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

Chapter 341

Outside Fengyang City, it was noon, the sun was scorching, the earth was scorching, the heat was rolling, and even the air seemed to be burning. Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence, and a scout covered in dust and sweat rushed into Li Zicheng's tent. The news of Gao Hong's defeat was like a thunderclap, exploding in Li Zicheng's ears.

Li Zicheng was stunned for a moment, a trace of disbelief flashed in his eyes. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. He looked at the scout in front of him with half belief and half doubt, and his voice was a little trembling: "You, tell me again!" The scout lowered his head, sweat slid down his cheeks, and repeated: "This morning, General Gao Hong led 3,000 troops to the east of the city to fight Liu Zhaoji in the field, but he was defeated and suffered heavy losses."

"Liu Zhaoji only has 1,200 men, right?" Li Zicheng frowned, his tone full of disbelief. The scout replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, it is true."

Hearing this, Li Zicheng's body softened, as if all his strength had been drained away, and his eyes dimmed. He suddenly fell into a chair, his hands clenched into fists, veins popping out. After a long while, he sighed, his voice filled with helplessness and confusion: "What method did Liu Zhaoji use to defeat our elite troops twice?"

No one around dared to speak. They all understood the situation but dared not say it. The atmosphere was so depressing that it was suffocating.

At this time, the scenery outside Fengyang City also seemed particularly depressing. The sky was blue, but without a single cloud. The scorching sun was scorching the earth, and even the mountains in the distance seemed to have lost their color. Outside the tent, a few dead trees stood alone, their leaves had long been curled by the sun, and the occasional breeze brought waves of heat rather than coolness.

It was already afternoon when Gao Hong returned to the camp with the remaining troops. Gao Hong's face was pale, his clothes were torn and covered with dust, and his eyes were full of guilt and despair. Before he could ask for forgiveness, the Ming army on the north bank of the Huai River suddenly moved and gathered troops, ready to fight again. Before the Shun army could react, the Ming army in the city also went out, pouring out from the north gate and the east gate, lining up and waiting.

At the same time, the Huai River was also bustling with activity. The Ming army's navy sailed upstream, and the warships, like giant dragons, sailed directly to the north bank and parked steadily on the river. They also built a floating bridge, which was like a black ribbon, spanning the Huai River, looking both stable and majestic.

Li Zicheng received victory reports one after another, but he could not be happy at all. He felt confused: "Zongmin has not arrived yet. I am afraid this battle will be difficult for us to fight!" His eyes were full of anxiety and uneasiness, and his hands kept rubbing the corners of his clothes.

Cheng Minghe frowned and comforted him, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. It's getting dark, and fighting at night will not be good for us. The Ming army may be doing this just to scare us." Although his voice was calm, there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

"But..." Li Zicheng was still a little worried, "Why did the Ming army do this?" His heart was full of doubts and confusion.

Nangong Shangpu blinked and reminded, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten the actions of the Ming army yesterday?" There was some wisdom and calmness in his voice.

Li Zicheng thought about it and realized that the Ming army had indeed assembled early yesterday, but they had been in a confrontation all day without really fighting, and finally retreated. He couldn't help but feel uneasy, as if he had a premonition of something.

Not long after, the scouts came back to report: After leaving the city, the Ming army took a short break and then split into two groups, one heading north and the other heading east. It looked like a decisive battle was about to begin. Li Zicheng suddenly felt a sense of urgency, and he knew that this decisive battle was imminent.

Upon hearing this, Li Zicheng immediately ordered the deployment of troops. He said to Gu Kecheng's personal soldiers: "Let Gu Kecheng guard the east of the city and attack to lure the enemy. He can decide how to do it, but don't chase them!" There was a bit of determination and firmness in his voice. Then he said to Liu Tichun: "You guard the west of the city. There is nothing over there. Just hold it and don't let them get in." His eyes revealed his trust and expectation for Liu Tichun.

After arranging the others, Li Zicheng only left Sang Dongxu. He patted Sang Dongxu on the shoulder and said, "You and I will guard the north of the city together. You will be responsible for dealing with the Ming army outside the city, and I will be responsible for the enemies on the river bank." His voice was calm and composed, as if he had already arranged everything.

