The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 311 The Self-Cultivation of a Surrendered General (Part Two)
The city wall of Guiyang is 22 feet high, which was originally a high wall that was difficult to cross.

But thanks to the tireless efforts of the auxiliary soldiers and laborers, a slope about seven or eight feet wide gradually took shape, and it looked like it was only a small section away from being able to connect to the gap.

Marco stood in front of the army, staring intently at the slope made of sandbags and bricks.

He needed to rush through the breach and block the desperate counterattack of the defenders so that the follow-up troops could then advance along this passage onto the city wall.

If they can hold out for even half an hour, they can breach this fortified city in one fell swoop.

This task is extremely difficult; victory is the only option, and defeat is not an option.

That is why Marco volunteered before the war and was the first to step forward and take on this task.

As long as he wins this battle and achieves the first merit in breaching the city, he can successfully turn his fortunes around and establish a firm foothold.

Marco was very enthusiastic; there was no way around it, he had been living too well since surrendering.

After joining the army that was conquering Guizhou, Ma Ke suddenly discovered that leading troops into battle could be so "easy".

There is no need to worry about food, pay, or weapons; nor is there any need to guard against mutiny by the soldiers under his command due to unpaid wages.
There's no need to worry about friendly forces deserting in the face of battle or abandoning those in dire need.

Even in the event of war, colleagues in the military would strive to be the first to complete their missions and exceed their quotas...

This feeling of having no worries about logistics, being united with his superiors, and only needing to focus on the war was a dreamlike experience for a general who had long led troops in the Ming court.

It also ignited an unprecedented fighting spirit in him.

Time ticked by in the tense wait.

Soon, the auxiliary soldiers and laborers, braving a hail of arrows, finally completed the construction of the slope.

Upon seeing this, Marco's expression turned serious, and he immediately blew the bone whistle he had in his mouth.

With a piercing whistle, Marco, at the front, drew his saber and swung it forward with all his might:
"Brothers! Today is the day to make our mark and achieve great things!"

"Follow me!"

He roared, raised the rattan shield with his left hand to protect himself, gripped the goose-feather waist knife tightly with his right hand, and was the first to leap across the moat and charge forward!
Behind him, eight hundred elite soldiers followed suit, striking their rattan shields with their waist knives and letting out a series of neat and continuous roars as they charged forward.

The moment this well-organized elite force appeared, it immediately attracted the attention of the city's garrison.

Upon discovering that the Han army was preparing to scale the city walls from the earthen slope, the defending general immediately ordered his soldiers to gather and organize a defense.

The pikemen quickly split into two rows, one in front and one behind, their pikes pointing diagonally at the earthen slope below, attempting to use their superior position to block the passage.

Archers and arquebusiers were positioned on either side of the gun formation, nocked their arrows, and pointed their guns downwards, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the Han army once they entered their range.

Furthermore, auxiliary soldiers carried large cauldrons and poured boiling oil down the slope, attempting to set the slope ablaze and hinder the Han army's advance.

Despite the formidable defenses, Marco, who was charging ahead, showed no fear.

When the group was within fifty paces, he suddenly pulled out a thunderbolt from his waist, hid it behind a rattan shield, and immediately sheathed his sword with his right hand. He then took out a tinderbox, lit the fuse, and completed the action in one smooth motion.

The forwards at the front of the team followed suit and also pulled out their Thunderclap Bombs and lit them.

"Throw!"

Marco shielded his face with his shield, rushed within thirty paces, and with all his might hurled a hissing thunderclap at the defenders on the slope.

At his command, more than a dozen thunderbolts, emitting white smoke, flew in arcs and crashed one after another into the Ming army's formation!
Seeing the iron lump flying from not far away, the guards on the city wall were thrown into chaos and instinctively tried to scatter and hide.

"Spread out!"

"Fire arrows!"

The defenders in the center threw down their spears and desperately pushed to the sides, trying to avoid the blast radius.

The archers and musketeers on both sides panicked, firing a few arrows and volleys haphazardly downwards, and instinctively retreated.

boom! boom! boom!
More than a dozen loud explosions rang out on the city wall!

Amidst the bursts of fire, shrapnel flew everywhere, and smoke filled the air. The defenders at the breach were instantly blown to pieces, their screams echoing throughout the area.

