In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 903 What a brave and fierce Jurchen!

Wang Xingbang sat on his warhorse, watching the cavalry charge towards him from the horizon.

His face remained completely calm as he listened quietly to the scout's rapid report:
"My lord, the number of Goryeo soldiers at the front is approximately seven to nine hundred."

"The vanguard consists of three hundred men, and the commander should be positioned in the middle."

"There are more than 200 fully armored men, and the rest are half-armored. The long swords are the standard long swords from 18 years ago."

"Among them, Ma Shuo did not have many spears, only a little over a hundred."

Wang Xingbang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile:
"Hmph, they dare to launch an attack with just these weapons, they're really bold."

"Pass down the order: New City Guards, load up your muskets!"
Since there aren't many of them, wipe them all out, leave no one alive!

As soon as his order was given, the soldiers at the front quickly sprang into action.

They skillfully took the muskets off their horses in perfect unison.

During this process, the entire battle formation was changing silently.

As if sensing something, the warhorse trotted to its designated position.

Meanwhile, the soldiers above were busy checking the muskets and loading gunpowder.

In less than ten breaths, the entire vanguard had already formed ranks to meet the enemy.

The gaps within were enormous, and everyone held a musket, creating a stark and imposing atmosphere of menace.

"Musketeers, six-stage attack!"

"First row, get ready!"

A centurion shouted loudly, his eyes burning as he stared intently at the approaching Goryeo soldiers.

The first rank of soldiers immediately leveled their muskets.
His eyes were fixed on the Koreans charging towards him.

Their expressions were focused and calm, as if they were facing not a life-or-death struggle, but a normal training exercise.

This tranquility comes from long-term training.
This has happened at least eight hundred times, if not a thousand, in their memories.

The trembling of the horses' hooves did not even stir the slightest ripple in their hearts.

"Three hundred steps, two hundred steps, one hundred steps!"

The commander raised his command flag high and then lowered it heavily.

"volley!"

"Bang bang bang!"

A burst of gunfire rang out, and flashes of light pierced the night, like stars exploding on the official road.

Bullets rained down on the Goryeo soldiers.

Dozens fell instantly, their screams echoing across the battlefield.

The neighing of warhorses rose high into the air.
The soldiers on horseback were thrown into the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Second row!" the squad leader shouted again.

The soldiers in the second rank quickly stepped forward.
They filled the empty space in the first row, leveled their muskets, and awaited orders.

"volley!"

Another burst of gunfire rang out, followed by billowing smoke.

The pungent smell of gunpowder suddenly became quite pleasant, masking the stench of blood in the air.

The sound of orderly footsteps and the firing of muskets rang out in succession.

Each shot slowed down the Korean soldiers' charge and could even cause some confusion.

Because the Goryeo cavalry, unlike the Northern Yuan cavalry, did not undergo specialized training to prevent horses from being startled.
The warhorses were terrified at the sound of the gunpowder exploding.
Regardless of whether they are charging forward or in the main force,

They scrambled to stop, trying to lift their front hooves.

"Crack, click, click."

One by one, the warhorses broke their own legs and fell heavily to the ground.
As the cavalry charged forward from the rear, they would trample on the corpses and horses, causing them to fall to the ground.
The situation quickly descended into chaos and became uncontrollable.

Li Hongchang, who was originally in the middle position, stared wide-eyed at everything in front of him.
In just a few breaths, he moved from the middle of the line to the very front.

Everything went so smoothly, as if he were always charging ahead.

His pupils swayed violently; he was so terrified he couldn't think straight, and all he could do was look back as he charged forward.
Corpses everywhere, and pieces of flesh covering the mountain.

You can even see white smoke rising from the chest of a soldier.

This. What is this?
How could the Jurchens be so powerful?
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, causing Li Hongchang's pupils to contract sharply.

However, he quickly dismissed the idea.

impossible!
The person before me is a Jurchen!
Just as he was in a daze, many more Goryeo soldiers fell down.

The Goryeo soldiers were already intimidated by the Jurchens' weaponry and imposing presence.
At this moment, they were subjected to such intense firepower.

