In Luoyang, the city walls are still high and thick, and the archery towers are towering. They look as strong as before they were broken by the invaders. There are also people patrolling the city walls, and every few hundred steps you can see the light of torches flashing.
Even in the city, groups of new soldiers patrolled back and forth, guarding the order in the city and preventing anyone from causing trouble while King Li Chuang's army was away.
After Shao Shichang determined that he would be fully responsible for Luoyang's stay in Luoyang two days ago, he recruited more than 1,000 new soldiers on top of the 500 recruits left for him by King Chuang. However, due to time constraints, he was not able to conduct training.
Just finished the formation.
On the surface, Luoyang City is still calm as usual without any disturbance, but in fact, most of the people in the city are not sleeping. They are worried every night, worried that the government troops will come to take back Luoyang City.
There are still some fires in Fuwang Palace, with red flames still rising from the ground in many places, and some wood crackling in the ashes.
It was almost the fourth watch, and the streets were silent. Only the footsteps of patrolling recruits could occasionally be heard. A group of about twenty recruits were walking towards the east gate of Luoyang.
Every four of them held a torch. Under the light of the fire, the cotton-padded jackets they wore were half-new, and they held new spears in their hands. Their combat boots stepped lightly on the hard street, making a "tread" sound.
The crisp sound of "step".
"Bang - Tuk! Tuk! Tuk!"
A sound of gongs and clappers pierced the silent night sky, echoing slowly in the cold night, and the sound of the watch bugle "It's the fourth watch in the ugly time, it's freezing cold" came faintly.
"It's the fourth watch. Everyone, please be energetic. Let's go to the east gate!"
The leader of the new night watch team spoke softly. His accent was not a dialect from Henan, but a strong accent from the northern border.
…………
Under the illumination of the waning moon, the tall figure of Luoyang City Wall appears taller and more solid, but also paler. But I don't know if this tall and solid city wall can protect the people in the city.
The trees outside the east gate of Luoyang were all chopped down when the bandits attacked the city, but there are still many houses and shops outside the east gate. Although many of them were damaged during the previous bandits' siege, they have not yet had time to repair them.
, looked very dilapidated.
Under the moonlight, it was vaguely visible that there were some figures flickering behind the ruins of the houses outside Luoyang Dongguan, but the guards on the city wall could not be seen.
Groups of officers and soldiers hid behind broken walls in the howling cold wind and waited quietly. There were more than ten simple ladders and some hook locks beside them. These people were Cui Shijie's left infantry battalion sergeants.
They were ordered to set out at noon yesterday and march quietly to the outside of Luoyang City to meet up with the four teams of cavalry troops hiding outside the city. They built a temporary ladder. The army counselor Wang Yuanjing also came to the bottom of Luoyang City with them.
On the slopes of the houses near the city moat, there were some fire soldiers and archers lying quietly, waiting for an order to be given, before they fired volleys of arrows and muskets at the city gate tower.
The rangers under Chen Zhong lined up against the wall on the street of Dongguan, standing still, while he himself, Cui Shijie, Wang Yuanjing and others focused on the top of the city, observing the movements of the thieves defending the city.
Although they had arranged for Wan Guangjin, the right guard of the rangers hidden in Luoyang City, to sneak attack on the east gate at the fourth watch, they were still prepared to forcefully climb the city as a last resort.
"Chen Tou, it's freezing cold today and I can't make a fire. I'm really suffering." Cui Shijie looked at the east gate tower of Luoyang City and said softly.
Chen Zhong, who was beside him, was also looking at the east gate tower and said, "Well, it's almost the fourth day. I'm waiting to capture Luoyang City. Let the brothers eat meat, drink wine, and have a good rest."
Yang Shijie's face was also red from the cold. He was originally the young master of the Yang family. Although he had loved playing with swords, guns and sticks since he was a child, he had never suffered such a crime. It was obvious that he was about to lose his strength.
I heard him ask with doubt: "Master Chen, can the east gate really be opened on time during the fourth watch?"
Chen Zhong said without looking back: "Does Mr. Yang doubt the ability of my soldiers? Just wait and see. If the fire in the East Gate Tower is not lit at the fourth watch, I, Chen Zhong, will go to your Yang Family Tower to recharge."
Serve as a guard."
He then said to his left and right: "Zuo Qinghe, after your troops enter the city, go straight to the west gate; Ma Sanzhuang, after your troops enter from the east gate, go straight to the north gate; Tielin, you lead the Chinese military sentry and ride straight there.
There must be no delay at the south gate, as Shao Shichang must not be allowed to escape.
Liu Shouzhu, you lead the brothers from the four teams on the right guard to follow me, and we will go straight to the prefect’s Yamen and meet with General Wan Shao."
At this time, he looked at Cui Shijie and said: "Mr. Cui Qian, all street corners, warehouses, warehouses, and other large and small government offices in the city will be captured by your infantry camp, especially the Drum Tower in the city, which must be captured as soon as possible.
We must strictly patrol, but those who are armed and refuse to surrender will be killed on the spot, and they must not be allowed to rob and cause trouble in the city and disrupt the order."
"Yes, don't worry, Mr. Chen. We have made clear arrangements and we will never miss anything."
Chen Zhong nodded and said to Wang Yuanjing: "Counsellor Wang, why don't you retreat to the back and rest first. When we take Luoyang City and stabilize the order in the city, you will also be rushing into the city."
"No need, you are all good men, and I am not a fool. Ever since the commander-in-chief rescued me from the Tatars that year, I am no longer the weak, sour scholar."
When Wang Yuanjing said these words, his face was filled with pride.
…………
"It's almost the fourth watch."
Wan Guangjin looked at the moonlight in the sky, and then said: "Everyone, please be energetic. We have been holding back in the city for almost half a month. Now it's time to show up. Don't let anyone get in trouble for me."
ah!"
"Here!" everyone answered softly.
He added: "Xiao Liuzi and his two teams are going to attack the east gate. Let's go to the magistrate's office to capture Shao Shichang who has surrendered to the thieves. If we take him, Luoyang City will be leaderless, making it easier for Chen Tou to attack and control the whole city as soon as possible.
After breaking down the door later, the first team will guard the foyer and not let anyone in or out; the second team will go directly to the official prison to rescue the imprisoned officials and gentry; the third team and the fourth team will follow me to attack the government office and search for Shao Shichang."
"Here!"
He added: "Although there are nearly a hundred thieves in the government office, they are all newly recruited hungry people. They have not been in battle, and there is no blood debt in their hands. There is no need to kill them all and disperse them, as long as they do not harm our affairs.
Can."
"Here!"
"Let's go!"
After he finished speaking, he stood up, stepped out of the small door that had just been opened, and walked along the shadow of the courtyard wall at the street corner to the prefect's Yamen not far to the west. More than forty soldiers followed him in sequence.
Apart from the sound of gentle footsteps, there was not a trace of noise.