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

Seeing his generals openly contradicting him, Nangong Shangpu was not angry, but instead showed a mysterious smile. His eyes were deep, as if hiding endless wisdom and strategy, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, with a calm and confident look.

"Your Majesty," Tian Jianxiu stepped forward and said with a fist. His voice was firm and powerful, revealing his loyalty to Li Zicheng and his desire for victory. "I think we should immediately recall Mr. Li from Wuguan. With him, our army will surely win."

"Your Majesty, I think so too." Other generals echoed, their voices were either passionate or calm, but they were all full of trust and expectations for Li Yan.

"We request Your Majesty to recall Mr. Li, otherwise Tongguan..." Everyone's words were filled with anxiety and worry, as if the safety of Tongguan was hanging by a thread.

Li Zicheng glanced at the generals and remained silent. His eyes were deep and complicated, and he was thinking secretly. What I feared was what I expected! The generals' actions showed that they trusted Li Yan more and doubted Shang Pu and Ming He. However, Shang Pu and Ming He were Li Zicheng's right-hand men and his capable assistants for many years. Thinking carefully, Li Yan's prestige was rising, while Li Zicheng's authority seemed to be weakening. This made him feel a little uneasy.

As the leader of Dashun, Li Zicheng's status is naturally supreme. But the current situation makes him worry. What if Li Yan's power is really above his own? Thinking of this, Li Zicheng couldn't help but shudder, and a strong sense of crisis surged in his heart. He clenched his fists tightly and tried to keep himself calm. No! This must not happen!

Li Zicheng quickly adjusted his mentality and stood up. His figure was tall and majestic, like an unshakable mountain. He glanced at the generals and said in a deep voice: "My dear generals, although Tongguan is important, Wuguan cannot be ignored. Therefore, I decided to let Mr. Li continue to guard Wuguan!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable determination.

"The most urgent task now is not Tongguan and Wuguan, but Yulin in the north! Jiang Ran's rebels have already started an uprising, with thousands of troops ready to move. We must put down this rebellion as soon as possible!" Li Zicheng changed the subject and proposed the current urgent task. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he had seen through the essence of the situation.

All the generals nodded in agreement. They knew that Li Zicheng was right and that the rebellion in Yulin did need to be quelled as soon as possible. However, they disagreed on who to send to quell the rebellion. After a heated discussion, Nangong Shangpu bowed deeply to Li Zicheng and said, "Your Majesty, I think General Luo Wenbin can take on this important task."

"Oh?" Li Zicheng looked at Shang Pu in surprise. You know, Shang Pu was strongly opposed to using Luo Wenbin before, why did he suddenly change his mind now? Not only Li Zicheng was confused, but other generals were also confused.

Shang Pu explained: "Our army is short of manpower, so it's a problem who to send, but if we don't send anyone, it won't work. After careful consideration, I think General Luo Wenbin is the most suitable candidate. He has thousands of baggage soldiers under his command. Although their combat effectiveness is average, they are much stronger than the temporary army." There was a bit of helplessness and determination in his words, "So, sending Luo Wenbin is the safest choice!"

After discussing again, the generals had no choice but to accept this arrangement. They knew this was the best option at the moment, and although Luo Wenbin was not the person they trusted the most, they had no choice but to accept it under the circumstances.

The transfer order was quickly passed to Weinan County, where Luo Wenbin was preparing military rations. After receiving the order, he did not show joy but was stunned. There was a flash of surprise and confusion in his eyes, as if he could not believe it was true. After a long while, he stood up, dusted off the dust on his clothes and said with a wry smile: "It seems that I will never be able to fight side by side with Your Majesty in this life!" There was a bit of self-mockery and helplessness in his voice, as if he could do nothing about his fate.

Then he shouted loudly, "Someone come!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing unquestionable majesty.

"Here!" Someone answered from outside. It was a burly soldier with a loud and powerful voice, as if he was ready to take orders at any time.

"Pass the order down and move north to quell the rebellion in Yulin immediately!" Luo Wenbin gave the order. His eyes flashed with determination and firmness, as if he was ready to face all difficulties.

