Daming talker

Chapter 728: What's there to be happy about?

At this time, the main force of Wu Weizhong's camp also arrived, and then thousands of officers and soldiers from the Jinglüe Biao camp lined up to enter the city from the Dunyi Gate.

The government troops marched from west to east, along the main road towards the city center with high morale.

As they marched forward, they shouted in unison: "The emperor is angry, we will march east! The commander-in-chief will take back Hanjing! The sun and the moon will shine, and we will look up to the Ming Dynasty!"

As the soldiers of the camp on the road looked around, they saw that the capital of the Joseon Dynasty was full of ruins and many signs of fire.

Of course, the overall situation is better than that of Pyongyang and Hamhung, which were also hit by war.
After walking another three or four miles, Lin Tianshuai saw the bell and drum tower, the one that was inexplicably named "Puxinge".

This is basically the center of the city, but there is still no sign of Japanese soldiers. However, you can vaguely hear the sound of artillery coming from a few miles to the southeast.

"It seems that the Japanese soldiers have indeed completely retreated from the city and broke out." Lin Tianshuai said to the two battalion generals Dayun and Wu Weizhong, "Each of you should lead your troops to the southeast Guangxi Gate to help fight and gain some military merit.

I won't go over, to avoid confusion caused by multiple commands, and I'll just leave a thousand guards with me."

Dayun and Wu Weizhong received the order and were about to lead their troops away.

Lin Tianshuai suddenly emphasized and warned, "Remember to tell the Japanese soldiers to lay down their weapons and surrender without killing them! I want as many people alive as possible this time!"

After accumulating food and fodder for three months, we can temporarily afford to feed the prisoners. There is a shortage of human resources in Hamgyong Province.

Although copper mining has not yet begun, building roads in the mountains and docks along the Yalu River requires a large number of low-cost slave laborers who are only paid for a meal.

There was nothing to see in Puxing Pavilion, and no one could live there, so Lin Tailai prepared to check out the palaces in the city, which was what he had to do after entering the city.

Several hundred years later, Seoul was known to have the "Five Great Palaces and Ancient Buildings". Regardless of how big or ancient they were, there were indeed five palaces.

But at this time, Seoul still has only three palaces, all located in the north city.

Among them, the most famous main palace, Gyeongbokgung, is located in the northwest, while the detached palaces, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, are located in the northeast.

Lin Tianshuai went to Gyeongbokgung Palace in the northwest to check on his own, and at the same time sent the left protector Zhang Wen to lead 200 people to check on Changdeokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace in the northeast.

Zhang Wen asked in a low voice: "What kind of response do you want to hear, intact or burned?"

Of course, Zhang Wen understood Lin Tianshuai's intention of not wanting the Korean monarch and his ministers to return to their country. If the palaces were burned down, he would naturally have an excuse to continue to prevent the Korean monarch and his ministers from returning to Beijing.

Lin Tianshuai frowned and glared, and said righteously: "Don't do anything reckless! Just report the truth!"

On the way to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Lin Tianshuai discovered another problem: why were there only numb women in the city and no men at all?

If this is the case, it would be difficult to organize a scene where everyone, young and old, would come together to welcome the royal army with food and drink.

He sent Cui Wukui to break into a house where the building was intact and there were still people alive to ask.

Not long after, Cui Wukui came back to report: "When the Japanese soldiers occupied Seoul, they slaughtered all the Korean men in the city and only spared the women. It was unbearable to describe!"

Everyone sighed with emotion, which showed the cruelty of the country's destruction and the family's demise.

Lin Tianshuai could not help but turn around and angrily scolded Konishi Yukinaga: "Look at what you Japanese have done, you are truly beasts in human form, outrageous!"

Konishi Yukinaga didn't know whether he was trying to evade responsibility or defend himself, so he replied, "These evil deeds were committed by Kato Kiyomasa and Fukushima Masanori. I have been trying to dissuade them, but they would not listen to me."

Lin Tailai did not comment, but said to Konishi Yukinaga: "If your crimes were so serious and the people were so angry, I would not have allowed you to live to this day!"

Rumor has it that the military discipline of Konishi Yukinaga's corps was indeed slightly better than that of Kato, Fukushima and other corps, but who knows the details.

Alas, this situation is too much of a test for tens of thousands of heavenly soldiers. If they were to stay in Seoul temporarily, who knows how much trouble would arise.

It was less than two miles away when we arrived at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

But at this moment, Gyeongbokgung Palace had been burned to the ground, and all the buildings were destroyed. Lin Tianshuai could not help but fall into grief.

He once again pulled Konishi Yukinaga out and angrily shouted, "You Japanese are really guilty of heinous crimes. You actually burned down this palace. It's really too numerous to mention!"

Konishi Yukinaga dared not speak out his anger, and kept his mouth shut in frustration. When it comes to arson, who can compare to you, Tian Shuai?
Lin Tianshuai saw the expression on Xiaoxi Xingzhang's face and shouted again: "If you have something to say, just say it. Who is stopping you from making excuses?"

