Chapter 6 Chapter 5: Colors of Arrows and Banners

There was silence on Peony Peak.No one dared to say a word. Gunpowder smoke still lingers outside Pyongyang.Li Rusong sat on the bench, trying to maintain an upright posture, but he knew that he no longer had any confidence in fighting again.His confidence has been completely replaced by fear.At the thought of fighting Japanese soldiers again, he could hardly help vomiting. He can no longer save this nation, the only one he can save is himself.He couldn't help but wanted to shout and stand up, begging Zhuo Wangsun to return home as soon as possible.But Zhuo Wangsun's majesty made him dare not say that.He could only sit, and sit silently.

Zhuo Wangsun's eyes turned to him. "How many people are left in your team?" Li Rusong was startled, he didn't expect Zhuo Wangsun to ask such a question.He shook his head. Zhuo Wangsun: "Go and investigate. Immediately." He turned to Li Rubai, "You too." Li Rusong and Li Rubai didn't know what to do, but they didn't dare to disobey the military order. They went down to check the number of troops.This has at least one advantage, allowing them to temporarily forget the fear of war.When they climbed to the peak again, their expressions somewhat returned to normal.

Li Rusong: "Ten thousand and seventy people." Li Rubai: "Nine thousand eight hundred and forty people." Zhuo Wangsun smiled at Yang Yizhi and said: "It seems that the leader's estimate is more accurate. After all, I am too confident." Yang Yizhi didn't smile, and sighed softly: "It's not the pavilion master's fault, it's God's will." Li Rusong and Li Rubai were confused, not knowing what they were talking about.Zhuo Wangsun's eyes fell on the two big rocks next to the handsome tent. Bei, four thousand and seven hundred.

Wen, five thousand and two hundred. Li Rusong suddenly felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on his face.This is the number of casualties of their two teams!As Zhuo Wangsun said, Yang Yizhi's estimate was more accurate, but Zhuo Wangsun's estimate was slightly less. That's not because Zhuo Wangsun's estimation was inaccurate, but because he was too confident and believed that he could save more on the battlefield. So, what do "Bei" and "Wen" mean? Li Rusong looked at the boulder on the left and the boulder on the right, and suddenly he understood.

The combination of "bei" and "wen" is the word "defeat".It turned out that before they started the war, Zhuo Wangsun and Yang Yizhi had expected that they would fail.Unfortunately, at that time they were too confident and underestimated the enemy.They didn't listen to a word of Yang Yizhi's warning to them. Shen Qi glared at them with an expression of "you believe it now". Li Rusong and Li Rubai didn't even bother to argue.Their army, lying in disarray at the foot of the mountain, was eager to return to the Ming dynasty.They want to tell everyone they see: Never fight Japanese soldiers!

Zhuo Wangsun's gaze focused on Li Rusong's face again. "Now, what are your plans?" Li Rusong trembled.plan?Do you want to fight the Japanese soldiers again?He jumped up with all his strength: "I don't want to fight anymore! I want to go back! We can't beat them!" Zhuo Wangsun said indifferently: "Who says you can't beat it?" Li Rusong forced a smile. Who said this?Who else should I say?They have suffered a crushing defeat today, and their confidence has completely collapsed.He can guarantee that if he brings his soldiers to Pyongyang now, the soldiers will flee before the battle begins.

Not only did they suffer a complete defeat, what was even more frightening was that they didn't even have the courage to fight again. Zhuo Wangsun stood up and opened his hands towards Pyongyang City.The setting sun stretched his shadow infinitely, as if embracing the entire city, his voice penetrated deeply into Li Rusong's soul. "This city will definitely fall within five days!" He turned around abruptly, his gaze burning Li Rusong: "As long as you have the consciousness of death!" Li Rusong felt dizzy for a while. The blood in his heart began to boil.Fear, fear, seemed to be dehydrated and evaporated in an instant, squeezed and evaporated from his body.The long-lost honor and dignity throbbed fiercely in his heart. He couldn't help but let out a long cry, and suddenly pulled out the long knife from his waist, and thrust it forcefully into the rock.

