Due to the narrow valley, a thousand Ming heavy cavalry were divided into several groups.
On the hillsides on both sides, some knights who had abandoned their horses were kneeling and squatting. The reason why they were kneeling and squatting was because the steep slope made them unstable.
Chen Ziyi came up behind the first group of heavy cavalry and shouted loudly: "Is there any deduction in food and salary?"
"No!" the heavy cavalry replied in unison.
Chen Ziyi asked again: "Is there a shortage of clothes and quilts?"
"No!"
"You have the highest military pay in the Ming Dynasty, you eat the best food in the entire army, and you are even given out clothes and quilts in winter. Is the court treating you poorly?"
"No!"
"The barbarians of the Jin Kingdom across the way are committing crimes by burning, killing, and looting. If the Jin people are allowed to kill your hometown, they will rob you of your food, your land, and your wives and children. Even if you are an obedient citizen, you must
Shave off your hair as given by your parents, wear left-hand clothes, and have endless conscription for troops and food! Do you agree?"
"No!"
"For the Ming Dynasty, for Your Majesty, and to protect your parents, wives and children. Do you dare to fight to the death and kill the enemy today?"
"dare!"
"dare!"
"dare!"
"The heavy-armored knights who died in the battle today will be generously compensated. For those who have children, the court will choose a son to support the Imperial College. For those who have no children, the court will adopt a son on their behalf, pass on incense to him, and support him to the Imperial College! But!
Any regrets?"
“No regrets!”
“No regrets!”
The soldiers who climbed up the mountain to observe with telescopes had already raised their flags. Chen Ziyi shouted: "Blast the drums and charge!"
"kill!"
The Ming heavy cavalry started slowly, and even after accelerating, the charging speed was still relatively slow.
Because they were in a dense formation, the distance between cavalry and cavalry was less than half a meter.
Chen Ziyi actually used the most expensive heavy cavalry as consumables to carry out a "wall style" charge.
This is because although the equipment of the Ming army's heavy cavalry is sufficient, the combat skills, combat experience and tenacity are insufficient. Then simply forget about anything else and directly confront Hezha Meng'an in a dense formation in the long and narrow valley.
Looking at Hezha Mengan of the Jin Kingdom, the distance between them is much larger. Even due to terrain restrictions, the distance between the cavalry is only reduced to less than one meter.
As for the three cavalry teams connected with ropes, and the resisting horses being dragged behind to show that they would fight to the death, these are all fabricated contents in the memorials of the civil servants (the main combatant Wang Ruohai), used to describe the horror of the Iron Pagoda of the Jin Dynasty. Then,
It was quoted by the "Three Dynasties Northern League" in a confused way, and spread more and more widely to become the symbol of Iron Buddha Tu.
The two sides' heavy cavalry were getting closer and closer, and those in Jin's army were at a loss.
Because the distance between the heavy cavalry of the Ming Dynasty could not accommodate the golden cavalry to pass through, they were obviously heading for a suicidal collision.
Standing on the slope behind to observe, Wanyan Loushi finally saw clearly the situation of the Ming heavy cavalry, and felt a sense of fear in his heart for no reason.
Hezha Mengan is indeed brave and unafraid of death, but when faced with a situation of certain death, can they still move forward indomitably?
What's more, they were frightened by wooden cannons, their retreat was blocked, and friendly forces suffered a defeat during the retreat.
When the two sides were about to enter the final sprint phase, some of them did not choose to speed up. This was almost a subconscious action in the face of death.
Even the heavy cavalry of the Ming Dynasty who wrote a suicide note in advance, some people were afraid of the battle.
But the terrain couldn't be swept left or right, let alone turning around and running away. They had no choice but to bump into each other.
"boom!"
A rare collision between heavy cavalry occurred in this nameless valley.
It was tragic, but not as tragic as imagined.
At the last moment, both sides unanimously chose to slow down, and only a few reckless men actually accelerated their sprint.
The four-meter long spears poked at each other. With the force of the charge, many heavy cavalrymen immediately fell backwards. The horses that lost their owners continued to move forward and collided with each other after automatically decelerating. In order to prevent the collision, some horses even
The man stood up and used his front hooves to kick towards the horse on the opposite side.
There were also cavalrymen who had not fallen off their horses, and their horses and men collided with each other. The horses under their legs were either dead or injured. Regardless of whether they were dead or injured, they all fell down, and the cavalrymen also fell off their horses.
The heavy cavalry of the Ming Dynasty were more closely spaced, and the number of troops in a single charge was naturally larger. Lucky Man successfully penetrated into the gap between Hezha Meng'an, pulled out the secondary weapon at his waist, and began to slow down and fight on horseback.
