"Loot civilians and bring about your own destruction."
Outside Shimabara Castle, looking at the burned-out castle town, Xia Guolai's instructor captain Yuan Shengsheng was very unhappy.
After being scolded by him, Amakusa Tokisada felt a little embarrassed and tried her best to explain.
"Everyone has not had enough to eat for a long time and has no strength to fight. We must replenish supplies as soon as possible, otherwise, it will be impossible to defeat the feudal soldiers."
Yuan Shengsheng didn't believe his lies at all.
"Remember your identities and think about why you rose up? Isn't it because you were oppressed by the feudal lord and couldn't survive? Obviously these people who have suffered the same fate as you will be your greatest help. But what you do is... Pushing them to the enemy's side."
Being pointed at and scolded by outsiders made everyone in the Shimabara Rebel Army very angry. But after hearing these words, everyone was shocked, and then they understood what was wrong.
"Thank you Mr. Yuan for your advice. We will never dare to make such a mistake again in the future."
Amakusa Tokisada and others knew very well that compared with the powerful feudal lords, their strength was still very weak.
Although some victories have been achieved so far, Matsukura Katsuie has been besieged in Shimabara Castle. But once the daimyo from all over come to support them, they will be at a disadvantage.
The best way is to unite as much strength as possible to have any hope of confronting the powerful shogunate and feudal lords.
But their looting of the castle town turned the people who originally shared their hatred into enemies.
Fortunately, they got guidance from Yuan Shengsheng, otherwise if such mistakes continue, their strength will become weaker and weaker, and eventually they will be wiped out by the powerful shogunate and daimyo.
The Xia Kingdom started out as a rebel, and was very knowledgeable about how to unite forces.
Yuan Shengsheng only gave some pointers, and the situation of the Shimabara rebels changed dramatically.
Amakusa Tokisada immediately ordered that all rebels should no longer harass and harm ordinary civilians, and must protect the property and lives of the people.
After his rectification, the Shimabara rebel army became orderly although they dare not say that Qiu did not commit any crimes.
This alone made the originally panicked people quickly calm down.
Until then, they regarded the Shimabara Rebel Army as their backbone. Many people even took the initiative to run over and join the rebel army.
In just ten days, the size of the rebel army reached more than 50,000.
Seeing their own strength growing rapidly, Amakusa Tokisada and the others were overjoyed.
Fortunately, they got guidance from Xia Guo, otherwise their future end would have been extremely miserable.
This also made Amakusa Tokisada and others more obedient to Xia Guolai's instructors.
During these ten days, Yuan Shengsheng asked Amakusa Tokisada to select some brave and obedient people from the rebel army, and then the instructors taught them how to use muskets and artillery.
Although short-lived, the combat effectiveness of the musketeers and artillery teams was very limited. But the Shimabara Castle in front of us is no longer impregnable.
"Our food can't last long. We must break through Shimabara Castle as soon as possible and seize the Matsukura family's supplies. Only in this way can we maintain enough troops to deal with the coming shogunate army."
"You are absolutely right. We have decided to start attacking the city today."
Amakusa Tokisada also felt that he could not delay any longer.
Only by conquering Shimabara Castle as soon as possible and annihilating the Karatsu clan can we have enough turning space to deal with the encirclement and suppression by the shogunate army.
Under the command of the instructors, the rebels pushed the artillery to the bottom of the city.
The calmness for more than ten consecutive days gave Matsukura Katsuie the illusion.
He thought that his Shimabara Castle was impregnable and that the Shimabara rebels, who had only cold weapons in their hands, could do nothing to him.
As long as we hold on and wait until the shogunate's army comes, these untouchables who dare to commit rebellion will definitely die without a burial place.
"Master, those untouchables...those untouchables brought about the collapse of the country (artillery)."
The retainers rushed over in a hurry and asked Matsukura Katsuie for help.
Matsukura Katsuie, who was drinking and having fun, squirted out on the spot.
"Nonsense, how can those untouchables have a country that collapses?"
He hurriedly ran to the city wall. When he saw the situation outside clearly, he couldn't help but be dumbfounded.
I saw dozens of artillery lined up in the open space below the city, with their black muzzles aimed at the city wall.
Matsukura Katsuie was completely desperate and shouted wildly.
"Let those untouchables come up and defend the city no matter what."
The Matsukura family took action quickly, driving the people in the city to climb the city wall to increase defense.
At this moment, the artillery outside the city finally showed its power.
Amidst the roar of the earth shattering, the city wall began to shake. Pieces of bricks and bluestones flew everywhere, and many walls were blown to pieces.
A large area of the soldiers huddled on the city wall was swept away, their broken arms and limbs flew into the sky, and what fell was dense rain of blood.
Karatsu Fan, whose combat effectiveness was not strong, immediately collapsed.
Everyone began to flee under the city wall, fearing that they would be killed by this terrible artillery fire.
But those common people were waving their weapons and suddenly moved towards the vassal soldiers around them.
The arrogant and ignorant Matsukura Katsuie didn't know where the confidence came from, and he dared to distribute weapons to ordinary people and recruit these people to defend the city.
He simply didn't know that in today's Shimabara territory, all the people could no longer tolerate him.
The result was good, the artillery outside was devastating, and the people inside the city immediately took the opportunity to cause chaos, completely destroying the entire city's defense.
"The Sword Comes"
Amid the heavy sound of artillery, Yuan Shengsheng saw the fighting on the city wall through his telescope.
"Stop firing! Stop firing! Rush up immediately and occupy the city wall."
Amakusa Tokisada was shocked.
"Sir, instructor, it seems too early to attack at this time."
Yuan Shengsheng pointed at the chaos on the city wall.
"There's already trouble inside, so we can't miss this opportunity. It's a great opportunity to take over the city."
Amakusa Tokisada is very careful.
"I'm afraid this is a trick of the enemy."
Yuan Shengsheng laughed angrily.
He thrust the telescope into Amakusa Tokisada's hand.
"Take a good look, there are always dead people on the city wall. Is this an act?"
Amakusa Tokisada raised the telescope curiously, imitating his behavior, and was immediately surprised.
I didn't expect that this little thing in my hand could see such a long distance clearly, as if it were right in front of my eyes.
It was through the telescope that Amakusa Tokisada was finally convinced that the fighting on the city wall was not the enemy's plan.
The horn of attack sounded.
The Shimabara rebels carried long ladders and rolled towards Shimabara Castle like a flood.
Shimabara Castle, which was already in chaos inside, was like the open door of a brothel, completely unable to withstand the rebel attack.
Countless rebels climbed up the city wall and helped the people who were fighting bravely to kill the defenders one by one.
They quickly swept into every corner of the city and opened the city gates to admit more people.
Because of Xia Guo's participation, the Shimabara Uprising was different from the beginning.
Shimabara Castle, which had firmly blocked the rebels, has now changed its flag.
