Chapter 43 Who is the enemy and who is the friend?
At dawn in the early morning, the rumble of war drums resounded in the fields outside Zhuoxian City. Thirty thousand Dou Jiande's troops surged up like a tide and concentrated on launching an attack on Nancheng. Plank bridges were built across the moat, and hundreds of siege ladders were set up.
To the city head
, tens of thousands of soldiers attacked the city head frantically. Arrows on the city head were like a torrential rain, rolling logs and rocks were as dense as hailstones, the sound of war drums, screams, and shouts echoed inside and outside the city. Xue Wanche led 10,000 Youzhou troops to resist Hao Jiande tenaciously.
The attack of the army.
Ten miles away, the Sui army was still stationed in the original camp. On the same high tower, Yang Yuanqing coldly watched the attack of Zhong Dou Jiande's army on Zhuoxian City. He was now completely sure that Dou Jiande wanted those five thousand heavy troops.
Armored cavalry.
Looking at Dou Jiande's army's offensive, Yang Yuanqing resolutely ordered: "Pass my order to Xie Yingdeng and Qiu Shunde each to lead three thousand cavalry to harass the enemy's attack!"
"Woo——, the horn sounded in the Sui army's camp, and two cavalrymen galloped out from both wings of the camp. Although every Sui soldier was equipped with a bow and arrow, the cavalry generally had to dismount to shoot.
After all, there are not many cavalrymen who can shoot arrows on war horses. The cavalrymen are specially trained. They are skilled in riding skills and can control the horse with their legs. They can draw arrows and shoot quickly on the fast-running warhorses. Some cavalrymen can even shoot left and right.
The biggest difference between the lead cavalry and ordinary cavalry is that they are equipped with short spears, left-hand shields, and right-hand spears. The spears are inserted into the sheaths behind the horses and can be drawn out for combat at any time. Secondly, the lead cavalry has three pots of arrows, which is enough to ensure that they can fight in the war.
consumption in.
In large-scale legion operations, cavalry guides are mainly responsible for peripheral shooting and destroying enemy formations. To a certain extent, they also play the role of scout troops. It is for this reason that many scout troops are born cavalry guides..." Qian
The famous cavalry divided into two groups and attacked Nancheng of Zhuoxian County.
At the same time, Dou Jiande was also observing the movements of the Sui army in the camp. The Sui army's renewed attack was expected by him, but after all, the Sui army was not an alliance with Youzhou. If you compare the Youzhou army to a sheep, then the Sui army
Jun is another group of wolves competing with him for this fat sheep.
It depends on who strikes quickly and ruthlessly, then he can seize the fattest piece of meat. He only needs the five thousand heavy armored cavalry, and he can give the rest of the flesh and blood to the Sui army. But the problem is, Dou Jiande also knows
, things may not be as good as he thought. How could the Sui army let him get the fat of heavy armored cavalry so easily.
"Your Majesty, the Sui army's cavalry has come out!" a soldier shouted from the side.
Dou Jiande had already seen that he could not let the Sui cavalry harass his siege. Dou Jiande immediately ordered, "Order Dong Kangmai to lead 10,000 cavalry to intercept!"
With the thunderous beating of drums, 10,000 cavalrymen rushed out from Dou Jiande's camp. They also divided their troops into two groups and led the cavalry to attack the Sui army.
At this time, the Sui army's camp also changed. Another 6,000 cavalrymen came out of the camp, led by deputy general Qin Qiong. Qin Qiong took the lead, waving his long spear and roaring like thunder. The 6,000 cavalrymen were like an iron dragon and suddenly killed
Entering Dou Jiande's cavalry group, the two cavalrymen were fighting together in the wilderness. Qin Qiong led his troops to fight out, effectively sharing the pressure of leading the cavalry.
Two groups of cavalrymen galloped all the way, breaking through the tight siege of Dou Jiande's army, and soon rushed to Nancheng. They launched an attack from behind the siege soldiers. Six thousand Sui army cavalrymen galloped on their horses, and arrows shot from their hands.
