Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

Gao Jie led the army to the battlefield. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his armor, reflecting a cold light. The war horses were panting, and white mist was coming out of their nostrils. It was obvious that they were exhausted after the long journey and had used up most of their strength. Gao Jie knew that if he couldn't win the battle quickly, the cavalry would have to become infantry when the horses were completely exhausted, which would be a great disadvantage. After all, the enemy had neither chariots nor halberds, and infantry would suffer a great loss against the regular army. He squinted his eyes, looked into the distance, and thought about countermeasures in his mind. Gao Jie was originally a bandit, and he knew the tactics of the Shun army very well. So, he curled up a sneer at the corner of his mouth, and on a whim, he formulated a countermeasure.

Yan Tianlu stood on a high place, watching thousands of cavalrymen approaching slowly from afar. On the flag was a word "Gao", fluttering in the wind. However, there was not much surprise on his face. Apart from Gao Jie, who else could make the Ming army so active? In order to prevent a surprise attack, he quickly ordered: "The chariots on the right wing move forward, followed by spearmen, and archers and swordsmen are arranged in parallel. They are all light cavalry and are not good at charging. As long as we can stop their rain of arrows, victory is at hand." After the order was given, the right wing quickly adjusted its formation and stood ready, like an iron forest, waiting for the arrival of the storm.

Gao Jie saw this, and the sneer on his face became even more intense. He immediately ordered 5,000 cavalrymen to line up horizontally and slowly move forward, directly attacking Yan Tianlu's right wing. Huang Degong was observing the changes in the battle situation from the side. He had a sharp eye and realized that the time had come. He immediately called the messenger and ordered: "Let Ji Zisheng go around the enemy's rear and attack the left wing." "Gao Jie will deal with the right wing, and the rest of the troops will follow me to attack from the front!" "Kill!" With a thunderous shout, the soldiers rushed out like a tide, rushing towards the enemy formation, dust flying, and drums thundering.

On the battlefield, firearms occasionally roared, but soon the battle entered a close combat stage. After the gunpowder and bullets were used up, the two armies returned to the most primitive way of fighting, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the contest between the elite divisions officially began. Amid the flashes of swords and shadows, the shouts of the soldiers and the neighing of the horses intertwined, forming a tragic picture.

The elite troops of Shun army blocked Huang Degong in front, while the cavalry of the old camp competed with Ji Zishen on the left wing. Yan Tianlu turned his head to look at the right wing, wondering: "What is Gao Jie doing?" Gao Jie usually rushed and attacked, but today he just watched and did nothing. "Why not attack?" Yan Tianlu thought while fighting. Judging from the military strength, it was enough to deal with Huang Degong and Ji Zishen. Even if Gao Jie joined the battle, they could hold on. But Gao Jie's inaction attracted the attention of the right and center armies of Shun army. They were like frogs stared at by poisonous snakes, and dared not slack off.

The soldiers on the right wing of the Shun army held their weapons tightly, staring at Gao Jie's cavalry, not knowing when they would attack, so they were nervous; the central army was worried that Gao Jie would suddenly attack the right wing and threaten them, so when fighting with Huang Degong, they repeatedly looked back to check the situation on the right wing. The two armies were originally evenly matched, but because the Shun army was distracted, the Ming army gradually gained the upper hand.

At this moment, Gao Jie suddenly moved. The drums rumbled like thunder, and the sound of horses' hooves shook the earth, like a violent storm from hell. Five thousand cavalrymen lined up in formation, drew their bows and arrows, and charged straight at Yan Tianlu's right wing. The Shun army suddenly became nervous, and some even shot arrows in advance, breaking the tranquility of the air. As the cavalry approached, the sense of oppression became heavier, as if a mountain was pressing down on them. Although they knew that Gao Jie was not good at charging, the Shun army was still afraid of the power of the horses' collision. It was a primitive and irresistible fear.

The first round of arrows rained down, screams rang out, and the Shun army began to riot. Few of them were wearing armor, and although they had shields, most of them were still shot. Arrows fell like raindrops, ruthlessly piercing their bodies. What's worse, arrows hit vital points, killing them on the spot, and they fell in a pool of blood.

The second round of arrow rain followed, and the Shun army sought shelter, but the arrows followed them everywhere. Seeing that he could not defeat the enemy, Gao Jie stopped charging and returned to the formation. The Shun army thought he was going to retreat, but Gao Jie launched another charge, like a hungry beast, ready to pounce on its prey again.

