Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

"Kill!" Seeing that the pontoon bridge had been built, the soldiers of the Eight Banners roared in unison, the sound was like thunder, shaking every inch of the land. They pushed the heavy ladders towards the pontoon bridge with all their strength, their eyes flashing with the desire for victory and greed for rewards. Once they crossed the pontoon bridge, the medium-sized and larger firearms of the Ming army would be out of reach, and their defense line would tremble under this iron torrent.

Each of these Eight Banner soldiers was an elite among the infantry, wearing heavy armor, some even double or triple layers, gleaming with a cold metallic luster. The swords of the Ming army seemed so powerless in front of these solid defenses that they could not penetrate their armor at all, and could only leave shallow marks on it in vain.

However, once they climbed the city wall, they could inherit the position of Zuoling, and a reward of 1,000 taels of silver was waiting for them. What glory and wealth! This temptation made them willing to give everything, even their lives.

"Fire!" Zhang Feng, a captain of the Imperial Guard, gave the order. His voice was calm and firm, like a sharp knife that cut through the noise of the battlefield. Bullets from various small and medium-sized artillery poured down like raindrops, shooting at the charging Eight Banners soldiers with destructive force.

Most of the projectiles hit the front of the ladder, which was a board made of huge wood, covered with copper nails and wrapped with five or six layers of cowhide, like a large shield. This shield can resist the attack of bird guns and arrows, but it is vulnerable to large-caliber artillery. With a click, a large projectile easily penetrated the shield and pierced the body of an Eight Banners soldier behind it. He screamed, his body was torn apart in an instant, and blood splattered everywhere.

Roars, sorrows, and screams rose and fell, interweaving into a symphony of death. The bullets shot into the crowd, causing great damage to a single individual, but not enough to the group. Each bullet could kill or injure two or three people at most, or only knock down one or two people at least, or even just hit the ground, causing psychological trauma to the Eight Banners soldiers. They began to realize that the artillery of the Ming army was not that terrible, and as long as they persisted, victory was just around the corner.

The attack of the ladder team slowed down immediately after being attacked by artillery fire. However, these Jiannu attackers were the elite among the infantry. Facing the artillery fire of the Ming army, they did not retreat a single step. They rushed to the back of the ladder and continued to push it towards the city wall. Their figures were looming in the smoke, like tenacious ants climbing the cliff of life.

When the Ming army opened fire, the siege slaves following the ladders also fired back with all their might. Their archers shot accurately and at a very fast speed. Arrows were like black lightning, cutting through the air and shooting at the Ming army's artillerymen. When the Ming army's artillerymen fired at the city at a negative angle, they were enveloped by a dense rain of arrows. The lucky ones were not injured, but just watched in horror as the arrows flew past them; the unlucky ones were hit by arrows and fell to the ground wailing; more than a dozen people were hit in the face by arrows, their faces twisted in pain, and fell to the ground.

"Use the Hundred Bullet Missiles!" Zhu Fenghui shouted. His voice pierced through the hustle and bustle of the battlefield, with a kind of determination and firmness. He had planned to wait until the Jiannu built a pontoon bridge, and then use artillery to bombard them. If there were enough artillery, the ladder would not be able to pass through the pontoon bridge. He planned to use the Jiannu's pontoon bridge as bait to attract them to attack the city. Finally, he would use the Red Cannon to harvest their lives!
However, the Jiannu's archery skills were too advanced, and the Ming army wearing cotton armor could not dodge at all. Artillery soldiers were very scarce, and he could not afford this type of casualties. In a blink of an eye, the Ming army's casualties tended to exceed those of the Jiannu. Zhu Fenghui was anxious, he knew that if this continued, the Ming army would not be able to withstand the Jiannu's offensive.

Zhu Fenghui drew his bow and shot an arrow, which pierced the air like a flash of lightning and shot towards the Jiannu archers. Then he shouted, "Throw the medium-sized, evil smoking mines outside the moat!" The Ming army was overjoyed when they received the order, as they knew that this type of grenade was extremely powerful and would deal a fatal blow to the Jiannu once it exploded.

Ding Yi was particularly excited. He held a rattan shield in his left hand and grabbed a box of grenades with his right hand. He asked the civilians who were assisting him to light the fuse of the grenade and threw it with his right hand. The grenade drew a beautiful arc in the air and landed on the other side of the moat.

With a loud bang, most of the grenades exploded in the air, and a few of them exploded a moment after they landed. The force of the explosion was like an invisible hand that pulled the surrounding air violently and threw it out fiercely. The smoke and debris produced by the explosion flew everywhere, covering the nearby buildings.

