One of the Eight Great Thieves, Wu Changbo (Wu Sangui)

Wu Tongbi discovered the enemy situation earlier than Wu Changbo. With a loud shout, he urged his warhorse to gallop straight towards the small high ground at the foot of the mountain

The long knife carved a bloody gash on the face of the archer, flying backward before ultimately falling weakly to the ground

Soon arriving at the banks of the Daling River, the black river water flows slowly, sobbing softly, and there are no footprints on the snowy ground by the riverbank

Since the death of Nurhaci, the slave and prisoner, in July due to complications from cannon injuries in Liaodong, a conflict immediately broke out among the slaves and bandits

The archer wielded a long knife to cut through the chain, and just as he wanted to lunge forward, he suddenly heard a series of rapid bowstring sounds. It was already too late to move his body, as five arrows shot towards his chest at close range

The snow at the foot of the mountain is thick, and from time to time, wild rabbits dart out from the snow, occasionally a frozen wild chicken lands on the snow surface. Wu Changbo shows no interest in these things, his gaze remains fixed on the dark pine forest.

Wu Changbo sat on his horse, gazing into the distance. Apart from the pristine white snow before him, all that remained were the dark green and black pine trees on the low hills.

The front hooves of the warhorse were severed mid-air by him, and as its body tilted slightly, he awaited the moment when the warhorse would fall to behead the enemy general.

The warhorse fell to the ground with a loud thud, but there was no sign of a rider on its back. A whistling sound of the wind came from behind, startling the archer, who quickly crouched down. A fist-sized chain hammer whizzed past him, and the startled archer rolled several times in the snow before finally getting back on his feet

Have the scoundrels harassed you?

Looking at the fewer than fifty loyal soldiers who remain, and then at the bodies sprawled in the snow, one cannot help but feel that this world is unbearably cold

Wu Changbo raised his slightly reddened eyes, lowered his head slightly, and turned the tassel of his helmet towards the feathered arrow. With a sound of "dang," the feathered arrow grazed the iron helmet and flew diagonally into the air.

One should gradually withdraw

In the dark and silent pine forest, it seemed as though a fierce tiger was lurking, causing Wu Changbo to feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end

On the sixth day of the first month in the sixth year of the Apocalypse, a sudden loud tremor occurred, more intense than a violent thunderclap, uprooting over twenty large trees, with some roots facing upwards and some tops facing downwards. Additionally, there were pits several zhang deep, with smoke and clouds rising straight up, resembling a cloud of spiritual mushrooms, rolling towards the northeast

This old dog, it simply relies on having served the Wu family for a long time! It has no other abilities!

Wu Changbo, who was proud and arrogant, could not endure it any longer. The warhorse took two quick steps forward and, with all its strength, struck down at that slave trader.

There are no startled birds taking flight from the cedar, nor any small creatures darting out from the pine forest; it is as silent as a desolate land.

Wu's voice, resembling that of a broken gong, once again echoed from the front of the team

What Chang hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "General Shao, this old servant is from the Wu family’s standard army. Currently, the master is in the city, and we will certainly be doubly cautious, not daring to make any mistakes"

Sixty bandits dared to set an ambush on flat ground to attack two hundred elite Guan Ning Iron Cavalry, which infuriated Wu Changbo greatly

One can slay the great eagle in the clouds above, and kill the giant fish in the abyss below; capturing tigers and killing wolves is a common affair. Only a hero can be called a master archer!

The expression on the face of the archer gradually became serious, and he nodded slightly, saying: "Alright, you have a certain heroic demeanor. After your death, I will not behead you, but will spare the life of one of your subordinates, allowing him to take your complete corpse back!"

When the battle knife was raised, I had already witnessed with my own eyes the tragic deaths of two personal guards at the hands of the slave thieves

Between the white mountains and black waters of winter lies the realm of the enslavers, where these resilient wild men become increasingly active once winter arrives

Similarly, the enslaved individuals have the same level of understanding of this place, whether it is Nurhaci, Huang Taiji, or the enslaved generals, they are equally familiar with this area

Shichang carefully said while holding the wine jug: "Yesterday, a group of slave thieves came by. I, an old servant, saw that they were numerous and did not take action. I noticed they headed west, with around 60 people, all on horseback"

Since the usurper Nurhaci ascended to the throne in Hetu Ala in the 44th year of the Wanli era, the Ming Dynasty has invested a vast amount of silver and resources in Liaodong, constructing fortress after fortress. Unfortunately, most of these fortresses are now occupied by the usurper, and only the two strongholds of Ningyuan and Shanhaiguan remain.

