The tactics of cavalry can be described as diverse and countless. The most commonly used one is the formation that the Rouran people used at this time to spread out like a swarm of bees: they can attack, defend, gather, disperse, divide, and
Together, you can advance or retreat...
The best users of this formation are undoubtedly the nomads who have grown up on horses since childhood.
Before the Song Dynasty, it was called the Sparse Formation, but Li Chengzhi changed its name to the Crow Soldier Spreading Star Formation. It comes from the description of the Mongolian cavalry by Peng Daya, a consultant of the Southern Song Dynasty:
Whenever you encounter the enemy's formation, do it in groups of three, three, five, five, four, and five, never cluster together, and be surrounded by the enemy. A large number of infantry should be unified, while the cavalry should be divided.
The enemy is also divided, and when the enemy unites, it is appropriate to unite. Their cavalry may be far or near, more or less, or they may gather or disperse. They come like falling from the sky and go away like thunder. This is called the formation of crow soldiers scattering stars.
The Mongolian cavalry used this formation to travel across Europe and Asia and were invincible.
At this moment, five hundred barbarians were like a goddess scattering flowers, or like a flock of birds coming out of the forest. They were scattered within two or three miles. If you attack, they will retreat. If you retreat, they will advance. If you outflank them, they will retreat.
He just ran away.
Hu Qi's equestrian skills are excellent, his armor is light and his horse is weak. Even if you want to chase him, you can't catch him. He can be called the ultimate rogue.
But Li Liang was not prepared to chase. He always remembered Li Chengzhiyu's instructions before leaving: remember not to use excessive force, and not to let the enemy spy on the strength of our army.
This sentence was told to him by Li Chengzhi alone. Li Liang understood at that time that his duty was to abide.
As for the attack, it is naturally left to Yuan Zhi on the right wing.
Therefore, as soon as he saw Hu Qi using the Crow Soldier Formation, Li Liang immediately ordered the five hundred tiger warriors to form only five rows on the left and right, but the vertical formation was two miles long in front and back. It was like a wall, blocking Hu Qi.
The army is two miles away.
You let go of yours and I'll block mine. If you have the ability, come and do it.
Li Chengzhi's Chinese army has been stationed, and there is no smoke rising. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a fool's dream to see how many soldiers and how many horses are prepared just one thousand meters away with the naked eye...
Brigadier Hu Qi was a little itchy: The Han generals were not fooled?
He originally planned that if the Han cavalry dispersed their formation to pursue them, most of their troops would fight with them. He sent another group to disperse, pass through the gaps between the Han cavalry, and approach the Han army camp to explore.
It doesn't need to be too close, as close as a hundred feet or so, and you can basically find out what's true. Even if the Han army sends out cavalry to outflank them again, with their skill and horse speed, it is impossible for all one hundred subordinates to be strangled and killed by the Han cavalry.<
/p>
But the Han army put up a wall and blocked it tightly?
For the current plan, we can only go around or rush forward, there is no third way!
But Hu Qi rarely used cavalry to confront the enemy head-on. Out of instinct, the brigade commander naturally thought of going around.
After a few shouts, the Hu Qi scattered at the east and west ends quickly gathered together. In just a dozen breaths, about fifty or sixty Hu Qi in front and back gathered in a group, each heading towards the front and rear of Li Liang's formation.
.
"Whoops..."
Like the cry of eagles and the chirping of cranes, a whistle resounded throughout the sky. The excellent cavalry formation was divided into two, with three columns thrusting in from east to west, while the other two columns turned their horses' heads and ran eastward.
Viewed from a high place, it looked like a five-layered Thousand Layer Pancake that was suddenly peeled in half and put back together again. Suddenly, the originally two-mile wall was divided into two and extended to four miles.
, and then carried the scattered Hu Qi outside the formation.
Li Chengzhi's Chinese army only had 6,000 men and horses. In order to confuse the enemy, they formed a rectangular formation that was very wide on the left and right and narrower at the back. How deep could it be?
Four miles is more than enough.
And it is impossible for the two Hu cavalry to go around four miles away, otherwise they are too far away from the main formation, and 99% of them will be made dumplings by the wall-like Han cavalry.
But Brigade Commander Hu Qi was not surprised but overjoyed: Is the Han general confused, or has he never read a military book at all, let alone led an army?
I might still be afraid of the depth of five floors. But you are divided into two halves?
There are only two layers, and they can be broken in a single charge. Moreover, the front line is too long. Once one of them is broken through, the Han army will not be able to care about the head and tail.
He shouted sternly: "Send the order: Each building is divided into two, the front team rushes into formation, and the rear team attacks!"
With the sound of several horns, Hu Qi, who had been scattered like a sparse flock of sheep, suddenly formed into five teams, like five fingers spread out, and thrust towards Li Liang's cavalry formation.
Li Liang turned a blind eye and just stared at Hu Qi, who was getting closer and closer, without even a single instruction.
Standing next to Li Liang, Yuan Chen's heart was in his throat, and he scratched his head anxiously: "Li joins the army?"
