The mighty army marched eastward along the Yellow River embankment. Behind them, the market turned into ruins and the city burned...

Since half a month ago, Abatai led the army to attack southward, marching south day and night, and finally arrived at the bank of the Yellow River before the Ming Dynasty could react - the bank was full of objects that the Ming Dynasty had not rushed to the other side or burned.

boats, and thousands of boatmen.

Tens of thousands of troops thus successfully crossed the river.

Next, just as the emperor had expected, the army marched unimpeded. Along the way, the Ming army all fled after hearing the news, and even attacked several counties without any effort. All in all, they encountered some trouble in Guide——

The locals resisted for two days.

Two days later, all the jade and stone were burned to the ground, and the entire city was slaughtered without leaving any chickens or dogs behind!

Next, he took Xiayi along the way and attacked Tangshan. When Abatai came to Xuzhou, his forwards had arrived in Xuzhou for two days. At this time, Xuzhou had been besieged for two days. For two days, the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou had been holding on

Xuzhou City.

After arriving at the camp under Xuzhou City, Abatai took a look at Xuzhou City and then asked.

"Did Xuzhou win?"

"Going back to Mr. Beile, the bright dogs in Xuzhou City are very stubborn. When my Manchurian soldiers arrived, they not only refused to surrender, but also dared to resist. They are really stubborn!"

"It's dark!"

Looking at the slave kneeling on the ground, Abate said coldly.

"Before dark, Xuzhou cannot be captured, so come to me with your head raised!"

"Yes! I obey my command!"

…

A few days ago, when the Donglu soldiers invaded the Central Plains, the message reached Xuzhou. The prefect Liu Fang, who was originally the magistrate of Tangshan County, had just taken office a few months ago. His courtesy name was Baizi, and he was from Shiping, Yunnan. From the message, he learned that the Donglu soldiers had crossed the Yellow River.

After that, he immediately convened the squire court of all the big households to discuss matters.

After reading the proclamation, Liu Fang said solemnly to the Jinshi, Wujinshi, Juren, Wujuren, Gongsheng and Xiucai present.

"I hope that all the gentlemen here will express their opinions and offer suggestions to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the people in this city. The ancients said, "A swallow's wings make a plan, and a united will makes a city." Please feel free to give me your advice."

The whole place was silent for a moment, no one spoke.

After a moment of silence, someone suddenly stood up to speak. It was Wan Shouqi. He was a member of the imperial examination for the third year of Chongzhen. He participated in the examination twice and failed. Originally, he planned to go to the capital to participate in the examination in the next year, but he never thought about Xuzhou.

After being robbed by soldiers, the Donglu who were far away in Liaodong actually drove straight into southern Zhili, crossed the Yellow River, and approached Xuzhou. I saw him saying loudly.

"As subjects of the Ming Dynasty, it is our duty to defend the city and share the worries of the court. I am willing to donate half of my family property, recruit local warriors, and purchase firearms to serve the country and the people, defend the land and resist the enemy!"

After saying this, he looked around, but no one spoke, so he added:

"I am willing to personally lead my servants and share the responsibility of defending the city."

His nephew Wan Chonggu also said loudly.

"I completely agree with my uncle's idea. I am also willing to donate half of my family's wealth, recruit local warriors, build swords and guns, and jointly fight against the invaders and defend the city!"

Although the Wan family is originally from Jiangxi, it has been more than two hundred years since they moved to Xuzhou. They have long been a local wealthy family. With them taking the lead in expressing their stance, others naturally expressed their willingness to donate money to defend the city. At this time, someone suddenly stood up to oppose the defense of the city and advocated surrendering the city.

"As we all know, Donglu is violent by nature. Didn't Guide resist and the whole city was slaughtered? In my opinion, instead of defending the city, it is better to take out the money from Shoucheng and buy peace..."

Someone started, and naturally others echoed. While everyone was arguing, they suddenly heard a roar.

"This is really unreasonable!"

The one who stood up was Yan Ermei, who was from Peixian County. He and Wan Shouqi were both Juren in the same year and good friends. They were visiting the Wan family. Unexpectedly, they were left in Xuzhou because of the invasion of Donglu. Originally, he was just a spectator as a Juren.

