In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 700 Capturing the Marquis and Locking Up the General, Bloody Battle at Lingchuan Slope
Mei Yi was arrested and imprisoned in a barracks in the front of the military camp, where ten soldiers kept a close watch on him.

Zhao Zunian, however, did not receive such favorable treatment.
He was imprisoned in the cell that was originally used to house prisoners of war.

Ten soldiers, each holding a long spear, watched intently.

As for the more than one hundred soldiers who followed, they have all been captured.

Such actions could not be kept secret from the many officers in the army, nor even from the soldiers.

However, although they were somewhat uneasy,

But they all felt a sense of exhilaration at having gotten their revenge, and some even secretly cheered!

Morale actually improved somewhat.

After finishing his tasks, Yao Xiujie returned to the central command barracks.

The further he walked, the more fear gripped him, and his face showed unease.

"Sir, is this really a good idea?"

Huang Yingzhi was much calmer, and spoke softly:
"When I was a general in the army, I had six different superiors, all of whom were killed by some of my brothers."

There's no reason why I wouldn't dare to do what I did when I was in a humble position back then.
Since Mei Yi is colluding with foreign enemies, what good will it do to arrest him?

"It might be difficult to explain to the imperial court."

"We have to take things one step at a time. Let's get past this hurdle first."
We don't know where the grain in Liaodong has been hidden, and we're on the border again.

They can't fight, they can't leave.
The imperial court is too far away to intervene; it has no jurisdiction over us.

Huang Yingzhi looked tired and waved his hand impatiently.
However, his eyes gradually hardened:

"Withdraw the brothers from Qingyang Fort on the right flank."
"Let Qi Jingfeng and his three thousand men take over. If he doesn't go, then leave him alone."

Yao Xiujie's expression changed as a gap appeared.
This will not only bring about changes in one place, but will also have a global impact.

It's possible that Lingchuanpo and Zhenyibao, located in the center, will be implicated.

However, Huang Yingzhi offered him some comfort:
"Don't worry, this is still Liaodong. If Liaodong truly falls..."

The first to suffer will be these local generals; we'll be at the back of the list, he'll be there.

With that said, Yao Xiujie felt relieved and quickly sent someone to relay the order.

After doing all this, he returned to the barracks.

In the short span of about fifteen minutes, he discovered that the adult had actually fallen asleep in the chair.

Yao Xiujie habitually slowed down.

But the slight stomping sound still woke Huang Yingzhi up.

He opened his eyes groggily, his vision still somewhat blurry.
After realizing he had fallen asleep, he laughed.

"I'm getting old, and my health isn't what it used to be."

Yao Xiujie quickly stepped forward:
"Sir, the military order to procure grain has been issued and stamped with Mei Yi's seal. Can the grain really be procured?"

"Whether we can get them to agree or not, we should still try. We're like trapped animals now, so we shouldn't be stingy with our methods."

Huang Yingzhi sat up, rubbing her temples, and whispered the instructions:
"At dusk, we launched a preemptive attack on the Jurchen camp ahead."
Before the army's morale collapsed, they seized the Jurchens' food supplies.
Tell the brothers in the army about this.
If we don't fight this battle with all our might, we'll all die sooner or later if we run out of food.

Yao Xiujie's face was solemn, and his whole body exuded a chilling murderous aura.
"My lord, this humble general is willing to serve as the vanguard and be the first to break through the camp."

"Yes, we must go all out in this battle and make full use of all the military supplies we brought."

Don't skimp on gunpowder, rockets, and arrows.

Even with a do-or-die mentality, they still have the strength to fight.
If this drags on, the Jurchens will eventually gain the upper hand.

"Yes!"

"Go get ready."

Huang Yingzhi waved his hand, and Yao Xiujie responded with a "yes" before quickly walking away!

After he left, Huang Yingzhi drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

Feeling much more awake, he looked at his personal guard beside him and gave the order:
"Put on my armor and go see that Marquis of Runan."

"Yes!"

The Marquis of Runan sat on his bed, filled with remorse.

He felt that he should never have come to the Tianjinwei camp with only a hundred or so men.

Now, such a promising situation has been squandered.
He was trapped here, with no chance to move even if he wanted to.