"The key to this battle lies in Zongmin's reinforcements. As long as we hold on and wait for the reinforcements to arrive, the Ming army will be defeated!" Li Zicheng said firmly. His eyes were full of confidence and determination, as if he had seen the hope of victory.

Sang Dongxu felt a great sense of responsibility. He bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. People like Ma Shiying are nothing to be afraid of. If I am defeated by them, I will commit suicide to thank Your Majesty!" There was a sense of determination and loyalty in his voice, as if he had already put his own life and death aside.

Li Zicheng patted his shoulder again, then turned and walked towards the river bank. His figure looked particularly firm and calm in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if he was ready to meet all challenges.

When they reached the river bank, the two armies had already been fighting. The Shun army's artillery roared continuously, firing at the Ming army ships on the river, trying to destroy their floating bridge foundation. But the Ming army ships were numerous, and when one sank, a new one came up, one after another. More than ten floating bridges were built on the entire ten-mile river surface. The floating bridges were like black dragons, spanning across the Huai River, looking both stable and majestic.

However, the Shun army's artillery fire gradually stopped, because the gun barrels were hot and the gunpowder was almost consumed, which was not enough to support a long artillery battle. Li Zicheng's eyes flashed with anxiety. He understood that this battle had entered a white-hot stage and every minute and every second was crucial.

Soon after, the Ming army's floating bridge was completed, the navy approached the shore, and the infantry began to land. "Boom!" With a loud noise, the cannon on the flagship issued an order, and the flag was waved, and the Ming army began to cross the river. Although the floating bridge was built temporarily, it was wide and flat, and people, horses, and carriages could pass easily. The soldiers of the Ming army rushed to the river bank like a tide, their eyes full of determination and resoluteness.

The first team of Ming troops charged quickly under the cover of chariots. The Shun army was well prepared, and the chariots were placed across the road to block their way. There was continuous artillery fire on the water, and the two sides were fighting fiercely. The Shun army relied on chariots and trenches for cover, while the Ming army was restricted by the riverside terrain and gradually fell into a disadvantage. Their attacks were repelled again and again, but they did not give up, but continued to charge.

Suddenly, a cannonball flew and hit a Ming warship. The waterline was hit, the warship instantly cracked, the river water rushed in, and the warship slowly sank. As the warship sank, a section of the pier of the floating bridge also lost its support, the floating bridge was broken, and the charging Ming army was also separated. Their offensive was immediately frustrated and fell into chaos.

"Kill!" The Shun army soldiers roared on the shore, but they did not pursue. They knew that now was not the time to pursue, they had to hold their positions and wait for reinforcements. The Ming army fell into chaos and retreated one after another. Many people fell into the water. The navy came to rescue them under the gunfire. Their eyes were full of fear and despair, as if they had seen the end of failure.

Seeing this, Li Shiyuan hurriedly ordered to build a pontoon bridge again, and Gao Jie also ordered to continue the attack. Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the repeated charge and counter-charge, and the blood dyed the surface of the Huai River red, and also dyed the soldiers' clothes red. Their eyes were full of hatred and determination, as if they wanted to pour all their strength into this battle.

In the north of the city, Ma Shiying met Sang Dongxu. Sang Dongxu had already formed a battle array in front of the trench, blocking Ma Shiying out. The trench was ten feet deep and two feet wide, making it difficult for men and horses to cross. It was like a natural barrier, guarding the Shun army's position.

"Sir, this trench is too deep, we can't get through!" The soldiers shouted anxiously. Their eyes were full of helplessness and anxiety, as if they had already seen the end of failure.

"No need to go over there, just wear them down." Sang Dongxu said calmly. His eyes revealed a kind of wisdom and calmness, as if he had seen through the essence of this battle.

"Wait? What does that mean?" the soldiers asked in confusion. They were full of doubts and puzzlement, not understanding why they chose this seemingly passive tactic.

"Lü Daqi asked me to go out of the city to fight in the field in order to contain us. Now our goal has been achieved." Sang Dongxu explained. His voice was full of confidence and calmness, as if he had seen the hope of victory. "As long as we hold our ground and wait for reinforcements to arrive, we will definitely be able to defeat the Ming army!" His eyes were full of confidence and determination, as if he had seen the future victory.

At the east end of Fengyang City, the sun was shining so fiercely that it seemed to burn the earth to a crisp. Dust was dancing in the heat wave, and the air was filled with a restless atmosphere.

