Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 796: Victory or defeat in war

Liu Qi stationed his troops at the foot of Lingbo Mountain with the intention of eliminating the Western Xia troops stationed there.

This Western Xia army had about 9,000 people. They relied on Lingbo Mountain, took advantage of the strategic location, and set up camp with their backs to the city.

If such a force is left unattended, no matter where he sends his troops, once the enemy comes down the mountain, it will be a huge hidden danger to him from all sides.

So even though the mountains were high, the roads were dangerous, and there were many rocks on the walls, Liu Qi still decided to pull out the nail first.

After that, he divided his troops into two groups. One group went along the line of Weijing Mountain and Shaniuling, approaching Shangyikou and Geta Village, and attacking Weizhou.

Another route was along the Mingsha River, first capturing Shatuo City and then attacking Yingli City.

But the premise of all this is that Wu Lin fought successfully on the Qilianshan front, was able to suppress the three major military commanderies of Baima Qiangzhen, Xuanhua Gansu, and Xishou Baotai, and contain the three major military commanders of Zhuolu Henan, Xishou Baotai, and Jingsai.

However, Liu Qi was flanked by the two major military commanders of Western Xia, Jianing and Xiangju, on his front and left, and there were nearly 10,000 Western Xia troops stationed on Lingbo Mountain. The Western Xia troops behind him seemed to have no chance of being restrained by the Song army at all, and they frantically surrounded his rear.

The first to engage in battle with Liu Qi's troops were a force of about 10,000 people from the Xishou Baotai Army.

Liu Qi thought that the Xishou Baotai Army was under pressure from the Wu family army and was pulling out elite troops to rescue the enemy in front of them.

Liu Qi immediately sent troops to block the attack. The two sides fought for a day and a night. The vanguard of the Western Xia Baima strong town, Zhuolu and Nan main forces arrived one after another.

When the news reached Liu Qi's central army camp, Liu Qi suddenly felt something was wrong.

Based on his many years of experience in battle, he knew that there must have been a major mistake on the part of the Wu family army, otherwise the Western Xia army would not have been able to and dared not to withdraw so many troops.

Judging from the map, the Western Xia army that was flanking him from the flank and rear was forming a siege, intending to trap him at the foot of Lingbo Mountain.

Liu Qi acted decisively and immediately ordered the entire army to retreat in turns and move towards the Roulang Mountain line.

The offensive and defensive strategies become easy here.

The Western Xia army in the Roulang Mountain area had been annihilated by him. He planned to move his troops here, also setting up camp with his back to the mountain and defending the place from a dangerous position. He would make his next move after gaining a clear understanding of the situation on the Wu family army's side.

However, from the direction of Shatuo and Weijingshan, the Western Xia troops of the Jianing Military Command and the Xiangju Military Command also rushed over without regard for the consequences.

The Western Xia army also knew that Wu Lin’s death might cause the Wu family army to fall into temporary chaos and paralyze the command system.

However, this process should not take too long. The Song State must have a backup plan, and the Wu family army will not sit idly by and watch the chaotic situation continue.

The memorial submitted to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty was signed by the envoy Zhao Yi.

As a military supervisor, he can even control the commander-in-chief.

Now that the commander-in-chief is dead, he will be the supreme commander of the entire army. Even if he has just taken office, he will surely hand over the power quickly and assume the command responsibility.

Therefore, the Western Xia army had to seize this time difference, regardless of sacrifice, and advance with all its forces to swallow up Liu Qi's troops as soon as possible.

By the time Wu's army successfully completed the handover and restored the command system, it would be too late.

However, Liu Qi's reaction was too quick.

Liu Qi, who had just noticed the signs and was originally staring at his opponent like a wolf and advancing step by step, suddenly fled away like a cunning fox.

The number of Western Xia cavalry exceeded that of the Song army and their mobility was stronger, which was why Liu Qi chose Roulang Mountain instead of Pingchuan Valley to retreat.

If we choose a flat area that is conducive to the charge of the Western Xia cavalry during the withdrawal, we would be seeking death.

Even so, the road to retreat was full of dangers.

The Western Xia army mobilized cavalry to block, flank and pursue along the line, biting and fighting like a pack of wolves, slowing down the movement of the Song army.

Afterwards, more "wolf cubs" continued to come in as fresh blood.

Although Liu Qi reacted quickly, he still continued to lose blood under the bites of the wolves and had difficulty walking.

If this continues, Liu Qi's 80,000 troops will be dragged to death here until the wolves take position and enter the final hunting stage.

However, the complex and changeable climate of Western Xia in late autumn and approaching winter gave Liu Qi's troops a glimmer of hope.

When Liu Qi's army moved from the foot of Lingbo Mountain to Roulang Mountain, there was a flat area of ​​dozens of miles in the middle.

