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

Chapter 322

In the south of Jingzhou City, the two armies faced each other, their battle formations were strict, and the atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of them. The sun shone through the clouds, dappled on the battlefield, reflecting a solemn and murderous atmosphere. Li Guoying stood in front of the battle formation, with a burly figure and a resolute face. His armor shone coldly in the sun, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness, like a towering mountain, standing tall and unshakable.

At this moment, he looked back and saw the rear army suddenly appeared. He was shocked and knew he had been tricked. His face turned pale in an instant, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes. Xu Yong also noticed something was wrong. He hurriedly ordered the soldiers carrying the flags to wave the flags desperately, trying to reorganize the formation to resist the enemy. Those soldiers were tall and fierce, but they were so angry that they only thought about chasing the Ming army and didn't care about listening to orders.

The Dashi army was chasing closely behind, while the Ming army was running desperately in front. They passed through desolate fields and crossed turbulent rivers. In the blink of an eye, they ran to the edge of the Ming army camp. The defenses on both sides of the camp were still intact. The obstacles made of wood and stone slowed down the speed of the Ming army. But the central army camp was in a terrible state. The chariots, chevaux de frise, and deer horns were all destroyed beyond recognition, with gaps wide open, like a hideous wound.

When the fleeing Ming soldiers saw a loophole to exploit, they rushed in like a tide. Some of them were in rags, some were covered in blood, some were leaning on broken weapons, and some were dragging injured limbs, but their eyes were full of fear and despair.

"Don't push, you will die if you squeeze in!" a soldier shouted, his voice full of fear and despair.

"Run, the enemy is catching up!" another soldier shouted, with sparks of madness flashing in his eyes.

"Help me...my foot is injured!" A soldier groaned in pain. He lay on the ground, helplessly watching the soldiers trampling past.

More and more soldiers gathered, and the camp was in chaos. They pushed and trampled on each other, struggling for their lives. The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and burning, which made people sick.

At this time, the Dashi Army caught up. They stopped and began to slaughter the Ming troops trapped in the camp. Their eyes were full of cruelty and excitement, as if this was a grand carnival.

"I surrender, I surrender!" Seeing no way to escape, some Ming soldiers dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground begging for mercy. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if they had seen death coming.

"Haha! Run again, I'm so tired!" The soldiers of the Dashi Army panted and laughed at the surrendering Ming soldiers. Their laughter was full of cruelty and pride, as if this was a victory that belonged to them.

However, at this moment, a thunderous shout was heard from behind: "The Ming army is mighty! Kill!" It turned out that the main force of the Ming army had arrived. They cut off the retreat of the Dashi army, and those Ming soldiers who had surrendered picked up their weapons and started to fight back. The fire of hope was rekindled in their eyes, as if they saw the hope of life.

The situation on the battlefield was reversed in an instant. The enemy that was just being chased was surrounded in the blink of an eye. The soldiers of the Dashi Army were shocked and terrified. Some fled, some surrendered, and some fought back. The two armies were caught in a melee, with swords flashing and blood flying everywhere. The air was filled with a stronger smell of blood and burning, as if the whole world was swallowed up by this war.

Feng Shuangli was leading his men to besiege Hua Ruiqi. He was tall and mighty, with a cold and ruthless face, and his armor shone brightly in the sun. His eyes revealed a cruel and bloodthirsty light, as if a hungry beast was looking for its prey. However, at this moment, a scout suddenly came to report: "The defeated Ming army is catching up. It will be dangerous if we are dragged in by them. Please retreat quickly."

Should we retreat? Feng Shuangli was unwilling to give up. His troops were more than twice as many as Ricky's, and he had charged dozens of times without success. But now Ricky's gunpowder, bullets, and arrows were almost used up. How could he hold on without the support of long-range weapons? His heart was full of contradictions and struggles, as if being torn apart by an invisible hand.

"Charge again, and if it still doesn't work, retreat." Feng Shuangli finally made up his mind. He ordered the Dashi Army to charge the Ming camp again. The hand-to-hand combat was extremely brutal. The cavalrymen dismounted and fought on foot, using their flesh and blood to break through the Ming army's defenses. They pushed forward like a hot knife through butter, as if they were going to crush all obstacles under their feet.

