Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

In the heart of the capital, in the Huangji Palace, the atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it. The air was filled with an extremely oppressive silence, as if even breathing had become cautious. The sun shone in from the towering window lattices, but it could not dispel the gloom in the palace. The interweaving of light and shadow added a bit of solemnity.

"Your Majesty, I am late in coming to your rescue. Please punish me severely!" Under the indifferent or prying eyes of a group of officials, Ji Liao Governor Ji Zisheng, wearing heavy armor, took heavy steps and slowly knelt on the ground. His face was full of sincerity and anxiety, and his eyes flashed with complex emotions - both self-blame for the delay and anxiety about the future. In fact, he knew better than anyone that the hesitation and hesitation along the way were not a good sign, especially in this turbulent time.

On March 6, the emperor issued an urgent decree, ordering him and Wu Sangui to abandon Ningyuan and rush to Beijing to protect the emperor. However, he did not arrive at Shanhaiguan until March 16, and then he dragged his feet, spending a full ten days, until he finally arrived at the gates of Beijing on the 26th. It only takes five or six days to get from Shanhaiguan to Beijing, but he actually took ten days! In the court, everyone knew that this man was trying to protect his own strength and was unwilling to fight for his old capital in this chaotic world.

Ji Zisheng knew that he could not argue about this matter, so he simply admitted his guilt. While he bowed his head and admitted his fault, he secretly glanced at his colleagues around him with the corner of his eyes, hoping that one of his colleagues would be willing to lend a hand and help him. However, after seeing this, his heart sank - the officials who were brothers on weekdays were like strangers at this moment, and the "friends" who could be counted on ten fingers were nowhere to be seen. Where is the chief minister of the cabinet, Tang Xingjia? He muttered to himself, why is there no trace of him? If Lord Tang is willing to speak up, maybe there will be a turnaround in this matter.

Tang Xingjia was not reliable, so Ji Zisheng turned his attention to Zhang Jinyan, the Minister of War, who was his old friend. The Ministry of War held a very important position in the court. However, he searched everywhere but could not find Zhang Jinyan. He felt very disappointed, as if he had eaten coptis root.

At this time, bad news came one after another like a string of cannonballs. Zeng Yinglin and Chen Mingxia, the military officials, as well as several officials from the household and personnel departments, stood up, knelt on the ground, and unanimously demanded that he be impeached.

"Your Majesty, Ji Zisheng delayed military affairs, ignored the king's orders, and led troops into the city without authorization. He is suspected of treason!" Zeng Yinglin spoke sharply, and each charge stabbed Ji Zisheng like a sword. Chen Mingxia and others followed closely behind. For a time, Ji Zisheng became the target of public criticism, as if all the spearheads were pointed at him.

Ji Zisheng was so scared that he was sweating and regretting it. If he had known earlier, he should not have been so slow. Now, at least one-third of the officials in the court have come out to demand severe punishment for him. He secretly looked up at the emperor, only to see that the emperor's face was livid, and his eyes were flashing with an elusive light.

The emperor sat on the high dragon throne, but in his heart he was calculating the thoughts of these villains. Zeng Yinglin, Chen Mingxia, Fang Kezhuang, Zhang Xin and others were all very troublesome, and they were demoted faster than turning the pages of a book. The emperor was secretly proud of himself. He was worried that he could not find a scapegoat, and these people came to him on their own.

However, the emperor was pleased that several ministers in the cabinet were quite sensible. They neither joined the commotion to impeach Ji Zisheng nor pleaded for him. Especially the old minister Li Banghua, who was nearly 70 years old, but still sat there in high spirits, as calm as a mountain. The emperor specifically asked him: "Old Minister Li, what do you think?"

Li Banghua looked around and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the most important thing now is to deal with the bandits. As for Ji Senior's matter, it will not be too late to discuss it after the bandits retreat." His voice was not loud, but it revealed an unquestionable power.

The emperor nodded and deliberately raised his voice and said, "Other people in the cabinet, please tell me what you think." This move was extremely brilliant. It not only made Ji Zisheng see the severity of the situation, but also made him understand that his position in the court was actually quite stable.

After a heated debate and weighing the pros and cons, the emperor finally made the decision: "Let's do as the cabinet wishes! Ji Senior, you should step down and have a good rest, and prepare for tomorrow's battle!"

When Ji Zisheng heard this, tears almost fell from his eyes and he quickly thanked the emperor. He knew that the emperor was giving him a chance to atone for his sins. As long as he could kill a few more bandits, he could use his military merits to offset his previous mistakes.

"Ji Zisheng!" The emperor suddenly called him, with a hint of warning in his voice, "How many soldiers did you bring this time?"

"Your Majesty, I led a total of 6,000 cavalrymen, but lost more than 400 people when breaking through the bandits' camp. Now there are 5,600 people left, all of them are Guan Ning's elite!" Ji Zishen replied quickly, with an imperceptible tremor in his voice.

