Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 299 The Heavenly King? So what? One beheading!

The vanguard was equipped with a total of three thousand bronze muskets.

At this point, the firing salvo only resulted in the casualties of over eighty Annamese soldiers and the fleeing of thirty Annamese war elephants.

If you want to launch another round, you need to wait about a minute for reloading.

It can be said that, apart from being a deadly weapon against war elephants, this bronze firearm was indeed not as effective as the Han army's bows and crossbows against other targets.

But the Annamese don't see it that way.

After all, who could have a comprehensive view and know exactly how many Annamese soldiers were killed or wounded by this volley of fire from the Han army?
The Annamese could not have seen the extremely fast-moving bullet.

Moreover, when it comes to armor-piercing effects, especially against iron armor, firearms are far superior to bows and crossbows.

All the Annamese knew was that the Han army had taken up this strange weapon, which emitted a dazzling flash and a thunderous roar, creating a truly earth-shattering spectacle.

The effects are even more terrifying.

Needless to say, the war elephants were startled, and countless armored soldiers fell backward with the loud noise, either dead or wounded!

The exact cause of these soldiers' deaths and injuries is unknown; all that is known is that it was related to this terrifying weapon.

Although they had fought against the Song army before, they could guess that it was a gunpowder weapon and would not associate it with ghosts or gods.

However, the moment the opponent raised their hand, they fell to the ground. This was too bizarre, even more terrifying than witchcraft.

Wow~~
The Annamese army, which was still charging forward, suddenly stopped and their morale plummeted.

It was at this time——

dong dong dong~~
In the central army of the Han army, the continuous sound of war drums rang out.

dong dong dong~~
The war drums of each commander followed in response.

This is a signal to launch a counterattack!
The soldiers immediately changed their weapons, switching from long spears to short swords, maces, and spears.

Because on the high mountains on both sides of the valley, there are primeval forests that block out the sky.

Although the trees on both sides of the valley road were not very dense or tall, it was still difficult to maneuver long weapons.

Of course, short crossbows, which are easy to use in the mountains and forests, should also be equipped.

The long and arduous training enabled them to switch weapons very quickly. Immediately afterward, shouts of battle erupted.

"Charge! Kill!"

"Kill all the Annamese monkeys!"

"Revenge! Revenge!"

……

With shouts echoing, the soldiers charged into the woods on both sides of the road and engaged in fierce fighting with the Annamese army.

Originally, the Han army had 18,000 men entering the valley. After the battle with 50,000 barbarians, they suffered about 500 casualties.

Guo Yong'an left behind a thousand-household commander as the central army and reserve force.

Therefore, a total of 16,500 Han soldiers were charged.

The Annamese regular army originally numbered 20,000. However, the primeval jungles of Annam were simply not a place for humans to live. The Annamese army suffered approximately 4,000 casualties during their seven-day ambush. The barbarians suffered the fewest losses, the peasant auxiliary soldiers suffered the most, and the Annamese regular army's losses fell somewhere in between, amounting to about a thousand men.

Li Qin also left a thousand men as the central army, while the charge consisted of about eighteen thousand men.

The difference in numbers between 16,500 and 18,000 is not significant.

However, the difference in combat strength between the two sides is indeed quite significant.

The Han Chinese commanders in Guangxi were indeed weaker in combat, but that was relative to the Han Chinese in other regions.

To put it bluntly, we're all human. How much difference can there be between carefully selected warriors?
However, the Song Dynasty had long neglected military preparedness in the south, resulting in Song troops in Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi being undisciplined, poorly trained, and generally weak in combat.

Guangxi has been under Zhao Shuo's control for four or five years now, and is receiving logistical support in accordance with the Eight Banners army's standards. They are being trained using the Eight Banners army's tactics, and their combat strength has increased rapidly. Their stamina for enduring prolonged warfare has also far exceeded Li Qin's expectations.

Most importantly, it's not easy for Guangxi soldiers to get a chance to fight.

Their morale is soaring right now!

The Song army had only been reorganized by the Eight Banners army for a little over a month, so its combat strength had not improved much.

However, they were the remnants of the defeated army at Fulang River, and their average combat strength was already somewhat stronger than that of the previous Song army.

Moreover, Zhao He changed their equipment. Their armor was lighter but more durable than the Song army's previous armor. The weapons of the Zhao Shuo Khanate, reinforced with Damascus steel, were also more formidable than theirs.

And most importantly, revenge!

They had lost countless wives and children to the Annamese, and their hearts were filled with the flames of revenge.

Indeed, the Song army had exhausted a lot of energy due to the bloody battle just now.

However, the Annamese army's physical strength was not as abundant as Le Qin had imagined.

It's a very simple logic: they were ambushed in the tropical rainforest, and they already had four thousand dead or wounded. You can imagine the trouble the other soldiers were in.

