Anti-Qing: Starting from the Reincarnation of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 100 The Fall of Zhaoqing
Wang Kang was sitting in the flower hall with such swagger, and in front of him was a middle-aged man with thin eyebrows and small eyes, with the head of a deer and the eyes of a rat.

This man's name is Qian Hegui, and he is the master of Liang Sheng, the magistrate of Hengzhou, near Guixian.

He came to Guixian this time on the orders of Liang Sheng, the magistrate of Hengzhou, and was preparing to incite the wealthy gentry in the areas controlled by the Ming Dynasty to revolt against the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

"Master Qian, to put it bluntly, the current situation in Guangdong and Guangxi is not very good."

"His Royal Highness, the prince of the Ming Dynasty, led his troops into Guangdong. He attacked and conquered all along the way and was invincible."

"The thieves' army in Guangdong was defeated, the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi were killed, and even big figures like the Guangzhou general were surrounded in Zhaoqing City and were not allowed to escape."

"In Guangxi, the Qing soldiers and horses were blocked by Ming thieves on the north side of Dawei Mountain and could not be captured."

"If our Li family responds to the imperial court and raises an uprising against the rule of the Ming thieves, we will take great risks."

"If something goes wrong with my Li family, and the imperial army is defeated by Ming thieves again, then it will be my Li family that is unlucky!"

Hearing this, Qian Hegui stroked a few strands of long beard on his chin and spoke.

"Mr. Wang doesn't know. Now, the imperial envoy sent by the imperial court to jointly fight against thieves in several provinces in the southwest has arrived in Hunan."

"I believe that the imperial army will launch a counterattack against the Ming thieves soon. Now is the chance for the gentry in the occupied areas to finally return to the embrace of the imperial court."

"If the Li family can't do anything now, when the imperial court counterattacks, defeats the Ming thieves, and regains control of the place, the Li family will have to be careful about being punished as traitors and traitors by the imperial court!"

"Mr. Wang must understand the rules of the Qing Dynasty!"

"Keep your head but not your hair, keep your hair but not your head!"

"If the entire Li family cannot take advantage of this opportunity to offset the crime of losing their pigtails, then the entire Li family may not be able to escape the fate of having their entire family confiscated and exterminated."

Qian Hegui threatened.

However, when he saw the braid on the back of Wang Kang's head, his words were obviously stalled.

Damn, why does this guy have braids? !

Wang Kang noticed Qian and Gui's eyes and said proudly, stroking his beard.

"Although my Li family is in dire straits now, we can still afford the braid tax of a few taels of silver."

Of course, he only paid the pigtail tax to himself.

As for other people...

Anyway, those people's surname was Li, not Wang, and Wang Kang couldn't bear to waste his money.

Hearing this, Qian Hegui took a deep breath and said.

"How can Mr. Wang be willing to raise troops and coordinate the imperial army to regain your county?"

"If you have the conditions, just ask!"

Now that the Qing government was suffering losses on the frontal battlefield, it was no match for the Ming Dynasty, so it was thinking of using some means to attack the Ming Dynasty's rear.

Inciting the local gentry to rebel against the Ming Dynasty's rule was a method devised by Wu Hubing, the governor of Guangxi, and Sun Yuzhou, the prefect of Guilin.

As for what will happen to these gentry after they raise their troops, will they be retaliated by the Ming Dynasty...

Haha, then this has nothing to do with them.

When Wang Kang heard this, he stroked his beard and said.

"It's not impossible for me, the Li family, to raise troops to support the imperial court in counterattacking your county."

"It's just that although Quanzi passed the Jinshi examination, he has been waiting for an official position in the capital and has not been able to get a real vacancy. It would be best if Mr. Liang could support Quanzi and reward Quanzi with an official position."

Qian Hegui nodded after hearing this.

"It's easy to talk about, it's easy to talk about. I can just go and talk to Mr. Zhizhou about this matter."

"Now that Guangdong and Guangxi are suffering from military turmoil, there are vacant real vacancies everywhere. It couldn't be easier for your master to find a real vacancy."

"As long as the Li family can support the imperial court in regaining your county, and the governor recommends it, the imperial court will certainly not be stingy with rewards."

Qian Hegui promised.

As for whether to honor it or not, that is another matter.

