Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 42 Bloodbath at Datong: Unbelievable News!
On the sixth day of the fourth month of the seventh year of the Yongping reign, in Datong Town, one of the nine border towns.

"kill!!!"

"Drive these Mongol Tartars away."

The thunderous sound of war drums echoed from the top of the wall, and the fighting on the walls of Datong continued unabated. The collision of the two torrents became the only color in the world.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, a scene that had been commonplace for the past few months. The 240,000 scouts of the Mongols sometimes moved by night and sometimes by day, and their frequent attacks on the city were a constant nuisance to the officers and soldiers of Datong Town.

The Datong Garrison originally had 50,000 border troops, plus another 50,000 reinforcements from Shanxi and Xuanfu Garrisons. More than half of the 100,000 soldiers were killed. The 100,000 Northern Expeditionary Army and the 100,000 Beijing Garrison soldiers were all newly recruited and were no different from cannon fodder in this meat grinder.

If it weren't for the able-bodied men in the city who were there to help defend it, this important frontier town would probably have fallen into enemy hands long ago.

Nevertheless, the daily casualty figures were at least in the four figures. This brutal confrontation was the first of its kind in the past thirty years. The last time was during the Yuan Congyi campaign, when various Mongol tribes invaded the border and General Jia Daihua of the Ningguo Prefecture led his troops to their deaths on the battlefield.

"Puch!"

Hou Xiaokang had just killed a Mongol soldier who had rushed onto the city wall with his broadsword. Blood splattered all over his face, and he was completely unaware that the Mongol soldiers around him were closing in.

"Brother Hou, be careful."

General Nian Gengyao of Datong Town immediately brandished his spear, blocking the attacking Mongol Tartars. With each inch longer, he was stronger. On the narrow city wall, wherever his spear swept across, a group of Mongol Tartars were knocked off the city wall and smashed into a pile of flesh.

"Thank you very much, Brother Nian."

Hou Hsiao-kang, regaining his composure, clasped his hands in thanks.

"What are you saying? We are all serving the country, so we should work together."

"kill!"

With that, Nian Gengyao charged into the densest part of the crowd once more, his spear sweeping through everything in its path.

"kill!"

Hou Xiaokang was not to be outdone, and he also brandished his long sword, hacking and slashing his way through.

This scene unfolded across the city walls. Whether they were border troops, the Northern Expeditionary Army, or the capital garrison, after fighting for so many days, there was no longer any barrier between them. They now shared only one identity: soldiers of the imperial dynasty. They entrusted their backs to each other and fought bloody battles.

As dusk fell and the sun set in the west, a magnificent and colorful sunset painted the sky, casting a crimson glow over Datong Town. This was the most brutal time of day, with the Mongols setting up ladders on the city walls and relentlessly charging up the ramparts.

The Daqian soldiers guarding the city walls almost forgot about life and death, fighting tooth and nail, with both sides using their last means to fight each other to the death. The fighting was so fierce that the corpses fell from the city walls and piled up into small hills, making it impossible to distinguish whether they were Mongols or Daqian people.

The city gates of Datong Town have been breached countless times, with bloodstains deeply imprinted on the ground. Each time, the Daqian soldiers fought their way out of the city gate and defended the breach once again.

"The Mongol Tartars who imitate horses!"

A burly Daqian soldier threw away his dulled longsword, grabbed two attacking Mongols, and rushed towards the outside of the city wall.

"Bang!!!"

With a muffled thud, three figures were smashed into a bloody mess beneath the city wall.

"big cow!"

"Kill them."

Upon witnessing this scene, the surrounding Daqian soldiers' eyes turned bloodshot, and they pounced on the enemy like hungry wolves.

"what?!"

"Chi!!!"

The Mongol Tartars were terrified by the brutality of the Qian people and became somewhat hesitant. They were driven into a corner and stabbed to death by several spears, their bodies thrown off the city wall.

As evening approached, the day-long battle drew to a close, with the Mongol Tartars who stormed the city walls being wiped out one after another.

"Woo-woo--" The melodious sound of ox horns echoed in the sky as the Mongol scouts, who were attacking, slowly retreated, carrying ladders.

"Clap!"

Exhausted, Nian Gengyao threw down his spear, plopped down on the ground, leaned against the crenellations of the city wall, and gasped for breath.

Despite his many years of military campaigns, this scholar-turned-general was far inferior to those who had practiced martial arts since childhood.

"Hahaha!"

Hou Xiaokang patted Nian Gengyao on the shoulder and teased, "Brother Nian, your stamina isn't what it used to be. I'm afraid you can't even handle your concubines at home."

"Screw you."

Nian Gengyao pushed his hand away and laughed and cursed.

The person in charge from the Duke of Shenjing's mansion and the general who came from the common people of the Nine Borders were like old friends who had been friends for many years. They teased each other, a friendship they had forged over a month of fighting. Nothing could be more solid than that.

“Tap tap.”

A figure in a bright red military uniform rushed up to the two men: "The General has ordered that General Hou and Commander-in-Chief Nian proceed immediately for a meeting."

"okay, I get it."

Hou Xiaokang grabbed Nian Gengyao and the two walked heavily toward the city gate tower.

When they arrived, the city gate tower was already full of people, including Vanguard General Liu Fang, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Xuanfu Yue Zhongqi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Shanxi Town Zhang Guangsi, Marquis of Xiangyang Qi Jianhui, Marquis of Pingyuan Jiang Zining, Marquis of Dingcheng Xie Jing, and many others. Most of them, like them, had blood-stained armor and looked exhausted.

"This battle lasted for many months, and the country suffered heavy losses. There were no fewer than 100,000 wounded soldiers alone, and tens of thousands of able-bodied men and women in the city were killed or injured."

"Not only did we suffer heavy losses, but the Mongols' 250,000 scouts also lost more than half of their troops."

"It's time to end it."

Looking around at his generals, Niu Jizong said with a solemn expression.

"General."

The generals present couldn't help but show expressions of astonishment. The two sides had fought to the death, so how could it end?

"I just received a report from the Tiger General's messenger: the Tiger General launched an attack from Gubeikou and has captured the Bairin, Chechen, Tushetu, and Zasagtu Khanates. The three Outer Khalkha tribes and the Bairin tribe in eastern Mongolia have all been captured, and nearly 200,000 Mongols have declared their submission."

Boom!

His words caused a stir throughout the room.

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief. Among the various Mongol tribes, apart from the Chahar and Khorchin tribes, these four were the strongest. How could their garrisons have been raided?!
“You need not doubt the truth of this matter, because the Tiger General held a sacrificial ceremony to Heaven at Langjuxu Mountain and erected a stone tablet at Yanran Mountain to commemorate his achievements.”

"He would never dare to cheat on such a thing."

Niu Jizong, who was at the head of the table, seemed to have guessed what they were thinking and added a few words.

"call!!!"

For a moment, the breathing in the entire room became exceptionally heavy, and everyone's hearts seemed to be filled with turbulent waves.

The expedition to the northern desert, covering more than 5,000 li, to seal the wolf's lair and inscribe the Yanran Mountain, was the lifelong pursuit of many generals. It was accomplished just like that, which is simply unbelievable.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Liu Fang's words seemed to express all the feelings in their hearts.

(End of this chapter)