Chapter 269: Siege of the City

Kong Youde's plan to use red barbarian cannon to blast open the gates of Jinzhou quickly ended in failure.

Although the Yongwei Camp had blasted open the gates of Yizhou with Folangji cannon of shorter range, that success was built on the fact that the Jianzhou barbarians defending the city had no long-range firepower to suppress the Ming army, allowing the Folangji cannon to be positioned beyond the reach of Jianzhou arrows.

The cannon Kong Youde brought when he surrendered to the Qing had a maximum range of only about four li, with an effective range of roughly two li.

To manipulate a cannon to hit a city gate two li away was no small difficulty—even the highly accurate artillery of later eras needed several ranging shots before hitting the mark. Given the current gunners' skill, even with ten cannon lined up firing all day, who knew how many shots would strike the target. Moreover, the red barbarian cannon had a fatal flaw: it was a carriage-recoil, muzzle-loading smoothbore—each time it fired, it severely shifted from its original firing position. Following standard operating procedure, one needed to go through the steps of resetting, reloading, and re-setting the azimuth and elevation angles.

And this was assuming the enemy had no long-range firepower threatening you and let you fire at will—but the Ming army, which was equally equipped with red barbarian cannon, would certainly not stand idly by watching you fire at leisure.

After the Han Army Banner set up its cannon positions and fired one volley, the Ming gunners on the city walls already understood their intent. The six cannon on the north gate tower began returning fire one after another. Although both sides had similar ranges and comparable accuracy, the Han Army Banner's ten cannon required a large piece of ground, making their position a very obvious target.

After the Ming gunners fired two volleys without visible effect, one gunner had a flash of inspiration: concentrate the fire of all six cannon on the same area—surely at least one of six shots would hit?

At the command of the artillery battalion's whistle officer, the cannon on the wall changed their method of fire and began concentrating shots at a single area.

This approach indeed worked. Although the six cannon were not firing in unison, their targets were consistent. After this volley, while most shots missed, one ten-jin shot finally landed on the position of a Han Army Banner cannon, killing or wounding several of their gunners and loaders on the spot, while the dozens of booi bondservants assisting around them scattered in panic.

Although those dozens of booi bondservants were ultimately beheaded by the Eight Banner soldiers, several hundred breaths later the Ming cannon fired another volley. This time the shot did not land directly on the gun position, but it plowed a bloody path through the crowd of booi bondservants around the cannon, causing more than ten casualties among them.

Kong Youde, observing the situation from afar, saw things turning unfavorable and decisively ordered all gunners to withdraw from the position and transfer the ammunition away as well. The cannon could be left for now—they would be pulled back once the light dimmed. After all, the Ming army dared not venture out for field battle.

Yoto, who had been watching the battle from the front lines, saw the same scene. Realizing that his imagined scenario of cannon fire, Jinzhou's gates shattering, and Eight Banner soldiers pouring in would not come to pass, Yoto's face darkened and he said not a word. He mounted his horse and rode back with his guards to his tent several li away.

Around the hour of Shen, the Eight Banner army established camps five li outside Jinzhou's north and west gates respectively.

Around the hour of You, Yoto's tent was brightly lit. Senior generals of the Manchu Eight Banners and Mongol Eight Banners, along with Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi of the Han Army Banner, were summoned there to discuss what to do next.

"This time our Eight Banners mobilized tens of thousands of men to come to Jinzhou, hoping to avenge the loss of Yizhou. Who would have thought the Ming people would again shrink inside their city walls as before. Today the cannon proved useless as well. With the tens of thousands we have now, it will be very difficult to breach Jinzhou. We've expended a great quantity of grain and come from afar—if we return with nothing to show for it, word spreading would only invite ridicule! Discuss among yourselves—how should we proceed with our forces next?"

As an outstanding figure among the younger generation of the Eight Banners, Yoto had established his current position through military merit and loyalty to Hong Taiji. But if he led the army south this time and returned empty-handed, it would be extremely detrimental to him and the future development of the Two Red Banners. So this time, he had to achieve something.