They were thrown into chaos, and cries and screams filled the air.

Before they could even get close, more than half of them were already gone. How could anyone not be terrified?
They all reined in their horses, no longer daring to charge forward.

"General, what... what should we do?"

A soldier called out to Li Hongchang with a sob in his voice.

Li Hongchang came to his senses and, seeing the horrific scene before him, was both shocked and furious.

He never expected that his proud brothers would fall like wheat being harvested.

But by then he was in a bind.

Moreover, he knew he couldn't run; the cavalry pursuit would be the most deadly.

"Don't panic! Their firearms are powerful, but their ammunition is limited."

"Charge one more time, and when they run out of ammunition, that's when we'll counterattack!"

Li Hongchang shouted loudly, trying to boost morale.

However, his voice sounded so faint amidst the dense gunfire and screams.

The Goryeo soldiers were terrified and none of them listened to him.
They all turned their horses around and fled.

"Don't run, don't run!!"

"Running means certain death; the only option is to charge forward!!"

Wang Xingbang watched as the Goryeo soldiers fled in disarray.
Especially when he saw that they had stopped halfway, a disdainful smile appeared on his lips.

Even the people of Luchuan in the southwest know that once the charge begins, there is no stopping.
They had to close the distance quickly while enduring gunfire.

Instead of foolishly waiting in place for the gunpowder to be reloaded.

Wang Xingbang turned to Temutengge beside him and said:
"Take men and pursue them, don't let a single one escape. It would be best if you could capture their general!"

Temuteng nodded, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes:
"Rest assured, sir, our department will definitely complete the mission!"

Having said that, he led a thousand soldiers and chased after the Goryeo soldiers like tigers descending a mountain.

Temutengge rode on his warhorse.
The long sword in his hand gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at the gleaming silver blade, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

This is a long sword made with the finest craftsmanship of the Ming Dynasty, costing three taels of silver per piece.

It is at least 40% sharper than the standard longswords of the past.
Their iron armor beneath the leather armor is also made with the latest technology, making it at least 50% harder, and ordinary longswords simply cannot penetrate its defenses.

With such weaponry, coupled with the bravery of the Doyan Guards,

Temutengge's confidence reached its peak.

He stared intently at the fleeing Goryeo soldiers ahead and shouted:

"Brothers, quicken your pace, don't let them get away! This is our chance to prove ourselves!"

"We must clear all obstacles for the Commander!!"

The soldiers heard his shout,
They immediately perked up, cracking their whips and speeding up.

All sorts of strange cries also emerged at the same time, mingling with the sound of horses' hooves, making the fleeing Goryeo people even more frightened.

Li Hongchang led his remaining troops in a desperate escape, his heart filled with fear.

He was certain when he heard the general call out "Commander".

These are not Jurchens at all.

It was the Ming army, the elite Ming army.

Li Hongchang regretted his impulsive decision to go out and meet the enemy, and why he had underestimated them.

The regret in his heart made him even more fearful, and he kept urging his warhorse on.

"General, they've caught up!"

A soldier shouted in terror.

Li Hongchang looked back and saw that the "Jurchens" were getting closer and closer.

Their faces were fierce, like a pack of hungry wild beasts.

His heart tightened; he knew that if things continued like this, he would be caught up sooner or later.

"Run in different directions! Every person who can get away is one more person away!" Li Hongchang shouted.

Upon hearing his words, the soldiers scattered in all directions.

Li Hongchang also took the opportunity to turn into a side road, hoping to shake off his pursuers.

However, he hadn't run far when he heard the sound of horses' hooves ahead.

He was overjoyed, thinking that reinforcements had arrived.

But when he saw who it was, his heart sank.

A group of "Jurchens" appeared ahead.
They were armed with long spears and completely blocked the path.

Li Hongchang pulled on the reins, his heart filled with despair.

He knew he was doomed today.

Temutengge and his soldiers quickly surrounded the Goryeo soldiers.

He looked at the Goryeo soldiers surrounded in the middle and shouted loudly:
"Put down your weapons and surrender obediently, and we might spare your lives!"

