prosperous age

Just with so many cannons, Wang Gao knew that the situation over there was probably not good.

"Withdraw, return to Gule City."

There is no point in continuing to struggle here. If he stays out for too long and gives Li Chengliang an opportunity, Gule City will be in danger.

Wang Gao issued the order to retreat, and the Jurchens followed the leader's footsteps and ran away.

On Qi Jiguang's side, after seeing the Jurchens appearing in the river valley, his military morale changed from nervousness to calmness.

The unknown is the scariest thing. When you enter the battlefield and see no trace of the enemy, no one will relax, and they can only keep their spirits tense.

Now that the enemy has appeared, it shows that the commander-in-chief's judgment is correct. Donglu really set up an ambush here.

However, many of the soldiers at the front were looking at the top of the mountain strangely, and there was still no one in sight.

The commanding heights like the top of the mountain are not something you should just give up. There is something really weird about it.

Qi Jiguang was also suspicious. He could not have guessed that Wang Gao had assessed the situation and decided to give up at this time.

It is true that the enemy general was too cautious and this ambush was not easy to fight.

The enemy troops on the hilltop did not appear for a long time. The Ming army climbing the mountain was briefly confused when the enemy attack appeared, but they soon formed a simple defense line among the cliffs.

All they can rely on is the face shield on their arms.

It was just that preparations were made to defend against the attack from above, but the expected attack did not appear for a long time.

After a long time, someone finally couldn't sit still anymore and quietly discussed whether to continue climbing.

At this time, Qi Jiguang also noticed the situation on the top of the mountain. Since there was no trace of the enemy, he continued, the enemy would always appear.

As for the casualties that the attacking troops may face, to the old man on the battlefield, this is nothing.

You know, the troops who went up the mountain were all his old subordinates brought over from Zhejiang, and they had experienced many mountain battles in Fujian and other places.

Qi Jiguang believed in them that as long as there was a chance, they would be able to attack the mountain and defend the key positions effectively.

"Send a signal and let them continue climbing."

Qi Jiguang ordered the guards beside him.

As a drum sounded, it attracted the attention of the Ming army on the mountainside, and then a messenger sent out a burst of flags.

The Ming army, which was still lying motionless on the mountainside, slowly began to move and slowly began to climb up.

When the first soldier reached the top of the mountain, one Ming army after another successfully climbed up the mountain.

The officers and soldiers who reached the top first immediately formed a defensive formation. This was a standard mandarin duck formation, which showed strong offensive and defensive capabilities when fighting against Japanese pirates.

Seeing that his officers and soldiers had successfully climbed up the mountain and built a simple defense line, Qi Jiguang was convinced that the Jurchens had probably withdrawn.

"Order the second team to advance and seize the other exit of the river valley as soon as possible."

Qi Jiguang immediately ordered, and then ordered his personal guards to send a message to the Ming army on the mountain, asking them to stabilize their defenses and send a small number of advanced soldiers to search and advance to support the second team in taking the other exit of the mountain.

After seeing the second group of troops entering the river valley, Qi Jiguang also rode forward and soon met up with the vanguard army.

As long as he receives news from the front, he can order the army to pass through the dangerous area of ​​​​Sandaokou with confidence.

More than half an hour later, cavalry rushed out of the valley and came closer to report the news from the front.

"Sir, we have successfully controlled the exit of the valley and met with a team of search sentries. No trace of Donglu was found along the way."

The messenger stopped his horse and reported in front of Qi Jiguang.

"The vanguard army set off immediately and set up temporary camp after crossing the river valley to prepare for defense."

Qi Jiguang gave an order to the forward general beside him.

Although he was confident that the Jurchens had retreated, the army did not pass through the river valley, so he still did not take it lightly.

More than an hour later, Qi Jiguang followed the baggage camp through the river valley, leaving only part of the infantry camp and horse camp behind him still passing through.

In fact, the most dangerous period has passed, and he can breathe a sigh of relief.

However, Qi Jiguang still sighed a little in his heart when he thought of today's war that ended in an anticlimax.

Yes, although he was not sure of annihilating the Jurchens who set up an ambush, it was still possible to drag them here as long as they exchanged fire.

As long as it is confirmed that there is a large group of Jurchens here, it means that the Donglu's strength to defend Gule City, their home base, must be limited.

Moreover, since he can be sent out to ambush him, the level of the person leading the team must not be low.

By dragging Donglu here, Li Chengliang on the other side can more easily capture the ultimate goal of Gule City.

Gule City is the place where Wang Gao has lived for generations, so it is of great significance. Qi Jiguang does not believe that Wang Gao will give up this place easily.

