Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 340: Taking Hanoi (Repaying Yesterday’s Debt)
After two rounds of artillery fire by the Tang army, the Vietnamese artillery that had just been firing was eliminated by bursts of fire.

Immediately, the Tang army's artillery adjusted its target and began to deliver firepower to the Vietnamese infantry.

After several rounds of artillery fire, the Vietnamese infantry began to retreat as expected.

However, Zhang Guoliang did not order his side to launch a pursuit.

The reason was simple, because the hot air balloon overhead reported again that they saw the Vietnamese army's troop movements in the sky.

Knowing that the Vietnamese army had set up an ambush in advance, this retreat was a feigned defeat to lure the enemy.

If the Tang army launched a pursuit, it would be exactly what they wanted.

Well, since the Vietnamese army knew that they were no match for the Tang army on the front battlefield, they naturally would not seek death in a head-on battle with the Tang army.

Lure the enemy into an ambush, which was the plan proposed by several Vietnamese generals after discussion.

It’s just a pity that the Tang army had hot air balloons for reconnaissance, and the Tang army commander was well aware of the battlefield movements.

The Vietnamese army's ambush was doomed to be in vain.

Zhang Guoliang put down the telescope in his hand and spoke.

"Notify all units on our front lines and tell them that the Vietnamese army has set up ambushes in the woods ten kilometers northwest and eight kilometers northeast of the battlefield."

"Let our front line advance steadily, first use artillery to clean up the ground, and then send troops into the forest to clear out the ambushed Vietnamese troops."

……

In the woods, Huang Weiqi hid behind a bush, anxiously waiting for a signal from his own soldiers.

In order to avoid being discovered by the Tang army for their ambush, Huang Weiqi led his men to move into the dense forest in the dark last night.

He had already made an agreement with the other troops that when the Tang army fell into ambush, they would send a signal and then Huang Weiqi would lead his troops to attack.

Otherwise, in order not to expose their tracks, Huang Weiqi's troops had to reduce their movements as much as possible.

However, the sound of artillery fire from the direction of the battlefield had been heard for quite some time.

But there was no sign of anyone from our side sending any signal.

This made Huang Weiqi feel a little uneasy.

He couldn't help but wonder if the Tang army had discovered his ambush.
Otherwise, according to estimates, the Tang army should have entered the ambush circle at this moment.

"Send someone to ask what the current situation on the battlefield is."

"Why hasn't the Tang army entered the encirclement yet?"

Huang Weiqi began to give orders to the soldiers around him.

However, just as he finished speaking, he heard the buzzing sound of a cannonball cutting through the air.

A shell fell from the sky and landed at his feet.

The next moment, Huang Weiqi lost consciousness.

The shell exploded, and half of his body was blown into a pulp.

Blood spurted out, flesh and bones flew around, the scene was horrifying.

Boom! Boom!
After several rounds of shelling, hundreds of shells poured into the dense forest.

An explosion sounded and the shock wave swept across, destroying everything in its path.

Countless leaves, body parts and pieces of flesh were flying everywhere.

Screams and wails continued to sound.

The Vietnamese troops in the dense forest were blown to pieces.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with the Vietnamese army's plan.

Huang Weiqi hid it pretty well too.

But the birds of the sky betrayed them.

The dense forest that can accommodate nearly 10,000 people must be large.

There were birds circling over such a large dense forest but they just wouldn't land, which clearly showed that there were people in the forest.

If the ambush was discovered in advance, the consequences would be obvious.

The Tang army decisively chose to use artillery fire to greet the ambushing Vietnamese army.

The Tang army's artillery fired more than ten rounds in succession until there was no movement in the dense forest, and then they sent people into the forest to investigate.

Of course, the advance battalion takes the lead!
After resolving the Vietnamese ambush, the Tang army began to pursue the retreating Vietnamese army.

In the wilderness north of the Red River, the soldiers of the Tang army were pursuing their enemies recklessly and constantly expanding their victory.

"Kill!"

"Brothers, kill!"

"The Tang Dynasty is victorious!"

"..."

……

Chen Yucheng retracted his gaze and clapped his hands excitedly.

"Our army won this battle."

"Send the order to send an ultimatum to Hanoi."

"If Hanoi doesn't surrender within one hour, this commander will bombard Hanoi with heavy artillery."

Since the siege and attack on reinforcements have been completed, there is no need to keep the besieged point of Hanoi.

The Tang army has besieged Hanoi for such a long time. It would be a shame to continue besieging it. It’s time to swallow it up!
Upon hearing this, the communications soldier immediately clasped his fists in agreement, then turned and left to convey the order.

……

There was deathly silence in the city of Hanoi.

