Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 311 Remember
In Fuzhou City, smoke billowed and the air was filled with the smell of blood.

The sound of gunfire continued on the main road, accompanied by the screams of Qing soldiers, echoing in this ruined city.

The Ming army had already divided the Qing army's reinforcements into several isolated groups of defeated soldiers, which greatly weakened the Qing army's resistance in the city and gradually collapsed the defense line.

On East Street, the Qing army relied on the shops along the street to set up layers of obstacles in an attempt to block the road, stubbornly resisting the advance of the Ming army.

However, as the Ming army continued its fierce attack, the Qing army gradually could not hold on.

The Qing army, which had been holding on, lost its support and became demoralized and disorganized. It was gradually defeated, and the remaining soldiers fled to the west in an attempt to leave the battlefield.

Once the defense line of East Street collapsed, the entire Qing army's blocking line suddenly became riddled with holes.

The Qing troops that rushed to reinforce from the north and south sides were also divided and annihilated by the Ming army. The bodies of the fallen Qing soldiers were scattered all over the ground, and hundreds of soldiers were killed and lay in a pool of blood.

The Ming army took advantage of the situation and pursued the enemy relentlessly along the streets and alleys, completely gaining the advantage in terms of troop strength.

At this time, Gu Defu and Zhao Kui were leading their troops to advance into the alley west of the intersection. As soon as they entered the alley, a group of Qing troops appeared in front of them and blocked their way.

The Qing army used muskets and bows and arrows to block the entrance of the alley, trapping Gu Defu and Zhao Kui's troops. After several rounds of fighting, the Ming army was unable to break through this line of defense, and the two sides were in a stalemate.

Seeing this, Zhao Kui's heart sank. Knowing that a frontal attack would only increase losses, he made a quick decision and decided to withdraw from the alley and look for another breakthrough.

Leading more than 30 elite soldiers, he quickly returned along the same route, circled to the other side of the alley, and quietly appeared behind the Qing army's position.

Under the pincer attack from both sides, the Qing army was finally defeated and the crisis was resolved.

When the troops broke out, Gu Defu and Zhao Kui turned back to count the number of people. The rescue team, which originally had nearly 300 people, now had less than 180 people left.

In just three encounters, they had lost nearly half of their troops.

Zhao Kui was secretly shocked. Although the Qing army's defense line had loosened, the Qing army's resistance could not be underestimated.

The rescue team continued to advance northward and soon arrived near Deng's mansion.

Seeing that the Qing army was still besieging Deng Mansion, Gu Defu and Zhao Kui couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and were secretly happy in their hearts - Deng Mansion was still resisting, which meant that the enemy had not yet completely broken through.

At this time, due to the tense situation at the East Gate, half of the more than 1,000 Qing troops originally used to besiege Deng Zhang had been transferred away, leaving only more than 30 elite Eight Banners soldiers and more than 200 Baoyi soldiers. The siege was no longer as tight as before.

The sound of gunfire became more and more frequent. Gu Defu and Zhao Kui knew that the main force of the army had approached the center of the city, and the battle situation in Fuzhou was gradually tilting towards the Ming army.

They had no worries and were determined to take advantage of the loose Qing army's defense line and rush to rescue with all their strength.

The two men looked at each other, their thoughts connected, and they each shouted, commanding their men to assemble and quickly launch a fierce attack on the outskirts of Deng's mansion. Muskets, swords and knives were all used in the battle, and the sound of killing was deafening.

The battle around Deng's mansion became increasingly fierce. After nearly two hours of confrontation, the walls on both sides of Deng's mansion had already been forcibly pushed down by the Qing army, leaving only broken walls and bloodstains.

The only remaining two-story building stood alone among the ruins, surrounded by the Qing army, and the situation was critical.

Inside the small building, Deng Zhang held a knife and a shield, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, and he was surrounded by loyal servants guarding him.

Every time the Qing army attacked, he calmly commanded his servants to resist.

However, as the battle became more intense, the soldiers' physical strength gradually declined, and casualties continued to increase.

Suddenly, he felt an unusual silence behind him. Turning his head, he saw that his personal servant had lost his breath and fell in a pool of blood.

His heart tightened, and he raised his hand to block the dust blowing in his face. His eyes were fierce, and he gritted his teeth to continue fighting the enemy.

If reinforcements don't arrive soon, the isolated building may not be able to hold on.

Deng Zhang was now pierced by five arrows and had wounds all over his body, no less than a dozen. Blood had already soaked through his armor and was dripping onto the ground along the damaged edges.

His mind was in a mess, his consciousness was blurry, and he could hardly concentrate.

However, even though his body was on the verge of collapse, he still tightly grasped the broken shield in his hand, brandished the half-remaining Shun sword, and roared at the group of Qing soldiers who were retreating in panic in front of him.

Every roar seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength.

Just as he was struggling to chop down a Qing army soldier, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right leg.

