In Guojia Village, a military camp stood tall on the main road. There were deer antlers, thorns, and spears to repel horses. Behind the camp, there were also archers, hooks, horse tripping ropes, and horse traps. Guard Li and Department Supervisor Wan had just taken in a batch of defeated soldiers from Li River when the thunderous sound of horse hooves arrived.
From afar, the silhouettes of the approaching White Coat cavalry became clearer and clearer. The rumbling war drums were like rolling thunder in the sky, rolling over from a low altitude. The Deputy Generals, Fang Generals, Qianhu and Baihu returned to their positions. The entire army waited silently for the arrival of the White Coat Army. They had waited for a long time.
The scene of tens of thousands of horses galloping and the rumbling war drums intertwined, making one's blood boil.
"Cannons, ready, fire!"
"Crossbows, ready, fire!"
"Boom, boom, boom, boom!" The ten cannons rumbled, and a rain of iron pellets and lead pellets interweaved to form a rain of steel that swept across everything within a hundred meters. The vanguard troops of the White Shirt Army who were charging at the very front all fell to the ground. Their warhorses either fell to the ground, and their huge bodies rolled forward a few feet, or they ran horizontally with their bodies covered in blood and pain. The fast horses behind them collided and trampled on them, turning them into minced meat. At the same time, they were also thrown off their horses and continued to be trampled by the people behind them.
The White Coat Army bypassed the obstacles made of flesh and blood and continued to charge forward without stopping. Moving from the north to the south, fighting day in and day out, the warriors who were able to survive, whether it was in terms of willpower or martial strength, were undoubtedly the strongest warriors. If it weren't for the fact that they were increasingly disappointed with their future, their combat strength would have increased by another level.
But now, they mustered up their courage because Yang Hu had drawn them a big pie. For this beautiful pie, they raised their spirits and fought desperately, using their lives to fight for time. One round of arrows, two rounds of arrows. After only two rounds of arrows, more than five hundred White Coat Army soldiers fell into a pool of blood. Then, the galloping horses arrived in front of them.
"Retreat, fire the guns!" Like frying beans, the men fell from their horses, and the horses ran away in fright. Another wave of death ensued. The soldiers' bravery was not as good as these bandits who had been trained on the line of death and had been reborn into true warriors. However, in terms of weapons and formation, they were still incomparable.
"Retreat again! Serve me with the spear formation. " One by one, the spears were raised. They were bamboo spears, and they were wrapped with layers of scales to prevent them from breaking easily. The spears were planted on the ground, with the tip pointing forward like a dense forest.
"Puff, puff, puff!" There was the shuddering sound of the tip of a spear piercing into flesh. Men screamed and horses neighed as they fell to the ground with a loud crash. The White Uniform soldiers at the back reacted and used the momentum of their horses to throw their short spears out with all their might. A gap was torn open in the ranks of officers and soldiers. Some of the White Uniform soldiers had already rushed into the ranks of officers and soldiers.
Guard Li and City Secretary Wan watched over the battle with their blades. Anyone who retreated without permission was killed without mercy. They had received a strict order to kill. Anyone who dared to cower in fear and indulge the enemy would be killed. This was an order from Duke Wei Yang Ling. No one doubted his determination to carry out this order. Therefore, they could only carry out the battlefield discipline of killing without mercy to the soldiers first.
The charge of the horses tore open a gap, but before the White Uniform soldiers could rejoice, they discovered to their chagrin that they had fallen into the awkward situation when they first attacked Nanjing City. They rushed into the enemy's ranks, but they could not use their advantage in mobility to repeatedly perform the charging and slashing movements.
Behind them was a road that was artificially raised and dug low. There were also all kinds of vehicles, including donkey carts and handcarts. It was obvious that they were collected from the nearby villages. These weapons could not be called weapons, but they had the effect of hindering the cavalry from charging and shielding the officers and soldiers from getting out of the way.
Even though there were few cavalry in Jiangnan, these officers and soldiers with spears and single blades used the terrain to offset the advantage of the horses. Then, they used the seven-man beheading team that they had moved from the strong soldiers. Long and short weapons were used together. Some were responsible for attacking, some were responsible for defending, some were responsible for stabbing the heads, and some were responsible for chopping off the legs of the horses. This gave the White Uniform soldiers a headache. The impatient bandits simply jumped off their horses and fought with the officers and soldiers.
The White Uniform soldiers continued to join the battle. Guard Li and City Secretary Wan gradually could not suppress the situation. At this time, Baihu Huo, who was responsible for guarding Dong Ping Town, Li Qianhu of Tong Shan Town, and Magistrate He of Qiqiao Village led the officers and soldiers to attack while waving flags.
Even though there were not many officers and soldiers, the encirclement from three sides immediately increased the psychological pressure on the White Uniform soldiers. They began to think of retreating. Even though they had always been invincible, they did not have many opportunities to fight hard with the officers and soldiers. However, the officers and soldiers seemed to have gone mad and became as unafraid of death as they were. They had also lost the advantage of the horses.
Courage did not appear out of thin air. The arrival of the reinforcements greatly boosted the morale of the already declining defending army, but the White Uniform soldiers became dispirited. With every step forward, they were one step closer to Nanjing, but the remaining road had to be paved with blood. Was such a short distance like a natural moat?
Yang Hu felt indignant, but he was also worried that more and more officers and soldiers would come to help. Their advantage was in speed, not in attacking. Why did they need to attack with short distance? Yang Hu began to sound the gong to call back his troops. He decided to take a detour and attack Nanjing.
The army began to move east. Li Qianhu and Baihu Huo, who had just attacked, were greedy and unwilling to give up. They chased relentlessly from behind. Yang Hu was furious and turned back to fight again. Having lost the advantage of the carriage camp and the rugged terrain, and having no time to form a formation to protect themselves, the officers and soldiers were no match for the cavalry. They were instantly killed and scattered. Yang Hu did not linger and immediately turned his horse to leave.
