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Zhang Ruoqi, the commander-in-chief of the Liao King's Division, and Zhang Dou, the former soldier of Ning, watched Zhang Cheng receding under the protection of the Tiger Guards and the Ding Squad, and they also rode back together .

Zhang Ruoqi said to Zhang Dou: "General Zhenshuo is going north this time, and the important task of defending Huangtuling falls on Zhang Bingxian's shoulders."

Zhang Dou rode on his horse and replied with a smile: "Director Lao is worried. Zhang Zhenshuo still has four battalions of soldiers and horses in Huangtuling, and over a hundred chariots. How can he be afraid of the invasion of the Tartars?"

He shook his head, frowned and said, "I really don't understand what I'm doing. With the barren and desolate borderlands in Xuanbei, how did General Zhenshuo cultivate such elite soldiers?"

"Ha ha……"

Zhang Ruoqi chuckled meaningfully a few times, and said: "General Zhenshuo is an unborn hero, what he does is beyond human imagination, how can mediocre people like me get a glimpse of its true meaning?
It is indeed the fortune of the imperial court and the blessing of Ming Dynasty to get him as a general! "

After he finished speaking, he galloped away on horseback. Bingxian Zhang Dou looked at Zhang Ruoqi's back and thought in his heart: "When the director first came to Liaodong, he was so high-spirited and arrogant, but now he is like this... "

Zhang Dou didn't dare to think about it any further, but his curiosity about Zhang Cheng grew stronger in his heart, and he couldn't help blurting out: "If I have the chance, I really want to go to Xuan Town to see what it's like there?"

It happened that Wei Zhice was following behind, he and He Biao exchanged glances, then said with a smile, "If Zhang Bingxian is to serve in the Xuan Mansion, my commander will be very happy, and the soldiers and civilians of the North Route will definitely welcome him. "

Zhang Dou was also very happy when he heard the words. At this moment, he was full of curiosity about the place of Xuanfu North Road. Yu Qiang's strong army.

He couldn't help saying: "The war in Liaodong lasted for more than two years, and it is now coming to an end. No matter what the outcome of this war is, at least wait until the end of the year, and when the cold winter comes, even if the winner is still not determined, the soldiers will definitely stop. truce."

Zhang Dou slowed down his horse at this time, and when Wei Zhice caught up, he walked side by side with him, and said: "If it really comes then, I will tell Governor Hong and the court a leave, and go to the Xuanfu." .”

Wei Zhice hurriedly answered, "That's very good. I would like to ask Zhang Bingxian to send a message in advance, so that the last general can report to my commander-in-chief and go to Juyongguan to meet him."

"Good, good, good."

Zhang Dou said three good words with a smile, but he didn't take it seriously in his heart, thinking to himself that it would be better not to tell in advance, so that he could have a glimpse of the real situation in Xuanfu.

…………

At three quarters later, Guo Yingxian, a veteran of the Xuan Mansion, led the cavalry from the Zhenbiao Battalion to the corner of the Xiaoling River, but Wang Pu's army and horses from Datong Town hadn't completely crossed the Xiaoling River until now.

Although Wang Pu was the last to receive the military order to cross the river, in fact, he had already prepared the boats and rafts needed to cross the river, and even prepared a lot of wooden piles and planks to build the pontoon bridge.

At the same time, Zhang Cheng had already expected this move, so he had cooperated with the Longwu Navy when the Huwei Battalion attacked the east bank of the Xiaoling River last time.

Although Zhang Ruoqi, the commander of the army, and Zhang Dou, the military commander, were able to invite the Longwu navy back then, but in the final analysis, Yinzi is the most powerful.

But this time, when Zhang Cheng learned that Hong Chengchou used the Longwu Navy to enter the Xiaoling River to support Wu Sangui, the commander of Ningyuan, to cross the river, he stopped the Longwu Navy halfway and spent a lot of money to intercept a few ships from it. battleship.

Perhaps, this is the benefit of foresight. Of course, the most important thing is to be willing to spend money when things happen. Just like Zhang Cheng, he has a very good relationship with Yao Tailiang, deputy general of Longwu Water Camp.

Silver is a good thing, it can really turn ghosts around!

Although the Longwu water battalion is not as good as it used to be, it cannot be compared with when Sun Chengzong, the governor of Jiliao, established it, but it is also an unusual existence in Liaodong.

The grain, grain, and military resources needed by the towns in eastern Liaodong are immeasurable. Although there are land routes, land transfers are too labor-intensive, so sea transportation is often used, and most of them are operated by the Longwu Water Camp.

And after the Qing Dynasty conquered North Korea and cut off Dongjiang Town, they often sent fleets to harass the Liaodong coast of the Ming Dynasty, and even forced the North Korean navy to fight.

It is precisely because of the influence of these factors that the Longwu Water Camp has received increasing attention in Liaodong, and they are usually stationed on various islands such as Juehua Island, and do not participate in various affairs in the interior of Liaodong.

