Although it was suspicious of them acting tough, the presence of a super archer still changed the Ming army's unfavorable situation to the greatest extent.
Because all the Red Cannons were destroyed, the Ming Army Cannons and Li Daoxuan's giant bow could focus on aiming at the Manzhou soldiers behind them who were using bows and arrows to suppress them. The latter's bows and arrows could not resist them no matter what. Their only way was to keep running and shooting on their horses, but they still could not avoid being shot down by their horses. As for the cannon fodder attacking the city at the front, due to the crude siege weapons and the low morale caused by Li Daoxuan, the morale of the Ming army on the city wall was high, especially with the suppression of a large number of muskets. It was difficult for them to climb up the towering city wall solely by flying ladders.
In the end, the 600 Ming soldiers easily withstood the attack of the 3,000 Qing soldiers. Not only that, but they also caused serious casualties to the Qing army. Soon, corpses covered the city wall.
But this was only temporary.
Li Daoxuan knew very well that the disadvantage of numbers could not be made up for, because his men would be tired, and his enemies could take turns to attack, or surround him from all sides to make him exhausted. Ai Du Li was only threatened by the Ming army on the southern front and had no choice but to attack hastily. Once a more reasonable attack plan was formulated, or better siege weapons were made, it would be his turn to be unlucky.
"Quick, call Old Chen over. Zhen has to think of another way.”
Li Daoxuan said to the officer beside him.
At this time, reinforcements were the most important.
"Lord Tang, what are you trying to do? Ningyuan City is close at hand. The Emperor is fighting a bloody battle with the Tartars. The banners on the city walls urging the army to advance have not stopped for a moment. Or are you pretending not to see? What are your intentions? Do you want to put His Majesty in danger?"
On a high slope in the Ming army formation on the south bank of Yongning River, Wang Chengen roared at Tang Yu in anger.
Liang Cheng and the thirty Brocade Guards were also staring at Tang Yu, even their hands were pressed on the hilts of their swords. They were Li Daoxuan's true confidants. Although it was difficult to see the battle at Weiyuan Gate because of the distance, the constant sound of cannons and muskets could be heard clearly. Similarly, on the southern walls of Ning Yuan, the banner waving to urge them to march could also be clearly seen. It was clear that the Emperor was in danger at this time, but Tang Yu's inaction was very puzzling. As supervisors of the army, they could not help but doubt the true intentions of this commander.
At this time, no one was truly trustworthy.
"Eunuch Wang, we have followed His Majesty all the way. Don't you know how loyal I am to His Majesty? But you've seen the Tartar Cavalry on the north shore. Even if they're escorts, we have to get past them first!”
Tang Yu said with a smile.
"Then let's march? Could it be that they could stare at the Tartars across the river?”
Wang Chengen said.
"Eunuch Wang, we're infantry. We have to get into formation to deal with the cavalry, but if we cross the river, our formation will be messed up. At that time, the Tartar Cavalry will only need to charge at us and we'll be crushed. This is a great taboo for military strategists, so it's best to wait for Lord Li's artillery team to arrive and suppress the Tartar Cavalry on the other side with their cannons before crossing the river.”
Tang Yu said with a frown.
In fact, there were only 6,000 infantrymen in this batch. Li Yutian and the other 4,000 were escorting six cannons and rations. After all, they had to eat to defend Ningyuan.
"No, we must march immediately. Lord Li will only arrive tomorrow, and Ning Yuan only has a thousand soldiers. What if something happens to His Majesty? I don't care about anything else. I want you to march towards Ningyuan immediately. Don't talk about the Tartar Cavalry, don't talk about the danger. Is the life of these soldiers more important than the life of the Emperor? The bridge over the Ningyuan River is right there. I don't believe that we can't rush over. Even if six thousand people can't rush over, at least three to two thousand people have to rush over that one mile. Let alone three to two thousand, even if one person charges over, it's still our filial piety as officials!”
Wang Chengen said rudely.
"Eunuch Wang, I'm afraid that even one person can't pass. You haven't seen the Tartar Cavalry, but we have. You're used to living a comfortable life in the palace.”
A general at the side sneered.
"Hmph, risk your life? Don't scare people with life and death. I fought my way out of Beijing with the Emperor. I also fought against the rebel army with the Emperor in Jizhou. Back then, my neck was hung on a rope on the Mei Mountain. If it wasn't for the Emperor's soul being sent back by the Great Ancestor, I would probably have been fed to wild dogs by now. So don't scare people with life and death. Who hasn't seen it before? The Emperor might not know how you fought, but I know everything. You even risked your lives. I don't know how you risked your lives to run away from thieves. You're the commandant under Gao Di back then, right? Back then, when Gao Di wanted to kill you for fleeing at the last moment, it was your second uncle who begged us, right? Now that the situation was not going to work out, why did he become so bold? Let me tell you, this world is still Ming's world, this country is still His Majesty's country! I don't care if you're afraid or have other thoughts. If you don't want to rebel today, then immediately march to save the emperor!”
