We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

The Battle of Chang'an began with the firework that exploded in the night.

The fireworks were like a torch dropped into boiling oil, instantly igniting the long-accumulated chaos in this thousand-year-old capital.

Jinguan Gate and Jingyao Gate, the two gates controlled by aristocratic families, became the most intense battlefields tonight.

Just as Du Fuji said, the defenders here were completely under the command of the aristocratic families, so they resisted the most tenaciously.

Following Li Che's secret order, Yang Xuan and Yelu He led their troops to the designated position outside the city early.

As soon as midnight arrived, he saw the signal going up in the city and immediately ordered the mortar battalion to suppress and bombard the city gate tower.

boom! boom! boom!

The sound of the cannon shook the entire northern city wall like thunder, brick and stone debris flew everywhere, and flames flashed continuously on the top of the city wall.

The defenders were unable to raise their heads due to the sudden and fierce artillery fire and fell into chaos in an instant.

However, the aristocratic family had been operating here for a long time, and the defending general was a die-hard Wei family member, so they quickly organized a counterattack.

Arrows fell like raindrops, and sporadic bullets fired from muskets hit the ground in front of the Fengtian Army with a bang.

However, for the battle-hardened Fengtian Army, this was just a small scene.

"General Yang, what do you think?"

Facing Yang Xuan, Yelu He did not dare to be arrogant. After all, everyone knew that there was some unclear relationship between this female general and His Majesty.

"Just attack directly. His Majesty is still in the city."

Yelu He nodded and said, "Then I will lead the army to charge, and General Yang will hold the line for me!"

Yang Xuan didn't argue with him, but said calmly: "Thank you for your hard work, General Yelu."

Soon, when the enemy troops on the city wall had wasted a wave of arrows and bullets, the Fengtian Army began to advance.

"Shield formation forward!"

"After three volleys from the musketeers, prepare the ladders!"

Yelu He held a scimitar and personally led the advance soldiers forward.

The black mass of Fengtian Army infantry phalanxes, holding shields, steadily approached the city wall.

After entering the firing range, at the officer's command, the front-row soldiers quickly squatted down and the back-row soldiers raised their guns.

"put!"

bang bang bang-

Dense lead bullets swept across the city walls like a storm, and the defenders who had just appeared were instantly knocked down.

"Put it back!"

"put!"

After three rounds of volleys, the firepower of the defenders on the city wall was temporarily suppressed.

Yelu He saw that the time had come, exchanged a glance with Yang Xuan in the distance, and immediately gave the order: "Blow the charge!"

Didi da da da didi da da——

The familiar horn sounded three times, and Yang Xuan drew out the two goose-feather knives from his waist and shouted loudly:

"Long live the Fengtian Army!"

"kill!"

Countless ladders were immediately placed on the city wall, and the Fengtian Army's vanguard soldiers, with sharp blades in their mouths, began to climb fearlessly.

Another group of soldiers used explosives to blast open the already dilapidated city gate, and the soldiers filed in.

The real hand-to-hand combat took place in the city wall.

The Fengtian Army attacked from the front and back of the city wall, gradually expanding its position, and wailing sounds echoed through every section of the city wall.

Just as the fierce battle was in full swing on the city wall, the officers in the city who had already been contacted by Prince Huai'an and Du Fuji no longer hesitated and tied red ribbons on their left arms.

"Open the city gates! Welcome the royal army!"

The roar echoed in the inner city. The rebel soldiers who had been prepared for a long time suddenly launched an attack and rushed into the defenders' line who were still resisting stubbornly from the rear.

"What are you doing?!"

"traitor!"

"Kill them!"

No matter how loudly the defenders shouted, it was of no avail. The rebels, tied with red ribbons, had no way back. Their former comrades had become mortal enemies tonight.

The city wall was originally a building used to trap and kill attackers, but now it has become a tomb for the aristocratic army.

Soon, the control of the capstan at the city gate was also occupied by the rebel army.

"Turn the capstan! Open the city gate!" shouted a rebel officer.

With the teeth-grinding sound of chains being pulled, the city gate was slowly opened from the inside, a gap that then grew larger and larger.

"The city gate is open, charge in!"

Yang Xuan, who had been commanding outside the city, saw this and immediately gave orders.

Led by Yang Xuan, the cavalry troops, which had been gathering strength for a long time, rushed in through the widened gap in the city gate like a black iron stream.

Under attack from both inside and outside, the will to resist of the Jinguanmen defenders completely collapsed.

The situation of Jingyaomen was similar. It changed hands one after another due to internal uprisings and the fierce attack from Li Lin outside.

The north gate was opened, and the main force of the Fengtian Army poured into Chang'an City like a tide.

While the fighting in the north was in full swing, the battle in the city was also going on at the same time.

More Fengtian Army squads, led by rebel soldiers with red ribbons tied around their arms, charged directly towards the strongholds of the major families and the military camps with ambiguous attitudes.

Resistance was sporadic, even futile.

Often, when the Fengtian Army just arrived outside a family's stronghold, the private soldiers who were resisting stubbornly fired a few rounds of arrows, but their morale was broken by the volley of fire from the muskets set up by the Fengtian Army.

The situation in those military camps is more complicated.

Some military camps saw that the situation was hopeless and their commanders, with red ribbons tied around their arms, surrendered.

Some of them were internally divided, with officers and soldiers supporting the Fengtian Army and those supporting the aristocratic families fighting each other directly. When the Fengtian Army team arrived, they often only had to clean up the mess.

