Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 304 Internal and external cooperation
"Time is running out. The longer we delay, the worse it will be for us." Deng Zhang's face darkened and he lowered his voice.
"Now we can't get in touch with Zhang Huangyan, so we can only act according to the plan.

If we miss tonight, Zhang Huangyan will probably launch a strong attack.

By then, the Tartars will definitely send us to be cannon fodder, and I don’t want to die here without knowing why.”

At this moment, Deng Zhang had already made up his mind to rebel, and his resolve would never waver.

After all, the Ming army had already proved with their strength that they could defeat the Eight Banners Army. Since there was still a way to survive by rebelling against the Qing Dynasty, Deng Zhang was even more unwilling to continue to be a slave of the Tartars.

"Yes, General!" Zhao Kui responded with his head down, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, and he was ready to take all risks.

Speaking of Zhao Kui's background, his father was a servant of the Li family. Zhao Kui grew up in the Li family since he was a child and now has become Deng Zhang's most trusted confidant.

The deep scar on his face was the mark left when he protected Deng Zhang during the clan fight.

"Tonight you take thirty brothers with you and act according to the plan."

Deng Zhang looked at Zhao Kui, paused, and patted his shoulder again, his eyes revealing a hint of worry and expectation:

"Be careful then. If you encounter any accident, run away if you can. Don't stay and die with me.

If all goes well, once we have wiped out the Tartars in Fuzhou, I'll be promoted and rich, and you'll still be my deputy general!"
.
Although Maca lacked direct evidence, the Green Camp Army lieutenant general's actions in the past few days made him suspicious. After repeated weighing, he decided to kill the innocent rather than let him go.

Since the outbreak of the war in the Central Plains, the Green Camp Army has secretly communicated with the Ming Army many times inside the Great Wall, and even hundreds of Green Camp soldiers have surrendered to the enemy collectively. These things have forced Maca to be on guard.

He weighed in his mind that if he eliminated these more than a thousand Green Camp soldiers, although it would cause a brief period of turmoil in the morale of the army in the city, it would not have much impact on the overall defense of Fuzhou.

Once these people really join forces with the Ming army outside the city, Fuzhou City will probably be difficult to defend.

In the darkness of the night, the military camp in Fuzhou gradually fell silent.

Deng Zhang and Zhao Kui were planning secretly in the shadows. Although patrols from the city passed by from time to time, they had already made all the arrangements.

Zhao Kui, along with a team of trusted aides, quietly walked out of the dark alley and approached the southern sentry post as planned.

He whispered orders, and the team quickly dispersed, each finding a suitable position to lie in ambush.

Looking towards the city wall, Zhao Kui's heart beat faster, and Deng Zhang's instructions echoed in his mind.

He was extremely excited. This battle was not for glory and wealth, but to stop himself and his brothers from living on the edge of a knife.

At the same time, Maca was thinking about his next step in the tent. If he could eliminate the hidden dangers inside, he would be sure to win.

He does not mind using tough measures to consolidate his rule, especially when the current situation is so critical, he cannot afford to be negligent.

The air in Fuzhou City seemed to be frozen, with a faint smell of blood, waiting for the bloody storm at dawn.

Faced with powerful enemies surrounding him, Maca knew that it would not be an easy task to completely annihilate Deng Zhang and his more than a thousand men silently.

These people were not ordinary Green Camp soldiers, especially the more than one hundred servants, all of whom were brave and skilled in fighting, with extraordinary combat power and complete equipment.

The bloodiness and experience they have accumulated on the battlefield over the years make them as difficult to tame as tigers.

If there is any mistake in the operation, the Ming army is likely to seize the opportunity and reverse the situation.

Furthermore, the people in Shandong have always been tough, and these servants grew up in such an atmosphere, which made them even more fierce and difficult to deal with, and they would not surrender easily.

Because of this, Maca dare not take it lightly. The plan must be strict and the execution must be precise.

Maca thought to himself that if he wanted to get rid of Deng Zhang without causing too much commotion, he had to use the cover of darkness, the coordination of troops, and the disguise of lurkers to carry out a one-shot kill.

After careful consideration, Maca decided to launch a surprise attack tonight and not give the other party any chance to breathe.

He quickly arranged an action plan and divided the troops into three groups:

One group of elite soldiers went straight for Deng Zhang himself, and surrounded the Green Camp soldiers' camp all the way to ensure that no one could get support. Finally, they climbed up the city wall, used disguise and feint attack to lure the Green Camp soldiers on night patrol in the city to leave their positions, and then eliminated them one by one.

Only by acting in an orderly manner and using covert means can we ensure a quick resolution to this battle and avoid exposure.

In the middle of the night, just as midnight arrived, the wind was howling. The fire disc on the city wall of the east gate of Fuzhou City was swaying. The flames jumped unsteadily in the north wind, emitting a faint light, providing a natural cover for the lurkers.

In the darkness a hundred steps away from the moat, Zhao Zhengdong and his more than a hundred soldiers, as well as elite troops led by nine other centurions, totaling thousands of people, were lying in the grass, holding their breath.

