Huangming

Chapter 440 The fleeing pigs and wolves escape, the Xuanfu Bureau is settled.

Wang Guoliang stood by the narrow bridge, his eyes fixed on the direction in which the Mongol cavalry had gone.

He had just been calculating in his mind that the Mongols were brave and skilled in archery and horsemanship. Even if they didn't dare to fight to the death, they could at least hold out for half an hour, which would be enough for him to wipe out Ma Shilong's remaining troops on the other side of the bridge.

But the thought had barely crossed his mind when the shouts of the Mongols came from afar—not the cries of a charge, but the panicked cries of a rout.

"what happened?!"

Wang Guoliang gripped his saber tightly.

The personal guard beside him stood on tiptoe to look, and his face instantly fell: "General! The Mongols... the Mongols have escaped!"

Following the direction pointed out by his personal guard, Wang Guoliang indeed saw that the Mongol cavalry, who had been so aggressive just moments before, were now scattering and fleeing like a flock of frightened sheep, wildly shooting their arrows behind them, but they couldn't even touch the hem of the government troops' clothes.

Only a few people were still circling in the distance, but their archery was weak, as if they hadn't eaten enough. It was less of an obstruction and more of a perfunctory task.

"A bunch of trash!"

Wang Guoliang was so angry that he cursed aloud.

He should have realized that these surrendered Mongol soldiers were only after money. They were good at doing things for money, but when it came to life and death, who would risk their lives for him?
The "delay" just now was just the Mongols pretending because they were afraid of not getting the reward money.

The government army's cavalry formation remained intact, maintaining its charging formation. The sound of hooves grew closer and closer like muffled thunder, causing the ground to tremble.

What chilled him to the bone was that as the government troops drew closer, he saw the full extent of the force.

Cavalrymen surged out from the forests on both sides of the mountain, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight, their sabers slung across their waists, their ranks as orderly as a moving iron wall.

These cavalrymen seemed to have sprung up out of thin air, and the scouts from before hadn't sent back a single piece of information!

"How could... how could there be so many cavalry?"

Wang Guoliang's voice was trembling.

He originally thought that Ma Shilong only had 7,000 cavalrymen under Qi Jin and Cao Wenzhao, but the current number was at least 10,000!
With the addition of the infantry from Jizhou and the firearms battalion of the Beijing Garrison, Ma Shilong's forces were more than double what he had anticipated!
The soldiers behind him panicked as well. The formation that had been surrounding the narrow bridge began to crumble. Some secretly retreated, while others looked up at the approaching government cavalry with fear in their eyes.

Even Hei Yunlong's face turned pale:
"Brother-in-law...have we fallen into an ambush?"

Wang Guoliang didn't speak, but stared intently at the "horse" flag in front of the government troops amidst the encirclement.

Under the banner.

Ma Shilong was reining in his horse, a faint sneer playing on his lips.

That smile ignited a fire within Wang Guoliang.

At that moment, Ma Shilong was indeed smiling.

Looking at the rebel army that was being surrounded by government cavalry, he finally felt relieved after days of anxiety.

Three days ago, the spies from the Western Depot sent back news:

Wang Guoliang planned to send troops in three routes: a feint to lure the enemy, a surprise attack to seize supplies, and a main force to provide relief.

Upon receiving this news, Ma Shilong immediately began to ponder how to completely eliminate Wang Guoliang.

If he were to set up an impenetrable trap to trap Hei Yunlong, Wang Guoliang, seeing no opportunity to exploit, might turn around and retreat to Xuanfu.

If we want to destroy him then, we'll have to attack his strongholds one by one, which could take forever.

Therefore, you have to make him feel like there's a bargain to be had.

He deliberately transferred away the cavalry on the east side of the outer ring and half of the firearms battalion in the middle ring, leaving only four thousand musketeers to guard the west and south sides, and even only sent three hundred cavalry to escort the supply route.

The goal was to make Wang Guoliang believe that his "three-layer iron barrel formation" was a flawed and empty shell, and that as long as he followed the plan, he could rescue Hei Yunlong and annihilate all of his men.

Sure enough, Wang Guoliang stepped into the trap.

The feint successfully lured away his "elite troops," the surprise attack successfully seized the grain, and the main force broke through the middle circle to join forces with Black Cloud Dragon.

