In front of the north gate of Yangzhou City, the Qing army still stopped in front of the moat, and the nearly 1,000 people who were forced to break the ashes had already died a single one, and the Qing army braved the dense arrows and bullets on the head of the city, and threw the corpses of the people and their own people into the moat.

But this moat, more than two feet wide and one foot deep, threw the corpses into it, and soon floated again, and the waves of the grenades on the water washed the corpses elsewhere, and it was difficult to gather them together.

Fortunately, this is the battlefield, and the Qing army is constantly falling, and sometimes the Qing soldiers who are not completely dead are also thrown in, and the materials are really inexhaustible.

The purpose of filling the moat with men was to put planks on top of these corpses, so that the heavy and tall ladders could be pushed under the city, and a ladder was a small independent arrow tower, which could accommodate thirty or forty soldiers, almost the same height as the city wall, and once it approached the city wall, the heavy wooden gate was put on the city wall, and the soldiers hidden in it could jump to the top of the city, and twenty ladders could hide five or six hundred soldiers, as long as there were five or six close to the city wall, it would be dangerous.

Although Zheng Sen had five or six thousand soldiers at the north gate, the space on the city wall was so narrow that he could only add troops after the front team died, so he must not let the cloud ladder approach the city wall.

More Qing troops carried long ladders and erected them on the moat, which would have rushed over with six or seven hundred people, and they were climbing up one after another along the ladders, going up more and falling down more.

If you want to rely on this ant-attached siege method to fight Yangzhou, even if you can barely capture it, the casualty figure will definitely make Ao Bai jaw-dropping.

Above and below the city, thick smoke billowed from the city. In the end, there were explosions and shouts of killing. The Divine Fire Crows that flew down from the city showed their skills, dragging their long black smoke tails and crashing headlong into the cloud ladder. smashed through the gunpowder hidden inside the Divine Fire Crow, and the flames flew several feet high, and the people inside fell down with a body of fire, and the scream was unbearable.

Zheng Sen had already killed red-eyed people in the city, bent his bow and arrows again and again, and the arrows were not missing, and he had killed more than 20 people in a row, so tired that he couldn't even pull the bow away, and he was in the midst of a scuffle. Death is equal, and both soldiers and generals have to fight hard.

Although the battle at the North Gate was extremely fierce, fortunately, Zheng Sen commanded well, and he had always had the upper hand, and the continuous attack and killing for nearly an hour had left the Qing army with more than 1,000 corpses.

The more he fought, the more anxious he became, he couldn't believe his eyes, this may be the most difficult city he had encountered since the war, Kong Youde's grandson was really right. Yangzhou is indeed a hard bone, but he will never admit defeat, and if he can't attack, he has to attack hard, otherwise. How did he have the face to go back to see people.

The siege was as tight as a burst, not allowing the soldiers to take a breath, and almost half of the Han Eight Banners were killed or wounded. I had to climb up the city wall that I couldn't climb even if I died, and the bows and arrows full of eight flags behind me were stretched tightly. Whoever dares to turn back will kill the ground.

Although the north gate is temporarily unsafe. But Ximen was about to die, Shi Kefa had just come to Ximen, and the Qing army began to attack the city, and similarly, it was also to open the way for the common people.

The group of crying and crying people, really made Shi Kefa at a loss, read a lifetime of sage books, listened to a lifetime of sage Taoism, his mind is full of 'poor is good to himself, up to the world, close to the people and benevolent people, benevolent people and love things', what he has learned in his life is to teach him to be loyal to the king and love the people, in the face of these hundreds of people who are hanging by a thread, where can he do it, Xu Dingguo is so anxious that he jumps up and down but it is useless.

Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue is the way to be righteous, but don't look at what kind of place this is, who tells you this, you don't do it, and some people are waiting for you to cut off your head.

Shi Kefa hesitated again and again, and finally caused a catastrophe, the Qing army did not encounter any resistance at the west gate, and rushed to the city like the wind, set up a long ladder, climbed the wall, the west gate was originally only for the north gate to assist the attack, and there were five ladders in total, but these five ladders became Yangzhou's life-threatening talisman.

By the time Shi Kefa reacted, the Qing army had already filled the river with boulders and sandbags, as well as the corpses of the Han people they had driven into the moat, and advanced to the city wall.

