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

On the shore, the gunners of the Shun army watched the Ming army's warships approaching little by little, and they were so anxious that they were like ants on a hot pot, running around in circles. They quickly adjusted the muzzles of their guns, just like hunters aiming at their prey, waiting for the fatal blow. In their eyes, the Ming army's warships were like jumping targets, because the warships were going upstream and their speed was obviously much slower, like a giant beast struggling in the water, weak and clumsy.

However, what they didn't expect was that in the eyes of the soldiers of the Ming Navy, these gunners who stood like wooden stakes were the real live targets. The live targets could still move a few times, but these gunners were motionless, waiting to be beaten. The soldiers of the Ming Army had sneers on their faces, and their eyes revealed disdain and ridicule, as if they had already seen the light of victory.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion sounded by the Huai River. The Shun army's artillery opened fire first. More than 40 cannons roared together, and the shells fell on the river like raindrops. The scene was spectacular and scary. However, the Ming navy was well prepared. The soldiers hid behind the side of the ship to avoid the sharp edge of the artillery fire. Those sides of the ship were thick and strong, and they were covered with iron sheets, like a solid fortress, guarding the soldiers inside.

Although the masts of several small warships were blown off and several holes were punched into the sides, the main force of the Ming army was basically fine. They were like a group of tenacious warriors, standing firm even in the face of a violent storm.

The Guoyi General Wu Ruyi, who was behind the flag, was the commander of the artillery camp. This was his first time commanding a shore-based navy, and he was both nervous and excited. However, when he saw that the Ming army had only suffered minor injuries, he felt something was wrong. He hurriedly shouted, "Release! Let the archers release their arrows!" There was a hint of panic and anxiety in his voice, as if he had sensed the impending disaster.

However, before the order was passed down, the Ming army had already begun to counterattack. Cannons, firearms, and rain of arrows flew over all at once, as dense as mosquitoes in summer. The Shun army's gunners were so scared that they hid behind makeshift bunkers and shields. They were like a group of helpless sheep, facing a ferocious wolf pack, and could only tremble.

But hiding became their final fate. As soon as the warships in front stopped firing, the warships behind followed up, firing continuously, and directly penetrated the Shun army's position. The Ming army's warships came one after another, with shells and arrows flying all over the sky. The Shun army's artillerymen were not wearing armor, and hiding behind the bunkers still couldn't block the deafening explosions and screams.

The whole army was frightened by this sudden attack. Wu Ruyi was also frightened and pale. He hid behind the chariot and stared blankly with his shield. His eyes revealed fear and despair, as if he had seen his own doom. For a long time, he couldn't think of an idea. He couldn't defend, let alone counterattack. He could only watch the Ming army's warships getting closer and closer...

"Alas, this battle is so frustrating!" Wu Ruyi's distress soon reached Jing Changhao's ears. Jing Changhao was about to mobilize infantry to counterattack when a scout came to report in a hurry: "Fifteen miles east of Sizhou City, two Ming troops with about 10,000 troops are approaching General Yan Tianlu's troops."

Jing Changhao became anxious when he heard this. Being attacked from both the north and south, the layout of the Ming army was too obvious! His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed anxiety and anger. He slammed the table and shouted, "Pass the order down, half of the central army will go to reinforce the mouth of the Huai River, and the other half will go to the north to support Yan Tianlu. The baggage camp will immediately retreat to Henan. Send a fast horse to report to the emperor that the Ming army is advancing by land and sea and is attacking Fengyang City!"

"Yes, sir!" The messenger left quickly. Jing Changhao calmed down a little, smiled and said to the soldiers around him: "Let's go and meet the Ming army in Sizhou." There was a hint of coldness and determination in his smile, as if he was ready for a fight to the death.

When Jing Changhao arrived at the east of Sizhou, he almost laughed out loud when he saw the battle situation. There is a Xuhong River in the east of Sizhou, which flows from northwest to southeast and finally merges into Hongze Lake. The more than 10,000 troops of the Ming army were stationed on the east side of the Xuhong River and the west side of Hongze Lake, surrounded by water on three sides, with only one passage in the north. This is simply a taboo in military strategy!

