Chapter 1321: Troops Not Moved
Chapter 1321: Troops Not Moved
Lulong Town has actually been abolished.
In the 326th year of the Shengui reign of the Former Jin Dynasty (), Duan Wenyang had been complaining that although the territory of Lulong Town was not small, it was mostly mountainous and there was not much flat land, so most people could only graze. Grazing would have been fine, but there were frequent raids, which made grazing unsafe, and the people became increasingly poor, and finally had to rely on grain and silk awarded by the court to survive.
Therefore, in order to better control the Tuoba Xianbei, they abolished the Lulong Town and moved the Duan tribe westward to Xuanhongchi to monitor Pingcheng nearby.
Xuanhongchi is a good place without much pressure from war, so Duan Bu left happily. Duan Wenyang also got a staff position in the Chanyu's mansion, which greatly increased his status.
However, after Duan's troops left, someone had to defend Lulong Town, after all, this place was too critical.
During the Kaiping Period, the Ministry of War issued a document to re-establish Lulong Town. However, the so-called Lulong Town commanders and soldiers are not fixed. Instead, they are strong and powerful people and elite tribesmen from various counties in Youzhou, and their children lead the garrison. To put it bluntly, it is a rotation garrison, that is, the court has allocated the national defense costs to the local governments. This has been the old wisdom since the Han Dynasty.
It was the classical era, not the Ming and Qing dynasties where everything required money to do something. The national system, social customs, and political ethics were all different.
On the morning of March 16, waves of horse hoof sounds were heard in the mountain mist.
The two thousand soldiers in the garrison treated the situation as a formidable enemy and immediately beat drums to prepare for battle.
The five hundred miscellaneous Hu cavalry stationed outside the city led out their horses, their faces solemn.
It was not until the personal soldiers of Prince Shao Yu of Yan arrived and both sides verified their identities that they lifted their guard.
Shao Yu did not stay in Lulong Town, but went directly across Lulongkou to the north - the so-called Lulong Pass, namely Panjiakou, is located west of Xifengkou and is now submerged under the reservoir.
After going out of the border and heading north, the scenery suddenly changed.
At noon, everyone took a short break.
The sun was shining brightly at that time, and the mountain breeze blew away the mist, revealing the true appearance of Yanshan Mountain to everyone.
Pei Man, friend of King Yan, dismounted from his horse, scooped up a pool of clear spring water and wiped the dust off his face.
"Your Highness." He turned around and said, "It's better not to stay any longer. Taking advantage of the quarrel between the Murong brothers, move forward and build the warehouse city."
Shao Yu put his horse spear aside, came over to wash his face, and then asked, "Where is the best place to build a warehouse city?"
"The ancient city of Pinggang (also written as Pinggang or Pinggang) is the best." Pei Man said.
There was Pinggang County in Yuyang State (west of Weichang), which was a newly established county, not the Pinggang County of the Han Dynasty.
The ancient city of Pinggang is the former site of Pinggang County in the Han Dynasty. It is located between Pingquan and Ningcheng in later generations. It belongs to Youbeiping Town, Ningcheng County and the west bank of Laoha River.
"Is it too far?" the lieutenant came over and asked.
He had just finished reorganizing his troops. He was personally leading the 3,000 cavalrymen from the Prince of Yan's Palace, while Lieutenant Sima Lu Han led the 3,000 infantrymen from the Yanshan Garden behind him.
Along with them came 1,200 soldiers of the Right Cavalry Guard, led by a deputy commander named Tuoba Sigong. Each soldier had a war horse and a riding horse. The war horses were ridden by themselves, while the riding horses were led by a few hundred commanders, and a lot of luggage was also carried on the horses' backs.
In other words, there were a total of more than 4,300 cavalrymen who followed Shao Yu northward, and more than 6,000 infantrymen were following behind. They should have just arrived at Lulong Town by now.
"It's better to be far away." Shao Yu smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? This is not the first time I have walked this road. Since Murong defeated Yuwen several times and drove him away, there is no place in this area that is definitely safe. If we can renovate the old city of Pinggang, the situation will change drastically. Even if we encounter enemies, we will just kill them."
Everyone's morale was boosted after hearing his heroic words. Even Tuoba Sigong couldn't help but look at him twice, wondering if the King of Yan was just good at talking or was he really so heroic?
