Although the tools were not in hand, the number of people was enough, so after an hour and a half, the work of filling the earth and stone was basically completed. After everything was ready, Liu Zeqing officially issued an order to block the river.

But it wasn't the people who blocked the river who started to act first. After seeing the signal from the torches of the Chinese army, Chen Zhongzhi led the 1,000 elites drawn out by each battalion to wade across the river about a mile and a half above the place where the river was blocked.

This wading site was already explored by the coalition forces. The width of the Shahe River is only about 50 paces, and although it is also the summer flood season, due to the drought, the flow of the Shahe River is even smaller than that of the normal dry season.

In addition, the action of blocking the river here attracted all the attention of the rebels on the other side, and Chen Zhongzhi and they were well hidden, so when the rebels reacted, Chen Zhongzhi and they had already waded across the Sand River.

The rebels on the other side of the river also had only a thousand men. Kong Youde did not know that the Ming army used the method of blocking the river to cross the river. So when he heard the movement of the coalition army, he was afraid that the Ming army was just feint and harass, so he didn't dare to send too many troops. Otherwise, in the battle with the Ming army tomorrow, too many rebels will lose their energy and combat effectiveness.

However, when the rebels on the other side learned that Chen Zhongzhi had crossed the Shahe River there, and it was at night, the general who led the rebel army did not know how many Ming troops had crossed the river, so he sent people to Kong Youde to report the news on the one hand, and on the other hand, he divided two hundred troops to block Chen Zhongzhi's army.

But as soon as the troops were divided, the coalition forces on the front also began to move. It was better to get the wagon first, and the two rows of wagons covered a team of musketeers and archers to the bank of the Sand River. It was just that a passage blocking the river was left between the two rows of masturbators.

Then came the firing of several rows of firearms. The archers did not shoot at all. In the dark, the target on the opposite shore is not visible at all. The firing was also just a warning to the rebels not to think of standing on the opposite bank and shooting at the people blocking the river.

Later, under the command of the officer commanding the people, the 1,000 people in the vanguard ran to the passage between the two rows of wagons on the bank of the Shahe River with sacks. After arriving on the shore. So they threw the sacks on their shoulders into the river of sand.

The distance of this run was about fifty paces, and the width of the sand river was exactly more than the range of most firearms and bows. But these fifty or so steps are also a death distance.

Wu Shigong felt a little sad when he looked at these people who were forced to work hard by the soldiers who supervised the battle. Cannon fodder! Pure cannon fodder! But in the era when the productivity of the Ming Dynasty was so low, in order to protect his soldiers, it was also helpless to use these cannon fodder from the people.

How can there be a general who does not harass the local people? After so many wars, Wu Shigong completely understood that the descriptions of sacrificing his army for the sake of the people in those literary works can be said to be complete nonsense.

Then there is the second team of people. The third team of people ....... The night is also the most haode cover. Although the rebels on the other side also fired some arrows and firearms, they did not cause any casualties to the people. Only a few unlucky eggs were shot to the ground. There was also a team of selected soldiers and people who moved the small wooden boats and rafts that had been built long ago to the banks of the Sand River.

After the truck, the officers who observed the blocking of the river also used torches to signal Wu Shigong and Liu Zeqing. Liu Zeqing's personal captain explained: "It's blocked five steps. ”

At this moment, the rebels on the opposite bank suddenly let out a clamour. After a commotion, torches were signaled on the other side. The captain of the pro-soldier happily interpreted again: "Chen Dusi has controlled the other side!" ”

All the allied military attachés in command breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Until now. Everything went quite smoothly. Actually, it's all of it. That is, more than half an hour before and after. Wu Shigong thought to himself: "It's no wonder that the movie made by Hollywood that landed in Normandy is called "The Longest Night"! ”

Chen Zhongzhi effortlessly dispersed the 200 rebels who were divided, and then, they crossed the flank of the rebels, and when they were caught off guard, the 800 rebels left on the opposite bank were also repelled by Chen Zhongzhi.

Small wooden boats and rafts were immediately pushed down the river. Soon, more than 300 soldiers and more than 200 people were transported to the other side of the river with firecrackers and haode horses. In addition, they dragged four long ropes through.

Make use of the people on both sides of the strait to work together. The boats and rafts were soon assembled into a pontoon bridge. The people used the prepared planks to lay on the pontoon.

"It's ten steps blocked!" "Fifteen steps! "The captain of the pro-soldier has been interpreting. Suddenly, he excitedly exclaimed, "The pontoon bridge is ready!" ”

"Press Jihua to cross the river!" Liu Zeqing ordered.

The wagons on the shore were the first to cross the river from the pontoon bridge, and the wagons and horses would form a line of defense, together with the musketeers and archers, and cooperate with Chen Zhongzhi's troops to protect the place where the river was blocked. Behind the truck is a team of thousands of people.

The people were going to start on the other side and lay stakes on the sand river. As the river narrows, so does the current, and the sacks thrown are likely to be swept away. Therefore, these stakes are needed to fix.

During the entire operation of the night, no cavalry was used. And now the cavalry is also resting in the back. They want to make sure that in tomorrow's battle, the horses have enough stamina.

The rebels who were repulsed did not completely retreat. They are still waiting for reinforcements to do Zuihou's efforts.

Kong Youde, who received the report, was woken up in his sleep. When he learned that the Ming army crossed the river by blocking the river, he felt a little tricky.

After thinking about it for a while, Kong Youde reluctantly ordered: "Transfer another 2,000 people." It would be best if the officers and troops blocking the river could be beaten away. If you can't do anything, bring the team back. ”

Kong Youde knew that even if he could stop the Ming army from blocking the river today, it would be impossible for the rebels to fortify everywhere on the Shahe River over time, and there would always be a day when the Ming army would succeed in blocking the river.

