Volume 1: The Wind Rises in Tumubao Chapter 39 Blood Debt Repaid with Blood
"kill!"
On the grassland, horses galloped and yellow sand filled the sky.
Because of the war, a large number of young and strong men were conscripted by Yesen. Most of the tribes were the elderly, the weak, women and children. Although there were some young and strong men, when they realized something was wrong and wanted to mount their horses to meet the enemy, feather arrows arrived. One arrow pierced their chest directly, and they fell to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, a cavalry force like a tide swept in and hacked and killed all those who tried to resist.
All of this was done neatly and quickly; the outcome was decided in just a cup of tea.
The Ming army's tactics became more and more sophisticated. When they first raided, the plan was not thorough enough and the soldiers were still a little unfamiliar with each other, but after defeating several tribes in succession, they began to gain more experience.
I even feel that this small tribe can no longer satisfy my appetite. When will I meet a tribe of decent size and be able to kill them to my heart's content?
The old, weak, women and children in the tribe were all trembling with fear and had already been controlled by the soldiers.
Those elderly men looked at the Ming troops in horror. They had many experiences of going south to raid valleys, but... they had never seen Ming troops go so far into the desert.
There was panic and anxiety in their eyes, and many women and children even made all kinds of shrill cries.
Without waiting for orders, Li Zhen repeated his old trick, letting the old, weak, women and children go, and sent people to follow them secretly.
For the current Three Thousand Battalion, except for the general direction which needs Zhu Qizhen to make the decision, all other matters are completely decided by Li Zhen. This man is naturally tall, and he hasn't shaved for several days, so his face is full of vicissitudes of life, and he looks like a veteran who has been on many battlefields.
After the sun sets, the grassland is dark and dead silent.
After a series of attacks and fights, the soldiers were already exhausted and fell asleep.
Regardless of day or night, Fan Zhong stayed by Zhu Qizhen's side. When he was about to close his eyes, he heard Zhu Qizhen muttering: "I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. In the future, your descendants will remember me... submit to me..."
Fan Zhong suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the young emperor quietly in the dim firelight.
He is almost fifty years old this year and has accompanied three emperors. In his heart, Emperor Yongle is invincible, Emperor Hongxi is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness, Emperor Xuande is both strategic and kind-hearted. However, when it comes to Emperor Zhengtong... it's really hard to describe!
At Tumu Fort, everyone thought that the Ming Dynasty was doomed, but unexpectedly, this young emperor suddenly rose up and led his army to fight his way out.
Under the Badaling city wall, he was the one who rushed out without hesitation to rescue the refugees. Did he feel like... he owed them something?
Sometimes, I really don’t understand what he is thinking.
However, one thing is certain, the orthodox emperor today is no longer the same as before.
With a ruler like you, the Ming Dynasty will prosper for at least another 50 years!
As the sun rose, scouts came on horseback and discovered a large tribe more than ten miles northwest.
Upon hearing this, Li Zhen immediately perked up and ordered his soldiers to take away everything they could, and to gather together everything that could not be taken away and burn it to ashes.
Three thousand soldiers rushed towards the northwest at lightning speed. After more than an hour, they found a lake. Not far from the lake, there was a large tribe, which seemed to have a population of at least three thousand.
Li Zhen followed behind Zhu Qizhen, looking ahead from a distance with a gloomy expression.
Obviously, this is an opportunity, but also a tough battle!
Since the Three Thousand Battalion entered the grassland, they have encountered small-scale tribes and have won overwhelmingly each time. So far, there has been no casualties. But I am afraid that they may not be able to do so today.
He looked at the cavalrymen behind him, all of whom had resolute expressions and murderous intent.
They fought and burned all the way, ate the enemy's cattle and sheep, drank the enemy's kumis, lived in the enemy's tents, and burned them down after living in them. They were like a group of hungry wolves rushing into the sheepfold and satisfying their desires.
When they first entered the grassland , they were a little nervous and fearful, but gradually, as they smelled more and more blood, they began to become numb.
Nowadays, these people are full of murderous aura. They are becoming more and more , and their tactics and coordination are also extremely skilled.
The long-term raid had already made their clothes ragged and smelly, and many of them were injured to varying degrees. From a distance, they looked like a remnant army. However, their faces were resolute, their spirits were high, and they exuded a fierce murderous aura.
These pairs of eyes seem to be saying, we will kill the enemy wherever he is, even if we die without regrets!
Li Zhen rode his horse to Zhu Qizhen, clasped his fists and saluted, saying: "We have discovered a large tribe ahead, with more than 3,000 people. Please give us your instructions, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Qizhen turned around and looked at everyone, and said resolutely: "For many years, no one has dared to do what we did, marching alone into the desert and slaughtering the Oirat people like chickens and dogs. In the past, they went south again and again to forage for food, kill the people of the Ming Dynasty, and loot the property of the Ming Dynasty, but they didn't know that there is a saying in this world, blood debt must be paid with blood."
All the soldiers shouted in unison: "Blood debt must be paid with blood!"
"eye for eye!"
"eye for eye!"
Zhu Qizhen raised his hand and said word by word: "Now, the time has come to pay the blood debt with blood!"
There is a perennial shortage of supplies on the grassland, and things like candles and oil lamps are in serious shortage. Therefore, people go to bed after the sun sets.
In the dead of night, there was the sound of horse hooves...
Some people couldn't help but get up, walk out of the tent and look into the distance.
Under the moonlight, a group of black shadows were approaching quickly in the distance.
what is that?
No one answered.
Could it be a nearby tribe?
Why are there tribes traveling at night in the middle of the night?
Could it be that something happened on the front line and they are mobilizing troops?
If this is true, I'm afraid the few young and strong men left in the tribe will also have to join the army.
Alas, in a war, almost all the capable fighters on the grassland were drafted, and even children of thirteen or fourteen had to enlist.
The black spots on the horizon are becoming more and more numerous and denser. They are moving towards this direction under the sky, faster and faster!
Finally, someone noticed something was wrong and yelled, "Watch out!"
The cavalry on the opposite side was getting closer and closer. These iron cavalry, who had already eaten and drunk their fill and had gathered their strength, were as fast as the wind, with cold light flashing in their hands.
Only when the sword is raised high, the light reflected by the blade can be seen under the moonlight.
They... they are the enemy!
This is the heart of the grassland, how could there be enemy troops?
That doesn't make sense!
You have to know that this place is thousands of miles away from the Ming Dynasty's homeland, and the front line is Taishi Yesen's 100,000-strong army. How could the enemy army run to the rear?
Many people began to feel confused.
"Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
"Pick up your bows and arrows, prepare your swords, and prepare to meet the enemy!"
"Eternal Heaven, I beg you to bless me and kill these demons!"
However, the answer he got was not from Changshengtian, but from a sharp arrow.
The arrows, like locusts, appeared quietly in the night sky. When they fell, countless Wala people fell down.
In fact, the Oirat people, who were still asleep at this time, seemed very dull. They did not expect that there would be enemies here at all. Even their bows and arrows were not drawn.