Gu Kecheng rode on a tall horse, anxiously waiting for the news from the scouts. His mood was just like the weather, so hot that it was unbearable. He secretly swore: I must destroy that kid Liu Zhaoji on the battlefield today! This guy is too rampant. He first defeated two thousand of us, and then killed our three thousand troops. Five thousand against one thousand and two hundred, not only did we not win, but we also suffered a great defeat. If this gets out, where will I, the general Guoyi of the vanguard battalion, put my face? The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His face turned ashen, and his hands clenched into fists, as if he wanted to condense all his anger into them.

"Report!" The scouts came rushing over like the wind, their horses' hooves raising high clouds of dust, breaking the depressing silence.

"General, there is a town called Linhuai fifteen miles east of the city. We have discovered that Liu Zhaoji's gang is setting up their battle array on the banks of the Huai River. There are also Ming army's navy building a pontoon bridge on the water. It seems that they are trying to cross the river." The scout's voice was hurried and nervous, as if he also felt the urgency of the battle.

Cross the river? Gu Kecheng's face changed immediately when he heard this. His brows knitted, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself: Who in the Ming army wants to cross the river? Gao Jie and Liu Liangzuo on the north bank are fighting with us in the north of the city, so where would they send troops to cross the river? There must be something fishy here. He glanced at the scout, his eyes revealing a kind of distrust and vigilance.

To be on the safe side, Gu Kecheng decided to split his troops into two groups. He gave the order in a deep voice: "Pass the order down. I will personally lead 5,000 cavalrymen to scout the enemy situation. The remaining 10,000 people will guard the camp and are not allowed to go anywhere!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

As the army set out on the march, Gu Kecheng repeatedly reminded his generals: "We must not repeat the same mistake this time. We must take advantage of our cavalry and harass them more. Don't just think about charging at every turn." His eyes revealed a kind of wisdom and calmness, as if he had seen through the essence of this battle.

"Yes, General!" the generals responded in unison, their voices revealing a firmness and determination, as if they were ready to face all challenges.

The five thousand cavalrymen arrived near Linhuai Town in the blink of an eye and stopped by the pond. Gu Kecheng gave the order: "Feed the horses with water and take a rest!" Then he climbed up the high slope and looked into the distance with a telescope. This sight made him so angry that his face turned blue and purple like an eggplant.

"General, what's wrong with you?" A personal soldier came up and asked, his eyes full of confusion and puzzlement.

"Look for yourself!" Gu Kecheng threw the telescope to his personal soldier, "Look how arrogant Liu Zhaoji is!" His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if he wanted to vent all his anger.

The personal soldier took the telescope and saw that there were only a dozen people strolling outside from Liu Zhaoji's side, and the others were helping the navy unload food. The food piled up like a small mountain, at least dozens of stones. He was shocked and didn't know what to say. This is obviously a provocation! Gu Kecheng regretted not bringing infantry and siege equipment, otherwise he would have arrested Liu Zhaoji. But his heart was also full of doubts and confusion: What on earth does Liu Zhaoji want to do? Why is he so arrogant? Does he have any conspiracy?

Gu Kecheng was thinking about it when Liu Zhaoji also spotted them. He stood on a high slope, holding a telescope in his hand, carefully observing Gu Kecheng's army. His eyes revealed a calm and wise look, as if he had seen through Gu Kecheng's mind.

"How far is the enemy? How many soldiers are there?" Liu Zhaoji asked the sentry beside him. His voice was calm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

The sentry on the high ground looked through a telescope and replied, "About two miles, there are about four to five thousand cavalry." There was a hint of nervousness and uneasiness in his voice, as if he had already felt the urgency of the battle.

"Are they all cavalry?" Liu Zhaoji knew the elite troops were coming. A trace of doubt and vigilance flashed in his eyes, as if he had foreseen the difficulty of this battle.

"What do they want to do? Do they want to fight?" He asked the sentry again, with some urgency and anxiety in his voice. He knew that this battle was of vital importance to him and he had to win.

The sentry smacked his lips and said, "It's hard to say. It looks like he wants to fight but doesn't dare to." There was some uncertainty and confusion in his voice, as if he couldn't understand Gu Kecheng's thoughts.

