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

Chapter 342 Heaven Collapse
Hengzhou City.

Groups of ragged soldiers began to appear outside the city.

From Pingxiang in Jiangxi to Chaling in Hunan, and from Chaling to Hengzhou, Wu's army suffered heavy losses and was eventually reduced to only 15,000 soldiers when they finally reached Hengzhou.

These 15,000 soldiers couldn't even put together a single set of armor.

Their disheveled state was indescribable, comparable to the Dunkirk evacuation of the East in the 17th century.

During this great retreat, at least four thousand people perished in the Luoxiao Mountains, while the rest either surrendered, joined outlaws, or returned home on their own.

"Gentlemen, His Highness requests your presence."

Amidst the strange looks from the crowd, Ma Bao and Liu Xuanchu entered the house.

On his sickbed~
Wu Sangui actually forced a smile.

"It's good to see you back~"

Liu Xuanchu broke down on the spot. He suddenly grabbed the sword of a guard and tried to commit suicide, but fortunately Ma Bao reacted quickly and kicked him in the wrist.

Even so, the sharp blade still managed to cut a wound the size of a fingernail on her neck, drawing blood.

"Save him."

Wu Sangui pointed at Liu Xuanchu.

Wu Yinglin's eyes were bloodshot, and he gripped the hilt of a knife.

"Someone, bandage Lord Liu's wound."

Liu Xuanchu was determined to die. He struggled desperately and roared, "I have no face to live. I have no face to face everyone."

Several guards held down his hands and feet, forcibly stopping the bleeding.

Liu Xuanchu burst into tears.

……

That night.

Wu Jun's top leadership held an emergency meeting.

Wu Sangui lay on his sickbed, while Xia Guoxiang, Tan Hong, Li Benshen, Wu Zhimao, Liu Xuanchu, Gao Dejie, and others sat below him.

Wu Yinglin spoke first.

"Uncles and elders, let's all speak up?"

Xia Guoxiang was the first to speak: "Now that things have come to this, we have no other choice but to fight the Qing army in Changsha."

Wu Sangui looked at Li Benshen, his trusted confidant and sworn brother of many years.

Li Benshen let out a deep breath.

“I agree. If we hold onto Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi, it’s only a matter of time before we fail. Besides money and supplies, there’s a big problem – the hearts and minds of the people.”

Everyone was silent.

Everyone present was intelligent and understood the meaning behind the words.

How did the Ming Dynasty fall?

As soon as thousands of Qing cavalry arrived, civil and military officials knelt and bowed by the roadside, holding their official seals.

Human hearts are fickle; they'll side with whichever side is stronger.

If we choose to retreat to Yunnan now, with the Qing army pressing in, internal traitors will spring up like mushrooms after rain.

Liu Xuanchu remained silent, his face as white as paper; he had no face to offer any further suggestions.

Ma Bao also remained silent.

Wu Sangui struggled to get up.

"Announce to the three armies that the army is marching north to fight a decisive battle in Changsha. Wu Yinglin, kneel down and kowtow to your uncles."

"Yes."

Wu Yinglin knelt down with a thud.

The crowd quickly helped him up.

This scene of entrusting one's son to another cast a shadow over everyone's hearts.

……

The area between Hengzhou and Changsha has become bustling.

Wu's army advanced by both land and water, with overwhelming momentum.

Crown Prince Wu Yinglin donned his father's armor and, imitating his father, frequently summoned various generals to comfort wounded and sick soldiers, doing his best to boost morale.

But he is not the sun, and cannot dispel the gloom in everyone's hearts.

Many fled during the march.

In particular, lower-ranking officers would sneak away from the main force in small groups under the cover of night to seek refuge with the light.

Lu Xun once said:

Men changing social classes is just like women marrying to higher social classes; they only become more adept at it, less burdened by their circumstances, and more shameless.

As more and more people came to join them, the battlefield situation became clearer and clearer, and Jiang Qingyun was overjoyed.

A great battle is imminent!

He frequently went out to inspect the various battalions, inspiring the troops.

Wherever they went, they were greeted with thunderous cheers.

For two consecutive days, "he" visited all the military camps. The central command tent.

Jiang Qingyun looked at the unharmed substitute and felt a chill run down his spine.

