The defense of the capital at the end of the seventh year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty can be said to have no technical content at all.
In other words, neither Yang Yiqing, who was running the army on the front line, nor Zhang Cong, who was temporarily appointed as the Minister of War, had never seen such a devastating scene... The enemy team can be pushed forward, regardless of the Ming soldiers.
No matter how thick the armor is and how heavy the shield is, they can't withstand the powerful artillery fire from the opposite side.
Even in mid-range combat, the bullets fired from various machine guns and rifles swept across a large area from the opposite side and came like a storm, leaving the Ming side completely unable to parry.
As Dongzhimen was directly blown open by enemy artillery fire, the defenders in the city felt a deep despair.
However, the attacking party immediately chose to retreat and regrouped outside the city. There was no plan to attack the city overnight, but they used six square formations to trap each city gate of the capital, and did not adopt any tactic of encircling three formations and one formation.
It means blocking all escape routes and stationing them outside the range of the defenders' artillery.
It seems that the opponent has no intention of capturing the capital of Ming Dynasty at once.
"Mr. Yang Ge..."
Zhang Cong appeared in Dongzhimen with a disgraced face.
The city gate had been shattered by direct enemy fire. The soldiers and civilians in the city took great risks to piece together the door panels dismantled from nearby residential buildings and built a new gate. This seemed to be an attempt to show that the capital of the Ming Dynasty had not been destroyed.
After breaking through, the city gate is still there.
Yang Yiqing was sitting under the eaves of a house more than ten meters away from the city wall, with a long wooden bench under his butt. On the Eight Immortals table in front of him was the meal prepared for him by the guards, but he had no intention of eating.
When he heard the sound and raised his head and saw that the person coming was Zhang Cong, his face was solemn under the light of the surrounding torches, he raised his chin and asked, "Didn't you accompany His Majesty out of the city?"
"Can't get out!"
Zhang Cong replied with a bitter face, "The situation outside the city gate is not much better than here... Outside Xizhimen, most of the cavalry who rushed out were dead, and the rest fled back in embarrassment... The firearms on the opposite side
It’s so powerful.”
Yang Yiqing pointed at the damaged Dongzhimen, shook his head and said: "I really don't understand what the enemy is trying to do. They clearly have the strength to break through the defenses of our Ming capital city, but they never launch an attack. Is this to torture the soldiers and civilians in our city?"
Zhang Cong asked: "Has there been any reply from the envoys sent to contact the foreign barbarians?"
"No!"
Yang Yiqing shook his head, and a stern look flashed across his face: "However, there is someone from the south who is rushing eight hundred miles here. They say that there are soldiers from the Ming Dynasty on the other side's ships. When they attacked Nanjing, there were soldiers from the Ming Dynasty who led the way."
"Ah? What do Mr. Yang Ge mean by this?"
Zhang Cong was very surprised when he heard this.
Logically speaking, it would not be surprising for an invading enemy to capture a few Ming soldiers or civilians as guides, but this was clearly not what Yang Yiqing meant.
Yang Yiqing said: "Do you know what the officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty who went to sea did after they went to sea for several years?"
"Zhu...Zhu Jingdao?"
Zhang Cong's face became very ugly.
Yang Yiqing stood up with an indignant look on his face: "If the thieves outside the city were originally our Ming Dynasty soldiers, this move is tantamount to rebellion, and that Zhu Jingdao... He knows the defense situation of our Ming Dynasty very well. If he becomes a rebellious official
Thief, the Ming Dynasty is in danger!"
Zhang Cong smiled bitterly.
It is said that the Ming Dynasty is in danger. Now all the gates of the capital city have been captured. The soldiers and horses of King Qin everywhere are unable to fight all the way. The soldiers and people in the city have long been panic-stricken. Now they want to escape but cannot.
Zhang Cong said: "Di Yi is clearly a Javanese savage who doesn't understand the Ming Dynasty language. How can we say that it is Zhu Jingdao's responsibility? With the thousands of soldiers he brought out? Isn't Mr. Yang Ge too... unfounded?"
