bookrandom Chapter 1269 Encirclement
Chapter 1269 Encirclement
Chapter 1269 Encirclement
Zhe Keshi objected in this way.
When Commander Liu Changzuo heard what Zhe Keshi meant, he realized that if they launched a sudden attack, they could at most break the siege around Pingxia City, but they would not be able to completely break the encirclement of the Dangxiang army.
In this way, the siege of Pingxia City could not be lifted.
But when someone speaks, you can't just listen to the surface meaning; you have to listen to the hidden meaning.
What exactly does Zhe Keshi mean by this?
This involves the intrigues among the Western Army generals.
Yao Xiong said: "If we don't rush to break the siege first, what if Pingxia City thinks we are just standing by and watching? It will make the defenders unable to defend themselves. At least we should charge the western bandits first."
Zhe Keshi objected, "The Western Palace had issued an order before, telling us not to fight recklessly! The soldiers defending the city should know for themselves, and they will not think that we are standing by and watching people die without helping."
Yao Si didn't take Zhe Keshi seriously and was about to say anything else.
Liu Changzuo stood up and clasped his fists, saying, "I understand your desire to fight, and I would like to thank you on behalf of the soldiers in the city!"
Some of the generals felt embarrassed after hearing this. In fact, except Guo Zude, none of them wanted to fight, but were vying for military merit and rewards.
The imperial court has given the most generous rewards to border troops in recent years. Previously, Xihe Road has always been the most proud of it. Now, the imperial court has finally shifted its strategic goals to Jingyuan and Huanqing Routes. How can these generals bear it?
If a military commander is promoted slowly, it is unknown how long it will take for him to be ranked in the horizontal class.
The only way to achieve this is to make achievements on the battlefield.
If a general can reach the seventh rank, he can be called a horizontal mover in the army. Henxing is also called horizontal mover, which means that you can move horizontally in the army.
Xihe Road's military achievements in recent years are like water, not water, but like the sea. Not to mention the horizontal squad, there are more than a dozen observation envoys, defense envoys, and militia envoys.
Even a general like Peng Sun who was recruited to the capital was promoted to deputy chief governor.
In fact, many generals thought in their hearts that the elite Tangut troops were no more than 50,000 or 60,000 in number, and they must be gathered around the king and queen mother or around Pingxia City.
As for the other more than 200,000 troops scattered outside, most of them were miscellaneous soldiers and insignificant personnel.
Therefore, as long as they bypassed the elite troops of the Dangxiang, and there were so many miscellaneous soldiers and insignificant people under the city of Pingxia, the generals of Jingyuan Road, Huanqing Road, and Qinfeng Road would be able to see huge amounts of "military merit" moving around.
Isn’t this a ready-made high-ranking official right there?
Therefore, all the generals wanted to seize military merit.
The generals in the Western Army not only had complicated factions, but also intrigues.
At that time, the generals of Huanqing Road, Jingyuan Road, and Fuyan Road were jealous of the military achievements and power of Xihe Road, so they kept tinkering with the Privy Council and came up with a plan to attack Hengshan to compete with the court's strategic policy of taking Liangzhou first.
At that time, in order to seize power, Han Zhen not only acquiesced but also instigated these generals.
As for Xu Xi, he was thinking in the wrong way.
In the years of war with the Tanguts that followed, there were endless cases of internal disputes over credit and blame within the Western Army.
When they were fighting against the miscellaneous troops, everyone was vying for the lead, but when they met the elite troops, they would pass the buck to each other.
However, the Western Army is still much better than those military leaders in the late Ming Dynasty. Those military leaders were afraid of foreign wars but brave in internal fighting.
Since entering the Pass, the Qing Dynasty has hardly fought any tough battles.
The Liaodong warlords, who were originally bullied by the Qing Dynasty in Liaodong, became extremely powerful once they turned their guns around.
His nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong is fully exposed.
The same was true of the military generals and officials of the Southern Ming Dynasty. When the Qing army arrived, they either surrendered or hanged themselves. However, they were experts in internal power struggles and fighting against their own people and peasant armies, and suddenly became more ferocious.
Everyone wants to fight those who are weaker than themselves, and does not want to fight those who are stronger than themselves.
