nucmednet Chapter 396: Troops Arrive at Yanzhou
Chapter 396: Troops Arrive at Yanzhou
Dingzhou began to recruit 30,000 to 40,000 auxiliary troops in order to cope with this war that required strong logistical support.
Just the day after the discussion with Li Xin, Ma Biao from Luancheng led the 2nd and 3rd Regiments, plus Chen Qian's special operations regiment, and set out in a mighty force to assemble in Dingzhou camp.
Ma Biao's two regiments were all equipped with 120 large-caliber mortars, and the propellant used was the most advanced technology, with extremely high accuracy.
Chen Qian's regiment has small-caliber Type 60 mortars that can be fired by a single soldier. It also has a sniper platoon and an RPG rocket platoon, which are mainly responsible for completing assassination missions. Night combat raids are their strong point.
General Zhu Yongzhen of the Pingnu camp in Dingzhou finally replenished his troops after a long period of rest and recuperation since the losses suffered in the last battle.
This time, he mobilized some personnel and gathered 50,000 people, preparing to lead the troops to Yanzhou to fight.
When Ma Biao arrived, they were still making final preparations.
"Let's rest here for a day and then set off together tomorrow."
Wan Jun, who was responsible for receiving Ma Biao, said that he and Ma Biao knew each other and thought he could keep Ma Biao.
Unexpectedly, Ma Biao decisively refused, saying, "Our army has already been delayed for a day by setting off first. If we delay any further, we don't know what will become of Yanzhou."
It was indeed as Ma Biao said, after five days of fighting, the situation in Yanzhou was extremely tragic.
Since the fall of the north gate, a bloody battle broke out in Yanzhou City.
Murong Mang held the north gate tightly. The troops that rushed in retreated several times, with tens of thousands of casualties, but still failed to attack the core location of Yancheng - the Governor's Mansion.
After Zheng Xiangyi replaced Si Shitong as the governor of Yanzhou, he was unable to mobilize the defenders of Yancheng as freely as Si Shitong.
Xing Shuren monopolized military power and took over all military supplies in Yanzhou during the war, including the patrol troops in the city.
This resulted in Zheng Xiangyi having no choice but to send reinforcements from the governor's office when some places needed assistance.
Faced with the powerful Xianbei army, the palace soldiers were obviously insufficient in combat strength, and without armor and heavy weapons, the number of casualties rose sharply.
The few volunteers who were temporarily recruited fought desperately in the streets and alleys, and only then were they able to delay the Xianbei's offensive.
In addition, the retreating troops led by Liu Xiang were still resisting stubbornly, sometimes gaining the upper hand in battle and sometimes being defeated.
The bullets in the rifles had long been used up, and the soldiers had no choice but to pick up machetes and engage in hand-to-hand combat.
In the end, it was Zhang Xiangyang who gathered the riflemen to reinforce, which turned the situation around.
Today is the early morning of the seventh day, and the East Gate is still struggling to hold on under the bombardment.
In fact, Yu Wenhua had already moved his large forces to the north gate, attempting to break through the city today and capture Yanzhou City in one fell swoop.
"General, there are 200,000 soldiers trapped in the city, and the civilians have all fled through the south gate. We have no backup."
Liu Xiang said while wiping the blood from his bandaged forehead and panting.
"We only have the cannons at the east gate that are still usable. The rest of the guns and cannons are no longer usable. Now that everyone is competing in numbers, we shouldn't let the civilians leave the city."
Xing Shuren looked at Zheng Xiangyi with dissatisfaction, his eyes full of accusations.
Zheng Xiangyi knew very well that as a governor, he had to consider the safety of the people first.
He knew that his decision was not wrong, and in the face of Xing Shuren's accusations, he chose to remain silent.
Liu Xiang knew that Zheng Xiangyi had been staying in the government office for the past two days, regardless of life or death, and had fought alongside them without making any excuse to evacuate.
