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

Li Dingguo personally led 500 cavalrymen, like a swift wind, advancing southward in a circuitous way. The sun shone through the sparse clouds, shining on their resolute faces, reflecting a fearless light. The cavalrymen of the chieftains followed closely behind, like a group of hungry cheetahs, staring at the prey in front of them.

When they were halfway through the pursuit, Li Dingguo suddenly split his cavalry into two, like two sharp swords, one half galloping eastward and the other half retreating westward. Sha Yueze mistakenly thought that the Ming army was afraid, and with a scornful smile on his face, he also divided his troops to pursue. His pride was like a flower blooming in spring, but he did not realize the coming storm.

Li Dingguo estimated the distance between the two armies while riding his horse. His eyes were calm and deep, and he kept muttering to himself: "A hundred steps..." "Eighty steps..." Suddenly, he pulled the reins hard and turned his horse's head. The cavalrymen behind him followed suit, like a group of well-trained falcons, instantly changing the direction of their flight.

When the distance between the two sides was shortened to 60 steps, the Ming army suddenly changed its formation, facing the enemy with its back to them. Li Dingguo shouted, "Kill!" His voice echoed over the battlefield like thunder. He led the way and rushed into the enemy's formation. His figure on the battlefield was like a flash of lightning, cutting through the darkness.

Sha Yueze was horrified when he saw this. The contempt on his face was replaced by fear. He had never expected the Ming army to counterattack. The chieftain's cavalry was even more panicked. Their rain of arrows was like dense raindrops, but it could not stop the Ming army's attack like a tide. More and more people retreated, and the formation became more and more chaotic, like a group of wild beasts that had lost their leader, fleeing everywhere.

In a blink of an eye, the situation on the battlefield suddenly changed, and the Tusi cavalry that was originally chasing became the fleeing party. But today was different from the past. As soon as they turned around, they ran into more than 200 friendly troops who were also retreating. The two forces met on the battlefield, but they were like two opposite whirlpools, falling into chaos and struggle. The 500 Tusi cavalry were attacked from both sides by the 500 Ming cavalry and fell into a desperate situation!
Arrows pierced the air, making a sound like tearing cloth. Although the Tusi cavalry were wearing armor, their horses were unprotected. The shovel arrows fired by the Ming army specifically attacked horses. The arrowheads cut like shovels. The horses ran wildly after being injured. Their neighing and the screams of the cavalry were intertwined, forming a chaotic battlefield picture.

The Tusi cavalry whipped their horses desperately, but the horses were out of control and ran wildly around. The two horses collided, and the men and horses fell to the ground one after another, with heavy casualties. Li Dingguo led the cavalry to the scene, their eyes full of victory. They annihilated the 500 Tusi cavalry with almost no effort, and Sha Yueze was also killed in the chaos, and his body was thrown on the battlefield like a piece of rag.

After the battle in the south, the army in the north also received a victory report. More than a thousand Ming cavalry quickly assembled, their faces filled with the joy of victory. They asked Li Dingguo: "What should we do with the infantry?" Li Dingguo shook his head and said: "Don't worry about them, let's go to Pingyi and persuade them to surrender." His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

After that, more than a thousand cavalrymen galloped away, their figures gradually disappearing in the afterglow of the setting sun. The chieftains' infantrymen looked at each other in bewilderment at the bloody scene on the battlefield. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair, like a group of wild beasts trapped in a cage.

The five hundred infantrymen in Pingyi City were filled with fear and anxiety when they saw the arrival of the Ming army. They knew that their fate was in the hands of the Ming army. So they immediately threw down their weapons and surrendered. Between dignity and life, they chose the latter. It took Li Dingguo only half a day to conquer Pingyi, and his wisdom and courage were once again proven.

The next day, the main force of the Ming army entered Pingyi City. The people in the city went out to greet them, their faces filled with joy and peace. The first battle was a victory, and Governor Wen Anzhi was very happy. He hosted a banquet for all the generals in the central military tent, wanting to celebrate the victory with them.

