The Ming army ordered the Zalantu tribe to dispatch a thousand troops to escort the captured Khorchin nobles and the wounded to Tuanshan Fort in Guangning.
At this point, the 15,000-strong Ming-Mongol coalition army was ready to set out for Nong'anta.
……………………
The main road was blocked, with trees and branches scattered all over the place, as well as stones covered with mud and small trees with tangled roots, stretching for dozens of meters.
If it were just these, it would be easy to deal with. However, it was the Ming army's musketeers lined up behind the obstacle that caused the Later Jin army to suddenly change their expressions and stop advancing.
The three associations in southern Liaoning dispatched 3,000 dragoons, took a shortcut and went in a straight line, and finally blocked the retreat of the Jiannu army at Tongyi (now Tongyi Township, Pulandian) before they fled eastward along the river.
Tongyi is a place with many mountains and little land, and is covered with dense forests. It is described as "eight parts mountains, half water, and half farmland." The terrain and topography were very advantageous for the Ming army to stop the Jiannu here.
Finding the road blocked, the Jiannu vanguard took a short rest and then began to move forward with their shields, hoping to clear the roadblocks, defeat the enemy in front of them, and open up a way to retreat to the north.
Following the sharp whistle, rows of muskets roared. Hundreds of Ming army musketeers blocking the road took turns firing, sending dense lead bullets fiercely towards the Jiannu.
Every roar of volleys brought casualties to the Jiannu army, and bursts of screams and wails were heard.
In the woods beside the road, several heavy muskets adjusted their muzzles, aimed at the Jiannu officers, and pulled the trigger.
Niulu'ezhen Yantu, who was roaring and screaming, had his head beaten into a rotten watermelon, with brain matter and blood splattering everywhere. It was very tragic and very spectacular.
Another officer was knocked to the ground, a heavy lead bullet hitting his chest, breaking his ribs and puncturing his lung.
Blood and bubbles continued to flow out of his mouth. He fell to the ground, breathing with difficulty, and would soon take his last breath.
Arrows flew through the air, and soldiers fell in the Ming army. Although sophisticated armor provided good protection, it was not omnipotent.
The dead and wounded were immediately dragged to safety at the rear, where they were bravely replaced by new soldiers.
The muzzles flashed with dazzling fire, and puffs of white smoke rose up, then quickly blew away. The black iron masks appeared before Jian Nu's eyes again, but no expression could be seen.
The bowstrings hummed, and dense arrows drew arcs and landed in the Ming army's formation.
Both sides suffered casualties, and with each difficult step the Jiannu advanced, they left behind many corpses and wounded soldiers. More and more blood covered the ground, and the earth gradually became saturated with it, and the blood gradually gathered in the potholes.
The Ming army seemed unable to withstand such casualties and retreated before the Later Jin army broke through all obstacles. As the sound of horse hooves faded away, the vanguard Jiannu breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it cost a considerable price, the mission as a vanguard was completed, although it was delayed for half an hour.
After clearing the obstacles and collecting the bodies of the wounded, the Jiannu mounted their horses again and set out. But after only a few miles, they saw the same scene ahead.
There were messy obstacles stretching for dozens of meters, and behind them were Ming army musketeers ready for battle.
Commander Mengkulu frowned, thinking that the Ming army's tactics were a bit strange, but as a vanguard, it was his responsibility to lead the way.
Moreover, the Ming army's resistance was not strong and resolute. If we change the route or take a longer detour, it would be too timid and cowardly.
With the experience from the last time, Mengkulu rearranged his troops and launched another attack.
Gunshots roared, arrows rained down, and the enemy and our side started another fierce battle.
The sound of gunfire in the distance could already be faintly heard, and the actual blocking position was nearing completion.
Zhang Dongrui looked into the distance in fear, and his digging movements became slower.
"Hurry up and dig, it will be done soon." A shadow fell on the trench, and then the Ming soldiers urged, "Once the fortifications are finished, you can go hide in the mountains."
Yes, we need to work faster. Zhang Dongrui thought of his parents and younger brother behind him and quickened his digging.
The fortifications were dug not only by the Ming army but also by civilians recruited from nearby villages. At this time, whether they were willing or not, they had to help the Ming army build fortifications.
Of course, it wasn't for nothing. Each person was rewarded with three silver coins, which could be collected after the battle. The most important thing was to escape the rule of the Later Jin Dynasty, return to the rule of the Ming Dynasty, and receive proper resettlement.
It was not possible to stop the Jiannu on the main road. The road could be blocked, but the Jiannu could still weave through the sloping woods beside the road, making it easy for them to engage in close combat with the Ming army.
Whether it was a fight in the woods or a hand-to-hand combat with the Jiannu who rushed onto the official road, it was not a good option for the Ming army, which was at a disadvantage in terms of manpower.
Therefore, Kong Youde chose this place with a river on the left and a mountain on the right as the place for a decisive battle.
In order to buy time, he sent out another thousand dragoons to set up repeated blocking in the front, which bought more than an hour to complete the construction of the main position.
Two wide but not too deep trenches blocked the way, and behind them were more regular breastwork trench fortifications. With such a defense system, the Ming army's musketeers would not only be protected by armor, but also their casualties would be greatly reduced.
"It's almost time." Kong Youde listened carefully to the faint sound of gunfire in the distance. In fact, he was calculating the time. He waved to the guards beside him and said, "Fire the signal cannon to make them retreat."
Although the fortifications were still a little short of that, the troops in front were dragging their feet and suffering casualties. Therefore, Kong Youde weighed the pros and cons and felt that the shortcoming was not worth the bloodshed.
The signal cannon was fired into the air and exploded; hundreds of Liao people hurriedly ran to the rear, and a thousand Ming soldiers who had been recuperating for a long time entered the position.
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