Dark clouds surged in the sky, just like ink poured into water, and large clouds surged in the wind. Between the gaps in the dark clouds, the sun's halo hid behind, but it was still dazzling. It was lurking, but it still couldn't hide the edge of the edge.
The drizzle sprinkled on the puddles on the road, making the water surface look like rough frosted glass. Heavy boots stepped on it, splashing muddy water everywhere.
On the road, people were walking and cycling slowly, and people were walking with heavy steps in the mud, but still maintaining order.
As the soldiers walked, they looked back at Youzhou City, which stood in the depths of the rain curtain and clouds. It was not far away, but it seemed to be on the horizon, like a mirage or the shadow of a mountain.
Decades ago, when this land was lost, perhaps few people thought that it would be so difficult to get it back again.
At this time, a large group of people staggered over from the side road, carrying baskets and carrying loads, trudging through the mud. The women took eggs out of the baskets and stuffed them into the arms of the soldiers on the roadside.
An old man, with his back hunched and his head tilted up, looked at the soldiers and asked: "When will you come back?"
The soldiers had nothing to say and followed the team silently. The old man sighed several times.
At this moment, Dong Zunhui's men passed by. The young Dong Zunhui jumped off his horse and said with a sullen face: This is not the end, it is just the beginning.
Fine raindrops gathered into beads on the helmet, and the water droplets dripped down Dong Zunhui's young face, which was exposed to the wind and sun.
On the top of Youzhou City, Xiao Siwen, who looked exhausted, looked at the messy fortification camp outside the city in the drizzle and let out a long sigh. He raised his hand, but there was nowhere to hold on. This section of the city wall was bare and the parapet had collapsed long ago.
"If the Zhou army really retreated so quickly, should we send a cavalry out to chase Xiao Abudi asked.
Xiao Siwen turned his head and glanced at him: How can we chase the Youzhou cavalry? Can they be compared with the elite troops of the Liao palace? The palace troops have been beaten into such a state. The Youzhou army will probably make a fool of themselves if they go out.
Xiao Abudi frowned and said: "The Zhou people are really good at scaring people. So many people came and surrounded Youzhou City. I thought it would take a year or two. It's only been a little longer, and they left as soon as they said they would.
Xiao Siwen said: "Don't forget that Jinyang City was captured in half a month. Guo Tiejiang came here to capture Youzhou City. Now he can't capture it and doesn't want to fight against the main force of the Liao Dynasty, so he retreated.
He took a deep breath. This person was interesting and hard to figure out.
Seeing Xiao Abudi was confused, he sighed slowly: "It is not easy for a person who claims to be an emperor to retreat decisively after winning hundreds of battles in the past. You may not understand people in that position."
A general said: When Yelu Xiu'ge returned to Youzhou, he must look like a savior.
Abudi was a little angry after hearing this: If we hadn't defended Youzhou City to the death, we would have won the Zhou people's credit. We can't let him take all the credit.
It's too early to say we've won, Xiao Siwen said softly.
Abudi asked: The people of Zhou fled in fear of the Liao Dynasty, how dare they come back
Xiao Siwen turned and left the top of the city wall, took another look at the vast wilderness in the south, and said: I will definitely send a message to celebrate the victory in the city and tell the soldiers that Guo the blacksmith is not a monster with three heads and six arms, and he can also be defeated by the Liao cavalry.
In the evening, a visitor with his head covered by gray and black cloth came to Xiao Siwen's study.
There was only a bean-sized oil lamp in the study. The man whispered in Khitan: My master asked the King of the Southern Courtyard what he thought of this opportunity.
Xiao Siwen frowned and said: What I mean is that we can't be too hasty for success for the time being, and we must put the overall situation first.
“Oh,” the man responded softly.
Xiao Siwen said: At this juncture, if there is turmoil in the Liao Dynasty, outsiders will reap the benefits and public opinion will not be favorable. The time is not yet ripe.
In the Liao army camp in Danzhou, the young Yelu Xiu'ge was not happy.
There was a bonfire burning under the thatched pavilion, surrounded by tents. In the firelight, Yelu Xiu'ge's angular face did not smile at all. He reached out and stroked the mane of his mount, which was eating bean feed, with a gloomy face and said nothing.
At this time, several generals strode over, put their hands on their chests and bowed, saying: Congratulations, Marshal, on your new achievement and waiting for your return to the capital. The Khan will rely on you even more.
Another person said: We will be able to gather the troops again in two days, and take advantage of the Zhou army's retreat to seize the opportunity to increase our gains.