This explosion, perhaps it is divine punishment

Take another sip, the rest of the brothers should also have a sip to warm themselves up, damn Liaodong, this winter is too cold

Wu Changbo lunged forward, taking two quick steps before his body suddenly fell, and the chain struck like a venomous snake, leaping from the ground and heading straight for the abdomen of the archer.

Without waiting for a long time to speak, Wu Changbo mounted his horse and left, leading his two hundred subordinates to pursue westward.

Having finally left the mountain pack, in a short span of time, Wu Changbo forgot the cold, forgot the fatigue, and summoned all his senses to prepare for the impending crisis

Hello, you are on guard. If you notice anything amiss, light the signal fire. Today, grandfather will capture these sixty riding bandits!

The war horse slowly descended the hill, and a scout lifted the lid of the earth shelter, standing outside the shelter in trepidation, waiting for Colonel Wu Changbo to verify.

The arrows flew like locusts, and the archer standing on the hilltop showed no intention of leaving. His body was as light as a willow swaying in the wind, deftly avoiding the arrows. Even as his body swayed, he did not forget to draw his bow and shoot, easily killing several Ming soldiers who were shooting back at him.

He is a highly experienced general and a fierce warrior who has endured countless battles. At this moment, protecting Wu Changbo is no longer the most important matter; rather, it is essential to ensure the safety of the military leader and prevent him from being captured all at once.

As he spoke, he hung the wine flask at his waist and glanced towards the west, saying: "Sixty mounted bandits, since you have come, do not think of going back!"

Enemy attack

In the northern regions, it is just like this; as long as there is white snow, all other colors will undergo some changes, even the water will turn into black water

He was reluctant to exhale, stubbornly holding the alcohol vapors in his abdomen, and after a long while, he finally released a breath that resembled a white ribbon.

Wu Changbo laughed and said: "This statement is reasonable. Being a soldier and receiving rations is a profession that ties one's head to the waistband. Once I become a soldier of the Wu family, even if I die in battle, my parents, wife, and children will surely have food to eat, and they will not starve in this world"

The warhorse knocked down the dying slave, and after breaking through the mist formed by the splashing snowflakes, it was discovered that the once tranquil snowfield had completely transformed into a battlefield of flesh and blood

Wu Changbo lowered his head and looked at Shichang's disheveled face, saying: "You all keep a good watch, there may be an opportunity to collect some heads of the slave thieves!"

Wu Changbo's warhorse snorted white vapor, leaping powerfully, ready to crush this detestable archer.

The originally flat snowfield was suddenly upheaved, sending snowflakes swirling in the air, as a slave thief wearing a reversed sheepskin coat burst forth from the ground. Before the Ming army on the opposite side could react, a heavy and rudimentary wolf-tooth club struck the chest of his warhorse.

Thousands of those with names were killed, while the number of those who died without names is also unknown, possibly in the thousands as well

Standing against the wind with a strong bow made of four stones, he loosed three arrows in succession. As the first arrow had just left the string, the second was already nocked, and before the first had struck its target, the third had already been released. In an instant, a quiver of arrows had vanished.

Liu Ruoyu is a firsthand witness of the event and also the chief eunuch of the Imperial Ceremonial Office. His words should be the closest to the truth

Wu Changbo shivered, and a cold star suddenly appeared at the corner of his eye

Wu Tong saw that Wu Changbo was not heeding his advice, and immediately shouted to the front line: "One horse distance, raise shields, protect the direction of the pine forest, advance!"

Upon hearing this, he was overjoyed and, unable to contain his excitement, took a swig of wine before passing the wine jug to his brothers behind him

From the vicinity of Xianmen, iron slag fell like flour or rice, and only ceased after a while. From Xuanwumen to the west, and south along Xingbu Street, near the factory buildings, it suddenly collapsed, with earth and wood on top and tiles below

With a light exclamation, She Diao swiftly reached into the quiver with his left hand, and immediately three feathered arrows appeared on his bowstring

Wu Changbo did not disperse his forces to investigate the whereabouts of the slave thieves; he had only two hundred men under his command. If he dared to split his troops, even into two routes, those audacious slave thieves would be bold enough to launch an attack on their hundred-man unit

A sentry post with six soldiers, this is customary. Wu Changbo glanced at the six soldiers, seeing them each draped in sheepskin coats, exuding a foul odor, standing in the snow like fluffy white bears. He took a flask from his waist and tossed it to the squad leader, whose face was covered in frostbite, casually saying.