Gao Wengui arrived first. He whispered in Wen Anzhi's ear, "Governor Wen, I have a request." There was a hint of anticipation and nervousness in his voice. Wen Anzhi smiled and said, "You can ask for anything. We are about to accomplish our mission. I will agree to any reasonable request." His voice was gentle and kind, giving people a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.

Gao Wengui's eyes lit up and he said, "Are you serious, Governor?" He showed a look of joy on his face. Wen Anzhi nodded and said, "Of course." His eyes were full of sincerity and determination. Gao Wengui said, "I want to eat mushrooms. They are especially delicious when fried." There was a hint of greed and satisfaction in his voice.

However, Wen Anzhi's face changed: "No! What if it is poisonous? Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?" His voice was harsh and worried. Gao Wengui smiled and said: "We can let the chieftain's surrendered soldiers try it first, and if there is nothing wrong, we can eat it later." He showed a cunning look on his face.

Wen Anzhi had no choice but to agree. He thought to himself: "This Gao Wengui is such a glutton. But for this victory, I have to give in to him this time." After a while, the fireman came to report: "One of the people who tried the mushrooms died, and another foamed at the mouth." Gao Wengui was horrified: "Even the natives don't know that mushrooms are poisonous?" His face showed fear and confusion.

Wen Anzhi sighed and said, "The human heart is hard to predict, just like this mushroom. The non-toxic ones are edible, but the poisonous ones can kill you. As long as you don't think about satisfying your appetite, there will be no such danger." There was a hint of depth and philosophy in his voice. Gao Wengui suddenly realized and thanked Wen Anzhi for his teachings. He thought to himself, "Yes, the human heart is hard to predict. I must be more cautious in the future."

After the banquet, all the generals were drunk, except Wen Anzhi and Li Dingguo. They discussed the follow-up plan under the influence of alcohol, and their eyes were full of wisdom and determination. They knew that the war was far from over and greater challenges were waiting for them.

At noon the next day, the army set out from Pingyi and headed straight for Qujing. Qujing was the gateway to Yunnan, and Sha Dingzhou stationed 5,000 troops there for defense. He wanted to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, but he forgot that there were also changes in military tactics. The Ming army, armed with unprecedented gunpowder and artillery, surrounded Qujing City on three sides, deliberately leaving a road in the west to lure the enemy.

The general defending the city laughed at the Ming army for having few soldiers at first, but when the Ming army began to attack the city, he turned pale with fear. He knew that his fate was in the hands of the Ming army, and he could only do his best to defend the city. However, facing the powerful offensive and advanced weapons of the Ming army, he knew that he was powerless to save the situation.

As for the outcome of the Battle of Qujing? That will be revealed in the following story. In this war, every choice is crucial, and every decision may change the course of history. And Li Dingguo and Wen Anzhi, they will continue to use their wisdom and courage to write their own legendary chapters.

Upon hearing that the Ming army was planning to attack the city, the defender of Qujing, Sha Yimin, looked disdainful and sneered, as if he didn't care about the upcoming war. "Let them attack! We have plenty of arrows, kerosene, logs and rocks in our city!" His words were full of arrogance, as if he didn't take the Ming army seriously at all. He also added, with a resolute tone: "Even if I die in battle, I will drag tens of thousands of Ming soldiers to be buried with me!"

The soldier who was delivering the message nearby looked at his arrogance, his heart pounding, his eyes flickering with anxiety. He hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke a word. Although his voice was soft, it was like thunder, shocking Sha Yimin as if he had been struck by lightning.

"Sir, the Ming army took advantage of the night to place hundreds of artillery pieces outside the South City Gate... Our soldiers guarding the city were so scared that they dared not defend it."

"How...how many artillery pieces?" Sha Yimin suspected that he had heard it wrong and asked hurriedly. The arrogance on his face was instantly replaced by fear.

"Your Excellency, I just counted them secretly. There are more than 600 cannons of all sizes, as well as a number of catapults." There was a slight tremor in the messenger's voice, and he was obviously shocked by the Ming army's formation.

