Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhu Han frowned and made a quick decision: "Inform the deputy commander of the right wing to hold the position and order some troops on the left wing to reinforce immediately. In addition, notify the artillery to prepare and open fire immediately once the enemy enters the range!"

The guards took the order and left, while Zhu Han continued to observe the battle situation. Soon, the sound of artillery roared and the smoke filled the air. The enemy's elite squad suffered heavy losses under the artillery fire and had to retreat. Seeing this, Zhu Han smiled coldly and said, "Okay, continue to suppress them and don't let your guard down."

At this time, the light cavalry led by Lieutenant General Li had circled to the front of the enemy's retreat route. They hid in the woods and waited for the opportunity. Lieutenant General Li whispered to his deputy beside him: "Brothers, cheer up! Once the enemy steps into the trap, it will be time to kill them!"

Soon, the enemy began to retreat. As Zhu Han expected, there were ambushes hidden in the team. As the enemy stepped into the ambush circle step by step, Lieutenant General Li suddenly waved his hand and said, "Shoot!" In an instant, arrows rained down, the ambushes fell one after another, and the enemy was in chaos.

At the same time, the battle on the battlefield where General Zhang led his troops to pursue was also extremely fierce. General Zhang, holding a spear, led the way and engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy generals. While fighting, he shouted loudly to encourage morale: "My men, for the Ming Dynasty, for your family, kill!"

Seeing this, an enemy general roared and swung his sword. General Zhang dodged easily and shot the enemy general in the throat. The enemy general was unable to dodge and was stabbed in the shoulder and fell off his horse.

"General, you are mighty!" The soldiers shouted in unison, their morale boosted, and they fought bravely. Under General Zhang's fierce attack, the enemy army gradually couldn't resist and began to collapse.

Zhu Han stood on a high place and had a panoramic view of all this. He turned to the messenger beside him and said, "Quickly inform the entire army not to fight to the death and to ensure a safe retreat. At the same time, strengthen vigilance to prevent the enemy from counterattacking."

The messenger received the order and quickly rode his horse across the battlefield, loudly conveying Zhu Han's order: "All troops, listen up, do not linger in the battle, ensure a safe retreat! Strengthen vigilance to prevent the enemy from counterattacking!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers were unwilling to give in, but they obeyed the military order and retreated in an orderly manner, while remaining highly vigilant to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the opportunity to launch a sneak attack.

Zhu Han stood on a high place, his eyes sharp as torches, scanning every detail on the battlefield to ensure that the retreat process was orderly.

At this time, General Zhang, covered in blood, rode his horse to Zhu Han and said, "Your Majesty, the enemy army has been defeated. Should we continue to pursue them?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said in a deep voice: "General Zhang, don't pursue the desperate enemy. Although our army has won, it is also exhausted. We must act with caution. Pass the order down, the entire army rests in place and strengthens fortifications to prevent the enemy from counterattacking."

General Zhang took the order and quickly conveyed Zhu Han's instructions. The soldiers found a place to sit down, some bandaged their wounds, and some checked their weapons, preparing for the next possible battle.

At the same time, the light cavalry led by Lieutenant General Li also completed the destruction of the enemy's ambush and returned triumphantly. They were covered in dust, but their eyes were shining with the joy of victory. Lieutenant General Li rode his horse to Zhu Han and clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the enemy's ambush has been broken, and our army has no casualties."

Zhu Han nodded slightly and praised: "Deputy General Li, you did a great job. You have made an indelible contribution to this victory."

Lieutenant General Li said modestly: "I dare not take credit for it. It is all due to the wise command of the prince."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, then said seriously: "This victory was won with the blood and lives of all the soldiers. We must remember this glory and be alert to the challenges ahead."

After saying this, Zhu Han turned to General Zhao beside him and said, "General Zhao, write a letter immediately to inform the capital of today's battle results, let His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the important officials in the court know. At the same time, ask them if they have any further instructions."

Zhao Canjun received the order and hurried off to prepare the letter. Zhu Han continued to stay on the high ground, observing the movements on the battlefield to ensure that everything was under control.

Soon, a scout came running in and knelt on one knee to report: "Your Majesty, the enemy has retreated several miles away and seems to be reorganizing their troops. Their intentions are unclear."

Zhu Han frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "Continue to closely monitor the enemy's movements. If you find anything unusual, report it immediately."

The scout took the order and left. Zhu Han's eyes were still fixed on the enemy's position in the distance, thinking about the next countermeasures. At this time, General Zhang rode up to Zhu Han and said solemnly: "Your Highness, although the enemy has retreated, they have not gone far away. It is obvious that they are planning to attack again. We need to prepare early."

