How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 58 A Dark and Windy Night, Kill the Tartars! (Please add to your favorites and read on!)
The snow stopped at midnight.

A cold moon hung in the inky sky, illuminating the vast white snowfield.

The west gate of Xuanfu Town quietly opened a crack, and the heavy iron-clad wooden door made only a slight sound.

Hou Shilu was clad in black cotton armor, covered by a dark cloak, revealing only his eyes. He tightened the reins, and his warhorse pawed restlessly, exhaling white breath. Behind him, a thousand Hou family cavalrymen rode, their horses and riders gagged, their hooves wrapped in thick cloth.

Further behind were five thousand Xuanfu assassins. Beneath their thick cotton armor, their faces were etched with tears and blood, only their eyes gleaming with the ferocity of hungry wolves. Each carried thirty taels of silver for their lives, and each worried about the fate of their loved ones outside the city!
At the very front of the column, Li Er gripped his twelve-foot-long spear tightly, his knuckles turning white. Beside him were soldiers from Xuanfu Town, who, like him, bore the burden of blood feuds.

Behind the spearmen were a thousand musketeers from the Jingjun Army, personally led by Liu Yingkun. Each of them carried a fine musket.

"Leave the city!" Hou Shilu lowered his voice and cracked his whip.

The procession, like a silent black river, slid out of the city gate and merged into the shadows at the base of the city wall. The moonlight illuminated the snow, and the massive shadows of the city wall provided perfect cover for them.

In the distance, the lights of the Chahar tribe's camp twinkled, and the sounds of commotion, drinking games, and women's screams drifted on the wind.

After the caravan had traveled about three miles, a sudden burst of rapid hoofbeats rang out behind the snow-covered hill! A dozen or so Mongol scouts appeared abruptly on the hilltop.

"We've been discovered!" Hou Shilu's heart tightened, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Not a single one can escape! Hou family sons, follow me and kill!"

Before he finished speaking, he spurred his horse, and it shot off like an arrow! A thousand riders roared in response behind him, like a black whirlwind, rushing straight to the top of the hill!
"Enemy attack!" The Mongol scouts were alarmed and shouted the alarm, frantically trying to draw their bows.

But the distance was too close! The Hou family's iron cavalry, with the force of wind and thunder, crashed into the enemy formation in the blink of an eye!
"Kill!" Hou Shilu slashed down with his longsword, and a Mongol cavalryman was cut down along with his horse! Hot blood spurted out!

The screams were deafening! The Hou family's iron cavalry were elite retainers, well-armored and incredibly brave! With spears thrusting and sabers slashing, they used the momentum of their charge to plunge fiercely into the enemy ranks!

Caught off guard, the Mongols were instantly thrown to the ground! Many hadn't even drawn their scimitars before they were stabbed and knocked off!
The Hou family's iron cavalry swept through the Mongol scouts like tigers among sheep! Their iron hooves pounded the ground, and Mongol scouts fell from their horses in droves! In just a few breaths, more than a dozen men were dead on the spot! Only two or three reacted quickly, spurring their horses and fleeing desperately towards the main camp!
"Chase them! Stop them!" Hou Shilu roared, leading his men in hot pursuit. But the stragglers had already disappeared into the night, and a piercing alarm ripped through the air: "Enemy attack! Ming dogs launching a night attack!"

"Woo-wu-wu-"

The piercing sound of horns shattered the tranquility of the Chahar camp! More horns blared from all corners of the camp! The entire camp erupted into chaos, like ants scattered from their nest!
"What's going on?!" Inside the golden tent, Hu Dun Tu Han, who was drinking and making merry with the Han woman he had robbed and was half-drunk, suddenly pushed away the person in his arms and roared with drunken eyes.

"Great Khan! Ming dogs! Ming dogs are launching a night attack!" A bodyguard stumbled in, his voice trembling, "A large force... is almost outside the camp!"

"What?!" Tiger Mound Rabbit Sweat was sobered up by the shock, and he drew his sword abruptly. "Quick! Sound the horn! Assemble! Prepare for battle!"

The camp was in complete chaos! Countless Mongol soldiers poured out of their felt tents, some shirtless, some pulling up their trousers, frantically searching for weapons. Warhorses bolted in terror, and the generals shouted as they tried to rally their troops.

Hou Shilu's iron cavalry had swept out of the camp like a whirlwind! Under the moonlight, the wagon formation outside the camp, consisting of large carts and chevaux-de-frise, was clearly visible! Behind the wagon formation, the shadowy figures of Mongol soldiers were frantically drawing their bows and nocking arrows!

"Release the arrows!" Hou Shilu reined in his horse and gave the order sharply. His iron cavalry swiftly split into two flanks behind him, bows drawn to their fullest extent!
A hail of arrows, accompanied by a sharp whistle, rained down on the rear of the wagon formation! Screams immediately erupted as a large number of the newly assembled Mongol soldiers were shot down!
"Hold your ground! Fire! Fire!" the Mongol general roared from behind the chariot formation.

"Whoosh whoosh!"

The Mongols continued to rain down arrows! Despite their armor, several noble knights were still struck by arrows and fell from their horses!
"Die-hards! Pikemen! Charge!" Hou Shilu roared, brandishing his sword. "Tear this turtle shell apart!" "Kill!"

