In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1028 A Hundred Steps, A Willow Branch Shooting Through; Everyone Like a Dragon

Just as Gong Xianzhi and his two brothers disappeared into the western mountain valley, dusk completely fell.

The wind at Luomapo stung people's faces.

The campfire in the camp gradually lit up.

The dim light reflected off the mountain wall, casting long shadows that added to the eeriness of the place.

Xu Zengshou didn't go back to his tent. Instead, he stood on the high platform in the middle of the camp, his gaze sweeping over every campfire.

Li Fangying patrolled the perimeter of the camp with her personal guards.
The steady sound of horses' hooves brings a sense of peace.

But Xu Zengshou's unease grew stronger.
Gong Xianzhi was right, Luomapo is a dead end.
If the rebels come, they will surely be coming for a night attack. With this terrain, we can easily trap them here!

"General!"

A hurried shout came from the western mountain pass.

Xu Zengshou turned around abruptly and saw Zhao Er running towards him, covered in mud, followed by another scout soldier.

Their shirts were torn by branches and leaves, and their faces were covered in grass clippings.

His eyes, however, shone with an astonishing brightness, clearly indicating that he had made a significant discovery.

"Checked it out?"

Xu Zengshou strode down from the platform, his voice kept very low.

Zhao Er bent down to catch his breath, then pulled a piece of cloth covered in mud from his pocket and handed it over:
"General, someone is hiding in the ravine!"

We found traces in three places.

The earliest hoof print is from two days ago; the saddle nails are severely worn, a standard military practice.

Among the embers of the campfire from the day before, there were fragments of military rations and dried apricot pits.
This item is military supplies, which are in short supply even in the military, and are definitely not available to civilians.

There are also fresh footprints from today, resembling both military boots and rain boots; it's impossible to determine what they are for the time being.
But on just the mountain road on the east side, there were hundreds of pairs of cars, densely packed together!

Ordinary laborers and commoners wouldn't need to go up the mountain at all!

Another soldier added:

"Deep in the mountain valley, there is a cave, the entrance of which is hidden by vines."
We didn't dare go closer, but we could hear noises inside; it was most likely Kuramachi.

Xu Zengshou gripped the piece of cloth, his face instantly darkening. All his previous doubts vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

"It seems there are quite a few people."

At this moment, Gong Xianzhi also returned, clutching a broken arrow shaft in his hand, on which were engraved the two characters "Zhongdu":

"General, this was found in the mud near the cave. It's a standard-issue arrow from the Zhongdu Garrison."

Zhongdu Garrison Command!
Xu Zengshou's breath hitched.

Born into a top noble family, he had long heard of the turmoil in the capital.

Zhou Dexing, the current garrison commander of Zhongdu and Marquis of Jiangxia, is suspected to be one of the leaders of the rebel faction, controlling nearly 50,000 elite troops in Zhongdu.
If it really was the garrison commander lying in ambush, how could they possibly escape from such a deadly place?

Calming himself down, Xu Zengshou nodded, his gaze sweeping across the camp:
"They are lying in ambush on the border of Fengyang, but remain inactive during the day. It seems that they still have concerns."

Gong Xianzhi's expression was solemn:
"General, those who betray their cause deserve to be punished!"

After nightfall, when the wealthy households are sound asleep and the soldiers are off guard,
If they can block the north and south mountain passes and then rush down from the ravine, we'll be completely at a disadvantage.
If the camp falls into disarray, we will suffer heavy losses.

"Yes."

Xu Zengshou let out a long sigh of relief and looked at Gong Xianzhi:

"However, their failure to make a move during the march gave us an opportunity."

Musketeers were originally intended to be deployed in a dispersed manner, but now they can be concentrated and deployed!
The order was given: the two hundred musketeers were to be divided into two teams, fifty men to guard the south gate and fifty men to guard the north gate.
The remaining one hundred men waited in the center of the camp.

We'll provide support once we determine the direction of the main rebel force; after all, the camp isn't very big.

In addition, five hundred soldiers were dispatched to settle the wealthy households.
Once war breaks out, we must not allow them to lose their composure.

Go and inform Li Fangying and let her handle this matter.

