"How is the situation in Beijing?" Yelu Xiezhen asked about the situation in the north. No matter what, the Liao Kingdom was a dynasty on the grasslands. Although the Liaodong region was important, the north and south of the desert were still its foundation, and no major mistakes could be tolerated.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Siwen's expression relaxed slightly and he reported: "After establishing the contraction strategy, most of the people in the southern part of the desert have moved north to avoid the edge of the Han army. Although they suffered a lot of losses during the northward retreat, they have retained their Most of the force. Now, all the defenses and passes along the Yinshan Mountains have been abandoned, and Han Kuangmei is leading the army to struggle with Han Shanyang's army in Monan.
However, as long as the Han army did not march out in large numbers, it would be difficult to damage the foundation of Daliao. Han Derang believed that the Han army's troops in the central and western routes were just partial divisions, pretending to attack in order to tie up the Liao forces. They were not an internal problem and should not be feared.
He made a plan for His Majesty. If he dared to go deep north, he would concentrate his strength and seek to annihilate him. After all, the northern part of the Great Wall is our pasture of Daliao, and we cannot tolerate the rampage of the Han army! "
Xiao Siwen spoke eloquently, and Yelu Xiezhen nodded and affirmed: "Han Derang's plan is feasible! If it works, and one of his troops is wiped out, one of his fingers can be cut off, which will also help alleviate the difficulties facing the overall situation!"
"Your Majesty asked me to tell the king that we do not want to continue sending more troops to Liaodong in the short term. We can only rely on the king and the soldiers here for the time being. Once we make some achievements in Beijing, we can rest assured that we will come from the east for support!" Xiao Siwen road.
In this regard, Yelv Xiezhen also had some guesses. The troops in Liaodong were insufficient. He did not ask for help, but Shangjing took the initiative to send troops.
Falling into deep thought, Yelu Xizhen frowned, with a slight hesitation flashing across his expression. He raised his head for a long time, made up his mind, and said to Xiao Siwen: "Our army is good at attacking but not good at defending. We fight in long fields and short cities. Now we are at a disadvantage in terms of strength. Defeated, morale is weak, and if you insist on defending, even if you have Jinzhou's solidity and Chen and Yao as a screen, you will not be able to avoid losing. If you want to break the situation and reverse the crisis, you need to take the initiative to adopt strategies!"
"Your Majesty, do you have a plan to defeat the enemy?" Xiao Siwen perked up and asked.
Standing upright in front of the map, Yelu Xiezhen stared hard at Liaonan, his eyes almost fixed on Chen and Yaozhou two hundred miles away.
"Is Yelu Hai still kneeling outside?" Yelu Xiezhen suddenly asked.
"yes!"
"Let him in!" Yelu Xiezhen said coldly.
Soon, Yelu Hai came in dejectedly and saw Yelu Xiezhen sitting in the hall. He knelt down again. He must have been kneeling outside for a long time, and his legs could not help but tremble when he knelt down.
"Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Yelu Xiezhen stared at him expressionlessly for a while, and then sighed: "The defeat of Suzhou and the loss of Liaonan were also due to my improper arrangements. In the strategy week, get up!"
"Your Majesty, this is all due to the general's incompetence in fighting!" Seeing Yelu Xiezhen taking the initiative to take responsibility, Yelu Hai was moved and admired, and said excitedly.
Looking at him, Yelu Xiezhen said directly: "Although you lost Suzhou, your decision to give up Ningzhou and restore it was a good one. It saved some strength and bought Chen and Yao more time to prepare!"
Yelu Hai was about to speak, but was interrupted by Yelu Xiezhen. He looked at him and said solemnly: "I will give you another chance and hand over Chen and Yao's defense to you. Do you still dare to accept the order to resist the enemy?"
Hearing this, Yelu Hai did not hesitate at all. He held his head high and said decisively: "Thank you, Your Majesty! In the end, the general will fight to the death. If the people are still in the city, the city will be destroyed and people will die!"
Nodding, Yelu Xiezhen said: "I will replenish you with five thousand infantry from Liaoyang, and give you twenty carts and thirty crossbows! If the Han army comes to attack, Chenzhou will be defended for five days. Give up when the day is full!”
Yelu Hai immediately said: "Your Majesty, I will live and die with Chenzhou!"
"No need!" Yelu Xiezhen waved his big hand and said seriously: "If you want to die, you will die in Yaozhou and Yanyuan. If Yanyuan City is lost, you won't have to come back!"
"The last general's order!"
Chenzhou and Yaozhou, one in the south and one in the north, block the entrance of the peninsula into the Liaohe Plain. They are also surrounded by mountains and rivers. However, Jian'an City in Chenzhou is close to the sea, and the rocky abyss is farther back, which can effectively avoid the incoming traffic from the Han Dynasty. A direct attack by the military and naval forces.
Yelu Hai took the order and left with a will to die. Everyone could feel his decisive momentum. Xiao Siwen couldn't help but sigh: "The king uses people like this, how can Yelu Hai not fight to the death?"
Yelu Xiezhen's serious expression softened and he said with emotion: "Yelu Hai is a fierce general with a generous spirit. During the Western Expedition, he followed me through life and death. He suffered many fierce battles. He is not entirely responsible for the loss of Liaonan. I and I If he takes the opportunity to avenge his shame, he will definitely do his best!”
"Your Majesty is planning to bring enemies from the south?" Xiao Siwen asked, considering Yelu Xiezhen's arrangement.
Yelu Xiezhen's face was calm, but his eyes became more and more serious, and he said: "Then it depends on whether the Han army will reveal any flaws!"
...
