Three thousand cavalry attacked the city, like tigers and wolves, and quickly took control of the situation. Seeing the large number of cavalry attacking the city, the rebels in the city thought that the imperial army was coming. They had no fighting spirit at this moment, and fled frantically along the streets.
Some generals and soldiers were forced to become thieves, and some were speculative and wanted to gain some benefits from the rebellion. At this time, how could they fight so hard. When they saw a large group of cavalry entering the city, they all lost their armor and swords and pretended to be
The common people hid themselves.
Of course, there were also stubborn people who refused to surrender and tried to resist. They organized a large number of rebels to fight. The whole city of Ningxia was filled with loud killings and a great noise.
Zhang Yanling ignored the dissuasion of Chen Shiyi and others and led more than 200 cavalrymen to the east city.
In the Zhuangyuan Lane of the East City, a fierce battle continued for more than an hour. Thousands of rebel soldiers and horses stormed the Zhuangyuan Mansion in the Zhuangyuan Lane defended by Qiu Yue and others. When Zhang Yanling and others fought a bloody battle at the West City Gate, there were also shouts here
Killings continued all day long, and a fierce battle raged on.
The rebel troops attacked five or six times, forcibly forcing Qiu Yue and others from the outer residence of the No. 1 Scholar's Mansion to the inner residence one by one. Finally, they were trapped on the three-story No. 1 Scholar building in the back house.
During the fierce battle, most of the more than 300 people under Qiu Yue were killed or injured. After retreating to the Zhuangyuan Building, less than 80 people were left. Half of them were injured. Qiu Yue himself was also injured in many places.
.
This is actually thanks to Zhang Yanling and others' timely launch in the West City. The original plan was for Qiu Yue to attract a large number of rebels to create opportunities for Zhang Yanling and others. Later, it was Zhang Yanling and others' actions to seize the city gate at the West City Gate that led Zhu Zhixiu to order the transfer
Thousands of troops were sent to the west city for reinforcements, thus allowing Qiu Yue and the others to escape disaster.
Zhang Yanling and others came on horseback, and with the roar of cannons, they quickly solved the siege of Zhuangyuan Tower and rescued Qiu Yue and the others. Qiu Yue was covered in blood and had no less than six or seven arrow wounds. Fortunately, Qiu Yue and others were covered in blood.
It's not a critical location.
Seeing Zhang Yanling and others arriving, Qiu Yue was overjoyed and rushed forward to salute regardless of his injuries.
"Master Marquis, have we succeeded? Has the cavalry entered the city?"
"We have entered the city. Listen to the cries of killing in this city. My general Zhang Yin is clearing out the remaining enemies." Zhang Yanling laughed.
Because he was so excited, Qiu Yue coughed and his mouth was full of blood.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly ordered people to check and bandage his injuries. However, Qiu Yue said anxiously: "Master Hou, the general's injuries are fine. We must quickly eliminate the enemies and control the gates of the four cities to prevent the old thief Zhu Zhixiu from escaping."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Don't worry, my people will control the situation. General Qiu doesn't have to worry about this. Now I want General Qiu to do something."
General Qiu asked: "What's the matter?"
Zhang Yanling said: "You and General Shi have eagles to communicate with each other. Please immediately pass on the news that we have invaded Ningxia City. Tell General Shi Yong and ask him to tell Mr. Yang Yiqing to wait until the news of the fall of Ningxia City comes.
to the north shore
Only after the rebels have captured the enemy can they start crossing the river. At that time, the rebels will definitely be unwilling to defend the north bank and will have to return to rescue the city of Ningxia. By then crossing the river can ensure safety. Only when the army successfully crosses the river can they comprehensively clear out the remaining enemies and encircle and suppress the rebels.
Completely suppress the rebellion."
Qiu Yue heard this and said hurriedly: "Okay, I will go back and write a letter and deliver it. But I don't know if it will be late."
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "Today is the tenth day. I hope Master Yang Yiqing will not launch an attack across the river immediately. It will take half a day for the falcon to reach Lingzhou, so Master Yang Yiqing should not be so impatient. This is all we can do, and the rest is It’s up to God to arrange it.”
Qiu Yue said no more and immediately rushed back with his people to write a letter to send him away. He knew that he could not afford to waste time. If Yang Yiqing started to cross the river, he might be severely damaged. That would be a unnecessary loss.
In the city, the fighting continued until the early morning. The gates of the four cities were occupied by Zhang Yin's people. After the small group of rebels in the city were eliminated, the only ones left were the thousands of rebels who were driven away and hiding in the Anhua Palace.
After the city was broken, Zhu Zhixiu first organized nearly 2,000 people to try to resist. After fighting on the street, Zhang Yin's cavalry rushed to pieces and was no match for them. Zhu Zhixiu saw that the situation was not good, so he led the Hundreds of cavalrymen tried to escape from the city.
However, Zhang Yin ordered people to occupy the other three city gates immediately from the beginning. The west city was the direction of the main cavalry force, so Zhu Zhixiu did not dare to leave from the west city. He chose the north city, but when he arrived at the city gate, he was fired upon by a gun. They were driven back by a sudden bombardment.
Although there were not many people guarding the city, they were all fire soldiers from the Zhenwei Battalion and could not be captured at all. Zhu Zhixiu turned around again and headed towards the south city gate. The result was the same. At this point, Zhu Zhixiu finally understood and escaped from the city. It was impossible. So he took the remaining defeated soldiers and rushed back to the Anhua Palace to resist.
