In front of Baicaokou, the clang of the warriors and horses subsided for the time being, replaced by the cheers of the victors. Under the cheers, the ground was covered with blood and corpses filled the field. The two battlefields were very obvious. The corpses of soldiers from both Han and Liao sides were intertwined, showing the fierceness and cruelty of the battle.
Hundreds of civilians, under the personal leadership of Wang Zuo, the prefect of Yanmen, went out to help rescue the wounded soldiers and clean up the battlefield. A large number of torches were raised for illumination. In the summer night, the sight of broken limbs and bloody bodies was horrifying. The victorious Han soldiers were like warriors coming out of purgatory, and they were awe-inspiring.
Wang Zuo, the prefect of Yanmen, was born as a small official and had certain talents. He was the father of Wang Pu, the transfer envoy to Huaidong. This time the Liao army came to the pass, he ignored his old age and mobilized civilians and supplies to fully support Yang Ye in rejecting the Liao army. In today's battle, he dragged his old body to Baicaokou in person. The quality he showed was admirable. Of course, it's not all for show. This is a character with an old heart.
The victorious soldiers gradually retreated to a clean open space in front of the fort to rest. After being exposed to the devastation and broken limbs of the battlefield, Wang Zuo found Yang Ye with a little nausea in his heart.
At this time, Yang Ye was wounded and still had his armor removed. He was running around, comforting the soldiers and looking after the wounded. Wang Zuo stepped forward and paid homage: "General Yang is a true general! With a small number of enemies, he defeated strong prisoners. He has made outstanding achievements. I admire you!"
"The prince is an elder, Yang Ye dare not take the position!" Yang Ye looked very humble at this time, showed a very contagious smile, straightened Wang Zuo, and responded: "Yang Ye has been favored by the emperor, protected Jing, and killed for the country. It’s your duty to be an enemy, let alone show off your merits!”
Seeing this, Wang Zuo expressed emotion and nodded repeatedly. Looking around, he noticed the surroundings in the night. Although Sergeant Dingxiang was exhausted after a day of hard fighting, he still maintained a defensive posture while sitting and standing. Wang Zuo couldn't help but sigh: "There are such loyal and brave men and excellent soldiers." Master, if you defend the country and guard the borders, the world will be safe, and the northern barbarians will be destroyed!"
Not long after, Kang Yanze returned with his cavalry, escorting hundreds of prisoners, and driving a large number of war horses and alpacas in pursuit of the North. It was obvious that the harvest was not small.
Yang Ye stepped forward to greet him personally. Kang Yanze dismounted, looked at Yang Ye, and asked with concern: "How is the general's injury?"
"They are all minor injuries, nothing serious!" Yang Ye shook his head. The armor he wore was personally gifted by the emperor. It was of high quality and was very effective in protection.
"What's the situation with the Liao army?" Yang Ye was still concerned about the enemy's situation.
Kang Yanze smiled and said: "They all fled without any hesitation. They were obviously afraid that we would continue to pursue us while we were victorious and did not dare to look south. The camp was left intact. I only drove back the horses and livestock, and there were many others in the process." I need some tents, weapons, and food. To prevent accidents, I can send someone to collect them tomorrow morning!"
Kang Yanze was thinking about things, and it was obvious that he was on the safe side. When Yang Ye heard this, he finally showed a relieved expression and said: "Finally we have succeeded. The soldiers fought hard and deserved a rest to restore their physical strength and energy!"
Kang Yanze said with admiration: "In my opinion, after this defeat, the Liao army will not easily dare to go south again! The general's battle has greatly boosted the momentum of our Han army. He commanded on the spot, used troops with great skill and courage, and his orders are real." You will be amazed at the end!"
If Kang Yanze was allowed to use troops, he would never dare to do what Yang Ye did. Yang Ye, of course, took the praise back and said with a smile: "General Kang's grasp of the opportunity is also the key to victory in this battle. If the general does not suddenly attack the enemy general, the defeat of this battle is still unknown!"
Yang Ye is not a person who is good at catering to others, but when he hears his praise, he is basically sincere. Kang Yanze understood this, and the two exchanged blows, looking at each other and laughing happily.
The news of victory is like the cool breeze on this summer night, refreshing and pleasant, blowing through Guanshan and spreading southward. Of course, the first to share the joy were the Han garrison soldiers in the mountains of Yanmen Pass. Although the remaining people did not personally participate in the battle, they shared the honor.
Standing on the commanding heights of the mountains, on the top floor of Yanmen Beiguan, Feng stood on the high ground and looked northward, like a strong stone that forgot her husband. The rugged and winding narrow road in front of the pass seemed to swallow up most of her attention, and her mind was always concerned about the battle at Baicao Pass.
The night before, Yang Ye had said goodbye to her. The general would inevitably die on the battlefield. Yang Ye did not tell her the specific tactics, but with Feng's intelligence, it could be seen that Yang Ye made a dangerous decision.
However, knowing her husband and his ambitions, Ms. Feng did not dissuade her from staying, but expressed her full support from beginning to end. After Yang Ye set out, he took his three sons and stayed in the Guan Tower from the first light of morning until nightfall.
