"What happened? One of our food storage points was attacked by rebels? Not only did they burn the food, but they also killed a captain?"
"Aren't there soldiers lying in ambush there?"
The four battalions of the capital advanced in three directions, and the 10,000-strong Leopard Tao Battalion guarded the central army. Yang Dingguo, who was heading towards Bailuyuan, received an emergency report from the rear.
His secret grain storage point in the north of Xijing City was discovered by the rebels, who sent 3,000 elite cavalrymen to launch a surprise attack.
As a result, food supplies were burned and many soldiers were killed.
Yang Dingguo's expression changed slightly.
However, he didn't care how many people died.
The imperial army mainly used water transport to transport food and fodder, going up the river from the capital and then entering the Wei River.
Yang Dingguo did not concentrate the grain and grass in one place, but set up several grain and grass storage points on the south bank of the Wei River, which was quite a thinking of not putting all eggs in one basket.
Some staff members suggested that the rebels might launch a surprise attack on the grain storage points, forcing the imperial army to run out of food and retreat. If they took advantage of the situation and ambushed troops near the grain storage points, the rebels would have no chance of returning.
Yang Dingguo agreed with this and adopted the advice of his staff. He then withdrew 20,000 auxiliary troops and ambushed them around the farthest grain storage point.
"The ambushing troops have launched an attack and have surrounded the rebels who launched the surprise attack!"
"The rebels were fierce and broke through our ambush, and they had cavalry supporting them from behind."
"Our men fought desperately, losing a thousand men. Our troops immediately went in pursuit, but the rebels dispatched five thousand archers to block their way. In the end, we had no choice but to retreat."
The staff shook their heads and sighed, feeling very regretful.
This sneak attack and encounter was the largest in the history of the confrontation between the two sides.
The rebels dispatched 3,000 elite cavalry, 3,000 light cavalry, and 5,000 archers.
The imperial army had already ambushed 20,000 people.
Judging from the overall situation, the imperial army suffered heavy casualties and had its food supplies burned in this battle, so it should be considered a defeat.
In fact, Niu Desheng was greedy for merit and wanted to fight for a long time. After burning the food and grass, he did not retreat in time and was surrounded by the ambushed Dayin soldiers.
If Yang Yan had not promptly dispatched the only 3,000 remaining light cavalry in the army to attack from behind the officers and soldiers, and added 5,000 archers, Niu Desheng would have been able to escape danger.
The rebels seemed to have won, but in fact they had exposed their strength too early.
In this encounter, Yang Dingguo did not allow the 50,000 troops from the five battalions of the capital to participate, but instead advanced forward according to the established plan. The entire army had already seen the rebel camp.
"The three thousand cavalrymen who dared to raid our military rations must be Li Jingang's confidence and support."
"Otherwise, seeing these 3,000 cavalrymen fall into our ambush, why would they send troops to rescue them one after another?"
"We may seem to have lost this encounter, but in reality, we were able to gain a better understanding of the rebels' strengths and weaknesses. Of the 300,000 rebels, it would be a good thing if 30% to 40% could actually train and put them into battle."
The rebels gathered 300,000 people in half a year, so their foundation must be weak.
They launched a surprise attack and burned the food and fodder, determined to gain their victory, as they thought the government army only had this one food storage base.
Therefore, Niu Desheng brought 3,000 elite cavalrymen with him. After being ambushed, Yang Yan had to take out all 3,000 light cavalrymen and 5,000 archers in his army.
In other words, in one of Yang Dingguo's grain storage areas, he used grain as bait to lure the main force of the rebels to launch a surprise attack.
In order to get these 3,000 elite cavalry, the rebels revealed two more trump cards: 3,000 light cavalry and 5,000 archers.
On Yang Dingguo's side, only 20,000 auxiliary troops were deployed, and the 50,000 main forces were not moved at all.
Why did these five battalions of troops move so slowly, allowing the rebels to burn their food supplies first?
In fact, this was also a decision made by Yang Dingguo after careful consideration of his residence.
The reason why he ordered the main forces of the five battalions to move slowly was to wait for the troops from Pei Lun, Longyou and Jiannan in the outer regions of Hedong Road to approach at the same time before launching an attack.
It would take time to coordinate the troops from all sides when surrounded like this.
"However, from now on, the rebels will no longer have any plans to raid our food supplies."
"Quickly contact Pei Lun of Hedong Province, as well as the Jiedushi of Longyou Province and Jiannan Province. Tell them to arrive at the designated location today. No excuses for delay are allowed, otherwise you will be subject to military law."
Yang Dingguo seemed to be confident of victory.
If nothing unexpected happens, the battle can be ended within a few days and the heads of Li Jingang and his followers can be brought back to the capital.
"The message is that the five battalions of the capital army are to set up camp on the spot and launch the attack early tomorrow morning."
"Notify Zhang Zhongfang in Xijing City to defend the city, lest the rebels rush into Xijing and plunder."
One order after another came from Yang Dingguo's mouth and then spread to the five camps through messengers.
The 50,000-strong army from the capital immediately set up camp on the spot.
Tomorrow, a fierce battle awaits them!
......
Go! Go! Go!
On the broad official road from Jincheng, Yanzhou, to Xiazhou, a group of more than ten riders were galloping like a violent storm.
The leader had sword-like eyebrows slanting into his temples, his eyes flashing with sharp light, and his gaze was as deep as autumn water.
He rode a snow-white warhorse, its four hooves flying, as if he was stepping on invisible clouds, galloping forward.
The mane on the warhorse's neck danced in the wind, like flowing mercury, sparkling with dazzling luster.
However, the heroic knight did not seem satisfied with the current speed of the warhorse. He suddenly raised the whip in his hand, drew a sharp arc in the air, and then hit the warhorse's buttocks hard.
The warhorse was stimulated by this, as if the fire in its heart was ignited. Its speed suddenly increased, and in an instant it left its companion behind it more than twenty steps away.
The group left behind a series of rapid and firm horse hoofbeats on the official road, raising clouds of dust as they galloped towards Xiazhou.
"Husband, slow down, I'm about to be thrown off the horse!" Among the people behind, a pretty "young master" dressed as a man shouted at Zhao Muyun.
This person is Bai Ruolan, the eldest daughter of the Bai family, who had just married Zhao Muyun. She used herself and the Bai family's property as a dowry to ask Zhao Muyun to agree to marry her!
Obviously, all Zhao Muyun could hear was the roar of the waterfall.
"Niece-in-law, please stop shouting. Ayun will be waiting for us up ahead!"
A man who looked old but was clean all over and exuded an elegant temperament said this.
He is Zhao Muyun's second uncle, Zhao Wen.
"Uncle Wen, even though he is a captain of Dayin, he can't be so aggressive. It seems like he won't stop until he has overthrown me and all of you." Bai Ruolan scolded.
"Sir Zhao must be in such a hurry. Something important must be pressing the issue. But, what could possibly have caused such a strong reaction from Sir Zhao?"
A middle-aged bearded man looked at the mountains in the distance, then looked at the two people in front of him, and then muttered.
"Sir Huang, he hurried us from Shuozhou to Jincheng. We didn't even have a sip of water in Jincheng before he rushed to Dejing. I'm also very curious."
The gray city of Dejing is bustling with activity.
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