Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

“Your Highness, if things continue like this, I’m afraid the city won’t be able to hold out for long.” Zhao Desheng’s tone was unease. “The people in the city are filled with fear, and their morale is gradually wavering.”

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the Nanjing army in the distance.

"Inform all troops to prepare for battle at any time. But most importantly, create chaos for the enemy and buy them time," Zhu Han said slowly.

Zhao Desheng nodded, "Yes, Your Highness."

Outside Jinling City, Li Rong stood at the front of the army, his armor gleaming coldly in the morning light.

Although he was well-prepared, he still felt an unprecedented sense of urgency.

"This battle will surely allow us to recapture Yingtian in one fell swoop, and His Majesty will personally bestow upon me a reward!"

Li Rong secretly speculated, but his excitement was quickly replaced by calm. He already knew that this battle was destined to be difficult.

"All troops, prepare!" Li Rong shouted, and the flags fluttered in the wind.

Just then, the sound of horns came from the distant city wall of Yingtian, melodious yet urgent, as if the enemy had made preparations to welcome the arrival of their army.

"As expected, Your Highness was well-prepared." Li Rong smiled slightly. "The battle has begun."

Inside Yingtian City, the people remained tense. Although Zhu Han's call to action had briefly roused them, they were still filled with fear of the impending battle.

"If the city falls, where will we go?" a middle-aged man said worriedly to his neighbor.

"As long as we're alive, we've won," another woman said firmly. "We can't lose our homes; we'll fight to the death for them!"

Her eyes shone with an indomitable fire, a testament to her unwavering dedication to her homeland and loved ones.

"Listen up, everyone!" Zhu Han shouted from the city wall, "In this battle, we are not only fighting for our homeland, but also for the future of the Ming Dynasty and for the peace and tranquility of our people!"

"Your Highness!" A guard rushed to him, looking flustered. "The enemy has reached outside the city, the gates are closed, and a decision is urgently needed!"

Zhu Han took a deep breath, turned to look at Zhao Desheng: "Prepare for battle!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" Zhao Desheng quickly gave the order, and the troops began to assemble, ready for battle.

Outside the city, the imperial guards of Jinling were rapidly approaching, and the garrison of Yingtian was gradually becoming tense.

Li Rong brandished his command sword, signaling the army to attack.

"Raise the flag high, let them see our unstoppable momentum!" Li Rong shouted the order.

The Imperial Guards gradually quickened their pace, their formation as disciplined as iron, their imposing presence like a torrent of steel, rapidly approaching Yingtian's defenses.

However, Zhu Han did not rush to engage. He stood calmly on the city wall, calculating every step of the battle.

Although the enemy's momentum was fierce, he knew that this was not just a contest of strength, but also a battle of patience and wisdom.

"Your Highness, the enemy is already within 500 paces of the city. When should we launch our attack?" Zhao Desheng urged again.

"Wait a moment," Zhu Han replied calmly, his gaze fixed on the every move of the Jinling army.

Finally, as the Imperial Guards gradually approached the city walls, Zhu Han waved his hand: "Initiate the attack!"

The first wave of rockets shot towards the Jinling army like meteors, followed by archers on the city walls who drew their bows and unleashed a rain of arrows.

However, the Imperial Guards of Jinling were well prepared, their shields tightly covering the area. Rockets rained down on the sturdy shields, but could not budge them in the slightest.

"Attack!" Li Rong shouted, leading the Imperial Guards in a charge with thunderous strides toward the gates of Yingtian City.

The defenders of Yingtian responded with tension, and the archers fired an even denser rain of arrows. However, faced with the overwhelming pressure from the Imperial Guards, the soldiers on the city walls gradually became overwhelmed.

"Your Highness, we need time!" Zhao Desheng said anxiously, looking at the battle situation ahead. "If we don't strengthen our defenses immediately, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold the city gates!"

Zhu Han remained silent for a moment, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "No rush, there's still time."

He slowly descended from the city wall and instructed, "Open the back gate and prepare for a surprise attack!"

Zhao Desheng was taken aback, but then he understood Zhu Han's intention. He hurriedly gave the order to prepare for a flanking attack.

The garrison of Yingtian City, under the command of Zhu Han, continued to put up a stubborn resistance.

The Imperial Guards of Jinling, like tigers descending the mountain, were so powerful they seemed to have the power to swallow the entire land, and were determined to destroy the city in one fell swoop.

"Your Highness, the enemy is already close to the city gate. If we continue to delay like this, I'm afraid we can't hold out for long," Zhao Desheng calmly reported on the battle situation.

Zhu Han stood on the city wall, squinting as he gazed at the distant battle.

He was not unaware of the crisis at the city gate, but he knew that the decision he made at that moment would determine the course of the entire battle.

"Proceed according to plan, as immovable as a mountain, and as swift as thunder," Zhu Han said slowly, his voice deep and seemingly carrying an invisible sense of pressure.

