In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 908 Breaking the Encirclement from All Sides in Northeast China
Lu Yunyi led everyone back to Shun'an City.
Back in the main hall of the county government, he sat in a chair, closed his eyes slightly, as if pondering important matters.

Tuoluhuchaer and Wang Xingbang exchanged a glance.
Tuoluhuchar finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked:
"General, haven't we already reached an agreement with Yi Seong-gye?"

Why continue deploying this strategy? Are you worried he might change his mind?

Lu Yunyi slowly opened his eyes, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:
Some people never shed a tear until they see the coffin.

Although Yi Seong-gye agreed to the terms, this general could tell that he still harbored resentment.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xingbang's brows furrowed suddenly:
"General, if Yi Seong-gye really goes back on his word and starts a war with us..."
So, how far do we want to fight?
What if, by some chance, his elite troops are all wiped out?

He can't stay in the imperial court, so who will pay this money?

Upon hearing Wang Xingbang's words, Tuoluhuchaer

His eyes widened instantly, his face was full of astonishment, and his mouth was slightly open.

It took him a while to come to his senses, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"That's right! If we wipe out Yi Seong-gye's elite forces..."

He no longer had the leverage to wield absolute power; who would pay the 500,000 taels of silver?

Lu Yunyi was originally leaning back in his chair,

Upon hearing this, he frowned sharply, forming a "川" (river) shape.

The atmosphere in the main hall instantly became strange.

The original ease vanished, replaced by a sense of oppression.

Lu Yunyi said in a deep voice:

This matter is indeed troublesome.
However, we cannot be timid and hesitant just because we are worried about not receiving payment.

Yi Seong-gye was an ambitious man.
If we don't teach him a lesson, he won't truly cooperate with us.

Tuoluhuchaer scratched his head:
"General, we mustn't beat him too badly."
We need to show him how powerful we are, but finding the right balance is tricky.

"Our purpose in sending troops this time was not to break with Goryeo."
Rather, it was to facilitate trade and commerce.
At the same time, it will deter those who are restless; just give them a good beating.

"Did it hurt?" Tuoluhuchaer raised an eyebrow, his face full of confusion.

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"That's right, it hurts."

We don't need to engage in a large-scale battle with them, nor do we need to pursue total annihilation.

If they lose, so be it.

In this way, they can suffer a bit without damaging their fundamental nature.

Five hundred thousand taels of silver is no small sum.
It's only right that we put in more effort for this money.

Wang Xingbang immediately nodded in agreement:
"General, your plan is brilliant! This way, he'll have no choice but to pay the money."

Lu Yunyi's smile faded, and he said in a deep voice:

"That's settled then."

Pass down the order.

Tell the soldiers to prepare themselves and keep a close eye on the movements of the Goryeo army.

Once enemy activity is detected, report it immediately, and the staff will prepare for battle.

"Yes!"

Two days later, the sky was terribly gloomy.
Thick clouds hung heavily over Shun'an City.

A fierce wind swept through, causing flags in the city to flutter and debris on the streets to fly everywhere.

Qin Yuanfang, the commander of the vanguard scouts, was in a hurry.

He rode at full speed, rushing straight into the county government office in Shun'an City, and strode into the main hall.

Lu Yunyi was originally sitting at the desk,
He was leisurely holding a cup of hot tea, gently blowing on the steam rising from the rim.
The aroma of tea slowly filled the room.

It must be said that Korean green tea is indeed quite good.

Hearing hurried footsteps,

Lu Yunyi looked up and saw that it was Qin Yuanfang. His expression immediately became serious.
"What's the matter?"

Qin Yuanfang reported loudly:
"General! Enemy tracks have been discovered in the northwest, due north, and northeast directions of Shun'an City!"

The three units together have a total strength of nearly 20,000.

Judging from the scouts' reconnaissance, they are all elite troops, with the vanguard even consisting of fully armored soldiers!

Lu Yunyi's eyes instantly sharpened:
"What are the details? Which unit is it?"

"General, judging from the flags and equipment, they should be border troops from the Northwest Route."

The enemy forces in the northwest are moving slowly, seemingly preparing to set up camp and rest.

