Win the Ding 1617

From this day on, throughout the entire first month of the lunar year, the competition around the city wall was carried out around dozens of dug holes that were more than ten miles long. continued amid the casualties.

Except for the few days of Chinese New Year, the sound of cannons above and below the city never stopped for a single day.

According to the experience of defending the city for the first time, the soldiers and civilians defending the city laid down an empty tank on the inner side of the city root, facing every place where holes were being dug.This kind of vat is also called urn, with the mouth of the urn facing outward, and someone often goes to listen to it.As long as the peasant army starts digging a hole, there will be a sound from the mouth of the urn, which can be distinguished from the sound when digging deep and shallow.Judging by the voices coming from the mouth of the urn, the guards and civilians knew that the peasant army below the city was not in a hurry to dig the city, and they often paused, so they were a little relieved.

But the rebels who were in charge of digging the cave remained in the hole in the city wall.Those who were injured and exhausted took advantage of the darkness to move down and brought in the new force.Some more firewood was brought in for everyone to warm up against the cold.They also sent quilts, cotton clothes, food and soup.The digging work is still going on, but slowly.It turned out that most of the diggers were miners, but now the new recruits are not as proficient in their work as miners, but the environment they face is not as difficult as those miners. At least, they already have a body that can cover their bodies. potholes.

The soldiers and civilians defending the city knew that the pits were still being dug under the city, so they did not dare to relax, and threw burning dry wood down from time to time.But now this method has no effect.The peasant army who dug the city wall has been deeply hidden in the hole.

Because the peasant army concentrated a large number of artillery in the area from Songmen to Caomen and Beimen, it occupied the superiority of firepower and posed a great threat to the city.Although there are cannons in the city, most of them are fixed artillery for defending the city, and their mobility is far less than that of the city.The peasant army who dug the city wall found a lot of iron forks and wooden forks, which can take away the burning cotton wool and firewood at any time.Therefore, the city can only cause casualties to the rebels by throwing bricks, stones, gunpowder packs and "ten thousand enemies".But there is no effective way to kill the peasant army that has dug into the city wall.When the peasant army under the city wall saw this, their morale was boosted even more, and they waved their spades, picks and hoes desperately to dig, dig, dig deep.

In the north of Caomen, near the corner.A big hole has been dug.Although the battle between the two sides caused heavy casualties, it was the most successful after all.On the afternoon of the [-]th day of the first lunar month, the hole that was several feet wide was dug to the left and right to a width of more than two feet, to the inside to a depth of more than one foot, and to the top to the height of a person.The broken bricks and clods dug out of the cave, together with the dead bodies, were piled on the left and right sides of the cave entrance, as high as a person, like two hills.

Chen Yongfu originally wanted to send the next group of people to snatch this big hole.But he thought again: there are already twenty or thirty rebels in the cave, and the artillery fire outside the city is fierce. There are fewer people going down to the city, which is useless; if there are too many people, they will be hit by artillery fire or shot by arrows before they hit the ground. Death, he simply gave up this plan.

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, from the Song Gate to the North Gate.Gunpowder smoke billowed from the fifteen-mile-long city wall.It slowly dissipated again. After many times of gunpowder smoke rising and dissipating, dusk gradually came.A gray evening hail flows in the fields.Chen Yongfu was standing behind the battlements at this time, watching the peasant army bring new cannons to the city from a distance, at least a dozen or so, and several carts of artillery shells and gunpowder.

"Damn thieves! You're so stubborn!" he cursed to himself.But in his heart, he was extremely envious of the gunpowder, artillery shells and arrows that Li Zicheng's troops seemed to have a steady stream of.Being able to besiege the city for so long and still maintain a strong firepower, Chen Yongfu was in a different place in his heart. If the Kaifeng army and people surrounded Li Zicheng, would he be able to maintain such fighting spirit and material security?

The answer is clear.He himself shook his head and smiled bitterly.The official clan in the city.It would be great not to be corrupted.If they were allowed to destroy their homes to relieve their difficulties, they would immediately choose to surrender to Li Zicheng.

He didn't know that Li Zi became the material needed to guarantee the siege of Kaifeng. Just like gunpowder, he almost chopped down all the willows within a hundred miles to burn charcoal.There are even more ships coming and going in the course of the Yellow River.

