Chapter 69: Hot Blood (12)

  The two wings clashed quickly. Unlike usual, the Ming army on the other side of the river opened fire when the rebel army was very close, and the firepower was not small.

  This is the firearms brought down from Chao Yang Gate by Wang Jia Yan and others, although there are no red barbarian cannons over 1,000 catties, but many Men Fo Lang Ji cannons, as well as some Hu Dun Pao, and large guns carried by two people.

  "The arrows are stable, don't panic, we have firearms, and there's still a river in between, their cavalry can't rush over!"

  On the battlefield, Wei Yue and others' voices rose and fell, even several imperial relatives, with the honor of Hou Bo, also personally arrived at the front line, only a hundred steps away. Chongzhen was also riding a horse on a high ridge, looking around, Wang Cheng'en wore a dragon spring sword, leading a group of brocade-clad guards, each holding a bow and arrow, guarding this great Ming emperor... The situation is slightly unfavorable, he has already received Zhu Ciyan's strict order, and must escort Chongzhen to escape first!

  The battlefield situation was indeed as Wei Yue and Li Gong, etc. had expected, with only a shallow small river in between, but the speed of the rebel army's cavalry could not be brought up, the horses constantly jumping in the water, involuntarily slowing down their speed. The Ming army generals on the opposite bank repeatedly gave orders, the flags were raised and the bowmen and firearms behind the cart formation continuously fired, with the river water and the cart formation in front, people's hearts were at ease, and both wings were very narrow, with more places being squeezed by the river water or the embankment. To attack the left and right flanks, or to simply go around to the back... Heaven knows how far they would have to run!

  A military leader was on the riverbank, constantly shouting: "Go up, don't retreat! Whether you live or die, there's silver to be had! Your future fortune or misfortune depends on this one transaction!"

  At that time, the sky still had a lingering light, and the sun turned into a huge fireball, slowly sinking to the ground. With this last remaining light, hundreds of people were still desperately shooting arrows and firearms at each other on the narrow riverbank. In no time, over a hundred men and horses fell down, blood flowing from upstream, quickly dyeing the entire river red. Horses and humans were simultaneously hit by arrows or large firearms, people screaming in agony, horses whinnying, as they fell into the river together, floating up with bloody foam, then... complete silence.

  Li Zicheng's troops also counterattacked, using archers and a small number of musketeers, even the Lu Mi Chong and bird guns to counterattack. However, the Ming army's formation was not wide, with the middle section connecting to the rear and the two wings forming a crescent shape. As a result, Li Zicheng's long-range weapons had limited killing power. In contrast, Luo Huai's cavalry were extremely brave, despite suffering heavy casualties at the front. The sound of gunfire and arrows never stopped, and they continued to charge forward until they fell.

  "Brother Hu, we can't hesitate anymore!" Li Shuangxi's eyes were bloodshot, the soldiers and horses in front of him were either from the Imperial Guard Cavalry, his direct subordinates, or they came from humble origins similar to Li Shuangxi's, only they hadn't been taken under Li Zicheng's wing.

  "Good, let's push forward with all our might!"

  It was not the time for hesitation, Luo Hu's hand broke and then swung, the big flag behind him fluttered, followed by a series of horn blows, more than 2,000 cavalrymen surged forward like an overwhelming and mysterious iron current, under the layered flags and banners, rushing forward relentlessly!

  At the beginning of the battle, Chongzhen saw that there were many bandit cavalry on both wings, but very few in the middle. After the two wings engaged in combat, he saw that not a few bandits had been shot dead or killed by fire guns in the river, and the cries of men and horses continued to reach his ears. Even if some rushed to this side of the river, they were blocked by the chariot array and stabbed to death by the long spears or iron guns at the front of the array, posing no threat to the safety of the chariot array.

  After a while, he was shocked and panicked for the first time to see the battlefield and the dead with his own eyes. Soon, Chongzhen adapted and when he saw the bandit cavalry repeatedly frustrated and heavily killed and wounded, Chongzhen was so happy that he danced with joy, wishing Wang Chengen would bring him a golden cup and let him drink painfully to feel relieved.

  Of course, seeing the bandits' heavy casualties, even dying one after another in the river but still advancing fiercely and refusing to retreat, this Jiuwu Zizun was also extremely surprised. He felt that these "bandits" were indeed capable of forcing him to such a desperate situation. Usually, when he read battle reports, the officials would report small defeats as big victories, and big defeats as small ones. Once there was a real victory, it would be exaggerated into something like "thousands of bandit heads rolling on the ground, corpses piling up like mountains, countless horses, armor, and weapons captured..."

