Yingzhou, Jincheng, less than a hundred miles away from Yanmen, Yinglongshou Mountain in the northeast, and the surrounding areas are closely related to each other. This area has always been heavily engaged in military affairs, and it is an important border area against Hu Hu. Therefore, after the Northern Expedition started last year, the main target of the Han army in Hedong was Jincheng County.
Compared with the war in Youzhou, Fu Yanqing assembled a large army to attack. Although the number of troops was small, although the momentum was large, it effectively fulfilled the role of containment. Because he knew the role he played, every move of Fu Yanqing's army appeared to be very prudent. They did not rush to attack or advance impatiently. They stayed in the north of Yanmen Mountain for a month.
Fu Yanqing's conservative tactics made Yelu Talie, the king of Liaonan Academy who was in charge of defensive operations in Yunzhou, dare not move lightly. Until later, after detecting the main force of the Liao army moving eastward, Fu Yanqing finally gave the order to launch an attack on Jincheng County.
As the Han army officially launched its attack, Yelu Talie also personally led his army and went south to provide support. In fact, because of Yingzhou's strategic position, Yelu Talie had always used this city as a bait to attract Han troops to attack.
After the Han army went north to fight, the Liao army also took action after hearing the news, and they moved very quickly and with a fierce style. Yelu Talie directly sent five thousand Xi cavalry to attack Yanmen at Yankou in northern Shaanxi, intending to cut off the Han army's retreat and also cause harassment.
Then, he led 20,000 infantry and cavalry and stationed in Huairen City to monitor the Han army from the north. Because the main force of the Liao army was devoted to the Youyan battlefield to deal with the hundreds of thousands of Han troops, there were not many troops left for Yelu Talie to defend the Yunshuo area, including the defenders of Yingzhou. When the army reaches 50,000, it will be divided into separate cities. Moreover, their combat power was not strong, and they were mainly composed of Xi Cavalry and puppet troops, supplemented by some tribal garrison troops.
However, although the troops were weak, Yelu Talie did not adopt passive defense, but took the initiative to attack and exert pressure. Yelu Talie is a very experienced person, and what he is best at is intimidating others with his power, and pursuing the goal of defeating others without fighting. Fu Yanqing remained unmoved by Yelu Talie's tactics and continued to advance according to the existing goals.
The Liao army was divided into three groups. One group held fast to the walled city, one group attacked and blocked the rear, and one group lay dormant. Their intentions were completely seen through. But it can also be seen from this that Yelu Talie lacked strength and was unwilling to choose a head-on confrontation with the Han army. He wanted to delay the war in order to find opportunities for combat.
Judging from the superficial situation, tens of thousands of Han troops were separated from the frontier fortress, surrounded by enemies on three sides, and were in a worrying situation. However, Fu Yanqing did not panic at all. The first one's attack on Yingzhou was not considered an expedition, and it was really unstoppable to withdraw the Liao army; the two were strong and had sufficient troops and food.
In fact, when two armies confront each other on the battlefield, many times the opponent's tactical goals cannot be concealed. The only thing is that whoever can achieve his goals will gain an advantage and establish a victory.
The goal of the Liao army was obvious, and the goal of the Han army was also very simple, which was to capture Jincheng in Yingzhou. The attack on Jincheng began on the ninth day of September, and the Han army's operations began in an orderly manner.
Shi Yanchao led the cavalry to entangle Xi Qi, and sent Yang Ye to lead the Dingxiang army to occupy Huanghuagang in the northwest of Jincheng and garrison there to stop Yelu Tao's fierce army. Subsequently, troops were sent to uproot all the hills and forts around Jincheng, leaving the city completely isolated.
After the great victory at Yanmen, the Dingxiang Army led by Yang Ye was greatly replenished with the favor of the emperor. The number of troops increased to 7,000, which was the highest among the northern frontier troops. Two generals, Yang Ye and Shi Yanchao, were involved in the two Liao armies, while Fu Yanqing was free to deal with the defenders of Jincheng.
There are only about 4,000 Liao troops guarding the city, but they are obviously elite and have a strong will to fight. In order to strengthen the will of the defenders, Yelu Talie appointed his son as the defender and ordered him to hold on and delay the consumption of the Han army. He was given a death order and the city was destroyed and people died.
Therefore, after the war in Yingzhou began, the only thing that surprised Fu Yanqing was the determination of the Jincheng Liao army to resist. With eight times the number, they failed to attack Ban Yue.
Of course, this was not only a stubborn resistance by the defenders, but also a move by Yelu Talie who was not deterred by the Han army at all, so he had to choose all-out rescue. He also knew that if the Han army was really allowed to attack, Jincheng would not be safe. Around Jincheng County, the Han and Liao sides launched several fierce battles, with considerable casualties. Fu Yanqing and Yelv Talie, two veteran generals, mobilized their troops and attacked each other's weaknesses, creating a majestic picture in the Yingzhou area. A majestic war picture. This is also the most balanced battle between the two sides since the war between Han and Liao.
It was not until the end of the Nankou Battle that news came. He noticed the drastic changes in the battlefield situation and felt bad. After a few days of hesitation, Yelu Talie chose to join the defenders of Jincheng to break out and retreat to Yunzhou.