"Your Excellency has an order! Half of the officers and soldiers and Ding Zhuang on the city stay on the city, and the other half go to the bunk to rest quickly, but they are not allowed to stay away." Ordering the soldiers to post military orders on the top of the city, Chen Yongfu himself went down to the city immediately and returned. Go to Shangfang Temple, gather trusted generals, aides, and city guard officials and gentry, and discuss in secret.It won't be long.After the meeting, each went to prepare for tomorrow's big battle and bitter battle.Except for his dozen or so generals, the civilian officials and gentry guarding the city all had serious faces when they left.Everyone is worried: the fate of Kaifeng may be decided tomorrow.

When Chen Yongfu convened a meeting at Shangfang Temple, Li Zicheng and Song Xiance came outside Kaifeng City and inspected several important places.After dinner, he held the same meeting in the old camp in Yingcheng Junwang Garden.In addition to his own important generals, Niu, Song and others, Cao Cao and his adviser Ji Gui also arrived.The meeting lasted for a long time, discussing the matter of attacking the city tomorrow, and discussing the matter of entering the city.Who should enter the city first, how to occupy the major yamen and important streets in the city, how to prohibit the soldiers from robbing and harming the people, these matters have already been discussed, but because the city may be destroyed tomorrow, everyone discussed it again and re-determined, Comply with one body.

After the meeting, Li Zicheng stayed with Song Xiance and asked him whether he could break through Kaifeng tomorrow.Song Xiance pinched his fingers, muttered to himself in a low voice, made calculations, raised his head after playing tricks, and replied: "Tomorrow will be the time to attack, and it will be time to break the city."

"Can it break the city at this time?"

"Although it is estimated that the city can be broken tomorrow, the hexagram is always changing, and the change will change, and there will always be changes. If the city cannot be broken tomorrow, it will not be broken until the middle of the first month of next year." Song Xiance This kind of old fritters who have been around the rivers and lakes for a long time, of course, have to "Taoyuan three knots and a lonely branch", leaving a way out for themselves.

At dawn, the army moved into action.The cannons rang out in bursts and continued until Chen Shi.From between the Song Gate and Cao Gate to the North Gate, a full-line attack began.First of all, in Beicheng, the rebels bombarded the city wall with many cannons, and the shouts of the soldiers were actually to confuse the officers and soldiers, and there was no real attack.

In the big cave to the north of Caomen, the rebels had retreated at dawn.When exiting, [-] catties of gunpowder were installed.Installed the leads.At the hour of the hour, the fuse was lit; soon, there was only a loud noise, and the gunpowder exploded.

Taking advantage of the explosion of gunpowder, at least fifty cannons were concentrated, including twenty Nanzhong artillery of more than ten pounds.At the same time, it aimed at the place where the big hole collapsed.Some cannons also hit the top of the city, and the battlements were smashed one by one, and the enemy towers at the corner were also collapsed.Some of the officers and soldiers guarding the city died in the enemy towers, while others escaped.Part of the city wall above the big hole had already collapsed, and it collapsed piece by piece under the fierce artillery fire, forming a gap.

As early as the eighth day of the first lunar month, Yuan Zongdi, Liu Fangliang, and Hao Yaoqi had gathered five or six thousand elite old battalion infantry and cavalry, and set up a new camp three miles away from the northeast corner of the city.Tell the soldiers to have a good rest.

After the fourth watch, these elite soldiers were awakened from their dreams, and what awaited them was a rich meal. In addition to the meal, each of them had a porcelain pot of meat that was fried to brown on both sides, and a meat pot that was marinated and glowing red. Oily duck eggs, you can also enjoy two taels of rice wine.After a full meal, they began to gather outside the city at five o'clock, and the cavalry and infantry took up positions respectively.

It's almost time to hand in.The city wall has been blasted into a gap several feet wide by cannons.Suddenly, all the cannon stopped bombarding the gap.Only hit both sides of the gap.Liu Zongmin waved the red flag, and the two infantry led by Hao Yaoqi and Yuan Zongdi rushed straight to the gap, preparing to rush up the city wall from the gap.

Immediately, Liu Fangliang's cavalry also came to the dry bank of the moat, preparing to cross the moat once the infantry occupied the wall.Charge into the city through the gap.

