Huangming

Chapter 376 The Death of the Prince, the Old Servant's End
On the grassland road north of the Red River Valley, the cavalry of the Khorchin tribe sped like a black torrent.

Liu Xingzuo reined in his horse and spurred it to Mangus's side. Mangus's cotton robe was already fluttering in the wind, and his face showed barely concealed anxiety.
"Mangustaiji, I'm afraid we need to move even faster! The battle situation in Red River Valley is changing rapidly. If we're too late, we might miss our chance!"

Mangus turned his head to the side. He wore a leather helmet, and his gaze beneath the brim revealed the composure unique to a steppe chieftain, yet his words carried a hint of helplessness:

"Angel, this is already the fastest speed possible."

He raised his hand, gesturing for Liu Xingzuo to look at the cavalry behind him.

Many of the warhorses were breathing rapidly, the white breath exhaled from their nostrils condensing into white mist in the cold air, and their hooves were somewhat unsteady.

"If we go any further, our warhorses will probably die of exhaustion on the way. We are only ten miles away from Red River Valley. We are slowing down now to allow our warhorses to recover their strength so that they will have enough strength to fight when we reach the battlefield."

Liu Xingzu followed Mangus's gaze and sighed inwardly.

He knew that Mangus was right.

Although the cavalry of the Khorchin tribe were elite, they had been on continuous raids for a long time, and Mangus was careful with his horses.

Warhorses are very precious, and they can easily die if overused.

The kind of long-range raids that seem to be conducted at any cost would result in a huge number of warhorses being lost.

Mangus's assistance to Ming was solely for personal gain; he wouldn't suffer too much harm himself.

Moreover, if he hadn't killed Obama and cut off the pro-Jiangnu faction's escape route, Mangus and the others might not have launched an attack so readily, so he couldn't press them too much now.

"Taiji has considered everything thoroughly; I was just too hasty."

Liu Xingzuo suppressed his anxiety and softened his tone.

"But I'm really worried about Xiong Jinglue, who has been holding out in the Red River Valley for a long time and whose current situation is unknown."

Just as the two were talking, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from afar.

A Khorchin scout rode up, his fur robe covered in snow. He dismounted, knelt on one knee, and loudly reported to Mangus:
"Reporting to Taiji! News from the front indicates that Nurhaci, the Khan of the Jurchens, has led his main force in a retreat towards Tieling!"

"Retreating?"

Mangus suddenly opened his eyes wide, his face full of surprise.

He had expected to engage in a fierce battle with the Jurchen army outside the Red River Valley, but he did not expect that Nurhaci would retreat without a fight.

Liu Xingzuo's heart sank suddenly, but he quickly regained his breath. He leaned forward and asked the scout:
Do you know the situation inside the Red River Valley? Is Xiong Jinglue's camp still there? Have the Ming army arrived yet?

The scout quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the camp atop the mountain in the valley is still standing, and the 'Bear' banner of the Liaodong Commander is still on the camp wall!"
Moreover, we also saw that a Ming cavalry force had set off from the Red River Valley, pursuing Nurhaci in the direction of his retreat. Judging from its size, it numbered approximately several thousand!

"Good good!"

Liu Xingzuo said "good" three times in a row, and the worry and gloom on his face vanished instantly, and his tense shoulders finally relaxed.

Xiong Jinglue is unharmed, the main force of the Ming army has arrived, and cavalry has been dispatched to pursue them. This means that the battle situation in the Red River Valley has not only been stabilized, but has even begun to reverse in a direction favorable to the Ming Dynasty!

Mangus breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Liu Xingzuo's suddenly relaxed expression.

But then he became a little confused.

I don't know what to do next.

after all.

His trip south was to relieve the siege of the Red River Valley and rescue Xiong Tingbi.

And now this strategic objective has been achieved.

He immediately asked:
"Nurhaci has retreated, and the Ming army is in pursuit. What should we do next?"

Liu Xingzuo turned around, his eyes no longer showing the anxiety he had before, but instead displaying a confident composure:

"Taiji, we don't need to rush into the Red River Valley!"