-
So Zhe Keshi said it in one sentence: except for Guo Zude, none of you are here to rescue us, but to grab military merit.
No matter how many of these miscellaneous soldiers on the periphery are eliminated, it will be of no avail. We cannot defeat the elite Tangut troops under the city, and it will not benefit the overall situation at all.
During the Battle of Lanzhou, the Song army also annihilated hundreds of thousands of Dangxiang soldiers, but failed to eliminate the elite infantry, iron harriers, and the six squads of the imperial garden.
It's the same today.
What's the point of you just attacking those weaklings outside instead of going straight to the city to attack the elite Tanguts? You still can't break the siege of Pingxia.
So Liu Changzuo said this to save the reputation of the generals. As the saying goes, if you see through something but don't say it, you can still be good friends.
All the generals were silent, and Liu Changzuo continued, "The bandits are so numerous that it is difficult to fight them at once. Our army should also wait for the opportunity to fight, and we must not waste our energy in a reckless fight."
"If the western bandits have nothing to plunder in the wild, they will definitely rely on their baggage. When that happens, our army will confront their troops here while attacking their baggage, and the bandits will surely be defeated!"
After hearing what Liu Changzuo said, the generals were still worried.
Zhe Keshi said: "With Mr. Guo in the city, what do you have to worry about? I guarantee with my life that Pingxia City will not be lost."
After hearing Zhe Keshi's words, the generals were speechless.
Liu Changzuo said solemnly: "Everyone go back and deploy your troops. Once the western bandits under the city retreat, ambush them from all directions!"
"If anyone misses the opportunity to fight, he will be punished by military law!"
-
Coming out of the big tent, Miao Shou and his son Miao Lu, who were from Xihe Road, looked calm and relaxed.
What military achievements has Xihe Road not won over the years?
Following them were the three ministers Zhang Jinglie, the elder, the older and the younger, as well as Li Xian and Wang Hou.
Miao Shu had already risen to the rank of Jiedushi Guancha Liuhou, and Miao Lu, with the help of his father and his own military achievements over the years, had risen to the rank of Hengban before he was thirty years old.
Just now in the big tent, Miao Lu stood with his arms folded watching the generals arguing with each other until their faces turned red. His mentality was like that of a wealthy local tycoon watching a few beggars fighting over a broken bowl.
I'm still complaining in my heart, these people are so poor now.
You should know that in history, it was Miao Lu who tried to shirk credit and put the blame on Zhe Keshi, which led to him being almost ordered to be executed.
But now Miao Lu’s mentality is completely different.
After leaving the big tent, Miao Lu said to Miao Shou: "Father, I think the rest of the Dangxiang tribes are vulnerable. If we send troops from Xihe Road to fight, we should defeat the elite Western bandits under Pingxia City!"
Miao Lu now looked down on the other Dangxiang troops, as if thinking that he was only fighting against the elite.
This is the confidence accumulated after winning consecutive battles.
Miao Shou said: "Fool, we have won a lot in these years, and now we have the elite troops of Liangzhou. It seems that we can fight against the elite troops of the Western Bandits in a field battle."
Miao Lu nodded repeatedly.
Miao Shu said: "But let me ask you, all the founding rulers of the past dynasties relied on only 100,000 elite soldiers from their own army to conquer the world and suppress the four directions!"
"Why is it that in the hands of our descendants, even with a million troops, they are still vulnerable and unable to defend the border?"
Miao Lu said: "Daddy always told me that quality is more important than quantity."
Miao Shou said: "Not bad."
"The tens of thousands of elite soldiers under Pingxia City are the capital of Li Yuanhao's rise and the foundation of the Western Bandits' country. We can't swallow them all in one go."
"Let's sharpen the knives, feed the horses, and let the other troops and horses have a try before we make the final decision!"
"Yes!" Miao Lu's eyes flashed.
"Father is right. There is one more thing. I think Liu Changzuo is a kind and sensible man. When the time comes, he will not and dare not neglect the military achievements of our Miao family in front of the court."
Miao Shou scolded: "You are just trying to be clever!"
Miao Lu smiled carelessly.
-
In Pingxia City.
