Traveling back to the Northern Song Dynasty: Picking up a princess as my wife

Chapter 226 Trench Formation Blocks Jin Cavalry

Puyang's history can be traced back to the ancient Chinese era. Emperor Zhuanxu, one of the Five Emperors, once established his capital here, hence its reputation as an "Imperial Capital." During the Xia Dynasty, the Kunwu clan was enfeoffed as the Xia Earl, establishing the Kunwu State. During the Spring and Autumn Period, **qiu** belonged to the State of Wei. In 629 BC, Duke Cheng of Wei moved the capital to **qiu** (present-day Puyang), making **qiu** the political, economic, and cultural center of Wei. During the Warring States Period, it was named Puyang because it was located on the north bank of the Pu River.

In the tenth year of the Xining era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1077 AD), the capital was moved to Desheng North City (present-day Yangxian County). In the fourth year of the Chongning era (1105 AD), Chanzhou was incorporated into the capital region and established as a bulwark for the capital—the Northern Auxiliary. The following year, Chanzhou was upgraded to Kaide Prefecture. In the fifth year of the Chongning era (1106 AD), the Khitan army approached Chanzhou. The soldiers and civilians of Puyang rose up in resistance. At the strong urging of Kou Zhun, Emperor Zhenzong personally led an expedition to Chanzhou. The Song army killed the Liao general Xiao Talan, forcing the Liao to make peace. The two sides signed the famous Treaty of Chanyuan. For more than a hundred years thereafter, the two countries lived in peace, and Puyang's agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce developed significantly during the Song Dynasty. In the second year of the Yihe era (1120 AD), the titles of Auxiliary and Prefecture were abolished.

In the autumn of 1128 AD, the Jin army occupied Kaide Prefecture and renamed it Chanzhou. In the fourth year of the Jin Dynasty's Huangtong era (1144 AD), Chanzhou was renamed Kaizhou, which governed present-day Puyang County and Qingfeng County. At this time, present-day Nanle County belonged to Daming Prefecture, Fan County belonged to Puzhou, and the area of ​​present-day Taiqian County belonged to Dongping Prefecture. In the fifth year of the Jin Dynasty's Mingchang era (1194 AD), the Yellow River changed its course for the fifth time and shifted south, passing through Yanjin, Fengqiu, and Shouzhang (part of which was within the present-day Taiqian area) before entering Liangshan.

Li Zhen had been eyeing Puyang City for quite some time. In the past, due to his own limited strength, that longing could only be buried deep in his heart, turning into silent anticipation, and he dared not act rashly. But now, the situation had changed drastically, and Puyang City, which he had finally won with his blood and sweat, was now facing the perilous situation of the Jin army eyeing it covetously, intending to retake it. How could he tolerate this?

Thus, Li Zhen resolutely mobilized his elite troops, determined to write his own glorious chapter in this chaotic world. He led his army with two objectives: first, to open up the vital passage between Puyang and the mighty Yellow River, making this ancient waterway his solid backing, ensuring the unimpeded flow of supplies and adding a natural barrier; second, to declare to the world that he, Li Zhen, was no ordinary man, and that he was determined to possess Puyang and would not tolerate its loss.

Besides, Li Zhen was also secretly planning to show off his muscular physique to the world, so that those scheming villains who coveted his business would know that his estate was not so easy to covet.

He said he had no ambition to conquer the Central Plains, but he also didn't want to be constantly on people's minds. Previously, Wanyan Ping had taken the initiative to befriend him, and he believed that he could maintain relations with the Jin Kingdom through commerce. However, his good intentions were misplaced.

Although the Jin army suffered some losses from the helicopter bombing during the day, Wanyan Xu was a man who had seen a lot, and the losses during the day were nothing to him, given his large family and business empire.

A Jin general stepped forward to the tent, bowed, and reported: "Reporting to the Grand Marshal, the city of Puyang has fallen under the iron hooves of our army on its southeast, west, and north sides. It is surrounded like an iron barrel, ensuring that the people in the city will find it difficult to break out from these three directions."

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Xu's brows furrowed with a hint of doubt, and he thought to himself: Why is the north side left unenclosed among the four walls?

"Why not surround the north side as well?"

