Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

Now that the preparations are complete, it's time to start the war.

On the main passage, eight hundred assault infantrymen were lined up in a dense horizontal formation as Zhang Da had ordered. The soldiers in the front row were pale-faced and their lips were trembling, but they still gripped their shield handles tightly.

The musketeers were in three rows, their matchlocks already lit, the sparks flashing conspicuously in the early morning light.

A total of twelve cloud ladders were built, all made of hardwood, each three zhang long and extremely heavy, requiring four people to carry each one.

On the hillside to the left of Huaqiao Pass, ten small red-clad cannons were lined up in a row. The gunners, their foreheads covered in sweat, used cleaning rods to clean the cannon barrels and load gunpowder and iron bullets...

Since Zhang Da was too exhausted and physically unable to lead the charge, he was supported by four guards on either side, standing on the high ground behind the artillery position, looking down at the entire pass.

On that fortified wall, the banners of the Great Western Army, though askew, still stood. Dark, bluish-gray figures moved swiftly behind the battlements; it was clear they were actively preparing for battle, piling logs and stones inside the wall, and setting up large oil cauldrons on the ramparts. The crackling of firewood burning below could probably reach Zhang Da's ears. Zhang Da squinted, trying to find Li Dingguo's figure, but naturally, he found nothing.

"My lord, everything is ready."

Zhou Wenqu, who was overseeing the troop preparations, walked up to Zhang Da and whispered his reply.

"But... if the first wave is as you say, I'm afraid only three out of ten will survive."

"I know." Zhang sighed, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a resolute killing intent. "Give the order—fire."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Ten red-coated cannons roared and spat out tongues of fire at the same time. The huge recoil made the hillside tremble slightly. The iron balls that were shot out shrieked and smashed fiercely toward Huaqiaoguan Tower.

The first volley of shells from the red-coated cannons hit the two corners of the gate tower. Accompanied by the sound of wooden beams breaking and brick fragments flying everywhere, the top corner of the gate tower collapsed with a crash. The soldiers of the Great Western Army who were directing the operation there screamed as they fell down and crashed onto the rocks below the gate, their bodies shattered to pieces.

"A volley of musket fire!"

bang-bang-bang-

The first volley of muskets roared, and two hundred lead bullets rained down on the city wall. The defenders who had just emerged from behind the battlements were instantly mowed down. Zhang Da didn't know how many were injured; he only saw blood splattered on the bluestone wall and then slowly flowing down the cracks in the wall.

"Second column—place it!"

"Third column—place it!"

Three rows of muskets fired in turn, instantly covering the city wall with lead bullets. The defenders dared not look up and could only cower behind the battlements, listening to the clanging sound of lead bullets hitting the bluestone overhead, their hearts pounding with fear.

However, this only lasted for a short time. Then, bad news for the attackers and good news for the receivers—the gunfire gradually ceased.

"charge!"

Tears welled in Zhang Wen's eyes, and then he roared out the command he was very reluctant to utter.

And so, the eight hundred infantrymen, like a black tide, surged towards the front of the pass. Their footsteps pounded the muddy, blood-soaked ground, making a sticky sound.

They probably knew this was a one-way trip.

Sure enough, just as they rushed to within twenty steps of the wall, a sharp shout rang out from behind the gate.

"Throw down the boulder!"

In an instant, huge boulders the size of millstones, logs as thick as bowls, and pebbles poured down from the city wall like meteorites, causing the sky to collapse and the earth to crack.

The front-line shield-bearers didn't even utter a sound before being struck by the boulder. The sounds of shields shattering and bones exploding were clearly audible, enough to smash them directly into the mud.

Some ladders were broken by logs before they could even be erected, trapping the soldiers carrying them underneath. Their leg bones were broken into an inexplicable arc, and their screams echoed through the valley.

"Pour boiling oil!"

The Great Western garrison on the city wall issued another order.

Then scalding hot soybean oil, rapeseed oil, and a mixture of asphalt poured down from the city wall, soaking the soldiers' heads, bodies, and armor.

The scalding oil ignited instantly upon contact with the body, bursting into flames. These flames weren't the usual red; they were blue, green, and even some inconspicuous pale red. Regardless, whichever soldier the fire started, the flesh would emit a foul, burnt stench.

The soldiers were engulfed in flames, rolling on the ground. Some jumped into mud puddles by the roadside, but most struggled desperately and were ultimately burned alive.

"Throw spears!"

Another order came.

And so, one after another, the extremely sharp spears were hurled down from the city walls by the defenders of Daxi...

In just half an incense stick's time.

Of the eight hundred infantrymen who charged head-on, more than three hundred and twenty fell. Seven siege ladders were destroyed, and most of the leather shields were shattered. Corpses piled up in the passage, and blood flowed like a river. The soldiers behind could only advance by stepping on the corpses of their comrades, which made their feet sticky and every step felt like walking on the road to the underworld...

Zhang Wen was also in bad shape. Despite taking ample precautions, his left arm was still broken by a flying rock, the bone exposed and bleeding profusely. Yet, he seemed oblivious, roaring and brandishing his sword.

"Hurry! Fill the trenches! Quickly fill them with firewood, sandbags, and corpses! Hurry! We can only set up the ladders after we've filled them in!"

Helpless, the soldiers could only drag the bodies of their fallen comrades into the trench with red eyes and tears streaming down their faces. They then filled the trench with firewood, sandbags, and other heavy objects, and weighed it down with their own bodies to pave the way for those behind them.

Tragic! Extremely tragic!

The sieges at the end of the Ming Dynasty… and indeed the sieges of the entire dynasty, were all like this: there were no stylish maneuvers or dodges, no miraculous swordsmanship, no enemy troops that crumbled at the first charge; only slaughter from high ground and the corpses of those attacking from below.

Of course, war is a two-way street, and it's not good even for the defending side...

On this watchtower, Li Dingguo had been wounded in the shoulder by an arrow, shot from who-knows-who, and it was still bleeding.

"General! The Ming army has suffered heavy casualties on the front lines and is definitely on the verge of collapse! Two more rounds of boulders will surely break their morale and force them to retreat!"

The general, his face beaming with joy, looked at Li Dingguo, but the latter's brows were furrowed, his gaze fixed on the cliffs north of the pass, his ears listening for any sounds from there.

"General, what's wrong? Could it be a trap?"

"That's not right," Li Dingguo said in a low voice after much deliberation.

"Zhang Da is an extremely cunning strategist. He couldn't possibly ignore such casualties. Judging from my confrontation with him last night, this must be a diversionary tactic! A bait! He must have a backup plan... Yes! The surprise attack must be on the cliff! Immediately move all the rolling stones, tripwires, and archers to the top of the north cliff! Hurry! It will be too late if we're too late!"

What a thief Zhang Da!