In the lobby of the Xingtang County government office, Li Guo stared at the map with a pale face. At this time, he had received news from various ministries. He learned that Liu Yan's army of more than 100,000 troops had surrounded Xingtang County, and the camps outside the city had been Beat it into a pot of porridge.
"Liu Yan's troops were still at Jingxing Pass a few days ago, but today they have arrived in Xingtang County. Could it be that Liu Yan and his army have wings and flew here!"
Although Li Guo had been with Li Zicheng for many years and was a veteran general, the fact that a hundred thousand troops marched hundreds of miles away within a few days was so unreal, it seemed like a story told by a storyteller. generally.
"Somebody come!"
Li Guo suddenly shouted loudly: "Immediately send people to the various ministries and order Gao Yigong, Zhang Neng, and Ma Chongxi to organize soldiers and horses to launch a counterattack. Liu Yan's tribe cannot be allowed to approach the city!"
"yes!"
A dozen guards outside the lobby immediately rushed out to deliver the order, but they collided with a guard. The guard looked panicked, rushed to the lobby, knelt down, and said loudly: "General Qi, All the troops outside the city have been routed, and now there are routed troops from all the ministries outside the city gates everywhere!"
"What!"
Li Guo could not believe that this was true. After the reorganization of the Dashun Army battalions by Hong Chengchou and others, their combat effectiveness had increased significantly. Li Guo could see this.
Although Li Guo stationed in Xingtang County, he deployed 100,000 dead soldiers, 60,000 armored soldiers, and 30,000 knights outside the city. This kind of force is very strong. Even if Liu Yan's more than 100,000 elite troops succeeded in the surprise attack, they would not be able to do so quickly. It just collapsed, how could it be possible!
"Where are Zhang Neng, Ma Zhongxi, and Gao Yigong now!"
After Li Guo's initial panic,
After that, his brain began to work rapidly. After thinking for a moment, he said: "Order Gao Yi to lead the soldiers and horses in the city to guard the city gate and rely on the city wall to kill the officers and soldiers outside the city. Order Zhang Neng and Ma Chongxi to immediately rectify the broken troops outside the city. , lined up against the city wall to block the enemy."
Li Guo gritted his teeth and said, "No matter how big the casualties are, we must hold on until dawn!"
"yes!"
All the personal guards outside went to deliver the order, but Li Guo's heart was already stirred up. The army of more than 200,000 under his command was considered an elite. In Li Guo's understanding, even if he was fighting Liu Yan's army of more than 100,000 head-on, it would still be difficult. It was impossible to lose so quickly.
When Li Guo was reorganizing the army, he carefully studied how to deal with the powerful firepower of Liu Yan's troops, so he equipped the camp with a large number of shield vehicles and sandbag vehicles. He also trained the troops in the rear camp and taught the soldiers in each department how to rely on various weapons. It can be said that a lot of effort has been put into vehicle combat.
But now a night attack battle has made all Li Guo's preparations go to waste. Thousands of shield vehicles and sandbag vehicles have become decorations. What does this mean?
Just when Li Guo was worried, a guard rushed in in a panic and said loudly: "General! The defenders on the top of the city sent people to report that the troops outside the city in the south and west have been completely defeated. Zuo Guo The large banners of General Yi Zhang Neng and General You Guoyi Ma Chongxi are also missing, and the troops outside the city are unable to stop the counterattack!"
At this time, Li Guo's face turned pale, and the big banner was missing?
Li Guo knew that neither Zhang Neng nor Ma Chongxi were those who fled in the face of battle. They were experienced veterans who followed King Chuang. Now that the two men's banners are nowhere to be seen, there is only one possible
Neng: Zhang Neng and Ma Chongxi have died in battle!
"How many troops did Liu Yan bring?"
Faced with such a one-sided battle situation, Li Guo had to start to wonder how many troops Liu Yan had. Is it really only more than 100,000 people?
"General, the morale of the troops on the top of the city is wavering. Could you please give me an order on how to respond?"
Even though Li Guo had experienced hundreds of battles, his face was ashen at this moment, and he just regretted why this long dark night didn't end yet.
"Immediately send someone to find Gao Yigong, and order him to immediately rectify the city defense departments and inspect all the city gates. I will mobilize 10,000 knights from the city and let these 10,000 knights climb the city to help defend!"
"yes!"
Soon, the army of knights gathered around the county government began to mobilize. Ten thousand soldiers and horses were divided into four teams and began to rush towards the four city walls.
The remaining 10,000 knights began to set up defenses around the county government office, preparing for street fighting when the city was broken.
"Report!"
As soon as a report came out, Li Guo, who was highly nervous, looked outside in shock and saw a personal guard Luo Huang running towards him. He exclaimed: "General, the west city gate has been breached by the army. Countless officers and soldiers have rushed forward." Once inside the city, General, please break out quickly!"
At this time, Li Guo felt a deep sense of powerlessness. The more than 200,000 troops he had carefully built in his hands were so vulnerable to Liu Yan, who only had more than 100,000 troops. Could Liu Yan really be Dashun's nemesis?
"General!"
Just when Li Guo was in a daze, Gao Yigong strode over covered in blood and said anxiously: "I heard that the west city gate was breached by the army. Please ask the general to break out from the north immediately. I will lead people to block the west city." Open the door to stop the officers and soldiers rushing in!"
Li Guo took a deep breath and started fighting
Spirit said: "There are still 30,000 brave knights in the north. Even though they have been defeated by the army, the troops are still there. The remaining 10,000 brave knights here are divided between you and me. I rushed out of the north city gate to summon the heroic knights outside the city. You go and block the west city gate. If this strategy is successful, then there will be room for maneuver in this battle!"
Gao Yigong said solemnly: "Okay, that's all we have now. General, please be careful!"
