As the saying goes, "Good fortune never comes alone, but misfortune never comes alone." Less than half a day after Yang Peng received the urgent report of the invasion of the Xixia army, another urgent military information came from Yangzhou. The imperial court Gao Hu and Cao Jun were the marshals, leading 400,000 Song troops.
The two groups on the left and right crossed the Yangtze River. The east group led by Gao Hu left Zhenjiang and attacked Yangzhou directly, while the west group led by Cao Jun left Wuhu and attacked Hezhou. The morale of the two armies was high, and the battle situation was very unfavorable for Yanyun's army.
Yang Peng was very surprised after receiving this report. He originally thought that the imperial court would not come to drown this muddy water, but he did not expect that the imperial court would suddenly send 400,000 troops. This was obviously an agreement with the Khitan and Xixia people.
On that day, although Wang Qinruo accepted Yang Peng's bribe and promised, he still colluded with the Khitan people secretly and conspired to join forces to destroy Yanyun. When the Liao Kingdom's secret envoy brought the news of the Liao Kingdom's Western Xia Alliance, Wang Qinruo was overjoyed.
, and then used this to lobby Emperor Zhao Heng. Zhao Heng was originally unwilling to have another dispute with Yan Yun, but when he heard that Liao Kingdom and Xixia had formed an alliance to deal with Yan Yun together, his heart couldn't help but get excited.
With Wang Qinruo fanning the flames, Zhao Heng finally agreed to join forces with Liao and Xixia to deal with Yan Yun. He also followed Wang Qinruo's suggestion and reactivated Gao Hu and Cao Jun who had been dismissed. These two men led the army.
, the performance of the Song Army was completely different, making Yan Yunjun feel unprecedented pressure.
Gao Hu's 200,000 troops pressed down on Yangzhou, and all kinds of heavy equipment were continuously transported to Yangzhou City from the waterway. The morale of the Song army was like a rainbow, and the war was about to break out.
That night, Gao Hu was sitting in front of the map and thinking. The soldiers suddenly came in and reported: "Marshal, there is a person coming outside. He said he is a relative of the marshal and wants to see the marshal." Gao Hu was surprised: I don't have any relatives in Huainan.
?
Then he understood: he must be a secret envoy from Yanyun, using this as an excuse to see me. After hesitating for a moment, he said to the soldier: "Invite him in." The soldier responded and ran down. Gao Hu walked to the handsome man
I sat down and waited for this so-called relative. I couldn't help but think about the day when I, Yang Yanzhao, and Yang Peng had such a heart-to-heart talk with each other over wine. I was really sad!
There were footsteps at the door. Gao Hu raised his head and saw a tall, thin man who looked like a scribe followed the soldiers in. The soldiers cupped their fists and said, "Marshal, we've brought them here." Gao Hu nodded, "Go down.
Come on." The soldier responded and retreated.
I saw the tall and thin scribe clasping his fists and saying: "The villain Bai Tong has met General Gao! The villain has admired General Gao's reputation for a long time!"
Gao Hu sneered and said, "What does your reputation mean compared to King Yan?"
Bai Tong smiled and said with great admiration: "General Gao is indeed extraordinary. He can tell where I am coming from at a glance!" Gao Hu said: "This is nothing! Stop talking nonsense and explain your purpose!"
Bai Tong said sternly: "General Gao is a hero, and my King Yan is also an unparalleled hero! Now my King Yan is leading the soldiers of Yanyun to fight bloody battles with the Khitans and Xixia people to regain the rivers and mountains, but General Gao comes to capture me at this time.
Yan Yun’s way out! Wouldn’t it be shameful to do this? I’m very curious, how will General Gao face the ancestors of our Chinese clan when he goes underground in the future?”
Gao Hu frowned, "As a minister, how dare I disobey His Majesty's orders? As a minister, Yan Yun disobeys the Holy Orders and is arrogant. It is natural for the imperial court to send troops to attack him!"
Bai Tong sneered and said: "If you put it this way, that cowardly and incompetent court lost the great mountains and rivers of the Central Plains and made countless people become like beasts in the hands of foreigners. Is it natural?"
Gao Hu was speechless and confused.
Bai Tong continued: "This world is not the world of his Zhao family, nor is it the world of any one family, but the world of everyone in the world! If the world can be said to be the world of the Zhao family, then what if the Zhao family takes over the world of the Chai family?