"If you want to fight, then fight!" Liu Zhaoji waved his hand, "Everyone get ready and wait for them!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty and determination. He knew that this battle was an opportunity for him, an opportunity to prove himself. He must seize this opportunity and win.

The navy members were stunned when they heard this. A lieutenant asked, "Admiral Liu, what about us?" There was some doubt and uneasiness in his voice, as if he had already foreseen his fate.

"We will fight!" Liu Zhaoji answered straightforwardly. His eyes revealed a kind of firmness and determination, as if he was ready to face all challenges. "Our goal is not only to defend this position, but also to defeat Gu Kecheng and prove our strength!" His voice was passionate and powerful, inspiring the fighting spirit and confidence of the navy soldiers.

"What about the food?" the lieutenant asked again, with a hint of anxiety and worry in his voice. He knew that the food was vital to them and was the basis for their survival and fighting.

"That's your business, I don't care!" After saying that, Liu Zhaoji walked towards the chariot. His figure appeared particularly firm and calm in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if he was ready to face all challenges. He understood that this battle was a test for him, a test to prove himself. He had to win to prove his strength and value.

Soon, 850 infantrymen and 180 cavalrymen were assembled. They were ready to go, waiting for Liu Zhaoji's order with high morale. Liu Zhaoji looked at them, and a surge of lofty sentiments and ambitions surged in his heart. He knew that these soldiers were his brothers, they had experienced life and death together, and fought together countless times. Today, they fought side by side again, fighting for a common victory!
"Let's go!" Liu Zhaoji gave the order, and the soldiers responded one after another. They rushed towards Gu Kecheng's army like a tide and launched a fierce attack. Their figures shuttled across the battlefield and engaged in a fierce fight with Gu Kecheng's army.

Gu Kecheng was stunned when he saw this. He asked in surprise: "This guy uses more than a thousand people to attack my five thousand people? Not only does he not defend, but he also takes the initiative to attack? He is so bold!" His heart was full of doubts and puzzlement. He didn't understand why Liu Zhaoji did this. Did he have some conspiracy?

The general next to him reminded: "General, Liu Zhaoji does not use common sense when deploying troops, so we'd better be careful." There was a bit of vigilance and worry in his voice, as if he had already anticipated the difficulty of this battle.

Gu Kecheng got angry when he heard this: "What did you say?" His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if he wanted to vent all his anger. "I have 5,000 cavalry in my hands, will he still attack me? If I retreat, will I still have the face to be a general?" His heart was full of confidence and pride, and he did not believe that Liu Zhaoji could defeat him. "But..." The general wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Gu Kecheng.

"Stop talking! Pass the order to surround them and drown them with a rain of arrows!" Gu Kecheng ordered angrily. His voice was full of murderous intent and determination, as if he wanted to destroy all the enemies under the rain of arrows.

The horses neighed and their hooves roared. Five thousand cavalrymen rushed towards Liu Zhaoji like a tide, their figures forming a black torrent on the battlefield, as if to swallow everything.

Liu Zhaoji used the same trick again. The cavalry dispersed and the infantry gathered together, with their backs against the pond and the chariots surrounding them for protection. They formed a solid formation, ready to meet Gu Kecheng's attack. Their eyes revealed a kind of firmness and determination, as if they were ready to meet all challenges.

Gu Kecheng sent more than a thousand cavalrymen to chase the enemy cavalry, and the rest surrounded Liu Zhaoji. Arrows rained down, and the two sides were engaged in a fierce battle. The battlefield was full of swords and blood, and the shouts of soldiers and the neighing of horses intertwined, forming a tragic scene.

The sun was about to set, and Liu Zhaoji was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. He looked at the north bank of the Huai River from time to time. He knew that this was not the main battlefield, and the real battle was still in the north. His heart was full of anxiety and worry. He didn't understand why Gu Kecheng appeared here, and he didn't know what the situation was like on the north bank. He could only pray silently, hoping that the army on the north bank could withstand the pressure and persevere until the final victory.

……

At the same time, deafening shouts and cries of killing were heard from the north bank of the Huai River. When Jing Changhao's troops arrived, they saw that the Ming army was crossing the river and immediately launched an attack from behind. Gao Jie saw that he was attacked from both sides and hurriedly looked towards his boat. Lu Daqi walked out of the boat awning, with his hands behind his back, looking north. His eyes revealed a kind of wisdom and calmness, as if he had seen through the essence of this battle.

