Chapter 227: Pursuit in the Snow
The sound of horse hooves came, and more than a hundred horses crossed the field and rushed to the front.
The soldiers who were marching shouted when they saw it.
Shao Xun waved and laughed.
He looked silently at the marching column.
Although there was heavy wind and snow, morale was still maintained at a considerable level.
This is not only because of the pre-war mobilization, but also because of the perfect logistics support.
At least every soldier has a set of cotton clothes.
Mian is not cotton.
The so-called cotton garment is actually a cloth-covered jacket stuffed with the remaining silk floss from reeling and weaving. Because it is short, it is not suitable for weaving, so it is used as a material to keep out the cold.
Later on, the cotton clothes were filled with more than just cotton.
The more expensive ones use bird feathers, the lower cost ones use reed catkins.
In the former Han Dynasty, in order to facilitate winter combat, iron sheets were even stuffed inside to make cotton armor, the so-called "hard armor and cotton coat".
But this kind of cotton armor was very impractical and had poor protective power, so it was quickly eliminated.
Soldiers would rather wear cotton clothes and armor at the same time, but more often than not, they don't wear cotton clothes at all. They just wear armor and carry it when it's cold. This is more convenient. This is the so-called "It's hard to wear the armor of the Protector in the cold." "Yes.
Being a soldier and fighting in a war is a hard job, no matter what era.
"Your Majesty!" A group of old, young and old, probably dozens of people, stood at the intersection, shouting loudly.
Shao Xun stopped and took a closer look.
Tang Jian rode up and reported in a low voice. It turned out that it was local powerful Wubao commanders who came to work with wine, meat and food.
Shao Xun nodded, then looked at everyone and said loudly: "I know the love of my father. Please accept the food and meat, what about the wine-"
He pointed his riding whip to the north and said: "After defeating the enemy, we can drink with the elders of Hebei."
After that, he clapped his horse and drove away. His voice could still be faintly heard in the wind: "If there is still blood, , you can join my army and go north to kill the enemy."
The carriages are rolling and the horses are rustling.
Ten thousand soldiers of the Chinese army marched forward non-stop in the face of wind and snow.
After a while, more than ten strong men rushed out of the crowd, bringing their own bows, horses, and equipment, and followed the army northward.
Every time we passed an intersection, a village, or a Wubao, this scene happened repeatedly. The enthusiasm of the Jijun elders to resist the enemy had been completely ignited. Not only did they send food and goods, but they also sent hundreds of brave children to join the army. Follow Lu Yanghou to kill the enemy.
People need organization.
The energy of organized people is very different from that of scattered people.
The arrival of the government troops organized these people at the right time.
Food has been solved, supplies have been solved, and even part of the military resources have been solved.
When this force becomes stronger and stronger, no one can easily stop it.
******
The retreat led by Liu Ling and Wang Sang was a good plan, but the actual execution was not so good.
The biggest problem is the weather.
After Shen Shi, the sky became gloomy again.
The north wind swept across the land, blowing heavy snow in the sky. The retreating men and horses hesitated with difficulty, and it was even difficult to discern the direction.
With this terrible weather and such visibility, even the scouts were useless. Everyone hurried on with their heads down, and at the same time secretly regretted not staying in Gongxian County.
Several troops came together one after another, but there were still quite a few people, but contact was lost for a while.
Wang Sang and Liu Ling had to slow down and wait while walking.
But their slowing down also gave the pursuers a chance.
When it was getting dark, several riders suddenly came running from behind. Before they could say anything, the sound of weapons clashing could be heard faintly.
Liu Ling cursed secretly, the wind and snow were so strong, you could hear the sound of fighting, how fast the pursuers came!
He climbed to the top of an abandoned house and tried to take a look at the enemy, but the wind and snow were too strong and the sky was a little dark, so he couldn't see anything clearly.
The killing sounds are getting clearer and louder.
Soon, a long silver steel dragon appeared in sight.
Liu Ling clenched her fists subconsciously.
The armor of the long silver dragon was covered with snow. They were blowing white steam, holding long guns, and lined up neatly, braving the wind and snow, and marching quickly.
Our own soldiers were no match for them and were beaten to the point of retreat.
"Stab!" Ru Lin's spear was thrust out quickly, as if a red dye shop had opened on the snow, so bright that it stung Liu Ling's eyes.
“Kill!” After a spearman assassinated the enemy in front of him, he did not even need an officer’s command. He waved it up and down and used the spear very accurately to knock down the spear of an enemy infantry who was rushing over. .
The man next to him had quick eyes and quick hands, and shot him to death.
The tacit understanding of cooperation is breathtaking.
Liu Ling could even imagine that in the past countless days and nights, these silver warriors would practice with each other whenever they had free time, and mastered many practical killing moves on the battlefield.
Not wanting to wait any longer, he hurriedly got off the roof, summoned a group of soldiers, and rushed towards them.
The Silver Spear Army warriors have rushed into the village.
When dozens of people saw them, they came over and killed them. The first person with a recognition flag on his back seemed to be a junior officer.
Liu Ling didn't talk nonsense at all, and thrust straight forward with his spear.
The opponent did not evade, but fiercely moved the spear, deflecting the spear that Liu Ling thrust at him, and then pressed the spear hard, trying to suppress Liu Ling's spear blade. The two men on his left and right took a few steps forward. One thrust his spear straight into Liu Ling's armpit, while the other ran toward his legs and feet.
The soldiers struggled to intercept the two men's offensive.
Liu Ling angrily used brute force and pressed the young officer's spear to the ground with his backhand. Then he took a step forward and suddenly used his skillful force to knock the young officer back with the spear shaft. Then, without waiting for him to react, he raised the spear over his head like lightning. , stabbed diagonally, and sent the spearhead into the throat of the young officer, killing him.