After the war begins, any wealthy household that moves about without authorization will be treated as a traitor!

"Yes, General! I'll make the arrangements right away!"

Gong Xianzhi agreed readily, turned around and walked away quickly, soon disappearing into the shadow of the campfire.

Xu Zengshou then summoned the junior officer in charge of logistics:

Extinguish all the extra torches, leaving only basic lighting.

Since it's the army of Zhongdu, they must have reconnaissance equipment like telescopes. If the camp is too brightly lit, our deployment will be exposed at a glance.

"Yes!"

Subsequently, Xu Zengshou summoned the main generals of the two thousand elite troops and arranged defense matters one by one.

After doing all this, he returned to the high platform, silently gazing at the camp, but there was no smile on his lips, only a solemn expression.

This is the first time he has served as the head coach on his own.

Despite the best possible planning,

The overwhelming pressure still left him breathless.

He admired those generals who led troops even more now; such a task was truly not something an ordinary person could handle.

Meanwhile, night fell.

Deep in the western ravine, the vines outside the cave were gently parted.

A figure emerged; it was Zou Chuanqiao.

He was wearing a black brocade robe and holding a brass telescope, gazing towards the camp.

The lens reflected the campfire light, making his eyes appear crimson and the wrinkles on his face seem even deeper.

"Father, everything is arranged. Three thousand brothers are on standby everywhere, and the warhorses have been fed and are ready to charge out at any time."

Zou Zeyang followed behind, dressed in rusty black armor, holding a spear in his hand, his brows furrowed, his tone hesitant.

Zou Chuanqiao lowered his binoculars and snorted coldly:
"Just wait once everything is arranged, what's the rush?"
Just after midnight is when people are most tired; only then can one strike with absolute certainty.

He pointed to the torches in the camp:

“Look at that kid Xu Zengshou, he has no sense of caution at all. It’s so dark and windy, and he doesn’t even light a torch.”

Zou Zeyang looked in the direction he pointed and could vaguely see figures moving about in the camp, which deepened his unease.
"Dad, aren't we taking too much of a risk?"

"These three thousand brothers are all veterans who have retired from the army. They all have wives, children, and elderly parents at home. If they lose..."

Zou Chuanqiao interrupted him, his eyes instantly turning fierce:
"We can't afford to lose anymore!"
A few days ago, I believed He Zicheng's nonsense and thought I could make a fortune, but Lu Yunyi ruined everything and my family lost most of our money!

Now the imperial court is going to relocate wealthy households to Guanzhong, cutting off our source of income in the capital.
If we don't give it our all now, we're really finished!

Remember this, this isn't just about our family; it's about all the powerful and influential people in the capital region!
If this succeeds, our Zou family will surely have smooth sailing from now on, and we will be treated with respect wherever we go.

Even if I die, the Zou family will not fall.
"If you weren't so incompetent, why would I, at my age, have to suffer like this!"

Zou Zeyang's face was bitter. He sighed, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes:

"I understand, Father. This time, we will definitely succeed!"

Zou Chuanqiao smiled with satisfaction and patted him on the back:

"This is the true bloodline of my Zou family!"
Let the brothers check the weapons one more time.
At midnight, first block the south and north entrances, then the rest of you charge forward!
Xu Zengshou, with his wealthy followers, can't really maneuver; we're bound to win!

Zou Zeyang thought about it and also felt that the chances of winning were extremely high, so he nodded vigorously:
"I'll go and relay the order right away!"

Zou Chuanqiao raised his binoculars again, looked at the camp, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips.

The night wind swept through the mountain valley, carrying a biting chill that revealed the greed in his eyes.

The imperial court's plan to move the capital and disrupt people's path to wealth is absolutely impossible!

Just after midnight, the wind at Luomapo suddenly changed its smell.

Previously carrying the astringent smell of leaves, it now carried a faint, almost imperceptible, scent of sweat—the tense atmosphere of thousands of people holding their breath in ambush.

The campfire in the camp had mostly gone out.

Only a few embers struggled in the wind, as if everyone had fallen asleep.