  Having read too many such battle reports, I initially believed it was true and thought that the bandits were just roaming around and would surely be defeated when fighting against government troops.

  As long as the general officer is dedicated and works hard, and the civil officer personally directs the battle, they will surely win.

  This confidence was only truly crushed after Zhu Xian Town, where that battle buried all of his painstakingly gathered army of over a hundred thousand, several governors and commanders either died in battle or were captured, and the general officers fled in disarray... Only after this battle did Chongzhen realize that government soldiers couldn't defeat the bandits.

  By this time, the emperor had personally witnessed the swarming of the rebel cavalry, their unrelenting ferocity, and realized that these soldiers were exceptionally fierce, not to be underestimated by ordinary generals!

  Just now Chongzhen was happy at the same time, but also worried a lot. When he heard the loud sound of horseshoes suddenly ringing out, after a while, he felt that the land under him was shaking non-stop. Then, he saw countless flags and an even more magnificent and majestic iron cavalry tide!

  The vanguard of the rebel army's main cavalry force unfolded and charged towards the Ming army's crescent-shaped formation!

  The Great Ming Emperor's face was as white as paper, extremely pale, while Wang Chengen and others were even more tense. Their hands tightly grasped the reins of their horses, not letting go, and they watched as countless cavalrymen swarmed in from the north, wondering: "So many cavalry, can just one small river and a few dozen large carts on both banks really hold them back?"

  "Look!"

  Wang Chengen suddenly pointed forward, and the crowd followed his gaze to see a horse suddenly appearing in front of the Ming army formation. The horse was tall and large, and the person on its back wore a silver armor and a warm hat decorated with peacock feathers. Who could it be if not the prince?

  Behind him was the rolling tide of iron, only a few hundred steps away, but Zhu Ciyan was not flustered, calmly riding his horse at the front of the formation, his eyes quietly gazing out at the crowd. His demeanor and bearing were so calm and composed, with only eagerness and anticipation in his eyes. His horsemanship was also pure and beautiful, as he rode his horse in a circle before the main force of the Ming army's crescent-shaped formation, without saying a word.

  But the more so, everyone's eyes followed Zhu Ciyan's movements, even Chongzhen, who was behind him, clenched his fists and stared at this exceptionally heroic son.

  "This son is actually so heroic, how did I not realize it before?" At this time, the emperor still had a deep doubt in his heart, of course, his eyes looking at Zhu Ciyan were also full of pride and self-esteem!

  In any case, this is the crown prince of the great Ming dynasty. The country has such a son, and it's still worth celebrating!

  In the late afternoon, the wind still carried a hint of the daytime heat, blowing gently on the skin, very comfortable. After circling around once, Zhu Ciyan directly jumped off his horse, patted the horse's buttocks lightly and drove it towards the back of the formation. With his sword in hand, he drew a beautiful half-circle arc before shouting loudly: "This formation is like a rock! As long as we hold firm, it will never be breached! All officers and soldiers, do not let even one bandit cross this line! The Emperor is behind us, the Great Ming is behind us!"

  "I swear not to retreat half a step!"

  At this time, the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty was personally present here, wielding his sword and fighting bravely. The emperor who had ruled the country for 17 years was right behind him. Who could retreat half a step in such a situation?

  "Cross the river, quick, quick!"

  "Charge!"

  "Chongzhen is just ahead, hurry up and capture Chongzhen!"

  The entire Ming army's line of deployment was not wide, with only a few hundred cavalry on both wings probing the attack. Luo Hu and Li Shuangxi put their main force in the middle, and they themselves were still in the central army. The first wave of vanguards had more than 400 people crossing the river at the same time, which was already very crowded given the width.

  War horses leaped into the river, and many officers on both sides of the battlefield continuously encouraged and urged them on. Fortunately, all of their subordinates were elite soldiers, and no one hesitated or wavered. Over a hundred cavalrymen immediately entered the river, and from the opposite side came the sound of "Boom! Boom!" as numerous firearms fired... Moreover, the first wave of arrows also descended upon them.

  "Hmph, government troops are just this capable, don't be afraid!"

  A lieutenant shouted in a contemptuous tone, "At such a short distance, how many rounds of arrows can be shot? You sons of bitches, hurry up and move forward. The more you fall behind, the more arrows will land on your body."

