At 1:00 on April 25th, at the Tang Army camp outside Shouzhou City, several rockets suddenly hit several camps in the northeast corner. Thick smoke suddenly billowed up, sparks flew everywhere, and a few rockets were placed in the surrounding open space. The rows of wood were quickly devoured, sawdust flying when the flames rose, and the raging fire spread out of control.
None of the remaining food and baggage nearby was spared. "Kacha! Kacha!" Part of the company's arrow tower fence had been baked to the point of crumbling, collapsing with a "bang".
The soldiers of the Tang Army in the camp were running back and forth in panic, but they had no intention of putting out the fire. They seemed to be frightened by the horrific scene around them, and they scattered and retreated.
During the moment of chaos, the sound of horns suddenly sounded faintly in the dense forest on the east side, followed by a loud shout of killing, followed by a burst of rapid horse hooves, followed by the sound of intensive exchange of weapons. .
Not far away, on top of Shouzhou City, the rebel soldiers had already been attracted by the soaring flames in the distance. They looked at the tragedy in the Tang army's camp, especially those behemoths that attracted special attention. Some of the soldiers had burned to ashes. They suddenly started shouting with gloating, as if after tonight, the victory they had longed for was about to be achieved.
Li Jinquan, who was having a drink in the government office, heard that the soldiers had come to report, and immediately led the generals to the east wall. Seeing that the situation in the Tang Army's camp was obviously in dire straits, Li Jinquan trembled with excitement, and then said with a ferocious smile: "What a bullshit general! The defense of this camp is so vulnerable!"
Ming Hanrong hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "Commander! The Tang army has burned the whole camp and is on the verge of defeat. The Baoxin army will be fighting fiercely at this time. At this great opportunity, our army should take advantage of the situation to leave the city and attack the Tang army's camp. The Tang army will definitely be defeated. It’s hard to take care of!”
The generals behind him also stepped forward to ask for a fight, but Li Jinquan shook his head disapprovingly and said: "No! This continuous sea of fire is so fierce, how can you rush in? What's more, the Tang army is still guarding the main road of Bagong Mountain, and now the camp has been destroyed. , will retreat soon, our army only needs to hold on to the city and sit back and watch the Tang army's defeat!"
A lieutenant general said eagerly: "Commander! But after all, the Tang army has strong soldiers and horses, and there are 20,000 to 30,000 people. Now that the Baoxin Army has succeeded, the casualties must be heavy! Please also ask the commander to send a force to the south gate quickly. Go along the dense forest to support Governor Li's retreat! Otherwise——"
"How else?"
Li Jinquan shouted sharply: "Don't you want to disobey my commander's orders? It's dark now, and the battle situation in the dense forest is unknown! How can you open the city gate at will? Don't forget that the Tang Army led his troops to surprise attack from the dense forest that day! Moreover, what a hero Li Governor is, and all the Baoxin troops are brave. Even if the Tang army is larger in number, they will definitely be able to kill the enemy in a deadly battle! We will wait until daybreak to discuss the response! "
The lieutenant general was startled, and then responded in a low voice: "General, I will obey your order!"
Ming Hanrong on the side seemed to understand Li Jinquan's intention. His eyes suddenly turned to the dense forest in the distance, but there was a faint uneasiness in his heart.
...
Outside the south gate of Shouzhou, groups of soldiers with tattered armor, either on horseback or on foot, rushed out of the dense forest in a hurry. Wails and commotions accompanied them. Countless heads of people moved forward in the darkness, and soon they Flooded to the city.
This sudden noise caused the defenders on the city to be alert for a while. Until they could vaguely recognize the Baoxin Army flag among the chaotic team below through the faint firelight on the city, a guard shouted loudly: " Where is Governor Li? The commander-in-chief has given orders, but the situation at night is unclear. Please ask the brothers of the Baoxin Army to rest outside the city for the time being! We can only enter the city at dawn!"
However, the burly figure of Li Song who was expected did not appear in time. Suddenly, torches gradually lit up in the ranks below the city. The soldiers instantly formed a neat queue, and then shouted in unison strangely: "Fire!" Get up! Get up the fire!..."
