Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 324 Seizing the City
South of Jingzhou City, a six-meter-high earthen hill rose from the ground. On the top of the hill, cannons were constantly firing at the top of Jingzhou City. On the top of the city, cannons were also firing loudly, and they kept fighting back. The rumbling sound of cannons resounded throughout the fields.
It took the Ming army two months to finally build a dirt hill, but even though the Ming army had built a dirt hill, they were still at a disadvantage.

When the Qing army in the city saw that the earthen hill outside the city had been built, they transferred nearly half of the artillery in the city to the south city to fight against the Ming army. Although the Ming army had many small artillery, they were still suppressed by the heavy artillery in the city.
Under the bombardment of the Qing army's heavy artillery, the earthen hill that the Ming army had built with great effort only lasted for a few days before a small section was blown down, and more than 20 small artillery pieces were lost at once. The Ming army also changed from attacking the Qing army in parallel to shooting from above.
The Ming army was suppressed by the Qing army in the city in terms of firepower, but the more serious problem for the Ming army at this time was the shortage of gunpowder.
Although Du Yinxi had begun preparing for this war half a year ago, the areas occupied by Du Yinxi and Li Guo were too barren. Du Yinxi only had Changde Prefecture before he set out, and Li Guo's troops were hiding in the mountains of western Hubei, such as Badong and Zigui.
The local gentry who supported the Ming Dynasty could still raise food, wages, clothing and other supplies, but Du Yinxi had nowhere to find military supplies such as gunpowder.

When Du Yinxi just returned to Hubei Province, he was able to transport some gunpowder from Hunan Province for storage. However, after Kong Youde and others officially invaded Hunan Province, the traffic between the two places was cut off, and Hubei Province could no longer obtain gunpowder supply.

The two armies have been fighting for more than ten days, and the Ming army is almost out of gunpowder.
However, despite this, Du Yinxi and his men continued to attack the city every day. In order to build this earthen hill, the Ming army had lost more than 2,000 civilians and more than 100 elite soldiers.
At this moment, no matter whether it is the Ming army or the Qing army, no one can stop.
The two armies in the south of the city fired fierce artillery at each other, while the north of the city, which had been quite peaceful, suddenly changed.

The road north of Jingzhou City was cut off by the Ming army, and no one had been seen outside the city for a long time. But at this moment, a group of soldiers suddenly came to fight under the city.
More than a hundred Ming cavalrymen in red armor fled in panic, while behind them were three hundred Qing cavalrymen in blue cloth armor.

The cavalrymen in the rear were raining arrows, and the cavalrymen in the front kept falling to the ground, but they did not dare to fight back.

The Ming cavalry fled to the city in panic, and then fled directly to the west city and continued to flee southward. However, after the Qing cavalry arrived at the city, they pulled in the reins and did not pursue them.

More than 300 blue-armored cavalrymen stood at the foot of the north city. Not long after, more than 3,000 infantrymen in blue-black uniforms suddenly appeared on the official road and quickly came down to the city.
After the infantrymen in the rear arrived at the city, seven or eight cavalrymen from the army outside the city also rushed towards the city.
When the cavalry arrived at the city, they shouted at the top of the city wall:
"We are the defenders of Xiangyang City. General Wang Guangtai, the deputy commander of the Xiangyang Left Camp, has been ordered by the Huguang Governor's Office to lead 3,000 troops to rush to Jingzhou. Please open the gates of the city immediately."

After the defenders in the north of the city discovered the unusual movement outside the city, they had already sent people to the city to report. Soon after the cavalrymen shouted, Li Qifeng, the military governor of Jingnan, Sun Dingliao, the admiral, Zheng Siwei, the general of Jingzhou, and others all rushed to the top of the city.

Li Qifeng frowned as he looked at the document presented by the city. The document handed over by the soldiers was complete with seals and was indeed issued by the Huguang Governor's Office, but the content of the document was not right.