  He himself was doing a completely carefree appearance, surrounded by swirling white smoke, arrows falling like rain, but this Duwei was not in the slightest, only under the guard of several close guards, constantly urging his subordinates to move forward.

  "Kill!"

  The dozens of cavalrymen who entered the river earliest finally rushed to the opposite bank, they charged forward without hesitation, desperately whipping their horses and rushing straight into the Ming army.

  "Don't be in a hurry!" Zhu Ciyan shouted from within the formation: "Wait for them to get closer!"

  The Ming army formed an arc-shaped formation, and the Jin army could only continue to advance in a straight line. Soon, several hundred cavalrymen were squeezed into one place, but the battlefield was not large, and the front of the counterattack was small. Although the Ming army was outnumbered, they exceeded the enemy cavalry in front of them.

  "Kill!"

  Li Gong wielded a large spear with precision and ruthlessness, each thrust aimed at the enemy's vital spot. When he felt the force was sufficient, he would spin the spear to release its power, and as he withdrew it, he would inevitably bring out a cluster of blood and flesh from his opponent, accompanied by a burst of bloody rain!

  Wei Yue's face was calm, but the double knives in his hands danced with a silver-white flash, sharp and steady with full force. A few knives passed by, and several lives were taken!

  Between these two generals, were the most elite inner guard soldiers, transforming cavalry into infantry, wielding long and heavy weapons. These officers and generals were not one bit inferior to those on horseback!

  Zhu Ciyan, as the crown prince, also fought desperately with his knife, but every step he took forward was met with more imperial guards swarming around him, fighting to protect him to the death. Wherever he appeared on the battlefield, a fierce counterattack would inevitably erupt!

  The Ming army fought fiercely, and the rebel army on the opposite side was also red-eyed, but they kept killing each other. The Ming army in front of them just got more and more numerous, stronger and stronger! In the blink of an eye, the corpses wearing thick iron armor were lying all over the ground in front of the Ming army, dead horses and human bodies rolled together, and the two armies clashed, it was a bloody battle!

  Charging into the enemy's formation, also killing as they came!

  The battlefield is too small, and it's hard to show off. Everyone is anxious and shouting, the iron spears and big knives in their hands are desperately passed forward, but no matter how they pass, they can't reach the front line, and can't hit those damn Ming soldiers!

  "Let me go, let me go to the front!" Li Shuangxi's heart was set on revenge, but in front of him were his own brothers blocking his way. Ahead, he saw one brother after another falling off their horses, blood spurting out several feet away, either being cut down at the waist by a ferocious-looking dwarf, splitting into two halves, with the upper half falling to the ground and the lower half still sitting on the horse!

  Such a slaughter scene, after many years of fighting by the rebel army, how could it be seen several times!

  "It won't work, the enemy's vanguard is too fierce, we'll retreat a few steps, regroup and come back!"

  "Don't squeeze, it's so crowded, what kind of bird fight can be fought!"

  "Coming into our territory, you can't even chop down the enemy's army but instead chop your own people, what kind of swordsmanship is this!"

  Front and rear, the vanguard cannot advance, some people are desperately retreating, while others have already lost their courage, their souls shattered, desperately retreating. The front and rear are sandwiched together, Luo Hu and Li Shuangxi and others can only stare blankly at the front, watching as the Ming army uses long spears, iron pikes, and large axes to unceasingly slash and stab their own brothers and comrades. The rebel army's formation is already in disarray, and the morale of the soldiers is also beginning to flag... How did this battle end up like this?!

  Wang Yuan swung the iron axe in his hand, striking it on the enemy's body or weapon, constantly sparking fire. He liked to use this heavy and powerful weapon that was difficult for the enemy to block head-on. At this moment, he was in a killing frenzy, so he threw away his long axe and held two short axes in his hands, swinging them left and right, chopping down enemies with one swing, sometimes taking down both man and horse together! His body was covered in blood, whether it was the enemy's or his own from being wounded. In any case, he was in a killing frenzy and no longer cared about conserving his strength or whether he himself was injured. All that came out of his mouth was: "You think you can harm my emperor, harm my crown prince? You're not worthy, far from it, still far from it!"

