Chapter 765 Lobbying
Li Tong was furious, but before he could reach Li Zheng, he was already stopped by Li's troops from the periphery.
When the knights who followed Li Chuan saw that their coach was being stopped, they immediately drew their swords and ran over.
Seeing it, the two sides were about to fight.
Li Zheng's general was hugging Li Tong. At this time, he saw that the other party was acting recklessly and hurriedly cursed:
"What do you mean, you dare to draw a knife? Take them all down for me."
So the euphorbia soldiers under the tent, who had long disliked the rear guard knights, directly raised the euphorbias, and then raised all Li Tong's men up.
At this time, Li Tong also woke up from his anger. He first angrily scolded the knights under his command, and then said to Li Zheng, who was silent above:
"Why hasn't Mr. Li sent troops yet?"
In fact, when Li Tong said this, he didn't have any expectations when he saw the behavior of the right guards here.
At this moment, Li Zheng's main formation was full of officials digging earth and ravines, and some were carrying wood for the fences. Small fences were rising everywhere.
These stockades are not very strong, but they are very helpful for field positions. They are convenient and can deter the enemy's cavalry charge.
Li Zheng's main formation and large banner are located on the inside of the Zhaizha. It is a small gentle slope. Although it is not high, it is the highest place in the plain.
The large banner of the rear guard is a fish-dragon flag. It is said that the ancestors of the Li family caught a big fish in Jishui and gradually made a fortune from it.
Li Zheng, the commander-in-chief of the Right Guard Army, who commanded tens of thousands of officials, sat under the banner and looked at the angry Li Tong expressionlessly.
Li Zheng did not answer Li Tong, but gave an order to a general beside him:
"Build another stronghold on the northeast side of our army, and then arrange a crossbow formation there."
The general received the order and hurriedly led a group of warriors behind the slope to the northeast to set up their positions.
Half of the right guards of Li Zheng's army were from Li's tribe and guests, and the rest were recruited by him when he led his troops to conquer the north and south during the chaos in Yanzhou.
Just look at the flags of the generals, the character Li accounts for more than half of them, and you can know who the surname of the right guard is.
Li Zheng's reputation is average here in the Central Plains, but it is extraordinary in Yanzhou. In this way, in the past, Guan Yu was powerful in the east, but the counties in the southwest of Yanzhou were able to secure the blockade because of Li Zheng's military strategy and reputation.
This time Yuan Shao mobilized a large number of troops to fight against the Taishan Army in Heluo. Li Zheng's army was the farthest away. Li Zheng arrived with about a thousand cavalry at the beginning. In the following days, a steady stream of troops from the Jiyin area arrived at the front line.
Even the night before the battle, there were warriors coming from the direction of Yanzhou to join the army. During the hundreds of miles, not many people ran back to their hometowns, which shows how deep Li Zheng's control over his men was.
This is also the characteristic of Li's army formed by clan members, villagers, and guests. That is, the team is extremely united. Therefore, although the number of troops under Li Zheng's command is the smallest, it is able to take the lead in overall combat power.
Under the banner, Li Zheng made some arrangements, consciously strengthening the northeast direction. After everything was said, he looked at Li Tong.
Seeing Li Tong covered with dust, Li Zheng sighed inwardly and finally said:
"Li Houhu, you'd better go back. The right guard army will stay here. If you don't wait for Mr. Yuan to cross the river, no matter how hard you and I try, it will be in vain."
Li Tong really didn't understand at this moment, and he asked loudly:
"Li Zheng, you are also one of the five commanders of my lord, how could you do such a scandal."
Li Zheng smiled contemptuously and asked:
"What's so scandalous?"
Li Tongji pointed at one and said angrily:
"Of course it hurts those who are close, and pleasure those who are ugly. Zhang He's troops are already fighting in the center, but you are standing still. When friendly forces are in trouble, you remain motionless! Isn't it a shame for me as a warrior?"
Li Zheng looked embarrassed, but he had his reasons. He just said to Li Channel calmly:
"I wonder why the previous soldiers had the courage to be so domineering and unruly. They came directly to my command and scolded me for sending troops. It turns out that they all learned from you, master. Haha."
After speaking, Li Zheng pointed to a horse head not far away and said to Li Tong:
"Did you see that horse head? Remember, you and I, Li Tong, are at the same level. I have my own reasons for how I plan my military strategy. It's not your turn to teach me a lesson."
Hearing Li Zheng's words, Li Tong's expression changed drastically and he looked at a knight behind him. This man was the commanding knight who had come to invite the rear guard to send troops.
And this person only said that Li Zheng refused to send troops, but never mentioned his domineering behavior.
Li Tong looked at this man with a green face, and this man also turned pale. He knew Li Tong's temper, so he rushed out immediately, knelt down in front of Li Zheng above, and then suddenly pulled out his knife and yelled at the people around him. Bruised the neck.
