I summon all the famous generals in history in another world

Chapter 1429 The Fiend of the Ming Dynasty, Li Wenzhong

"Wenzhong!"

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke up.

"The general is here!"

Li Wenzhong stepped forward in response and bowed in greeting.

"I hereby order you to lead three thousand elite cavalry battalions to rush to the front line of Wuzhou overnight and assist General Xu Da in resisting the Hengzhou army."

"Remember, once you get to the front lines, follow Xu Da's orders. Do not act on your own. The battle in Wuzhou is of utmost importance. The rescue of Zhu Shuang can only be carried out when the opportunity arises. Do not let small things lead to big losses."

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

"The last general takes command!"

Li Wenzhong responded loudly, his tone tinged with excitement. Zhu Biao, who was standing to the side, wanted to try again, but Zhu Yuanzhang stopped him with a look.

"Biao'er, you stay in the main camp and assist your mother in handling rear affairs, ensuring the supply of food and fodder and the care of the wounded. Only when the rear is stable can the soldiers on the front lines have no worries. This is also a great achievement."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and spoke slowly.

"I will obey my father's command."

Zhu Biao knew his father's intentions; once an order was given, it would never be changed, so he could only bow and accept the command.

After the banquet ended, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma left Li Wenzhong alone in the central tent. The three of them were left alone in the tent, the candlelight flickering, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before.

"Wenzhong, although your second brother is unruly, he is still a member of the Zhu family. Now he is trapped in the enemy camp, and his fate is uncertain. When you get to the front line, if you have the opportunity to contact the Hengzhou army, you might as well try to find out what they are thinking."

Empress Ma looked at Li Wenzhong with a mixture of expectation and entrustment in her eyes.

"Wenzhong, we know you're always calm and collected. We trust you with this matter."

"It would be best if we could save that wretched Zhu Shuang, but if we can't, we can't let it affect the overall situation. However, if the Hengzhou army is willing to negotiate, we are not unwilling to pay some price."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and took over the conversation.

"Uncle and Aunt, rest assured, once I arrive at the front, I will act according to the circumstances. If the Hengzhou army is willing to negotiate, I will send back the message in a timely manner."

"If they insist on using my second brother as a hostage, I will never let them succeed. I will work with General Xu Da to find a way to rescue my second brother."

Li Wenzhong paused for a moment, then bowed and said.

"Good! We trust you to handle things. When you go, be sure to be careful. The Three Thousand Battalion is our elite force, so you must bring them back safely."

"Remember, at all times, preserving your own life and the lives of your soldiers is more important than anything else."

Zhu Yuanzhang patted Li Wenzhong on the shoulder. "This humble general will remember your teachings, Uncle!"

Li Wenzhong nodded heavily.

That very night, Li Wenzhong led three thousand elite cavalrymen from the Yellow Turban Army headquarters to rush to the aid of the Wuzhou front.

Meanwhile, on the front lines in Wuzhou, Xu Da felt somewhat relieved upon learning that Zhu Yuanzhang had once again dispatched Li Wenzhong with 3,000 troops to reinforce Wuzhou.

The arrival of the Three Thousand Battalion will not only replenish the troops at the front line, but also greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of his cavalry, giving him a better chance of defeating the White Tiger Cavalry, the elite cavalry that suddenly appeared in the Hengzhou army.

The thought of Zhu Shuang being captured filled him with apprehension. If the Hengzhou army used Zhu Shuang as leverage, he would inevitably be hampered on the battlefield.

Several days later, on the open plain in front of Qing Shi Valley, leaden-gray clouds hung low in the sky, and the once relatively smooth official road had been trampled into mud by the hooves of tens of thousands of troops.

The wild grass on both sides was trampled down, revealing the brownish-yellow soil underneath. The air was filled with the neighing of warhorses and the clanging of armor, yet strangely, it also carried a deathly stillness as if a storm was brewing.

