As night fell, the efficiency of pursuing the Khitan soldiers inevitably slowed down.
Luo Youdu has not received news from the remnants of the Khitan for a long time.
Luo Youdu, Fu Yanqing, Lu Duoxun, and Han Wei gathered around the sand table that had been piled up temporarily and filled with red and green flags.
The red color naturally represents the Yu army.
This is also related to the virtue of the dynasty.
Since the publication of "The End and Beginning of the Five Virtues" written by Zou Yan of the Yin-Yang family during the Warring States Period, every dynasty with a certain status will define a virtue for itself.
Such as the water virtue of the Qin Dynasty, the fire virtue of the Han Dynasty, the earth virtue of the Tang Dynasty, the wood virtue of the Later Zhou Dynasty, etc.
In the Yu Dynasty, because the Later Zhou Dynasty belonged to Mu De, and wood produced fire, it was natural that it was Fire De. Together with a group of literati who paid tribute to the royal family, Luo Youdu was forcibly linked to the Luo Kingdom of Chu in the past, and belonged to Zhurong.
Descendants.
This fire virtue is also something that everyone hopes for.
Luo Youdu readily accepted this, because each of the five virtues has a representative color, the virtue of water is black, the virtue of fire is red, the virtue of earth is yellow, the virtue of wood is green, and the virtue of gold is white.
Luo Youdu's personal favorite color is black, but when it comes to national colors, he prefers the red one.
Under the illumination of the fire, countless red flags divided the green flag into pieces.
The actual battle situation was as shown on the sand table. The Khitan's pursuing army divided the Central Plains ambush into dozens of parts like cutting tofu.
"This can't go on like this!"
Luo Youdu crossed his arms and looked at the sand table. He underestimated the Khitan's fighting power.
The Khitan's resistance after being in trouble was more tenacious than he imagined, and even though they were at a disadvantage, they still caused a lot of harm to them.
Many generals among them were killed when facing the counterattack of trapped beasts.
Li Jixie is just one of them.
I thought that the battle could be ended within four hours, but it was delayed until night.
As the large Khitan army dispersed them little by little, except for the Khitan soldiers who were captured alive, the remaining Khitan soldiers no longer had a large-scale organization. It was dark and they were small troops, making it extremely difficult to search.
Fu Yanqing said: "Obviously, the Khitan has changed its style of play." He knew the Khitan very well and gave his own judgment based on the overall situation: "Your Majesty, the Khitan was divided into three at the beginning and broke out separately. No matter which direction it goes,
Their purpose was the same, they all wanted to break out of the encirclement. They fought fiercely with us in Majiaping, Longshan Stream, and Xiaoshanlin. But later, they significantly reduced the number of breakouts, and instead fought with us in the encirclement.
If the chasing soldiers then play the fox-and-rabbit chasing game, the image of breaking the siege is not strong."
Luo Youdu nodded and said: "I have also noticed that they know that there is no hope of breaking out of the encirclement, so they deliberately delay the time and wait for darkness."
"His Majesty!"
Luo Youdu turned his head and saw that it was Han Qingchao. He smiled and said, "My dear nephew, you don't have to be polite. Come up and talk."
Han Qingchao was the eldest son of Han Lingkun. Historically, Han Qingchao died young and just turned 20. However, after Luo Youdu came to the throne, he was particularly interested in miscellaneous studies, including medicine. After he ascended the throne, he appointed medical officers to organize medical books and compile them.
The Materia Medica of the previous dynasty was reorganized.
When Han Qingchao fell seriously ill at the age of 20, the palace doctor found a cure from an ancient prescription and brought him back from hell.
However, his body and bones are not as strong as before, so he can only do clerical work and cannot go into battle to kill the enemy.
Luo Youdu left him by his side to do some trivial tasks and gain seniority.
Han Qingchao came closer and said: "Just now, the Guannan Military and Horse Supervisor trapped a wave of Khitan soldiers. After interrogation, we got a piece of news. They are all safe. Let them not break out, just break into pieces and hide.
Maintain your strength and use the darkness to escape north."
Luo Youdu frowned and asked: "Everyone is sure? Who is it?"
Duxiangwen is an official position in Khitan. There are more than one military commanders in the four tents in the north.
Just like the Military Supervisor, if Han Qingchao did not add "Guannan", Luo Youdu himself would not know that he was talking about Li Hanchao.
Han Qing said: "My name is Yelu Xiezhen."
"So it's him!" Luo Youdu couldn't help but nod. It was no surprise that it was him. He paused and said, "Where was the last place Yelv Xiezhen showed up?"
Lu Duoxun immediately said: "Half an hour ago, the news from Commander Guo Dun was about this..."
Ludosun has a photographic memory and can remember everything he hears.
Luo Youdu immediately gathered the surrounding red flags in the direction of Yelv Xiezhen, completely sealing that area, and said: "Yelü Xiezhen can defeat tens of thousands of troops by himself, and the remaining defeated soldiers can be ignored, but he must be left behind by me.
