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

In the vast land of Liaodong, the Liaodong cavalry trained by Li Chengliang was like an unstoppable gale, making the Mongolian and Jurchen tribes fear them. The reason behind this is a long story, but it is also full of legends.

First of all, Li Chengliang was a man who was willing to spend money. He knew very well that the soldiers fought bloody battles for the military pay and glory. Therefore, he would especially select the best soldiers in the army, cater to their preferences, and give them generous pensions. Whether it was the soldiers' food, clothing, housing, transportation, or those trivial daily necessities, such as clothes, quilts, food, oil and salt, he arranged them very thoughtfully. Even for those soldiers who had not yet married, he personally helped to arrange the marriage, and prepared the betrothal gifts and houses one by one, so that the soldiers could feel the warmth of home. Every month, he would pay the soldiers double the military pay, and there would be an additional bonus at the end of the year. With such treatment, how could the soldiers not be grateful and serve to the death?

In his army, there were many fathers and sons in the same barracks. How could such a team not be strong in combat? At that time, the soldiers felt that Li Chengliang's kindness to them was deeper than that of their own parents, so how could they not fight to the death for him? Even Nurhaci, who later became Li Chengliang's subordinate, was well aware of the might of this army. Therefore, three years after Li Chengliang's death, he dared to launch the "Seven Great Hates" and started an army.

Secondly, Li Chengliang's generals were good role models who led by example. Every time they fought, they rushed to the front and fought side by side with the soldiers. How could the soldiers not fight like this? They knew that only by fighting bravely could they keep this rare wealth and glory.

Furthermore, the tactics of the Liaodong Iron Cavalry were quite sophisticated. When they encountered the enemy, as long as the difference in strength was not too great, they would definitely divide their troops to fight. They would either block the enemy head-on, attack from behind, or sneak into the enemy camp. They were also good at long-distance raids, surprise attacks, and night raids, and they used various tactics to perfection. The combination of brave soldiers, clever tactics, and brave generals made them an invincible army that was invincible and invincible.

However, the Liaodong Iron Cavalry also had shortcomings, that is, siege warfare was not their strong point, and their firearms were not as advanced as those of the southern army. In the battles of the Liaodong Iron Cavalry in Korea during the Wanli period, most of the soldiers used bows and arrows and magpie swords, and the main firearms were three-eyed guns and bird guns. And those masters who operated artillery and Portuguese guns were all from the southern army, such as the Qi Family Army and the White Pole Soldiers. When it came to siege, the Liaodong Iron Cavalry did not seem so brave. But this did not affect their majesty in the field. On the Korean battlefield, the might of the Liaodong Iron Cavalry made the famous Japanese general Kato Kiyomasa sigh.

……

At this moment, in the wilderness northeast of Luoshan County, Li Shunzu, the vanguard of the Ming army, was conducting the final pre-war mobilization. Most of his troops were new recruits, and only the generals were veterans. The new recruits must have been very nervous as it was their first time on the battlefield. But Li Shunzu's words aroused their fighting spirit.

"We raise soldiers for a thousand days and use them for a moment! This battle is not only for ourselves, but also for honor and for the Ming Dynasty!" He shouted loudly, and his voice echoed in the wilderness.

"Remember, we can only win this battle, not lose!" His words were firm and resolute.

"When the flag is waved, anyone who dares not charge will be beheaded in public and his family will be exiled!" Although his words were harsh, they made the soldiers feel his determination and courage.

Li Shunzu's words did not frighten the soldiers, but aroused their fighting spirit. In fact, the soldiers had been holding back their energy and waiting for this moment. They waved their weapons and shouted loudly: "The Ming army is mighty!"

"The Ming army is mighty!" Two thousand soldiers responded in unison, their voices shaking the earth. Their eyes flashed with determination, as if they were ready for a fight to the death.

Li Shunzu waved his flag, and the bird-gun cavalry on the right wing rushed out first. With the sound of horse hooves and the flying dust, they quickly approached the Dashi Army's position like an unstoppable gale.

Seeing this, the Dashi Army led by Sun Kewang also prepared for battle. Although they were numerous, their equipment and morale were inferior to those of the Ming Army. At this moment, they could only hold their weapons tightly and wait for the upcoming decisive battle.

The bird-gun cavalry quickly approached the Dashi Army and stopped a mile away. The two sides confronted each other. The air was filled with tension, as if even breathing had become difficult.

At this time, Li Shunzu personally led the left wing cavalry to go around Sun Kewang's right wing and rushed straight to his rear. They were like a sharp knife, piercing into the position of the Dashi Army.

