In the mountains, forests and swamps, water birds suddenly rise up, and the sound of hooves sounds like thunder.
Almost instantly, hundreds of powerful cavalry rushed into a pasture. Arrows flew everywhere and swords and guns screamed.
The Khitan people were actually prepared for this.
No one is a fool. They are lazy and don't take it seriously when their faces are close to each other, without the slightest warning.
As a result, the cavalry from both Xia and Qi sides fought face to face in the dry open space in the swamp.
However, with just one encounter, the knights of the Difficult Army gave the Khitans a small shock. With their outstanding melee combat capabilities, they brought down too many Khitan cavalry, and they only paid a small price of dozens of people being killed.
Commander Qu, who led the Khitan army, also knew how to fight. He immediately gathered his formation and burrowed into the swamps, reeds, groves and hillsides. He used the complex terrain to stop the melee charge of the knights of the disaster army, and then firmly controlled the relationship between the two sides.
The distance between them changed the mode of fighting to one of riding bows and shooting at each other.
This is the battle mode they are familiar with.
Cavalry is supposed to ride on horseback and shoot arrows, killing enemies at mid-range. Frontal melee combat is too rude and not suitable for us prairie men - in fact, the Khitan often carried wolf fangs when they conquered Shiwei, Tatar and other tribes.
They charge with sticks and spears to defeat the enemy. They are considered the tribe outside Youzhou Pass that are best at melee combat.
But today we obviously met an opponent.
When the cavalry of both sides clashed, the Khitan knights fell to the ground like reeds blown down by the strong wind. There is no other reason for this result. The cavalry clash is not as crowded as the infantry, and the formation is actually very
Loose tactics and formations are useful, but they are far less demanding than infantry. In many cases, they rely on teamwork, and the role of individuals is greatly magnified. At this time, they rely on skills.
How many hours do you train a day? How are your weapons and equipment? Can you afford to eat meat? Are you strong? Is the horse under your crotch a war horse or a random horse? Wait
Details determine success or failure, and this is the secret.
Therefore, the Khitans decisively gave up hand-to-hand combat and began to use complex terrain to deal with the Xia soldiers. Chao Cuo of the Han Dynasty once mentioned that the advantages of the Huns' cavalry lay in riding and archery, but the original source of the Dingnan Army's cavalry was the Helongfan people.
, they have no obvious shortcomings in this area. On the contrary, after becoming professional warriors, they have guaranteed food and housing, and the amount of training has increased, and they are not inferior in playing bows and arrows. By doing this, the Khitans just avoided the disadvantages, but they
What you think is an advantage may not be an advantage.
Then, we saw it: the war horses splashed in large groups of water between the swamps, the two sides appeared and disappeared like hide-and-seek, and suddenly an arrow shot out, knocking down one person like a chicken, and then the horse hit the horse and ran wildly, detouring back to
Confronted the enemy at another location. Casualties on both sides were considerable.
After the Khitan people fired at each other for a while, they felt very frightened, and the morale of the soldiers was a little low. Seeing that it had been delayed for a long time, they slowly retreated.
The Dingnan Army gave a symbolic pursuit and then withdrew.
Fu Yanchao, the commander of the Dingjun Army who led the team, was also not satisfied with the battle process.
They are light cavalry, focusing on mobile combat on the battlefield, but the rolling hills, dense swamps, and dense woods limit their performance. Although they are not inferior during the shooting process, they even have a great advantage, but what is the enemy's cost?
What is the cost of your soldiers?
You still have to think of a way to force the Khitans to charge and fight you face to face. "Withdraw!" He waved his hand.
The soldiers waved the flag, and the cavalry scattered around gradually gathered together. Then they took the ownerless horses and evacuated the battlefield in batches.
****
Yelv Shilu learned of the news of Xia Bing's attack immediately.
He and Haidi put aside their differences for the time being and hurriedly came to the rescue with thousands of horses. Unexpectedly, the Xia people had already retreated. Yelu Shilu dismounted and carefully inspected the battlefield.
The ground was littered with corpses of Xi people. Many were killed by swords, and many were killed by lances, spears, maces, and iron laos. In comparison, the number of those who were killed by bows and arrows was much less.
