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

If the provisions supplying tens of thousands of troops could be burned, the scene would be truly awe-inspiring, reminiscent of the line from the Ode to the Red Cliff: "We are but mayflies in the vastness of heaven and earth, a mere grain of millet in the boundless ocean."

Even after burning for several hours, the thick smoke over Luoning County still lingered, the acrid smell mixed with the stench of blood permeating the cold mountain wind...

Zhang Da had no time or inclination to appreciate these things; on the contrary, he was urgently and frantically urging the soldiers around him to quickly gather their weapons, tally the casualties, and prepare for battle.

After all, he was about to face off against this notorious bandit from the late Ming Dynasty.

Just as Zhang Da was feeling emotional, Wang Shaoyu strode forward, the joy on his face vanishing once more, leaving behind a deathly pale expression.

"Commander Zhang! Li Zicheng's 30,000-strong main force has come in full force. Our army has just fought two fierce battles, and our men and horses are exhausted, and our equipment is not ready. We absolutely cannot fight them head-on! We must retreat quickly! If we delay any longer, we will be surrounded!"

Zhang nodded. He hadn't expected Li Zicheng to retreat so quickly, abandoning Nanyang which he had already captured. Clearly, Li Zicheng was furious about the burning of his old camp and the destruction of his supplies, and was determined to tear Zhang's raiding army to pieces.

Getting caught would definitely be terrible.

"Issue my order! The entire army must abandon the city immediately, discarding all captured grain, weapons, and supplies. Retreat at full speed with light equipment! Return to Luoyang along the mountain paths on the west bank of the Luo River—Wang Shaoyu, heed my command!"

Wang Shaoyu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subordinate is here!"

"You will lead 2,500 main force as the vanguard, immediately setting off eastward along the Han-Lu Ancient Road, and must arrive at Changshui Town before Shenshi (3-5 PM) to assemble," Zhang Da said, his eyes blazing, each word carrying immense weight. "I will lead 500 elite troops to the rear, intercepting the pursuers and covering the main force's escape!"

Wang Shaoyu was terrified and knelt down with a thud: "Your Excellency, you mustn't! Li Zicheng has committed all his main force; those covering the rear are facing certain death! This humble general is willing to cover the rear; you must lead the main force first! You are the pillar of the entire army; you must not take such a dangerous risk!"

Of course, this was just his imagination. After hearing the military order, Wang Shaoyu merely nodded with feigned reluctance. Zhang Da also knew that he was definitely not capable of handling the rearguard action and could not be relied upon, so he had no choice but to do so.

In a short while, the main force of the Ming army had finished regrouping and silently withdrew from the East Gate, disappearing into the dense forest paths on the west bank of the Luo River, leaving only wisps of smoke and dust as they gradually faded into the distance...

After most of the people had left, Zhang Da stood on the city wall, gazing at the distant horizon. Seeing that Li Zicheng had not yet arrived, he took a deep breath. He had originally intended to turn around and say something to the five hundred men behind him.

"Behind us lies Luoyang, our families, our only escape route—there is nowhere left to retreat!" "Are you all willing to fight to the death with me?!"

But after careful consideration, I decided against it. After all, the fact that not a single one of them retreated already made them the elite of the elite.

"Leave fifty men on the city wall to set up more flags, making a show of force and pretending that the main force is still defending the city, thus delaying the enemy's vanguard; the remaining four hundred men will follow me to the valley five miles west of the city to set up an ambush!"

The canyon is narrow, with steep cliffs on both sides, much like the place where Zhang Xianzhong was ambushed before, making it an excellent place to intercept cavalry.

Upon receiving the order, the troops immediately sprang into action. Fifty soldiers planted flags atop the city walls, running back and forth to create the illusion of a large army garrison; meanwhile, Zhang Da led four hundred elite troops swiftly west of the city, fleeing towards the valley... to set up an ambush.

The mountain road was rugged and covered with frost and snow.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the group had arrived at the entrance to the canyon. This canyon, named "Black Stone Canyon," was indeed a natural ambush battlefield.

"Archers occupy the cliff faces on both sides, crossbowmen in front, musketeers line up at the valley entrance, and swordsmen and shieldmen form a defensive line to block their retreat!" Zhang Da, as if seeing Li Zicheng's murderous gaze, frantically commanded, "Enemy cavalry enter the valley, first suppress them with bows, crossbows, and muskets, then block the valley entrance with rolling stones and logs to cut off their retreat, launch a short, sharp attack, and retreat immediately!"

The soldiers moved at the order, quickly seizing the high ground. Zhang Da, on the other hand, personally led fifty elite cavalrymen to stand at the valley entrance, their armor gleaming, their eyes fixed on the western valley path, awaiting the arrival of the pursuers.