"Okay! You should have a good rest today. A fierce battle will be waiting for you tomorrow!" the emperor ordered, his tone revealing unquestionable majesty.

"I obey your order!" Ji Zisheng kowtowed heavily and then retreated. He was extremely excited and wanted to prove himself on the battlefield more than ever! He knew that as long as the bandits continued to attack the city, he would still have a chance to make merit and atone for his sins!
After the court session, the emperor left the cabinet members to talk to Ji Zisheng alone, apparently to discuss how to deal with the bandits outside. Ji Zisheng also understood a truth: in this chaotic world, if you want to gain a foothold, you must have strength! As long as the bandits are still attacking the city, he still has a chance to prove himself and a chance to save everything! He secretly made up his mind that he must try his best tomorrow and use practical actions to prove his loyalty and courage!
Above Diaoyutai, the wind blew gently, bringing a hint of early autumn coolness. Li Zicheng and Jing Changhao were standing on a high place, looking into the distance, counting the number of soldiers and horses from each unit. Li Zicheng's expression was serious, his brows were furrowed, as if the heavy burden on his shoulders made him unable to let go. Jing Changhao reported in detail one by one, his voice steady and powerful: "Your Majesty, Xiyao's 20,000 elite troops are stationed in the Tongzhou area. After the battle with Jiang Taiwei, they only lost a few hundred people and their morale is high. Although most of Fangliang's 30,000 troops were lost, he personally led 5,000 people to collect grain, and the rest were under my command; I now have 25,000 troops under my command, and Ning Weize, Zongdi (Yan Tianlu), and Zhang Nai's troops each have 15,000 troops, all of whom are brave and good at fighting."

After listening, Li Zicheng nodded, his eyes revealing deep thought. The total strength of the Shun army is close to 100,000. Not counting Sang Dongxu's 25,000 men, there are now 70,000 soldiers that can be mobilized. There are really many soldiers and generals! However, not all of these 70,000 people are elite. If they were all elite, Beijing would have been captured by us long ago. He sighed in his heart, his eyes swept across the generals in the audience, each with a different expression, some firm, some worried, but more looking forward to the future.

"How many civilians are there left in the camp?" Li Zicheng asked, with a barely perceptible hint of worry in his voice.

"Your Majesty, there are approximately 30,000 civilians in the camp," Jing Changhao replied with a hint of heaviness in his voice.

"30,000?" Li Zicheng was surprised and frowned even more. Before the siege, the total number of civilians was at least 70,000 or 80,000. How could so many be lost? He couldn't help but feel angry, but was quickly suppressed by reason.

"Your Majesty, we have been attacking the city continuously, resulting in a loss of 30,000 people, and another 10,000 civilians have escaped." Jing Changhao explained with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Li Zicheng sneered and did not take the news seriously. Just a peasant, even if he died, it was not worth worrying about. He swept his eyes over the generals in the audience, trying to find some answers from their faces.

"In addition..." Jing Changhao paused for a moment and continued, "More than 4,000 Ming army surrendered soldiers escaped. If they hadn't escaped, we would have even more troops!"

Li Zicheng's face flashed with an indifferent expression, but it was soon replaced by worry. This is not good news. Four thousand people fled, which is a signal. If the attack fails for a long time, more and more people will flee. He secretly calculated in his heart, and his eyes revealed a kind of determination.

Advisor Li Yan frowned, pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I request that all of General Sang Dongxu's troops be summoned to deal with Ji's senior Guanning Army." There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and he was obviously worried about the current situation.

The Guanning Army was a frontier army built with a lot of money by the Ming Dynasty. It was famous and Li Yan had to pay attention to it. He swept his eyes over the generals on the stage, trying to find some supportive voices.

Li Zicheng remained silent and looked at the others. Military Advisor Cheng Minghe, Zuo Fu Nangong Shangpu, and all the generals were thinking deeply about this question. No matter what conflicts they had, facing this critical issue, everyone temporarily put them aside. This was a matter of life and death, so there was no need for internal fighting. In the military camp under Diaoyutai, flags were flying and soldiers were ready to go, but everyone's heart was full of uncertainty.

Jing Changhao looked at the others, shook his head and said, "Mr. Li, I don't think it's necessary!" There was a hint of firmness in his voice, and he was obviously confident in his judgment. "First of all, Tongzhou is the eastern gate of Beijing. Sang Dongxu's 20,000 elite troops can not only prevent Lin Xiaofeng from escaping, but also contain Wu Sangui's Guanning Army and Jiang Taiwei's Shandong soldiers. Secondly, Ji Zisheng has only 6,000 soldiers and our army has 100,000! How can he fight us? Moreover, in addition to Sang Dongxu's more than 20,000 people, our army still has more than 40,000 elite troops, while the Ming court can mobilize only 40,000 to 50,000 troops in total. So I think it's not necessary!"

Li Yan frowned and shook his head again: "No, no! Although the Ming court can only mobilize 40,000 to 50,000 troops, if they concentrate all their efforts on a decisive battle with our army, our army may not win." There was a hint of anxiety in his voice, and he was obviously worried about the current situation.

