Troubled Times: Start with 800 Dead Soldiers

The captain of the Musketeers frowned: "The branches here are densely forested. I'm afraid we won't be able to see where the other party is."

"There is blood on the ground, and their people have also suffered casualties, but who are they? Why don't I lead people into the woods to chase them, they can't go fast with the wounded." Ruan Xiaowu put forward this suggestion, but Wu Song quickly rejected it. .

"Absolutely not. Before setting off, I told you that you should listen to the guide when attacking along the road. The mountains are high and the forests are dense. Don't attack rashly, otherwise."

A few people were discussing when an officer suddenly came over in a hurry and said, "The drinking water of the front battalion team was poisoned during the replenishment process. Fifteen sergeants of the Shield Team have died from the poison, and dozens of other sergeants are uttering white words." Mo, unconscious."

"The army is ordered not to drink water without authorization, and all water will be distributed uniformly. Anyone who disobeys the order will be subject to military law!" Wu Song heartbrokenly issued the second order. He knew that this time his opponent was definitely Zhao Wuji. For Wu Song, this was the first time he commanded an army of this size in combat.

In the past, whether he was taking the lead or by Su Xia's side, he mostly fought alone.

As for the three heroes of the Ruan family, they were even more uncomfortable. As they moved northward and away from the ocean, fighting in the mountains and forests on land, they did not see the shadow of Zhao Wuji's troops. Their own company was shot to death and poisoned, but many of their brothers were lost. It made them even more resentful.

The captain of the musketry team asked for orders in advance: "General Wu, we must get to the main road as soon as possible, otherwise, the enemy will attack us. In the jungle, our muskets cannot see the target, and the enemy's situation is unknown."

Wu Song agreed to this request and immediately ordered: "The musketeers will provide cover, and I will assign you two more infantry squadrons, all of which will be under your command."

The captain of the musketry team nodded. Although he was only responsible for commanding a musketeer team, due to his special weapons, his rank in the National Guard Army was indeed one level higher than that of an ordinary squadron leader.

The captain of the musketeers immediately stood behind the entire army.

With the Musketeers as a blocker, no one from Zhao Wuji could catch up for two or three days.

Under the command of Wu Song, the large army of soldiers and horses quickly retreated to nearby Liucheng, which was a city that had just been occupied by the National Guard Army.

Liucheng originally had a Northern Song Dynasty Forbidden Army, with a defensive force of about 800 people. It took just over an hour to capture the city during a battle with the National Guard Army.

In order to conduct better military activities on Guangnan Road, Wu Song and others arranged an undersized infantry brigade (about 300 people) to stay here.

After encountering an ambush in the jungle, Wu Song and others were preparing to lead the team back here for some repairs, while Ruan Xiaowu led the entire army as a vanguard officer at the forefront.

On the city wall outside Liu City, the flag of the National Defense Army was hung. Ruan Xiaowu raised his eyes and waved his riding whip: "Brothers, speed up, we are about to enter the city."

"If you want to send scouts, go into the city and report."

Ruan Xiaowu waved his hand and said in denial: "We are all going to the city, and what a nonsense report."

Ruan Xiaowu looked disdainful. He really didn't care. Since landing in Guangzhou, he led his army to attack Guangnan West Road. He encountered almost no decent resistance. It was the first time he was attacked in the jungle. .

Because the water was poisoned, the army could no longer move forward and could only temporarily return to Liucheng for repairs.

However, what Ruan Xiaowu and others did not know was that the person hiding under the tower was none other than the Song Army led by Zhao Wuji.

They had been conducting careful reconnaissance against the National Guard Army. Zhao Wuji ordered his deputy general Peng Fei to lure the National Protector Army deeper, while he personally led the main force of his unit to annihilate a large group of National Protector Army guarding Liucheng.

Through the city wall, Zhao Wuji looked at the mighty Northern Song army under the city wall. He was systematically observing the disposition of the Song army. Seeing that the Song army was getting closer and closer, only a hundred or so steps away from the city, Zhao Wuji waved his hand and said, "Fire the arrow." !”

On the city wall, thousands of Song soldiers suddenly stood up straight, raised their bows and arrows, and quickly lowered them. The two armies stood up and down the city wall, and they could almost see the faces on the opposite side clearly.

This made Ruan Xiaowu, who was a little nonchalant just now, shiver instantly, "There is an enemy situation!"

Thousands of arrows suddenly struck, instantly outstripping the Protectorate Army standing in front, resulting in heavy casualties.

Ruan Xiaowu turned over and dismounted, but the rain of flying arrows prevented him from escaping. An arrow hit him directly in the right abdomen. The soldiers came forward to protect him, but they were all shot to death by random arrows.

Wu Song, who was standing in the middle army, saw this situation and immediately looked at Shi Jin beside him.

"No, it's a hit!"

Shi Jin immediately ordered: "Artillery, set up artillery and bombard!"

Because of the long-distance attack, Wu Song brought not many Weiyuan cannons, only a few.

When the two armies were fighting, a few Weiyuan artillery could not withstand the enemy's arrow rain.

Seeing the heavy casualties of the Nationalist Army, Zhao Wuji ordered: "Attack!"

The city gate opened wide, and thousands of war horses rushed over from Liucheng.

Once the National Guard Army was broken through by the Northern Song Dynasty's cavalry, it was over. Looking at it, the Northern Song Dynasty's cavalry was still in the uniform of the Forbidden Army. This shows that the main force of the Song Army's Forbidden Army has not been annihilated.

Shi Jin, who became more and more anxious as he thought about it, rode forward and led the cavalry to rush over. Shi Jin rode forward and stabbed down an officer from the Northern Song Dynasty who rushed over.

The Ruan brothers also stepped forward desperately, trying to snatch their brother back.

However, if more people are added, they can only enter the shooting range of the enemy's arrows, which will in vain increase the casualties of officers and soldiers.

"Assemble the musketeers and shoot!"

The musketeers, who were originally at the end of the army, immediately stepped forward. Unlike bow and crossbow shooting, although the musketeers stood under the city wall, they could find bunkers and use their shields as cover to withstand the rain of arrows, while the flintlocks could Aim directly at the city wall.

The soldiers of the musketeers are all experienced crossbowmen. They are all strong and strong. After training, their marksmanship can shoot within [-] paces nine times out of ten. Therefore, they played a decisive role in the battle. .

Zhao Wuji once again saw the powerful equipment of the National Defense Army. A sergeant said: "Sir, they used the latest fire blunderbuss, which can penetrate directly into the human body, and the armor shield cannot protect them."

Seeing that the crossbow was slowly losing its effectiveness, Zhao Wuji, who was dressed in battle, shouted angrily: "Prepare your horses and go into battle!"

The captain of the musketeers engaged in a shooting match, but was hit by an arrow in the head and died on the spot.

Seeing that the musketeers also lost their position, Wu Song had no choice but to order the musketeers to counterattack with bows and crossbows, while he rode forward and rushed forward, "Gather the muskets, don't leave them to the enemy, arrange iron caltrops to block their cavalry, and retreat south." .”

However, after this battle, the Protecting Army suffered heavy losses on Guangnan West Road. Ruan Xiaowu, one of the three Ruan heroes, was killed, and the captain of the experimental musketry team died. The Protecting Army suffered more than 2000 casualties. The greatest defeat in history.