Ricky's elite troops fought to the death. With their tenacious will and firm belief, they successfully withstood the fierce attack of an enemy twice their number. But as time went on, the casualties became heavier. Seeing this, Feng Shuangli had no choice but to order a retreat. His heart was filled with resentment and anger, like an enraged beast that could not vent its anger.

When retreating, the cavalry of the Dashi Army retreated like a tide, but suffered heavy losses, with more than half of them killed. Their figures looked so embarrassed and vulnerable in the afterglow of the setting sun. Ricky, however, showed his demeanor as a steady commander in the center of the army. He remained calm in the face of danger and commanded with confidence, as if everything was under his control. His eyes revealed a firm and confident light, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Has the enemy retreated?" Ricky asked. His voice was steady and powerful, as if it could calm the troops.

"Yes, General." A messenger replied with a hint of awe and admiration in his voice.

"What's the situation with other troops?" Ricky continued to ask, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

The scout said with difficulty: "It's a mess inside and outside the camp. It's difficult to find out the details." There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his voice.

"It's chaos?" Ricky was shocked and immediately walked out of the tent and climbed to a high place to look into the distance. His eyes revealed a sharp light that seemed to be able to penetrate all the fog. After a little thought, he realized that this must be a chain reaction caused by Jin Shenghuan and others' cowardice! His heart was filled with anger and disappointment as if he had been betrayed.

"Go to each camp to gather the defeated soldiers and prepare for a counterattack! The rest of you follow me and hold high the central army flag and go forward to kill the enemy! Anyone who dares to fight will be punished by military law!" Ricky knew that the central army flag was the heart of the army and as long as the flag did not fall, the heart of the army would not fall. His voice was full of firmness and determination, as if he was ready to fight to the death.

As he expected, the Ming soldiers were greatly encouraged and began to suppress the enemy's offensive as soon as they saw the central army's flag. The defeated soldiers also gathered around the flag and prepared to counterattack. The fire of hope was rekindled in their eyes, as if they saw the hope of victory.

At this time, the Dashi Army was attacked from all sides and was fighting hard! Feng Shuangli wanted to rescue Li Guoying and Xu Yong, but he encountered the main force of the Ming cavalry. He was anxious, but he could do nothing. He could only watch his soldiers fall one by one, his heart filled with despair and anger.

By this time, the sky was already bright. After three hours of fierce fighting, the cavalrymen were exhausted and thirsty, and it was difficult for them to resist the Ming army, which had been well-rested. Their eyes were full of fatigue and despair, as if they had seen death coming.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Feng Shuangli saw that the situation was not good, and he could only save his own life first. He loudly ordered the soldiers to retreat, his voice full of anxiety and helplessness. If they did not retreat, I am afraid that the whole army would be buried here! His heart was full of reluctance and anger, but he was helpless.

The Ming cavalry pursued relentlessly, using various tactics such as flank attack, frontal blocking, and circling to press the Dashi Army step by step. Their eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if they wanted to kill all these invaders. Feng Shuangli now had no way to retreat and could only flee north. His heart was filled with despair and anger, but he was helpless. He could only watch his soldiers fall one by one, and he was powerless.

After an unknown amount of time, the horse finally stopped. Feng Shuangli looked back and found that the pursuers had gone far away, with only a few dozen soldiers following him. His heart was filled with fatigue and despair, as if he had been abandoned by the world. The horse was panting with exhaustion and was burning hot all over. It was obviously exhausted. Its eyes also revealed fatigue and helplessness, as if it was also telling the cruelty of this war.

"Commander-in-chief, take a rest first! The horses and the people are exhausted." The guards advised, their voices full of concern and worry. Seeing Feng Shuangli's exhausted appearance, they were also filled with helplessness and sadness.

Feng Shuangli sighed. He didn't expect that his carefully planned sneak attack would end up like this. His heart was filled with resentment and anger, but he was helpless. He thought over and over again on the way that if he could persist at that time, he might be able to capture Ricky, defend Jingzhou, and even recover Huguang. But now everything is too late, the defeat is certain, and Jingzhou can't go back. His heart is filled with despair and helplessness, as if he has been abandoned by this world.

"Rest here, eat and drink enough before going on the road." Feng Shuangli gave the order, and the soldiers dismounted to rest. They were so exhausted that it seemed as if they had reached the end of their lives. They sat on the ground, gasping for breath, their eyes revealing exhaustion and despair. The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and burning, as if this war would never end.