Li Zicheng stood up dissatisfied and asked, "Mr. Li, what do you mean by that?" Li Zicheng was very dissatisfied with Li Yan's words that would boost the enemy's morale and destroy his own prestige. Since the Northern Expedition, he had already destroyed eight of the Ming army's nine frontier armies and did not think the Ming army was that powerful. His eyes revealed a kind of anger, as if he could not tolerate Li Yan's remarks.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Li Yan coughed several times, with a hint of fatigue in his voice. "Your Majesty, our army now has 60,000 elite troops, 20,000 of whom are stationed in Tongzhou, and the remaining 40,000 are stationed near Diaoyutai. If the Ming court sends elite troops to raid our army from the east, our army will inevitably be in chaos! By then, we will be defeated like a landslide, and even if we have a million troops, it will be in vain!" There was a hint of urgency in his voice, and he obviously wanted to persuade Li Zicheng to change his mind.

"Mr. Li, you are wrong!" Nangong Shangpu smiled indifferently, with a hint of disdain in his voice, "Although our army has lost contact with the spies in the city, according to previous information, there are very few people available in the Ming court! The three major camps are all old, weak and sick. They can defend the city, but not in the field. The Jinyiwei, Dongchang, Wucheng Bingmasi, and Yongweiying have only more than 10,000 people in total. Counting Tang Shengyu and Ji Zishen's troops, there are only 20,000 at most who can fight in the field! There is nothing to be afraid of. If they dare to fight in the field, our army will take the opportunity to rush into the city." There was a hint of confidence in his voice, and he was obviously confident in his judgment.

"Well, I think Niu Zuofu is right!" Military advisor Cheng Minghe immediately echoed, with a hint of approval in his voice.

Other generals also analyzed the situation and supported Nangong Shangpu's point of view. Their voices rose one after another, full of desire for victory and expectations for the future.

Li Yan smiled bitterly and stopped talking. People with different ideals cannot work together! Before the Northern Expedition, he had advised Li Zicheng to imitate Zhu Yuanzhang's strategy of building high walls and storing grain. The Ming court occupied the Central Plains and the south, the Jiannu (Later Jin) in the north and Liaodong, and Zhang Xianzhong in the southwest. At this time, we should recuperate and preserve our strength, and let the Ming court and the Jiannu fight each other. When both of them are defeated, the Shun army will march north again and take the world into its pocket. However, Li Zicheng and his brothers were short-sighted and chose to march north at this time. Now Beijing has been under siege for a long time, and the Ming army's army to defend the king is about to arrive. It is impossible to attack and it is impossible to retreat. It is really a dilemma. His eyes revealed a kind of helplessness and worry, as if he felt that he had no control over the future situation.

Seeing that no one agreed with his point of view, Li Yan simply said: "Your Majesty, since all the generals do not agree with my point of view, please give me an army and I am willing to go to prepare food and fodder." There was a hint of firmness in his voice, and it was obvious that he had made a decision.

"Mr. Li, don't be angry. The generals are just discussing the matter at hand..." Li Zicheng advised, with a hint of soothing in his voice.

"Your Majesty, I am not angry. I just want to prepare food and fodder." Li Yan said with a hint of sincerity in his voice.

Seeing that Li Yan was determined, Li Zicheng had no choice but to nod and agree: "Then I will give you three thousand soldiers to transport grain, how about it?" There was a hint of inquiry in his voice, obviously wanting to seek Li Yan's opinion.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Yan received the order and left alone. His figure looked particularly lonely and determined in the afterglow of the setting sun.

After Li Yan walked away, Nangong Shangpu said unhappily: "Your Majesty, Mr. Li's control over the battlefield situation is obviously not as good as before." There was a hint of dissatisfaction and worry in his voice.

"Yeah, it's a pity that a strategist doesn't plan things." Cheng Minghe echoed, with a hint of regret in his voice.

Li Zicheng waved his hand to signal not to continue the topic. After all, Li Yan was a counselor of Dashun. Even if he was not as good as before, he had made great contributions in the past. His eyes revealed a complex emotion, both helplessness towards Li Yan and worry about the future.

"We will continue the siege tomorrow! But Mr. Li's words also make sense, so I will make some changes in the deployment of troops." Li Zicheng said, with a hint of determination in his voice. He swept his eyes across the generals in the audience, trying to find some confidence and support from their faces.

All the generals stood up upon hearing this, their eyes revealing a kind of firmness and determination. They knew that tomorrow's siege would be a tough battle, but they also believed that as long as they worked together, they would be able to capture the city.

"Zongmin, Ning Weize, you lead your 30,000 infantrymen and 20,000 civilian laborers to continue attacking Xizhimen, Fuchengmen, and Xibianmen early tomorrow morning." Li Zicheng ordered with a hint of majesty in his voice.

"I obey your order!" "I obey your order!" After receiving the order, the two returned to their original positions, their eyes revealing a kind of firmness and determination. They knew that this was their responsibility and their honor.

