In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 706 The Iron Cavalry of the North Wind Tempers the Spirit Mountain

"Boom boom boom——"

The dull sound of horses' hooves seemed to come from the horizon, disappearing in an instant, and then enveloping the entire battlefield!

Between the two camps on Lingshan Slope, the open area spanning several miles was now densely packed with tens of thousands of soldiers.

The Ming army and the Jurchen army were clearly separated, like a great river converging and dividing them.

One side is clearly black, while the other is brown.

The two sides engaged in a back-and-forth battle in the middle of the battlefield, neither giving an inch and both displaying an iron will.

Whenever a black-clad Ming soldier charged into the brown-clad ranks,

The area would instantly become crowded, then the black would be squeezed out.
The same applies to the brown camp.

Like a sharp blade piercing deep inside, but ultimately being pulled out.

Around the battlefield, the sound of horses' hooves echoed incessantly as the two sides' cavalry clashed relentlessly.

Neither side wanted to allow the other's cavalry to charge into the infantry battlefield.

Both sides knew that the only way was to grit their teeth and fight to the death.

This is necessary to ensure the survival of infantrymen on the battlefield.

Huang Yingzhi led his cavalry in relentless attacks, but they were unable to break through the defensive line formed by the cavalry in front.

Although there had been some casualties, his heart sank.
The Ming army is not currently in a dominant position in the war.
If a solution isn't found soon, the soldiers of Tianjin may perish here.

Huang Yingzhi struggled to pull the spear out of a Jurchen woman's chest, but after two attempts, it wouldn't budge.

He looked up and saw the Jurchen woman lying on the ground with her teeth clenched.

Blood kept gushing from his mouth, his eyes fixed on Huang Yingzhi.
At the same time, he gripped the spearhead tightly, securing the spear firmly inside his body.

You can't leave.

The Jurchen's voice was indistinct.
As the sound faded, he suddenly grabbed the spear and thrust it fiercely into his own chest!
With a soft "thud," the spear pierced his back.
Huang Yingzhi was startled, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

What frightened him was not the horrific scene, but the fighting spirit of the Jurchen people before him.

The last time he saw this scene was at the Northern Yuan royal court.

The elite soldiers there were filled with conviction and a burning desire to retake control of the Central Plains; they were all driven by a fierce determination.

And now, on this Jurchen,
He also felt that fierceness.
That ruthlessness and determination is only found in the world's strongest military!

Huang Yingzhi felt a growing unease; if the Liaodong Jurchens were to suffer further heavy losses...

The Ming Dynasty may soon have another powerful enemy in the north.
They will continue to encroach upon Liaodong.

Thinking of this, he felt extremely frustrated, and his warhorse lurched forward with all its might.

He suddenly pulled the spear out of his chest.

He severed the ten fingers of the Jurchen man who was gripping the spearhead tightly!

"Tang Shengzong Mei Yi"

If the three Jurchen tribes were to merge and become a formidable enemy in the north, these two would be considered sinners of the Hongwu Emperor.

Huang Yingzhi pulled herself together, her mind once again filled with the clamor of the battlefield.

The shouts of battle from all sides, like the beating of war drums, kept rushing into his ears, suddenly making him feel a little irritated.

He looked past the entangled cavalry ahead and saw a group of people behind the cavalry formation.

The leader rode a tall, chestnut-colored warhorse, a head taller than ordinary warhorses.
The rider was also much taller than the guards beside him, standing a full eight feet tall.

Huang Yingzhi looked over, and the other person looked over as well.

In a dreamlike, ethereal concealment and fleeting glimpse, their gazes began to meet.

In an instant, both of them felt a thorn in their side, as if they were being stared at by a hungry wolf.

Huang Yingzhi reacted quickly and gave the order in a deep voice:

"The cavalry deployment has been adjusted, from close combat to a charge, targeting the enemy's commander-in-chief, Baturuhan, at all costs!"

As Huang Yingzhi said this, a hint of reluctance appeared on her face.
But in the end, he turned ruthless and gritted his teeth to give the order.

The messenger did not hesitate; the bugle sounded and the command flag waved.

