unprepared, let them come here quickly! I'll be watching here." Yelu Xiezhen was excited and happy, "This is the Buddha who blessed us in Daliao. Everyone said that Shi Congyun was so cunning, and he also said that he When he arrived in Youzhou, it seems that he also didn't know how to fight!"

Chapter 521: Great advantage

On the fifth day of April, after noon, the scorching sun hung high, and the north of the north entrance was filled with dust. A large number of flags and troops marched along the avenue. One piece, all over the mountains and wilds.

Yelu Xiezhen rode over to meet Han Derang, who was leading the troops south, and gave a general overview of the situation.

Immediately after that, people were sent to cut wood over the gap to clear the way.

By the afternoon, the trees on the other side of the gap were cut down and cleared, a large number of weeds were removed, and some potholes were filled with soil, allowing the army to pass through.

Then they immediately controlled the gap and waited for the arrival of the Chinese army led by Yerusha.

In the afternoon, Yelu Xiezhen sent a group of elite light cavalry across the pass, and told them to come back immediately if they encountered the Qin army.

They waited nervously in the rear for a long time, and only one of them galloped back along the avenue.

Both Yelu Xiezhen and Han Derang were nervous, and immediately rode over: "What's going on? The Qin army has an ambush! Why did you come back alone!"

"No, there isn't a Qin person in the south of Guancheng! They're outside." The soldier said happily.

Han Derang was a little surprised, but Yelu Xiezhen heaved a sigh of relief, and immediately rode to the direction of Guancheng.

Soon, in an unbelievable state of mind, he easily passed through the tall pass without gates and defenses.

Within Guancheng, the weeds on both sides of the avenue were trampled flat, and the traces of trampling by a large number of people and horses were still there. The weeds on the avenue had been ground into black dry mud and got stuck in the road. Large stones were cleared to both sides of the road, and small stones Block sunk in loess.

Obviously, the Qin army brigade has been here, but why did they leave?Yelu Xiezhen was puzzled, and immediately walked forward. There were more than a dozen houses in the south of Guancheng. Soon the soldiers who came first came out of those village houses and came to report that there was no one there.

"It should have been taken away by the Qin army..." Han Derang said, "It's just that it's really strange that they don't defend themselves at such a risk. They can't rush in. It's better to send more Qingqi to the south to find out about the situation of the Qin State. The situation over there."

Yelu Xiezhen agreed, "Before the arrival of the Chinese army, we need to find out the situation as soon as possible. It is best to find out where the Qin army is? I can't see them feeling uneasy."

Han Derang beckoned, and immediately sent dozens of teams of elite cavalry, each team of five, to search south along the Hegu Avenue trail. Once they see the Qin army, report back and don't fight with them.

Then he said: "I will personally take people to garrison the north and south of the Guanbei to wait for the Chinese army. Please take people over to protect the gap."

Yelu Xiezhen nodded in agreement, and Han Derang hurried back to dispatch troops.

Handerang is a Han Chinese who just turned 31. He has a square face and thick eyebrows. He looks very heavy.

He can get such opportunities and official positions related to his grandparents.

Although Han Derang's family is Han Chinese, their status in the Liao Kingdom is very high.

His grandfather, Han Zhigu, went to the Liao Kingdom to write orders, and his father was the Jiedu Envoy, Tejin, and Taiwei of the Shiping Army of the Great Liao Kingdom. Han Kuangsi.

This time His Majesty was able to succeed in Shangjing smoothly. In addition to the efforts of Xiao Siwen, Gao Xun, Yelu Xiezhen and others in the Southern Academy, Han Kuangsi is the most important leader among the people who support Yeluxian in Shangjing. one.

So after inheriting the Datong, before the battle was fought, the new king Yeluxian immediately gave Han Kuangsi the title of King Yan.

With the shadow of his grandfather and father, Han Derang became an official in the Shangjing Palace when he was young, and the monarch has been improving his position rapidly in order to win over the Han family.

But even so, Han Derang is not like many prairie people. He is very calm and never domineering because of his status. He has very good popularity both in the officialdom and in the army.

