Chapter 459: Giving Up Life

"Kill! Kill!" From the gate fort of Zhubokou came Zhang Xiushen's repeated roars. He had already suffered multiple wounds and was bathed in blood; a flying sword was still embedded in his left shoulder armor. Corpses lay heaped across the battlement, even the crenellations were draped with bodies from both sides, the color of the battlements nearly turned red. Only a dozen or so of the third wave of armored soldiers remained fighting, yet the Ming troops and commoners on the wall were brimming with morale. The first two victorious rounds had shown them the Tatars were nothing special — once fear vanished, with no time to think under the continuous assaults, ferocious fighting strength erupted. The remaining armored soldiers could not hold and fled back toward the earthen rampart.

"Kill the Jianzhou bandits, repay the Emperor's grace!" Zhang Xiushen summoned his remaining valor, the half-length broadsword in his hand hacking fiercely into the chest of the last reserve soldier before him. The surviving civilian braves around him howled and surged forward. Facing a mob of Ming commoners rushing at him, this wounded reserve soldier scrambled blindly onto the crenellation. Just as he was about to jump, two long spears shot swiftly through his belly, pinning him to the battlement top. Standing on the battlement, facing the Later Jin troops outside the city, the reserve soldier sprayed blood from his mouth, his hands flailing wildly in the air, emitting shriek after shriek.

Two thuds rang out, and two more long spears pierced the reserve soldier's body. Beside the crenel, the upper bodies of two more civilian braves appeared. Four long spears held the reserve soldier's body suspended in the air. The reserve soldier let out gurgling low growls, his body twisting unceasingly.

A volley of heavy arrows came from the Later Jin troops below the wall. The two rash civilian braves beside him clutched their heads and toppled. The reserve soldier was also struck by two arrows. His limbs slowly stilled, his head and hands drooped, and thus he hung there, propped upon the crenellation by four spear shafts.

The Later Jin troops below the wall glared fiercely at the battlement. After a moment, the Ming officer's head cautiously peeked out a little, his helmet covered in red. He locked eyes with the Later Jin soldiers below for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. Below, a bow was drawn. He ducked back again.

Zhang Zhongqi had just moved the battering ram to outside the city gate. His mouth dry, he stared at that reserve soldier on the battlement. The booming of cannons grew louder and nearer, signaling that the Dengzhou army was approaching with extreme speed and bringing artillery. In such narrow terrain, with no room to maneuver, if those small cannons led the assault, Zhang Zhongqi could not imagine any way to withstand them. Once the cannons arrived, the only option was to retreat quickly.

A clamor rose from behind. Various human sounds came through the gorge — Later Jin soldiers driving the plundered commoners to charge at the arriving Dengzhou troops. It meant the Dengzhou troops were already close.

The Niru Erzhen appeared before him again. He said grimly to Zhang Zhongqi, "Prepare quickly to storm the gate. This time, both from the wall and below, together."

In a glance, Zhang Zhongqi saw that the Bayara Erzhen of the Plain Blue Banner had already arrived below the wall with a group of White Armor Soldiers, roaring to rouse them. His old master, Taketan, was among them. This time, they would attack this tiny pass fort together with the other White Armor Soldiers, to open this escape route for the entire army.

Zhang Zhongqi forced a mouthful of saliva. He asked the Niru Erzhen, "Master, the Dengzhou troops have arrived, arrived..."

The Niru Erzhen wiped the sweat from his forehead and cut him off. "Tobohui is wounded. His Goshiha fought desperately just to drag him back. They've been retreating the whole time. I hear these Dengzhou troops have far more firelocks than even those at Lushun, and the main thing is those cannons. Once we take this Zhubokou gate, we'll pass straight through this pass fort. Everything else must be abandoned. You carry the valuables on your person."

Another cannon blast sounded from behind. The Niru Erzhen shuddered all over, shook his head, and said hastily, "Begin storming the gate."

Several li away, the mountain valley was filled with red figures, clusters connected front to back, charging forward. Zhou Shaoer

On the road, a continuous stream of abandoned carts and household goods began to appear. The cannons were blocked by these objects, and the advance slowed. Ahead on the road were many armored soldiers, dodging among the carts and horses, loosing an arrow whenever they found an opening. The Dengzhou troops at the front exchanged fire with those Later Jin soldiers using flintlocks, white smoke filling the gorge.

