Zheng Jianxiong made a quick decision to send several personal soldiers to Liangxiang to report the news, while he took the rest of his personal soldiers to shoot at the Liao army.

When the Liao army was attacked, they immediately turned their horses and rushed towards Zheng Jianxiong.

Zheng Jianxiong hurried into the watchtower and met with the defenders in the tower.

Seeing this, Xiao Gan changed his plan and concentrated a large group of troops to launch a fierce attack on the watchtower.

Zheng Jianxiong and the defenders in the tower were eventually outnumbered and all died.

By the time Yang Keshi led reinforcements to Liaoshigang, the Liao army had withdrawn from the battle, and the Song army chased him until the Lugou River but did not catch up with the Liao army.

Yang Keshi wanted to cross the river to pursue him, but was severely scolded by Liu Yanqing.

Looking at the surging river, Yang Keshi was both unwilling and helpless.

When the soldiers of the former army heard that Zheng Jianxiong had died in his country, they all asked for the battle and strongly demanded to kill Lugou River to avenge General Zheng.

Liu Yanqing ordered strictly: "No one is allowed to cross the river without authorization."

In fact, Liu Yanqing had feelings for Zheng Jianxiong. He said to his left and right: "Jianxiong followed me for many years, chasing Xixia, expedition and suppressing Tian Hu, Wang Qing, and Fang La. He was attacking the vanguard everywhere, but he didn't expect that he would die tonight. Jianxiong and I had the best relationship. I felt more heartbroken than anyone else for his heroic death. However, the more we are, the more we should be calm. Be rational and not impulsive. All armies must strictly guard their positions, especially strengthen river defense, and always be alert to the Liao army's sneak attack again."

Liu Yanqing's idea was that as long as our army maintains a high-pressure situation on the banks of the Lugou River, the Liao army will not last long, and it will collapse without fighting. Now is the time to compare strength and psychological endurance. When the two armies confront each other, it depends on who can persist until the end.

For several days, the two armies were across the river and confronted each other. No one dared to advance or no one was willing to retreat.

Xiao Gan attacked Liaoshigang at night, and also lost a lot of troops and did not make much advantage.

For the first time, Xiao Gan felt that the combat effectiveness of the Song army was not that bad.

Therefore, Xiao Gan was also hesitating. He had been planning to attack the Song army's ration village in hopes to force the Song army to retreat. However, seeing the Song army's high-level situation in front of him, he did not dare to act rashly.

Tong Guan was also very sad to learn that Zheng Jianxiong died in Liangxiang.

At the same time, Tong Guan was very dissatisfied with Liu Yanqing's confrontation with the Liao army on the south bank of the Lugou River for many consecutive days and did not take the initiative to cross the river to fight.

Therefore, Tong Guan sent someone to issue an advancing letter to Liu Yanqing: "What is the reason for the army not advancing for a few days after reaching Liangxiang? Can we seek a way to win by surprise? Our army is dozens of times more than the enemy, and its strength balance is very advantageous. I hope the army can advance bravely and reach Yanjing City..."

After receiving the letter, Liu Yanqing immediately convened the generals in Liangxiang to discuss.

Guo Yaoshi offered advice: "At present, Xiao Gan puts the main force on the north bank of the river to block us. The city of Yanjing will inevitably be empty. We can take this opportunity to break into the empty space. I suggest that a light cavalry will be selected to go east quietly, cross the river from Gu'an to Anci, and then go straight to Yanjing. If the Han people in Yanjing City know that the king's army has arrived, they will be the inner support, so Yanjing can get it."

Liu Yanqing asked: "Are you familiar with this route?"

Pharmacist Guo said: "It's like walking from the home yard."

Liu Yanqing hesitated a little: "Can Xiao Gan not set up a defense in Gu'an and Anci?"

Guo Yaoshi replied: "Only 80 miles from Zhuozhou to Gu'an and more than 130 miles from Gu'an to the northeast can you reach Anci. Xiao Gan's troops are limited, so his defense line cannot be that long."

Liu Yanqing asked the generals again, and they all thought this was a brilliant plan to win.

So, Liu Yanqing approved the plan to attack Yanjing.

Pharmacist Guo asked Liu Yanqing to ask Liu Guangshi to lead his army to Yanjing to respond.

Guo Yaoshi looked at the more than 500,000 Song troops and finally found that in addition to the few Western troops excluded by Liu Yanqing, only Liu Guangshi's troops had some combat power, so he wanted Liu Guangshi to help.

Liu Yanqing agreed in full.

Guo Yaoshi led 1,000 troops of the ever-winning army as the vanguard, Zhao Heshou, Gao Shixuan, Yang Keshi and Yang Kebi four generals commanded a total of 5,000 troops as the main force.

On the night of October 23, the fourth year of Xuanhe, six thousand men quietly set off the six thousand men, all of which were light cavalry. They tied their horses, slapped their flags and armor, galloped eastward from Liangxiang...
Chapter completed!