"Not good!" Sun Kewang was horrified. He had originally planned to use infantry to contain the Ming cavalry, and then fight them with cavalry when they were exhausted. He did not expect the Ming army to be so bold and go deep into the hinterland to actively seek a fight.

He immediately realized that this decisive battle was inevitable. He could only grit his teeth and order his soldiers to fight to the death.

The cavalry of the two armies soon clashed. The Ming army formed a horizontal array and advanced forward. When they were fifty steps away, the bowstrings sounded and arrows rained down. Bai Wenxuan, the cavalry commander of the Dashi Army, was known as the "lame general". He was strong and good at fighting. When he saw the Ming cavalry coming, he immediately ordered the front troops to meet the enemy.

When the distance between the two sides was shortened to 40 steps, the Dashi army also began to fire a rain of arrows. However, the soldiers of the Ming army were all wearing cotton armor and iron protective gear, and it was difficult for the arrows to penetrate their defense. The war horses were also covered with armor, like an iron wall and a copper wall.

When they were within thirty steps, some Ming soldiers put away their bows and arrows and drew their swords; others lit the fuses of their three-barreled guns. With a loud bang, bullets rained down like a rainstorm, and the Dashi Army's cavalry fell off their horses one after another.

The remaining soldiers were unwilling to be outdone and also drew their swords. Although they were not as well-equipped as the Ming army, their morale was very high. They knew that this was a life-and-death battle and only a desperate fight could save their lives.

In a blink of an eye, the two armies were caught in a fierce hand-to-hand fight. Amid the flashes of swords and sabers, soldiers from both sides fell one after another. The blood dyed the ground red. The neighing of horses and the shouts of soldiers intertwined together, forming a tragic picture.

It didn't take long for the Dashi cavalry to start to show signs of defeat. Their equipment was obviously inferior to that of the Ming army, especially the lack of arm armor, which was particularly fatal in close combat. The Ming army could use the left arm armor to block the opponent's attack, while using the magpie sword in the right hand to stab the opponent's gap. However, most of the Dashi soldiers had no arm armor, or even if they had it, it was very short and could not effectively resist the Ming army's attack.

In addition, the morale of the Dashi Army was low, and when they heard the news that Zhang Xianzhong had withdrawn from the camp, they thought they were abandoned. They were filled with fear and despair, and their fighting power was greatly reduced.

The most important thing is that the Ming cavalry was equipped with a long weapon called the three-barreled gun. This weapon was extremely powerful in close combat and became a sharp weapon to defeat the enemy. The Ming soldiers lit the fuses of the three-barreled guns and poured towards the positions of the Dashi Army. Bullets rained down like a rainstorm, and the soldiers of the Dashi Army fell one after another, and the positions were also blown into a mess.

In this fierce battle, the Ming army won the victory with its excellent equipment and high morale, while the Dashi army paid a heavy price and retreated in defeat. This battle has also become a legend in history and has been passed down to this day.

The three-barreled gun, this unique small handheld firearm, with its three barrels, has become a terrifying existence on the battlefield. It is only one foot and three centimeters long, which is about thirty to forty centimeters in our daily life. It is short and powerful. A handle base is cleverly designed at the tail, which can be installed with wooden handles of different lengths to adapt to the combat habits and preferences of different soldiers. However, if the wooden handle is too long, it will be inconvenient to carry and load gunpowder. Therefore, soldiers usually control it within six feet, about two meters, which not only ensures the flexibility of use, but also does not affect the use of firepower.

On the battlefield, when the two armies were caught in a melee, if the Ming army cavalry held the three-eyed gun, their fighting style would be particularly brutal and efficient. They would either swing the three-eyed gun and use it as a blunt weapon to smash the enemy's armor. The heavy armor seemed to become fragile under their fierce attack. With a "puff" sound, a Ming army soldier swung the three-eyed gun and smashed the helmet of the Dashi army soldier. The helmet instantly cracked, blood splattered, the soldier's head shook, and the whole person twitched and fell off the horse. Or with a long handle, the three-eyed gun turned into a sharp sickle, sweeping across the enemy's body, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and screams were heard. Another Ming army soldier also swung the gun and swept across, hitting the enemy's right arm. The enemy had no time to dodge and could only block it with his arm. As a result, the arm bone was broken on the spot, and he screamed in pain. However, before the screams ended, he was pushed off his horse by the gun, and the horseshoes behind him stepped on him and he was gone. On the battlefield, life and death were just a matter of seconds. The Dashi army fell one after another under this terrifying firepower, while the Ming army was almost unscathed.

