Before hanging himself, Chongzhen lifted the table

Chapter 90 The Great Victory
"Woooooooo..."

The long horn sounded!

"Dong dong dong..."

The loud war drums also sounded, beating in the hearts of everyone on the battlefield.

A general in the supervising team shouted loudly while driving the troops in front of him: "His Royal Highness decrees that the first person to attack the city, Feng Ningwu Bo, will be rewarded with a thousand taels! There are only old and weak people left in Ningwuguan." The soldiers will surely be able to come down with a single drum and charge forward!"

He has shouted this several times, but no one has received this reward yet.

No matter whether the current army is willing or not, it is not up to them.The supervising team behind them had already killed a group of people who had not followed orders and retreated without authorization.

The army advanced slowly, and everyone's expression slowly became ferocious: Since there is no way to retreat, the only choice is to charge forward!There are really only the old and the weak left on the city, what if it is captured!
After crossing the Huihe River, I looked up at the tall Ningwuguan City. I don't know who shouted "Charge" first, and the others followed suit, emboldened themselves, and started charging.

The archers and gunmen provided cover, while other soldiers carried simple ladders or wooden logs, rushing up like crazy.

The Hongyi artillery on the south bank of the Huihe River also began covering bombardment.

"Boom boom boom..."

"Blah blah blah..."

"Kill..."

The sound of gunfire, shouts of killing, and the momentum of the battlefield almost reached its peak at once, resounding in the sky above Ningwuguan.

Li Zicheng and others looked at it with clairvoyance, while those without clairvoyance just stared at it with wide eyes.Everyone's face was solemn. It was obvious that they were not sure whether they could capture Ningwuguan this time.

Although the people at the top of Ningwuguan City are all old and weak, they are not timid. Perhaps Zhou Yuji is good at running the army, or perhaps these are just elites who have grown old. They are able to withstand a large-scale attack and have been waiting. , and waited until the enemy reached the city before starting to counterattack.

The thunderous momentum of the Dashun Army suddenly weakened a bit as the counterattack began and casualties appeared.

Ningwuguan is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is normal for this situation to occur.Li Zicheng and others who were watching the battle watched the charging Dashun soldiers fall one by one under the city wall, their expressions unchanged.

For them, they have long been used to life and death, and are used to life and death.Not to mention, the troops attacking the city were not soldiers from the old camp who followed Li Zicheng, so there would be no heartache if they died!

After a while, Song Xiance, who was watching the battle, said: "Your Highness, I am observing the counterattack at Ningwuguan. The number of artillery and musket fires has been much less than in the past few days. I guess it should be at the top of the city." We’re running out of gunpowder!”

When Li Zicheng heard this, his face became a little brighter, and he nodded and said, "That's more or less it. After two more days, Zhou Yuji will run out of gunpowder, and he can use cannons to blow down the city wall, and then he can take Ningwuguan!"

They were talking when suddenly, they heard loud cheers coming from the battlefield.

At the same time, Niu Jinxing was heard happily saying to Li Zicheng: "Your Highness, look, look, we've got it, we've got it!"

When Li Zicheng heard this, he immediately felt happy. He quickly raised his head and used his clairvoyance to carefully examine the battle situation.

Sure enough, the siege soldiers of Dashun Army gave up climbing the city top and all rushed towards the city gate.

Did this break open the city gate?
No matter what, the soldiers of Dashun Army outside the city crowded into the city gate. The number of people was more than half of those who attacked the city. At least 2000 people entered!

At this time, he heard Niu Jinxing say again: "Congratulations, Your Highness, Congratulations, Your Highness, even if Zhou Yuji stubbornly resisted, it would be difficult to resist the power of God. Ningwuguan has been captured!"

However, with many years of war experience, Li Zicheng felt that something was wrong, so he ignored Niu Jinxing and just continued to observe with his clairvoyance.

Suddenly, he understood something was wrong.

The old and weak soldiers at the top of the city did not panic and run away because Dashun's army invaded the city!Even if he doesn't care about life and death, it's not like this.

Seeing this, Li Zicheng suddenly remembered something and quickly ordered: "Ming Jin withdraws the troops!"

Although he didn't mind using the lives of those soldiers to consume the city defenders, he was unwilling to fall into a trap and be massacred unilaterally.