"Zongdi, you lead the cavalry under Zongmin and Ning Weize and your own troops to garrison outside Chaoyang Gate to prevent the Ming army from leaving the city for a surprise attack." Li Zicheng ordered again, with a hint of calmness in his voice.

"I accept your order!" After receiving the order, the two returned to their original positions, their eyes revealing a kind of vigilance and determination. They knew that this was their task and their mission.

"All soldiers under Zhang Nai must be on their horses and ready for battle. If Zongmin's troops attack the city, you will charge in; if the Ming army attacks from outside the city, you will be responsible for supporting Zongdi." Li Zicheng said at last, with a hint of determination in his voice. He swept his eyes over the generals in the audience, trying to find some confidence and support from their faces. He knew that this was a battle of life and death, and everyone had to go all out.

"I accept your order!" Zhang Nai returned to his original position after receiving the order, his eyes revealing a kind of firmness and determination. He knew that this was his responsibility and his honor. He would lead his troops and contribute his strength to this battle.

The dawn was just beginning to appear, and the sky was slightly pale. The morning light was like a fine veil, gently covering the sleeping earth. Emperor Zicheng was still in a dream, but his sleep was not peaceful. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if even his dreams were not peaceful. Outside the tent, the cold wind gently swayed the camp flags, making a rustling sound, which formed a subtle contrast with this quiet morning.

Suddenly, Jing Changhao's anxious voice came from outside the tent: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! There is an emergency!" There was a bit of urgency and anxiety in his voice. The eunuch serving beside the emperor was pale and clenched his hands. He was afraid that he would not be able to stop it in time, and he was also worried about disturbing the emperor. He knelt on the ground, kowtowed and begged: "General Liu, please have mercy. Your Majesty slept late last night. If you wake up now, my life will be in danger." There was a cry in his voice, and his eyes were full of fear and helplessness.

"Commander-in-chief, please be patient!" Before the eunuch finished speaking, Jing Changhao was already furious and slapped the eunuch in the face. However, this blow was only a moment. After all, the emperor was here, and even if the military situation was urgent, he did not dare to abuse punishment beside His Majesty. Jing Changhao's face was full of anxiety and worry, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were full of red bloodshot, obviously he had not slept all night.

Emperor Zicheng slowly woke up and asked sleepily, "Who is making noise outside?" His voice was still a little hoarse from just waking up. The young eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, it's your servant Chang Hao." "Oh, it's Zongmin? Come in!" After saying that, Emperor Zicheng had already stood up and was ready to go. His eyes instantly became sharp, like a lion that had just woken up from a deep sleep.

Jing Changhao rushed into the tent, knelt on the ground, clasped his hands together, and reported: "Your Majesty, something is wrong. The Ming army has assembled outside the city." His voice was heavy and urgent. Emperor Zicheng was stunned when he heard this, then put on his armor, picked up his weapons, and ordered his followers to get ready as he walked. He had an ominous premonition in his heart. After days of hard fighting, the Ming army was already exhausted from defending the city. How dare they go out of the city to form a battle array? There must be a trick!
Emperor Zicheng led his generals to the top of the hill and looked through a telescope. Sure enough, they saw the Ming army gathered outside Xizhimen, Fuchengmen, Xibianmen, and Guang'anmen. They were wearing bright armor and had excellent weapons. It was obviously a regular army. Their flags fluttered in the wind, as if announcing their determination and courage to the enemy.

Emperor Zicheng asked his generals for countermeasures. Nangong Shangpu squinted his eyes and examined them, and said, "Your Majesty, the Ming army intends to fight us head-on. Judging from their posture, there are about 20,000 of them, all infantry, with no cavalry. They have set up barricades, deer horns, and chariots in front of them, and intend to use infantry to hold out against us. When our army is exhausted, their cavalry will suddenly rush in, and then our army will be in danger." There was a hint of calmness and analysis in his voice.

Emperor Zicheng nodded and asked for a plan. Nangong Shangpu said, "Yesterday's strategy can still be used." But Jing Changhao objected, "It's not appropriate. Yesterday's plan was to let the peasant army take the lead. Now that the Ming army has left the city, how can the peasant army be capable of such a task? I'm afraid that if they are defeated, the whole army will be affected." There was a bit of anxiety and worry in his voice. Emperor Zicheng agreed with him. He understood that this battle was a matter of life and death, and there could be no carelessness or negligence.

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Zicheng ordered: "Send an order, command 10,000 civilians to continue attacking the city, and the rest to return to the camp to rest. Transfer 5,000 elite troops from Zongdi to assist Zongmin in attacking Fucheng Gate. The rest of the troops must guard the gates strictly, and report any changes immediately!" There was firmness and decisiveness in his voice.

