Wang Xiangyun, the prefect of Qingzhou Prefecture, and Zhu You, the king of Heng, discussed the matter of defending the city in the Hengwang Mansion. Wang Xiangyun is about fifty years old, with a thin face and a very light appearance. Regarding Zhang Zhun's arrival, Wang Xiangyun calmed down after being nervous. Even if he panicked, it was useless. In fact, he was already a little pessimistic about the situation in the Ming Dynasty, and he didn't have any intention of planning how to deal with Zhang Zhun's attack. To be precise, he no longer has confidence in the imperial court.

In the past, it was just that the Central Plains and the Guanwai were in turmoil, and the officials and troops moved back and forth, demolished the east wall and made up the west wall, and they could barely cope with it and continue to support it for a few years. Now, even Shandong is in chaos. Shandong connects the North and South Zhili, and once it is controlled by the rebel army, the North and South Zhili will be divided. The court is finished. Faced with such a situation, he, as an official of the Ming Dynasty, died on the Day. I want to do more, but I can't do it.

Hengwang Zhu Youqu is fat, and his whole body is fat. It's okay to sit down in the chair, but if you stand up, the fat on your body will shake piece by piece. It is said that King Fu of Luoyang is the fattest, and King Heng Zhu Youqi feels that he is fatter than King Fu. King Fu is only more than 300 catties, and he has 400 catties. The bed he slept on was particularly reinforced, otherwise, he would have been crushed.

The vassal king of the Ming Dynasty actually had only two things in his life, one was to eat and sleep, and the other was to play with women. They "divide the feuds but do not give land, the lords do not come to the people, and they eat and do not do anything." To put it simply, it is to raise a herd of pigs. The pigs must not leave their pens yet, or they will be killed. Therefore, each vassal king of the Ming Dynasty had a lot of children. There's no way, all their energy can only be used for piston movement.

"What should I do?" At this time, Zhu Youqu couldn't care about the calmness and majesty that the prince should have, and asked in a panic. He didn't want to be the first vassal king to be killed. The people of Shaanxi have been in turmoil for so long, and no vassal king has been killed. This precedent, don't start in Shandong!

"Lord Wang, don't panic." Wang Xiangyun said comfortingly with a calm face. In fact, his heart is also up and down. He was originally a supervisor of the imperial history, and later transferred to the prefect of Qingzhou Prefecture, but he didn't know much about military affairs. Regarding Zhang Zhun's arrival, Wang Xiangyun actually did not have a good defensive plan. Now in Shandong, people who understand military affairs, including Governor Zhu Dadian, and the four general soldiers, all went to the Central Plains battlefield. In Qingzhou City, there is only one general who eats and waits for death. To be honest, Wang Xiangyun himself has little confidence in that waste general, so it is better to go into battle and command it himself.

The current Qingzhou City, including the guards of the Hengwang Mansion, has about 6,000 defenders. 6,000 men to garrison a city, it stands to reason that there should be a relatively sufficient number of troops. Moreover, the equipment of the Hengwang Mansion Guards is relatively good, and the training in ordinary times is relatively frequent, and there is a certain combat effectiveness. In addition, each gate of Qingzhou City is also equipped with twelve cannons. This is not found in other cities, and only towns where feudal kings are stationed have such treatment.

The problem is, this person is Zhang Zhun!

They still know a little about Zhang Zhun's deeds. In just one year, this person started from a broken military household, turned his hands into clouds, covered his hands into rain, and tossed such a big achievement in a daze. The current Shandong, to put it mildly, no one is Zhang Zhun's opponent at all. Even the soft son is not Zhang Zhun's opponent, how can they be Zhang Zhun's opponent?

In desperation, Zhu Youqu had no choice but to say tentatively: "Send someone to ask Zhang Zhun to see what he wants?" See if there's room to go around in circles. To say that he just came to ask for money and food, it is not impossible to discuss. ”

Wang Xiangyun nodded and said obscurely: "Okay!" The humble post immediately sent someone to contact Zhang Zhun. ”

Immediately sent someone to hang himself from the city and negotiate with Zhang Zhun. The envoy soon found Zi Zhang Zhun and conveyed the meaning of Zhu Youqu and Wang Xiangyun: as long as Zhang Zhun was willing to leave Qingzhou City, they were willing to pay a certain price. Supplies within 100,000 taels of silver can be promised on the spot. Provided, of course, in secret conditions.

