Meng Xuezhu held up the binoculars and looked at the Khitans who were chaotic on the ice. The artillery around him kept firing shells, smashing on the ice and exploding, and the Khitans fell to the ground and wailed. After a long time, I saw horses from the shore to the ice, beckoning the Khitans to retreat.

Meng Xuexue put down the binoculars and shouted categorically: "The second battalion, the third battalion, the infantry attack!" After crossing the middle of the river, slowly retreat! ”

The generals on one side promised loudly, and after a short time, they led their corporal down the river bank and attacked the Khitan soldiers.

At this time, the ice was very slippery, and the horses kept falling. On the contrary, it was the infantry of the Song army, which steadily advanced on the river and pressed towards the Khitan army.

When Tuguci saw it, he had the intention to send his own personal guard cavalry to meet the attack and cover the retreat of the brigade. However, the ice was too slippery, and the horses fell as soon as they walked fast, unable to fight. It was only possible to command the troops anxiously and go ashore as quickly as possible. There are thousands of Khitan cavalry on the river, and this section of the river has been trampled by them, and the more anxious they are, the slower they are. From time to time, some cavalrymen fell and could not get up for a while.

The infantry of the Song army, armed with muskets in hand, took turns firing and pressed towards the Khitan army on the river. The Khitan army, which was staggering on the ice, had no power to fight back at all, and could only be a target there. If you want to run, the horse will accidentally fall to the ground, which will be even more miserable.

It took half an hour for the Khitan army to withdraw from the ice. The Song army reached the middle of the river, stood on the ice, and confronted the Khitan army on the shore. The ice was staggering, and there were Khitan corpses everywhere.

Seeing that the Khitan army would never go down the river again, Meng Xuexue ordered the herald to let the army in the river retreat. He also said to Tan Li, who was in charge of the rangers: "These days, there are many rangers, and the Khitans are not allowed to cross the river within ten miles of our station!" They're coming, and they're going far! If you see a Khitan, report it immediately! There must not be a trace of slackness, let the Khitan people take advantage of the loophole! ”

Tan Li forked his hand and promised.

Meng Xuexue has more than 3,000 subordinates, and there are more than 300 rangers. Properly arranged, it can reconnoiter the enemy situation within 30 miles. As a leader, Tan Li has been in the army for many years, and he has also passed through battles on Shaanxi Road, and he is a figure who is older than the army.

The whole army retreated to shore, and it was past noon. There were clouds in the sky, the sun was obscured, and the sun was not violent. On the surface of the ice, there are only a few crispy flowers, and there is no place to melt the ice. It's slowly entering the coldest time of the year, and the ice on the river is getting thicker and thicker.

It wasn't until he saw the Khitan army slowly retreating that Meng Xuexue instructed Tan Li to send someone to watch them, and then returned to Mumen Town with his soldiers and horses.

Outside Mumen Town, Pang Tong, the deputy commander of the capital, stood in front of the team, his face pale. In the past, among the forbidden army, the recruitment of the team was not too timely, and there were always people who took it slowly. Most of the time, the army just waits, and there is no particularly severe punishment. A general with particularly strict military discipline may kill a few people who take the lead in order to correct military discipline. This time it was different, Meng Xuexue directly took the assembled people away, and what the rest of the people would face, it was impossible to say.

Meng Xuexue looked at the nearly 1,000 soldiers and didn't speak for a while. Finally, he said to the generals around him: "Take your subordinates back to the camp and tell them to eat meat buns tonight and a pot of wine for each person." There is a reward for victory, and a punishment for defeat, this is common sense in the army. ”

Several generals sang a promise together, and they all felt happy in their hearts. In fact, every general's subordinates had soldiers who had not gathered, and were still standing in the open space in front. It's just that the generals went to the front line and won the battle, and it seems that Meng Xuexue is ready to hold them accountable.

More than 2,000 soldiers returned to the barracks happily, not laughing. The soldiers who were standing in the open space were even more panicked when they heard this.

Meng Xueji dismounted, slowly walked to the soldier, and did not speak for a while.

