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

"What?!"

Upon hearing this news, Feng Shuangli's laughter abruptly stopped, his expression changed drastically, and he grabbed the messenger by the collar, demanding sharply, "What did you say? General Li was defeated? Defeated by Zhang Da? Didn't Zhang Da suffer heavy casualties? How could he possibly break through Huaqiao Pass?"

"General! Zhang Da personally led the troops in a desperate battle, sparing no expense. General Li was outnumbered and forced to break out! I've heard that... Zhang Da has now reorganized his troops and is marching day and night to reinforce Hengzhou, which is less than two hundred li away!"

Feng Shuangli's pupils contracted sharply, and he was startled.

Li Dingguo's bravery was known throughout the entire Great Western Army, and he knew it better than anyone. Yet, he was defeated by Zhang Da and lost Huaqiao Pass! Just how ruthless was Zhang Da?

As he was still wondering, a group of black-clad cavalrymen galloped up from the mountain path in the distance. The leader, wearing dark scale armor and with a handsome face, was none other than Li Dingguo.

At this moment, Li Dingguo, exhausted from a fierce battle, his battle robe stained with blood, his shoulder wound still unhealed, rushed here.

Although Feng Shuangli was arrogant, he knew that Li Dingguo's status was far higher than his own. Li Dingguo was Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son and the General of Anxi. Therefore, he dared not be negligent. He quickly dismounted, stepped forward, bowed, and greeted Li Dingguo with utmost respect.

"This humble general, Feng Shuangli, greets General Anxi! General, your army has suffered a defeat, and I was unable to provide reinforcements. I beg your forgiveness!"

Li Dingguo waved his hand, his voice hoarse, and though young, he exuded authority.

"It's alright, it's not your fault. It's Zhang Da who's cunning and fearless. Enough of that. I'll ask you, how's the battle at Hengzhou going? Have the troops guarding the Prince Gui's residence been completely wiped out? When will the city fall?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Shuangli regained some of his smugness and bowed with a smile.

"General, Hengzhou is already in our grasp! That good-for-nothing Zhu Changying's cobbled-together rabble of four thousand is utterly useless! I have already breached a corner of the city wall; one more day of attack and we will surely take the city! At that time, the Gui Prince's vast treasures and mountains of grain will all belong to our... Great Western Army!"

However, Li Dingguo was not satisfied with his words. He frowned slightly, then swept his gaze across Hengzhou City, before looking in the direction Zhang Da was advancing, and said in a deep voice...

"A day is too long; we cannot afford to delay. Zhang Da's reinforcements are coming with overwhelming force. Although he suffered a Pyrrhic victory, his army's morale remains high, and he has also amassed a large army by enlisting refugees. He is not to be underestimated. Alas, if he arrives, he will attack from both inside and outside, leaving our army vulnerable on all sides and certain defeat!"

Feng Shuangli, however, disagreed and laughed.

"General, you worry too much! Zhang Da's defeated troops are nothing but a rabble. How can they possibly stand against our elite forces? I only need three days to capture Hengzhou. Then I will turn my horses around and join you in a pincer attack on Zhang Da. We will surely cut that bastard down on the battlefield and avenge the humiliation at Huaqiao Pass!"

"Three days?! Do you even know how to fight a war?"

Li Dingguo paid no heed to Feng Shuangli's polite words, instead sternly rebuking him, "We can't wait a moment longer! That scoundrel Zhang Da is traveling day and night, and he'll arrive outside Hengzhou City by noon tomorrow at the earliest! If you can't break through the city today, once he arrives, you can expect to be killed by my godfather!"

After being insulted and threatened like that, Feng Shuangli's expression changed, his smile froze on his face, and he finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

"General, is Zhang Da really that fast?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Li Dingguo said coldly, "Zhang Da is not stupid; he will come at any cost. Immediately issue the order for a full mobilization of the army. Send all the veterans and elite troops forward, regardless of the cost. We must capture Hengzhou City before dusk today! After the city falls, do not enforce military discipline; boost morale through looting! Then immediately reorganize the army and prepare for battle against Zhang Da!"

"If we fail to breach the city before dusk, once Zhang Da arrives, neither of us will escape the commander-in-chief's punishment!"

Feng Shuangli had no choice but to obey Li Dingguo, since Li Dingguo held a higher position than him. He dared not be negligent any longer and quickly bowed.

"Your subordinate obeys! Hengzhou will surely be captured before dusk!"

