Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 198 The Great Victory at Xihe! (4k)

December 7th, the fourth year of the Zhiping era.

Nanzong Village.

This fortress is one of the subordinate fortresses of Miaochuan City, located only about twenty li away from Miaochuan City.

In the era of short weapons, it was quite common for two armies to set up camps within a distance of twenty or thirty miles when they were engaged in battle.

If the two armies were closer, about ten miles apart, they might be ambushed by the enemy or charged by cavalry.

If the distance were even greater, with the two armies separated by forty or fifty li, the soldiers would be exhausted just from the journey to engage in battle.

Traveling twenty or thirty li can avoid enemy surprise attacks, allow time for our own forces to deploy their troops, and facilitate scouts to conduct reconnaissance and transmit information in a timely manner.

After capturing Nanbao Village in the morning, the 60,000-strong army was stationed there for a temporary rest.

The Chinese military tent.

Zhong E, Zhang Ding, Zheng Xiao, Bao Shun, Yao Si, Yang Wenguang, and Guo Kui gathered here.

At the head of the table, Jiang Zhao, fully armored and carrying a sword, unfurled a geomantic map.

Upon entering Lezhou, the terrain is mainly loess and hills.

Occasionally, there are one or two tributaries of the Huangshui River or the Yellow River, which are either dry streams or deep ravines and great rivers.

Fortunately, there is no large river between Nanbao Village and Miaochuan City; instead, the area is mainly composed of small hills, which eliminates the need to cross a river.

After glancing at the geomantic map a few times, Jiang Zhao pondered and said, "With 60,000 against 20,000, the advantage is in my hands."

"After resting for an afternoon, just as darkness was about to fall, the main force pressed in, surrounding but not attacking."

"When Li Liangzuo set up camp, he must have thought that the army would have a day or two to rest. Little did he know that they would only have an afternoon to rest."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

Can it still be so neat?
Jiang Zhao didn't take it seriously and continued with his plan: "Once the army besieges the city, immediately build fortifications, dig trenches, set up fences and barricades."

“There are many canyons at the East Gate, making travel difficult. The West Gate leads to Longzhuhei, and the further you travel, the further you get from the Western Xia border. Ten thousand men guard the East Gate, and five thousand men guard the West Gate.”

“The path to the north gate is the flattest and most suitable for cavalry to break through, so five thousand men are stationed there.”

"The remaining 40,000 soldiers will form the main force and guard the main gate."

As he spoke, Jiang Zhao paused deliberately and glanced at Zheng Xiao, Bao Shun, Yao Si, Yang Wenguang, and Guo Kui.

The meaning is obvious.

The north gate was deliberately left as an "escape route".

If Li Liangzuo were to choose to escape in a certain direction, the North Gate would be the most likely.

The main gate is the south gate, and the east gate has 10,000 people.

If Li Liangzuo wanted to escape, he would definitely choose the west gate or the north gate.

Unfortunately, the West Gate is close to the South Gate and faces the opposite direction of the Western Xia, making it quite dangerous.

Therefore, Li Liangzuo is most likely to choose the North Gate as the breakthrough point and flee for his life.

This is a "gateway to survival" that was deliberately left out.

Feigning sleep to lure the enemy!

Risk and opportunity coexist.

Once you go to garrison the area, you risk the inability of the main army to provide timely support.

The slightest carelessness could allow the enemy to escape, which would be a major blunder.

Conversely, it would be a great achievement.

Either a great achievement or a great demerit, who wants that?

Yao Si and Guo Kui were both interested.

"This humble official is willing to guard the north gate." Compared to Guo Kui, Yao Si was more decisive.

Without hesitation, he knelt down decisively.

Among the military generals, Zhang Ding and Zheng Xiao were both first-rate sons of noble families.

Yang Wenguang was the son of Yang Yanzhao. Even though the Yang family had fallen on hard times, they still had considerable resources.

Bao Shun was a leader of the Tibetan Empire, which meant his potential was limited.

In comparison, Bao Shun's contributions were more about bringing benefits to his descendants.

Those who perform great deeds will be spared death and disaster, and their descendants will inherit the position of chieftain.

Zhong E needs no introduction; he was a veteran military commander who had been present since the opening of the Xihe border.

