Chapter 610 Making dumplings!
Looking towards the quiet village at the foot of the mountain, Dong Cheng instructed his men:

“You take 500 people to the village to find some funeral supplies. Be sure to block the news. We cannot let the Fengwu Army know that we are here now. The rest of the army will rest. We will attack Zhuo County in an hour…”

"Yes!"

Under Dong Cheng's order, the Anqing Army immediately took action. Xiaoliu Village at the foot of the mountain was just an ordinary small village with only more than a hundred households. Most of the people in the town made a living by farming or hunting and collecting herbs in the mountains. They had no protection from the Fengwu Army garrison, so when faced with these ferocious Anqing troops, they were completely helpless and could only let them do whatever they wanted.

Soon, the soldiers of the Anqing Army found more than a dozen coffins amid the cries and pleas of the elderly in the village. Seeing the atrocities committed by the Anqing Army, the young people in the village were filled with passion and wanted to sneak out to ask for help from the Fengwu Army. However, the village had been surrounded by the Anqing Army. Before they could run far, they were caught by the soldiers of the Anqing Army. The Anqing Army was not polite and executed them all to make an example of them, filling the originally quiet and peaceful village with blood, tears and hatred!

Thanks to the hard work of the craftsmen, fifteen fire coffins were completed in just half an hour. Seeing this, Dong Cheng's expression became extremely serious. Thirty miles away from Zhuo County was already their limit. If they went forward, they would inevitably encounter the patrol troops of the Fengwu Army, so they had to charge from here. It would be best to rush into the city and kill Ye Mingsheng before the Fengwu Army reacted!
Dong Cheng looked around at the Anqing soldiers around him. Although they had rested for about an hour, the long-distance raid for nearly ten days still made these Anqing soldiers look exhausted...

Although he really wanted to let his soldiers rest for a while, Dong Cheng knew that he could not do so. Now his 5,000 men were in the heart of Fengwu Army and were at risk of being exposed at any time. Once their position was exposed and the enemy in Zhuo County became alert and could not complete the combat mission as expected, his 5,000 men would be in danger of being wiped out. So for him and these 5,000 soldiers, time was their life. Success or failure depended on this last moment!
Thinking of this, Dong Cheng took a deep breath and yelled:
"Brothers, there are still thirty miles to go! Zhuo County is right in front of us!"

"The Marquis said that whoever kills Ye Mingsheng will be promoted five levels, rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver, and one hundred beauties!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Anqing soldiers, who had been exhausted from several days of raiding, instantly regained their spirits under the temptation of power, wealth, and beauty. The eyes of the 5,000 Anqing soldiers were all flashing with greed, and they fantasized about owning it all!
Seeing the morale of the army increase, Dong Cheng nodded with satisfaction, then jumped on his horse, drew his sword, swung it fiercely in the direction of Zhuo County, and shouted:

"Target Zhuo County, and the entire army will attack! We will not turn back until Ye Mingsheng is killed!"

Under the influence of this chicken blood, thousands of Anqing soldiers who fantasized about chopping off Ye Mingsheng's head set out on their journey with high morale.

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Zhuo County, Governor's Office
"Marshal, I think we should let General Zhang's Seventh Division enter Zhuo County!" He Jingyun advised Ye Mingsheng with difficulty:

Ye Mingsheng, who was playing chess with Ye Kui, heard this and first used his "rook" to eat up Ye Kui's "horse" and then asked He Jingyun with a smile:

"General He, are you afraid?"

Originally Ye Mingsheng was just joking, but he didn't expect that He Jingyun actually nodded and said very seriously:

"General, according to the plan of our subordinates, there are only 2,000 people guarding Zhuo County. It is really risky! The son of a rich man cannot sit idle. General, the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of hundreds of thousands of soldiers of Fengwu Army depend on you. If you make any mistakes, I, He Jingyun, will be the sinner of Fengwu Army, and I will never be forgiven even if I die!"

As soon as He Jingyun finished speaking, he was about to kneel down to Ye Mingsheng. Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng helped him up and said soothingly:

"General He, don't worry! I have everything planned out! The person who will kill Ye Mingsheng hasn't been born yet! Zhang Meng and his Seventh Division are lying in ambush within a ten-mile radius outside the city. At worst, General He, if you see the situation is not good, just give the signal and let Zhang Meng lead his troops to encircle the city!"

