Chapter 1049: Alliance of Chanyuan 2: Fortunately in Chanzhou
The small Tianxiong Army had become the main target of the Liao army. When the news came, the whole city was in panic. Commander Wang Qinruo summoned all the generals to discuss strategies for defending the city.
According to custom, the generals should draw lots to decide who will be in charge of which city gate.
Sun Quanzhao said, "I am the son of a general, I will not draw lots. You can pick whatever you want, just give me the most dangerous one that no one wants to go to."
Everyone was not polite, and after much selection, no one wanted to go to the north gate because the Liao army was coming from the north. Sun Quanzhao laughed and said, "I'll go to the north gate."
Head coach Wang Qinruo was not to be outdone. He chose the south gate, the defensive point farthest from the north gate.
Sun Quanzhao said that this would not work. The north and south are twenty miles apart. You are the commander-in-chief and need to give orders to the entire city. Information transmission is too slow, which is not conducive to command. You must stay in the center.
Wang Qinruo followed his advice.
After Sun Quanzhao arrived at the north gate, he ordered his men to open the city gate and lower the drawbridge. This posture was enough to bring great psychological shock and mental oppression to the Liao army, which was a manifestation of the defender's extreme confidence.
Sun Quanzhao was not paying tribute to the Empty City Strategy, he was really confident, he had a killer move - the Crossbow Corps. Sun Quanzhao had trained a group of excellent crossbowmen, equipped with sophisticated crossbows, with long range, great power, and high accuracy. It is said that they can penetrate heavy armor and shoot through the heart of both the man and the horse (shooting through heavy armor).
However, the Liao army did not attack the north gate, but focused on the east gate. After encountering stubborn resistance, the Liao army retreated and turned to attack the nearby ancient city, but quietly turned back that night, ambushed at the Dixiang Temple in the south of the city, and then launched a large-scale attack on the Deqing army in the south.
Wang Qinruo fell into the trap and led his troops to support the Deqing army, but was then ambushed and his retreat was cut off, leaving him in a dilemma.
Sun Quanzhao assessed the situation and asked Wang Qinruo for instructions, saying that these elite troops were the soul of the Tianxiong Army, and that there was no need to defend the North Gate anymore, so please let me lead my troops to rescue them.
Afterwards, Sun Quanzhao led his troops into battle, and after a fierce fighting, they finally repelled the Liao army. However, the Tianxiong army suffered heavy losses, with only about 30% (three or four out of ten) surviving.
From a modern Western military perspective, if combat casualties reach 30%, the army must retreat. If casualties reach 50%, it means that almost all of the troops have been destroyed and have completely lost their combat effectiveness. After this battle, the Tianxiong Army lost nearly 70% of its troops, and it can be said that it had collapsed and was only one step away from being completely annihilated.
The furious Empress Dowager Xiao immediately abandoned the Tianxiong Army and attacked the Deqing Army with all her might, and eventually conquered it. Fourteen Song generals, including the commander-in-chief Hu Dan and his son, died heroically for their country.
For example, Comrade Zhao Heng, Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty, was always wavering between "With great ambition, I would eat the flesh of the barbarians when hungry and drink the blood of the Huns when thirsty" and "As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no worry about lack of firewood."
After deciding to go to Chanzhou, Emperor Zhenzong first appointed a group of elite soldiers to escort him and summoned Wang Chao, the commander-in-chief of the anti-Liao campaign, to report to the palace. Emperor Zhenzong wanted to meet him to learn about the situation ahead. However, more than a month passed without any news from Wang Chao. At this time, negative news came that the Tianxiong Army had suffered more than 70% casualties and the Deqing Army in the south had been conquered.
Zhenzong was filled with fear. Should he still go to Chanzhou? Or forget it. There were still many things to do in the capital. What should he do? It was easy. He could hold a meeting and listen to the voices of the masses.
Therefore, the "Runner Faction" with a keen sense of smell resurrected on the spot with full health and full buffs. They not only advocated canceling the trip to Chanzhou, but also reiterated the old proposal, suggesting that Zhenzong move the capital to Shengzhou (Jinling) to avoid the enemy's attack.
"Since everyone's opinions are highly consistent, then I will...where is Kou Jun?"
If the "Paopao faction" had only suggested that Zhenzong return to Bianzhou, Zhenzong might have issued an edict to return to the capital on the spot. However, the "Paopao faction" pushed too hard and proposed moving the capital and touring Jiangnan, which made Zhenzong hesitate to make a decision. The capital is the foundation of the country, and Zhenzong was not so foolish as to treat moving the capital as a joke. Only then did he think of consulting Kou Jun again.
