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

Duoduo blinked, his eyes were sharp, and he turned to look at Aobai and Tulai, his eyes were both questioning and unquestionable. He asked, "What do you two think?" Aobai and Tulai were like parrots, repeating their previous words with a barely perceptible tremor in their voices: "We will listen to the Tenth Prince in everything." Duoduo listened, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, an expression mixed with helplessness and determination, but soon, his face returned to calm, like the surface of a lake in late autumn, without ripples.

He thought, forget it, let Haoge take the responsibility alone, and stop dragging down the brothers of the Plain Yellow Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner. Duoduo's thoughts were like the wind on the grassland, sometimes wild, sometimes calm. He pondered for a while, then raised his head, his eyes flashing with determination: "Okay, we are good at field battles, and siege is not our strong point. Xuanfu City is as solid as a rock, we have to attack from two directions, this is the best strategy!" When everyone heard this, they all thought it was a good idea, so Duoduo gave the order, and his voice echoed in the tent with irresistible power.

"It's raining heavily today, and the roads are muddy. We can't capture Xuanfu City in a short time. Let's rest for two days and then split into two groups." Duoduo's words revealed his accurate judgment of the battlefield environment. "Aobai, you take your people, and I will give you another 6,000 elite soldiers to continue besieging Xuanfu. The rest of you come with me to Bao'an Prefecture, and we will go there to capture the city first!"

"Yes, sir!" everyone answered in unison, their voices full of trust and awe for Duoduo.

However, at this critical moment, a sudden piece of news broke the tranquility in the tent.

"Report!" A scout, soaking wet, rushed into the tent without even having time to remove the arrows. His face was full of anxiety, "Tenth Prince, it's bad! There are Ming soldiers pretending to be the Plain White Banner, attacking our scouts in Longmenwei, Bao'an Prefecture, and Chang'an!"

"What did you say?" Duoduo stood up suddenly, his eyes as sharp as a knife, "Say it again!"

"Those Ming troops pretending to be the Plain White Banner attacked our scouts in the south of Bao'an Prefecture, Chang'an Prefecture, and Longmenwei..." The scout's voice trembled slightly due to nervousness.

"Is the news accurate?" Duoduo's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"It's absolutely true! They first pretended to approach us in a friendly manner, and then suddenly attacked us. They retreated after one strike, leaving no trace. It must have been done by the Ming army!" The scout's words were full of affirmation.

Duoduo was not worried about the safety of the scouts, but the appearance of the Ming cavalry, which meant that the main force of the Ming army might be nearby and had good combat effectiveness. He had an ominous premonition in his heart, but he remained calm on the surface.

"Who are they? Could they be the Guanning Army?" Duoduo wondered in his mind, but quickly denied this guess, because the Guanning Army was hundreds of miles away in Shanhaiguan, confronting Jirgalang. How could they possibly come here?
"Could it be Ji Zisheng from Jizhou?" Another question popped up in Duoduo's mind, and his brows were tightly furrowed, as if he could lock away all his doubts and uneasiness.

"How many of them are there?" Duoduo's voice was low and powerful.

"I don't know the exact number, but I heard there were at least two to three thousand cavalrymen!" There was a tremor in the scout's voice.

"Quick, beat the drum and call the generals!" Duoduo's order was like thunder, spreading throughout the camp in an instant.

Before the drums sounded completely, an Eight Banners soldier covered in blood stumbled in. His figure looked particularly desolate under the dim light. He fell in front of Duoduo and said, enduring the severe pain: "Tenth...Tenth Prince, this is a secret letter from Prince Rui."

Duoduo's right eye twitched wildly. He quickly leaned over to help the soldier up, his tone filled with anxiety that was difficult to conceal: "How did you get hurt like this?"

The soldier gasped in pain, his voice weak but firm: "I was ordered by Prince Rui to deliver a letter. On the way, I encountered the pseudo-Ming army and was ambushed by them. I am the only one left among the four of us."

"Where is the secret letter?" There was a hint of urgency in Duoduo's voice.

"Here!" The soldier tore open the lining and took out a letter sealed with oil paper. His hands were shaking, but his eyes were extremely firm.

Duoduo opened the letter and saw that Hauge, Tulai and Aobai had also rushed over after hearing the drums. When they asked him about it, their faces all changed. The contents of the letter were like a dark cloud pressing down on one's head, making it hard to breathe.

Haoge asked tentatively: "Uncle Tenth Prince, what did the letter say?" There was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.

"Huang Degong may be coming!" Duoduo's words revealed an indescribable heaviness.

"Huang Degong? Isn't he being held in Miyun by Prince Rui? How could he come back?" Hauge's voice was full of surprise and confusion.

"If you don't believe me, just look for yourself!" Duoduo handed the letter to Haoge. There was both helplessness and determination in his eyes.

The letter was passed to Aobai, and after everyone read it, their eyes were focused on Duoduo again. It was a complex look mixed with anxiety and expectation, as if Duoduo was the pillar of support in their hearts.

"Tenth Prince, what should we do? Should we... divide our troops further?" Tulai asked worriedly. There was a tremor in his voice, and he was obviously thrown off balance by this sudden change.