This kind of evil smoke bomb was named by Zhu Fenghui and was made by Jiao Xu. The grenade was filled with chili powder, arsenic, croton powder and other things, as well as the "thief nodding head" made by Zhu Fenghui with reference to "Wu Bei Zhi". "Wu Bei Zhi" records the method of making "thief nodding head" with pepper. "Thief nodding head" can be understood as the Ming Dynasty version of tear gas. However, most people are reluctant to make "thief nodding head" after all, pepper was a luxury in the Ming Dynasty!
During the Yongle period, a pound of pepper could be sold for ten or even twenty taels of silver! Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty even used pepper as silver to pay salaries to officials! During the Wanli period, the price of pepper fell to five or six coins of silver per pound. However, in the eyes of ordinary people, this thing is still a luxury! Compared with the millions of taels of silver and the hundreds of thousands of stones of grain reserves in Xuanfu Town, this pepper is as insignificant as a drop in the ocean!

However, these luxuries became deadly weapons on the battlefield. None of the Eight Banners soldiers who watched the explosion fell to the ground. They were just frightened by the smoke and debris produced by the explosion. Duoduo, who was watching the battle, narrowed his eyes and laughed, his eyes flashing with ridicule and contempt.

"Hahaha! Zhu Fenghui, Zhu Fenghui! You really are not making progress! Lin Xiaofeng, Lin Xiaofeng! Don't you have any new ideas?" Duoduo said sarcastically. There was a kind of contempt and provocation in his voice, as if he was mocking the incompetence of the Ming army.

However, the hand grenades of the Ming army were no longer a secret in their eyes. The information about the hand grenades had long been sent to Shengjing along with the secret letter. They were called hand grenades, but they were actually large firecrackers! They might contain lead bullets, stones, or things like chili powder and arsenic!

Before entering the Pass, they had considered whether to imitate grenades! But after testing, they gave up the idea! First of all, if the grenades with lead bullets, stones, etc. are too small, they will not be powerful; if they are too big, they cannot be thrown up! Secondly, they lack supplies such as chili powder, arsenic, and croton powder, so they cannot produce grenades in large quantities! Even if the supplies are abundant, this kind of thing will still do more harm than good in sieges! Because if the grenade does not explode the moment it is thrown onto the city wall, then the Ming army will throw it down immediately, and the final victims will be their own people!
Amid Duoduo's laughter, the Eight Banners soldiers who were enveloped in the smoke from the explosion took out wet cloths, wrapped them around their helmets, and then covered their mouths and noses! They tried to resist the invasion of smoke in this way, but they underestimated the power of biological and chemical weapons and underestimated the frequency of their own breathing!
After running for a long distance and drawing their bows and arrows frequently, their heartbeats accelerated and their breathing became faster! The Eight Banners soldiers, whose mouths and noses were covered with wet cloth, felt that they were about to suffocate. They pulled off the wet cloth and breathed hard! Their faces turned red due to lack of oxygen, and their eyes flashed with fear and despair.

"Stop! This smoke is poisonous!" A deputy leader risked tearing off the wet cloth and shouted angrily. There was fear and anxiety in his voice, but no one paid attention to his warning.

"No, I'm going to suffocate." Although Duoduo said that the smoke would make people lose their fighting power, the Eight Banners soldiers didn't believe him at all! Before hitting the south wall, most people would think that there was no wall there! They continued to struggle and try to resist the deadly smoke.

However, the smoke was like an invisible hand that strangled them tightly. Their lungs first became hot and then painful! The pain went down with the breath and went deep into the lungs! The smoke produced by the chili powder and gunpowder explosion would make people cough! Add to that the sneezing caused by pepper powder, and these things mixed together made the proud Eight Banners soldiers see the secret weapon of the Ming army for the first time!

"Ahem! I'm going to die!" "Water!" Inspired by this, the Eight Banners soldiers jumped into the moat and let the water drown them! They tried to escape the deadly smoke in this way, but it was just a futile struggle. The river water was icy cold but could not extinguish the fear and despair in their hearts. Their figures were looming in the river and finally disappeared in the waves.

The Jiannu, as a group, did not live a nomadic life as people thought, but relied on fishing and hunting for a living. They lived by rivers and lakes for generations, and were close to water. Therefore, most of the Jiannu were proficient in water, and could swim easily even in a turbulent river without drowning. Their lives were like the flowing river, full of changes and unknowns.

The medium-sized "evil smoking mine" may sound scary, but its actual power is quite limited, and it did not affect many Eight Banners soldiers. In this offensive and defensive battle, it is more like a prelude, foreshadowing a more intense confrontation.

