After reading the letter, Liu Guoneng did not hesitate, and hurriedly sent a letter to Huangzhou Mansion, willing to accept Zhao Yan's care, and forcibly suppressed the opinions of his subordinates.

Then Liu Guoneng took most of the men and horses towards Huangzhou Mansion.

However, Liu Guoneng had only been gone for two days, and he stepped into the heavy siege of Hong Chengchou in Baling (Yueyang), and the front and rear passages were all blocked.

To the west is the Yangtze River, Liu Guoneng can't cross the river at all, and to the east is a mountainous area, which is also surrounded by officials and troops.

Liu Guoneng hurriedly sent an envoy to explain to the officers and soldiers that he had surrendered to General Jianwei.

This situation was immediately reported to Hong Chengchou, Hong Chengchou listened to the report, his face turned pale, and he said angrily: "How can this be reasonable, it is the responsibility of the official to suppress the thief, this Zhao bandit dog is nosy with a mouse, and he actually came to the official." ”

"My lord, since this collapse has been soothed, why bother us, just let him go." A person on the side said.

"He wanted to soothe the Zhao bandit, but the official didn't let him get his wish, and he thought that the turtle in my urn could not be given to others." Hong Chengchou snorted coldly, his mood has been very unhappy recently.

It's all because of Zhao Yan's "Daming Newspaper", which scolded Hong Chengchou so much that Hong Chengchou's reputation was ruined, and Zhao Yan and his Liangzi got bigger and bigger.

Zhao Yan scolded Hong Chengchou for being incompetent, and Hong Chengchou called Zhao Yan a Zhao bandit, alluding to his improper background when he attacked the official army, and he was no different from a bandit.

Everyone was silent, and Hong Chengchou said: "The edict will take care of the official if the sky collapses, otherwise the official will be wiped out with heavy troops." ”

"Yes, sir."

Hong Chengchou also proposed to Liu Guoneng to appease him, but Liu Guoneng received the messenger sent by Hong Chengchou, and after knowing his intention, he directly beat the messenger with a stick.

"Even if you stroke the pig and dog, we won't stroke the shameless man Hong Xiangjiu." Liu Guoneng said on the spot, which was unanimously supported by his subordinates.

Hong Chengchou's name of appeasement can be described as stinking, even any thief, when he hears that Hong Chengchou wants to appease, he will be indignant and scold his mother.

"The general is willing to appease us and others, and he will definitely not sit back and wait for my department to be destroyed, and you will kill me like a mountain, waiting for the general to save him." Liu Guoneng said to his subordinates.

Everyone has no objections, at this moment, it is no longer a matter of soothing anyone, they are under siege, it is impossible to soothe Hong Chengchou, only Zhao Yan can save him.

On the same day, Liu Guoneng killed like a mountain overnight, Liu Guoneng personally went into battle to kill the enemy, and his troops heard that they had been appeased to Zhao Yan, and their morale could not help but rise.

If they were to be appeased by others, there was almost no guarantee for the displaced people below, and only Zhao Yan offered them a condition that fascinated them - to distribute the land and be exempt from tax for three years.

And go to Shandong, although Shandong also has disasters and famines, but it is not as frequent as the Central Plains and the Northwest, and Shandong has Zhao Yan to operate, it is rumored that there is a major repair of water conservancy, it has been no disaster every year, and the place is peaceful.

On the same day, Liu Guoneng broke through the defense line of the official army and led a huge team that swelled to 200,000 into the mountains, and Hong Chengchou immediately surrounded him again.

Although there are continuous Dabie Mountains in the east, Liu Guoneng is located in the direction, there is only one mountain area that is not big or small, and it is surrounded by plains and hilly areas.

When Liu Guoneng was surrounded, Zhao Yan had already rushed to Hanchuan, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed when he received Liu Guoneng's letter, which asked people to speed up and join Liu Guoneng's department.

However, in less than two days, the news from the front made Zhao Yan angry.

Liu Guoneng sent someone to ask for help, Hong Chengchou's old ghost, he Liu Guoneng was surrounded in the mountains, so how could Zhao Yan not be angry, last year Hong Chengchou, the old Wang Bagang, did a good thing for him, and this time he came to sabotage again.

"Qin Zhiyuan." Zhao Yan immediately ordered the general and called his personal guard chief.

"Here." Qin Zhiyuan immediately made a promise.

"You lead the third battalion of cavalry, cross the Yangtze River as fast as possible, and take Liu Guoneng's troops out of the mountains. Zhao Yan ordered Qin Zhiyuan. The two newly formed cavalry battalions brought out this time were only temporary formations, and there was no battalion commander, which was personally commanded by Zhao Yan.