While Luo Wenbin was heading north, Jian Mingxiao was also busy mobilizing his troops to prepare for the capture of Tongguan. In the military tent, Jian Mingxiao looked pale. Although he was over 70 years old, he was still fighting. He sat on the cushion and looked a little tired, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle. He asked, "Has the red cannon of the court not arrived yet?" His voice was filled with anxiety and expectation.

Wan replied in a low voice: "Don't worry, grandma. We will arrive before noon or tonight at the latest." His voice was soft but firm, as if to reassure Jian Mingxiao.

"Okay!" Jian Mingxiao nodded and closed his eyes to rest. He knew that this battle was crucial to the Ming Dynasty and he had to stay in the best condition to face this battle.

Shortly after noon, a bustling noise could be heard outside the camp. Before Wannian could even open his mouth, seven or eight soldiers came running in to report, "The Red Cannon has arrived!" Their voices were filled with excitement and joy, as if this was the news they had been waiting for for a long time.

Jian Mingxiao suddenly opened his eyes and stood up: "Where are they?" There was a hint of anxiety and excitement in his voice, as if he couldn't wait to see those cannons.

"Behind the camp," the soldiers answered, their voices in unison, as if they were ready to be inspected.

"Take me to see it!" Jian Mingxiao walked out of the military tent impatiently and headed for the rear camp. His steps were vigorous and powerful, as if he was still young and strong.

After seeing the quartermaster, he hurriedly asked, "How many cannons are there?" His eyes flashed with expectation and desire, as if he wanted to get the best answer.

The quartermaster respectfully presented the list: "Your Excellency Governor Qin, there are 77 cannons weighing more than 1,000 jin, 234 cannons weighing less than 1,000 jin, and tens of thousands of jin of gunpowder and projectiles. This is a detailed list." His voice was clear and powerful, and every word seemed to strike Jian Mingxiao's heart.

Jian Mingxiao was overjoyed after carefully reviewing the list. A rare smile appeared on his face, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. He knew that they had a better chance of winning this battle.

After the gun test, he called a meeting of officers to deploy the next move. His voice was firm and powerful, and every word revealed unquestionable majesty. He knew that this battle was crucial to the Ming Dynasty and he had to go all out to meet this challenge.

The next morning, smoke from the Ming army rose. After breakfast, the soldiers broke camp and headed for Tongguan. Their steps were in unison, as if they were ready for battle. The army camped ten miles away from Tongguan to rest. The next morning, 20,000 Ming army vanguards arrived at the foot of Tongguan. Their figures were tall and majestic, as if they were ready to attack the city.

Li Zicheng had already heard the news. He sent Hao Yaoqi to lead 5,000 soldiers to line up outside Tongguan City with their backs to the water and wait in battle array. He himself climbed up the city wall to personally supervise the artillery. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he had seen through the movements of the Ming army. He knew that this battle was also crucial for Dashun and he had to go all out to defend the city.

Facing a situation where the enemy was strong and we were weak, holding on to the city became the best option. If the Ming army wanted to attack the city, they had to fight with Hao Yaoqi's troops first and guard against artillery attacks from the towers. Li Zicheng was secretly thinking about how to consume the main force of the Ming army. He knew that this battle would be a tough one, but he was fully prepared.

At this time, a huge Ming army appeared in his sight. These Ming soldiers wore red helmets and cotton armor and held various weapons. The central army flag was hung with the national flag of the Ming Dynasty. A white-haired old woman sat on the warhorse. That was Jian Mingxiao! Li Zicheng sneered: "Are you here to attack the city? I want to see how many people you have!" There was a bit of sarcasm and disdain in his voice, as if he had seen through Jian Mingxiao's plan.

When the two armies were facing each other, the Ming army drove mules and horses to drag huge artillery to the battlefield. The muzzles of these artillery were as dark as night, which made people feel terrified. However, the Ming army did not launch an attack immediately, but stopped the artillery four miles away from Tongguan. They seemed to be waiting for something.

Li Zicheng picked up the telescope and observed carefully, then asked doubtfully: "Is this the only cannon the Ming army has?" There was some confusion and doubt in his voice, as if he didn't believe that the Ming army had such little firepower.

