The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

"Our fortifications cannot withstand the heavy artillery of the Jingnan Army, and the troops at the front are collapsing!"

"The 3rd Vanguard Division of the Jingnan Army has launched a fierce attack on our forward positions, and two positions on the left flank foothills have already collapsed!"

"In the central defensive line, three of our seven bastions have been lost. The Jingnan Army's armored cavalry has surged in, and none of our soldiers have survived!"

"Our right flank fortifications along the river have been besieged by the Jingnan Army. General Xin led his troops to reinforce but was blocked and is now engaged in a fierce battle. Four bastions have already been lost on the right flank!"

Shunjun Camp in Mengyuan Town.

Li Zicheng's knuckles, gripping the reins tightly, had turned white, and the bluish-gray veins bulged prominently on the bronze-colored back of his hands.

One bad battle report after another came from the front lines. The defensive line that had been painstakingly built over the past few months was completely vulnerable to the Jingnan Army's overwhelming offensive.

It's... crumbling!
"Boom! Boom! Boom boom boom!"

A thunderous roar erupted again, and in an instant, it became a continuous sound.

Thick white smoke rose up in front of the artillery position like a giant wall.

Immediately afterward, a deafening roar that ripped through eardrums struck.

The terrifying power far surpassed the raging torrents of the Yellow River, causing countless soldiers in the forward Shun army bastions to feel their hearts sink and plummet to the bottom.

Countless black dots, accompanied by deathly shrieks, ripped through the sky and crashed into the fortress complex painstakingly built by the Shun army at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.

Earth and rocks crumbled, wood chips flew everywhere, and huge plumes of dust shot into the sky.

The sturdy fortress walls were easily destroyed, shattered, and eventually collapsed.

Those fortresses that were once considered impregnable fortresses are now like sandcastles built by children being battered by giant waves, rapidly melting away amidst the earth-shattering roar.

The terrifying sound of cannons roared violently, and Li Zicheng's face turned ashen. He felt the ground beneath his feet tremble.

The warhorses in the camp neighed restlessly, raising clouds of dust.

"His Majesty!"

Liu Fangliang, covered in blood and with his armor tattered, rode his warhorse at full gallop.

"We can't keep fighting like this!"

"The troops at the forward bastion are demoralized and cannot fire their guns when the enemy gets close."

"Our artillery can't reach the Jingnan Army's positions...we can only take the hits!"

Liu Fangliang's chest heaved violently, the feeling of suffocation almost bursting out of his chest.

This wasn't a war at all; it was a complete one-sided crushing defeat.

"This battle, really..."

Liu Fangliang couldn't bring himself to say the last words; the words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.

He saw Li Zicheng's eyes, which seemed to be spitting fire.

Li Zicheng's face turned ashen.

Can't he see the current battle situation?

But this battle, we have to fight it even if we can't.

Huayin cannot retreat.

If they quit, then they really can't fight anymore.

The Guanzhong Plain is flat and open; once the Jingnan Army breaks through this defensive line, the main force can advance unimpeded.

With the Jingnan army encircling them, they could easily take over the entire Xi'an Prefecture and then conquer the whole of Shaanxi.

They have no way out.

If we retreat again, will we retreat all the way to Qinghai like before?
Li Zicheng recalled the years he struggled to survive in the harsh and cold land of Qinghai, and how he had gone to great lengths and risked his life to break through the encirclement and establish his current empire.

Li Zicheng was truly unwilling to accept this!
distance.

Tens of thousands of soldiers of the Jingnan Army were advancing in unison, their heavy footsteps forming a suppressed thunderous roar that weighed heavily on the hearts of the Shun Army generals.

The reflections from the bayonets converged into a flowing sea of ​​metal, the cold gleam of steel silently proclaiming destruction in the morning light.

With artillery fire clearing the way, the Jingnan Army was invincible.

One fortress after another was reduced to ruins under the relentless bombardment of the Jingnan Army's heavy artillery. The Jingnan Army's infantry and cavalry then pressed forward, easily capturing one bastion after another.

Hu Zhiyi remained calm and composed, observing the situation on the battlefield with his Qianlijing (a type of ancient Chinese mirror).

"The world has truly changed..."

Zuo Liangyu stood beside Hu Zhiyi, his eyes filled with confusion, and sighed.

"This battle can actually be fought like this..."

Hu Zhiyi put down his binoculars and glanced at Zuo Liangyu standing to the side.

"The country is in a state of renewal, and the trend is like a tide, rolling eastward. From the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period to the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, war has always catalyzed the progress of military equipment."

Hu Zhiyi's expression was solemn, and his tone was low.

"With the advancement of military equipment, tactics should also be innovated. Those who are bound by the old ways will eventually be buried along with the old ways."

Zuo Liangyu looked slightly surprised as he gazed at Hu Zhiyi with astonishment in his eyes.