Zhong Lao Si rode up behind the First Company, called Zhou Shaoer over, and demanded bluntly, "Why aren't you advancing?"

Zhou Shaoer pointed ahead. "The cannons can't move forward. The Jianzhou bandits are hiding behind those carts shooting arrows. We need to..."

"Without cannons, you can't fight? When we fought Zijin Liang, where were the cannons then? There's no time for you to dawdle. You have half a ke to charge past this bend, or face military justice." Zhong Lao Si brooked no argument and roared at the military judge behind him, "Start timing now."

The military judge shot Zhong Lao Si a glance and had the garrison provost beside him bring out a small hourglass.

"Your mother!" Zhou Shaoer cursed under his breath, returned to the front line, yanked out his saber, and bellowed, "Sound the charge!"

The bugle call rang out. The First Company shouted in unison and swarmed forward. The moment they exposed themselves, a volley of heavy arrows came from the opposite side, and seven or eight men instantly fell.

Guan Dadi saw the comrades ahead of him fall, but he still had to leap out. When the charge was sounded, anyone who didn't go forward would end up beheaded. He jumped onto a flatbed cart before him, crossed its surface in two strides, and landed swiftly on the ground. An arrow flew past overhead. A scream sounded behind him. Guan Dadi had no time to see which unlucky soul it was. They all wore mail armor, and with thick winter clothing, it was not easy for an ordinary heavy arrow to kill outright.

Guan Dadi and several soldiers from the same squad moved with heads low among the wheelbarrows. Although Guan Dadi was not even a squad leader, he was still an NCO. When no other officer was present, he led the common soldiers. Guan Dadi had the strongest physique and quickly ran through the middle distance, using the cover of those vehicles to avoid being struck by arrows.

Just as he rounded the last oxcart, right in front of him was an archer, still pulling an arrow from his quiver. Startled by the Dengzhou soldier suddenly appearing before him, the archer frantically reached for his smooth saber. Guan Dadi lunged fiercely. He could control even a spear over four meters long with ease, so this less-than-two-meter bayonet musket was even more handy. The cotton armor could not stop the sharp triangular iron blade. The bayonet stabbed accurately into the reserve soldier's abdomen.

The reserve soldier howled miserably, his hands clutching the gun barrel tightly. Guan Dadi kicked the reserve soldier over with one foot and immediately pulled out his gun. Blood sprayed high. In the next instant, a dark shadow flashed beside him — an armored soldier in scale armor came charging, brandishing a broadsword. The flintlock in Guan Dadi's hand fired with a bang. At this distance, the armored soldier's scale armor was like a paper garment. The armored soldier stumbled and lunged forward. Guan Dadi thrust hastily. The bayonet struck squarely on the scale armor's iron plates, producing a harsh, grating screech. After piercing through, the armored soldier slumped downward, and the bayonet snapped with a crack.

Comrades from behind charged past Guan Dadi. The cracks of flintlocks rang out in unbroken succession. The Later Jin soldiers retreated step by step. Guan Dadi drew his thick-backed blade from his back, slung his musket over his shoulder, and followed behind his comrades in pursuit.

"Charge in!"

Zhang Zhongqi brandished his smooth saber and followed the Niru Erzhen as they rushed into the gate tunnel. The sound of gunfire was now clearly audible. The Dengzhou troops were close at hand. Zhang Zhongqi once again faced the prospect of becoming a captive. If he were alone, he would not mind changing locations, but now he had family still in Liaodong. For the first time, he found that Ming officer utterly detestable.

This man, leading a rabble, had actually repelled the White Armor Soldiers' assault, and more than ten White Armor Soldiers had lost their lives. After the city gate was battered open, he had again led men charging into the gate tunnel, beating back the attacking Later Jin soldiers. In the end, he even threw down cotton quilts from the battlement, set them ablaze with torches into roaring flames, and blocked the Later Jin soldiers for yet another ke, until his cotton quilts were completely exhausted.

