The sky is high and the dew is thick, and the waxing moon hangs quietly in the southwest sky.
Zhao Cheng was right. The light was weak at night and it was indeed difficult for the troops to see the flag clearly. But Pang Nuan was also right. The moonlight was indeed very bright in the second half of the night.
The waxing moon hangs high in the sky, penetrating the thin mist and falling on the earth. Even without lighting a torch, you can still roughly see the bright road in the valley.
The cavalry brigade filed out from the south gate of the camp. Under the reflection of the moonlight, they climbed over the two hills in front of them in an orderly manner and arrived at the bloody battlefield of the daytime battle. At this time, there were still jumping among the ruins, the ashes that had not been completely annihilated, and the green light that exuded thick malice, flickering under the reflection of the moonlight. It was a greedy and bloodthirsty light.
The knight ignored the malicious roar and rode through the battlefield, bypassing a tributary of Gray Water, continuing to turn left, and walking onto a wide valley road. This was a route that the scouts had long explored.
The temperature dropped in the late autumn night, the soldiers were breathing heavily, and the white mist blended with the moonlight.
The knights in the new army were treated much better than other soldiers in the Zhao army camp. Sufficient food also greatly reduced the probability of night blindness among the cavalry troops.
The cavalry kept moving along the valley road. I don't know how long it took, but it was probably the time of ugliness, and the moonlight in the sky became brighter and brighter. A row of beating red flames suddenly appeared in front of Pang Nuan's eyes. That was Lou Fanjun's camp!
At this time, large swaths of fire were flickering on the valley road to the south of Loufan Camp, extending out of the valley mouth. Loufan's army escorted them in an orderly manner, and the few remaining baggage were slowly evacuating the battlefield under the cover of night.
Pang Nuan smiled knowingly at the deputy next to him, knowing that he had made the right bet. Now that he had observed with his own eyes that Lou Fan was indeed withdrawing his troops tonight, he finally felt relieved.
The soldiers lost in the day's battle have also been transferred from other battalions and temporarily replenished, so Pang Nuan still has two thousand cavalry in his hands at this time. In order to ensure the success of the night attack, Pang Nuan specially ordered the soldiers to put a layer of cotton cloth on the horse's shoe and the horse's mouth to prevent disturbing the enemy.
But no matter how good the plan is when there are more people and horses, it is inevitable that some noise will occur.
After a while, shouts of killing came from the front. The originally silent night sky was suddenly broken, and all kinds of noises suddenly mixed together. Pang Nuan immediately ordered to light the dead grass on both sides of the valley.
A sneak attack at night is inherently difficult to achieve unless the other party does not arrange manpower to guard at all.
But it doesn't matter if they are discovered. The opponent is caught off guard. Being prepared does not mean that there is a solid defense line.
Zhao Jun's cavalry brigade immediately lit the torches that had been prepared, and then charged towards the enemy's main line.
"Kill!" With shouts of killing rising to the sky, the brave cavalry rushed straight to the Chinese army camp upstairs like tigers descending the mountain.
At this time, what is fighting is the mentality, and what is fighting is their own fighting will. Since Lou Fan's army has decided to retreat, the remaining defensive troops are also waiting to go home, so their will to fight will not be too strong. Besides, everyone else has run away, why should he be left to die?
As the battle started, more and more people joined the battle. Under the cover of darkness, the sky-high firelight overwhelmed the hazy moonlight. Looking from a distance, I could only see figures shaking in the firelight, "Kill! Kill!" Screams and cries of pain could be heard everywhere, the clash of weapons, the sound of bowstrings, and the huge "buzzing" noise rushed straight into the room. people's minds.
Thick smoke filled the air around and above the fire, and the crackling sound of burning wood could be heard clearly.
Zhao Yong, surrounded by his guards, galloped up to a deserted highland, looking with complex eyes at the Shura field below where he could no longer distinguish between friend and foe.
Although it was early in the morning, the sky in the east began to turn pale. Zhao Yong, who had stayed up all night, did not show any signs of fatigue on his face. Although he did not go on the field to fight in person, his expression could not hide his excitement.
The mountain fires in the distance are burning, the torches are still bright, the heads and helmets are shaking, and Zhao's troops are still continuously integrating into the battlefield. The battlefield also moved from its original position towards the south where Lou Fan's army retreated.
At this moment, Zhao Yong faintly saw the different flag in the large formation on the floor through the firelight.
No wonder Lou Fan's army hasn't collapsed yet. It turns out that King Lou Fan hasn't escaped yet.
Zhao Yong ordered the guards beside him: "Send an order to the frontline soldiers. If you capture the King of Loufan alive, you will be given ten thousand gold. If you kill the King of Loufan, you will be given a thousand gold! Go!"
"Here!" the guard bowed and responded.
Then he galloped towards the battlefield, shouting loudly as he ran: "The king has given you an order! If you capture the king of Loufan alive, you will be given ten thousand gold. If you kill the king of Loufan, you will be given a thousand gold!"
"The king has given a decree! Whoever captures the king of Loufan alive will be given ten thousand gold. Whoever kills the king of Loufan will be given a thousand gold..."
