Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

At the beginning of the Yin hour on March 1664, the 7.9st year of the Qianyuan reign (12), the sun had not yet shone on the walls of the imperial city of Beijing, and everything was a gray shadow. This five-and-a-half-li long and five-li wide city wall is less than three zhang (about 15 meters) high, slightly shorter than the outer inner city, which is three or four zhang (about 10.4 to 30 meters) high, and the inner palace (Forbidden City), which is three zhang (about 60 meters) high. But it is still magnificent, with bricks built inside and outside. The moat outside the city wall alone is ten to twenty zhang ( to meters) wide, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, after several months of siege, the wide moat had already been filled up for the most part, and the guards could reach the city directly.

Although the inner city was higher than the imperial city, the problem of artillery fire was considered when the city was built. The inner city was nearly three miles away from the imperial city at its narrowest point. If the cannons were mounted on the inner city walls to shoot at the imperial city, the range of light artillery was not enough, and the heavy artillery was too heavy to be transported to the walls. However, this did not bother the experienced soldiers of the Guards Artillery Battalion. They simply mounted the cannons in the streets and alleys of the inner city and fired at the imperial city day and night, so that the range and accuracy were both achieved. Although the imperial city was scarred by the bombardment, it was after all the wall that protected the Forbidden City and was built very solidly. It would not collapse in a short time. The Qing army cannons in the imperial city fought back, and the continuous artillery battles bombarded the houses in the inner city. These were all the properties of the Eight Banners children and dignitaries. Fortunately, the bombardment stopped after the guards entered the city yesterday. There are rumors that the Western tribes only want silver, and the emperor will withdraw his troops after giving them 500,000 taels. Although they don't know whether the news is true or not, the defenders in the city are relieved. Amitabha, too many people have died these days. I hope the guards will leave soon and don't fight anymore!
"Boom~Boom~Boom~Boom~" "Boom~Boom~Boom~" The artillery bombardment that had just stopped for two days suddenly resumed. This time it was even more violent than the previous ones. Not only the commonly used Tiananmen Gate, Di'anmen Gate, Dong'anmen Gate and Xi'an Gate were bombarded, but also the infrequently used Daqing Gate (formerly Daming Gate, now Zhonghua Gate), Chang'an Left Gate and Chang'an Right Gate were not spared.

"Artillery fire~ Be careful of artillery fire~" The defenders, who had experience in defending against continuous artillery fire, quickly retreated into the soldier hiding cave. The city wall was empty except for a few sentries.

In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Emperor Shunzhi was still sleeping soundly on the dragon bed. He was too tired. He had been working day and night to arrange defenses. It was rare for him to have a good sleep. It was only after the guards entered the city the day before that he thought that the pseudo-Khan would not attack the city in a short time after receiving his 500,000 taels of silver and his daughter's letter that he could fall asleep. The fact seemed to be true. After the 500,000 taels of silver and the family letter were sent, the guards did not bombard the city for two days. He also slept soundly and had a beautiful dream. He dreamed that he personally led the army to sweep across the grassland and met his beloved Dong Efei, the Empress Xiaoxian of the Qing Dynasty on the grassland. "My beloved concubine, why are you here?" He asked happily. "After I left, I was reborn in a herdsman's family on the grassland. I miss the emperor day and night, but the emperor never comes~" Dong Efei pouted her little mouth and said coquettishly. "My beloved concubine has suffered~" Emperor Shunzhi excitedly stretched out his arms to hug his sweetheart.

"Your Majesty~Your Majesty~" The trusted eunuch Wu Liangfu shook the emperor's arm vigorously. He was the only eunuch in the harem who had the courage to do so.

"Uh~My beloved~Eh?" Emperor Shunzhi seemed to be half awake. He recognized Wu Liangfu in a daze and flew into a rage. He slapped him hard, "You little dog slave~You ruined my sweet dream!"

A slapping sound hit Eunuch Wu's face, but he did not even try to dodge. Instead, he knelt on the ground respectfully and reported, "Master, the guards are firing now and they will probably attack the city soon."

"What! Didn't the envoy say that if we offered 500,000 taels of silver, the army would temporarily stop the attack? How could he be so dishonest!" Emperor Shunzhi was shocked. He was taught from childhood that a king should not joke with his words and should keep his promises. He really couldn't understand the Great Khan Lianhua's tactic of going back on his word. In fact, the Great Khan, who came from a small tribe of Oirat Mongols, was able to achieve what he has today because of the four words "all is fair in war". Trustworthiness or not is not important to him.

"The Western tribes are cunning and untrustworthy. Please mobilize the troops quickly," Wu Liangfu hurriedly helped Emperor Shunzhi get up and change his clothes. After coming to his senses, Emperor Shunzhi ordered the veteran general Sony to be responsible for the defense of the entire imperial city.

