I am one year older than Chongzhen

(Book friends are recommended to read the newly released work "The Soul of the Late Ming and Han Dynasties" and the old works "The Sun Never Sets on the Ming Empire" and "1981")

Li Jiucheng shouted: "Everyone, stop here!"

Geng Zhongming, Chen Youyou, etc. immediately shouted: "Everyone, stop, don't run, the marshal is here!"

There were more than a hundred defeated soldiers, but they saw many generals on horseback and did not dare to run away.

They were worried that they would be killed on the spot for escaping from the battle, so they all clenched their weapons and were secretly on guard.

Li Jiucheng asked: "Who is the leader?"

A little flag with blood on his face said: "Both our General Manager and Mr. Bai were beaten to death. I don't know where Mr. Qian is. Some people say that Mr. Qian is also dead!"

"Hiss!" Li Jiucheng was secretly shocked: "Our army suffered such huge losses as soon as we started attacking? How did the Xinghe Army do it?"

He did not punish the defeated soldiers, but waved his sword and said: "Brothers, if the city is broken, we have nowhere to escape, so follow me!"

Li Yingyuan also shouted: "Everyone, come on! Only by taking back Nancheng will we have a way to survive!"

The rebels certainly knew how to block several city gates when necessary. The east gate and west gate had been blocked with bricks and stones.

The south gate is not completely masonry, but all the necessary stones and city bricks are piled in Wengcheng.

The reason why the south gate is left is because facing the south city wall is not a complete earth rampart, but only a section of tall rammed earth mounds.

The patrolling Ming army cavalry all came from the south and ran back and forth along Dengzhou City.

Li Jiucheng and Li Yingyuan felt that when they had to launch a cavalry raid against the Ming army, they could avoid being blocked by earthen barriers by going out of the south gate.

Therefore, preparations for sealing the south gate were made, but they were not carried out immediately.

The rebels felt that they were well prepared and waited until they discovered that the Ming army was attacking on a large scale and it was difficult to resist, then they blocked the south gate. Half an hour was enough.

Who knew that imagination is full and reality is skinny!

When the Xinghe Army began to attack the city, the city was covered in blood. Those who dared to show up were either corpses or wailing wounded.

The vast majority of those who survived huddled behind the crenel, holding their heads in their hands and shivering, blocking the south gate?

No officer gave the order!

No one, if any, obeyed orders.

Because this is impossible!

The Xinghe Army has already reached the top of the city, and Wengcheng is completely within sight. Whenever any rebels appear near the city gate, they will be beaten into a honeycomb.

The progress was relatively smooth, just like during the drill, and it even took about the same amount of time.

When the south gate creaked open, "The city gate has been taken!"

"We won!"

"Wan Sheng!"

"Victory!" The soldiers outside the city suddenly let out cheers that echoed through the sky.

At the base of the city wall a hundred steps away from the city gate, Chang Yongliang, the infantry commander of the Xinghe Army who was responsible for attacking this section of the city wall, shouted: "Are you all stupid? Stop digging and go in through the city gate!"

The auxiliary soldiers who used the carriages to cover the poaching became depressed.

After digging several feet, the most difficult part has been taken down. The hole in the wall is big enough for eight people and cats to dig inside. If they work harder, they can dig through the city wall. Why don't they use it?

The auxiliary soldiers here were all labor activists. They were miners in the Zhaoyuan Gold Mine, and they were best at digging holes.

They took turns using pickaxes to knock bricks and excavate rammed earth, and used bamboo baskets and sacks to pass them out, working together in a tacit understanding.

At this time, they were squatting in the hole in the city wall and digging vigorously, and none of them wanted to stop.

Auxiliary flag Xu Erniu said loudly:

"Sir, it's quick. We can enter the city from here in half an hour at most!"

Another auxiliary soldier named Wei Dazhuang Xiaoqi said: "One more passage may have a surprising effect! Sir, let me lead my brothers to dig through it!"

Chang Yongliang said: "Stop it, stop it quickly, Dengzhou City already belongs to us. We have to repair the city wall if it is damaged. Don't be stupid!"

Tan Hanming, the literature teacher beside him, explained:

"Our army is advancing very fast. By the time you dig through, the main attacking force may have already reached the Bell and Drum Tower. There will be no effect here!"

"Aren't we busy in vain?" A group of sweaty auxiliary soldiers looked disappointed.

They really tried their best. In the cold winter, many auxiliary soldiers actually took off their cotton armor, and their whole bodies were steaming.

"Yes! We all actively signed up to become the first echelon in order to make meritorious deeds. We can dig through it right away..."

"Sir, please do your best, let us dig in!"

"We want to make a contribution!"

Literature teacher Tan Hanming said with a smile: "Don't you just want to make meritorious service and become a regular soldier?"

"Yes! Who wouldn't want to!"

Tan Hanming whispered to the boss: "They are all good prospects, and they can all..."

General Manager Chang Yongliang understood it instantly and said loudly: "Now I will announce that each of you will be counted as one. After this battle, you will all be credited once, and you can all become full-time employees!"

"Wan Sheng! Wan Sheng!"

Tan Hanming struck while the iron was hot and encouraged: "What are you waiting for? Go into the city to kill the rebels and strive to make new achievements!"

"Come on! Kill! Kill! Make new achievements!" The auxiliary soldiers suddenly became excited.

Chang Yongliang called to Xu Erniu and Wei Dazhuang and said, "Let your people bring their pickaxes!"

Xu Erniu was puzzled and asked: "Why? We all have knives, guns, and shields?"

"I always have a lot of swordsmen, shieldmen and spearmen. I need someone to help knock holes in the walls so that our troops can pass through the streets!"

Wei Dazhuang had a good brain and understood instantly, and said with a smile: "Sir, you are really resourceful. Our general will definitely be able to win by surprise!"

Tan Hanming was surprised and asked, "Are you literate and reading?"

Wei Dazhuang said: "Sir, I have been studying in a private school for two years! I don't know many words."

The Xinghe Army attached great importance to culture and education, and there were too many illiterate people who could read and write two to three hundred words.

Most of all, those who are literate and have a good cultural background are welcome to join the army.

Under normal circumstances, educated soldiers are easier to promote, and even if their military skills are unsatisfactory, they can be promoted to low-level cultural teachers.

In order to distinguish literature teachers, it is also to give literature teachers a clear path for advancement.

Huang Yi announced the grades and corresponding remuneration of literature teachers some time ago. The starting point for literature teachers during the probationary period is level 7. After passing the assessment, they become official general flag literature teachers at level 7, with the same treatment as the chief flag officer.

A total of 100 liberal arts teachers will be promoted to the sixth level, and their deputy positions will be promoted to the sixth level. The general liberal arts teacher will be promoted to the fifth level, and their deputy positions will be promoted to the fifth level. Qian Zongwen teacher will be promoted to the fourth level... and so on.

Because Huang Yi personally led the troops to fight, the Xinghe Army currently did not have a team of more than a thousand people.

Basically, scheduling is based on the total unit.

Therefore, the sum total can determine the appointment and promotion of ordinary soldiers from the fifth level to the fifth level.

Tan Hanming encouraged: "Not bad, not bad, there is a future! Work hard and strive for meritorious service!"

Wei Dazhuang stood at attention and saluted loudly: "Yes!" Then he said to other auxiliary soldiers:

"Brothers, pick up your pickaxe and run forward!"

"Yes! The target city gate, brothers, rush to it!"