He knelt down in front of this man, clenched his teeth tightly, bleeding from the bite. At that moment, he was no longer afraid.He believes that he will be able to win. There was a long howl, and he felt that his colleagues were stabbing down steel knives vigorously, and their blood was boiling. None of them are afraid anymore.They have the consciousness of death. Zhuo Wangsun slowly withdrew his hand, a smile appeared on his face. The battle of Pyongyang entered the second day. Kato Kiyoshi was sitting in the hall panting. A day has passed since the fierce battle, and his fatigue has not recovered.As long as his eyes are closed, he seems to see that volleying shadow and that shocking sword.

What frightened him especially was the look in his eyes after that sword strike.Those eyes are so cold, even if I just think about it now, I can't help shivering. This made him unable to close his eyes and rest. Kobayakawa Takakage is his good friend. They have learned martial arts and fought together since they were young.Their martial arts are comparable, and they have made great contributions to Lord Guan Bai together.Now, Takakage Kobayakawa has turned into a mass of blood.And he had no intention of avenging his friend at all.He was just glad that the name that person called out was not him.

He panted heavily, feeling the fatigue and fear brought about by the war.His eyes were bloodshot, but the blood in his body seemed to have been drained. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the hall. Kato Kiyomasa stood up abruptly and rushed out the door.He saw balls of fire falling from the sky, like the sky fire flowing down from the sky.The violent explosion made the city weak, and it was still rapidly falling into disrepair.Countless stumps were flying in the sky with screams, like the end of the world. Their city is being bombarded! Kato Kiyomasa frowned, and instinctively picked up the spear.He wanted to fight, but found that no one attacked the city.The enemy, hiding far away, out of range of the musketry, bombarded with cannon.

