novelAbuy Chapter 73 Two-pronged attack ignites the war
Chapter 73 Two-pronged attack ignites the war
The Dingnan Army numbered 12,000, while the combined forces of Zhangwu and Linfu prefectures numbered 8,500, facing each other across the river at Sanchuankou.
Fu Yanqing is on his way from Wuqi Town. It's a 300-mile journey and will take him three to five days to arrive. The two sides are evenly matched in terms of military strength.
The situation is clear: there are only a little over a thousand defenders in Yanzhou City. If Li Yichao wins this battle, he will not only break the blockade, but also gain control of the entire prefecture.
If they are defeated, the Dingnan Army will be severely weakened, and it is uncertain whether they can safely retreat to Xiazhou. They will inevitably be devoured by the three parties.
This battle will determine the rise and fall of the fortunes of Yanxia and the other two towns.
Li Yichao's trump card has also been revealed; the source of his confidence lies in his armored cavalry, named Iron Hawk.
At this moment, he was complaining to his younger brother: "Brother Yin, the Iron Falcon attacked too early. Gao Xingzhou was prepared, so it was difficult to deliver the decisive blow."
Li Yiyin patted his large belly, unconcerned: "Brother, you're overthinking it. Iron Falcon is invincible, and besides, in such a short time, what kind of way could Gao Xingzhou possibly come up with to counter him?"
Li Yichao felt that his younger brother had become too arrogant after his initial victory, and warned him: "Gao Xingzhou is an old warrior, and his battlefield experience is greater than ours in years. This battle is crucial to our ability to establish ourselves in the Northwest, so we must not underestimate the enemy."
"Brother, we'll do whatever you say in this battle. We'll fight however you tell us to."
Li Yichao's finger traced an arc along the winding river, resembling a crescent moon.
"Brother Yin, can you figure out what's going on?"
Seven thousand light cavalry were deployed on both sides, while three hundred iron hawks followed five thousand central troops, forming a crescent shape.
If the enemy launches a surprise attack, this formation is suitable for utilizing the power of bows and arrows to fire at the enemy crossing the river from three sides.
If an offensive strategy is adopted, light cavalry will first be dispatched to attack the enemy's flanks. Once the enemy's formation is disrupted, the Iron Falcons will break through the center, and finally the entire army will advance to take them down in one wave.
The tactics adopted by Li Yichao were not unusual; they have been passed down for hundreds of years and remain effective to this day.
Nothing more than the key to cavalry warfare can be summarized in eight words: "Light cavalry harass, heavy cavalry charge into battle."
"Brother, what are the arrangements for Li Yimin and Li Yijun?"
Despite being half-brothers, Li Yiyin spoke as if he were a complete stranger.
"Let them stay at the rear of the formation; those remnants should not drag the whole army down."
"Alright, let them watch as I crush the enemy and slaughter them until their blood flows like a river."
Li Yiyin's words were filled with murderous intent. Li Yichao warned him, "Brother Yin, your massacres of towns from Tumen and Saimen to Jinming have gone too far. Once we capture Yanzhou, this will all be our own territory. How will we govern if we kill all the Han people?"
Li Yiyin grinned, patting his belly so hard it thumped: "Young men always need to see blood, they'll only be willing to risk their lives if they can make money and play with women. Besides, Han people are like leeks, once you cut one crop, another will grow back soon, so there's no worry about a lack of people paying taxes."
……
Gao Xingzhou's formation was conventional, with the Yang family army of Linzhou on the left wing and the Zhe family army of Fuzhou on the right wing.
The two flanks bear a heavy responsibility: to deal with enemy light cavalry attacks and then counterattack and suppress them. Otherwise, before the Iron Falcons can even launch their attack, the entire army will be thrown into chaos or even collapse completely.
Yang Hongxin was extremely confident: "Commander Gao, rest assured, I will definitely win and return victorious. If I don't fight to the death, cut off my head first!"
Zhe Congruan, much more composed and conservative, cupped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I will certainly not fail in my mission!"
Gao Xingzhou personally led the central army, with archers in the first line, spearmen in the second, and elite guards in the third. Li Jidu's several hundred remaining soldiers were also incorporated into the central army, and he was even given the responsibility of commanding the vanguard.