  In the end, it turned out like this. The gunfire on both wings gradually stopped. The soldiers on both wings were stunned and motionless. Li Banghua's long sword fell to his side. Wang Jiaxun, the Minister of War, simply furrowed his brow and remained silent. Before their eyes was a classic example of an ambush utilizing terrain. These military strategists, who had read countless books on warfare, only now realized how arrogant and laughable their past conceit and pride were!

  Short arms meet, white blades add up, only the bravest and wisest commander can gain victory!

  And in this fierce battle before our eyes, there is no doubt that the winner will be Zhu Ciyan, and only Zhu Ciyan!

  "I didn't expect the martial arts of the King's teacher to be so magnificent!" The man in green clothes and small hat, holding a sword, was also fighting in the array. Chen Mingxia's face turned red as he said: "And our great Ming Taizi is benevolent, wise, brave and unparalleled! With such a prince, the revival of the Great Ming dynasty is truly promising!"

  In Chen Mingxia's prayer, the vanguard of the rebel army finally retreated!

  In the crescent-shaped arc formation, although they were superior cavalry, they crowded each other and could not deploy, while the Ming army relied on the geographical advantage of the river and the sturdy chariots and firearms, and finally won this battle!

  In front of Zhu Ciyan and others, the bodies of the defeated soldiers were at least three to four hundred people, and there were roughly the same number in the river. This was a bloody battle with no discount in the era of cold weapons!

  The losses on Ming's side were also extremely heavy!

  The martyred soldiers, at least around three hundred, and the remaining ones were also injured. And even so, the whole army was filled with joy after the victory, after all, this victory was not easy to come by!

  With over 1,200 casualties against an enemy cavalry of over 3,000, even with the advantage of defending a fortified position, it was still a miraculous victory.

  "Your Highness has a divine and unfathomable strategy!" After retreating the enemy, dozens of civil and military officials all knelt down together, saying: "We are deeply convinced."

  This formation was set up by Zhu Ciwen himself, and everyone naturally admired it very much.

  Only one person spoke out loud: "This is Liu Yu's Qu'e Moon Array, the Crown Prince has learned and can use it, truly wise and intelligent!"

  Such a saintly natural and unique style also reveals one's skills, Zhu Ciyan took a look and immediately recognized that it was Chen Moxia who had followed him from Chaoyangmen.

  This talented scholar of the Revival Society, it seems, is not a complete simpleton. No wonder he could become a figure who could summon the wind and rain during the Shunzhi era. However, by relying on the barbarians, in the end, he couldn't avoid having his head chopped off.

  At this moment, I can only feel that what's in front of me is incredibly strange!

  Chongzhen, who deserved to die, was standing behind the formation with a smile on his face, patting his horse and welcoming himself. Li Banghua and Wang Jiayen, who died for the country, were standing respectfully beside him. After this battle, these two ministers respected themselves to the extreme. After all, a brave husband cannot get the respect of civil officials, even if he is the crown prince. But now, in this battle, with fewer troops defeating more, it is also a replica of Liu Yu's victory over the strong enemy of 30,000 iron cavalry with only 2,700 infantrymen in the Kuaiji formation. Such a great victory, mainly due to strategy, how can these civil officials not be overjoyed!

  Everything is changing, how can Zhu Ci Yun not look up at the sky? The sky may be dark and gloomy, but it already has a brilliant starlight.

  He also deeply knows that it's not time to celebrate yet, the enemy army has shown its strength despite being defeated, and from military discipline and combat effectiveness, they are rare and formidable opponents! Although this battle was won, the enemy still has the power to fight again, and their strength is still above our own, the road ahead is bumpy, and we must continue to strive forward!

  Chongzhen 17th year, March 17th, evening.

  The dusk was deepening, and a dragon-like team of over a thousand people was still marching on the official road. This team was like a fast-moving fire dragon, rushing along the official road lined with fields, trees, small bridges, rivers, canals, and dikes. As they marched, only the rustling sound of footsteps could be heard, occasionally accompanied by low murmurs, the thudding of horse hooves on the ground, neighs, and the crackling of torches made from pine resin.

  Under the bright light of the torches, there were dense forests of spears and halberds, slantingly placed on the shoulders of the officers and soldiers. Looking from a high place, it was a dense forest of iron spears and long guns. On both sides of the troops, there were dozens of cavalrymen galloping back and forth, they were the night scouts who did not rest at night, constantly running on the dark land of Yan Zhao, sending back the situation tens of miles away to the central army, where the high-ranking officers would decide the next move.

