The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 420 A big gamble!

"kill!!!"

North of Nanjing.

Waves of shouting and screaming, one louder than the other, continued to hit the walls of Nanjing.

There are four city gates in the north of the city, namely Zhongfu Gate, Jinchuan Gate, Shence Gate and Taiping Gate.

Taiping Gate is located in the northeast corner of Nanjing City. It is separated from the nearest Shen Ce Gate by a vast lake, and to the right is Nanjing’s Zhongshan Mountain.

Zhongshan was still under the control of the Ming army at this time.

Therefore, the Taiping Gate was not attacked by the Wanmin Army.

However, Zhongfu Gate, Jinchuan Gate and Shence Gate all suffered attacks from the Wanmin Army to varying degrees.

To the west of Zhongfu Gate is Lion Mountain, where one can climb up and see far into the distance. Lu Xiangsheng set up an artillery position on it.

The firepower of the defense of Zhongfu Gate is strong, and the Wanmin Army did not deploy many troops, mainly for containment.

Jinchuan Gate and Shence Gate, two city gates located in the north of Nanjing, were surrounded by open terrain, which was conducive to siege, and therefore they were subjected to the most fierce attacks.

On the battle line that stretched for several miles, the troops of the Wanmin Army were lined up in a row and displayed on the plain.

The dark black flags fluttered in the strong wind, and the rustling sounds gathered together to produce a strong sound like the sea tide.

Outside Nanjing City, a large number of ladders have been erected on the city walls.

A brutal siege was underway, with tens of thousands of soldiers wearing black turbans swarming towards the towering city of Nanjing.

The roar of artillery became louder and louder, and the sound of musketry became louder and louder.

Lu Xiangsheng's tough measures did produce some results.

The morale of the soldiers guarding Nanjing was still good, and they were able to launch a counterattack with the advantage of the city walls.

However, most of this morale was built up by Huang Degong leading the Yongwei Battalion.

The people's army had been attacking the city for only three days, but many sections of the city wall were almost lost.

If Huang Degong had not led the Yongwei Battalion out of the city to relieve the pressure on the defenders, Nanjing would probably have fallen on the first day.

Northeast of Shen Ce Gate, there is a high slope on the north side of the lake.

Li Yan led the central army to station troops there, commanding the three armies and issuing orders.

At this time, the entire Gaopo was covered with the flags of the Wanmin Army, and more than 25,000 military cadets of the Central Army turned the entire Gaopo into a huge military base.

Li Yan stood on the observation deck on the high slope, overlooking the entire battlefield.

"The officers and soldiers have set up three artillery batteries on Zhongshan Mountain. The guards are very brave. It is really difficult for our army to advance. Should we temporarily suspend the offensive against Zhongshan Mountain?"

Li Jiyu climbed onto the high platform and brought news from the south to Li Yan.

"All the troops sent to help from the southern kingdom are weak. The only ones capable of fighting are the brave guards under Huang Degong."

Li Yan frowned and asked.

"The soldiers in the west still have to resist Zhang Xianzhong's troops. How could there be any elite troops in Zhongshan?"

Li Jiyu pondered for a moment and replied.

"Marshal, have you forgotten that the Xiaoling Mausoleum is located in Zhongshan..."

Li Yan's eyes moved slightly, and in an instant he knew the details of the elite officers and soldiers guarding Zhongshan.

"You mean, Xiaolingwei..."

Li Jiyu lowered his head and answered.

"Exactly."

Li Yan's expression was slightly solemn.

Xiaoling Mausoleum is the mausoleum of Ming Dynasty's founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang and his empress Ma, so the Xiaoling Guards were stationed here to guard the place.

The soldiers selected to guard the Xiaoling Mausoleum were all the bravest and most loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Now, more than two hundred years have passed since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Even the nine border garrisons were in a state of decay.

However, the Xiaoling Guard, the guard army that has been guarding the mausoleum all along, still has the strength to fight.

Li Jiyu looked hesitant and silent for a while before speaking again.

"When the troops heard that the Xiaoling Mausoleum was located in Zhongshan, they began to pass the buck to each other and few were willing to fight..."

Li Jiyu's words were very tactful, but Li Yan already understood the general details of the matter.

The Ming Dynasty was established for more than two hundred years and experienced several ups and downs.

There were incompetent emperors in every dynasty, and the country was often in turmoil and difficulties.

However, most people still respect Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor who drove out the barbarians and restored the Chinese nation.

Since the great division of the Five Dynasties at the end of the Tang Dynasty, China has not been completely unified for more than three hundred years.

The Mongols rose up and swept across the country. The Song army was defeated at Yashan. Prime Minister Lu Xiufu betrayed Emperor Zhao Bing and the Song court was destroyed...

Under the Buddhist Temple, there is a group of crows and drums...

Without clothes and hats, the country will fall.

It was not until a hundred years later that various rebel armies rose up in rebellion.

China welcomed an emperor who was born out of necessity - Zhu Yuanzhang.

The mountains and rivers are about to become the land of China, and the sun and the moon have reopened to dominate the sky.

In this world, there really is a destiny.