"Not like that." Chang Hao answered from the side. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he had seen through the Ming army's layout.

"Why?" Li Zicheng asked. He knew Chang Hao must have discovered something.

"They may be testing the range of the artillery," Chang Hao explained, his voice steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable certainty.

"Isn't this old guy Jian Mingxiao too arrogant?" Li Zicheng smiled and shook his head. "Doesn't he know the principle of looking down on others from a high position? Our artillery is much higher than theirs, and it is easy to bombard them." There was a bit of confidence and disdain in his voice, as if he had already seen the hope of victory.

As they were talking, the Ming army had already started to get busy. They quickly set up the artillery and carried the gunpowder and projectiles for loading. Their movements were swift and orderly, as if they had been trained thousands of times.

Li Zicheng immediately gave orders to the artillerymen: "Aim there and prepare to fire!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing unquestionable majesty. He knew that the battle was imminent and he had to go all out to defend the city.

However, the artillerymen looked embarrassed: "Your Majesty, our artillery range is not enough." There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in their voices, as if they had already seen the outcome of failure.

"What do you mean?" Li Zicheng was stunned. There was a flash of surprise and confusion in his eyes, as if he couldn't believe it was true. He knew that if the artillery range was not enough, they would not be able to effectively attack the Ming army.

An artilleryman explained: "The maximum range of our artillery is less than three miles and the Ming army's artillery is three miles away so we can't hit them." There was a bit of frustration and helplessness in his voice, as if he had lost confidence in victory.

"I see." Li Zicheng nodded, "But it doesn't matter. They can't hit us and we can't hit them either." His voice was full of self-mockery and helplessness, as if he had accepted this fact. He knew that this battle would be a difficult defensive battle, but they were fully prepared to meet this challenge.

Before he finished speaking, the Ming army's artillery suddenly fired! Boom! There was a flash of fire and a loud noise.

Three shells streaked across the sky, like three angry lightning bolts, drawing perfect arcs, and slammed into the ground, splashing dust all over the sky, as if the earth was shaking. However, their landing point was still two hundred steps away from the Ming army that was testing the artillery, and the dust splashed was like a fog, blocking the view. The dust was flying in the distance, and more than a dozen Ming soldiers couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw this, and their tense expressions relaxed slightly.

"Oh my god, I was almost scared to death!" A soldier patted his chest and said with lingering fear. The sweat on his face mixed with dust, looking particularly embarrassed. Another soldier laughed and mocked: "The bandits' cannon seems to be old and useless!" There was a trace of contempt in his words, but then he said seriously, "Don't talk nonsense, quickly reduce the amount of gunpowder, try another shot, reduce one tael and five cents and see." His eyes revealed a kind of rigor and calmness, obviously an experienced gunner.

Under the command of the little leader, a dozen soldiers quickly took action. They readjusted the angle and position of the artillery, reloaded the ammunition and prepared for test firing. The sunlight shone on their busy figures, reflecting a tense and orderly scene.

Li Zicheng looked at the busy figures of the Ming army from afar, his eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through everything. He finally understood Jian Mingxiao's intention. If the Shun army just defended the city, then the Ming army would bombard it with artillery until a corner of the city wall collapsed. On the other hand, the Shun army had insufficient artillery range and could only passively take the beating, which was undoubtedly a fatal weakness.

Hao Yaoqi, who was standing under the city, also realized this problem. He frowned, and a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes. He hurriedly ordered: "We can't let the Ming army continue to test the artillery. Send out a dozen cavalrymen and shoot them like hedgehogs!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

As soon as the order was given, twelve cavalrymen jumped out of the Dashun Army. They were wearing iron armor and holding long spears. They moved sideways like twelve black lightning bolts and rushed directly to the artillery positions of the Ming Army. Their figures drew graceful arcs on the battlefield, as if they were performing a magnificent dance with their lives.

Jian Mingxiao was observing the enemy from a high place. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, able to catch every subtle change on the battlefield. When he saw the Shun cavalry moving out, he immediately ordered: "Send a cavalry squad to support the artillery!" His voice was steady and powerful, revealing a calm demeanor.

