Late Han Zhao Tang

On March 19th, after more than a day of rapid march, Meng Ningzhi led 2,000 infantry and cavalry, covering more than 100 li, and finally arrived at the South Mountain of Danyang.

After establishing a foothold in Danyang, Meng Ningzhi led his troops to camp in the southern mountains, while Wen Ji led 5,000 infantry and cavalry across the river upstream and headed south, appearing brightly north of the Dantu waterway, only about 20 li away from Meng Ningzhi's troops.

The Dantu Waterway was built by Qin Shi Huang. It is a winding waterway that runs from Dantu to Qu'a, following the terrain of the hills. Beigu Mountain and Nanshan Mountain are opposite each other. The entrance of the Dantu Waterway is north of Beigu Mountain, but it bends and flows south of Nanshan Mountain, forming an 'S' shape.

Meng Ning's intention in seizing Nanshan was clear: to gain a commanding position and prevent Cao Cao's army from controlling the waterways. Wen Ji's appearance north of the river was purely to reclaim Nanshan, where he had a commanding position with the Dantu River to the south, which would be sufficient to block the Tang army.

Upon learning of Wen Ji's sudden arrival, Meng Ningzhi, short and wiry, stood atop the tower, gazing at the five thousand soldiers led by Wen Ji.

"General, judging from the enemy's numbers, there are probably four or five thousand soldiers. Our troops are outnumbered. It would be better to hold our ground and wait for reinforcements," Yin Li said worriedly.

After pondering for a moment, Meng Ningzhi looked at Qiu Lang, who was accompanying the army, and asked, "What are Fenwei's thoughts?"

Qiu Lang was not afraid at all and said, "Our army has crossed the river to the east, and the soldiers and civilians in the southeast are terrified. Now Wen Ji has come from the north of the river and led his troops here, intending nothing more than to seize Nanshan and use its natural defenses to block our army."

"In the current situation, military strategists say that the guest and the host have different strengths. The guest should fight quickly, while the host should be cautious. If Wen Ji sets up camp and does not come out, he will send his navy to split up and attack the tunnels. The troops from Kuaiji will attack Wu County and cut off our supplies. When the spring floods rise, Cao Xiu and his troops on the upper reaches of the river will surely rush to our aid, which will be disadvantageous to us northerners."

"Our army's strength lies in its cavalry, and its prestige in the field. In my opinion, if we break through their elite troops and capture their valiant generals, we can intimidate the southerners. With our military might greatly increased, many will surrender upon hearing the news. This battle is worthy of our command!"

"good!"

Meng Ningzhi was overjoyed and said, "Young Master Qiu, your thinking is far-sighted, and I share the same opinion. The enemy is eager for battle, and the commander is in a critical position. If we do not fight now, will we not be laughed at by the enemy?"

In this southern campaign, Zhang Yu feared that Meng Ning was brave but lacked military strategy, so he arranged for Qiu Lang to serve as a military advisor concurrently as a colonel to assist Meng Ning in his military operations, and instructed Meng Ning to listen to Qiu Lang's advice.

Needless to say, Meng Ningzhi ordered his troops to descend the mountain and prepare for battle. At that time, Qiu Lang led 500 elite cavalrymen down the mountain first to cover the retreat, while Meng Ningzhi himself led 1,500 armored soldiers down the mountain slowly.

Seeing that the Tang army was willing to fight him, Wen Ji, who was not afraid of battle, said little and ordered his troops to form ranks, ready to fight to the death. Moreover, the Tang army occupied a strategic position, and if he did not descend the mountain to fight now, their rapid attack up the mountain would not be so easy to win.

In the afternoon, the sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze blew, and the weather was neither too hot nor too cold—perfect for a fierce battle.

First, the drums beat loudly, and the banners waved and fluttered. The two armies then formed their battle formations one after another.

Wen Ji commanded a large army with many generals, and he was stationed in the central command to direct the troops. Due to the shortage of cavalry and the abundance of infantry, he deployed two hundred cavalrymen in the rear, with infantry protecting the flanks, forming a fish-scale formation that combined offense and defense. He attempted to use his superior forces to launch a frontal assault and defeat the Tang army.

Meng Ning was no ordinary man. Ignoring the advice of those around him, he donned his armor, took up his spear, and charged into battle with his personal guards. Due to the smaller number of troops, he positioned the infantry in the front, with cavalry protecting the flanks, and Qiu Lang as the cavalry general. The troop formation was a highly mobile crane-wing formation.