Mei Yi's breathing quickened, and he glanced discreetly at the ten soldiers standing in the barracks.
A pair of eyes seemed fixed on him.
"call"

A sudden surge of irritation welled up in Mei Yi's heart, and he regretfully slapped his thigh.
I was careless.

He was like a bird trapped in a cage at that moment.
The world is so vast, there's so much to explore.
But the prerequisite is to escape the cage that traps him.

Just as he was pounding his chest and stamping his feet, so angry that he was almost going crazy, the sound of footsteps and the clanging of armor rang out.

Soon, a familiar figure lifted the curtain of the military tent and walked in; it was Huang Yingzhi.

Mei Yiteng stood up abruptly, his face contorted with rage at the sight of his enemy:
"Huang Yingzhi! Do you know what you're doing?"
"You've illegally imprisoned nobles of the imperial court; how many heads do you have left to lose!"

Despite his shouting, Huang Yingzhi's expression remained unchanged.

He simply sat down on the chair behind the soldier and silently watched him.

"Da Ning once sent several official letters to Liaodong inquiring about border matters."

"You, the General of Liaodong, deliberately didn't reply, didn't you?"

Mei Yi paused for a moment in his tirade, then continued cursing:

"Huang Yingzhi, this is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan!"

"I am a hereditary nobleman, my fate is intertwined with the fate of the nation, how dare you act like this?!"

Seeing that he was still shouting, Huang Yingzhi rubbed her temples in annoyance.

He found the young marquis in front of him rather difficult to talk to, as if he couldn't understand what he was saying.

"My lord, if you keep making such a racket, I'm leaving."

Mei Yi's breathing was rapid, and his heavy voice echoed in the military tent, but he eventually quieted down.

"Huang Yingzhi, now that you've realized your mistake, I can pretend I didn't know anything!"

“My lord, now that you have realized your mistake, I can pretend I knew nothing about the shady dealings you have done.”

Huang Yingzhi did not back down and then said:

"As a border town, Liaodong receives an unknown amount of grain from Beiping every year."

Based on my records of overseeing the grain transport,

The grain transported each year is enough to feed the military and civilians for two years.
This was to prevent a sudden outbreak of war and a surge in consumption.

There is now no food on the Liaodong border.
To put it nicely, it was Mei Yi who neglected his duties.
To put it bluntly, Mei Yi is colluding with foreign powers.

As for what it was, the Marquis had traveled all over the country and seen many things.
Your little tricks might fool others, but now that the real deal is here, you still want to fool them?

They really don't take us old folks seriously.

Huang Yingzhi looked at him with some emotion, but seeing that he still looked unconvinced, she felt somewhat helpless:

"This general does not know what made the Marquis do this."
However, it should be related to the Marquis of Yan'an returning to the capital, because he was reluctant to give up his power in Liaodong.
It was meant to tell the imperial court,
"Can't Liaodong do without him? Or is there something else?"

Hearing a series of questions, Mei Yi finally understood the reality.
The ferocity on his face gradually faded, and he sat there, utterly despondent.
The feeling of regret was almost uncontrollable.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
If you have anything to say, then speak to the imperial court.
"I'd like to see what your excuse is."

Huang Yingzhi's white beard fluttered in the wind, and he chuckled softly:
"My lord, I am originally from Huguang."

"kindness?"

Mei Yi was taken aback, wondering why he suddenly brought this up.

"The four vice commissioners and one commander of Beiping, besides myself,
Three of them were from the Huai River region, and one was from Henan province.

The mobilization of ten thousand elite troops by the Marquis of Runan is no small matter.
This was originally a canal transport official who hadn't fought a war in over a decade.
How could such an opportunity arise? Don't you think about the key point?

Mei Yi's expression changed. He wasn't stupid; he immediately understood what he meant.

"The imperial court sent me, the assistant commissioner of the grain transport, to prevent anyone from colluding with Liaodong."

My lord, your situation is far more dire than mine.

When the matter is sent to the imperial court, it's uncertain whose version of events the palace and the governor's office will accept.