The third round of arrow rain rose into the sky, and the Shun army's right wing finally lost its footing. The unarmored fled in all directions, and the army's morale was shaken, like a dead leaf swaying in the wind. The timid retreated under the pretext of finding cover, and others either dissuaded or followed suit. Few dissuaded, but many followed suit. One person spread the word, and ten spread the word, and the right wing was completely in chaos, like a pot of boiling water that had lost control.

Gao Jie took the opportunity to lead his cavalry into the enemy formation, dismounted and fought on foot, and engaged in a fight with the Shun army infantry. The Shun army infantry was caught off guard, and with the influence of the deserters, the right wing was in chaos. Once the defense line was breached, the morale was completely lost, and they fled in all directions, like a group of headless flies, running around in all directions.

Gao Jie did not immediately pursue the deserters, but turned his chariot around and remounted his horse to chase them. The Shun army was routed like an ant nest, and the right wing collapsed completely, like a sand castle collapsing under the impact of the waves.

Yan Tianlu was horrified when he saw this, and hurriedly ordered the elite troops of the old camp to retreat. The right wing had been defeated, and it was difficult to save the situation with human power. If it was allowed to spread to the center and left armies, it would lead to the annihilation of the entire army. At this time, retreating to reduce losses was the best policy. He prayed in his heart, hoping that the order to retreat could be conveyed in time so that the soldiers could escape this disaster.

However, the situation did not go as planned. Not long after the old camp retreated, the central army was also affected by the collapse of the right wing and began to collapse. Yan Tianlu personally led the elite troops to flee for their lives, but it was difficult to stabilize the position. The morale of the soldiers was low and they even began to kill each other. The crowd retreated backwards, with countless casualties, as if it was a nightmare that could not be awakened.

"Report to the emperor immediately, our army has been defeated, please make plans early!" Yan Tianlu had no choice but to send an envoy to report the battle situation to Li Zicheng, and personally led the elite troops to approach other troops in order to protect himself. His heart was filled with resentment and anger, but more of it was helplessness and sadness.

Ji Zisheng did not rush to pursue the enemy, but used cavalry to attack repeatedly to expand the victory. He scanned the battlefield with sharp eyes, looking for every opportunity to defeat the enemy. After Yan Tianlu fled for more than a mile, he saw that the two armies were still fighting fiercely. It turned out that Luo Wenbin encountered the troops of Huang Fei and Ma Degong.

"Tell Luo Wenbin that our army has been defeated. Quickly gather the defeated troops and stop Huang Degong!" Yan Tianlu thought about countermeasures while running away. But then he thought of Luo Wenbin's repeated mistakes, but the emperor still trusted him, and he felt indignant. "Change the order to Luo Wenbin. Our army has retreated. The emperor has ordered him to cover the rear!" He gave the order again, hoping that Luo Wenbin could execute the order and stop the Ming army's pursuit. He prayed in his heart, hoping that this order would make Luo Wenbin wake up and think about the overall situation.

Luo Wenbin, a burly man with a resolute face, has an indomitable tenacity since he was a child. He initially joined the army not out of a desire for power, but out of his deep concern for his country. Later, he met Li Zicheng, who was also from Shaanxi. The two hit it off at first sight, and their common ideals and beliefs brought them closely together. Li Zicheng, the ambitious leader, deeply admired Luo Wenbin's talent and loyalty, and Luo Wenbin was full of admiration and trust for Li Zicheng.

In that turbulent era, Luo Wenbin relied on his courage and wisdom to repeatedly make great achievements and gradually emerged in the army. He was named Marquis of Ci, and his status was comparable to that of Yan Tianlu, who was also Marquis of Mian. However, in terms of seniority and prestige, Luo Wenbin was far superior to Yan Tianlu. This was not only because of his heroic performance on the battlefield, but also because of his consistent loyalty.

However, after the Shun army suffered a disastrous defeat, everything began to change. At that time, the Shun army urgently needed someone to stand up and block the enemy's edge and buy time for the army to breathe. Luo Wenbin, a general who had always been brave and forward-looking, took on this important task without hesitation.

Upon hearing the news, Luo Wenbin did not hesitate at all, his eyes revealed a kind of firmness and determination. He immediately divided the team into two groups, one group stayed to deal with Qiu Yue and Tian Xiong, and the other group selected elite soldiers and rushed towards the defeated army. His figure shuttled across the battlefield, like a black lightning, inspiring every soldier to move forward bravely.

Not long after, Luo Wenbin and his several thousand elite soldiers were surrounded by tens of thousands of troops led by Huang Degong. Huang Degong, the enemy general, was known for his cunning and bravery. He knew Luo Wenbin's strength, so he was determined to trap him to death at all costs. However, Luo Wenbin did not feel the slightest fear, and his eyes were still full of determination and faith.

