So, in short, if he encountered Liao cavalry in the wild, Fan Zhongyan would not be afraid at all, as he had already deployed his troops. However, he had to march to Baosai, and if he was attacked along the way, it would be a serious problem.
If Yue Fei were still alive, he would definitely be able to handle these problems. However, there was only one Yue Fei in the entire Northern and Southern Song Dynasties. It was not easy for Fan Zhongyan, as a civil servant, to coordinate the overall situation. It was naturally not that fast to command an army of more than 100,000 to be ready for defense at any time and adjust the formation.
This resulted in his marching speed being extremely slow. On December 17, the scouts had already discovered the main movement of the Liao army. On the 18th, he received Wang Deyong's letter for help, and then adjusted the team to set off.
It took him four days to walk the 40 to 50 kilometers from Gaoyang to Baosai, and he could only march 10 kilometers a day. It was quite difficult.
no way.
The army was bloated, and although Lao Fan had excellent strategies, his practical command was not so strong. In addition, the Song army had a unique problem in which the generals did not know their soldiers, and the soldiers did not know their generals. The soldiers and generals were not familiar with each other, which caused a serious gap between superiors and subordinates. It was often difficult for a general to quickly adjust the formation.
Unless Han Xin or Yue Fei comes, they can only maintain a half-combat, half-march posture. Once there is any sign of trouble, they must immediately form a battle line. It can be said that this is still Lao Fan's classic tactic, advancing step by step and taking one step at a time.
Faced with Lao Fan's turtle-like tactics, if the Liao army retreated immediately at this time, there would obviously be no problem at all.
But Yelu Zongzhen hesitated.
It's still the same problem. If we withdraw our troops now, we will go back in disgrace, without gaining any benefits and causing so many casualties. Obviously, we will not be able to give an explanation to the domestic nobles.
Therefore, after thinking it over again and again, even though the scouts had reported to him that Fan Zhongyan's main force was heading towards Baosai, Yelu Zongzhen still had not made up his mind.
He even naively thought at that moment that Fan Zhongyan's main force had no city protection and would definitely have to fight a field battle with them.
He didn't dare to fight Fan Zhongyan in the field before because Fan Zhongyan's main force had 170,000 to 180,000 troops, while he only had 80,000. Moreover, Fan Zhongyan also had grenades, so there was a small gap in military strength and technology.
Now after joining forces with Xiao Hui, the Liao cavalry alone has 130,000 men, plus the recruited infantry from other nationalities, the total strength is not much different from Fan Zhongyan. Even if the Song army transfers support from other places, he will still be able to fight!
Thinking of this, Yelu Zongzhen finally decided to try a field battle with the Song army. If it didn't work, he had so many cavalrymen that he could always run away if he couldn't win!
So on December 22, the second year of Baoyuan in the Song Dynasty, the main force of the Liao Kingdom met the main force of the Song Kingdom.
The two sides came to a standoff in Baosai.
(End of this chapter)
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