Chapter 282: Defeated

Daoyan lowered his head and said quietly: "I'm not crazy. Hundreds of thousands of troops of the court chased us. The commander of the army is Xiao Fan. If you ask disrespectful words, the prince and I have repeatedly fought with Xiao Fan in recent years. Whether openly or secretly, have we ever beat him?"

Zhu Di's face was sometimes blue and sometimes white, changing, and finally sighed and said sadly.

It is obvious that Zhu Di suffered from "Xiao Fan phobia". When he mentioned Xiao Fan's name, Zhu Di thought of those unbearable memories that suffered repeated losses. Not only did he feel sad, but he also felt sad.

Daoyan looked decadent and said, "The number of large-scale soldiers in the court has exceeded ours. After the reform of the military system, the combat power has also been greatly improved. The morale of the army is stable and the morale is high. The leader is Xiao Fan, the prince, who is unpredictable to magic and the methods of gods and ghosts. If our Yan army fights head-on with him, what is the chance of victory?"

Zhu Di shook his head and sighed: "I am not sure. This uprising was in a hurry. It was forced by the imperial court's vassals and military reforms. If we talk about the strength of the imperial army thirty-one years ago in Hongwu, I can say uncongratulations that they are not opponents of the Yan army. Although there are many people, I can also defeat them. However, the imperial court has implemented military reforms. Over the past year, thousands of garrisons and households in various places practiced warships day and night, and lieutenant generals were led into the martial arts lecture hall. The court's military selection was numerous. These new policies greatly increased the combat effectiveness of the imperial army, let alone the commander-in-chief... Alas!"

Zhu Di sighed heavily, his face was a little distorted. He didn't even want to mention Xiao Fan's name. It seems that Xiao Fan has indeed disgusted him in recent years.

"Why did the prince know that the combat effectiveness of the imperial army has been greatly improved, why did he still raise an army to calm down?" Dao Yanruo asked with deep meaning.

Zhu Di gritted his teeth and said, "If I continue to stung, my final outcome will be that I will be cut off by Zhu Yunwen's son and banned in the capital. Not only will the power be lost, but it will be controlled by others. I will be imprisoned throughout my life. Sir, do you think I am willing to swallow my anger?"

Daoyan clasped his hands together as a courtesy and said, "The prince's heroes of the world would rather be broken than a tiled piece of cake."

Zhu Di said sternly: "I dare not say that the heroes of the world, but I am in the land of Youyan, with tens of thousands of elite soldiers and generals under my command, and I look down on the world. There are few enemies. At least I am considered a strong vassal? With such strength, how could my fate be fooled by Zhu Yunwen's yellow-mouthed child? What qualifications do he have to trick me? Just because he is the emperor? I will just snatch the throne!"

Daoyan showed joy on his face. Although the current situation was at a disadvantage, Zhu Di did not lose confidence. Instead, the disadvantage inspired his fighting spirit. That was enough. Daoyan liked to see such a vigorous Zhu Di.

"It is wise and unwise to do it even though you know it is impossible. Prince, no matter whether you succeed or fail in the future, you are a well-deserved hero. How lucky is I to be a wise ruler in this life."

Zhu Di's eyes were red and he said with emotion: "Mr. I have been assisting me for many years. No matter how good or bad things are, I have never left me. I have been assisting me with Mr. I am just like a fish in water..."

Daoyan burst into tears and choked up and said, "Prince..."

"gentlemen……"

Then, the two of them appeared a scene that would inevitably be disgusting if Xiao Fan saw it. Their hands were tightly held together, gently rubbing each other, and never letting go for a long time...

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"Since the prince is not sure of defeating Xiao Fan, why not lead him away..." Daoyan's love affair calmed down and said slowly: "...The court has mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to annihilate us, and has been closely behind us for more than a month, without any relaxation. As everyone knows today that the court is strong and our Yan army is weak, so we naturally think that we can only escape. I believe that Xiao Fan is the same idea. Prince, this is our opportunity!"

