They hadn't rested for a moment when they heard shouts outside the city. When they looked up, they found another group of Li Zicheng's subordinates rushing over with a long ladder. However, this time there were not many infantry, only two or three hundred, because the number of troops under the city was sufficient, and there was no need to continue to increase.

However, the situation at the head of the city is much better now than when it was attacked for the first time just now, and those timid soldiers and Minzhuang are not much frightened at this time, and most of them have calmed down. And some of the bold ones seem to have adapted to the war, and they are still discussing together how much reward they can receive this time. Although the reward has not yet been received, before going to the city today, they have received the full amount of money and food, and they have no worries about the follow-up reward.

Wang Sixi said to Guo Chengdong: "General Guo, let's get the oil ready, don't be too late for a while, you're in a hurry." ”

Guo Chengdong said: "You can prepare, but don't do it yet." If you want to let these guys see blood, our reinforcements don't know when they will arrive, so we must be prepared to hold on for a long time. ”

Ouyang Yun asked in a low voice, "No, General, what did General Huang tell you?" Didn't you say that we should just hold on for three or five days? ”

"Nanjing is not in our plan, and even if we change the plan, it will take time. Moreover, Nanjing's stakes are very high, and it may affect the entire war situation. Li Zicheng and Remnant Ming will not give up easily, and even Zhang Xianzhong may come to fight, so you have to prepare well. Guo Chengdong said slowly.

"Lie @ grass!" Ouyang Yun roared angrily: "You're going to trick us here?!" Why?! You are all a general, and a general military officer will definitely be indispensable in the future, and you will still use it to take this risk?! Besides, what are you doing by pulling us in?! ”

At this time, the surrounding soldiers and Minzhuang all looked at them in shock, not knowing what was happening.

"Shut up!" Guo Chengdong shouted in a low voice: "Now the enemy is now, defend the city first!" Rest of the story, more on that later! ”

Ouyang Yun finally has some sense, if these soldiers and civilians know their contradictions, and it affects the morale of the soldiers defending the city, then Nanjing will definitely not be able to hold it. Others can surrender, but these people will surely die. Their creed is that they would rather die than surrender, and even if they can be captured and taken prisoner, the enemy may not have much patience to keep them all the time.

He lowered his voice and said viciously: "I'm afraid there is nothing to do!" Do you think that with the thirty or so of us, plus these guys who have never been in battle, we can hold on for a few days?! If Li Zicheng attacked by force, these guys would not be able to hold out for three days. If you dig a tunnel to blow up the city wall, it will only be a matter of seven or eight days. ”

Guo Chengdong said calmly: "Wealth is in danger. As long as we can keep it this time, we will be a great achievement. I won't talk about it, a few of you, with this credit, how can you be promoted to three levels in a row. I have heard that the Generalissimo will ascend the throne at the beginning of the year, and that he will reward those who have made meritorious contributions. If you don't have this credit, you won't have any chance of promotion. You are willing to work in the army for a lifetime, but you can only stop at the junior officers? In fact, you don't have to worry too much, even if the marshal doesn't agree, General Huang will bring the troops over. As long as we hold on for six days, as long as we are alive, General Huang will come to take us out. ”

Wang Sixi finally confirmed with concern: "Are you sure?" General Huang will definitely cross the river? ”

"Sure." Guo Chengdong nodded and replied with great certainty: "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come." ”

Wang Sixi and Ouyang Yun are more down-to-earth at this time, at least they don't have to die, as long as they can hold on for six days, they have hope of going back alive. And Guo Chengdong is uncertain, he is not sure whether Huang Desheng can really come to meet them, after all, they are only about 30 people, and they will not lose much if they give up.

At this time, Li Zicheng's troops under the city finally put the long ladder on the city wall again, and there were more than a dozen. Fortunately, the Li Chuang soldiers under the city did not withdraw, so they did not fire feather arrows at the city wall. Otherwise, I don't know how many casualties will be caused to the soldiers of the Beijing battalion and the people.

By this time, the soldiers had carried the fire canister to the vicinity of the ladder, but did not light it. Guo Chengdong's subordinates arrived nearby and bewitched the soldiers and civilians around them: "Brothers, it's time to get the reward." They all opened their eyes wide and watched the movements of the thieves. Wait for them to come up, cooperate together, and easily pick them down. The more you kill, the more silver you can get, don't save money for officials and those rich merchants. ”

Both the Beijing battalion and the people were mobilized. They also saw that the fire pot had been moved, and they also had confidence in their hearts, even if they couldn't cope with it, they could destroy the enemy's siege ladder and make it impossible for the enemy to come up.

"Take the silver reward!"

"Kill, thirty taels of one, don't take it for nothing!"

……

The soldiers and civilians shouted in a chaotic manner, but the excitement and ruthlessness were all expressed.

At this time, the axe men were holding the handle of the axe, crouching behind the sandbags, staring in the direction of the battlement. As soon as he saw the thief show his head, he stood up and slashed at the thief. Thieves usually parry with shields or short knives, but at the same time they will stab two spears from the sides, leaving them helpless. If they can dodge, then another spear or stick will come from the front and stab them to death or go down the ladder.

All of a sudden, a scream rang out over the city. Either the thieves were stabbed to death with a wail, or they were pushed down from the city and screamed in terror. The corpse fell like a dumpling and landed on the ground with a muffled thumping sound.

At this time, Mu Jiuchou led people to carry more than 30 large wooden frames, and there were round mud balls with leads inside, which were ten thousand enemies.

Guo Chengdong immediately ordered: "Throw it near the long ladder and let the soldiers rest." ”

After receiving the order, Mu Jiuchou ordered to go down, and these soldiers carried 10,000 enemies to the vicinity of the various long ladders. After they lit the fuse, they pushed the wooden frame down the wall. The wooden frame was shattered after it hit the ground, but the mud ball inside remained intact. When the fuse burns out, flames erupt from the fuse hole. It's filled with sulfur, so it won't explode. The flames would spin the ball of mud, and the flames would shoot in all directions, burning or forcing the soldiers around the ladder to retreat.

There are also 10,000 enemies with poisonous substances in them, and what comes out of the ignition hole is poisonous smoke. Although this level of smoke may not be very toxic, the fear of poisonous smoke makes the soldiers who broke into the camp run away.

In this way, the soldiers who were still climbing the long ladder had already broken in eight @ nine places, which made the pressure on the soldiers at the head of the city suddenly a lot less.

...