The difference between the two formations is that the fish scale formation has layers of infantry stacked on top of each other, which can break down the enemy's defenses through continuous echelon attacks; the crane wing formation spreads out to the left and right, forming a V-shaped layout similar to the wings of a crane, relying on the mobility of the troops on both flanks for attack or flanking maneuvers.

Therefore, the two formations are very different: the Fish Scale Formation's attack is at the front, while the Crane Wing Formation's killing moves are at the flanks.

Two thousand against five thousand is not a large-scale battle, but it is a classic battle that tests the general's command and bravery, as well as the soldiers' fierceness and high discipline.

The wind gently blew across the banners!

The Tang army's vanguard of 800 heavily armored soldiers had already formed a tight formation, with sturdy armor and sharp weapons, ready to attack at any moment.

Meng Ning entered the battle formation, looked at the soldiers serving as arrowheads, and said loudly, "My lords have followed me for many years and are all seasoned veterans of battle. Now that we are deep in enemy territory, I have nothing to say except to fight to the death. But now that we are attacking the Southern bandits, I must make one point clear."

"I have received great favor from His Majesty. If I fail to win today, I will repay this kindness with my life. The unification of the world is within reach. If we defeat the five thousand enemy soldiers and return victorious, His Majesty will surely reward us handsomely. I hope you all know this!"

"Ha ha!"

"General, what's the matter that you're being so long-winded?"

Someone laughed loudly and said, "We, the soldiers of Gushan Camp, have followed the general for more than ten years. We have been fortunate to receive His Majesty's trust, comfort, promotion, and generous rewards. We will definitely serve His Majesty to the death!"

“What Pei Erlang says makes sense. The soldiers in the camp are mostly brave warriors who know the prestige of Gushan. Now, let alone for His Majesty’s great favor, we must kill the enemy for the sake of military merit!” said Captain Ma Yu.

The Gushan Battalion was the battalion that Meng Ningzhi commanded in his early years, and its treatment was almost the same as that of the Trapped Battalion. Now, with the soldiers fighting, Meng Ningzhi placed his old troops and veterans in the front ranks.

"I have a maidservant at home; allow me to kill the bandit leader and earn merit," one of the arrogant men shouted.

Those who have lived a life of constant danger speak with the utmost nonchalance, likely having already transcended the fear of death. Conversely, those who shout and clamor may have only recently been selected to join the camp.

"To kill the traitors and earn merit!"

Meng Ningzhi shouted, and everyone echoed in unison, their voices so loud that even Cao Cao's soldiers could hear them.

The five hundred cavalrymen on both sides were quiet and prepared for battle, checking their reins, bowstrings, arrows, and armor, listening to the officers' instructions.

As the drums suddenly sounded, both infantry and cavalry stood at attention. Eight hundred armored soldiers, wielding long spears and swords, charged forward fearlessly. Five hundred Tang cavalry, clad in armor and carrying bows and spears, slowly advanced on horseback.

Looking at the Tang army infantry and cavalry arrayed in formation, Wen Ji was filled with surprise and doubt.

In the last battle of Sheyang, many of his trusted men were killed or wounded, resulting in a reduction in his direct command of troops. Now, many of his five thousand soldiers were troops assigned by Xiahou Shang; they were of considerable strength, but not quite elite. The Tang army's infantry and cavalry were advancing in perfect formation, an army he had rarely encountered in his many battles. Their coordination was remarkably smooth, and this very force caused Wen Ji considerable concern.

Not only were all the Tang army's infantry and cavalry fully armored, but their morale was also incredibly high. Their unhurried pace and ability to maintain formation during long marches were truly remarkable, making them a formidable force from a distance!

The Tang army advanced with infantry and cavalry side by side. As the distance increased, the cavalry overtook the infantry, and more than two hundred cavalrymen rushed out on both flanks, using bows and arrows to harass the Cao army on both sides. Some even tried to charge into the rear of the Cao cavalry.

The Tang cavalryman, Qiu Lang, was extremely arrogant. He approached Cao Cao's soldiers to lure them into drawing their bows, then withdrew. A moment later, he accelerated his horse and shot down two men during an opening, causing Cao Cao's infantry to gasp in surprise.

After charging through the infantry, Qiu Lang followed the path of the cavalry and approached the rear of Cao's cavalry. Taking advantage of the increased speed of his charge, he wielded his ring-pommel sword, first cutting down one rider and then knocking down another, greatly demoralizing the Cao cavalry who were charging into battle.

Wen Ji's expression was grim. He was astonished to see that after Cao's cavalry launched their attack, they were not defeated by Tang's cavalry. Instead, they were scattered and surrounded by Tang's cavalry in a single encounter. The difference in strength between them was too great.