This is also where Qi Jiguang's moral character is superior to Li Chengliang's.

If it were Li Chengliang, he would never sacrifice his own interests to achieve victory.

Although he would not deliberately cheat his teammates, he would not hesitate to make necessary choices in the face of real interests.

Qi Jiguang, on his side, waited for the army to completely pass through the three crossings, then simply regrouped and set off again to continue moving forward.

Only this time, instead of going north, we turned west.

According to the guide, if they continue walking for three days, the army will arrive at Gule City, Wang Gao's home base. In total, his movement speed along the way is one day earlier than the military order.

"Father, the governor sent a question to ask how our army is progressing?"

Li Rusong appeared beside Li Chengliang on horseback and asked.

"Just report it according to the facts. Our army is making rapid progress and we will reach Gule City in two days."

Li Chengliang looked at the mountain ridge in the distance, and what he was thinking about was indeed there, and how the Jurchen barbarians would prevent the army from passing through.

These days, the Jurchens continued to cause trouble for them, but only the first two times there were slightly more intense battles. After that, the Jurchens almost avoided them, only causing trouble and not daring to start a war.

This made Li Chengliang, who liked to accumulate first-level merit, extremely dissatisfied. He could not obtain the first level without meeting people, which made him less convincing when verifying his merits at the Ministry of War.

Li Chengliang knew that the doctors at the Ministry of War in the capital really liked things like heads.

Because there is a head, it is more convincing than a lavishly written message of victory.

However, whether he is facing the Mongols, that is, the Xilu or the Donglu that he is going to fight now, there is a custom of bringing back corpses to obtain the other party's property, so it becomes extremely difficult to obtain the head.

But it doesn't matter, as long as he takes the first step to capture Gule City and capture Wang Gao, his great achievements will be indispensable.

Li Rusong did not leave at this time, but rode his horse beside Li Chengliang. By observing his father's eyes, he could guess something.

Yes, there was a faint look of worry in Li Chengliang's eyes at this time.

The march route they chose was said to be extremely risky. There were almost no so-called natural dangers to defend along the way, and the group could easily reach Gule City.

The worry in Li Chengliang's eyes at this time was certainly not that Qi Jiguang from Ji Town would capture Gule City before them, but that Wang Gao would not choose to run away when he saw something happening.

Yes, continue to the north, there are many mountains and dense forests, but it will be really difficult to arrest people. "Father, are you worried that Wang Gao's son will escape?"

Li Rusong finally asked.

In front of his son, Li Chengliang did not hide his worries, nodded, but said nothing.

Seeing his father's reaction, Li Rusong immediately said as if he had been beaten to death: "Father, if my son leads his soldiers and rushes over directly, he can reach the gate of Gule City in one day, and Wang Gao's child will be unable to escape. "

Only then did Li Chengliang look sideways at his son. To be honest, he was very satisfied with his eldest son.

In fact, not only his eldest son Li Rusong, but the other sons are also very good. They are all brave men who dare to fight. In his eyes, they are all good generals of the Ming Dynasty, capable of guarding one side.

However, this outstanding eldest son of mine is a little too fierce.

Two or three thousand people dare to rush into the dragon's pond and tiger's den. This is not what someone who can inherit his mantle should say or do.

Immediately, Li Chengliang's face turned serious and he said coldly: "Rusong, do you think that fighting is such a simple thing? If you rush in front of the enemy, the enemy will tremble and kneel down to you and beg for mercy.

Have you ever considered that our army now has an absolute advantage, so as a general, why should we risk our lives to gain credit?

Your family has passed the time when you need to risk your life to fight for wealth. Your father has already done this for you.

What you need to do now is to work steadily and gain qualifications slowly.

Do you think that even if you rush directly to Gule City and capture Wang Gao, the court will promote you and make you the commander-in-chief of the town?

wishful thinking. "

At this point, Li Chengliang's face turned even darker.

"Let me tell you, even if you have made great achievements, if you have no backing in the court and no one to speak for you, the most you can do is get a silver reward and a credit, and you can't even think about getting promoted."

"But dad, let's find some way to catch Wang Gao. If we don't finish the task of the court early, we can also go back to Shenyang."

Li Rusong wanted to say more, but was rudely interrupted by Li Chengliang: "Shut up, what do you think the imperial court is?

The people in the imperial court look down upon us warriors the most. If we really destroy the Eastern and Western captives, our good days will come to an end.

When doing things in the future, think more about the future, and don’t just think about fighting and killing.