Bai Wenxuan, the general of the Dashi Army, witnessed this tragic scene with his own eyes. His eyes were wide open, and his heart was filled with shock and confusion. He murmured to himself: "Why are our cavalry so weak? It's far worse than I thought!" He looked at the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, and an indescribable grief and anger surged in his heart. He quickly called on the soldiers in the central army to rush forward together, trying to turn the tide of the battle. "Kill!" Bai Wenxuan led the remaining 2,000 cavalry and rushed forward with all their might. Their eyes were burning with fighting spirit, as if they wanted to burn away all the fear and despair on the battlefield.

However, before they rushed to the battlefield, they saw dust flying on the right wing, and the flag of the Ming army was particularly conspicuous in the dust. Bai Wenxuan's heart skipped a beat, and he knew that fighting hard was meaningless and would only cause more soldiers to die in vain. So he led the team to retreat and wait for an opportunity, fearing that if he attacked rashly without understanding the situation, the whole army would be finished.

Let's talk about the Ming army. The 2,000 cavalry on the right wing were sent by Li Xingzhong. Li Xingzhong, a general of the Ming army, was known for his cunning and bravery. Although the 2,000 cavalry he sent were not many in number, they were all elite soldiers, enough to fight a good battle. Li Xingzhong also deployed 3,000 cavalry in front of Sun Kewang's infantry formation, 1,000 on each side. They neither attacked nor retreated, like two sharp knives hanging over the enemy's head, waiting to rush up as soon as the infantry retreated and give the enemy a fatal blow.

Sun Kewang's mood at the moment was mixed. His back was soaked with sweat, and he was in a dilemma. If he attacked, the formation would be disrupted and the enemy would easily find a flaw; if he retreated, the morale would be scattered and he would collapse without fighting; if he stalemated, Bai Wenxuan's side would be in danger. Once all the cavalry were gone, the infantry would not be able to be saved. He was so anxious that the veins on his forehead bulged, as if they would burst at any time. He quickly asked Bai Wenxuan to ask Li Dingguo for help, hoping that the commander-in-chief of the Dashi Army could come up with a way to save them from the water and fire.

Bai Wenxuan immediately sent several personal soldiers to ask for help at full speed. However, before these personal soldiers could run far, they were shot and killed by the ambushed enemy. Li Xingzhong was too cunning. He learned the tactics of the Liaodong Iron Cavalry and used 8,000 cavalry to block the enemy head-on. The remaining 7,000 cavalry were divided into two parts. 2,000 people blocked Sun Kewang's retreat from behind. He personally led 5,000 people to Luoshan County. His goal was very clear, which was to completely defeat the Dashi Army and make them have no foothold on this battlefield.

At this time, Li Dingguo had 20,000 elite soldiers under his command who were resting. They had just experienced a fierce battle and were now lying in the camp exhausted to rest. Suddenly, a scout came to report: "General Sun is surrounded! He can't move forward or backward!" Li Dingguo was anxious when he heard it. He stood up suddenly, and the anger in his eyes seemed to burn the world to ashes. He heard the scout say again: "There are cavalry four miles ahead! But no flags! Dust is flying! There are too many to count!" Li Dingguo felt a strong sense of uneasiness and anxiety in his heart. He knew that this must be a trick of the Ming army. They wanted to lure him out and then defeat him in one fell swoop.

However, Li Dingguo was not consumed by fear. He quickly arranged the defense line and arranged the elite troops of Dashi, with 12,000 infantry in the front and 8,000 cavalry in the back. He looked firmly at the dusty battlefield in front of him, and a strong fighting spirit and determination surged in his heart. Then, he found Jin Tongwu, the general of the camp, to discuss countermeasures. Jin Tongwu suggested that he send 3,000 cavalry to cross the stream and bypass the hills to sneak attack the enemy's rear and attack the enemy together with the front troops. Li Dingguo nodded in agreement. He knew that this was a life-and-death battle, and he had to go all out to preserve the foundation of the Dashi Army.

The Ming army also received news that Li Xingzhong had found tens of thousands of enemies ahead of him, and the leader seemed to be Li Dingguo. Although Li Xingzhong received the order to retreat, he was still worried. He ordered the entire army to retreat first and then sent 500 cavalrymen to quietly approach Luoshan along the Huai River, holding flags but not fighting. In this way, the Ming army was divided into two parts. The main force retreated while the elite quietly moved forward. They shuttled across the battlefield like a group of ghosts, looking for the best time to attack.

By the time Li Xingzhong returned to the Zhugan River, Li Shunzu had already defeated half of Sun Kewang's cavalry. The remaining cavalry were so scared that they hid in the infantry formation and dared not come out again. Li Xingzhong decided to launch a general attack when he saw that the enemy was weakening. He surrounded the enemy on three sides, leaving one side for the enemy to escape, and then launched a charge on the east. His cavalry rushed towards the Dashi Army's position like an unstoppable torrent.

