novelraw Chapter 679 449: The Battle of Yuan and Ming (Long Live the Laboring People)
Chapter 679 449: The Battle of Yuan and Ming (Long Live the Laboring People)
The system prompt sounded:
You killed an unknown Dragon Species (experience not counted in battle record).
Due to attribute conflict, you can absorb the other's talent: Ice Dragon Vein to replace all Fire Dragon Traits within yourself.
You can also choose to forsake absorbing the other's talent, and convert the gain into nourishment to enhance basic attributes.
His Fire Dragon Traits are a fusion monster, comprising the traits of Tyrannical Dragon, Karelian Fire Dragon, Breath of the Giant Dragon, King of Volcanoes, and Karelian Dragon Flame.
This snake monster's strength is somewhere between the Tyrannical Dragon and Karelian Fire Dragon, as evidenced in the battle, the strength of this snake monster's dragon breath is not comparable to his.
So, of course, he won't replace it.
A surge of power rose from within, Losa glanced over his panel and found both Physical Strength and Power attributes increased by ten points.
The snake monster's corpse at the giant dragon's feet instantly turned into a desiccated corpse as if it had been placed there for centuries; the touch underfoot suddenly softened, and the snake monster's head was crushed into powder by the giant dragon's foot, along with its body, turning into flying ash without leaving a single scale.
What's going on?
Losa was a bit puzzled; although he couldn't take the snake monster's corpse back from the battle record world and it was useless to leave it, normally, even if he absorbed the essence of the hunted giant dragon, the entire body shouldn't turn into flying ash.
He hadn't considered that this snake monster essentially had some similarity to him. Both could temporarily transform from human to giant dragon form, just that the form was not lasting.
When the flame gradually extinguished, the giant dragon with black scales and black wings had already disappeared.
The flying ashes were like gray snow falling all over.
The sound of hoofbeats rang out.
The man rode on the back of a giant unicorn horse, golden light reassembling into a magnificent Holy Cross Plate Armor on his body.
"Long live!"
"God bless!"
Cheering erupted.
Losa removed the golden mask and came to the front of the formation, looking at the terrified faces of the retreating Tatar Cavalry.
They receded like a tide, unable to muster any fighting spirit.
Losa did not order a pursuit; these soldiers had a trace of snake monster blood in their bodies, and since he absorbed the bloodline power, as long as he unleashed Dragon Mighty, they would never have the courage to face him again if encountered on the battlefield.
Exhibiting Dragon Transformation to kill this snake monster didn't consume much for him.
Unlike before, using a Holy Spear and a Dragon Flame exhausted him to the point of dizziness, wishing to stay in bed for several days to recover.
His current strength, though still a Five-Star template, accumulating so many special abilities, even in the system's evaluation he would belong to the strong combat force of the Six-star category.
Hans had come to Venezia's side at some unknown time.
"Our master has such power now..."
Initially, Losa's power wasn't much stronger than when he was just a One-Star Attendant, merely a slightly formidable mortal.
Later, with the acquisition of the Wolf Race bloodline, his strength swiftly soared, becoming a fierce soldier under the master, although this period didn't last long.
"Venezia, see Charles over there, he has just recently received the power bestowed by our master. Once he becomes familiar with his power, how many rounds can you and I spar with him?"
"Probably not many rounds."
Venezia was staring straight at the knight riding on the giant horse afar, with inexplicable expression: "If it's such power, it was no surprise the master could annihilate an entire clearance squad and take down two Wolf Race Inner Guards back then."
Originally, he was an arrogant fellow, although respectful towards Losa, he never had any awe.
Now it's different.
Instead, there was a faint sense of solitude, as if abandoned by the era, feeling unfulfilled.
Golden brilliance descended on the earth, transforming into a Knight of Radiance clad in Silver Armor.
She looked around and sniffed: "We seem to be late."
Losa smiled: "Heroes always arrive fashionably late."
"After sensing your aura, we came as swiftly as we could."
The silhouette of Cherinita suddenly appeared behind Jeanne; she exchanged a glance with Losa, hurriedly shifting her gaze, struggling to conceal the emotions in her eyes.
Jeanne patted Losa on the shoulder, very gratified: "Now indeed impressive, the aura left behind by this guy is not weak, you solved it in just this short while?"
"Dragon Transformation is, after all, my trump skill."
"Tch, wasn't your trump skill supposed to be borrowing my Holy Spear?"
Losa laughed and said: "Indeed, but this time's enemy, though seemed quite like a demon, was a genuine Dragon Species, and the Holy Spear has no restraining effect on it."
"You came from Tumu Castle? How's the situation over there?"
"Seems like it's about to start fighting."
Losa turned to look back.
