The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The rumbling of iron hooves approached from afar, like muffled thunder rising from the earth.

Clad in red armor and carrying sabers on their shoulders, the Jingnan cavalrymen held up blazing torches, casting countless flowing lines of fire in the darkness.

Under the blazing firelight, the crimson armor gleamed with a cold luster, as if it had just been forged in a furnace.

The battle flags fluttered in the firelight, like leaping flames of blood.

The resounding drums and horns tore through the night sky, intertwining with the clatter of horses' hooves to create a suffocating sound of battle.

The torrent of torches, like a ferocious fire dragon, surged into the camp of the Wanmin Army from all directions, instantly bringing with it countless cries of agony and despair.

The sudden attack caused the soldiers of the Wanmin Army, who had been in a state of excitement not long ago, to collapse in an instant.

Darkness brings chaos to order, and the unknown brings the greatest fear.

The soldiers of the Wanmin Army on the outermost perimeter scattered and fled like headless flies.

However, the Wanmin Army had experienced countless baptisms of blood and swords.

The thunderous sound of war drums echoed through the camp of the Wanmin Army.

The camps of the Wanmin Army were instantly filled with chaos and uproar.

Large groups of soldiers poured out of their tents and moved toward the camp wall.

In the midst of chaos, their first course of action was to consolidate their positions.

Then a large contingent of cavalry galloped out from the camp and rushed to the scene of chaos to provide reinforcements.

This approach is not wrong.

It can be said that this is the best arrangement.

The battlefield is always the best school for training soldiers, far more efficient than any high-level military academy.

but.

The nature of warfare has long since changed.

"Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!!"

Amidst a thunderous roar, blazing red flames suddenly rose from all directions.

The heavy artillery shells easily destroyed the earthen and wooden walls of the camp, and also crushed the morale of the soldiers of the Wanmin Army in these camps.

As the Jingnan Army's cavalry swept in from the darkness, these simply constructed fortified camps also suffered a fatal blow.

Defeat...

Like a mountain collapsing...

When the morale of the army plummets to rock bottom, all struggles are in vain.

The surviving officers and generals of the Wanmin Army also realized this.

Based on past experience, they summoned their elite personal guards.

At such a moment, the best option is to gather our remaining strength, break through the encirclement, and plan for the future.

That's not wrong; it's the right choice.

What awaited them was the Jingnan Army infantry, who were already in full battle array and slowly pressing in.

To the dull yet rhythmic beat of drums, countless infantrymen of the Jingnan Army advanced in perfect unison.

Each row of torches rose and fell rhythmically with each step.

The blazing firelight cast flickering light on the faces of the Jingnan soldiers in the army formation.

Guns and rifles stood like a forest, their deadly gleam gleaming in the dazzling firelight.

Orange-red flames spewed forth continuously, forming a line against the night sky.

The deafening roar of the volley of gunfire was like a death knell, echoing across the entire wilderness.

Everywhere you look, there are waves sweeping in.

Flames were constantly flickering in all directions.

fear.

This crushed the last will of the Wanmin Army to fight.

The officers' shouts and curses were drowned out by the cries of the fleeing soldiers, and the officers' command flags fell limply to the ground.

The camps, like dams hollowed out by ant holes, crumbled before the tide of despair.

Officers were unable to control their soldiers, and generals were unable to manage the army.

"It's over..."

Li Yan was filled with despair. He could barely hold onto the reins, and as he swayed, he almost fell off the horse.

"Isn't the main force of the Jingnan Army all gathered in Yangzhou?"

"The troops in Yangzhou haven't moved, the troops in the eastern suburbs haven't moved, where did Chen Wang get his troops from!"

Li Yan was acting like a madman, screaming hysterically, his eyes filled with madness.

He has always been cautious and prudent, never daring to make a single wrong step.

Both secret reports and military reports confirmed that there were no signs of any mobilization of the Jingnan Army in Yangzhou City or its eastern suburbs.

In the western suburbs of Yangzhou, Chen Wang could only mobilize 60,000 troops.

After a series of bloody battles, Chen Wang should only have about 40,000 soldiers left in his command.

With such a force, it is already a stretch to defend such a long front.

How could they possibly have any spare energy to devote to an attack?

Li Yan felt a surge of anger and fear filling his heart.

Just then, he heard a familiar voice.

"marshal!"

Li Yan turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Yuan Shizhong galloping towards him from the north. The voice was indeed Yuan Shizhong's.

At this moment, Yuan Shizhong was no longer the imposing figure he once was; instead, his hair was disheveled and his armor was askew.

Yuan Shizhong did not approach. When he was still more than ten meters away, his warhorse suddenly let out a shrill neigh and then its front hooves buckled and it fell to the ground.