Some of the Ming cavalry who were fighting back actually retreated.

The previously deadlocked battle situation shifted in an instant.

This was because the pressure from the Jurchen forces had fallen on the remaining soldiers.
The casualties intensified at this moment, and the smell of blood seemed to grow stronger.

"Kid, you have to win."

A soldier in his forties swapped his longsword for a long spear.

They took over the time when the two young soldiers retreated.

What started as one person fighting him quickly turned into three people fighting him.

The retreating cavalrymen clenched their teeth, their eyes were bloodshot, and their vision was somewhat blurred.

But they left resolutely; it was a military order.
They were young and strong, and were going to carry out the most dangerous military duties.

If they survive, when they get old,

They would also become older soldiers who stayed behind to hold off the enemy.
Like today, let's shout to the young soldiers:
"Kid, you have to win."

One by one, the young cavalrymen retreated, and more older cavalrymen took their place.

A gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it large flakes of snow that had not yet melted.
It also brought the bloodshed of distant battlefields, and even the earthy smell of melting snow.

A desolate and chilling atmosphere permeated the air.

As shouts filled with hope rang out...
More and more young soldiers gathered behind Huang Yingzhi.

It quickly surged from five hundred to one thousand.

Their eyes were bloodshot, their teeth were clenched, and their faces showed resentment.

At this point, national honor has been cast aside.

All they could think about was killing the enemy.
What sustained them was their indomitable spirit and the earnest hopes of their colleagues.

Huang Yingzhi took a deep breath, looked at the army formation struggling to maintain its position in front of him, and said in a deep voice:

"Boys, I am old and will die soon. Don't be sad or upset about me."

After killing the enemy general, life went on as usual.
Once things have calmed down, don't forget to burn some paper money for your deceased colleagues.

A hoarse voice, carried on the breeze, reached everyone's ears.

They didn't react.
He simply gripped the long sword and spear even tighter.

Huang Yingzhi stood before the battle formation, his long sword held horizontally across his chest, pointing forward:

"Look, just across the battlefield is the enemy's commander-in-chief. This time, our target is him."

"If we can kill him, our brothers will live, you will all be promoted and ennobled, and our names will be etched in history."

Having said that, Huang Yingzhi raised his long sword high, his voice suddenly becoming impassioned:
"The Ming Dynasty's Hongwu Iron Cavalry, charge into the enemy ranks!"

"Defeat the enemy—"

As soon as she finished speaking, Huang Yingzhi rushed out first.

The warhorse lurched, kicking up clouds of mud; the wrinkles on his face softened, and his beard was tossed behind him.

At that moment, the pain from the more than ten wounds on his body disappeared, replaced only by a tingling sensation.

Behind Huang Yingzhi, more than a thousand iron cavalrymen surged forward like a black torrent, carrying the force of wind and thunder.

The horses' hooves pounded the frozen ground with a dull thud.
It seemed to be the most tragic drumbeat in the world, each beat striking on the edge of life and death.

On the battlefield, the two armies were locked in fierce combat, their battle raging fiercely until the sky darkened.
Amidst the flashing swords and the clash of blades, flesh and blood flew everywhere.

The Ming cavalry, like tigers descending a mountain, rushed straight to where the Jurchen general Baturuhan was located.

Upon seeing this, the Jurchen soldiers quickly turned their horses around, attempting to stop the charge.

In an instant, shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons mingled together, and the ferocity of the battlefield suddenly increased dramatically.

Huang Yingzhi led the charge, his long sword flashing, blood splattering everywhere, and no one could withstand his sharp edge.

His eyes were fixed on the tall figure ahead—Baturuhan.

He even felt younger, his body no longer heavy.
It felt like returning to the days when I was a centurion who followed the Grand Commander in swearing an oath to defend Hongdu!
"kill!"

Huang Yingzhi roared and cleaved open the chest of a Jurchen soldier with his long sword, blood splattering all over his face.

He didn't bother wiping himself away; he only felt his blood boiling in his chest.
The cavalrymen around him were also infected by this momentum.

They followed closely behind Huang Yingzhi, like a tiger with wings, unstoppable in their momentum.

