Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 307 Broken City
Zhao Zhengdong led seven or eight soldiers to successfully climb the city wall. Then he waved his shield, drew the golden-backed sword behind him, roared, and led the charge towards the Qing army.

His movements were steady and fierce. He held the shield high in his left hand and pointed the knife in his right hand at the enemy formation. His steps were like a tiger descending the mountain, which was chilling.

The soldiers behind him were not afraid of fighting either. They stood in a guarding posture, with guns raised to cover both sides, following closely, with a fearless fighting spirit in their eyes.

As the Ming army climbed up the city wall one after another, soldiers from both sides rushed face to face in the reflection of the war, and the battle formation gradually became chaotic.

Some rushed forward quickly, while others retreated hastily. They were entangled with each other, and it was difficult to distinguish between friend and foe amidst the flashing swords and shadows.

At the ladders next to the battlements, a new wave of Ming soldiers arrived, jumped down from the ladders and joined the battlefield.

Soldiers from both sides engaged in a melee on the narrow city wall. The harsh sound of metal clashing was heard in their ears, the flames flickered on the soldiers' ferocious faces, and the sound of fighting on the battlefield was endless.

Zhao Zhengdong was observing the enemy situation calmly. Suddenly, a Qing soldier rushed out from the crowd, his face full of murderous intent, and swung his sword to chop at him fiercely.

Zhao Zhengdong swiftly raised his shield to block the blow, and the knife hit the shield hard, causing the Qing soldier's arm to go numb. The blade even left a deep mark on the shield.

A gleam of light flashed in Zhao Zhengdong's eyes. Taking advantage of the Qing soldier's unpreparedness, he suddenly raised his shield and kicked him in the abdomen. The Qing soldier screamed in pain, was kicked back a few steps, and his face turned pale.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhao Zhengdong quickly pursued, protecting himself with a shield while striding forward and stabbing the fallen Qing soldier with his knife.

The tip of the knife pierced through the Qing soldier's armor, making a sharp metallic cracking sound, and then pierced into the abdomen. Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the ground red.

The Qing soldier fell to the ground and struggled, his eyes bulging. He instinctively tried to cover his wounds with his hands, but blood kept gushing out of his mouth and he gradually became silent.

Zhao Zhengdong drew out his knife and immediately adjusted his posture, bending his knees slightly in preparation for another fight.

Just as he was taking a breath, suddenly, an Eight Banners soldier approached from the side, holding a spear in both hands, lowering his body to gather strength, with a vicious look in his eyes.

The Eight Banners soldiers thrust their spears forward, low on the left and high on the right, pressing hard against Zhao Zhengdong's shield, trying to lift the shield away in one fell swoop and break through his defense line.

The action was skillful and precise, and it was obvious that the opponent was a veteran who had been on the battlefield for a long time. If an ordinary soldier encountered such an attack, his shield would have been knocked off the ground, revealing a flaw, and he would have been shot through by the opponent.

However, those Eight Banners soldiers obviously underestimated the enemy before them.

Zhao Zhengdong is not only a fierce warrior, but also a tough general with rich experience. He sneered, secretly accumulated strength, and suddenly pushed the spear away. He used the weight of the shield to counterattack steadily, using the opponent's force to counter attack.

The Eight Banners soldier exerted too much force and was unable to stop for a moment. He staggered a few steps and fell to the ground, shaking.

As he looked terrified, Zhao Zhengdong had already swung his sword and slashed towards his neck quickly. The blade cut through the air with heavy force.

Before the Eight Banners soldier could struggle, he felt a cold chill passing through him. In an instant, his head rolled to the ground, and blood gushed out, splashing all over Zhao Zhengdong.

Zhao Zhengdong shook off the blood stains on the knife, and a cold murderous look flashed in his eyes. Seeing this, the Qing soldiers around him all took a few steps back in horror.

However, Zhao Zhengdong did not pause at all. He led his soldiers forward quickly, constantly approaching the enemy's position.

The soldiers behind him seemed to be inspired, their morale was greatly boosted, they brandished their weapons, bravely moved forward, and attacked the Qing army.

The surrounding Ming army soldiers surged forward like a tide, brave and fearless, with swords and sabers flashing with cold light, suppressing the enemy and forcing them to retreat step by step.

Zhao Zhengdong's movements were sharp and swift, and his steady steps revealed a strong sense of oppression. He seemed to be in the frenzy of battle, completely forgetting himself.

Each of his strikes was precise and deadly, and each of his blocks was as steady as a rock. His enemies fell to the ground one after another, and blood flowed like a river.

At this moment, he caught a glimpse of another Qing army officer, Bayala, not far away, who was trying to command reinforcements to block the Ming army's reinforcement ladders to prevent more soldiers from climbing the city.

Zhao Zhengdong knew that all this was extremely important. He immediately signaled to the soldiers around him:
"Cover me, charge forward! Cut off their retreat!"

The soldiers moved at the sound and built a defense line with shields to clear the way for Zhao Zhengdong. Under the cover of the soldiers, Zhao Zhengdong approached the Qing army step by step, his eyes sharp and approaching with unstoppable momentum.