An ominous premonition loomed in everyone's mind, but the changes in the Ming army were also obvious. In the past, the Ming army had no fighting spirit and was defeated when it encountered a strong enemy. But now? They seemed to have changed into a different person, marching forward bravely, as if the front was not an enemy, but a ground full of gold and silver treasures. This change made Duoduo feel an indescribable worry.

Duoduo frowned, spread out the map, and pointed at several places. His finger slid across the map, like a sharp knife, cutting every inch of land on the battlefield.

"Longmenwei is the main route for us to leave the country, we must not lose it! Tulai, I will give you 5,000 men, go and reinforce Longmenwei immediately to prevent the Ming army from launching a surprise attack and cutting off our retreat." Duoduo's words revealed unquestionable majesty.

"Yes, sir!" Tulai immediately took the order and left. His figure looked particularly firm under the dim light.

In a life-or-death situation, every minute and every second is crucial. Tudor knows this very well, so every order he gives is so decisive and powerful.

"Aobai, you will be the vanguard and lead 5,000 cavalry to Huailai Wei. If you encounter the vanguard of the Ming army, you can engage in battle; but if you encounter the main force, do not fight and retreat immediately." There was a hint of irresistible power in Duoduo's words.

"Yes, sir!" Oboi did not dare to delay and went to check the troops with the command arrow. His figure looked particularly agile in the dim light, like a beast about to pounce on the enemy.

Duoduo stared at the map and continued to think about the loopholes in the countermeasures. There was both anxiety and determination in his eyes, as if he could see every corner of the battlefield on this map. To cut off the Ming army's retreat, there are two key points in Longmenwei. As long as Longmenwei is not lost, our retreat will be safe. Duoduo's heart surged with determination, he must defend Longmenwei and protect the army's retreat.

One strategy was to attack Longmenwei from the north of Huailaiwei via the mountain road; the other strategy was to go from Huailaiwei to Baoanzhou and then attack Longmenwei from the northwest. Duoduo's mind was like a mirror, clearly reflecting every detail of these two strategies.

Therefore, no matter which strategy the Ming army adopted, they would pass through Huailaiwei. Duoduo felt confident that his judgment was correct.

Tulai was sent to reinforce Longmenwei, and Aobai was sent to contain the Ming army in Huailaiwei. Xuanfu was less than a hundred miles away from these two places. According to convention, they would arrive by this evening at the latest. Duoduo was filled with anticipation, and he hoped that his deployment would be able to successfully contain the Ming army.

After the arrangements were completed, no flaws could be seen for the time being. Duoduo felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart, and he believed that his deployment was thorough enough.

"Prince Su!" Duoduo looked at Haoge, his eyes showing both majesty and expectation.

"How dare I disobey the order from Uncle Tenth Prince!" Haoge's voice was full of awe and trust for Duoduo.

"Prince Rui has already noticed Huang Degong's intention. He wants to take advantage of our unpreparedness, cut off our way back and our food supply, and fight a decisive battle with us here." There was an indescribable heaviness in Duoduo's words.

"Then...what should we do?" There was a slight tremor in Hauge's voice, and he was obviously thrown off balance by this sudden change.

Morale is low now, and a direct decisive battle is not the best strategy. Duoduo felt worried, but he knew that he could not show it, otherwise it would affect the morale of the army.

"You are right," Duoduo said calmly, "What I mean is to pretend a decisive battle to attract their main force, and then secretly notify Prince Rui to quickly send troops to cut off the Ming army's retreat route and food supply." Duoduo's words revealed an indescribable cunning and wisdom.

"Just like the Battle of Songshan, as long as the food supply is cut off, the Ming army will fall into chaos." Duoduo's words revealed a firm belief in victory.

"At that time, the Ming army will either choose to fight to the end, or retreat to Juyongguan and reopen the food route." Duoduo's words revealed an accurate judgment of the battlefield situation.

"But both of these roads lead to dead ends!" Duoduo finally smiled, a smile that was a mixture of confidence and cunning. A surge of ambition surged in his heart, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Why do you say that?" Hauge asked puzzledly, his eyes full of admiration and curiosity for Duoduo.

"Since the beginning of our confrontation, we have already dug trenches and laid traps. If the Ming army chooses to fight, they will
On that day, Hauge's face was filled with deep worry, his brows furrowed, like the gloomy sky before a storm. He looked at Duoduo solemnly and said, "Brother, what should we do if our army cannot defeat the Ming army?" His words revealed his deep concern for the unknown war situation.

Duoduo was silent for a while, his weather-beaten face looked unusually calm, his eyes flashing with determination. Seeing this, Haoge continued: "But we are not without a way out. Dushikou outside the pass is still in our hands. We can retreat there when the time comes." There was a hint of helplessness in his words, but it also revealed a glimmer of hope.

"But," Hauge changed the subject, his tone becoming more anxious, "Prince Yu is in trouble. He brought more than 20,000 people with him this time. What if he can't even defeat Huang Degong's gang? What should we do?" His eyes were full of worry, as if he had already seen the tragic battlefield.