As the flag was waved, Li Xingzhong dispatched 25 cavalrymen, wearing Ming army armor and holding sharp sabers, bypassing the infantry formation and attacking the artillery. They were agile and brave, like an unstoppable torrent.

Soon, the cavalry of the two sides met on the battlefield. The cavalry of the Shun army was originally the northwest border army of the Ming Dynasty. They were brave and experienced in fighting; while the cavalry of the Ming army was the elite Guanning brought back by Li Xingzhong from Liaodong. They were well-equipped and had superior combat effectiveness. The encounter between the two armies was like a fight between a dragon and a tiger, and the scene was extremely fierce.

As the horses galloped, the green grass was trampled into mud, and the battlefield was covered in dust, as if it was a chaotic world. The Ming cavalrymen were waiting in formation, holding long spears and ready to fight; while the Shun cavalrymen were divided into two teams for defense, holding bows and arrows, ready to give the enemy a fatal blow.

When the two sides were ten steps apart, they raised their bows and fired at the same time. The arrows flew through the air, bringing with them the sound of whistling wind. The knights ducked to avoid them, but many were still hit by the arrows and fell to the ground groaning in pain.

More than 30 cavalrymen chased and fought on the vast battlefield. They first competed in archery and then in close combat. In the flash of swords and shadows, both sides suffered casualties, but no one had the intention to retreat. The Shun army cavalry despised the Guanning army's behavior of taking advantage when the wind was favorable and fleeing when the wind was unfavorable. They vowed to defend their positions to the death.

The battle lasted for a long time, and both sides were exhausted. The Shun cavalry gradually couldn't hold on because they were poorly equipped and outnumbered. Seeing this, Hao Yaoqi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. He hurriedly sent another 100 cavalry reinforcements. This first battle of Tongguan was crucial. Victory or defeat was related to the morale of both armies. He could not let his soldiers fall here.

Jian Mingxiao saw the increase in the number of Shun cavalry, and he also ordered reinforcements, sending out 200 cavalry. He stood on a high place, his eyes revealed a cold and firm look, as if to say: "No matter how many people you come, I will not retreat!"

Hao Yaoqi gritted his teeth and said, "I'll add another 500!" His voice revealed a kind of determination and unwillingness, as if he was challenging fate.

Jian Mingxiao smiled calmly: "I'll give one thousand." His smile revealed a kind of calmness and confidence, as if everything was under his control.

Hao Yaoqi was angry: "I'll also give out a thousand!" His voice revealed a sense of anger and unwillingness, as if he was declaring war on the enemy.

Jian Mingxiao smiled even more brightly: "Then I'll give you two thousand." His smile revealed a kind of cunning and arrogance, as if saying: "Come on, I have plenty of soldiers!"

Hao Yaoqi said in surprise: "All my cavalry have been dispatched!" His voice revealed a sense of helplessness and anxiety, as if he was telling the sky about his predicament.

Jian Mingxiao said leisurely: "I still have a lot of cavalry." His voice revealed a sense of pride and confidence, as if he was showing the world how powerful he was.

A treacherous contest began. No matter how many Shun cavalrymen the army increased in number, the Ming cavalry could respond with twice their number. Today's Ming army is no longer the weak army of two years ago. They have well-trained soldiers and sufficient food, and they are invincible in every battle, like an unstoppable torrent.

With the advantage in manpower, the Ming army gradually took control of the battle. They sent a part of the cavalry to the left wing to ambush, ready to deal a fatal blow to the Shun army; the other part drove the Shun cavalry into the ambush circle, putting them in a desperate situation. "Kill!" With an order, the Shun cavalry was attacked by the Ming army as soon as they reached the left wing. They fled in defeat and retreated to Tongguan, leaving behind a messy battlefield. The Ming army did not pursue but quickly cleaned up the battlefield and returned to the camp. Their figures appeared particularly brave and determined in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The two armies faced each other again but did not engage in battle. In the afternoon, the sun shone on the battlefield, casting a golden glow. Jian Mingxiao gave an order: "Order all infantry units to advance and cavalry to cover from behind." His voice was steady and powerful, revealing an unquestionable majesty.