"How about the world of the Li family in the former Tang Dynasty?" Gao Hu was even more unable to defend himself. If we apply the saying that the Qin Dynasty lost virtue and lost the world, it doesn't make sense here. Then the Chai family was very pitiful for its orphans and widowers.
Why did Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu of the Song Dynasty, seize the power of the Chai family for such an unethical act? In this way, doesn’t it mean that the power of the Zhao and Song Dynasties was very unjust? And if you push this up, it is really inexplicable who will get the power of the Chai family! Gao Hu
His head was in a mess, and he couldn't figure out what was right and what was wrong. However, in the end, the loyalty education he had received for a long time prevailed, and he said in a deep voice: "No matter what, in the world today, Zhao
The world belongs to my family, and as a minister, I must be loyal!"
Bai Tong frowned, "Did General Gao completely disregard the life and death of the people in the Central Plains for this so-called 'loyalty'? With all due respect, if being loyal to a king will plunge countless people into misery, it is better to be disloyal."
!”
Gao Hu was startled, slammed the desk and shouted: "Bold!"
When the sergeants outside the tent heard Gao Hu's anger, they immediately rushed in and surrounded Bai Tong.
Bai Tong glanced sideways at Gao Hu and sneered: "Does General Gao want to kill me?" Then he nodded and mocked: "That will show your loyalty!"
Gao Hu frowned and waved his hand, "Everyone, stand down!" All the sergeants retreated one after another. Gao Hu stood up, walked to Bai Tong, looked at Bai Tong and said: "The rights and wrongs of this matter are really hard to say!
I, Gao Hu, am just a warrior. I can’t understand those things, so I have to act according to the emperor’s orders! Although I don’t want to be an enemy of Yan Yun’s army, but Huang’s fate is difficult, there is nothing I can do!” After a pause, he cupped his fists and said: “In the future, I will be on the battlefield.
, If I, Gao Hu, die in the hands of General Yan Yun, I will have no complaints!" Bai Tong sighed, clasped his fists and said: "In this case, there is nothing to say. In the future, life and death will be fought on the battlefield, General, take care!"
After bowing, he turned around and left. When he reached the door, he sighed again.
Gao Hu followed out of the big tent and looked at Bai Tong's retreating back. He was very confused. He didn't know whether his decision was right or wrong? He only joined the army. Was it to work for the Zhao family? With this thought, Gao Hu was stunned.
Startled, he quickly shook his head to throw these rebellious thoughts away, took a deep breath, and turned back to the big tent.
The sight turned back to Yanmen Pass. Both the western and southern defense lines were in critical situations, but Yang Peng couldn't care about that much at the moment. His attention was all on the Yanmen Pass in front of him. He must take Yanmen Pass as soon as possible!
The appointed time finally arrived. Guo Tong, Chang Sheng, and Guo Tong led 10,000 troops under his command to leave the military camp and go to Guanmenhang. These 10,000 troops were all Guo Tong's cronies. They were the so-called resentful troops before, and they were what he was calling now.
All the power that can be mobilized.
We encountered several patrols along the way, but the patrols were not suspicious. After all, Guo Tong was a deputy general, and it was normal for him to mobilize troops.
Dozens of cavalry were approaching in front of them. At first, Guo Tong thought they were patrols. However, as he got closer, he discovered that they were the powerful general Hua Chao and his dozens of cavalrymen. He was shocked.
Hua Chao was very surprised to see Guo Tong leading nearly ten thousand soldiers and horses out of the military camp, so he blocked Guo Tong and the others and asked, "Where is General Guo going?" Hua Chao's behavior was very inappropriate.
It was appropriate, because Guo Tong was Yanmen's deputy general and his superior, but not only was he disrespectful, but he also openly blocked the way, which was a very rude move.
Guo Tong suppressed his anger and said with a smile: "I was ordered by the general to lead the army to guard the city wall." Hua Chao was even more surprised. He glanced at the army behind Guo Tong and said, "There are already enough troops on the city wall, why bother to guard the city wall?"
Send troops? Besides, I just met with the general not long ago, but I didn’t hear him say that he had such an order!"
Guo Tong snorted coldly, "Hua Chao, don't be so shameless! I am your boss, and you openly stopped me to ask questions, which is totally unreasonable!" Hua Chao, however, was not afraid at all and sneered: "Boss, only
You think so!" Then he pointed to the cavalry beside him, "We Khitan warriors treat you like a green onion!" The cavalry laughed, and the laughter was full of contempt.
