Griffin Commander in the Late Ming Dynasty

A violent explosion sounded at the gate of the courtyard. The guards near the gate were hit by grenade fragments on the spot. The smoke and dust raised by the violent explosion made the alley gray.

"There are really people who fall for this kind of trick..." He stood up slowly, opened the gate, and looked at the soldiers who were staggering around because of the explosion of the booby trap in the next yard. The executioner rushed up without saying a word and started killing them all.

This trap was set by M16. A righteous berserker like her always rushes in directly and openly, with absolutely no shady dealings!

The rebels were so stunned by the explosion that they could hardly put up any effective resistance. They were killed one by one by the executioner's sword and gun. They were killed like leeks.

However, Tokyo here also attracted the attention of the surrounding troops: "Over there!!! Someone come quickly!!"

"Prince Zhu is here!!!"

"Catch the prince of Zhu family! Reward of 1,000 taels of silver!!!"

The executioner stood in the middle of the road, laughing wildly: "Hahahaha, come on! Let's start the fight!!!"

Volume 402: Chapter Chapter : The Fall of Liaodong

In the thirteenth year of Chongzhen...oh no, in the first month of the first year of Dashun, the area fifty miles outside Shenyang City was filled with Qing army camps, especially on the Qipan Mountain in the northeast, where flags were fluttering. The vast camps and flags seemed to have no end. At this time, Huang Taiji's camp was stationed here.

After being beaten up by Jiang Han when entering the pass, Huang Taiji made a decision in desperation that he could not just let it go and must stop the loss in time. Now that Jizhou is empty, we only need to make a false move with Dashun, and then take Jizhou fiercely! We can wipe out the previous decline!

Outside the Qing army's central tent were elite Gebushixian and Bayala soldiers wearing yellow cotton armor. They were the vanguard battalion and guards of the Qing Emperor Dorgon.

The central army tent was packed with Qing princes and ministers. In addition to Dorgon, there were also banner leaders such as Lai Mubu, Fei Yangguo, Jirgalang, Suksaha, and Oboi, as well as officials from the six ministries, inner court scholars Ning Wanwo and Bao Chengxian, and several Korean banner leaders.

"God really helps the Qing Dynasty!"

Upon learning that the Dashun Army had captured Beijing and was preparing to march south to unify the world, Huang Taiji was extremely excited. He was shaking like a black hole King with the intelligence in his hands. If it weren't for his headache, he would have jumped on the spot.

The new chief traitor Ning Wanwo came up and offered his congratulations, saying, "I congratulate Your Majesty. Congratulations Your Majesty. The chaos in the Central Plains right now is a great opportunity for the rise of the Qing Dynasty!"

Huang Taiji smiled and asked, "What is Mr. Ning's opinion?"

Ning Wanwo bowed his head and replied, "While the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman benefits! The Central Plains is now being fought over by Shun, Ming, and Jiang. All we need to do is sit back and watch the fight. When both of them are defeated, we can enter the pass and pacify the Central Plains in one fell swoop!"

Bao Chengxian said, "I am worried that the bandits are no match for Jiang Han. If they are destroyed, the Qing Dynasty will have to face Jiang Han's army again."

Everyone in the hall was startled. Under the current circumstances, this was obviously something that was likely to happen.

Compared with the bandits, the Eight Banners generals were more afraid of Jiang Han's army. The shadow of the previous battle with the enemy still lingered in their hearts for a long time. The monsters in the enemy's lineup, like demons, made everyone who fought against them feel scared.

Several Korean generals could not understand what these Manchurian uncles were talking about, so they could only stand like minions and wait silently for orders.

Huang Taiji pondered and said, "Mr. Bao's concerns are reasonable, but it's a pity that the Ming army is unwilling to let us enter the pass..."

Huang Taiji wrote many letters personally to persuade Wu Sangui, Zu Dashou and other Liaodong generals to surrender, and the conditions he offered were very generous. However, they were still waiting. Zu Dashou had even been in contact with the Shun army. Could it be that he was still ready to accept Li Zicheng's surrender?

Bao Chengxian said: "I suggest that while we sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, my Qing army will take the opportunity to capture Jizhou, and then march into the entire Liaodong, control everything within Shanhaiguan, and seize the initiative!"

