Chapter 286 Before and After

War is the highest form of expression of contradiction and the most violent means. Due to the limitations of the times, the outcome of wars in the Middle Ages often depended on the gain or loss of a key city, the life or death of a key figure... However, no matter when, a decisive battle will always be the most frank, direct and speechless means of winning.

However, unlike most battles that required scheduling, deployment, and testing, this main battle that took place in the hilly area between Zibo River and Longshui River was really unexpected for both sides.

Yue Fei determined Li Cheng's main attack direction from Zhang Jun's deployment, but he never expected that Li Cheng actually brought almost the entire existing military force of the Pseudo-Qi. Otherwise, he would have risked his life to bring as many troops as possible, and would not have let Hu Cheng sit in the rear.

The same was true for Li Cheng. The development of the situation forced him to give his all. But for a warlord, who would be willing to throw all his fortune into it for no reason?

Neither side is sure of victory or fully prepared, so both sides can only fight to the death.

Li Cheng's cavalry on both wings sandwiched the infantry brigade and charged forward in unison; Yue Fei adapted to local conditions and set up cavalry and infantry instead, with his most elite heavy infantry as the highlight, forming an oblique formation to meet the enemy... This was the best that both sides could do within a distance of just over a dozen miles.

"Jiedu!"

The battle lasted only half an hour. When the battle was in full swing, a blood-soaked rider suddenly galloped over from a distance. Because the flag on his back was broken, he could only dismount in front of the general's flag and present his badge. Then Yue Fei's personal officer Bi Jin relayed the military information on his behalf. "There is accurate military news from the front. Zhang Zi'an, the fifth general of the Beiwei Army of the Right Army of the Imperial Camp, was injured by a stray arrow when he came up and died just now!"

Yue Fei reined in his horse and stood on a small hill beside the road, looking at the smoke and dust in the distance. His expression did not change, and he did not even turn his head. He directly shouted coldly: "In such a fierce battle, if you die, don't report it to me, commander!"

As Yue Fei's personal instructor, Bi Jin naturally knew the commander's temper, but he bowed his head and raised his armor beside Yue Fei... As for the fact that Zhang Zian was Zhang Jun's nephew, he had no intention of reporting it from the beginning.

However, on the battlefield, Yue Fei could ignore the death of Zhang Jun's nephew, but he could not ignore the situation of the Tian army's central unit. On the contrary, the situation of that unit was the basis for determining victory or defeat.

"Have you figured it out?" Li Cheng also raised his flag and stood on a small slope beside the road, then looked east to observe the battle situation and suddenly spoke. "The outcome of this battle depends on whether the long-axe heavy infantry of the Song army that protruded from the south will be defeated first, or our central army will be in chaos first..."

Guo Dadao was about to speak but stopped. He really wanted to ask his master, was he talking to him or to himself? But when the words came to his lips, they changed into:

"My lord, what you said is very true, that's exactly the truth!"

After a short pause, Guo Dadao said seriously, "The infantry in the middle should be facing the Beiwei Army under Daxiaoyan, that is, the cavalry led by Zhang Xian; and the long axe soldiers in the south that stopped the Jurchen cavalry should be the Beiwei Army led by Zhang Laocai's son-in-law."

"Not bad." Li Cheng nodded repeatedly. "They are all famous teachers and generals."

"Should we go to support the south and help the Jin people defeat Tian Shizhong, or should we go to support the middle and stabilize the central army?" Guo Dadao continued to ask.

Amid the clamor of the battlefield, Li Cheng fell into a kind of silence for a moment... It was not just the silence of personal language, nor was it just his own unilateral silence, but rather, this warlord who had risen up from the ranks of the Hebei army suddenly felt a kind of silence as if the abruptness of the entire battlefield had been smoothed out.

If there is noise everywhere, then there is no noise; if there is blood everywhere, then there is no blood; if there is fighting and death everywhere, then fighting and death seem insignificant.

The key lies in the question raised by Guo Dadao. This simple question is exactly what determines victory or defeat... Yue Fei made the final oblique formation arrangement. It is true that Yue Fei was more patient, but what next?

Then there was the feeling that both sides rolled the dice together... On this battlefield right now, there is a main road in the middle, and the two sides are slightly rugged. There is a river of neither width nor narrow blocking each side's retreat every ten miles or so. In such a crowded and narrow battlefield, it would be difficult to dispatch the troops once they are thrown out. What else can be done?

As the commander, the only thing he can do at this moment is to decide when and where to deploy the last bit of elite force under his command again!

"My Lord! My Lord?!"

Seeing that Li Cheng remained silent, Guo Dadao could not help but remind him.

"Wait a moment." Li Cheng came back to his senses and took a few deep breaths before responding. "Wait a moment... These hundreds of long sword cavalry and three thousand heavy infantry are our last trump card. This time we must strike back and not let Yue Fei take advantage of the situation... You must know that the big and small eyes will smash the Beiwei Army as soon as it comes up, and there must be a last force!"

Guo Dadao nodded repeatedly, as if he was convinced.

"Jiedu."

Seeing another wave of wounded being carried down, Tang Huai, who had been standing beside Yue Fei on his horse, made a brief estimate in his mind and suddenly spoke.

"What's the matter?" Yue Fei was still staring at the flags on the front line in a daze.

"Since the battle started at Vice Governor Wang's (Wang Gui), the battle has only lasted for a little over a quarter of an hour, and there have been no less than 300 seriously injured soldiers carried down. I'm afraid the number of casualties on the front lines is also the same..." Tang Huai said solemnly. "Jiedu, since the battle with the Jin people, the armor of both sides has become stronger and stronger. It is rare to see so many people die in such a short time."

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!