Leitao saw the situation and decided to change his tactics. He ordered the third group of militia to split into two squads: one continued to advance toward the breach, while the other circled around to the back of the large tree where Zhu Erba was hiding, preparing to catch him in a pincer attack.
The flanking militia approached the tree with caution. When they were only a dozen meters away, they suddenly launched their attack. The frontal squad opened fire at the same time, catching Zhu Erba off guard. He attempted to flee, but was pinned down by the crossfire from Leitao and the militia.
During the intense exchange, one of Zhu Erba’s capable lieutenants was shot dead, dealing a massive blow to the bandits' morale. Realizing the battle was lost, Zhu Erba began to look for an exit. Taking advantage of the chaos, he gathered a few loyal followers and slipped away toward the rear.
Chapter 326