Upon hearing this number, Sha Yimin's face changed drastically and he was so shocked that he couldn't speak. His eyes flashed with disbelief, as if he couldn't accept this fact.

"Six hundred cannons...this is too many! Doesn't it cost money for the Ming army to build so many cannons?" Shocked, Sha Yimin couldn't help but complain, with a hint of bitterness and helplessness in his voice.

The messenger sighed, shook his head and said, "I don't know about that, but I see that the Ming army has plenty of artillery and ammunition. It's obvious that they want to blow down our city wall."

"Hurry, hurry, we are in a commanding position and our artillery has a long range. Let's quickly aim at their artillery formation and fire!" Sha Yimin gave orders while putting on his armor and going into battle. The servants hurried over to help. There was a sense of anxiety and panic in his movements.

The messenger hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but suggest: "Sir, why don't you go up to the tower and take a look at the situation yourself? Maybe you can come up with a better solution."

Although Sha Yimin had some doubts in his heart, he had to go there in person. He was extremely anxious and hurried along the way, as if every step was on the edge of a knife.

When Sha Yimin arrived at the south city gate, he finally understood. It turned out that there were only more than 20 cannons on the south city wall, and most of them were small and medium-sized, which could not compete with the more than 600 cannons of the Ming army. The defenders were afraid of the power of the Ming army, and they dared not defend or take the initiative, for fear of retaliation. Fear and despair flashed in their eyes, as if they had seen the impending defeat.

"Everyone, follow me to the city to defend it! Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be punished by military law!" Seeing the low morale, Sha Yimin shouted loudly. His voice was full of majesty and determination, trying to inspire the fighting spirit of the soldiers in this way.

Although the soldiers were reluctant, they did not dare to disobey the order and had to climb the city wall to wait and see. Their actions were filled with helplessness and despair, as if they already knew the outcome of the battle. In fact, they were just waiting and watching. Once the Ming army opened fire, they quickly hid under the city wall for fear of being hit by the artillery fire.

Sha Yimin was about to order the artillery to counterattack when he suddenly saw a Ming cavalryman galloping to the moat and shouting at the tower: "Listen up, everyone in the city! The court has found evidence of Sha Dingzhou's rebellion and has specially sent 100,000 troops to Yunnan to quell the rebellion! Anshun Military and Civilian Government has been captured!"

His voice was loud and firm, as if it carried an irresistible force. When the defenders in the city heard this, they all showed fear on their faces, knowing that this battle had no chance of winning.

"Those who surrender will be pardoned and reinstated! Those who resist to the end will be killed without mercy!" The voice of the Ming cavalry sounded again, with majesty and determination.

When Sha Yimin heard this, he got angry and picked up his bow and arrow to shoot. The soldiers beside him tried to stop him: "Sir, calm down! When two armies are fighting, they don't kill the messenger. Killing him might disturb our army's morale."

"Bullshit!" Sha Yimin shouted angrily, "I've never heard that killing the enemy would disturb one's mind!" Then he pushed everyone aside and shot an arrow, hitting the cavalryman's shoulder. The arrow pierced through the armor and nailed into his body. The cavalryman screamed and fell to the ground.

The Ming soldiers outside the city held back their anger and cursed: "You shot me from behind! We'll take note of this!" Then they turned around and tried to flee. Their movements were filled with anger and helplessness, as if they already knew how difficult this battle would be.

The defenders in the city knew that there was no hope for peace talks, so they shot and killed the cavalryman with arrows and guns. Their actions were full of determination and cruelty, as if they had already put life and death aside.

Li Dingguo, who was standing far away, saw this scene and secretly memorized the cavalryman's name, intending to report it to the court after the battle to commend his heroic behavior of risking his life and dying in battle for his country. His eyes flashed with admiration and regret, as if he was mourning for this brave cavalryman.

Then he ordered the messenger to ask the central army to attack. Wen Anzhi agreed to Li Dingguo's request. His eyes flashed with determination and resoluteness, as if he had seen the upcoming victory.

