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

"My lord! This won't do! The street is too narrow. A direct charge into battle against the enemy will result in too many casualties!"

Zhou Wenqu rushed to Zhang Da's side and urgently tried to dissuade him. Zhang Wen, who was also injured in one arm, was panting heavily.

"Brother, Feng Shuangli has gone mad! His personal guards are all suicide soldiers, they're not afraid of death at all! We have to think of something!"

Zhang Da was inwardly cursing Feng Shuangli as a madman.

The longer the stalemate lasts, the more disadvantageous it will be for the Ming army—after all, there are many surrendered soldiers and refugees in the city, and if they hear that the Ming army has failed to capture it after a long siege, they are very likely to mutini and launch a counterattack again...

"Let's split up!"

Zhang opened his mouth wide and began to formulate a new plan: "Order five hundred men on the left flank to outflank from the alley on the east side; five hundred men on the right flank to encircle from the narrow alley on the west side; archers and musketeers, climb onto the rooftops on both sides and provide suppressive fire! Where are the rockets? Find them and prepare to burn down the civilian houses behind them, cutting off their retreat!"

So the Ming army immediately changed formation, and after they followed Zhang Da's command...

"Let's do it!"

Zhang Da gave the order, and immediately a loud "boom" followed.

Then the fires rose again, thick smoke billowed, and the retreat route of the Great Western Army was completely cut off. Surrounded by enemies from both sides, their formation finally fell into chaos.

"General! Our retreat has been cut off! We're surrounded! We're going to die! We're all going to die!"

The bodyguard who was fighting bravely alongside the enemy finally couldn't hold back his tears.

Hearing this, he didn't stop the cursing. He simply looked around and saw the Ming army encircling them like an iron barrel, and his own soldiers falling one after another, their blood flowing like a river. He knew that whatever he did would be futile.

The last line of defense is about to fall.

Hopefully, the Eighth Prince will treat his family well.

Feng Shuangli's eyes were bloodshot as he brandished his knife and shouted wildly.

"Brothers! We're going to die anyway! Let's fight them! Killing one is enough, killing two is a bonus! The Eighth King won't mistreat our families!"

Ignoring their chaotic formation, the remaining soldiers launched another counterattack like mad dogs. Caught off guard, the Ming army was pushed back several steps, and the battle became extremely fierce once again.

The fierce battle lasted for more than a minute, and the streets and alleys were piled high with corpses.

"My lord! The street corner hasn't been torn open yet! If this drags on any longer, dawn will break! The refugees in the city could mutini at any moment!"

Zhang Wen hurriedly reported this, and Zhang Da, clearly aware of the consequences, had no choice but to take a deep breath, grab a long spear beside him, and push aside his personal guards.

"Cutout battalion! Follow me—break through the formation!"

At his command, Zhang Da personally charged forward with his gun!

Zhang Da also went crazy, charging ahead into the densest part of the enemy army.

The spear pierced the enemy's chest, the blade shattered the armor, and no one could stop it wherever it went!

"Our lord will fight personally! Kill!"

Seeing their commander-in-chief personally charge into battle and fight to the death, the morale of the Ming army's elite personal guards soared instantly, unleashing astonishing combat power.

They followed closely behind Zhang Da, like an indestructible dagger, piercing deep into the enemy's heart!

If Li Dingguo were here, seeing Zhang Da still charging forward like this, he would have rushed forward and killed him on the spot. Unfortunately, he was Feng Shuangli.

At this moment, Feng Shuangli saw Zhang Da personally charging forward and fighting a bloody battle from afar, and saw his own soldiers falling one after another, almost all of them dead or wounded. He knew that the situation was hopeless and that if he continued to defend, he would surely die.

"Retreat! Everyone retreat! Retreat to Prince Gui's Mansion! Defend the Mansion to the death!"

The remaining soldiers, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, lost all will to resist. They abandoned their armor and weapons and fled in all directions, running wildly toward the Gui Prince's Mansion.

The vital crossroads of Hengzhou City—Shizijiekou—was finally breached by the Ming army!

