Nearly 100 wooden boats shuttled back and forth between Zhoujiadu on the east bank and the wharf on the west bank, and Sichuan officers and soldiers and horses covered in muddy water crossed the west bank.

On the protruding stone slab of the ferry on the east bank, Deng Xihou, commander of the Fifth Division, and Wang Zhanxu, commander of the 12th Brigade of the Fourth Division, stood side by side, looking at the river from afar, and witty words kept popping out of their mouths, as if the rush in front of them was not to fight, but a light exercise.

Several adjutant and staff officers stood behind the two of them, listening to the two commanders sarcastically mocking each other, and the adjutant and staff officers wanted to laugh but did not dare to laugh, and they were very uncomfortable one by one.

The slightly taller Deng Xihou was four years younger than the short Wang Zhanxu next to him, and after graduating from the first phase of the Sichuan Army Primary School, he entered the Nanjing Army Middle School directly under the Central Military Department, and then was successfully admitted to the first phase of the Baoding Military Academy after the restructuring of the marshal Yuan Shikai. Deng Xihou was deeply respected by the old instructor Wang Lingji, and served as Wang Lingji's adjutant after returning to Sichuan, two years ago Wang Lingji's Fifth Division expanded the army, and Deng Xihou, who performed well in all aspects, was promoted to the commander of the infantry regiment, and after the Battle of Wanxian, Wang Lingji was promoted to the commander of the Eastern Sichuan Army Division, and there was an additional first division under his command.

In contrast, Wang Zhanxu, who has deep qualifications, is not so lucky.

Wang Zhanxu graduated from Sichuan's earliest military academy -- Sichuan Benmu School, and worked step by step from artillery platoon commander to artillery regiment commander. Wang Zhanxu's fatal shortcoming is that his political sense of smell is quite dull, first following the new army to control Zhu Qinglan, and then following the Sichuan governor Yin Changheng, who became rich overnight, after the rise of Xiao Yimin, the commander-in-chief of the border army, he was uncertain and hesitated, and when all the dust settled, the situation was clear, the daylily was cold, and the high positions above the regiment commander in the Sichuan army were overcrowded.

In the end, Xiao Yimin, who was open-minded, pulled Wang Zhanxu into his own lineage troops, and handed over 24 brand-new Krupp artillery and nearly 1,000 well-trained artillery to him.

Wang Zhanxu was an artillery instructor when Deng Xihou was studying in an army elementary school, and the two had the same characteristics, that is, their nerves were very thick and they spoke humorously. This time, Deng Xihou led his troops south, sneaked more than 200 kilometers to cooperate with Wang Zhanxu, and originally thought that he could encircle and annihilate the Dai Huan troops attacking the Qijiang River at the mouth of the two rivers south of the Qijiang River, but who knew that the Dai Huan troops suddenly turned halfway and went straight to the flank of Sun Zhaoluan's third division's defensive line, and the original arrangement was meaningless.

After receiving the urgent report, Xiao Yimin, the commander-in-chief, Bao Jiqing, Wang Lingji, and others, the chiefs of staff, saw through the strategy of the Yunnan army at a glance, and quickly ordered Deng Xihou to lead his troops to follow Dai Huan's department, and closely cooperate with the 10th Brigade under the command of Sun Zhaoluan, commander of the southern Sichuan Army Division, in order to wipe out the Dai Huan unit behind the sneak attack on the flank of the 3rd Division in Wutong Town, 25 kilometers south of Xianshi Town.

Wang Zhanxu, who had been preparing for more than half a month, was ordered to stay in Xianshi Town as a guard due to the sudden change in the battle situation, and suddenly changed from the main force to the reserve, and could only watch Deng Xihou's brigade cross the river to pursue, and the wretched spirit in his heart can be imagined, so he gave the little brother Deng Xihou a good look.

The two began to quarrel before dawn, most of Deng Xihou's brigade successfully crossed the river, and the fragments in the mouths of the two did not stop, and finally Deng Xihou, who was eager to fight, was defeated and quietly told Wang Zhanxu a message:

"Don't scratch it, my little brother told you, whether you participate in this battle or not, you can get the benefits in the end, maybe you will be able to get a division commander soon."

"The hammer is the division commander!"

Wang Zhanxu came casually and scolded Deng Xihou as well, but he was slightly surprised in his heart.