At this time, the battle of attack and defense had entered a white-hot stage, like a volcano about to erupt the hottest magma. With a loud bang! The red cannons of the Jiannu once again poured shells on the city wall. The deafening sound made the Ming army lie on the ground to avoid the fierce artillery fire. The dust on the city wall was shaken and flew everywhere, like fog on the battlefield, making it difficult to see the situation ahead.

There was another loud bang, and a section of the city wall, about half a meter long, was hit by the shells and collapsed. Without the protection of the city wall, the Ming army was like a bird exposed to the wind and rain, and was attacked by the concentrated fire of the Eight Banners soldiers. In a flash, more than a dozen people were killed or injured, and the blood dyed the city wall red, and also dyed the eyes of the soldiers red.

At the same time, the soldiers behind the ladders worked together to push the ladders across the pontoon bridge and approach the city wall. Their faces were full of perseverance and determination, as if to prove their courage. The leading soldier tied a small cavalry shield on his left arm, waved a knife in his right hand, and took the lead in climbing the ladder. His figure stretched out in the sun, like a black lightning, breaking the silence of the battlefield.

The Eight Banners soldiers who followed them climbed up the ladders one after another, holding shields in their left hands and swords in their right hands, waiting in line. Their eyes were full of desire for victory, as if the Ming army on the top of the city was already in their pockets. Some of the firearms soldiers and archers behind them continued to shoot at the Ming army on the city, with arrows falling like raindrops, making it impossible for the Ming army to raise their heads; the other part went to the moat to rescue their companions who fell into the water.

The Eight Banners soldiers who came ashore after falling into the water had angry faces. Their clothes were soaked and stuck to their bodies, revealing their strong muscles. They walked along the floating bridge to the ladder and scrambled to climb up, as if they wanted to use the blood of the Ming army to redeem their dignity after falling into the water. Their eyes were full of anger and unwillingness, as if they wanted to pour all their anger on the Ming army.

"Kill, kill! The Jiannu are charging!" The herald shouted loudly, his voice echoing on the battlefield like thunder. At the same time, he waved the flag, which fluttered in the wind, like the call of the god of war.

The spearmen who had been on standby began to move out. Their steps were steady and powerful, like the pulse of the earth. This was the last line of defense for the city. If this line of defense was breached, the city wall would be lost. These spearmen were all temporary recruits. Although they had not undergone rigorous training, their hearts were full of love and protection for their homeland. As the saying goes: An inch longer, an inch stronger. As long as their spears were long enough, it would be difficult for the Jiannu to hurt them.

The rest of the firearms and crossbowmen stayed away from the ladders and continued to attack the Jiannu below the city. Their arrows fell like raindrops, preventing the Jiannu from getting close to the city wall. However, the Jiannu's offensive did not weaken, and they surged towards the city wall like a tide, wave after wave.

"Go to hell!" Two civilians in cloth, with wooden boards hanging on their chests and tree cloth wrapped around their heads, looked simple but determined. The spears in their hands stabbed into the chests of the Jiannu like sharp swords. However, there was no scene of the sharp blade piercing the chest, nor was there any blood flowing, only the Jiannu's wanton laughter and the waving of the swords. Their armor was like an iron wall, making the spears unable to penetrate.

The two civilians looked at each other, their eyes full of helplessness and unwillingness. They drew back their spears and stabbed again, but the result was still the same. They were filled with confusion and puzzlement, and remembered Zhu Fenghui's words during the training: The Jiannu are wearing multiple layers of armor, and the weapons in your hands may not be able to kill them, or even hurt them. Next, you have two choices...

The two men put their spears against the chests of the Eight Banner soldiers and tried to push them off the wall at the same time. However, the Eight Banner soldiers were strong and much more powerful than the civilians who had only been fed for a month. They held the ladder tightly in their left hands, and the two sides were deadlocked for a while. Time was running out and there was no time to wait. Every moment could determine the outcome of the battlefield.

The second Eight Banners soldier hugged the first Eight Banners soldier and quickly climbed up the ladder. With a flash of the knife in his hand, he cut off the spears of the two spearmen. The two civilians took two steps forward under the influence of inertia, but their throats were cut by the opponent's horizontal knife. They slowly died in the painful waiting. Their eyes were full of unwillingness and despair, as if they were telling the cruelty and ruthlessness of the battlefield.

"I'll be the first to climb the city wall... Shishou..." He was stabbed in the face by a spear before he could finish his words. His voice was cut off, leaving only a painful groan. He covered his face and retreated subconsciously, but fell off the city wall and killed two of his companions who were waiting to climb the city wall before he died. His figure fell like a huge rock, shocking the Jiannu soldiers below the city wall.

