Chapter 378: Direction of Advance
Chapter 378: Direction of Advance
"Quick! Close the door!" Outside the north gate of Ningping City, a group of farmers rushed towards the city in a mess.
They ran in such a hurry that they even left behind their precious pickaxes and shovels.
Some people were so panicked that they even rolled and cried.
Behind the low sheep and horse wall, hundreds of sheep were bleating and making a lot of noise.
The Xiongnu leader hesitated for a while, but finally could not resist the temptation of wealth, cattle, sheep and women, so he ordered his horses to speed up and rush into the city.
They came from the direction of Liang State, carrying only seven days' worth of food and water. After searching the area around Ku County in Chen County for several days, they discovered that the people in the Central Plains all lived in earthen enclosures.
The defensive power of the earthen wall is limited, but there are usually 500 households inside, so it is not a problem to gather 800 to 900 strong men. Although the lethality of wooden spears, iron knives, and hunting bows is not very strong, they can still kill people.
They are cavalry, there is really no need for them to fight to the death with these earthen walls.
But you are unwilling to fight to the death, and others are unwilling to surrender.
Looking at each other in disbelief, they were doomed to gain nothing and retreat when their food ran out.
Chenjun, Dongping, Gaoping and other places really have two different painting styles.
The people of Chen County are unwilling to surrender, but the people of Dongping and Gaoping will offer them food. This is the biggest difference.
It turns out that this is the Shao thief’s lair. The Huns have finally learned their lesson.
Today I finally came across a panicked earthen wall - no, Ningping City is the old county town of Ningping, an abandoned county of Liang State. Not to mention the earthen wall, even the fort is not as big as it is. There should be a lot of people in the city.
The Hun cavalry, who had gained nothing for days, finally couldn't bear it anymore. Taking advantage of the chaos among the people, they urged their horses and rushed in like arrows.
But as soon as they entered the city, a large number of arrows fell from high places on both sides.
The powerful force easily pierced through the fur coat, turning the Hun's body into a sieve.
At this point, even the dumbest person would know that this was a carefully planned ambush.
The Xiongnu cavalry that had already rushed into the city could not retreat for the time being and could only dismount from their horses and try to hide behind their horses. But with arrows falling from both sides, where could they hide?
After hearing the screams and the sound of arrows flying through the air from inside, the people outside realized something was wrong and quickly turned their horses around.
A large number of arrows fell from the wall again, harvesting another wave of heads.
The remaining people scattered and fled far away, then they stopped their horses and looked back in shock.
More than two hundred soldiers slowly walked out of the city gate.
The hundred men in the front row were wearing iron armor and holding various weapons, including lances, long swords, heavy axes, bows, crossbows, etc.
The hundred men in the back row were either unarmored or wearing leather armor. They basically only had a cheap spear. Occasionally, someone would carry a ring-handled sword and hold a bloody human head in his hand, standing silently in the back.
When the remaining Hun soldiers saw this, they immediately gave up the idea of fighting any further.
Even if there are only a few hundred strong men in an earthen wall, as long as some of them are experienced warriors, it will cost a lot to break through it given the advantages of the wall and the terrain.
They are cavalry, it's not worth it.
Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated, turned around and left, disappearing into the wilderness.
There was a burst of warm cheers in Ningping City.
When some people are happy, some people are sad.
Outside a small fort in the suburbs of Chengyang County, Jiyin Prefecture, tens of thousands of Shi Le's bandits surrounded it tightly.
Inside and outside the fortress walls, arrows and stones flew everywhere, and corpses fell like rain.
The Shi Le bandits, who had only simple siege equipment, mustered up their remaining courage and charged fiercely under the supervision of the cavalry.
By the evening, the Shi army stood on the top of the wall for the first time.
Although they were quickly driven down, the bandit leaders near and far all looked moved, as if they had smelled something, and sent another batch of fresh troops forward.
When night fell, the gate of the fort was thrown open. The soldiers of the Shi army rushed in with cheers, killing everyone they saw, with the intention of leaving no one alive.
