The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

"Then... are we really going to head to Mengyuan Town?"

Zuo Liangyu pondered for a moment, somewhat hesitant.

His gaze swept across the dense contour lines surrounding Mengyuan Town on the map, as if he could already see the hidden danger lurking in that narrow terrain.

The Shun army retreated to the plateau, seemingly opening the gates, but in reality, it was a trap to lure the enemy deeper into their territory.

The terrain around Mengyuan Town is narrow and cannot accommodate a large army.

The loess plateaus stretched endlessly, and the Shun army had dug extensive trenches, making a frontal attack extremely difficult.

This is a blatant conspiracy. If they were to actually march into Mengyuan Town and launch a full-scale attack, the casualties would likely increase exponentially.

The course of the war will once again become unpredictable.

"Our army occupies Shanxi. If we want to advance into Shaanxi, we don't necessarily have to go through the Huayin-Tongguan line; we can detour through Shanxi..."

Zuo Liangyu carefully chose his words and offered his advice.

"Now is not the time when the Qing army occupied the north and had no choice but to fight."

"The longer it goes on, the more advantageous it will be for us. It is not impossible to detour through Shanxi and launch another attack."

Li Zicheng only occupied the provinces of Shaanxi and Sichuan, and his finances were in dire straits, with a shortage of food and supplies.

They now control almost the entire country of China, and with the implementation of various new policies, the national treasury is becoming increasingly full.

At this time, the battle situation in Sichuan was also in their favor. If they continued to delay like this, the situation would only become more and more favorable to them.

"Do not."

Hu Zhiyi's gaze was piercing as he directly rejected Zuo Liangyu's proposal.

"Your suggestion is indeed a good idea, but it's not necessary."

Hu Zhiyi faced Zuo Liangyu directly and burst into hearty laughter.

"Besides, don't you think that a battle like this is what makes it exhilarating and incredibly satisfying?"

Hu Zhiyi's laughter gradually subsided, but the burning light in his eyes became even more intense, and his tone carried the excitement of encountering a formidable foe.

"To meet a worthy opponent in chess or to encounter a talented general is truly one of the greatest joys in life."

"The battles of the past were far too boring; everything now is truly exhilarating."

Hu Zhiyi's eyes regained their depth, and his voice was strong and resonant, each word carrying an unquestionable determination.

This reflects both a keen understanding of the situation and an undisguised, ignited competitive spirit.

"Since Li Zicheng has laid out such a brilliant plan, how can I, Hu Zhiyi, fail to live up to his good intentions? This battle will reveal the truth!"

Hu Zhiyi placed one hand on the knife and slowly raised the other.

His sharp eyes followed the raised hand, which suddenly clenched into a fist as it reached his chest.

The fierceness in Hu Zhiyi's eyes reached its peak at this moment.

"The vanguard of three divisions will launch two feigned attacks to ascertain the enemy's strength and weakness. Once they have done so, they should withdraw immediately without further engagement."

"The two supporting divisions will be responsible for providing support and closely monitoring the enemy's movements to prevent any attempt by the enemy to take advantage of the situation and launch an attack!"

"The central army moved forward as a whole, and the fourth division of the vanguard quickly set up camp and built a defensive line, relying on the outer bastions abandoned by the Shun army. The remaining troops set up camp and held their positions according to the directions I had previously designated. The camps were connected to each other and formed a fortified village."

Without much hesitation, Hu Zhiyi immediately issued the order to withdraw the troops and set up camp.

As dusk approached, launching a forced attack at this point would undoubtedly be extremely unwise.

They no longer had enough time to build a stable camp in the unfamiliar town of Mengyuan.

At present, the most pragmatic decision is to take advantage of this last bit of daylight to cautiously advance and scout ahead, to probe the strength and resilience of the Shun army's defenses behind that reverse slope, and to ascertain their approximate troop deployment.

Zuo Liangyu stood to one side, his lips moving slightly, his expression full of hesitation. He wanted to speak up several times, but in the end, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"do not worry."

Hu Zhiyi looked directly into Zuo Liangyu's worried eyes.

He knew what Zuo Liangyu was thinking.

There are many ways to win.

Assess the situation and act decisively, avoiding direct confrontation and attacking the weak points.

If a general were to risk the lives of tens of thousands of his soldiers or disregard the safety of the entire army simply for the sake of momentary pleasure and excitement on the battlefield, that would be unbecoming of a competent commander.

"I was born in Guangning, and I joined the army at a young age, along with my older brother..."

Hu Zhiyi's voice lowered, and a look of reminiscence appeared on his face.

"I came from humble beginnings and know all too well the hardships of soldiers at the bottom of the ranks, who live a life as adrift as duckweed."

"Having fought across thousands of miles, I understand even more clearly the hardships that war brings to people's lives and the suffering of the masses."

“I, Hu Zhiyi, am by no means the kind of cold-blooded person who regards human life as worthless and can sacrifice soldiers at will, nor am I the kind of person who would disregard the lives of countless soldiers for personal fame and official career.”