They watched helplessly as their own army suffered a disastrous defeat, retreated, was annihilated, and was hunted down outside the city...so there was an unspeakable sadness in the hearts of the Vietnamese officials and soldiers.

"Hahahahaha!"

"It's over, Hanoi is over!"

"The reinforcements were defeated, Hanoi is finished!"

A Vietnamese soldier let out a miserable laugh, then shouted, "It's over!" and jumped off the top of Hanoi City.

A few seconds later, there was a muffled thud outside the city, which was the sound of a human body falling to the ground.

Everyone around was silent.

Hanoi is about to be destroyed, where should these people go?

Do you want to be buried with Hanoi like the man who just jumped off the city wall? !
Lin Weijia stretched out his hand to hold the city wall, his expression tense, but there was a hint of anticipation in his heart.

The four words "fallen leaves return to their roots" kept circling in his mind.

At this moment, a Vietnamese soldier stumbled in from outside the city.

The Vietnamese soldier ran up to Lin Weijia, stood in front of him, and said.

"Report! Repay!"

"Your Excellency the Governor, the Tang army has sent an envoy outside the city!"

"See you at the foot of the city!"

Lin Weijia's face twitched, and he was about to say to bring the person up, but he was concerned about his face and didn't dare to say it out loud.

Pan Qingjian, who was standing by, saw Lin Weijia's embarrassment and took the initiative to speak.

"Go and bring the person up!"

Upon hearing this, the soldier turned and left.

Lin Weijia turned around and said.

"What is Lord Pan doing?"

"We are deeply blessed by the Emperor. Now that Dai Viet is facing foreign threats, we should die for our country. How can we act like a coward?"

Pan Qingjian complained in his heart, why didn't you say this just now.

But he still said it openly.

"Governor, we have held on to Hanoi for more than a month, and many soldiers in the city have been killed or wounded. We can be considered to have lived up to the emperor's grace."

"Now that the reinforcements have been defeated and Hanoi is in danger, it is time for us to consider the people in Hanoi."

"We soldiers and officials can fight to the death for the emperor, but the people in the city should not fall into the flames of war."

"We are the leaders of Hanoi. Now is the time for us to consider the people under our rule."

Lin Weijia seemed to be convinced, sighed, and agreed.

At this moment, several Vietnamese soldiers brought the Tang envoys to the top of the city wall.

Zhang Lin saw Lin Weijia and Pan Qingjian, took a few steps forward and spoke.

"You two, now that the Vietnamese reinforcements have been defeated, Hanoi is within easy reach for our Tang Dynasty."

"I have come here today to bring my commander's ultimatum to everyone in Hanoi."

"If Hanoi surrenders within an hour, all the soldiers, civilians, officials and gentry in Hanoi will be safe. My commander can guarantee that after the army enters the city, no one will be harmed."

"But if Hanoi doesn't surrender within an hour, then our Tang Dynasty will bombard Hanoi with heavy artillery."

"When the time comes, don't say I didn't warn you!"

Today's Zhang Lin is no longer as docile and peaceful as the last time they met, but rather quite arrogant.

The reason is very simple, it is because of the great victory that the Tang army had just achieved.

Lin Weijia and others looked at each other, made a decision, and chose to surrender to the Tang army.

Soon, the gates of Hanoi were opened.

The Vietnamese flag on the city wall was also lowered and replaced with a Tang Dynasty military flag.

Lin Weijia led the officials from Hanoi to the city gate and knelt on the ground to express their submission to the Tang army.

Chen Yucheng rode his horse to the outside of Hanoi City and saw Lin Weijia and others kneeling on the ground. He dismounted and said.

"My Lords, please stand up quickly!"

"It is my honor and the Tang Dynasty's honor that you have come to your senses and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty..."

Chen Yucheng's attitude towards Lin Weijia and others was very gentle.

The reason for this is simple: they are all still useful.

If the Tang army wanted to take over northern Vietnam, it would inevitably need the help of these surrendered officials.

Otherwise, it would not be easy for the Tang army, a group of outsiders who are unfamiliar with the place and cannot even speak the language, to stabilize the place.

Lin Weijia was helped up and said with a somewhat terrified look.

"I am really terrified."

"I hope that after the general leads his troops into the city, he will control the military discipline and not harm the people in the city..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yucheng immediately nodded in agreement.

The Tang army had strict military discipline, and controlling military discipline might be a very difficult task for other armies of the era.

But for the Tang army, only one order was needed.

As long as the generals in charge did not intentionally indulge in it, massacres and looting would hardly happen at the hands of the Tang army.

Well, the good family kids who got the land are so honest and obedient.

(End of this chapter)