dognovel Chapter 153 Hu Sheng, the Family General of the Jin Kingdom
Chapter 153 Hu Sheng, the Family General of the Jin Kingdom
In fact, most of the 30,000 troops mobilized by the Jin Kingdom this time were infantry. Although the Jin Kingdom was famous for its cavalry and archery, it was currently engaged in a fierce war with the Mongols in the north, and its forces were limited. Most of the 30,000 soldiers that were hastily assembled were private soldiers of several major families in the Jin Kingdom.
他们这次准备拿下安阳城，因为此时的安阳城是整个北方最大的贸易集散地，如果他们能够占据这里，足够使自己的家族财富更上一个很高的台阶。
邯郸城南边的磁县军营，金军统率胡升正在几个副将的陪同下检阅这三万金兵。
他们刚走进军营内就发现了问题，胡升问道：“怎么就这些人，其他的人都到哪里去了？”
A lieutenant replied with a broad smile, "General Hu, it's rare for the brothers to leave the capital, so they've all gone out to relax while they're in Cixian."
胡升刚要发火，但是他转念一想这些金兵可都是各大家族的人，就连他们胡家也是其中的一部分，真要是弄僵了大家面子上都下不来台。
Thinking of this, he said, "Tell these people to know when to stop and not to cause any big trouble."
What Hu Sheng didn't know was that these 30,000 Jin soldiers had nearly overthrown the entire Cixian County. Not only did they rampage through the streets, but they also took over all the brothels in Cixian, not only refusing to pay them but also forcing the prostitutes to provide services to them day and night. In just two days, no fewer than a dozen brothel workers were tortured to death. Those who survived, though physically strong, were all teetering on the brink of death.
至于磁县的普通百姓们更是倒了血霉，他们的家中财产粮食甚至是妻女都被这些嚣张跋扈的金兵给抢走了，弄得磁县县衙门口聚集了大量的告状百姓，磁县的县令只能是称病拒绝受理，他比这些百姓更加期盼这些金兵早点离开。
终于三日过后，胡大将军带领着三万金兵开始朝着安阳府行进。
Before the Jin army could reach Anyang Prefecture, they had to cross the Zhang River. Although the Zhang River was not very deep, it was more than 30 meters wide. The Li family army had destroyed the only stone bridge long ago. Unless the Jin army detoured forty or fifty miles, they would have to wade across the river.
Hu Sheng, who was leading troops for the first time, said with a serious face: "The art of war says that attacking halfway across the river is the best tactic for the defending side. Gentlemen, send more scouts to the other side to scout. We must not fall into Li Zhen's trap."
The deputy generals were all scions of their respective families. Although they had served in the army for many years, they mostly bullied civilians and were only there to cheer on the troops in battle. They all agreed with Hu Sheng's opinion; after all, they were there to earn military merit and couldn't afford to die in vain.
A lieutenant flattered Hu Sheng: "When it comes to leading troops into battle, it has to be General Hu. If you were to lead troops in the north to fight against the Mongol Tartars, we would have wiped out the Mongols long ago."
就这样在胡升的指示下，金兵的斥候不断地在漳河两岸进行高密度的探查，就差将耗子洞里的老鼠给弄出来问话了。本来半天就能通过的漳河，足足过了两天才算是安全通过。
本来这没有什么，但是李振早就算着金军的行军进程，足足在埋伏圈内等了两天，这可让李振急坏了。
Yue Peng smiled and said to Li Zhen, "Chief, why don't you go back into the city and rest for a while? We are enough to handle things here."
李振放下手中的望远镜叹口气：“其实并不是我不放心，只是这次为了看看我亲手训练的这些民兵战力如何，只有战场上才能真实反映出他们的实力。这次前来进犯的金兵我让人探查了虚实，大部分都是金国各大家族的私兵，其中领兵的将领也都是那些金国大家族子弟。这也是为什么我放心让这些民兵上阵的原因，毕竟只有见过血的才算得上是老兵。”
As they were talking, a scout ran in to report that the Jin army they had been longing for had finally arrived.
李振对岳鹏和王长刀说道：“按照计划行事，一旦民兵队伍情况有变，你们龙虎营必须得给顶上去。”
The Dragon Tiger Battalion is a completely different force now. They are equipped with automatic rifles, semi-automatic rifles, and machine guns. Li Zhen has also thoughtfully provided them with more than a dozen large trucks covered with canvas for transport. Wherever they are stationed, they will become a "divine army" that makes the enemy tremble.
As the Jin army's 3,000 vanguard troops entered the encirclement, the pre-planted explosives instantly sent these Jin soldiers into the sky, providing them with a free "makeshift plane" service.
Hu Sheng, who considered himself well-versed in military strategy, did not panic. He immediately dispatched 15,000 soldiers to flank Li's army's ambush from both sides. Based on intelligence from Jin spies, he knew that there were only 2,000 soldiers in Anyang City. With 30,000 against 2,000, he believed he could win no matter how the battle was fought.
Just as his 15,000 Jin soldiers had formed their battle formation and were preparing to charge, the 500 composite bow archers of Li's army, who had been lying in ambush on the hillside, unleashed a volley of arrows at them. These composite bows were powerful, had a long range, and required little effort; the 500 men displayed the momentum of a thousand.
Hu Sheng raised the command flag in his hand and shouted to his soldiers, "Don't panic, archers, return fire!"
于是可笑的一幕出现了，金兵弓箭手的射击距离比李家军的复合弓要小，无论他们怎样拼尽全力射箭，那些箭矢却未能伤到李家军弓箭手的一丝一毫。而使用复合弓的李家军士兵，却可以随意覆盖金军弓箭手的阵营。
Seeing that too many of his archers had died, a general ran up to Hu Sheng and said, "General Hu, order a retreat! We can't hold on any longer."
Hu Sheng glared at him: "Outrageous! How can you just say 'retreat' on the battlefield? It's just that some soldiers have been killed or wounded. No war is without casualties. I'll adjust the attack plan right away."
In fact, Hu Sheng had his own agenda. None of his Hu family's private soldiers went up, and the three thousand vanguard troops at the front and the Jin soldiers who were fighting against the Li family army were all from other families. He wanted to take this opportunity to weaken their power.
Hu Sheng calmly took out a blue command flag and said to the messenger, "Send shield bearers to provide support, and spearmen to attack the enemy archers. What are we afraid of with so many people?"
Although some of the deputy generals suspected that Hu Sheng was deliberately sending his soldiers to their deaths, he was now the commander of the Jin army, and they had to obey his orders on the surface.
In order to command his various Jin soldiers, Hu Sheng set up a table in front of the battlefield, covered with colorful flags. Anyone who didn't know Hu Sheng was fighting would think he was performing a ritual.