Li Dingguo waved his hand and ordered: "Attack the city!" The Ming army immediately took action, digging trenches and building bunkers. Everything was ready, and the artillery was pointed at the battlements. Their actions were swift and orderly, as if they had been rehearsed countless times.

The flag was waved, the cannon roared, the walls trembled, dust flew, bullets rained down, the battlements were blown to pieces, and the defenders suffered heavy casualties and fled in fear. Their screams and cries intertwined like a symphony of death.

The bombardment lasted for nearly an hour and was temporarily stopped because the artillery was overheated. The generals asked Li Dingguo: "General, are we going to attack the city now?" Their eyes were shining with expectation and anxiety, as if they could not wait to launch the attack.

Li Dingguo smiled and shook his head, saying: "No hurry. His Majesty has issued an edict saying that there is sufficient artillery ammunition. We only have 30,000 troops and we must minimize casualties." His voice was calm and wise, as if he had taken all factors into consideration.

When the defenders in the city heard the gunfire stop, they thought the Ming army was about to launch an attack and quickly climbed up the city wall to prepare for defense. But they were stunned when they saw that the battlements had been blown away, leaving nothing behind. Their eyes flashed with despair and helplessness, as if they had already seen the impending defeat.

"Where are the battlements? Why are they gone?" everyone asked in surprise. There was a sense of fear and uneasiness in their voices, as if they could not accept this fact.

"It was destroyed by the artillery fire of the Ming army." A soldier replied with a wry smile. His eyes flashed with helplessness and despair, as if he had lost confidence in this war.

"How can we defend without battlements? Aren't we just sitting ducks?" another soldier shouted in horror. There was a sense of despair and panic in his voice, as if he had seen his own impending death.

"Go and report to Lord Sha!" a general shouted hastily. His voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness, as if he was at his wits' end.

Sha Yimin was helpless and had to order the demolition of houses to take wood and stones as shelters. His eyes flashed with helplessness and despair, as if he already knew the outcome of the war. However, even so, he could only do his best and hope to hold out for a while longer under the attack of the Ming army.

Seeing that the artillery had almost cooled down, Li Dingguo ordered: "Feint attack!" His voice was calm and wise, as if he had taken all factors into consideration.

The Ming army immediately shouted and pushed the trench bridge ladders closer to the city wall. The defenders poked their heads out to peek at the situation. Their eyes flashed with fear and anxiety, as if they had already anticipated the upcoming attack. However, the Ming army was only feinting and did not really launch an attack, which made the defenders slightly relieved.

However, at this moment Li Dingguo ordered again: "Keep firing!" There was determination and firmness in his voice, as if he had made up his mind to break through the city.

The gunfire sounded again, and the newly built bunker was instantly blown to pieces. The casualties of the defenders were even more severe. Their screams and cries intertwined as if forming a more tragic symphony. This battle had no chance of winning, and only endless despair and death were waiting for them.

Whenever fear quietly grows deep in people's hearts, it is often because the force they face seems too small. Once the firepower they possess is too strong for the enemy to bear, fear will surge towards the enemy like a tide, making them fearful and unable to resist.

The 600 artillery pieces of the Ming army, like 600 roaring beasts, bombarded the walls of the southern city of Qujing day and night. It lasted for a whole day, from the first light of dawn to the sunset, the roar of the artillery never stopped. When the sun was about to set, the battlements on the city wall were almost blown up, and the bricks and stones were shaky, as if they would collapse at any time.

Li Dingguo stood on a high place, looking at the changes in the city wall with a sharp gaze. There was no joy on his face, only deep thoughts. He started out as a bandit, experienced hundreds of battles, and was unmatched in the art of siege. However, this Qujing City was built in the 21st year of Hongwu, with a stone foundation and brick walls, making it extremely solid. It has a circumference of six li and three li, is three zhang high and one zhang thick, has four tall and majestic gates, watchtowers on the city wall facing each other, and a moat surrounding the city. It is really difficult to destroy it with artillery fire!