In the battle of Yingzhou, the Han and Liao sides invested a total of nearly 90,000 troops. It lasted for 20 days. The Liao army suffered more than 13,000 casualties, and the Han army suffered more than 7,000 casualties. Most of them were lost in city battles. .
As a result, although it ended with the Liao army's active retreat, the Han army ultimately won the battle. Taking Yingzhou means that the Han Dynasty will have a solid base to attack Yunzhou from the north, and the threat to Yunzhou will rise sharply.
After capturing Yingzhou, Fu Yanqing did not continue to advance. First, the armies needed to rest and recuperate after a long period of fierce fighting. Second, winter was not conducive to the Han army's operations. Third, he also considered the Han's overall strategy.
Therefore, just like Youyan's main battlefield, the Han army in Yingzhou also rested peacefully throughout the winter, assuming a defensive posture as a whole. Of course, during this winter, he massively increased troops and sent food, and Liu Chengyou mobilized troops from the camp and Hedong, allowing the Han army in Yingzhou to exceed 100,000 people.
Now, as the marching edict came, the Yingzhou Han army, which had been dormant for a long time, this war machine, slowly started to move. Inside and outside the city, the entire army, from top to bottom, was busy preparing to march.
This time, the offensive against Yunzhou was a three-pronged attack, but the main direction of attack and the focus of the attack were obviously on his route. Nothing else, just because Yingzhou is the closest to Yunzhou, has the broadest view and the best road.
But at the same time, the risk was also the highest. Therefore, unlike the Han generals below, Fu Yanqing was not so excited and always remained calm and cautious. Although the Han army has achieved good results in the war against the Liao since the Northern Expedition, the glory cannot cover up the serious damage of the Han army. The strength of the Liao army should not be underestimated.
The battle in Yingzhou has already proved this. In terms of large-scale field operations, the Liao army is not weaker than the Han army. From the battle reports passed down by Youyan Xie, it can also be seen that if there is negligence, the Liao army will dare to bite back. The defeat of Li Chongjin at Jiming Mountain is clear evidence.
Therefore, Fu Yanqing did not dare to underestimate the enemy. Of course, underestimating the enemy does not mean fearing the enemy, and being cautious does not hinder Fu Yanqing's confidence in the victory of this war.
Know yourself and the enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without danger. Fu Yanqing had a clear understanding of the Han army's own strength. As for the Liao army, although it is difficult to gain insight, they still have basic intelligence judgments.
Although after supplementation, the Liao army in the Yunzhou area is said to still have 200,000 troops, but compared with the more than 200,000 troops of the Liao army before the battle at Nankou, it is simply incomparable. Among them, 60% of those who are able to fight and are worthy of fighting are pretty good. Coupled with the suffering of a winter, it is reasonable for their strength to be weakened by another 20%.
Standing on the Jincheng Tower and stroking the earthen city walls, in addition to the traces of the fierce battles in March and April, there is also a sense of historical sedimentation. Jincheng was first built by Li Guochang, and its development was consolidated by Li Keyong. Half a century later, Li Keyong could be regarded as Fu Yanqing's adoptive grandfather. Standing on the golden city, Fu Yanqing could always feel a little ripple in his heart about the first city he had recovered since leaving the fortress. After all, he was old, and sometimes he couldn't help but reminisce about the past...
"I am reporting to the King of Wei that I am sending an envoy to ask for an audience on behalf of my country!" A military academy officer reported to Fu Yanqing who was nostalgic for the past as he ascended the building.
"Bring the people here!" Fu Yanqing ordered.
Duke Dai originally inherited the title from Ruan. After his death, he was granted the title of king, and Duke Dai inherited the title from Ruan. In recent years, the local warlord forces have basically disappeared under the rectification of the imperial court, but Zhe Deqing has always stayed in the Yuanfuzhou area.
As the Duke of Han Dynasty and the father-in-law of the Emperor, holding the position of Baoning Military Envoy was a bit of a loss of status to be honest. Liu Chengyou tried several times to transfer Zhe Deku to a high-ranking official, and Mrs. Zhe also wrote letters to persuade her father to join the court, but the man seemed very stubborn and said he would rather guard the border for the emperor. No matter what thoughts he had, Liu Chengyou had never touched his father-in-law.
During this Northern Expedition, Zhe Deku was also in the Northern Expedition, leading the Baoning Army and the Baode Mansion Army, totaling more than 9,000 people. Regarding Fu Yanqing as the commander-in-chief, Zhe Deqing felt a little uncomfortable. He was also the head of the state, and although your Fu family was prominent, he couldn't stand it if he wanted him to obey orders, so he often complained.
Probably out of consideration for Zhe Deku's psychology, Fu Yanqing did not allow him to lead his army to the east to join forces, but instead ordered him to lead a single division to attack Shuozhou. This time, Zhe Deji sent people with only one purpose, to urge an attack.
In response, Fu Yanqing ordered the envoy to reply to Zhe Deku and go north on the 18th, ordering him to take Shuozhou by himself, but he repeatedly warned not to advance in a hurry.
On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month of the twelfth year of Qianyou, according to the previously unified deployment, the Han army officially launched the spring offensive. In the direction of Yunzhou, the three-pronged army claimed to have an army of 500,000 people. On the Yingzhou side, a hundred thousand troops also set off to the north in a mighty manner.