Shi Kefa was stunned for a long time, looked at the corpses floating in the moat, suddenly beat his chest, and shouted a compassionate sentence, "I don't kill Boren, but Boren died because of me, miserable", and then, fainted on the spot, unconscious.

When Xu Dingguo ordered someone to carry away Shi Kefa and ordered to fight back, the ladder of the Qing army had already reached the entrance of the city, and the ladder that was as tall as the city also opened the wooden door, and one by one the vicious Qing soldiers rushed out of it with their knives, and jumped onto the city with a leap.

Fortunately, Xu Dingguo is not a coward, his beard is gray, and he also picked up a big knife to fight with the Qing army, and his bravery is also inspiring the defenders around him, but the Qing army is climbing more and more people on the city, and the situation has reached a critical moment.

Suddenly, a Ming army under the banner of the champion army from the rear of the Qing army attacking the west gate killed, the number is not much, the soldiers are not more than a thousand, they are Wang Lanping ordered Chen Wanliang to draw reinforcements from the camp, originally left in the camp is the worst combat effectiveness in the champion army, defending the city is OK, really use this kind of needle tip to the position of Maimang field battle, Chen Wanliang almost endured the pain to make this difficult decision, Chen Wanliang's Anyuan battalion was not fully staffed, the last time Huai'an lost a lot, and then the previous month was rainy and rainy, Many soldiers fell ill again, and the number of troops he could really use to guard the camp of the champion army was not about 5,000 people, and these 1,000 men were really the largest troops he could handle.

The Thousand Commanders were commanded by a Thousand Commanders under Chen Wanliang, and the goal was to attract as many Qing troops as possible to attack the city and delay time, so that Wang Lanping could rush over for reinforcements.

Tens of thousands of Qing troops attacked the West Gate, and in order to attack the city, they were the most sophisticated equipment, nearly a thousand champions rushed over, they couldn't move at all, a charge, folded dozens of people, immediately shrunk back, and then rushed, and then lay down dozens of people, and then turned back, so repeated several times, the Qing army did not even have the interest in pursuit, and it was the best policy to concentrate on breaking the city.

This Qing army, commanded by the Manchu general Tut, was originally the Gushan Ezhen (banner owner) of the Zhenghong Banner, and later the Zhenghongqi was almost wiped out by Wang Lanping in Huai'an, and he was so embarrassed that he had to shelter and worship his subordinates. has a gnashing hatred for the Ming army, and his family is gone. If he doesn't get back some combat exploits, he won't even have the qualifications to go back to see Dol Roll. I heard that Zheng Sen was in Yangzhou City, which really made an enemy meet each other, and he was very red-eyed.

Tut divided the 10,000 Eight Banner soldiers into ten teams, each team of 1,000 people, and attacked the city in batches in turn, without stopping for a moment, and he only sent a few hundred light cavalry to block the Anyuan camp that came to attack, and did not take it to heart at all.

***

After Wang Lanping repelled Zhang Wenlian, he did not pursue him. Only Song was left to vigorously clean up the battlefield and appease the wounded soldiers, while he himself quickly reassembled his troops, taking the Huaiyuan Battalion and the Dingyuan Battalion directly into the west gate of Yangzhou City.

This distance is not too far, less than ten miles, all the way galloping, the main force of the champion army suddenly appeared in the rear of the Qing army in Ximen, and there was no need to even observe the battlefield situation. The whole army was launched.

The first unfortunate was the more than 200 cavalry sent by Tut, and once the army passed, no one was spared.

Tut, who was complacent, thought that Yangzhou would be obtained by him. This time he finally saved some face, he didn't expect the main force of the champion army to appear behind him, when he turned his head. When he saw the champion army all over the mountains and fields killing him, he couldn't wait to eat Zhang Wenhuan alive.

The two armies quickly fell into a scuffle. The morale of the champion army, which had just experienced a great victory, was high, and the frenzy in his heart had not completely calmed down. One by one, they were like red-eyed wolves, fighting fiercely, and the unsuspecting Qing army was completely stunned by this sudden change, and they couldn't resist it at all, and they were defeated and retreated.

At this time, a big flag suddenly appeared on the city wall of Xicheng, and the banner of the word "Zheng" fluttered in the wind on the head of the city, and the resistance of the Ming army on the city wall also became suddenly strong, and the Qing troops who climbed the city fell one by one.

