After marching for two days, the army entered Datong Prefecture. At night, one hundred thousand troops camped on the north bank of the Cangtou River to rest. The one hundred thousand troops were all wrapped in blankets and sleeping in close armor. Generals like Yang Zaixing also had no special needs like the soldiers.
tent treatment.
Only in the middle of the team, there are two marching tents. These are the only two tents in the camp. The smaller one is the tent of military counselor Zhang Xiao. He is old and cannot bear to live in the open air, so Chen Qing specially ordered to give him preferential treatment.
Another big tent is the Zhongjun Tent.
The night was already deep, and the camp was silent. There were countless patrolling cavalry on the outside, and there were hidden sentries hidden in the big trees further away. If there was an enemy situation, bright red gunpowder arrows could be fired from twenty miles away.
There was still faint candlelight coming out of the Chinese army tent, and Chen Qing was still standing in front of the sand table, deep in thought. This time, Yu Ying did not follow him north and stayed in Shanyang County. Chen Qing had already changed from patrolling to combat status, so he could no longer have anyone around him.
woman.
At this time, there were rapid footsteps outside, and a soldier said outside the tent door: "Your Highness, the scouts have sent urgent information!"
Chen Qing was startled, walked out of the marching tent and asked, "What's the urgent military situation?"
A scout knelt down on one knee and reported: "Your Highness, we have discovered a large group of Jurchen cavalry moving southward rapidly in the southeast. There are about 20,000 cavalry."
20,000 Jurchen cavalry, Chen Qing immediately realized, isn't this the 20,000 cavalry from Datong City? What is Wanyan and Liza doing?
Chen Qing asked again: "When did it happen and where was it found?"
"It was discovered at dusk, and the location was twenty miles south of Huaiyuan County."
"Let's explore again!"
"Follow the order!"
After the scout left, Chen Qing immediately ordered the soldiers: "Invite the military advisor to me quickly, as well as General Yang, General Xiao Liu and General Tang."
The soldiers ran to look for them. Chen Qing returned to the marching tent and took a closer look on the sand table. He quickly found the location where the enemy troops were found. It was twenty miles south of Huaiyuan County. This was an official road that ran from north to south.
Datong City leads directly to Ying County, which means that 20,000 Jurchen troops killed Ying County. This discovery really surprised Chen Qing.
At this time, Zhang Xiao and Yang Zaixing all arrived at the same time.
"Your Highness, what happened?" Zhang Xiao stepped forward and asked.
He knew that when His Highness King Yong came to see him, something important must have happened.
Chen Qingping said to everyone: "We have just received an urgent military message from the scouts and discovered 20,000 Jurchen cavalry south of Huaiyuan County."
Chen Qing pointed at the official road south of Huaiyuan County with a wooden pole on the sand table, "It's right here!"
Everyone looked at it and couldn't help looking at each other. Yang Zaixing was shocked and said: "Your Highness, are they going to Ying County?"
“The only choice is to go to Ying County!”
Liu Qiong frowned, "But what do they mean?"
Chen Qing said calmly: "The meaning is very simple. Wanyan and Lisha have the same idea as us. We should rush to do one thing before it snows, annihilate our five thousand troops in Yingxian County, and boost the morale of the army. If Liu Qiong leads the main force to Yingxian,
The county's support is likely to be trapped by heavy snow, which can be said to be a ploy to use the weather to hit us hard."
"Could it be that the 20,000 Jurchens actually circled behind us?" Tang Qian pondered for a moment and asked.
"It's unlikely. There is no official road on the sand table. The ground is uneven and there are many rocks. You scouts can walk for a while, but the 20,000 troops cannot walk. They have to march along the smooth official road, even at night.
Unable to march."
Everyone understood what Chen Qing meant. Datong Mansion is a basin with uneven ground, and cavalry marches have relatively high requirements on the ground. They generally have to take flat official roads, and they must go during the day. This 20,000-person army
The cavalry was most likely going to attack Ying County.
"What do the military advisors think?" Chen Qing asked Zhang Xiao again.
"There are a lot of mistakes here. Wanyan Jielsa should think that the Song army is still attacking Fuzhou. He also saw our intention. We will attack Datong after the spring of next year, so at this time he has
If you get the chance, rush to Yingzhou before it snows.