"What do you say sir?"

"The way of using troops is to use the right combination and win with the strange. When others judge us like this, if we are surprised and do the opposite, we will definitely gain a lot." Daoyan said excitedly.

Zhu Di frowned: "Sir, let us lead Xiao Fan's army away, and then we will directly lead the army south to capture... the capital Nanjing?"

Daoyan focused on it: "Yes, attack Nanjing! In order to annihilate and suppress us, the court drew a lot of troops from the local garrisons and the twenty-four guards in the capital to pay Xiao Fan. Now the capital is empty and the defense is slackening. If we unexpectedly capture Nanjing and lead troops into the palace to force Zhu Yunwen to abdicate, the prince took up the country, named Zheng Orthodox, and issued an order in the name of the emperor, ordering Xiao Fan to give up resistance and surrender to the prince, who dares not to obey? Changes in identity and position, we were the orthodox court at that time, and Xiao Fan was a complete rebel..."

Zhu Di's heartbeat was quickening in vain. This was a crazy idea, but... it was very tempting and very feasible.

"I...rely proclaim myself?"

"Why can't the prince be called emperor?"

"Will others take me as the leader after conquering the capital?"

"Zhu Yunwen's family has fallen into the hands of the prince. There is no emperor in the dragon court of the Ming Dynasty. Apart from the prince, who is qualified to sit on that dragon throne? What else can they do if the governments, garrisons, and army in various places besides being the prince? The Ming Dynasty is the Ming Dynasty of the Zhu family, and who is the emperor is also the business of the Zhu family. Can these outsiders intervene? Prince, if you occupy the capital, you will occupy the righteousness!" Dao Yan became more and more excited as he spoke, and his face turned red.

Zhu Di's heartbeat was thrilling, and light gradually appeared in his eyes, like a dawn in the darkness, illuminating the dark future.

"Attack...the capital..."

"Attack the capital!"

"Xiao Fan..."

"This time, we want to beat him once, only this time, Xiao Fan will never be able to turn over!"

After thinking and hesitating for a long time, Zhu Di hit his right fist hard on his left palm, grew up and said viciously: "Okay! Let's attack the capital!"

Just as he made up his mind, Daoyan's gratitude had not lasted for long. A personal soldier quickly walked into the tent, and said in panic: "Report to the prince, Princess Xu sent someone to report the news, Ping An led a 100,000 army to besiege Peiping. He launched several sieges against Peiping within three days, and Peiping was in danger!"

Zhu Di and Daoyan's expressions changed drastically. The two looked at each other and saw anxiety and fear in each other's eyes.

Most of the soldiers in the army have wives, children, and children in Peiping. If they know that Peking has made mistakes and the morale of the army is unstable, the Yan army will inevitably mutiny!

Before Daoyan could speak, Zhu Di's face turned pale and said in a trembling voice: "I'll order the entire army to set off and return to Beiping, hurry!"

Daoyan said pale and said, "Prince, save Peiping first, and then attack the capital!"

At this time, Daoyan still missed to help his wise lord become emperor.

"good!"

Ping'an led a 100,000 army to besiege Beiping City. The news spread to the Yan army camp located in Fenzhou Prefecture, Shanxi. More than 100,000 Yan troops were in an uproar. The army was restless and the soldiers begged to return to help.

Under such circumstances, Zhu Di could not object. The soldiers' families were all in Peiping. If Beiping was lost, more than 100,000 people under his command would be completely defeated. No matter from any standpoint, Peiping must be saved.

With the order of Zhu Di, the Yan army did not dare to delay, so they set off immediately, left Fenzhou Prefecture, and marched all the way to Beiping.

Forced the Yan army back to the north, and then the imperial army rushed to chase after him, launched a decisive battle with the Yan army near Beiping Prefecture, and put down the rebellion in one go.

