A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 413 Raiding the City
Wang Dou led the cavalry and marched in the dark, and slowly came to the bank of the Han River southwest of Fancheng.
At this time, everything was silent, only the movement of some patrolling people on the wall of Fancheng could be seen from a distance.Looking at Xiangyang City on the other side from the Han River, the Han River is surging, the city pool is looming in the mist, and the lanterns on the walls of the towers and walls are even more dim and indistinct.
The spring night was cold, especially the riverside was even more chilly. Wang Dou was covered in a red cotton cloak, and he just looked at the city of Xiangyang on the other side without moving.And the soldiers behind him dismounted and stood quietly, motionless in the cold wind.
Time passed moment by moment, I don't know how long it took, the surrounding area became more quiet, in the silent night, only the sound of "bang bang" from the watchmen in Fancheng was heard.
Finally, midnight passed, and it was the fifth day of February. Wang Dou thought to himself: "According to history, the 28 riders who entered the city should act, right?"
There were four drums in the night, and suddenly there was a commotion in the city of Xiangyang. I don't know how many people were shouting, and there were some faint sounds of killing.Then the city was full of flames, and it was a mess.There are more and more fires burning in the city, and in the end it is like fireworks, which are clearly visible from tens of miles away.
At this time, the defenders of Fancheng were also alarmed. Many people screamed and rushed to the top of the city, pointing the direction of Xiangyang City.
When the sky was slightly bright, I suddenly heard shouts from all over the city of Xiangyang: "The thief has entered the city!"
Then I saw the gates of various cities opened, and many officers, soldiers and people rushed out in a panic.Even on the side of Linhan Gate, the city gate was also wide open, and many people came straight to Fancheng along the pontoon bridge, crying.
Seeing the situation in front of him, all the officers and men of the Shun Township Army shook their heads, Qin Yi said bitterly: "It's the bandit's internal response again, otherwise the city of Xiangyang is huge, and An Neng would take it so lightly!"
Wang Dou watched quietly, with a feeling of witnessing history, he exhaled: "Okay, the time has come, the whole army takes action!"
……
But it is said that the defenders of Fancheng are terrified, and the bandits suddenly entered Xiangyang City. I heard that the city is full of thieves. Do you want to cut off the pontoon bridge between Xiangyang and Fancheng?In order to prevent the bandits from crossing the Han River along the pontoon bridge and reaching the foot of Fancheng.
Just as several generals under his command were arguing endlessly and the defense of Fancheng was hesitating, he suddenly saw a troop of cavalry rushing down from the southwestern city, all of them well-armored, all of them were elite war horses, and they were all startled.
But the general in charge shouted, "What happened to Xiangyang City?"
Mr. Qian rushed down the city hesitantly and said, "Who are you?"
The general said proudly: "I am under the command of General Dingguo, the general who participated in the East Road of Xuanfu Town. My division was victorious in Luoyang, and an army of [-] thieves was defeated. According to the instructions of the Ministry of War, I galloped into Sichuan at starry night and drove day and night. Today I arrived in Xiangyang. The opposite is what happened?"
Everyone on the city wall was stunned, General Dingguo?Luoyang victory?Xingchi joins the aid?
A series of news shocked them so much that they were speechless. Before the official of Fancheng on the city could answer, hoofs were thundering, and a large group of cavalry came rushing to the west of the city wall.All of them are well-armored, tall and strong horses, with long spears and sharp knives, and their aura is soaring, especially a banner with the word "King". A general swept his eyes coldly.
After being swept away by the general's gaze, everyone in the city felt chilled, and couldn't say what they wanted to say.
But the general looked at the other side for a moment, and waved his hand: "Hmph, the mere bandits want to take Xiangyang too? Follow me into the city to fight the bandits!"
Following the sound of hoofbeats, this cavalry from nowhere came along the floating bridge across the river from Fancheng to Xiangyang, rumbling and galloping. With the sound of "Wan Sheng", they went straight to Linhan Gate, leaving behind the guards in Fancheng who were looking at each other. defenders.There are also those people in Xiangyang City who were so surprised that when they saw the army coming, they dodged aside in fear.
