[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-903":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Rising Force in the Red Chamber",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2311701,4515,"Chapter 903","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-903",903,"\u003Cp>Thirty li northwest of the Divine Capital, on the gentle slope of the Divine Mechanism Camp’s artillery position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manhai saw the camouflage removed from the hilltop, and his heart turned cold; those massive gun muzzles resembled enormous \"firearms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled the two prior firearm attacks, and a fear he had never known surged within him—he screamed at the top of his lungs: “All troops, retreat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But ten thousand cavalry were charging forward with overwhelming momentum; no hasty order of his could halt them—the vanguard horsemen surged uncontrollably toward the slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came a thunderous roar—the foremost cavalrymen sank mysteriously into the ground, and the horses behind them plunged in one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire front line of cavalry seemed instantly swallowed by the earth; the massive cavalry formation halted abruptly, countless horses jammed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the slope, less than ten zhang away, a trench one zhang wide had been dug in advance—its length stretched nearly two li, forming a barrier at the base of the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This massive trench had been excavated over several days and nights by four thousand soldiers, solely to halt the ten-thousand-strong cavalry force at the slope’s foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong had just ordered the cavalry to advance single-file along marked paths to reach the slope, precisely to cross the narrow, concealed wooden bridges laid over the trench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered subsequent cavalry to destroy all route markers, erasing every trace of the trench’s construction, ensuring the approaching Mongol cavalry would notice nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the charge of ten thousand cavalry so terrifying, no one could guarantee the horsemen wouldn’t reach the hilltop and threaten the artillery position under fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This enormous trench, at the final moment, served as the last barrier to halt the cavalry charge—the final safeguard in this long-planned annihilation battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the artillery on the hilltop had already opened fire; the cannonades deafened the air, as if destroying heaven and earth, completely drowning out Manhai’s screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of gun muzzles extended from the slope, unleashing indiscriminate volleys at the cavalry trapped in the trench and those jammed before it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After just one round of triple salvos, every cavalryman in the trench was riddled with bullets; those beside the trench fell from their mounts, many horses and riders tumbling into the pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten improved Hongyi cannons and twenty improved Frangki cannons had been mounted atop the slope, their angles pre-adjusted to cover varying distances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each volley fired no fewer than thirty shells; in the dense mass of ten thousand cavalry, each shell easily inflicted dozens of casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the hilltop completed its first artillery barrage, hundreds of surviving Mongol cavalrymen lay dead or wounded; the entire cavalry force howled in chaos, order collapsing front to back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Manhai were the most astute and formidable general, in this devastating artillery onslaught, he was utterly powerless—the command and communication of ten thousand cavalry shattered instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the second volley of cannon fire erupted, the remnants of the Mongol cavalry were utterly broken; the violent clash of cold and hot weapons became a one-sided massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten-thousand-strong Mongol cavalry was engulfed by artillery fire, like boiling water churning and spraying—every moment, countless lives vanished, all resistance shattered in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manhai, second prince of the Tumang tribe, in this apocalyptic blood and fire, had become meaningless—merely a creature awaiting death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many surviving Mongol cavalrymen, utterly terrified, fled in panic toward the left and right flanks—but after the first volley, infantry with firelocks had surged from behind the slope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of the Mongol cavalry’s stunned confusion from the first barrage, they swiftly encircled both flanks; each flank formed a line of over a thousand men, steadied their formation, and immediately attacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They did not use volleys of firelocks, but instead lined up and hurled porcelain grenades at the Mongol mass; countless spherical objects flew through the air, raining down indiscriminately on the dense cavalry formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each porcelain grenade released explosive force far inferior to a cannonball, but their sheer numbers made their overall effect comparable to artillery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in moments of crisis, Jia Cong had deliberately forbidden porcelain grenade use—now, in this large-scale deployment against the enemy, it was perfectly timed, producing astonishing