In fact, as early as five days ago, after watching the Cuju match between Song and Liao, Sun Tu already had a clear understanding of the tactics and strength of the Liao team. Even if they directly fight against the Song Cuju team without any strategy, they will not fall behind, but at the same time, they also have the same big problem as the Song team's extreme physical exhaustion of total attack and total defense.
It is not the kind of total offense and defense advocated by later Cruyff or the Barcelona team in its heyday, with passing and cutting as the main tactic, but total offense and defense in the literal sense. In fact, the twelve people on the field have no fixed positions. They just decide whether to attack or defend based on their position at the time. If they advance, they will advance together, and if they retreat, they will retreat together. There is no tactical strategy at all.
Of course, this is also compared to today's Cuju game, which has been developed for hundreds of years and has also added many technological aids to football. In the eyes of people at this time, it is just an ordinary confrontational sport after all.
Since they had such shortcomings and weaknesses, Sun Tu naturally wanted to take advantage of them and simply took the initiative to reduce the number of players on the court to induce the Liao people to attack. There are actually two purposes for doing this. One is to make the Liao people reduce the number of players on the field for the sake of honor. In this way, their original playing style will naturally be greatly reduced, and their power will be correspondingly reduced. The second is that it is easier for the Liao people to rush to attack in order to achieve the ultimate goal of consuming their physical energy.
Of course, this kind of bus-style defense, which was deeply hated by many fans even in later generations, also aroused dissatisfaction from surrounding spectators. Many people in the Song Dynasty complained: "We came to watch the Cuju competition. We hope you can win a game." Victory, what's the deal with this huddled defense?"
Even on the high platform, Prince Zhao Huan, who originally had some confidence in Sun Tu, looked a little gloomy: "What are they doing? Privy Tong, do you think they can hold on to victory?"
Tong Guan also complained secretly in his heart, but did not show it at all on his face. He comforted softly: "Your Highness, please don't be impatient. Sun Tu must have a comprehensive strategy to make such arrangements. I thought they should be able to do it by the second quarter." Changed strategy.”
But the facts proved that his statement was not credible. The entire quarter of defense did not allow the Liao people to take any advantage due to their numerical advantage. Every time when the Liao players finally found a chance to shoot, the Song players would block their path in time. Sometimes two or three players would even let their defenses go and join forces to defend, making it impossible for them to kick the ball. Towards the goal, the ball can only be passed to the side again to find a new attack line.
Although the Liao people had a numerical advantage, it was not reflected at all at this time. Because Sun Tu had already anticipated their tactics, with the current structure of the gantry and Feng Liuyan in Cuju competitions, it was impossible for players to shoot the ball from a certain distance and angle, so he could deploy all his limited troops on defense. These important positions are truly impregnable.
What makes the Liao people even more troublesome is that even if they sometimes make some mistakes, the Song people in front of them can intercept the ball from their feet as long as they take two steps. The opponent is not moved at all and still stays on the path forward. On the other hand, I really did not be greedy for merit but only kept my word.
In this way, the enemy attacked and we defended, and the game made the audience drowsy for nearly two quarters. Whether it was the Liao people on the court or the people around them,
The people who paid a lot of money to attend the game all looked exhausted. In their opinion, the final result of this game could only be a draw. This was unlike any Cuju game they had ever experienced before. It has never appeared in the game.
However, some of these people have already seen the secret. Yelu Jian's expression has changed from suspicion at the beginning to seriousness: "This Sun Tu really has some strategies, and he actually thought of using this move to defeat our Daliao team. This is clearly the strategy used by Song Dynasty minister Fan Zhongyan to deal with the Xixia people. That's it." After saying that, he sighed with some pity that such a talent could not be used by Daliao after all.
It is said that when Fan Zhongyan, a famous minister of the Song Dynasty, was guarding the border in Yanzhou in the northwest, he flooded all the roads on the Song-Xia border, turning the originally flat plain into a swamp, and planted trees to block the Xixia cavalry. After that, even though there was an opportunity to take advantage of it, he still ordered the troops to hold tight and not come out, and finally won the victory.
The Liao people had naturally known this kind of strategy and tactics for a long time. Now seeing Sun Tu using this big bus tactic, it actually reminded Yelv Jian of this past incident.
Besides him, there was another person who also looked at Sun Tu with admiration, and that was Tong Guan. He was not because of Sun Tu's tactics, but because he was able to make all eight people in this team obey his orders, especially since there were three of them whose identities were far above Sun Tu's. Acted as ordered.