However, as soon as it was said, just when he issued this decree, he saw a sudden change on the battlefield.

Then there was a loud noise from the city gate of Ningwuguan, which should be the sound of the gate gate being lowered. The soldiers of the Dashun Army who were still outside the city fled from the city gate one after another, ignoring the supervising team and fled back.

However, most of the attacking Dashun soldiers were already imprisoned in the city.

The shouting of killing continued, but it did not last long before it gradually became quiet, and the flag on the city head did not change.

Seeing this, Liu Zongmin, the number one general next to Li Zicheng, said angrily: "What a bunch of pigs, they were lured into Wengcheng and killed!"

Generally, important cities will have an Wengcheng built, that is, a semicircular or square gated town will be built outside the original city gate, equipped with arrow towers, gates, battlements and other defensive measures.Entering the urn city is like a turtle in the urn. The defenders are condescending and can easily destroy the enemies who enter the urn city.

The army that is attacking the city can easily lose its structure in the chaos. Once they see that the city gate is broken, they will not think about why it is broken. Whether it is to gain credit or to instinctively seek good luck and avoid disaster, they will follow the city. Crowded to the door.If you are not an elite teacher, it is easy for you to have this herd mentality.

At this time, Li Zicheng heard Liu Zongmin's words and agreed in his heart, but his expression was not good-looking.He understood that Zhou Yuji had once again tricked him into showing his weakness to the enemy, and then lured his troops into a trap!

Sure enough, then, he saw elite soldiers appearing vaguely on top of Ningwuguan City. He didn't know how many there were!
Niu Jinxing, who was happy just now, looked a little ugly.An accident that exposed his shortcomings in military affairs. He failed to discover in time that this was Zhou Yuji's trap, and even congratulated him, which showed that he was very ignorant.Thinking of this, he couldn't help but turn to look at the military advisor Song Xiance and said, "Didn't the military advisor discover the sinister intentions of the Zhou thief?"

After hearing this, Song Xiance glanced at him, then turned to look at Li Zicheng, and admitted frankly: "Zhou Yuji is indeed a famous general of the generation. I didn't expect that he would make this move, and I asked His Highness to punish him!"

After hearing this, Li Zicheng ignored him, looked up at the sky, and just said: "It's getting late, let's fight again tomorrow!"

If anyone here could see it and warn him in advance, he would not be fooled.Therefore, it is impossible for him to punish Song Xiance for this.

After Li Zicheng finished speaking, he turned his horse's head and returned to the camp.

The others followed him back to camp.Only Liu Zongmin looked at the more than 100 Dashun soldiers who had escaped with cold eyes and ordered: "Anyone who retreats before Jin's military order is given will be killed!"

These imperial officers and soldiers who had taken refuge were chased and killed by them in the past, but he would not have the mercy to let them go.

........................

On the top of Ningwuguan City, Zhou Yuji stood proudly on the top of the city. Although he had won a great victory, he did not smile at all. He still looked around the battlefield with his usual stern expression.

Inside the urn city, there are all the corpses of the rebels who attacked the city, densely packed and stacked on top of each other.From time to time, you can see people who are injured but not dead, still moaning.

At the inner city gate, in order to kill the enemy as much as possible, Zhou Yuji ordered the city gate to be opened and let some of the bandits into the city.However, he had already ambushed the elite troops near the city gate and prevented them from escaping. They were all handed over to the streets near the city gate.

In this battle, no matter what, the number of thieves killed and wounded was the highest ever, probably between 3000 and [-].

Outside the city, Li's army has withdrawn its troops and returned to camp, waiting to fight again tomorrow.

I hope that the morale of the rebel army can be affected. It would be best if we wait for a few days before attacking again!

Although Zhou Yuji had such hope in his heart, he also knew that this hope was probably unrealistic.Li Zicheng was obviously destined to win Ningwuguan.

If that's the case, then let's attack!

Just as he was thinking of this, he heard the sound of footsteps and turned around to look, only to see that it was his general coming over to report: "Commander, there are many thieves who were former imperial officers and soldiers. What should we do with these injured ones?" One thing, he had already figured out, the one who came to attack the city wearing a red mandarin duck jacket ended up bleeding for the bandits.

Zhou Yuji's expression remained unchanged and he said coldly: "We have limited food and grass, so let's give them a good time!"