results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Explosions grew ever denser, instantly crushing any attempt by the Mongol cavalry to break through the flanks; casualties mounted rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Jia Cong had already led his troops away from the slope and ridden up to the hilltop, watching coldly as the shattered Mongol elite cavalry below fell into hell, his face expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Ai Li’s face was pale; she murmured: “These cannons are terrifying—firelocks cannot compare. The Tartar cavalry is finished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no way to break through the flanks, the surviving Mongol cavalry turned their horses and fled rearward—but the cannon muzzles on the hilltop did not elevate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet with dense frontal artillery fire, flanking porcelain grenade and firelock attacks, and the entire Mongol force in chaos, their retreat was painfully slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every step backward cost countless lives, yet a few lucky ones escaped the artillery range—though they could not ultimately evade annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As these Mongol remnants neared the outer perimeter, a thunderous clatter of hooves sounded ahead—seventeen hundred firelock cavalrymen, lying in ambush at Tushan, had arrived via a detour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong had ordered the cannons not to elevate, to avoid friendly fire; the Mongol force was too large, and blindly demanding total annihilation would inevitably cost eight hundred of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These firelock cavalrymen arrived and did not dismount—they galloped swiftly around the edge of the artillery range, hurling porcelain grenades at the retreating, disorganized troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such chaotic battle conditions, there was no time to form ranks; only porcelain grenades could rapidly establish fire barriers to block the enemy’s rearward flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, before returning, these firelock cavalrymen had been issued multiple batches of porcelain grenades by Jia Cong—their ammunition was plentiful, and they hurled them without restraint, without sparing a single one…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten-thousand-strong Mongol cavalry was now surrounded on all sides; under continuous fire, casualties rose ceaselessly—their former arrogance and brutality had vanished entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the seventeen hundred firelock cavalry arrived, distant thundering hooves sounded again—Shi Ding, the Marquis of Zhongjing, led five thousand elite cavalry reinforcements into battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon arrival, the five thousand cavalry dismounted and formed ranks; under cover of artillery and porcelain grenades, they unleashed multiple volleys of arrows in concentrated saturation against the trapped remnants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after only two rounds of archery, silence gradually settled over the encirclement—only the moans of the wounded remained; no organized resistance or escape attempts persisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ding’s expression was grave; he ordered the attack halted. Far atop the slope, the artillery battery seemed to sense it, and ceased firing with perfect coordination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the slope, Jia Cong’s face was grim as he gazed down at the sea of corpses, blood rising like mist, a scene of hell—many wounded lay with severed limbs, beyond saving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Ai Li was a skilled martial artist, fearless in battle, faced with this sight, her lovely face turned deathly pale, her expression filled with pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said: “Yu Zhang, cannons are truly terrifying. In just half an hour of firing, nearly twenty thousand elite Mongol cavalry seem to have left almost no survivors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong spoke in a low tone: “In war between nations, it is either you die or I die. These Mongols slaughtered entire villages around Wawu Town—they died no less than they deserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who love war will perish by war—this has always been true since ancient times…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong ordered the entire battlefield surrounded to prevent any survivors from escaping, and collected all undamaged horses to replenish the six thousand Divine Mechanism Camp troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This long-range ambush by the Divine Mechanism Camp, with two thousand firelock cavalry swiftly striking and retreating, played a decisive role in both blocking and luring the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This allowed Jia Cong to fully recognize that firelocks suffered from insufficient firepower and rate of fire—combining cavalry with firelocks could greatly compensate for their shortcomings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ding, leading his personal guard cavalry, rode up to the hilltop artillery position and saw Jia Cong giving orders to a company commander to search for the enemy commander and confirm his status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong spotted Shi Ding and hurried forward, smiling: “Your Excellency personally led troops to reinforce me—I am deeply grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1390,"2026-06-20T12:19:58.587Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","83ba2f24e8d61e088d65f96ae6e4f39b220dd17d7472f0b6daaa0c09583b1aba","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-904","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-902",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]