Many rebels who had been scattered and fled also came one after another, but there were thousands of people gathered here.
In the dim light of the early morning, in addition to some small groups of cavalry that cleared out the scattered rebels in the city, more than two thousand Zhenwei Battalion cavalry gathered outside the Anhua Palace in Nancheng and surrounded the palace.
The size of the Anhua Palace is indeed not small, but that is not the problem. The key problem is that this is not an ordinary palace at all, but a small fortress.
The outer perimeter of the Anhua Palace is a trench that is more than ten feet wide and of unknown depth. The trench is filled with thorns and thorns. Then there is a bluestone wall that is more than two feet high and more than one foot wide. Above it is a wall stack that is half a person high.
The inner arrow towers stand tall, at least seven or eight, and they are all stone beacon towers.
According to the description of the captured prisoners, in addition to the outer wall, the Anhua Palace has three walls. The innermost one is a wooden and stone hall, which is the core area of the palace. It is equivalent to the inner chamber of an ordinary mansion.
Three high walls and scattered arrow towers. It is a huge fortress with a triple defense system.
In addition, a large amount of food, weapons, armor, and supplies are stored in the core area of the palace, enough to ensure the supply of soldiers and horses in the palace.
Zhu Zhixiu originally planned to escape from the city. But now he was forced to hide in the palace fortress out of desperation.
When Zhang Yanling led his troops and horses to surround the palace, Zhu Zhixiu also made a decision in the inner hall. Under the gaze of a group of staff and generals, Zhu Zhixiu wrote down something on the table. A letter. Then he stuffed the letter into a bamboo tube with his own hands, hung it on the leg of the messenger eagle and tied it tightly.
Zhu Zhixiu held the falcon in his hand, glanced at the frowning people around him, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Everyone, you don't have to worry. Although the situation is urgent, it is not out of control. My palace is as strong as a castle, and there are currently as many as a thousand guards. They can't attack at all for a while."
Zhu Zhixiu walked slowly to the entrance of the palace and continued: "Based on the current situation, there are only two or three thousand cavalry who have invaded Ningxia City. With this kind of force, it is a delusion to attack the king's palace. We We only need to hold on for a few days, and General He's troops will come back to rescue him. With the strength and defense of the palace, holding on for three to five days will definitely not be a problem. So, you don't have to panic. I am writing this letter to He Jinyi ordered him to send some troops and horses to return reinforcements. If it could be as soon as three days or as late as five days, the situation will inevitably reverse."
Zhu Zhixiu's words made everyone in the palace heave a long sigh of relief. Indeed, more than a thousand people were defending the danger, and the enemy only had two or three thousand people. Our own supplies were sufficient and the defense system was complete. There was absolutely no problem in holding on for three to five days. of.
"That's great, that's great. Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Everyone nodded.
Zhu Zhixiu stretched out his hand and stroked the feathers of the falcon, and said in a deep voice: "But, everyone, listen carefully. From now on, you must do your best to defend this place. The generals will work hard for me, and the civil servants must not be idle. , help with advice. If anyone refuses to contribute in the past few days, or says something depressing that shakes the morale of the army, then don’t blame me for being ruthless."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will do our best and will not slack off for a moment."
"If anyone is still unwilling to contribute wholeheartedly at this time, I will be the first to refuse."
"Swear to the death to defend the palace and protect the prince to the death!"
Everyone started shouting.
Zhu Zhixiu waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "I have given you an order from the king. All the soldiers have to do their best to defend this place. After the army comes back for reinforcements, everyone will be promoted to one level and will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver. In addition, for killing one enemy Reward thirty taels, kill two people and get a hundred taels, kill three people or even more, the reward will be doubled. Cash it immediately, no default. If you kill three enemies, you will be promoted to the post of flag officer, and if you kill ten people, you will be promoted to the general flag. You have made a great contribution. Those who are appointed officials will be worshiped as generals."
Everyone said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise. Your Majesty is wise."
Zhu Zhixiu breathed a sigh of relief, stood at the entrance of the palace, threw up the falcon in his hand, and shouted: "Beast, go."
The hawk flew up into the air with its wings spread, hovered for a moment, and flew straight to the southwest sky.
…
Just as the falcon flying out of Anhua Prince's Palace took off, in Qiu Yue's house on Baishui Lane, a falcon was also flying rapidly towards the southwest sky.
Two falcons flew one behind the other in the sky, flying high and fast, piercing the clouds and fog, heading towards Lingzhou.
At the same time, at Lingzhou North Ferry, which is more than 500 miles southwest of Ningxia City, thousands of troops have gathered here.
In the morning mist at the ferry, dozens of brand new ships were already lying on the water below the pier. A wide springboard was set up on the shore of the pier, and groups of soldiers and horses were quickly boarding the ships.
Yang Yiqing, dressed in a black robe, stood on the embankment above the pier, stroking his beard and looking at the spectacular scene of soldiers and horses in front of him, with a satisfied smile on his lips.
Today is a big day. After ten days of intensive construction supervision, fifty large ships have been completed and dozens of small ships are also ready. Yang Yiqing can't wait to send his army to force the crossing. He no longer wants to wait for even an hour. Even moment by moment.