Li Dingguo was still hesitant. He heard that the Ming army had retreated but he didn't know whether it was a real retreat or a trick to lure the enemy. He sent cavalry to investigate but found nothing. Jin Tongwu had arrived at the designated location as planned but failed to discover the movement of the Ming army in time because of the negligence of the scouts. Now the Ming army has disappeared as if it had disappeared on the battlefield. Li Dingguo felt a strong sense of uneasiness and anxiety. He knew that this battle would determine the fate of the Dashi Army.

Jin Tongwu was puzzled, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed anxiety and doubt. In order to solve the mystery in his heart, he climbed up to a high place, picked up a telescope, and looked around carefully. However, to his surprise, he did not see any shadow of the enemy, not even a trace of smoke.

"Hurry up and tell General Li that the Ming army has withdrawn!" he ordered hurriedly, with a hint of urgency in his tone.

Before he finished speaking, the scout had already galloped to tell Li Dingguo like an arrow from a bow. After hearing the news, Li Dingguo pondered for a moment, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, but then he became firm. He immediately ordered: "Infantry slowly push forward and get close to Sun Kewang; cavalry protect our rear and take positions. Anyone who dares to retreat will be punished by military law!" His voice was steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

In this way, the army of more than 20,000 people, under the command of Li Dingguo, began to move forward slowly. They marched with firm steps and high morale, like an unstoppable torrent.

A few miles away, Li Xingzhong was arranging tactics. His face was serious, and his eyes revealed a calm and resolute look. He said to his men: "If we encounter Li Dingguo, we will retreat. Don't ask why!" His voice was deep and powerful, revealing an unquestionable firmness.

Li Shunzu and Cha Binxun were stunned when they heard this. They looked at each other with doubt in their eyes. "Is Li Dingguo here?" they asked in unison.

Xingzhong nodded, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. "That's right, avoid fighting for now, there will be plenty of opportunities to take revenge in the future!" His words were filled with helplessness and determination, as if he was telling himself and his men. After hearing this, the two men took the order and left. Although they were confused, they could only obey the order.

After receiving the signals from various departments, Xingzhong rode out on horseback. He looked back at the army behind him. The flag of the Ming Dynasty fluttered in the wind, which was particularly conspicuous. Under the flag, five thousand cavalrymen were ready to go, each with a fierce expression on their face, as if they were a group of hungry cheetahs ready to pounce on their prey.

Xingzhong drew out his magpie sword and held it high, the blade flashing brightly in the sun. He shouted loudly: "A real man born in troubled times should take up the sword to build his career!" His voice was passionate and powerful, like an unstoppable torrent, impacting everyone's heart.

"Soldiers, follow me and charge into battle, and drive the enemy back home!" There was an indescribable passion and determination in his words, as if he was speaking of a belief and pursuit.

"Kill!" Five thousand cavalrymen shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and earth, as if they were going to shatter the whole world. They followed Xingzhong, their horses' hooves shaking the heavens and earth, and the dust was rolled up high, as they rushed directly towards Sun Kewang's army.

When he was about 150 to 100 steps away, Sun Kewang felt the ground shaking. He was panicking, holding his weapon tightly in his hands, his eyes wide open. He looked at the dust and shouts rising into the sky, and an indescribable fear and despair surged in his heart.

At 80 steps, Sun Kewang yelled, "Fire!" His voice was filled with hysteria and despair. The command flag was waved, and the cannons fired at once. The rumbling sound resounded through the sky, and the shells fell like raindrops. However, the Ming army's armor was very strong, and nothing happened. They continued to rush forward.

When they were fifty steps away, Sun Kewang gave another order: "Fire!" Bird guns, hand guns, and three-barreled guns fired at the same time, but they were all blocked by the armor of the Ming army. Those firearms and archers seemed so powerless and insignificant under the charge of the Ming army.

Xingzhong counted the distance silently in his mind, and when he reached forty steps, he ordered the archers to release their arrows. The arrows flew out like locusts, and screams suddenly broke out in the Dashi army. Those firearms and archers had nowhere to hide, and could only watch the arrows rain down like raindrops.

The firepower of the infantry weakened all of a sudden, and the Ming cavalry took the opportunity to rush forward. They attacked the positions of the Dashi Army like an unstoppable torrent.

When they were fifteen steps away, the Ming army lit a grenade and threw it into the Dashi army's formation using the power of their horses. Explosions rang out one after another, and the Dashi army was thrown into chaos. They fled in panic, but there was nowhere to escape.

