nucmednet Chapter 171: Battle of Pingshan Mine 1
Chapter 171: Battle of Pingshan Mine 1
Yi Yu was originally a deserted city.
The only benefit of staying here permanently is that Wanquanguan can provide some food.
Just three days after Zhang Xiaosi of the Zhang family army set out, Yu Wenhua issued an order for all troops to move south and station in Huaian Town.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Long had people plant mines on the road that had to be passed.
As the vanguard, Yuwen Zhou encountered a landmine for the first time. His 30,000-man army was stunned by the explosion and stopped advancing after thousands of soldiers were killed or injured.
Hu Shanzhong, the commander of the central army, also tried to advance, but after losing more than a hundred people, he dared not move forward rashly.
"Commander, this won't do. The Weizhou army has cast some kind of magic spell. Wherever the army goes, there will be violent explosions, and soldiers and horses will be sent flying. Anyone who touches them will die."
After listening to the report, Yu Wenhua looked at his nephew and Hu Shanzhong, and determined that these things were indeed true.
"Retreat and rest, and send personnel to bypass Yang County to investigate what happened. They have people trading with them, so this situation wouldn't happen on the route they usually take."
Since the road was blocked, Yu Wenhua had no choice but to give up and think about the situation on Zhang Xiaosi's side.
……
The envoys sent by Tuoba Youyou to Xiongnu to look for Tuoba Jing finally found their tribe with the help of the local tribe.
"What? You gathered 100,000 men to attack Dingzhou? And you're marching through Daijun?"
Tuoba Jing could hardly believe that the Lu and Wang families had such strength that they could borrow the passage and penetrate so far.
"However, we have discovered a new iron smelting plant in Guangchang County. It is said that the iron here is of excellent quality, and there seems to be an iron mine nearby."
"iron ore?……"
"Yes, and the Lu family has asked the Yuwen Xianbei family to attack Weizhou. We plan to gather in Changshan County and attack Guangchang County directly."
"Well, this is a good idea. I wonder if it can be conquered!"
Tuoba Jing's tribe was not large, but the Great Chanyu valued them highly because they had the Tuoba family as their endorsement. In fact, the number of people Tuoba could call upon to fight was at most 20,000.
"I suggest informing the Great Chanyu of this matter and trying to launch a war during the autumn harvest, so that we can have a better winter."
A defeat two years ago, coupled with the pasture war on the grassland last year, although both were small-scale wars, they were still detrimental to the Huns.
"If Erhan can participate in this battle, it will definitely help to capture Dingzhou."
Tuoba Jing was not interested in what the envoy said. Dingzhou was actually short of resources, but as a strategic location, it had geographical advantages.
At this time, the Chanyu's royal tent had already begun to migrate southward.
The Huyan tribe and the Nalan tribe followed the king's tent.
"Tuoba Jing, why are you looking for the Chanyu?" Huyan Yan asked when he saw Tuoba Jing, who looked exhausted.
"Grand Marshal, the Tuoba and Yuwen Xianbei are attacking Dingzhou and Weizhou. I think this is an opportune time. Should we march south to fight in the autumn?"
Tuoba Jing did not hide the matter, but spoke frankly, wanting to hear Huyan Yan's thoughts.
"Such a large-scale operation? I think we can participate. Let's go to the royal tent and ask the Great Chanyu if it's feasible."
Huyan Yan put his hand on Tuoba Jing's back and made a gesture of invitation.
When they entered the royal tent, there were only Erhan Chanyu and several maids inside, one of whom was lying at the crotch of Erhan.
"It turns out to be Chief Tuoba. Come in and invite him in." Erhan covered the maid with a blanket. He did not stand up, but just sat up sideways.
After paying his respects to the Chanyu, Tuoba Jing sat down and recounted what had happened.
"Master Sikong, what do you think about this matter?"
"This is an opportunity. I think we can send troops, but..." Hu Yanyan looked around.
Erhan Chanyu dismissed everyone, and the maid beside him left with a flushed face.
"This time we will not directly participate in the attack on Weizhou. The Yelu and Tuoba tribes will go to Weizhou, and we will directly capture Shizhou."
"Shizhou?" Erhan Chanyu instantly understood Huyan Yan's intention.
Shizhou, located southwest of Shuozhou, near a large river, served as a key route to the north and became a hub for military assembly and material transfer.
Its rich mineral resources and advantageous geographical location made it one of the important smelting and handicraft centers of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The ironware produced by the iron smelting industry was not only supplied to the military, but also circulated among the people, promoting the prosperity of the local economy.
Therefore, this place is not only a military fortress, but also an economic center.
After understanding Hu Yanyan's intention, Erhan Chanyu immediately ordered and summoned all leaders to discuss the matter.
……
Tuoba Wansheng led his team to pursue Zhuo Yiyi. After encountering a landmine, he was dizzy and did not dare to advance for a while.
"How did they get through this formation before?"
"General, I just made some inquiries. They found some kind of artifact on the ground and then used a horse rope to tie it up and destroy it."
"Oh? So easy? Send someone to deal with this array weapon."
Tuoba Wansheng thought that it would be no problem if he sent someone to do such a simple thing.
The person who answered him was assigned a task at this time, leading the way with his men.
In fact, he didn't know how the mines were cleared. He was just curious when he came over and asked what happened.
As a result, I was also very nervous when I led people to clear mines.
He continued to stab the ground with his spear, cautiously probing forward step by step.
After walking about a few hundred steps, I suddenly found a thin hemp rope.
"Look, is this a tripwire?"
The man pointed at the hemp rope in front and asked.
"Something like that, but can such a thin hemp rope trip our horses?"
As a soldier said this, he stepped forward to pull it. The person behind him felt something was wrong. Before he could react, he heard a "boom".
A huge noise was heard, and rocks and other objects flew out.
The soldiers who were pulling were blown to pieces...
"I understand. It's this hemp rope that's restricting our progress. Move forward. Don't get close to the hemp rope if you see it."
So they walked forward like this, and when they saw the hemp rope, they hooked it with the horse rope and detonated the trip mine.
It's all so simple. You'll find such a trip mine every few hundred steps or even longer.
We were about to reach a slightly open area.
"General, look, there seem to be people ahead, about three to four thousand people, and some of them don't seem to be soldiers."
The demining personnel in front pointed to a place more than a mile away, where they saw many people standing in formation.
Tuoba Wansheng rode his warhorse, gazing at the crowd in the distance, and said with a sinister smile, "I see many of them, without weapons in their hands, standing there, seemingly not in formation."
"General, what do they look like to you?"
"I think they're waiting for us to slaughter them! Hahahaha..."
Tuoba Wansheng looked at the 40,000 people around him. Those who fought in Xiantai Mountain had almost no horses left, and it was estimated that they had not caught up yet.
"Since they are waiting for us to kill them, General, give the order. My sword has been thirsty for a long time and needs to drink blood..."
"Ha ha ha ha……"
This triggered another burst of laughter.
However, the people on the opposite side were not afraid of these Xianbei people at all, but were on high alert, ready to meet their attack at any time.