"Master Yan taught us to stab their faces and eyes!" someone reminded. This sentence was like a flash of lightning that broke the silence of the battlefield. Under the intensive face-stabbing tactics, the Eight Banners soldiers fell off the city wall one after another. Their faces were pierced by spears, their eyes were blinded, and pain and fear intertwined on their faces into distorted pictures.

However, the death of their companions did not frighten the people who followed them, but instead intensified their anger. These people rushed up the city wall one after another, dodging the attacks of the Ming army while trying to climb up the city wall to engage in close combat with the Ming army. Their figures jumped and rolled on the city wall, like a group of crazy beasts, trying to break through the Ming army's defense line.

"Who has a cavalry shield? Tie it to my face!" A deputy commander came up with this idea after seeing that the attack had been going on for a long time. His voice was like thunder, echoing on the battlefield. He was wearing a layer of dark armor and two layers of cotton armor, and ordinary weapons could not break his defense. Moreover, he did not need to see the enemy because there were enemies everywhere on the city wall. As long as he managed to rush to the top of the city and create chaos, he could create opportunities for the people below.

Soon, dozens of Eight Banner soldiers had cavalry shields tied to their faces and climbed up the ladders with their hands. Their figures crawled on the ladders, like a group of ants trying to climb over this insurmountable mountain. Their eyes were full of perseverance and determination, as if to prove their courage and determination.

Zhu Fenghui shot the last arrow in his hand and ordered: "Bring the arrows!" His voice was firm and powerful, like a mountain, standing tall on the battlefield. Then he ordered the messenger: "Pour kerosene on the ladders, don't light them. If there is no kerosene, pour tung oil." His eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

At Zhu Fenghui's command, pots of boiling kerosene were poured onto the ladder and flowed down the ladder. The tung oil used in ancient times to preserve wood is similar to modern paint. Its characteristic is that it feels very smooth before it dries. The Jiannu who were climbing the ladder were burned by the kerosene and were about to let go when they found that the ladder had become very smooth. Not only could they not hold on to the sides of the ladder with their hands, but their feet were also unable to stand as if they were walking on ice. Their figures swayed and slid on the ladder, like a group of lonely ghosts who had lost their support.

"Fuck you..." The Jiannu soldier who had learned the essence of Chinese cursed unwillingly when he fell off the ladder. His voice was full of anger and unwillingness, as if he was telling his helplessness and failure. The other ladders encountered the same situation. Under the pouring of kerosene and tung oil, the ladders were more slippery than ice. Not to mention climbing the city to attack, they couldn't even stand. For a while, many Eight Banners soldiers looked at the city wall so close, but they were willing but unable to do anything. Their eyes were full of helplessness and despair, as if they were telling their failure and the cruelty of fate.

"Dig the city wall!" a lieutenant shouted loudly. His voice was like thunder, echoing on the battlefield. Every 200 soldiers of the Eight Banners were grouped into a Niulu. The leader was called Niulu Zhangjing, also known as Zuoling. Above him were Xieling, Fudutong, and Dutong. After receiving the order, everyone immediately raised their shields and rushed to the city wall, stabbing their knives into the gaps between the bricks to try to dig through the city wall. Their figures were busy under the city wall, like a group of hardworking ants, trying to dig through this insurmountable mountain.

"Rolling logs and rocks!" Zhu Fenghui pulled out the arrow from his shoulder and gave the order again. His voice was firm and powerful, like a mountain standing on the battlefield. The Eight Banners soldiers who were responsible for cover in the distance had obviously noticed Zhu Fenghui, and the arrows in their hands shot at his position. However, Zhu Fenghui was wearing dark armor, and the arrows did not penetrate his armor. He did not wear dark armor because he was afraid of death, but because he was afraid that Xuanfu Town would be lost after his death. Therefore, he followed Ding Yi's advice and put on dark armor. His figure stood tall on the battlefield, like an unshakable mountain.

The people who were holding shields to block the rain of arrows in the back were cheered up after hearing the order. They dragged the stones, bricks and whole logs they had prepared in advance to the edge of the city wall. Their figures were busy on the city wall, like a group of hardworking craftsmen, trying to use these simple tools to resist the offensive of the Jiannu. "One, two, three, go down!" They shouted in unison, their voices full of firmness and determination. Then, they threw the stones, bricks and logs in their hands at the Jiannu under the city. "One, two, three!" Their voices echoed on the battlefield like thunder. The sounds of plop and boom rang out one after another, and the offensive of the Jiannu was curbed again. Their figures were busy under the city, trying to avoid these "huge stones" falling from the sky.