Jing Changhao asked Yan Tianlu with a smile: "Who is leading the Ming army on the opposite side?" Yan Tianlu replied with a smile: "It is the Grand Canal Admiral Zhu Guobi and the Vice Governor Pu Congshan." Jing Changhao snorted disdainfully: "There are only these two idiots. The Ming court is really out of people!"

Speaking of which, Zhu Guobi is not worthy of his reputation. His servants are good, but he saved King Zhou's life during the flood in Kaifeng, which is considered a bit of a credit. At other times, he is just mediocre. So Jing Changhao doesn't take them seriously at all. He asked Yan Tianlu how he planned to fight this battle.

Yan Tianlu was a burly man with a resolute face, but he seemed a little worried at the moment. He pondered for a moment and said, "I plan to defeat this Ming army within two days, and then continue to the west to support the emperor." There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

Jing Changhao said confidently: "The Ming army's navy is not good at field battles. It will take a long time for the infantry to reach Fengyang, but our cavalry can arrive within two days. If the Ming army dares to cross the river, we will attack them together with the Shun army on the south bank; if they don't cross the river, we will cut off their food supply and let them cause chaos on their own."

Yan Tianlu thought this was a good idea, so he took the order and went around to the north to block the Ming army's retreat. He also agreed with Jing Changhao to launch a general attack at midnight tomorrow night. Jing Changhao explained: "Although we can win by a surprise attack tonight, the Ming army will definitely strengthen their vigilance. We will exhaust them for a day and a night, and then we can attack them when they are tired, which will be much easier."

Yan Tianlu was so impressed that he immediately sent a small force to harass the enemy in preparation for the general attack tomorrow night. Jing Changhao personally deployed defenses along the river, vowing to wipe out the Ming army in one fell swoop and show the power of the Shun army! His eyes revealed determination and resoluteness, as if he had seen the scene of himself leading the army back in triumph. In this fierce battle, everyone fought for their own beliefs and ideals. Whether it was the Shun army or the Ming army, they were writing chapters of history with their lives.

At the Hongze Lake, the night was as dark as ink, the moonlight was thin, and in the camp, the flickering candlelight illuminated the tense faces of Zhu Guobi and his servant Shan. It was already late at night, and the chirping of crickets outside seemed to add a bit of noise to this restless night.

Zhu Guobi, a burly but worried general, frowned and looked uneasy. "Brother, do you think this guy Lu Daqi is deliberately trying to put us in danger?" He spoke with a bit of anxiety, and his fingers tapped the table unconsciously.

Servant Shan, a thin and alert staff, looked at Zhu Guobi carefully, with a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Brother Zhu, why do you say that?" He said in a calm voice, trying to calm Zhu Guobi's emotions.

Zhu Guobi dipped his finger in tea and drew the layout of Hongze Lake and Xuhong River, as well as the location of their camps on the table. The lines were messy, just like his mood at the moment. "Look, our camp is surrounded by water on three sides. If the enemy blocks the road to the north, we will have nowhere to retreat!" His voice was raised a few degrees, and he was obviously extremely uneasy about the current situation.

"That guy Jing Changhao is leading an army of 30,000. This is no joke!" Zhu Guobi's eyes widened as if he could see the surging enemy army. "30,000 troops, what a spectacular scene it would be! How can we resist them with our limited forces?"

After hearing this, the servant Shan raised a wry smile and joked, "Brother Zhu, do you want to describe them as 30,000 steamed buns?" He tried to use humor to ease the tense atmosphere.

Zhu Guobi stiffened his neck and said angrily: "We only have 10,000 soldiers and are clearly at a disadvantage. We can't win and we can't escape. We can only surrender or die for our country." There was a hint of despair in his voice.

Before he could finish his words, a scout ran in hurriedly, panting and sweating. "Oh no! The enemy suddenly appeared in Jieji Town, only ten miles away from here, and our retreat has been cut off!" His voice was filled with fear.