Therefore, there is no conflict with the local generals in Liaodong. On the contrary, because they each have needs and use each other, their relationship is very harmonious.

This is also one of the reasons why they were willing to use small and medium-sized sea-going ships from the battalion to enter the inland to support Wu Sangui crossing the river. Zhang Cheng intercepted some warships because of this, which made it much easier for Wang Pu Datong's soldiers and horses to cross the river.

Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief of Datong who was not very active in crossing the river, was completely forced by the governor of Jiliao Hong Chengchou to order the soldiers of Datong to cross the river.

After all, Zhang Zhongping led the [-] Supervising Biao Battalion soldiers here, no matter what, Wang Pu did not dare not send a message to cross the river and capture the north bank immediately, and began to build a pontoon bridge.

In fact, besides Zhang Guangda's cavalry battalion and the chariot battalion worth a thousand dollars, there were more than [-] peasants who came here with Wang Pu.

Under the cover of artillery fire from the Chariot Battalion and Longwu Water Battalion, they bravely jumped into the icy river and began to quickly build the pontoon bridge.

I saw small boats parked horizontally in the river, and the long logs were thrown into the river by the peasants to connect these small boats together, followed by pieces of wooden boards, which were quickly laid on top of them, forming a simple pontoon bridge .

"Forewarned is forearmed, without prejudging the waste!"

As early as when he was stationed in Huangtuling, Zhang Cheng had organized civilians to practice building pontoon bridges many times, so his army did not lack these materials such as equipment and planks.

This time, he sent Zhang Guangda and Yu Jin to follow the Datong army to the north, and he also sent Ding Zhuang, an army follower from Xuanfu Town, and 6000 people with bridge-building equipment to follow.

It was with their participation that the Datong Army could quickly build three pontoon bridges in a very short period of time.

Of course, it has been more than two days since Wang Pu's Datong Army arrived and stationed here. During these two days, the soldiers and peasants of each battalion have not been idle. They have been working hard to build wooden rafts and other equipment needed for bridge building.

However, the most effective thing is that they did not show a strong willingness to cross the river before, which also greatly confused the Qing army on the other side.

Although they did not withdraw their defenses because of this, Wu Sangui's Ningyuan army crossed the river too aggressively, and some Han troops were dispatched to support them. As a result, the artillery here was insufficient. completely suppressed.

Wang Pu, the general soldier of Datong who was urging his soldiers to cross the river, saw the Xuanfu army and horses coming, as if he saw a savior, he hurried forward and talked enthusiastically with Guo Yingxian.

Guo Yingxian didn't care about Wang Pu's status as the commander-in-chief. As soon as they met, he directly reprimanded his soldiers and horses for slow crossing the river and blocked the pontoon bridge, which had already affected his cavalry's crossing of Hebei.

Although Wang Pu was the commander in chief, there was nothing he could do about it. First, he gave Zhang Cheng face, and second, he respected Guo Yingxian as a veteran who had the courage to kill slaves.

Moreover, now that he was delighted to see the Xuanfu army dispatched, he naturally wouldn't care too much about these trivial matters.

Immediately, he urgently ordered his own general, Wang Zheng, to quickly give up two pontoon bridges for the Xuanfu army to pass, while he asked Guo Yingxian when Zhang Cheng would arrive.

In this way, less than half an hour later, Zhang Cheng, the chief soldier of the Xuan Mansion, came galloping on horseback under the protection of the Tiger Guard Battalion and the Ding Squadron.

On a slightly higher hill, Zhang Cheng looked up and saw three pontoon bridges on the Xiaoling River in the north, and on these three pontoon bridges were chariots, cautiously heading towards the north bank carry out.

"Brother Wang, crossing the river in Datong Town is much slower. When is this? Why hasn't Yu Jin's chariot battalion crossed the river yet?"

Although Zhang Cheng called him "brother", his complexion was already very ugly. For some reason, Wang Pu was terrified when he saw this.

He hurriedly said with a smile on his face: "It's because the town's son Lang is used to being loose. Under this urgent order, the battalions competed with each other, but the progress was slow, which affected the army's crossing of the river."

"hey-hey……"

Zhang Cheng smiled ferociously, and said suddenly: "Brother Wang, after the war in Liaodong ceases and I return to Datong Town, I will send a troop to help my brother relieve his worries, and practice Datong Erlang well, so that these boys will know what it means 'Forbidden'!"

"So good, so best."

Although Wang Pu knew in his heart that if Zhang Cheng sent someone to train his soldiers and horses in Datong Town, I am afraid that Datong Town would become Zhang Cheng's back garden when he did it.

But he has already expressed his position before that everything in Datong Town is based on Xuan Town's leadership, and he himself decides everything based on Zhang Cheng's words, so how can he go back on his word now?

