If you look at the history books, you will know that throughout the ages, the core area in the world has always been Guandong, whether it is population or money and food.
The Liang Kingdom already occupied the Central Plains, the essence of Guandong, but it lacked a corner of Youzhou.
Without Youzhou, Hebei would not be able to form a complete geographical plate, and Li Yue's Central Plains Empire would not be able to form a closed geographical loop.
It is even less possible to complete the great cause of unifying the world.
Huge ambition surged in Li Yue's heart.
In the cold wind, 70,000 black cloud elites stood in front of the camp, as silent as a mountain. Their black armor contrasted sharply with the snow-white earth, adding a touch of strange color.
The erect spear pierced the pale sky, and the cold wind swept over the blade, fluttering the blood-red flag.
The war horses were neatly arranged in a straight line, with bursts of white air blowing out from their mouths and noses. Affected by the chilling atmosphere, they would occasionally move their front hooves and make one or two uneasy neighs.
Li Yue stood astride his horse with his sword in hand and walked slowly in front of the formation, enjoying the respectful gazes of the soldiers. Thousands of words are unnecessary at this moment.
What should be said has been said hundreds of times by Honglu officials.
The fate of every soldier is firmly bound to this battle.
Li Yue waved his sword to the north, and his prancing horse shouted: "Attack!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" A tsunami-like roar swept across the land.
Then the soldiers marched northward in neat steps, crushing the shallow snow and ice, making a "squeaking" sound, forming a common rhythm with the armor.
Behind them, donkeys, mules and oxen pulled the thunderbolt chariots and ballistas in the city, rumbling forward.
At this moment, it seems like a rising empire is rushing forward in the long river of history.
Murong Ke's army of more than 100,000 people had just arrived and had not yet established a stable footing. The Heiyun army waited for many days and had high morale. It was the best time to attack.
There are 20,000 Heiyun elites and 30,000 suppressing troops left in the camp to guard against Murong's army suddenly coming out of Xiangguo.
Active offense is always better than passive defense.
The Xiangguo and Bai people attacked Renxian from both sides, using two against one to give them a breather, which would form a horned force. With Murong Chui, Fu Yan, Murong Ping and other troops behind them supporting each other, the Yan army would gradually gain the upper hand.
In a word, Li Yue did not give Murong Ke time to integrate the various departments.
If you want to fight, fight with the strongest, and the Heiyun Army dares to fight in the field, and dares to fight against the 120,000 Yan Army with 70,000 elites!
The cold wind blows on people's faces like a knife.
But it couldn't stop the Black Cloud Army's progress.
Li Yue looked around. Many generals deliberately raised snow and dust, and the smoke and dust billowed into the sky.
Bai people have been a place of fighting since ancient times. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Jin Kingdom fought several battles with the Zhongshan Kingdom here.
In the eighth year of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu returned from Dongyuan and passed Zhao. He wanted to stay here, but he felt very uneasy. He asked his surroundings, "What is the name of the county?" The answer was: "Ba people."
"The people from Bai are forced by others!" Gaozu left without staying.
Murong Ke stationed troops here. Although it echoed the Xiang Kingdom, Bairen was located in the plain depression at the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain. To the west, the solitary peaks of Yaoshan and Maoshan stood steeply, like two long swords holding Bairen City hostage.
This is also the meaning of "forced by others" by Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty.
Of course, the city must be defended by people. When Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu unified Hebei, he suffered two minor defeats here.
The distance of thirty to forty miles was covered in most of a day.
The cold wind gradually subsided, and a hazy red sun appeared in the gloomy sky. It slanted to the west between two mountains, and a large scroll with the word "Yan" stood on the city wall.
Black clouds are pressing down on the city, threatening to destroy it.
Half of the 70,000-strong army formed a formation, and the other half dug earth and built forts, felled trees, set up antlers, and set up camp.