When Zhu Guobi heard this, his face changed drastically, as if he was struck by lightning. His servant Shan was also frightened and broke out in a cold sweat, but he was the governor after all, so he quickly calmed down and quickly ordered: "All troops should immediately strengthen their vigilance to prevent the enemy from attacking at night!" His voice was firm and powerful, trying to stabilize the morale of the army.

Zhu Guobi also echoed and began to scold Lu Daqi with fierce words, as if he wanted to pour out all his dissatisfaction and fear.

Just as he was cursing, another scout rushed in, saying in a hurry, "Sir! Governor Lu has sent an envoy!"

"Where is the person?" Zhu Guobi asked angrily, as if he wanted to vent all his anger on this messenger.

"We're coming ashore." The scout answered tremblingly, obviously frightened by Zhu Guobi's anger.

Zhu Guobi's anger subsided a little, and he realized that no matter what, now was not the time to get angry. He walked out of the tent, and the Hongze Lake in the night was like a huge mirror, reflecting the stars in the sky. He walked towards the shore in the breeze to greet the unknown messenger.

……

On the Huai River, Lü Daqi sat quietly in the boat, and Li Shiyuan accompanied him and offered him a cup of hot tea. The lights in the cabin flickered, reflecting on Lü Daqi's calm face. "Although Zhu Guobi and his servant Shan did not issue a military order, they have already followed the order and headed south." Li Shiyuan said worriedly.

Lu Daqi nodded, staring at the map in deep thought. He knew the importance of this battle and could not afford any mistakes. The lines and symbols on the map seemed to come alive, playing out a thrilling battle before his eyes.

Seeing that Lu Daqi didn't say anything, Li Shiyuan became even more worried: "Zhu Guobi and Pu Congshan are both mediocre people. How can they resist the 30,000 troops of Jing Changhao and Yan Tianlu?" There was some anxiety in his voice.

Lu Daqi smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a deep light. "I use inferior horses to fight superior horses to offset their advantages." His voice was calm and confident, as if everything was under his control.

Li Shiyuan suddenly realized, but was still confused: "Sir, aren't you putting them to death by doing this?" There was some confusion in his voice.

Lu Daqi shook his head, his eyes revealing a bit of mystery. "I have sent another team to rescue them." His voice was low and powerful, as if hiding endless wisdom.

Li Shiyuan thought about it and suddenly understood: "Could it be Admiral Caojiang Liu Kongzhao?" There was a hint of surprise in his voice.

Lu Daqi nodded approvingly: "You are a teachable boy. If we win this battle, I will recommend you to be the commander-in-chief of the navy of Huguang and Nanzhili." There was some expectation and encouragement in his voice.

Li Shiyuan was overjoyed and thanked him immediately. He knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and he must seize it.

……

On the night of April 16, the Ming army's scouts took a small boat and quietly entered Hongze Lake. Their figures were looming in the night, like a group of ghosts. Then, the Caojiang Navy led by Liu Kongzhao also followed. Although their combat effectiveness was average, the enemy's strength was weaker. The Dashun Navy was not well trained, and many people drowned in the water. The morale was low, and they could only hide at the river mouth and dared not come out.

The Ming army's boats headed directly to the northwest, where the fire was blazing. It was the camp of Zhu Guobi and his servant Shan. The two were eagerly waiting for rescue, and finally saw Liu Kongzhao's fleet coming. They were so happy that they almost jumped up. Their hearts were filled with hope and joy, as if they saw the dawn of victory.

Liu Kongzhao reported: "Cao Jiang's navy has arrived at Longji Town." His voice was firm and powerful, as if it brought endless confidence and courage to Zhu Guobi and his servant Shan.

Zhu Guobi held his hand tightly and said excitedly: "Let the boat dock quickly!" There was some trembling and anticipation in his voice.

Liu Kongzhao waved torches and directed the ships to dock. The Ming soldiers boarded the ships in an orderly manner. Once the ships were full, they set off immediately, and the empty ships behind continued to dock. After two hours of hard work, all 10,000 Ming soldiers boarded the ships. They took away all the food and supplies that could be taken away, and burned those that could not be taken away. The flames illuminated half of the sky, and the Shun army several miles away saw this scene.