The reason why Qian and Gui are coaxing Wang Kang now is just because the court needs them now.

When the imperial court regains Guixian in the future, the Li family will be useless. Even if Qian and Gui fall out, Wang Kang will be helpless.

When Wang Kang heard this, his face was filled with uncontrollable joy, and he nodded in agreement.

Start discussing with Qian and Gui about raising troops.

After agreeing on the matter, Qian and Gui said goodbye and left Lijiazhai, and went to visit other wealthy families in Gui County to persuade them to work for the Qing Dynasty.

A shocking storm is brewing in Guixian...

……

In the 42nd year of Qianlong's reign, it was the 25th day of the sixth lunar month.

On this day, as soon as it dawned, the main force of the Ming army led by Zhu Jing'an was ready to attack Zhaoqing City again.

However, the difference from before is that the Ming army troops that launched the attack on Zhaoqing Fucheng this time were no longer just cannon fodder for the forward battalion.

Instead, even the Ming Army headquarters received orders and prepared for war.

"Calculating the time, it should be a day or two before the reinforcements of the Qing army arrive in Zhaoqing, right?"

Zhu Jing'an stood on the general point platform in the Ming army camp, looked in the direction of Zhaoqing City, and asked.

Zhang Jin said from the side.

"Yes, Commander-in-Chief, the Qing army reinforcements led by the Admiral of Guangdong have now advanced to Sanshui County."

“It’s only a day or two at most from Zhaoqing!”

Seeing this, Zhu Jing'an chuckled.

"Haha, since the fish has taken the bait, the fishing bait can also be eaten."

The tunnels dug by the Ming army for bombing the city had long been prepared.

If it weren't for the worry that the Ming army would capture Zhaoqing City, the Qing army in Guangdong would give up reinforcing Zhaoqing and simply retreat to Guangzhou.

Zhu Jing'an had already ordered the Ming army to eat Zhaoqing's tempting bait!

Now, with the remaining soldiers and horses of the Qing army in Guangdong forming reinforcements and approaching Zhaoqing, Zhaoqing can be swallowed up as bait.

Zeng Yao, He Jin, Zhong Haishan, Liu Mingyou and other Ming army generals heard this and praised the commander-in-chief for his wisdom.

When Zhu Jing'an heard this, he chuckled lightly, pointed his finger in the direction of Zhaoqing City, and said.

"There's no point in flattering!"

"Zhaoqing City is there, the Guangzhou General and a thousand Guangzhou Eight Banners are there, and the military achievements are there!"

"Who can grab the meat to eat, who can grab the bones to gnaw, and who can only follow others to drink soup, it all depends on your own abilities."

After hearing the words, everyone responded in unison again.

After Zhu Jing'an finished speaking, he paused for a moment, looked around, and then added.

"Today, I will give you a shot of chicken blood!"

"Inform the entire army that if Guangzhou General Yong Wei is killed or captured alive, I will personally write to my father to reward him with a title of marquis!"

As soon as Zhu Jing'an said this, the eyes of the Ming army generals suddenly changed.

Many people's eyes were full of heat.

You know, since the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, although official positions have been generous, it has been relatively stuck in terms of titles.

At present, Zhu Jiazhuo actually has only one title.

That is the title of Uncle Huai En given to Guo Dashan, a veteran minister, and it is a compensatory title.

As for the Marquis who promised to Fang Yuan, the leader of Guangzhou Tiandi Hall, how should I put it? It was still a promise.

This promise will not be fulfilled until he raises troops to coordinate with the Ming Dynasty to capture the city of Guangzhou.

As for the others, they haven't gotten the title yet!

It is conceivable how much Zhu Jing'an's now talking about granting lords and rewarding meritorious services stimulated the generals of the Ming army.

After all, who can resist the temptation of becoming a prince?

You know, the Ming Dynasty is now a feudal dynasty through and through.

In the feudal dynasty, there was no such thing as equality for everyone.

Aristocrats are born nobler than ordinary people.

In order to be able to join the iron system of being a master for future generations, everyone does not mind risking their lives to fight.

Not to mention that for the current Ming army, there is no need to go all out to break Zhaoqing City.

The military merits are there, and the rewards of being a lord are there. Who can not fight hard?