No matter life or death."
He didn't want to make the mistake of Cao Cao who was not allowed to shoot Zhao Zilong with an arrow. Although that part was a story in a novel, it was still worthy of warning.
The Khitan's 30,000 pursuing troops had long been captured or killed, and more than 70% of them were wiped out. The rest were also dispersed by them, forming scattered teams that were difficult to find even during the day, let alone at night.
Instead of searching for their three melons and two dates in the dark, it would be better to keep an eye on Yelu Xiezhen and capture him, which would be no less than cutting off an arm of Khitan Yelu Bishe.
Small cedar forest.
Yelu Xiezhen leaned under the tree with his eyes closed to rest, and was not in a hurry to break out of the encirclement. It was not until the second watch that he opened his eyes, waved his hand to the guards beside him, and said, "Notify the brothers that we are ready to leave."
.
After Yelu Talie was killed in battle, Yelu Xiezhen had realized that the Central Plains had set up a large ambush formation for them, and based on their current situation, they were absolutely unable to break through the encirclement head-on.
So he took advantage of the complex terrain near Aaron Mountain and played a hide-and-seek game with the Central Plains Army.
He sent people to disperse to inform the remaining Khitan troops who were trapped in the siege, asking them not to force themselves, break them into pieces, delay time, wait for nightfall, and use the darkness to break out of the siege.
He had some careful thoughts in this move. He saw the weakness of such a large formation in the Central Plains. Too many troops were mobilized, so that the soldiers responsible for strict defense did not get a good rest and had to brace themselves for responsibility at night.
If you catch an enemy who is sneaking away, after a long time, even the strong ones will be unable to hold on.
He asked other remnant Khitan soldiers to break out first to consume the physical strength of the Central Plains soldiers, while he hid in a safe place to recuperate. They would go out again at the second or third watch, when they were most sleepy.
"Now is the best time to break out!"
Yelu Xiezhen looked at the bright moon in the sky, and Yelu Talie's final entrustment came to his mind. He punched the fir tree beside him, with some determination in his eyes.
There were not many soldiers beside him, only about 800 people.
Compared with others who were dispersed bit by bit by the pursuers from the Central Plains, he took the initiative to disperse his remaining troops, and then each settled his destiny.
Everything is in his calculation...
It's just that Yelv Xiezhen ignored one thing, Luo Youdu attached great importance to him, the future double wall of Daliao.
I would rather let the remaining Khitan troops run away than leave him alone.
No matter which direction Yelv Xiezhen goes, he will encounter Central Plains soldiers who shrink the encirclement and surround him.
Yelu Xiezhen was terrified, and for a moment he felt like he was shooting himself in the foot.
Just when Yelu Xiezhen was hiding in Tibet, Yang Ye came to Xiaoshan Forest.
There was an astonishing smell of blood surrounding the small cedar forest, which had just experienced a battle five hours ago.
The Khitan soldiers who broke out on the other side entangled Ma Renyu here, and the two sides chased each other for three consecutive battles.
Ma Renyu achieved three victories in three battles and killed three thousand Khitan corpses.
Because the war was not over yet, the battlefield was not cleaned, but the corpses of our own soldiers were collected to prevent them from being eaten by wild beasts and birds.
Therefore, you can still see corpses everywhere here, as well as the unpleasant smell of blood.
"Observer! There are indeed signs of troops resting in the woods."
Lieutenant General Liang Chongzan came to Yang Ye's side excitedly and reported the news of his investigation.
Yang Ye couldn't help but admire: "What a good Yelu Xiezhen, what a dark person under the lamp. It's no wonder that Your Majesty is willing to work for him alone, so much effort and effort."
They narrowed the encirclement and set their main target on Yelv Xiezhen.
However, most of the night passed and Yelv Xiezhen was not caught. The other remnants of the Khitan in the encirclement who were preparing to break out of the encirclement were in trouble. Chi Yu was captured or killed one by one. Yelv Xiezhen's deputy general Xie Zhende was also captured.
Xie Zhende was adamant and said nothing, but the soldiers under his command explained everything.
There was news that Yelv Xiezhen took the initiative to disperse his troops and planned to rest and break out of the encirclement.
After hearing the news, Yang Ye kept wondering where Yelv Xiezhen would be hiding, and finally settled on Xiaoshan Forest shortly after the war.
Sure enough, we found clues.
"Li Dutou, maybe you can find traces of the other party?"
Yang Ye asked the commanders in the army, but the telescope lost its effect at night.
But Yang Ye had been at the frontier for a long time and had many capable people under his command. Li Dutou's name was Mohe Lihu, a Khitan who was good at tracking. After joining the Jingsai Army, he gave himself a Han name, Li Angu.
Li Angu said: "There was a battle here, and the traces are confusing. It is not easy to identify, but we can judge from the traces in the woods that they went west."
Yang Ye smiled casually and said: "Then go west. Whether you can encounter them depends on whether God gives you a chance."
He waved his hand and the Jingsai Army headed west.
