Chapter 912 Monstrous Sky (4)
The collapse of the building happened suddenly.
April of the eleventh year of Wu Jianshuo was one of the most critical time periods that determined the situation of the entire world. The battle in Jiangning was in full swing, and in Xiangfan, which was more than a thousand miles away, hundreds of thousands of defenders were still struggling to hold on under Wanyan Zonghan's fierce attack.
Since the close combat between the two sides in the second half of last year, the Wu Dynasty has still demonstrated its strong national power and profound heritage under the fierce offensive of the Jurchens' fourth southern expedition.
After nearly ten years of forbearance and preparation, even if the Central Plains were lost, a more prosperous economic system was established in Jiangnan, supporting a relatively powerful giant-like body. In the next nearly one year In the war situation, although the Wu Dynasty was defeated from time to time and often at a disadvantage, it had a solid foundation The constant number of soldiers made up for the losses of the defeat. Even though the Yangtze River defense line had been broken, several important fulcrums supporting the Jiangnan skeleton have been holding on. In some places, there was even a situation of back and forth, which made it all-or-nothing. The Jurchen army that came was dragged near the Yangtze River and could not go south for a long time.
If this situation proves that the Wu Dynasty still possesses huge strength in terms of total strength, the Zhenjiang incident at the end of April may have profoundly illustrated the various secret wounds and contradictions hidden in the giant body of the Wu Dynasty.
Compared to the Jurchens' first march south more than ten years ago, although the Wu Dynasty's millions of troops were defeated in one blow before the Jurchens' powerful combat power, many people in the world still maintain the same attitude as before. It belongs to the dignity of the superior country. If you lose the battle, you can escape, but there are not many people who surrender to the enemy. Even if the fighting power is not enough, there are endless resistances throughout the Central Plains region.
However, after more than ten years of brewing and changes, the heroic resistance to the Jin Dynasty has turned more to the tragic words spoken by actors and scholars on paper. Although for ordinary people, what happened during the Jingping period has always been It was a great shame and humiliation, and the anti-gold voices in society became louder and louder. However, among the powerful people and wealthy gentry families in the middle and upper classes of the Wu Dynasty, the proportion of those who had connections with the Jurchens or even surrendered to the enemy had greatly increased.
After more than ten years of exchanges between you and me, on the one hand we are in a state of opposition, on the other hand Jin and Wu are constantly deepening their ties. When the balance of power on the table becomes obvious, most smart people will make their own calculations. The battle in Zhenjiang at the end of April was not so much a contrast between offense and defense, but more of a ferocious collision of the comprehensive strengths of both sides.
This is a battle that is different from the previous situations. Even if what is apparent on the surface is just Wanyan Xiyin’s successful use of time and instigation of rebellion, the layout of a normal battle has already been in place last year. The beginning of the purpose, the infiltration of the Jurchens into the Wu Dynasty, and the panic of the Lin'an court made all this more like a large-scale replica of Ning Yi's Liangshan incident.
Compared with the rapid transmission of information, every major movement of tens of thousands or even more than 100,000 troops appears to be very slow. In mid-April, Wanyan Xiyin's army turned to Zhenjiang. Regarding his desperate behavior, all parties had already smelled unusual clues. Just to keep up with his movements, the various armies on the Wu Dynasty side also needed enough time. , and in the process, everyone had to beware of the possibility of the other party making a false shot.
On April 19th, Xiyin began to prepare for the siege. Only then could the surrounding armies confirm the authenticity of the entire action and surround him in the direction of Zhenjiang.
On the 22nd, Xi Yin sent a estrangement messenger to Jun Wu and others in Zhenjiang City. On the same day, he sent a large number of leaflets to Zhenjiang City, saying that the nine tribes who participated in the defense of the city would not be pardoned, and the first to dedicate the city to perform meritorious service The news spread that a certain official in the imperial court had surrendered to the Jurchens and evidence spread. In this atmosphere, that afternoon, the Jurchen army launched an all-out siege.
