Chapter 782
Xu Da VS Wang Baobao
"So, Wang Baobao is still in Hongdu!"
Chen Jie was furious when he heard a loud crash from the doorway, the sound of a fruit plate falling to the ground: "Madam, Madam!"
Chen Jie suddenly turned around and saw Zhao Ya sitting at the doorway, clutching her stomach, with a broken fruit plate on the ground beside her.
"Blood, blood!"
At this moment, Zhao Ya's personal maid, Qingzhu, rushed over and saw the blood on Zhao Ya's crotch.
At this time, Zhao Ya was in her labor period and could give birth at any moment. She originally wanted to bring Chen Jie some fruit today, but she never expected to hear such a shocking scene when she got to the door. Her brother was disobeying orders and was still in Hongdu.
Moreover, Xu Da's army is about to arrive.
In her haste, Zhao Ya suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach and fell to the ground, shattering the fruit plate and causing her to bleed.
"Ah, Ya Ya, is she about to give birth?"
Upon hearing this, Su Yunjin rushed forward, then looked at the agonizing Zhao Ya and turned to the bewildered Qingzhu, saying, "What are you all standing there for? Go find the midwife!"
Upon hearing the order, Qingzhu finally reacted and immediately responded.
Because Zhao Ya was about to give birth, the best midwives from Huangzhou Prefecture, or even the entire Hubei province, including the Northwest, were invited to the prefecture, including Wu Yumei, who is currently a professor of fertility at the medical school.
This woman is a legendary midwife, from a family of midwives. She has delivered hundreds, if not thousands, of babies. She is truly a miracle worker.
At this moment, Chen Jie walked over and said to Chen Chun, "Go and invite Master Bai over as well."
"Yes."
Chen Chun immediately went to fetch someone. At this moment, Chen Jie squatted down, hugged Zhao Ya, and began to circulate the Four Seasons Celestial Phenomenon Technique with both hands, using the Spring character technique to send life force to Zhao Ya.
With the infusion of life force, Zhao Ya's pain was greatly relieved.
At this moment, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Chen Jie, saying, "Husband, please save my brother, please save my brother."
At this moment, Zhao Ya was as vulnerable as a child. This strong woman spoke to Chen Jie with a fragile sob.
Upon hearing this, Chen Jie looked at Zhao Ya and said, "Let's not worry about that for now, let's give birth to the child first."
"But my brother..."
Chen Jie said, "Yes, I will have someone meet him. If it really doesn't work, I still have Fu Youde. I can exchange him with Zhu Chongba for your brother. Don't worry, it's alright, it's alright."
Chen Jie comforted Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya then gripped Chen Jie's hand tightly: "I, I..."
After trying to say something for a while, he couldn't get it out, only saying in pain, "It hurts so much!"
Su Yunjin said, "Husband, quickly take Ya Ya back to her room and keep her from getting chilled."
"it is good."
Chen Jie responded and quickly escorted Zhao Ya into the house. At this moment, the midwife team arrived, led by Wu Yumei. Chen Jie looked at Wu Yumei and said, "I'm counting on you for everything."
Wu Yumei said, "Don't worry, Prince Han, leave the lady to us. Nothing will happen."
After Wu Yumei went in, Bai Wenjing also arrived. Looking at Chen Jie, she said somewhat flusteredly, "It's not like you're a father for the first time, what's the rush?"
"It's not that I'm panicking, it's just that things are happening one after another."
As she spoke, Chen Jie rubbed her temples, looking troubled, and said, "It's all because she had such a disobedient brother."
Chen Jie thought for a moment, then beckoned to Chen Chun and said, "Go and give Zhang Dingbian the order to have Shi Gengming lead 10,000 naval troops to take over Hukou. Zhang Dingbian should lead the remaining troops to meet up with Wang Baobao."
"Also, order Jin Yanzi to lead the navy to harass Hongdu from the side and put pressure on them, so that Zhu Wenzheng and Xu Da do not join forces to pursue Wang Baobao."