Zhang Cong didn't know how to describe this matter, and he was thinking in his heart that if it was really Zhu Hao, it would be a good thing. At worst, the dynasty would be changed, and there would be no need to worry about Chinese civilization being destroyed by foreign barbarians.
The common view in the imperial court now is that the Ming Dynasty snatched back the Chinese orthodoxy from the Mongolian and Yuan barbarians, and now it is very likely to bury it again. This is the most terrifying thing... The people in the city are also very worried that the other party will directly massacre the city.
.
Yang Yiqing said: "The fighting has stopped tonight, but it is estimated that the bandits will attack the city early tomorrow morning, and they will not be able to defend it... As a courtier, I sacrificed my life for righteousness. I have no regrets... Bingyong, what are you going to do now?
Should I go as an envoy to the enemy camp outside the city, or should I stay in the city?"
"this……"
Zhang Cong couldn't help but frown.
I didn't go out for negotiations under the emperor's order. Why did you, Yang Yiqing, speak so abruptly?
"Get out of town!"
Yang Yiqing looked at Zhang Cong, a stern look flashed across his face, and said: "The scepter has been prepared for you, just go ahead... Otherwise, you will retreat in the face of battle and intentionally disturb the morale of our army. You should be punished for your crime!"
Weigh it up!"
"you!"
Only then did Zhang Cong realize that Yang Yiqing was not negotiating with him, but giving orders.
Although Zhang Cong was the Minister of the Ministry of War, he saw the eyes of the officers and soldiers around him, all of them were fierce and full of murderous intent. He knew that he might have persuaded the emperor to escape before, and then helped Zhou Wei brutally kill the Minister of the Ministry of War, Wang Shizhong, which completely angered him.
soldiers on the front line.
We went through life and death at the front and defended the capital at the cost of our lives, but in the end you persuaded the emperor to escape?
Does that mean we should die?
Now the city gates have been captured by thieves. If the other side wants to attack in the future, the capital may not be able to defend it. However, it is also possible that the other side has insufficient information and wants to use the advantageous situation at hand to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty. Maybe the court will hand over some benefits, and they will
Can we retreat?
But this requires someone to go to the enemy camp as an envoy.
"Mr. Yang Ge, do you want to cause rebellion? Your Majesty did not let anyone go out of the city to negotiate with Di Yi." Zhang Cong did not dare to have an attack, so he could only speak in a low voice.
At the same time, it is also to avoid being overheard by others and letting the situation get out of hand.
Yang Yiqing said coldly: "Bingyong, everything I have done is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty... This is probably the last chance for the Ming Dynasty. You have to go if you don't want to go, otherwise the soldiers will not agree! Do you think you are going to ask His Majesty for instructions now?
, is there enough time?"
Yang Yiqing almost said, "Whether you can find the emperor now or not is another matter."
Zhang Cong was extremely angry when he saw someone bringing him a staff for envoys. However, there were soldiers standing behind him, presumably to take him out of the city as an envoy. He took the staff and turned around angrily.
Went towards the city gate.
…
…
The fighting temporarily subsided.
Zhu Si, who was hiding in the inner garden of the palace, was guarding Empress Chen at this time, trying to stay calm. The carriage loaded with gold, silver, jewelry and valuables had already been packed. As long as the front line had a clear investigation, he could go south and escape at any time.
journey.
"His Majesty……"
Zhang Zuo came in a hurry.
Zhu Si stood up in a hurry and asked: "How is it? Is there a gap in the south of the city? How are the people?"
Zhang Zuodao: "No... the city gates are not open. There are bandits outside the city. In addition, Mr. Yang Ge has ordered all city gates to be on heightened alert. If anyone opens the city gates to surrender, they will be killed without mercy. Also... artillery fire outside the city has already begun.
After stopping, it seems that the thieves...will not attack the city tonight."
"No more attacking?"
Zhu Si looked confused.
I was waiting for the city to be broken and took advantage of the chaos to escape. But you said you won’t attack?
