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

"No, a general is on the battlefield and may not obey orders from the king." Jian Mingxiao responded calmly, with a firm light in his eyes. "As the governor of Shu, how can I let a rebel surrender so easily? Wouldn't that make the world laugh at me?"

"But...you..." Gao Shiming was so anxious that he was at a loss. He didn't expect Jian Mingxiao to dare to disobey his orders. He muttered to himself, this Jian Mingxiao is really a difficult person.

Jian Mingxiao shook his head slightly, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "Eunuch Gao, this matter is not as simple as you think. Do you think Zhang Xianzhong really surrendered? Humph! He just wants to take a breather, and he will definitely rebel in the future."

"Firstly, you have been away from the capital for a long time. Perhaps the emperor has changed his mind about the amnesty and the order to kill Zhang Xianzhong is on the way."

"Secondly, Zhang Xianzhong has been attacking Shu for so long but has not been able to conquer it, and his supplies are almost exhausted. He is pretending to surrender in order to gain our trust and resources."

"Third, and most importantly! Do you know how many soldiers I have under my command?" Jian Mingxiao's tone suddenly became excited.

"How much?" Gao Shiming asked nervously, calculating secretly in his mind.

"Infantry, cavalry, and navy total 120,000!" Jian Mingxiao said proudly, his voice resounding through the sky, "including 20,000 navy, 26,000 cavalry, and 74,000 infantry! With such a force, how can we easily make a rebel surrender?"

"How many?" Gao Shiming's eyes widened, he couldn't believe his ears. He didn't expect Jian Mingxiao to have so many soldiers and horses under his command. This was an astonishing number in the south and even in the entire Ming Dynasty.

"I...I remember there weren't so many troops in Shu. How come they suddenly appeared?" Gao Shiming asked doubtfully, his heart full of shock and confusion.

Jian Mingxiao smiled, and that smile was full of confidence and pride: "In the beginning, there were indeed not so many, but thanks to Zeng Ying's strategy. He recruited soldiers independently in the prefectures and states of western and central Sichuan, and then the prefecture generals gathered them in eastern Sichuan. This not only saved the time of recruiting soldiers, but also shortened the training cycle. After more than half a year of hard work, these 120,000 troops were stationed in Long'an, Maozhou, Xuzhou and other places, and then stationed in eastern Sichuan. I was in the middle of the dispatch and commanded the various armies to advance and retreat together. Tell me, can I let these soldiers return empty-handed?"

Gao Shiming finally understood Jian Mingxiao's reason for rejecting Zhang Xianzhong's surrender after listening to Jian Mingxiao's words. But he was still a little worried: "General Qin, how much military pay does this 120,000-man army need every year? Where does the money come from?"

"There are 94,000 infantry, cavalry and navy soldiers in total. Each soldier gets one tael and five cents of silver per month, which is 1,692,000 taels per year. There are 26,000 cavalry soldiers. Each soldier gets three taels of silver per month for salary and fodder, which is 936,000 taels per year." Jian Mingxiao calculated the details for him without a trace of worry on his face. "All this money was funded by the King of Shu. Don't you know that, Grandpa?"

Gao Shiming shook his head. When he left Beijing, he only received the order to appease Zhang Xianzhong, and he didn't have time to learn about other things. He muttered to himself, this King of Shu is really rich.

At this point, Gao Shiming had nothing more to say, and could only wish Jian Mingxiao: "May Governor Qin have a successful start and achieve success as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Eunuch Gao." Jian Mingxiao responded politely with a smile on his face, "When you return to the capital, please be sure to convey my intentions to the emperor. Our Shu army is determined to defend our homeland and will never be deceived or threatened by the rebels."

"What's the next plan?" Gao Shiming asked again, his heart full of curiosity and anticipation.

"No comment!" Jian Mingxiao answered straightforwardly, without a trace of expression on his face. "How can we easily leak important military secrets?"

Gao Shiming smiled bitterly and stopped asking. He knew that Jian Mingxiao was an elusive person. He muttered to himself that this Shu land was really full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

After Jian Mingxiao sent Gao Shiming away, he beat the drum and went up to the tent to call the generals for a meeting. He was wearing armor, holding a long sword, and standing majestically in front of the central army tent.

Soon, dozens of generals gathered in the central army tent. They were wearing battle robes, holding weapons, and looked serious and solemn.

Jian Mingxiao hung the map on the wall and pointed at it to deploy his troops: "Fan Yiheng and Ma Yingshi, you two will lead your troops to attack Fuling in two days! We must take it down in one fell swoop, without any mistakes!"

"Yes, sir!" the two responded in unison, with determination flashing in their eyes.