After seeing the Ming army retreat, Li Zicheng also walked down the tower. He sighed as he walked, and his heart was full of worries. Cheng Minghe asked the reason. Li Zicheng said worriedly: "I am worried about the defense of the city tomorrow." His voice revealed a kind of helplessness and anxiety, as if he was telling the sky about his predicament, "We are powerless in the field, and we have no artillery to defend the city. The Ming army can attack us, but we can't fight back."

After thinking for a moment, Cheng Minghe suggested a night attack. Li Zicheng was worried that the Ming army was well prepared, but he smiled and said, "The night attack is just a cover, killing the enemy is the real purpose." His smile revealed a kind of cunning and arrogance, as if he was declaring war on the enemy.

Li Zicheng asked for details, and Cheng Minghe whispered a few words. Li Zicheng was delighted: "Military Advisor, this is a great idea!" His voice revealed a kind of excitement and excitement, as if he was showing his wisdom to the world.

Cheng Minghe smiled bitterly and said: "I have tried my best to implement this plan. Whether it will succeed depends on the courage of the commander." His voice revealed helplessness and self-mockery, as if he was challenging his own fate.

Li Zicheng nodded in agreement, then turned and left. His figure looked particularly firm and brave in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if he was showing his determination and courage to the world.

In the Ming army camp, Jian Mingxiao was planning tomorrow's offensive. He stood on a high place, overlooking the entire battlefield, his eyes revealing a cold and firm look. At this time, Yang Zhan stood up to offer advice, and his words revealed a kind of wisdom and courage.

Jian Mingxiao looked at him with a smile. He knew that Yang Zhan was a general who was proficient in both land and sea operations, which was very rare. He planned to observe Yang Zhan's performance in land battles in preparation for future use. His eyes revealed a kind of expectation and trust, as if he was conveying his trust and expectations to Yang Zhan.

"General Yang, please speak." Jian Mingxiao said with a pleasant face, his voice revealed a kind of encouragement and expectation, as if he was conveying his support and trust to Yang Zhan. He knew that this war not only required courage and wisdom, but also teamwork and cooperation. And Yang Zhan was undoubtedly the kind of talent he needed most.

As night falls, the lonely city of Tongguan stands by the Yellow River, like an ancient sentinel guarding its post. The river water gurgles and sparkles, gleaming silver in the moonlight, as if it is also quietly waiting for something, but refuses to fall asleep completely, with an inexplicable expectation and tension.

When the moon was high in the sky, like a pearl hanging on the sky, the west gate of Tongguan suddenly opened silently from the inside. More than 50 soldiers took advantage of the night and slipped out of the north gate like ghosts, heading east along the shallows. Their footsteps were light and firm, and each step was on the soft sand without making any sound. After confirming that there were no Ming army sentries around, they quickly returned to the city and reported to Li Zicheng.

Li Zicheng was making the final mobilization in the city. He stood on a high platform with a sharp gaze and a firm voice and said: "Soldiers, this battle tonight is related to the life and death of our Dashun! If we win, we can temporarily relax; if we lose, Tongguan will be lost, and the entire Guanzhong will be in crisis!" There was an unquestionable majesty in his words, which made everyone present feel the heavy responsibility.

He paused, looked at everyone present affectionately, and then continued: "No matter what the outcome, you are all benefactors of Dashun! I have built a Martyrs' Shrine in Xi'an. Warriors who died tonight, your names will be engraved there for all eternity to admire!" Li Zicheng's words were filled with deep respect and gratitude, which brought a warm feeling to the soldiers' hearts.

He followed Lin Xiaofeng's method and used these words to encourage the soldiers to fight for Dashun. His words were like spring rain, nourishing the soldiers' hearts and making them feel unprecedented courage and strength.

"I have not read much, and I don't know what fancy words to use to encourage you, so I will give you two words..." At this point, Li Zicheng paused, his eyes like two sharp swords, piercing everyone present. Then, he summoned all his strength and shouted: "Triumph!" His voice was like thunder, shaking everyone's heart.

In the light of the fire, the soldiers' faces were filled with determination and bravery. They responded in unison: "Triumph! Triumph!" Their voices were like waves, one higher than the other, echoing in the night sky for a long time.