"good!"
Li Guo then led five thousand knights to rush north, while Gao Yigong led the last five thousand knights to rush to the west city gate. Not long after, he saw that the thousands of knights who had first supported this side had collapsed, and those who had been The defeated knights were rushing towards the streets and alleys in the city in a panic, and behind them were the new army's gunners who were coming in formation to kill.
Gao Yigong roared angrily: "Attack at full speed, get close to them and chop them to death!"
The five thousand knights were all wearing armor, and their fighting spirit was high at this time. They roared and rushed towards the new gunner in front.
Chen Yujing, a general in the middle of the right battalion of the New Army, looked at the thousands of bandit knights rushing forward and shouted calmly: "Stop advancing, fire in three rows, let go!"
boom!
At this time, thousands of bird gunners could not operate on the street at all, but hundreds of bird gunners also formed a horizontal formation on the broad main street. The remaining soldiers formed their own formations on the surrounding houses and opened fire together. .
Perhaps Chen Yujing did not realize that the response measures he and his soldiers made in an emergency situation were to inadvertently achieve crossfire and three-dimensional strikes.
In an instant, the new gunner's firepower came from the front and the left and right sides at the same time, and from the front and the top of both sides at the same time, causing the thief knight who was charging forward to hide.
There was no way to hide or escape, hundreds of people were shot dead in an instant, and all the vanguard of the cavalry brigade was shot dead!
Gao Yigong was also shocked at this time. He never expected that the New Army's firepower was so fierce. In the dark night, he didn't even know how many New Army gunmen were on the opposite side. There was fire coming from all directions. How could they fight?
"Charge quickly!"
Gao Yigong knew that he could not retreat at this time. Once he retreated, the remaining valiant cavalry army that could still maintain its structure would collapse.
These brave knights were indeed the elites who had just been reorganized, and they rushed forward despite the salvos of thousands of gunners from the new army.
Upon seeing this, Chen Yujing roared: "Fire the bayonet! Thunder, throw!"
Hundreds of sword and shield wielders threw countless thunderbolts from the surrounding streets and rooftops. The thunderbolts that fell like raindrops exploded one after another, bursting into violent sparks in the dark night, and scattered a large number of people. The explosion of the rogue knights knocked people off their backs, and the charging speed of the group of knights instantly slowed down.
At this time, Chen Yujing also held a blunderbuss with a bayonet and roared: "Follow me, charge!"
Thousands of new army gunners roared and charged forward, stabbing people and horses with their bayonets like dense forests. They rushed over from the streets and alleys in all directions, stopping and beating up the army of rogue knights who had lost their speed.
At this time, there were still hundreds of new army gunners who had not come down from the surrounding houses. They were constantly firing cold guns at the rogue knights on the street, targeting the brave soldiers and low-level officers among the rogue thieves.
It is said that after this battle, Chen Yujing's unintentional creation of free fire, fixed-point clearing tactics, as well as condescending and cross-fire tactics were all ordered by Liu Yan to be included in the infantry drill code
Among them, the training was extended to all battalions of the New Army and the garrison. Of course, this is all for later.
"ah!"
A bandit captain was shot off his horse, right in front of Gao Yigong. A lot of blood even splashed on Gao Yigong's face, which made Gao Yigong scream in fear.
"dash forward!"
Then Gao Yigong felt a surge of anger in his heart. Thousands of majestic cavalry were stopped by Liu Yan's infantry. In hand-to-hand combat, they were suppressed and beaten by the army's infantry. How embarrassing was this news!
Gao Yigong roared angrily, and the soldiers who had not yet collapsed also became angry and charged forward. However, in the crowded street, they could only move their horses forward slowly, withstanding countless bayonets stabbing them from all directions. .
At this time, the bloody battle between the two sides entered a stalemate. The bandits and knights had the upper hand and Chen Yujing's soldiers suffered heavy casualties.
Similarly, the warriors who have lost their speed are on war horses. Although it is an advantage, it is also a disadvantage. At this time, they become very good assassination targets.
The fierce fighting in the streets was very fierce, as if two strong warriors were bleeding each other with one blow and one with a shot. It was up to them to see who could not hold on and fell first.
Gao Yigong was also shocked by this brutal street fighting, his eyes widened and he couldn't believe it was true.
At this moment, several bandit scouts rode up from behind and reported to Gao Yigong: "General! The North City Gate and East City Gate were also breached by the army. Now countless officers and soldiers are coming from the North City. Gate, east gate and rush into the city!"
"What!"
Gao Yigong suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Li Guozheng led his troops to the North City Gate. Wasn't he throwing himself into a trap?
"withdraw!"
I don’t care about Gaoyigong
There were many soldiers on the way, and they shouted that they were about to withdraw. They wanted to lead their troops to join Li Guo to see if they could still rush out.
But what makes Gao Yigong feel desperate is that there are now new army soldiers and horses everywhere in the streets and alleys. There are even many new army gunmen rushing out from behind, forming formations and shooting in the streets and alleys, or shooting from the roofs of the rear. Cold guns were fired, and the casualties of Gao Yigong's Xiaoqi immediately increased greatly, and the morale of the army was in chaos.
Near the North City Gate, Li Guo led five thousand knights to stop advancing. Thousands of knights previously sent here were blocking the new army from the front. The two sides were fighting fiercely.
More and more New Army soldiers and horses rushed into the city in front. Even on the top of the city, the figures of New Army soldiers and horses appeared. The roar of bird cannons and the explosion of thunderous thunder became louder and louder, like countless heavy weapons. The hammer hit Li Guo's heart hard.
"What exactly was the wrong move? Why was this battle so completely defeated?"
Li Guo didn't know the answer, so he sighed and ordered: "Charge the whole army, follow me and rush out of the city!"
