Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

The water level of Dongting Lake has dropped significantly.

Large ships cannot navigate more than 70% of the waters of Qingcao Lake.

The laborers' meals were reduced to one meal a day.

And there was only a small bowl of thin porridge.

Early that morning,

An officer came to deliver a message.

Immediately following, a low-ranking officer in charge of managing the laborers,

They found Wang Xi and said, "Your brother is in the army."

"You can go home now."

Wang Xi was extremely excited after hearing this.

The rice at home can be saved.

Song Qiao then asked, "What about us?"

The officer said, "There are two men in the family who are in the army."

"Only one can go back."

Song Qiao lowered his head, turned and left.

He cursed and swore under his breath.

Wang Xi asked, "Will you provide provisions for the journey home?"

The officer said, "We need to provide rations."

"After this year's rice harvest,"

"The amount deducted when paying the grain tax was less than the amount due."

Wang Xi was immediately dejected.

He had to walk back hungry.

The reason for letting some of the laborers go home was

It was purely because the army's food supplies were about to run out.

Wang Xi packed his bags.

He left the camp with more than twenty fellow villagers.

Having walked only a few miles,

Suddenly, I heard the sound of drums beating behind me.

The final battle has begun!

Lin Chong also faced a shortage of military rations.

Two batches of wheat and sorghum were transported from Xiangyang and Jingmen.

Some rice was also requisitioned from Huainan.

This is how we've managed to wear down and hold out against the Chu army until now.

The new rice in Sichuan is not yet ripe.

Only some corn can be supplied.

Lin Chong had to fight before the army reduced its meals.

Wang Xi looked back every few steps.

His third brother, Wang Cai, is still in the camp.

I don't know if I'll be able to get home alive.

He stood gazing into the distance for a long time.

Wang Xi sobbed and wiped away her tears.

I set off on my journey home on an empty stomach.

Chapter 1914 All-Out Attack

On the battlefield.

Wooden cannons unloaded from naval warships

One after another, the weapons were placed in front of the battle.

Even with firearms, they're still firing so cautiously.

It's because the opposing side consists of seasoned veterans.

Even the temporarily conscripted farmers,

I also practiced diligently during the off-season.

Moreover, each person has fought three or four tough battles.

Lin Chong only had six thousand elite troops from Shu.

The combat effectiveness of the remaining troops...

They were only slightly better than the Song Dynasty's Xiang Army.

The true elite troops of the Ming Dynasty

This year, they've all been transferred north to deal with the Jurchens!

As soon as Lin Chong made a move,

Not only did Zhong Quan's reinforcements all leave the camp,

Liu Heng's garrison in Chenyang City was also brought out.

The Ming army was bordered by the Yuan River to the north.

Due to the drop in water level

Small warships were unable to come to the rescue.

To the west were Zhong Quan's tens of thousands of reinforcements.

To the south is Liu Heng's garrison in Chenyang.

This means Lin Chong had to defend against enemies on two fronts.

The Fujian monk soldiers stationed at Chongxiao Village

He was also brought over by Fan Ruwei.

As for the surrendered soldiers under Huang Zuo and Liu Rui...

People don't trust you at times like this.

Lin Chong threw them into the siege of Yuanjiang County.

After the Ming army lined up in battle,

They are not in a hurry to attack.

The row of wooden cannons in front of the battle line,

This also made Zhong Quan and Liu Heng feel uneasy.

Both sides are going to fight a decisive battle.

But then they found themselves in a standoff.

Ultimately, it was the Chu army, lacking food, that couldn't hold out any longer.

The drums beat loudly, and the command flags waved.

They sent out an advance force to launch a probing attack.

These Chu soldiers were afraid of being bombarded.

The teams were spread out very far apart.

Lin Chong ordered Fan Ruwei to lead the monk soldiers.

Deal with the Chenyang garrison on the flank.

Furthermore, Fan Ruwei was assigned three thousand new soldiers from Huainan.

Several thousand new soldiers from Huainan were also dispatched.

They went to engage the vanguard of the Chu army in a direct battle.

It is true that the Chu army was elite.

But they haven't had enough to eat these days.

His cheeks were visibly sunken.

After several rounds of archery exchange...

The two armies fought to a draw.

They became locked in a stalemate right in the center of the battlefield.

Moreover, the Chu army also used the Mandarin Duck Formation.

Zhong Xiangxue has already taken this thing!

Lin Chong adopted a defensive stance, forming a female formation.

But in reality, they were on the offensive.

The protrusions at both ends of the female formation were all wooden cannons.

The entire formation moved forward slowly.

If Zhong Quan's army does not move,

Their vanguard will soon be surrounded.

The left and right wings of the Chu army advanced swiftly.

The Ming army's left and right wings also carried wooden cannons and sped up.

"Boom boom boom!"

A salvo of wooden cannons and solid stone projectiles.

The range is not far.

It's only about 100 meters.

The Chu army on the march

There were no major casualties.

However, the formation became slightly chaotic.

They are closer to each other.

The wooden cannon was replaced with shotgun shells.

Small pebbles flew out like a shower of flowers.

Open terrain,

Wooden cannons have very limited destructive power.

"Dong dong dong dong!"

The drums beat loudly.

Lin Chong's left and right armies,

After the rotation of artillery fire

They charged forward and engaged the Chu army in battle.