After being struck so hard, many people covered their faces and necks, rolled on the ground, and wailed.

Before the smoke of battle had cleared, Marco led his troops up the fire and charged up the city wall in one fell swoop.

The soldiers at the front were stunned by the bomb and before they could react, their heads were chopped off with a single blow.

Seeing the Han army climb the city walls, the defending general nearby was filled with shock and anger. He immediately ordered his troops to regroup and try to drive the vanguard of the Han army off the city walls.

Under the leadership of their officers, the defenders on the city wall split into two groups. One group, armed with spears, formed a forest of spears, attempting to force back the Han army charging up from the front.

Another group of men, armed with bows, crossbows, and muskets, rushed toward the horse-face platforms on either side of the breach, attempting to launch a long-range attack from the flanks and rear.

Most of these people were students temporarily recruited from the city. Due to a lack of armor, they could only use ranged weapons such as bows, crossbows, and muskets.

Marco, who was charging ahead, was suddenly caught in a dangerous situation with enemies on three sides.

At this moment, he was using a rattan shield to block the spear thrusting from the front, wrestling with the defenders, but arrows and lead bullets shot from his side and rear struck his armor like a storm, clanging and clattering.

The immense impact caused him to stagger and writhe in pain.

If he hadn't been fully armored and protected, that single volley of fire would have been enough to kill him on the spot.

Even so, some arrows, flying at odd angles, pierced through the gaps in the outer lamellar armor and embedded themselves in Marco's arms and calves.

Fortunately, he had protective shields for his heart, armpits, and throat, so these arrow wounds would at most cause him pain and bleeding, but would not be fatal.

But the strikers behind him weren't so lucky.

Some people were shot directly in the face; the arrows and lead pellets pierced through their faceplates, killing them instantly.

Seeing this, Marco also became anxious. He turned to his personal guards and ordered:

"First, chop down these bastards in front, then deal with the gunners on both sides!"

He led a dozen or so guards, suddenly bursting through the gun emplacement in front of him, and with a backhand slash, he felled one of them to the ground.

The vanguard behind them pressed against the parapet and outer wall, swarming up from both sides and roughly knocking the defenders to the ground, some even being thrown off the city wall.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the defending troops on the front were wiped out.

"Secure the pass!"

"Get ready to support the brothers behind!"

Marco left the main force to guard the area, while he himself, with his personal guards, charged towards the nearby horse-faced wall, attempting to eliminate any ranged threats.

Seeing the menacing bandits charging towards them, the archers and gunners still on the ramparts were terrified and dropped their weapons, running away as fast as they could.

Marco did not pursue them further; his primary task was to hold the gap and wait for reinforcements.

Eight hundred elite soldiers quickly took control of this section of the wall, and Marco immediately ordered three small flags to be planted on the crenellations to signal that the following troops could safely scale the wall.

"Oh no! The enemy soldiers are attacking!"

Xu Chengming, who was directing operations from the Xiaodongmen city tower, changed his expression drastically upon seeing this.

He immediately summoned his deputy general, Hu Cheng, and sternly ordered:
"Quickly, come with me and drive the thieves away!"

"Order!"

Hu Cheng clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, then gathered his personal guards and soldiers, and escorted Xu Chengming toward the breach on the west side.

As a veteran general who had experienced the suppression of the rebellion in the southwest, Xu Chengming's personal guards were naturally all seasoned veterans.

Thus, the most elite forces of both sides engaged in a fierce battle at the narrow breach in the city wall.

Swords, spears, and halberds clashed back and forth, roars and screams mingled together, and the city wall was instantly transformed into a bloody grinding mill.

In the chaos, Marco encountered Hu Cheng, Xu Chengming's deputy general.

Hu Cheng was skilled with double hammers, charging left and right on the narrow city wall. If you were hit by one of his hammers, you would be out of breath for a long time.

Meanwhile, Marco, shielded by rattan, used his perfect defense to advance step by step, constantly eroding Hu Cheng's space to maneuver.

Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Hu Cheng gave a signal to his personal guards, who then launched an attack from both sides at the same time, trying to bypass the rattan shield.

Marco was surrounded by the crowd and unable to retreat. Helpless, he could only turn sideways to block the attack from the right.

Hu Cheng seized the opportunity, grabbed a mace, and smashed it hard against Marco's left arm, trying to knock the rattan shield from his hand.