"Withdraw the troops and return to the camp!" Li Dingguo put down the telescope in his hand and gave the order. His voice was steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty. When the 30,000 troops heard it, they immediately took action and could not wait to evacuate the battlefield and return to the camp. Although they were tired, their eyes were shining with anticipation and excitement. On the way back to the camp, Li Dingguo met Gao Wengui. He whispered, "Has the water in the moat been cut off?" There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his voice. Gao Wengui replied, "It has been cut off. The water in Qujing's moat is drawn from the Baishi River three miles away. There was little rain this year, and the river water was almost dry, so we easily blocked the water inlet with earth and stones." A smug smile appeared on his face, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

Li Dingguo nodded and said, "Good!" His eyes were gleaming with approval. He knew that they had already won this battle.

At dawn the next day, the sound of cannons rang out again. Six hundred cannons roared again, continuing to bombard the city walls. The sound of cannons lasted from morning until noon. The bricks and stones on the city walls had been blown to pieces, as if they would collapse at any time.

"General, there is smoke in the city. They are starting to cook!" Gao Wengui walked quickly to Li Dingguo and reported loudly. There was a hint of excitement and anticipation in his voice.

"Gather the troops and prepare to attack the city!" Li Dingguo didn't want to give the enemy time to eat. There was a hint of determination and firmness in his voice. He knew that they had waited too long for this battle.

After the order was given, the 30,000-man army immediately took action. The 3,000 soldiers of the vanguard camp pushed the trench bridge and rushed forward bravely with ladders. Their eyes flashed with determination and courage, as if they had seen the victory flag on the city wall. The 5,000 bird gun archers followed closely behind, holding bird guns and bows in their hands, ready to give the enemy a fatal blow.

The team in front built a bridge to cross the river, while the team behind brought the ladder to the city. The soldiers pulled the rope in unison, and the ladder instantly stood up. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if they had been rehearsed countless times.

"Kill!" A deafening shout rang out. The soldiers held shields in their left hands and knives in their right hands, and formed a team of five people and began to climb the ladder. Their movements were agile and powerful, as if they had forgotten about fatigue and death.

Seeing this, the Tusi soldiers on the city wall hurriedly fought back with bows and arrows, kerosene, and rolling logs and stones. However, their attack seemed so weak. A Tusi soldier held kerosene in his hand and wanted to pour it down. But before he could pour the oil, the bird gunner under the city wall had already opened fire. A shot hit his head and he fell to the ground. After the battlements were blown up, the Tusi soldiers lost their cover and were completely exposed to the guns of the Ming army. And most of their artillery was destroyed by the Ming army's artillery fire, greatly reducing its lethality.

The bird gunners aimed at the top of the city wall and fired at anyone who showed their head. Their hit rate was as high as 70% to 80%. The bullets penetrated the armor and caused heavy casualties to the Tusi soldiers. The kerosene basin was also overturned to the ground, and the flames spread everywhere. The defenders were busy putting out the fire, but were forced to retreat again and again. There was a flash of fear and despair in their eyes, as if they had seen the impending defeat.

The sound of gunfire continued, and the Tusi soldiers fell one after another. Their bodies were thrown into the air like broken puppets, and then fell heavily to the ground. Seeing this, Sha Yimin shouted, "Hurry up and throw the log!" There was a hint of anxiety and helplessness in his voice. However, his order could no longer change the situation.

Two Tusi soldiers lifted a large log and tried to throw it down, but before they could let go, they were hit by bird guns. They fell from the city wall like a kite with a broken string and died. The log fell to the ground and could not roll at all. It seemed to have become a symbol of the Tusi soldiers' incompetence, lying there quietly, silently telling of their failure.

"Kill!" Under the cover of the bird-gunners, the Ming army finally attacked the top of the city. Spears were everywhere, and the defenders' last line of defense was in danger. Although the Ming army was wearing heavy armor and had difficulty moving, they fought forward one after another, and finally some warriors stood firm. Their eyes flashed with determination and bravery, as if they had forgotten fatigue and death.

