Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"Foster father, I just remembered that the last time I attacked Shiqu, I blasted a crack in the east wall.

Although the caliber of our artillery this time is not good, as long as we keep bombarding that gap, we will definitely be able to blow open the wall of Shiqu!" Zhang Nengqi suddenly thought.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me earlier!" Zhang Xianzhong shouted angrily.

"I just remembered it." Zhang Nengqi said aggrievedly.

"Continue the siege and pull those broken cannons to the east wall!" Zhang Xianzhong ordered angrily.

Although Zhang Xianzhong claimed that there was enough food and grass to last at least half a month, only he understood that the remaining food and grass could only last for eight or nine days at most.

This time we were really unlucky. Not only did we not expect Shiqian City to be such a tough nut to crack, we also did not expect the White Spear Soldiers to be so difficult to deal with in the mountains and forests.

He was determined that as long as he could capture Shiqu City, he would kill everyone in the city without leaving a single person alive.

As for the guy in the forest, he grinned grimly and there was no way he would let him go.

The sound of artillery fire came again, but it moved from the South City to the East City. When Qin Liangyu on the city wall learned of the situation, she immediately frowned.

That section of the city wall had been damaged a long time ago, and although it was subsequently repaired, it was still not as strong as other places.

Qin Liangyu forced herself to patrol the city wall, not knowing how long the city could hold out.

"Governor! The logs and thunder stones we have stored are almost used up!" a subordinate came forward to report.

"Order people to tear down the houses in the city. Tear down all the houses that can be used for log rolling. Also, tear down the outer walls of my Ma family's mansion, which are made of stones, and use them to defend the city!"

Qin Liangyu said in a decisive tone.

By the afternoon, with the continued bombardment, the damaged parts of the east city wall had cracked again, and it was obvious that it would not last much longer.

The day was barely getting through.

By the morning of August 23, Zhang Xianzhong was almost insane. If he failed to capture Shiqu that day, he would have to return home.

The food and grass in the camp have reached the red line. If we delay any further, we may not even be able to return to our hometown in Chengdu.

So on this day, under Zhang Xianzhong's crazy orders, the soldiers attacking the city worked particularly hard.

Near noon, the damaged section of the city wall finally collapsed amid the sound of continuous artillery fire, leaving a gap about two meters wide.

Zhang Xianzhong hurriedly ordered Zhang Wenxiu to lead his troops to climb up, while Qin Liangyu also sent people to the gap to block the enemy.

The two sides engaged in a bloody fight at the gap in the city wall. One side wanted to attack, while the other side refused to retreat even a single step.

"Soldiers, if we let them in, you know the consequences.

If you can defend this city, I guarantee with my life that there will be no delay in paying you the pensions, rewards, or promotions you deserve.

I am standing behind you. If you let them in, I will die with you!"

After Qin Liangyu said this, all the soldiers at the damaged part of the city wall gritted their teeth and refused to retreat even at the risk of their lives.

An hour later, there were more and more corpses in the broken parts of the city wall, and the soldiers had to stand on the corpses and continue fighting.

In the afternoon, the entire army of White Spear Soldiers launched an attack, rushing out of the dense forest on the east side of Shiqu City and heading straight for the damaged part of the city wall.

The White Spear Soldiers have experienced many guerrilla warfares and have completed the transformation from new recruits to veterans. Their morale is now high.

"This city is where our ancestors lived. Now the soldiers in the city are fighting for their lives as outsiders. I will not say anything more. Kill them!"

Ma Xianglin said this and rushed forward.

Under attack from both sides, the bandit army, whose morale was already low, was immediately defeated and retreated.

Ma Xianglin had no desire to fight, and at a command, thousands of white-flag soldiers retreated to the mountains and forests again like a receding tide.

As a result, Zhang Xianzhong didn't even have time to respond. When Zhang Kewang led his men to support, all the White Spear Soldiers had already run away.

Qin Liangyu took advantage of the rare opportunity to catch her breath and quickly ordered her people to clean the city walls, especially the gaps, and move more stones to the walls for use in defending the city.

Of course she saw that the sudden army just now was her white-pole soldiers.

In fact, the White Spear Soldiers had the opportunity to break into the city just now, but Ma Xianglin did not, which made Qin Liangyu very relieved.

Because it was obvious that the son had developed a new tactic. Once he entered the city, he was like a turtle in a jar, but outside the city, it was like a fish jumping into the sea.

"Foster father, we have lost too many troops. We can't waste all our forces here!" Zhang Dingguo advised.

Although he knew that his adoptive father was very angry, he still had to say what he had to say.

Anger will only affect people's judgment, and now they have to make a decision.

Although Zhang Xianzhong did not tell him about the food and grass situation in the camp, Zhang Dingguo had already calculated it in his mind. He was worried that if he did not retreat, something serious would happen.

Once the food shortage in the camp becomes known, morale will collapse and everything will be over.

Zhang Xianzhong has adopted many adopted sons over the years, but the ones he truly respected and recognized were Zhang Kewang, Zhang Dingguo and the other three.

Although Zhang Dingguo was only nineteen years old, he had followed Zhang Xianzhong in battles for many years and was the fastest growing one among many generals.

He has a steady and resolute character, and especially he always keeps calm in times of crisis.

For example, now, seeing that the adoptive father still refused to give up, Zhang Kewang and the other three usually didn't dare to speak anymore.

He knew that he had to stand up.

Zhang Xianzhong glared at Zhang Dingguo angrily, and just when Zhang Kewang and others thought that Zhang Xianzhong was going to kill someone.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xianzhong suddenly relaxed and said to everyone in an unusually lazy voice:

"No more fighting. Let's go back to Chengdu and let those corrupt officials fight it out themselves!"

After saying that, he walked back on his own.

But halfway through the journey, Zhang Xianzhong said to his four adopted sons with an even more ferocious face:

"Burn that forest! Burn it! Burn it all!"

……

Almost at the same time, Li Zicheng's 50,000 troops also arrived in Hanzhong.

Li Zicheng rode on his warhorse and carefully observed the appearance of the defenders on the city wall, not willing to miss any details.

He knew that Sun Chuanting on the city wall must be looking at him in the same way.

Behind him stood side by side with his brothers who had shared life and death with him.

Tian Jianxiu, Liu Zongmin, Hao Yaoqi, Liu Tichun...

As well as his nephew Li Guo, and two military advisors Niu Jinxing and Song Xiance.

Since the disastrous defeat in Huguang, almost everyone has completed their transformation during the past six months in Baoning Prefecture, Sichuan.

So even though he only has 50,000 troops now, he is confident of winning even if he encounters the army of 100,000 he had a few years ago.

With Song Xiance's new strategy, the people of Baoning Prefecture, Kuizhou Prefecture and Long'an Prefecture were extremely supportive of him.

The last disastrous defeat also made him extra cautious. He watched and waited for a long time, and no one bothered him.

After a long while, Li Zicheng said expressionlessly:

"Withdraw! This is not the right time."

……