Before Chou arrived, Wanyan Benjian had already completed preparations. The men were wearing helmets, the horses were saddled, and the whole army was ready to go. Ali likes to prepare everything for his master. Many of them also wear helmets and armor, ready to go to the battlefield at any time.
Wanyan Ben saw that he had 20,000 soldiers. According to regulations, one regular soldier could be equipped with one or two Alixi, but the actual strength exceeded 40,000. This kind of 20,000 troops is more than enough to fight against the Song army of 40,000. The Song army outside Pingyao City only numbered 40,000.
At the ugly moment, Wanyan Benjian set off from Qi County and ran straight to Pingyao County in the south. When they arrived outside the city, the whole army took a short rest and waited quietly for the moment of attack. When they heard the sound of a cannon in the city, the whole army mounted their horses and headed straight for the outside of the city.
Wu Jie had just fallen asleep when he heard the sound of cannons in the city. He screamed inwardly and stood up. He hurriedly put on his armor and mounted his horse for inspection.
I saw a Jin army coming out from the south city gate and rushing towards the Song army's barracks.
Wu Jie hurriedly commanded the troops and horses, using the defense facilities of the camp to fight with the approaching Jin army.
The military camp has a wall and antlers. If you are prepared, it will not be easy to break through. In addition, the troops in the camp can climb up to observe, find out the enemy's weaknesses, and concentrate their forces from the camp to attack. The attacker generally cannot take advantage.
Wu Jie climbed up to the watchtower and watched as the main attack direction of the Jin army was towards his main entrance. Then he commanded the troops to gather in the middle.
At this moment, I heard people shouting and horses neighing from behind the camp. He hurriedly ordered his soldiers to go check it out.
Not long after, the soldiers came back, crossed their hands and said: "Zhizhi, a large number of Jin troops are behind the camp. It seems that the wall of the village cannot be defended!"
Wu Jie was shocked. He hurriedly came down from the watchtower, got on his horse, and ran straight to the back village. Not far away, he met a gold general who led hundreds of gold troops to kill him. Wu Jie shouted, shook his gun and faced him.
When the general Jin saw Wu Jie coming up to greet him, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. Said: "This is a general, and he has a wonderful skill!"
After saying that, he raised his gun, took aim at Wu Jie, and urged his horse to charge straight at him.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Wu Jie just flicked the tip of General Jin's gun with his gun and turned his horse aside.
Looking around, Wu Jie said: "What's going on? Why are there so many Jin troops behind the camp?"
A soldier rushed to the side and said: "Something bad has happened! Zhizhi, there are probably tens of thousands of Jin troops behind the camp. The camp has been destroyed!"
Wu Jie was stunned for a while and said: "Could it be that reinforcements from the Jin Army have arrived? If so, everything will be over!"
At this moment, the Jin general in front stabbed several Song soldiers to death and rushed towards Wu Jie again. Wu Jie did not dare to fight and led his men to the back of the camp. When they arrived at Houzhai, they saw that the wall of the village had long been broken through, and countless Jin troops were pouring in.
The Song army was originally dealing with Wanyan Yuying's troops in front, but suddenly the rear camp was invaded. How to resist? Being attacked from both sides by the Jin army, they were huddled together in the military camp and had no power to fight back. It was divided into small lumps and small lumps, and it was difficult to support.
Wu Jie asked the soldiers around him: "How is Liu Qi's military camp opposite the city?"
The soldier said: "Being attacked by the Jin army from both inside and outside, it is similar to our army. It is also struggling to support!"
Wu Jie sighed: "Our army has been unable to break through Pingyao City, which is why we are in such trouble! We can't fight, so retreat!"
After saying that, he organized his remaining troops, slowly gathered them together, and retreated to the south of the city. Five or six miles outside the city, he merged with Liu Qi's army and continued to retreat south.
The Jin army followed closely behind them, chasing and harassing the Song army. It wasn't until more than ten miles away from Pingyao that Wu Jie gathered the army together. He chose a small high ridge and used his original stacking formation to push back the Jin army.
After cleaning up the remnants and counting the number of people, the Song army lost nearly half of its troops and was no longer able to surround Pingyao. We can only pack up the remaining troops and retreat to Jiexiu.
The next morning, Zhao Ding got the news about the battle in Pingyao and spat out a mouthful of blood. He slowly sat down holding on to the table, his face gloomy.
Qi Chongli was startled and ordered someone to help Zhao Ding lie down behind him. The four staff members and counselors surrounded the bed and did not dare to stay away for a moment.
After a long time, Zhao Ding slowly opened his eyes. He said to Qi Chongli: "Once Pingyao is defeated, everything will stop on the front line. The reinforcements of the Jin army have arrived. It is unthinkable that I will be defeated in the attack on Taiyuan this time. Tell Wang Xuanfu, how to fight this battle depends on It’s his.”
Qi Chongli hurriedly said: "Captain, it's just a defeat, not necessarily a loss. If the military power is handed over to Wang Xuanfu, there will be no way to think about it."
Zhao Ding shook his head: "The Jin reinforcements have arrived, how can we win? Rather than being defeated beyond control and letting others laugh at us, it is better to hand over the military power now. You immediately send people to Pingyao and let Wang Xuanfu's army march north . We also have a Jiexiu city. He came early and still has a foothold."