Huang Taiji nodded and said, "As long as we capture Jizhou, my Qing army will march south. I believe the Wu and Zu families will understand."

His face suddenly turned gloomy, and he said, "If they still refuse to surrender, we will have to kill them completely, especially Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou. This guy must not be allowed back to the Central Plains!"

In the end, Huang Taiji followed Bao Chengxian's advice and attacked Jizhou with all his strength. He once again sent officials from the Ministry of Rites to Jizhou to persuade Hong Chengchou to surrender. If Hong Chengchou still refused to surrender, he would try his best to break the city.

The Eight Banners Army besieged the city for more than two months but failed to capture Jizhou. It was not because Hong Chengchou had strong defenses, but because Dorgon, who was mainly responsible for the combat, was envious of his talent and did not try his best. After all, Zu Dashou, Wu Sangui and others did not go to rescue, and Hong Chengchou's soldiers were trapped with no food and it was difficult for them to hold on.

Dorgon was different from most of the Manchu nobles. Others would loot gold, silver and treasures after breaking into the city, but he was only interested in people, whether men or women, especially those with a skill.

He had no ability before, but now, after his brothers were beaten up one after another by Jiang Han, he has become the most capable fighter under Huang Taiji. So now Dorgon has to put the matter of cultivating his own strength on the agenda.

In the Liaodong War a few years ago, Hong Chengchou stubbornly defended the small Xiping Fort. Hearing that he had served as the governor of three borders in the Central Plains, Dorgon became very interested in him. If this man joins my army, what will happen to Huang Taiji? I will definitely take this throne!

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, the Eight Banners Army, like ants and locusts, climbed up the walls of Jizhou city one after another. Some Korean Eight Banners soldiers shouting with foreign accents also desperately climbed the ladders.

The red cannons on the top of Jiyang City had long run out of ammunition and became mute. Even the city defense equipment such as rolling logs and kerosene were pitifully scarce. The only thing left was an endless supply of gold juice. Even due to the lack of poisons such as arsenic, the composition of the gold juice became very pure.

Dozens of ladders were concentrated at the north city wall. Under the protection of protective plates, the Korean soldiers climbed up the city wall one after another using the ladders, and soon the north city wall of Jizhou fell into chaos.

Suddenly, with a large amount of flames rising, a raging fire suddenly broke out on the north city wall, and the Ming and Qing troops on the wall were swallowed up by the fire snake in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the raging fire that suddenly broke out, Dorgon felt his lips dry. He never expected that Hong Chengchou was so cruel that he set fire to burn everyone to death without caring about the lives of his own soldiers.

"He's a ruthless guy! Not bad!"

Dorgon's love for Hong Chengchou grew deeper and deeper. He issued an order: "Pass on my military order. Anyone who captures Hong Chengchou alive will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold!"

With a reward of one thousand taels of gold, not only the Han and Chao banners in the attacking army were bloodthirsty, but even the Manchu eight banners soldiers were eager to charge into the battle. However, due to military orders, they had to follow behind them. After all, seven or eight out of ten infantrymen attacking the city were cannon fodder, and most of them died on the way to the city.

All the ladders were carried out, and the Eight Banners Army rushed to the north wall. The defenders of the north wall of Jizhou did not expect that after the success of the fire plan, the enemy fought even more fiercely. How come you Tartars all have the characteristic of fierce fire?

The Qing army attacked the city wall in one go, which was far beyond Hong Chengchou's expectations. According to expectations, after the Qing army was suddenly attacked by fire, its offensive should have been blocked and it should have shown signs of decline, and Hong Chengchou could have had a chance to catch his breath. However, the opposite happened. The Qing army had the characteristic of fierce fire, so it would be better not to burn at all. Who could withstand this?

His own soldiers had been led by him to travel all over the country and were already exhausted. When they finally returned, they were besieged by the Qing army. What a waste of time!

In front of the tower, Zuo Guangxian, the general of Jizhou, urged again: "Governor, we can't hold on any longer in front of us, let's break out quickly!"

A flash of despair flashed through Hong Chengchou's mind, but he quickly calmed down and made up his mind: "Draw your sword, follow me to the city to kill the enemy!"

As he spoke, he drew out his goose-feather knife, and with great speed, he rushed up to the city wall.

