In the past, when foreign enemies invaded a city that could not be conquered for a long time, they would use this reason to persuade the defending general to open the city and surrender. The Jin Dynasty destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty, the Mongol Yuan Empire destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty, the Manchurian Qing Dynasty destroyed the Southern Ming Dynasty, and the Japanese invasion of China. They threatened the lives of the people in the city, saying that if they did not surrender, the city would be massacred after the city was breached. All the people in the city died because of the defending general.
As a result, some of the defending generals gave up resisting and surrendered. The lives of the people in the city were indeed saved, but the city was lost. The defense line was broken, and the situation deteriorated rapidly. The enemy marched straight into the interior, and the country was in danger of being destroyed. People often fell into a dilemma when faced with this kind of thing. On one hand, the city was indeed lost. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of people in the city survived and were not slaughtered by the enemy. As a result, some people said that one had to look at this matter dialectically. Moral integrity or the lives of hundreds of thousands of people were more important.
There was a very famous example. During the Anshi Rebellion, Zhang Xun guarded Suiyang. In order to resist the Anshi Rebellion, he ate everything that could be eaten, including people. He defended the city for three years until the city was breached. The tens of thousands of people in the city were almost eaten up. Some people sighed at Zhang Xun's moral integrity, some criticized Zhang Xun's cruelty, some felt that moral integrity was important, and some felt that the people were more important.
Xiao Ruxun really wanted to ask those who felt that human lives were more important, whether it was better to die as a citizen of their country, or to die as a slave of a conquered country.
The Jin Dynasty destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty, and the cities that did not resist were saved. Then what? The Mongol Yuan Empire destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty, and the cities that did not resist were saved. Then what? The Manchurian Qing Dynasty destroyed the Southern Ming Dynasty, and the cities that did not resist were saved. Then what? The Japanese invaded China, and the cities that did not resist were saved. Then what?
Some people said that it was the same no matter who ruled the country. They all oppressed the people and did not treat them as human beings. Was it important who was the ruler? If the court did not treat the people as human beings, why should they be buried with them?
Just like that, three and a half of the Four Universal Civilizations of the ancient world were destroyed, leaving only half of China. The half that was destroyed was very interesting. It was a folk song that the people of Jiangyin had once sung. "XX people, a gun, XX people, bundles of fragrance, XX people, hurriedly kneel on the beach, XX people, offering their daughters and mothers."
The remaining half was even more interesting — "I'm just a lowly person. Today, I've received the bravery of the scholar-officials. I'm willing to die for loyalty and righteousness. Even if I die, I'm still alive!"
There was only one life, and those who cherished their lives were not wrong. Everyone cherished their lives. There were very few people who did not care about their lives, almost none. However, Xiao Ruxun often thought of the suicide couplet left behind by that person who did not care about his life — Eighty days of swearing allegiance, representing the seventeen reigns of Taizu, one hundred thousand people die together, leaving three hundred miles of land to Daming.
There was nothing wrong with seeking life, nor was there anything wrong with dying. Who was the one who was wrong?
The imperial court is theirs, but the country is ours. I'm not defending a city, but a country.
After a long sigh, Xiao Ruxun was about to say something, but he noticed some strange movements from the soldiers on the city wall. Looking around, Xiao Ruxun actually saw those confused gazes, the kind of gazes that did not know what to do. It seemed that the soldiers felt that this guy's words made sense, and their gazes became strange.
Xiao Ruxun's heart trembled, and he did not wait any longer. He grabbed a crossbow, aimed it at the soldier below the city wall, and shot it down. The arrow shot out and hit the soldier's throat. In just an instant, the soldier fell from his horse, dead.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.
They all looked at Xiao Ruxun, who had a stern expression on his face.
"Traitor, how dare you talk about life and death! Traitor Bo Bai didn't even think about it! Back then, when he was chased by the Mongolians to Daming, he was in such a sorry state! Daming ignored the past and accepted Bo Bai! But today, he did not remember the past and rebelled! How disloyal and unjust! How can I bend my knees and follow a traitor, leaving behind a name of disloyalty and unjust for all eternity! Today, I will die! And I will leave my name in history! I will be respected by future generations! I will not be called a traitor by my sons and grandsons! I will have to kneel in front of the loyal martyrs forever, and be scolded by future generations for ten thousand years! "
Xiao Ruxun yelled at the top of her lungs, cursing and swearing at the rebel army on the city wall. Leaving her name in the annals of history and going down in infamy for ten thousand years, to be scolded by her descendants, instantly caused the eyes of all the soldiers on the city wall to widen as they came to their senses.