The Jin Kingdom Xiaoqi, who was further behind as an auxiliary, saw the miserable situation of the heavy cavalry in front, and for a while they didn't know how to fight.
Unprepared, they subconsciously reined in their horses and fired at the Ming cavalry behind them.
The Ming Dynasty Xiaoqi kneeling on the hillsides on both sides fired at the Jin Kingdom Xiaoqi from a long distance. The Ming Dynasty Xiaoqi following the heavy cavalry did not carry their main battle weapons at all. As they approached the scene of the "car accident" on horseback, one after another
Jump off the horse, draw your secondary weapon and rush to the battlefield.
Some people used iron rods, some used bones, and some used iron maces. When they encountered Hezha Meng'an who was still fighting on horseback, they leaned down and hit the horse's legs. When they encountered Hezha Meng'an who fell from the horse but was still alive, he struggled to stand up.
They worked together to knock them down, and when they encountered those lying on the ground and moving, they rushed over and smashed them hard.
Jin Guo Xiaoqi finally reacted, stopped shooting arrows and charged towards the battlefield.
But they couldn't charge any speed at all. First, the charging distance was too close. Second, there were many unowned war horses blocking the front. Third, they were shot by Ming troops on the hillsides on both sides. They simply wanted to come to rescue friendly troops.
The surviving heavy cavalrymen of the Ming Dynasty were helped up by the valiant cavalry, picked up their spears and stabbed them diagonally upwards.
Soon, the survivors of each other started fighting again. The Jin Guoxiao Cavalry, which had lost its horse speed, was hit in the legs and fell down one after another. Those who were not entangled were so frightened that they quickly reined in their horses and ran away.
Wanyan Loushi turned pale. The Ming Dynasty cavalry was trading their lives for lives with He Zha Meng'an.
How many Jurchens are there in total?
And how many people are there in Ming Dynasty?
The heavy cavalry of the Ming Dynasty and Hezha Meng'an, not only exchange one for one, but also exchange two for one, or three for one, are acceptable.
What's more, due to sufficient tactical preparations in advance, this time the heavy cavalry fought to the death, and Hezha Men'an suffered more deaths.
In this wave just now, the Ming Dynasty invested 200 heavy cavalry, and there were more than 40 people who could continue to fight. Another fifty or sixty people either fell off their horses and suffered fractures, or were seriously injured in a fall, or passed out.
However, the Jin soldiers threw 120 people into Hezha Meng'an, but no one was spared. Those who survived after hedging were all killed by blunt objects.
"kill!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
In the center of the battlefield, the heavy cavalry of the Ming Dynasty who could still stand, relying on the valiant cavalry, formed a formation and roared on the spot. It was not only declaring victory, but also an excited shout for the rest of the disaster.
"Wan Sheng!"
"Wan Sheng!"
Other Ming troops near the battlefield followed suit and shouted, and the sound of victory resounded throughout the valley.
Wang De was originally standing on the wall of the village, pretending to be still fighting in the siege. He had just witnessed the heroic performance of the heavy cavalry. With wet eyes, he raised his mace and shouted for victory.
The second wave of Ming heavy cavalry was already slowly moving along the wall.
"Get out, we can't fight here!"
Wanyan Loushi's attitude towards the Ming army changed from the initial vigilance to the horror after the volley of wooden cannons. Now he regards the Ming army as his lifelong enemy.
The available troops under his command, after experiencing the encounter with the vanguard troops when returning for reinforcements, the charge in the valley, and the wounded who fell behind during the march, there are still more than 1,400 Hezha Meng'an and more than 1,600 Liaodong Han infantry.
There are more than 4,200 Jin Kingdom knights, more than 800 Jurchens, and grassland Qingqi.
The total remaining strength is more than 8,100.
These golden soldiers quickly left the mouth of the valley and ran westward along the foothills.
Chen Ziyi led his troops to chase them out, and sent his knights up to shoot arrows to harass them, slowing down the movement of the Jin soldiers. When they encountered a counterattack by the Jin's ordinary cavalry, they went up to fight head-on. When they encountered He Zha Meng'an coming in armor, they immediately took turns covering the retreat.
At the same time, the cavalry was sent south to tell Zhang Guangdao the direction of the Jin soldiers' evacuation, and to notify Yang Yun in the southeast to bring Xiaoqi to join them.
Wanyan Loushi led his troops to withdraw two miles away, and Wendu Sizhong, who was exploring the mountainous terrain, finally sent his light cavalry back: "Wanhu, there is a place not far to the west where it is easier for cavalry to pass."
