Zhongtiao Mountain is located in the north of Shaanzhou, that is, on the north bank of the Yellow River. After Chen Qing's army captured Shaanzhou, they actually also captured a large area of land on the north bank of the Yellow River, and could attack Hezhong Prefecture through the pass of Zhongtiao Mountain.
The first step for the Song Army to attack Hedong Road from Zhongtiao Mountain was to gain an important foothold. They could directly attack Hezhong Prefecture from the southeast, or they could attack Jiezhou from the northeast.
Chen Qing finally decided to attack Jiezhou and seize Jiezhou, the southernmost county of Jiezhou. Firstly, the defensive strength of Jiezhou was far inferior to that of Hezhongfu. Secondly, 500 Song troops had already sneaked into Jiexian County, so they could cooperate internally and externally.
Speaking of which, thanks to the help of Shaanzhou Yang Gongdao, he persuaded his brother-in-law, Pei Bo, the head of the Wenxi Pei family, and Pei Bo's son Pei Yundong was the county captain of Jie County. With the help of Pei Yundong,
Five hundred Song troops were divided into three groups and sneaked into Jie County.
At present, the Song Army has deployed 30,000 troops in the Ruicheng area south of Zhongtiao Mountain, led by Dutong Niu Gao. The reason why the 30,000-strong army is deployed is not to defend Shaanzhou, but to prepare to break through the pass of Zhongtiao Mountain and enter Hedong.
, cooperate with the Pujin Pass operation from the side.
At night, a Song army of 20,000 people rushed quickly on the mountain road. There were more than a dozen passes through Zhongtiao Mountain. Among them, the Song army controlled three passes. This pass was one of them.
one.
This pass is called Xiazikou. After passing through Xiazikou and walking twenty miles further, we will reach Jie County.
It was the first watch at this time. Niu Gao led an army of 20,000 people and marched quickly. He could vaguely see the camp gates and tents in front of them. Over there was the Song army's control camp.
The Song army stationed 500 people at the most dangerous place. Looking into the distance from here, you can vaguely see the lights of thousands of families in the county.
When the army arrived at the camp, the commander Yang Xu came out to welcome Niu Gao.
"Commander Yang, is there any news in the city today?"
The city is sending pigeon letters to contact Niu Gao. Today is the last day. If there are any special changes today, someone in the city will come out to contact Yang Xu.
"Reporting to Niu Dutong, no one in the city came to contact me."
Niu Gao nodded, turned around and ordered: "Rest where you are for half an hour!"
The soldiers were a little tired from walking over the mountains and ridges, so they sat down to rest on the roadside, drink some water and eat some dry food.
Half an hour later, the army continued to set off. After passing Xiazikou, it was almost all downhill. The soldiers were very fast and relatively relaxed.
At the third watch, the army arrived three miles south of Jie County. The time agreed upon by both parties was to capture Nancheng at the fourth watch, which was also the time when the city slept the deepest and sweetest.
Jie County is a large county with a population of more than 100,000 people. The perimeter of the city wall is about 30 miles. There are 5,000 troops garrisoned in the city. This is also a normal garrison. There are 10,000 troops stationed in Jiezhou, all of whom are Han Chinese.
There are 5,000 troops stationed in Wenxi County and Hehe County each.
At this time, the county town was very quiet. There was a Town God's Temple near the south city. Dozens of tents were set up here, filled with civilians. These civilians were recruited by the county captain Pei Yundong to dredge the rivers in the city.
There are about a thousand civilians, but 500 of them are soldiers of the Song Army. Pei County Lieutenant specially separated them from other civilians. They live in more than a dozen large tents in the east.
Today was the day of action. At dusk, bundles of weapons were brought into the tent and hidden. There were a total of 500 spears, 500 swords, and more than 100 sets of bows and arrows. These were all privately hoarded by Pei County Lieutenant.
things.
The leader of the five hundred men is a commander named Cheng Xin, who is the brother of Cheng Heng, the commander of the Shangjun. Cheng Heng is currently leading an army of 50,000 in Xixia, while Cheng Xin is Niu Gao's general.
The dark hall of the City God's Temple was crowded with people. Five hundred civilians and soldiers gathered together. Cheng Xin shouted to everyone: "Everyone, listen, there is no pity for seizing the city in one fell swoop. Either the enemy dies or we live."
, if we fail to seize the city, none of our five hundred people will survive!"
Everyone nodded silently, and Cheng Xin said to the deputy commander Li Hongwu: "You and a hundred brothers are responsible for keeping the alarm bell. Don't let the alarm bell ring."
"I understand the humble position!"
The arrangements were made and the time was almost up. Cheng Xin waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"
Five hundred of his men followed Cheng Xin and rushed to the outside of the City God's Temple. Outside the gate of the City God's Temple, there was the Central Axis Street, and the South City Gate was less than a hundred steps away from them.