They couldn't eat well, and sleeping was even more difficult. Leeches, poisonous mosquitoes, giant ants... constantly disturbed their sleep. How much energy could they possibly have left?
Therefore, the Annamese army was forced to retreat in less than a quarter of an hour after the Han army's counterattack.

Half an hour later, they had retreated to the edge of the valley.

"What should we do? General Li, what should we do?"

Chen Rijiao stood beside Li Qin, watching the battle unfold. She was both shocked and terrified, and even her legs were trembling slightly.

In fact, Li Qin was dumbfounded again.

He never dreamed that the Han army would be so much stronger than the original Song army, displaying such combat power. It seemed that even without those terrifying gunpowder weapons, his general offensive would not end well.

Without the war elephant, he lost any chance of turning the tide.

As for hoping for reinforcements from the barbarians?

Those barbarians were merely cooperating with the Annamite court, and seeing the unfavorable situation, they had already hidden themselves in the mountains and forests, making them impossible to mobilize.

Those peasant auxiliary soldiers can play a role when the tide is going well, but expecting them to play a role in a war against the wind is pure wishful thinking.

The young Han Chinese general he had been watching displayed astonishing combat prowess, wielding a thick-backed cleaver and slaying Annamese as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

The twenty or so guards surrounding that young Han general were not only exceptionally brave, but also seemed to know the mountain forest environment better than the barbarians.

They protected the flanks and rear of the young Han general very well, and the young general charged forward without any hesitation, already not far from his central army.

Behind them, a large number of Han soldiers followed closely.

How to do?
How to do?
Now defeat is inevitable, and there's no way they can escape the valley. They've already blocked the valley entrance with rolling logs to prevent the Han army from escaping.

Those logs don't distinguish between Annamese and Han Chinese; no one can get through in a short time.

"Retreat! The entire army retreats into the mountains and forests!"

Li Qin had no other choice but to go down this road. He said, “The mountains and forests are our best friends. I don’t believe the Han army would dare to chase us into the mountains and forests. Even if they do, once it gets dark, the mountains and forests will be the most terrifying prison, and we will be safe.”

Chen Rijiao quickly nodded and said, "Good! Quickly convey my decree: retreat! The entire army shall retreat into the mountains!"

"Retreat! Retreat!"

"The entire army retreats into the mountains!"

……

Ta-da!
A loud gong rang out from the Annamese central army, followed by shouts from the Annamese people, and the Annamese soldiers retreated into the mountains and forests.

However, the war drums of the Han army's central force continued their attack without ceasing!

"Chase!" Zhao Zhuo was heading straight for the Annamite central army, leading twenty Night Owl Guards and his own troops in a fierce charge.

Although he usually wields a long spear, he is able to master the Pear Blossom Spear Technique taught by Yang Miaozhen.

However, Zhao Shuo was an expert with a knife, and Zhao Zhuo's knife skills were equally extraordinary.

He had already killed seventeen or eighteen An Nan soldiers, and instead of feeling nauseous or vomiting, he was exceptionally invigorated. He felt no physical exhaustion, but rather an inexhaustible supply of energy.

Zhao Zhuo led his troops in a fierce pursuit.

Must be fast!

The jungles of Annam are indeed terrifying, but if the enemy can go there, so can we. There is no reason why the Annamese would dare to flee while the Han army would not dare to pursue them.

However, at night, it was pitch black. The Annamite forests, which were already easy to get lost in, became a terrifying hell. Coupled with the attacks of poisonous mosquitoes, leeches, giant ants, and venomous snakes, marching through the Annamite jungle at night was an absolute nightmare for both Annamese and Han Chinese.

Of course, this information was only what Zhao Zhuo had learned from the Song soldiers.

Once you actually enter this jungle, you'll find that even during the day it's not easy to get through!

The dense forest was sweltering, far more stifling than the mountain roads outside. It was probably the hottest summer in China, making it almost impossible to breathe.

There are quite a few mosquitoes during the day, leeches jumping on your body, and sometimes you even encounter venomous snakes that look like green branches.

The mountains are covered with vines, some old and withered and yellow, others new and green, which entwine among the trees, obscuring people's view and even forming natural death traps together with the swamps on the ground.

Zhao Zhuo now understands more and more Zhao Shuo's decision to send his sons to the army.

It was not only to let them accumulate war experience, but also to let them understand the hardships their ancestors endured in opening up new territories and to comprehend the suffering of soldiers on their long expeditions.

"It's really not easy! I have such good innate physical qualities, and with the Night Owl Guards assisting me, I still have to work so hard. What about those ordinary soldiers? In the future, I must treat my soldiers as well as possible."

While relentlessly pursuing Li Qin, Zhao Zhuo secretly pondered the situation.

Gradually, the Han soldiers behind him began to drift away from him.

In fact, it wasn't just Zhao Zhuo's soldiers who started to fall behind; Li Qin's subordinates were in no better shape.