After having enough rest, more than 4,000 riders continued their journey northward with seven days’ worth of dry food.
******
On the night of the 17th, the sky was clear during the day, but fine snowflakes began to fall at night.
Everyone sighed inwardly and were about to find a place to rest, but they heard the sound of war horses galloping on the mountain road ahead.
The other party seemed to have discovered them as well and quickly stopped, followed by a burst of shouting and neighing of horses.
"Right Cavalry Guard!" Tuoba Sigong shouted, ordered people to light torches and wave his general's flag.
Two followers rode up behind him and beat drums on horseback.
This is the signal to gather troops.
"He is indeed a veteran soldier with many years of experience." Shao Yu praised him secretly, but he was also a little dissatisfied. This general did not even ask for his opinion and just beat the drum to gather the troops without authorization.
To put it in a positive way, they are highly qualified and can judge the battlefield situation and make their own arrangements. At a critical moment when the two armies are in a stalemate and each side suffers heavy losses, such middle and lower-level officers are valuable assets and can often achieve miraculous results.
To put it in a bad way, it would be purely acting on one's own initiative and disrupting the commander's tactical deployment. What if the other party wants to set an ambush?
After all, these soldiers who have been fighting for years are too confident and look down on people outside the system who command them.
How brave! Shao Yu did not get angry but laughed. I want soldiers like this.
Arrogant and brave generals are regarded as a scourge and beast by others. I like them!
"To Hua!" Shao Yu pulled the reins and shouted.
"I'm here." The lieutenant Daohua clasped his fists and said.
"Select a thousand men, five hundred on each side, with many torches, and head towards the mountains on both sides." Shao Yu waved his arms and gave the order.
"Yes, sir." Daohua immediately began to count the troops.
Most of the soldiers he selected were new Hu and Han soldiers recruited last winter. These people had not been trained enough and might not be able to fight in tough battles, but they had one advantage: they could shoot arrows and ride horses.
Five hundred men went to the left, and five hundred men went to the right, each led by a leader.
Birds were flying in the woods and there were faint sounds of wolves howling, but no one was afraid. After everyone took their positions, they drew their bows and arrows, preparing for battle.
The enemy seemed to be making arrangements, or perhaps hesitating, but soon the sound of horse hooves arose again, and they actually galloped straight towards this side.
"General Tuoba." Shao Yu looked at the palace soldiers who had already gathered and said loudly.
Before the horses arrived, the 1,200 soldiers had even started to deploy their troops without even having time to put on their armor.
The front team consisted of 300 riders, all of whom were wearing leather armor. The middle team consisted of 500 men and the rear team consisted of 400 men, all of whom were not wearing armor. At this time, they showed no fear, and each of them drew out a variety of weapons and formed a battle array on the mountain road.
"Your Highness may watch the battle by yourself. I will lead the troops to defeat the enemy." Tuoba Sigong responded.
"How dare we let the Right Cavalry Guard take all the credit? Let's join forces to defeat the enemy." Shao Yu waved his lance and shouted.
Tuoba Sigong looked at him seriously and said, "Your Highness is indeed heroic."
Shao Yu turned his head and looked behind him. Amidst the fine snow, a thousand elite cavalrymen from the royal palace had already mounted their horses and formed a formation.
"Anyone who kills the general and seizes the flag will be taken off his armor and led to his horse by me. If anyone hesitates and is afraid to fight, he will be killed without mercy. In this battle, I am invincible." After saying this, Shao Yu ran out first.
"I'm invincible!" The palace guards mounted their horses and chased after him.
Pei Man, Pan Dan, Cui Jinghua and other scholars anxiously looked at the direction where the King of Yan left, while taking out spears and horn bows and riding out on horseback.
In the cold snowy night, they were already sweating profusely and urged their horses as hard as they could, trying to stand in front of King Yan.
The guards of the palace were even more brave. At this time, dozens of them had come from behind and rushed to the front.
The mountain wind howled, snowflakes flew in my face, and mixed in the wind was the sound of thunder and lightning.
The terrain ahead became wider and wider, and the arrows became more and more dense.
The neighing of war horses and the groaning of knights were endless.
