Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 398: Attack on Zichuan (Part )

Zichuan County Magistrate Chen Xuanyi was still in the government office reviewing the county's teaching documents. Several clerks stood trembling with fear below him, cursing in their hearts, "Why are you still here reading the teaching documents? The army is approaching the city, the sound of artillery is almost deafening, and you are still here reading the teaching documents!"

One of them was trembling in his voice, but he managed a smile on his face and said, "The enemy army is at the gates of the city, but you are so calm and composed. It is like the saying that when Mount Tai collapses in front of you, you remain calm. You are really an extraordinary person!"

Hearing this, Chen Xuanyi showed a smug smile on his face. After such an attitude, someone finally recognized his worth. He looked proud, stroked his beard and smiled, "Zichuan City is as solid as a rock. Why should we be afraid of rats trying to shake a tree? Although there are many bandits, they are still a mob. General Liu has been in the army for a long time and is defending the city firmly. There is nothing to worry about."

The clerks below all echoed the praises, praising the county magistrate for his wisdom and General Liu for his bravery.

Seeing this, Chen Xuanyi spoke even more passionately, and raised his head and said, "In the past, Zhuge Kongming, with a feather fan and a blue scarf, destroyed the masts and oars in a moment of laughter and conversation. Although I dare not compare with the ancient sage, I have my own plans to defend the land and keep the people safe. Moreover, our army has abundant food and grass, and excellent equipment. Even if the enemy army has a great force, it will be difficult to cross the line."

After finishing speaking, Chen Xuanyi slightly closed his eyes, with an attitude of planning and winning a battle thousands of miles away, as if he was fully confident about the current situation with Zhou army at the gates of the city.

However, Liu Qichang on the west city wall was obviously not as confident as the magistrate. He was already sweating profusely. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, but Liu Qichang obviously did not know himself or the enemy.

The defenders on the city wall and the bandits were still able to fight back and forth. When defending the city, before the Zhou army went up to the city wall, they were able to shoot arrows and throw stones, which was considered competent. However, after the elite troops went up to the city wall first, the gap immediately became apparent.

When the first figure of the Zhou army appeared at the edge of the city wall, this man was agile and sturdy. He jumped up, holding a round shield, standing diagonally in front of him, and then swung his long sword upwards, while shouting angrily: "The first one to climb up is the squad leader Ma Dachun!"

Ma Dachun held the shield in his left hand to protect his body, and held the knife in his right hand. Instead of retreating, he advanced and killed three guards in a row. The guards looked at Ma Dachun with a ferocious look on his face, and for a moment they dared not to advance.

Then, in just a moment, three or four soldiers followed his footsteps and quickly climbed up the city wall. Liu Qichang broke out in a cold sweat. He looked around and counted them. There were more than 20 guards around him, and there were only five people on the other side. Liu Qichang gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Go, drive the thieves off the city!"

Liu Qichang and his group rushed over in a black crowd. Ma Dachun glanced and saw a man in bright clothes and armor, obviously an officer. Ma Dachun was not afraid at all, but excited instead. The Green Camp defenders on the city were so bad, how much better could the officers be.

When Liu Qichang saw a burly man rushing towards him, he couldn't help but slow down his pace and let his personal guards surround him.

Facing the encirclement of Liu Qichang and his personal guards, a bloodthirsty light flashed in Ma Dachun's eyes. He took a big step forward and used his round shield to knock away the guard who approached first. Then, a knife flashed, blood splattered, and a personal guard fell to the ground.

Although Ma Dachun was a burly man, he was not slow in his movements. He dodged the spear attack from another guard by moving his body to the side, and then hit the man in the chest with his elbow. The man bent over in pain. At the same time, Ma Dachun raised his long sword again and slashed at the guard who attacked from the other side. The blade pierced into the bone, and screams rang out immediately.

Liu Qichang was horrified when he saw the scene. He had never seen such a brave enemy. With such good kung fu, he had killed five of his personal guards in a row, while Ma Dachun was only stabbed twice in the back and shoulder.

Liu Qichang involuntarily took two or three steps back, but Ma Dachun did not stop. He pushed away the two guards who were blocking his way, knocking them to the ground. Ma Dachun rushed to Liu Qichang like a madly running lion, with only a few feet left between them.

Liu Qichang's pupils widened, and the sword in his hand fell unconsciously. He did not have the courage to fight to the death. Looking at Ma Dachun's murderous eyes, Liu Qichang's legs softened and he knelt on the ground, crying, "Please spare my life, brave man! I surrender! Don't kill me, I surrender!"

Ma Dachun put his knife on Liu Qichang's neck and said ruthlessly, "What are you yelling about?"

Liu Qichang was so scared that he almost peed his pants. He quickly replied: "I am Liu Qichang, the defender of Zichuan. I am willing to surrender and I am willing to open the city to welcome the king's army!"

After Liu Qichang finished speaking, he shouted: "Put down your weapons, put down your weapons, surrender, Kaesong surrenders!"

The city gates were wide open and Zibo surrendered. Unexpectedly, before the cannons could destroy the west city, someone climbed up the city wall and broke it in one fell swoop.

Zhao Yongping shouted, "Congratulations to the squad leader Ma Dachun, who was the first to reach the summit and kill the general, so he should be credited with the first merit!"

Qian Biao shook his head and said, "This is just a piece of trash. He has been blocking us for almost ten days. It's all the Dragon King's fault. When I get back, I will ask the Taoist priest to write a yellow talisman and report it to the Heavenly Court to the Dragon King."

………………

When the Zibo County Magistrate was arrested, he still had a look of disbelief on his face, and kept muttering "Impossible, impossible!"

It was not until Chen Xuanyi looked at Liu Qichang kneeling on the ground that he started to curse: "Didn't you say you could hold on for three months? Didn't you say you would die to repay the emperor's kindness? Why are you kneeling here?"

Liu Qichang lowered his head in shame and said nothing, allowing Chen Xuanyi to curse him. Even when Zhao Yongping came in front of the two of them, Chen Xuanyi continued to curse, until his personal guards came forward and slapped Chen Xuanyi twice, only then did the cursing stop.

Chen Xuanyi looked at Zhao Yongping, choked up, and said stubbornly: "I am the disciple of the emperor and will never surrender to the enemy. No need to say more!"

Zhao Yongping looked at Chen Xuanyi's rat-tailed appearance and couldn't help but sneer: "The saints said that the body and hair are given by parents. If you destroy them, it is a great disrespect to filial piety! How can you face your ancestors after shaving your head and changing your clothes?"

Chen Xuanyi was speechless for a moment after hearing this, and after a while he replied: "Shaving the hair is a noble policy of the new dynasty. Besides, the regent of the Qing Dynasty has revoked the order to shave the hair. Whether to wear a braid or not is entirely up to the people."

Zhao Yongping glanced at Chen Xuanyi and Liu Qichang and said in a cold tone, "They besieged the city for ten days and surrendered only after the city was broken. No pardon will be given. Take these two away and execute them!"

Chen Xuanyi's face turned pale when he heard this, but he still tried to stay calm and maintain his appearance. However, Liu Qichang was different. When he heard that he would die if he surrendered, he was so scared that he wet his pants pocket. Liu Qichang lay on the ground, crying bitterly, "I don't know how high the heaven is or how deep the earth is. I beg the general to spare my life. I won't dare to do it again!"

Zhao Yongping waved his hand, signaling his guards to drag the man away.

Liu Qichang's cries for mercy and heart-wrenching screams could be heard all the way. Some of his personal guards, who were dragging him, could not bear it anymore and slapped him several times in the face, knocking him unconscious.