Hu Zhiyi's expression was solemn and firm.

"All the decisions I made on the battlefield, whether advancing or retreating, attacking or defending, were carefully weighed and were made with a clear and rational mind."

"I am well aware of the heavy responsibilities on my shoulders and the journey ahead."

"I know what to do right now, and I am even clearer about where I am headed tomorrow."

Hu Zhiyi's tone was resolute, his deep and steady voice seemingly possessing a peculiar power capable of dispelling doubts.

"tomorrow……"

Hu Zhiyi's voice softened, and his gaze slowly rose, passing over Zuo Liangyu's shoulder, to look towards the battlefield further away.

"That is the end..."

He had always followed Chen Wang closely, like a shadow.

Chen Wang continued to gallop forward, and he never stopped moving forward.

Chen Wang had already imparted all his strategies for dealing with crises and defeating the enemy, and these strategies had become second nature to him during the long campaigns.

The worry that had been lingering in Zuo Liangyu's eyes slowly dissipated like morning mist when it met Hu Zhiyi's calm and resolute eyes.

He stared into those eyes, which were almost identical to Chen Wang's eyes, and even Chen Gong had never seen them so similar.

Zuo Liangyu's gaze slowly descended, landing on the jade belt around Hu Zhiyi's waist.

He also saw the mark he was looking for.

Like Chen Wang, Hu Zhiyi wore a reed pipe made of ebony at his waist.

After each battle, Chen Wang would stand on the battlefield strewn with corpses and play his bili (a type of reed pipe).

In every major battle, the Jingnan Army advanced fearlessly and resolutely amidst the thunderous war drums and blaring trumpets.

After each major battle, the soldiers of the Jingnan Army would depart for the Yellow Springs amidst the mournful and yearning sound of the reed pipes.

The bili (a type of reed instrument) has long been a silent mournful melody in the Jingnan army, a remembrance and a farewell.

He believed Hu Zhiyi's words.

Zuo Liangyu put aside his worries and said no more. He simply turned away silently and turned his gaze to the distant battlefield that was gradually being reddened by the sunset.

……

As the sun sets in the west, the smoke and clouds stretch for thousands of miles like fire.

The entire landscape was enveloped in this tragic yet magnificent light and color.

With a piercing metallic clang, the Jingnan Army's Third Vanguard Division, having reached Mengyuan Town, slid down the attack slope in an orderly fashion, like a receding tide.

Shunjun did not pursue, because the two supporting divisions of Jingnan Army were already like an impregnable fortress, firmly guarding the transportation choke points and high ground of the battlefield.

Their formation was impeccable, with spears and halberds forming a dense forest, like an unshakeable rock, blocking any attempt by the Shun army to pursue them. The sound of the bili (a type of reed pipe) slowly rose from the foot of the plateau, plaintive and sorrowful, piercing through the deepening twilight and echoing faintly in the air above the battlefield where the shouts of battle had just subsided.

The musicians of the Jingnan Army are playing a final requiem for the fallen soldiers.

The music drifted up high, as if guiding the spirits of those heroes who had not yet gone far on their journey home.

My hometown is thousands of miles away, and the road to the underworld is far.

Banners fluttered in the wind, stretching endlessly.

The east side of Mengyuan Town is ablaze with lights.

The camps of hundreds of thousands of Jingnan troops were distributed in layers across this narrow plain, following the terrain.

Thousands of campfires, like stars scattered across the sky, illuminated the deepening night, resembling a reflection of the Milky Way.

To the west of Mengyuan Town, the Shun army camp was also brightly lit, with fires burning throughout the night.

Countless torches and campfires illuminated the dark night sky and reddened the entire plateau, making the whole mountain seem to be burning silently.

Along the official road from Mengyuan Town to Huayin City, countless Shun soldiers carrying torches were marching towards Mengyuan Town.

The procession stretched for miles, with flames burning continuously, almost endless, like a giant fire dragon galloping and roaming in the night.

The bright moon hangs high, its cool light silently spreading across the fields.

Enveloped by the biting cold wind, it gradually slants westward with unstoppable force.

Time is like a cold-blooded judge, relentlessly moving forward, never hesitating or pausing for a moment because of human joys and sorrows, nor because of the cruelty of the battlefield.

About an hour before dawn, when the darkness was at its deepest, the two sides' continuous camps began to stir almost simultaneously.

Wisps of smoke rose first, followed by the gradual lighting of fires in various locations. On the east and west sides of Mengyuan Town, the camps of the Jingnan Army and the Shun Army quickly transformed into a sea of ​​lights that pulsed violently in the deep night.

The fortifications of the Fifth Division of the Jingnan Army vanguard were suddenly breached.

Squads of advance scouts and elite vanguards had already quietly left the camp ahead of the main force, like outstretched tentacles, silently disappearing into the darkness before dawn, rushing toward their respective predetermined attack positions.

As dawn breaks and the first rays of sunlight appear in the east, the eastern sky gradually brightens.