"The last general... obey!"

Zhou Yuji heard a hint of unbearability. After all, they were once colleagues, but now they were fighting with swords and guns!However, what can be done? Who made them surrender to the bandits, who made them aim their swords and guns at their former comrades, who made Ningwuguan itself lack of food and grass...

It's a pity that there are too many things, and his heart has become numb!
After cleaning the battlefield, all useful things were left behind, and the corpses could only be thrown outside the city for the bandits to deal with.Spring has begun, and the plague is so severe that it is invisible and colorless. Ningwuguan has limited manpower and cannot handle so many corpses.

Zhou Yuji's eyes swept over his men and found that this great victory had somewhat boosted their morale.Most of the soldiers' faces showed the joy after a great victory.But he himself understood that the bandits could withstand many defeats, but he could not bear one defeat.

If you use the trick of killing bandits in Wengcheng pit once, you won't be fooled the second time.The bandits' attacks for several days in a row consumed a lot of food and supplies in the city, especially gunpowder.Once the gunpowder is exhausted and the bandit bombards the city with cannons, no matter how powerful he is, he will be unable to fight back. A big defeat is bound to be doomed.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuji looked up at the flag that his wife had embroidered before the war, fluttering in the wind on top of the city and making a grin.The four words above seemed to come alive, displayed in front of him: Serve the country with loyalty!
Looking at these four words, Zhou Yuji said silently in his heart: "Your Majesty, the general has tried his best, and the only way to repay it is to die. I hope God will bless the Ming Dynasty..."

Having said that, he couldn't go on.

If God had really blessed the Ming Dynasty, there would not have been severe droughts for years, there would not have been earth dragons turning over, and plagues would have spread all over the world. All these things are God's will to destroy the Ming Dynasty!

Suddenly, Zhou Yuji's eyes shrank, and his expression became firm again: How can we, warriors, accept our fate?God will not bless you, but I will protect you!
Turning to look at the thieves outside the city, he was determined: My life is here, come and take it if you have the ability!

On top of Ningwu City, Zhou Yuji suddenly heard shouting loudly: "The Ming Dynasty will be victorious!"

The soldiers who were cleaning the battlefield were still immersed in this great victory. Suddenly they heard their commander shout "The Ming Dynasty will be victorious", and they couldn't help but shout too.

The shouts of "The Ming Dynasty will be victorious" spread far away and echoed in the sky above Ningwuguan.

An excellent general not only has clear rewards and punishments, strict military discipline, but also leads his men to continuous victory!

At least Zhou Yuji could still do this at this time.

Only a few people understand in their hearts that no matter how powerful their commander is, without reinforcements or replenishment of food and supplies, it is obvious what the final outcome will be.

Early the next morning, Zhou Yuji saw with some regret that the bandits still crowded out of the camp, preparing to start a new round of attack.Yesterday's big victory, hoping that the bandits could stop for two days, still came to nothing.

"Boom boom boom..."

"Blah blah blah..."

"Kill..."

A fierce battle started again at Ningwuguan, with waves of Dashun soldiers crashing against the Ningwuguan city wall like waves.However, the defenders at Ningwu Pass were like rocks in the rapids. They stood firm despite the impact and firmly defended the city of Ningwu Pass.

At noon, Dashun's army abandoned the corpses on the ground and temporarily stopped attacking.It can be seen that they will definitely launch an attack in the afternoon.

On top of the city, Ming army officers and soldiers were silently collecting the bodies of their fallen comrades and treating their injured comrades.The joy of yesterday's victory was completely gone from everyone's face.Even though they won the city defense battle again at this time, they were not happy.

Everyone understands that there are endless thieves outside the city, and they have killed many comrades in the battle. If this continues, can Ningwuguan be defended?
Zhou Yuji, who was on the top of the city, casually broke the arrow stuck in his armor and stared at the rebel army in the distance with a heavy expression.

Suddenly, an officer came quickly on horseback. Still under the city, he shouted to Zhou Yuji on the top of the city: "Commander, the emperor has sent someone, wait for the commander at the Yamen!"

Upon hearing this, everyone on the top of the city turned around with surprise on their faces.

But they quickly came to their senses. It didn't seem like they were reinforcements, they were just sending people over. So what's the use?
The joy that was just ignited was extinguished in the blink of an eye!

