Chapter 1090 Where is your life?
In the valley, war drums were thundering and horns were sounding. Nearly 10,000 soldiers from the east and west fought in this valley that was more than ten miles wide. The focus of their battle was the estuary where the Tongdi River flowed into the Zhuozhang River in the center of the valley.
In the past few days, both sides had tested each other and pushed their fronts forward, and finally determined a front range that was more favorable to their own side.
Then they were unwilling to move forward, which led to a rather embarrassing situation, that is, the battlefield range defined by their respective fronts was too large, and the distance from south to north reached nearly 20 miles.
Such a wide battlefield range was obviously abnormal. The flags and troops of the other side could not be seen on the fronts of each other. Just entering the battlefield, the soldiers and horses needed to carry weapons and supplies and march for more than ten miles. They were already out of breath before the battle started. How could this battle be fought?
At present, the two sides are not evenly matched, but they both recognize each other's strength. They do not have the confidence to win, so they are unwilling to give up the favorable terrain and choose to continue to move forward.
However, both sides have gathered a huge number of people, and the daily consumption of food and grass is a very heavy burden. Naturally, it is impossible for them to look at each other across the 20-mile valley. Even if their respective commanders can bear it, the granary cannot bear it!
So when neither side is willing to advance on the whole line, each side took a small step forward and sent some troops to seize the more advantageous location in the 20-mile battlefield.
The mouth of the Tongdi River can provide a nearby water source to cool down and quench thirst, and at the same time, the river can also provide certain protection. If it can be seized and a fixed camp can be built, it will undoubtedly take a certain initiative in the next battle.
The slightest gap on the battlefield may affect the final direction of the war. Both sides refused to give in to each other, and naturally launched a fierce local snatch battle around this point.
As for why we didn't occupy this place before the enemy noticed it? Because no matter whether it is a strategic location or a key person, it can only be valuable in the game competition. Once the opponent does not participate in the competition, it will immediately become a worthless chicken rib.
However, as the scale and intensity of the battle around the estuary gradually increased, the atmosphere on the battlefield gradually changed. Both sides are constantly investing more combatants, and the time of each battle is constantly being extended. The investment made by each party has exceeded the gains that the estuary can bring to the subsequent war.
If it is said that each party was cautious and unwilling to advance before, it was still the practice of the main generals of both sides to remain calm and restrained. However, both sides have tens of thousands of troops, and they are also under great pressure. The pressure needs a point to be gradually released, and the morale also needs a point to be continuously raised.
The Tongdi River Estuary certainly has a certain value, which has attracted the attention and competition of both sides, but as both sides increase the stakes and continue to invest around this point, the gains and losses of the land have been given a richer meaning.
The battle around the river mouth started yesterday morning. At first, the scouts of both sides chased and entangled around the river mouth, and each wanted to occupy a more convenient watering point.
The fight between several scouts attracted more scouts to join, and soon it developed into a large-scale fight involving hundreds of people. The losing side was naturally unwilling to be expelled, so it called on its comrades to join. With each party adding in, by yesterday evening, a battle involving thousands of people had already broken out at the river mouth.
By this morning, each camp officially selected soldiers and generals for this purpose, and once again launched a fight for the river mouth. In the morning battle, the number of combatants deployed by each side had reached as many as three or four thousand, and the battle lasted for nearly an hour until the soldiers of each side were exhausted, and then they dispersed.
The soldiers of both sides who withdrew from the battlefield did not return to the camp, but each withdrew to the ridges they occupied to sit on the ground and rest for a while, and then the logistics sergeants of their respective camps delivered food to them. In addition to sending food, the Qi army on the southern plateau also added 2,000 reinforcements.
The Wei army saw this scene from afar and was unwilling to admit defeat. After the news was reported to the camp, the camp quickly sent another 3,000 elite cavalry. The Qi army was also unwilling to be outdone, and soon added another 5,000 soldiers.
When the news was sent back to the camp again, Li Tai couldn't help but frown. If they really wanted to compete on this track, the Wei army would definitely lose. After all, there were only more than 80,000 troops here, but now the Qi army has joined forces from the north and the south, and the strength is more than twice that of the Wei army.
After a little hesitation, he decided to go to the front line himself to plunder the battle for the division, so he led 3,000 elite soldiers to leave the camp and go south.
On the plateau south of the Tongdi River Valley, when the Qi army soldiers saw the Wei army's reinforcements, they immediately booed. The difference between the momentum of 3,000 people and 5,000 people is very large, and it can be seen at a glance.
The Wei army showed its weakness after only one round, so it was undoubtedly lost in this competition. The Qi army soldiers, whose competitive spirit was satisfied, felt very comfortable and their morale was boosted.
However, the Wei army did not feel frustrated because of this. Instead, they kept cheering fiercely with the arrival of this group of people. Everyone was smiling and excited.
This naturally puzzled the Qi army on the opposite side. Obviously, they were at a disadvantage in terms of manpower and strength, so why were the Wei army so excited?
