To the west of the canal and to the north of Gaoyou Lake, in the endless wheat fields, Li Ji, who had left in a hurry, was heading north. Although their morale was low, they still maintained their formation.
In a field, Li Quan stood on horseback and looked back toward the southeast canal. The sound of artillery there was still bursting, but it was much weaker.
"Isn't Zheng Wu here yet?"
Li Quan said softly, his face expressionless.
Zheng Yande adjourned and directed the troops to evacuate. It is not known whether they crossed the river in time.
"When the Song army came, I saw Vice General Zheng leading the cavalry to block the Song army. I didn't see what happened next."
Liu Quan was lucky enough to cross the river, but he still has lingering fears.
Li Quan didn't say anything and just left.
"Let's... wait for Zheng Yande?"
Liu Quan asked Yang Miaozhen in surprise.
"General, the Song army has controlled the river, and there are no brothers left behind."
The accompanying sergeant said softly, explaining Liu Quan's words.
"Life or death matters, we can't wait any longer. Hurry up!"
Yang Miaozhen said softly, her eyes lonely.
"Siniang, there are many villages here, why don't you see anyone?"
Liu Quan looked at the surrounding fields and villages and shook his head.
Hearing Liu Quan's words, not only Yang Miaozhen, but also Li Quan suddenly reined in his horse and stopped.
The two looked at each other and felt something was wrong.
Could it be that the Song Army had laid a big trap and was waiting for them to jump into it?
The two of them were wondering when they saw countless black spots appearing on the southwest skyline, which were densely packed and frightening.
The black spots quickly grew larger, and countless Song troops appeared, covering the fields. They had clear flags, swords and guns, and were in neat formation. They stepped on the steps and pressed towards the Mongolian army.
Looking at their large formation, there was no cavalry, and they were all infantry. However, they were densely packed, with forty or fifty thousand people on both sides.
No wonder there are only 30,000 troops outside Yangzhou City. It turns out that the main event is here. It seemed that Song Jun had ulterior motives and was ambushing him from all sides, waiting for him to be caught.
To the east were lakes and canals, to the west and south were the Song armies, and only the north was open. Surrounding three buildings, the Song army wanted to drive them north.
God knows if there is an ambush in the north?
But, do they have a choice?
"Who knows where the north is?"
Li Quan asked loudly.
"General, to the north is Hongze Lake. There are hundreds of lakes, large and small, and many swamps."
A sergeant immediately made an introduction.
"Hongze Lake is full of swamps and wetlands, which is not suitable for cavalry. The Song army in the west must be defeated before we can cross Sishui from Xuyi."
Liu Quan has been to Xuyi several times. There are many fishermen and boats at the ferry there, and the terrain is flat. It is a good choice for the army to cross the river there.
"Brothers, when the two armies meet, the brave one wins! We defeated the southern formation of the Song army. The world is vast, let us stay or leave!"
Li Quan made a decision immediately without hesitation.
At this time, the only option was to go on a rampage and give it a try.
As long as they rush out, relying on the strong mobility of the cavalry and the long front of Huai River, they can go wherever they want.
Li Quan drew his sword and roared angrily, and all the troops echoed loudly. Thousands of troops and horses rolled in, and the earth trembled, heading straight for the Song army's formation.
To the south, when the Song army formed a large formation and saw the Mongolian cavalry advancing, the dragons and tigers were fierce. Du Gao, the envoy stationed on Huainan East Road, shook his head and sighed.
It's a pity that these brave soldiers can be recruited. If they can be recruited, the southeastern cavalry will become more powerful, and there is no need to envy and envy the northwest frontier troops.
Li Quan was also bold and attacked the Song army's abdomen directly in an attempt to win in danger, but it was a pity for this talented man.
"Du Shuai, it looks like Li Quan is going to fight for his life!"
Thousands of troops and horses were galloping forward, and Lieutenant General Lu Wang's face was solemn and he was under great pressure.