Duoduo took in all of this with his clairvoyance. His eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if he had seen every detail of the battlefield. He did not show any shock or anger. As a commander, he needed to remain calm no matter what happened.

"Pass the order down, retreat immediately!" Duoduo's words were firm and decisive, without the slightest hesitation, as if every word he said contained an irresistible force. The herald was slightly stunned when he heard it, and a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes that had experienced countless battlefields, but then he conveyed the order as quickly as possible: "Sound the horn to retreat! Sound the horn to retreat!" The sound echoed over the battlefield, like an ancient call, making every soldier feel the signal to retreat.

When Hauge heard the order, he looked at Duoduo with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes were full of confusion and surprise, as if he couldn't believe his ears. "Uncle Ten, why do you want to retreat? Even if the siege is blocked, we should not easily give up, so as not to dampen our morale. Besides, our army has killed many enemy troops under the city and has not shown any signs of defeat." Hauge's words were filled with anxiety, and he seemed unable to understand Duoduo's decision.

Duoduo turned around, his deep eyes seemed to be able to see through everything. He looked at Hauge, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that this young general needed more experience to understand the subtleties and complexities of the battlefield. "If we retreat now, then these equipments that we have painstakingly made will be given to the Ming army in vain!" After Hauge finished speaking, Duoduo wanted to remain silent, thinking that explaining these details would not help his growth.

However, Duoduo's heart was in turmoil. In the Eight Banners, apart from the struggle for the throne, there were not many internal disputes. He thought about going south to the Central Plains in the future, when there might be a shortage of soldiers and generals, and Hauge's growth would not be completely useless to the Eight Banners. Thinking of this, Duoduo felt a sense of responsibility, and he decided to give Hauge an explanation.

"Hauge, do you know why I chose to attack South City?" Duoduo's voice was majestic, yet gentle.

Haoge frowned and thought. He tried to find clues from Duoduo's words and replied, "Is it because the terrain of South City is open?"

"No!" Duoduo pointed to the scorching sun in the sky, which was hanging in the sky like a fireball, emitting scorching light. "It is already the end of May in the lunar calendar. Although Xuanfu is not very hot, our army is wearing heavy armor and it is easy to get heatstroke after a long battle." Duoduo's words were full of unquestionable firmness.

"So, fighting with your back to the sun is the best strategy!" Duoduo continued, with a hint of calmness and wisdom in his voice.

"Besides, today's battle is just a test. Although we lost some soldiers, we have figured out Zhu Fenghui's strategy for defending the city. Tomorrow will be the real siege!" Duoduo's words were like a flash of lightning, breaking through the fog in Haoge's heart.

"Attacking a city is not something that can be accomplished overnight, especially a strong city. Whoever has more back-ups has a greater chance of winning!" Duoduo's words were full of depth and wisdom, as if an old man was imparting valuable experience. "Thank you for the teachings of Uncle Ten!" Haoge's eyes widened, and he felt a little respect for Duoduo, the battlefield master. He understood that every decision made by Duoduo contained profound strategic thinking and keen insight into the battlefield.

After receiving the order to retreat, the Eight Banners soldiers did not flee in panic, but covered each other and retreated in batches. They retreated like a tide, but they did not lose order and discipline. The first to retreat were the siege troops, who were being attacked by the Ming army's rolling logs and rocks. After hearing the order, these Eight Banners soldiers helped the wounded in a panic, tried their best to carry their seriously injured or even dead comrades, crossed the pontoon bridge, and retreated to the base camp. Their figures stretched out in the afterglow of the setting sun, like a tragic painting.

At this time, on the wall of Xuanfu, Zhu Fenghui put down the longbow in his hand, and a trace of fatigue and worry flashed in his eyes. Looking at the Eight Banners soldiers gradually going away, he sighed. It is said that the Eight Banners soldiers are difficult to deal with. After seeing them today, it is indeed true. Their bravery and discipline made him feel a little pressured.

There were only two stages in this defense that really caused casualties to Jiannu. One was when they charged, and the other was when they attacked the city with the help of ladders. The rest of the time, the casualties were not many. Zhu Fenghui knew this very well, so he cherished this victory in defending the city even more.

"Each unit should count the losses and report the number of enemies killed." Zhu Fenghui gave the order while sitting by the city wall. His voice was firm and calm, as if he was a commander deploying the final strategy.

Soon, the casualties were tallied up. There was an accountant near the steps of the city wall who was responsible for counting casualties. Every time they lifted a person down, they recorded it. There were also soldiers near the battlements who were responsible for recording the number of enemies killed. Although the data was not very accurate, it was roughly correct.