Not long after the Tang cavalry launched their attack, eight hundred armored Tang soldiers gradually closed in.

Arrows flew from Cao's ranks towards the Tang infantry, but the sturdiness of the shields and armor in the front ranks withstood much of the damage. Even when soldiers were hit by arrows, they only let out a few screams before quickening their pace to charge towards Cao's troops.

Soon, Tang soldiers charged into the enemy formation, their cries like the shattering of a silver bottle echoing across the plains.

Captain Ma Yu took the lead, dodging a spear thrusting towards him, and charged forward with his sword. The blade sliced ​​diagonally down his neck, then pulled hard, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

With a single slash, he was instantly struck by two spears. One spear slid off his armor, while the other pierced through the armor plates, but was blocked by two or three layers of armor.

Drawing his knife, Ma Yu slashed fiercely, the blade striking a head and ending another man's life.

Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion and under the cover of his flanks, Ma Yu killed another man. Killing three in a short time was incredibly ruthless!
Many Tang soldiers, led by captains, charged forward like Ma Yu. These soldiers penetrated deep into enemy territory, hacking and slashing with unstoppable ferocity, nearly shaking the front ranks of Cao Cao's army.

Suddenly, Qiu Lang led a hundred cavalrymen back. Taking advantage of the moment when the front line was being charged by the Tang army's armored soldiers, he galloped past with his bow, and arrows rained down on the flanks. He fired three times on horseback, and the flank soldiers could not withstand the attack.

Seizing the opportunity, Qiu Lang charged the flank with his spear. The roar of a hundred cavalrymen filled the air, their momentum overwhelming and unstoppable. The previously stable flank was now on the verge of chaos under the onslaught of the Tang soldiers' charge and mounted archery.

As the Tang cavalry charged, Cao Cao's army collapsed before they even got close, fearing being rammed by the cavalrymen.

The cavalry entered the flanks and joined the infantry in the battle. More than a thousand men in the front ranks were slaughtered and scattered, and the attack even affected the central army formation.

Seeing that both infantry and cavalry were thwarted, the Tang army broke through the front formation by coordinating their infantry and cavalry attacks. This made Wen Ji's face turn ashen, and the Cao army officers around him changed color.

"kill!"

Seeing the remarkable effect of the combined infantry and cavalry attack, Meng Ningzhi raised his arm and led seven hundred soldiers forward to charge, betting everything like a game of all-in.

After Meng Ningzhi charged into the enemy lines, the Tang infantry and cavalry, who were engaged in fierce fighting, were greatly encouraged. The Cao army's formation, which was in chaos and on the verge of collapse, was quickly overtaken by the Tang soldiers and brought to within a short distance of Wen Ji.

"The bandit leader is ahead, and under his banner is Wen Ji. A reward awaits those who capture or kill him!"

"kill!"

The infantrymen responded with a roar, brandishing their swords and spears as they charged forward. The infantry and cavalry first withdrew from the crowd, then reorganized their forces before launching another counter-attack from the flank.

Faced with the Tang army's relentless onslaught, Cao's central ranks did not hold out for long before soldiers began to flee.

Needless to say, Ma Yu forcefully led his troops to open a breach and has been leading the fight ever since. Many of his soldiers have been killed or wounded, their bodies covered in wounds and blood, their faces contorted in a ferocious expression.

Now, more armored soldiers surged into the enemy ranks through the breach, routing Cao Cao's army. Driven by the threat of death, the Cao soldiers pushed forward, engulfing the remaining Cao Cao troops.

Seeing the dire situation on the battlefield, Wen Ji was so angry that he wanted to personally charge into battle, but was stopped by his personal guards.

"General, our troops have been defeated. We must retreat immediately!" the attendant said.

Wen Ji cursed, "If I suffer another defeat now, how can the Prime Minister tolerate it!"

“The Prime Minister himself is in dire need of protection, how can he make things difficult for the General!” the attendant said.

Wen Ji bit his lip. He had thought he could defeat the Tang army with his superior numbers, but unexpectedly, he was defeated with only two thousand men. Now, they had even been driven to the vicinity of the central army, which was truly unbelievable!

He has already suffered a defeat, so wouldn't Cao Ang's 20,000 old and weak soldiers be even more vulnerable?
Clearly, Cao Cao's rule in Jiangdong was coming to an end, and he had risked his life for Cao Cao for many years, thus repaying Cao Cao's kindness. If he did not surrender, he feared he would be punished upon his return, especially since he had been defeated by the Tang people twice.

"If we are defeated, then let us surrender!"

"Not wanting to be part of the Cao family's downfall," Wen Ji sighed.

"General, you are wise!" (End of Chapter)