After resting, Feng Shuangli began to think about the next plan. They could not return to Jingzhou, and Zhijiang River upstream was also in danger. Moreover, they only had enough food for two days, and they would definitely rob the people later, which would expose their whereabouts and attract more enemies. So where should they go? His heart was full of confusion and helplessness, as if he had been forgotten by the world.

After thinking for a while, Feng Shuangli made a decision: "Let's go to Chengtian Prefecture to hide for a while! After all, Li Yan is not Zicheng, he won't chase us relentlessly." So, they headed towards Chengtian Prefecture. Their figures looked so embarrassed and vulnerable in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if they had been abandoned by the world. And this war seemed to never end...

Outside the Ming army camp, the setting sun was like blood, dyeing the earth with a tragic color. The battle was coming to an end, and the air was filled with thick smoke and blood. Li Guoying and Xu Yong's troops were not elite troops. In the desperate situation of being attacked from both sides, the soldiers either died on the battlefield, died bravely, or surrendered to the enemy and survived. In this short period of time, the team of more than 20,000 people collapsed like a sand castle.

In this chaotic battlefield, there was a soldier with a cunning gleam in his eyes. He seized the opportunity and took advantage of Li Guoying's unpreparedness to strike him hard, knocking him unconscious. Then, he carried the former general on his back, ran through the smoke of the battlefield, and came to the front of the Ming army.

"Don't shoot arrows, we are family!" the soldier shouted, with a hint of anxiety and panic in his voice.

"Who are you carrying on your shoulders?" the Ming soldier asked cautiously, his bow and arrow still aimed at him.

"It's Li Guoying." The soldier panted, with a barely perceptible hint of pride in his voice.

After confirming his identity, the soldiers brought him to Hua Ruiqi. A basin of cold water was suddenly poured on Li Guoying's face. He opened his eyes dazedly, looked around, and found that he had been tied up. It was then that he suddenly realized that he had become a prisoner.

Hua Ruiqi smiled and said to him, "Li Guoying, we meet again! It's true that we meet everywhere in life." There was a hint of sarcasm and pride in his smile.

Li Guoying stood up straight, with a dignified look on his face, as if he didn't care about life or death. His eyes were firm, revealing an unyielding light.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Hua Ruiqi continued to ask, his eyes wandering over Li Guoying, trying to capture his inner fluctuations.

Li Guoying pondered for a moment, and suddenly said loudly: "I, the guilty minister Li Guoying, am willing to surrender to Governor Yuan and serve him like a slave." After saying that, he ignored the ropes on his body and kowtowed heavily, with determination and decisiveness in his movements.

Hua Ruiqi was surprised by the huge change in attitude. He thought about it and roughly understood the reason. At first, the reason why Li Guoying left the city instead of staying under his command was because he was afraid of death. Murong Jiongran had high prestige and great power. He had fought for many years. Even if he did not make great achievements, he had worked hard. Once he was killed, the generals would be terrified and worried that Hua Ruiqi would treat them in the same way. Hua Ruiqi nodded. Although he had doubts about Li Guoying's surrender, he did not show it on his face.

"How many troops did Feng Shuangli mobilize for this battle? How many defenders are left in Jingzhou City?" Hua Ruiqi asked directly, his eyes sharp.

Li Guoying replied: "Feng Shuangli has mobilized about 25,000 people, and there are only 5,000 defenders left in the city." Although his voice was a little low, every word was clearly audible.

"Are there any reinforcements?" Hua Ruiqi asked, feeling a little uneasy in his heart.

"I heard that General Ai Nengke is leading tens of thousands of troops down the river. It is estimated that they will reach Jingzhou in three to five days." Li Guoying's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Hua Ruiqi's heart hard.

Hua Ruiqi frowned when he heard this. This was not good news. He pondered for a moment and decided to stabilize the situation first.

"Come here, take Li Guoying away first and wait for the court's order." His voice was calm and decisive, as if everything was under his control.

Several soldiers stepped forward and took Li Guoying out of the tent. After a while, Xu Yong was also pushed in. After asking the same question, he got the same answer. The information given by the two was consistent, and it seemed that the news was true.

"Send a few surrendered soldiers into the city and tell them to surrender!" Hua Ruiqi gave the order, but his heart was heavy. Although he won the battle, the hidden dangers behind it made him feel uneasy.