Li Jidu was so grateful that he kowtowed deeply without saying a word.
After the generals had received their orders and dispersed, Gao Xingzhou muttered to himself, "Our Gao family are, after all, outsiders, and our military roots are still shallow. It would be better if the local troops were commanded by the natives. Li Jidu knows his shame and is determined to avenge himself; he will surely fight bravely."
"Moreover, his family is all in the state capital, and he certainly doesn't want his wife, children, and elderly parents to end up like Jinming Town."
There were only the father and son in the command tent, and Gao Huaide knew that his father was explaining things to him.
He still couldn't let go of the heavy cavalry in his heart, and asked his father again how he planned to deal with them.
Unable to contain his son's nagging, and with the decisive battle imminent and no need to hide anything, Gao Xingzhou took out a weapon.
It was a short spear, only seven feet two inches long, more than half the length of the commonly used long spear. The spearhead was eight inches long, with a barb protruding from the lower part, the tip of which was curved inward and the edge was sharp.
Gao Xingzhou used a hook and a push, a thrust and a split, casually making several moves.
Gao Huaide's spear skills were already well-established, and it was immediately clear that the addition of this barb on the spearhead was quite different from the spear techniques centered on blocking and grappling. Instead, it incorporated various techniques such as hooking, sickling, thrusting, and seizing.
"Eight steps and four parries, opening up the gates, covering the whole body for protection, seizing the hard and fighting the strong, this is the true method of the hook and sickle spear."
Can this short spear really subdue the armored cavalry?
Gao Huaide was skeptical.
The heavy cavalry charged forward with overwhelming force, knocking even heavily armored infantrymen with their massive shields flying. How much more so would those armed with only a short spear be terrified and flee?
"You're right. The hook-and-sickle spear isn't meant for direct combat. Its essence lies in its stealthy, low-level techniques of hiding in the forest and grass, hooking hooves and pulling legs."
Gao Xingzhou's sharp eyes flashed: "Li Yichao's choice of the Sanchuankou decisive battle, isn't that fate? The river and reed marshes will be the burial ground of Iron Falcon!"
"Speaking of which, your previous discoveries can also play a role in this battle, and are of some help."
Gao Huaide knew his father was referring to the flammable oil, and wondered if they were going to launch a fire attack. The cavalry were coming and going so quickly; how could they be burned so easily?
Before he could ask further questions, a scout reported: "The enemy has launched an attack; several thousand light cavalry are attacking our flanks!"
Gao Xingzhou stood up: "Follow your father, and see how we defeat the enemy!"
……
In early winter, the river is shallow, with water only reaching the belly of a horse, so there is no need to build a bridge to cross it.
More than 7,000 light cavalrymen set out in full force. Wherever their hooves struck, water splashed across the river, and silt was stirred up, disturbing the once clear Yanchuan River.
The Tangut cavalry that went to Qingjian gained nothing. Seeing their comrades who had captured Jinming Town displaying their spoils and boasting about the joys of conquering the city, the flames of jealousy and greed burned fiercely within them.
"How can Jinming Town compare to the wealth of Dezhou City? The young ladies in the city are fair-skinned and beautiful; whoever snatches them is theirs."
Before the battle began, Li Yiyin promised to capture Yanzhou City and allow them to plunder freely. The Dangxiang cavalry, itching to attack, rushed across the river to take advantage of the situation.
As they crossed the river, they would occasionally draw arrows and fire them forward, intending to deter others.
As the art of war says: When an enemy crosses the river, do not meet him in the water; let him cross halfway and then attack him, for this is advantageous.
Li Yichao was not ignorant of military strategy; it was just that crossing the Yan River at full speed would take only a moment. If the enemy hesitated even slightly or reacted a beat too late, a large number of cavalry would land, and Li Yichao could immediately gain the upper hand in this battle.
However, his opponents were no ordinary generals. Amidst the sound of drums and horns, the allied forces launched a counterattack from both flanks. The four thousand men from the Zhe and Yang families decisively stepped forward and intercepted the Tangut light cavalry.
Yang Hongxin, who had long been impatient, spurred his horse forward and swung his broadsword. A rider in front of him was caught off guard and was immediately cut down from his horse.
The rider behind instinctively raised his bow and arrow to defend himself, but Yang Hongxin didn't hesitate and slashed again with his sword.
