Chapter 865

The Mongolia troops were the first to break from the battlefield, fleeing wildly toward the rear. The Eight Banners followed close behind, their retreat a scene of chaotic desperation. There were two reasons for this situation. First, the Mongolia troops were naturally adept at retreating; the moment they sensed things were going wrong, their leaders would issue orders to pull back without a moment's hesitation. Second, the Mongolia troops had been positioned behind the Eight Banners, so when they turned to flee, they naturally ended up in the lead. Both sides scrambled, each trying to outrun the other in a desperate attempt to leave their counterparts behind. They did not need to run faster than the Ming Army; they only needed to run faster than each other. The Ming Army’s goal in the pursuit was to inflict as many casualties as possible and maximize their victory. Therefore, whether it was the Mongolia troops or the Eight Banners, they all understood that if they could force the other side to linger behind for the Ming Army to slaughter, they themselves would stand a chance of escaping safely.