Chapter 004: Changes

Zhou Kaihuang had already drawn his dagger, and when he ran to the camp gate, he picked up a long spear from the ground. He brandished the spear and was the first to charge into the camp. Seeing Zhao Tianba also holding a spear, Deng Ming hurriedly looked around and finally found an abandoned spear. Still feeling inadequate, Deng Ming picked up a knife and tucked it at his waist

The rotating blade of the gun scraped against the enemy soldier's skull, producing a chilling screech that raised the hairs on the back of one's neck, while blood and brain matter spewed onto Deng Ming's face from the soldier's wide-open mouth.

I have long heard of Lord Tan's wisdom and resourcefulness, and it is indeed as expected. I shall formally request commendation from the Governor's Office of Sichuan and Shaanxi on behalf of Lord Tan, no, on behalf of both Lords Tan.

Upon hearing this string of names, Wang Mingde felt a chill run down his spine. These were all elite troops from the remnants of the invading camp, and they had all come with the intention of continuing their assault after conquering Chongqing. If these forces arrived, even with the several thousand soldiers led by Tan Yi to assist, it was highly likely that Wang Mingde would still be unable to hold the city.

Well, the bandits are doomed. Since Tan Wen has been killed and the news has not yet leaked, tomorrow his army will be leaderless.

At this moment, the shouts grew louder, sounding not only like exclamations but also resembling the sounds of a fierce battle

The bandits have already transported the supplies from their various hideouts to the camp at the foot of the city. Currently, 40% is in the hands of our lord, while the remainder is in the camp of that bandit Yuan Zongdi. As long as we can breach his main camp, the bandits will be left without provisions. Tan Yi's subordinates reported all the details of the Ming army's strengths and weaknesses. If we defeat Yuan Zongdi, Wen Anzhi will not have the capacity to hold out even if he arrives at the foot of Chongqing. Moreover, this time, the Ming armies from Sichuan and Hubei are fully mobilized for the attack on Chongqing, and these supplies constitute nearly all of their reserves. If they are defeated, they will have no ability to launch further attacks before the harvest next year. Tan Wen's subordinates did not let a single one escape. Tomorrow, our lord and the general will launch a pincer attack, and we will surely be able to deal a heavy blow to the bandits.

Zhao Tianba was also filled with uncertainty. Logically, if the Qing soldiers were to attack, the sentries, both visible and hidden, around the camp would surely notice. Even the soldiers left behind in the camp would sound the alarm. How could there be a fire first and then fighting? Could it be that there were traitors within the camp? Concerning the military provisions for tens of thousands of troops, Zhao Tianba was eager to return to the camp immediately to ascertain the situation. However, he also bore the responsibility of protecting the important figure, Deng Ming, which made him hesitate.

Ah, the heavens do not forsake me, Wang!" Wang Mingde exclaimed in wild joy, and quickly added, "Long live the blessings of the court!

On the morning of the fifteenth, Deng Ming gazed at the rising sun, feeling increasingly uneasy: "It has been a full two days and nights without any sign of movement, nor have I heard of any Qing troops coming to reinforce Chongqing. The army of General Wen is likely to arrive soon."

Deng Ming's movements were not as swift as the approaching enemy soldier. In the blink of an eye, the enemy was right in front of him. Deng Ming instinctively raised the barrel of his gun, uncertain if it could withstand the impending strike. However, before the enemy's thrust could meet Deng Ming's weapon, a long spear suddenly thrust in from the side, deflecting the weapon that was aimed at Deng Ming's chest. The owner of the spear collided with Deng Ming's shoulder, sending him flying to the side.

Although Wang Mingde desperately hoped it was true, he feared that the other party had come to deceive him into opening the city gates under the pretense of surrendering. Therefore, he had two trusted aides lowered down from the city along with the visitor. After more than an hour, the dispatched aides finally returned, having witnessed Tan Wen's severed head with their own eyes

... ...

Deng Ming stared blankly at the mass of red mist, while the surrounding area was filled with the anguished cries of people on the brink of death

The siege has reached a critical moment. Yuan Zongdi went to the front lines early today to oversee the battle, as usual assigning Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba to stay behind with Deng Ming. In recent days, Deng Ming has been incessantly seeking advice on various military issues, and the two have been answering his questions without fail. However, Deng Ming feels a heavy weight in his heart and has become taciturn. The two are somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Deng Ming shows signs of worry when the situation is improving.

Each person has their own aspirations, and I do not impose mine on others; let it be as you wish. Tan Yi, hiding behind the soldier, laughed heartily: "However, it is of no use to a ghost to have a human head, so just give it to me."