Marco couldn't dodge in time and had no choice but to take the heavy blow head-on.

hiss!
A sharp pain shot through his forearm, making him gasp.

Marco looked down and saw that the armor plates on his arm guards had been dented, leaving a deep pit.

In pain, he suddenly pushed aside the guards in front of him, turned around, and slashed his throat before Hu Cheng could react.

The gushing blood immediately sprayed all over Marco's face. Hu Cheng's eyes widened, and he staggered to the ground, clutching his neck.

Meanwhile, the surrounding soldiers were in a frenzy of killing, limbs flying everywhere, blood pooling on the city walls and slowly flowing down the earthen slope.

Relying on their superior troops and armor, the Han army bravely withstood attacks from all directions, gradually annihilating and forcing back the reinforcements.

Xu Chengming launched several charges, but without exception, they were all driven back.

Seeing that his personal guards were no match for his men, and then turning around to find his deputy general dead, he was horrified.

Seeing that things were hopeless, Xu Chengming began to consider retreating and wanted to withdraw to the rear to reorganize the defenses.

Marco, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted Xu Chengming, who was directing the retreat in the crowd.

He tossed aside his waist knife, reached behind him, and pulled out a short axe from his waist.

Marco held up his short axe, staring at Xu Chengming's head not far away, aiming for a long time.

After adjusting his breathing several times, he used all his strength to throw the short axe through the chaotic crowd!
Under his expectant gaze, the axe drew an arc in the air, passed over the crowded people, and struck Xu Chengming's face with perfect accuracy!
Well.
Before Xu Chengming could even react, he fell backward to the ground, blood and brain matter splattering everywhere, and he died instantly.

The Ming soldiers were stunned when their commander suddenly died tragically in front of them.

"run!"

Someone in the crowd shouted something first, and the surrounding guards reacted and scattered like birds and beasts.

Marco did not order a continued pursuit. Instead, he immediately rallied his troops and cleared a path through the pile of corpses beneath his feet.

The Han army's follow-up attacking troops poured into the city through the breach along the earthen slope!

Without their leader, the other defenders on the city walls also dropped their weapons and ran away.

One part of the Han army split into two groups along the city wall and quickly wiped out the remaining enemy; the other part rushed down the city wall and charged towards the city gate, successfully opening the small east gate.

"The city gates are open!"

"Kill!"

Cheers rang out across the battlefield as more Han soldiers poured into the city through the city gates, and the outer city of Guiyang changed hands!
Seeing a large number of Han soldiers pouring into the streets, Liang Sitai, the prefect of Guiyang, was greatly alarmed.

He quickly rallied his remaining troops and led the city's inhabitants into Rouyuan Gate (the Great North Gate), attempting to continue their desperate resistance within the inner city and make a final stand.

The Han army did not have time to pursue them further, but instead chose to quickly take control of the outer city and send out some troops to completely surround Rouyuan Gate.

After clearing out the remaining enemy forces in the city, Shao Yong slowly led his personal guards into the city.

As dusk approached, looking at the equally imposing Rouyuan Gate before him, Shao Yong ordered all troops to halt their attack. They were to first appease the people of the outer city and treat the wounded, then rest for the night before resuming their assault on the inner city the following day.

But at that moment, Marco, covered in blood, stepped forward and limped towards Shao Yong:

"General, the inner city's defenses remain strong; a direct assault would inevitably result in more casualties."

"Perhaps I should try to persuade them to surrender."

“The defending troops have just suffered a major defeat and their commander has been killed in battle. They must be in a state of panic and uncertainty.”

"Persuading them to surrender at this time might be twice as effective and save us from a war."

Upon hearing this, Shao Yong frowned deeply:

"Commander Ma, you were the first to breach the city walls, and you were seriously injured. You need to rest and recuperate now."

"I can send Dingguo or Liu Ning to handle the matter of persuading them to surrender."

But Marco shook his head, his attitude very firm:

"General, it's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

"Let me go instead. After all, I am a former general who has surrendered. My personal testimony may be more convincing."

Shao Yong was extremely surprised to see Ma Ke like this.

This kid is really going all out!
If all the generals of the Ming Dynasty were as reckless as him, Your Majesty would likely have to go through a lot of trouble to conquer Sichuan.