"Jia Liandeng, Yang Weidong, you should lead your troops to attack Dianjiang immediately. After you capture it, you can turn to attack Zhongzhou! You must fight quickly and decisively, and don't give the enemy a chance to catch their breath."

"Yes!" The two answered in unison, their expressions firm and resolute.

"Hou Tianxi, Gao Mingzuo, Cao Xun, and Fan Wenguang, you must lead your troops to attack Xinning immediately. After you capture it, divide your troops into two groups and attack Kaizhou and Wanxian respectively to cut off Zhang Xianzhong's retreat! You must leave them nowhere to escape."

"Understood!" The four answered in unison, with the belief of victory flashing in their eyes.

"Li Zhanchun, Yu Dahai, lead the troops to attack Liangping! You must proceed steadily and don't rush for success."

"Yes, sir!" The two men answered in unison, looking steady and calm.

"Tan Hong, Tan Yi, you must travel light and disguise yourself as a merchant caravan to Wushan! You must investigate the enemy situation and report back in time."

"Yes!" The two answered in unison, with wit and courage flashing in their eyes.

"Gu Cunzhi, Mo Zongwen, Zhang Denggui, Zeng Ying, Yang Zhan and others will join me in advancing by land and sea to capture Fengdu! We must deal a fatal blow to Zhang Xianzhong."

All the generals responded in unison, their voices resounding through the sky. They were filled with confidence and determination, vowing to defend their homeland and drive out the rebels.

Two days later, the army was ready to go, with flags flying and warships arrayed on the river. Jian Mingxiao, wearing armor and holding a long sword, stood on the bow of the ship, looking at the mighty army, with a lot of emotion in his heart.

With the sound of a cannon from the top of Changshou County, the army slowly set off. They marched forward with firm steps.

Yang Zhan and Zeng Ying stood at the bow and looked at the mighty army with deep emotion in their hearts. A few months ago, they were just a humble defender; a few months later, they were able to organize a counterattack of such a scale! They were filled with pride and confidence.

Less than a day after the army had marched, a scout came to report: "Zhang Xianzhong personally led the army out of Fengdu and went downstream. No one knew where he was going."

Zeng Ying and Yang Zhan immediately moored their boat to the shore to meet Jian Mingxiao. They looked nervous and anxious, and their hearts were filled with worry and uneasiness.

"Governor Qin Zhang Xianzhong will surely flee when he sees our powerful army. We are willing to lead the navy to pursue him. Please give the order!" Zeng Ying said anxiously, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

Jian Mingxiao pulled the reins of his horse and thought for a moment before shaking his head: "The troops must not underestimate the enemy and rush forward. They should move forward step by step and make steady progress to avoid falling into Zhang Xianzhong's trap." He looked serious and solemn, with a gleam of wisdom in his eyes. "We must win by being steady and not rush for success."

Zeng Ying and Yang Zhan returned to the boat helplessly and sighed. Although they were somewhat unwilling, they also knew that Jian Mingxiao's words made sense. They decided to follow Jian Mingxiao's arrangements.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, at dawn, the garrison commander of Yuezhou, Hua Ruiqi, received an urgent message. He opened the secret letter, frowned, and then his eyes lit up, as if he saw the smoke of war. The letter said that the main force of Zhang Xianzhong's gang had slipped from Sichuan to Chu and was now gathering outside Jingzhou, but their specific plans were still unclear.

Ricky pondered in his heart, and he immediately called a meeting of his generals. In the meeting room, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the serious faces of everyone. Ricky cleared his throat and said, "Tell me, why did Zhang Xianzhong suddenly come here from Sichuan?"

Lu Ding, a burly deputy general with a resolute face, thought for a moment and replied, "It's probably because they were beaten badly by Jian Mingxiao in Sichuan and they were scared, so they moved their main force to Huguang to avoid the limelight."

Ricky nodded, thinking that Lu Ding's analysis made sense. He stood up, walked to the window, looked out at the dark night, and a sense of pride surged in his heart: "Although we are few in number, we can't be timid. We have to fight them."

As soon as these words came out, the generals were eager to fight. They knew that this was a tough battle, but it was also a good opportunity for them to make achievements.

In total, Ricky had more than 65,000 men under his command. Among them, Ma Jinzhong and Hui Dengxiang each led 15,000 elite soldiers, stationed in Mianyang and Jingling respectively. Ma Jinzhong, a thin and sharp-eyed general, his troops were known for their bravery; while Hui Dengxiang was a calm, experienced and good at defense. Among the remaining 50,000 troops, there were 8,000 cavalry, 35,000 infantry, and 10,000 navy. These navy soldiers were all veterans who had been fighting on rivers for many years, and their warships were their homes.