On the other side, Li Xingzhong was also surrounded by Li Zicheng's army on the open battlefield in the north of the city. Li Xingzhong, a general of the Ming army, was famous for his loyalty and bravery. He looked calm. Facing the siege of the Shun army, he waved his arms vigorously and shouted loudly: "The Ming army is mighty!" His voice was like thunder, echoing on the battlefield, inspiring every soldier to move forward bravely.

Thousands of Ming soldiers, holding spears, stood still and responded in unison: "The Ming army is mighty!" Their loyalty was extraordinary. If the full score was 10, they would get at least 8 or 9 points. This was all the result of Li Xingzhong's good training in Liangxiang. He let the soldiers marry and have children to stabilize the morale of the army. Before the expedition, he also left the soldiers' families in Liangxiang to show his determination. So even in the face of desperate situations, these soldiers would rather die in battle than surrender to preserve the honor of their families.

Li Xingzhong led his soldiers to fight back and the elite troops joined the battle again. Li Zicheng was shocked and anxious. He was surprised by the bravery of the Ming army and worried that his 20,000 troops could not defeat this army of thousands of people. "I give you two quarters of an hour to annihilate this Ming army, otherwise you will be punished by military law!" Li Zicheng said angrily to Jing Changhao and Gu Kecheng. The two looked at each other and left. They knew the importance of this battle and understood Li Zicheng's determination.

The sound of war drums and shouts of killing shook the heavens inside and outside Daming Prefecture. Luo Wenbin gradually couldn't hold on under Huang Degong's siege. The soldiers suffered heavy casualties and more and more surrendered. However, he still stood firm on the position and never retreated a step. His eyes revealed a kind of determination and tragic. He knew that his time was running out.

The same was true for Li Xingzhong. He was already losing under the siege of 20,000 troops. However, he still waved his spear and fought hard. His figure shuttled across the battlefield like a flash of lightning, inspiring every soldier to move forward bravely.

Although the Ming army set up many obstacles and traps in the city, the Shun army relied on the advantage in numbers. Half of the streets on the south and west walls had been lost and the Daimyo Prefecture was in danger. However, even so, the soldiers of the Ming army still held their ground and never retreated. Their loyalty and courage moved everyone.

Although the battlefield was divided into three parts, they were actually closely connected. Huang Degong stood on a high place and looked into the distance. He saw the tragic scene of the Shun army besieging the Ming army in the north of the city. He immediately ordered Ji Zisheng and Gao Jie to lead the cavalry to reinforce. He knew the importance of this battle and understood that only unity could defeat the enemy.

Huang Degong then took off his coat, tightened his belt, and rushed out in front of the enemy, shouting, "Kill!" His voice was like thunder, inspiring every soldier to move forward bravely. Seeing this, the morale of the Ming army soldiers was greatly boosted, and they followed him and rushed forward. Their figures shuttled across the battlefield like an unstoppable torrent.

The Shun army was shocked by this and surrendered like a tide. They knew that this battle was inevitable and Huang Degong's bravery and determination also shocked them.

Luo Wenbin looked around and saw his soldiers falling one by one. He knew that his life was hanging by a thread. However, he still held on to his position without retreating a single step. His eyes revealed a kind of tragic and resoluteness. He knew that his time was running out. So, he silently chanted what he said to Li Zicheng in the direction of Daming Mansion: "Your Majesty, I have tried my best. Since following Your Majesty in the uprising, we have fought in Shaanxi, Henan, Huguang, and entered Beijing. Although we have made some small contributions, we have also made mistakes. Now, no matter what my merits and demerits are, I can no longer assist Your Majesty. May Your Majesty take care of yourself!"

After saying these words, Luo Wenbin's eyes flashed with determination. He picked up the knife and cut his neck without hesitation. Blood gushed out instantly, staining his clothes red. He died heroically, and his figure was forever frozen on this battlefield, becoming an immortal monument. His bravery and loyalty will be remembered forever by future generations.

A loud bang, like thunder, exploded in Luo Wenbin's ears, causing pain in his eardrums and a sudden acceleration of his heartbeat. He was sitting alone in the dim tent, holding a dagger tightly in his hand. The blade flickered coldly under the weak candlelight, reflecting the complex expression on his face - despair, struggle, unwillingness... He was about to end everything with this dagger, but suddenly he was hit hard on the back of his head, with such force that it seemed to shatter his skull. If it weren't for the heavy armor on his body, which protected his head at the critical moment, I'm afraid his head would be shattered at best, or even killed on the spot.