The generals of the Ming army responded in unison, and then each commanded their troops to attack Zhaoqing City.

Boom!Boom!
This is the roar of heavy artillery!
Amidst the smoke and fire, dark cannonballs pierced the air, making a whistling sound, and shot toward the Zhaoqing city wall.

boom!Boom!

Cannonballs hit the city wall of Zhaoqing one after another. The bricks and stones of the city wall of Zhaoqing cracked and fragments flew.

The parapets, arrow towers, horse faces, gate towers and other buildings on the city wall were all reduced to ruins under the shelling of the Ming army for more than ten days.

Zhaoqing’s city walls have become bare!
At the same time, the Ming army demolition soldiers in the tunnel also lit the fuse of the explosive package.

The burning fuse turned into little sparks and quickly disappeared into the depths of the tunnel.

The demolition soldiers scrambled to crawl out of the tunnel for fear of being buried alive.

The Ming army's military command flag was waved, and in an instant, the dark Ming army siege troops pressed towards Zhaoqing City.

"Wan Sheng! Wan Sheng!"

"Da Ming Wansheng!"

"Capture Yongwei alive and divide the fields!"

"Drive out the Tartars, restore China, restore the Ming Dynasty, and China will rise again!"

"..."

Amidst the continuous shouts of killing, the Ming army's offensive surged towards Zhaoqing City like a wave.

Seeing that the Ming army launched another attack, warning bells sounded in Zhaoqing City.

But before the Qing troops defending the city had time to scale the city wall, the gunpowder buried underground by the Ming troops was detonated.

……

Zhu Jing'an stood on the general commanding platform of the Ming army's central army, looking towards the direction of Zhaoqing City.

The first thing that proved that the explosion had occurred was not the rumbling explosion.

It was the city wall that surged up suddenly and then trembled like dancing, and the land under the city wall that surged like water.

Immediately, there was smoke and dust billowing, and bricks and stones flying.

A few seconds later, a deafening rumbling explosion came.

Along with the explosion, there was a loud sound of the city wall collapsing.

The explosion sounded, and before the smoke and dust dispersed, the Ming army siege troops outside Zhaoqing City began to press toward the Zhaoqing City Wall in a dark and heavy manner.

The shouts of killing were loud and earth-shattering!

The Ming army shouted and launched an attack, and the offensive was like a tide.

"kill!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Da Ming Wansheng!"

"..."

From time to time, bricks and stones that were blown up fell from the sky and hit the ground with a muffled sound.

However, this could not stop the Ming army's offensive.

In the eyes of the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, the Zhaoqing City in front of them was not a tough fortress at all.

It’s a pile of white flowers, acres and acres of military exploits...

Anyone or anything that dares to stand in their way will be torn apart by them.

...And the Qing army at the top of the city was also stunned by this sudden explosion.

Most of the Qing soldiers near the blasting point were killed and then buried inside by the collapsed city wall.

Dead can't die anymore!
The soldiers of the Qing Dynasty who were a little further away were also shocked by the shock wave generated by the explosion, and their mouths were bleeding, and their heads were buzzing.

Others were so frightened by the scene in front of them that they stood there blankly, not daring to move.

A gust of river wind blew away the smoke and dust near the city wall.

The Qing soldiers standing at the top of the city saw the dark Ming army siege troops rolling towards Zhaoqing City outside the city.

Almost all the Qing troops defending the city clearly realized that it was over!

Zhaoqing City is finished this time!
"Kill!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Kill! Drive out the Tartars and restore China!"

"..."

Amid the shouts of killing, the Ming army's siege troops rushed to the foot of the Zhaoqing City Wall, and swarmed onto the Zhaoqing City Wall, which had been blown down and turned into a low mountain.

He jumped over the city wall and headed towards Zhaoqing City.

……

Guangzhou General Yong Wei was still resting.

However, he was awakened by the sudden, earth-shattering explosion outside. He was sure that it was not a sound that could be caused by artillery fire.

Pushing away the concubine Xin Na in his arms, Yongwei got up from the bed.

Just as he was about to ask what happened, he saw a soldier coming to report with a look of fear on his face.

"Report...report to the master, something...has happened!"

"The Ming thieves used some means to blow down the city wall of Zhaoqing, and now they have entered the city..."