At this time, there were no soldiers and civilians defending the city where the gap was aimed at.The soldiers and civilians defending the city were on both sides of the gap, separated by several feet, and they were beaten by cannons so that they could not raise their heads.Both Chen Yongfu and Huang Shu were near the gap, threatening to behead the Prime Minister.The soldiers and civilians who defended the city were forced to raise their heads, and shot arrows, gunpowder and bricks at the besieging rebels.But the soldiers and civilians who defended the city were killed and wounded almost as soon as they showed their heads.

Seeing that the gap would soon be occupied by rebels, Chen Yongfu shouted loudly: "I, Chen Yongfu, will die here, everyone kill the thieves!"

He led his own soldiers and servants to shoot arrows and set off firearms at the besieging rebels.Suddenly a blunderbuss exploded, and the hand and face of the gunner was injured, causing a commotion, and the firearm stopped firing again.But these soldiers and servants of Chen Yongfu are all excellent shooters.A burst of arrows shot down the gap, which was so fierce that the rebels who attacked the gap were killed and wounded.

However, the unskilled gunners in the rush once again created a dangerous situation.A six-pound gun whose muzzle was pointing obliquely in the direction of the gap, but because of the panic of the gunner, the gun barrel was filled with at least twice as much propellant!As a result, the artillery that was originally the official army became the blasting barrel of the peasant army. The chamber exploded in an instant, and the artillery carts, barrels, and burning explosives flew across the city, turning the city into a mess.

Seeing the chaos at the top of the city, Yuan Zongdi ordered his troops to pounce on the gap, trying to occupy the gap, open the gap, and rush into the city along the city wall.

"Fire the gun! Fire the gun!" Chen Yongfu staggered to a big Flang machine gun placed facing the gap with his sword in his hand, and stared at the gunner with red eyes, "Why don't you fire the gun!" Behind him, the charge of the peasant army People and horses came like a storm.

"My lord! This cannon has been fired for several rounds. Brothers are afraid that it will explode, let it cool down for a while!" A gunner holding a gun in his hand looked at the blood-dripping sword in Chen Yongfu's hand tremblingly, a little flustered answered him.

Feeling it with his hands, the cannon barrel of the Dafo Lang machine was no longer very hot. Chen Yongfu grabbed the gunner and said, "Load the gun! This town is standing here. If there is something wrong with the cannon, let me and the cannon blow it together first." Broken!"

The charging people were getting closer and closer to the gap. The gunners were about to ignite the long fuse, but Chen Yongfu cut off the fuse almost at the root with a sword. Someone handed over the torch, and Chen Yongfu ignited the fuse all at once.

"boom!"

Dozens of cannons galloped cheerfully among the crowd, blood sprayed wherever they went.

"God bless Daming!" "God bless Bianliang!" "Chen Zongbing is mighty!"

The soldiers and civilians defending the city at the top of the city saw what Chen Yongfu did, and a commander in chief was so disregarding the danger of his life, they all became more courageous.The morale that was about to collapse just now was restored by Chen Yongfu.Some people threw bricks into the gap, some threw gunpowder packs, and more people shot arrows under the gap and fired blunderbusses.

The first wave of Peasant Army soldiers rushing up along the gap at the top of the city suffered heavy casualties from the dense arrows and projectiles, and rolled down the top of the city.Immediately after the second batch came up, they were killed and wounded one after another, and rolled down.Then the third group attacked again.

In times of tension, sometimes suddenly the field fell into bursts of eerie silence.People just grit their teeth and fight to the death.But suddenly the shouts and the sound of war drums rang out again.

It turned out that Hao Yaoqi lost his temper, holding the banner of entering the camp in one hand and waving a sword in the other, surrounded by hundreds of old camp soldiers, shouting and attacking the gap.Under his leadership, the people who attacked the city rolled up another hurricane.He swooped towards the top of the city.

Seeing that the Chuangzi flag in Hao Yaoqi's hand was about to appear below the slope of the gap opened by the artillery fire, Chen Yongfu took the lead and leaned out again, shooting arrows fiercely with his subordinate soldiers. They threw rolling logs and rocks one after another, and fired firecrackers into the gap.

Caught off guard by this round of intensive blows, Hao Yaoqi, who rushed ahead, was hit by an arrow each on the arm and thigh, and fell down.People on the left and right also fell down one after another.The attack on the camp was repulsed again.