Konishi Yukinaga defended himself by saying, "We didn't burn Gyeongbokgung Palace! Before we entered Seoul, a large number of rioters in the city went to Gyeongbokgung Palace to loot and set it on fire!"

Changdeokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace were also like this! They were already burned down after our army entered Seoul!

So the burning of the three palaces was done by the Koreans themselves. What does it have to do with our army?"

When the Japanese pirates invaded Korea, Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa were both pioneers and the first Japanese generals to enter Seoul, so Konishi Yukinaga was very clear about the destruction of the Joseon Dynasty's palaces.

Lin Tianshuai didn't know whether what Konishi Yukinaga said was true or not, and he scolded, "Then the tombs of the kings of all dynasties in Korea were all dug by you Japanese, right? You can't deny this!"

Konishi Yukinaga said: "The royal palace has been looted by the Koreans themselves, so Kato and his men can only dig up the royal tombs to look for treasures!"

At this time, Zhang Wen, who had gone to check on Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, also came back and reported truthfully: "The two palaces, along with the Joseon Dynasty's Taimiao, have long been burned down. Now there is only scorched earth over there!"

After confirming the current status of the three palaces, Lin Tianshuai could not help but sigh to the sky and said with deep sorrow: "The Li Dynasty was established for 200 years, and I didn't expect the palaces, temples and mausoleums to be destroyed in an instant. What a pity!"

Everyone: "."

Marshal, if you could lower the corners of your mouth, your sorrow might appear more sincere.

In fact, after the three palaces were burned down during the Japanese invasion, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the most famous main palace in later generations and a famous tourist attraction in Seoul, was never rebuilt until the 19th century, nearly three hundred years later, when it was rebuilt by the Joseon Kingdom.

Lin Tianshuai didn’t know why the Kingdom of Korea did not rebuild Gyeongbokgung Palace for nearly three hundred years. Maybe it was because they were poor.

But the most urgent task was to find a place to stay, so Lin Tianshuai asked his subordinates, "The palaces have all been burned down, where can the shogunate be set up? Do we have to go out of the city and clean up the ruined Muhua Pavilion in the western suburbs?"

Others were not familiar with Seoul and could not answer for a while.

Only Konishi Yukinaga, who had been the vanguard general of the Japanese army and stationed in Seoul after the Japanese invasion, proposed:
"To the west, near the city wall, there is a place called West Palace, which was the former residence of Lee Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. It was not burned down last year.

It is also very close to the Donui Gate, making it very convenient to enter and exit the city."

After listening to this, Lin Tianshuai said, "I think it should be suitable, let's go and take a look! Konishi Settsu-no-kami, you are really very useful!"

What Lin Tianshuai didn't know at that time was that this residence called Xique was later converted into Gyeonghui Palace, which was also one of the five major palaces in Seoul in later generations.

Just as Marshal Lin Tian had begun looking for a headquarters in the city, the battle was still raging in the southeast area from Guangxi Gate to the Han River.

Although the Ming Dynasty soldiers were in a winning position and their combat effectiveness was stronger than that of the Japanese soldiers, the Japanese soldiers were, after all, trapped beasts and they still had to struggle a bit.

Moreover, the city walls of Seoul were built along the mountains and rivers, and the surrounding terrain was quite complex. From the south city to the Han River, there were city walls, hills, rivers, and floating bridges, which limited the cavalry advantage of the Ming Dynasty.

General Li stood on a hillside with a good view and gave his commands in a calm and orderly manner.

The heavy artillery bombarded the Japanese soldiers on the earthen ramparts and outside the city walls, and the cavalry charged, and the cavalry charged and bombarded the heavy artillery.

The Japanese soldiers in the earthen fortifications by the river were isolated and divided, and then thick smoke was set to block the sight of the Japanese soldiers in the earthen fortifications, making it difficult for the Japanese musketeers to perform their duties.

The Japanese soldiers who had already crossed the river were left alone; those who had not crossed the river were driven into the river using cavalry and muskets.

Send another army to attack Guangxi Gate specifically to contain and harass the Japanese troops that have not left the city or have just left the city. If an opportunity arises, take Guangxi Gate!

The two sides had a total of about 60,000 to 70,000 troops, gathered in the area from Guangxi Gate to the Han River. It was a battle with an unprecedented density of troops.

Looking at the grand scene in front of him, General Li felt that his military career had reached its peak.

The battlefield was gradually divided into several areas, and General Li, standing on a high place, still commanded in an orderly manner!
Twenty or thirty columns are all in my mind, and orders are passed down one by one, making multi-line operations completely unnecessary!
At this time, Yu Zhongliang, the second generation of the Lin family servants, arrived on horseback and said to Li Rusong, "Emperor Jinglüe, urgent news!"

General Li asked, "What's the emergency? Could it be that General Lin has killed that Otani Yoshitsugu?"

Yu Zhongliang reported: "Otani Yoshitsugu deceived our army and has indeed been beheaded"

General Li said nonchalantly: "Just execute him! It has nothing to do with the overall situation."

