I

Tokugawa Ietsuna was frightened, and he was trembling when he spoke: "No...it's better to surrender and agree to the conditions proposed by Tang Jun. No matter how much compensation is paid, it can be paid off slowly. If Tang Jun supports the emperor, everything I wait for will be in vain. It's over."

Inaba Zhengzheng asked: "How is the combat strength of the Tang army?"

Tokugawa Mitsuki replied truthfully: "I brought tens of thousands of Kwantung troops to help, and in the afternoon, I met Tang Jun's scouts. Tang Jun returned to Edo in the middle of the afternoon to report, and marched more than 30 miles at night. The raid on the camp caused my entire army to collapse. Afternoon, one night, a round trip of seventy miles, can our flags do it?"

The crowd shook their heads.

Sakai Tadaki still refused to give up. Once he surrendered, the shogunate would definitely survive, but he, the boss, would become a scapegoat.He had too many political enemies in the past, and they would definitely attack them in groups. Seppuku would be trivial, and maybe his family's fiefdom would also be reduced.

"Edo Castle is strong, as long as we work together, the Tang army will definitely not be able to defeat it." Sakai Zhongqing said.

Several senior middlemen attached to Tadaki Sakai were also afraid of being besieged by political enemies.But they were divided into two factions, and the genealogical daimyos knew in their hearts that they belonged to the basic base of the Tokugawa family, and even if they were held accountable, they would definitely be dealt with lightly.Instead of the daimyo of Pudai, he wanted to follow Tadashi Sakai to the dark alley.

Tokugawa Iezuna was already terrified. He was a shogun, and he just wanted to enjoy it in peace, no matter how much compensation he paid.Seeing that Zhongqing Sakai wanted to defend the city, he quickly said, "Surrender quickly, I order you to surrender!"

Tadaki Sakai was already crazy, he would surely die if he surrendered anyway, not a fight.

If he can keep Edo, his disrespect at this time can be regarded as never happened, and he can gain unprecedented prestige.Sakai Zhongqing shouted: "The general is tired, please go in and rest."

Sakai Tadakiyoshi's confidant who was present understood instantly, stepped forward and surrounded Tokugawa Ietsuna.

Pudai daimyo was stunned. Although they were also daimyos, their ancestors were from the retainers of the Tokugawa family.At the same time, they are attached to Zhongqing Sakai, how should they choose now?

Masanori Inaba still chose to be loyal to the shogunate. He pushed away an old lieutenant and scolded: "Don't disturb the general!"

"Here comes!"

Sakai Tadaki gave an order, and suddenly a dozen banner warriors rushed in.

Tokugawa Ietsuna, Tokugawa Mitsuki, Tokugawa Tsunashige, and those daimyos were all confused by this battle.

Tokugawa Mitsuki scolded angrily: "Do you want to rebel?"

Sakai Zhongqing said: "I am protecting the foundation of the shogunate. The fortified city is still there, and the army is still there. How can I surrender lightly?"

This group of people were all under house arrest.

Since Inaba Masanori was also imprisoned, Sakai Zhongqing was replaced by a new general.It was claimed that the shogun's condition had worsened, and the daimyo, who was under house arrest, stood guard in front of the sickbed, and at the same time gave money to reward the three armies, clamoring to vow to live and die with Edo Castle.

At the beginning, the big names believed it.

But after two or three days, everyone gradually recalled it, and one after another, they asked to see and serve Tokugawa Tsunashige on the grounds of visiting a sick person.

Sakai Zhongqing said: "The general is seriously ill, don't be disturbed, you just need to keep the city alive."

The more this happened, the more suspicious the daimyos became, and even guessed that the shogun had been killed.

"Boom boom boom!"

The inside of the city was dawdling, but the outside of the city couldn't wait, Huang Fei had already ordered a general attack.

There were several loud noises, and the outermost city wall of Edo City was directly blown down by the explosives in the tunnel.

Dozens of artillery pieces and twelve hot air balloons bombarded the city wall in the southeast.The city wall in the southeast is very high and belongs to the third city wall, which can attack the army entering the city from a condescending height.

Countless shells and tens of thousands of enemies fell on the city wall in the southeast, and the fierce and sudden firepower made the defenders there panic.

Datong soldiers took the opportunity to push the simple cart and rushed to the gap in the outer city wall.

After rushing into the outer city, it was immediately covered by arrow rain.

It was the defenders hidden on the west side of the third city wall in the city shooting. Fortunately, Japanese craftsmen made the chariots, otherwise the Datong army would have suffered heavy losses.

According to this, the defenders were too close, and could only use muskets and bows, and could not use artillery to bombard the Datong army.With the defensive power of the chariot, muskets and bows and arrows were effectively blocked, and the Datong army entering the city quickly gained a foothold.

Some Datong soldiers, under the cover of friendly troops, boarded the outer city wall from the ramp inside the city.

Then on the outer city wall, they fired at the defenders on the third city wall opposite.The shogunate army did not have many muskets, but the Datong soldiers held a musket, and soon formed a firepower suppression.

