"The ground of Zhangde Mansion is wide, east to Huilong (now the southernmost town of Wei County, Hebei), west to Shan (Shanxi Province), south to Tangyin and Yigou, and north to Zhanghe Laolongwan. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

This is a folk song that used to circulate in Anyang, Henan Province, where Zhangde Mansion is now located. The geographical environment of Zhangde Mansion at that time is clearly described.

The Beizhang River, which belongs to the Zhangwei South Canal system in the Haihe River Basin, passes through Zhangde Mansion and flows through Anyang County and Linzhang County. Linzhang County, which spans both sides of the Zhanghe River, has become the yin and yang realm of confrontation between the Qing army and the Shun army. The two armies heard each other's drums and horns, and the flags intersected, but they did not come out of each other's deep ditches and high fortifications.

Although Zhangde is a mansion, its geographical location is very important. In Henan, it has become the "important government" of the country like Kaifeng. Therefore, in addition to the government yamen, there are also administrative institutions such as the administrative division, the inspection division, and the imperial servant division. It has jurisdiction over six counties of Anyang, Tangyin, Linxian, Linzhang, Wu'an, Shexian and one prefecture of Cizhou (now Cixian). The reason for such an administrative division is also from the military, political, economic and other aspects. The Daimyo's Mansion in the southeast of Zhili next door has jurisdiction over Wei County, Daming, and Cheng'an in present-day Hebei Province, and has reached Puyang, Neihuang, and Huaxian in Henan Province. To the north of the Daimyo Mansion was Guangping Prefecture (now Yongnian County, Hebei Province). The areas of Wu'an, Shexian, and Cizhou in the western part of these two prefectures are weak. If these counties in the west belong to Zhangde Prefecture, then the eastern foothills of Taihang Mountain, the banks of the Zhanghe River, and the mountainous plains form a whole, which is undoubtedly of great strategic significance for ensuring the smooth passage of Henan and Hebei. In terms of economic interests, Anyang County, Lin County, Wu'an, Shexian County, Cizhou, and Linzhang County all belong to the Zhanghe River Basin.

Therefore, after the Qing army entered the customs, although it made smooth progress in the Gyeonggi region, it encountered difficulties in the three provinces of Hebei. If Zhangde can be taken, the front can be advanced to the north bank of the Yellow River. Threatening the water transport of the Yellow River can cut off the water communication line between the Shun army and the Nanyue army, thus cutting off the foreign aid of the Shun army.

However, Liu Zongmin, who commanded the battle on the Zhangde front, was also the commander who had fought for many years. It has long been forged from a piece of iron ore into a steel blade. At a glance, you could see what Dolgon's purpose was. Therefore, the measures of consolidating the battle line with strong fortifications and fighting several counterattacks from time to time were adopted to confront the Qing army. Anyway, there are several big rivers behind Lao Tzu, and the soldiers can be supplied with grain and grass.

In this way, the two armies confronted each other on the boundary of the Zhanghe River.

However, today, the two banks of the Beizhang River are full of war clouds, murderous spirit, birds and beasts who usually like to look for some scraps of rice near the camp, have long avoided far away, lest they will affect the pond fish.

Early in the morning, the Shun army and the Qing army drove out of their camp and gathered the whole team. The two sides can be said to have gone out in unison, leaving only a small number of men and horses to guard the camp. The Qing army led by Duoduo dispatched an army of 40,000. On the north bank of the Zhanghe River, Duoduo's weaving golden dragon and the general's handsome banner are surrounded by dozens of weaving golden dragons and stars holding the moon. The banners and banners, layer upon layer, seem to stretch to the west to the side of Taihang Mountain, to the east, it is to go straight to the end of the Great Plain of North China.

Between the neatly lined infantry phalanxes, from time to time there were groups of cavalry roaring and galloping past, either passing military intelligence orders or creating momentum for their own troops.

On the south bank of the Zhanghe River, Liu Zongmin put down the telescope in his hand and rubbed his beard with a pair of iron struck with satisfaction, "Donkey ball, it's really a good hand!" Today, let's do a good job here! Out of the Shanhaiguan breath of bad breath! ”

By his side, Zhang Nai, Luo Hu, Liu Fangliang, Bai Wang, Lan Xuecheng and other generals of the Dashun Army also surrounded him, and the handsome flags and generals that were as dense as Chai Lin were particularly conspicuous, so that people could see them across the river at a glance.

