Chapter 2, The General at the End of His Road

In a moment of urgency, he spoke somewhat indiscreetly, and Zhu Chenmu's expression immediately darkened: "Are you saying that I do not understand how to lead troops?" General Qin, who was nearby, replied leisurely: "General Lie is truly interesting; on the territory of our Great Ming, you dare to say that we lack geographical advantage? Moreover, the Emperor has dispatched the Marquis to lead the troops, which is in accordance with the will of Heaven. We have already secured the timing, and with our army's numbers and capable generals, we possess the advantage of unity. This surprise attack by the Marquis will ensure our victory! At that time, the General will certainly share in the credit; why must you add to the obstacles?"

Thus, Lie Wanhua slowly recounted the events that had transpired. Du Fengji, apart from muttering a curse when he heard that Qin Fengchun had returned to the court, remained mostly silent. Lie Wanhua was exceedingly fatigued, and as he spoke, he gradually fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke, Du Fengji smiled and asked him: "Do you want to know what happened to the person pursuing you?"

His name is Lie Wanhua, hailing from a military background. At only thirty years of age, he has already fought for thirteen years, rising to the rank of General through his military achievements. He is strict in his military discipline and valiant in battle, having dealt significant blows to the enemy forces multiple times, earning him the title of "Iron General." The court holds him in high regard.

However, looking at the troops marching back and forth all day, Lie Wanhua could not see any semblance of a fighting force. He made several earnest attempts to advise, but Zhu Chenmu believed that he resented having his military authority usurped, ignoring his words entirely and no longer consulting him on decisions. In his helplessness, Lie Wanhua could only try to avoid trouble. But just as he heard from his personal guard in the tent that the commander and the supervising general were discussing leading the two hundred thousand troops to launch a thunderous attack on the Jurchens, he realized that even if the commander looked down on him, he could not remain silent!

Observing Zhu Chenmu's plump figure always taking the lead in training, Lie Wanhua had no doubt about his determination to resist the enemy. Supervisor Qin Fengchun praised him every three days, stating that under the leadership of Marquis Zhu Chenmu of Huaiting, "military discipline is becoming stricter, and the military appearance is becoming more impressive... thus demonstrating the grandeur of our great Ming's celestial might..."

After half a month of fleeing, Lie Wanhua was already battered and bruised. Lord Qin, disregarding the enemy's casualties, personally led his men in a relentless pursuit of Lie Wanhua

When Qin lost its deer, the world pursued it. Now, we find ourselves at another critical juncture where the heroes of the realm are once again vying for the deer.

Lie Wanhua knelt on the ground and said: "Marshal, I am not afraid of death. I have already devised a battle plan. This area is mountainous with a complex terrain, which is advantageous for defense but not for strong assaults. The stronghold is a key point that must be contested by both sides. Here, we can at least restrain the main force of the enemy. They have come from afar, and their supply lines will be difficult to maintain; they will certainly not be able to outlast us. If you give me three months, I will definitely capture the stronghold and drive back the enemy!"

On the shore, Lin Du let out a cold laugh. He had drawn his bowstring for a long time, waiting for this opportunity. With a "whoosh," he shot an arrow that struck Lie Wanhua in the left shoulder. Lie Wanhua felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and, without hesitation, swam towards the river, leaving a trail of red blood behind him. However, he was still more than halfway to the shore when he was hit by two more arrows, and at the same time, another arrow, accompanied by the sound of the wind, was aimed at his back.

Lie Wanhua's complexion was grim, and after a long while, he said: "I want to go to the capital." Du Fengji frowned and said: "General Lie, I admire your character. If you wish to kill the emperor to avenge your family, I advise you to wait a while; the emperor will not hold his position for long, and then you can strike at a drowning dog. However, if you still wish to return and seek an audience to clear your name, then forget it. This man is obstinate and self-willed; even if he knows he is wrong in his heart, there is no way he will admit it in person. If you go, you will surely die"

Lie Wanhua led five thousand soldiers to create a false formation, fighting desperately to break through and finally rescued the heavily injured Zhu Chenmu. At this moment, they could only rely on Lie Wanhua's familiarity with the terrain to hide in the mountains. The Qing army conducted a search but found nothing, and thus, they grew impatient with these insignificant stragglers and continued their advance to the south

Zhu Chenmu looked at the deputy general, who was a head taller than him, with disdain: "What is the general's intention in establishing the main camp in this perilous location before my arrival?" Lie Wanhua replied: "Jijiaogou is easy to defend but difficult to attack. By setting up the camp here, we can confidently launch an assault on Rongcheng. Once we eliminate our concerns, we can then counterattack the enemy, which gives us a chance of victory!" Zhu Chenmu said: "Rongcheng is merely a small city. You have surrounded it for three months without launching an attack. Now, at this prime opportunity to capture the thief and the king, you hesitate! The court is suffering continuous defeats because of people like you, who are cowardly and afraid of death!"