In less than a quarter of an hour, dust rose in the west, and the sound of horses' hooves thundered in. After the sound subsided, more than a hundred cavalrymen, the vanguard of the rebel army, came galloping in. They were all heavily armored and carrying long spears. The general in the lead had a face as black as charcoal and his eyes were filled with a fierce light. He was none other than Hao Yaoqi, the vanguard general under Li Zicheng.

Hao Yaoqi saw the banners fluttering atop Luoning city walls and the Ming army arrayed at the valley entrance, assuming it was the main Ming force stationed there. Overjoyed, he led his troops straight in without hesitation.

"The Ming army is right here! Slaughter them all and reclaim our supplies!"

More than a hundred cavalrymen from the rebel army roared as they charged into Black Stone Gorge with overwhelming force.

"Release!" Zhang shouted loudly as they entered the attack range.

Arrows rained down from the cliff face, muskets roared, and smoke instantly filled the valley entrance.

The vanguard of the rebel cavalry were struck by arrows and fell from their horses, which neighed and collapsed, blocking the valley entrance. Immediately afterward, boulders and dead trees cascaded down from the cliff top with a deafening roar, completely sealing off the entrance to the canyon. The rebel army that had rushed into the valley had nowhere to go and was thrown into chaos.

"Kill!" Zhang Da led fifty elite cavalrymen to charge into the valley amidst the chaos. Because the Ming soldiers were well-rested and took advantage of the enemy's confusion to kill them, the siege was quite successful. Hao Yaoqi glared angrily and fought to the death, but was surrounded and killed by three Ming elite cavalrymen. He was stabbed several times and desperately led more than ten remaining soldiers to break through the siege through a small path on the side of the valley. They fled in a sorry state, leaving behind nearly a hundred corpses, and retreated hastily.

Thus, the Ming army relied heavily on the terrain and defeated Li Zicheng's vanguard, temporarily stabilizing their position.

Zhang Da dared not delay, and with a swift stroke, he cut off the collar of a rebel soldier's corpse, wiping the blood from his sword.

"Retreat immediately! Hao Yaoqi's defeat will surely attract Li Zicheng's main force; we cannot linger here!"

The group immediately cleared the battlefield, took away the wounded, abandoned excess weapons, and quickly retreated eastward along the mountain path.

Sure enough, less than half an incense stick later, the shouts of battle from the west shook the heavens and the earth. Li Zicheng personally led his 30,000 main force to Black Stone Gorge. He saw corpses strewn across the valley entrance, the vanguard had lost most of their men, and the rocks and dead trees blocking the entrance were piled up like mountains. The Ming army had long since disappeared, leaving only scattered dust. Li Zicheng was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot and his whole body trembled.

"Zhang Da!" Li Zicheng reined in his horse at the valley entrance, his disheveled hair whipping wildly in the cold wind, his face contorted like a demon. "I swear to tear you to pieces to appease General Tian's spirit and vent my hatred today!"

Niu Jinxing stepped forward quickly, "King Chuang, the Ming army abandoned the city and fled, clearly prepared in advance, escaping towards Luoyang along the mountain paths! Our army's food supplies are all destroyed, our main camp has fallen, and morale is in chaos. If we pursue them on a long distance, it may cause a mutiny. Perhaps..."

"What do you mean, 'not as good as'!" Li Zicheng interrupted sharply, drawing his curved sword and hacking wildly at the withered tree beside him, wood chips flying everywhere. "This is a humiliating disgrace! They destroyed my foundation and killed my general. If I don't annihilate them all and reclaim our lost territory, how can I, the king, face commanding my army!"

Song Xianze also advised, "Chuang King, our army is still besieging Nanyang. Once news of the fall of our main camp and the burning of our supplies spreads, morale will collapse. Generals Liu Zongmin and Li Guo have sent messages several times requesting a swift decision on our advance or retreat! We must decide quickly whether to pursue the Ming army or return to rescue Nanyang!"

Li Zicheng turned his head to look in the direction of Nanyang, then glanced at the tracks of the fleeing Ming army, his teeth clenched.

At this point, Nanyang City is no longer important. Even if we take it, we definitely cannot hold it. However, if we give up the pursuit and let Zhang Da return to Luoyang safely, this boy is a man of great strategic ability and will surely become a major threat in the future.

"That's it!" Li Zicheng sighed, looking up at the sky, and slammed his scimitar heavily on the ground. "Issue the order! Abandon Nanyang! The entire army must immediately return to the western Henan mountains, gather the remnants, and rest on the spot! Light cavalry will pursue Zhang Da at full speed, and must hold off the Ming army to buy time for our retreat!"

Upon receiving the order, the main force of the rebel army immediately changed direction, abandoned the siege of Nanyang, and hastily retreated into the depths of the Funiu Mountains in western Henan...