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

"Yang Sichang, you old dog! You came quickly!" Zhang Xianzhong cursed through gritted teeth. Still seemingly unsatisfied, he slammed his fist on the map again. "Damn it! I originally planned to take a steady, methodical approach, conquering Jingzhou and Xiangyang before engaging you in a decisive battle. Now it seems the arrow is on the bowstring, and I have no choice but to release it!"

"Father, the most urgent task is to immediately order Liu Wenxiu to return and rejoin the army!" Ai Nengqi said urgently. "Our forces are scattered and we cannot fight alone. Perhaps... perhaps we should retreat to Fang County and the Zhushan Mountains, hold our ground, and wait for reinforcements from both flanks!"

"Retreat?" Zhang Xianzhong seemed to have heard something utterly treasonous. He turned sharply and sternly rebuked his clever but sometimes cowardly adopted son.

"I have traversed seven provinces for over a decade, and this is the closest I have ever come to the wealth of a vassal king! Now, Jingzhou is within my grasp, and Prince Hui's immense wealth is right before my eyes. Yet, to retreat without a fight and withdraw would mean all my previous efforts would be wasted!"

At this moment, Sun Kewang stepped forward.

"Father, it's not that I'm afraid of war, but rather that this is the best military strategy. If you truly are unwilling to withdraw... the terrain from Changbanpo to Jingzhou is flat, which is advantageous for the Ming cavalry, while our army is mostly infantry. Fighting a decisive battle here would put us at a disadvantage from the start. It would be better to leave a small force to contain the Jingzhou garrison, and then move the main force to the Duodaoshi Mountains, where we can use the terrain to our advantage, wait in comfort, and then engage the government army!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals nodded in agreement.

After all, Changban Slope was the place where Zhao Yun charged in and out seven times, demonstrating how open and indefensible its terrain must have been—a perfect battlefield for Zuo Liangyu's cavalry! Zhang Xianzhong's army only had four thousand cavalry, and he didn't consider all four thousand of them to be heroes like Zhao Yun.

Unfortunately, we really can't choose this battlefield.

Zhang Xianzhong took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress his anger and arrogance.

"Relay my order!"

Zhang Xianzhong sternly ordered, "Order Ai Nengqi to lead 8,000 troops to continue besieging Jingzhou, hold back the Hui King's garrison, and not let a single soldier leave the city to meet the government troops."

Sun Kewang led 10,000 troops to the Duodaoshi Pass to build a defensive line and block the Ming army's vanguard.

Liu Jinzhong led 5,000 elite cavalrymen to outflank the Ming army, harassing their supply lines and baggage day and night, and disrupting their morale.

"Liu Wenxiu, you should abandon Qizhou and lead your main force back to Jingzhou to reinforce it under cover of darkness; I, Guqin, will lead 25,000 main force troops to form ranks at Changbanpo and confront Yang Sichang head-on!"

"I will obey Your Majesty's command! I will go through fire and water, even unto death!"

The generals responded in unison and turned to leave.

Thus, only Zhang Xianzhong remained inside the command tent. Gazing at the pitch-black night outside, he gripped his thick-backed machete at his waist and muttered to himself in the direction his nemesis, Yang Sichang, had come from.

"Yang Sichang, today, right here at Changban Slope, let's settle our long-standing feud!"

Meanwhile, the Ming army camp within Dangyang County was also brightly lit and filled with murderous intent.

After all, who could tolerate Zhang Xianzhong, whom they had finally managed to trap, running away to Huguang and even entering their home?

The Ming army was seething with anger at this moment.

Unlike Zhang Xianzhong, Yang Sichang did not wear armor, but instead wore a blue official robe and sat upright on the commander's seat. As before, he still had a thin face and was in good spirits.

The four generals under his command—Zuo Liangyu, He Renlong, Meng Ruhu, and Zhang Yingyuan—stood with their hands on their swords, their expressions solemn, awaiting military orders.

After all, Yang Sichang's decision to abandon eastern Sichuan and rush back to its aid under cover of darkness was a gamble with his entire fortune. Under such a high-stakes gamble, much of the infighting within the Ming army dissipated.