This was originally the place where the Xixia cavalry could best exert their advantage in breaking through the enemy camps.

Therefore, Liu Qi deployed his chariot array outside, prepared to go through a brutal fight and pay heavy sacrifices to escape from this death zone.

According to his prediction, at least a quarter of his troops would be lost, either killed, injured or scattered while passing through this section of the road.

However, at that time, a strong wind blew, and sand and rocks flew everywhere.

This flat valley between the two mountains is a wind outlet, and the wind is particularly strong. The strong wind blows up sand and covers the sky, just like a sandstorm.

The cavalry of the Western Xia army pursuing from the south could hardly make any progress despite the flying sand and rocks.

In fact, the Song army was not in a good situation either. Amid the flying sand, their troops were separated from each other, their camps were in chaos, and their formation of marching and defending at the same time no longer existed.

However, the Xixia cavalry on the southern front could not use this best opportunity to attack the camp and charge into the enemy camp.

The Western Xia cavalry coming from the direction of Weijing Mountain charged with the wind behind them, which was a good opportunity.

However, the number of soldiers in this group is too small.

Moreover, due to the severe weather with raging sand everywhere, they didn't even need to charge, as the Song army's defensive formation had already been destroyed by the sandstorm.

However, once they broke into the Song army camp, they immediately fell into the same embarrassing situation as the Song army from charging with the wind behind them, and all their advantages were gone.

Once the cavalry loses its mobility, its combat effectiveness will be worse than that of the infantry.

Ge Xun, a general under Liu Qi, personally led the swordsmen to cut off the horses' legs and stab the cavalry, and annihilated the Western Xia cavalry who had rashly charged into the Song army.

By the time the entire army successfully moved to Roulang Mountain and took up position there, the storm had not yet completely subsided.

Liu Qi counted the losses and found that during this transfer, nine generals were lost and more than 9,400 people were missing. The outcome was nothing more than being killed, captured, or lost in the wind and sand.

The worst thing was the food and fodder. During the storm, a large number of food carts were abandoned on the road.

This not only caused serious logistical pressure on them, but also greatly eased the logistical pressure of the Western Xia army as the grain carts that could not be burned in time fell into the hands of the enemy.

Fortunately, the main force was preserved. Liu Qi relied on the Roulang Mountains and divided the entire army into six parts, stationed on the Daqing Peak, Nanquan Peak, Beizhang Peak, Dayandun Peak, Qingshaxian Peak, and Huangjiaqiao Peak respectively.

The armies looked after each other and provided support to each other.

The first Western Xia soldiers who came to pursue were mainly cavalry, and this terrain could not make full use of their power, so they set up camp on the spot to prevent the Song army from continuing to move and wait for the follow-up troops to arrive.

……

The Wu family army in charge of the Qilianshan front discovered something was wrong on the fourth day after the death of the old commander Wu Lin. The Xixia army had not launched an offensive against them in the past few days.

Before this, the intention of the Song army was very clear: to continue advancing westward along the Qilian Mountains, seize Liangzhou, and approach Ganzhou.

The main urban areas of Western Xia were concentrated in the Hetao Plain area under the Helan Mountains to the north, and the Hexi Corridor area under the Qilian Mountains to the west.

Wu's army attacked and captured strongholds along the way. Whether they occupied the entire Hexi Corridor line of Liang, Gan, Su, and Guasha, or got stuck in Ganzhou or Suzhou, they would cut off the connection between the Hexi Corridor and the Hetao Plain.

Although there is a vast area between the two, they are two large deserts, which will cut off the connection between the two major political regions of Western Xia.

Therefore, Western Xia had to rescue, fight, and stop the offensive of Wu’s army.

However, in the past few days, the Song army has been diligently building fortifications, withdrawing its forces, and consolidating the occupied areas, while the Western Xia army has cooperated very well and has not actively harassed.

This abnormal behavior naturally aroused the vigilance of Wu's army.

Although the envoy Zhao Yi knew nothing about military affairs and was complacent about the quietness of the Western Xia army, there were indeed many famous generals in the army.

So they sent more scouts to conduct reconnaissance, and finally discovered the truth on the fourth day.

In the nearby Xixia military camp, soldiers patrolled as usual, scouts and cavalry were dispatched as usual, and the stoves in the camp did not decrease...

Looking from afar, there are still so many fireworks from cooking every day.

However, their main force had long disappeared.

Where did the main force of the Western Xia army go?
Every general knows the answer.

However, why was the Western Xia army able to decisively mobilize its troops and concentrate its superior forces to encircle and annihilate Liu Qi's troops?

Could it be that the Xixia army had discovered the truth behind the retreat and defense during the past few days?
However, it is understandable that if the Wu army was taking a cautious approach and did not want to drag the battle line out too long because winter was approaching, they took a defensive stance and stopped advancing.

