A few days later, Li Po witnessed the first battle of the Sui army's northern expedition from a high place...しw0.
This was the first time he had seen a large-scale battle, and it also seemed like a very important lesson that God had taught him in his life.
The experience and lessons learned in this battle will benefit him immensely in the days to come.
After this battle ended, he understood a very important truth.
Brave generals, sturdy soldiers, strict military discipline, complete armaments, appropriate strategies and tactics, etc., etc., are all prerequisites for victory in the war, but... we must not leave behind the scenes.
, handed over to the powerful disciples without reservation...
This is the most important one he summarized during the Battle of Liao and Shui. It can even be said that it is his unique war philosophy.
In March of the eighth year of Daye, Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty led his army to the west bank of the Liao River.
Immediately, Yu Wenkai, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, was ordered to build three pontoon bridges to cross the Liao River.
Needless to say, the family background of Yu Wenkai, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was naturally descended from the Yuwen family, a powerful family in Kansai, and was a very important branch among them.
Because his father was Yu Wengui, one of the twelve generals of the Western Wei Dynasty, and his elder brother, who was no less inferior to his father, was Yu Wenxin, the general of Shangzhu State.
Therefore, it goes without saying that his family is famous.
Yu Wenkai is not good at martial arts. His main business is in various projects.
He was the most important craftsman leader during the Kaihuang period.
From the anniversary of the Northern Zhou Dynasty to the Daye period, all kinds of projects are inseparable from him. He built New Chang'an, which was Daxing City at that time, repaired the Great Wall, Chidao, the excavation of the Grand Canal, and the newly built Luoyang City.
, it was all under his supervision that it was completed.
This is undoubtedly a great engineer of the Sui Dynasty, and craftsmen like Lu Ban are just childish in front of him.
But in the eighth year of his great career, while building the Liaoshui Floating Bridge, he suffered a big setback.
He had no choice but to be with an emperor like Yang Guang. It was his good fortune, which allowed him to fully display his talents and never worry about the shortage of manpower. This was a very happy thing for an engineer.
But the unfortunate thing is that he followed such a casual emperor.
Just one word from the emperor, and he, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, would lose so many hairs and experience so many sleepless nights.
Surrounded by a large army, in full view of the public, they felled wood, explored geography and water conditions, and ordered sergeants who were not familiar with engineering construction to quickly build a pontoon bridge with the enemy watching eagerly on the other side.
Therefore, Yu Wenkai, who was not very familiar with war, finally fell into the trap.
The pontoon bridge was built very quickly, which was directly related to the huge manpower.
Of course, this is also closely related to Yu Wenkai's profound knowledge.
During the Daye years, a series of projects also made Sui Emperor Yang Guang have no shortage of engineering experts. With everyone's concerted efforts, the pontoon bridge began to be built smoothly.
But don't forget, this is in the middle of a war. If there is no Goguryeo army on the other side, the pontoon bridge may soon allow the army to pass through the Liao River smoothly.
However, that was just a fantasy. Later, people said that Yu Wenkai made a miscalculation, which led to a shortage of pontoons, which led to the defeat in the first battle of Liao River.
In fact, under the strict defense of the Goguryeo people, the pontoon bridge built hastily by the Sui army was impossible to get within ten steps of the east bank.
The Goguryeo people were raining down arrows. While building the pontoon bridge, the Sui soldiers who were preparing to cross the river to attack were faced with difficulties in advancing and retreating. They were crowded on the pontoon bridge and became a target.
From time to time, people were pushed into the water. Wearing armor, they were immediately submerged in the torrential water. If there was a gap on the bridge, rows of people would fall down in the rain of arrows.
It is impossible to transport heavy building materials to the front.
More and more Sui soldiers fell into the Liao River, and corpses piled up on the pontoon. Blood flowed on the pontoon and fell into the water, but it could not dye the Liao River any color.
Washed away without a trace.
This was not the first time the Sui people shed blood on the Liao River, but it was the first time the Sui people went to war with the Goguryeo people during the Daye period.
The officers and soldiers of the Sui army gave the best explanation for their pride and underestimation of the enemy with their boiling blood and countless lives.
At this time, the unfavorable war had already made another person's reputation.
His name is Mai Tiezhang. He was born as a fierce bandit in the south of the Yangtze River. He is extremely brave and powerful. Now he is the highest official in the government. He is the general of Youtunwei and one of the confidant generals of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty.
He is undoubtedly the most typical warrior in the cold weapon era.
When he led the troops on the bridge and was unable to advance or retreat, he was actually far less sentimental than later people said, and he was as generous and fierce as a martyr.
He just did what a general in command should do.
Looking at the river bank, there were still dozens of steps to go. The pontoon bridge was crowded and it was impossible to retreat. The Sui soldiers on the pontoon bridge were suffering heavy casualties.
Mai Tiezhang couldn't help but shout wildly, jumped into the Liao River, braved the rain of arrows, and swam across the east bank.
At this time, the bravery of the Sui army officers was also vividly demonstrated.
As General Mai Tiezhang jumped into the Liao River, the soldiers of Youtunwei Mansion followed without hesitation, jumping into the water one after another like dumplings.
Most of them were unable to set foot on the east coast.
Either they died by arrows or they were drowned in the Liao River.
But there is no doubt that this was the most heroic moment in the Battle of Liaoshui, and it also created the ugliest scene afterwards.
Mai Tiezhang was lucky that the Liao River did not wash him away. Of course, this was also inseparable from his bravery. The heavy armor seemed as light as nothing when he wore it, and it also provided him with enough strength.
Defense, the arrows did not bring him any harm.
He stepped onto the east bank, led the soldiers who climbed up one after another, and plunged into the Goguryeo military formation on the east bank.
Being too far away, Li Po, who was far away on the west bank, could only hear faint shouts of killing. What he could see most clearly were the rain of arrows rising from the other side and the falling people on the pontoon.
Sui soldiers.
When Mai Tiezhang set foot on the east bank with dozens of soldiers under his command, Li Po was thinking, it's over, today's battle should be over.
At this time, the tragic war could no longer touch him too much. He just stared at the dense rain of arrows that kept falling on the floating bridge with a little horror.
Because he knows that if he is on the pontoon now, then it is very likely that no miracle will happen. His choice will not be any different from those who boarded the east bank. He will plunge into the Liao River.
Yes, first avoid the damn rain of arrows.
The ending was pretty much what Li Po expected. The Sui soldiers who came ashore were quickly submerged in the strict Goguryeo military formation.