Outside the north gate of Chengtian Prefecture, Qin Liangyu rode her horse and looked into the distance with a gun in hand.

The Dashun Army in the distance was mobilizing.

They were divided into three armies: left, center and right. The left and right wings had relatively more people, totaling 30,000.

The central army had fewer people, but still numbered over 10,000.

Judging from their appearance and equipment, the two wings are ordinary troops, and the central army is the elite among the elite.

"Grandma, Li Chuang's army has 40,000 soldiers. We..." Ma Wannian stood beside Qin Liangyu, feeling a little worried.

Qin Liangyu showed no fear: "Remember this: it is not the number of soldiers that counts, but their quality; it is not the bravery of a general that counts, but their strategy."

"Yes, grandma. I'll remember that." Ma Wannian retracted his gaze and spoke respectfully to Qin Liangyu.

After educating Ma Wanhou, Qin Liangyu looked to her side.

Standing next to her were the elite Sichuan Army: the White Spear Soldiers.

Although this White Spear Army was formed only a little over a year ago, it fought dozens of battles, large and small.

Can be said to be experienced.

Unfortunately, she only had 10,000 white-pole soldiers.

The enemy's military strength is four times hers, and it is not easy to defeat the enemy head-on.

"Qin Zuoming and Qin Zuoming, listen to my orders." Qin Liangyu began to issue military orders.

"I am here." Qin Zuoming and Qin Zuoming stood up at the same time.

The two of them were the sons of Qin Minping, who was the younger brother of Qin Liangyu. He died in the She'an Rebellion in the fourth year of the Tianqi reign.

In history, many relatives of Qin Liangyu died on the battlefield. (Her husband Ma Qiancheng was framed by eunuchs and died of illness in prison in the 41st year of Wanli)

First, her brothers Qin Bangping and Qin Banghan died in the Battle of Hunhe in the first year of Taichang.

His younger brother Qin Minping died in the She'an Rebellion.

His son Ma Xianglin died in battle in Xiangyang in the 15th year of Chongzhen.

His daughter-in-law Zhang Fengyi died in battle in Houjiazhuang, Henan in the sixth year of Chongzhen.

His nephew Qin Gongming died in the Shapu Rebellion.

Qin Liangyu looked at her two nephews and felt a little relieved.

With them charging ahead, this Sichuan Army will not be defeated.

Qin Liangyu said to them, "I order you two to lead 10,000 elite troops to hold off the enemy in the north of the city. Remember, after winning a battle, you must not pursue the victory."

Qin Zuoming looked around and asked in a low voice: "What if we lose the battle?"

Qin Liangyu glared at him and said in a cold voice: "Behind you is the moat. After the battle, I will order the city gates to be closed."

"You either fight to the death or surrender as soon as possible."

Qin Zuoming instantly became serious and assured Qin Liangyu: "Don't worry, aunt, the Sichuan soldiers will only die on the battlefield and will never surrender."

"Okay!" Qin Liangyu nodded and turned back to the city with hundreds of personal soldiers.

After returning to the city, she did not stop, but went straight to the South Gate.

That is the main battlefield today.

The 10,000 elite White Spear Soldiers in the north of the city can definitely stop Li Zicheng.

The situation in the south of the city is not necessarily the same.

Although there are also 10,000 Ming troops here, their personnel quality and equipment are much inferior to those of the White Spear Soldiers.

What's even more terrifying is.

The 10,000-strong Ming army was composed of four groups of troops: Fan Yiheng, Ma Yingshi, Jia Liandeng and Yang Weidong.

Not only did they lack tacit understanding with each other, but they also lacked much trust in each other.

When the battlefield becomes a fierce battle, if someone flees first, the entire army will be defeated.

This is also the reason why Qin Liangyu was worried.

After arriving at the South Gate, Qin Liangyu did not leave the city immediately, but climbed up the gate tower to meet Zhang Xianzhong's army.

From afar, one could see tens of thousands of Dashi Army soldiers standing under the flags, rubbing their hands in preparation for battle.

Qin Liangyu roughly counted and found that Zhang Xianzhong's troops were as high as 30,000!

The total number of troops Zhang and Li besieged the city was as high as 70,000, while she only had 30,000.

He was troubled by how to win this battle.

Zhang Xianzhong, who was several miles away, held a telescope in his hand and carefully observed the Ming army's formation.

After confirming that the enemy was not the White Spear Army, Zhang Xianzhong waved his right hand and said, "Send a message to Liu Wenxiu on the right wing, and order him to attack."

"Yes, sir." The messenger quickly passed on the military order.

With a bang, the signal cannon spewed out a tongue of fire and deafening cannon sound came from the center of the army.

The commanders and heralds on the left and right wings looked towards the center of the army at the same time.

Then the flag was waved.

Liu Wenxiu on the right wing received the signal and led 8,000 infantrymen to move slowly forward.

On the left wing of the Ming army were the 5,000 soldiers led by Fan Yiheng and Ma Yingshi. The two sides met amid bursts of artillery fire.

The artillery fired first, followed by the muskets, fire guns and bows and arrows.

Since both sides had tanks in front of them as cover, the casualties caused by long-range firearms were not great.

After several rounds, the two sides were less than ten steps apart.

"Throw a grenade!"

"Throw a grenade!"

The generals on both sides gave orders almost at the same time.

One by one, the grenades with lit fuses were thrown into the air, and then flew along a parabolic trajectory to the crowd behind the enemy battlefield and exploded.

After the thick smoke, the soldiers fell to the ground.

The soldiers of the Dashi Army who had not fallen quickly crawled out from the gaps in the chariots, rushed towards the Ming army formation, and tried to engage in close combat.

However, the Ming army did not give them a chance and forced the enemy back with their spears.

Even if some escaped and rushed into the Ming army, they would be hacked to death by the swordsmen who had recovered their composure.

After several consecutive charges, the Dashi Army achieved little success and had to retreat temporarily for rest.

Zhang Xianzhong continued to give orders: "Send a message to Ai Nengqi on the left wing and order him to attack."

After receiving the military order, Ai Nengqi led 8,000 infantrymen to charge towards the right wing of the Ming army without any hesitation.

The Ming army still used the old method to defeat the enemy and did not give Zhang Xianzhong any chance.

The two sides fought from morning until noon, and Zhang Xianzhong was forced to retreat as he saw that he was unable to break through the Ming army's defense line.

The battle in the north of the city was also coming to an end.

Li Zicheng used the tactic of exchanging lives for lives, and successfully consumed hundreds of elite White Spear Soldiers with three times the number of cannon fodder.

After withdrawing his troops, Li Zicheng immediately summoned all his generals to discuss matters.

Before they approached the central army tent, two messengers with command flags on their backs came running from a distance.

The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves flew up more than a meter high as they galloped through the camp.

"Report!" They dismounted without waiting for their horses to stop.

"Your Majesty, the Nanyang Ming army garrison commanders Tan Hong and Tan Yi surrendered without a fight, and their 8,000 soldiers and horses have now been deployed to the command of Mr. Li and Lady Hong."

Li Zicheng was stunned at first, then overjoyed: "Great, it's great to surrender."

"Hurry up and send a message to Mr. Li, asking him to march south immediately to besiege Xiangyang."

The two messengers looked at each other and said, "In reply to the emperor, Mr. Li asked us to inform the emperor that he has led his troops from Nanyang to Xiangyang. According to the time, he has arrived outside Xiangyang city."

"At the same time, he also suggested that the emperor only leave a part of the troops in Xiangyang to contain the Ming army in the city, and transfer all the remaining troops to Chengtianfu to besiege Qin Liangyu."