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

Tan Wen patted his chest, his eyes flashing with determination, like a towering mountain, standing firm. "Mr. Li didn't mention it, I'll ask for the order myself!" His voice was deep and powerful, with an unquestionable determination. The herald looked at him, a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes, and he smiled easily, saying: "Okay, you three brothers have a deep relationship! Share the merits and share the responsibilities!" These few words, like a spring breeze, instantly dissipated a lot of the anxiety in Tan Wen's heart.

With the joining of the three Tan Wen brothers, the situation on the battlefield suddenly became critical. The white-pole soldiers, these brave warriors, now looked exhausted, like a group of candles fluttering in the wind and rain, which could go out at any time. They had been fighting hard for many days without a moment's rest, and had to fight against enemies that were several times their number. Their clothes were soaked with sweat, and their faces were full of fatigue and pain, but their eyes still flashed with determination.

"Anyone who rushes into the enemy camp will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and be granted the title of hereditary thousand households!" When the Dashun soldiers heard this, their morale was high, as if a group of ignited fires were burning fiercely. They shouted: "Charge! Fight the Ming army!" "Today is the day to make achievements, brothers, follow me!" Their voices were deafening, as if they were going to tear the sky apart. The Dashun soldiers rushed towards the white-pole soldiers like a tide, their eyes full of fanaticism and desire to kill.

In ancient times, there were four types of military merits: being the first to reach the enemy line, breaking through the enemy lines, beheading the general, and capturing the flag. These four types of military merits were all good opportunities for the soldiers to turn the tables. At this moment, the eyes of the Dashun Army soldiers were as red as wild beasts. They rushed straight at the White-Pole Soldiers, as if they wanted to tear them to pieces. The White-Pole Soldiers' position began to waver and was about to collapse.

At this critical moment of life and death, Jian Mingxiao rode his horse and rushed into the battle array with a gun. He was born in the second year of the Wanli reign and is now over seventy years old. The years have left deep marks on his face, but his eyes are still firm and sharp. He usually commands in the camp and rarely goes into battle in person. But now, he must go into battle in person to boost morale. His figure on the battlefield is like a towering mountain, standing tall and unshakable.

When the white-pole soldiers saw Jian Mingxiao coming, their spirits lifted. They seemed to see the dawn of hope, and followed the generals in shouting: "The Ming army is mighty!" "Kill!" The two armies fought again, and the battle was indisputable. The battlefield was filled with swords, blood and flesh flying everywhere, as if it were a Shura field.

Not long after, a scout ran in hurriedly, his face full of anxiety and tension. "Zhang Xianzhong's troops in the south of the city seem to be retreating." He reported breathlessly. Li Zicheng was stunned when he heard this. He frowned and asked, "What did you say?" The scout reported again: "The cavalry in the east and west of the city said that Zhang Xianzhong's troops were scattered, and some of them fled eastward into the mountains." Li Zicheng cursed: "This villain actually left without saying goodbye!" Before he finished speaking, another scout ran into the tent: "Your Majesty, Ming cavalry were found in the east and west of the city. There are about 10,000 people, led by Li Xingzhong."

Li Zicheng listened to the scout's report calmly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. He pondered for a moment and said, "It's okay. Our Dashun cavalry hasn't been on the battlefield for a long time. Today, let Li Xingzhong see our elite." His words were filled with unquestionable confidence. So he ordered Gao Yigong to lead 6,000 cavalry to the east of the city, Hao Yaoqi to lead 5,000 cavalry to the west of the city to stop the enemy, and the rest of the troops to wait in full battle array.

After receiving the order, the two generals Gao Yigong and Hao Yaoqi immediately set out with bows and arrows. They led their troops to gallop away, like a group of galloping horses. After the two armies met, they each lined up to confront each other. Li Xingzhong looked at Hao Yaoqi, his eyes flashing with wisdom. He did not rush to attack, but remembered the booklet Lin Xiaofeng gave him. The booklet recorded the personalities and tactics of the generals of Dashun, which was precious information he spent a lot of money to buy.

