Baicaokou, located at the northern end of Yanmen Road, is one of the eighteen dangerous passes of Yanmen. It is a very important part of Yanmen's defense system. It is divided into two forts, one in the south and one in the north, one short and one high. It is very layered and full of Tall and towering, like two wild beasts integrated with the mountains, baring their teeth and claws, guarding the road to Yanmen going south.
Outside the mouth, more than ten thousand cavalrymen have been stationed for eight days. At first, Yelu's enemy forces personally inspected the terrain of Baicaokou and the Han army's garrison, and considered it to be strong. However, the Han army was well prepared and did not launch an attack rashly.
The Liao army approached the pass, and the attackers were unkind. Yang Ye naturally responded with force and went to Beiguan in person. Facing the aggressive Liao army, Yang Ye also took the initiative to send envoys to the Liao camp to ask about their intentions and issued a stern warning. This move by the Liao army would damage the relationship between Han and Liao, and asked them to withdraw for the sake of peace between the two countries.
This slightly weak rhetoric somewhat boosted Yelu Dilie's arrogance. He immediately replied to the Han envoy, saying that he came here because he heard that there was an evil tiger in the Yanmen generation in Gouzhu, and he came here to hunt. Wherever he disturbed, Yang Ye Don't be frightened and ask him to forgive you. He also said that if Yang Ye was interested, please ask him to lead his army out of the customs and hunt tigers with him. In order to show his magnanimity, he personally hosted a banquet for the Han envoys in the camp and then sent them back to the fort.
After a "friendly" exchange, the two sides sharpened their knives in preparation for battle, and the chilling atmosphere of the war became increasingly intense. As the defender, Yang Ye needs to be more secure, mobilize soldiers and ordnance, pay attention to the defense of the northern pass, and then keep an eye on the movements of the Liao army.
But Yelu Dilie is not like that. He is under offensive pressure. This pressure comes from himself, his strong desire to perform meritorious service. Faced with the Han army's defense, within four days, Yelu Dilie could no longer hold back and sent his state and county soldiers to attack the fortress with half-recruited and half-temporarily built attack weapons.
Compared with culture, technology and the Han population have a greater impact on the Khitan's national strength, and this is most intuitively reflected in equipment. Among the Liao army, in addition to the Pishi army and the troops of various tribes, there were also a certain number of prefecture and county armies, mainly composed of Bohai people and Han people who entered the Liao Dynasty. At that time, they had suffered enough from the pain of not being able to defeat Youzhou. In recent years, the Liao army also strengthened the construction of some siege troops and ordnance.
The Battle of Baicaokou started as a battle between the Han people and the Han army. The result was of course no surprise. The Liao army was completely defeated. Since ancient times, storming the city gates has been the last resort, and Lieyu attacked the dangerous fortress guarded by elite soldiers. More than two hundred corpses were left in front of the Han army's garrison, and the Han army just shot arrows through the arrow windows on the garrison.
Yelu Dilie's test attack ended in failure, which also proved two points: it is not advisable to use force when the enemy is on guard, and the Han soldiers are not of much use. Even though the Han people in the Yunshuo area have entered the Liao Dynasty for more than 20 years, their connection with Senan has not been broken, so the sense of identity among their ethnic groups, bloodlines, and cultures has not completely dissipated.
The Han people who surrendered to the Liao State would not resist rashly and could be naturalized as soldiers. However, it was impossible for them to fight southward and attack without fear of death without paying some price.
Although he was a little depressed after not winning the first battle, it was still within Yelu Dilie's expectation. However, as time went by, no progress was made, and no other solution could be thought of, so I became irritable.
"Is there any other way to bypass it?" In the big tent, Yelu Dilie asked his subordinates. This way was blocked, and he obviously wanted to find another way.
The general is a general who has been garrisoning for many years. He has a certain understanding of the terrain in the south and tells what he knows about it: "In the Yanmen Fortresses, this is the only way. It is the most convenient way to reach the commanding heights of Yanmenguan City. In terms of dangerous fortresses in other places, , even worse than here, the Han army also built forts for defense..."
"As you said, if I want to overcome the barrier, I can only attack from this way?" Yelu Dilie frowned together.
"The Han army is stubbornly defending. A strong attack will cause heavy casualties and may not be successful. It is not advisable!" Yelu Sa, the deputy general sent by Yelujing, said.
