Chapter 720: Survive from death!

Although Shangguan Hongyuan's idea of ​​sieging the enemy and attacking the reinforcements was a good one, the reality restricted his actions. Counting the food and fodder supplied from the rear, the 70,000 soldiers and horses located around Dakou Township only had seven days of rations left...

Seven days of rations are neither too much nor too little. However, minus the food needed for the retreat to Jinyang, the 70,000-strong army can only hold out in Dakou Township for three days. Considering the Fengwu Army besieging Dakou Township, it may take one to two days to completely annihilate them.

Therefore, before going to bed last night, Shangguan Hongyuan made a decision. He would wait for one last day. If the Fengwu cavalry roaming around did not take the bait after one day, he would not wait any longer and would directly launch a large-scale attack on Dakou Township and completely annihilate the more than 10,000 remnants of the Fengwu Army in Dakou Township.

After looking at Dakou Township for a while, Shangguan Hongyuan felt that the air was too humid at the morning hour of Yin. He was a little uncomfortable due to his old age, so he walked down the watchtower. However, when he returned to the ground with the help of the guards beside him, Shangguan Hongyuan noticed a slight vibration on the ground.

Feeling this, Shangguan Hongyuan's expression changed slightly, and he immediately looked towards the northwest. At the same time, the ground was shaking more and more strongly. The general in charge of the camp alert also realized what was happening, and immediately became furious and roared loudly:
"Enemy attack!"

"A large group of cavalry is charging the camp from the northwest!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the soldier in charge of blowing the bugle immediately blew the bugle, and soon the camp was filled with shrill bugle sounds.

As the bugle sounded, countless Shenwu Army soldiers who were still sleeping were awakened. Although they didn’t know what was happening, they were well-trained and immediately put on their clothes and armor, picked up their weapons, walked out of the tents and quickly assembled...

At this time, under the command of Guo Zhiping, tens of thousands of Fengwu Army cavalry rushed to the camp like a dark cloud. Although the Fengwu Army cavalry were not as skilled as the grassland people in riding and shooting, in order to make up for this deficiency, the Fengwu Army First Manufacturing Bureau also tailored special horse guns for the Fengwu Army cavalry.
Although the horse musket was not as powerful as the Weiyuan musket and the Polu musket equipped by the Fengwu Army, it was easy to operate, had little recoil, and could be used on horseback. Therefore, it was also loved by the Fengwu Army cavalry. At this time, under the combined attack of the horse musket, the tiger squat cannon, and the light red cannon, the Fengwu Army cavalry, which consisted of only 10,000 people, actually suppressed the firepower in the Shenwu military camp.

The Fengwu Army cavalry also took advantage of this opportunity to quickly clear the barricades and wooden stakes in front of the Shenwu Army camp and fill in the trenches in front of the camp, clearing all obstacles for the Fengwu Army cavalry to charge into the enemy camp.

Shangguan Hongyuan, who was watching this scene with a telescope in the camp, was also furious. He looked at Liu Zhan'ao, the commander of the Shenwu Army beside him and asked:

"Where are our cavalry?"

Upon hearing this news, Liu Zhan'ao said with difficulty:

“Reporting to the Prime Minister, there was an enemy attack on the east side of Dakou Township yesterday. With your approval, I ordered Tongzhi Zhang Jin to lead two battalions of more than 7,000 cavalrymen to go there…”

Shangguan Hongyuan heard this and then remembered what he had instructed yesterday. He suddenly realized that he had fallen into the enemy's plan of dividing the troops. Although he felt a little annoyed, he absolutely could not lose his composure at this moment. After frowning and thinking for a few seconds, Shangguan Hongyuan asked again:
"How many cavalrymen are there in the camp?"

"There is about another battalion of more than 2,000 people!"

Shangguan Hongyuan's expression became serious when he heard this:

"Send them all out to harass the enemy!"

Liu Zhan'ao obviously disagreed with Shangguan Hongyuan's order, and he subconsciously said;
"Sir, if we rush out now, these two thousand people might..."

While Liu Zhan'ao was still considering what words to use, Shangguan Hongyuan became very angry and shouted loudly;
"Asshole, are you still worrying about the lives of those two thousand people at this time?"

"You haven't figured it out yet. This bunch of Fengwu Army bastards are here to attack Wei to save Zhao! They are here to fight me, Shangguan Hongyuan, to the death!"

After being pointed out by Shangguan Hongyuan, Liu Zhan'ao also understood the danger of the situation. His expression immediately changed and he nodded without saying anything else:

"Understood! My lord, I will make the arrangements..."