When he led the troops to Maoshan Town, he saw a river blocking the road. There was a large bridge on the river. The vanguard of the war horses had just rushed over when there was a loud bang. A ball of fire and thick smoke rose from the bottom of the bridge, blowing the bridge and the dozens of White Uniform soldiers who had just rushed onto the bridge into the sky.
Tens of thousands of arrows were fired from the reeds on the other side of the river. Following that, countless people and horses charged out. Looking at their clothing, most of them were strong and brave people. They surrounded the hundred or so White Uniform soldiers and only used bows and crossbows to shoot from afar. In a short while, there were only a hundred or so war horses left on the battlefield.
He saw the yamen runners, patrol inspectors and the strong people clustered around a civil official as they walked to the bridge. The civil official was dark and burly, clutching his stomach, he laughed aloud and shouted, "I am the Maoshan Patrol Division's Shui Tiandao, rebel thief in white, you have lost your power, why don't you surrender without a fight?"
Hearing this, Yi Chenfeng was furious. He snatched a bow and shot an arrow. The other side raised their shields and protected the patrol inspector as he retreated down the embankment. Then a few hundred strong people surrounded him and shot arrows at him from across the river. Yang Hu was so angry that his veins were popping. He ordered the troops not to get entangled with these people. He commanded the troops to continue eastward and rushed towards the Li family tomb.
When the army was halfway there, they just happened to meet the Immortal Guards who were rushing over to help. They were caught unprepared and the soldiers suffered a crushing defeat. Yang Hu vented the resentment in his heart and commanded the army to attack the Taoist Ridge. The Taoist Ridge was also garrisoned with a small number of soldiers, about a thousand or so, and they were defending on high ground.
Yang Hu ordered the army to attack the ridge. On the ridge, bundles of burning wormwood were thrown down the slope. The thick smoke billowed and choked people's eyes and nose. The war horses were also affected. If it was any other time, Yang Hu could have led the army away. The soldiers could not catch up with him on foot and could only sigh helplessly. But now Yang Hu's goal was Nanjing. He could not retreat. So he made up his mind and ordered the army to attack the mountain.
The two sides fought for more than an hour. The soldiers on the mountain gradually lost their strength and retreated up the mountain. To stop the White Uniform army from chasing them, the soldiers ignited a mountain fire. The ridge was not high and was full of low shrubs. Once the fire was ignited, thick smoke rose into the night. Yang Hu did not have time to chase after the soldiers and crossed the ridge.
The army rushed to the Pot Nest. Yang Hu could not help but be shocked. There was a deep trench in front of them. On the other side, there were hundreds of carriages in formation. The vanguard was already fighting with the White Uniform army. The enemy's arrows, crossbows, bowl-mouthed guns, and cannons were wreaking havoc through the trench. They used the trench to stop the horses and the carriage to stop the horses.
Yang Hu was dizzy. He felt that along the way, there were more and more soldiers in Nanjing. There were ambushes and soldiers everywhere. He could not help but feel sad. Could it be as Han Bai said, that the surprise attack on Nanjing was already predicted by the imperial court?
But Madman Zhao and Liu Qi were attacking Nanjing according to the agreement. If he ran all the way and failed on the verge of success, he would only live for a few more days. If the other two armies were defeated, where could he go with his own men and horses? He would only be buried in River East a few days later.
While he was thinking, he saw a faint stream of light from the corner of his eyes. A long featherless arrow shot from a crossbow pierced through the air with a sharp whistling sound. With a "puff" sound, it pierced through the chest and abdomen of a bodyguard who was riding on a horse, and continued to fly backward with a cloud of blood mist. It killed three people in succession, and the surrounding people fled in panic.
Yang Hu thought until this point. Seeing this scene, he resolutely ordered, "We can't go any further. No matter what, we must break through. I don't believe that all roads lead to Nanjing. How many soldiers and horses of the imperial court constantly set up defenses along the road? Kill for me. Yi Chenfeng, you lead the vanguard. Li Yeyin, lead the troops to the left flank and attack the carriage camp. "
The right flank of the Earthen Jar Nest was a thorny mountain ridge, and the left was a puddle. The soldiers used this terrain to dig trenches to resist. There was a road on the right flank, but they didn't know where it led. The road was full of thorns and thorns, making it difficult to cross. Also, it was difficult for horses to climb up the mountain. Going around the puddle from the left flank to attack the flank of the soldiers was the fastest way.
The two generals immediately received the order and left. Yang Hu commanded the White Uniform Army to shoot at the soldiers and cover Yi Chenfeng's attack. What he didn't know was that the fireworks on the Taoist Ridge were the communication signals agreed upon by the soldiers. The periphery of Nanjing had been set up everywhere. No matter which route he attacked from, there were fireworks signals at the suitable places to encircle them.
As soon as the fireworks appeared on the Taoist Ridge, the soldiers knew that Yang Hu's cavalry had chosen this route to attack. They had already begun to gather around the Earthen Jar Nest and Toad Bay. Less than an hour later, the sounds of killing shook the heavens from the left. Suddenly, a group of soldiers formed a square formation and attacked from the wilderness beside the puddle. Their spears and halberds were raised like a forest. It was another long spear formation, using the talismans of the infantry to counter the cavalry.
Yang Hu was shocked and immediately led the soldiers to charge forward. The White Uniform Army that could survive the continuous battles were indeed brave and skillful. Even after several days and nights of rapid marching and fierce fighting, they could still barely resist the sudden attack of the soldiers.
Both sides were engaged in a chaotic battle. Six or seven spears were used against a single warhorse. Countless officers and soldiers formed small formations of seven people each. The small formations then formed into a large square formation to prevent the warhorses from charging at them. Blades and spears clashed and blood splattered everywhere. The battle was extremely fierce.