Deng Xihou was not angry: "Let me tell you the truth, Wang Cannon, after this battle, Wanshengchang and Nanchuan, the two training bases and material transfer stations lent to Guizhou Mangzi, will be recovered, the provincial government has clearly announced the road construction plan in the southeast of Sichuan, Qijiang-Wanshengchang-Nanchuan-Fuling will be connected in a line, vigorously develop the mining industry in this area, the general headquarters has divided Wanshengchang and Nanchuan into the South Sichuan Army Division, with the current strength of the two divisions of the South Sichuan Army Division, I am afraid it is not enough to distribute, right?" ”

Wang Zhanxu had a smile on his face, but his mouth was unceremoniously: "You can blow the water monkey, unless your father is the governor, haha!" ”

"Incorrigible things, Lao Tzu has to go, try to kill Dai Hu before dark."

Deng Xihou jumped off the stone slab, suddenly turned around and laughed in a low voice: "Do you know why Mr. Xiao specially sent someone to send us a message to let us kill Dai Huan?" ”

Wang Zhanxu seemed to understand, and immediately asked on the side of the stone slab: "You mean, the provincial government's road construction and mining plan, Mr. Xiao's recovery of Wanshengchang and Nanchuan, and ...... Are these places part of the overall plan? ”

Deng Xihou pointed at Wang Zhanxu and laughed:

"Wang Cannon, Wang Cannon, the wooden fish brain case on your short neck has finally been opened, congratulations! But you haven't thought it all through, let me tell you the truth, the reason why Dai Jian was able to rule Guizhou three times and twice is not because of how capable he is, but because of his big mouth of twelve taels

"If Dai Huan is gone, the reckless group we secretly support will be able to replace him, and the reckless man will be able to smoothly receive the wall-to-wall grass troops of the Guizhou army in the name of the commander-in-chief of the Guizhou army, and then firmly control the situation in Guizhou, do you understand? Ha ha! Let's talk about it first, when you become the division commander of the southern Sichuan army, don't forget to invite Lao Tzu to drink! Let's go, you squat here and think slowly......"

At one o'clock at noon, seven kilometers west of Xishui, Wutong Town.

The drizzle finally stopped, and the town surrounded by mountains was muddy inside and out, and more than 300 residents hid in the corners of their houses in horror, looking at the Yunnan officers and soldiers who were crammed into the houses and the eaves of the porch, and did not dare to move.

The Wutong Temple at the east entrance of the village is very simple, not so much a temple, but a larger dwelling, except for the 100-year-old banyan tree in the cow dung all over the ground outside the temple gate, the whole town is as narrow and poor as a remote mountain village, all the food collected in a morning is not enough for more than 5,000 officers and soldiers to eat half full, if it is not for the urgent military affairs, I am afraid that the officers and soldiers who have been tired for six days to die have already slaughtered the five old cows in the village.

Liu Cunhou, who was soaking wet, pinched the half-eaten boiled sweet potatoes in his hands, looked at the map, and said to Dai Huan, who was infected with wind and cold and coughed frequently:

"I am very worried about the situation in the past two days, the brothers have been gone for six days, tired and hungry, and there are no less than 300 people with fever, if they can't do it all at once, maybe they will only be beaten after their whereabouts are exposed, and then they will not be able to escape even if they want to."

Dai Jian covered his mouth and shook his head slightly:

"Soon, soon, at three o'clock in the afternoon, we will launch a surprise attack according to the predetermined plan, as long as our guns sound, the large army in the south will attack Sun Zhaoluan's two brigades, under the attack from the north and south, no matter how brave the Sichuan army is, it can only choose to retreat! We are very tired, but the Sichuan army has been waiting in the rain for more than half a month, I am afraid that they are more tired than us, this time it is the will, and the revolutionary will of our officers and men is still very firm. ”

"It's hard to say, the Sichuan army has changed a lot in recent years, their training is more arduous and more formal, especially the third division of Sun Zhaoluan and the fourth division of Wang Jian that we are facing, these two divisions are from the main force of the border army, Xiao Yimin's border army is notoriously hard, and the quality of officers and soldiers is far above our army. The bad premonition in Liu Cunhou's heart became stronger and stronger.

