On the fifth day of the lunar month, 20,000 people from Ge Zuo and Xianying went north.

When they set out at the beginning, they were all the elite cavalrymen in various camps, wearing red cloaks, felt hats, or wrapped in headscarves. They were all murderous and were very skilled in riding immediately.

They rode their horses and galloped, either three or five, and many people roared for miles. Ten miles ago, they opened the way for the army behind them, and along the way there were waves of howling like wild beasts.

Then there are horse soldiers. These people are "dragoons". Many of them have good horse skills, but they can't chop and still cannot be counted as cavalry.

Zhang Xianzhong and others joined forces to head north, and there were about 3,000 horse-riding infantrymen.

Of course, their mounts cannot be compared with those of the elite riders, and some people even ride mules or donkeys.

Finally, there were infantry and servants, with 14,000 people.

The vast team went north and carried countless supplies. Because it was difficult to walk from the small road from Hong County to Suining, it was difficult to push a wheelbarrow. They carried people on their shoulders and carried them with mules and donkeys.

Although Zhang Xianzhong and others were used to plundering food and grass in the place, they had to carry rice, wheat and beans for at least ten days when they first arrived in a place. What if they couldn't get it? This is something that has not been experienced.

Among the 20,000 people, half of them are horses, mules and animals. On average, they eat more than three times that of people. The food and grass consumed by people and horses a day is 500 stones, and 50,000 stones in ten days.

Just transporting these food and grass, I don’t know how many people, animals, and other supplies it would take, but I saw the people who transported the baggage winding for more than ten miles on the path.

Zhang Xianzhong, Ge Liyan and others were all in the position of Jingqi, and there were all kinds of flags around him.

Everyone feels that this road is really difficult to walk. The closer it is to Suining, the greater the impact of the Yellow River breaking. Ponds and lakes are swamped, muddy swamps, sandy soil, saline-alkali land, depressions, and countless small rivers. The path winds around the inside.

On this road, people and horses are very tired, let alone vehicles.

"Donkey Ballzi, the local officials didn't say that they would build an official road that went straight to Suining. It really deserves to be beheaded."

Zhang Xianzhong and others were cursing.

Overall, looking at the torrents moving around you and the vast army, Zhang Xianzhong and others were in a happy mood.

Because the road is difficult to walk, the baggage will drag down the speed. When the weather is hot, people and horses are more likely to be tired. It is not like the official road. Willow trees will be planted along the way. There are not many trees in this kind of path. In addition to the weeds or weeds, it is extremely hard for people and horses to march in the sun.

Zhang Xianzhong not only sweated along the way, but also soaked his clothes, but also kept pus from his eyebrows. He wiped the white silk all the way.

They only walked a few dozen miles that day, and they could barely reach the Wei River at the end of You. Fortunately, Suining County was the other side of the river.

...

Zhang Xianzhong and others were all curious and expectant about Suining County, but standing by the river, they were no different from those in Hong County.

The same depression, except for weeds and ruins, looked up and seemed to have never seen any traces of people.

The Wei River is not wide, and there is also a small local wooden bridge on the path with a plaque called "Xu Miao Bridge" that can cross the river. The wise cavalry of the saiying cavalry said that they had walked more than ten miles north, and this village was basically abandoned, and there were no small villages, but there were a few people in the big villages.

But like the weizhai in Hong County, these large villages have disgusting terrain. There are mountains on the side of the mountain, and those without mountains stand in the mud pond, leaving only winding small mud roads to travel, which is obviously a local powerful local tyrant.

In the past, their rebels were basically very indifferent, just wanting to "borrow grain", which may be very difficult.

Unless it is real money and silver, it is purchased at a price of five times and ten times.

Zhang Xianzhong and others had no other way except frowning. They basically did not fight such big villages, just like camping.

The surrounding muddy ponds, do you need to fill them? When will you fill them?

Attack? A small winding road is probably going to kill as many soldiers as they go.

Especially these powerful people who set up villages to protect themselves are all local clan forces, with united people and very united, and it is absolutely impossible to respond to such things within.

Therefore, they ignore the powerful, Zhang Xianzhong and others, and when they do not exist, they occasionally "borrow" some grain, or buy some food and supplies from them with gold and silver.

"Is the rumors wrong? Is this Suining County a poor man?"

Zhang Xianzhong and others' confidence was a little shaken. Will it not be a waste of time?

