Huangming

Chapter 367: Cannons Destroy Fortified Cities, Enemy Forced into Dangerous Valleys!
After the plan was made.

The order to attack the city from the central camp of the Ming army spread to all the camps. The originally quiet besieging troops instantly sprang into action, like a precisely meshed war machine, with every component operating at high efficiency.

The laborers responsible for logistics pushed wooden carts, trudging through the deep snow, the carts loaded with dark shells and gunpowder.

The mules of the Shenji Battalion pulled the artillery carriages and quickly assembled, trudging through the snow.

Ma Shilong personally oversaw the defense of the south gate. He was clad in heavy black iron armor, the tassel of the sword at his waist fluttering in the cold wind, and his sharp gaze swept across the front of the formation.

Twenty breech-loading cannons, thirty general cannons, and more than fifty crouching cannons have been steadily placed on the snow, with their muzzles all aimed at the south gate of Fushun.

These cannons were pushed to a position 300 paces from the city wall, which was just within the effective range of the Ming army's cannons, but beyond the attack range of the Jurchen arrows and catapults, making it an excellent bombardment position.

"Load!"

Ma Shilong drew his sword and gave the order in a stern voice.

The gunners immediately sprang into action, their movements as practiced as if they had rehearsed it a thousand times:
Two people worked together, carrying heavy lead bullets and carefully filling them into the muzzle; another person used a long ladle to precisely pour black gunpowder into the powder chamber; finally, the gunner lit the fuse, retreated to a safe distance, and kept a close eye on the direction of the muzzle.

"put!"

With Ma Shilong's command, the fuse sizzled and burned, then burst into a deafening roar!

More than a hundred cannons fired simultaneously, the muzzle flashes illuminating half the sky. Lead bullets, with sharp whistles, slammed into the city walls and ramparts of Fushun's south gate like black meteors!

"Boom! Boom!"

When the first wave of shells landed, smoke and dust immediately filled the city walls of Fushun.

The battlements were smashed to pieces, with rubble and wood chips flying everywhere. Several Jurchen soldiers hiding behind the battlements were hit by the rubble before they could react and fell from the city wall with screams.

The wooden structure of the arrow tower was even more vulnerable, collapsing directly from a few cannonballs fired by the General's Cannon. The beams and tiles crashed onto the city wall, raising clouds of dust.

The Ming army's artillery fire was extremely accurate.

The primary targets were the city's defensive fortifications and the Jurchens' remaining counter-attack forces.

The city originally had two cannons and more than ten catapults, which were important weapons used by Daishan to defend against the Ming army's attack on the city.

However, under the dense artillery fire of the Ming army, the two cannons were hit directly by the shells of the breech-loading cannons as soon as they were set up. The cannons were twisted and deformed, and the gunners were killed on the spot.

The catapults were even more vulnerable; after just a few shells, they were smashed to pieces, without even having a chance to launch stones.

Moreover, in addition to cannons, the Ming army also set up dozens of catapults in front of their lines.

These catapults were built by laborers using local materials during Xiong Tingbi's half-month siege, and they finally came in handy.

The laborers worked together to pull the rope, hurling the millstone-sized boulder into the air. With a dull whistle, the boulder flew over the city wall and crashed into the city of Fushun.

Some of the debris hit houses, instantly creating a large hole in the roof.

Some landed on the street, sending shards of stone flying and killing several Jurchen soldiers on the spot.

Others struck directly at the base of the city wall. Although not as powerful as cannon fire, they still caused the already cracked wall to tremble slightly, exacerbating the fear of the Jurchens within the city.

Catapults were far less expensive than cannons. Boulders were readily available, and they did not require expensive gunpowder and lead bullets, yet they could continuously inflict damage and deterrence on the city. They were a highly cost-effective siege weapon.

"Boom boom boom!"

The bombardment and slinging continued, and the city wall near the south gate of Fushun was riddled with holes, making it impossible for the Jurchen soldiers on the city wall to stand.

The soldiers of the two Red Banners huddled in the bunkers under the city wall, listening to the falling stones and shells overhead, their faces as pale as paper.

