Within Jiazhuang, the generals are still discussing the specific details of defense.
The focus of defense is still in the direction of the official road, that is, to the east of Jiazhuang, where nearly a thousand infantry are defended by Lu Xiangsheng's Biao Battalion. To the south of Jiazhuang are the infantry of Zhang Yan's command, and to the north are the infantry of Jiang Mingwu's command.
Zhang Yan and Jiang Mingwu each left 200 infantry as a reserve force of the Chinese army. They were not engaged in defense and were only used for emergency purposes. In this way, the Chinese military headquarters defending Jiazhuang had a reserve force of 400 people.
Yang Guozhu set up a stronghold in the southwest corner of Jiazhuang. He relied on large trees, carts, sand, and watered with ice water to form a strong stronghold. They focused on defending against the Qing army's attack in the south.
His east side and Jiazhuang are less than one mile apart, and they support each other. Even if the Qing army breaks through the gap here, it will not be able to break the camp and will be attacked from both sides.
Hu Dawei set up his stronghold in the northwest corner of Jiazhuang. Like Yang Guozhu, he focused on defending the Qing army in the north with infantry and cavalry in the west. If the Qing army attacked from here, it would not be suitable to form an array. He and Yang Guozhu would all have their best cavalry. out and can be easily repelled.
Nearly a thousand cavalrymen under Zhang Cheng were responsible for defending the west side of Jiazhuang. This side was deliberately left open, with Yang Guozhu to the south and Hu Dawei to the north. The two of them were more than a mile apart.
If the Qing army breaks into this empty field, Zhang Cheng can lead his cavalry to attack. At the same time, Jiang Mingwu's cavalry will also defend this side and support Zhang Cheng.
If necessary, Zhang Cheng could also attack from the gap between Jiazhuang and Yang Guozhu's camp to harass or pursue the Qing army. Jiang Mingwu's cavalry could also attack from the gap between the north and Hu Dawei's camp.
Viewed from the air, this formation looks like a "pin" shape. Although Lu Xiangsheng's defense is in the official direction, the walls of Jiazhuangzhuang are intact and reinforced, and the defensive surface is not very wide.
The most important thing is that Lu Xiangsheng, Zhang Cheng and other generals also have half of the cavalry. The nearly five thousand elite cavalry can give the Qing army a thunderous blow at any time.
…………
After the military deliberation was completed, the generals had just left Lu Xiangsheng's Chinese army tent when they saw Chen Zheng, the commander of the left sentry in Zhang Cheng's camp, rushing over. His eyes were red and his expression was quite sad.
In Zhang Cheng's impression, although this Chen Zheng was the same as him and young, he had always been calm and he had never seen him look so eager.
Zhang Cheng couldn't help but feel an unknown feeling in his heart. He hurriedly stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Chen Shao, why are you so urgent?"
The sentry commander, Chen Zheng, bowed and clasped his fists, and handed Zhang Cheng a military report: "Our sentry officer Niu Sheng led his troops out and sent back important military information."
Then he approached Zhang Cheng and reported in a low voice: "On his way back, Captain Niu was intercepted and killed by a large group of slave thieves. Chang Cheng Dashan, the leader of the team, led the brothers in the team to fight the slaves in a bloody battle and covered all the brothers in the team back to the camp. He However, he died in battle due to exhaustion and sacrificed his life for the country."
Wang Dou was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and asked: "The bodies of the brothers..."
Chen Zheng said in a low voice, slightly choked with sobs: "Dashan and his brothers fought against the slave cavalry brigade and killed more than ten slaves, but none of them could come back.
According to the brothers in the team who came back, they saw the mountains detonating the grenades they carried with them from a distance, and perished with the enemy, but their bodies could not be recovered..."
Zhang Cheng closed his eyes weakly. This was the first time since he led the army into the guard that he had suffered such a heavy loss. The first-level Xuanzhen Jingqi was completely destroyed by the captive cavalry. The loss was huge.
Yang Guozhu, his Chinese army general Guo Yingxian, and others beside Zhang Cheng all patted Zhang Cheng on the shoulder to express their condolences.