After a long time, the Fancheng garrison asked the general manager next to him: "Old Zuo, tell me, the one who crossed the pontoon bridge just now was really General Dingguo Wang Dou? Could it be a thief impersonating him?"
Mr. Naqian said: "It should be that General Dingguo is not bad. Wang Dou is called the brave champion of the three armies. He killed many Tartars in Julu and Pinggu. Who would dare to pretend? Besides, you Look at their armor, their horses, their momentum, which officers, soldiers, and thieves can pretend to be?"
Everyone nodded, just now Wang Dou glanced at him, and everyone broke out in cold sweat. That kind of aura is indeed impossible to pretend.Another Chief Qian said: "Just now they said that Wang Dou won a great victory in Luoyang and the intruders were defeated. This is true or false."
Previously, Mr. Qian said: "It should be true. There will be news about this matter soon. There will be a report from the imperial court at that time. Just look at it."
For a moment, everyone was excited, Wang Dou was famous, they were all well-known, and they also heard that Yang Ge's department regarded Wang Dou very highly, and urged Wang Dou's army to come many times.If such a strong army is in the front, if they follow behind to save Xiangyang from the crisis and turn the tide, it will be a great achievement.
But everyone was hesitant, Xiangyang City didn't know how many thieves came, don't take advantage of it, but accompany yourself in, it's better to guard the city, it's also a credit.
Looking at Xiangyang City on the opposite side, the defender of Fancheng sighed: "The divine soldier descended from heaven, what a coincidence!"
……
At this time, Xiangyang City was in chaos, and thieves rushed in from the "Xicheng Gate" on horseback. All the officers, soldiers and people ran around, powerless to resist.
All the people in Xiangyang either dragged their families and fled out of the city, or closed the door tightly, and the whole family hugged and trembled. It was a disaster, why did the thieves suddenly enter the city?I heard that it is still offering thieves, which is really unexpected.
There are also some local ruffians, or those who are dissatisfied with the government, who have long wanted to turn to thieves, get excited, and then fuel the flames in the city, fanning the flames.
No one could have imagined that Xiangyang was suddenly invaded by thieves and turned into such a mess.
It turned out that that night, after Liu Wenxiu led 28 elite cavalry from the old battalion to the west gate, he took out the seized Yang Sichang's proclamation talisman for the officers and soldiers to watch. Liu Wenxiu and others entered the city.
After Liu Wenxiu led 28 riders into the city, he quickly found the internal response, and at the fourth watch of the night, he created chaos, set fire everywhere, and attacked the garrison officers and soldiers. At the same time, Pan Duao and others in the city responded together.
Not long after Zhang Xianzhong raised his army in Gucheng, he was defeated at Manao Mountain. Military adviser Pan Duao and others, as well as Zhang Xianzhong's wives and concubines Aoshi and Gaoshi were captured and imprisoned in Xiangyang City Prison.Unexpectedly, Wang Cheng, the magistrate of Xiangyang, was once a womanizer. Seeing that the Ao family and others were beautiful, he moved his mind.Pan Duao threaded the needle through it, making it a good thing.Since Pan Du'ao was successful in mediating, the guards were relaxed, and he was free to come and go in and out of the prison. When there was a civil turmoil in the city, he took the opportunity to respond.
In the chaos, Liu Wenxiu and others opened the "Xicheng Gate" on the west side of Xiangyang City. Zhang Xianzhong, who had noticed the movement in Xiangyang City, immediately sent a large army into the city. This made Xiangyang City even more panic-boiling. out.
There is Prince Xiang's Mansion in the city, which is located in the south of Xiangyang City. At this time, the King's Mansion was alarmed, and Zhu Yiming, King of Xiang, got up in a hurry, and brought Zhu Changfa, King of Guiyang, and Zhu Changcheng, King of Fuqing, to the Duanli Gate to watch. The city was in chaos. The group heard the sound of thieves entering the city everywhere, and everyone was so shocked that their faces turned pale.
In a panic, I saw Zhang Kejian, the deputy envoy of military preparations, Wang Chengzeng, the magistrate of Xiangyang, Li Tianjue, who was in charge of Xiangyang affairs, and Jiang Yueguang, the promotion officer, and others, under the protection of some officers and soldiers, fled to the palace in panic. Let them enter the palace, closed the gate again, took Zhang Kejian's hand, and said in panic: "My dear friends, what's going on."