There were also some die-hard military camps that fought to the death, such as the camp where the second son of the Wei family was located.

The Fengtian Army did not launch a strong attack, but directly dispatched a mortar.

After a cannon shot, the military camp gate and the resistance behind it were reduced to rubble.

The remaining soldiers quickly lost their morale when faced with the Fengtian Army's musket team that was advancing like a wall, and they knelt down and begged for mercy.

As the main strategic points and family forces were quickly eliminated, the battle entered the mopping-up phase.

The Fengtian Army and the uprising troops began to clear out the remaining enemies street by street, and round up the scattered private soldiers of the aristocratic families and diehard elements.

Sporadic fighting and gunfire occurred in every corner of the city, but they could not change the overall situation.

. . . . . .

The Du Mansion where Li Che was located became the temporary command center for this night battle.

Orders were issued one after another from here, and fresh troops were dispatched to where they were needed. Battle reports came in like snowflakes:

"Report! The North Gate is completely under control, and General Yang is clearing out the remaining enemies!"

"Report! The Wang, Cui, and Liu families, and other stubborn resistance members, have been wiped out, and the main members have been captured!"

"Report! A group of defeated soldiers were looting near the West Market, and they have been dispersed by our troops!"

"Report! The military camp where Wei Jun, the illegitimate son of the Wei family, was located has been breached. Wei Jun was killed by his subordinates, and the camp has surrendered!"

Li Che listened silently until the sounds of gunfire and shouts of killing in the city gradually subsided.

Prince Huai'an and Du Fuji on the side were terrified. They never thought that the battle would go so smoothly.

This is Chang'an, one of the largest cities besides the imperial capital, and the quality of the defenders is top-notch.

But under the attack of the Fengtian Army, they could not even hold out for an hour and were completely defeated.

It is worthy of being the strongest army in Daqing. With such an army, it is no wonder that His Majesty dares to break off relations with the aristocratic families.

Li Che suddenly turned around and saw three small figures flash by. He couldn't help but scolded with a smile: "Where are you three running to?"

The three little guys, Gou Wa, Li Xuan and Li Ji, poked their heads out from behind the wall.

Li Xuan was the oldest after all, so he said with a stiff upper lip, "Sixth Uncle, did we win?"

Li Che walked over, smiled and patted his head: "Don't worry, your sixth uncle has never lost!"

Li Xuan's eyes were filled with tears: "That's great, my nephew doesn't have to worry about them stealing my property anymore."

Li Che smiled and shook his head: "No, you will live with your sixth uncle from now on, and you don't have to worry about these things."

The aristocratic families certainly cannot seize the property of the Prince of Qin's Mansion, but Sixth Uncle still has to seize it.

Li Che didn't know how much land was under the name of the Qin Palace, but he knew very well that after he officially ascended the throne, the land of the vassal kings and the land of the aristocratic families would be reclaimed.

Land resources must be redistributed. This is the basis for a country's long-term stability. We cannot make an exception just because the King of Qin is his brother.

After comforting the three little ones to sleep, Li Che looked at the Prince of Huai'an and the other two: "Uncle Wang, Lord Du, shall we go out for a walk?"

The Prince of Huai'an was suddenly startled: "But Your Majesty...it's happening outside now..."

Li Che smiled and said, "With the personal guards and night watchmen accompanying us, it's safe."

The Prince of Huai'an wanted to say something, but after all, he had just defected to Li Che, so it was not easy for him to refuse again and again.

Everyone walked out of the Du Mansion.

The streets were in a mess, with discarded weapons and fallen bodies everywhere.

Teams of rebel soldiers with red ribbons tied around their arms, working together with the Fengtian Army in black armor and red robes, were clearing the streets, setting up checkpoints, and posting notices to reassure the public.

On the distant city gate tower, the flags with the names of the Wei, Wang and other noble families written on them had been lowered and replaced with the Daqing military flags fluttering in the wind.

The sky was already turning slightly pale, and the sunlight penetrated the clouds and smoke, illuminating this ancient city that had just experienced a great change.

Amidst the devastation, there is a strange calmness that seems to have settled after a storm.

Surrounded by Yue Yun, Du Fuji, Prince Huaian and others, Li Che climbed onto the high platform in front of the door and glanced at the streets that were gradually waking up.

Groups of captives from aristocratic families were escorted to concentration camps under the surveillance of Fengtian Army soldiers, while groups of ordinary people timidly opened their doors and windows to peek in.

The battle lasted all night and blood flowed like a river, but it was finally over before dawn.

"Pass the order down," Li Che's voice was a little tired, "strictly investigate the remaining enemies, comfort the people, and count the casualties and results of the battle."

"I want to see a detailed report before noon today."

"Also, in my name, a notice will be issued to reassure the people."

"Inform the people of Chang'an that the rebels have been eliminated and the country has been stabilized. From today on, Chang'an and even the entire Qin area will return to the rule of Daqing!"

"We obey your order!" everyone responded in unison, and their voices spread in the morning light.

Li Che asked to the side: "Hasn't the Wei family been found yet?"

Yue Yun was just about to say something when a series of horse hoofbeats suddenly came from the distance.

A cavalry team with a flag bearing the Chinese character "马" (horse) galloped towards the gate of the Du residence. The young general at the front of the team smiled as brightly as a flower.

On the backs of the horses of the cavalrymen behind him, each had a person wrapped in a fishing net, and all of them were dressed in gorgeous clothes.

"Haha, Your Highness... No, Your Majesty!" Ma Zhong's voice arrived before he even arrived. "I've caught another big fish for you."