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Chapter 562 The Yellow River Water Battle
Zhao Xin had experienced a battle for the first time, so he couldn't help feeling anxious, and said to Cheng Mingzhen, the chief of the navy: "Our army has about two hundred boats, while the Tang army's navy has only fifty ships, can our army be sure to win?"

Cheng Mingzhen said: "This is a scholar's opinion. There is no way to win a battle. Although my navy has a large number of ships, the soldiers are all new to the navy. Although the boatman has rich experience in sailing, he has never been in a water battle. Yes. Although the Tang army had few ships, Huang Junhan started his business by robbing the court’s tank boats on the Yellow River, and gathered a group of brave men under his command. So more people and more boats may not be useful.”

Zhao Xin was furious when Cheng Mingzhen ridiculed him for being a scholar, but he was very deep in the city, his emotions and anger were invisible, and he didn't attack right now.

Zhou Zhou couldn't help but shook his head when he heard this, and said: "Zhuge Liang once said that the way of water warfare lies in boats and boats. Train soldiers to take advantage of them, spread multiple flags to confuse them, use strict bows to hit them, and hold short soldiers to defend them. Set up a strong defense, and follow the flow to attack it. In the battle between Jin and Wu, Jin built ships in the upper reaches of Sichuan and Shu, and defeated Wu's navy downstream, but now our warships are in the downstream, which seems unfavorable."

Cheng Mingzhen praised: "You are knowledgeable, you are not just talking about wars on paper. But don't worry too much. The advantage of water warfare lies in large ships and huge ships. The Tang army's boats are only two to three stories high. Our army only needs two big five-tooth ships as the backbone. , you can defeat the Tang army."

While speaking, Cheng Mingzhen immediately ordered the fleet to be divided into two parts at Guangwu on the north bank of the Yellow River, and sent soldiers to set up a land camp.

At dawn the next day, thick fog hung over the Yellow River, blocking both banks.

Cheng Mingzhen saw the mist, and said happily: "God help me!"

At that time, Cheng Mingzhen ordered Zhao Jun's fleet to march towards Tang Jun's Hulao Water Camp.

More than [-] warships of the Zhao army pulled anchor one after another. The morning fog suddenly rose, and there was silence and no wind, while the torrent was surging on the river.

The boatman of the navy waved his arms for the first time, and the oars hit the river water, stirring up white spray. Li Chongjiu's general order was conveyed to the army last night. This battle was won. .

As soon as the news came out, the boatmen were overjoyed.

The vanguard of Zhao Jun's fleet is dominated by two five-toothed ships. In the morning fog, the two giant ships broke through the thick fog like icebergs floating on the water.

Zhou Zhou was on the flagship, but he saw two hundred Zhao soldiers on the left and right, covered with cowhide armor, holding strong crossbows and bows, ready to fight.The morning fog had not cleared, and the hull of the boat kept shaking with the slap of the water. Many northern soldiers of the Zhao army who had not yet adapted to the boat could not help but look pale and feel like vomiting.

Zhou Zhou has adapted to the bumps on the boat over the past few years, and he himself is a little better.At this time, the fog had dispersed a little, Zhou Zhou stood on the edge of the ship and looked down, but saw the long and narrow warships with pointed prows clustered nearby.

On the warship, Zhao Jun's soldiers did not hold bows and arrows, but pennies with iron hooks, and they didn't know what to do with them.

Zhou Zhou looked behind him again, but after seeing the white waves avoided by the five-toothed warship, they were all the main battleships of Zhao Jun's third tier. masts with five teeth, but these ships are large and not easy to run aground in shoal operations.

Seeing the formation of Zhao Jun's navy, Zhou Zhou couldn't help nodding his head, thinking that Cheng Mingzhen is really proficient in water warfare, and with such a person as the main general, he really has something to rely on.

Zhou Zhou thought of this, and suddenly heard a wow beside him. It turned out that Zhao Xin was not able to swim, and after a big wave hit the boat, he immediately vomited.

