Chapter 29 The Struggle of the Stray Troops

Majiadu was defeated in the battle, and Yue Fei was forced to withdraw his troops and stationed in Zhongshan. Soon, Jiankang fell and Du Chong surrendered to the enemy. Yue Fei's army lost contact with the organization and became a lone army, as if he had returned to the time when he was fighting guerrillas in the Taihang Mountains.Yue Fei "turned to the battle alone, walking and attacking", and kept moving towards Lin'an where Zhao Gou was located. On the way to the south, it began to snow.The sky was low, and the front, back, left, and right were all white and gray. The situation changed faster than planned. As soon as he arrived at the border of Jurong County, Jiankang Prefecture (now Jurong County, Jiangsu Province), he heard the news that Zhao Gou had fled from Lin'an.

"What should I do?" Yue Fei drew his sword and looked around, feeling at a loss. Coincidentally, the two teams of Liu Jing and Hu Cheng who were also dispersed in Majiadu also ended up in Jurong. Several people met, exchanged opinions, and finally agreed to go south to the Guangde Army (now Guangde County, Anhui) to recharge their energy and watch the changes of the times. "The lonely village is cold and twilight, and the sad wind is heard all over the world." On the road from Jiankang Mansion to Guangde Army, there was a scene of depression, endless desolation and chill.

Yue Fei and others fought against Jin Bing six times, "all victories in six battles", beheaded 1,216 people, and captured 24 people including Jurchen and Mo'er Wangquan. When they arrived at Zhongcun of the Guangde Army, another news came that Zhao Gou had gone to sea to flee, and his life and death were unknown. For a while, people panicked, "the generals are furious and want to rebel." Among them, Hu Cheng's subordinate Qi Fang took the lead in rebelling. He instigated a group of restless soldiers, beheaded Hu Cheng, and threatened the army to rebel as bandits.

Some soldiers under Yue Fei were also eager to try, and wanted to follow Qi Fang as an example, occupying the top of the mountain in troubled times, enjoying drinking and eating meat. "Among the fluffy hemp, it is straight without support; the white sand is in nirvana, and it is black with it." Although Yue Fei was born in a farming family, his father's integrity and chivalry, and his mother's knowledge of etiquette and justice gave him the distinction between loyalty and villainy, and justice since he was a child. and meeting the elders and superiors who are also teachers and friends, such as Liu Wei, Zhang Suo, Zong Ze, etc., has subtly shaped his courage and integrity of loyalty and patriotism. In addition, he himself likes to read " History books such as "Spring and Autumn" and other righteousness prevented him from growing up carelessly like Zhang Jun and Liu Guangshi, and eventually became a role model for a generation.

When he noticed the signs of the soldiers, he immediately called the whole army for training. At the meeting, he drew a knife and stabbed himself in the left shoulder, "sprinkling blood and slapping everyone" and said: "Compatriots, comrades-in-arms, now that the country is in crisis, it is time for us to sacrifice our lives for righteousness and die generously. The country can be famous in history. If we take advantage of the chaos to become robbers and steal our lives, we will end up living a life in vain and leaving a bad reputation for thousands of years! Think about it, everyone, Jiankang is a well-known place in Jiangzuo. As long as we work hard and unite as one, we will definitely be able to drive the Hulu out of the country. Today’s matter is the same as death, and those who leave without permission will be beheaded!” Serve the country with loyalty, make meritorious deeds, write bamboo and silk, and die and be immortal. If you surrender and become a captive, collapse and become a thief, steal your life and live, die and die, how can you count it! How can a country be established if a captive steals evidence! Today’s affairs are indistinguishable from life to death, and those who come out of this gate will be beheaded!”) All the soldiers were greatly moved, and the morale of the army gradually stabilized.

