Chapter 170: The Battle Book

The weather is getting colder, but Zhang Mai passes through the inland weather in Shuye, Luntai and Hezhong, and he has become less and less likely to feel the severe cold.

His skin became rougher and rougher, but the strength of his arms was increasing day by day like the domineering aura in his eyes. However, he had fewer opportunities to use his strength now. With a sweep of his eyes, even the blood general of the hundred battles could not withstand it. Before he knew it, the man had changed to the point that he had predicted himself.

On Ulan Fort, the big flag representing Zhang Mai was roaring in the bitter cold wind. The flag seemed a little worn out because it participated in the war several times, and even pierced in some places - it was leftovers after being shot by a stray arrow, but these did not hinder his deterrence to the world!

Yelu Shuogu closed his eyes in the tent, planning and thinking, and his heart was full of Zhang Mai's big flag - he had never seen Zhang Mai himself, so the one who impressed him the most was this flag.

The achievements of the past few years have proved one thing-where the flag goes, it symbolizes invincibility!

No matter whether Zhang Mai's side appeared strong or weak before the war, no matter whether Zhang Mai was attacked or besieged, or even when everyone thought that Zhang Mai was already scarce, there were always terrible variables when he was really involved in the war.

Passing Dengshangcheng, Shule, Kucha, Shazhou, Ganzhou, Liangzhou, Luntai, Kangju... one war after another has built up the undefeated myth of this big star!

Outside Lingzhou City, Yelu Wuqi's calculations seemed to be fine to him. His own judgment also determined that Zhang Mai's military strength must be insufficient at this moment, and even if the troops are too strong, the combat power will definitely not be strong!

But when I really waited to go south and when I got closer to Zhangmai, this confidence continued to weaken as I approached the big crow step by step.

Yelu Shuogu was a famous general in the north. The reason why Yelu Deguang chose him and gave up the more noble Yelu Lihu was not only considering the political considerations of imperial power, but also recognized Yelu Shuogu's ability. Although the battle of Luntai caused shame to Yelu Shuogu, Shuluping and Yelu Deguang both supported the marshal. Their reason was that even if someone else went, they would not be able to achieve better results.

After defeat, we usually have to find a scapegoat. It is really commendable that the two heads of Khitan were able to make the same sound. From this we can also know how high the north's evaluation of Yelu Shuogu was.

But now when facing Zhang Mai, Yelu Shuogu hesitated.

The so-called judgment of famous generals is often not absolute, but relative. If Yelu Shuogu was not facing Zhang Mai but Li Congke or even Zhang Jingda at this time, he would not hesitate like this. However, facing Zhang Mai who has repeatedly created miracles, he had to think: "Zhang Mai really lacks military strength and isn't fighting power strong?"

There were many detailed works in the Khitan ambush in Liangzhou and Lanzhou, but even the people from Yang Dingguo could not enter the camp of the 60,000 army, let alone spying from the periphery. Moreover, Xue Fu also took action in the south during this period, and the Sweat-Blooded Cavalry Regiment was not mobilized - these made Yelu Shuogu's suspicion even worse.

There is no problem with Yelu Wuzhi's analysis. The problem is that Zhang Mai's thoughts and Zhang Mai's strategies are so easy to be calculated by Yelu Wuzhi. Although Yelu Wuzhi is also a wise man from the north, he has not established an extraordinary record. Compared with Zhang Mai, the two are like the bright moon as fireflies!

Not only Yelu Shuogu was hesitating, but even Yelu Wuzhi himself was not 100% sure after he made suggestions to Yelu Shuogu. Even after he designed Zhang Xichong and cheated Lingzhou cavalry, he still could not improve his confidence to the point where he thought he could see through Zhang Mai.

"If Zhang Mai really makes it easy to see his background clearly, then he would have died in Shule, Shazhou, Luntai, and in the river."

Yang Yi once said that even if the marshal did not have a soldier or a soldier, as long as he inserted the red satin blood spear into the Yellow River, no country in the Central Plains dared to cross the river. If he inserted it into the Tianshan Mountains, no nation in the western region of the desert dared to cross the mountains! This was a bit exaggerated, but it was just a "slight".

Zhang Mai's existing record is enough to make all his enemies weigh when facing him. The deeper his wisdom and more experience, the more they will weigh it! The somewhat worn-out big crow and the occasional red satin blood spear pressed against the hearts of all the Khitans like a huge rock.

On the contrary, when all the military and civilians of the Tiance Tang Dynasty saw Zhang Mai’s big banner, they immediately wanted to take a reassurance!

When Zhang Mai entered Liangzhou City, Cao Yuanzhong once said: "Okay, okay, as soon as the marshal comes, even the elderly, weak, women and children in Liangzhou can fight."

