~~~~~~~

There were no ships docked at the pier. Chen Jisheng and Mao Chenglu had moved all the ships to the other side of the river before this.

Li Yuanqing let out a long breath.

Even if we could open a tunnel to the river, we would still be unable to reach the other side without a boat. In front of the cavalry of the Hou Jin Army, the soldiers were still like pigs and sheep, and could only be slaughtered mercilessly.

If this is the case, it is better to stay in Zhenjiang City and fight the Hou Jin army to the end, killing one and earning another.

Li Yuanqing's eyes became increasingly gloomy.

Mao Wenlong's persistence, in fact, has brought Mao Wenlong's troops of the Zhenjiang Guangning Army into a dead end, with almost no possibility of rescue.

However, with the experience of escaping from Shenyang City, Li Yuanqing always firmly believes that the Hou Jin Army is also a human being, not a god. Even if they take complete initiative, there will definitely be flaws in some details, and these flaws are Li Yuanqing's Opportunity to escape.

At this time, Xu Heizi suddenly whispered: "Sir, I think the terrain here makes it possible to build a tunnel."

Li Yuanqing was stunned and turned to look at Xu Heizi.

Xu Heizi quickly winked at Li Yuanqing.

Li Yuanqing understood, waved his hand to signal the dozen soldiers to retreat, and brought only Shang Laoliu to Xu Heizi's side.

Xu Heizi said cautiously: "Sir, you see, although this side is full of tidal flats and swamps, the roadbed of the official road is very solid. We can start from the residences under the city wall here, bypass the city wall, and dig tunnels There is no need to fight too far under the official road, half a mile is enough. Then, we only need to bypass the city wall, and we can break out from the east during the night."

Shang Laoliu couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Yuanqing, this method has great potential. If the distance is such a short distance, maybe one day is enough. As long as we can bypass the city wall, we can break out towards Tieshan, where we can familiar."

Li Yuanqing nodded, Xu Heizi's plan was indeed good, but there was still no way to solve the ship's problem.

Shang Laoliu also thought of this and hurriedly whispered to Li Yuanqing: "Yuanqing, we can only open the tunnel quickly and send a few brothers with good water skills to ask for help from Chen Jisheng."

Li Yuanqing slowly exhaled a breath of thick air.

If so, it was indeed a good escape plan. Unfortunately, Li Yuanqing was not Mao Wenlong. Although he had a good relationship with Chen Jisheng, Li Yuanqing could not guarantee whether Chen Jisheng would send a ship.

Moreover, this matter is an act of desertion after all. If Chen Jisheng catches this handle again, then...

Xu Heizi also saw Li Yuanqing's confusion and hurriedly explained in a low voice: "Sir, I heard that people on the coast have a method. If the ship loses water, you can hold a piece of wood and float with the waves. As long as you can hold on, you will be able to survive." It will float to the shore."

Li Yuanqing nodded and realized something. If he wanted to escape for his life, he definitely couldn't escape now. He had to wait until the last moment. After the Jin army bulldozed the earth, it would take at least one or two days to reach Zhenjiang City. With the Ming army's combat power, they could resist even three to five God, it's not a problem. Li Yuanqing actually still has enough time.

"This matter can be handled this way. However, the secret must be strictly kept. Also, the person who does it must choose the most reliable brother."

"Yes." Shang Laoliu and Xu Heizi quickly knelt down on one knee.

Shang Laoliu said: "Yuan Qing, this matter should not be delayed. We will take action tonight."

Li Yuanqing nodded and remained silent.

…………

Although he had prepared a way out for himself, Li Yuanqing did not feel at ease when faced with the upcoming situation.

Shang Laoliu and Xu Heizi's plan is destined to only allow a small number of people to escape, and the rest of the brothers will probably...

Moreover, the gentry and common people in Zhenjiang City may also become tragic victims.

It is simply impossible to prevent the Hou Jin army from slaughtering the city.

As for how to cross the river, Li Yuanqing also racked his brains. The best way was to use driftwood. Unfortunately, the east direction was full of tidal flats and there were not many trees at all. Even if there were, they had been burned clean by the previous fire.