Yang Hu displayed his prowess and snatched a long bamboo spear. The spear in his hand was like a dragon coming out of the water, blocking in front and behind, stabbing forward and stabbing backward. No one could stop him as he killed his way down. Yang Hu charged into the encirclement of the soldiers alone. With a swing of his arm, he swept away a few spears and roared, "Where did that bastard Li Yeyin go?"
No matter how stupid he was, he knew that the situation was not good. Li Yeyin was one of the three local magnates who had sought refuge with him in Qingzhou. Due to his outstanding martial arts, he became one of the Five Tiger Generals under him. The three magnates who had sought refuge with him had their servants, guards, and relatives all in Li Yeyin's army. Li Yeyin was sent by him to circle back from the left and attack the flank of the Che Battalion. But at this time, the left flank was surrounded by countless soldiers. Where was Li Yeyin's army?
Yang Hu turned his head and looked at Yi Chenfeng, who was commanding his troops to launch a hopeless attack on the Che Battalion that had sufficient ammunition. He was filled with endless sorrow, "Time reveals a man's heart. The true brothers who are loyal are these brothers who came from Bazhou's mountain stronghold and went through fire and water with me. How many others can be trusted?"
He roared and flicked his spear to deflect a dozen long spears. However, a wave of sharp spears came at him from all directions. The tips of the spears were sharp and he was standing far away. It was just a matter of pulling back and pushing them out. No matter how strong his martial arts were, he could not fight against so many long spears at the same time. Yang Hu was helpless and could only retreat as he fought.
The surrounding soldiers could also tell that this person was the leader. Especially his one eye, he looked very much like the Great Leader of the White Coat Army, Yang Hu. Emperor Zhengde had posted an imperial notice saying that whoever killed the bandit leaders, Liu Liu and Yang Hu, would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold, be conferred the title of earl, and be promoted by three ranks.
As the saying goes, brave men are bound to come when there is a great reward. Being a soldier meant risking one's life, but it was worth it to risk one's life with Yang Hu!
If it was one on one, they would not have the guts. However, with dozens of spears coming at Yang Hu from all directions, they were boosting each other's courage. Who knew who would be lucky enough to poke a big hole in his chest. Who would be willing to let go of such fame and fortune that came knocking on their door?
While Yi Chenfeng commanded the White Coat Army to attack the Che Battalion in front of them, he also paid attention to his big brother's movements. Seeing that he was surrounded by soldiers, Yi Chenfeng hurriedly pulled his horse to save him. The long weapon he used was a two-pointed steel fork. He swung it like a windmill and Yi Chenfeng charged all the way to Yang Hu's side and fought alongside him, retreating as they fought.
At this moment, reinforcements also appeared on the right side of the earthen hill. They were waving their swords and spears as they rushed down the hill. Seeing that the situation was not good, Yi Chenfeng hurriedly shouted, "Brother Hu, the situation is not good. If we continue forward, I'm afraid it will really be a dead end. Let's retreat and reorganize our troops first before deciding where to go!"
Yang Hu laughed bitterly and thought to himself, "Taking down Nanjing is our last hope. Otherwise, where else can we go?" However, he agreed with Yi Chenfeng's plan to retreat and reorganize his troops. Now that the soldiers were surrounding them from three sides, the White Coat Army would be attacked from three sides. The only way was to break out of the encirclement first. Even if the soldiers from three sides converged into one, they would only be able to confront the enemy head-on. The advantage of the soldiers in numbers would not exist.
Yang Hu took a deep breath and roared, "Retreat! Retreat immediately! Retreat back to Daoshi Ridge, reorganize the troops and fight again! "
The two of them took the lead and left. In the distance, there was an opportunistic soldier who was waiting for a promotion and fortune. He kept swaying in the crowd but did not charge forward. He held a bow in his hand and looked for an opportunity. When he saw the two of them turn their horses back, the soldier was overjoyed. He immediately drew his bow and released an arrow.
A cold arrow flew towards them. "Pu!" The arrow did not hit Yang Hu but hit Yi Chenfeng in the back. Fortunately, the soldier's arm strength was limited, so the arrow was not fatal. Yi Chenfeng grunted. He did not care about pulling out the arrow to heal his wound. He endured the pain and led the defeated soldiers to retreat.
The soldier who shot the arrow was extremely annoyed. He put down his long bow and picked up his long bamboo spear. He chased and cursed, "Motherf * cker, I didn't catch the big fish but shot a small shrimp!"
If Yang Hu's army wanted to escape, the soldiers could not do anything. Even though they had cavalry, they could not send them out to pursue the enemy due to their limited numbers. They could only watch as Yang Hu's army fled back the way they came. The three reinforcements formed their own formations and slowly advanced from behind. At the same time, other reinforcements of various sizes were also rushing over.
The soldiers in white were bathed in blood. What was even more depressing was that the morale that was boosted by Yang Hu's money and beauty had completely disappeared. The deserters on horseback had completely lost their valiant and fearless spirit.
After retreating twenty miles in a panic, he saw that he was at the foot of Taoist Ridge. Above Taoist Ridge, which was still emitting smoke, the sound of war drums could be heard. In an instant, he saw flags fluttering in the wind. Thousands of people armed with bows and crossbows emerged from behind the slope. There were the remnants of the Celestial Guards that he had defeated, and there were also the strong citizens of Maoshan Town. Each and every one of them glared at the defeated White Shirt Army from the ridge.
"Ready! Bows and arrows at your disposal!"
With a creaking sound, arrows rained down and the sky was filled with locusts …
* * *
Madman Zhao made his move. As soon as the scheduled date arrived, he immediately broke away from Yang Ling's army. Passing through Huoyang, Mengcheng, and Huaiyuan, he killed his way all the way to the Emperor's hometown, Fengyang. The imperial court's army moved slowly and exhausted all their strength to follow him from afar.
The defenders at the front were also slow to realize the news. By the time they received the news, Zhao Sui's army had already eaten and drunk their fill in the town. Those who were fast enough could still catch up to them, but they posed no threat to Zhao Sui's army.
