Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

After Zhang Da ascended Huaqiao Pass, Zhou Wenqu, holding a crumpled military report, began to report what Zhang Da least wanted to hear at that moment.

"Brother, the casualty count is complete... This battle was a disaster."

Zhang Da slowly closed his eyes and said in a deep voice.

"Go ahead and speak."

"Of the 13,000 who went into battle, less than 8,000 have returned to their posts."

Zhou Wenqu lowered his head. Although this battle was not his fault, he still dared not look directly into Zhang Da's eyes. "Three thousand one hundred and twenty-seven people died in battle, of which seven hundred and twenty-one were elite soldiers from good families."

As for the local militia, more than 2,400 died in battle, most of them injured by boiling oil and stones while attacking the pass, and none of them even had a complete body left... More than 1,400 were seriously wounded, with countless others suffering broken arms and legs, scalded skin, and poisoned by arrows. More than half of them probably will never be able to fight again and will have to spend the rest of their lives farming to make a living.

After Zhang Wen's severed arm was reattached and hastily wrapped with cloth, and he seemed to be alright, he stepped forward to add to the list.

"Brother, three of the red-coated cannons were destroyed, leaving seven out of ten; 127 muskets were broken, and nearly half of the spears and scimitars were destroyed. 23 supply wagons were destroyed, and 70% of the gunpowder and arrows were used up... All 120 members of the Detective Division perished. Oh, and... the bodies of Chen Sanzhu and the others were dug out inch by inch by the brothers at the foot of the cliff in Shanmu'ao."

"It seems there are also captured items. More than two thousand enemy weapons were captured inside the pass, but less than three hundred shi of grain. Two hundred and thirteen remnants of the Great Western Army were captured, all of whom were too badly wounded to retreat. The rest either died in battle or escaped with Li Dingguo through the back mountain path."

After reviewing the battle situation, Wang Tui clasped his hands in a fist with one arm, his eyes filled with sorrow, "Big Brother...we...we took this dangerous pass with nearly half of our casualties, it was truly a Pyrrhic victory."

After he finished speaking, there was a deathly silence in front of the gate.

The surviving soldiers either slumped beside piles of corpses, panting, or choked back sobs while holding the bodies of their comrades; they could hardly even express their grief.

After days of arduous travel, followed by relentless fighting through the night, and ultimately heavy casualties, everyone had reached their limit. All eyes turned to Zhang Da, their gazes filled not only with awe but also with barely concealed exhaustion and fear.

They recounted the devastating battle reports for one reason only—they simply didn't want to fight anymore; what they feared most was this endless war.

However, Zhang Da, whether he didn't understand what they meant or not, remained silent for a moment, then his Adam's apple bobbed, he nodded slightly, and said in a calm yet undeniable voice.

"I understand. Pass down the order: have the entire army prepare here for one day."

Everyone was taken aback.

Just reorganizing the army... does that mean we're still going to fight?

Zhang Wen, standing to the side, was the first to angrily speak out.

"Brother! We have suffered more than half of our casualties, and our elite troops have also been lost. We are wounded everywhere and short of weapons and food. Now is the time to retreat to Baoqing to recuperate and replenish our forces!"

The small Huaqiao Pass has already caused us heavy losses, and although Li Dingguo was defeated, he has not lost his core strength. If our army goes further forward, deep into enemy territory, we might fall into an ambush...

Zhou Wenqu also personally and earnestly persuaded him.

"Brother, as the art of war says, the greatest taboo in warfare is to exhaust oneself in prolonged battles. Feng Shuangli's main force numbers nearly 30,000, and he has also taken tens of thousands of refugees with him. Our army now has only 8,000 remnants, and less than 5,000 of them are capable of fighting. How can we possibly fight against him?"

"It would be better to retreat for now, comfort the wounded, and rally the troops. We can recuperate, recruit new soldiers, and then fight again. Besides, the fate of the Prince of Hengzhou is truly beyond our control! In that case, why risk our brothers' lives to save a group of wealthy and corrupt princes surnamed Zhu?"

War-weariness was instantly ignited, and after this crushing defeat, the remaining generals also knelt down, pleading in unison.

"Please, my lord, withdraw your troops and defend Baoqing!"

Already suffering heavy losses in this battle, and further persuaded by his generals, everyone assumed that Zhang Da would also consider retreating to central Hunan to protect himself.

But Zhang Da, who had remained silent while listening to the retreat, suddenly opened his eyes and spoke sharply.

"Regarding the retreat and the withdrawal to Baoqing, you advised me against it before, and I gave the same answer as before!"

Zhang Da wanted to bolster his own morale, so he grabbed the sword at his waist and forced himself to take a step forward.

"Moreover, the deaths here didn't happen in Baoqing Prefecture, and the war hasn't spread to our own homes yet. Once Hengzhou falls, Feng Shuangli will lead his troops south, and Changsha and Baoqing will be indefensible! At that time, not only will people die, but the war will also reach Baoqing."

After saying this, Zhang Da spoke in an extremely formal and serious tone about his long-held beliefs.