The best way is to use the tents under his command to make a simple raft.

Most of the tents are made of cow, horse and sheep skins, which are relatively strong. It doesn't take much effort to convert them into rafts that can carry people. It's still October, and even a larger lifebuoy will play a decisive role. It's a pity that these

Women's work is very difficult for the soldiers under my command to complete and must be done manually.

Moreover, there are not many tents under Li Yuanqing's command, only a few dozen, and many are currently being used by soldiers. If they are forcibly taken back, it will definitely cause a shock to the morale of the soldiers.

Originally, Li Yuanqing wanted to discuss the matter with Chen Zhong, but after thinking about it carefully, Li Yuanqing gave up the idea because of Chen Zhong's bad temper.

At this time, Li Yuanqing had no choice but to endure it for the time being and wait and see what would happen.

…………

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, two days had passed.

Shang Laoliu and Xu Heizi's tunnel plan has been completed. The tunnel passes through the east wall of the city wall, and the exit is on the side of the official road half a mile outside the east wall. There happens to be a big burned tree there. From the city wall

Nothing seems out of the ordinary, and even if you walk up to it, it will be difficult for anyone to notice it if no one reminds you.

But although the retreat was ready, Li Yuanqing was not happy at all. After two days of ant-moving advancement, Hou Jin's bulldozing offensive had reached the outside of the north gate of Zhenjiang City, less than a hundred steps away from the defense line of the north gate of Zhenjiang.

Already.

If nothing else, tomorrow will be the day when the Jin army will attack the city.

In the evening, Mao Wenlong held another military meeting to encourage military morale.

What makes Li Yuanqing indescribable is that in this situation, the sensitivity to the crisis is only the thousand-level officers at Li Yuanqing's level. As for the commander-in-chief, commander-in-chief, and soldiers below, they have no sensitivity at all.

Realizing the extent of the crisis, they were still immersed in the "invincibility" of the surprise attack on Zhenjiang.

This is also the most important reason for Mao Wenlong to dare to fight to the death with Hou Jin.

But at this time, Li Yuanqing naturally wouldn't say much.

Life is as long as grass and trees are in spring.

In the face of the general trend, how can a mere ant contend with the world?

…………

As expected, starting from the early morning of the next day, Houjin's bulldozing offensive became faster and faster.

Countless Han people, under the threat of weapons and weapons from Hou Jin's army, took shovels and hoes and continuously pushed Hou Jin's formation towards Zhenjiang City.

At first, Mao Wenlong could not bear the soldiers to shoot arrows at the Han people, but seeing Hou Jin's offensive getting closer and closer, Mao Wenlong had no choice but to force his eyes and order the soldiers to shoot arrows to disperse the Han people.

However, the Jin army was obviously more prepared. After the offensive spread to the gates of Zhenjiang City, they no longer ordered the Han people to dig the earth. Instead, they ordered some young and strong Han people to carry piles of sand and earth bags that had been prepared long ago.

Stacked towards the bottom of the city wall.

Judging from their appearance, they didn't even use the ladder, they just wanted to use these sand and soil bags to build a "staircase" from the ground to the city wall.

Faced with this situation, how could Mao Wenlong dare to show any kindness as a woman? Anyone who threatens the existence of Zhenjiang City, whether they are slaves or Han people, will be shot.

It's a pity that the wild boar skins are very cunning. They are all wearing thick armor, many of them have shields to assist them, and they have been hiding behind the Han people. Even if the Ming army on the city has the intention, they are simply unable to kill them.

The largest number were Han people and a few Han flag soldiers.

As the day and night passed, the sandbag offensive under the North Gate had been piled up to almost the same level as the city wall, allowing Houjin soldiers to rush from the bottom of the city to the top of the city.

The war eventually broke out inevitably.

The first troops of the Hou Jin Army to attack the city were a group of about 5,600 "heavy armored soldiers". They first wore a layer of cotton on the inside, then put on fine scale armor, and finally put on iron shoulder armor and breastplates on the outside.

