Standing on the high slope of the Yao River, the river breeze blows in your face. Zhao Jiaren put down the binoculars in his hand and asked the people around him, "Have you seen the picture of the elephant for everyone?" ”

“…… Report to the lieutenant, my troops have been issued. Song Jie replied.

"Report, my troops have also sent it."

At this time, Zhao Jiaren's army and the army of the Jiaozhi Kingdom were lined up on both sides of the Yao River, and there were many elephant soldiers in the opposing army. Even across the river, the elephant's ears are swinging. It was supposed to look cute, but because the Cochin people painted a lot of ferocious patterns on the elephant's body, it looked quite murderous.

Zhao Jiaren has seen elephants and ridden elephants. However, Fujian Road has not seen elephants for many years, and the army, which is mainly composed of locals on Fujian Road, is inevitably unfamiliar with it. Even though he ordered the troops to be educated before departure, Zhao Jiaren was still a little worried.

According to reason, the reports of these officers proved that everyone had worked hard, but Zhao Jiaren still couldn't help but provoke the problem, "Report the number!" Everyone says my troops, how do I know which ones? ”

Being reprimanded like this, everyone answered again.

"Report to the captain, the fourth battalion has completed its education."

"Report to the captain, the fifth battalion has completed its education."

"Report to the captain, the sixth battalion has completed its education."

……

Listening to such a report, Zhao Jiaren finally felt a lot better. And listening to these people change their title to 'Taiwei', Zhao Jiaren also felt more satisfied.

Taiwei was the highest official in charge of the military in the central government during the Qin and Han dynasties, but he did not appoint Taiwei in the end of the Qin Dynasty. At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, the title of Taiwei, as one of the three divisions and three dukes, was only used as a promotion order, and was not in charge. Taiwei used to be under Taibao. After the military attache system was reestablished during the reign of Emperor Huizong, Taiwei became the head of the military rank officials.

Zhao Jiaren is a civil official, and as a solicitor, he can be called a lieutenant. Compared with the title of Xianggong, Zhao Jiaren prefers the title of Taiwei.

Waiting for the end of the statement of the troops, the results sent by the reconnaissance department were sent, "Captain." The royal banner of the King of Cochin is also arrayed opposite. ”

"The old gentleman is very tough." Zhao Jiaren couldn't help but praise. At this time, the forces of the two sides were lined up, and the reconnaissance force believed that the Jiaozhi army on the opposite side had about 20,000 troops, and almost all the troops that could be pulled out now were pulled out for deterrence. Rows and rows, even if they stand crookedly, hundreds of elephants are placed in front of the array, and they look quite strong.

"Captain, how should we face the battle?" Song Jie next to him asked. Before the war, everyone was indeed very similar to making a battle plan, but they didn't know much about Cochin, and they didn't have to meet the enemy before they could speak.

"Since I said cruel things in front of Chen Rixuan, the king of Jiaozhi, I can't wait to take the initiative to cross the river, probably can't say it." Zhao Jiaren said to the commanders, including a group of commanders.

"Captain, all the commanders and fighters of the fifth battalion are willing to be pioneers!" The commander of the fifth battalion, Lu Debu, immediately spoke loudly.

Since it was decided to settle the cochin as a nautical guild, various regularizations of the troops were underway. For example, troops are no longer called officers and soldiers, but commanders and fighters. Officers are called commanders, and soldiers are called combatants. The title has received an unusual sense of recognition. Because 'member' in the Great Song Dynasty means a member. XX outside the staff, refers to the outside of the staff. It means that there is no establishment now, but it has the status of establishment, and it is only waiting for the official vacancy.

Since someone volunteered so much, Zhao Jiaren said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about no merit, we only have these 10,000 people, and you don't have a chance to be lazy if you want to." However, after seeing the military formation of the Jiaozhi people today, everyone discussed it carefully and waited for tomorrow to fight again. ”

The leader of the Jiaozhi side is indeed Chen Rixuan, the king of Jiaozhi. Seeing the scale of Zhao Jiaren's military array, this very brave and capable king was much more relieved. Although the army on the opposite side was well-arrayed and looked well-trained, their size was too small, only 10,000 men. Fighting more and fighting less has always been the royal road of war, why is it so famous for winning more with less, because there are so few examples of this kind of war, so few that it has to be written about in a big book.

On the first day, the Song army did not cross the river to attack, and King Chen Rixuan also had no intention of attacking. The defending side has a natural advantage. A cross-border army with a strong force crossing the river will reduce its advantage. This is only a tactical level, at the strategic level, the Song army went on an expedition and came from afar, and the Jiaozhi army fought on its own territory, with the advantage of transportation and assembly on the inner line. If the two sides had been facing each other by the river, the Song army would definitely not be able to stand it first. And once the Song army withdrew, Jiaozhi would be able to live a peaceful life for a few years.

The Jiaozhi general proposed a plan to cross the river at night to attack the Song army's camp, but Chen Rixuan vetoed this. When the Song army first arrived in Jiaozhi, it was bound to be mentally guarded. At this time, I am afraid that the sneak attack will have no effect. However, the general did not seem to be convinced by the king's opinion, and after nightfall he led his men and horses to sneak across the river. In the middle of the night, the king was suddenly woken up, and the attendants nervously reported that the general crossed the river and attacked secretly, but was surrounded by the Song army and could not get out. The generals sent people across the river to ask the king to send troops for assistance.