He saw many of Chen Wang's traits in Hu Zhiyi, just like the way this sentence sounded like it came from Chen Wang's mouth.

Hu Zhiyi smiled; he understood the surprise in Zuo Liangyu's heart.

"That was indeed said by my older brother."

Zuo Liangyu nodded slightly. If Chen Wang had said this, then everything seemed perfectly reasonable.

Zuo Liangyu looked ahead, gazing at the distant battle.

Since joining the Jingnan Army, he has followed Chen Wang forward.

He then realized that all the skills he had previously relied on to make a living had to be completely overturned and started from scratch.

The war he was in was no longer the war he knew.

Under the threat of cannons, bows and arrows are utterly useless.

In the Battle of Qingzhou, Zuo Liangyu had already witnessed the Qing army's infantry and archery skills. If it weren't for the bravery of his troops and the willingness of his officers to fight to the death, the morale of the army would have been far from what it used to be.

Otherwise, the Battle of Qingzhou might have turned out differently.

"I have heard that the Duke once used the bastion to hold off an enemy ten times his size with only a few thousand soldiers. In the Battle of Fengyang, he used the bastion to defend the rear and thwarted the attack of the Wanmin Army."

"But why were these bastions so easily defeated in the Battle of Yangzhou, and now in Huayin?"

Zuo Liangyu frowned slightly and asked the question he had been pondering.

The world is changing, and the times are progressing, which has given Zuo Liangyu a sense of urgency.

The Jingnan Army's three giant military factories in the country are producing large quantities of military equipment day and night, and are beginning to equip the entire army with new weapons.

The scale of the artillery factory has reached an unprecedented level, with an annual production of more than 600 cannons.

The front-line troops have all completed their re-equipment, and the second- and third-line troops are also continuously upgrading their weaponry.

If we don't change our ingrained ideas, relying solely on past experience will likely make it difficult to adapt to the future landscape.

Hu Zhiyi pondered for a moment, understanding Zuo Liangyu's thoughts.

"General Zuo, please rest assured. Times are constantly changing, and new tactics are constantly being developed. Old experiences are no longer applicable. The Duke has already made preparations to open a military academy for officers and soldiers in Kaifeng. The Duke will personally go to Kaifeng to teach the new techniques. General Zuo's many questions will be answered one by one in the future."

Hu Zhiyi did not address Zuo Liangyu by his given name, but instead referred to him as Commander Zuo.

Zuo Liangyu had a long military career and commanded a region. His military strategy was quite good. He often fought in Shaanxi and later pursued Zhang Xianzhong into Sichuan. After many fierce battles, he won great victories.

The rebellion in the southwest is escalating and must be quelled.

Chen Wang had already decided to have Zuo Liangyu lead the troops south to quell the rebellion. In fact, the best candidate was still Ma Xianglin.

However, considering the excessive influence of maternal relatives, Ma Xianglin was ultimately removed from the list.

"However, I can answer your question now as well."

"Bastions are easy to defend and difficult to attack, and their defensive capabilities are indeed the best among many fortresses."

"However, to defend a bastion, it must be equipped with a sufficient number of guns and cannons to ensure that the firepower is tilted in order to stop the enemy's invasion. If the attacking side has a firepower advantage of several times over the defenders inside the bastion, the bastion will ultimately be nothing more than a slightly sturdier coffin."

Hu Zhiyi raised his whip and held it horizontally in front of him, blocking the view of the Shun army's fortified position.

"The Wanmin Army still possesses a large number of muskets and breech-loading cannons, but the Shun Army's bastions only have a few light artillery pieces, and the firearms they use are even worse, requiring a large number of bows and arrows."

Hu Zhiyi explained in a low voice.

"Moreover... compared to the Wanmin Army, to say that the Shun Army is a rabble is to give them too much credit..."

Compared to the Wanmin Army, the Shun Army had its own strengths in terms of weaponry. The Shun Army had a large number of armors, while the Wanmin Army had more guns and cannons.

However, the bastion's defense was precisely lacking in guns and cannons; armor was not the main issue.

As for morale, it's incomparable.

The morale of the Wanmin Army was high, and they were all filled with an indomitable spirit.

Their military discipline was strict, and they struggled in the chaos of the world, their goal from beginning to end being to establish a new dynasty.

However, under the overwhelming force of their absolute strength, the Wanmin Army ultimately met its demise.

Li Zicheng's army was a mix of Qiang, Mongol, and Han ethnicities.

The Han troops who surrendered were all border troops who had no choice but to surrender, and the Mongol and Qiang tribes were only doing so because they saw Li Zicheng's power and could indulge in sensual pleasures.

After Li Zicheng incorporated the entire Shaanxi province into his territory, they plundered the region, searched cities extensively, and committed atrocities such as burning, killing, and looting.

Such an army was more like a band of bandits than an army.

Once the battle reaches a stalemate or shows signs of collapse, defeat is imminent.

