Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 710 The Final Battle with Wang Baobao

Zhu Di stood atop the high slope, gazing intently at the enemy camp. A cold wind swept across his armor, producing a soft metallic clanging sound. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, taking in every detail of the enemy camp.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready," Deputy General Zhang Yu reported in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This veteran general, who had followed Zhu Di in battle for many years, could not hide his excitement at this moment.

Zhu Di nodded slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable. This war had dragged on for far too long; he needed a decisive victory to utterly crush the enemy and solidify the rule of the Ming Dynasty. He slowly raised his right hand, feeling the night breeze, calculating the optimal moment to attack.

"Pass down the order: the entire army will proceed according to plan." His voice was deep and authoritative. "Remember, this battle must be a decisive victory, leaving no room for retreat. Send the firearms battalion first, followed by the archers, and the cavalry to stand by."

"Yes!" Zhang Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute and withdrew, quickly disappearing into the darkness. Soon, military orders spread like ripples in the night, and the entire army began to move silently.

Zhu Di turned and looked at the army arrayed neatly behind him. These soldiers were no longer ordinary comrades, but elite troops who had undergone rigorous training. They were not only proficient in swords, spears, and halberds, but also possessed profound knowledge of physics—leverage, gravity, ballistics, and even the use of firearms. In the past three months of intensive training, Zhu Di had personally taught them how to utilize the forces of nature to enhance their combat effectiveness.

"Tonight, we will rewrite history," Zhu Di murmured to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips. He thought of the ministers who had questioned his military reforms; after tonight, those doubts would vanish.

Under the cover of darkness, a vanguard of three hundred elite soldiers had quietly approached the outskirts of the enemy camp. Each of them wore specially made night-clothes, and their shoes were covered with thick cotton soles, making almost no sound as they moved.

"According to His Majesty's plan, set up the first trap here," the vanguard captain, Li Yong, ordered in a low voice. The soldiers immediately sprang into action, digging deep pits along the enemy's likely route. Using the principle of leverage, they covered the pits with thin wooden planks and then sprinkled a thin layer of soil, perfectly disguising them as ordinary ground.

"Second group, set up the trap at the camp gate," Li Yong continued, issuing orders. Another team of soldiers, carrying specially made wooden stakes and ropes, stealthily approached the enemy camp gate. They used pulley systems and lever principles to set up a concealed trap. Once triggered, the heavy wooden stakes would sweep out at astonishing speed, enough to crush any enemy soldiers attempting to break through.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the artillery battalion had already occupied the high ground. Armed with improved muskets, they precisely calculated firing angles and distances based on the ballistics knowledge taught by Zhu Di. Each musketeer was equipped with binoculars to ensure accurate target hits.

"Your Majesty, all the mechanisms are in place," Zhang Yu reported back to Zhu Di.

Zhu Di nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Have all battalions take their positions and await the general offensive at dawn."

As dawn broke, enemy soldiers gradually awoke from their sleep and began their morning exercises. They were completely unaware that their camp had been completely sealed off.

"What's going on?!" The enemy commander, Wang Baobao, rushed out of his tent and was shocked to find that they were surrounded by Zhu Di's army, a dark, imposing formation like an iron wall. What was even more terrifying was that they had no idea when or how these troops had infiltrated.

"Impossible! How did they get in?!" Wang Baobao roared. His lieutenants looked at each other, equally bewildered.

Zhu Di rode out of the ranks on his warhorse, his cold and stern face appearing particularly majestic in the morning light. He was clad in golden armor, which gleamed in the rising sun, making him look like a god descending to earth.

"Surrender." His voice wasn't loud, but it shook the entire area like thunder. "This is your only way out."

Wang Baobao's face was pale, and his hand gripping the hilt of his sword trembled slightly. He looked around and found that his soldiers had been divided and surrounded, powerless to resist. Even worse, all their escape routes had been cut off.

"Zhu Di! Don't even think about it!" Wang Baobao's deputy general, Arughtai, roared and charged forward, sword in hand. This Mongol warrior was known for his bravery, and now his eyes were bloodshot, determined to fight the Ming army to the death.

However, he had only taken a few steps when the ground suddenly collapsed, and he fell into a deep pit. The sharp spikes at the bottom of the pit instantly pierced his body, and his screams came to an abrupt halt.

A deathly silence fell over the scene. The enemy soldiers watched in terror, their weapons hanging limply at their sides. Zhu Di smiled coldly: "Anyone else want to try?"

Zhu Di knew that true victory lay not in slaughter, but in subduing the enemy without fighting. He raised his hand to signal, and dozens of improved cannons were immediately brought out from the Ming army ranks.

"Wang Baobao, you're a smart man," Zhu Di's voice was clearly heard in the morning breeze. "Look at these cannons; each one can fire explosive shells, with a range three times that of your bows and arrows. And look at your predicament—your retreat is cut off, your supplies have been cut off, and there's no hope of reinforcements."

Cold sweat beaded on Wang Baobao's forehead. As a seasoned veteran, he certainly understood the situation before him. But he was still unwilling to surrender just like that.

"You think this will make me submit?" Wang Baobao gritted his teeth. "We Mongol warriors would rather die in battle than surrender!"

Zhu Di calmly raised his right hand, and the musketeers behind him immediately aimed their guns. At the same time, a mechanism at the camp gate was suddenly triggered, and a huge wooden stake shot out, instantly destroying several tents near the gate.

"This is just a small demonstration," Zhu Di said calmly. "If a full-scale war breaks out, how many of your soldiers will survive?"

Wang Baobao turned to look at his men and saw fear and a will to survive in their eyes. These soldiers had fought for years and were weary of war. At this moment, they hoped more than anything to return home alive.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere on the battlefield grew so heavy it was almost suffocating. Finally, Wang Baobao let out a long sigh and slowly lowered the scimitar in his hand.

“Zhu Di, you have won.” He knelt on one knee. “I surrender.”

Zhu Di nodded slightly: "A wise choice." He surveyed the enemy soldiers, "Those who lay down their weapons will be spared death. Those who wish to surrender may join our army; those who wish to return home will be given travel expenses."

With a thud of metal hitting the ground, the enemy soldiers laid down their weapons. Many shed tears, tears of both humiliation and relief.

Zhang Yu stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, what should be done with Wang Baobao?"

Zhu Di looked at his former formidable rival and pondered for a moment: "General Wang is a talented man. If he can be put to my use, he will surely achieve great things."

Upon hearing this, Wang Baobao looked up, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. Zhu Di dismounted and walked to him, personally helping him up: "The world, after a long period of division, will inevitably unite. Now that the Ming Dynasty is on the verge of unification, General Wang, why not join us in this great undertaking?"

Wang Baobao remained silent for a long time before finally bowing deeply: "I am willing to serve Your Majesty with the utmost loyalty and devotion."

After the battle, Zhu Di rode alone to inspect the battlefield. The sight of corpses strewn across the field made him frown. Although the battle was a great victory, the cruelty of war still moved him deeply.

"Your Majesty, we have won!" Zhang Yu stepped forward, his voice brimming with excitement. "After this battle, there will be no more major threats in the north!"

Zhu Di gazed at the rising sun in the distance and slowly said, "Yes, we won. But was such a victory worthwhile?"

(End of this chapter)