Chapter 244: We've Been Tricked

In the twelfth year of Hongwu, the eighth day of the sixth month.

At dawn, the fortress wall of the sixth pass was already filled with rebels.

Garrison commander Wang Shu Tie Mu Er stood on the highest arrow tower, squinting as he gazed toward the southern valley.

News that the fifth pass had fallen yesterday had already arrived, and his scouts reported that the main Ming forces were pressing toward the sixth pass.

"Brother, how many Ming troops have arrived?" the Vice General beside him asked.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er said calmly, "The scouts say at least twenty thousand, fighting under the banner of Prince Wu."

The Vice General's complexion changed as he said, "Prince Wu Zhu Yong, that death god himself has arrived?"

"What are you afraid of! My sixth pass has two walls, an inner city, stocked with enough Grain and Fodder for three months. Even if Zhu Yong can fight, he can't just fly up here, can he?"

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er let out a cold snort.

Even so, his hand unconsciously tightened around his sword hilt.

A man's name, a tree's shadow.

Prince Wu Zhu Yong's reputation has spread across the realm for a decade.

Kaicheng's three hammers broke gates, Helin's one hammer thundered a city, a hammer killed Yesu, and they chased the fleeing north for eight hundred li.

They persuaded surrender of Wang Baobao, five thousand iron cavalry swept Bu Yu Er Hai, and in a single battle wiped out the Northern Yuan.

Nüzhen, Goryeo, Wa Country, South Sea… one after another were trampled flat by this death god.

The thirty‑six nations of the Western Regions now each send envoys annually to tribute the Great Ming, fearing that Prince Wu might one day rise, brandishing his pair of thousand‑jin Jin hammers for a "stroll".

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er may speak tough, but his heart was pounding.

"Report…"

A scout, rolling and crawling, rushed up the wall and shouted, "Ming troops spotted in the southern valley! About three thousand, pressing toward the pass!"

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er's spirit surged as he said, "They're finally here! Send the orders down, prepare for battle!"

At Chen Hour, the sixth pass lay three li to the south.

Zhu Shuang rode his horse, holding a large iron‑sheet horn, shouting at the rebels on the wall.

"Hey… those above, listen…"

His voice was already loud, and with the iron horn amplifying it, the sound echoed through the valley.

"Is that turtle‑back Wang Shu Tie Mu Er there? Let him come out and meet your grandfather…"

On the wall, Wang Shu Tie Mu Er's complexion turned iron‑blue.

"What turtle‑back! Seeking death!" He snatched up his bow and arrow, aimed at Zhu Shuang and loosed an arrow.

The Arrow flew two Hundred Steps before losing force and falling, still over a hundred steps from Zhu Shuang.

Zhu Shuang laughed heartily, "Is that it? That's your accuracy? Does the Wang Shu clan only know how to hide behind walls and shoot arrows?"

He spurred his horse forward a hundred steps, continuing to shout, "Wang Shu Tie Mu Er, listen up, your elder brother Wang Shu Duo Er is a useless person, surrounded at the seventh pass awaiting death!"

"You, the younger brother, should you also become a turtle‑back with him?"

On the wall, Wang Shu Tie Mu Er's face shifted from blue to purple.

"Your brother was beaten to tears yesterday, kneeling and shouting 'grandfather'. Guess who he called? He called my Second Prince Zhu Yong! He said Wang Shu Tie Mu Er is the true hero, what a joke!"

"Nonsense! Kaicheng gate! I'll slay that dog myself!" Wang Shu Tie Mu Er could no longer hold back, turned and rushed down the wall.

The Vice General turned pale with shock, hurriedly grabbing him, "General! You can't go out! This is provocation!"

"Get out of my way! When have I ever been insulted like this? If I don't slay him today, I'll no longer bear the name Wang Shu!" Wang Shu Tie Mu Er shoved him aside and said.

The city gate thundered open, and three thousand rebel cavalry surged out.

Zhu Shuang's eyes lit up, he turned and fled, shouting, "Oh my mother! It's really out! Brothers, run!"

