In the evening, the autumn sun hangs low in the west, and the light it releases is very dim. The cool wind blows through the mountains outside Yunzhong City, and the sound it makes is like a whisper, ethereal and desolate.
Yunzhong City still looks like before, tall and solid, clean and intact. Except for the somewhat gloomy atmosphere in the city, the Liao army did not cause any trauma to it. After the Liao army arrived at the city, they did not launch any attack, not even a tentative attack.
The Liao army's siege was no longer as tight as it was at the beginning. After dividing their troops, they also took the initiative to retreat and set up camps far away from the city, divided into two directions: west and north. However, the tight patrols of the surrounding rangers obviously still control internal and external traffic and block the transmission of information.
The Liao army's camp layout was not like the Han army's habit of deep ditches, high forts, and iron wall camps. On the contrary, the layout was open and scattered, seemingly scattered, but they were ready for battle at any time.
The inevitable chaos was caused by the large number of livestock accompanying the army, plus the large amount of trophies, weapons, money and food captured after going south. Although it was difficult to call it a mountain of weapons, it was always a good harvest, especially after dividing the troops into four parts and plundering, partial divisions had begun to return fully loaded.
Among the large camps, the one with the most rigorous layout and the neatest military appearance is undoubtedly the Liao Emperor's imperial camp. No matter when and where, the troops guarding the palace tents are the Liao Emperor's most powerful, best-equipped, and best-equipped troops. A military you can trust.
As the sky got darker, bonfires were set up in each camp of the Liao army. Looking from Yunzhong City, you could see dots of stars, densely covering the west and north sides. The bright lights could almost reflect the red sky, making it look very It is spectacular and seems to show the military power of the Liao army.
Of course, this momentum was nothing to the Han generals who were used to big scenes. The reaction in the city was as stable as the guarded city.
The officers and soldiers of the Liao army began to enjoy food. The generals and officers were able to enjoy some captured Chinese spirits, and the ordinary soldiers could also enjoy a hearty meal of meat. This was already rare for the officers and soldiers of the Liao army who had been increasingly short of resources.
The gold and silver goods are not valuable, but the captured livestock and grain are worthy of joy. Many Liao soldiers who participated in the expedition were looking forward to bringing them back to the tribe and sharing them with their families and tribesmen.
The continuous war has severely damaged the normal nomadic production of the grasslands, and it has also required armed participation in the war and sending troops and food. Now, many ethnic groups and villages in the Liao Kingdom in the north and south of the desert have reached an unsustainable point.
In fact, many of the Liao soldiers who were called to join the expedition were no longer fighting for the Liao court or the emperor, but had the intention of going south to plunder.
They don't have much feelings about their family and country, and they don't care about the struggle for hegemony between Han and Liao. What they want is the most basic survival, even though their current poverty and crisis come from the war initiated by the Han Dynasty.
The prosperity of the Southern Dynasties encouraged people to be good at farming, but they just learned from countless ancestors in the past, rekindled their instincts, carried knives, and rode southward on horseback.
In fact, when Yelvxian boosted morale, he also promoted plunder, robbed food and clothing, and robbed all materials that could help them tide over the difficulties, resisting the oppression of the Han army and fighting for a living space...
The accompanying Liao army soldiers were indeed greatly encouraged and actively participated in the battle and fought hard to the death. The gains after coming south also gradually increased the morale that was not so high at first. The loot piled up in the camp also seemed to prove the correctness of this move south.
However, compared with the joy of the soldiers, Emperor Yelvxian of Liao was always worried and found it difficult to let go. In the Liao army camp under night, the sounds of wind and animals were mixed with the laughter and laughter of the various camps, and even grassland folk songs were floating.
As the head coach, Yelvxian was really unwilling to break this pleasant atmosphere. Since the war between Han and Liao, Daliao had always failed, and the soldiers had not enjoyed the joy of victory so indulgently for a long time.
However, the soldiers below can immerse themselves in it, but he, the lord of the Liao Dynasty and the commander-in-chief of the three armies, cannot. Now he has "deeply penetrated" into the Han Dynasty. He has killed many Han soldiers and civilians, captured a lot, and issued the most powerful force to fight against the Han Dynasty. He shouted firmly and loudly, but Yelvxian still felt uneasy in his heart.
Only when he is alone, Yelvxian will show his anxiety. Now, Liaodong has been lost, the Northeast is in chaos, the Western Region has been lost, and Mobei is incomplete. His Daliao can no longer withstand more defeats and more defeats. It was a big shock, and Yelvxian couldn't help but be careful.
