The Taishan Army came out half an hour later than the Han Army on the opposite side. In other words, they rested half an hour longer than the Han Army.
After having a high-calorie breakfast prepared by the baggage camp, all the ministries arrived at their designated positions according to the arrangements of the military meeting last night.
Zhang Chong led the colliding officials on horseback and watched the ministries mobilize like fish scales. This time, a total of 18,000 people from his Central Guard Army accompanied him to Zhongren Pavilion, 10,000 people from Dong Fang's rear army marshal's troops, and Yang
Mao's temporary army consisted of 8,000 men, with a total strength of 36,000.
When Zhang Chong just looked at the Han army's formation on the opposite slope, based on the enemy's camp flags, there were probably twenty battalions and about 20,000 soldiers.
Zhang Chong knew very well that the Han army must have more than this number, otherwise old man Lu Zhi would not dare to fight him. In this case, there should be a considerable reserve army on the back of the slope.
And he didn't see Lu Zhi's banner on the front slope. There was only one banner with the word "Wei" on it. This shows that this time the Han army used the dual commander model. In this case, the total strength of the Han army should not be less than 50,000.
So this is a decisive battle between 36,000 people and an enemy of about 40,000 to 50,000 people. It can be fought.
The only thing Zhang Chong is worried about now is the Hejian Corps. Zhang Dan has not yet sent military information, and it is not known whether he has captured this soldier.
The reason why Zhang Chong cares about this partial division is not because he really thinks how powerful it is, but because he is worried that if enemy reinforcements suddenly appear when the war is getting anxious, his own morale will plummet, and he will be unable to win by then.
Lost the fight.
Zhang Chong looked at the sky again, and soon Yu Jin's soldiers reported the news, saying that the Central Guards had arrived at the designated position and had completed their formation.
After a while, Dong Fang's rear army marshal also sent news that he could go out at any time after the formation was completed.
Finally, Yang Mao's garrison troops also formed up, waiting for the next military order from the Chinese army.
Zhang Chong nodded. From what he could see, the central defense army was arrayed in the center, the rear army was arrayed on the left, and the garrison army was arrayed on the right. It was a simple arrangement but it exuded endless murderous energy.
This is the momentum of a veteran of hundreds of battles.
In fact, Zhang Chong was still very pressed for time because he was concerned about the partial division of the Han army, but by this time, Zhang Chong's strong endurance was shown.
Although he was in a hurry, he still arranged everything in an orderly manner.
Moreover, after seeing the battlefield conditions, the eight cavalry generals who just rode suddenly said that the current wet road on the battlefield was not conducive to the cavalry's charge and attack, so they wanted to wait until the sun came out to dry the road a little more before attacking.
In fact, there is no need for these eight generals to say this. Zhang Chong himself also made this judgment. Because of the active pursuit and interception in Sanhe Pavilion, the most important Youzhou assault cavalry of the Zhenbei Army was actually either reduced or went to the Hejian Army with Gai Tong.
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Although the size of the remaining Han cavalry was okay, most of them were barbarians and their fighting spirit was not determined. Therefore, in this battle, the four thousand elite assault cavalry in Zhang Chong's hands became his important combat force.
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Therefore, even if it is to ensure that the cavalry can exert its maximum combat power, Zhang Chong must hold on to his fighting spirit and wait for the right opportunity.
Perhaps this battle was too important, and Lu Zhi on the opposite side was also very cautious. After arranging all his forces, he also chose to sit back and fight to conserve his energy.
The coaches of both sides were not in a hurry to launch an attack, so the officers and soldiers of the various battalions below were happy to conserve their energy.
Most of the Taishan Army are veterans. Although they are also very nervous about this battle, they are not foolishly anxious and internally consumed, but are doing some things of their own.
Many people are polishing weapons. In addition to their own standard weapons, these veterans also have their own private soldiers. Some have been captured or exchanged. These are their last weapons to save their lives.
There are also many people who are sewing armbands onto their military uniforms. They are obviously worried that if they die, their armbands will be lost. Then the camp will not be able to determine his identity, and it will be troublesome to provide compensation.
It's not that these veterans don't care about life and death, but they know that life belongs to God. It depends on God's will when to take it away, and all they can do is to let their families receive pensions in peace and peace of mind.
The baggage teams of each battalion were not idle either. Although they did not have to go to the battlefield and had a certain degree of stability, their fate was actually tied to the soldiers of the Taishan Army. If the soldiers were defeated, they would not survive.
Every battalion is a ship, and everyone is on this ship, working together in the same boat.
The baggage soldiers prepared the meat and boiled salt water in the pot. After it cooled down, the auxiliary soldiers filled it in bamboo tubes and sent it to the officials outside.
These brine and the pieces of meat sent later will be their full complement during the war.
But the busiest thing is the medical battalion belonging to the Chinese army. About 700 medical craftsmen will deal with the injuries of all the frontline officers in today's war.