"Three hundred thousand taels of silver!" Zhang Zhun offered the bid code without thinking.

"It seems that there is only war." After receiving the envoy's reply, Zhu Youqu said helplessly.

300,000 taels of silver, for Heng Wangfu, it is indeed a bit difficult. This is equivalent to removing most of the silver in the Hengwang Mansion. How could he be willing to do it? After all, King Heng's Mansion is the prince of the side branch, not a direct prince like King Zhu Yipai, King of Lu, who doesn't have so much land, doesn't have so many sources of income, and can't accumulate so much silver!

What's more, if he gave Zhang Zhun this gold and silver, he would be tantamount to a thief. If the amount is too large, it will be easy for people to notice. If Chongzhen investigates it, he will also be finished. Collusion with thieves is definitely a big crime for the vassal king. Usually if you move the palace guards, you will let the people around you participate in a book, not to mention colluding with thieves? It's going to be over anyway, so there's only one way to fight.

In July last year, when his godson entered the Kou for the second time, Zhu Xingjian, the king of Tang, responded to the edict of King Qin, saying that he was raising troops and taking 500 royal guards to Kaijing. As a result, as soon as the talent left the palace, he was arrested, and the palace guards were disarmed. Then Chongzhen was degraded to a commoner on the charge of disturbing the palace guards and trying to rebel.

In the impression of the royal family, Chongzhen is full of benevolence, righteousness and morality on the surface, and great benevolence and love, but he is actually a very bitter and mean person, and many ministers describe him as mean and unkind. In King Qin's edict, it was clearly said that the vassal king could also lead the army to King Qin, but as a result, he repented of it. When the emperor wants to be golden, the edict in black and white says that if you repent, you will regret it, let alone make a verbal promise.

Zhu Youqu didn't want to be as unlucky as Zhu Xingjian. If the matter of his secret negotiation with Zhang Zhun is exposed, Chongzhen will find a way to rectify him. Now there are rumors throughout the court that Chongzhen wants to tax the royal family and nobles and deduct everyone's body. It is also said that it is to ask everyone to donate, and the country is in trouble. However, the royal family did not buy it.

For this reason, several princes have been crying bitterly in the book, a handful of snot and a handful of tears are pitiful, and the whole family is wearing tattered clothes, going to the temple to cry, some are said to have fainted, it seems to be the same, even the Empress Dowager Zhang Yan of Yi'an was shocked, and had to remind Chongzhen a few words euphemistically. Zhu Youqu was reluctant to go to the Crying Taimiao, but he was also unwilling to be caught by Chongzhen.

However, if he doesn't give the silver, Zhang Zhun will attack the city!

How many days can six thousand defenders, .]*?

"Lord Wang..."Zhu Youtake had no choice but to look at Wang Xiangyun.

"Lord Wang, I am willing to live and die with Qingzhou City." Wang Xiangyun said obscurely.

Such an expression, of course, cannot make Zhu Youqiao happy. Because, the meaning of Wang Xiangyun's words is very clear: Lord, I don't know how long I can hold on, I actually don't have the confidence to defend the city. However, I will definitely hold on until the last moment. Anyway, I'm going to die here, and I'm not going to run away. The war has not started yet, Wang Xiangyun is already so unconfident, how can Zhu Youqu have reason to be happy? It doesn't matter if Wang Xiangyun wants to die, he doesn't want to die!

There is no choice but to hold on and wait for help.

Qingzhou City is not very far from Jinan Prefecture, only less than 300 miles away. The road between the two cities is also quite smooth. As long as it lasts for a few days, the army of Jinan Mansion. It should be there. King Heng is in the city, if a prince is lost, all officials at all levels in Shandong will be destroyed. I believe that officials at all levels in Jinan Prefecture do not dare to take it lightly.