However, the Jurchen soldiers' resistance was exceptionally fierce.

They fought desperately, trying to delay the Ming army's advance.
On the battlefield, every inch of land was soaked in blood, and every scream was terrifying.

Huang Yingzhi's vision gradually blurred.

He saw a sea of ​​blood before his eyes—the blood of the enemy, and the blood of his own people.

He had no idea how many enemies he had killed.
I have no idea how many more wounds I've gotten.

All he knew was that he couldn't stop, he couldn't back down.

Because behind them lay the lives of countless soldiers and the dignity of the Ming Dynasty.

"Charge! Charge!"

Huang Yingzhi shouted at the top of his lungs,

His voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

But that resolute determination clearly reached the hearts of every soldier. Finally, after paying a heavy price,
The Ming cavalry broke through the most chaotic battlefield and approached Baturuhan.

Huang Yingzhi's eyes lit up; he saw the tall, dark chestnut horse.

I saw that tall figure on horseback.

He knew this might be his last chance.

"kill!"

Huang Yingzhi roared and slashed at Baturuhan with his long sword like lightning.

Baturu, unusually calm, swiftly swung his spear to defend himself.

The two weapons collided in mid-air, creating dazzling sparks and a deafening roar.

Huang Yingzhi felt a tremendous force coming at him, and he could barely hold onto the long sword.

But he gritted his teeth and used all his strength to press the long sword down on Baturuhan.

However, Batu Luhan's expression remained unchanged, only a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:
"My name is Fu Ge, and I am the number one warrior of the Jianzhou Jurchens."

After I came to power over the Jurchens, people called me Baturuhan.

"Once I defeat your Ming army, I wonder if the world will call me the Baturu Emperor."

As soon as he finished speaking, Baturuhan's spear flew, and a tremendous force forced Huang Yingzhi back.

"Unbelievable!"

Huang Yingzhi didn't say much, but focused all his energy on accelerating his warhorse and swinging his long sword.

The two fought back and forth, locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle.
The guards were also entangled in a fight, and the sound of clashing weapons echoed.

However, at that moment, a Jurchen soldier seized the opportunity to launch a sneak attack on Huang Yingzhi from the side.
Huang Yingzhi sensed the danger and quickly sidestepped, avoiding the fatal blow.

But the Jurchen soldier did not give up; he swung his sword at Huang Yingzhi again.
Huang Yingzhi's eyes widened in anger, and with a sudden swing of his long sword, he cut the Jurchen soldier down from his horse.

But this moment of distraction caused him to reveal a weakness.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Baturuhan thrust his spear like a venomous snake toward Huang Yingzhi's chest.

Huang Yingzhi felt a chill run down her spine.
He knew it was too late to escape.

However, at that moment, a figure suddenly blocked his way.

"General, be careful!"

It was a young soldier; his warhorse leaped high and charged between the two.
He used his body and his warhorse to block Baturuhan's spear.

The spear pierced his chest, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

Huang Yingzhi only saw the soldier with a smile on his lips slowly fall down.

He felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if something had ripped it open.

"Kill the enemy!"

Huang Yingzhi roared and swung his long sword, forcing Baturuhan back.

Baturuhan chuckled softly, then rode past on his warhorse.

Continuing to maneuver, building momentum, and with each passing sound:

"You are old now. Next time, I will use only half my strength. I hope you can withstand it."

Huang Yingzhi's eyes were bloodshot as she watched Baturuhan gradually disappear into the distance, her anger erupting like a volcano.

"Brothers, we must not retreat!"

Even if it costs me my last breath, I will still cut him down!

Huang Yingzhi's voice was filled with determination and sorrow.

The Ming cavalry heard the general's shout.

Although morale was boosted, physical fatigue and hunger remained constant.

They gripped their weapons tightly and charged at the Jurchen cavalry once more.

However, their steps were not as agile as before, and their momentum had clearly weakened.

Seeing the Ming army's fatigue, the Jurchen cavalry launched an even more reckless attack.

They surrounded the Ming army like a pack of wolves.

They constantly searched for weaknesses, launching surprise attacks and attrition campaigns time and time again.