"The hero is at his end, struggling to his death. Why is this necessary?"
There was unspeakable regret and regret in Du Gao's words.
"Du Shuai, why can't the court recruit Li Quan? Is it because the officer given is not senior enough?"
Du Gao looked relaxed, and Lu Wang felt inexplicably calm.
"Du Shuai, I heard that the emperor personally wrote to Li Quan to ensure that he would live a happy life. Is this true?"
Another general, Gu Hao, asked curiously.
He is an officer who was born in a martial arts hall. He is young and vigorous, and has great curiosity about the outside world.
"The emperor really wanted to recruit Li Quan, but unfortunately it backfired. Power is poison. Once a person is too greedy, he will suffer the consequences. That's what Li Quan is like."
Du Gao looked at the attacking Mongolian army and frowned slightly.
"Okay, let's go and prepare for the challenge!"
Today's battle can wipe out Li Quan, and the riots in Huaihe and Huaihe should be calmed down.
This cancer should also be removed.
The sound of drums was dense and breathtaking, the cavalry rushed forward, and the fierce wind and rain soon entered the shooting range.
In the large formation to the west of the Song Army, the thundering sound of artillery continued, white smoke rose like a wall, and the iron ball came out of the chest, roaring shrilly, and rushed straight towards the rolling Mongolian cavalry.
The iron balls flew in the air and filled the sky. Some hit the ground and jumped and ran. Some of the iron balls directly killed the Mongolian cavalry. Wherever the iron balls came, they were invincible and destructive. The Mongolian cavalry turned on their backs and there was a commotion in the cavalry formation.
The Song army's artillery fired continuously, and the Mongolian cavalry kept falling off their horses during the charge, causing heavy casualties. In the Mongolian army formation, Li Quan's eyes were painful, and the generals around him were silent.
These cavalrymen were all direct descendants of Li Quan, but now they were massacred by the artillery fire of the Song army, which made people feel distressed.
"Song Dog's artillery is sharp and has ulterior motives. Let's retreat north. Otherwise, everyone will set up here."
The Mongolian cavalry suffered numerous casualties. Liu Quanquan was pale and said tremblingly.
The Song army besieged from two directions in the southwest, with the river to the east and could only retreat to the north. Otherwise, these cavalry will be slaughtered.
"The people of the Song Dynasty are all charming and full of tricks. There must be an ambush in the north. Why not go directly to the west and cross the river with the Xuyi Army!"
Another general, Li Jun, said anxiously.
"Don't talk about it, let's talk about it after we get through the south. As long as we get close to the Song army, we can break out!"
Li tried his best to reject the generals' suggestions.
At this time, only by uniting as one can we successfully break through.
Li Quan's military order was passed, and all the Mongolian cavalry rode forward and went straight to the southern formation of the Song army. They rode their horses forward, slowly accelerating, with the heavy cavalry in front, the light cavalry with bows and arrows, and the archers behind. The distance between the cavalry was widened, and they were fighting to the death.
Du Gao saw it clearly and frowned.
It seems that Li Quan is about to fight a trapped beast.
Then let the artillery fire come more intensely.
"All artillery, ready!"
With thousands of horses running towards him, Du Gao looked solemn and shouted loudly.
According to the regulations of the Song Army, 50 people can have one small cannon and a small cannon, and every 10,000 people should be equipped with at least 100 7-pound general cannons and 200 medium-sized cannons. The 20,000 Song troops in the south, with thousands of large and small artillery pieces, all stared at the Mongolian cavalry coming towards them.
"Peng! Peng! Peng!"
The command flag was waved, and 200 general cannons fired together. The general cannons fired three rounds, and the medium-sized sub-cannons leveled their muzzles and began to roar. As the Mongolian cavalry entered three hundred steps, the small artillery fired again. The thunder of three types of artillery continued, and the sound shook the plain.
