On November 18, the eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, there was a stone bridge over the Tang River more than ten miles north of Dingzhou, which was more than four feet wide. There was a terrain on the Tang River fifteen miles northeast of the stone bridge.
It is quite high, and there is an abandoned village fortress called Huangtugang.
Lu Xiangsheng's Xuan army was stationed here. All the generals gathered in the Chinese army's tent. After Lu Xiangsheng sat firmly on the top of the case, he continued in a deep voice: "Today, our army is stationed here. Tomorrow morning at Yin time
Make food, break camp at Mao hour, occupy the stone bridge first, cross the Tang River with the whole army, and then set up a new stronghold. Do not advance rashly and think that the Eastern captives will take advantage of you."
All the generals shouted in unison.
Lu Xiangsheng thought for a while and then said loudly: "Tomorrow at Mao hour, Shanxi Town Tiger General Soldier will lead the cavalry of the headquarters as the vanguard and seize the stone bridge under the moonlight; Shanxi Town Staff General Jiang Mingwu will lead the cavalry of the headquarters and advance two miles west of the stone bridge.
Set up defenses to guard the flanks for Tiger General;
Xuanzhen guerrilla Zhang Cheng led his cavalry and marched to the official road three miles north of Shiqiao to guard the area to prevent Donglu cavalry from harassing our army when crossing the bridge;
Yang Guozhu, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, led the cavalry of the headquarters and the governor as the central army; Zhang Yan, the commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, led the infantry of each town and followed the central army of the governor to escort grain, grass, artillery and other military supplies; Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief of Datong,
Lead the cavalry of our headquarters to cut off the rear of the army."
All the generals in the tent were gearing up and loudly received military orders.
Lu Xiangsheng once again told the generals that all the ministries must step up outposts tonight. It is impossible for the 20,000-strong army not to be discovered by the Qing army. Tomorrow's war is imminent, and they must arrange outposts at night to prevent the Donglu from stealing the camp.
Then the generals discussed some specific details with Lu Xiangsheng, and then returned to their camps to prepare.
…………
Zhang Cheng's camp is still in the same camp as the general Zhang Yan. However, although the four sentry commanders under him still treat Zhang Yan with respect, they already vaguely regard Zhang Cheng as their only commander-in-chief.
This is exactly what Zhang Cheng hopes to see, and it is also Zhang Cheng's biggest gain from joining the Medical Service King.
Although Zhang Yan also loved and cared for him, there were too many restrictions under Zhang Yan's wings, and he was ultimately unable to develop his ambitions according to Zhang Cheng's own ideas.
Coming into this world alone, Zhang Yan's various cares for him were both cause and effect, and fate. It was true that Zhang Cheng was grateful in his heart, but he could not let these become a hindrance to his ambitions.
After he was promoted to guerrilla general after he made a great contribution to the stone bridge, all the sentry commanders and generals under his command expressed their willingness to follow him on the battlefield and die for him.
Especially after Zhang Yan said that after King Qin's affairs were over, Zhang Cheng's four sentry elite cavalry would be the foundation for his new patrol camp.
Cheng, in the army, he only took orders from Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Yan also intended to support his nephew Zhang Cheng to serve independently. Since Zhang Cheng was promoted to guerrilla, he had not issued military orders to Zhang Cheng or Zhang Cheng's generals. Everything was decided by Zhang Cheng himself.
Only on some important matters, Zhang Yan still privately reminded Zhang Cheng. On the surface, everything in Zhang Cheng's army was determined by his word. Step by step, Zhang Cheng's prestige in the army doubled.
…………
There is a wasteland in the southwest of Huangtugang. The terrain is high in the north and low in the south. It is more than a mile away from the Tang River. Zhang Cheng's camp is located here, next to Zhang Yan's camp.