Xiao Fan's strategic goal of dividing 100,000 troops was achieved. Beiping was besieged and the Yan army had to return. All this was not a conspiracy, but a dignified open plot. The way of military strategists was nothing more than the word "attack and defense". Those who are good at attacking move above the nine heavens, and those who are good at guarding hide under the nine earths.

Xiao Fan made a formal move.

Zhu Di, you have no choice but to fight me!

In early June of the first year of Jianwen, Zhu Di led more than 100,000 Yan troops to leave Shanxi and return to Beiping. More than 100,000 people rushed north like wind and turned north. They all encountered the prefectures and counties along the way, and all the Yan troops only saw the dangers of Beiping, and they didn't care about capturing the city and plundering the land.

When Xiao Fan heard the news, he was overjoyed and rushed to chase after him. At the same time, he ordered Changxing Hou Geng Bingwen to lead a provincial garrison in Henan, dozens of thousands of households, and a total of more than 70,000 troops to withdraw from Kaifeng Prefecture, to station in Zhangde, defend the city, and allocate military rations to help the people of Zhangde Prefecture who had once lost the Yan army.

At this point, Geng Bingwen was stationed in Zhangde and Guo Ying was stationed in Daming. The two veterans were one on the left and one on the right, like two nails nailed to the Yan army's way south. In addition, the 100,000 troops under Ping'an, who surrounded Beiping, and Xiao Fan, who was chasing Zhu Di closely, unknowingly, Xiao Fan made a huge jar with his hands, forming a huge jar in Beiping, Henan and Shanxi. Zhu Di led the Yan army to enter the jar.

The Yan army marched quickly and for more than 20 days, they rushed from Fenzhou to Zhending Prefecture, and then had a small-scale battle with the scattered garrison officers near Zhending Prefecture. The time of the large army was delayed for one day.

At this time, news came from Peking. Ping'an's 100,000 troops suddenly withdrew, and slowly retreated towards Xuanfu. The outside of the Beiping Prefecture, which was surrounded by Ping'an for more than a month, became clean overnight, leaving no soldier. Looking out of the city, there was no one inhabited by people. These days, I got used to being besieged. The imperial army suddenly evacuated. Princess Xu was not used to it for a moment and felt empty, lonely and cold for no reason...

When Zhu Di learned that the siege of Beiping was resolved without fighting, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the morale of the Yan army soldiers gradually stabilized.

However, Xiao Fan's 400,000 troops followed, like a ferocious and patient cheetah, biting his prey tightly.

Beiping was ahead. Zhu Di had no choice but to retreat, and he could not even protect his base camp if he retreated.

Since we can't retreat, Xiao Fan, let's have a real decisive battle!

In Baigou River outside Xiong County, Hebei Province, Zhu Di ordered the Yan army to stop advancing and set up a formation to fight to the death with the court.

The tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop, and the decisive battle arrives as scheduled.

On the ninth day of June, on the Baigou River in Xiong County, Hebei Province, the plains were filled with winds and roars, and sand and stones were flying.

In the yellow sand, hundreds of thousands of people were clearly barriers. The two sides were separated by several miles and confronted each other. The black crowd covered the green grass on the plains. The snow-colored halberds stood towards the sky, emitting a faint cold light, repeatedly flashing people's eyes. The breath of death in the air was clearly audible, and the smell of corrosive rust filled the yellow sand, extending...

The Yan army took Zhu Neng as the vanguard officer, Zhang Yu and Qiu Fu as the commander of the left and right armies. Zhu Di led the central army to suppress the vanguard, and the vanguard was at the forefront. Ten thousand cavalry lined up in one line, followed by tens of thousands of crossbowmen. The crossbowmen were arranged in a neat and huge square formation, and the horizontal and vertical roads were 100,000 swords, shields, guns, and halberds and infantry troops were pressing the formation. On the vast plain, pieces of square formation were brightly coated, like a big cake cut into five large squares equal to the equal parts by a skilled chef, and placed neatly on the plain beside the Baigou River. Among the squares, various battle flags of the Yan army flew in the wind, covering the sky and the sun, and the war drums that boosted the morale of the army made the earth shake.