Yang Ye was lucky. He had his family by his side while guarding the border, and his wife's unreserved understanding and support. He was able to say a final goodbye before the battle. But the Dingxiang Army who followed him in the battle, those soldiers who fought bloody battles and died directly, directly left the news of death and sorrow to their families...
Under the night, the clothes were fluttering, but the slender but strong figure always stood tall. When the news of victory came, cheers continued in Guancheng. Feng's tight heartstrings finally loosened, and her red eyes finally couldn't help but mist. .
When he learned that his father had won the battle, Yang Yanzhao cheered and took the lead in running and jumping on Guancheng. His two sleepy brothers also followed his brother and played happily.
The news of victory swept southward at an extremely fast speed. Within three days, Hedong heard about it, within five days, it arrived in Tokyo, ten days later, it spread to Hebei, and half a month later, the whole world knew about it.
Previously, the enemy cavalry knocked at the pass, Yanmen warned, and the border pass was in emergency. Although the Han Dynasty was shaken, there was no big move among the soldiers and civilians, and it was impossible to cause any situation that would frighten the world.
The main reason is that the Liao army mobilized too few troops. For the Han Dynasty, a mere 10,000 Liao army could break through the strong pass and plunder the Han land? Not to mention the army, military and political officers, even the most ordinary people would not think that the Liao army outside Yanmen Pass could do anything. If the Liao army had sent hundreds of thousands of troops to invade the south on a large scale, perhaps ordinary Han people would be worried.
Over the years, the country has become more prosperous and stronger. With the continuous military victories of the Han army, the morale of the Han army and people has also continued to improve. The soldiers and civilians of the Han Dynasty who came out of the cruel and troubled times were not afraid of war, let alone the Liao Dynasty. For decades, the soldiers and civilians of the north have always responded to the Khitan invasion and plunder with great enthusiasm, and they have never been afraid of the Khitan, even if they kill thieves with their swords.
Even after losing the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures, during the fierce battles between the Khitan and Jin in those years, the Jin army fought tenaciously and fought bloody to the end. Not to mention, the Khitan later took over the Central Plains and imposed tyranny, which caused the soldiers and civilians in the Central Plains and Hebei to rise up to resist.
Therefore, for three generations, the soldiers and civilians in the north have not been afraid of Hu. During the reign of King Li Cunxu of the Jin Dynasty, he competed with Abaoji, and the strong troops of Hedong faced off against the elite Khitan troops, but they also fought against the opponent.
However, since Shi Jin, a kind of resentment has also been suppressed in the hearts of the northern soldiers and civilians. Without the danger of Yanshan, the Huqi from the north of Saibei could enter and exit at will, and go south to plunder, just like entering their own back garden. Heroic men, leaping on their horses and striking the enemy with swords, are often rendered useless because of the king's ignorance, the general's incompetence, and internal chaos.
As time went by, uneasiness increased and resentment boiled. As a result, the people are not afraid of Hu, but the result of repeated defeats is a serious blow to the morale of the people.
It was not until Liu Zhiyuan and his son went eastward to establish the Han Dynasty, and after Liu Chengyou's ten years of political reform and prosperity, the country became rich and the army strengthened, the defense in the north was consolidated, and the conflicts in the north were eased, that the uneasy mood was relieved.
The great victory of Yanmen is even more significant to the current Han Dynasty. This battle demonstrated the majesty of the Han army, greatly boosted morale and inspired people. Moreover, this was another great victory achieved by the Han army against the Khitan since the Battle of Luancheng, and it is worthy of special mention.
Not to mention Zhao Yanshou's Northern Expedition. Although the sneak attack was successful and many Khitans were killed, they were suppressed by the Liao army in the following years, and the Youyan region collapsed as a result. The wanton intrusion of the Liao cavalry forced the Yan army to retreat and defend the city, not daring to face the enemy head-on. For a time, they could only rely on blood transfusions from Hebei to survive.
As for the Battle of Luancheng, although the result was brilliant, it was too random. Many factors coincided together, which ultimately resulted in a mythical battle and made Emperor Liu Chengyou famous.
In the subsequent propaganda of the imperial court, its mythological nature was even more enhanced. In the early stage, it was mentioned that it was the strategic guidance of the great ancestor Liu Zhiyuan and the blessing of the emperor's power, but later, it gradually evolved into a separate hymn to Emperor Qianyou.
In the eyes of most ordinary Han soldiers and civilians, the victory in the Battle of Luancheng was because His Majesty the Emperor was favored by Heaven and was destined to be unrivaled, so he won. All the details such as enemy situation analysis, attack decision-making, fighter opportunity control, careful arrangements, soldiers fighting, etc. have been blurred.
But the victory at Baicaokou was different. This was a victory won by the Han's border guards with their own bravery and fearlessness, facing the enemy head-on, defeating the masses with a small number, and relying on the Han army's tactics and hard power. Compared with the mythical and untouchable Battle of Luancheng, this is an achievement that other soldiers of the Han Dynasty can imitate and achieve.
In terms of historical significance, compared to the Battle of Luancheng, this victory in front of Yanmen Pass can be said to be insignificant, but in terms of boosting morale and inspiring people's hearts, it is even more superior.