"As ordered!" The herald galloped away, his figure casting a long shadow in the morning light. As soon as the siege order was issued, tens of thousands of troops marched towards the west wall. The civilians walked in the front, their faces ashen, their eyes full of fear and despair, and the soldiers supervised them with swords; behind them were the infantry of the Shun army, their steps firm, their eyes flashing with the light of battle; behind them were the elite troops, their armor gleaming in the sun; and the cavalry lined up in the back, with bright armor and flags flying, waiting for the opportunity.

The Ming army at the foot of the city was a little panicked when they first saw the enemy approaching, but with the sudden sound of artillery fire, they calmed down a little. The Ming army's artillery fire roared, and the casualties of the Shun army gradually increased, but they were not to be outdone and fought back with artillery fire. The artillery fire of both sides intertwined, the smoke was filled, the flames shot up into the sky, and the casualties were heavy. The air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and blood, which was suffocating.

When the front armies clashed, the Ming army used a three-stage attack method, firing rapidly like rain; the Shun army used bird guns and bows to resist, with arrows flying everywhere, covering the sky and the sun. When the two armies met in close combat, the sound of golden swords and iron horses was endless, and the battle robes were stained with blood. The battle was extremely tragic. The battlefield was filled with roars, screams, and the sound of metal colliding, as if it was a tragic symphony.

Some people in the Shun army fought with hammers, and with one blow, they could dent the helmets of the Ming army and burst their brains. Their figures on the battlefield were like the god of death, invincible. However, the battle was stalemate, and both sides fought one after another without slacking off. Their eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if they were interpreting the cruelty and ruthlessness of war with their lives.

The grenades of the Ming army kept exploding, and the casualties of the Shun army were heavy. However, their morale was not frustrated, and they continued to fight the enemy. Their figures shuttled through the smoke and fire, like brave cheetahs, rushing towards the enemy without fear of life and death. While the fierce battle was in full swing in the west, Lin Xiaofeng was preparing his troops at Chaoyang Gate in the east. He was wearing armor, holding a long sword, standing on a high platform, and encouraged the soldiers loudly: "This battle will determine our life and death! If we win, we will be famous in history; if we fail, the city will be destroyed and people will die! Behind you is me, the Ming Dynasty, the lights of thousands of homes, and the people of the world! We must win this battle!" There was a bit of excitement and determination in his voice, as if he was conveying infinite power and faith to the soldiers.

After saying this, he pointed his sword towards the outside of the city and shouted, "Rise up and attack the bandits!" His voice was like thunder, resounding through the sky. As the rumbling sound rang out, the gate of Chaoyang Gate slowly rose. The iron cavalry of the Ming army poured out of the city gate like a tide, shouting, "Rise up and attack the bandits! The Ming army will win!" Their figures shone brightly in the sun, as if they were an invincible iron army.

"General, the Ming army has left the city!" The scout cavalryman was dusty and anxious to report to General Yan Tianlu. The sunlight shining on his dusty face made him look particularly vivid.

Yan Tianlu looked calm and steady, standing firm like a mountain. He quickly deployed his troops and prepared for battle, while hurriedly sending messengers to inform Li Zicheng. His eyes were deep, as if he could see through everything, but they also hid unknown worries.

From afar, the flags of the Ming army fluttered in the wind, and a large "king" character was clearly visible, like the emblem of the god of war, which made people feel awe. Yan Tianlu drew his sword and shouted: "That is the senior Guanning elite force of Ji. Xie Junyou, you lead 10,000 cavalry to fight them!" His voice was like thunder, full of unquestionable majesty.

"I obey your orders!" General Guoyi Junyou was a burly man with a resolute face. He was about to take action when he suddenly heard Yan Tianlu shout, "Wait!"

Jun You was stunned, and he pulled the reins, waiting for further orders. There was a hint of doubt in his eyes, but more of it was trust and awe for Yan Tianlu.

"There's a problem with the number of people!" Yan Tianlu held the telescope, muttering to himself, frowning, as if he was thinking about some important issue.

"Is there a problem with the number of people?" Jun You asked in confusion, his eyes full of confusion and curiosity.

"Yes! When Ji Zisheng entered the city yesterday, there were only more than 6,000 people. Now, judging by their momentum, they have exceeded 10,000!" Yan Tianlu's tone revealed an indescribable solemnity. After speaking, he handed the telescope to Junyou.

Junyou took the telescope and took a closer look. He was also shocked. His eyes were full of shock and disbelief, as if he had seen something unbelievable.

The Ming army assembled more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, almost 20,000! Their flags fluttered, their weapons shone, like a sea of ​​steel, which made people feel terrified.

"General Yuan, what should we do?" someone asked anxiously, his voice full of tension and uneasiness.

Yan Tianlu was hesitant. He had a total of 25,000 soldiers and horses. Although the number was not inferior to that of the Ming army, he knew that the Ming army's combat effectiveness was extraordinary. If time could go back, he would not take such a Ming army seriously. However, in just one night, the might of the Ming army made him look at it with new eyes.

He especially remembered the five hundred infantrymen, who were as solid as a rock and unshakable. Their armor shone coldly in the sun, as if they were invincible gods of war. More than a thousand Ming Dynasty troops were able to disrupt the formation of tens of thousands of Shun troops! Such combat power made him feel an unprecedented pressure.

