Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 397: Attack on Zichuan (Part )

There was continuous heavy rain in Zibo, and Zhao Yongping had no choice but to stop his troops outside the city. However, the other two routes, led by Bai Yongfu and Liu Tichun, had a smooth journey.

Although there was occasional drizzle, it was not as persistent as the one under Zibo City. The two armies, one in the east and one in the west, swept through many county towns like outstretched tentacles, and the cities had almost no ability to resist.

Only in Zibo City, the county magistrate Chen Xuanyi and Liu Qichang, like a turtle looking at a mung bean, both believed that they had extraordinary talents and could turn the tide. There were more than 60,000 Zhou troops under the city, which were divided into three sides to surround the city. Liu Qichang on the city estimated that there were at most 10,000 elite soldiers under the city, and the rest were all able-bodied civilians. Based on this estimate, Chen and Liu both believed that Zibo could hold out for at least three months.

Inside Zibo city, deep inside the county government office.

Candlelight flickered, the aroma of wine filled the air. County Magistrate Chen Xuanyi and garrison commander Liu Qichang sat opposite each other, toasting each other with smug smiles on their faces. Outside the window, heavy rain was pouring with thunder and lightning, but the atmosphere inside the house was quite another scene.

Chen Xuanyi raised his glass and smiled, "General Liu, it seems that God is also helping us! I'm afraid that the thief Meng is suffering outside the city right now?" There was a hint of gloating in his words.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qichang raised his head and drank, saying: "That's right, in such thunderstorm weather, even if the Meng bandits have a million soldiers, they can't do anything about this downpour. Let them get wet in the rain outside, while we stay in this city and enjoy fine wine and delicious food. It's really wonderful!" After saying that, he laughed loudly again, and the sound echoed throughout the hall.

Chen Xuanyi said confidently: "Some time ago, before the enemy army besieged the city, my close friend in the capital sent me a secret letter saying that the regent was about to lead the army from outside the pass to the south. As long as we hold on for a month, the army might reach Zibo. By then, we can attack from both inside and outside, capture and kill the thief Meng in one fell swoop, and bring peace to the world!"

"Okay, Lord Chen said it well. Before our Qing Dynasty entered the pass, Shandong, Hebei, and Henan suffered from severe droughts for years. As soon as the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, the rivers and seas were immediately clear and peaceful. Now that the Meng bandits are approaching Zibo, the sky has sent down heavy rain. This is the will of heaven. The destiny is with my Qing Dynasty!" Liu Qichang laughed.

After laughing, Liu Qichang said bitterly: "If Lu Fengchun had not been so afraid of death and abandoned Jinan, how could Meng be so arrogant! It's a pity that I am a low-ranking official, otherwise I would have refused sternly and insisted on defending Jinan!"

Hearing this, Chen Xuanyi also sighed, and then said: "General Liu, don't worry. After capturing and killing the thief Meng, the general will surely be famous all over the world. By then, it will not be difficult to impeach a little Lu Fengchun!"

Liu Qichang laughed and said, "If we hold on to Zichuan, Mr. Chen, the magistrate of Zichuan County, might immediately become the governor of Shandong!"

The two men clinked their glasses and laughed, as if they had foreseen Meng Jun's downfall and had beautiful imaginations of their own promotion. The two talked about the solidity of the city defenses, boasted about their flawless strategies for defending the city, and bragged to each other, as if victory was already within their grasp.

When talking about this, Liu Qichang stood up and slammed the table, "How can such a beautiful scene be without singing and dancing? Come on, quickly call the singing girls and dancing girls, we have to celebrate!"

As the order was conveyed, soon the melodious sound of stringed instruments rang out, and a group of graceful women began to dance, making the banquet in the rainy night even more ambiguous and charming.

It was not until eight consecutive days of heavy rain in Zibo that the sky finally cleared up.

The generals of Zhou army were so tortured by the weather that they lost their tempers. Even Qian Biao, who was usually full of energy, looked a little listless.

