Ming Dynasty: Summoning game players at the beginning

Chapter 139 Let me see what's going on
"Musketeers, reload!" the captain roared.

"Zhang Xianzhong" and the other bird-gunners were like hearing the crisp ringing of an alarm clock in their sleep. They reflexively took off a paper bag of gunpowder, skillfully bit open the paper bag, and quickly poured the granular gunpowder into the barrel of the gun.

Until some gunpowder particles fall into the barrel, the player pinches the paper-wrapped lead bullet and twists it into the barrel like tightening a screw, then pulls out the rod from the bottom of the bird gun, pushes the paper-wrapped lead bullet into the barrel and gently presses it down.

The long axe support was embedded one foot into the ground, and dozens of players holding heavy muskets took an average of 21 seconds to reload.

After loading, Zhang Xianzhong lifted the gun barrel and placed it on the top of the long-handled axe, holding the axe head an inch below with his left hand.

"Reloading completed!" Zhang Xianzhong shouted loudly, and other players also shouted that reloading was completed.

"Hold on!" The captain lowered his body and assumed a resistance posture to deal with the cavalry charge.

After all, the impact of hundreds of cavalry charging cannot be blocked by flesh and blood.

Countless sharp spears pierced from the side of his head. Protected in the forest of spears, Zhang Xianzhong held his breath and stared at the Guanning cavalry that was rapidly attacking him hundreds of steps away, hoping in his heart for the captain's roar to order to open fire.

Other friendly troops who arrived later discovered the "misunderstanding" here and rushed over on horseback.

The following players shouted excitedly, as if they had broken into the lively scene of the celebration, and they couldn't wait to join the melee.

Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei were so anxious that they waved their hands and shouted, "Stop! Stop it!"

However, both sides' faces were on the line. The Guanning Army was waiting for the Black Flag Camp to disperse on its own, and the players were also waiting for the Guanning Army cavalry to retreat on their own. The two sides shortened the distance in the stalemate.

When hundreds of Guanning cavalrymen entered the safe distance of a hundred steps and still showed no signs of slowing down, the captain decisively ordered, "Fire!"

Dozens of musketeers pulled the trigger almost at the same time, pungent white smoke suddenly spurted out, and bullets whizzed across the battlefield a hundred steps away.

The war horses in the front row were shot and fell, and the riders who were hit by bullets fell sideways. In just one encounter, more than 20 cavalrymen of the Guanning Army were killed.

After firing a shot, Zhang Xianzhong immediately removed the fuse and hung the heavy gun's strap on his shoulder.

He gripped the long-handled axe with both hands, lowered his body, and waited for his horse to stall and stop after hitting the tip of his teammate's spear.

Suddenly, the sound of bows being drawn was heard from the back row. More than 20 players drew their bows and shot arrows, each holding three or four arrows between their fingers. Once ready to shoot, all of them shot rapidly.

Unexpectedly, the Guanning cavalry, who were pressing forward step by step, forced their horses to stop. Hundreds of cavalry were crowded forward and backward, and dozens of riders fell off their horses in a panic.

"Stop it!"

Several generals and lieutenant generals finally arrived at the scene. While shouting "Stop firing", they rushed in front of both sides to act as obstacles.

Seeing the symbol of friendly forces appear, more than 200 players put away their weapons and looked angrily at the Guanning cavalry not far away.

Another Guanning Army unit arrived shortly after. Their general, Zu Dale, rode forward and approached several generals and a small group of Black Flag soldiers, shouting, "Why are you killing my men?"

"Why, can't you see it because you don't have eyes?" A player spat in disgust.

Zu Kuan, who had been in the vanguard and nearly killed, rode out on his horse. Seeing that he had the boss's support, he immediately shouted arrogantly, "He killed my soldiers! I want these gunners to pay with their lives!"

"Your Black Flag Battalion has only won a few battles, yet you dare to indiscriminately slaughter your allies. You're truly audacious!" Zu Dale drew his sword and waved it in the air. "If I give you a few more victories, you'll probably be so arrogant you'll go to hell!"

Another player looked at the Zu family general with disdain, "Friendly troops? Where did they come from? I only saw a group of bandits on horseback charging towards us, wanting to kill us and steal our money!"

"We were just joking. We didn't mean to take your head!" Zu Kuan still argued.

"Your warhorse is frightened, so our gunners can calm it down." A player, reloading his ammunition, immediately raised his musket and aimed it at Zu Kuan's warhorse. "Don't mind giving your warhorse another one."

"You!" Zu Kuan's face flushed with anger. His cavalry lost its prestige to the infantry who were outnumbered, adding to his shame and frustration.

In fact, all the generals inside the pass did not like the style of the Guanning Army.

The Guanning Army had been fighting against the Jiannu in western Liaoning for many years and had rich experience in fighting the enemy. Therefore, they thought that the officers and soldiers in Guannei who had never defeated the Jiannu were all weaklings.

Since they entered the pass to assist in the war, they often snatched the heads of friendly troops, frightened friendly troops on horseback, and even forced friendly troops to do odd jobs for them, causing many unpleasant things.

It’s just that they will actively bribe their superiors, and they are really capable, so there will always be superiors who will take sides when they have disputes.

However, Gao Qiquan, a eunuch who has always valued the Guanning Army, did not participate in the mission of the vanguard cavalry this time, nor did he have the opportunity to support the "naughty kid".

Hu Dawei also dislikes the Guanning Army, but as the "temporary commander-in-chief" of this operation, he still has to work hard to resolve the conflict.

"Your troops were indeed at fault in this matter. Consider these cavalrymen killed in battle. I will ask the commander-in-chief to provide you with generous compensation."