Immediately afterwards, the burning city gate of Xicheng was opened, and a team of Ming troops poured out from it, and a knife and gun were picked, and all the dozens of Qing troops blocked at the city gate were killed, and more and more Ming troops rushed out of the city gate, and the counterattack began.

This is Zheng Sen who rushed from the north gate, he has been concerned about the war at the west gate over there, and because he has not heard the cannon at the head of the cannon, he is even more worried, and so on the north gate after the Qing army's offensive was frustrated, he immediately came with more than 1,000 people to reinforce, just encountered the champion army from the back of the Qing army to attack, Zheng Sen judged the situation, felt that this was the time for a large-scale counterattack, and immediately ordered people to open the city gate, rush out, and fight side by side with Wang Dushuai.

Under these two flanking attacks, Tut had no power to fight back at all, and waved the banner, "Withdraw!" ”

But Wang Lanping didn't give him a chance to escape at all, he had already let this person escape once in Huai'an, and this time he would never let the tiger return to the mountain again, Zheng Sen was even more ashamed, and he had to be killed by Tut and death.

Wang Lanping ordered Huaiyuan Battalion to pursue with Zheng Sen, he took people into the city, heard that Shi Kefa was still unconscious, so he directly took over the city defense of Yangzhou, and ordered Xu Dingguo to immediately strengthen the city defense of the West Gate, in case the Qing army counterattacked again, and then, he turned to the North Gate, at this time the North Gate was as quiet as death, Ao Bai heard that the West Gate was defeated, and the North Gate was also unable to attack for a long time, in order to avoid falling into the same fate as Tut, he decisively ordered the whole army to stop the five sieges of the city, go to meet Tut, first withdraw the camp and then plan in the long run.

A thrilling bloody battle gradually came to an end, outside the city of Yangzhou, the corpses of the Qing army were piled up, the water of the moat was dyed red with blood, and the floating corpses inside were difficult to count.

After Zheng Sen and Fang Guoan chased the Qing army out of seven or eight miles, they stopped, and the whole army cheered, shouting at the Qing army that fled in the wilderness, "Dead Tatar, go back......

Zheng Sen and Fang Guoan laughed, Zheng Sen carried a bloody human head in his hand, and was caught up by Zheng Sen in the chaos, and cut off the head of Tut, this time he was finally dead, and the Manchurian Red Flag was a flag from now on.

After this battle, both sides were injured without air, when Shi Kefa slowly opened his eyes from the coma, only to see Wang Lanping and Yangzhou generals all around him, he was shocked, patted his head, and immediately propped up his body and said urgently, "How is the war?" ”

Wang Lanping saw that he was awake, so he waved his hand and let everyone leave, "It's nothing, it's okay, the superintendent is awake, let's disperse, Shi Ge Lao, rest with ease, the Qing soldiers have retreated, we won this battle"

Shi Kefa felt a lot more at ease, and just about to go down, it seemed that he suddenly remembered something. Suddenly, he said, "That." What about those people? ”

Wang Lanping shook his head, "Such a big fight." The casualties of the common people are inevitable, don't think about these anymore, the defense of Yangzhou has to count on you."

Shi Kefa sighed, Wang Lanping pulled a pillow for him, Shi Kefa waved his hand, his expression was slightly distressed, "It's just you and me here, you don't have to talk to me, General Wang." I'll tell you a word from my heart, Yangzhou still has to rely on you, no, don't stop me, listen to me, after this battle, I also understand, let me be the governor of Yangzhou, it is really difficult. I don't want to come, but the emperor's order is hard to disobey, I can't help but come, even if I have a full stomach. But I have no clue about this battlefield, and I don't know where to start. I'm in a mess of the situation here, and I'm not afraid of your jokes, general. Today on the tower of that city, I saw the Qing army killing like a tide. I don't have the slightest plan to deal with the enemy, and every inch is in chaos."

Wang Lanping didn't expect that the dignified Shi Kefa would be able to say such self-deprecating words, so he has to give you a thumbs up for this attitude, but this is also considered that you have self-knowledge, a good and powerful minister, and you don't point out the country in the court, why bother to come to this battlefield and lose your reputation, interlaced like a mountain.

"Don't be like this, the soldiers of Yangzhou admire you very much, with you, they will follow you and resist desperately"

What Wang Lanping said is also from the heart, the first rank of the senior soldier does not hesitate to die, this is enough to motivate the whole army to go forward and succeed, fighting a war by relying on tactics and equipment alone is not completely useful, sometimes a kind of courage to see death as if it were home, is also a key factor in determining the outcome of the war.