"In this battle, our army lost 117 people, 193 were seriously injured, and 206 were slightly injured." A soldier reported. His voice was heavy and sad, as if each number represented the loss of a life.

"How are the casualties of the enemy?" Zhu Fenghui had an ominous premonition. He had been fighting on the top of the city, so he was quite familiar with the situation on the scene. If I remembered correctly, the casualties of the Eight Banners soldiers should be similar to ours. It was far from the one to ten ratio when defending against Li Zicheng.

Sure enough, after the battle report was submitted, Zhu Fenghui had a headache. "Reporting to Lord Yan, the number of Jiannu soldiers who were slightly injured in this battle is too large to count, and there are about 700 to 800 seriously injured and dead. Among them, more than 500 seriously injured and dead bodies were taken back by them, leaving only more than 200 dead bodies at the scene." The soldier's words were filled with helplessness and heaviness.

"That is to say, our army suffered one casualty, while the other side suffered only two or three casualties?" Zhu Fenghui's words were filled with bitterness and helplessness. He knew that such a casualty ratio was not favorable for defending the city.

"Yes! But most of the casualties were civilians. They had no armor to protect themselves, and the Jiannu were good at archery, so there were more casualties." The soldier explained. There was a hint of sadness and sympathy in his voice, as if he felt sorry for those innocent people.

Zhu Fenghui waved his hand to let the messenger leave, then sat behind the battlements of the city wall and closed his eyes in deep thought. He knew that the Jiannu were all wearing armor, and crossbows could only cause damage to a single layer of armor, but were powerless against double armor. They could only rely on bird guns and various firearms. This was not a long-term solution.
"Why is Lord Yan so worried?" Ding Yi walked up and asked. There was a hint of concern and confusion in his voice, as if he couldn't understand Zhu Fenghui's worries.

Zhu Fenghui did not answer his question, but asked, "What time is it now?" There was a hint of urgency and anxiety in his voice, as if time had become particularly important at this moment.

Ding Yi looked up at the sun and said, "It should be the beginning of noon." There was a hint of certainty and calmness in his voice.

Zhu Fenghui rolled his eyes and had already made up his mind. He decided to take some measures to change the current situation.

He first ordered: "Come here, distribute the pensions according to the casualties, and all of them must be distributed before nightfall." There was a hint of firmness and decisiveness in his voice, as if a leader was deploying the final strategy.

Then, Zhu Fenghui stood up and said loudly: "Everyone, although the Jiannu only left more than 200 corpses in this battle, everyone has witnessed their casualties with their own eyes." There was a hint of excitement and inspiration in his voice, as if he was cheering up the soldiers.

"Before coming to Xuanfu, His Majesty said that military merits will no longer be calculated based on the number of enemy heads, but based on strategy and the number of enemies killed on the battlefield." Zhu Fenghui's words carried a hint of majesty and solemnity, as if he was conveying the emperor's will.

These soldiers were all rough men. One of them asked in confusion, "Sir Yan, what is strategy?" There was a hint of doubt and curiosity in his voice.

Zhu Fenghui smiled and explained, "This brother asked a good question. The strategy is that His Majesty orders us to defend Xuanfu. If we defend it, we will be victorious in His Majesty's eyes." There was a hint of wisdom and depth in his voice, as if he was answering the doubts in the soldiers' hearts.

"We were ordered to defend for one month, and we have defended for two months. In the eyes of His Majesty, we have won a great victory!" Zhu Fenghui's words were filled with excitement and inspiration, as if he was painting a picture of victory for the soldiers.

Hearing this, the defenders' eyes suddenly brightened up. They seemed to have seen the dawn of victory and the emperor's appreciation and reward.

What does Zhu Fenghui mean? It means that they can get more silver! The price of the first merit varies depending on the enemy. The head of the Northern Tartars (Mongol and Jiannu) and the Japanese pirates is worth thirty taels of silver; each head of the Southwest Barbarians is worth ten taels of silver; the head of the bandits is worth one to three taels of silver, and even as low as one penny of silver in the late Ming Dynasty. However, the requirements for the first merit in the Ming Dynasty were extremely strict. If someone was hit in the head by a firearm, even if he cut off the enemy's head, it would not be considered the first merit, and the Ming army relied on firearms!

Zhu Fenghui continued, "We killed 600 enemies today and won a small victory over the Jiannu. According to the will of Your Majesty and the court, a reward of 20,000 taels of silver will be issued." There was a hint of generosity and magnanimity in his voice, as if a leader was rewarding the soldiers for their bravery and dedication.