"Report!" The scout came running to report, "Governor, Jing Changhao's troops attacked our rear camp, broke through the baggage camp, and are approaching General Gao's central army." There was a hint of anxiety and uneasiness in his voice, as if he had already felt the urgency of the battle.

"How many of them are there?" Lu Daqi asked. His voice was calm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

"There are so many people that it's hard to estimate." The scout replied, with some uncertainty and worry in his voice. He knew that this battle was crucial for them and they had to win.

Lu Daqi nodded and said to Gao Jie, "The time has come, let's raise the signal fire!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty and determination. He knew that this battle was an opportunity for them, an opportunity to prove themselves. They must seize this opportunity and win.

Gao Jie heaved a sigh of relief and ordered the firewood on the shore to be lit. The dry grass ignited the firewood, and the wet firewood emitted white smoke. The wolf smoke rose, conveying an urgent signal. In fact, the wolf smoke was not burned with wolf dung, but with various firewood.

On the north bank of the Huai River, thick smoke billowed up into the sky, covering the sky tightly, as if a huge black hand was strangling the throat of the earth. Under this smoke that covered the sky, the Ming army and the Shun army were fighting fiercely, with swords flashing and blood flying everywhere.

Jing Changhao's troops suddenly appeared behind Gao Jie's central army like ghosts. They were dressed in black, with grim faces and bloodthirsty eyes. When they saw the enemy was busy crossing the river, they immediately launched a fierce attack, sweeping in like a storm. Gao Jie's front army was blocked, and the central army was also attacked. The 30,000-strong army was suddenly in chaos, like a pot of boiling water.

"Hold your ground, don't panic!" Gao Jie galloped past on his horse, his figure tall and mighty, like an unshakable mountain. Behind him followed soldiers holding flags, the flags fluttering in the wind, as if they were the call of the god of war. Gao Jie shouted loudly, his voice penetrating the noisy battlefield and reaching the ears of every soldier.

"The front troops stop crossing the river first, the central troops hold their positions and keep the enemy out!" Gao Jie's order was concise and clear, but full of unquestionable power. When the soldiers heard his voice, they seemed to have found their backbone, and they stabilized their positions and prepared for the upcoming battle.

People like to gather together. Both psychologically and physically, they need a leader to lead them. With a leader, everyone has a backbone, and the team will not be in chaos. On the contrary, if there is a problem with the leader, the team will be like a headless dragon and will easily collapse. This truth is even more obvious when two armies are fighting. Once the commander makes a mistake, the entire battle is likely to fail. Gao Jie, as the commander of the entire army, is this backbone. He personally carried the flag of the central army and galloped in the army. The flag fluttered in the wind, as if it was the flag of the god of war. When the soldiers saw him, they felt at ease, as if they saw the dawn of victory.

"The general is here, don't run, pick up your weapons and fight back!" A soldier shouted loudly, his voice full of determination and courage. Other soldiers responded one after another, they picked up their weapons and bravely rushed towards Jing Changhao's troops. The two sides launched a fierce battle, the scene was horrible, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the flashes of swords and shadows intertwined into a web of death.

On the south bank of the Huai River, the Shun army generals saw the chaos in the rear of the Ming army and knew that there was an opportunity, so they immediately commanded the army to attack the north bank along the pontoon bridge. They surged like a tide, unstoppable. Under their impact, the Ming army's defense line was shaky and seemed to collapse at any time.

"The bandits are counterattacking, quickly dismantle the pontoon bridge, don't let them get through!" A Ming army general shouted anxiously, his voice full of tension and panic. However, it was too late, the Shun army's offensive was like a storm, and they could no longer stop it.

"We have to fight quickly and decisively!" Another Ming army general gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with determination. He knew that this was a battle of life and death, and they had to fight with all their might, otherwise they would be wiped out.

"Kill!" The soldiers of the Ming army shouted loudly, and they bravely rushed towards the Shun army. The two sides launched a fierce battle, and the scene was extremely tragic. However, although the Ming army was a little confused for a while, because Gao Jie was there, it did not completely collapse, but just fell into a bitter battle.

