flstandardbreds Chapter 156 General Hu Sheng Makes a Comeback
Chapter 156 General Hu Sheng Makes a Comeback
在面对无数金军大举入侵的时候，李振很快就制定了应敌方案。他主动放弃内黄县的防御，转而将本来就不多的兵力布置在汤阴和安阳一线，除了兵力不多外，最主要的内黄县距离安阳府和汤阴太远了，在金军如此优势的兵力情况下，最容易被敌人给围堵了。
内黄虽为要地，却孤悬在外，与后方安阳府及战略重镇汤阴相隔甚远，若金军集中优势兵力，则易成瓮中之鳖，首尾难顾。而汤阴、安阳一线，地势险要，互为犄角，既可依托城池之固，又能灵活调动兵力，给予敌人致命一击。
Bu Liang asked Li Zhen, "My lord, what about the people we have in Neihuang County?"
Previously, Li Zhen did not know the principle that "a kind heart cannot command an army, and a righteous heart cannot manage finances." Only now, as a local administrator, has he come to understand its true meaning.
李振沉声说：“告诉那些百姓们如果愿意的话就先到安阳和汤阴这里安置，等金军退回去了他们就可以再返回家乡。如果又不愿意的那就随他们去吧，毕竟我们不能强让他们搬过来。”
The merchants were the most affected by the Jin army's siege of Li's army. The Jin army heavily guarded all the main roads leading in and out of Anyang and Tangyin. Not to mention during a major battle, even on ordinary days, these soldiers would skin the merchants alive.
身在磁县的金军将领胡升虽说首战失利，但毕竟他的职位在那里放着。要知道在金国是以武将为尊的，和宋国的文官为上恰恰相反，陆续赶来的那些金军将领职位上比胡升要小不少，所以胡升还是这一路金军的最高领导人。
After Hu Sheng had the pontoon bridge over the Zhang River built, he led his 50,000-strong army to cross the river. According to military strategy, attacking while the enemy is crossing is the best opportunity to strike, but for some reason, the Jin army was not attacked during their two crossings, which puzzled Hu Sheng greatly.
"General, our troops have all crossed the river. Should we set up camp north of Anyang City?"
Hu Sheng, riding on horseback, observed the movements on the walls of Anyang and told the messenger, "Send out scouts to investigate the enemy's movements and set up camp three miles from the walls of Anyang."
这次胡升知道中都城的那些大员们想要将安阳府纳入囊中，除了自己的这一路外，还有濮阳和鹤壁两路金军。他心中盘算，除了自己这一路大军外，尚有濮阳、鹤壁两路金军虎视眈眈，皆是不可小觑的竞争对手。在这场没有硝烟的战争中，唯有捷足先登，方能抢占先机，夺取那至高无上的首功荣耀。
The next day, Hu Sheng commanded his troops to begin the siege, sending out 15,000 Jin soldiers in the first attack.
这次负责防守北城的是岳鹏，他并未着急投入重火力，而是让手下士兵使用复合弓和其他守城武器对着进攻的金军进行阻击。
The Jin army's catapults came into play, and countless stones and burning fireballs flew towards the north city wall of Anyang. Some slammed into the wall, while others flew over it and into the city. The stones were relatively harmless, at most creating holes in the houses, but the fireballs mixed with oil quickly ignited fires upon landing.
The militiamen, who were already prepared, used dry powder fire extinguishers to put out the fire, following Li Zhen's usual training. They watched as the iron cylinders in their hands sprayed out a stream of white powder, which miraculously extinguished the flames. As for the principle behind it, none of them knew, but as long as it put out the fire, that was enough.
These modern fire extinguishers were, of course, purchased by Li Zhen from the modern era, and he had stored quite a few in his mysterious space. Why did Li Zhen think to bring fire extinguishers? That goes back to when he first opened a restaurant in Tangyin City. Since most houses in that era were made of wood, making them very prone to fire, he stocked up on them. Not only that, he also popularized these dry powder fire extinguishers in Anyang Prefecture and Tangyin City.
岳鹏用手指着城外的投石机，对负责操纵迫击炮的士兵说道：“给我挨个干掉他们。”
"Peng! Peng! Peng!"
Three mortar shells flew in arcs and landed in the Jin army camp outside the city. With the sound of the explosion, the catapult that was just throwing stones was instantly blown to pieces.
The Jin soldiers nearby were also blown into the air. The catapults that had not yet been hit immediately stopped firing. Some of them pushed their catapults and retreated to the rear, while others ran away without a care.
Seeing this, Hu Sheng became somewhat unwilling. He pointed at the fleeing Jin soldiers and shouted, "You are disgracing our Jin army! Send three thousand archers to suppress them!"
The general in charge of commanding the archers looked troubled, his voice tinged with resentment and helplessness: "General, the enemy archers' range is far beyond what our troops can achieve. We are like blind men touching an elephant, unable to reach them even a fraction of their scale. Your order is pushing us into a deadly situation."
Upon hearing this, Hu Sheng's gaze sharpened, sweeping coldly over the general. His tone revealed an unwavering resolve: "How can you be afraid of death and thus shrink from battle? On the battlefield, life and death are commonplace. Are we to retreat because of this? Besides, do you think the enemy will open the city gates for us to enter? Only by taking the initiative can we find a glimmer of hope!"
The general sensed the authority and unyielding force in Hu Sheng's words. Though unwilling, he knew this was not the time for pretense and quickly bowed, replying, "General, please calm your anger. This subordinate obeys. We will immediately prepare our troops and vow to fight the enemy to the death!"
言罢，他转身而去，背影中透出一股决绝与坚定，知道自己这次肯定凶多吉少。要知道在金军作战中，一旦遭遇大败或者出击不利，作为一个基层指挥将领肯定会受到惩罚。轻的可能会降职甚至是免除职务，严重的可能会直接被战后斩首。
As the number of Jin troops attacking the city increased, Yue Peng, who was defending the city, began to feel the pressure. At this time, he saw that the number of Jin troops gathering below the city was increasing, and he immediately ordered the use of machine guns and explosives to suppress the enemy with firepower.
Suddenly, the long-silent machine gunners could finally fire freely. With the continuous fire of the machine guns, the Jin soldiers fell to the ground like wheat harvested in summer.
不光如此，随着一个个炸药包被点燃从城墙上扔下，城墙下方传来无数金兵的哀嚎。
These Jin soldiers were not real field troops; they were considered second-rate units in the Jin army system. They had never seen such a sight before, and without their commanding general Hu Sheng giving any orders, they immediately retreated with their heads in their hands.
One person running away wasn't a big deal, but the chain reaction caused by a group of people fleeing was terrifying. In the end, nearly 20,000 Jin soldiers all suffered a massive rout.