"The Black Flag Battalion killed my men, and all we need is a few silver coins as compensation?" Zu Dale frowned, veins popped on his face, and his right hand holding the knife tightened even more.

Hu Dawei was about to say, "What else do you want?" when he heard a low growl from behind him, "Let me see what's going on."

The remaining five or six hundred players arrived on warhorses. They surrounded the Guanning Legion, holding spears under their arms and long swords in their hands.

Friendly troops farther away were also marching nearby, but the 8,000 cavalry stretched for miles, making it impossible to squeeze in and join in the fun. They could only stand in their stirrups on the periphery and gaze into the distance.

It wasn't until word of mouth spread that they realized the arrogant Guanning Army had been defeated, and they couldn't help but secretly praise the Black Flag Battalion for their good work. If they weren't weaker in combat, they would have wanted to teach the arrogant Guanning Army a lesson.

These veteran soldiers of the Guanning Army are so hateful!
"Hand over ten gunners and we'll call it a day." Zu Dale gritted his teeth and exhaled as if he had made up his mind.

"What do you mean?" He Lusi rode forward. As a captain appointed by the leader, he had the obligation to fight for the interests of his brothers.

He Lusi approached Zu Dale and asked, "Do you want to fight with my Black Flag Camp?"

"I want to give an explanation to the dead soldiers!"

"You want to fight my Black Flag Camp? I still have 792 men here. I can exchange one for two of your Guanning Army. Do you dare to fight me?"

"Kill for life!"

"You want to fight with my Black Flag Camp!"

Horus roared, and all the players roared in unison.

All the soldiers in the Black Flag Battalion were filled with excitement, as if what was about to break out was not an internal fight of slaughter, but a spiritual enjoyment that would please the brain.

The brain is thirsty for blood.

Zu Kuan looked at Zu Dale anxiously. The latter also seemed to be being held up. If a real fight broke out, there would be heavy losses. Moreover, the main force of the Qing army was operating nearby. It would be disastrous whether they won or lost.

If no blood is shed and the team leaves in such a disgraceful manner, the Guanning Army will lose all face.

"What are you hesitating for? Let's fight quickly. I'm still waiting to kill the red-named ones." The Black Flag Camp, who were fanning the flames, shouted loudly.

Seeing that the two sides were on the verge of a fight, Hu Dawei hurried to smooth things over and persuade everyone not to get angry, but he was not good at speaking and could not come up with any nice words to "put out the fire".

He Lusi rode his horse side by side with Zu Dale. Suddenly, he grabbed the latter's right hand and put the other's knife to his own neck.

He Lusi's eyes were fierce, "I'm giving you a chance to pay for your life now. Either you cut my neck with a knife and start a firefight between the two armies, or get out of here if you don't have the guts!"

"?" Zu Dale was suddenly shocked.

It was the first time he had seen someone putting his head in front of a sharp blade while spouting wild words.

If his hand trembled and the blade cut the carotid artery, the man would die.

"Cut it quickly!" The thief He Lusi roared, scaring Zu Dale so much that his right hand trembled, and the sharp waist knife had already cut his skin and bled.

Zu Dale looked around and saw that the soldiers of the Black Flag Camp all had eager expressions, as if they really wanted a friendly firefight and endless killing and war.

"If you are so fussy, are you still a man? Kill him!" The soldiers of the Black Flag Camp around him shouted and cursed.

The roars, urgings, whispers, and the murderous aura of the surrounding Black Flag Army, who were on high alert, were like a sharp knife drilling into Zu Dale's body, churning it up and down, and stirring it left and right. The internal and external mental pressure finally crushed his courage.

He was scared.

He couldn't be as crazy and reckless as the Black Flag Battalion.

He pulled back the self-defense knife with all his strength, then sheathed it, fearing that the blade would cause any harm.

"Hmph! I gave you the chance but you didn't use it!" He Lusi curled his lips in disdain and spat fiercely on the ground.

Seeing the Guanning Army gather their troops and retreat, Hu Dawei breathed a sigh of relief, and the crisis of a friendly firefight was resolved.

He also lamented that the Black Flag Battalion was truly crazy. The captain actually dared to put his head under someone else's knife. Wasn't he afraid that he would be killed?

However, after this incident, the Black Flag Battalion's fierce soldiers' internal prestige is probably greater than that of the Guanning Army.

After this little episode, the Ming army learned from the people that there were not many Qing soldiers besieging Jinan City, and no trace of the main force was seen.

At this time, the generals of the Ming army were divided into two factions. One faction, headed by the Guanning Army, believed that they should take the initiative to attack and cooperate with the Jinan defenders to attack from both inside and outside, defeat the Qing army's siege troops and achieve great success!

The other faction, led by Yang Guozhu and a small number of the Black Flag Battalion, believed that they should observe carefully for a few days and wait for the subsequent army.

They believed that the main force of the Qing army might be sweeping through the county town to seize money and food. If their 8,000 cavalry attacked rashly, they would likely be attacked from both sides.

That’s right, there are two factions within the Black Flag Camp. One faction only wants to kill the Tartars and doesn’t want to use any tactics or military strategies. They just want to rush forward and kill the wild boar skins.

The other faction felt that the "war maniacs" were too conservative. They wanted to wait for the main force to arrive, take advantage of Jinan's complex terrain, and annihilate as many Tartars as possible.

"This place is only thirty or forty miles from Jinan, less than half a day's journey. It won't be too late to go take a look first and then make a decision."

Just when all the generals reached a consensus to set off, all the soldiers of the Black Flag Battalion who had mounted their horses suddenly looked ahead with dull eyes, raised their right hands in unison and drew them in the air, muttering semi-harmonious words such as "new function", "battle flag resurrection", and "we can have a good fight".

It's like being possessed by an evil spirit.

(End of this chapter)