"Where is the messenger?" Yan Tianlu asked loudly, his voice revealing anxiety and urgency.

"Here." The messenger responded. He had a slender figure and a determined look on his face.

"Hurry up and report to the central army that the 20,000 troops of the Ming Dynasty have left the city from Chaoyang Gate and Dongzhi Gate. Your Majesty, please send reinforcements quickly!" Yan Tianlu's order was like thunder, full of unquestionable majesty.

After the messenger left, Yan Tianlu ordered: "Generals Xie Junyou, Ma Chongxi, and Ma Shiyao, each of you will lead 5,000 cavalry and wait for the opportunity to move. The infantry will follow me to form a formation and defend the camp. There must not be any slackness!" There was a firmness and courage in his voice, as if he was ready for a fight to the death.

At the command, 25,000 people moved quickly, like rabbits running away. They were agile and moved quickly, like an unstoppable torrent.

Ten thousand infantrymen retreated to the camp and set up defensive fortifications such as chevaux de frise and antlers to prevent the Ming cavalry from attacking the camp. Their movements were skillful and powerful, as if they were precision war machines. Then, the artillery of each camp was pushed out. Although these artillery were useless for attacking the city, they were more than enough for defense. The gun barrels were black and heavy, as if they contained infinite power.

Led by three generals, 15,000 cavalry retreated to the rear of the stronghold, ready to attack the Ming army. Their bodies were as agile as dragons, and their eyes revealed a wildness and unruliness. The weapons in their hands shone with cold light, as if they could not wait to fight the enemy.

Yan Tianlu had just finished deploying his troops when the Ming army was ready to go. Their flags fluttered in the wind, their swords were unsheathed, and their bows and crossbows were strung. Their eyes revealed a kind of firmness and courage, as if they were ready for a fight to the death.

Yan Tianlu observed the flags. The southernmost one was the Tang flag. The flag fluttered in the wind like a flying cloud. "Tang? Could it be Tang Shengyu?" He speculated in his heart. After Tang Shengyu was defeated in Juyongguan, he still had 7,000 soldiers. This time he left the city, he must have rested for a while. Their fighting power should not be underestimated.

Next to the Tang character flags were the experienced Guanning Army of Ji. Their neat appearance and bright armor made people dare not look directly at them. Their eyes revealed a kind of arrogance and majesty, as if they were accustomed to victory and glory.

"The elite army of the Ming Dynasty is indeed worthy of its reputation!" Yan Tianlu exclaimed. His eyes were full of admiration and fear, as if he saw an opponent that he could not reach.

However... the troops under Ji Zisheng's command seemed too numerous? Yan Tianlu roughly counted them and found that Ji Zisheng's army was no less than 10,000 people! Such a force made him feel an unprecedented pressure.

Next to the Wang flag, there was another army without flags. There were about three to four thousand people, and it looked like a temporary army. Their equipment was uneven, but their eyes revealed a kind of firmness and courage. They might not be the most elite army, but they were the bravest warriors.

Before Yan Tianlu could take a closer look, the Guanning Army had already started to move. A thousand cavalrymen rushed out first, like a storm, and rushed straight to the camp of the Shun Army. Their bodies were as agile as dragons, and the weapons in their hands shone with cold light. The rest of the army followed slowly, like a sea of ​​steel.

Yan Tianlu remained calm, standing behind the artillery with a sneer on his face. His eyes revealed a kind of confidence and calmness, as if he had seen through the enemy's strategy.

"It was a mistake for the Ming generals to let the cavalry charge the battle formation!" he thought to himself. The advantage of the cavalry was their mobility. Guerrilla warfare and pursuit were their strengths, but charging the battle formation was not what they were good at. He seemed to have seen the enemy's defeat.

"Fire!" Yan Tianlu saw Guan Ning's cavalry enter the range and immediately ordered the artillery to fire. His voice was like thunder, full of unquestionable majesty.

However, at the moment when the gunners fired, Guan Ning's cavalry suddenly turned their horses, and the thousand cavalry instantly split into several teams, galloping in the north and south directions. Their movements were swift and orderly, like a series of sophisticated war machines.

Their timing was very precise, and most of the Shun army's artillery fire missed. Only a few cannons fired a hundred bullets in a row, killing more than a dozen Ming soldiers. Their figures drew a graceful arc in the air, then fell heavily to the ground and never got up again.

"What a pity!" Yan Tianlu slapped his thigh and sighed. He had not expected the Ming army to have such a clever strategy to avoid their artillery fire so cleverly. His eyes were full of regret and unwillingness, as if he had seen his own irreparable mistake.

However, the Ming army did not give them a chance to breathe. A thousand cavalrymen broke into small groups and then into a whole, charging straight at the artillery positions. Their bodies were as agile as dragons, and the weapons in their hands shone with cold light. Whoosh! A rain of arrows and bullets came like an overwhelming force. The Shun army's artillery soldiers had no armor to protect them, and suffered heavy casualties. Their bodies drew a graceful arc in the air, and then fell heavily to the ground, staining the ground red with blood.