When Kou Jun heard that Emperor Zhenzong had urgently summoned him to discuss important matters, he had already guessed what was going on. He thought that a lazy donkey would piss and poop on the millstone, and he might have heard some slanderous words from the treacherous ministers and become shaken again. So he hurried to the palace. Just as he reached the door, he overheard the eunuch saying to Emperor Zhenzong, "Your Majesty, please return to the capital as soon as possible. Who knows what the ministers are thinking?" (Where are the ministers going to take you? Why don't you return to the capital as soon as possible!)
In just a few words, there is a lot of information. A smart person like Kou Jun guessed the cause and effect immediately and had an idea in his mind. "Well, long live the emperor, I'm going to give you a strong dose of medicine."
When Kou Jun came to the conversation, Zhenzong got straight to the point, "What about a southern tour?" "Which rural old lady gave you this idea? Now the enemy's sword is at our noses. The people are looking at the army, and the army is looking at you. At this time, you can only move forward one foot and never retreat an inch! The troops in Hebei are looking forward to the emperor's carriage day and night. Seeing it will increase their morale a hundredfold. If they hear that the emperor has returned halfway, their morale will collapse and they will scatter. At that time, the enemy will take advantage of the situation to follow. How can Your Majesty reach Nanjing?"
"This..." Zhenzong couldn't think of a reasonable excuse for a moment, so he could only bow his head and ponder, "You said it very well, don't say it again in the future. Let me think about it again."
Kou Jun knew that what Zhenzong had to consider was not "whether to cancel the visit to Chanzhou", but "how to explain the cancellation of the visit to Chanzhou". I know you are a coward, but I didn't know you were so cowardly!
As luck would have it, as soon as Kou Jun went out, he ran into Gao Qiong, the commander of the imperial court. Kou Jun slapped his thigh and thought, "It's you," and asked Gao Qiong, "How does the emperor treat you?"
Gao Qiong saluted, "Your Majesty has been very kind to me!"
"Then how would you like to repay the emperor's kindness?"
"I, Gao Qiong, am only a warrior. I don't have profound insights. I only have this life. I am willing to repay the emperor's grace with my death."
"Okay, if you're not afraid of death, that's fine. Come on, come on, let me talk to you for a minute. Come in with me again, and then follow my instructions. Don't back down, and don't forget what you said just now."
"Just take a look."
Kou Jun led Gao Qiong to the palace gate and asked him to wait there while he went into the palace to meet the emperor and once again urged Zhenzong to leave for Chanzhou immediately.
Zhenzong was upset, "Why are you here again? Didn't you say you would let me think about it again?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I can wait, but the warriors may not have much patience. If you don't believe me, please ask him--"
Looking in the direction of Kou Jun's finger, Zhenzong was shocked. What the hell, the commander-in-chief of the palace! What? A mutiny? Forcing the emperor to abdicate?
Kou Jun repeated his preface again, reiterating the dire consequences of not going to Chanzhou. "Gao Qiong, what do you think?"
Gao Qiong's voice was as loud as a bell. "Kou Jun is absolutely right! The parents and wives of the soldiers accompanying you are all in the capital. No one will abandon their families and follow Your Majesty to the south of the Yangtze River. If Your Majesty insists on touring the south, I'm afraid that before you can reach the south of the Yangtze River, all the soldiers around you will run away. Your Majesty, please go to Chanzhou immediately. We are all willing to fight to the death. It won't be difficult to defeat the Khitan!"
This was said in a very tactful way, or like all official words, it was Chinese that needed to be translated with subtitles. On the surface, it said that the soldiers were unwilling to follow His Majesty to Jiangnan and would desert on the way, but in fact it was hinting at a mutiny. As long as His Majesty dared to order to go to Nanjing, the soldiers would dare to hold the emperor hostage. As for whether to offer him to the Liao army or support the crown prince who stayed in the capital or support other generals as the new emperor, that would be decided at that time.
In a word, you have to go to Chanzhou whether you want to or not. And this is the attitude of the military, and its importance will be carefully considered by Your Majesty.
Zhenzong remained silent, and Kou Jun urged again, "Your Majesty, there is no time to lose, please go to Chanzhou as soon as possible!"
The prime minister represents the civil service group; the commander-in-chief of the palace represents the central imperial guards and the military group... With the pen and the gun, you are planning a rebellion!
Zhenzong was angry and frightened, so he looked expectantly at his personal bodyguard, the sword-wielding guard Wang Yingchang.
Wang Yingchang immediately expressed his attitude: "Kou Jun is right, Gao Qiong is right."
At this time, Zhenzong was actually coerced by Kou Jun and reluctantly agreed to go to Chanzhou. By the way, Kou Jun's demotion after the war was closely related to this incident. Zhenzong loved and hated Kou Jun, but this is a later story.