Huang Yingzhi led from the front, wielding his long sword with the speed of the wind.

Each swing could take the life of a Jurchen soldier.

But his body was already covered in wounds, and his armor was stained with blood.

He felt his strength rapidly draining away, and each swing of the knife became increasingly difficult.

"General, we can't go on like this!"

A guard approached Huang Yingzhi and called out anxiously.

Huang Yingzhi gritted his teeth, knowing in his heart that the situation was extremely critical.
Food shortages and prolonged fighting significantly reduced the combat effectiveness of the Ming cavalry.

Meanwhile, the Jurchen cavalry, having rested and prepared, continued to wear them down.

"Hang in there a little longer, there might still be a chance!"

However, the turning point did not come so easily.

The Jurchen cavalry's attacks became increasingly fierce, and the Ming army's cavalry defenses gradually developed loopholes.

One by one, Ming cavalrymen fell to the Jurchens' attacks, adding more and more corpses to the battlefield.

Baturuhan watched all this coldly from a distance, a mocking smile playing on his lips:
"The Ming army is nothing but this; today is your doom!"

He shouted and commanded the Jurchen cavalry to launch a general attack.

The Ming cavalry felt unprecedented pressure.
Their formation began to crumble, and their morale began to plummet.
Looking at the scene before him, Huang Yingzhi was filled with despair.

He knew that the Ming army was likely to suffer a terrible defeat in this battle.

"General, you should retreat first!"

Huang Yingzhi shook her head, her eyes filled with determination.

“I’m old, how can I leave you young people here?”
Even if I die today, I will die alongside my brothers. We cannot bring shame upon the Ming Dynasty!

"Brothers, charge!"

After saying this, Huang Yingzhi once again brandished his long sword and charged towards the Jurchen cavalry.

His figure appeared so small on the battlefield, yet so tragic.

The Jurchen cavalrymen, seeing Huang Yingzhi's bravery,
They swarmed around him, trying to overwhelm him with their numbers.

But Huang Yingzhi was fearless, and wherever his long sword went, the Jurchen soldiers fell to the ground.

However, two fists can't fight four hands after all.

Under the siege of the Jurchen cavalry, his strength gradually gave out.

Several new wounds appeared on his body, and his movements became sluggish.

Each swing of the knife seemed so laborious.

He is old.

"General!"

Seeing this, the guards charged forward, but there were simply too many Jurchen cavalry.
Just then, a sharp arrow suddenly shot from a distance and struck Huang Yingzhi in the shoulder.

He shuddered, let out a muffled groan, and swayed, almost falling off his warhorse.

"General!"

The guards cried out in alarm.

Huang Yingzhi's expression was ferocious. He used his strength to pull the arrow out, drawing blood and flesh from it.

"It's okay, keep going!"

But at this point, the Ming cavalry's defensive line was on the verge of collapse.
The Jurchen cavalry surged in like a tide, surrounding them completely.

The encirclement was gradually shrinking, and the cavalry's momentum was steadily weakening.
The Ming cavalry were in dire straits.

Huang Yingzhi watched his brothers fall one by one, his heart filled with grief and indignation.

He knew that the Ming army had already lost this battle.

"Is our Great Ming Dynasty really destined to suffer such a devastating blow in Liaodong?"

Huang Yingzhi was filled with grief and indignation, and was almost ready to accept this crushing defeat when...

Suddenly, a thunderous battle cry rolled in from behind the Jurchen cavalry.

The sound seemed to come from the heavens above, carrying an overwhelming force.

It instantly shattered the deathly silence and despair on the battlefield!

The Jurchen cavalry were initially gloating as they tightened their encirclement.

They were preparing to deliver the final blow to the Ming army.

Upon hearing the sudden shouts of battle, everyone was stunned, their faces showing surprise and uncertainty.

They all turned to look behind them.
All that could be seen were flags flying everywhere, like a forest, and dust billowing across the sky.

Countless figures surged forward like a tidal wave, their expressions suddenly changing drastically!
Baturuhan turned around abruptly, and when he saw the khaki armor and the cavalry that filled his entire field of vision, his pupils contracted sharply.

"impossible!!!"

(End of this chapter)