Soon, Liu Jing and Yue Fei's teams merged together. Many soldiers in the left-behind division in Tokyo brought out by Du Chong from Tokyo were from the Northwest. They heard that Du Chong had crossed the river to join the enemy, and they came to join Yue Fei one after another. Yue Fei gathered these people according to their previous ranks and encouraged them to say: "Unity is strength. We were originally the most combative team, and now we are united again. This is a great opportunity to regain the Central Plains and make great achievements. At that time, we will be rewarded by the imperial court and return to our hometown in fine clothes, wouldn't it be a great event in the world!"

Everyone applauded enthusiastically and cheered together: "From now on, only the order of the ruler of Yue will be obeyed!" Soldiers and horses were stationed in Zhongcun, and the army was "running out of food", so Yue Fei had to "provide food for the enemy" to support the war by fighting, constantly launching attacks on the Jin people, and providing food and clothing for the soldiers by obtaining spoils of war. Hearing that the Jin people invaded Liyang County, Yue Fei and Liu Jing led a thousand people to attack them at night. In less than two hours, they killed more than 500 Jin soldiers, and captured the Jin people alive. There are several senior officials including Bohai Grand Master Li Saba.

Of course, brilliant victories like this don't happen all the time.During these difficult days, Yue Fei set an example and "eating with the lowest soldiers". Many soldiers were poorly clothed, hungry, and looked hungry, but Yue Fei was strict in running the army. Everyone feared the discipline of the army and did not dare to disturb the people. "Vendors in the market are as usual." The army's expenditures were getting tighter and tighter. Fortunately, the magistrate of Yixing County heard of Yue Fei's reputation and "received a letter to welcome him", saying that the city has a lot of money, which can support ten thousand people for more than ten years.Yue Fei was overjoyed, and immediately moved to Yixing in February of this year, and stationed his barracks in Zhangchu Town, southwest of the county.

The navy of the former Jianghuai Xuanfu Division also fled from Jiankang to Yixing, harassing the officials and people. Hearing that Yue Fei was stationed at the side, he was inexplicably terrified. . Yue Fei personally wrote the letter and sent someone to send it to him. He comforted him with kind words, and recruited half of the staff to come over, and took all of them for his own use.It is said in history: "Jianghuai Xuanfu Division Youjun controlled Yue Fei from Guangde Army and moved to Yixing County. Du Chong's defeat also caused his officers and men to flee and plunder many times. Those who rely on it to avoid it", "there are more than ten thousand families of ordinary officials and scholars who abandon their properties and seek prosperity."Here, Yue Fei summoned many high-quality soldiers, including Zhang Xian, Wang Gui, Yao Zheng, Wang Wan, Xu Qing, and so on.

Zhang Xian was three years younger than Yue Fei, and became Yue Fei's closest comrade-in-arms during the Anti-Japanese War. He accompanied Yue Fei to complete the road that belonged to them.Of course, Zhang Xian would never have imagined that he would be the one who accompanied Yue Fei to the end of the road. When Yue Fei ruled Yixing in troubled times, it was tantamount to establishing a pure land in Yixing, and many foreigners moved to Yixing for refuge.People praised each other: "It is easy for me to be born to my parents, but it is also difficult for me to be protected by my father." In order to express their gratitude, many people "take pictures of their own images, and pay respects to the old and young", enshrining Yue Fei's portrait stand up.Even, people "commanded the Temple of General Zhou and built a shrine to it" and built a shrine for Yue Fei next to the Temple of General Zhou in Yixing, worshiping Yue Fei as a god.