At this moment, more than a hundred large pots were boiling, filled with bandages and saws. There was also a simple camp beside it, which could accommodate five hundred people for surgery at the same time.
The Chinese army's baggage officers and soldiers were also constantly encouraging the stretcher-bearing teams accompanying the battalion, telling them how important their work was. Every time a Taishan army officer was sent back in time, one less warrior might be killed.
To put it bluntly, whether the family members of the military personnel in the rear of the battle were crying or laughing all depended on these stretcher teams.
While all the battalions were busy, Guo Zu whispered to Zhang Chong who was still watching the formation:
"Your Majesty, the meal is ready."
Zhang Chong nodded, and without any hesitation, he led the offending officials back to the big tent at the rear.
There was a flat open space there, a huge curtain had been erected, and a simple shogunate army was deployed.
When Zhang Chong came, all generals above the rank of general in the entire army camp were present.
It turned out that this was a pre-war mobilization meal for middle- and high-level military officials.
After Zhang Chong took his seat, he said directly without saying any nonsense:
"Everyone eats."
After saying that, he first grabbed a boiled pork elbow and started biting into it.
Those present were all fierce generals who had followed Zhang Chong to fight for several years. They had walked between life and death so many times. There were so many pretentious farewells. So, like Zhang Chong, they all took an elbow and gnawed at it.
An elbow weighed two kilograms. Zhang Chong ate it in one go and finally burped with satisfaction.
Then I watched the brothers below eating.
Among these people were old brothers who had reunited with him in the forest, some were former Han soldiers, some were children of powerful men, some were knights and heroes, and some had names and surnames in history, but they were all old brothers who had lived and died with Zhang Chong.
As a martial artist, eating is fast.
Not long after Zhang Chong finished eating, he had finished everything below. Ru Dianwei roughly touched the oil on his lips and said with a smile:
"It's strange to say that in the past, when I was unknown, eating meat once in a while was the most enjoyable time. Later, when I ate more meat, I found that I couldn't find the pleasure that I had in the past. But today, our old dian is again
It was a very enjoyable meal. We, Lao Dian, had to kill a few more thieves after eating this meat today."
After Dian Wei finished speaking, Cai Que clapped his hands and echoed:
"Yes, yes, I have the same thought now, that is, it would be better if I had wine."
After Cai Que finished speaking, Yu Jin glared at him, then he turned to Zhang Chong and said:
"Your Majesty, all the ministries have been arranged. When shall we fight? The general is worried that if we delay any longer, we may let this old thief escape again."
Zhang Chong shook his head and affirmed:
"Lu Zhi won't run away. This time, in this Renting Pavilion, either he dies or I die. This is the final decisive battle between me and him."
Yu Jin nodded and stopped talking.
Zhang Chong looked at the generals in the tent again. There were more than sixty people, but Zhang Chong looked at every face carefully. The atmosphere that was originally aroused by Dian Wei and Cai Que gradually became suppressed.
Everyone pursed their lips and said nothing. They tried their best to look at Zhang Chong. This was the first time they looked at the king since he became the king.
The king didn't say a word, but they understood everything.
Time was tight, but Zhang Chong still looked at everyone and kept their faces at this moment firmly in his mind.
Gradually, Zhang Chong's eyes became moist, and he did not hide his emotions in front of his brothers. Because for many people, this time was their last appearance.
Zhang Chong put aside a tear from the corner of his eyes and made his final arrangements:
"We do not have an advantage in this battle. The enemy's tenacity is not comparable to that of our past opponents. So to win this battle, we may have to pay a lot, even including your life and mine. Yes, that's right.
It may include me. If my brothers and I die in this battle, the surviving brothers will lead the troops to find Adan. If unfortunately Adan fails to fight, then the brothers will go to Laoguan in the south. Don't think about it
To support my young son, for me, the ideals our brothers strive for are more important than the so-called inheritance."
Zhang Chong's words were interrupted for the first time, but it was Li Damu who knelt on the ground with red eyes and gnashed his teeth:
"Your Majesty, don't say these words. My Damu's life was changed by the King. If there are really going to be sacrifices in this battle, I, Li Damu, am willing to die for the Zhang family. Before I die, your Majesty will have no hair on my face."
It won’t hurt.”
Over there, Yu Jin also knelt on the ground calmly. He kowtowed and said firmly:
"Your Majesty, I swore before you that I would go through fire and water for the Zhang family for generations. But now I will still say this: 'Your Majesty, I will go through fire and water for the Zhang family for generations.' Please give the order."
The generals present had red eyes, and they roared:
"Please give the order."
Zhang Chong smiled. Although the tears in the corners of his eyes were there again, he was really smiling from the bottom of his heart.