Wanyan Xiyin's fierce attack on Zhenjiang was already a desperate one. Almost all the powerful explosive bombs were thrown at the top of the city desperately. During the interval between bombings, the Tushan Guards launched a desperate attack on the wall. At this time, more than 200,000 troops had set off from the southeast and south of Zhenjiang. In Zhenjiang City, Junwu and others increased the law enforcement efforts of the military law enforcement team, and at the same time adopted a one-on-one guard against the generals. Strategy, the garrison area of each team was even changed before the siege started.
If Xiyin's attack on the city fails, the Tushan Guards led by him, and the tens of thousands of people led by Yin Shuke, Arubao and others are likely to be surrounded by the army and eventually be buried under Zhenjiang City, and even if The tragic breakout, after paying a heavy price, will boost the morale of the Wu Dynasty people, and the Jurchens' fourth southern expedition can only end in disgrace so far.
The Jurchens' crazy attack, coupled with the city defenders' declaration that the nine tribes would not be pardoned, put tremendous pressure on the army in the city, but at the same time, it also made the city defenders' resistance become more determined. However, compared to the attackers, what determines the victory or defeat of the defender is not the long board with the highest fighting spirit, but only one key flaw is enough.
In the early morning of April 25th, a flaw appeared. A young general named Geng Changzhong led a small number of his guards to launch a rebellion. After contacting the Jurchens, he tried to open the double-corner gate on the east side of Zhenjiang. His The rebellion was not completely successful, but the Jurchens used civil strife to launch a fierce attack on the Shuangjiaomen, occupied the city wall and opened the door. At this point, the Jurchens' army surged in from the east of Zhenjiang.
The flames raged in the city due to the explosion, and the battle spread and broke out in the city. The Jurchen soldiers' morale was high after entering the city, but soon after, they were greeted by a head-on attack and vigorous resistance from the defending army. Junwu led troops from the camp and mobilized the entire city's soldiers to fight against the Jurchens. At the same time, he organized the people in the city to flee from the docks and roads on the other sides.
I'm afraid not many people can understand Jun Wu's mood at that time. The resistance of hundreds of thousands of people was ruined by the weakness of one person - of course, if this person can hold on longer, there may be other weak people. Appear. But in the darkness of the early morning, Jun Wu did not fall down from the head-on blow. He rode a silver-armored horse and ran around with a sword, constantly issuing orders to boost the morale of the soldiers and guide the fleeing people.
There are still navy troop ships and merchant ships docked at the docks near Zhenjiang. Officials of the Prince's Palace, including Wen Renbuer, tried to persuade Junwu to board the ship and escape from Zhenjiang, which was already hopeless. , but Junwu directly rejected such persuasion. He ordered the navy to carry the people across the canal so that the people in the city could escape, and at the same time ordered the defenders in the south of the city to open a road for the people.
Zhenjiang is the hub where the canal and the Yangtze River cross. As of last year, there were as many as one million people living in Zhenjiang. After the war, the nearby people were scattered. There are still more than 400,000 people living in the city. That night, there was massacre and flames Spreading in the city, the fleeing team was vast, and the entire city was plunged into a boiling fight.
Destroying Zhenjiang is the most critical step in Xi Yin's entire war plan. When the goal of destroying the city is achieved, even he will enter a state of excitement. Shortly after Tushan Guards and a group of Jurchen elites entered the city, a counterattack from the city defenders came oncoming. At this time, Zhenjiang has been broken. According to Xi Yin, all the soldiers of the Wu Dynasty will face the fate of killing the Nine Tribes after the Jin Kingdom rules this place. The resistance of the entire city has entered a white-hot state in the blink of an eye.
In Zhenjiang at this time, Xiyin led the Tushan Guards, plus some troops from Yin Shuke and Arubao. The number of Jin soldiers was close to 70,000, while the Wu Dynasty army in Zhenjiang City was only 100,000 But on the twenty-fifth day after the city was broken, , Zhenjiang's battle against the Jin people reached the most brutal climax. Some generals led the soldiers to charge wildly, fighting to the death without retreating. After entering the city, some of the Tushan Guards were even stunned by the fierce counterattack. , retreating continuously.
