Chapter 446 Mangshan
"Assemble the cavalry and prepare to leave the city for battle!"

Li Yuanhui's decision was beyond everyone's expectations and very shocking, because it was not like his style.

"I don't know how long it will take for the reinforcements to arrive. There are 100,000 bandits. If we defend the city, we can naturally keep Jinyong City safe. But Luoyang is behind us. How can we let the northern barbarians wreak havoc? You have all been with me for a long time. If anyone hesitates, stay in the city. If you dare to fight, you can follow me out of the city to fight!"

Li Yuanhui's words were like provocation. They were all full of vigor and vitality. They all shouted, "We will go through fire and water without hesitation," "We will step on the front line and be the first to break through the enemy lines without hesitation," and "We will be the vanguard of the king."

In fact, Li Yuanhui's considerations were far more than that. He went out of the city to fight because he had to.

The first reason is naturally the one I just mentioned. Near the eastern capital Luoyang, the Tang army could only defend themselves near their own capital, which had a great impact on morale.

Second, the reinforcements are not necessarily reliable. The most reliable reinforcements are Guo Fenghe's Southern Yuzhou Army and Li Xuandao's Yanzhou Army. Whether the remaining troops are reliable is uncertain.

In terms of combat effectiveness, the strongest among the reinforcements are the dozen or so Zhechoufu of the Zuowei Guard under Chen Zhen and Liu Yuanqing, followed by a part of the Youwei Guard under Murong Sanzang. However, the composition of these people makes it very likely that they will be fence-sitters.

Chen Zhen was from a Xuzhou noble family, Liu Yuanqing was a leader of the rebel army that was incorporated, and Murong Sanzang was from the royal family of the Former Yan Dynasty, but he had been to Wagangzhai. Their teams were all very independent and might not necessarily fight to the death at this time.

It is very likely that if he saw that the Tang Dynasty and Li Yuanhui were weak, he would wait and see, and it would not be surprising that he would even turn against them at the critical moment.

Guo Fenghe and Li Xuandao, whose composition was not a problem, led troops from all prefectures and counties, but their combat effectiveness was very worrying.

It's fine if they arrive in time, but it's wishful thinking to expect that we can launch a counterattack once they arrive.

As for the most reliable and trustworthy team, the more than 30 Zhechoufu of the Zuoyou Wuwei, they were in Lianghuai. There was no water transportation in winter, so it would take them at least two months to go north.

In two months, the battle was probably almost over, because it was impossible for him to keep the troops in Dayan for more than three months.

It’s simple, it’s a food problem.

Although the Tang Dynasty sent 200,000 dan of grain to Hebei, this amount of grain could not even sustain an army of 200,000 men for two months. Moreover, there were also a large number of civilians and auxiliary soldiers accompanying them, not to mention the fodder needed for the war horses.

Therefore, Li Yuanhui judged that if this war remained in a stalemate, it would last almost until the beginning of next spring, and the Yan army would definitely retreat before the spring plowing season.

But if he wanted to hold out for three months, there would be too many variables. There were too many maneuvers involved. If he led his army to the city, he would definitely find ways to start a fire in Luoyang's backyard.

Therefore, considering from many angles, Li Yuanhui decided to attack the Yan army first, because this opportunity was also rare.

At least half of the Yan army was still on the north bank, and even Liu Xuanji himself had not crossed the river, but was in Wen County. If they sent troops now, the enemy would not have a firm foothold, and this was one of the few opportunities for battle.

The news that Li Yuanhui led more than 7,000 cavalry out of the city was soon known to the Yan army.

Upon hearing this, the left and right governors Yang Kan and Dongfang Di immediately summoned all the generals to discuss. When Governor Lou Daiwen heard that Li Yuanhui led less than 10,000 troops out of the city, he immediately said, "No need for you, I can handle it myself." Li Yuanhui must be captured alive by the King of Han.
Upon hearing this, Yang Kan and Dongfang Di immediately advised Lou Daiwen not to be impulsive. The King of Qi is a hero who can compete with the King of Han, and the generals under his command are no ordinary people either. So we should report to the King of Han before making a decision.

Yang Kan and Dongfang Di actually both had good intentions, but in Lou Daiwen's view, this was tantamount to trying to steal his credit.