Just when he thought victory was assured and that he was about to annihilate Ma Shilong's remaining forces at the narrow bridge, Ma Shilong unleashed his true killing move:
The cavalry, who had been lying in ambush in the mountains on both sides, were led by Qi Jin and Cao Wenzhao respectively, and now they all charged out.

Chen Ce's main force from Jizhou surrounded him from the rear, cutting off his retreat route back to Xuanfu.

"This is called 'using oneself as bait to bloom in the center'."

Ma Shilong looked at the rebel army that was surrounded, his voice tinged with pride.

He was the "bait," using his own "weakness" to lure Wang Guoliang into the trap. Once the enemy was inside the encirclement, the elite troops lying in ambush would attack from all sides and counter-encircle him.

Chen Ce's reinforcements were his insurance policy.

Even if Wang Guoliang sensed something was wrong and tried to run away, he would be stopped by the main force of Jizhou.

Crackling.

The narrow bridge over the Yanghe River was licked by flames, the charred wooden planks crackled, and sparks flew up with thick smoke, mingling with the acrid smell of burning reeds, making it hard to open one's eyes.

The rebels' formation was already in disarray.

The Shanxi militiamen covered their heads and burrowed into the reeds, while the Datong border troops' armor was askew, their spears trembling, and even their breathing was trembling with panic.

Hei Yunlong's hand, gripping his saber, was drenched in cold sweat. He moved closer to Wang Guoliang, his voice strained:

"Brother-in-law, the government cavalry is closing in! Which way should we run?"

Wang Guoliang ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic soldiers. His brows furrowed, and he let out a cold sneer.
"Useless piece of trash!"
Back when you followed Hei Yunlong to kill the imperial envoy, weren't you quite bold?

Are you scared by this little bit of trouble?

He suddenly raised his voice, drew his sword from his waist with his right hand, and roared behind him:

“Brothers of Datong, listen up!”

Although we are surrounded, we are not lambs to the slaughter!

This narrow bridge is only so wide; no matter how many government cavalrymen there are, only three or five can rush across at a time.

Horses can't turn their legs in the reeds, and the water in the lower reaches of the Yanghe River is waist-deep; even if they had wings, they couldn't cross it.

This isn't a dead end, it's our way out!

The fifty servants behind him roared in unison, repeating their words over and over in all directions:

"The general said! This is our only way out! We'll fight the government troops to the death!"

The roar echoed through the valley, drowning out the sound of the government troops' horses' hooves.

The soldiers, who were initially in a panic, gradually calmed down as they looked at Wang Guoliang's upright back and the blood-dripping sword in his hand.

Even the commander-in-chief didn't run away, so why are they panicking?
"Burn the bridge!"

At Wang Guoliang's command, several soldiers carrying barrels of kerosene rushed to the end of the bridge.

With a "splash," the kerosene was poured onto the wooden board, and the torch was thrown out.

Flames erupted instantly, engulfing the latter half of the narrow bridge. With crackling sounds, the wooden planks gradually collapsed, falling into the Yanghe River and sending sparks flying.

"Infantry! Push the chariots and form ranks!"

More than a dozen war chariots, originally used to transport grain, were pushed to the front of the battle line. Their wheels got stuck in the mud, and the carriages stood upright, blocking the cavalry's charge.

The infantrymen, gripping their spears, peered out from the gaps in the chariots, forming a dense wall of spears.

Having done all this, Wang Guoliang mounted his horse, his sword pointing directly at the "horse" flag in front of the government troops:
"Charge with me! Take Ma Shilong's head and we can break through!"

He squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and the warhorse, in pain, neighed and charged into the government army's ranks.

Amidst the clanging of armor, his sword flashed with a cold light, slicing a charging government cavalryman off his horse. Blood splattered on his face, but it did not affect his speed in the slightest.

"Charge! Charge with the general!"

Infected by this fierce spirit, the rebel soldiers shouted and followed behind Wang Guoliang, thrusting their spears at the government troops' warhorses and slashing their sabers at the cavalrymen's armor.

The originally scattered formation miraculously reformed in the face of adversity, like a blunt knife, stabbing fiercely into the government troops' encirclement.

Surrounded.