They had been lurking for a long time, enduring the cold night and the biting north wind, just waiting for the order.

At this moment, on the city wall of the east gate, six elite Bayala soldiers were on duty with more than twenty baoyi. Although they were feeling tired, they remained vigilant.

This group of elite Bayala soldiers have been stationed on the city wall for a long time, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding darkness, and seem to be ready to deal with emergencies at any time.

In the room behind them, another group of Bayala elite soldiers and baoyi were taking a short rest to recuperate.

The Ming army's several surprise attacks in the past two or three years have made these Bayara soldiers extremely sensitive to everything around them, like a frightened bird, and they are on high alert.

The defense measures in Fuzhou City are impeccable.

The Qing court had already stationed Bayala Jia soldiers to lead the baoyi soldiers to guard the city towers of the East Gate, West Gate, South Gate and North Gate strictly. The Green Camp soldiers were not allowed to approach the city walls, let alone set foot on the city towers.

Under such deployment, the Qing court not only added strong fortifications and a large number of artillery on the city walls, but also specially arranged a sensitive early warning mechanism.

The Qing court was well aware of the importance of Fuzhou City and tried to ensure that even a small number of troops could hold the place and not be easily breached.

As the night deepened, more than 20 servants disguised themselves as Green Camp soldiers on night duty, dressed neatly, endured the biting cold wind, and followed Zhao Kui, who was as tall as a bear, quietly walking towards the east gate city wall.

Zhao Kui was a burly man, his muscles looking particularly strong and solid in the night. He walked steadily, and every step carried a silent murderous intent.

The people chosen by Maca are all experienced servants. They are agile and have excellent camouflage skills, and can blend into the night without being discovered.

They move silently, like ghosts, and the moment they get close to their target, they will launch a fatal attack like a venomous snake.

Zhao Kui walked in front. He had broad shoulders and a thick back. He walked with a steady and cold aura, and there was a fierce look in his eyes.

He was fully aware of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders. This mission was of great importance and any mistake could ruin the entire operation.

Zhao Kui carefully looked at every corner of the city wall, observing the guards' positions, the frequency of their walking, and the blind spots illuminated by the fire, taking in all the details.

He signaled his servants to hide in the dark and wait for the opportunity.

Under Zhao Kui's guidance, the servants, disguised as Green Camp soldiers, approached the city walls in an orderly manner. Their faces were expressionless, but their hearts were tense. At Zhao Kui's signal, the elite Bayala soldiers guarding the towers didn't notice anything unusual, instead thinking it was a routine shift change.

To ensure their safety, they briefly handed over their affairs to the servants who were disguised as Green Camp soldiers and then hurried away.

Just as the Bayala soldiers turned around and left, Zhao Kui quickly waved his hand.

More than twenty servants suddenly rushed forward, silently subdued several sentries, and quickly and accurately eliminated them one by one.

At this time, there was no sound on the city wall. Deng Zhang's surprise attack plan had already been launched, and it did not arouse the vigilance of other defenders at all.
.
Zhao Zhengdong and his troops also took quick action after receiving the signal, cooperating tacitly and dividing their forces into several groups.

As the lurkers approached the Green Camp camp, the outer guard soldiers were eliminated one by one, and the Green Camp soldiers were surrounded without realizing it.

There was silence outside the entire Fuzhou city. Amid the howling night wind, Deng Zhang's troops infiltrated the defense lines around the city like nocturnal beasts.

For the Bayara defenders in Fuzhou, tonight's calm was shrouded in undercurrents, and a deadly attack was advancing gradually without their knowledge.

But he was as calm as ice. He was determined to wipe out Deng Zhang and his subordinates in the shortest possible time and completely eliminate this hidden danger.

In his opinion, Deng Zhang and his Green Camp soldiers were already trapped in a jar, and the cover of night was the best cover. Tonight was destined to be a silent but deadly massacre.

Deng Zhang's plan seems simple and clear, but it is full of risks.

The task he assigned to Zhao Kui was to take advantage of the time when the Qing army was patrolling at night and lead thirty elite servants to raid the Eight Banners soldiers and baoyi in the East City Tower.

After defeating the defenders, they would immediately rush into the lock tower, cut the ropes of the drawbridge, and lower the drawbridge at the east gate.

Once the Ming army ambushing outside the city heard the fierce fighting inside the city, they would take advantage of the situation to launch a charge and seize the east gate of Fuzhou City.

Everything seemed to be going on in an orderly manner. Although Maca's three armies were not completely successful, they still managed to surround Deng Zhang's residence and the Green Camp barracks, buying time for action.

On Zhao Kui's side, he passed the sentry's inspection effortlessly, sneaked into the vicinity of the East Gate Tower with thirty well-equipped servants, and quickly took over the night duty.

The cold winter night in Fuzhou made the air bitingly chilly, and the north wind echoed like a whistle on the city walls.

Zhao Kui and his night attack soldiers were wearing thick double-layer cotton armor, their faces were wrapped with layers of cotton cloth, and their whole bodies looked bloated and inconvenient.

