860 bloody battle in the capital

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With Li Zicheng giving the order to attack, on August 21, the main force of more than 400,000 Dashun troops left Changping, crossed the Shahe River, and went straight to the capital of Daming.

At this time, Chongzhen issued the fifth 'edict of guilt' in the capital, reviewed the mistakes, and called on all the subjects of the capital to unite as one to fight against the thieves.

But it's a pity that Chongzhen's 'guilty edict' played a small role, and the capital of Daming at this time was already panicked.

A group of Daming officials have already decided that the Ming Dynasty has gone, and they are thinking about how to save their lives and wealth, instead of thinking about sinking with the broken ship of Daming.

Military attachés do not think of war, and civilian officials only plead guilty. This is the current situation in the capital of Daming at this time.

With the Dashun army going south, soon all the way to the Ming capital, on the 23rd, the Dashun army surrounded the capital, artillery bombardment of the city.

At this time, Chongzhen wanted to convene the ministers to discuss countermeasures, but he didn't think that at this time, these Ming officials, the big officials only knew to ask for guilt, and the junior officials were silent one by one, what countermeasures could be said there.

Among them, the representative of the surrender faction among the Ming officials, Zhang Jinyan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, resigned directly to Chongzhen at this time.

Think about it, at this time, when the life and death of the Ming Dynasty were at stake, the dignified military department Shangshu actually resigned, which was simply an escape.

At this time, how could Chongzhen approve Zhang Jinyan's resignation.

Chongzhen also counted on him, the secretary of the military department, to dispatch soldiers and horses in the capital, command the Ming army in the city, and resist Li Zicheng's Dashun army.

The dignified military department is like this, and other Ming officials can be imagined.

Helpless, Chongzhen can be regarded as seeing the virtues of these civil officials under him at this time, but at this time, Chongzhen can't do anything.

Chongzhen can't, really dismiss all these Ming officials.

At this time, Li Zicheng's army had already reached the city, and if he dismissed these officials, who would command the men and horses below for him.

If Chongzhen really does that, what is the difference between it and seeking his own death.

Immediately, Chongzhen had no choice but to order Cheng Shoufu Chen Yan, Zhang Jinyan, the secretary of the military department, Zhu Chunchen, the national prince, Wang Yongping, the general soldier of Jiliao, and the senior officials and generals of the Ming Dynasty, to arrange the defense of the capital and prepare to defend the capital.

Chongzhen believed that with the solidity of the capital, the 200,000 Ming defenders in the city, coupled with flintlock muskets, thunderbolts, artillery and other weapons, were enough to hold the capital.

But unfortunately, Chongzhen was overconfident.

He did not know that the strongest fortresses in the world were often not breached from the outside, but collapsed from the inside.

With Chongzhen's control over the Ming capital at this time, and with the attitude of these civil ministers and generals of the Ming Dynasty at this time, how could the Ming capital be able to defend it.

Just before the Dashun army surrounded the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Lu Xiangsheng also returned to the capital under the protection of Hao Qiang.

That's right, Lu Xiangsheng, who waited and waited in Kaifeng and didn't wait for Li Zixiao to come back, immediately got up and returned to the capital when he learned that Li Zicheng's Dashun army had reached the capital.

"Your Majesty, Lu Guogong is back."

Wang Chengen rushed to the hall with a happy face and shouted at Chongzhen, who looked tired.

"Lu Aiqing is back, let him come to see me."

At this time, Chongzhen was also overjoyed when he heard Lu Xiangsheng come back, and shouted eagerly.

It was only at this time that Chongzhen really understood that few of the civil and military ministers of the Manchu Dynasty were credible, except for Lu Xiangsheng, who had always been loyal to him and the Ming Dynasty.

"Holy Lord, the minister is back."

Soon, Lu Xiangsheng entered the palace and saluted Chongzhen.

"Aiqing, you can be regarded as back."

Chongzhen walked quickly to Lu Xiangsheng, directly held Lu Xiangsheng's hand, and said excitedly.

"Shengshang, Weichen is incompetent, and he couldn't borrow soldiers and horses from Kaifeng."

Lu Xiangsheng pleaded guilty to Chongzhen and said.

"What? Li Zixiao refused to send troops? Chongzhen's face turned cold and asked.

"Saintly, Weichen has never seen Li Zixiao.

His subordinates told Weichen that Li Zixiao was still in the Wa Kingdom and was on the way back, without Li Zixiao's order.

The tens of thousands of horses left by Li Zixiao in Henan, Weichen couldn't mobilize them at all.

Wechen is incompetent! ”

"Haha, a good Li Zixiao, a good loyal and brave marquis, what is in the Wa Kingdom, it's all an excuse."

After Chongzhen heard Lu Xiangsheng's words, he laughed angrily and roared.

"Even if Li Zixiao is in the Wa Kingdom, it has been more than a month since my order was issued, so he should rush back.

