In mid-March, Hongnong County.

The Northern Xinjiang Army launched an all-out attack on Hongnong County. Relying on its absolute superiority in numbers, the Northern Frontier Army attacked Hongnong County from six directions at the same time from west to east.

Although the northern army in the six directions of Fenglingdu, Hucheng, Hongnongcheng, Caoyangting, Maojindu, and Dayangcheng was fully prepared, in the face of the overwhelming attack of the northern army, they were panicked for a while, and they asked Niu Fu for help.

Prior to this, Dong Zhuo and the generals of the Xiliang Army discussed defensive strategies many times. There are 50,000 main forces of the Northern Xinjiang Army in Hedong and 100,000 Tuntian soldiers, if Li Yi throws all these 150,000 people into the attack, Hongnong will definitely be lost. However, considering the shortage of food and salary in the northern Xinjiang army, Dong Zhuo and the generals of the Western Liang Army agreed that Li Yi would invest a maximum of 30,000 to 40,000 troops to attack a certain place in Hongnong County, and then use another 10,000 to 20,000 troops to threaten Guanzhong from the direction of Pubanjin in order to force Dong Zhuo to withdraw from Guandong.

It was from these points that Dong Zhuo was very confident that Li Yi would definitely attack Hongnong City with heavy troops. The territory of Hongnong County is mostly steep and high mountains, and the galloping road is built along the Yellow River, passing through several cities, but it does not pass through Hongnong City.

Hongnong City is located on the bank of the Yellow River, about 50 miles from the Chidao that connects Chang'an and Luoyang. As long as the Northern Xinjiang Army captures Hongnong City, Chidao will be seriously threatened, and at this time, Dong Zhuo can only quickly withdraw from Kanto when Chidao is not blocked. If the Northern Frontier Army attacked other places, the gallop would be cut off immediately, so that it would not be able to frighten Dong Zhuo away and reduce its own casualties.

Dong Zhuo arranged heavy troops in Hongnong City, and asked Niu Fu to lead 5,000 men and horses to garrison the galloping road south of Hongnong City in order to support at any time.

But judging from the current attack of the Northern Xinjiang Army, the estimates of Dong Zhuo and the generals of the Northern Army were all wrong. Li Yi seems to have mobilized 150,000 troops from Hedong to launch an attack at the same time, and he has the posture of killing Dong Zhuo at the cost of burning jade.

Niu Fu wanted to tell Dong Zhuo about it, but Li Ru waved his hand to stop him: "Don't worry, lord, in my opinion, this is all Li Yi's feint, and the real main attack has not yet begun." ”

In order to ensure Hongnong's safety, Dong Zhuo transferred Zhonglang Duan Xuan to Niu Fu's tent, and asked Dong Yue to garrison Tongguan instead of Duan Xuan.

Duan Xuan carefully analyzed the urgent reports of generals everywhere for Niu Fu, and said: "In the past three days, the Northern Xinjiang Army has started attacks from six directions, but judging from the strength and number of attacks, they are all feints. The spring ploughing and spring harvest in Hedong are about to begin, and Li Yi will definitely not recruit Tuntian soldiers. For Li Yi, the grain in Hedong is as important as the land of Gyeonggi, and he will not give up any of them. ”

"Now our soldiers are scattered when they see the hussar general's hussar guards, and when they hear the shouts of the Northern Xinjiang Army, they are all broken, and the prestige of the Xiliang Army has been lost to these people. The general immediately sent a message everywhere, ordering them to guard against death, and whoever let the northern army cross the river would take his head to see the Taishi. ”

Niu Fu trusted Duan Xuan very much, and after listening to Duan Xuan's analysis, he suddenly felt much more relieved, and said, "Brother Zhongming, then you say, where is the direction of Li Yi's attack?" ”

"Hongnong City." Duan Xuan said with great certainty, "It must be in Hongnong City." ”

………………

Early in the morning, Caoyang Pavilion.