Although Hao Yaoqi was rough, he was thoughtful, brave and good at fighting. Li Xingzhong thought for a moment, waved his hand and said, "Send 500 cavalry to lure the enemy." Hao Yaoqi also sent 500 cavalry to fight. The two armies fought in the open area west of the city. The Shun army had the advantage with experience and physical strength, while the Ming army relied on equipment and courage to compete. The two sides were evenly matched and the battle was difficult to decide.

Hao Yaoqi felt relieved after seeing the strength of the Ming army. He knew that Li Xingzhong had a background in the Guanning Army and had been defeated by the Guanning Iron Cavalry, so he was afraid of him. During the fight, Li Xingzhong sent another 500 cavalry to reinforce. Hao Yaoqi also sent more troops accordingly. Both sides continued to increase their forces to fight until there were only 2,000 cavalry left. Li Xingzhong suddenly ordered: "Send out another 500 cavalry and bring the soldiers carrying the flag." Everyone was surprised. They didn't understand why Li Xingzhong took such a risk.

On the battlefield, people recognize flags instead of people, and the soldiers carrying the flags were very nervous. They knew that if the flags were taken away, it would be a great shame. Li Xingzhong pointed to the heavy armored cavalry next to him and said, "Don't worry, they will protect you." These heavy armored cavalry were Li Xingzhong's personal soldiers brought from the Guanning Army. They were first-class in terms of technology, tactics and loyalty. They protected the soldiers carrying the flags like a solid wall.

"Take care, General!" The soldiers carrying the flag rode out, their eyes gleaming with determination. At this time, the rain stopped, the clouds dispersed, and the sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the entire battlefield. The sunlight shone on the soldiers' armor, reflecting a dazzling light.

"Li Xingzhong is out in person?" Hao Yaoqi said with his eyes wide open in disbelief. He didn't expect Li Xingzhong to take such a risk and personally challenge him. He gritted his teeth and said, "Since he has come out, I can't back down!" After that, he whipped his horse and led the soldiers to charge into battle. His figure was like a flash of lightning, breaking the tranquility of the battlefield.

Li Xingzhong calmly waited for the opportunity when Hao Yaoqi was only a hundred steps away from the battlefield. He suddenly gave the order in a deep voice: "Sound the gong to withdraw the troops!" As the gongs rang, the cavalry of the Ming army quickly adjusted their formation after hearing the order and gathered around Li Xingzhong, forming a solid defense circle. They protected Li Xingzhong like a solid wall.

Hao Yaoqi shouted angrily, "You're running away before you even fight. What's the point of that?" However, Li Xingzhong no longer gave him any chance to punch. He looked at Hao Yaoqi coldly, as if he was looking at a clown. He knew that the victory of this battle already belonged to him.

"Soldiers, chase the Ming army!" Hao Yaoqi roared, leading his soldiers in pursuit. However, the Ming army retreated very quickly, passing through the West Gate in the blink of an eye. The Dashun army was not to be outdone, and followed closely behind. They were like a group of hungry cheetahs, chasing their prey.

Li Xingzhong galloped on his horse, counting silently in his heart: "Three, two, one!" After counting, he patted the shoulders of the flag-bearing soldiers and guided them to advance in a roundabout way. Thousands of cavalrymen drew a huge "8" pattern on the battlefield. When Hao Yaoqi chased here, he happened to encounter the oncoming Ming cavalry. The two sides fell into a fierce battle again, with swords and blood flying on the battlefield, as if it were a Shura field...

The five thousand Dashun cavalrymen and the three thousand Ming cavalrymen met head-on. At that moment, a cunning flashed in the eyes of the two generals, Li Xingzhong and Hao Yaoqi. They smiled at each other, and all their little tricks in their hearts came true. Xingzhong deliberately led the enemy deep into the enemy's territory, while Yaoqi simply used the enemy's trick against him. He didn't want to chase too closely at first, but when he saw that the Ming army's momentum was weakening, he changed his mind and thought, five thousand against three thousand, isn't this a good chance of winning? If we can quickly break their formation, the chance of winning can exceed 80%; even if it doesn't work, with the speed of our cavalry, it will take only a few minutes to escape.