In the final analysis, Li Zixiao is a chaotic thief, and after all, his true face has been revealed, and he is completely the same as the thief.

I really regret it, I knew this was the case, I shouldn't have raised a tiger in the first place, let him grow bigger step by step. ”

Chongzhen looked remorseful at this time, full of hatred for Li Zixiao, and said.

Lu Xiangsheng, who was next to him, sighed helplessly after hearing Chongzhen's words.

He didn't know Li Zixiao's wolf ambitions, but so what, whether it was then or now, they can't do anything about Li Zixiao.

Not forcing Li Zixiao to oppose is beneficial to Daming.

But this also caused Li Zixiao to grow bigger step by step, and the imperial court's control over him was lost little by little, and finally completely out of control.

Now, even if Li Zixiao deliberately avoided Lu Xiangsheng and deliberately did not send troops to rescue the capital, Lu Xiangsheng and Chongzhen had no choice at all.

"The saint is angry, and now Li Zixiao can't count on it, but the saint is also relieved, even if Li Zixiao is unwilling to send troops to the king.

But at least, Li Zixiao has not openly rebelled, and he will not send troops to attack the capital like Li Zicheng's side.

As long as we hold the capital and repel Li Zicheng's men, there is still hope for the Ming Dynasty. ”

At this time, what else can Lu Xiangsheng say, he can only say this kind of thing to comfort and comfort Chongzhen.

Of course, what Lu Xiangsheng said is also the truth, but whether he can do it or not depends on the will of God and their ability.

After hearing Lu Xiangsheng's words, Chongzhen's face softened, he held Lu Xiangsheng's hand, and said with a heartfelt voice: "Aiqing, now that you are back, I can finally have someone to entrust."

Now I will give Aiqing full authority for the defense of the capital, and whether or not I can hold the capital depends on Aiqing. ”

"Holy rest assured, Weichen will do his best to defend the capital and His Majesty!"

Lu Xiangsheng said firmly.

Immediately, Chongzhen officially ordered to restore Lu Xiangsheng's official position as generalissimo of the army and horses, and to be in charge of all the Ming troops in the entire capital, and all Ming generals must obey Lu Xiangsheng's orders.

As soon as Lu Xiangsheng took office, he readjusted the defense of the capital.

At the same time, Lu Xiangsheng also took over the command of the 30,000 elite Ming troops that he brought back from Shanxi from Chongzhen.

Compared with the emperor Chongzhen, Lu Xiangsheng has a better understanding of the situation of the Ming army at this time.

Regarding the combat effectiveness of the forbidden army, the Beijing camp, and other guards in the capital, Lu Xiangsheng basically had no hope.

Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng redeployed the capital with the elite of the 30,000 Ming army in his hands, as well as the men and horses in the hands of Wang Yongping, Zhu Chunchen, Zhang Jinyan and others.

Remove the wine bags and rice bags, and send them to maintain law and order in the city.

Lu Xiangsheng acted resolutely, relying on the heavy troops in his hands, and in just one day, he reorganized the defenders of the Ming army in the capital and adjusted the defensive countermeasures.

It can be said that Lu Xiangsheng was in charge of the defense of the capital at this time, quickly rectified the chaotic situation of the Ming army in the capital, and stabilized the morale of the army.

At the same time, Lu Xiangsheng's reinstatement of military power also shocked many people in the capital, so that many people who were about to move were temporarily honest.

These people still know how powerful Lu Xiangsheng is, and they no longer dare to act as boldly and recklessly as before, and they have become cautious and cautious.

That night, in the mansion of Zhang Jinyan, the secretary of the Ministry of War, many people secretly gathered, and each of them was a well-known nobleman in the capital.

Either civil officials of the imperial court, military generals, and some heads of wealthy merchant families, all secretly gathered in Zhang's Mansion at this time.

"Zhang Shangshu, today Lu Xiangsheng adjusted the defense of the capital, and our original plan may be changed temporarily."

Someone said to Zhang Jinyan.

"Well, the old man didn't expect that Lu Xiangsheng would return in time, and the saint still trusted him so much as always.

As soon as Lu Xiangsheng returned, the saint actually restored him to his official position as generalissimo of soldiers and horses, and handed over the defense of the capital to him. ”

Zhang Jinyan's tone was full of jealousy.

"Lu Xiangsheng is not easy to deal with, in case our plan is discovered by him, it will be bad."

A fat man next to him said cautiously.

"That's right, the saint is easy to fool, but Lu Xiangsheng is not easy to fool.

At this time, Lu Xiangsheng has the most elite men and horses in his hands, once our plan is discovered, it will be a big disaster at that time! ”

"So, we have to be cautious about this."

The people around you are talking and talking.

"Zhang Shangshu, what do you say?"