After the morale was high, Li Zicheng walked up to Hao Yaoqi, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Yaoqi, the task of defeating the Ming army tonight depends entirely on you!" His eyes were full of trust and expectation.

Hao Yaoqi patted his chest and assured: "Your Majesty, don't worry. I will make sure that the Ming army will never return!" His voice was as firm as metal and stone, revealing an indomitable fighting spirit.

However, Li Zicheng sighed and said, "Yaoqi, you are so confident. I am a little worried." A trace of worry and concern flashed in his eyes.

Hao Yaoqi was stunned: "What does the emperor mean?" He looked at Li Zicheng with some confusion.

Cheng Minghe next to him hurriedly explained: "What the emperor means is that if you can fight, then fight, and if you can't fight, then retreat quickly. Preserving your strength is the most important thing." There was a calm and wise tone in his voice.

Hao Yaoqi finally understood and nodded in agreement: "I understand, Your Majesty. I will act based on the actual situation." His eyes revealed a firmness and decisiveness.

"Okay! Let's go!" Li Zicheng gave the order, and the east gate opened wide. 1,500 Shun soldiers rode wooden horses with wrapped horseshoes and quietly left the city. Like a black torrent, they marched eastward along the predetermined route and headed straight for the Ming army camp. Their figures loomed in the night, like a group of ghosts wandering.

At this time, the Ming army camp also sent a team, led by Yang Zhan. They quietly left the camp with weapons and digging tools. Their footsteps were light and firm, and each step was on the solid ground, but there was no sound. They were like cheetahs in the night, ready to give the enemy a fatal blow.

Hao Yaoqi and Yang Zhan were surprised to see the two armies meet unexpectedly in the wild. Under the moonlight, the figures of the two armies intertwined, like a strange picture.

Yang Zhan quickly drew his sword and shouted, "Brothers, attack! The bandits are coming!" His voice shook everyone's heart like thunder. Although Hao Yaoqi didn't understand why the other party shouted like that, he also shouted loudly to kill the enemy. The two armies engaged in a fierce battle under the moonlight, with spears piercing shields, swords flashing, blood splashing, and shouts of killing shaking the earth.

After the battle lasted for a long time, both sides were exhausted. Hao Yaoqi and Yang Zhan both felt something was wrong - the battlefield was full of chaos and it was impossible to distinguish between the enemy and us. They both had an ominous premonition.

So they each identified the direction of the moon and retreated to the west and east respectively until they had retreated more than three miles before stopping. Before they could catch their breath, they ordered to check the casualties of the team and strengthen defense. After a check, they killed several lost Shun soldiers and sent messengers back to the camp to inform the camp to strengthen defense.

Yang Zhan sat on the ground in deep thought when his personal soldier asked him, "Sir, do we still need to build the earth wall?" There was a hint of hesitation and worry in his voice.

Yang Zhan hesitated for a moment. He had originally planned to build a wall around the gun position to prevent the bombing. But now the situation was urgent and he didn't know if it was necessary to do so. Finally, he made up his mind and said, "Go! The wall must be built! This is our last line of defense!" So he led hundreds of Ming soldiers to the gun position again to build the wall.

Hao Yaoqi did not retreat either. He launched another attack under the cover of night. Thousands of elite Shun army soldiers followed closely behind him, ready to implement Cheng Minghe's plan. They rushed to the Ming army camp like a black torrent, ready to deal a fatal blow to the enemy.

However, they did not expect to encounter the Ming army inside the camp but the reinforcements outside the camp. The Ming army's reinforcements suddenly appeared in front of them like a god-like army, catching them off guard. Since they had already arrived here, they could only bite the bullet and launch an attack.

The two sides fought fiercely again. The Shun army was outnumbered and the Ming army gradually lost its strength and began to collapse. The Shun army pursued Yang Zhan, who only fled back to the camp with more than 100 remnants. At this time, Jian Mingxiao had already set up a defense line. The Shun army was beaten back after several charges, and had to retreat, leaving behind dozens of corpses.

