In fact, in the half hour that Wu Zheng stopped shelling, Liao Zhongping's troops had already launched a strong attack on the western city wall, and the Ming army had quickly broken through a short section of the city wall.

It's just that the resistance of the Qing army was also very tenacious, and it was unable to expand the results for a while.

And in this half an hour, when the Qing army in Dongcheng learned that Xicheng was attacked by the Ming army, and in an emergency, they mobilized troops to reinforce Xicheng, which happened to be seen by Sun Jiaji.

Wu Zheng reacted in time and immediately ordered the cannon to be fired.

This cannon not only gave Liao Zhongping confidence, but also increased the morale of the Ming army besieging the city, on the contrary, the morale of the Qing army dropped greatly.

The Qing army's obsession with artillery was far above that of the Ming army.

After the Battle of Ningyuan, the Qing court's investment in artillery research and development was far greater than that of the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, the result is also very clear, before the death of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing army entrenched outside the pass already had more than 80 self-made and improved Hongyi (Qing people taboo Yizi) cannons, which could reach a range of ten miles.

Just think about it, Kong Youde surrendered to the Manchu Qing Dynasty with more than 3,000 war horses, more than 20 red-coated cannons, and more than 300 Western cannons, and he could be exchanged for Huang Taiji's 30 miles to greet him, which shows the importance that the Qing court attaches to artillery.

However, in the past ten years, due to financial embarrassment and insufficient strategic understanding of artillery, the Ming court imitated the rapid-fire guns of Western Europe on the one hand, and on the other hand, did not have the financial resources to develop more powerful Hongyi cannons, resulting in the stagnation of artillery technology.

At this time, the Ming army was still equipped with the iron fire system (the firing range was about three miles, and it was often exploded) and the imitation Hongyi cannon (more than ten years ago, the firing range was seven or eight miles) during the Ningyuan War.

In this comparison, the advantages and disadvantages are obvious, the Qing army can attack the Ming army at a distance of ten miles, while the Ming army can only be beaten.

The most critical thing is that at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming army has been in the strategic defense, building key passes, rebuilding the Ming Great Wall, and the artillery is fixed.

But at this time, the Qing army heard the rumbling artillery from Dongcheng again, and knew that the battle in Xicheng was still continuing, which showed that it was difficult for the defenders of Xicheng to effectively reinforce themselves, how could their morale not drop?

The Qing army began to retreat, and more and more areas of the western city wall were occupied by the Ming army.

Quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes, and in less than half an hour, Xicheng completely fell into the hands of Liao Zhongping.

It is advisable to chase after Yu Kou bravely!

Liao Zhongping gave the order to pursue, and thousands of Ming troops launched a pursuit of the Qing army that fled eastward.

The rout of the Qing army in the east city was not much later than that in the west city.

The Ming army's second attack disrupted the Qing army's defenses.

Some of the Qing troops that had already been dispatched could only return quickly, and the city gate was pierced by artillery again, and the chaos can be imagined.

And Wu Zheng resolutely issued a general attack order this time, "At all costs!" ”

These six words were understood by the soldiers.

Such a good opportunity, even if you are a big soldier, you know what is at stake.

When the Ming army poured into the city gate like a tide, the Qing army retreated.

Like chasing ducks, the Ming army on the east and west drove the Qing army to the center of the city, and then squeezed hard.

As the two Qing armies converged in the city, the Qing army invariably chose to break through to the south gate.

Because in their hearts, they were still afraid of the cavalry of Song An in Beicheng.

Once bitten by a snake, he was afraid of the well rope for ten years.

This choice completely buried this Qing army.

In fact, the battle was not long, and the Qing army was not more than half lost, and the Qing army that broke through to the south gate still had 4 or 5,000 people.

When Liao Zhongping saw Wu Zheng in the city, this honest man shed tears.

He knelt down on one knee and saluted: "God bless, the public security of the town is good!" ”

Wu Zheng was stunned, until he saw Liao Zhongping, he always thought that it was Song An who commanded the Ming army.

Seeing Liao Zhongping, Wu Zheng had to ask, "Why is Song An not here?" ”

Liao Zhongping replied: "Deputy Commander Song led the cavalry out of the city half a day earlier than the last general, and the last general is also wondering why he went to Zhenjiang West City, but there is no trace of him. ”

Wu Zheng's face became solemn, he was not worried that Song An would betray him, but worried about the safety of Song An and the cavalry.

But now is not the time to be entangled, the Qing army broke through to the south, which will inevitably endanger the safety of Danyang, where it is an empty city plan, only hundreds of wounded soldiers and Xia Wanchun, who is bedridden to recuperate.

Wu Zheng immediately ordered, "General Lao Liao led his troops to pursue and defeat the enemy, and they must not be allowed to attack Danyang." ”

"Whoa!"

……。

In Jiangdu City, Hong Chengchou is still deploying troops.

He was waiting for the arrival of 80,000 Qing troops in Xuzhou.

In his opinion, the time is in time.

Starting from Xuzhou, two days as fast, three days as late, as soon as the army arrives, you can Taishan press the top of the momentum, and level the south of the Yangtze River.

What I have to do is to let the Jiangbei Qing army protect the fruits that have been obtained.

This should not be difficult, after the Ming army lost 20,000 troops in Yizhen, there are not many mobile troops from Yingtianfu to Zhenjiang Mansion.

And the Qing army still has 50,000 people, occupying Zhenjiang City, and it should be no problem to hold on.

At this time, Hong Chengchou's energy was still on the sailor who broke into Jiangbei and rescued the remnants of the Yi Zhenming Army.

It was reported that they were less than fifty miles close to Jiangdu.

After Hong Chengchou learned about it, although he was shocked, he was not afraid.

Jiangdu City is also an important town, and there are still 6,000 defenders in the city, so it is naturally not a problem to hold on.

Hong Chengchou has this self-confidence, especially after gaining control of the Qing army in the city, he is even more confident.

But he forgot that what he was facing now was no longer the Ming army in his memory.

It's a tiger wolf army that wants to rob Jiangdu.

Among them, there is also a Qian Sudian who wants to avenge the 20,000 heroic souls of Yizhen.

The 10,000 sailors were divided into two outside the Jiangdu City, and Wang Yilin led one and handed over the command of the other to Qian Sudian.

Two armies, one west and one south, are like two torrents rushing to Jiangdu.

This battle was the longest battle of the campaign, and it lasted for two days and one night.

Whether it was the Ming army or the Qing army, they all fought out bloody, and the soldiers on both sides showed their martial bravery to each other on the two city walls.

I have to say that the combat power of the Eight Banners Army at this time is really strong.

In the face of the 10,000 Ming army, which was superior in numbers, they did not show a trace of timidity.

Of course, this Ming army was a naval division, and the Qing army occupied the advantage of city defense.

But no one will bother with these in battle, victory is victory, defeat is defeat.

If it weren't for the news that the 3,000 Qing troops who withdrew from Zhenjiang came with the news that Zhenjiang City was lost, maybe the battle would not have ended immediately, Hong Chengchou also fought bloodily, although he did not directly participate in the battle (let him participate in the war, it was impossible), but still ignored the arrows, stood in the south gate tower to inspire the defenders.

Hong Chengchou understands very well that if Jiangdu is lost, then Yangzhou is in danger.

When that time comes, I'm afraid that I will have no shame to go back to see the little emperor Fulin.