Emperor Ming: Your Majesty, you have caused me so much suffering.

Chapter 97 Esen, Esen, Loses His Brother and His Army

At this moment, Esen was a gambler; he wanted to win.

The Oirat army moved with astonishing speed, and a major battle was imminent.

Zhu Qiyu looked at the cavalrymen covering the field, the dust rising several meters high, the scene was quite frightening. This time, Esen was enraged by Zhu Qiyu and almost sent out all his troops.

"Your Majesty, the entire Oirat army has been mobilized. Now, the two northern gates are engaged in a major battle and are unlikely to be able to provide support. We need to send some troops from the nearby western gates. I request that Gao Li and Mao Fushou from Zhangyi Gate be sent back to provide support."

"Granted! Lu Zhong, go and convey my military orders!" Zhu Qiyu nodded, ignoring Yu Qian, the commander-in-chief.

Chen Mao's suggestion was reasonable. Even if Zhangyi Gate was breached, it was not one of the nine inner gates of the capital, so the Oirat Mongols could not enter. It was right to abandon some gates. If Xizhi Gate was breached, everyone would be finished.

Zhu Qiyu felt a pang of regret, wondering if he had provoked Esen too much, causing him to mobilize all his forces this time. He hoped that the trap set by Liu Ju and the other man would work.

Smoke and dust swept in, leaving Zhu Qiyu somewhat puzzled.

"Lord Ningyang, have you noticed that the Oirat army seems to have no cannons?"

Given the large number of firearms captured by the Oirat Mongols during the Tumu Crisis, it's impossible that they didn't possess firearms.

Little did Esen know that he also had his own difficulties. His Oirat army was not good at using firearms. The use of firearms required strict procedures and maintenance. If these Oirat soldiers had not consulted the traitor Xi Ning, they would not have known anything about them. They had ruined many of them along the way south, and even caused many to explode and injure people.

More importantly, they had cannons but no ammunition. They forgot to collect them at the time, as they were more concerned about collecting armor, horses, money, and provisions. Yang Hong and his son can attest to this. They are grateful for the gifts left by their old friend.

Moreover, at Zijing Pass, they bombarded the city with cannons almost as if it were free. Later, they belatedly realized their mistake and decided to attack Dadu in the most straightforward and unpretentious way.

Unable to replenish ammunition quickly, and unable to rely on the Oirat army to make their own, which they couldn't anyway, the key issue was that they had little ammunition left after conquering those passes. Furthermore, Esen was full of confidence, believing that his arrival in the capital had frightened the Ming emperor and his officials, and that he might achieve his goal without even needing to attack the city.

That's why Esen could only suffer in silence. He was already in a hurry to bring the last of his cannons from Zijing Pass. As for why the Oirat didn't use firearms, they weren't the Three Guards of Doyan. How could they train them in a short time? It was better to leave them to gather dust.

Chen Mao pondered for a moment and said, "The Oirat are not good at firearms. Every army should play to its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. Firearms require strong technological support, which the Oirat cannot do. Even if they capture them, they probably won't want to use them. Cavalry is their most powerful weapon."

As the two were talking, the Oirat army drew ever closer. Zhu Qiyu watched the thick smoke billowing from the battlefield. Esen had truly gone mad this time, not sending any scouts to investigate the camp, but just charging around recklessly.

"Raise the dragon flag on the city wall." Zhu Qiyu decided to give Esen a little more stimulation.

"Here you go!"

"Your Majesty, should we leave?"

The thunderous stampede of horses seemed to shake the ground slightly. Li Xian himself was somewhat terrified by the sight, perhaps due to the stress of the Battle of Tumu Fortress.

"No need, I am here. The Oirat will attack even more fiercely."

Zhu Qiyu was not worried at all when he saw that the Oirat Mongols had no cannons.

Jiao Jing's Shenji Battalion had been preparing for a long time, with four rows in total, consisting of several hundred firemen.

When the Prince of Datong saw that the Ming army's Shenji Battalion was not using cover or forming infantry ranks to defend themselves, but instead directly pointing their firearms at his own cavalry, he wondered if the Ming army had gone mad.

"Speed ​​up, shield up, charge!"

The Oirat cavalryman slapped his horse's rump hard, and the warhorse sped up again.

"Bang bang bang!"

Before the fire could even start, the Oirat cavalrymen took to the air, separating themselves from their horses.

The open space in front of them was filled with countless hidden horse traps. The Oirat cavalrymen couldn't rein in their horses in time, and they fell over in an instant.

The horse trap was still reinforced with iron caltrops, and in just one attack, the Oirat lost more than two hundred riders.

The Divine Machine Battalion was to lure the enemy, and the King of Datong hurriedly gave the order.

"Cease the charge and attack the flanks."

With a wave of Jiao Jing's banner, the commander at the front immediately received the order and saw that the Oirat cavalry were adjusting their direction and were in disarray.

Suddenly, the crowd parted, revealing more than a dozen cannons.

The artillerymen hurriedly adjusted their angles, and looking at the dense Oirat cavalry ahead, they thought, "We've struck it rich!"

"fire!"

"The Divine Machine Battalion is firing its muskets at staggered positions!"

The shells, fired almost parallel to each other, fell into this dense space, creating a terrifyingly destructive force. Some Oirat soldiers were even blasted into the air by the shells.

The screams continued for a long time.

