When Hao Bonian learned that Li Xuan had sent him an entire First Infantry Battalion and half a grenadier team, instead of showing joy, he looked heavy.

Because while Li Xuan sent him reinforcements, he also asked him to defeat the main force of the Ming army at the No. 2 ferry as soon as possible, and then return to the Lanjiang ferry.

This simple sentence has basically revealed Li Xuan's strategic intentions, and he put the hope of winning this battle on Hao Bonian.

"Once the puppet Ming thief army on the Lanjiang ferry crosses the river in a big way, relying on the remaining troops on His Majesty's side alone, I am afraid that the pressure will be very great, even if Li Yingguan's troops are transferred back to defend the Lanjiang ferry, but it will take time for them to go back, and as soon as Li Yingguan and them return to defend the tiger, the Ming army on the third ferry will also follow south, and it will ...... then."

At this time, Fang Xitong showed a worried face: "And the enemy army has seven or eight thousand people, and on the side of the Lanjiang ferry, I'm afraid it won't last long!" ”

At this time, Hao Bonian said: "So, we must defeat the enemy in front of us as soon as possible, and then quickly return to the Lanjiang Ferry!" ”

"Defeat as soon as possible? So how do we fight? There are quite a few puppet thieves on the other side, and Master Hao, you can also see it, they are well prepared" The gloomy look on Fang Xitong's face was still there.

Hao Bonian said: "How else can we fight, when we are ready, we will kill them directly and defeat them with the head-on decisive battle we are best at!" ”

That's right, although the Datang New Army was born as bandits, but since a large number of muskets were equipped, what they are best at is no longer the bandit tactics of the enemy advancing and retreating, and the enemy retreating and I advance, what they are best at has become a frontal decisive battle.

It's that the two sides set up a formation, and then rely on their strength to fight hard!

Because in this way, the power of the large number of muskets equipped with the Datang New Army and the strictly trained queue can be brought into full play.

And Fang Xi said: "Go up directly to the head-on battle, isn't this a bit risky?" ”

At this time, Hao Bonian turned his head to look at Fang Xitong, now he finally knew why His Majesty let him be the commander, instead of letting Fang Xitong command the reinforcements on the spot, this Fang Xitong was too conservative, why didn't he dare in this head-on battle? That's what the Datang New Army is best at, if you don't fight like this, how do you want to fight?

Therefore, Hao Bonian showed a hint of displeasure, and then said: "Your Majesty has sent the main elite to this official, leading the old and weak soldiers to guard the Lanjiang ferry, does this official want to play hide and seek with these pseudo-Ming thieves and soldiers for nothing, and then sit back and wait for Your Majesty to fall into a crisis?" ”

Fang Xi heard the same thing, and immediately said in a loud voice: "Don't dare!" ”

As a senior general of the Tang New Army, Fang Xitong naturally knew that what Hao Bonian said was right.

At present, the Datang New Army has four infantry battalions, two mixed battalions, one garrison battalion, and baggage, cavalry, archers, grenadiers and other directly subordinate troops, which can be called the main force, but in fact only the first infantry battalion, the first mixed battalion and the grenadier team, and the other troops have some deficiencies to a greater or lesser extent.

The 1st Infantry Battalion and the 1st Mixed Battalion are both tried and tested units in the Datang New Army, they are all units in the Datang New Army that retain the most backbone veterans, and officers at all levels have rich experience in warfare, and many soldiers have joined the army at the beginning of this year, have not fought battles, and have also participated in the first Lanjiang Battle a few months ago.

And the grenadiers, although they are newly formed troops, but their soldiers are the best soldiers selected from the active soldiers, whether it is height, physical fitness or discipline and other qualities, they are all top-notch, no way, if the height and physical fitness are not strong, there is no way to throw these grenades thirty meters away.

Moreover, the distance of throwing grenades is relatively close, and it is also necessary to ignite the grenade and throw it, which requires quite high courage and quality of soldiers.

Therefore, in terms of the quality of the soldiers alone, the grenadiers even surpassed the 1st Infantry Battalion and the 1st Mixed Battalion.

In addition, it is equipped with a powerful grenade and is equipped with a musket.

Therefore, the grenadier team is only a two-month unit of the new army, but it has become a veritable killer weapon in the new army of the Tang Dynasty.

Compared with the above-mentioned three troops, although other units will also have veterans, their combat effectiveness is still quite different from the previous three troops.

However, now His Majesty has sent the 1st Infantry Battalion, the 1st Mixed Battalion and even half of the grenadier team to the No. 2 Ferry, which means that His Majesty attaches great importance to the victory or defeat of the No. 2 Ferry, and even does not hesitate to weaken the defense of the Lanjiang Ferry.

However, after receiving reinforcements, there were only more than 900 people on his side, so could he defeat the main force of the more than 2,000 Ming troops who were well prepared?

Fang Xitong didn't know, and even had some doubts.

As for Huang Xueren, the battalion officer of the first battalion who just came here, he was already very conscious of closing his mouth at this time, he was a battalion officer from a bandit leader, although he was much stronger than these two young people in terms of prestige and status, but his family knew his own affairs, and these strategic and tactical issues had never been his strong point, and His Majesty sent him over to reinforce Hao Bonian.

He just needs to obey the order to do his own business, as for the strategy and tactics, let Hao Bonian and Fang Xi argue with these protégés, if you decide how to fight, then he will fight!

Hao Bonian insisted that he would directly fight a head-on battle with the puppet thief army on the opposite side now, but in fact, he didn't have much confidence in his heart.

Of course, there is still a little bit of confidence, but it is difficult to say how many achievements there are, and you have to look at the performance of the Ming army to know.

It is certain that the Ming army on the opposite side is stronger than the ordinary Ming army, but how much stronger can it be? This is an unknown, and this unknown will directly determine the outcome of this battle.

After getting reinforcements, Hao Bonian didn't want to wait any longer, because it was already dawn at this time, the sun was rising, and the estimated time was more than six o'clock and almost seven o'clock.

If they don't fight with the Ming army at this time, these Ming troops will go directly to the Lanjiang ferry, and then His Majesty and other troops on the Lanjiang ferry will fall into a great crisis.

The danger of total annihilation!

And this kind of thing is not allowed to happen by Hao Bonian!

After some preparations, Hao Bonian said without the slightest hesitation: "Order, the whole army will be changed from a column to a horizontal line, and we will rush forward head-on!" ”

At this time, the Ming army striker who had just left the camp also noticed that something was wrong, and immediately returned to the Ming army generals in the rear.

Thousands of people on both sides had already formed battle formations on this small wilderness not far from the river beach.

The head-to-head battle between the main forces of the two sides has officially kicked off!