The Goryeo soldiers looked at each other, but no one spoke.

They were all hesitant, unsure whether they should surrender.

Li Hongchang gritted his teeth, knowing that surrendering would certainly not end well.

He raised his long sword and shouted:
"Brothers, fight them to the death! Even if we die, we cannot be prisoners!"

At his call, some Goryeo soldiers also picked up their weapons, preparing for a final stand.

However, their numbers were far too small and their morale was low, making them no match for the Jurchens.

Temutengge sneered and waved his hand: "Kill!"

At his command, the Jurchens surged toward the Goryeo soldiers like a tidal wave.

Spears stood like a forest, and swords flashed like snow.

A fierce battle unfolded on the path.

Li Hongchang brandished his long sword, desperately resisting.

But after several collisions, he was surprised to find that...
His prized longsword had a slit that was half-open.

He was covered in blood, raised the knife and looked at it, no longer having any doubts in his heart.

Li Hongchang watched his brothers fall one by one, yet he did not give up.
He had only one thought in his mind: to fight his way out and escape.

However, his efforts were in vain.

A Jurchen woman seized the opportunity and stabbed him in the chest with her spear.

The armor on his chest was as thin as paper.
It did not cause even the slightest obstruction to the sharp spear tip.

Li Hongchang felt a sharp pain, and the long sword in his hand fell to the ground.

He looked at the Jurchen woman before him, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness.

"You guys"

Li Hongchang wanted to say something, but before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground and died.

With the fall of Lee Hong-chang, the resistance of the Goryeo soldiers completely collapsed.

They laid down their weapons, knelt on the ground, and surrendered to the "Jurchens".

Temutengge looked at the prisoners, a cruel glint in his eyes.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the long sword fell, and screams rang out once more.

Before long, leaving behind a pile of corpses, Temur Tengge returned to the official road.

"My lord, the mission is complete. All the enemy personnel have been wiped out, and their commander is dead as well."

Temutengge pointed to Li Hongchang on the ground and said.

Wang Xingbang glanced at the corpse on the ground and nodded:

"well done."

At this moment, Deputy General Shi Ziyan arrived with the remaining infantry.

He was originally following Li Hongchang's instructions to slowly press down from behind.

But upon hearing the dense gunfire and screams ahead, a strong sense of unease welled up within me.

He hurriedly urged the soldiers to quicken their pace.

However, when he arrived at the battlefield with his men,

I was still shocked by what I saw.

Countless corpses lay scattered along the official road, their blood staining the snow red, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and gunpowder.

Shi Ziyan's eyes widened in disbelief, his lips trembling slightly as he muttered to himself:

"The war ended so quickly? Where is the master?"

He looked around, trying to find Li Hongchang among the corpses, but he couldn't find him after searching for a long time.

The surrounding Goryeo infantrymen were also stunned by the sight before them, their faces full of confusion.

what happened?
How did everyone suddenly all die?

"What...what exactly is going on?" a foot soldier asked, his voice trembling.

Are these Jurchens human or ghosts?

Just when they were terrified and at a loss,
The Jurchen people, who were also stunned, came to their senses.

They saw a group of Goryeo infantrymen still standing there, and they still dared to approach.

A glint of excitement flashed in their eyes, and they charged forward shouting.

They were clearly more enthusiastic when facing infantry.

"Kill them! Don't let them escape!"

Temutengge roared, brandishing his long sword, and charged ahead of the Goryeo infantry.

Shi Ziyan's expression changed drastically as he watched the Jurchens charging towards him, and his heart was filled with despair.

He knew that with the strength of these infantrymen,

They were simply no match for these well-equipped and menacing cavalry.

But as a deputy general, he knew the consequences of chaos at this moment.

"Brothers, don't panic! Fight them!"

The Goryeo infantrymen, though fearful upon hearing Shi Ziyan's words,
But they also knew there was no turning back at this point.
They had no choice but to grit their teeth, pick up their weapons, and prepare to fight.

