You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 319 When Wu Sangui Suddenly Encounters the Eight Banners Soldiers~
In the sweltering summer heat, a long-distance trek.

Fatigue, disease, food, and water-related ailments brought down one healthy flag bearer after another.

When they set out from the capital, they had 2500 bannermen and 7500 warhorses.

When they entered Hubei province, they still had 2300 bannermen and 6500 warhorses remaining.

After arriving south of the Dongting Lake area, they had only 1900 cavalrymen and 4200 warhorses left.

Even so, they gritted their teeth and pressed on.

The saying "The Eight Banner soldiers endured hardship and fought bravely, and were driven like dogs and chickens" best describes this. Throughout the 17th century, the fighting spirit of the Eight Banners was far ahead of others.

……

The remaining seven flag commanders held a brief military meeting and had a heated discussion about whether to "merge" or "divide" their forces.

Military democracy
Eight Banners tradition~
"Split your forces! Launch multiple raids along the main roads to cut off the rebels' food and intelligence supply routes."

"But if we divide our forces, the rebels will defeat us one by one."

"Nonsense. Although the main force of the rebels went to Jiangxi, there are at least 30,000 troops in Hunan. We must divide our forces and keep moving around so that the rebels can't figure out our numbers and routes."

After intense deliberation, everyone made a unanimous decision.

Divide the troops!

Six Niru were quickly reorganized 15 li south of Changsha and 20 li west of the Xiang River.

Differential allocations were implemented based on the different combat missions undertaken.

The raid on a Niru (a military unit) surrounding Hengzhou Prefecture resulted in the allocation of the best warhorses and the healthiest soldiers.

The Niru that launched the attack on the spot received the fewest warhorses and most of the lightly wounded soldiers.

……

"Gentlemen, the rise and fall of the empire hinges on this one battle."

"Take care of yourself!"

Under the scorching sun, the six Niru disappeared into the wilderness.

Few armies can accomplish the three tasks mentioned above: long-distance raids, infiltration behind enemy lines, and proactive sabotage missions behind enemy lines.

The Eight Banners were one of them.

2 days later.

On the outskirts of Changsha, at the foot of Yuelu Mountain.

After a heavy rain, the air was cool.

Wu Sangui took Chen Yuanyuan out for horseback riding, picnicking, and relaxation.

Louis XVI once said:

Parisian ladies love picnics and consider them a romantic and elegant social activity.

Centuries later, young women in Paris still flocked to picnics, but they often left disappointed, simply because they lacked the essential element of a picnic—a large retinue of servants.

Chen Yuanyuan only needed to point with her hand.

"This is it!"

As if by magic, the grass was quickly covered with a thick and wide blanket, tables and chairs, incense, exquisite food, delicious fruit, wine from the Western Regions, and a sunshade.

The maids stood solemnly around, the pets ran around, a gentle breeze caressed their faces, and the hem of their skirts fluttered in the wind—everything was so beautiful!

That's enough for a middle-class woman to work hard for two hours in her wagon.

Chen Yuanyuan only needed to say "Let's go" to leave gracefully, leaving the servants to clean up the mess.

The middle-class woman spent another hour tidying up.

……

Among the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, Chen Yuanyuan had the highest personal painting skills, and her paintings incorporated some Western painting techniques, which can be traced back to her painting teacher's brief study experience in Macau.

"Your Highness, I would like to paint a portrait of you."

"it is good."

Wu Sangui opened his folding fan, stood tall and proud, striking a pose of a romantic scholar, his eyes gazing at the distant Xiang River.

Chen Yuanyuan looked up from time to time, very focused.

suddenly~
Two cavalrymen on guard duty on the distant hills came galloping towards them, but because of the distance, it was impossible to hear what they were shouting.

"Your Highness, has something happened?"

Chen Yuanyuan stopped painting.

Wu Sangui looked at the guard waving his arms anxiously and realized that there must be an enemy attack, but with a beautiful woman in front of him, he also wanted to show off.

