In the car formation in the northwest direction outside Kaifeng City, Zhang Cheng's golden armor reflected dazzling light under the slanting light of the morning sun. His wool cloak with white edges and red face fluttered in the wind, looking very heroic.
He stood on a high platform, with Wei Zhice and two guerrilla generals from Beijing, Chen Shihu and Chen Chongchang standing beside him.
Zhang Cheng looked at the car formation below and said to Wei Zhice, "Zhice, are you all ready?"
"Commander, everything is ready. According to the military order, the vehicle formation will advance two miles, spread out in the front, and guard the two sides. The two generals from the Beijing camp will lead the troops and assist in guarding the rear and outside." Wei Zhice answered.
Zhang Cheng turned his eyes to Chen Shihu and Chen Chongchang, and said with a polite smile: "Last night, Henan deputy commander Chen Yongfu attacked the bandit camp, killing and wounding many bandits, and is now trapped in Xiguan.
I have sent cavalry to meet Chen Shuai. At this time, my army set up camp and headed south to form a formation outside the west gate to confront the rebels. I leave the rearguard and flanks to the two generals! "
Since yesterday when they cooperated with Zhang Cheng's troops to fight against the bandits, the two of them have seen the combat power of Zhang Cheng's troops. They have not actually gone into battle yet, but they have also gained some military merit.
Now, although Zhang Cheng said something so important, they both understood clearly in their hearts that this was just Zhang Cheng trying to save face for them, so they replied with a respectful expression: "Please be patient, Commander Zhang, we are risking our lives." , and also protect the flanks of the army from being invaded by thieves!"
Zhang Cheng smiled at the two of them and said: "When Chen Shuai marches to Kaifeng City today, I will definitely ask for credit for the two generals in front of Chen Shuai."
He turned around and said in a deep voice to Wei Zhice: "Wei Zhice, it's time to start camp!"
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In the central military tent of King Chuang's camp, Li Zicheng's head was wrapped in a white cloth, and his left eye was stained red by the spilled blood. He struggled to get up and went to the outer tent to sit down.
Liu Zongmin first asked eagerly: "King Chuang, why don't you lie down for a while?"
Li Zicheng endured the pain and said to Liu Zongmin: "Jixuan, there are no officers and soldiers attacking the cavalry camp."
"Nothing happened at the horse camp. When I saw the camp was attacked, I felt concerned, so I came with two thousand cavalry. Now we are all going to Xiguan to surround Chen Yongfu. I left Xie Junyou's thousand cavalry to guard the horse camp. "
When Liu Zongmin said this, he looked at the old immortal Shang Ziming next to King Chuang and said, "Shang Shenxian, how is King Chuang's injury?"
There was a trace of hesitation in Shang Ziming's eyes. After a moment, he said: "The light arrows fired by the officers and soldiers were not strong enough and did not penetrate deeply into the brain. King Chuang's life is safe, but his left eye cannot be saved."
Liu Zongmin said angrily: "The hateful Chen Yongfu, I will definitely catch him and chop him into pieces with a thousand knives!"
Li Zicheng, the king of Chuang, said in a slightly weak voice: "Jixuan, the urgent task now is to check the losses of each battalion in the attack this morning, rectify the troops and horses, and prevent Zhang Cheng's officers and soldiers from Xuanyuan Town in the north from taking advantage of the chaos to come and cause trouble. As for Chen Yongfu, Come to him later to avenge today's arrow!"
Niu Jinxing also said at this time: "King Chuang's words are exactly what he said. The most important thing is to rectify the army now. Taking advantage of the fact that Zhang Cheng's troops in the north have not responded, we can quickly rectify the army. Whether to fight or retreat, it all depends on today."
Liu Zongmin then said to King Chuang: "There must be two groups of officers and soldiers attacking the camp early this morning. One is Chen Yongfu's army with more than a thousand riders. They passed through Yidougu Camp in the south and went straight into King Chuang's camp. Now they are trapped in the camp. No escape is allowed in Xiguan.