Wu Qi, clad in black brocade armor with a sword at his waist, stood atop the watchtower on the central command platform. He held a bronze command flag in his hand, his gaze sweeping over his army like a hawk's, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This military strategist, a near-sage, excelled at maximizing the advantages of different troop types. At this moment, the Hengzhou army's formation was in the rudimentary form of the "arrow formation," yet it incorporated the profound meaning of Wu Qi's unique "Five Elements Mutual Generation Formation" in the details.

At the forefront were three rows of lightly armored infantrymen wielding long spears, their blades pointing diagonally towards the sky, forming an impenetrable line of fire. Each row of soldiers was spaced three feet apart, just enough for the archers in the rear to fire with ease. Behind the spearmen were two rows of archers carrying powerful crossbows, with spare quivers at their waists. The arrows gleamed coldly in the gloomy light. These archers were all top marksmen selected from various camps of the Hengzhou army, with a range 30% greater than that of ordinary archers. At this moment, they held their breath, their bowstrings half-drawn, ready to meet the enemy's initial charge at any moment.

Behind the archers were the core fighting force of Wu Qi's Hengzhou army—the Hengwu soldiers!

This elite infantry force, personally trained by Wu Qi, is now forming a square formation to protect the central army. The soldiers are clad in triple armor, wielding halberds and shields, and their ranks are so orderly that they appear to have been measured with a ruler.

Every single soldier in the Horizontal Strike formation stands in the same posture: left foot forward, right foot back, center of gravity lowered, shield slightly tilted forward, forming an iron wall.

Zhao Gongming, Qin Niu, and Shebi Shi guarded the left, center, and right flanks of the Hengwu infantry formation. Zhao Gongming's Dragon-Tiger Ruyi Whip rested diagonally on his shoulder, the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Pearls in his brocade pouch clinking softly. Qin Niu gripped his twelve-foot steel spear tightly, the tip embedded in the soil, his muscles bulging, as immovable as an iron tower. Shebi Shi, still draped in his scarlet cloak, tapped his pale fingers lightly on his scabbard, a faint aura of yin energy surrounding him, creating an eerie balance with the yang energy of the Hengwu infantry.

On the two flanks of the central army formation were a combined formation of "guerrilla cavalry" and "heavy infantry" arranged by Wu Qi.

The heavy infantry on the left wing carried large shields and long swords, which were twelve feet long with long handles and broad blades, specifically designed to deal with cavalry charges; the guerrilla cavalry on the right wing were lightly armored, and their horses were also unarmored. They were extremely fast and were tasked with reconnaissance, harassment, and flank protection.

At the very front of the formation, Sun Wukong, Shen Yuan, Sun Liuer, and Wu Zhiqi rode side by side, their warhorses all exceptionally swift. Behind them, banners embroidered with the characters "Sun," "Shen," and "Wu" fluttered in the wind.

Sun Wukong casually rested his golden cudgel on the saddle, golden energy subtly flowing around its shaft; Shen Yuan's towering white jade pillar stood before him, white jade energy condensing into a faint ape silhouette; Sun Liuer's freely slung iron rod was slung diagonally behind him, occasionally flashing with azure flame energy that made the downy hair on his face gleam slightly; Wu Zhiqi's Purple Gold Ridge spanned his chest, blue-green energy carrying a hint of moisture.

On the right flank of the Hengzhou army, a white torrent was particularly eye-catching—thousands of cavalrymen were all clad in white scale armor, riding exceptionally fine white horses with neatly trimmed manes and white ribbons tied to their tails.

The leader, Baihu, was clad in white armor with silver patterns and held the Baihu Slaughtering Spear. He stood at the very front of the cavalry formation, while Tian Zaibiao led a squad of elite cavalry as reserves, ready to provide support at any time.

The White Tiger Cavalry formed a "wild goose feather formation," with the front cavalrymen wielding long spears and the rear cavalry equipped with short crossbows. They could charge into battle or harass from a distance. At this moment, all the cavalrymen tightened their reins, their warhorses pawing the ground and spitting out white steam, their eyes revealing anxiety and fighting spirit.

(End of this chapter)