Chapter 0008: The Killer Move
In this era, everyone has their own chain of loyalty.
As for the Li Dingguo faction, which is also part of the original Daxi army, the most elite troops of the Ming court, His Majesty the Emperor will not pursue the matter
Zhu Youlang offered a contemptuous assessment of these Green Camp soldiers
Ah!
Li Dingguo took a deep breath and spoke loudly
Indeed, the banners on the city walls change with the winds, and loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness are nothing but trifles in their eyes
If Sun Kewang had not surrendered to the Qing, the Qing army would not have been so well-informed about the defensive situation of the Ming army in Guizhou and even Yunnan
Does the Ming army possess any formidable weapons?
Li Dingguo explained cautiously from the side
The commander of the vanguard, Bai Erhetu, was greatly enraged upon witnessing this and ordered the Eight Banners military law enforcement team to strictly defend their position, declaring that any retreating Green Camp soldiers were to be executed without mercy
Meanwhile, on the city walls of Kunming, the Ming Emperor Zhu Youlang was stirred with excitement by the scene before him
Many of these individuals were once subordinates of Sun Kewang. After Sun Kewang surrendered to the Qing, he became even more pessimistic about the situation of the Ming court. Consequently, their idea was to surrender and seek fame and fortune.
Today, the exalted Emperor not only ascended the city walls but also personally beat the drum, a matter they had never dared to even contemplate before
Zhu Youlang and Li Dingguo actually believed that they could defend Kunming and did not flee in advance
What exactly is going on
Kill the captives
There have even been instances of the same army repeatedly changing sides in a ridiculous manner
Fire the cannon, do not stop
However, for the attacking side, siege warfare is ultimately disadvantageous. Both Wu Sangui and Zhao Butai are well aware of this and are reluctant to expend their elite troops in a protracted engagement. Instead, they send green camp soldiers to wear down the Ming army's resources for defending the city
His Majesty the Emperor has classified Sun Kewang's rebellion as a personal issue, at most implicating those followers of Sun Kewang who have turned against him
Now they have merely shifted the battlefield from Guizhou to Yunnan, do they think they can hold it with just one city?
... ...
"The treacherous scoundrel who acts as a henchman for the tiger does not deserve to live in this world"
The Emperor's words have completely dispelled the soldiers' concerns
In Zhu Youlang's impression, the Green Camp soldiers are merely a group of individuals who follow the stronger side, whether it is the Ming army or the Qing army, depending on which is more powerful at the time
They are numerous, appearing like ants when viewed from the city walls
... ...
Under the relentless bombardment, the mindset of the Qing army's vanguard completely shattered
Zhu Youlang saw Li Dingguo's expression of guilt and understood that he was feeling self-reproach, so he comforted him, saying: "I understand the intentions of King Jin, but each person should bear the consequences of their own actions. I do not wish, nor will I allow, the matter of Sun Kewang's surrender to the Qing to implicate too many people."
As soon as they reached the city wall, their danger was significantly reduced, and they could set up a ladder to formally commence the siege.
How could the Ming army give them an opportunity, as the cannons on the city walls roared, and countless shells were fired towards them
Revenge!
... ...
We, the ministers and soldiers, express our gratitude to Your Majesty for your grace
Hmph, a group of utterly shameless scoundrels
The deserters were momentarily stunned, but eventually gritted their teeth and turned to run towards the city wall
What is going on with this shell? Why did it explode?
If he and Sun Kewang had not met in battle, Sun Kewang would not have surrendered to the Qing after his defeat
This is impossible
"Your Majesty has decreed, fire the cannons, and annihilate this group of Eastern invaders"
Your Majesty, many of these troops are the original garrison from Guizhou, and they are very familiar with our military strength and deployment.
The reason the Qing army was able to sweep through the battlefield in Guizhou was due to the crucial intelligence provided by Sun Kewang
General He Gang of the Green Camp shouted orders for his soldiers to charge forward
There are many in the Green Camp who share his mindset; even if they are not killed instantly by the shelling, they may be injured by shrapnel and ultimately die from excessive bleeding.
He actually still feels a sense of guilt in his heart
And Bai Wenxuan and others are referring to Li Dingguo
In his impression, shells are all solid
I shall personally beat the drum for the soldiers
Avenge the brothers who died tragically
Even if one cannot survive in the end, it is still better to linger for a while than to meet an immediate demise.
Your Majesty is so valiant, what reason do they have not to serve you with their lives
The sight instantly caused those fleeing soldiers to halt, gazing in terror at the Eight Banners troops
The green-clad soldiers, clad only in cotton armor, charged towards the moat carrying wooden planks
Puff
Countless soldiers of the Green Camp began to abandon their helmets and armor, turning around to flee
They plan to use these wooden planks to construct a makeshift floating bridge, and then launch an immediate assault across the river
Now, His Majesty the Emperor openly expresses his stance, seemingly supporting Li Dingguo, but in reality, it is to pacify the morale of the Ming army in Yunnan
He has made up his mind to steadfastly defend Kunming, and when the war truly begins, the sensory impact brought by the booming artillery quickly immerses him in his role
Revenge!
Each of these flag soldiers is robust in stature, gripping a steel knife in their hands, exuding an aura of ferocity and malevolence without a trace of emotion
Humans are inherently pragmatic beings, always making choices in the face of interests
Zhu Youlang slightly nodded, picked up a drumstick, and began to strike the drum.
With a single stroke, the head of a soldier from the Green Camp instantly rolled onto the muddy ground, blood gushing from the neck and splattering a full three steps away
... ...
Therefore, after Sun Kewang surrendered to the Qing, those generals who had originally pledged loyalty to him would unhesitatingly follow suit and surrender as well
A fragment from an exploding shell directly pierced the abdomen of a soldier from the Green Camp, causing him to immediately collapse to the ground, clutching his stomach and crying out in agony
This loyalty hierarchy is strictly enforced, and instances of bypassing ranks are rare
Revenge!
These Green Camp soldiers were originally Ming troops, but have now transformed into Qing soldiers, rushing towards Kunming City without hesitation to demonstrate their loyalty
Li Dingguo had merely made a casual remark, yet unexpectedly, the emperor uttered such words, leaving him utterly astonished
Ah
Zhu Youlang had long taught the soldiers of the Ming army the methods of using these Prussian cannons. For those soldiers who had experience with artillery, the operation of the Prussian cannons was not complicated, and they were able to master it quickly
Compared to the old Guan Ning Iron Cavalry and the Eight Banners soldiers, the Green Camp soldiers are abundant, with one batch after another being recruited.
Sun Kewang even personally wrote to the Ming army general in Guizhou, persuading him to surrender and promising substantial benefits
The Green Camp's Qian Zong He Gang also had a bewildered expression on his face
Kill the captives
Kill the captives
Since the Qing army launched its offensive in Guizhou, it has been unstoppable and has not faced any significant challenges.
The previously repressed emotions erupted at this moment, and Zhu Youlang quickly united with the soldiers.
Under the resounding drumbeats, the soldiers of the Ming army were momentarily entranced
Wu Sangui squinted his eyes as he gazed at the Ming army atop Kunming City, suppressing the joy that surged within him
The time has come to serve the court, brothers, let us slay the invaders and repay our country
Since both attacking and fleeing lead to death, it is better to attack; at least there is a glimmer of hope.
It is truly absurd
For example, Li Dingguo's loyalty chain is directed towards the Yongli Emperor
Do these surrendered generals and the Ming army in Kunming and even Yunnan have no connection?