These salt merchants want to scold their mothers, but they are just earning hard-earned money. It stands to reason that they have contributed nothing to the Ming Dynasty, so why should they be coerced?
With such despicable methods, do you deserve to call yourself King Master?
Zhu Wenzheng could see their dissatisfaction from the expressions of these people. This kid put his hand on the handle of the knife. Just when the big guy thought he was going to kill someone, who knew that Zhu Wenzheng actually put his other hand in?
into his arms, and then took out several petitions stamped with big seals.
This thing was given to him by Zhu Yuanzhang, originally to recruit the Dongting Lake water thieves.
According to regulations, Zhu Wenzheng can grant official positions based on the number of soldiers and horses...but this official position is not formal and needs to be assessed.
Normally, for a thousand households, it would be good to be awarded the general banner in the end. Anyway, the devaluation is huge. Of course, if you can get this appointment, you can basically escape death, which is almost a life-saving talisman.
Zhu Wenzheng went north and took these papers with him. When he saw several salt merchants in front of him, he took out a few sheets at random, filled in the text, and gave each person a title of fourth-grade counselor.
"From now on, you will be officials of the Ming Dynasty. You will just wait for the examination by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Affairs... What do you think? Isn't it interesting?"
These businessmen obviously didn't know where the Ming Dynasty's province was. Seeing Zhu Wenzheng's straightforward words, they thought the chance was at least 80%.
We have become officials of the Ming Dynasty!
Finally reached the sky in one step!
"Zhu, General Zhu, what are your orders?" asked the leading salt merchant.
Zhu Wenzheng chuckled and said, "I don't mean anything else. You are all well-informed with your hands and eyes. I will need your help in defending the city next. Don't worry, I will reward you based on your merits. When your career rises, you will be successful."
Several salt merchants had no choice but to be held hostage by Zhu Wenzheng and stayed with him in Shaanzhou.
Zhu Wenzheng took advantage of the few days when the Yuan army had not gathered yet, to hoard materials crazily and rush to repair the city wall. Zhu Wenzheng also worked hard to build the urn city.
He had checked that Shaanzhou was in disrepair due to the war, and there were many gaps in the city wall. Even if it was repaired, it was hard to say how long it would take... Therefore, in order to avoid the sudden destruction of the city and being at a loss, Zhu Wenzheng built the urn city.
Not only did he build a second road, but he also built a third road... turning a Shaanzhou city into a fortress.
On the third day after Zhu Wenzheng arrived in Shaanzhou, the news spread around him. The others went to Luoyang and Kaifeng and told Chahan the news. Chahan then ordered Li Siqi to attack Shaanzhou.
After receiving the order, Li Siqi mobilized his troops and marched out of Tongguan.
It took ten days to react.
To be honest, this speed is not slow, it is even a little amazing.
But these ten days are enough for Zhu Wenzheng to make arrangements.
He came with 12,000 men. During the execution of the interspersed advance, some were lost and many were separated.
Therefore, Zhu Wenzheng only had a little over 10,000 men, and there were 8,000 Shaanzhou civilians, most of whom were old and weak. However, Zhu Wenzheng did not give up on them, but registered them uniformly, organized them into teams, and asked them to help defend the city.
All the people guarding the city can get twenty kilograms of salt at one time, and a portion of grain every day, ranging from one to two kilograms. Anyway, Zhu Wenzheng can guarantee that you will not starve to death.
In this world, being able to survive is already a blessing from God, so what else do you want?
In fact, since the beginning of the Haozhou Defense War that year, the Ming Army has summarized a set of effective methods of military-civilian cooperation, and all generals are familiar with them and can quickly complete preparations.
But the good days of the Ming army ended here.
Because in the early morning of the eleventh day, Li Siqi's vanguard arrived.
In fact, the soldiers and horses guarding Tongguan got the news faster than anyone else after Shaanzhou changed hands. However, they did not send troops to recover.
The reason is also very simple. Li Siqi went to receive the surrender of Li Wu and Cui De and was not in Tongguan. When the news came, Li Siqi rushed back and that was the end of the matter.
It can be said that in the early stage, the Yuan army did not perform well, and even looked a bit like a rabble. But when the Yuan army realized the terrible consequences of the loss of Shaanzhou, they became angry.
Li Siqi mobilized his troops and launched rounds of siege battles.
Densely packed soldiers, overwhelming, swept in.
As expected, there would be a conflict between Li Siqi and Chahan. He would not be so desperate, and might be arrogant or false.
In the end, Li Siqi fought more ferociously and carefully than anyone else. He divided his troops into three teams and attacked Shaanzhou in turn, from morning to night, endlessly...
The Yuan army that came out of the flames of war was also very fierce. They faced the crossbows at the top of the city and bravely moved forward... Using simple ladders and climbing ropes, they dared to climb up the city.
The Ming army prepared many rolling logs and stones, and smashed them down like crazy. There were soon a pile of corpses under the city wall. As a result, the Yuan army stepped on the corpses and came again to kill without hesitation.
On the third day of the battle, there were many gaps in the newly built city wall. The Yuan army fought desperately to fight inside, fighting one after another, regardless of sacrifice... And the Ming army fought even harder. Those in front blocked the Yuan army, and those behind were going crazy.
Lay bricks and strengthen the city wall.
As much as you destroy, we will repair as much as you want, and it depends on who can survive to the end?
"Is Li Siqi crazy? Is he so willing to be Chahan's dog?"
Fu Youde complained angrily. In the past day alone, he had suffered three arrow wounds. Fortunately, no critical injuries were caused. But he was really confused, why did Li Siqi work so hard?
