After learning the exact news of the Cantonese army's attack, Pan Mei was really relieved. Although she was very sure that the Cantonese army could be lured out, it was not 100% sure after all. If Xu Yanzhen didn't fall for it, then he But we are about to face a not-so-pleasant situation. Changing tactics and strategies was secondary. The key was the time wasted and missed opportunities. As he said to Murong Chengtai, he needed to take responsibility.
Fortunately, Xu Yanzhen did not disappoint him. As long as you come out, half of the Han army will win. The remaining half depends on the general's command and the officers and soldiers' fighting. Moreover, this is to stew the reinforcements from Shaozhou and Southern Guangdong in one pot, defeat the army and occupy the city, and achieve victory in one fell swoop. It can be said that most of the troops supported by Nanyue, which barely have some fighting strength, have come, and if they are defeated, the country will be destroyed.
Compared with the Han army, which was vigorous and hesitant to fight, the Guangdong army was dissatisfied and resentful. It has to be said that there are still some generals in the South Guangdong Army who disapprove of sending troops. They not only judge based on the situation, but also represent the voice of the Guangdong Army and are unwilling to fight rashly. However, Xu Yanzhen could not be restrained, and in the end, out of dissatisfaction, he forcibly sent troops, leading to failure and the end.
It is strange to say that despite the debauchery of the southern Guangdong monarchs and the chaos of military and political affairs, there has not been any major turmoil in the army. If it were the Central Plains, heroes would have appeared one after another and raised troops to quell the chaos.
In fact, throughout the "Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms", not only the orthodox dynasties of the Central Plains were gradually suppressing warriors, reducing local power, and strengthening centralization, but other separatist forces were also doing the same. In general, thanks to the geographical advantages and the relatively peaceful external environment, Its stabilizing effect is better.
This also includes Guangdong. Since Liu Yu succeeded to the throne, he has purged the old heroes and generals, which has greatly damaged his combat effectiveness and affected the morale of the military, but he has gained control over the army to a certain extent. Those with prestige and talent were either demoted, killed, or shunned. However, this kind of control is weak and cannot withstand the impact, especially when the monarch and his ministers are constantly tossing and treating military affairs as a trivial matter.
Judging from the comparison of the comprehensive strength of the Han and Guangdong armies, the two armies fought head-on in the field, but once they engaged, they would only be defeated. What's more, Pan Mei also set up traps and laid out ambushes in advance.
When Xu Yanzhen was so proud that he led nearly 50,000 Guangdong troops in a mighty manner towards Baixing Mountain, he was stopped halfway and faced more than 20,000 soldiers who were waiting for him under Pan Mei's personal leadership. The military formation was so strict and majestic, and so murderous that it dwarfed it. Although the Cantonese army was more numerous, it did not give them much confidence and confidence, and everyone looked at them with suspicion.
It's also ridiculous. This is the first time Xu Yanzhen, the commander-in-chief of the Guangdong Army, has seen what the Han army is like. No matter how loud he clamored before the war, his true colors will be revealed when he actually faces the battle. From the moment he saw the Han army, which was surrounded by mountains and forests, and followed the road to meet them, Xu Yanzhen already felt timid in his heart. He was good at maneuvering according to the wind.
It was the Han army who took the initiative to launch the attack. They were waiting for work and did not hesitate to seize the opportunity of the Cantonese army to attack because their footing was unstable and their formation was unprepared. At the same time as the frontal assault, the Han army ambushes hidden on both sides also took advantage of the situation and raised their flags and shouted, and surrounded them. Suddenly, Cantonese, whose military morale was already unstable, fell directly into panic.
Especially after the Han army on the front attacked fiercely in a strict and fierce formation, beating the drums, their morale fell to a low point before they even engaged in battle. After contact, on the fighting line, from point to surface, the defense line gradually collapsed.
What is disgraceful is that when some Cantonese soldiers spontaneously organized resistance, Xu Yanzhen, the commander-in-chief, actually abandoned the army and fled with his close followers. Even if they were commanded by a pig, these tens of thousands of Cantonese troops would not be defeated so quickly. With the commander's flag down and the general abandoning his army, all unfavorable factors fell on this Cantonese army.
Following Pan Mei's order, when Murong Chengtai led the Han cavalry to attack, the Cantonese army was completely defeated. Because Xu Yanzhen could not perform well, the two armies did not fight fiercely from beginning to end, and the fighting intensity was very low. .