In the early morning of the 25th, less than half of the city was engulfed in flames, and a large number of people were still fleeing outside the city. At this time, fighting began to break out near the escape road outside the city in the south. Arubao's The army tried to seal the road to the south, but was violently blocked by the Wu Dynasty army arranged by Junwu. The Wu Dynasty general led 20,000 Wu Dynasty troops to guard this side. Zou Tianchi, who was nearly sixty years old, never retreated after being arranged here by Jun Wu. The troops under his command were either defeated or killed in the next two days, and some surrendered. Two days later, they faced Arubao's fierce attack. , the old general was blown away by a cannonball. After he got up, his right arm was already bloody, and his whole body was covered in blood. The old general led the charge with a knife in one hand, and finally fell down while staggering forward.
This was just a small episode in the entire Zhenjiang War. On the morning of the 25th, Jun Wu, who had been running all night, had a little breather. He drank in a house on the street and his wife brought him a drink. He drank rice porridge and wiped the uncontrollable tears from his eyes in a deserted place. Then he got on his horse and ran around the battlefield to boost morale. During this period, countless people persuaded him to leave Zhenjiang immediately. Even some people who had not fled before saw the prince's tiredness and tried to persuade him to get on the boat and leave. Junwu shook his head and refused, shouting hoarsely.
"The city defenders will risk their lives, how can I leave first! If I leave, you will have no chance of survival!"
He said this to the people, and he continued to encourage the city defenders on the edge of the battlefield. Soldier: "The Jurchens will not give us a way out! They will not give us the people of the Wu Dynasty a way out! I am with you. Before the people evacuate, if you don't retreat, I won't retreat either-"
Zhenjiang City is not small, but during this day, soldiers and people even saw the prince running past two or three times. His robes gradually became dirty and gray, and his voice gradually became hoarse. The movements gradually became weaker, but the shouting words and movements became more determined, and some of the originally timid soldiers embarked on the road to rush towards the Jurchens.
On the evening of the 25th, Jun Wu fell off his horse. Wen Renbuer, who was following him, came to persuade him to leave again. Jun Wu refused again: "I can't leave. The military morale is available and the people's moral support is available. I See, we still have hope!"
Wenren Buer shook his head: "Zhenjiang has fallen, and it will be a trivial matter from now on. The Wu Dynasty cannot live without His Highness! There is still a glimmer of hope for His Highness to go to Lin'an, Your Highness... …”
Jun Wu kept shaking his head. His face was already gray and black, even mixed with some blood stains. At this time, tears flowed out: "It's not a trivial matter! The lives of hundreds of thousands of people and a hundred thousand troops are not a trivial matter! Senior Brother Wenren, I know what you're thinking! But have you seen that people can fight, and if they dare to fight, Zhenjiang has not yet been defeated! We defeat them, there are hundreds of thousands of people coming nearby, we will leave Wanyan Xiyin here!"
Jun Wu saw the determination and enthusiasm of the last hope! , perhaps also because he saw the determination and heroism of the resistance on the 25th day, Wenren Buer felt sad, but stopped trying to persuade him. On the 26th, the Jurchen troops entering the city had begun to persuade them to surrender. The resistance was still fierce, but it had begun to decline.
On the twenty-seventh, half of Zhenjiang City fell into a sea of fire. At this time, hundreds of thousands of people still failed to escape. The defense line on the southern outskirts of Zhenjiang City was already in danger under Arubao’s fierce attack. Junwu led the army to When he went to support, the veteran general Zou Tianchi had died in the charge of Chao Arubao.