"My lord, that's the gangster Hao Yaoqi among the thieves!" Someone knew Hao Yaoqi and immediately pointed it out to Chen Yongfu.How can such a huge credit be let go?If the famous leader among the thieves can be captured in the siege battle.Whether it is for the defense of the city or for Chen Yongfu's military exploits, the significance is huge.

Chen Yongfu's son led two hundred family members and rushed down from the city along the gap, preparing to capture the fallen Hao Yaoqi and the injured peasant soldiers.

Fortunately, Yuan Zongdi followed closely and rescued Hao Yaoqi.

Yuan Zongdi led the infantry in groups and rushed towards the gap.Shouts and shouts were everywhere, and the drums of war were loudly sounded.Many people shouted at the same time: "The attack is in! The attack is in! Irrigate! Irrigate!"

Seeing that the infantry rushed to the gap, Liu Fangliang's cavalry also made preparations to rush to the gap.Everyone thought the gap was about to be taken.Li Zicheng said repeatedly: "Okay. Okay! Soon, soon!"

Suddenly.There was another burst of intensive gunfire on the city, and a cloud of gunpowder smoke rose.The soldiers of the peasant army who were about to climb into the gap were hit by the shells from their pockets, and they lay down in an instant, and those who continued to climb were also hit by the shells. Those hit by the shells, the dead and the wounded squeezed each other Fell on the road of charge.Others continued to rush towards the gap.But was finally hit by shells and firecrackers, and rolled down.This rushed several times without success, and the road was filled with dead and wounded.

Li Zicheng saw that the soldiers of the old battalion suffered heavy casualties, but he was unable to attack.He already had the intention of withdrawing troops, so he asked Song Xiance, "How about withdrawing troops?"

Song Xiance also saw that Chen Yongfu personally supervised the battle in the city, and the defense was strong. Today, the peasant army's morale has been weakened, and it is impossible to attack the city. Going down the stairs by himself is a problem that he needs to solve urgently.Shorty Song didn't answer immediately, but looked up at the sky.Li Zicheng knew that he was watching Qi, so he also looked up at the sky.At this time, the sun was gloomy, and the city was full of gunpowder smoke, but there was a floating cloud on the gunpowder smoke, which was affected by the gunfire, slightly reddish, but there was a thin cloud high in the sky, very white, slowly moving south.Song Xiance watched from a high altitude first, and then looked at the low-altitude clouds, with a serious face, nodding silently, if he understood.King Chuang asked, "How is the cloud?"

Song Xiance said: "It is said in the book: 'Those who are clear and white in the sky, their generals are strong, and their soldiers are timid.' The soldiers and civilians who defended the city were already timid. , caused many casualties to our army, and we were unable to attack the city." Pointing to a floating cloud not far from the top of the city, he continued, "Look, Marshal, the cloud covering the top of the city is just like what is said in the book. : "Those who stand upright in front of them are invincible." The sky is like this, and the time has passed, so you can withdraw your troops and break the city in ten days."

Since the sky is like this, then just retreat.

Liu Zongmin ordered Zhang Nai to bombard the left and right sides of the city gap with cannons, and at the same time gave an order to Ma Shiyao: Immediately lead an infantry personally to take back all the wounded soldiers under the city.After about a meal, Ma Shiyao snatched back all the soldiers who were still lying in the city. He himself was injured in two places, and the soldiers who followed him were also killed or injured.After Liu Zongmin waited for Ma Shiyao to complete the task, he waved a blue flag, the sound of the gong, and the sound of the artillery stopped. Some of the infantry who were preparing to attack the city half a mile away from the moat stayed behind, and some slowly retreated.All the cavalry retreated three miles away.Some of Zhang Nai and Heihuxing's firearms battalion retreated towards the embankment with cannons and gunpowder, while some stayed behind to cover the soldiers who were digging the city.The excavation of the city was still going on, and from Caomen to Beimen, there were still shouts of killing and the sound of artillery intertwined from time to time.

In this siege battle, Li Zicheng's old battalion elite suffered heavy losses. Three or 400 people were killed or injured just outside the main attack hole.Liu Fangliang's cavalry was useless.But they were also hit by the artillery fire from the top of the city, and more than [-] people were hit.Luo Rucai's Cao Ying was slightly better, but it also lost two or three hundred elite troops.