After looking at him, Yelu Dilie's expression became a little gloomy and he said, "What do you think?"
"Your Majesty, before leaving, His Majesty warned not to attack by force, but to fight for the Han army's weaknesses. It is better to wait patiently for the time being and look for opportunities!" Yelusha suggested.
After hearing what he said, Yelu Dilie was immediately unhappy. He was a little unhappy and used Emperor Liao to suppress him. He immediately said: "Don't you think that I led the army south just for hunting? Although the enemy's defense is strong, it is dead. With only two hundred soldiers, should I be timid?"
It has entered May, and the hot weather has always been disliked by the northern people, and it has made Yelu Dilie feel a little more irritable. Forcibly suppressing the fluctuations in his heart, Yelu Dilie pondered for a while, then suddenly raised his head and said: "If we can find a way to lure the Han army out of Guanbao..."
"How to lure them out of seclusion?"
Yes, how to lure the enemy? Fake defeat, feint to retreat... Yelu Dilie had many ideas in his mind, but he may have a strategy, but it is not that easy to implement it well, and the initiative always lies with the Han army. hands.
Yelu Dilie finally realized that it was not that easy to make achievements this time when he went south. He was alone and had no absolute strength. How could he defeat the enemy and make achievements?
When Yelu Dilie and his men were meditating hard and planning carefully how to lead the Han army out of Baicaokou without exposing any flaws, on May 3, they suddenly received a report that the Han army took the initiative to leave.
Hearing this, Yelu Dilie was shocked and overjoyed. Yelu Dilie personally led three thousand cavalry out of the camp to check the enemy's situation. In front of Baicaokou, you can clearly see that about two thousand Han troops formed a Queyue Army Formation with Guanling as their back. They had swords, shields, spears and crossbows, and all the troops were closely matched and neatly arranged. Although there were not many people, they were Very powerful.
Seeing the arrival of the Liao army, Yang Ye once again sent a flying letter to the knights to tell them that he had been invited to leave the customs and wanted to hunt with Yelu dilie. Seeing this letter, Yelu Dilie laughed loudly and observed the Han army's formation more closely, only to find that they were waiting for him to attack.
But seeing their formation, with their backs against the steep mountains, their sharp edges exposed, and the ferocious forest of spears, it was intimidating. This kind of formation was what the prairie cavalry hated the most. Yelu Dilie also raised his brows when he saw it. Although he had no actual combat experience, he still had basic knowledge. He immediately said: "How dare the Han army come out? These southerners are used to playing with these square formations." , circular formation, hiding oneself under the turtle shell, it is unpalatable!"
"The Han army has few soldiers and can only fight in formations. Yang Ye dares to go out, but he has the courage. He is afraid of having a plan!" Yelu Sagei was standing by and suggested to Yelu dilie: "Look at the Han army. The formation is waiting for us to attack. If your Majesty doesn't pay attention, the Han army's plan will definitely fail!"
"No!" Yelu dilie said with high spirits and confidence: "Send the order and move all the soldiers and horses in the camp to the front of the formation and prepare to attack! The Han army has come out on its own initiative. How can we, the Liao soldiers, be timid? Be afraid, otherwise you will only make the Southerners laugh!"
After hearing what he said, Yelusha couldn't help but say in a persuasive tone: "Your Majesty——"
"I don't care what Yang Ye's plans are. Is it more difficult to attack his army than to attack his fortress? Now that he is out, he will give me a chance to defeat the enemy and make achievements!" Yelu Dilie said loudly with bright eyes. : "Besides, in this wilderness, our Daliao cavalry can be invincible, so why do we need to have so many scruples?"
"The Pishi Army is the most elite soldier in the Liao Dynasty. Why are you so timid in your actions?" Yelu Dilie couldn't help but fire at Yelusha: "Your Majesty sent you here to assist me in my achievements, not to teach you. How did I fight!"
Being scolded by Yelu Dilie in this way, Yelusha's expression turned dark. They are both nobles of the Khitan clan. Although your status as King Anping is nobler, why are you so humiliated? However, he was also worried about his identity and did not dare to argue with him.
Soon, under Yelu Dilie's military order, all the Liao camp's infantry and cavalry were dispatched to the Han army's formation at Baicaokou, forming a semi-encirclement formation, facing it from a distance.
Under the clear sky, among the white clouds and green fields, after seven years, another head-on collision between Han and Liao was about to begin.