After walking no more than two miles, Yang Ye vaguely heard the cry of killing, and a flash of excitement flashed in his eyes: "Let's go!"
When they got closer, they saw two troops fighting fiercely.
Yang Ye shouted: "Yang Ye is here, the thieves should not be rampant!"
He shouted, led the Jingsai Army, raised the golden sword in his hand and went straight to the rear of the Khitan.
Hearing Yang Ye's name, Yelu Xiezhen complained bitterly.
After he left the small fir forest, he noticed the existence of the encirclement and knew that it would be difficult to break through it easily. After thinking about it, he found a way. He deliberately exposed a flaw and lured a group of Central Plains wanderers into his encirclement, killing them to obtain them.
armor, so as to change the situation and take a gamble.
As a result, before they could eliminate Zhongyuan Youyi, they encountered the evil star Yang Ye.
Who among the Khitan people today does not know the names of Yang Wudi and his Jingsai Army?
Yelu Xiezhen raised his heart and shouted: "Brothers, follow me to meet Yang Ye for a while!"
After a long period of cat and mouse play, they were tired and hungry. Although they rested for a long time in the small fir forest, they did not dare to start a fire, so they could only drink the goat's milk they carried with them and chew raw highland barley to satisfy their hunger, which was of no use at all.
After a while, he was exhausted due to hunger.
Yang Ye and his Jingsai Army are the best at guerrilla warfare, so if they are entangled, there is no possibility of escaping.
Rather than collapse from exhaustion, it is better to fight to the death while there is still a trace of strength. If you can capture it, you may be able to get a glimmer of life from Luo Youdu.
Yelu Xiezhen turned his head and rushed towards Yang Ye, shouting: "Young man Yang Ye, do you dare to fight me!"
Although Yang Ye was a wise and courageous general, he was famous for his bravery and proficiency in fighting, so he was not afraid of fighting. He took the lead and shouted: "Why don't you dare!"
The two fell apart at the first touch.
Yelu Xiezhen fell down from his horse and fainted.
Yelv Xiezhen's ability to command an army may be better than Yang Ye's, but his bravery is not as good as Yang Ye's. What's more, he is tired and hungry, and he is no match for him.
If Yang Ye hadn't turned the handle of the knife horizontally at the critical moment and struck Yelu Xiezhen in the chest with the blade, he would have died without a doubt.
This ambush was brought to an end by Yang Ye's sword.
When Luo Youdu learned that Yang Ye had captured Yelu Xiezhen, he was overjoyed and felt that things were changing.
He vaguely remembered that in history, Yang Ye fell into the hands of Yelu Xiezhen and died on a hunger strike for three days.
In the end, Yelv Xiezhen cut off Yang Ye's head and presented it to the Liao court.
Now Yelv Xiezhen has exhausted all his traps and is hiding in Tibet. He is finally captured by Yang Ye with a single blow.
At dawn the next day, Yang Ye tied up Yelu Xiezhen and came to Luo Youdu.
Yelu Xiezhen had a gray face and disheveled hair. He was not very rebellious, but was downcast and silent.
Luo Youdu looked at Shi Shouxin who was bandaged and said, "Leave it to you."
He promised Shi Shouxin that he would hand over Yelv Xiezhen to him.
Shi Shouxin was open-minded and knew that Luo Youdu valued Yelu Xiezhen very much. He drew his sword, stepped forward and untied Yelv Xiezhen, and said: "You gave me a shot, and this doesn't count. Lao Shi fought hard
After a while, I lost my physical strength and let you take advantage. We will compete later."
He sheathed his sword, bowed to Luo Youdu and said, "Your Majesty, this Yelv Xiezhen is a man, and my subordinates have interceded on his behalf."
Luo Youdu said: "General Yelu is both wise and brave. I am like thunder in Bianjingdu. If you are willing to surrender, I should treat him as a national soldier."
Yelu Xiezhen remained silent, neither agreeing nor rejecting.
When Luo Youdu saw this, he smiled and said, "Take him down!"
Shi Shouxin said with a bit of dissatisfaction: "This guy doesn't agree or refuse, so what does it mean?"
Luo Youdu said meaningfully: "If you don't agree, doesn't it mean you agree?"
Luo Youdu was still certain about conquering Yelv Xiezhen.
Yelv Xiezhen had a bohemian character in his early years. As one of the founders of Khitan, he was the first grandson of Yue Yelu and Holu. He was despised by the Khitan nobles. Only Xiao Siwen favored him and entrusted him with important tasks.
Xiao Hunian has always regarded Yelv Xiezhen as his elder brother.
However, Xiao Siwen was killed by Han Dezhang, and the cause of his death was related to the Khitan Emperor Yelu Bishe.
Facing the death of his benefactor, Yelu Xiezhen did not feel any strange, and there was no rumor of any friction with the Han family.
Xiao Hunian was quite critical of this.
It can also be seen that Yelv Xiezhen paid more attention to official career than friendship.
Not saying a word today is a sign of unwillingness.