Liu Xiang was very grateful for Zheng Xiangyi's actions.
Seeing Xing Shuren alluding to Zheng Xiangyi, Liu Xiang wanted to defend Zheng Xiangyi, but Zheng Xiangyi's eyes hinted at him, so he had to shut up and prepare to lead his troops to war.
"Liu Xiang, you have failed in command several times. You should give up your military power. Today, Hong Zhong will take over your command."
Xing Shuren said that the Hong Zhong he mentioned was a general in the army who had been very close to him recently.
Liu Xiang never expected that he would be replaced at this critical moment.
Military orders were as firm as a mountain, and since the general had spoken, Liu Xiang had no choice but to obey. So, he took off his badge and handed it to Hong Zhong behind him.
"The enemy has begun its attack!"
A soldier hurried over and reported to Xing Shuren.
"Everyone prepare, go ahead and block the enemy!"
Xing Shuren shouted loudly, and Hong Zhong led his men to rush forward without hesitation.
Liu Xiang raised his sword and prepared to charge into battle, but was stopped by Zheng Xiangyi.
"General Liu, you haven't recovered from your injuries yesterday. Go down and rest for a while. Only after you recover can you continue fighting."
Zheng Xiangyi said.
Liu Xiang was unhappy about being held back, but when he saw that it was Zheng Xiangyi who did it, he put down the knife in his hand, stood beside him, and looked at the soldiers fighting bravely in front of them.
Xing Shuren commanded his soldiers to move forward to fill the gaps, and the streets of Yanzhou instantly turned into a bloody battlefield.
Yesterday there were occasional artillery bombardments, but today there is basically only the sound of swords and guns clashing.
Ma Biao's troops approached Yanzhou last night. Due to the unclear situation, they could only set up camp at the foot of a mountain five miles away from Yanzhou.
They set out early in the morning, and when they arrived at the west gate, they found it closed.
"Go and see what's going on."
Ma Biao ordered Cao Yibao to send someone to check.
Chen Qian also whispered a few words to Zhu Biao beside him, and then saw Zhu Biao quickly disappear into the crowd.
After a while, the person who went to the west gate to inquire about the situation returned with a report: "Report, the guards at the west gate said that the north gate has been lost, and the fighting is still going on at the east gate. The west and south gates are now closed, and no gates can be opened without orders."
"Didn't you say we were here for support?"
Ma Biao asked loudly, his face full of anxiety.
"Yes, they said they would send someone to pass on the message."
Chen Qian stepped forward and said to Ma Biao, "Since the North Gate has been lost, we shouldn't wait here for the gate to be opened and reinforcements to come in. Street fighting isn't our advantage. We should take a detour to the North Gate."
Ma Biao looked at the weapons behind him and suddenly realized: "Yes, we are good at fighting in the wild, why do we have to enter the city?"
So he ordered Ma Damao, "Third Regiment Commander, you will go to the north gate with the Second Regiment Commander, find a suitable position, and bombard it with the 120 first."
"Yes!" Ma Damu stood at attention, saluted, turned around and left quickly with his men.
Cao Yibao received the order from the messenger and moved forward with Ma Damao's team.
Seeing the troops begin to move, Chen Qian stepped forward and said to Ma Biao, "Commander Ma, we are an independent unit. Our fighting style may not be suitable for fighting in the wild. We still need to climb the city wall, pass through the west gate wall, and block the north gate."
Ma Biao certainly knew the importance of Chen Qian's troops. Before he set off, Zhao Sheng had instructed him to protect this team at all costs, as he would have to rely on them for special operations in the future.
"Okay, you can act independently, but you must protect yourself."
Ma Biao said affectionately, his eyes full of concern.
At this time, Zhu Biao also rode over from the front and whispered a few words in Chen Qian's ear.
Chen Qian nodded and agreed to Zhu Biao's request.
At this time, Zhu Biao led more than a hundred people and headed towards the north gate.