The outer perimeter is a fence wall surrounded by large wood. The fence wall is divided into upper and lower layers. The upper layer is paved with thick wooden boards, and a part extends outward, like a hanging house. People can walk on it, making it convenient for the sergeants who watch the night to patrol.
post.
The space on the lower floor stores weapons needed for defense. The sergeants responsible for defense at night also gather here to escape the cold wind of winter nights.
Ten steps away from the fence wall, iron caltrops and other materials were scattered, and some horse-repelling stakes were placed in some places suitable for war horses to rush. There was only one gate in Zhang Cheng's camp that led to the official road not far away.
In the camp, smoke was rising from the cooking stoves, and the fire soldiers were busy preparing dinner. Other sergeants were taking care of their horses and checking whether any equipment was damaged. Clothes, armor, weapons, saddles, dry food, water bottles, etc. were all in good condition.
Check it at any time. If it is damaged, it must be repaired and replaced in time.
Zhang Cheng walked around the camp, with Chen Zhong leading four guards following him. From time to time along the way, there were commanders and team officers standing on both sides of the road, reporting loudly. Zhang Cheng waved and smiled.
Wave your hands and let them go about their business.
At the camp of the right sentry post, Zhang Cheng met the sentry commander Wu Zhizhong, and the two of them went to see the few sergeants who were slightly injured at the foot of Gaoyang City. Their injuries were not serious. They had been marching for days, and most of them were sitting in large carts.
At this time, everyone was almost recovered, so Zhang Cheng couldn't help but give some words of comfort.
After coming out of the wounded soldiers' tent, Zhang Cheng said to Wu Zhizhong: "Old Wu, call your two commanders and come to my tent to gather together tonight."
Although Zhang Cheng's words were said politely, Wu Zhizhong could naturally hear the meaning behind his words. He hurriedly called the soldiers around him and immediately called his two generals to prepare before he asked with a smile.
: "General, do you have some wine?"
"Ha ha……"
Zhang Cheng said with a hearty smile: "Of course there is wine, but I can't have all the fun tonight."
After he finished speaking, he ordered Chen Zhong to send people back to his Chinese army tent to make preparations, and then sent people to notify the other three sentry commanders, and together with the commanders from each sentry, they all went to the guerrilla general Zhang Cheng's tent.
Get together.
…………
That night.
In front of the tent of Zhang Cheng's army, two fires were lit. One was a bonfire, and a large pot was set up on it with some horse meat stewed in it. His guards sat around the big pot, eating steamed buns and drinking.
Broth, and occasionally you can eat a piece of thoroughly cooked horse meat.
The other is a charcoal fire with a shelf set up on it. A part-time fireman from Zhang Cheng's personal guard is carefully roasting horse meat. However, it is obvious that this roasted horse meat is not for himself, because a man beside him
On the small table, there were half-eaten buns and a bowl of broth.
In the large tent of the Chinese army, Zhang Cheng was sitting behind the desk in front of him. On the desk in front of him were stewed horsemeat and roasted horsemeat, as well as a full bowl of wine.
The first person on the left hand side is the governor of the town, deputy Qianhu He Biao, the front sentry commander Chen Zheng, the rear sentry commander Hu Dake and other three people. Behind them sit the four commanders of the front sentry and the rear sentry.
On the right hand side are the left sentry commander Zhang Guangda, the right sentry commander Wu Zhizhong, and the personal escort officer Chen Zhong. Behind them are the same four commanders, sitting in order.
On the table in front of each of them were some stewed and roasted horse meat, as well as newly steamed steamed buns, plus a large wine bowl. In the middle of the military tent was a large pot with horse meat cooked in it.
, there is also a charcoal stove with a large pot of rice wine warming on it.
Two of Zhang Cheng's personal soldiers were waiting in the military tent, ready to feed the officers with meat and wine. On both sides of the large felt curtain at the entrance of the military tent, there were two small tables on each side. When there was no need to wait, the two personal soldiers
The soldiers were eating quietly here, but they had no wine to drink.