A Ming soldier climbed up to the top of the city wall, blocked the spear attack with his left hand, and rushed over with his right hand to knock several spearmen to the ground. His movements were agile and powerful, as if he had practiced them countless times. At this time, a burly man swung a mace and hit him hard on the back, killing him. However, the chieftain's soldiers were too focused on this side and did not notice that another three Ming soldiers had quietly climbed up to the top of the city wall along the ladder.

"Kill!" The three Ming soldiers spun back to back and stabbed into the enemy group. They used shields to block blunt attacks and used their waist knives to slash and chop, invincible. Their movements were as smooth and powerful as flowing water, as if they had forgotten about fatigue and death. The chieftains' soldiers were not as well equipped as the Ming soldiers and retreated one after another. There was a flash of fear and despair in their eyes, as if they had seen the impending defeat.

"The Ming army is mighty!" The second team of five soldiers came up and together they held the ladder. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if they had practiced countless times. Their eyes shone with determination and courage, as if they had forgotten about fatigue and death.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The Ming army marched step by step, using their advantage in armor to continuously expand their victory. Their movements were like a surging tide that could not be stopped. More than a dozen Ming soldiers arrived with matchlock grenades, lit the fuses and threw them into the enemy formation. Explosions sounded, bullets flew everywhere, and thick smoke billowed. The enemy soldiers were either killed or injured, and the rest were dizzy and confused. Their eyes flashed with fear and despair, as if they had seen the coming death.

"Brothers, the credit for being the first to reach the front lies in this battle!" The morale of the Ming army was greatly boosted, and they bravely advanced like a tiger with wings. In their hearts, there was only the belief in victory and endless courage. They knew that they had already won this battle.

The chieftains and soldiers on the top of the city were frightened by the sound of the Ming army's artillery. They huddled behind the battlements, covering their ears with their hands, as if they could block out the deafening roar. When they heard the sound of the grenade exploding, they thought it was another artillery attack. They were so scared that their legs went weak and they just wanted to hide. But when they turned around, they saw the Ming army's heavily armored soldiers standing there like a mountain, their armor flashing coldly in the sun. They could neither advance nor retreat, and finally became a mess.

They were like a group of headless flies, swarming on the stairs, trying to escape. But the stairs were narrow and steep, how could they accommodate so many people? As a result, they were stuck there, the people in front were blocked, and the people behind were pushing forward, the scene was extremely chaotic. Some people were pushed to the ground, and before they could get up, they were trampled into a pulp by the people behind them. The people behind them also fell down, trampling on each other, and there were casualties everywhere. The air was filled with the smell of blood and fear, and wailing and crying were heard one after another.

The remaining soldiers saw that the road down the city was blocked, so they could only run along the city wall to the place where the east and west cities met. They were panting and their faces were full of fear, as if they saw the shadow of death wandering before their eyes.

"Where are you running to?" the defenders on the city shouted loudly, their voices sounding extremely harsh in the chaos.

"Run quickly, or you'll die!" The fleeing soldiers shouted as they ran, calling out to their companions. Some of these people knew each other, and some were from the same tribe. Their eyes were filled with despair and fear, as if they had already seen their own end.

The commotion in the south city alarmed thousands of Tusi soldiers in the city. They also fled westward because there were no Ming troops stationed outside the city in the west. They ran wildly on the streets like a group of stray dogs, with the shouts of the Ming army and the roar of artillery fire behind them.

The cavalrymen led the way, galloping towards the southwest without looking back. Their horses ran very fast, as if they were trying to escape from this place full of death and fear. Seeing that the capital of Yunnan was just around the corner, they wanted to join up with Sha Dingzhou's main force and seek a way out. They kept whipping their horses and shouting, "Horse, run faster, my life depends on you!" The horses seemed to understand, and they spread their hooves and disappeared in a moment.