This made Madman Zhao even more proud. This was the usual speed of the imperial court's army. With this speed, they could only gain an advantage in siege battles and encirclement battles like Mount Zhongtiao. Otherwise, wouldn't he be able to come and go as he pleased?
After attacking Fengyang City, Madman Zhao still had the leisure to swagger in the Emperor's Grace Pavilion, the favorite haunt of the imperial court's descendants. He tasted the Emperor's Tip Six Tranquil Tea produced by Xianrenchong and rested for half a day before continuing eastward. Without stopping, he killed his way to Biwa Lake and seized a boat to head south.
Madman Zhao entered the river from the lake. The main force traveled by land while the small force sailed by boat. They passed through Yangzhou in a dignified manner and boarded a boat to cross the Yangtze River. After endless ferrying, they finally landed at Hanqiao and entered Jiangnan.
Unexpectedly, Yang Ling's army could not catch up and landed at Zhenjiang, intercepting them in front. Madman Zhao did not mind it at all. He thought that with the speed of his cavalry, they could easily avoid the soldiers and head straight for Nanjing. In order to avoid being entangled with Yang Ling's army, Madman Zhao quickly rushed towards the direction of Danyang.
Unexpectedly, when the army arrived at Danyang, he saw the banner in front of him fluttering in the wind. The banner with the word "Yang" fluttered above the city walls. Below the city walls, tens of thousands of horses, spears and halberds were like a forest and the army was like a mountain. Seeing this, Madman Zhao was shocked. The imperial court's rapid response force had finally officially appeared on the scene. Both sides chased each other. Madman Zhao, who was known as the "Who Dares to Arrest in Six Directions", was bitten by Yang Ling and was forced to move towards the direction of Changzhou.
In Chi Tang Village, next to Lake Tai, the atmosphere was very tense in the temporary headquarters tent. Madman Zhao said with a heavy expression: "We have moved unhindered in Henan and Yang Ling has always been helpless. I did not expect him to be so patient. It turns out that he had prepared a strong cavalry long ago and only used it today.
He misjudged the mobility of the soldiers. At a critical moment, that would be a fatal flaw. Our speed advantage no longer exists. They are now closely following us and blocking our westward passage. We must make some changes to our original plan. "
Zhen Yangge said in a loud voice: "What are you afraid of? Why don't we charge head-on and fight him head-on? The imperial court's cavalry may not be our match."
Madman Zhao shook his head and said: "Don't forget, the ones leading the troops are Xu Tai and Jiang Bin. They are both valiant generals of the border army. I suspect that Yang Ling secretly transferred the border army elites to the south to participate in the encirclement and suppression. I am determined to take Nanjing. I deliberately took a detour here to cross the river. My original intention was to make a long-distance raid to shake off the soldiers of Henan and attract the main force of Jiangnan to create the conditions for Liu Liu and Yang Hu.
At the same time, we can use our cavalry advantage to penetrate through the gap of the encirclement. But now Yang Ling is leading a large group of cavalry to block in front of us. We have lost the initiative and must adapt to the situation. "
He paced back and forth anxiously. Suddenly he stopped and said to Red Lady: "Deputy Marshal Cui, tomorrow at noon is the appointed time to breach the city. I think Yang Hu and Liu Liu will advance by land and water, so one of the two armies will be able to arrive. But this battle is too important. Just in case, I will lead the main force to attract Yang Ling's attention. You will lead 4,000 troops to attack Nanjing.
Their attention is on Liu Liu and Yang Hu, so this side must be empty. You must arrive at the east gate of Nanjing at noon. Nanjing is a very dangerous city with high and thick walls. If we seize it by force, as long as the city has enough provisions, even if we have 200,000 troops, it will be difficult to take it after fighting for a month.
Attacking the city is not as good as attacking the city. Outsmarting the enemy is the best strategy. The three armies will attack at the same time. As long as we cooperate well, Nanjing will be ours. I have already arranged for Feng Lei to seize the east gate. If Yang Hu and Liu Liu's armies cannot arrive in time, then you will have to guard the gate and wait for the three armies to arrive. "
When Red Lady heard that she was asked to take the light cavalry to Nanjing, she could avoid becoming enemies with Yang Ling and also find Zhou Dean for revenge. This suggestion was exactly what she wanted, so she immediately nodded and agreed.
Madman Zhao said: "I will lead the army to distract Yang Ling, I will go down from Yixing and go to Liyang and Lishui to help you. This gamble is to compete with Yang Ling's speed. Let's see if he can stop our three armies or if we will seize Nanjing first."
Red Lady said: "Xiucai rest assured, I will set off now."
"Wait!" Zhao Sui stopped her. After pondering for a moment, he lowered his voice: "If … I mean … if by any chance Feng Lei fails and we can't seize the city gate, then don't hesitate anymore. If we can't seize the city gate, we will not be able to attack Nanjing. You must not hesitate and immediately execute the backup plan, cross the river and escape to Shaanxi."
Red Lady's body trembled, she blurted out: "You … what about you?"
Zhao Sui laughed and said: "When I, Yang Hu, and Liu Liu join forces, if we can't defeat them, we can just run away. If we split into three armies, we can still be free and unfettered. Now that we have joined forces, what can the soldiers do to us? We can attack Zhejiang, we can also return to Jiangxi, pass through Huguang, or even kill our way into Sichuan. I have already explored half of the northern part of Ming Destiny, if I go to the southern part of the country, how difficult would it be to go to Shaanxi? "
Seeing that Red Lady was hesitating, Zhao Sui laughed and said: "This is just in case, it may not be used. Nanjing is difficult to attack, it is because of the hard outer shell. As long as we can open a door, we can open all nine cities, what is there to be afraid of? You can go ahead. "
Red Lady did not say anything and stared at him silently. She slightly cupped her fists and led her people out.