Zhao Desheng nodded, his heart filled with trust in the prince's wisdom. He immediately turned around and quickly went to direct the battle.

The battle on the city walls grew increasingly fierce. Archers unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows, the dense volleys of arrows whistling through the air.

The shield defenses of the Jinling Imperial Guards were impregnable, and the attacks of arrows could hardly shake them in the slightest.

However, Zhu Han had anticipated this. He did not place too much hope on the archers, but instead waited for another mistake by the enemy.

Just as Li Rong was leading the Imperial Guards to approach the city gate, Zhu Han finally made his decision.

The back gate of Yingtian City slowly opened, and a dozen elite cavalrymen rushed out, weaving through the enemy's perimeter to launch a surprise attack.

Li Rong watched as a troop of cavalry rushed towards his position from the flank, and his heart tightened: "The enemy actually managed to launch a surprise attack from this side!"

He immediately ordered the surrounding troops to change formation in an attempt to deal with the sudden attack.

However, the defenses of the Nanjing Imperial Guards had already been disrupted, and the arrival of the raiding party made the situation even more complicated.

"Your Highness, the enemy has begun to retreat!" Zhao Desheng reported excitedly.

Zhu Han did not respond immediately, but instead stared quietly at the battlefield outside the city.

Meanwhile, in the Jinling camp, Li Rong's face was gloomy.

He hadn't expected his army to fall into chaos so quickly. What troubled him even more was that Zhu Han seemed to have anticipated all of this.

"This battle can't be that simple." Li Rong gripped his command sword tightly, a resolute glint in his eyes.

He quickly deployed more troops to suppress the Yingtian army from the front and ordered the Imperial Guards to intensify their attack on the city gates.

Although the defenses of Yingtian City gradually strengthened, they were still unable to stop the frenzied attack of the Jinling army.

Each wave of attack was a life-or-death struggle. Soldiers from both sides, their faces contorted, their warhorses neighing, the battlefield a tapestry of blood and fire turning it into a living hell.

"Your Highness, the city gates probably won't hold for much longer!" Zhao Desheng reported again.

Zhu Han was silent for a moment, then his eyes sharpened: "No rush, the main force is still in the rear."

Yingtian's cavalry weaved through the Imperial Guard's ranks, brandishing swords and spears, frequently harassing the enemy's rear and cutting off their supply lines.

Li Rong began to feel increasingly anxious. He knew that if he did not destroy Yingtian's main force as soon as possible, victory would become a distant dream.

He suddenly ordered: "Mobilize the cavalry and launch a frontal attack! Break through this city!"

The iron cavalry of Jinling, like a thousand troops, soared into the sky, their iron hooves shattering the earth.

Their spear formation created an impregnable barrier, fiercely attacking Yingtian City.

"All troops on alert!" Zhu Han immediately commanded the defense line, ordering the defenders to hold their positions.

Just as the enemy cavalry approached, Zhu Han suddenly waved his hand: "Fire the arrows!"

As the bugle sounded, the archers on the city wall of Yingtian concentrated their fire once more, raining down arrows that accurately targeted the center of the Jinling cavalry.

This volley of arrows caught the enemy cavalry off guard, many were shot down, their horses went out of control, and the situation became even more chaotic. "Kill them!" Li Rong shouted, unable to tolerate such a mistake, and hurriedly took command of the Imperial Guards to hold off Yingtian's counterattack.

However, Li Rong did not realize that his troops had fallen into Zhu Han's trap.

The defenders of Yingtian had already prepared a powerful counterattack.

Just as the Imperial Guards were panting for breath, Zhu Han suddenly commanded the entire army to launch a second wave of attack.

With a loud "bang!", a huge wooden barrel suddenly fell from the city wall. The barrel contained specially formulated kerosene, and as it hit the ground, it instantly burst into flames.

The Imperial Guard's iron cavalry was engulfed by flames, and their formation quickly collapsed.

"Retreat!" Li Rong roared, but it was too late.

The Imperial Guards' iron cavalry scattered and fled in the sea of ​​fire, their once imposing formation instantly shattered.

Zhu Han stood on the city wall, his eyes resolute. Seeing this scene, a cold smile appeared on his face.

The tide of battle has been completely turned.

"Repel the enemy! Don't let your guard down!" he shouted.

At this moment, Yingtian's army erupted completely, its morale soaring, and its counterattack surged like a tidal wave.

The vanguard of the Jinling Imperial Guards collapsed instantly, and the hope of defending Yingtian was ignited at that moment.

"Your Highness, victory is assured." Zhao Desheng approached Zhu Han, his voice filled with satisfaction.

Zhu Han did not show much excitement, but simply said, "This is only the first step; the battle is not over yet."