The two armies were facing each other horizontally, and the autumn wind was still carrying a hint of rain, blowing towards people's faces, as if nature was also adding a bit of solemnity to the battle. The troops on both sides rushed forward, and arrows were shot out like rain. When the arrows were used up, the knives continued to be used. The scene was so intense. Although the armor protected the body, arrows could still hit the face, and the number of arrows was limited and would be used up in a short while. Cavalry fighting was different from infantry, and it was much more entertaining. Infantry had to fight with strength and courage, and directly in hand-to-hand combat; cavalry, on the other hand, was more about skills, and they specifically targeted the gaps in the armor and the ropes that tied the armor. Once they were broken, the armor would be loose, with flaws everywhere, and the combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced.

On the battlefield, the sound of swords and sabers was as loud as thunder. The number of people was decreasing, the loess was dyed red, and the ground was as muddy as hell. Hao Yaoqi chopped down an enemy with his sword, and suddenly felt something was wrong. He looked up and saw that the two wings of the Ming army seemed to be retreating. He was about to chase them, but then he realized that this was a trick of the central army to attack. He shouted: "Brothers, follow me and beat the Ming army!" He pulled the reins with his left hand, swung the sword with his right hand, and chopped at Li Xingzhong, his eyes flashing with determination and bravery.

However, before the battle was halfway through, Li Xingzhong's troops began to show signs of fatigue. The long-distance raid and the previous siege of Zhang Xianzhong had almost exhausted their strength. On the other hand, Hao Yaoqi's troops had been well-rested and full of energy. In addition, they were all elite troops of Dashun. No matter how brave Li Xingzhong was, he could not withstand the overwhelming force of numbers. The Ming cavalry fought and retreated, and it seemed that they were about to collapse.

Xingzhong saw that the situation was not good, so he quickly sent his personal soldiers back to the city to pass on the order for the heavy cavalry to come out for support. The personal soldier was also a smart man. After receiving the order, he rode back and ran to the southwest of Chengtian Prefecture, waving the flag and shouting: "General Li has ordered the heavy cavalry to quickly leave the city to meet the enemy!" The order spread quickly and soon reached the ears of the heavy armored cavalry in the west gate.

"Prepare the three-barreled guns, light the ignition cord, go out of the city and form a battle formation, fire from twenty steps away, and then charge. Anyone who dares to retreat will be beheaded and his family will be exiled!" The cavalry general's voice was like thunder, revealing unquestionable majesty. The cavalry responded in unison: "The Ming army is mighty!" As soon as the city gate opened and the drawbridge was lowered, the heavy cavalry rushed out one after another like fish, forming a column to the west. Then they stopped and turned, and the column became a horizontal column. As soon as the generals urged their horses, the soldiers followed closely. Although the speed was as slow as a person walking, the oppressive atmosphere made people feel creepy.

The Dashun cavalry noticed something was wrong and quickly reported it to Hao Yaoqi. Yaoqi was so frightened when he saw the heavy cavalry approaching slowly, shining golden in the setting sun, and he couldn't even open his eyes. "Heavy cavalry is coming! Quickly form a formation to defend!" He shouted, with a bit of anxiety in his voice. He had encountered the Ming army's heavy cavalry before, but this time the equipment was completely different. These cavalry and horses were wearing iron armor, which could not be penetrated by arrows or bird guns. They were just like a group of iron monsters.

Yaoqi quickly ordered the army to divide into three formations, left, center and right, to prepare for the battle. He was extremely anxious, but on the surface he pretended to be calm and commanded the soldiers to quickly deploy. The heavy cavalry of the Ming army had already rushed to a distance of 100 steps, and the speed was getting faster and faster. The sound of horse hooves was so loud that it felt like the ground was shaking. At 80 steps, the speed was even faster, like an unstoppable torrent; at 50 steps, the rain of arrows began again, and the dense arrows covered the sky; at 30 steps, another round was fired, and a cavalryman was shot and fell off his horse, falling heavily to the ground; at 20 steps, the three-barreled gun fired, and the smoke rose up, and the cavalrymen in front fell one after another, blown to pieces.

Before the Dashun cavalry could counterattack, the heavy cavalry had already rushed to them. Blunt weapons flew everywhere, and horse lances and iron rods were hitting them with the sound of wind. The momentum was simply unstoppable. The Dashun cavalry was scattered all of a sudden, like a group of lambs scattered by wolves. They fled in panic, but the Ming heavy cavalry chased them closely, as if they wanted to kill them all.