The blood of Ling Qi dyed the land in front of Li Zhengpo red. Li Zheng said no more and turned his head to the side.
Seeing his subordinates dying to apologize, Li Tong took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said to Li Zheng sincerely:
"Li Gong, you have a blood feud with the enemy, and you should want to win this battle more than I do. At this moment, I implore you to attack Lijiabi with me to rescue Zhang He. Although Zhang He's former guards are still fighting at this time, they have no reinforcements. When the support is exhausted, his army will be defeated, and now it has been two hours. If we delay, Zhang He will definitely be defeated."
Then Li Tong said sadly:
"Now that your army and ours have crossed the river, there is no way to retreat. Once the front guard army is defeated, where can we go? Therefore, if it is not for the lord, not for Zhang He, but for your life and mine, we must send troops. Yeah.”
It can be said that Li Tong's words were truly emotional, and even Li Zheng, who was determined to do so, was a little shaken.
But when he listened to the faint sound of fighting in the northwest, he still shook his head and said something like this:
"Li Tong, don't you understand? Since you delayed crossing the river, Zhang He's defeat has been doomed. Do you think I only care about myself? But I know that the current battlefield situation is that Zhang He's troops have been surrounded by enemy troops. Division, and even occupied the Lijiabi wall in advance.”
"Yes, according to what you said, with the combined efforts of you and me, our army will definitely be able to capture Lijiabi, but how long will it take? One hour? Two hours? By then Zhang He's troops will have been annihilated, and by then you and I Do you know what you will encounter when a tired army leaves a strong position?”
After saying that, Li Zheng stamped his feet and yelled at Li Tong:
"If you touch this land again, see if it's hard. Our combined army is only thirty thousand, how can we withstand the enemy's thousands of cavalry without a strong formation?"
At this moment, Li Tong suddenly realized that he had no words to defend himself.
Because he knew that what Li Zheng said was right. In fact, he had just felt uneasy when he rode from Lijiabi. But now he finally realized that the ground was hardened and this road was very suitable for galloping.
And once the cavalry is no longer hindered by the wet, what power will it have? Even though they have 30,000 people, they can't stop the cavalry charge without relying on their positions.
Let's put it this way, General He Jin led an army of 50,000 to 60,000 men and marched in a long snake formation, and was finally attacked by the Taishan Army's cavalry of less than 2,000 men.
At that time, the Han army did not make any effective resistance, and was driven away by the Taishan Army's sudden cavalry. Then it was divided into the north and the south, and finally captured and killed 40,000 people. This was the gap between the cavalry and the infantry.
But, but, even if the truth is like this, why don't you work hard for it? Are you really just watching Zhang He being annihilated alive?
That is the main force of the Fifth Guard Army. Without the former Guard Army, can this battle be won? So, Li Tong made one last effort, even pleading in his tone:
"Li Gong, even if this is the case, when the former guard army is annihilated, you and I will have to face the Taishan Army alone. What will happen then?"
Li Zheng was also very irritable. In fact, before the war, he clearly opposed field battles with the Taishan Army.
In his mind, Yuan Shao's mind was a little unclear, and it was true that he had great ambitions and little talent.
This person simply does not understand that given the situation of Yuan's army, he should not engage in a decisive battle with Taishan's army in the wild. The more correct approach is to occupy the Wan'an Mountain area to lock the passage south to Yuzhou, and then let Cao Cao take the initiative to attack, rather than the other way around.
You don’t even think about how many cavalry units they have in Yuan Army combined, and the Taishan Army’s cavalry strength on the opposite side is conservatively estimated to be around 10,000 cavalry. In the end, you still choose to arrange your troops to fight in the plains with them.
So Li Zheng was so angry that Yuan Shao was so pedantic that he cried.
Why did he choose not to cross the river when he saw that Li Tong could not? Why do the teams almost always march slowly in formation after crossing the river? Instead of advancing in columns like Li Tong? Why did he stay in this area and defend it instead of taking the initiative to attack?
This is the reason behind everything. This Yiluo battlefield is the death place for their Yuan army.
Not to mention what dirty tricks Yuan Shao played on him in such a difficult situation. Now the three escorts crossing the river are almost all foreign military leaders. Almost all of Yuan Shao's own direct lineage are waiting on the south bank of Yishui.
Why, they are all gone, you, Yuan Shao, come back? They go through life and death, wipe out all their belongings, and send you Yuan Shao to Luo. How can this be a good thing? Why? Just because your surname is Yuan?
And why didn't Li Tong understand such a simple dirty thought? What he said couldn't be too clear.
Regardless of the success or failure of this battle, Li Tong will definitely be held accountable, because it was he who delayed the military plane that caused Zhang He's former escort to be surrounded, and Yuan Shao will definitely not miss this opportunity to weaken the foreign military leaders.
Don't say anything about your loyalty to Li Tong. No one can say for sure about loyalty. They just don't trust you if you have soldiers in your hands.