Why was the Western Xia army so confident?
Zhao Yi sat at the top, listening to the generals' repeated deliberations, and suddenly her expression changed.

He suddenly thought of the memorial he had submitted to the emperor. Could it be...

no, I can not.

A huge panic suddenly surged up in Zhao Yi's heart.

He did not dare to say that he had sent someone to report the news of General Wu's death to the court in the form of a memorial.

If he didn't tell it, the secret might remain a secret. If he told it, once Liu Qi's troops suffered a heavy loss, he would be finished.

Ever since the Song Dynasty restored the "Imperial Song Criminal System" of the Taizu period, the privilege of exemption from death for scholars and officials no longer existed. For such a serious mistake, he would be beheaded.

Zhao Yi could not help but stand up and said: "Everyone, now it seems that although our army has kept it a secret, the news of General Wu's death has been discovered by the Xixia army.

So, we took advantage of the fact that our three armies were without a commander, utilized the mobility of the Western Xia cavalry, and dispatched heavy troops to encircle and suppress General Liu Qi's troops.

Now we are not sure how many days they have been gone, what is the situation with General Liu Qi, and what should we do now?"

When the generals heard this, they all offered suggestions and expressed their own views.

Some generals believed that General Liu Qi was experienced in battle and would not be easily surrounded by the enemy.

Now that the main force of the Western Xia army has gone to the northern front, they should take the opportunity to continue advancing westward and seize the two states of Gan and Liang.

First, they could "besiege Wei to save Zhao" and force the Western Xia army to return.

Secondly, Gan and Su provinces are located in the middle of the Hexi Corridor, so these two big cities have the most stored grain. Even if only one is captured, it can ensure that the Song army can spend the winter there.

Other generals suggested giving up Liangzhou, which was about to be acquired, and retreating to Lezhou, Lanzhou and Huizhou.

In this way, on the one hand, they could support Liu Qi's army's rear, and on the other hand, they could guard the gateway to attack Western Xia.

This would greatly reduce the pressure on logistics and transportation, and avoid the danger of failing to capture Ganzhou and having the food supply cut off.

It can also support Liu Qi's troops, preventing them from being isolated and helpless and being annihilated by the enemy.

If Liu Qi's troops were annihilated and the Western Xia army counterattacked in full force, cutting off their retreat, would they be able to hold Suzhou even if they occupied it and had a steady supply of food and grass?
In fact, both opinions have their own reasons, and it cannot be said that one is definitely right or wrong.

Right or wrong depends on how the situation changes in the future. How the situation will evolve in the future is full of variables and no one can be sure.

At this time, the coach has to make the decision.

Should we take risks or proceed steadily?

Zhao Yi, the military envoy, thought for a long time and decided...

Take risks.

He was worried that it was because of his negligence that the news of the death of the old commander Wu Lin was exposed.

He took into account that the new commander had not yet taken office, so he was the commander-in-chief of the three armies.

If we abandon the many forts that Wu Lin has already captured, give up Liangzhou, which is within our grasp, and retreat to Lanzhou and Huizhou, and endure another long winter...

After he took office, what he showed the court was a series of incompetence and disastrous failures.

Whether it is to make up for the mistakes he might have made or it is a necessary performance for a new official, he needs to hand in a brilliant record.

The capture of Liang and Gan states was a brilliant achievement he submitted to the imperial court.

Even if Liu Qi's troops suffered heavy losses due to his negligence, such outstanding battle records can make up for his mistakes.

Therefore, Zhao Wei made a decision to abandon defense and go on the offensive, first taking Liangzhou and then Ganzhou, dividing Western Xia into two.

At this time, Wu Gong had just arrived in Lanzhou.

After receiving Tuoba Hou's urgent military letter, Western Xia's three trump cards, the Iron Harriers, the Infantry and the Poxi Soldiers, were also sent out of Xingqing Prefecture by Li Renxiao and Ren Dejing, out of Qingtong Gorge, and along the Mingsha River, rolling in.

As for Yang Yuan, since he had made it clear that he would defend the gateway to Shaanxi and Sichuan and focus on attacking Western Xia, he planned to move his troops to Tianshui after receiving the latest batch of firearms, ammunition and winter clothes.

Tianshui is closer to Western Xia, which can send a clearer signal: the Song Dynasty’s strategic intention is in Western Xia.

This would reduce the psychological pressure on the Jin army in Shaanxi, avoid the outbreak of a full-scale war, and force the Song Dynasty to fight on two fronts.

At the same time, it would be more convenient for him to support the Song army that was fighting in Xia.

The wind is coming from the north and the weather has turned cold.

(End of this chapter)