Tonight is the bright moon in the sky, and at night, you can still see the target a little farther away with the help of the moonlight. Located on both sides of the shallow shoal in the upper reaches of Zhuangshui, two armies have been arranged in formation.

Deployed on the west bank, one hundred and fifty or sixty paces away from the beachhead, were five or six hundred Mongol cavalrymen, who were cavalry, but not on horseback, and each with a bow in their hands, in five columns. A pair of small, sharp eyes in the Mongolian style are staring at the other side of the Zhuangshui.

The east bank of Zhuangshui was the position of the Northern Expeditionary Army, and the three heavy armored cavalry companies had become heavy infantry companies, and everyone was on standby with strong armor and spears. In front of the three heavy cavalry companies, 12 three-bow bed crossbows were lined up, and around each bed crossbow, there were eight busy artillerymen, pulling the stirring plate, loading the sky thunder arrows, and then aiming at the other side of the shoal—after the round of sky thunder arrows just now, the Mongolian warriors on the opposite bank had retreated beyond the firing range. So they didn't shoot, they just used it to deter the Mongols and not get them too close to the river beach.

On both sides of the Northern Expeditionary Army's large array, the 450 people of the three Eight Banners were divided into two groups, and they were crossing the river with a bow in hand! According to Zhang Kai's deployment, as long as these Eight Banners soldiers cross the river, the soldiers of the Third Company of the Northern Expeditionary Army will cross the river and form a gun array on the beachhead. Then there were 12 three-bow bed crossbows crossing the river. With the firepower of the Heavenly Thunder Arrow and the bows and arrows of 450 Eight Banner soldiers, Rao is two Mongolian thousand-strong troops came out together, and it was impossible to press the Northern Expeditionary Army back to the other side of the Zhuang River. The bridgehead was snatched up.

If the Mongol reinforcements did not arrive, Wang Lufei would launch an attack on several small hills on the west bank of the Zhuang River, and use the bows and arrows and scimitars of the Eight Banners to drive away the Mongols who occupied there. In this way, it can be connected with the nameless village occupied by Yang Axi and others, and the Northern Expeditionary Army will have all the geographical advantages at that time. It's in the most advantageous position to attack and defend. So Huo Tu must defend the shallow water and the surrounding mountains and forests tonight!

……

Tight ......

The sound of bowstring ejection sounds! More than 500 Mongol warriors had their stubborn horn bows in their hands and shot sharp arrows at the same time. More than 500 feathered arrows were divided into two strands and thrown at the Eight Banners who crossed the river from the left and right wings. The clusters of arrows thrown are not accurate. But it still accurately covered the loose formation of the two Eight Banners, and the popping sound of sharp arrows piercing into the leather armor sounded one after another, but most of the people who were hit by the arrows continued to advance, and only a very small number of Eight Banners soldiers who were shot in the face or neck screamed and fell down - Chen Dexing did not cut corners on the armor of the Eight Banners, and all the armor was issued with strong and thick leather armor, chain mail and silk lining, which was exactly the same as the standard of the Mongolian cavalry.

"Eight Banners, don't shoot arrows, forward! Keep moving! Seeing that someone in the team wanted to shoot arrows to fight back, the leader of the two Eight Banners hurriedly shouted to stop - now the big guy is still stepping on knee-deep water, and it is late autumn here in Liaodong, and it is easy to have hypothermia after standing in the icy river water for a long time.

None of the Eight Banners soldiers participating in the war are new to the battlefield, and they are all old on the battlefield. How can we not know such truths? So the Eight Banners who wanted to shoot arrows also put away their bows and arrows, covered their heads and accelerated their steps.

"Fat!"

Prince Hotu swung his scimitar again, and more than 500 sharp arrows were thrown out. The result was still the same, the Eight Banners soldiers on the opposite side still did not return an arrow, but just marched forward with their heads covered. With the Mongols throwing round after round, they have already waded through most of the shallow waters, and they are about to reach the west bank of Zhuangshui. And the price paid is only twenty or thirty lives, which is completely within the range of bearability.

"Prince. Let the warriors get on their horses and charge! "Brother Tiemu, who was guarding Huo Tu's side, said urgently.

"No! Their Heavenly Thunder Arrows are powerful! Huo Tu gritted his teeth, "We are too few to die...... We'll have to wait until their ironclad soldiers cross the river before they break through! He waved his hand and ordered, "Warriors." Now take a hundred steps back and get ready to hit the horse! ”

"What about those real barbarians?" Brother Temu was stunned for a moment, and now he took a hundred steps back. It is equivalent to giving up the river beach position.

"Let them go!" Hotu snorted, "That's all the warriors have to do. If you shoot for twenty or thirty rounds, how can you rush into hand-to-hand combat? The Mongol prince's small eyes sparkled, "Waiting for their ironclad soldiers to come up is an opportunity." The ironclad soldiers and the raw girls will really block the bed crossbow that fires the heavenly thunder arrows, and this is our chance! ”

At the sound of the order, more than 500 Mongol warriors put away their stubborn horn bows, turned and ran down a small hill behind them, and in the woods below the hill, more than 500 war horses were tied to tree trunks, quietly waiting for their masters.

"Heavy cavalry, forward!"

Zhang Kai also ordered loudly at this time. By the bright moonlight, he had already spotted the retreat of the Mongols on the other side of the river. No matter what the Mongols were thinking, this was an opportunity for the Northern Expeditionary Army to seize the beachhead!

Take the beachhead and reach the counterattack of the Mongols until the three-bow bed crosses the river, and the victory begins!