Seeing this scene, the Shun army soldiers were terrified. They stared with horror at the Ming cavalry, who were like armored gods of war, wreaking havoc on the battlefield. After a long while, they finally reacted and shouted, "Run! They are not human!" They fled the battlefield in panic, their hearts filled with fear and awe of the Ming heavy cavalry. This battle became a permanent shadow in their hearts, so that they would never dare to underestimate the fighting power of the Ming army again.

"Everyone, hold on! Don't lose your composure!" Hao Yaoqi shouted with all his might, his voice echoing on the battlefield with a hint of anxiety and helplessness. However, what responded to him was not the battle cry of his comrades, but the sound of horse hooves gradually fading away, like the melody of death, echoing in his ears. The soldiers were afraid of the power of the heavy cavalry and worried that they would also suffer, so they fled in all directions, their eyes filled with fear and despair, as if they saw the end of the world coming.

Li Xingzhong saw this, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. He immediately seized the opportunity to fight back. The 3,000 light cavalrymen he led were like wild horses that had broken free from their reins, galloping across the battlefield. Their armor shone coldly in the sun, like a group of death gods from hell. The 5,000 Shun troops were instantly scattered, and the battlefield was in chaos. The wailing and the sound of horse hooves intertwined together, forming a tragic picture.

On the other side of the north of the city, the battle was still going on fiercely. Nangong Shangpu stood beside the mound, his eyes solemn and his brows furrowed. He asked Li Yan: "Don't we also have a thousand heavy armored cavalry? Why don't we let Hao Yaoqi take them to resist the Ming army together?" There was a hint of anxiety and confusion in his voice.

Before Li Yan could answer, Hong Niangzi gently interrupted, "Niu Zuofu may not know that although the heavy cavalry is powerful in charging, the armor is heavy and the horses are burdened, so it is difficult to fight for a long time. And once they are entangled by the enemy, it is difficult to escape quickly." Her voice was soft and firm, like a warm current, warming people's hearts. She added, "Hao Yaoqi's task is mainly to contain the enemy. His current strength is sufficient."

While they were discussing, a scout came running in, his face covered in sweat and dust, as if he had just escaped from hell. He reported to Li Zicheng: "Your Majesty, Hao Yaoqi was ambushed by the Ming army, and the west of the city is in chaos." There was a hint of trembling and fear in his voice.

Li Zicheng was shocked when he heard this, and a trace of doubt and uneasiness flashed in his eyes. He asked in confusion: "What's going on?" There was a trace of trembling and confusion in his voice.

The scout described the battle in detail: "Li Xingzhong first lured Hao Yaoqi deep into the enemy's territory, and then suddenly sent out heavy cavalry to attack, and Hao Yaoqi's troops were defeated in an instant." There was a hint of grief and helplessness in his voice, as if he had seen that tragic scene.

Li Zicheng was so angry that he beat his chest and stamped his feet. He sighed, "Hao Yaoqi, Hao Yaoqi, you usually look smart, why are you such a fool today!" There was a hint of anger and disappointment in his voice. But he soon calmed down and asked the scout, "Why didn't the Ming army take the opportunity to pursue us?" There was a hint of doubt and vigilance in his eyes.

The scout replied: "The situation west of the city is too chaotic. The Ming army is busy cleaning up the battlefield and has no time to take care of anything else." There was a hint of relief and luck in his voice.

Li Zicheng looked towards the west of the city, then towards the east, his eyes flashing with determination and resoluteness. He took a deep breath and gave an order: "Order the central army and the personal soldiers' camp to follow me to attack the White Spear Army's position. As long as this formation is broken, the rest of the Ming army will naturally collapse." There was a hint of coldness and resoluteness in his voice, as if he was the god of death from hell.

The soldiers of the central army were already ready to go, and rushed out as soon as they heard the order. Their armor shone coldly in the sun, like a group of war gods from hell. The white-pole soldiers finally couldn't resist and retreated one after another. But they had lost 30% of their troops before joining the battle, and most of the remaining soldiers were injured, and their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced. As soon as Li Zicheng rushed into the battle, a melee broke out again, and the casualties of the white-pole soldiers were even more severe.