The double entered the camp to inspect the troops, and the distance between him and the bannermen was less than ten feet. Despite such a good opportunity for assassination, the dissidents of the Ninth Banner did not move an inch.

What does this mean?
This shows that these dissidents have grand ambitions; they actually want to assassinate me openly during the decisive battle between the two armies, attempting to cause a cataclysmic event!
……

Banner Camp.

The last secret gathering of the core members of the Ninth Banner.

"Gentlemen, we have finally waited for the best opportunity. At the moment of decisive battle, we will punish the traitors of the country! When will this day end? The Qing Dynasty and Chiang Kai-shek will perish together."

"it is good!"

Before they knew it, the Ninth Banner had also adopted Jiang Qingyun's slogan.

"Gentlemen, strive on! May Heaven punish the traitors of the nation!"

The group encouraged each other, then returned to their tents to check their bows, crossbows, swords, and other weapons, ensuring that when the time came to punish the traitors, they could make Chiang Kai-shek spit blood high in the air.

The late Ming and early Qing dynasties were a morally bankrupt place, teeming with traitors and double agents.

Jiang Qingyun also received a letter of loyalty sent by Wang Fuchen.

"I, Wang Fuchen, am a lonely and destitute man who has spent half my life wandering. I only regret that I have not met a wise ruler. If you do not abandon me, I am willing to turn against you during the decisive battle and help you to wear the imperial robe."

The content is very straightforward and cliché.

Jiang Qingyun smiled and nodded.

Ma Bao and Liu Xuanchu did not send any letters, but more than 2000 of their men surrendered in Jiangxi.

Five days later, Wu's main force arrived one after another and set up camp outside Changsha.

The two armies faced off, each sending out declarations of war.

3 days later~
As the sun rose in the east, a gentle breeze caressed our faces, the ground was firm, and the temperature was pleasant. A decisive battle with a total force of over 20 slowly began.

……

The messenger entered the camp, shouting all the way.

"The Grand Secretary has ordered that the Eight Banners are the nation's elite troops, and today the Eight Banners will lead the charge."

The soldiers shouted: "We will serve our country with our lives, and unite the eight directions under one sky."

Then began the intense pre-war preparations.

The first step is to drink an inspirational drink.

The paste, made by boiling and purifying a dozen or so expensive aphrodisiac herbs, three to five kinds of analgesic Chinese herbs, and one or two kinds of hemostatic herbs, is mixed with alcohol and stirred repeatedly beforehand to ensure even dissolution.

One small bowl for each person.

The second step is to carefully prepare.

The third step is to tie a white motivational band around your forehead.

Su Hetai, the flag captain of the New Eight Banners Assault Daredevil Battalion, glanced at the location of the Central Army's banner and silently estimated the distance; it was at least two miles away.

The time is not yet ripe.

He checked the quiver to make sure there was a signal arrow inside.

……

As is well known, Jiang Qingyun was not particularly skilled in military affairs, so he honestly focused on troop deployment and conventional warfare.

The artillery was positioned at the very front.

Behind them were the Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army infantry, and behind them were the Zhili Green Standard Army infantry.

The two flanks were occupied by Eight Banners cavalry.

The central army was at the rear, guarded by Zhili Green Standard Army cavalry and the New Army.

It took half an hour just to arrange the troops, mainly relying on the initiative of officers at all levels. This was even with the formation diagrams distributed to officers at the battalion commander level a day in advance.

everything's ready.

Jiang Qingyun: "Left-wing cavalry, attack!"

Several dozen breaths later~
The sound of hooves suddenly rang out, and more than 7000 cavalry charged towards the well-organized Wu army opposite them, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

300 feet.

Wu Jun's cannons fired.

150 feet.

Wu's archers went into battle.

90 feet.

Wu's archers launched three volleys of arrows into the air, causing those hit to fall from their horses and disrupting the formation slightly, but it was later largely restored.

50 feet.

Wu's archers retreated, and his musketeers went into battle.

The soldiers drew their bows taut in unison, and both sides opened fire almost simultaneously. Under the blazing muzzle flash, the cavalry advance stalled, with men and horses falling to the ground.

The next second, the companion behind skillfully controlled the horse to clear the obstacle.

Upon impact, Wu Jun's musketeers were sent flying backward in droves.

(End of this chapter)