However, before the messenger set out, the defenders had already opened the city gates and surrendered. The main force that went out to fight was almost completely wiped out, and the governor of the rear military office, Feng Shuangli, was nowhere to be found. Feng Shuangli was the backbone of the generals, and when he disappeared, the army immediately became chaotic. Without waiting for Hua Ruiqi to urge them, the defenders opened the city gates and surrendered on their own. This scene made Hua Ruiqi feel both surprised and helpless.

After taking over the city defense, Hua Ruiqi ordered: "Beat the drums and advance into the tents!" His voice echoed in the empty camp with an unquestionable majesty.

After half an hour, all the generals arrived, except Jin Shenghuan, Xu Guodong, and Wu Xueli. After waiting for a while, the messenger came to report: "Governor Yuan, we have searched the city and the outside world, but we still can't find these three generals."

"Some soldiers said that they saw them fleeing north with thousands of people." The herald's words were like a sharp knife, stabbing Hua Ruiqi's heart.

Hua Ruiqi seldom gets angry, but at this moment he was furious. Under Murong Jiongran, Jin Shenghuan was the strongest. He wanted to train him as a capable assistant, but he didn't expect to suffer from him. To the north of Jingzhou was Chengtian Prefecture, which was occupied by Li Zicheng; to the south was Gong'an County, which was in the hands of the government army. Jin Shenghuan did not flee south but went north, obviously wanting to surrender to Li Zicheng. This act of betrayal was really obvious!
"All departments should report the losses as soon as possible!" There was a barely perceptible tremor in Hua Ruiqi's voice, and he already felt a little uneasy in his heart.

"Lu Ding, you are responsible for counting the losses of Jin Shenghuan and others' former subordinates." As soon as Hua Ruiqi finished speaking, Lu Ding gave the order in a panic, and then hid in the corner, his face as pale as paper. The four of them were defeated without a fight before. If they shared the responsibility, and the court was in need of people, at most they would be demoted and fined, or be punished for meritorious service. But now that the three of them have escaped, all the merits and faults have been attributed to him alone. His life is in danger!
Lu Ding secretly regretted in his heart: "If I had known this would happen, I might as well escape with everyone! Why bother organizing a counterattack!" His heart was filled with regret and helplessness, but at this moment it was too late to turn back.

Three hours later, as the sun was about to set, the losses were finally tallied. It would have been better if he hadn't looked at it, but after seeing it, Hua Ruiqi almost fainted from anger.

"Reporting to Governor Yuan, in this battle, our army suffered more than 2,700 deaths, more than 4,000 injuries, and 3,000 missing. If the number of missing persons is counted as losses, our army has lost nearly 10,000 people." The words of the messenger were like a heavy hammer, hitting Hua Ruiqi's heart hard.

"How many enemies were captured?" Hua Ruiqi stood up and asked in surprise. He already felt a little uneasy in his heart.

"We captured the enemy...only a few thousand..." The herald's voice trembled a little, and he did not dare to look Hua Ruiqi in the eye. Hua Ruiqi sat dejectedly on the chair, his facial muscles twitching constantly. The battle of Jingzhou lost more than 10,000 troops! His total force was only 70,000! Ma Jinzhong and Hui Dengxiang each led 15,000 people to station in Qianjiang and Mianyang and did not participate in the battle; the 10,000 navy troops were only responsible for transporting troops and supplies. There were only more than 45,000 people who actually participated in the battle! The loss of more than 10,000 people in one go was really tragic! If the reinforcements had not arrived in time, the consequences would have been disastrous!

"How many casualties did the bandits suffer? How many soldiers surrendered?" Hua Ruiqi continued to ask, with a barely perceptible hint of anxiety in his voice.

"The casualties among the bandits are over 10,000, and there are about 20,000 soldiers who surrendered, most of whom are civilians." With every word the messenger spoke, the atmosphere in the tent became more depressing. In the end, except for Hua Ruiqi, no one dared to breathe.

After thinking silently for a while, Hua Ruiqi suddenly turned to his generals and said calmly: "Deng Linqi takes over the remnants of Jin Shenghuan; Wang Shuohua takes over the remnants of Xu Guodong; Li Shiyuan takes over Wu Xueli's old troops." His voice was calm and decisive, as if everything was under his control.