He raised his hand and pointed towards Tieling, his eyes gleaming.

"Nurhaci's army was exhausted, and although the Ming cavalry was few in number, they were able to hold them off."

"We'll lead our troops around to the west of Tieling now, cutting off Nurhaci's retreat. Then, while the Heavenly Army pursues from the front, we'll intercept them from the flank, surely trapping the Jurchen army halfway. Perhaps we can even help the Ming Dynasty take Nurhaci's head!"

Liu Xingzuo reined in his horse, leaned forward slightly, and fixed his gaze on Mangus's face, his tone carrying just the right amount of seduction:
"Mangus Taiji, who is Nurhaci? He is the Khan of the Jurchens and a major threat to the Ming Dynasty!"

If you can assist the Ming army in beheading him, this achievement will be far more than just "helping out"!

"After I return, I will definitely petition for your merit before Commander Xiong and the imperial court!"

At that time, the reward of ten thousand taels of silver will likely be just the beginning. The imperial court will also grant your Khorchin tribe more privileges in trade, and may even appoint you as the 'Grassland Governor,' giving you more say in the southern grasslands!

"Ten thousand taels of silver? And an imperial decree?"

Mangus's breathing quickened instantly. He gripped the scimitar at his waist, and a barely concealed greed flashed in his eyes.

The grassland tribes were short of resources, and ten thousand taels of silver would be enough for the entire Khorchin Right Wing tribe to survive several harsh winters. Moreover, the imperial court's conferment of titles would allow him to legitimately suppress other grassland tribes.

This temptation is far more real than the previous "favor-selling."

He remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the Khorchin cavalry behind him. Remembering that Liu Xingzuo had killed Oba and he had no way out, he finally gritted his teeth, made up his mind, drew his curved sword from his waist, raised it high, and shouted an order to the soldiers behind him:

"All troops, listen to my command! Immediately change horses and don armor, and follow me to the west side of Tieling to launch a pincer attack on Nurhaci! Whoever captures Nurhaci's head will be rewarded with a thousand head of cattle and sheep, and a hundred slaves!"

"As ordered!"

The Khorchin soldiers responded in unison.

Although they were not so sensitive to the "rewards of the Ming Dynasty", they were full of longing for "cattle and sheep" and "slaves". Their eyes lit up with fighting spirit, and they dismounted and began to prepare their equipment.

Liu Xingzuo stood aside, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers' equipment, and he sighed inwardly.

Although the Khorchin tribe was known as a powerful tribe on the grasslands, its equipment was far more rudimentary than he had imagined.

Most soldiers wore only thick, unblemished fur robes and had no proper iron armor; only a few leaders wore rough leather helmets.

The protective gear was extremely rudimentary, consisting either of tubular arm guards sewn from cowhide or sheepskin, barely enough to protect against arrow grazes, or double-layered cowhide waistbands in an attempt to protect the abdominal organs.

Many soldiers didn't even have protective gear, just a curved knife at their waist, some of which even had nicks in the blade.

Such equipment, let alone compared to the Ming army's firearms battalion and heavy infantry, was significantly outdated, even compared to the Jurchen Eight Banners elite troops.

The Eight Banners soldiers not only had iron armor, but also standard equipment such as shield carts and bows and arrows, which explains why they were able to roam the grasslands and suppress various tribes.

"Hurry up! Don't miss the opportunity!"

Mangus rode his horse through the ranks, constantly urging the soldiers on.

To ensure mobility, the Khorchin troops deployed this time with a "one person, three horses" configuration.

One warhorse was used for charging, one for long-distance raids, and one for carrying supplies.

At this moment, the soldiers switched to warhorses with more stamina and explosive power, leaving the tired horses behind to be looked after by designated personnel.

Before long, the cavalry of the Khorchin tribe were fully equipped.

They rode their warhorses in a loose yet orderly formation, holding scimitars in their hands, their eyes fixed firmly on the direction of Tieling.