Zuo Guangxian's eyes were full of admiration, while Yao Gong, the military governor beside him, had bitter eyes. "I'm a civil servant, so it's ok for you to ask me for advice, but you want me to risk my life with a body that makes me gasp for breath after climbing the city wall. Aren't you trying to kill me?"

On the northern wall of Ji Yang, goose-feather swords were wielded and the sound of killing shook the sky.

The Yanling Sword has a straight blade with a curved tip and a reverse edge. It is named after its shape which resembles a goose feather. It was very popular in the Ming Dynasty and was worn by both officials and soldiers.

The goose-feather knife in Hong Chengchou's hand was specially made. Unlike the standard military knives of ordinary Ming army soldiers, it was tough and sharp, and could cut iron like mud. When he waved it around randomly, blood and flesh flew everywhere.

After Hong Chengchou killed several Tartars in succession, he found that he was killing too fiercely and was getting farther and farther away from the guards around him, and was gradually surrounded...

Several steel knives came at him at the same time, and Hong Chengchou was horrified and subconsciously raised his knife to block. Even though the slender version of the "Dragon Slaying Sword" in his hand was sharp, a good tiger could not fight against a pack of wolves, not to mention that the Tartars were big and strong with amazing strength. Hong Chengchou's hasty attempts to stop them could not withstand the powerful attack of several Tartar masters.

"KENG!" There was a sound of metal colliding. Hong Chengchou groaned. The sound of metal colliding seemed to be in his ears. He felt his whole body tremble and his arms were numb. His right hand loosened involuntarily, and the Yanling Knife flew away.

"The Bayala soldiers are so terrifying!"

Damn it, is the Fierce Fire characteristic so strong? Can't you give me a Torrent or something? We are all from the three major families, how can you favor one over the other? Hong Chengchou's heart sank instantly. He was unwilling to surrender and be killed. In a hurry, he lay down and rolled over to avoid the fatal blow.

Several steel knives missed their targets and smashed into the rammed earth walls that were as hard as rocks.

The eyes of several Bayala soldiers were all bright. Damn, this young man is really capable. He might be a high-ranking official! If it was Hong Chengchou, the governor of Ji and Liao, then they would make a fortune. How could they give up? They hurriedly followed.

"A thousand taels of gold, where are you going!"

Hearing several Tartars chasing him in broken Chinese, Hong Chengchou panicked and groped for a steel knife among the pile of corpses on the ground. He then used all his strength to chop at the pairs of calves that were running towards him.

"what!"

In an instant, several Tartar masters screamed and blood splattered everywhere, splashing Hong Chengchou's face. He had no time to check whether he was injured, and he used the undead fighting method to roll towards the place where there were more Ming troops.

Unexpectedly, several more large steel knives came chopping down, and Hong Chengchou was horrified. At this time, his rolling momentum was gradually weakening, and his physical strength bar was empty. He could no longer resist. He sighed unwillingly in his heart and had to close his eyes and wait for death.

"Keng!"

In a flash, Hong Chengchou felt his legs tighten and his whole body was pulled violently. He suddenly opened his eyes, only to find that it was Jizhou deputy general Rao Xun who arrived in time and pulled him back.

Hong Chengchou, who escaped death, couldn't help but burst into tears. The feeling of surviving a disaster was so comfortable. He looked at his deputy general Rao Xun who fought bravely against the enemy, and felt even more grateful.

There was a shouting in Manchu from the Tartars, and more desperate cries of killing were heard from the city wall. A large number of Manchu Eight Banners soldiers climbed onto the top of the city wall.

The close combat of the Manchu Eight Banners soldiers was by no means comparable to that of the Han Eight Banners soldiers. The already exhausted Ming soldiers on the city wall were immediately on the verge of collapse when faced with the sudden increase in pressure.

"Governor, go!"

Zuo Guangxian, the general of Jizhou, arrived with a group of personal soldiers. He did not ask Hong Chengchou for instructions anymore. He just carried Hong Chengchou on his back and ran towards the city. Hong Chengchou, who was lying on Zuo Guangxian's back, was heartbroken and shouted loudly: "Put me down! Zuo Guangxian, I order you to put me down!"

Zuo Guangxian was not willing to let him go. He knew very well that the battle in Jizhou was irreversible and the fall of the city was a matter of time. The governor was the commander of Liaodong in the Ming Dynasty. As his confidant for many years, how could he watch his elder brother fall into the hands of the Qing army?

