Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 334: He who knows the current affairs is a hero
This battle was a confrontation between two powerful armies. The soldiers on both sides had undergone meticulous training, were strictly disciplined, and had a fighting will as strong as iron.

At that moment of the melee, the maintenance of the formation, the rotation of the queues, and the alternating cover and retreat of the front and rear armies were all almost impeccable.

Even if a small mistake occurs occasionally, it will be quickly covered up and adjusted by the opponent in an instant, and neither side has too many loopholes to attack.

Even if there is a slight slackness at times, it is difficult to detect, and the enemy cannot quickly organize an effective counterattack.

In other words, the confrontation between the Qing army and the Ming army was no longer a simple tactical contest, but a competition of the resilience and endurance of each army.

Both sides possess extremely strong organization and a firm will to fight. In such a long and exhausting confrontation, whoever has a thicker blood tank and stronger endurance will be among the final winners.

The Ming army's initial mistakes were not unforgivable. After all, they had been prepared. Although the situation was once favorable to the Qing army, the Ming army still maintained its position and quickly adjusted its tactics.

Relatively speaking, although the Qing army once had the upper hand, internal friction and disagreements among generals always made the Qing army's cooperation seem less than tacit.

This situation, in the absence of artillery suppression and stronger firepower support, made the Qing army's advance full of uncertainty.

As a result, this unexpected night battle became more and more a competition of military strength - whoever can persist to the end in the attrition will win the final victory.

At the critical moment of this war, Zhu Cilang clearly saw the real gap between the enemy and us.

Zhu Cilang realized as early as when the Qing army launched a fierce attack that it would be difficult to quickly determine the outcome by relying on one side's attack alone, especially when both sides were equally strong and had relatively sophisticated tactics.

He understood that the success or failure of the battle would ultimately depend on who could hold out to the end. Since there was a lack of coordination among the various units of the Qing army, the Ming army had enough opportunities to block the enemy's advance in a short period of time.

And this was the moment when Zhu Cilang made a decision: he had to buy more time for himself and the main force of the camp.

He commanded his personal guards to fight desperately and try their best to stop the advance of the Qing army. He knew that the task at this time was not a simple defense, but to fight for a glimmer of hope for the upcoming reinforcements.

In any case, he could not let this powerful Qing army break through easily, especially when the two wings of the Qing army began to form an encirclement, Zhu Cilang's strategy became increasingly clear - the purpose of everything was to lead the enemy army deep into the enemy's territory, and finally take advantage of the opportunity to wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop.

At this time, Zhu Cilang no longer had much time to consider retreat. What he was facing was not only the enemy in front of him, but also the life and death of the entire army.

He no longer considered whether he could escape unscathed, but rather how to maximize his advantages and lure the Qing army into an ambush.

It’s not that he lacks the ability to retreat, but at this moment, he has a clearer determination in his heart: no retreat, never retreat!

Zhu Cilang stared at the Qing army approaching on the battlefield with a sharp gaze, and he already had a plan in his mind.

At this time, although the personal guards around him and the remaining Ming army soldiers suffered heavy casualties, they still did not give up. They relied on their positions and, relying on Zhu Cilang's flags and orders, gradually built a new line of defense.

Zhu Cilang knew that his retreat had long been cut off, and the only thing he could do was to continue fighting alongside the soldiers and lead them to wait for reinforcements.

At this time, Lin Changfeng and Gao Jie, who had completed the encirclement deployment, led the main force of the Ming army to regroup and gradually approached the core of the battlefield.

With their arrival, the pressure on the Qing army became heavier, and Zhu Cilang took advantage of this opportunity to command the personal guards and ordinary soldiers to continue to resist.

He was not only trying to buy time, but also to inflict the greatest psychological blow to the Qing army - to make them feel extremely frustrated during the pursuit.

Night enveloped the battlefield, and thick smoke filled the air. Zhu Cilang still held the imperial flag flying high in his hand. Although he was in danger, he seemed not to be shaken at all.

The Ming army had less than two thousand soldiers left and was in a difficult situation. The marginal areas had been gradually compressed by the Qing army. However, this unit seemed to still be holding on tenaciously in the face of adversity.

Although the morale of the Ming army had already fallen to the bottom, Zhu Cilang's presence was like a strong backbone that prevented the entire team from collapsing.

Even after retreating to the rear, the imperial flag still stood, symbolizing his majesty as an emperor. Although he retreated repeatedly, he never lost his dignity and determination.

As the Eight Banners soldiers under Jibai's command poured into the battlefield, the Qing army's offensive intensity suddenly intensified, the Ming army's defense line gradually collapsed, and the enemy's pace was getting closer and closer.