As several signal lights in the central camp of the Jingnan Army were rhythmically waved on the watchtower, a final, deep and resounding drumbeat of rallying the troops resounded, piercing through the cold air.

In an instant, the sharp reveilles from each camp and stockade shattered the silence, and the camp erupted in a cacophony of noise, officers' commands, and the clanging of armor, all blending together into a cacophony.

The sleeping steel behemoth has fully awakened.

The continuous sound of bugles and the rumble of war drums slowly rose from the east of Mengyuan Town.

The day of decisive battle.

It has already arrived...

On the fifth day of the eleventh month of the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), it snowed

As night fell, the sky changed abruptly, and fine snowflakes began to fall, then turned into goose feather-like snowflakes, fluttering down from the dark sky.

By daybreak, the surrounding plateaus, gullies, and barren fields of Mengyuan Town were all covered with a thin layer of silvery white.

7:15 AM (the first quarter of the morning)

The landscape on the vast plateau to the east of Mengyuan Town has changed dramatically.

Like a raging wildfire, the red banners of the Jingnan Army were densely packed, fluttering in the wind and almost obscuring the frontal view of the entire eastern front.

In the biting cold wind, countless crimson banners fluttered, creating a striking contrast with the pure white of the sky and earth.

The 170,000 troops of the Jingnan Army were all fully equipped and ready to go, and all arrived at their designated positions.

Along the long battlefront, countless Jingnan soldiers stood solemnly amidst the swirling snowflakes.

Iron armor frosted over, spears and halberds as sharp as reeds.

At the front of each of the Jingnan Army's formations, the commanders of each formation stood with their hands on their swords, facing their soldiers with solemn expressions.

Standing in front of them were the instructors of each formation.

These instructors, dressed in red cotton-padded clothes and wearing gilded helmets, held megaphones made of sheet metal and braved the wind and snow to begin their final pre-battle mobilization.

"Its daybreak……"

The instructor's voice boomed, drowning out the howling wind and snow.

"Fellow countrymen."

"Today will be a bloody day, and a day that will be recorded in history."

"We stand here, on the land of China."

"Standing on this land that our ancestors watered with their blood and dignity."

The instructor's voice boomed, his gaze sweeping over the resolute faces before him.

"This is the homeland and its rivers and mountains that our Han ancestors pioneered with blood and fire, and defended with dignity and integrity for thousands of years!"

The instructor's voice was deep, and the megaphone in his hand trembled slightly, as if bearing a tremendous burden.

"For decades, natural disasters have been frequent, wars have been frequent, the country has been in darkness, and the people have been suffering."

"In the early years of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, a million bandits wreaked havoc in Jiangnan, and Nanjing fell."

"In early 1647, the Jurchen cavalry swept into the capital, and the capital fell."

"The building is about to collapse, the raging tide has been turned..."

"Over a decade of selfless sacrifice and the unity of millions in dying for our cause have forged the formidable power of China today!"

The instructor's voice resonated through the wind and snow, and the soldiers in front of him unconsciously straightened their backs.

In the formation, countless soldiers' eyes were focused on him.

"Below Yangzhou, 400,000 rebel soldiers lay dead; below Jining, 200,000 elite Eight Banner troops lay dead."

"From the shattered land to the reunification of most of the country, every inch of this land is soaked in the blood of the soldiers of Jingnan!"

The instructor raised his arm, clenched his fist and swung it violently, then raised his voice and spoke with great passion.

"Now, only the remnants of Li Zicheng's forces, entrenched in Qin Chuan, are still putting up a stubborn resistance! Today, right here in Mengyuan Town, we will bring this great cause of unification to a final close!"

"We do not want a divided land! What we want is a unified China! From the water towns of Jiangnan to the grasslands of the north, from the coast of the East China Sea to the deserts of the west, this vast land must be reunited!"

The wind and snow seemed to freeze at that moment.

The instructor standing at the front of the formation surveyed the resolute faces before him, his voice gradually deepening.
"Today is the perfect opportunity for us to make our mark and establish our reputation!"

"In the future, this battle will be recorded in history in great detail! When future generations speak of loyalty and bravery, they will surely mention the names of the soldiers of the Jingnan Army!"

The instructor's voice was loud and almost hoarse.

"We are not a warlike army. What we seek is peace throughout the world, the restoration of the glory of our Chinese nation!"

"However, bandits block our path and our nation is shrouded in darkness. Only by using the swords in our hands can we sweep away the evil influence and cleanse the world!"

There may be countless paths to victory!

"Today, our path will be paved with the corpses of traitors!"

The instructor's roar echoed like a bell in the wind and snow.

"The outcome of this battle will be decided before the sun sets in the west!"

"Let the enemy's blood stain the snow of Mengyuan red!"

"Whether we can achieve complete victory and pacify the world soon depends on our struggle today!"

"If we strive forward, the unification of China will be in sight!"

"With our courage and perseverance, the land of China will forever be secure!" (End of Chapter)