Chapter 44 third quarter

Not long after Ma Kuo, Zhao Liangsi and the others left the Xuanfu Division, an unexpected new situation emerged. It seems that in order to make up for the losses of the two months of July and August, the front line suddenly became active in early September.Tong Guan and Liu Yanqing were condemned by the imperial decree and urged by Liu Kai, so they dared not say anything about "stand still" and held military meetings for several days, asking everyone to work together to discuss the strategy of advancing troops.The frustrated generals of the Western Army also became active and were willing to put forward their views and suggestions at the meeting.It turned out that Yang Keshi, who was stationed in Ansu Army, and Wang Zhi, who was stationed in Bazhou, acted swiftly. Once the meeting made a decision, they immediately took the troops to Xiongzhou to join other generals. Crossing the Boundary River Baigou realized the first cross-border march since the Liao War.

Yang and Wang's army crossed the river without any real resistance from the enemy, and there was no battle worth mentioning, but it has the significance of a signal.At this time, the various anti-Liao forces scattered in the rear of Can Liao were like gunpowder packs scattered in every corner. Once the fuse was burned, they would explode with ping-pong-pong.They were dispatched one after another, raising righteousness everywhere, expelling sporadic Liao troops, occupying villages and towns, and forming a prairie fire in an instant. The development of the situation is much faster than the conventional advance of the Western Army.On the second day after Yang and Wang's troops crossed the river, Liu Guangshi's selected front army also crossed the river and ran ahead of Yang and Wang.He was one step ahead of the generals, only encountered sporadic resistance from the Niu Lan army along the way, and easily regained the new city.On September 15th, the news came that Yizhou soldiers and civilians, under the leadership of a courageous monk, raised the flag of rebellion, killed the Khitan officers who guarded the city, and forced the Zhizhou Han'er Gao Feng to surrender with the city city to respond to the army.Liu Guangshi had just taken over Yizhou, and before the seats were warmed up, more shocking news came: On September 23, Guo Yaoshi, the commander of the Liao army and the commander of the Changsheng army, captured Xiao Qian's uncle, Xiao Yu, the governor of Zhuozhou. Qing, led the whole army of more than 9,000 people, and came to Zhuozhou and the four counties under its jurisdiction.

The surrender of the Ever-Victorious Army was a shocking event. It had been brewing for a long time, and it really broke out in people's expectation.Its process is like this: General Zhen Wuchen and others of the Changsheng Army had already contacted the Xuanfu Department of the Song Dynasty, and agreed that they would launch a mutiny as soon as the Song Army crossed the Jiehe River.Although Pharmacist Guo also adopted a tacit attitude towards this, he has not yet made a final decision.After Yizhou changed flags, rumors spread, Xiao Qian also saw that the general situation was not good, and wanted to make a last effort to restore the decline.On September 22, Xiao Qian, with his boldness, went to Zhuozhou with only a few entourages to persuade Guo Yaoshi to "loyalty to the royal family, protect the emperor's capital, and be a minister of Daliao forever".Pharmacist Guo wanted to wait and see again, and hosted a banquet for him.This time it was Zhen Wuchen, Zhao Yanshou and other generals who got impatient with waiting. When Zhen Wuchen disagreed, he pulled out a knife and killed Xiao Yulu, the commander of the Niu Lan Army. The other generals brought by Xiao Qian also died among the rebellious army.Faced with this fait accompli, Guo Yaoshi had no choice but to respond.While Xiao Qian was drunk, he broke out in a cold sweat when he heard the mutiny.Guo Yaoshi made a favor again, and escorted Xiao Qian out of the city with the key of the city gate.

