In Yunzhong City in early spring, there was a little greenery inside and outside, but the surroundings were still desolate and cold. Most of the 200,000 Liao troops were concentrated inside and outside Yunzhong City, and a total of 20 camps were set up outside the city.
After a winter, the morale of the Liao army in Yunzhong was inevitably low. If the Han army was resting and recuperating, then the Liao army was suffering. Although the military system of the Liao Kingdom was far superior to that of the previous steppe peoples, it was still difficult to escape its limitations.
The Liao army in Yunzhou, in addition to the imperial troops such as the Pishi Army, was still composed of the Khitan tribes, the Xi tribe, and many servants and state soldiers. After half a year of fierce fighting between the Han and Liao Dynasties, their strength It has plummeted.
My family knows their own affairs, and although there are still 200,000 soldiers left, the only ones who can fight are the Royal Guards and some of their subordinates, plus some soldiers who have recovered from their injuries and returned to the camp. Even so, it is difficult to guarantee the combat capabilities that these tribes will be able to exert by spring.
The biggest problem lies in the morale of the army. The soldiers of Daliao now have no fighting spirit and the soldiers want to return home. After a winter of confrontation, the traditional time for the nomads to mobilize their troops had been completely missed. In addition, the Han army was aggressively suppressing the border. The wars before and after did not gain any benefits and they retreated step by step. Under such circumstances, the Liao army had already given birth to a new generation. One thought: Yanyun was originally Han territory, and the Han army wanted to take it. Let them take it. Why pay such a high price to fight to the death...
This winter, the Liao army's logistical problems were not as big as imagined. There were a large number of cattle, sheep, horses and camels, and there was no shortage of meat at all. Similarly, it also caused major economic damage to the Liao Kingdom, which will also affect its production recovery after the beginning of spring.
The impact of this Han-Liao war on the Liao Kingdom was far from breaking out. It had just begun this year. As for the entire Liao Kingdom, for this war, the Khitan tribe and the Xi tribes, these core tribes, all mobilized their troops.
It would be fine if they won, but the fierce battle has made no progress so far, the troops have been lost, the ground has been lost, and there is no hope of victory. Unrest and unrest are brewing in the Liao Kingdom.
In order to support the war against the Han, the soldiers who were called went to the front line with all their strength. Adult men and horses are their most important means of production. If they are consumed on the battlefield without being replenished, it will be a serious harm to the grassland tribes that will affect their survival.
Originally, after withdrawing Wende and resting for a month, Yelujing planned to launch a counterattack. Fighting in winter would benefit the Liao but not the Han. After all, their living environment was more difficult and they were more tolerant of the severe cold in the north. If you can fight in winter, you can also take advantage of the weather.
However, the Han army's steady defense made Yelujing depressed and helpless. Whether it was Huailai or Yingzhou, the Han army stayed on the spot and spent the winter quietly. All the Liao army's actions to lure the enemy were ineffective and were all in vain. The Han army was not moved at all. Therefore, the winter confrontation between Han and Liao was also a helpless move by the Liao army. After all, the Han army is so shameless...
Now, with spring coming and the ice and snow melting, it should be a season full of vitality and hope, but the Liao army is in a dull and depressing atmosphere. The morale of the Liao army has not always been like this. At least it got a certain boost after the rest after the battle at Nankou and the victory at Jiming Mountain, but in the end it was no match for the passing of time.
Ten miles northeast of Yunzhong City, there is a town named Fengyi, where about 10,000 Liao troops are stationed. The spring breeze brought a chill, and the whole camp was busy with anxiety. There is only one reason. The Han army launched a large-scale attack. The emperor issued an edict and the entire army was ready to fight.
King Yelu Dilie of Anping was among the Liao army serving in Yiyi. A few rays of sunlight shining on his body did not bring much warmth. In front of the camp, Yelv Dilie was dressed in a rich Hu suit, with his sleeves rolled up high, revealing his strong arms, and he was personally brushing his beloved horse.
Yelu Dilie's horses are of excellent breed and have been fed with the best grass and beans, so they are naturally in good condition. However, there are tens of thousands of Liao cavalry and hundreds of thousands of horses, so you can get such "treatment" anywhere. The reality is that after the winter, most of the Liao army's horses were very weak, losing a lot of fat, and the horses were thin and hairy, that's all.
Therefore, after walking around in the camp, Yelu Dilie couldn't help but said in front of a member of the Fifth Academy: "How can we fight when the horses are so thin?"