Let's look at Zhang Xianzhong. When he first entered Sichuan, he claimed to have an army of 200,000, but excluding the old, weak, sick and disabled, there were only about 150,000 who could fight. Now that they have withdrawn from Sichuan, they must have lost a lot of men, otherwise they wouldn't be so embarrassed. Ricky estimated that Zhang Xianzhong must have lost at least one-third of his men, that is, there are only 100,000 left out of the 150,000. And only 40% of them are elite, and the rest are basically refugees. On the other hand, our Ming army is made up of carefully selected warriors, so in terms of military strength, Zhang Xianzhong does not have an advantage.

Deputy General Lu Ding, who was fined a year's salary for his mistakes, was very anxious when he saw such a good opportunity to make merit. He stared at Ricky, as if he wanted to find the answer from his eyes. Finally, he couldn't help but suggest: "Zhang Xianzhong just suffered a defeat, and his army must be unstable. We should take this opportunity to go upstream and surround them in Jingzhou City!"

"Then we'll wait for Jian Mingxiao's army to come out of Sichuan, and then we'll attack them from both sides and wipe them out in one fell swoop!" Lu Ding became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had already seen the dawn of victory.

"Are you saying that we should take the initiative?" Ricky turned around and looked at Lu Ding sharply.

"Yes!" Lu Ding answered firmly, his eyes full of determination and expectation.

Ricky looked at the other generals, and they all nodded in agreement. But at this moment, Ricky suddenly smiled, and his smile was full of mystery and deep meaning: "You are all wrong."

When the generals heard this, they were all stunned and asked why. They didn't understand why Ricky didn't intend to seize such a good opportunity.

Richie explained: "Zhang Xianzhong withdrew from Sichuan because they suffered heavy casualties and needed to find a place to rest. Look at the terrain of Huguang. The north is the territory of King Chuang, and the south and east are our Ming Dynasty. In order to avoid being attacked from both sides, Zhang Xianzhong will definitely not stay in Jingzhou for long. They will definitely find a way to break through Changsha and flee south to other places in Huguang."

"Besides, the mountains and rivers over there are dangerous and difficult to pass. Even if we can't defeat them, they can just hide in the mountains and we won't be able to find them even if we try." There was a hint of worry in Richie's words. He knew very well how cunning and cruel Zhang Xianzhong was.

"Then how does Governor Yuan plan to respond?" Lu Ding asked, his heart filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Ricky stared at the map for a while, then said, "No matter how Zhang Xianzhong tries, our main force must defend Yueyang, especially the navy! If Zhang Xianzhong wants to go south, he will have to cross the Yangtze River and Yuan River, and then our navy will be busy."

On the morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month, the gates of Jingzhou suddenly opened, and Ai Nengqi led 15,000 troops out of the east gate and headed straight for Qianjiang. Ai Nengqi was a burly and fierce general, and his troops were known for their bravery. Ma Jinzhong had already fled to Mianyang. He knew that Zhang Xianzhong's troops were not so easy to deal with, so he chose to avoid them.

When Ai Nengqi arrived outside Qianjiang City, he immediately set up camp. He ordered his soldiers to quickly build tents and fortifications in preparation for the upcoming battle. The next morning, they built a pontoon bridge to cross the Han River and began to attack Jingling.

When the guard of Jingling, Hui Dengxiang, saw the enemy coming, he immediately led his troops out of the camp to fight. He was wearing armor and holding a spear, standing in front of the battle and shouted loudly: "Brothers, come with me and drive these bandits out of our territory!"

The two armies first sent a small force to test the enemy's strength. As a result, most of the 500 brave warriors of the Dashi Army were killed, while only a few dozen people were injured on the Ming army side. Seeing this situation, Ai Nengqi's heart was pounding, knowing that this battle would not be easy to fight. He secretly cursed Zhang Xianzhong, why did he send them to this hellhole to die.

In the afternoon, Ai Nengqi sent twice as many troops, but the Ming army was well-disciplined and well-equipped, and the Dashi army was still defeated. Ai Nengqi looked at the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, his heart filled with grief and anger. He knew that this battle was irreversible.

Seeing that the battle was hopeless, Ai Nengqi had no choice but to order a retreat. He led the remaining troops and fled the battlefield in a panic. Hui Dengxiang did not chase them, but directly withdrew his troops back to the camp. He knew that this battle was just the beginning, and the real battle was still to come.

At night, Li Dingguo quietly left Jingzhou City with 5,000 elite cavalry and headed straight for Jingling. Li Dingguo was a thin and sharp-eyed general, and his troops were known for their speed. At the same time, Li Yan and Hong Niangzi from Chengtian Prefecture in the north also led their troops to attack Hui Dengxiang at night. But Hui Dengxiang was not a pushover. He had long noticed that there were spies in the city, and was afraid that the news would leak out, so he also took advantage of the night to quietly break camp and prepare to run away. He ordered the soldiers to travel light, only bring the necessary food and weapons, and then quietly set off at night.