It was shot out from the strong guide above, overwhelming the siege soldiers.
At this time, the siege battle had reached its most dangerous moment. Dou Jiande issued a huge reward of three thousand taels of gold to the first person who rushed into the city. The first ten people were each rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, which greatly stimulated the siege soldiers' enthusiasm.
Fighting spirit, one hundred and fifty siege planes were densely packed with soldiers who were attacking madly. Arrows flying all over the city suppressed the Youzhou army's counterattack at the top of the city.
Even though there were numerous corpses lying under the city, the rich man still forced the siege soldiers to climb up desperately, shouting and cursing, piercing the chest with spears, cutting off heads with horizontal knives, and blood splattered everywhere.
With limbs flying everywhere, hundreds of people rushed to the top of the city and fought fiercely with the Youzhou army. More and more siege soldiers rushed to the top of the city.
At this moment, groups of Sui army cavalry flew past the siege ladder, which was the most dangerous situation. The flying arrows shot from the sky like a sudden storm. The dense rain of arrows caused the siege soldiers on the city ladder to rush.
He was hit by an arrow and fell down the city screaming.
The Sui army led the cavalry into a team of a hundred people. The attacks from all directions caused a chaos for the 40,000 siege soldiers. It was like enjoying a delicious meal when a hard fish bone suddenly got stuck in the throat.
Although there were only more than a thousand casualties, the casualties were not large, but it seriously disrupted the soldiers' siege. Especially the soldiers who attacked the city were unable to follow up, and were counterattacked by the Youzhou Army, whose morale had greatly increased. They drove the enemy troops off the city in one go.
head.
The general in charge of the siege, Gao Yaxian, was so angry that his heart was bleeding. He was forced to have no choice but to order the withdrawal of the troops. "Dang! Dang! Dang!" The bell rang for Ming Jin to withdraw his troops. The siege soldiers retreated like a tide, and the siege was in danger.
The situation was immediately resolved, causing cheers from the defenders on top of the city.
The Sui army's cavalry was too fast. Before Dou Jiande could send out a second intercepting team, the situation changed. Dou Jiande became furious and turned around and ordered to General Liu Heitai: "Lead my guards to attack the Sui army!"
Dou Jiande has five thousand of the most elite soldiers, selected from hundreds of thousands of troops, who are guarding him. They are called guards. They usually do not go into battle, but today's disturbance by the Sui army made him furious.
Five thousand of the most elite Guards cavalry were dispatched at one time.
"The general will obey the order!"
Liu Heitai shouted to the cavalry behind Dou Jiande, "Follow me!"
Five thousand cavalry horses galloped, their spear tips were like forest, like a dark cloud, leading the cavalry to charge towards the Sui army several miles away.
The cavalrymen generally do not directly engage in fierce battles with the enemy. When Xie Yingdeng saw a cavalry rushing towards his army, with murderous intent, he immediately ordered the soldiers around him, "Notify General Qiu to withdraw south temporarily!"
Qiu Shunde was a partial general under Yang Yuanqing. He surrendered with Wang Junkuo. He was highly skilled in martial arts and was especially good at mounted archery. He could shoot arrows while running at high speeds and hit the target with perfect accuracy from a hundred steps away. He was highly appreciated by Yang Yuanqing and promoted him to the rank of leading cavalry general, commanding the three generals.
Qian Yin Cavalry.
After receiving Xie Yingden's order, he immediately waved his short spear and shouted loudly, "Brothers, retreat!"
Qiu Shunde turned his horse around and led three thousand cavalrymen to retreat southward. Xie Yingdeng's army also withdrew southward. Soon, six thousand cavalrymen left the battlefield.
At this moment, the bell sounded from the Sui Army's camp to withdraw troops. Zhong Qin Qiong, who was fighting fiercely, immediately led his cavalry to leave the battlefield and retreat towards the Sui Army's camp.