"Zhang Nai, if your cannon can kill Duoduo's Tartar head with one cannon across the river, we will save our hearts!" Although Liu Fangliang is the elder of Zhang Nailuohu, several people are about the same age, and they are used to talking and laughing affectionately on weekdays, so they glanced at the flag array of Duoduo on the other side, and couldn't help but have a whim.

There is some basis for what he said, just behind Liu Zongmin's flag array, dozens of large and small artillery pieces were dragged by Zhang Nai's subordinates with cattle and horses, and the construction of the firing position had been quietly completed, and the column was completed, and the artillery could be fired at any time. In front of the artillery position, Liu Zongmin's more than 1,000 elite soldiers lined up closely, blocking the sight of the Qing army.

In the upper reaches of the Zhanghe River, Liu Xiyao's more than 7,000 elite cavalry lined up in a long array, accusing and scolding the Qing troops on the opposite bank. Many of these Qing troops were Han Chinese, and many of them were surrendered from the Ming army all the way from Shanhaiguan. Although the head has been shaved and woven into the Han army flag, the armor, swords, and guns are still in the style of the Ming army.

In the downstream direction of the Zhanghe River, there are more than 5,000 cavalry cultivated by Lin, with the same neat armor and fat horses.

It was already autumn, and it was many years of drought, although the riverbed of the Zhanghe River was wide, but the water was not deep, from time to time there were small groups of rangers of the two armies who relied on their bravery, rode their horses into the riverbed, let the splashing water pass under the horse's belly, rushed through the center of the river, waved their weapons and shouted at the opposite array, provoking the other side to come out to fight.

Behind the 20,000 cavalry that Liu Zongmin lined up, Zhang Nai's artillery battalion and Luo Hu's Zhenshan battalion were on standby to attack. The gunners had placed baskets of guns next to the emplacements, and the ****** had been placed at the nearest safe distance. The firecrackers checked the flint, turned off the faucet, and carefully put the cap on the gun tube to prevent dust from entering.

A little farther behind them, in front of the Dashun army camp, Governor Chen Yongfu led thousands of soldiers and commanded tens of thousands of people to dig fortifications and trenches. Looking at it from afar, it was dusty, and I don't know how many people and horses had gathered here.

"Liu Zongmin is worthy of being the first person under Li Chuang. The military formation is indeed good. Duoduo looked at it for a while, and was also amazed.

He waved his hand and called a surrendered adjutant general, "You go over and tell the generals of the Dashun army on the other side that this brother Wang is here on behalf of the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, so as to fight against the rebellion, and ask them to recognize the situation." If they can repent and turn against each other, this king, as the younger brother of the regent of the Qing Dynasty, can be awarded an official title. Even Liu Zongmin, the king also cherishes his generals very much, if he is willing to surrender, the king should be given the seal of the general, and to the Qing Emperor, he is named a prince. ”

The deputy general was full of jealousy, but he was helpless. Who let himself surrender when he did not have as many soldiers and horses as Wu Sangui, and was not as strong as Wu Sangui's soldiers? So the lieutenant came with a few of his men on horseback, and stood in the middle of the riverbed and read out aloud the intention of Duoduo's surrender.

Liu Zongmin laughed twice when he heard this, and just opened a loud voice in the team: "Our old Liu was born as an ironworker, and now I am the dignified Marquis of Dashun Ru, the general of the battalion commander-in-chief." My Emperor Dashun regards me as a brother, let's take the wrong medicine and serve you people?! If you want to fight, you can fight, everyone really understands it! ”

"That's it! Everyone fights with real skills! Don't fucking take advantage of people's defenselessness to do a black hand behind your back! Several young generals in the Dashun army also shouted and scolded, from the old ancestor of Duoduo's Fokulun to the eighteenth generation of female relatives of the deputy general in front of him. The face of the scolded general was also blue and white.

Some of his relatives around him couldn't hold it back, so they pulled out their sabers and shook them to the opposite side, probably meaning that they were going to shout and shout, what kind of people came out to fight something. As a result, in the camp of the Shun army on the opposite side, several crisp firearms sounded, and then, several sharp arrows flew out, and the person holding the saber and scolding his entourage, before the words landed, there were already several bullet holes on his body gushing blood, and on the face, throat, etc., the arrows of several sharp arrows trembled slightly in the autumn wind.