The main force consisted of infantry.
It seems they want to block our army's return route to the northwest.

The enemy troops, heading due north, marched along the official road in orderly ranks.
They also carried some siege equipment, but it wasn't very large.

Meanwhile, the enemy forces to the northeast were advancing at an extremely fast pace.

And scouts continued to spread out in all directions.

Our department got into several confrontations with them.

It's clear these people are excellent horsemen, and many of them are Jurchens.

Lu Yunyi narrowed his eyes slightly, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became extremely tense.

The guards around him held their breath, not daring to make a sound, and stood quietly to the side, their eyes fixed on Lu Yunyi.

After a moment, Lu Yunyi raised his head and said with a firm look in his eyes:

"Issue my military order: convene a military conference immediately, and have all generals gather in the main hall of the county government office for a meeting!"

"Yes!"

The guards responded in unison, then quickly turned and jogged off to relay the order.

Before long, a group of generals including Tuoluhuchaer, Azashili, and Wang Xingbang rushed to the main hall.

They all looked solemn, and as soon as they entered, they all asked questions:
"General, what has happened?"

"But has the Goryeo army made any unusual movements?"

Lu Yunyi raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said:

"I just received news that in the northwest, due north, and northeast directions of Shun'an City..."
They all discovered Yi Seong-gye's troops.

The force numbered nearly 20,000, and all of them were elite soldiers.

The reason I've called everyone here is to discuss solutions together.

"He actually dared to come."

Tuoluhuchaer muttered to himself, and in an instant, a strong killing intent emanated from his body.

Upon hearing this, everyone gathered around the sand table.

On the sand table, the topography of Shun'an City is clearly visible.

The surrounding mountains, roads, and rivers are all marked in great detail.

Lu Yunyi gently traced the lines on the sand table with his fingers and slowly said:

"Judging from the current situation, Li Chenggui is trying to surround us."

The enemy forces to the northwest are setting up camp and resting.
This is likely preparation for subsequent actions.

The enemy troops heading due north are advancing along the official road, most likely intending to cut off our communication with the outside world.

Meanwhile, the enemy forces to the northeast moved swiftly and continuously deployed scouts.
This is likely their main force, intending to launch a direct attack on us.

Tuoluhuchaer frowned, staring at the sand table, and said:

"General, we haven't even taken into account Yi Seong-gye's army in the southeast. If we're surrounded on all sides, we'll be in real danger."

Wang Xingbang nodded in agreement:

"General, we must take the initiative and at least defeat one of the enemy forces."

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly: "Attack the enemy forces in the northeast first!"

"Should we attack the enemy forces in the northeast first?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked puzzled.

Azashiri scratched his beard and couldn't help but ask:
"General, that force looks to be the strongest of the three enemy armies."

Lu Yunyi pointed to the northeast direction of the sand table and explained:
"The enemy forces in the northeast are moving quickly and constantly sending out scouts, which shows that they are eager to achieve quick results and want to fight us to the death as soon as possible."

Moreover, as the main force, they must have carried a large amount of food and supplies.

If we can defeat them first, it will not only demoralize Yi Seong-gye's troops,
They could also seize a large amount of supplies, solving the supply problem.

Furthermore, the enemy forces in the northwest are currently setting up camp and resting, and will not pose a threat to us in the short term.

The enemy troops, heading due north, advanced along the official road.

They also carried siege equipment, which slowed them down, giving us enough time to deal with them.

Moreover, we don't necessarily have to stay in Shun'an City forever. As long as we leave, we can make them cripple most of their martial arts skills.

Once the enemy forces in the northeast are defeated,

The other two routes will inevitably be intimidated and dare not attack rashly.
This will make it easier for us to seize the initiative on the battlefield.

After hearing this, everyone nodded, their faces showing sudden realization.

Lu Yunyi continued:
"However, we cannot let our guard down."
The forces of Yi Seong-gye behind them are also worth noting.

Therefore, I have decided to divide my forces into two groups.

One route, led by this general, went out of the city to meet the enemy forces from the northeast.