Guo Tong was furious. Seeing that there was no one else on the street at this time, Guo Tong could not help but show a ferocious look in his eyes. He waved his right hand violently: "Get it!" Hua Chao saw hundreds of sergeants rushing forward.
He came, was taken aback, then stared and shouted: "Bold! Get back!"
Hundreds of sergeants paid no attention to him. They pulled dozens of them off their horses and twisted their hands to hold them down. Seeing that Guo Tong dared to attack her, Hua Chao was shocked and angry, and cursed: "Xin Guo, you*
***** are tired of living!" Guo Tong frowned and shouted: "Stop their mouths!" All the sergeants took out dirty handkerchiefs from their bodies and stuffed them roughly into flowers.
When someone opened their mouths, Hua Chao and others could no longer make any sound immediately. They only smelled a stench that rushed straight into their chests and abdomen, and almost fainted.
Guo Tong left the army on the street, and he and hundreds of sergeants dragged dozens of Hua Chao's people into the dark alley next to them. At this moment, a patrol team came outside, and together with Chang Sheng and Guo Tong
After saying hello, they continued patrolling and found nothing unusual.
After Guo Tong waited for the patrol to go away, he walked up to Hua Cha and kicked him hard in the crotch. Hua Cha was so painful that he broke out in cold sweat and glared at Guo Tong. Guo Tong squatted down.
He patted Hua Cha's cheek and said viciously: "Do you want to take revenge on me? But you have no chance!" After saying that, he pulled out a dagger from his waist. Hua Cha felt Guo Tong's murderous intention.
Very surprised. Yaoshi Guo cursed: "I've had enough of you Khitan dogs!" After saying that, he stabbed Hua Chao in the chest with a knife. Hua Chao's eyes widened in disbelief, and his body turned to one side.
Falling down, not breathing.
Guo Tong returned to the street, got on his horse, and led his troops straight towards the gate. After walking for a while, he saw bright lights in front of him. That was the most important gate of Yanmen Pass. At this time, the top and bottom of the gate were lit with torches, illuminating the dark night.
It was daytime, and under the firelight I could only see the shadows of people, maybe there were thousands of people guarding there.
Guo Tong secretly ordered his subordinates to prepare for battle. Nearly ten thousand people slowly approached the gate, and many soldiers had secretly drawn their weapons and nocked arrows.
One of the generals under the guard of the city gate, Han Chang, was named Zhao Cheng. Although he was a Han, his dress and demeanor were no longer Han-like. He looked exactly like a Khitan general. Zhao Cheng heard the report from his subordinates.
It was said that Guo Tong led a large number of troops to arrive, and he was very surprised. So he walked to the inside of the city wall, leaned on the wall stacks and looked down. Sure enough, he saw a crowd of people below, probably tens of thousands of people. At this time, Guo Tong raised his voice below: "
General Zhao, we are ordered to take over the city defense!"
Zhao Cheng said in surprise: "I didn't receive any orders!"
Comrade Guo said: "This is the order just issued by the general!"
Although Zhao Cheng felt it was sudden, he didn't think there was any problem. As Guo Tong was the deputy general of Yanmen, his status was higher than his own. The general replaced him to guard the door, which could be regarded as strengthening the defense. As soon as he thought about it, he raised his voice:
"Since it is the general's order, the general must obey it!" He then prepared to go down the city wall to meet Guo Tong.
But at this moment, Zhao Cheng suddenly saw many people in Guo Yaoshi's army with their swords unsheathed and arrows cocked. This surprised him, and he couldn't help but feel a bad feeling in his heart. So he stopped and raised his voice.
He said: "General Guo, the general's duties are limited and he cannot leave his post without permission. Please send General Guo the order of the general!" Then he whispered to the officer next to him: "Tell everyone to get ready to fight!" The officer was stunned.
, responded and ran down.
Guo Tong frowned and said loudly: "Okay! Just wait!"
When Zhao Cheng heard that the other party agreed so readily, he couldn't help but relax his vigilance, wondering if he had become neurotic just now!
Guo Tong suddenly pulled out his scimitar and swung it forward, shouting: "Do it!" The soldiers who had been ready to attack immediately took action. The crossbowmen raised their hands and fired arrows towards the opposite side.
Under the leadership of Chang Sheng and Guo Tong, they rushed towards the bottom and top of the city gate respectively.
