Chapter 243: Breakthrough

……

At the end of Shi Jing, the front of the Fifth Pass was breached.

Zhu Yong led two thousand Longxiang Army troops into the interior of the pass, engaging the rebels in street fighting.

It was called street fighting, but it was more like a one‑sided slaughter.

The Longxiang soldiers wore plate armor; the rebels' swords struck only a "clang", unable to cut through.

And a Long Sword, a single slash meant a life.

The Flintlock Gunmen loaded their ammunition and fired in unison at the crowded rebels.

A volley rang out, and a wave fell.

Another volley, another wave fell.

The rebels, terrified by the killing, fled back toward the second fort wall.

Tuo Huo Chi withdrew with the remnants to behind the second fort wall, and, looking at the corpses littering the ground, trembled all over.

"Block… must block…" he muttered.

As soon as the words fell, shouts of killing rose suddenly from the left hillside.

"Kill…"

Three thousand Ming troops surged out from the east, led by a young general in silver helm and armor, wielding a Long Sword—Zhu Di.

"Ming troops… Ming troops are attacking from behind!" the rebels shouted in panic.

Tuo Huo Chi whirled around and saw Ming banners also appearing on the right hillside.

Three thousand more came in from the west to encircle, led by Zhu Gang.

"What's happening? How did they… how did they get here?" Tuo Huo Chi could not believe it.

Those two routes were clearly dead ends!

Before he could figure it out, there was movement again at the front.

Zhu Shuang led three thousand men, charging through the front of the pass to meet Zhu Yong.

"Second Prince! I'm here!" Zhu Shuang said, his face alight with excitement.

Zhu Yong looked at him and, in a simple tone, said, "Just in time, bring your men and flank from the left road."

"Yes!"

Zhu Shuang waved his hand, and three thousand men rushed toward the left road.

Zhu Yong then turned his gaze toward Zhu Di and Zhu Gang; the two had already led troops into the camp behind the second fort wall.

Surrounded on three sides, the rebels were attacked from front and rear, their formation completely thrown into chaos.

Tuo Huo Chi, protected by his Imperial Troops, ran toward the mountain top, but after only a few dozen steps his path was blocked by a Ming unit.

At the head was a black‑faced man wielding a Long Sword—Zhang Wu.

"Trying to run…" Zhang Wu sneered, swinging his Long Sword.

Tuo Huo Chi's Imperial Troops fought to the death, but they were no match for the Longxiang Army.

In less than the time a incense stick burns, the Imperial Troops beside Tuo Huo Chi were all dead or wounded.

Tuo Huo Chi himself was cut down by Zhang Wu's sword, his fate unknown.

……

At noon, the battle ended.

The Fifth Pass was seized by the Ming troops; the defending force of over five thousand was wiped out by more than three thousand, with over eighteen hundred taken prisoner.

The defending commander Tuo Huo Chi was captured alive.

Zhu Yong stood at the highest point of the pass, looking at the bodies and prisoners strewn on the ground, his face expressionless.

The three younger brothers came one after another to report the results.

"Second Prince, I killed eight hundred enemies and captured five hundred!" Zhu Shuang said, his eyebrows dancing.

"I seized their granaries and captured three thousand shi of Grain and Fodder!" Zhu Gang added proudly.

Zhu Di, more composed, said, "Second Prince, I captured their Vice General and several heads; we can interrogate them for intelligence."

Zhu Yong nodded and, in a simple tone, said, "Well fought."

He looked at Zhu Gang and said, "Lao Si, have the Grain and Fodder you seized counted clearly and recorded in the registers."

"Yes."

He then turned to Zhu Di and said, "Fifth Prince, among the prisoners, keep those heads separate, and the ordinary soldiers under separate watch, don't mix them."

"Yes."

Finally he looked at Zhu Shuang and said, "Lao San, you take men to clean the battlefield, dig pits for the corpses and bury them, lest disease spreads."

"Yes."

The three took the orders and left.

Zhu Yong stood at the height, gazing toward the faintly visible Sixth Pass to the north.

The Na‑Lin Seven Camps have already taken three.

Four remain.

He gave a simple grin, turned, and walked down the fort wall.

……

At Shen Hour, in the Central Command Tent.

Zhu Yong sat on the Main Seat, with the captured rebels' defensive map spread before him.

The three younger brothers sat on either side, excitement on their faces.

"Second Prince, which one shall we attack tomorrow?" Zhu Shuang asked impatiently.

Zhu Yong pointed at the Sixth Pass on the map and said, "Tomorrow we attack here."

"The Sixth Pass… that place is more treacherous than the Fifth Pass. It is said there are two fortress walls and an inner city, easy to defend but hard to attack," Zhu Gang frowned.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "It's hard to take, but we must."

He looked at Zhu Di and said, "Fifth Prince, have you interrogated that Vice General you captured today?"

"I have… that kid is soft‑boned; he gave up as soon as we asked. He said the Sixth Pass garrison has about eight thousand men, the defending commander is Wang Shutie Mu Er, Wang Shudu'er's younger brother. He's brave and battle‑savvy, but hot‑tempered and easily provoked," Zhu Di said.

Zhu Yong's eyes brightened.

"Hot‑tempered… easily provoked…" he murmured, repeating.

Zhu Di nodded and said, "Yes, according to that Vice General, Wang Shutie Mu Er can't stand being called a 'turtle that tucks its head', and he'll explode if insulted."

Zhu Yong grinned, looked at Zhu Shuang, and said, "Lao San, you lead three thousand men tomorrow and go to the Sixth Pass to launch a verbal assault."

Zhu Shuang was startled and said, "Verbal assault?"

"Yes… just stand there and insult him. The harsher the insults, the better. Call him a turtle that tucks its head, say he has no eggs, say he only hides behind walls, and then challenge him to a duel," Zhu Yong said naively.

Zhu Shuang's eyes brightened and said, "I can do that job! Second Prince, don't worry, I'm best at insulting!"

Zhu Gang, standing nearby, laughed and said, "Lao San, you must be careful; if Wang Shutie Mu Er really charges out, you might not escape."

"What are you afraid of? Second Prince is behind me, am I scared of him?" Zhu Shuang puffed out his chest.

Zhu Yong shook his head and said, "Don't be careless. If he does charge out, fight while retreating, lure him into our ambush circle."

He looked at Zhu Gang again and said, "Fourth Prince, lead three thousand men and ambush in the left‑wing mountain gorge. When the rebels pursue, strike from the side and cut off their retreat."

"Understood," Zhu Gang nodded.

Finally he looked at Zhu Di and said, "Fifth Prince, lead three thousand men, circle behind the Sixth Pass, block their rear. If they try to flee, let none escape."

Zhu Di solemnly said, "Yes."

Zhu Yong stood up, walked to the map, and pointed at the location of the Sixth Pass.

"Tomorrow's battle need not be a total annihilation, but we must fight with grandeur, let them know that opposing Great Ming leads only to death."

He said naively.

The three younger brothers shouted in unison, "Yes!"

Outside the tent, the setting sun sank in the west.

In the dusk, the distant Sixth Pass was faintly visible, wavering.

Zhu Yong stared toward that direction and grinned naively.

He thought to himself, though he didn't know what.

"Second Prince, dinner's ready… the Firehead Soldier stew has lamb, it's fragrant," Zhu Shuang came carrying a bowl and called.

Zhu Yong took the bowl and ate heartily.

The three younger brothers gathered around him, eating while discussing tomorrow's tactics.

The twilight deepened.

Inside the Central Command Tent, lights shone brightly.