Xiangyang prefect Wang Chengceng cried loudly: "My lord, the thieves have entered the city, and now the city is full of thieves, we need to escape quickly."
King Xiang was startled and said, "The thieves have... entered the city? Aren't they in Sichuan, why did they enter the city?"
Zhu Changfa, king of Guiyang, said angrily, "There are guards in the four gates, what about them?"
Li Tianjue, who was in charge of Xiangyang affairs, said bitterly: "If you escape, you don't know where to go. What's the use of the state raising soldiers for these poor people!"
Zhu Changcheng, the king of Fuqing, said urgently: "Let's run away too. Staying in the city is waiting for death. Yes, we can go north along the pontoon bridge and enter Fancheng."
Pushing officer Jiang Yueguang shook his head and said: "I can't escape, now the city is full of thieves, the officers and soldiers are all scattered, we will be caught as soon as we go out, we have to stick to the palace."
Everyone panicked even more. Thousands of officers and soldiers in Xiangyang have dispersed. Is it useful to rely on the hundreds of captains in the palace?
King Xiang burst into tears: "Heaven will kill me."
Seeing the prince like this, all the officials also cried loudly.
Suddenly, from the "Gongchen Gate" and "Linhan Gate" near the Hanshui River in the north, there was a voice like a tsunami: "Wan Sheng!"
The momentum is majestic, full of endless mighty and heroic meaning.
For a moment, the whole city was silent, and everyone's eyes turned to that side: "What's the sound?"
Zhu Changcheng, king of Fuqing, was trembling all over: "Have thieves entered the North Gate?"
……
Dozens or hundreds of thieves and cavalry continued to enter the city. They screamed strangely, galloped through the streets and alleys, and seized every gate and every key point under the guidance of the insiders.
From time to time, he knocked down the unlucky officers, soldiers and people beside him with a knife. Seeing these fierce thieves, the people either screamed and ran, or hurriedly avoided the house, or quickly knelt down on the side of the street. I hope that these thieves will show mercy and spare their lives.
Zhang Xianzhong's advance department sent Bai Wenxuan, Ma Wu, and Wang Xingguo into the city. Seeing that the entry was smooth, they sent their adoptive son Ainengqi into the city. Finally, surrounded by Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo, they led their most elite old soldiers, Kuai Ma Rushed into the city of Xiangyang.
Looking at the mighty and sturdy city and the panicked soldiers and civilians in the city, Zhang Xianzhong was very proud, and laughed up to the sky: "Haha, donkey ball, Xiangyang City has finally fallen into Lao Tzu's hands, and Lao Tzu took the city on 28 horses. The trick is no worse than Zhuge Kongming."
He remembered that the most important thing was to control Prince Xiang's Mansion. Although his foster son Ai Nengqi had already led hundreds of people to go there, Zhang Xianzhong was still worried. If King Xiang's family were to escape, half of his thoughts would be lost.
He led the old battalion to gallop towards the palace, at this moment, there was a whistling sound from the north of Xiangyang City.
Zhang Xianzhong frowned: "Your mother's, who is yelling over there?"
Li Dingguo was by Zhang Xianzhong's side, suddenly a bad feeling surged in his heart.
There was a neigh, and there was a sound of horseshoes at the north gate, and a voice shouted: "The soldiers and civilians of Xiangyang City, listen up, Xuanfu Town East Road General, Dingguo General Wang Dou led the army to help. Order the whole city, the army will destroy the thieves, everyone The common people should immediately go home and close their doors, and do not stay in the market, and those who violate this rule will be treated as thieves and will be killed without hesitation!"
"The benevolent and righteous division of the Shun Township Army only sacrifices thieves and never harasses them. The people don't need to panic, and they can calmly wait for the chaos to be pacified!"
When the sound came out, all the soldiers and civilians were stunned.
At this moment, the sound of horseshoes sounded like a shower in the north of the city, and it seemed that the ground of the entire city was shaking.

(End of this chapter)