Time Travel: The Survival of Li Zhi

The next day.

The emperor issued an order.

Li Zhi made great contributions in resisting foreign invaders. Because of his courage and ability in fighting, he was specially appointed as the General who Drives Away Foreign Invaders, and was granted the Imperial Sword. He was given the power to control the military forces of the world. Li Zhi was responsible for all matters concerning foreign invaders, and was even given the power to act at his discretion.

This made those who had painstakingly plotted to murder Li Zhi dumbfounded and horrified.

As the entire northern territory fell, several large cities north of the capital were captured one after another. The war was extremely brutal, and the situation in the north of the entire southern country had deteriorated to the extreme.

The emperor sent eunuchs to urge Li Zhi every day, which made it impossible for Li Zhi to even hold a proper funeral for Li Fu. He could only hurriedly keep vigil for a few days before rushing to the battlefield.

Li Zhi also understood that at this moment the Tartars were in high spirits and unstoppable, and their power was at its strongest. If he did not intervene in time to suppress their arrogance, I am afraid that no one in the country would dare to confront them.

Once the Tartars have the idea of competing for the Central Plains and fighting for the world, the entire Southern Kingdom will be in ruins. At that time, not only will the innocent people become victims, displaced and their families broken up, but even Li Zhi will not be able to escape unscathed.

Therefore, the sooner the troops are dispatched, the better, and Li Zhi is also very clear about this.

On the stage, Li Zhi had a stern expression, with a white mourning cloth tied on his head, and he exuded a heart-pounding aura.

He looked at the soldiers below with firm and sharp eyes. They were wearing heavy armor and holding sharp weapons. These 5,000 guards were the most elite troops in the South Country. They represented the top combat power of the South Country.

Although there were only 5,000 people, they were enough to fight against an enemy force several times their size.

This is also a sharp knife given to Li Zhi by the emperor, which shows that the emperor really has high hopes for Li Zhi.

"The war is going on like crazy. The Tartars are killing and looting like crazy. Tens of millions of people have been displaced and captured as slaves. Your relatives and friends may be among them. If we don't fight back, it will be our turn soon. Soldiers! For the South Country, for your families, and for yourselves! Hold your weapons tightly and follow me! Kill all the Tartars!"

Li Zhi drew out the imperial sword from his waist and pointed it at the distance. He shouted, "Forward!"

"kill!"

The roar on the parade ground was deafening!

 …

The beginning of March in the eleventh year of the Zhengtong calendar in the Southern Kingdom.

Li Zhi personally led 5,000 soldiers and horses to defeat the more than 10,000 soldiers and horses led by the Tartar leader Tata in Zaozhuang, annihilating thousands of enemies. The Tartar leader Tata finally escaped after his personal guards fought desperately.

Mid-March of the eleventh year of the Zhengtong calendar in the Southern Kingdom.

Li Zhi designed an ambush at Caogu Pass and defeated in one fell swoop the armies of two tribes gathered by the Tatar leaders Muya and Mingbao. The Tatars were defeated with countless casualties, and one of the two Tatar leaders died and the other escaped.

The end of March in the eleventh year of the Zhengtong period of the Southern Calendar.

The Tatars finally realized how difficult Li Zhi was, so after consultation with several leaders including Batu, the Tatar army assembled and surrounded Qi Town with an army of 100,000, hoping to attract Li Zhi to lead his troops for support and then attack the reinforcements.

However, Li Zhi only sent a thousand troops to pretend to support Qi Town, while he personally led the remaining troops to rob the Tartars' food and fodder at Tonggu Pass.

The Tartars' food supplies were robbed, and their army was shaken. They had no intention of attacking Qi town again. In order to appease the army, Batu had to drive his troops to Tonggu Pass, intending to snatch back the food supplies. However, he was ambushed by Li Zhi again, and the 100,000-strong army was defeated and fled.

Afterwards, Li Zhi recruited soldiers and bought horses, fought to support the war, and step by step eroded the power and manpower of the Tartars.