Previously, they could fight back with bows and arrows and catapults, but now, the Ming army's artillery fire has completely suppressed them, and even looking up to observe has become a luxury.

Any soldier who dared to show his face was either hit by Ming army muskets or grazed by flying shards of stone, and the number of casualties near the South Gate continued to rise.

But they dared not completely withdraw.

Once the south gate is abandoned, the Ming army will take advantage of the artillery fire to set up ladders and attack the city. At that time, Fushun City will really be unable to be defended.

Therefore, even with heavy casualties, the Manchu Eight Banners soldiers could only grit their teeth and hold on in their bunkers.

now.

The Grand Prince's Mansion in Fushun City.

In the lobby.

Daishan sat in the main seat, his mink coat haphazardly wrapped around his body, his once neatly combed braid now hanging loosely over his shoulders, and his face looked sallow from days of anxiety.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently out the window, the constant sound of gunfire making his face grow increasingly grim.

"Boom! Boom!"

Another round of artillery fire came from the south of the city.

Dai Shanmeng said anxiously, "That bastard Xiong Tingbi has been surrounding us for almost a month. Before, he only dared to circle around the perimeter. How come he suddenly got serious? The cannons have been exploding for almost half an hour. Has he gone mad?!"

During the days of being besieged, Daishan's life was extremely difficult.

As supplies dwindled day by day, the fear on the faces of the soldiers on the city walls grew ever stronger.

All the news coming from Kaiyuan was bad.

First, Ligdan Khan attacked Kaiyuan, but then there was no news. The scouts sent out either disappeared without a trace or only brought back vague news that "the Ming army's movements are unclear." The reinforcements from Hetu Ala were nowhere to be seen.

What troubled him most was the problem of deserters.

After a siege of half a month, deserters began to appear in the city. At first, it was just a few Han soldiers, but later even soldiers from various Mongol tribes began to secretly climb over the walls to escape. Even though he issued a strict order to "catch deserters and execute them immediately," he could not stop the soldiers' desire to survive.

At this moment, Xiong Tingbi suddenly launched a fierce artillery attack, which made his heart jump into his throat.

He feared that this last straw would completely break the morale of the city.

"Father, please don't worry."

Sahalian, who was younger than Daishan, suddenly spoke up.

"Xiong Tingbi originally intended to besiege us until we ran out of food and surrendered. Now he has suddenly used artillery to attack the city. This is probably not because he is confident that he can break through the city, but because there has been a change in the situation outside."

Dai Shan suddenly looked up, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Variable? What variable?"

“What do you think, Father?”

Sahalian put down his milk tea, his tone clear and organized.

"If Xiong Tingbi was truly confident of taking the city in a single day, why did he besiege us for a month before? His sudden and fierce attack is most likely because he is worried that things might change if he waits too long. Perhaps Father Khan's reinforcements are on their way!"

He paused, pointed to the direction from which the cannon fire was coming from outside the window, and continued, "Listen to this cannon fire, it's been going on for half an hour without stopping. He's in a hurry! He's afraid that if Father Khan's reinforcements arrive, he won't have a chance to attack the city, so he's rushing to use cannons to blow up the city walls, hoping to wipe us out before the reinforcements arrive!"

Sahalian's words were like a wake-up call, instantly bringing Daishan to his senses.

He was only distracted by the sound of gunfire and hadn't thought about this aspect.

Yes!

If Xiong Tingbi truly had an absolute advantage, why did he wait until now to attack the city?
The news of reinforcements must have panicked him, which is why he wanted to finish the battle quickly!

"Reinforcements are arriving soon?"

Hope rekindled in Dai Shan's eyes.

"Then we must hold Fushun! As long as we hold out until Father Khan's reinforcements arrive, we can launch a pincer attack and annihilate Xiong Tingbi's entire army!"

However, Saharan's face showed no sign of relief; instead, it was filled with seriousness.

“Father, that is true, but our biggest problem right now is morale.”

His tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"Our two red flags were besieged for a month. In order to hold out longer, food and supplies were rationed. The soldiers were cold and hungry, and desertion was rampant."