In the rear of the Guangdong army, Zhi Tingxiao also led 5,000 Shaozhou troops to fight. He was always pessimistic about the outcome of the attack and was always vigilant. When the sound of killing suddenly started, he knew something was wrong and immediately led his men. Be on guard.
However, with the killing sounds from three sides and the wavering in front, everything happened too fast. Due to the limitations of the field of vision on the battlefield, although he knew that the situation was not good, Zhi Tingxiao did not know exactly what it was. He could only shrink his troops and form a formation to prepare for unexpected events, and send people to inquire about the situation ahead.
By the time he learned of the situation ahead, the front army of the Cantonese Army had already been defeated. Tens of thousands of troops were in chaos, spreading from front to back, and directly affected the Shaozhou Army led by Zhi Tingxiao.
Even if he knew that Xu Yan was really unreliable, his unreliable performance still refreshed Liu Zhitingxiao's three views. In this dire situation, although Zhi Tingxiao had brave strategies, he could not become the hero who saved the defeat.
All he could do was to lead his men and retreat southward toward Qujiang City. It's just that compared to other Cantonese troops, the Shaozhou Army was slightly more orderly and not completely chaotic. For most of the Cantonese troops who attacked, the process of this military operation was like this: leaving the city, rushing on the road, forming an array, fleeing south, and being captured...
For the Han army, this battle was a bit too easy, but they all had high fighting spirit. They could easily gain military exploits and harvest trophies. Who wouldn't be happy? Tens of thousands of Cantonese troops, like piglets, were driven, chased, and captured by Han soldiers. From beginning to end, they encountered no decent resistance.
For dozens of miles from Baixing Mountain to Qujiang, there were clumps of defeated soldiers, corpses littering the fields, and rivers of blood. Except for the early stages of the battle, some soldiers were killed or wounded, but in the follow-up, those who escaped fled and those who could not escape surrendered.
Until the evening of the 9th, the battle came to a successful conclusion, ending with the heavy Han cavalry attacking Qujiang City Gate. The Han army won a complete victory, and the Cantonese army was completely defeated.
For Xu Yanzhen, in this battle, he brought tens of thousands of the main force of the Guangdong army out of Qujiang City, and then basically completed his historical mission.
The main camp of the Han army went to the village twenty miles away from Qujiang City. Because of the victory, the atmosphere was very relaxed even at night. The previous depression and restlessness were refreshed by a victory. The results of the battle need to be calculated in detail, but the gains were huge, including more than 30,000 prisoners alone.
This battle obviously greatly increased Pan Mei's prestige. Even Murong Chengtai congratulated him and apologized for his previous words. Pan Mei showed her tolerance and smiled happily. Many times, victory is a powerful tool to cover up or even eliminate conflicts.
"Zhongguan Chen, you are the chief contributor to our army's great victory. I will report to the court and ask for a reward for you!" In the commander's tent, Pan Mei said to Chen Yanshou who came to see him, with a very polite attitude.
Chen Yanshou was flattered. Facing a battlefield general like Pan Mei, he was always in awe, with a smile on his face: "This is what a young man should do. It is also a small honor to serve His Majesty and the big man!"
"Okay!" Pan Mei was in a very good mood. She patted him on the shoulder affectionately and said to him: "When the soldiers enter Panyu, there are still many places where you can be used!"
"The younger one will definitely assist Du Shuai with all his strength to pacify Lingnan!" Chen Yanshou immediately promised.
While the two were talking, a man was taken into a tent by the soldiers. The officer in charge said to Pan Mei: "Dushuai, we have captured an important person, saying he is the head coach of the Guangdong Army, Xu Yanzhen!"
"Confirm, is it you?" Pan Mei became interested and asked Chen Yanshou.
Although the disaster has lasted for thousands of years, Xu Yanzhen's luck has obviously come to an end. He escaped early enough, but he was eventually caught in the chaos. His son also died in the chaos, and he himself was captured by the Han cavalry. The bright clothes are so eye-catching.
However, at this time, Xu Yanzhen was looking disgraced and embarrassed, with a hint of panic on his thin face. He was just an eunuch, and he had never experienced such a battle. However, when he saw Chen Yanshou standing next to Pan Mei in the Han camp commander's tent, he couldn't help but be shocked, and his surprise was beyond words: "Chen Yanshou, you, you..."