There are many ways to force Dou Jiande's army to stop military operations, such as forming a large army to use force, or concentrating troops to attack the enemy's major battalions of grain and grass, etc. However, the Sui army used harassment methods, which could not change the situation of the war.
, could only suspend the opponent's offensive. Obviously, the Sui army had no intention of directly stopping Dou Jiande's army from attacking the city. They only quickly took action to disrupt Dou Jiande's army's offensive when the situation became precarious.
Dou Jiande also realized the Sui army's intention. The Sui army was using his army to weaken the defenders while preventing him from taking the city. Dou Jiande also ordered a suspension of the siege and the soldiers returned to camp. Both sides reorganized their troops and horses in Zhuoxian City.
A confrontation formed below.
…
…
On the first day of the siege, there was no movement from Luo Yi. He remained silent and did not even send troops to rescue his city. Instead, his camp advanced five miles and was stationed ten miles northeast of Zhuoxian County.
Luo Yi has received information that the Sui army has returned to Zhuoxian City. He knows very well that the Sui army will never let Dou Jiande break the city. Since the Sui army wants to stand up for him, why not do it?
Luo Yi wanted to preserve his own strength, so he just sent groups of scouts to investigate the situation, but his 30,000 Youzhou troops remained stationary ten miles away.
A three-foot-high observation tower was also built in front of the Youzhou Army's camp. Throughout the morning, Luo Yi stood on the observation tower to observe the battle situation. Although he did not send troops, he was more concerned about the progress of the battle situation than anyone else.
Groups of scout soldiers rushed back to him like a revolving lantern to report the direction of the battle. When he heard that the Sui army sent out cavalry to attack the back of Dou Jiande's siege army, his heart hanging in his throat suddenly relaxed...
At this time, a group of sentries escorted several Sui army officials and rushed over. Soon they went straight to the camp gate. A sentry stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, the Sui army envoys are here to see you!"
Luo Yi nodded and said to the bodyguard beside him: "Please invite the Sui envoy to meet you at the deputy tent in Zhongping!"
He got off the imperial terrace and rode back to the main tent. As soon as he returned to the deputy tent, the soldiers brought in the Sui army envoy, who was a civilian officer in his thirties.
The envoy of the Sui Dynasty stepped forward and bowed, "Deputy Cao of the Sui Army Cang, Shi Rong, met with General Manager Luo!"
Luo Yi waved his hand, "Shi Canjun, please take a seat."
At this time, Luo Yi's second son Luo Cheng also walked into the tent and stood behind his father. His mood was a bit complicated. Perhaps because he had served as a general under Yang Yuanqing, he was more inclined to the Sui Dynasty in his heart.
He felt that since Yang Yuanqing was willing to send envoys, there was room for negotiation. He did not understand why his father refused to surrender to the Sui Dynasty. His father was also Yang Yuanqing's subordinate at that time. Although he had thoughts in his heart, he was his son after all. He must
Follow your father.
Shi Rong sat down, took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Luo Yi, smiling: "This is a personal letter from His Royal Highness the King of Chu to General Luo. Please take a look at it!"
Luo Cheng stepped forward to take the letter and presented it to his father. He glanced at the words on the envelope, 'To General Luo Yi, the Peking Warlord of the General Administration of Youzhou...
This was Luo Yi's official official position in the Sui Dynasty. He named himself the Governor of Youzhou, and the title of Prince of Beiping was given to him by the Tang Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty would never recognize it, so Yang Yuanqing called him by his official position in the Sui Dynasty.
This made Luo Cheng's heart move, and he had vaguely guessed the content of the letter.
Luo Yi took a deep look at the words on the same envelope, 'Yang Yuanqing, the general manager of Bingzhou, to General Luo Yi, the governor of Peiping, the general manager of Youzhou...
He couldn't help but sneer in his heart. Yang Yuanqing refused to recognize Luo Yi as the general manager of Youzhou, but didn't Yang Yuanqing's general manager of Bingzhou also appoint himself?
Luo Yi opened the letter, and the content of the letter surprised him.