"Hengzhou must be saved, and Feng Shuangli must be fought! No one can stop me; this battle is inevitable!"

"..."

Everyone was speechless, filled with resistance, yet unable to refute it.

However, at this moment, Zhang Wen's eyes were red with anxiety.

"Brother! But...but we are outnumbered and short of weapons. What can we fight with? How can eight thousand remnants stop Feng Shuangli's tens of thousands of troops? Brother, you can't gamble with the lives of our brothers! This kind of battle is meaningless!"

"This is hardly a problem."

Zhang Da said this nonchalantly, then his gaze swept across the wilderness beyond the pass and the distant villages. "That bandit Zhang Xianzhong can recruit refugees to expand his army, so why can't I, Zhang Da? He plunders people as cannon fodder, so I'll recruit refugees, starving people, beggars, and salt workers. As long as they're willing to defend their homes and land, as long as they're willing to risk their lives for food, I'll take them all in!"

"Wasn't my tax reduction and land redistribution precisely for the sake of winning the hearts of the people? Wasn't this the day I was all for? Now that I have already won the hearts of the people, I'll learn from Zhang Xianzhong and see how many refugees along the way will flock to me with a single call to arms!"

"Since the elite troops of good families have been lost, then we will use refugees to fill the ranks; since we lack weapons, then we will hastily manufacture spears, crossbows, and swords and axes; since we are short of provisions, aren't we still the Prince of Gui of Hengzhou? He won't expect our army to fight for him without paying him!"

Zhang Dayu became more and more excited as he spoke, as if what he had just won was not a Pyrrhic victory, but a great one!

"I will not only fight this battle, but I will win it decisively! Generals, relay my orders—"

Zhang Da's voice suddenly rose, and he began to arrange the troops.

"Zhang Wen and Sun Liu are responsible for gathering the wounded, cleaning up the battlefield, burying the bodies of their comrades, and providing on-site care for the seriously wounded, while also recruiting laborers from nearby villages to look after them."

"Wang Tui, you shall lead the remaining brothers of the Detective Division out of the pass immediately. Along the official road from Huaqiao Pass to Hengzhou, post notices to recruit refugees, starving people, beggars, and landless farmers. Anyone willing to join the army, regardless of gender or age, as long as they can carry weapons and provisions, shall be accepted. Rations will be issued upon enlistment. Those who die in battle will be given a proper burial for their families, the wounded will receive medical treatment, and those who perform meritorious service will be rewarded with land and silver!"

"Li Dan, you are in charge of reorganizing the new army. Organize the recruited refugees into squads of ten men each, and platoons of one hundred men each. Veteran soldiers will lead the new recruits, with your own men forming the backbone. The army must be in formation within three days, without delay!"

"Zhou Wenqu, immediately draft a document and send it to the Prince Gui's residence in Hengzhou, informing him that our army has breached Huaqiao Pass and will be rushing to his aid soon. Order Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, to immediately allocate 50,000 shi of grain, 50,000 taels of silver, and 1,000 pieces of military equipment to the army. Anyone who dares to delay or shirk responsibility will be considered an enemy of our army. If the bandits breach the city in the future, our army will absolutely not come to their aid!"

After arranging all these important matters, Zhang Da made up his mind completely.

"Finally, the entire army will rest for one day. Tomorrow morning, at cockcrow, we will set off to reinforce Hengzhou and annihilate Feng Shuangli! Anyone who dares to retreat in fear of battle or incites unrest, whether officer or soldier, will be punished according to military law!"

Once Zhang Da uttered those cold and decisive words, there was no room for negotiation.

The crowd was terrified, but there was nothing they could do, and no one dared to utter a word of dissuasion.

"I will obey your command, my lord! I will go through fire and water, even unto death!"

Seeing everyone's obedient and compliant demeanor, Zhang Da's expression finally eased slightly.

"Get up, all of you. Rest assured, I, Zhang Da, have lived up to the expectations of Heaven and Earth, the people, and every one of my brothers. What is lost or wounded today, I will repay a hundredfold in the future; if we win this battle, Baoqing will be at peace. Go and make preparations."

The generals then accepted their orders and left, and the pass immediately became bustling with activity.

Burying the dead, treating the wounded, inventorying weapons, and starting fires to cook meals, the dilapidated Huaqiao Pass gradually began to show signs of life...

……

……

A day of rest passed in the blink of an eye.

At cockcrow on the second day, before dawn and while the stars were still twinkling in the sky, the army had almost fully assembled at Huaqiao Pass.

Strangely enough, after a day of regrouping and reorganization, the original 8,000 remnants of the army expanded to more than 12,000!

The additional four thousand or so people were mostly refugees, starving people, and beggars from the surrounding area. Although they were ragged, emaciated, and carrying spears, wooden axes, and hoes, their armor and weapons were incomplete.

However, their eyes held a desperate desire to survive. Furthermore, the veteran soldiers, scattered among them, acted as the skeleton supporting the entire army.

It lasted for three days, at least, didn't it?

So, disregarding all that, Zhang Da's figure, with banners fluttering in the wind and the large sign bearing the words "Baoqing" waving proudly beside him, still appears quite imposing.