Duoduo waved his hand and said with a relaxed look: "Don't worry, Prince Yu's men are all elite cavalry. Even if they can't beat Huang Degong, they can run fast. At worst, we can learn from the seventh year of Chongde and fight and replenish supplies on the Ming Dynasty's territory. When the main force of the Ming Dynasty goes to the Central Plains, we will take the opportunity to slip away from places like Qiangziling, Xifengkou or Qingshanguan." There was a bit of confidence in his tone, as if everything was under control.

"Oh, that's a good idea!" Hauge nodded, his brows relaxed a little. However, the worries in his heart were not completely dissipated, but he was temporarily comforted by Duoduo's words.

In fact, what Hauge was worried about was not Dorgon, but that the elite troops of the Eight Banners would be damaged, which would affect his dream of becoming emperor. He knew very well that in this game of power, military strength was the key to everything.

Duoduo saw through his thoughts and comforted him with a smile: "Prince Su, don't worry. Our Eight Banners Cavalry of the Qing Dynasty is invincible. Even if Huang Degong has an army of 50,000 or 60,000, or even 100,000, we will not be afraid." His tone was full of confidence, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"We will definitely win this battle!" Duoduo said confidently, with a determined light flashing in his eyes, as if he had already foreseen the future victory.

"But," Hauge was still a little worried, "what about Xuanfu Town? We have suffered so many casualties, we can't just go back in disgrace, right?" There was some reluctance and helplessness in his tone.

Duoduo almost couldn't help laughing when he saw Haoge's anxious look. He thought: This guy still wants to be the emperor, so stupid. However, he didn't show it, but said lightly: "Xuanfu Town is dead, it can't run away. When we defeat Huang Degong, Xuanfu Town will naturally be ours." There was a bit of indifference and confidence in his tone, as if everything was under his control.

"Speaking of Huang Degong, this guy is one of the few generals in the Ming Dynasty who is capable of fighting and loyal, and he is also Lin Xiaofeng's confidant." Duoduo continued, "If he can be eliminated, the Ming Dynasty will be on the verge of collapse." There was a fierce light flashing in his eyes, as if he had already seen Huang Degong's defeat.

"What else is there to worry about?" Duoduo asked Haoge, his tone filled with a sense of ease and confidence.

Hauge shook his head, indicating that he had no more. Although he was still a little worried, Duoduo's words made him feel a little relieved. He knew that no matter what, they had to fight with all their might, for the glory of the Qing Dynasty and for their own dreams.

"Okay!" Duoduo's face darkened and became serious, "Someone come here!" There was some majesty and decisiveness in his voice.

"Here!" The messenger outside the tent came in with steady steps and a determined look in his eyes. He knew that this would be a decisive battle, and they would defend the glory of the Qing Dynasty with their lives.

"Pass on my order, the whole army will break camp immediately and march towards Huailaiwei!" Duoduo's voice was full of excitement and courage, as if he had seen the future victory. He knew that this would be a tough battle, but they had to go all out for the glory of the Qing Dynasty and for their own dreams.

……

At the foot of Juyong Pass, Huang Degong looked at the caravan in front of him and was puzzled. The caravan was huge, with countless cattle, horses, and camels, and the materials transported were piled up like mountains. However, he smelled a hint of something unusual from the caravan.

Huang Degong carefully looked at the leaders of the caravan and found that seven of them were officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue whom he knew in the capital. There was only one person he didn't know. The man was wearing a white silk robe and a blue belt. He looked to be in his forties, with a handsome face and a burly figure. He gave people a feeling of being honest and loyal. But Huang Degong was not so easily deceived. He knew from the man's clothes that he had an extraordinary background.

You know, there was a rule in the Ming Dynasty that merchants could not wear silk, but only cotton and linen, and there were also restrictions on the colors. Violating this rule would result in punishment. Huang Degong thought to himself that there must be something fishy going on in this caravan.

He couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, which business are you the owner of?" There was a hint of tentativeness and caution in his tone.

The middle-aged man bowed and replied: "My name is Zhu Hongcai, and I'm the leader of Hengxiang Trading Company." There was a certain calmness and confidence in his voice, as if he was not afraid of Huang Degong's questioning.

"Hengxiang Company? The surname is Zhu?" Huang Degong was even more confused. He knew that there were many merchants with the surname Zhu in the Ming Dynasty, but the Zhu Hongcai in front of him gave him an unusual feeling.

Without waiting for Huang Degong to ask again, Zhu Hongcai continued: "My ancestor Zhu Junwang once made great contributions and was granted by the court to inherit the right to wear silk." There was a bit of pride and honor in his tone, as if he was showing Huang Degong the glorious history of his family.

Huang Degong suddenly realized what was going on. He remembered that during the Wanli period, there was indeed a merchant named Zhu Junwang who risked his life to report the movements of Japanese pirates and Japanese troops to the court many times, and made great contributions. Later, he was specially granted by the court to wear silk. He thought to himself that this Zhu Hongcai might really have some background.

Huang Degong then bowed to Zhu Hongcai and said, "I've heard a lot about you!" There was a bit of politeness and respect in his tone, as if he was greeting an old friend.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Zhu Hongcai also hurriedly returned the greeting. His actions were humble and polite, as if he was not proud or complacent because of his status.