(End of this chapter)
The small Tianxiong Army had become the main target of the Liao army. When the news came, the whole city was in panic. Commander Wang Qinruo summoned all the generals to discuss strategies for defending the city.
According to custom, the generals should draw lots to decide who will be in charge of which city gate.
Sun Quanzhao said, "I am the son of a general, I will not draw lots. You can pick whatever you want, just give me the most dangerous one that no one wants to go to."
Everyone was not polite, and after much selection, no one wanted to go to the north gate because the Liao army was coming from the north. Sun Quanzhao laughed and said, "I'll go to the north gate."
Head coach Wang Qinruo was not to be outdone. He chose the south gate, the defensive point farthest from the north gate.
Sun Quanzhao said that this would not work. The north and south are twenty miles apart. You are the commander-in-chief and need to give orders to the entire city. Information transmission is too slow, which is not conducive to command. You must stay in the center.
Wang Qinruo followed his advice.
After Sun Quanzhao arrived at the north gate, he ordered his men to open the city gate and lower the drawbridge. This posture was enough to bring great psychological shock and mental oppression to the Liao army, which was a manifestation of the defender's extreme confidence.
Sun Quanzhao was not paying tribute to the Empty City Strategy, he was really confident, he had a killer move - the Crossbow Corps. Sun Quanzhao had trained a group of excellent crossbowmen, equipped with sophisticated crossbows, with long range, great power, and high accuracy. It is said that they can penetrate heavy armor and shoot through the heart of both the man and the horse (shooting through heavy armor).
However, the Liao army did not attack the north gate, but focused on the east gate. After encountering stubborn resistance, the Liao army retreated and turned to attack the nearby ancient city, but quietly turned back that night, ambushed at the Dixiang Temple in the south of the city, and then launched a large-scale attack on the Deqing army in the south.
Wang Qinruo fell into the trap and led his troops to support the Deqing army, but was then ambushed and his retreat was cut off, leaving him in a dilemma.
Sun Quanzhao assessed the situation and asked Wang Qinruo for instructions, saying that these elite troops were the soul of the Tianxiong Army, and that there was no need to defend the North Gate anymore, so please let me lead my troops to rescue them.
Afterwards, Sun Quanzhao led his troops into battle, and after a fierce fighting, they finally repelled the Liao army. However, the Tianxiong army suffered heavy losses, with only about 30% (three or four out of ten) surviving.
From a modern Western military perspective, if combat casualties reach 30%, the army must retreat. If casualties reach 50%, it means that almost all of the troops have been destroyed and have completely lost their combat effectiveness. After this battle, the Tianxiong Army lost nearly 70% of its troops, and it can be said that it had collapsed and was only one step away from being completely annihilated.
The furious Empress Dowager Xiao immediately abandoned the Tianxiong Army and attacked the Deqing Army with all her might, and eventually conquered it. Fourteen Song generals, including the commander-in-chief Hu Dan and his son, died heroically for their country.
For example, Comrade Zhao Heng, Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty, was always wavering between "With great ambition, I would eat the flesh of the barbarians when hungry and drink the blood of the Huns when thirsty" and "As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no worry about lack of firewood."
After deciding to go to Chanzhou, Emperor Zhenzong first appointed a group of elite soldiers to escort him and summoned Wang Chao, the commander-in-chief of the anti-Liao campaign, to report to the palace. Emperor Zhenzong wanted to meet him to learn about the situation ahead. However, more than a month passed without any news from Wang Chao. At this time, negative news came that the Tianxiong Army had suffered more than 70% casualties and the Deqing Army in the south had been conquered.
Zhenzong was filled with fear. Should he still go to Chanzhou? Or forget it. There were still many things to do in the capital. What should he do? It was easy. He could hold a meeting and listen to the voices of the masses.
Therefore, the "Runner Faction" with a keen sense of smell resurrected on the spot with full health and full buffs. They not only advocated canceling the trip to Chanzhou, but also reiterated the old proposal, suggesting that Zhenzong move the capital to Shengzhou (Jinling) to avoid the enemy's attack.
"Since everyone's opinions are highly consistent, then I will...where is Kou Jun?"
If the "Paopao faction" had only suggested that Zhenzong return to Bianzhou, Zhenzong might have issued an edict to return to the capital on the spot. However, the "Paopao faction" pushed too hard and proposed moving the capital and touring Jiangnan, which made Zhenzong hesitate to make a decision. The capital is the foundation of the country, and Zhenzong was not so foolish as to treat moving the capital as a joke. Only then did he think of consulting Kou Jun again.