"Subordinates receive orders." Qin Zhiyuan was overjoyed, as the original family looking for a family, Qin Zhiyuan has been serving as Zhao Yan's personal security chief, and rarely leads troops to battle.

Qin Zhiyuan ordered the third battalion of cavalry, and one person rode three horses and galloped away.

Zhao Yan kept Qin Zhiyuan by his side as the chief of the guard for more than three years, and he already had the intention of letting him out to command the army, which can be regarded as a prelude!

Qin Zhiyuan took 4,000 cavalry, and crossed the Yangtze River from the east side of Honghu Lake on the third day at a speed of more than 200 to 300 miles.

As a cavalry battalion, one person has two war horses, one inferior horse is the standard configuration, the inferior horse is used for transportation, the war horse is used to rush into battle, and most of the marches in peacetime use inferior horses and another slightly inferior war horse.

Although the bad horse is tired to death, but there is no big problem, there are not many horses in the Ming Dynasty, most people in this era are used to raising horses and mules, and there are many horses for service, as long as the war horses are not tired to death.

At the same time, in the mountainous area, Liu Guoneng had been fighting fiercely with the official army for two days, and after Liu Guoneng rejected Hong Chengchou's appeasement, Hong Chengchou was very anxious, because Zhao Yan's army was in Huangzhou Mansion and was marching here.

Hong Chengchou didn't want to see the boiled duck fly, so he sent tens of thousands of officers and soldiers into the mountains to clear it. At this critical moment, Liu Guoneng led more than 80,000 young people with high morale to set up an ambush in the mountains and annihilate most of the officers and troops who entered the mountains, leaving only Hong Chengchou to send Cao Bianjiao's army in the mountains.

The tenacity of the thief's will completely exceeded Cao Bianjiao's expectations, and the ordinary thief would be defeated if he was killed by his soldiers and horses for a while.

However, Liu Guoneng, a thief, seemed to be afraid of death, and did not retreat under his onslaught, and finally Cao Bianjiao led more than 1,000 officers and soldiers were killed and wounded, and finally could not support it, and was defeated by Liu Guineng, Liu Guoneng led his troops to cover up, and annihilated more than 1,000 people, Cao Bianjiao ran out of the mountains with more than 2,000 people.

Liu Guoneng also suffered nearly 5,000 casualties in this battle, and the casualties were more than twice that of the officers and troops, and if it were not for the opportunity to annihilate more than 1,000 people when the officers and troops were defeated, the casualties would be five times that of the officers and troops.

Although the casualties were relatively large, the morale of his troops soared again, but Liu Guoneng did not have much food in his hands, which was the problem that Liu Guoneng was most worried about.

At the right time, the torrential rain fell suddenly, as if it was pouring, and the rain fell for two consecutive days without slowing down.

Liu Guineng, who was in the mountains, had no means to shelter from the rain, and his morale was also extinguished by this heavy rain for a while, and in such weather, people's mood was generally low.

Hong Chengchou couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw the torrential rain pouring for two days, and laughed: "As soon as the rain falls this time, the thieves will inevitably languish, and the Shandong army will not be able to cross the river. ”

However, at this moment, Qin Zhiyuan had already rushed to the ground with four thousand cavalry, only to see the four thousand cavalry clattering on the muddy ground, and quickly rushed towards a large camp of officers and soldiers under the mountain.

That big battalion was the Guanning cavalry of the general soldier Zu Kuan.

When Qin Zhiyuan approached the camp with his men and horses, Zu Kuan found this group of men and horses marching in the rain, and hurriedly took his family out of the camp to check.

There is no doubt that the person who came is an official soldier, and Zu Kuan does not need to order troops. I was just curious about which officer and army came in the rain.

Just as Zu Kuan was staring at the horse, a cavalry dressed in dark steel armor and wearing a steel helmet appeared in the pouring rain, and a green-blue Zhaozi banner was in front, fluttering in the gallop of the war horse.

Zu Kuan's eyes suddenly froze!

He remembered that in the seventh year of Chongzhen, Gao Yingxiang came to the west with three or four hundred thousand thieves, and he looked at the bitter road of the mountain and did not dare to invite him.

But it was the two teams of such cavalry, in the face of dozens of times the thieves, but they frantically launched a charge, and finally the thieves were crushed.

Thinking of that scene, Zu Kuan couldn't help but feel terrified, and immediately straightened his posture, put on a solemn expression and prepared to greet him, and Zu Dale and Liu Chongzhen around him were also the same, and they all changed into solemn looks.