He Jingyun wanted to say something more after listening to Ye Mingsheng's words, but at this moment the messenger came hurriedly and reported:

"Report to the commander-in-chief! Five thousand Anqing cavalry are coming from the east!"

Ye Mingsheng clapped his hands and laughed when he heard this:

"Well done!"

After saying this, Ye Mingsheng smiled and said to He Jingyun:

"General He, get ready. I have prepared a celebration banquet in the city! I am waiting for your return with victory!"

Seeing that the enemy had already arrived, He Jingyun had no time to make adjustments. Although he was still a little worried about Zhuo County's defense, he had no choice but to go ahead at this time. He immediately bowed and nodded to Ye Mingsheng and said:
“I will live up to your trust…”

Ever since learning that the Anqing army was planning to launch a surprise attack on Zhuo County via Qi and Lu, He Jingyun, the Chief of Staff, has been very nervous because Zhuo County's defense capabilities were severely lacking.

Fortunately, Zhang Meng of the Seventh Division also understood the importance of the matter. After receiving Ye Mingsheng's order, he immediately left a small number of people to guard the baggage train where it was, and the remaining main force of more than 10,000 soldiers and horses immediately marched back in a hurry to protect Ye Mingsheng's safety. They finally arrived at the vicinity of Zhuo County last night.

However, Ye Mingsheng and He Jingyun had obvious differences on how to use Zhang Meng's Seventh Division of more than 10,000 troops. Ye Mingsheng felt that the primary task was to capture all the 5,000 cavalrymen who had come for the surprise attack, so he had to deploy Zhang Meng's more than 10,000 troops on the periphery and then swallow them up like dumplings.

He Jingyun believed that Ye Mingsheng's safety was the most important thing, and only then should they consider how to completely annihilate the 5,000 invading enemies. Therefore, he advocated transferring half of Zhang Meng's Seventh Division into Zhuo County first to strengthen Zhuo County's defense, and then slowly strangle the 5,000 Anqing troops.

Although He Jingyun insisted on his own idea, Ye Mingsheng believed that the current defense measures of Zhuo County were sufficient, so he made the decision directly. He Jingyun still felt that Ye Mingsheng's decision was too risky. The only one thousand guards battalion in Zhuo County had real combat capability, and the combat effectiveness of the remaining two thousand patrol officers, local militia, and militia was really average!
Even though their side only needed to hold out for a few hours to defend the city, He Jingyun was still a little frightened about putting Ye Mingsheng in such danger, fearing that something might go wrong!
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"Kill!" "Capture Ye Mingsheng alive!

"Kill the traitors!"

Amid deafening shouts and cries of killing, Dong Cheng led his soldiers to the city of Zhuo County. Although they had fought with all their might, by the time they arrived at the city gate, the city had slowly closed. Although he was a little disappointed, Dong Cheng suddenly sneered when he saw the panicking soldiers on the city wall. He waved his hand and the well-trained Anqing cavalry behind him immediately divided into groups and fired a rain of arrows at the city wall of Zhuo County.

Under the protection of the rain of arrows from the Anqing cavalry, fifteen coffins were pulled by horses and slowly came towards the city wall of Zhuo County. Seeing this scene, the battle-hardened He Jingyun on the city wall was a little confused. He had been in the army for decades and had seen people carrying coffins to the battlefield, but that was mainly to demonstrate the determination to face death fearlessly. What did the other party want to do by pulling the coffins towards the city wall?

Although he didn’t know what the other party wanted to do, based on his experience, He Jingyun immediately felt that these coffins were not good things. He immediately organized the musketeers and tiger squat gunners to shoot at the coffins. However, because the surface of the coffins was covered with a layer of sand and gravel, the bullets hitting the sand and gravel had no good effect. Just as the coffins were getting closer and closer to the wall of Zhuo County, He Jingyun began to feel a little uneasy, and a spark from the bullet hitting the sand and gravel finally ignited the gunpowder in the coffins···························
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The explosion of hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder in the coffin was extremely powerful, directly knocking over a dozen Anqing cavalrymen around them to the ground. When He Jingyun on the city wall saw this scene, he was stunned at first, then he instantly understood what these Anqing soldiers were up to, and immediately shouted and gave orders:
"Shoot those coffins with rockets! Quick!"

Following He Jingyun's order, the Fengwu Army soldiers on the city wall immediately dipped their arrows in flaming oil and shot them at the coffins being pulled by the Anqing Army.