Yu Zhongliang then continued, "They used Otani Yoshitsugu's corpse to knock at the Dunyi Gate. The Japanese general guarding the gate was a retainer of Otani Yoshitsugu. In exchange for Otani Yoshitsugu's corpse, he withdrew from the city gate."

General Li suddenly had a bad feeling and asked quickly, "And then?"

Yu Zhongliang felt a little bit reluctant and replied, "Then, the General was the first to climb the city wall and has already taken the Dunyi Gate. Thousands of troops should have entered the city."

Boom! General Li felt his brain explode and subconsciously asked, "Who will ascend first?"

Yu Zhongliang replied: "Yes, definitely and definitely the first one to climb."

"Ahhhh!" General Li was filled with great enthusiasm and shouted to the sky.

Am I working so hard here just to allow Lin Jinglie to enter the city easily without bloodshed?
Are the Japanese pirates all idiots? Would they exchange a city gate for a corpse?

Yu Zhongliang hurriedly shouted to Li Rusong's guards, "Go and summon General Li Rubai!"

Everyone was confused and asked, what do you mean, young man?
Yu Zhongliang quickly added: "The General has ordered that if Admiral Li is unable to continue commanding due to psychological reasons, General Li will take over the command!"

"No need!" General Li was stimulated and woke up instantly.

There is no way he can give up the honor of commanding and annihilating the enemy!
The "Imperial Commissioner" Yu Zhongliang assessed Li Rusong's condition and said, "The General has also ordered that as many prisoners as possible be captured."

"Understood." General Li agreed coldly.

Then General Li continued to command the battle indifferently, like an emotionless command machine.

Not long after, good news came again. Thousands of soldiers from the Jinglüe Biao Camp arrived at Guangxi Gate and launched a pincer attack from inside the city.

More than 10,000 Japanese soldiers stranded in the Guangxi Gate area fell into total collapse, and Cha Dashou outside the city gate took the opportunity to capture the Guangxi Gate.

At this point in the battle, the Ming Dynasty's victory was completely irreversible, and most of the Japanese soldiers gave up resistance and crowded towards the pontoon bridge.

Even the Japanese soldiers who were holding on to the earthen ramparts for cover abandoned the ramparts and fled.

After all, the floating bridge's carrying capacity was limited, and a large number of Japanese soldiers fell into the still icy river water.

The less than 20,000 Japanese soldiers who had retreated to the south bank were afraid that the heavenly soldiers would continue to pursue and kill them through the pontoon bridge, and were also afraid of being overwhelmed by the fleeing soldiers on the north bank. So they fired fiercely at their own Japanese soldiers on the pontoon bridge to prevent the fleeing soldiers from crossing the river.

Then the Japanese soldiers on the south bank took the opportunity to destroy the pontoon bridge, and the wide Han River blocked the remaining Japanese soldiers and the Ming Dynasty soldiers on the north bank.

Looking at the sky, the sun has already set and the battle is basically coming to an end.

The remaining Japanese soldiers had only three options: either resist to the end and be killed, or be driven into the Han River and drown, or successfully surrender and save their lives.

General Li sighed, feeling really tired.

From a tactical point of view, this was a perfect victory. It would have been even more perfect if it weren't for the stealing general.

After handing over the finishing work to his second brother Li Rubai, General Li asked, "Where is the General?"

The latest general who came to report the situation replied, "Inside the Dunyi Gate, the west gate."

Then General Li took his personal soldiers and rode into the city to find Lin Jinglie.

If nothing else, he just wanted an explanation for their friendship. If no explanation was given, he would end the friendship for a month!

When General Li arrived at Xique exhausted, he saw the banquet had already been set up in the hall.

Lin Tianshuai came out to greet him with a smile: "Congratulations, Brother Li! Congratulations, Brother Li! Brother Li, you have worked hard! Please take your seat!"

General Li stood stubbornly at the door, glanced at Lin Tailai, and asked, "Compared with reaching the capital first, what's the point of being happy?"

Lin Tianshuai didn't care about General Li's attitude at all, and said enthusiastically: "Congratulations, Brother Li, for setting the record of the largest single battle commanded by a general in the world!

Congratulations to Brother Li for becoming the contemporary general who has killed the most enemies in a single battle!
Congratulations again, Brother Li, for setting a record for the largest number of enemy troops killed in a single battle in nearly a hundred years of our dynasty!

As to whether this is the record for the most enemies killed in the past two hundred years, we still need to check the records in ancient books.

Isn't it a great joy that so many honors have been bestowed upon Brother Li?"

General Li: “.”

The stubborn desire to get an explanation began to fade away unconsciously, and I was completely stunned.

Lin Tailai continued enthusiastically, "I just wrote a set of three poems specifically to commemorate your achievements!
You know, the poets of my generation have made it in the literary world only by relying on soft and hard power, and not on socializing at all!

So I rarely write poems praising others, but today I will make an exception for you, to help you go down in history!"

General Li felt dizzy all over and said subconsciously, "Let me see."

(End of this chapter)