Zhang Da then donned his armor, mounted his horse, and though his face remained pale, his imposing aura was overwhelming. His gaze swept over the entire army, and he once again gave the order.

"Let's march!"

The bugle sounded, and the drums and gongs resounded.

More than 12,000 people set off in a grand procession along the official road toward Hengzhou.

Dust billowed, and the sounds of footsteps, horses' hooves, and clashing weapons mingled together...

Meanwhile, more than 300 miles away outside Hengzhou City, a war-torn hell had already broken out.

Hengzhou Prefecture was the fiefdom of Prince Gui, Zhu Changying.

Zhu Changying, the seventh son of Emperor Shenzong, spent seventeen years in his fiefdom, seizing vast tracts of fertile land, accumulating immense wealth, and possessing granaries as numerous as mountains, becoming the richest man in Hubei and Hunan provinces.

However, this pampered prince, who was usually arrogant and extravagant, was terrified when he heard that Zhang Xianzhong's army was coming. Like other princes, he was immediately scared out of his wits, but he couldn't bear to abandon his property and wives and concubines and flee. He could only hastily assemble an army to defend the city.

Outside the city, Feng Shuangli led an army of 30,000 to completely besiege Hengzhou.

Feng Shuangli was a veteran general under Zhang Xianzhong. He was over thirty years old, with a face full of scars and a menacing appearance. At this moment, he was standing on a high slope outside the city, looking at Hengzhou City, with a disdainful and sinister smile on his lips.

His troops, centered around 5,000 veteran soldiers, included over 25,000 refugees. Fifteen small red cannons were positioned in front of the battle lines, along with a dense barrage of muskets and bows and arrows, launching a relentless offensive.

Can't even take over this place?

"Attack the city!"

Feng Shuangli brandished his thick-backed machete and, at a command, began the attack.

"Kill them!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers of the Great Western Army surged toward the walls of Hengzhou like a tidal wave.

Ladders were erected, and soldiers climbed up; cannons roared, shells pounded the city walls, and bricks and stones flew everywhere; archers and musketeers fired in unison, arrows rained down on the city walls, and smoke filled the air.

However, the defending troops on the walls of Hengzhou were in complete disarray.

The so-called garrison consisted of only 800 guards from the Prince Gui's residence, plus 1,000 remnants from the Hengzhou garrison and 2,000 temporarily recruited militia, totaling less than 4,000.

Needless to say, the garrison soldiers were already out of training for a long time, weak and exhausted, and their weapons were rusty.

The servants of the Prince's mansion were even more arrogant, extravagant, and cowardly;

As a result, the strongest fighting force turned out to be the militia!

The fall of the city seems to be only a matter of time.

Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, was clearly aware of this as well. So, dressed in a python robe, he huddled inside the city wall, supported by his wives and concubines, trembling all over, his face deathly pale, constantly crying out for his life.

"Quickly! Quickly stop the bandits! Whoever can repel the enemy will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and a thousand acres of fertile land!"

He seemed to have said these words a little too late; not many people agreed.

At this time, the defending troops on the city were being driven back by the offensive of the Western Army.

After scaling the city walls with ladders, the elite soldiers of the Great Western Army, who were already fearless, swung their swords and hacked and slashed. The defenders screamed in agony as they fell off the city walls one after another.

The most serious incident was when artillery fire destroyed a section of the city wall, followed by a massive influx of refugee soldiers who swarmed in, causing the local militia to collapse instantly, crying and fleeing.

"The bandits have breached the city! Run!"

Someone shouted this, and then chaos erupted on the city wall. The defending soldiers abandoned their armor and fled in all directions.

Upon hearing this news, Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, was so terrified that he collapsed to the ground, defecating and urinating uncontrollably, crying out in pain.

"Quickly! Get me out of the city! And when will that Zhang Da from Baoqing arrive? Damn it! If he doesn't come soon, I'm going to die!"

As a result, the officials and guards of the Prince's residence hurriedly protected the Prince and fled to the inner quarters, each trying to save their own lives, leaving no one to guard the city.

Feng Shuangli, who was on the high slope, saw everything clearly and burst into laughter.

"Zhu Changying, you possess immense wealth, yet you can't even defend a besieged city! Since you're so useless, why don't you give me your women, your treasures, and your provisions! Hengzhou is mine for the taking!"

His generals echoed his sentiments, and cheers resounded throughout the land.

Feng Shuangli couldn't think of anything that could stop him, and he was immediately filled with high spirits and self-satisfaction.

After all, Zhang Da was engaged in a fierce battle with Li Dingguo at Huaqiao Pass, suffering heavy casualties and unable to help Hengzhou.

The vast wealth and beautiful wives and concubines of the Prince Gui's mansion were destined to be his spoils of war.

Just as he was getting carried away with his triumph, a rider on horseback came galloping up from the distant mountain path, kneeling down to report urgently.

"Reporting to the General! Urgent news from Huaqiao Pass! General Li Dingguo... General Li's army was defeated at Huaqiao Pass, the pass has fallen, and he is leading his remaining three hundred troops towards Hengzhou!"