Iron balls and iron pellets were fired rapidly, forming a stream of bullets and covering the sky. The white smoke was billowing, pungent and unpleasant. The smell of blood comes with the wind, making people feel sick.
The Mongolian cavalry fell down one by one, the men fell on their backs, the horses screamed, and the cavalry kept screaming, but the latecomers were still fearless and galloped forward.
"Kill Song Dog!"
The Mongolian cavalry clenched the weapons in their hands, urged their horses, and regarded death as if they were home.
Countless thunderbolts flew out from the Song army's formation and fell like raindrops into the Mongolian army's heavy cavalry formation.
The artillery was fierce, but there were still hundreds of heavily armored cavalry rushing out of the dust and heading straight for the Song army's formation. Although the heavy cavalry was smashed like a thunderstorm, half of the heavy cavalry were still rolling in.
The Mongolian light cavalry behind the heavy cavalry fired their arrows, regardless of casualties. Song troops were shot down one after another on the Song army's position, and there was a lot of wailing.
The heavy cavalry of the Mongolian army rumbled in, and the ground shook violently. Seeing that they were only twenty or thirty steps away from the Song army's formation, the panic on the faces of the heavy armored infantry in the Song army's forward position was visible.
The Mongolian cavalry was in the rear formation. Li Quan looked forward with ferocious eyes, hoping that the heavy cavalry would break the formation. Not only would the troops be able to escape, but they would also be able to severely damage the Song army and let out a good sigh of relief.
Suddenly, the charging heavy cavalry of the Mongolian army seemed to have missed their horses' hoofs. They knelt down one after another and threw down the heavy cavalry on their horses. Both men and horses fell down, tripping their comrades behind them, and the heavy cavalry who followed them fell. The cavalrymen fell forward one after another, but still fell.
A short distance away, the Mongolian army's light and heavy cavalry fell to the ground one after another. Countless thunderbolts exploded around them, and iron flakes and pellets flew freely, harvesting the lives of men and horses.
It turned out that the Song army dug a lot of pits the size of horseshoes in front of the formation, and sprinkled a layer of grain and grass on them to cover them, successfully deceiving all the Mongolian cavalry.
The artillery roared, smashed out like thunderstorms, and under the indiscriminate bombardment, the Mongolian cavalry was blocked in a narrow front of thirty or forty steps. In any case, it was difficult for the brigade to break through. The warriors who were lucky enough to escape from the artillery barrage were blocked by the trap and were ruthlessly killed by the Song Army's Sky-shaking Thunder.
Broken limbs, human organs, blood dyed the field red, and the bloody and bloody people were piled up into hills. The tragedy was unbearable, like a hell on earth.
The front line of the cavalry was shrouded in endless smoke and dust. Li Quan was stunned, turned his horse's head, and headed north.
The Song army's weapons were so fierce, how many of the subordinates who rushed into the formation could be left? Since the formation cannot be broken, it is best to immediately change course.
If the Song army from the west also surrounds them, they may not be able to leave even if they want to.
Li Quan retreated before the battle, and the cavalry charging into the battle lost all fighting spirit. Those in the rear followed him and fled, while those in the front were still charging, fighting alone. The Song army's artillery fired in full force, and most of the charging Mongolian troops were killed or wounded. The rest found that the rear troops were withdrawing, and they also galloped on their horses and followed closely.
Thousands of artillery pieces, large and small, kept roaring, and the Mongolian cavalry who retreated in a hurry kept falling off their horses. There were corpses of men and horses everywhere along the way. The death conditions were different and shocking.
Li Quan led the remaining defeated soldiers and rode towards the north. The sound of artillery fire continued behind him, and his cavalry fell from their horses from time to time. The sounds of falling to the ground and screams came one after another. Li Quan remained calm and only focused on riding towards the north.
The Mongolian cavalry following them in panic was only two to three thousand at this time.
Li Quan led his troops south to attack Yangzhou. In just a few days, the 100,000 elite troops were almost wiped out.
All the ambitions and dreams disappeared.
