There is a space for passenger planes in the late Ming Dynasty

August 13th.

Datong East Gate.

After more than ten days of continuous offensive and defensive battles, the city head of the east gate was in a mess, and the city gate tower had been blown down by the Ming army.

Brigadier General Han Yu was also wounded. His left arm was injured by a stray arrow, and blood was still oozing out of the bandaged gauze. He was checking the remaining defense supplies on the city wall while comforting the injured soldiers and civilians.

After ten days of fierce fighting, one-third of the 5,000 soldiers and civilians defending the city had been killed or injured, and most of the rest were taken with them. Everyone seemed very tired.

What's even worse is that although ammunition has been used very sparingly, the city's artillery has very few shells left.

The east gate has always been the main attack direction of the Ming army, and Cao Xiong also organized several groups of reinforcements and supplies to come over for support. However, with the Tatar army to the south of Datong and Cao Bianjiao's army to the north, it was difficult to draw out a large number of troops from anywhere.

In every direction of the city gate, everyone is trying their best to support. Although the Zhenming Army defending the city fought bravely, there were too many enemies and they could not be killed no matter what.

Outside the east gate of Datong.

A large number of Ming army artillery were gathered and arranged in formation.

Knowing that the artillery at the top of Datong City was out of ammunition, the Ming army had begun to blatantly mass the artillery.

Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui, and Yang Guozhu stood about five or six miles away from the city with their personal guards, preparing to launch a general attack on Datong.

Hong Chengchou looked at the top of Datong City with clairvoyance and said: "Sangui, it should be fine this time. There are not many defenders at the top of Datong City."

"Sir, we have concentrated hundreds of artillery pieces this time, and we will definitely be able to knock down a section of the city wall. Then Datong City will be ours." Wu Sangui replied confidently.

"Where are the Qing troops in the south of Datong City? What are they doing recently?" Hong Chengchou asked.

"After Dorgon received the news that his brother Duduo was killed by the Zhenming Army led by Yang Heng, he had already led the main force to seek revenge. But he also left 10,000 troops behind to help us contain the Datong defenders." Yang Guozhu replied.

"It would be best if both the Qing army and the Zhenming army were twice as injured, so that our Ming Dynasty would be able to sit back and relax." Hong Chengchou's thought was quite beautiful.

"Master Tai, our artillery is ready. Can we start a full-scale attack on the city?"

"let's start!"

"Yes! Send the order to fire!" Wu Sangui ordered.

"Boom boom boom!"

Hundreds of artillery pieces from the Ming army began to focus their bombardment. A section of the city wall on the right side of the east gate of Datong had already been bombarded in the early stage and was full of cracks.

Under the concentrated bombardment of so many artillery pieces from the Ming army, it had begun to falter.

Han Yu at the top of the city saw this and knew that it was inevitable that Datong City would be breached.

He asked the deputy general to lead the remaining more than a thousand soldiers and civilians to move into the city first, and he prepared to lead the two hundred battalions of officers and soldiers for the final sniper attack.

"Boss, you should take the brothers and move, and I'll be in charge of sniping!" the deputy general argued.

"Have you forgotten the teachings of our Zhenming Army? The brigade general and below must charge forward and retreat before retreating. And I have been wounded. You should take your brothers and leave immediately."

"I, I'd better stay."

"There's no time, hurry up and leave!"

The deputy general had no choice but to withdraw with more than a thousand soldiers and civilians who were still intact to the newly constructed inner city defense line in Datong City.

Cao Xiong and others anticipated from the beginning that the outer city of Datong might not be able to withstand the Ming army's massive attack, so they rebuilt an inner wall based on the prefect's office, the original General Military Mansion, Fanjiawu Fort and other buildings in Datong City. City defense line.

Once the outer city is lost, they will rely on the new inner city defense line to fight street battles with the Ming army entering the city.

In this area, there are dense buildings, making it difficult to launch a large army attack. Even concentrated artillery is difficult to erect, which is very conducive to holding on.

Today, when the outer city defense line is crumbling, Cao Xiong has organized the soldiers and civilians in the city to withdraw into the inner city defense line in batches. There is also a reserve team of half a brigade of 3,000 officers and soldiers led by Brigade General He Xiaolei in the inner city.