However, this was still not enough. After all, once Zhang Xianzhong had devoured all the wealth of the Jingxiang princes, his power would spread like wildfire, and the Ming Dynasty would no longer have the strength to suppress him.

"Generals,"

Yang Sichang's gaze slowly swept over the assembled generals, his voice more serious and earnest than ever before.

"The traitor Zhang Xianzhong has infiltrated Jingzhou and Xiangyang, plundering local princes and wreaking havoc across the land. His Majesty is enraged, and the world is watching with bated breath. I have been ordered to lead the army, and I hope that all of you will fight bravely and kill this enemy. Ideally, we should annihilate this villain and pacify Huguang today!"

After speaking, Zuo Liangyu stepped forward first, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting.

"My lord, I am willing to lead my 20,000 elite cavalry as the vanguard, strike straight at Zhang Xianzhong's main camp, take his head, and present it to the emperor!"

Zuo Liangyu wasn't being arrogant; after all, his cavalry were all from the Liaodong border army, brave and skilled in battle, and known for their arrogance. When he heard that most of Zhang Xianzhong's army consisted of newly recruited peasant soldiers, his arrogance only grew stronger. Cavalry killing infantry was simply too easy.

So He Renlong also began to echo this.

"General Zuo is absolutely right! Most of Zhang Xianzhong's troops are just a rabble, merely a band of refugees. This has emboldened Zhang Xianzhong to actually dare to fight us to the death."

Upon hearing this, the generals inside the tent burst into laughter and cheers.

However, Yang Sichang didn't seem to care, simply waving his hand, his expression growing increasingly serious.

"Generals, you must not underestimate the enemy. Zhang Xianzhong is a seasoned and ruthless warrior. His veteran troops are all desperate men, and their fighting strength is formidable. Moreover, he has already occupied the two key locations of Changbanpo and Duodaoshi, and is well prepared. In this battle, we must proceed cautiously and not be reckless."

After Yang Sichang finished speaking, he stood up and walked to the map. Pointing at the map and looking at his generals, he began to deploy his troops.

"Order Zuo Liangyu to lead 20,000 central troops to launch a frontal assault on Changbanpo and contain Zhang Xianzhong's main force."

Meng Ruhu led 10,000 left-wing troops to outflank and cut off the enemy's retreat.

Zhang Yingyuan led 10,000 right-wing troops to attack Duodaoshi and defeated Sun Kewang's forces.

He Renlong led 10,000 reserve troops to guard the grain supply lines, ready to support all sides at any time, while also guarding against any attacks from the Jingzhou garrison!

"In this battle, as agreed beforehand, we will use artillery to break through the enemy lines, cavalry to charge, and infantry to clear the field, encircling Zhang Xianzhong from three directions and annihilating him in one fell swoop! Furthermore, I hereby declare that this battle is a matter of life and death for our army, and also the closest opportunity to completely wipe out Zhang Xianzhong. Anyone who retreats in the face of battle or misses this crucial moment, regardless of rank, will be executed on the spot!"

When Yang Sichang said this, his expression was extremely complex, showing a mixture of hope, excitement, worry, and relief...

But in any case, he was extremely sincere.

"Yes, sir!"

The generals were deeply moved by this. Any discord or scheming disappeared after Yang Sichang spoke these words, and all that remained was their unanimous agreement, which resounded throughout the camp.

The military order was then issued, and the 50,000 Ming troops immediately broke camp and set up camp. They then split into four routes and advanced towards Changbanpo.

Along the way, the clanging of armor, the neighing of warhorses, and the banners that blotted out the sky made them seem like a steel behemoth in this dynasty, crushing towards Zhang Xianzhong's position.

The next morning.

The sky was rather gloomy today, and the cold wind whipped up yellow sand, making Changbanpo resemble the ancient battlefield where Zhao Yun charged in and out seven times.

The world was filled with a desolate atmosphere.

Zhang Xianzhong personally led an army of 25,000 and completed the battle formation in front of Changban Slope.

