Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 653: Conquering the City

Under the pressure and killing of Muhalla, many soldiers had to charge towards the city again, but this time, their steps became noticeably heavier.

Soldiers without courage are just walking corpses. The Qian army threw another round of hand-fire bombs, which were like the sound of the god of death, causing countless Yarkand soldiers to fall in a pool of blood. The corpses on both sides of the south city wall piled up higher and higher, and the blood gathered and flowed down the city wall.

Lin Shiqi had already approached the city wall and was observing the battlefield from close up. He nodded as he listened to the military report. Then he turned to Chu Zhangyin and said, "Write a military document and send it to the court urgently."

Chu Zhangyin was old, and he watched the battle all night long, so he could hardly hide his fatigue. But after hearing Lin Shiqi's words, he immediately took out a pen and paper from his attendant's bag, and then asked, "General, what do you want to write?"

Lin Shiqi said quickly: "During this attack on Turpan City, the hand-fired bombs are very powerful and are quite effective in such a chaotic battle. Please ask the court to quickly transport the hand-fired bombs to the front of the army."

"Yes"

This brutal night battle lasted until late at night. The Turpan defenders paid a heavy price but were still unable to drive the Qian army down from the south city wall. The city was filled with a thick smell of blood.

Muhara looked at the tragic scene in front of him in the light of the fire, his heart filled with despair. Although he had rotated several teams in succession, he was driven down soon after he rushed forward.

In particular, the last group of troops who retreated reported that there were so many corpses ahead that they blocked the road, and the stone steps leading to the city were slippery from being soaked in blood.

Muhalla knew that these soldiers were not lying, but he had no other choice. Looking at the helpless look in the officers' eyes, Muhalla still hardened his heart and shouted, "I have said that anyone who retreats will be killed without mercy. Drag them away and behead them!"

Amid the screams of the retreating officers, Muhara once again gave the order to attack. Muhara was aware that the soldiers' morale was low, but he did not dare to stop the attack.

Because he knew clearly that once he stopped the attack, the Qian army would launch a massive attack tomorrow morning and Turpan City would no longer have a chance of survival. At this moment, he was like a trapped beast fighting to the death, knowing that even if he captured the city wall and used the city defense to hold Turpan City for a long time, his chances of winning would still be slim.

But Muhara still wanted to grasp that tiny hope, and a new round of attacks surged forward again like a tide, but this tide was not as fierce as the raging one, and the soldiers were all tired and helpless.

When many soldiers approached the South City, they had to brave the fire from muskets to move the corpses blocking the road. Some corpses were even added before they were dragged away.

However, the Qian army's hand-held fire bombs had run out of gas. With the last round of throwing, the bombs exploded among the Yarkand soldiers, raising a cloud of blood mist and once again repelling the attacking Yarkand soldiers.

Under the south city wall, the original land had been soaked with blood and turned muddy. Corpses were piled up in layers. Those soldiers who had not yet died were crawling hard among the corpses, trying to find a glimmer of life.

The battle lasted from nightfall to late night, and from late night to dawn. Muhalla was completely desperate. Despite the continuous attack, he still failed to recapture the city wall.

Lin Shiqi was not far away, listening to the screams. Although he did not see it with his own eyes, he knew that there must be a fierce fight ahead.

Chu Zhangyin couldn't help but sigh softly: "General, this kind of killing is really hell on earth. The emperor raised an army with a word, and thousands of sons and daughters rushed to the border. Why not stop the war, recuperate, and enjoy peace."

Lin Shiqi laughed and said, "Old Chu, you have been with me through the battlefield for so many years. War is cruel. You said that we should stop fighting and enjoy peace, but I have seen that all the soldiers under your command want to fight for wealth and honor. If the world did not know about war, they would never have the chance to be a marquis or a general in this life."

Chu Zhangyin shook his head and said, "To be made a marquis or a general? Only one in ten thousand will be able to do that."

Lin Shiqi's expression straightened up, and he said, "That being said, people in this world always need to have some hopes. Without the hope of being made a marquis or a general, who would be willing to guard the border and protect the country and the peace of the court? Moreover, if the border is unstable, the interior will be uneasy, and how can the people truly rest and recuperate?"

Chu Zhangyin cupped his hands and said, "I understand what the commander-in-chief meant. This is just what I felt."

Lin Shiqi nodded slightly, looked towards the battlefield, and said in a deep voice: "Old Chu, you and I can speak freely, but you cannot say these words to others casually."

Chu Zhangyin's heart sank, and he hurriedly said, "Thank you, Marshal. I will remember this in my heart!"

After Lin Shiqi finished speaking, he looked up at the sky. It was already dawn, but the city walls were still in the hands of the Qian army. He then smiled and said to Chu Zhangyin, "Turpan City, I have taken it!"

It was already daybreak, and Muhalla's eyes were already bloodshot. He looked at the battlefield stained with blood and muttered to himself, "Could it be that dying in Turpan is my fate?"

At this moment, he no longer had the ferocity and toughness he had before. Muhalla slumped on the ground, allowing the soldiers around him to come and go.

The offensive of the Turpan defenders had completely stopped, and the Qian army under the city took the opportunity to replace the exhausted troops on the city walls with fresh troops.

As more and more Qian troops began to climb up the stone steps and rush down the city wall, the defenders, who had already been frightened, began to flee into the city.

Soon, the Qian army soldiers captured the south city gate. As the city gate was opened, a large number of troops cheered loudly and poured into Turpan City.

Muhara did not want to retreat, but was forced by his subordinates to retreat towards the west city. There were loud shouts and cries of killing in the city. When Muhara retreated to the west city, he sadly discovered that the original west gate had already been opened, and the soldiers and generals guarding the gate had already abandoned the city and fled.

At this moment, a soldier came running over from behind, shouting, "The Qian army is chasing us!"

Muhara was a little dazed, but it was too late for his subordinates to comfort him. They helped him onto the horse and gave the horse's butt a shove. The warhorse neighed and then galloped forward quickly. Muhara instinctively pulled the reins to control the direction of the horse.

The subordinates behind him who had obtained war horses chased Muhara at a very fast speed, while those who did not have war horses could not wait to flee in panic after Muhara and others escaped from the city.

At this time, Lin Shiqi had already climbed to the top of the South City Wall. Looking down from his vantage point, he saw that the Qian Army in black clothes and armor had already rushed into Turpan City. The remaining defenders fled when they encountered them. The other city gates had been opened, and countless defeated soldiers crossed the gates and headed out of the city.

At this time, Liang Sanhu was sharp-eyed. Seeing that the general who had escaped from his hands had already escaped, he quickly said to Lin Shiqi: "General, the thief has escaped from the west gate. I am willing to lead a team of cavalry to kill this thief and present him to you."

After hearing this, Lin Shiqi laughed and said, "No need to chase them. I have conquered Turpan, the gateway to the Western Regions, in two days. The Yarkand people must be terrified. If these people escape, it will be a good opportunity to publicize the military power of our dynasty!"