Jian Mingxiao stood firmly behind the battle formation, directing the battle, with a determined look in her eyes. Qin Zuoming, covered in blood, shouted, "Aunt, retreat quickly!" His voice was filled with a hint of urgency and worry.

After Jian Mingxiao used up all her arrows, she replaced them with a spear. She said sternly, "We must fight to the death and never retreat!" There was a hint of firmness and determination in her voice, as if she was a god of war from hell. Zuo Ming cried and said, "The situation is already unfavorable. If we don't leave now, it will be too late." There was a hint of grief and helplessness in his voice.

Jian Mingxiao smiled and asked back: "Who said we will definitely lose?" Her smile was full of confidence and determination. Then she ordered the cannon to be lit, and the whole army launched the final charge. The cannon roared, and the artillery fire on the top of the city continued. The shells fell on the Shun army's position like raindrops. The artillerymen took the opportunity to move gunpowder and wipe the barrels to prepare for the next round of attack.

At this moment, while the sound of artillery was loud, the north gate suddenly opened, and the Ming army poured out like a tide. It turned out that the defenders in the city also joined the battle. Jian Mingxiao gave up the opportunity to defend the city and took the initiative to attack, and the situation changed again. The soldiers of the Shun army who rushed into the Ming army's position were soon killed without a single piece of armor left, and the two sides fell into a stalemate in the battle for the position again. After a stalemate, Li Zicheng realized that this battle could no longer be won. A trace of sadness and helplessness flashed in his eyes, as if he saw the coming of the end of the world. The scouts brought news that the battle in the south of the city was over, and Zhang Xianzhong was defeated and fled into the mountains. The Ming army left more than a thousand cavalry to clean up the battlefield, and the rest regrouped in the north of the city to prepare for the next move. After Hao Yaoqi was defeated, the Ming army chased and killed for a while and returned to the battlefield. Now only the battles in the east and north of the city have not ended. But these no longer affect the overall situation. The Ming army has assembled and is ready to encircle and annihilate the Shun army. Li Zicheng's troops were already at a disadvantage and his hope of victory was very slim.

Li Yan took the initiative to apologize and said, "I did not expect that the White Spear Soldiers could hold out after losing 40% of their strength. This is my fault." There was a hint of self-blame and helplessness in his voice. Li Zicheng smiled bitterly and said, "This is not your fault. Jian Mingxiao is indeed a tough opponent." There was a hint of admiration and helplessness in his voice.

Li Yan looked into the distance and whispered, "We are already defeated. We should retreat as soon as possible. Once the Ming army gathers, we will have nowhere to retreat." His voice was filled with anxiety and worry. Li Zicheng asked gloomily, "If we retreat, where should we go?" His eyes flashed with confusion and helplessness.

Nangong Shangpu suggested: "We can retreat to Henan and contain the enemy there." There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice. Cheng Minghe also agreed, and there was a glimmer of hope and expectation in his eyes.

But Li Yan shouted angrily: "Nonsense!" This shout stunned everyone. They looked at Li Yan with doubt and confusion in their eyes. Li Yan continued: "If we retreat to Henan, Guanzhong will be empty. Jian Mingxiao only needs to send heavy troops to guard Wuguan and Tongguan, and we will be attacked from both sides. This is not a good strategy. Besides, we have suffered heavy losses in today's battle. How many troops can we have left?" There was a hint of anger and helplessness in his voice.

Cheng Minghe glared at Li Yan, but he was not afraid. He sighed and said, "It's really sad that we are still arguing here." There was a trace of sadness and helplessness in his voice, as if he saw the end of the world coming.

At this moment, the sound of cannons rang out again, bringing Li Zicheng back to reality. He turned to Li Yan and asked, "Sir, do you have any good suggestions?" His eyes were full of expectation and hope, as if he saw a ray of hope.

Li Yan quickly replied: "Since we cannot win, we should minimize the losses. Let the cavalry retreat first, and the infantry cover behind. We retreat northward, passing Wugu, Shangluo, and Lantian back to Guanzhong. In this way, we can change the offensive and defensive situation. Dashun should hold Guanzhong and resist the attack of the Ming army." There was a hint of firmness and determination in his voice, as if he was the god of war from hell.