At the fourth watch, the south city gate was also very quiet. In the city gate cave, a dozen soldiers were sitting on the ground and sleeping against the wall, holding spears in their arms. Cheng Xin gave a wink, and a captain led fifty soldiers to rush in.
In the city gate cave, more than a dozen soldiers were controlled.
Four hundred and fifty soldiers walked up the corridor to the city. Cheng Xin waved his hand back, indicating that everyone should squat down. He slowly looked towards the top of the city and saw scattered soldiers on both sides of the city.
The tower was full of sleeping soldiers, as many as seventy or eighty people.
Chengxin gritted his teeth and ordered: "Kill!"
He led hundreds of soldiers to rush to the top of the city, killing the enemy troops at the city tower like a gust of wind.
"There is an enemy!"
Several soldiers from the Confederate Army were awakened and saw a large group of civilians rushing towards them with spears, and they shouted in fright.
A soldier reacted very quickly, picked up his mallet, jumped up and struck the alarm bell above. A wolf-fang arrow shot out with a "whoosh!" and hit him in the neck. The soldier fell to the ground with his head up.
More than four hundred people swarmed up, wielding spears and fought fiercely with the enemy troops on the city top. In just a moment, they assassinated all the enemy troops. The scattered soldiers on both sides were so frightened that they ran and shouted, "There is an enemy situation! There is an enemy situation!"
The soldiers of the Song Army ignored these scattered soldiers. They quickly lowered the suspension bridge, opened the city gate, and lit torches.
Niu Gao led an army of 20,000 to several hundred steps away. When he saw the city gates opening and torches waving, Niu Gao shouted, "Come into the city!"
Twenty thousand soldiers surged into the city
Niu Gao led 20,000 troops to capture Jie County. Most of the 5,000 soldiers in the city surrendered. Those who tried to resist were wiped out by the Song army. Niu Gao immediately ordered Cheng Xin to lead 5,000 soldiers to guard Jie County, while he led 15,000 soldiers to attack Hedong City.
Pounce.
There are 30,000 troops stationed in Hezhong Prefecture, which is the most important defense force for the Song Army's Eastern Expedition.
The Song army usually crossed the Yellow River from Pujin Pass to attack Hedong. Pujin Pass, also called Pujin Ferry, has been the most important crossing between Qin and Jin Dynasties for thousands of years. On the one hand, the flow of the Yellow River here is relatively gentle, and on the other hand, the water flow of the Yellow River here is relatively gentle.
On the other hand, the banks of the Yellow River in Hezhong Prefecture are very wide and flat, making it very suitable for ferry crossings.
In the early years, there were even long chain bridges on both sides of the strait. People on foot could go directly to and from the bridge. Only large vehicles needed to cross the river by ferry.
But at this time, 30,000 Jin Guoxie troops were waiting in full formation, while on the other side, 50,000 Song troops were sharpening their swords and filled with murderous intent.
The Xie Congjun built three lines of defense in front of the ferry, invested 10,000 troops, and tightly blocked the ferry with crossbows and crossbows. Sentinel boats patrolled the coast day and night, just like a night sneak attack by the Song army.
Early that morning, just after dawn, a hurried siren suddenly sounded on the bank of the Yellow River. Alarm bells also rang in Hedong City a few miles away. Groups of soldiers rushed out of the city and rushed to their respective positions.
At this time, mist enveloped the river, and thirty ferries sailed quickly on the river, rushing to the other side. Each large boat was filled with soldiers, and the thirty large boats were enough to carry five to six thousand soldiers.
The soldiers of the Song Army were prostrate on the boat. They held a shield in one hand and a short spear in the other. Many soldiers held bows and crossbows. They watched the boat slowly approach the shore.
At this moment, hundreds of medium-sized trebuchets deployed on the shore were launched at the same time. Hundreds of ignited kerosene balls flew towards the Song army ships. The bright red fireballs flew in the air, with thick smoke and fire.
, the fireballs were too dense, and ships were constantly being hit by the fireballs. Fire oil was splashed on them, and the ships burned rapidly.
Many soldiers on the boat were splashed with kerosene and burned. The soldiers screamed in pain. The soldiers nearby desperately slapped the flames on their companions. Some soldiers could not bear the burning and jumped directly into the Yellow River...
Balls of fire oil were flying one after another, and the three large ships had been engulfed in flames. The Song soldiers on board jumped into the river to survive.
The fleet was getting closer and closer to the shore, and it suddenly docked. Thousands of soldiers jumped ashore, and the golden trebuchets quickly retreated. The arrow array on the shore was fired. Thousands of arrows were fired together, and an overwhelming barrage of arrows hit the fleet.
Shooting, it formed a dark cloud in the sky and shot towards the heads of the Song army.