The guard asked him, "Sir, are you planning to attack the enemy camp at night?"

Hui Dengxiang sneered: "Attacking bullshit! Hurry up and go to Mianyang to meet up with Ma Jinzhong!" He knew that the most important thing now was to preserve strength and wait for the opportunity to fight again.

"But the Governor will punish us if we do this!" The guards were a little worried.

"Never mind! It's better than being wiped out!" Hui Dengxiang said with a firm look in his eyes, "The baggage will go first and the elite troops will follow behind, and we will retreat quietly!" He led the soldiers to evacuate Jingling City quietly.

In this way, the five thousand elite soldiers quietly withdrew from the city without the defenders noticing. They seemed to blend into the night and disappear into the vast night.

The next morning, Ai Nengqi was shocked when he received the news: "What? They ran away?" He couldn't believe his ears. He clearly saw them showing off their power on the city wall yesterday!

"Yes, General! We have chased the Ming army for 20 miles to the east and still haven't seen any trace of them. I guess they ran away last night!" The spy replied. There was a hint of fatigue and helplessness in his voice. They had been chasing for a whole night, but still got nothing.

Ai Nengqi gritted his teeth in anger, he felt that he was tricked by Hui Dengxiang. He waved the long knife in his hand angrily and shouted loudly: "Chase them! We must find them out!" His voice echoed in the morning air, full of anger and unwillingness.

At night, Li Dingguo, Li Yan and Ai Nengqi met in the west of the city. They sat by the campfire, their faces tired and solemn. They all knew that the battle had just begun and the real contest was still to come.

"The thief has already escaped, what should we do?" Ai Nengqi asked. There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his voice, and he knew that he had lost the initiative.

Li Yan and Dingguo looked at each other and smiled, and said in unison: "Chase!" Their eyes were full of firmness and determination. They knew that they must win this battle.

But it was getting late and the army had to rest for one night. Ai Nengqi took the opportunity to lead his army into the city to replenish military supplies. Of course, he also robbed the people. For a while, the city was full of flames and cries. Innocent people became victims of this war. But Ai Nengqi didn't care. Only the flame of victory and revenge was burning in his heart.

Seeing the thick smoke in the city, Hong Niangzi felt as if she was hit by a heavy hammer, and an ominous premonition came to her mind. She knew very well that although there were many rude people in the Dashun Army, she and her men had always upheld justice and had never done such a thing that hurt the world. It was for this reason that the people supported them so much, and this public support was like a solid shield, helping them to escape from the encirclement and suppression of the government troops many times. At this moment, she stared at Li Dingguo, furious: "How can you, the Dashi Army, do such a cruel thing to innocent people?" Li Dingguo was speechless by her questioning, and could only lower his head and remain silent, with complex emotions flashing in his eyes.

Li Dingguo and Ai Nengqi were both Zhang Xianzhong's trusted generals. In terms of seniority and status, they were equally matched. Although Li Dingguo was able to control his own troops, he was unable to control Ai Nengqi's troops. Seeing Li Dingguo like this, Hong Niangzi became even more furious and said sternly, "Say something!" Li Dingguo looked guilty and whispered, "I can only manage my own people. I really can't do anything about other people's troops." Hearing this, Hong Niangzi laughed angrily, with a bit of sadness and disappointment in her laughter: "I was really blind to believe in you guys!" After that, she turned around and wanted to leave, revealing determination in her steps.

Seeing this, Li Yan hurriedly grabbed Hongniangzi's arm and said anxiously: "Wait, listen to me." He waved his hand to signal others to leave, and lowered his voice to Li Dingguo: "Dingguo, do you think Zhang Xianzhong is still the Zhang Xianzhong who cares about the people?" Hearing this, Li Dingguo stepped back slightly, his eyes full of vigilance: "What do you mean?" Li Yan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "King Chuang is no longer the same King Chuang. He used to love the people like his own children, but now he only wants to ascend the throne, completely disregarding the lives of his subordinates, and even condoning his subordinates to burn, kill, rob, and exclude loyal people." He paused, then asked: "Why do you think this is happening?"

After hearing this, Li Dingguo was silent for a long time, and finally just lowered his head without saying a word. Li Yan sighed and continued, "The court has exempted the people from taxes for a year, and finally gave everyone a chance to breathe. I didn't expect that the food would be taken away by you again, and some people even died because of it. I know this matter has nothing to do with you directly, but I'm afraid our cooperation can only end here." After saying that, he took Hongniang and left resolutely.