He went on to say: "Brother spoils them all the time, that's why he's used to these bad things. Just like what my brother said, we should really punish these boys, let them know the heart of awe, and know the rules and regulations of the army." law."

"Hahaha."

Zhang Cheng laughed and said, "Okay. Even so, then this matter is settled like this!"

Before Wang Pu could answer, he saw Lin Fangping, the leader of the Tiger Guard, galloping towards him, and said loudly: "Commander, the pontoon bridge has been let out, shall we cross the river now?"

After Zhang Cheng heard the news, he raised his eyes and saw that the leftmost pontoon bridge was already more than half empty. It seemed that the remaining chariots were crossing the river from two other pontoon bridges, and this one was deliberately let out.

"Let's go. Let's also cross the river and see what Jinzhou City looks like." After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he rode his horse and ran down the hill slowly.

At this moment, Wang Pu was also confident and courageous. For some reason, as long as Zhang Cheng was by his side, he would be fearless. He rode up to catch up with Zhang Cheng, and said loudly: "Yes, I will also teach you The Tartars know that I, Xuanda, are not easy to deceive!"

"Hahaha……"

Accompanied by wild laughter, Zhang Cheng and Wang Pu, one in front of the other, rode onto the pontoon bridge and headed north.

…………

At this time, the battlefield situation on both sides of the Nuer River changed again. Tang Tong, the commander of Miyun, fought all the way to the pontoon bridge on the post road in the northwest of Shuangzi Mountain like a god's help.

However, how could the Qing army let him succeed easily? Du Du led more than [-] Qing army captives to restrain Tang Tong on the north bank, but ordered a group of soldiers to destroy the pontoon bridge.

Looking at the soaring fire rising on the Daughter River, Tang Tong knew that he couldn't put it out, so he stopped pressing. But after the battle, his Miyun soldiers were also exhausted, so he had to withdraw to Shuangzi Mountain again, formed a defensive formation, and did not fight again.

As a result, a confrontation was formed on this side. The Qing army Du Du's troops were unable to take back Shuangzi Mountain, and Tang Tong only had the strength to defend.

Looking at Bai Guangen, the commander-in-chief of Jizhen Town, although the Fubiao Battalion of Liaodong Governor Qiu Minyang helped the battle, it seemed that he had gained a firm foothold on the north bank, but after Jierhalang came to the front line in person, a reversal took place.

As expected of a veteran of the Qing Dynasty, Jierhalang saw at a glance that Bai Guangen's troops were the weakest, so he immediately mobilized heavy troops and decisively launched a fierce attack when Bai Guangen was unprepared.

For a while, there were figures of the Qing army's captive cavalry in all directions, as if they were everywhere, under the fierce attack of the Qing army.

Bai Guangen's soldiers and horses in Ji Town were immediately defeated, and they fled all the way south. Although Ma Fuming, a general of the Zhenbiao Battalion, and Zhao Zongwu, a general of the Fubiao Battalion, tried their best to suppress them, but it was of no avail.

However, what is even more tragic is that there were originally three pontoon bridges built here in Jizhen, but one was set ablaze and destroyed by the Tartars when they charged in for the first time, and then another was destroyed by the artillery of the Han army's Ertars. It hasn't been repaired yet.

Now all the rout soldiers are in a panic, and many of them are rushing towards the two destroyed pontoon bridges. Countless people fell into the river at once, and many soldiers are not used to water at all. The Tartars shot and killed in the river.

Even those soldiers of Ji Town who fled to the pontoon bridge that hadn't been destroyed were all crowded on the pontoon bridge because of scrambling to escape and refusing to give in to each other.

Floating on the Daughter River were all the corpses of Ming officials and soldiers. The cold water of the river was not warmed by the blood of Jizhen soldiers, but it was indeed dyed bright red, as if the river was originally bright red.

In this defeat, Chen Guitu, the general of the Zuo Battalion of Ji Town, and Ye Qibang, a guerrilla, all died in the rebellion. Fleeing to the direction where Ma Ke was stationed in Shanhai Town, this was the only way to avoid death.

But Qiu Minyang, the governor of Liaodong, was lucky. He escaped the defeat and fled this time because he stayed in the command of his daughter on the south bank of the river, but his Fubiao battalion was not so lucky.

In this battle, Qiu Minyang's Fubiao Battalion suffered heavy losses, with more than half of its casualties, and it failed to return to its pre-war scale in the following years.

Although Bai Guangen's soldiers and horses in Jizhen were defeated again, Ma Ke's Shanhaiguan performed well. Perhaps it was because Jierhalang called the Tartar brigade to attack Bai Guangen, or it might be because Wang Tingchen's former guards suddenly rushed out.

Marko's troops not only held on to the original mountain, but also rushed northward at one point, forcing the Tartars to retreat for several miles. However, after Wang Tingchen led the army to the east, he could only stick to the mountain defense line and was unable to attack again. .