After handing over the supplies, Zhu Hongcai handed Huang Degong another letter: "This is a letter from Lord Li to you." There was a hint of mystery and caution in his tone, as if there was some important secret hidden in the letter.

Huang Degong opened the letter and his face changed slightly. He looked up at Zhu Hongcai and asked, "Are you Li Gelao's man?" His tone was full of surprise and doubt, as if he didn't believe that the man in front of him was Li Gelao's confidant.

"If Lord Huang thinks so, then I am the one." Zhu Hongcai answered flawlessly. There was a certain calmness and confidence in his tone, as if he was not afraid of Huang Degong's questioning.

"Do they know?" Huang Degong pointed at the officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue around him. There was a hint of tentativeness and vigilance in his tone, as if he didn't want these people to know too much.

Zhu Hongcai shook his head: "They don't know that this letter was handed to me by Lord Li himself. They are just officials responsible for escorting the supplies." There was some certainty and determination in his tone, as if he was assuring Huang Degong of the confidentiality of the matter.

Huang Degong nodded: "In that case, I feel relieved. Your caravan will follow my army and unload the goods outside Huailai City." There was a sense of ease and relief in his tone, as if the doubts in his heart had been resolved.

"Yes, sir!" Zhu Hongcai answered respectfully. His tone was firm and resolute, as if he was ready to face all challenges.

Afterwards, Huang Degong led 40,000 troops through Juyongguan and headed straight for Huailaiwei. They knew that this would be a decisive battle and they would defend the glory of the Ming Dynasty with their lives.

Huailaiwei is located 80 miles northwest of Juyongguan Pass, and is the throat of Xuanfu to Juyongguan Pass. At this time, Huailaiwei had abolished the military household system, and the Qianzong Xu Wenpu, who was guarding the city, led a group of ragged, pale and thin soldiers to greet Huang Degong outside the city gate.

Huang Degong looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help thinking in his heart. He knew that this battle would be extremely difficult, but they had to go all out for the glory of the Ming Dynasty and for their own dreams.

"Xu Wenpu, the captain of Huailai Guard, pays his respects to the Earl of Jingnan!" Xu Wenpu knelt on one knee to salute. There was a firmness and courage in his voice, as if he was ready to face all challenges.

Huang Degong looked Xu Wenpu and his soldiers up and down, and had a rough idea in his mind. He asked, "How many defenders are there in Huailaiwei now?" His tone was serious and earnest, as if he was asking about something of vital importance.

"In reply to Lord Jingnan, there are currently 1,726 defenders. After we heard that the Jiannu entered the pass, we temporarily recruited 500 civilians. Now the total number of defenders is 2,226." Xu Wenpu replied, with some confidence and determination in his voice, as if he was showing Huang Degong the strength of their defenders.

"Well," Huang Degong nodded, "what about the total number of soldiers and civilians in the city?" There was some concern and worry in his tone, as if he was concerned about every citizen in the city.

Xu Wenpu was stunned: "The total number is less than 4,000." There was a sense of helplessness and heaviness in his voice, as if he was telling a cruel fact.

After hearing this, Huang Degong secretly thought about the next plan. He knew that it would be a tough battle, but they had to go all out for the glory of the Ming Dynasty and for their own dreams. He looked at Xu Wenpu and those ragged, pale and thin soldiers, and a strong sense of responsibility and mission surged in his heart. He knew that he had to lead them to victory and a bright future.

Huailai City was about to be plunged into a bloody battle, and I was filled with anxiety. I knew that the innocent people and exhausted soldiers in the city had to be transferred to Yanqing Prefecture as soon as possible to prevent them from suffering an unprovoked disaster in this catastrophe. Under the moonlight, I gazed at this ancient and tough city, praying in my heart that it could survive the coming storm.

Xu Wenpu, the commander of Huailai Guard, was silent for a long time after hearing my urgent advice. His eyes flickered in the firelight, revealing his determination and unyielding spirit. "The people can move away, but we, the soldiers defending the city, cannot. We are willing to face the crisis of this country together with Jingnan Bo." His voice was not loud, but every word was sonorous and full of determination.

Hearing this, General Huang Degong shook his head, with a hint of helplessness and regret in his deep eyes. "You should also follow the people to Yanqing Prefecture. It's not that I look down on you, but this battle is too cruel. It's hard for those who stay behind to survive." His words were heavy and caring for his comrades.

Xu Wenpu fell silent again. He bowed, turned and left. His back looked lonely and determined, as if every step he took was on the edge of a knife.

At this moment, a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats broke the silence of the night. A spy came running like the wind and shouted, "Report!" His voice was a little hoarse due to nervousness. "The troops of General Ji, the Governor of Ji and Liao, have returned from Longmenwei and are now resting in the dense forest five miles north of the city."

"Okay, tell Governor Wang to come to the West Gate to discuss military affairs with me after returning to the city." I made a quick decision, thinking about how to use this sudden reinforcement. Soon, Ji Zisheng led more than 3,000 cavalrymen into the city in a mighty manner, and the sound of horse hooves and the collision of armor intertwined into a war song. Under the West Gate, Huang Degong had been waiting for a long time. His deputy general, the lieutenant general of the Guanning Army, Ba Keyong, and Xu Wenpu, stood on both sides with solemn expressions.

