Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 308: The Qing Army is in Trouble Internally and Externally

Although the situation outside Fuzhou City became increasingly urgent, the Qing army always firmly suppressed the Green Camp soldiers and Deng Zhang's gang inside the city.

In particular, the more than 1,000 Green Camp soldiers who lacked command had no power to resist the Qing army and were almost wiped out.

As for Deng Zhang and his dozens of servants, although they had been prepared in advance, they took advantage of the geographical advantage of a two-story building to hold their ground and resist stubbornly.

But by this point, the remaining number had been sharply reduced to more than 20 people, and most of them were seriously injured, and war supplies such as gunpowder and arrows were almost exhausted.

On the Qing side, after several rounds of fruitless attacks, Niulu Ezhen, who was commanding the battle, began to think of surrendering Deng Zhang. He tried to induce him to surrender, break down his defenses, and then take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack to end the battle.

But who would have thought that Deng Zhang pretended to agree on the surface. As soon as the negotiating envoy stepped into the building, he quickly beheaded him and threw the envoy's head out, declaring his determination to die rather than surrender and his unwillingness to serve the Qing army.

When the Qing army discovered that they had been fooled, they were furious. Niulu Ezhen ordered the entire army to attack at all costs, determined to tear Deng Zhang and his remnants into pieces to vent his hatred.

At the same time, on the battlefield outside Fuzhou City, the army led by Zhang Huangyan had its flags fluttering in the wind.

He rode his horse and stood in front of the battle formation. The generals under his command followed his orders and attacked the city fiercely in all directions. Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses moved together, with great momentum and murderous aura.

Zhang Huangyan ordered Ma Bao to lead his troops to garrison on the west side to prevent the Qing army from breaking out, while cutting off the Qing army's retreat to ensure that the defenders of Fuzhou City were wiped out.

He knew very well that this siege was related to his foothold after the war.

If we can completely wipe out the thousands of Eight Banner soldiers in the city and successfully capture Fuzhou City, it will undoubtedly be a great achievement, and our reputation after the war will be greatly improved.

In this era, military achievements are the foundation of one's survival. Only by achieving brilliant results on the battlefield can one win political bargaining chips.

The gain or loss of Fuzhou City was a crucial battle for him.

In Zhang Huangyan's view, if the Qing army commander Maka wanted to break out, the west, south and east were all controlled by the Ming army, and the only possible escape route was the north gate.

And because of this, Zhang Huangyan had already laid many ambushes at the north gate, waiting for Maca to fall into the trap.

Maca was completely unaware of this. He shifted all the defensive focus in the city to the east gate and the south gate, which gave Zhang Huangyan ample time and opportunity to set up an array at the north gate, trapping him in the city and making him unable to move.

At this time, the Ming army under the command of Zhang Huangyan's front-line artillery fire was continuous, the roar was deafening, pushing the army step by step towards the city wall.

Although a small group of troops crossed the river and built a bridge, seemingly testing the Qing army's defense line, it was actually just a feint to the east and attack in the west.

Apart from some actions to distract the Qing army's attention, the main force always maintained its activities outside the range of artillery. The attack on the north gate was even more massive, with artillery fire roaring, but in fact no real attack was launched.

The sound of artillery fire from the West Gate and South Gate was also intermittent. The shells flew over the moat, but because of the long distance, most of them fell into the water, causing splashes.

Although the Qing army knew that the offensive did not pose a real threat, they did not dare to slack off in the face of the Ming army deployed outside the city.

The defenders on the city wall looked nervous and were always on the alert, not daring to withdraw personnel to support other directions without authorization.

Zhang Huangyan's deployment was precise and thoughtful.

He knew very well that once the Qing army fell into psychological panic, it would not only be difficult to concentrate its forces to deal with the main attack direction, but it would also distract its attention to deal with real and false deployments.

This created favorable conditions for the Ming army's real breakthrough.

Darkness enveloped the west, south and north walls of Fuzhou City. Thousands of Qing soldiers held their breath, and bursts of artillery fire came to their ears, and the deep rumble echoed in the night sky.

Before their eyes, countless torches outside the city were flickering like ghosts.

These glimmers of light were both signals that the attacking Ming army was approaching step by step, and they also silently beat the drums of war in the hearts of the defenders.

Faced with the overwhelming enemy force, they couldn't help but hold their breath and their heartbeats quickened. Every soldier's heart was filled with unconcealable fear and tension, and even the weapons in their hands seemed to tremble slightly.

The most critical battlefield of the "Fuzhou Siege War" was concentrated at the East Gate. On the wall of Yuecheng, the Qing army's defense line had begun to collapse, and the Ming army took advantage of the situation to advance and charge continuously.

What followed was that the walls of Yuecheng were completely controlled, and the Qing army was forced to retreat step by step in a desperate situation with no way to retreat.

After climbing up the wall of Yuecheng, the Ming army soldiers began to set up ladders in the passage between Yuecheng and Wengcheng, preparing to force their way into Wengcheng.