  The entire team, only in the central army, had a small number of knife guards, fewer than 200 people. They wore simple leather armor, and a few had thick iron armor on their bodies. Near the knife guards, there were over 100 archers. These archers wore light clothing and were mostly agile and robust young men. In addition to carrying large iron crossbows on their backs, they also had several quivers or arrow tubes on their bodies, and multiple bowstrings that could be replaced with different strengths as needed.

  This army, apart from not being well-equipped, showed a decent state and quality during the march. Overall, it was still quite impressive at that time. The young general in charge had a strong aura, came from a military family background, and was proficient in all aspects of military training. However, he had never led troops into battle before. Today, upon receiving the strict order from the Governor-General, he led his troops to welcome the Emperor or Crown Prince. Despite the proximity of Tianjin to Beijing, where they might encounter Li Zicheng's elite cavalry at any moment, General Qiu Yuanyi still rallied his spirits and promptly led his men towards Beijing.

  Because he was the gatekeeper of the world, Qiu Can, although it was his first time on the battlefield, acted with great caution and care, without any flaws. The limited cavalry were all used as scouts and sent out at night, with continuous scouting on both flanks in front. Even his own warhorse was given to Ye Bu for use. General Can also marched forward with his men, carrying an iron spear.

  "Sir!" They walked for about an hour and a half, passing through countless villages. The sound of chickens clucking and dogs barking was incessant along the way. Except for a few riverside areas without human habitation, the area between Beijing and Tianjin had continuous villages and settlements. Just as they arrived at a shallow river nearby, several riders rushed forward like the wind. A small scout leader from the vanguard fell off his horse, knelt on one knee, and reported: "I was scouting ahead and vaguely heard cries of killing. Tonight's moonlight is not clear, so we didn't dare to light torches or get too close..."

  "What's all the commotion!" Qiu Can shouted: "Is it that the Emperor and the Crown Prince have encountered enemies?"

  "It should be!" The little head replied: "The small ones are in a hurry, and there is someone riding a horse towards us. I waited to see that it was the Ming official army uniform, so I went up to greet him. After asking, he said that he was an inner guard officer of the Eastern Palace, who was planning to seek help from Tianjin. Hearing that the adult is here, we brought this person over and are now waiting for the adult to summon in the back."

  "Oh, come on in!"

  Qiu Yuanyi and Feng Kechang were about the same age, and they often spent their free time together, either comparing knives and guns or discussing military strategy. Feng Daguangzi was both refined and martially skilled, and Qiu Yuanyi had also flipped through a few books on the subject, so they could still have a decent conversation. The Eastern Palace's bravery and the Imperial Guard's ferocity were all things he had heard of before, so as soon as he heard that it was the Imperial Guard cavalry seeking help, he knew at once that it must be true, without a doubt.

  "I'd like to invite you, but I'm afraid it's not possible..."

  "Nonsense!" Qiu Yuan saw that the scout leader was still hesitant, so he stamped his foot and strode towards the outer perimeter of the troops.

  As they marched on, Qi Yuan saw that his subordinates were whispering to each other, and he knew that something was amiss. They were marching at midnight, and although the discipline was not as strict as when they were stationed in a camp, and their training time was not long, so the military discipline was not particularly good, but there were no major events, these generals would not dare to talk casually.

  He quickened his pace and arrived at the front, just in time to see a group of people gathered around a small circle. Someone was urging: "Hurry up, what's there to be afraid of? Let this gentleman use it all!"

  "Whoa! This wound is gaping open like a kid's mouth..."

  "What's this? Look here, three broken arrow shafts!"

  "What a fine fellow!"

  The Tianjin patrol team was a third-rate team, but after being taken over by Qiu Yuan, it became somewhat decent. The Night Raiders were the elite of the army, and only those who dared to risk their own lives and others' could join. They had to be skilled in martial arts and marksmanship to qualify. This group of strong men praised someone like this for the first time in Qiu Yuan's memory.

  As I pushed through the crowd and went in, I was also shocked at first sight. A sturdy man had been stripped of his upper garment, a silver chain mail lay on one side, with fresh bloodstains on it, and some were still dripping down. The man's body seemed to be so muscular that even arrows could not pierce through, but now both his chest and back were full of wounds. A group of people were busy sprinkling golden ointment on them, then binding the wounds with clean bandages.

  At this moment, the man suddenly woke up from his daze and looked around. Seeing a high-ranking military officer staring at him, he stretched out his hand and said in a low voice: "Is this gentleman General Zhang, who leads the troops?"

