Chapter 103: Kill Fierce Brother Tie Mu Er

Zi Hour, the moon hidden and stars sparse.

Zhu Yong led fifteen thousand central troops, departing on schedule; the horses' hooves wrapped in cloth, men bearing arrows, racing northward through the night.

The ridges of Changbaishan stretched in the darkness, undulating like a crouching giant beast.

After marching for two hours, a scout reported: "General, General Wang Baobao has set an ambush at Eagle's Mouth Gorge; General Chang Mao is entangled with the Haixi Tribe; the Jianzhou reinforcements have departed, expected to reach Eagle's Mouth Gorge by tomorrow at noon."

"What about Zhang Wu and Chen Heng?" Zhu Yong asked.

"General Zhang and General Chen have led their troops to the outskirts of Jianzhou's old stronghold; we'll strike once the main Jianzhou force departs."

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Send word to the whole army to quicken the march; we must reach the southern side of Eagle's Mouth Gorge and lie in wait before Yin Hour."

"Yes!"

The troops hastened, moving along the rugged mountain path.

Wang Gui rode beside Zhu Yong, whispering, "General, this fierce brother Tie Mu Er can unify the Jianzhou Nüzhen; he's no fool. Might he see through our plan?"

Zhu Yong gave a simple smile, "Even if he knows it's a scheme, he'll still come. If the Haixi Tribe is destroyed, Jianzhou will be left helpless; he won't dare not intervene."

Wang Gui realized, "That's a bright strategy."

"Right, so we must strike hard and wipe out his main force in one blow." Zhu Yong gripped the hammer's handle.

At the onset of Yin Hour, the troops arrived at the forest on the southern side of Eagle's Mouth Gorge.

Eagle's Mouth Gorge is a narrow, elongated valley between two mountains, shaped like an eagle's beak; at its narrowest it barely fits five horses abreast, making the terrain treacherous.

Wang Baobao had already led twenty thousand men to ambush both sides of the gorge; seeing Zhu Yong arrive, they emerged from the woods.

"Lord Wu, everything is set. Each side of the gorge holds ten thousand troops, with ample Rolling Logs and Boulders ready, and the archers are in position." Wang Baobao reported.

Zhu Yong surveyed the terrain, nodded, and said, "Elder Brother's arrangement is sound. When the Jianzhou army is halfway into the valley, we'll first unleash Rolling Logs and Boulders, then fire arrows in unison. Once they are in chaos, we'll block the gorge's mouth from both north and south, trapping them like turtles in a jar."

"Exactly as intended." Wang Baobao replied.

Zhu Yong thought further and added, "But Tie Mu Er, who can unify Jianzhou, must have elite Imperial Guard; ordinary arrows may not wound him. I'll take a thousand Imperial Troops, hide at the valley's narrowest point, and when he comes, charge straight in to capture the king."

"That's too dangerous. Tie Mu Er has at least a thousand Imperial Guard beside him, and you're only bringing a thousand men…" Wang Baobao urged.

"A thousand is enough; too many would be unwieldy. Elder Brother, rest assured, I know my limits." Zhu Yong chuckled.

Wang Baobao, knowing he couldn't dissuade him, said, "Then I'll lead troops at the gorge's mouth to support; if anything happens, we'll charge in at once."

"Alright."

Zhu Yong led a thousand Imperial Troops, slipped quietly to the valley's narrowest point, and concealed himself behind a pile of broken stones.

The sky brightened gradually, and a fish‑belly white hue spread in the east.

Mist filled the gorge, reducing visibility.

At Chen Hour, a scout reported, "The Jianzhou vanguard is ten li away, about three thousand men."

"Let them pass." Zhu Yong ordered.

Soon, the sound of hooves grew nearer.

Three thousand Jianzhou cavalry rode through the gorge, their hooves striking broken stones, producing a crisp clatter.

These Nüzhen soldiers wore leather armor, carried bows and arrows, and watched the surrounding woods vigilantly.

But the Ming army's ambush was well concealed, revealing nothing.

After the vanguard passed, about a quarter hour later the main force arrived.

Tie Mu Er rode a Black Horse, positioned in the middle of the column.

He was broad‑shouldered, bore a knife scar on his face, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

Hundreds of Imperial Guard surrounded him, each sturdy and fierce.

The formation stretched long; the front troops had exited the gorge, the middle troops were just entering, and the rear troops remained outside.

Zhu Yong gauged the timing, and when Tie Mu Er entered the narrowest point, he sprang up and shouted, "Kill!"