Zhou Zhou saw that it was funny, but he felt gloating, but at this moment, there was a clanging bell from the Tang Army's water camp in front of him. It was obvious that he had spotted Zhao Jun's navy attacking in the dense fog, and the bell rang. Warning.

Zhou Zhou's expression was serious at the moment. At this time, he did not continue on the deck, but boarded the ship building.

He climbed up to the turret, but he saw Cheng Mingzhen's face was solemn, and the cloak behind him fluttered up.Zhou Zhou bowed to Cheng Mingzhen and said, "The Tang army navy is about to go to battle."

"Nonsense, who doesn't know." Cheng Mingzhen scolded Zhou Zhou.

Zhou Zhou was a little angry, at this time Cheng Mingzhen said: "The order is to go down, the speed of the boat will slow down, and it will be [-] feet away from the water camp of the Tang army, and beat the drum!"

Zhou Zhou's mind suddenly tried to attract them, but when Zhao Jun's warship approached Tang Jun's water army, he burst into loud drums.

At this time, the fog had almost dissipated, and Zhou Zhou could vaguely see the figures of Tang soldiers running on the water battalion and boat division of the Tang Army, as well as the dull thumping sound of their footsteps on the wooden deck.

"shoot!"

There was a loud shout from the other party.

Seeing the Zhao soldiers on the deck, Zhou Zhou put up his oars and shields in anticipation.

But in the mist, Tang Jun's arrows shot quickly, but most of them hit the bow of the ship.

The five-toothed ship is tall, and it is difficult for Tang soldiers to shoot crossbow arrows above the deck. On the contrary, Zhao soldiers can easily shoot from above. Zhou Zhou suddenly understood why Cheng Mingzhen said just now that the warships benefit from large ships.

The five-toothed ship was safe and sound, and the warship was also safe. Zhao Jun's warship was covered with a layer of cowhide and had a strong hull.

During the battle, Cheng Mingzhen has been paying attention to the movements of Tang Jun's water battalion.But when he saw the Tang army's water gate in the distance, Cheng Mingzhen immediately said: "The Tang army is coming to beat the boat, order to shake the pipa and scull and retreat!"

After the words fell, Zhao Jun's fleet immediately retreated, and Zhao Jun marched against the current. It is definitely faster to retreat than to advance.

But seeing the two huge pipa oars put down at the stern, Zhou Zhou has mastered the way of sailing a boat in the past few years.

Pipa sculls are different from just wood paddles, and sailing along the water is greatly beneficial to wood paddles. There is a saying among old boatmen that one scull and three oars mean that one scull is worth three paddles.

But seeing the pipa and scull of Zhao Jun's ship, the body of the scull is like a fish swimming in water, thumping and thumping one after another on the water surface, and the waist scull on the side of the boat is also catching water.

Zhao Jun's fleet immediately went downstream, and at this moment, the sound of whistles came from a distance, and Tang Jun slapped the catapult on the boat, crossed the air, and smashed on the river.

There was only a splash, and the water splashed three meters high!

Immediately, the catapult machine on Tang Jun's water battalion opened fire together, and the catapult rained down like raindrops, splashing water in all directions of the Yellow River.

Zhou Zhou saw a boat of Zhao Jun retreating a little slower. The side of the boat was hit by a stone throw, and the side of the boat capsized immediately. Several soldiers on the boat abandoned the boat and jumped into the water, struggling hard. There are only sawdust left on the ground, and there are no soldiers.

"General Cheng!" Zhou Zhou was furious.

Cheng Mingzhen said: "A scholar is a scholar. If a few lives are tested to prove the truth of Tang Jun, what's not worth it!"

While the two were talking, they saw the flag on the bow of the boat fluttering to the south.

Cheng Mingzhen said with joy on his face: "Oh, the wind is finally blowing!"

(End of this chapter)