Within ten steps, bird guns and three-barreled guns fired again, and the bullets were as dense as rain. The Dashi army suffered heavy casualties, and the blood dyed the land red. The air was filled with the smell of blood and gunpowder, as terrifying as a Shura field.

Then, more than a thousand Ming cavalrymen dismounted and engaged the Dashi Army in close combat. They brandished swords, spears, and halberds, slashing at the enemy fiercely. The barricades and chariots were overturned, and the front line collapsed completely. The Dashi Army soldiers fled in panic, but there was nowhere to escape.

Xingzhong shouted loudly: "Heavy cavalry, charge!" Five hundred heavy cavalry moved at the sound. They were all wearing heavy armor, just like entering a no-man's land. They rushed to the place where the enemy was densely packed, invincible, and cut a bloody path. Their spears and swords flashed dazzlingly in the sun, like an unstoppable force.

When they returned from the second charge, the battlefield was already littered with corpses and rivers of blood. The air was filled with the strong smell of blood and gunpowder, as if it were a battlefield of ashes. The dead soldiers opened their eyes wide, as if telling of their unwillingness and fear.

Sun Kewang's central army was completely defeated, and the soldiers fled in a hurry. However, the heavy cavalry's spears didn't care about that, they killed anyone they saw, as if a group of crazy cheetahs were chasing their prey. The fleeing soldiers were pierced by the spears, and the blood dyed the land red.

The defeated army fled, people squeezed and trampled each other to escape. Screams came one after another, as if a tragic symphony was telling the cruelty and ruthlessness of this war. Under the setting sun, this battlefield was as terrifying and tragic as a Shura field. The dead soldiers lay on this land forever, while the living soldiers fled this horrible place with scars and fear all over their bodies.

Under the fierce attack of the 15,000 Ming cavalry, Sun Kewang's 15,000-man army collapsed like a tide. The battlefield was covered with dust, horses neighed and people shouted. In the chaos, the armor of the Ming army flashed coldly in the sun, like the sickle of the god of death, ruthlessly harvesting lives.

"General Sun, run away! It will be too late!" Bai Wenxuan led more than a hundred personal soldiers and rode to Sun Kewang's side, shouting anxiously. His eyes revealed deep worry, and his brows were furrowed, as if he could sense the impending disaster.

Sun Kewang's face was as pale as dirt. He clenched his teeth, his eyes flashing with unwillingness and anger: "What kind of general would I be if I lost my army! I would rather die on the battlefield than be humiliated as a deserter!" His voice was low and powerful, revealing an unyielding pride.

Wenxuan knew that the problem with Wang was that he only knew how to attack but didn't know how to retreat. Although he was good at managing internal affairs, he was stubborn, ambitious, and easily jealous of others. This defeat must have been a huge blow to him, and it would be difficult for him to get back on his feet. Wenxuan looked at Wang and felt a complex emotion in his heart, including sympathy, helplessness, and worry about the future.

"Help the general get on his horse!" Wen Xuan ordered his guards. There was a hint of determination in his voice, as if he was making a last-ditch effort. Several soldiers immediately dismounted and helped Wang Xiang onto the horse. Wang Xiang's body was shaky, as if he would fall at any time. The soldiers raised their whips and galloped away, fleeing in the direction of Li Dingguo's army. Their figures gradually blurred in the dust, leaving only chaos and noise.

Li Dingguo led an army of 20,000 and was marching slowly. His eyes were firm and calm, as if he could see through everything. Suddenly, a scout came running and reported loudly: "Sun Kewang's defeated troops were found ahead!"

Dingguo's heart tightened, he knew that Kewang had been defeated, and those defeated soldiers were coming this way. A trace of worry flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"How many defeated soldiers are there?" Dingguo asked hurriedly. There was a hint of urgency in his voice, as if he wanted to know the battle situation as soon as possible.

"Too many to count. They are everywhere. The Ming cavalry are chasing very closely. I'm sure the general will suffer heavy losses." The scout replied, looking far ahead. There was a hint of fear and uneasiness in his voice.

Dingguo immediately ordered: "The army should stop advancing! The spearmen should line up to defend and prevent the defeated soldiers from disrupting our formation. When they are fifty steps away, the whole army will shout in unison!" His voice was steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

Then he added: "The cavalry will be stationed on both wings and in the rear to protect the safety of the army!" There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, as if he had foreseen the future battle situation.

After the order was issued, Dingguo personally led his soldiers to the front to supervise the battle. He was worried that his elite troops would be affected by the panicked defeated soldiers and flee as well. The defeated soldiers were more frightened than when they were facing the enemy. They would not care about anything when they fled. Once they were involved, the entire battlefield would turn into a chaotic escape.

