Chapter 86: Yellow Sparrow…

Hongwu Year Four, the twenty‑seventh day of the fourth month.

In the early morning, the Grassland was shrouded in thin mist, the sun had not yet fully risen, and the eastern sky was tinged with a pale, fish‑belly white.

Zhu Yong stood on a gentle slope, observing the scene ahead through a telescope.

Five li away, the surface of Buyuerhai glittered with rippling light in the dawn.

On the lake's eastern shore, the outline of Bei Yuan Wang Ting's earthen city wall could be faintly seen.

But at this moment, the city was under siege.

Outside the wall, dense ranks of cavalry were charging, Arrow raining down toward the ramparts like raindrops.

The besiegers numbered at least five or six thousand horsemen, bearing flags of various colors; the largest was a Black Flag embroidered with a Jin‑colored wolf head.

"Yesuder… he really came." Wang Baobao said, his face growing grave as he watched the distant movement.

Lan Yu hurried over, excitedly shouting, "Prince, it's exactly like a mantis catching a cicada while the yellow sparrow watches from behind! Yesuder is besieging the city, and we can just stab him in the rear!"

Zhu Yong said nothing, continuing his observation.

The siege had entered a white‑hot stage. Yesuder's forces split into three columns, with the East Gate and South Gate as the main thrusts, while a small contingent held at the North Gate.

The defenders on the ramparts fought to the death, Arrow and stone rain falling continuously, but the attackers, numerous and powerful, had already placed several Ladder siege towers against the wall.

"Ba Te Er and his men should have already slipped into the city." Zhu Yong whispered.

Just as he spoke, thick plumes of smoke suddenly billowed from several spots within the city.

First at the southeast corner, then the southwest, and finally the city centre.

The flames spread quickly, and black smoke rose in rolling clouds.

The defenders on the ramparts clearly panicked, and some rushed down into the city to fight the fire.

Seeing this, Yesuder's troops intensified their assault.

"The moment has come." Zhu Yong said slowly, then turned over and mounted his horse.

The Wuzhui Horse sensed its rider's battle intent, lifted its head and let out a long neigh.

Five thousand soldiers had already assembled, quietly awaiting behind the slope.

Zhu Yong spurred his horse forward to the troops, brandishing Double Hammers, "Brothers! Ahead lies Yesuder, the rebel of Northern Yuan! The enemy of Great Ming! Today our task is simple..."

He pointed his hammer forward, "Charge, slaughter them all, seize Buyuerhai!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" the soldiers shouted in unison.

Zhu Yong said no more, squeezed the horse's belly, and the Wuzhui Horse shot down the slope like an arrow released from a bow.

"Stay close, Prince!" Lan Yu roared, leading the cavalry to follow.

Wang Baobao commanded the infantry formation, advancing steadily.

The five‑thousand‑strong army surged like a torrent, pouring down the gentle slope straight into Yesuder's rear forces.

Yesuder was directing the battle at the front when a deafening shout of slaughter erupted from behind.

"What's happening!" he turned his head and saw a Ming force burst out of the mist, led by a lone rider in black robes on a Black Horse, Double Hammers whirling like wind.

"Zhu Yong, it's Zhu Yong!" someone shouted in terror.

Yesuder's complexion changed dramatically; he had never imagined the Ming army would appear here, and at this exact moment.

"Rear troops become the front! Meet the enemy!" he ordered hastily.

But it was already too late.

Zhu Yong's horse was too fast, his hammer too long.

The first hammer struck down, crushing three cavalrymen and their horses into mush.

The second hammer swept across, breaking the legs of five warhorses; the riders fell from their mounts.

Third hammer… fourth hammer…

Zhu Yong never stopped, the Wuzhui Horse barreling through the enemy ranks, and wherever the Double Hammers passed, men and horses were flung, flesh and blood spraying everywhere.

Lan Yu led the cavalry close behind, swinging a Long Sword, harvesting lives as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

Yesuder's rear forces collapsed instantly.

These soldiers had been focused on the siege, and when suddenly attacked could not mount any effective resistance.

Many did not even have time to turn their horses, and were cut down by the Ming troops.

"Hold! Hold!" Yesuder shouted hoarsely.

But his orders seemed pale and powerless amid the chaos.

Zhu Yong had already seen him.

That Black Flag with a Jin wolf banner was far too conspicuous.

"Yesuder! Give me your life!" Zhu Yong bellowed, spurring his horse straight forward.

Any cavalry attempting to block his path were smashed away, one per hammer strike.

A centurion thrust a spear forward; Zhu Yong's left‑hand hammer gave a light flick, snapping the spear into three pieces, and his right‑hand hammer fell, crushing the man and horse into the ground.

Seeing Zhu Yong charge, Yesuder was shocked, but as the leader he could not retreat.

"Protect the Great Khan!" the bodyguards fought to the death, forming a human wall.

Zhu Yong did not dodge; the Wuzhui Horse crashed straight into the crowd.

The Double Hammers shot out left and right, each strike taking two or three lives.

A fierce bodyguard swung his blade at a horse's leg.

Zhu Yong bent down, hammered the man's head and helmet flat.

Blood splattered his face; he wiped it away casually, his eyes fixed on Yesuder.

Yesuder finally felt fear.

He turned his horse's head, attempting to flee toward the siege forces.

"Trying to run?" Zhu Yong sneered, picking a hard bow from beside the saddle.

This bow is custom-made, a three‑stone strong bow; ordinary people can't even draw it.

Zhu Yong nocked an arrow, drew it to full, and released the string.

The Arrow shot through the air, fast as lightning.

Yesuder heard the rush of wind, instinctively sidestepped, but it was too late.

The Arrow entered his right shoulder, passed through his body, and burst a spray of blood.

He let out a howl and fell from his horse.

The personal guards hurriedly dismounted to rescue him.

Zhu Yong had already charged forward.

The Double Hammers spun like a wind‑mill, smashing all enemies who tried to approach.

Finally, he reined in his horse and looked at the struggling Yesuder on the ground.

"Surrender, or die?" Zhu Yong said coldly.

Yesuder's face turned deathly pale, blood gushing from the wound on his shoulder.

He looked around; his own personal guards were all dead or wounded, and the Ming army was crushing his troops outright.

The siege force, having discovered an attack on its rear, halted the assault, but the Formation was already in disarray, split and surrounded by the infantry square commanded by Wang Baobao.

Defeated, utterly defeated.

"I... I surrender..." Yesuder said with difficulty.

Zhu Yong nodded and said to the arriving Zhang Wu: "Tie him up, apply a hemostatic, don't let him die."

"Understood!"

The battle continued, but the outcome was already decided.

Yesuder was captured, Toghus Temur was slain, and this Northern Expedition was now considered complete.

The commander was captured, the flag fell and the troops scattered.

Yesuder's troops began to rout; some fled deep into the Grassland, others simply knelt and surrendered.

The garrison on the city walls also witnessed the scene.

They had already been on the brink of collapse, but reinforcements suddenly descended from the sky, instantly boosting morale.

"Open the gates! Welcome the royal army!" someone shouted.

The heavy gate creaked open slowly, and Ba Te Er led fifty men out from inside, joining the pursuit of the fleeing soldiers.

When the sun was fully risen, the battle was essentially over.

The Grassland was littered with corpses and wounded prisoners kneeling in surrender.

Ming soldiers were cleaning the battlefield, collecting weapons, and rounding up the horses.

Zhu Yong stood beside Yesuder's Black Flag, looking at the Buyuerhai before him.