The next day, Wang Xuanmo led 5,000 soldiers and horses, and brought 200 carts of food and baggage. He set off for Ningling at Chenshi. By Shenshi, he set up camp and the army traveled more than forty miles.
It is less than a hundred miles from Suiyang to Ningling, and more than fifty miles from Ningling to Xiangyi. Wang Xuanmo estimates that it will take a day and a half to reach Ningling, and it will take at least a day to reach Xiangyi.
Before setting off, Liu Yu reminded him that according to detailed investigation, Yongzhou's reinforcements had arrived at Fugou City, and they would be able to reach Ningling and Xiangyi soon. Wang Xuanmo boasted in front of Liu Yu that Haikou could protect Ningling and Xiangyi. If the city was captured by Yong's army first, how would he raise his head in front of Song Gong in the future.
Wang Xuanmo felt that the heavy vehicles were slowing down the march. The camp was only sixty miles away from Ningling. If we go at today's speed, we won't be able to reach Ningling tomorrow. If we lead some troops and horses to advance lightly, we should be able to garrison Ningling tomorrow. . XiuShu.com
After careful consideration, Wang Xuanmo decided to lead 2,000 soldiers and horses to Ningling lightly, and let the remaining 3,000 people walk slowly with their baggage. According to Wang Xuanmo's idea, 2,000 troops and horses were stationed in Ningling City first. After the 3,000 troops and horses arrived the next day with the baggage, he led 2,000 troops and horses to Xiangyi. This saved time and did not miss the mark. Song Gong When you learn that you must praise yourself for being able to adapt to changes.
In the mountains southeast of Ningling City, Ding Quan frowned. Last night he sneaked into Ningling City to find a way to enter the city, but as Yang Chong said, the city wall defenders were heavily guarded. If there was a little movement, arrows would be fired from the city. , it is difficult to sneak in.
Yang Chong said disapprovingly: "Sir Ding, since it was difficult to sneak in, we simply took advantage of the slackness of the defenders at night and led our brothers to forcefully climb the city and still be able to recapture Ningling."
Ningling City is not big, less than four miles in circumference, so forcing the city to climb means that once the city's defenders are alerted, reinforcements will arrive quickly. Ding Quan believed in the fighting power of the Xiaoyong Battalion that Ningling could be captured in a bloody battle. However, if the enemy suffered a thousand casualties, he would lose eight hundred. Even if the Xiaoyong Battalion suffered a hundred casualties, it would still be a heavy loss.
After thinking again and again, Ding Quan said: "It will take three days for Zhao Sima to arrive. Let's wait for another two days to see if the city will open the door for the people to go out to cut firewood. If the city allows the people to go out to cut firewood, they can take the opportunity to rush in. The soldiers will also Fewer casualties."
On July 22, a scout disguised as a woodcutter came to report that a Song army appeared on the official road, numbering about 2,000, about fifteen miles away.
Ding Quan said: "It should be the reinforcements sent by Liu Yu."
According to the agreement, Zhao Tian will not arrive until the day after tomorrow. If the Song army is allowed to enter the city first, the casualties of the soldiers who attack the city will be greatly increased.
"General Yang, quickly assemble your team and rob and kill this group of Song troops." Ding Quan said immediately.
Yang Chong said with a smile: "Staying in the mountains these days, my sons and daughters are almost suffering from prickly heat."
Soon, five hundred soldiers, led by Yang Chong, walked up the mountain road to meet the Song army.
Wang Xuanmo led two thousand soldiers to Ningling along the official road. At the end of the day, there was less than ten miles left from Ningling City, and they could reach Ningling in two quarters of an hour.
Guangye General Yuan De, who was leading the team, turned his horse around, came to Wang Xuanmo and said, "General Wang, the weather is too hot. Let the soldiers rest for a while before leaving."
Wang Xuanmo said with a straight face: "It's less than ten miles away from Ningling. The military situation is so fierce that there is no time to delay. It's not too late to rest until we get to Ningling."
Yuan De had no choice but to turn around and lead the army to move forward. The soldiers of the Song Army were sweating profusely, and the sweat was soaked with dust. Their faces were itchy and numb, and the soldiers complained in low voices.
When Wang Xuanmo heard the complaints, he asked his guards to pass orders. Anyone who dared to complain would be dealt with according to military law.
The sun was scorching in the sky, there was no wind, the flags were hung low, and the army marched forward in silence.
In the forest half a mile to the left of the official road, Ding Quan, Yang Chong and the soldiers of the Xiaoyong Battalion were lurking there. Yang Chong looked at the listless Song Army and smiled contemptuously: "Despite the large number of Song soldiers, they are just a bunch of chickens and dogs that can be destroyed easily."
