The wheat harvest in full swing ended ten days later. The Western Army's 200,000 troops began to march towards Kaifeng Prefecture from three directions. Liu Cui and Yang Zaixing led an army of 60,000 out of Hulao Pass and entered Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou's 5,000 gold soldiers withdrew in anticipation of the wind.
Quickly retreating to Kaifeng Prefecture, the Song army occupied Guancheng County in Zhengzhou without any effort.
The army continued to advance eastward along the Jinshui River. Two days later, the army captured Zhongmou County to the west of Kaifeng Prefecture and then stopped advancing. At this time, the West Route Army was still 150 miles away from Bianliang.
Chen Qing led a main force of 100,000 troops from Xuchang County to Kaifeng Prefecture. In just three days, he successively occupied Fugou, Weishi County and Xianping County. The army was about 180 miles away from Bianliang.
However, the 50,000-strong East Route Army led by Gao Ding moved in a strange way. They went north from Chenzhou, but instead of going due north, they moved slightly northeast, entered Yingtian Prefecture, and captured Zhe County in the southwest corner of Yingtian Prefecture.
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The location of Zhe County is extremely clever. To the west, you can penetrate into Kaifeng Mansion, and to the east, you can defend against the Jin soldiers of Yingtian Mansion.
Wanyan Wushu did not hesitate. He personally led 50,000 Jurchen troops and 30,000 Tao troops to face the main force of the Western Army in the middle. At the same time, Wanyan Alu led 20,000 Jurchen troops and 30,000 Tao troops to face the West route army.
But at this critical moment, the news that the imperial court's 200,000 troops had crossed the Huaihe River and begun the Northern Expedition reached the Western Army Camp in Kaifeng Prefecture.
In the Chinese army tent in Yuchi County, Chen Qing looked at the sand table with a gloomy face for a long time without saying a word.
Zhang Xiao said solemnly: "It can be seen from this incident that the imperial court is actually colluding with the Jin Bing. They must have received orders from the Jin Bing to cross the Huaihe River and choose the most critical moment to go north to let us enter.
Neither is it, nor is retreating."
Chen Qing pointed to the map and said: "I have ordered Li Qiong to lead 30,000 troops to defend Xuzhou City. Even if other places are occupied by imperial troops, as long as Li Qiong can hold Xuzhou City for a month, it will buy us time."
"A month should be enough. We sent 20,000 barrels of kerosene before, and Li Qiong's army wants to protect the family members in the city. They will definitely resist to the death."
Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his back: "But it's not enough to just rely on Li Qiong to resist. We also need to send out unexpected troops to help."
Zhang Xiao hesitated and said: "I'm just afraid that if the cavalry goes south, the Huaihe River will be difficult!"
"No need to cross the Huaihe River,"
Chen Qing shook his head and pointed to the Dangtu County Road on the map: "Our special forces are here!"
At the fourth watch, a group of scouts and cavalry rushed to the Western Army camp in Weishi County. Soon, Shen Qing, the leader of the scouts, was quickly led to the commander's tent. The soldiers asked him to wait a moment and went in first to report.
Chen Qing was woken up by his own soldiers while he was sleeping. He was very alert. He sat up and asked, "What happened?"
The soldier whispered: "Your Highness, there are scouts to report, saying that there is a serious enemy situation!"
"Bring him in."
Not long after, Shen Qing was brought into the tent. He knelt down on one knee and reported: "The deputy commander of the Flying Eagle Army Scout Battalion, Shen Qing, reports the urgent military situation to His Highness!"
Yes, he was promoted to deputy commander. Chen Qing nodded and said: "Since you are a scout of the Flying Eagle Army, why don't you report it to Xiao Dutong first?"
"The situation is urgent, and my humble position cannot be limited to trivial matters."
Seeing that his attitude was serious, Chen Qing probably didn't mean to report beyond his level. Liu Qiong's Flying Eagle Army was in the south of the city, and it would indeed take him half an hour to come and go.
"Tell me! What urgent information?"
"We found the main force of the Jin soldiers in Chicang Town, about 70,000 to 80,000 people, marching at night, heading towards Weishi County."
This information is too important. Chicang Town is only sixty miles away from Weishi County. If the opponent's cavalry attacks, they may be killed in an hour.
Chen Qing confirmed again: "Can the information be taken seriously?"
"I am willing to guarantee my humble position!"
Chen Qing stood up and walked out of the big tent and said: "Sound the alarm, the whole army must assemble!"
"Dang! Dang! Dang!"
The alarm bell rang quickly, and the soldiers woke up from their sleep. Thousands of scouts patrolling the perimeter quickly retreated. Twenty thousand crossbowmen rushed to ambush in front of the camp. The remaining soldiers began to dismantle the tent. At the same time, the Flying Eagle Army outside the southern city
The camp also sounded the alarm.
The enemy cavalry arrived faster than Chen Qing expected. Half an hour later, 20,000 Jurchen cavalry had already reached five miles away from the camp.