Mei Yi's expression changed again. He stood up abruptly, his face contorted with rage!
"This marquisate is hereditary and will never be replaced. My family possesses an iron certificate of merit, and I will live and die with the nation!"

"The imperial court doesn't trust me, so why would they trust an outsider like you?"

Huang Yingzhi shook her head:
You have completely disgraced the Marquis of Runan's family.
"You can't handle things well, you can't even see the situation clearly, and you still dare to defy the imperial court. Young Marquis, you're going to die from your stupidity!"

The more Mei Yi spoke, the angrier he became, baring his teeth and claws as if to pounce.

But the soldiers on both sides held him firmly, not allowing him to advance an inch!
"Huhu."

Mei Yi quickly realized Huang Yingzhi's Achilles' heel, and looked at him with bloodshot eyes:
"You should first withstand the Jurchen attack before we talk about anything else."

Without provisions, how many days can you last?

Huang Yingzhi was so angry he laughed. He glanced at it lightly, a hint of mockery in his eyes:

"Young Marquis, you'd better hope that the elite troops of Tianjin can hold out for a few more days."
If we are driven to desperation, you will be the first one we kill.

Mei Yi's expression suddenly changed drastically!

An inexplicable sense of solemnity crept into the military tent!

"Yes, Tianjin is about to fall. How can I possibly survive?"

Mei Yi was also asking himself this question in his heart.

The answer was obvious, but he dared not think about it; his face simply turned grim.

Huang Yingzhi slowly stood up:
"I didn't want to get involved in the disputes in Liaodong."

But now that I'm involved, I have nothing to fear.

Even if my more than ten thousand brothers risk their lives, they can still fight their way out.
Furthermore, I have already ordered someone to write a document, affix your official seal, and send it to the rear.

If the young marquis wants to live, he can only hope that supplies will arrive from the rear.

After saying that, Huang Yingzhi turned and left.
Mei Yi's expression shifted rapidly. Seeing that half of his body had already slipped out, he quickly spoke:
"and many more!"

"Does the young marquis have anything to say?"

"The grain and fodder were stored in Tielingwei."

Mei Yi spoke with some resentment, clenching his fists tightly and gritting his teeth.

"Ah"

Huang Yingzhi chuckled softly:
"Then the young marquis should hope that they will send the provisions."
If they can't deliver it, I'll defeat the Jurchens before me and then go and steal it myself."

Without giving Mei Yi another chance to speak, Huang Yingzhi left the military tent.
Leaving the military tent, looking at the gloomy weather outside,
Huang Yingzhi felt much more at ease, at least knowing where the supplies were.

Tielingwei is neither too far nor too near; it can be reached in two days by fast horse.
As for turning the blade against one's own people, that's a last resort.

Taking a deep breath, Huang Yingzhi's previously calm state of mind suddenly became agitated.
He kicked the wooden bucket that was placed to the side and cursed loudly:
"What kind of mess is this? Can't we even live in peace? Damn it!"

As evening approached, the sun was about to set.
The entire camp was filled with cooking smoke, and the aroma kept spreading outwards.

After the fragrance completely disappeared
All the Tianjin garrison soldiers looked satisfied.
After several days, I finally got to eat a full meal.

Although eating too much before the war can affect physical agility and mental state,

But at this moment, Tianjin Wei still had no scruples.
The ensuing battle will be a fight to the death.

Around 5 PM, at 1:15 PM

The dull sound of bugles echoed throughout the Lingchuanpo camp, converging on the center from all directions.

The soldier, who had been sitting lazily on the ground, sighed and smiled wryly.

He looked at his fellow villagers and colleagues beside him, and slowly stood up.

it is more than words.

The older soldier patted the younger man on the shoulder without saying a word.
But it was inspiring.
After this battle, some people may never be able to return.
This meeting today may be the last one in this life.

Somber, bleak, and somber.
Three distinct atmospheres emerged in the military camp, one of silence carrying a sense of oppression.

On the open ground of the camp, squads of soldiers gathered and formed a dense and orderly square formation.

The setting sun cast its last rays upon them, leaving behind a final glow.
It illuminated their emotionally charged eyes and their dry, cracked cheeks.

