Chapter 25 Section VI

To organize a war as precisely as a clock and conduct it correctly is the result of the evolution and development of modern war science.The Battle of Langoudian, which took place in the early twelfth century, had the scale of a modern war in terms of the Liao army's attack, both in terms of planning and organization.This is a rare example in the history of ancient warfare, an achievement that broke through the level of the times. Yelu Dashi, the commander-in-chief of the Liao side, always stayed in the position of Langoudian to command operations (this is why the other armies of the Song Army were under less pressure), and he commanded them with ease. Judging from his personal combat experience, this is also an outstanding feature. success.

To examine the outcome of a major war is not to examine the degree of implementation of the plan tactically, but to examine the extent to which it is required to be fulfilled strategically.In the local battle of Langoudian, Yelu Dashi used 30,000 elite troops to contain the troops of Yang Keshi, the main force of the Song Dynasty, preventing him from rushing east and west, thus creating conditions for the overall victory.But on the other hand, Yang Keshi restrained the main force of Yelu Dashi with more than 20,000 troops, and restrained himself on this battlefield, preventing the scope and depth of the Liao army's victory in other areas. Useless.

In this comprehensive battle, Yelu Dashi took advantage of the Song army and the war, the conflicts between the Xuanfu Division and the headquarters, and the low morale of the soldiers. In particular, he took advantage of Tong Guan's absurd order to restrain the soldiers' hands and feet, Launched a lightning attack on the east and west lines, successfully crossed the river in more than a dozen places, and wiped out part of the Song army.Advance your position by more than ten to twenty miles.On the front of Fan Village on the West Road, due to the lack of preparation of the Xi army, Xin Xingzong also resisted for a while with difficulty, and the Liao army made only limited progress.This is the first decisive victory won by the Liao army since the war between the Liao and Song armies.Since then, the Liao army's position in Henan has been consolidated, and it has entered the stage of strategic offensive.

The Song Army, which retreated to the second line, barely built a temporary position using the old site of the ditch dug more than a hundred years ago.However, the Liao army can come and go freely on the Baigou River boundary river, which is twenty or thirty feet wide. How can these small dry ditches several feet wide limit their horses' feet?The Song army was fully exposed to the attack of the Liao army, and the situation was indeed very unfavorable.

---

Notes: