On the ninth day of the second month, Lin Province.
The city floated amidst the chaotic flames.
In the direction of the city wall, Shu Liesu's desperate attack had begun. The sound of the boulder shaking the long wall could be heard clearly across half of the city.
In the southwest, the resistance of Shen Wenjin's troops after entering the city caused a certain commotion. They lit fires and burned the houses in the city. Meanwhile, at the northeast city gate, a group of unexpectedly surrendering Jin soldiers launched a surprise attack to seize the city gate, causing a certain number of casualties to the nearby Huaxia soldiers.
This news came quickly. Guan Sheng listened as he quickly walked between the tents in the camp, surrounded by soldiers running past. When he saw the courtyard in front of him, he also saw Xu Chunyi coming from the other side.
Other than Yan Qing and the others following behind Xu Chunyi, the Huaxia army did not give him any restrictive torture tools. Therefore, on the surface, Xu Chunyi's expression was only slightly gloomy. He stopped and looked at Guan Sheng who was quickly walking over. Guan Sheng's gaze was solemn and dignified. He walked to Xu Chunyi's side and patted the dust off his shoulder.
"General Xu, come with us."
Finished speaking, Guan Sheng led Xu Chunyi and several people behind him into the courtyard next door.
The room in the courtyard was brightly lit. When Guan Sheng and the others entered, many of the garrison generals under Xu Chunyi's command were already gathered here. Guan Sheng walked to the front and pressed both hands on the table. "Everyone, sit."
Everyone looked at Xu Chunyi and sat down. Guan Sheng spread his hands and gestured for Xu Chunyi to sit beside him.
"Time is of the essence, so I'll make it short. Someone betrayed us and joined the Jin dogs. We found out and General Xu has already cleaned them up. We wanted to beat them at their own game and lure a group of Jin dogs in to kill them. However, Shu Liesu is very smart and sent the Han army. No matter what, what you are hearing now is the sound of Shu Liesu's desperate attack. "
Guan Sheng's gaze was dignified. He paused for a moment. "In the past few days, the Huaxia army has fought side by side with everyone. Some things can be made clear now. The Jurchens have 30,000 elites and endless reinforcements. It is impossible to defend Lin Province to the death. And looking at the current situation, we don't know how many spineless people are in this city. Shu Liesu wants to win quickly, and so do we. "
"No matter how powerful an opponent is, there will always be an opening when they attack. We're fighting a big game with a small one, so we can only be reckless. The attack on Arcane Speed will begin soon. "
The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. As a general in the army, his observation skills were no worse than an ordinary person's. Earlier, when they saw Xu Chunyi's expression and noticed that the people following behind Xu Chunyi were not his usual confidants, they had many speculations in their hearts. When Guan Sheng said that he did not know how many more "balls" there were in the army, the meaning of these words made people even more suspicious. However, no one had expected that on the third day of defending the city, the Huaxia army, numbering more than ten thousand, would launch a counterattack against Shu Liesu, who led more than thirty thousand elite Jurchen soldiers.
How foolish was such a tactic? However, in all fairness, as long as one was rational, it would not be difficult for them to detect the current deadlock in Lin Zhou.
Thirty thousand elite Jurchen soldiers leading thirty thousand traitors could certainly defend Lin Province for a while. However, Zong Han's main force was not far to the north. If Shu Liesu could not take Lin Province, would the other two hundred thousand Jurchen main force just stand by and do nothing?
And after the battle to defend the city began, the option of retreat had actually disappeared. After Tian Shi's death, the situation in Jin was perilous, and the possibility of reinforcements arriving was almost zero. Defending the city without any reinforcements was a dead end. They could only wait until the battle of attrition had lasted for a while and then try to break out. When the Jurchen cavalry arrived, no one would be able to escape.
If they had thought all this through, how bold would the current choice be?
