The Ming army looked formidable and imposing, and Zhu Xiong Ying didn't have many objections. It was better to leave matters like troop deployment to a veteran like Feng Sheng. Professional tasks should naturally be left to professionals.
Wu Mengyi was also directing his troops to form ranks, with both armies now arrayed in formation. It appeared that the North Korean army had slightly more troops, and they were a force with considerable combat capability.
However, the Ming army had better personnel and more advanced weaponry.
Zhu Xiong Ying frowned slightly. Both the Fushan Guard and the troops that came with him lacked cavalry. Moreover, the terrain here was mostly mountainous, lacking horse-breeding grounds. The horses produced here were relatively small and of average strength, hardly considered excellent warhorses.
Even though firearms have taken shape in recent years, cavalry is still the undisputed elite force in this era; they are the true gods of war.
Zhu Xiong Ying deliberately raised his general's flag at this moment, not only to boost morale but also to send a signal to the North Korean army, inviting them to attack him. He was a sitting duck; the North Korean soldiers probably understood the principle of 'capture the leader first'.
With a thousand Divine Machine Battalion soldiers by his side, and being part of the central army, he was heavily guarded. If they were to break through and he were captured, Zhu Xiong Ying would accept it. He naturally wouldn't say much about certain matters.
Chang Mao, mounted on his warhorse and wielding a long spear, stood solemnly on the left flank, his usual frivolous demeanor gone. He led eight hundred cavalrymen, a considerable force, all mounted on fine horses and well-trained, bearing the heavy responsibility of delivering the decisive blow.
The Ming Dynasty had a wide variety of bows and arrows, including the Kaiyuan bow, the Caoshao bow, the Caoba bow, and the Dashao bow, each with different draw weights. The Kaiyuan bow, commonly used by the border troops, was a representative of the soft bow type. Although its draw weight was generally average, it was still suitable for people with less arm strength.
Feng Sheng kept relaying orders, and the messengers kept waving flags.
Suddenly, a cannon boomed, and a hail of arrows filled the sky. Although the Korean soldiers were fairly skilled archers, they generally used light bows. Moreover, according to prior intelligence, many of these soldiers were using bronze arrowheads.
Screams and wails filled the air, but Zhu Xiong Ying remained calm, seemingly unaffected by the noise, and continued to watch the battlefield with composure.
'Bang,' 'Bang,' 'Bang'
At this moment, cannon fire rang out in succession, and several small bronze cannons opened fire, all aimed at the densely packed crowd. Most importantly, they were firing at the Korean cavalry, which was one of the Ming Dynasty's main advantages – their superior firearms.
Inevitably, muskets also opened fire at this time. The heavy muskets fired first, and amidst the swirling smoke, many North Korean soldiers fell or cried out in pain. Then, the lighter muskets also opened fire, causing some casualties as well.
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly, mainly because he now saw the trend of the Ming Dynasty defeating the Korean army in one battle, which was a common scene on the battlefield.
Many times a major battle lasts from morning till night. Sometimes, the battle has just begun and the war is basically over. What follows is usually the pursuit or the cleanup of the battlefield.
Despite his somewhat excited expression, Zhu Xiong Ying did not mention striking while the iron was hot or launching an immediate attack.
Ultimately, the key is to avoid making things too ugly. At this point, it's best to proceed step by step. If troops are dispatched rashly at this time, it could have far-reaching consequences. Zhu Xiong Ying would not do such a thing; that would be putting the cart before the horse.
There wasn't much of an earthquake, but suddenly the shouts of battle intensified. Chang Mao, the son of Chang Shiwan, led his cavalry in a fierce charge after receiving orders. As the left flank, they quickly rushed onto the battlefield, now tearing at the right flank of the Korean army.
Launching an attack from a high vantage point, the cavalry's speed and impact were on full display. The Korean army had no way to stop them with heavy infantry, and in their haste, they didn't even have time to deploy their limited cavalry to intercept them.
Despite his calm demeanor, Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but admire general Feng Sheng, who was not only skilled in troop deployment but also excellent at seizing opportunities.
Zhu Xiong Ying believed he had read many military books and had communicated with many generals. However, even so, Zhu Xiong Ying dared not say that he was confident enough to face Feng Sheng on the battlefield, nor could he say that he could keenly grasp the opponent's weaknesses.
This isn't just about experience; often, it also involves innate talent. Sometimes things are just unfair; talent can easily crush hard work.
With the outcome decided, Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but smile as he watched the North Korean army begin to show signs of defeat. Chang Mao, at this moment, was even more valiant and fearless; he was determined to lead his cavalry to break through the enemy lines and behead their commander!
The Shenji Battalion soldiers guarding Zhu Xiong Ying were probably eager to fight, but they were even more aware of their mission, and they did not leave Zhu Xiong Ying's side at this time. Protecting their commander was more important to them.
With a calm expression, Zhu Xiong Ying watched as the North Korean army's formation began to crumble. He smiled and said to Fu Rang, "Take five hundred men and pursue them!"
Fu Rang's expression was conflicted. He wanted to stay by Zhu Xiong Ying's side. But at this moment, he also thought that this was a rare opportunity, so he was naturally eager to try. Moreover, by Zhu Xiong Ying's side was Fu Jianu, the younger brother of the current Marquis of Shenyang, Cha Han, who could be considered one of the Crown Prince's core supporters and was therefore quite reliable.
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