Zhu Qiyu looked at the scene before him, but remained calm. He said with some regret, "Marquis of Ningyang, the Oirat formation is in chaos. If our Ming Dynasty still had elite cavalry, they could have attacked from both flanks and dealt a fatal blow to the Oirat."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mao also felt a pang of regret. The opportunity was fleeting. Once the Oirat formation was adjusted, only a few hundred cavalrymen would have died, and there would not have been any major casualties. Soon, the two flanks would be engaged in a battle between infantry and cavalry, which would be the most brutal moment.

Just then, thick smoke billowed from the flank, and the fierce general Shi Biao charged in from the flank!

Like a wild horse, Shi Biao ignored Shi Heng's orders and charged ahead of the Oirat cavalry. The Ming cavalry behind him followed suit.

The battle tactics remain the same: spears first. Two thousand cavalry against tens of thousands of cavalry—the advantage is in our hands!

"kill!"

"Your Majesty, it's Admiral Shi! Send reinforcements immediately!" Chen Mao was startled. This Shi Heng was a commander-in-chief, yet he dared to play like this. He was truly fearless!

"Beat the drums! Beat the drums!"

The Imperial Guards grabbed the drumsticks and used all their strength.

As soon as the war drums sounded, the entire army sprang into action!

Sun Tang had been observing the battle situation. When he saw Shi Heng arrive, he was overjoyed and immediately led a small number of cavalrymen from his camp to help him. He also wanted to become a fierce general.

"Spearmen, go and provide support immediately! Infantry, follow up!" Governor Liu Ju ordered upon seeing the situation.

Jiao Jing couldn't sit still any longer. Seeing his commander of the Shenji Battalion still standing there in a daze, he was furious and dismissed him from his post!

"Quickly have men cover the horse traps with thick wooden planks, push all the cannons forward, and fire as soon as the Oirat cavalry enters firing range! The Shenji Battalion's musketeers and archers advance, with the siege engines providing cover. Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

Jiao Jing hurriedly gave the order, jumping up and down in anger. Now that the cavalry of both sides were locked in combat, it was the perfect time for the Oirat cavalry to gather. He ordered them to bombard the Oirat and show them what it meant to be attacked from both sides.

The soldiers reacted quickly and advanced rapidly.

Chen Mao looked at Jiao Jing from the city tower, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Then he looked at Zhu Qiyu, wondering if His Majesty had foreseen that this man had such abilities.

Zhu Qiyu, sensing Chen Mao's gaze, simply pretended to be inscrutable. In reality, he was even more surprised than Chen Mao. He only hoped that Jiao Jing could make good use of the Shenji Battalion to cause some trouble for the Oirat cavalry.

Chen Mao suddenly suggested, "Your Majesty, you could send the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Horse Administration out of the city to fight, hold off the Oirat cavalry, and create an opportunity for the Divine Machine Battalion."

"Give the order: Go immediately!"

Zhu Qiyu nodded. This could be considered an unconventional cavalryman by his side!

Without hesitation, the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Horse Listening Orders mounted their horses and left the city.

This situation allows for the accumulation of military merits, regardless of the enemy's numbers. Victory in war is not simply a matter of having more people. Zhu Qizhen agreed!

As Esen gazed at the chaotic battle, his brows furrowed deeply. This Ming emperor was truly so difficult to deal with. Looking at the dragon flag fluttering in the wind, a hint of regret flashed through his mind. It wasn't an empty city ploy after all!

Is the emperor really brothers with the one in the camp?

Ye Xian was momentarily dazed.

Seeing the situation was turning against him, Bayan Temur warned, "Grand Tutor, we must retreat!"

Esen did not answer. Retreating now would result in significant losses, and he was unwilling to give up. The key issue was that the Ming army was not allowing him to retreat easily and was now holding on tightly.

With a thunderous roar, the Divine Machine Battalion unleashed its power once again!

The Oirat cavalry are in disarray again!

Esen was greatly surprised. When did these Ming troops get there?

Esen prepared to send his personal guards to attack the Shenji Camp.

At this moment, Esen's younger brother Boluo's old friends Gao Li and Mao Fushou arrived on horseback. Although they only had a few hundred riders, their momentum was different, as if a thousand troops had rushed into the battle, thus forming a three-sided attack on the Oirat cavalry.

Esen saw the cavalry coming from the south. He remembered this cavalry; wasn't it the same cavalry that had caused Boluo to suffer losses in the first battle? This was an elite force!

Esen lost all will to fight and hastily gave orders.

"Retreat, retreat, retreat!"

Upon receiving orders, the Oirat cavalry hastily retreated, and some cavalrymen who were unable to retreat in time were relentlessly pursued and killed by the Ming army.

After chasing for nearly two miles, Shi Heng ordered a halt to the pursuit, as further pursuit might result in a counterattack and his cavalry regiment had dwindled to over a thousand men.

"Clean up the battlefield!"

"Here you go!"

Seeing that the Ming army had stabilized its formation and was no longer pursuing, Esen reluctantly turned back.

Looking towards Xizhimen, it's like seeing someone you've looked up to your whole life.

Moments later, the sound carried far through the air.

"Esen, Esen, you have lost your brother and your army!"

Esen heard the sound and became agitated.

"What are the Ming soldiers shouting?"

Ha Ming, an honest and fearless translator, bluntly stated, "Grand Tutor, the Ming army says you have lost your brother and your army!"

Upon hearing this, Esen fainted and fell off his horse!