In early June, Huailai was high up in the mountains, and the night wind was cool, penetrating the clothes and reaching the bone marrow. Next to the city gate, a fire was burning, and a whole sheep was slowly turning on the fire, the aroma was overflowing, and the oil dripped into the fire, making a sizzling sound, adding a bit of life to the tense atmosphere.

"Brother Wang, let's talk about the war while we eat!" Huang Degong said as he carefully opened a paper bag and sprinkled some fine salt on the mutton. The salt grains were crystal clear, like treasures, and instantly the aroma of the mutton became more intense, attracting everyone's attention, but Huang Degong remained calm as before.

Ji Zisheng was attracted by the sudden fragrance and curiously asked the reason. Huang Degong smiled and said slowly: "I followed the order of Jingnan Bo to attack the Jiannu spies in the north of Huailai Guard and the south of Longmen Guard. I killed 39 of them, injured more than 100, and captured one alive." His tone was calm, but it could not hide the pride and hardship.

"Oh?" Ji Zishen did not show much surprise at this record. After all, the Jiannu spies were cunning and good at escaping, and it was not easy to achieve such results.

"Did you get any information from the interrogation?" Huang Degong asked, his eyes flickering with anxiety.

Ji Zisheng nodded, his expression solemn: "The Jiannu have besieged Xuanfu Town for ten days. General Zhu Fenghui defended it tightly, and it has not been breached yet. We are really lucky. I also heard that Dorgon wrote a letter to Duoduo, but I don't know the specific content. Before I returned to the city, I saw two groups of Jiannu cavalry, one went to Longmen, and the other followed us. It seems that they want to launch a surprise attack on Huailai."

Huang Degong frowned upon hearing this, and was filled with worry. On the one hand, he longed to fight Duoduo to the death and recover the lost territory as soon as possible; on the other hand, he was worried that he would have to fight with his life due to his lack of troops, and his chances of winning would be slim.

The mutton was finally cooked, Huang Degong took it off the fire and enthusiastically invited everyone to share it. However, no one moved at all, Ji Zisheng, Bak Yong, Xu Wenpu and Huang Degong's lieutenants all waited for his instructions.

Huang Degong cut off a piece of lamb leg meat and handed it to Ji Zisheng, saying with a smile: "Brother Wang, you try it first."

Ji Zisheng looked at the paper bag and hesitated: "Brother Huang, what's in this bag?"

Everyone also cast curious glances, wanting to find out what was going on.

"This is fine salt!" Huang Degong replied, and then tasted a little to confirm that it was non-toxic. "This salt tastes pure and can prolong life. The old Li and the emperor in the capital all eat this."

Upon hearing this, Ji Zisheng also took out a bag of fine salt from his bosom and said with a smile: "The emperor gave me salt a few days ago, but I didn't take it seriously. Today I just need it."

Everyone sat around the fire, enjoying the delicious mutton with laughter and talking, while discussing countermeasures. Some advocated a direct attack to catch the enemy off guard; others proposed to deploy troops, with infantry charging, artillery supporting from the flanks, and cavalry waiting to move. There were many different opinions and endless debates.

Huang Degong was furious when he saw this. He threw the dagger to the ground and shouted, "I am the general and I have the final say on military tactics!" His voice was like thunder, shocking everyone.

The deputy generals looked at each other, and dared not say anything, with a bit of awe in their expressions.

Huang Degong turned to look at Ji Zishen and Bake Yong, his tone sincere and firm: "This battle is related to the fate of the country. I hope you can work together with me and face it together." His eyes were like torches, burning with an unyielding flame.

Then, he warned everyone in a stern tone: "Military orders are like mountains. Anyone who dares to disobey will be severely punished!" His voice echoed in the night sky with unquestionable majesty.

Ji Zishen and Bak Yong looked at each other, bowed and said, "We will follow the orders of Marquis Jingnan!" Their voices were firm and powerful, as if they were swearing an oath to heaven and earth.

Huang Degong then began to deploy his troops to prepare for the upcoming battle. In the night, the outline of Huailai City looked even more resolute, as if it was also silently waiting to welcome the battle that would determine its fate.

Tomorrow morning at 7:45, the caravan carefully hired by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War will slowly arrive outside Huailai City, fully loaded with the supplies that our army urgently needs. Once the supplies are handed over, our 40,000 troops will have to settle down on the vast land northwest of the city and prepare to meet unknown challenges.

As the commander, I am always on guard. Those cunning Jiannu guys may suddenly attack us while we are setting up camp. Therefore, I must arrange everything in advance to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

"Senior!" I shouted in a deep voice.

"Here!" The senior responded immediately with a fist. His eyes revealed firmness and determination, and he was full of energy, like a cheetah ready to pounce.

