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

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqu's expression changed drastically, filled with terror.

"Brother! That's the bottom of the trap! Once you go in, the two wings will close in, and you'll fall into their trap, becoming a sitting duck!"

"Li Dingguo's flanks are already tied down. I don't believe he can get back to Baotou so quickly! Don't worry, he won't have time!"

Zhang Da appeared very confident, drawing his sword and declaring in an extremely resolute voice, "Li Dingguo's Achilles' heel has never been his soldiers, but his command flag! As long as his command flag is breached, the Great Western Army will immediately fall into chaos!"

"But you can too..."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Zhang Da turned and glared at him. "At worst, I'll die, and you can lead your army back to Baoqing; if I survive, I'll use this battle to shatter Li Dingguo's formation and become famous throughout the world!"

Immediately afterward, Zhang Da looked at the two thousand seven hundred elite soldiers. At this moment, they stood in silent formation, their eyes as sharp as iron even though their armor was tattered.

"Following our lord—charge!"

Zhang Dayi took the lead and charged out on his horse.

Two thousand seven hundred soldiers followed closely behind, the entire army like a blunt and resolute iron cone, crashing straight into the shallow "groove" in the center of the Great Western Army.

For a moment, Li Dingguo was stunned.

He had seen cowards, arrogant fools, and cautious individuals, but he had never seen anyone like Zhang Da, who knowingly plunged into the deepest part of a trap.

This guy is really crazy!

"Zhang Da! You've gone mad!" Li Dingguo was shocked, furious, and yet also felt a growing sense of admiration. "You're courting death! Fine, then don't blame me!"

Li Dingguo immediately turned around and roared an order.

"Flanking maneuvers! Quickly flank them! Trample the Ming army in the middle! Execute Zhang Dazhe, and bestow official titles and ranks upon him!"

But it was too late. Li Dingguo's flanks seemed to be encountering immense resistance, remaining unmoved by his orders.

The reason was that the left flank of the army was tied down by Zhang Wen's cavalry, while the right flank was also entangled by Zhou Wenqu's feigned attack. Even when the messengers ran to the two flanks to make further arrangements, it would take at least half an incense stick's time.

Zhang Da's 2,700 elite troops had already charged within 30 paces of the central army.

Now it was Li Dingguo's turn to panic.

"Release the arrows!"

Li Dingguo had no choice but to do this, so his personal guards unleashed a volley of arrows at Zhang Da.

Dozens of Ming soldiers fell instantly in the front ranks, their horses neighed in pain from arrows, and the soldiers rolled on the ground from their wounds. But what did it matter? The men behind would still charge forward, stepping over the corpses of the fallen.

"Form ranks! Quickly, form ranks with your spears!" Zhang Da roared, howling like a ferocious lion.

The Ming soldiers immediately raised their spears, and thousands of them together formed a cold forest of spears.

The veteran soldiers of the Great Western Army were strong and fearless, charging forward with their swords drawn.

Then two groups of people slashed and stabbed each other with knives and spears, and screams shook the heavens.

This sight filled Li Dingguo, who was in the army, with eyes blazing with fury and heartbroken.

"Zhang Da, I'll fuck your mother!"

This isn't a war at all, it's a war of attrition! Zhang Da is going to use his most elite forces to break through his command structure!

"Where is the Royal Guard?! Follow me and charge!"

Since Li Dingguo knew that the two flanks wouldn't be able to get through anytime soon, he decided not to wait any longer and simply charged forward with his sword. His dark armor once again made him a black shadow as he rushed into the battle formation, heading straight for Zhang Da!

Since neither of them was focused on defense but rather on killing the other's commander, Li Dingguo naturally faced less resistance.

As a result, the two drew closer and closer, until Zhang Da could see Li Dingguo raising his knife and slashing at him with both hands.

However, Zhang Da also knew that he absolutely could not withstand three blows from Li Dingguo, or even two.

But he cannot back down.

"shield!"

In desperation, Zhang Da could only roar as he tried to increase his defenses and defend himself.

So two guards immediately raised their shields to block him.

clang--!

Li Dingguo swung his sword down, and faced with his superhuman strength and bravery, the shield shattered, and the personal guard was sent flying backward, coughing up blood.

Then, Li Dingguo exerted his strength again, his second strike aimed straight at Zhang Da's head!

Helpless, Zhang Da could only grit his teeth and parry with his sword.

clang--!

The familiar, excruciating pain of a cracking sensation shot through his tiger's mouth again, the pain was so intense that his vision went black, and he almost fell off his horse.

"You scoundrel!"

Li Dingguo was not satisfied with this outcome, so he roared and unleashed a third sweeping strike.

This time, Zhang Da really dared not resist. Taking advantage of the moment when Li Dingguo was cursing him, he suddenly bent down. The blade grazed his helmet, but fortunately it only cut off a few strands of hair.

Moreover, in that split second, one of Zhang Da's personal guards, fearless of death, thrust his spear straight into the belly of Li Dingguo's horse.

Unlike humans, warhorses neighed in pain and panic, so they reared up.

Li Dingguo was forced to rein in his horse and retreat, halting his offensive.

