To Zhang Tianfu's disappointment, this Ming army fleet was coming towards Taicang. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

"Shoot the arrows!"

A thousand archers drew their arrows and began to shoot into the river.

The distance from the shore to the center of the river flotilla was about 300 meters, beyond the range of the Qing archers on the shore, and the arrows were thrown out like rain, but most of them fell into the river.

Glancing contemptuously at the Qing army, Ren Xingfan ordered the fleet to launch a counterattack.

In order to successfully capture Cangcheng and grab rice this time, Ren Siqi allocated fifteen three-masted sea ships to the second town, each of which was equipped with a Hongyi cannon on the stern deck. With Ren Siqi's order, the flag was raised on the mast, and fifteen three-masted ships turned their rudders at the same time, aimed their sterns at the north shore, and opened fire in turn.

With a loud bang, the three-masted ship shook violently in the river, and the huge projectiles flew out of the cannon chamber and smashed into the ranks of the Qing army on the riverbank.

The Hongyi cannon of more than 3,000 catties is powerful enough to destroy mountains and rocks, whether it is smashed and touched, all bones are broken and tendons are broken.

At the same time, the fleet also carried a hundred small cannons, and hundreds of cannons fired in unison, and rounds of bullets rained down on the north bank of the Liuhe River.

"So many artillery!" Zhang Tianfu's eyes widened suddenly, although there are dozens of artillery pieces in Taicang City, they are all placed at the head of the city, and the bulkiness of the artillery is naturally not suitable for the army, I didn't expect there to be so many artillery pieces in the Ming army!

It was just a round of artillery fire, and the Qing archers on the shore were killed and wounded more than a hundred people, and they had to retreat in a hurry.

The Ming artillery on the ship raised the muzzle of the cannon and covered the firing farther away, forcing Zhang Tianfu to order the whole army to urgently retreat and give up the river bank to the Ming army.

Leaving the river bank in a hurry, Zhang Tianfu once again deployed his defenses, and retreated the remaining archers and 2,000 infantry to Cangcheng, making sure to keep the food in Cangcheng. The rest of the infantry withdrew to the streets and waited for the Ming army to come ashore.

The river where the Second Town fleet is located is just outside the city of Taicang Prefecture, and this is not a barren riverbank, but a bustling market town. The houses and buildings on the riverbank are stacked on top of each other, and the streets, pedestrians, bridges and rivers flow water, which is a prosperous scene. The Qing army retreated into the town, and it was difficult for the Ming army to attack with artillery again, because that would destroy the houses of the people.

Taicang Cangcheng is on the north bank of the Liuhe River, more than 100 steps away from the Liuhe River, there is a canal and the Liuhe River are connected, and it leads directly to the Cangcheng. But at this moment, the water gate of Cangcheng is closed, and an iron fence is stuck in the waterway, and there is no way to enter through the water gate.

Ren Xingfan carefully looked at the situation in Cangcheng, a canal about twenty zhang wide crossed the Liuhe River from south to north, and this canal should be the salt iron pond. Three miles north along the salt iron pond is Taicang Prefecture City, and the warehouse city where grain is stored is in the east of the salt iron pond on the north bank of the Liuhe River.

The Qing army hid in Cangcheng, and there were many houses between Cangcheng and Liuhe.

What to do? Ren Xingfan thought nervously.

"General, I'll take the camp ashore to attack." The first battalion is Chen Mingyang, and he asked Ren Xingfan for help.

"I'd better take someone with me." Yingzheng Yang Bin also said.

"Well, your two battalions will go ashore first and form a formation, don't panic and attack first." Although the walls of Cangcheng are not high, there are thousands of Qing troops guarding the city, and the losses will be too great if they are close to the infantry to attack the city.

"After going ashore, go and inform the people in front of Cangcheng to leave, and their losses will be replenished after the battle." Ren Xingfan commanded again.

Chen Mingyang and Yang Bin each gave orders, and slowly approached the shore with the warships of the camp, and easily went to the riverbank.

After going ashore, Yang Bin's battalion was in charge of guarding, and Chen Mingyang's battalion sent hundreds of soldiers to inform the people to evacuate.

"Bang bang" knocks sounded one after another, and some people opened their doors tremblingly.

"Leave with your family quickly, our army will open fire in a while, and then the houses will collapse, and the jade will be burned." At first, the Ming soldiers were still persuaded by Yan Yuese.

"Me, where are we going to leave the house? Can you not open fire? "There was a request from the people.

"Damn, it's up to you whether you can shoot or not, I'll you, you shaved your head, you traitor."

The soldier suddenly saw the pigtails on the people's heads, and he was not angry at all, and when he went up, he crackled and beat him.

"Hey, what are you doing? The camp supervisor repeatedly explained that he would not be allowed to bully the people. The little flag officer walked over unhappily.

"It's not me bullying him, look at his head!" The soldier shouted as he pointed to the braids on the people's heads.

"What? I actually shaved my head! Hit him a shit. ”

In the process of persuasion, the soldiers found that most of the Taicang men had shaved their heads, and they were all angry.

The situation was quickly reported to the ship.

"Anyone who shaves his head is not my Ming people, and there is no need to persuade him!" Ren Xingfan decisively gave the order.

"Don't mind, the people are forced, they are innocent." Town Supervisor Chen Sheng hurriedly explained. Before leaving, Ren Siqi repeatedly instilled in the prison guards that they must treat the people well and not allow the phenomenon of disturbing the people.

"What innocent! Jiangyin, Jiading, Suzhou, there were righteous people in various places who rebelled against the Manchu Qing Dynasty. What about Taicang, can the people rebel against the Manchu shaving order? No, these Taicang people are soft bones! Ren Xingfan said angrily, but although he was angry, he still couldn't ignore the lives of the people.

Half an hour later, Chen Mingyang sent someone to report that after the people on the north bank of the Liu River and Cangcheng had evacuated, Ren Xingfan ordered the cannon to be fired.

Fifteen three-masted galleons adjusted the orientation of their ships, aimed their guns in the direction of Cangcheng, and opened fire in turn.

Half an hour later, the city wall of Cangcheng was blasted, but Ren Xingfan did not give up, and ordered to shoot several theories, and the city wall was full of holes.

The sound of the cannon stopped, and Chen Mingyang and Yang Bin, who were in ambush, rushed over with two thousand soldiers.

The Qing soldiers in Cangcheng had already been frightened by the artillery of the Ming army, and as soon as the city wall was broken, they couldn't wait to escape from the gate on the other side.

Almost without bloodshed, Chen Mingyang and Yang Bin captured Cangcheng.

"My lord, do we want to take it back!" Qian Yi said to the chief soldier Zhang Tianfu.

"What to take? Don't you see how powerful the artillery of the Ming army is? Do you want all of us to fold here? Zhang Tianfu scolded, "Isn't it just a little food, let it be given to them, let's hurry back to Taicang City." If the state city is lost again, it will be over! ”

"By the way, the whole Ming army of Chongming Island is here, it is definitely not just to grab some food, they will definitely attack Taicang Prefecture, send a letter to Wu Song quickly, and let Li Chengdong come to help quickly!"

"Yes, I'll send someone to Wusong to deliver a letter!" Qian Yi hurriedly agreed. (To be continued.) )