Another force, led by Tuoluhuchar, held their ground in the city, keeping a close watch on Yi Chenggui's troops behind them.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Tuoluhucha'er's eyes, and the muscles in his cheeks bulged slightly, showing some resentment.

He tried to speak several times, but in the end he bowed his head and accepted the order.

After Lu Yunyi issued his military order, the entire city of Shun'an instantly sprang into action. Soldiers quickly organized their equipment, inspected their weapons, and fed and saddled their horses.
The artisans in the city also sprang into action, shoeing the warhorses and repairing the damaged weapons.

A tense yet excited atmosphere filled the air.

Lu Yunyi was wearing a brand new set of black armor.

It gleamed with a deep, dark sheen under the light.
The addition of leather armor to the outer layer further enhances its fierce appearance.

He held a long spear, its shaft straight and thick, its tip gleaming with a chilling light;

He also carried a large bow on his back, the bowstring taut, exuding a powerful aura.

Lu Yunyi slowly walked to the front of the formation.
His gaze swept firmly over the soldiers who were fully equipped and ready to go.

The soldiers were all in high spirits, their eyes filled with longing and confidence in the upcoming battle.

Lu Yunyi took a deep breath, took out a megaphone from his saddlebag, and shouted:

"Brothers! This expedition is of great significance!"

If we defeat the enemy decisively, we'll have the money to build roads.

By then, the road will be repaired.

Your family members all have work to do, they all earn the commander's silver, and they all live a good life!

Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the Three Guards of Duoyan's eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

They had long envied the lives of the people in Daning City!

At this moment, Lu Yunyi raised his hands and shouted:
"Fight for your family! Fight for victory!"

Immediately afterwards, the entire team erupted in a deafening roar:

"Fight for your family! Fight for victory!"

Morale instantly soared to its peak, as if it could break through the cold weather.

Not far away, Wang Junping stared blankly at the soldiers gathered in the square.

He felt a fierce aura rushing towards him, which he found hard to bear.

Especially when the soldiers shouted,

Wang Junping even felt his calves trembling.

He couldn't help but ponder to himself,

If the Goryeo royal family had such soldiers...
Would a rebel like Yi Seong-gye still be a major threat?
Before he could figure it out,

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and gave a loud order:

"Leave the city to meet the enemy!"

At his command, the city gates slowly opened.

The war drums thundered, shaking the earth slightly.

Lu Yunyi took the lead, leading his army out of the city gate like a tidal wave.

Outside Shun'an City, thanks to the cleanup efforts of over a thousand soldiers from the New City Guard,
All Goryeo scouts within 20 miles outside the city have been eliminated.

At this moment, Sunan Castle was like a dark prison to Goryeo.
They had no idea what was happening inside, nor when the caged beast would break free.

Thirty li northeast of Shun'an City lies Mati Village.

Lu Qidong, the garrison commander of Suzhou in the Northwest Circuit, sat on horseback.
He gazed into the southwest, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

He was a young general, handsome, with a sharp look in his eyes.

Lu Qidong greatly admired the young generals of the Ming Dynasty.

Especially after Lu Yunyi's meteoric rise in recent years,

He often heard news of Lu Yunyi's victories at the border, and he had long held Lu Yunyi in high esteem.

Upon learning that he would be facing off against Lu Yunyi,
He was both excited and nervous.

He had eight thousand men under his command, nearly four thousand of whom were cavalry.
They were the absolute elite of the entire northwestern border town.

They had just arrived at Horseshoe Village, and out of caution and to avoid revealing their whereabouts,

Lu Qidong had no intention of advancing further, but instead ordered his troops to set up camp.

He then wrote to Prime Minister Li to inquire about the next steps, while waiting for the other two armies to join him.

But just as he finished arranging the campsite and was about to take a breather,
A scout rushed over, his face extremely grave:

"General, our scouts in the southwest are suffering successive losses, suggesting that enemy troops are approaching from the southwest!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than another scout rushed in and reported again:
"General, a large army is indeed approaching from the southwest!"

Lu Qidong frowned, his face full of surprise and doubt. He quickly shouted to the guards beside him:
"Quickly, summon all the generals to the central command tent!"

The guards received the order and rushed to their respective camps as fast as they could.