Jing Changhao was horrified and shouted, "Chase them! We can't let them get away!" His voice was filled with anxiety and anger. But when they got closer, they found a deep trench in front of them with a wide surface of water, which was difficult to cross as a moat. By the time they built a pontoon bridge and cleared the obstacles, the Ming army had already fled without a trace. The fire was getting bigger and bigger and could not be controlled at all.

Jing Changhao looked at the looming boats on the lake and could only stamp his feet and sigh: "We have fallen into Lu Daqi's trap!" His voice was filled with helplessness and regret. Yan Tianlu hurriedly asked him what was going on, and Jing Changhao said angrily: "The thief Lu used 10,000 rabble to entangle our 30,000 elite soldiers. He must want to take this opportunity to attack Fengyang and save the emperor!" His voice was filled with resentment and unwillingness.

"Hurry up and pass the order! Have all the troops rush to Fengyang overnight!" Yan Tianlu hurriedly ordered, his voice filled with anxiety and tension. They knew that this was a life-and-death battle, and they had to go all out to save the situation.

April Showdown
On the night of April 17, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The silver moonlight sprinkled all over the earth, adding a bit of mystery to this quiet night. However, in this quietness, there was a storm coming.

Li Zicheng was preparing to practice martial arts before going to bed to relieve the stress of the day. He was wearing casual clothes, holding a long sword, dancing slowly in the tent, and the tip of the sword cut through the air, making a whistling sound. Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the tent, followed by an urgent report: "Your Majesty, General Zongmin has urgent military information!"

Li Zicheng frowned, and the sword in his hand stopped in mid-air. He gently woke up Gao Shi beside him, and sat upright on the chair in the middle, saying in a deep voice: "Hurry up and pass it on!"

General Zongmin's messenger hurried into the tent, knelt on the ground, and reported: "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty navy broke through our defense line and rushed from Hongze Lake to the Huai River, heading straight for Fengyang. The exact strength of the navy is unknown, but our infantry and cavalry combined are less than 2,000 people." The messenger paused and continued, "Also, in Sizhou, our army has surrounded more than 10,000 Ming troops and is planning to annihilate them before supporting Fengyang."

After listening to the report, Li Zicheng sat on the bedside and fell into deep thought. He kept wondering: How could the Ming Dynasty navy be so bold and go deep into the enemy's territory alone? Did they have some conspiracy? This question lingered in his mind for a long time. He looked up at the top of the tent, his eyes revealing deep worry.

In desperation, he summoned Nangong Shangpu and Cheng Minghe to discuss countermeasures. The two hurried into the tent and saw Li Zicheng's solemn expression, and knew that things were not going well.

Cheng Minghe thought for a moment and said, "I guess the Ming Dynasty wants to fight a decisive battle with us. Their navy is not for direct combat, but to build a floating bridge so that the troops on the north bank can smoothly cross to the south bank." He paused and said, "In this way, they can attack us from both north and south and trap us in Fengyang."

"Then what should we do?" Li Zicheng asked, his eyes revealing anxiety and uneasiness.

"We should send more scouts to the south bank and divide our forces to guard the crossing," Cheng Minghe replied. "There are only two thousand Ming infantry and cavalry on the south bank. If they dare to cross the river, we will attack them when they are halfway across and catch them off guard."

Li Zicheng nodded, thinking that this plan was feasible, so he passed the order down. He lay down again, ready to sleep, but his heart was still churning and he couldn't calm down. He closed his eyes, and his mind was full of battlefield scenes and the shouts of soldiers.

But the next morning, before dawn, Li Laiheng ran in hurriedly, breaking the tranquility of the early morning: "Your Majesty, it's bad! The Ming army in the north of Fengyang City has begun to gather!" His voice was filled with anxiety and panic.

