Chapter 24: Single-handedly Holding Up the Sky

  This is an extremely selfish and self-serving ruling clique, the vast majority of whose members, for the benefit of this clique, do not hesitate to sell out national interests, do not hesitate to oppress the main ethnic group that makes up the majority of the country's population, and even do not hesitate to lose the country. "Measure China's material strength, win over the favor of powerful countries" and "Better to give away to friendly nations than to our own slaves" are slogans shouted out by this evil ruling clique.

  It is no longer necessary to count the numerous crimes and follies, Zhu Yongxing has already drawn a conclusion and made a decision. Today's struggle is not only for resisting tyranny and continuing the Chinese civilization but also for avoiding the humiliation that the country will suffer in a hundred years, for avoiding the people from experiencing another crisis of almost national subjugation and extinction, and for avoiding the tragic drama of countless people being slaughtered by the Erthol Island nation with blood flowing into rivers.

  "Hu Feng's southern expedition has ended, the grass is withered, and Wang has entered Yunnan. What fear is there in turning to fight on a thousand-mile road? With one hand, I want to hold up half of heaven." Zhu Yongxing gazed northward, his eyes deep and profound, his voice low and powerful. His emotions having reached this point, he naturally and effortlessly recited this poem he liked, making some slight modifications as he did so.

  It's both a heroic and tragic atmosphere. Although Mengzhu can't compose poetry, the poems have a lethal effect on her. Especially when recited by her lover, it makes the girl infatuated. Which girl doesn't hope that their crush is a great hero who dominates the world or a handsome and talented young man? The current Zhu Yongxing in her eyes is exactly the image she dreams of and thinks about every day.

  "Since ancient times, who has not died? Leave the red heart to shine on the blue sky." Mengzhu stared blankly for a while, then pressed Zhu Yongxing's palm against her face and said in a soft but exceptionally firm tone: "Your Highness has the ambition to hold up the sky with one hand, no matter how many dangers and difficulties there are, I am willing to follow you to life and death."

  The moonlight flowed like water, quietly pouring onto Meng Zhu's focused and sincere face, as if it had been washed in cow's milk, and seemed to be covered with a layer of gauze. The distance between the two people was very close, their skin touching, their breath intermingling, making one inevitably have wild thoughts.

  Zhu Yongxing's hand slowly moved, lightly sliding over Mengzhu's tender and smooth face. Mengzhu gazed at him, and when his hand was about to leave, she reached out and pressed that warm hand against her scorching cheek.

  When a woman's feelings for you have reached the point where she is ready to give herself to you, she will drop her shyness and all her guard, open her eyes wide, and gaze at you quietly. This is what people call "eyes that speak volumes of emotions". Professor Fast said that when a person sees something they are particularly interested in, their pupils will unconsciously dilate. Perhaps the reason why women open their eyes wide to gaze at the one they love is based on this principle.

  A sudden, urgent sound of horseshoes echoed from afar, breaking the gentle, rising emotions and the soft, intimate whispers. Zhu Yongxing hastily pulled Mengzhu down to crouch in the grass, fixing his gaze on the small path below the slope.

  Time was not long, two riders on horseback hastily passed by. Under the moonlight, it could be vaguely seen that the knights on the horses were wearing Burmese armor, but their helmets were askew and they looked very disheveled.

  "The plan has succeeded halfway." Zhu Yongxing was secretly delighted and whispered to Mengzhu.

  "Your Highness has thought of everything." Mengzhu flattered with a sentence, things were going according to Zhu Yongxing's plan, which could enhance Zhu Yongxing's prestige and also make her gain face in front of her clansmen.

  "Better than Zhuge Liang?" Zhu Yongxing teased, seeing the knight had already ridden far away. He stood up from the grass, gazing into the distance with a hint of cold smile on his face.

  The Mangshan Ke clan was divided into five camps by the Manmo Tufu, with Siwei's camp responsible for dealing with the Mianpai tusi and his entourage of Mian soldiers. The female leader Zong led the four camps to attack the Manmo Tufu. Zhu Yongxing suggested that the road between the Manmo Tufu and the Mian Pass should not be blocked too tightly, it would be best to let the messengers sent by the Manmo Tufu pass through, so as to facilitate the implementation of the subsequent ambush plan.

  Of course, if the barbarian Mo Tu Fu did not send an envoy, or the envoy was intercepted on the way, then they could only adopt a flexible strategy and send someone disguised as an envoy to seek help. However, doing so would risk being questioned and checked, and revealing their flaws.

  Now that the genuine distress signal has been sent, reinforcements from Mian Guan will definitely arrive. If the ambush is successful, it will not only weaken the defensive strength of Mian Guan but also lay the foundation for the next step in the plan.

  This is a closely linked military plan, the Mangshan Miao people are brave and fierce, but they are individual physical strength and skills. As for the real meaning of the army's killing array, as well as Zhu Yongxing's delicate and subtle thinking, it is obviously unfamiliar and fresh, and no one in the tribe has such skills.

  By midnight, the female leader Xiang led more than 1,500 people to arrive here first and immediately began a tense deployment.

  "The Manmo Tufa has been taken, Nu Xiong and Luo Bu Zhai are gathering supplies and eliminating the remaining soldiers." Cang was wearing a Burmese helmet with dried blood still on it, looking fierce, "I brought the young and strong from our camp to come over first, I estimate that in another hour or so, Nu Xiong will also arrive with his main force."

  Time should be enough. Zhu Yongxing secretly calculated that if the reinforcements sent by Mian Guan set out immediately after receiving the news, it would take more than two hours to arrive here. The probability of Mian Guan's 3,000-strong garrison making a full-scale attack is unlikely, and the probability of sending out 2,000 people is the highest. Even if all the enemies of Mian Guan were to launch an attack, from the perspective of numbers, the Mengshan Ke clan would have the upper hand, let alone an ambush!

  "There should be more people at the turning point, blocking the Burmese soldiers' retreat route, so that not a single one can escape to report back." Zhu Yongxing pointed out the key area of this ambush based on his observation of the terrain.

  "Then let me lead the warriors of our tribe to guard it!" Xiang accepted Zhu Yongxing's suggestion without hesitation and volunteered to take on this task.

  "When attacking the barbarian Mo Tu Fu, can we capture firearms and gunpowder?" Zhu Yongxing asked with some expectation. He had previously discussed this matter with Yan.

  "There are roughly a hundred or so firearms, and over a hundred catties of gunpowder." Zan Yu reported truthfully, but his face showed some disdain. "Those things fire too slowly, they're not as useful as our own catapults. The Burmese firearm troops were defeated by our warriors and fled in all directions."

  The fire lance is slow to shoot, and the Burmese soldiers are not well-trained, so they may not be using it properly. Zhu Yongxing smiled faintly, now explaining the correct use of the fire lance to Zong is still too early, and there's no need for that. Although Zong and many others don't understand, Zhu Yongxing, who has advanced knowledge, will naturally pay more attention to firearms, cannons and other hot weapons, after all, that's where history is heading.

  As for gunpowder, apart from being used in firearms, Zhu Yuxiang also came up with a simple and easy-to-make weapon, although it was relatively primitive, but also very practical.