The banners of the "Eight Kings" of the central army fluttered in the wind, and fifteen captured red-coated cannons were lined up in a row, their muzzles pointed at the approaching Ming army.

At the front, 7,000 elite soldiers from the old camp led the vanguard, clad in heavy armor; followed by 18,000 refugee soldiers, armed with spears and swords, their equipment varied but they appeared ready to fight to the death, though whether they truly meant it was hard to say; finally, 4,000 cavalrymen were positioned on both flanks, ready to charge at any moment.

Zhang Xianzhong immediately took up position on the high ground in front of the battle lines. To be on the safe side, he was wearing heavy armor today, his eyes fixed on the distance—his scouts had told him that Yang Sichang's army was coming from that direction...

Zhang Xianzhong secretly resolved that, regardless of who won or lost this battle, he would see Yang Sichang's face.

Before long, dust billowed on the distant horizon, obscuring the sky and the sun. Ming army banners appeared like a forest, followed by a dense tidal wave of soldiers. Their armor gleamed coldly under the dark clouds, and when reflected in Zhang Xianzhong's eyes, they appeared to be a formidable force, far surpassing the Great Western Army.

At this time, Zuo Liangyu led 20,000 Ming troops from the central route to be the first to arrive at the battlefield and lined up three miles away from the Great Western Army.

Next came thirty red-coated cannons arrayed in front of the formation, eight thousand musketeers and archers stood in rows, and the infantry were layered upon each other, with cavalry protecting the flanks. Because they were all elite troops, their formation was rigorous and disciplined, truly resembling a battle-hardened army.

Yang Sichang then rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the top of a high slope in the formation, where he could enjoy a panoramic view.

Seeing his own well-organized formation, he showed no satisfaction. Instead, when he saw Zhang Xianzhong's army, his brows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice...

"Zhang Xianzhong is indeed a master of military strategy. Alas... no wonder we've been able to defeat him for so long... Order the artillery to bombard him first and blunt his momentum!"

thump -- thump -- thump --

At Yang Sichang's command, the Ming army's war drums sounded, shaking the heavens and the earth, like thunder in a rainy night.

At this moment, thirty red-coated cannons roared simultaneously, their booming sounds shaking the earth slightly. Countless iron projectiles, accompanied by sharp whistles, hurtled towards the Great Western Army's position.

Rumble— Rumble—

Explosions rang out one after another, and the Great Western Army's position was instantly engulfed in smoke and fire.

The iron bullets landed, sending dirt and stones flying. Soldiers immediately fell with screams, their limbs shattered, and their formation was blasted into pieces.

The refugee soldiers in the back row had never seen such intense artillery fire before. Their previously orderly formation was thrown into chaos, and some even turned to flee.

"Hold your ground! Anyone who dares to retreat will be slain!"

Zhang Xianzhong roared fiercely, brandishing his machete, and killed two deserters on the spot. He then addressed the artillerymen.

"Artillery counterattack! Quickly!"

Thus, the Daxi Army painstakingly adjusted the muzzles of their fifteen captured cannons, calibrated their positions, and launched a counterattack against the Ming army's positions.

However, since the number of cannons in the Daxi Army was less than half that of the Ming Army, and the gunners were not skilled enough, most of the cannonballs landed in empty space, with only a few hitting the Ming army's lines, causing negligible damage.

"Musketeers! Archers! Fire a volley!"

At a command, eight thousand musketeers and archers in the Ming army formation opened fire simultaneously. Lead bullets and arrows mingled together, raining down densely upon the Great Western army.

The soldiers of the Great Western Army had no cover and fell in droves, their blood staining the yellow earth beneath their feet, and screams echoed everywhere.

"Charge! Slaughter all the traitors!"

Seeing that the battle was going so smoothly, Zuo Liangyu was so excited that he immediately gave an order, and 10,000 Ming infantrymen, armed with swords and spears, rushed towards the Da Xi army's position like a black tide.

At this moment, the Ming army's footsteps shook the earth, and their battle cries soared into the sky.

"My lads! Follow me and kill!"