With a soft crack, the bow made of ox horn broke in two and then struck the body.
The golden blade was powerful and heavy, and could not be defended by the thin leather armor. It slashed a terrible wound across the shoulder and back, and the rider died on the spot.
"Young men of the Yang family, follow me!"
The patriarch took the lead and killed two people in quick succession, followed closely by his clansmen, who charged into the Dingnan army's formation, which had just landed and were not yet firmly established.
Li Yichao also had valiant generals who wore plain ram's head banners on their spears as they fought: "Who dares to oppose me!"
Yang Hongxin dodged the thrusting spear, then swung his sword to smash the enemy general's head. The enemy general's helmet dented, his skull shattered, and his head split in two. He immediately fell from his horse and died.
The battle ended in a decisive victory, and both armies shouted and yelled, further demoralizing the Dingnan army.
Yang Hongxin rode into the fray, slashing left and right, killing and wounding more than a dozen men.
The Tangut light cavalry, having suffered a setback, entered battle in small groups. The chaotic fighting tested individual martial arts skills, and the Yang family of Linzhou, who passed down their martial arts tradition, gradually gained the upper hand.
"This man is difficult to defeat; we must use a strategy to take him down."
At the sound of a whistle, several Tangut riders, in pairs, stretched out several thick ropes, intending to intercept Yang Hongxin. If they could pull him off his horse and swarm him to kill this fierce general, the enemy army would surely be routed.
"Unable to fight head-on, they resort to these despicable tricks."
Yang Hongxin was extremely disdainful. He wielded his golden-backed broadsword in a dazzling display of light, and with a single stroke, the thick blade struck a rope as thick as a finger, severing it in two. (Note 1)
The Tangut cavalry that landed and engaged him in battle were no match for his bravery and could not hold their ground, retreating step by step.
Yang Hongxin charged along the riverbank with his knife, forcing enemy soldiers one by one into the river.
Although the Linzhou army was outnumbered, its commander led the charge, thwarting the enemy's advance while they were crossing the river and blocking the Dingnan army's attack.
……
Looking at the right wing, Zhe Cong Nguyen, he has a completely different fighting style.
He looked around and instructed the two seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys beside him: "Deniao, you command the front line, Deyuan, you command the rear line, just like the previous battle against the Khitan army."
The two boys bowed and accepted the order, waving their command flags forward, and several guards went to relay the message.
The Zhe family had more troops than the Yang family, and soon the sound of bugles rang out one after another.
"Draw your bows, fire a volley!"
The force of over two thousand men was divided into two groups, with the front group firing first. Over a thousand arrows, as dense as a swarm of bees, were fired at the Tangut cavalry crossing the river.
The enemy army was suddenly attacked. Hundreds of men fell to the ground, hit by arrows, and their warhorses were riddled with arrows, their bodies covered in blood.
There was shouting and neighing, and chaos reigned.
The Tangut cavalry launched a counterattack, but their formation of crossing the river in columns made it difficult to organize a volley, thus posing little threat to the Zhe family army.
At this moment, the rear guard launched a second wave of attacks, causing a new round of damage.
Moments later, the front ranks fired again in a volley, the rain of arrows coming wave after wave, leaving almost no gaps.
"Charge! Charge!"
The Dingnan army general in charge of the left wing ordered a speed increase to get out of the arrow rain as soon as possible. The Tangut light cavalry rushed to cross the river, stretching their formation even further.
Suddenly, a group of men broke out from the Zhe family army and charged straight into the middle of the enemy formation.
"The Zhe family, the White-Treading Team is here!"
Stepping on the ground indicates reconnaissance and searching, while white indicates enemy ambush.
The White-Treading Squad is flexible in its organization, ranging from dozens to hundreds or even thousands. It ranks ahead of the Vanguard, Vanguard, and Ranger units, serving as the army's vanguard and carrying out tasks such as reconnaissance and tactical assaults. Its members are mostly selected from those who are both intelligent and brave.
Zhe Congyuan personally led this elite force, wedged into the weak point of the enemy's formation, and the left flank of the Dingnan Army also showed signs of defeat.
With both Zhe and Yang armies gaining the upper hand, Gao Xingzhou's battle plan has been initially achieved.