Tan Wen and Tan Yi were once part of the Sichuan army under the Ming court. They had fought numerous battles against Li Dingguo of the Western Camp and had also experienced considerable friction with Yuan Zongdi of the Rebel Camp. Tan Wen thought to himself that Tan Yi probably did not want to see these former rebels gain merit, feeling displeased and thus reluctant to exert effort. He kindly advised, "Alas, the state is in a critical situation now; let us temporarily unite with them to strive for survival. Once the Ming dynasty is revitalized, it will not be too late to punish these bandits severely."

Is it true? Tan Yi immediately clapped his hands, and a large group of armored soldiers surged in, each drawing their swords and filling the central military tent to capacity. Tan Wen and the few personal guards he brought were surrounded in a small circle where turning around was difficult. Taking advantage of the moment when Tan Wen was surprised, Tan Yi quickly stepped back two paces and hid behind the soldiers.

Wang Mingde, upon hearing the insidious schemes of Tan Yi and Tan Hong one after another, thought to himself that he did not know how long these two had been plotting. Tomorrow, whether intentional or not, Yuan Zongdi would likely lose most of his ships at the foot of Chongqing. Those troops who could not board the ships would naturally have no means of escape. Even if Yuan Zongdi himself could manage to escape, he would no longer be a significant threat to the Qing army in Sichuan. Without ships and provisions, and with Tan Hong blocking the way, Wen Anzhi would probably not even see the walls of Chongqing.

In the past few days, Deng Ming subtly reminded Yuan Zongdi to be wary of the Qing army's potential reinforcements, but the latter did not take his words seriously at all. It is not surprising that Yuan Zongdi dismissed Deng Ming's warnings; Deng Ming had no understanding of the Qing army's deployment in Sichuan, the available routes, or the granaries and libraries. Having spent many years in Sichuan, Yuan Zongdi was quite familiar with the situation of the Qing army. He had already dispatched scouts to monitor the routes that the Qing army might use, rendering Deng Ming's attempts to offer advice unnecessary.

What nonsense is this!" Tan Wen heavily slapped the table and shouted sternly

Given the current critical situation in the world, where can one still preserve their strength? Tan Wen is determined not to allow Tan Yi to evade responsibility.

Near the large camp, the flames soared into the sky, and the smell of smoke and fire was already in the air. Some disoriented soldiers from Yuan's faction were frantically running towards Zhou Kaikuang. He reached out and grabbed one, his mouth nearly touching the soldier's nose: "Which rebel has revolted?"

"These are the troops of the Marquis of Renshou." As the captain of Yuan Zongdi's guard, almost all the soldiers in the camp knew Zhou Kaikuang. With a sobbing tone, a soldier said, "A group of soldiers from the Marquis of Renshou has arrived. They entered our camp and started killing people, and then many more rushed in."

After running a few steps, the shouts of killing ahead grew louder. Zhou Kaihuang suddenly stopped and shouted, realizing: "How could the enemy sneak into the camp to set fire? There must be a traitor among us!" His face turned crimson, and he was so furious that tears nearly came to his eyes as he charged towards the camp again

With a knife at his waist and a spear in hand, Deng Ming felt a surge of courage as he mimicked the stances of Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba, charging into the camp with his spear raised. The acrid smoke enveloped him, and the soldiers who had just gathered were engaged in fierce combat. Zhou Kaihuang's figure was illuminated by the flames; he had entered the camp two steps ahead of Deng Ming and was already covered in blood. Deng Ming watched in astonishment as Zhou thrust his spear into an enemy's chest, then kicked the enemy off the spear's tip, sending a spray of blood into the air, which fell like a rain of crimson droplets.

On the evening of December 14, Tan Wen stormed into Tan Yi's tent and immediately shouted, "Why are you not making an effort to attack the city?"

The camp is on fire! Zhou Kaihuang shouted, "You bastards left behind, our supplies!"

While speaking, a sudden exclamation was heard, followed by more shouts. Deng Ming saw a person who had cried out with their arm straightly pointing behind him, their mouth wide open in speechlessness. Turning around, he saw thick smoke rising from the camp, and in the blink of an eye, a burst of flames shot up. It was only then that he heard a series of sounds drifting from that direction

Filling in the trenches is a necessary task before an assault on the city, and there are several critical points to consider..." Zhou Kaihuang pointed out the formation of the Ming soldiers ahead while explaining it to Deng Ming

"This plan is truly ingenious," Wang Mingde exclaimed with a clap of his hands, immediately agreeing to the proposal.

For so many days, Tan Wen and the Ming army under Yuan Zongdi have been continuously attacking, aiming to exhaust the defending troops in Chongqing. However, Tan Yi, who took over Tan Wen's position, has remained inactive for two days. Seeing his colleagues inexplicably giving the enemy a chance to breathe, Tan Wen could no longer tolerate it and rushed to urge Tan Yi to engage in battle quickly. He estimated that the enemy must be harboring thoughts of conserving their strength and would likely find excuses such as the need for their soldiers to rest.

