July is between mid-summer and early autumn, with the midday sun still raging and the overall temperature dropping slightly during the day. Coming all the way from the Qinghe Shahe Ancient Road, the seedlings and trees on both sides of the road are lush and verdant, and sometimes it is very cool under the shade of the trees when walking.

Everywhere there were peasants harvesting their crops, and because the fighting in Beiping ended quickly, the people were not affected. The impact of King Yan's streak is not trivial, in addition to the rapid improvement of the morale of the army, for ordinary people, it does not matter who will be the emperor at all, it is important to ensure that the subjects under his rule live and work in peace and contentment, and the rapid and stable dìng of most of the Beiping Mansion will inevitably make the people's hearts gather peacefully, and there will be a vital sense of belonging to the Yan King, on the contrary, the people's instability will be accompanied by the instability of the army, and the fate of defeat is doomed in advance.

Xu Hao, like everyone else, hoped that the civil war between the royal families would be fought as much as possible, and the brothers would suffer fewer casualties, perhaps the Shenji Battalion in his hand would be the key means to change the course of the war.

After getting out of Juyong Pass, the road is rugged and winding, the mountains on both sides seem to have no end, the forward cavalry has turned around and entered the deep mountains, Xu Hao accompanied Zhu Di to look back, the team continued to meander forward, and the army behind the palace had not yet turned the mountain.

Gazing at Juyongguan behind him, this scene is really a Xiongguan iron horse, swallowing thousands of miles like a tiger. Zhu Di was arrogant and said: "Your king of the Shenji Battalion is very optimistic, and after this big victory, I will allocate you 5,000 soldiers and horses, and seize the time to train the soldiers and cast firearms." ”

Xu Hao said: "Yes! This time, I want to accompany my uncle to take the lead. ”

Zhu Di smiled and said: "It's not that I underestimate your martial arts, but your skills are not used in the charge, and the losses caused by damage are immeasurable, so you give me an honest rear." This king must set an example, otherwise the whole army will be willing to fight to the death with me? Needless to say, if you really get into a bitter battle, it's not too late for you to come to the aid with your troops. ”

Xu Hao said helplessly: "Okay, I originally wanted Gao Xi to be with me." But this kid had to lead the cavalry, and he thought the foot soldiers were walking too slowly. Then my uncle asked Zhang Fu to be the commander of the Shenji Battalion, so that I could take time out to do something else. ”

Zhu Di said with interest: "What are you going to do, let's hear it." ”

Xu Hao said with a smile: "The appearance of firearms will make the current hand-to-hand combat turn into shooting at each other at a distance, and now there are too many places where firearms can be improved, and one day after the speed of loading ammunition is greatly accelerated, musketeers will become a nightmare for cavalry." In addition to caring about the improvement of firearms, I also want to prepare a naval army to cut off the grain route to Liaodong. ”

Zhu Di's expression changed slightly. He asked, "Isn't it true that just a few people can kill a soldier with high martial arts?" ”

Xu Hao nodded and said, "Like knives and guns, even if you have no power to restrain the chicken, you can shoot a strong man with this." ”

Zhu Di muttered: "Then the improved firearms you said must not be spread, otherwise the danger is too great, those craftsmen must be monitored, and no one is allowed to leave, and in the future, the Shenji Battalion will be under my command as a pro-military battalion." ”

"Yes!" Xu Hao's expression remained unchanged.

Zhu Di looked at the outstanding young man who was walking half a step behind him with appreciation, and secretly sighed why he was not his son? If so, how good it would be, and there is no need to worry about the selection of the crown prince.

Shake your head. Zhu Di, who was about to face a life-and-death battle, didn't want to be distracted, turned over and walked forward.

Xu Hao was not surprised that Zhu Di would put the Shenji Battalion by his side, and the emperor would always use the strongest troops to defend the Beijing Division, but he didn't expect Zhu Di to even control the craftsmen. Is it to change the tradition of the first emperor to allow the local guards to make their own zuò fire guns?

The big battle was imminent, and Xu Hao didn't have time to think deeply about it, as the army marched for about an hour, the terrain ahead suddenly flattened. Although it is not the desert Gobi outside the Saiwai, it is also full of sand and rocks, and few trees are seen.

A few white clouds in the sky slowly fluttered and looked particularly blue, and a large river with a gentle flow of water lay in front of it. On the other side of the river, countless flags fluttered in the wind, and everywhere were densely packed with officers and soldiers.

Xu Hao's scalp was a little numb, and it was the first time that he had learned a large-scale confrontation between the two armies, and the atmosphere of slaughter was suffocating.

The vanguard of the Yan army had already lined up on both flanks to respond, and the 2,000 Chinese troops were a little confused, and Zhu Di took the lead in standing at the forefront, watching the deployment of the opponent's troops.

Xu Hao was just about to find a place on higher ground, when he saw the officers and soldiers on the other side turn around and retreat in great stride, and they actually took the initiative to retreat ten miles.

Zhu Di decisively ordered: "The former army and the army cross the river." With that, he rode his horse to the beach, dripping pebbles and walking towards the opposite shore.

Commander Ling Qi waved the flag to give orders to the whole army, and soon nearly 1,000 cavalry on both wings led the war horses down the river, splashing everywhere, and the Chinese army immediately followed.

Xu Hao ordered: "Set up artillery by the river, the musketeers line up in front, and the cavalry protects." ”

At that moment, more than 500 people from Xu Hao's Shenji Battalion began to move, and Mu Hui rode over and asked, "Why don't you cross the river?" ”

Xu Hao explained: "We are the rear army, the reserve, and we have to wait for the military order to cross the river. ”

"I see." Mu Hui stopped talking nonsense, turned the horse's head and returned to his team.