When the defeated soldiers approached within fifty steps, Dingguo's army shouted in unison: "Kill! Kill! Kill!" The sound shook the earth, as if it was going to shatter the heaven and earth. However, the defeated soldiers were only stunned for a moment, and then continued to run wildly. They knew that stopping at this moment would mean death. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair, as if they had seen the scythe of the god of death waving at them.

Seeing that the defeated soldiers were about to charge into the battle array, Dingguo hardened his heart and said to the messenger: "Order all troops to fire freely! They must be stopped in front of the battle array!" There was a hint of determination and helplessness in his voice. He knew what the consequences of this order would be, but he knew even more clearly that if the defeated soldiers were allowed to charge into the battle array, the entire battlefield would fall into chaos.

The herald opened his mouth in surprise: "But they are all General Sun's soldiers! If people knew..." There was a hint of hesitation and worry in his voice.

"I'm the head coach! I'll bear the consequences! Hurry up and pass the order!" Dingguo closed his eyes and sighed. A complex emotion surged in his heart, including helplessness, pain, and worry about the future. But he knew that as the head coach, he had to make this decision.

With the order, the cannon roared, and the sound of gunfire and arrows could be heard. The defeated soldiers were shot and fell to the ground, wailing. Their bodies twisted and struggled in the dust, as if they were making a final struggle. However, it was all in vain, as the scythe of the god of death had already ruthlessly harvested their lives.

Sun Kewang was heartbroken when he saw all this. He could not accept this cruel reality. His eyes were full of pain and despair, as if he had seen his future fate. Finally, he fainted on the horse and lost consciousness.

Wenxuan hurriedly supported him and turned his horse around to avoid the battlefield. A deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart, as if he could no longer change this cruel reality. He knew that the inevitable defeat was irreversible, and his own fate would also change with it.

On the other side, Li Xingzhong was covered in blood, wielding a knife to kill the enemy. His eyes revealed a crazy killing intent, as if he wanted to kill all the enemies. He saw from afar that the infantry formation was neat and orderly, with the "Li" flag flying high, and knew that this was Li Dingguo's army. He pulled the reins of his horse and took out a telescope to carefully observe the situation in the formation.

The position of the commander-in-chief is where the flag of the central army is. Xingzhong frowned slightly when he saw Dingguo's appearance: "This kid is only in his twenties. I don't know why Your Majesty thinks so highly of him." But then he nodded and said: "But looking at his neat military appearance, he is indeed a talented commander!" A complex emotion surged in his heart, including jealousy, admiration, and expectations for the future.

Dingguo also noticed Xingzhong and recognized him as the chief general of the Ming army. He saw that Xingzhong was already over 50 years old, which was considered a veteran at the time, and he couldn't help but sigh: "An old general is still fighting in person. Is there really no one left in the Ming army?" He secretly ordered: "Use artillery to bombard the soldiers carrying flags in the distance!" His eyes flashed with wisdom, as if he had foreseen the future battle situation.

Xingzhong saw Dingguo talking in a low voice and knew that he had bad intentions, so he immediately adjusted his formation to prepare for the fight. He felt alert and uneasy, as if he had sensed the impending danger.

The Ming army began to counterattack, and the battlefield was suddenly filled with shouts of killing and blood and flesh flying everywhere. Soldiers on both sides tried their best to fight for their country and beliefs. However, the cruelty of war made it impossible for them to escape the fate. It was not until the sun set that Xingzhong led his army to withdraw to the East Camp of Zhugan River. A deep sense of helplessness and fatigue surged in his heart, as if he could no longer bear more pain and torture.

Li Dingguo continued to march along the route Zhang Xianzhong had taken. His heart was filled with anticipation and anxiety for the future, as if he had foreseen the challenges and opportunities that were coming. In the evening of the next day, they finally caught up with Zhang Xianzhong's troops.

The mountains here are high and the forests are dense. There are steep peaks such as Tiantai Mountain, Lingshan Mountain, and Jinlan Mountain. The roads are rugged and very suitable for ambushes. Therefore, the Ming army did not dare to attack easily and could only move forward cautiously. They knew that there were countless dangers and opportunities hidden here, and only caution could avoid falling into traps.

"Father, I'm back!" Dingguo entered the tent and found that everyone, including Xianzhong, looked at him with strange eyes. He felt doubtful and uneasy, as if he had sensed the coming storm.

"Foster father, what do you mean by this?" Dingguo asked doubtfully after saluting. There was a hint of trembling and uneasiness in his voice.