Ma Shilong was reining in his horse to observe the situation when he saw that the rebels were not only not breaking out, but were instead charging towards his command center. His pupils suddenly contracted, and his face was filled with shock.
"He's gone mad?!"

He originally thought that Wang Guoliang would take advantage of the fact that Cao Wenzhao's cavalry had not yet fully converged and escape to the north, but he did not expect that the other party would choose the most dangerous option of "putting himself in a desperate situation to survive".

Go straight for his commander!
Ma Shilong's soldiers were originally "bait," numbering less than three thousand, and mostly infantry. Faced with the rebels' desperate charge, they quickly succumbed.

The soldiers in the front ranks fell one by one, tearing a gap in the formation. The rebels surged in like a tide, and even the general's flag in the center was about to fall.

A rebel soldier, wielding a long sword, slashed at the flag. With a "crack," the flagpole was severed, and the flag embroidered with the character "horse" fell to the ground, where it was crushed to pieces by the horse's hooves.

"Protect Xie Town!"

Ma Shilong's personal guards roared and raised their shields to block him, but the rebels' attack was too fierce, and the shields were quickly cut with countless holes.

As Ma Shilong watched Wang Guoliang approach, he could even see the bloodstains on the other's armor, and cold sweat broke out on his palms.

His plan to use himself as bait ended up costing him his life.

At this critical moment.

Suddenly, a rapid thud of hooves came from the north, accompanied by a thunderous shout:
"Don't panic, Ma Xie Town! I, Cao, am here!"

Cao Wenzhao led two thousand cavalrymen from the capital garrison, charging in from the side. Wielding their sabers, they cleaved a gap in the rebel army's charging formation.

The cavalry of the capital garrison were heavily armored and fast, and the rebel soldiers could not withstand them at all, so they retreated one after another.

Cao Wenzhao rushed to Ma Shilong's side, dismounted, and clasped his hands in greeting:
"I am late, and I have caused the commander to be alarmed!"

Ma Shilong breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when his gaze suddenly swept towards the direction from which Cao Wenzhao had come.

The encirclement to the north is now empty!
Cao Wenzhao was originally stationed in the north, responsible for blocking the rebel army's escape route to Xuanfu. Now that he has led his troops to reinforce, the northern defenses have become an empty shell!

"not good!"

Ma Shilong suddenly looked up and saw Wang Guoliang staring at the gap to the north, a hint of triumphant satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Wang Guoliang waved his hand and roared at the rebels:

"The north side is empty! Follow me and charge out!"

Upon hearing this, the rebel soldiers erupted in cheers, turned around, and charged toward the gap to the north.

Cao Wenzhao wanted to lead his troops to stop them, but they were entangled by the rebel army's rearguard.

Those soldiers covering the rear, with the determination to die, charged towards the Beijing cavalry with their spears, determined to buy time even if they were to be killed by sabers.

As Ma Shilong watched Wang Guoliang's troops gradually disappear into the northern mountains, he angrily slammed his fist on the chariot beside him, sending wood chips flying.

"Damn it! He still got away!"

He had planned everything meticulously, but he hadn't anticipated that Wang Guoliang would remain sober in such dire straits, nor had he foreseen that Cao Wenzhao would create a breach in the northern encirclement in order to save him.

Ma Shilong stood by the bridge, gazing at the flowing waters of the Yanghe River, his heart filled with resentment.

He was just one step away from annihilating Wang Guoliang and quelling the Xuanfu Rebellion, but now, the cooked duck has flown away.

"Xielin, should we give chase?"

Cao Wenzhao reined in his horse, his head bowed, his hands gripping the reins, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Just now, in order to save Ma Shilong, he had recklessly transferred the northern garrison, thus creating an opening for Wang Guoliang to break through. At this moment, he was filled with self-reproach, and even his voice was somewhat strained.

"It was my oversight that ruined the encirclement plan..."

Ma Shilong raised his hand to interrupt him.

“If it weren’t for General Cao saving my life, I would probably be beheaded by now. You have no faults, only merits.”

After calming Cao Wenzhao down, Ma Shilong's gaze swept across the battlefield:
The flames on the narrow bridge had gradually turned to ashes. The charred wooden planks lay across the Yanghe River, and scattered spears and broken swords were stuck in the mud. Wounded soldiers lay on the ground groaning, and the air was still filled with the lingering smell of blood and burnt flesh.