Dai Jian squeezed out a smile: "Brother Ji is too worried, in more than an hour, everything will be clear, as long as it is ......"

"Report!" The sound of the report interrupted Dai Huan's words.

Dai Jian turned to the gate and saw Peng Qiming, the head of the regiment, running in in a panic, and suddenly felt a bad feeling in his heart: "What's the matter?" ”

Peng Qiming, who was covered in a hot white mist, didn't have time to wipe the sweat off his face and hurriedly reported: "Dingzi Mountain two kilometers to the west, Yang Village to the south, and Caoyangzui to the north, the banner of the Sichuan Army has been found on every high ground, it seems that we have been discovered, and it is likely that we have fallen into the encirclement!" ”

Everyone was taken aback, and they all surrounded Peng Qiming to ask carefully, and Dai Huan couldn't speak with his mouth open.

Liu Cunhou hurriedly drank everyone, turned to Dai Huan, and said loudly:

"At present, there are only two options, one is to immediately launch an attack according to the original plan, concentrate troops to cross Dingzi Mountain, insert into the enemy's flank and fight, as long as the guns and cannons sound, the main force of our army in the south will understand our situation, and under the attack from both sides, there may be a chance of victory. The second is to immediately retreat to the southeast and quickly retreat south along the Xishui River to Guizhou, which can at least retain more than half of its strength. ”

"Can't be withdrawn!"

Dai Jian calmed down and immediately issued an order: "Commander Peng, your troops will immediately launch an attack on Dingzi Mountain, no matter what the cost, you must defeat the enemy who is blocking, attract enemy troops, and create conditions for the attack of the main force of our army in the south!" The second and fourth regiments protected the left and right wings of the first regiment, and I led the third regiment to follow up...... Brother Ji, you lead your troops to protect the safety of our back road, as long as you lay down Dingzi Mountain and rush into the enemy's front-line headquarters to fight the ancient town, it will be a victory! ”

"Yes!"

Several regimental commanders replied in unison, rushing out of the gate and returning to the ministries.

Dai Jian ordered his staff officers to pack up everything and immediately prepare for battle, and then rushed to the town with a platoon of guards.

Liu Cunhou pondered for a while, and after making up his mind, he strode out of the temple gate, and grabbed the chief of staff who was about to speak: "Order all departments to abandon all baggage and food, just bring two bases of ammunition, and be ready to stand by at any time." In addition, send a company to the dock to the east at once, and if there are no enemy troops, give me the dock, collect all the ships and platoons, and prepare for the withdrawal. ”

"Yes......"

Three kilometers to the east, on the banks of the Xishui River, Huangchong Temple.

The sound of gunfire coming from several kilometers to the west became more and more intensive, and Deng Xihou and others, who were standing outside the temple gate and holding up binoculars, could not see it really because the fog had not cleared, but they could also judge the distance and the intensity of the battle from the sound of gunfire.

"Command ......"

Deng Xihou decisively ordered, and when he saw a war horse galloping towards him, he immediately stopped and waited.

The war horses frequently circled under the high ridge, and the cavalry immediately shouted loudly: "Report to the division, two kilometers ahead, a company of enemy troops is coming towards us." ”

Deng Xihou raised his eyebrows and laughed: "Want to run? No way! Order the 38th Regiment to clean up this company for Lao Tzu, and not a single one is allowed to run away! ”

"Yes—"

The herald galloped away, and Deng Xihou turned to the several regimental and battalion commanders who were waiting in battle: "According to the established plan, the soldiers will attack in two directions!" Commander Chen, you go in person, take two battalions to block the enemy's retreat in the southeast, and the machine gun company follows behind the 38th Regiment, occupy the two high ground outside Wutong Town, and give Lao Tzu a hard beating! ”

"Yes!"

In the blink of an eye, more than ten lieutenant officers ran away, Deng Xihou flew up and jumped on the horse led by the head of the guard, looked at the west and gently hit the outside of his right leg with a horsewhip, and after a while, he smiled and roared loudly: "The enemy is going to flee, pass on my order: capture Dai Hu alive and reward 500 oceans, cut off Dai Huan's head and reward 500 oceans-"

Hundreds of officers and soldiers who had been waiting impatiently for a long time immediately shouted, their red eyes bulging one by one, and they rode their horses and rushed to the battlefield: "Kill—"

(To be continued)