The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The White Lotus Sect's cluster cannon spewed out large balls of fire, some of which exploded in the open space in front of the two armies, and some had already landed on the high ground, and immediately several large flags were blown up.

What a god!
Several generals from the Five Army Battalions looked at each other, and then looked at Li Hu together.

Li Hu just stood there quietly, holding a monocular telescope and looking at the White Lotus camp and artillery in front of him.

He also didn't expect that the tunnel he ordered his men to dig on the back would come into play so quickly. Although the high ground was not very high or steep, the firing angle of the submachine gun was not large, and the shells fired could only hit the front.

Perhaps in order to save ammunition, seeing that there was no movement on the high ground, the artillery fire from the White Lotus side gradually became sparse and then stopped.

Then the sound of heavy drums began.

As the drums sounded, groups of White Lotus rebels gathered outside the camp, a vast expanse of white, with at least tens of thousands of people.

The drums grew louder.

The White Lotus Sect members quickly formed into battle formation!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three cannon shots were fired, followed by a desolate horn, and the White Lotus disciples began to advance in orderly steps.

The faces of several generals in the Fifth Army Camp changed immediately. These were not refugees, but the elite of the White Lotus Sect.

Li Hu was also surprised. How long has it been? Sure enough, the battlefield is the best training ground!
The drum beats became louder and the White Lotus sect quickened their pace!

The five well-trained military camps had already formed a battle formation. The few musketeers knelt on one leg behind the chevaux de frise and raised their muskets.

A general from the Fifth Army Battalion spoke up: "My Lord, there is movement on the high ground."

Li Hu looked over and saw a large group of White Lotus Sect members running towards the high ground like flying.

At this moment, a roar was heard and the White Lotus Sect members, holding spears and swords high, rushed over quickly.

There was a loud "boom", dust flew, and shrill screams were heard. The White Lotus members who were in the front fell into a trap that had been dug in advance by the Fifth Army Battalion. The trap was full of wooden thorns, and all the White Lotus members became skewers.

The White Lotus members in front wanted to stop, but were squeezed into the trap by the White Lotus members coming from behind. More and more White Lotus members were pierced alive by the wooden spikes, and the trench was filled with blood.

The first trench was soon filled with corpses, followed by the second, the third, and the fourth. The cruelty of war was vividly displayed at this moment.

Li Hu shook his head. In this kind of terrain, once the charge started, it would be impossible to stop. There was high ground on one side and a pond on the other. If they stopped, they would be pushed to the ground and then trampled to death.

It was getting closer and closer. The musketeers fired their muskets. Flames spurted out from the muzzles of the guns, and the White Lotus members who rushed up fell down one by one under the flames.

Shouts of killing were heard from the high ground!
Wang Daniu, who had been keeping an eye on the pond, spoke up: "Someone went into the water!"

Li Hu ignored them and quickly scanned the charging White Lotus Sect members, then looked at the White Lotus Sect artillery position. His face became solemn. Those submachine guns were moving and approaching this side.

A personal soldier shouted in a low voice: "Fireguns! The White Lotus rebels have fireguns!"

Li Hu looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of White Lotus rebels raising their muskets and firing at the same time. Immediately, a musketeer fell down!

The White Lotus's artillery fired! Balls of artillery fire fell on the chevaux de frise, blowing several of them up into the air, with wood chips flying everywhere. Some of the wood fell from the air into the hands of the musketeers, killing and injuring many people, scaring the others into retreating in a panic, disrupting Li Hu's deployment.

Those White Lotus Sect members seized the opportunity and rushed forward!

At this moment, the archers hiding on both sides released their arrows. The arrows flew like locusts, and the White Lotus Sect members in the front were shot and fell down one after another.

One after another, the mother cannons spewed out large balls of fire, some of which exploded among the White Lotus crowd, and more fell on the heads of the musketeers and archers!
Artillery fire extended? Li Hu frowned, raised his telescope and looked at the White Lotus Sect's artillery position. After careful observation, he found several people with white scarves on their heads who were not of our race. They were indeed Western barbarians!

Li Hu's face sank. No wonder Shui Rong could cast bronze cannons. It turned out that he was colluding with the Western Yi people. After the battle, he sent people back to Beijing to kill William and others.

A general from the Fifth Army Battalion spoke up: "My Lord, you can't be beaten like this!"

Another general from the Fifth Army Battalion said: "Let the Mongolian cavalry charge out and destroy their artillery!"

Li Hu glanced at him. There were less than 2,000 Mongolian cavalrymen in total, and there were at least 5,000 or 6,000 people on the other side. It would be difficult to break out. In addition, the two sides of the artillery were full of White Lotus troops. Even if they broke out, they would be sending their heads off.

Li Hu took out his pocket watch and saw that it was almost time. He immediately ordered the messenger beside him, "Retreat, let them in and fight."

Several generals from the five military camps looked at each other but dared not say anything.

As the command flags were waved, the musketeers and archers who were fighting back against the artillery fire retreated one after another, giving up their defensive positions.

