Global colonization began with Ming Dynasty pirates.

When Lin Jiu's Dongning army arrived at Gaizhou City and formed ranks, Yang Yuwei felt a pang of regret for the first time.

He was especially terrified when the enemy brought cannons across the river.

He glanced at the old breech-loading cannons on his city wall.

No! Compared to the artillery on the other side, this thing can only be called a large musket at best.

"General, do you want us to talk to them?" one of his men asked fearfully.

"Talk? Talk my ass! A bunch of savages from who-knows-where, with so few people, they think they can attack a city? Wishful thinking." The only thing Yang Yunrui could console himself with at this moment was that there really weren't many people on the other side.

To him, attacking Gaizhou City with just over a thousand men was simply a pipe dream. The enemy's forces couldn't even surround him.

Lin Jiu rode a tall, magnificent horse that he had seized, slowly circling around the city of Gaizhou, while constantly taking in the sights of the city.

This city isn't very high, but its facilities are quite complete. It doesn't look like it will be easy to conquer.

"Put everything out!" Lin Jiu ordered.

Soon, squads of soldiers planted a large number of wooden stakes not far outside the city. Then, the soldiers took human heads out of sacks and hung them on the stakes.

These are the heads of Tartars captured during the ambush of Sangguji.

The soldiers guarding the city wall soon saw this scene. At first, there were only people pointing at it, but then the whispers turned into a commotion.

"Those are Tartar heads, those are Jurchen heads?"

"Did the Dongning army really kill that many Tartars?"

"More than that? I heard that Nurhaci's sons were captured over there, and his nephew was beaten to death."

"Really? Could it be a commoner shaving their head in disguise?"

"How could that be? Didn't you see those Tartars who escaped back yesterday? They were all terrified, completely different from their arrogant demeanor when they first came."

"If that's the case, then why are we fighting? We should just open the gates and surrender."

"Idiot, we're on the Tartars' side now."

"Shut up!" Yang Yunrui said, whipping the taxi driver who was talking.

"Everyone is forbidden to speak, or you will be court-martialed!"

But the more this happened, the more frightened the soldiers became, especially when they saw the Jurchen Tartars on the city wall trembling with fear.

These Jurchen Tartars then made an excuse and left.

This caused even more panic among the people on the city wall. If it weren't for the officers suppressing them, they would probably have collapsed instantly.

Yang Yuwei gritted his teeth, furious at the behavior of these Jurchen Tartars.

I sent you up to the city to help me monitor the others, but you all ran away instead. What kind of behavior is this?

Unfortunately, he had no right to punish the other party.

He could only vent his anger on his subordinates.

Just then, the Dongning army pushed out more than a dozen prisoners.

Among these people were former soldiers from Gaizhou.

"Listen up, brothers on the city walls! Stop risking your lives for the Tartars! Jinzhou and Fuzhou have already surrendered."

The Tartars' power is waning; they won't be able to keep up for much longer.

"The princes of the Later Jin have all been captured alive by the Dongning Army. What are you still defending? The Dongning Army is a reinforcement sent by His Majesty. You can still surrender now, otherwise it will be considered a rebellion."

"Look at the braids on the back of your heads! Is that something a human being would wear? It's a dog leash that the Tartars put around your necks. With that still in your hair, how can you face your ancestors?"

The voices of the prisoners below grew louder and louder.

"Erwa, is that you? I'm your third uncle. Surrender now. The Dongning army treats prisoners of war well. You'll be fine."

"That's right. The brothers on the city wall cut off their queues and opened the gates to join the rebellion. The Dongning Army promised to forgive and forget, and we'll all be one family from now on."

Many soldiers on the city wall subconsciously touched the rat-tail braids at the back of their heads.

These braids had only been shaved off a few days ago; they were short, ugly, and looked like shackles on their heads.

They used to laugh at other people's braids, but now they've grown them on the back of their own heads.

Yang Yuwei's expression changed, and he shouted, "Fire arrows! Shoot all those who are shouting!"

There was no movement on the city wall. Only when Yang Yunrui drew his sword and threatened him did the sporadic sounds of arrows and muskets ring out from the city wall.

But it was obvious that no one was really aiming. The person on the other side who was trying to persuade them to surrender was startled, but then realized that nothing had happened.