Although their equipment was rudimentary, they exuded the fierce and courageous spirit unique to grassland tribes.

That's the instinct of growing up on horseback, surviving by hunting and fighting, a wildness etched into one's bones.

"set off!"

At Mangus's command, he spurred his horse forward and charged ahead, his scimitar flashing coldly in the air.

The Khorchin cavalry behind them followed like a black tide, their hooves pounding across the grassland, raising clouds of snow mist as they galloped toward the west of Tieling.

On the snow-covered plains in the direction of Tieling, the Jurchen army was making a difficult retreat along the mountain road.

A sense of oppressive fatigue permeated the group.

The continuous sieges and raids over the past few days had exhausted their strength. Even the breathing of their warhorses had become heavy, and the sound of their hooves was no longer as resounding as before, but rather sounded somewhat weak.

Nurhaci lay half-reclined on his warhorse, his body resting against the horse's neck. One hand gripped the reins tightly, while the other clutched his chest, his brow furrowed in worry.

The biting wind seeped into the gaps in his armor, causing a sharp pain in his chest. Every jolt felt like a knife was churning his internal organs. Cold sweat trickled down his temples and condensed into tiny ice crystals on his chin.

Given his current physical condition, riding a horse would be an ordeal.

"Great Khan! Scouts ahead report!"

A guard rode up on horseback, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"A large number of Mongol cavalry have appeared on the mountain roads to the west and north! Without saying a word, these people have launched a direct attack on our rear guard, and many of our warriors have already been hit by arrows!"

Nurhaci raised his head with difficulty, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

It's obvious without even thinking that these Mongol cavalrymen must be from the Khorchin tribe!
Liu Xingzuo had indeed persuaded the grassland tribes, and now they were chasing after him and attacking him!

Damn Han traitor!
Before he could recover, another scout rushed over, his face even more grim:

"Your Majesty! The Ming cavalry is catching up! We don't know how many there are, but they're moving very fast and are already close to our rear!"

"call!"

Nurhaci exhaled a breath of stale air, and the white mist quickly dissipated in the cold air.

He secretly rejoiced that he had listened to Hu Erhan's advice yesterday and had not stayed in the Red River Valley to fight to the death.

If they had stayed any longer, they would probably be surrounded by the Ming army and Mongol cavalry by now, with no chance to retreat!

"Pass down the order: halt the retreat!"

Nurhaci forced himself to sit up straight; though his voice was weak, his eyes were extremely bright.

"The enemy is pursuing us, we must not retreat rashly! Running away will only cause the troops to collapse, and when the Ming army and the Mongols catch up, we will be at their mercy!"

The generals reined in their horses, and the soldiers stopped. Although exhausted, they quickly formed a defensive formation.

Nurhaci's gaze swept over the generals around him, finally landing on Mangultai.

He raised his hand and pointed to the Khan's flag behind him, his tone solemn: "Mangurtai, you take the Khan's flag and lead two thousand elite troops to retreat towards Tieling!"

Remember, you must make the Ming army and the Mongols think you are the main force, thus drawing their attention!

The Golden Dragon Khan Banner is the symbol of the Great Jin Dynasty. Retreating with the Khan Banner would undoubtedly make the enemy a key target for pursuit, and the danger along the way is unimaginable.

Mangultai accepted the Khan's banner without hesitation, knelt on one knee, and his eyes gleamed with excitement:
"Your subject obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

In Mangultai's view, this was a test from Nurhaci.

The more dangerous the mission, the more it proves one's loyalty and ability. As long as one can return alive, one has a better chance of winning the struggle for the Khan's throne!
Seeing that Mangultai agreed so readily, Nurhaci had mixed feelings.

I am pleased with Mangultai's loyalty, yet I am also saddened by his foolishness.

He treated them like expendable pawns, yet he was still extremely excited.

He had assumed Mangultai would refuse.
However, Nurhaci quickly concealed these complex emotions.