Li Er roared and charged out first! Behind him, five hundred warriors, their bloodlust ignited, brandished their spears and formed a horizontal line, rushing towards the wagon formation like a flood! Liu Yingkun followed closely behind with a thousand arquebusiers from the Jingjun Army, quickly deploying their firing lines!

"Bang bang bang!"

White smoke billowed! Lead bullets swept towards the archers behind the chariot formation! Amid screams of agony, several Mongol soldiers fell, and the rain of arrows behind the formation momentarily halted!
"Hold on! Fire! Block!" a Mongol general roared in fury. Another volley of arrows rained down, felling a dozen or so elite soldiers, but it couldn't stop the torrent of vengeance!

Li Er was at the forefront! His eyes were fixed on the large cart that was blocking the gap and bound tightly with hemp ropes! Behind the cart, several Mongol soldiers were frantically poking at it with their spears!
"Open!" Li Er roared, suddenly drawing his short-handled axe and swinging it down with a fierce blow!
"Snap!" The thick hemp rope broke with a sound!

"It's open! The breach's open!" the assassin roared.
"Break it open!" Li Er dropped his axe and spear, bracing himself against the cart shaft with both hands and thrusting his shoulders and back forward! Several assassins rushed forward and joined in the effort!
"Screech... Boom!" The cart was pushed open a crack!

"Charge in!" Li Er grabbed his spear and was the first to rush in!
"Kill!"

"revenge!"

The breach was instantly breached by the surging crowd! Hundreds of suicide soldiers poured into the wagon formation! Spears thrust wildly, blades flashed! They disregarded formation, feared no death, their eyes burning with hatred! They stabbed anyone they saw! They hacked at any tent they encountered! The Mongol soldiers near the breach were scattered in the blink of an eye!
"Hou Family Iron Cavalry! Charge with me!" Hou Shilu seized the opportunity, spurred his horse, and raised his long sword high. "Break through the camp! Kill the Tartars!"

"kill!"

A thousand riders roared in unison, their voices shaking the night sky! A black torrent, swirling with snow and mist, charged toward the bloody gash torn open by the assassins, accompanied by the sound of hooves!
The torrent crashed violently into the breach! Mongol soldiers blocking the way were knocked away and trampled to pieces! The sounds of warhorses neighing, metal clashing, and bones shattering were deafening! The Hou family's iron cavalry, using the immense force of their charge, plowed a bloody path through the chaotic camp!
Li Er was covered in blood, his eyes bloodshot with rage! His spear was long gone, and he brandished a stolen Mongolian scimitar, hacking and slashing wildly! A Mongolian soldier raised his sword to parry, but was cut down along with the sword! Another soldier lunged from the side, only to have half his head sliced ​​off with a backhand slash! The image of his parents' gruesome deaths burned in his mind, each strike filled with hatred!
"Father! Mother! Your son has avenged us! Kill! Kill all the Tartars!" Li Er roared, his voice hoarse and filled with madness! He led dozens of bloodthirsty assassins, close to the flank of the Hou family's iron cavalry, and rushed towards the most conspicuous golden-topped tent deep in the camp!
Tiger Mound Rabbit Khan's camp had become a complete slaughterhouse! Flames soared into the sky, screams of agony, shouts of battle, clashing weapons, and the mournful neighing of warhorses mingled together! The Ming army was invincible!
……

Before the golden tent.

Hudun Tuhan Lindan Batur had long lost his previous smugness. His face was deathly pale, and he hastily put on his leather armor, his helmet askew. The shouts of battle and the firelight all around him made him tremble, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

"Great Khan! We can't hold them off! The Ming dogs... the Ming dogs are too fierce! Run!" General Dorjigunchuk, covered in blood, staggered forward, grabbed Lindan Khan's arm, and urged him hoarsely.

"Go?! Where do you think you're going?!" Lin Dan Khan was both shocked and furious, his voice trembling. "Where are my warriors?! Assemble! Slaughter all these Ming dogs!"

"We can't assemble the Great Khan!" Dorjigunchuk stamped his foot in frustration. "The camp is in complete chaos! The Ming dogs' muskets are powerful! Their cavalry is fierce! And those reckless suicide soldiers... they're after your golden tent! If we don't leave now, it'll be too late! Mount up!"

Before the words were finished, a frenzied battle cry grew louder as it approached! A troop of Ming cavalry, like a black whirlwind, broke through the chaos, their blades pointed directly at the golden tent! The leading general was none other than Hou Shilu! His long sword dripped blood, his eyes flashed like lightning, and he stared intently at the panicked figure before the golden tent!
"Protect the Great Khan!" roared Juntu Taiji, the uncle of Lindan Khan, leading the last few dozen personal guards to shield the golden tent with their bodies.

"Tiger Mound Rabbit Sweat! Prepare to die!" Hou Shilu's roar was like a thunderclap!
The chill of death gripped Lindan Khan's heart instantly! He shoved Dorjigunchuk aside and scrambled towards his warhorse, desperately trying to climb onto it! Several guards hurriedly helped him onto the horse's back.

"Suluding! Suluding banner!" Ligdan Khan shouted on horseback, the symbol of his rule!

One of the guards hurriedly rolled up the banner, slung it over his shoulder, and mounted his horse.

"Go! Go quickly!" Dorjigunchuk, with the remaining guards surrounding the disheveled Ligdan Khan, spurred his horse northwest towards the camp of Dahatun Zhongmuna, fleeing for his life!
(End of this chapter)