Lu Xiangsheng also heard the news at this time and walked out of the tent. He also faintly heard the question and answer between Zhang Cheng and Chen Zheng. He let out a long sigh and said: "Warriors fight on the battlefield, and their bodies are wrapped in horse leather. These good men, this battle Afterwards, I decided to write to the imperial court to ask for rewards and rewards for my sons."
Zhang Cheng calmed down and said warmly to Chen Zheng: "Go down and rest first."
Chen Zheng cupped his hands and retreated silently.
After walking back a few steps, his tears rolled down uncontrollably.
Zhang Cheng looked at the military report in his hand, which was still stained with blood. He handed the general report to Lu Xiangsheng's hands. After Lu Xiangsheng unfolded it and looked at it carefully, he hummed: "North of Julu, there are slaves and white flags, most of them coming from Nangong, Long Pingma is coming;
To the east, about three thousand slave bandits with the Zhenglan Banner came from the direction of Nangong, and another group of more than two thousand slave bandits came from the direction of Guangzong. The flags seemed to be the color of the Mongolian Zhenghuang Banner;
To the south, more than a thousand slaves and thieves were riding towards them, followed by most of the slaves. The flags were of mixed colors, roughly the remaining flags and the eight Mongolian flags.
It seems that the slave thieves are determined to win the giant deer from us. It will be a fierce battle. "
He then shouted in a deep voice: "Pass this order to the commander-in-chief and the sergeants of each battalion to step up the construction of camp defences!"
After the generals received the order, Zhang Cheng took a step forward, clasped his fists and reported: "My lord, the slaves are advancing in several directions, hoping to encircle our army. The last general proposed that we send out all our elite cavalry and defeat one or two of them first." Lu, my slaves are also afraid of me and don’t dare to look down on us.”
The generals also agreed with Zhang Cheng's proposal. At that time, it was agreed that Zhang Yan, the counselor of Xuanzang, would stay in charge of building the camp and defenses, while the remaining generals would lead their elite cavalry to attack the Tartars.
…………
Mid-December of the Ming Dynasty was already the midwinter, especially during the eleventh year of Chongzhen's reign, it was also the time of the Little Ice Age. The weather was freezing and the ground was freezing. Looking around, all you could see was a gray and barren land.
The fields on both sides of the official road were also frozen hard. Teams of war horses, controlled by knights, raised their hooves and galloped through the deserted fields at a trot.
In the vast land, groups of flaming red armored cavalry galloped forward, billowing smoke and dust rose behind the cavalry, and the sky was full of Ming Dynasty elite cavalry.
Zhang Cheng led the four sentry cavalry under his command and were galloping in the fields. He was ordered to take a detour and wait for the two cavalrymen Lu Xiangsheng and Yang Guozhu to fight with the slave cavalry approaching from the direction of Guangzong. As a surprise soldier, he flanked the slave cavalry.
They rode two horses together and kept changing horses back and forth during the march to maintain their power. The knights were galloping when they saw more than ten horses rushing towards them from the northeast, raising a cloud of dust.
Zhang Cheng tightened the reins and slowed down his horse. The army slowly stopped. The guard captain Chen Zhong led a group of guards to ride up to meet them.
It turned out that Zhang Cheng's subordinates had returned from spying out at night. Chen Zhong inquired about the situation and rode back to report: "General, less than two miles to the northeast, past the dirt bag in front, is where the slave cavalry is. According to the sentry post, Report, this group is suspected to be Mongolian Tatars, there are more than 2,000 people, they are divided into two groups, and they are fighting fiercely with the governor."
Zhang Cheng raised his whip and shouted: "Soldiers and soldiers, the slave thieves are behind the soil bag and are trying their best to kill the slaves. Today, follow me to kill them..."
"Kill slaves...kill slaves..."
"Kill slaves... kill..."
With roars, nearly a thousand red-armored knights galloped up to the dirt patch, and without even stopping for a moment, Zhang Cheng roared, galloped down, and swooped down from south to north.