Although Zhao Cheng was prepared, he was still caught off guard. In shock, he ordered his subordinates to resist and at the same time ordered people to ring the alarm bell. The alarm bell rang continuously, breaking the silence of Yanmen Pass.
The rebels rushed and fought fiercely, but the Khitan army could not resist and retreated continuously. In the end, they were unable to hold the city gate and fled. Guo Tong quickly asked someone to open the door. But at this moment, rumbling footsteps were heard in the city gate.
Following the sound, I saw General Han Chang leading his soldiers and horses to kill here. The torches were flashing randomly, and there were only shadows under the firelight, as if there were countless people! Guo Tong was startled, and hurriedly sent a signal to the outside of the pass.
Then he ordered the entire army to turn around and prepare to fight.
Before the rebels were ready, there was a dense whistling sound in the air, and then it was like a storm blowing in, causing the torches to sway. Many rebel soldiers were shot to the ground, and screams were heard for a while.
The rebel soldiers were frightened and their morale was already shaken before they even started fighting.
At this time, I only heard the whining horn sound from the Khitan army, and then the earth trembled. I saw nearly a thousand warriors waving scimitars and roaring, rushing in like a tidal wave! The expressions of the rebel soldiers changed, and Guo Tong pulled
The voice shouted: "Fire arrows!" The crossbowmen above and below the door fired arrows together, and many warriors fell to the ground, but the momentum of the opponent's charge became more fierce! Before the rebels had time to fire the second arrow, the wave of warriors
They had already arrived, and in an instant they smashed the rebel defense line to pieces. They were trampled with iron hooves and hacked with scimitars. The rebel soldiers were staggered to death and were about to be unable to resist. Guo Tong saw the Jin army.
He came so fiercely that he was frightened and wanted to abandon the door and run away.
Boom boom boom boom...! Just when Guo Tong was about to escape, a thunderous sound suddenly came from behind. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned his head to look, with a look of surprise on his face.
In the dark night, countless black armored cavalry were surging forward. They were obviously the most elite formation-breaking cavalry in Yanyun's army. The leading three generals were Yang Peng, Zhan Jinguo and Huyan Chijin!
Guo Tong was overjoyed and turned around and shouted: "Yan Yunjun is coming! Brothers, hold on!"
When the rebels saw the Yanyun Army coming up, their morale was greatly boosted, and they immediately resisted the Khitan Army's offensive with all their strength. The crossbowmen fired arrows, the shield bearers protected them, and the spearmen waited for the opportunity to knock the Khitan Army's cavalry to the ground. In one moment, they were beaten.
It’s hard to tell!
Han saw this scene, frowned, and ordered the heavy armored infantry to rush forward. Just as the order was issued, he suddenly saw countless majestic and fierce war cavalry pouring in from the city gate. They were Yanyun's most elite formation-breaking cavalry, and King Yan
Yang Peng actually took the lead, and the two warriors on the left and right were Zhanjin Kingdom and Huyan Chijin! Seeing this scene, the Khitan army officers were all shocked. Before they could react, Yan Yun's cavalry had already attacked the people near the city gate.
The Khitan army's cavalry was so strong that they fell off their backs, and their momentum continued unabated, heading straight towards Han Chang's large army!
Han Chang didn't have time to form a formation, so he quickly ordered all the heavy armored infantry to meet him, and at the same time ordered other troops to retreat and form a formation!
More than 5,000 Khitan heavy armored infantry roared and rushed forward. Under the light of the torches, there was only a cold light, like the sparkling waves under the moon. Yang Peng, Yang Dezheng, and Huyan Chijin were the first to rush into the middle of the enemy army.
Like tigers entering a flock of sheep, the three weapons flew up and down, killing the enemy's corpses and flying with blood. The formation-breaking cavalry that rushed up afterwards were also very fierce. Countless maces were flying, and the heavy armored infantry of the Khitan army were killed one after another.
Knocked to the ground!
Han Chang's large army had not yet fully set up their formation. Seeing that the heavy armored infantry in front had been completely defeated, he was shocked and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Fire the arrows! Fire the arrows!"
The Khitan army's crossbowmen hurriedly fired arrows. The powerful rain of arrows fell in the middle of the Yanyun army, making a loud crackling sound. At the same time, sparks flew everywhere, but not a single Yanyun army fell. The Khitan army's crossbows were no match for those wearing Xuantian
The battle armor's formation-breaking cavalry is actually useless!