But how could their cannons blast so far? Kato Kiyomasa hurriedly boarded the tower.He gets it. Dozens of dark cannons are erected on Mudanfeng, condescending, erupting violent tongues of flame.With the height of Mudanfeng, the range of these cannons is as high as several hundred feet, and the entire city of Pyongyang is within their range. Kiyoshi Kato gritted his teeth, blood spattered from his lips. He must conquer this mountain! A smile finally appeared on Li Rusong's face. He was convinced by Zhuo Wangsun's arrangement.indeed.He underestimated the enemy too much, forgetting that cavalry did not actually have an advantage in siege battles.A cavalry who cannot run is equivalent to a stationary target. Although the muskets of the Japanese soldiers were powerful, the Ming Dynasty also had its own magic weapon, that is, the famous red-clothed cannon.After being transformed by the skilled craftsmen of Huayinge, after the warhead was launched, it exploded into a ball of fire, which was extremely powerful.No matter how strong the city wall is, it can be easily torn down, and it can kill the enemy in pieces.With them, the city wall is no longer an effective defense, but a cage, and the soldiers in the city are just targets bound by the cage. Li Rusong really couldn't figure out why he didn't use cannons in the battle yesterday. From a distance, he watched the gate of Pyongyang City open.The Japanese soldiers howled fiercely, and braved the artillery fire to charge Mudanfeng.Their ferocious expressions are so ferocious under the scorching sun.Looking at them, Li Rusong couldn't help but think of the fierce battle yesterday, but the strange thing was that he was no longer afraid, but felt the boiling blood in his body. It's time to wash away the shame! He clenched the two knives in his hand. The Japanese soldiers quickly passed the Pyongyang Plain and climbed to Mudanfeng.This is a low and gentle hillside, and they expected that they would not encounter too strong obstacles.Their task was to climb up the hillside and cut off all the heads of the Ming Dynasty people. They firmly believed that the courage of the people of the Ming Dynasty had been frightened out of the battle yesterday.Ming Dynasty people will be like Korean people, they will flee when they see their faces. Kato Kiyoshi was standing on the tower with a smile on his face. Li Rusong reined in the horse. Standing in front of him in white clothes, the white clothes and white horse looked like a ray of sunshine. The Japanese soldier's face became clearer and clearer, as clear as a sharp pain. He kept in mind what the man in white said just now: Don't pay attention to others, charge forward.He bent down, his legs clamped around the horse's belly, ready to charge.The heavy armor on his body oppressed his breathing, constantly escalating the tension in his heart, and he felt that he was about to explode.The heavy panting of the colleagues next to him was like thunder bombing in his ears. Finally, he saw the white horse fly out like lightning.He hissed and yelled, "Come on!" A thousand horses carried them and ran down the mountain. In an instant, the rapid sound of horseshoes knocked on the whole mountain.One zhang, two zhang, three zhang... After a distance of several tens of zhang passed, the horses' legs were fully stretched, and each horse was like a fired shell. The Japanese soldiers stopped involuntarily and looked at them in surprise.Their expressions flashed by, and Li Rusong felt like a spear squeezed into a group of thorns. Crackling, the sound of broken bones made a dull rhythm in the storm, and the mountain wind hit his face, almost suffocating Li Rusong.This kind of suffocation actually had a refreshing feeling, and he couldn't help laughing. Horses, like heavy punches, bombarded into the Japanese camp from the top of the mountain.The advantages of the cavalry were brought into full play at this moment.The Japanese soldiers fired their muskets hastily, but the heavy armor on the cavalry and horses made their attacks useless.They found desperately that the speed of the cavalry was getting faster and faster, and more and more people were killed under the trample of horses. The white clothes were fluttering in the blood, leading the army to roll over the Japanese army like the wind, and rushed towards the diagonal stab.Then, it blew back like the wind, constantly washing away the Japanese army who had lost their fighting spirit long ago.Humans die one crop after another like cutting straw, but they have no chance of even retreating. If you retreat, you can only enter the city and bear the bombardment of artillery fire. Kato Kiyomasa hit the city wall with a fist, and the steel teeth in his mouth were almost crushed! His subordinates were being massacred, but he could do nothing, he could only watch helplessly as the Japanese soldiers who rushed out of the city were massacred, and the city collapsed bit by bit. With bloodshot eyes, he screamed, "Back! Back to the inner city!" The inner city is much farther away from Mudanfeng. Although the red cannon is powerful, it cannot break through such a long distance and bombard the inner city wall. There is only one wreckage left in Pyongyang City, and the outer city is in a mess. It is impossible to see that it was a prosperous capital a day ago.The artillery fire and killings have plunged the city into a dying ruin. As long as it is a little more dilapidated, the city will become an eternal ruin. Fortunately, the walls of the inner city are much taller and stronger.This is their last line of defense. If the Ming army is allowed to break through this line