"Tomorrow morning at six o'clock, take your elite troops and set up a sentry post five miles northwest of the city. Keep a close eye on the movements of the Jiannu and report to me immediately if you find any trace of them. If you really encounter them, no matter how many people there are, do not fight with them, but quickly retreat two miles away and join up with Bakyong's team." I explained the task in detail.

"Yes!" The senior answered loudly, his voice full of confidence and determination.

Then I called Buck Yong.

"I'm here!" Buck Yong responded. He had a burly figure and a resolute face, like an unshakable mountain.

"The same goes for you. Tomorrow morning at six o'clock, take your troops to set up defenses three miles northwest of the city. If the senior officers retreat, you will join forces with them and retreat back to the city to defend together. Remember, no matter what happens, you must stay calm and composed." I warned seriously.

Huh? Bakyong was surprised when he heard me say that, as if he thought he had heard wrongly. He knew that even if Jiannu attacked by surprise, they would only have a few thousand people at most, and it was probably just a tentative attack at this time, and they would not really risk their all. After all, we have Huang Degong, a fierce general, and he is leading more than 10,000 cavalrymen. How could they not be more cautious?
But I still repeated it very seriously: "Yes, we must retreat to the city. This is for the sake of the overall situation. We must remain vigilant and prepared."

"I will obey your orders!" Although Bakyong was a little confused, he was already happy. It seemed that he felt that this was safer. At the beginning, he was still worried about how to execute Wu Sangui's order to preserve strength, but now it seems that he was worrying too much.

Then I assigned Nalan Jiben to lead the cavalry, Qiu Yue to lead the chariot battalion, and Weng Zhiqi to lead the infantry and baggage soldiers. They each had a clear responsibility and defense area, and they were all deployed in the northwest of the city. As for the artillery, I decided to take care of it myself to ensure that nothing could go wrong.

Finally I said, "If you have no objection, please go back to camp and prepare. We will proceed as planned tomorrow!"

All the generals took orders and left, and the camp suddenly became empty. However, I found that the captain Xu Wenpu was still sitting there, with a hint of hesitation and determination in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked him curiously.

"Sir Huang, I have something important to report." Wen Pu took a deep breath and said, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.

"Go on." I motioned for him to continue.

Wen Pu continued, "Master Huang, we are all from military families, and our ancestors have been soldiers for generations. Some of us like to fight, but some of us are really tired of this endless war and killing."

I nodded to show my understanding. The military household system is so cruel and ruthless that you have to serve in the army and fight whether you like it or not.

Wen Pu added: "Now that the court has finally abolished the military system and paid us salaries, we are really happy and grateful. Because our descendants can finally no longer suffer from military service and can farm and study like ordinary people."

He sighed and said, "In the past, we hoped that the Ming Dynasty would fall soon so that our descendants could be free from this bondage. Now that your majesty and the court have given us such a great favor, we are truly grateful."

I frowned and looked at him coldly, "What do you want to say? The Qing army is about to come to my door, and I don't have time to listen to your sentimental remarks."

Wen Pu took another deep breath and said, "The invasion of the Jiannu in the south has caused the court and the people to fall into panic. As the last generation of military households in the Ming Dynasty, we are willing to go to the battlefield and use our courage and strength to prove the bravery and loyalty of the guards!"

I hesitated for a moment and then looked up and asked him, "There may be a chance, but the casualties will be heavy and the whole army may be wiped out. Can you bear it?"

Wen Pu was silent for a while, then raised his head and said with a firm look: "When the country is in danger, soldiers should sacrifice their lives for the country! My 1,726 brothers and I are ready to sacrifice!"

I looked at Wen Pu with half belief and half doubt. This matter is of great importance. It not only concerns the victory or defeat of the battle, but also the safety of the Ming Dynasty. I have to consider it carefully.

"I'll give you one day and one night to move the people in the city to Yanqing Prefecture. Come back to see me after you've done this." I gave instructions after thinking for a moment.

Although Wen Pu was unwilling, he had no choice but to withdraw.

That night, the sea was calm but people were nervous. Because everyone knew that a big war was coming, the air was filled with tension. I was facing Duoduo's 50,000 troops, while I only had 60,000 troops (although I didn't know Duoduo's specific casualties), but the outcome was really hard to predict. On the surface, the Jiannu had a slightly better force.

At daybreak, scouts came to report that several thousand Jiannu cavalry were found wandering ten miles northwest, as if they were waiting for the arrival of the main force.

"Explore again!" I ordered, feeling a little uneasy.

Not long after, another scout came to report that the main force of the Jiannu was found camping fifteen miles to the northwest. This news surprised me.

"Are you sure it's fifteen miles away?" I asked in surprise. Because the two army camps are usually thirty miles or even farther apart, and the vanguard troops are only ten to twenty miles apart. This distance is really too close!

The scout replied, "Sure, this is the news from the Royal Guards."

I frowned. Although the news was true, the situation became more serious. Jiannu actually set up camp only fifteen miles away from us. This is too risky! You know, when marching and fighting, the camps of both armies will keep a certain distance to prevent sneak attacks or excessive energy consumption during the attack. For the Jiannu cavalry, we usually choose to camp thirty or forty miles away to avoid their rapid attack. But now they are so bold to approach, which makes me wonder if they have some conspiracy.