On the road leaving Zhenjiang in the south, on one side of the Grand Canal, the mountains and valleys were full of fleeing people. Junwu collected the defeated troops and organized a defense line. At the same time, he was also supervising the people in Zhenjiang City. The military and civilians moved quickly. At this time, the situation in Zhenjiang as a whole was already in danger. A cavalry team from the Tushan Guards found Jun Wu's direction and came towards this direction. The surrounding generals and staff tried to persuade him again and again. Jun Wu stood on the top of the mountain and looked at the fleeing people below: "We can't defeat them." "
The guards following Jun Wu formed a defensive formation, and the soldiers also urged the people to They left as quickly as possible. When the cavalry on the opposite side appeared, it was the afternoon of that day. The sun reflected the water on the Grand Canal. There were wild flowers and green grass on the bank. The military commander Wang Qi stood on the hillside and watched the guards retreat. When the cavalry charged, the cavalry approached the crowd in a roundabout way and fired arrows into the crowd. The cavalry of the guards chased after them and fought in the chaos.
In less than two seconds, the Jurchen cavalry turned into several groups and came towards this direction. The people around persuaded Jun Wu to stay away. Jun Wu, who had not closed his eyes for three days, just shook his head subconsciously. There was a formation of forbidden troops in front of him. He was not afraid of the gunfire and guards around him. He left his wife under the royal flag and walked forward, wanting to see the Jurchens more clearly - and to remember their deaths more clearly.
Arrows are coming.
Someone raised the shield, and someone pulled Jun Wu. Jun Wu struggled subconsciously. Several shields had covered his body. Something shot on his armor and bounced off. Jun Wu's His body shook, as if he had been hit hard by a blunt object. When he reacted, an arrow was embedded in the gap in the armor and shot into his stomach.
He felt uncomfortable, but there was no pain. The next moment, someone came over in a panic. Jun Wu held the arrow shaft with his left hand and pressed it on his armor.
So this is how it feels.
It hurts...
He thought to himself.
But it was also at this time that his hands, which had been trembling with fear for days, no longer trembled.
——That’s the feeling.
Jun Wu stretched out his right hand, slowly and firmly pulled out the sword he carried with him, pointed it in the direction of the Jurchens, and said: "...Kill the enemy." But he had severe pain in his throat and was already I can't shout anymore.
Someone around said: "The prince is injured..."
Such voices gradually spread, and tears flowed from someone's eyes. Over the past few days, the surrounding soldiers and even some common people have seen you. Wu looked like he was running around. Jun Wu was still drawing his sword and moving forward. A general in front shouted and led his troops to rush towards the Jurchens. The cavalry team of the guards were also coming towards them. They charged despite arrows, got close to the galloping horses, and then collided with them. After a while, commotion sounded among the fleeing people. Some were crying and some were shouting. Gradually, men in the crowd put down their belongings. One, two, three... gradually turned into A group of people surged towards the battlefield on the hillside.
The sun was dazzling and dizzying. Jun Wu, who was walking forward, fell down in Wen Ren Fu'er's arms. The place where he was hit by the arrow seemed to hurt, but it didn't matter.
——It’s just this feeling.
He is no longer afraid.
Jun Wu smiled slightly on his pale face.
"...Kill the enemy."
He said hoarsely and softly.
More Jurchens were still surrounding them. After Shen Shi determined Xi Yin's intention, he rushed the Beiwei Army cavalry at the fastest speed and led them diagonally into the battlefield under the leadership of Yue Fei. He rushed into Arubao's main force, and in less than half an hour, he killed the Jurchen general Arubao in the most ferocious manner.
At this time, the main cavalry of the Beiwei Army was reduced to about 5,000 after a long period of fighting. Yue Fei was appointed as the commander himself and came into the formation. After beheading Arubao, he was able to kill him and the war horse The spear in his hand was covered in blood. On the evening of that day, the cavalry crossed the battlefield. Before Xiyin led the Tushan Guards to attack Junwu, they struck the main force of the famous Jurchen general's commander's camp with a fatal blow that was like a white rainbow piercing the sun——
May is coming soon, I will post a single chapter later asking for votes, don’t dislike it ^_^
Well, kidnapping Jun Wu and asking for monthly votes...
(This chapter End)