"Prince Cheng, this slave thinks that since Jinzhou is hard to take, why not bypass Jinzhou and strike southward? The fortress towns behind Jinzhou—Songshan, Xingshan, Daxing Fort and others—should be easier to breach than Jinzhou. As long as we take these fortresses and gain population and supplies, that would be equivalent to avenging Yizhou. We wouldn't have come for nothing, and the Prince would have something to report to His Majesty upon return, wouldn't he?"

Geng Zhongming stepped forward and saluted as he spoke.

Yoto pondered for a moment, then spoke: "That works too. The grudge of Yizhou must be avenged—our Eight Banners cannot suffer such a loss! Since Jinzhou is hard to take, set it aside for now. The army will go elsewhere! Leave a portion of troops here to keep watch on Jinzhou, lest Zu Dashou harbor other intentions!"

Geng Zhongming saluted again and said: "Prince, we've brought so many booi bondservants this time—we can't let these nikan sit idle. Tomorrow, have these slaves dig trenches to surround Jinzhou on the east, west, and north sides. Then only a small force will be needed to watch Jinzhou, and it will also prevent the Ming people from cutting off our retreat!"

Geng Zhongming had already forgotten that his own ancestors were Han Chinese. Now he considered himself a Bannerman through and through. In his eyes, those Han booi bondservants were no longer his kinsmen, but base, despicable nikan deserving death. Since these dog-slaves ate from the bowls of their Bannerman masters, they couldn't eat for free—they needed to be given work to do.

"Prince Huaishun's idea is good. Tomorrow you will lead a portion of troops to supervise the nikan digging trenches, keeping Zu Dashou from leaving the gates of Jinzhou! Jinzhou is a place our Eight Banners must take. Once our main force returns from the western campaign and has rested, we will certainly come to take it. Best we do the trench-digging first. Prince Gongshun, have the cannon prepared. Once the scouts have reconnoitered properly, you and Prince Zhishun will lead the Han Army Banner to accompany me to Songshan. Borge, leave two thousand cavalry to assist Prince Huaishun in watching the Ming army in Jinzhou, just in case!"

At first light the next day, the gates of the Eight Banner camp swung open. Several hundred cavalry scouts in cotton armor galloped out, circling around Jinzhou from the west before heading toward Songshan, Daxing Fort, Xingping Fort, and other fortress towns. Geng Zhongming ordered his trusted subordinates to hurry to the booi bondservant camps in the rear, organize the bondservants, and have them bring various tools as they noisily made their way toward Jinzhou city.

The movements of the Eight Banner camp had long been spotted by the Ming army on the city walls. The Mobile Corps Commander in charge of patrols ordered the entire army to be on alert, then hurried down from the wall, mounted his horse, and galloped toward Zu Dale's residence.

Zu Dale, still hungover from the night before, was sound asleep with his concubine in his arms. The steward Zu Gui timidly knocked on the door. When there was no response from inside for a long while, Zu Gui mustered his courage and called out softly: "Master, Mobile Corps Commander Ding has come to report urgent military intelligence!"

After Zu Gui called out several times, Zu Dale's irritated voice finally came from inside: "Urgent military intelligence my ass! That bastard Ding Kui should be guarding the city walls, not coming to disturb my sleep! Go tell him—if the Jianzhou barbarians aren't attacking the city, don't come barking over here!"

Zu Gui knew his master's temper well. In all of Jinzhou city, he only behaved properly in front of the eldest master; toward everyone else, he did as he pleased.

Helpless, Zu Gui could only leave the inner residence and return to the front courtyard, saying to Ding Kui, who was waiting in the side room: "Mobile Corps Commander Ding, my master said for you to go back and guard the wall. He will go to the eldest master's residence shortly to report this matter!"

Ding Kui understood immediately what was going on. He rose, clasped his fists in salute to Zu Gui, and after leaving the compound, mounted his horse and galloped off with his personal guards.