"Yes." The generals answered in unison. Although their hearts were full of doubts and uneasiness, they could only obey orders at this moment.

"As for Lu Ding..." Hua Ruiqi's eyes became complicated. Is Lu Ding guilty? Of course he is. But his courage and determination to organize a counterattack are incomparable to Jin Shenghuan and others. He is not the most guilty person! Lu Ding was originally just a military supervisor (the military supervisor here does not specifically refer to eunuchs, but officials who supervise the army), and he did not have many soldiers. It was Murong Jiongran who valued him and gave him thousands of soldiers. After dismissing the old and weak, there were only more than 3,000 people left. It is difficult to accomplish great things with such a force! So he has no share of the credit, but the blame should not be borne by him alone!

"Lu Ding made a mistake in military strategy, so he should be fined one year's salary and make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence." As soon as Hua Ruiqi finished speaking, Lu Ding was stunned for a moment, then knelt down and cried to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Governor Yuan, for your mercy. I am willing to accept the punishment." There was an imperceptible tremor and gratitude in his voice.

Hua Ruiqi nodded and said, "Select the strong and capable soldiers from the surrendered soldiers and enlist them in the army. The rest can be disbanded." His voice was calm and decisive, as if everything was under his control. However, his heart was heavy and anxious. Although he had won the battle, the hidden dangers behind it made him feel uneasy.

"The army will rest in place, and the scouts will go upstream to investigate the enemy situation." Hua Ruiqi issued the final order, but he was at a loss. After this battle, how would he deal with the next situation? He felt unprecedented pressure and confusion. However, he knew that he had to persevere. For the sake of the court and the country, he had to stand up and face all challenges and difficulties.

In the military camp outside Chengtianfu City, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the rammed earth walls, adding a bit of warmth to this solemn place. Generals Li Yan and Ma Bao sat upright, their figures elongated in the dim candlelight, appearing both firm and steady. Outside the tent, the wind blew up the dust, and the occasional sound of horses neighing added a bit of tension to the wartime atmosphere.

Ma Bao, this experienced veteran, has traces of time on his face. He initially followed Li Zicheng to conquer the world, and after Li Zicheng's death, he surrendered to Zhu Youlang, the King of Gui. After the defeat in the battle of Lancang River, he surrendered to Wu Sangui, but later turned against him. There is always a bit of cunning and decisiveness in his eyes, which makes people dare not underestimate him. At this moment, he asked directly: "Three generals, how many soldiers do you have now?"

Jin Shenghuan, Xu Guodong and Wu Xueli looked at each other, with a hint of hesitation in their eyes. They knew that the choice at this moment would determine their future. Finally, Jin Shenghuan stood up and said firmly: "We still have 3,000 elite soldiers."

Ma Bao turned to look at Li Yan, his eyes revealing a trace of worry. Li Yan, this gentle scholar, always showed extraordinary wisdom and courage at critical moments. He smiled slightly and asked Jin Shenghuan and others: "Victory and defeat are common in the military, why did you choose to surrender? And why did you surrender to Dashun?"

Jin Shenghuan sighed and said frankly: "Since the death of Zuo Gong (Murong Jiongran), Hua Ruiqi has been trying to swallow us up, but he just hasn't found the opportunity. Now that the army is defeated, he can use this as an excuse to attack us. If we really follow him, we will be dismissed at best, and even lose our lives at worst. That's why we decided to surrender to Dashun."

After hearing this, Li Yan smiled and said to Ma Bao: "General Ma, our emperor (Li Zicheng)'s reputation is known far and wide. If a Ming army general comes to surrender, we will naturally accept him." His tone was full of confidence and tolerance.

Ma Bao nodded. Although he still had doubts in his heart, he also knew that this was the general trend. However, before he finished speaking, a scout came running to report: "There are dozens of riders outside the camp who want to see Mr. Li. The leader said his name is Feng Shuangli."

Ma Bao was stunned when he heard Feng Shuangli's name. Feng Shuangli, this name has a special meaning in his heart. He turned to look at Li Yan, with a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Why is he here at this time?"

Li Yan seemed very happy: "Please come in." His words were full of anticipation and enthusiasm.

After a while, Feng Shuangli walked into the tent with a tired face. His clothes were covered with dust and he looked very embarrassed. When he saw Jin Shenghuan and the others, he was stunned for a moment, and then his expression relaxed. It was as if he had found a long-lost sense of security here.