Yelu Xiu'ge was in low spirits and just nodded to answer the generals.
Seeing this, Yang Gun turned around and whispered to several generals: I have a few words to say to the Marshal.
Everyone then tactfully left.
Yang Gun walked into the thatched pavilion, picked up a piece of firewood from the ground and threw it into the bonfire, then slowly said: "The commander-in-chief is not happy with his victory."
Yelu Xiuguo said coldly: Our 40,000 palace troops are helpless on the grassland; the Zhou people are farmers, but they actually fought with us. After such a fight, the 40,000 troops have not yet gathered and recovered. How can General Yang be happy
The Liao Dynasty's palace army was the elite of the elite, and was completely different from the incompletely armored and scattered tribal army of the Five Capitals. As a popular general of the Liao Dynasty, Yelu Xiuguo was well aware of the Liao Dynasty's combat power.
He did not expect this battle to be so risky.
He believed that more than 20,000 Liao cavalry from the north raided Li Chuyun's troops. The two sides had equal numbers, but the Liao army's cavalry could defeat Li Chuyun's cavalry in one blow; then they could defeat them one by one and go north to defeat Luo Yanhuan's cavalry.
The Liao army in the south bypassed the Wenyu River and harassed and threatened the Zhou army's center. They mainly attacked the Zhou emperor to intimidate the Zhou army and force the Youzhou troops to shrink their defenses to protect the emperor. Then they marched westward to Deshengkou to defeat Han Tong's Zhou army, where they had a slight advantage in numbers and defeated the Zhou army.
Yelu Xiu'ge's idea was to defeat the Zhou army's mobile cavalry in one battle and then roam around the vast area outside Youzhou City, ready to harass the Youzhou city's siege troops at any time.
The Zhou army's cavalry had little numerical advantage over the Liao army's reinforcement cavalry, and the Liao army had more horses. Yelu Xiu'ge was very confident that he could defeat the Zhou army's cavalry first.
As he said before: the cavalry of the southerners is not called cavalry, it is just to run faster in battle. He has never seen cavalry marching on foot for a long time.
Yelu Xiu'ge respected the city defenses of the Central Plains, but he never respected the southern countries in field battles.
Yang Gun said kindly: "No matter what, the Zhou army retreated because the general led his troops to reinforce. This is also a victory, and the general can still take credit when he returns."
Yelu Xiu'ge looked at the bonfire with a complicated expression.
His mind flashed back to the time when his heart beat faster and faster as if he was riding a blind horse.
For example, at Wenyu River, there was no progress in the fight against Li Chuyun's troops, and the Zhou army on the right wing was approaching rapidly. If they fled at all costs, they would be caught in a pincer attack if they were a step later. The consequences would be disastrous.
For example, after the southern army attacked outside Youzhou City, just as they were about to move west, Li Chuyun's Zhou army threatened their rear, and they were almost surrounded. When they were marching to Deshengkou, they were in a panic because their rear could be attacked at any time, so they actually fled.
Yelu Xiuguo closed his eyes, raised his head and took a deep breath. He felt as if he was walking on the edge of a knife.
He gritted his teeth and said: I don't believe that a farming country can compete with the Liao Dynasty on horseback. This time I underestimated the enemy. Next time I must have a good meeting with Guo the Blacksmith.
Yang Gun reminded: Our mission is to protect Youzhou, not to fight for power.
Yelu Xiu'ge sneered and said: The purpose of being a military general is to win in battle. There will be no good results if we get involved in those conspiracies and tricks.
After hearing this, Yang Gun said in a tone of praise: It is not without reason that the Khan relies on the Marshal.
Yelu Xiu'ge ignored him and continued to think: Blacksmith Guo is a natural born military commander.
Yang Gun breathed a sigh of relief: He was the emperor of Zhou.
Yelu Xiuge shook his head and said: This person has a very sensitive sense of smell, not like a southerner, but like a hunter. His voice became low, as if he was thinking about something, or hunting a beast. He quietly approaches the prey, without making any noise, looking for an opportunity, and as soon as he finds that the wind is not right, he turns around and runs away. But it is still there, and you don't know when it will come back.
Yang Gun said: "The commander may be right. He is good at fighting and is indeed a qualified general. However, if he returns, given the situation of the Zhou Kingdom, I am afraid there will be trouble."
Yelu Xiuguo said: I wish he wouldn't run away. What's wrong with him doing that
Yang Gun said: He shouldn't come at this time.