He then turned to Zirhalang, his tone becoming colder:
"Jirhalang, you lead three thousand Mongol cavalry to stay behind and cover the rear! Use shield wagons and chevaux-de-frise to build a temporary defensive line and slow down the Ming army's pursuit as much as possible!"

"Once our main force has gone far enough, you can lead your men to retreat towards Kaiyuan and join up with the garrison there!"

These Mongol cavalrymen were remnants of the Chahar tribe. After being incorporated into the Jin dynasty, they had always served as servants and were treated poorly. At this moment, the task of covering the rear, which was a life-or-death mission, naturally became their "exclusive task".

Jirhalang immediately bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Majesty! Your servant obeys!"

After arranging these two routes, Nurhaci's gaze fell on Huerhan and Heheli, and his tone softened somewhat:
"Hu'erhan, Heheli, you two follow me and lead the main force to retreat towards Hetu Ala!"

He pointed to the mountain road to the east and explained, "Tieling is a potential threat from the Ming army, and Kaiyuan may also be intercepted. Only Hetu Ala is our base, with our outposts along the way, making it the safest place!"

"Jirhalang's Mongol cavalry could temporarily delay the Ming army, and Mangultai, carrying the Khan's banner, was enough to attract the attention of most of the pursuing troops."

"As long as we speed up and take advantage of this gap to retreat back to Hetu Ala, victory is practically guaranteed!"

The generals nodded in agreement; they all understood Nurhaci's plan.

Using two "sacrificial pawns" to buy time for the main force's retreat, though cruel, is the only option at this moment.

At the Khan's command, the army sprang into action!

The sound of the Eight Banners army retreating in different directions had not yet faded away, but the mountain roads through which Nurhaci's main force passed were already piled with felled dead trees.

Soldiers wielded axes, felling tree trunks as thick as bowls and haphazardly blocking the road. The snow and dead branches mixed together, forming a temporary obstacle.

This was Nurhaci's last resort, intended to delay the pursuers for a little longer and buy him time to retreat to Hetu Ala.

The cold wind swirled snowflakes across the mountain path, quickly covering the soldiers' footprints.

But this "peace" did not last long. A rapid sound of hooves approached from afar, like thunder.

Chen Ce's three thousand Ming cavalrymen had caught up with the Jurchens, following the trail of their retreat.

"Obstacle ahead! Clear the road!"

The Ming cavalry commander shouted the order, and dozens of soldiers immediately dismounted and quickly cleared the dead trees blocking the road.

The remaining cavalrymen formed a charge formation, nocked their arrows, and watched the front warily, fearing an ambush.

Before long, the mountain path was cleared, and the Ming cavalry, like arrows released from a bow, continued their pursuit.

After rounding a bend in the mountain, a dense mass of figures suddenly appeared on the snow-covered plain ahead.

Those were the three thousand remnants of the Chahar cavalry led by Jirgalang, who were forming a defensive formation using shields and chevaux-de-frise.

"Kill!" In a narrow encounter, the brave will prevail!

At Chen Ce's command, the three thousand cavalrymen split into three teams, like three sharp knives, and charged toward the Chahar tribe's formation.

Horse hooves pounded across the snow-covered plains, kicking up clouds of snow mist, while arrows rained down, landing precisely among the Chahar cavalry.

The remnants of the Chahar tribe were already easily frightened.

They were originally subordinates of Ligdan Khan, but were incorporated into Nurhaci's army after their defeat. They had been oppressed by the Eight Banners soldiers in their daily lives, and were already resentful that they had to serve the Jurchens.

Faced with the charge of the Ming cavalry, they were initially able to put up a fight with the help of Jirhalang's inspectors.

But when he saw the Ming cavalry approaching from all over the mountains and heard the screams of his comrades falling from their horses after being shot by arrows, the fear in his heart exploded instantly.

"Run! There are too many Ming soldiers!"

Someone shouted first, and the Chahar cavalry immediately collapsed, turning their horses around and fleeing towards the snowfields on both sides.

Jirgalang rode behind to oversee the battle, his sword cutting down several deserters, but he still couldn't stop the overwhelming tide of defeat.