"At most, we can only strive to survive; even if we capture Chongqing, the revival of the Central Plains seems unlikely." Tan Yi still appeared unhurried, saying, "I believe that while we still have the ability to capture Chongqing and possess forces capable of isolating the Yangtze River, it would be better to surrender..."

Indeed, once Chongqing is captured, it will sever the connection between the north and south. Even if the court faces unfavorable conditions in Yunnan, in the worst-case scenario, it can at least shift its operations to Sichuan. Those remnants of the rebel camps can also move southward to merge with the remnants of the western camps, greatly amplifying their momentum

A person in front of Deng Ming let out a deafening shout, and the gleaming blade of a gun advanced towards him along with the shout. Although the fierce and menacing face made Deng Ming shudder, he instinctively retreated repeatedly to avoid the lunging spear.

My family's lord has also made arrangements regarding this matter, instructing the subordinate to discuss it with the general

"If the general does not believe, he may send someone to follow me to the camp to see; Tan Wen's head is in my lord's tent," the envoy explained earnestly.

The Qing court has always maintained the original titles; a marquis from the Ming dynasty remains a marquis when he crosses over, and a count remains a count. Sun Kewang was originally a first-rank prince in the Ming dynasty, and he remains a first-rank prince after crossing over. Being a marquis in the Great Qing is certainly better than being one in the Ming dynasty, right?" Tan Yi seemed to completely overlook Tan Wen's excited demeanor, maintaining his usual pace of speech: "Even if the Qing court demotes us after we cross over, being a count in the Great Qing is still better than being a marquis in the precarious Ming dynasty, right? Even if we end up as barons or viscounts, it is still much better than being here.

... ...

During the waiting period, Wang Mingde thought it over carefully again and had to admit that the opponent had mastered the timing of their surrender exceptionally well. Now, with the military forces in Sichuan being depleted, the Qing court's governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, Li Guoying, would undoubtedly be overjoyed upon learning of this matter and would certainly advocate strongly for Tan Yi's merits to Beijing.

Tan Wen's complexion turned extremely pale, as it was evident that the other party had made up their mind. If he did not agree with Tan Yi's proposal, he would likely be torn to pieces in a moment. The few guards beside him were also breathing heavily; these men were Tan Wen's elite bodyguards, but with just a handful of them, it was impossible to break through the encirclement.

"How can it be?" To Tan Wen's surprise, the other party did not use the excuse he had anticipated. Without a moment's hesitation, Tan Wen replied: "Our current military strength is more than double that of the Chongqing defenders, and the large army of General Wen can arrive at any moment. How could there be a reason not to capture Chongqing?"

Ah

Isn't it necessary to send the Third Prince to a safe place first? Zhao Tianba thought quickly while glancing over, noticing that Deng Ming had already reacted and was running swiftly behind Zhou Kaihuang. Zhao Tianba then closely followed, thinking: "Although this Third Prince does not understand military strategy, he does possess some courage, advancing rather than retreating in the face of danger."

However, after the messenger was lifted up to the city in a basket, upon seeing Wang Mingde, he immediately removed his hat, revealing a freshly shaved head that gleamed with a dark sheen. This messenger was a personal guard of Tan Yi, who claimed that his master had already executed the Marquis of Fuzhou, Tan Wen, of the Ming court, and that the entire army had shaved their heads to surrender.

The enemy soldiers near the camp have been repelled. Although Zhou Kaihuang is valiant, he is not reckless; instead of pursuing, he leads his men out of the camp. Yuan Zongdi's main camp has four gates, with the central command tent and storage located in the middle, surrounded by other military tents. In such a short time, the enemy has set fires throughout the camp and still has the strength to seize each of the gates, clearly indicating that they are not few in number. Now, the flames in the camp are growing stronger, and the smoke has obscured visibility. The few dozen men nearby are evidently unable to extinguish the fire, and they must also guard against attacks from an unknown number of enemy soldiers.

The gun was thrust forward sharply towards the opponent's heart. When the enemy soldier swung his weapon to counter, the tip of the gun suddenly angled upward and pierced through the wide-open mouth of the enemy soldier

"This city of Chongqing is about to be breached at any moment, how could he instead surrender to me?" Wang Mingde thought to himself, puzzled. However, if this matter is true, then it would be a chance for survival in a desperate situation. Wang Mingde questioned repeatedly and gradually speculated that the other party might be seizing this opportunity to surrender in order to achieve merit and seek wealth and honor.

Zhao Tianba drew his gun and freed one hand to grab Deng Ming, urgently exclaiming, "Mr. Deng, what are you doing here?" As he spoke, he pushed him out of the camp gate

Zhao Tianba also caught hold of a fleeing soldier, who spoke more clearly. He saw a soldier from Tan Yi drop his hat and noticed that they had even shaved their heads.