Qi Chongli looked back at Fu Songqing beside him and saw that he nodded to him. He couldn't help but sigh and said to Zhao Ding: "Since the Governor thinks so, then so be it. These days, the Governor can rest peacefully and don't overwork."
After saying that, he went to the outer room with Fu Songqing, Xiang Ziqian and Pan Lianggui.
Everyone sat down and Qi Chongli said: "With things now in such a bad state, it makes sense that the governor would hand over military power to Wang Xuanfu. What do you think?"
Fu Songqing said: "Once the military power is gone, it will be difficult to take it back. In that case, what is the purpose of the governor coming to Hedong? He has no military power and is just here to supervise the army? Not to mention, the army belongs to Wang Xuanfu. I'm afraid Even the supervisors can’t do it.”
Qi Chongli had nothing to say. After a while, he said to Xiang Ziyi and Pan Lianggui: "What do you think?"
Pan Lianggui said: "The post of Governor is here on behalf of the imperial court, and it is the power of the imperial court that is exercised. How can it be possible to hand over the power of the imperial court!"
Qi Chongli said: "But the commander-in-chief is not good enough now and the military power is not handed over. What can be done?"
Pan Lianggui said: "What Wang Xuanfu wants to do is his business. The governor is still the governor! Just say as little as possible."
Qi Chongli thought for a while and said: "It is a good idea to say less and let Wang Xuanfu command him. But what about the Shaanxi Army? From the beginning to now, Wang Xuanfu has never interfered with the actions of the Shaanxi Army."
Xiang Ziyi said: "The governor is not physically able to move. Let the Shaanxi army temporarily obey Xuanfu's command."
Fu Songqing said: "If it is not convenient for the Commander-in-Chief to command the armies, we will sit aside and watch how the Xuanfu Division directs the battle. The various departments of the Shaanxi Army still have to listen to our command. However, for the time being, they can listen to the Xuanfu Division's dispatches. They took over After the military order is issued, just send a copy to the Governor's Mansion."
Qi Chongli thought for a while and clapped his hands: "Then let's do it! The governor's office just no longer directs the battle, he is still the highest commander in this area! We quietly watched how Wang Xuanfu fought!"
In Huoyi, the soldiers put the food on the table and said to Wang Xiaolie: "I don't know that this small northern county is rich in rice and tastes very good. Xuanfu, I have been traveling by boat these past few days. I haven't been able to eat in time. Come here." Try the rice from Huoyi."
Wang Xiaolie said: "It's amazing how rice is grown here. Okay, you guys should rest and eat too. We are expected to stay here for a day, so you should have a good rest. The next few days will be all about the trails in the mountains. It’s hard to leave.”
Wang Xiaolie sat at the dining table and had just taken two bites when Wang Ruohai hurried in. Holding up the official document in his hand, he said: "I just got the news that Wu Jie and Liu Qi were attacked by the Jin army in Pingyao. The army was defeated! They have withdrawn to Jiexiu to confront the Jin people!"
Wang Xiaolie put down his bowl, went to the table, looked at the map, and asked, "Where is Cao Zhiyan?"
Wang Ruohai said: "The vanguard has arrived at Jiexiu. If the whole army rushes on its way, they can cross Yangliang Beiguan tomorrow."
Wang Xiaolie breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, Cao Zhiyan's troops set off early and were able to hold Jiexiu. We have a foothold in the Tai Basin. Order Cao Zhiyan to hold Jiexiu City at all costs until we arrive!" "
Wang Ruohai said yes.
Wang Xiaolie looked at the map on the table, and after a while, he said: "Wu Jie and Liu Qi were defeated in Pingyao, and reinforcements from the Jin Army should have arrived. Do you know who came and how many soldiers and horses there were? ?”
Wang Ruohai shook his head: "The news from Pingyao has not come yet. However, a few days ago, it was said that the Jin army was going south. The general was Wanyan Benjian, and it was said that there were 20,000 troops."
"Yes, how can Wu Jie and Liu Qi withstand an army of 20,000 soldiers? Therefore, for an army of the size of Wu Jie and Liu Qi, the ranger's reconnaissance range must be a hundred miles away from the camp. Otherwise , we were attacked by surprise and we still don’t know who the enemy soldiers are.”
Wang Xiaolie knocked on the table as he spoke. After thinking for a while, he said: "Order Cao Zhiyan to hold back the Jin army and prevent them from splitting up and heading to Xihe! After we arrive in Jiexiu, we can only defeat them head-on. But the Jin army in Xihe, don't leave!"
Wang Ruohai said: "The one in Xihe is Wanyan Yinshuke, a general under Nianhan. I'm afraid he's not that easy to fight."
Wang Xiaolie sneered: "No matter who he is, since he is doing something for the future, how can we not let him get his wish?"
As Wang Xiaolie's army enters the Taiyuan Basin, it will inevitably occupy Fenzhou and push the front into Taiyuan Prefecture. If you are not careful, it is possible that all the Jin soldiers will be made into dumplings. The reinforcements of the Jin Army must set off as soon as possible to defend Taiyuan.
However, Wang Xiaolie's purpose was to lure reinforcements from the Jin Army, and he would not occupy Taiyuan City. Instead, occupy the surrounding areas first and clear out the surrounding areas of Taiyuan City.
