Chapter 16 6. The Battle of Kunyang

At that time, the Xinmang Dynasty faced the challenge of two major opposition groups, Chimei in the north and Green Forest in the south. At first, Wang Mang took the Red Eyebrow Army as the main target of suppression, and successively sent several main forces to encircle and suppress.However, the Green Forest Army in the south does not pay so much attention to it. Even a famous general like Yan You only commands a hastily patchwork of local troops and temporary recruits. "The crime. However, when the news came that Liu Xuan proclaimed himself emperor, Wang Mang realized that the Green Forest Army was a greater threat. He immediately shifted his strategic focus and mobilized troops from various counties to assemble in Luoyang, preparing for a strategic decisive battle with the Green Forest Army.

Wang Mang attached great importance to this battle. With his most powerful generals, Da Sikong Wang Yi and Da Situ Wang Xun, he assembled a total of 420,000 troops. Wang Mang also resorted to some ruthless moves that he thought were quite vicious. First of all, he found a "Ju Wu Ba" from Shandong—yes, the name of some hamburgers today comes from this big man—it is said that this old man is one foot tall and his waist is ten circumferences bigger.The logistics officer who wants to come to the New Mang Army will definitely not like this big man who can eat so much. Looks like a good charge?But his official title is "Lieutenant Lei", literally speaking, he is responsible for guarding the barracks...

If on the Kunyang battlefield, the two sides hold a party and compete to eat steamed buns, Wang Mang's army will definitely have an advantage. Secondly, he released all the beasts in Shanglin Garden, such as tigers, leopards and rhinoceros, to accompany the army, which is called "to help the mighty". But most of these guys eat meat, how can they have the time to get fresh meat for them every day when marching and fighting?At that time, it was the turn of spring and summer, which was the estrus period for the animals. Some guys had a bad temper and were always making trouble; some guys liked to howl in the middle of the night, which made the big guys restless and seriously affected the rest of the troops. , Occasionally there are injuries.

It is not accidental that Wang Mang, a bookworm, came up with such an idea. Isn't there a saying in "Historical Records: The Five Emperors" that the Yellow Emperor "taught the bear to fight the wild tiger with Yandi in the field of Banquan"?With Wang Mang's retro obsession, it just so happens that he has so many animals at his disposal, it would be strange if he didn't show them off. Therefore, this army does not seem to be going to war, but more like a circus parade. The only good thing is that the soldiers are bored along the way and can play with the tigers.

Wang Mang's most ruthless move was to recruit hundreds of people from 63 schools who studied the art of war in the world as staff officers for the grassroots troops. This measure has ensured that the new mang army is far superior to the green forest heroes on a theoretical level. However, how these sixty-three different factions can unify their combat ideas is a difficult thing for the commander-can't they vote? Along the way, the sixty-three families had many quarrels, and they were not there for a war, but for a seminar on military theory. It's a pity that in the summer of 23 A.D., under the city of Kunyang, there was a Shura field full of iron and blood arrows.What is about to take place here is a dynastic war that will determine the rise and fall. Countless heroes and warriors will write a glorious chapter in history here.

Is this like an occasion for eating steamed buns, watching a circus, or having a big debate on military theory? In May of this year, the army of Wang Xun and Wang Yi joined Yan You and Chen Mao of Yingchuan, and then marched towards Kunyang. Within a few days, more than 100,000 troops arrived at the city of Kunyang. A chilling atmosphere hangs over the small Kunyang City.Kunyang, which is now Ye County in Henan Province, is also the place where "Ye Gong loves dragons". The Han army operating in this area is the Xinshi soldier Wang Feng, the Xiajiang soldier Wang Chang, and the Chongling soldier Liu Xiu. Positive.

