I was living at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and I dealt a brutal blow to the Eight Banners!

The direct fire from fifty-five cannons caused Nabul's three hundred elite cavalry to fall and suffer a near-devastating blow.

The sudden bombardment instilled unprecedented fear and panic in these proud elite troops of the Bordered Blue Banner, and their momentum slowed abruptly with Nabul's fall from his horse.

Just as the cavalry in the middle and rear were preparing to continue their charge from both sides, a large musket squad lying in ambush on the low slopes on both sides emerged, and five hundred muskets spat out tongues of fire.

Gunfire erupted, and Qing cavalrymen on the road fell to the ground, riddled with bullets.

As the soldiers of the Jing Battalion charged out from the low slopes on both sides, the Qing cavalry were surprised to find that these Ming soldiers were covered with dense leaves. It turned out that the reason they had not discovered the ambush on both sides was because they had used leaves as cover.

Seeing so many Ming soldiers rushing down the hillside, the remaining Qing cavalry did not hesitate to turn their horses around and retreat.

however,

What awaited them was Wu Guozhong's eight hundred infantrymen, who raised their shields and thrust out their spears to block the Qing cavalry's retreat.

Next,

This was a annihilation attempt by the Ming army after encirclement.

……

Zhang Jingchuan's resounding victory ultimately could not change the course of the battle in Jinzhou.

General Wu Sangui of Ningyuan and General Wang Pu of Datong led their remaining troops to Xingshan; General Ma Ke of Shanhaiguan and Acting General Li Fuming of Xuanfu fled to the Tashan area; while Hong Chengchou, Zu Dashou and others failed to break out and were captured by the Qing army.

The loss of Jinzhou left Ma Shaoyu and others, who had retreated to Songshan City, looking utterly dejected. Many generals in the city advocated abandoning Songshan and retreating to Ningyuan.

After returning to Donghai Fort, Zhang Jingchuan handed over the defeated soldiers he had gathered to Xu Fuzou for training and to serve as garrison soldiers of Donghai Fort.

Tong Puhan's arrival surprised Zhang Jingchuan somewhat.

Although Tong Puhan came with the intention of confronting Zhang Jingchuan, he had no intention of breaking off relations with him.

After all, Tong Puhan was a businessman, a royal merchant of the Qing Dynasty. For him, Donghai Fort here in Zhang Jingchuan was the most important line to maintain his business.

As for the merchants in Shanxi, Tong Puhan would naturally continue to maintain the existing business dealings. It's always safer to have two businesses on one foot than to put all your eggs in one basket.

Tong Puhan's ultimate goal for this trip was to retrieve the grain and supplies that Zhang Jingchuan had seized from Gaizhouwei.

Zhang Jingchuan did not refuse and agreed to resell the grain and supplies to Tong Puhan at a reasonable price. As for how many batches to deliver and the delivery time, Zhang Jingchuan would decide.

A deposit must be collected in advance, of course.

Although Zhang Jingchuan's actions were no different from outright robbery, it was your fault for neglecting the defense of Gaizhou Guard.

Including the deposit that Tong Puhan needed to pay, plus the silver that the Su and Zhou families in Jiangnan settled with Zhang Jingchuan, the total was 120,000 taels of silver.

When Tong Puhan had the gleaming silver being moved from the ship into the treasury of Donghai Fort, Zhang Jingchuan was already sitting in the hall, waiting for the system notification.

[Ding!] The system notification arrived as scheduled.

[The task "Earn 100,000 taels of silver" has been completed. The host will receive one chance to draw a prize.]

[Automatic lottery activated! Ding! Congratulations, host, you have acquired the passive skill: "Unique and Unique"!]

Immediately afterwards, the description of "unique and distinctive" came to Zhang Jingchuan's mind:

[Effect: Widely anticipated and universally supported.]

[Host Skills: Template of Xiang Yu, the Conqueror of Western Chu, the Art of Persuasion, Unique Style.]

Just as Zhang Jingchuan was speechless at this new skill, the system's voice rang in his mind:

[Mission Triggered: Command 100,000 Iron Cavalry!]

Looking at the task in his mind, Zhang Jingchuan couldn't help but chuckle.