Upon hearing this, Li Zicheng sat up suddenly and ordered hurriedly: "Pass the order down quickly, the Ming army has not yet gained a foothold, we can launch a surprise attack on them!" He quickly put on his armor and prepared to go out of the tent to meet the enemy.

Lai Heng sighed and said, "It's too late. The Ming army quietly set out last night and has already formed up its battle line." His eyes revealed helplessness and regret.

Li Zicheng was furious. He put on his armor and walked out, while ordering: "Behead all the soldiers responsible for reconnaissance in the north of the city! How could they be so careless!" His voice resounded throughout the tent, making everyone feel his anger and determination.

Lai Heng took a few steps back in fear, secretly surprised. He knew Li Zicheng's temper, and if he got angry, the consequences would be disastrous.

At this time, Ning Weize stepped forward and advised: "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is very hard for those scouts to spy on the enemy at night. It is understandable that they cannot see the situation clearly in the dark. I am afraid that killing the enemy generals will hurt the morale." His voice was filled with pleading and worry.

But Li Zicheng was already furious: "Behead them all! Don't spare any of them! They neglected their duties and put us in a passive position. They must be severely punished!" His voice was like thunder, shaking the entire tent.

Leghorn had no choice but to retreat and carry out the order. He walked out of the tent, secretly feeling sorry for the scouts. He knew that this battle would be a life-and-death struggle.

Li Zicheng ordered his personal soldiers again: "Inform all units to gather quickly and prepare to meet the enemy!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Not long after, another scout came in and reported: "Your Majesty, we found more than a thousand Ming army infantry and two hundred cavalry fifty miles east of the city. They are advancing towards us together with the navy." His voice was somewhat hurried and nervous.

Li Zicheng was shocked. The distance was too close. If the Ming army accelerated, they would arrive tonight! He muttered to himself: The Ming Dynasty wants to fight us to the death!
But he had already decided to fight, so he was not afraid. He put on his armor and walked out of the tent, secretly telling his personal soldiers: "Take my command arrow and go to Huainan to find Hao Yaoqi, ask him to cross the river to the north and find a chance to attack the enemy on the north bank." His eyes revealed deep strategy and determination. Then he gave another order: "Go to Liu Tichun's camp and ask him to quietly withdraw 5,000 troops and ambush in the east of the city." He knew that this battle would be a contest of wisdom and courage.

Finally, he pointed at a soldier and said, "You take the order to the east of the city and tell General Gu Kecheng to destroy the 1,200 Ming troops and prevent them from crossing the river." His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

After the deployment was completed, Li Zicheng rode on his horse and went to the north of the city to inspect the enemy situation. He knew that this battle would determine his fate and the future of the country.

I saw that more than 10,000 Ming troops had already lined up outside the moat and were waiting. Lu Jiude personally led the central army and observed the situation on our side with a telescope. Their flags fluttered in the wind, and their morale was high, as if they were ready for a decisive battle.

Li Zicheng also climbed to a high place and looked at the enemy camp. He saw that although the Ming army was in formation, they were not in a hurry to attack. Instead, they seemed to be resting. Their soldiers were sitting or lying, leisurely and contented, as if they did not care about the upcoming decisive battle.

Lai Heng analyzed from the side: "This must be a bluff, an attempt to tie down our troops." His eyes revealed some confusion and uneasiness.

"Go back to the camp! Send more scouts out to gather information! We must find out where the Ming Dynasty's reinforcements are!" Li Zicheng ordered. His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty. He knew that this battle would be a life-and-death contest, and he had to be fully prepared.

Soon after returning to the camp, the scouts brought news: "A large number of Ming troops have also gathered on the north bank of the Huai River, but their specific intentions are still unclear." Li Zicheng became even more anxious after hearing this. He knew that this battle would determine his fate and the future of the country. He had to come up with a countermeasure as soon as possible to deal with this upcoming decisive battle.

Li Zicheng hurried to the riverside and looked across the river with a telescope. He saw dense Ming troops on the other side and piles of materials for the floating bridge. They were obviously ready for a long-term battle. He was confused and worried about what the Ming Dynasty was going to do this time.