Jian Mingxiao looked at Yang Zhan who was slightly injured and said with a smile: "Yang Zhan, you are brave, resourceful, lucky, and a talented general!" His eyes were full of admiration and affirmation.

Yang Zhan said ashamedly: "I failed to complete the task and instead lost troops and betrayed the governor's trust." There was a hint of self-blame and guilt in his voice.

Jian Mingxiao comforted him, "If you hadn't arrived in time, our camp might have been breached. You did a good job, don't blame yourself." There was warmth and concern in his voice that made Yang Zhan's heart surge with warmth.

"What about tomorrow's battle..." Yang Zhan hesitated for a moment but still asked out of concern.

"Don't worry. His Majesty said that we must fight a war step by step and not be impatient." Jian Mingxiao's words were calm and confident, which made Yang Zhan feel a little more at ease.

As the smoke from the cooking stove rose, the sky gradually brightened. After the fireman finished cooking, he began to call the soldiers to get up and eat. Their voices resounded throughout the camp like a horn, waking the soldiers from their deep sleep.

By the time the soldiers had eaten and drunk their fill, they were ready to go to the battlefield. Their faces were filled with determination and courage, as if they were ready to fight the enemy to the death.

The terrain outside Tongguan was uneven. The Ming army occupied a high ground four miles east of the city. They built roads and deployed artillery according to the predetermined plan to launch a fierce attack on Tongguan. There were seven red cannons in front of the square formation. A total of 77 cannons were all aimed at a corner of the east wall of Tongguan. Behind the square formation followed artillery, baggage soldiers, reinforcements, and wing soldiers responsible for protecting the flanks and rear. The entire battlefield was well-organized and magnificent.

After the army was lined up, Jian Mingxiao cleared his throat and prepared to order the cannon to fire. His eyes revealed a kind of determination and courage, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. Ma Wannian hurriedly stepped forward to put on his coat, but he waved his hand to refuse.

"Fire!" Jian Mingxiao ordered loudly. His voice shook everyone's heart like thunder. Following his order, 77 cannons simultaneously emitted a deafening roar, and the shells poured down on the east wall of Tongguan like raindrops. A fierce battle thus kicked off...

At Jian Mingxiao's command, 77 heavy red cannons fired in unison. The roar was like the sky falling and the earth collapsing, shaking people's hearts. The artillery fire was like an angry beast, opening its huge mouth and spewing endless anger. Outside Tongguan City, explosions came one after another. The power of gunpowder made the air buzz and spread far away, even the earth shook, as if the whole world was shaking.

The shells were as dense as raindrops, carrying the anger and determination of the Ming army, and they were aimed directly at the Tongguan city wall. Each one seemed to announce that they would take the city back to the embrace of the Ming Dynasty. The city wall trembled under the fierce artillery fire, bricks and stones were blown everywhere, and dust and smoke intertwined into a chaos, making it almost impossible to breathe.

The sound of "bang, bang, bang" continued, and the shells kept hitting the city wall. Every impact made the foundation of the city wall looser. The soldiers defending the city were barely able to resist at first. They gritted their teeth and tried their best to defend the city. But the artillery fire became more and more fierce, and their courage was slowly worn away. Fear and despair began to spread in their hearts.

A soldier, looking pale and covered in dust, ran to General Jing Changhao to report: "General, the artillery fire is too fierce. We have to get out of the spotlight!" There was an obvious tremor in his voice, and it was obvious that he was frightened by the horrific artillery fire.

Jing Changhao nodded, his face equally solemn. He hurried down the city to consult with Li Zicheng about countermeasures, and every step he took was extremely heavy, as if he was carrying a heavy burden.

After hearing the situation, Li Zicheng silently pondered behind the city. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep worry. He knew that this battle was crucial to the survival of Dashun. If he failed, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Your Majesty," Liu Zongming stepped forward and saluted, his voice carrying a hint of urgency, "This is not a solution... Our city walls are about to collapse, and we must find a way to deal with the Ming army's artillery fire."

Li Zicheng replied in a deep voice: "I know what's going on." Although his voice was calm, it revealed an unquestionable majesty. He knew that he couldn't panic now, and he had to think calmly to find a response.