Zhang Kai choked and pulled out his scimitar and shouted loudly: "Brothers, victory or defeat is in this move, no matter how many casualties there are, we must take the ferry!" ”

After roaring, he raised his scimitar and strode first to the shallow water.

……

"Get on the horse, all get on the horse!" Prince Huotu squinted his eyes, and in the haze, he had already noticed that the heavy armor soldiers of the Northern Expeditionary Army on the opposite bank had begun to cross the river, urging his subordinates to mount their horses.

Now is a critical moment, and we must take advantage of the fact that these Han ironclad soldiers have not yet gained a firm foothold to crush them! Otherwise, the spear formation will be one, supplemented by the raw Jurchen archers, but it will be difficult to fight.

Seeing that Prince Hotu looked like he was about to take the lead, the morale of the Mongol warriors who followed him also rose, and they all roared and got on their horses. Huo Tu drew his scimitar and pointed forward: "Warriors of Chijin, take out your housekeeping skills, crush the weak warriors of the Han people with iron hooves, and let your brave reputation spread all over the world!"

Immortal Heaven bless the Mongols! Rush with me! ”

"Immortal Heaven bless the Mongols!"

The warriors shouted along! More than 500 war horses first walked in small steps, then gradually accelerated, and in the blink of an eye, thunder rushed and swept away! Because it was night and visibility was poor, Prince Hotu did not let his warriors line up in a dense formation. It's just a loose group, but it still rushes out of the momentum of a landslide and a crack!

Under the moonlight, Huma is like thunder, trampling!

Zhang Kai had long expected this scene, and the Mongols were waiting for the opportunity to attack halfway. And he has to take the Han family's son, who has just stepped on the shallows and has not yet established a firm foothold, to withstand this thunderous blow! As long as it is blocked, the ferry crossing of the shallow water beach will be won!

The opportunity of this battle was completely in the hands of the Northern Expeditionary Army!

"Kill the Tartars! O Heavenly Court! ”

Zhang Kai suddenly took the lead in shouting the signature slogan of the Northern Expeditionary Army at this moment, and his three strong men also opened their voices and shouted at the same time! This is a battle cry and at the same time an order! The warriors who had just crossed the river had no time to form a group, because the Mongols would not give them time.

The carbines, which were no more than seven feet long, were immediately flattened, and the shiny tips of the spears shimmered in the moonlight.

"Kill the Tartars! O Heavenly Court! ”

"Immortal Heaven bless the Mongols!"

The soldiers on both sides shouted at the same time, and the shouts seemed to erupt from their chests, like thunder in the ears of the Eight Banners generals on both flanks of the Northern Expeditionary Army's gun array. These warriors in the mountains and wilderness of Liaodong were all stunned one by one at this moment, and even forgot to use the bows and arrows in their hands, but just watched in a daze as the Mongolian iron cavalry pounced on the Han people's gun formation.

There was only one thought in their hearts - if they were themselves, might they be able to resist such a cavalry formation?

Bump! Bump into it!

This is the only thought that every Mongolian on horseback has! Bump with the body of a horse, step on it with the iron hooves of a horse! Knock and crush those Han people who don't know whether they are alive or dead!

Stab! Pierce in!

The Han warrior with the spear in his hand also eliminated a distracting thought at this moment, held the spear tightly, and aimed the tip of the spear at the Mongolian horse.

Pierce it no matter what! Even if it is dead, even if it is knocked away, even if it is trampled, pierce the spear!

……

Prince Hotu took the lead and rushed in!

He didn't look at the army behind him, and it was impossible to keep the galloping horses in a tight formation in the dark. And he didn't have time to wait until dawn, and he didn't dare to wait!

Because no one knew that reinforcements from there would arrive first. If the Han soldiers arrived first, they could only support a day and a half by holding Zhuangshui and a few hills. If they are driven to the plains, they will be wiped out immediately!

And with the loss of these two palace tent thousand-man teams, the morale of the main force led by his father Tachar will immediately drop greatly. It is possible to be blocked by the Han people and finally destroyed on the bank of Zhuangshui.

Now, I can only fight!

Prince Hotu's body leaned forward, almost lying on the back of his horse, and the scimitar in his hand went straight forward, aiming at the head of a Northern Expeditionary soldier in front of him!

And the opponent's spear also reached the chest and abdomen of the horse under the crotch of Prince Hotu.

It's a life for a life! Trade human lives for horses!

As soon as the thought crossed Prince Hotu's mind, the collision between the two sides began. A "poof" sound of a terrifying blade piercing into a muscle sounded. Then there was the miserable neighing of the horses, and the scimitar in Prince Hotu's hand touched something. Then the steed under his crotch suddenly stood up, and fell to the right with a neigh.

Zhang Kai didn't have a spear in his hand, he could only force his support on the back of a warrior in front of him, and a huge amount of power was transmitted from that warrior's body, the power was unimaginable, so much so that the strength of the two people could not resist. He was tossed up, and then slammed into the mud of the beachhead, with something still weighing on him, and a stream of warm water spraying his face......

This is? A strong smell of blood! It's not water, it's blood! Zhang Kai wiped his face and turned his gaze to the object on his body, which turned out to be a headless corpse, which should have belonged to the warrior in front of him!

Zhang Kai pushed the corpse away hard, struggled to get up, and looked around, the two sides of the collision had been mixed together, the scene was chaotic, and there were sounds of shouting and killing and weapons intersecting everywhere!

The tragic hand-to-hand combat has begun! (To be continued......)