Before he had time to get excited, screams rang out from beside him, and a soldier fell backwards, making no sound anymore.
"Hoo!" A long spear stabbed Liu Ling straight in the face with the sound of howling wind.
Under the electric light and flint, Liu Ling had no time to think, subconsciously bent his legs, the spear shaft was in line, and the spear passed over his right shoulder.
Liu Ling took half a step back, raised his gun and stabbed directly, but was blocked by another person.
Damn, these soldiers are perfect! He cursed in his heart. He probably had practiced the art of spear fighting for no less than five years. Not only was his personal skill outstanding, but he also had a tacit understanding of cooperation.
"Huh!" The spear came straight at him again.
Liu Ling took one or two steps back. The Silver Spear Army warrior on the opposite side was a little impatient and pursued him half a step faster. Liu Ling seized the opportunity and advanced instead of retreating. He stabbed the opponent in the armpit with a spear, and then Kill someone.
“Kill them!” The sound of rapid footsteps came again in the wind and snow.
Seeing his soldiers continue to fall, Liu Ling became more and more anxious. He tried his best to stab the third person to death and finally broke through.
The Silver Spear Army warrior he had just killed looked like a simple coolie in his thirties. However, he held the spear in a standard manner, with firm and powerful steps. His gaze kept circling his face, armpits, knees and other places that were not covered by the armor. His assassination movements were cunning and vicious, as fast as the wind.
Under the protection of his own soldiers, Liu Ling managed to kill one officer and two soldiers, but he was so exhausted that he was out of breath.
Damn it, where did Shao Xun find these people? They are all so difficult to deal with.
"Lost, defeated!" A depressing cry came from the wind.
Liu Ling did not dare to delay any longer. Surrounded by some soldiers, he turned around and left.
Another part of the soldiers stayed behind and fought with the silver spear soldiers. People on both sides kept screaming and falling down.
"Boom!" The sound of horse hooves sounded, and Liu Ling rushed out of the village like the wind and disappeared into the night.
More and more silver gun troops came in.
The thieves dispersed in a hurry. They didn’t care about the wind and snow in the sky, or whether the severe cold in the middle of the night would freeze them to death. At this moment, they just wanted to escape, and they just wanted to get away from this gang of skilled and murderous people. The officers and soldiers should stay away.
The night finally fell completely.
After searching and killing the last bandit, the silver spear soldiers dragged the injured horses over and slaughtered them on the spot. Then some houses were demolished, fires were started, and broth was boiled.
After finishing their meal with broth and dry food, they continued their pursuit.
This bad weather made their proud walking bow unable to be used. But it doesn't matter, melee combat can still destroy the enemy.
They are the first group of the Silver Spear Army. Most of them have been in the army for more than five years. They fight head-on. I don’t believe anyone can stop their jungle of spears.
******
After escaping for most of the night, Liu Ling encountered a group of his own troops who were retreating in a village fortress occupied by them in the northern border of Gongxian County. There were about two thousand soldiers and horses in total, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
In the end, we sat down to drink some hot soup and eat a few mouthfuls of dry food, when the sound of rapid horse hooves was heard again outside the village.
The sonorous sound of armor leaves sounded in front of and behind the village fortress. It seemed like someone was outflanking them?
Liu Ling looked at the soldiers on the left and right, but there were only dozens of them.
Looking at the crowded soldiers in the village, most of them were newcomers who were brought here. At this moment, their faces were full of fear and there was a lot of noise.
"Let's go!" Without any hesitation, he changed his horse and rode directly on it. Then he called on all the people who could follow to follow him and break out eastward.
In the dark night, the torch did not work at all, and was destroyed by the wind and snow in just a moment.
Liu Ling didn't care about anything else. He only looked in one direction and ran wildly.
He no longer thinks about whether his followers can escape, nor does he think about where Wang Sang is at this moment. He just wants to escape with his life.
He still has hundreds of people in Linli and nearly a thousand soldiers in Yecheng. These are his old bases. As long as they are gathered together, there is still a chance for a comeback.
In the dark night, the sound of horse hooves following him became increasingly rare.
On the way, he found a leeward place to rest. After eating some water, Liu Ling put on his horse and ran wildly again.
First east, then north, he ran into Linlu County in a hurry.
When the morning sun rose from the east on October 11th, only twenty or thirty riders could keep up with him.
At this time, a group of people ran over from the south.
Liu Ling just wanted to get up and run away, but found that it was his own troops who were retreating hastily north. When he sent someone to ask, they turned out to be Wang Sang's tribe.
Originally they were looting nearby, but no one informed them to retreat, and no officers and soldiers came to fight them. After hearing that Wang Sanqi and Liu Ping led their troops to return north, they lost their way and continued to stay here. With courage, he ran away with the people and property he had snatched, and accidentally bumped into Liu Ling.
Liu Ling breathed a sigh of relief, took over the command grandly, and led his troops to retreat north.
He knew very well that after a day and night of fighting, the climax of the pursuit by the officers and soldiers had passed.
In the dark night, he and Wang Sang's men were scattered everywhere. No matter how capable the officers and soldiers were, they couldn't figure out where they were going.
He is safe now. But there are also some who want to cry but have no tears. Retreating is not that easy after all.
Thief Shao pursued too closely. Taking advantage of the cover of the wind and snow, he spread out his soldiers and attacked and killed them everywhere.
I don’t know how many of these people who went south to Gongxian County can return.
After returning to Yecheng, I am afraid that I will really have to look at Shi Le's face.
That is not a kind person. If he is not careful, the troops will be directly swallowed by him...
(End of this chapter)