During this brief delay, Zhang Da's elite troops finally broke through layers of obstruction and reached the general's banner.

"Cut down the flag!"

A captain roared and swung his sword, cutting the flag rope.

Because Li Dingguo and his guards went to kill Zhang Da, the banner guards were left undefended.

As expected, without the protection of Li Dingguo and others, the Great Western Army's banner bearing the character "Li" collapsed with a crash.

The moment the flag fell, the battlefield changed instantly.

The morale of the Great Western Army was already low, and when they saw the general's flag fall, they thought their commander had been defeated, and the refugee army collapsed first.

"The general is dead!"

"We've lost! Run!"

The refugee armies on both flanks failed to encircle Zhang Da in the end, and now they scattered and fled, trampling each other. The formation that was originally intended to encircle him turned into a complete rout.

Li Dingguo turned around and saw that his general's flag had been cut down. He was so angry that his eyes widened in fury, and he roared...

"What's the panic! I'm still here! Even if the flag falls, we'll raise it again!"

This was true; Li Dingguo was still unharmed, his fighting spirit remained high, and he could even charge at Zhang Da again.

However, this was only Li Dingguo's personal opinion...

The army collapsed like a house of cards. Amidst the cries of the fleeing, desperate, and begging crowds, his voice was weak and could not be heard at all.

So what? We will fight to the death and never retreat!

Li Dingguo is, after all, Li Dingguo.

He abruptly gathered his three hundred personal guards, focusing solely on the left flank while ignoring the right flank and the retreating soldiers. Instead of retreating, he charged forward, fiercely attacking Zhang Da's flank.

"My comrades! Charge with me! Break through the Ming army's main force!"

Thus, the three hundred veteran soldiers who had not yet collapsed, the last remaining brave warriors of the Great Western Army, pierced straight into the flank of the Ming army like a sharp knife.

This time, it was Zhang Da's turn to be overwhelmed.

Originally, Zhang Da's elite troops were few in number, and after continuous charges, nearly half of them had been killed or wounded. Now, with three hundred elite soldiers counterattacking, a gap was instantly torn in the formation, exposing Zhang Da.

"My lord! The flank has been breached!" the guards cried out in alarm.

Zhang Da turned around and saw that his face was deathly pale.

Not only was his flank breached, but Li Dingguo's personal guards had even closed the distance to within ten paces of him. At this moment, their blades were flashing, and their killing intent was palpable.

"Zhang Wen, save me!" Zhang Da could only scream for help in desperation.

Hearing the commotion and seeing his elder brother in danger, Zhang Wen, who was still fighting nearby, immediately abandoned his attempt to hold him back and led four hundred cavalrymen to turn their horses around and charge at Li Dingguo's rear guard from the side.

"kill!"

Zhang Wen, with only one arm, charged forward, thrusting his spear and killing two soldiers of the Great Western Army before charging towards Li Dingguo.

At this time, Li Dingguo was attacked from both sides.

We can't fight anymore.

He gritted his teeth, staring intently at Zhang Da's conclusion: there was no chance of victory today, and if the fight continued, all three hundred of his personal guards would be wiped out.

"Withdraw...withdraw! Retreat back to Hengzhou!"

Li Dingguo had no choice but to make a quick decision, wielding his sword to force back two Ming soldiers, and under the desperate cover of his personal guards, he broke through towards Hengzhou City.

Seeing this, Zhang Da, blinded by rage, somehow mustered the courage to follow, muttering to himself as he went.

"Chase them! Don't let the enemy escape!"

So Zhang Da and Zhang Wen's armies merged and began a full-scale pursuit. They both knew that capturing Li Dingguo was impossible, but they could weaken his forces during the pursuit.

However, no one expected that just as Zhang Dajun was chasing and fighting, and Li Dingguo was retreating halfway, Feng Shuangli in the city suddenly led two thousand city defense troops out of the city to meet them, attempting to intercept the Ming army's pursuers by forming a battle formation.

"General Anxi, do not be afraid! Quickly enter the city! I will cover your retreat!"

Li Dingguo never expected that Feng Shuangli, whom he had always looked down upon, would actually leave the city to block the enemy in order to save him, and even act so bravely!

Under Li Dingguo's astonished gaze, Feng Shuangli fought to the death with his sword. Although the refugee army was weak, it relied on its large numbers to forcefully block the Ming army's pursuers outside the city.

Without further hesitation, Li Dingguo seized the opportunity to lead his remaining troops in a hasty retreat into Hengzhou. Seeing Li Dingguo enter the city, Feng Shuangli also slowly retreated into the city...

Then the city gates slammed shut and the drawbridge was raised.

Zhang Da chased desperately to the city walls, saw the tightly closed gates and the densely packed soldiers on the walls, cursed loudly, and then, whether it was the poison taking effect or the sudden surge of anger, his arms were in excruciating pain, his heart was pounding, and his injuries completely broke out. His vision went black, and he fell headlong off his horse.

"My lord!"

"Big Brother!"

Everyone rushed forward to help, and the Baoqing Prefecture troops were naturally unable to attack...

Before Zhang Da lost consciousness, he took one last look at the setting sun, at the battlefield strewn with corpses and rivers of blood, and closed his eyes...