After traveling through time, I became Han Zhang’s grandson?

Chapter 312: Conquering the City

On March 25th, the second year of Xining in the Song Dynasty, the fifth year of Xianyong in the Liao Dynasty, and the first year of Qiandao in the Western Xia Dynasty, the Western Army of the Song Dynasty swore an oath to heaven and, under the command of General Han Zhang and Deputy General Guo Kui, marched out to destroy the Xia Dynasty.

When the news came out, the whole world was shocked. When the surrounding small countries saw this scene, they were so scared that they immediately withdrew their border defenses and did not dare to send troops to provoke without authorization.

The Liao Kingdom, which had the ability to send troops to provoke trouble and involve the Song army, was caught in internal troubles.

Since the failure of the "Battle of Pingxingguan", the Liao Kingdom lost nearly 80,000 elite troops and completely entered a situation of "taking money from one pocket to pay for another".

In order to ensure the stability and security of Xijing Road, Yelu Hongji mobilized garrison troops from Shangjing Road, Dongjing Road, Zhongjing Road and other places to protect the Liao-Song border.

As a result, the major tribes and ethnic groups that made up the multi-ethnic state of the Liao Dynasty launched a wave of resistance.

Especially the minority regimes such as Zhubu, Jurchen, and Shiwei, which were oppressed and exploited by the Khitan for nearly a hundred years.

After Yelu Hongji transferred troops from the north to the south, the grassland peoples in these bitter and cold areas of the north finally saw the light.

With the collusion of some people with ulterior motives, they launched a series of uprisings north of the Liao Kingdom.

For this reason, Yelu Hongji could only watch as the Song Dynasty in the south began to take over Western Xia.

On March 30th, Wang Shao's army took the lead in fighting against the half-crippled Xishou Baotai Army.

Since both sides were located in the hilly and forested area between Roulang Mountain and Weijing Mountain, the Song army, which had undergone military reforms, fought easily and comfortably.

Wang Shao was well versed in Han's "guerrilla tactics", especially how to effectively attack the enemy in a skirmish state in mountainous areas.

This turned the battle between the Song and Xia armies into a one-sided pursuit as soon as they came into contact.

Looking at the Western Xia army running around in panic like monkeys, Wang Shao, whose military talent is now close to perfection, could not help but sneer.

"The entire army will be divided into smaller units and pursue the enemy using the 'three-three system' tactic."

"The target is Yingli City, a hundred miles behind Weijing Mountain!"

"Remember, I don't need any survivors! You must gather at Yingli City before April 10th!"

"Move out!"

The three-three system tactics is an infantry "squad assault" tactic in the Chinese military's infantry training syllabus. It is an improvement on the Japanese infantry tactics. It originated during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, matured during the War of Liberation, and was widely used in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

This tactic requires soldiers to form a combat group of three, with three groups forming a squad. In a combat group, three soldiers are responsible for attack, cover, and support, with the soldiers in front and the team leader in the back.

The soldiers of a squad attack and defend in a triangle. Three squads form a battle group, coordinating with each other and with clear division of labor.

Although the three-three system is often used in offense, the premise of offense is to preserve one's own manpower, so as to ensure that they will not be easily eliminated by the enemy under any circumstances. The three-three system is the most basic and effective ring defense mechanism.

This top-notch tactic from later generations was directly copied by a certain Han and promoted throughout the Song army.

This is so that even in extremely harsh situations, the Song army still has powerful means of hard solution.

This time, the Song army, which was originally not suitable for fighting in the mountains and forests, was directly led by Wang Shao to achieve a powerful offensive on the skirmisher offensive end.

Faced with the overwhelming force, the Western Xia army, which fought here and there and gathered together, was directly divided and chopped up by the Song army and completely devoured.

Following Wang Shao's order, a burst of powerful drumming sounded from the Song army's command platform, and then the flag-bearing soldier standing at the highest point frantically typed the content of the order.

The scattered Song troops in the mountains and forests looked up from their ambush points and pursuits to see the orders from the command desk and immediately understood the content.

