Chapter 68: Field Battle

  However, in yesterday's battle, the Jin army suffered more than 200 casualties under the city of Luoyunbao, including more than 120 heavily armored soldiers and 17 elite white-armored soldiers led by Niu Luchang.

  In Dongjiazhuang, more than 50 people were killed or injured, among whom more than 20 were heavily armored warriors.

  In this way, the Jin army had already lost more than 140 soldiers, and there were less than 400 soldiers left. However, Yan Liu believed that in a field battle, as long as he sent out 100 soldiers and 300 auxiliary soldiers, it would be enough to break through the opposing Xining's garrison, which was reckless and arrogant.

  However, after the battles of Lu Yunbao and Dong Jiazhuang, Yan Liu also felt that the Xining army in this area was different from others. He decided to send out more than 300 combat troops and 300 auxiliary troops to attack with lightning speed and completely eliminate the Xining army in front of him.

  He gave the order, and the vanguard and auxiliary troops from all directions rushed out. Except for Niu Lu's heavy losses yesterday, the remaining three generals led their armies to battle in person.

  Two generals led the infantry, each letting forty cuirassiers from their troops serve as vanguard, wearing double-layered heavy armor, to charge first. Then, archers from each troop provided arrow support, and finally, the two generals each led seventeen white-barred halberdiers and two kettledrummers from their troops as vanguards, all wearing three layers of heavy armor, leading one hundred and fifty auxiliary soldiers from each troop to charge together.

  The remaining general led more than a hundred elite cavalrymen, each wearing two layers of heavy armor, with one person controlling two horses, waiting for an opportunity to strike. After the vanguard broke through Xie Ning's formation, or when there was a gap to exploit, they would launch continuous charges and pursue the enemy.

  It can be seen that such an arrangement, Yan Liu has spent a lot of money. Not to mention the soldiers, even the auxiliary soldiers among the golden soldiers, they held knives and guns, although most of them were not wearing armor, but Yan Liu believed that even if it was his own unarmored followers, their combat power was enough to surpass the soldiers of Xining on the opposite side.

  As they watched the Jin army's infantry and cavalry emerge from their formation, their red and white banners and armor became increasingly clear. The Ye family's side was solemn.

  Chen Fei said in a low voice to Ye Xuan: "Brother, the bandits' formation is such that the dead soldiers are at the front, and the elite soldiers are at the back. The dead soldiers wear heavy armor, even if they die, they won't retreat. Then come the lightly armored soldiers who are good at shooting. Finally, there are the bandits' elite cavalry, both men and horses wearing heavy armor."

  Wait for me to launch a surprise attack, suddenly rush out, especially good at left and right flanking, do not see the benefit of not advancing, or far or near, or more or less, or gather or scatter, or come or go, between movement and quietness, its momentum is extremely cunning, most difficult to defend

  Ye Xuan nodded slightly, and through yesterday's battle at Luoyun Fortress, it was indeed the Jin army's infantry that used this tactic.

  They also have cavalry, which is very difficult to defend against. They are unpredictable and often attack from the flanks or sides. If you're not careful, they'll find an opportunity to break through your flank. In fact, their cavalry has another tactic, which is to use dead soldiers as a shield to charge into battle. These dead soldiers wear double-layered heavy armor, and even the horses are covered in iron armor and quilted armor. Moreover, each soldier has two horses, so if one horse is injured, they can switch to the other horse.

  However, this heavy cavalry is extremely elite and only exists under the command of various great kings in the Zhongjin Kingdom. Ordinary miscellaneous troops probably don't have them either.

  Now that we've come this far, let's talk about the division of power in the Zhongjin Kingdom: First and foremost, the most powerful person with absolute authority is called the Tianwang Temple, controlling all military forces and any rights within the Zhongjin Kingdom, equivalent to the Emperor of the Xining Empire.

  Wang Dianjun under his command was also the strongest standing in Zhongjin Kingdom. At that time, even Ye Long's Ye Family Army, known as the Xining War God, had suffered a great loss at Wang Dianjun's hands.

  There are ten more thrones below the Heavenly King's Throne, namely the First Throne, Second Throne, and so on up to the Tenth Throne.

  At the same time, the ten major demon kings in the hands of these ten throne holders are also the strongest forces in the Zhongjin Kingdom.

  The team in front of us is also one of the small teams under the command of the Demon King's army.

  As the infantry and cavalry of the Golden Army emerged from their formation, slowly advancing, the smoke outside hinted at the presence of the Golden Army's scouts. Ye Xuan knew that their attack would be divided into three directions. Two small team leaders each led a group of infantry to launch a wave of attacks, and finally, one team leader led the elite cavalry to make a decisive charge.

  Ye Xuan looked at their troops and battle array, as sharp as a knife tip, suddenly remembered that the opponent's basic use of Bu formation was very similar to the Jin army's Rui formation in the early Southern Song Dynasty.

  Under the sunlight, the slowly approaching Golden Army made the air feel suffocating and oppressive. The people beside Ye Xuan couldn't help but make a strange gasping sound, Ye Xuan looked around and saw that even the usually fearless Zhao Jie, the chaotic demon king, had a solemn expression on his face, along with the guards and flag bearers beside him.

  However, everyone was exhausted, but their eyes were firm and shining. Not far from Ye Xuan, Yang Xiao stood with a stiff face, his expression unchanged for ten thousand years. There was also the medical officer Hua Zhen, wearing his usual wrinkled robes. He looked at the approaching enemy in the distance, his face somewhat pale. The medical officers beside him were equally pale.

  Chen Fei's eyes were fixed on that side, and he said: "Surrounding the three strongholds, it seems that the slave thief's wave-like offensive is inevitable."

  "Today, I will make them lose a few teeth, and let them know that Ye Xuan is not someone to be trifled with."

  "He loudly gave the order: 'Form a circular formation.'"

  At once the flag bearer beside him raised his command flag, and the officers of each sentinel post, gazing intently at the flag number, immediately cried out in succession: "Change formation."

  As the Chinese army's bugle and drum sounded, the three square formations on the open field quickly gathered together, then slowly stretched out in all directions, finally forming a large circular array with an empty interior. This large array was one of the ten great formation shapes of ancient China - the circular array, which was most advantageous for defense in the wild.

  Ye Xuan's troops were stationed outside the Dongjiazhuang fortress, with open fields on all four sides and no place to rely on for defense. Ye Xuan and his men rushed to provide aid without bringing any defensive equipment such as abatis. In this open field, there was no distinction between front, back, left, or right, and the mobile and flexible Jin army cavalry could choose to attack from any direction at will.

  As long as they want, as long as they find an opportunity. Flanks. Rear. All will be their targets of attack.

  However, Ye Xuan did not have cavalry at this time and could not protect both wings and the rear. He was reluctant to take out less than 40 men to fight the Jin army to the death. In the absence of sufficient cavalry, deploying troops in all directions on the open field became a necessity. Deploying a circular formation was the most suitable choice.

  In the wilderness, the square formation is an attacking formation, while the circular formation saves troops and is more conducive to defense. As long as the battle situation permits, the circular formation can be slightly opened up to become a square formation for attack.

  The war will break out at any moment!