Seeing the Xiying rebels rushing downstream on a raft, Liu Gui hurriedly ordered the gunners to light the fuse and fire the cannon towards the middle of the river. With the rumbling cannon sounded, in a cloud of gunsmoke, the hot iron bullets flew out of the cannon chamber and smashed into the river, some rafts were hit by the cannonballs, and directly scattered, and the raft rebels fell into the water, struggling to show their heads, but they were soon washed away by the turbulent river without a trace.

The first round of artillery bombardment by the officers and soldiers of the Western Battalion brought a lot of casualties, but the river bank was too long, and the already small number of artillery pieces were dispersed, and the lethality of the shells was naturally greatly reduced.

Seeing that the Xiying rebels were about to arrive on the other side of the river, the guns of the officers and soldiers also fired, and in the "bang, bang" gunfire, the fire flashed, and wisps of white smoke rose.

At the same time as the guns of the officers and soldiers sounded, the crossbowmen on the raft also began to counterattack the officers and soldiers on the river bank under the protection of their shields, and for a time the arrows were like locusts and lead bullets rained.

The closer they got to the riverbank, the more turbulent the current became, and many rafts dodged the shells and avoided the reefs, but when they approached the shore, they were hit by the waves on the cliffs on the shore, and the whole raft fell apart, and many soldiers of the Western Battalion were hit to the point that their heads were broken and bleeding.

Although they went through a thousand dangers, more than 230 rafts of the first batch of departures still arrived on the other side of Yuzhu Creek, and a total of more than 700 people were lost.

At the same time, the second batch of 700 rafts led by Zhang Nengqi was also launched one after another. For a while, the rafts on the river surface flowed down like an ant surge, and the river was clogged.

Although the first rafts had basically docked, the deer and thistles arranged by the officers and troops on the shore blocked the way of the Xiying Righteous Army. Seeing this, Dingguo cried out in a loud voice: "Brothers! Clear the obstacles with me and open the way for the army to advance! ”

Therefore, even though the guns and artillery of the officers and soldiers were fierce, the officers and men of the Xiying still rushed to jump from the raft into the water, stepping on the river water that submerged their calves, destroying and removing the deer and thistles on the bank, and on the other hand, they quickly set up a formation, using the cover of shields, step by step, and fought back.

From time to time, people died in battle while destroying deer and thistles, but more and more people climbed the riverbank, and these obstacles were quickly cleared.

Shao Jiechun's carefully constructed river fortifications collapsed in an instant, and the defenders gradually lost their support, throwing down their weapons one after another, turning around and fleeing, at first it was only one or two people, but the more they went on, the more deserters became more and more.

Seeing that the situation was out of control, the soldiers beside Liu Gui urged repeatedly: "General, the general trend has gone, withdraw quickly!" ”

Liu Gui stomped his foot fiercely, then jumped on horseback, took a hundred personal soldiers, flew west, and fled in embarrassment.

After crossing the Bawu River, Zhang Xianzhong stationed the army in the area of Wanqing Mountain and Kutaowan, and sent Zhang Kewang to garrison Hongci Cliff as a horn.

Knowing that Zhang Xianzhong had broken through the Bawu River, Yang Sichang thought that the plan to force the thieves into Shu had been achieved, and staying in Xiangyang was too far away from the front line to control the battle situation in real time, so he immediately decided to move Xingyuan to Yiling.

Yiling is located at the entrance of the Three Gorges, the Yangtze River is so far a flat river, after Yang Sichang arrived at Yiling, he immediately took the army to the top of the mountain, looking at the magnificent and majestic scenery of the Three Gorges in front of him, Yang Sichang couldn't help but proudly said to the Wan Yuan Ji beside him: "Brother Jiren, and look at this Yiling is like a lock and key, blocking the Three Gorges, controlling Bashu, and controlling the group of Kou!" Now that Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai have become the birds in the cage and the fish in the net, why not catch them? ”

Wan Yuanji was full of worries: "Lord Cabinet, now that it is summer, Shu is steaming and miasma, and Shu Road is dangerous, the salary is not smooth, it is difficult to continue, plus Zuo Liangyu and He Renlong are unwilling to use their lives, and the conquest and suppression forces in Sichuan are seriously insufficient, and it may not be easy to exterminate Zhang Xianzhong." ”

These words touched Yang Sichang's sore spot, and he immediately restrained his smile and humbly asked for advice: "Brother Jiren, what should I do?" ”

Seeing Yang Sichang asking, Wan Yuan Ji stroked his beard lightly and suggested: "The students think that it is advisable to step up the encirclement and suppression on the one hand, and send people to appease the thieves on the other hand, as a plan to draw salaries from the bottom of the kettle. ”