Xianzhong did not speak, but just looked at the side. It was then that Dingguo realized that Kewang was sitting beside him, with tears streaming down his face, looking very depressed. A deep feeling of sympathy and helplessness welled up in his heart, as if he could no longer change this cruel reality.

Although Dingguo was brave and good at fighting, his emotional intelligence was not high. He asked honestly, "Brother, are you still sad about what happened yesterday?" There was a hint of concern and comfort in his voice.

However, when he mentioned what happened yesterday, Kewang became furious. He grabbed Dingguo's neck and shouted, "Pay for the lives of my soldiers! Pay!" There was a hint of madness and despair in his voice, as if he had poured all his anger and pain on Dingguo.

Dingguo was so frightened that his face turned pale. He forcefully pried open Kewang's hands and said, "Brother, calm down! I had no choice yesterday! If we let those defeated soldiers charge into the battle line, we would all be in danger!" There was a hint of helplessness and explanation in his voice.

However, Wang Xiang simply couldn't listen. He pinched Dingguo's neck even harder and cursed, "You spy! Since you have surrendered to the Ming court, how can you have the face to see your adoptive father again?" There was a hint of grief and despair in his voice, as if he could no longer bear any more pain and torture.

"Spy?" Dingguo was stunned. He had no idea what Kewang was talking about. A deep sense of doubt and helplessness surged in his heart, as if he could no longer understand the complexity and cruelty of this world. He didn't know how to face this sudden accusation and attack. He could only struggle helplessly, trying to break free from Kewang's restraints.

In the dim tent, Li Dingguo was tightly strangled by Sun Kewang, his face flushed red from suffocation, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding light. He struggled mightily to break free from the hands that were shaking with anger, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell.

"Cough, cough, cough..." Dingguo coughed repeatedly, his breathing as rapid as a bellows, and he was out of breath, as if every breath was telling of the difficulty of survival.

Sun Kewang's anger did not subside because of Dingguo's struggle. Instead, like a flame fanned by the wind, he rushed forward again, intending to strangle him by the neck again, looking like an enraged lion.

"Stop!" Dingguo panted, his voice weak but firm, "Since... ahem, since you suspect I'm a spy, please show us the evidence, don't let this groundless suspicion taint our brotherhood."

When Sun Kewang heard the word "evidence", his footsteps suddenly stopped, as if he was held by an invisible rope. He turned to look at Zhang Xianzhong, who was sitting in the main seat, and his doubtful eyes seemed to be seeking some kind of confirmation or instruction. Zhang Xianzhong was silent for a moment, and nodded slightly, giving him tacit approval.

After getting tacit consent, Sun Kewang asked angrily: "Yesterday at the Zhugan River, I was fighting the enemy in the front and you were supporting them from the back, is that right?" His voice echoed in the tent with unquestionable majesty.

"Yes." Dingguo answered frankly, looking directly at Sun Kewang without any dodging.

"Then why did you massacre my men after I was defeated?" Sun Kewang's voice rose a few degrees, and he was obviously still bothered by this question.

Dingguo explained innocently: "I have let them go. If we don't kill those deserters, they will disrupt our formation and affect the overall battle situation." There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, as if he was justifying a decision that had to be made.

"Okay!" Sun Kewang nodded with gritted teeth and continued to ask, as if every question was a sharp knife, trying to cut open Dingguo's heart, "When the Ming army fought with us, they sent cavalry to bypass our army's formation and head straight for you. Did you see it?"

"They saw it, but they retreated when they saw our well-disciplined army." Dingguo answered calmly, but a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

"Then why don't you chase them?" Sun Kewang asked, his voice full of confusion and anger.

"If we pursue them rashly, we might fall into their trap! Besides, my foster father's orders are to hold our position, not to pursue them. It will be enough if we just drive them away." Dingguo was also angry, his emotions were somewhat out of control, and his voice unconsciously rose a few degrees.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Sun Kewang said "Okay" three times in a row, his tone full of sarcasm, "You always have a reason, and you can always find a reasonable explanation for your behavior."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger, and asked again: "Then what did you do after slaughtering the deserters?" His eyes were fixed on Dingguo, as if trying to catch a trace of lies from his expression.

Dingguo suddenly realized what Sun Kewang was asking, and a bad feeling welled up in his heart. He recalled the scene yesterday. After Sun Kewang was defeated, the Ming army did not take the opportunity to charge, but retreated on their own. Dingguo also left the battlefield in order to pursue Zhang Xianzhong. The tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides did not fire an arrow, a cannon, or a curse. People thought that this was a tacit agreement reached by both sides because they were afraid of fighting, but now it seems that there are greater doubts behind this tacit agreement.