Zhao Sui took a deep breath and said to Zhao Pan and Zhao Gao: "At first, it was Yang Ling who was pestering us like a ghost, but now it is we who are pestering him. Come here, us three brothers will discuss this and decide who is better with Yang Ling by the side of Lake Tai! "
* * *
North of the Yangtze River, Three Willows. This was a small place named 'Three Willows'. The riverside was lined with green willows, more than thousands of them. Miao Kui stood under the weeping willows by the riverside, looking at the river flowing slowly to the east. Numerous ships of all sizes were crossing the river under the command of the government, heading to the north bank.
A captain rode from the east, galloping along the willow bank. When he came near, the captain dismounted from his horse, cupped his fists and said: "Reporting to Gong-gong, the ships left behind by the bandits in the Han Qiao area on the opposite bank have been seized by us. They have all sailed back to the north bank."
Miao Kui responded lazily and turned to leave.
The captain hurriedly said: "Gong-gong, there are countless ships along the river on the north bank. Should we centralize the management and store them? Should we send soldiers to watch over them? "
Miao Kui couldn't help but laugh when he heard this and scolded, "You idiot, how can we gather so many ships? Besides, do you think those landlubbers can come from the opposite bank to take the ships? "
He walked up the bank and stopped under a green willow tree. He thought for a moment and said: "Hmm … we can gather them together and ask the local government to send some patrol officers to watch over the ships. Just don't let them be stolen by those scoundrels."
The captain hurriedly acknowledged and hurriedly left.
His men led the horse over and Miao Kui mounted it. He looked at the south bank of the river and let out a long sigh: "The person who killed the bandit leader will be conferred the title of nobility and promoted by three ranks. If I get this credit, I will surpass Dai Yi and Zhang Yong. Sigh! The High Duke is already a High Duke, and among those who do not share the same surname, he is already a high-ranking official. Can he be conferred the title of King? Why compete with me for the credit?
Liu Liu died at the mouth of the lake, but he was shot to death by random arrows. Most of the soldiers are also dead. There is no way to determine who the credit belongs to. Now there is only Yang Hu, the big lucky star, but I don't know which bastard got this lucky! "
Miao Kui sighed and sighed. He raised his whip reluctantly and led his bodyguards into the city.
At this moment, the big lucky star Yang that Eunuch Miao coveted was trapped in the midst of thousands of soldiers. He was like a small boat in the raging waves, rising and falling with the waves, appearing and disappearing. The White Coat soldiers beside him waved their swords and spears and fought with the soldiers.
There were more and more soldiers surrounding them. The White Coat soldiers who were not proficient in battle were trapped in the surrounding slopes, mud pits, and swamps. They were gradually divided into several groups and killed by the soldiers.
There was not yet a chaotic battle. In front of the soldiers was the long spear formation, while the soldiers at the back were proficiently drawing their bows and releasing arrows. Guns were fired, and the sky was filled with a rain of arrows. The White Coat soldiers who were initially invincible had no power to fight back in this area. They could not attack from close range, and they could not run. What was more frightening was that they had used up all the arrows they brought. The White Coat soldiers finally tasted defeat.
It was another rain of arrows. Hundreds of White Uniform soldiers screamed and fell off their horses. Some of them saw the opportunity and saw that their horses were stuck in the mud and the ground was trampled to a pulp. They were no longer willing to sit on their horses and become targets. They jumped off their horses one after another and ruthlessly stabbed their horses' buttocks. They took advantage of the fact that their horses were galloping and tried to escape.
Yi Chenfeng brandished the steel fork, he did not have time to bandage his wound and blood stained his back. He had lost too much blood, his vision turned black, everywhere he looked, there were people shouting to kill, like waves of tide, they fought and moved, they were getting closer and closer to Nanjing, but the number of soldiers surrounding them was also increasing. Now without a doubt, the soldiers had indeed set up heavy ambushes around Nanjing, they were waiting for them to leave Jiangxi and walk right into the trap.
However, Yang Hu still wanted to go to Nanjing. He was no longer thinking about attacking Nanjing or whether he could take it down. He wanted to find the other two groups of soldiers and fight their way out of the encirclement. Otherwise, with only his group, he would be exhausted and exhausted. He would not be able to escape back to Jiangxi or attack Zhejiang where the troops were more heavily deployed.
"Brother Hu!" Yi Chenfeng roared, but the crowd was surging in all directions. He didn't know which direction Yang Hu had gone. His vision darkened and his body swayed. His shoulder was pierced by a spear again. The two bodyguards beside him who had followed him for many years rushed forward desperately. They knocked away three spears and stabbed one person to death. Then, there was a scream. The bodyguard on the left had a spear pierced through his back. The spear was pulled out immediately, and blood gushed out.
The guard on the right had only been distracted for a moment when four or five bamboo spears, each two feet long, pierced his body from all directions. Yi Chenfeng roared and charged forward, but the war horse suddenly whimpered. The two soldiers who had taken the opportunity to rush in front of the horse had already chopped off the horse's legs. Yi Chenfeng's face was covered in sweat and blood. Just as he was about to stand up in a daze, he saw two bloody steel sabers chopping down on his face. Behind the sharp sabers were two faces full of murderous intent and excitement.
He led the army to break out of the encirclement and constantly gave orders. The soldiers fighting around him already knew that his position in the White Uniform Army was not low. His head almost represented the same weight of silver. Who wouldn't be excited?
Shouts, sounds of fighting, and sounds of weapons clashing rang out. The air was filled with the nauseating smell of blood. On the vast battlefield, people were like ants, both insignificant and great. They were insignificant because they could be annihilated into corpses by this intense battle at any time. They were great because they could decide the life and death of others at any time, even if it was an all-powerful general.
"Kill!" The roars of killing surged into Yang Hu's ears like a tidal wave. He had also exhausted his strength. The army had been cut into small pieces, and all around him were pairs of blood-red eyes. The clanging sounds of weapons clashing could be heard. There were less than two hundred people left by his side, and they were all fighting for their own lives. They had no time to care about each other.