Wang Chengen said with a sneer.
Behind him, Liang Cheng and the others pulled out their Embroidered Spring Sabers at the same time.
Tang Yu and the others looked at each other.
The few of them really did not have any other thoughts. Even if they had the intention to be fence-sitters, there was no such environment at this time! They were used to it. They were used to not moving when their allies were in trouble. To put it simply, they were afraid of the Qing army, especially the Manzhou cavalry. They were afraid of it, but now that Wang Chengen had said this, there was no other way.
"Advance, advance!"
Tang Yu said through gritted teeth.
"Report, someone has charged out of Yanhui Sect.”
Suddenly, a soldier ran forward and shouted.
The group of people was stunned for a moment and rushed down the high slope. The infantry in front of them quickly split up. They walked to the front of the formation and could see that the Yanhui Gate opposite the Ningyuan River Bridge was closing. There was a black horse galloping outside the gate. The Qing cavalry who had been in formation on the north bank had split up to intercept them. The rider on the horse held the bow in one hand and drew arrows from his back in the other. He shot out arrows one after another as he ran. Like the legendary archers who never missed, he accurately shot down one Qing cavalryman with every arrow. The Ming infantry on the south bank cheered.
"It's His Majesty, quick, it's His Majesty!"
Wang Chengen suddenly screamed.
It was indeed Li Daoxuan who came out. He could not wait any longer. In any case, the garrison could still hold on for a short period of time, so he handed the command to Deputy General Chen and rushed out alone to urge Tang Yu to advance. His horse was Yilde's. It was not the short Mongolian horse that the Qing army usually rode. It should be a Kazak horse from Central Asia. Moreover, it had to be especially tall. Its shoulder height was almost 1.5 meters, even if it was wearing a leather vest. With two layers of chainmail and a layer of cotton armor, he could still run with a pair of spiked clubs.
While running, he repeated the action of drawing arrows and shooting arrows at an extremely fast speed. The light ox horn bow in his hand was like a toy. His high-precision aim made the Qing army opposite him who was also shooting constantly fall.
But it was useless.
He still had to face the Qing army at the bridgehead of Ningyuan River.
The Qing soldiers who were facing the attack put away their bows and spears as quickly as possible. They held the spear under the shield in one hand while riding on the horses. Dozens of cavalry lined up in a row with the officer in the middle as the center, gradually forming wings. With the dull sound of hooves trampling on the ground, they charged at full speed. Li Daoxuan also put away his bow and took off his spiked club from both sides of his saddle. This pair of one-and-a-half-meter-long, hundred-pound, thick in the front and thin in the back, and filled with sharp triangular nails spread out like his wings.
The next moment, the collision began!
The two spears instantly reached his chest.
Li Daoxuan twisted his body strangely on the horse. Just as the two spears were almost close to his chest and back, a spiked club smashed into the head of a Qing soldier. The triangular nail pierced through the helmet and smashed into his skull like a piece of paper, throwing his heavy body directly into the body of another Qing soldier. Li Daoxuan suddenly turned around and clamped the latter's spear. Just as he was about to grab back, the two spiked clubs hit him at the same time. The latter and his horse were smashed to the ground and fell in front of his horse.
Li Daoxuan gripped his horse, and the black horse immediately leaped over the horse's head that was blocking its path.
However, it was at this moment that the Qing cavalrymen, who were originally in the shape of wild geese, turned their horses around at the fastest speed possible. Dozens of spears squeezed towards Li Daoxuan in the middle like the sharp teeth of a closed crocodile. The nearest four spears reached him in an instant, and the shining spears were divided into two groups and aimed at his chest and head respectively. The fifth cavalryman was about to arrive, but the spear was aimed at his horse.
Li Daoxuan's opportunity was the time difference.
He kept twisting his body on the horse as if he was dancing. Relying on the results of his precise calculations, he dodged the spears one by one and rushed out unscathed like a miracle. Under the stunned gazes of the Qing soldiers, he suddenly appeared in front of the fifth cavalier.
The latter was stunned.
Suddenly, the two spiked clubs smashed down at the same time, the huge force almost causing his head to disappear. The warhorse under him let out a mournful cry and knelt down. In the next moment, Li Daoxuan's black warhorse sped past him like the wind. Because Li Daoxuan's attack speed was too fast, before the cavalry on both sides could reach him, a precious passage appeared in front of him, like a ray of sunlight in front of a crocodile's mouth that had not completely closed.
But it was still useless.
Because more Qing cavalry were rushing over.
"Zhen is here, what are you waiting for?”
He suddenly stopped and pulled the reins of his horse. At the same time, his roar sounded.
"Zhen is here, what are you waiting for?”
His voice echoed like thunder on the battlefield.
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