The sight turned to Jinzhou in the northwest of Liaodong Bay. After the summer rain, they only rested for two days. Under the camp order, batches of Han troops launched a new round of attacks on Jinzhou City.
The Liao Kingdom obviously had the idea of being prepared for danger in times of peace. In the past ten years or so, great efforts have been made to defend the city of Jinzhou. The city walls are all made of masonry and stone, so tall and solid that even the ladders of the Han army could only be considered as inferior. Close to the city.
At the same time, it also weakened the power of long-range strike weapons such as thunderbolt cannons to a certain extent. On the wide city walls of Jinzhou, there were also a large number of heavy weapons such as carts and giant crossbows.
After so many years, the Liao army has learned lessons and made progress. Naturally, they have also studied and used these weapons of the Han army. On the basis of absorbing the skills of Han craftsmen, they also obtained a lot of advanced technologies from the Western Regions. In terms of weapons and equipment, there was no generational difference between the Liao army and the Han army.
The Liao Kingdom also built a lot of counterweight thunder cannons for the Han army, and also obtained a large amount of fire oil from the Western Regions. It has to be said that the Liao Army's Western Expedition significantly improved all aspects of the Liao Kingdom.
Therefore, when they attacked Jinzhou, the generals of the Han army discovered that it was difficult to gain an absolute advantage in siege, take the city by surprise, and quickly break the city like they did in the first Northern Expedition.
However, there is no absolute advantage, and it does not mean that the advantage does not exist. After so many years of development, the Han army does not rely solely on the superiority of ordnance. In wars, especially cold weapon warfare, the final victory or defeat also depends on people and decisions. on hard power.
In terms of hard power, the Han Dynasty will always have enough courage. However, when the Liao army has countermeasures, it will be more difficult to attack and the price to pay will be greater. Fighting for consumption, the big man has never been afraid of anyone, and the generals are also mentally prepared for this.
After recognizing the situation clearly, Zhao Kuangyin changed his previous tepid pace and became vigorous and resolute. With stern military orders, he ordered the soldiers to launch fierce attacks on Jinzhou City one after another.
The Han army used mature siege tactics in the past and continued to attack with the help of various ordnance. On the city, a large amount of fire oil, flying stones, and crossbow bolts were also shot out, causing casualties to the siege soldiers below the city.
The ditch outside the city had long been filled in. Five heavy and towering ladders once again approached the top of Jinzhou City. Through the straight board, groups of Han soldiers ran up to the city with shields.
However, the distance of two feet is like a road of death. There are bows and crossbows in the distance and spears nearby. If one is unstable, it will be smashed into a pulp if it falls. There are even fire oil bullets, stone bullets, etc. coming from our side. Crossbow manslaughter.
To pass through this dangerous abyss, the Han army would have to pay huge casualties. Even if they climbed to the top of the city, there would still be city soldiers arranged by Liao general Yelvxiu.
During these days, the Han army caused huge casualties to the Liao army defending the city, but its own damage was also considerable, basically twice as much as the defenders. The siege was very difficult, and the soldiers who participated in the siege disappeared in an organized manner.
Over the years, siege operations have never been so difficult. Of course, no matter how difficult or painful it was, it did not shake Zhao Kuangyin's determination to persist in the attack.
The capture of Jinzhou means that the door to Liaoyang is open, and the entire war situation will be changed and a breakthrough will be achieved.
Up and down Jinzhou City, the sound of killings was loud, arrows were scattered, and explosions were heard from time to time. At that time, the Han army used gunpowder to make noises. The blood was permeating the air, and the blood of the soldiers on both sides of the attack and defense had dyed the city walls red. The smoke and fire, and the shadows of swords and swords, stimulated everyone's nerves. As the fighting progressed, human life was no longer valuable, and death became even more dull... ..
With bursts of dull sounds, the heavy city gate of Jinzhou City was opened, and a group of Liao Army cavalry suddenly rushed out. The Han army had already been prepared for this, and Ma Renyu, the commander in charge of the siege, immediately ordered to adjust the formation of the Han army under the city to protect the heavy siege weapons.
As for the threat to the city, it must be the ladder that can deliver soldiers to the top of the city. Brother Yeluxiu also knows this very well. In the previous battle, Brother Yeluxiu had successfully made a sneak attack and burned several of them.
After the Han army was prepared, it would be difficult for the Liao army to achieve its goal. This time, only five hundred Liao cavalry came out of the city. They were obviously dead soldiers. After they left the city, the city gate was closed.
Knowing that they were bound to die, these Liao cavalry who attacked were obviously particularly crazy. They attacked the Han army's defensive formations desperately, and some even had kerosene cans hanging on their bodies, hoping to burn them all.
However, this kind of desperate effort seemed a bit weak in front of the Han army's military formation, and it fulfilled their death wish. All the Liao cavalry who left the city were wiped out.
However, their deaths were not without some effect. While strangling them, the blows from the city caused the Han army to pay a lot of casualties, and also affected the siege soldiers to climb the ladder to the city...
When the Liao army used this method to delay the Han army's offensive, it can be imagined that the pressure the Liao army endured on the city was definitely not small. You know, at the beginning of the siege, the Jinzhou defenders suffered only about 300 casualties a day.
The setting sun seemed to be dyed red by the blood of Jinzhou City, and the golden sound also sounded. The Liao army still defended the city wall, and the attacking Han army retreated. The ladders slowly moved back, and the soldiers were protected by the shield wall. They went down and returned to camp one after another. On the city, sporadic bows and arrows were still shot down.
The sea breeze in the evening was a bit cool to the soldiers who had been fighting for a day, and the continuous sound of gold sounded so desolate...
