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

Chapter 56 Wu Ze
Jiang Han's men couldn't help but feel a lump in their throats when they saw this scene.

Didn't they also endure those kinds of days?
When he followed Wu Zimian north to defend the emperor, they were often starving and had to march seventy or eighty li every day, so hungry that their stomachs were sticking to their backs.

It was Jiang Han who led them to empty the granary of Liu Family Village, allowing them to have their first full meal.

Back then, they were the same way, holding steaming hot rice, wolfing it down, swallowing tears mixed with rice grains, laughing and crying at the same time, wishing they could worship Jiang Han like an ancestor.

Seeing these surrendered soldiers now, how similar they are to my own back then, how can I not feel a myriad of emotions?
Seeing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Dong Erzhu whispered to Jiang Han, "..."

"Brother Han, why don't you bring some wine over? Let everyone have a drink, and when they're happy, they'll naturally forget all those unpleasant things."

After listening, Jiang Han pondered for a moment and slowly shook his head.

It wasn't that he was stingy, but rather that tonight's battle was fought in a very strange way.

According to Lü Ming and Lou Xiang, they were transferred to Wangzhuang a long time ago and have been hiding in a cave in the north to prevent them from coming out.

Zhao Hongbin was secretive, and only today did he finally get them to the city wall to set up defenses.

This was clearly because they had received advance notice and knew that Jiang Han and his group were going to attack Wangzhuang.

Therefore, Jiang Han dared not let his guard down, let alone let his soldiers drink to liven things up.

This caution also saved Jiang Han and the others.

Just as everyone had finished eating and drinking and was preparing to rest, the sentry outside suddenly stumbled in, panting and shouting:

"Report! A large group of people is approaching Wangzhuang with torches in the distance!"

Jiang Han's heart tightened, and he immediately ordered everyone to assemble and prepare to meet the enemy.

The soldiers dared not delay, immediately rose, donned their armor and weapons, and surged onto the city wall to set up defenses.

Outside Wangzhuang, Commander Wu Ze was leading more than four thousand soldiers in a flurry of activity.

He set off from Yan'an Prefecture, first occupying Majia Village and Baijia Village, leaving several hundred men to garrison them, and then rushed to Wangzhuang without stopping, fearing he would miss the big battle.

In his plan, the rebels and the defenders in Wangzhuang should be locked in fierce fighting at this time, and he could then swarm in from behind, forming a pincer movement with the defenders inside the city to annihilate the rebels in one fell swoop.

But when they arrived at the place, it was quiet and peaceful.

Wu Ze frowned, wondering to himself: Could it be that the rebel army hasn't arrived?

That's impossible. The news from the Tang cavalry can't be false. Our scouts also saw traces left by the rebels along the way. What's going on?

At this moment, Hou Zhijie, one of his commanders, rode over and asked in a low voice:

"Commander Wu, judging from this situation, could it be that Wangzhuang has already been captured by the bandits?"

Wu Ze sneered and shook his head:

"How could that be? No matter how good those bandits are, they don't have that kind of ability."

“Those were border troops specially recruited from Jingbian Camp, totaling more than two thousand.”

"With the advantage of the city, it would take at least seven or eight thousand men for most of the day to take it down, if not a thousand or ten thousand."

"We marched at full speed on horseback, and it only took us three or four hours."

"Jiang's forces number at most 1,500. How could they possibly breach the city so quickly?"

Hou Zhijie nodded, but still had some worries:

"That's true, but the scene before us is really suspicious. Our scouts just reported that there are indeed signs of fighting outside the city."

"Commander, in my humble opinion, it is best to be cautious."

Wu Ze glanced at Hou Zhijie and said in a deep voice:
"If that's the case, then you go!"

"Go to the city gate and shout something, ask the guards upstairs what's going on." Hou Zhijie was dumbfounded. All I did was offer a suggestion? Why am I being sent here?
He returned to the army, turned to his subordinate Zhang Yan, a centurion, and declined, saying:
"Go and find out what's going on yourself."

Zhang Yan had no choice but to reluctantly grab a squad of his personal guards and head towards the city gate, his face contorted with worry.

The group arrived at the city gate with trepidation. Zhang Yan looked up and shouted to the guards on the city wall:

"Hey! I'm Zhang Yan, a centurion under Commander Wu of Yan'an Prefecture. Where's your adjutant? Our commander wants to speak with him!"

The person on duty on the city wall was none other than Jiang Han. Upon hearing the call, he quickly responded:
"It's late, Lord Zhao has already gone to bed, you can go back now!"

Zhang Yan looked suspicious. Had he fallen asleep?
So he then asked loudly:
"Where is the thief?!"

Jiang Han remained calm and composed:
"We drove them away long ago! Those petty thieves overestimated themselves, daring to attack the city with only a thousand men. We even killed their leader!"

"The bodies are still there!"

As he spoke, he ordered his men to carry Zhao Hongbin's body to the edge of the city wall, and waved it in the firelight so that the people below could see it.

Zhang Yan squinted and vaguely discerned that it was the armor of a high-ranking officer in the Ming army, so he had no doubts:

"Then open the city gates and let us in to rest for the night."

Jiang Han resolutely refused:
"No! Lord Zhao has ordered that the city gates must not be opened under any circumstances!"

"What if you're the remnants of the bandits? Trying to disguise yourselves as government troops and trick them into opening the city gates?!"

"Bring your leader here to speak! I don't even know a lowly centurion like you!"

Zhang Yan was rebuffed and had no choice but to slink back and report.

Jiang Han, however, sneered inwardly from the city wall, a plan forming in his mind.

He quickly ordered Shao Yong to lead the archers and have them all crouch down below the city wall in an ambush.

He then ordered Li Laowai and the others to don armor, prepare their horses, and hide behind the city gate to await orders.

On the other side, Zhang Yan, the centurion, returned to Hou Zhijie's side and explained the situation in detail.

Hou Zhijie breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, and then hurriedly ran to report to Wu Ze.

Upon hearing that the enemy troops had been defeated, Wu Ze felt a surge of courage. "It's good that they were defeated! It's good that they were defeated!"

This saved him trouble, as he no longer had to fight those bandits to the death. After all, even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone a group of fierce soldiers.

But when he heard that the garrison was not allowing him to enter the city, he flew into a rage:
"I, the commander, traveled day and night to protect Wang Zhuang, and now he won't let me into the city?!"

"Go! Move the army over there and force him to open the city gates!"

At a single command, four thousand soldiers moved forward to the city gate, their momentum overwhelming.

After another round of persuasion, Jiang Han reluctantly agreed.

The city gate slowly opened, and Wu Ze was about to lead his men in when suddenly a rain of arrows poured down from the sky, causing his men and horses to fall and scream in agony.

Immediately following was a volley of musket fire and a dozen or so thunderclaps, aimed directly at areas with large crowds.

Wu Ze was terrified and frantically swung his knife to parry, roaring, "You scoundrel, how dare you!"

Just as he was about to organize a counterattack, he saw a troop of cavalry appear at the previously empty city gate.

Li Laowai, who was leading the charge, carried a horse-slaying saber and gave an order, leading hundreds of cavalrymen behind him straight into Wu Ze's army.

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(End of this chapter)