Our army also quickly assembled, and the atmosphere of preparation for war became increasingly tense. However, the Ming army never launched an attack, but instead rested leisurely as before. Li Zicheng became even more confused, and he didn't know what the Ming Dynasty was up to this time.

In desperation, he summoned Nangong Shangpu and Cheng Minghe again to discuss countermeasures. The two also felt very difficult and didn't know how to deal with the Ming Dynasty's action. There was no big movement from morning to night, and everyone thought there would be no battle today.

But just as night fell and everyone was a little relaxed, an urgent battle report from Gu Kecheng's troops suddenly came from the east of the city: "Report! General Gu led 2,000 elite troops to attack the Ming army on the south bank, but was defeated, with more than a thousand casualties!" The scout's voice was filled with anxiety and panic.

Li Zicheng stood up suddenly and shouted angrily: "Say it again!" His voice resounded throughout the tent, making everyone feel his anger and shock.

The scout repeated the battle report. Li Zicheng clenched his fists and asked angrily: "How could Gu's elite troops be defeated so badly? Did the navy join the battle?" His eyes revealed deep confusion and unwillingness.

"It's not the navy, it's not close to the shore, and the battlefield is far away from the Huai River." The scout replied.

"How many casualties did the Ming army suffer?" Li Zicheng asked.

"There are only more than a hundred people, led by General Liu Zhaoji." The scout replied.

Li Zicheng was even more confused, and he called his generals together again to discuss countermeasures. But until dark, no battle took place. He sat in the tent, frowning, full of doubts and uneasiness. He didn't know what the Ming Dynasty wanted to do this time, nor did he know how to deal with the upcoming decisive battle.

When night fell and everyone was exhausted, news of a battle suddenly came from the east of the city. Li Zicheng was shocked and angry, and felt that there must be a conspiracy, but he didn't know the details. He walked out of the tent and looked at the dark night sky, his heart full of anxiety and uneasiness. He knew that this battle would be a life-and-death contest, and he must be fully prepared to deal with all possible challenges.

During those years of war, the name Liu Zhaoji, like a sharp cold wind, pierced Li Zicheng's heart. He frowned, and the worries in his heart were like dark clouds pressing down on his head, heavy and breathless. Liu Zhaoji, a fierce general from Liaodong, a character who would fight to the death, his existence was undoubtedly a huge threat to Li Zicheng.

"Quick, find Gu Kecheng and have him lead 3,000 elite soldiers to meet the enemy. You must destroy them! If you fail, you will be punished by military law!" Li Zicheng gave the order, with an unquestionable determination in his voice. The voices of the crowd disappeared without a trace in an instant under this order. The sky gradually darkened, and the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on everyone's face, reflecting different expressions. Everyone went back to the camp to prepare, and the air was filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, it was April 19th. The morning sun shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the walls of Fengyang City. Ma Shiying was immersed in his sleep when he was suddenly awakened by a burst of hurried footsteps.

"Sir, there is a messenger outside the city!" There was a hint of anxiety in the voice of the personal soldier.

"Who is it?" Ma Shiying asked drowsily, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"It's Lord Lu's messenger."

Ma Shiying came to his senses immediately after hearing this. He quickly straightened his clothes and walked to the front hall. He saw a middle-aged man in blue clothes standing upright like a pine tree standing in the wind and rain, with a look of determination and courage in his eyes.

When the envoy saw Ma Shiying, he bowed deeply and said, "Greetings, Governor Ma."

"Who are you?" Ma Shiying asked, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"My name is Yu Tong. I'm here to deliver a message under the order of Governor-General Lu." The messenger's voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be carefully crafted.

"What letter?" Ma Shiying asked calmly, but a bad premonition had already risen in his heart.

It turned out that Lu Daqi had asked Ma Shiying to divide his troops into the east and north of the city on the 18th to fight the enemy in the field. But Ma Shiying only sent 10,000 troops to the north of the city, and withdrew after a short confrontation with the enemy. Yu Tong told all this, with a look of reproach and dissatisfaction in his eyes.