No one said anything. Guan Sheng was also silent for a moment. "The country has fallen, and the home has been destroyed." He said, "I believe that no matter which path we take in the future, we can all think it through. But in the past few days, the Huaxia army has been interacting with you and communicating with you every day. Everyone should know what your brothers are thinking. No one wants to be a dog!"
"We're about to go into battle. I don't know how the battle will turn out today and if we can come back. Let's not talk about the general principles. " He patted Xu Chunyi's shoulder and glanced at him. "But there are still civilians in the city. Although not many, I hope that we can take this opportunity to escape to the south with them. This is the duty of a soldier. As for everyone … if there is anyone who can keep up with Shu Liesu today … "
A sharp light flashed in his eyes. "In the future, we will all be brothers of the Huaxia army. On behalf of all the Huaxia soldiers, I welcome everyone."
After saying this, Guan Sheng withdrew his hand from Xu Chunyi's shoulder and turned to walk outside. At this time, someone in the room stood up. It was one of Xu Chunyi's valiant generals named Shi Guangen. His expression was also unfriendly. "Who are you looking down on!"
Guan Sheng turned his head to look at him. Shi Guangen said, "What do you mean by thinking it through? Those who don't know would think that you're talking to a bunch of cowards! It's just killing Shu Liesu. My men are ready. How do you want to fight, Guan Sheng? "
Guan Sheng nodded and clenched his fists. Many people in the room had already figured out what was going on. In fact, surrender was a sensitive topic at the moment. Tian Shi had just passed away. Although Xu Chunyi was the commander of the army, he could only privately contact some of his trusted subordinates. Otherwise, if there was a big commotion and one of them was unwilling to surrender, the news would reach the ears of the Huaxia army.
Because of this, the people in the room were only guessing about Xu Chunyi's change. Now, their guesses were settled in the minds of some people. Some people whispered to each other and seemed to understand something. "Xu … Xu Chunyi has become a dog …" Others nodded in understanding. Another person stood up and cupped his hands. "General Guan, I am willing to join the Huaxia army. Don't leave my hundreds of brothers behind."
If this happened at any other time, it would not be surprising for the entire army to surrender. However, there was the Huaxia army to hold the line. In the past few days, the mobilization meetings and the results of fighting side by side with each other were not bad. This ignited the blood in everyone's chest. Moreover, Xu Chunyi had previously manipulated the army and suffered a crushing defeat. At this time, he had finally lost control of the army.
Guan Sheng did not say much. He left the people of the General Staff behind and strode out. The light from the battle on the city wall shone on him. He took the broadsword and mounted his warhorse. He turned his head to look at the sky and then urged his horse forward with the people around him.
Above the city wall, the night was still as dark as ink.
…
Outside the city, the siege of tens of thousands of soldiers converged into the most magnificent sea in the night before dawn. The shouts of tens of thousands of people, the charge of the Jurchens and the Han people, the arrows that flew across the sky, the flaming boulders, and the continuous bombardment from the city wall were all ignited. Rolling logs and stones were thrown down from the top of the city wall by the soldiers. The poured kerosene was ignited, forming a horrifying curtain of fire.
The most elite troops under Shu Liesu's command had begun to enter the city. In the southwest of the city, Shen Wenjin's troops had begun to attack the city in order to save the commander-in-chief.
Before this, the elite troops that had entered the city had suffered heavy casualties. Some of the soldiers who had been "relieved" at the top of the city wall were caught off guard and gathered together. Then, they were forced to jump off the city wall or were killed. They died horrible deaths. Inside the city, the sound of cannons and explosions continued to be heard.
While the fierce attack had begun outside the city, inside the city of Linzhou, groups of living forces were gathering one after another. Among them were the Huaxia army and Xu Chunyi's original troops. In such a world, although the country had fallen, and as Guan Sheng said, "the country was destroyed and the family was destroyed," being able to follow the Huaxia army to do such a heroic thing still carried a considerable weight for many people who had been suppressed for half their lives.