"The Ming army is mighty!" The soldiers on the city wall shouted after hearing this. There was a hint of excitement and excitement in their voices, as if they were cheering for the victory of the Ming army.

Today, there are only 7,000 or 8,000 soldiers and civilians on the south wall. Even if they divide it equally, they can get more than two taels of silver. This is unprecedented! The soldiers' hearts are filled with joy and expectation. They seem to see the victory and glory in the future.

Amid the cheers of the crowd, Zhu Fenghui waved his hand and said, "Everyone, clean up the battlefield immediately and carry all the useful things back to the city. After lunch, except for a few people on duty, the rest of you should go to sleep and rest. Come with me out of the city to do something big in the evening." There was a hint of mystery and expectation in his voice, as if he was deploying an unknown operation for the soldiers.

"Sir Yan, aren't you afraid that the Jiannu will attack the city this afternoon?" someone asked, with a hint of worry and doubt in his voice.

"Don't worry, they value their lives very much! What's more, their trench bridge has been destroyed, and it will take more than a meal to rebuild it." Zhu Fenghui's words were full of confidence and calmness, as if a wise man was making an accurate prediction of the future. After hearing this, the soldiers nodded in agreement. They believed Zhu Fenghui's
In the towering central army tent in the Jianlu's base camp, Prince Yu Duoduo sat upright, like a frozen statue, listening attentively to the battle situation reported by the spies ahead. His face was firm and his eyes were deep, as if he could see through every corner of the battlefield.

"Reporting to Prince Yu, in this battle, our warriors of the Bordered White Banner were brave and fearless, but suffered heavy casualties. Fifty-two warriors fell on the way to charge, fifty-four were seriously injured, and ninety-six were slightly injured. The battle on the side of the Plain Blue Banner was also fierce, with thirty-one warriors killed, fifty-three seriously injured, and seventy-four slightly injured. The most heartbreaking thing was the brothers of the Han Eight Banners, who bore the most violent attack, with three hundred and seventy-three killed, two hundred and eighty-nine seriously injured, and countless slightly injured, almost a thousand people!" The spy's voice was low and sad.

After listening to this, Duoduo was silent for a long time, as if every number weighed heavily on his heart. Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice low and firm: "Write down all these numbers carefully. When we return to Shengjing, we must provide good compensation to these soldiers who died for the country and their families. Their sacrifice is the glory of the Qing Dynasty, and it is also our responsibility."

He looked up outside the tent. The scorching sun was burning the ground, and the heat was rolling, as if even the air was burning. However, a smile inadvertently appeared on the corner of Duoduo's mouth. It was a smile mixed with cruelty and determination, a premonition of the upcoming victory.

At this time, Haoge strode in and asked anxiously, "Uncle Ten, what is our plan for attacking the city tomorrow? Prince Rui has issued a death order that we take Xuanfu Town within ten days, and now two days have passed!"

Duoduo shook his head, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes: "When it comes to siege, there's no rush! A head-on attack will only increase casualties. I have my own plans." His words were filled with unquestionable majesty.

Then, he ordered his men: "In the afternoon, all infantrymen will go back to the camp to rest. Tulai and Aobai, you two will lead the cavalry to guard and be careful." His eyes swept over Tulai and Aobai meaningfully. The two of them immediately blushed and felt the huge pressure. They knelt on one knee and responded loudly: "Yes, sir!"

Duoduo went on to make arrangements: "Everyone who did not participate in the battle today, except those on duty, should go to the mountains to cut trees and build trenches and bridges. Also, start cooking at Chou time, assemble the entire army at Yin time, and as soon as Mao time arrives, bombard the Ming army's city towers with artillery fire, leaving them nowhere to hide! At Chen time, we will begin to take turns to attack the city! This time, we will use the method of chiseling the wall. I don't believe we can't take this Xuanfu town!" His eyes were full of determination, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

……

In a blink of an eye, the sun has set, the sky is dyed with gorgeous sunset glow, and Xuanfu Town is gradually swallowed by the night. Today is the 22nd day of the lunar calendar. The moon is crescent, like a mooncake with a bite taken out, hanging alone in the sky. The moon rises at midnight and sets at noon. Its waxing and waning seems to tell the cruelty and impermanence of war.

However, in this quiet night, a silent contest was taking place in Xuanfu Town. The east and south gates were wide open, and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians took advantage of the night and quietly left the city with farm tools. They were divided into three teams. One team of cavalry was responsible for reconnaissance, wandering in the night like ghosts; one team was digging a moat outside the city, with sweat and soil intertwined; another team went directly to the bottom of the city wall, and began to dig the river and widen the moat under the faint starlight. Some of the excavated soil was transported back to the city, and some was piled up beside the city wall, watered and reinforced, forming a solid barrier. Everyone worked silently, no one talked much, only the rustling sound of the farm tools in their hands rubbing against the soil was particularly clear in the silent night.