At this time, Li Shiyuan ordered the navy: "Drive the bandits off the pontoon bridge, but don't destroy it." His voice was calm and firm, as if everything was under his control. The navy soldiers responded one after another, they drove their warships towards the pontoon bridge and started a fierce battle with the Shun army.

Lu Daqi sat in the boat awning, silent. His eyes were deep and complex, as if filled with endless worries and thoughts. The situation before him was beyond his control, and he could only wait and see, waiting for the right time to come. He knew that this was a battle of life and death, and he had to stay calm and clear-headed.

On the battlefield east of the city, the battle between Gu Kecheng and Liu Zhaoji also entered a white-hot stage. Gu Kecheng's light cavalry faced Liu Zhaoji's infantry formation, and for a while they could not find a way to break through the formation. The infantry had spears, swords and shields, firearms, and bows and crossbows, and they formed an indestructible line of defense. The cavalry only had sabers and bows and crossbows, and were obviously at a disadvantage. They could not break through the infantry's defense line and could only be pressed step by step.

Gu Kecheng was extremely anxious. He knew that if he could not break through Liu Zhaoji's defense line as soon as possible, his troops would be in a passive position. He could only surround Liu Zhaoji and suppress him with bows and arrows. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, but the Shun army was more numerous and powerful, and Liu Zhaoji's troops gradually fell into danger. Their defense line was shaky under the attack of the Shun army, as if it would collapse at any time.

However, at this critical moment, a scout reported: "More than 10,000 Ming troops were found in the east of the city, and they were heading south to bypass the trenches and attempt to attack our camp." Gu Kecheng was anxious when he heard this, because he knew that if the camp was attacked, his troops would be in a more passive situation. He immediately asked: "Who led the troops?" The scout replied: "The flag is Lu Jiude."

Gu Kecheng's heart sank. Although Lu Jiude was a military supervisor, he was also very good at leading troops in battles and had defeated Cao Cao and other rebel forces. He knew that this sneak attack would not be so easy to deal with. He immediately ordered: "Pass the order down, the troops in the east of the city will be divided into two teams, one team will guard the camp, and the other team will confront the Ming army along the trench and see how they act!" Then he said to the generals around him: "After I kill Liu Zhaoji, I will go back to support immediately!"

After giving the order, Gu Kecheng looked west. He saw thick smoke billowing in the northwest, and he became suspicious: "What's going on over there?" The scout replied: "Our army is fighting with the Ming army on the Huai River, and the smoke may be a fire on the floating bridge or warships." However, Gu Kecheng shook his head: "No, the smoke from the warships and floating bridges is not so high and thick. This is a signal smoke, and the emperor may be in danger!"

Everyone was puzzled when they heard this, and they all looked at the billowing smoke. Under the setting sun, the smoke was like a dark cloud pressing down on the sky, and the sky and the earth changed color. Gu Kecheng was extremely anxious. He knew that if the emperor was really in danger, the entire battle situation would be affected. He immediately made a decision: "Go back to help!" Then he said to the generals around him: "General, Liu Zhaoji is dying. But we can't take care of it. The wolf smoke has sent a message that the emperor is in danger." After that, Gu Kecheng rode away from the battlefield first. Seeing this, the Shun army also gave up attacking Liu Zhaoji and followed Gu Kecheng to evacuate. The battlefield became quiet for a while.

Liu Zhaoji pulled out an arrow from his shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes flashed with fatigue and relief. He knew that although they were at a disadvantage in this battle, they finally persevered. He looked at the thick smoke and the retreating Shun army in the distance, his heart full of doubts and worries. He didn't know what would happen next, but he knew that they had to be prepared to meet the upcoming challenges.

"Commander-in-chief, should we give chase?" the soldier asked. His eyes were full of anticipation and anxiety, as if he hoped Liu Zhaoji could give a clear answer.

However, Liu Zhaoji spat: "Pursuit will only lead to the annihilation of the whole army." His voice was calm and firm, as if he had already made a decision. He knew that although the Shun army had evacuated the battlefield, their strength was still strong. If he blindly pursued, he would probably fall into their ambush and be wiped out.

"Then what should we do?" the soldier asked anxiously. His eyes flashed with confusion and anxiety, as if he hoped Liu Zhaoji could show him a way out.

Liu Zhaoji looked toward the Huai River in the north and pondered. His eyes were deep and complex, as if they contained endless worries and thoughts. He knew that they had to wait for reinforcements to have a chance to turn the tide of the war. So he said firmly: "Wait for reinforcements."