He immediately said that it was not necessary. Once I captured Li Yuanhui, I would report to the King of Han myself.
In fact, the reason why Lou Daiwen insisted on leading the army to fight was because he felt that he had a lot of experience. He had been with the King of Han for so long and had made outstanding military achievements, but he was actually inferior to Yang Kan, a surrendered general. And Dongfang Di, I was with the King of Han earlier than you? You are just relying on your own merits in supporting him.

Now you two are the left and right commanders, and you are ordering me around, who do you think you are?
Once this man got stuck in a dead end, he could no longer be rational. Especially since Lou Daiwen was so brave and had many elite soldiers under him, he immediately led his army out of the Beimang camp to fight against the Tang army, and shouted loudly to the soldiers: "Capture Li Yuanhui alive, today!"

Then he led more than 10,000 soldiers and horses under his command and rushed towards the Tang army with great momentum. On Li Yuanhui's side, the troops he led out of the city included 3,000 guards from the Qi Wangfu, 2,000 Beiwei troops, and 1,000 each from the newly established Xiaoguo Army and Shenwu Army, a total of 7,000 people, all cavalry.

Li Yuanhui appointed the left commander Xue Wanche, the right commander Pei Xingyan, and the guard Xie Shufang of the Xiaoguo Army to lead 2,000 cavalry as the left army, and the left commander Lou Jun, the right commander Duan Wuxuan, and the guard Yang Xianguo of the Shenwu Army to lead 2,000 cavalry as the right army.

He commanded the central army and supervised the Beiwei army's left commander Zhang Zhen'e, right commander Luo Shixiang, guards Wang Fobao, Yuchi Jingde, Han Quan, Duan Wuda and others with 3,000 cavalry.

The Tang army deployed their troops and stood at the foot of Mang Mountain.

Lou Daiwen led more than 10,000 soldiers and horses. When he heard the scouts report that the Tang army had less than 10,000 soldiers, he immediately encouraged the morale and said, "Everyone in the army has it. The King of Han once said that anyone who can capture Li Yuanhui alive will be granted the title of Duke, and will enjoy wealth and honor. Come ahead, follow me, and capture Li Yuanhui alive! Achieve unprecedented achievements!"

"Hoo Hoo Hoo"

"Hoo Hoo Hoo"

The 10,000 troops under the command of Lou Daiwen were originally the elite troops of the Yan army. Together with some powerful troops who were recruited later, most of them had participated in the Battle of Baigou, so they still had a psychological advantage over the Tang army.

Now they heard that if they could capture Li Yuanhui alive, they would have such a great merit and be awarded the title of Duke, so what were they waiting for? They would just charge. If they were slow, they would fall into the hands of others, so each unit was eager to be the first, and the formation was directly dispersed when they ran.

The Yan army, numbering more than 10,000 people, rushed towards the Tang army in a fierce and disorderly manner.

Li Yuanhui was in the central army, standing on a high place and looking at the battlefield. When he saw the tens of thousands of Yan troops rushing towards him, he immediately felt that God would indeed favor the brave.

This was the right move to take the initiative.

When he heard the scouts report that the enemy's central army commander's surname was "Lou", he immediately knew that it must be the Northern Yan general Lou Daiwen.

Li Yuanhui laughed and said, "It seems that we are lucky today. Order the left and right armies to attack and stun the northern barbarians!"

Lou Daiwen on the opposite side also shouted: "Vaiśravaṇa, the Heavenly King, please see clearly that I am the first among them!"

After saying that, he took the lead and started to charge.

But when he was halfway through the charge, he suddenly had an illusion that the people rushing towards him were the Youzhou cavalry led by the King of Han. But he quickly put aside this empty thought, and once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Lou Daiwen led his elite troops and rushed towards the Tang cavalry without hesitation.

He believed that as long as he could defeat the Tang army's vanguard cavalry, they would be defeated and killed like a flock of sheep, just like on the Baigou battlefield.

Li Yuanhui, the King of Qi of the Tang Dynasty, would certainly become his prisoner.

On the Tang army side, all the troops advanced in unison, forming a sharp arrow formation of one bow and three arrows. The horses were lined up in a line, and the rhythmic sound of their footsteps on the ground was clear, like the continuous rumbling of thunder.

The first battle of Mangshan begins.

The flesh and blood millstone starts grinding.

(End of this chapter)