When the troops were halfway through, Yang Chong led his troops out. Seeing an ambush, Wang Xuanmo hurriedly sounded the trumpet and formed a formation.
Dizzied by the scorching sun, the Song army reluctantly formed a square formation, and the shield wall was not yet firmly established. Yang Chong led his army to attack, and threw iron spears to tear open the gap. The soldiers of the heroic camp were like tigers pouncing on their prey, killing five and two in three. Then they killed the Song army's defense line, and Wang Xuanmo roared at the top of his lungs, but it was of no avail.
Two thousand Song troops did not
With a fighting spirit, they fled in all directions. Ding Quan led fifty soldiers to block the way to Ningling to prevent the Song army from escaping to Ningling. Yang Chong spotted Wang Xuanmo on the horse, picked up an iron spear on the ground, and threw it at Wang Xuanmo with all his strength.
When Wang Xuanmo saw the iron spear being thrown, he was so frightened that his horse stood up and neighed. The iron spear pierced the horse's belly. The horse screamed and fell to the ground. Wang Xuanmo fell off the horse.
A Yong soldier stepped forward and raised his sword to chop. Wang Xuanmo shouted loudly: "I wish to surrender. Yu Nai, the Taiwei Mansion, joins the army. I am willing to lead the soldiers to surrender."
The Yong army escorted Wang Xuanmo to see Yang Chong. When Yang Chong heard that he was willing to lead his army to surrender, he spat contemptuously and said, "Hurry up and give the order."
Under the encirclement and interception of the Yong army and Wang Xuanmo's order, about 700 Song soldiers laid down their weapons and surrendered. Seven to eight hundred people fled, and the rest were lying on the ground.
Ding Quan asked Wang Xuanmo and learned that Liu Yu had sent five thousand troops to Ningling and Xiangyi. He was secretly glad in his heart. If he had come two days later, Ningling and Xiangyi would have been in trouble.
After a brief discussion with Yang Chong, they decided to ignore the three thousand Song troops behind them and seize Ningling City first.
Ding Quan looked at Wang Xuanmo, who had a pale face, and said with a smile: "General Wang is willing to surrender to Duke Yong, Duke Yong will definitely be happy. If General Wang can make great contributions, Duke Yong will definitely use the general."
Wang Xuanmo said respectfully: "I am willing to obey your orders."
"General Wang, please take us with you to deceive Ningling City." Ding Quan said with a smile.
Wang Xuanmo didn't dare to say anything, so he obeyed the order and brought the soldiers of the heroic camp who had changed the uniforms of the Song army to the gate of Ningling City. Zhou Jian and Dong Liang both knew Wang Xuanmo and saw him arriving with his army without doubting his presence. Ding Quan easily led his troops into the city.
Poor Zhou Jian and Dong Liang led their people to greet them, but what greeted them was an obviously shaky steel knife. They were unjustly killed for no apparent reason.
Through Wang Xuanmo's intervention, Ding Quan took control of the situation. Many of the Song troops defending the city were the original Yong troops. The king's flag was changed at the top of the city, and the Song troops changed back to Yong troops.
Ding Quan asked the county magistrate Ma Hong to take the officials to appease the people. The people in the city heard that Yonggong's troops had arrived, and came to reward the army with pots of pulp and baskets of food.
When Wang Xuanmo saw this situation, he secretly sighed in his heart. He originally thought that Song Guild would defeat Yonggong, but now it seems that Yonggong has a better chance of winning. He surrendered to Yonggong, which is not a blessing.
Thirty miles away from Ningling City, Chen Xing, the general leading the rear army of the Song Army, learned that the front army was ambushed and did not dare to proceed further. He sent scouts to find out the news. Youshi learned that Ningling City had fallen into the hands of the Yong Army.
Chen Xing estimated that the incoming reinforcements were Yong Army reinforcements, and he did not dare to stay where he was, so he ordered to turn around and set up camp in a dangerous place more than ten miles away, taking strict precautions.
Ding Quan found out that the Song army's rear group was heavily guarded and did not allow Yang Chong to attack. The most important thing now was to secure Ningling City. Zhao Tian received Ding Quan's urgent report, and his 8,000-strong advance team arrived at noon. On July 24, 30,000 troops arrived at Ningling City.
Once Ningling was captured, Xiangyi became an isolated city. Zhao Tian sent the troubled general Liu Xin with eight thousand troops to seize Xiangyi City. When the defender of Xiangyi City saw the Yong army arriving in large numbers and the people in the city making strange movements, he simply led his troops to surrender.
Zhao Tian ordered the arrest of Dong Cunhu's family members who were still in the city, beheaded more than 20 of his brothers and nephews, and moved the people of Dongjiawu to Yingchuan, Xiangcheng, Runan and other places for resettlement.