That night, Li Zicheng convened some important generals to discuss secretly with Song Xiance and others to decide the method and time of the next attack.He said with a heavy heart: "Our soldiers are so desperate, Kaifeng will definitely be breached. If Kaifeng is not breached, I will never be reconciled!"

but.As the siege did not go well, bad news came one after another.

First, the thousands of officers and soldiers taken in during the Battle of Huoshaodian were unstable and planned to mutiny and escape.Unexpectedly, the secret was not secret, and the chief general Liu Tichun noticed that he immediately mobilized troops to surround and disarm these thousands of people.

After a series of torture and interrogation, dozens of people who will be the leader were found out, and 400 people related to these people were pushed out by Liu Tichun and Liu Erhu and beheaded.Then the rest of the troops were disrupted and mixed with the troops of the other battalions.This calmed down the storm.

But when Luo Rucai brought his counselors Ji Gui and Sun Shengzu and other generals to Yingcheng County King's Garden to discuss the military situation, Luo Rucai brought another bad news.

"Generalissimo." After saluting to Li Zicheng.Luo Rucai, who was named the Great General of Wealth and Fumin on behalf of the heavens, looked a little sad, with wrinkles on his fat face.

"You guys found out new military information. It is said that Zuo Liangyu led more than [-] horses to rescue Kaifeng..."

This major change in military situation immediately attracted Li Zicheng's attention: "Is it reliable? Didn't Zuo Liangyu fight between Laohuihui and the fifth battalion of Geliyan Huige in Macheng and Shangcheng?"

"Yes! But after making a detailed report, he received an urgent letter from Chongzhen, ordering him to rescue Kaifeng as soon as possible. Otherwise, he would be engaged in military law. He didn't dare to neglect, so he immediately rectified the troops. He came to Kaifeng."

Originally thought that Zuo Liangyu, who was restrained by Lao Huihui, Ge Liyan and other northern Shaanxi township parties, came so suddenly and marched so fast.When receiving the enemy's information, the forward of the left army had already arrived in Gwangju. In the past few days, I am afraid that the brigade has already arrived in Gwangju.

What's more terrible is that Zuo Liangyu has fought against Zhang Xianzhong and the so-called Fangjun Ninth Battalion and other peasant army units in recent years, winning more than losing.Through methods such as annexation, recruiting and accepting rebels, and forcing strong men, his troops not only far exceeded the number of personnel that a general should have by several times, reaching nearly 10 horses, but also because of the many "surrenders" of his subordinates, their combat effectiveness was also far greater than that of a general. It is not comparable to ordinary Ming army troops.

There is a strong city in the past that is difficult to conquer.Zuo Liangyu's army came behind him.No wonder Cao Cao Luo Rucai, who has always been known for his resourcefulness, is also full of gloom.

"This Zuo Liangyu has figured out that we are in a dilemma right now, and that's why he listened to the emperor! Otherwise, his men would be much larger than Madman He. Madman He dared to leave the governor and run away. Why did he listen to Chongzhen's son so much?! Could it be that he is Li Shouhan?"

"However, the old Zuo is indeed different from the general generals now. Ever since he was appointed as the general who suppressed the thieves, he is no longer the former commander-in-chief. Not only are there more troops, but also there are not so many parents-in-law on his head. The governor, prime minister, and supervisor are the civil servants who can fight more according to their own ideas. This person comes from the army, has a lot of experience, is brave and resourceful, and is good at winning over soldiers. We are not afraid of him coming, but we must not underestimate the enemy. At present We must be ready to break through Kaifeng as soon as possible, and then focus on fighting the old left. After defeating the old left, there will be no more powerful enemies in the Central Plains."

Li Zicheng severely set the tone for the meeting and made strategic arrangements for the next military operation.As a partner, Luo Rucai had no choice but to follow his intention to discuss the next action arrangement.

While he was talking, he answered the sentence of "No Ji Tai Lai".Chinese Army Wu Ruyi hurried in.

"Generalissimo! General! A new military situation has arrived!"

"Say!"

"That's right, when the sky falls, King Chuang will support it!"

"It's not a bad thing! It's great news! Our little Huzi and Wang Long brothers are back with 10,000+ people!" (To be continued...)

ps: Continue to ask for the amount of the monthly pass!