The officers and soldiers were eating hot noodles outside, but Chen Yongfu and Chen De were invited into Zhang Cheng's Chinese army tent. Unlike ordinary officers and soldiers, they had steamed meat and rice in addition to noodles.
Of course, rice wine is also indispensable. Zhang Cheng raised his bowl and praised: "Mr. Chen Qian is so powerful. This arrow killed Thief Li and made him a one-eyed dragon. My brother's magical skills, Zhang really admires him!"
Chen De sat down and his face was full of red clouds. He was happy and a little embarrassed under Zhang Cheng's praise. Chen Yongfu also sat down under Zhang Cheng and said in a deep voice: "Chen De is just a bit brave, how can he afford it?" Zhang Shuai praised me so much!"
Although he spoke like this, he was extremely happy inside. Who would be unhappy if someone praised his son in front of him?
Zhang Cheng then added: "Chen Dezhen is a stooge, and Zhang really envy Chen Shuai!"
Chen Yongfu said with a smile: "Zhang Shuai has given too much praise. It was only by chance that Chen De shot and wounded Li Thief. How can he compare with the fierce generals and soldiers under Zhang Shuai? Not to mention that Zhang Shuai defeated the bandit army in the north of the city before. Today, I and hundreds of my subordinates All the soldiers are brave and it was Zhang Shuai who came to rescue them, otherwise they might not have been able to escape from the thieves' hands!"
"Ha ha……"
Zhang Cheng said with a hearty smile: "Commander Chen has given Zhang too much praise. Although the generals under my command defeated thousands of thieves in the north of the city, and even captured the thieves, such as General Wa Guan Guo and others, there are also Chen Jiugao's General Military Headquarters in the capital. The help of the subordinate officers and men is not my fault alone.
Today, Chen Shuai made a surprise attack on the bandit camp at night. He killed a bucket of grain and wounded Li bandit. This is a great achievement. After General Chen Jiugao moves to the north gate of the camp today, I will go to the court with him to express his gratitude. Please take credit for Chen Shuai, please take credit for Chen De! "
Chen Yongfu also smiled and said: "It was just a fluke that I got this special merit today. Now I think about it, I am shocked. I almost lost hundreds of soldiers under my command who have been fighting with me for many years. Fortunately, Zhang Shuai rescued me. Chen De and I Now you have to enjoy your meal here.”
Zhang Cheng toasted another bowl of rice wine and then said: "Zhang Cheng has always respected warriors. Today, Chen Shuai dared to go deep into the bandit camp and kill three people in and three out. How can Zhang Cheng sit idly by?"
He continued: "There is still a war today, so I can only drink three bowls of wine. After the bandits are driven away, I will get drunk with Chen Shuai before we stop."
Chen Yongfu also added: "I would like to get drunk with Zhang Shuai!"
…………
Chen Yongfu's cavalry did not enter Kaifeng City after breakfast. They continued to stay at Zhang Cheng's Chinese army camp, ready to fight against the bandits at any time.
Zhang Cheng's Chinese army camp has also been stationed outside the west city of Kaifeng. Chen Dakuan's officers and soldiers have also come here to camp with the Chinese army. Zhang Guodong stayed in Jin Yong's camp in the north of the city, responsible for screening and handling those captured. of thieves and hungry people.
Now, there are more than 8,000 infantry and cavalry troops gathered outside the Western Wall of Kaifeng. Among them, Wei Zhice's two chariots and chariots have more than 3,000 soldiers. Adding the two guerrilla officers and soldiers of the Beijing camp, the number is more than 5,000. horse.
In addition, there are 500 elite soldiers of the Chinese army under Zhang Cheng, 1,000 soldiers of Chen Dakuan's infantry battalion, nearly 1,000 cavalrymen of Zhang Guangda's cavalry camp, more than 300 tiger guards under Lin Fangping, and 500 to 600 elite soldiers under Chen Yongfu. Riding, nearly nine thousand officers and soldiers camped outside the west city.
The soldiers and civilians stationed on the west wall of Kaifeng in charge of city defense were also cheering at this moment.
They had been in a state of excitement since the fifth watch. First, the defenders on the north side of the west gate sent a message that there were fires and people shouting and neighing in the bandit camp. They guessed that there were soldiers and horses attacking the bandit camp at night, but it was difficult to determine where it was at the moment. It was done by the officers and soldiers of the Ministry.