Luo Wenbin felt his eyes go dark, and the whole world seemed to be plunged into endless darkness. He collapsed to the ground, unable to move even a finger. The soldier holding the mace was obviously worried that he was not dead, so he raised the mace and hit him hard a few times. Each hit seemed to hit Luo Wenbin's heart. He did not approach Luo Wenbin until he was sure that he was motionless, and then he showed a ferocious smile on his face.

The soldiers dragged Luo Wenbin's heavy body as if dragging a dead body, and shouted loudly in the direction of the Ming army: "The Ming army is mighty! The Ming army is mighty!" His voice was full of pride and excitement, as if he had captured an extremely precious prey.

Huang Degong, the vanguard of the charge, was stunned for a moment when he heard the sudden shout. He stared at Luo Wenbin, who was being dragged over, with sharp eyes like a hawk, frowning slightly, pointing at him and asking, "Who is this guy?"

"Luo Wenbin!" the soldier answered excitedly, as if he had made a great contribution.

"That Luo Wenbin?" Huang Degong was puzzled. He was familiar with the name, but he couldn't match it with the person for a moment.

"It's the emperor... No, it's Luo Wenbin, the Marquis of Magnetic who was conferred the title by the thief Li!" The soldier hastily corrected himself, his face full of pride.

Hahaha! Huang Degong was delighted when he heard this. He had never thought that he could capture a marquis under Li Zicheng so easily. You know, after Li Zicheng occupied Xi'an, he conferred titles on officials arbitrarily. In addition to civil officials and military generals, he also conferred nine marquises, seventy-two earls, thirty viscounts, and fifty-five barons, and Luo Wenbin was one of them!

Capturing Luo Wenbin was a great achievement, enough to raise Huang Degong's prestige in the court and the army. He was secretly calculating in his heart, but his face remained calm, and he just said lightly: "Tie him up!" After that, he personally tied Luo Wenbin up to ensure that he could not escape.

After confirming that everything was correct, Huang Degong patted the shoulder of the soldier who had arrested Luo Wenbin and said approvingly: "What's your name, brave man? This achievement is enough to make you enjoy wealth and glory for the rest of your life."

"Your Excellency, my name is Zhang Yuanheng." The soldier answered respectfully, his eyes flashing with excitement and anticipation.

Huang Degong felt like he had heard this name somewhere before, but couldn't remember it for a moment. He pondered for a moment and said, "After the battle, come to the barracks to find me and we'll reward you based on your merits!"

As Luo Wenbin, the main general, was captured, his men threw away their weapons and knelt on the ground begging for mercy. Huang Degong recruited these people and continued to attack Daming Prefecture with his army. The sky was gradually getting darker, and the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the earth, covering the battlefield with a layer of golden battle robe.

On the other side, Li Zicheng's army was also preparing for battle. A scout ran to Li Zicheng and reported breathlessly: "Luo Wenbin's troops were defeated, and Huang Degong led tens of thousands of Ming troops to attack us!"

Li Zicheng was attacking Li Xingzhong's troops, and he was already anxious like an ant on a hot pot. When he heard that Luo Wenbin had been defeated, he became even more worried. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep worry and uneasiness. He knew that this battle was crucial to his cause, and if he failed, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Where is Li Yan? Where is he?" Li Zicheng asked worriedly. He had previously sent Li Yan with 5,000 soldiers to support Luo Wenbin, hoping to turn the tide of the war. But now that Luo Wenbin was defeated, Li Yan was probably in danger.

"Mr. Li wanted to come back and reunite with the Emperor, but he was afraid of attracting the main force of the Ming army, so he retreated to the west of the city." The scout replied hastily, with a slight tremor in his voice.

"Did he have any last words?" Li Zicheng asked. He felt a little uneasy, thinking that Li Yan's retreat seemed a little unusual.

"No." The scout answered straightforwardly, but Li Zicheng found it even more strange. This was not in line with Li Yan's style! Could it be that... he had changed his mind?
In fact, Li Yan's heart did not change, but became more loyal. It was just that he retreated too hastily and did not have time to leave any message. When he reacted and wanted to send someone to deliver the letter, he was blocked by the Ming army and the message could not be delivered at all. He was extremely anxious, but he was helpless.

"Niu Zuofu, Song Junshi, what do you think we should do?" Li Zicheng looked at the two counselors beside him, Nangong Shangpu and Cheng Minghe. These two people claimed to be the reincarnation of Crouching Dragon and Phoenix. When Li Yan was not around, Li Zicheng naturally had to ask them for advice.