If the Huguang Governor's Office wanted to send troops to help, it should have given a rescue document and also stated the number of soldiers to help, so that it could be checked later.
But the document given outside the city was a document from the Huguang Governor's Office summoning Xiangyang Deputy Generals Wang Guangtai and Wang Chang to go to Anlu to discuss the rescue of Jingzhou.
Li Qifeng looked at the green flags flying in the army formation outside the city, frowned, and said to Sun Dingliao beside him:

"Has anyone outside the city received a messenger from the Governor's Office recently?"

Sun Dingliao thought for a moment and then replied:

"There have been no messengers entering the city recently. The Ming army has surrounded the city and blocked all sides. Even if the governor sent a messenger, it is very likely that he would be intercepted by the Ming army and unable to break into the city."

"Why, there is something wrong with this group of people outside the city?"

"Just wait and see for yourself"

Li Qifeng handed the document to the two men, and after reading it, Sun Dingliao and the other man also frowned slightly.

Zheng Siwei looked at the Xiangyang army formation standing a mile away from the city wall, thought for a moment, and then said

"The Ming army has besieged the city for two months and has not made any progress. We need to be on guard against the Ming army's tricks. I think we should be cautious at this time."

Li Qifeng nodded slightly upon hearing this, and soon the soldiers on the top of the city wall shouted to the cavalrymen below:

"The document you handed over is not a rescue document from the Governor's Office. The city is temporarily unable to verify your identity."

"If you want to enter the city, you should quickly submit the rescue document from the Governor's Office, or order the reinforcement commander Wang Guangtai to the city and explain the matter to you in person."

Upon hearing this, the cavalrymen under the city also rushed back to the rear formation. After a few cavalrymen returned, it was only a moment later that dozens of cavalrymen and horses immediately rushed out of the military formation and galloped towards the city.
The leader was wearing iron armor and a red tasseled iron helmet. The group left the battle formation and rushed directly to the bottom of the city wall without any hesitation.
If the soldiers on the city walls fired at them at once, even if these people were wearing armor, they would probably be shot to death immediately.
When the leading armored man arrived at the foot of the city, he immediately raised his head and started to curse.

"What's going on in Jingzhou? I've come thousands of miles with my troops to help you. Why don't you just open the city gates? Instead, you're arguing with me about paperwork."

"Damn it, if you like documents so much, why don't you just ask the Governor's Office to send you a few more? Why are you forcing me to come here?"

"Where is Li Qifeng and Sun Dingliao from Jingnan Dao? Tell them to come over and open the city quickly. I don't have time to talk nonsense with you guys."

Li Qifeng and others on the top of the city wall looked at the generals who were cursing below the city wall, and they were also shocked. However, Li Qifeng did not reply immediately, but looked at Sun Dingliao beside him and asked:

"The man under the city is Wang Guangtai"

Sun Dingliao listened attentively for a while before speaking.

“It really sounds like Wang Guangtai’s voice.”

Li Qifeng's expression was also slightly relieved after hearing this. Li Qifeng thought for a moment, and then shouted to the people under the city:
"General Wang, I am Li Qifeng from Jingnan Province. The city has received the documents you sent, but why does General Wang only have the documents for discussing rescue but no official documents for leading troops to rescue?"

The generals under the city heard what Li Qifeng said, but instead of calming down, they became even angrier and started to curse again.

"How do I know why there is no rescue document? I received an order to go to Anlu to discuss matters, but before I got halfway, I received a letter from the governor's office saying that the Ming army was building a wall to attack the city and Jingzhou was about to fall, and asked me to lead troops to rescue immediately."

"I led the troops on a journey of thousands of miles, and I couldn't even get a hot meal along the way. I wish I could go to Anlu to discuss matters for a year or two. Do you think I'm willing to come?"

Li Qifeng on the city wall was about to ask questions, but at this time there was another sound of horse hooves outside the city. Dozens of Ming soldiers suddenly rushed out from the east city, and then rushed to the north of the city, wandering around the Qing army on both sides, and began to monitor the army formation under the city.

The cavalrymen in the Qing army also rushed out immediately and began to drive away the Ming army's cavalry scouts.

A Qing scout outside the city rushed towards the armored generals below the city. At this time, Li Qifeng and others on the top of the city also received a report from the city that the Ming army in the south of the city had stopped attacking the city and began to gather soldiers and rush to the north of the city.
Li Qifeng heard the report, but before he could react, the general below started shouting again.