Li Dingguo looked at the two men's backs as they walked away, and a deep sense of loss welled up in his heart. He knew that he had completely lost the support of the Dashun Army and would never dare to act rashly again. After careful consideration, he decided to dispatch more than 10,000 elite troops from Jingzhou, and add Ai Nengqi's troops to form an army of 30,000 people, in order to make plans for the future.

Outside Jingling City, Ai Nengqi rode on a horse with a frown on his face, and asked Li Dingguo: "What should we do next?" Li Dingguo pondered for a moment, and suddenly changed the subject: "We are the righteous army, and we should care for the people as we would our own children. If we take down another city, can we not rob the people's things?" When Ai Nengqi heard this, he sneered: "Then what will our brothers eat and drink?" Li Dingguo answered firmly: "If they rob the people, they will have no way to survive!" Ai Nengqi disagreed and shrugged: "It's a good opportunity for them to rebel against the court together." Li Dingguo was choked by his words and was speechless. In the end, he could only helplessly discuss the next attack plan.

……

To the north of Mianyang and south of the Han River, Hui Dengxiang and Ma Jinzhong led their troops to camp. The military strategy says: "Defend the dangerous place, not the city." The walls of Mianyang City were low and weak, and could not be used as a defense at all. Therefore, the two chose a place near the river with dangerous terrain to set up camp.

One day, a spy hurriedly reported: "More than 10,000 bandits appeared on the north side of the Han River and are setting up camp on the opposite bank." Upon hearing this, Hui Dengxiang and Ma Jinzhong hurried out of the tent and saw a dark mass of people on the opposite bank. Hui Dengxiang was surprised and said: "Are these bandits trying to confront us across the river?" Ma Jinzhong nodded at first, but then shook his head and frowned: "This matter is definitely not that simple."

Sure enough, not long after, bad news came - Li Dingguo successively captured Yingcheng and Yunmeng, and headed straight for Xiaogan. Ma Jinzhong looked at the map and was extremely anxious: "Xiaogan is the gateway to Wuchang. If it is lost, Wuchang will be in danger! And our food supply will also be cut off!" Hui Dengxiang also nodded in agreement, looking solemn.

Ma Jinzhong gritted his teeth and decided to split the troops: "You stay here to confront Ai Nengqi, and I will go back to defend Wuchang and ensure that the food supply route is not lost." Hui Dengxiang agreed: "Okay, be careful on the road."

Soon after Ma Jinzhong left, Hua Ruiqi also heard about Li Dingguo's capture of Xiaogan. He hurriedly asked, "How many defenders are there in Xiaogan?" His men replied, "More than 2,500, most of them are local people." Hua Ruiqi asked again, "How long can they hold out?" His men said, "There is enough food for three months, and they swear to hold out until the end if they don't surrender." Hua Ruiqi pondered for a moment and said, "Don't save Xiaogan! But send 3,000 armored soldiers to Wuchang to assist in the defense and ensure the safety of the food route."

On the morning of the second day, 3,000 soldiers sailed down the river and rushed to Wuchang. On the night of the 30th, Zhang Xianzhong heard that Hua Ruiqi had sent troops to rescue Wuchang. He knew that the opportunity had come and immediately ordered the army to rise. The gates of Jingzhou were opened wide, and the army poured out like a tide, advancing both by land and water, and headed straight for Yuezhou.

Hua Ruiqi also received the news, and he immediately set up a false formation: dozens of merchant ships loaded with hay and gunpowder were placed across the river and connected with iron chains; the navy hid behind the merchant ships, waiting for the opportunity; the infantry lined up on the north bank, pretending to be on the defensive; the cavalry hid in the woods, ready to attack at any time.

The two armies were getting closer and closer, and scouts were galloping back and forth to report the enemy situation. Hua Ruiqi ordered the entire army to prepare for battle. Some soldiers checked their weapons, some drank water, and some went to the bathroom. After a while, the two armies encountered each other, and the other side didn't even say hello, and started fighting directly.

Zhang Xianzhong ordered the front troops to attack, and the chariots slowly moved forward. The Ming army's cannons roared, but the chariots' solid shields blocked most of the projectiles, and only a few solid giant bullets penetrated, killing and wounding many enemy soldiers. However, instead of retreating, the enemy attacked more fiercely, firing bird guns, bows and crossbows, and the two armies soon fell into hand-to-hand combat.

The chariots were lined with spears, stabbing and wounding many enemy soldiers. The generals of both sides almost simultaneously ordered their soldiers to throw grenades into the battle formation. Suddenly, flames shot up into the sky, smoke filled the air, and the entire battlefield was shrouded in chaos. Hong Niangzi watched this scene from a distance, with mixed feelings in her heart, including hatred for the war and confusion about the future. She knew that this battle was just a microcosm of the troubled times, and true peace would require more efforts and sacrifices.