In front of the palace tent, Yelv Xian, wearing a fur coat and a mink hat, stood in the cold wind. There was no wave in his eyes, but he looked straight south, staring in the direction of Yunzhong City.
Yelvxian could not understand how Yelvjing looked back when he gave up on Yunzhong. But after more than ten years, the Liao army came again, but Yelvxian could only feel the melancholy and loss that was beyond his reach. He also knew in his heart that since the city in the distance changed its surname to Liu and Han, the traces that originally belonged to the Liao and Khitan would only become weaker and weaker until they completely disappeared and were only recorded in the annals of history.
It has been eight days since the army arrived, but during these eight days, Yelvxian's mood has been sinking. Even if there are constant gains and good news from all directions, it can't cover the worry that always lingers in his heart.
The impregnable and flawless Yunzhong City, as well as the response of the still hazy Han army surrounding Yunzhong City, made Yelvxian feel an inexplicable pressure, which was comparable to what he felt when he stayed in Shangjing. The feeling is much deeper.
"His Majesty!"
The soft call was a little gentle, but it still brought Yelvxian back to his senses. He turned around and saw that it was Han Derang. Probably because the cold wind blew too much, Yelvxian shivered and coughed twice, with a slightly pale smile on his face: "Han Qing, you're here!"
"The wind outside the tent is strong, don't blow too much, your Majesty, please take care of yourself!" Han Derang advised.
Feeling Handerang's concern, Yelvxian also listened to the advice and invited Handerang to come into the tent to talk. After sitting down, the waiter served hot wine to the two of them, and the emperor and his ministers shared it.
Yelvxian, who probably knew Han Derang's purpose, looked at him and said, "Han Qing, what do the nobles and generals think? Have you got any results from the test?"
"The morale is high and the military spirit is ready!" Han Derang replied, but his expression turned solemn: "The people in Han Dynasty either fled into the mountains and forests or hid in the cities. There is nothing to plunder in the countryside!
The pro-army troops had good military discipline and obeyed His Majesty's orders immediately. However, the conscripted soldiers were not willing to stop here. Instead, they hoped to increase the scope of the plunder and continue to penetrate into the Han territory and attack its cities. Some even proposed to attack Yun by force. middle! There are also some generals who think that the soldiers who have been looting from all over the world should be called in and replaced with them..."
The current mentality of many Liao troops is to stay longer in the Han border and grab more supplies. With the harvest in Monan and Shanyang, my desire has been completely aroused. Even an ordinary soldier knows that more of the Han people's goods, money, food, and uniforms are hoarded in those cities. If they want to gain more gains, they must break the city.
The two counties of Huairen and Changqing that have been conquered have gained a lot. So with such a cloud city right in front of us, if it is conquered, how fruitful will be the harvest?
Blinded by the desire for profit, many people would not consider anything more, such as the strength of the clouds, the rescue of the Han army, or the crisis before it was imminent. Besides, they are all cavalry, so they can go!
However, Yelvxian and Handerang obviously didn't think so, and they had to keep a clear mind.
"What do Han Qing think?" Yelvxian asked Han Derang in a deep voice.
After hearing the inquiry, Handerang's attitude was very firm: "I still have my previous opinion, restrain the soldiers, evacuate as soon as possible, and return to the north of the Great Wall! Yunzhong is not a place to stay for a long time!"
"The reinforcements of the Han army are still not approaching. Is it necessary to be so anxious?" Yelvxian asked. Handerang had already proposed to withdraw his troops three days ago.
Han Derang's expression was solemn and he said bluntly: "Your Majesty, because of this, I am worried! When our army first came, we took advantage of the Han army's new defeat and the empty mountain sun, so we marched forward with great enthusiasm, reaching the clouds!
However, more than twenty days have passed, and the Han army, no matter how slow it is, should have responded. Your Majesty, you should know that the strength of the Han army is definitely more than this. It is bordered by Hedong to the south and Yanshan to the east. Our army can take advantage of the weakness and make achievements, but we cannot be stuck here for a long time!
Such a long time was enough for the Han army to react and mobilize reinforcements, but until now, there has been no sign of a large number of troops arriving for reinforcements. The cities in Shanyang are still defending behind closed doors, which is no longer normal.
The Han army in the cloud did not move at all, and did not even send anyone to try to break out and contact them. They just retreated to the fortified city and were very patient, as if they were waiting for the opportunity to attack!
Your Majesty, our army has achieved enough gains during this trip south. We must not be greedy for more, otherwise we may fall into an irreversible crisis! "
