Jin Wushu said: "With this powerful weapon, our Great Jin will be safe. If we can defeat the Great Song, then the Xia and Mongolians will not dare to act rashly again."
Wanyan Sheng nodded and said, "Wuzhu, this battle in Zhongjing must be won, not lost. If we lose, our Great Jin will be in danger."
Jin Wushu led 5,000 heavily armored cavalrymen and 10,000 lame war horses from Shangjing Huining Prefecture via Xianping and headed straight for Changping Town.
During the march, Jin Wushu was thinking hard about how to deal with the Song army. He remembered the groom he met outside the palace.
The coachman was pulling a cart of heavy armor to the Arsenal. Because the cargo was heavy, he used three horses to pull the cart.
Jin Wushu suddenly had an idea: why not link the war horses together? This way, they could attack directly. The impact of three war horses alone could crush everything.
Wanyan Gufang, the Jin commander of Zhongjing, was in a state of panic. Twenty thousand Song troops were besieging Zhongjing. He had organized several breakout attempts, but they were always repelled by Yue's army. With no other choice, he retreated to the city, daring not to fight again.
The Jin people didn't understand why the Song army, which had always been weak, became so powerful as if they had taken medicine.
In fact, after the Huining Alliance, there had been no large-scale decisive battle between Song and Jin. The Battle of Zhongjing was the first one.
The ancients had extremely slow mobility on the battlefield. Before the army moved, food and supplies had to be sent ahead.
Zhao Huan's 180,000 imperial guards mobilized nearly one million people from the north for logistical support alone. The pressure they were under can be imagined.
It is impossible to concentrate the 180,000 imperial guards into a single attack. Only the vanguard of more than 50,000 people brought by Zhao Huan arrived in Dading.
Heavy troops like the powerful crossbowmen and armored infantry would not arrive at the front lines for at least two months. In fact, of the more than 50,000 troops Zhao Huan brought with him, there were only a little over 800 divine arm crossbowmen and less than 300 armored infantrymen, and these were only given priority because he was leading the expedition personally.
Jin Wushu's cavalry was much faster and less cumbersome. When logistical support couldn't keep up, they resorted to robbing, leading to constant small-scale peasant uprisings across the Jin Empire.
Baijugou, where Zhao Huan's 50,000 imperial guards were stationed, led by Commander Jiang Zhongguo.
Zhao Huan and Yue Fei were in command of the outer defense line of Zhongjing.
At Yue Fei's request, the camp was moved forward two kilometers so that the soldiers at the front could be quickly mobilized and commanded.
More than twenty days later, Jin Wushu's heavily armored army arrived at Changping Town, two hundred miles away from Zhongjing.
In Baijugou, the main camp is commanded by Zhao Huan, and the commander-in-chief Yue Fei can only be on one side.
"Your Majesty, the Jin cavalry has arrived in Changping. I think we should gather heavy troops along the Taizhuang line and launch a fierce attack on the enemy while they are still unstable." Jiang Zhongguo said.
"Hmm," Zhao Huan nodded. He looked at Yue Fei and asked, "What do you think, General Yue?"
Yue Fei shook his head and said, "The Jin cavalry is powerful. A direct confrontation is not worthwhile. I think we should send a small force to test the waters first, and then ambush and annihilate them."
Jiang Zhongguo said angrily, "That would only alert the enemy. I have 50,000 elite soldiers, all carefully selected. Can't they handle these mere Jin soldiers? The Jin are exhausted after traveling so far. As the art of war says, attack them when they are tired. Let alone 50,000 men, I wouldn't dare to fight the Jin even with 20,000 men."
Yue Fei said, "General Zhong, you may not know this. I have been fighting the Jin people on the border for many years and know how fierce and difficult they are. Although the Imperial Guards are numerous and well-equipped, they lack actual combat experience. Moreover, the equipment of the Jin cavalry is unknown. I believe we should send a small force of cavalry to test the waters before making any plans."
Zhao Huan was somewhat embarrassed: "I don't understand the art of war. Based on what you two generals have said, I still prefer General Yue's method."
"Your Majesty," Jiang Zhongguo said, unconvinced. "Your Majesty, General Yue is cautious in his military operations, and that's not wrong. However, the Jin cavalry have traveled a long distance. If we don't attack them while they're still struggling, we'll miss our chance. I believe this opportunity must be missed, and it won't come back!"
Seeing Jiang Zhongguo's resolute tone, Zhao Huan was momentarily unsure what to do. He turned to Yue Fei. Yue Fei bowed and said, "I firmly believe that we should not launch a frontal attack. We should first send a small force to explore and determine the strength of this Jin army. Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we fight a hundred battles without danger."
Jiang Zhongguo was furious. He slammed the table and shouted angrily, "General Yue is being timid like a woman. How can we miss such a golden opportunity? Your Majesty, I am absolutely sure we can destroy this Jin army! I am willing to issue a military order. If you fail to defeat this Jin army, I will bring my head to you!"
Zhao Huan heard his resolute words and thought he was sure of victory. He also wanted to suppress Yue Fei, so he nodded in agreement and said, "Okay, I will order General Jiang to attack Changping tomorrow!"
Yue Fei shook his head and said nothing more.
On the second day, Jiang Zhongguo, dressed in armor, arrived at the Taizhuang front line in high spirits.
"Soldiers! We must be loyal to the emperor. The Jin bandit cavalry has arrived in Changping. We are the imperial guards of His Majesty and should set an example. If we can annihilate this invading enemy, high positions and generous salaries will be just around the corner! Soldiers, do you have confidence?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The soldiers' blood boiled.
Outside Changping City, Jin Wushu's Iron Pagoda armor gleamed brightly in the sunlight.
The Jin soldiers were not marching very fast, and Jin Wushu knew the strength of the Song army. He wanted to advance cautiously, and the mobility of his heavy cavalry was also greatly reduced.
"Report!" The scouts sent by Jin Wushu reported: "General, a large group of Song troops has been spotted twenty miles ahead."
Jin Wushu was shocked: "How many people are there? What's their equipment?"
The scout said, "The Song army has about 40,000 to 50,000 men, well-prepared. They are likely the main force of the Imperial Guard."
Jin Wushu was overjoyed: "It's delivered to our door. Order all armies to prepare for battle!"
"Prepare for battle!" The Jin soldiers, who were originally careless, suddenly became alert, and even the horses under their crotch began to neigh and roar.
Jiang Zhongguo also received a report from a spy that the Jin cavalry, wearing heavy armor, were charging towards Zhongjing from 20 miles away.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