Moreover, being able to join the Huaxia army in the future was also a very tempting thing. Now that Prince Jin had passed away, there was no place for the Han people to stand in the Central Plains. If they could really escape from danger after the war, the Huaxia army's achievements would certainly shock the world, and it would be a glorious ending for anyone.
There was no better and more human path.
Shi Guangen gathered the soldiers and shouted in front of the crowd, "Hurry up!"
"… I've said it before, if you die, you'll be like a bird facing the sky, if you don't die, you'll live for thousands of years … Today, I'll kill Shu Liesu and join the Huaxia army.
Yesterday's battle was fierce, and the people hadn't rested for long, so they were very tired. However, when they heard the madness in these words, some of the soldiers had goosebumps, and the blood in their chests surged …
More people were gathering.
…
On the northern city wall, the white-hot battle was spreading.
The flying arrows bounced off the armor, and Xu Ning stabbed the short spear in his hand into the chest of a female soldier. As the soldier roared, Xu Ning stabbed the second short spear into the soldier's throat, and took the opportunity to pull out the first spear, piercing the thigh of a female soldier next to him.
The female soldier was chasing a Huaxia soldier with blood dripping from his shoulder. At this moment, his thigh was pierced, and he slashed at the soldier. Xu Ning stabbed and retracted his spear, stabbing the soldier to the ground.
"Go —"
He pounced at his wounded subordinate, and a female Enlightened Master rushed over and slashed at his back. The steel blade cut through the armor, but it didn't penetrate deep into the flesh. Xu Ning staggered forward two steps, picked up a shield, and turned around to ram into the enemy.
He was skilled in martial arts, and when he rammed into the shield, there was a loud bang. The female soldier and another female Enlightened Master behind him couldn't dodge in time and were both sent rolling on the ground. More female Enlightened Masters came up from the front, and more Huaxia soldiers came up from the back. The two sides clashed on the city wall.
An opening on the city wall was opened, and then Xu Ning and his men took it back. Then, another section was climbed up. Shu Liesu's elite soldiers hadn't been too exhausted yesterday, so their combat strength was not to be underestimated. After two rounds of fighting, corpses and blood spread on the city wall. Xu Ning's eyes were bloodshot, and he was also stabbed several times. He led his men to retreat while fighting.
After Xu Ning and the others gradually retreated from the city wall, they announced that this section of the city wall had fallen.
The female soldiers broke through this section of the city wall and killed their way to the still sealed Lin Province's north gate. Soon, the streets were filled with explosions. While Xu Ning was fighting with his life on the line, the engineering team had already buried gunpowder, sprinkled kerosene, and even piled up wood on the road to the city gate. At this time, the road was blocked by raging flames.
Xu Ning put away the two spears he used in close combat and carried the golden scythe spear on his back. He led his soldiers in a new round of killing.
The streets were in chaos.
Near the southwest gate, 'Thunderbolt' Qin Ming carried his mace in one hand and Shen Wenjin in the other as he stepped onto the city wall.
"Light up the fire! Let them see clearly! "
The nearly ten thousand soldiers under Shen Wenjin's command were attacking the city from outside. However, as the three thousand elite soldiers of this team were either killed or surrendered inside the city, the battle against the city was carried on powerlessly. There was no threat to speak of.
After all, in the beginning, the Huaxia army was prepared to welcome the elite soldiers of the Jurchens. Later, although Shen Wenjin and his soldiers resisted, the Huaxia soldiers quickly settled the battle and pulled their forces to the top of the city wall. Other than the fire that these soldiers set in the city during their stubborn resistance, the Huaxia army didn't suffer many losses.