Soon, the Liao army took control of Beikou Pass City, ready to let the Chinese army quickly cross the natural danger of Beikou Great Wall after arriving.

In the afternoon, the Chinese army arrived one after another. Prime Minister Yelusha asked them about the situation ahead. Han Derang was ordered to report and was ready to start arranging for the army to pass through the North Gate immediately.

they

I have already figured it out, as long as the main force passes through the dangerous area of ​​Beikou, the chances of winning will be great.

At this time, the scouts in front also reported that they found six strange fortresses of the Qin army in the valley, and there were Qin army activities around the fortresses.

Yelu Xiezhen was puzzled, so he immediately brought him to Prime Minister Yelusha and told him about the situation in the valley.

The soldier said that the Qin army built six forts in a staggered manner in the river valley, three on the east side of the hillside and high ground, and the other three by the river, shaped like a flower, and each fortress had a long ramp outside. , but it is not steep or high. Unlike other fortresses, there are a large number of walls on the outside, and horses can run up it. I don't know what their plans are.

The stable Han De made everyone nervous, so he rarely made a joke: "They want to surrender and let our Ma Shunpo run to the top of the city?"

Everyone laughed, Yelu Xiezhen pulled the reins and said, "I remembered that the Qin State also had such a fort by the Daqing River. It's very strange, unlike the city walls built by the Han people in the past."

The scout interjected, "In any case, those fortresses are not very big, and there are at most a few hundred people stationed in them, and the six fortresses have a maximum of 3000 people."

Han Derang thought for a while: "Are there any traces of the Qin army in the surrounding mountains and valleys?"

The scout shook his head: "The river valley is steep on all sides, so we won't go right away. We're just exploring along the river valley road."

"The horses can't walk, but the people can't be sure. They all dismounted and walked up the mountain, and sent more people to disperse them. They searched for more than ten miles around the valley. Maybe the Qin army was hiding an ambush in the mountains. Those 2000 people were trying to lure us. of."

The scout was suspicious: "Deputy commander, the mountains on both sides of the valley are very steep, there is no room for anyone, and there is no place for them to ambush. Those mountains can't hide tens of thousands of people."

"Send someone to look at it." Han Derang still cautiously said: "In case there is any flat land in the mountain where people can hide, we don't know."

Then he turned back to Ye Luxian and said, "My lord, please let the army pass through the North Gate immediately. Although I don't understand Qin Jun's intentions now, but in any case, as long as we pass through the North Gate, the Great Wall will be useless."

Yelusha agreed, and then issued a military order.

Before dark that day, tens of thousands of elite Liao troops crossed the North Gate, but they did not rush in. Instead, they stayed overnight in the south of the North Gate, waiting for information ahead.

The next day, the scouts from all over the front reported back. They searched all over the surrounding mountains, but they did not see any trace of the Qin army's ambushes. Moreover, among the hundreds of scouts they sent out, more than a dozen people were injured, and eight fell to their deaths in the mountains. It can be fully confirmed that unless the Qin army is a bird in the surrounding mountains, their large number of ambushes will not be able to stay.

At this time, although the doubts in the hearts of several commanders of the Chinese army did not dissipate, they were also very excited. This shows that in the entire valley, the Qin army only had six fortresses, with two to three thousand defenders, and there were more than [-] in front of their elite Chinese army. people, followed by a [-] reserve army led by the monarch himself.

You must know that after passing the dangerous section of the Great Wall at the north entrance, the river valley to Tanzhou in the south is dangerous on both sides, but the valley in the middle is very wide. The widest part has about two or three miles of flat ground that can allow large cavalry to pass easily. The place is hundreds of paces wide except for the avenue, which is simply the world of cavalry.

Yelu Xiezhen immediately asked for orders: "Commander, give me 5000 men, and I will go and lay down the fortress of the Qin army, and the Chinese army can just follow up."

Yelusha said cautiously: "I'll give you 1 people, don't be careless, attack the six forts one by one! If not, send people up in turn, and grind slowly."