Lie Wanhua understood that it was futile to argue with such a civil official, so he turned to Zhu Chenmu and said: "Marshal! You have extensively read military texts; what would you do if the Tartars set an ambush at the fork in the middle section of Jijiao Gully?"

But what he awaited was merely a decree: "Disregarding the imperial grace, colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, endangering the commander and two hundred thousand soldiers, with evidence provided by Qin Fengchun and Zhu Chenmu's memorials. The punishment is the extermination of nine clans, and the traitor's wife and one son have already been executed"

The outcome was entirely beyond the expectations of Liewanhua. The mountains on both sides of Jijiao Gully resembled the enormous jaws of a monster, mercilessly swallowing two hundred thousand brothers. Ambushes were set up everywhere, and the number of people killed by artillery in the narrow terrain was far less than those who perished in the stampede among their own ranks. The enemy suffered minimal casualties and easily captured the forces of Liewanhua, which had posed the greatest threat to them.

This young man is Du Fengji, who has just completed a significant business deal with his elder brother Sun Lu. In high spirits, he rode his horse along the riverbank, and before he knew it, he had run all the way to Yancheng. There, he happened to encounter Lie Wanhua, and was impressed by his indomitable fighting spirit, which is why he intervened to save him

Lie Wanhua's eyes turned red as he fought desperately to break through. Relying on the newly appointed Supervisor Qin's excessive fear of death, he managed to escape the encirclement with the soldiers firmly guarding him. However, how could Lord Qin possibly let him go

This is the second among the ten brothers— the formidable "Iron General" Lie Ruohai

Later, Du Fengji joked, "To have fifty thousand troops chasing one person, you have every reason to be proud!"

Zhu Chenmu ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Before his death, he submitted a memorial to the court, weeping as he recounted his own faults, urging the Emperor not to borrow troops to suppress the enemy, while strongly recommending Lie Wanhua. Standing beside him, General Qin immediately declared: "Rest assured, Marshal, I too cannot absolve myself of blame for this failure. Please hand the memorial to me, and I will certainly recommend General Lie before the Emperor..."

This time, as he besieged the border stronghold of Rongcheng for three months without success, the Emperor specially dispatched Zhu Chenmu with an army of 50,000 to provide support. Together with the original 150,000 soldiers led by Lie Wanhua, they formed a total of 200,000 iron cavalry. This was originally a good thing, but the problem lay in Zhu Chenmu's identity.

However, his expectations were dashed. With years of combat experience, he quickly realized that Zhu Chenmu's military talents, as demonstrated in the court, were nothing more than the most unfortunate kind of theoretical posturing, characterized by recklessness and a lack of internal cohesion. Perhaps influenced by numerous stories emphasizing strict discipline in military leadership, Zhu Chenmu immediately sought to assert his authority by punishing General Mao Dashou with twenty military strikes upon his arrival. Having fought alongside Mao Dashou for many years, this was clearly an attempt to establish dominance over him as the deputy commander. At the same time, Zhu Chenmu dismantled the original structure and led the soldiers in practicing formations such as the long snake formation and the five elements and eight trigrams formation.

The man responded and left, leaving the yellow-faced youth to rush into the depths of the forest with Lie Wanhua. Seeing his decisive actions and confident command, Lie Wanhua hesitantly asked, "What is your name, benefactor? Do you know of my grievances and have come specifically to rescue me?" The youth replied, "I am a small-time hoodlum from Yangzhou City, known as Huangpi Xiaodu. As for other matters, we will discuss them when we arrive at our destination"

Later, Lie Wanhua came to realize that the Sun Lu, whom Du Fengji called "big brother," truly lived up to the title of the Dragon King of the Land. With a mere flip of his hand, he could summon clouds or disperse them. Along the way, the convoy marked by Sun Lu and the Sea Dragon passed through the checkpoints and city gates without any hindrance, easily picking up Lie Wanhua's old steward, Lie Fu. Thus, Lie Wanhua transformed from a formidable iron general into a ruffian on the streets, known as the fierce warrior who said, "To break Du Huangpi, one must first strike the iron gate latch."

After waiting for more than half an hour, Zhu Chenmu finally summoned Lie Wanhua inside. Upon seeing Zhu Chenmu pointing at a small valley on the map and discussing with Qin Fengchun, who was adept at navigating various situations, he said: "If we pass through here overnight, we can reach the enemy camp by the third watch, catching them off guard..." Lie Wanhua was taken aback and could not help but interject: "Commander! This place is known as Chicken Foot Gully, and the terrain is extremely treacherous. Our army has only one route to the enemy camp, while the enemy has three routes to approach us. We lack the advantage of terrain; how can you commit such a grave military error!"