Zhang Zuo continued: "Yangge Lao sent Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of War out of the city, saying that he was going to negotiate with the bandits."
"Who gave him the power?"
Zhu Si's anger started in his heart.
He, the emperor, did not issue an edict, but Yang Yiqing acted on behalf of the emperor?
Zhang Zuo had a look of embarrassment on his face: "Your Majesty, in this situation, we still have to rely on Mr. Yang Ge to lead the army to defend the city. In the previous battle, we managed to defend the city gate. Although Dongzhimen has been blown up, we have done so temporarily.
Repair. If you don't follow Mr. Yang Ge's wishes at this time, I'm afraid... the country of Ming Dynasty will be in danger..."
Zhu Si said angrily: "If you don't listen to him, he will kill me first, right? Doesn't he want to be the emperor?"
Zhang Zuo shook his head and smiled bitterly.
No matter how stupid Yang Yiqing was at this time, he would never have the idea of becoming emperor.
We are facing a formidable enemy. Isn't it time to put aside all contradictions and face the outside world in unison? Even if Yang Yiqing's methods are a bit extreme, he is probably still thinking about the emperor Zhu Si.
Zhu Si asked: "Why don't the bandits outside the city attack the city? Are they going to withdraw their troops?"
"Your Majesty, the enemy has shown no signs of withdrawing their troops."
Zhang Zuo also felt puzzled and analyzed in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the situation in front of you is a bit like that in Nanjing. The Javanese did not enter the city even after breaking through the city gates and walls. They seemed to be afraid of fierce street fighting in the Ming Dynasty City. Maybe
What taboos do they have... about using troops?"
Zhu Si closed his eyes, with a look of distress on his face: "That's all we can hope for! It's okay to send Zhang Cong to the enemy camp to explore the truth. If the enemy can withdraw their troops, I am willing to give them gold, silver, jewelry and beauties. They will
Give me whatever you want!"
Zhang Zuo wanted to ask, why didn't you tell me earlier?
Do you have to wait until the enemy reaches the capital to think of giving up half of the Ming Dynasty's national power in exchange for your throne?
…
…
Zhang Cong left the city with only two followers.
In order to prevent the other party from misunderstanding, the two people beside Zhang Cong held torches to light up the surrounding area so that the other party could confirm that they were not a threat.
Finally, Zhang Cong was able to make it all the way to the military camp where Zhu Hao was.
But Zhu Hao would not come out to see Zhang Cong in person. After Zhang Cong entered the military camp, he found that the camp was indeed filled with a group of indigenous people who appeared from nowhere. Their skin seemed to be darker than the Ming people.
How come the foreign barbarians, who are so backward in society, have such advanced firearms?
Could it be that Zhu Hao really brought it to them?
"Is this Zhang Shangshu? Please."
An indigenous man appeared in front of Zhang Cong, speaking Chinese fluently. Zhang Cong looked up at him and wanted to ask, how do you know me?
But seeing that the other party was polite, he followed him into the camp.
Standing in the tent was a man with fairer skin. He was wearing silver armor. Judging by his style, he knew he was from the Ming Dynasty.
"Who are you?"
Zhang Cong asked sharply.
The other party said: "Zhang Shangshu, my name is Guan Jing, a general who went overseas during the Ming Dynasty. Don't you recognize me?"
"You... you are a treacherous traitor!"
Zhang Cong didn't know who Guan Jing was, but he probably guessed that it was related to the first batch of people sent by Zhu Hao to go to sea. "Where is Zhu Jingdao? Let him come out to see me!"
Guan Jing looked serious: "I think you still don't understand the current situation. In fact, all it takes is an order from my husband, and the capital of the Ming Dynasty will be razed to the ground within an hour."
"you……"
Zhang Cong originally wanted to scold the other party angrily to show his integrity as an envoy, and maybe his name would go down in history.
But he immediately realized that, except for Guan Jing, there were a group of native Javanese people around him. The two followers he brought were not allowed to enter here. No matter how hard he scolded, who would hear it?
And with his opportunistic character, how could he seek death himself when he knew he was facing death?