Although Nangong Shangpu had some problems with his character, he was eager to learn and was proficient in physiognomy, divination, and the art of war of Sun Wu and Wu Qi. With these, he gained a firm foothold in the Dashun Army and served as the left assistant and the Grand Secretary of Tianyou Pavilion. At this time, he thought for a while, pointed to Daming Mansion and said to Li Zicheng: "Your Majesty, the Ming army is in full swing, and our troops are scattered. We should avoid their edge."

"I suggest that the entire army enter the city and rely on the strong city to resist the enemy." There was a hint of firmness and confidence in Nangong Shangpu's voice.

However, Cheng Minghe frowned and retorted: "We haven't captured Daming Prefecture yet. If our entire army marches into the city, there will be enemies both inside and outside. Wouldn't that mean we'll be pushing ourselves into a dead end?" There was a hint of worry and uneasiness in his tone.

Seeing the Ming army's vanguard approaching, Nangong Shangpu hurriedly said, "That's not the case." His eyes flickered, as if he was thinking about how to convince Cheng Minghe, "Our army has already captured the South Gate and the West Gate, and Damingfu will soon be captured. Now we enter the city to control the South Gate and the West Gate, and the Ming army has only two ways to go: one is to attack the city from the South Gate and the West Gate; the other is to come in from the East Gate and the North Gate and fight us in the streets!" "Which way will the Ming army choose?" Cheng Minghe still asked with some doubts. After all, he was not a general of the Ming army and did not know their plans and strategies.

"They will definitely retreat!" Nangong Shangpu added, his voice full of confidence and determination, "There is not much food left in Daming Prefecture. Huang Degong hurried here from Wei County, and the food and grass are not sufficient. The Art of War says: 'War is a matter of great importance to a country, a place of life and death, a road to survival and destruction, and it must be carefully considered.' If there is not enough food and grass, the Ming army will definitely retreat. Even if they don't retreat, we can rest and fight again!"

"I call this strategy the 'art of changing homes'!" Nangong Shangpu said proudly, as if this strategy was his own creation.

"The art of changing homes..." Li Zicheng silently repeated this new term several times, and his heart was moved. He slapped his thigh and praised: "Great! It's really great!" This strategy not only solved the current dilemma but also quickly captured Daming Prefecture. It was a good strategy that killed two birds with one stone!

"Send the order down, "The troops in the east of the city will form a battle formation and retreat to the south of the city and enter the city from the south gate; the troops in the north of the city will slowly retreat to the west of the city and enter the city from the west gate." Li Zicheng quickly issued an order, "After entering the city, split the troops into two groups, one to defend the city wall and the other to fight street battles with the Ming army to quickly eliminate the enemies in the city."

As for Li Xingzhong... Li Zicheng gnashed his teeth and looked back at the enemy who was struggling like a trapped beast. Although our army had several times more troops than him, it was not easy to win a quick victory. His soldiers were determined to fight to the death.

"Make way for Li Xingzhong and drive him to Huang Degong!" Li Zicheng gave the order coldly. He knew that Li Xingzhong's troops would become the target of the Ming army, but he also knew that sacrifice was inevitable in this war.

As soon as the order was issued, the whole army immediately took action. The troops in the east and north of the city were divided into two: the combat troops formed a battle array on the spot and prepared to meet the enemy; the baggage soldiers and errand boys were busy packing up and moving to the south and west of the city respectively. Because there were more baggage in the south of the city, they packed up especially quickly. They took away everything that could be taken away, and burned everything that could not be taken away.

Soon, flames shot up into the sky and smoke filled the air. The entire southern and western parts of Damingfu were in chaos. Not long after the baggage soldiers withdrew, the main force followed in their footsteps. They knew that this was a life-and-death battle and that they could only win by fighting with all their might.

It was already noon. Six hours had passed since morning. Both our army and the Ming army were exhausted. Although the Ming army had rushed thirty miles overnight, they had managed to survive until now with a strong spirit. So when our army retreated, they did not pursue us relentlessly. They only sent cavalry to chase us for a few hundred steps and then returned. They knew that if they pursued us too deeply, they might fall into an ambush by our army.

Boom! As soon as Huang Degong's army arrived outside the north gate of Damingfu, they were bombarded by artillery fire from the city tower. The city gate suddenly opened and the soldiers and civilians rushed out in a mess! Some of them held swords and guns, some held sticks, and some were bare-handed, but their eyes were full of determination and determination. They knew that this was a battle to defend their homeland and only by doing their best could they protect their loved ones and land.