His nephew, Zhong Shidao, even became a disciple of the young Grand Secretary, which destined him for a bright future.

Guo Kui was a close attendant of the late emperor and had made meritorious contributions in breaking through enemy lines and capturing cities.

Only he, Yao Si, was a commoner with no distinguished background, and his performance in battle had been mediocre.

Yao Si was very decisive.

For ordinary people without connections, it's incredibly difficult to defy fate and change their destiny.

This opportunity to lure the enemy is both a crisis and a chance.

Since it's an opportunity, we must seize it with all our might.

The remaining people, seeing this scene, showed no intention of fighting.

Guo Kui's hesitation eased slightly, and he also chose to give up.

The reason he hesitated for a moment was because he had already contributed to the capture of the city.

Since Yao Si wants to seize the opportunity, there's no need for him to gamble.

"it is good."

Jiang Zhao nodded: "Yao Si will lead five thousand soldiers to guard the north gate."

"When you are defending the city, remember to surround it without attacking, and keep a distance of more than two miles from the city gate."

Jiang Zhao instructed, "We can provoke and harass them from time to time to wear down their morale; we can also engage in small-scale battles to exhaust their patience. As long as we wait for some time, and the city's food supplies run out, Li Liangzuo will lead his army out of the city on his own."

It took a full hundred days, and the internal conflicts within Western Xia had already erupted.

Li Liangzuo was holding on desperately, clinging to a sliver of hope for victory.

Once he wins the battle of Miaochuan and enters the capital with the prestige of a great victory, he can suppress all those who disagree with him.

But the truth is, even with 20,000 men against 60,000, Li Liangzuo could not have won if he hadn't been a reincarnation of Han Xin.

Xiliang Prefecture and Xiping Prefecture.

The former was a strategically important location in the western border region and the secondary capital of the Western Xia dynasty, which was attacked by Gu Tingye.

The latter was less than 100 li from the capital of Western Xia and was attacked head-on by Marquis Zhongjing.

From Xihe to Shaanxi, nearly 200,000 of the 300,000 soldiers were engaged in battle.

Along the border, it was almost a full-scale war.

This meant that Li Liangzuo had no reinforcements!
With 60,000 troops fighting against 20,000, capturing the city would be extremely difficult.

But besieging a city is not difficult.

By proceeding steadily and wearing down Li Liangzuo little by little, we can eventually defeat him.

"promise."

The group bowed in unison and withdrew.

When it comes to layout, none of them are particularly good at it.

But when it comes to provoking a siege and engaging in close combat, that's absolutely commonplace for military generals; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they can do it with ease.

Jiang Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Zhong Shidao, who was standing in a corner.

"How's the training for the 'Falcon-Breaking Crossbow' going lately?"

Ever since Zhong Shidao presented the hawk-breaking crossbow, the border troops have begun to produce them in large quantities.

To date, more than three thousand have been produced.

To make it easier for them to use their skills, Jiang Zhao had six thousand soldiers, the most skilled in archery among the troops stationed in Xihe, selected and formed a separate army to practice breaking through the hawk crossbows against targets.

Jiang Zhao handed over the specific training program to Zhong Shidao.

Now, it is the final battle.

It's time for the crossbow to play its role and give Li Liangzuo a pleasant surprise.

"The six thousand crossbowmen are all trained and await your inspection, sir." Zhong Shidao said confidently, raising his hand in a salute.

The hawk-breaking crossbow has an effective range that is almost three times that of a regular crossbow, and is even comparable to the bed crossbow.

Ultimately, the hawk-breaking crossbow is also a single-person crossbow. Apart from the different loading method, its operation is almost the same as that of a regular crossbow.

For crossbowmen who are responsible for bows and crossbows for a long time, they can learn the basics in a day or two and become proficient in half a month.

Training crossbowmen specializing in breaking through hawk crossbows is not difficult.

"Ah."

Jiang Zhao nodded and said calmly, "In that case, let's go take a look."

Whether or not they can expand their territory this time depends entirely on the powerful crossbowmen.

Master Zhong quickly bowed and respectfully led the way.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, there was heavy fog.

Miaochuan City, on the city wall.

Li Liangzuo looked at the arrows scattered on the ground, as well as the trenches, chevaux-de-frise, and catapults two miles away, his expression slightly grim.