, each person holds a small round shield, and their weapons are mostly heavy weapons such as heavy knives, axes, and hammers, and their momentum is quite terrifying.

"Kill. Kill the bright dog."

These heavily armored soldiers were like a pack of hungry wolves. Against the background of the sound of horns, they climbed up the stairs piled with sand bags and fought their way towards the top of the city.

The sand bag steps are very wide, about one to two hundred meters, which can provide them with enough buffer.

At this time, the main attack direction of the Hou Jin Army was near the city gate, at the junction of Li Yuanqing and Chen Zhong.

Moreover, the attack by the Later Jin Army was not limited to the north gate. The West Gate and South Gate were also attacked by the Later Jin Army.

"You bastard Tatars are looking for death. Sons, rush forward and chop them down."

Seeing the Hou Jin army rushing up, Chen Zhong became red-eyed and led his elite troops to fight with the Hou Jin army on the top of the city.

Li Yuanqing did not dare to neglect, so he ordered Guan Canghai and Wang Haibu to take the lead to stop the first wave of offensive by the Hou Jin army. The remaining generals were on standby at any time to act as a reserve team.

Li Yuanqing himself did not join the battle immediately, but carefully observed the formation of the Jin army from a safe place on the side of the city wall.

Most of these heavily armored soldiers were Han Chinese, and their shouts and curses were no different from those of the Ming army.

But their skeletons were real slaves, usually a dozen or twenty people, forming a center around a real slave, frantically attacking the defense line at the top of the Ming army's city.

It was also the first time for Li Yuanqing to observe real Jiu slaves at such a close distance.

None of them are tall, no more than 1.7 meters at most, but they are all majestic, almost all bow-legged, with broad shoulders and thick backs. Their little money braids are like rat tails, emerging from their armors.

Brave.

The main force on Chen Zhong's side was mobilized. Relying on the advantages of numbers and geographical location, he was not at a disadvantage for a while, and was entangled with these heavily armored soldiers of the Later Jin Army on the line of the city wall.

But Li Yuanqing's side had a small number of people and a new army. It didn't take long for them to be unable to withstand it, and there were many casualties.

Li Yuanqing did not dare to neglect, so he called Shang Laoliu and Shunzi, and quickly mobilized three general forces to attack.

This time, Li Yuanqing no longer avoided fighting. He wanted to see with his own eyes and feel for himself how strong the combat effectiveness of these post-Jin armies, especially the Zhennu, was.

"Brothers, hold on. Your Excellency is bringing reinforcements. Kill all the Tatars."

Guan Canghai was already covered in blood at this time. There were several holes in the armor on his body, and blood kept pouring out from the wounds.

He was already exhausted, but the arrival of Li Yuanqing and the new force gave him infinite courage, and he struggled to fight against the Hou Jin army.

Not long after, Li Yuanqing had already rushed to the front of the battle formation and came to Guan Canghai's side, "General Officer, please take your sons and men to retreat first, and leave this to me."

Li Yuanqing shouted angrily at Guan Canghai.

"Sir, I will not retire from my humble position. I will fight to the bitter end with Jian Nu." Guan Canghai was already furious and was not willing to take even a step back.

Li Yuanqing also became angry and loudly shouted to the soldiers around him: "What a bastard, tie up this bastard."

The soldiers around him did not dare to neglect and hurriedly drove back in Guancanghai.

How could Guan Canghai not know Li Yuanqing's caring feelings? He couldn't stop crying and said, "Sir, there are so many sons, so many sons... Sir, you have to avenge them..."

Li Yuanqing ignored Guan Canghai and loudly ordered the new troops around him to move forward.

Soon, Guan Canghai's troops retreated one after another, leaving a lot of space on the top of the city, and Li Yuanqing's troops' formation was temporarily cleared.

At this time, a real slave who was as tall as an iron tower had already noticed Li Yuanqing here. He smiled sinisterly, led a dozen strong men with Han army flags, crossed the city, and quickly came to Li Yuanqing's side.

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Chapter completed!