Seeing Dingguo standing there in a daze, Sun Kewang reproached him, "The Ming army could have taken advantage of the victory at that time. They were all cavalry, and it was getting dark. They could have retreated calmly even if they were defeated. But they did not attack, and you did not fight back. Just retreated tacitly? Is that right or not?" His tone was full of doubt and dissatisfaction.

Dingguo calmed himself down and said seriously: "How do I know why the Ming army retreated? It was already late at night and fighting at night is a taboo. If they don't retreat, I will retreat too. Moreover, my adoptive father's order is to hold the position. As long as we can hold the enemy and allow the baggage to retreat, I think I have done nothing wrong!" His voice was firm and powerful, as if he was defending himself while proving his loyalty to everyone.

Sun Kewang was furious and stamped his feet several times, looking at Wang Zhaolin standing beside him, as if seeking his support. At this time, Ruan Shiwu was ready. He suddenly stood up and pointed at Dingguo's nose and asked: "Li Dingguo, are you saying that you are delaying the enemy?" His tone was full of provocation and questioning.

"Yes!" Dingguo answered firmly, looking directly at Shi Wu without any retreat.

"You're talking nonsense!" Shi Wu raised his lips slightly, his smugness was evident in his words. He had finally found Dingguo's weakness, as if this was an opportunity for him to redeem himself.

Shi Wu hurried out of the tent and dragged the quartermaster in. Under the gaze of everyone, the quartermaster said in a trembling voice: "Yesterday afternoon, the King of Daxi ordered the camp to be moved, and everything went smoothly. But at the beginning of the 3:00 pm, hundreds of Ming cavalry suddenly appeared in the east of the city. They burned, killed, looted, and the baggage camp was in chaos."

"What?" Dingguo's heart sank. "Only a few hundred Ming cavalry?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, although there are not many people, they are all very brave! They fought from the east to the south and then back to the east, suffering heavy losses in their baggage." The quartermaster spoke in tears, as if the tragic scene appeared before his eyes again.

Dingguo finally understood why he was suspected. Anyone would be suspicious, right? He was responsible for covering the rear, but hundreds of Ming cavalry bypassed him and attacked the baggage. How could he explain this? Dingguo looked at Zhang Xianzhong and knelt on the ground: "Foster father, you watched me grow up, I will never be a spy, please understand!" There was pleading and helplessness in his voice.

Zhang Xianzhong looked at Dingguo for a long time, sighed and said: "Dingguo, you have been with me since you were a child. Others may not know what kind of person you are, but I know you best. To be honest, I don't believe you are a spy!" His tone was full of understanding and trust in Dingguo.

Dingguo burst into tears of gratitude: "Thank you, godfather, for your trust." There was a hint of sob and excitement in his voice.

However, Zhang Xianzhong narrowed his eyes and shook his head: "But what happened recently is indeed a bit strange, we have to be cautious. Godfather..." Dingguo looked up at him, his eyes full of confusion and disappointment.

"So, I will temporarily take back your military power and return it to you after defeating Jian Mingxiao. How about that?" Zhang Xianzhong's tone was heavy and firm, as if this was a decision that had to be made.

Dingguo looked up in astonishment, his face full of disappointment. He had not expected that Zhang Xianzhong would actually doubt him. He looked into Zhang Xianzhong's deep eyes, trying to find a glimmer of trust in them, but he only saw determination and indifference.

Zhang Xianzhong said in a heavy tone: "It's not that I don't believe you. If I really didn't believe you, I would have killed you long ago." There was a hint of helplessness and pain in his voice, as if this decision was also a torment for him.

Dingguo kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Dingguo was born to fight, and military power is my life. If my adoptive father wants to take back my military power, it would be better to grant me death!" His voice was resolute and tragic, as if he had already made plans for the worst.

Shi Wu rushed forward in rage, pointed at Dingguo and cursed: "What are you talking about? If you want to die, do it yourself, don't tarnish the reputation of the King of the Great West! Taking back the military power is already a lenient treatment, don't push your luck!" His voice was full of anger and dissatisfaction, as if he was extremely dissatisfied with Dingguo's reaction.

"Get lost!" Dingguo waved his hand away, his eyes flashing with anger and unwillingness. He didn't understand why things turned out like this, why he became the target of public criticism.

The atmosphere in the tent was extremely tense, and everyone's heartbeat seemed to be clearly audible. Zhang Xianzhong remained silent, just quietly watching the dispute between Dingguo and Shiwu, with a complex light flashing in his deep eyes. He knew that this decision was a heavy blow to Dingguo, but he also had to consider the overall situation. He could only hope that Dingguo could understand his painstaking efforts and prove his loyalty and value again in future battles. (End of this chapter)