News just came from the south city that the Ming army's cannons have almost blown down a section of the city wall, and many of the soldiers of the Bordered Red Banner guarding the south city have begun to retreat.

If we don't find a way to stabilize morale, even if reinforcements arrive, we probably won't last until then.

Dai Shan's smile froze instantly as he remembered his predicament in the city.

It's good that reinforcements are arriving soon, but if we can't hold the city before they arrive, it's all just empty talk.

How can we rekindle the fighting spirit of these exhausted soldiers and help them hold out until reinforcements arrive?

Sahalian noticed Daishan's hesitation and said from the side:
“Father, to boost morale, just shouting slogans won’t work. We need to give the warriors real benefits. They’re following us to defend the city because they want military merit, treasure, and women, right?”

Dai Shan frowned: "But the city's food supplies are almost exhausted, where would we find any extra treasures to reward?"

After being besieged for a month, the gold and silver in the treasury had long been used to reward the personal guards, and the ordinary soldiers couldn't even get enough to eat, let alone receive any decent rewards.

Sahalian looked up at Daishan, a cold glint in his eyes:

"Yes. There are still many Han Chinese people in Fushun, as well as families of Han and Mongol bannermen. Aren't the silver, cloth, and women they have hidden away all rewards?"

Dai Shan's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Doing this will only drive them into rebellion. They are our own people, and after the war, Father Khan will surely blame us. Moreover, if chaos breaks out in the city, wouldn't we be courting death?"

Although the soldiers of the Han and Mongol banners were not considered elite, they still accounted for more than 10% of the city's garrison. If they defected, Fushun would collapse on its own without the Ming army even needing to attack.

“Father, you’re mistaken.”

Saharan spoke calmly.

"Now that the city is about to fall, these people have long harbored disloyal intentions. If we win, they might even get a share of the spoils."

But if the Ming army breaks through the city, they will definitely be the first to defect, and may even stab us in the back!
Rather than keeping them a threat, let's use their lives and property to boost the morale of our Eight Banners warriors!

That's not entirely wrong.

If we kill these Han bannermen and Mongol tribesmen, we will surely be punished by our father, the Khan.

However.
Now that we're at a life-or-death situation, who cares about punishment?
The most important thing is to defend the city and survive!
"you're right!"

Having figured things out, Daishan became calmer.

"That's it! Immediately gather the elite Eight Banners troops in the city and slaughter the men of the Han and Mongol Banners! Their families, treasures, and the wealth of the city's inhabitants should all be distributed to the warriors defending the city!"

"Tell the brothers that as long as we hold Fushun, once Father Khan's reinforcements arrive, we will plunder the Ming army's wealth and take even more!"

"Whoo!"

Sahalian bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quickly left.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!
Only the victors have the last laugh!
Half an hour later.

The drill ground in Fushun was crowded with soldiers from both the Han and Mongol banners.

Their orders were "take three days' worth of rations, no need to wear armor."

After a prolonged siege, these families had long since run out of food.

They hadn't expected Daishan to distribute the grain so readily, so their faces were filled with anticipation.

Without giving it much thought, everyone rushed over.

But just as they arrived, a large number of elite Eight Banners soldiers suddenly surged out from all around the training ground, their scimitars gleaming coldly, and their archers nocking their arrows and drawing their bows, the arrows pointing directly at the crowd.

"What are you doing?"

The Han army flag soldiers sensed something was wrong and questioned him, but before they could finish speaking, an arrow pierced their throats, and blood splattered onto the snow, instantly staining it red.

Before anyone in the training ground could react, the order to massacre had already been given!

"kill!"

At Sahalian's command, arrows rained down on the crowd.

These Han Chinese soldiers and Mongol barbarians never imagined they would be slaughtered by their own people.

Chaos erupted on the drill ground. Cries, screams, and curses mingled together, but the unarmed soldiers were no match for the Manchu soldiers' blades. In less than an hour, the drill ground was piled high with corpses, the snow was soaked with blood, and the air was thick with the stench of blood. Even the cold wind carried a nauseating smell.