When did Ming Dynasty generals become so capable fighters?

However, Shao Yong overlooked a crucial issue: it was not that Ma Ke under the Ming court was capable of fighting, but rather that Ma Ke after surrendering was capable of fighting.

During the special period at the end of the Ming Dynasty, many government and military generals who surrendered to the Qing or Shun dynasties often demonstrated a significantly higher level of combat effectiveness than before.

People like the famous Three Princes who surrendered to the Qing Dynasty became the vanguard of the Qing army's southward advance.
For example, Chen Yongfu and others under Li Zicheng were also from the Ming army.

After surrendering to the Shun dynasty, Chen Yongfu was appointed as a general. In the Huaiqing Campaign, he led his troops to defeat the Qing army under Dodo and killed the Qing general Jin Yuhe, which was one of the few victories in the Shun dynasty's war against the Qing.

This is not an isolated case.

The most important reason is the imperial court behind the military generals.

In the Ming Dynasty, leading troops into battle not only meant not receiving food and supplies, but also risking being betrayed by allied forces if one was not careful.

But things are different in a new environment. In order to prove their worth to their new lord, surrendered generals often show a strong fighting spirit and ambition.

Another point is the change in the combat environment.

After being freed from the constraints of the corrupt Ming Dynasty system, these surrendered generals almost all had independent command authority, more flexible tactical space, and were able to better unleash their true strength.

In addition, being surrounded by colleagues and subordinates eager to make a name for themselves, one is naturally influenced by their enthusiasm.

Marco is the best example.

Seeing that Ma Ke's injuries were not serious, Shao Yong finally agreed to his request.

After a short rest and treatment of his wounds, Marco led two squads of guards, ordered the men to raise white flags, and went to the Rouyuan Gate.

He rode on horseback, a white cloth draped over his left hand, and held a tin megaphone in his right. He strained his voice and shouted towards the city wall:
"Listen up, garrison troops on the city walls!"

"The King of Han is virtuous in his love of life. As long as you open the city gates and surrender, our army promises that we will never indiscriminately kill the innocent and will protect the lives of all the people in the city!"

"The civil and military officials in the city will also be spared death!"

After a while, the torches on the city wall flickered, and finally a group of people appeared.

Liang Sitai, the prefect of Guiyang, stood on the city wall, his face ashen as he looked down at Ma Ke.

Marco, however, ignored them and continued shouting for surrender:

"Xu Chengming was stubborn and refused to see the truth; he has already been slain by me!"

"You are trapped in this isolated city, and your destruction is imminent. Why make further unnecessary sacrifices and increase casualties?!"

"The court is corrupt and incompetent, and officials are forcing the people to rebel, leading to widespread unrest throughout the land. This is not the fault of us, the ministers and generals."

"His Highness the Prince of Han is known for his benevolence in the southwest; he is by no means a man who kills indiscriminately!"

"I am Ma Ke, the former guerrilla commander of Yansui Town, which can serve as proof."

Upon hearing this, Liang Sitai on the city wall seemed to have suffered a great shock.

He leaned out and shouted angrily at the people below the city walls:
"Who is barking and howling here? It turns out to be a traitorous general who has no king or father and seeks personal glory by betraying his lord!"

"You shameless scoundrel who betrayed your sovereign and father and served a traitor! What face do you have to utter such nonsense here?!"

“I, Liang Sitai, have received great favors from the nation. I have studied the classics and learned loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness. How could I associate with you traitors who bring chaos to the world?!”

Liang Sitai's voice grew increasingly impassioned, filled with contempt:
"You warriors, who have received imperial stipends for generations, do not think of serving the court, suppressing rebellions and defending against aggression. Instead, you are greedy for life and afraid of death, kneeling before the traitors!"

"How dare you mention 'it's not the fault of a subject'?"

"The world has fallen into such a state precisely because of treacherous and shameless traitors like you!"

He became increasingly agitated as he shouted, almost screaming.

"Surrender? No way!"

"As the prefect of the Ming Dynasty, I have a duty to defend this territory. If the city falls, I will only face death!"

"Even if I burn Guiyang to the ground and destroy all the granaries, I will not leave you traitors and rebels with the slightest benefit!"

Liang Sitai went to great lengths to denigrate Marco, denouncing him as a traitor to the country, utterly devoid of manners and shame.