Seeing the guilty look on Cao Wenzhao's face, Ma Shilong burst into laughter:
"Hahaha!"

Then he said:

"General Cao, there is no need to blame yourself anymore. This town has already ordered Commander Chen to lead 5,000 infantrymen to set up a checkpoint at Sandao Gully outside Dushikou. Even if Wang Guoliang breaks through, he will not be able to get past that pass."

He's only broken through our first encirclement; the real net is yet to come."

He paused, then raised his hand and pointed to the rebel troops still stirring within the encirclement, his tone suddenly becoming sharp:
"The important thing right now is not to chase him, but to catch all the fish in this circle!"

General Cao, you must immediately lead your troops back to defend the northern breach, seal it tightly with chevaux-de-frise, and prevent any remaining rebels from escaping!

The guilt in Cao Wenzhao's eyes was instantly replaced by murderous intent. He clasped his hands in response:
"The last general takes command!"

He moved swiftly, turning and leaping onto his horse, drawing his saber from his waist, and shouting at his cavalry:

"Charge with me! Block the breach! One rebel escaped, he'll be court-martialed!"

Two thousand cavalrymen from the Beijing Garrison shouted in unison, their hooves trampling over the corpses scattered on the ground, splashing up mud mixed with blood, as they galloped toward the northern breach.

At this moment, the rebel army within the encirclement was in complete chaos:
Seeing that the situation was not good, the surrendered Mongol soldiers had already used the speed of their warhorses to bypass the flanks of the government troops and disappeared into the direction of the grasslands when Wang Guoliang broke out.

The Shanxi militia lost their leader; some tried to hide in the reeds, while others attempted to wade across the river, only to be shot into the water by the government troops' arrows.

Only the border troops in Datong are still putting up a desperate resistance.

Leading the group was Wang Guoliang's cousin, Wang Guoxiong, the military commander of Chaigoubao.

Wang Guoxiong's eyes were bloodshot. He swung his sword and cut down a government soldier who charged at him, roaring:
"Brothers! Surrendering means certain death! Let's fight them to the death!"

Knowing that he was a relative of Wang Guoliang and would have no chance of survival if captured, he resisted fiercely. His three hundred personal guards fought to the death with him, and they temporarily blocked the government army's attack.

at this time.

Suddenly, a deafening sound of horses' hooves came from afar, and billowing dust swept in from east to west.

Qi Jin's five thousand cavalry from Jizhou have arrived!
Sunlight shone on their silver armor, reflecting a cold light. Long-handled swords were slung across their saddles, and the horses' hooves trembled slightly on the ground, like an unstoppable torrent.

"General Qi is here!"

A cheer erupted from the government troops.

Qi Jin reined in his horse at the front of the battle, his gaze sweeping over Wang Guoxiong, who was stubbornly resisting, and said coldly:

"Traitor, why don't you surrender?"

Wang Guoxiong did not answer, but charged at Qi Jin with his sword.

Qi Jin snorted coldly, spurred his horse to meet the attack, and the two men's sabers clashed in mid-air with a crisp "clang," sparks flying everywhere.

In the first round, Wang Guoxiong used the force to strike Qi Jin's left shoulder. Qi Jin dodged to the side and then used the back of his knife to strike the horse's belly.

In the second round, Qi Jin swept his longsword horizontally, forcing Wang Guoxiong to parry with his own sword. However, Qi Jin seized the opening and the tip of his sword slashed Wang Guoxiong's right arm.

In the third round, Qi Jin feinted, and as Wang Guoxiong ducked to dodge, he thrust out his long sword and struck him squarely in the chest!
"puff!"

Wang Guoxiong spat out a mouthful of blood, the knife in his hand clattered to the ground, and he fell off the horse. He twitched a few times and then fell silent.

Seeing Wang Guoxiong die in battle, the rebels in the encirclement completely lost the courage to resist.

Seeing this, Ma Shilong spurred his horse to the front of the formation and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"The government troops only punish the ringleaders! Wang Guoliang and Wang Guoxiong have already been executed. If you lay down your weapons and surrender, your past actions will be forgiven!"

His personal guards immediately joined in the shouting, their voices piercing the clamor of the battlefield:

"Only the ringleaders will be executed! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

"Only the ringleaders will be executed! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

The shouts echoed from one end of the valley to the other, striking the hearts of the rebels like a heavy hammer.