The hot air balloon floating outside was quickly collected.

Taking advantage of suppressing the firepower of the defenders, the hot air balloon was dropped onto the outer city wall and lifted into the sky.It's a pity that the wind direction is a bit wrong. The defenders of the third city wall are on the east side. At this time, the southeast wind is blowing again, and it can only rise at the blocked passages of the inner and outer city walls.

And it can't rise too high, otherwise it will be farther away from the target.

"Hit the top!"

A shogunate officer pointed to the hot air balloon above and said.

Numerous arrows and muskets shot at the hot air balloon.Bows and arrows must not be able to shoot, but muskets can hit, and the hot air balloon has been punched with several holes.

The hot air balloons are all grenadiers. They are tall and burly, holding the enemy of thousands of people and throwing them towards the east.

"Boom boom boom!"

Several ten thousand enemies threw out, half of them landed on the city wall, and half of them landed outside the city wall.

A grenadier, shot by a musket, pushed ten thousand enemies out of the way before falling, avoiding exploding in the rattan basket of the hot air balloon.

More and more Datong soldiers entered the city pushing carts and ladders.

The artillery also came in, using the Japanese artillery on the outer city wall to turn around and bombard the defenders.

"Boom boom boom!"

Not only the gunners of the Datong Army were firing, but the Japanese gunners in the inner city also reacted.It belongs to the commanding heights of the whole city, and the artillery is fired at the outer city wall occupied by the Datong Army.

It's too difficult. A standard fortress-type castle has a total of four walls. If you don't break through one of them, you have to pay a price.

Huang Fei besieged the city for more than a month and launched it after making sufficient preparations. At this time, "huge casualties" still occurred, and the Datong Army had already killed or injured more than 40 people.

The shogunate defenders on the third city wall were attacked by muskets, artillery, and tens of thousands of enemies, and there was already a gap in defense.The division commander Hong Lei, who personally boarded the outer city wall, immediately ordered: "Blow the trumpet and attack the city!"

The Datong soldiers who had already entered the city to wait for orders, now hid behind the baffles of the chariot and the ladder, and immediately pushed the siege equipment to the wall when they heard the sound of the trumpet.The hot air balloons and artillery also stopped to prevent accidental injury to the siege troops. Only the soldiers on the outer city wall were still covering fire.

"Go over there and hold it!" The Japanese officer yelled in a hurry.

At the city wall where the defensive gap was blasted, there were not many defenders left. Most of them were not killed by the bombing, but could not hold the artillery and the enemy, and took the initiative to withdraw towards the nearby city wall.

Taking advantage of the gap when the shogunate army returned to defense, more than a dozen Datong troops successfully boarded the city.The shogunate army rushed over to defend, and fired muskets, bows and arrows at the Datong army, half of the Datong army that had climbed first fell down in an instant.

Enough is enough, the muskets of the shogunate army are still reloading, and the second batch of Datong soldiers have come up, facing the arrows and shooting at the enemies on both sides.

"kill!"

A bullet was fired, and the bayonet was pulled out immediately, and the bayonet was placed on the muzzle of the gun while charging.

Obviously there were only thirty or forty Datong troops, but the battle formation with bayonets in hand seemed to be galloping, and the banner warriors on both sides turned around and fled in fright.They were besieged for more than a month, suffered repeated setbacks, and their morale fell to the bottom long ago.

After some hunting, the third city wall was occupied by the Datong army.

Next, there is a second and first city wall, and one is more dangerous than the first.

So far, the Datong Army has killed and injured more than 80 people!

Thanks to hot air balloon bombing, otherwise the number of casualties would be multiplied.

At this time, civil unrest broke out in Edo city.

Abe Tadaaki led a group of daimyos and banners, and rushed towards the main gate of the shogun.They suspected that Tokugawa Iezuna had been murdered, or was under house arrest, so they rushed in to have a look no matter what.

Chapter 1040 [Surrender and Lose Half]

Tadaki Sakai put the shogun under house arrest, so he had to cover it up and not send too many soldiers to watch.

There are more than 300 daimyo and banners led by Tadaaki Abe.They rushed in with their sabers in hand, and a group of daimyo ran in front of them, who were in charge of guarding the samurai guarding the shogun, and they didn't know what to do in an instant.

Are you going to shoot at a group of big names?

Killing so many big names, no matter what happens afterwards, the samurai who shot will definitely be punished and executed.

The samurai had no choice but to put down their weapons and get out of the way, allowing Tadaaki Abe to lead people into the Great Tenshu.

Tokugawa Ietsuna heard the movement, and shouted inside: "Sakai Tadakiyo is a traitor, please rescue me quickly!"

A group of daimyo were even more excited, and ran in with their knives in hand, welcoming the shoguns, pro-vassals, and genealogists out.

Tokugawa Ietsuna regained his freedom, and was so wronged that he cried directly. He held Abe Tadaaki's hands and said that he would reward loyal ministers.

Tokugawa Mitsuki asked, "Did the Tang army attack the city?"

Abe Tadaaki nodded and said, "The outermost city wall has been breached."