The torches burned fiercely as Qin Ming dragged Shen Wenjin toward the gate. Shen Wenjin's hands and feet were tied and his face was pale. He trembled all over and said, "I surrender, I surrender, brothers of the Huaxia army! I surrender! Grandpa! I surrender, I'll help you get the people outside to surrender, I'll help you fight the Jurchens … "
He screamed, but Qin Ming only sneered. This was naturally impossible. After defecting to the Jurchen side, whether it was by Shen Wenjin's side or in the army outside, there were always Jurchen generals holding down the fort. As soon as Shen Wenjin was captured, his authority to command the army was basically removed.
"Shout loudly here for me!"
Qin Ming picked up a rope and tied it around Shen Wenjin's neck. He kicked him to the parapet wall, then glanced outside the city before turning around and walking into the city.
Most of the Huaxia cavalry had already gathered on the streets under Qin Ming's lead. Six hundred Huben were ready to rush out of the city at any time and start a massacre.
Qin Ming mounted his warhorse. The blood stains on the heavy mace hadn't been dried by the night wind.
On the top of the city wall, Shen Wenjin, whose neck was tied with a rope, was being threatened by two Huaxia soldiers. He was screaming hysterically. The Jurchens in the besieging army forced the soldiers forward. Some Jurchens were hiding among the soldiers and approaching the city wall. They began to shoot arrows at Shen Wenjin.
The wind was strong at night, and the two Huaxia soldiers on top of the city wall were paying attention to the danger around Shen Wenjin. They shot several arrows, but they either missed or hit the shields. Before they could shoot again, the city gate in front of them opened.
"Hurry up and run —" Shen Wenjin's shout was exceptionally clear even in the midst of the commotion.
…
On the northern side of the city wall, sections of the city wall fell one after another. However, the Huaxia army had deliberately destroyed them. Patches of kerosene were poured and burned. Although they had opened up some paths on the city wall, the area after entering the city was still chaotic and deadlocked.
Shu Liesu solemnly observed the situation on the battlefield. Surging soldiers were encroaching on the city from several places. At the first opening of the city wall, a large number of soldiers had already entered the city and were standing firm, preparing to seize the northern gate. The Huaxia army was still stubbornly resisting, but at this stage of the battle, it could be said that the city had already been breached.
He had once experienced the quality of the Huaxia army at Little Cang River. For this army, even in a difficult street battle, they could probably resist for a long time. However, his side had already gained a great advantage. Next, the Huaxia army, which had been split up and scattered, would lose a unified command. Whether they resisted or fled, they would be swallowed by him one by one.
Due to the different direction of the wind, the hot air balloon didn't rise again. However, the flying Hai Dongqing in the sky soon brought an ominous message. The cavalry from the southwest gate had killed their way out. Shen Wenjin's army had already been routed on a large scale.
"Pass on the order to Ali Bai." Shu Liesu issued a military order. "He has five thousand men under him. If he lets Black Flag escape from the southwest, let him bring his head to see us!"
The messenger quickly left. It was already past the hour of the morning. Unstoppable fireworks rose into the sky and exploded with a loud bang. The three city gates in the northeast and northwest of Linzhou opened at this time. The horn to charge rang out from different directions. A black flood rushed towards the flank of the Adept.
At this time, only Shu Liesu's side was on the battlefield of tens of thousands of people. Some were outside the city, some were in the city, some were fighting on the city wall, some were being routed, and some were stopping the routed. When the city gate opened, the tide of people rushed into the crowd. The Huaxia army and the Xu army that followed had the same orders, so they had a slight advantage.
In the southwest, Qin Ming led six hundred cavalry and drove Shen Wenjin's routed army around to Shu Liesu's main formation.
Outside the northwest gate, a regiment of one thousand five hundred men was plowing a bloody path through the besiegers. The leader was called Nie Shan. He was one of the old men who had followed Ning Yi. He had once been a small leader on Liangshan and killed people like flies. Later, he had gone through the Zhu Jia Village's training camp and received Lu Hongti's guidance in martial arts. He walked the path of repentance and asceticism.