All the generals were puzzled: "Where are the reinforcements?" They all looked at Liu Zhaoji, hoping that he could give a clear answer.

However, Liu Zhaoji did not answer their questions. He just took a sip of water and said firmly: "There are many reinforcements. Liu Kongzhao, Pu Congshan, Zhu Guobi and others will come to rescue." His voice was full of confidence and determination, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the warships going upstream and landing five miles east of the city. The Ming army's infantry quickly landed and assembled into a formation, charging towards the east gate of Fengyang. Their figures surged like a tide, unstoppable. The Shun army in the east of the city was fighting fiercely with Lu Jiude's troops, and was suddenly attacked by the Ming army. What they didn't expect was that the Ming army actually made a device that could cross the trench - a wooden board like a seesaw, which was placed on the trench, allowing people and horses to pass easily.

Gu Kecheng had a slight advantage in the battle with Lu Jiude, because he had more troops and Liu Tichun's 5,000 elite soldiers to help him. After several consecutive charges, Lu Jiude's troops seemed to be unable to hold on. However, just as Gu Kecheng was preparing to attack with his entire army, he suddenly heard shouts of killing behind him. He looked back and saw the Ming army's flags flying, the blue sky, the red sun, and the white moon shining together, and the morale was high. Lu Jiude raised the flag and shouted: "Kill the bandits and serve the country today!" The Ming soldiers shouted in response to his call, and they bravely rushed towards the Shun army. Under the pincer attack from both sides, Gu Kecheng's troops finally collapsed. He angrily led the cavalry away from the battlefield and headed straight to the north of the city to find Li Zicheng.

The battle situation in the north of the city was even more complicated. Gu Kecheng was surprised to find that the Ming army did not cross the river but counterattacked Jing Changhao's troops. He panted and reported to Li Zicheng: "Your Majesty, I was defeated by the Ming army." Li Zicheng was shocked: "Where did the Ming army come from?" Gu Kecheng replied: "The banner is Liu Kongzhao, Pu Congshan, Zhu Guobi and others." Li Zicheng was confused: "Didn't Zongmin say that they had been wiped out? Why are they here again now?" Gu Kecheng explained: "I don't know either. There is Lu Jiude in front and Pu Congshan and others in the back. In order to preserve my strength, I can only retreat first. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Li Zicheng had no time to blame him. At this moment, he was more worried about the situation on the north bank of the Huai River. There, the sound of killing was deafening. Jing Changhao might

In the vast twilight, the army led by Jing Changhao was like a lost beast, accidentally stepping into the trap carefully set by the Ming army. Lu Daqi, a general who was well versed in military tactics and meticulous, had already calculated Jing Changhao's every move. His army was like an invisible giant net, quietly and tightly wrapping Jing Changhao's troops.

In order to lift the siege of Fengyang, Lu Daqi first sent his navy down the mountain like a tiger, breaking through the mouth of the Huai River in one fell swoop. The surging river seemed to be singing for the victory of the Ming army. Then, he cleverly used his servants Shan and Zhu Guobi as bait, letting the two lead their troops to the south in a big way. On the surface, it seemed like a delicious meal delivered to the door, but in fact it was just a speck of dust in the overall situation, with little impact on the overall situation.

The two "bait" soldiers, Congshan and Zhu Guobi, led an elite division and pretended to flee in panic. Their figures stretched out in the sunset, like two desperate shadows, but they cleverly diverted the enemy's attention and bought precious time for the real army. Behind this, the real main force quietly moved along the edge of the river west. Their steps were steady and powerful, like a cheetah ready to attack, quietly waiting for the best time to attack. This move made the enemy confused and chaotic for a whole day.

As night fell, Lu Daqi's chess game made another crucial move. He ordered Liu Kongzhao to lead the navy to quietly pick up his servants Shan and Zhu Guobi like a ghost. This move undoubtedly added fuel to the fire of Jing Changhao, who was already in a state of panic. When the news came, Jing Changhao's face instantly became gloomier than the night sky. He never thought that he would fall into the enemy's trap so easily. Fear and unwillingness intertwined in his heart, but he knew that at this moment, only by fighting to the death could he have a glimmer of hope.

