The refugee army's garrison camp at Baitan was disrupted by the lurking and attacking officers and soldiers. In the clear morning light, at the moment when the fresh sunrise like salted egg yolk jumped out of the cover of the treetops on the south bank of the Huaihe River, the Shuiying fleet came upstream.
The arrows were as dense as rain, and after suppressing the beachhead defenders back to the simple chest-high fortification wall, the bed crossbow and scorpion crossbow were standard equipment for warships above the Jiyun level.
Flying horizontally.
From a distance, you can see that the walls are shaking due to the giant crossbow arrows, and you can see that the refugee army built the fortifications on Baitan in a very hasty manner. As long as one can rush ashore, these simple breast fortifications can be opened.
Compared with the charge that requires landing on the shore to exert its power, the scorpion crossbow on the deck of the aft cabin is not less powerful at hitting falling rocks from a distance of three hundred steps.
The Huaihe River current is fast, the boat is swaying, and the crossbows are shaking, making it difficult to calibrate. In addition, the wall is only chest high, and the striking surface of the scorpion crossbow stones is very narrow. However, the ten scorpion crossbows fired continuously, firing hundreds of rounds of 20 to 30 kilograms each.
The heavy stone bullets also made six or seven holes in this simple beach fort.
The soldiers who broke into the Baitan camp in the early morning were still resisting stubbornly. In the camp, they contained the refugee army that was several times larger than their own, which reduced the pressure on the Jinghaihai camp to send soldiers ashore from the beach...
The hundred and ten people who raided the Baitan camp were not all the dead soldiers who had sneaked out in advance. In addition, there were more than a hundred dead soldiers led by Tao Chun who were lightly dressed in simple armor, pretending to be ordinary refugees, and hiding in a corner that was not noticed by others.
Waiting to provide a crucial helping hand for Liu Tingzhou to climb Feixiaji at the critical moment.
These people are really dead soldiers. The landing operation failed, their whereabouts were exposed, and it was difficult to escape the search of the refugee army.
When Lin Fu and Liu Tingzhou first met at Shukou, Liu Tingzhou's comments about Sun Ganzi, the leader of the bandits, showed that Liu Tingzhou himself also liked to choose sharp soldiers to attack difficulties.
Compared with other civil servants, Liu Tingzhou's military quality is quite good.
Sending a small number of elite dead soldiers to sneak across first, and launching a surprise attack before a large-scale landing to disrupt the enemy's deployment and confuse the enemy's line of sight is a very good idea for landing operations.
Unfortunately, Liu Tingzhou had too few generals at his disposal. Tao Chun, a brave general who could lead the army in battle and stand alone, had to lead the dead soldiers to sneak across to the north bank.
*************
At that time, the fleet of the Huaihe Army also arrived at Feixiaji, but compared with the orderliness of the Jinghaihai camp, the fleet of the Huaihe Army was much more chaotic.
When the soldiers of the Jinghaihai Battalion broke through the beachhead wall of Baitan and advanced to the shore, determined to capture the entire Baitan camp, Malantou, who was watching at Siyang Ferry, finally concluded that Baitan was where the soldiers really wanted to break through.
's mouth.
Even though the officers and soldiers were so crowded that the ferry boats at Baitan and Feixiaji were about the same size, and even though the officers and soldiers facing Feixiaji began to rush ashore, the performance of the officers and soldiers at Baitan was much stronger.
If the defense on the Baitan side is not strengthened, the entire coastline defense will open a large gap on the Baitan side, and the officers and soldiers will be able to drive straight in from Baitan and attack Siyang Village.
Baitan, Feixiaji, and Siyang Ferry are located on the east-west line of the north bank of Huai River, and form the Huai Si Corner with a circumference of more than 100 miles with Siyang Village on the west bank of Si River.
The officers and soldiers had been cutting in from Baitan, crossing directly to the north to surround Siyang Village and guard Feixiaji. The refugee army at Siyang Ferry was actually trapped in a narrow area and could not get out.