of defense, Pyongyang will fall. The Japanese soldiers seized the last bit of time and built fortifications.This night was a sleepless night. When the dawn finally came, the Japanese soldiers could finally breathe a sigh of relief, because they had already built the inner city extremely strong, and they were ready to fight to the death. As long as the Ming army's artillery fire can't hit the city wall, they are not afraid of the Ming army's cavalry alone.Fighting at close quarters, they believed they could contain any attack by the Ming army. Moreover, their reinforcements must be coming quickly.As long as they persevered, the Ming army would be defeated once the reinforcements arrived. This belief inspired their tenacious blood, they sang war songs, and tirelessly prepared for the city. Zhuo Wangsun sat on the top of Peony Peak, looking at the setting sun. The setting sun is like blood, hidden in the heavy clouds. Tomorrow, it seems that there will be rain again.It rains too much in this country.The only thing worth gratifying is that maybe the rain will wash away the blood on the ground. The city of Pyongyang seen from this angle is in ruins. But in his eyes, this city must not be underestimated.He believed that Li Rusong would never make the mistake of underestimating the enemy again. "President Li, what are your plans?" Li Rusong bowed and said: "My lord, I think that I can take advantage of the victory and pursue the inner city with all my might. The red cannon is so powerful, even though the inner city is strong, it may not be able to hold a few shots. As long as the city wall is smashed, the cavalry If you rush in, the inner city will soon fall." Zhuo Wangsun smiled: "If the cannon wants to blast through the city wall, it must be moved down to the Mudan Peak. But if it loses the height of the Mudan Peak, if it wants to hit the city wall, it must be moved closer to a distance of 20 feet from the city wall. And The shooting distance of Japanese muskets is ten feet. Japanese pirates can get close to the cannon with a small charge. How do your cavalry ensure the safety of the cannon at such a short distance? How do you charge?" Li Rusong choked.I was speechless.He forgot that the reason why the cannon could blast so far and the Japanese soldiers couldn't attack it was because it was set up at such a high place on Mudanfeng.Away from Mudanfeng, if the cannon is only mounted on flat ground, it will be too close to the city wall.Japanese soldiers can easily attack with muskets.And without the guarantee of distance, the cavalry can't exert much power. so what should I do now? Zhuo Wangsun said: "Even if the city wall is breached, the cavalry will surely face street fighting. That is where muskets can exert their power the most. I wonder if your cavalry can also exert their power?" Li Rusong was suffocated again.Street fighting is the way cavalry fear most.Unable to charge, unable to increase speed, and facing attacks from all directions.The advantage of cavalry was completely disintegrated. He was full of confidence, but now, he found that his plan was full of loopholes and useless.What should I do?Is there nothing they can do now? Zhuo Wangsun Youyou said: "What's more, more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers are trapped in the inner city. They are trapped beasts. If they attack forcefully, they will definitely encounter desperate resistance." This point, Li Rusong, who has experienced many battles, certainly understands it.But does that mean abandoning Pyongyang? Wouldn't the previous two wars be in vain? Zhuo Wangsun withdrew his gaze and turned his attention to the man in white: "Leader Yang, tell me about your strategy." Yang Yizhi pondered: "The reason why the Japanese bandits stick to the inner city and did not abandon the city is because they believed that reinforcements would arrive. It took seven days to travel from Seoul to Pyongyang. Every day or so, There is a fence built and troops stationed. Therefore, within a day at the latest, the Japanese soldiers inside the fence will get the news and come to rescue. The news will continue to spread to the fence below, and finally spread to Seoul .Reinforcements will continue to come.” Li Rusong was taken aback: "In this way, if we don't retreat, the longer it takes, the more disadvantageous it will be for us?" Yang Yizhi nodded. Li Rusong opened his mouth to say something?But after taking a look at Zhuo Wangsun, he finally didn't say anything. Zhuo Wangsun smiled and said, "Leader Yang said so, must have countermeasures?" Yang Yizhi nodded: "The greatest hope for the soldiers in Pyongyang is the reinforcements from the barriers and even from Seoul. What if the reinforcements don't come? Their soldiers' morale must be flustered. Once the military's morale is flustered, their combat effectiveness will drop sharply. At the same time..." He opened the map and drew a circle on the outer city of Pyongyang: "Most of the grain and grass in Pyongyang are stored in the outer city, and there is only a small part in the inner city, which can feed up to 20,000 people for a day. We just need to take advantage of the darkness to move the food in the outer city." All the food and grass in the city will be blown up, and within a day, the panic of the Japanese army in the inner city will reach its peak. Without reinforcements and food and grass, they will inevitably abandon the city and flee. If we launch an attack at this time, we will definitely wipe out the enemy." Zhuo Wangsun nodded: "Speaking of which, the most important thing is to stop the barriers and even Seoul from sending reinforcements. How