When the "Signed Army" among Jin Bing arrived at the border of Yixing, when they heard about Yue Fei's name, "everyone said to each other: 'Grandpa Yue's army is also here!' Fight to surrender."There were about tens of thousands of "signature troops" who surrendered from the Jinying. Now that the army had settled down, Yue Fei sent people back to his hometown many times to search for his family members. Finally, he brought his mother Yao Shi, eldest son Yue Yun, second son Yue Lei, and younger brother Yue Fan into the army. Yue Yun was only twelve years old, his torso was not plump, and he looked weak on the surface, but in fact he was born with copper skin and iron bones.Yuan Mei in the Qing Dynasty once wrote a poem praising Yue Fei and his two sons Yun and Lei. However, Yue Yun's mother, Yue Fei's wife Liu Shi, remarried because she couldn't bear the loneliness, and was not in the group of relatives and friends from the south.Later, Yue Ke wrote "E Kingdom Jin Tuoxuan", deliberately for the elders, and recorded Yue Yun as Yue Fei's adopted son. Yue Yun was a young child who was a legacy of his father, and liked to practice martial arts. Volume 9 of "E State Jin Tuoxi Compilation" and "Zhuzi's Stories" said that he "holds two iron vertebrae and weighs eighty catties". Every time he fights, he takes the lead. Charge ahead. In Yixing, Yue Fei conducted an integrated training for the army. It is said in history: "The imperial army also focuses on search and selection, careful training, public rewards and punishments, clear orders, strict discipline, and the same joys and sorrows." Yue Fei carefully selected 7,000 people from tens of thousands of "signed troops" and fleeing refugees, and incorporated them into his own army. People are the only ones to protect, and the interests of the Lord are the treasures of the country." "Treat the pawns like babies, so you can go to the deep stream with them; treat pawns like your beloved sons, so you can die with them. Thick but unable to be used, love and If you can't order it, you can't rule it if it's chaotic, like a proud son, you can't use it." Strict training is carried out. Yue Fei hoped to form an army on the basis of protecting the people and caring for the soldiers: no matter in the face of desperation or in deep siege, this army will go forward indomitably, can overwhelm all enemies, and will not be surrendered by the enemy, even if the battle lasts , and never surrender, fight to the end. Therefore, in each training class, Yue Fei has to teach a passage, combining the personal fate of soldiers with the rise and fall of the country and nation, and encouraging everyone to train hard. Finally, an army that made Jin Bing fearful is newly released, this is the Yue Family Army! The Yue Family Army has strict discipline and a good style of work. Of course, what Yue Fei is most proud of is its combat capability. In addition to the established courses of repeatedly practicing various formation tactics and sprinting and slashing, Yue Fei also specially set up various skill trainings on horseback. Of course, in the process of completing these difficult movements, soldiers are required to "be heavily armored". ". And these are only due to the battle at Majiadu. Yue Fei saw Wushu's "kidnapper horse" tactic. Compete. According to historical records, once, Yue Yun wore heavy armor and rode a horse for "Zhu Slope" training. He swooped down from a high mountain, and when he reached the middle of the mountain, he quickly reined in his horse and stopped. In the middle of the day, the horse stumbled, Yue Yun fell head over heels, his body passed over the horse's head, and fell down hard. Yue Fei reprimanded on the spot: "Is it the same to go to battle to kill the enemy?" Immediately ordered him to be pushed out and beheaded.All the soldiers were shocked and hurriedly begged for mercy, and finally beat a hundred army sticks to settle the matter. Because of such strict requirements, Yue Yun practiced even harder and developed an extraordinary martial art.As a result, the entire army trained harder and became more proficient in various skills, "everything counts as a hundred." In addition, Yue Fei himself has unique skills. Based on his many times of martial arts experience and actual combat experience, he created a set of boxing and spear techniques, and taught them in person. This is the "Yuejia boxing" and "Yuejia spear". ". In the Jiading period of the Southern Song Dynasty, Hua Yue, the champion of martial arts and a famous military strategist in ancient China, once said with admiration in his military book "Mr. Cuiwei Beizhenglu": "I heard that there are four horse guns for the test, and there is a single gun for the pick finger. Yue Fei taught the soldiers of Jingxiang to shoot with sharp spears." He thought: "Since modern times, those who are good at horse shooting are not good at carbine, so the sea team only chooses 18 carbines, six chief and deputy flag leaders, and the rest are all bows and arrows. It is custom-made and cannot be added or subtracted. Gaixin’s cavalry army and Xinbu horse