"How dare the Jiannu set up camp so close? Aren't they afraid of our surprise attack?" Lieutenant General Huang Fei whispered to himself, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion and uneasiness.

General Huang Degong's face became very serious under the dim light. His deep eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts. He said in a deep voice: "The enemy is not afraid of our sudden attack. What they are really worried about is our escape!" His voice echoed in the silent tent with an unquestionable firmness.

"Run away?" Huang Fei's eyes widened with confusion when he heard this, like a lost deer. He looked at Huang Degong in confusion, "I am stupid and don't quite understand what the general means!" There was a bit of urgency in his tone, and he was obviously confused by Huang Degong's words.

Huang Degong sighed softly and explained, "From Huailai Wei to Juyong Pass, the two places are ninety miles apart. If we are defeated or run away before the battle, it will take at least a day and a half to escape to Juyong Pass. But the enemy's cavalry can catch up with us within a day. So, their actions are to prevent us from escaping!" His voice was low and powerful, and every word was like a hammer hitting Huang Fei's heart.

Huang Fei heard this and immediately turned to look southeast towards Juyong Pass, as if thinking about something. In the night, the direction of Juyong Pass seemed to be covered by a dark cloud, which made people feel cold. A hint of determination flashed in his eyes, as if he was ready for a decisive battle.

At this time, neither the Ming army nor the enemy launched an attack. The cavalry of both sides confronted each other for half a day, and then retreated to the camp. As night fell, the camp of the Ming army had been arranged. The lights in the central army tent were brightly lit, and the generals sat together to discuss the battle plan. The atmosphere in the tent was tense and solemn, and everyone's face was full of seriousness.

Unlike yesterday, the atmosphere today was particularly harmonious. Everyone turned their eyes to Bakyong, listening to him talk about the enemy's tactics in Liaodong. Bakyong was a burly man with a resolute face. His voice echoed in the tent with an unquestionable authority.

Bakeyong began to narrate: "Back then, when Nurhaci first started to rebel, his tactics were flexible and varied. Sometimes he attacked, sometimes he used tricks, and he even sent out his death squad to serve as the vanguard." His voice was low and powerful, as if he brought those distant battlefields to everyone's attention.

"Take the Battle of Hunhe for example. When the enemy attacked Shenyang, Generals Tong Zhongkui and Chen Ce rushed to rescue them. However, the city had been breached before they reached Shenyang. When they arrived at Hunhe, they were surrounded by the enemy." There was a hint of sadness in Bakyong's words, as if he was mourning for those soldiers who died heroically.

"At that time, Generals Tong and Chen had only 3,000 elite soldiers under their command, while the enemy outnumbered them several times. Before the gunpowder ran out, the enemy suffered heavy casualties but failed to occupy even an inch of land. After the gunpowder ran out, the enemy relied on their death squads and superior military strength to eventually break through the defense line. Generals Tong and Chen fought bravely, each killing more than a dozen enemies, and finally died on the battlefield." There was a bit of admiration in Bakyong's words, as if he was erecting an invisible monument for those brave soldiers.

"After the fall of Shenyang, the enemy obtained a large number of artillery and their tactics also changed accordingly." There was some worry in Bakyong's words, and he was obviously uneasy about the enemy's changes.

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it!" Weng Zhiqi, Huang Degong's deputy general, bowed and asked Bakyong to continue. Weng Zhiqi was tall and slender, with a gentle face, and his tone was a bit humble and respectful.

Bakyong felt a little uncomfortable, after all, he was just a deputy general, but Weng Zhiqi was so humble and polite to him. In fact, Weng Zhiqi treated everyone so gently, and his humility and kindness made everyone feel warm.

Bakeyong went on to say: "In the third year of the Tianqi reign, Nurhaci created a military chariot camp to meet the needs of field battles. They no longer relied on death squads as vanguards as before, but began to rely on firearms and chariots to fight. Nurhaci also stipulated that when encountering the enemy, if there is no shield car cover, do not attack easily." His voice was low and powerful, as if bringing those distant battlefields to everyone's eyes.

"During the time of Huang Taiji, the enemy's reliance on firearms and chariots was no less than ours." There was a solemnity in Bakyong's words, and he was obviously worried about the enemy's strength.

The generals listened attentively, but they were also full of doubts. Seeing this, Bakyong's face became solemn. He shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly, saying: "Take the Battle of Daling River for example. The enemy's left wing attacked. We relied on chariots to set up camp for defense, and the firearms fired at the same time, with a deafening momentum. Lead bullets fell like hail, and arrows poured out like raindrops, successfully repelling the enemy's left wing attack."

"But Huang Taiji saw that the situation was not good, and immediately ordered the artillery battalion to advance. They used cannons and rockets to destroy the chariot formation on our right wing, and the enemy's center army took the opportunity to break in. The left-wing troops that had been frustrated before also reorganized and followed." There was a hint of sadness in Bakyong's words, as if he was mourning for those soldiers who died heroically.