However, infantry without cavalry flanking them are vulnerable.
Especially when facing the fully armored and well-equipped Jurchen soldiers.

The disorganized formation in front of me was as fragile as tofu.

The Jurchens, riding tall horses, surged into the Goryeo infantry ranks like a torrent.

Using the momentum, the long sword only needs to be held firmly at the side.

A single, gentle slash can tear a person's skin apart and take a series of lives.

The Goryeo infantry were no match for this attack and were cut down one after another.

"what!"

A Goryeo infantryman screamed as a Jurchen spear pierced his chest, sending him flying a considerable distance.

Blood gushed out, staining the surrounding snow red.

"Help, help!!"

Another foot soldier screamed in terror and turned to run away.

But an arrow pierced his head, the arrowhead passing through the skull and bringing out the blood-red white brain matter.

Shi Ziyan brandished his long sword, desperately resisting.

He was already wounded in several places, and his sturdy armor was no match for the incoming longsword.

He grew increasingly frightened, the long sword in his hand felt heavier and heavier, and he swung it slower and slower.

A Jurchen woman seized the opportunity and thrust her spear into his chest.

Shi Ziyan was startled and quickly dodged to the side.

But another shot followed, piercing his shoulder so hard that he almost fainted from the pain.

"what!"

Shi Ziyan screamed in agony, and his long sword fell to the ground.

He stared in surprise at the Jurchen woman before him, his gaze suddenly falling upon her bright eyes and rugged face.
He suddenly realized what was happening and let out a loud shout:
"Ming army! It's the Ming army!!"

The soldier from the Duoyan Guard was taken aback, then thrust his spear in hard again.

Shi Ziyan's voice stopped abruptly.

He looked at Shi Ziyan and shouted:
"Surrender quickly, and we might spare your lives."

Shi Ziyan gritted his teeth and said:

"Don't even think about it! We Koreans would rather die than submit!"

The soldier shook his head and said:
"In that case, don't blame us for being rude."

Having said that, he raised his spear again, preparing to stab Shi Ziyan.

Just then, Temutengge saw Shi Ziyan's attire and began to curse:
"You idiot, didn't you see his armor? He's a general, arrest him!!"

The young soldier was taken aback. Upon hearing Temutengge's words, he stopped what he was doing and pulled the spear from Shi Ziyan's shoulder.

Shi Ziyan shuddered in pain and almost fell to the ground.

Temutengge rode his warhorse up to Shi Ziyan, looked down at him, and said:

"What's your name? What kind of general are you?"

Shi Ziyan raised his head, looked at Temutengge, his eyes filled with hatred, and said:
"My name is Shi Ziyan, and I am the deputy general of Shun'an City. Do with me as you please!"

Temutengge smiled and said:

"We won't kill you. As long as you answer the questions obediently, I will spare your life."

Shi Ziyan snorted coldly and said:

"You won't get any information out of me!"

Temutengge's face darkened, and he said:

"He won't listen to reason! Guards, take him away and interrogate him properly."

Two soldiers stepped forward and took Shi Ziyan away.

Temutengge looked at the remaining Goryeo infantry and shouted loudly:

"You have no room for resistance. Lay down your weapons and surrender obediently."
Otherwise, you will all die without a burial place!

The Goryeo infantrymen looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness.

One of the two superiors went missing and the other was arrested.
They knew that there was no hope left and they had no choice but to surrender.

Soon, the battlefield fell silent.

Temutengge looked at the prisoners and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Victory, the victory he had always longed for.

He ordered the prisoners to be tied up and then took them back to Wang Xingbang.

"My lord, we have captured all of these Goryeo infantrymen, and we have also arrested the deputy general," Temutengge said.

By this time, the sky was gradually brightening.

The winter sun shone on the battlefield, illuminating the scene of devastation.

The corpses lay scattered on the ground, staining the snow red.

Looking at the scene before him, Wang Xingbang felt no pity whatsoever.

In this chaotic world, war is the most common thing, which is not surprising.

Wang Xingbang nodded and said:

"Well done. Take these prisoners back and await Lord Lu's decision."

(End of this chapter)