  His tone was fierce and his expression was ferocious, but he didn't seem too rude. Qiu Yuan nodded slightly and replied: "It's me. How is the situation at the front?"

  "We set out from the capital, and halfway encountered over 3,000 rebel cavalry in pursuit. The Crown Prince personally led the troops to set up a barricade to block them, and initially defeated the enemy once, but there were too many enemy cavalry, so we held them off for half a day. After nightfall, they finally caught up with us again. Now I am escorting the Emperor to retreat first, just ahead not far from here. Our 600+ cavalry are engaged in a fierce battle with the pursuing enemy, and the outcome is still unknown... Sir, please quickly dispatch reinforcements to come forward and meet the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and lend a helping hand to the Eastern Palace's cavalry!"

  Although the other party's words are incomplete, they also roughly describe the situation of a fierce battle with you. The thieves have more than 3,000 cavalry, and after chasing and fighting for several nights, they must be elite cavalry. Although they were defeated once, they caught up with the emperor and the prince again, which further illustrates the tenacity and strong combat effectiveness of this unit. But the more so, the more it shows that they are very tired! Human power or horse power must have been exhausted, and after several battles, they must have suffered heavy losses. The troops who escorted the emperor and the prince out of the capital were loyal and had high morale, but now they seem to be gone. It seems that this battle can be won!

  "What?" The tall and sturdy Beijing camp officer was Wang Yuan, who stared at Qiu Yuan and said in a deep voice: "In this situation, what else do you want to think about?"

  "Let me think for a moment, how should I fight this battle."

  "What's going on?" Wang Yuan suddenly jumped up and shouted: "Nothing but death!"

  "If dying once could protect the Emperor and the Crown Prince, I would die now." Qiu Yuan gave him a cold glance, turned around and walked ahead, instructing as he went: "Give this good fellow from the Imperial Guard some clean clothes to change into, hold onto him, don't let him continue on his way to deliver the wind... The rest of the matter should be handled by us Tianjin officials!"

  "Yes! I obey your orders, sir!" It was said that the Emperor and the Crown Prince were nearby, so the Tianjin Fu Biao naturally had high morale. The crowd responded loudly, a few people went to take care of Wang Yuan who jumped up, and more people followed closely behind Qiu Yuan.

  7th floor

  If we follow Wang Yuan's intention, of course, it is to immediately rush forward and hurry to meet the Emperor and the Crown Prince. By doing so, there will definitely be merit; even if the guards are safe, it would be a great achievement in protecting the emperor.

  But if the enemy cavalry defeats the Inner Mongolian cavalry and takes advantage of the situation to kill them, it will be a disaster for the Fu banner's combat effectiveness.

  In an instant, Qiu Wuyi was also drenched in sweat, with his pressure doubled.

  As soon as he looked around, his subordinates were all sincere and honest, waiting for his command. The upper and lower levels of the army had been united for a short time, and this was also the result of Qiu Yuan's usual treatment of people with sincerity. He secretly gritted his teeth and thought to himself: "I'll take it on myself then."

  "Pass the order!" The sound of killing was already faintly audible, Qiu Yuan swung his arm and ordered: "The whole army will deploy to repair the horse wall, place the deer horn, tree fence, and widely light fire torches, stand by... to meet the enemy!"

  Under military orders, the originally long snake-like team immediately unfolded into a horizontal array. Several simple horse-blocking short walls were quickly built up, and deer horns were put on top. Sharpened wooden fences filled in the gaps, and archers began to tighten their bowstrings. Bundles of arrows were taken out of quivers and placed on the ground, ready for use.

  There were also about a hundred arquebusiers standing in front of the long spears and pikes, and before them was a short-armed troop to block the enemy's vanguard.

  All reactions, dispatches, were rigorous and measured, but this branch of the vanguard could not be considered top-notch. When mobilized, they caused no small chaos and collisions among themselves, or hands and feet were busy, and it took more than half a time to set up the camp.

  "Are you Tianjin Teda team?"

  The camp had just been set up, and more than a dozen riders had already rushed to the front. The first rider was the fastest, wearing black armor on a silver horse. He looked very young, with a hint of childishness still remaining. As he approached the edge of the formation, he reined in his horse, which raised its front hooves high and let out a long whinny. The man had already turned to shout questions at the array.