However, Zhu Cilang's steps seemed to become more and more determined. Even though he no longer had sufficient military support, he still moved forward firmly with his royal flag as the center.

If you were a bystander, you would probably think that he never retreated even in the face of death, just like an isolated island standing in the storm, lonely but unshakable.

"Your Majesty, reinforcements are about to arrive. I urge you to follow me to a safe place."

Liu Sheng's eyes were filled with anxiety. He held the flagpole tightly and caught up with Zhu Cilang in a few steps. As he retreated, he earnestly advised:
"Your Majesty's bravery is known to all, but swords are merciless, and this place is far too dangerous. If Your Majesty is struck by an enemy arrow again and injured, I, the general, will truly deserve death."

Zhu Cilang did not respond, but just held the royal flag tightly, his steps still firm.

Looking at his almost unshakable figure, Yagyu felt even more anxious. He knew that the situation was already very critical at the moment, and any carelessness could change the entire outcome of the battle.

But he knew that the chances of persuading Zhu Cilang to retreat were getting smaller and smaller.

Seeing the Qing army approaching step by step, the Ming army's rear defense was almost empty. When would this army, which was almost completely surrounded, be able to escape from the predicament? Liu Sheng's heart was full of doubts and anxieties.

However, at this moment, dense footsteps and horse hooves sounds gradually came from behind, getting closer and closer.

Zhu Cilang's heart suddenly moved. Hearing this familiar voice, he knew that the reinforcements had finally arrived. Immediately, his expression changed from calm to more resolute.

He looked at Liu Sheng, his eyes becoming as cold as steel:

"Yagyu, if you dare to say another word of nonsense, I will send you back to Nanzhili tomorrow and visit your Taiping Thousand Household!
At this moment, the situation is like this, how can I give up the battle at this time? If you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being cruel and ruthless! "

Zhu Cilang's angry roar was like thunder in his ears. Liu Sheng was stunned and dared not say anything.

He could feel the iron-blooded aura from Zhu Cilang, the bearing of an emperor. At this moment, he was no longer just fighting for life and death, but for something more profound.

At the same time, Zhu Cilang's gaze swept across the teams of soldiers who had already started charging on horseback. The soldiers were no longer afraid of the enemy's oppression, but became more ferocious.

Zhu Cilang's mood also became high. He was no longer just fighting for this battle, but for whether he could sit firmly on the throne and become a true emperor destined by heaven.

For him, this battle is not only about life and death, but also about his future authority and prestige.

If he cannot show enough toughness and decisiveness, how can he consolidate his power in this turbulent time?

Without the baptism of blood and fire, how can we win the respect and loyalty of those with different ideas?
"I am late and failed to provide effective rescue. I beg Your Majesty to punish me." At this moment, Gao Jie arrived on horseback, quickly passed through the chaos of the battlefield, and finally found Zhu Cilang with the help of the high-flying imperial flag.

He rode up, dismounted, and performed the formal ceremony, with a hint of apology on his face, yet he remained calm.

When Zhu Cilang heard this, he looked at Gao Jie deeply, then raised the corner of his mouth:

"Good, you come at the right time!" He knew that the arrival of reinforcements meant that the time had come for the Ming army to turn the tide of the battle.

At this moment, he no longer hesitated. He pushed Liu Sheng away and jumped up quickly with decisive force. With the support of the flagpole, he flipped over and got on Gao Jie's mount.

Then, he raised high the royal flag that symbolized his imperial dignity, his eyes full of determination.

On the battlefield, the situation changes rapidly.

Yagyu's personal cavalry followed closely behind. Seeing this, they immediately gathered into a solid barrier without hesitation, blocking Zhu Cilang's way.

They gripped their long swords tightly, their eyes as hard as steel, flashing with the determination to defend His Majesty to the death, and tried their best to shield Zhu Cilang from arrows and attacks from all directions.

The situation was becoming increasingly urgent. Behind them were the massive Ming army, and in front of them were the ferocious Qing army. The battle atmosphere was becoming increasingly oppressive, as if a more violent conflict could break out at any time.

Gao Jie stood on his horse, his eyes as sharp as a sword, and felt the sudden intensification of the Ming army's offensive.

He almost subconsciously jumped onto another warhorse, suddenly drew the long sword from his waist, the blade flashed cold as ice, raised it into the air, and then shouted:
"kill!"

He pointed his sword forward and ordered the cavalry he led to follow closely and charge towards the enemy position.

Yagyu instinctively wanted to stop Zhu Cilang's advance. He knew that this was not the best time to attack. The current situation was complicated and dangerous, and retreat might be a wiser choice.

As the deputy commander of His Majesty's imperial camp, he was fully aware of his responsibilities, and doing his utmost to protect Zhu Cilang's life was his most important mission at the moment.