Thunderbolt chariots and crossbow chariots were slowly pushed to the front of the formation, like ferocious beasts, while Bairen City was like a trembling lamb in winter.
The heavy troops brought cannon stones, kerosene, and arrows.
Once these things are activated, the thin city of Bairen will definitely not be able to withstand it.
The cities in Hebei have experienced decades of war. Except for the strategic cities such as Yecheng, Xiangguo, and Lukou, the other cities have long been ruined.
This is also the reason why Li Yue came before Murong Ke and chose Renxian instead of Bairen.
With a few "bangs", the thunderbolt cart and the ballista were adjusting their firing range. Against the north wind, the cannon stone fell seventy or eighty steps below the city.
When the heavy troops were preparing to push the Pili chariot forward, the sound of war drums suddenly sounded in Bairen City. In an instant, the city gate opened and the Yan army cavalry poured out in an endless stream.
The horse's hooves were flying, its long branches were fierce, and it was rushing towards the thunderbolt chariot.
The two black clouds in the front formation raised their spears and faced the charging cavalry.
The crossbowmen in the rear formation fired a dense rain of arrows.
The Yan army cavalry dispersed very flexibly. Some people on horseback bent their bows and arrows and shot at the infantry formation.
After decades of wars, heavy armor was rampant in the world. Bows and crossbows alone could not defeat the opponent. In addition, the battlefield was in a plain and open area, so bows and crossbows were ineffective.
The Heiyun army lost seventy or eighty people, and the Yan army lost more than a hundred riders.
Naturally, these casualties cannot force the Yan army back, it will only make them wilder and more ferocious, as if they want to swallow the Heiyun Army infantry formation in front of them alive, and the momentum is extremely terrifying.
However, the Black Cloud Army remained unmoved. The tail of the spear was thrust into the snow, and the blade was pointed forward, as steady as a mountain.
One hundred steps, seventy steps, fifty steps, thirty steps...
Whoever retreats will be defeated like a mountain. This is a contest between the courage and morale of the two armies.
But the soldiers of Yan Army may not be afraid of death, and the horses under their crotches neighed in fear.
The spears did not move at all, and many Heiyun soldiers licked their tongues, as if they were ready to drink the blood of the Xianbei people.
When the two armies were about to collide, the Yan Army's cavalry finally got timid, turned their horses' heads, and passed from west to east almost against the spears of the Black Cloud Army.
"Humph, the Yan army is scared!" Li Yue has never been afraid of risking his life.
When cavalry attacks infantry, it is nothing more than to gain the upper hand, frighten the infantry away, or to go around and look for loopholes.
But Murong Ke obviously made two preparations.
After the cavalry, there were the dark infantry, thrusting their spears, and marching forward with heavy steps under the orders of more than a dozen Yan generals.
The cold spear shone coldly in the setting sun.
The Black Cloud Army remained motionless, but the soldiers' faces gradually became filled with a bloodthirsty glow.
"Come in!" Soldier Heiyun also stepped forward with firm steps.
The dark cyan and black waves quickly collided, causing waves of blood.
All strategies, calculations, and strategies, in the end, will ultimately depend on iron and blood to determine the outcome.
Between countries, in the end, they still have to rely on their own strength.
Both sides are majestic divisions, the elites of both countries, fighting on this winter plain.
War drums and horns sounded one after another.
As the long blade flipped, soldiers continued to fall, and the snow quickly melted with the spray of blood.
On the other side, the cavalry from both sides were also strangled together, like two giant snakes, entangled from the east to the north.
The horses' hooves raised a huge cloud of snow, gradually obscuring their figures.
Li Yue immediately lowered his teeth and looked at the boiling battlefield with an expressionless face. At this moment, there was no fluctuation in his heart. The Central Plains could not lose, and the Black Cloud soldiers could not defeat.
Throughout thousands of years of history, Chinese soldiers have never been afraid of hard battles.
Otherwise, China would not have gone through five thousand years.
(End of chapter)