The Kingdom of Zhanjin took the lead and broke through the Khitan army's defense line and rushed into the enemy. A pair of hammers flew like windmills, smashing the Khitan army officers and soldiers with blood and flesh flying everywhere. The entire battle formation was alarmed! At this moment, Yang Peng and
Huyan Chijin led the formation-breaking cavalry to attack, and the turbulent armored cavalry tore apart the Khitan army's defense line like a storm. The cavalry rushed forward, weapons whistling and flying, only to kill the Khitan army officers and soldiers who were unable to flip back on their horses.
However, the terrain on the street was narrow after all, and there were so many Khitan troops crowding the street. Although the formation-breaking cavalry was incredibly powerful, its speed finally stopped. Han Changchang was very excited as the opponent's impact was finally removed.
He roared and ordered all the troops to come forward to surround and kill the enemy! The Khitan army's infantry and cavalry surged forward with shouts, and Yan Yun's army fell into a fierce melee! Yan Yun's army struggled to wave their maces. Amidst the heavy roaring, only one person was seen.
A Khitan Army soldier was blown to the ground with a bloody head.
Several Khitan soldiers who were desperate for their lives simultaneously poked a formation-breaking cavalry from one side with their guns. The formation-breaking cavalry was wearing Xuantian armor with a double-layer plate armor structure. Therefore, he was not injured, but he was pushed off his horse by the huge force.
He came, and before he had time to get up, countless spears and scimitars came from all directions. He only heard a loud clang and clang, and countless sparks flew up, but they could not hurt him at all. He regained his strength, roared angrily, and waved the wolf at the same time.
With his tooth stick, he immediately forced all the Khitan soldiers around him to retreat. Then he was seen rushing towards the Khitan army in front of him like a mad tiger. The Khitan army was shocked when they saw the ferocity of his approach, and couldn't help but take a step back.
The formation-breaking cavalry roared angrily, raised its mace and slammed it down. A Khitan soldier was unable to dodge and was hit in the chest. He screamed and fell to the ground with blood spurting out.
On the other side, Yang Peng waved his iron horse and kept attacking the enemy. At this moment, the sound of rapid horse hooves suddenly came from one side. Yang Peng realized that there was a sneak attack and immediately turned the horse's head. Sure enough, he saw an enemy general making his move.
The horse came with a gun, only five or six steps away. In the blink of an eye, the enemy general stabbed the spear in his chest, and Yang Peng gently turned sideways to snatch it away. The two horses met, and Yang Peng stretched out his left hand and grabbed the man's neck.
, and actually lifted him up forcefully. When the surrounding enemy troops saw this, they couldn't help but turn pale in horror.
The enemy general was struggling endlessly. Yang Peng frowned and threw him to the ground. Then he pierced his chest with a horse spear, and then with all his strength, he threw his body away and fell far away.
In the midst of enemies.
Just when the two sides were fighting fiercely and inextricably, the horns of the Khitan army came one after another. On the city walls on both sides, in the streets and alleys, and on the street in front, torches were dazzling, and countless enemy troops were coming!
When Medicine Master Guo who was guarding the city gate saw this scene, he couldn't help but panic! Yang Peng turned his horse to break out of the siege and galloped towards the city gate. Other soldiers also turned their horses to break out of the siege and followed Yang Peng.
Han Chang thought that Yang Peng and the others were going to escape, so he was so excited that he gave chase to his generals. Yang Peng and the others ran to the city gate. Yang Peng raised his iron horse, and thousands of formation-breaking iron cavalry stopped immediately. Yang Peng turned his horse's head, and everyone
The soldiers also turned their horses. Yang Peng glanced at the approaching fire on the streets on both sides, and ordered Zhan Jinguo and Huyan Chijin: "You two will each lead a thousand cavalry to block the enemy troops on the left and right streets!
"The two men agreed, and then they each led a thousand formation-breaking cavalry to meet the advancing Jin army on the left and right streets.
Yang Peng then looked at the Khitan troops approaching on both sides of the city walls, and said to Tong Guo: "The enemy troops on the city walls will be left to you. You must hold them until my large forces arrive!" Guo Tong clasped his fists in agreement and immediately led the troops himself.
People climbed up the city wall. Yang Peng turned his eyes to the enemy troops in front and saw Han Chang and other generals leading tens of thousands of soldiers and horses rushing towards them with a fierce momentum.
What happened after all? Let’s look at the breakdown next time.