Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 677 447: Demon

Zhu Qizhen donned the Emperor's Armor, with a Treasure Sword at his waist. His appearance was remarkably spirited, possessing a handsome visage.

"Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhen rushed to Zhu Qizhen with a joyful expression.

"What brings you here, Wang Dabian?"

Zhu Qizhen was puzzled. Although the Wala army had agreed to let the Great Ming withdraw troops, they still eyed them like tigers, not yet lifting their siege. No one could tell if these barbarians would cause trouble during the withdrawal. He had already discussed this with some of the civil and military officials.

Though withdrawing the troops was a risky move, remaining here until both men and horses were exhausted, leaving them too weak to fight, would make breaking out of the siege nearly impossible.

By moving the troops now, at least there was a significant chance to break through the siege and return to the Capital. Whether it was defending the city or relocating southwards, he would still be the Emperor. If he were to die or fall into Tatar captivity, he would lose everything.

So he didn't understand why Wang Zhen could laugh at such a critical moment.

"The women from the foreign delegation that the royal uncles had their eyes on have arrived."

Zhu Qizhen was startled. He had indeed once been very tempted by the women from the Kazakh delegation. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to keep the delegation by his side, disregarding propriety.

But now he merely wanted to know if the delegation had come along as well.

He immediately inquired, "What about the delegation? Has the Kazakh Prince's elite force come to support us?"

The Ming cavalry was weak. The previous battle at Yao'er Ridge had cost them tens of thousands of cavalry, causing Zhu Qizhen to lose all confidence in his cavalry.

To ensure his safety, he needed a capable cavalry for protection.

Even if he didn't understand military affairs, he could see the urgency of the situation. If he had this elite cavalry escorting him, even if the Wala turned hostile, he would have a chance to escape. Besides, that foreign envoy, Losa, was very brave and had always been respectful to him. By using a lot of gold and silver to win him over, it would be more reliable than the now half-defunct Jinyi Guard.

"Ah this..."

Wang Zhen hadn't expected that he pandered wrongly and quickly tried to cover up, "Though the foreign envoy hasn't arrived..."

"But hasn't Your Majesty forgotten these women from the Western Regions possess supernatural abilities as Qi Refiners? Now that the barbarian threat looms large, why not ask these women for a good strategy?"

Zhu Qizhen felt stirred.

"Could this work?"

He may have been a foolish ruler, but he didn't see himself as such. With the war imminent and those civil and military ministers already criticizing him, who knew how they would perceive it if he summoned witches into the tent?

Wang Zhen quickly said, "Your Majesty is merely seeking an effective strategy to defeat the enemy. If these foreign women truly possess divine powers, even if Your Majesty takes them into the palace, no one will dare to criticize."

Zhu Qizhen pondered for a moment and nodded, "Summon! Summon all the women of the Kazakh delegation to the palace!"

The call was passed down several times, but after a while, no one came to pay homage.

Zhu Qizhen gave Wang Zhen a glare. He hurriedly bowed his head and said, "Perhaps these foreign women are uncultured and do not understand etiquette. Please, Your Majesty..."

As he was speaking, a young eunuch rushed to the tent's entrance, wearing a grim expression, "Your Majesty, the women from the foreign delegation claim to have discovered the delegation's whereabouts. They are currently engaging with the Tatars and have seized several Imperial Horses before leaving the camp."

"Impudent!"

Wang Zhen was furious. These days, the entire court was accusing him of wielding power improperly, blaming him for the siege at Tumu Castle, and demanding that Zhu Qizhen execute him.

He finally managed to present "gifted women" as a merit, hoping Zhu Qizhen would remember his favor and protect him under pressure, yet the foreign envoys were so insolent!

They had a chance to enter the royal palace and rise from obscurity, but these foreign women did not cherish it!

However, Zhu Qizhen was pleased rather than angry, "Good, I knew the Kazakh envoys were loyal. Quickly, send scouts outside the camp. If the foreign envoy can draw away the main forces of the Wala, prepare for an immediate breakout!"

He had no intention of sending troops for support. Anyone under heaven could die, but he alone could not.

As for those beauties he once coveted.