Yang Sichang seemed to see the sun, and his smile regained on his face: "Brother Jiren is reasonable, not only to appease the thieves, but also to appease the thieves!" This superintendent is on the list, except for Zhang Xianzhong, the rest of the rogues, but those who are willing to surrender will be forgiven for their previous sins! Those who are willing to serve in the army will be reorganized on the spot, and those who are willing to return to their hometowns and farmers will also be provided with travel expenses. In this way, the thieves will surely collapse without a fight! ”

In order to achieve the goal of dividing and disintegrating the rebel army, in early August, Yang Sichang ordered the leader of the rebel army, Black Whirlwind, who had surrendered, to go to Luo Rucai's camp to persuade him to surrender.

Luo Rucai was still undecided, and Zhang Xianzhong came when he heard the news and exposed Yang Sichang's trick to lure him to surrender in person. After being reminded by Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Rucai remembered that he had surrendered so many times, but every time he surrendered and rebelled, the court was not a fool, how could he really recruit peace?

Thinking of this, Luo Rucai couldn't help but sweat coldly, and hurriedly killed the black whirlwind in front of Zhang Xianzhong, and since then he has broken the idea of surrendering.

Zhang Xianzhong believed that the main force of the official army was gathered in Huguang, and that there was a way out only by continuing to march to Sichuan.

At this time, Yang Sichang summoned the generals in central Sichuan to guard the key passes of Wu and Ba, and transferred He Renlong, Li Guoqi, Zhang Yingyuan, Wang Yunfeng, Zhang Zuokai and other departments to attack and suppress, and the war clouds were dense for a while.

On 20 August, Zhang Xianzhong was reorganizing his army for battle, when a scout suddenly came to report that the soldiers of the officers and soldiers stationed in Diling, Zhang Yingyuan, Wang Yunfeng, and Wuqianchuan and Chu, were all newly recruited, had not marched into battle, and had waited for a long time for the people to arrive.

The fighter plane was fleeting, and Zhang Xianzhong quickly summoned the generals of each battalion to come to the Chinese army's big tent to discuss the matter.

When all the generals gathered, Xu Yixian took the lead in speaking: "Sun Ziyun avoids the truth and attacks the void, now there are Zhang Yingyuan and Wang Yunfeng's officers and troops, only with 5,000 newly recruited soldiers, stationed in the land ridge, and there is no successor, it is a good time for me to take advantage of the void and annihilate it in one fell swoop!" I don't know the generals, who wants to be the vanguard? ”

Zhang Nengqi was young and vigorous, and immediately stood up, hugged his fists and said, "Father!" Strategist! The child is not talented, and he is willing to lead the troops into battle! ”

"Fourth brother, you are still young and have never had the experience of leading troops alone, so let's give this credit to the eldest brother!" Zhang Kewang also stood up.

Seeing that the two brothers were fighting for merit, the other generals also stopped talking with interest.

Hearing Zhang Kewang say that he was young, Zhang Nengqi was unconvinced: "The second brother had no experience in leading troops, didn't he also attack Xiangyang in the first battle?" I'm the same age as my second brother now, so why can't I? ”

Zhang Xianzhong saw the two brothers arguing on their own, and couldn't help laughing: "Okay, okay, you two don't fight!" can be brave and unparalleled, and give you 3,000 elite horsemen as the vanguard, from the front to assault the land ridge official army camp! ”

"No!" Seeing that his father was supporting him, Zhang Nengqi immediately smiled, glanced at Zhang Kewang ostentatiously, and then stepped forward quickly and took the token with both hands.

"Kewang! Dingguo! Zhang Xianzhong took out another token from the sticker.

"In!" Hearing Zhang Xianzhong shouting to himself, Dingguo hurriedly stood up, stepped to Zhang Kewang's side, and stood solemnly.

Zhang Xianzhong glanced at the two of them sharply, and continued: "Give you two thousand fine horsemen, from the mountain behind the land ridge to the back of the official army, if you can win at that time, you will hold the back mountain to prevent the official army from escaping, if you can attack for a long time, you will lead the troops to kill, and attack the official army camp before and after!" Do you understand? ”

"Understood!" The two of them roared at the same time and agreed.