After the massacre, Sahalian immediately ordered the "distribution of the spoils".

The Eight Banner soldiers, like wild beasts, stormed into the homes of the people of Fushun and the barracks of the Han and Mongol banners, looting wildly.

They smashed open the door, stole the silver and cloth hidden under the bed and in the cellar, dragged away the weeping women, and raped them on the spot.

The city was filled with looting, and the cries of women, the curses of the old, and the wild laughter of the Eight Banners soldiers filled the air. Fushun had become a living hell.

This atrocity actually ignited the morale of the Eight Banners soldiers.

Clutching the stolen silver in their hands and with the kidnapped women beside them, their previous exhaustion and fear vanished, replaced by greed and ruthlessness in their eyes.

however.

Morale on this side has recovered somewhat, but the city walls of Fushun's south city are on the verge of collapse after a day of bombardment by the Ming army.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar suddenly came from the south of the city, like thunder rolling across the snow.

The section of the city wall near the city gate suddenly collapsed like paper during another round of cannon fire. The wall, several meters long, crashed to the ground, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sun and tore a huge gap in the wall.

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, poured into the breach, mixing the shouts of battle and the sounds of cannons from inside and outside the city, completely shattering the last defensive barrier of the Jurchens.

The appearance of the breach in the city wall instantly caused a stir among the Ming army.

General Chen Ce, the commander-in-chief sent to aid Liaodong, drew his sword sharply, the blade gleaming coldly in the remaining snow, and roared, "The time to breach the city has come! Charge!"

Deputy Commander Tong Zhongkui followed closely behind, his voice echoing across the battlefield: "Kill! Whoever breaks through the city and takes Shan's head will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and promoted three ranks!"

General Li Bingcheng of Fengjibao, along with Man Gui, Ma Shilong, He Gang, and others, drew their swords, their eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.

The Ming soldiers, who had been preparing for battle, surged toward the breach like a tide upon hearing the order.

The swordsmen and shieldmen in the front row held up their heavy shields to block the scattered arrows coming from the city walls; the spearmen in the back row followed closely behind, their spears like a forest, thrusting towards the Jurchen soldiers inside the breach.

The arquebusiers of the Shenji Battalion set up their muskets on both sides, and the constant "bang bang" of gunfire cleared obstacles for the charging infantry.

The Jurchen soldiers who remained at the south gate were already demoralized due to days of bombardment, and were now powerless to resist the Ming army's overwhelming attack.

Although they fought back desperately, the Ming army's offensive was too fierce. Their shields blocked most of the arrows, their spears pierced their bodies repeatedly, and their musket bullets accurately claimed their lives.

In less than half an hour, the Jurchen soldiers at the breach were almost all killed or wounded, and the Ming army poured into Fushun City like a flood that had burst its banks.

However, things didn't go as smoothly as expected.

The Ming army encountered unexpected resistance as soon as they entered the city and stepped into the streets.

It turns out that Daishan had already reacted the moment the city wall collapsed.

He frantically ordered: "All Eight Banner soldiers, retreat to the streets and alleys immediately! Use civilian houses as shields and fight the Ming army to the death!"

"Reinforcements are on their way. If we can hold out for a day or two, victory will be ours. Then we'll go and plunder Shenyang!"

"Rob money, rob food, rob women!"

Dai Shan's words boosted their morale.

Therefore, the Eight Banners soldiers of the two Red Banners retreated into the streets and alleys, and took advantage of the intricate layout of houses in Fushun City to set up an ambush.

Some hid on the rooftops of civilian houses, holding bows and arrows, waiting to fire suddenly when the Ming army passed by; others hid behind courtyard gates, holding curved swords, preparing for close combat; still others pushed down walls and stones to block streets and alleys, hindering the Ming army's advance.

These soldiers, who had just experienced looting and slaughter, had bloodshot eyes and crazed ruthlessness on their faces. Each of them was like a wild beast driven to the edge of a cliff, only wanting to take a few people down with them before they died.

"kill!"