Gu Fu's other troops were suspected to be Zhang Cheng's troops in Xuanzang. They only had three to four hundred horses. After coming out of Gu Ying's camp in the west, they also ran into Dou Gu's camp. Without encountering any obstruction, they galloped southward. go. "
King Chuang asked weakly: "What are the losses of each battalion?"
"Yidougu's troops are finished. They were attacked in two rounds. It was reported that both Yidougu and Hunmowang were attacked and killed. Hu Laodao, the military advisor in his camp, is missing. The three masters, Tiaojianhu, lead more than a hundred The cavalry did not know where to flee, and there were more than a thousand soldiers and horses left who came to the camp.
Gu Ying's side was fine. The soldiers and horses suffered little damage, but the officers and soldiers set fires everywhere in the camp, causing considerable losses in military tents and grain. The same is true here in the camp. I am afraid that the food and grass will not be enough to sustain the needs for a few days! "
Li Zicheng stared with one eye full of unwillingness for a long time before saying: "Withdraw the troops."
He said to Liu Zongmin: "Jixuan, if Zhang Cheng's troops come to meet Chen Yongfu, you must not fight with them. Send an order to come to our army's tent and prepare to withdraw your troops and go south!"
At this moment, Zhang Nai rushed into the military tent and reported: "Prince Chuang, sir, Chen Yongfu has escaped after all!"
Liu Zongmin asked anxiously: "Why did Mingyuan escape if he didn't lead the army to surround him in Xiguan?"
"It was originally well surrounded, but another army of hundreds of cavalry came from the north, and the horse camp was soaring into flames. Ren Rongguang was afraid that the horse camp would be lost, so he led a thousand cavalry to the rescue. This The border cavalry did not stop them, but Chen Yongfu broke through and fled north."
When Liu Zongmin heard that Ma Camp was attacked, he was even more surprised than Chen Yongfu's escape. He asked urgently: "How is the situation at Ma Camp? Is there any reward?"
Zhang Nai replied: "Zhang Li and Tong Shoushan from the master's cavalry also went to support the cavalry. Li You brought 300 cavalry to the camp to use them, but there is no return yet."
He continued: "Uncle Mingyuan and Uncle Erhu are patrolling the camp outside, arranging the troops and horses, repairing the camp, and counting the damage. If there is any reward, they will be here soon."
Li Zicheng said: "Jixuan, go to the cavalry camp and have a look. The cavalry is the foundation of the army. You must not miss anything. If you can't defend there, retreat to the camp immediately. Don't force anything. Even if you are defeated today, we can find you again tomorrow." Chen Yongfu and Zhang Cheng just want to take revenge!"
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At the end of Chenshi, Wei Zhice's chariot formation advanced to a distance of 200 steps in front of Liu Zongmin's camp. Under the pressure of the chariot formation, Liu Zongmin had no choice but to lead the cavalry back into King Chuang's camp.
His horse camp also suffered heavy losses under the charge of Zhang Guangda's iron cavalry and light cavalry. The entire camp was a sea of fire, and many war horse fodder were burned by the officers and soldiers who attacked the camp.
Xie Junyou's cavalry of more than a thousand troops was defeated by Zhang Guangda's cavalry charge, but he still organized everyone to continue resisting when they retreated to the north gate.
Ren Rongguang led more than a thousand cavalry to return for reinforcements and stabilized the position. Zhang Guangda also discovered that the bandit cavalry had returned for reinforcements, so he led his troops back to the car formation.
At this point, the battle caused by Chen Yongfu's night attack on the camp came to an end. Although he made a lot of gains in this battle, he even killed a bucket of grain and wounded King Li Chuang, but he still had more than 300 men under his command to stay forever. In the camp of King Chuang.
Now, the father and son and the remaining 600 cavalry are having breakfast in Zhang Cheng's camp. The steaming noodles mixed with meat braised noodles are so delicious!