The guards camped outside the city, waiting for the cannon fire to stop. The Great Khan Lianhua was reluctant to use his own troops, and mainly relied on the surrendered troops of Shandong Governor Zhou Youde, Jizhou General Xuan Youcai, Tongzhou General Zhang Wei, Henan General Cai Lu, Zhenjiang Deputy General Zhang Yuanxun, Zhending Lieutenant General Chen Ruqi and others to attack the city.

The rumbling of artillery finally stopped. The guards attacked Tiananmen Square, pushing shield carts to dig into the city walls. The carts were covered with several-inch thick boards covered with raw cowhide, and soldiers were hidden underneath. The soldiers behind the shield carts approached and used hammers to dig into the city walls, making it difficult for arrows and stones to hurt them. Sony ordered the gunners to set up cannons on the city walls and bombard them non-stop. They also filled hay bundles with fat and threw them down with mirror powder. The shield carts caught fire and many people were burned to death. Seeing that it was difficult to dig into the city walls, the surrendered general Cai Lu, the general of Henan, who was eager to make a contribution, led his elite troops to climb the city walls, but was driven down by the fierce general Biliketu, the commander of the guard army under Sony. After a day of fierce fighting, the sudden attack of the guards did not achieve the expected results. Under the command of veterans such as Sony and Ebilun, the Qing army firmly defended the city walls.

Seeing that the hard approach didn't work, Great Khan Lianhua wanted to use a soft knife again and sent Zhao Xi into the city to persuade them to surrender. It would have been better if he hadn't seen Zhao Xi. When he saw him, Emperor Shunzhi was so angry that he slammed the imperial desk and cursed: "You said earlier that the guards would withdraw as long as we paid 500,000 taels of silver. I have already ordered people to send the silver to your master. Now you go back on your word and suddenly open fire to attack the city. What's the reason?"

Facing the mad Qing emperor, Zhao Xi calmly shook his clothes and said with a smile: "His Majesty Emperor Qianyuan of David is a hero who always keeps his word. How can he not keep his word? But you actually threatened me with Princess Hami's life. My lord has always been strong-willed. How can he be threatened? I have sent your humble servant to convey your message. As long as you meet the three conditions of paying tribute of 2 million taels of silver and paying an annual tribute of 300,000 taels, David will withdraw its troops." "Shameless!" Emperor Shunzhi was furious. Veins on his head were exposed. He pressed the hilt of the imperial sword and really wanted to kill someone.

"The Xifan have no faith at all. Your Majesty can order the fake princess to kill herself and send her body out of the city to show your determination to never coexist with the Xifan and boost our army's morale!" Fan Wencheng advised.

"This~" Emperor Shunzhi hesitated. Although he was very angry, he was not sure whether he could repel the guards, so he did not dare to offend the pseudo-Khan too much. If he really killed the pseudo-Khan's daughter, I am afraid that the pseudo-Khan would fight to the death with the Qing Dynasty.

"Your ancestors fought hundreds of battles to gain the world. How can you succumb to the tyranny of the Western Barbarians? You should behead the fake princess and fight the enemy to the death. If you cannot avoid it, I will die with you. After death, you will have the face to see our ancestors!" Empress Dowager Zhaosheng suddenly appeared in the hall. At this time, she was dressed in military uniform and looked majestic.

Seeing his mother's strong look, Emperor Shunzhi instantly gained confidence and shouted angrily: "Pass on my decree, behead the fake princess as a warning to the public, and fight to the death with the Western tribes! Anyone who dares to negotiate peace will be beheaded!"
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In Prince Yi's mansion, Prince Yi's Sun Zhengqi was saying goodbye to his wife, Ikmin Antoya.

"Sister-in-law~" The two younger brothers, Sun Zhengchun and Sun Zhenghao, cried bitterly. Looking at their younger brothers, the young Prince Yi Sun Zhengqi's eyes turned red and tears could not help but burst out.

Tuoya's nose felt sore, and she bowed to Sun Zhengqi and said, "I can no longer serve you, Your Majesty. Please take care of yourself! The only regret is that I was unable to give birth to a child for you. I am so sorry!"

"I'm incompetent and can't save my beloved concubine! Everything is my fault~" Sun Zhengqi pounded his head and stamped his feet and cried bitterly.

Wu Liangfu on the side sneered, "Prince Yi, don't be too soft-hearted. The emperor has ordered people to select a new concubine for you. Come on, drag the fake princess away and behead her in public."

"My father Khan will definitely avenge me! The day David's cavalry enters the city will be the day of your death!" Toya suddenly laughed loudly, and was soon carried away by the ferocious Eight Banners soldiers.

The Gesang flowers on the grassland withered in the capital! (End of this chapter)