Chapter 63: Collapse (Asking for Favorites)

Yangguli's command flag was too far away—only the long-range red barbarian cannons could reach it, and even then only those of six pounds or heavier. The Franchi guns fired quickly, but their range was short.

"Aim at that command flag on the hill across the way—blast them to pieces!"

"Boom!"

After a test shot, the earth-shaking roar of cannon fire rang out again from the Yongwei Camp's position after a long pause.

All the red barbarian cannons fired at once. Through the thick, acrid gunsmoke, dense clouds of iron pellets shot toward Yangguli's great banner on the distant hill.

Deafening cannon blasts rang out one after another, wave after wave of dense lead shot howling toward the command flag, sending the Qing troops on the opposite side tumbling to the ground one after another, leaving chaos everywhere.

Facing the howling storm of lead shot, the Qing position fell into utter confusion. The Plain Yellow Banner soldiers guarding Yangguli around the command flag cried out in terror and fled far from the spot.

Yangguli was on a hillside. In this era, cannonballs were mostly solid shot and could not roll up a reverse slope—they could only smash a hole where they landed, barely unleashing the cannon's power. This let Yangguli escape with his life by luck.

No matter how battle-hardened or experienced Yangguli was, at this moment he was at his wit's end, completely without a plan. His eyes stared blankly, and combined with the scorching heat, his face was drenched with sweat.

The janggiya janggin beside him said, "Imperial Son-in-law, the Ming army's cannon fire is too fierce—retreat now!"

Yangguli's hands trembled. He finally understood that this battle was a complete failure. If the Yongwei Camp adjusted their cannon range, he would likely be smashed to pulp.

Yangguli clenched his teeth, his voice trembling slightly, and said, "Give the order—full retreat!"

Yangguli knew that Liangxiang city could not be held. Fleeing to Liangxiang would also mean certain death, so he could only abandon Liangxiang and lead his remaining forces in a desperate flight southward.

Finally, the sound of gongs signaling retreat came from behind the Qing lines. The Eight Banner army collapsed across the entire front. The fewer than two thousand remaining infantry withdrew like the tide, and even the cavalry attacking the flanks broke off their melee with the Yongwei Camp's horsemen and turned to flee.

Upon hearing the gong signal, the Tartars defending the city saw that the main force had been defeated and hastily formed up, throwing away all their valuables as they fled the city, terrified of being trapped inside by the Ming army.

Seeing the Qing army retreat, cheers erupted across the Yongwei Camp's position. How could Zhu Cilang let it end there? He swiftly ordered Huang Degong to lead troops in pursuit.

Mounted on his warhorse, Huang Degong raised his iron whip and bellowed, "Brothers, follow me in slaughtering the slave rebels! Let us display our army's might!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The entire Yongwei Camp erupted in wild shouts. Cavalry and infantry alike howled as they charged in the direction of the Qing retreat, pursuing the remnants of the Qing forces.

Huang Degong's troops clung tightly to the Qing army, not letting them carry off their fallen Jianzhou barbarians or wounded. He would not let a single one of those heads slip away.

The fleeing Qing soldiers had no time to care for their wounded comrades or the corpses of their companions. All along the way, the Yongwei Camp chased and hacked down a great number of heads.

After pursuing for several li, Huang Degong returned victorious with a large haul of heads and two to three hundred prisoners.

He knew very well that the Yongwei Camp's cavalry had been heavily expended in the battle just now and could not endure further hard fighting, so he did not pursue relentlessly.

The Qing army fled more than a dozen li in one breath, only stopping near Shilou town.

Only then did Yangguli gather his scattered, defeated troops and send men out in all directions to rally the other routed soldiers, while also inquiring about the Ming army's movements.

On the small hillside of the Yongwei Camp's position, blood covered the ground and the groans of the wounded sounded everywhere, drawing a sigh from Zhu Cilang as he looked on.

Zhu Cilang led five hundred Eastern Palace personal guards in carrying the wounded Yongwei Camp soldiers one by one into a temporarily erected tent. As for those wounded Qing soldiers who could not flee, not one escaped having his head chopped off.

