This question was one he would not live to understand.
For five tanks had already bypassed Huang Taiji’s men and stopped on their path forward, their dark cannons aimed directly at them!
Dorgon, before the battle, had already retreated with the remnants of his Bordered White Banner back to Shengjing.
To avoid delaying their retreat, Fan Wencheng, Shang Kexi, Kong Youde, Geng Jingzhong, and other surrendered officials had all been left behind in Yizhou City.
But even so, their escape route was blocked!
Surrender and live!
Surrender and live!
Surrender and live!
Amidst the sound of hooves and the shouts of surrender, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen, following Wang Xuance’s instructions, took their personal guards and flanked them from both sides.
Their two units, coordinating with the tanks, surrounded Huang Taiji and his men.
Meanwhile, Wang Xuance, with over a dozen special forces soldiers, leisurely blocked Huang Taiji’s rear.
Huang Taiji was surrounded!
Your Majesty, what should we do!
Dai Shan asked with concern from the side, though his mind had already made a decision.
What else can we do?
Huang Taiji seemed to have seen through his thoughts, turning his head to stare at him expressionlessly and retort.
Then, with a great shout, he declared, “Follow me and break out! Return to Shengjing, and every man shall be promoted three ranks!”
“Kill!”
The first to charge out were his personal guards. Those formidable cavalrymen, unwilling to charge the tanks, focused their breakthrough on Cao Bianjiao’s direction.
In open-field battles, the Manchus had always disdained the Ming cavalry, their only memorable encounter being with Wu Sangui’s Guanning Iron Cavalry.
But these men opposite were clearly not them.
Seeing the enemy choose to break through from his side, Cao Bianjiao, rather than being alarmed, smiled and excitedly said to his men.
“Brothers, let them see that the Liaodong Army is not the only one who can face them head-on!”
With that, he spurred his horse and charged towards the enemy, brandishing his saber.
“Long live the Great Ming!”
His guards behind him, equally excited, roared in unison and followed, protecting Cao Bianjiao in their midst.
Despite the enjoyable battles over the past few days, they had not had a chance to be the main force.
Now, among the enemy forces before them, there were likely high-ranking Manchus. Capturing any one of them could ensure their families prospered for generations. If not now, then when would they fight with all their might?
“Boss? Should we help them?”
A soldier asked Wang Xuance, pointing at Cao Bianjiao.
“No need. Since the Duke said he and Wang Tingchen are renowned generals, then leave this opportunity for merit to them!”
“By the way, send someone back to notify Zu Dashou and those few commanding generals to come and watch the battle.”
“So that when Cao Bianjiao claims this merit, they won’t object.”
A special forces soldier nodded, then spurred his horse back towards Yizhou City.
As they spoke, Huang Taiji’s personal guards met Cao Bianjiao’s contingent head-on.
“Kill the Tartars!”
The moment the guards clashed with Huang Taiji’s personal guards, they let out a unified roar.
The already demoralized Imperial Guards of the Bordered Yellow Banner were startled and lost focus. The next instant, they were met with the Ming army’s standard spears thrusting from the side.
*Thwack, thwack, thwack~*
The sound of spearheads entering flesh was muffled. The moment they struck the enemy, the guards let go of their spears, otherwise, the powerful impact would have broken their arms.
Immediately after, the horses of both sides collided.
*Boom~~*
*Neigh~~*
The sounds of collision and the horses’ screams echoed through the crowd.
Both sides had men thrown from their horses, only to be trampled by the cavalry behind them.
However, Cao Bianjiao had long been mentally prepared for such losses. He knew Wang Xuance and his men were observing from the sidelines, but he held no resentment.
Relying on others was not as good as relying on oneself. They could help him for a moment, but not for a lifetime!
As Yuan Chonghuan had said, the people of Liaodong defend Liaodong; the Great Ming, in the end, must be defended by the people of the Ming!
“Kill the Tartars!”
Cao Bianjiao’s saber, having felled the man in front of him, swiftly moved towards another target.
But then, he inadvertently saw that one person in the crowd had a golden dragon pattern embroidered on his collar!
“Huang Taiji is there! Capture Huang Taiji alive!”
“Kill!”
The guards on both sides were invigorated by the shout. Huang Taiji, the Emperor of the Manchus!
Capturing him would mean a promotion of several ranks for anyone!
“Capture Huang Taiji alive!”
They roared in unison, coordinating with Cao Bianjiao and charging towards Huang Taiji.
And as the two sides clashed, Wang Tingchen also issued his command.
“Brothers, kill the Tartars!”
The rumbling sound of hooves arose as they attacked Huang Taiji from the other side.
Thus, the battlefield situation became: Cao Bianjiao, with his two hundred guards, charging head-on against Huang Taiji’s five hundred elite cavalry.
And Wang Tingchen, with his over a hundred guards, attacking Huang Taiji from the rear.
The shouts of “Capture Huang Taiji alive!” from Cao Bianjiao’s two hundred men were clearly heard by Wang Tingchen’s men.
So, at the same time, they adjusted their attack direction, coordinating with Cao Bianjiao, attacking Huang Taiji from front and rear, ignoring the personal guards.
While the battle ensued, the tanks and Wang Xuance, though not engaging, were gradually closing in on the skirmish to prevent their escape.
If Huang Taiji had heard a certain song, he would have sung it at this moment.
“I so want to escape~~ but I can’t escape~~”
Not long after the engagement began, the thundering sound of hooves echoed from afar. It was Zu Dashou, Wu Sangui, Bai Guang’en, and other Liaodong generals arriving.
Looking at Huang Taiji’s trapped and besieged forces, everyone was eager to join.
Defeating an enemy emperor was the greatest honor for a military commander!
“This general shall assist in the battle!”
Before anyone else could speak, Bai Guang’en stepped forward and charged towards the skirmish.
*Bang!*
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and a dirt pit appeared on the ground in front of Bai Guang’en. He instinctively reined in his mount.
*Neigh~~~*
His warhorse, in mid-gallop, suddenly reared up and neighed as it was abruptly stopped.
“General Wang, what do you mean by this?!”
Bai Guang’en’s face contorted as if he were constipated.
Wang Xuance casually slung his AK-47 behind his back and said faintly.
“Wait! Unless Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen speak, no one is allowed to interfere in this battle!”
“Of course, you can wait on the periphery. If Huang Taiji manages to escape, then it’s up to you all~”
“Follow me!”
Wu Sangui was overjoyed at this. He loudly commanded his soldiers and was the first to lead his troops out, occupying the most advantageous position.
Ma Ke, Wang Pu, and Tang Tong were not to be outdone, and they successively led their personal guards to surround the battle from the outside.
Bai Guang’en could only grudgingly move to block the directions where others were left to pick up scraps.
Only Zu Dashou and Yang Guozhu remained stationary. Zu Dashou was the overall commander, so he would share in the merit regardless of who captured Huang Taiji.
Therefore, Wang Xuance looked at Yang Guozhu and asked in confusion, “General Yang, why are you holding back?”
“There’s no need. Generals Cao and Wang will certainly not give Huang Taiji a chance to escape.”