However, the Qing soldiers on the arrow tower of the city wall launched a fierce defense. Firearms and bows and arrows poured down from a height, shooting like rain at the climbing Ming army, blocking their offensive.

Faced with the stubborn defense of Wengcheng, several captains of the assault force decisively commanded their men to break in from one side of the city wall to avoid the rain of arrows from the front.

Several captains led their soldiers in a vigorous attack along the passage from Yuecheng to Wenglou, aiming directly at the gate of Wenglou. They gradually tore open a line of defense and provided valuable foothold for the reinforcements in the rear.

At this time, two captains of the Firearm Battalion led the musketeers to quickly climb the city wall of Yuecheng.

They calmly deployed the musketeers behind the battlements, arranging them into three columns. Under the command of the captains, the musketeers raised their guns and aimed at the arrow towers on the opposite side of the city wall, forming fire cover.

This intensive firepower provided valuable protection to the assault troops rushing down the ladders and the soldiers pouring in from the main gate of the Moon Tower.

However, the battle continued fiercely. Although the Ming army advanced rapidly, the main force of the Han Eight Banners had not yet reached the front line, and the Qing troops in the arrow towers of the city were not completely unprepared.

Dozens of baoyi soldiers were guarding the arrow tower. They were armed with bows and muskets and fired fiercely at the Ming army that rushed into Yuecheng.

The advantage of being high above, coupled with the power of armor-piercing arrows and lead bullets, meant that although these Qing troops were small in number, they were able to cause considerable casualties to the Ming army.

The space inside Yuecheng was narrow, and the Ming army's offensive was fierce, but they also paid the price of blood and lives in the process of pressing forward step by step.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The two captains of the firearms battalion shouted in low voice, and the musketeers opened fire in unison. Dozens of muskets were lit at the same time, and the orange-red flames shone together, illuminating the battlements and the arrow windows of the arrow tower in the dark night.

The arrow tower in the city wall was instantly engulfed in flames. The powerful lead bullets penetrated the windows and hit the Qing soldiers in the tower repeatedly. Screams rang out one after another, and blood gushed out, dyeing the narrow corridor red.

More than 20 Qing soldiers were hit by lead bullets and fell in a pool of blood. Seeing such fierce firepower, the defenders in the arrow tower had to retreat in panic and flee in all directions, completely losing the ability to fight back.

Under the protection of the firearms battalion, nearly two hundred musketeers, divided into three groups, took turns firing volleys, unleashing a continuous barrage of fire on the arrow tower. At a range of sixty or seventy paces, the lead bullets struck the Qing troops defending the arrow tower with devastating force, completely suppressing the enemy's bows and muskets.

The dense firepower was like an unstoppable storm. The Qing soldiers in the arrow tower had already fled in panic, hiding in the corners of the walls, and had completely lost their ability to resist.

After the bows and crossbows in the arrow tower lost their cover, the Ming army in Yuecheng immediately accelerated their pace and advanced into the city wall.

The infantry and musketeers who subsequently rushed up to the Moon City also set up ladders at the connection between the Moon Tower and the city wall, preparing to further climb up the city wall.

The Ming army soldiers who continued to pour in from the suspension bridge set up ladders directly from the outside of the city wall and launched a siege attack on the city wall, forming a "three-way attack" siege situation.

The entire city wall seemed to be in imminent danger under the fierce attack of the Ming army. The captains of the assault force had a determined look in their eyes, knowing that they could open the gate of the city wall with one push.

The Qing army was unable to resist in the arrow tower. On the walls of the city wall, the Ming army's musketeers and infantry poured in like a tide, occupied the advantageous position, and crossed every obstacle.

Every Ming army soldier knew that victory at the East Gate would lay a solid foundation for the overall capture of Fuzhou City, so they tried their best and bravely launched attacks on various defense lines of the city.

At the same time, the morale of the Qing soldiers inside the city wall had collapsed. They requested support from their superiors countless times, but the support was delayed. The positions in the arrow tower were lost one after another, and the defenders faced unprecedented pressure.

Some Qing soldiers began to hesitate on the battlefield, and the idea of ​​escaping came to their minds.

In the chaos, many Qing soldiers dropped their weapons and retreated in panic.

However, no matter how they struggled, the Ming army inside the east gate had already advanced steadily, step by step, setting up siege ladders step by step inside the city wall, almost blocking every escape route of the Qing army.

Just as the Ming army's morale was high and they were approaching step by step, the remaining Qing soldiers in the city realized that there was no hope of defending it any longer. Some of them raised white flags and tried to surrender.

However, the assault troops ignored it. They knew that the opportunity was fleeting and if they gave the other side a chance to breathe, it might delay the overall situation.

The offensive continued to advance into the city like a tide, with muskets and spears fighting fiercely inside the city wall, and shouts and sounds of fighting resounded through the sky.

The defense line of the east gate of Fuzhou City finally collapsed one after another under the relentless pressure of the Ming army.

At this time, there were only a few hundred Qing troops on the walls of the city wall. Facing the thunderous offensive of the Ming army, they were frustrated step by step.