This sentence is inevitably a bit flattering, but it is not necessarily true. The strong general has no weak soldiers, and he is under the red satin blood spear. Every Tiance soldier has the confidence to win! The confidence of tens of thousands of people is superimposed together, what a huge effect it is. Although Ulan Fortress is not a fortress, when Zhang Mai's big penis is inserted upward, everything seems different.

Even the people who fled from the east continuously were like this. They were in panic all day long when they fled, but at this time the father would tell his son, the husband would tell his wife, and the brothers would tell his younger brother: "Let the west, west, west, flee to the edge of the Yellow River, and we will be safe when we see Marshal Zhang's banner!"

When you see Zhang Mai’s banner, your life is guaranteed!

Even the people under the rule of the non-Tiance regime have this understanding, and it is even more conceivable that the confidence of the soldiers of the Tiance army is even more conceivable.

"Marson," after Guo Wei reported that Yelu Shuogu was getting closer and closer, Lu Jialing said: "News are coming from the Dingnan Army."

"Oh?" Zhang Mai asked, "What did Li Yiyin say?"

Lu Jialing said: "Li Yiyin said that he did not go to battle before because he was alone and could not speak out. The purpose of preserving his strength is not to protect himself, but to wait for the marshal to return to have the power to respond."

Zhang Mai smiled and said, "I don't want to listen to his arguments, I just want to know what he will do."

Lu Jialing said: "He said he would like to rest assured, and Yelu Lihu will hand it over to him."

Zhang Mai laughed and said, "Okay, okay, the people you sent did not disappoint me."

At this time, Zhe Congshi came in and said, "Yelu Shuogu's vanguard had arrived thirty miles away. He attacked with cavalry and pulled out our two outposts. He was also ambushed and counterattacked by us, and injured more than 200 cavalry."

Zhang Mai didn't care about this small casualty and said, "It's great, it's good to have come and go."

Guo Wei said: "This is a tentative attack. Since you have already fought, Yelu Shuogu will soon be like a tide! Fortunately, there has not been news that Yelu Lihu has taken action on the east side. It seems that Yelu Lihu does not intend to meet with Yelu Shuogu."

Dou Jiannan said: "The Khitan birds are so cunning, but they are not lying." His class was not enough to participate in military meetings of this level, but as the old guard of Ulan Fort, he was dealing with the Khitans when Zhang Mai's army arrived, so he was the one who was staying with the last seat and had a say.

"He can't deceive people." Guo Wei said lightly. He went all the way until the difficulties were settled, and sent a scout all the way: "Even if he wants to beat us by surprise, he will at least be more than two days later than Yelu Shuogu."

"Two days... are enough." Zhang Mai said: "Although Governor Guo has set up more than a dozen strongholds, and although we have a greater chance of defeating the defense, Yelu Shuogu is not qualified to tell me to be trapped and not attack."

Guo Wei said in surprise: "Marson, our army may have more than one guard, if it attacks..."

"Not an attack..." Zhang Mai waved his hand and said, "It's a fight! Jialing, write a letter of war for me. I want to fight against Yelu Shuogu head-on! As for the location of the battlefield... Guo Wei, you have a good discussion with Dou Jiannan."

Half a day later, a letter of war broke out of Ulan Fort and delivered it to Yelu Shuogu. At this time, Yelu Shuogu was holding the reward from Dingnan Army, his face was gloomy and gloomy.

Yelu Wuzhi advised: "Fine and steady, the Deputy Marshal's statement also makes sense. The Dangxiang people's cavalry was not severely damaged. If he left the other side to meet, our retreat would be cut off." Although he was also proficient in military affairs, what was better was to reconcile the political skills of all parties. Yelu Wuzhi knew very well that only by uniting internally can he be able to use greater strength to the outside world. There are many generals of the Khitan clan, but there are very few politicians like Yelu Wuzhi. However, because of the existence of people like him, the Khitan has become stronger and stronger in the past few decades.

Yelu Shuogu said coldly: "Even if the Dangxiang people cut off our retreat, according to the southern terrain, Li Huruo will join me in the process of joining the army. When they really want to go back, will Dangxiang stop us?"

In fact, Yelu Shuogu was not completely unable to accept Yelu Lihu's reason. Under the huge doubts of Zhang Mai, everything on the battlefield was full of uncertainties. To summarize the current information, Li Hu's choice was a stable choice. If someone changed to someone else, such as Xiao Han, another general of the Khitan, Yelu Shuogu would be relieved of this reply.

But when he thought of Yelu Lihu's usual face, Yelu Shuogu couldn't help but be disgusted with this reply, feeling that Yelu Lihu was deliberately trying to save his face.