At this point, Chen Jie paused for a moment and said, "Remember, tell them not to be reckless, just to provide support, and not to interfere in anything else."
"promise!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Chun immediately went to relay the order, while at this time, on the battlefield in Hongdu...
Wang Baobao stood on the deck of the three-story ship, looking at the tattered "Zhu" character flag on the city wall of Hongdu.
After a five-day siege, the city was already on the verge of collapse—three breaches in the city wall had been blasted by cannon fire, which were still barely plugged with wooden palisades and sandbags. The garrison on the city walls was sparse, with only two shifts changing a day, indicating that manpower was exhausted.
"Pass down the order: at 3:45 AM, launch the general offensive." His voice was calm, as if he were talking about something as mundane as eating and drinking.
Huo Bima hesitated: "General, it may not be appropriate to launch a general attack at this time. Just now, a scout reported that a fleet of ships is rapidly approaching from sixty miles upstream."
"Xu Da?" Wang Baobao raised an eyebrow. Chen Jiusi's scouts had already given him the news in advance, but Wang Baobao did not back down. The reason was simple: Zhang Dingbian had already taken the credit for annihilating Fu Youde's 100,000-strong army. If he didn't take Hongdu City, he would really have nothing to show for his achievements this time.
He was also thinking of securing some political resources for his sister Zhao Ya. But how could he face his sister if he did that? So he rejected Chen Jiu Si's suggestion to withdraw his troops. Withdrawing troops was out of the question. He would not withdraw until he had captured Hongdu City. So what if it was Xu Da? He was willing to test his skills.
"It was Xu Dajun, with about 60,000 naval troops, flying flags with the character 'Xu' on them."
Wang Baobao laughed, stroking the hilt of the curved sword at his waist: "You've come at the perfect time. Everyone says that Xu Da is the number one general of our time. I want to see if Xu Tiande is truly worthy of his reputation or just a name without substance."
"But what if we are attacked from both sides..."
Huobi Ma glanced at Hongdu City; that Zhu fellow was not easy to deal with either.
"Then let's fight a battle where we're attacked from both sides." Wang Baobao's eyes sharpened. "Order the navy to divide 20,000 troops and set up defenses along the river, enough to hold off Xu Da for half a day. The remaining 30,000 will follow me to attack the city—we'll take Hongdu before Xu Da arrives!"
"promise!"
Upon hearing this, Huobi Ma immediately agreed and then raised his hand: "Beat the drum!"
The war drums sounded.
dong dong dong...
The charge is about to begin.
At this moment, on the city wall of Hongdu, Zhu Wen was supporting his body with a broken sword.
His left eye was burned by lime, obscuring his vision, and was wrapped with a strip of cloth. He had been shot in the right arm with an arrowhead still embedded in the bone, causing excruciating pain with every movement. The defending troops still standing behind him numbered less than eight thousand; after five days of fighting, more than half of them had been killed or wounded.
"Grand Commander, Wang Baobao's army is about to attack the city again," the guard's voice was hoarse.
Zhu Wenzheng looked at the river through his one eye, his expression solemn.
Wang Baobao's warships, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, were arrayed in formation.
This time, unlike before, they did not use the old method of filling in the moat, but instead linked dozens of ships together to form a pontoon bridge, which was then laid directly on the city wall.
This is to achieve a complete victory in one battle.
"Where is Uncle Xu?" Zhu Wenzheng asked.
"Sixty miles away, but Wang Baobao's army divided its forces to block them."
Zhu Wenzheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. He laughed so hard that he coughed up blood, but his laughter grew louder and louder: "Wang Baobao, you are too greedy. You want to attack the city and block reinforcements at the same time. Is there such a good thing in the world?"
"Moreover, with a mere 50,000 troops, dividing them to block reinforcements—who do you think you're blocking? It's Xu Da, the greatest general in the land! Haha..."
After laughing, he shouted with all his might at the remaining defenders:
"Brothers! Marshal Xu's reinforcements are just sixty li away! Let's hold out for two more hours—just two more hours! Let Wang Baobao see that the blood of the men of Hongdu hasn't run dry yet!"
