Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 712: The brave one wins when we meet on a narrow road
"King Chuang!"

"What's going on ahead?"

"There are government troops blocking the road at the entrance of the valley."

"Government troops? How many people are there?"

"We don't know yet, but there are at least several thousand people. I just noticed something was wrong at the entrance of the valley, so I sent a hundred people to investigate. Only then did we find out that the government troops had set an ambush." ​​Liu Zhe reported truthfully.

Gao Yingxiang nodded slightly. Liu Zhe did the right thing. It was a credit to discover the ambush set by the government troops at the entrance of the valley in advance. If Liu Zhe had been caught off guard and rushed into them head-on, the losses would have been even greater.

Squinting his eyes and looking ahead, Gao Yingxiang felt puzzled. Few people knew that he was leaving Ziwu Valley. Even the army was not notified before entering the valley. Only a few close confidants knew about it.

Apart from Li Zicheng who divided the troops, this news would not leak out at all. As for whether Li Zicheng would betray himself, it was even more impossible. You must know that Li Zicheng was his nephew. Gao Yingxiang had no son, and Li Zicheng was his closest junior. If Gao Yingxiang could conquer the world, Li Zicheng would undoubtedly be the heir. What's more, Gao Yingxiang had been deliberately cultivating Li Zicheng in the past two years. The division of troops this time was to arrange a retreat. Once the Ziwu Valley plan failed, as long as Li Zicheng was there, the rebel army would have a chance to make a comeback.

Before entering Ziwu Valley, Gao Yingxiang deliberately burned down Ziwu Town and looted and killed all the people in Ziwu Town, so the news of his entry into Ziwu Valley could not be leaked at all. But the question is how did the Ming army know that he was in Ziwu Valley? They also set up an ambush at the entrance of Heishui Valley.

Gao Yingxiang's face was very ugly. He never expected that he would encounter a roadblock just when he was about to leave the valley and step onto the land of Guanzhong. The appearance of the Ming army made Gao Yingxiang's heart fall to the valley. He knew that he was facing the greatest danger since he started the army. If he could not get through this hurdle, then he and his army would be completely finished.

"Huang Long (this Huang Long is not Huang Long, the general of Dongjiang Town)!"

"The general is here!"

"You lead your troops to go up from both sides and look for a mountain path that can be used to cross the valley."

"I have obeyed your order!" Huang Long clasped his fists and then turned around to gather his men to set out and explore the way from the mountains on both sides of Heishui Valley.

After Huang Long left, Gao Yingxiang asked Liu Zhe to take him to the front to take a look. Soon they arrived at a mile away from the valley entrance. Hiding behind a rock, Gao Yingxiang stared at the valley entrance and his heart sank. The Ming army at the valley entrance was on high alert. Not only had they set up defense lines and simple fortifications, but they also carried many firearms, several of which were clearly visible.

As for the banners used by the Ming army, they were even more clear. On them was the word "Sun" written, and next to them were the banners "Governor of Shaanxi of the Ming Dynasty", "Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty", and "Left Censor-in-Chief of the Ming Dynasty". Seeing this, Gao Yingxiang understood who his opponent was. It was clearly Sun Chuanting.

In addition to Sun Chuanting's flag, there was also a flag with the character "Gao". When Gao Yingxiang saw this flag, his eyes were full of fire. He certainly knew that Sun Chuanting had a general named Gao Jie, and that Gao Jie had once been his subordinate and served as a logistics officer under Li Zicheng.

Who would have thought that Gao Jie suddenly rebelled against Li Zicheng when he defeated Zuo Liangyu's army, and led his troops to Shanxi to join the Ming army. This traitor not only betrayed himself and Li Zicheng, but also abducted Li Zicheng's wife, that is, abducted Gao Yingxiang's nephew's wife.