Zhu Han nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "General Zhang is right. Pass the order down and have each battalion strengthen its fortifications to ensure that the defense line is impregnable. At the same time, order the scouts to continue to closely monitor the enemy's movements and report any signs of trouble immediately."

General Zhang received the order and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and turned around and said, "Your Majesty, I think our army has been fighting hard for days and the soldiers are already tired. Should we send some of the troops back to the camp to rest and maintain their fighting strength?"

Zhu Han pondered for a moment, his eyes swept over the tired but resolute soldiers, and a sense of pride surged in his heart: "General Zhang is thoughtful, but withdrawing troops at this time may give the enemy an opportunity to counterattack. Pass the order down, let the kitchen speed up the preparation of hot food and distribute it to each soldier, making sure they are well fed and restored to their physical strength. At the same time, strengthen night patrols to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Upon hearing this, General Zhang's eyes flashed with admiration, and he bowed and said, "I will obey your command and do it immediately." After that, he turned and left, quickly conveying Zhu Han's instructions.

At this time, Lieutenant General Li also rode over, holding a secret letter in his hand: "Your Majesty, an urgent letter from the capital."

Zhu Han took the secret letter and quickly read it through. He frowned slightly, then relaxed his brows and said to Lieutenant General Li, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has learned of our army's great victory and has ordered the Ministry of Revenue to raise food and fodder, which will arrive soon. In addition, the upright people in the court are actively supporting us, and the situation has improved."

Lieutenant General Li heard this and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes: "This is God's blessing on our Ming Dynasty! Your Majesty, our army's morale is high, why don't we make a concerted effort to completely defeat the enemy?"

Zhu Han shook his head and said earnestly, "The Art of War says, if you know yourself and the enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger. Although our army has won, the enemy is still strong, so we must not underestimate them. Pass the order down, let the soldiers recuperate, and wait until the food and grass supplies arrive, then it will not be too late to fight a decisive battle."

Upon hearing this, although Lieutenant General Li was unwilling, he also knew that what Zhu Han said made sense, so he had to accept the order and leave.

As night fell, the camp on the frontier was brightly lit, and the soldiers sat or lay down, enjoying the rare tranquility. Zhu Han stood alone on a high place, gazing at the starry sky, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.

At this moment, a guard came running over and knelt on one knee to report: "Your Majesty, there is a man outside the camp who claims to be a special envoy from the capital, and he has urgent military information to report."

Zhu Han was shocked when he heard this, and quickly ordered: "Send him in quickly."

Soon, a special envoy in official uniform was brought into the camp. He looked nervous and bowed, saying, "Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince Han. I am here on the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to report urgent military information."

Zhu Han motioned him to stand up and speak. The envoy quickly took out a secret letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "This is a letter written by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Please have a look, Your Highness."

Zhu Han took the secret letter and quickly read it through, his face becoming more solemn. He looked up at the special envoy and asked in a deep voice, "Does His Royal Highness have any instructions?" The special envoy bowed and replied, "His Royal Highness has ordered me to tell Your Highness that although the situation in the court has improved, Zhu Di is still secretly obstructing and trying to obstruct reform. In addition, the enemy seems to have noticed that our army's supplies are coming, and is stepping up deployment, intending to attack the supply line."

Zhu Han heard this, his eyes were like torches: "Zhu Di is indeed cunning. Pass the order to strengthen the protection of the supply line and ensure the safe delivery of food and grass. At the same time, order Zhao Canjun to strengthen intelligence collection and make sure to grasp Zhu Di's every move."

The envoy took the order and left. Zhu Han turned to General Zhang beside him and said, "General Zhang, since the enemy has already noticed our supply movement, they will definitely do their best to stop it. You should immediately select elite troops, disguise them as a caravan, and escort the supplies along the way. Make sure everything goes well."

General Zhang accepted the order with a firm look in his eyes: "I will do my best to ensure the safe delivery of the supplies."

Zhu Han nodded and looked at Lieutenant General Li: "Lieutenant General Li, you need to lead a team of scouts in person. Not only must you investigate the enemy situation, but you must also always pay attention to the safety of the supply lines. Once you discover the enemy's movements, report immediately and take measures."

Lieutenant General Li responded: "I will follow your orders and make arrangements immediately."

After everything was arranged, Zhu Han felt relieved, but he could still see worry between his brows.

At this time, a guard hurriedly walked into the tent, knelt on one knee and reported: "Your Majesty, General Zhao wants to see you. I have an urgent military report."

Zhu Han's heart trembled, and he said quickly: "Quickly send him in."

Assistant General Zhao walked into the tent with a solemn expression, holding a secret letter in his hand: "Your Highness, a secret report came from the capital that Zhu Di is secretly contacting some tribes on the border, trying to attack our army from the flank."