His response was a scattered but resolute roar.
"Defend Hongdu to the death!"
"Defend Hongdu to the death!!"
Looking at the exhausted soldiers below, Zhu Wenzheng bowed to them and said, "I entrust Hongdu to you all. If we win this battle, you will be the greatest heroes; if we lose, we will still be heroes!"
Upon hearing Zhu Wenzheng's words, the soldiers picked up their weapons one by one, remaining silent as they watched Wang Baobao's army prepare to attack the city.
At the same moment, thirty miles upstream, Xu Da stood at the bow of the warship, looking at the array of Wang Baobao's warships stretching across the river ahead.
The 20,000-strong navy was arranged in three lines of defense, with ships linked by iron chains, clearly indicating their intention to hold out to the death.
"General, should we launch a full-scale attack or take a detour?" Yu Tonghai asked for instructions.
Xu Da did not answer, but raised his telescope to observe carefully.
After a moment, he put down his glasses: "Wang Baobao made a big mistake—he wanted to attack the city, but he was also afraid that I would attack from both sides, so he divided his troops to block me. But Wang Baobao's 20,000 troops were not determined to fight."
“How come you see?”
“Look at their formation.” Xu Da pointed to the center of the river. “The iron chains connecting the boats seem sturdy, but they are actually self-imposed. Once one part is breached, the entire defensive line will collapse. Order: The vanguard will use fire ships to clear the way and burn the joints of the iron chains. The central army will split into two groups and outflank them from the shallow waters on the east and west banks.”
"That main force..."
"The main force will follow me and strike straight at the center." Xu Da pressed his hand on his sword. "Wang Baobao wanted to test his skills against me, didn't he? Today, let him have his fill."
Once the military order was issued, Xu Da's naval forces moved with perfect ease.
Thirty fire ships sailed downstream, heading straight for Wang Baobao's army's iron chains.
Wang Baobao's army fired arrows to stop the fire ships, but the ships were covered with wet cowhide, making it difficult for the arrows to penetrate.
As they approached, the suicide bombers on board lit the gunpowder, and it exploded with a bang!
The iron chains snapped, creating a gap in Wang Baobao's naval formation.
Almost simultaneously, the sounds of battle erupted from both the east and west banks—Xu Dajun's speedboat burst forth from the reeds like two sharp knives, piercing straight into the flanks of Wang Baobao's army.
Wang Baobao's army was thrown into chaos.
Xu Da seized the opportunity, and his flagship "Whale Swallow" took the lead, driving the main force into the gap.
Wherever he went, Wang Baobao's army was like waves breaking apart – not because Xu Da was particularly brave, but because he always appeared at the most opportune moment and in the most crucial position.
Xu Dajun breached the ship formation, routed the central army, and captured and killed the enemy general.
Within half an hour, Wang Baobao's 20,000-strong naval force was routed.
"Full speed ahead, head straight for Hongdu!" Xu Da pointed his sword downstream.
At noon, beneath the walls of Hongdu.
Wang Baobao has already stormed the city walls.
He personally led the White Deer Army to scale the city walls, and wherever his scimitar passed, the defending soldiers fell like wheat being harvested.
Zhu Wenzheng was surrounded by three White Deer Army soldiers. His sword was broken, and he was fighting hand-to-hand. He was covered in blood and looked like a mad tiger.
"Zhu Wenzheng, surrender." Wang Baobao stood on the corpse of a garrison soldier, his voice icy: "I'll spare your body for the sake of you being a man."
Zhu Wenzheng spat out a mouthful of blood, grinned, revealing bloody teeth: "You can talk about that after you win the fight."
Wang Baobao frowned, just about to speak.
Suddenly, a deafening battle cry came from the river.
He turned around abruptly and saw a sight he would never forget.
On the upper reaches of the Gan River, hundreds of warships emerged from their caves like black dragons, sailing downstream.
The large banner bearing the character "Xu" fluttered like flames at the bow of the ship. On the lead ship, a general stood with his hand on his sword; it was none other than Xu Da.
