A huge fire erupted from the head of the West Gate City, and a huge cast-iron projectile fell into the Mongol cavalry formation with the momentum of wind and thunder. Zheng Yunming finally couldn't hold back his temperament, and played the trump card in his hand first, and the momentum of the cyclic launch of the Simen Copper General obviously made the Mongolian cavalry under the city who were fighting with the Zhenwu forward army and the heavy axemen on their backs with their hands and feet a little fearful, and the momentum of the cavalry impact was stunned.

The loud sound of the cannonballs falling in the cavalry group and the rising columns of smoke were obviously a great threat to these cavalrymen who had not experienced the bombardment, and some of the cavalry immediately became dizzy, allowing their mounts to panic and scurry, and the other cavalry had no intention of fighting with the Song army with a knife and a gun, and turned their horses' heads and began to run, just wanting to escape from the shooting range of the fire-breathing monsters at the head of the city.

Wang Deng forcefully lifted the body of a spearman of the vanguard army and a Mongolian cavalryman who fell off his horse in front of him, and there was chaos everywhere under the city, and the skills of the gunners at the head of the city were obviously not sophisticated enough, and the continuous firing but the landing point of the cannonballs was completely irregular, and even a few shots fell on the head of the Zhenwu army. The soldiers of the Zhenwu army cursed loudly to no avail, but for Wang Deng, the confusion between friend and foe was the best outcome, because the well-organized assault of the Mongol cavalry had been broken up by a sudden artillery attack. This is an opportunity for the Zhenwu Army, which is actually showing a tendency to collapse, from the sky.

He shouted: "Take the wounded and go back to the city at once!" ”

The moment the west gate closed, everyone in the city breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of their hearts. Although hundreds of corpses were thrown outside the city, after all, most of the Zhenwu army successfully retreated to Xiangyang City.

Compared with the defeat of Xiangyang City in the face of thousands of Mongolian cavalry last year, this year's offensive and defensive battle is undoubtedly the Song army's advantage. Zhao Kui said to the generals with satisfaction: "The Mongols are just like this, I expect that this time they will not do anything to go south, today's Zhenwu army formation can be an example for the armies of Xiangyang!" Just keep fighting like this and stop the enemy under Xiangyang City! ”

He immediately ordered a reward for the gunners of the Loyal Shun Army who had opened fire at the head of the city, and immediately held a feast to celebrate the achievement.

For the Zhenwu army resting under West Street and the city gate, there was no sense of joy at all. Some sat on the ground, some leaned against the city wall with spears in hand, and some were simply half-leaning under the eaves and panting, without cheering, laughing, or actively arranging their weapons, and some were just embarrassed silence and disappointment.

After a year of hard training, only the end of being completely defeated by the enemy cavalry remained, and if it were not for the comrades at the head of the city to help in the battle, it is difficult to say whether the end of these thousands of soldiers would be to die on the battlefield. It was as if after so many days of training under the scorching sun, day and night of suffering, countless hardships and unwillingness, all the sacrifices were not compensated at all, and in the face of the fierce and brave enemy, a year's hard work was in vain.

The disappointment is not only in the Zhenwu army, but also the officers and soldiers of the various armies running around them seem to be affected by this disappointment, after all, they are also in the same Xiangyang City, and they have witnessed Zhenwu every day to drill the earliest, the latest, and also seen the muscles of the officers and soldiers of Zhenwu getting stronger day by day, if such an army can not resist the Mongolian iron cavalry, the training attitude of fishing for three days and drying nets for two days in the army where they are located, how many chances of victory against the Mongolian army are, everyone knows it, Although the commanders and generals at the head of the city were full of confidence, a wordless panic and nervousness crept through the army.

Even the generals of the Tulong Army beside the Zhenwu Army also felt a chill down their backs, Yang Luo's basic attitude towards training was to herd sheep, but a strict reward and punishment system was stipulated, although everyone was trembling about the training, but in fact, how much was the effect, everyone had no bottom in their hearts, they were just surprised to see that even if the Zhenwu Army was so strictly trained, it was also defeated in the field. If Wang Jingsong can't defeat the Mongols, who is sure?

Lu Qingchun saw Zhang Shun sitting on a bluestone slab with his head bowed, although Zhang Shun had only joined Zheng Yunming's subordinates in the past few months, he was modest and kind, governed the army strictly, and especially cared for the people. I always look radiant when I see him on weekdays, but I haven't seen him have such a depressed day.

He walked over and handed the kettle in his hand to Zhang Shun, Zhang Shun took two sips, screwed the lid and was about to raise his hand to return it to Lu Qingchun, when he found that it was no longer Lu Qingchun standing in front of him, but Zheng Yunming with a serious face.

Zheng Yunming was dressed all over his body, wearing a helmet and armor, and the standard-bearer behind him was holding high a banner of the Zhenwu Army, but the tone of his voice when he asked Zhang Shun was the same as usual.