The Chahar cavalry were like headless flies, only concerned with escaping for their lives, abandoning even the shield wagons and chevaux-de-frise.

"waste!"

Jirhalang was furious, but he knew it was time for him to leave!
Staying here now will only result in being surrounded by the Ming army.

He glared fiercely at the fleeing remnants of the Chahar cavalry, and with no other choice, he led his hundreds of Eight Banner cavalrymen towards Kaiyuan.

From the moment the Ming cavalry launched their charge to the complete rout of the remaining Chahar cavalry, no more than half an hour had passed.

"A rabble, no need to pursue them!"

The Ming cavalry did not pursue Jirhalang, but instead cleared the shield carts and chevaux-de-frise and continued to advance towards Tieling.

Their target is Nurhaci!
at the same time.

On the snow-covered plains in the direction of Tieling, an even fiercer battle is unfolding.

Mangultai led two thousand elite troops of the Eight Banners, carrying the Khan's flag of the Great Jin, and sped toward Tieling.

On the yellow flag with a red border, a lifelike golden dragon flutters in the cold wind, making it particularly eye-catching.

Who's up ahead?

Mangultai's personal guards suddenly shouted, pointing to the hillside ahead.

Mangultai looked up and saw a large number of Mongol cavalry suddenly emerge from the hillside. They were dressed in white leather robes, holding curved swords, and lined up densely on the hillside, blocking the way forward.

That was the Khorchin army led by Liu Xingzuo and Mangus!

Liu Xingzuo, spear in hand, stood atop the hillside. When he saw the familiar Khan's flag, his eyes instantly blazed with wild joy:

"Nurhaci is sure to be among them! Warriors of the grasslands, kill! Seize the Khan's banner, behead Nurhaci, and the rewards of the Ming Dynasty and the glory of the grasslands will all be ours!"

Before he finished speaking, Liu Xingzuo spurred his horse down the hillside, his spear like a silver dragon emerging from the sea, thrusting straight at the Jurchen formation.

A Manchu soldier tried to stop him, but was stabbed through the chest with a spear and fell from his horse.

Liu Xingzuo charged through the enemy ranks, his spear striking down Jurchen soldiers who fell from their horses, just like Zhao Zilong at Changban Slope, displaying unparalleled bravery.

Mangus and the leaders of the Khorchin tribes also saw the Khan's banner, their eyes filled with greed and excitement.

The Khan's Banner represents the core of the Jurchen people. If one can capture the Khan's Banner, or even kill Nurhaci, one will not only receive a great reward from the Ming Dynasty, but also establish prestige on the grasslands.

Mangus immediately ordered: "Pass down the order, the entire army is to attack! We must annihilate this Jurchen cavalry force; we cannot let them escape!"

The cavalry of the Khorchin tribe surged down the hillside like a tide, flanking the Jurchen formation from both sides.

The cavalry force, originally only two thousand men, was instantly surrounded by Mongol cavalry several times their size. Arrows rained down like locusts, and Jurchen soldiers fell from their horses, their screams echoing everywhere.

Mangultai's face turned deathly pale instantly.

He had considered that breaking through would be extremely difficult.

I never imagined it would be this difficult.

Liu Xingzuo and the Khorchin tribe clearly mistakenly believed that the troops he led with the Khan's banner were Nurhaci's main force, so they mobilized all their troops to besiege and suppress them.

The number of Mongol cavalrymen around them increased, and the Eight Banner soldiers around them fell one after another. Their formation was gradually compressed, and they were about to be completely surrounded.

"Break through! Break through towards Kaiyuan!"

It is no longer possible to break through from the Tieling direction.

Now we have to change direction.

Mangultai roared and slashed down a Khorchin cavalryman who was charging at him with his sword.

"My men, fight your way out! If you return alive, your father will reward you handsomely!"

Surrender now and you'll only face death!
The Eight Banners cavalry immediately began to follow Mangultai in his breakout attempt.

Mangultai was covered in blood and looked terrifying.