Even though these coffins were covered with a layer of sand and gravel, it was difficult to block all of them when dozens of rockets were fired at them. The gunpowder in seven or eight coffins was ignited and exploded, causing heavy casualties among the Anqing soldiers who were escorting these coffins.

Seeing the miserable state of his soldiers, Dong Cheng's face turned blue with anger, but he had no good solution as things had come to this point. The only thing he could do was to command his subordinates to strengthen the cavalry and archery to suppress the rockets fired from the top of the city wall, and the rest of the troops would use giant shields to cover the movement of the coffins.

Although He Jingyun saw through the enemy's plot to blow up the city wall, the troops in the city were indeed insufficient, and the firepower on the top of the city was suppressed by the enemy's cavalry archers...
Seeing that the coffins of the Anqing army were getting closer and closer to the city wall, it was inevitable that the wall would be blown up. He Jingyun made a prompt decision and ordered his men in a stern voice:

"Send a flare!"

Upon hearing He Jingyun's order, the Fengwu Army soldiers in the city immediately lit the prepared fireworks. However, as the three red fireworks soared into the sky, several roars were heard from the city wall. Although most of the fire coffins had been blown up under the command of He Jingyun, there were still three fire coffins that were pulled under the city wall under the cover of the Anqing Army's cavalry and archers and successfully ignited by the Anqing Army soldiers.

Although this fire coffin is large, black and crude, and has no technical content, it must be said that the power of the hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder placed in the coffin cannot be underestimated. It directly blew three large holes in the city wall of Zhuo County, which were large enough for several people to pass through.

Seeing the gap in the city wall, He Jingyun was shocked and angry. He immediately shouted:

"Where is the Guard Battalion?"

Upon hearing He Jingyun's call, Ye Kui, who was temporarily under He Jingyun's command, immediately stood up and clasped his hands and shouted:

"The Royal Guard Battalion is here! Please give us your orders, Commander-in-Chief!"

He Jingyun didn't waste any words and directly ordered:

"I order you to lead the charge and block the gap. Do not let any of the Anqing troops enter the city! The rest of you stay at your respective positions and fight bravely. Anyone who leaves his position without permission will be killed!"

"Yes!"

Ye Kui nodded heavily and took the order and left. As the personal guard battalion that protects Ye Mingsheng’s safety, they are not only the battle-hardened elites in the Fengwu Army, but also the loyal defenders of the Fengwu Army regime. They are always ready to die for Ye Mingsheng, and now is the time to show their bravery and loyalty...
It happened so fast. Seeing that three holes were finally blown in the wall of Zhuo County, Dong Cheng immediately showed a ferocious smile on his face. He seemed to have seen the dream scene of Ye Mingsheng being captured alive and kneeling down to beg for mercy. Thinking of this, Dong Cheng's face undoubtedly became more intense. Without any hesitation, he pointed at Zhuo County and shouted:
"Brothers! Remember, whoever kills Ye Mingsheng will be promoted five levels, rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver, and given 100 beauties! All troops, attack and kill him!"

Under the temptation of power, money and beauty, the soldiers of Anqing Army forgot the horror of death. They were blood-thirsty and rushed to the gap in the city wall, fearing that they would fall behind others and have Ye Mingsheng's head cut off by others first!

At this time, Ye Mingsheng, who was coveted by the 5,000 Anqing soldiers, also appeared on the wall of Zhuo County in military uniform. Seeing Ye Mingsheng's appearance, He Jingyun, who was directing the battle, immediately ran over and advised:
"Marshal, the front line is in danger! You must retreat to the back quickly. General Zhang's ambushing troops are approaching, and these people can't escape!"

Patting He Jingyun on the shoulder with a smile, Ye Mingsheng drew his sword and pointed it to the sky and said loudly:

"Soldiers of the Fengwu Army! Ye is with you! Kill this gang of thieves and the whole army will be rewarded!"

Because of the Fengwu Army's rapid progress in the war and the continuous propaganda within the Fengwu Army, Ye Mingsheng's image became more and more glorious and he even began to be deified.

Therefore, when the Fengwu troops who were struggling on various fronts saw Ye Mingsheng appear, they were immediately surprised and their morale was boosted. They shouted "Long live Ye Mingsheng" and forced the Anqing troops that had already entered the city out...
(End of this chapter)