Hidden among the vehicle encampment, the Ming Country soldiers were already terrified, completely unable to distinguish friend from foe, who was demon, who was ally.
These supply carts are the so-called Wu Gang Vehicles, with four wheels, covered, and shooting holes. They can be used for transporting weapons, provisions, and other supplies, and can also be used to build cart barricades, which are crucial weapons for the Ming army against Nomadic Cavalry.
…
Tumu Castle.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar cavalry is charging!"
Wang Zhen looked at the Tatar allied forces surrounding from all directions, feeling somewhat terrified.
The Tatar allied forces are not all cavalry.
The light infantry summoned from vassal states like Jurchen also make up a considerable portion, but the number of troops is still overwhelming, seeming endless as far as the eye can see, as if the entire mountains and plains are filled with enemies.
"Fire!"
The Ming army ignited the match cords, and the firearms burst into a roar.
Flames spewed from the muzzles, and smoke rose to form a thick fog over the Ming ranks.
Yet amidst the roar of firearms, both the Ming army and Tatar cavalry cried out in agony.
Although only a dozen or so were hit, even if they wore heavy armor, they were still easily pierced by the lead bullets.
Many lead bullets didn't stop at penetrating one person, even the mounts behind them.
After the first row of the Ming army fired, they immediately handed the firearms to the soldiers behind and took a rod already filled with lead pellets.
Originally, there should have been cavalry ready behind the gunners, to charge after the gunners shredded the enemy's formation with volleys,
but unfortunately, most of the Ming army had already lost the will to fight.
With the number of firearms equipped by the Ming army, they could have formed more square formations.
But due to continuous freezing rain these days, coupled with previous poor storage of gunpowder and firearms, or simply outdated craftsmanship, they couldn't fire at all.
It's already remarkable to achieve such an effect.
Esun Khan had a cold smile on his face; over the years, countless wars have erupted between the Ming and Yuan Courts, often ending in defeat for the Yuan Court. Even if they achieved a few victories locally, it didn't change the strength gap between the two countries.
But today, everything will be rewritten.
His gaze was fixed on the Ming army's crowd, the red, white, yellow, black, and green five Great Banners standing tall, representing the Innate Five Directions Banner, a symbol of the Ming Court's Five Armies Commander Office, all coming together, representing the Emperor's retinue.
"The Southern Dynasty's troops are already exhausted; send the warriors of the Mahar Tribe to prepare to strike, capture the Southern Dynasty Emperor alive, and present him under our Great Banner."
The Great Banner refers to the command flag, and Esun Khan's Great Banner is made from white yak tails, with the top shaped like a trident. If it were the Tatar Khan, he would erect nine Great Banners.
With Esun Khan's order given, a group of cavalry accompanied by hounds larger than the wolves of the grasslands charged out, making strange cries mixed with barking.
Their equipment
also included arrows made of refined iron, all acquired from Ming Country merchants or procured from Timur Country and the Mahar.
"Indeed, the Tatar bandits cannot be trusted!"
Wang Zhen was furious; he secretly ran a business selling salt, iron, and tea to the grasslands, and counted many chieftains of the Wala Tribe as acquaintances. When Esun Khan suggested peace talks earlier, he nearly believed it.
After all, the Tatar bandits were greedy and only craved wealth. Letting them return without needing to wield weapons and receiving Ming Court's generous gifts seemed ideal.
Zhu Qizhen glared at Wang Zhen fiercely.
"General Fan,"
Guard General Fan Zhong answered quietly: "Your Majesty need not worry. Before we all perish, not a single Tatar bandit will cross our defense line."
Zhu Qizhen opened his mouth, sighed deeply.
He wasn't familiar with these imperial guard troops; as Emperor, he should conduct roll call every day, patrol the army, but after ascending to the throne, he dismissed this ritual. He vaguely understood that the Capital Camp's combat power dwindled to its current state likely related to this.
By now, the front line was already on the verge of collapse.
Many Ming troops had scattered, fleeing in all directions, hoping to find a path to survival, but could two legs outrun four?
Some aspirational individuals tried to stop and organize resistance, only to quickly be shot down and hacked to the ground by Tatar cavalry.
He knew full well that this battle was indeed critical.
He dismounted, sat facing south, and with a clang, drew the sword at his waist.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
Wang Zhen was panicked,
Zhu Qizhen was silent for a moment, then
according to the Zhu family's tradition
but he truly didn't want to do it.
He was the Emperor, the supreme ruler, the most noble person under the heavens. As long as he could return alive, endless glory awaited, but falling into the hands of the Tatar bandits, what kind of humiliation would this supreme ruler face?
If Esun Khan wanted him to be like the two emperors of Hui and Qin, stripped naked and cloaked in sheepskin, dragged back to the grasslands, could he bear it?
His fingers trembled slightly.