After capturing Yingzhou on the 20th of the first lunar month, the scope of the Runing Army's cavalry activities was limited to an area about a hundred miles away from Yingzhou in the direction of Fengyang, giving limited pressure to the peasant rebel army.
After three days of partying in Fengyang, it was detected that three Ming armies were about to arrive. Following the route determined by Wu Shigong, the peasant rebels headed south to cross the Huaihe River and attack Luzhou.
Because the number of mules and horses captured in Fengyang was very large this time, the peasant rebel army moved very quickly. The vanguard troops arrived at the Huaihe River in the Huainan section within two days.
But for the army crossing the river in winter, the current Huaihe River is the most difficult. If it is in the north, the river is completely frozen. The army only needs to increase the marching distance to ensure that the ice in the middle of the river does not break; if it is
In the south, you can cross the ice-free rivers by boat or by setting up a pontoon bridge.
But the current Huaihe River is different. There is ice near the shore, but there are ice floes and icy water in the middle of the river. It is not possible to sail boats, and we can only use a very troublesome method to build pontoons to cross the river.
Therefore, when the vanguard of the peasant rebel army first arrived at the Huaihe River and wanted to collect ships to build a pontoon bridge, the scouts of the Runing Army who had been scouting on the shore quickly passed the news back to Yingzhou.
So on the 24th of the first lunar month, the entire 10,300-strong Runing Army set out for Huainan. After two days of normal marching during the day, they marched quickly on the evening of the 25th to approach the crossing point of the peasant rebel army, about 30 meters away.
Rest in place.
After the peasant rebel army arrived at the Huaihe River in the vanguard on the 25th, it took them a whole day to build eleven pontoon bridges in succession on the afternoon of the 26th.
However, there were too many peasant rebels, and the property they seized was too much and too heavy. It was not until the early morning of the 27th that, except for the vanguard of more than 6,000 troops who crossed the river and took control of the area on the other side, the rest of the group arrived belatedly.
At this time, they had not discovered the Runing army thirty miles to the west of them.
"Move it!"
Following Wu Shigong's order, the entire Runing Army left camp for the final march. The amount of mules and horses equipment of the Runing Army was also amazing, so in addition to those replenished in Guide and Runing, and those requisitioned in Yingzhou
, so that each squad has two carts. One of them contains weapons and armor, and the other carries the squad's soldiers.
Five companies of cavalry were scattered in front to serve as spearheads, while the rest of the cavalry dismounted and pulled their horses forward with the group.
It was still ten miles to rest and recuperate. During the first ten miles, no spies from the peasant rebel army were encountered. When it was time to rest and recuperate, the five cavalry companies that were the leading soldiers were replaced, while the other soldiers fed the horses once and inspected the carts again.
of wheels.
At the beginning of the second ten miles, the Runing Army's brigade was discovered by the spies of the Peasant Rebel Army scattered on both wings. However, the top soldiers of the Runing Army only ensured the safety of their own brigade. As long as the spies of the Peasant Rebel Army were not too close.
, they did not go forward to strangle him, they just dispersed the spies.
The Runing Army is now very close to the crossing point, and it doesn't matter that the peasant rebels have discovered themselves. In such a short period of time, there is no way for all the peasant rebels to cross the river, so the only option for the peasant rebels is to arrange for the army to intercept them.
Live in Runing Army.
After the second ten miles passed without any danger, the Runing army began to prepare for battle. They helped each other put on their armors, and the cavalry also fed their horses for the last time, and then immediately followed their usual training.
The troops were lined up.
"Check!" The officers of each army issued the final order before the battle. All the soldiers checked their armor, weapons and horse gear again. Finally, they all twitched their swords, causing a burst of cheers from the whole army.
"Cracking" sound.
Because when fighting in winter, sometimes the knife and the scabbard will freeze, so this kind of inspection can prevent the sword from being unable to be pulled out in an emergency.
Three infantry regiments formed three thousand-man phalanxes in the middle. On their two wings were two reinforced cavalry regiments of the cavalry corps with 1,300 cavalry each, and behind them were the reinforced direct artillery regiments that concentrated all artillery. A standard was formed.
The infantry, cavalry and artillery formation became the main force of this battle. This main force will be commanded by Zhou Xun.
Behind the infantry and cavalry artillery formation are the Guards Corps, Engineer Regiment and other troops led by Wu Shigong. Among them are six three-pound artillery pieces to protect the Chinese army, as well as more than 800 cavalry including the Guards Corps, as general reserves.
The team is always ready to support the main force's operations.
"Hurry up! Hurry up! The official dog is coming!" On the right side of the peasant rebel army were the subordinates of King Sweeper. In a hurry, King Sweeper dispatched more than 8,000 soldiers to block the advance of Runing's army.
direction.
The leaders of other peasant rebel armies in the distance also mobilized their own troops. However, during the march, the soldiers and their families were mixed together, so in a short period of time, the peasant rebel army mobilized to reinforce the King of Sweepers was not there.
not much.
"Godfather! What should we do?" Li Dingguo asked Zhang Xianzhong.
Zhang Xianzhong did not answer. He jumped on the top of a cart and looked at the Runing Army from a distance for a while. Then he jumped off the cart and said to Li Dingguo: "Although you can't see the flag clearly, the officers and soldiers are lined up so neatly."
The only army we have is Wu Butcher's group. Let's do this! You personally lead people to guard the four pontoon bridges assigned to us, and let our old camp men and horses go first, and the pack horses and carts will follow. Pay attention! Move quickly.
some!"
"What should we do with the sweeping king?" Li Dingguo asked next.
Zhang Xianzhong thought for a while and then ordered: "Let the more than 10,000 people we collected in Fengyang and Yingzhou go over and give an explanation to the sweeping king."
Compared with Zhang Xianzhong's calm and cruel attitude, some leaders of the peasant rebel army were fanatical. They shouted to their subordinates: "Children! We have dug up the ancestral graves of the Dog Emperor.
Our luck is almost gone! Defeat that official dog in front of you quickly, and we can go to Luzhou to drink and eat meat!"
"Okay! Go quickly!" Those ragged peasant rebels also cheered enthusiastically.
Groups of peasant rebels rushed to King Sweeper. Soon, King Sweeper had more than 18,000 people. At this time, the Runing army was only more than two miles away from King Sweeper's men. They
He stopped and prepared for the battle that was about to happen.
As for the more than 18,000 people here at Sweeping King, they were arranged in a chaotic manner because they were not arranged in any formation at all. Therefore, at a glance, people and horses were scattered all over the mountains and plains. It seemed that the number of people was several times greater than the actual number.
In addition, there were soldiers from the peasant rebel army running up behind them, so the peasant rebel army, who thought they were outnumbered, immediately shouted and charged towards the Runing army. (To be continued. If you like this work, (
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