Feng Yao, the hereditary commander of the Guangzhou rear guard, died for his country in the Shang Kexi camp. Chen Kai had already heard about this matter. Although he did not think that resolutely choosing to sacrifice himself just for an attempt that was impossible to succeed would have any impact on the war situation. The actual impact, but the sacrifice itself is often of great significance, which makes people involuntarily feel admiration. Even Chen Kai is not immune.

Kuang Lu is a great local talent. Lin Cha once served as the commander-in-chief of Guangdong and has great prestige among these guards officers. Feng Yao's sacrifice has inspired these guards officers in Guangzhou. In addition, Chen Kai has been in recent years. The local military was much happier with the prestigious reputation they gained than those grassroots civilian officials.

With these two blessings, Chen Kai believed that he could rescue more people. But time waits for no one. In the next few days, the news in Guangzhou became more and more tense. As more Qing troops mobilized, The news came from the officers of the local guard station, and it seemed that the Qing army was completely prepared.

Outside Guangzhou City, Pingnan Fan's right-wing commander Ban Zhifu, Jingnan Fan's right-wing commander Liancheng, Guangde Town's commander-in-chief Guo Hu and Nangan deputy general Gao Jinku's troops arrived near Xiguan. The first two were from Pingnan Fan , the vassal soldiers of the two Jingnan vassals, and the latter were the reinforcements of the green camp in southern Gansu. In addition, most of the Qing army gathered in the north and east of the city to contain the Ming army there.

In fact, since Conghua County, the logistics base of the Qing army, is located in the northeast of Guangzhou City, when arranging the city defense, Du Yonghe placed all of Li Chengdong's old troops in the north and east of the city, supplemented by some guard troops, forming a The center of defense. The south of the city was guarded by the guardsmen of the Guangzhou Left Guard and the Guangzhou Right Guard. The dock area was handed over to the Guangzhou Navy of Wu Wenwen and Yin Zhirong. As for the west of the city, only Fan Chengen and the Guangzhou Vanguard guarded the city.

Regardless of the fact that it is adjacent to the Pearl River in the south, Shang Kexi was experienced in military affairs and naturally saw Du Yonghe's defense situation. He avoided the real situation and focused on the weakest link in Guangzhou's city defense.

On October 28, the Qing army attacked Xiguan, and the Guangzhou vanguard still had to guard the city wall and the west gate. Only Fan Chengen's troops were stationed here. Before the siege of Guangzhou, Li Chengdong's flag and drum were already the commander-in-chief of the town. During the siege of Guangzhou, During this period, Emperor Yongli was also busy promoting officers and nobles to the officers who were guarding the city, in order to arouse their loyalty. Even Fan Chengen was already given the title of Yangchun Count.

However, the earl returned to the earl, and Li Chengdong was only the general soldier of a town when he went south. Even with the super-staffed personnel, the additions from the Qing court, and the expansion after becoming an admiral, the number was only tens of thousands of soldiers, including a large number of new soldiers. Subsequently. After Li Chengdong's death, these soldiers and horses were divided up by Du Yonghe and other nine counts, as well as generals such as Li Yuanyin, Li Yuantai, Li Jianjie, Ma Bao, Fan Chengen, etc. When it was his turn, the old foundation in the hands of a general soldier was only the few hundred at the beginning. Just people. Even including the new soldiers recruited, it is only a fraction of the strength of the Qing army in the three towns and one association outside the city.

Tens of thousands of Qing troops rushed to the city, which immediately put great pressure on the Ming army under Fan Chengen. Fortunately, they had prepared for several months and had all the defense equipment in place. Facing the Qing army's offensive, the Ming army defending the city lost its victory in the victory half a year ago. Even though he was encouraged, he did not flinch at all. However, after repelling the first wave of the Qing army's offensive, Fan Chengen breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head and looked at the soldiers on the city, but he could no longer think of even the slightest bit of thought. joy.

Heavy gasps came one after another in their ears. They had just repelled an attack by the Qing army, but they were standing, leaning, and sitting with dull eyes and pale faces. The seemingly invincible Qing army retreated hastily in front of them.