"General Feng, how are you?" Li Yan greeted enthusiastically, his voice warm and friendly.

"I'm fine. Mr. Feng greets Mr. Li and General Ma." Feng Shuangli also hurriedly saluted, with a hint of gratitude and awe in his voice.

Hearing that Feng Shuangli was not coming to surrender but to seek refuge, Ma Bao's face looked a little unhappy. After all, there was a feud between Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong. But Li Yan seemed very generous: "If General Ma doesn't mind, General Feng can take refuge here first, and make plans after the matter in Jingzhou is resolved. How about that?" His tone was full of tolerance and understanding.

Feng Shuangli was so grateful when he heard this that he immediately agreed. He was secretly glad that he could find such a safe haven at such a time.

As night fell, candlelight flickered in the tent. Li Yan returned to the central army tent and counted the troops of Jin Shenghuan and Ma Bao. Hey! There are more than 10,000 people! Now they have the confidence to defend the city or counterattack. He secretly thought about the next plan in his mind.

"General Ma, do we dare to fight the Ming army?" Li Yan suddenly asked Ma Bao, with a challenging look in his eyes.

When Ma Bao heard this, he immediately stood up and said, "What is there to be afraid of? Our Dashun soldiers are no pushovers!" His voice was full of pride and determination.

"Okay! Since General Ma has the courage, I feel relieved. But Hua Ruiqi has a lot of people and we still have to avoid their attack." Li Yan continued, his tone revealing a bit of caution and wisdom.

Ma Bao narrowed his eyes. He knew that Li Yan was very smart, so he asked, "What does Mr. Li mean?"

Li Yan chuckled, his smile was full of cunning: "Xiang Hui Deng is in Mianyang, Ma Jinzhong is in Qianjiang, we can send troops to pretend to attack Jingzhou, they will definitely send troops to rescue. Then we will have a chance to take action." His words revealed a bit of insidiousness and viciousness.

……

In Jingzhou City, Hua Ruiqi was furious at the quartermaster. His face was livid and his voice was thunderous: "Why haven't the food and grass arrived yet? I was just about to go west to Zhijiang, but you told me that the food and grass are gone?" His anger was like a volcanic eruption that could not be contained.

The quartermaster was so scared that he was sweating profusely and quickly explained: "It's not dead, it can still hold on for ten days." There was a bit of trembling and helplessness in his voice.

"Ten days is useless!" Hua Ruiqi was even angrier, his voice almost piercing the roof. The supply line was long and the transportation of food and grass was difficult. If he advanced, he would worry about running out of food, and if he retreated, he would worry about not having enough time. This was the embarrassing situation he was facing now.

The quartermaster kowtowed again and continued, "The Nanjing Ministry of War's Grain Storage Department had prepared half a month's worth of food, but it was chased back as soon as we left Nanjing and sent to Fengyang." There was a hint of helplessness and grievance in his voice.

"Who is so bold as to intercept my food supplies?" Hua Ruiqi was furious, his voice shaking the entire military camp like thunder.

The quartermaster said tremblingly: "I heard that Fengyang Governor Ma Shiying recruited tens of thousands of new soldiers and wanted to recapture Yingzhou after less than a month of training. The court gave food and the prince agreed." There was a bit of fear and uneasiness in his voice.

When the generals heard this, they were furious and accused Ma Shiying of being tyrannical. Their voices filled the entire military camp like boiling water.

But Hua Ruiqi fell into deep thought, and after a while he slammed the table and said, "Pass the order down, pack up the baggage, and we will retreat to Jingzhou!" His voice was firm and decisive, as if he had made the final decision.

The generals were stunned when they heard this, not understanding what this meant. Their eyes were full of confusion and puzzlement.

Lu Ding couldn't help but ask, "Governor, why should we retreat? The food can last for ten days, and morale is high. Why not take the opportunity to advance westward?" There was some reluctance and confusion in his voice.

Hua Ruiqi took out a map and showed it to everyone. His finger drew a line across the battle lines on the map: "Look, Li Yan has already headed south, and Li Dingguo is also coming from the east. They are all eyeing Jingzhou. We are attacked from two sides, and our chances of winning are slim." His voice revealed a bit of helplessness and worry.