First, a border soldier from Datong hesitated and dropped his spear, then a second, a third...

The Shanxi militiamen emerged from the reeds, knelt on the ground with their hands behind their heads.

"Don't kill me, I'm willing to surrender!"

"We're just here to make a living, please don't kill us!"

The remaining Datong border troops looked at each other and gradually laid down their weapons.

Some soldiers knelt on the ground, remembering their brothers who had just fought to the death, and couldn't help but wipe away tears.

Some were panting heavily, their faces filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.

Cao Wenzhao rode his horse to survey the battlefield, looking at the rebel soldiers lying on the ground with their weapons laid down, and turned to Ma Shilong, saying:
"In Xiezhen, apart from Wang Guoliang who escaped and the surrendered Mongol soldiers, almost all the rebels in this area have surrendered."

In total, we captured at least eight thousand and killed nearly three thousand, a truly resounding victory!

Ma Shilong nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips:
"The rebel army suffered heavy losses. Even if Wang Guoliang escapes, he won't be able to cause any more trouble."

Once news came from Commander Chen, the rebellion in Xuanfu would truly be quelled.

the other side.

In the mountains and forests on the north side of the Yanghe River Valley, the sound of horses' hooves clattered through the fallen leaves, kicking up a trail of dust.

Wang Guoliang reined in his horse, its mane disheveled, and it was panting heavily, exhaling a misty white vapor from its nostrils.

He turned sharply and looked toward the valley. Although the firelight there was dimming, he could still vaguely see the banners of the government troops swaying in the sunlight. The sounds of fighting came intermittently, like shattered jade pieces scattered by the wind, piercing his eardrums.

The three thousand cavalrymen following behind him had lost all their former imposing presence.
The warhorse had a limp and could only follow along, wobbling along.

The soldier had an arm injury, his face was pale, and his eyes were full of shock. He could barely hold onto his saber.

Looking at this scene, Wang Guoliang felt a bitter taste rise in his throat.

He originally had more than 30,000 men under his command. When he set out from Xuanfu, he was a formidable force. But in just one day, only 3,000 remnants remained. The rest either died by the narrow bridge or were still trapped in the government army's encirclement. They had probably already surrendered or died in battle.

"Xuanzhen... is finished."

He murmured softly, but the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

He once thought that with the elite troops of Datong Border Army, the cavalry and archery skills of the surrendered Mongol soldiers, and the popular support of the people of Xuanfu, even if they rebelled, they could still challenge the imperial court.

But today's battle revealed that his so-called "strength" was utterly insignificant in the face of the imperial court's elite troops.

"Brother-in-law, what should we do now?"

Black Cloud Dragon's voice suddenly came, trembling noticeably.

He spurred his horse closer to Wang Guoliang, his face still stained with blood. His once arrogant eyes were now filled with panic, and he even stammered as he spoke.

"Can...can we still go back to Xuanfu?"

Wang Guoliang glanced at him sideways, snorted coldly, and his tone was full of sarcasm:
"Go back to Xuan Mansion?

Do you think Xuanfu is still our territory?

The moment we head back, the Ma family will be waiting with knives in hand.

They wanted us dead, they wanted to use our heads to curry favor with the court, have you forgotten?

Upon hearing this, Hei Yunlong's face turned deathly pale, and his lips trembled.

"Then...where can we go?"

"We can't just keep drifting around outside, can we?"

The ruthlessness he displayed when killing the imperial envoy had vanished. Now, he was like a helpless child, staring intently at Wang Guoliang, hoping the latter would offer him a way out.

"Go to Dushibao."

Wang Guoliang turned his horse around and looked towards the mountain road to the north.

"North of Dushibao lies the grassland; further west, one can reach the Western Regions."

We have to escape, escape to a place where the Ming Dynasty can't reach us.

"escape?"

Hei Yunlong's expression instantly fell, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Escape to the grasslands?"

That place is full of Tartars; if we go there, we'll be like lambs to the slaughter!
Fleeing to the Western Regions?

That place was shrouded in yellow sand, and even a sip of clean water was hard to find. How could it compare to being a general in Xuanfu?