And tomorrow, the Ming army on the opposite side will definitely wade across the river, so it is most important to ensure the physical strength and strength of your army! Therefore, the order he gave to destroy the dams that blocked the river was somewhat half-hearted.

Therefore, when the rebels who were waiting for reinforcements attacked the allied defense line composed of chariots and horses three times, and all of them were broken and bleeding, the rebels refused to suffer any more losses. It's all back.

However, this interception greatly boosted the morale of the entire coalition army. Liu Zeqing also immediately ordered another 1,000 men to cross the river to help dig an additional trench and build an earthen wall in addition to the chariots and horses, so as to strengthen the defense capability of Chen Zhongzhi's troops.

And Chen Zhongzhi's troops seized the time to take a break to ensure their physical strength to fight after dawn. It can also be seen that with the people, the combat effectiveness of the army can indeed be greatly improved.

The people who don't have to worry about the future, of course, work fast. As soon as the sky turned white, the entire sand river was tightly blocked. And the coalition forces that have completed the task of blocking the river, whether it is soldiers or people, all let out deafening cheers at the moment of blocking the river.

"It finally worked." Liu Zeqing was full of joy. All the military attachés though in the middle of the night. They had only rested for a short time before midnight, but they were all in a state of euphoria.

"Congratulations to Brother Hezhou!" Wu Shigong also said happily on the side.

"Huh!" Liu Zeqing said with a smile and a wave of his hand. "It's all thanks to everyone. Rejoice and rejoice! Now it's up to us to see the battle of the Liaodong Army tomorrow. ”

"It's today!" Wu Shigong jokingly corrected Liu Zeqing's slip of the tongue.

"That's right! Right! It's today. What a long night! Haha! ”

Early in the morning, inside the big tent of the Liaodong Army. The assembled generals of the Liaodong Army were having breakfast.

A personal soldier hurriedly ran into the big tent and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Shandong army has come to report that they have successfully blocked the Shahe." ”

Jin Guoqi nodded and ordered, "Got it." Tell the messenger to keep the levee and not let us cross the river. After we all cross the river. Let them draw closer to us and defeat the traitors together. ”

"No!" The soldier immediately retreated.

When he arrived in the big tent, only his generals were left, Jin Guoqi said contemptuously: "I didn't expect those Shandong troops to be able to do one thing occasionally!" ”

There was a burst of laughter in the big tent.

These generals of the Liaodong Army did not expect that the speed of the coalition army blocking the river would be so fast. But they didn't think so. Since the main force of the Ming army behind has not yet arrived, then let us strike. Let's let the Liaodong Army defeat the rebels across the river alone.

The crossing of the river by the Liaodong Army was started by artillery fire. This time, the Liaodong Army also brought a large number of artillery, because the silver taels that the imperial court has thrown into Liaodong for so many years will not all be thrown into the water.

The artillery of the Liaodong Army had been fixed long ago last night, so they started firing immediately after breakfast. And Kong Youde found that he had made some mistakes. Because the artillery of the rebels is mainly used in Laizhou City. I didn't bring a few of them this time, and they all brought small cannons.

Therefore, in order to prevent damage to the army, the rebels took the initiative to retreat, retreating three or four miles and then lining up in formation. Anyway, even if the Ming army on the opposite side crossed the river, it was also in the terrain of a backwater battle, so how to say it, the terrain of the rebels was favorable. Not everyone is Han Shin!

Under the cover of artillery fire, the Liaodong Army crossed the river in turn and lined up in formation.

But at this time, the coalition army, which had crossed the river with the whole army, after hearing Jin Guoqi's order, in addition to leaving 500 soldiers and all the people to protect the embankment, also marched towards the main force of the rebels. The rebels at this time had more than 18,000 troops.

Judging the strength of the enemy's army is the basic skill of generals and spies. Therefore, Kong Youde quickly knew the approximate strength of the two Ming armies.

Moreover, the spy also reported that in the Ming army of 7,000 people, there was also the outlaw cavalry that appeared at the end of the previous Laizhou battle. Kong Youde knew that in the Ming army in the previous battle of Laizhou, only that cavalry had strong combat effectiveness. The only downside is that the number of people is too small.

This made Kong Youde a little misjudged. The Ming army on the opposite side of the river did not show its banner, and it was not clear which Ming army it was. And the Ming army that came out, with a large number of people and strong cavalry, is likely to be the main force of the Ming army in this battle.

After using so many deception tactics, could it be that this time the Ming army also learned the strategy of attacking the east and the west?

So Kong Youde urgently mobilized, sent an additional 1,000 old Liao soldiers to strengthen the right flank, and then tilted the entire formation. And at this time, the entire battlefield appeared that the positions of these three armies were in a triangle.

Seeing the rebels hurriedly moving their formations, although there were some doubts, the confident Liaodong Army was still dominated by me. When the whole army had crossed the river, I saw that the coalition forces were also lined up.

So Jin Guoqi ordered: "Let Sangui rush the right flank of the traitors first, and let those buns of the Shandong army also learn what it means to fight." ”

There was a burst of laughter in the Liaodong army, and Wu Sangui immediately led the order to lead the eight hundred cavalry in front of the platoon and slowly walked towards the right flank of the rebels. (To be continued......)

PS: There is something to do today, and there is no way to change it in the afternoon. Excuse me!

Again, note that the judgments of the two sides of the war on the left and the right are exactly opposite. It's not a clerical error.