The sky was hazy, and a thick layer of mist floated on the surface of the river. The soldiers of the Northern Army stationed on the river embankment fought fiercely for three days in a row, and they were very tired and still asleep in their dreams. Sentinels in twos and threes, armed with weapons, wandered the blood-stained riverbank.

A large ship suddenly rushed out of the morning mist. A sentry on the embankment pointed to the incoming boat in surprise and said, "So early today? It's not dawn yet. ”

"It's the same if you come early or late, and it's all death anyway." Another soldier rubbed his cold hands and yawned lazily, "Guess how many times the Northern Frontier Army will attack today?" Is it the same as yesterday, three times in the morning and three times in the afternoon? ”

"Seven times." The soldier laughed, "It's early today, it must be seven times." ”

"Drumming...... Drumming ......" Army Sima Yanghong was sleepy-eyed, stood on the embankment and raised his hand and shouted, "Get up, get up for me, prepare to meet ......"

"Crossbowmen, line, line......"

The sound of rapid and fierce war drums broke the silence of the riverbank in an instant, followed by the shouts of the officers, the scolding of the soldiers, and the clashing of weapons. Under the command of their respective officers and various battle flags, the Xiliang sergeants slowly walked to their respective combat positions.

Yang Hong was very dissatisfied with the laziness of the soldiers, he cursed loudly, and then turned to look at the river.

On the river, there is not a lonely big ship, but dozens of big boats, followed by a group of Mengchong and Chima of different sizes, these boats are like ghosts, suddenly rushing out of the morning fog, the momentum is amazing.

Yang Hong's face changed greatly, and he involuntarily shouted at the top of his throat: "Ask for help, ask for help immediately......"

Caoyang Pavilion is forty miles away from Hongnong City and fifty miles away from Niufu's big camp. Niu Fu considered that the three places could support each other, and the focus of defense here was Hongnong City, so he only arranged for 2,000 northern troops to be stationed in Caoyang Pavilion.

In the past three days of the war, the Northern Xinjiang Army's attack on Hongnong City was relatively fierce, and the attack on Cao Yangting was much sparse, which made people feel that the Northern Xinjiang Army attacked Cao Yang Pavilion as if it was to cope with errands and contain troops.

Who would have thought that Cao Yangting would be the main direction of attack of the Northern Xinjiang Army.

"Look, general, ship...... Many boats ...... "The heralds did not rush away, but pointed to the river and cried out in fear.

Yang Hong turned around again, his expression even more shocked.

Immediately behind the assault ships were a group of black-pressed ships, numbering in the hundreds, all of which were armoured soldiers of the Northern Frontier. Yang Hong knew that this must be the main force of the Northern Xinjiang Naval Army, except for the legendary "Yanjing" and the first-class and second-class warships because the ships were too big, the Yellow River above Pingyin could not be passed, and they could not reach Caoyangting, and the rest of the ships probably basically came here.

Yang Hong turned around violently and ran wildly: "Brothers, bloody battle, bloody battle, swear to die bloody battle today......"

The officers and men of the Xiliang Army were frightened, and everyone was in danger.

………………

In the Yellow River, on a third-class warship (displacement of 500-1,000 tons) at the front of the Northern Xinjiang fleet, Xu Huang stood firmly on the bow with a big axe in his hand, looking at the chaotic Xiliang army on the other bank, with a sneer on his face.

This is the first time he has participated in a large-scale military operation since joining the Northern Xinjiang Army, and he can be a pioneer general, Xu Huang believes that this is the lord's trust in him. He was confident that he would fight this landing battle well and open the way for the army to advance.

"Drumming ......"

"Ballista Ready ......"

The sound of the drums shook the earth, and in an instant it tore through the hazy sky.

Fifty third-class battleships (originally there were only forty, and ten new ones were built in the past period) were lined up, with long shields like walls, guns and halberds like forests, and in the center of the deck were two ballistae with open mouths. Fifty third-class battleships and a hundred ballistas were pushed to the front of the deck to the thunderous drums of war.

