Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 734 The Armored Soldiers Remain Immovable as Mountains

Liu Huai's behavior was actually quite common in the Western Middle Ages and early Renaissance.

The king is often not only the commander of the entire army, or rather, not only the overall commander of the army, but also the most powerful knight.

At crucial moments, the king will lead his most elite knights into battle, securing victory through his personal bravery.

It is not uncommon for political leaders to personally take to the battlefield in China; Liu Bang, Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Shimin, and Zhao Kuangyin all have records of personally fighting on the front lines.

Starting a business is fraught with difficulties and requires countless battles; that's roughly the idea.

However, it's rare to see someone of Liu Huai's stature, commanding tens of thousands of troops, still personally leading the charge. If such a situation ever occurs, it's always in an extremely urgent situation.

However, it must be said that the way to demonstrate personal bravery is extremely straightforward; one only needs to kill a powerful enemy in front of the entire army.

The effect is remarkable, almost immediately winning over onlookers, earning their admiration and even worship.

The most typical example in this regard is the veteran Li Shimin. When he personally led his armored cavalry in nine battles in one day and defeated Song Jingang, the entire Tang army was immediately won over and praised him with the "Qin King's Battle Song".

Of course, just as Li Shimin had a devoted admirer like Li Daoxuan, Liu Huai's swift and fearless courage also inspired a group of young generals under his command.

For example, Xin Qiji in the past, and Zhang Baiyu and Bi Zaiyu in the present.

The Han cavalry were originally positioned on the flanks to contain the Jin cavalry. However, to the surprise of the two cavalry commanders, after a series of troop splits, the situation has now turned into the Jin elite cavalry splitting up to contain them.

This left Zhang Baiyu both amused and furious.

The saying goes, "Win by using the orthodox and the unorthodox." Elite armored cavalry, often serving as surprise troops, often play a crucial role in determining victory or defeat. Now, the Jin army has unleashed its trump card, while the Han army's armored cavalry is entangled and unable to make any moves. How can this not infuriate them?
After wave of small charges, the armored cavalry began to engage in melee combat. The battlefield, involving thousands of cavalry, rapidly expanded, spreading from both flanks and forming small battle groups.

This is also the norm in battles between elite cavalry.

When the Jin Dynasty was founded, the Jurchen cavalry once made a bold statement: "If we cannot fight for more than a hundred rounds, how can we be called a cavalry?"
The claim of fighting for over a hundred rounds is likely an exaggeration, but elite cavalry can indeed regroup and launch another attack after several offensives and the loss of their formation.

In comparison, the Khitan light cavalry, once routed, were extremely difficult to regroup, which was utterly disgraceful.

When both sides have elite armored cavalry, the situation develops into what it is now: although both sides' cavalry have lost their organizational structure, to the point that the units fight independently, or even the individuals fight independently, they still keep widening the distance and charging and killing each other again.

Zhang Baiyu only had about two hundred riders left by his side. After just breaking through a Jin army, he saw another group of troops gathering in the distance, which made him very irritable.

He turned his head and saw another battle group of about a hundred men approaching. He immediately shouted loudly at the general among them, "Bi Zaiyu! Didn't you want to be a founding duke?! Now you have your chance!"

Bi Zaiyu was also annoyed by the chaotic battle, feeling as if he had immense strength but had punched cotton.

Hearing this, he thought Zhang Baiyu had a solution and immediately shouted, "Steward Zhang, where should we fight?!"

Zhang Baiyu lifted his collar and spat out a mouthful of dusty spittle: "Not 'us,' but 'you!' I'll give you another hundred riders. Go to the Commander-in-Chief's place immediately and await his orders!"

Bi Zaiyu was taken aback, then looked around at the battlefield filled with the sounds of fighting: "Steward, how is it here?"

Zhang Baiyu wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Never mind this place. It's in such a mess that it's hard to determine a winner anytime soon. The key is with Commander-in-Chief. I'm worried about Wang Shilong and his men, who are all infantry."

Bi Zaiyu glanced around the battlefield again and nodded emphatically: "I'll go right now!"

After saying this, Bi Zaiyu led two hundred armored cavalrymen away from the battle. However, the battlefield was too chaotic, with smoke and dust rising everywhere, the sounds of battle deafening, and every now and then one or two groups of Jin armored cavalrymen would launch a reckless surprise attack.