The tip of a sharp spear pierced his calf, and the piercing pain instantly swept over him, almost making him unable to stand steadily.

He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, turned around and wanted to swing his sword at the Qing soldier who had attacked him by surprise, but the excessive force he had used in the fight just now seemed to have drained all his strength in an instant.

He moved slightly, and his whole body felt like it was being pricked by needles. His mind went blank, and his vision gradually became blurred, as if shrouded in a black fog.

At this moment, the Qing soldier holding the gun suddenly pulled out his spear.

Deng Zhang fell heavily to the ground with a muffled sound.

The arrow in his body penetrated deeper into his body, causing him to feel a sharp pain in his chest as if it were being cut by a knife. Then, large amounts of blood gushed out, staining the ground red.

As he watched a Qing soldier holding a broadsword high up, chopping towards Deng Zhang's head, wanting to cut it off with one blow and take it back to claim credit, suddenly there were shouts of killing all around.

The Qing soldiers paused and before they could react, they saw Gu Defu and Zhao Kui leading their men into the house and quickly breaking through the Qing army's defense line.

At this time, the garrisoned Qing troops had already been exhausted by Deng Zhang's tenacious resistance and their morale was low.

They smelled the increasingly approaching smell of gun smoke, and heard the sound of shouting and killing one after another. They were all terrified, thinking that the Ming army had already arrived.

They were suddenly filled with panic, and were attacked again by Gu Defu and Zhao Kui. They were mentally broken and could not hold on any longer. They just thought that the game was over.

So, the Qing soldiers turned around and began to flee, not even bothering to cut off Deng Zhang's head and claim credit.

Zhao Kui witnessed the Qing soldiers fleeing in panic and was extremely anxious. He rushed to Deng Zhang with the remaining seven servants, completely disregarding his own safety. He knelt on the ground and held Deng Zhang in his arms, tears flashing in his eyes and he almost choked with sobs.

"General!" Zhao Kui called out in a low voice, his voice filled with long-suppressed emotions.

Although they are master and servant, they grew up together as brothers and have a deep bond.

Deng Zhang never regarded him as a subordinate, and even restored his original surname and treated him like a brother.

It was also because of this that Zhao Kui was loyal to him and willing to risk his life for Deng Zhang.

Deng Zhang's entrusting him with the important task of contacting the Ming army, which was a matter of life and death, was the best proof of his trust in him.

At this time, Deng Zhang's eyes were blurred, and the arrow was still deeply embedded in his body. He had lost too much blood and was unconscious. His lips were trembling, and a low and vague sound came from his throat. It was unknown what he was mumbling.

"General, it's me! Zhao Kui!" Zhao Kui hugged Deng Zhang tightly, his palms were stained with his blood, sticky and warm, his heart was filled with sorrow, and tears flowed out of his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.

Deng Zhang opened his eyes slightly, as if recognizing Zhao Kui, and a trace of pain and guilt flashed in his eyes.

After a moment, he seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength and uttered a few words with difficulty, his voice weak and unclear:
"Zhao... Zhao... Kui... remember... remember..."

"General, please give me your orders. Zhao Kui will definitely take note of them!"

Zhao Kui responded immediately, with a hint of uneasiness in his expression, his eyes fixed on the weak Deng Zhang in front of him.

Deng Zhang trembled slightly and opened his mouth with great effort. His voice was intermittent, as if he was squeezing out the last of his strength:
"Tell...Tell...Tell...my son...his father...his father is not...is not a traitor..."

Before he finished speaking, it seemed as if all his energy was exhausted, his lips kept trembling, and he could hardly continue speaking, but there was a trace of undying obsession burning in his eyes.

When Zhao Kui saw this, he felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on his heart.

He knew that Deng Zhang had something else to say, so he quickly leaned over, put his ear closer, held his breath, and waited for Deng Zhang's final words.

After a moment's silence, Deng Zhang seemed to have gathered up a bit of his strength. After coughing deeply a few times, he slowly and intermittently uttered a few words:

"Pigtails... pigtails... you're not allowed to... you're not allowed to tie them... I... I want to cut... my pigtails and recognize... my ancestors..."

Before he finished speaking, his eyes were blurry and he was no longer conscious, as if he had returned to the guilt he had been feeling in the past.

But Deng Zhang continued to mutter to himself, as if he had forgotten that he had cut his braids long ago, and was still thinking about the past breakup and self-blame.

Zhao Kui lowered his head, feeling sad, but his throat was choked and he couldn't speak.

He calmed himself down and said softly:

"General, you've cut off your braids. You don't have any braids anymore. Really, you haven't had any for a long time..."

Deng Zhang raised his head slightly, and his eyes suddenly showed a hint of peace, as if he had finally broken free from the shackles of this world.

The corners of his mouth slightly raised, and he murmured vaguely:
"Cut...cut...good...good...ancestor..."