The ground began to shake, and the muffled thunder of the galloping cavalry rang out. They did not slow down at all, just to catch the Western army off guard before they had time to get up and gather troops.
The cavalrymen were getting closer and closer, only 350 steps were left, dust was flying in the sky, the moonlight and starlight were all blocked, and the sky and the earth turned into pitch black.
"Fire the bed crossbow!" Chen Qing ordered coldly.
One thousand crossbows were fired at the same time, and five thousand jackdaw arrows were fired like a storm towards the enemy 350 steps away.
‘Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!’ Arrows shot into the cavalry group like a rapid rain. Jackdaw arrows were indestructible. They had always been the natural enemy of the Jurchen cavalry and the most feared weapon of the Jurchen cavalry.
It shot through the shield, through the iron armor, and through the body of the cavalry, and countless cavalry fell from their horses.
At this time, Chen Qing ordered again, "Shoot with the divine arm crossbow!"
Ten thousand divine arm crossbowmen launched a second wave of offensive, firing thousands of arrows. Ten thousand divine arm crossbow arrows rose into the sky and shot at the galloping Jurchen cavalry.
At this moment, the horn of the Jurchen cavalry sounded, and the low horn sound of "Woo--Woo--" echoed in the night sky.
The Jurchen cavalry suddenly began to change direction and no longer attacked the Western Army's camp, but rushed eastward. The Jurchen cavalry found that the Western Army was prepared, so they gave up the surprise attack and moved eastward.
But the 10,000 divine crossbow arrows did not miss, and they were all shot into the cavalry team. Another group of people fell on their backs, and no one knew how many people were injured or killed.
The Jurchen cavalry also fired arrows at random while running, shooting arrows in the direction of the Western Army, and then ran far east.
However, the Jurchen cavalry ran a little further, and 10,000 Western cavalry rushed out of the camp and began to clear the battlefield. The injured soldiers who were not killed were all stabbed to death with a spear.
The results of the battle were quickly counted, and the bodies of more than 2,800 Jurchen cavalry were found, and 1,300 war horses were seized.
This is the price of an unsuccessful sneak attack by the enemy, but if the sneak attack is successful, it is very likely that the Western Army will be in chaos, tens of thousands of people will be killed, and Chen Qing will retreat south in panic.
Wanyan Wushu will definitely pursue and kill them without mercy.
This was a gambling battle, but unfortunately Wanyan Wushu underestimated the Western Army's scouts and ultimately fell short.
Chen Qing immediately rewarded the scouts heavily and ordered the entire army to assemble and march north.
On the east bank of the Huimin River, about thirty miles north of Yuchi County, the 100,000-strong army led by Chen Qing encountered the main force of Wanyan Wushu, which originally numbered 80,000, but now there are still 77,000.
The two armies stopped five miles apart. Both sides lined up in order, with flags fluttering and murderous intent.
At this time, a Jurchen cavalry galloped over, still two hundred paces away from the Western Army's formation, shot a message arrow, turned around and galloped five hundred paces away, as if waiting for a reply.
A Western Army cavalry rushed forward, picked up the arrow message, and returned to give it to Chen Qing.
Chen Qing opened the letter and found that it was written by Wanyan Wushu himself.
"His Royal Highness, King Yong of Sichuan and Shaanxi, I let you escape in the battle of Fuping. I still regret it. It has been more than ten years in the blink of an eye. I have fought countless battles with you, each with his own victory and defeat. Although we are enemies, we still feel sympathy for each other. I pity the Jurchen soldiers from generation to generation.
I can't bear to die. If your highness's army withdraws from Kaifeng Mansion, one month later, I will abandon Bianliang and retreat eastward. You can take Bianliang. I will not hurt the soldiers, and everyone will be happy. I swear by the immortal sky, what I said
The sentence is true, please think twice!"
Chen Qing burst into laughter and wrote: 'Fuck your mother's stinky shit!'
He handed the letter to the soldier and said, "Shoot it back!"
The guard galloped away and shot an arrow. The other party's cavalry bent down, picked up the arrow, and galloped back.
This Wanyan Wushu is still dreaming! Give himself a month to lead his army to attack the imperial army. If he then concentrates his forces to attack Luoyang, even Yingtianfu's army will take the opportunity to sneak attack Xuchang, maximizing the use of the imperial army.
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But it is more likely that they confuse themselves and make themselves think that the meat-eating incident has caused the Jin soldiers to have low morale and are unwilling to fight against themselves, thus creating the idea of underestimating the enemy.
If Wanyan Wushu was really sincere in asking him to withdraw his troops and switch to Bianliang, then why did he send cavalry to sneak attack on him last night? He almost succeeded in the sneak attack.
Chen Qing was the head coach and he was responsible for an army of 100,000 men. From the bottom of his heart, he didn't believe every word Wanyan Wushu said.
Wanyan Wushu received the reply. He was so anxious that he opened it. When he saw the bottom line, he became furious and burst into rage. He tore the letter into pieces, brandished his sword and shouted: "Attack!"