Yang Yuwei had no choice but to order his personal guards to start shooting with bows and arrows. This truly frightened the prisoners.

But then the Dongning soldiers raised their wooden shields to protect the prisoners who were shouting, and continued to make them take turns shouting.

Around noon, the heavy sound of wheels came from the south.

The artillery transported from the shore has arrived.

Six 6-pound cannons and three 12-pound cannons were being pulled to the position by mules and laborers.

Without delay, the artillerymen immediately unloaded the vehicle, erected the frame, placed wooden blocks, and measured the distance.

"They brought heavy artillery!" a commander's voice was hoarse.

"What's there to be afraid of? The city walls aren't made of paper. They won't collapse anytime soon. As long as we hold out for a few days, the Khan's reinforcements will naturally arrive."

But even he himself had some doubts about these words. Could he really hold on for a few days?

Nine cannons roared in succession.

The heavy cannonballs crashed into the city walls with a dull thud.

The first wave of attacks shattered a section of the parapet, sending bricks and stones flying, and the defenders on the city wall screamed and fled in all directions.

The second round of shelling quickly followed.

A 12-pound cannon shot hit the wooden structure below the south gate, breaking the beams and pillars, and causing tiles and planks to collapse.

The cannons on the city walls also attempted to retaliate, but these ancient cannons were unable to gain any advantage in the exchange of fire and were destroyed moments later.

After the cannons completely suppressed the city walls

The Dongning infantrymen began to march in formation.

Each team was responsible for a section of the rampart, and they were divided into two groups to take turns firing.

Anyone whose body is visible above the city wall will immediately be subjected to a volley of fire.

Whenever any of the defenders tried to peek out and fire arrows, after a few loud bangs, someone on the city wall would fall down with a scream.

This suppression made the defending soldiers extremely uncomfortable, and their already low morale became even more disheartening.

Yang Yuwei killed two retreating soldiers, but it was still to no avail.

He forced his soldiers to stand up and defend, but they were quickly shot down.

After a few times, no one was willing to obey orders anymore.

A siege ladder was erected on the city wall. Then a second one was built.

Several Dongning soldiers quickly climbed up the ladder, and when they were almost at the top of the city wall, they took out the bombs from their waists, lit them, and threw them forcefully at the top of the city wall.

boom!

A violent explosion rang out from the city wall, injuring nearby taxi drivers.

These black powder grenades are not very powerful and are unlikely to kill people, but they can kill a large number of enemies through pre-fragmented shrapnel.

After the taxi soldier on the ladder finished throwing the grenade, he immediately took the flintlock pistol off his back and climbed over the city wall.

The expected resistance did not occur; the defenders on the city wall were desperately fleeing, and the remaining men knelt down and surrendered.

Yang Yuwei, the former guerrilla leader of Gaizhou, had long since disappeared.

The city gates were then opened, and the Dongning army poured into Gaizhou.

They advanced along the streets in teams and quickly occupied the entire city of Gaizhou.

Yang Yunrui, with dozens of personal guards, escaped from the north gate and fled at breakneck speed.

The morale in the city was too low, and the Dongning army was too strong, making his resistance plan impossible to implement.

Left with no other choice, he had to abandon the city and flee.

"Even if we fail to defend it, I have demonstrated my loyalty to the Great Khan and believe that as long as the Great Jin wins, I will still be given important responsibilities."

Yang Yuwei ran wildly for several miles towards the north gate, and when he looked back and saw that there were no pursuers, he felt a little relieved.

"Haha, I laugh at the enemy general for being such a mediocre talent. The Dongning army is nothing special either. Although their firearms are fierce, they really don't know how to fight."

Yang Yuwei burst into laughter.

"What do you mean by that, General?" the guard asked, puzzled.

Yang Yuwei pointed to the mountains and forests to the north, "If I were the enemy leader, I would lay an ambush here. How could the enemy escape?"

And the other party didn't even think of that; what else could they be but mediocre?

The guard suddenly realized and nodded repeatedly, "What the general says is absolutely right, then..."

Before he could finish speaking, the guard suddenly stared blankly ahead.

Suddenly, a horn sounded from the opposite mountain forest.

Immediately afterwards, the ambushers on both sides emerged simultaneously.

An Jingyuan and his Dongning cavalry had been waiting there for a long time.

Yang Yuwei naturally saw this scene as well, and his face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.