There is a space for passenger planes in the late Ming Dynasty

After the bombardment ended, hundreds of archers from the First Cavalry Division began shooting arrows into the city.

A dense rain of arrows fell near the south gate of Datong City. The arrows were all tied with leaflets, so they had little power when they fell.

The surviving soldiers at the city head curiously picked it up and looked at it. On it was a letter of persuasion to surrender signed by Lu Xiangsheng. He first wrote about the tragic experience of the Tianxiong Army in Gyeonggi Province, and then advised the Datong soldiers and civilians to stop working for the fatuous court and immediately open the city gate to welcome Zhenming. military.

"Yes, the imperial court is so stupid that even a commander as capable as Lu Xiangsheng was forced to rebel."

"The same goes for us. We haven't received military pay for several months, and we've all been embezzled by those corrupt officials."

"How about we rebel too? We won't be able to defeat the Zhenming Army anyway."

……

The Datong Army was discussing in groups of three or five.

Datong City, General Military Mansion.

After General Wang Pu hid under the city gate for a while from the shelling, he saw that the Zhenming Army outside the city did not take the opportunity to launch an attack, so he returned to his headquarters first.

Deputy General Yang Zhenwei hurried in with a leaflet and said: "Master General, the Zhenming Army did not attack the city and shot many leaflets into the city. Governor Lu urged us to surrender."

"Show me!" Wang Pu said anxiously.

After reading it quickly, he said: "It turns out that Lu Xiangsheng was rescued by the Zhenming Army. No wonder he joined the Zhenming Army. This court is fucked up."

"Then shall we surrender?" Yang Zhenwei asked.

Wang Pu paced the room anxiously for a while and then said: "Go and invite Fan Yongdou and Wang Dengku to come and discuss it together."

Fan Yongdou was originally from Jiexiu, Shanxi. As early as the early Ming Dynasty, the Fan family was doing business in Zhangjiakou and Mongolia. After seven generations, Fan Yongdou became a wealthy Han businessman in Zhangjiakou area trading with Manchu and Mongolia. After Mongolia weakened, Fan Yongdou hooked up with Houjin and continued the smuggling trade, providing the Houjin Tatars with a large amount of military supplies they were in short supply.

Wang Dengku was later named one of the Eight Imperial Merchants by the Manchu Qing Dynasty. The Wang family was mainly engaged in the trade of grain and iron, and transported a large amount of scarce materials to the Houjin.

After the Qing army invaded the capital, the Zhangjiakou area was devastated, so they shifted their trade focus to Datong, Shanxi. They had already colluded with Wang Pu and other important military and political officials, and the entire Datong military town was penetrated by them, making them half a master. .

Not long after, Fan Yongdou and Wang Dengku followed Yang Zhenwei in. They raised their hands and greeted Wang Pu: "I have met Mr. Wang."

"Two family heads, Lu Xiangsheng joined the Zhenming Army and has now led a large number of troops to attack Datong City. Their artillery is sharp and they have ordered us to surrender the city as soon as possible. What do you think?"

"General Wang, I wonder what you mean?" Fan Yongdou asked instead of being a guest.

"Now that the world is in chaos, I naturally want to preserve my strength. There is no need to fight head-on with the Zhenming Army to be loyal to the court." Wang Pu has been completely pulled into the trap by them and has received a large amount of money. Naturally, there is no need to show off in front of them.

"The broken ship of the Ming Dynasty has been leaking everywhere for a long time. I don't think anyone with any sense will be loyal to the court. But looking at the world, the strongest one is the Qing Dynasty. The Qing emperor has the spirit of the world's hero. I think It is better to seek refuge with the Qing Dynasty." Fan Yongdou had a deep collusion with the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and of course he would not agree to join the Zhenming Army.

"General Wang, I heard that every time the Zhenming Army occupies a place, it likes to clean up various backlogs and suppress wealthy families. I'm afraid we will all be liquidated if we join the Zhenming Army." Wang Dengku added.

"However, the Zhenming Army is powerful and is led by Lu Xiangsheng, so it may be difficult to defeat them." Wang Pu also did not want to join the Zhenming Army. He was also afraid that Lu Xiangsheng would clean up his last escape from battle, but he was also afraid that he would not be able to defend Datong City.

"Commander Wang, our Datong City is strong and strong, and there are many defenders inside. My Fan family immediately mobilized all the guards and guards to join in the defense of the city. The imperial court will not allow the Zhenming Army to occupy Datong. I will send a message to the imperial court. Minister, please send troops to assist as soon as possible. I think it shouldn't be difficult to hold on." Fan Yongdou cheered him up.