Hearing the report, King Chen Rixuan was furious. The Jiaozhi State was not as good as the Great Song Dynasty, and the military leaders of the Great Song Dynasty nominally had to be directly led by the state. Jiaozhi is basically a group of nobles and wealthy families leading their own troops to follow the king at a critical moment. This is also something that cannot be helped, the Great Song Dynasty can afford to support those armies, and the Jiaozhi royal family does not have the financial resources in this regard. Once the nobles had merit, they would ask the king for a reward.

Now the nobles are acting on their own, and if the king wants to rescue, he has to use his own direct troops. But the king himself knew that there was not much difference between crossing the river in the middle of the night and delivering meat to the door. But if they don't save it, those nobles will immediately be dissatisfied. In a dilemma, the king could only send a boat to the river to prepare for the meeting, and ordered that all the nobles be summoned for a meeting.

The nobles were asleep, and when they hurried to their arrival, the king informed them of what had happened. When these people heard this, they didn't know what to say. During the day, the king openly objected to crossing the river in the middle of the night to attack the Song army, and at this time he also had the confidence to speak. This is the advantage of doing business, and if something really happens, it is easier to get everyone's approval.

Knowing the situation, there are only two options left, save or not. In the middle of the night, it is still unknown whether they can cross the river safely, let alone face the already alarmed Song army after crossing the river. Each of the nobles dared to say that they were going to save it. They all looked at the king with a blank eye, hoping that the strongest of all the nobles would come up with a solution.

There are two kinds of kings who dare to go into battle in person, one is a real second goods, and the other is really daring. King Chen Rixuan belongs to the latter group. There is nothing wrong with the nobles' thoughts, but King Chen Rixuan is also a mortal, and he does not personally possess the ability to surpass humans. He was already losing the reckless nobleman and his men, and he couldn't send more people to his death.

However, it is really hard to say this, because the king cannot be a mortal. Since his status is beyond ordinary people, he must have abilities beyond ordinary people. Otherwise, you won't be able to have enough appeal. At least that's what King Chen Rixuan thinks.

And so there was an awkward silence in the tent. Chen Rixuan knew in his heart that he had to say something to prove his ability, and any remaining silent like this would only damage his image. Chen Rixuan had to say: "We sent troops to the rescue!" ”

Hearing this, the nobles all breathed a sigh of relief. Even though they knew that the usefulness of the rescue was small, there was a world of difference between not succeeding and not sending troops to help.

Perhaps God also agrees with King Chen Rixuan, not long after this order was issued, there was a commotion outside. Not long after, the leader of the fleet, who had gone to meet him, came panting to report it. "Your Majesty, I was ordered to go to answer, but only a dozen people were received."

When the nobles heard that the king had sent a ship to meet them, they were even more moved. King Chen Rixuan asked with a straight face, "What about people?" ”

"It's all out there." The leader of the fleet, a direct subordinate of the king, bowed his head and replied.

The king got up and went outside, and the nobles waited for the king to go out, and they quickly got up and followed. I saw that under the light of the torches outside, there were more than a dozen people lying on the ground. The gang had large blood stains on their clothes. Seeing that everyone has more air out and less air intake, they are about to die.

"How could it be hurt like this?" Chen Rixuan's voice was puzzled. He originally just came out to reprimand those defeated generals, but he didn't expect these people to be beaten like this.

The leader of the fleet hurriedly bowed his head and reported, "I don't know what weapons those Song troops used, which can hurt people from afar." When we went to pick us up, we barely got that many people. The Song army also stood by the river and attacked us, and we ourselves were injured seven or eight people. ”

Knowing that the Song army had some strange weapons, Jiaozhi couldn't even discuss it. In the end, the upper echelons of Cochin can only make a decision to look at it tomorrow.

Before dawn the next day, the camp on Zhao Jiaren's side was already lively. Wake up, assemble, order, eat. As soon as the sky was bright, the commanders and fighters arrived at the Yaojiang River.

Facing the gathered commanders, Zhao Jiaren said loudly: "The sneak attack of the Jiaozhi people failed yesterday because they were undisciplined. There must be discipline in fighting, and the Xiliu Battalion was invincible in all battles back then, because the emperor had to obey discipline when he arrived in the barracks. It's not about anyone's face, it's about everyone's lives. It's about our victory! Obey orders and listen to commands, do you understand? ”

"Understood!" The commanders replied in unison. There were more than 300 Jiaozhi troops who came to sneak attack, and except for a dozen who barely escaped, the others were either killed or captured. With these lessons in front of them, the commanders all thought that they could not fool around. The Jiaozhi army on the opposite side was 20,000 people.

Zhao Jiaren also stopped talking nonsense. He had made all the preparations he could for this war, and if he lost this battle, it would also be a mistake in judgment by Zhao Jiaren. Even if he were to do it all over again, he wouldn't be able to do more in preparing for war. Since it has reached such an extent, the only thing Zhao Jiaren can emphasize is 'obey discipline and listen to commands' and 'don't underestimate the enemy'.

The Jiaozhi army on the opposite side of the Yao River did not line up at this time, and the Song army was divided into three large groups and began to cross the river. The commanders and fighters pushed the boats crossing the river into the water, and they all got on the boats and began to paddle hard. The muffled sound of the horn also sounded in the camp of the Jiaozhi Army on the opposite side of the Yao River.