With a loud bang, grenades from both sides exploded on the battlefield almost at the same time. The sound was so loud that it seemed like the sky was falling and the earth was collapsing. The shock wave instantly swept across the entire battlefield, and the originally stable formation suddenly became a mess. The soldiers who were blown up were scared to death. Some covered their ears and fell to the ground, their faces pale and their eyes full of fear; some squatted and cried loudly, shouting in pain, their voices were heartbreaking. However, the cruelty of war did not allow them to be immersed in fear and pain for a long time. Not long after, the battlefield was filled with deafening shouts of killing, the roar of bird guns, and the sound of arrows piercing the air. The soldiers cheered up again, staggered to pick up their weapons, and rushed towards the enemy without hesitation.

"Kill!" With a shout that resounded through the sky, the two armies began a bloody hand-to-hand fight. Morale was gradually consumed in the fight, just like a burning candle swaying in the wind, until one side completely exhausted its strength and the battle stopped temporarily. This war was extremely cruel. Everyone thought they were fighting for justice, but they didn't know that the justice they pursued might just be the interests of others. The Ming army was like this, and the Dashi army was the same, both of them were caught in this endless vortex.

The Dashi Army was divided into three armies: the front, the middle, and the rear. Zhang Xianzhong personally commanded the middle army. He stood on a high place, observing the situation on the battlefield with a telescope, his face stern, his eyes revealing determination and resoluteness. He knew that the outcome of this war was crucial to his cause, so every decision was particularly critical.

"Sun Kewang, quickly send 3,000 cavalry to attack the left rear of the Ming army. Move quickly!" Zhang Xianzhong ordered the navy to attack. Although his voice was not loud, it was full of majesty and power, and people dared not neglect it. As soon as the central army waved the flag, Sun Kewang responded immediately. He quickly mobilized 3,000 cavalry, and they rushed out like wild horses, with thunderous hoofbeats and flying dust, and rushed straight to the left wing of the Ming army like an arrow from a bow.

After hearing the news, Hua Ruiqi did not show any panic. He quickly dispatched troops to respond. The Ming army was also divided into three armies, with strict and orderly formations. Ruiqi ordered Deng Linqi to lead his troops to lure the enemy deep into the city, while the rest of the cavalry hid in the woods and waited for the opportunity to encircle the enemy. He strictly ordered: "Without my order, no one is allowed to pursue without authorization. Those who disobey the order will be executed!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty. The flags flew in the air, and the cavalry chased on the field, competing in archery and horsemanship, as if it was a life-and-death contest.

The infantrymen were fighting just as fiercely. Artillery fire was blazing, muskets were firing, and arrows were raining down like dense raindrops. Spears, swords, and shields were fighting against each other. The soldiers on the battlefield were on the line between life and death, but they continued to charge forward fearlessly. Their figures were looming in the smoke and fire, like a tragic war song.

At the same time, fierce gunfire was heard on the river. The Ming army's warships hid among the merchant ships and fired at the Dashi army's navy. The Dashi army was not to be outdone and retaliated with artillery fire. The warships of the two armies gradually approached each other, and the Ming army put away their sails and sailed downstream, firing rockets to set the merchant ships on fire. The fire spread rapidly, and the raging fire raged with the wind. The flames on the river were raging, and the thick smoke covered the sky. The warships of the Dashi army were unable to avoid it and were ignited one after another, and the river suddenly became a sea of ​​fire.

Wang Fuchen frowned upon seeing this, as he knew that the outcome of the navy was directly related to the direction of the entire battle. After careful observation, he asked, "Are those merchant ships connected by iron chains?" His subordinates replied, "Yes." Wang Fuchen immediately ordered, "Put on wet blankets and board the ship to cut the iron chains! No matter what method you use, you must open the waterway!" A huge reward will always bring courageous men, and the warriors put on wet blankets, covered their mouths and noses, and boarded the merchant ships to cut the iron chains. They knew it was a dangerous task, but for the sake of the overall situation, they did not hesitate.

"The Ming army is so cunning! They actually tied the bow and stern together with iron chains!" The soldiers who boarded the ship cursed angrily. They found that the bow pillar was extremely strong and difficult to cut or saw, so someone came up with the idea of ​​burning it with kerosene. In the crackling flames, the bow pillar was gradually ignited, and the fire became more and more fierce. They also kept throwing kerosene in the pottery jar to help the fire, and the flames reflected their resolute faces. Finally, the iron chain was burned off, and the merchant ship lost control. Some rushed to the shore, while others went downstream, and the sea of ​​fire on the river was gradually brought under control.

Seeing this, the Ming navy downstream hurriedly moved away. Wang Fuchen immediately ordered: "Raise anchor and set sail!" The flag on the ship was waved, and the warships rushed downstream like dragons entering the sea, and quickly charged at the Ming navy. Their sails swelled with the wind, as if they were eagles spreading their wings and ready to fly.