Now this rascal Gao Jie has run away and become a general under Sun Chuanting. He is also leading his troops to block Gao Yingxiang at the entrance of Heishui Valley. If possible, Gao Yingxiang would like to capture Gao Jie and tear him into pieces.

Trying hard to calm himself down, Gao Yingxiang knew that this was a critical moment and he must not let other things cloud his mind.

Shaking his head and putting aside all those distracting thoughts about Gao Jie, Gao Yingxiang continued to look at the deployment of the Ming army at Yukou. The more he looked, the more he frowned. The number of the Ming army on the opposite side was just as Liu Zhe had reported, and since Sun Chuanting was here, most of his Shaanxi army should be here too.

Sun Chuanting has become quite famous in Shaanxi in recent years. Although Gao Yingxiang has not had many direct battles with Sun Chuanting, many rebel leaders have been defeated by Sun Chuanting, including those who had their heads chopped off by Sun Chuanting.

It can be said that Sun Chuanting's hands are stained with the blood of the rebels and he is an out-and-out executioner. This man not only knows military affairs, but is also experienced in using them. Now that he has reached the entrance of Heishui Valley, it is not easy to break through the obstruction.

"King Chuang, what should we do now?" Liu Zhe beside him couldn't help but ask.

Gao Yingxiang thought for a moment and said, "No hurry. Wait for the news from Huang Long and see if we can get around it from both sides..."

As soon as these words came out, the rumbling sound of firearms came from afar, and at the same time there was a faint sound of fighting. Hearing these sounds, Gao Yingxiang's face was as gloomy as water. It seemed that Huang Long had encountered the Ming army. The Ming army had made arrangements long ago and set up a dragnet here. Not only did they send troops to block the entrance to the valley, but they also did not let go of the high ground on both sides of the valley entrance, just waiting for Gao Yingxiang to fall into the trap.

Gao Yingxiang led Liu Zhe back first. Not long after they returned, Huang Long, with a wound on his head, ran back. Huang Long told Gao Yingxiang that there were ambushes of the Ming army on both sides of the valley entrance, and there were quite a few of them. He and his men had just climbed halfway when the Ming army on top showed up. Without even saying hello, they directly attacked with Portuguese and muskets, and kept shooting arrows down. His brothers were killed and wounded in an instant, and even Huang Long himself was injured. Gao Yingxiang asked Huang Long if he could see how many Ming troops there were and whose flags they were flying. Huang Long said there were at least several thousand Ming troops. As for the flags they were flying, he only saw the big flag with the word "Hong" on it, and he couldn't see the other flags clearly. At that time, he was below and the Ming army was above, occupying the terrain and had no way to fight back. Huang Long was in a hurry and didn't have time to run, so how could he have time to observe more?

When Gao Yingxiang learned that there was a big banner with the word "Hong" on it, his face turned pale. If he guessed correctly, the big banner with the word "Hong" on it should belong to Hong Chengchou.

Hong Chengchou was the governor-general of the three borders of Shaanxi. In terms of official position, his position was higher than that of Sun Chuanting, but Sun Chuanting was also the left vice minister of the Ministry of War, so the two were of the same rank.

Hong Chengchou was not easy to deal with. He was treacherous and cunning, but also good at leading troops. Over the years, he and Sun Chuanting had cooperated with each other and almost wiped out the rebel army in Shaanxi. Now not only Sun Chuanting had come, but even Hong Chengchou had come. The Ming army clearly intended to destroy him here. If he could not break the situation and find a way out, Heishui Valley would probably be the place where Gao Yingxiang would die.

Looking up at the mountains on both sides and looking towards the valley entrance again, Gao Yingxiang was a little confused for a moment. He was so proud of himself yesterday, but in the blink of an eye he fell into such a desperate situation. What should he do?

"King Chuang, why don't we turn around and go back to Ziwu Valley?" Liu Zhe suggested.

Although these people came from humble backgrounds, they had all fought in many battles. Those who were incapable of fighting had already become qualified generals after following Gao Yingxiang in his campaigns across the Ming Dynasty for so many years.