The fierceness of the Shandong cavalry is by no means comparable to their Guanning cavalry.

Qin Zhiyuan led 4,000 cavalry straight to a place less than ten meters in front of Zu Kuan, frightening Zu Kuan's face pale, and thinking that the Shandong soldiers and horses were going to charge them.

However, the cavalry in front suddenly stopped at ten miles, and the cavalry behind also suddenly stopped, showing super coordination.

"I don't know which brother came, but what are you doing?" Zu Kuan immediately took two steps forward and asked. However, the cavalry in front did not react at all, and the mask of the steel helmet completely obscured the expressions of these cavalrymen.

At this time, he rushed out and shouted to Zu Kuan: "According to the general's order, break into the heavens to be appeased by Shandong, and retreat as soon as possible. ”

"Everyone, this is ......" Zu Kuan's eyes rolled, and he was about to strike up a conversation, but the Shandong army on the opposite side did not move at all, staring at them.

"My lord, I think, it's better to retreat!" Liu Chongzhen reminded Zu Kuan.

"It's none of our business to suppress the thief, it doesn't matter if we retreat or not, then retreat!" Zu Kuan nodded, and asked Zu Dale and Liu Chongzhen to gather troops and horses to retreat.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Zu Kuan retreated directly with the Guanning cavalry. After Qin Zhiyuan opened a gap in the encirclement, he immediately sent people into the mountains to contact Liu Guoneng.

Hong Chengchou was playing chess in the tent, listening to the sound of rain outside, quite a feeling.

Suddenly, I heard a report from someone, and Zu Kuan suddenly withdrew from the encirclement with people, which made Hong Chengchou not react for a long time, and he was extremely confused.

It's not wrong that this Zu Kuan usually plays soy sauce, but he is still quite active in dealing with his orders, this thief hasn't been beaten yet, why did he withdraw?

Hong Chengchou hurriedly sent someone to question Zu Kuan, and asked He Renlong to bring 5,000 officers and soldiers to plug the gap.

After a while, the people sent out came back and reported to Hong Chengchou: "Report to my lord, Zu Kuan said that the collapse of the sky had already taken care of the Shandong army, and the Shandong army had already sent people to come, so he retreated." ”

"Smack~!" Hong Chengchou stood up suddenly, slapped on the chessboard in anger, and the black and white chess pieces rolled down, and Hong Chengchou scolded in anger: "His mother's ancestor Kuan, the official directed the saint to participate in a book, and then his head fell to the ground." ”

"How many people are coming from the Shandong army?" Hong Chengchou asked back to his senses.

"Zu Kuan said that three or four thousand people came, and he couldn't see it clearly." Someone reported.

"What if he Shandong Army comes, he will transfer Cao Bianjiao to this officer. Tell He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao, let them drive those Shandong Yankees away, if they don't leave, they can attack them, and the official will bear it. Hong Chengchou said angrily.

"Yes."

…… He Renlong hurried to the encirclement place that Zu Kuan was responsible for, and immediately saw 4,000 Shandong cavalry who were camping, and they had to repair and repair them.

Qin Zhiyuan saw that an official army was coming, and immediately ordered to stop camping and prepare for battle.

He Renlong couldn't help but be surprised, when did this soldier and horse appear?

From the point of view of equipment, these soldiers and horses should be the Shandong army, last year Zhao Yan sent troops into Shaanxi, and there was a military confrontation with Hong Chengchou, and He Renlong also participated in it.

The strength of the Shandong Army has long been famous among officers and armies from all walks of life.

"According to the general's order, break through the sky to appease Shandong, and the idle people will retreat as soon as possible, if there is any obstruction, they will not be spared." A Shandong cavalryman rode his horse and rushed to the front of the dragon formation of He Ren and shouted.

"This ......" He Renlong hurriedly stopped, not knowing whether to advance or retreat for a while. But in a moment, Hong Chengchou's order arrived.

After a while, Cao Bianjiao also arrived with the four thousand men and horses that had been replenished, and He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao talked about it for a while.

"Fuck it, it's only more than 4,000 people, we have 9,000 people, no matter how elite his Shandong army is, it can't beat us." He Renlong said to Cao Bianjiao, "They are just wearing turtle shells, and they must be exhausted this time when they enter the army in the rain." ”

"Fight it, fight it, anyway, there is a governor for us to resist." Cao Bianjiao looked coldly at the Shandong soldiers and horses in the distance, "If we overturn these Shandong Yankees, we will definitely have a great reputation." ”

As soon as the two of them combined, regardless of Qin Zhiyuan's repeated warnings, they did not retreat but advanced.

