The three cities of Xingyang, Jingxian and Xinzheng are all at the foot of Fuxi Mountain. The two cities slightly form a semi-arc along the mountain, with Fuxi Mountain in the west-south direction and all the way to the Yellow River in the east-north direction. It's open flat land.
The distance between Xingyang and Jingxian is only seventy or eighty miles. Jing's army's 50,000 horses and Wei's 40,000 horses piled up can fill the gap. So Zhang Liao gathered his troops and horses and set up three roads near Jingxian. The defense line blocked all Xiahou Chun's southward and eastward escape routes, forcing Xiahou Chun to fight them.
The three lines of defense are: Guancheng on the easternmost side of Jingxian County, which is the road eastward to Chenliu Kingdom. Zhang Liao sent Zhang Xian to lead 10,000 troops to intercept it; Because behind Jingxian County are Xinzheng, Yingchuan County, and Xuchang City, Xiahou Chun is the most likely route to choose; the southeast side is defended by Zhang Liao's son Zhang Hu led by 20,000 troops.
Zhang Liao knew very well that Zhang Hu's defense line was the most dangerous and the point most likely to be broken through by the Wei army.
But he had to send his own son.
A large part of this lies in Zhang Xian's status. Zhang Xian is a veteran of Dajing. The foundation of Dajing Emperor Zhang Xiu won Zhang Xiu's trust. Everyone knows that Zhang Xian's strength has just met the first-class line. He is definitely no match for Xia Houchun, a veteran on the battlefield. If Zhang Xian is sent If you go to defend the east-south defense line first and die in battle, you will not be able to escape the blame.
He was demoted as a general. Although he had military exploits and was trusted by Zhang Xiu, his official position was even higher than that of Ma Chao, Gan Ning, Wei Yan and other Dajing veteran generals. However, he was already jealous of others. If he was not careful, he would be in trouble.
After much thought, he put on his son Zhang Hu the hundred-forged diamond chain armor given to him by Zhang Xiu, and asked him to lead his troops to defend the east-south defense line. Zhang Hu was raised by him himself. Although his martial arts skills are not as good as those of Xia Houchun, he is not weak. Even if he encounters him, with the hundred-forged steel sword and chain mail in his hand, it should not be a problem to survive.
You know, Xia Houchun is a first-class general, and his strength is as strong as Zhang Liao, or even higher.
In the early days of Cao Cao's business, Xia Houchun was one of the top generals in Cao Cao's camp and was deeply trusted by Cao Cao. Cao Cao died of illness. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, he also trusted Xia Houchun very much and gave him the power of the Northern Defense Army to defend the most dangerous Jingguo.
But no one expected that Jing's army was so powerful. The tightly guarded Yellow River line was broken by Zhang Ren's troops overnight, and they attacked Dongjun and appeared silently behind him.
After determining the strategy, Xia Houchun decisively chose Zhang Hu's defense line.
Zhang Xian's defense line is remote, and he is a veteran of Dajing with a prominent reputation. Although he is confident that he can defeat Zhang Xian, it will be difficult to win within one or twenty rounds. The purpose of this battle is to break through quickly, and Zhang Xian must not be defeated. Not to mention Zhang Liao's defense line. He had fought with Zhang Liao. If he fought with Zhang Liao, there would be no possibility of breaking through.
That day and night.
Xiahou Chun divided three thousand soldiers and horses, each with double flags behind them to confuse Zhang Liao. He personally led the rest of the soldiers and horses to kill Zhang Hu's defense line as quickly as possible. Since the purpose of this battle was to attack and break through, Xiahou Chun Chun ordered the army to charge as fast as possible without any effort.
The Northern Defense Army he led were all the elite cavalry of the Wei army. The war horses were all tall war horses purchased from Jingguo. They galloped extremely fiercely. An army of 47,000 people and 47,000 war horses galloped with a huge roar. Like thunder on the ground, looking from a distance, in the rolling dust, the front row of horses galloping out with their manes raised, it really looks like:
Thousands of horses in the wilderness raised their manes and roared together in the Yellow River with great momentum.
The rolling flood waves are in the Miao Jing, and the qin and qin are flying, and the wind is biao.
The roaring sound of horse hooves came from far away, and at this time, Zhang Hu had already felt the vibration on the ground. His heart tightened at first, and he felt a little sweat in his palms. This was the first time that he left the protection of Naiweng and led 20,000 troops to fight alone. It would be a lie to say that he was not afraid, but he was more eager and excited to try. He wanted to prove his ability to his father.
This northern man, who was born in Yanmen, is twenty-five years old this year. He is two meters taller than the later generations. He has been fighting with his father since he was twenty years old. He has become mature and sophisticated in an unnoticeable way. His cheeks are beginning to take on the appearance of his father Zhang Liao. The outline, the hair on the upper lip and chin have long turned black, the brow bones are raised, and there is a calm and fierce look in the eyes.
At this moment, Zhang Hu was wearing a hundred-forged diamond chain armor, holding a tiger-curved knife specially gifted by Zhang Xiu, riding on a majestic war horse, looking at the loess rising at the end of the plain in the distance, clearly visible under the silver moonlight. , as the enemy troops continued to approach, the rocks on the ground began to bounce.
Three artillery pieces and twenty Kecheng heavy crossbows have already been prepared.
When the enemy was about to enter the range of fire, Zhang Hu's eyes shrank, the veins on his forehead jumped unnoticeably, and he slowly raised his right hand. The firearms battalion and the chariot battalion were immediately ready. After the enemy troops completely entered the range of fire, Zhang Hu decisively waved his big hand and shouted flatly: "Let go!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Under the moonlight, three cannons sounded deafeningly, instantly suppressing thousands of galloping war horses. The fire was radiating, and the war horses neighed in fear at the sudden roar.
Hearing this sound, Xia Houchun was suddenly startled, and four words appeared in his mind like lightning: Booming Cannon Cart!
Before he could react, three cannonballs exploded next to his ears. The terrifying lethality blew up everything around him. The soil flew several feet high, the war horse overturned, and the soldiers on the war horse were blown to the ground. , life and death unknown.
As the roar ended, an overwhelming roar sounded in the sky.
Xia Houchun didn't need to look up to know that this was the Kengcheng heavy crossbow showing its power. The Jing army's weapons were becoming more and more terrifying. , he will never allow the failure of this battle to be due to his own failure.
He put his body on the horse's back, patted the horse to accelerate, maintained the fastest charging speed, took the lead and set an example for the entire army, rushing towards the enemy's position without fear of life or death.
When the Wei army saw how brave their general was, they were all stimulated and charged despite arrows and artillery fire.
"kill!"
After two rounds of bombardment, the enemy troops were already coming. If they didn't attack, the power of the war horses would not be unleashed. Zhang Hu tightened his grip on the textured hilt of the Tiger Curved Knife, shouted loudly with a ferocious face, suppressed all the tension and fear in his heart with this roar, and rushed out first, patting his horse.
Zhang Hu's personal guards followed quickly.
The rest of the Jingjun cavalry followed closely behind, slapping their horses and raising their swords to kill the Wei army.
The Jingwei cavalry began to hedge.