However, at that time, Lie Wanhua had no doubts about General Qin; instead, he gathered local militia and organized the military defenses on the spot. As the troops began to take shape, he was merely waiting for the imperial court to issue an order for him to continue deploying forces

Lin Du Yin said: "I know you feel wronged, but I, Lin, am also carrying out orders. Accept your fate!"

Zhu Chenmu said: "Li Zicheng has reached Lintong, and those treacherous and sycophantic individuals within the court want the Emperor to negotiate with the Tartars, using Tartar troops to eliminate Li Zicheng. If no further good news is received, once the Emperor believes such words, it will be akin to inviting a wolf into the house, and the entire situation will undoubtedly lead to defeat! You are a martial artist, yet your vision is rather narrow. If we follow your approach of gradually building defenses, the court will have already negotiated with the Tartars, and what use will your victories be? Moreover, in this battle, I am fully confident and must show those officials who advocate for peace what the true path to saving the nation is! You are a martial artist, yet your vision is rather narrow. If we follow your approach of gradually building defenses, the court will have already negotiated with the Tartars, and what use will your victories be? Moreover, in this battle, I am fully confident and must show those officials who advocate for peace what the true path to saving the nation is! Do not speak further; if you are afraid, there is no need for you to join me in battle. I will leave five thousand soldiers with you to guard the main camp. When I return victorious, I will hold you accountable for your cowardice!"

In front of the main tent of the Ming army camp in the northern desert, a valiant man with tightly furrowed brows anxiously awaited an audience with the commander Zhu Chenmu

Lie Wanhua was filled with resentment: "Lin Du, it does not matter if you kill me, but Qin Fengchun is devoid of talent and virtue, and you are not a great general either. With you two in command, the army is bound to face defeat! How will you explain this to the countless comrades, and how will you face your father, who has been loyal and righteous all his life?" Lin Du, with a grim expression, replied: "You need not worry about these matters. Lord Qin has ordered your immediate execution. If you have anything to say, you may speak to King Yan!"

In the forest by the shore, there was a man in his thirties, dressed in splendid attire, exuding an extraordinary demeanor. The man mounted a horse and handed the reins of the horse he was leading to a young boy with a yellow face. The boy seized the reins and leaped onto the horse's back, and the three of them, two riders and their mounts, immediately galloped away. Both steeds were indeed rare and exceptional horses

Lie Wanhua let out a wild roar towards the sky, leaping towards the riverbank. Upon reaching the water's edge, he hesitated no longer and jumped into the river, swiftly swimming towards the opposite shore. Lin Du chased a few steps and shouted, "Shoot!" Most of the soldiers could not swim; they merely shot arrows into the water from the shore.

Du Fengji said: "To be able to evade the pursuit of fifty thousand troops, General Lie's skills must be among the best in the martial world." General Lie Wanhua replied: "I am a lay disciple of Shaolin."

Lie Wanhua said with a heavy heart: "No, I will not commit regicide, but there is no need for me to be loyal to him. I want to go and bring back my old steward who is in the countryside; he treats me like his own son. He just returned to his hometown to enjoy his retirement six months ago. I am now all alone, with no other relatives. I want to bring him back and then come to seek refuge with you, Master Du. If Master Du is unwilling, I will take him to the south to avoid disaster, and we will rely on each other."

Zhu Chenmu said: "How can the barbaric and uncivilized people of the Dazis understand the military strategies of the Han people? How could they possibly know that I, the commander, intend to launch a surprise attack? Currently, I have received secret reports from my scouts that the Dazi leader Nurhaci is present in the camp, and the defending enemy forces number no more than 60,000. With my 200,000 strong army advancing with the might of thunder, how can he possibly withstand it? If we miss this opportunity, where else can we find such a divinely granted chance?"

Lie Wanhua was deeply pained and remained silent for a long while. Du Huangpi then said: "King Li Chuang does not need such a soft and weak person, so he killed Qin Fengchun with a single stroke. Lin Du has good skills and was spared. In fact, if one were to execute someone, it should have been after stabilizing these surrendered soldiers; otherwise, which commander would dare to surrender in the future? King Chuang is indeed brave, but after all, he is a man of the grasslands. Even if he seizes the world, it is likely to be short-lived. General Lie, you are fine now; do you have any plans?"

As the two men wandered around, they arrived at the gambling den of Shepi Chen in Yangzhou, where Sun Lu had already arrived. Du Fengji, while ordering someone to bandage Lie Wanhua's wound, asked, "I heard that the person pursuing you is named Lin Du. Are you the notorious traitor and enemy of the state, Lie Wanhua, for whom the court has issued a bounty?" Lie Wanhua was taken aback and replied, "The river is so wide, and you could hear us talking. Brother Du, you have excellent hearing!"