"Our Wang family also has hundreds of guards. When the time comes, let them all come over to help defend the city. There are also several other merchants. Together, there will always be one or two thousand people. In addition to General Wang's three or four thousand people, the total There are more than six thousand soldiers and horses. There is no shortage of food and money in the city. Are you afraid that you will not be able to defend Datong City under the heavy reward?" Wang Dengku continued to encourage.

"Okay, with the strong support of the two family heads, I believe that I can defend Datong City." Wang Pu invited them here just to ask for money and people. Once the goal was achieved, he immediately became more confident.

In the west of Datong City, there are dilapidated military camps.

Lu Biaozheng, a Qianhu official from the Datong Army, was discussing with several of his cronies. Baihuguan Hong Guilin said: "Boss, brothers are talking a lot now. Even Lu Xiang and Governor Lu have joined the Zhenming Army. The Lu Army's artillery outside the city is very fierce. I heard that the brothers guarding the city at the south gate were bombarded with many casualties today. We what to do?"

Lu Biao touched his chin, and finally made up his mind: "Damn it, we dropped the ball earlier, those superior officers didn't regard our brothers as human beings, and even the military pay has not been paid for several months.

To tell you the truth, it turns out that Shanxi Dusi Commander Cao Xiong is my old leader. He asked someone to bring a letter to me a few days ago. He also joined the Zhenming Army and is now the deputy general manager of the Zhenming Army Staff Department, which is equivalent to the Ministry of War. The minister said that the Zhenming Army paid very well. Officials at the level of 10 households were paid taels per month, and they were never in arrears. "

"There are so many 10 taels, and you never default on it? That year there were taels, which is enough to get a wife." Hong Guilin said in surprise.

"That's not all. I heard that there is also a year-end bonus. You can get an extra month's salary at the end of the year, and the food is very good." Lu Biao continued.

"Then what are you waiting for? Forget it if you rebel against him." Hong Guilin said eagerly.

"Where are you?" Lu Biao asked the other cronies.

"On the contrary, I heard from the brothers at the south gate that we can't hold on even if we defend. Everyone has already become disillusioned." Several people agreed.

"Then do the opposite. It happens to be our turn to guard the west gate in the evening. Guilin, find an opportunity to shoot an arrow and send a message to the outside of the city. Make an appointment. At midnight, we will open the city gate and let the Zhenming army in." Lu Biao ordered.

"understand!"

"This matter must be kept confidential. You two go back and contact your brothers separately. Don't leak the news, otherwise it will be a crime of losing your head." Lu Biao confessed.

"Don't worry, brother! We all know it." Several people replied together.

Outside Datong City, Lu Xiang was promoted to commander-in-chief.

"Commander, the sentry outside the west gate of Datong received a note with an arrow shot out of the city, saying that the west gate will be opened at midnight and let us enter the city." Yang Lukai came in and reported.

"Oh, show it to me." Lu Xiangsheng took the note and read it.

"Commander, is there any fraud in this?"

"No, the note mentioned that he is the former deputy general manager Cao Xiong, so there should be no problem. And they open the city gate. We should be careful and send a small team to seize the city gate first. There is not much risk. You go and take control of the city gate. Deputy Commander Zhou and others are invited to arrange for the capture of the city at night." Lu Xiangsheng explained.

"Yes!"

Soon deputy commander Zhou Rui, brigade generals Urentuya, Zhou Cong and others came over.

Lu Xiangsheng asked a few people to sit down, and then said: "To make a long story short, news came from Datong City. The west gate should be opened at midnight. After dark, Deputy Commander Zhou quietly led a battalion of troops to ambush outside the west gate. Then contact us. The Second Shanxi Combat Brigade went in together to seize the city.

I led a large group of troops to stay at the south gate to confuse the enemy and guard the city. Around midnight, I shelled the south gate to attract the defenders' attention and cover your entry into the city. "

"Commander, is the internal response reliable?" Zhou Rui asked.

"It should be reliable. If the west gate opens as promised, you will first send a small team to control the city gate to prevent fraud.

If the city gate is not opened, we will launch a strong attack from both sides of the south gate and west gate, making it difficult for the defenders in the city to take care of both sides. " Lu Xiangsheng said.

"Follow the order!" Zhou Rui replied.

"Let's all prepare separately and make arrangements for a strong attack tonight." Lu Xiangsheng ordered.

"Yes!" The generals took the order.

(End of this chapter)