The road ahead was blocked, and both sides had already prepared for it. The army was trapped in Heishui Valley and in danger. Liu Zhe felt that there was little chance of a frontal breakthrough, so if it didn't work, he would turn back and retreat directly to Ziwu Valley, just like when he came here, heading south from Ziwu Valley, and then return to the Hanzhong area to make plans.

"Go back to Ziwu Valley? Old Liu! This is a dead end!" Huang Long immediately objected, "We only brought less than a month's worth of food and fodder into Ziwu Valley, and most of it has already been used up. Let's not talk about whether the remaining food and fodder can support our army's return. Even if it is enough, don't you know how difficult this road is?"

"Besides, our whereabouts are already determined. Even if we return, who can guarantee that the government troops will not set up an ambush in the south? Ziwu Valley has an exit in the north and south. If the government troops block both ends, you and I will be trapped. By that time, the army will be exhausted and have no food. We don't need to fight, and the army will all disperse."

Liu Zhe was suddenly speechless. Huang Long was right. He had only thought of one side but not the other.

How difficult is the Ziwu Valley to walk through? How could Liu Zhe, who had just walked through it, not know it? Moreover, their whereabouts had been exposed, and the army had been blocked in the Black Water Valley. If they turned back, it would probably be a dead end. By that time, the army would be in a worse situation, lacking medicine and food. Once the Ming army in the south was also prepared, they would collapse without a fight.

"Fight! There is only one way now! Fight!"

Gao Yingxiang's eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "We have no way to retreat. If we retreat, we will die. If we want to survive, we have to fight back, break through the government troops' blockade, and rush out of the valley!"

"Liu Zhe! Huang Long!"

"The general is here!"

"Pass on my military order! Lead your brothers to attack the valley entrance fiercely. The bravest will win when two meet on a narrow road! I, Gao Yingxiang, started an uprising in Yingtian to seek a way out for the people. I deserve the protection of God. If God has eyes, he will never let us be trapped and defeated here! Kill! Kill them out! Kill them out!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Liu Zhe and Huang Long were also ruthless men who had crawled out of the sea of ​​blood and corpses. Gao Yingxiang made it clear that the only way to survive was to fight their way out. The bravest of the two sides will win when they meet on a narrow road! Only by defeating the Ming army at the front of the valley would they all have a chance to escape. Once they were defeated, everything would be over.

Having made up his mind, Gao Yingxiang placed all his hopes on defeating the Ming army at Yukou head-on and fighting his way out.

He personally supervised the battle, appointed Liu Zhe and Huang Long as generals, and led the troops to launch a fierce attack on the Ming army at the entrance of the valley.

When Gao Yingxiang's troops began to attack, Gao Jie was overjoyed, for he knew that the opportunity to make meritorious service had come. He had already made preparations. Gao Jie led his troops to fight, and relying on the defense line and the firearms in his hands, he fought back and forth with the rebels. In just one hour, he repelled two charges by Gao Yingxiang's troops and killed and wounded hundreds of Gao Yingxiang's men.

But as time went by, Gao Jie felt something was wrong. Gao Yingxiang's army was simply going crazy, rushing towards his line wave after wave like the sea. The battle was becoming more and more intense. Even though Gao Jie had firearms in his hands, he could not stand it anymore. You know, firearms need to be loaded before they can be fired, and most of the firearms used by the Ming army were of poor quality. They had to rest after fighting for a while, otherwise the firearms would easily explode.

Gao Jie's army had never experienced such a fierce war, especially as there were many newly trained Shaanxi troops in the army. Most of them were on the battlefield for the first time and had never seen such a scene. Seeing corpses everywhere and the enemy still fighting fearlessly, some timid soldiers were immediately scared out of their wits. They even dropped their weapons and turned around and fled with their heads in their hands.

(End of this chapter)