Yuan Shih-chung was thrown out and crashed heavily onto the frozen ground.

He struggled to get up, but fell to the ground again due to his leg injury.

Only then did Li Yan notice that the warhorse under Yuan Shizhong's horse was already covered in wounds.

A shocking line of blood was spilled across the frozen ground.

"Large numbers of Jingnan Army infantry have appeared on the west, north, and east sides, and a large contingent of Jingnan Army cavalry has already penetrated into the heart of our western front..."

Yuan Shizhong struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse and full of pain.

"The troops in each camp are in disarray, and the rout is unstoppable. The Jingnan Army has already exceeded 100,000 troops..."

"impossible!"

Li Yan gripped his riding whip tightly and roared, interrupting Yuan Shizhong's words.

"impossible!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Where did Chen Wang get so many soldiers from!"

"How could Chen Wang possibly have 200,000 troops at his disposal!"

Li Yan's eyes were bloodshot and filled with madness.

He didn't want to believe it.

He racked his brains but couldn't figure out why the Jingnan Army had so many troops.

Chen Wang had clearly transferred all available troops to Yangzhou.

Where did Chen Wang get his troops?
Could it be from Haizhou, Xuzhou, Henan, or Hanzhong?

Absolutely not.

It's impossible!

He had planted spies in all these places.

He could definitely know about such a large-scale troop movement.

Moreover, Chen Wang would never be able to mobilize troops from these places.

Because once a person is transferred, there is a risk of being taken advantage of.

Neither Li Zicheng nor Huang Taiji would let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But what good would denial do?

Right now, the Jingnan Army has that many troops.

The red tide on the horizon has already formed a line.

The cries of agony filled the fields, and the roar of gunfire shook the heavens.

The resounding military song had faded, but it still lingered in everyone's ears.

With everyone united as one, even mountains can be shaken!
Loyalty and righteousness are the highest virtues, reaching the heavens and the earth!

My lord treats me as dearly as my parents.

Those who violate military law will not be free!
Orders are clear, rewards and punishments are readily available.

I would not hesitate to face fire and water!
Report to the nation and save the common people.

Slay the enemy, brothers united in hatred!

Several elite cavalrymen helped Yuan Shizhong up from the ground.

"Marshal, let's go, we still have a chance..."

Yuan Shizhong was helped up again. He looked at Li Yan, who was filled with despair, and sighed.

"Chance……"

Li Yan grinned, his expression constantly shifting and changing, finally revealing a face that seemed to be both smiling and crying.

"Chance?"

"Hahahaha... An opportunity!"

Li Yan's body heaved up and down as he bent over, laughing maniacally. The laughter initially seemed to be squeezed out of his chest, but gradually became hysterical.

The smile on Li Yan's face became increasingly exaggerated.

"Hahahahaha."

Li Yan laughed loudly, even laughing until tears streamed down his face.

"Where is there any chance left..."

"Who do you think Chen Wang is?"

"Now."

"He would never give me another chance..."

Li Yan turned his head and looked east.

That was the central command post of the Jingnan Army.

Countless torches stood tall, their dazzling light illuminating the entire wilderness as if it were daytime.

The melodious swan songs rose higher and higher, and the stirring military songs grew louder and louder.

The thunderous sound of war drums echoed across the battlefield.

all.

It's all over.

Li Yan foresaw his own fate, and he foresaw the fate of the Wanmin Army.

On the once silent river surface to the east, a raging fire was now burning.

A raging fire is burning on the surface of the river.

Those warships that once belonged to him are now wailing in flames.

The Jingnan Army is launching a counter-offensive.

Under the cover of night, cries of anguish filled the air.

Everywhere there were collapsing soldiers and fleeing armored warriors.

Li Yan dropped his riding whip and slowly drew the goose-feather knife from his waist.

The blade reflected the firelight, which shone into Li Yan's eyes.

His life experiences flashed through Li Yan's mind like a revolving lantern.

The joy of high school in my youth, the cries of the countryside when natural disasters struck, the pain of losing my family when I was imprisoned...

He crawled out of the dark dungeon in Qi County and, step by step, has come this far.

They united the righteous army, captured Luoyang, and killed the Prince of Fu.

He captured Xuzhou, broke through Fengyang, attacked Hou Xun in the south, seized the Left Five Camps, intimidated the southern kingdoms, and destroyed Sun Chuanting in the north, almost ushering in a new era.

but……

Now, it's all over...

He has done everything in his power, tried his best, and tried every possible method.

But in the end, he was still unable to change his own fate, nor the fate of the world.

"It's all too late..."