He's been besieged!
Originally, he planned to reorganize the troops and launch a preemptive strike to catch the Great Zhou off guard.

After all, the Great Zhou had already set up camp in Nanbao Village and needed at least a day or two to rest.

As a result, just yesterday, after the sun had set and darkness was about to fall, the Zhou army launched a fierce offensive from one side.

The soldiers in the city quickly gathered, only to find that the Great Zhou army had surrounded the city but was not attacking.

It's estimated that they deliberately timed their siege to coincide with the time of day. When the Zhou side began besieging the city, it was already dawn, and after about an incense stick's time, it was completely dark.

It was too dark for Li Liangzuo to determine the exact number of people or whether there was an ambush. He dared not make any rash moves and hastily sent some men out of the city to seek help, but the matter was dropped.

As soon as it got light, a few trenches and barricades could be seen. In other words, the trenches on the Zhou side were dug overnight.

Li Liangzuo gritted his teeth, feeling uneasy.

He's been set up!
"The people who requested help haven't returned yet?" Li Liangzuo tried his best to maintain his composure and looked at the armored commander Manmei beside him.

Fortunately, he had the foresight to send several squads of soldiers out of the city to seek reinforcements.

People were sent by Xixia, Muzheng, and Dongzhan.

Once reinforcements arrive, they can easily break the siege by working together from within and without.

Manme shook her head.

"Keep guarding it," Li Liangzuo said, waving his hand.

His first time personally leading an expedition resulted in a siege, leaving him in a very bad mood.

However, it's not a big problem.

Once reinforcements arrive, the siege will be lifted.

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, on the city wall.

"Has there been any news from the person who requested help?" Li Liangzuo asked calmly.

Manme shook her head.

On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, on the city wall.

"Where is the person who asked for help?" Li Liangzuo had a bad feeling.

Manme shook her head.

December 15th.

Miaochuan City, Imperial Palace.

Officials, both Han and non-Han, stood in orderly rows.

At the head of the table, Li Liangzuo rested his hands on the table, his face solemn.

He had expected that reinforcements would arrive.

The Western Xia, Muzheng, and Dongzhan all had large armies.

But the result was that nothing happened at all.

Or perhaps the message never got out at all.

Occasionally, when the Great Zhou army provokes them, three to five thousand soldiers will meet them in battle, engaging in close combat and fighting. Almost every time, they will bring back a message.

The grain supply line has been cut off!
The key point is that the grain supply route was indeed cut off.

Miaochuan City has not received any supplies for seven or eight days.

Originally, there were some reserves of supplies in the city, but there were 20,000 people to feed, drink, and relieve themselves.

After seven or eight days of consumption, we are almost out of supplies.

"What should we do?" Li Liangzuo asked slowly, his face grim as he looked down.

"Negotiate peace and submit, or take the initiative to fight?" General Manme replied.

Negotiating peace and submitting to foreign powers would almost guarantee survival.

As a separatist regime, the Great Zhou Dynasty, influenced by Confucian culture, was quite particular about warfare.

Once they negotiate peace and submit to the emperor, they will surely survive.

Taking the initiative to attack means finding the weak points of the surrounding cities and breaking through.

They numbered at least 20,000, and if they were truly determined to break out, their chances of success were not low.

"How many men are guarding each of the city gates?" Li Liangzuo asked.

"I don't know about the south gate. There are 10,000 men at the east gate, and 5,000 each at the west and north gates," Manmei reported.

The two armies engaged in small-scale battles for several days. Except for the South Gate, where there were too many people to count, the number of people in the other locations was roughly known.

"Five thousand?"

Without hesitation, Li Liangzuo made a decision: "Then let's fight our way out."

The twenty-one-year-old king was full of passion and enthusiasm.

Otherwise, he would never have personally led the expedition.

Since there are only 5,000 soldiers guarding the west and north, it means that the probability of breaking out is not low.

Therefore, the obvious choice is to break through.

It is utterly shameful for a monarch to personally lead an army to sue for peace and submit to the emperor!
Li Liangzuo looked at the geomantic map.

After about half an incense stick's time, he focused his attention on the North Gate.

East and South gates are not considered, and West gate is too dangerous.