Guo Cheng was defending the city with all his might. At this time, he couldn't fall asleep even if he wanted to.
Guo Cheng had no intention of sleeping before, because people would be particularly excited during a war.
However, Guo Cheng had not slept for three days and three nights, so he just lay down in the shack and took a nap.
However, when Guo Cheng heard the sound of cannonballs weakening, he suddenly woke up and said, "The Western bandits are coming soon!"
Seven or eight of his followers said, "General, the Western bandits have retreated."
Guo Cheng paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Immediately count the troops and the city defense equipment."
"Yes!"
Guo Cheng went up to the top of the city wall and saw several soldiers who were very anxious after the battle and wanted to take off their armor.
Guo Cheng scolded him on the spot.
If he was not careful, he would get the armor-removing wind and die.
Guo Cheng saw a young soldier who was hit in the chest by a cannonball. Guo Cheng knew he was dead, so he leaned down and asked, "Is there anyone else at home?"
"And there is an old mother who has been unable to get out of bed for many years!"
Guo Cheng nodded and said to the guard beside him: "Twenty strings of cash from my salary will be sent to his home!"
"Thank you, General, for your mercy!"
After saying this, the soldier died with a smile on his face.
Guo Cheng reached out to wipe the blood off his face, then stood up and continued his inspection.
Along the way, he met several wounded or dead soldiers, and he used money from his own salary to support their families.
All the soldiers knew that Guo Cheng was generous and charitable, so he often did not have a penny on him, which was why he was able to gain the soldiers' full support.
Guo Cheng walked around and found that although the defense of the city was tragic, Pingxia City was still strong enough to hold on.
Guo Cheng calmed the troops on the top of the city wall and said, "The Western bandits have run out of tricks here. I am afraid that the reinforcements outside the city will not know the importance of the situation and rush to help rashly, thus missing the opportunity to wipe out the Western bandits' troops under the city in one fell swoop!"
"My sworn brother (Guo Zude) said at the beginning that he would never stand by and watch someone die. This is what I am most worried about!"
After hearing Guo Cheng's words, the generals felt a little relieved.
As they were talking, a horn was heard from under the city wall. It turned out that the Dangxiang soldiers had only rested for less than half an hour and then continued to attack the city in darkness.
At this moment, we can see that countless fires were burning in the Dangxiang army camp outside Pingxia City.
The Dangxiang troops pushed their newly built high carts and other equipment and resumed the siege.
The purpose of doing this without stopping for even a moment was to tire out the Song army in the city and destroy their will to resist.
-
In the new Xiaoguan city.
The new fortress has been built.
Weiming Amai led an army of 30,000 and surrounded Xinxiaoguan.
Xinxiaoguan was the retreat route for the Dangxiang troops, so the most famous general of the Dangxiang, Weiming Amai, was stationed there.
The newly built Xiaoguan City was a city of 500 steps, and at best a small village.
After the construction of the city was completed, in order to escort more than 20,000 civilian servants back, half of the 7,000 cavalrymen who originally built the city were taken away.
Just a few days after the civilian laborers left, the Dangxiang troops surrounded Xiaoguan City.
Xu Xi looked at the Dangxiang troops who were preparing to attack the city. He did not feel anxious at all, but instead felt a little happy.
It is more likely that Shen Kuo had anticipated all this, or rather that the spies planted by the Song Dynasty in the high-level positions of the Tanguts accurately passed the intelligence to Shen Kuo.
Now surrounding the city of Pingxia, the Song army must have fully deployed its troops and formed a huge pocket.
As long as the Dangxiang fail to capture Pingxia City, they will be pursued by the Song army.
Xu Xi was conceited that he was a genius in marching and fighting, no less talented than Sun Wu. Otherwise, he would not have frequented the homes of high-ranking officials to sell his knowledge before he became an official.
But no one took him seriously until they met Zhang Yue.
Thinking of this, Xu Xi thought to himself, as long as he could annihilate the Western bandit army, even if he, Xu Xi, died here, it would be considered a repayment for the kindness of His Majesty and the Prime Minister!
Xu Xi glanced at the vast number of Dangxiang soldiers and horses outside the city.