Shi Kefa shook his head and smiled bitterly, "No, no, today I simply said everything in my heart, I can't hide it, I received the will of the imperial court a few days ago, and Ma Shiying returned to the cabinet."

Wang Lanping nodded, "I know, I thought of this day when I left Nanjing."

Shi Kefa said, "Well, it's best if you have this idea, I also understand why you left Nanjing in the first place, and I also know what the consequences of Ma Shiying's re-entry into the cabinet will be for you, some words about the government and politics, I don't say it very well, I received three holy decrees in a row a few days ago, but I didn't tell you"

Wang Lanping smiled, "It's nothing more than letting us defeat the Qing army as soon as possible and urging us to fight, right?" ”

Shi Kefa's eyes widened, "You, you also received the will?" ”

Wang Lanping said, "I guessed it, and I can tell you that this is not the emperor's intention at all, this is Ma Shiying wants to get rid of me with the hands of the Manchurians, the emperor does not know that there are no soldiers and no one available, and the government is in the hands of Ma Shiying, how can he have this thought"

Shi Kefa looked embarrassed, "General Wang can't talk about the king, the emperor is from the domain, in the face of such chaos, there must be time to adapt, we as courtiers can only do our best to assist, don't talk about this, the reason why I didn't tell you about the holy decree is that I am afraid that you will affect the war because of Ma Shiying's entry into the cabinet, since you already know, then I will talk about another thing"

"What?"

Shi Kefa sighed in dismay, "Hey, this battle, I also saw it clearly, on the battlefield to kill the enemy, I feel powerless, Yangzhou is important, there is no room for loss, so, I, I want to hand over all the command of this Yangzhou to you, by you to command, I, I am willing to live under the general, for the general to raise grain and grass, do a little bit"

Wang Lanping was a little surprised, the entire Ming Dynasty, among the ministers outside the court, the position of Yangzhou Governor was the most prominent, nominally all the Ming troops in the six provinces of Jiangnan and the five provinces of Jiangbei were under his control, and he was a first-class feudal official, and he handed over the military power, which was equivalent to cutting off his future.

Shi Kefa saw that Wang Lanping was noncommittal, thinking that he did not agree, and emphasized again, "General Wang, I am sincere, there is no half-false sentence, and please take the overall situation first, and make it difficult for him."

Wang Lanping was stupid to agree, of course, if he was too happy, it was really a bit excessive, and he didn't know that he thought he had been thinking about this day for a long time, but in fact he had really been thinking about this day for a long time.

"Elder Ge is in danger, if I don't agree, I will live up to your sincerity, okay, I promise you, but you also have to promise me one thing."

"What's the matter, write to the court, say that you are sick, please allow you to go back to Nanjing to recuperate, don't say more, I don't want to drive you away, I really think about your safety, I am not Zhuge Liang, what will happen to Yangzhou, I can't be sure, I can only do my best"

According to the records in the history books, Shi Kefa died in the battle of Yangzhou, the Qing army was broken, Shi Kefa committed suicide and martyrdom, Wang Lanping was afraid that he would be distracted if he stayed here, and in the end he was loyal to the Ming Dynasty, and he was going to die on the battlefield, which made people feel cold.

Shi Kefa laughed, "No defense, no defense, the old man is over sixty years old, and he can fight side by side with the general, even if it is a lifetime, it is not a great blessing in life, besides, where is there a place for me in the court today."

Speaking of this, Shi Kefa sighed again, his expression was very regretful, "Hey, how difficult it is for the imperial court, how innocent the people are, general, have you ever thought about it, no matter whether Yangzhou wins or loses, where do you want to go?" ”

Wang Lanping understood what he meant, and he became Ma Shiying's sworn enemy after winning or losing, according to the secret agent's report, the seven Dingbian marquis had been in collusion with Ma Shiying, and he couldn't calmly return to Nanjing.

"There must be a road before the car reaches the mountain, the war is important now, and it can't be controlled so much, Ma Shiying wants to make trouble and go with him"

Shi Kefa nodded, "Okay, then, this is my talisman, taking this is equivalent to me handing Yangzhou into your hands, General Wang, everything depends on you, the emperor is waiting for your good news"

Wang Lanping took the talisman and said in his heart: The emperor is waiting, then he is waiting, when will I become a part-time worker for him. (To be continued.) )