That night, camped by the Wei River. The next morning, Ge Zuo and Xianying Army set out again.

After walking for about twenty miles, the whistle cavalry suddenly came to report, and the whistle cavalry of officers and soldiers appeared on the other side of Guanshan Bridge in front. Zhang Xianzhong and others could also hear the sound of firearms faintly.

The thieves such as Zhang Xianzhong were all surprised. They were surrounded by the elite cavalry. Sure enough, there were dozens of cavalry rushing across the shore, each of which was gray-felt cloaked and cotton armor, which was quite different from the elite cavalry on the rebels.

In particular, they immediately used a kind of musket, which seemed to be three-eyed and did not need a fuse. They forced them to force them away. From a distance, they were knocked over to the ground by their firearms.

Their elite cavalry can chop and chop, and they are very skilled in horse racing and fight very sharply, but they are not close to the side of the officers and soldiers.

There are some cavalrymen in each battalion, who not only will slash immediately, but also snatch the cavalry. They force them to go away, but the riding bows pose no great threat to the opposite side. Their muskets are sharp and they will be injured even if they are hit by their guns.

For a moment, the cavalry of our side were frightened and did not dare to approach the officers and soldiers. It seemed that our army was suppressed by dozens of cavalry on the opposite side.

Zhang Xianzhong and others were surprised and angry, and ordered more spirits to ride on and count the bags.

As expected, there were too many people, and the officers and soldiers on the opposite side ran away. Each of them was one and three horses. With superb riding skills and familiarity with the local terrain, they soon ran away and the rebels were unable to catch up with them.

"What's going on? It's not that Suining only has the Township Yong, how could they have a horse team?"

Geli was not good at eyes, but his ears were very sharp, so he shouted angrily: "And there is such a strange and sharp firearm?"

He stared and said, "I have seized a self-guided musket without a fuse before. I shot five times, but at least three times did not sound. Why did the muskets on the opposite side keep ringing?"

The thieves looked at each other, not understanding what was going on. They crossed the Baima River from Guanshan Bridge. There was a big village three miles northwest, facing the mountains and water. The path went north from one mile to the east of the village, and seemed to be four miles away from this side to the official road from Lingbi to Suining.

At this time, someone was chasing the sergeant who was chasing him. There were mountains five miles away. Just west of the official road, there were already officers and soldiers waiting in line on the mountain. They saw the banner of "Suining Lian Zongyang".

Someone also reported that from that mountain top five miles northeast, there was a bridge by the Baitang River, but now the bridge has been withdrawn, and the army cannot cross the river.

Because the Baitang River seems to flow from the Yellow River, the silt in Hanoi is very serious, and the people will fall into Hanoi, not to mention the team of servants carrying food, grass and supplies.

Zhang Xianzhong and others were even more incredible. The officers and soldiers lined up to wait? Are these rural brave men going to fight on the mountain with our army?

They didn't know what to say, and they rode their horses on the trail and headed towards the hill.

On the way, they took a look at the big village near the side. There was a mountain behind it and the surrounding lakes and ponds.

Zhang Xianzhong and others would rather attack Zhoucheng County than attack such a rural tyrant.

Soon they rushed to the official road and rushed for more than a mile. Sure enough, there was a mountain not far from the west side of the official road. From a distance, there were mounds of red clay on the mountain, and it seemed that there were temples.

Because dozens of riders were on the hillside earlier, Zhang Xianzhong and others did not dare to stand on the official road to watch. On the east side of the official road was a large area of ​​saline-alkali land, dry and solid, covered with weeds. About two hundred steps away from the official road, there was a raised hill.

Everyone rushed to the mountain bag to see.

Looking up, there was a bright red flag flying on the top of the mountain opposite.

There were some iron armored soldiers wearing red cloaks standing on the top, which made Zhang Xianzhong and others tremble in their hearts.

Fortunately, there are not many iron-armored soldiers of this type, and Zhang Xianzhong and others saw only dozens of people.

There is an earth wall on the hillside about twenty steps from the top of the mountain, which looks very inconspicuous from a distance. Zhang Xianzhong and others are probably not ten feet tall.

What makes people feel strange is that there seems to be a gap on the east, north and south sides of the earth wall, which is probably as wide as ten steps. Some figures in blue clothes are sitting at the gap at this time, holding shields, spears and other weapons. Some figures in red clothes are clamped inside, which may be the officer leader.