Gao Mingheng, Su Zhuang, Wang Xie and other officials who were responsible for guarding the west gate by Gu Xiao, as well as Cao Kun, Zuo Changshi Li Yingchun and others who served in the Zhou Palace also came to the city wall after hearing the news.
They had been watching the situation in the bandit camp outside the city. At first, they thought it was Zhang Cheng's officers and soldiers who were attacking the bandit camp at night. No one expected that it was deputy commander Chen Yongfu who led his troops to return for reinforcements.
It was not until Chen Yongfu's army and horses were trapped in Xiguan that Gao Mingheng and others in the city learned that Deputy Marshal Chen was leading Xiebiao under his command to return to Kaifeng. They were overjoyed and wanted to open the city immediately to welcome him.
However, Liu Fangliang's bandit army immediately chased outside Xiguan and surrounded Xiguan on three sides. For fear of accidentally injuring Chen Yongfu's officers and soldiers, the city did not dare to fire cannons, so they could only shoot arrows on the city wall, but the damage to the bandit soldiers was limited.
Furthermore, because there was no urn at the west gate of Kaifeng, we were afraid that once the city gate was opened, the thieves, infantry and cavalry, would follow Chen Yongfu's officers and soldiers and rush in. If Kaifeng fell into the hands of thieves, the Zhou vassal would be in trouble and all the officials in the city would not be able to save their lives.
In view of this, Gao Mingheng ordered people to shout to Chen Yongfu outside the city to lead the army to the north gate of Kaifeng before entering the city. However, Chen Yongfu's officers and soldiers were exhausted after a long battle. Even if the officers and soldiers could fight again, their horses could not run away. Understand.
If Zhang Cheng had not sent Lin Fangping to lead the rescue force, Chen Yongfu and Chen De's father and son might have been able to escape with a small number of his retainers, but it would have been difficult to say that most of his officers and soldiers' retainers would have been able to escape.
…………
Since the fifth watch, the camps of King Chuang's army have been in chaos. It was not until Chen Shi that each camp settled down a little, and the servants among them began to make pots of rice again.
After rough statistics, Yi Dougu and Hun Mo Wang were killed in battle, and their three thousand thieves were defeated. Less than a thousand were gathered by King Chuang's minions, and the third leader, Du Youwei, was missing.
Gu Ying's soldiers suffered only two to three hundred casualties, but a lot of military supplies were burned. Chen Yongfu and Chen De of King Chuang's camp rushed and killed more than a thousand soldiers, and a lot of supplies and supplies were burned.
Liu Zongmin's cavalry camp was also stormed by Zhang Guangda. Each of the cavalry and horses suffered a loss of three to four hundred, but most of the horses' fodder was burned. It seemed that the officers and soldiers attacked the camp just to set fire to their horse fodder.
Only Liu Fangliang's camp suffered no losses as it had not been attacked. It only suffered hundreds of casualties during the fierce battle with Lin Fangping and Chen Yongfu outside Xiguan.
Chuang Wang's army of more than 33,000 men was first defeated by Zhang Cheng in the north of the city and lost more than 6,000 troops, and then Chen Yongfu's night attack on the Chuang camp triggered a chain reaction.
Yi Dou Gu and Hun Mo Wang were killed in the battle, Chuang King Li Zicheng was shot and wounded by Chen De, and the bandits suffered more than 3,000 casualties. The army's supplies and supplies were burned and destroyed, and it was obvious that they could no longer stay under the city of Kaifeng.
King Chuang's army now only has more than 20,000 soldiers and horses left, and it is no longer possible to continue to attack Kaifeng. The question now is whether it can escape under the eyes of Zhang Cheng and other generals.
After all, Zhang Cheng's army had just won in the north of the city, and its morale was strong. Chen Yongfu's troops were approaching with elite cavalry to return to support. Moreover, since Chen Yongfu could return to support Kaifeng, the guerrilla generals Gao Qian and Zhang Dechang were probably on their way back.
With just one Zhang Cheng commanding thousands of troops, it was already difficult for King Chuang to deal with it. If thousands more troops gathered together, it would be difficult to escape even if they wanted to!