The people who retreated into the inner city of Xianqi, under the organization of the prefect Li Boxen, dug many tunnels and underground warehouses and stored a large amount of grain.

In short, everything in the inner city is ready. Just waiting for the Ming army to enter the city happily, they will find that they only occupy an empty city, and all the essence of the city is still within the inner city defense line.

His gaze returned to the east of Datong City.

"Boom!"

A loud noise was heard, and the wall on the right side of the east side of the city finally failed to withstand it and completely collapsed. Wu Sangui was overjoyed when he saw it: "The whole army attacks!"

A large number of Ming troops swarmed toward the gap in the collapsed city wall.

"Bang bang bang!"

There was a rapid sound of gunfire, and the Ming army that had just entered the city was knocked down in large pieces.

"Boom boom boom"

A string of thunderbolts were thrown from the city. The Ming army fought to enter the city and the formation was too dense. Hundreds of people were killed or injured at once.

"Spread out, spread out and enter the city!"

"Continue erecting the ladder!"

Wu Sangui immediately commanded when he saw his strength.

About a quarter of an hour later, the more than 200 wounded Zhenming soldiers led by Han Yu ran out of ammunition, and most of their personnel were killed or injured.

"Brothers, the time has come to fight to the death for the Zhenmin Army! Let's meet again at the Chung Martyrs' Shrine!"

"Martyrs die for their country today! Charge!"

Han Yu took the lead in charging towards the Ming army entering the city. None of the remaining Zhenming army soldiers, less than a hundred strong, flinched and they all rushed out following Han Yu.

Only three or four officers and soldiers with serious leg injuries could not move. They took out the last thunderbolts and placed them, holding torches and waiting for the last moment.

Seeing that the Zhenming Army's guns were extinguished, the Ming Army knew that their ammunition had been exhausted. They became energetic and a large number of people gathered around them again.

Han Yu led dozens of Zhenming Army officers and soldiers, wielding horizontal swords, and fought hard to kill the enemy.

After he killed several enemies in a row, a general of the Ming Army stabbed him in the abdomen with a sneak attack. He suddenly lost all strength and was held up by a Ming Army general with a spear.

The Ming troops on the left and right raised their bows and fired volleys. Arrows all over Han Yu's body were like fluffy hair, and his heart was pierced by thousands of arrows.

Han Yu's blood continued to drip along the arrow shaft. He used up his last strength, raised his head and shouted: "Long live the Zhenming Army!

Then he hung his head and passed away.

The surrounding Ming troops all looked ashamed.

The remaining Zhenming Army officers were all filled with grief and anger, and launched a desperate charge. However, the power disparity was too great, and they were quickly killed and injured.

Only four or five injured soldiers with broken legs were left holding torches and glaring at the Ming army entering the city.

"You wounded soldiers of the Zhenming Army are all injured. Surrender immediately and spare your life!" A Ming Army general did not want to kill any more and stepped forward to persuade them to surrender.

"The loyal souls who died in battle during our Zhenming Army are not cowards who surrendered!" Zhenming's wounded soldier replied.

"If you don't know how to praise me, give it to me!" the Ming army general ordered.

The wounded soldiers of the Zhenming Army looked at the surrounding Ming Army without any panic, and said, "General Han, we are here to accompany you."

Then he put down the torch and ignited the remaining thunder and the remaining gunpowder.

"Ah, run away!" The surrounding Ming army discovered what was going on and shouted out of fear.

But it was too late.

There was a loud "boom".

Several wounded soldiers of the Zhenming Army, together with dozens of nearby Ming Army soldiers, were overwhelmed by the huge explosion.

The Ming army went from ant fortification to artillery bombardment to hand-to-hand combat, and finally occupied the east gate of Datong after paying the price of more than 20,000 lives.

Near the city gate, there is a ruined wall with mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, which is extremely tragic.

The sun sets in the west, and the setting sun is like blood.

Hong Chengchou stood at the east gate of Datong, filled with gunpowder smoke and piled with corpses. He was shocked by the tenacity of the Zhenming Army. He knew that they were defeated, but regarded death as if they were dead. This made him deeply doubtful about defeating the Zhenming Army. (End of chapter)