Although the infantry fought back, the cavalry was too fast and only lost a few dozen people before they swept through the position. Their figures were like ghosts, making it impossible to predict.

Just as the artillery positions were cleared, the Ming cavalry came back again. This time they did not use arrows, but grenades. Boom! Explosions rang out one after another, and the Shun army's camp was shrouded in smoke. The flames shot up into the sky, and the smoke filled the air, as if it was a scene of hell.

"How could the artillery of the Ming Dynasty army shoot so far?" someone exclaimed. His voice was full of shock and disbelief, as if he had seen something incredible.

"It's not artillery, it's grenades! We've already tasted its bitterness when we attacked the city a few days ago, and today we've suffered the same fate again!" Another person answered. His eyes were full of fear and despair, as if he had seen his inescapable fate.

"Poisonous smoke is everywhere, I can't breathe!" someone else shouted. His voice was full of pain and struggle, as if he was experiencing unspeakable torture.

The Shun army was thrown into chaos by the grenade attack. Their formation was broken and their morale was low. They ran around in panic like a group of headless flies. Although they had heard of the name of grenades, the grenades used by the Ming army in the past were large and heavy. If they were not extremely strong, they could not throw them far. So they did not expect the cavalry to use this weapon.

In fact, this is a small grenade used by the Ming army. With the help of horsepower, the cavalry can easily throw the grenade 20 to 30 meters or even farther. Such a weapon caught the Shun army off guard and unable to resist.

The elite troops of Shun army quickly calmed down under the command of their generals. They raised their weapons and faced each other, waiting intently. Their eyes revealed a kind of firmness and courage, as if they were ready for a fight to the death.

As the smoke gradually cleared, the Shun army was horrified to find that the Ming infantry had arrived outside the camp under the cover of chariots and began to clear the defensive fortifications such as chevaux de frise and antlers. Their movements were skillful and powerful, like a series of sophisticated war machines.

The Ming Dynasty infantry was divided into teams of 500 men. The front man wore double armor, with a sword on the left and a shield on the right. The spearmen followed behind, while the crossbowmen and firearms soldiers were at the rear. Their formation was neat and uniform, like an unstoppable torrent.

"Heavy infantry is coming!" Someone in the Shun army exclaimed. His voice was filled with fear and despair, as if he had seen his own inescapable fate. The soldiers who had personally experienced the night of the siege were immediately
Seeing the critical situation, Yan Tianlu's brows revealed a resolute look, and he immediately shouted: "Generals, listen to my orders, follow me to fight the national crisis, and kill the enemy to repay the king's kindness!" His voice resounded through the battlefield like thunder. Upon hearing the order, the imperial army immediately stood up with their guns, with fearless flames flashing in their eyes, and bravely rushed towards the Ming army. Although the infantry led by the imperial army were ragged, their morale was high and they never collapsed. They also waved their weapons and charged forward, engaging in a fierce hand-to-hand battle with the Ming army.

The spearmen were the vanguards. Their spears were extremely sharp, flashing coldly in the sun, piercing through the armor and piercing the enemy's body, unstoppable. The swordmen who followed, although their swords were shining, could not kill the enemy immediately with one blow. Both sides fought hard, using all their strength, skills and blocking opportunities. The armor and shields repeatedly resisted the enemy's attacks in the battle, making a dull sound, like the whisper of death. Then, the two armies fell into a melee. The soldiers collided with each other, one after another, stepping on the corpses, roaring and shaking the earth, with broken heads and limbs, and losing their combat effectiveness in an instant. The screams and the sound of weapons clashing were endless, like a symphony of hell.

The battle is not a simple group fight. The key to killing in the cold weapon war lies in the collapse of the formation. Although the warriors are powerful, they are only individuals after all. The essence of group fighting is to preserve their own strength and weaken the enemy to the greatest extent. On the battlefield, even if 100% of the troops are lost, the formation is not in chaos. That is an elite division. The cold weapon war is not only to kill people, but also to weaken the enemy's momentum, destroy the enemy's formation, and make the enemy fall into confusion and fear.

Yan Tianlu stepped back slightly, trying to calm his mind. He knew very well that once the army collapsed, it would be difficult to recover. The two sides had equal forces, and the key to victory or defeat was morale. As long as this morale was maintained, the Ming army was no match for them. He looked around, looking for a high ground to better observe the battle situation. Surrounded by his personal guards, he climbed a hill and looked at the battle situation of the cavalry. He had 15,000 cavalry under his command. Although he didn't know the exact number of the enemy, he expected that the Ming army would have at most 10,000 cavalry, so he was full of confidence in victory. Moreover, he had sent envoys to Li Zicheng for help, and there were still more than 10,000 people in the central army. Once the reinforcements arrived, the Ming army would undoubtedly be defeated!