After hearing Feng Shuangli's assurance, Li Dingguo nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Hengzhou City and the distant horizon with a solemn expression.

"Zhang Da, let's see what you're going to do!"

……

……

It was already afternoon when Feng Shuangli regrouped his troops to prepare for the attack on the city as Li Dingguo had requested. At this time, the blood-red setting sun shone on the continuous camps outside Hengzhou City, turning the blue flags of the Great Western Army into a deep crimson.

It was quite a sight, but of course, the scene of the army preparing to attack the city was even more spectacular.

At this moment, following Li Dingguo's orders, Feng Shuangli sent all five thousand veteran soldiers to the front lines, instantly turning the previously loose siege formation into an impenetrable fortress.

The refugee army carried ladders and filled trenches at the front, while the veteran soldiers, fully armored and wielding sabers, stood at the rear to oversee the battle. Fifteen small red cannons were lined up in a row, their muzzles aimed at the breach in the city wall, ready to launch a general attack at the first command.

The soldiers guarding the city were already terrified at the sight.

Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, had only about 800 guards, most of whom were pampered playboys who lacked even the strength to grip a weapon. The Hengzhou garrison had 2,000 soldiers on record, but fewer than 300 were actually capable of fighting; their armor was rusted and their weapons were dull. As mentioned before, only 2,000 local militia were able-bodied men who were fighting desperately to protect their wives, children, and elderly parents.

"General, the Ming army's defenses have collapsed! At the breach in the northeast corner, the refugee army has already erected three siege ladders; they'll be able to scale the city walls in about an incense stick's time!"

The prince pointed excitedly towards the city wall and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Feng Shuangli squinted and looked over. Sure enough, he saw the defending troops on the city wall retreating step by step. The refugee army on the ladders climbed up like ants, while the defenders' rolling logs and stones had run out. They could only barely parry with their swords and spears, and screams of agony filled the air.

Haha, looks like I can finally gain some respect in front of Li Dingguo.

A ruthless smirk appeared on Feng Shuangli's lips, then he raised his hand and waved...

"Order the artillery to aim at both sides of the breach and fire three volleys. Then, the elite troops of the old battalion will charge forward! By dusk today, we will surely capture Hengzhou!"

"Here you go!"

The gunners immediately adjusted the muzzles, shoveled gunpowder, loaded iron bullets, and set fuses... Most of these gunners were former Ming soldiers who had surrendered, so their artillery skills were naturally far superior to those of the refugee soldiers. However, they had been limited by the number of cannons and had not been able to unleash their full potential before. Now that they could concentrate their fire on one spot, the power would naturally increase exponentially.

"ignition!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Then, the fifteen red-coated cannons roared simultaneously, and the iron bullets, accompanied by terrifying whistling sounds, crashed into the defending positions on both sides of the breach in the city wall.

The firearms were very powerful, and the originally densely defended militia were instantly torn open, with severed limbs and broken arms scattered all over the ground, and cries of agony echoing from the city walls.

"Rush!"

With a roar from the veteran commander, five thousand elite soldiers, wielding their sabers, surged forward like a black torrent through the gap torn open by the artillery fire.

Clad in heavy armor, impervious to swords and spears, and seasoned veterans with unwavering courage, they launched a bloody massacre upon contact with the defending troops.

The incompetent garrison soldiers had never seen such a scene before, and naturally they collapsed on the spot. Although the militia fought hard, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and they were slaughtered and their blood flowed like a river in a short time.

"The city has fallen! The bandits have breached the city!"

It is unclear who cried out first, but the defending troops on the city wall completely collapsed, abandoning their armor and weapons, and scattering in all directions.

Some jumped off the city wall and were smashed to pieces.

Some knelt down and begged for mercy, but were killed by the veteran soldiers with a single blow;

Others turned and fled into the city, desperate to save their lives, but in the end, they all perished...

Upon hearing the sounds of the city falling from within the city tower, Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, was terrified out of his wits. He collapsed to the ground, his prized imperial robes now stained with filth, and cried out for mercy.

"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor! I must leave the city! Why hasn't that son of a bitch, Zhang Da, arrived yet?!"

The officials and guards of the prince's residence were already demoralized and had no interest in the prince anymore.

Some people looted the Prince's mansion for its gold and silver, some fled with their wives and concubines, and some simply opened the gates and surrendered, creating chaos.

Left with no other choice, the two guards carried the limp Prince Gui to the back door and fled towards the Xiangjiang River dock, hoping to escape by boat.