As long as he lived, would he ever lack beautiful women?

...

Losa and his group, at this moment, were not far from Tumu Castle.

After defeating the troops of Arashiyuan, they acquired a large number of warhorses. Although these Tatar horses were not large, they had good endurance, enough to transform all Losa's infantry into mounted soldiers.

The Double-headed Eagle and the Cross Banner flew over this exotic realm.

Soon, they attracted many nomadic light cavalry who approached, shooting arrows to harass them.

The Woodland Archers, riding warhorses, quickly dismounted, stringing their longbows, almost as tall as a person, and easily shot down the attacking nomadic cavalry. The Woodland Archers could even pierce through heavily armored Armored Cavalry, let alone these Lightly Armored Archers.

For a while, the surrounding nomadic cavalry pulled back, not daring to approach easily.

"Get away, you bunch of cowardly wretches!"

A young man as strong as a giant bear, with black spots on his face, rode a horse almost as robust as an eclipse horse to the front.

Behind him was a group of fully armored Personal Guard, though their armor styles varied—Scale Armor, Zha Armor, Chain Armor, even Cloth Armor seized from Ming soldiers. They could be considered a group of Heavy Cavalry.

The Wala Tribe, in the Western Regions, was close to the Timur Country, ruled by Shahar Khan, who claimed to be the successor of the Chagatai Khanate with the bloodline of the Golden Family.

Although both Yexian Grandmaster and others knew well that this person, including that limping Timur's so-called Golden Family bloodline, was actually just a son-in-law of the Golden Family, the strength of the Timur Country was still acknowledged.

Previously, Timur died on the road attempting an Eastern Expedition to the Great Ming, causing his successor Shahar Khan to lose interest in the East.

Therefore, although the Wala and Timur countries had no formal diplomatic relations, private trade between them never ceased.

Taking advantage of commerce, trading Eastern textiles and ceramics to the West, in addition to many profit-driven Central Plains merchants smuggling large amounts of ironware, Yexian assembled an elite armored cavalry.

Beiluo looked at the man with the gold mask opposite him, showing no fear, and shouted, "See those Mongolians and other Central Asians? Their armor is beautiful. Now it belongs to us."

"Men, charge with me! Longevity Heaven will favor every hero and scorn every coward who shrinks from battle!"

With a roar, this Heavy Cavalry, coming from the front lines, charged toward the delegation without hesitation.

Losa remained unfazed, "Venezia, you and Kurs take a unit of Armored Cavalry to outflank the enemy from the sides."

Hans was seriously injured and needed time to recover, staying with the infantry formation. His Armored Lance was now in Venezia's hands.

After speaking, Losa waved his hand, and the Duke's New Spear appeared in his hand.

He raised his lance high, circling it above his head, giving the command. His cavalry immediately dispersed like distinct streams.

Among them, those charging at the forefront with Losa were still the Winged Cavalry who had followed him since his debut.

Over two hundred riders raised their red-lacquered Hollow Lances, lowered their visors, and, without blinking, initiated a countercharge with Losa.

Behind them, Monastic Knights, having removed their Horse Armor, leaving only Horse Clothing, their numbers numerous. Horse Armor was for enemy arrows; in a cavalry charge duel, it was a burden.

The two sides, like torrents, collided with a roar.

Losa's Duke's New Spear swept across; wherever it went, both men and horses were thrown. Even some fierce Tatar cavalry, with extraordinary power, were not his match in one round.

On both wings, the Armored Cavalry advanced like heavy battering rams, ignoring the harassing nomadic light cavalry, swinging Wolf Fang Clubs and Iron Maces to kill.

Beiluo was furious. These Mongolians and other Central Asian cavalry were so fierce that even his most trusted generals were easily slain. If this continued, would he have anyone left to use?

The bones inside him wriggled frantically, his flesh pierced and compressed with a terrifying sound.

Beiluo's face showed a strange smile; fangs protruded from his mouth.

They always said he tore a Great Demon apart with bare hands. In this world, who could do such a thing?

The truth was, the demon's life was ending, and it had to abandon its body to merge with him.

Come, taste the power of this North Sea Black Dragon!