It only took Zhu Yuanzhang fifteen years to go from a beggar to an emperor.

Sweep across the world, fight against the Mongols in the north, clear the eight wildernesses, unify the world, rebuild China, and repeat the customs of Han and Tang dynasties.

As word of mouth spread, over time.

Zhu Yuanzhang's prestige in the hearts of the people continued to increase.

Li Yan's eyelids were slightly lowered, making it difficult to see his expression.

By conquering Zhongshan and setting up artillery, we can capture Nanjing city more quickly.

The Xiaoling Guards had only two or three thousand men, and no matter how brave they were, they could not defeat an army of tens of thousands.

but……

All this is not worth it.

Xiaoling Mausoleum...

Can’t touch…

"Withdraw the troops and return to the camp. Leave two camps to guard the south. The rest of the troops will turn back and attack Jinchuan Gate and Shen Ce Gate. Enter the rotation sequence."

Li Yan withdrew his gaze from the south.

He noticed that Li Jiyu let out a long sigh of relief.

Li Yan also held a respectful attitude towards Zhu Yuanzhang.

But the world today is so corrupt and rotten that it cannot be saved by a revolution or a reform...

It took Zhu Yuanzhang fifteen years to go from a beggar to an emperor.

I wonder how many years it will take for Li Yan to go from being a juren to becoming an emperor...

Faster, or longer...

Or...

I will never reach the highest position...

Chen Wang's name involuntarily emerged in Li Yan's mind.

Thinking of Chen Wang, Li Yan's expression couldn't help but become gloomy.

Now he seems to be in great glory and at the peak of his career.

But only he himself knows that all his current actions are helpless and risky.

"How is the war on the Western Front?"

Li Yan calmed himself down and cleared away the haze in his heart. He knew that he could not be controlled by the emotion of fear.

"The Western Army's offensive was fierce, and the fighting continued day and night."

Li Jiyu stepped forward a little and reported in a deep voice.

"As the Marshal expected, Zhang Xianzhong is indeed eager to take Nanjing first, so as to defeat our army and advance to a higher position."

Li Yan's eyes moved slightly, he looked towards the direction of Nanjing City and said.

"Zhang Xianzhong was ambitious and unwilling to be outdone. When Gao Chuang Wang led the 72 battalions and commanded the heroes, Zhang Xianzhong already had disloyalty and often led the army alone."

Although Li Yan had never met Zhang Xianzhong before, he knew about Zhang Xianzhong's deeds.

Among the seventy-two camps.

The person with the highest prestige was Gao Yingxiang.

The person with the widest network of contacts is Luo Rucai.

The most powerful military strategist was Li Zicheng.

Zhang Xianzhong was inferior to these people in many ways, but he was unwilling to be inferior to them.

He is often selfish, so even though he is very powerful, many people in the 72nd Battalion do not obey him.

This is also the important reason why after Gao Yingxiang's death, although Zhang Xianzhong had the strongest army, he was unable to unify the various tribes and even caused the split of the rebel army.

Zhang Xianzhong was not qualified for his position and had no talent of a hero, but he wanted to be a hero in troubled times.

I may not have the ability to conquer the world, but I have the desire to do so.

"Nanjing City is easy to attack but difficult to defend. Since Zhang Xianzhong wants to enter Nanjing City first, let's give Zhang Xianzhong a helping hand."

Li Yan looked coldly as he overlooked the towering city of Nanjing in the distance.

Zhang Xianzhong was able to lead his troops to expand to its current size and escape the fate of being wiped out.

It is precisely because of his ruthlessness and lack of bottom line that he is unpopular.

Although Zhang Xianzhong also imitated the behavior of the Wanmin Army and tried his best to restrain the army.

At the beginning, when the crisis occurred, the Western Army did have good military discipline for a period of time.

However, with the continuous victories, the military discipline of the Western Army began to deteriorate again. Although there were no large-scale looting incidents, there were still many small-scale attacks on civilians.

Some officers and soldiers of the Dashi Army were even more unruly. In order to satisfy their own selfish desires, they often did things that violated military laws.

However, Zhang Xianzhong often praised these officers for their meritorious services, but would then easily put them down with just a scolding.

Jinling is a prosperous place with tens of thousands of wealthy families, thousands of noble families, officials everywhere, and a prosperous life.

If the officers of the Western Army invaded Jinling City, how could they leave everyone unharmed...

"marshal……"

Li Jiyu raised his head and looked at Li Yan with an expression of pity.

"Others are the butchers and I am the meat."

Li Yan's eyes were grim and his tone was firm as he spoke in a cold voice.

"You are controlled by others, and you have to work hard and risk your life just to make wedding clothes for others. Can you be willing to do that?"

Li Jiyu was shocked, and he saw determination in Li Yan's eyes.

The Wanmin Army has been following the path that Chen Wang told them to take.

All their efforts made Chen Wang more powerful.

Now Chen Wang has become a warlord. All the officers and soldiers sent to support the suppression of the towns are under his command. His orders are passed on and no one dares to disobey.

The imperial court had long lost Chen Wang's control.

Although what we are about to do is extremely risky...

But in extraordinary times, extraordinary things should be done.