"Stop Zhu Changying! Don't let him get away!"

Upon seeing this, Feng Shuangli gave a stern order.

So a detachment of elite soldiers from the old camp set off in pursuit of the Prince's residence. The Prince's guards had already scattered, leaving only a few personal soldiers to fight desperately. Naturally, they were no match for the Prince and were all killed in a short time. Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, was pinned to the ground, chained, and became a prisoner.

In less than half an hour, all four gates of Hengzhou fell, and the Great Western Army poured into the city, burning, killing, looting, and crying out in despair.

Seeing this, Feng Shuangli laughed heartily, spurred his horse into the city, and headed straight for the Prince Gui's mansion. Seeing the mountains of gold and silver piled up inside, and the overflowing granaries, he no longer bothered to pretend and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! The Gui Prince's Mansion, which boasts unparalleled wealth in Hubei and Hunan, will ultimately be mine!"

Meanwhile, Li Dingguo did not follow Feng Shuangli into the city. Instead, he stood on a high slope outside the city on horseback. He watched as Hengzhou fell, but he felt no joy. At most, he let out a light sigh of relief before his brows furrowed even more.

He is waiting for someone

Li Dingguo raised his hand and pressed it against the still-healing arrow wound on his shoulder, and said in a deep voice...

"Pass down the order, and also tell Feng Shuangli to stop looting the people for now. At most, he can use some of the Prince's money to reward the soldiers. Have the elite troops of the old camp guard the four gates and the Prince's residence. The refugee army must not plunder the people without authorization. Within a quarter of an hour, the army must be fully mobilized and ready to fight Zhang Da at any time!"

The general was taken aback and quickly said

"General, our army has just captured the city, and the soldiers are exhausted. Why don't we rest for a day before preparing for battle? Besides, Zhang Da is two hundred miles away. Even if we travel day and night, we won't arrive until noon tomorrow."

"Foolish!" Li Dingguo shouted sternly, "When did this trend become popular in the army? What if Zhang Da arrives ahead of time at all costs and catches me off guard?! Will you personally go into battle then? Resting now is suicide! Pass down the order immediately!"

Upon hearing this, the general dared not say another word and quickly spurred his horse to deliver the order.

Li Dingguo continued to gaze in the direction of Baoqing, his expression growing increasingly grave as he calculated how long it would take for Zhang Dayun's troops to arrive.

After the defeat at Huaqiao Pass, Li Dingguo lost nearly half of his elite troops. At this moment, he only had 3,000 elite soldiers from his old camp, more than 20,000 refugee soldiers, and only eight cannons left.

Although Zhang Da suffered a Pyrrhic victory, he amassed a large army by infiltrating displaced people, and now commands at least five thousand combat-ready soldiers, along with seven small red-coated cannons, giving him a numerical and combat advantage.

Just as Li Dingguo was still speculating about when Zhang Da would arrive in Hengzhou, a fast horse galloped in from the northwest. The messenger fell to the ground in front of Li Dingguo, shouting hoarsely...

"General! Something terrible has happened! A large army has appeared in the northwest. Judging from the banners, it seems to be Zhang Da personally leading the army. They have abandoned their baggage train, traveling light and quickly day and night. They have already passed Qiyang and are less than eighty li from Hengzhou. Our vanguard scouts have already engaged our cavalry!"

"Eighty li?!"

Li Dingguo's pupils contracted sharply, his heart trembled, and then he suddenly smiled with relief.

"That scoundrel Zhang Da! He actually disregarded everything and arrived half a day early! What speed! What a heartless heart!"

Good timing!

Zhang Da ran day and night, managing to get ahead by half a day. At this point, Li Dingguo didn't believe that all his soldiers were full of energy and could fight ten men each...

You, Zhang Da, want to take advantage of the fact that Hengzhou City has just fallen, your army's morale is not yet stable, and your defenses are not yet complete to attack. Why can't I, Li Dingguo, take advantage of your army's weakness to attack you?

"Pass on the order!"

Li Dingguo made a decisive decision, his voice urgent yet excited, "Order Feng Shuangli to lead 10,000 refugee soldiers to garrison the city, guard the prisoners and protect the provisions, and not to engage in battle! I will personally lead 3,000 veteran soldiers and 10,000 elite refugee soldiers, carrying eight small red cannons, to immediately leave the city and form ranks at Qingcaopo in the west of the city to block Zhang Da!"