Wang Xiangyun then ordered the whole city to be defended. His defensive deployment was as follows: with the most elite royal guards, guarding the east gate, with twelve cannons, blocking the attack of the Tiger Army. He estimated that Zhang Zhun's key attack direction should be at the east gate. The other second-rate troops defended the other three gates. At the same time, in Wang Xiangyun's hands, there was still a reserve of about 1,000 people. Although he didn't know much about military affairs, he also knew that he had to keep reserves in battle, and he couldn't just scatter all the troops at once.

In addition, Wang Xiangyun also ordered the big families outside the city to organize their own families and mix them with the local regimental training in Qingzhou Mansion, preparing to fight to the death with the Tiger Ben Army. Wang Xiangyun was pleasantly surprised, and the total number of these people was as many as three or four thousand. Their main task is to engage in street battles with the Tiger Army when they enter the city.

If the number of the Tiger Ben army was not large, they would use street fighting to consume Zhang Zhun's living force and force Zhang Zhun to retreat. If the number of the Tiger Ben army is large, set fire to Qingzhou City. Anyway, Zhang Zhun can't get anything. If you don't want to give you 100,000 taels of silver, then you will be given a piece of white land. I have to say that Wang Xiangyun's plan is still very resolute, and he has the posture of a strong wall and a clear field.

Because Zhang Zhun threatened the Laizhou Mansion too much, and the decree was so resolute, many large families in the Laizhou Mansion fled to Qingzhou City one after another. These people still hate Zhang Zhun quite a bit. They really have no possibility of reconciling with Zhang Zhun. Therefore, their respective families should also be able to fight Zhang Zhun to the death.

The sky gradually brightened, Yuan Xinyong observed the movement of the city, and now he didn't react for a long time, so he frowned and said to Zhang Zhun: "Lord Dudu, it seems that they are not ready to agree to your conditions." ”

Zhang Zhun nodded casually and said quietly: "Then prepare to attack the city!" ”

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

The gunfire of the tiger commander immediately rang out intensively.

A dense rain of bullets swept like a storm towards the defenders at the head of the city. The Minnie bullets that whistled away kept hitting the top of the battlements, splashing a little bit of fire. The exposed Ming troops were immediately beaten and lay on the battlements on the spot, and there was no more movement. Some Ming troops also fell directly from the city, fell into the moat, and splashed patches of water.

Because there is a Hengwang Mansion in Qingzhou City, which is an important vassal king, therefore, the moat of Qingzhou City is also extraordinarily wide, with a width of five or six zhang. The river is also quite deep. Because it is the living water brought from the Beiyang River, the flow is also quite fast. Without the help of the drawbridge, it would have been impossible to cross. In the past, Qingzhou City was safe and sound, and this moat, which was wide and fast, played an important role.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

The Ming army at the head of the city also kept shooting. The fire system they use, whether it has an effect or not, shoot first. Relying on the advantage of a large number of people, the counterattack guns of the Ming army were also very lively. As a result, you come and go, and the gunshots continue. The smoke from the black powder will soon envelop both sides.

"Tom tom!"

"Tom tom!"

"Tom tom!"

At the same time, the artillery of the defenders also began to bombard.

At the east gate of Qingzhou City, there are twelve cannons. In an ordinary city, it is rare to have so many cannons. The reason for this is that there is a Hengwang Mansion here. For the safety of the prince, the defense of Qingzhou City was specially reinforced, and these cannons were also specially installed. In the rumbling cannon, solid bullets continued to fall, smashing into the inside of the Tiger Army. After all, the Franc machine artillery is a cannon, and it has a long range, which poses a certain threat to the Tiger Army.

"Change the mother bomb!"

Someone in the city shouted anxiously.

The sub-mother bullet is the grape bullet, and it is generally called the sub-mother bullet within the Ming army.

The gunners hurriedly replaced the submunitions and continued to fire.

"Tom tom!"

"Tom tom!"

"Tom tom!"

There was another continuous burst of cannons.

A large number of projectiles were poured out and fell on the positions of the Tiger Army.

Due to the considerable density of the projectiles, some of the Tiger Ben soldiers suffered casualties.

"Sniper!"

"Suppress enemy fire!"

Zhang Zhun said calmly.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

The snipers of the Tiger Army, constantly firing, specifically fired at the position where the cannon was.

"Poof!"

"Poof!"

"Poof!"