"Go back and tell your Tartar master that if he is willing to submit to Dashun, he will be spared death. Our old Liu can also ask for an official position for him in front of Emperor Dashun. Feel relieved! It won't be smaller than his Lao Tzu's dragon and tiger generals! If you don't surrender, that's the end! ”

Now that the matter has been spoken, there is nothing to talk about. Duoduo snorted and glanced coldly across the river, "A thief who doesn't know whether to live or die!" Kill this king! ”

With the sound of a low horn, the Qing army began to move slowly towards the riverbank. Swords and spears are like ears of wheat, and flags are like firewood. Densely packed layer by layer, the cavalry of the Qing army, which was as dense as locusts, slowly marched under the banner of their respective battalions. Their armor is of different colors, depending on the color of the Eight Banners to which they belong. The various colors fluttering on the iron helmet were like ghost fires, white, red, and blue.

Tens of thousands of horses' hooves beat the ground with a dull thunderous sound, and the black-pressed horse team forced to the bank of the river, merging into a thunderous roar. Then there was a tsunami-like sound from the Qing army, which was they shouting in Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese: "Long live the Qing Emperor!" Long live the Regent! The Great General is mighty! ”

"Master Liu, do you want me to greet them with a cannon first?" Looking at the hedgehog gathered by the river, the Qing army that was already within the range of the cannon, Zhang Nai couldn't help but feel a little itchy, he held the command flag of the artillery battalion tightly, and rode his horse to Liu Zongmin to ask for battle.

"Don't worry! We're fishing big fish today! Make them happy for a while, and then treat them well with your cannon when you cross the river! Liu Zongmin narrowed his eyes and looked at the Qing cavalry opposite. The command flag in his hand waved, and the two cavalry of Lin Yangcheng and Liu Xiyao on the left and right wings also began to move slowly, lining up by the river, while Liu Zongmin's flag formation began to slowly retreat under the cover of the two cavalry.

According to Liu Zongmin's previous deployment, Liu Xiyao and Lin cultivated two cavalry to cover the left and right flanks, and they were also the first wave of troops to fight with the Qing army. For their own task, the two main generals are very clear, that is, after a big battle, they slowly retreat backwards, so that the Qing army thinks that they are invincible and defeated. Retreat to the south bank of the Zhanghe River and use the Zhanghe River to divide the Qing army into two sections. Then use the artillery of the artillery battalion and the fire guns and cavalry of the Zhenshan battalion to eat the Qing troops who crossed the river.

"After a while, I'm afraid that the water of the Zhanghe River will turn red!" When arranging the strategy, Liu Zongmin pointed to the Zhanghe River on the map.

The men and horses on both sides have been mobilized in place, regardless of whether the Qing army is in order, the battle array is all horns sounding in unison, the war drums are shaking the sky, and the shouts are continuous, which makes people's blood boil, and they can't wait to rush across the river immediately to fight the enemy. It is the legendary war horses that drink water with human blood under the crotches of the soldiers of the Dashun Army, and they also keep hitting the ground with their hooves, and they keep snorting.

The Qing cavalry on the north bank shouted, tens of thousands of horses' hooves worked together, and thousands of cavalry rushed across the river.

Seeing thousands of Qing horsemen rushing across the river screaming, Lin Chengcheng and Liu Xiyao couldn't help but snort coldly at the same time, and a bloodthirsty and disdainful look flashed on their faces.

Lin Chengcheng scolded disdainfully: "It's just some grass chickens, thieves, foxes, fake tigers, and dogs!" A certain subordinate cavalry is enough to deal with! Liu Xiyao, who joined him from the Fifth Battalion of the Huige to the Chuang Battalion, and he has been a partner for many years, and said with a cruel smile on his face: "Okay, let's fight the lion and the rabbit today, and use all our strength." Let the sons and daughters kill him. ”

The two discussed a little and decided that Liu Xiyao would lead the army as the striker, and Lin Yang would become the guard and lead the crowd to defend him in the back. Killing the enemy fiercely and then retreating is a deceit, and it is also a defeat like the real one, at least the real Tartar must be killed!

Liu Xiyao roared on the horse, suddenly pulled out his iron and steel treasure knife, and pointed ahead: "Babies, follow our Lao Tzu to kill the Tartar!" ”

"Kill!"