The Qing soldier obviously noticed his approach, his face darkened, and he ordered his men to attack.

But Zhao Zhengdong used his shield as a cover and moved among the enemies. The shield repeatedly blocked the axe attacks and spear stabs. His sword slashed like lightning, invincible and unstoppable.

Zhao Zhengdong gradually approached, and the Qing army's line of soldiers kept retreating under his pressure, and the soldiers' movements gradually became slow.

Finally, Zhao Zhengdong rushed to the front of the Qing army leader, shouted angrily, and smashed his shield hard. The opponent tried to block in a hurry, but was outmatched and staggered backward.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhao Zhengdong raised his sword and slashed it down. The Qing army leader was knocked to the ground before he even had time to react.

The morale of the Qing army dropped sharply, the soldiers in the front row retreated one after another, and the reinforcements in the rear also began to fall into chaos.

Just as the morale of the Ming army was high and the soldiers were shouting in unison, the Ming army continued to pour into the battlefield on the ladders under the battlements, and the situation of capturing the city gradually tilted towards them.

Zhao Zhengdong looked at the chaotic enemy formation, took a deep breath, and his eyes were as firm as iron. He had no choice but to keep moving forward and keep breaking through.

On the narrow city wall of Yuecheng, the east gate of Fuzhou City, the Ming and Qing armies fought hand-to-hand, constantly devouring each other's lives.

The floor of the tower was already covered with corpses, layer upon layer. Blood seeped through the cracks in the bricks and formed a river of blood, winding down along the wall stairs. The air was filled with the smell of blood and the roar of battle.

The soldiers beside Zhao Zhengdong let out screams of pain. As one soldier after another fell, new soldiers quickly took their place. They followed one after another, gritting their teeth and fighting to the death.

Despite the heavy losses, the team's formation still maintained its basic offensive pattern, all thanks to Zhao Zhengdong's effective command.

He held a shield in his hand, which he had already replaced with a medium-handled iron axe. He led the soldiers to charge and attack fiercely in the melee without retreating at all.

As an experienced captain, Zhao Zhengdong not only relies on his personal bravery, but also knows how to maintain the team's formation in the chaotic battle situation.

Even when the battle was fierce, he tried his best to ensure that there were soldiers on his sides and behind to protect him, so that the entire army could advance and retreat in a measured manner.

He knew very well that these people were his most elite soldiers. After large-scale and standardized training, these soldiers could quickly reorganize and deal with any emergency.

They were not a motley rabble, but elite thousand-man army forged with iron and blood, forming the sharp blade of this siege.

As they advanced, a stern look flashed in Zhao Zhengdong's eyes, and he led the soldiers behind him to continue to attack the Qing army's defense line.

Just as he took a step forward, a long spear suddenly shot out from the Qing army formation, aiming directly at his right leg, intending to make him lose balance.

Zhao Zhengdong reacted quickly, nimbly dodging the fatal sneak attack with a twist of his right foot. Then, he seized the opportunity and stomped down hard, breaking the spear of the Qing soldier who was holding the gun before he could dodge.

He lost his balance and staggered forward, instantly disrupting the Qing army's formation.

Zhao Zhengdong quickly seized the moment of chaos, blocked the attacks from all around with his shield, and swung the iron axe in his hand left and right.

Just as he was chopping, the spearmen behind him quickly came forward to support him. Their spears flew like flying arrows, and blood mist splattered everywhere. The Qing soldiers fell one after another.

Zhao Zhengdong's courage and precise command boosted the morale of the surrounding Ming troops, and their offensive became more fierce.

As the Qing army gradually lost its position, the Ming army gained more foothold on the city walls.

The originally divided offensive formation gradually became one. The soldiers in the front row of the Ming army were arranged densely, and the long spears, long axes, iron-headed clubs, shields, and broadswords were matched in an orderly manner, forming a layered progressive offensive.

The Ming army soldiers cooperated closely with each other, attacked and defended in an orderly manner, and suppressed the Qing army, forcing it to retreat step by step and making it almost impossible to resist.

The power of the Ming army's formation was undoubtedly revealed at this moment. Even though the Qing army soldiers were highly skilled in martial arts, they were unable to resist such a formation.

Whenever a Qing soldier tried to break through, he would be immediately attacked by several Ming soldiers:
Spears thrust out, axes chopped horizontally, shields suppressed, no matter how strong one's personal abilities were, it would be difficult to cope with such dense firepower, not to mention the soldiers who kept coming in to fill the gaps at the rear of the army.

The Qing army soldiers gradually fell into despair, and many of them were afraid even before fighting, and their morale continued to decline.

The pace of the battle was getting faster and faster. Zhao Zhengdong's eyes were burning with fighting spirit. While waving the iron axe, he commanded the soldiers to continue pressing forward, driving the rhythm of the entire offensive line.

The Qing troops in the front were already beginning to feel unable to hold on; their formation gradually became loose and their defense line was retreating step by step.

