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Chapter 1403 Facing Fire and Water, Daring Not to Delay

The heavy cavalry, fighting alongside infantry, faced extreme difficulties due to their overwhelming numerical disadvantage.

Soon, casualties began to appear on Hu Dayou's side of the heavy cavalry, and many of them became physically exhausted. Even Hu Dayou himself felt his arms become extremely heavy.

Therefore, he loudly ordered the heavy cavalry to abandon their long lances and use short weapons to fight the bandit cavalry, and began to use hand cannons to bombard the bandits.

You see, Grandpa Hu had always forbidden the heavy knights from using hand cannons, saving them for crucial moments to defeat the enemy. However, the situation was unfavorable, and if they didn't use hand cannons now, they might never have the chance to use them again.

The heavy cavalry suffered twenty or thirty casualties, but there were still more than 370 knights left, each equipped with two hand cannons, totaling more than 700 cannons.

Although they didn't achieve a perfectly synchronized volley, they were only slightly less impressive in terms of sheer force.

The simultaneous roar of thirty to fifty handguns was quite impressive, and another advantage was that it could be fired continuously, with the left side firing first, then the right, then the front row firing, then the back row firing...

In an instant, the sounds rose and fell, a continuous roar that seemed to stretch on and on!
Such a display of power indeed startled the bandit cavalrymen surrounding the area, who all reined in their horses and retreated, no longer daring to rush forward to fight.

Meanwhile, most of the bandit cavalrymen in the front ranks fell off their horses after being hit by bullets, rolling and struggling on the ground, wailing incessantly.

At this point, a vacuum appeared between the heavy cavalry and the elite enemy cavalry, and the distance between the two armies increased to about forty paces.

The outer perimeter was filled with elite cavalry of the rebel army, while in the middle was a large cloud of white smoke that kept rising upwards, and figures could be vaguely seen moving within the smoke.

Although the muskets temporarily repelled the enemy cavalry, the Yongyi Army's heavy cavalry were not truly freed from their predicament.

Moreover, many of the enemy warhorses that had just been shot by handguns, not dying immediately, were so frightened and in pain that they charged headlong into the heavy cavalry's infantry formation...

These warhorses were much larger than people, and driven mad by pain, they charged and kicked countless heavy cavalry, causing considerable casualties on Hu Dayou's side.

"Quickly, front row defend, back row load up."

Hu Dayou knew that the current peace was hard-won, so he shouted loudly, "Those with grenades, take them out! This is our last stand!"

The heavy cavalry had lost their earlier passion, but that didn't mean they were afraid. It was just that none of them wanted to waste any more energy. They wanted to save their last bit of strength and courage for the bandits!

"Brothers, don't hate me!" Hu Dayou shouted with a hint of apology, "Let's meet again at the 'Temple of Loyalty'!"

The remaining 340 cavalrymen seemed prepared to die. Although their expressions were somewhat sorrowful, they showed no fear, and their hands did not falter for a moment.

Those who needed to defend were defending diligently, those who needed to load ammunition were loading it methodically, and some were rummaging through their waist bags, pulling out iron lumps twice the size of a fist, while also taking out tinderboxes...

"With ten thousand people of one mind, even Mount Tai can be shaken; with loyalty and righteousness, one's spirit soars to the heavens."

My commander is more loving than my parents, yet I have violated military law and am no longer free.

With clear commands and credible rewards and punishments, we dare not linger even when facing fire and water!
"Reporting to the Emperor above, saving the common people below; slaughtering all the Tartars, seeking a title and honor." It's unclear who started it, but the lyrics of "Triumphant Song," one of the military songs of the Brave and Resolute Army and composed by the Ming Dynasty's military genius Qi Shaobao, instantly formed a chorus of voices as it resounded within the heavy cavalry formation…

The powerful and majestic military song pierced through the pervasive white mist, resounding through the sky, inspiring every heavy cavalryman, igniting their determination to fight to the death, and strengthening their belief in repaying the Earl of Yongning with their lives!
…………

Su Laohu, the commander of the Tiger Guard Cavalry of the Weiyuan Battalion of the Yongyi Army, was leading two hundred elite cavalrymen from the first and second squadrons of the Tiger Guard Cavalry to meet Hu Dayou's heavy cavalry.

Unexpectedly, the rebel cavalry arrived so quickly. Before he could even get close, Hu Dayou's heavy cavalry had already been surrounded by the rebel cavalry and disappeared from sight.

Su Laohu saw many heavy cavalry horses slowly returning, and thus guessed that these horses were exhausted and unable to fight on horseback. That was why Hu Dayou released them and adopted the method of fighting the cavalry with infantry.

Looking around, all they could see were the rebel cavalry; they had no idea where Hu Dayou and his heavy cavalry were.

With just one glance, it was clear that the bandit cavalry numbered at least three to five thousand men. With only two hundred Tiger Guard cavalrymen on their side, no matter how well-equipped or how strong their fighting ability, they dared not rashly charge into the bandit cavalry formation.

Doing that would be tantamount to suicide!

Left with no other choice, Su Laohu could only lead his Tiger Guards to circle around the rebel cavalry, harassing them with mounted archery in an attempt to lure them into attacking and thus relieve the pressure on Hu Dayou's heavy cavalry.

As expected, the bandits fell for the trap and sent more than a thousand cavalrymen from their main force to pursue Su Laohu and his men. Even so, the area was still completely surrounded.

Unable to pinpoint the exact location of Hu Dayou's heavy cavalry, Su Laohu dared not charge in rashly. He could only lead his thousand-plus bandit cavalrymen to circle around the perimeter, waiting for an opportunity.

Although he also killed and wounded some of the bandit cavalry, this was not Su Laohu's goal. He was extremely anxious because he could not rescue Hu Dayou and the others.

Just then, a series of crackling sounds, like popping beans, faintly reached his ears.

Su Laohu immediately perked up. He directed the first squad of tiger guards to defend against the enemy, while also having the second squad of tiger guards check their pistols and ordering them to prepare hand grenades.

Immediately afterwards, Su Laohu leaped onto the back of his warhorse, shielding his forehead with one hand, and peered intently into the circle of bandit soldiers.

Sure enough, a moment later, a white plume of smoke rose slightly to the left, and the bandit soldiers retreated as if they were afraid that there was something sinister in the white smoke.

Although the location of Hu Dayou's heavy cavalry had been basically determined, Su Laohu did not rush to lead his Tiger Guards in. Instead, he looked around a few more times before steadily sitting back on his horse.

"Run to the right first, shake off the tail, then run to the left."

After shouting, he spurred his horse to gallop, and the Tiger Guards hurriedly urged their horses to follow closely. After galloping forward for about 150 paces, Su Laohu shouted again, "Batu, Bagen, feed those bastards a few hand grenades!"

As soon as Su Laohu finished speaking, two Tiger Guard cavalrymen behind him waved to the people around them, and the cavalrymen spurred their horses to the side and then quickly ran away.

A moment later, two loud "boom... boom" sounds came from behind, followed by several more "boom... boom... boom" sounds...

Clearly, Batu and Bagen, following Su Laohu's orders, threw small-sized "Ten Thousand Man Killers" at the pursuing bandit cavalry!