"It seems that the idea that Sun Qianli mentioned before that he wanted to unite and train troops is not a joke. As long as this thing succeeds and the saint is happy, I can give him a chance." Looking at the stalemate in front of the battle, Tong Guan's thoughts have drifted to the future. Of course, if Sun Tu couldn't win today, he would still not hesitate to treat this talented person as a scapegoat.
Soon, the third quarter finally started. After the offensive in the first two quarters was completely blocked without any lead, the Liao people became more and more anxious. Even the captain Xiao Chuhu was no longer as steady as before, and repeatedly cooperated with others to control the ball towards the goal.
But as soon as he moves, Cen Tie, the strongest defensive player among the Song Dynasty people, will immediately position himself to closely guard him. It was the same this time. Seeing him controlling the ball, Cen Tie pounced on him without hesitation.
But this time, Xiao Duhu had a brand new plan. When he saw him coming, he immediately sent the ball forward, turned around and hurriedly dodged to the side. The ball happened to fall at the feet of another player. The other team understood this and immediately kicked it again. He actually sent the ball to the gap in front created by Cen Tie's defense, but there was nothing there at this time. .
Just when Cen Tie was stunned, thinking that the enemy had made a mistake and lost control of Cuju, the body of Xiao Duhu, who had just passed by him, suddenly came back in an incredible way, and then moved towards him in the opposite direction. He rushed forward and stopped Cen Tie, who was unable to change his direction at all, on the spot. The direction he struck was naturally the landing point of Cuju.
After the first two battles, Xiao Chuhu had already seen through the Song army's tactics and weaknesses. The opponent's all-out defense is often aimed at the ball handler, but the pressure on the ball itself is not too great. This is also because the Song people's team does not have enough people, so they cannot fully spread out to attack and defend.
So in this case, he simply took advantage of this loophole and gave the opponent a personal ball
The pass was passed, and it was a pass-style pass, which was enough to deceive a defensive player like Cen Tie.
And because Cen Tie is the best defensive player in the Song Dynasty team, others cannot worry too much about him having problems. Once an opening breaks out from him, the Song Dynasty people will be caught off guard!
The facts were as expected. After he rushed in from Cen Tie, the other Song players obviously hesitated. Only Sun Tu raised his hands high and made a gesture before fiercely pounced on him, wanting to continue blocking. Stay in his path and the angle of your shot.
But this time Xiao Chuhu was already prepared. When he saw Sun Tu rushing towards him, he decisively passed the ball towards a teammate who was vacated due to Sun Tu's defense. That person immediately took the ball forward. Rush, and then follow the same pattern and pass the ball to the side. In a few moments, Cuju has penetrated deep into the Song Dynasty's hinterland and is about to find an opportunity to shoot.
Is this the so-called "defeat if you keep it for a long time"? The already groggy audience all exclaimed in surprise after seeing this change, and many people even stood up directly, clenching their fists. Although they did not like to watch such a boring offensive and defensive battle, they did not want the Song Dynasty to be defeated by the Liao people again!
Seeing that a Liao player was about to shoot, several Song players rushed forward to block him. Lu Zhishen, the tallest man, jumped up, obviously planning to intercept in the air.
But the opponent didn't hesitate at all. He immediately raised his leg and fired angrily, his first shot in today's game.
At this moment, Yang Zhi also made a move in time. With his extraordinary martial arts, he quickly flew up and touched the Cuju with his toes, slightly changing the angle of the kick. Something has changed.
"Hupa!" Cuju traced an arc under everyone's gaze, and then hit the wooden board next to Fengliu's eye. Without any pause, it was bounced off. This time the shot failed to hit after all.
The Liao players who saw this scene all showed disappointment. This was an opportunity they had finally created, but they still missed it.
But at the moment when they were distracted, Sun Tu had already swooped in like lightning, grabbing the ball before the Liao people who were used to the Song people not fighting for the ball and their actions and reactions were half a beat slower. Under control.
It was only then that someone realized something was wrong, pointed ahead and shouted: "There..."
Lu Zhishen, who had been desperately resisting their attack just now, had already sprinted forward. Judging from his body shape, he was no different from a crazy bull. And Sun Tu didn't give the opponent a chance to steal the ball. Without saying a word, he sent the ball forward with a big kick.
Lu Zhishen's shiny bald head became the most eye-catching target in the sun, so Sun Tu's foot placement was quite precise, and Cuju landed steadily in front of him. .
The Liao people who saw this scene were really panicked. If they lost after a fierce attack, they would be humiliated. So in an instant, everyone turned around and gave chase to Lu Zhishen, who was galloping forward.
The situation of the battle was reversed at this moment, and the Song team, which had been defending for most of the game, suddenly launched a counterattack!