In the front camp, the dim firelight barely illuminated the soldiers' armor plates, which gleamed with a cold, hard luster. Xu Zengshou stood on the earthen slope of the front camp, his hand tightly gripping his long sword.

Mao Wenhao, standing beside him, was clad in iron armor, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed on the direction of the mountain pass to the north.

The surrounding Yingtian Guard soldiers were half-squatting on the ground.

As the wind gently blew by, and the flames leaped up, you could see the tension on their young faces.

Many of these people were sons of noble families; people in the capital often called them "spoiled brats."

They only know how to show off in Yingtian City; they can't fight tough battles.
Xu Zengshou took a deep breath, took two steps forward, and spoke in a low voice that every soldier could hear:

"Brothers, your fathers were all meritorious officials who shed blood and sweat for the Ming Dynasty and made great contributions to the country."

You inherited hereditary official positions, but people in the capital always say we're just spoiled brats.

They said we couldn't carry guns or charge into battle, and could only rely on our families' favors to get by.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the young faces:
"Today, the rebels are just outside the mountain pass."
They want to kill the wealthy, cut off the path to relocating the capital, and even more so, slap the face of our Yingtianwei!
Today we'll show everyone what we've got.

The Yingtian Guard has no pampered soldiers, only Ming soldiers who dare to fight and win battles!

As soon as the words were spoken, the soldiers below the earthen slope looked up instantly, their tension fading and replaced by a surge of excitement.

Mao Wenhao stepped forward and said loudly:
"The general is right! Today, let us use the blood of the traitors to wash away the stain of the pampered soldiers!"

The soldiers didn't reply, but instead gripped their long swords and spears tightly.
The atmosphere in the camp grew increasingly tense and oppressive.

Just then, a hurried shout came from the western watchtower:
"General! There are figures at the mountain pass to the north!"

Xu Zengshou suddenly looked up at the watchtower.
The junior officer in charge of observation was holding up a telescope, his body ramrod straight.

"There's someone here! There's someone!"
"so many people!"

"So many people! They're moving towards the mountain pass, nearly a thousand!"

Xu Zengshou strode to the watchtower and took the telescope that was handed to him.

In the lens, a dense mass of figures could be seen moving about in the shadows of the mountain pass to the north, like a pack of lurking wild beasts, creeping toward the camp under the cover of night.

Just as he was about to order a state of alert, a small fire suddenly appeared at the mountain pass.

Following that, the second and third points
Countless torches suddenly burst into flame, spreading along the dirt road at the mountain pass.
Like a burning dragon, it instantly illuminated half the night sky!

"kill!"

A deafening roar of battle cries surged in along with the torches.
There was also the dense sound of horses' hooves, thumping and clattering on the dirt road, as if trying to crack the ground.

The tense atmosphere in the air was instantly replaced by the stench of blood.

Xu Zengshou was somewhat taken aback; how could it be so blunt?

His anticipated covert exploration and stealthy breach of defenses did not occur.
They actually charged straight at us in a blatant attack!

In an instant, he realized what was happening, and his voice suddenly rose in pitch:
"Enemy attack! Form ranks!"

"Shield bearers in front, pikemen following, archers nocking arrows, musketeers aiming at the enemy general!"

Military orders are like pebbles thrown into still water, instantly creating ripples.

The shield bearer, carrying a square shield, rushed to the north side of the camp and slammed the shield into the ground with a clang.

The shields are joined together by snap-fit ​​mechanisms, instantly forming a black shield wall.

The pikemen crouched low, extending their pikes through the gaps in the shields.

The spearhead pointed at the mountain pass, gleaming with a chilling light.

The archers retreated behind the spearmen.

He holds the bow in his left hand, nocks an arrow in his right, and draws the bowstring taut like a full moon.

Finally, the one hundred flintlock musketeers split into two teams.

Kneeling on the slightly higher slope,
They carried flintlock muskets that were almost longer than a person.

It gleamed coldly in the moonlight, exuding the unique ferocity of refined iron.

The silver light shone on their faces, which were filled with focus and a chilling intensity.

