bookbashuk Page 1940
Page 1940
Li Yanxian also stopped with his cavalry.
The two sides faced each other at a distance of four or five hundred paces.
The valley where the soldiers were hidden is located on the east side of the middle.
The situation is clear.
There was an ambush in the ravine.
And they were both very clear about it.
After Li Yuchang stopped
Send someone back to relay the order.
Send ten thousand infantrymen to follow.
He himself was in a standoff there.
After the infantry arrive and join them,
Infantry were deployed to search the mountains and valleys.
"How should we fight? Should we just charge in?" Yan Ping asked.
Li Yanxian said, "The Western Xia cavalry are even larger, and our main force is right behind them."
"Now is not the time to risk everything."
"Call out the brothers who are hiding in the ravine!"
"Try to lead them to the back as much as possible,"
"As long as the Tanguts dare to follow,"
"We'll find an opportunity to raid their camp at night."
"If you don't follow, retreat to a narrow part of the valley,"
"Waiting for the main army to arrive and join us."
They say they won't work themselves to the bone.
Li Yanxian, however, led his troops in a charge.
He drew his strong bow midway and shot directly at Li Yuchang.
Horseback archery, at a distance of seventy paces.
Far exceeding the range of ordinary horse bows,
Li Yanxian's arrow was incredibly powerful.
Li Yuchang ducked to avoid it.
An arrow struck another warhorse behind him.
The Western Xia cavalry were terrified.
Li Yuchang, who was nearly hit by an arrow, was sweating profusely.
He immediately ordered his cavalry to return fire.
As the two sides exchanged fire,
The cavalry hidden in the ravine
They have already rushed out and reached the flat valley.
"withdraw!"
Successfully rendezvoused with the ambush troops.
Li Yanxian immediately ordered a retreat.
Li Yuchang was so frightened by the arrow that his heart pounded.
They actually stopped pursuing it.
They should honestly return to the city, hold their ground, and await reinforcements.
Chapter 1700 The Red Castle
Two days later,
Yang Zhi led his army to arrive.
They set up camp about five or six miles from the city.
This was the very place where Li Yanxian had set up the ambush.
This terrible terrain is all river valleys for two hundred miles in front and behind.
There's simply nowhere to choose from.
We should just set up camp by the river.
Of course, fortified villages and garrison troops must also be established on both sides of the mountain ridge.
To guard against the Western Xia people crossing mountains and ridges to outflank and attack from behind.
The day after setting up camp
Yang Zhi then led his troops to challenge the enemy.
They planned to engage the Western Xia army in open field battles.
No tactics work here.
The valley is about four miles wide.
In some narrow places, it can be as short as three miles.
A river also runs through the middle.
The riverbanks on both sides are now only a mile or two wide.
What can you do with a space that's only two miles wide?
There are simply too many troops to deploy them all.
The cavalry had even less room to maneuver.
They had no choice but to honestly form ranks and fight.
The Sichuan soldiers brought by Yang Zhi.
What they fear least is battle formation warfare.
This terrain is perfect for the Mandarin Duck Formation!
Li Yuchang, however, remained steadfast and refused to leave.
He had a fortified city as his base.
Reinforcements were also on their way.
Why engage in open battle with the Han army?
After repeated challenges proved ineffective, Yang Zhi shouted,
"Bring out all the cannons and blast the city walls down!"
,,,,,,,,,
And the city wall of the Southern Army Command,
The entire structure is built of red clay.
Therefore, during the Ming and Qing dynasties...
This place is called "Red Castle".
It was later known as "Red Town".
It is the eastern gateway to the Hexi Corridor.
It is a necessary stop on the Silk Road.
It has long been known as the "throat of Jin City and an important town on the Silk Road".
Moreover, the river valley stretches for two hundred miles.
Both can be used for farming.
Agriculture self-sufficiency
There is no need to transfer too much military rations from the rear to maintain operations.
Military, commerce, agriculture
The conditions for their status are perfect!
The city is not very large.
It cannot accommodate tens of thousands of troops.
Therefore, there is a secondary castle at the foot of the mountain on the east side.
A portion of the garrison was sent to garrison the inner city.
Together with the Southern Army's capital city, they form a strategic defensive position.
This city did not have a moat.
But the Karo River flows through the east side,
The Karo River tributary that flows south of the city
These are two natural moats.
The west side is all mountains.
It is surrounded by water on two sides and backed by a mountain on the other.
Corresponding mother and child castles,
It is difficult to launch a strong attack under normal circumstances.
Therefore, after the Song Dynasty captured Lanzhou...
Lanzhou is only about a hundred miles away from this city.
Jingyu Pass (Hekou Ancient Town, Xigu District, Lanzhou) is only sixty li away from here.
But no matter how many large armies they sent, they were unable to capture it.
Yang Zhi dispatched 6,000 infantrymen.
They were arrayed at the confluence of the Karo River and its tributaries.
They were separated from the city's garrison by a tributary.
The remaining troops were all arrayed on the east bank of the Karo River.
The cannons were also dragged out and aimed at the castle.
Li Yuchang stood on the city wall of the mother city.
Observe the movements of the Ming army from a distance.
He ordered several thousand infantry and all his cavalry to join him.
retreat several miles north and cross the river.
This divides the troops into three.
The narrow terrain limited the Ming army's tactical options.
No matter how many troops there are, it will be difficult to deploy them.
The defending side held the geographical advantage.
Dividing troops into three locations will not dilute troop strength.
On the contrary, it could be used when the Ming army besieged the city.