Zhang Xianzhong and others calculated their number carefully. It was estimated that the three gaps were about fifty people each, and four piles of such people were sitting on the hillside behind them.

Zuo Jin Wang He Jin said in a deep voice: "Three mouths, there are six hundred people."

The cavalry rushed and came from the specific information on the opposite side. There was a trench in front of the earthen wall, and there seemed to be two under the wall, and another one was five steps away.

But although they heard news, the specific trench looks unclear.

There are officers, soldiers and whistle cavalry on the slope, they have sharp firearms, and archers behind the gap. They ride on horseback and shoot against the archer, which is seeking death. So they are basically watching the official road, and at most they can run a few steps on the hillside.

They heard news that there were holes in the earthen wall, which might be the purpose of setting up bird guns.

Zhang Xianzhong and others looked at the left and right of the mountain. There was a village in the northwest, and the earthen wall was basically connected to the village wall.

There are rivers in the southwest, and along the river are covered with lakes and ponds, all the way to the mountain.

The thieves looked deep, and the old man replied slowly: "We estimate that their number is less than 2,000. The officers and soldiers' army knew that at most half of the firearms and half of the swords, shields and spears. Some of their bird gun soldiers might be hidden behind the wall, but the number could not exceed 600. Some horses on the top of the slope would be more than 100 cavalry at most."

Zhang Xianzhong murmured: "What do they mean by opening these three mouths?"

He is suspicious, and when ordinary people laugh at the sight of him, he feels strange and suspicious.

The thieves were also puzzled. If the opponent's general was short of brains, but he dared to go out of the city to fight, he was obviously prepared and could not make such a low-level mistake.

The thieves frowned and thought. Zhang Xianzhong looked over at Li Dingguo beside him, as if he was thinking, and his heart moved, and laughed and said, "What did Yu'er see? Tell me and listen to me."

Everyone seemed to him, Li Dingguo clasped his fists and said, "I'll take the order."

He was on the horse, with a tall figure, double inserts hanging around his waist, bowing on the left and arrows on the right, and a horse spear was inserted into the plug behind the saddle, which was quite majestic and unique.

He said to everyone: "My kings, I think that the officers and soldiers on the other side must think that their firearms are sharp. Although there are three mouths, if our rebels attack, if the bird gun or three-eyed gun behind the wall may be shot, there may be heavy casualties before they reach the gap. Even if some remaining people rushed to the mouth and their shield spears are raised, it will be enough to block the attack of our rebels."

Everyone nodded, only this statement could make sense. Zhang Xianzhong laughed and said, "Donkey Ball, it seems that's it."

Ge Li saw that He Yilong's nephew He Yong rode his horse to the side. Seeing that all the kings praised Zhang Yu'er, he felt a little jealous.

He said dissatisfiedly: "I have seen the firearms of officers and soldiers. They are very strong. There are rattan cards in my camp that are soaked with oil. They can block their bird guns in fifty steps, let alone the three-eyed guns."

Li Dingguo smiled and said, "Maybe these officers and soldiers are extraordinary. My brothers have seen it earlier. Their muskets do not use fuses, and they will not be silenced if they are shot out."

He Yong also had to argue, and He Yilong raised his hand to stop him. He was very delicate and very cautious. When Li Dingguo's view was mentioned in his heart, his nephew He Yong was just a loss of face, so it was not worth mentioning.

He said, "The whistleblower said there were only three mouths on the wall, and only ten people could stand at one mouth. If the brothers attacked, they could not all rush into the gap, so as not to block there. To rush to the wall, one would have to have a wooden ladder, and two would how to block the bullets of their bird guns."

He said: "I just think that the firearms on the opposite side are very powerful, and even the rattan cards in the camp cannot be blocked. Their bird gun soldiers are estimated to be 600, divided into three layers. There will be many deaths and injuries to each layer. How should we block their guns and bullets?"

The thieves were pondering again. They had been in the Ming Dynasty for many years and had encountered many musketeers. Basically, the bird guns were very inferior, but occasionally they had encountered excellent and sharp people.

After the three-row platoon fire, the brothers' casualties were often terrible. If the firearms on the opposite side were so exquisite and sharp...

Usually when encountering such opponents, Ge Zuo Xianying and others may use hungry people as their shields or search for door panels everywhere, especially those that are very thick, seven or eight inches thick.
To be continued...