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

The night was dark and windy, with a bright moon and few stars.

Hong Niangzi personally led a troop of soldiers, secretly bypassing Baoding Prefecture, and sneaking towards the Ming army's rear supply camp.

This was something she was already very familiar with.

In fact, when the uprising first started, this army was quite weak in combat.

Because they were all poor people and lacked weapons and equipment, they might not even be able to defeat the landlord's guards when they went out to plunder.

During that period, they were called a rebel army, but they were practically beggars.

They were constantly hungry and not only faced the imperial court's encirclement and suppression, but also had to guard against being swallowed up by other rebel armies.

However, everything changed after she married Li Yan.

This army seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, winning battle after battle.

In the past, wars were simply fought by rushing in. Whether a battle could be won depended on whether there were enough people and whether the weapons and equipment were good enough.

With Li Yan in command, we finally understood what strategy and tactics were!

From that time on, the Red Detachment of Women became a force to be reckoned with, their fame spreading far and wide. Even Li Zicheng personally invited them to join forces in a grand scheme...

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Just as she was lost in thought, someone suddenly shouted from ahead.

Hong Niangzi felt a chill in her heart, realizing that something was wrong. Could it be that she had accidentally stumbled upon the Ming army?

However, she quickly calmed down, looked at her adjutant beside her, and pointed.

The adjutant, named Cheng Youde, immediately said, "We are from the Left Front Battalion, ordered to assist in the defense!"

The other party then asked, "Are they troops assisting in the defense of the grain supply camp?"

"Exactly!"

Cheng Youde gave a perfunctory reply, but his right hand gripped the hilt of the knife tightly.

Judging from the sound, there's just a hidden sentry ahead. If we're quick enough, we can prevent him from sending a signal!

Who is leading the team?

"Deputy General Liu!"

Cheng Youde quietly took a few steps forward, preparing to deliver a fatal blow!

"Didn't you say you'd come tomorrow morning? Why are you here in the middle of the night?"

"I dare not neglect my orders!"

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, the other party called out to the back, "We're on the same side, let them through!"

Cheng Youde looked at Hong Niangzi with disbelief on his face.

Hong Niangzi waved her hand, signaling the group to move forward.

The group passed through the checkpoints right under the noses of the Ming army and headed towards the grain and fodder camp in the north of the city.

Cheng Youde looked back and exclaimed with delight, "The Ming army is too easy to fool!"

Hong Niangzi retorted, "Why did you mention Deputy General Liu?"

"It was just... I suddenly thought of General Liu Fangliang, and it just came to mind casually..."

"Perhaps we were lucky; we managed a quick victory while the Ming army was off guard!"

"yes!"

The group quickened their pace, unaware that the sentry post they had just passed had already taken a fast horse and headed towards the northern camp via another route.

"Reporting to Commander Li, the rebel army has indeed launched a surprise attack; they just passed by Zhangjiazhuang!"

"Just as His Majesty predicted!"

Li Ruolian personally oversaw the operation and ordered, "Pass down the order: proceed according to plan!"

A dark cloud quietly obscured the moon, and the earth was as black as death.

In the torchlight, Hong Niangzi suddenly noticed shadowy figures ahead, seemingly many houses.

"How did we end up in a village?"

Cheng Youde looked around and said, "Madam, there's no need to worry. I sent people to investigate during the day, and this place has long been abandoned; there's no one here."

Looking at the ruins, Hong Niangzi suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

This feeling is hard to describe in words; it's just a simple feeling.

But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and there was no choice but to press on.

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud bang shattered the silence of the night!

Hong Niangzi's heart sank, realizing she had fallen into a trap!

Boom!

Boom!

Explosions rang out one after another, and flames shot into the sky, filling the air with smoke.

It turned out that the Ming army had planted explosives beforehand, just waiting for Hong Niangzi to walk into their trap.