If this task is truly accomplished, not only Huang Taiji in Liaodong, but even the Ming Dynasty will tremble at our feet.

However, based on his experience from the previous two missions and the skills he had acquired, Zhang Jingchuan realized that the newly added skills would play a crucial role in the upcoming missions.

In particular, the art of persuasion played a decisive role in the mission to "earn 100,000 taels of silver".

Therefore,

The new skill "Unique Style" will also play an important role in the "100,000 Iron Cavalry Under His Command" mission. As for how to bring out the effect of popular support and overwhelming support, it depends on his grasp of the timing.

Although he possessed a system, he still had to conform to the most basic logic of this world. These 100,000 iron cavalry were living, breathing people who couldn't simply appear out of thin air.

Combining his newly acquired skills, he will most likely complete this task in a similar way as rallying the fleeing soldiers.

"Broken troops..."

Zhang Jingchuan tapped his fingers on the armrest of the seat, his eyes slightly narrowed, his mind racing.

at this time,

Xu Fuzou walked in, carrying the memorial sent by Songshan City.

“My lord,” Xu Fuzou said with a grave expression, “a message has come from Songshan, requesting your presence.”

Zhang Jingchuan raised an eyebrow, took the document, opened it, and glanced at it: "Send me to the Songshan military council."

"Li Ruolian sent a messenger from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to deliver a message to you, saying that the imperial court plans to have the troops from Songshan retreat to Ningyuan, and that you should prepare in advance," Xu Fuzou said.

Zhang Jingchuan noticed that Xu Fuzou looked somewhat dejected and immediately saw through his thoughts. He comforted him, saying, "Don't worry, Elder Xu. Donghai Fort is like half my home. Even if the Ming army in Songshan wants to retreat, I will not retreat."

Just kidding. Donghai Fort is a place he finally found and established himself. How could he just give it up now that he's just gotten it going?

Moreover,

If he retreats to Ningyuan with the main force, how will he develop his own power, and how will he complete the task that the system just gave him?

……

When Zhang Jingchuan led his elite cavalry into Songshan City, he found that the already gloomy city had become even more lifeless and oppressive.

The city was filled with remnants of soldiers who had retreated from Jinzhou. Their superiors had either died in battle or fled to Xingshan and Tashan ahead of them, leaving only those who had fallen behind, gathering in small groups around a fire.

Inside the military council hall of the North Gate Tower.

Zhang Ruoqi, the military supervisor, sat in the head seat with a gloomy expression and remained silent.

The generals below each held their own opinions and argued incessantly.

After Zhang Jingchuan entered, he did not find Wu Sangui, so he went straight to Ma Shaoyu.

When Ma Shaoyu saw Zhang Jingchuan arrive, he forced a smile and waved to him.

According to Ma Shaoyu, these generals were arguing about retreating to Ningyuan. The generals who came from inside the pass supported retreating to Ningyuan, but some generals whose families were in Liaodong felt that Songshan should not be abandoned.

Even if the generals were willing to move their families south, the soldiers below them were unwilling to leave.

Upon hearing Ma Shaoyu's explanation, Zhang Jingchuan was secretly delighted.

Just when he was worried about how to complete the task the system had given him, someone handed him a pillow when he was sleepy. Since these Liaodong soldiers were unwilling to retreat to Ningyuan, they would all come under his command, with food and lodging provided!

"My lord, I am willing to lead my troops to stay in Donghai Fort and become a thorn in the side of the imperial court in Liaodong!" Zhang Jingchuan said solemnly.

With this remark,

The hall was completely silent.

Everyone is preparing to abandon Songshan and retreat to Ningyuan, so why is this person still planning to stay here? Is he out of his mind?

Zhang Jingchuan glanced at the astonished Ma Shaoyu, then at the speechless generals in the hall, and finally looked at Zhang Ruoqi, the supervising officer seated at the head of the table, and said respectfully:

"Your Excellency, I, Zhang Jingchuan, am willing to lead the Liaodong soldiers who do not wish to leave to defend Donghai Fort to the death, and am willing to become a thorn in the side of the Qing army!"

……