Seeing that the general fled the battlefield with the governor on his back, Shangguan Durun was delighted. The soldiers defending the northern city of Jizhou no longer had the heart to fight the Qing army. They scattered like birds and beasts, and the morale that had been maintained for many days was instantly wiped out.

Because Dorgon sent out the elite soldiers of the Eight Banners at all costs, after the battle with Jiang Han, only four out of ten of the Eight Banners soldiers survived, and the rest were all precious treasures. Dorgon really spent a lot of money to send them out to attack the city, and this move was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. The defense line of the north city collapsed in an instant, and as a large number of Qing troops poured into the city, the victory was decided.

The Yellow Dragon Flag of the Eight Banners Army was soon planted on the enemy tower in the northern city of Jizhou, fluttering in the wind.

Huang Taiji, who was three miles away from the Shenyang city wall, saw the yellow dragon flag hoisted on the top of the city wall. A huge stone in his heart finally fell to the ground, and he was filled with ecstasy.

In front of the three armies, under a yellow umbrella, Huang Taiji, wearing gilded armor, rode his horse around twice and shouted: "Several years ago, our army was defeated here, but this year, we are making a comeback. I, Huang Taiji, am not trying to prove that I am better than others! I must take back what I lost with my own hands! From today on, my Qing Dynasty will surely become the common ruler of the world!!"

"Long live the emperor, the Qing Dynasty will win!"

"Huangshang is completely shattered, and Tartar Qing is forced to live!"

The surrounding Qing princes and ministers sang praises loudly, and the Korean Eight Banners generals who spoke only half of the Chinese language were also shouting.

The northern city of Jizhou was broken, and the eastern and western cities fell one after another. Under this circumstance, the resistance of the remaining Ming army in the city was unexpectedly tenacious. Shenyang Deputy General Rao Xun still led his troops to fight a desperate battle with the Qing army.

Ajige and other leaders of the Eight Manchu Banners were naturally reluctant to send their own soldiers to fight, so the Eight Korean Banners raised by their stepmother had to take over.

Under the stern gaze of Dorgon, the leader of the Plain Yellow Banner of the Eight Banners of Korea had no choice but to bite the bullet and lead his men to charge forward.

At present, the Eight Banners Army of the Qing Dynasty is divided into Manchu, Mongolian, Han, Korean, and Korean levels. The status of the Eight Banners soldiers is much lower than that of the Han Eight Banners soldiers, and their equipment is the worst. They serve as cannon fodder, pure consumables. Their overall combat effectiveness is incomparable to that of the Manchu Eight Banners. As a result, as one group dies, another group rushes forward.

The city of Shenyang was littered with corpses of the Eight Banners Army and the Ming Army. The last remaining Ming Army fought and retreated all the way to the South Gate, but there was no way to retreat.

Until the Eight Banners Army escorted Huang Taiji into the city, this group of Ming troops had not been destroyed and fought to the death without surrendering.

"I thought my Eight Banners Army was invincible, but I didn't expect there would be such a talented person. Whose general is this?"

The tenacity of the Ming army aroused the interest of Huang Taiji, and he personally went to the Nanmen battlefield to watch the battle.

At this time, at the South Gate, the black mass of the Eight Banners Army surrounded the Ming army, forming eight layers of siege, and none of them dared to move forward.

"Kill that Ming general, and be promoted two levels. This Zhang Jing..."

Among the Eight Banners Army, a Jiala Zhangjing shouted, but the shouting stopped abruptly, and a stream of blood splashed all over the face of a bannerman nearby.

Among the remnants of the Ming army, Shenyang Deputy General Rao Xun was seen holding a strong bow. Although he looked a little tired, he was still as brave as ever.

Rao Xun roared with a ferocious look on his face: "Who else? Come on if you are not afraid of death!"

The Eight Banners Army suddenly fell silent, and everyone couldn't help but retreat.

A flag owner not far away was furious. You dare to kill me, a Jiala Zhangjing? He immediately ordered: "Pass the order, kill this general at all costs. Anyone who takes a step back will be executed immediately!"

After the military order was issued, the Eight Banners Army finally rushed forward without hesitation.