At this moment, Zhu Di understands the importance of this battle, it can be said that Song Zhong's more than 30,000 people are the strongest army of the imperial court in the north, and this battle is also the real first battle after the uprising. And if this battle is won, the officers and troops around Beiping can be said to be basically wiped out.

Since Lan Yu Feng Sheng and other famous generals have died, Zhu Di has enough confidence to defeat anyone, although he will not underestimate the enemy, but Song Zhong's past record can only show that the other party is a mediocre general, plus two-thirds of his subordinates have been his subordinates for many years, and Zhu Di knows that the victory is eighteen or nineteen before the war starts.

Suddenly, Xu Hao, who heard Xu Hao behind him, laughed and said: "Song Zhong's name is good, no wonder the imperial court will send him, but the loyal word should be changed to the final word of the end, otherwise wouldn't it be to send loyalty to the prince?" It seems that Song Zhong will kneel down and surrender to the prince in a while, shouting that my loyalty has been sent, prince, please spare your life. ”

The sergeants of the Shenji Battalion immediately burst into laughter, and soon this story spread throughout the army, causing everyone to point at the opposite officers and soldiers and laugh at it.

Zhu Di smiled and said: "Yes, Song Zhong's name is wonderful. ”

Jin Zhong said with a smile on the side: "Judging by its name, it can be said that the winner has been decided. ”

On the other side, Song Zhong heard the laughter of the other party's whole army, and was a little confused, and continued to say to the soldiers of the whole army: "King Yan is narrow-minded and killing, and his relatives have been killed by him. Listen, these murderers are laughing at them, how can they allow the rebels who have lost their conscience to go unpunished? Today, Song wants to take revenge with everyone. ”

More than 20,000 soldiers from Beiping were stunned, and then all of them roared with red eyes and anger, holding the weapons in their hands, and some of them wept and lost their voices, and their sad and desolate mood instantly infected the whole army.

Song Zhong saw that the army's heart was available, and he was overjoyed and said: "The whole army is dispatched, and today it will fight to the death with the traitors." ”

Looking at the overwhelming officers and soldiers rushing over, Zhu Di's face did not change, and said with a smile: "Stupid, give the order to drum!" ”

The rumbling drums sounded, and the more than 20,000 angry officers and soldiers couldn't help but slow down, which was the drum beat of the army ordering their subordinates to be sorted out.

"Zhang Gouzi, I'm your father!" "Big brother, I'm Zhou Gazi, your younger brother!"

Yan Jun shouted the names of his father, brother and son loudly, which made the officers and soldiers who rushed over really surprised, and after a little calm, how could they not understand that they were deceived by the boss? At this time, how can you meet your relatives and soldiers? I didn't have much fighting spirit, but I completely relaxed at the moment.

Suddenly, there was chaos in the official army, many people stopped running, and the other officers and soldiers also slowed down when they saw this, no matter how loudly Song Zhong's descendants drove away, it was useless.

At the juncture when the officers and troops were in doubt, Zhu Di decisively ordered the whole army to attack, and the Yan army rushed forward with a clamour.

Xu Hao ordered: "Shoot at no one." ”

Rumble! Rumble! With the loud noise and dust and smoke, the drum sound immediately changed, becoming rapid and powerful and shocking, the Yan army was imposing and fearless of life and death and frantically attacked the officers and soldiers in front of them, the more than 20,000 old departments of the Yan Wangfu were all battle-hardened people, without the leadership of the captain, they immediately obeyed the movement of the flag and the horn, and turned around and rushed to the rear with a roar. Just kidding, you can't die at the hands of your own brother at this time.

As he ran, a lieutenant shouted, "Take off your armor, take off your armor." ”

The 20,000 people deserved to be elite, and they quickly took off the armor pieces in front of and behind them, and when they completely broke away, they started to line up in a chaotic manner, trying to block the back road of the officers and soldiers.

Xu Hao, who was standing on the top of the mountain, witnessed this scene of battlefield wonders with his own eyes, and couldn't help but be amazed, this is the ability of the ancient commanders, with the personal qualities that have been repeatedly practiced over the years, and the command and coordination with various horns, banners, and war drums, he can do it to the whole army like an arm, and there is no need for the generals to convey orders on the battlefield.

Song Zhong gritted his teeth and ordered everyone to destroy more than 5,000 people of King Yan first, and then persuade the rebels behind to surrender, as a result of a fierce battle, the officers and troops were defeated.

In the melee, Xu Hao's Shenji battalion was useless, and could only shoot the occasional rush over, and Mu Hui led a hundred cavalry to disperse and intercept those who crossed the river.

Xu Hao still has no blood on his hands, no enemy is near, and the combat strength of the Yan army, which is like a rainbow, is much stronger than that of a scattered army of officials.

He commanded Sun Tai to be covered with blood and armor, and died on the battlefield with the deputy general Peng Ju and others, while a large number of generals such as Song Zhong and Yu Yao were captured, the Yan army beheaded thousands of people, and the remaining 10,000 people all surrendered, but none of them escaped.

Nearly 10,000 horses were seized alone, and countless grains and grasses were loaded, and when Zhuang De fled, he was personally chased by Zhu Gaoxu and hacked to death on the horse.

The victorious Yan army raised its weapons and cheered, and then Xu Hao did not want to see the scene, Song Zhong and more than 100 generals were beheaded because they did not surrender, and blood stained the river red. (To be continued......)