"Lord Lu is now on a navy ship 20 miles east of the city. Yesterday, you did not fight a field battle as planned to contain the enemy, which caused Lord Lu's entire plan to be messed up." Yu Tong said slowly, and every word seemed to hit Ma Shiying's heart.

"Now Lord Lu asked me to interrogate you about your crime." Yu Tong's voice suddenly rose a few notches, with an unquestionable majesty.

"Ask him?" Ma Shiying smiled, but his smile revealed a hint of helplessness and bitterness. "I wanted to ask him! The city has insufficient troops. If we lose the battle in the field, Fengyang will be finished, right? Can Lü Daqi take responsibility for this?"

Yu Tong asked in return: "If we defend the city, can we guarantee that Fengyang will not be lost?" His gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing Ma Shiying's heart.

"Of course! I have been defending for more than a month!" Ma Shiying said confidently, but a sense of uneasiness had already welled up in his heart. He knew that there was little food left in the city, and it could only last for two more days at most. If the soldiers mutinied and the city was destroyed and people died, it would only be a matter of time.

Yu Tong smiled slightly, but that smile revealed a hint of sarcasm and helplessness: "Then may I ask Governor Ma, how long will the food in the city last?"

When it comes to food, Ma Shiying fell silent. He stared blankly ahead, as if he had seen the tragic scene of the city being destroyed and people being killed. Seeing this, Yu Tong sighed. He knew that the opportunity to fight had been lost and this matter could not be reversed.

"The opportunity to fight has been lost, let's not talk about this matter for now. Lord Lu orders you to send troops tomorrow, otherwise Fengyang will not be able to be defended." There was a hint of anxiety and helplessness in Yu Tong's voice.

"But..." Ma Shiying wanted to argue a little more, but the reality forced him to shut up. He knew that he had no way out.

After a while, he asked, "When will the troops be dispatched tomorrow?"

"At the beginning of the 3:00 p.m. time, troops will be sent out from the north gate and the east gate at the same time." Yu Tong replied, with a hint of unquestionable majesty in his voice.

"Shenshi?" Ma Shiying's face froze. Shenshi is about 3 pm now. It would take half an hour to an hour to gather troops and set up battle array outside the city. It would be dark later. He knew that this would be a difficult battle.

"What happens next?" Ma Shiying asked again, with a hint of trembling in his voice.

"General Gao Jie will force his way across the Huai River and head south to attack Li Zicheng with you from both inside and outside." Yu Tong replied, his eyes revealing a firm belief.

"Is that all?" Ma Shiying asked, his voice no longer filled with the confidence he had before.

"Yes." Yu Tong answered, his eyes like a sharp sword, piercing Ma Shiying's heart.

"Okay, please go back and tell Lord Lu that I will obey your orders." Ma Shiying said helplessly. He knew that he had no way out and could only bite the bullet and face this difficult battle.

……

The next morning, when the sky was still pale, Gao Hong, the general of the Shun army, had already led 3,000 soldiers out of the east gate of the city to settle accounts with Liu Zhaoji. They stepped on the morning dew with firm and powerful steps, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

After walking fifteen miles, the scout came back and reported: "We have spotted the Ming army five miles ahead. It is the flag of Liu Zhaoji's troops."

Gao Hong asked cautiously, "Are there any other enemy troops nearby?" His eyes scanned the surroundings like a cheetah, trying to find any possible threats.

"No, they are camping by the pond, about two miles away from the bank of the Huai River." The scout replied, with a hint of excitement and anticipation in his voice.

Gao Hong was overjoyed when he heard this: "Great! The infantry will form a formation and advance, and the cavalry will retreat three miles away and wait for orders." There was an unquestionable majesty in his voice, as if he had already seen the dawn of victory.

As soon as the order was given, 3,000 Shun army soldiers immediately put on their armor and armed their weapons and quickly approached the pond. Their steps were firm and powerful, as if they had already seen the enemy ahead and smelled the scent of battle.