The formation created by Emperor Taizong of Song Dynasty, Zhao Guangyi, uses cavalry or chariots as the front army, bows and crossbows behind, and long and short weapons as the central army to suppress the formation. It can expand the depth and compress defense. It is a universal formation with both offense and defense.

Xiao Fan divided the entire army into left and right wings, with 400,000 people arranged in stairs, spreading horizontally for dozens of miles, forming a V-shaped shape, like a monkey's arms stretching forward, and like an omnipotent sword sheath, just enough to cover the formation of the Yan army, with bows and crossbows in front, long halberds behind, and swords and shields pressing the formation. Sheng Yong led the left wing, Qu Neng led the right wing, and Xiao Fan led the central army.

The goose-shaped formation is specially used to encircle the roundabout formation, mainly attacking.

The two sides are in a row and the decisive battle is imminent.

On the Baili Plain, hundreds of thousands of people were silent and silent. The dull and depressed murderous aura filled the air. The shiny sword and halberd shadows flashed with snow-white lights. The heaven and earth changed color, and the strong wind roared and whistled, as if sighing for the creatures about to be ruined.

Xiao Fan was wearing armor and stood in the central army on a war horse. More than ten feet away behind him, and a blood-red character "Xiao" embroidered on the commander's flag with black background and white sides. The commander's flag was standing at the tail of the entire army's goose-shaped formation. The flagpole was several feet high, and the soldiers ten miles away were clearly visible.

A strong wind mixed with yellow sand blew across Xiao Fan's face.

Xiao Fan's face was distorted, his expression was painful and spit out twice, spitting out the dust in his mouth.

"This kind of ghost weather is really not suitable for fighting and killing. If I had known it, I would have asked my master to tell me a fortune first..." Xiao Fan looked up at the sky and murmured to himself.

Cao Yi, who was protecting him closely, also said with a bitter look on his face: "The wind is too strong, and the weather is full of yellow sand. It is very laborious to fight and it is also very hard..."

Xiao Fan's eyes flashed, and he showed a very innocent smile: "Or... I'll send someone to the opposite side of Yan Jun to send a letter and say that our army is in a bad state today and will make an appointment to fight another day. What do you think? Yan Ni wouldn't refuse, right?"

Cao Yi was speechless, silent for a while, and said, "Mr. Xiao, Marshal Xiao, you are the commander of the first army with hundreds of thousands of people now. Please, can you not be so naive? Can we talk about some mature topics?"

Xiao Fan sighed heavily. Cao Yi made a point and all the formations were put out. Both sides were ready to go, waiting for a command. At this time, if you tell the soldiers, we will not fight today, the country will give you a day off, go back to the camp to take a shower and go to bed...

I guess the morale of the soldiers will be exiled for a thousand miles and they will no longer have the courage to pick up swords and guns in the future.

"The deadly weather, why did the strong wind blow at this time..." Xiao Fan looked up at the gray sky with dissatisfaction, suppressing Zhu Di's rebellion and fighting here. In the future, he could rest assured and enjoy himself, but... it is really not suitable for war today!

There was a faint ominous premonition, which arose in my heart. Xiao Fan thought for a while, was there any link I overlooked? Which detail did not be noticed?

After thinking for a long time, Xiao Fan felt that he had noticed everything he should pay attention to, and there was really nothing to ignore. Military and national affairs were related to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Xiao Fan never dared to take it lightly.

But where did this inauspicious premonition come from?

"Brother Cao, my left eyelid is always twitching today. Why do you think this is?" Xiao Fan felt uneasy for no reason.

"Left eye twitching money."

"But my right eyelid also twitches..."

"Right eye stuttering."

"The key is...these two eyelids are jumping together."

Cao Yi looked up at Xiao Fan and said slowly: "...This is a sign of a stroke."

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To be continued...