In the wilderness, a torch appeared faintly, but under the blowing of wind and snow, it soon became dim and was about to go out.
enough!
Shao Yu adjusted his direction and rushed towards the area where the enemy torches were most densely packed.
The sound of arrows breaking through the air could be heard all around, and one arrow even hit him directly, but was blocked by the armor leaves.
Dao Hua slowed down his horse and commanded more than ten soldiers to surround the King of Yan.
At the front, dozens of elite cavalry from the royal palace had already collided with the enemy, and their screams could be heard far away in the night.
Shao Yu squeezed his legs hard against the horse's belly and rushed out suddenly, shouting, "I can smell the smell of sheep on the thieves, don't try to stop me!"
Everyone was excited by his words and their blood boiled.
Damn it, even the King of Yan is not afraid, so why should we be afraid of our own lives?
"Which warrior will fight with me?" Shao Yu shouted.
"Liu Jiu of Fanyang is willing to fight alongside Your Highness!" A rider rode forward and shouted.
"Duan Bao from Peking is here."
"Your Highness, please stand back. Hou Mochen is here!" A big white horse rushed out like lightning, followed by several cavalrymen with rope heads. Their braids were covered with frost and snow, but their heroic spirit filled the entire mountain.
"Bang!" Shao Yu thrust his spear at a group of black shadows that were coming towards him, and after struggling to throw them away, he laughed loudly, "Retreat for nothing! If I don't use my horse's hooves to trample their hearts out and my swords to chop them until their blades are bent, who would dare to retreat?"
As he spoke, dozens of riders passed by him, scattered the harassing enemy horse archers, and collided violently with the oncoming enemy.
Tuoba Sigong led 1,200 cavalrymen to bypass the most densely populated front battlefield, made a circle, and went to the side and rear of the enemy.
It seemed that some enemies had hastily gathered and rushed towards them, trying to block one or two attacks.
The 300 riders in the front team neither dodged nor evaded; the sound of horse hooves thundered and the cold long spears stabbed and slashed in the night.
The obstructing enemy troops were scattered to nowhere, and the palace soldiers rushed directly to the enemy's flank.
"Whoosh!" The last bit of flame seemed unable to withstand the momentum of the charging warhorse. After struggling desperately, it went out unwillingly.
The enemy's panicked shouts rang out in the darkness.
The sound of horse hooves was extremely chaotic, and it seemed that there was a retreat towards the northeast.
The palace soldiers did not hesitate and quickly chased the enemy in the direction of retreat, leaving behind the palace guards who were still fighting with some enemy cavalry...
The battle ended in the early morning hours.
The Liang army chased for twenty miles in one breath, and only withdrew until their horses were exhausted.
In the wind and snow, the soldiers who returned victorious were in high spirits. There were bloody heads everywhere under their saddles, on top of their spears, and even around their waists.
A rolled-up banner was tucked under the armpit of a knight on a white horse.
Prince Shao Yu of Yan walked beside this man, holding the reins in his hand and leading his horse.
Wherever he passed, the soldiers cheered.
Tuoba Sigong also got off the horse with a smile on his face.
so similar……
On the morning of the 19th, Li Chong arrived at Lulong Town, and with him came 30,000 civilians conscripted from various counties in Youzhou.
While urging the civilians to repair the roads and expand the warehouse city, he received a victory report from the front: On the night of the 17th, the King of Yan encountered the enemy on the road, defeated them, beheaded 385 people, captured 103 people, and seized 400 horses.
The number of prisoners and executions was not worth mentioning in Li Zhong's eyes. He had fought too many battles in his life. Let alone 500 people, even annihilating 5,000 enemies at once was nothing.
He glanced at Chang Long who was hesitant to speak and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I will pay attention. You go back first and take this victory report with you."
After saying this, he kicked the horse's belly and trotted forward.
The mountains were filled with young men who had gathered from all over the place. They were carrying carriages, horses, and various tools, and they were marching forward in a long queue.
If the soldiers and horses are not moving, the grain and grass will go first.
Now is not the time for a major war. We should first drive the enemy cavalry out, repair the dilapidated roads, and then build earthen cities along the way to store supplies.
He remembered the ancient city of Pinggang mentioned in the victory report from Prince Yan, which was indeed a good starting point for the war.
(End of this chapter)