So, Jing Changhao led the exhausted army, like a group of trapped beasts forced into a desperate situation, and rushed towards the outskirts of Fengyang. Under the moonlight, Gao Jie's troops were crossing the river, and their figures swayed on the river, like the silhouettes of the god of death. Jing Changhao did not hesitate at all and rushed directly into this unknown battle of life and death.

However, is Lü Daqi an easy man? He had already laid a net on the north bank of the Huai River. Gao Jie's 31,000 men were holding the river bank like a rock, Liu Liangzuo's 10,000 men were ready to go ten miles to the west, Li Jiyu's 10,000 men were hiding in the deep forests in the northeast, like a lurking cheetah, and Wang Zhigang's 10,000 men were stationed in the vast fields in the north, ready to give the enemy a fatal blow at any time. Lü Daqi knew Jing Changhao's character well and expected that he would choose the west as a breakthrough point, so he deliberately asked Li Jiyu to move forward quickly and prepare for a wonderful siege. This is the strategy of "siege and attack", once Jing Changhao falls into the trap, the four armies will launch at the same time to attack the south bank of the river. At that time, smoke will rise everywhere, and all the troops will gather at Gao Jie's place, forming an unstoppable force.

However, the report from the scouts was like a heavy hammer, hitting Jing Changhao's heart hard. The Ming army was everywhere, and Gao Jie's counterattack was like a storm, making Jing Changhao's army unable to resist. His face was so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip out, and his heart was filled with resentment and anger. He never thought that he would be surrounded by the enemy so easily.

"Pass the order, break out to the west!" Jing Changhao's voice was like thunder, resounding throughout the military camp. To the west were Huainan and Fuyang, their only escape route. Huainan was the territory of the Shun army, and supplies might still be able to keep up; and although Fuyang was still in the hands of the Ming army, the garrison had already evacuated, so it was relatively easier to capture.

However, the Shun army was in complete disarray at this moment. The cavalry ran like crazy, while the infantry surrendered one after another. Gao Jie led the Ming army in pursuit, and Liu Liangzuo also hurriedly reorganized the army and formed a horizontal formation to try to block Jing Changhao's way. However, before the formation was ready, Jing Changhao's cavalry rushed over like a gust of wind, with arrows raining down and sabers waving. Although the Ming army fought desperately, the battlefield was in chaos.

Jing Changhao led a few bannermen and tried his best to break through the enemy formation and escape. However, his cavalry was almost wiped out. He looked back at the battlefield, his heart was broken. Most of the elite troops had been killed, and his heart was filled with grief and despair. He hurriedly ordered his personal soldiers to go to the south bank of the river to report: "Hurry up and tell the emperor that we have been defeated. Please withdraw your troops quickly!"

At this time, the battle on the south bank of the Huai River had just begun. Gao Jie sent cavalry to pursue the fleeing Shun army, and then gathered infantry and the troops of Li Jiyu and Wang Zhigang, a total of 45,000 people, to prepare to cross the river. The warships and pontoon bridges were packed with people, rushing to the south bank like a tide.

Lu Jiude, his servant Shan, Zhu Guobi in the east of the city, and Ma Shiying in the west of the city all mobilized their troops to attack the Shun army in the north of the city. Hao Yaoqi, Nangong Shangpu, Cheng Minghe and others all persuaded Li Zicheng to withdraw his troops quickly, saying that it was late at night and the offensive of the Ming army had eased a little, so they should take the opportunity to retreat to Huainan.

However, Li Zicheng looked as pale as if struck by lightning. He simply could not accept the fact of this tragic defeat. After besieging Fengyang for more than a month, he had hoped to win a great victory like the one he had in Zhuxian Town, but ended up losing so miserably. His heart was filled with resentment and anger, but more of it was helplessness and despair.

At this moment, a strange scout suddenly broke into the tent. Under the firelight, he knelt on one knee and said to Li Zicheng anxiously: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from Nanyang!" This urgent report was like a bolt from the blue, and Li Zicheng's heart sank to the bottom of the valley in an instant. He knew very well that once the situation in Nanyang got out of control, the entire battle would be in an irreversible situation. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails dug deep into the flesh, but he seemed to feel no pain. He had only one thought in his mind: No matter what, he must defend Nanyang, otherwise, everything would come to nothing.

(End of this chapter)