"I remember when the Xia thieves attacked the pine forest on the plains. Those named 'Cavalry Army' gathered together and charged. They were so brave that they could not be defeated. In the end, they were driven out with the help of many people." Yelu Shilu
He said: "Today we are fighting in valleys and swamps, and we can still maneuver around. But what will we do when the Xia people take a detour and fight on the flat and open grasslands in the future? Are they still going to avoid their sharp edges and guerrilla attacks like they are now?"
Yelvhadi's face was also very solemn. He looked more carefully than Shilu. He looked through more than ten corpses in a row, and even pulled out an arrow and looked at it for a long time. He said: "It must be the Xia people's forbidden army."
.Shilu, what does this mean?”
"The Ming Xia people are going to cause trouble for us." Shi Lu said with a bitter smile.
Jiadi threw away the arrow and said, "Actually, I have a question that remains unanswered." "Tell me and listen." Shi Ludao.
"I heard that Shao Shude has taken full control of Youzhou. In recent months, he has been busy rectifying the ten states of Lulong." Jiadi said.
"Isn't it in vain that we have conquered territory but didn't take the time to reorganize it?" Shi Lu raised his head, looked at the bottom of the tent, and asked, "What on earth do you want to say?"
"A few days ago, you sent an envoy to the east of Hedong. Although you were forced to turn back halfway, you also know that Xia soldiers massacred people in Youzhou and organized households into households. This chaos will not be settled in a year and a half. That is,
It is said that the Xia people don't have much interest in visiting here, so what is their purpose? "Jadi asked.
"Why do you ask knowingly?" Shi Lu snorted dissatisfied and said, "Aren't you planning to attack Liaoze and encroach on it step by step? And at the same time, you are applying pressure, which scares me and makes me afraid to go south with all my strength."
"Then how did they know that I, the Khitan, was going south to Liaonan?" Jiadi asked forcefully.
Shi Lu said nothing.
"Hmph! You're embarrassed to say it. Let me tell you, it's not because of your stupid son Brother Hua?" Haidi said angrily.
Yelu Shilu sighed and did not refute.
"Brother Hua is not good at anything. Apart from playing with women, what else can he do?" Haidi continued: "The matter is over, I don't want to say anything more. Shi Lu, give the order."
"What order?" Shi Lu was startled.
The commander's eyes widened angrily, and he said: "Of course I told Abaoji to stop summoning all the troops. Now if we go south, we may be able to achieve some results in southern Liaoning, but if the Xia people gather their troops and attack Liaoze, what will you do?"
Resist? Shi Lu, you just mentioned the flat pine forest. If the Xia people send another large army to advance along Huangshui, do you want to send people to resist? What will you use to resist? "
Yelu Shilu looked hesitant.
He is Yu Yue, who is in charge of military and state affairs. In theory, he can order the eight military commanders Abaoji. Not to mention the close relationship between the two parties. As long as he speaks, Abaoji will still obey him even if he doesn't want to.
.but--
"Why are you still hesitating?" Haidi became even more angry and said: "Abaoji is not worth cultivating at all. His ambition is too big, and it is too big for the eight Khitan tribes to bear. He is not the destined son of the Khitan at all, but a disaster star.
, a great disaster.”
"You?!" Shi Lu was a little angry.
"Yan Mujin's bowl of ecstasy soup has really fascinated you?" Haidi sneered again and again and said: "Let me put it bluntly, if the Khitan had the strength of the Turks and Uighurs back then, Abaoji could indeed lead the Khitan to rise.
They even went south to the Central Plains. But do the Eight Khitans have this strength? No! Do you think that my targeting of Abaoji is just a dispute of will? Then you underestimate me. I designed to play Gu Guzhi back then, you have to think that
Yili Jin, have I ever argued with you? These are all words from the bottom of my heart. Abaoji was born at the wrong time, so there is nothing to say."
When Shi Lu first heard this, he almost stabbed someone again. However, after hearing what Jiadi said, he was also touched and almost got to know this person again.
Judi means that he treats the situation rather than the person. In the current situation, Abaoji may be able to lead the Khitan to defeat Bohai. If there are another ten years, it is not impossible to destroy Bohai in one fell swoop. But will the Xia people give you this opportunity?