There was a carriage in front of them with two children. The eldest son pointed to a place in the city and shouted, "Arrogant! Arrogant! Li Chuang thief, just wait for me to counterattack Damingfu!" His voice was a little immature and firm, but his eyes revealed a kind of perseverance and determination beyond his age. He knew that his father was fighting for this city and he also had to fight for the future of this city.

In the gray morning light, the King of Zhao, the King of Zhou, their families, and the common people of all sizes in the city rushed out of the north gate like swarming bees and ants. Their faces were full of anxiety and uneasiness, and their steps were hurried, as if there were invisible pursuers behind them. Everyone knew clearly in their hearts that from the first day the city was besieged, the road to surrender had been ruthlessly blocked.

Li Zicheng's group's cruel words had already spread throughout the streets and alleys: before the city surrendered, they would not harm anything in the city; but the day the city was captured would be a bloody day - on the first day, no soldier defending the city would be spared, and 30% of the people in the city would be slaughtered; on the second day, the scope of the killing would be expanded to 70%; and on the third day, the entire city, young and old, not even a dog would be left alive, and everyone would die. Damingfu had stubbornly held out for nearly two months, and now the people left in the city were afraid that even leaving an intact body was a luxury!

As soon as the common people left the city gate, they ran like arrows from a bow, and only slowed down and took a breath when Huang Degong's army came into view. The King of Zhao slowly stepped down from the luxuriously decorated carriage. Although his steps were steady, his eyes revealed a hint of barely perceptible panic. He walked towards Huang Degong, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice: "Are you the famous Jingnan Earl Huang Degong?" Although Huang Degong had never seen the King of Zhao in person, when he heard the name and saw that although he was wearing young clothes, he could not hide his majestic temperament, he had guessed a little in his heart. He bowed and saluted, and replied, "Excuse me, are you the King of Zhao?" The King of Zhao nodded gently, walked to Huang Degong with a serious look, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "You are really a good man, you must work harder!" On Huang Degong's weather-beaten face, a striking scar seemed to tell of past battles. After hearing what the King of Zhao said, his body trembled slightly, and he answered firmly, "Your Highness is too kind. I have prepared a carriage and horses. Please go to Wei County as soon as possible to avoid the limelight."

King Zhao responded, turned around and hurried back to the carriage, hiding in a corner, his thin body trembling slightly. He was only twelve years old, but he could show such courage at this moment, which was not easy and admirable.

As the common people evacuated, the soldiers also began to retreat in an orderly manner. They lined up in squares, some large and some small, passing through the weathered city gate, crossing the bridge, and extending to the moat. The soldiers in the front protected the common people in the back, while the soldiers in the back were under tremendous pressure and tried to keep the formation in order. The Ming army in the city was exhausted, while Li Zicheng's troops were like wolves and tigers, constantly rushing into the alleys to attack. The disadvantage in numbers made the Ming army feel more pressured. If it weren't for some obstacles and traps set up in the city in advance, I'm afraid it would have collapsed long ago. However, at this moment, the defense line has been compressed to the vicinity of the north gate, and the situation is precarious.

Upon seeing this, Li Zicheng's men immediately launched a fierce offensive. Half of the Ming army in the city had already withdrawn, while the other half were still holding on. Outside the city, generals such as Huang Degong, Li Xingzhong, Ji Zisheng, and Gao Jie deployed their troops along the moat to protect the retreating soldiers and civilians. Li Xingzhong rode on a tall horse and shouted loudly: "Retreat! Retreat!" Before he finished speaking, the city gates slammed shut, and the sluice gates fell, completely isolating the inside and outside of the city.

Led by Deputy General Ren Zhihua, the Ming army on the city shouted in unison: "A good man should die on the battlefield and return wrapped in his horsehide! We swear to live and die with this city!" Li Xingzhong was furious when he heard this and shouted, "A good man can be buried anywhere, must he die here? I don't ask for your loyalty, I only ask you to go back alive!" However, Ren Zhihua was in charge of the rear guard and could not change his decision. He could only choose to close the city gates and defend to the end.

Li Xingzhong shouted again, but the only response was the deafening shouts of killing. Although the Ming army on the city was small in number, none of them retreated, and none of them begged for mercy. With weapons in hand, they rushed towards the enemy one after another, fighting to the death. Their robes were stained with blood, and their lives were hanging by a thread, but their morale was getting higher and higher, and they were unstoppable.

Ren Zhihua looked at the remnants of the defeated army around him, only a few dozen people were left. He laughed and asked: "Brothers, did you enjoy the killing today?" Everyone answered in unison: "Very!" He asked again: "Does anyone want to surrender?" Everyone answered firmly: "No!" "Do you regret it?" Everyone shouted in unison: "No regrets!" "Good! Although we failed to stop the enemy, this battle made everyone know the prestige and dignity of the Ming army. Even if we die, we will be worthy of the court and the emperor!" After saying that, he led everyone to shout the slogan "Kill the enemy and serve the country" and rushed towards the enemy.