Currently, the Daling River defense line has suddenly seen the emergence of slave raider scouts, which is not a good omen

Wu Tong's body also fell heavily to the ground, yet the feathered arrow in the hands of the archer was not triggered

The greatest threat to the cavalry is not those who ambush while hiding in the snow, but rather the arrogant archers standing atop the hill.

Wu Changbo greatly envied his uncle Zu Fuyu's full beard, for only such a prominent beard could make him stand out a bit more amidst the throngs of soldiers

The archer smiled and said: "At last, I have seen a warrior who is capable of fighting and dares to engage in battle!"

Wu Changbo involuntarily glanced to the west; beyond that lies the Daling River. In winter, the waters of the Daling River flow swiftly and do not freeze. In such weather, even if there are boats, they can easily be wrecked by the ice blocks in the river. Therefore, he was not concerned that the slave traders would take the risk of crossing the river

The slave thieves differ from the other barbarian tribes invading the Central Plains; they are more cunning, more ferocious, and more strategic in their approach

All the troops are making an effort. If they can obtain the head of a first-level slave trader, it is unknown to which family it may belong, but once it reaches a certain family, it can be exchanged for three or two taels of silver. For those who do not want silver, they can be given five mu of land. In an instant, this will be far superior to you and that old dog.

Shang held onto the reins of Wu Changbo's warhorse and said: "General, you must not underestimate the enemy. I have heard the sound of the enemy's horse hooves, and it is quite heavy. I am concerned that there may be armored soldiers among them, and where there are armored soldiers, there will certainly be archers. You only have two hundred cavalry under your command, and victory is not guaranteed!"

As a scion of a prominent family, he understood far more clearly than ordinary people. From the letter that Liu Ruoyu, the eunuch of the Grand Council, sent to his father, one could discern how bizarre that great explosion was

The warhorse was shot dead by the archer, and Wu Tong, who was hiding behind a large rock with an arrow in his shoulder, saw his own commander personally charge forward. He couldn't help but recall the extremely cold face of his master, causing him to feel a surge of fear.

Wu Changbo smiled and said, "Grandfather is Wu Changbo, the son of Wu Xiang, the General of Shanhaiguan."

The captain of the hundred-man team, the Eagle Shooter, is present; these sixty bandit slaves are like a pack of wolves. Once the Eagle Shooter falls in battle, the remaining bandit slaves will become a disorganized mob, devoid of any semblance of order.

Speaking to the remaining soldiers, he said: "Do your best, the Wu family has again received a large tract of land as a reward from His Majesty. The Wu family cannot cultivate it all by themselves. My father is kind-hearted and may use the pretext of recruiting soldiers to provide everyone with food that is exempt from taxes.

Gritting his teeth and roaring, he charged out from behind the boulder, brandishing his shield

The front army reported loudly

Wu Changbo sneered and said: "After your death, my grandfather will not behead you, but will spare the life of one of your subordinates to take your corpse back."

Are you a bright general

As Wu Changbo's warhorse reached the hillside, the archer's face revealed a mocking expression. With a gentle lift of his hand, a jet-black giant arrow flew towards Wu Changbo's throat.

The target of Hanxing is not Wu Changbo, but a big man with a beard. The big man also noticed the feather arrow, and his body shrank into a ball on the horse, hiding behind the shield. With a "duo" sound, the feather arrow was blocked by the shield. The big man, who was originally curled up, screamed and staggered off his warhorse. At some point, a black feather arrow was inserted into his thigh.

General Shao, the bandit slave dragged branches behind the horse to clear the snow-covered road, but there are still traces to follow.

The warhorse galloped, the cold wind blowing in his face. Suddenly, Wu Sangui remembered the senseless explosion that occurred in the capital city earlier this year.

Uncle Wu shook his head and said, "Without entering the tiger's den, how can one catch the tiger cub? If we retreat now, we will just pass by the enemy. No, pass on my order, raise the shields and move forward!"

Whenever a flat house collapses, the fire in the stove will be extinguished. Only the wooden walls of two or three rooms of the wine-selling Zhang family were burned, and nothing else was destroyed. As for the deceased, many of their limbs are incomplete, regardless of gender, all of them are naked, and even the survivors are stripped of their clothes and hats...