There was no surprise at all, and there was not even the slightest trace of hope for survival after the disaster. The soldiers, whom he could name but could not name, seemed to be still immersed in fear of the Qing army's ferocious offensive.

, cannot extricate oneself.

The experienced officers and veterans are still trying their best to encourage the soldiers around them, making them realize that it is necessary to win the first battle.

However, looking at the disorderly artillery and gunfire, rolling logs and rocks, arrows, swords and guns on the city wall, as well as the unnoticed corpses and wounded lying on the city wall, Fan Chengen immediately recalled that just now, he had

After pouring out the obscene words he knew on these soldiers, urging and whipping them to risk being killed by the Qing army's arrows, they would fire muskets and artillery fire at the Qing army outside the city, and lean out to fight back.

Smash the Qing troops on the ladders, and kill the first climbers who are about to ascend the city through the parapet wall and the openings in the battlements.

"Commander, there are too many new recruits, and the men are doing their best..."

Experienced officers and veterans are still urging the new recruits to prepare for the next attack, whether it is organizing their garrison, or using gun barrels, whips, and scabbards to order the defenders to carry corpses and treat the wounded.

, but those who responded were just mechanically following orders.

Fan Chengen is not a fool, and he naturally understands the implication of his general's words. But the problem is that this is no longer what happened more than half a year ago. The strength that the Qing army has accumulated for several months will surely be poured out on them in this encounter.

And the time just now was just the beginning.

"Ask for help from the army. We have too many new soldiers. I'm afraid Xiguan won't be able to hold on for long."

Before he finished speaking, the war drums in the distance sounded, and a new round of offensive by the Qing army began. The Ming army on the city head rushed to fight, but the Qing army still started shooting when it was far out of range, and still did not wait for the Qing army to climb up.

As soon as they climbed up the ladder, they hurriedly threw down the rolling logs and stones. Because the interval between the small victories just now was too short, the soldiers were thrown into the battle again before they could digest the experience.

As if the attack just now was just a rehearsal, this time, the Qing army's offensive was far more fierce than the last time. The Qing army went crazy climbing on the ladder, shouting and killing loudly. Soon,

The first person to ascend stepped onto the battlements.

The next second, in the horrified eyes of the surrounding Ming army, a veteran of the Ming army with sharp eyes and quick hands stabbed straight into the leg of the Qing army that was inconvenient to defend. Then he tilted his body and was about to fall off the city.

Go. The courage and skill of the veteran were immediately greeted by cheers from the people around him. However, before these cheers could be uttered, the Qing army's waist knife swung and clamped directly on the veteran's face. The latter took two steps back.

, just like the former, he fell into the city wall on his back.

The cheers were forced back into the crowd. Then, more and more Qing troops boarded the city wall in the panic of the Ming army. Some of them were killed on the city wall by the Ming army just like the first one.

, but more people climbed up to the top of the city and started an almost one-sided hand-to-hand battle with the Ming army.

The Qing troops ascending the city distracted more Ming troops and devoted more energy to killing the enemy troops in front of them. This was the beginning of a vicious cycle. With the Ming troops distracted, more Qing troops

Climbing to the top of the city, gradually the situation changed from defending the city wall to fighting for the city wall.

Protected by a city wall, the Ming army still had the strength to fight, but as more and more Qing troops gathered on top of the city, the collapse broke out in an instant without warning.

The frightened Ming army fled down the city in a hurry, completely ignoring the swords and guns behind them and the officers and supervisory teams in front of them. The messenger asking for help had just entered the city. Fan Chengen knew that the reinforcements would not arrive in time, so he issued an order to retreat. The cavalry and officers

Under the leadership of Uncle Yang Chun, He and his family soldiers rushed into the west city gate. The Ming army behind them also ran for their lives, but most of them were either killed on the spot by the Qing army or blocked by the city gate.

outside.

Xiguan, which was in control of the situation, fell, and the only thing Guangzhou Xicheng could rely on was this seemingly solid city wall. However, as the red barbarian cannons outside the city fired with fury like a thunder god coming into the world, the scene of sudden collapse
Chapter completed!