When Yong Wei heard this, his vision went dark, his head felt dizzy, and he almost sat down on the ground.

He put one hand on his forehead and was supported by the soldiers and his concubine before sitting on the bed.

After a while, he finally recovered.

"Master, what should we do next?"

"How about breaking out of the encirclement? Even though Zhaoqing is lost, isn't there still Guangzhou city?"

"Guangzhou's city defense is much stronger than Zhaoqing's."

"As long as we can hold on in Guangzhou for a while longer, I believe the reinforcements dispatched by the imperial court will arrive soon..."

The personal soldier Goshiha suggested.

Yong Wei heard this but said nothing with a cold face.

After a moment, he gave the order.

"Send the order to gather all the Eight Banners in Zhaoqing City and prepare to break through to Sanshui County."

Yongwei was well aware of the news that reinforcements had arrived in Sanshui County.

Therefore, he was preparing to break out in the direction of Sanshui County.

In his mind, as long as he could join up with the reinforcements sent from all over Guangdong, he could continue to compete with the Ming army.

When the soldier Geshiha heard this, he responded to the chatter and trotted off to deliver the order.

Seeing this, the concubine on the side asked delicately.

"Master...Master, where is the slave? Don't leave the slave!?"

While talking, the concubine stared straight at Yong Wei with her big, watery eyes.

Her eyes seemed to be electric, staring straight at Yong Wei, which made Yong Wei's heart melt.

However, Yongwei finally forced himself to harden his heart and said coldly.

"The battlefield is fierce and dangerous at the moment, and I, the general, cannot care about you."

"Find your own way!"

After saying this, he shook off the concubine's hand holding his sleeve and strode out.

……

Zhaoqing City was full of Ming troops shouting to kill.

The remnants of the Eight Banners in Guangzhou led by Yong Wei tried to break out on horseback, but were blocked by the spearmen of the Ming army.

In the narrow and crowded streets, facing the Ming army's strict spear array, the Eight Banners soldiers were useless even if they had horses.

First, the streets in Zhaoqing City were too narrow for war horses to run, let alone charge into battle.

Second, the current Eight Banners soldiers are no longer the Eight Banners cavalry of the past.

In the past, the Eight Banners cavalrymen and horsemen were brave enough to attack the Ming army's infantry array without fear of death.

Even if there were only people wearing armor, the Eight Banners soldiers would dare to dismount and fight on foot, tearing apart the Ming army's array.

But now the Eight Banners soldiers have already been soaked in wealth and glory for a long time.

Every one of them was afraid of their lives when they went to the battlefield!
On the battlefield, victory is possible only if you are not afraid of death.

But facing the Ming army's spear array, no one dared to rush forward.

Afraid of being pricked into a hedgehog by the Ming army's spears!

In this way, the Eight Banners in Zhaoqing City not only failed to break out, but were defeated by the Ming army entering the city, constantly squeezing their living space.

Yong Wei retreated into the Zhaoqing government office under the protection of several soldiers.

Listening to the shouts of killing one after another outside, Yongwei's face was full of fear.

Because he knew he couldn't run away!

"Master, what should we do now!"

"Yes, Master, those thieves are so fierce, we really can't stand it."

"Those Guangxi guys are fighting for their lives..."

"..."

The Eight Banners soldiers around were all complaining, and everyone's words were full of pessimism.

Yong Wei's face became increasingly ugly.

However, in the end, he still managed to hold back the airs of his Qing clan, General Guangzhou, and spoke with a livid face.

"This general doesn't know how we can break out of the encirclement now!"

"But this general knows that we must not surrender to the Ming thieves just to survive, causing our ancestors and the Eight Banners to be humiliated because of me."

"Today is the time for me, the Eight Banners of Guangzhou, to serve our country with our lives and serve the Qing Dynasty."

The Qing Dynasty has always been very strict with local officials who lost their cities and lands.

Those who lost cities and territory were killed at every turn without mercy.

However, as a member of the clan named Aixinjueluo, Yongwei's treatment was naturally different from that of ordinary Han members.

If things go wrong, Yongwei can escape.

The power behind him can ensure that even if he loses his land and escapes, he will not be held unduly accountable by the emperor.

But the forces behind him cannot guarantee that even if he surrenders to the Ming thieves, he will not be held accountable.