After saying that, Liu Zhan'ao left in a hurry. Looking at his departing back, Shangguan Hongyuan shook his head in disappointment. A year ago, his old subordinate, Yang Chongqing, the commander of the Shenwu Army, who had made great military achievements for him, suffered a relapse of his old illness and was bedridden. Shangguan Hongyuan could only let him stay at home and recuperate, and then promoted Liu Zhan'ao to be the commander of the Shenwu Army.

In terms of loyalty, Liu Zhan'ao is certainly no worse than Yang Chongqing, but in terms of talent, three Liu Zhan'aos are not as good as Yang Chongqing. If Yang Chongqing was here, how could the situation in Jinzhong be like this?
Just as Shangguan Hongyuan was missing his old subordinates, a messenger one mile northwest of the Shenwu Army camp reported to Guo Zhiping:

"Commander-in-chief, our army has already filled the attack route!"

Hearing this, Guo Zhiping nodded slightly with a serious expression. Things were going quite smoothly, about a cup of tea faster than expected. I hope the next offensive will be a good start!

Thinking of this, Guo Zhiping turned his gaze to the Fengwu Army cavalrymen lined up on the side. There were about three hundred of them. Each of them had a very determined expression, with ferocity and murderous intent in their eyes, as if they were ready to fight for their lives with the enemy at any time!
Their attire was almost the same as that of ordinary Fengwu Army cavalry, the only difference was that each of these 300 people was carrying a small bag with a fuse on it··························

Looking at the three hundred cavalrymen, Guo Zhiping felt a little sad. If there was no other way, he would not want to go this far. However, his Third Army was in a desperate situation at this moment. Only by trying their best to survive could they have a chance of survival!
Thinking of this, Guo Zhiping no longer hesitated and shouted in a deep voice:
"Bring me the wine!"

Following Guo Zhiping's order, the guards beside him poured a glass of white wine for Guo Zhiping and the three hundred warriors. As the commander, Guo Zhiping raised the wine bowl and said loudly to the three hundred warriors:
"This glass of wine is from me, Guo Zhiping, to all the brothers!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Guo Zhiping drank the white wine in the bowl. Looking at the heroic Guo Zhiping, the three hundred people also shouted in unison:
"Respectfully, Commander!"

After that, the three hundred people also finished their drinks. After finishing the wine, Guo Zhiping, who looked determined, made a loud promise: "From now on, as long as I, Guo Zhiping, have a bite to eat, I will never let the families of your brothers go hungry! If you break this oath, I will do the same thing to you!"

After saying that, Guo Zhiping threw the wine bowl in his hand to the ground fiercely. With a crisp sound, the wine bowl broke into pieces. Looking at the pieces of the wine bowl, the three hundred warriors were also very moved and answered in unison;
"Thank you for your compassion, Commander! We will repay you in our next life!"

Guo Zhiping closed his eyes and nodded:

"Go!"

As soon as these words came out, the three hundred warriors saluted to Guo Zhiping one after another, and then embarked on their journey...
A cup of tea later, more than 2,000 Shenwu Army cavalrymen rushed out of the gate of the Shenwu Army camp. Shangguan Hongyuan asked them to break through the blockade of the Fengwu Army regardless of casualties, and detour to the flank of the Fengwu Army cavalry to harass them, so as to attract the attention of the Fengwu Army and reduce the defensive pressure on the front of the camp.

Although they were entrusted with an important task by Shangguan Hongyuan, this cavalry of 2,000 men were hit by concentrated fire from the Fengwu Army as soon as they showed up. Bullets and artillery shells rained down on their heads, and more than a hundred cavalrymen, along with their horses, were immediately knocked to the ground.

Although the casualties were very heavy, the task assigned by Shangguan Hongyuan still allowed these Shenwu Army cavalry to charge out. At this time, Guo Zhiping also came to the front line, and he immediately ordered that the enemy must not be allowed to charge out.

After receiving Guo Zhiping's order, the Fengwu Army cavalry was also on high alert. After several charges from both sides, hundreds of the Shenwu Army cavalry were killed. Seeing that there was no hope of breaking out, they could only retreat back to the camp with their tails between their legs.

Seeing that the time had come, Guo Zhiping ordered a general attack without any hesitation. Under the cover of firepower from the rear, tens of thousands of Fengwu Army cavalrymen shouted slogans of loyalty to the Marshal and launched the most fierce attack on the gate of the Shenwu Army along the filled road...