Therefore, it is certain that Li Tong will be guilty after the war, and whether the crime is big or small depends on how many soldiers Li Tong still has in his hands at the end. If you finish fighting here, don't worry, you, Li Tong, will definitely die. On the contrary, you still have more than ten thousand soldiers in your hands. Even if you are guilty, it will be a heavy crime.
Yes, it's so counterintuitive. Yuan Shao is worried if you have soldiers, but if you don't have soldiers, life or death is still a matter of life and death.
Looking at the anxious idiot in front of him, Li Zheng sighed and said:
"Xiao Li, you should think about whether your crime is big or small. As for the danger? Humph, wouldn't you and I ask for reinforcements from behind? There are eighty thousand troops behind us, and they are all dead."< br>
At this time, when Li Tong heard Li Zheng's first sentence, he was stunned. Then his face turned pale, big beads of sweat kept dripping down, and his whole body was shaking.
Obviously, Li Tong understood Li Zheng's hint this time, no, explicitly.
During a period of inner tangle, Li Tong said to Li Zheng very gratefully:
"Thank you very much for your advice this time, Duke Li. I will withdraw the troops immediately. Our army will advance and retreat together with Duke Li in this battle."
Li Tong also emphasized the word "retreat", indicating that he was already not very optimistic about this battle.
Li Zheng naturally understood. When he saw that Li Tong was showing signs of retreating, he comforted him and said:
"That's not the case. Even though our army does not have a front guard, it is still overwhelming the Taishan Army in terms of total strength. Xiao Li, our battle has just begun, and it is too early to talk about victory or defeat. You can withdraw the troops later. Set up your formation in the northeast, where there is room for you. After you withdraw the troops, you and I will jointly request troops from Duke Yuan in the rear. We will be more relaxed when it comes to fighting or leaving. "
Li Tong understood. He clasped his fists at Li Zheng, said some swaying words, and then rushed back with his cavalry. He wanted to bring the troops down as soon as possible.
Looking at the backs of Li Tong and the other riders, Li Zheng squinted his eyes, sorted out the details again, and then looked solemnly towards the northwest where they were fighting.
There, the shouts of killing in the center were getting weaker and weaker. It seemed that Zhang He could not hold on for long. It's a pity that Zhang He is such a talented person.
The regret in Li Zheng's heart was sincere, because he and Zhang He had the same background, that is, they had a bloody feud with the Taishan Army. So he originally thought that he could become an ally with Zhang He.
But it's a pity after all.
In fact, what Li Tong said just now is right, that is, he really wants to win this battle more than Li Tong. But that's not how wars are fought. How can there be a situation where one's shortcomings are against the other's strengths?
This battle still has to be fought according to his wishes.
……
Along the way back, Li Tong and his cavalry passed by in a hurry. This time, Li Tong was so preoccupied that he even passed the trap where he had just died without even turning his head to look at it.
Li Tong was persuaded by Li Zheng, but in his heart, he still believed that this battle could be fought. It was obvious that they had the advantage in strength, but in the end they became the shrinking party.
They dare not fight, dare not retreat, and dare not even march. They are really useless.
In fact, in his opinion, Yuan Shao should appoint a commander-in-chief of the former enemy before the war to unify the three guard armies. Instead of fighting each other and dissatisfied with each other now.
If Li Tong was the commander-in-chief, would Li Zheng still dare to teach him a lesson like this?
As for why the commander-in-chief is not Zhang He and Li Zheng? Isn't that nonsense? Zhang He has his own seniority? Does Li Zheng have a large army of his own?
But it was too late to say this. For the current plan, we can only withdraw the troops first and rely on each other with Li Zheng. Although this person is a bit too big, his words are good.
Li Tong was not disobedient.
A change of mind can reach a place miles away in just a moment.
When Li Tong returned to the capital, Chen Gong, who was in charge of temporary command beside the capital, hurriedly helped Li Tong off his horse and asked:
"Yanzhou'er still refuses to send troops?"
Li Tong shook his head, looked at the battlefield, and then asked:
"How is the situation now?"
Chen Gong replied:
"Ding Feng's side charged a few more times, but they were all defeated and are in a stalemate. On the other hand, Chen Min's side in the north has made considerable progress and has already entered the orchard. It seems that the soldiers must win. ”
But Li Tong was not happy. He hesitated and asked:
"How many people have joined Chen Min's army?"
This Chen Gong couldn't come back, he just made an estimate:
"At least half of the battalion head was smashed in. Then Chen Min insists on avenging his nephew. If he doesn't take revenge, he won't be able to hold back the Lujiang soldiers."
At this time, Li Tong was silent. He looked at his subordinates who were still fighting in the distance, shook his lips and ordered:
"Let all the troops withdraw south, and we will join forces with the Right Guards."
This sentence immediately shocked Chen Gong. How could this happen?