The guard general was suddenly frightened when he heard the inexplicable and sonorous shouts. He stared at the cold and determined faces under the city, suddenly noticed something, and shouted out loud: "What on earth are you -"
Suddenly, a cold light struck from behind and passed straight through his chest, choking the guard's voice at the bottom of his throat.
The guard lowered his head in horror and stared at the bleeding blade at his heart. Before he died, he vaguely heard another low voice: "Fire."
"Above Heaven"
Then there was a burst of fierce screams on the top of the city, which soon stopped abruptly, and the city suddenly became quiet.
A moment later, dozens of corpses covered in blood were thrown out one after another. The moment their limbs hit the ground, there was a frightening crunching sound as blood overflowed. Then, the military flag of the Tang Dynasty, which had not been seen for several days, was instantly erected on the tower. , a group of soldiers covered in blood turned around and descended from the city wall. With a muffled "squeak" sound, the suspension bridge was slowly lowered, and the heavy city gate gradually opened.
"Enter the city!"
A clear military order suddenly sounded, and the soldiers under the city responded in unison, waving their swords and swarming in like a tide. Not long after, Li Song's Baoxin Army controlled the entire deep southern city wall without any suspense.
Almost at the same time, another large group of people suddenly emerged from the dense forest in the south of the city. Wherever the sound of hooves passed by, countless earth and rocks flew rapidly in all directions. A strong white horse with a tall head was particularly conspicuous in the military formation. Li Yuan was riding ahead with a spear in hand. The golden armor on his body shone brightly against the firelight.
The army quickly set foot under the city and immediately formed a military formation on the open ground. The cavalry was in the lead, with dense infantry in the middle, and crossbowmen in the rear. Flags were flying, and the horses were neighing. It looked like a fierce battle was breaking out.
In the past few days, Shouzhou City has been like a sharp nail, deeply wedged into the hearts of the soldiers of the Tang Army. The pleasure of killing the enemy, the desire to make achievements, and the easy victory seem to be right in front of them.
The eyes of the soldiers behind him all opened in anger, and Li Yuan took a deep breath. Although Lin Sichang did not control the fire properly and burned it so fiercely that the camp was completely destroyed and the way back was cut off, at the same time he woke up. The flames in the hearts of the soldiers were set aside to die.
At this moment, at a glance, the dark and gloomy city gate is like an abyss swallowing desire, which is intimidating but impossible to stop. He raised his eyes and stared at the Tang Dynasty military flag flying on the tower, and then issued orders to the generals one by one:
"Marshal Liu, please lead the Wuchang Army directly to the rebel camp in the south of the city!"
"Zhou Tinggou, I order you to lead the Qing Huai army on the left side through Central Street and seize the west gate quickly!"
"Lin Sichang, I order you to lead the right wing of the Qing Huai army to attack the east gate!"
All the generals responded in unison: "Yes!"
"Soldiers! It's time to kill the enemy and make achievements! All the rebels we encounter tonight will be killed without mercy! Follow my commander to conquer Shouzhou!"
Li Yuan kicked the horse's belly violently, and the white horse jumped up instantly. The galloping horses behind him, the roaring soldiers, and the thousands of troops roared and charged like a torrent.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Destroy Shouzhou!"
"Destroy Shouzhou!"
Li Yuan fought bravely to take the lead, but Liu Renzhan's sword was still young. The two commanders personally went into battle, leading the cavalry and galloping in first. The blood of all the soldiers of the Tang Army boiled instantly, and they howled with excitement when they saw this. Their eyes revealed a fanatical light, and the weapons in their hands were swung faster and faster, and they pierced toward the open city gate fiercely.
The rumbling torrent of soldiers and horses of the Tang Dynasty soon caused a large number of houses and streets in the city to tremble unnaturally. Rebel soldiers ran around in the streets, and the people in the city cried and shouted. A chaotic fight ensued in the streets. The alley spread out, thick smoke billowing everywhere, and countless houses in the ruins were looted by the rebels.
This stubborn Huainan town finally ushered in the baptism of sword and fire.