The infantry of the Shun army was fighting fiercely, with sweat and dust intertwined on their faces, forming mud marks. They were waving their swords and guns, with determination and enthusiasm flashing in their eyes. However, at this moment, the cavalry began to retreat in an orderly manner, as if a sudden gust of wind took away the tension and anxiety on the battlefield.

The first one to flee was Gao Yigong from the east of the city. At that time, he was competing in archery with Cha Binxun's troops. The soldiers of the two troops gathered in a circle, cheering and laughing one after another. Suddenly, the messenger came running, his face was anxious, as if he had great news. He shouted anxiously: "General, the emperor has an urgent order, retreat quickly, if it's too late, the whole army will be finished!" Gao Yigong squinted and pondered for a while. A trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but it was immediately replaced by determination. He turned around immediately and galloped away on his horse, as if he was a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, with fearlessness and determination.

The Dashun Army's tactic was to continue fighting if they won and to run away if they lost. Gao Yigong played this tactic very well, without any hesitation. When the cavalrymen behind him saw the central army's flag retreating, they also followed suit. They knew that at this moment, saving their lives was more important than anything else.

Cha Binxun was worried that it was a trick, so he didn't dare to pursue. He looked at Gao Yigong's receding back, his eyes flashing with doubt and vigilance. He sent a few hundred cavalrymen to follow slowly behind him, wanting to find out what was going on. However, he didn't know that at this moment, the situation on the battlefield had changed dramatically.

As Gao Yigong ran away, the cavalrymen in the north of the city also left their camps in a panic and ran north. They were like a group of headless flies, running around in all directions, just wanting to escape from this place full of death and fear. At first, the infantrymen didn't realize that something was wrong, they were still immersed in the frenzy of fighting. However, when they saw the cavalrymen running away one after another, they realized that something was wrong. Especially the baggage soldiers at the back, they looked back and saw that everything was gone, and they felt very uncertain.

"Where did the cavalry go? Did they go around behind us?" someone whispered. There was a trace of trembling and anxiety in his voice. However, someone said with certainty: "It's not going around, it's really running away!" There was a trace of anger and despair in his voice. The people next to him advised him: "Keep your voice down, don't get yourself into trouble." However, the soldier was not afraid. He pointed to the empty camp and said: "If this is not running, what else can it be? Have you ever seen someone going around with luggage on his back?" There was a trace of sarcasm and helplessness in his voice.

The news soon reached Tan Wen. Tan Wen was a subordinate of Jian Mingxiao, a burly and stern-looking general. He was not very active in attacking, but was quite active in escaping. At this moment, he was sitting leisurely in the tent sipping tea. However, when the messenger hurried over to tell him that the emperor had retreated, the teacup in his hand trembled suddenly and the tea splashed out.

Tan Wen looked at the messenger, smiled, and asked him what was going on. However, his smile was filled with a trace of panic and uneasiness that could not be concealed. The messenger hesitated and did not dare to tell the truth. However, Tan Wen had understood everything. He stood up, straightened his clothes, and said loudly to everyone: "The emperor has run away, why are you still fighting? It is important to escape quickly!" There was a trace of urgency and anxiety in his voice. After speaking, he jumped on his horse and rushed out of the camp. His figure looked particularly lonely and desolate in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Tan Wen's words were more powerful than the swords and arrows of the Ming army. The soldiers looked at each other, their faces pale with fear. They ran away in unison, as if they were a group of sheep being chased by wolves. Those who ran fast could survive, but those who ran slowly were not so lucky. They were killed by the swords and arrows of the Ming army and fell in a pool of blood. The cavalry ran away, the baggage soldiers also scattered, and the Shun army was defeated.

The infantrymen who were charging ahead were just about to raise their swords to kill the enemy, but when they turned around, they found that their comrades had all run away. They ran in a hurry and disorder. The new recruits were still confused, and the old soldiers had long disappeared. The Shun army ran wildly in the opposite direction of the Ming army, fearing that they would be caught up. Those who ran slowly fell to the ground gasping for breath; those who ran quickly simply stepped on the bodies and rushed forward recklessly. The road was getting more and more congested, and the soldiers didn't care about their comrades anymore, and ran on the corpses. The tragedy of trampling on each other happened just like this: people squeezed each other, people stepped on each other, and there were cries everywhere... Life was as worthless as grass.