Zhang Xianzhong saw the navy start to move, and ordered the rear army to move forward to attack the right wing of the Ming army, while the central army waited for the victory of the front army. However, the situation of the front army was not optimistic. Although there were many elite troops, they were still unable to cope with the well-equipped and high-spirited Ming army. When two armies clash, the stronger side often wins, and the army with better equipment is more likely to gain the upper hand. Hua Ruiqi had already dismissed the old, weak, sick and disabled, and only retained the elite divisions, so the Dashi army began to retreat. Their formation gradually became chaotic, and their morale was severely hit.

The Ming army's front line continued to advance, and the Dashi army's formation began to waver, and finally collapsed like a tide. Fortunately, the central army intercepted in time, so the defeat did not worsen. Zhang Xianzhong looked at the situation on the battlefield and was secretly anxious. He knew that the victory or defeat of this war was crucial to his great cause, so he had to go all out.

However, the Ming army did not continue the pursuit, because Zhang Xianzhong's rear army had arrived and began to attack their right wing. Seeing this, Richie immediately adjusted his tactics. He ordered again: "Lu Ding pretends to retreat, stabilizes his position, and slowly retreats; Deng Linqi sends half of the cavalry to attack the enemy's rear from the side and cooperate with us in the counterattack." His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty. He knew that this was a life-and-death battle, so he had to go all out. His eyes revealed perseverance and determination, as if a burning flame illuminated the entire battlefield.

Wars rage, strategies emerge

Hua Ruiqi, the wise general of the Ming army, frowned and stared at the changing situation on the battlefield. He had already come up with a trick in his mind, which was to pretend to retreat. It was easier said than done. Although there were many soldiers, they had different thoughts. They were all afraid that if they pretended to retreat, others would really attack them. At that time, they would be fighting alone and would surely die. So this trick would not be used unless it was absolutely necessary. If used well, everyone would be happy, but if used poorly, he would be in trouble.

Lu Ding, the burly general, stood there and loudly ordered the herald to inform all the generals: "After hearing the sound of the cannon, everyone retreat a hundred steps, and then quickly gather to counterattack." "Whoever dares to disobey the order, I will die with him!" His voice was like thunder, shaking the soldiers' hearts.

With a deafening cannon fire, the Ming army on the right wing began to pretend to retreat. They threw down some weapons while running, creating the illusion of a panicked escape. Zhang Xianzhong's rear army thought that there was something wrong with the Ming army's firearms and they blew themselves up, so they chased after them happily. They were like a group of hungry wolves, smelling the smell of blood, and couldn't wait to pounce on it and bite it.

At this time, Deng Lingqi's cavalry was busy encircling the rear cavalry of the Dashi Army. They were like a sharp knife, deeply inserted into the Dashi Army's position. After hearing the order, he immediately sent 4,000 cavalry to support the infantry battlefield. They swept away like a gust of wind, and wherever they passed, the enemies fell one after another.

When the two armies clashed, the cavalry of the Ming army was so brave. They rushed directly into the infantry formation of the Dashi army. In the chaos, the infantry was like weak grasshoppers, crushed by the horses' hooves and the flash of swords and retreated step by step. Although Zhang Xianzhong was frightened by the might of the Ming army, he still maintained the composure of the commander. He sent Feng Shuangli to lead 5,000 cavalry of the central army to reinforce, and specifically warned him: "Don't underestimate the enemy and advance rashly." Feng Shuangli took the order and left, his heart full of desire for victory.

Since Li Dingguo entered Jingzhou, Feng Shuangli joined the Dashi Army. Zhang Xianzhong trusted him and gave him the cavalry. As soon as Feng Shuangli arrived, the situation changed immediately. He led the cavalry down the mountain like a tiger and attacked the Ming army. The Ming infantry fell under their charge, and the situation turned from defeat to a draw. But Deng Linqi had already won the victory, and the rear cavalry of the Dashi Army either surrendered or was eliminated.

Zhang Xianzhong began to panic when he saw the Ming cavalry reinforcements coming in continuously. He thought to himself: "How can the Ming army be so cunning, pretending to retreat but hiding murderous intentions." He immediately ordered: "The cavalry will be responsible for the rear guard, and the infantry will quickly retreat to Jianli!" The situation changed again, and the Dashi Army began to retreat in an all-round way.

Although Hua Ruiqi saw the enemy was defeated, he remained calm. He thought for a while and then ordered: "Lu Ding, you pursue the enemy with all your strength, and the central and left armies stabilize their positions and rest." "Deng Linqi, you send half of the cavalry to pursue the enemy, and the other half will be responsible for the support." His orders were like lightning, breaking through the haze of the battlefield.