Tokugawa Ietsuna was shocked, and hurriedly said: "Quickly condemn the emissary to surrender, otherwise the Tang army will kill the Tokugawa family and support the Supreme Emperor to regain power."

"The Supreme Emperor?" Abe Tadaaki was taken aback for a moment.

Tokugawa Mitsuki explained: "The Emperor Taishang is in the hands of the Tang army, and it is because of this that Sakai Tadakiyo wants to put the General under house arrest."

Everyone hurried out of the Great Sky Guard and was about to send someone to ask for peace, but they saw a warrior running up: "The city wall has fallen again!"

Abe Zhongqiu asked quickly, only to realize that the third city wall was gone.

Tokugawa Ietsuna's legs were so frightened that his legs were weak, he didn't care that the two walls inside were stronger and more dangerous, he only knew that half of Edo Castle had been occupied by the Tang army, so he hurriedly said: "Uncle, you know the general of the Tang army, you should hurry up and see them yourself." Please surrender."

Mitsuki Tokugawa had no choice but to bite the bullet and take orders.

Tokugawa Ietsuna said again: "Also, arrest the traitor Sakai Tadakiyo!"

Although the shogun is weak and sick, he doesn't care about things, but after all, his status is there.

He personally ordered, no one dared to defy.

Not long after, Sakai Tadaki and several confidantes were escorted over to kneel on the ground.

At this moment, the two sides have temporarily ceased fighting. The shogunate defenders are laying out the defense of the second city wall, and the Datong army is also preparing for the next attack.

Tokugawa Mitsuki came down with a rattan basket hanging, and walked towards the Datong army alone.

Soon he was arrested and went to see Huang Fei, who asked, "What are you doing here?"

Mitsuki Tokugawa explained: "I brought a letter to the city that day. The General intended to offer the city to ask for peace, but was placed under house arrest by the treacherous minister Sakai Tadaki. Now that the General has been rescued, the shogunate is willing to negotiate peace. Your Excellency, please suspend the attack."

Huang Fei sneered: "I am halfway through the siege, and you actually asked me to stop? Who will uphold justice for my dead and wounded soldiers?"

When the Datong Army occupied the third city wall, they were bombarded by artillery shells from the commanding heights. Now the casualties have reached more than 110 people.

If they really wanted to storm the remaining two city walls, the final casualties would probably be thousands, or even two thousand, because the difficulty of attacking the city was also multiplying.When Tokugawa Ieyasu built the city, he put in so much effort that no one in Japan could break through Edo Castle.

Huang Fei didn't want to add fearless casualties, but he had to do enough.

Tokugawa Mitsuki quickly said: "The shogunate will definitely compensate the Chinese warriors who died bravely in battle."

"Is I short of that little pension? You can't live after death!" Huang Fei became more and more angry.

Tokugawa Mitsuki could only bow his hands: "Please calm down, General."

Huang Fei accepted it as soon as he saw it: "Peace talks are fine, let the shogun come out in person to ask for surrender, otherwise I will fight in by myself today!"

"Please wait a moment." Tokugawa Mitsuki went back and replied.

Hearing that he was going to surrender himself, Tokugawa Ietsuna absolutely didn't dare, and kept shaking his head there.

Tokugawa Tsunashige persuaded: "Sir, even if you don't go out, Tang Jun will come in after you surrender."

Tokugawa Ietsuna thought about it carefully, and it was indeed such a truth, so he went out with his daimyo in fear.

Huang Fei also came to the scene in person. Seeing that Tokugawa Jiazuna was just bowing, he immediately sneered: "I am a general, and you are also a general. I am the victor and you are the loser. Why don't you kneel when you ask me to surrender? This is like asking for surrender." Does it look like?"

Tokugawa Ietsuna didn't understand Chinese, he could only write Chinese characters, and Tokugawa Mitsuki hurriedly translated.

Want to kneel down?

Tokugawa Ietsuna turned to look at the daimyos, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he really couldn't hold back his face.

Once you kneel down, not only will you lose your prestige, but the shogunate and your children and grandchildren will also lose face.From now on, the daimyos of the feudal domains will not be so easy to manage, and the daimyos will no longer take the shogun seriously.

But what if you don't kneel?

Tokugawa Ietsuna went out of the city to ask for surrender, but there were Chinese troops all around him, so could he go back swaggeringly?

Tokugawa Ietsuna felt extremely humiliated, gritted his teeth, knelt down and kowtowed and said, "Iegang, please surrender!"

Seeing this, the daimyos behind them all knelt down and knelt down on the ground.

"Get up." Huang Fei let out a bad breath and calmed down.

Tokugawa Ietsuna hadn't fully stood up when he heard Huang Fei say, "I've occupied two city walls, and the terms of the peace talks are different from before."

Tokugawa Iezuna's heart tightened, he squeezed out a smile and said, "Just ask the general."

Huang Fei said, "This is out of my control."

Dai Sheng, a diplomat of Honglu Temple, stepped forward and said, "Let's go to the castle tower of Edo Castle to talk."

Edo Castle, the Great Castle, the power center of Japan.