When Kou Jun heard that Emperor Zhenzong had urgently summoned him to discuss important matters, he had already guessed what was going on. He thought that a lazy donkey would piss and poop on the millstone, and he might have heard some slanderous words from the treacherous ministers and become shaken again. So he hurried to the palace. Just as he reached the door, he overheard the eunuch saying to Emperor Zhenzong, "Your Majesty, please return to the capital as soon as possible. Who knows what the ministers are thinking?" (Where are the ministers going to take you? Why don't you return to the capital as soon as possible!)
In just a few words, there is a lot of information. A smart person like Kou Jun guessed the cause and effect immediately and had an idea in his mind. "Well, long live the emperor, I'm going to give you a strong dose of medicine."
When Kou Jun came to the conversation, Zhenzong got straight to the point, "What about a southern tour?" "Which rural old lady gave you this idea? Now the enemy's sword is at our noses. The people are looking at the army, and the army is looking at you. At this time, you can only move forward one foot and never retreat an inch! The troops in Hebei are looking forward to the emperor's carriage day and night. Seeing it will increase their morale a hundredfold. If they hear that the emperor has returned halfway, their morale will collapse and they will scatter. At that time, the enemy will take advantage of the situation to follow. How can Your Majesty reach Nanjing?"
"This..." Zhenzong couldn't think of a reasonable excuse for a moment, so he could only bow his head and ponder, "You said it very well, don't say it again in the future. Let me think about it again."
Kou Jun knew that what Zhenzong had to consider was not "whether to cancel the visit to Chanzhou", but "how to explain the cancellation of the visit to Chanzhou". I know you are a coward, but I didn't know you were so cowardly!
As luck would have it, as soon as Kou Jun went out, he ran into Gao Qiong, the commander of the imperial court. Kou Jun slapped his thigh and thought, "It's you," and asked Gao Qiong, "How does the emperor treat you?"
Gao Qiong saluted, "Your Majesty has been very kind to me!"
"Then how would you like to repay the emperor's kindness?"
"I, Gao Qiong, am only a warrior. I don't have profound insights. I only have this life. I am willing to repay the emperor's grace with my death."
"Okay, if you're not afraid of death, that's fine. Come on, come on, let me talk to you for a minute. Come in with me again, and then follow my instructions. Don't back down, and don't forget what you said just now."
"Just take a look."
Kou Jun led Gao Qiong to the palace gate and asked him to wait there while he went into the palace to meet the emperor and once again urged Zhenzong to leave for Chanzhou immediately.
Zhenzong was upset, "Why are you here again? Didn't you say you would let me think about it again?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I can wait, but the warriors may not have much patience. If you don't believe me, please ask him--"
Looking in the direction of Kou Jun's finger, Zhenzong was shocked. What the hell, the commander-in-chief of the palace! What? A mutiny? Forcing the emperor to abdicate?
Kou Jun repeated his preface again, reiterating the dire consequences of not going to Chanzhou. "Gao Qiong, what do you think?"
Gao Qiong's voice was as loud as a bell. "Kou Jun is absolutely right! The parents and wives of the soldiers accompanying you are all in the capital. No one will abandon their families and follow Your Majesty to the south of the Yangtze River. If Your Majesty insists on touring the south, I'm afraid that before you can reach the south of the Yangtze River, all the soldiers around you will run away. Your Majesty, please go to Chanzhou immediately. We are all willing to fight to the death. It won't be difficult to defeat the Khitan!"
This was said in a very tactful way, or like all official words, it was Chinese that needed to be translated with subtitles. On the surface, it said that the soldiers were unwilling to follow His Majesty to Jiangnan and would desert on the way, but in fact it was hinting at a mutiny. As long as His Majesty dared to order to go to Nanjing, the soldiers would dare to hold the emperor hostage. As for whether to offer him to the Liao army or support the crown prince who stayed in the capital or support other generals as the new emperor, that would be decided at that time.
In a word, you have to go to Chanzhou whether you want to or not. And this is the attitude of the military, and its importance will be carefully considered by Your Majesty.
Zhenzong remained silent, and Kou Jun urged again, "Your Majesty, there is no time to lose, please go to Chanzhou as soon as possible!"
The prime minister represents the civil service group; the commander-in-chief of the palace represents the central imperial guards and the military group... With the pen and the gun, you are planning a rebellion!
Zhenzong was angry and frightened, so he looked expectantly at his personal bodyguard, the sword-wielding guard Wang Yingchang.
Wang Yingchang immediately expressed his attitude: "Kou Jun is right, Gao Qiong is right."
At this time, Zhenzong was actually coerced by Kou Jun and reluctantly agreed to go to Chanzhou. By the way, Kou Jun's demotion after the war was closely related to this incident. Zhenzong loved and hated Kou Jun, but this is a later story.
(End of this chapter)
