pdf-ebookys Chapter 234: Daizhou Falls
Chapter 234: Daizhou Falls
A large and ragged team moved forward slowly. Two meals of hot porridge a day maintained their physical strength, and their longing for the future urged them to move forward.
Yang Ye led 5,000 soldiers and horses to escort them all the way, maintaining order and protecting their safety. These were more than 50,000 Han people who had migrated south from Shuozhou City, and 170,000 people from Huan, Ying, and Yunzhou. He had asked his deputy general Jiao Zan to lead 10,000 Song troops to escort them into Yanmen Pass a few days ago.
Yang Ye looked up at the gloomy sky and said, "Rest here, cook a meal, and continue on the journey in an hour. We will try to reach Daizhou the day after tomorrow."
The cold wind was howling, tens of thousands of people sat on the ground, men, women, old and young, staring at the steaming iron pots, the aroma of rice porridge filled the air, tempting their empty stomachs to keep growling. In a little while, everyone would have a bowl of thick hot porridge to drink.
They were promised that there would be no whips or sticks, no beatings or oppression, no killing, and they would have fields to plant and enough food to eat. For this hope, they took their wives and children and followed the Song army on a long journey.
At present, it was not bad. These Song soldiers did not beat or bully them, and they also provided food. However, they had to abide by the rules they set. So they obeyed them. Anyway, they had long been accustomed to being obedient slaves under the sticks of the Khitans.
A warhorse came galloping over and arrived in front of Yang Ye. The scout rolled over and knelt on one knee, his hoarse voice filled with anxiety, "Report... Report to the general, Daizhou has been lost, the commander Pan Mei and the supervisor Wang Quan have retreated to Zhending Prefecture!"
Yang Ye stood up suddenly in shock, the bowl of porridge in his hand shook, and a stream of thick porridge spilled out and fell on the boots under his feet.
Daizhou was actually lost?
He calmed himself down and asked, "When did Marshal Pan and Supervisor Wang withdraw from Daizhou? What happened to the 170,000 people that Jiao Zan escorted?"
"Reporting to the general, Marshal Pan and Supervisor Wang evacuated Daizhou the day before yesterday. General Jiao, who was escorting 170,000 civilians, happened to meet them outside Daizhou City and retreated together to Zhending Prefecture."
Yang Ye did not breathe a sigh of relief. The lives of the Han people who migrated were saved, but the Han people near Daizhou City suffered. Every time the Khitans captured a Song city, they carried out the policy of burning, killing and looting without mercy.
After thinking for a moment, he gave the order: "After dinner, turn around and head straight to Zhending Prefecture to join the army."
On the way, they received another piece of bad news from the guards of Yanmen Pass. Yelu Xiezhen, the general of the Liao army, actually sent 10,000 elite cavalrymen to capture Huanzhou City when attacking Yingzhou City.
Yang Ye was in a heavy mood, worried about the safety of King Qin and Yang Yanzhao, but he had no choice but to order his soldiers to urge the people to march faster. Two days later, they finally arrived outside the city of Zhending.
After giving orders to settle the tens of thousands of civilians he brought with him, Yang Ye hurried to the central army's tent.
After greeting, Pan Mei looked at Yang Ye, who was exhausted and anxious, with mixed feelings, and said, "General Yang, please sit down and have a cup of hot tea first, and then we can discuss the military situation."
Yang Ye drank the tea in one breath. His dry and smoking throat was moistened by the tea, and his frozen body also warmed up a little.
He put down his teacup and urgently suggested, "Marshal Pan, Supervisor Wang, the Liao army is now in high spirits and our army is attacked from both sides. I suggest that we first transfer these more than 200,000 Han people to the interior. I will lead the troops to cover the retreat and protect the army and the people."
Pan Mei remained silent, and Wang Quan raised his eyelids and spoke: "General Yang, the Marshal and I have already discussed it.
His Majesty is extremely wise. He ordered the Northern Expedition. How can our soldiers on the front line be willing to admit defeat just because of a little setback?
Cao Bin's Eastern Army was not doing well in the battle, but our Western Army fought bravely and won many victories. How can we be willing to retreat in defeat and disappoint His Majesty and the people in the rear?
Therefore, I, the military supervisor, and Marshal Pan will lead the army to stay here, and General Yang, you will lead the Huoshan Army to take the initiative to attack and recapture Daizhou occupied by the Liao Army. When Cao Bin, the leader of the Eastern Army, retreats here, we will unite our forces, fight our way out of Yanmen Pass, and continue this Northern Expedition. "
This arrogant guy who knows nothing about military tactics actually wanted to counterattack and continue the Northern Expedition? Yang Ye stood up anxiously and said, "No! The situation is clear now and the outcome is over. Our army must not take any risks!"
Pan Mei remained silent, but he was thinking about something in his mind.
Wang Quan looked at the emotional Yang Ye with a sarcastic look, and said with a curled mouth: "I didn't expect that Yang Ye, the invincible golden sword, would be so afraid of death. No wonder, he defended the city for many days, but finally surrendered to our Song Dynasty."
Yang Ye was so angry that his face turned red and his whole body was shaking. "Okay! If you want to fight me, then let's see who is the cowardly one!"
Pan Mei finally stopped being silent and spoke to smooth things over: "General Yang, Supervisor Wang, please stop arguing. We are all loyal men of the Song Dynasty and we all serve the emperor.
Since General Yang has agreed to take the initiative to counterattack, let's discuss the battle plan!"
Standing in front of the spread-out map, Yang Ye pondered for a moment, pointed to a point on the map and said, "Since this is a counterattack with a huge disparity in military strength, we must use tricks.
This place is called Lianglang Mountain, and between the two peaks is Chenjia Valley. I suggest that I lead my army to take the initiative to attack and lure the main force of the Liao army here, and you, Marshal, lead your army to ambush at the entrance of the valley. When the Liao army chases me out of the valley, you can use the archers ambushed at the entrance of the valley to shoot them head-on. When the enemy army is in chaos, the ambushed army will rush out and will definitely be able to defeat the enemy. "
Pan Mei stroked his beard and secretly praised this plan. If it was executed smoothly, the offensive and defensive situation between the Song and Liao armies might be reversed. Yang Ye could come up with this plan in a short time. How could he not be jealous!
Wang Quan pretended to think while looking at the map. He could not find any fault with this strategy. Anyway, it was Yang Ye who risked his life to attack and lure the enemy. There was no reason for this military supervisor to disagree!
Wang Quan said with a fake smile: "General Yang's plan is brilliant, worthy of the famous Yang Wudi. Since General Yang is brave and fearless and takes the initiative to attack and lure the enemy, I, the military supervisor, will also disregard my own safety and personally lead 10,000 elite troops and 3,000 archers to ambush at the entrance of Chenjia Valley to support General Yang."
Yang Ye looked at him deeply, feeling a little distrustful, and looked at the commander Pan Mei.
Pan Mei nodded in agreement: "Yes! I am waiting for the good news that you two can work together to defeat the enemy."
After a pause, he continued, "If Huanzhou is lost, I will order the King of Qin and Yang Yanzhao to withdraw from the pass and defend Yanmen Pass. After you two defeat the Liao army, our army will gather its forces and then go out of the pass to the north!"
The strategy had been decided. After Yang Ye rested for a day in Zhending Prefecture, he took Jiao Zan and three thousand Huoshan Army cavalry to launch an offensive to counterattack the main force of the Liao Army in Daizhou.