Wen Du Sizhong did not find the most suitable place to march. It was too far to the west. Moreover, the middle section of the "eight" shape was blocked by mountains extending to the south. Even if Wen Du Sizhong found it, he would have to
Head south towards the main direction of Zhang Guangdao, and then go around to the northwest.
"Speed up the march!"
In order to deal with Chen Ziyi's attack, Wanyan Loushi left some cavalrymen from the small Jurchen tribe and the remaining prairie cavalry behind.
Due to the power of Wanyan Loushi, these cavalry had to turn around and deal with the pursuing Ming army.
After just cruising and shooting a few arrows, they didn't want to fight anymore.
Why can other cavalrymen withdraw, but he must stay and risk his life?
"Spare your life, we are willing to surrender!"
One team after another, the cavalry responsible for cutting off the rear threw away their weapons and knelt down to ask for surrender.
The main force of Wanyan Loushi rushed to Wendu Sizhong and was guided by the light cavalry who were responsible for exploring the terrain. They divided into two groups and entered different ravines. Immediately, the entire army dismounted and climbed the mountain ridge. Hezha Mengan also began to take off his armor, carrying all his armor.
The galloping horses of the heavy cavalry were already foaming at the mouth from exhaustion.
Chen Ziyi led his troops in hot pursuit and dismounted to attack the mountain ridge. Even Wang De's first camp was on horseback chasing after them to attack the mountain.
Further south, Zhang Guangdao's main force was still marching rapidly.
The cavalry sent by Chen Ziyi reported: "The enemy is heading west, probably intending to escape over the mountains!"
"Stay the artillery, stay behind the carriages, and the rest of the troops will march with me!" Zhang Guangdao immediately ordered.
The reason why they marched carrying wooden cannons instead of moving them on wheeled gun carriages was because the entire battlefield was rugged, and four people carried the barrels and ran the fastest.
In the two mountain cols to the north, hundreds of war horses, foaming at the mouth, were injured and ran wildly out.
Those were top-notch war horses that carried Hezha Mengan's armor and ran all the way. They could not withstand the subsequent trek over the mountains and ridges. Wanyan Loushi ordered them to be massacred on the spot, preferring to die rather than leave them to the Ming army.
Nearly a thousand good horses were killed on the spot. Of the hundreds of injured horses that escaped, many of them were stabbed and bruised without mercy, and they were only allowed to escape by stabbing and smashing them.
"You stay and guard these two mountain ridges!" Wanyan Loushi said to Han Chang.
Han Chang opened his mouth, stopped talking, lowered his head and said, "Yes."
More than 1,600 elite Han infantrymen in Liaodong became the abandoned ones responsible for breaking up the rear.
At this time, Hezha Meng'an's armor was carried on spare war horses. Together with the Jin Kingdom's Xiaoqi, they descended from two mountain ridges, entered the ravine further north, and then continued to climb the mountain ridge.
"Brother, the Jurchen barbarians don't treat us as human beings!"
Ming soldiers attacked the mountain ridge, and Han Chang's general Yang Sui began to complain.
The soldiers nearby also looked at Han Chang, unwilling to risk their lives.
Han Chang didn't know how to make a choice. Their family was in the hands of Wanyan Zonghan. Moreover, they had a blood feud with the local Han people in Shanxi. Even if they surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, they would probably not end well.
But the soldiers were unwilling to stay and die, so Han Chang insisted on fighting, which might lead to a mutiny.
If you run away on the spot, even if you can escape back to the Kingdom of Jin, you will be punished by military law.
The world is so vast that there is no place for the Han children of Liaodong.
The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were already shooting arrows at the foot of the mountain ridge. Han Chang gritted his teeth and said: "Go over the mountains to the northeast and go to the big mountains in the north of Yu County to become bandits!"
Not long after the Ming army started to attack the mountain, the Jin army's rear troops ran away and deliberately avoided the withdrawal direction of Wanyan Loushi.
Wanyan Loushi had already climbed up another mountain ridge. He looked back and saw clearly. He said angrily: "Each ministry selects dead soldiers to come out to cut off the enemy. There will be at least 1,200 people, excluding Hezha Mengan!"
This is an order given to the leaders of each tribe. Each tribe must recruit people, and the families of the deceased soldiers will definitely receive preferential treatment.
After a while, the dead soldiers were selected and silently guarded the mountain ridge.
What Wanyan Loushi could take away were only more than 1,400 Hezha Meng'an who had lost their main war horses, and more than 3,300 Jin Kingdom Xiaoqi and Qingqi.
Zhang Guangdao arranged the battlefield for more than a year, but still could not wipe out all the golden soldiers.
Including the defenders of Yu County, Wanyan Loushi lost tens of thousands of troops!