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

Around 3:45 AM

The night was at its thickest at this moment, and of course, Zhang Da was hoping the fog would get even thicker.

At this time, the lights on the city walls were dim and few, and hardly anyone could be seen.

After Li Dingguo rushed north to Jingzhou and Xiangyang, the stronghold that Prince Gui, Zhu Changying, had built up over seventeen years had lost its backbone.

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No one in the city could see any hope. Although the strength of the Great Western Army in the city seemed considerable, with more than 12,000 men even after Li Dingguo left, only 1,200 men were actually capable of donning armor, wielding weapons, and fighting to the death!

Feng Shuangli was naturally helpless; he knew he couldn't defend the city.

The fall of the city is only a matter of time.

But what could he do? Surrender to the government troops? Of course not. He knew his crimes were heinous, and the court surely hated him. They were being polite to him now, but they would definitely kill him later.

Forced to abandon his position, Feng Shuangli had no choice but to defend the city.

As long as we can hold Zhang Da off long enough to prevent him from heading north and interfering with the Jingxiang campaign.

Even if the city falls by then, you won't be blamed for running away; you might even be rewarded.

Having made up his mind, he divided his only 1,200 elite soldiers into three groups: 800 men were stationed at the main road in the east, 200 men guarded the south gate, and 200 men guarded the west city.

As for the North Gate, it had been breached by bandits in earlier years and was poorly repaired. In addition, due to the recent attack and the narrow terrain, he left only eighty veteran soldiers to supervise the battle, along with more than seven hundred refugees and laborers. If you add less than half of the rolling logs and stones...

At this moment, Feng Shuangli, clad in the gilded iron armor he had stripped from the guards of the Prince Gui's mansion, stood atop the highest point of the East Gate tower, gazing out of the city. However, as had been said before, the wilderness outside the city was utterly dark, devoid of wind, sound, and light.

Humans have an instinctive fear of darkness.

"General, there is still no movement from the Ming army camp. Scouts have approached to investigate three times, but they have not seen anyone and heard any sound. It's as if... they have vanished into thin air."

The general, shivering from the cold, wrapped himself tightly in his battle robe and said in a panicked voice, "The north gate wall is badly damaged. Should we transfer the men from the west gate to reinforce it? What if the Ming army launches a surprise attack from there...?"

"Shut up!" Feng Shuangli, in a very bad mood, shouted sharply, interrupting his subordinate. "What do you know! Zhang Da is arrogant and conceited. He suffered a pyrrhic victory at Qingcaopo at the hands of General Li. Now, eager for revenge and to gain merit, he will definitely concentrate his main force to launch a strong attack on the East Gate, attempting to break through the city in one battle and intimidate our army!"

Having said that, Feng Shuangli resignedly drew his sword and ordered, "Order the entire army to pile all the rolling logs, boulders, boiling oil, and arrows from the east gate onto the city wall to resist Zhang Da. Also, anyone who dares to make a fuss or undermine morale will be executed without question!"

Although military orders are harsh, they can barely suppress the panic in the hearts of the defending soldiers.

While the soldiers on the city wall gritted their teeth and numbly carried stones, poured oil, and lit fires, three miles outside the city, in the desolate woods and shallow slopes, 7,200 Baoqing soldiers lay down their flags and drums, and fell silent, lying prone in the weeds and mud.

Zhang Da, Zhou Wenqu, Zhang Wen, Wang Tui, Li Dan, and other core generals stood on the left and right, their expressions grim, as if waiting for a certain moment.

"My lord, the time has come."

Zhou Wenqu, who had been silent just moments before, suddenly lowered his voice and said, "The 3,000-strong feint attack force at the East Gate is in position, with ladders, rockets, and signal flares all ready; the 2,200-strong ambush force at the North Gate, according to the messenger, is less than fifty paces from the city wall; the intelligence department also says they are just waiting for the signal fire."

Everything is ready except for the east wind.

Zhang Da nodded slightly, then took a deep breath and began to make the final emphasis.