The general stammered, “We did intend to block the north gate of Puyang, but the enemy is exceptionally skilled. They have strange-looking iron chariots that constantly spew flames and charge back and forth. In less than an hour, we have lost hundreds of our warriors.”

Wanyan Xu paced back and forth in the military tent. After a while, he instructed the general: "Since we can't surround it, let's leave it at that for now. But you need to send more cavalry to patrol there. Once you find any convoys transporting grain and weapons, you must stop them outside the city."

Although the Jin army lacked the legendary iron birds that soared through the skies, they possessed exceptionally astute scout teams. In less than half a day, these light cavalry had quietly ascertained the strength of the Li family army both inside and outside the city, estimating their numbers at around 50,000. In contrast, the Jin army's initial offensive had assembled hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry, with reinforcements arriving in droves, their numbers several times greater than the Li family army.

At dawn the following day, the Jin army launched a fierce offensive against the 30,000-strong Li family army stationed outside the city walls. Inside the city, the Li family army, relying on the impregnable walls, formed an impenetrable fortress, inspiring fear in the Jin army. The siege was undoubtedly going to be a protracted and arduous battle. In contrast, the battlefield outside the city became the Jin army's Achilles' heel.

They firmly believed that their valiant cavalry, with a single, thunderous charge, could pierce through the infantry-heavy Li family army's defenses like a sharp blade, tearing them to shreds. The war drums thundered, the sound of hooves like a torrential downpour; a bloody battle that would decide their fate was about to begin on this vast and desolate land.

On the impregnable outer defensive line of Li's army, three deep trenches were cleverly dug, as if natural ravines had been imbued with military wisdom. The first trench, exactly three meters wide, resembled a gentle smile, posing no challenge to galloping warhorses; a swift leap was all it took to cross it. The second trench, half a meter wider, widened to three and a half meters. While it added a bit of difficulty, it was still insufficient to stop the warriors and their horses; a little more effort and they could leap across again.

However, when the gaze fell upon the third trench, everything changed. This trench, a staggering four meters wide, stood like an insurmountable chasm, abruptly cutting off the path of the brave. This was no longer a simple place for galloping horses; even with their full strength, ordinary warhorses would find it difficult to cross such a wide chasm, forced to stand still, gazing at the seemingly insurmountable boundary, the air thick with the tension of challenge and the unknown.

This design meant that each trench was not only a defensive barrier, but also a test of courage and wisdom, forcing every opponent who tried to break through Li's army's defenses to re-examine their own strength and determination in this silent contest.

Just as the Jin cavalry halted before the third trench, the situation stagnant, a sudden burst of rousing drumbeats pierced the sky. Then, like a shower of stars, countless arrows, carrying a chilling aura, streaked through the air and hurtled towards the Jin soldiers. The arrows rained down, dense and swift, instantly unleashing a bloodbath within the Jin ranks.

When the rain of arrows subsided, the battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. Many Jin soldiers had fallen from their horses, their fates unknown. Those who reacted quickly hurriedly turned their horses around, attempting to escape this death trap, but little did they know that fate had already laid a trap. Whether due to panic or the loss of their horses' strength, they all lost their footing and, along with their warhorses, tumbled into the second trench hidden in the night.

The trench was riddled with sharp, spiraled steel spikes, each one like a claw of death, awaiting the arrival of innocent lives. Once fallen in, neither valiant warriors nor their loyal mounts could escape the tragic fate of death or serious injury. In the tense atmosphere, this sudden ambush caused the morale of the Jin army to plummet.

At first, when the Jin soldiers' iron hooves first revealed their might, their warhorses were like a raging storm, unstoppable. Facing the first defensive line, only three meters wide, those steeds easily leaped into the air and crossed it, as if mocking this insignificant obstacle. Then, even the second, deeper trench could not stop them from leaping across using their momentum; the warhorses and riders seemed to merge into one, displaying astonishing strength and perfect coordination.

However, the situation on the battlefield changed rapidly. When the bugle call to retreat quietly sounded, these once invincible warhorses encountered an unprecedented predicament.

It turned out that the distance between the two trenches was so close, as if nature was playing a clever trick on the invaders, preventing them from accumulating the strength and speed needed for another leap. On this war-torn land, the warhorses hesitated, their eyes filled with unprecedented confusion and helplessness. Their former speed had now become heavy shackles, binding their steps on the way home.