"Li Qifeng, are you going to open the door or not? The Ming army from the south of the city is coming. I don't have time to waste time talking to you."

"I will only wait for you for half a quarter of an hour. If you don't open the city gate in half a quarter of an hour, I will leave immediately. If it weren't for the Governor's pressure, do you really think I want to save Jingzhou?"

The general below the city turned around and was about to leave. Li Qifeng on the city wall saw Wang Guangtai was about to leave, and he didn't care about anything else. He immediately shouted, "Wait a minute, General Wang. The official document is not in accordance with the law. I dare not open the city gate rashly. Since the governor's office has ordered the general to leave, if the general leaves without knowing the reason, he will definitely be punished by the court later."

"General, please take off your helmet so I can check it again."

The generals under the city suddenly stopped moving after hearing this, and seemed to be hesitating.
After a while, the general under the city started to curse again.

"Damn it, there are so many soldiers in Huguang, why did you have to transfer me here?"

"Open your eyes and see clearly"

Wang Guangtai took off his helmet and looked up at the city wall. At this time, Sun Dingliao also poked his head out from the top of the city wall.
The two looked at each other. Wang Guangtai saw Sun Dingliao on the top of the city wall, but his face was full of surprise. He said

"So General Sun is here too. That's good. Now the Ming army is attacking, and we can't enter the city. We can't resist with just a few thousand soldiers. We can only leave first."

"General Sun, rest assured. After I leave, I will immediately report to the Governor's Office and ask the Governor's Office to dispatch more troops to help."

"General Sun, you have seen it. I have led the army to the city. It was Li Qifeng who refused to let me enter the city. This is not my fault. General Sun, you must testify for me afterwards."

After Wang Guangtai finished speaking, he immediately rode away. Sun Dingliao, who was standing on the top of the city wall, also changed his expression slightly when he saw this. He immediately shouted:

"Brother Wang, this is a misunderstanding. It's all a misunderstanding. Brother Wang, please quickly reorganize the troops. I will open the city right away."

Sun Dingliao was still shouting on the top of the city wall, but Wang Guangtai, who was below the city wall, had already run back to the army formation. It was unknown whether he heard it or not.

Li Qifeng's face darkened when he heard what Wang Guangtai said. It was clear that Wang Guangtai wanted to escape, but the thief turned the tables and put the blame on him.

Li Qifeng even suspected that Wang Guangtai had deliberately hidden the rescue documents from the Governor's Office, waiting for him to refuse to open the city so that he could take the opportunity to escape.
Li Qifeng looked at Sun Dingliao beside him and said

"How can we be sure that this person is Wang Guangtai?"

"I met the two Wang Guangtai brothers once during a meeting at the Huguang Governor's Office. This man is indeed Wang Guangtai."

Li Qifeng finally made up his mind after hearing this. At this time, the Qing army in the city still had the advantage of firepower with heavy artillery, but after the Ming army built up the earthen hill, the Ming army had the strength to counterattack.

During these days, the Ming army has rushed to the top of the city several times, and the Qing army in the city has also suffered heavy casualties.

The Ming army in the south of the city had been besieging the city for two months. No one knew how long the siege would last. At this time, the city was in urgent need of reinforcements.
Li Qifeng and others confirmed Wang Guangtai's identity and did not delay any longer. The north gate of Jingzhou slowly opened, and Wang Guangtai led his soldiers into the city.
The soldiers marched to the city gate. Wang Guangtai and 300 cavalrymen were the first to enter the city gate. After the cavalry entered the city, the infantry followed closely.
In the doorway, Ta Xin Ce saw that more than half of the soldiers had entered, but suddenly he shouted

"Hands on"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers in the doorway immediately pushed the grain cart sideways to block the doorway.
Taxinze raised his hand and shot a whistling arrow toward the outside of the doorway, then drew his sword and led his soldiers to rush out of the doorway.
In front of the city gate, Wang Guangtai heard the sound of arrows from the gate, and his expression suddenly turned cold.

