I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

The Warriors Battalion set off from the capital, their banners fluttering, heading south.

When they reached the outskirts of Yongqing County, Wang Dalong, the scout who had been exploring ahead, rushed back to report: "Commander, we have spotted about three thousand rebel cavalry three miles to the southeast, heading towards the capital!"

Li Ruolian's expression was cold and stern as she said in a deep voice, "Perfect timing! Order the entire army to form ranks and prepare to meet the enemy!"

Dust billowed in the distance, and the rebel cavalry, wielding a variety of weapons, could be vaguely seen rushing in.

The leader, a burly man with a thick beard, was named Liu Sandao. He was originally a butcher in Ansai, but due to his gambling addiction, he lost all his family property and was heavily in debt. Unable to return home, he decided to join the rebel army. Relying on his brute strength and ruthless nature, he charged into battle and repeatedly made meritorious contributions, earning him a small reputation within the rebel army.

This appearance on the outskirts of Beijing was arranged by Liu Fangliang, with the aim of cutting off the grain supply route from Beijing to Baoding. When he saw the Ming army's superior equipment, he didn't retreat; instead, he excitedly shouted, "Brothers, seize these scoundrels' muskets! I, Liu, will reward you handsomely!"

In recent years, the rebel army has been advancing triumphantly, while the Ming army has suffered repeated defeats. With the balance of power shifting, the rebel army would charge forward with a roar whenever they saw the Ming army.

The soldiers of the Warriors Battalion, holding their muskets, felt a sense of fear for some reason.

Although they were elite members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had mostly interrogated prisoners in the imperial prison in the past, and this was their first time actually facing the enemy in battle.

Some people unconsciously took half a step back, and the formation immediately began to loosen.

bass!

Li Ruolian immediately swung her knife and cut down the flagpole next to her.

He then shouted sternly, "Those who flee in the face of imperial orders will meet the same fate as this!"

A flash of cold light, and the military flag embroidered with the character "勇" (brave) crashed to the ground, startling several retreating soldiers who turned pale.

Fortunately, this decisive blow stabilized morale, and the troops from each battalion quickly deployed.

The musketeer battalion arrived at the forefront, while the central army battalion split into two teams, each remaining on the flanks, ready to charge at any moment.

Li Ruolian immediately gave the order: "Prepare for three-tiered formation, engage at close range!"

Upon hearing the order, the musket battalion, as if by conditioned reflex, quickly divided into three ranks.

The first row knelt on one knee, loading ammunition...

boom!

Everyone was taken aback. Li Ruolian turned her head and saw that a soldier had been so nervous that he had pulled the trigger prematurely.

Upon hearing the gunshots, the bandits burst into laughter and charged even faster.

Li Ruolian stepped forward and patted the soldier on the shoulder: "Don't panic. Fight the way you've always trained!"

"yes!"

With a major battle imminent, the soldiers actually calmed down.

They kept recalling the training scenes, and the enemy in their eyes was no longer an enemy, but a wooden stake on the training ground.

The bandits charged forward recklessly, closing the distance to within a hundred paces in the blink of an eye.

"put!"

As the command flag was waved, deafening gunfire tore through the sky.

boom!

boom!

boom!

Amidst the billowing smoke, the first few dozen riders fell from their horses.

The Ming army immediately changed formation. The first rank of soldiers retreated to reload their ammunition, while the second rank of soldiers stepped forward and knelt on one knee...

"put!"

The first volley of lead bullets rained down like a storm, throwing the rebel army's formation into chaos.

Liu Sandao was terrified, unsure whether to advance or retreat, when the third volley of muskets fired!

boom!

boom!

boom!

As the gunfire continued, the rebel soldiers at the front were hit by bullets and fell from their horses.

The charge continued from the rear, warhorses trampling over the corpses of their comrades, their cries of agony echoing through the air.

Many people were shot but did not die; instead, they were trampled to death, which hindered the rear charge and disrupted the formation!

boom!

boom!

boom!

After the third volley of muskets finished firing, the first volley returned to the front lines, and the cycle repeated.

The soldiers went from being apprehensive at first to becoming more adept at it.

In their eyes, the rebel army and the wooden stakes were no different.

Liu Sandao witnessed a vanguard beside him being shot in the chest, blood splattering everywhere, falling from his horse, and then being trampled by the rear guard...

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

He finally realized that he couldn't win this battle!

The Ming army opposite them was completely different from the Ming army they had encountered along the way!

The rebel army's formation was already in complete disarray. The front lines tried to retreat, but were blocked by the rear lines.

Liu Sandao could no longer care about anyone else; he turned his horse around and fled for his life.

Seeing this, Li Ruolian immediately raised her knife: "Charge!"

Before he finished speaking, he charged ahead of the enemy lines.

The cavalry on both flanks were already prepared. Upon hearing the command, they brandished their long swords and followed.

The rebel army had long been routed and was relentlessly pursued and slaughtered by the Ming army, leaving behind a trail of corpses.

As the smoke gradually dissipated, hundreds of corpses of rebel soldiers lay scattered across the wilderness.

Several wounded soldiers who had miraculously survived groaned in pools of blood before being quickly finished off by Ming soldiers who delivered the final blows.

Li Ruolian flicked the blood off her knife and suddenly heard a series of curses coming from ahead.

Kneel down!

Wang Dalong and two soldiers escorted a burly man with a blood-covered face and a bushy beard.

The man was shot in the right shoulder, but he still stubbornly struggled with his neck out.

"Commander, this thief tried to feign death to deceive us, but the brothers dragged him out from the pile of corpses!"

As Wang Dalong spoke, he kicked the man hard in the back of the knee. The man groaned and fell to his knees, but suddenly looked up and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Li Ruolian asked, "What's your name? What's your position in the rebel camp?"

"Grandpa's name remains unchanged, Liu Sandao of Ansai!"

Liu Sandao grinned, revealing his blood-stained yellow teeth, and shouted, "Kill me or torture me, it's up to you! A coward doesn't show weakness!"

"He's quite the tough guy."

Li Ruolian nodded and continued, "It's a pity you followed the wrong master. Tell me, why are you in Yongqing County? Do you have any more troops behind you?"

Liu Sandao laughed loudly, then said with his neck stiff, "Kill me if you want, don't try to fool me!"

A cold smile crept across Li Ruolian's lips: "Pull out all his fingernails, but be careful not to break any bones. I need to question him."

The Warriors Battalion was selected from the Imperial Guards, so they were very familiar with this kind of punishment.

When the pliers clamped his thumb nail, Liu Sandao could still curse loudly. By the time they reached his ring finger, he was drenched in cold sweat. When the little fingernail was halfway off, even a man of iron couldn't withstand it and screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

"I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything!"

Liu Sandao slumped in his chair, blood streaming from his fingers, and slowly said, "My troops came to cut off Baoding Prefecture's grain supply. Zheng Siwei also led five thousand elite troops to the Grand Canal, saying they were going to hijack some kind of fleet..."

He was panting heavily and continued, "That's all I know. Are you going to let me go now?"

Li Ruolian said coldly, "When did I say I would let you go?"

Liu Sandao suddenly widened his eyes: "You, you..."

"I can give you a quick death!"

Li Ruolian waved her hand, and Wang Dalong immediately drew his waist knife...

brush!

A cold glint flashed, and Liu Sandao's head was severed from his body.

"Reporting to the Commander, the bandit leader has been executed!"

Li Ruolian nodded, then ordered: "Full speed ahead, target: the Grand Canal!"