After another half hour of fierce fighting, the Ming army had suffered almost all casualties, with only a dozen servants and guards left.

Rao Xun clenched the bent goose-feather knife in his right hand, his heart was beating fast, he let out a long roar towards the sky, and swung the goose-feather knife quickly. Blood spurted out from his neck several feet away, and his tall body fell to the ground with a bang. He would rather commit suicide than die at the hands of the enemy.

A dozen or so servants and guards around him also committed suicide by slashing their own swords and lay together with their general.

Seeing this ferocious Ming general suffocating to death, the Eight Banners Army in front still did not dare to step forward to cut off his head, for fear that he would suddenly attack and hurt others.

Huang Taiji on the tower watched for a long time, and suddenly roared: "Why do these loyal ministers and generals of the Ming Dynasty prefer death to surrender to the Qing Dynasty?"

It has been nearly 30 years since Taizu Nurhaci started his rebellion against the Ming Dynasty. The Eight Banners Army has fought with the Ming Army no less than a hundred times and went south to enter the pass several times. They encountered a lot of surrendered officials and generals, but they also killed countless Ming army generals and local officials. In order to bribe Zu Dashou, Huang Taiji was like a dog. Even though he was so enthusiastic, Zu Dashou still refused to agree to him.

It was these civil servants and military generals who would rather die than surrender that the Eight Banners Army had to completely wipe them out in order to destroy the Ming Dynasty's will to resist.

But as an emperor, Huang Taiji wished that his subjects were as loyal as those people.

There was silence all around. Grand Secretary Ning Wanwo walked out and said with a forced smile, "Your Majesty, a wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in. They are ignorant of current affairs and will eventually become dust in history. They will only be an obscure name in history books..."

Huang Taiji's headache became more severe, and he shouted, "Shut up, retreat!"

Ning Wanwo's face turned pale with fright in an instant, and he remained silent, not daring to say another word, and quickly retreated.

Seeing a group of people around him secretly glancing at him, Huang Taiji sighed and said, "Let's bury these loyal ministers and righteous men of the Ming Dynasty properly."

He also figured it out. Without these rare and treacherous people around him, the Qing Dynasty would not be what it is today. He would probably still be hiding in the mountains hunting and fishing, watching Siberian tigers and blind bears grinning.

Huang Taiji was depressed for a while, then thought that it was no good and he had to cut his losses in time. He asked Suksaha beside him, "Where is Hong Chengchou? Why haven't they been captured?"

Suksaha had been taken away from Dorgon by Huang Taiji. Dorgon was so angry that his teeth were itching. He secretly made up his mind, "You bastard, if I don't kill you, then I am your son."

Suksaha quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Hong Chengchou was rescued by the Ming general Zuo Guangxian. I don't know where he is hiding. I have sent people to look for him."

Huang Taiji nodded. Shenyang was surrounded like an iron barrel, and there was no sign of Ming troops breaking out. Hong Chengchou must still be in the city.

He said, "Strictly order all the generals to capture Hong Chengchou alive. The reward is still one thousand taels of gold. If anyone kills him, he must die for him!"

Although the generals of the Eight Banners were dissatisfied, they quickly conveyed the military order and sent people to make announcements in the city to search the entire city for Hong Chengchou.

At this time, Zuo Guangxian had already hidden in a private house in the south of the city with Hong Chengchou on his back, and he was accompanied by officials such as Yao Gong, the military governor, and Wang Sanzhen.

Unable to escape from the city, calls for surrender from the surrounding Qing troops could be heard from time to time. The atmosphere of despair spread in everyone's heart. Hong Chengchou also fell into deep despair. At this moment, he missed his wife and children at home very much.

He glanced at Zuo Guangxian who was dozing off while sitting cross-legged beside him. This old subordinate of Hong Bing had been protecting him the whole time and must be exhausted from running all the way.

Listening to the faint snoring sounds beside him, Hong Chengchou also felt sleepy. His eyelids gradually became heavy and he fell asleep with his eyes slightly closed.

"The Governor of Ji-Liao, Hong Chengchou, is here. I captured him alive!"

A loud shout woke up everyone in the yard. Hong Chengchou woke up suddenly and felt a coldness on his neck. Yao Gong, the military governor, was holding a goose-feather knife against his neck.