Food was pulled out in carts to be used as military supplies.
The valuables were packed up and transported first to Fan County, and then transported back to Hebei via a floating bridge.
Before the war was over, they transported the property and people away. The reason was very simple: there were not enough vehicles for transportation, so they had to get rid of a batch first.
By this time, Dongwuyang, Fanxian and Jinxiang had become the main hubs for the transportation of materials, money and grain.
Central Guard General Jin Zhun has been wreaking havoc in Gaoping for ten days. He has now sent a part of his troops westward in an attempt to besiege Jiyin County City and then threaten Jiyang in order to capture all the members of the Yanzhou Shogunate.
General Anxi Liu Ya made rapid progress in Jibei and harvested a large amount of supplies. He then attacked Mount Tai and joined forces with Hu Yanyan's troops. They besieged Liangfu for several days but failed to capture it.
The battle was very fierce.
The main branch of the Taishan Yang family is in Nancheng, and there is also a branch of the Yang family in Liangfu, with quite a few members.
Yang was well versed in military strategy and had trained local militia very early on. When the enemy attacked, they defended the city and fought back and forth with Hu Yanyan.
Hu Yanyan was very puzzled. Among so many families, why was it you who resisted so fiercely?
After he got really angry, he actually stayed there and wouldn't move until Liu Ya led his army to come.
Within a few days, a large number of Huns were beheaded in battle, one was shot to death, and several clan leaders died in the siege, but they still failed to capture Liangfu.
The Yang family of Nancheng sent cavalry to harass the grain route, which made the two men furious. They had no choice but to lift the siege and leave, bullying those earthen walls and small forts that were easy to attack, and stealing some food, property and people.
Through this battle, the Huns further realized the harm of having too few infantry.
The cavalry that marched south to Yu and Yan were no less than 30,000, but the infantry was only Shi Le's 10,000 plus 5,000 Han imperial guards - if the forces of Cao Yi and Zhao Gu were not counted.
As a last resort, they could only mobilize Cao Qi's troops to march westward...
******
In the soft mud, a large group of soldiers formed three long lines and moved forward hesitantly.
The bright moonlight fell on the river surface, but there was no sparkling feeling, only darkness and dimness in the eyes.
People's feelings are always closely related to their mood.
A part of the Silver Spear Army was in the front, followed by auxiliary troops, then another part of the Silver Spear Army, followed by cavalry leading horses, and finally Shao Xun who personally covered the rear.
Most of the Silver Spear Army soldiers were boatmen, and a considerable number of them were already active between Xingyang and Luoyang. After leaving Ao Cang, the grain ships, merchant ships, and passenger ships entered the Yellow River, then sailed upstream to the west, then entered the Luo River through Luokou and headed for Luoyang.
The section of the Yellow River voyage "upstream" passes by the foot of Mount Dayi.
The older ones among them have walked this road countless times and would not go wrong even with their eyes closed.
Ji Shou, who was following Shao Xun, looked around and even wanted to take off his military boots and walk barefoot on this half-soaked sandy road, recalling the feeling of being a tracker.
However, when he saw Shao Xun's tall back, he put away his nostalgic feelings and continued on his way obediently.
There were boats sailing on the river, and vehicles loaded with supplies were heading downstream in a mighty manner.
They are moving very fast, and if nothing goes wrong, they will arrive at Sikou - where the Sishui River flows into the Yellow River - tonight, then drop anchor and wait.
As for their infantry and cavalry, it will probably take until the day after tomorrow for all of them to arrive in Xingyang.
Yes, Sikou is already in the territory of Xingyang. From now on, the road ahead is smooth, and how to fight next depends entirely on Mr. Chen's ingenious strategy.
Thinking of this, Ji Shou looked at the tall figure with admiration.
so amazing!
They made the Huns run around in circles, charging left and right among the vast army, and treated the Hun cavalry as nothing.