Even if he surrendered to the Ming thief, their entire lineage would be implicated.

In order not to harm his family members, Yong Wei had already made plans to die in Zhaoqing if he failed to break through.

Looking around with cold eyes, Yong Wei said coldly.

"Don't fucking look at it!"

"Send the order, prepare the whole army for war, and prepare to break out to the south."

"If we can successfully break through, we will retreat to Sanshui to join the reinforcements led by Guangdong Admiral Jin Rong."

"If not..."

"We will all die in the battle in Zhaoqing City!"

After saying this, Yongwei stood up from his chair and led his troops to fight outside, preparing to launch a breakout operation.

However, how could the Ming army give him Ruyi?

Not to mention that Zhu Jing'an now even offered a reward for capturing Guangzhou General Yong Wei alive or killing him?

Faced with the Eight Banners soldiers' desperate breakout, various departments of the Ming army began to besiege on all sides.

Spears formed an array and surrounded the Qing army.

The spears stabbed the Eight Banners soldiers wearing cotton armor back again and again!

Don't look at the Eight Banners soldiers on the battlefield who are all wearing armor, but the Ming army has no armor.

At first glance, it seems that the Ming army is at a disadvantage!

But just wearing armor is useless. Although the Eight Banners soldiers are wearing armor, they are afraid of death and fear of fighting. This has already doomed the outcome of this battle.

boom!Boom!

This is the Ming Army musketeer behind the spearman, stretching out the barrel from the gap in the array, aiming at the Eight Banners of the Qing Army in the encirclement and firing.

Every time a gunshot rang out, a ball of blood would burst out of an Eight Banners soldier, and then he would fall to the ground.

Yong Wei looked at the spears that were surrounding him from all directions, and then at the fewer and fewer soldiers around him, and his heart kept sinking.

He knows that there is not much time left for him!

Once the Ming army pushed up the artillery.

The current formation of the Eight Banners soldiers relying on heavy armor will soon be blown away.

Just like in the bloody battle of Hunhe River, the Eight Banners soldiers used the Hongyi cannon captured from the Ming army to blast away the Qi family army...

The gunfire continues!
The Ming army besieged the remaining Qing troops on all sides.

Every time gunfire rang out, someone would fall down on the Qing army's side.

Soon, the deadlock was broken!
Although the Ming army failed to transport artillery into the city in a short period of time, the sword and shield soldiers had a large number of grenades.

The Ming army did not hesitate and began to throw grenades decisively towards the Qing army's array.

Speaking of killing dense arrays, the killing effect of grenades is much stronger than that of artillery.

A moment later, amidst the rumble of explosions of grenades, the Eight Banners of the Qing Army finally couldn't hold on and collapsed.

Some people began to raise their hands and surrender to the Ming army.

When one person surrendered, ten others followed. Soon, the last resistance of the Qing army was suppressed by the Ming army.

……

"Damn it, the cotton armor on this dog Tatar is of good quality. It can't be penetrated by a knife, a spear or a stab. You have to use a musket."

"If those green soldiers can also wear the cotton armor of the Eight Banners, then it will not be so easy for my Ming Dynasty to win."

Pan Dazhu pulled out his sword from the corpse of an Eight Banners soldier of the Qing Army, shook the blood on the sword, and cursed.

During this battle, he personally led several assaults in an attempt to tear apart the Qing army's Eight Banners array.

The cotton armor worn by the Qing army shocked him greatly!
It couldn't be penetrated by a spear or cut by a knife, and its protective capabilities were no worse than the face-to-face breastplate he wore.

If the Eight Banners soldiers wearing cotton armor were not afraid of fighting, it would definitely not be so easy for the Ming army to win this battle.

I'm afraid many lives will have to be lost to get in!
"Quick, be quick. Take off all the cotton armor from the dead people, collect them, count them, and sort them out. These are all good things."

These days, although the Qing army's armaments have deteriorated, the quality of the cotton armor equipped by the Eight Banners soldiers is still quite good.

Many Eight Banners soldiers purchased their own cotton armor.

For something like cotton armor that can save lives on the battlefield, naturally no one would cut corners.

The Ming army heard the words, agreed in unison, and then began to clean the battlefield quickly.

……

(End of this chapter)