Xiangzhou and Weizhou!
These two important towns, standing on the Hebei Plain and facing the capital city on the south bank of the Yellow River, are now like lone boats in a storm, swaying precariously and in grave danger.
Li Biao, the military governor of Shandong, and Li Bao, the military governor of Henan, each led 50,000 men across the river to seize Hejian Prefecture. They were then ordered to attack Luzhou, threatening the southeast of Hedong Road.
They were cooperating with Niu Desheng's 50,000 troops and were about to capture Zezhou and Luzhou when the Northern Di army of 100,000 marched south and swept across the land.
The Yan-Yun Road had already been ceded by Emperor Yin-Zhao, and the Northern Di cavalry arrived at Hejian Prefecture without any effort.
Li Biao and Li Bao hurriedly retreated from Luzhou and each garrisoned key locations on the north bank of the Yellow River, namely Xiangzhou and Weizhou.
Once these two cities are captured, the north side of the capital will be exposed to the Tartars.
The two men received Li Jingang's strict order that they must not be abandoned under any circumstances.
Thus, while Da Feng and Zhao Muyun were negotiating, the two cities were surrounded by cavalry under the command of Wuzhu, the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians.
Wuzhu set up the central army camp in Liyang, between the two cities, and Xiangzhou and Weizhou easily besieged the two cities by sending only two commanders of 10,000 cavalry.
At the same time, 20,000 troops were dispatched to attack Luzhou, putting pressure on the Hedong region.
Li Biao held Xiangzhou, and Li Bao held Weizhou, each commanding 50,000 troops. However, they were firmly locked in their cities by the powerful mobility and intimidating force of the Northern Di cavalry, and dared not leave the city easily.
The neighing of warhorses replaced the clamor of the marketplace, and the wolf-headed banner fluttered in the wind below the city, making it almost impossible for the defenders on the city walls to breathe.
With a small force, he easily subdued Hedong and Dafeng.
Meanwhile, the central army camp still has 60,000 main force troops, who will remain stationary for the time being.
His intention seemed quite clear: he was waiting for Li Jingang to send troops to relieve the siege of the two cities before launching a preemptive strike, planning his move carefully before acting.
The methods of war are not limited to the gains and losses of a single city or town, but also aim to eliminate the enemy's manpower.
Wuzhu knew that Li Jingang would definitely send his most elite troops across the river.
If we wipe out these troops crossing the river, and they cross the river and besiege the capital, Li Jingang will probably follow in Yin Zhao's footsteps again!
He was full of confidence in his strategic plan. After all, a year ago he had also used this tactic to besiege the capital, forcing the hastily enthroned Yin Zhao to sign a humiliating treaty that ceded sovereignty and the Yan Yun Road.
At this moment, he was like a hunter, waiting for his prey to come to him.
......
The four Heavenly Kings who joined Li Jingang in the uprising in Xiazhou: Hou Zongmin has died in Xiazhou; Yang Yan held a high position and power as the Left Prime Minister and occupied Xijing, but after losing Xijing to Zhao Muyun, he left the stage in disgrace and was neglected.
Niu Desheng and Ma Zongliang, however, followed Li Jingang all the way to the capital, and then swept through various parts of the south, becoming the two most powerful people in the Dafeng army.
Now, Li Jingang has entrusted the two with important tasks again, appointing them as marshals of the left and right routes, to cross the river and relieve the siege of Xiangzhou and Weizhou, and to fight a decisive battle against the Tartars.
Ma Zongliang is a very cunning, ruthless, and intelligent man.
When Li Jingang was at a disadvantage in the great battle against Yang Dingguo, the Minister of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Great Yin Dynasty, in Xijing and was about to be defeated, it was Ma Zongliang who led troops from Linzhou to attack Yang Dingguo's rear supply lines, miraculously turning the tide of the battle for Li Jingang.
Therefore, Ma Zongliang's 50,000-strong army marched with exceptionally steady steps.
He marched no more than thirty li each day, and ordered his troops to set up camp before 3 PM.
The camps were built according to the terrain, complete with trenches, barricades, and watchtowers, and patrols were conducted around the clock.
After arriving at the outskirts of Xiangzhou, he did not rush to approach the city, but instead set up a strong camp in a hilly area twenty miles away from the Northern Di besieging camp.
Climb to a high vantage point and observe carefully the layout of Di's camp, the direction of the supply route, the water source, and any possible outposts.
“The Di camps are continuous and seem powerful, but their supplies are all transported from the northwest and have to pass through the Black Stone Valley.”
Pointing to the map, Ma Zongliang analyzed to his generals, "Their besieging troops are some distance from the rear camp. Although there are many communication lines, there are patterns to follow."
"At the same time, we must also be on high alert for the Tartar troops in Liyang."
That very night, he dispatched three elite teams:
The first team, consisting of a thousand light cavalry led by the valiant general Xie Qing, carried many fire starters and whistling arrows. They circled around to the rear of the Di camp, attacked a small grain transport team, burned the grain carts, and then left without lingering for battle.
The second team, consisting of one thousand mountain infantrymen led by Colonel Chen Rui, quietly eliminated several key outposts on the outskirts of the Di camp, changed into Di soldiers' uniforms, and disguised themselves as a patrol team.
The third team, consisting of five hundred elite soldiers personally selected by him, armed with powerful bows and crossbows, infiltrated the pre-arranged positions outside Xiangzhou City and used arrows to send a signal to Li Biao inside the city.
The remaining army remained stationary.
Soon, the first team's harassment successfully caused chaos and alert among the besieging Tartars.
The second team's actions temporarily disabled Di Ying's intelligence network.
On the third night, just after midnight, three bonfires suddenly burst into flames on the walls of Xiangzhou!
At the same time, the lurking assassins captured a sentry tower at the front of Di's camp!
"kill--!"
Li Biao personally led 10,000 elite troops from Xiangzhou to rush out of the city gate and head straight for the front line of the Di camp, which was somewhat chaotic due to the riots!
Almost simultaneously, the gates of Ma Zongliang's main army camp were opened, and the troops, who were already prepared, split into several groups.
Like several sharp arrows, they did not directly attack the main body of the Di camp, but instead cut off its connection with the rear camp, attacked its flanks, and headed straight for the burned grain route, making it appear as if they wanted to completely cut off its logistics.
The Northern Di cavalry, who were besieging the city, were caught off guard.
He had to deal with the sudden counterattack of the city's defenders, guard against the encirclement and cutting off of the outer reinforcements, and was even more worried about the supply lines being cut off.
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