Soon, a scout who was close to the enemy camp ran back and shouted to his own commander: "General, it's Li Boshan, Li Boshan is here in person!"
The commander of the army was Qi General Gao Anagong. When he heard this, his face suddenly changed. He took another look at the Wei army running and cheering on the opposite slope. To be on the safe side, he waved his hand and ordered his troops to retreat a few miles south to the back of the pond and form a battle line. He also sent someone to quickly report the news that Li Boshan was here in person to the camp.
In the Qi army camp, Gao Yang was gathering his generals in the big tent to discuss the battle situation and response plan that might be faced in the coming battle. After the front-line messenger returned to the camp, he was led directly into the tent and reported in a hurry: "Your Majesty, the Qiang bandit leader Li Boshan has arrived at the Tongdi River front line!" Gao Yang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he pushed the case and stood up, holding his sword and sneered: "Is this bandit impatient to go to the battlefield to seek death? We have been enemies for a long time, but I don't know him. Now that he has entered the battlefield, I will go to see him. Take my armor quickly!" Duan Shao was afraid that the emperor was still affected by what Hulugu said before, so he hurriedly stood up and said: "The former increased their troops to fight for the river mouth, and the bandits were unable to compete, so the bandit leader went to the front line in person, which shows that they are weak. Your Majesty is a great man. The lord of the world, with a huge army of 10,000 and famous ministers and generals to command, why should we condescend to meet this bandit leader who has run out of tricks? The army will go out to fight, capture him in front of the battle, and return to the camp to report the victory, Your Majesty can see it in the tent! "
After hearing this, Gao Yang smiled slightly, and then waved his hand and said: "Although the king's heroic words are pleasant to the ears, his views are also vulgar. In the world, how many people are famous all over the world? The bandit is also a hero of the moment, and he has repeatedly harmed me. Whether he is out of tricks or not does not affect his heroic spirit. I will not be condescending to meet him. I am the lord of the world, how can I not recognize someone who is called a hero? I will meet him now and not fight him. In the future, the meritorious soldiers will present the captives, and this bandit will be relieved whether he is alive or dead. "
When Duan Shao heard the emperor say this, he stopped talking to obstruct him. When the emperor walked out in military uniform, he also wore armor and held a spear and followed behind.
Soon Gao Yang arrived at the front line surrounded by his imperial guards. The grand imperial procession was much more magnificent and eye-catching than the procession of Li Boshan on the opposite side. The Qi army soldiers on the plateau also burst into cheers one after another.
After reaching the top of the plateau, Gao Yang did not stop there, but continued to ride forward, leading the hundred guards behind him and the rest of the army to continue forward, and stopped at the mouth of the Tongdi River where the two sides had fought before. His attitude was extremely arrogant, and the soldiers behind him also cheered.
Originally, the two sides fought several times and suffered many casualties but failed to seize the river mouth area. Now His Majesty the Emperor came to the front line in person, just rode slowly, and successfully occupied the river mouth, which was of course very exciting.
The Wei army soldiers on the plateau were extremely indignant after seeing this scene, but seeing that the Qi army had already surpassed them by several times in strength and their morale was very high, they knew that they could not be easily shaken, so they just frowned and looked at Lord Tang and waited for orders.
Gao Yang came to the river mouth, and then sent someone to shout: "The Supreme Emperor of the Great Qi is personally on the battlefield to look at the battle formation. Does the Wei State Tang Duke Li dare to come forward to see him?"
After hearing this, the Wei army soldiers on the plateau all looked at Lord Tang nervously and shook their heads slightly, while Li Tai just smiled slightly, raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Shinu, Pi Jinghe, Yuan Jingan and several other riders to follow him, and rode down the slope, and ordered Zhang Shinu to go ahead, shouting to the south across the river mouth: "Deceiving the heaven and rebelling can still be bowed and bowed. Don't be surprised, why doesn't my master dare to see me! "
Gao Yang reined in his horse to the south. He was not angry after hearing this, but he sneered. Before Li Tai ran away, he raised the whip in his hand and shouted to Li Tai: "Li, there is no need for me to make a big fuss. I know your heart very well. If you are really pure and kind, you are still a slave of Yuwen. Wei lost his life, I took it away myself! You are just a thief waiting for an opportunity, don't laugh at me!"
Li Tai was curiously looking at Gao Yang at this time, but he didn't pay much attention to his shouting. There was a river mouth as wide as dozens of feet between them, and it was not as real as seeing each other face to face. At first glance, he felt that Gao Yang was not as ugly as he had imagined. It was probably because the other party's status and the heroic image and temperament set off by his military uniform diluted the shortcomings of his appearance.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and replied, "As a human being, you should have moral integrity and be different from animals. You should know shame and wear clothes, not showing your private side to others. You should know ugliness and disguise yourself, not showing your evil side to others. This is just the most basic principle of education. If the Lord of Qi does not understand it, how can he control the people and govern the people? Although the mandate of Wei is lost, how can your mandate be saved?"