  "Who are you? I am the governor and this is the provincial commander."

  Under the bright light of the torch, Qiu Yuan saw that the person in front of him was extraordinary, so he simply replied to himself.

  "Are you Qiu Yuanyi?" The man nodded and said, "Pull all your troops back to the front line about ten miles away, have them assist in the battle array, and inform the inner camp. Tell them that there is a solid defensive position here, and have them retreat to your flanks to serve as guards."

  "Alright, I'll arrange it immediately." Such arrangements were undoubtedly very meticulous and proper. Qiu Yuan nodded repeatedly, arranging while still sizing up the person on horseback, who merely turned his head to look back at the more than ten riders behind him, ignoring him.

  "Who are you?"

  He couldn't help but ask again, and the other party heard it, turned around with a smile, about to say something, when another horse rushed over like a gust of wind. Just as he heard Qiu Yuanyi's question, that person saw the team was in order, and his heart put down, suddenly burst out laughing: "Qiu Yuanyi, you really have dog eyes! I am Feng Kechang, can't you tell? You are now under the command of the Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty, why don't you hurry up and kneel down!"

  "What?" Although he had a faint idea earlier, the fact that this majestic young man in front of him was actually the Crown Prince still made Qiu Yuan feel unbelievable at this moment.

  "It's isolated!" The young man on horseback had already retracted his smile, looking at Qiu Yuan with a serious expression, and also slightly revealing a tired look. The crown prince nodded and said: "Your military formation is very good, the emperor is right behind me, no need to be too polite in the battle array... Qiu Yuan, you did well, didn't mess up the formation, and didn't recklessly charge forward for merit. With this formation of yours, the cavalry of the invading army is exhausted to the extreme, relying solely on a fierce momentum to continue pursuing. Now, both the monarch and his subjects are safe!"

  As expected, Chongzhen was welcomed into the formation and soon after, the inner cavalry also stopped on both wings. The simple military formation of Tianjin Fu Biao became even more stable. The pursuing cavalry of the rebel army that arrived later could only stop their pursuit in front of this solid formation.

  Moreover, they also have to worry about this new sharp army counterattacking after dawn!

  Only about 2,000 defeated cavalry remained, and the Ming army's strength was further enhanced. Luo Hu's expression turned gloomy, and he shook his head on horseback: "The achievement is ruined due to a single mistake, retreat!"

  He was also fighting desperately last night, and his left arm was only hastily bandaged. At this time, it was already deep in the night, and when he looked at the Ming army's strong array in front of him, he just felt dizzy... Beside him, Li Shuangxi was covered in blood, and his heart was already filled with a taste that he couldn't describe. These two days, this young general who used to look down on others had eaten enough bitter fruit, and from then on, he never dared to underestimate the heroes of the world again.

  Only when Luo Hu ordered the retreat did he subconsciously want to object, but seeing Luo Hu sway on his horse and suddenly fall to the ground.

  "Brother Tiger!"

  Li Shuangxi jumped off his horse and helped Luo Hu up, but saw that this usually respectful big brother was already very weak. Under the starlight, he only heard Luo Hu say in a very weak voice: "Fly to report to the Emperor, hurry up and send all the cavalry... must be fast!"

  "Yes, I know!" Li Shuangxi wiped away a tear and shouted loudly: "This vengeance we must have, the Emperor will surely avenge us, he definitely will!"

  "Of course." Luo Hu smiled slightly, and he also had great confidence in this. The Ming army was nothing more than that, and after suffering such a big loss last night, they still came chasing with their troops, causing many casualties. If it weren't for the support of a strong cavalry, the Ming army would have been defeated long ago.

  What he worried about was the commander of the opposing army, who must be a very strong commander in command of both battles at Chaoyang Gate and last night's battle. If this person is not eliminated, there will be endless troubles!

  But as soon as the king came, everything was not a problem... Luo Hu finally fell asleep, and this battle, he casually took down a Beijing city, but somehow he didn't defeat the Ming army escorting Chongzhen and the crown prince. The hard work of several days and nights without sleep or rest, the bloody battle, the dead and wounded brothers in arms, only got one sentence: On March 18th of the 17th year, the Emperor and the Crown Prince arrived at Tianjin, the Emperor said: The bandits chased to the middle of the road, the Crown Prince led the Donggong army to defeat them, the bandits temporarily fled, the dead piled up, the Crown Prince was heroic and wise, it's clear that he is a good relative!