The explosives and gravel mixed together were extremely powerful. The Red Maidens' Army was caught off guard and suffered countless casualties in an instant, with screams of agony echoing throughout.

"Charge!"

"Kill them!"

Countless torches were lit, and shouts of battle rang out.

The Ming army surged forward like a tide, their gleaming steel blades flashing with a cold, icy light in the firelight.

"Don't panic, prepare for war, prepare for war!"

Hong Niangzi gritted her teeth, drew the pair of mandarin duck swords from her waist, and charged towards the Ming army.

A major battle was imminent, but this Ming army was exceptionally fierce, and wherever it went, the Red Maiden Army was no match for them.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Cheng Youde directed the men around him to rush forward while he quietly retreated.

At the forefront of the battlefield, Hong Niangzi's figure was like a red lightning bolt, dashing left and right, and she did not see Cheng Youde sneaking away.

The most important thing in war is morale. If everyone grits their teeth and charges forward, even if it means death, no one will be afraid.

However, if even one person backs down, this fear will immediately spread.

Cheng Youde's action of turning to flee was seen, and immediately a second, then a third, began to run away...

The Ming army deployed the Warrior Battalion, composed entirely of experienced elite troops. The Red Maiden Army was already unable to hold them off, and as more and more people fled, the army simply gave up resistance and began to rout.

Although Hong Niangzi was brave, she gradually felt that she was not up to the task.

She looked around and found that her soldiers were almost all gone, while the Ming army was gathering in greater numbers and surrounding her.

"Madam Li, you have nowhere to run. You might as well surrender!"

The Ming army made way for Li Ruolian, who rode his horse slowly forward.

"Pah!"

Hong Niangzi glared angrily and shouted, "Don't you even know who I am? Why would I surrender to a bunch of corrupt officials like you?"

Li Ruolian sneered and said, "Look at your men, they've all run away. If you surrender now, I might spare your life."

Upon hearing this, Hong Niangzi looked around, a puzzled expression on her face.

Wait a minute, where are my people? Where did they all go?

"Cheng Youde, where are you?"

"Are you dead? Come out and say something!"

Hong Niangzi shouted twice, but there was no response.

Just then, someone behind him whispered, "Deputy General Cheng fled as soon as the fighting started..."

"What did you say?"

"I saw... he ran away as soon as the fight started..."

Li Ruolian laughed heartily and said, "Your men are too cowardly. Why aren't they surrendering? When are they going to give up?"

Hong Niangzi became even more enraged. She brandished her twin swords and charged at the Ming army once more.

However, she was exhausted by this time, and with the Ming army being numerous and powerful, she was soon forced to retreat repeatedly.

In the Ming army's ranks, someone was carrying a lasso. He waited for the right moment and threw it with all his might!

Hong Niangzi couldn't dodge in time, and her warhorse was caught in the harness, neighing and falling to the ground.

Li Ruolian shouted, "Take it down!"

The Ming army immediately surrounded them, but Hong Niangzi rolled on the ground to dissipate the force of her fall and charged towards the Ming army again.

Just then, a huge fishing net fell silently.

Caught off guard, Hong Niangzi was caught in the fishing net. The Ming soldiers rushed forward and held the net firmly in place.

She struggled to get up, but she had no strength left.

Seeing that Hong Niangzi had been captured, the remaining soldiers had no choice but to throw down their weapons and kneel down to surrender.

Li Ruolian stepped forward, looked at the captured Hong Niangzi, and a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes.

"Madam Li is truly a heroine, it's just a pity she chose the wrong path. Why didn't she abandon the darkness and embrace the light, serving the Ming Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Niangzi laughed heartily and said, "I, Hong Niangzi, have always acted with integrity and uprightness. Do with me as you please!"

Li Ruolian shook her head and said, "What a pity. If someone as talented as you is an enemy rather than a friend, then I can only send you on your way."

"No need for that, I'll end it myself!"

A flash of cold light appeared, and the short knife in Hong Niangzi's hand was already piercing towards her own throat!