A Ming soldier had just rushed into an alley when he was struck in the shoulder by an arrow shot from the roof and fell down with a scream.

Before their companions could react, two Jurchen soldiers suddenly rushed out from behind the courtyard gate, brandishing their scimitars and instantly cutting them down.

"Beware of ambush!"

Man Gui shouted a warning, and thrust his spear forward, piercing the chest of a Jurchen soldier.

The Ming soldiers behind him immediately adjusted their formation, with swordsmen and shieldmen in front and spearmen behind, advancing cautiously. When they encountered blocked streets and alleys, they used muskets to blast open gaps; when they encountered ambushes on rooftops, they used bows and arrows to retaliate.

The main road in the city.

Ma Shilong led a cavalry unit in an attempt to break through the main road, but the Jurchen soldiers blocked the road with barricades and rocks.

He frowned as he looked at the Jurchen soldiers who were putting up a fierce resistance.

He hadn't expected that these Jurchens would still be so tenacious after the city fell.

"Use muskets to clear the way!"

Ma Shilong gave the order, and the soldiers of the Shenji Battalion immediately stepped forward and opened fire on the blocked road. Lead bullets pierced through the firewood and hit the Jurchen soldiers behind them, and screams of agony rose and fell.

However, the progress is still not ideal.

Seeing this, Ma Shilong immediately said to his guards, "Go and gather the cannons! I, Grandpa Ma, don't believe these Jurchens can withstand cannon fire!"

the other side.

Daishan stood on a high platform, watching the brutal fighting in the streets and alleys, his face expressionless.

When a war reaches the point of street fighting, it has reached its final stage.

What matters now is courage and fearlessness!

"Pass on my order: all those who can move, go to the battlefield! Even if it means death, hold off the Ming army until reinforcements arrive!"

Following Daishan's order, the Eight Banners guards in the city, and even some soldiers who had just finished looting, rushed into the streets with their weapons.

The scale of the urban warfare is growing, and casualties on both sides are constantly increasing.

The city of Fushun in the snowy night was like a meat grinder, devouring countless lives.

Although the Ming army had the advantage in numbers and equipment, it was difficult to deploy its formation due to the narrow streets and complex terrain.

Despite being outnumbered, the Jurchen soldiers, relying on their familiarity with the terrain and their desperate madness, tenaciously held off the Ming army, leading to a stalemate in the battle.

And to the north of Fushun City.

Hidden in the dense forests of the Red River Valley.

Xiong Tingbi reined in his horse and stood on the high ground at the valley entrance, his black cloak fluttering in the wind.

The ten thousand elite troops behind him were busy clearing the snow from the valley in preparation for an ambush.

These soldiers were mostly a mix of cavalry and Shenji Battalion soldiers, carrying many small cannons. They intended to use the steep mountains on both sides of the Red River Valley to set up a defensive line to delay Nurhaci.

But just as the construction was beginning, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

A scout, covered in snow, galloped from outside the valley. Before his horse had even come to a complete stop, he dismounted and knelt down in front of Xiong Tingbi with a thud.

"My lord! Something terrible has happened! Jurchen scouts have been spotted on the snowy plains thirty miles away. There are at least a dozen riders, and they are scouting towards the Red River Valley!"

"Thirty miles?"

Xiong Tingbi's heart sank suddenly, and his hand gripping the riding whip tightened involuntarily.

The appearance of Jurchen scouts proves that the main force of the Jurchens is also nearby.

He originally thought that Nurhaci would need at least a day or two to rest after the Battle of Kaiyuan before heading south, but he did not expect the enemy to arrive so quickly, not even giving the Ming army a chance to catch their breath.

"It seems that Nurhaci is afraid that things might get complicated if he waits too long, and he wants to lift the siege of Fushun as soon as possible."

He muttered to himself, his eyes sweeping over the unfinished fortifications in the valley, and made a decision without hesitation.

"Pass down the order: abandon the construction of defensive lines. Half of the troops are to immediately conceal themselves in the forests on both sides of the valley, setting up an ambush only at the valley entrance! The other half of the troops are to stand by at any time. When the Jurchen scouts approach, capture two prisoners to find out their strength!"