************
When the refugee army entered the Huaisi area, although they were quite restrained in the early stage and focused on expropriating grain from large households, they did not take effective measures to appease ordinary villagers and failed to prevent the mass exodus.
After the war, the entire Huaisi area had 10 houses and 9 empty houses. In the entire village, there was no smoke rising from drinking water during meal time, and the fields were largely deserted.
After summer, the weeds in the fields grew wildly, and no one was pulling them out for plowing. Tao Chun lay down among the weeds and watched a large group of soldiers and horses leave Siyang Village and rush to Baitan to help.
Tao Chun retreated quietly. There was a forest to the north where they had sneaked across the night before. He took a hundred or so people and hid in this forest for a day and a night. Although the first batch of reinforcements from Siyang Village were sent to Baitan
Attracted there.
When Liu Tingzhou's offensive in Feixiaji became fierce, reinforcements would naturally go to Feixiaji. Tao Chun's task was to lead more than a hundred dead soldiers to hold off the reinforcements for as long as possible between the two rivers.
Of course, in addition to more than a hundred dead soldiers, Liu Tingzhou asked Tao Chun to have other soldiers and horses available in Huaisi.
The number of the refugee army is very large, and it spreads out overwhelmingly in Huaibei. However, there are nearly ten counties in the entire Huaisi area, including Haozhou Prefecture controlled by the refugee army, and the prefectures and counties on both sides of the Bian River. There are still large gaps for
Local private militiamen survived.
The private soldiers raised by local big families and wealthy families are naturally in opposition to the refugee army. Since the refugee army marched eastward to Huaisi, many strongholds have been breached, and many small local armed forces have been destroyed. However, there are also some strong strongholds that have persisted.
, I have been hoping that the officers and soldiers can go north to help each other.
Since Liu Tingzhou was guarding the Huaihe River, he also sent spies to the north bank to secretly communicate with these private soldiers, asking them to do everything possible to hold on to the village and contain the refugee army. Liu Tingzhou, who crossed the Huaihe River to aid Xu, would naturally not miss the opportunity to contact the private soldiers trapped in Huaisi.
Armed with soldiers, they were also Tao Chun's greatest help after he led his dead soldiers to sneak into the north bank.
****************
Standing on the deck, Lin Fu saw a large group of refugee troops going to aid Baitan, so he asked Ge Cunxiong to send an order to have the more than 600 soldiers who landed on the beach withdraw from the Baitan camp of the refugee army.
The large group of armored soldiers boarded the ship calmly. More than 40 dead soldiers from the beach army who raided the enemy's fort in the early morning also boarded the ship to repair. Only two hundred armored soldiers were left to guard the beach, making use of the dilapidated beach.
Walls and fortresses were built to build beachheads, and bows, crossbows, and shield carts were often used to contain the refugee troops in the Baitan area and prevent them from supporting Feixiaji.
The sun was getting higher and higher, and the sun was blazing in the sky. When we were on the river, there was a cool breeze blowing, and we felt better. However, the refugees who came from Siyang Village to help us felt their throats were burning with dryness.
Those who are in poor health, armed with weapons, armor, and heavy military uniforms, may run for more than ten miles in the scorching sun, fearing that they may lose strength and pass out on the spot.
He was already half dead when he ran over. If he kept attacking with weapons without stopping, he would really die.
Jiangdong's left army took the initiative to retreat to the beach. The refugee army who came for reinforcements breathed a sigh of relief and was not in a hurry to attack. They thought that it would not be too late to drive the officers and soldiers down the Huaihe River when the sun went down in the afternoon and the weather became slightly cooler.
.
When Ma Lanlong thought that Baitan was the key point for officers and soldiers to break through, and mobilized his troops to help, the fighting in Feixiaji suddenly became intense. Feixiaji is a small stone mountain on the north bank of Huai River, less than twenty feet high, surrounded by
About two miles away, the high cliff of Jitou stretches into the water for a distance of 17 to 80 feet, which makes the situation quite dangerous. It is an important place to defend the Huaihe River and seize the shore.