Leave Donglu and Xilu behind, as long as they don't get bigger, and whenever you want credit, come out and beat them, and you'll have their heads.

The imperial court will also pay more attention to you and me, father and son, and will give more rewards.

Even if you kill them all, you still get a lot of credit. Haven't you heard of the saying that the birds are gone and the bows are hidden? "

Li Rusong was taught by his father, so naturally he did not dare to talk back, he lowered his head and accepted it silently.

After Li Chengliang finished speaking, Li Rusong suddenly raised his head and said, "Father, my child is not reckless. He has also considered the danger."

At this point, Li Rusong pointed to the mountain ridge in front and said: "Father, if my son remembers it correctly, after passing that mountain, it will be a flat river to Gule City.

As long as my son's cavalry rushes over, there will be no danger along the way. Even if they don't have time to react, my cavalry can rush into Gule City and capture Wang Gao in one fell swoop.

In this way, Dad no longer needs to prepare for the siege, and his soldiers do not need to pay casualties for the siege.

When Qi Jiguang arrived at Gule City, my Ming flag was already planted there. "

After hearing Li Rusong's words, Li Chengliang fell into deep thought.

Of course he knew the terrain behind the mountain ridge. There was indeed no dangerous area. He could rush straight to the foot of Gule City.

Just as his son said, if a cavalry was sent out to attack Gule City at this time, Wang Gao would probably have no time to react and the army would rush into the city.

As for the risk, as long as he leads the large group of officers and soldiers to hurry up and doesn't stay too far away from the forward army, there should be no danger.

Even if your own bodyguard is besieged by Jurchen soldiers several times larger than your own, it shouldn't be a problem to hold on for two days.

And he, at that time, had already led a large group of people to arrive.

Thinking of this, Li Chengliang also planned a rare military adventure and asked his eldest son to lead a team of servants to go straight to Gule City.

The key to making up his mind was not what his son said, but the plains and plains. The Jurchens really had no place to set up an ambush.

"Okay, you go and assemble the team."

Now that he had figured it out, Li Chengliang did not act sloppily and said to Li Rusong: "After the army has passed the ridge, you will lead your troops to go straight to Gule City."

This time you are leading an army alone, so you have to be careful along the way.

If you encounter an interception, defend on the spot immediately. Don't act recklessly. Just wait for dad's large team to arrive.

Don't put yourself in danger just because you are eager to perform meritorious service. This is definitely not what a general should do. '

Hearing that his father agreed to his plan, Li Rusong had no time to cheer and hurriedly rode away.

Two miles behind him was where the servants gathered.

He wanted to get there as soon as possible, gather the more than 2,000 servants and prepare to go out.

Watching Li Rusong leave, Li Chengliang withdrew his gaze and turned his gaze back to the distant mountains.

At this time, the forward Ming army was very close to this place.

According to Li Chengliang's judgment, this was the Jurchens' last chance to intercept them.

If there is no defense here, it means that Wang Gaoer has made plans to defend Gule City and compete with the Ming Dynasty.

Perhaps, there is still time to delay and lobby other Jurchen tribes to come and join the war.

On the way, he had received information, and Wang Gao sent his two sons out of Gule City.

Maybe others thought it was an arrangement made by Wang Gao to summon reinforcements, but as a father, Li Chengliang still more or less guessed Wang Gao's mood at that time.

Sure enough, when the Ming army approached the mountain ridge, they encountered several rounds of arrow rain.

The Jurchens were not trying to kill many Ming soldiers, but to prevent them from getting closer.

Li Chengliang didn't even think about going up to the Jurchens' resistance.

He was just behind, watching the Ming army forwards push the cart up and unload artillery pieces of various sizes from the cart.

As preparations were made in the distance, the military flag in front waved, followed by bursts of roaring artillery.

"Boom boom boom"

A large number of stone bullets were fired at the mountain ridge in the distance, where the arrow rain once appeared.

The Ming infantry at the front formed a team amidst the sound of cannons, with the shield bearers in front and the archers behind, followed by several rows of spearmen, pressing forward one by one.

As another rain of arrows flew not far away, the gunners at the rear of the Ming army decisively changed their bombardment positions, and projectiles from more than a dozen artillery pieces quickly flew towards that area.

Soon, the dense rain of arrows became sparse.

Clearly, the bombardment was effective.

While Li Chengliang was waiting for news of victory ahead, he suddenly noticed the slightest tremor in the earth.

Driven by his soul, he turned around and saw that his team of servants had arrived in full gear. The young general in front, all covered in armor, was his son Li Rusong. (End of chapter)