He had lived a life of luxury in Xuanfu and had never experienced the hardships of fleeing. The thought of going to the desolate land filled him with resentment.

"Comfortable?"

Wang Guoliang turned his head sharply, his eyes as sharp as knives.

"Do you think we can still talk about comfort now?"
"If you hadn't acted impulsively and killed the imperial envoy, would we be in this predicament?"

He took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying a hint of weariness.

Why doesn't your godfather, Wang Wei, rebel?

Last year, Yang Zhaoji, the general of Datong, went to Shandong to quell the Wenxiangjiao rebellion. He held almost all the military power in Datong, but he simply did not move his troops.

He knows better than you that although the current court is corrupt, it has not yet reached the point of falling apart.

His Majesty is even more wise; his actions against Xuanfu have been swift, giving us no time to breathe. Rebellion means certain death!

Hei Yunlong was speechless and hung his head.

He recalled the exhilaration of killing the imperial envoy and the scene when Wang Guoliang advised him to "wait a little longer." A sudden wave of regret washed over him, but it was too late to say anything now.

"Being alive is already a blessing."

Wang Guoliang patted him on the shoulder, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"There is no place for us to stay on the land of the Ming Dynasty."

"Let's go. If we get any later, the government troops will catch up and we really won't be able to escape."

The three thousand remaining soldiers started moving again and headed north along the mountain path.

As dusk deepened, the wind in the forest grew colder, rustling the leaves as if someone were watching from the shadows.

Hei Yunlong shrank his neck, feeling uneasy. He kept glancing back, afraid that the government cavalry would suddenly catch up.

But they hadn't gone far, about ten miles, when the cavalry ahead suddenly stopped, and someone cried out in surprise:
"General! There are government troops' flags ahead!"

Wang Guoliang's heart tightened, and he spurred his horse forward a few steps.

Through the sparse woods, he indeed saw a conspicuous commander's flag planted on the hilltop ahead.

The flag was deep red, with a large "Chen" character embroidered on it in gold thread, which was particularly eye-catching in the twilight.

"Chen...Chen Ce?!"

Wang Guoliang's pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He abruptly reined in his horse, his fingers gripping the reins tightly, and he couldn't help but mutter curses under his breath:

"Damn it! So... so I didn't escape the encirclement at all!"

He finally realized that Ma Shilong's so-called "first encirclement" was just a decoy, and Chen Ce's Jizhou infantry had already set up a checkpoint there.

The three thousand cavalrymen behind them panicked, and some began to turn their horses around, trying to flee, but Wang Guoliang stopped them:

"No retreat!"

But he himself knew in his heart that with Chen Ce's infantry in front and Ma Shilong's pursuers behind, fleeing backwards would only lead to certain death.

The only way to survive is to push forward.

Hei Yunlong looked at the banner with the character "Chen" on it, his legs went weak, and he almost fell off his horse.

He looked at Wang Guoliang, his voice filled with despair:
"Brother-in-law...can we...can we still escape?"

Wang Guoliang stared at the glaring "Chen" banner, his face showing no fear whatsoever, but rather a strong fighting spirit.

He raised his hand to wipe the blood splattered on his cheek, gave a cold laugh, and said:
"How can you know there's no way out if you don't try?"

He crawled out of a pile of dead bodies.

As long as I'm alive, I will never admit defeat!
Clang!
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Guoliang suddenly drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist.

He raised his sword high above his head, and his warhorse seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit, pawing restlessly, its nostrils spewing even thicker white smoke.

"Cheer up, everyone! Follow me and we'll take a detour to the northwest!"

The mountain road to the northwest is narrower, with steep rock walls on both sides, and the fallen leaves in the forest are so thick that they can cover a horse's hooves.

Wang Guoliang spurred his horse forward, his sharp gaze sweeping across the terrain along the way:

He memorized every detail: where there were forks in the road, where the trees could block the view, and where the slope was suitable for a cavalry charge.

He wanted to bypass Chen Ce's frontal defenses and take the opportunity to find out more about the other party's background.

How many cavalrymen were there?
Are the infantry formations tight?
Are there any weaknesses that can be exploited?

Although the three thousand remaining soldiers behind him were still exhausted, they were infected by his momentum and squeezed their horses' bellies, following him as he galloped northwest.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed along the narrow mountain path, startling birds roosting in the woods, which flapped their wings and disappeared into the twilight.