The gunners of the Ming army, under the fire of Mini bullets, also kept falling.

The reserve gunner next to him tried to go up, but was knocked down again.

"Tom!"

A cannon fired again.

Several more people were hit on the side of the Tiger Army, and the blood flowed profusely.

But! No one retreated, and continued to shoot at the head of the city. For these twelve cannons in Qingzhou City, Zhang Zhun had full consideration. If you want to take Qingzhou City, you can't do it without paying a certain number of casualties. There's a vassal king here! Emperor Chongzhen loves face so much, he definitely can't easily sit back and watch the vassal king fall into his hands.

In fact, although the defenders' cannons were powerful, and the grapetear bullets fired were very powerful, there were only twelve of them, and they were slow to load. When part of the firepower of the Tiger Army was concentrated on the artillery, the gunners were a little unable to support it. Their courage is limited, after all. When it comes to the will to fight, they are far inferior to the Tiger Army. Seeing his companions falling down continuously, no one else had the courage to come up. Soon, the cannon on the east gate was suppressed. Occasionally, there was a goal or two, but it didn't make a big difference.

"Ladder!"

"Up!"

Zhong Wuying waved his hand vigorously.

Twenty Tiger Army soldiers immediately carried ten bamboo ladders and leaned towards the city gate.

Due to the influence of the moat, they had to cross the moat before approaching the gate. If you want to cross the moat, building a ladder is undoubtedly the way to do it. There are not too many ladders, as long as the soldiers of the demolition team behind can follow the ladder to the inside of the city gate. As long as the blasting is successful, the collapsed wall can be filled in with the moat.

"Demolition Team!"

"Up!"

Liu Jixiang saw the appearance of the team, and immediately waved his hair

Behind the ladder team was naturally the demolition team he personally organized.

Under the cover of heavy fire, the five demolition team members carried the medicine bag and quickly stepped forward.

The Ming army at the head of the city, through the black smoke, saw someone approaching the city wall, and immediately realized that there was danger. So, they desperately concentrated all their firepower and fired intensively outside the city. When the distance was close to within 20 zhang, the defenders' firepower was still relatively fierce. Strings of projectiles fell on the open field, and they also splashed countless dust. The soldiers of the Tiger Army who were carrying the bamboo ladder kept falling, and the bamboo ladder was thrown to the side. The five members of the demolition team also had to temporarily stop advancing.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Bang bang bang!"

On the side of the Tiger Army, the gunshots naturally rang out constantly, trying to suppress the Ming army at the head of the city. The arquebuses of the Ming army, in a short distance, the lethality is still considerable, especially so many arquebuses, gathered together, the rain of bullets formed is very dense. It is not easy to pass through this rain of bullets and successfully deliver the explosives package to the bottom of the city gate hole. Especially with the huge roadblock of the moat ahead.

Under the blow of Mini bullets, the Ming army at the head of the city kept falling. Their casualties were much higher than those of the Tiger Ben army outside the city. However, under the supervision of Wang Xiangyun, the defenders in the city are still insisting. There are also new forces to be replenished. The defenders had more than 5,000 people, a reserve of 1,000 people, and three or four thousand regimental drills and family members, and even if there were more casualties, there were still people who could make up for the vacant positions.

Of all the defenders, the most fierce counterattack was the guards of the Heng Palace. The guards guarding the east gate are mainly the guards of the Hengwang Mansion. The structure of Qingzhou City is also relatively advanced, with a lot of gun holes, and the guards of Heng Wangfu are hiding behind the gun holes to shoot. Due to the cover of the city, the Mini bullets of the Tiger Ben Army were not easy to hit them. Of course, they couldn't pose much of a threat to the Tiger Ben army outside the city.

However, because when the Tiger Army blasted the city gate, it had to send explosives to the location of the city gate, so the Ming army blocked the range within ten zhang near the city gate. The Ming army had a large number of people, a lot of fire, and the non-stop shooting also posed a certain amount of trouble to the demolitionists of the Tiger Army. Coupled with the barrier of the moat, the five soldiers who went up were all killed and wounded one after another, and could not continue to advance. As for the warriors carrying the ladders, there is no sound for the time being, and they do not know whether they are dead or alive.