Lu Ding wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Hua Ruiqi. His eyes flashed with determination: "It's not just because of the problem of food and grass. The Jiannu have entered the pass, Yanzhou has been lost, and the King of Lu has been captured. The prince will definitely send troops to the north to help, which is why the court gave food to Ma Shiying." His voice was full of insight and understanding of the current situation.

After hearing this, all the generals were silent. Jingzhou was not easy to come by, and they were unwilling to give it up. But they all understood that Hua Ruiqi's decision was based on the overall situation. They prayed in their hearts, hoping that the future battle situation would be as they wished.

Hua Ruiqi looked at the silent faces of the generals, and his heart was filled with helplessness and bitterness. He smiled helplessly: "The city is dead, but the people are alive. As long as the people are alive, we can take it back in the future. Follow the military order, and I will bear all the blame." His voice was full of firmness and determination. He knew that this decision would make him bear heavy guilt, but he also understood that this was for the sake of the overall situation, so that more people could survive.

After hearing this, the generals had no choice but to bow and retreat, and began to prepare for the withdrawal. They were filled with reluctance and helplessness, but they also understood that this was the best choice. They quietly walked out of the tent, into the night, and began to make final preparations for the withdrawal.

In the vast and ancient land of Yiling, Li Dingguo led an army of 30,000 elite soldiers and marched along the river. The river rushed around them like a mighty army. The green mountains on both sides of the river were continuous and shrouded in clouds and mist, as if it was a magnificent background specially laid by nature for this army.

Li Dingguo sat at the bow, staring ahead with a sharp gaze. He was tall and strong, with a resolute face and an unyielding spirit between his brows. His eyes showed both a firm belief in the future and deep worries about the war. The news of the fall of Jingzhou had already blown into his ears like the wind, but unlike the panic of the crowd, Li Dingguo seemed unusually calm, as if everything was under control.

The King of Daxi ordered everyone to support General Feng Shuangli, but Jingzhou had already been lost. Jin Tongwu, the general in the camp, looked haggard and anxiously asked about the next move. Gao Wengui was also worried, thinking that Jingzhou was impregnable and that a head-on attack would result in heavy losses. Li Dingguo smiled and responded that there was no need to worry about the loss of Jingzhou, and that he was more worried about how to recapture Yueyang. When this was said, Jin Tongwu and Gao Wengui were both surprised.

After fighting Jian Mingxiao, Li Dingguo had a new understanding of the art of war and knew that terrain was crucial. The Dashi Army was defeated repeatedly in eastern Sichuan because of the unfavorable terrain and Jian Mingxiao's cunning. Li Dingguo tried to recruit Xidong soldiers but failed, and was later transferred by Zhang Xianzhong. Now he has returned to the Huguang Plain, determined to recapture Yueyang.

After the three of them conspired, they decided to set out the next day. Jin Tongwu led the cavalry to land on the south bank and sneak into the wilderness; Gao Wengui led the troops to land on the north bank and hide in the wilderness; Li Dingguo personally led the central army, advancing by land and water, and approached Zhijiang. After arriving, Li Dingguo sent scouts to inquire about the news of Jingzhou in a big way to deter the enemy and collect intelligence.

Seeing this, the Ming army garrison commander Hua Ruiqi hurried to the tower to check. He was shocked to see the Dashi army in neat formation and aggressive. But he quickly calmed down and decided to retreat to preserve his strength. At the same time, he received an order from the court to withdraw troops to Shandong to deal with the Jiannu. So he ordered the navy to go to Yuezhou first to meet them, and the rest of the troops retreated after nightfall.

The next morning, Li Dingguo's army arrived in Jingzhou, but found the city empty. He was angry and helpless, but he knew that Hua Ruiqi's retreat was a wise move. At this time, Hua Ruiqi had led his troops to retreat outside Jianli City. He was shocked to hear that bandits appeared in Yuezhou. In fact, these bandits were Jin Tongwu's troops. They tried to raid Hua Ruiqi, but were defeated by the retreating navy of Yuezhou and had to retreat into Dongting Lake.

Hua Ruiqi eventually gave up Jingzhou and other places, retreated to Yuezhou, and reported the situation to the court. At the same time, he followed the imperial order and sent General Lu Ding north to Shandong to attack the Jiannu.