I don't know how long the battle lasted, but the city gradually quieted down. Li Xingzhong led hundreds of cavalrymen to circle outside the city for a long time, but finally retreated unwillingly. The common people and soldiers took care of each other and slowly walked towards Wei County. The scene was really spectacular, with a huge flow of people, but in an orderly manner, as if it was a silent migration.

When they arrived at Wei County, it was already late. Huang Degong, Ji Zisheng, Gao Jie and other generals sat together to discuss the next action plan. King Zhao and King Zhou had already fallen asleep because they were still young and exhausted. Huang Degong first asked about the casualties. Ji Zisheng sighed and said, "One hundred and thirty-three cavalrymen of Guanning died in the battle, and more than two hundred were injured." Huang Degong's heart tightened when he heard this. Although Guanning's cavalry was not the most elite force, it was much stronger than the average army. Such casualty figures are really heartbreaking. Ji Zisheng smiled bitterly and said, "Those cavalrymen of the bandit army are either the elite of the old camp or the surrendered Ming army. Their techniques and tactics are not bad, but their equipment is slightly worse." Huang Degong nodded silently, and his heart became heavier when he thought of the plight of the border army and the challenges in the future.

Then, Gao Jie, Qiu Yue, Weng Zhiqi and others also reported their casualties one after another, and none of them were optimistic. Finally, Li Xingzhong said with a gloomy face that his troops had suffered 3,000 casualties and lost 200,000 taels of silver. This number made everyone present fall into silence and grief. They knew that although this battle was difficult, they had to persevere for the dignity of the country and the peace of the people.

"Two hundred thousand taels of silver, that's a huge sum of money!" Huang Degong secretly exclaimed in his heart, with a glimmer of doubt in his eyes. He turned around and tried to leave, but seemed to be held back by something. He paused, lowered his voice, and asked Li Xingzhong mysteriously, "Xingzhong, I heard that the gold and silver treasures in the palaces of King Zhao and King Zhou are piled up like mountains. Were those treasures not stolen by those thieves?"

Li Xingzhong shook his head, his eyes revealing a trace of admiration, "No, before leaving the city, the King of Zhao and the King of Zhou only took some gold and silver for their own use, and the rest was distributed to the people in the city. The people also took the silver with them when they fled, and the bandits got nothing but an empty city."

"Great! This is really great!" Huang Degong was relieved when he heard this, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face. He thought that as long as the thieves failed to get the big money, then their strategic goal in the battle of Damingfu would be achieved.

Huang Degong began to calculate in his mind, silently estimating the outcome of this battle. Although the Ming army sacrificed more than 5,000 warriors in this battle, the casualties of the rebels were twice as many as theirs. Judging from the casualties, the Ming army seemed to have won; however, looking at the results, both sides actually had gains and losses, and it was difficult to simply determine the winner.

"Brothers!" Huang Degong said in a low voice, with a heavy tone, "Although we sacrificed more than 5,000 brothers, we also killed more than 10,000 rebels. Judging from the number of casualties, this is indeed a great victory."

He paused, frowned, and continued, "However, judging from the result, it doesn't seem like a great victory, but rather a defeat. Although we rescued the King of Zhao and the King of Zhou, as well as the common people in the city, we still lost Daming Prefecture. As a military general, we failed to defend the city and instead let it be lost. If this matter gets out, the civil officials in the court will definitely laugh at us."

When everyone heard this, they were all silent, thinking about Huang Degong's words. Indeed, the current situation is that both sides can say they have won or lost. The rebels won because they occupied Damingfu; but they also lost because of heavy casualties. The Ming army won because they rescued people; but they also lost because they lost the city.

"Everyone!" Huang Degong interrupted everyone's contemplation, "Let's put aside the victory or defeat for now, we have to think about how to write a battle report. Also, what should we do next? Should we continue to fight the rebels, or go to Shandong to fight the Jiannu?"

Ji Zisheng stood up, coughed lightly, and said, "We have no say on who to beat. We have to listen to the court."

"Yes!" Huang Degong smiled bitterly, feeling helpless. A military commander is just there to follow orders, how can he decide who to fight?
Early the next morning, the sky was turning pale. The battle report from Daming Prefecture and Huang Degong's secret letter were delivered to the capital and handed to Guo Tianyang.