to do it?" Yang Yizhi smiled slightly: "It's enough to capture all these barriers. I wish to receive a command arrow and go there at night." Zhuo Wangsun watched him with a smile.Yang Yizhi was dressed in white, and there was no boastful self-confidence in his expression, but no one doubted his words. The blood in Li Rusong's chest began to boil again. It seemed as if he saw the hope of victory again. The third day was the same as the second day, except that the weather was more gloomy. The Japanese soldiers in the inner city looked at the south eagerly.They were estimating the time, when the reinforcements would arrive.As the shadow of the sun moved little by little, their hope became more and more intense. Strangely, there was no movement from the Ming army either.On Peony Peak, there is a peaceful scene. Suddenly, there were loud rumbling noises, and the Japanese soldiers were horrified to find that several granaries in the outer city were all on fire.Only then did they realize that there was not much grain and grass stored in the inner city.They instinctively wanted to go out of the city to rescue the granary, but then they realized that they would be hit by Ming army artillery and cavalry.They could only watch helplessly as the granaries were burned to ashes, and tried to comfort each other: reinforcements were coming soon, and it would be nothing if they lost these granaries. Reinforcements are coming soon! When the first light of dawn shone on the earth, Hira Hideyoshi was wearing an e-guanbo belt and sitting on the highest general platform in the inner city, with a chrysanthemum and a cup of tea in front of him. It seemed that such a cruel war had nothing to do with him.His indifference made every soldier of the Kingdom of the Rising Sun feel hopeful. Zhuo Wangsun also sat on the Peony Peak, looking at Ping Xiuji from afar. This war is more like a game of chess between them. Although there are millions of dead bodies, it is insignificant. It's better to take a cup of tea. The Japanese soldiers rubbed the muskets in their hands anxiously, hoping that the Ming army would suddenly riot.That was the signal for the arrival of reinforcements, and then they could rush out from the inner city and kill him thoroughly. However, the formation of the Ming army is still so neat, and there are still so many ammunition piled up around the black iron cannon. Time gradually slipped by, and dawn soon turned into noon. Suddenly, there was a real commotion behind the Ming army's ranks.This was like a shock to the Japanese army's psychology. They clenched their muskets in surprise and stood up. Suddenly, the ranks of the Ming army parted, revealing a horse mark. It was a banner with a golden border all around.The shape of the horse mark is a ferocious tiger, roaring with its head held high.It is inlaid with seven treasures.But its magnificence can only be imagined, because at this time the horse mark is dilapidated and covered with blood. Li Rusong supported him, and the horse galloped around the inner city of Pyongyang.Then, throw the horse mark on the ground. All the Japanese soldiers saw it.They couldn't help but murmured: "That's the horse mark of Mr. Tachibana Tonghu!" Tachibana Tonghu is a famous general under Konishi Xingchang, guarding the first barrier from Pyongyang to Seoul.The horse mark is a symbol of daimyo, and the Japanese army regards the horse mark as more important than life.If you lose the horse mark, you will also lose the dignity of the daimyo, and the owner of the horse mark often has to apologize.Now, the horse mark of Tachibana, who guards the first barrier, is stained with blood and held in the hands of the general of the Ming Dynasty.The meaning contained in it made every Japanese soldier put down the musket in his hand. "Is it impossible for reinforcements to arrive?" It makes their fears weak.They leaned against the walls and fell beside the houses, feeling a sense of exhaustion. The gloomy weather is overwhelming. On the stage, Hira Hideyoshi, wrapped in a white toga, raised his glass in the last twilight, wishing a cup of tea to Zhuo Wang Sun Yao. fourth day. As soon as the day dawned, the Japanese soldiers got up anxiously and looked down the city. They also don't know what they are expecting. However, after only one glance, they couldn't help but screamed. In front of the pitch-black group of cannons, in the dirt, next to the horse mark that Li Rusong dropped yesterday, lay another horse mark.It was also a horse badge with a gold border, with an eagle painted on it decorated with gold thread and colored glaze.But it was dilapidated and blood-stained, almost covered with mud. All the Japanese soldiers recognized that it was the horse mark of Mori Tadamasa who was guarding the second fence.In the darkness, the Ming army apparently dispatched a large army and pulled down the second barrier. They sat cross-legged on the ground in disappointment, and even lost the courage to stand up. "Reinforcements...really won't come." They look up.On the stage, Hira Hideyoshi's face was still so calm, and the cup of tea in front of him still had a faint fragrance, and it matched with the dried chrysanthemum beside it to form a wonderful picture. But the soldiers no longer believed that they could win every battle. The vast majority of them have not eaten for a whole day, and some even contracted terrible diseases. Trapped in this small and stuffy inner city, there may be only one ending they are waiting for. die. Courage gradually disintegrated. Only on the general platform and on the Peony Peak, those two god-like figures are still so desolate.It seems