The infantrymen followed behind, throwing away their armor and weapons in order to run faster. They ran out of breath, their faces flushed, as if they had exhausted all their strength. Some cunning ones even ran to the homes of ordinary people and stole clothes to change into. They wanted to avoid being chased by the Ming army, but their eyes were still full of fear and anxiety.

Just after they changed their clothes, the Ming army caught up with them. They were holding swords and guns, looking fierce, as if they wanted to wipe out all the rebels.

"Where are the rebels?" the Ming troops asked loudly, their voices echoing in the silent streets.

Those who changed their clothes pretended to be ordinary people, and said nothing, just looking at the homeowner. The homeowner was so scared that he shook his head and said in a trembling voice: "No... I didn't see it."

"Report immediately if you see it. There will be a reward of one or two taels of silver for each rebel captured." After saying this, the Ming army left, leaving the homeowner and the rebels who had changed their clothes looking at each other in bewilderment.

Suddenly, the homeowner hid behind a pillar, pointed at the pretend rebel and shouted, "He is a rebel, and his weapons are thrown in the backyard!" His voice was full of fear and anger, as if he wanted to put the rebel to death.

"Brothers, go ahead!" The Ming army rushed forward and put their knives on his neck. His eyes were full of despair and fear, as if he had seen his own end.

Under the pursuit of tens of thousands of Ming troops, the rebels in the city were either killed or captured. Those who escaped did not dare to relax their vigilance. They ran out of breath and their faces were red. At first, you could still hear the shouting and killing behind you, but gradually there was no sound at all, and even the flags of the Ming army could not be seen.

"No... I can't run anymore." A rebel slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.

"Me too. Let's rest for a while before we go. It seems there are no pursuers behind us." Another rebel also sat down, their eyes filled with fatigue and despair.

The defeated soldiers lay on the ground, gasping for breath, as if they had used up all their strength. Suddenly, a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats sounded, and they immediately became nervous. Looking up, they found that it was a cavalry team of the Ming army. They were wearing shining armor, holding bows and arrows, and looking around nervously.

"They are our people!" Someone recognized the flag and a glimmer of hope flashed in their eyes.

"Why are they here? Yunnan Prefecture is in the southwest, why are they going to the northeast? Qujing has been lost!" Everyone was discussing in confusion, their voices filled with confusion and worry.

At this time, the Tusi's cavalry also arrived. One of the cavalrymen shouted: "There are ambushes of the Ming army ahead, all of them are elite cavalry, run away!" His voice was full of fear and anxiety.

"Ah?" The Tusi infantrymen became even more confused when they heard this. They fled everywhere like a group of headless flies. They thought they were safe, but they were in danger again. Some continued to flee, while others wanted to surrender. They didn't know what to do. The cavalry looked at the infantrymen like lambs and could easily catch them.

Soon, the Ming army's pursuers arrived. They rushed forward with swords and guns in hand, looking fierce. Arrows rained down, swords flashed, and the rebels fell one after another. The air was filled with the smell of blood and death, and wailing and crying were heard one after another.

Those who surrendered also had to have some strategy. Those who surrendered early could survive, but those who surrendered late could not. The Ming army counted the merits by the number of heads, and they would not pursue them when they had enough heads. Most of those who escaped from the city died in Gao Wengui's ambush, and only a few who escaped to the mountains and forests saved their lives. They hid in the dense woods, trembling, as if they had seen the shadow of death wandering before their eyes.

At night, Gao Wengui led his army into the city. They returned with a full load, their faces filled with the joy of victory. The people in the city went out to watch, and saw the flags of the Ming army fluttering in the wind, and the soldiers holding swords and guns, looking majestic.

"Reporting to Governor Wen and General Li!" Gao Wengui saluted and said, "I was ordered to set up an ambush ten miles west of the city, and as expected, I encountered the fleeing chieftain's soldiers. More than a thousand enemies were killed and their heads were brought back; more than 620 prisoners and surrendered soldiers have been taken back to the army." His voice was full of pride and complacency.

Wen Anzhi stood up and said with a smile: "General Gao has lived up to everyone's expectations and should be credited for his achievement." His eyes were full of admiration and affirmation.