"You can only launch a feint attack towards the east gate, but you must make the most of the momentum to draw Feng Shuangli's troops to their doom at the east gate."

"When you have those people inside the city set fire, be careful not to give them away."

"Finally, we will launch a surprise attack on the north gate. Give the order that when they attack the east gate, they must be quick. Once they scale the city walls, they must control the battlements; once they enter the city, they must control the streets; once they control the streets, they must control the alleys. They must not retreat an inch or yield an inch."

The generals, hearing Zhang Da's emphasis, naturally nodded in unison and uttered another chorus of obedience.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

The night wind blew harder, and the fog thickened. Zhang Da, secretly pleased, was also counting the hours.

It was exactly 3:00 AM, not a second off.

"Waaaaah—!!!"

Suddenly, dozens of horns sounded simultaneously outside the east gate of Hengzhou City, followed by deafening sounds of battle...

"Kill them all!!!"

Suddenly, from an unknown direction, three thousand Ming infantrymen emerged from the darkness and charged out.

At the same time, countless torches were lit instantly, and four hundred rockets were launched into the sky simultaneously, like a rain of fire, densely crashing down on the east gate.

Leaving aside the fact that the fire caused by the rocket landing illuminated the entire East Gate city wall as if it were daytime, the soldiers on the city wall were terrified by the sudden fire and the sounds of battle. The soldiers who were originally drowsy were instantly thrown into chaos.

"Ming army! The Ming army is attacking the city! Fire arrows!"

"Roll logs! Bombs! Smash them down!"

In their panic, the defenders haphazardly drew their bows and fired arrows, hastily smashing down the rolling logs and stones.

This action also injured the Ming soldiers at the forefront.

But neither being hit by rolling logs, pierced by arrows, nor burned by boiling oil could stop their charge. The soldiers behind them did not retreat. They stepped over the corpses of their comrades, carried heavy ladders, and continued their frenzied charge, their roars deafening.

"Set up ladders! Scal the walls! Kill!"

Zhang Wen personally charged ahead, wielding his sword and shield to cut down the arrows coming at him.

With their commander risking his life, the Ming soldiers naturally followed suit, one after another, siege ladders crashing against the city walls. Then, these soldiers, like monkeys, climbed up and engaged the defenders on the city walls in close combat, slashing with swords, thrusting with spears, punching and kicking...

Feng Shuangli indeed fell completely into the trap.

Standing atop the East Gate tower, he witnessed firsthand the Ming army's dense, surging charge, their battle cries deafening, the sun blazing. He had no more doubts. He brandished his sword wildly, whether from excitement or fear, it was impossible to tell.

"Hold on! Everyone hold on! The main Ming army force is all at the east gate. If we break through this wave, they're finished!"

Feng Shuangli immediately ordered that 150 of the 200 garrison troops at the south gate be transferred to reinforce the east gate, and 100 of the 200 garrison troops at the west gate be transferred eastward. He even sent all the reserve troops originally used for patrols and relaying orders to the east gate.

In this way, the entire defensive focus of Hengzhou was completely and thoroughly pinned down at the east gate, while only scattered remnants of soldiers remained at the north gate and west city, rendering them virtually useless.

"General! Great news! Great news! The East Gate has held! The Ming army has suffered heavy casualties and cannot advance for the time being!" the general shouted excitedly.

Feng Shuangli, panting heavily, stared in disbelief as the Ming army's offensive below the city slowed, and there were even faint signs of them slowly retreating...

It looks like they really have withdrawn...

"Zhang Da, you're still too green... You're not qualified to try and take me down with a brute force approach!"

Finally, Feng Shuangli smiled, and then rewarded the soldiers beside him who had fought desperately to defend the city.

"Good lads, keep fighting! Keep fighting! Hold on for a few more days! I'll give you seven or eight wives."

Amidst the soldiers' cheers, Feng Shuangli was completely immersed in the joy of "defending the east gate."

However, just as the battle at the East Gate reached its climax—

Within Hengzhou City, three thick columns of black smoke rose simultaneously from three locations in the northwest corner!