"In the end, the enemy used shield carts to cover the front, and the guards, Mongolian soldiers and infantry followed closely behind. Although we pushed the carts forward and used cavalry to attack with arrows, we were ultimately unable to withstand the enemy's offensive and failed." There was a hint of helplessness and regret in Bakyong's words, as if he was feeling sorry for the failed battle.

After hearing this, Weng Zhiqi stroked his forehead and sighed, "It seems that the enemy not only has the chariots and artillery we usually use, but also the death squads that we don't have!" There was a bit of worry and helplessness in his voice.

Bakyong nodded in agreement: "That's about it. Don't forget that Nurhaci was originally only the commander of the Jianzhou Left Guard, and he learned many of our tactics." There was a hint of sadness and anger in his voice, and he was obviously dissatisfied with the enemy's cunning and viciousness.

As soon as Bakyong finished speaking, a cloud of gloom covered the hearts of the generals. The originally high morale also subsided a lot, replaced by full of doubts. The enemy is so strong, can we really defeat them? Eighty to ninety percent of them are cavalry, and they also have chariots, death squads and artillery... and the whole army is armored... and what about us? Our equipment is not as sophisticated as theirs, and our manpower is not superior... Should we retreat? This fear of fighting spread like a plague in the camp, and the people in the central army tent became panic.

General Huang Degong stood there with his hands behind his back. His figure was elongated under the dim light, and he looked particularly majestic. He asked in a deep voice, "Commendants, are you afraid?" His voice was deep and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

"No!" Huang Degong's lieutenants all stood up and answered decisively. Their voices echoed throughout the tent, with an unquestionable firmness.

Generals such as Ji Zishen and Bake Yong also said: "It is a taboo to be afraid of fighting on the battlefield! Please rest assured, Lord Jingnan!" There was a bit of urgency and determination in their voices, and they were obviously dissatisfied with Huang Degong's inquiry.

Huang Degong smiled faintly and said: "I'm not asking you if you are scared or not, I'm just talking about myself - I'm scared!" There was a hint of self-mockery and helplessness in his voice, as if he was ashamed of his fear.

"Ah?" Ji Zisheng looked at Huang Degong in astonishment. Huang Degong, the Marquis of Jingnan, is a trusted minister of His Majesty! He was ordered to fight the enemy... How... How could he be afraid? His heart was full of doubts and confusion.

Bakyong was so surprised that he could not speak. He stood there in a daze, his heart full of doubts. What did Huang Degong mean by this? Did he want to surrender? No! Although Huang Degong was a strong-willed person and dared to speak out, he would never betray the court! He would never betray His Majesty! His heart was full of determination and trust.

Huang Degong's lieutenants were also shocked by his words and were speechless. They couldn't believe their ears - the commander actually admitted in front of everyone that he was afraid! They were filled with shock and confusion.

However, at this moment, Huang Degong continued leisurely: "But what I am afraid of is not Duoduo (the name of the enemy leader) himself - but I am afraid that we will be defeated!" There was a bit of sadness and worry in his voice, as if he was worried about the upcoming battle.

As soon as these words came out, the generals suddenly realized that what General Huang Degong was worried about was not his personal safety or honor or disgrace, but the fate of the country and the victory or defeat of the army! Their hearts were filled with admiration and moved.

Huang Degong's expression suddenly became stern: "I order! The first battle tomorrow must be won! Only with victory can your majesty's plan be implemented!" There was a firmness and unquestionable tone in his voice, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Strategy? What strategy?" Ji Zisheng asked curiously. He had always admired your majesty's military tactics - especially those surprise attacks that caught the enemy by surprise. Now Huang Degong mentioned that your majesty had a "strategy" to implement... Could this be another earth-shattering plan that could cause the enemy to lose many soldiers and even be wiped out? His heart was full of anticipation and curiosity.

"I'll tell you after we win!" Huang Degong answered succinctly. There was a hint of mystery and majesty in his voice, as if he had all the plans in hand.

The generals stopped asking questions after seeing this - after all, this was a confidential matter concerning His Majesty and the country; too much talk leads to mistakes! Their hearts were filled with understanding and respect.

"So how should we fight tomorrow?" Ji Zisheng asked again. His voice was filled with a bit of urgency and anticipation, and he was clearly eager for the upcoming battle.

Huang Degong pondered for a moment and said, "It is difficult to completely defeat Duoduo in one battle - he will not easily take the risk of attacking us. But if we just launch a small-scale exploratory attack - it will be meaningless to us." There was a bit of solemnity and thoughtfulness in his voice, and he was obviously thinking about the best tactics.

"So what I mean is - tomorrow we have to mobilize the entire army, line up our battle array, and force the enemy to fight us!" Huang Degong's words were firm and unquestionable, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. His eyes flashed with a firm light, as if he was ready for a decisive battle.

After the generals took the order and left, the central army tent returned to peace again. Huang Degong stood there with his hands behind his back. His figure was elongated under the dim light, and he looked particularly majestic. His eyes flashed with determination, as if he was ready for a decisive battle with the enemy.

At this time, a voice came from outside the tent: "Reporting to the Marquis of Jingnan - I have moved all the people in the city to Yanqing Prefecture. I am here to report!" The voice was a bit anxious and firm, obviously a loyal general. (End of this chapter)