Only the North Gate has a flat road; once you head north, you'll be within the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Could it be a ploy to lure the enemy?

A sliver of doubt crossed his mind, but Li Liangzuo quickly dismissed it.

The north gate leads directly to the Great Xia, and the Great Zhou is worried about the arrival of Great Xia reinforcements, so they certainly wouldn't dare to lay too many men in ambush.

Besides, he knows the route north!

"How many infantrymen are left?" Li Liangzuo asked, a glint of ruthlessness in his eyes.

“Eleven thousand infantrymen and over seven thousand cavalry,” Manme said.

Several days of close combat resulted in significant losses of infantry.

With all its troops gathered, it was less than 20,000.

Li Liangzuo pondered for a moment, then ordered, "Three thousand, no, five thousand infantrymen! When the sun sets, send five thousand infantrymen to attack the south gate, three thousand to attack the east gate, and two thousand to attack the west gate."

"The remaining seven thousand cavalry and one thousand infantry will head north!" Li Liangzuo said with difficulty.

Heading south proved far more difficult than he had imagined.

More than ten generals had no objections and nodded in succession.

Five thousand, three thousand, two thousand, totaling ten thousand infantrymen, were all there to hold back the Zhou army at the east, west, and south gates.

The remaining 7,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantrymen marched north, with another 1,000 infantrymen acting as a buffer to hold back the 5,000 Zhou troops that might be present at the north gate.

If they can hold out for half an hour, the seven thousand cavalry will be able to flee for half an hour and completely enter the territory of the Great Xia.

Of the thirty to forty thousand soldiers who were capable of fighting who marched south, only seven thousand cavalrymen survived, a truly tragic outcome.

But that's the only way.

Only by cutting off one's own arm can one have a chance to escape with one's life.

The sun was setting, and dusk was deepening.

Inside the central command tent, Jiang Zhao was dozing off, wearing a robe.

"Shh!"

The large tent was suddenly flung open.

Jiang Zhao sat up abruptly, and seeing that it was several generals of the central army, asked, "What is it?"

"Commander, the gates of Xixia city are wide open, as if they are about to launch a feigned attack!" Zhong E reported urgently.

Jiang Zhao understood, got up and put on his clothes: "How many people were sent out from the South Gate?"

“About five thousand,” Zhong E replied.

Having been through many battles, he could estimate the size of the enemy's forces with just a glance at their formation.

"Move 10,000 cavalry from the central army to circle around to the north gate." Unless Li Liangzuo has some kind of cheat code, he has to run to the north gate.

"promise!"

It is located two miles outside the north gate of Miaochuan City.

"Quickly, pour on the flammable oil!" Yao Si ordered.

More than a hundred soldiers immediately carried oil drums and poured the oil onto the predetermined path.

About two incense sticks later, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

"ignition!"

The tinderbox was thrown onto the oil-soaked ground, instantly igniting a wall of flames.

Seven thousand cavalrymen galloped in, and Li Liangzuo's face darkened upon seeing this.

Not only were there moats to block horses at the north gate, but firewalls were also set up!
"Don't linger in the fight!"

He roared, "Charge!"

"Break the crossbow!" Yao Si shouted at the same time.

The Western Xia cavalry charged straight towards the wall of fire.

They were about two hundred paces apart.

"Shh!"

A long arrow grazed past Li Liangzuo, startling him so much that his heart skipped a beat.

That range is three or four hundred paces!
Western Xia crossbow?

"Quick, hide!" Li Liangzuo sensed something was wrong.

With seven thousand cavalrymen lined up for three or four hundred meters, those in front had nowhere to retreat, so how could they possibly escape?
The crossbow bolts pierced the air and still possessed astonishing power three hundred paces away; those hit by them died instantly, while those grazed were wounded.

Occasionally, a horse would be shot and die from a single arrow piercing through it.

"Shh!"

More than a thousand crossbow bolts shot straight through the wall of fire, one of which struck Li Liangzuo, piercing his intestines.

"How come there are so many?"

His body moved slowly to the left, like a puppet with its strings cut.

Li Liangzuo's eyes were wide open, his death unresolved.

Blood stained the air, and the sounds of clashing metal gradually rose.
(End of this chapter)