Hu Laofi, the team leader, shouted loudly: "Everyone, give way and let us go first."
Ten people behind him were carrying the cannon, and others were carrying ammunition boxes and following the cannon. These weapons were very heavy, and those who could serve as artillerymen were all strong men. Otherwise, they would collapse from fatigue just by carrying the shells without moving the cannon.
Lin Hu came out to greet them excitedly, "You guys came just in time, old man. We sent grenades three times but they were all used up. The casualties in hand-to-hand combat were too great."
Hu Laofi said: "I brought an order from my superiors, asking you to withdraw and rest. Except for the fourth and fifth battalions of your regiment, which were transferred to guard the surrounding beacons and mountain passes, your remaining three battalions and the regiment headquarters have already
We have been fighting for two days, so go down immediately to rest. The fifth regiment will come up to take over the defense."
Lin Hu looked at Hong Dahai, the commander of the third battalion of the fifth regiment, who was coming from behind, saluted with a military salute, and said: "This section of the city wall will be left to you. I feel that the eight business groups seem to be preparing a major counterattack. You want to
Be particularly vigilant.”
"Don't worry, we will give them a big one today."
After the handover, a regiment of troops went down to the city to rest. They were very exhausted. They had basically no sleep for the past two days and two nights, and many of them were injured all over their bodies. They urgently needed to go down to the city to find a doctor to treat their wounds.
At this time, the slope was not completed and it would take another day before it could be used. Now they had to climb down using a rope ladder and send the wounded down on pulleys.
After two days of fighting, the business group was also anxious. Now the situation was obvious. These Mongolians were just here to bring the pot. They had no intention of grabbing a vote and leaving.
There was a fierce argument among the eight big shopkeepers. Some said they wanted to break out and escape to Xuanfu. Xuanfu town had 70,000 soldiers in name, but in fact it was only more than 30,000. It could fight more than 10,000.
Fan Yongdou sneered and said: "Break through, can you break out? So far, they have only occupied a section of the city wall. How many people are there? Two thousand people were forced to death. They fought for two days and two nights. Five or six thousand people were killed or injured.
Is there any progress? There are more than 3,000 cavalry outside the east gate and south gate each. Can you outrun the horse's legs with two legs?"
Wang Dayu was no longer stingy at this time. He stared at a pair of bloodshot eyes, panted heavily, and shouted loudly: "What should we do? Sit back and wait for death. If we continue to fight like this, they will occupy all four walls of the city, and we will catch a turtle in a jar."
Jin Liangyu asked back: "Our family's assets are basically here. How can we escape in this situation? Are you willing to break out of the encirclement?"
The others suddenly sat down on their stools like deflated rubber balls.
Although these eight business groups cannot represent Shanxi merchants, they are the most successful and largest among Shanxi merchants. Their sales revenue accounts for the vast majority of the entire Shanxi merchant group.
The organizational form they adopted was similar to that of later joint-stock enterprises. Each business group was established by one or several original shareholders. Over the past two hundred years, the equity has been quite dispersed. Because these shareholder families are rich and include
Wives and concubines also gave birth to many children.
After two hundred years of development, the shares have been diluted. Major matters of the business group require a family meeting. Hundreds of family members with equity stakes of varying sizes vote and make decisions at the meeting chaired by the patriarch.
.
At the same time, the annual Spring Festival ancestor worship activities are also hosted by the clan leader. The shopkeepers of the business group must report the year's work to the shareholders in the ancestral hall after the ancestor worship meeting. At the same time, dividends are distributed.
Because there are too many shareholders, apart from the properties obtained through dividends distributed throughout Shanxi, the main property of the business group is in Zhangjiakou. This time, if they run away like this, they will lose all their capital. They cannot explain to the shareholders and the clan.
Huang Yunfa was the oldest, already in his sixties. He put the bowl of tea on the table and said slowly: "Some of you are direct descendants of your respective clans, and some of them have been shopkeepers for generations to serve the boss. The business of this family is
Our lifeblood, the accumulation of more than two hundred years of hard work, are you willing to give it up?"
Everyone was a little red-eyed for a while. What the businessmen couldn't stand the most was taking away their money. This time, they still took the blame.
Tian Shenglan said: "Let's fight. If the business group is gone, what's the use of these private soldiers. Now that the people's hearts are still there, work hard and fight. If the people's hearts are gone and we see that we can't do it, we can fight as hard as we want.
No more."
Liang Jiabin said: "Then everyone should dig out their wealth. It's time, don't hide it. If we take back the north wall and hold on with all our strength, we can still hold on until reinforcements arrive. If we can't hold it, just wait and go."
Let’s go graze the sheep on the grassland.”
Everyone fell silent. This battle would determine the life and death of Zhangjiakou. If defeated, the eight giant merchants would be completely defeated.
Fan Yongdou said: "Distribute all the weapons and tell everyone that as long as a Tatar is beheaded, he will be given a share. From associate to owner."
Everyone took a breath of air-conditioning. The Fan family was so powerful that they dared to impose such conditions.
The three battalions of the Fifth Regiment had just finished setting up their defenses when they saw from the city wall that business groups in the city had gathered on a large scale. An Sanxi also watched what was going on in the city from the watchtower.
"Hey, they are really anxious. They are handing out weapons to anyone who is breathing." An Sanxi sneered.
"It's okay, these bastards have been in Mongolia for more than two hundred years. Their ancestors have been doing this business for generations. If they hadn't gotten involved with Jiannu this time and offended the master, they wouldn't have been so quick.
It’s over.” Wang Hao said from the side.
"My master is attacking them this time, mainly because they are in Zhangjiakou, which is equivalent to controlling an important node of our transportation line. These bastards also colluded with slaves. This master is sending troops to Guihua City. The army is in danger and the battle is fierce. We cannot leave our back to them.
.So the transportation line must be cleaned up, otherwise, if the 20,000 people start a riot, the Beijing camp ahead will be in danger." Che Xiaolin also said.
An Sanxi nodded and said: "You are all right, but the most important thing is that I plan to reshuffle the cards and integrate the overland foreign trade. These people are a stumbling block to further exploring the northwest. Only by removing them can we re-plan.
Trade Routes and Wealth Distribution in the Northwest.”
Before dark, the slope leading to the north city wall was finally repaired.
An Sanxi moved the fourth regiment outside the west city wall into the city wall. At this time, there were two regiments with a total of 7,200 infantry on the north city wall, and an artillery battalion of 500 people.
Except for the two battalions left in An Sanxi, they set up machine gun positions outside the east gate and south gate respectively. The other infantry were all ready to enter the city and fight in the streets.
When the business group was distributing weapons and ammunition and arming all the people who could be armed, An Sanxi launched an attack in advance.
On the east and west city walls, three camel cannons were erected respectively. It's not that we don't want to install more, but this is the only space on the city wall.
Zheng Decai, with his battalion of musketeers, was ready for the attack. He waited for the artillery fire to be ready before launching the attack.
As the commander of the artillery squadron, Hu Laofi was hanging a cigarette. Shi Shiran came over and asked: "How are the preparations? Do you have enough ammunition?"
Zheng Decai also looked at Hutu, the artillery squad leader who commanded the three guns.
"Report to the captain, there is enough ammunition, 55 rounds of solid bullets and 45 rounds of shotshells."
Hu Laofi nodded, then turned to look at the night sky behind him. He said: "Wait, the military commander will send out a signal bomb, and you will fire immediately. Use solid bullets to clean up the broken barricades on the city wall.