He took up his clairvoyance and looked around. He saw cavalrymen from both sides galloping and chasing, with flags fluttering in the wind like colorful waves. He was surprised to find that in addition to the royal flag, there were more than ten large flags embroidered with the word "Wu". Wu? He thought that among the Ming generals, the only one with the surname Wu was Wu Sangui! Could it be that Wu Sangui is here too? Yan Tianlu was shocked beyond words. Shouldn't he be in Yutian? When did he enter the city? Sang Dongxu was guarding Tongzhou, so why didn't he stop him? Why did Wu Sangui appear here? All these questions shrouded his mind like a fog.

Suddenly, he saw a high-flying "Liu" flag in the chaos, attacking Ma Shiyao's cavalry. Liu? Who among the Ming generals was surnamed Liu? Not Liu Zeqing, who was already dead; nor Liu Liangzuo, who was chasing Zhang Xianzhong in Jiangbei. After thinking about it, he suspected that it was the left governor Jiang Taiwei. Wu Sangui could sneak into the capital, and Jiang Taiwei might also sneak in at night. However, with so many troops entering the city, didn't they notice it? If not, this must be a trick of the Ming army!
Yan Tianlu frowned, his eyes revealing determination and resoluteness. Regardless of whether it was a trick or not, he had to ask for help. So he ordered his men to form a formation to resist the enemy, and hurriedly sent an envoy to ask Li Zicheng for help. He knew very well that this battle was about the fate of the country and the safety of the king, and he could not slack off in the slightest.

……

"Report! Your Majesty, General Yan Tianlu is asking for help!" The messenger rode his horse and galloped to Li Zicheng, his voice filled with urgency and anxiety.

"Ask for help?" Li Zicheng observed the battle situation, feeling somewhat unhappy. The Shun army only had 70,000 troops available, of which 35,000 were attacking the city, and Yan Tianlu led 25,000 men to guard Chaoyang Gate. There were only 10,000 troops left in the central army, which was the heart of the army and could not be easily mobilized. He frowned, his eyes revealing hesitation and determination.

"Yes, General Yan said that Wu Sangui and Jiang Taiwei have joined the battle. The enemy is numerous and our troops are insufficient, so it is difficult to hold on!" There was a slight tremor in the messenger's voice. He knew very well the importance of this battle.

"Nonsense!" Li Zicheng drew his sword in anger, the blade flashing coldly in the sun. Wu Sangui was in Yutian and Jiang Taiwei was blocked in Tongzhou. How could they join the war? He was full of doubts and anger, and was dissatisfied with Yan Tianlu's request for help.

The messenger was terrified and reined in his horse and retreated, "Your Majesty, this was said by General Yan." There was a hint of helplessness and fear in his voice.

"No! Tell him that the elite troops are all under his command, and they must hold on and wait for a turning point! Although Zongmin suffered heavy casualties, our offensive is unstoppable and we will be able to capture the city gate by noon!" Li Zicheng's voice resounded through the battlefield like thunder. He firmly believed in his judgment and believed that Yan Tianlu could defend Chaoyang Gate.

The messenger did not dare to slack off and rushed back to report to Yan Tianlu. He knew the importance of this battle and the difficulties Yan Tianlu was facing. He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that Yan Tianlu could hold his position and wait for the arrival of reinforcements.

Yan Tianlu's situation was close to the limit. Without the support of artillery, he could hardly withstand the impact of the Ming army's heavy infantry. All he could rely on was his unyielding morale. He stood on the high ground, looking at the battlefield, his eyes revealing firmness and determination. He knew that this battle was about the fate of the country and the safety of the king, and he could not slack off in the slightest.

The same situation was also faced by the cavalry. Although they were numerous, the Ming army's firearms were fierce, with bows and crossbows firing from a distance and grenades injuring people and horses. The horses had no armor, and every explosion would cause the horses to panic and scatter, greatly reducing their combat effectiveness. However, Yan Tianlu did not give up. He still firmly commanded the cavalry to charge and fight a desperate battle with the Ming army.

The situation changed rapidly. When the cavalry was besieging the Ming cavalry, the infantry camp suddenly received news that it had been breached. Tang Shengyu led 5,000 elite soldiers, broke through the defense line of the Shun army, and rushed into the camp. They divided their troops into two groups to set fire, kill and plunder, and the Shun army was immediately in chaos. Yan Tianlu was able to control the situation at first, and he killed the deserters to stabilize the morale of the army. However, the people and civilians who were driven here had no loyalty. They only wanted to survive, but rushed to the opposite direction of the Ming army and fled. This made the chaos of the Shun army even worse, and the morale was also seriously affected.

Yan Tianlu knew that this battle had reached a critical moment of life and death. He had to do everything he could to defend Chaoyang Gate and wait for the arrival of reinforcements. He gritted his teeth, with a determined flame flashing in his eyes, and continued to command the soldiers to fight bravely. He knew that only by persisting could he win the hope of victory. (End of this chapter)