Even though Bi Zaiyu forcibly gathered his troops to avoid participating in the battle, there was still some deviation in direction. Instead of heading towards the central army in the southeast, he headed in a south-southwest direction.

After everyone escaped the huge cloud of dust generated by the cavalry fighting, Bi Zaiyu squinted and took a look.

Damn, how did we end up on the main battlefield of the infantry battle?
At this time, Xin Qiji's main force of 30,000 troops had already engaged in a decisive battle with the Jin army's infantry formation.

A large horizontal formation of 30,000 soldiers cannot be commanded by a single person, and it would be difficult to accomplish even with the current command system. It would mostly depend on the soldiers' daily training, as well as the cooperation between the various generals.

Therefore, the large horizontal formation had to stop almost every two hundred steps, spend half a quarter of an hour aligning itself, and then advance again.

Although this would inevitably cause some missed opportunities, the sense of oppression created by the orderly advancing ranks was unparalleled.

When the two armies were about a mile apart, the Jin Han'er army collapsed in several places. Only through the relentless suppression by officers at all levels was the desertion dealt with and the formation kept intact.

Wanyan Mouyan and Liu E, who were commanding the infantry at the forefront, knew that if things continued like this, the morale of the entire army would likely collapse before they even engaged in battle, and they would have no choice but to send armored soldiers into battle.

At this point, Wanyan Mouyan no longer cared about preserving his strength. He personally led three thousand elite armored soldiers, a mix of his personal guards, Jurchens, Xi people, and Han people, to charge forward from the very center of the battle formation, positioning himself in the very center of the Han army.

Wanyan Mouyan's plan was simple: relying on three thousand elite armored soldiers to break through the Han army's formation was unlikely, but it was still possible to hinder them and cause the sweeping formation to break apart, thereby boosting morale.

Wanyan Mouyan's plan was perfect, but unfortunately, a major mistake was made in the very first step.

Waiting for them in the very center of the great horizontal formation was the Vanguard Army, who had been watching the whole battle from beginning to end and were now advancing on supply wagons.

The selection process for this elite force was exceptionally rigorous from the outset; anyone under six feet (1.8 meters) tall was practically guaranteed a spot. Wearing three layers of heavy armor and wielding a long axe, being able to remove the armor and run two miles after a five-mile march was merely a prerequisite for selection.

Of course, the reason why people still flock to the Elite Forces despite such stringent conditions is that, apart from the extra subsidies for their warhorses, their treatment is almost identical to that of the Flying Tigers.

As regular troops, the Vanguard Army did not engage in production; their sole purpose was to hone their martial skills. They ate three meals a day in peacetime, including one meat meal; in wartime, they ate two meat meals. This was to maintain their health.

Those who perform meritorious service will be given priority for promotion.

The land was allocated on a double basis. If a family could not cultivate that much land, the government would provide oxen for plowing and rent it out.

They received an annual military salary of two hundred strings of cash, and upon death in battle, they received a generous pension. If they were only children, the government would support their parents. If they had children, the government would pay to raise them to adulthood.

Even ordinary captains and squad leaders don't necessarily receive such high treatment.

With such high treatment and such rigorous training, the elite troops naturally need to shoulder greater responsibilities.

Faced with Wanyan Mouyan's challenge, Xin Qiji only temporarily slowed down the marching speed of the Great Horizontal Formation, and then sent the Vanguard Army into battle.

The battle was lackluster. The Vanguard Army was half a head taller than the Jin army, and Wanyan Mouyan's carefully organized attack was almost crushed in the first encounter. The Vanguard Army, wielding broadswords and long axes, maintained their forward momentum and trampled the Jin army's elite infantry into dust without stopping.

Wanyan Mouyan fled in a sorry state.

The intention was to show one's face, but instead, one's underwear was exposed. The loss of face was minor, but the blow to the morale of the Jin army was indescribable. Witnessing all this, the central position of the Jin army also became restless.

Liu E dispatched almost all of his personal guards to suppress the situation again, but he still immediately sent a military envoy to Heshi Liezhining, ordering him to lead his armored cavalry to provide support.