In mid-July, a huge crowd of people were waiting outside the Shuntian government office in Beijing for the trial of Xue Lian, the Marquis of Yangwu, who occupied land and oppressed the people. Wang Tingmei, the prefect of Shuntian, was busy setting up the court to welcome the officials from the three judicial departments and the Jinyiwei. The four officials took their seats one by one, and the chief judge Meng Zhaoxiang looked helpless. This case was difficult to handle and he was in a dilemma.

At the beginning of the trial, Xue Lian was cold and arrogant, and denied the charges. Li Ergou, a representative of the people of Tongzhou, cried and complained about his experience, and the people outside the hall were furious. Meng Zhaoxiang angrily slammed the gavel and questioned Jiang You and Wang Aoyong. Jiang You cried out for injustice and showed the receipt; Wang Aoyong pleaded for a clear investigation. However, in this struggle for power and interests, who can really see through the slightest detail and restore innocence? Shi Bangyao and Ling Yiqu sat on the left and right sides respectively. Both of them were old ministers in the court and had experienced countless storms. At this moment, their faces were serious, and their eyes revealed a kind of majesty and solemnity. Gongsun Yuchun moved his chair aside. He was wearing a black Jinyiwei uniform and a red tasseled hat. He was burly and majestic. He said, "I'll just listen." His voice was low and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Meng Zhaoxiang had no choice but to say: "Bring the prisoners and witnesses up." With an order, representatives of the common people in Tongzhou, Yangwu Marquis Xue Lian, Tongzhou Governor Wang Aoyong, Tongzhou yamen runners, Dongchang Admiral Gu Chaosheng, Yangwu Marquis's Jiang You and several servants were brought to the court. After the roll call was confirmed, the trial officially began.

Meng Zhaoxiang's face was serious and his voice was loud: "Xue Lian, do you know us?" "Yes, sirs, hello!" Xue Lian stood firmly, with his hands crossed behind his back. He was wearing a gorgeous Wuhou suit and a Wuhou crown on his head, with a cold and arrogant face. He sneered: "If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. Please show me the witnesses and evidence." His voice revealed a kind of disdain and provocation.

Meng Zhaoxiang turned to look at Li Ergou, the representative of the people of Tongzhou. Li Ergou was a thin, haggard middle-aged man. He knelt on the ground and said in a trembling voice: "In the summer of the fifteenth year, I had five acres of good land and a good harvest. One day, Jiang You from Yangwu Marquis's Mansion came to me and said that the Marquis wanted to buy my land. My land is my lifeblood, how can I sell it? I refused. As a result, Jiang You sent people to arrest my wife and children and forced me to sell the land." At this point, Ergou was already crying. His tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground, making a "tick-tock" sound. The sound was particularly clear in the silent court, as if telling of his helplessness and despair.

The people outside the court were furious when they heard this. They started to curse loudly, their voices rising and falling, full of anger and dissatisfaction with the whole incident. The yamen runners quickly drew their swords and shouted: "This is the court, no noise is allowed!" Their voices were stern and powerful, trying to suppress the anger of the people. The people finally quieted down, but their eyes were still full of anger and dissatisfaction.

Meng Zhaoxiang asked Ergou again: "Why didn't you report it to the authorities?" Ergou gave a bitter smile, a helpless and bitter smile. He said: "How could I not report it? After I reported it to the authorities, the Tongzhou police and Jiang You came to my house, beat me up, and warned me not to meddle in other people's business, otherwise they would kill my whole family. The next day, I had no choice but to sell the land at a low price." His voice revealed a sense of helplessness and despair, as if he was telling of an unchangeable tragic fate.

Meng Zhaoxiang was furious when he heard this. He slammed the gavel, and the sound was deafening, as if he was angry about Ergou's experience. He turned to look at Jiang You and Wang Aoyong, his eyes revealing a stern and questioning look: "What do you two have to say?" Jiang You kowtowed and cried out his injustice: "It was Li Ergou who wanted to sell the land to me at a high price. I bought it at the market price and gave an extra ounce of silver." He also took out the receipt as evidence. The receipt was densely written with words, as if it was defending him.

Wang Aoyong also said, "I really don't know anything about this matter. Please look carefully and clear my name." His voice revealed a kind of sincerity and helplessness, as if he was speaking the voice of an innocent person. However, in this struggle full of power and interests, who can really look carefully and clear people's names?

(End of this chapter)