Wang Guangtai drew out his long sword and chopped down a Qing soldier beside him. The guards beside Wang Guangtai also chopped at the Qing soldiers on both sides of the city gate.
Dozens of cavalrymen rushed directly into the city, sprinkled the kerosene in their water bags on the streets and houses in front of the city, and started to set fire to them.

On the top of the city wall, Li Qifeng heard the shouting and killing below the city, and his expression changed immediately. He shouted angrily:
"Quickly kill all these rebels and close the city gates"

At this time, the Ming and Qing armies were already fighting inside the city gate, but the people on the top of the city wall didn't care at all. A wave of arrows rained down directly from the top of the city wall.
The Qing soldiers under the city were hit by the rain of arrows from the top of the city wall and fell to the ground one after another. The arrows hit the Ming soldiers, and the Ming soldiers just shook slightly and continued to raise their swords to slash forward.
The robes of the Ming army soldiers were torn apart, revealing a layer of cold light inside. These Ming army soldiers were all wearing iron armor.
The troops that followed Wang Guangtai into the city were not the Xiangyang defenders, but the Tengxiang Army led by Ta Xince and the Li Guo's personal guards led by Ma Chongxi.
These three thousand men were all wearing iron armor. Most of the armor of the Jingzhou Ming army was gathered here.
Ta Xinze led the Tengxiang army to charge to the left, while Wang Guangtai and Ma Chongxi attacked from the right. The two groups of troops quickly defeated the intercepting Qing army and climbed up the ramp to the top of the city.

On the top of the city wall, the two armies were fighting frantically. At this time, only a few hundred Ming soldiers had rushed to the top of the city wall, and the rest of the Ming soldiers were still blocking the doorway.

Although the Ming army was small in number, the Qing army was being killed continuously on the city walls.
All the Ming soldiers were wearing armor at this time. Except for the personal soldiers led by Sun Dingliao, Zheng Siwei and others, the rest of the soldiers were unable to resist these elite Ming soldiers in armor.

On the right side of the city wall, Wang Guangtai pulled the long knife out from the neck of a Qing soldier, who fell to the ground, and his blood spilled onto the black cannon.
Not far from Wang Guangtai, Sun Dingliao was also leading his guards in the fight. Sun Dingliao looked at Wang Guangtai opposite him with a ferocious expression on his face and shouted:
"How dare you rebel against the imperial court!"

"I am a Han Chinese and a general of the Ming Dynasty. How can I be a rebel?"

"There is not a single Tartar in the city's garrison, all of them are Han Chinese. You are selling out your ancestors for fame and fortune, working for the Tartars. You deserve to be killed."

The two men shouted angrily, and then rushed towards each other at the same time. The guards beside them followed closely, and the two sides fought again.

The two armies on the city wall were shouting and fighting, but at this moment, a rumbling sound of horse hooves suddenly came from below the city.

Two thousand cavalrymen in red armor suddenly rushed out from the east of the city and rushed towards the city gate. Behind the cavalrymen, a large number of Ming army infantrymen also rushed towards the north of the city.
On the top of the city wall, Sun Dingliao looked at the cavalry that rushed into the city gate, and a trace of despair finally flashed in his eyes.

As the main force of the Ming army rushed into the north city, the defenders in Jingzhou City also completely collapsed.

In the evening, it began to rain again. The cold wind mixed with light rain made the three heads hanging below the tower sway constantly.

In the dim twilight, red flags stood on the top of the city, like burning flames. As the Ming army flags rose on the top of the city, Jingzhou fell into the hands of the Ming court.
After the Ming army captured Jingzhou, they did not stop at all. Du Yinxi sent Ma Chongxi to lead 5,000 troops to garrison Jingzhou, while the remaining 25,000 Ming troops immediately began to march north.

After Jingzhou was captured, there was no longer a large army defending the cities in the rear. The Ming army took the heads of Li Qifeng and others and recruited rebels along the way. Jingmen, Chengtian, Yicheng, and other prefectures and counties along the way surrendered one after another.
The Ming army rushed to Xiangyang without any resistance. Du Yinxi and other main forces of the Ming army successfully entered Xiangyang. The three prefectures of Jingzhou, Chengtian and Xiangyang were thus connected.

(End of this chapter)