But Wanyan Helisa never expected that His Highness would also come to Shuozhou, and he would temporarily change his plan and instead attack Datong before it snowed. This is a coincidence, and God gave us the opportunity."
Yang Zaixing also said: "Your Highness, we must seize this opportunity immediately. Wanyan Helisha must have spies in Shuozhou. When we discovered the other party, the other party should also have discovered us. The most important thing now is to seize Datong Mansion and cut off the enemy."
Their retreat."
Chen Qing nodded, took out the command arrow and told Tang Qian, "General Tang led his 10,000 cavalry troops to go north overnight. I will give you the Iron Rhinoceros. You must capture Datong City as soon as possible!"
"I will surely win Datong City!"
Tang Qian received the military order and immediately went out to mobilize his troops.
Chen Qing then said to Liu Qiong: "Immediately arrange for two scouts to ride on two horses to Ying County and Shanyang County, and inform the two counties to prepare for defense to prevent enemy sneak attacks."
Liu Qiong nodded, "I'll go and wait for you!"
Liu Qiong turned around and went out.
Chen Qing searched for a moment on the sand table, pointed to the north and said to Yang Zaixing: "There is a small road fifty miles north of us, leading to the official road to the east. There is a sign on it that can be used by cavalry. Inform the brothers to get up immediately."
"Woo--Woo--"
The horn of getting up sounded, and it was the second watch. The soldiers got up one after another, cleared their stalls a little, then got on their horses, and the army began to quickly gather and march north.
Wanyan and Lisa's army were currently camping forty miles southeast of Huaiyuan County. They had not yet entered Yingzhou, which was about one hundred and fifty miles away from Yingxian County.
Wanyan Helisa deployed many spies in Shuozhou. He got accurate information. Niu Gao led 30,000 troops to assist in the attack on Fuzhou. 40,000 Song troops were stationed in Shuozhou, built plank military camps, and sent another 5,000 soldiers.
People were stationed in Yingzhou.
It can be seen from the deployment of the Song Army that they are not in a hurry to attack Datong Prefecture. It should be because winter is about to begin. The Song Army is very aware of the impact of winter. They must attack Datong Prefecture after spring starts tomorrow.
Wanyan Helisha's strategic judgment was very accurate. If Chen Qing did not come, Niu Gao and Liu Qiong would not be able to change the strategic plan formulated by the coach even if they had their own ideas. They must strictly follow it.
But Wanyan Helisa knew the climate of Datong Prefecture better than the Song army. He knew that he had one last chance. If he raided Yingxian County and annihilated all 5,000 Song soldiers in Yingxian County, it would greatly boost the morale of the defenders.
Wanyan drank from Lisa and even thought of another possibility. Liu Qiong led 30,000 troops to rescue Ying County. It happened to be snowing. Maybe he could take advantage of the snow to hit Liu Qiong's army hard, and even defeat Liu Qiong's army.
Liu Qiong's army was completely wiped out.
With the powerful combat effectiveness of the Jurchen cavalry, 20,000 cavalry can completely annihilate the 30,000 Song army.
While Niugao's army was still in Fuzhou, Wanyan Helisa seized the last opportunity of the year and personally led 20,000 cavalry to Yingxian County.
It was almost dawn, and the eastern sky began to turn blue. Wanyan stood up and ordered: "The whole army is mounted and ready to go!"
"Drink Lisha, Governor!"
A general was shouting in the distance, and a captain was seen walking quickly with two spies.
Wanyan drank from Lisa and got on his horse and asked, "What's going on?"
The spy stepped forward and bowed: "To inform the governor, we came from Datong City. Yesterday we received a letter from the Shuozhou spy that the Song Army's 100,000 troops have marched northward!"
"What!"
Wanyan was shocked when he heard that a hundred thousand troops were marching northward? Why did the Song army change their plan and go north again? He secretly complained in his heart that the trouble was big now. If the Song army captured Datong City, the consequences would be disastrous.
He no longer had the intention to go south, and immediately shouted: "The whole army turns around and goes back to Datong City! Return to Datong City immediately!"
The 20,000 Jurchen cavalry turned around and rushed north towards Datong City.