To the west of Zhao'an is Chaozhou, which was backed by an occupied area that had been in operation for more than a year. It was originally relatively safe. However, when all the troops were out and the troops were under the city, it would be even more dangerous once the Qing army pursued them and attacked from both inside and outside.

What Ke Chenshu said is true, and Zheng Chenggong also understands this truth. In fact, most of the generals present can imagine this, but some may not be as far-reaching as Ke Chenshu, and most of them are still unwilling to share it.

Take on such a thankless task as a queen.

Zheng Chenggong knew that human nature seeks advantages and avoids disadvantages. Zheng Chenggong valued Ke Chenshu very much and always believed that he was a good general with "Shen Yi and a plan". Although Ke Chenshu's glory in the past two years has been overshadowed by Chen Kai

and Shi Lang, but one cannot deny his ability. At least Zheng Chenggong would think of this person every time he had to take charge of a military mission, and Ke Chenshu's performance was quite good every time.

"Tatar reinforcements are coming, either led by Wang Bangjun or Wang Jin. Their strength will not be less than three thousand, and yours is not enough!"

After that, Zheng Chenggong ordered Huang Ting and He De to accompany them with the reinforcements to suppress Zuozhen and Youchong Town. As for their operational goal, they were to seize Zhao'an County from the Ming army and completely occupy the newly captured areas.

Before the area was integrated with the old occupied area, it blocked the path of the Qing army.

In addition, Zheng Chenggong also sent Huangshan to guard the Nanling Gate Trail, and Gan Hui stationed at the foot of Zhaling to provide support. This can be said to be a thoughtful decision. But the key to this interception battle still lies in the defense of Pantuo Ridge.

above.

The army was divided into two. Zheng Chenggong personally led the main force to march westward and directly took Zhao'an County, while Ke Chenshu hurried to Pantuoling with his reinforcements.

The Pantuoling Ancient Road is an important section of the ancient Fujian-Guangdong post road and is famous for its ruggedness in ancient and modern times. This is a valley area. Although it is not as "difficult to reach the sky" as the Shu Road, it is surrounded by high mountains and cliffs on both sides, and the road is rugged. There is also a saying that "one man is at the pass."

The feeling of "nothing can stop me".

When Ke Chenshu, Huang Ting, and He De arrived, the Qing army was still on the way. Seeing this, the three people quickly divided the work. According to the arrangement before arriving, Ke Chenshu guarded the left ridge of the Pantuo Ridge ancient road.

, Huang Ting and He De led their troops to guard the right ridge, "they are like horns. If the captives charge to the left, they will support from the right; if they charge to the right, they will support from the left; if they charge from the middle, they will attack each other."

On October 26, Zheng Chenggong advanced to Zhao'an County, and the army was stationed in Longfeng and Cizao area. The defender was promoted, and the county magistrate Li Si proposed to surrender if reinforcements did not arrive.

On the same day, reinforcements arrived at Pantuoling. Wang Zhigang, the commander-in-chief of the Fujian Left Road, and Wang Bangjun, the commander-in-chief of Zhangzhou, personally brought their own troops and horses. Qing troops mobilized from various counties gathered here. The Ming army expected no less than 3,000 troops.

It’s twice as big!

It was agreed that after a day's rest, the troops would be divided into four groups to besiege Pantuo Ridge and open up the road into Zhao'an County. At dawn on October 28, the Qing army was dispatched in large numbers. According to the agreed plan, the left camp and the right camp took the trail to attack Nanling, which was guarded by Huangshan Mountain.

Gate, Wang Zhigang's main force attacked the two towns of Huangting and He De in the right ridge, and Biao Zhong from Zhangzhou town brought by Wang Bangjun, the second battalion from the left attacked Zhongchong town led by Ke Chenshu in the left ridge, and Zhangzhou Qianzong Wei Biao's troops

He intercepted the reinforcements in Daozhong and sent Haicheng's deputy general Hao Wenxing to lead his troops to attack Zhongchong Town.

The Qing army mobilized in a large scale, and the fog filled the air. Human figures could no longer be discerned from a few meters away. The Qing army's own strength was far superior to that of the Ming army, and the safety of the imperial edict was at stake. They did not dare to hesitate at all and continued to send troops to attack the mountain according to the original plan.

According to the exploration of the previous two days, the Ming army in Youling was relatively strong. Wang Zhigang and Wang Bangjun agreed to use this as the main direction of attack. The army was walking through the mist, and they could not see the Ming army encamped on the mountain.

Their whereabouts could not be seen at all. Along the way, there were rugged rocks and lush grass. The Qing army was approaching step by step on the path with almost no visible traces. It even dragged several artillery pieces forcibly, and the speed was very slow.

However, the fog was too dense, and the movements of the Qing army on the mountain were almost unknown, as if they were deaf and blind. In this way, the Qing army scattered all the troops at night, and with the help of richer experience, they cleared them one by one.

The Ming army sent a secret sentry, followed closely by a large group of Qing troops, slowly climbing up the mountain. It was not until the first round of conflict broke out near the camp.

At this point, the advantage of being in a commanding position has disappeared. For Huang Ting and He De, the only thing they can rely on is that the road is narrow and not suitable for traffic. The Qing army's strength advantage cannot be deployed, so the advantage on the mountain is the same as none.

Same.

After a round of fierce attacks, the Qing army could not advance even an inch, but was almost knocked down by the reinforcements of Zuozhen. The Qing army regained its position, and the Ming army had no good way to drive it down the mountain, so they had to surround the walled city.

To defend. This was in line with their mission, but Huang Ting still sent a messenger back to ask for help from Zheng Chenggong, because this time the Qing army's strength was much larger than they had expected.

As time went by, the thick fog did not dissipate, but seemed to become thicker. The Qing army did not move for a while, and even Huang Ting had begun to become suspicious. But just as he was about to mobilize his soldiers to launch an assault, a sound

There was a roar, and the almost direct cannonballs actually blasted a hole in a section of the village wall.

The cannonball hit the ground, chipping away at the top of the soil and exposing the rocks underneath. Then it flew out, taking the arm of a Ming soldier with it.

Amidst the screams, the high-temperature carbonized wooden wall collapsed. However, before Huang Ting could react, the Qing army's artillery shells came one after another.

"Fight back! Quick!"

The Qing army's artillery attack began, and the Ming army responded immediately. Guns, artillery, and even bows and arrows were fired into the thick fog as if they were free of charge, as if they could shoot through the fear.

.However, the camp was dead but the people were alive, and the Qing army's earlier artillery positions were not exposed. The Ming army's counterattack was like pebbles thrown into the Yellow River, disappearing without a trace without even a sound.

.

After the shelling, the Qing infantry swarmed in. This time, the camp was in ruins, and the Ming army rushed to fight. The two sides soon fought together. However, the Qing army was stronger, and the Ming army was gradually squeezed out.

The camp was completely defeated and fled when more and more Qing troops appeared in front of them.

"Don't chase too far, be careful of ambush."

Dense fog was extremely dangerous for the Ming army, and the same was true for the Qing army. After seizing the camp on the right ridge, the Qing army turned to attack Zhongchong Town on the left ridge after a short expulsion.

Reinforcement Campaign When Zuozhen and Youchong Town were attacked by the Qing army, Zhongchong Town did not rush to the rescue. It was not because they didn't want to, but they simply didn't know it at the beginning. When the shelling started and the thick fog blocked their sight, they didn't know what to do.
Chapter completed!