"Don't panic, just watch!" Li Liang waved his hand calmly.
The front line is about to be breached, how can we not panic?
Seeing that there was still more than a mile left, and Hu Qi could cross the formation wall in just twenty or thirty breaths, Li Liang shouted softly: "Wave the flag!"
It should have been explained long ago. Li Liang did not issue a specific order, but the command flag in the hands of Li's servant beside him was waving very briskly, which dazzled Yuan Jie.
"This is a break...this is a close...well, this is a gap?"
Free?
Yuan Chen was horrified and turned his head: as if he had been slashed with a knife, the formation wall in the direction where the five teams of Hu Cavaliers were charging suddenly cracked, leaving five openings about three to four feet wide.
The extra tigers quickly filled their positions, and within ten seconds they were lined up on the left and right sides of the gap, as if they were forming a formation to welcome the enemy.
Yuan Chen's eyes bulged out in shock: "What's the trick?"
Li Liang didn't respond, just stared at the tiger as far as he could see.
This was the brigade that the late emperor selected from the Huben camps and gave him training when Lang Jun was promoted to General Huben.
After several months, Li Chengzhi worked very hard, and he didn't have any secrets when it came to teaching. A group of dandies can be considered as good, and they have practiced various formations proficiently. After several battles, it seems that they are not much better than Huben? But when it comes to battle, even the simplest division of troops and formations are sparse?
It's just because they are all dandy boys, from Brigadier Yuan Jian to down, without exception, they are all newcomers, that's why it's so messy.
If they were soldiers from Hexi, they would be able to change formations in a matter of seconds when given an order. Why would they need to give orders when the enemy cavalry is still a mile away? Wait until they rush within a hundred or ten steps before changing formations. The enemy cavalry would not have time to turn around.
.
This is what Lang Jun said: whether it is a mule or a horse, you will know if you pull it out and run around...
After thinking about it, Li Liang responded softly: "Don't panic!"
……
Looking at the five rapidly opening gaps, Brigadier Rouran suddenly lost his command.
The best thing about cavalry has always been mobile warfare, especially the cavalry of nomadic people.
This is not to say that there is nothing you can do to deal with the stationed enemy cavalry or infantry formation, but there are many ways: you can scratch them with small groups, shoot them in front of the formation, wait for their formation to be disrupted, or divide them and annihilate them, or join them and encircle them.
But that requires time and patience. What's more, this is the heart of the Han army. This brigade of Hu Qi can be said to be alone in the depths. You want him to try to disturb you?
If Li Chengzhi hadn't been unwilling to expose his strength too early, he would have made dumplings out of this brigade of Huqi in a matter of minutes.
No matter how stupid the Hu Qi brigade commander is, he can still see that these five gaps are clearly the entrances to the five pockets. Once they get in, the Han Qi will plunge into the pockets and annihilate them together.
What I was worried about just now was how to break in, but now I am worried about how to get out after breaking in.
My heart was itching like a cat scratching my head. I wanted to order my subordinates to stop the assault, but I was afraid of missing this golden opportunity.
After a moment's hesitation, the brigade commander suddenly remembered the death order of the army leader Yuchi before leaving: Even if the two brigades suffered casualties, they still had to find out the strength of the Han army!
I can’t control that much anymore...
He gritted his teeth: "The front team rushed forward, and the rear team disturbed the enemy outside the formation, disrupting the Han army's formation wall..."
With an order, the rear team of the five-building Hu cavalry made a sharp move and slowed down their horses. The front team spread out their formation slightly. It originally looked like a stick, but now it looked like a wedge. Suddenly
It is the most commonly used cone formation during cavalry assaults, and it is intended to tear the gap as wide as possible.
Since the road was left open, none of the soldiers were stupid enough to hit the wall again. Instead, they rushed towards the gap in unison. Just like when eating chicken, if you see someone carrying a pan with a circle on his back, everyone will take several shots.
Same...
Yuan Jian even trembled: "Li... Li joined the army, why...?"
Li Liang looked at Yuan Chen with complicated eyes.
It is true as Lang Jun said: no matter how good the teachers and generals are, no matter how strong the armor is, no matter how good the food and wine are, or even if you train to death, it is impossible to build a so-called strong army.
Of course it was typed...
Just like Yuan Jian, he has been sitting in front of his husband every day for the past few months, and he has always given instructions from his ears. It can be said that he has given everything he has to offer. But when it comes to war, he is so shocked that he can't even make the most basic judgment?
But then I thought about it, and it’s normal: it’s not uncommon for rookies to wet their pants for the first time on the battlefield. Yuan Chen can sit straight on the horse, which is already good
Li Liang replied in a low voice: "I made the enemy retreat in the face of difficulties...Have you forgotten that all the A-batteries are equipped with double crossbows?"
"Aunao... yes, double crossbows..."
Yuan Jian's eyes lit up, "But there will definitely be fish that slip through the net, and since all members of the Jia Brigade are close relatives, even if they pursue a sudden pursuit, I'm afraid there will be no rules, so what should we do?"
So you also know that we are all newbies?