"Your Majesty, the battle report from Daming Prefecture and the secret letter from Marquis Jingnan have arrived." Guo Tianyang respectfully presented the battle report and the secret letter.

"How is the battle going?" Lin Xiaofeng asked hurriedly. He didn't care about the life and death of King Zhao and King Zhou, but only the whereabouts of the gold and silver treasures. If the money fell into the hands of the rebels, it would be bad.

Guo Tianyang first glanced at the battle report, then frowned and read it carefully. Finally, he stammered, "Your Majesty, this battle report, if you say it's good news, it's a great victory; but if you say it's bad news, it's a defeat."

"You hit yourself in the mouth!" Lin Xiaofeng glared at him, feeling unhappy. He is the emperor, how can he allow you to talk nonsense!

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The battle report did not clearly state the victory or defeat. It only said that King Zhao and King Zhou were rescued, and a man named Luo Wenbin was captured." Guo Tianyang explained hurriedly.

Lin Xiaofeng put down his pen, picked up the battle report and read it carefully. After reading it, he said with a smile: "This battle report is really well written."

"Do the Ministry of War and the Cabinet know about this?" he asked indifferently.

"Your Majesty, I understand. We are currently discussing countermeasures," Guo Tianyang replied.

"Okay, let them discuss it slowly. Write back to Huang Degong, ask him to rest where he is and recruit new soldiers. Also, transfer Li Xingzhong back. The rebels will be temporarily handed over to Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo. As for the Jiannu... I have my own arrangements, so don't tell him to worry about it." Lin Xiaofeng ordered.

In fact, Lin Xiaofeng didn't have any specific plans in mind! He was just afraid that Huang Degong would rush for quick success and go fight Jiannu himself. The soldiers were already very tired after continuous fighting and needed to rest and reorganize. Huang Degong came all the way from Fengyang to the capital, and confronted Dorgon in Miyun; later he fought a battle with Duoduo in Huailaiwei; he also went to Juyongguan overnight to fight with Dorgon; finally he went to Damingfu and fought several battles with Li Zicheng. It is a miracle that the team can still be kept together until now!

No matter who he fights next, Huang Degong must have a good rest. Only by resting well can he maintain his fighting power. A tired army cannot win a battle!

"Besides..." Lin Xiaofeng hesitated for a moment, and thought, isn't this matter a bit too hasty... Forget it, forget it, sooner or later you have to face it, it's better to go through the ups and downs early and gain more experience.

"Also, send an order to King Zhao and King Zhou, asking them and their families to seek refuge in Beijing." He finally made a decision.

"Ah?" Guo Tianyang exclaimed in surprise. According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, the princes could not enter the capital without the emperor's decree. If they disobeyed, they would be arrested and punished. Although the princes could write a letter to request to enter the capital, no emperor had agreed since Emperor Xuande. Lin Xiaofeng not only asked the Prince of Zhao and the Prince of Zhou to come to the capital, but also asked their entire families to come! This matter will definitely cause an uproar in the court!
"I order you to spread this news immediately, quickly!" Lin Xiaofeng said firmly.

"I obey your order." Guo Tianyang accepted the order and withdrew, muttering to himself, what on earth is the emperor up to?
In Wenyuan Pavilion, the ministers were discussing the battle report of Daming Prefecture. Although Miao Yikui was the Minister of Personnel, he was still a newcomer in the cabinet. Especially in front of Li Banghua, he was like a little brother serving tea and water.

Miao Yikui read the battle report again in front of everyone: "On the fifth day of the seventh month of the seventeenth year of the Ming Dynasty, our ministers Huang Degong, Ji Zisheng, Gao Jie, Li Xingzhong and others led the troops to fight fiercely with the bandit Li Chuang inside and outside Daming Prefecture. Fortunately, the Ministry of War allocated armor in time, the Ministry of Revenue issued sufficient money and food, and the Ministry of Works worked day and night to make new weapons. Our army killed more than 10,000 rebels on the battlefield, and used the empty city as bait to successfully rescue the King of Zhao, His Royal Highness the King of Zhou and tens of thousands of civilians in the city."

Li Banghua wanted to laugh but held back. Huang Degong's battle report was really well written. The cabinet decides victory or defeat. If we win, we will all be honored. If we lose, we will all bear the responsibility.

Cheng Qinghua couldn't help but ask: "Miao Yikui, did Huang Degong really write it like this?"

"Absolutely true!" Miao Yikui answered affirmatively.

"When did Huang Degong, a warrior, learn to play such tricks?" Shao Shihan frowned and sighed. He thought to himself, Huang Degong, it seems, is not a simple warrior. (End of this chapter)