Li Dingguo patted him on the shoulder and said, "Keep up the good work." His voice was full of encouragement and expectation.

"Governor Xie Wen, General Li!" Gao Wengui asked again, "Excuse me, my two lords, how should we deal with the prisoners?" A hint of hesitation and uneasiness flashed in his eyes.

Wen Anzhi thought for a while and said, "Most of these people are from Mengzi and are familiar with the terrain. I plan to detain them temporarily and let them serve as guides when we counterattack Mengzi." His voice was full of thoughtfulness and strategy.

However, Li Dingguo blinked, cupped his hands and said, "Governor Wen, I have a different opinion." A hint of firmness and determination flashed in his eyes.

"Please speak." Wen Anzhi was slightly stunned, then motioned for him to continue.

"I think we should all kill them to serve as a warning to others!" Li Dingguo's voice was full of coldness and decisiveness. "Once the news of killing prisoners spreads, who will dare to surrender? After all, surrendering is a dead end, while not surrendering may allow you to survive." There seemed to be flames burning in his eyes, revealing an unquestionable determination.

"Governor Wen is wrong." Li Dingguo continued, his voice full of determination and persistence, "Treating prisoners well can win their hearts and shake the will of those who have not surrendered. But Tusi soldiers are different from the people in the Central Plains. They don't listen to reason and only obey power. Our army must show its majesty and let the Tusi soldiers in Yunnan know that our army will keep its word."

He paused, and then continued, "Before our army attacked the city, we had clearly informed them that those who surrendered would be exempted from punishment, and those who resisted would be killed without mercy! Pu'an Prefecture, Xinxingso, Annanwei and other places surrendered upon seeing the wind, and our army did not harm a single hair. However, the rebels in Qujing not only refused to surrender, but provoked and shot our messenger. It is impolite not to reciprocate, and our army must respond."

"If this news spreads, it will not only not increase the difficulty of our army's attack, but will prompt the rebels to surrender." Li Dingguo's eyes flashed with wisdom. "Moreover, these people are Sha Dingzhou's confidants. Do you dare to keep them in the army?" His voice was full of doubt and worry.

Wen Anzhi hesitated a little, he couldn't bear to kill the captives, and he was kind-hearted. But Li Dingguo saw his hesitation and persuaded him again: "Sir, the Tusi cave soldiers are different from the people in the Central Plains. They only obey the powerful. I do this not for the benefit of the moment, but for the long-term." His voice was full of determination and persistence.

"What long-term plan?" Wen Anzhi asked, with a hint of doubt and confusion in his eyes.

"We will achieve the goal of defeating the enemy without fighting through a brief killing!" Li Dingguo said firmly, as if there was a flame burning in his eyes. "Only in this way can the chieftains and soldiers of Yunnan truly feel the majesty and determination of our army!" His voice was full of confidence and decisiveness, as if he had already seen the future victory.

There is a saying since ancient times: "People who are too kind are not suitable to lead troops to fight, and people who are too kind-hearted are not suitable to be officials." This means that no matter whether it is civil governance or military strategy, you should be strict when it is necessary, otherwise military orders will be difficult to execute and prohibitions will not be obeyed. Wen Anzhi, this experienced old civil official, is thin, has a weathered face, and often has a compassionate light in his eyes. However, as a governor, he has a large army and faces the heavy task of suppressing the rebellion. He knows that now is not the time to implement benevolent governance.

The night was deep, and the military camp was brightly lit. Wen Anzhi sat at his desk, frowning, holding a battle report tightly in his hand. Li Dingguo, the young general, had just made a cruel suggestion to him - to kill the prisoners. Wen Anzhi felt a surge of pity in his heart. Those prisoners were also human beings. They also had families and dreams, but... He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were cold. He silently suppressed the pity in his heart, raised his head, and said sternly: "Kill! The battle of Qujing is to establish our majesty! I want to let the people in central Yunnan understand that only surrender can survive, and resistance will only lead to death!" (End of this chapter)