Facing the attack of the new army of the Tang Dynasty, Zhengtai County's defense could not hold on for even an hour, let alone a day or two.
Hundreds of new troops from the Tang Dynasty outside the city had just assumed an siege posture, and then sent out soldiers to test firepower. When preparing for the official project, the Ming army on top of the city had the good sense to raise the white flag and surrender.
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Therefore, strictly speaking, the attack on Zhengtai County was not fought. The New Army of the Tang Dynasty did not even fire a volley of guns, and the sword and shield soldiers prepared to climb the wall did not even draw their swords. The Ming army simply surrendered.
Fang Xitong, who originally thought there would be a hard fight, was also surprised!
However, it is reasonable for the Ming army to surrender directly. In fact, the Ming army in the city did not have many regular troops at all, and many of them were young men pulled out temporarily.
Moreover, Zhengtai County had been semi-sieged by the New Army of the Tang Dynasty for four months. The defenders in the city, including Su Jiakang himself, believed that Zhengtai County could not be defended by the defenders in the city alone.
The reason why they can still hold on is not because they are more capable of fighting, but because the new army of the Tang Dynasty has never launched an attack on Zhengtai County.
In addition, they also hope that the army from Fucheng will come to save them!
But when they heard that the tens of thousands of Ming troops on the other side of the Lanjiang River had suffered a disastrous defeat, their perseverance completely collapsed.
Even Su Jiakang did not prevent the defenders from surrendering spontaneously this time!
When Su Jiakang, who was in the county government office, heard from people outside that the puppet Tang rebel army had officially entered the city and went straight to the county government office, he knew that not only had his official career reached a critical point, but his life had also reached a critical point.
At this moment, he has no other choice but the only choice left, which is to commit suicide!
Since the city of Zhengtai County has been destroyed, there is absolutely no reason why he, the county magistrate, can be spared. Even if he escapes, he will not be able to escape the crime of abandoning the city. In the end, he will definitely be beheaded or even have his home ransacked.
As for stubborn resistance, he no longer had the capital to resist. The defenders in the city and even the wealthy families had already made preparations for the puppet Tang rebels to invade the city. No one would accompany Su Jiakang at this time.
Despite his stubborn resistance, even the county government officials and police officers dispersed in droves. In the huge county government office, only a dozen of his followers and soldiers were left to resist.
By committing suicide and martyring the country, not only could he keep his reputation for the rest of his life, but he could also save his family from the disaster of confiscation and annihilation. Maybe the court would also give his family a reward.
After sighing again, Su Jiakang drank the last sip of tea, and then ordered the entourage at the door: "Change clothes!"
The entourage at the door was a son he brought from his hometown. He did not run away like the others in the county government, but stayed here.
The entourage could naturally guess what his master wanted to do. The young man in his twenties said lightly: "Master!"
Su Jiakang snorted coldly: "What are you still doing? Are you trying to ruin my reputation for the rest of my life?"
When the attendant saw this scene, he also sighed and started to help Su Jiakang change his clothes!
While Su Jiakang was changing his clothes, noises could be heard outside, and gunshots were even heard. It was obvious that the puppet Tang bandits had entered the city and were beginning to suppress the chaos in the city.
Su Jiakang knew very well that the county town was already in complete chaos before the puppet Tang bandit army began to officially attack the city. Those gangsters took advantage of the chaos and began to loot and set fire everywhere, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to make a fortune from the national crisis.
After the puppet Tang thief army entered the city, if they wanted to get a complete Zhengtai County, they would definitely have to suppress it. Some small-scale battles that occurred as a result were being cleaned up.
At this time, there was another noise outside the county government office, and from the sound, it seemed that the puppet Tang rebel army had arrived at the gate of the county government office and was preparing to invade the county government office.
Su Jiakang took back his mind at this time!
There was not much time left for him. He looked at the many things that had been prepared and considered how to end his life in a dignified manner.
Killing himself with a knife? This is too difficult. He is not a warrior, and he does not have the courage to draw a knife and cut his own neck!
Swallowing gold? Although this is decent, it is not easy to swallow such a large piece of gold and silver!
Taking poison? This was originally Su Jiakang's favorite way to die, but the doctors in the city couldn't prepare poison that would kill him instantly if he drank it. They only got some ordinary poisons, but the potency of these poisons took too long to take effect.
What's more, it's too painful after taking poison.
After looking around at the things prepared on the table, he finally set his sights on a white cloth!
That’s all, just hang the beam!
After making the decision, he glanced at his entourage and said, "Hang it up!"
The attendant hesitated for a while, but still obeyed Su Jiakang's words and threw the white cloth on the beam, then tied it in a knot, and finally consciously moved a chair and placed it under the white cloth.
When Su Jiakang saw this scene, he nodded slightly and said to his entourage: "Escape for your life!"
After hearing this, the attendant was stunned for a moment, and then said: "I won't leave!"
This follower wants to stay and collect Su Jiakang's body. His master is a high-ranking Jinshi. Even if he committed suicide and died for his country, someone must collect his body.
Seeing that he was not leaving, Su Jiakang didn't say anything more. After standing up from the Taishi chair, he straightened his clothes and then walked slowly under the white cloth. When he was about to lift his feet to step on the chair, his movements paused for a moment.
, but quickly continued to move and climbed onto the chair.
At this time, the noise outside the door became louder, and there were even bursts of dense and crisp gunshots. Su Jiakang knew that the soldiers and followers defending at the door might no longer be able to stop him.
So he didn't hesitate too much. After taking a deep breath, he put his head into the rope, and then kicked off the chair under his feet.
The next moment, he was floating under the beams!
The pain of suffocation made him struggle instinctively, but naturally this struggle was of no use, so his struggle slowly stopped.
At this moment, several soldiers from the New Army of the Tang Dynasty wearing blue and red military uniforms rushed in from the door. The leader was a platoon leader. When they saw someone hanging from the beam in the room, and this person was still wearing an official robe, they didn't know that this person was
The main target of their trip: Su Jiakang, the magistrate of Zhengtai County!
Because in the huge Zhengtai County, only Su Jiakang can wear the seventh-grade official robe, and they also know that several of the main officials in Zhengtai County are actually no longer in Zhengtai County. For example, the county magistrate has long fled to the capital.
Over there, the remaining officials are all low-class officials, not worth mentioning at all.
At this moment, besides Su Jiakang, who could the official who committed suicide by hanging from a beam in the backyard of the county government office be?
Immediately, the platoon leader of the Tang Army waved his hand: "Put him down quickly, I will live!"