"Why are you sitting here? Hurry up and sort out the troops, check the casualties and losses, and hand me a report before the battle tomorrow! He asked, "Where is the ruler of Ge and the ruler of the king?" ”

Zhang Shun barely stood up, and pointed in the direction of the city gate after greeting Zheng Yunming, which was crowded with resting remnants of the Zhenwu army. Zheng Yunming saw at a glance that the flags of Wang Deng and Ge Huai were leaning against the city wall outside the city gate.

Ge Huai's ribs were grazed by a Mongol iron chisel spear, only the iron chisel spear was a few inches inward, probably Ge Tong could have died on the battlefield as he loudly declared, the situation at that time was extremely dangerous, four or five Mongolian cavalry had surrounded the general of the Song army they saw, when one person came to stab with a spear, the other had already wielded a short axe to chop, if it wasn't for Jiao Jin's halberd from behind the Mongolian cavalry to get off the horse, and with the back of the army desperately snatched Ge Huai out of the encirclement, After Jiao Jin danced the halberd in his hand and broke it personally, he was afraid that the name of their main general would really be added to the list of the dead of the Zhenwu Army.

Wang Deng was shot in the helmet by an arrow fired by a fleeing Mongolian light archer as he retreated, but fortunately he was not injured, and he seemed to be the only one in the entire Zhenwu army who kept giving orders, as if he was not affected by the defeat. But Zheng Yunming knew that no one was hit harder than Wang Jingsong at this moment, since he joined the army, he has always been responsible for the ability to govern the army, as long as he is as strict as Han Yue to govern the army, although the Mongolian army is known to be invincible, it is not difficult to win, but the first time he is upright against the enemy cavalry is still a bad move.

Wang Deng looked up and saw Zheng Yunming coming, hurriedly stood up and prepared to meet, Zheng Yunming waved his hand and told him to sit down, turned around and came to a soldier with gauze wrapped in his legs, the soldier saw the general here, and hurriedly supported the wall tiles and wanted to stand up.

Zheng Yunming stretched out his hand to help him up, and said gently: "You guys fought very well, and you deserve to be my Zheng Yunming's subordinates." ”

He glanced at the soldiers who were standing one after another, and their eyes, which had been dull, glowed again when their young general appeared in his sight.

"You think you're fighting a losing battle?" Zheng Yunming said loudly: "I want to say that this is the first real victory I have seen in my life against the Mongols' iron cavalry!" Wang Deng! Before you set out, I ask you to fight a few rounds! ”

Wang Deng responded: "The general only asks us to hold out for five rounds!" ”

Zheng Yunming nodded and said: "Don't blame your commander for letting you hold on for a full eleven rounds before withdrawing your troops, you must know that since the start of the war, the army that has been able to hold out for five rounds under the iron cavalry charge of the Mongols can be described as the elite of the country, and those who can hold out until eleven rounds are slightly defeated, and they can't find one in the whole country!" Since the Mongols raised their troops in Mobei, they have been invincible and invincible, and they have been dominating the world for more than 20 years. But such an experienced division of a hundred battles has fought a full eleven rounds in front of you who rushed to the army! Is this a shame for my Jing Chu army? No, this is the most boastful victory of our Jing Chu army! The enemy went south from Taiyuan, all he wanted was to eat us all in Xiangyang City, and then go south to sweep Jinghu, but in the wilderness, in the face of our army's 5,000 new troops had to fight from noon to night to get a small victory, such a victory was bitter for the Mongols! I believe that in order to boost their morale, which has been depressed by this battle, tomorrow they will deal with the defenders of Xiangyang with more ferocious artillery attacks. And you,"

He glanced at the generals who had become excited again, and asked aloud, "Do you still have the confidence to give the Mongols a good taste in tomorrow's confrontation?" ”

Everyone responded in unison: "Please rest assured!" We will fight to the death tomorrow to avenge today's shame! ”

Zheng Yunming took the banner of the Zhenwu Army from the standard-bearer behind him, put him back in Wang Deng's hands, and whispered in his ear: "The casualties of the soldiers and the loss of ordnance should be reported as soon as possible, and the yamen will be responsible for replenishing the full amount." This battle is good enough, and remember, there are even more treacherous battles waiting for us tomorrow to claim victory. ”

He turned to the crowd and shouted, "From now on, I ask all of you to rest in peace and keep your spirits up, and tomorrow we will completely defeat the Mongols with tenfold perseverance!" ”

But this night, not everyone can really rest in peace.

When Wang Deng received Zheng Yunming's order and rushed to the yamen of the deputy capital commander, as soon as he entered the main hall, he saw a cowardly general Xue wearing pheasant feathers on his head and wearing Linggen armor standing in front of Zheng Yunming.

At this time, there must be a mystery in the yamen.

Sure enough, the officer turned around, and it was Yang Luo's casual and slightly playful face.

"Are you scared?" He said happily.