"I will lead the troops to respond," Han De let out.

Yelusha nodded and agreed with their suggestion, "As long as we get through the river valley and reach Tanzhou, half of the victory is already won!"

"Yes, we will never disappoint His Majesty's kindness!" Both of them were very excited, 6 people beat two or three thousand, the advantage is very big!This is a great opportunity to make meritorious deeds, not to mention that His Majesty has just ascended the throne, it is a good opportunity to gain fame and fame.

Chapter 522, Big Gamble

"What exactly is it?" On the hillside, Yelusha and Handerang looked at the fortress of the Qin army in the valley, frowning.

Han Derang looked down at the deployment of the Qin army in the valley, and he always felt a little uneasy. On the one hand, the rumors about Shi Congyun over the years were well known even in Shangjing, and the Liao court had always paid close attention to it.

And their Han family father and son, as the Han father and son with high positions in the Liao Kingdom, are responsible for most of the intelligence and situation of the Qin Kingdom in the south. Listen.

It was also because of this that they had close contact with the South Court, conspired with each other early on, and were ready to welcome Yeluxian to the throne.

Because of his special status, he pays much more attention to the Qin State in the south than others, and what Shi Congyun has done in the past 20 years actually shocked him and frightened him.

They defeated their army twice and seized several states in Guanbei. This is what most Liao people knew about Shi Congyun's deeds. These have made them a little frightened and lack confidence when facing Shi Congyun.

But he knows more. He also knows that Shi Congyun has conquered the Northern Han Dynasty and annexed Hedong in the past 20 years; Nanping and Wuping annexed Jingchu; conquered Lingnan and annexed Southern Han; captured Huainan, conquered Southern Tang, annexed Jiangnan; merged Wuyue.

This is only 20 years!Even a hero like the Emperor Taizu of the Liao Dynasty could not do it

In his heart, Han Derang had a very high evaluation of Shi Congyun, and he was also very cautious. He always thought that he was definitely a figure like Emperor Qin and Hanwu. The Liao Kingdom is in a high position, so he will deliberately belittle Shi Congyun.

Handerjean is very smart, so he is also very disturbed.

The forts in the valley are strange, unlike the tall walls and forts built by the Han in Hebei, they seem to be able to house a few hundred people at most each.

Moreover, their fortress is very strange. The main body is a square wall, and there are corner watchtowers. The city wall, with stairs at the back connecting the main city wall from the air, looks very strange.

The most important thing is that the walls of these fortresses are generally not very high, about two feet, and there are deep ditches around them. Hundred steps long.

But those slopes don't say that people can climb up, even horses can climb up, but they walk slower, so they are even more puzzled, why the Qin army took time and effort to build such gentle slopes.

Han Derang thought to himself, maybe Shi Congyun is old and confused. Those heroes who became famous at a young age, such as Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and Zhuangzong of the Later Tang Dynasty, etc., all made great achievements when they were young and strong, and soon fell into the circle of self-righteousness and great achievements. , and eventually self-destruct the Great Wall.

If so, it would be best!

Shi Congyun is indeed young, he should be in his early thirties, at most one or two years older than him, so he is even more remarkable.

However, he couldn't use this explanation to convince himself. Handerang looked east. In the northern section of the valley, there were a large number of cavalry and densely packed, and there were many flags.

However, most of the troops in the front are infantry, even those on horseback must dismount, because the siege battle will be fought in the valley next.

Moreover, there are many infantry troops in the Liao Army. The territory of the Liao Kingdom looks very vast, but its core areas are still in Nanjing, Tokyo and Shangjing. In fact, the Liao Kingdom does not have that strict control over the vast Mobei grassland. In the situation of the dependent country, there are no officials, let alone garrisons, and they are required to pay tribute.

Therefore, the Han and Xi troops are a very important part of the Liao army. Most of the Khitans are dismounted from their horses to herd and plow and mount their horses to fight, while the Shan army in Shangjing, which is mainly composed of Han people, is a professional army with full military pay. .