Zhou Yuji naturally heard this shouting, and like his men, he was not too surprised.Because he knew that the imperial court had no troops to send.

When he asked the court for help before, he only sent two thousand troops, and finally surrendered to Li Thief.Now, where are the troops to be sent?

The emperor sent someone here to urge him to hold on and supervise the army, right?
Actually, it’s not necessary!

Zhou Yuji was thinking this in his heart, but he didn't show it. He just told his deputy general: "Watch the rebel army. I will come back as soon as I leave!"

Since the arrival of the main force of the bandits, he has been guarding the top of the city no matter day or night, taking the lead and setting an example for the entire army.

"General, I obey!" his lieutenant responded, and added, "General, you have been tired for so many days. Go back and have a good rest!"

Zhou Yuji ignored these words, strode down the city wall, and hurried back to the Yamen.

When he arrived at the door of the Trilateral General Military Mansion, he noticed that there were about twenty war horses tied at the door. Although it was not unexpected, he was still a little disappointed. Sure enough, there were no reinforcements!
However, he didn't show it. He just turned over and dismounted vigorously, and strode towards the gate of the mansion. At the same time, he asked the captain who came to meet him at the door: "Where is the person?"

"Commander, in the lobby!"

Zhou Yuji handed over the riding whip and strode in without stopping, with the sound of metal clashing with armor.

In the lobby, it was Jin Zhensun and his colleagues sent by Emperor Chongzhen. They came day and night. All in all, they traveled more than 300 miles from Xuanfu to Yanghe in one day. , and the next day they galloped to Datong and then to Ningwuguan, which was nearly three hundred miles away. Even at night, they held a torch and rushed on the road. I was really exhausted.

However, what pleased him was that Ningwuguan was still in the hands of the imperial court.In this way, it would still make sense for him to work so hard to come here and for the emperor to conduct the expedition in person.

The comrades drank the tea sent by the General Military Mansion. Some of them were dozing off while leaning on their chairs. They didn't even bother to fill their stomachs. They were really tired.

When Jin Zhensun was thinking about it, he suddenly heard a movement in front of the hall. He immediately looked up and saw a tall military general walking into the hall surrounded by his guards.At the first glance, he saw that the general's armor was covered in blood, and there were even broken arrows left in the armor.

Needless to say, this is proof that only a life-and-death fight can bring!
A feeling of admiration arose spontaneously.Jin Zhensun immediately took the initiative to clasp his fists and asked first, "But the commander-in-chief of the three sides, Zhou Yuji, is in front of Marshal Zhou?"

Zhou Yuji walked into the lobby and took a quick look at the situation in the lobby. He saw that they were all decorated with ordinary soldiers. They were all exhausted and had obviously traveled a long way.

When he heard the question, he clasped his fists and returned the greeting: "It's me, general. I dare to ask..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jin Zhensun immediately introduced himself: "The last general, Jin Zhensun, is directly under the command of Biaoying Guerrilla in front of the emperor!"

Having said this, he took out a gold medal and showed it to Zhou Yuji. At the same time, he said: "The general is following your Majesty's order to ask about the situation of the battle at Ningwuguan! He also informed the commander that your Majesty has led the army to Datong and is rectifying the troops and horses in the rear. Help will come soon."

Zhou Yuji was a little confused when he heard the general in front of him say that he was a guerrilla from the Biaoying camp directly under the imperial court.What imperial court is directly subordinate to Biaoying?What kind of establishment is this?
Logically speaking, the commander-in-chief of the army, such as the governor, governor and other leaders, have direct subordinate battalions.But what happened to the Biaoying camp directly under the Imperial Palace? It was impossible for the emperor to personally lead the army. That’s why there was the Biaoying camp directly under the Imperial Palace, right?

Just as he was wondering, he turned around and heard what Jin Zhensun said. He really said that the emperor had led the army to conquer Datong in person.

How can this be?

Zhou Yuji couldn't accept such information for a moment, thinking that he had heard it wrong.

After all, he had stayed in the capital for a long time, and the emperor inspected the Yongwei camp. It can be said that among all the existing Ming generals, except Huang Degong, he knows the current emperor best.

How could the emperor lead an army on an expedition!

(End of this chapter)