Yang Hu swung his iron rod violently, smashing the soldiers in front of him into a complete mess. He had lost count of how many weapons he had snatched. The overwhelming number of soldiers shouted and fought with the White Uniform Army. This was a completely military assassination. There were no defensive moves. Hack, stab, hack, hack, and stab again. It was simple and effective.
'It's over. I'll go find Liu Qi and Madman Zhao, or I'll disguise myself and sneak back to Mount Taihang. One day, I'll make a comeback.' Yang Hu quickly calculated. He turned his horse around and began to rush out alone.
In the turbulent waves, there seemed to be a gap cut open by a blade. Yang Hu was so tired that his clothes were soaked in sweat. He was exhausted, but the soldiers' physical strength was also rapidly declining. They still could not withstand his unstoppable charge. A few of his bodyguards wanted to follow him, but countless spears and arrows blocked their way.
Relying on his powerful martial arts, Yang Hu single-handedly killed his way to the edge of the encirclement. He raised his slightly twisted iron rod and smashed another two soldiers to death. He grabbed a saber in passing and just as he habitually brandished the saber, he turned his head and saw seven or eight soldiers charging at the edge of the encirclement with their bows nocked. Their target was him.
Yang Hu was shocked. He suddenly hid in the stirrup. The warhorse was hit by an arrow. It neighed loudly and then galloped wildly without any regard for direction. After the warhorse galloped for a while, there was a bush in front of him. Yang Hu had just dismounted when he saw someone chasing after him and drawing their bows. Yang Hu hurriedly straightened his back and leaped like a fish. He leaped behind the bush like a flash of lightning. More than a dozen eagle-feathered arrows were nailed to the ground where he had just stood. The tails of the arrows were still trembling.
Yang Hu did not dare to stop for a moment. He bent his back and panted. He scurried through the gaps between the bushes and ran to a small stream. He crouched on a rock and plunged his head into the water. His head was covered in blood and sweat. He did not wait for the water to clear before he immediately gulped down the water.
His burning lungs were nourished. Yang Hu did not even have time to catch his breath before he continued to run forward …
※ ※ ※
On the city wall of Nanjing, Zhou Dean, fully armored, stood on the tower and watched the people coming in and out of the city.
Since receiving Yang Ling's order, the city of Nanjing had been under martial law. The city gates were all heavily guarded. As the largest port in Jiangnan, it was impossible to completely close the gates unless the enemy was already close to them and they were forced to close the gates to fight.
Daily necessities, rice, oil, salt, vegetables, and meat needed to enter the city to supply the huge population of the city. Many things in the city also needed to be transported out of the city. Just now, the soldiers pinched their noses and sent them out of the city was in accordance with Zhou Dean's order to gather all the toilets in the city and send them out of the city. If the city was closed early, these toilets alone could make the whole city of Nanjing stinky.
He paced slowly with his hands behind his back and said, "Now the opening time of the city is concentrated within six hours every day. It is indeed inconvenient, but the war is imminent. We can't just open the gates and wait for the enemy to attack the city before closing the gates, can we? Garrison Guan, the relatives of the emperor, civil and military officials, as well as the aristocrats in Nanjing, you can talk to them. I am also thinking about their safety. "
Zhou De 'an was in his forties. He had a squarish face, thick eyebrows, and a red face. He had a dignified mustache, which made him look majestic. His sturdy body and heavy shoulders seemed to contain a great amount of power with just the slightest movement.
Garrison Guan smiled and said, "Sir, don't worry. These pampered men are like this. When they feel inconvenient, they will scold you for making a fuss. When they feel unsafe, they will scold you for not being careful enough.
Hey, as an official in Nanjing, there is a lot of benefits, but there are also a lot of things to be bullied. In fact, the world is the same. If it is in the capital, isn't it the same? I heard that the patrolling imperial messengers of the QING Five Cities Warlords in the capital mostly suffer from strokes when they get old. It's all because they have been bullied too much as an official. "
He lowered his voice and said with a smile, "Unless you get to a high position like Duke Wei, you can do whatever you want in Beijing. Otherwise, as an official, you have to bear with it. Let them say what they want, we just don't take it to heart."
Zhou Dean snorted, shook his head and said, "Nanjing is heavily surrounded outside. I think the three groups of white bandits won't be able to reach Nanjing. Even if they come, they will only be a group of drowning dogs. Hmph, be careful. Although it is not convenient to set up beacons in Jiangnan, these beacons that I have set up around Nanjing are effective and fast to transmit messages. If there is a fire beacon, immediately close the city and prepare for battle. Inform me. "
"Yes, sir. Take care. See you off." Garrison Guan smiled and cupped his hands.
At this time, two military scouts galloped up to the top of the city wall. When they saw Zhou Dean and Garrison Guan, they immediately saluted and said, "General Zhou, General Guan, a great victory at the front!"
Zhou Dean was moved and said, "What happened? Tell me quickly!"
One of the scouts said, "General, Liu Qi went down the river and suddenly encountered a strong gale at Taiping. His ships collided and capsized, drowning countless people in the river. His defeated troops escaped to the shore and suffered a crushing defeat at Caishi Ji. According to the captured captives, Qi Yanming and Liu Qi, the two bandit leaders, were killed by arrows. Liu Hui only took about two thousand people and escaped along the river. All the troops are trying to catch them."
Zhou Dean laughed loudly when he heard this. Then his eyes lit up and he asked, "What about Yang Hu?"
"Yang Hu was attacked again and again. He kept trying to shake off our troops and tried to advance north. However, he was surrounded by our troops at the Earthen Jar Nest and escaped all the way to Toad Shop. The white bandits have been divided into several groups. One group of about seven thousand bandits separated from the main group at the Earthen Jar Nest and fled south. They probably ran into the imperial army from Huguang and Jiangxi all the way north. Yang Hu's group fell apart and scattered in all directions. We still don't have Yang Hu's whereabouts. "
Zhou Dean's blood boiled when he heard this. He asked again, "Is there any news from Madman Zhao's group?"