Zhao Zhengdong knew very well that the opportunity was fleeting, and at this moment he had to break through the Qing army's defense line in one go in order to completely control the east gate and create conditions for opening the city gate for the rear troops.

"Brothers, kill!" Zhao Zhengdong roared loudly, his voice echoing on the city wall, inspiring the fighting spirit of the Ming army soldiers.

The soldiers in the team moved at the sound, their morale high, and everyone fought to the best of their ability, as if they had forgotten about life and death, with only the desire for victory in their hearts.

The soldiers behind Zhao Zhengdong moved in unison, and the offensive firepower became increasingly intense.

The spearmen quickly thrust out their spears, forcing back the enemies in front, while the shieldmen held their ground firmly, providing cover for the other soldiers.

Zhao Zhengdong wielded the iron axe and pressed forward step by step. Every blow of the axe took away the life of an enemy, which increased the speed of the soldiers' advance.

As the Ming army pressed forward step by step, the Qing army gradually became unable to resist and the defense line began to show signs of collapse.

Blood flowed like a river on the city wall, and the air was filled with the roars and wails of battle, but Zhao Zhengdong was not afraid at all, and the iron axe in his hand never stopped.

Blood splattered on his armor, but he seemed unaware and focused on commanding his soldiers to continue advancing.

Under the fierce attack of the Ming army, the Qing army in the front retreated more and more, their morale gradually declined, and some people even began to abandon their weapons and flee.

Seeing that the time had come, Zhao Zhengdong raised his arm and called out:
"Charge the entire army!"

This order seemed to ignite the fighting spirit in the soldiers' hearts. They burst into deafening shouts and advanced forward in an orderly manner.

Although the Baoyi soldiers and the Eight Banners soldiers fought side by side, their strengths were very different. Although the military formations were complete, their coordination was disorganized and full of loopholes, and their combat effectiveness was even more disparate.

Faced with the Ming army approaching step by step and forcing their way up to the city wall with murderous intent, such defense seemed extremely fragile.

As casualties gradually increased, the Qing army began to retreat on the city wall.

Initially they were still able to try to fight back, but faced with the overwhelming offensive of the Ming army, their formation was broken one after another, the morale of the soldiers collapsed, and they could no longer hold on.

The retreat was like a tide. Many soldiers ignored military orders and retreated without paying attention to their armor and weapons. The Qing army's defense line on the city wall finally collapsed.

As the third siege commander led more than a hundred soldiers to climb the city wall one after another, the main force of the Ming army gradually gained a foothold.

At the same time, the heavy ramming car slowly arrived at the gate of Yuecheng amid the roar of the suspension bridge.

The fierce battle on the city wall of Dongmen Yuecheng was in full swing, but this was just the beginning of the entire siege.

Taking over Yuecheng only means that the Ming army has controlled the first barrier, and there are still many checkpoints behind the real Fuzhou city gate, including the urn city and arrow tower waiting for the Ming army to break through one by one. The real defense line of Fuzhou is still tight, stubbornly guarding the core of the city.

Siege has always been an arduous and arduous war. If the Qing army is on high alert inside the city and the city walls are covered with artillery, the power of their stubborn resistance will be enough to cause the attacking side to suffer heavy casualties.

The Qing court relied on the solid walls of Fuzhou. Although there were only a few thousand Eight Banners and Green Camp soldiers, they were confident that they could rely on the walls and the dangerous terrain to hold out for a year or two.

However, this time they encountered an enemy that did not play by the rules.

Although Zhu Cilang was unable to manufacture firearms and even had difficulty providing grenades, he knew how to use pulleys to increase the city-breaking power of battering rams.

The improved ramming machine was so powerful that it broke open the gate of Dongmen Yuecheng in just a few hits.

As soon as the gate opened, the morale of the Ming army outside the city soared. They shouted like beasts and marched into Yuecheng in unison, laying an excellent foundation for the subsequent siege.

In Fuzhou City, Commander Maka was running around and deploying troops. Faced with this sudden attack, he was inevitably overwhelmed.

He had sent 300 of the more than 1,000 Eight Banners soldiers he had managed to gather to suppress the Green Camp soldiers and Deng Zhang who had revolted in the city, and had taken away 3,000 baoyi soldiers. Now the force defending the city seemed even more stretched.

At this time, battle reports came from the four city gates. The Ming army launched a fierce offensive. The east gate was in danger and the drawbridge was lowered. Yuecheng was in danger.

Just overnight, Fuzhou's once impregnable city defenses seemed to become riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse.

Even for Maca, a veteran of the battlefield, it was difficult for him to make a quick decision when the intelligence was confusing. The doubt about whether Fuzhou City could be defended made him uneasy.

Despite the urgency, Maka managed to remain calm and quickly gathered the remaining troops in the city to reinforce the east gate.

While he asked the accompanying generals to intensify their commands and ordered the various units to adjust their lines and be ready to counterattack at any time, he personally led a group of Niulu armored soldiers, ready to break out in case of critical situation.

(End of this chapter)