The white-pole soldiers were stunned when they saw this scene. They had thought that the Shun army would be a tough battle, but they were so vulnerable. "How did they lose so quickly?" a soldier said to himself. Another soldier sighed and said, "If I hadn't seen their clothes and knew they were government troops, I would have thought they were bandits!" There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his tone.

Seeing this, Jian Mingxiao rode her horse to the front. She was wearing armor and holding a spear, standing on the battlefield with a heroic look. She pointed her spear at the enemy and shouted loudly: "Brothers, kill!" There was a hint of determination and excitement in her voice. The morale of the white-pole soldiers was boosted, and they strode forward like a group of fearless gods of war.

The battlefield was full of deserters and surrendered soldiers. They trampled on each other, some fled, some surrendered... The White Spear Soldiers were furious: not a single surrendered soldier, all were killed. Blood mist filled the air, and the ground was dyed red. This was a brutal massacre, but also a carnival of victory.

The Ming troops from the south, west and east of the city also rushed to the battlefield and joined the massacre. They brandished swords and guns, shouted and rushed towards the enemy. Their eyes flashed with fanaticism and desire to kill. However, when dusk fell and the sun set, they finally stopped the massacre. It was not that they did not want to continue killing, but they were afraid of accidentally hurting their own people.

It was already the first watch when the army returned to the city. Soldiers and civilians lined up to welcome them, shouting, "The Ming army is mighty! General Qin is mighty!" Their voices were filled with excitement and admiration. Jian Mingxiao smiled and responded, "This is all due to the great fortune of the emperor and the bravery of the soldiers." Her smile was filled with pride and satisfaction.

The people were very happy to be exempted from taxes for two consecutive years. They turned from hostility to closeness and warmly welcomed the arrival of the Ming army. In fact, the people's demands were not high. As long as they could eat and wear warm clothes, they were a good emperor. They didn't care who was the emperor, but only cared whether their lives could be improved. At this moment, they were immersed in the joy of victory and looked forward to a better future.

Before the army returned to the city, the afterglow of the setting sun had already spread all over the land, and the smoke from the cooking stoves in every household rose up, interweaving with the sunset glow to form a peaceful and warm picture. The common people were busy preparing meals for the soldiers, with simple smiles on their faces, and their hands were busy cutting vegetables and cooking, as if they had integrated their joy for victory and gratitude for the soldiers into the hot food.

As soon as the exhausted soldiers stepped into the city gate, they were surrounded by the warm atmosphere. Some drank hot porridge, which seemed to have some meat slices added to it, and the aroma was fragrant; some chewed pickles, and the salty and fragrant taste made them swallow them in big mouthfuls. Their faces were filled with satisfied and happy smiles. Although this battle was not easy, seeing the people spontaneously cooking for them, the soldiers felt that this was enough to be the pride of their lives.

The whole city was immersed in the joy of victory, and the military and civilians celebrated together. On the streets, children chased and played, and adults gathered together to talk about the war. Everyone's face was filled with excitement and pride. On the city wall, the battle flag fluttered in the wind, as if telling the glory of this victory.

At this time, General Jian Mingxiao suddenly announced that he would summon all the generals to the camp for a meeting at the second watch. Although the generals looked exhausted and somewhat reluctant, seeing General Jian Mingxiao's vigorous appearance at the age of over 70, his upright posture and resolute eyes, no one dared to complain. They knew that this old general was a true iron-blooded warrior, and his spiritual strength was enough to inspire everyone.

"Today we were able to defeat the bandit Li, all thanks to your heroic fighting." General Jian Mingxiao said straight to the point, his voice was loud and powerful, as if it could penetrate everyone's heart, "After the battle, I will report the number of enemies killed and casualties, and I will report to the court to ask for credit for you!" When the soldiers heard this, their previous resentment immediately disappeared. After all, military merit and rewards are real benefits, who would not be happy?