Qin Zhiyuan saw that He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao's two armies did not listen to the warning in front of the battle, drew their sabers, and directly shouted: "Bullet on the periphery." ”

All the cavalrymen quickly pulled out their rifles, bit open the powder packets wrapped in oiled paper, and quickly loaded the ammunition into the rifles.

"Finished playing."

"Kill." Qin Zhiyuan pointed his saber, and the third cavalry battalion, which had already lined up in formation, immediately rushed towards the approaching officers and troops, without any disturbance, without any drive, Qin Zhiyuan ordered the charge resolutely.

They had been marching in the rain for two days, and they had to end the battle as soon as possible, and they had no energy to do anything to disturb, Qin Zhiyuan took the opportunity to make a quick decision and quickly resolve the battle.

Shandong cavalry suddenly charged, He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao's faces changed, this is what they never expected, in their understanding, the Shandong army is very restrained, last year a group of Shandong soldiers entered Shaanxi, although there was a conflict with them, but it was very restrained, definitely not like in front of them, a few words did not come up to make a decisive move.

The two of them can order the soldiers and horses to stop and wait, and use the cavalry to attack the infantry in the formation, there is no good fruit to eat, but the soldiers and horses of the two are not the level of fearless death.

As soon as the Shandong army rushed like this, the officers and troops in front of them were suddenly frightened, and according to common sense, they would definitely die.

These officers and soldiers who fought bravely in the face of thieves were because they had a psychological advantage in the face of thieves, but this time they were facing the Shandong Army, which shocked all kinds of officers and soldiers.

The officers and soldiers at the charging point suddenly turned around and fled, and the officers and soldiers behind saw that the situation was not right, and they also turned around and ran away.

He Renlong's face couldn't help but change suddenly, before he had time to drink, the Shandong Iron Cavalry had already rushed to the front, and the cavalry in front of him actually banged out a burst of bullets in the rain, which was very contrary to military common sense, firearms could be used in rainy days, and among the various officers and troops in the Ming Dynasty, there must have been only the Shandong Army and a few officers and troops with close relations.

He Renlong's military formation was like paper paste, and it was directly pierced by the third cavalry battalion, and the four thousand cavalry passed directly through He Renlong's formation like a torrent.

He Renlong's army formation was already chaotic, and at this time, He Renlong hurriedly ordered 1,500 cavalry to step forward to meet him, and Cao Bianjiao also sent out 1,000 cavalry in his hand.

After quickly forming the team, Qin Zhiyuan commanded the charge again and collided with the 2,500 cavalry.

The scuffle has begun!

Then in a dense formation, the third battalion of cavalry again had a numerical advantage, so that two or three people surrounded one person.

The screams came and went, and the cavalry of He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao were cut down like dumplings and kept falling from their horses, while very few people in the Shandong army fell from their horses, and even if they fell from their horses, some people pulled them back on their horses in the chaos.

For the Shandong cavalry with plate armor protection on their bodies, they were rarely killed by a knife during such a cavalry battle, and most of them were pushed and pulled off their horses.

Precise coordination, excellent protection, cold knives.

In less than two minutes, the two thousand five hundred cavalry had completely collapsed, and the remaining cavalry hastily turned their horses and fled with all their might.

Qin Zhiyuan defeated these cavalry, and immediately formed a team, aiming his troops at the military formation formed by He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao.

He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao watched the duel of the cavalry, and they were also frightened.

They never expected that the Shandong cavalry would be so brazen and sharp.

"Retreat, retreat."

"Retreat, retreat......"

He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao retreated in panic, but Qin Zhiyuan didn't intend to let them go so easily, the 'crackling' sound of the horse's hooves trampling the puddle sounded again, and Qin Zhiyuan ordered to charge again.

He Renlong and Cao Bianjiao's order to retreat, under the charge of the 3rd Cavalry Battalion, directly evolved into a rout, and the officers and soldiers rushed to flee.

The 3rd Cavalry Battalion did not slash and slaughter, but continued to expel and turn an orderly retreat into a chaotic situation like chasing ducks.

Some officers and soldiers even surrendered on their knees under the drive.

However, Qin Zhiyuan chased for nearly a mile with the cavalry battalion, and then led people to retreat to the large camp set up by Zu Kuan, and as for the officers and soldiers who surrendered, they didn't pay attention to it at all.

When those officers and soldiers saw that these Shandong soldiers ignored them, they chased after the army that had already run away as if they had been granted amnesty.

(To be continued)