Officers like Sun Yingyuan had seen such scenes countless times in Liaodong and thought nothing of it, but many soldiers were filled with pride and joy. In this battle, the Yongwei Camp had taken no fewer than five thousand heads by conservative count—an unprecedented great victory for the Great Ming. How could it not excite them?

After Huang Degong led his troops back, Zhu Cilang left a portion of his forces to continue clearing the battlefield, then led the main body toward Liangxiang city.

The Longxiang Night Scouts had entered Liangxiang city first after the defending Qing troops fled, clearing out any remaining Qing soldiers in all directions. Before long, they discovered the commoners who had been penned up.

Seeing the Night Scout riders on their warhorses with fine equipment, those commoners drew back, fear in their eyes.

Yang Qili, Battalion Commander of the First Post, called out loudly, "We are the Great Ming army, here to rescue you—do not panic!"

Countless commoners surged to the roadside to watch, weeping in each other's arms. They were saved at last.

Some of the bolder commoners asked the Night Scouts, "Honored soldiers, which army are you from?"

Yang Qili replied, "We are the Yongwei Camp of the capital, the Son of Heaven's own troops! His Highness the Crown Prince has come in person to Liangxiang and is even now leading troops outside the city slaughtering the Tartars. You are saved!"

"The Crown Prince's men? Has His Highness come?"

"I never imagined the Crown Prince would come in person to rescue us—heaven has opened its eyes!"

"His Highness's great kindness shall never be forgotten. We will set up a longevity tablet and pray for our benefactor's fortune and long life."

"…"

Countless commoners wept tears of joy.

Yang Qili first sent several Night Scouts to transport grain and meat from the warehouses the Qing army had built, distributing relief to the captured commoners in the city.

He worried that these people, starved for so long, might eat too much and die from overeating, so for the first meal he allowed each person only two bowls of rice porridge.

The rare relief from the officers and soldiers, combined with their long hunger, sent all the commoners into a frenzy. Countless people kowtowed to the Night Scouts in gratitude.

The Night Scouts announced loudly that the Crown Prince would soon enter the city—everyone must not run about, and absolutely no causing trouble in the chaos, on pain of severe punishment without mercy.

The commoners everywhere drank the gleaming white rice porridge, and with the joy of being saved, they agreed to every demand of these soldiers and obediently did as told.

Before long, several Longxiang Night Scouts discovered several large warehouses in the city, where great quantities of grain and supplies were stockpiled. The silver alone amounted to several hundred thousand taels, filling several storehouses.

Upon receiving the report, Yang Qili's eyes went wide. But he was not foolish enough to think of embezzling these goods—the Night Scouts already had abundant extra income, and these spoils in the city did not belong to them. There was no reason for him to violate military regulations.

Worried that some commoners might come to loot, Yang Qili ordered men to guard the warehouses strictly, forbidding anyone from approaching. He then rode at full speed to report to Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang was quite surprised to receive the news. Yangguli had actually abandoned all these supplies—he fled without taking anything?

On reflection, it made sense. The Qing soldiers were always arrogant. Their several incursions through the passes had been like entering uninhabited land, and with the legend of "ten thousand Manchus are invincible," Yangguli with nearly ten thousand men would never have imagined defeat, so he had left no contingencies at all.

Zhu Cilang said, "Send more men to guard it. Have Lu Jiude bring the Provost officers of the camp headquarters to tally up what's here after they finish registering the severed heads and captured goods."

Yang Qili said, "Your Highness, should we report the victory to the palace now?"

Zhu Cilang waved his hand and said, "No rush. We'll report after we enter the city and settle in. Order the Longxiang Night Scouts to strengthen reconnaissance of Qing troop movements in the area, especially the barbarian chieftain Ajige's forces."

Ajige's forces numbered several tens of thousands—Zhu Cilang had to be on guard. After Yang Qili acknowledged the order and withdrew, Zhu Cilang led the Yongwei Camp in preparing to enter Liangxiang city.

Asking for recommendation tickets!