Zhu Han's eyes turned cold when he heard this: "Zhu Di's move is really despicable. Pass the order down to strengthen communication with the border tribes and make sure they are not deceived by Zhu Di. At the same time, order people to closely monitor Zhu Di's movements and report immediately if they find him in contact with the tribes."

General Zhao took the order and left, while Zhu Han fell into deep thought.

As night fell, the camp on the border was silent, with only the occasional footsteps of patrolling soldiers breaking the tranquility of the night. Zhu Han stood alone outside the tent, gazing at the starry sky, silently thinking of a countermeasure in his mind.

At this moment, a scout came running and knelt on one knee to report: "Your Majesty, we have discovered that a small group of enemy troops are approaching our supply line, and their intentions are unclear."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, and he quickly ordered: "Send a message to General Zhang to lead his troops to intercept immediately. At the same time, notify Lieutenant General Li to strengthen the surrounding vigilance to prevent the enemy from deceiving."

The scout took the order and left, while Zhu Han turned and walked into the tent, ready to supervise the battle personally.

Soon, drums of war thundered and shouts of killing rose up. General Zhang led his elite soldiers to rush towards the enemy like a tiger descending from a mountain, and the two sides soon fell into a fierce battle. Zhu Han stood on a high place, holding a command flag, paying close attention to every corner of the battlefield.

"General Zhang, be careful of enemy ambushes!" Zhu Han shouted loudly.

Hearing this, General Zhang swung his sword to kill the enemy soldiers while shouting, "I understand, Your Majesty, please rest assured!"

The battle was extremely fierce, with soldiers from both sides fighting back and forth, and the flashes of swords and sabers intertwined. Zhu Han held the command flag tightly and adjusted the deployment of troops from time to time to ensure that every battlefield could receive timely support.

At this moment, a guard came running over and reported nervously: "Your Majesty, the enemy seems to be deliberately leading our army into a trap, and our army has suffered heavy casualties!"

Zhu Han frowned and quickly analyzed the situation. He shouted, "Inform the entire army to maintain their formation and not act rashly. At the same time, order Lieutenant General Li to lead the light cavalry to raid the rear of the enemy and disrupt their deployment."

The guards took the order and left. Soon, Lieutenant General Li responded: "I accept the order and take action immediately!"

As Lieutenant General Li's light cavalry successfully raided from behind, the enemy's rear was thrown into chaos. General Zhang took the opportunity to lead his troops to counterattack and defeated the enemy one by one. Zhu Han stood on a high place, looking at the gradually stabilizing battle situation, and felt a little relieved.

After the battle, Zhu Han personally went to the battlefield to inspect the casualties and comfort the wounded soldiers.

"Your Highness, although our army won, we suffered heavy casualties," General Zhang said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han looked solemnly across the battlefield and said in a deep voice: "Casualties are inevitable, but our faith cannot be shaken. Pass the order down to properly bury the fallen soldiers and properly place the injured soldiers. The family compensation must be generous and delivered in time to comfort the heroic spirits."

General Zhang accepted the order with a choked voice, "I will obey your order and will not fail your trust."

At this time, a guard came running over and knelt on one knee to report: "Your Majesty, Lieutenant General Li has returned with the light cavalry and requests to see Your Majesty."

Zhu Han nodded and said, "Send Deputy General Li here immediately."

Soon, Lieutenant General Li, covered in dust but with an unusually bright look in his eyes, strode into the tent. He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and said, "I, Lieutenant General Li, have fulfilled my mission and have successfully disrupted the enemy's rear and assisted General Zhang in defeating the enemy."

Zhu Han stood up, personally helped Lieutenant General Li up, patted him on the shoulder, and praised: "Lieutenant General Li, you are both wise and brave, and you have made great contributions in this battle. Tell me, how did you do it?"

Lieutenant General Li stood up, his eyes sparkling with pride. "I led the light cavalry to go around the rear of the enemy, using the cover of night to quietly approach their camp. When the enemy was in chaos, I gave an order and all the soldiers fired arrows at the same time, causing the enemy to be thrown into disarray. General Zhang took the opportunity to lead his troops to attack, and the enemy could not take care of both ends, so our army won a great victory."

After hearing this, Zhu Han smiled with satisfaction: "Great! This battle not only demonstrates the bravery of our soldiers, but also reflects our army's wisdom and unity. Pass the order down, reward the entire army, rest for a day, and continue to strengthen defense tomorrow to prevent the enemy from counterattacking."

General Zhang and Lieutenant General Li agreed in unison and turned to pass on the order. Zhu Han suddenly stopped them and said, "Wait a minute, there is one more thing to discuss. Zhu Di has already secretly contacted the border tribes, and this matter cannot be underestimated. We must strengthen communication with other tribes to ensure that they are not used by Zhu Di." (End of this chapter)