"Your Majesty..." Liu Sheng just opened his mouth, trying to persuade Zhu Cilang not to take any more risks.

However, Zhu Cilang did not wait for him to finish. He turned his head suddenly, his eyes were like torches, and his voice was deafening:
"Who dares to retreat?"

Suddenly, there was deathly silence.

The shouts and cries of killing, the sounds of muskets, the sharp sounds of bows and arrows flying through the air, and the clanging sounds of weapons clashing on the battlefield intertwined together to form a strong sound wave, but after Zhu Cilang's roar, everything seemed to freeze.

The surrounding guards and accompanying cavalrymen all stopped, and no one dared to raise a voice of objection.

Zhu Cilang's cry of "Who dares to retreat" was resounding and full of awe. His eyes flashed with a determination as strong as steel, and his figure became more and more determined in the flames of war.

Then, he glanced around and said coldly:
"Who's afraid?"

"I will follow your majesty till death! I will follow your majesty till death!"

Then, under the leadership of Gao Jie, the cavalrymen behind him shouted in unison, their voices as surging as a torrent.

These shouts, filled with extremely firm determination and loyalty to Zhu Cilang, shook the earth like thunder, shocking the entire cavalry team.

Morale was ignited again and the flames of war raged.

"Kill!" Zhu Cilang roared suddenly, his voice exploding like thunder, instantly shaking the air around him to stagnation.

He suddenly clamped his grip on the horse's belly, and the warhorse rushed forward like a wild beast with unmatched speed.

At that moment, Zhu Cilang's figure seemed to become the center of the entire battlefield, breaking through the siege with an astonishing momentum.

Following Zhu Cilang's order, hundreds of war horses in the mixed cavalry led by Gao Jie started almost at the same time, like a huge wave in a black torrent, rushing towards the Qing army's position.

The thunder of horses' hooves, the gleam of armor, the clash of swords and spears, seemed to tear the entire night sky apart. Every time a warhorse galloped, it brought with it a force that could crush anything.

At this moment, Yang Gao was at the other end of the battlefield. When he saw this scene, his heart trembled violently.

He looked at the Ming army coming like a tide, especially the powerful cavalry team, and couldn't help but be shocked.

The majestic momentum of those hundreds of cavalrymen gave people an irresistible sense of oppression.

Just now, the Ming army's defense line seemed to be gradually collapsing, but at this moment, such a powerful force suddenly surged out, and the situation changed drastically in an instant.

Yang Gao was secretly anxious. Could it be that all his offensive efforts had been in vain?
It was clear that the Qing army's attack was unstoppable and they had the upper hand for a time. How could it suddenly become so disadvantageous in such a short moment?
The impact of that cavalry cannot be underestimated. If not dealt with in time, it will probably deal a heavy blow to the army.

Although Gao Jie's reinforcements had arrived, the Qing army had already entered a state of full combat readiness. Officers at all levels responded quickly and adopted a tactic that combined positional defense with counterattacks.

Therefore, even though the Ming army's reinforcements arrived, the situation did not immediately turn favorable.

However, the situation was quietly changing. The Ming army's counterattack gradually intensified, and the Qing army's offensive momentum began to be suppressed.

Yang Gao knew very well that the combat effectiveness of the Ming army should not be underestimated.

Although he was confident in his elite troops, the situation had changed and the plan to kill Zhu Cilang had become extremely difficult.

Faced with the sudden reinforcements of the Ming army, he realized that continuing to fight the Ming army would only delay time and might even bring greater losses.

Yang Gao looked down at Ji Bai. He knew very well that he could not win the battle just by passion.

He made a quick decision and immediately turned to report to Jibai:
"Beile, the Ming army reinforcements are coming, we have to retreat."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jibai's face instantly became gloomy.

He knew clearly that the purpose of his trip was not just to kill Zhu Cilang, but also to stabilize the overall situation and ensure the victory of the Qing army.

However, now the situation had suddenly reversed, and the arrival of Ming reinforcements had made the situation even more complicated. Retreat seemed to be the wisest option.

Yang Gao was a pragmatic person. He understood that Fan Wencheng had specifically instructed him before the expedition that if the battle situation became unfavorable, he should prioritize preserving his troops and avoid making unwise decisions due to momentary impulse.

Although he was unwilling to miss the opportunity to kill Zhu Cilang, he knew very well that only by conserving his strength could he regroup and attack again in future battles.

Therefore, after repeated confirmation, Yang Gao resolutely issued the order to retreat.

Although he was unwilling to accept this decision, he knew that if he continued to fight hard, his entire army would be wiped out.

(End of this chapter)