Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

A sliver of dawn light appeared on the eastern horizon, revealing the devastation of the post-war landscape.

Huang Degong and Lü Daqi rode side by side, their warhorses' hooves sinking deep into the mud, each step kicking up sticky blood.

On the battlefield, Qing soldiers lay dead everywhere, and their flags lay fallen.

Lu Daqi suddenly reined in his horse, glanced in the direction Bahana had fled, turned to look at Huang Degong, and said in a resolute voice:

"General Huang, immediately organize your troops and act in accordance with the imperial edict and plan. Those who delay will be punished according to military law."

Huang Degong wiped the blood from his face, clasped his hands in greeting, and replied:

"Rest assured, Governor! My soldiers are neither exhausted nor scattered."

He suddenly turned his head.

"Send the order! The wounded soldiers stay behind, the rest change horses, and set off in half an hour."

The command flag swung down from the sky in response, and the two armies merged with a roar, surging eastward.

After repeated battles, the warhorses were foaming at the mouth and the soldiers' armor was soaked with sweat and blood, yet not a single soldier fell behind.

Huang De led 200 light cavalry as the vanguard, with Lü Daqi overseeing the rear.

The iron torrent swept across the battlefield littered with corpses, carrying the stench of blood, and sped eastward.

The sound of horses' hooves rolled across the plains like thunder, leaving long trails of dust in their wake.

Before they knew it, it was noon, and the blazing sun was scorching the bloodstains that had congealed on the armor.

Along the way, amidst the broken walls, charred flags wailed in the wind.

As the sun began to set, the outline of Pingyuan County gradually came into view.

As the dust kicked up by the vanguard cavalry gradually settled, Huang Degong suddenly tightened the reins, and his warhorse reared up and neighed. The fierce general's pupils contracted sharply—

The battlefield, which was expected to be filled with a hail of arrows and deafening battle cries, was now eerily quiet.

On the city tower, the apricot-yellow dragon flag fluttered in the wind, and not a trace of blood could be found on the bluestone slabs of the drawbridge.

"The Governor's Office!"

A guard pointed at the city gate tower, his voice filled with surprise.

Lu Daqi spurred his horse forward and looked in the direction his personal guards pointed.

Zhu Cilang stood atop the city wall, with Gao Jie standing beside him, his hand on his sword.

Jiang Yueguang's troops from Dezhou lined up outside the city, their military bearing solemn and imposing.

There was no war here at all!

Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over the blood-stained armor and military formations of Lü and Huang below the city walls:

"Shi Tingzhu... he's quite composed."

His fingertips unconsciously traced the gilded wristband, his voice flat.

"I originally thought that, given the arrogance of the Bordered White Banner, at least a detachment should be sent to support Bahana."

The two main forces of the White Banners sent by Dorgon to Shandong were commanded by Bahana and Shi Tingzhu respectively, and the two were originally meant to support each other.

The Bahana tribe has now been wiped out in Wucheng.

Zhu Cilang originally thought that Shi Tingzhu would definitely come to meet him, but to Zhu Cilang's surprise, Shi Tingzhu did not move.

Gao Jie let out a cold snort through his nose:

"That old fox has probably smelled something amiss, and is now hiding in Linyi like a tortoise!"

Before the words were even finished, Lü Daqi and Huang Degong had already strode up the city wall.

Lü Daqi strode forward and knelt on one knee:

"Your Majesty, my troops have decisively defeated more than two thousand elite cavalrymen of the Bordered White Banner under Bahana at Wucheng Mountain, and killed the enemy chieftain Turhong in battle."

"The captured armor and flags have been cataloged and are presented for Your Majesty's perusal."

He bowed and handed over the military register, bloodstains flakeing off between the seams of his armor plates.

Huang Degong's throaty voice was shrouded in gunpowder smoke:

"This humble general, following His Majesty's military orders, ambushed and annihilated the remnants of Bahana's forces at Zuowangzhuang, beheading four thousand and erecting a mound of heads."

As soon as he finished speaking, he knelt on one knee and roared.

"Bahana was struck by three arrows and fled to Jinan... This humble general is incompetent and willing to accept punishment!"

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly:

"With his strategic planning, Lü Qing annihilated the enemy cavalry, and his first merit at Wucheng Mountain should be remembered."