The soldiers immediately sprang into action. The cavalry led their horses into the pine forest, while the Shenji Battalion soldiers carried muskets, lay prone in the snow, and aimed their guns at the valley entrance.

The entire Red River Valley fell silent instantly, with only the howling of the cold wind and the faint sound of falling snow remaining. If one did not look closely, one would not be able to detect that an army of ten thousand was hidden here.

But before long, another scout came galloping in, his face even paler than before:

"My lord! Something terrible has happened! A large number of Jurchen soldiers have appeared thirty miles away. Judging from their banners, they are elite troops of the Plain Yellow Banner. There are at least five thousand of them, and they are advancing rapidly towards us!"

"Five thousand people?"

Xiong Tingbi's brows furrowed even more.

The Plain Yellow Banner was Nurhaci's personal army and had the strongest fighting force. The fact that the enemy sent out their main force as soon as they arrived suggests that they had noticed the abnormality in the Red River Valley and wanted to finish the battle quickly.

But not long after the first scout finished reporting, a third scout practically stumbled in, his voice trembling:

"My lord! Nurhaci's central army has arrived! His yellow dragon flag can be seen from the high ground twenty miles away! Behind him are troops of the bordered blue flag. Roughly estimated, the total strength is at least twenty thousand!"

"Twenty thousand?!"

The guards around him couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

They only had 10,000 men, a huge disparity in strength. If a real battle broke out, they would be no match for them.

Xiong Tingbi raised his hand to signal his personal guards to be quiet, and looked out of the valley.

In the snow and mist, one could vaguely see black dots moving in the distance—the figures of Jurchen scouts. They were cautiously approaching the valley entrance, and the sound of their horses' hooves pounding the snow was exceptionally clear on the silent snowfield.

"It's too late to set up an ambush."

Xiong Tingbi spoke slowly.

The Jurchen forces were at least twice the size of the Ming army, and they were all elite troops who had just won a battle. At this moment, the enemy had already noticed the movement in the Red River Valley, and it was simply unrealistic to try to buy time by ambushing them.

Once Nurhaci orders a strong attack, the mountains and forests on both sides of the valley will be no match for the Eight Banners cavalry's charge, and the 10,000 Ming troops will soon be routed.

How can we delay Nurhaci?
Xiong Tingbi's gaze swept across the valley: the makeshift chevaux-de-frise were only enough to block one side of the valley entrance, the breech-loading cannons had not yet been set up, and although the soldiers were elite, they were outnumbered.

He needed a way to both attract Nurhaci's attention and delay him long enough.

However, time was of the essence. The Jurchen army was only ten miles from the valley entrance, and they didn't have much time left.

"Lord General, shall we retreat?"

The guard couldn't help but make a suggestion.

"Let's retreat towards Fushun, fighting as we go, which should buy us some time."

"No."

Xiong Tingbi shook his head.

“Once we retreat, Nurhaci will realize that we are luring him into a trap. This will only speed up our march. Not only will we be unable to hold him back, but we will also allow him to reach Fushun ahead of time, disrupting our siege plan.”

He dismounted and walked into the snow at the mouth of the valley, surveying his surroundings.

Various solutions flashed through Xiong Tingbi's mind:
Send a small cavalry unit to harass?
The Jurchens had an army of 20,000; small detachments were simply ineffective.

To set the pine forest in the valley ablaze?
The wind direction in the Red River Valley is wrong; the fire will only spread towards the Ming army itself.

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer in the distance. The Jurchen scouts had reached within a hundred meters of the valley entrance and were reining in their horses to observe, clearly confirming the situation inside the valley.

Xiong Tingbi could see the Plain Yellow Banner markings on their armor and even hear their shouts.

Time ticked by, and the soldiers in the valley all looked at Xiong Tingbi with anxious eyes.

Xiong Jinglue, what should we do next? Please give the order!
. . .

PS:

A long chapter of 6800 words! Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets!!!

(End of this chapter)