Shangguan Hongyuan, who was on the watchtower, observed this scene and his right eyelid twitched suddenly, which immediately made him feel something was wrong.

Although he did not expect that the Fengwu Army would not play by the rules and would not rescue their comrades in Dakou Township, but instead came to him in a desperate attempt to attack Wei to save Zhao, Shangguan Hongyuan was cautious and ordered his soldiers to build the camp very solidly, with all the necessary chevaux de frise and trenches. Therefore, after being suddenly attacked by the enemy, Shangguan Hongyuan was not panicked at all.

It was precisely because of the obstruction of these chevaux de frise and trenches that the cavalry of the Fengwu Army had no way to directly attack the front of the village, and could only clear the chevaux de frise and fill in the trenches. In Shangguan Hongyuan's view, at this point, the enemy's surprise attack had already been declared a failure, and their fate was doomed to be heavy casualties and a failure!

But at this moment, his right eyelid was twitching violently, which made him feel suspicious...

Is there any trick the enemy has not yet used?
By the time Shangguan Hongyuan realized this possibility, the Fengwu cavalry had already rushed to within a hundred steps of the camp. The Shenwu Army soldiers in the camp also used Shenwu guns and Zhengdong cannons to bombard and shoot at the Fengwu cavalry. Hundreds of Fengwu cavalry fell in a pool of blood.

However, despite the heavy casualties, the Fengwu Army cavalry did not stop charging, and the slogan of "Serve the Marshal with loyalty" was still heard.

And when the Fengwu cavalry rushed to fifty steps in front of the village, the momentum of the charge suddenly changed, and the three hundred warriors rushed to the front of the team...
Under the horrified gaze of the Shenwu Army soldiers, the three hundred brave warriors pulled the fuse one after another. Then, with a loud bang, the gate of the Shenwu Army's heavily guarded village was blown open. The Fengwu Army cavalry following behind them were not afraid of the explosion at all, and followed them into the enemy camp.

At this time, the thousands of Shenwu soldiers guarding the gate of the village had not yet recovered from the explosion. They lay on the ground howling like ghosts, and the Fengwu cavalry who rushed over at this time were like demons walking out of the Avici Hell, waving their butcher knives and ruthlessly reaping the lives of these people.

Seeing the enemy cavalry rushing into the camp, Liu Zhan'ao, the commander of the Shenwu Army, changed his expression and immediately asked Shangguan Hongyuan:

"Please, Prime Minister, retreat to the rear camp! I will drive the enemy out immediately!"

Faced with Liu Zhan'ao's request, Shangguan Hongyuan also lost his temper, glaring and shouting:

"I'm not going anywhere! I'm right here, and I want to watch you drive the enemy out!"

Seeing Shangguan Hongyuan getting angry, Liu Zhan'ao secretly groaned in his heart and knelt down to beg:

“The son of the Prime Minister cannot sit still in the hall, so please push the army to the rear camp immediately. If I cannot repel the enemy, I will bring my head to you…”

Shangguan Hongyuan, who was angry, still did not give Liu Zhan'ao any face in response to his pleas. He drew the sword from his waist, put it on Liu Zhan'ao's neck and shouted angrily:
"Liu Zhan'ao, I order you to stop talking nonsense to me and drive the enemy out immediately!"

As soon as Shangguan Hongyuan finished speaking, Liu Zhan'ao saw that he could not persuade Shangguan Hongyuan and had no choice but to give up. He immediately stood up and prepared to execute the order. At this critical moment, a stray bullet shot from somewhere and directly hit the neck of a guard next to Shangguan Hongyuan.

The next second, bright red blood splashed all over Shangguan Hongyuan's face. Seeing Shangguan Hongyuan's face covered with blood, the guards around him were all terrified.

Although Shangguan Hongyuan shouted that he was fine, Liu Zhan'ao and the surrounding guards naturally did not dare to let Shangguan Hongyuan stay here any longer after being so frightened. They immediately ignored Shangguan Hongyuan's orders and carried the prime minister, who was over 60 years old, to retreat to the rear camp.

Seeing Shangguan Hongyuan's retreat, the Shenwu Army, which had already reorganized its defense line to resist, suddenly became chaotic and its formation was once again broken by the Fengwu Army's cavalry!
Seeing that the situation had become so bad, with countless Shenwu Army soldiers falling in the blood, Liu Zhan'ao, the commander of the Shenwu Army, was furious but helpless. Although he was very reluctant, he had no choice but to give the order:

“Send a message to Wang Muzhi, asking him to come to our aid as soon as possible…”

(End of this chapter)