Before long, the generals arrived at the central command tent, all looking travel-worn.

Lu Qidong stood in front of the map, his face grim:
"A scout reports that a large army is approaching from the southwest."

We haven't found any scouts exploring the area!

A burly general stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief:

"General, how is this possible?"

We marched with extreme caution, even taking a detour; how could they have known we were here!

Another general frowned and said:

"General, could it be that there is a spy in the army who leaked our whereabouts to Lu Yunyi?"

Lu Qidong shook his head slightly, his gaze firm, and said:
"It's pointless to investigate these matters at this point."
Now that the enemy has arrived, we must meet them in battle.

"Issue my order: assemble the entire army and prepare to meet the enemy!"

The generals received their orders and left. Lu Qidong also walked out of the tent, mounted his horse, and came to the center of the camp.

At this moment, the camp was bustling with activity.
The soldiers quickly prepared their equipment, led their horses, and saddled them; the atmosphere was tense and oppressive.

The sky grew increasingly overcast, with heavy clouds pressing down on the earth.

A fierce wind swept through, making the flags in the camp flutter loudly.

The swirling snow dust filled the air.

This made everyone's expressions even more serious.

Lu Qidong rode a tall, warhorse, his posture upright, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
He surveyed the busy soldiers before him and shouted:

"Brothers, the Jurchen army is coming!"
This is a tough battle.
But as the elite troops of a border town in the Northwest, we must not back down!
Everyone, cheer up!

Let the Jurchens see the might of our Goryeo army!

Lu Qidong did not dare to reveal that the enemy was the Ming army.
He knew that once this news got out, morale would collapse.

After all, the Ming army's record was so brilliant that no one could ignore it.

Sure enough, the morale of the soldiers in the camp soared instantly, and their shouts echoed in the strong wind:

"I am willing to follow the general to fight the enemy! I am willing to follow the general to fight the enemy!"

At this moment, a scout rushed up to Lu Qidong, knelt on one knee, and said breathlessly:

"General, the enemy is less than ten miles away from us, and they are marching at an extremely fast pace!"

Lu Qidong's eyes narrowed, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"Good, you've come at the perfect time!"
The order is: cavalry in front, infantry behind.

Break away from Horseshoe Village and take the initiative!

"Take advantage of the enemy's fatigue from their march and launch a surprise attack!"

At a command, the cavalry in the camp quickly assembled.

They were clad in heavy armor, wielded sharp longswords, and their faces showed determination.

The cavalrymen still wore a hint of arrogance on their faces.

They believed that with their superior armor, they would never lose to the Jurchens.

The infantry followed closely behind, their ranks orderly and their steps firm.
They looked quite like soldiers from the Ming Dynasty.

Looking at the army standing ready in front of him, Lu Qidong felt a surge of pride.

He waved his hand and shouted:

"set off!"

The army was like a giant black dragon.
They slowly left Horseshoe Village and sped off in the southwest direction.

The wind howled in my ears, and the snowflakes stung my face.
But the soldiers did not flinch; their hearts were filled only with the desire to fight.

During the march, Lu Qidong constantly sent out scouts to closely monitor the enemy's movements.

A short while later, a scout reported back:
"General, the enemy is less than five li away from us."
They seem to have spotted us too, and are speeding up their advance!

A hint of unease flashed in Lu Qidong's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and said loudly:
"Good! All troops, accelerate and prepare to engage the enemy!"

As the distance closed, the figures of both armies gradually became clearer.

Looking into the distance, Lu Qidong
The enemy's flags were fluttering, and their ranks were orderly; I couldn't help but secretly admire them.

"As expected of the Ming army, they are indeed elite!"

But he was not afraid; instead, he became even more determined to fight.

He knew that if he won this battle,
He could rise to prominence in the Goryeo court and eventually wield great power.

Lu Qidong turned to the generals beside him and said:

"Today's battle concerns the honor of Goryeo, everyone must give it your all!"

The generals nodded in unison, their eyes filled with determination.

When the two armies were less than three miles apart, Lu Qidong waved his hand and shouted loudly:

"stop!"

(End of this chapter)