At the same time, the Hongdu Water Gate suddenly opened.
More than thirty battered boats rushed out, carrying the last remaining able-bodied defenders.
They're not going to defend anymore; they're going to counterattack.
"Haha, reinforcements have arrived. Wang Baobao, your death is imminent."
Zhu Wenzheng laughed heartily, turned to look at the river and shouted:
"Uncle Xu! Your nephew has been waiting for you for a long time!"
Wang Baobao's expression finally changed.
He was careless. Zhu Wenzheng was holding firm and refusing to retreat, not out of stubbornness, but because he was waiting for Xu Da.
Xu Da's swift action was not due to impatience, but rather to his intention to encircle Zhu Wenzheng.
The two, one defending and the other attacking, one still and the other moving, cooperated perfectly.
"Retreat! The entire army retreats!" Wang Baobao ordered urgently.
But it was too late.
Xu Da's navy, like an iron hammer, smashed Wang Baobao's fleet from behind.
Zhu Wenzheng led his remaining troops like a sharp knife, piercing straight into the heart of Wang Baobao's army from the front.
Caught between two forces, Wang Baobao's fleet was squeezed into the narrow river, trampling each other in chaos.
The next hour became Wang Baobao's nightmare.
Xu Da was most adept at seizing opportunities in warfare.
Seeing that Wang Baobao's army was in disarray, he immediately divided his troops into several groups: one group cut off the retreat route, another group burned the grain ships, and the third group went straight for Wang Baobao's flagship.
Meanwhile, on the city wall, Zhu Wenzheng led the remaining few hundred defenders down the dock, seized several fast boats belonging to Wang Baobao's army, and charged left and right on the river, specifically targeting Wang Baobao's soldiers who had fallen into the water.
Wang Baobao watched helplessly as his fleet was divided, surrounded, and annihilated.
He saw a warship being rammed by Xu Da's arms ship, bursting into flames. The old soldiers from Hebei on board jumped into the river, still clinging tightly to the military flag.
He saw his personal guards riddled with arrows by Xu Da's army, their bodies hanging from the mast, swaying in the wind.
He saw the White Deer Army soldiers who had followed him for many years, jumping onto the enemy's side one by one to protect him as he broke through the encirclement, only to be pierced by Xu Da's spears and fall into the river.
"General, run! It'll be too late if we don't leave now!" Huobima roared as he slashed down an enemy soldier.
Wang Baobao took one last look at Hongdu City, at the corpses of his soldiers floating on the river, and at Zhu Wenzheng, who stood at the bow of the boat, his one eye stained with blood, yet laughing loudly.
"Xu Da, Xu Tiande!" he spat out the name through gritted teeth, then abruptly turned around. "Retreat!"
More than ten speedboats escorted Wang Baobao's flagship, fighting desperately to break through the encirclement and fleeing upstream in a panic.
Behind him, more than three hundred of Wang Baobao's warships either sank, burned, surrendered, or fled, resulting in the complete annihilation of the army.
On the Gan River, the setting sun bleeds like blood, reflecting the floating corpses, broken wood, and tattered flags scattered across the river.
Xu Da's flagship slowly approached Hongdu Wharf.
As he disembarked, he saw Zhu Wenzheng dragging a broken sword, limping towards him. Zhu Wenzheng reached him and grinned.
"Uncle Xu, I didn't let you down, did I?"
After saying that, he fell backward.
Xu Da rushed forward to support him, finding the man covered in wounds and barely breathing, yet a smile still lingered on his lips. He patted Zhu Wenzheng's blood-stained face and whispered:
"You didn't embarrass yourself. You did a great job."
Then he turned around and gave the order to the entire army:
"Leave 30,000 naval troops to defend Hongdu, the rest of you go after them and make sure that traitor Wang Baobao doesn't escape!"
"promise!"
Having said this, the 30,000-strong navy turned around and pursued Wang Baobao in the direction he had fled. Xu Da personally led the navy in pursuit, vowing to avenge the men of Hongdu! (End of Chapter)