Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

Chapter 14 Siping Fort, surrounded by enemies on three sides

More than a hundred miles away from Zhenwu Fort, Siping Fort was the core defense town of the Ming army west of the Liaohe River.

At this time, the rising sun was warm and genial, bringing some warmth to the long-frozen land of Liaodong. However, the Ming Dynasty defenders in Siping Fort did not feel any warmth, only the bone-chilling cold.

No matter who is standing on the top of Siping Fort, looking at the darkness in the distance, the assembled Jianzhou cavalry, artillery and a large number of siege infantry, they will feel chilled in their hearts.

At the same time, the bright yellow banner floating in the distance clearly indicated the name of the visitor - the chief of Jianzhou, Nurhaci!

The old slaves who made countless people in Liaodong tremble with fear, and the Ming Dynasty's civil servants and even the emperor felt deeply threatened, personally led their troops to attack.

Faced with such a high-profile and inevitable action in Jianzhou, to be honest, Guangning's deputy commander Luo Guanyang did not have much confidence.

Because in addition to Nurhachi, after the army of Amin and Daishan captured Xixing Fort, they led their troops to join Mang Gurtai overnight, hoping to take down Siping Fort together.

And the famous Sibeile Huang Taiji should still be in Zhenwu Fort.

Luo Yiguan narrowed his eyes slightly: I hope Sun Degong and Liu Qu can fulfill their mission!
  "Sir, the Jianzhou army has gathered again from three sides! The army is ready to attack the city!" Luo Ping and other generals gathered at the Drum Tower again.

And Luo Guanyi stood at the gap in the battlements, quietly looking at the Jianzhou troops gathering in the distance.

"How are the preparations in the city?" Luo Yiguan's voice was still low, not trembling at all because of the enemy.

Luo Ping, the commander-in-chief of the Pioneer Battalion, said: "Sir! All the soldiers defending the city have been assembled!"

Guangning guard Zhai Chang: "The artillery and archers are already in place!"

Deng Chang, the governor of Sipingbao: "We swear to live and die with Sipingbao!"

The generals stood behind Luo Yiguan, waiting for the chief military officer to issue the final order.

"We bear the emperor's mandate," Luo Yi Guan stood there like a green pine, turned his head to reveal half of his face, with a hint of gloom behind the sunlight: "Even if I die, I must leave the body here! The war has begun. Open, those who are good at retreating will be killed immediately!"

"General, I obey!" All the generals in the Drum Tower bowed to accept the order.

At this moment, the rumble of war drums came, and Jianzhou had begun to march.

"Report!!!" The messenger rushed from outside the door and half-knelt on the ground: "The army led by Jianzhou Mang Gurtai, Amin, and Daishan has gathered together and is attacking Siping Fort!"

"At this time when the survival of Siping Fort is at stake, all guards, from young to old, must go to the city!"

At this time, the sun was already high in the sky, and the heavy snow that had been falling for days was shining brightly in the sun. At a glance, the earth seemed to be covered with a layer of golden light.

But neither side of Sipingbao had any intention to appreciate this rare beauty.

Mang Gurtai has issued three military orders in succession.

"The cavalry of the vanguard battalion go into battle and use their bows and crossbows to suppress the defenders on the city!"

"All the infantrymen were organized into a group, one ox at a time, and drove Han slaves, livestock, and prisoners onto the city to breach the gate!"

"I'm giving the order, whoever climbs Siping Fort first will be promoted to the Eight Banners and will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins!"

At the same time, Daishan and Amin also conveyed orders one after another.

As soon as the battle began, the blades turned red.

Thousands of Jianzhou cavalry rode forward on horseback. Under the command of one order after another, they fired arrow clusters in their hands at the defenders at the top of the city with extremely precise accuracy. In an instant, arrows rained down from the sky.

In the eyes of the soldiers guarding the city, it was a deadly move that would cover the sky and the sun.

On the top of the city, the garrison officer Zhai Chang was dressed in armor and took personal command with his personal guards. At this moment, facing the rain of arrows in the sky, he roared and issued an order: "All shield soldiers come forward and raise their shields to protect!!!"

Puff puff! ! !
  The arrow clusters were extremely sharp. Although they were blocked by shields, guards were still pierced through their armors and fell to the ground. As soon as the battle began, the Ming army suffered casualties.

Taking advantage of the opportunity for the cavalry to suppress the defenders, all Jianzhou infantry soldiers drove Han slaves, Baoyi and livestock towards the city to attack.

Once the infantry arrives at the city with siege equipment, even if there is a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​​​blood below the city, there will be people climbing up the city wall along the mountain of corpses. At that time, it will be a dilemma at the top of the city and below.

"Where are the archers! Shoot against the Jiannu on the outside! Don't let them push the battle line to our city so easily!" The governor Deng Chang was furious at this moment. The defenders were too passive. Does Siping Fort have any extra cavalry and cavalry? Foreign aid can only stick to it now.

And sticking to the word "stick" often means death.

Under the cover of the Jianzhou cavalry, a large number of Jianzhou slaves drove the people and slaves to the city. The infantry battalion had a clear division of labor. Some started to bombard the city gates and weak parts of the city wall with siege logs. In addition, most of the infantry and slaves had already A long climbing ladder was set up and the climb on the city wall began.

Of course, the defenders also have a large number of defensive tools.

Rolling stones, refining oil, and burning kapok poured down from the city to stop the attackers.

In less than a quarter of an hour, there were already mountains of corpses and blood flowing under Siping Fort, but most of them were the corpses of slaves and Ming people. In fact, there were not many casualties among the Eight Banners of Manchuria.

At the same time, a large number of casualties also occurred at the top of the Ming army's city.

Under the circumstances, the defenders of Siping Fort could not hold on for long.

At this point in the battle, Luo Yiguan and other generals have gone to the city in person to supervise the battle.

"Sir! The defenders on the west and south suffered heavy casualties. Jianzhou's offensive was too fierce. Daishan and Amin's Chinese army camp has moved forward to one mile in front of our formation. The Chinese army can join the siege at any time. Obviously It’s time to strengthen our offensive power!”

Luo Ping's armor was in pieces and he was covered in blood. His shoulder armor was missing, and his upper arm had three wounds, hanging there limply. The fierce fighting in the west and south could be seen.

"If reinforcements do not arrive, we will have no choice but to fight here to thank the emperor for his kindness," Luo Guanyi said, bending his left arm and holding a knife in his right hand to wipe off the blood: "At that time, all the food, livestock, and houses in the city will be destroyed." Burn to the ground!”

It is obvious that Luo Yiguan has become extremely pessimistic and is ready to die to thank the emperor for his kindness.

Woohoo! ! !
  The bugle was wailing, and Jiannu had begun to gather all his strength to prepare for the final blow.

"All the sons of the Han family, come to the city! Fight to the death with Jiannu!" Luo Yiguan spat out the blood foam in his mouth along with his broken teeth, and walked directly to the top of the city: "Brothers! Join me and fight to the death with Jiannu!"

"kill!!!"

Desperate and filled with boundless hatred, the killing cry instantly rushed through the sky.

"It's just a stubborn resistance," Mang Gurtai sat on his horse, looking at the actions of the Ming army soldiers on the Siping Fort in the distance, and just smiled scornfully: "Beat the drum! Help!"

dong dong dong! ! ! !

The drum beat became louder and louder.
  All the Jianzhou army raised their swords, all the cavalry bow clusters were pointed at the city head, and all the infantry held shields and armor, preparing to attack the city.

(End of this chapter)