He laughed:
"Okay, you guys will protect me, and I, Zhang Chong, will protect you too. Let us brothers fight together to create a peaceful and prosperous age."
The generals shouted:
"The war brings peace and prosperity."
The gangsters outside the curtain also heard this roar, and they also drew their swords and shouted:
"The war brings peace and prosperity."
The sound began to spread from the central guard army, to the rear army headquarters, and then to the town garrison, and the sound became louder and louder.
One person's voice may be small, but the voice of ten people is loud, and the voice of a hundred people is even louder.
But when 10,000, 50,000, or 100,000 people all chant a slogan, it is no longer a voice, it is a force, a force that changes the world.
At this moment, in the name of all living beings and with the power of the common people, the Taishan Army will seek peace and prosperity for the leaders of Guizhou for thousands of years.
The horrifying slogans reached the ears of the Han troops on the slope, shaking their minds. Many generals lost their balance and fell off their horses. In addition to bruises on their noses and faces, several of them broke their necks.
There was once a man who blocked the water and broke the bridge at Changbanpo, forcing the three armies to retreat. But the power of one person could not defeat the hearts of thousands. At this moment, the clouds above the Zhongren Pavilion were roared away, and more sunshine fell.
Lu Zhi's banner has been moved forward to the slope so that the whole army can see that he, Lu Zhi, is here.
Full of confidence, Lu Zhi was sitting calmly under the banner. But when he heard the battle cry of the Taishan Army below, especially when he heard the four words "Peace in the World", Lu Zhi began to hold his riding whip anxiously.
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He murmured:
"Didn't the Han Dynasty give you a prosperous age? The rule of Wen and Jing, the prosperous age of Xiaowu, and the prosperity of Guangwu. Although it is a little harder now, won't good times come every twenty years? Why are you so anxious? Just
Can’t you try any harder to be patient and patient?”
Lu Zhi's muttering became faster and faster, and he thought more and more. Next to him, Chang Shi Zhongfu took Lu Zhi's hand and said steadily:
"Shuai Lu, it's time for a decisive battle."
Then Lu Zhi was called back, and he finally stopped thinking about it and just waited quietly.
The time soon came to a quarter past three o'clock.
The gentle breeze and rising sun indicate that today will be a rare good weather, and the originally wet slopes will soon dry out.
Zhang Chong walked out of the tent, still wearing his mirrored armor, covered all over.
He walked up to the high platform of the Chinese Army, looked at the crimson mountains in the distance, took a deep breath, and said in a serious voice:
"Blast the war drum!"
The colliding officials below, including sixteen warriors including Chang Diao, Han Dang, and Cheng Pu, all shouted:
"Beat the war drum."
The eighty-six shirtless warriors who had been waiting for a long time began to beat the dull and heavy war drums under the clapping of the leader of the team.
This time the war drums kept going, and the warriors were replaced when they were exhausted, and the drum beat was not chaotic during the process.
A moment later, Zhang Chong murmured:
"Raise swords and soldiers, exchange for peace, and restore the Qingming Dynasty to the world!"
Sure enough, while Zhang Chong was thinking about it.
The ministries below also raised camp flags, battle flags, five-square flags, and back flags, and then shouted one after another:
"Raise swords and soldiers, exchange for peace, and restore the Qingming Dynasty to the world!"
The sound ranges from chaotic to unified, from calm to passionate.
Finally, Zhang Chong could no longer hold back his emotions and shouted passionately:
"war!"
…
Taishan's army has already gone to war, and the Han army here has also begun to fly around, beating drums frequently, and is ready to fight.
Under the banner, Lu Zhi put on the basin collar armor, and his originally stooped body became tall and mighty against the backdrop of the armor.
Lu Zhi's attendant Zheng Yi, whose father was Zheng Xuan, a great scholar in Qingzhou, was also Lu Zhi's senior brother. He helped Lu Zhi get on the saddle, but because the support was too strong, he accidentally pushed Lu Zhi to the other side of the saddle.
side.
Zheng Yi was a little panicked and hurriedly helped Lu Zhi straighten himself, feeling very ashamed.
Lu Zhi tapped Zheng Yi's helmet with his riding crop and said softly:
"Boy, when you help an old man of your uncle's age to get on the horse, you need to be gentle. Otherwise, he will fall down. At my age, if I fall down, I will never get up again."
Finally, Lu Zhi meaningfully told Zheng Yi:
"Protect your little junior brother. Once the war breaks out, I won't care about you anymore."
After speaking, Lu Zhi ignored the confused Zheng Yi and stepped forward to prepare to mobilize his army.
In this way, Zheng Yi watched his uncle's fiery red cloak getting farther and farther away, getting lighter and lighter, and finally could no longer be seen.
I cried three times while writing this article. I feel the righteousness of brothers, the devotion to ideals, and the all-out efforts. In the name of the common people and with the help of all the people, Zhang Chong, you must win this battle!