As they dug, the atmosphere became a little weird. Seeing that midnight was approaching, Zhu Fenghui suddenly ordered: "Quick! Everyone return to the city immediately!" His voice was low and urgent, as if he had a premonition of something.

So, the more than 10,000 people returned to the city exhausted with their farm tools. After a simple meal, they all fell asleep. However, their peace did not last long.

Suddenly, a loud noise broke the silence of the night and woke Zhu Fenghui from his dream: "What happened?" He sat up suddenly, with an ominous premonition in his heart.

The guards rushed in and reported: "Lord Yan, the Jianlu have set up artillery at the place where we fired the cannons before, and are bombarding the city wall!" As soon as he finished speaking, a cannonball flew over and hit the city gate tower. The sound of wood breaking was extremely harsh, and the city gate tower also shook, as if it would collapse at any time.

"Master Yan, hide quickly!" The guards didn't care about anything else, they carried Zhu Fenghui and ran out. With a loud bang, the city gate collapsed, and the falling wood injured many people. The air was filled with the smell of dust and blood.

The sound of cannons continued, and the city walls were constantly bombarded. Although there were no casualties for the time being, the hearts of the soldiers and civilians were already as shaky as the city walls. The power of the Red Barbarian Cannon was indeed amazing, but the city walls were also strong enough. However, the Jianlu always bombarded the battlements of the city walls. Once the battlements were destroyed, the soldiers defending the city would lose their cover. At that time, the Jianlu archers would show their skills and cause heavy casualties to the Ming army.

Sure enough, a huge shell penetrated the battlement and hit a soldier. His head instantly split open, and blood splattered everywhere, staining the city wall red. This bloody scene made people sick, and soldiers and civilians vomited one after another. The air was filled with an indescribable fear and despair.

Ding Yi hurried to Zhu Fenghui, put on his armor and asked anxiously: "Lord Yan, what should we do?" There was a tremor in his voice, and he was obviously frightened by this sudden attack.

Zhu Fenghui quickly glanced around and then decisively ordered: "Leave a hundred people on each city wall to guard, and the rest of the people must go down the city to avoid the artillery. Those who stay will be rewarded with five taels of silver. The red cannon should not fight back, but should be hidden in the new position of last night. Get down the city quickly!" His voice was calm and firm, like an invisible force that stabilized the panicked hearts of the soldiers and civilians.

Following Zhu Fenghui's order, soldiers and civilians evacuated the city walls and hid in the relatively safe city. Duoduo observed all this with a telescope, and a smile appeared on his lips again. This was exactly what he wanted, but he did not attack rashly because he was worried that the red cannon would accidentally hurt his own people. He was just waiting for the right time.

Sure enough, not long after, a red cannon exploded due to overheating from continuous firing, and more than ten soldiers of the Han Eight Banners were killed or injured. Duoduo snorted angrily when he saw this, but then calmed down. He knew that the reserve of gunpowder was running low and could not be wasted easily. So he waved the flag to signal to stop the shelling.

He picked up the telescope again to observe the city wall of Xuanfu Town. He saw that it was covered with traces of bombardment. The blue bricks were broken, revealing the adobe inside. But the city wall itself did not show any signs of collapse, but the battlements on the city wall had been destroyed for the most part. Duoduo sneered, and he had already made up his mind.

"The Eight Banners of Han will lead the charge, followed by the White Banner, and the Blue Banner will support the charge. Let's attack the city!" Duoduo ordered loudly, his voice full of determination and cruelty. As the horns and cannons sounded, the eight trench bridges slowly approached Xuanfu Town, like giant dragons, devouring all obstacles that blocked their progress.

"Hurry up to the city wall to fight!" Zhu Fenghui shouted loudly, and 5,000 soldiers rushed to the city wall first, their eyes full of determination and courage. Afterwards, thousands of civilians followed closely with long wood, planks, and long nails, their faces full of determination and indomitable spirit. More than a thousand civilians rushed to the city wall with earth bags on their backs, placed the earth bags on the missing parts of the battlements, and then erected wooden boards to fix them, and then nailed them to the city wall with long nails. Their movements were swift and orderly, as if they were fighting a silent battle.

Duoduo's mouth twitched slightly when he saw the busy scene of the Ming army. But he knew that the real battle had just begun. This battle would determine the fate of Xuanfu Town and the future of the Qing Dynasty. He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination and coldness, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. (End of this chapter)