His three thousand men also turned their horses and retreated en masse.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er spurred his horse in a frantic chase, cursing, "Stop! Weren't you just good at shouting? Why run?"

Zhu Shuang glanced back and kept shouting, "Not running is stupid! If you've got guts, catch me!"

The two chased and fled, and in an instant they were three li away.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er's Vice General, the farther he pursued, grew uneasy, shouting loudly, "General! Watch out for ambush!"

No sooner had the words fallen, the slopes on both sides erupted with deafening battle cries.

"Kill…"

Three thousand Ming troops rushed down from the eastern slope, led by a young officer in silver helm and armor, wielding a spear—Zhu Gang.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er's complexion changed dramatically, "We've been tricked! Retreat quickly!"

But it was already too late.

Zhu Gang's three thousand surged like tigers descending a mountain, crashing straight into the rebel cavalry's flank.

Blade flashes glittered, blood sprayed.

The rebels were thrown into chaos, the onslaught killing them and sending horse and rider tumbling.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er swung his sword to block, slashing down two Ming soldiers, and roared, "Hold steady! Fall back! Retreat to the pass!"

But at that moment, another wave of battle cries rose from behind.

Zhu Shuang returned with his three thousand, cutting off the rebels' retreat from the front.

Pinned from front and rear, the rebels' formation collapsed completely.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er, shielded by Imperial Troops, surged outward, hacking blade after blade, his body drenched in blood, finally carving a bloody path.

When he returned to the pass with the remnants, fewer than a thousand of the three thousand remained.

"Close the gate! Quickly close the gate!" he shouted hoarsely.

The gate had just closed, and the Ming forces outside had already chased down to the city foot.

Zhu Shuang, still on his horse, raised the iron horn and shouted again, "Wang Shu Tie Mu Er! Aren't you good at chasing? Why did you run back? Is the family's meal still unfinished?"

On the city wall, Wang Shu Tie Mu Er was so angry that his whole body trembled.

"Fire the arrows! Shoot him dead for me!"

Arrows fell like rain.

Zhu Shuang had been prepared; with a wave of his hand, the shield troops stepped forward and easily blocked the Arrow Rain.

"Just this… you haven't eaten, have you?" Zhu Shuang kept shouting.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er was about to issue another order when a muffled booming sound suddenly came from afar.

"Boom—boom—boom…"

Twenty Hongwu heavy cannons were pushed to the front of the formation, their black mouths aimed at the fort wall of the sixth pass.

"Boom…"

The first round of bombardment began.

The cannonballs whistled as they slammed into the fort wall, giant stones cracked, and shards of rock flew sideways.

The rebels on the fort wall screamed in agony as they fell in droves; some were smashed into mush by cannonballs, others were struck by debris and rolled off the wall.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er hid behind the arrow tower, his face ashen.

The power of these cannons was far greater than he had imagined.

"Boom…"

The second round of bombardment.

The cracks in the fort wall grew larger, and several sections had already begun to collapse.

"Boom…"

The third round of bombardment.

A section of the fort wall finally gave way, collapsing with a 'boom—rumble' that was over a dozen zhang wide.

"Kill…"

Zhu Gang led three thousand men and charged through the breach.

The rebels inside the city fought to the death, but how could they possibly stop these Ming troops, fierce as wolves and tigers?

The Flintlock Gunmen formed three rows and fired in unison, cutting down a swath.

The plated infantry surged forward, cutting and hacking, one strike per enemy.

Zhu Gang wielded a long spear with transcendent skill; the spear tip struck in rapid succession, impaling the throats of three rebels, who fell dead.

Behind them, Zhu Shuang also led his men and stormed the city gate from the front.

The two‑pronged attack caused the rebels to collapse completely.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er was escorted by Imperial Troops retreating toward the inner city, but just as he reached the inner city gate, a hearty shout came from behind.

"What are you running for?"

He spun around abruptly and saw a towering figure standing amid a sea of corpses and blood, hefting a pair of massive golden hammers, looking at him with a simple grin.

Wu King Zhu Yong.

Wang Shu Tie Mu Er's legs went weak, and he almost fell to his knees.

"You… you…"