The sun was setting, and the cool breeze gradually rose and blew on the body like a knife. In Mumen Town behind him, the laughter of soldiers and the sound of killing sheep came from time to time. Some soldiers came out to collect firewood and make trouble.

Meng Xuezhi looked at everyone and said in a deep voice: "We are soldiers to eat food, pick up swords and guns, we are here to fight!" As soon as there is an enemy situation, be ready to fight the enemy at any time! Today, the Khitans suddenly attacked, and the whole army of more than 3,000 people, including more than 2,000 people, could be prepared at the specified time. It's just you, and the whole army can't be assembled even after it's set out. The first army said how many people there were, but in fact it is not that important, what matters is how many people can go to the battlefield! You are in my army, you are fed, clothed, sheltered, and traveled, have I ever been sorry for you? ”

Pang Tong on the side said: "The head of the regiment is in charge of life and death, how can he not be sorry for his subordinates!" ”

Meng Xuezhu shook his head: "Naturally, there will be things that cannot be stopped." For example, the imperial court's military salary is not paid, but greedy for ink. I don't give you food in the army, I take it for my own money. Drinking the blood of soldiers is actually nothing unusual. But our army, since you have come under my wing, I ask myself that I have never done any of these things. I am worthy of you, and you must be worthy of the court! ”

Speaking of this, Meng Xuexue's eyes were blazing, and he looked at everyone.

The soldiers only felt that their faces were feverish, and they couldn't help lowering their heads, not daring to look at Meng Xue anymore.

After a long while, Meng Xue said: "Today is the first time, and I want to give you too heavy a punishment." After a while, Deputy Commander Pang will take you to the battlefield just now and clean up the battlefield. Ugly words are said in the front, if there are still stealing and cheating, or even hiding booty, don't blame me for turning my face and being ruthless! If you do a good job, come back and cook your own food, and the matter will pass. ”

Pang Tong sang loudly with his hands on the side.

Meng Xuexue pulled Pang Tong aside and said in a low voice, "I'm tired of you today." In today's first battle, if you don't give these soldiers a little memory, they won't really get serious. The battlefield must be desperate, there is no room for sloppiness, and if you are tired today, you will be rewarded in the future. ”

Pang Tongdao: "Xia Guan understands! Rest assured, I will complete this with all my heart! ”

Meng Xuezhi nodded: "Okay, then you should be careful." The Khitan soldiers and horses retreated today, and tomorrow they will definitely not find a place to cross the river. Now the river is frozen, and they can cross it for thousands of miles, and they can't stop it. We can only push them as far away as possible, cross the river, there is no place to replenish food and grass, and we cannot fight for a long time. For us, there are infinite benefits to having the enemy's supply a few miles away. ”

Pang Tong didn't expect this section, and after listening to Meng Xuexue's words, he couldn't help but suddenly realize. When he saw that Meng Xuexue heard that the Khitans were coming, he hurriedly led his troops over, thinking that he was simply warlike. But I didn't think that Meng Xuejiu thought of it even deeper.

The Khitan came to fight from a distance, and there was no supply on the road, and grain and grass could only be transported from within the territory. When they arrived in this area, it was already the end of the crossbow, and it was a heavy burden to force them to go one or twenty miles to the south. In the future, when fighting the Song army, the army did not bring much grain and grass, so it was impossible to fight for a long time.

Seeing Pang Tong away, Meng Xuexue sighed. I didn't have a long time leading troops, and I couldn't talk about a lot of training. I've always wanted to rectify military discipline, but I haven't had a chance. This happened to happen today, and if you don't put it in order, it will not be good for the rear battle.

An army is said to have as many people and as many weapons, and after all, it is the number of people who go to the battlefield with weapons to fight. If they are all the same as these soldiers who have not assembled today, what is the use of a large number of troops? Military discipline is not good, and the impact on the army is very great.

Shaking his head, he walked towards the middle of town. Today is a victory after all, the wrong one will be punished, and the one who wins will be rewarded. Drink wine and eat meat, let Lisheng's soldiers have a good rest, and then there will be more fierce battles.