In the end, everyone looked at Zhang Jinyan, the secretary of the military department, ready to listen to his opinion.

After all, among these people, Zhang Jinyan is their leader.

"You're right, we have to be careful about this matter, it's about our net worth and life.

You can rest assured, this official has secretly reached an agreement with Chengguo Gong, and if he really does it at that time, it will be easier to succeed with the help of Chengguo Gong.

However, whether we can do this matter or not depends on the attack of the Dashun army under Li Zicheng outside the city after the battle.

If he Li Zicheng is not angry, and the attack of the Dashun army is unfavorable, then the operation will be canceled, and we will help Lu Xiangsheng defend the city.

At that time, as long as Li Zicheng is defeated, we will still be the ministers of the Ming Dynasty, and we will not lose anything.

If Lu Xiang is no match for Li Zicheng, then we will act, open the city gate, and welcome Li Zicheng's Dashun army into the city.

In the end, even if Li Zicheng becomes emperor, we will be the founding fathers of the new dynasty at that time. ”

At this time, Zhang Jinyan took a sip of tea and told his wishful thinking, with a proud face, as if Shengzhu was in his hand.

"Sure enough, Lord Shangshu is still wise, this method is absolutely perfect."

As soon as Zhang Jinyan finished speaking, everyone's eyes lit up, praising Zhang Jinyan's good method.

"Haha, it's still Lord Shangshu who is so powerful that he can convince Cheng Guogong to join us.

With the participation of Cheng Guogong, we are more certain. ”

"Okay, now you all go back, I shouldn't stay here too long, save yourself from attracting the attention of others.

After you go back, you should all go about your duties and wait for my news, and without my news, you must not do it without me. ”

Zhang Jinyan said to everyone and gave an eviction order.

"Okay, we remember." Immediately, everyone left Zhang Jinyan's mansion in batches in several waves.

On the 23rd, the Dashun army outside the city set up a fort and bombarded the capital of Daming.

Half a day later, the artillery in the capital of Daming also began to counterattack and began to bombard the artillery of the Dashun army outside the city.

The rumbling of artillery never stopped, from morning to evening.

On this day, Li Zicheng did not launch an attack on the city, but the two sides shelled each other for a whole day, and each lost a lot of artillery and artillery.

On the 24th, Li Zicheng officially ordered the siege of the city.

Soon, more than 400,000 soldiers of the Dashun Army under Li Zixiao launched a strong attack on the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

Boom Boom!

Bang bang bang!

"Quick, go over there and get a team of musketeers and shoot Ben hard."

"Everybody get ready for the ...... of thunderballs"

As the Dashun army stormed the capital, the defenders of the Ming army on the walls of the capital also began to get busy, and shouts resounded everywhere.

Outside the city, a group of soldiers of the Dashun Army were carrying ladders, crossing the moat more than 20 meters wide with difficulty, and then they could reach the city wall.

Groups of musketeers and archers of the Dashun army, forming an array, shot at the Ming army on the city wall, fighting fiercely.

At this time, the capital of the Ming Dynasty can be said to be the strongest and tallest city in the entire Ming Dynasty, just looking at the city wall as high as dozens of meters, the wide moat, it makes people feel desperate.

Such a fortified city, if the defenders in the city are willing to use their lives to defend it desperately.

The army attacking outside the city may have a chance to attack unless it is several times larger than the defenders inside the city and pays a heavy price.

After all, the defenders of the Ming army in the city have flintlock pistols in their hands, and such a fortified city, with flintlock pistols and thunderbolt defense, is not lower than the fortress at all.

Originally, in history, Li Zicheng basically took the capital bloodlessly, because there were a group of leading parties who took the initiative to open the city gate for Li Zicheng when he arrived.

But in this life, in the capital of the Ming Dynasty, there are not only more soldiers and horses, but also an elite left by Lu Xiangsheng, and the defensive strength far exceeds that in the original history.

At the same time, because Lu Xiangsheng was prepared in advance, he made adjustments to the guards of every gate in the capital, and sent some elite garrisons.

As a result, at this time, even if Li Zicheng led his troops to the capital, he did not lead the party for the time being, and dared to take the risk to take the initiative to open the city gate for Li Zixiao.

There was no way, then Li Zicheng had no choice but to give an order, let Liu Zongmin, Song Xiance, Li Guo and other generals lead the troops, divided into several directions, and launched a strong attack on the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

The battle was extremely fierce, whether it was Li Zicheng's Dashun army or the Ming army soldiers defending the city, all of them had flintlock guns, thunderbolts and artillery.

The Dashun army used it to siege the city, while the Ming army used it to defend the city.

With the large-scale use of these thermal weapons, this fierce battle became extremely tragic from the beginning, and the soldiers on both sides suffered heavy casualties.

In particular, as for the Dashun army, which is the besieging party, the casualties are increasing by the hour.

(End of chapter)