Most of the Khitan leaders had bad tempers, and Yelu Shuogu was no exception, but Yelu Lihu's temper was more serious than Yelu Shuogu. Although he was young, he relied on his relatives and did not take Yelu Shuogu seriously. Before leaving the station, there was even a saying that Yelu Shuogu was in charge, and Yelu Shuogu was asked to be the assistant of the deputy. Yelu Shuogu had not heard of these. So at this time, he heard Yelu Wu's reply and read Han Deshu's words, and his words were very humble, but through this reply, Yelu Shuogu seemed to hear Yelu Lihu's sneer.

Seeing this, Yelu Wuzhi hurriedly stepped back from others and said, "Marcedes-Master, in the past few months, Your Majesty has been suppressing the two rivers in the east to seek the Central Plains. However, the Han people are the most treacherous and cunning nation in the world. It is easy to defeat the Han army, but it is difficult to govern the Central Plains! Shi Jingtang seemed loyal and obedient, but in fact it may not have no intention of counterattack. The matter on the west side actually entrusted the Xiangwen and the Deputy Marshal. This Western Expedition to destroy the Fulin, encirclement of Lingxia Capital is just a prelude. The real purpose is to test the military strength of Liangzhou! If Liangzhou is empty, it can be taken to lead troops westward. At that time, the use of troops on the western route will become the focus of our Khitan's use of troops in the Central Plains. If it is not acceptable, it must show its military power. First, cut off Tiance's way to advance eastward, and second, it will make Shi Jingtang dare not have any intention of making a fool of himself. Although this battle is remote in Hetao, it actually involves the overall trend of the whole world and is related to the welfare of the Khitan for a hundred years. Please pay attention to the overall situation! Do not worry about the deputy marshal!"

Yelu Shuogu was a military and political person. After hearing this, he said: "Don't worry, how can I act with the spoiled little Sanlang?"

At this moment, Zhang Mai's letter of war was passed. Yelu Shuogu reopened the military tent meeting and ordered Yelu Wuzhi to read it. The more Yelu Wuzhi read, the more shocked he felt. There were even a few times when he couldn't continue reading it. The fierce general Yelu Hu said happily: "What a Zhang Mai! He dared to fight a tough battle with us! OK, okay! Details, let's advance quickly, they are the first thief!"

Yelu Shuogu's mood was similar to Yelu's house. Although he didn't know much literacy, his meticulous thoughts were definitely not inferior to any famous general in the Central Plains. Otherwise, how could he be ranked high as the marshal? Putting aside his reputation, Yelu Shuogu also had a high evaluation of Zhang Mai's ability. Yelu Shuogu would never dare to underestimate the enemy for the combat effectiveness of the Tiance Army. After the Battle of Luntai, even the Khitan's Pishi Army had to admit that the elite of the Tang army was not under the Khitan's confidant.

Now this war takes place at the doorstep of the Tiance regime. Ulan Fortress is only 200 miles away from Liangzhou, the center of the Tiance army. The Tiance army is almost fighting locally, and the logistics supply is almost ignored. Moreover, the hometown is backing back, and once Zhang Mai is boosting morale, it can be imagined. Therefore, Yelu Shuogu judged that with this momentum of attacking and defending far and near, if Zhang Mai has 10,000 troops, it is enough to defend the Yellow River. If there are 20,000 troops, it is enough to echo Lingzhou and Xiazhou. If there are 30,000 troops, it has the opportunity to reverse the victory and defeat of the entire Hetao battle.

The reason why Yelu Shuogu continued to attack Zhang Mai south was based on the speculation that "Zhang Mai advanced eastward was a void soldier". However, if this judgment was completely wrong, if Zhang Mai really had an army of 60,000 and 30,000 elite troops, then what the Khitans had to consider was no longer the issue of victory, but the issue of self-protection.

"Marson, what should I do?" Yelu Wuzhi said. The Han people were good at guarding and hid in the fortress camp to use long-range weapons and city-defending equipment to offset the advantages of the Khitan cavalry. However, if Zhang Mai had no strong soldiers and generals under him, how could he dare to fight against the Khitans head-on? Yelu Wuzhi was the wise man in the Khitan army, but at this time he began to doubt whether his judgment of the Tiance Army was wrong.

Yelu Shuogu suddenly laughed and said, "Zhang Mai, Zhang Mai, you can deceive others, but you can't deceive me!"

He pointed to the book of war and said, "The Han people are best at pretending to be pigs and eating tigers. If he really has troops, he should pretend to be weak. Now he is always showing off and pushing forward step by step, so that we can think they are really strong! Zhang Mai returned from the expedition for thousands of miles and had not yet raised enough strength. Since he has the courage to fight the Khitan warriors, okay! Then I will fulfill him!"
Chapter completed!