Many armored soldiers and Bayara had been redeployed to block the Dengzhou garrison. Mang Gultai was also somewhat losing his grip, troops just transferred away then transferred back. The tenacity of this small pass fort exceeded his imagination, forcing him to keep increasing his commitment, turning it into a piecemeal feeding tactic. Many commoners along the mountainside took advantage of the thinning armored soldiers to flee up the mountains. Many bondservants from Liaodong also scattered and escaped. There were no men to spare even to guard the true Jurchen, so they could only let them flee.

The wave Zhang Zhongqi was in had been cobbled together, led by Zhang Zhongqi's own Niru Erzhen, totaling over seventy men. Taketan, who had just retreated, was also among them, along with several White Armor Soldiers sent by Mang Gultai to enforce the attack.

Thanks again to the Niru Erzhen's care, Zhang Zhongqi was placed at the very rear. Ahead were layers upon layers of armored figures. The two sides quickly began to clash. The Niru Erzhen's roars carried far and near. The Ming Qian Zong's loud laughter occasionally drifted over. Outside, the drums of the Plain Blue Banner beat in waves. The formation inched forward bit by bit. Finally, light appeared overhead. Zhang Zhongqi charged into the city. A cheer rose from outside. Some armored soldiers also scaled the wall onto the battlement. The Ming troops and civilian braves defending the city were nearly spent.

A dozen or so armored soldiers were still running forward. Zhang Zhongqi spotted Taketan's figure and ran after him. After only a few steps, he suddenly stopped. He turned his head to look beside the city gate. He stared blankly for a moment, then hurriedly ran over.

The Niru Erzhen was sitting slumped against the base of the city wall, clutching his stomach. His head was trembling slightly. Zhang Zhongqi hastily helped press down on his stomach, babbling, "Master, Master... it's open. Your slave will carry you back, back..."

The fierce eyes of the Niru Erzhen were growing distant. He kept staring at Zhang Zhongqi's face. Zhang Zhongqi began to sob quietly. "Master, don't die. If you die, how can your slave live..."

The Niru Erzhen said not a word. His head lolled to the side, and he died. Zhang Zhongqi collapsed, sitting on the ground. From the street ahead, shouts of killing rose again. Zhang Zhongqi suddenly stood up, raised his smooth saber, and charged recklessly into the city. He ran for a stretch, then saw Taketan's back.

A group of Later Jin White Armor Soldiers had formed a semicircle. In the middle were several Ming soldiers. Zhang Zhongqi bellowed and was about to charge in to hack at the Ming soldiers when Taketan grabbed him and held him back. Zhang Zhongqi screamed madly until the Ming Qian Zong's loud laughter restored some of his senses.

Zhang Zhongqi blinked and looked at the four remaining Ming soldiers before him. The Ming Qian Zong's helmet was gone. The red cape on his body had been drenched anew in blood. Three or four broken arrows were stuck in his armor. His entire body was covered in blood, so much so that one could no longer tell where the wounds were. Even his hair dripped blood continuously, drop by drop. In his hand, he held a burning torch.

They stood beside a pile of firewood. That Zhang Qian Zong still wore the same expression, head raised with that untamed look. With effort, he squeezed out a hint of a smile. "Not far behind, government troops are in pursuit. Truly, you are brave men, but you dog Tatars won't escape."

Zhang Zhongqi's lips trembled as he looked at that Zhang Qian Zong. He roared at Zhang Qian Zong, "You dog official, why didn't you surrender to our Great Jin? What are you fighting to the death for? You gain nothing, and you got my master killed, you turtle-spawn."

Zhang Qian Zong tilted his head back and let out a loud laugh mixed with coughing. After spitting out a few mouthfuls of bloody froth, he looked at Zhang Zhongqi. "A turtle-spawn like you could never understand, or you wouldn't have become a dog bondservant to the Tatars. There are always things more important than life. This, for me, is called giving up life for righteousness."

Zhang Zhongqi pointed a finger at that Qian Zong, but before he could speak, Zhang Xiushen roared, "Killed six Tatars, and at the end, a few brothers to go with me. I've come out ahead! Brothers, in the next life, let's kill the slaves again!"

The three retainers laughed together. Zhang Xiushen hurled down the torch. The oil-sprinkled firewood beside them blazed up fiercely.

Zhang Zhongqi, his finger still pointing at that Qian Zong, stared blankly as the several Ming soldiers were swallowed by the flames.