Although they were on a high ground and had an advantageous terrain, they could not even raise their heads under the dense musket fire of the Ming army. They were in a panic and were waiting to die.

The muskets spewed out scorching flames continuously. As soon as the Qing soldiers showed their bodies, they were forced back into their cover by the bullets and had no power to fight back.

When the sound of musket explosions gradually died down, thousands of Ming soldiers had advanced simultaneously from three directions: Yuecheng, the outer perimeter of Wengcheng, and the interior of Wengcheng, surrounding the sparse Qing troops on Wengcheng and blocking them tightly.

On the city wall, the Qing soldiers saw that they had no way to retreat and gradually began to panic, and the Ming army's relentless pressure made it impossible for them to breathe.

The Ming army troops that climbed up the ladder from Yuecheng were mainly responsible for capturing the arrow tower of the city wall. This formation was a mixture of musketeers and melee infantry, and was an assault force specially designed for urban street fighting.

The dozen or so Qing soldiers left in the arrow tower originally intended to fight again. Just as they rushed to the city wall, they ran into the aggressive Ming army commandos.

The Ming army reacted quickly and stopped the team immediately. The sword and shield soldiers in the front row quickly lined up into rows of six to form a solid barrier. Behind the sword and shield soldiers, six muskets also protruded from the gaps between the shields, with the black muzzles aimed at the oncoming enemies.

The Qing soldiers rushed to within ten steps with full of indignation. Suddenly, a loud shout was heard from the Ming army. Six muskets sprayed flames at the same time. The deafening explosion made the air stagnate. Several Qing soldiers who were rushing in the front were shot and fell to the ground, with blood splattering everywhere.

Seeing this, the morale of the remaining Qing soldiers suddenly declined, their offensive became chaotic, and they involuntarily took a few steps back. Their formation instantly fell apart, and they were unable to organize an effective counterattack.

The Ming army soldiers took advantage of this opportunity and launched a well-trained counterattack. The sword and shield soldiers cooperated with the spearmen tacitly, and the swords and spear tips stabbed out together, rushing towards the enemy formation like thunder.

The dozen or so remaining Qing troops were in disarray and defeated in a short moment. The Ming army easily occupied the commanding heights of the arrow tower.

At the same time, another Ming army that climbed up the ladder from the outside was also clearing out the remaining Qing troops on the city wall.

This group of Qing soldiers had been suppressed by muskets for a long time, with constant artillery fire and gunfire above their heads, and their nerves were tense to the extreme. After a short breath, they were about to reorganize their defense line when they encountered Ming army soldiers jumping over the city wall, rushing towards them with sharp blades in hand.

The Ming army infantry moved swiftly, slashing with their swords like a tiger among a flock of sheep, quick and decisive.

A life-and-death melee instantly broke out on the city wall, the air was filled with the smell of blood, and the Eight Banners soldiers showed their bravery and ferocity in the desperate situation and put up a tenacious resistance.

The two sides fought back and forth fiercely, with sword flashes and screams intertwined. Blood slowly flowed along the wall, staining the floor tiles red, like a sea of ​​blood.

Although the firepower of the Ming army brought great pressure to the Qing army, the strength of the Eight Banners soldiers was fully revealed in close combat. They roared and fought with all their strength, waving their weapons like the wind, and engaged in close combat with the Ming army soldiers.

Although the Ming army was brave, the Eight Banners soldiers were fighting a battle with their backs to the river, and they were prepared to die in every move, and they managed to stubbornly resist the Ming army's offensive.

Soldiers from both sides fought back and forth on the narrow city walls. Every inch of land was stained with blood, and every kill left a bright red mark on the battlefield.

On the city wall, the sounds of swords clashing and armor colliding were endless, and the blood and limbs trampled under the soldiers' feet had become part of the battlefield.

Under the orders of the front-line commander, the Ming army constantly adjusted its offensive and advanced in an orderly manner, while the Qing army's defense line gradually collapsed under wave after wave of attacks.

Although the Qing soldiers tried their best to resist, their formation became increasingly dispersed under the double attack of muskets and swordsmen.

In this stalemate battle, the Ming army gradually gained the upper hand with its well-trained discipline and sophisticated weapons.

The musketeers' volleys continued to compress the Qing army's living space, while the sword and shield soldiers advanced calmly and steadily, breaking through the Qing army's defense lines one by one.

Even the most elite Eight Banners soldiers in the Qing army gradually lost the strength to resist under the precise coordination of the Ming army.

In just a short time, the Ming army had completely taken control of the arrow tower and gradually advanced into the city.

The Qing army's resistance gradually turned into a bitter battle. Soldiers continued to fall in the defeat, and the screams on the battlefield gradually became weaker. The city wall was covered with the flags of the Ming army.

In this battle, the city wall failed to stop the charge of the elite Ming army. The wailing and the sound of war drums on the city wall gradually subsided, announcing the initial victory of the Ming army in the city wall.

(End of this chapter)