Chapter 73: The Rise and Fall of the Khitan (Additional update to the leader of the alliance, Wu Yan Yidu)
Outside Jingfan Village, more and more Khitan soldiers gathered, including many infantry.
The Khitan infantry was basically established by Abaoji. At first, it was mainly Han people, and later some Bohai people and Xi people were added.
The defection of the Gao brothers dealt a heavy blow to the Khitan, and domestic distrust of the Han people reached a considerable height. However, Abaoji overcame all objections and vouched for many Han officials, Han generals, and Han soldiers, supporting them through
After the most difficult period, until Khan Dejin died of illness, Abaoji chose the Great Khan.
The current Khitan infantry army is dominated by the Xi people. The Xi people are indeed very good at infantry warfare. They live mostly in mountainous pastures and are poor themselves. There are many people who can ride horses, but few people own horses, so there are a lot of Abaoji.
Recruit Xi people as infantry to attack cities and fortresses for him.
Four days ago, Abaoji discussed with Shi Lu and decided to let the Xi people dismount and fight on foot, regardless of casualties, to completely remove the thorn in the Xia people's march north and curb their momentum.
Shi Lu had no better way, so he agreed after thinking for a while.
In fact, he had used this trick before, but the ant attack method was too terrifying and resulted in heavy casualties. After attacking for a whole day, he failed to capture Toad Stronghold, and finally had no choice but to retreat, and his morale was low.
Abaoji didn't give up and wanted to give it a try, so go ahead, he was already numb.
"Uncle, why are you so discouraged?" On the far and vast grassland, Abaoji said with a smile: "Even if it doesn't work, we can at least retreat, and the Xia people will chase after them, so what can we do? Chase a thousand miles further north? They will
They will starve to death. Then it will be our chance to annihilate their main force in one fell swoop."
Shi Lu knew that his nephew was trying to comfort him, so he forced a smile.
Suddenly, he thought of his son Hua Ge again.
He used to hate this scoundrel, but after such a long time, emotions such as disgust and hatred have faded a lot. According to the captured Xia Army prisoners, Brother Hua is now Changping Tangcheng, an official, and has already been with him.
Huagu got married and had a child.
Some things are in the past. He feels good that Brother Hua can live quietly. Now that he is half disabled and his life is on the line, he will help his nephew on his last journey and see if he can make a comeback.
"Abaoji, Yikun Prefecture has been captured by the Xia people. Huolu's 60,000-strong army lost no less than 10,000 people. After retreating eastward, the Tatars, Wugu, and Xi people left without saying goodbye. At present, only 30,000 people are left. They
Over there, you really don't want to pay attention?" Shi Lu asked.
"Huolu wanted to ambush the Xia people in the east, but I think it was a bit too risky." Abaoji said: "He concluded that the Xia people were going to attack Yaonian Khan City, which is the core of the Eight Khitan tribes. It sounds like this, but
What if the Xia people didn't go? In addition, I have also sent people to take a detour to the North Tower. Since the Xia people have broken into Shandong, they may attack the West Tower and Yue Wangcheng..."
Having said this, he turned to look at his uncle.
"It doesn't matter." Shi Lu smiled and said: "Most of my body has been buried. If the Yue King City is gone, it will be gone. As long as the Khitan is still there, we can build a second and third Yue King City in the future.
city."
Abaoji was a little moved and raised his head to look at the sky. After a while, he took out a long breath and continued: "If the Xia people go to the west tower, they will know the news about the north tower."
"Not many people know about the North Tower," Shi Lu said.
Abaoji nodded, shook his head, and said: "But there is still a risk. I have given orders that after the livestock are fattened, they will go northwest to the hometown of Lin Ren and take shelter for a while."
The Lin people were a vassal tribe of the Khitan. They grazed their cattle in the northwest of the Eight Tribes of the Khitan. In recent years, they had been moved southward a lot. They fought repeatedly with the Xia people, resulting in considerable losses and a lot of territory being vacated, which was perfect for the Khitan.
The transfer on the grassland relies on confidentiality and no news can be leaked. The North Tower is no longer safe, so it is better to transfer as soon as possible.
"Your thoughts are always thoughtful." Shi Lu praised.
In fact, he had already seen it. During the time when his nephew went south to intercept the grain road, although he captured a lot and did a lot of damage, he had already lost confidence.
Faced with the Xia people's step-by-step strategy, the uncle and nephew could not think of any way to deal with it. The nephew, who had always been confident, no longer had much confidence in fighting. The offensive they were discussing was already the last resort. The Eight Tribes of Khitan
The rise and fall of everything depends on this one move!
******
On June 23, on the vast grassland north of Jingfan Village, a large-scale sacrificial ceremony was taking place.
The shamans held sharp knives and stabbed the chests of the tightly bound "sacrifice" one by one, taking out the blood from the heart to please the gods.
Ao Gu is not a simple character.
In the grassland tribes with barbaric customs of human sacrifice, they have a lot of lives on their hands. Although they do not think that they are killing "human beings", some even think that they are very kind because they often give alms to the poor in the tribe.
A shepherd looks after the illnesses of others and prays to God for the prosperity and decline of pasture.
Don't use modern morality to demand them, it is meaningless.
"Ah!" screams kept coming and going.
The slaves spoke the languages of their respective tribes and cursed loudly.