Over the years, the initial batch of ascetics in the Huaxia army had dwindled, but as long as they were still alive, their fighting style was fierce and intimidating. Nie Shan, who was nearly fifty years old, was tall and sturdy. His face was covered in scars, and he held a nine-ringed broadsword in his hand. The hundred or so vanguards under his command were all shaved monks. The longswords, iron spears, and heavy hammers in their hands could easily crack open anyone's bones.
Half of the besiegers were Han soldiers, and the other half were Jurchens. In a short while, a large number of soldiers were chased and forced to flee. Behind these monks, corpses and blood formed a long path.
Huyan Zhuo and Li Jiakai each led a thousand men out from the east and northeast. At the same time, there were nearly ten thousand soldiers under the leadership of Shi Guangen and the others. They charged out of the gate from different paths. Their target was the same — Shu Liesu.
The general of the Jurchen army, Suotuo Hu, was Shu Liesu's most trusted subordinate. He led more than four thousand elite soldiers and broke into the city first. They fought their way into the city and gained a firm foothold under the constant attacks of Xu Ning and the others. When he sensed the strange movements in the city, he realized that something was wrong. At this time, a large number of Xu Family's soldiers were charging towards the northern wall.
The Jurchens' main formation outside the city was momentarily thrown into chaos by the sudden counterattack of the Huaxia army. But not long after, it calmed down. Shu Liesu gripped his longsword and understood the Black Flag Army's intentions. He laughed on his warhorse and then issued military orders, ordering the various divisions to gather into formation and fight calmly.
With thirty thousand of his direct subordinates by his side, he had never been afraid of anyone when it came to attack, defend, and ambush. As long as he could gain a foothold and launch a counterattack, the Huaxia army in Lin State City would cease to exist.
Even the unopened north gate and the possible arrival of Wang Juyun's Wisdom King Army were something he did not neglect.
At this time, a fierce report came from the northeast. An army was about to break into the battlefield.
Shu Liesu raised his sword and led four thousand men to meet them personally.
In the early hours of the morning, the city was burning. The conflict of nearly a hundred thousand people seemed to turn into a raging and chaotic flood, or a madly spinning wheel. At the place where Zhu Biao and the others had broken into, a low-quality Han army had just finished gathering. Due to the haste of the attack, neither the Jurchens nor the Han had truly set up the defenses of their camps. They broke through this small group of fish and soon encountered a ferocious opponent.
On the Black Flag Army's side, nearly twenty thousand people launched a surprise attack. They began to press toward the center from different directions, and the Jurchens along the way launched a tenacious resistance. On one side of the battlefield, Lu Junyi had gathered twenty of his subordinates. Seeing this grand scene, they carefully mixed into the battlefield along the edge, trying to fish in troubled waters.
This small group was like an inconspicuous drop of water, disappearing in the blink of an eye …
Guan Sheng and Xu Ning also brought the last of their troops to join the battle. The killing continued, and from time to time, their comrades beside them would fall in blood. The Hua Xia army broke through layer after layer of defense, but soon after, another group of Daoist Masters came from the side. More than two hours after daybreak, Wang Juyun led more than 20,000 Wisdom King's troops to the battlefield.
At this time, the Jurchens led by Shu Liesu had already gained the upper hand in the battle. The Chinese army, under great exhaustion, stubbornly chased after the thirty thousand Jurchens, repeatedly regrouping and charging. The two armies encircled and counter-encircled the Chinese army several times, and the scattered Chinese army would soon regroup. Unexpectedly, the Chinese army had gone crazy this time, and Shu Liesu led thousands of men in a relentless slaughter.
As a result, the battlefield spread out. By the time the Wisdom King's army arrived, a large number of the Jurchens had lost accurate contact with their main forces. They could only gather together and chase after all the exhausted Huaxia soldiers they could see. Most of them were defeated Han soldiers that could be seen all over the mountains and plains. Not long after, these soldiers and the Wisdom King Army clashed again.
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