The plan of Lie Wanhua to surrender and plead his case before the emperor was completely dispelled after meeting with Qin Fengchun. The newly promoted Supervisor Qin held his wife's head and declared: "The emperor has issued an edict, the traitor Lie Wanhua is to be executed on the spot, and his head will be displayed in the city for all to see the fate of those who collude with the enemy and betray the country"

Lie Wanhua's internal strength is profound, yet it does not surface; it merely exerts itself underwater, striving to propel forward. This makes it difficult for arrows to find their mark. As he gazes into the distance, the soldiers with insufficient strength can no longer reach him with their shots. Only then does Lie Wanhua surface, taking a breath.

He shouted at Lin Du, who was once his general: "General Lin, you know I am wronged. Qin Fengchun has falsely accused a loyal man, and such injustice cannot be tolerated! For the sake of our past collaboration, allow me to go to the court to present my case. I, Lie, will not flee; I only ask that you do not hand me over to Qin Fengchun!"

After the incident, when Lie Wanhua mentioned this to Du Fengji, Du Fengji immediately exclaimed, "Damn! He wants to play dirty." Lie Wanhua was astonished and asked, "Why?" Du Fengji replied, "By recommending you in front of the Emperor, he is essentially admitting that his own judgment is flawed. How could the Emperor possibly continue to rely on him after that? Moreover, the responsibility of the military supervisor is significant; if this scoundrel doesn't scheme against you, he will be the one in trouble!"

In the territory of Yancheng, adjacent to Yangzhou, Lie Wanhua was finally cornered by the army at the riverbank, with no way to retreat. His body was drenched in blood, and a feathered arrow was lodged in his leg; however, the injuries on his body and the pain in his heart were nothing in comparison.

Once on horseback, the yellow-faced youth said his first words to Lie Wanhua: "Take off your outer garment!" Lie Wanhua did not understand his intentions but complied and removed his outer garment. The yellow-faced youth then spoke to the man beside him: "Elder brother, ride quickly along the river for another twenty miles, place this clothing and the arrows by the riverbank, half submerged in the water, and then meet me at the gambling den of Shepi Chen."

Despair shone in Lie Wanhua's eyes as he was about to close them in resignation to death when a silver flash flew by, striking down the long arrow behind him. Upon realizing that the object that had knocked down the arrow was a silver ingot, he seized the opportunity and desperately swam forward. Hearing that several more arrows shot from behind were also knocked down, he swam a few more strokes and found that no arrows could be shot at him anymore, and he was also closer to the shore. He poked his head out and, at first glance, saw a youth with a scorched yellow complexion reaching out his hand to him. After a moment's hesitation, he extended his hand. The youth pulled him onto the shore with a single motion and dragged him into the woods. Unexpectedly, although the youth appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, he possessed astonishing strength.

Zhu Chenmu is a legitimate royal family member, the direct uncle of the current emperor, and a staunch proponent of war, highly regarded by the people. In times of crisis, the emperor dispatched this uncle to lead the troops, and naturally, Lie Wanhua could not compete with him, resulting in the peculiar phenomenon where the deputy commander leads the troops into battle while the main commander provides support.

Regarding the emperor's command, Lie Wanhua had no complaints; as long as he could win this battle, he would be content even as a mere foot soldier. Moreover, he had long heard of Zhu Chenmu's great name. Zhu Chenmu had been well-versed in military texts since childhood, and every time he spoke of military strategy in court, he did so with great authority. Lie Wanhua himself also held high hopes for him.

Du Feng instructed someone to get food while casually saying: "No wonder then. Your skills should be on par with the current Four Young Masters. If you don't mind, why don't you tell me about your situation?"

Du Fengji said: "The wind is tight now, I will leave this matter to my elder brother, as he has a batch of goods to transport to the capital. I will call my brother over, and you can discuss among yourselves!"

Lin Duxiao was brave, yet narrow-minded, and had never been given significant responsibilities. As soon as Qin Fengchun arrived, he promoted him to the position of deputy general. Therefore, he regarded this as a recognition of his talents and was tasked with pursuing and killing Lie Wanhua

Yesterday, Lin Du reported to Qin Fengchun that you had drowned while holding your clothes. Qin Fengchun did not believe it and personally took people to the riverbank to retrieve your body. Seeing his enthusiasm, I found him some work to do, letting Li Chuangwang's troops 'accidentally' encounter him. He truly has guts; without even fighting, they all surrendered. In fact, Li Chuangwang's troops are not even more numerous than theirs!

Lie Wanhua said: "General, since the enemy's leader is there, our defenses must be thorough! Rongcheng and the barriers support each other; we have not yet recaptured Rongcheng. If we recklessly attack the barriers and are caught in a pincer movement by the Tartars, our army will be trapped in the Eighty-Mile Chicken Foot Ditch, unable to advance or retreat, and I fear we will face total annihilation"