After Liu Zhaoji received the news, he quickly deployed his troops to prepare for the battle. He scanned the wheat fields ahead with sharp eyes, as if he had seen the upcoming battle. The wheat fields were rolling, and it looked like they would be ready for harvest in ten days or half a month. But now, this place would become a bloody battlefield.

The Shun army marched forward in two groups, the left and the right, through the wheat fields, but the mud in the wheat fields made it difficult for them to move forward. Every step forward took a lot of effort, and the soldiers pushing the carts were even more exhausted and panting. Their faces were covered with mud and sweat, but their eyes were still firm and powerful.

Just as they were about to leave the wheat field, the Ming army suddenly launched an attack. "Kill!" Hundreds of Ming soldiers rushed over with their chariots. Their chariots were like giant beasts, crushing the wheat field and rushing towards the Shun army. The Shun army was not to be outdone and bravely met the enemy. The two armies started a fierce battle beside the wheat field.

After several rounds of long-range attacks, the two sides began to engage in close combat. The Ming army's chariots were like giant beasts, rushing across the battlefield, but the Shun army's soldiers were like a tide, rushing towards the Ming army in waves. Before long, the Ming army could no longer resist and fled.

Gao Hong immediately ordered a pursuit, but he didn't expect that after less than ten steps, the deserters suddenly turned around and raised their spears to rush over again. Their faces were full of determination and bravery, as if they had forgotten life and death.

Gao Hong laughed and said, "Liu Zhaoji, is this all you have? Ma Shitai was defeated by this trick yesterday. How can I repeat the same mistake!" There was a sense of sarcasm and confidence in his voice, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

It turned out that the reason why Ma Shitai lost yesterday was because he did not expect the defeated army to counterattack. After the front army was blocked, the rear army was unaware of the situation and trampled on each other, and underestimated the enemy, which led to the great defeat. But Gao Hong would not make such a mistake. He quickly organized his soldiers to counterattack and tried to completely defeat the Ming army.

In the chaos of the battle, Liu Zhaoji personally led his family servants into the enemy camp. He led the way, rushing to the front, as if he had forgotten about life and death. His face was full of determination and bravery, as if he had seen the hope of victory.

The two armies clashed again, with firearms roaring, bows and crossbows raining down, spears flying, swords and shields interlaced, blood splattering, and the scene was extremely tragic. After being blocked, the Shun army quickly changed its formation and counterattacked, resisting the enemy head-on and outflanking on both wings, trying to surround the Ming army. But at this moment, dozens of Ming army flags suddenly stood up in the wheat fields on the left wing, and the sound of killing shook the sky.

"Kill! We must wipe out the bandits today!" The Ming army ambushed them everywhere, and the Shun army was immediately attacked from both sides, and their formation was in chaos. They never expected that there were ambushes here. Their faces were full of fear and anxiety, as if they had already seen the end of failure.

But the Shun army was an elite force after all, and they quickly stabilized after a little panic. They regrouped on the spot and prepared to organize a counterattack. Their eyes revealed a kind of determination and bravery, as if they had forgotten life and death.

Hand-to-hand combat was imminent. Without the cover of the chariots, the strengths and weaknesses of both sides were immediately revealed. The Ming army cooperated well, with two people in a group, spears stabbing the enemy and swords and shields finishing off the enemy, and the cooperation was seamless. Although the Shun army was also elite, it lacked tacit cooperation and mostly fought on their own, with spears waving wildly and swords and shields dodging, and they were killed instead of finishing off the enemy.

In a cold weapon battle, it was not easy to kill the enemy, most of them were just injured. The battle lasted for about a quarter of an hour, and the Shun army, which was outnumbered, began to collapse. The front army began to retreat, their faces full of fear and anxiety, as if they had already seen the end of failure.

Gao Hong was horrified when he saw this. He urged the front troops to continue charging while ordering the cavalry to join the battle. This was his trump card! He hoped to use the impact of the cavalry to break through the Ming army's defenses and turn the tide of the battle.

The sound of horse hooves rumbled from far away and got closer. (End of this chapter)