"Everything should be done according to the actual situation. Blindly copying others will only lead to the same result as the man from Handan who tried to learn to walk in Handan but failed, and will only make him a laughing stock."

Hu Zhiyi's gaze swept across the battlefield, and he said in a deep voice.

"Those civil officials and Confucian scholars have been saying that the ancestral laws cannot be changed..."

“Empty talk about national affairs leads to missed opportunities. Laws that cannot be changed are all laws that are detrimental to them, while those changes that are beneficial to them are not based on the principle that the ancestral laws cannot be changed.”

Hu Zhiyi sneered in a disdainful tone.

“The teachings of Confucianism have changed countless times throughout history, yet they never complain about them.”

"Confucius's words have been distorted countless times since they were passed down to this day, and his spirit has long been lost. When the barbarians invaded the south, no Confucian scholar cried out that the hatred of nine generations could still be avenged."

Zuo Liangyu remained silent.

He is ignorant of current affairs and the important matters of the nation.

However, he could tell that what Hu Zhiyi and Chen Wang said was correct.

For hundreds of years, those civil officials governed the country, yet the territory of the Ming Dynasty became narrower and narrower each day.

The Jurchens, who lived in the harsh and cold lands of Changbai Mountain and Heilongjiang River, were surprisingly more advanced in military equipment than the Jurchens.

In the Battle of Songjin, the Qing army, with the advantage of artillery fire, repeatedly inflicted heavy losses on the troops of the Eight Garrisons.

"The military preparedness in the southeast was in disarray. Qi Shaobao created the Mandarin Duck Formation and defeated the Japanese pirates. He then established the Chariot Camp to defend against the northern barbarians. His military might was formidable, and no one dared to invade the border."

"By sticking to old ways, one can avoid being a great enemy in military strategy. Only by constantly striving for progress can one stand at the top of the world."

Hu Zhiyi surveyed the overall situation, looking at the Shun army cavalry that were assembling in the distance.

The deep sound of bugles pierced the sky and soared into the clouds. The Shun army's cavalry, roused by their remaining strength, swarmed towards the vanguard of the Third Division.

"And now..."

"We are now standing atop the highest mountain."

As soon as Hu Zhiyi finished speaking, the deafening volleys of gunfire and the roar of infantry cannons began again.

The vanguard of the Third Division shifted its formation, using a hollow square to defend against the enemy, while the Jingnan Army cavalry, providing cover, hovered on both flanks.

During the charge, a large number of Shun army cavalrymen were overwhelmed by artillery fire, and after entering the formation, they were repeatedly divided and annihilated...

The few enemies who managed to break into the hollow square formation were all stabbed to death by the Jingnan Army soldiers armed with muskets.

His archery and horsemanship skills were no match for the volley of musket fire.

The battle formation was exquisite, but it could not withstand the roar of heavy artillery.

"Long live!"

The Shun army's reinforcement cavalry suffered another defeat, and the soldiers of the Third Vanguard Division raised their muskets and cheered enthusiastically.

The artillery fire continued to roar, and the Jingnan Army soldiers at the front, under the command of drums and banners, changed formation again, marching forward in neat rows.

The morale of the Shun army continued to decline, while the morale of the Jingnan army continued to rise due to a series of victories.

The resounding shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" reached the heavens, and the rousing military songs echoed across the sky above Huayin.

The Jingnan Army's system is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and its statistics on various battle achievements are more accurate and fair.

In today's Jingnan Army, military achievements represent medals of merit, award letters filled with military notes, and generous land deeds.

It represents promotion and advancement, and endless wealth and status.

Death and wounds could not break the spirit of the Jingnan Army soldiers.

Those who died in battle had their families supported by the state, and those who were wounded returned home to find work in the army; everything was guaranteed.

When war breaks out, thousands of acres of fertile land are destroyed.

When the cannon is fired, there is a thousand taels of gold.

This is no exaggeration.

When military merit rewards can truly be implemented.

As the morale of the soldiers is constantly nurtured under the guidance and example of their instructors...
The pent-up blood energy that had been suppressed for hundreds of years erupted in one fell swoop.

……

Li Zicheng took in the entire brutal battle situation on the front lines.

Even though his officers and soldiers fought desperately, they still could not withstand the advance of the Jingnan Army, and could not even hold out for half a moment longer.

Despite repeated urging from the Qiang chieftains and the Taiji of the various Mongol tribes, they were unwilling to charge.

The officers and soldiers were also nearing their limits.

"Pass the order..."

Li Zicheng calmly surveyed the entire situation.

"All troops at the front fortress that can be withdrawn should be withdrawn."

Li Zicheng no longer hesitated and issued the order to withdraw his troops.

He has already come up with a way to break the deadlock.

The only way to win.

This method was devised after witnessing the tens of thousands of soldiers who fell to the guns and cannons of the Jingnan Army on the front lines.

"Order the central army to prepare to evacuate Mengyuan Town!" (End of Chapter)