"There is no news yet. They are too far away and were intercepted by Duke Wei's army along the way. They are still loitering around Lake Tai. They are too far away and there is no news of the outcome of the battle."
"Alright, go down. Report to me if there is any news."
Zhou Dean's heart soared. "Yang Hu was also defeated, but the bandit chief Yang Hu is still alive. That is a great merit."
He was a man who was greedy for power, but he had been in the Northern Army for too long and did not know how to curry favor with others. He was also not used to his current subservient performance. Although he was transferred to Nanjing because of his meritorious service and became the highest-ranking military officer guarding Nanjing, there were also many high-ranking officials in Nanjing. He had to smile and talk to any one of them. With his arrogant temperament, it was difficult for him to adapt.
However, the opportunity had come. If he could kill Yang Hu, his reputation would spread throughout the world. Maybe even the Emperor would meet him. He would be promoted three times in a row. He was now the deputy commander. If he was promoted three times, even if he did not enter the Ministry of War, he could still become a high-ranking official guarding a border.
A bright future, a high position, and a generous salary were right in front of him. As long as he took Yang Hu's head, everything would be within his grasp! Thinking of this, Zhou Dean's heart heated up and his eyes reddened. He licked his dry lips. "Yang Hu was defeated in the Toad Shop area, which is only a few dozen miles away from here. Liu Qi is dead, Liu Hui has escaped, and Madman Zhao is far away at Lake Tai. Nanjing is not in danger. After this battle, I have not missed an inch of my merit. If I go to search for Yang Hu …"
He coughed and calmed himself down. "Guard Pass."
"Here."
"Yang Hu's army has been defeated, but Yang Hu is not dead yet. He is a great threat to the imperial court, and I am worried about him. He was defeated in the Toad Shop area, and I think he has not gone far. I will take a sentinel to help capture the thief. You guard the city gate strictly. When it is time to close the city, immediately enter the city.
There is no delay. "" This … Your Excellency, our duty is to guard the city. There are already soldiers deployed to suppress the bandits on the periphery. We … "
"Hmph, what periphery? How can it be called periphery when it is so close? Adaptability is the responsibility of the commander. If Yang Hu is not dead, there will be endless troubles in the future. You don't need to say more. Just guard the city well. I will only lead three thousand cavalrymen to search for Yang Hu. Whether there is news or not, I will return today. "
"Yes!" Guard Pass cupped his hands and watched Zhou Dean hurriedly walk down the city gate tower. He secretly spat and scolded in a low voice, "No matter how fierce Yang Hu is, he is just one person. If he wants to capture someone, can't he send me? Why do you have to be the commander? Motherf * cker, isn't it just a promotion of three times in a row? Fall and die, you bastard. "
* * *
Fang Family Village was a small village with verdant hills and limpid waters. A small house facing the water had half of its window poking out. Below the back window was a small river that flowed leisurely. Water plants swayed in the murmuring river water, and fish swam about.
The river was not deep. Across the river was a dense forest. An autumn pear tree by the river was already full of fruits, bending its branches. The branches crossed the river and hung by the window, within reach of the hand.
A head poked out of the window and carefully observed the surrounding situation. Then, he retracted his head and gently closed the window. Yang Hu tore the robe on the bed into strips and wrapped them around the wounds on his body.
In front of the bed was a fair and delicate young woman. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old. She held a baby who was not even a year old in her arms. Her heart ached as she watched the green robe she had personally made for her husband being torn to pieces by this rough man. The tips of her brows furrowed slightly, but she sighed softly in resignation.
Next to her was a skinny scholar with a sharp chin and light eyebrows. He looked to be only eighteen or nineteen years old. His lips still had young hair. He leaned against his wife in fear and gently hugged her waist.
"Hehe, don't be afraid. Father just couldn't go on and joined the White Uniform Army to make a living. Sigh, who knew that the White Uniform Army was also unreliable. He was preparing to sneak back to his hometown. I'll rest here for a while and then leave. I won't hurt you."
"You, go cook some food for Father." Yang Hu ordered the young woman. "Carry the child, or hand it over to your man. If you dare to make a sound, Father will strangle you to death, one by one."
The young woman was so frightened that she quickly carried the child and walked to the outer room to clean the stove to cook. Yang Hu had already locked the door from the inside and tied it tightly with ropes. It would take a lot of effort and a lot of noise for the couple to open a door that had been removed piece by piece. Yang Hu was lying at the head of the bed and happened to be able to see the door, so he wasn't afraid that they would escape.
"You, just sit in the corner. Don't f * cking move. Father will leave once he's rested enough. Don't cause trouble for yourself, understand?" Yang Hu ordered fiercely.
"Yes, yes, yes, Sir. I … I don't dare. I'll sit." The young man was so scared that his teeth chattered.
Yang Hu glanced at him with contempt. He was like a bean sprout. He could crush him with two fingers, but he had actually fallen to the point of scaring this kind of trash. Sigh …
He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. "I can't let this couple live. Although they don't recognize me, Father's one eye is too obvious. If the soldiers enter the village and ask questions, they will definitely increase the search for me. I'll let them live for now. I need to catch my breath. If the Baojia comes to ask questions, I can still use them to deal with them. When I've rested enough and eaten my fill, I'll send them on their way. "
This weak looking kid was actually an Elementary Scholar. His surname was Fang Qingchou. Although the small village was secluded, he would often visit the county's school. He clearly remembered the fierce looking man in front of him. He looked exactly the same as Yang Hu, the bandit on the notice.
When he first saw him, Scholar Fang was really scared out of his wits. There were too many legends about the great thief Yang Hu. Most of them described him as a man who killed without batting an eye. He even ate human flesh and drank human blood. His eyes were like copper rings, and he looked like a diamond. Scholar Fang was a scholar. Although he didn't believe it, the fear had unknowingly been planted in his heart.