"Are you worried that Jinling might have other tricks up its sleeve?" Zhao Desheng asked.

"The situation on the battlefield is constantly changing, and the enemy has not yet been completely defeated. We cannot let our guard down."

"Prepare for the final wave of attacks." Zhu Han's expression was grim.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smell of burning alive; even the wind seemed to be weeping.

Zhu Han stood atop the city wall, his armor covered in dust and bloodstains. His eyes were cold, and the distant firelight reflected in his pupils like an inextinguishable flame.

"Your Highness, the enemy has retreated to within five miles and seems to have temporarily halted their advance," Zhao Desheng reported quickly, bowing respectfully.

His voice was hoarse, and he was exhausted, but his eyes still shone with a light—the pride of a narrow victory.

"For now?" Zhu Han smiled faintly, a hint of wariness in the curve of his lips. "Li Rong won't retreat easily."

He's testing the waters.

Zhao Desheng nodded, his expression grave: "This humble general also suspected so. But our army has suffered heavy casualties, and we have very few arrows left. If the enemy attacks again tomorrow, I fear..."

Zhu Han raised his hand, interrupting him: "Yingtian cannot retreat, nor should it be retreated."

He turned and looked at the dark streets of the city. The lingering effects of the war had not yet dissipated, and the people huddled in corners, filled with fear and helplessness.

“If we retreat, the people will have nowhere to go; if the people’s hearts are scattered, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty will collapse.”

His tone was calm, yet as firm as iron.

Zhao Desheng sighed and bowed, saying, "This subordinate understands. I am willing to defend the city to the death."

Zhu Han nodded slowly. He walked to the edge of the battlement and whispered, "Send someone to summon Shen Lu back."

Shen Lu, a strategist under Zhu Han, was known for his calm, composed, and meticulous thinking. At this moment, he was leading a troop of light cavalry on a night reconnaissance mission to the enemy camp.

Yingtian and Jinling are only twenty miles apart, with rolling hills and dense forests. Under the cover of night, Shen Lu and his group quietly sneaked to the outer perimeter of the enemy forces.

Li Rong's camp was brightly lit, with flags fluttering in the wind and the reflection of his armor dazzling in the night.

Shen Lu lay on the hillside, carefully observing through binoculars for a moment, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"It seems they haven't really retreated."

He whispered, "This is a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain."

"Li Rong is waiting for reinforcements."

A lieutenant beside him asked, "If his reinforcements arrive, wouldn't Yingtian be in grave danger?"

Shen Lu nodded slightly, but did not answer immediately. His gaze swept between the several large tents in the camp, finally settling on the large "Zhu" banner in the central command.

"He wasn't just waiting for reinforcements, he was waiting for orders."

"An order?" The lieutenant was taken aback.

“That’s right.” Shen Lu’s lips curled slightly. “It’s an order from Jinling.”

He slowly put away the binoculars, turned around and ordered, "We must go back immediately and report this to the Prince. We cannot let him relax for even a moment tonight."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in Jinling City.

Deep within the palace, the lights still burned. Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright before his desk, the flickering candlelight illuminating his weathered face.

No one in the hall dared to utter a sound.

After a long pause, Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a cold voice, "Where is Li Rong's military report?"

The eunuch hurriedly stepped forward and presented the secret report. Zhu Yuanzhang unfolded it and frowned as he read it.

"Just as I predicted, Yingtian City cannot be captured in a day."

He put down the report and said in a low voice, "That rebellious son Zhu Han is not only brave, but also resourceful."

“Your Majesty,” Wu Zhen stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “If this person is not eliminated, he will surely become a great threat in the future.”

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes: "How could I not know? But if he can really use a mere city to defeat my 100,000 imperial guards, wouldn't the prestige of my Great Ming become a joke?"

He slowly rose, walked to the front of the hall, and looked at the blood-red moon outside Jinling City.

"Issue the order—order Li Rong to hold his troops still and wait for me to send a new army to support him so that we can destroy Yingtian in one fell swoop."

"According to the order!"

Wu Zhen accepted the order and left, a cold smile appearing on his face.

The drums of Yingtian City ceased, and only the distant firelight flickered on the horizon.

Zhu Han, draped in a black cloak, walked alone on the city wall, his steps steady.

Zhao Desheng came over and handed over a pot of hot wine: "Your Highness, it's time to rest for a while."

Zhu Han took it and took a sip. It was a cheap sorghum liquor, so spicy it burned his throat, but it invigorated him.

"General Zhao, if we fight again tomorrow, are you confident you can hold out?"

Zhao Desheng remained silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If we rely on military force... I'm afraid it will be difficult. But if we rely on the hearts of the people, I trust Your Highness."

Zhu Han chuckled and patted his shoulder: "Well said, 'rely on people's hearts'."

Just then, Shen Lu rushed back.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhu Han turned around: "What is it?" (End of this chapter)