Leaving his name in history for ten thousand years, and being scolded by future generations was not a big deal. But was it really a good thing to be questioned by future generations about being disloyal and hated by their parents and family, just like Hong Chengchou? Daming, how many people in the world did not know about Qin Hui kneeling in front of Prince Yue? How many people did not know? Qing Shan was fortunate, but Bai Tie was innocent?
"Soldiers, today, I will lead the charge to fight to the death. If the traitor comes, I will fight to the death! If I take a step back, all of you can chop off my head! If all of you take a step back, the steel blade in my hand will not recognize my brotherhood! The military order is here, those who do not obey! Kill! "
With a dark expression, Xiao Ruxun pulled out his blade and slashed at the city wall. The hearts of the soldiers trembled. They no longer had any thoughts of retreating. The morale of the soldiers was like iron, and they no longer had any other thoughts.
"Yes, Sir!"
The soldiers on the city wall shouted in unison. Their voices traveled hundreds of steps away, causing Bo Yun and the others, who were observing the situation not far away, to stare in shock.
"He … he's not surrendering?"
Bo Yun turned to look at the equally shocked Bo Yong.
"Didn't he just say … he … he … general … I … we …"
Bo Yun stared blankly for a while before realizing that he had been tricked. Not only had he been tricked, but the morale of the army had also been dampened. The morale of the Ming Army on the city wall had been greatly boosted. The situation had changed.
Thinking up to this point, the brave and arrogant Si Yun's face and neck turned red. It was so red that it was scary. Seeing this, Yuan Shiyong was a little worried. He was worried that in the next second, blood would seep out from Si Yun's face and neck.
"Attack the city! Damn it! How dare you trick me! Xiao Ruxun! I will cut you into a thousand pieces! "
Hearing Bo Yun's roar, Bo Yong paused and turned pale with fright. "General, general, you can't, you can't … ah —"
Bo Yun kicked Bo Yong ten meters away. Bo Yong fell to the ground. No one knew if he was dead or alive. No one dared to question Bo Yun's decision anymore.
The five hundred horse troops retreated. The five thousand five hundred foot soldiers slowly lined up under the leadership of their respective thousand commanders. They got into an attacking position. Cannons, fire arrows, ballistae, and other large scale siege weapons were all available. The two thousand archers of the rebel army moved into position. The soldiers with knives, shields, and spears carried ladders and prepared to climb the city wall and attack.
"General, the rebel army is about to attack the city. General, please leave the city!"
Wang Hui stepped forward and wanted to lead Xiao Ruxun to a safe place.
Xiao Ruxun stared angrily at Wang Hui. "I just said, if I take a step back, anyone can cut off my head! If that's the case, if the rebel army doesn't retreat, I won't retreat! Pass down the order! Reload the Francon Rifle! Fire in unison! Don't wait for the rebel army to line up! I want to strike first! "
Wang Hui was shocked. He looked at the rebel army's position and hurriedly said, "General! The distance is too far. We can't hit them! The Francs have a range of more than one li. It is obvious that we can't hit them from here. "
Xiao Ruxun observed the rebel army's position. He then raised his hand to a forty-five degree angle and ordered, "Raise the muzzle of the cannon. It's like my arm is on the ground. We will be on the high wall. Raising the cannon will increase the range. Shoot one first and see what the situation is like! There is no reasoning with the rebel army! "
Wang Hui could only do as he was told. He ordered one of the cannons to raise the muzzle and then ordered the gunners to light it up.
With a "boom", the cannon was fired. The shell drew a beautiful parabola in the air. It was slightly slanted and directly smashed between two of the rebel army's cannons. The shell exploded and lead flew everywhere. Not only were the cannons destroyed, but there were also many casualties among the surrounding archers. This caused both the Ming Army and the rebel army to be stunned.
"Good!"
Xiao Ruxun shouted and ordered, "Gunners, listen up! Raise the muzzle! Fire the cannons! "
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