When Zhao Kui heard his weak voice, he leaned down hurriedly and put his ear close to Deng Zhang's ear, trying to hear clearly what he said.

Deng Zhang moved his lips slightly, but he could no longer speak. The light in his eyes gradually faded, his hands hung down weakly, he slowly closed his eyes, and gently took his last breath.

Zhao Kui looked at Deng Zhang's gradually losing his luster, and his heart ached. He couldn't help but burst into tears and shouted with a sob:

"General!!!"

Zhao Kui recalled the years when he and Deng Zhang had been through life and death together. He knew very well how many heavy responsibilities Deng Zhang had shouldered along the way.

As Zhao Kui thought about this, his chest felt choked. He could no longer suppress the grief in his heart. He lowered his head, rested his forehead on Deng Zhang's chest, and sobbed softly.

There was silence in the small building, with only the heart-wrenching cries echoing in the ears. The sorrow was like an invisible blade, piercing into everyone's hearts and lingering for a long time.

When Gu Defu and others around saw this scene, they couldn't help but look gloomy. Many people lowered their heads silently, with deep respect for the general on their faces.

Although the soldiers were on the battlefield and had long been accustomed to separation and death, they still felt sad when they saw the departure of the man who fought to the end on the battlefield.

Zhao Kui wiped the tears from his face, raised his head suddenly, and his eyes flashed with anger and tragedy.

He supported Deng Zhang's body, slowly stood up, and said in a low but firm voice:
"General, please rest assured. I will complete everything you have instructed me to do and continue your unfinished aspirations!"

After saying that, he leaned over and placed Deng Zhang's body in a safe place. His eyes swept across the devastated battlefield again. Zhao Kui clenched the blade stained with the enemy's blood in his hand, and a raging fire of revenge had already ignited in his heart.

*
"General, how about I lead our men and charge over! If we just hold the south gate and don't participate in the siege, if General Zhang comes to investigate, he'll probably think we're cowards!"

On the South Gate Tower, Wang Yuncheng and Ma Jinzhong were standing high up, overlooking the Yueyang City which was engulfed in flames and filled with smoke.

The sound of fierce fighting was endless. Wang Yuncheng was eager to try, and the fighting spirit of charging was burning in his heart. He couldn't help but ask Ma Jinzhong beside him for instructions.

Ma Jinzhong was silent for a moment, looked at the raging battle below the city, shook his head, and whispered:

"No, we will defend here. The capture of Fuzhou is Zhang Huangyan's achievement. We must not interfere!"

When Wang Yuncheng heard this, he immediately nodded in understanding.

He raised his hand and punched Ma Jinzhong's shoulder, laughing:
"Old Ma, you are still smart!"

Ma Jinzhong looked calm and unmoved, and nodded slightly:
"However, we must also fulfill our responsibilities. Send someone to consult General Zhang. At that time, all orders will be followed and no one should act on their own."

Ma Jinzhong knew clearly in his heart: he would never act without Zhang Huangyan's order.

He has always been tactful and knew very well who should take the credit for this battle, and he was well aware of Zhang Huangyan's intentions.

Knowing that the defense of the South Gate was not a top priority, Ma Jinzhong preferred to remain on the defensive, neither charging into battle nor leaving himself open to criticism.

After all, he had to consult his superiors on everything - this experienced style of self-preservation made others respect him.

Wang Yuncheng knew his old friend's thoughts very well, nodded in acceptance, and immediately turned around and instructed the messenger to dispatch personnel to report to General Zhang.

He smiled and patted the messenger's shoulder, indicating that he must handle the matter carefully, and then he turned back to continue guarding the city wall.

Inside Yueyang City, the Ming army had already broken into various checkpoints, and the sounds of street fighting and gunfire were heard everywhere.

In the firelight, shadowy figures appeared, and Ming army soldiers shuttled among them, approaching step by step.

Fuzhou's defense line gradually collapsed, and the Qing army flags on the city walls were crumbling, as if waiting for the final decisive battle.

Wang Yuncheng watched the battle quietly, his heart surging with emotion, but he knew in his heart what his current responsibilities were.

He looked back at Ma Jinzhong and saw that he looked calm, as if he had no intention of charging into battle. So he collected his thoughts and waited patiently.

The firelight in the distance reflected the figure of Zhang Huangyan leading his troops to charge, his flag standing against the wind, leading his soldiers to fight bravely and with unstoppable momentum.

Ma Jinzhong's eyes were deep, and he whispered:
"We can just watch General Zhang's military exploits from afar and feel at ease. Right now, the South Gate Tower is secure. We won't try to take credit for it, and we'll be able to protect ourselves. When we meet General Zhang in the future, we'll feel at ease."

As the battle progressed, the Ming army pressed forward step by step and the Qing army was defeated.

On the south gate, Wang Yuncheng and Ma Jinzhong stood motionless, staring at the battlefield in front of them where blood and fire were intertwined.

(End of this chapter)