At the Song camp in Suiyang, Chen Xing led his troops back to report the news that Wang Xuanmo had surrendered and Ningling City had been lost. Liu Yu angrily scolded: "Wang Xuanmo deserves death for his crime. It is a foolish mistake."
Things have come to this, and we can only adapt. Liu Yu said: "Since Ningling is lost, the Yong army will soon rescue Suiyang. If the Yong army opens the west road, the siege of Suiyang will be lifted immediately."
Mao Dezu bowed and said: "My lord has built three long sieges on the western front. Yu Yuan will lead his troops to guard them and prevent Yong's army from advancing."
Liu Yu nodded and said, "Dezu will bring ten thousand soldiers and horses. If the Yong army comes to attack, Yu Hui will ask for help at any time."
Mao Dezu said: "Don't worry, Duke Song, the new troops recruited by the Yong Army reinforcements are not strong in combat strength."
On the city wall, Wang Zhen'e saw the Song army detaching themselves to go to Changwei in the west. He stroked his beard and said with a smile: "My lord has sent reinforcements. The Song army is stationed at Changwei. It should be that Ningling has been recaptured by the reinforcements."
After Zhao Tian rested in Ningling for two days, the army began to march towards Suiyang, and three days later they arrived and camped outside Changwei. The three earthen walls were respectively tied at 300 steps, 700 steps and 1,000 steps in Suiyang City.
There are passages along the long perimeter for easy access. The earthen wall is about six feet high, similar to a city battlement. The soldiers behind the earthen wall can shoot arrows and stab spears from behind.
Two days later, dozens of catapults lined up two hundred steps away from the long siege. Stones rained from the sky and hit the Song army behind the long siege. Unwilling to be beaten passively, Mao Dezu led his army out of the long siege and fought in a melee with Yong's army. All the catapults were smashed.
Zhao Tian took the brave camp as the front and forced the Song army to retreat. The next day, they sent out charging chariots and created several gaps in the earthen siege. After a long siege, the Song army used shields, spears, and sharp arrows to block the road. After charging into the siege, they fell into a deep ditch, and Zhao Tian had to retreat again. After the Yong army withdrew, the Song army refilled the gap with earth bags.
Outside Suiyang City, Liu Yu reorganized his army and began to attack. Zhao Tian could hear shouts and fights in the camp.
Unable to delay any longer, Zhao Tian decided to use gunpowder. In the evening, catapults threw gunpowder cans at the Song army's tents in the long perimeter. The rockets ignited a fire, and Mao Dezu quickly led his troops to escape.
On the city wall, someone reported to Wang Zhen'e. Wang Zhen'e saw the Song military camp rising to the west and said, "The reinforcements are using gunpowder to break the siege. We will go out of the city to respond."
The west gate was blocked by earth bags. Wang Zhene arranged the city wall for defense, led 5,000 people out of the north gate, and went around to the west city to launch an attack.
At this time, the Song army was forced to retreat continuously by the fierce fire. As the catapults advanced, the second layer of earth surrounding the fire also ignited. Mao Dezu ordered the soldiers to dismantle the tents and dig earth on top of the flames, hoping to survive.
A fire broke out in Xiwei, which alerted Liu Yu, who personally brought troops and horses to help. Before they arrived, Wang Zhene's troops had already launched an attack on Mao Dezu's headquarters.
The Song army was struggling to deal with the fire, and the Yong army came behind them. They were caught off guard and had no intention of resisting. They scattered and fled after a little resistance.
Wang Zhene loudly ordered: "Sound the horn to notify reinforcements."
The trumpet sounded, and Zhao Tian heard it clearly and said to Yang Chong: "General Yang, reinforcements are coming from the city. Please quickly mobilize your troops to respond."
Rushing to clear the way, Yang Chong easily broke through the long siege. By the light of the fire, Yang Chong rushed in and met Wang Zhene in the second siege. Wang Zhene knew Yang Chong, the mighty general from the Xiaoyong Camp, and said with a smile: "General Yang, who is leading the army to come to our aid?"
Yang Chong slashed open a Song soldier with his sword and replied: "General Wang, Zhao Sima is coming with 30,000 reinforcements."
When Wang Zhen'e heard that Zhao Tian had arrived with 30,000 reinforcements, he laughed and said, "Suiyang has nothing to worry about."
The two families joined forces to chase the deserters of the Song army, destroy the long siege, fill in the ditches, and expand the roads.
Zhao Tian ordered the catapults to extend eastward. After Liu Yu joined the Song army, he saw that the Yong army's catapults were still throwing gunpowder eastward. He didn't know how much gunpowder the Yong army had, and he was afraid that his troops would be caught in the fire and lead the defeated troops. Returned to the station.
The western siege of Suiyang was solved.