On one side of the infantry formation, more than two thousand cavalrymen began to assemble.
The cavalrymen did not immediately mount their horses, but instead carried out final preparations.

Comb the horse's mane, groom its tail, and clean its nose and hooves.
On the battlefield, warhorses are the cavalry's sharpest weapon.
When they are happy, their cavalry's combat power can increase by several times, and they can even save their lives in critical moments.

Some soldiers pulled out a handful of beans from their pockets.
Without a word, he stuffed it into the warhorse's mouth, then covered the horse's mouth and whispered:

"Eat slowly, no rush. Nobody's watching."

The warhorse looked very happy; its eyes were narrowed.
Long eyelashes fluttered, and white mist wafted from her nose.

Time flies, and precious moments always pass quickly.

The melodious and gentle bugle call began to turn urgent and desolate.

With a somber atmosphere, everyone looked towards the high platform.

They knew it was time to go to war.

At the four corners of the camp, in front of the large drums, four strongmen dressed in red, holding drumsticks, walked closer!
Without sparing any effort, they slammed the drumsticks hard onto the drumhead.
"Boom-"

"Boom boom boom——"

The drumbeats grew more frequent, the sound becoming increasingly solemn and dignified.

The soldiers' faces also turned serious, their eyes fixed on the camp gate ahead.

Huang Yingzhi stood on the high platform of the northern camp, drew his long sword, and spoke in a hoarse voice into the loudspeaker:

"Brothers, we've come all the way to Liaodong, not to suffer humiliation here!"

"Don't you agree?!"

"Yes--"

"Now, the person who stabbed us in the back has been brought to justice."
"If we want comfort, all we have left is the Jurchen enemy army ahead. Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid-"

The sound was deafening, and long swords flew like a forest!

The setting sun seemed to be drawn to this scene, slowing its pace.
"Today, we, the elite of Tianjin,
We must annihilate all these Jurchens who are colluding with us from within!"

Huang Yingzhi raised his long sword high, his voice solemn:
"We must be ruthless towards the enemy, killing them whenever possible, just to make our brothers feel good!"

"Kill the enemy! Kill the enemy!"

The long sword was drawn, the long spear stood menacingly.
The warhorse pawed restlessly, snorted, and seemed eager to pounce.

Huang Yingzhi looked at the assembled soldiers, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Regardless
These are all elite troops of the Ming Dynasty.

With the strongest fighting force, they faced the easily defeated Jurchens and their morale was at its peak!

"Open the door—welcome the enemy!"

The voice was melodious, and the messengers standing on the city wall waved their command flags repeatedly.

A row of neatly arranged soldiers raised their megaphones and shouted.
"Meet the enemy——"

A soft "squeak" sounded, barely audible amidst the overwhelming noise, yet it resonated in the hearts of every soldier.

The lead shield-bearer stared intently at everything before him.
Gripping their shields and spears tightly, they were ready to pounce!

"Thump thump thump thump thump thump!"

As the drumbeats grew louder, everyone's hearts were in their throats.
"kill--"

When that cry of "Kill!" was heard,

The soldiers at the forefront charged forward with overwhelming force.

They charged toward the Jurchen camp, which was still under construction!
As soon as they rushed out of the camp, the gates of the Jurchen camp were flung open.

Like a tide, a group of wild Jurchens wearing half-armor emerged.

As always, their weapons came in various forms.
But driven by that same inner strength, they shouted "Kill!" and charged towards the Ming army!
The two groups of people approached each other at lightning speed, and almost instantly, they collided violently.
"boom--"

Like two torrents colliding, stirring up waves,
This time, however, the waves that were stirred up were people!

In the instant of contact, the Tianjin garrison soldiers maintained absolute dominance.

"prick!"

With a shout from the shield-bearer general, all the spears thrust forward simultaneously.

In an instant, a gap of ten feet appeared in front of them, and three hundred people fell down in an instant!

At that moment, the dull thud of horses' hooves suddenly rang out.
A cavalry unit charged out of the Jurchen camp.
On the high platform, Huang Yingzhi's expression suddenly turned serious upon seeing this troop of cavalry:
"The Jianzhou Tiger Cavalry? The Jianzhou Jurchens? They're here too?"

(End of this chapter)