They were probably just a few defeated bandits.
“Yuanyuan, back in Liaodong I was known as the Eagle Shooter, I never missed a shot. Emperor Taizong once praised my archery skills to my face, saying I was worthy of being named a Baturu. Hahahaha~ Since becoming a prince, I haven’t drawn my bow to fight for a long time. Today I’ll let you see my archery skills.”

"Come on, follow me to kill the enemy." "Yes, sir."

Wu Sangui took the ox-horn bow and the feathered arrows, and put on the thumb ring, ready to strike.

The guards all drew their bows and formed a semi-circular defensive circle.

……

Under the scorching sun, the damp grasslands of the distant hills experienced significant evaporation.

To the naked eye, the field of vision appears slightly distorted.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the enemy to charge to the top of the hill.

suddenly~
A troop of cavalrymen, wearing towering lightning rod helmets and colorful cotton armor, charged down the hills.

moment!

Wu Sangui's blood congealed, and his brain shut down.

"Your Majesty?"

The captain of the royal guard attempted to obtain further royal orders.

The number and origin of the Eight Banners soldiers on the other side are unknown; everything is unclear.

withdraw?
Or should we fight?
Logically speaking, we should withdraw, but this is a matter of great importance, and I cannot make the decision on my own.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty?"

The captain of the personal guard called out three times, and Wu Sangui was jolted awake. His first reaction was to run to the warhorse tied to the side.

"Hold on and cover my retreat."

"Whoo."

The group quickly pulled the carriage forward and pushed it down as an obstacle, then drew their bows and prepared to fight off the Eight Banner soldiers who appeared out of nowhere.

"Your Highness, save me!"

Chen Yuanyuan was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she cried out.

Wu Sangui looked at the beautiful woman crying loudly, feeling extremely conflicted. If he had another person on his horse, the speed of his escape would be greatly reduced.

The claim that "he was so angry for a woman that he risked everything" is a complete fabrication by Wu Weiye.

What is a beauty compared to the great cause of conquering the world?
Bah~
"You will escort Yuanyuan back to the city."

After saying this, Wu Sangui spurred his horse and galloped straight towards the city gate.

"Your Majesty~"

"Help! Your Highness, don't abandon me!"

Chen Yuanyuan was so frightened that she lost control of her bladder on the spot, stumbling and running after him in a chaotic mess.

……

The flag captain, Yabulan, was also flustered. He hadn't expected to suddenly encounter a group of Wu soldiers in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, the enemy was few in number, but it was not advisable to get entangled with them.

"Kill~"

The Eight Banner soldiers drew their bows and arrows and closed in at high speed.

Wu Sangui's personal guards were no pushovers either; they were all handpicked and fierce soldiers who, relying on the carriages, calmly launched a counterattack.

Just one glance!
Both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Plum blossom arrows, armor-piercing arrows, and large spear arrows—all kinds of arrows flew swiftly.

More than 30 Eight Banner soldiers were hit by arrows and fell from their horses, while more than 20 of Wu's guards were hit by arrows and died on the spot.

The arrows of the Eight Banners were like short spears, incredibly powerful, and a single hit was fatal, leaving a ridiculously large wound.

After a hundred or so breaths, the two sides broke off contact.

The captain of the guard shouted:

"A few men, come with me to capture someone alive."

Several men worked together to hold down a lightly injured Manchu bannerman who had fallen from his horse, punching and kicking him, binding his hooves, and gagging and blindfolding him.

But what happened next?
The Eight Banners soldiers, who had already fled far away, have returned to fight.

A chaotic exchange of fire ensued, resulting in increased casualties.

Yablan aimed at the Wu soldier guard carrying the prisoner, and an arrow as thick as a short spear pierced through both of them, pinning them to the ground, blood gushing out, a sight that chilled onlookers.

After scanning the area and confirming that no one from their side was alive, Yabranlema shouted:

"Retreat~"

(End of this chapter)