Zhang Xianzhong then ordered: "Bald-tailed wolf! Kosekisuo! Order you to lead the men and horses of your headquarters to ambush on both sides of the official road east of the land ridge, in case He Renlong leads the troops to help! ”

After the two of them received the token, Zhang Xianzhong glanced around the big tent and said with a serious face: "The rest of the generals are all in the rear with the army, and they can reinforce everywhere at any time!" This battle is not allowed to be defeated, everyone is ready to go! ”

When everyone dispersed, Xu Yixian suddenly grabbed Zhang Xianzhong and said in a low voice: "Jing Shuai, I observed Cao Cao just now, my eyes were erratic, and I seemed to have thoughts, after all, we are not all the way with him, so we must be guarded against!" ”

Zhang Xianzhong listened, patted Xu Yixian's shoulder, and comforted: "Old Xu, you are too worried!" Cao Cao, I still know Lao Zhang! These days, I am just scared by the official army! As long as we win a few more battles, his heart will naturally be steady! ”

"I hope so!" Since Zhang Xianzhong said so, Xu Yixian didn't say much.

Besides, Zhang Kewang and Dingguo, they led two thousand elite horsemen all the way, and finally arrived at the mountain behind the land ridge in a roundabout way near noon. With Zhang Kewang's order, the soldiers of the Xiying dismounted one after another and lurked on both sides of the mountain road.

In order to prevent being detected by the officials and soldiers, they did not bury the pot to cook, but directly took out the coarse dough cake prepared in advance from their arms and gnawed it down.

After another moment, a scout Pegasus came to report, saying that the official army was defending the land ridge camp, Zhang Nengqi had been unable to conquer for a long time and suffered heavy losses, and Zhang Xianzhong had personally led the troops to battle.

"Hmph, I just said that the fourth brother is too young, and the father doesn't listen, what is happening now? Don't you have to go out yourself? Zhang Kewang said with some schadenfreude.

Although Dingguo was a little dissatisfied with Zhang Kewang's attitude, he did not show any on his face: "Big brother, the fourth brother is also earnest, and now my father is in a bitter battle, without further ado, let's hurry down the mountain to reinforce!" ”

Zhang Kewang also felt that the complaint just now seemed inappropriate, and hurriedly ordered all the soldiers to get on their horses and kill them towards the official and military camp at the bottom of the mountain.

At this time, the fierce battle of the land ridge continued, Zhang Yingyuan and Wang Yunfeng deserved to be the official army of the fierce generals, although the troops were all newly recruited recruits, but relying on the terrain of the land ridge, they were still able to withstand the tide of the Xiying rebel army.

Zhang Nengqi's 3,000 forwards were quickly disabled, in order to quickly solve the battle, Zhang Xianzhong sent messengers to bypass the land ridge official military camp, rushed to the back mountain to urge Zhang Kewang and Dingguo to enter the army as soon as possible, and on the other hand, he ordered 10,000 elites to go to reinforcements in person.

With the arrival of reinforcements led by Zhang Xianzhong, the morale of the siege rebels was slightly boosted.

Seeing that the battle was getting tighter and tighter, Zhang Yingyuan climbed the watchtower, intending to condescend and observe the main attack direction of the rebel army, but at a glance, he found a leader of the rebel army wearing a white felt hat and a scarlet robe in the crowd.

This person has a yellow face and long hair, who else can he be if it is not Zhang Xianzhong? Zhang Yingyuan was overjoyed, snatched the longbow of the archer next to him, and shouted: "Arrow!" ”

The archer hurriedly took out a feather arrow from the quiver and handed it to Zhang Yingyuan with both hands.

Zhang Yingyuan didn't look back, stretched out his hand to catch the arrow, and immediately opened the bow full of strings, aiming at Zhang Xianzhong's face "whoosh" is an arrow.

"Be careful!" Ma Yuanli, who was following Zhang Xianzhong, was quick with his eyes, and hurriedly waved his long knife to move the arrow.

Who knew that the arrow came too fast, Ma Yuanli missed, the tip of the arrow grazed the blade, and with a sharp metal impact, the arrow deviated slightly from the original trajectory, but still continued to fly forward.

Hearing only a scream of "oops", Ma Yuanli's heart tightened, and he turned his head sharply to see that the arrow had hit Zhang Xianzhong's right arm.

"Jing Shuai, it's okay!" Ma Yuanli asked busily.

Zhang Xianzhong gritted his teeth and held the handle of the arrow, pulled the arrow out of the wound violently, and then broke the handle of the arrow, threw it on the ground casually, and said fiercely: "This little injury is a fart!" Attack with Lao Tzu! ”

Seeing that Zhang Xianzhong was not shot at such a close distance, Zhang Yingyuan was so angry that he beat his chest, he threw the bow back to the archer in annoyance, climbed straight down the watchtower, and shouted: "Zhang Xianzhong has been injured!" Hurry up! Come out of the village with me! ”

In a moment, the door of the official army village was opened, and the chief soldier Zhang Yingyuan personally led 3,000 officers and soldiers, roaring out of the camp and going straight to the direction of Zhang Xianzhong.