Not long after, the sound of new hooves came from behind.

Chen Ce's response was simple and direct: he sent only a thousand cavalrymen to follow, neither charging rashly nor letting up in the pursuit, like a shadow sticking firmly behind them.

Wang Guoliang turned his horse and glanced back. Seeing that the enemy cavalry was sparse and had only a dozen or so flags, he felt a little relieved.

He whispered to his personal guard:

"We have no more than a thousand cavalrymen, and if our infantry are scattered and deployed, there will surely be weak points. We still have a chance to escape."

But this ease didn't last long.

When they reached a mountain pass called "Eagle's Beak Pass," Wang Guoliang's smile froze instantly, and even his grip on the hilt of his knife tightened.

The Eagle's Beak Pass is flanked by sheer cliffs, with only enough room for two horses to ride abreast in the middle, making it a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

At this moment, the pass was already completely blocked by shield carts.

Dozens of shield wagons were lined up one after another, their bodies covered with thick raw cowhide, with countless long spears protruding from the gaps, like a giant beast with its fangs bared.

Behind the shield wagons, the Sichuan soldiers' infantry stood in neat square formations, with musketeers kneeling on the ground, their gun barrels all aimed at the mountain pass, leaving not even a sliver of space.

Even more critically, the thousand cavalrymen behind them were gradually closing in, their hoofbeats growing louder and louder, and they could even hear the shouts of the enemy cavalry.

With ambushes ahead and pursuers behind, the situation was extremely critical.

Wang Guoliang took a deep breath, reined in his warhorse, and spoke without a trace of panic:
"Gentlemen! There's no way to avoid this situation now!"
"If we don't deal with the cavalry behind us, we'll be attacked from both sides when we charge through the pass, and we'll be surrounded sooner or later!"

He turned his horse around, his ring-pommel sword pointing directly at the pursuers behind him.

"Let's turn back and fight our way back! Let's cut off this leech first!"

"Kill back!"

A roar came from among the remaining soldiers, their previously scattered morale suddenly roused by this desperate situation.

The men turned their horses around, their sabers and spears pointing behind them. Though their formation was scattered, it exuded a desperate, do-or-die spirit.

But when the thousand government cavalrymen saw them turn around and attack, they showed no intention of engaging in battle.

The leading cavalry general raised his hand and waved, and the entire force instantly retreated, maintaining a distance of two arrow-lengths from the remnants of Wang Guoliang's army.

Immediately afterwards, a hail of arrows rained down like locusts.

As the cavalry retreated, they drew their bows and nocked arrows, which landed precisely on the remaining troops. Every now and then, someone would be hit by an arrow and fall from their horse, their screams echoing along the mountain road.

"Chase!"

Wang Guoliang spurred his horse to charge forward, but the enemy cavalry rode fine horses from Hexi, far faster than their weary warhorses. No matter how fast they accelerated, they were always a step behind.

Just as they were about to catch up, the enemy suddenly turned around and circled to the side to continue shooting from horseback.

When they tried to turn around and charge through the pass, the cavalry clung to them like glue, raining arrows down on them relentlessly.

"It's a guerrilla warfare tactic used by the steppes and the Jurchens!"

Wang Guoliang gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.

This tactic of "hit and run, without fighting head-on" was originally a specialty of the Jurchen cavalry, but unexpectedly Chen Ce also learned it and used it against the government troops.

His remaining troops were already exhausted, and their horses were panting heavily from repeated raids. If they continued to be worn down like this, they would be wiped out by a hail of arrows before they could even reach the pass.

"We can't chase them anymore!"

Wang Guoliang suddenly reined in his horse, which reared up and kicked wildly in the air with its front hooves.

He turned to look at his son-in-law, Zhang Zhengtao, beside him.

Zhang Zhengtao's arm was already slashed by an arrow, and blood was dripping down his armor, but he still gripped the spear with a determined look in his eyes.

"Zhengtao! You lead a thousand men to stay behind, form a chevaux-de-frise, and block the cavalry behind you! Hold them off for as long as you can!"

Zhang Zhengtao clasped his hands in response:
"Father-in-law, rest assured! This humble general will not allow them to advance an inch!"