Zhao Yongping saw that the rain had finally stopped. He couldn't wait any longer. Looking at the Qing army flag still standing on the city wall, as if in a provocation, Zhao Yongping narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice: "Beat the drums, gather the troops, and attack the city today!"

Yang Sanwu was about to say something but stopped himself. The rain had just stopped, but the road was still slippery and it would be difficult to fight.

Zhao Yongping glanced at the generals and said, "Zichuan is just a small city, but it has blocked the army for eight days. Pass on my order. I will not call back the troops until Zichuan City is conquered!"

The rumbling of war drums was deafening and exciting. The generals of the Zhou army cheered up and put aside the depressed mood caused by the heavy rain in recent days.

The generals quickly assembled their troops and were ready to go. The soldiers held swords, spears, bows and arrows, and the front row of shieldmen pushed the siege protection equipment. The cannons were also dragged to the designated positions, and the muzzles were aimed at the west wall of Zibo City, which was once collapsed by the Qing army's artillery. Even after being repaired by the defenders, it was still the weakest point in the entire defense system.

With an order, more than 60 cannons of the Zhou army took the lead in launching an attack. The shells cut through the sky, making a shrill whistle, hitting the city walls and stirring up clouds of smoke and dust.

It was just the beginning of the heavy rain, and the countryside of Zibo was still shrouded in a thin layer of mist. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and moisture, but the incessant rain over the past few days had turned the originally solid ground into a muddy trap, bringing great trouble to the upcoming siege.

The large equipment required for siege, such as battering rams, ladders, and shield carts, would sink into the softened soil every time they were pushed a short distance, making them extremely difficult to push.

The soldiers were sweating profusely, mud was splashing everywhere, and the soldiers were in a mess. Zhao Yongping frowned and looked into the distance. He knew that under such harsh conditions, if they wanted to push the siege equipment up, they had to use a different method.

Afterwards, Zhao Yongping urgently summoned all the generals and craftsmen accompanying the army to discuss countermeasures. They finally decided to use wooden boards and branches to pave a simple passage, and at the same time mobilize civilians and strong men to work together to push the equipment up.

The Zhou army mainly attacked the west wall, and launched feint attacks on the east and south sides. The Zhou army's artillery was also gathered in the direction of the west city, and the artillery bombarded non-stop in an attempt to blow down the city wall.

More than sixty cannons fired six rounds in a row. When the cannons stopped firing, cracks had already appeared on the west wall. It was not until noon that siege equipment was placed on the wall.

Seeing that the Zhou army under the city wall was so fierce, Liu Qichang was a little panicked for a moment. He responded hastily and ordered the defenders to counterattack. For a moment, arrows flew everywhere, and rolling logs and stones fell like raindrops. There was chaos on the battlefield, with shouts and screams intertwined.

Leading the vanguard was Qian Biao's deputy general Guo Hu. He came to the front of the battle and said urgently: "Prepare to go to the city!" Guo Hu's roar sounded particularly powerful in this noisy battlefield.

Then, dozens of ladders were erected steadily under the support of the soldiers, and the ladder feet were deeply inserted into the mud. The first to climb the city were all elite soldiers of the Zhou army. They held their weapons tightly and climbed up the ladders swiftly. They had to climb the city quickly. If they were slow, it might be the difference between life and death.

Since ancient times, the reason why being the first to climb the city wall has been highly meritorious is that climbing the city wall involves great risks. Not only do you have to avoid rain of arrows, rolling logs, and rocks from above, you may even be showered with boiling oil and gold juice. Even if you climb the city wall, you have to fight with a smaller force against a larger one, and try to hold the gap with all your might before reinforcements arrive.

But since they are the elite, they cannot hesitate and cannot retreat. The Zhou army climbed up, their sweat and blood mixed together, flowing on their cheeks. From a distance, they looked like evil spirits, reflecting an almost crazy tenacity!