The healthy horsemen who participated in the battle all responded violently, riding their horses like dragons, and swept away with unstoppable momentum.

The sophisticated armor, sharp spears, and snow-bright knives, the more than 10,000 cavalry cultivated by Liu Xiyao and Lin are also the elites who have followed them for many years. Originally, it was strong in combat effectiveness, but after it was annexed by the camp, it was rebuilt from equipment to training. Even the feeding of war horses has a unified standard.

Heavy iron hooves pounded the earth, sounding a tight and suffocating drumbeat of death.

Rolling iron streams, breaking through the autumn wind. The war horses of the Great Shun Army were fed tall and majestic, fat and fat. Heavy horses' hooves pounded on the earth, and there was a rhythmic muffled sound. The momentum was amazing, carrying the momentum of crushing everything, and the former Ming army soldiers who were facing the head-on impact couldn't help but feel chills in their hearts, and they screamed in order to strengthen their courage. In the sound of iron hooves like a rainstorm, Liu Xiyao led thousands of iron horsemen to roll like a whirlwind, and in a desperate and frightened cry, viciously collided with the queue of more than 10,000 cavalry of the Qing army. Like a red-hot knife piercing into fatty beef, thousands of iron horsemen shouted and charged, and suddenly scattered the cavalry ranks of the Qing army. "Kill!" Liu Xiyao roared, rode his horse forward, and with a wave of the long knife in his hand, he viciously swept the neck of a Qing soldier in front of him, and immediately cut it into two sections, and the artery contracted suddenly, and instantly erupted from the huge pressure in the human body. In the blink of an eye, the blood stained the river red, but it was back to its original state. Watching the blood splash and the head flying, Liu Xiyao's body secreted a lot of adrenaline, and his heart was full of the endless pleasure that came after the killing.

On the north bank of the river, Duoduo held a telescope in his hand and looked at the large blood flowers that bloomed in the water from time to time in the river, and his heart was also very proud. Most of the troops who rushed to kill in the river were the Ming troops he collected along the way, which belonged to the kind of cannon fodder troops, which were used for consumption. If any of them were able to show their worth as elite in the midst of this brutal slaughter and survive, Duoduo would consider turning them from the Han Army Banner into his own clothed soldiers.

This kind of use of the means and skills of surrendering troops, their brothers are already very proficient.

"Kill! Anyway, it's all Han people who kill Han people. A bunch of Nikan! ”

Among the cavalry that Duoduo put into the battlefield in the first wave, there were only a very small number of Manchurian soldiers and horses of the Eight Banners, most of whom were surrendered troops, and some Mongol soldiers from other domains were used as overseers. His real main force with white flags is resting on the side of the battlefield. Waiting for the opposite Dashun army to show signs of negligence or fatigue, they pounced on it, biting the opponent to death like a wolf biting the throat of its prey.

The commanders of both sides are seasoned and experienced people, and they are trying to find the other's vulnerabilities or reliable fighters.

Gradually, the battle in the river entered a climax, although the cavalry was still galloping back and forth, the sound of the impact of weapons, the wails of people dying because of injuries, and the wails of wounded war horses were still intertwined over the Zhanghe River, and the river gradually turned pink because of the rendering of blood. However, the cavalrymen no longer let out a high-pitched shout, but gritted their teeth and waved their swords and guns desperately.

The war horse, because of too much physical exertion, kept foaming at the mouth and nose. The growing number of corpses in the river, dead people, dead horses, wounded people and horses, and horses became obstacles to the cavalry's playfulness.

Gradually, the numerical superiority of the Qing cavalry became apparent, and little by little the battle line began to move from the center of the river to the south. Although each step is very difficult, it is a slow and unstoppable southward advance.

The Dashun soldiers and horses began to be a little disorganized, although some troops tried to join the battle group, but they were pushed back by their own army, and they also began to retreat south. The banners in the Dashun army began to show signs of chaos and noise.

"That's it! This is the time! Duoduo could see clearly, Liu Xiyao and Lin Chengcheng's handsome banner began to move rapidly southward, and then led a lot of soldiers and horses of the Shun army to rush to the other side of the Zhanghe River.

The cavalry of the Qing army roared and rolled up another furious rush, rushing from the north bank of the Zhanghe River to the south bank.

"Hey, hey! Well done. Liu Zongmin grinned and let out bursts of laughter. (To be continued.) )