Chapter 234: Daizhou Falls
A large and ragged team slowly moved forward. Two bowls of hot porridge a day kept them strong, and their longing for the future urged them to move forward.
Yang Ye led 5,000 soldiers and horses to escort them all the way, maintaining order and protecting their safety. These were more than 50,000 Han people who had migrated south from Shuozhou City, and 170,000 people from Huan, Ying, and Yun. He had asked his deputy general Jiao Zan to lead 10,000 Song troops to escort them into Yanmen Pass a few days ago.
Yang Ye looked up at the gloomy sky and said, "Rest here, cook, and continue on the road in an hour, and try to reach Daizhou the day after tomorrow."
The cold wind was howling, and tens of thousands of people sat on the ground. Men, women, old and young looked eagerly at the big iron pots with steam rising. The aroma of rice porridge filled the air, tempting their empty stomachs to growl. In a little while, everyone will have a bowl of thick hot porridge to drink.
No whips and sticks, no beatings and oppression, no killing, only fields to plant and full meals to eat, this was the promise they got. For this hope, they took their wives and children and followed the Song army on a long journey.
At present, it seems not bad. These Song soldiers do not beat or bully them, and they also provide them with food. However, they must abide by the rules they set. Then just abide by them. Anyway, they have long been accustomed to being obedient slaves under the sticks of the Khitans.
A war horse galloped over and came to Yang Ye. The scout rolled over and knelt on one knee. His hoarse voice was filled with anxiety, "Report... Report to the general, Daizhou has been lost, the commander Pan Mei and the supervisor Wang Quan have retreated to Zhending Prefecture!"
Yang Ye stood up suddenly in surprise, and the porridge bowl in his hand shook, and a stream of thick porridge spilled out and fell on the boots under his feet.
Daizhou was actually lost?
After calming down, he asked, "When did Marshal Pan and General Wang withdraw from Daizhou? What happened to the 170,000 civilians escorted by Jiao Zan?"
"General, Marshal Pan and General Wang withdrew from Daizhou the day before yesterday. General Jiao was escorting 170,000 civilians and happened to meet them outside the city of Daizhou. They retreated and moved to Zhending Prefecture together."
Yang Ye did not breathe a sigh of relief. The lives of those Han civilians who had relocated were saved, but the Han civilians near the city of Daizhou suffered. Every time the Khitans captured a city of the Song Dynasty, the policy of burning, killing and looting was implemented without mercy.
After pondering for a moment, he ordered, "After dinner, turn around and head straight to Zhending Prefecture to join the army."
On the way, he received another piece of bad news from the guards of Yanmen Pass. Yelu Xiezhen, the general of the Liao army, unexpectedly sent out 10,000 elite cavalrymen to capture Huanzhou City when attacking Yingzhou City.
Yang Ye was in a heavy mood, worried about the safety of King Qin and Yang Yanzhao, but he had no choice but to order the soldiers to urge the people to march faster. Two days later, they finally arrived outside the city of Zhending.
After ordering the settlement of the tens of thousands of people he brought with him, Yang Ye hurried to the central army commander's tent.
After the greeting, Pan Mei looked at Yang Ye, who was exhausted and anxious, with mixed feelings, and said, "General Yang, sit down and have a cup of hot tea first, and then we can discuss the military situation."
Yang Ye drank the tea in one gulp, and his dry and smoking throat was moistened by the tea, and his frozen body also warmed up a little.
He put down his teacup and urgently suggested, "Marshal Pan, General Wang, the Liao army is now in high spirits and our army is under attack from both sides. I suggest that we first move these 200,000 Han people to the interior, and I will lead the troops to cover the retreat and protect the army and the people."
Pan Mei remained silent. Wang Quan raised his eyelids and spoke, "General Yang, the marshal and I have already discussed it.
The emperor is extremely wise and ordered this Northern Expedition. How can our frontline soldiers give up because of a little setback?
Cao Bin's Eastern Army fought "It's unfavorable. Our Western Army fought bravely and won many victories. How can we be willing to retreat and disappoint His Majesty and the people in the rear?
Therefore, General Supervisor and Marshal Pan will lead the army to stay here, and General Yang will lead the Huoshan Army to take the initiative to attack and recapture Daizhou occupied by the Liao Army. When Cao Bin of the Eastern Army retreats here, we will unite our troops and then fight our way out of Yanmen Pass to continue this Northern Expedition."
This guy who knows nothing about military tactics but is arrogant, actually wants to counterattack and continue the Northern Expedition? Yang Ye stood up anxiously and said, "No! The battle situation is clear now and the outcome is lost. Our army must not take any risks!"
Pan Mei remained silent, but was making plans in his mind.
Wang Qian looked at the emotional Yang Ye with a sarcastic look, and said with a curled mouth: "I didn't expect that Yang Ye, who was invincible with a golden sword, would be so greedy and afraid of death. No wonder, he defended the city for many days, but finally surrendered to our Song Dynasty."
Yang Ye was so angry that his face turned red and he trembled all over, "Okay! If you want to fight, I will fight, let's see who is the greedy and afraid of death!"
Pan Mei finally stopped being silent and spoke to smooth things over, "General Yang, General Wang, don't argue, we are all loyal to the Song Dynasty, and we are all serving the emperor.
Since General Yang has agreed to take the initiative to counterattack, let's discuss the battle plan!"
Standing at the stall In front of the map, Yang Ye pondered for a moment, pointed to a point on the map and said: "Since it is a counterattack with a huge disparity in military strength, we must use a cunning strategy.
This place is called Lianglang Mountain, and between the two peaks is Chenjia Valley. I suggest that I lead the army to take the initiative to attack and lure the main force of the Liao army here, and you, Marshal, take the army to ambush Valley entrance. When the Liao army chases me out of the valley entrance, we can use the archers ambushed at the valley entrance to shoot them head-on. When the enemy is in chaos, the ambushed army will rush out and will surely defeat the enemy. "
Pan Mei stroked his beard, secretly praising this plan in his heart. If it is implemented smoothly, maybe the offensive and defensive situation of the Song and Liao armies will be reversed. Yang Ye was able to come up with this plan in a moment, how can we not be jealous!
Wang Quan pretended to think while looking at the map, he could not find any fault with this plan. Anyway, it was Yang Ye who risked his life to attack and lure the enemy, and this supervisor had no reason to disagree!
Wang Quan said with a wry smile: "General Yang's plan is very clever, he is worthy of the famous Yang Invincible. Since General Yang is brave and fearless and leads his troops to take the initiative to attack and lure the enemy, this general will also disregard his own safety and personally lead 10,000 elite troops and 3,000 archers to ambush at the entrance of Chenjia Valley to support General Yang."
Yang Ye looked at him deeply, with a little distrust in his heart, and looked at the commander Pan Mei.
Pan Mei nodded in agreement: "Yes! I am waiting for the good news that you two can work together and defeat the enemy."
After a pause, he continued: "If Huanzhou is lost, I will order the King of Qin and Yang Yanzhao to withdraw from the pass and defend Yanmen Pass. After you two have defeated the Liao army, our army will gather forces and go out of the pass to the north!"
The strategy has been decided. Yang Ye rested in Zhending Prefecture for a day, and then took Jiao Zan and 3,000 Huoshan Army cavalry to take the initiative to counterattack the main force of the Liao army in Daizhou.