Every time he saw this figure, Ji Shou felt less worried. No matter how many people came, they were just chickens and dogs.
But when I can't see this person, I don't feel so at ease.
The Silver Spear Army has been deeply marked by this man since its establishment.
He was the father of the 9,600 men of the Silver Spear Army, a god-like figure, the spirit of the star Taibai descended to the earth, and people could not help but bow down to him in worship...
On the afternoon of October 3rd, the Silver Spears, Volunteers, Xiaoqi, Liangzhou Army and auxiliary troops, about 25,000 infantry and cavalry, all arrived at Sikou and rested there for one night.
On the evening of October 4th, the entire army arrived at Ao Cang and obtained food and fodder supplies.
After receiving the news, Pei Chun, the prefect of Xingyang, rushed over in a hurry.
"Mingsir." Pei Chun couldn't help but shout when he saw Shao Xun with an untidy beard and stained clothes.
"Why is your Excellency like this?" Shao Xun asked with a smile.
"I almost thought you were stopped in Luoyang," Pei Chun replied.
After saying that, he shook his head and sighed.
The Huns were making a lot of noise, and there was no news. There were also reports of enemy attacks everywhere, which really made him anxious. If it weren't for the last successful experience, which gave him a little confidence, he would have wanted to run away again.
Shao Xun laughed loudly, helped him up, and said, "I just want to ask a few questions today."
"Please speak, my lord. I will tell you everything I know." Pei Chun said.
"First thing, where did the Huns attack?" Shao Xun asked.
"My knowledge is limited." Pei Chun said, "Recently, I only heard that bandits appeared in Chen County, and Sima Chen led the government troops to fight and tried their best to drive them away."
Shao Xun nodded slightly.
The palace soldiers should have been mobilized under the order of Cao Fu. Including the retainers, several thousand people could still be raised.
If they only defended Chen County, they could barely provide support by moving back and forth between the various earthen walls, county towns, and forts with hundreds of people on horseback. After all, they were fighting on the interior, and their supplies were more convenient than those of the Xiongnu. Even if they only had one horse, their mobility was still acceptable.
"In Wei Cang, Hou Feihu led his people to travel back and forth by boat, inspecting Yingchuan, Nandun, Chenjun, and Ruyin."
"The Queen Mother of the East Sea has entrusted all power to Lord Cao. The Yamen Army is now stationed in Xuchang to protect your family."
"Juancheng was once besieged, and Envoy Yang repeatedly asked for help. Linqiu was conquered by Shi Le."
"A bandit army has penetrated deep into Jiyin and appears to be heading towards Kaocheng."
"Is that all?" Shao Xun asked.
"I am ashamed." Pei Chun said, "I live in a remote corner, and the messengers are often intercepted and killed. I have no access to any news. This is all I know."
"Have any bandits crossed the river south to Xingyang?"
"No."
"Did Shan Zheng fight at Hulao Pass?"
"We fought once, lost hundreds of soldiers, and then never fought again."
"There may be bandits on the other side of the river."
"There should be some, but I don't know who the enemy leader is or how many soldiers he has."
"Is there any news from Ji County?"
"No."
Shao Xun nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Pei. As long as Hulao Pass is not lost and Xingyang County is kept peaceful, you have already made a contribution."
Pei Chun knew nothing about anything, and so did Shao Xun. He knew even less than Pei Chun.
It now seems that Henei, Jijun, Dongqiu and other places on the north bank of the river are completely shrouded in fog, and the eastern part of Yu and Yan states is also an information black hole, and no one knows what is happening there.
The Huns’ full-frequency interference is really powerful.
Now it's time to think carefully, determine the direction of advance, and try to give the Huns a surprise.
"Jin Zheng, Wang Que'er." Shao Xun suddenly shouted.
The two were outside, and when they heard the sound they immediately ran in and saluted together.
Shao Xun held their hands, looked at them for a long time, and said: "When a child grows up, you have to let go. When a student finishes his apprenticeship, he must stand on his own..."
(End of this chapter)