They floated across the sea and headed north to Liaonan. What was the reason?
As soon as Shao Shude captured Youzhou, he couldn't wait to restore the stronghold behind the mountains, and even went one step further to peek into Liaoze. What was the reason?
The Xia people were aware of the Khitan's ambitions early on and began to make targeted arrangements. This was just a prelude. No one knew what would happen in the future.
"The Central Plains is in chaos, such a good opportunity is like the last years of the Sui Dynasty," Shi Lu said hesitantly.
"Is it Abaoji who told you again?" He sneered and said, "Shao Shude has almost unified the north. It's too late! Even if there is no unification, I don't think Abaoji's plan to go south will go smoothly. He couldn't defeat it in the past.
Zhang Zhongwu was no longer able to defeat Li Kuangwei, and later he lost a decisive battle with Li Keyong. He couldn't even capture Youzhou, so he still wanted to go south to the Central Plains? Why?"
Hearing this, Yelu Shilu felt that what Jiadi said was reasonable, but his self-contemptuous tone made people unhappy, so he said: "Hadi, after all, you have been fighting for half your life, and you have defeated the enemy.
If you are extraordinarily brave, why should you embolden others' ambition and destroy your own prestige?"
"I just don't want Khitan to be implicated by one man's ambition." Yelvhadi said: "In my opinion, it is better to send an envoy to Luoyang and declare himself a vassal. Shao Shude also has Wang Rong, Wang Gao, and Li Keyong who have not been destroyed.
There should be many vassal towns that have not yet been captured. Any normal person will know that attacking Jiangnan is more profitable than conquering Khitan. In this way, this disaster may be overcome. Shao Shude is not young anymore. When he dominates the world, he will probably grow old.
Now, what other ambitions are there? Let’s be respectful and coax it away. No one can tell what the Central Plains will be like after his death. Maybe there will be a chance."
Shi Lu once again refreshed his understanding of Jiadi.
The strategy he mentioned is actually quite feasible.
The kings of the Central Plains cared more about face than honor. During the Sui Dynasty, the Turks were defeated in the Central Plains and professed their vassalage to Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, gaining a valuable opportunity for adjustment. Then, at the end of the Sui Dynasty, they interfered in the process of unifying the Central Plains and almost succeeded.
The Turks respect Yang Jian as the "Sage Khan". If the Khitan respects Shao Shude as the "Supreme Khan", can they also get a chance to breathe after the continuous defeat like the Turks?
Shi Lu thought about it carefully, and the current situation seems to be similar to that of the Sui Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty has not yet destroyed the Chen Dynasty, but only unified the north. However, it can divide its troops into several groups, tens of thousands of infantry, and five or six thousand cavalry to kill hundreds of thousands.
The Turks who were riding were defeated miserably, and the Khan fled in panic.
Shao Shude is about to unify the north, but the south is not yet at peace. He has also experienced the strength of the Great Xia Forbidden Army. Tens of thousands of Khitan cavalry were unable to defeat the more than 3,000 cavalry of the Longwu Army, and were beaten to the point where they lost their helmets and armor.
If you fight head-on, you may really not be able to win.
Yelv Shilu was almost shaken for a moment, but he remembered Abaoji's words and the wonderful prospect Abaoji had described to him, and he hesitated.
Yeluhadi looked on with cold eyes and sighed secretly in his heart.
He knew that Shi Lu would eventually turn to Abaoji and choose to support his favorite nephew.
At the same time, I also find it quite ridiculous that even the Tribes cannot reach a unified opinion, let alone the eight Khitan tribes. Abaoji is just another one who can stand out.
"Judi, what you said is not completely unreasonable." Shi Lu cleared his throat and said, "I will discuss it with Abaoji again. The Xia people are continuing to increase their troops, and war may break out in Liaoze. You and I are still
We have to work together to fight back the Xia people first."
Without saying a word, Jiadi turned and left. Yelv Shilu's face was covered with frost.
He knew that the Duici Tribe had actually split. Perhaps this could not be seen on the surface and could still be barely maintained. But as long as the war situation was unfavorable, more and more people would support Judi, and eventually he and Abaoji would be separated.
The powerful uncle and nephew were completely buried.