In this way, Li Zhi's army became stronger and stronger, and his prestige became higher and higher.

May of the eleventh year of the Zhengtong calendar in the Southern Kingdom.

The six Tatar leaders led by Batu who crossed the Beihe River were either killed in battle or captured under Li Zhi's relentless pursuit. Now only three are still alive.

They were finally frightened, and this time, they decided to cross the North River again and return to the northern border, despite the huge risk.

Batu looked at the turbulent and majestic Beihe River with mixed feelings. The heroism and glory he felt two months ago when he led an army of 100,000 to cross the Beihe River seemed to be still vivid in his mind.

Compared with his previous glory, he is now like a stray dog.

Batu slowly glanced at the tribal warriors around him. Everyone's face was filled with fatigue and haggardness, and there was no trace of fighting spirit in their eyes.

Who can still see that this group of prodigal dogs was an invincible army with high morale and unstoppable momentum two months ago.

When they came, the army of 100,000 was unstoppable, but now there are only less than 50,000 troops left, looking miserable, and these remaining troops no longer have the courage to fight.

Looking at the panic-stricken faces, Batu took a deep breath. He knew that he could not let this kind of negative emotion continue to spread, otherwise even if they returned to the grassland, they would no longer be the wolf pack they used to be, but a group of frightened sheep. Then, their fate would be nothing but to be swallowed up by others.

"Warriors of the grassland! We have had a very difficult time during this period. The Southern Kingdom has used all its national strength to encircle and suppress us. We are hungry every day and dare not sleep too hard, but!"

Batu's sharp eyes swept over the tribal warriors who were looking up at him. He said in a deep voice: "We can't just lead the way into the South Country to plunder. Sai Gao and his men still have more than 100,000 troops. It's their turn to stop the South Country's troops! Now! Let's cross the North River and return to the North!"

After Batu finished speaking, he rode his horse onto the pontoon bridge they had built earlier and crossed the river.

Fifty thousand troops followed behind him.

Tata saw the front army moving out and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, but he was still a little uneasy in his heart. He stretched his neck and looked to the south. He was left behind by Batu to cover their retreat. Although the Southern Kingdom's army had long been lured to Qin Town by Batu's strategy, he was still a little worried that the Southern Kingdom's army would suddenly appear.

Just when half of the Tartar army had crossed the Beihe River, the sound of horse hooves could be faintly heard in the south.

The people of the grassland are most sensitive to the sound of horse hooves. Tata looked back in panic, only to see gray-yellow dust rising from the south.

Then, a large flag with the word "Li" written on it slowly appeared in Tata's sight!

"Li Zhi from the South!" Tata was horrified.

He was completely frightened by Li Zhi. Two-thirds of the more than 10,000 soldiers he brought from the tribe were killed or disabled by Li Zhi in the past two months. Now he only has more than 3,000 soldiers left.

When he saw Li Zhi's flag from afar, he almost rode away on his horse, but was stopped by his personal guards.

Tata had received Batu's order to cover the retreat. If he just ran away, not only would the Tatars who had not yet crossed the river suffer heavy losses, but Batu would not let Tata off easily.

Tata had no choice but to grit his teeth and lead his men to meet Li Zhi's troops.

The two torrents collided with each other without any fuss!

.Tata in the back confronted Li Zhi. Batu in the front had not received the news yet, but he also stopped.

Because on the river bank, Adamu, who was originally unwilling to cross the river and stay in the north, led his tribesmen to surround the ferry.

Batu looked at Adamu gloomily, with a bad feeling in his heart, but he still raised the corners of his mouth and laughed boldly: "My good brother Adamu, why are you here? Are you here to greet us?"

However, facing Batu's enthusiasm, Adamu's dark face showed no expression. He just shook his head and said, "Sai Gao said that you can go ashore, but you need to hand over half of the harvest from this trip south!"

Hearing this, the smile on Batu's face slowly faded, revealing his original gloom.

"You...are seeking death!"

Batu growled, his eyes turned red, like a beast at the end of its rope!