Chapter 53: Zhang Cheng

Hebei, Zhending Prefecture.

The mighty army was like a sea dragon emerging from the sea, stepping forward in neat paces.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

The Black Dragon Flag fluttered in the wind, continuously emitting whistling sounds.

Under the large dragon banner, a warhorse was continuously emitting snorts.

"Your Majesty, the Liao Dynasty's Yelü Zongzhen has already mobilized twenty thousand troops, intending to fight us in Youzhou!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng before him, Di Qing never dreamed that he would truly have a day where he would seize this Zhao Song world.

Hearing Di Qing's words, Zhang Cheng stroked his chin and said, "This Yelü Zongzhen can be considered to have some temper!"

However, just after finishing this sentence, Zhang Cheng gazed at the army not far away and said, "But I am not a pushover either! If he really treats me as Zhao Guangyi, then I will let him see how fierce this newborn Great Ming is!"

Mentioning the name of Zhao Guangyi, the surrounding generals were all ashamed.

Because the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were clearly about to be recovered back then, but Zhao Guangyi played a divine operation, and the hope was shattered!

Anyone who fights often knows that the most dangerous thing about fighting around a city is the supply line.

But Zhao Guangyi didn't believe in evil; he was clearly besieging Youzhou, but wanted to strike directly at the Yellow Dragon.

Good fellow, the result was the Battle of Gaoliang River, where he drove a donkey cart and ran wildly for two hundred miles overnight!

Not only did he outrun the Liao army's iron cavalry, but he also lost his own troops in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun!

And the Liao general Yelü Xiuge chased for a whole night, but couldn't find Zhao Guangyi's whereabouts!

Since then, the Great Song had been in a completely weak position when facing the Liao Dynasty!

"Cousin, are we not going to care about Xixia?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng curiously, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but ask.

"Xixia's Li Yuanhao, someone will deal with him for me!"

Thinking of Xixia's "fatherly kindness and filial piety," Zhang Cheng had a meaningful expression.

When Li Yuanhao wants to learn from "Li Longji" one day, that will be the day he loses his life.

Half a month later, Youzhou.

The army advanced on the wilderness that looked like a grassland, and the generals fell silent one after another.

Because this no longer looked like the territory of the Han family; it was clearly a "frontier grassland"!

"Your Majesty, the Liao and Jin have already arrived less than thirty miles ahead!"

Riding his horse quickly to catch up, a scout hurriedly flipped off his horse.

Hearing the scout's words, Zhang Cheng turned and said, "I leave it to you, Di Qing!"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, Di will never let a single Liao cavalryman pass!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Di Qing rode his horse forward and began to command the army to form a formation.

An hour passed, and the dense cavalry appeared before their eyes like a tidal wave.

Gazing at the Liao army that was like a mountain and sea, many people in the Ming army tightened their steel sabers.

Riding his horse forward, the Liao Dynasty envoy roared loudly, "Is the Ming Emperor here? My Majesty has words to say!"

"No need for more words, go back and prepare for battle!"

Just as the Liao Dynasty envoy spoke, a soldier riding his horse forward roared.

"If the Ming Emperor retreats now, the tribute will remain as usual, and our Liao Dynasty will treat you with kindness, just as we did to the Song!"

Hearing the soldier's words, the envoy couldn't help but shout loudly.

"Did you hear that? Soldiers of the Great Ming, they Liao people want us to leave our homeland and abandon the elders and fellow countrymen who are close at hand..."

Riding his horse forward, the dragon banner continuously moved forward.

Gazing at the "dragon banner" that was like a towering tree, all the soldiers revealed solemn expressions.

"This is the territory of the Han family, not your horse farm!"

Drawing the long sword from his waist, Zhang Cheng roared, "The Great Banner forward!"

"Forward, forward!"

Roaring while holding their weapons, as the soldiers in the center roared, the remaining Ming army also roared hysterically.

"Frankish cannons forward, Tiger-Crouching Cannons ready!"

Gazing at the Liao army in the distance feeling the pressure, Di Qing roared immediately.

"Clatter, clatter!"

The soldiers in the front scattered, and thousands of Frankish cannons appeared in the position.

And just at the moment the Frankish cannons were set up, there were rows of Tiger-Crouching Cannons in the rear.