The White Lotus Sect cheered loudly and rushed up immediately. Shui Rong, who had been paying attention to the battlefield, was overjoyed: "Well done!" He turned his eyes to the high ground and his face darkened: "It's been so long, why haven't you taken it yet?"

Yang Qilong: "Well, the news just came that the government troops have ambushed troops behind the high ground, and our people were ambushed. The people behind us can't rush up."

"A bunch of trash!"

Shui Rong looked towards the pond again. It was even more miserable over there. Countless corpses of White Lotus Sect members were floating in the pond, and there were also many dead bodies hanging on the bamboo spears on the opposite side of the pond!

The White Lotus leaders who had been cheering just now fell silent, and the attacks from both sides all failed.

Shui Rong's eyes flashed with ferocity: "No matter what, the 10,000-man square formation on the left wing will push forward and defeat the five military camps defending the front in one fell swoop. Today I want to defeat this so-called elite force fairly!"

Yang Qilong opened his mouth but said nothing.

The command flags were waved, drums were beaten again, and the 10,000-man square formation on the left wing pressed forward to the beat of the drums.

Shui Rong waved his hand and said, "Since we can't take that high ground, push the artillery up and hit the Fifth Army Camp on the head. Bomb it hard for me. Don't save the ammunition for me!"

Yang Qilong was startled: "Your Majesty."

"Stop talking!" Shui Rong didn't look at him, but raised the telescope and looked towards the battlefield in front.

The fighting began in close combat, with swords slashing, spears stabbing, blood and flesh flying, heads rolling to the ground, and screams and wails echoing over the battlefield.

The White Lotus followers rushed forward under the rain of arrows, trying to break through the government army's defense line again. The smell of blood in the air made them extremely ferocious. Even though those in the front kept falling down, the White Lotus followers behind them still rushed forward madly. The powerful impact force even broke the spears in the hands of the spearmen, and those spearmen were pushed backwards by the powerful impact force.

The people at the front were huddled together, unable to even lift their knives, so both sides used daggers. Those without daggers used their fists and teeth. No one was willing to take a step back, and some were even squeezed to death.

At this time, a personal soldier came riding over and whispered something in Li Hu's ear.

Li Hu's eyes lit up, he was finally ready!

The White Lotus' reinforcements have arrived, the artillery is ready, and the gunners are adjusting the gun positions!
A general from the Fifth Army Battalion could no longer bear it and asked, "My Lord, when will the reinforcements arrive?"

Li Hu smiled: "Here I come!"

Before he finished speaking, the cannon fired, but the shells did not fall on the heads of the officers and soldiers of the Fifth Army Battalion, but on the artillery position of the White Lotus Sect. Immediately, several submachine guns were hit by the shells, wood chips flew all over the gun carriages, and the gunners rolled on the ground with their faces covered and wailing!
The sub-gun has five sub-guns. When firing, the sub-guns are placed in the chamber. The firing rate is very high, and the sub-guns can be loaded with ammunition while firing.

Amid the exclamations of the crowd, five rounds of artillery shells landed on the White Lotus artillery position in an instant. The intensive bombardment caused the gunpowder to explode, and a raging fire engulfed the entire artillery position. Wailings were heard in the sea of ​​fire. The White Lotus members ran around in the sea of ​​fire. Some rushed into the pond, and some rushed into the White Lotus reinforcements that were pressing forward.

At the same time, balls of artillery fire fell on the White Lotus reinforcements formation, and screams rang out one after another!

Li Hu laughed. How could he not think of placing the submachine gun on the high ground!

Suddenly, the ground shook slightly, and Jia Yun arrived with the firearms battalion.

Li Hu ordered the herald officer: "Let the five military camps withdraw to both sides."

Bugles sounded, command flags fluttered, and the officers and soldiers of the Fifth Army Battalion who were blocking the front slowly retreated to both sides, making way for a passage.

Jia Yun drew the sword from his waist and swung it out with a cold light: "Fire alternately and move forward!"

Nearly a thousand musketeers fired at the same time, with amazing power, instantly clearing out the White Lotus followers in the front. Three thousand musketeers fired alternately and advanced, knocking the White Lotus followers to the ground one by one.

A general from the Fifth Army Battalion exclaimed: "This is a new breech-loading musket!"

Another general from the Fifth Army Battalion: "No wonder they can replace ammunition while advancing."

Wang Daniu was stunned: "This power is no less than that of artillery!"

Li Hu smiled. This was still a single-shot gun. If it was a rapid-fire gun or a machine gun, the White Lotus Sect members in front of him would have been cleared out by now!
Wang Yaozu spoke: "The White Lotus Sect has been defeated!"

There was continuous firing from breech-loading muskets in front, shells falling overhead from time to time, and the two wings had to withstand attacks from five military camps. The White Lotus sect members were in chaos and could no longer hold on and began to retreat wildly towards the White Lotus sect's camp!
Li Hu put down the telescope: "It's time for the cavalry to appear."

Some were happy and some were sad. Seeing the government cavalry rushing out, Yang Qilong closed his eyes and was defeated!

Shui Rong threw the telescope in his hand hard to the ground and turned to walk towards the central military tent.

Yang Qilong sighed: "Gather the defeated soldiers!" (End of this chapter)