With the timely rain of bombs, the invading army that had already attacked the city was finally annihilated, and the two long ladders were also ignited, so that the invading army had no way to enter the city.

But the price to pay is also dearly. There were only more than 40 people who went up to the city, but more than 70 defenders and people were injured by the bombs. The number of people killed and wounded by the invading army reached 100.

In fact, the bomb has no fragments and will not cause so much damage. But the defenders and the people were frightened, especially the people, their ears were ringing incessantly, and they shrank in the corner one by one and refused to stand up again. There is no way, Guo Chengdong can only send these psychologically injured people to the city, lest they continue to affect their morale here.

A moment later, the craftsmen brought another batch of bombs. Guo Chengdong did not hesitate at all, and asked his subordinates to throw all these dozens of bombs into the crowd of intruders under the city wall. The rumbling explosion caused a lot of losses to the intruding army, and the soldiers, under the command of the officer, carried the wounded and carried the corpses, and retreated in a hurry.

The defenders and the people at the head of the city shouted with joy when they saw that the thieves had been repulsed. And for the purpose of not wasting ammunition and arrows, Guo Chengdong did not force these soldiers and civilians who were not accurate to launch.

At this time, seeing that his subordinates had retreated, Yuan Zongdi had no choice but to explain to Li Zicheng by himself.

Li Zicheng listened to Yuan Zongdi's words with a cold face, although he was very disappointed, but he also knew that a big city like Nanjing was unlikely to fall in one go.

Before he could speak, Tian Jianxiu frowned and thought about it and said, "It seems that something is wrong." ”

"What's wrong?" Liu Zongmin asked immediately.

Tian Jianxiu explained: "The defenders of Nanjing look like a rabble, but our people can't attack the city wall. Even if there are soldiers in the city, but there is no way to form a breakthrough, this is not like a rabble. Even if Zuo Liangyu and Gao Jie's subordinates defend the city, dozens of our people will not be able to defend a point on the city wall. ”

Yuan Zongdi also said suspiciously: "It makes sense." My men have done a good job of taking the city in a horse-faced position to minimize the threat on both sides. However, the defenders set aside a few long ladders for us to climb the city, and then killed and wounded my men one by one. It's not like a rabble quality. And the use of fire oil and bombs, how do I look a little like Li Yan's style. ”

"Impossible." Liu Zongmin immediately vetoed: "If Li Yan's troops, your people have been in the city for so long, how can it be possible for most of them to withdraw?" It has long been strangled. Besides, Li Yan won't be a shrunken turtle in the city. ”

Tian Jianxiu said uncertainly: "Yes, this really doesn't make sense." ”

"No need to guess." Li Zicheng finally spoke: "Li Yan is still in Jiangbei, plus Zuo Mengeng and Gao Jie have gone to Jiangbei, it is impossible for him to send troops across Jiangnan." Maybe the defenders in the city are not completely rabble, after all, it is the capital of Nanming, and it is not uncommon for some elites to have them. The key is to enter it as soon as possible, take Nanjing, and capture the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Ming Dynasty, so that it can be spread everywhere as it was in the north. ”

Yuan Zongdi said helplessly: "But now there is no support, only the infantry pedaling the long ladder to the city, isn't that letting his brothers go to death?" ”

"Then let's stop for the night." Li Zicheng had no choice but to give in and ordered: "Wait until tomorrow our pier can be built, and then we can let the artillery attack the city first." As long as the artillery at the head of Nanjing is knocked out, the tiger squat cannon can go up to support. At that time, it was much easier to storm the city walls. ”

Their artillery was short of range, and they had to raise their artillery to about the same height as the city wall in order to fire at the guns on the wall at a distance of 400 paces. Now they just hope that the artillery at the head of the city is really operated by those raw melons and eggs, and it will not cause much interference to their artillery.

At this time, it was already dusk, and the battle outside Nanjing for more than half an hour was temporarily over. Guo Chengdong asked Wang Sixi and others to continue to rectify the defense of the city, of course, not only the southern city, but also the other three directions should also be taken care of, to prevent Li Zicheng from changing the direction of attack. At the same time, some of the soldiers and people who were already experienced in Nancheng were transferred to other directions to strengthen the defensive force.

And Li Yan, who was in Kaifeng, finally received the news of Huang Desheng and knew about his self-assertion in Nanjing.

"Nonsense!" After reading Huang Desheng's pigeon letter, Li Zhong frowned and said: "Knowing that Nanjing is not our target, we still have to send people in, isn't this letting these people go to death!" ”

Li Yan was very calm, and said lightly: "It can be regarded as having a heart." Knowing that Nanjing was outside the plan, it was possible that he would not agree to his actions, so he only sent one team of troops. Even if all the members died, there were only about 30 people. But at the same time, he saw the huge role of Nanjing, if we can take Nanjing, it will be more convenient to use troops against Jiangnan in the future, so he sent people to take over Nanjing City. ”

"You agree with him, too?" Li Zhong frowned and asked: "Nanming Zhu Yousong abandoned the city and fled alone, and then Nanming's civil and military generals surrendered to us, do you believe this?" He is alone, even if he has some generals, but without the civil and military affairs of the imperial court, how can he continue to be the emperor? The generals he brought with him were not enough for others to listen to him. ”

Li Yan smiled and said, "What don't you believe." If you have an experience like Luoyang, everyone will be afraid. And this time it was Ma Shiying who took the lead, he almost didn't deal with the entire Jiangnan Shilin, and he fled with the emperor. As for the civil and military relatives of Nanjing City, their family businesses are all in the south, and it is definitely better to surrender to us than to fall into the hands of Li Zicheng. ”

"But, more than 30 people, how much effect can it have?" Li Zhong still shook his head and said: "Those soldiers and generals of Nanming are really not on the stage." ”

Li Yan said casually: "Let them try it, anyway, the loss is not big." Li Zicheng was chased by us all the way, and he should not be fully prepared for the attack on Nanjing. Let Chen Yongfu also work harder, and don't let Li Zicheng attack Nanjing with peace of mind. Let Wei Cheng go to Pukou to meet and prepare more ships. ”

"What about Gao Jie and Zuo Mengeng? Zuo Mengeng has no intention of surrendering. ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "Xu Yong and Gao Jie have already been contacted, so let them contain Zuo Mengeng first, which can be regarded as their vote." ”

"However, if they invite credit, wouldn't we be very passive? It will be a problem for these people to keep their military power in the future. Li Zhong immediately reminded.

Li Yan said confidently: "I won't change our rules." They are all smart people and don't ask for trouble. Even if they wanted to do something, the soldiers would not follow them. Don't worry, let's see if we can take Nanjing. ”

"Okay, I'll get them another batch of ammunition." Li Zhong obeyed Li Yan's decision.

After Li Zhong left, Li Yan instructed Sun Sifu: "You let people from all over the country visit the Jinyi guards everywhere, and if there is something that can be used, absorb it." If it can't be used, all of them will be dismissed, and all localities will pay attention to monitoring and don't let them get into trouble. ”

"Then is Beijing's Jinyiwei also revoked?" Sun Sifu asked in a low voice. Since he decided to stay by Li Yan's side, he has taken on the role of Li Yan's secret agent, and his actions have become more and more low-key and obscure.

Li Yan waved his hand and decided: "Keep it, it's a retirement place." Those who surrender must have a place to settle. ”

"My subordinates understood."

...