The prologue of this battle was started by the future Han Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu.Liu Xiu led thousands of troops to encounter the Xinmang army in the Yangguan area in the northwest of Yuxian County, Henan Province. Seeing that the opponent's troops were strong, he immediately withdrew into Kunyang City and refused to defend. After hearing the news, other Han armies from all walks of life also retreated into Kunyang City. In the small Kunyang City, nearly 10,000 Han troops gathered in an instant.As Xinmang's hundreds of thousands of troops approached the city of Kunyang, the generals who fled into the city were panic-stricken. Some people used the excuse of worrying about the safety of their wives and children, and wanted to break up and flee back to their own territory to continue to be the king of the mountain.

On the contrary, Liu Xiu, a coward who was considered only good enough to ride a bull, had a clear head at this time, so I would like to give you an analysis: Although we are short of food and troops, and the enemy is strong, we can only concentrate our strength and fight the opponent decisively, and we still have a chance.The main force of our army is still under Wancheng. If we slip away, the main force will be attacked from two sides, and it will be wiped out within a day. "I don't want to share my fame with my heart, but I want to guard my wife's property?" Everyone is finished. At that time, where can everyone escape?

It really surprised everyone that an honest person like Liu Xiu said such angry words, and some people counterattacked: You, a coward, deserve to teach us a lesson?Liu Xiu smiled wryly, forget it, you can do whatever you like, I won't play with you anymore, I got up to leave. At this moment, the reconnaissance cavalry reported that the Xinmang army had reached the north of the city, and the whole army was winding for hundreds of miles, even the tail of the team could not be seen.The great heroes who were showing off their power just now were all dumbfounded at this moment. Everyone summed up, it is better to invite Liu Xiu back and listen to his opinion.Invisibly, Liu Xiu became the commander-in-chief of Kunyang City Guard. Under his plan, the Han army was determined to defend Kunyang for help.

Liu Xiu left Wang Feng and Wang Chang to guard Kunyang, and led thirteen cavalry to break through to ask for help. At that time, more than 100,000 Xinmang troops had arrived at the city, and Liu Xiu's small army almost couldn't get out. Liu Xiu came to Yan, Dingling and other cities, ready to dispatch all the troops to rescue Kunyang.Some generals were still reluctant to part with their belongings and wanted to keep some troops to guard them. Liu Xiu was so angry that he beat up these misers: if you defeat the enemy, you will have everything you want for fame and wealth; baby? In this way, Liu Xiu finally pulled a team back to help Kunyang.