, when he heard someone wanted to lose money and food, he immediately roared:

"Losing the enemy's money, food and grass is basically helping the tyrants to do evil, so they collude with the Donglu!"

Yan Ermei said excitedly.

"All the subjects of the Ming Dynasty have the responsibility to defend the land and resist the enemy, and protect the environment and the people. Anyone who wants to evade the responsibility will be punished by the state! It is unworthy of the imperial court, and it is shameless to see the spirit of the ancestors in heaven!"

Finally he said loudly.

"Although Yan is from Pei County, Pei County is also Xuzhou. I am willing to donate all my belongings and lead my relatives in the city to help everyone defend the city and live and die with Xuzhou!"

His words immediately received a round of applause. At this moment, someone also said loudly.

"We are also willing to defend the city. The country has supported soldiers for two hundred years, so it is our duty to defend the city!"

Then many people supported the defense of the city, and for a while, the majority supported the defense. Some wealthy gentry families provided money and food, and there were a large number of defenders. Under Liu Fang's planning, money, food, weapons, and gunpowder were prepared, waiting for the Qing troops to come.

Go up to the city and defend.

…

This defense lasted for two days. During these two days, the Donglu continued to bombard the city wall with red cannons, causing heavy casualties to the defenders on the city.

"Donglu is coming to the city, coming to the city..."

Hearing the screams on the city wall, Wan Shouqi immediately drew his sword out of its sheath and said to the servants and soldiers behind him.

"Fellow fellow villagers, the Eastern invaders have captured the city and killed them all, young and old, without leaving any survivors. For the sake of your parents, wives and children, all follow me and kill the captives!"

"Brother Wan and I will kill the captives together! Kill the captives!"

Yan Ermei, who was following Wan Shouqi and Shen Wan, also drew out her steel sword and rushed to the front with him.

"Kill the prisoners!"

Seeing the two Juren masters charging forward, everyone shouted in unison and charged towards the city wall regardless of life or death.

They are just ordinary people in the city, but they know what will happen if the city is broken. After all, the refugees who fled from Guide have told them that surrendering is also death. Even if they are usually timid and fearful, now for the lives of their families, they must

And if they find someone who is willing to lead them to kill the enemy, they are naturally willing to defend the city with all their strength.

"kill……"

As soon as he rushed over, Wan Shouqi saw a Donglu soldier climbing over the ladder, and slashed his head with the knife in his hand. Although the man was wearing heavy armor and an iron helmet, it was useless to cut off the soldiers with one knife, but he still let the soldier go.

The man staggered and almost fell to the ground. Before he could regain his footing, Yan Ermei, who was coming with a sword, stabbed him in the cheek. Although he failed to kill the enemy, it still made the man scream. With the effort of covering his face,

He was hit in the chest by a blacksmith holding a hammer and fell to the ground.

"Kill the prisoners!"

Although the men who defended the city only had civilian clothes, and the Qing army was all heavily armored, when the Qing army's swords and guns came, there was a bloody storm. However, under the leadership of two Juren, hundreds of men fought to the death, and even

Some people directly shouted for the Qing troops holding the city head to jump to the city and die together. After almost paying the price of half of the losses, the dozens of Qing troops who attacked the city head were finally killed and retreated.

Wan Shouqi, who was covered in blood, looked blankly at the top of the city. There were broken limbs and broken arms everywhere on the city top. The man without armor was completely vulnerable. The only way he could hold the city for the time being was to fight to the death.

It's just an exchange of lives.

How many days can we hold on like this?

"Brother Wan, Wan, we, we defended..."

Following the sound, Wan Shouqi saw Yan Ermei panting and staggering towards him. He was covered in blood, and the cotton-padded clothes slashed by the sword were rolled up, and the bloody wounds were gushing with blood...

"Brother Gu Gu... come quickly, come here, come quickly!"

When Yan Ermei was about to fall, Wan Shouqi rushed over and helped him. Panting heavily, Yan Ermei tightly grabbed Wan Shouqi's clothes with one hand and stared at him with wide eyes.
Chapter completed!