Hearing what Yelu Dilie said, the name Xiangwen immediately responded, and his mouth was full of complaints: "In battles, you should wait until you have gained fat and good horse power. The tribesmen came in response to the call, and they have been through the whole winter and have achieved nothing. , everyone wants to return to the tribe. I don’t know why your majesty must fight the Han people. King Anping, you are your majesty’s younger brother. Can you advise your majesty to withdraw your troops temporarily. Even if you want to fight the Han people, wait until the autumn is over. It’s not too late to be fat!”
Listening to his words, Yelu Dilie couldn't help but cursed secretly in his heart. He was extremely ignorant and short-sighted. However, his eyes wandered around a few times, filled with strange expressions, and he spread his hands and said: "I also want to give you advice, but His Majesty doesn't listen, and I have no choice! The current situation of various ministries and armies is indeed not good for the Han Dynasty. The army is at war!"
After saying that, Yelu Dilie accompanied these tribal generals and sighed. Yelu Dilie was resentful towards his brother. He had been depressed since the battle at Baicaokou last year. During the Han-Liao War, although he was able to accompany the army, he was never reused. Therefore, since the Battle of Nankou, this young King Anping has seemed a little active...
In Yunzhong City, Emperor Liao was present. In a heavy and solemn atmosphere, Yelujing held another meeting. However, the number of attendees at this meeting was very small and the status was very high. The only people present were Yelu Wuzhi, Yelu Talie, Xiao Husi and Han Kuangmei. Because of his performance in Tanzhou, Han Kuangmei, like his brother Han Kuangsi, officially entered the center of power in the Liao Kingdom.
Yelujing looked tired, his beard was growing like a weed, and his whole person looked particularly depressed. He looked up at several important ministers and said, "How is the progress of the Han army?"
As the Northern Privy Councilor, Xiao Husi stood up and reported to Yelujing: "Your Majesty, the three armies of the Han army are advancing. News has come from Weizhou that tens of thousands of Han troops, led by Han general Zhao Kuangyin, have marched out of Feihu. Road, broke through the defense line, and is attacking Lingxian County. Our army's troops in Yuzhou are weak, and we are afraid that it will be difficult to resist the Han army's front, and its loss is inevitable. If the Han army breaks through Yuzhou, it will definitely turn west and rush towards Yunzhou. Come......"
Regarding the situation in Weizhou, Yelujing did not show much emotion, which is understandable, and she was fully mentally prepared. After learning about it, he asked: "Where is the Liao army in the east?"
Xiao Husi said: "Yelusha sent troops day and night to harass Murong Yanzhao's army, causing its advance to be slow. According to the latest battle report, his army has just passed Jiming Mountain and is still fifty miles away from Wende. However, the strategy of attacking and harassing , although it had a delaying effect, it was impossible to retreat the enemy. Yelusha reported that the Han army was very strict and marched in an orderly manner. During several days of harassment, they never found a chance to break through. According to the marching speed of the Han army, at most two By the end of the day, we can reach Wende.”
After hearing what he said, Yelujing calmly ordered: "Send an order to Yelusha and tell him to delay the Han army on the east route and tell him that there is no need to fight hard with him!"
"yes!"
"How is the progress of the Han army in Yingzhou? Are you still staying in Huairen?" When Fu Yanqing's army was mentioned, Yelujing's spirit was obviously lifted.
If Murong Yanzhao was delayed, then Yelvjing was eager for the Han army in Yingzhou to advance hastily, and it would be best if they could reach the gates of Yunzhong City.
Regarding Yelujing's plan, all the important ministers present knew that after learning that the Han army had launched a spring offensive, their response to the Han army's offensive strategy was to look for opportunities to annihilate them along the way, and the goal was naturally to be on their own. Fu Yanqing's army came from the state.
However, with the lessons learned from the Battle of Nankou, the Liao army did not dare to take the initiative to attack easily anymore, and hoped that they could approach the clouds and then build a strong city and use superior troops to defeat it. In order to make the trick more realistic, the Liao cavalry who went south to harass were even asked to do no work.
However, Yelujing's plan was destined to fail, and Xiao Husi's reply made him feel aggrieved. Fu Yanqing led his army out of Yingzhou. Regardless of whether there was an attack by Liao cavalry or not, they could not travel more than ten miles in a day. So far, we have only reached Huairen County, which is still more than seventy miles away from Yunzhong.
What's even more outrageous is that after Fu Yanqing captured Huairen County, he refused to leave and rested for two days! Hearing this, Yelujing couldn't help but slapped his thigh angrily: "The Han army is so cowardly! How can it be unreasonable!"