But when he heard the curses coming from the city, Marco felt as if a gentle breeze was blowing on his face, causing him no pain or itch.

He made a great contribution by being the first to scale the walls today, and even killed a Ming general in battle. There is no way that Liang Sitai could sway him with a few words.

Marco didn't seem to care at all, and instead continued shouting through the megaphone:

"You, surnamed Liang, keep talking about loyalty to the emperor and upholding chastity, but you make it sound so easy. Have you ever thought about the people of Guiyang?"

"More than ten years ago, during the She'an Rebellion, Guiyang was besieged for ten months. People in the city cooked bones and exchanged children to eat."

"Four hundred thousand soldiers and civilians starved to death; how tragic!"

"If you remain so stubborn today, do you intend to drag the entire city down with you?"

Marco's voice echoed in the silent night sky, carrying a powerful resonance.

Upon hearing this, many soldiers and civilians on the city wall turned pale, recalling the tragedy that occurred during the Tianqi era. Their grief and fear were palpable.

"I, Marco, hereby guarantee with my life!"

"As long as you open the city gates and surrender, the Han King's army will not massacre the city!"

"We will not kill surrendered soldiers! We will not harm the people! We will not plunder property! We will ensure that we do not commit any offenses! We will protect the lives of everyone in the city!"

"Prefect Liang, please do not let your own selfish desires bring disaster upon the entire city's people!"

"To open the gates and surrender the city is the true act of benevolence and righteousness!"

Marco's words struck a chord with the audience.

The memory of the horrific events of the She'an Rebellion, in particular, shattered the will to resist of most soldiers and civilians.

The outer city has now fallen. If we continue to resist, it will be pointless except for mutual destruction and repeating the tragedy.

But Liang Sitai turned a deaf ear to this and was too lazy to waste any more words.

He snorted coldly and turned away with a flick of his sleeve:

"Hmph! Traitors deserve to die!"

Liang Sitai hurried along, pushing the city wall down while giving instructions to those around him:
"Go! Thoroughly inspect the city's defensive equipment!"

"Summon another batch of able-bodied villagers to the city and make sure they defend it!"

But before he could finish speaking, he sensed that something was wrong.

The surroundings were deathly silent; no one answered, and no one moved.

Liang Sitai suddenly looked up and around, only to see that the soldiers and civilians around him, whether they were soldiers, yamen runners or young men, were staring at him with complicated eyes.

Amid the crackling of the burning firewood, the crowd moved silently, slowly approaching him.

Seeing this, Liang Sitai took two steps back and shouted, his voice stern but his voice weak:

"What...what do you want to do?!"

"Didn't you hear my orders?! Go and defend the city!"

At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, its origin unknown, yet it expressed the thoughts of everyone present:
"Prefect, what's the point of defending the city now, other than sending everyone to their deaths in vain?"

"Do you really intend to use our lives to secure your posthumous reputation as a loyal and upright official?!"

Liang Sitai was both shocked and furious, his hand trembling as he pointed at the crowd:
"Who?! Who is spreading these lies and misleading the public?!"

"Step forward, you!"

Before he could finish speaking, the soldiers and civilians around him swarmed forward and tied him up tightly.

……

Marco waited for a long time outside the city, but still received no reply.

He thought the attempt to persuade him to surrender had failed, and sighed in disappointment, preparing to ride back to camp.

But at that moment, a loud rumble suddenly came from the dark city gate.

Marco hurriedly led his guards forward to investigate, only to find that the previously tightly closed city gate was slowly opening a crack from the inside!
Immediately afterwards, torches flickered to life from the doorway, and soldiers and civilians, leading the way, escorted Liang Sitai, who was bound and unable to move, out.

"I'm waiting for you!"

"Sir, please have mercy!"

Marco was overjoyed to see this.

He immediately gave the order to his personal guards:

"quick!"

"Go immediately and report to Commander Shao! The inner city has surrendered!"

Thus, after more than three months of siege, this fortified city in the southwest finally fell to the enemy.

The Han army achieved a crucial victory.

Marco, thanks to his merits such as being the first to breach the city walls, beheading enemy generals, and persuading the garrison to surrender, successfully transformed from a surrendered general into the greatest contributor to the conquest of Guiyang.

This also established his solid position within the new dynasty.

(End of this chapter)