At this time, General Li Xingzhong stood up and said, "Your Excellency the Governor is too polite. This victory is all due to the desperate efforts of the Sichuan Army soldiers. The credit should go to them." His words were full of respect and gratitude for the soldiers. As soon as these words came out, the Sichuan Army generals were all grateful and shed tears. They knew that this general was someone who truly understood the hearts of the soldiers.

General Jian Mingxiao nodded and continued, "According to common sense, we should rest after winning a battle. But I think we cannot give the enemy a chance to breathe. They are also resting, and once they recover, they will become a major threat to the court. So we must press on to win!" There was a firm light in his eyes, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

The generals were embarrassed when they heard this, after all, everyone was looking forward to relaxing after the war and enjoying the fruits of victory. But the soldiers' minds are often short-sighted, and they value immediate interests more. General Jian Mingxiao saw everyone's concerns, so he explained: "The pursuit I mentioned does not mean that you should chase them all the time, but to press them step by step and force the enemy back to the Guanzhong area. And I will send those soldiers who have not yet made military achievements to pursue them. They will definitely strive forward to win military merits." His words were full of wisdom and strategy, which made the generals feel that they made sense and nodded in agreement.

Then General Jian Mingxiao mentioned: "Our white-pole soldiers suffered heavy losses and need to rest for a while. The next battle will depend on the generals' efforts." His tone was a little tired and helpless, but more of a trust and expectation for the generals. The generals of the Sichuan Army said that they would definitely fulfill their mission, and their eyes flashed with determination, as if they were ready to charge again.

General Li Xingzhong also responded loudly: "My men and I will obey your orders!" His voice was loud and powerful, as if it could penetrate everyone's heart. After some discussion, everyone made a plan for the next battle and decided to start the action the next day. They knew that the war was not over yet, and they still needed to work hard and fight for victory.

Li Zicheng fled to the north with his remaining troops, while General Jian Mingxiao sent his infantry and cavalry to pursue them. Like a group of cheetahs, they kept a close eye on the enemy's tracks, not letting them have a chance to breathe. On the other hand, Zhang Xianzhong fled into the mountains, and his deputy general Yu Dahai said worriedly, "It will be difficult to catch up with the enemy once they flee into the mountains." There was a hint of helplessness and worry in his tone.

However, General Li Xingzhong confidently offered a plan: "The enemy uses escape to deal with us, and we can also use the same method against them. We can deploy cavalry in the state capital near the mountains and forests, and launch an attack as soon as the enemy comes out. We don't seek a big victory, but we seek to avoid defeat. At the same time, we must pass down the order to let the surrendered enemies go, and strictly check the passing merchants to prevent the enemy from mixing in among them." His strategy was both cunning and practical, and General Jian Mingxiao couldn't help but nod in praise.

General Jian Mingxiao adopted his suggestion and put it into practice immediately. He knew that this war was not only a military contest, but also a psychological contest. He wanted to let the enemy know that no matter where they fled, they could not escape the pursuit of the Ming Dynasty.

As the people had already surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, the bandits were becoming less powerful. They fled everywhere like a pack of wolves without a leader, unable to put up an effective resistance. General Jian Mingxiao took the opportunity to formulate a plan to send troops, and decided to send General Li Xingzhong as the vanguard. He also prepared to personally lead the army north to recover the lost territories of Huguang, Henan and other places.

On the night of September 5, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. General Jian Mingxiao came to the prison in Chengtian Prefecture. He visited the captured Sun Kewang, the righteous son of Zhang Xianzhong, and Li Zicheng's generals Sang Dongxu and Helan. He wanted to talk to them, but Sun Kewang arrogantly said that he only wanted to die, and Sang Dongxu and Helan also expressed the same wish. Their eyes were full of anger and unwillingness, as if they could not accept this failure.

General Jian Mingxiao was not angry, he just waited quietly for them to calm down. He knew that these generals were veterans who had experienced many battles, and their pride and self-esteem made them unable to accept the reality of failure. But he also knew that only by making them truly realize their mistakes could they stand up again.

So, he slowly said: "As a defeated general, what courage do you have?" His tone was full of sarcasm and helplessness, but more of it was his expectation and teachings for them. He hoped that they could learn a lesson from this, cheer up again, and prepare for future battles. (End of this chapter)