But this also makes them look like ordinary night watch soldiers, making them more difficult to detect.

The city wall they were responsible for guarding was less than a hundred steps away from the east gate tower, and there were no other Qing troops stationed around.

Zhao Kui knew that the opportunity was fleeting, so he led his team slowly towards the city wall. His face was solemn, his movements were agile, and his every move revealed a calm murderous aura.

The north wind was raging, the night was dark, and there was nothing on the entire city wall except the sound of the wind. Few people noticed their footsteps.

Zhao Kui walked in front, with two sharp axes hanging around his waist. He calmly stayed close to the parapet to protect himself from being noticed by the Qing army on the city wall.

He slowly stuck his head out and carefully observed the layout around the city wall. From inside the brightly lit city wall came the whispers of several Manchus, faintly heard in the wind.

On the outside, several baoyi soldiers were half leaning against the wall, looking exhausted and ready to fall asleep at any moment.

Seeing this, Zhao Kui's eyes flashed, realizing that the time had come.

He made a brief gesture with his hands behind his back, silently took out two short axes from his waist, breathing steadily, and the axe blades flashed coldly in the firelight.

The servants who received the order rushed forward silently like a group of hungry wolves, each holding a sharp blade, and quickly attacked the defenseless baoyi soldiers. The sharp blades cut through the air and chopped straight towards the baoyi's necks and heads.

The sudden attack left the baoyi soldiers on duty on the city wall with no chance to react. They were cut in the throat one by one in the transition between dream and wakefulness, and fell to the ground in an instant, their blood seeping into the cold ground.

Zhao Kui's gaze remained unmoved. He signaled his men to quickly clean up the bodies of the baoyi soldiers to avoid excessive bloodstains that would attract the attention of other defenders.

However, before they could fully control the situation, the elite Bayala soldiers inside the city wall had already noticed something was wrong.

These battle-hardened Bayalas were worthy of being the elite of the Qing court. Upon hearing the noise outside the city wall, they quickly gathered together, came out with knives in hand, and vigilantly rushed towards the gate of the city wall.

Seeing this, Zhao Kui's eyes narrowed slightly, with a somewhat cold smile. He thought to himself that these Manchu elites were indeed different from ordinary bannermen. Their agility made him pay more attention to the upcoming battle.

The surprise attack by Bayala's elite troops forced Zhao Kui to temporarily change his strategy. He stepped back a few steps and whispered to his servants to disperse under the cover of the city wall, using staggered formations to distract the enemy's attention while keeping the formation in order.

The servants reacted quickly, using every shadow and battlement on the city wall to hide their bodies very cleverly, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

The distance between the two sides gradually narrowed, and the air was filled with tense murderous atmosphere.

The Bayara soldiers all had sharp eyes and held long swords inlaid with special Manchu knives, approaching Zhao Kui and his party step by step.

At this moment, Zhao Kui suddenly roared, picked up his two axes and jumped out first, chopping fiercely at Bayala who was leading the group. The axe blade drew a cold light in the night sky and went straight to the enemy's throat.

Although Bayala, who was leading the group, reacted quickly and blocked with his sword, he was still knocked back several steps by Zhao Kui's strength.

At this, the morale of the other servants was boosted, and they all stepped forward to fight.

Zhao Kui's ferocity and fearlessness deeply aroused their bloodiness. Under his leadership, the servants rushed towards the Bayala soldiers like wild beasts, bursting into shouts of killing.

Although they were surrounded by the elite Bayala, the servants were still not afraid of life and death. They swung their weapons with all their strength and fought with their opponents in close combat.

The flashes of swords and axes rose and fell in the darkness. In the light of the fire, blood splattered everywhere, and the entire city wall suddenly turned into a Shura field.

However, Bayala's elite troops were extraordinary after all. They were not intimidated by Zhao Kui's momentum, but fought back even more fiercely.

The two sides engaged in a fierce battle on the narrow city wall. Zhao Kui wielded two axes and attacked left and right, beheading the enemies while inevitably suffering several knife wounds. However, he did not retreat at all and became more and more courageous as the battle went on.

Seeing the battle becoming more and more intense, Zhao Kui became secretly anxious, as he knew that time was running out.

The Ming army lying in ambush outside the city was waiting for the drawbridge to be lowered. If they delayed too long, their action would be exposed.

He loudly ordered several servants to attack from the flank, while he himself used fierce force to break through the enemy's defense line and rushed towards the gatehouse with his men.

Several servants rushed to the gatehouse and chopped the suspension bridge rope with axes. At this moment, a sharp horn sounded in the night sky, and the Qing army in the city seemed to be alert.

Zhao Kui's heart suddenly tightened, but he had no time to think about it. He tried his best to command the servants to speed up the action.

Finally, with a crisp sound of breaking, the rope of the suspension bridge was finally cut.

The drawbridge fell down with a loud bang. The Ming army lying in ambush outside heard the signal and immediately launched a charge. Torches came rushing like meteors, and the sound of killing outside the city gate was deafening.

(End of this chapter)