Mao Wenhao rode his horse back and forth in front of the battle lines, shouting loudly:

"Hold your ground! The rebels are just numerous, nothing to be afraid of! Shield bearers, don't retreat! Pikemen, watch your step!"

Xu Zengshou also mounted his horse, gripping the whip, his eyes fixed on the approaching rebel army.

The rebel army ranks could be clearly seen in the firelight.

The front row consisted of infantrymen wielding swords and axes, the rear row of cavalry, and some men carrying siege ladders.

This scene slightly surprised Xu Zengshou.
What kind of battle tactic is this? Infantry in front, cavalry behind?
At this moment, Mao Wenhao's shout cleared up his doubts:
"Everyone hold your ground! They want to break through the stockade first before charging in!"

"If they can hold off the vanguard infantry, their cavalry will be severely weakened!"

Xu Zengshou's face showed understanding, and he patted his forehead with some regret, instantly recalling the family's educational records.
Infantrymen are skilled in battle, cavalrymen are skilled in killing.

Using cavalry to break through enemy lines and storm out camps is a tactic employed by top generals and is extremely rare.

But the battles he participated in were all commanded by top generals of the Ming Dynasty.

The cavalry's methods of breaking through enemy lines were so common that when they suddenly saw the deployment of an ordinary general, they were momentarily at a loss.

"General!"

The guard's low shout brought Xu Zengshou back to his senses, and the confusion in his eyes was instantly replaced by sharpness.

He looked toward the center of the rebel cavalry formation, where several men in strange armor were waving whips and giving orders; they were clearly rebel generals.

"Flintlock muskets, listen up!"

Xu Zengshou reined in his horse, his voice piercing through the shouts of battle:
"Aim at the rebel generals, and those who wield whips and raise command flags! Kill the generals first, so they're leaderless!"

The flag officer of the flintlock musket squad quickly responded:

"Yes!"

He turned to the soldiers behind him and shouted:

"Squad 1, Squad 2, prepare for volley fire! Three people per group, be sure to aim accurately!"

Boom boom boom!
The sound of horses' hooves grew closer, and everyone could see the ferocity on the rebels' faces.

The infantry at the front, swords raised, charged toward the shield wall with a roar, the sound of their horses' hooves making one's heart race.

Several young shield bearers instinctively shrank back, only to be shoved hard by the older soldiers beside them.
"Don't panic! Hold on!"

Five hundred steps, three hundred steps, two hundred steps!

Just as everyone was adjusting their breathing and preparing to cope with the impact,

Bang!
A soft sound came from behind.

Many people turned around abruptly; the sound came from the direction of those strange musketeers.

The crossbowman was stunned and almost cursed, "Why are you firing from so far away!"

But the next moment!
bang bang bang-

The silver flintlock musket exploded like a firecracker in the night.
The crackling and popping sounds continued, and the flames flickered continuously.

The sound was deeper and more deadly than an arrow; the bullet, sparking, hurtled straight at the rebel general.

Just as a rebel centurion in red armor raised his whip, a bullet struck him in the chest, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood and freeze instantly.

Before he could fall off his horse, another bullet slammed into his head, and another bullet grazed his side.

This is the pinpoint killing technique for flintlock muskets.

Three people per group, each shooting one person to ensure absolute safety!
As expected, the general fell from his horse and was instantly buried under the horse's hooves.

Beside him, another flag officer wielding a long sword,
His arm was pierced by a bullet, and most of his neck was severed.
He was incredibly lucky; the last bullet even pierced his abdomen.
Zou Zeyang was stunned when he saw this scene. Who was making this move?
He immediately looked up at the steep mountain peaks on both sides, where there was only darkness.
Where is the enemy?

"General, be careful!" The personal guard beside him immediately spotted the flames erupting from the enemy's battle formation and pulled Zou Zeyang to crouch down.
It was only then that Zou Zeyang realized that the enemy's attack was actually coming from the battle formation, and his heart was instantly filled with shock.

What kind of bow is this? How can it shoot two hundred paces?
However, Zou Zeyang quickly realized what was happening. He abruptly stood up, drew his long sword, and shouted:
"Brothers, don't be afraid, charge! Break through the stronghold!"
"kill--"

(End of this chapter)