"It's all over..."

Li Yan waved his hand. He didn't run away again. He had run away too many times. He was just too tired.

"You can all choose how to walk the road ahead."

As he said.

It's all over.

The silent Lady Hong sighed softly and urged her warhorse to come to Li Yan's side.

Hong Niangzi remained silent, simply holding Li Yan's hand in quiet contemplation.

Yuan Shizhong knelt on the ground, staring blankly at Li Yan.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But in the end, Yuan Shih-chung said nothing.

Yuan Shizhong lowered his head, bent over, and bowed deeply to Li Yan, who was sitting high on his horse.

Then Yuan Shizhong pushed away the armored soldiers who were helping him and stumbled northward.

Before long, his slender figure disappeared back into the darkness.

It was as if they had never appeared.

……

On the 21st day of the first month of the 16th year of Chongzhen's reign, at dawn.

The cold wind howled, and the embers of the fire still burned.

As dawn broke, blood stained the desolate plains.

Corpses lay strewn about, broken halberds and spears stuck diagonally into the frozen earth, casting long shadows in the morning light.

The smoke hung low, lingering like wronged spirits, and together with the dawn, it obscured the entire battlefield.

The eastern sky was turning a pale white, the rising sun casting a bleak gray-blue hue over this desolate land.

The morning light shone on the frozen corpses, and the faces of those lying on the ground retained the ferocity of their battle until death.

A tattered banner bearing the character "Li" lay half-buried in the pile of corpses, its corners trembling slightly in the morning breeze, as if making a final struggle. Several crows landed, leaping in the congealed blood and emitting piercing cries.

Li Yan leaned against the flagpole, standing with difficulty. His armor was tattered and covered with wounds from swords and knives, and underneath was a cotton armor soaked in blood.

His right hand gripped a broken goose-feather knife, its blade riddled with nicks and chips.

His left hand was holding a broken short spear, the tip of which was deeply embedded in the frozen ground.

In the morning light, his pale face was covered with dried blood, and his lips were blue from blood loss.

Those once sharp eyes were now bloodshot, yet they remained fixed on the gradually brightening eastern horizon.

Every breath he took aggravated the wound on his chest, causing Li Yan's body to tremble uncontrollably, but even so, Li Yan never loosened his grip on the knife.

Beside him were only a few other soldiers, equally wounded.

Seemingly realizing something, Li Yan suddenly looked panicked and searched around for something.

Finally, Li Yan saw what he was looking for.

Hong Niangzi, who had always been by his side, had now closed her eyes forever and lay quietly among the pile of corpses.

A north wind swept in, gently brushing against the pale face of the Red Maiden.

The morning light filtered through the smoke, casting dappled shadows on her serene face, as if she were simply asleep.

Li Yan remained silent, the red rope around his waist still bright, but no one would ever tie it for him again.

Those once bright and sparkling eyes are now closed forever, with tiny ice crystals still clinging to their eyelashes.

In these final moments, after that burning ambition has vanished.

Li Yan finally felt remorse.

In fact, he did have a choice.

Whether in Kaifeng, Xuzhou, or Fengyang.

Chen Wang never tried to kill him.

They even sent envoys to him several times, extending olive branches.

But at that time, he...

Their eyes were blinded by anger, their perception was clouded by ambition, and their hearts were seduced by power...

He was captivated by the royal palace in Luoyang.

He was captivated by the prosperity of Xuzhou.

The magnificence of Fengyang made him lose himself in the moment.

Li Yan looked dazed and knelt helplessly on the ground.

Touching the red maid's icy cheek, the chill from his fingertips pierced his heart.

Tears welled up in Li Yan's eyes like a burst dam.

Large tears splattered onto the pale face beneath her, rolling down along those familiar contours.

Li Yan tried in vain to wipe away her tears with her sleeve, but she couldn't stop them from flowing freely.

The unspoken words, the unfulfilled promises, the regret in her heart, and the overwhelming pain all turned into scalding tears, dripping onto Hong Niangzi's eyelids that would never open again.

Power blinded him, and ambition prevented him from seeing the road ahead.

"Since ancient times, the rise and fall of emperors has been a matter of great concern to the people!"

He had said those words before, but he had completely forgotten them.

He forgot the promise he had made.

Driven by his ambition, he disregarded everything and staked the fate of 400 million militia members on the gambling table.

For that elusive power, he actually abandoned all shame and colluded with foreign tribes, treating the people of the northern kingdom as pawns.

In these final moments, Li Yan finally realized his mistake and repented.

but……

As he himself said.

all.

It's already done.

late.

All of that has already happened.

The time has come to an end. (End of Chapter)