Jing Changhao also suggested: "I am willing to lead the troops out of the city and fight them in the wild. I don't ask for a big victory, as long as I can take down their artillery positions." There was a firm light in his eyes, and it was obvious that he was ready to fight to the death.

After all, artillery is not only about loading gunpowder shells, but also about aiming and adjusting the angle. If the artillery is gone, the cannon will become a decoration. Li Zicheng had no choice but to agree. He looked at Jing Changhao deeply, and then said, "Go quickly and come back quickly, and be careful." There was a trace of imperceptible concern and worry in his voice.

At noon, the sun shone hotly on the earth, as if even the air was burning. Jing Changhao led 5,000 infantry and cavalry and rushed out of the east gate at lightning speed. They set up their battle formations and prepared to meet the enemy. The cavalry, wearing iron armor and holding spears, rushed forward like a black torrent; the infantry followed closely behind, wearing heavy armor, holding shields, shouting slogans to kill the enemy, and advancing step by step.

Seeing this, the Ming general hurriedly ordered the artillery to stop firing and asked the bird gun soldiers to line up and wait. The sharp and piercing sound of the bird guns broke the tranquility of the sky, and the Shun army's cavalry was shot one after another, blood splattered, and suffered heavy casualties. Jing Changhao saw that the situation was not right and quickly ordered a retreat. But the infantry still held their positions. They shouted slogans, used shields to resist the attacks of the bird guns, and advanced step by step.

However, the power of the bird gun was so great that it could penetrate shields and armor. Although the casualties were heavy, the morale of the Shun army remained undiminished. They shouted slogans to kill the enemy and fought a desperate battle with the Ming army. The two sides fought hand-to-hand, spears against shields, grenades flew everywhere, and the smoke was so thick that nothing could be seen clearly. The offensive was slowly blocked, but the Shun army still held its position and refused to retreat.

Seeing this, Jing Changhao sent cavalry to attack the enemy's flank. However, Jian Mingxiao was well prepared. He ordered the ambush troops to rush out and launched a fierce chase with the Shun army's cavalry. The two armies fought a desperate battle in the wild, with swords flashing and blood flying. Not long after, the Shun army's infantry could not hold on first. They suffered heavy casualties and low morale. The cavalry could not hold on alone and had to retreat back to the city.

Jian Mingxiao saw this and ordered the bombardment of the city wall to continue. The sound of the cannons continued from morning till night, like a never-ending thunder. At night, they strengthened the defense of the camp and dared to sleep peacefully. However, for the Shun army in the city, this night was a long and tormenting one.

The next day, the Ming army came again. They still used the old tactics, first bombarding the city wall with artillery fire, and then sending troops to attack. However, this time the Shun army was defeated even more miserably. The city wall was already crumbling under the artillery fire of the Ming army, and the soldiers defending the city were already exhausted. They tried their best to resist the attack of the Ming army, but in the end they were unable to withstand the fierce offensive of the Ming army.

In the following days, Gao Yigong, Ning Weize and other generals took turns to fight, but none of them succeeded. It was not because the soldiers were incompetent, but because the Ming army had sufficient pay and high morale. In addition, Jian Mingxiao was very smart, so they were always able to accurately find the weaknesses of the Shun army and launch a fierce attack.

On the ninth day of the fifth lunar month, the sky was gloomy, as if foreshadowing an impending disaster. The Ming army once again bombarded the city wall, their artillery fire pouring down like a storm. The wall of Tongguan was made of bricks on the outside and earth on the inside, which was not easy to break. But the Ming army was patient. They concentrated their firepower on one place and slowly knocked down the wall.

The messenger ran to tell Li Zicheng the news. His face was as pale as paper, and he was obviously frightened by the news. "Your Majesty, it's bad! The city wall has collapsed!" His voice was obviously trembling and terrified.

Li Zicheng was startled at first, but soon calmed down. He took a deep breath, and then ordered the entire army to line up outside the east gate and prepare for a decisive battle. His eyes flashed with determination, as if he was ready to fight the Ming army to the death. He knew that this battle was crucial to the survival of Dashun, and he had to go all out to protect this land and the people on this land. (End of this chapter)