………………

Yang Hong looked at the enemy ships that were getting closer and closer, and his heart became more and more frightened.

The Northern Xinjiang Army can defeat the Hu people in Liaodong, the iron cavalry of the Wuhuan people, the Huns and the Xianbei people, and sweep the desert. Today is probably more auspicious, and this life is going to be lost here. After a few days of fighting, I always thought that the Northern Frontier Army was nothing more than that. Today, it seems that I have been deceived.

He looked back at the soldiers behind him. The soldiers were also frightened by the sudden appearance of the Northern Xinjiang army, and their expressions were extremely nervous.

Yang Hong calmed down and slowly raised the battle knife in his hand.

Can't I run if I can't beat it?

"Shoot the ......"

Long arrows roared like clouds.

………………

Xu Huang stood on the ground with an axe, staggered to the center of the deck, raised his head and shouted: "Let go...... Arrow ......"

"Boom...... Boom..."

The roar of the ballista was like a series of earth-shattering thunder, and it resounded through the sky in an instant.

The arrows rained down, sharp and dense. The "......thump" of a long arrow hitting the shield Knock ......" sound is thrilling.

"Whew......" A long arrow grazed Xu Huang's helmet and roared, nailing it into the deck fiercely. Xu Huang was just about to open his mouth to scold, when another long arrow came at him. Xu Huang shrank his neck suddenly, his body flashed, and it happened that the warship shook violently, Xu Huang stood unsteadily, and fell headlong on the deck.

Xu Huang was so angry that he scolded viciously, tilted his head and shouted: "Order Meng Chong and Chima, rush up immediately, rush up......"

………………

"Ballistas, they're firing ballistas." Yang Hong shouted hysterically in the deafening roar, "Raise your shield...... Raise your shield ......"

The shield soldiers had already erected their shields, and the crossbowmen also retreated behind the shield soldiers in time, but the power of the ballista was too great, and the soldiers of the Xiliang Army watched the dense crossbow arrows shoot through Yang Hong's small shield and shoot through Yang Hong's armor, and the huge impact of the crossbow arrows knocked Yang Hong, who opened his mouth and shouted wildly, into the air and flew up.

"Whew...... Shout...... Whew......"

Countless bolts pierced through the shield, pierced through the shield-bearers, and then rained down on the archers' bodies. The shieldmen fell silently, and the archers fell to the ground, rolling and howling miserably.

At this time, the archers of the Northern Frontier Army were already standing on the rickety sill boats and began to shoot unscrupulously at the shore. Countless long arrows continued to shoot up into the sky, quickly forming a huge black cloud.

The Xiliang army was hit hard, and for a time there were heavy casualties and the formation was in chaos.

Commander Chu Meng appeared in the rear of the army at the right time and continued to command the army: "Drumming...... Stabilize the array and stop the Northern Frontier Army. ”

………………

Meng Chong and Chima hit the shore one after another, and the soldiers of northern Xinjiang jumped off the warship one after another, holding their shields, and shouted forward, "Kill, kill......

When the warship approached the shore, Xu Huang took the lead, jumped into the waist-deep icy river, and shouted loudly: "Brothers, go, go, kill me and take the Caoyang Pavilion ......"

Up and down the river embankment, the sound of killing shook the sky, and flesh and blood flew sideways.

The Xiliang army was condescending, and the number of people was superior, and the Northern Xinjiang army was suppressed on the river beach, and the casualties were extremely heavy. Xu Huang was so brave that he killed seventeen people in a row, and led his soldiers to thirty steps in a row, and finally rushed to the river embankment.

When the transport ship arrived on the shore, hundreds of officers and men of the Northern Xinjiang Army successfully landed, and the rolling flow of people swarmed up the sea in a crowd.

The Xiliang army couldn't resist and was defeated one after another, and then Chu Meng was killed by a stray arrow in the process of retreating, and the Xiliang army immediately lost its command and was defeated. (To be continued.) )