Next, the Song army could no longer bear it, drew out their long swords and short swords, and chased after the isolated Western Xia army with roars.

The Xishou Baotai Army, which had been stunned by Wang Shao's mountain warfare, became the first army to be destroyed in this "War to Destroy Xia".

It took Wang Shao only five days from receiving the order to send troops on March 25 to engaging in battle with the Xishou Baotai Army on March 30 and defeating the enemy.

Such rapid advance and efficient means of defeating the enemy indicated that Wang Shao, a famous general of the Song Dynasty, had entered his peak period after several years of training and had the ability to command an army alone.

On March 10th, after destroying the Xishou Baotai Army, Wang Shao's army made a mad sprint and arrived at his destination - Yingli City.

As long as Yingli is cut off, the southeastern part where the main cities of Western Xia are located will be divided into two and completely cut off from the west.

This is mainly because the vast Badain Jaran Desert and the Tengger Desert stretch across the central part of Western Xia.

If you want to return to the capital Xingqing Prefecture from the west, one way is to take the northern border line of the two major deserts, then return to Wuyuan area and Hetao to return to Xingqing Prefecture.

The other route is to take the middle section of the traditional southern Silk Road, through Wuwei, Jiuquan, and Liangzhou at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, and return to Xingqing Prefecture.

Comparing the two, the southern route is easier and more convenient, and there are enough cities along the way for supplies.

Yingli City is a node that cuts off the communication between the east and the west, which can effectively prevent the Xiping Military Command, Gansu Military Command and Liangzhou Prefecture in the west from moving east to support the king.

Next, what Wang Shao had to do was to consolidate Yingli City and gather support from the main force of the Western Xia army.

At the same time, they were also watching to see whether the advance troops of Qingtang Tubo could capture Zhuola and Nanjunsi and contain Liangzhou Prefecture.

The most important are Zhuo Luo and the Southern Army Division. Once Dong Zhen fails to capture and destroy this force, Wang Shao's plan to go north to block Yingli City will fail after he has freed up his hands.

By then, Wang Shao would have no way to retreat and would be blocked in the territory of Western Xia.

If the other areas progress slowly, they may be directly defeated.

Therefore, Wang Shao was extremely concerned about the advance of Dong Zhan and Zhe Jishi and Zhe Jizu, but fortunately, the combat effectiveness of various units of the Song army was no longer comparable.

On April 10, after Wang Shao's army captured Yingli City, they built fortifications on the spot.

At the same time, news came from Mingsha, east of Yingli City, that the Weizhou Legion of Zhe Jishi and Zhe Jizu was advancing rapidly and directly broke through all the garrisons in the cities from Mingsha to Shankou.

From then on, Wang Shao's Huizhou Corps achieved its first strategic intention, and the area east of Yingli City became a safe area.

Next, they need to pay attention to the Western Xia reinforcements coming from the west.

On April 20th, after ten days of fierce fighting, Dong Chen took Zhuola City at the cost of nearly 20,000 troops. This marked the end of the old military confrontation with Qingtang for more than ten years.

The troops sent by Dong Chen to harass and contain Liangzhou Prefecture received a head-on blow, lost thousands of people, and retreated to Zhuolao City, where they met with Dong Chen.

At this point, the Song Dynasty, which had captured Yingli City and Zhuola City, blocked the routes for the major western military commanders to advance eastward to provide support.

Meanwhile, in the eastern theater, the Xiangqing Army of Xiping Prefecture, which served as the last barrier to protect Xingqing Prefecture, also welcomed the completely evolved 'Old General Zhong Jinglüe' Zhong Yan, and the 'Two Yaos of Guanzhong' - brothers Yao Si and Yao Lin, both powerful generals of the Yao family.

Looking at the huge towering city in the distance, the two tough guys, Zhong Yan and Yao Si, directly expressed their desire to see who could win the honor of being the first to reach the city.

"You Nan!"

"I'm North!"

When Zhong Yan and Yao Si looked at each other, they could see the raging flames in their eyes.

These four simple words represent their ambition and decisiveness.

"kill--!"

Accompanied by a roar, the Battle of Xiping Prefecture officially began!