Chapter 887: The Ambush
At the very moment Cao Wenzhao's army surged into Luanma Ravine.
Five li to the northwest, beneath the reconnaissance hot air balloon, Henan Governor Fan Shangzheng and militia instructor Bai Yuan were leading their forces forward.
Unlike Cao Wenzhao, they hadn't tethered their hot air balloon to a tree. Instead, after determining the ideal altitude, a squad of soldiers held the thick rope, tugging it periodically, allowing the balloon to drift gently forward with the marching troops.
Of course, this method came with its own minor inconveniences. For instance, when winds grew strong at higher altitudes, the soldiers on the ground had to strain considerably to hold the balloon, preventing it from being swept away.
They also dared not enter dense forests, lest the thick rope snagged on branches.
All in all, myriad inconveniences arose!
Still, it was invaluable experience for everyone on how to operate the hot air balloons. This feedback, once relayed back to Gao Family Village, would allow the scientists to refine their designs for even greater perfection.
As they continued their march, a bamboo tube suddenly slid down the thick rope.
The soldier gripping the rope quickly brought the bamboo tube to Bai Yuan.
Bai Yuan countered, "General Cao, though sometimes missing the finer points, is a renowned commander of his age. He couldn't possibly make such an obvious mistake. He saw the enemy's ambush. Why would he still charge? There has to be a reason."
Fan Shangzheng mused, "Perhaps he simply couldn't abandon his allies? Determined to save them, even at the cost of his own life?"
Bai Yuan shook his head. "Unlikely, highly unlikely! A good general doesn't knowingly rush to his death."
Two seconds later, Bai Yuan's eyes brightened. "General Cao also launched a hot air balloon, and his is quite high. Look over there... that black speck in the sky..."
Fan Shangzheng followed his gaze. "Yes, I see it."
Bai Yuan explained, "He knows we're five li to his northwest. After he engages the enemy, we'll arrive in about half an hour."
Fan Shangzheng suddenly grasped it. "General Cao knew we were here, which is why he dared to charge into that ambush! Heavens! If we don't help him, he'll be..."
Bai Yuan let out a soft sigh. "He's very bold, and perhaps a little too trusting. If we don't follow, he really will be jumping into a bottomless pit."
With that, Bai Yuan turned to Fan Shangzheng. "Governor, shall we go?"
It was a truly soul-searching question.
Fan Shangzheng became instantly indecisive. When they first set out, he'd thought the rebel army would be easy pickings. But now, hearing that three ranking Ming generals were surrounded by the bandits, who even dug a trap to lure Cao Wenzhao in, it was clear these rebels were no longer to be underestimated.
These were certainly not the same naive, foolish bandits of years past!
They were a force of fearsome warriors!
He glanced back at the Henan garrison troops trailing behind him...
Well, *they* were the truly "adorable" ones.
Fan Shangzheng stammered, "This official... um... ah... *cough*... we should still go. Although it's a bit... dangerous... how could we abandon them to their fate? Master Bai, you'll join us, won't you?"
Bai Yuan smiled. The governor was clearly losing his nerve.
Still, he hadn't immediately refused, which was something. He was far better than Yuan Yingtai, the Liaodong Governor during the Battle of Hun River. That man had been so terrified that he just declared, "What's the point of helping? We can't defeat the Jurchens anyway," and then simply watched with the Guanning Iron Cavalry.
"Since the Governor says we must go, then go we shall," Bai Yuan declared. "This is an excellent opportunity to deal a heavy blow to the rebels."
The entire army quickly sped up its advance...
Soon, they reached the spot where Cao Wenzhao had previously camped. There, a hot air balloon was slowly descending. The scout in the sky had finally managed to cool the gas within the balloon enough to make his descent.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Bai Yuan's men swarmed around him with a clamor, startling the scout into a yelp. It wasn't until he recognized them as allies that he let out a sigh of relief, urgently exclaiming, "General Cao has charged into the rebel ambush! Please, quickly go rescue him!"
"Don't worry, we're already on our way," Bai Yuan chuckled. "And if you wouldn't mind, we'd appreciate it if you went up once more and continued scouting for us."
The scout stammered, "Huh? Wait! Don't just leave me here alone again!"
Of course, they wouldn't abandon him again. They untethered his hot air balloon from the tree, the soldiers gripping its thick rope. Then they sent him back up, and the sight of two hot air balloons now being pulled forward by the running troops became a unique spectacle.
In Luanma Ravine...
The three Ming divisions surrounded by the rebel army were finished.
Vanguard General Liu Honglie was captured alive by the rebels, while Deputy Generals Ai Wannian and Liu Guozhen fell in battle.
Deputy General Liu Chenggong and Guerrilla General Wang Xi tried to lead their shattered remnants of soldiers in a desperate breakout...
But this trap had been set specifically to annihilate them; breaking out wouldn't be so easy.
Rebel arrows rained down upon them.
Liu Chenggong and Wang Xi were instantly struck by several arrows, gravely wounded, and realized escape was impossible.
Just at that moment...
From a distant ravine, a chorus of shouts and battle cries erupted: the Guanning Iron Cavalry had arrived.
Cao Bianjiao, leading the cavalry, spearheading the charge into Luanma Ravine, with Cao Wenzhao following with the infantry. The Guanning Iron Cavalry, well-equipped and fierce in combat, were no match for the rebels. They quickly tore a gaping hole in the enemy's lines.
Cao Bianjiao, leaping onto his horse and leveling his spear, charged to Liu Chenggong and Wang Xi's side. "How gravely are you wounded?" he demanded.
Both men, struck by multiple arrows and severely injured, could only respond in weak voices, "Not... too good..."
"Damn it, let's fight our way out!" Cao Bianjiao roared, reining in his horse and preparing to lead the two injured generals through the encirclement once more.
Cao Wenzhao's infantry unit also rushed forward to provide support.
"Hahahaha! We've been waiting for you," a roar of laughter echoed from the hillside. The Dashing General, personally leading his Old Eighth Squad, peered out from the slope.
"Fire! Fire!" he commanded.
Arrows rained down from the hillside.
Cao Wenzhao's mind reeled for a moment, and then he heard the screams of his subordinates around him, countless men struck by arrows.
His personal guards, wielding shields, rushed forward to encircle and protect Cao Wenzhao.
Cao Wenzhao looked up at the slope, a grim realization dawning in his heart. The hillside was impossibly steep; his soldiers would never be able to climb it. They could only endure the barrage of arrows passively. Retreating the way they came was their only option.
Cao Wenzhao gritted his teeth. "Hold the line! Hold the line! Retreat from the valley!"
Then another roar echoed from their rear. From the path leading into the ravine, the rebel army's shouts thundered: "The Chuang Wang has arrived! Cao Wenzhao, prepare to die!"
"Cao Wenzhao, we're settling the old scores for our brother Wang Jiayin right here, right now!"
"Don't think we still fear your Guanning Iron Cavalry!"
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of it! Never underestimate the poor! We no longer fear you, Cao Wenzhao!"
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