Only Zhang Xianzhong was content and proud.

Only Zhang Xianzhong lost himself in thought.

everything……

It's possible!

Li Yan tightly gripped the goose-feather knife at his waist.

Rather than being treated like a puppet and dying without dignity after being completely drained of all value.

It is better to give it a try and try to change your final destiny.

"Pass the order."

Li Yan looked in the direction of Nanjing City and spoke loudly.

"The Advocate Camp will attack with all their might!"

"The Divine Machine Battalion will serve as the support and protect the two wings, while the Sharp Battalion will be in the middle, looking for opportunities to fight."

When the military order was given, all three armies moved.

In an instant, all the camps of the Wanmin Army were in chaos.

The deafening sound of war drums rang out again.

Flags are flying and drums are beating in the fields.

Large groups of soldiers of the Wanmin Army, weapons raised high, shouted "Long live the people" and walked out of the barracks, sweeping towards the majestic city of Nanjing.

As the military flag waved, thousands of troops moved forward.

"Long live!!!"

Deafening shouts of killing came one after another, sweeping away and spreading in all directions.

Looking at the city of Nanjing standing in the distance on the wilderness.

Watching the soldiers and officers of the Wanmin Army fighting bravely in the distance.

There was a brief moment of confusion in Li Yan's eyes.

The road ahead is confusing and bleak.

Li Yan didn't know whether his choice this time was correct.

Li Yan is not afraid of death.

When he was in the dark prison in Qi County and his family was broken up, Li Yan was no longer afraid of life or death.

That ridiculous and pedantic Li Xin died in prison a long time ago.

Li Yan was reborn.

Li Yan's fear comes from the outside world.

The lives and deaths of millions of people and the fate of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians all depend on him and will be affected by his choices.

The torrent of the times carries the fate of individuals.

The fate of being trapped by the times can only rise and fall with the times.

Living is the simplest thing, but it is also the most difficult thing.

Li Yan closed his eyes.

He has made his choice.

It seems to be at its peak, but in fact it is at the end of its rope.

The choice he made was a gamble.

He was ready to bet all the chips he had now.

Not just his life.

And the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians who have followed him, followed him to strive for success, and followed him to survive...

……

Playing the flute in the clear autumn mountains.

Who can make such a heartbreaking sound?

The fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the tenth day of the second month.

The tenth day of the Siege of Nanjing.

Nanjing fell.

The end of the Battle of Nanjing.

It was a foregone conclusion from the beginning.

Inside the palace city of Nanjing, the air was filled with shouts and cries of killing.

Huge fires broke out from all over Nanjing city.

Shouts, wails, and cries all mixed together, lingering in everyone's ears.

Lu Xiangsheng was covered in blood and his battle robe was torn.

He stood on the inner street of Xi'an Gate, holding a goose-feather knife in his hand.

Looking at the fleeing Western Army soldiers, there was no trace of joy on Lu Xiangsheng's face.

Beside him, a group of wounded soldiers held weapons, supported each other and leaned on each other.

The Western Army has already broken through the southern gates, and the People's Army has also broken through the northern gates.

The building will collapse and it will be difficult to support a single tree.

The Western Army and the People's Army that entered the city divided the battlefield.

The troops in each town were dispersed, and military orders were difficult to convey.

Lu Xiangsheng could only lead the remaining troops and retreat while fighting all the way to the location of the palace.

The palace was breached soon after, and the enemy could only rely on the streets and alleys to hold out.

Just killing and dispersing a small group of Western troops did not help the overall situation at all.

The city was breached, causing the people in the city to panic and flee towards the relatively safe east gate.

The dignitaries who used to be so high and mighty no longer had their previous pride and were in a state of panic like dogs that had lost their homes.

Lu Xiangsheng raised his hand and wiped the blood off his face.

Another wave of defeated soldiers came from the west.

Several officers immediately led their troops forward and whipped the men to restrain them.

One of the defeated soldiers, who was carrying a wounded soldier and covered in blood, saw Lu Xiangsheng and ran towards him without caring about anything.

The personal guards who were protecting Lu Xiangsheng would naturally not allow this defeated soldier of unknown origin to get close to Lu Xiangsheng. They went straight up to him and took him under control.

The wounded soldier also fell to the ground, but although he fell to the ground, he did not make any sound.

Lu Xiangsheng's eyes moved slightly, and he felt that the defeated soldier's face was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember his name at the moment.

But soon, Lu Xiangsheng knew where he had seen this defeated soldier before.

He was a lieutenant general under Huang Degong and often accompanied Huang Degong.

"Governor!"

The defeated soldier was trembling all over, his face was covered with tears, and he couldn't stop sobbing.

Lu Xiangsheng pushed aside the crowd and walked forward.

When he was halfway there, Lu Xiangsheng seemed to be under a spell and stood in the middle of the road.

The man who fell to the ground silently, although his face was stained with blood, could still be identified as Huang Degong, the general of the Yongwei Battalion...

Huang Degong was wounded in many places, with a cut on his neck, but not much blood was flowing out, and it was obvious that he had been dead for a long time.

Why was the defeated soldier covered in blood? The answer is obvious...