Although he had been fighting for days and his eyes were bloodshot, he seemed to have inexhaustible energy and exuded a fierce and fearless spirit.

The Mongol cavalry of the Khorchin tribe charged forward time and again, trying to block his path, but he killed them all with a single stroke of his sword. The "crack" sound of his sword slicing through armor was particularly jarring in the chaotic battlefield.

Liu Xingzuo gripped his spear, riding his horse through the ranks, his gaze fixed on Mangultai.

He tried to get closer several times, but was forced back by the opponent's fierce blade.

Mangultai's swordsmanship was bold and unrestrained, displaying the fierce bravery unique to the elite Eight Banners troops. Every strike was aimed directly at vital points. Although Liu Xingzuo was skilled with a spear, he dared not confront him head-on and could only temporarily avoid his sharp edge, directing the Khorchin cavalry to flank him from the side.

"If this continues, I'm afraid he'll break through!"

Liu Xingzuo was secretly anxious.

Although Mangultai's elite Eight Banners troops had suffered more than half casualties, they still maintained their formation and slowly advanced towards Kaiyuan.

Although the Khorchin cavalry had a numerical advantage, their poor equipment made it difficult for them to break through the enemy's defenses, and they could only watch helplessly as the enemy broke through little by little.

Just at this critical moment, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the snowfield to the south, and the ground trembled slightly.

A cavalry unit clad in fine armor descended like divine warriors, galloping towards the battlefield.

The leading general, with his flowing silver beard and long sword in hand, was none other than Chen Ce, who had led the Ming cavalry to the scene!

"Kill! Whoever kills Nurhaci will be ennobled and appointed a general!"

Chen Ce roared, his voice aged yet full of power, echoing across the battlefield like thunder.

Three thousand Ming cavalrymen instantly split into several groups, like sharp blades, and charged towards the flanks of the Jurchen formation.

Their armor gleamed, their weapons were excellent, and their warhorses were even stronger than those of the Khorchin cavalry, making their charge unstoppable.

Previously, due to a lack of heavy armor and standard weapons, the Khorchin cavalry had always struggled to effectively suppress the Jurchen heavy infantry and cavalry, and could only rely on their numerical advantage to barely encircle them.

However, once the Ming cavalry joined the battle, the situation instantly reversed.

The Ming soldiers, armed with long swords and spears, worked in perfect coordination and quickly tore through the Jurchen's flank defenses, cutting Mangultai's troops into several sections.

"Hold the line! Keep breaking through!"

Mangultai roared, trying to reorganize the formation, but it was too late.

The Ming cavalry surged into the breach like a tide, coordinating with the Khorchin cavalry to divide and encircle the Jurchen cavalry one by one.

Furthermore, the encirclement is getting smaller and smaller.

The screams of the Jurchen cavalry rose and fell, and their formation, which had been barely holding on, gradually crumbled.

Mangultai watched as the Eight Banners soldiers around him fell one by one, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

I am afraid.
Today, there is no way to escape.

He was filled with dread, but he could only brandish his sword and continue to slay the enemies who charged at him, trying to take as many as possible down with him before he died.

An hour later, the fighting on the battlefield gradually subsided.

Mangultai's 2,000 elite Eight Banner troops were almost completely wiped out, with only a few managing to escape. Mangultai himself was also captured after exhausting his strength and was pinned to the ground by Ming soldiers.

The Khan's flag, which symbolized the power of the Jin Dynasty, was also captured by Ming soldiers and thrown into the snow, covered in blood and dust.

Chen Ce reined in his horse and stood in the center of the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the corpses and prisoners scattered everywhere, but his brows gradually furrowed.

He dismounted, walked up to the captured Mangultai, and asked sternly, "Where is Nurhaci? Wasn't he retreating with you?"

Mangultai raised his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Hmph, you've been tricked! Father Khan has already led the main force back to Hetu Ala. He sent me with the Khan's banner to distract you. You... you've been fooled by Father Khan!"

"Hahaha!"

Mangultai laughed wildly.

"What use is it for you to capture a mere Beile? When my father Khan returns to Hetu Ala, he will avenge me!"