The refugee army's camp was built on the back of Feixiaji. There was a beach to climb on, but it was also steep.
Liu Tingzhou wants to gain a foothold on the north bank. There is no place more suitable than Feixiaji for hundreds of miles around. However, it is more difficult to land on the beach than to attack Baitan. After all, the more than a thousand civilian troops here can be defended according to the danger.
.
More than a dozen ships braved the falling rocks and arrows from the high cliffs of Jitou, blocked them with high shields, forced them to land on the beach, and attacked Jitou.
Liu Tingzhou's envoy was sitting in front of the boat, sweating profusely, and beating drums in high spirits to encourage his soldiers to rush to the shore and kill them.
Liu Tingzhou's boat was too far forward. The refugee army also had simple sling crossbows on the high cliffs of Jitou, and they knew Liu Tingzhou was the leader. The falling rocks kept falling on the left and right, causing splashes of water.
Everyone on the left and right advised Liu Tingzhou to retreat, but Liu Tingzhou just refused to obey. With his physical strength, he had been beating drums and directing the battles since the crossing of the Huaihe River. His physical strength was also exhausted to the extreme, but after nearly two hours, he rested during the crossing of the Huaihe River.
For a while, even more time, I held my breath and remained motionless.
The soldiers from Shanyang County were the first to advance.
When Liu Tingzhou was the general magistrate of Huai'an, he had long-term guidance on city defense and military preparations in Shanyang County. When Chen Hansan rebelled, he directly served as the guard general of Shanyang County. Liu Tingzhou's prestige among the soldiers in Shanyang County was very high, and he was not afraid of arrows.
The soldiers from Shanyang County were in high morale, and the soldiers from Shanyang County were in high morale. When they were hit by arrows from falling rocks, they died of bloody injuries even if they were not satisfied. They continued to attack fiercely with arrows.
Liu Tingzhou also liked to use sharpness and fierce generals. In Huai'an, he promoted many generals from poor backgrounds. Xiao Kui'an, who had served as the captain of Huai'an Right Camp before that, was a representative example.
When the battle was in full swing, he saw that the defenders at Yatou were exhausted a lot, and the reinforcements from Siyang Village were also moving this way. Not sure how long Tao Chun could delay, Xiao Kui'an put on the lining armor, assembled armor, and still wore the goggles, and took
He raised his shield and used his straight-ridged sword, which was three-thirds longer than usual, and saluted Liu Tingzhou: "Kui'an is coming ashore!"
Liu Tingzhou was also so tired that his throat felt sweet and there was blood oozing from his mouth. At this time, after drinking a cup of warm tea, he said proudly: "Listen to me and beat the drum for you!"
Xiao Kui'an got off the boat and went to the shoal. He waded through the shallow water and walked to the narrow marching position. There were more than a hundred dead soldiers gathered here. He wanted to lead these people to capture the high cliffs of Jitou in one fell swoop, otherwise the Shanyang County soldiers behind him would never stop again.
It can't be used even if it's too much.
Ma Fu was also on the boat, staring nervously at the beach, feeling very conflicted.
By capturing Feixiaji, we can take the most critical step of crossing the Huaihe River to aid Xuzhou and resolve the crisis in Xuzhou. The Ma family can also rely on the power of the Chu Palace to recover the knot from the pigherder Lin Fu; but they cannot win.
Feixiaji, there is no need to worry that Shanyang County soldiers will be consumed on the way north.
The horseman was stunned and thinking, Xiao Kui'an had led the dead soldiers to attack the cliff head. The knife he used was longer, thicker, heavier, and much sharper than the ordinary straight-ridged knife.
Huaisi produces coal and iron. Xuzhou is not only famous for its iron smelting, but also the knives produced by Huai'an are famous all over the world. The knife Xiao Kui'an used was a gift from Liu Tingzhou. It weighed 30 kilograms. A man without great strength could actually wield it with one hand.