"Your Majesty, it seems the Ming army has made up their mind!"

Coming to Yelü Zongzhen's side, the Northern Court King said with a solemn expression.

"Since that's the case, then no need to be polite! Let this group of Ming people taste the iron cavalry of our Liao Dynasty!"

Gazing at the dragon banner not far away, Yelü Zongzhen drew the curved saber from his waist.

"Woo, woo, woo!"

The sound of the horn rang out, and the Liao iron cavalry in the front continuously moved forward, finally turning into a gallop.

And watching the Liao iron cavalry like a tidal wave, Di Qing immediately held his precious sword forward and said, "Fire!"

"Fire!"

"Dong, dong, dong!"

The war drums rang out, and a continuous stream of cannonballs was seen being loaded into the chambers.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Under the violent explosion, the Liao iron cavalry that was moving forward was directly blown away.

Watching such terrifying "Thunderbolt Cannons," the Liao generals also roared, "Scatter, scatter!"

And just when the Liao army intended to attack in scattered lines, even more violent explosions rang out.

Looking up at the sky, cannonballs like raindrops were seen falling.

Just as the Tiger-Crouching Cannons caused continuous bombings, Zhang Cheng also revealed a cold smile and said, "Order the Tubo cavalry to move out!"

"Woo, woo, woo!"

The sound of the horn rang out, and a group of cavalry wearing armor suddenly rushed out from behind the Ming army.

But seeing the appearance of the other party, the Liao army revealed astonishment, because aren't these Tubo people?

Why would they also join the Ming army's camp? Could it be that Tubo was defeated?

Commanding the Tubo cavalry, Wang Ping roared, "Tear their left wing apart!"

"Where is the Pishi Army!"

Commanding the battlefield in a panic, the Northern Court King's eyes were full of frost.

Because he never expected that Tubo cavalry would appear here.

Like the Jin people from the poor mountains and old ridges, once the Tubo cavalry saw their prey, they were also like hungry wolves!

The two armies collided, and cavalrymen continuously fell from their horses.

But relying on generous rewards, the Tubo cavalry bit the Pishi Army to death.

Watching the Pishi Army that could no longer be supported, Yelü Zongzhen couldn't help but gasp and say, "Let the Tielin Army break through the opponent's front line!"

"That won't work, Your Majesty; the Tielin Army is your bodyguard army!"

Looking at Yelü Zongzhen, the Northern Court King became anxious.

Because if the Tielin Army suffered too much damage, it would shake the Liao Dynasty!

"If we abandon the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, can our Liao Dynasty be stable?"

Looking at the Northern Court King beside him, Yelü Zongzhen knew very well that Yanyun could not be lost; once Yanyun was gone, they would have to return to the frontier to be poor wretches!

Wearing armor and getting on their horses, the Tielin Army moved forward in silence.

And just as all ten thousand Tielin Army soldiers moved out, Di Qing couldn't help but roar, "Shenji Battalion, take the field!"

Stepping in neat paces, soldiers holding fire-rope guns appeared.

Just as the front row knelt, the middle row stood, and the back row prepared, the Tielin Army had already rushed to the front.

And even facing the overwhelming strikes of the Tiger-Crouching Cannons and Frankish cannons, the Tielin Army suffered damage but never wavered.

Feeling the toughness of the Tielin Army, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but squint his eyes and say, "The trump card of the Liao Dynasty, what a pity!"

"Fire!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Under the sudden sound of gunfire, the Tielin Army in the front was seen falling down one after another.

And just as the three-stage shooting continuously moved forward, white smoke covered the entire battlefield.

But just a moment later, the smoke dissipated, and a scene that made people feel terrified appeared.

That was that the invincible Tielin Army had actually fallen on the battlefield.

Watching all this, Yelü Zongzhen's eyes were full of anger as he roared, "My Great Liao's Tielin Army is gone!"

"The Ming army is mighty!"

"The Ming army is mighty!"

Raising the precious sword in his hand and roaring, Zhang Cheng roared, "Dragon Banner forward!"

"Kill!"

Just as the sound of one heart and one mind rang out, the Khitan people seemed to have returned to the past, the days when they were beaten by the Central Plains dynasty until they dared not fight back with their hands in their pockets!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 54 =====