that all the suffering in the world cannot make them have the slightest contamination. Fifth day, all?The first thing the Japanese soldiers did after waking up was to throw themselves on the city wall and look down.They found that many people had rushed over, but no one made a sound. In the dirt below the city, the number of horse marks dropped has become three. They seemed to have taken it for granted, and didn't exclaim in alarm, but just accepted it silently. This city is already a dead city. If it was three days ago, they still had the courage to rush out of the city and fight the Ming army to the death.But now, they can only sit down and lament. "Even the Great Hachiman Bodhisattva can't save us!" When they looked up, they could just see the desolate and silent figure on the stage.There was still that cup of tea in front of him, and his face didn't change at all. Could it be that their life and death were not put on this heart? Their panic turned into a moan. Li Rusong didn't miss a single trace of the Japanese soldier's expression. Their plans had already been drawn up.Full of confidence to win. When the night of the fifth day came, he secretly encouraged his subordinates: "Cheer up! The Japanese soldiers are about to lose their hold! We must seize this last chance and wipe them all out!" "Arrange less people in the south, ambush 3,000 soldiers by the Datong River, listen to my orders, and attack at any time. Set up more banners in the north, find hundreds of loud voices, and shout more at night, so that they will mistakenly think that we are still there. Stationed there. All other people withdrawn. Those on the east and west sides, always ready for battle?" "Make the meal early, tonight is the time for the decisive battle!" Night, dark down. The Japanese soldiers watched closely the movements of the Ming army. When they saw that the Ming army had finished cooking, they felt that the fire of hunger was almost burning them out.But they have only patience.Slowly, they discovered that the Ming army on the south side was retreating. They must have been trying to attack the fourth barrier in the dark, so they could throw the horse marks in the dirt and break our morale.This time, they cannot be allowed to do so. The Japanese soldiers clenched their muskets tightly. Everyone realizes that this might be their last chance.Food and grass have long been exhausted, and they have been hungry for almost three days.No matter how hungry they are, they will definitely not be able to withstand a charge of the Ming army. Only?Tonight is the last chance.They quietly followed the Ming army. When the Ming army attacked the fence, they suddenly rushed out, and they cooperated with each other. They caught the Ming army by surprise, not only saving themselves, but also saving the fence.Even if it is not good, it can break out. Let's have a full meal! This simple wish inspired their last trace of brazenness. Night, completely dark down. The water of the Datong River flows silently.If rivers are the blood of the earth, then the Datong River at this moment looks like a huge and sad wound. The Japanese soldiers crossed the city wall quietly, but the Ming army did not notice. They may be able to sneak attack the Ming army, but the Ming army can react quickly.Fight head-on and they'll just be crushed like moles.Place? , They implemented the initial combat policy in a tacit understanding, followed the Ming army who was attacking the barrier from a distance, and prepared to strike when the Ming army launched an attack.In this way, the defenders of the barrier can be flanked inside and outside to seize the best opportunity. The Ming army all rode tall horses, and their actions were like lightning.The Japanese soldiers ran with all their strength to keep up with them.Perhaps, only with such a speed can the journey of several days be completed in a few hours to achieve the goal of sneak attacking the barrier! Only half an hour later, the Japanese soldiers were exhausted.The fatigue from not eating for three days came out all at once.They could no longer implement the combat policy, and ran desperately to the Datong River, drinking water frantically. Even so, it's okay to fill your stomach. They feel?Until I am so weak that it can be overwhelmed by a straw. At this moment, a cannon shot suddenly. The cavalry of the Ming army, who were advancing like lightning, suddenly turned around and charged the Japanese soldiers like lightning. The banks of the Datong River, where there were only reeds, suddenly filled the mountains and plains with people.The Ming army, who had been ambushing for a long time, recharged their batteries and rushed out one by one like vicious tigers, carrying out effective and brutal killings. And behind, the black army is stepping neatly and rigorously, pressing down like a mountain. The Japanese soldiers who were struggling to drink water by the Datong River could not even maintain their battle formation at this time. It was a simple killing. The artillery fire illuminated the night sky, but the light of the guns was messy and dim. The advantage of Japanese soldiers fighting alone?has completely ceased to exist.Hunger, fatigue, fear, and despair overwhelmed them completely, and they were cut down in pieces like bundles of straw. Blood stained the Datong River red.Form a real wound. In just one hour, 20,000 Japanese soldiers were wiped out.When the light of dawn once again filled the land, Li Rusong walked towards Peony Peak step by step. What he was holding in his hand was Kato Kiyomasa's horse mark painted with a gold border and without the slightest trace of blood.