Within a few seconds.
Xiao Kui'an was able to hold this heavy weapon like a duck to water, and with the cooperation of sword and shield, he took the lead and fought his way up the steep slope between the beach and the cliff, with more than a hundred dead soldiers, and rushed up to the rock head...
Although there is a wall on the back of Feixiaji Stone, and behind the wall is the refugee army guarding the Jiji camp, Xiao Kui'an occupied the high cliff and led his elite troops to hold on without giving in. Liu Tingzhou could direct the ferry to stick directly to the bottom of the high cliff.
, use the rope ladder to send people up.
When a ram was hoisted onto the high cliff, there were already more than 400 elite soldiers forming a fish-scale formation in Jitou, which was only a few dozen feet deep.
The Fish Scale Formation is a formation in which the general is positioned behind the formation, and the main troops are assembled in the center. They are divided into a number of small square formations in the shape of fish scales, arranged one above the other in echelons, with the front end protruding. It is a formation with a sharp attack.
Although the fish scale formation moves slightly slower, it is more conducive to assault than the cone formation. It has the disadvantage of extremely weak defense behind it. However, at this time, these more than 400 elite soldiers have their backs to the Huai River. If they cannot break through in front, they will be driven off the Huai River.
With water, you don’t have to worry about abdominal and back problems at all.
Xiao Kui'an took a short rest and planned to break through the front wall and open a gap in the refugee army's defense camp. Once the front wall became their defense against the camp, they could pick up more people.
Come right away. Even if the bandit reinforcements arrive, you don't have to worry about being driven into the water.
At this time, there was movement on the rope ladder behind him again. Xiao Kui'an also wanted to tell the people above the water that Jitou was too crowded at this time and could not mobilize too many troops. Just send more crossbows. When he looked back, he saw Liu Tingzhou climbing from behind the rope ladder.
Come up with tears in your eyes...
***********
After learning that the crossing reinforcements had attacked the high cliffs of Feixiaji, Lin Fu asked Ge Cunxiong to withdraw his troops from Baitan.
There are only two hundred soldiers on the beach, and there are crossbows and scorpion crossbows on boats to help suppress the entangled refugee army. It is very easy for these two hundred soldiers to withdraw.
Only some warships were left on guard in the upper reaches of the Huai River. Lin Fu and Ge Cunxiong led the main force of the Jinghai Third Water Battalion to join Liu Tingzhou.
Seeing Liu Tingzhou borrowing a rope ladder from the boat to climb up a high cliff from a distance, Lin Fu sighed and shook his head.
Although Liu Tingzhou was increasingly wary of him and had always been against him during this period, Lin Fu had to admit that Liu Tingzhou's character in the world was unmatched by those mediocre officials.
Although there are three to four hundred elite soldiers on the high cliff, the place is very cramped. Once the refugee army's counterattack cannot be stopped, it will be extremely difficult for Liu Tingzhou to save his life. If the Shanyang County soldiers can be led by Liu Tingzhou, they can be considered a force.
Strong troops.
Lin Fu did not wait for the outcome of the Feixiaji battle, so he sailed eastward to Shukou.
Liu Tingzhou was truly all alone.
If Feixiaji could not be conquered in one fell swoop, Liu Tingzhou, who went to Yatou in person, would most likely have been defeated and died.
Naturally, the remnants of the Huaihe crossing army were escorted by Teng Xingyuan, Ma Rucong, Ma Fu and others to return to Shanyang. The crossing of Huaihe River to aid Xu was in vain, no one would mention it, and Lin Fu would not go deep alone, suppressing Chongzhou's wealth.
Go up and save Yue Lengqiu, the great enemy.
If the Huaihe crossing army could gain a foothold in Siyang, Lin Fu thought that he should also make some noise against Chen Hansan's camp at Zhaiqiao. Liu Tingzhou could not be allowed to steal the limelight while the Jiangdong left army did nothing.