The horses galloped, their hooves like a meat grinder, sweeping up the defeated enemy troops. The light cavalry was like flying a kite and stepping on an ant when dealing with infantry. Add to that the hacking and the rain of arrows, and it was simply ruthless. Feng Shuangli wanted to stay behind, but the soldiers fled too fast, and the elite followed them. He had no choice but to retreat with a few hundred elite soldiers.

Deng Lingqi was in the middle of a killing spree, rushing to the front. Suddenly, he heard the sound of arrows piercing the air. Before he could find out where the arrows came from, the rain of arrows had already arrived. The Ming cavalrymen were hit by arrows one after another, and they fled in panic like a group of birds that were suddenly attacked.

At this time, a cavalry appeared on the flank. They had a clear flag with a big "Li" written on it. Deng Linqi was shocked: "Li Dingguo? How did he get here!" Before he could finish his words, he was already caught in a hail of arrows. Both the man and the horse became hedgehogs, and his life came to an abrupt end at this moment.

Li Dingguo took the opportunity to lead his troops to counterattack, and the momentum of the Dashi Army was frustrated again. Deng Linqi's troops suffered heavy losses, and Lu Ding's troops also collapsed. Fortunately, Hua Ruiqi was well prepared, so he did not lead to the annihilation of the army. He thought to himself: "This Li Dingguo is really a tough opponent. It seems that the next battle will be even more difficult."

At the same time, the battle on the navy side was also coming to an end. Wang Fuchen led his troops across the river to attack the enemy. They were like a group of brave dolphins, tumbling and jumping on the river, rushing straight at the enemy. Li Shiyuan, the deputy general of the Ming army, thought there would be a hard battle, but he didn't expect the enemy to either hide or fight back. Fire attacks continued in the naval battle. The burning ships could not escape at all, and the ships that were not on fire counterattacked. After the battle lasted for a while, the Ming army won a great victory, burned more than 400 enemy warships, and killed countless enemy soldiers.

Hua Ruiqi was slightly relieved when he saw the victory report from the navy. However, the losses of cavalry and infantry were too heavy. The cavalry lost more than 1,000 people and the infantry lost more than 2,000 people. Although he killed tens of thousands of enemies, the deputy general Deng Linqi died, which made him very sad. He thought to himself: "Deng Linqi is a rare general, and his sacrifice is a great loss to us." So he stood up and told the generals: "Everyone go back and rest. There will be a more difficult battle waiting for us tomorrow." All the generals retreated as ordered. They knew that the next battle would be more difficult, but they were also full of confidence in victory.

In the Dashi Army camp, Zhang Xianzhong praised Li Dingguo: "Fortunately, you came to rescue me in time, otherwise I would be in danger." His tone was full of gratitude and praise. Li Dingguo modestly said he was not worthy of it, "I just did what I should do." Zhang Xianzhong asked him why he came to rescue so quickly. Li Dingguo smiled and said: "I was besieged in Xiaogan for three days, then retreated to Jingling at night, built a floating bridge to cross the river, and rushed here non-stop." His tone was full of pride and confidence.

Zhang Xianzhong asked about Ai Nengqi's situation again. Li Dingguo said that he was about 20 miles to the north and was on his way. Zhang Xianzhong nodded and secretly calculated the next battle plan in his mind. He stared at the map for a long time and then made a decision: "Order Ai Nengqi to abandon the baggage and move forward quickly. Cross the river to the south bank at night and then move south to the Yuanjiang River." He also explained in detail how to use the navy's small boats to break through the enemy's defense line, turn to Dongting Lake, and then go upstream along the Xiangjiang River into the Yuanzijiang River Basin to build a floating bridge and wait for the army to cross the river.

His plan was thorough and ingenious. Once they crossed the river, the Ming army would be difficult to stop. They could attack Changsha or retreat into the mountains. Li Dingguo took the order and left. He knew that the next battle would be more difficult, but he was also full of confidence in victory.

As night fell, the Dashi Army began to move camp and cross the river. Like a group of brave warriors, they marched southward without fear of difficulties and obstacles. Two days and nights later, they crossed the Yuan and Zi rivers. After a rest, the army approached the city of Changsha. They knew that the next battle would be more difficult, but they were also full of confidence and determination to win.

At the same time, on the battlefield of Yiling, Jian Mingxiao also fought fiercely with Liu Wenxiu. The battle was in a stalemate, and both sides invested a lot of troops and supplies. They knew that the victory of this battle would determine the direction of the entire war. Therefore, they all tried their best to win. The battlefield was full of swords and blood, and the soldiers on both sides were fighting desperately for victory. However, who will win in the end still needs further observation and waiting. (End of this chapter)