"what?!"

Chen Ce's expression changed drastically, and he looked sharply at Liu Xingzuo and Mangus.

Liu Xingzuo and Mangus reacted instantly.

They always believed that the troops carrying the Khan's banner were Nurhaci's main force, but they never expected that it was just a bait!
Although the Jurchen Khanate banner still stood, Nurhaci had already slipped away and fled towards Hetu Ala!

"hateful!"

They went to great lengths to surround the group, but only managed to capture Mangultai, allowing their real target to escape.

Chen Ce took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He looked at the Khan's flag on the ground, then gazed in the direction of Hetu Ala, and said in a heavy tone:

"It seems we underestimated Nurhaci's cunning. Send the order to immediately survey the battlefield, treat the wounded, and keep the prisoners under strict guard!"

Once we've finished organizing, we'll immediately pursue Nurhaci towards Hetu Ala. We absolutely cannot let him escape back to his stronghold!

Even though Chen Ce knew that the chances of pursuing Nurhaci were slim.

But he was unwilling to let the tiger return to the mountain!

Today, Nurhaci's head must be cut off!
the other side.

In the direction of Hetu Ala, between the white mountains and black waters, the hills are like ravines, the dense forests are like ink, and the branches of the towering ancient trees are intertwined.

Nurhaci lay prone on his warhorse, his body swaying slightly with the jolts of the horse's hooves. The battle cries behind him had long been swallowed by the silence of the dense forest, leaving only the heavy breathing of the warhorse and the crunching sound of the snow being trampled underfoot.

He wrapped his fur coat tighter around himself, but it still couldn't stop the chill that seeped into his bones.

Nurhaci reached into his robes with one trembling hand and pulled out a small silver pot.

The pot contained a mixture of ground Liaoning ginseng and deer blood, which was his last "life-saving substance."

Nurhaci tilted his head back and drank the liquid in the pot in one gulp. The warm liquid slid down his throat, but only stirred a moment of warmth in his chest, followed by a deeper feeling of weakness.

He could clearly feel his life force slipping away rapidly, like sand through his fingers, and every breath was accompanied by a tearing pain.

"But at least we managed to get out."

Nurhaci muttered to himself, a hint of relief at surviving a calamity flashing in his eyes.

As long as he can return to his old base, he can complete the transfer of power and preserve the last vestiges of the Great Jin dynasty.

As for what happened next...
That's beyond the control of someone who's about to die.

Let's trust in the wisdom of future generations!

The warhorse continued through the dense forest, the road ahead gradually narrowing and the snow growing thicker.

Nurhaci was about to order his personal guards to speed up when he saw a scout galloping towards him from the front, his face filled with terror. The scout dismounted and scrambled to his feet, his voice trembling:

"Great...Great Khan! Ahead...at the end of the forest road ahead, there are Ming soldiers! Lots of Ming soldiers!"

"what?!"

Nurhaci suddenly straightened up, the sharp pain in his chest making his vision go black. He clung tightly to the horse's mane to keep from falling.

He stared at the scout in disbelief and asked sharply, "Are you sure? Are they really Ming soldiers? Not Mongols from the Khorchin tribe?"

"It's...it's the Ming army!"

The scout swallowed hard and said quickly, "They're wearing Ming army armor, carrying muskets and spears, and they're lined up in formation at the end of the forest path. It looks like... they've been waiting for us!"

Upon hearing this, Nurhaci's face instantly changed from pale to ashen.

"Pfft~"

A mouthful of blood suddenly spurted from Nurhaci's mouth, splashing onto the snow in front of him like blooming red plum blossoms.

He thought that splitting up to retreat would fool everyone, and that he would be safe once he crossed this remote, dense forest.

Unexpectedly, the Ming army seemed to have precognition and knew about his actions in advance!
Did these Ming soldiers fly over from Fushun?
The bitter smile on his face gradually turned into despair.

Is it
Are you really going to destroy Nurhaci?

ps:
7900 words!
(End of this chapter)