In order to help you guys grow up as quickly as possible, Lang Jun is really worried!
Li Chengzhi sighed leisurely: "Don't worry, the commander has already made arrangements!"
He pointed forward again, "Look carefully!"
……
Hu Qi, who rushed faster, was already less than a hundred feet away from the cavalry formation. But the five hundred tigers remained motionless, as if waiting for the enemy to rush over.
Close, twenty feet closer...
Li Cong lazily took out the fire certificate, opened the copper cap and blew it gently, and a blue flame came out.
Li Rui hooked the bow string, and felt that the distance was almost there. He pulled the bow string steadily, and the bow was stretched like a full moon.
Li Cong lit the fuse with quick eyes and hands. When Li Rui let go, a big arrow with sparks and white smoke shot into the air.
"What is this!"
"Explosive Rain and Pear Blossom Arrows!"
What arrow?
Li Liang answered clearly, but Yuan Chen was confused.
In a moment of shock and confusion, dozens of rockets tied with fireworks were shot into the air and then fell diagonally.
It is true that the Hu Qi formation was too sparse, and without exception, they were all nailed into the Creep Cavalry formation.
What?
Hu Qi was curious, and with a "whoosh" sound, a spark came out of the arrow tube, rose about ten feet, and exploded with a "bang".
This is the real goddess scattering flowers. Countless sparks suddenly scattered and landed on Hu Qi’s head, head, and the horse’s face and body.
The sound is secondary. War horses are used to hearing gongs, drums and horns, and most of them have a high tolerance for loud noises.
But there is no animal that is not afraid of fire, not to mention that things like horses are not very courageous.
A ball of fire suddenly exploded in front of his eyes, and it hurt and burned when it splashed on his face. Even Hu Bing was so shocked that he almost fell off his horse, not to mention the mount under his crotch.
Five or six of the ten horses were immediately startled. They either stood up or, without the control of the knight, turned their horses' hoofs and rushed into the diagonal stab.
It was just a round of fireworks and arrows, and 60% to 70% of the Hu cavalry in a brigade were frightened on the spot.
Yuan Jian only felt a numbness on his scalp, and little stars appeared in his eyes.
Isn't this... the fireworks Li Canjun mentioned?
On the day when Fertile Land was captured, the Marshal's hundreds of retainers used this thing to frighten the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the town as if they were ghosts.
Afterwards, he couldn't bear his curiosity and asked too much, and was almost whipped by Li Chengzhi.
Um...wrong?
Not to mention touching it, let alone using it, I would get beaten even if I asked more, so what did the commander want me to see and learn?
Also, Li Liang clearly mentioned double crossbows just now...
"Don't blink, look carefully!"
Li Liang reminded him softly, and then pointed forward, "If the commander-in-chief is here, and if we and other retainers are leading the enemy, we will definitely not waste this sacred creature... The commander-in-chief will still line up on the wall, but the whole building
Riding on the wall, but moving..."
They have all been lined up into a wall, how can we move?
Yuan Chen blinked his eyes and was about to open his mouth when an idea flashed in his mind: "Three-stage attack?"
"Yes!"
Li Liang nodded his head and looked at the chaotic Hu Qi in a leisurely manner, "Even with a crossbow, I can shoot down these hundreds of cavalry."
Yuan Chen was not stupid enough to ask such a stupid question as to why bows and arrows were not used.
Just because the crossbow shoots more accurately than the bow, has greater lethality, and saves effort.
Most cavalry bows are six-shot, and if fired directly, the effective kill is only thirty steps. This is why most cavalry will approach within thirty steps before firing their bows.
But the crossbow is different. If it is a mounted crossbow, it can weigh as much as two to three stones and can effectively kill people up to fifty steps away.
Just because the former uses both arms to draw the bow, while the latter can use both arms, waist, and even legs to exert force.
The only shortcoming of the crossbow is that it is too slow to load arrows, but Li Chengzhi perfectly made up for this flaw after improving the three-shot tactic of the matchlock gun.
Just like this:
Soldiers with better eyesight and better shooting skills stand in the front row, specializing in firing crossbows. Soldiers with stronger strength stand behind half a horse or one horse and shoot in two rows. The soldiers put the crossbow string on the iron hook in front of the saddle.
Once hung, he pulled the trigger with both arms, leaned back at the waist, hung the back of the crossbow behind the saddle, and then filled it with arrows.
Its speed is no slower than the speed of the crossbow soldiers stepping on the crossbow machine under their feet. Almost as soon as the previous crossbow has finished shooting, the loaded crossbow machines are handed over from the next two rows...
Yuan Jian was dumbfounded, looking at Hu Qi in a daze.
The sound of "tying", like the explosion of a dumb cannon, woke him up.
"Why is it called... Heavy Rain Pear Blossom Arrow?"
Li Liang shook his head: "The name was given by Lang Jun. Why it is called that way, I don't know..."
After a short pause, he warned again: "Don't ask any more questions, I won't tell you even if you ask!"
Seeing the stern look in Li Liang's eyes, Yuan Chen's heart tightened and he nodded obediently.