He immediately mustered a thousand remaining soldiers, took the spare chevaux-de-frise from beside their saddles, and quickly set up a makeshift defensive line in the middle of the mountain road.

Wang Guoliang then looked at the Black Cloud Dragon beside him.

Hei Yunlong's face was deathly pale, and he gripped his saber tightly with both hands, but he still nodded.

"Yunlong, follow me through the pass! As long as we can tear open a gap, we can escape!"

Having said that, he no longer hesitated and spurred his horse toward the shield and chariot formation at Eagle's Beak Pass.

The two thousand remaining soldiers followed closely behind, some raising their shields to protect themselves, others gripping their sabers in preparation for close combat, their breathing becoming rapid.

"Fire the gun!"

The roar of Chen Ce's general echoed from the pass.

In an instant, dozens of muskets fired simultaneously, the "bang bang bang" of gunfire shaking the mountains and forests.

The lead bullets pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound, slamming into the charging cavalry.

Many of the remaining soldiers were unable to dodge in time and were hit by lead bullets. They either fell off their horses or collapsed to the ground along with their horses, their blood instantly staining the mountain road red.

In a short time, more than 500 of the 2,000 remaining soldiers were lost, leaving only more than 1,500.

Before they could catch their breath, another loud "boom" came from behind the shield truck.

Five breech-loading cannons fired simultaneously, the shells flying towards the cavalry with thick smoke.

A shell landed in the crowd, and the shrapnel instantly overturned three warhorses. The riders and horses fell to the ground, convulsing and lifeless.

Another cannonball grazed past Wang Guoliang's warhorse and struck one of his personal guards behind him. The guard was blown to pieces without even uttering a sound.

"Fight in!"

Wang Guoliang roared and suddenly raised his left arm to block an arrow that was aimed at his face.

The arrow pierced his arm armor and embedded itself deep in his flesh; blood flowed down his arm, staining his hand that held the reins red.

But he didn't stop at all. Under his command, his warhorse suddenly leaped ten feet high, like a black lightning bolt, and charged towards the shield chariot formation.

"clang!"

The ring-pommel sword slammed into the raw cowhide of the shield cart, the blade embedding itself in it, sparks flying everywhere.

Wang Guoliang pulled hard, tearing a slit in the cowhide.

Immediately afterwards, he kicked the shield wagon, causing it to shake violently, and the foot soldiers behind it cried out and retreated.

"Come at me!"

Seeing their commander lead the charge, the remaining soldiers unleashed their last strength. Some used their spears to pry open the gaps in the shield wagons, while others jumped off their horses and swung their swords at the foot soldiers behind the wagons.

Arrows rained down on them, and many fell, but many more stepped over the corpses of their comrades and charged into the shield chariot formation.

Wang Guoliang slashed left and right in the battle, each swing of his ring-pommel sword bringing forth a spray of blood.

A foot soldier thrust his spear at his chest, but he dodged to the side and, with a backhand slash, severed the man's head.

Two more musketeers tried to fire at close range, but he lunged forward, blocking the muzzle with his shield and kicking one of them to the ground. A flash of light, and the other man also fell to the ground.

His armor was already soaked in blood, his face and body were covered in wounds, sweat mixed with blood was dripping down, and his vision was somewhat blurred.

But he never stopped; the ring-pommel sword in his hand was like a tireless bolt of lightning, cleaving through the obstacles in his path.

at last.

After a fierce battle, he saw light on the other side of the pass.

They broke through!

"Quick! Run forward!"

Wang Guoliang roared and spurred his horse out of the pass. Behind him were less than five hundred wounded soldiers, all of whom were running forward with all their might.

far away.

Zhang Zhengtao's chevaux-de-frise formation was still engaged in battle with the cavalry, and the sounds of fighting and screams could be faintly heard.

But Wang Guoliang knew that there was no turning back for him.

withdraw!
Get out!
My Wang Guoliang absolutely cannot die here!
I, Wang Guoliang, must survive!
PS:

It's a long chapter of 9200 words, almost 10,000 words.

Actually, this counts as an extra chapter (just kidding).
Also.

I won't be able to write tomorrow morning because I'm going to a banquet. My aunt's family is moving into their new house, and I might even have to say a few auspicious words to my great-uncle about moving into his new home.

I'll try to finish the extra chapter this afternoon!
另外
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(End of this chapter)