The terrain in the primeval forest was too complex, and the Annamese army was constantly being cut off.

Moreover, these regular Annamese soldiers were mostly Annamese from the Red River Delta region. While they were certainly adapted to the Annamese climate, their experience in navigating the primeval jungle was not significantly greater than that of the Han Chinese army.

In any case, fewer and fewer soldiers are following Li Qin.

Two hours later, Zhao Zhuo had only sixteen Night Owl Guards left. Two Night Owl Guards had been killed in battle, and one was missing. It was unknown whether he was killed by the Annamese, attacked by some wild beast, or simply got lost.

Another Night Owl Guard accidentally fell into the swamp and died on the spot.

Li Qin only had about twenty people left with him.

He had managed to shake off Zhao Zhuo several times, but Zhao Zhuo's Night Owl Guards had extensive jungle experience and quickly caught up again, making it impossible for him to escape.

"No more running!"

Li Qin finally made up his mind and looked at Chen Rijiao, saying, "If we don't kill that young Han general, we won't escape. Today, it's either them or us who live!"

"Okay...okay! General Li, be careful!" Chen Rijiao said breathlessly.

Although Chen Rijiao was terrified and didn't want to fight, he was almost exhausted and couldn't run very far even if he wanted to.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Zhao Zhuo and his men caught up with them.

Le Qin stood holding a short spear and said loudly in Chinese, "I am Le Qin, the deputy commander of the Annamese army that besieged you this time. And you, young Han general, who are you?"

"Zhao Zhuo, the thirteenth prince of the Zhao Shuo Khanate!"

"Very well, very well!" Li Qin gritted his teeth and nodded slightly, saying, "This time I suffered a defeat here, but killing you, the prince, is a gain in itself! Kill!"

He led twenty personal guards and charged toward Zhao Zhuo.

"kill!"

Zhao Zhuo led sixteen Night Owl Guards straight to meet them!

Dang Dang Dang!
In the blink of an eye, Zhao Zhuo's broadsword and Li Qin's short spear clashed more than ten times.

Li Qin was no match for him and was forced to retreat step by step.

He had wanted to kill Zhao Zhuo for a long time, but Zhao Zhuo displayed amazing combat power in the charge, and Li Qin was not confident of victory.

But now he realizes that it's not just a matter of not having a sure chance of winning; it's downright certain defeat!

This thirteenth prince was not only stronger than him, but his moves were also both steady and agile, making him virtually invincible.

But it's okay, he still has a backup plan!

"Go to hell!"

Suddenly, an Annamese man leaped up from a pile of fallen leaves and swung his sword at Zhao Shuo from the side!

This was the killing move that Li Qin had planned.

As he retreated, he led Zhao Zhuo into this deadly place.

"Good boy!"

Seeing this, Zhao Zhuo remained fearless. He shouted loudly and instead of retreating, he turned and rammed into the Annamese man.

He moved too fast; before the leaping Annamese's sword could even strike his armor, he had already slammed into him viciously.

"what!"

puff!
With a scream, the Annamese man was thrown more than 30 feet away, coughing up blood.

Woo!
At the same time, Li Qin's short spear was already close to Zhao Zhuo's waist.

In the nick of time, Zhao Zhuo slightly turned his body, and the short spear pierced through his iron armor, slicing across his outer skin and flesh.

At the same time, Zhao Zhuo waved his left hand and wrapped his arms around Li Qin's neck!

Click!

With a sharp crack, Li Qin's neck was snapped!

Pfft!
Li Qin's body lay limp on the ground, no longer alive.

Then, Zhao Zhuo stepped forward with his knife and, together with the Night Owl Guards, cut down five Annamese soldiers in succession.

The only Annamese man now is Zhanli, a young man clad in magnificent armor who has never laid a hand on the battlefield.

However, he immediately stopped standing.

Pfft!
Chen Rijiao immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Thirteenth Prince, spare my life! Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I am the brother of the current Emperor of Annam, Prince Chen Rijiao! I am willing to surrender, I am willing to surrender!"

"So what if he's the Heavenly King?"

Swish!
With a swift swing of his broadsword, Zhao Zhuo sent Chen Rijiao's head flying into the air!

What a joke! Zhao Zhuo is a prince. To him, what difference is there in military achievements between a living and a dead Prince of Annam?
Moreover, he had already heard Zhao Shuo say that there was no need for the Annamese to keep many people.

It's a very simple principle. Needless to say, those barbarians are the Annamese, who make up the largest population group. They have occupied the arable lands of Annam, which are already overpopulated, making it impossible for China to send immigrants.

Should we send them to immigrate to the West? They have no loyalty to China.

Does Zhao Zhuo really need to keep the Heavenly King alive to win over the hearts of the Annamese?

It's still more satisfying to just cut it all off with one stroke!

(End of this chapter)