However, as the saying goes: "One should press on with the remaining strength to eliminate the enemy, rather than seek fame like Xiang Yu."

The Ming army continued their pursuit with unstoppable momentum, and within moments they had completely surrounded the Prince Gui's residence.

The Prince Gui's Mansion was the most fortified architectural complex in Hengzhou City, with high walls three zhang high, thick doors heavily locked, pavilions and towers connected one after another, and courtyards layered upon each other, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Feng Shuangli led his last three hundred or so remaining soldiers into the mansion, closed the gates tightly, climbed the high walls, and prepared for a final, desperate struggle.

Even at this point, he still refused to yield.

Zhang Da was speechless at this moment, standing in the open space in front of the main gate of the Prince Gui's Mansion, both angry and indignant.

"Feng Shuangli! Hengzhou has fallen, your entire army has been wiped out, and you are trapped in your isolated residence with no way to escape! If you are willing to open the gates and surrender, I will spare the lives of your soldiers and give you a way out!"

A moment of silence fell over the mansion, followed by Feng Shuangli's hoarse and ferocious roar.

"Zhang Da! I am a general of the Great Western Kingdom, a warrior under the Eighth King. I would rather die than surrender! If you have the guts, then attack! If not, get out now!"

"Stubborn and obstinate."

Zhang Da was even more frustrated, so he stopped talking and waved his hand.

"Pile gunpowder at the entrance, then use rockets to cover the firing at the tower. After the gunpowder explodes, the whole army will prepare for a general attack."

The Ming soldiers immediately took action, piling dozens of packets of gunpowder under the vermilion gate, then setting them on fire with fuses, and the group quickly retreated.

"BOOM—!!!"

A deafening roar shook the entire city, sending shockwaves through the air and splinters of wood flying everywhere.

The Gui Prince's Mansion, a symbol of imperial power and wealth, had its heavy vermilion gate instantly shattered, with broken wooden fragments flying several meters away.

But that wasn't all. At the same time, hundreds of rockets were launched, raining down on the mansion's pavilions, side courtyards, and woodsheds. The wind fanned the flames, and the fire, fueled by the wind, quickly ignited a raging inferno.

"Young Master, this is, after all, a royal residence. If you do this, you'll likely be impeached later..."

Zhang Da snorted lightly, seemingly unconcerned.

At this moment, thick smoke billowed inside the mansion, and the guards were in complete chaos, crying, running away, and screaming, creating utter pandemonium.

"Charge in! Wipe out the stubborn enemy! Capture Feng Shuangli alive!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhang Wen took the lead in charging forward, leading his elite Ming troops like a tidal wave into the Prince Gui's residence.

Slaughter was taking place everywhere—under the eaves, on the steps, in the hall, and in the courtyard.

Feng Shuangli's personal guards were all die-hards. Knowing that surrendering would also mean death, they fought desperately, repeatedly fighting for every room, every corridor, and every corner.

However, the numbers ultimately outnumbered them, so Feng Shuangli's group dwindled...

After about 15 minutes of fierce fighting, Feng Shuangli's personal guards were almost all killed or wounded, leaving only a dozen or so men around him. They were all covered in blood, panting heavily, and their retreat route was limited to the steps of the main hall, with nowhere else to go.

"kill!"

Even so, Feng Shuangli still refused to surrender. He acted like a madman, wielding his broadsword and slashing wildly at the Baoqing Prefecture army. He killed two Ming soldiers, but in the end, he was outnumbered and surrounded.

Without further hesitation, Zhang Wen charged forward and pierced his shoulder and back with a spear, penetrating deep into his bone.

"ah--!"

Feng Shuangli screamed in agony, his broadsword slipped from his hand, and he staggered to the ground. Upon seeing this, the Ming soldiers swarmed forward, pinning him to the ground and binding him tightly with thick ropes, making him look like a dumpling.

With the last stubborn enemy soldier killed, the fire at the Prince Gui's mansion was quickly extinguished. Zhang Da then ordered the remaining enemy in the streets and alleys to be wiped out, and all four gates of Hengzhou City were now under the control of the Ming army.

Thus, the bloody battle of Hengzhou finally came to an end.