At this time, there was a fierce battle under Kunyang City. Yan You opposed the storming of Kunyang. He believed that the city of Kunyang was small and strong, and it was difficult to conquer it quickly.Liu Xuan, who proclaimed himself emperor, and the main force of the Han army are besieging Wancheng. If this main force can be wiped out, Kunyang City will fall without a fight. Yan You had fought against the Han army and knew the fighting power of the Han army, so the suggestions he made were reasonable.But the coach Wang Yi was careless, thinking that with an army of more than 400,000 in his hands, it would be no problem to flatten a small Kunyang City, and he would only leave if he had enough limelight. As a result, the Xinmang army surrounded Kunyang City with ten floors, set up more than a hundred camps, covered the fields with banners, and the sound of golden drums could be heard dozens of miles away.The Xinmang army dug tunnels and used siege tools such as carts and boxcars. Arrows rained down on Kunyang City. Needless to say, shields are in short supply in the city, and even the door panels have been put to great use—you have to push the door panels against the buckets of water. When you come back, you can see that the door panels are almost turning into hedgehogs.Hurry up and pull the arrows, the intact ones can still be useful. Wang Feng and others couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to surrender.But Xinmang's generals Wang Yi and Wang Xun refused to accept it, and must slaughter the city.Speaking of this, what else can Wang Feng expect?I can only fight! Seeing that the city could not be attacked for a long time, Yan You suggested opening a hole to let the defenders break through. On the one hand, it would be easier to annihilate them in the field, and on the other hand, it would also allow them to spread the news of the failure and damage the morale of the Han army in Wancheng.Wang Yi still refused to accept it, so more than 400,000 new mang troops were trapped under Kunyang City, doing nothing. The stalemate between the two sides lasted until the end of May. At this time, Wancheng had been conquered, and the situation gradually favored the Han army. On the first day of June, the reinforcements led by Liu Xiu and Li Yi arrived at the city of Kunyang. Liu Xiu, who has always been known for his cowardice, in order to prove that he is not a coward, actually led more than a thousand infantry and cavalry as a forward, challenged Xinmang's hundreds of thousands of troops, and lined up four or five miles in front of the formation.The Xinmang army sent thousands of people to meet them. Liu Xiu personally charged into the battle, repelled the enemy, and beheaded dozens of levels. Everyone watching the battle was dizzy: This Liu Xiu, who has seen the small enemy timid all his life, but now sees the big enemy brave, is really the sun coming out from the west! Everyone rubbed their eyes: I didn't see clearly just now.Or, if you always fight back, we will cheer you on from behind?On this day, a farmer who was once considered only fit to ride a bull, soared in the sky of history and wrote a legendary story. Liu Xiu took the lead in charging again, and the generals of the Han army continued to advance, winning consecutive battles, beheading nearly a thousand people, and advancing to the city of Kunyang. In order to confuse the enemy and boost morale in the city, Liu Xiu asked the troops to claim that the Han army had conquered Wancheng and that the reinforcements they sent were about to arrive at the city of Kunyang. It hasn't reached Liu Xiu yet.As for the reinforcements sent by Wancheng, it was all a matter of no avail. Wang Feng and Wang Chang, who were defending the city, and Wang Yi and Wang Xun, who were attacking the city, all got the false news, but the effect was completely opposite: the morale of the city was greatly boosted, and they clamored to go out of the city to attack the Xinmang army, while the siege troops Morale is depressed. Liu Xiu led another 3,000 people who dared to die, crossed the Kunshui River in the west of the city, and went straight to the "backbone" of the Xinmang army, which was the headquarters of Wang Yi and Wang Xun. For the arrival of Liu Xiu's reinforcements, the Xinmang army did not pay much attention to it.Even Yan You, who is more clear-headed, despises Liu Xiu.Liu Xiu once had an acquaintance with Yan You because of a lawsuit, and Yan You was very impressed with this young man.During this battle, Liu Xiu's subordinates in Kunyang City surrendered to the Xinmang Army, and told Yan You that Liu Xiu did not take property, but when discussing countermeasures with the generals, Yan You just laughed and said, "Is it a beautiful man? Why is that so!" It must be that handsome young man, as for that? Wang Yi and Wang Xun underestimated the enemy even more, and only sent more than ten thousand people to patrol the positions, and ordered the other battalions to restrain the troops, and not to attack without orders.Although the Xinmang army is large in number, most of them are mobs, lack combat experience, and have low morale.The three thousand warriors who had fought for a long time with Liu Xiu retreated as soon as they came into contact with them, and Wang Xun, one of the commanders, also died in the rebellion. The remaining hundreds of thousands of Xinmang troops lacked the will to fight, and they were in a mess after losing their command.The Han army, which had won many battles and victories, became more and more courageous. They all took advantage of their vigor and broke through the positions of the Xinmang army in many places. The defenders in Kunyang City also took the opportunity to clamor and attack the Xinmang army. It was a time of strong winds and thunderstorms, roof tiles were flying, and rivers were soaring. The tigers and leopards in the Xinmang army were trembling, let alone helping in the battle.The defeated soldiers who fled fled to the north, and the pursued Han army drove them into the soaring Sichuan. More than ten thousand people drowned in the river. Wang Yi, Yan You, Chen Mao and other generals of the Xinmang army led only a few elite cavalry brought from Chang'an, and fled across the river on dead men.The Xinmang army abandoned a large amount of military supplies, and the Han army spent a month or so before moving them, so they had to burn the rest. Yan You and Chen Mao completely lost confidence in the new Mang Dynasty, and defected to Liu Wang, the former clan of the Han Dynasty who raised troops in Runan.Wang Yi led more than a thousand disabled soldiers and fled to Luoyang in one breath. The Battle of Kunyang ended in the disastrous defeat of the Xinmang Dynasty.