At this point, they all knew that they would not survive, so they were not afraid to use the most vicious words to curse the Khitan. Cursing them to be killed in pieces by the Xia people, their whole family to die, never to be reincarnated, their wives and daughters to be taken away, the night.
She cried at night and was forced to give birth to children for her enemies.
The shamans had expressionless faces. They had heard all the vicious words, but they couldn't make any waves in their hearts.
The old Sara held a sharp knife in one hand and approached step by step under the fearful eyes of the slave.
The slave inhaled hard and pulled his abdomen back with all his strength. He kept begging and crying.
Sara did not move at all, and steadily drew down the sharp knife, and a big lump of stuff flowed out with a "hurrah", and the fishy smell rose to the sky.
The slave's cursing was interrupted by a scream, and he turned to cursing after a moment, but the man was already breathing more out than in, and his voice gradually became too low to be heard.
Sara muttered something, then walked up to the green cow and the white horse, caressing its back, as if listening.
Abaoji, Shilu and others watched intently.
Sara only stopped listening, turned around and said: "This time we send troops, we will win a great victory!"
Warm cheers instantly erupted in the wilderness.
Abaoji and Shilu looked at each other and smiled. They didn't quite believe this, but it would be fine if some people did.
The Han Art of War says: "Fighting requires courage."
When morale is high, combat effectiveness is doubled, and the chance of victory can indeed be increased.
"Kill the cattle and sheep, and after a good meal, send out troops to attack the stronghold!" Abaoji ordered.
The shepherds immediately started working and were very happy.
Cattle and sheep are the most precious assets of grassland people, and their livelihoods all year round depend on them. If they don't die of illness, old age, falling, freezing to death, etc., they will never be able to part with them. What's more, most cattle and sheep do not belong to ordinary shepherds.
, they have no right to deal with it at all.
At this time, the leader gave the order, no need to be polite, just open it up and eat. Even if the ball is dead in the next battle, it is still good to be a dead man.
Abaoji quietly left the busy camp and personally led people to the Xia people's camp to conduct a careful reconnaissance.
The rangers scattered in the wild were still showing off their skills, fighting against each other. After seeing a large group of well-equipped Khitan cavalry approaching, they immediately abandoned their opponents, patted their horses and galloped back to the camp. The Khitan rangers followed behind, shooting with their bows.
Enjoy the chase.
"In a few days, the camp has changed drastically." Abaoji sighed and whispered to himself: "Who are the Han people, so good at building fortresses?"
A small camp was erected in the southwest and southeast of Jingfan Village. The military flags were flying high. There was no noise in the city and order was in order.
Abaoji knew that after the Wansheng Huangtou Army arrived, the total number of defenders in these three camps exceeded 10,000.
More than 10,000 people, are you sure you can eat it? After eating it, it will definitely demoralize the Xia people, right?
"Dongdongdong..." The war drums sounded, and hundreds of Xiaqi suddenly rushed out of Jingfan Village.
They dismounted from a distance, held long spears and bows, looked fearless, and shouted provocations.
There was a slight commotion behind Abaoji.
He stretched out his hand and stopped, saying: "Don't worry, we will attack the city tomorrow."
After saying that, he took a deep look at the three military camps arranged in a "pin" shape, mounted his horse and left.
******
On June 24, the seventh year of Jianji, the sun was shining brightly and the southeast wind was blowing gently.
Early in the morning, the Khitan army surged in like a tide and filled the entire battlefield.
For a moment, Abaoji felt the overwhelming pride he had not seen for a long time.
This is what a man should do, ride the fiercest horse, command the most powerful army, play with the most beautiful women, kill the enemy until their heads are rolling, so that they dare not resist, and they all kneel down and surrender.
Abaoji burst out laughing, feeling high-spirited in the wind.
"Shao Shude is too courageous to fight me." Abaoji pulled out the sword from his waist and said, "What a pity. If we can capture this thief, we will cut off his head, make it into a wine vessel, and give it to Yue Li.
Duo.”
The chiefs also laughed.
Someone joked: "I heard that Shao Thief is fifty years old. I'm afraid he can't even draw his bow."
"If he is willing to give up Queen Zhe, worship Abaoji as his father, cede territory and become a vassal, perhaps his life can be spared."
"I haven't mentioned anything yet. First, pull down these bird strongholds to dampen the Xia people's spirit. Then fight to Helong Palace and capture the Shao thieves."
"From what Xia Prisoner said, Ao Gu is also in Helong Palace..."
"Pah!" The man was slapped in the face. He immediately knew that he had said the wrong thing and shut up angrily.
"Do it!" Abaoji ordered as he rode back to the main formation.
The desolate sound of horns echoed throughout the earth, as if awakening the ancient war beast.
After a while, more than 20,000 infantrymen lined up in a neat square formation on the grassland.
Flags of various colors were overwhelming, and the brave men and women were full of morale.
"The Khitan rises and falls in one fell swoop!" Abaoji thought silently in his heart.
"This is the last offensive. If it doesn't succeed this time, it won't succeed." Yelv Shilu sighed secretly in his heart.
"The descendants of the green ox and the white horse, kill them!"
"Khitan swears not to be a slave, kill him!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Amidst the passionate sound of war drums, the gray military line crashed towards the camp like a huge wind and huge waves, trying to swallow it up.