"Is this even human language?" Tan Wen was even more furious in his shock: "We must never surrender!"

"This scoundrel, has he surrendered to the Tartars?" Zhou Kaihuang shouted, "These treacherous officials and soldiers are the most unreliable!"

What pleased Wang Mingde even more was that the visitor reported that Tan Hong also intended to surrender to the Manchus. He was currently encamped several dozen miles downstream of the Yangtze River, blocking the vanguard of Wen Anzhi. After defeating Yuan Zongdi's naval forces tomorrow, Tan Hong planned to intercept and annihilate the retreating Ming troops who were fleeing by land, capturing them all in one sweep

"I was born a subject of the Ming Dynasty, and I will die as a ghost of the Ming Dynasty." Tan Wen finally voiced his determination.

Several subordinates of Tan Yi returned with Wang Mingde's two trusted aides. Seeing that Wang Mingde had already placed his trust in him, the leader disclosed Tan Yi's plans: "A large group of bandits, under the leadership of the false governor Wen An, is heading towards Chongqing. Accompanying them are the notorious bandit Li Lai, Tu Shuheng (the grandson of Li Zicheng), Liu Tichun, and Hao Yaoqi (all former generals of the Great Shun) among others..."

Facing the unmasked anger on Tan Wen's face, Tan Yi remained completely unperturbed and slowly spoke: "Can we really capture Chongqing?"

"The Tartars are coming!" Zhou Kaihuang shouted again, abandoning Deng Ming and quickly running towards the camp.

Yuan Zongdi's naval forces were anchored in the Yangtze River, while Tan Yi's vessels were docked in the Jialing River, separated by the city of Chongqing. Yuan Zongdi could not see the movements in the Jialing River, but the situation on the city walls of Chongqing was clear to him. Tan Yi planned to have his envoy signal him from the city of Chongqing using flags. After the Ming army's defeat, they would inevitably retreat. When Yuan Zongdi's naval forces were halfway through their retreat, his own navy would suddenly emerge from the Jialing River, splitting Yuan Zongdi's forces in two. Tan Yi planned to have his envoy signal him from the city of Chongqing using flags. After the Ming army's defeat, they would inevitably retreat. When Yuan Zongdi's naval forces were halfway through their retreat, his own navy would suddenly emerge from the Jialing River, splitting Yuan Zongdi's forces in two.

Deng Ming looked towards Chongqing, and it seemed that Yuan Zongdi's flag was moving in this direction, likely having noticed the unusual situation at the main camp and eager to return to reclaim the camp and extinguish the flames

Deng Ming had been following Zhou Kaihuang these days, treating him as a companion. Upon seeing Zhou Kaihuang rushing towards the main camp, he instinctively followed. At that moment, he was unaware of what had happened, feeling lost in an unfamiliar place. Without following someone he knew, Deng Ming did not know where to go.

Wang Mingde stared blankly at the messenger before him. After listening to the other party's words, it took him a while to come to terms with the shock. As he observed the increasing number of Ming troops outside Chongqing, he had not thought he could survive since they had been encircled two days ago; he was merely holding on to the idea that each day he resisted was an extra day of life. After nightfall today, the city gate guards reported that a messenger had arrived from outside the city. Wang Mingde experienced a fierce internal struggle, estimating that the other party was most likely there to persuade him to surrender. Although he believed he had resolved himself to die, he hesitated at this critical moment. Ultimately, he calculated that it might be better to temporarily feign compliance, to see if he could buy some time, and at least not completely close off the possibility of surrender.

"Do not run away, take back the main camp." Zhou Kaihuang continued to advance towards the main camp while blocking the retreating soldiers left behind. Deng Ming and Zhao Tianba quickly assisted; the first few were quite difficult, but after capturing a few, the number of people they gathered increased rapidly. Soon, they had rounded up dozens of soldiers and set off towards the main camp.

At this moment, Deng Ming finally recognized that the visitor was Zhao Tianba. Zhao Tianba pressed down forcefully with both hands, forcing the enemy to kneel on the ground. Then, he kicked out, striking the opponent in the chest. However, this thrust was executed with great force, and the tip of the spear had already pierced through the back of the enemy soldier's head. Zhao Tianba was unable to kick the enemy away with his foot, so he twisted the spear shaft instead.

Wang Mingde estimated that Yuan Zongdi would still lead the main force to attack the city, and there was likely little defense in the camp. If Tan Yi were to launch a surprise attack on Yuan Zongdi from behind, the chances of success would be quite high: "However, Yuan Zongdi still has a naval force, so it is expected that many of the bandits would still be able to escape."