Hu Laofi, the team leader, shouted loudly: "Everyone give way, let us go first."
Ten people behind him were carrying the cannon, and others were carrying ammunition boxes and following the cannon. These weapons are very heavy, and those who can serve as artillerymen are strong men. Otherwise, you don't even need to move the artillery, you will be exhausted just by moving the shells.
Lin Hu came out to greet them excitedly, "You guys came just in time. We sent grenades three times and they were all shot down. The casualties in hand-to-hand combat were too great."
Hu Laofi said: "I brought the order from my superiors, asking you to withdraw and rest. Except for the fourth and fifth battalions of your regiment, which were transferred to guard the surrounding beacons and mountain passes, the remaining three battalions and the regiment headquarters have already We have been fighting for two days, so go down immediately to rest. The fifth regiment will come up to take over the defense."
Lin Hu looked at Hong Dahai, commander of the third battalion of the fifth regiment, who was coming from behind. He gave a military salute and said, "This section of the city wall will be left to you. I feel that the eight business groups are planning a major counterattack. You want to Be particularly vigilant.”
"Don't worry, we will give them a big one today."
After the handover, the troops of the first regiment went down to the city to rest. They were extremely exhausted. They had basically had no sleep for the past two days and two nights, and many of them had injuries all over their bodies. There was an urgent need to go down town to find a doctor to tend to the wound.
At this point, the ramp is not complete and will take another day before it can be used there. Now they had to climb down using a rope ladder and send the wounded down using pulleys.
After two days of fighting, the business group was also anxious. Now it's obvious. These Mongolians came here just for the pot. They have no intention of grabbing a vote and leaving.
There was a fierce debate among the eight big shopkeepers, and some said they would break out and escape to Xuanfu. There are nominally 70,000 soldiers in Xuanfu Town, but in fact they are only more than 30,000. It can hit more than 10,000.
Fan Yongdou sneered and said: "Break through, can you break out? So far, they have only occupied a section of the city wall. How many people are there? Two thousand people were forced to death. They fought for two days and two nights. Five or six thousand people were killed or injured. Is there any progress? There are more than 3,000 cavalry outside the East Gate and South Gate each. Can you outrun the horse's legs with two legs?"
Wang Dayu was no longer stingy at this time. Staring at a pair of bloodshot bull's eyes, breathing heavily, he shouted loudly: "What should we do? Sit back and wait for death. If we continue to fight like this, they will occupy all four walls of the city, and they will catch a turtle in a urn."
Jin Liangyu asked back: "Our family's assets are basically here. How can we escape in this situation? Are you willing to break out of the encirclement?"
The others suddenly sat down on their stools like deflated rubber balls.
Although these eight business groups cannot represent Shanxi merchants. But they are the most successful and largest among Shanxi merchants. Their sales revenue accounts for the vast majority of the entire Shanxi merchant group.
The organizational form they adopted was similar to that of later joint-stock enterprises. Each business group is established by one or several original shareholders. Over the past two hundred years, the equity has become quite dispersed. Because they, these shareholder families, have many wives and concubines because of their wealth, and they have many children.
After two hundred years of development, the shares have also been diluted. Major matters of the business group require a family meeting. Hundreds of family members with equity stakes of varying sizes vote to make decisions at the meeting chaired by the patriarch.
At the same time, the clan leader also presides over the annual Spring Festival ancestor worship activities. The shopkeepers of the business group should report one year's work to the shareholders in the ancestral hall after the ancestor worship meeting. At the same time, dividends are distributed.
Because there were too many shareholders, apart from the properties obtained through dividends distributed throughout Shanxi, the main properties of the business group were in Zhangjiakou. This time, if you run away like this, you will lose all your capital. They have no way to answer to their shareholders and family.
Huang Yunfa is the oldest, already over sixty. He put the bowl of tea on the table and said slowly: "Some of you are the direct descendants of your respective clans, and some of them have been shopkeepers for generations to serve the boss. The business of this family is our lifeblood. More than two hundred years of hard work. The accumulation, are you willing to give up?"
Everyone was a little red-eyed for a moment. What the merchant couldn't bear the most was to take away their money. This time it’s still the same.
Tian Shenglan said: "Let's fight. If the business group is gone, what's the use of these private soldiers. Now that the people's hearts are still there, work hard and fight. If the people's hearts are gone and we see that we can't do it, then we can fight as hard as we want. No more."
Liang Jiabin said: "Then everyone should dig out their wealth. It's time, don't hide it. If we take back the north wall and hold on with all our strength, we can still hold on until reinforcements arrive. If we can't hold it, just wait and go." Let’s go graze the sheep on the grassland.”
Everyone fell silent. This battle would determine the life and death of Zhangjiakou. If defeated. Eight giant merchants will come to an end.
Fan Yongdou said: "Distribute all the weapons and tell everyone that as long as a Tatar is beheaded, he will be given a share. From associate to owner."
Everyone took a breath of air-conditioning. The Fan family was so powerful that they dared to impose such conditions.
The three battalions of the Fifth Regiment had just finished setting up their defenses when they saw from the city wall that business groups in the city gathered on a large scale. An Sanxi also watched the activities in the city from the watchtower.
"Oh, they are really anxious. Anyone who is gasping for breath will be given weapons." An Sanxi sneered.
"Okay, these bastards have been in Mongolia for more than two hundred years. Their ancestors have been doing this business for generations. If they hadn't gotten involved with Jiannu this time and offended the master, they wouldn't have been so quick. It’s over.” Wang Hao said from the side.
"My master is attacking them this time, mainly because they are in Zhangjiakou, which is equivalent to controlling an important node of our transportation line. These bastards also collude with slaves. This master is sending troops to Guihua City. The soldiers are in danger and the battle is fierce. We cannot leave our back to them. . Therefore, the transportation line must be cleaned up, otherwise, the 20,000 people will cause trouble. The Beijing camp ahead will be in danger." Che Xiaolin also said.
An Sanxi nodded and said: "What you said is all right, but the most important thing is that I plan to reshuffle the cards and integrate the overland foreign trade. These people are a stumbling block for further exploration of the northwest. Get rid of them before we can re-plan. Trade Routes and Wealth Distribution in the Northwest.”
Before dark, the slope leading to the north wall was finally repaired.
An Sanxi transferred the fourth regiment outside the west city wall into the city wall. At this time, there were already two regiments with a total of 7,200 infantry on the north wall, and an artillery battalion of 500 people.
In addition to leaving two battalions, An Sanxi set up machine gun positions outside the east gate and south gate respectively. The other infantrymen were all preparing to enter the city and fight in the streets.
When the business group distributed weapons and ammunition wantonly and armed all the people who could be armed. An Sanxi launched an attack in advance.
On the east and west walls, three camel cannons were set up on each side. It’s not that we don’t want to set up more. But this is the only part of the city wall.
Zheng Decai, with his battalion of musketeers, was ready to attack. He waited for artillery fire to be prepared before launching an attack.
As the commander of the artillery squadron, Hu Laofi was hanging a cigarette. Shi Shiran came over and asked: "How are you preparing? Are there enough ammunition?"
Zheng Decai also looked at Hutu, the artillery squad leader who commanded the three cannons.
"Report to the captain, there is enough ammunition, 55 rounds of solid bullets and 45 rounds of shotshells."
Hu Laofi nodded, then turned to look at the night sky behind him. Said: "Wait, the military commander is sending a signal flare, and you can fire immediately. Use solid bullets to clean up the tattered barricades on the city wall."
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