Ming Zuo

Chapter 773
Hopes for close combat were dashed.

Only a small part of the new army crossed the river, and even the most elite cavalry of the rebel army could not rush forward.

This fact is truly depressing.

Seeing more and more new troops crossing the river, Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng were a little at a loss.

"How about we put on a posture and fight him with real swords and guns?"

Li Zicheng had a new idea.

He planned to take advantage of the opportunity that the new army had only infantry to cross the river and the artillery was still on the other side of the river, concentrate all the main forces, and use the advantage of numbers to fight a decisive battle with the new army.

Although the muskets of the new army are frightening, the rebels also have long-range weapons such as cannons, Flang machine guns, tiger guns, trebuchets, bows and arrows, so it might be impossible to fight.

Gao Yingxiang struggled repeatedly, and just about to agree, the scout rushed over.

"Reporting to King Chuang, He Jiadu has fallen, and the Eight Great Kings have retreated."

Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng turned pale with shock and looked towards the east.

Naihe was too far away to see clearly, but only noticed that Zhang Xianzhong's banner seemed to be getting farther and farther away.

When the new army fought against Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong also suffered tremendous pressure.

Considering that Zhang Xianzhong's troops were relatively weak, Gao Yingxiang asked him to defend Hejiadu, which was backed by towns.

This is the most important ferry on both sides of the Huaihe River, so the government established a tax card here.With the support of fortifications, it is easier to fight than in the wild.

But it's a pity that Hejiadu is just a small town, and the low and damaged city walls can't stop the bombardment of the new army's artillery.

Seeing that the city wall was smashed down in large swaths, and his soldiers died in an endless stream, Zhang Xianzhong lost his soul and lost his fighting spirit.

He did not inform Gao Yingxiang and Li Zicheng, and led the troops all the way south.

As soon as Hejiadu was lost, the speed of the new army crossing the river suddenly accelerated.

Not long after, the figure of the new army appeared to the east of the Northwest Rebel Army.

Everyone knew that if it was delayed any longer, it would definitely be outflanked by the new army, and the entire army might be wiped out.

Gao Yingxiang broke the whip angrily, and sighed dejectedly.

"The concubine is not enough to plan! Send the order, and the whole army will retreat."

The Northwest Rebels had long since wanted to fight this battle.

It is true that the enemies they are facing today are completely beyond their imagination.

The earth-shattering artillery and the rushing guns are not something that flesh and blood can resist.

Following Gao Yingxiang's order, the Northwest Rebel Army retreated to the west as if they had received an amnesty.

They retreated so simply that they didn't even defend Fengyang.

Regarding the retreat of the Northwest Rebel Army, the New Army did not rush to pursue it, and continued to act step by step.

In the evening, the Fifth Division all crossed the river and occupied Fengyang according to the previous plan.

The [-]th Brigade of the Sixth Division did not choose to cross the river, but went up against the fat water and headed for Mengcheng in the northwest.

Their final destination is Guoyang.

"Commander Huang, let's bid farewell. If the battle is urgent, please support me."

On the bank of the Huaihe River, Guo Wei and Huang Sanhu bid farewell.

The goal of their fourth division is Luzhou Prefecture, so they need to cross the third army and rush down.

Guo Wei didn't know what was going on ahead, and if he ran into trouble, he would definitely need the support of the third army.

Huang Sanhu returned the gift.

"Don't worry, the [-]th Brigade will go forward to the Shouzhou area, just behind you."

With this guarantee, Guo Wei felt relieved.After the fourth division had all crossed the river, they rushed straight to Luzhou Mansion along the official road without stopping.

Guide Mansion.

Hong Chengchou finally arrived.

Knowing that the northwest rebel army was heading towards Fengyang, the governor of the five provinces was really frightened.

Of course he understands what it means once Fengyang is captured by the northwest rebels.

He didn't even have time to wait for his direct line troops, so he rushed to Guide Mansion alone.

From here, along the official road, through Bozhou, Guoyang, and Mengcheng, is the shortest road to Fengyang Mansion.

Moreover, Zuo Liangyu's troops lived in Guide Mansion, and they were ready-made troops.

But when he arrived at Guide Mansion, seeing the situation here, Hong Chengchou really twisted his mouth in anger.

"Zuo Zongrong, don't forget your responsibilities as a general of the imperial court, you must never do things like bandits."

Why is Hong Chengchou so angry?

It's just because Zuo Liangyu has caused a lot of harm to Guide Mansion, all kinds of tragedies are more severe than the place where the bandits passed by.

In the original history, Zuo Liangyu fought endlessly in Henan, but never entered Guide Mansion.

Just because this is the hometown of his benefactor, Hou Xun.

Not only did Zuo Liangyu not dare to send troops to plunder, on the contrary, he came to the door alone to kowtow to Hou Zhipu to pay his respects.

But now that Hou Xun is under Zuo Menggeng's subordinates, he has already turned against him, Zuo Liangyu no longer has any worries, and with the intention of revenge, the disaster is even worse.

Hong Chengchou saw it, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, Zuo Liangyu's troops are the only troops that can be mobilized now.

If Zuo Liangyu is dealt with, he will become a polished commander, how can he regain Fengyang?
Zuo Liangyu was submissive, seeing that Hong Chengchou didn't dare to pursue it, he also felt relieved.

"Zuo Zongrong, pack up the soldiers and horses quickly, and go to Fengyang with Benxian."

When he heard that he was going to Fengyang, Zuo Liangyu trembled on the spot.

"Master Bingxian, you can't go!"

Hong Chengchou was furious.

"What nonsense are you talking about? There are difficulties in life, but you don't think about rescue. Do you have the loyalty of your father in your heart? You must know that death is inevitable."

Zuo Liangyu called out Bao Tianqu.

"Master Bingxian, it's not that the last general dares not go, but that he can't pass."

Zuo Liangyu had a sad face, pointed to the east and said: "That little bastard has mobilized soldiers and horses, and he is in Yongcheng. If our army goes south, we will definitely meet him head-on."

Hong Chengchou paused for a moment before trying to understand who Zuo Liangyu was talking about.

"Yongcheng is the land of Henan, why did his soldiers and horses from Shandong cross the border?"

Zuo Liangyu spread his hands.

"The last general doesn't know the reason. That little bastard is arrogant and has no credibility. If he wants to do something, who can do anything to get him?"

Hong Chengchou had a splitting headache, so he hurriedly sent someone to investigate.

But the information sent back showed that what Zuo Liangyu said was true.

Today's Yongcheng has indeed been occupied by the Shandong New Army, with at least a thousand troops.

Zuo Liangyu's troops are only more than [-] people, and there is no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation.

But this group of new troops was right in front, making it impossible for Hong Chengchou to go around and save Fengyang from fire and water.

"Mr. Wu, please take action and negotiate with Shandong soldiers and horses. In any case, I hope they will give way."

Fighting is definitely impossible. For now, the only way is to negotiate.

Hong Chengchou sent Wu Xinyu, his counselor, as an envoy to Yongcheng.

"Now that there are two to three hundred thousand bandits in Fengyang, what's the use of Hong Bingxian's two thousand troops? I know the difficulties of the imperial court in Shandong, and I am generous and righteous. I have sent troops to help the imperial court. Please go back and tell Hong Bingxian, Fengyang Recovery is just around the corner.”

Stationed in Yongcheng is the [-]th Regiment of the Second Army.

The team leader Liao Fengzhi received Wu Xinyu, but the situation conveyed made him feel as if he had been struck by lightning.

Wu Xin and know...

It's a big deal!
(End of this chapter)