Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 522: Destroying the Qing Dynasty (Part )

The first wave of shield carts moved closer, and the Qian army's musketeers began to shoot at the top of the city wall one after another. The archers also drew their bows and shot with all their might towards the city wall.

The moment the bullet was fired from the muzzle of the musket, gunpowder smoke filled the air, and the smoke formed strips under the city. The bullet whizzed up to the city wall and hit the Qing army musketeers and archers who were leaning out and shooting at the city. Those who were hit either fell off the city wall with screams or fell backwards.

However, in general, with the protection of the city walls, the casualties of the Qing army were greater than those of the Qian army. Actual combat proved that at the beginning, the archers' shooting speed was much faster than that of the musketeers, but after shooting more than ten arrows, the archers' speed began to decrease. After shooting more than ten arrows, most of the archers stopped to rest. However, the musketeers continued to shoot at the top of the city at about the same speed as before.

At this time, the ladder troops quickly crossed the shield car formation and rushed to the city wall under the firepower from the top of the city wall. They erected ladders one after another. There were iron hooks on the top of the ladders. As long as they were placed on the battlements, they could hook onto the top of the wall. As the soldiers stepped on the ladders, the defenders would not be able to overturn the ladders.

At this time, some Qian army soldiers were climbing up with shields, while the Qing army soldiers braved the bullets, raised stones with all their strength, and then threw them down. From time to time, Qian army soldiers were knocked off the ladders and screamed continuously.

For a while, under the city of Shenyang, the Qian army was scattered like ants. On every ladder, there was a string of Qian army climbing up. At the same time, Qian army was constantly knocked down by stones and rolling logs on the top of the city. Coming up with the ladders were the headquarters of the Qian army. Gao Jinku, who was behind the formation, frowned as he didn't understand why General Zhao let his own troops climb up first.

There was a brave man who climbed up very quickly. At the last two steps, he jumped onto the top of the city wall with all his might. He shouted angrily, "The first one to climb up is General Liu..."

Unfortunately, before he could finish his words, the Qing army rushed over and hacked him to death with their swords.

At this time, the Korean rebel army had already approached the city wall with large siege equipment. For a moment, a large number of rebel troops swarmed in.

Jierhalang on the tower saw the large weapons approaching, and the Qian army actually formed such a dense crowd. This was a rare opportunity. He clenched his fists and shouted loudly: "Shoot arrows, fire oil!"

Behind the city wall, there were more than 3,000 archers hiding behind the wall. They were protected by the wall, and the Qian army's muskets and bows and arrows could not hurt them. However, they could throw arrows upwards to kill the Qian army.

At Jirgalang's order, more than 3,000 Qing archers behind the city drew their bows and shot arrows. The Korean volunteers who were preparing to climb the siege tower suddenly felt a darkness above their heads. Many of them looked up and were extremely shocked.

I saw large arrows falling from the sky like raindrops, shooting into the crowd of rebels.

Few of these rebels wore armor, and even fewer wore helmets. For a moment, in such a dense rain of arrows, the rebels suffered heavy losses.

Just this round of arrows, hundreds of people were frightened and fled backwards, but they were all killed by the supervising team, who shouted: "North Korean soldiers, those who retreat without orders will be killed!"

Seeing the Qian army collapsed under the city, Jirgalang showed a satisfied smile on his face. As kerosene was poured onto the siege towers, several siege towers were set on fire.

But the flames did not burn the wood so quickly, and the Korean rebels began to climb the siege tower and jumped onto the top of the city wall.

King Li Hao of Joseon looked at the cruel battlefield with a pale face, especially the hundreds of defeated soldiers who were beheaded just like that, and Zhao Yongping didn't even have to give the order himself.

Li Hao had high hopes for these rebel armies. He had originally planned to select backbone members from the rebel armies as soon as he returned, and use these rebel armies as his own team while the wealthy gentry and nobles in Korea were suffering heavy losses.

The rebel army climbed to the top of the city wall, but unfortunately, compared with the Qian army who climbed the city wall with ladders, their fighting power was far inferior. The Qing army killed the rebels one after another on the city wall like chopping melons and vegetables. The Korean rebels were killed so hard that they had no place to stay.

However, Zhao Yongping, who was behind the formation, did not issue an order to withdraw his troops, and the second wave of siege towers was pushed up again. This time, it was also the Korean volunteers who went into battle.

Seeing this, Li Hao couldn't help but bypass Gao Jinku and go to ask for a meeting with Zhao Yongping.

Li Hao wiped his tears and bowed to Zhao Yongping, saying, "General Zhao, our soldiers are incomplete in armor and weapons, and their skills are not perfect. Can you allow us to rest for two days before fighting again?"

Zhao Yongping quickly supported Li Hao and said, "Why does the King of Joseon have to be so generous?"

After helping Li Hao up, Zhao Yongping turned to look at the battlefield and said calmly: "Elite soldiers are made through fighting. After such a bloody battle, the troops of the King of Joseon will all be elite in the future."

Li Hao wanted to ask again, but Zhao Yongping waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "During the Wanli period, China sent out a large army to fight against the Japanese invaders for Korea. Did they ever say they would withdraw? It cost more than a million dollars, but now the King of Korea is so distressed after only one day of fighting!"

After hearing this, Li Hao murmured in silence and could only retreat helplessly.

In the city of Shenyang, the Qian and Qing armies fought fiercely from morning to dusk. Although the Korean rebel army and the Qian army once attacked the city wall, they were ultimately unable to enter the city.

As the sun set, the Qian army that was attacking the city left behind a large amount of wreckage of siege equipment and retreated like a tide. When the defenders saw the Qian army retreating, they did not cheer, because everyone was extremely tired and no longer had the energy to cheer.

Jirgalang looked at the retreating Qian army and ordered the defenders to clear the city walls and treat the wounded. He then ordered all the weapons under the city to be burned.

A raging fire broke out under the city. This was the scene of the burning of the remaining siege towers. A team of Qian army cavalry, waving white flags, asked the Qing army on the top of the city to collect the bodies. After thinking for a moment, Jirgalang agreed to the Qian army's request.

Jirgalang's son Ledu asked in confusion: "Father, why did you agree to let the Qian army collect the bodies? The weather is cold now, and the bodies are not so easy to rot. It's better to leave them there, which can also hit the morale of the Qian army!"

Jirgalang sighed and replied, "Because my father is afraid of angering the Qian Dynasty!"

Ledu couldn't understand what he said. After such a fight, were you still afraid of angering the Qian Dynasty? Even if you agreed to collect the bodies, would the Qian army still remember your kindness?

Jirgalang knew that Ledu could not understand that fighting on the battlefield was the duty of the soldiers of both armies. If he disagreed to collect the bodies, it would be a humiliation to the Qian army. Jirgalang only wanted to delay the Qian army and let Meng Jun see that if he wanted to completely destroy the Qing Dynasty, he would pay a heavy price.

(I originally planned to end the Battle of Shenyang in three chapters, but I didn’t expect that I couldn’t stop writing it π_π)