Before Liu E's military envoy arrived, Wanyan Mouyan, who had escaped back, had already come to Heshilie Zhining's side and said anxiously, "Marshal, let's go, we can't win this battle."

Although Heshilie Zhining was somewhat prepared when he saw the Han army deploying a large horizontal formation to sweep through the enemy, his heart still sank when he heard Wanyan Mouyan, a veteran general, say this.

However, Heshilie Zhining did not answer. Instead, he looked at the battlefield ahead and at the approaching Han army formation, and fell silent.

Wanyan Mouyan spurred his horse forward, grabbed Heshilie Zhining's arm, and said, "Zhining, I know you're not convinced, but if the infantry can't win, they can't win; if the armored cavalry can't break through, they can't break through. The Shandong bandits have already gained momentum, but we've underestimated them too much."

Heshilie Zhining shook his head and said, "There is still a chance of victory. As long as the infantry formation can hold out for a while, I will immediately lead these four thousand armored cavalry, along with the gathered Khitan light cavalry, to attack from the flank and rear of the Shandong bandits. At that time..."

Wanyan Mouyan anxiously interrupted the other party: "Zhining! There is no chance! The biggest oversight today was that I did not expect the Shandong bandits' infantry to be so strong! Just now, my three thousand elite troops were torn apart by the Shandong bandits' armored soldiers before they could even put up a decent counterattack."

Just like how I followed my father to tear apart the Song army's formation, it was effortless. Do you know what that means?!

"The Han army will surely collapse at the first contact with such troops!"

"Our cavalry simply cannot handle so many Shandong bandits on their own!"

He Shilie Zhining was still hesitant.

This is the nation's elite force. If they are all lost here due to a misjudgment, Dongjin will either be wiped out immediately or enter a state of shock.

Is this level of responsibility really something a Left Deputy Marshal can shoulder?

Thinking of this, Heshilie Zhining felt another pang of regret for not summoning Wanyan Yong.

After pondering for a moment, He Shilie Zhining shook his head: "General Mouyan, now that Tudan Hailuo and Jiagu Huila are both deeply trapped in the enemy's formation, what will happen to them if I retreat here?! If they break through the Shandong bandits' central army, wouldn't we be letting them down?"

Wanyan Mouyan grabbed Heshilie Zhining's arm and shook it repeatedly, anxiously saying, "Zhining, why did you make such a foolish mistake at this moment?! If those two had even the slightest chance, would the Great Blue Rhinoceros dare to advance so recklessly?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a military envoy arrived with a token in hand: “Reporting to the Marshal, General Tudan sent me to report that the Shandong bandits’ central army is strong and their rear army has also come to assist in the battle. Our army has little chance. I hope the Marshal will make preparations as soon as possible.”

Although the sound was not loud, it sounded like thunder to He Shilie Zhining.

Wanyan Mouyan was momentarily stunned upon hearing the news.

On such a vast battlefield, news is always delayed. The military intelligence that Tudan Hailuo was sending at this time indicated that they were about to retreat, but in reality, they had likely already retreated, or even been defeated.

Wanyan Mouyan released Heshilie Zhining's arm, lowered his head dejectedly, and looked as if he had aged more than twenty years.

"Zhining, take the cavalry and go. Although there are Shandong bandits in the Majia River, I have prepared enough pontoon bridges and military camps. The Shandong bandits cannot dismantle them all. As long as the cavalry marches north, they can find a way to retreat."

Heshilie Zhining shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Is the only option to withdraw the cavalry? What about the Han infantry?"

Wanyan Mouyan: "We can't worry about that now, let's go! Send a military envoy to tell all the cavalry to head north together!"

"As for the Han army, I will personally go and explain to Liu E!"

After saying this, Wanyan Mouyan cupped his hands and was about to turn and leave.

Heshilie Zhining, however, pulled on Wanyan Mouyan's horse reins instead: "General Mouyan... I..."

Wanyan Mouyan then turned to comfort him, saying, "Zhining, although we lost this battle, it's not your fault. It was a real defeat on the battlefield. Everyone did their best, but..."

At this point, Wanyan Mouyan choked up a little, grabbed the reins, and rode away at full speed.

(End of this chapter)