Only then did Pharmacist Guo really take action.He immediately sent troops to arrest Xiao Yuqing who was closely monitoring him, took all the money and food in the treasury, and stabilized the order in the city.Then send two generals, Zhen Wuchen and Zhao Yanshou, to lead the troops to meet the Song army, carrying crossbows forward.Two days later, he himself also came to the headquarters to meet Liu Yanqing, the governor of the capital. The surrender of the Changsheng army, the recovery of Zhuozhou and Yizhou, and the response of the rebels from other places paved the way for the Northern Song army to go straight to the Lugou River and attack Yanjing City.So things that were considered impossible a few months ago, or even ten days ago, are now possible, or in other words, there is nothing impossible today.

At the beginning of October, a patrol team of more than ten people was ordered to go out to patrol.They are all recruits recruited by Liu Fan in Zhending, known as "Dare Warriors", led by a 21-year-old team leader surnamed Yue.He was ordered only to patrol the surrounding area, but this young officer showed extraordinary courage and outstanding talent, and he was not satisfied with completing such an ordinary task.Guided by the local residents, their team actually went far beyond the scope of the mission, crossed the Lugou River, and patrolled all the way to the city of Yanjing.This small military officer surnamed Yue also drew a military map that is not so formal in form but is actually very valuable as a reference, marking the roads, rivers, bridges, ferries they passed, and what they learned about the Liao army. report to the army (in this map, he mistakenly marked Yanjing City with the name of Huanglong Mansion, thinking that Huanglong Mansion is another name for Yanjing City. This illusion could not be twisted in his mind, so that many Years later, he has become a generation of famous generals, and he still thinks that he has been to Huanglong Mansion).

The petty officer was disciplined for this escapade.But the army is a strange organizational unit.Sometimes those who are rewarded are despised by everyone, and those who are punished are praised by people.Because of the punishment he received this time, this little officer suddenly became a figure in everyone's attention. This little transgression he committed made many people courageous, especially Liu Yanqing himself.Liu Yanqing was originally a man eager for success, but seeing the rapid development of the situation ahead, the defense system of the Liao side seemed to have completely collapsed, and his base camp would obviously be unable to keep up with the situation.He suddenly made a 180-degree turn, suddenly forgot all the "cautious" and "cautious", and moved the command headquarters from Xincheng to Yizhou, and from Yizhou to Zhuozhou in a hasty march. Moving northward, the bureaucrats of the Xuanfu Department were so tired that they couldn't catch up, panting and complaining.Apparently, they also wanted to grab the benefits they got first, and they forgot all the "cautious" and "cautious", contrary to their previous opinions, they rushed to catch up from Hejian Mansion.

Niu Lanjun's blockade basically stopped, and Xiao Orili, who had considerable military talent, was in charge of commanding the southern front. He kept retreating the regular troops, and finally joined Xiao Qian's army.The army of the Northern Song Dynasty successfully reached the south bank of the Lugou River, only to find that the Xi army led by Xiao Qian and Xiao Orila was quite complete.A part of the organized Khitan army was also under their command at this time, confronting the Northern Song army across the river.It seems that there is still a decisive battle before the male and female can be separated.

Guo Yaoshi, who wanted to do his best, presented a surprise attack on Yanjing City in time.This strategy is bold and daring, and takes considerable risks, but Guo Yaoshi seems to be very confident in his words.According to the analysis of the situation, it is not without the possibility of success.Many senior generals supported it, Liu Qi also supported it, and Liu Yanqing was also very interested in it.Now that everyone agreed, after a detailed discussion at a military meeting and the specific deployment of the surprise attack was determined, they acted quickly. On the night of October 23rd, Yang Keshi and Guo Yaoshi led the march, and then Liu Guangshi led the supporting army. Two groups of people set off one after another.They wanted to bypass the back of the Liao army, take advantage of the enemy's emptiness, and attack Yanjing in a roundabout way.The plan is well researched and feasible.When it came to implementing it, everything went smoothly as well.As long as the surprise attack is successful, the results of the Liao Bureau for more than two hundred years can be seen within two or three days.In the more than one hundred years of military activities since the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, none was more important than this surprise attack.Therefore, after the surprise attack army set off, everyone was excited and nervously waiting for the good news.