As Zhao Yong's order was passed to the front line, the morale of Zhao's army was obviously boosted.
In the Loufan army, the Chinese army's formation, which was stubbornly resisting, was finally completely dispersed. Some of the Loufan soldiers who had no time to escape were finally abandoned.
"Pang Nuan is ordered to pursue the enemy for hundreds of miles, but if the leader is not found, return immediately." Zhao Yong ordered.
"Here!"
In the battlefield, as King Lou Fan fled, the soldiers of the Zhao army suddenly let out a roar that reached the sky.
"Power! Power! Power!"
"Power! Power! Power!"
Practice has proved that even if the troops under attack can organize their troops and resist stubbornly, their fighting will is ultimately inferior to that of the attacking party. This is proof.
If it were a head-on battle, Lou Fan might still be defeated, but he would never lose so quickly or so miserably.
The sky gradually became brighter, and the sun peeked out in the east. The optical fiber passed through the gauze-like clouds and penetrated the misty valley. The smoke disappeared without a trace.
The war is long over.
Zhao Yong rode his horse and ran down the hill. At this time, he had mixed feelings in his heart.
The scene on the battlefield was particularly miserable. Bodies were scattered all over the valley. At this time, many soldiers from Zhao were cleaning up the battlefield. There were wailing sounds everywhere, and doctors were working hard to search for surviving soldiers. Swords, spears, swords and halberds were stuck in the soil in a mess, like barren weeds.
But Zhao Yong couldn't lie to himself. At this time, he did feel a different kind of pleasure in his heart.
Many surrendered Loufan soldiers were kneeling on the ground, being watched and threatened by Zhao soldiers holding weapons, and then the prisoners were escorted out of the battlefield in batches under the command of Zhao Jun. The young and strong laborers will be escorted to the hinterland of Zhao State in batches to open up wasteland and work as serfs, while most of the old people with withered hair should be sacrificed.
Warring States, Warring States, a time of great strife! This era is filled with blood and cruelty everywhere, and barbarism is not worth mentioning at all. As long as there is a war, people will die. At least winning is better than losing. The one who dies the most is always the losing side. Winner and loser, no one will pity the loser!
Under such complicated emotions, Zhao Yong let out a long breath. At least the tension and urgency were reduced a lot now.
After this battle, Lou Fan will no longer be able to pose any threat to Zhao in a few years.
Once Zhao's pressure on the western front is reduced and he can easily reinforce Ma Tuo and Wei Wen in the east, Lin Hu will definitely not be able to make any waves. If King Lin Hu doesn't run away now, he will inevitably end up with the same fate as Lou Fan.
This time the war in Daichi is coming to an end.
Zhao Yong, who had been cautious and energetic before, suddenly felt a surge of fatigue, and his eyelids kept fighting and feeling numb. Now he just wanted to have a good sleep.
Zhao Yong turned his head and took a deep look eastward. On a rare sunny day, the sun penetrated the mist, stinging his eyes and squinting slightly. He immediately called to the guards beside him and said, "Go back to camp!"
…
…
The Dianshui River passes through the stone road with nine twists and turns, and reaches dangerous and crucial points.
Hongshang Pass has always been a battleground for military strategists. It can be used for Chudai in the north, Yan'an in the east, and Zhongshan in the south. With its dangerous terrain, it can firmly guard the northern territory of Zhongshan Kingdom.
Now that the Zhongshan Kingdom has stationed a large number of troops here, it is not obvious what its intentions are.
Hongshangguan, Zhongshan camp.
Gong Shujie asked with a puzzled look on his face: "What did you say? Your Majesty wants us to withdraw our troops?"
The messenger handed the bamboo slip in his hand to the waiter beside him, bowed to Gongshu Jie and said: "My servant is only responsible for conveying the king's orders. I have nothing to do with other things." After that, he didn't care about Gongshu Jie. His attitude was extremely arrogant, and he turned around and walked out of the tent.
The deputy general on the left spat at the leaving figure of the messenger and said angrily: "A little eunuch dares to be disrespectful to the general. Doesn't he know the general's identity?"
The colleague next to him gently stretched him and said softly: "This eunuch is called Yin Jun. Before entering the palace, I heard that he was a retainer of Xiangbang..."
The generals in the tent were all smart people, and their eyes suddenly showed understanding.
"A man without an heir...bah..." the deputy general spat again.
Gongshu Jie waved his hand. He naturally knew the situation in the palace, including Prime Minister Sima Xi's mastery of power and politics. He had also heard about it for a long time, but now was not the time for internal strife. Everything was dominated by foreign enemies.
Gong Shujie then tore off the rope on the bamboo slips and read them carefully.
After a moment, he suddenly threw Jian Du heavily on the table and said sadly and angrily: "Nie Chen! It must be a sycophant! The king must have been slandered by the sycophant, so he issued such a military order."
The generals on both sides were a little confused, and the deputy general asked: "Does the king really order the general to withdraw his troops?"
"You see for yourself!" Gongshujie replied sadly.
The deputy general picked up the slip and read it, and said in surprise: "Your Majesty ordered the general to lead his army back to the capital today, and not to start a war with the State of Zhao?"
withdraw troops?
After hearing this, all the generals in the tent suddenly became a mess.
Captain Lianming immediately bowed his head and said: "General, Zhao Guozheng and Lou Fan are fighting in the clouds. Wei Wen is certainly empty of troops. Our officers and men finally waited for such a good opportunity. Why does the king want us to withdraw our troops now?"
Gongshujie didn't answer.
His face was gloomy at this time. After a moment, he seemed to have made a decision. His eyes were focused, and then he ordered to the deputy general: "You go and invite Captain Leyao to come to the Central Army to discuss matters."
The lieutenant was stunned for a moment, but he still bowed his head and said, "Here!" and then walked out of the tent.
Now, in addition to the 20,000 foreign troops under the command of Gong Shujie, the Zhongshan army at Hongshang Pass now consists of the 10,000 local frontier troops.
The commander-in-chief of this ten thousand frontier army was none other than Captain Leyao.
When the general was away, the emperor's orders were not accepted. Now Gongshujie was determined to disobey King Zhongshan's order and start a war with Zhao. But the prerequisite is to 'convince' the commander-in-chief of the border army, Le Yao.
Just as Captain Lian Ming said, now that we have finally waited for such a good opportunity, how could we let it go so easily. Gongshu Jie didn't know what his good nephew was thinking, but now that the Zhongshan Kingdom had spent a lot of materials and mobilized a large army, how could they retreat without a fight.
We must win Feihu Valley in this battle! Even if Ji Cuo wanted to punish him after the war, it would have to wait until the beating was over.
"General, Lieutenant Leyao wants to see you." The guard outside the tent reported.
"Please!" Gongshujie replied.
As soon as he finished speaking, a bearded man walked in outside the tent. Judging from his appearance, he must be in his forties, with a face as thin as a knife. When the man entered the tent, he bowed to his uncle Jie and said, "Servant Leyao, pay your respects to the general. The general sent a message, but there is something going on in the State of Zhao?"
Le Yao is the queen of Le Yang.
In the past, father and son Leyang and Leshu were masters of war. In order to force Leyang to retreat, Duke Wen of Zhongshan cooked and killed his son Leshu and gave his meat to Leyang to eat. Leyang represented himself. There was no second intention, so he drank Zhongshan Soup angrily! Afterwards, Leyang defeated the Zhongshan Army and successfully captured the Zhongshan Kingdom. Although Wei Wenhou rewarded Leyang for his military exploits, he doubted Leyang's heart. He believed that Leyang was cruel and had no love between father and son, so he sealed Leyang in his hometown of Zhongshan, far away from the Wei Kingdom.
Leyang's descendants have continued to thrive in Lingshou since then.
After the restoration of Zhongshan, Duke Huan of Zhongshan did not continue to pursue Leshi's crime and still regarded Leshi as his general.
Gongshujie stood up, saluted Tong Leyao, and then said to Kanyu Tu next to him: "The State of Zhao is currently fighting a fierce battle with Loufan's army in Yunzhong. King Linhu in the north has captured Wuzhou and Yunzhou of Zhao State. In the East Second Fortress, Lin Hu's army is also on its way to Yunzhong, preparing to attack Zhao's army together with Lou Fan's army."
"I want to take advantage of the war between Zhao and Erhu to capture Feihu Pass in order to pursue Wei Wen. What do you think, Captain?"
After hearing this, Le Yao bowed respectfully to Gongshu Jie and said, "Servant, I am willing to obey the general's order."
Gongshujie said with satisfaction: "Okay! The opportunity is fleeting, I order..."
"It's just..." Le Yao interrupted.
Gong Shujie frowned slightly and said, "Captain Leyao, do you have any other concerns? You might as well make it clear."
Le Yao paused and said truthfully: "I just heard that the king sent an envoy to Hongshang. I wonder what the order was? General, can you tell me?" He had also just received the news that he was not allowed to go to war with Zhao.
Leyao's 10,000 troops were, after all, a border guarding force. Although Gongshu Jie had control over them, the King of Zhongshan had now taken back his control over them.
However, now that the order has not been made public, Gongshujie is still regarded as the supreme commander of Hongshangguan, and he still cares about the other party's face.
Gongshu Jie did not hide anything, and recounted Ji Cuo's order for him to withdraw his troops.
Le Yao said clearly: "The general's move is against the king's order. I forgive my servant for not following it."
Gong Shujie shook his head and said slowly: "The captain thinks that taking this good opportunity, should we go to war with Zhao?"
Le Yao thought for a moment and said seriously: "Fight!"
Gong Shujie smiled bitterly and said: "As the captain said, even if I don't attack the Zhao State today in Zhongshan, will the Zhao State save me in Zhongshan in the future? If the Zhao State becomes hegemonic, it will definitely want to overthrow me in Zhongshan. On the contrary, if I, Zhongshan, want to conquer If Zhao can survive, the State of Zhao will not be able to survive. Now that Zhao is strong and Zhongshan is weak, it is a great opportunity to weaken the State of Zhao. Why does the captain stop me?"
"Servant, no matter what goes against the king's orders!" Le Yao replied truthfully.