The originally compact cavalry quickly became loose under the deputy's command, and Wu Tong also quickly left Wu Changbo, heading straight to the front of the team.

Amka friend, go away! (Good riddance).

As soon as he was about to speak, a cold wind forcefully blew back into his mouth. Wu Changbo coughed and ordered the vanguard to accelerate. He was eager to capture these rebel slaves and find out what exactly had happened on their side.

The sun drew an arc from the edge of the sky, and lazily hung at the end, weakly shining on the world.

Stay vigilant!

With a loud clang, his long sword collided with an iron rod. The long sword leaped high into the air. Wu Changbo, who had participated in battles, ignored the long sword and slid a short spear out of the saddlebag on his warhorse with his left hand. With the momentum of the warhorse, he thrust it into the chest of the slave thief in front of him.

Uncle Wu saw that the soldiers were pitiful and sighed, saying, "Endure a little longer. We have no shortage of food and supplies in the Jinzhou army, but this damn cold weather and heavy snow have blocked the roads and prevented us from receiving them. Once you finish your mission, you can return to the camp and have a hot meal."

After speaking, he took off his armor and revealed his strong upper body. With a chain hammer in one hand and a short knife in the other, he looked eager to try.

As the great Han fell off his warhorse, his body became motionless, and a black feathered arrow pierced through his forehead...

Uncle Wu spread out his hands and clenched his fists heavily, saying, "Today, let this thief slave witness the skills of his grandfather!"

In the view of Wu Sangui, the defense line from Shanhaiguan to Dalinghe should be solid as long as the rebel bandits have not completely established their dominance.

Under the command of Wu Tong, it didn't take long to kill these thieves one by one.

The chest of the warhorse immediately became shattered, causing the knight to fall heavily to the ground. It seemed that the traitor had been prepared in advance, as the mace once again smashed onto the knight's helmet. The black helmet flew far away, while the knight's head turned into a bloody mess.

You guys have ruined it with your excessive drinking!

The Eagle Shooting Hero burst into laughter and ripped off the white armor on his body, revealing a chest as black as iron, saying, "Let's begin!"

The sergeant dared not put his mouth close to the spout of the wine jug. He poured a mouthful of strong liquor into his mouth from mid-air, and carefully returned the silver wine jug to Uncle Wu.

Shameless...villain...The "Eagle Shooting Hero" barely let out a roar, then fell to the ground, his almost bursting eyes staring fiercely at Wu Changbo, who was panting heavily.

Worried about the slaves and thieves having unusual movements, they finally released the smoke signal for communication!

Uncle Wu felt that he had been fully focused, but the war still caught him off guard.

The bodyguards also dispersed one by one. Wu Changbo's armor was no different from theirs. In order to confuse the enemy, he was the first to leave the crowd.

Wu Tong's eyes rolled like a revolving lantern. After carefully examining the surrounding environment, he whispered to Uncle Wu, "This place is backed by a mountain on one side and completely exposed snowy ground on the other, which is advantageous for skilled archer bandits. We must not rush in."

His charging body came to a halt, with five feathered arrows lodged in his chest, each penetrating half a foot into his flesh...

The Eagle Shooting Hero coldly chuckled, and all the arrows from the longbow in his hand fell to the ground. A black war knife was already gripped in his hand.

Wu Tong despairingly spun the long knife in his hand and threw it away, then leaped forward, hoping to block the disaster for Wu Changbo.

Uncle Wu stopped his warhorse. He wanted to go to the front to take a look, but was firmly held back by his deputy, Wu Tong. The deputy also ordered the other soldiers to tightly surround Uncle Wu.

The Ming army is familiar with Dalin River, while Wu Changbo is familiar with every blade of grass and every tree here.

Everyone laughed at the witty remarks made by Mr. Wu, and Lao Shezhang looked particularly proud, saying, "This shows my discerning eye, which these fools cannot compare to."

Uncle Wu smiled and took back the wine jug, weighing it and pretending to be angry, "A bunch of rotten goods, a whole jug of wine and only this little bit left. This is the good wine that someone stole from my father's study!"

In the battlefield, anger is a powerful emotion. Wu Changbo abandoned the protection of his bodyguards and charged towards the small hill first.

Uncle Wu stood just ten steps away from him, pulling the chain of his hammer with one hand and looking at him coldly.

Uncle Wu's chest felt like it was on fire. After drinking strong liquor in big gulps, he realized that his hands were shaking badly.