A hint of approval flashed in his eyes as he turned to Huang Degong.

"General Huang, with his exhausted troops, beheaded four thousand, and the resulting mound of heads terrified the enemy—this is the kind of fierce warrior I desire, not a criminal general. Please rise quickly!"

After saying this, he looked in the direction of Linyi City, then changed the subject.

"Shi Tingzhu can endure what ordinary people cannot, making him a formidable opponent."

"What brilliant strategies do you gentlemen have to break this trapped beast?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Jie stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"Your Majesty, the Tartars have only one banner of remnants left. The four armies have formed an ironclad encirclement, and the ground shakes wherever their horses tread."

"This humble general commands his men to erect ladders and ram the city gates; today is the day we breach the city!"

"Gao Yaozi is right!"

Huang Degong's rough laughter exploded beside him.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"This humble general has prepared ten Hongyi cannons. As long as we bombard the city gate for two hours, we will make that old dog Shi Tingzhu crawl out on his knees."

Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over Gao Jie's restlessness and Huang Degong's ferocity. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, before speaking:

"The generals deserve praise for their spirit, but as Sun Tzu said, 'The skillful strategist brings the enemy to his own ends, not the other way around.' I intend to starve this Liaodong wolf to death, achieving complete victory with minimal bloodshed."

After a brief pause, having made up his mind, his voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"Issue the decree! The four armies shall immediately advance on Linyi. Anyone who initiates hostilities without my order shall be executed!"

"Your humble servant obeys!"

The generals responded in unison, their voices echoing through the city walls.

Zhu Cilang's orders were as firm as mountains, and the four armies immediately set off, the dust they kicked up instantly engulfing the sky and earth.

Along the official road stretching for dozens of miles from Pingyuan to Linyi, countless flying iron hooves, rolling wheels, and swift leather boots formed a roaring earthen dragon.

The rumbling sound shook the horizon, and it rushed towards Linyi City.

As the sunset faded and dusk settled, the army arrived at Linyi City.

The Ming army moved swiftly, and their camps spread like wildfire, quickly dotting the area outside the city.

Huang Degong set up camp west of the city;

Lü Daqi guarded the east side of the city;

Gao Jie's troops lined up south of the city.

Surrounded by iron walls on three sides, only the north side of the city has an empty passage leading directly north.

Jiang Yueguang's 5,000 Dezhou soldiers were stationed on the western outskirts of the city, ready to support all sides at any time.

As dusk fell, the faint neighing of horses from the four armies could be heard.

Fires flickered outside the city, and camps were scattered like stars.

Inside the city, all was silent, except for the flickering torches on the city walls, which illuminated the stern faces of the guards.

......

At dawn the next day, the morning light pierced the indigo sky.

Zhu Cilang, clad in black armor, had already stepped onto the high slope, with his generals standing silently behind him.

As the morning mist gradually dissipated, the outline of the city wall became clearly visible.

He squinted—the stone wall was small but sturdy.

Shift your gaze downwards—

The moat, which should be full of water in summer, is now only stagnant water less than half a meter deep, with cracked silt at the bottom.

The connecting streams had large sections of exposed riverbeds covered in hardened silt, leaving only a thin, murky stream still flowing.

"Your Majesty, although Linyi is small, its city walls are strong and its fortifications are thick."

Jiang Yueguang pointed to the riverbed.

"In my humble opinion, it would be better to besiege the city for three months. Once the city's food supplies are exhausted, it will fall on its own without a fight."

Upon hearing this, Huang Degong's voice boomed like thunder:

"Your Majesty! Cutting flesh with a dull knife is the most humiliating thing!"

"My men have just killed four thousand Tartars, and their eyes are bloodshot."

He said urgently,

"The ten cannons under my command have had their protective covers removed, and the ladder-laying crew has all changed into double-layered cotton armor."

"As soon as His Majesty utters the word, the Stone Banner will surely fall from the city walls within three days!"

Zhu Cilang did not respond immediately. His gaze swept over the city walls and riverbed of Linyi again, his eyelids suddenly closing as his mind raced:

"The city walls were built of stone, the moat dried up, and the river stopped flowing."

A moment later, he abruptly turned around, his armor gleaming, his voice resolute:

"A siege of three months could lead to unforeseen complications. The stone city of Linyi will undoubtedly fall within three days."