A thousand Imperial Troops surged from behind the broken stones, charging straight at the Nüzhen middle troops.

Simultaneously, Rolling Logs and Boulders rained down from both sides of the gorge, and arrows fell like locusts into the valley.

"Ambush!" the Nüzhen army shouted, falling into chaos.

Tie Mu Er, worthy of his battle experience, remained composed and bellowed, "Do not scatter; front and rear troops, converge toward the center; archers, return fire."

But the gorge was narrow; the Rolling Logs and Boulders struck down, men and horses toppled, and the formation could not be deployed.

Zhu Yong rode at the forefront, swinging his Double Hammers like wind; wherever he passed, men flew and horses fell.

Tie Mu Er saw him, his pupils narrowing, and said, "That's the Ming army's commander; kill him!"

Hundreds of Imperial Guard surged toward Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong neither dodged nor fled, charging straight into the crowd.

Hammers rose and fell, flesh and blood spraying everywhere.

In a single clash, over ten Imperial Guard, man and horse alike, were smashed into mush.

Tie Mu Er inhaled a cold breath, "What kind of monster is this?"

He boasted of his valor, unrivaled in Jianzhou, yet witnessing Zhu Yong's slaughter, his heart also grew cold.

"Release arrows, target his horse!" he hurriedly ordered.

Arrows flew toward Zhu Yong's mount, but the horse, a hand‑picked warhorse clad in leather armor, withstood several hits and kept charging.

Zhu Yong swung his hammer to deflect the arrows, and in an instant was within thirty steps of Tie Mu Er.

"Protect the leader…" the Imperial Guard captain led his men to block ahead.

Zhu Yong hammered down; the captain raised his sword to block, the blade snapped, and both man and horse were smashed into the ground.

Tie Mu Er realized retreat was impossible; further withdrawal would shatter his troops' morale.

He gritted his teeth, drew his curved blade, spurred his horse forward and shouted, "Ming commander, cease your frenzy!"

The two horses collided.

Mengge Tiemuer's curved blade slashed toward Zhu Yong's neck, Zhu Yong raised his left-hand hammer, and his right-hand hammer swept horizontally with the momentum.

Mengge Tiemuer ducked and evaded, then the curved blade thrust again under Zhu Yong's ribs.

Zhu Yong neither dodged nor flinched, letting the blade strike; the tip pierced his armor and clothing, but only entered half a depth into the flesh, clamped tightly by his muscles.

Mengge Tiemuer was startled, tried to withdraw the blade, but could not move it.

Zhu Yong's left-hand hammer was already upon him.

Mengge Tiemuer discarded the blade, rolled his saddle and fell from the horse.

The hammer brushed his scalp, sweeping across and spraying a spray of blood.

He rolled on the ground several times; his helmet had fallen off, hair disheveled, and fresh blood streamed down his forehead.

"Leader!" the personal guards fought to the death to rescue.

Zhu Yong hammered each guard, scattering the personal guards, leapt off his horse, and walked toward Mengge Tiemuer.

Mengge Tiemuer scrambled to his feet, picked up a knife from the ground, and stared intently at Zhu Yong.

"Surrender, and I will spare your life," Zhu Yong said.

Mengge Tiemuer spat a mouthful of blood foam and shouted: "Jianzhou warrior, would rather die than surrender!"

He brandished his blade and charged.

Zhu Yong sighed, and a hammer came down.

The blade shattered.

The second hammer followed, striking Mengge Tiemuer's chest.

"Kachak" the sound of bone cracking rang clearly.

Mengge Tiemuer was flung backward, collided with the rock wall, slid down softly, and the light in his eyes faded rapidly.

The Jianzhou Nüzhen leader was slain.

"The leader is dead!" the Nüzhen army fell into chaos.

At this moment, Wang Baobao led his troops to charge in from the South-North Valley entrance, attacking from both sides.

The Nüzhen army was already in panic due to an ambush; with their commander dead, morale vanished, and they discarded weapons and surrendered en masse.

The battle lasted for one hour.

Ten thousand Jianzhou reinforcements fought; four thousand fell in battle, and six thousand were captured.

In the canyon, corpses lay scattered everywhere, and blood streamed like a creek.

Zhu Yong ordered Wang Gui to tally the spoils, while he sat on a Stone, watching Mengge Tiemuer's corpse.

Wang Baobao walked over and said with emotion: "He could unify Jianzhou; he was a true lord, what a pity."

Zhu Yong shook his head and said: "If he does not die, the Nüzhen will not be eradicated. Elder Brother, send orders to Zhang Wu and Chen Heng; they may act now."

"Yes."