Zhu Wenzheng was much calmer than him. He thought about it silently and couldn't help but said: "Maybe he thinks we are blocking his way! This guy still wants to go east to sweep Liuhe!"
Fu Youde was stunned and said angrily: "Bah! He deserves it too!"
Li Siqi is naturally not worthy, but you have to allow others to have dreams!
Since he basically dominated Guanzhong, if he wanted to develop, he had to go out to Tongguan.
Shaanzhou is a wall standing in front of him.
What's more, Chahan has nothing to ask of him now. As long as he successfully captures Shaanzhou and breaks out of Guanzhong, no one can stop him, Li Siqi.
The Yuan Dynasty declined, and the world was in competition.
This person named Zhu from Jiangshan robbed me, so why not my person named Li?
Li Siqi was holding back his power over Shaanxi, so he took out all the return cannons in his hand and bombarded Shaanxi.
The gap in the city wall became larger and larger, and Li Siqi's smile became stronger and stronger. He decisively threw in his cronies, rushed in through the gap, and conquered Shaanzhou in one fell swoop.
Seeing his subordinates charging in, Li Siqi was already grinning widely. He was almost certain that the battle was a success.
But just as Li Siqi was about to ride into the city, dense explosions sounded from the other side of the city wall, smoke rose into the sky, and there were bursts of wailing.
Zhu Wenzheng finally took out a big killer weapon in his hand, which was the fire blunderbuss that he had been studying for many years... Zhang Ximeng had obtained two fire blunderbuss from the Yuan army back then.
After entering Chuzhou, they began to study firearms. It was not until recently that the Ming army produced the first batch of usable matchlock guns.
To be honest, this efficiency is almost shocking.
But from materials, to technology, to mass production, training and exploration, and finally large-scale equipment and actual combat, ten years of work seems to be nothing... After all, my third brother can still sharpen his sword for thirty years!
And this time, it was the Ming army's firecrackers that were put into actual combat for the first time.
The dense explosions, the flying lead pellets, the rising smoke, the torn body, the splattering blood... all show the power of firearms.
No matter how brave a warrior is, he cannot withstand the impact of projectiles.
The smoke has cleared and body parts are everywhere, just like hell has descended.
The dead bodies and the surviving soldiers were intertwined together, and the mournful wails were horrifying.
After a brief shock, the Ming army decisively launched a counterattack. They stepped on the corpses and waved their weapons vigorously, turning more people into corpses.
Of the more than two hundred elite Yuan troops, less than twenty escaped.
One by one, they ran away with their heads in their hands, their souls scattered.
Desolate and frightened, the liver and gallbladder are about to burst.
Such an afterimage also shocked Li Siqi.
Is the Ming army really that powerful?
Li Siqi's offensive was temporarily stopped, and the city finally had a chance to breathe.
But within half a day, an even more intense siege began again.
Moreover, they launched attacks from both the east and west sides.
Wang Baobao led his soldiers and horses to kill from Luoyang.
Along with him came hundreds of returning artillery pieces, and even Wang Baobao also had gunpowder and fire oil in his hands... Wang Baobao's joining brought the Battle of Shaanzhou into the bloodiest and most brutal stage.
The two Yuan armies attacked frantically from the east and west sides day and night.
Trebuchets, goose carts, ladders... dig tunnels, build earthen platforms, almost all available means were used.
The Ming army also entered the most difficult period.
Due to the continuous fighting, coupled with the rapid march ahead to build the city wall... everyone was exhausted. The continuous siege day and night left many people with no time to sleep. They stood at the top of the city and threw stones, and they followed the stones.
The crenel fell down.
Nothing else, just too tired.
There are less than 8,000 Ming troops who can still support the battle... If this continues, Shaanzhou will indeed be in danger.
At this moment, the people in the city moved, and thousands of people came to the city.
They are willing to take over the tired Ming army and let them take a rest, we will bear it!
The soldiers and civilians finally stood together.
As long as the Ming army is still there, there will be something to eat. If the Ming army is defeated, the beasts, tigers and wolves outside will definitely devour everyone.
Fight for survival!
The battle in Shaanzhou is still brutal and the losses are very heavy, but the defense line formed by the army and the people is unbreakable and as solid as a rock!
The Yuan army failed to break through Shaanzhou, but on the eastern front, Xu Da had already mobilized his army and invaded Yifeng... As a famous general of the Yuan Dynasty and a confidant of Chahan's men, Yan Sixiao was surrounded by enemies on all sides.
The Ming army came overwhelmingly, and his men fled to death.
The city gates were breached in three places, including Lu Zhongheng, Tang Shengzong, and many others. Ming army generals rushed into the city and massacred them.
Yan Sixiao has lost the possibility of escaping.
In despair, Yan Sixiao took out the sword given to him by Chahan, put it on his neck, and with one blow, Yan Sixiao died!
After Xu Da got the news, he didn't say anything. He just said that he knew it, and then sent his troops to attack the north bank of the Yellow River.
Just as Xu Da was making a bold move forward, Chang Yuchun also captured Guide and without stopping, charged towards Kaifeng City.
Getting closer and closer to Kaifeng, surprisingly, Chang Yuchun did not encounter the Yuan army, but he encountered a group of guys who looked like beggars. They stopped the Ming army, and the leader cried and worshiped on the ground.
"I, Zhao Jizu, Minister of War of the Song Dynasty, pay homage to General Chang!"
Chang Yuchun was startled, he was actually from Han Song Dynasty?
So, the siege of Kaifeng has been withdrawn?
Chahan didn't choose to fight in Kaifeng? Chang Yuchun felt disappointed, but Zhao Jizu kowtowed and burst into tears with gratitude, "My Majesty, the Little Ming King, thank the Ming Emperor for his righteousness! Thank you for saving your life!"