school do not practice and teach, and they are not familiar with bow and horse. They fear that they will not be able to cast the bow with both hands. To put it simply, if a team is composed of old cavalry troops, they are ordered to collect small guns, not limited to the number of eighteen people; if they are all newly recruited, they are ordered to specialize in bows and arrows, not limited to the heads of the principal and deputy flag heads. The common people don't take advantage of their shortcomings, but instead harm their strengths. It's called the gun system." I admire Yue Fei's shooting skills immediately. It is not easy for the people of agricultural civilization to be good at riding, but it is even more difficult to be good at using spears and bows immediately. Combining these three skills in one body, its combat effectiveness is enough to intimidate one side. . After a series of training, each of these students has developed extraordinary martial arts, and the chances of winning on the battlefield are increased by one point. In addition, Yue Fei also established iron-like discipline in his army. Only under the guarantee of iron discipline can the army possess terrible combat effectiveness.As Vegitius, the ancestor of Western military strategists, said in "On the Roman Military System": "True warriors are not born, but are created with strict training and iron-like discipline." Heroes see the same thing . In troubled times, the food and grass of many troops could not be replenished, and soldiers looted everywhere to make ends meet. In order to prevent his army from becoming rogues, Yue Fei dragged them to Zhangzhu Town near Taihu Lake in Yixing County, where there are three lakes facing the lake, and only a narrow path leading to the outside. Control the soldiers to go out and make trouble.But if someone finds out, he will be punished severely. From time to time, a doctor called Yue Fei's army: "The generals are harmonious, and the army is elite. The superiors obey the orders of the imperial court, and they are loyal and filial; the inferiors practice martial arts, and they are wise and brave." The severity of Yue Fei's military discipline was considered harsh at the time.According to history, once his army "practiced people's crops and hurt agricultural achievements", or forced to buy and sell in the market, or even "take a strand of people's hemp to restrain the grass", they would be beheaded immediately. According to legend, there was a woodcutter surnamed Xiang in Hukou who regarded Yue Fei's soldiers as his own soldiers and was willing to sell the firewood to the logistics soldier who came to buy firewood for two cents cheaper. The military law is strict, and I don't want to lose my head for these two coins!" After saying that, he paid the money and left. Deputy General Wang Gui's tent had soldiers feeding the horses with straw from the common people without permission. When Yue Fei learned that, he was furious and "beheaded him for favoritism". stick. Speaking of this, perhaps, many people think that Yue Fei is too harsh and cruel to be humane.Yes, any famous general, in terms of military discipline, is insulated from nouns such as benevolence and gentleness. In order to be serious about military discipline, he must be ruthless and ruthless.Only by being harsh to the soldiers can we treat the people with kindness, win the hearts of the people, and thus have stronger combat effectiveness. Sometimes the army went out and slept in the open in front of the people's houses. The people couldn't bear it, so they opened the door and invited the soldiers into the house. The Yue family's army "each has tens of thousands of people, but there is not a single soldier in the city, but people can only watch it if they read and try to revitalize the brigade."Every time he went to a place, Yue Fei "must patrol the surrounding area with dozens of riders" to check the military appearance and military style, and maintain military discipline. "Don't demolish houses when killed by freezing, and don't take captives when killed by starvation" is the most resounding slogan of this army. There have been countless elite special forces in Chinese history, such as the Huben Army of the Han Dynasty, which swept the Xiongnu with 3,000 horsemen, killed the Northern Xiongnu King, and drove the Northern Xiongnu thousands of miles north, not daring to commit another crime; The Xuanjia Army, well-equipped, with sufficient horses, initially equipped with firearms and equipment, has top-notch combat and field capabilities, successfully drove the Turks out, and let the empire that was known to be the most powerful galloping in Eurasia at that time withdraw. stage of history. However, the only army that is famous all over the world, passed down through the ages, and named after generals is the Yue Family Army. Lu You praised: "The giant bandit was ordered by his father, and the survivors still look forward to the Yue family's army." Lu Wu, the historian of the Southern Song Dynasty, also praised it in "The Rhyme on the Wall of the Temple of the Yue King":