But now that he saw Yang Hu in such a sorry state, covered in wounds, exhausted, his clothes in tatters, and covered in mud and dirt, he looked worse than a beggar. Scholar Fang's heart gradually calmed down.
Turning his head to look at his wife, who was quietly cooking outside, Fang Qingchou thought to himself, "Based on this person's appearance, he must be the great thief Yang Hu. He … will he really let us go?"
He licked his lips. Suddenly, the emperor's notice flashed across his mind: Reward ten thousand gold, promotion to count, promotion to three ranks.
The moment he saw Yang Hu's powerful body lying on the bed like a ferocious tiger, the thought immediately disappeared. Then, unknowingly, it lingered in his mind again. 'Reward him with ten thousand taels of gold, promote him to count, and promote him three ranks.'
"Where should I escape to? Wait until I've rested enough, then I'll take some food and money and hide in the mountains. I'll ask around. If Madman Zhao and Liu Qi succeed, I'll go to Nanjing to join them. If they fail, sigh … then I'll think of a way to leave Jiangnan and return to the north. Then I'll go back to Taihang Mountains … Hoo … Hoo …"
A faint snoring sound could be heard, gradually turning into a deafening snoring. Scholar Fang, who had a guilty conscience, shrunk back a little. He craned his neck to take a look, then relaxed his shoulders.
"Ten thousand gold, promotion to count, promotion, bandit, beheading …" All kinds of thoughts came one after another. Fang Qingchou's heart beat faster and faster. It was beating so fast that he couldn't breathe. His legs were trembling. His eyes suddenly landed on a wooden stick protruding from among the miscellaneous items beside the bench he was sitting on. His eyes suddenly couldn't move away.
It was a harpoon, a very small one, with two sharp points side by side. It was not even half the width of a palm. This harpoon could only be used to shoot the small fish in the stream behind the window. Ever since he passed the Xiucai exams and married a wife, he had been focused on becoming a high-ranking official as soon as possible. He hadn't touched it for a long time.
His wife, on the other hand, still used it frequently. Occasionally, she would clear the overgrown water plants behind the window so that she could draw water. A faint aroma of rice wafted out from the pot. Fang Qingchou nervously called out, "Warrior, warrior!"
After calling out twice, he realized that his voice was only in his throat. He gathered his courage and coughed. Raising his voice, he said, "Warrior, the rice … the rice is ready …"
The snoring drowned out his voice, which was as soft as a mosquito's. Scholar Fang supported himself against the wall and slowly stood up. His legs were wobbly. His trembling hand reached for the harpoon, and he pulled it out inch by inch.
His wife noticed what he was doing. She covered her mouth in shock, her eyes wide open as she shook her head at him. The steel fork was already in his hand. Pulling it out required courage, and asking him to put it back in again required courage as well. There was no turning back now. Scholar Fang's thin face turned red. He glared at his wife, and she immediately fell silent. She only stared at him with her eyes wide open.
Scholar Fang picked up the harpoon, trembling, and aimed it at Yang Hu's chest, who was leaning against the quilt, exhausted. Occasionally, he moved it to his throat. After a while, he suddenly let out a loud, woman-like howl, "Ya ~ Ya ~!"
Following his scream, his wife also screamed in fear. Yang Hu was startled by the two screams and opened his eyes. But by the time he opened his eyes, the rusty harpoon had already pierced deep into his throat. Scholar Fang did not use the strength of his arms to wield the harpoon. Instead, he gripped it tightly and used all the strength in his body to lunge forward, using his body weight and momentum to push the harpoon forward with all his might.
The harpoon had already completely pierced into his throat, but he was still screaming and pushing the harpoon forward with all his might. Blood gushed out of Yang Hu's throat, and his throat had already sunk in. As he breathed, it made a strange "gu gu" sound.
Yang Hu's eyes were wide open and his hands were spread wide. He looked like he was about to lunge forward. Scholar Fang was scared to death. Seeing his eyes wide open, his bones went limp. His hands were so weak that he could not even hold the handle of the harpoon. He could only use his chest to push against the handle, crying and shouting, "Go to hell! Go to hell! Ya! Ah! "
Yang Hu was already dead. He was pushed again and again by the harpoon. His two open hands moved as if he was about to lunge forward. Scholar Fang's last bit of courage was finally scared out of him by this dead man. He turned and ran, tripping on the door sill and bleeding his lips. Surprisingly, he did not feel any pain.
Scholar Fang crawled up, pulled his wife and ran, shouting, "Go, go, go!"
He rushed to the door, only to remember that it was twisted. He quickly turned back and grabbed the kitchen knife on the stove and chopped. He cut the rope and removed the first plank of the door. Warm sunlight shone through the door, and Scholar Fang seemed to come back to his senses.
He was startled, and slowly turned his head to look into the room. The harpoon was deeply pierced into Yang Hu's throat, who was sitting on the bed. Because the wooden handle was slightly heavier, it was now trembling and bending downwards. Thick blood flowed along the wooden handle, stretching into a sticky thread and hanging down to his thigh.
The warm sunlight dispelled the chill in his heart. He asked his wife in surprise, "Xiu 'er, is … is he dead?"
The young woman called Xiu 'er quickly nodded. After thinking for a while, she shook her head. She felt that this answer was really inauspicious, so she nodded again. At this time, the child on her back began to cry.
Following the crying, a dignified voice came from the narrow and long alley, "Tell Qianhu Liu's men to continue searching. I, Zhou Dean, am in charge of this village and the mountain behind it. You guys search every alley, every house. Don't let go of any suspicious points. You must catch the traitor Yang Hu."
Scholar Fang let out a long sigh and hugged his wife, crying tears of joy, "Xiu 'er, we're saved."
"Yes, yes!" Xiu 'er nodded happily.
Scholar Fang hugged his wife and laughed, "Not only are we saved, I killed Yang Hu, I killed the great thief Yang Hu! We're going to be rich, I'm going to be an official, I'm going to be a noble! "
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