Chapter 152: Jingguan Rises Again

April 7th, Zhu Qian Guo, Da Ye Cheng.

It is Zhu Qian Guo's first line of defense, defended by five thousand troops.

The castle lord is named Da Nei Yihong, a famed warlord of the Northern Court.

He stands atop the wall, watching the Ming army's camp in the distance, his expression solemn.

"Lord, the Ming army's vanguard has already reached ten li outside the city," the retainer reported.

Da Nei Yihong nodded and said, "Send the order: all warriors ascend the city, prepare to meet them."

"Lord… the Ming army's cannons are fierce, we…" the retainer began, then fell silent.

Da Nei Yihong glared at him and said, "What are you afraid of? Da Ye Cheng's walls are Three Zhang high and two Zhang thick; no matter how powerful the Ming cannons are, can they blast them down?"

Before his words finished, a deep booming sound came from afar.

Boom...

The first cannonball hit the wall, shattering a spray of stones.

Then, the second, the third…

Boom boom boom...

The Ming artillery positions began a synchronized barrage.

One hundred cannons rained fierce fire upon Da Ye Cheng's walls.

The walls trembled, stones splintered, and the defenders were blown apart, flesh and blood scattering.

Da Nei Yihong crouched behind a bastion, his face ashen.

He had never seen such ferocious artillery.

After one volley, cracks already appeared in the wall.

"Lord! The wall is about to collapse!" the retainer shouted in terror.

"Hold! Hold!" Da Nei Yihong roared.

But it was useless.

After the second volley, a section of Da Ye Cheng's wall collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Amidst swirling smoke and dust, the Ming infantry began to advance.

At the forefront rode a hulking man on a black warhorse, wielding Double Hammers.

"Zhu Yong… it's the Demon King… Zhu Yong!" someone among the defenders shouted in terror.

Zhu Yong surged ahead on his horse, charging toward the breach in the wall.

Behind him, five thousand elite Ming troops followed closely.

"Kill!"

Zhu Yong thrust into the breach, swinging his Double Hammers wide.

The first warrior who met him was smashed, both man and sword turned into mush.

The second, the third…

Zhu Yong was like a meat‑grinding machine; wherever he passed, flesh flew everywhere.

The Ming troops behind fired Flintlock Guns in unison, while plate‑armored infantry pressed forward.

The defenders could not hold them at all.

Da Nei Yihong watched his warriors fall one by one, his eyes reddening.

"Charge with me!" he drew his katana and led the Imperial Troops toward Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong saw him, grinned, and spurred his horse forward.

The two horses collided.

Da Nei Yihong's katana struck Zhu Yong's shoulder armor, sparking a spray of embers, yet leaving no visible mark.

Zhu Yong's hammer slammed into his chest.

Bang...

Da Nei Yihong's breastplate dented, and his body was hurled Three Zhang away; when he hit the ground, he was already lifeless.

The lord fell in battle, and the garrison collapsed.

"Surrender! Surrender!" someone dropped their weapon, fell to their knees and shouted.

But it was in vain.

Li Wenzhong's command was… resistors, kill without mercy.

The Ming army did not accept surrender and continued the slaughter.

An hour later, Da Ye Cheng fell.

The five thousand defenders all perished.

After Li Wenzhong entered the city, he ordered the construction of Jingguan.

Five thousand heads were piled at the city gate.

The news reached the rear, and the other cities of Zhu Qian Guo fell into panic.

April 10th, Zhu Qian Guo's second line of defense, Zongxiang Cheng.

The lord Zongxiang Zhi Zhen, upon learning of Da Ye Cheng's fall, summoned his retainers overnight for counsel.

"Lord, the Ming army is unbeatable… five thousand at Da Ye Cheng were gone in an hour…" the elder retainer wept.

"What then? Surrender, but the Ming army never accepts surrender! All the warriors who surrendered at Da Ye Cheng were slain!" another retainer said tremblingly.

Zongxiang Zhi Zhen's face turned ashen.

Resistance is death, surrender is also death…

"How about… abandoning the city and fleeing?" someone whispered.

"Where would we run? Behind us is the capital; the general ordered a death‑hold, fleeing is also death…" Zongxiang Shizhen said in despair.

While they were debating, hurried footsteps came from outside.

"Lord! The Ming army… the Ming army has arrived!" the warrior rushed in in a panic.

Zongxiang Shizhen shivered all over.

So fast…

He went to the ramparts and saw the Ming army's banners in the distance.

On the foremost black banner was a huge character "Zhu".

That was Zhu Yong's standard.

"Prepare… for battle…" Zongxiang Shizhen gritted his teeth.

But he knew this battle was hopeless.

The Ming army did not assault immediately, but set up camp three li outside the city.

In the afternoon, the Ming army sent a messenger.

The messenger was not there to urge surrender, but to deliver a message.

"General Li Wenzhong orders: if Zongxiang City Kaicheng surrenders, only warriors will be killed, civilians will be spared; if you resist, after the city falls, no chicken or dog will be left."

After speaking, the messenger turned and left.

Zongxiang Shizhen stood stunned in place.

Only warriors killed, civilians not slaughtered…

Is this… mercy?

"Lord, surrender! At least… at least the civilians can live…" the old minister knelt and pleaded.

Zongxiang Shizhen looked at the civilians in the city, at their fearful eyes.

He let out a long sigh and said, "Kaicheng… surrender."

April 11, Zongxiang City Kaicheng surrendered.

Zongxiang Shizhen and the three hundred warriors in the city were taken outside for execution.

The civilians were spared.

The news spread again.

The remaining cities of Chikuzen Nation began to waver.

……

April 15, Chikuzen Nation's third defensive line, Dazai Prefecture.

This was the core of Chikuzen Nation, with ten thousand defenders.

The defending commander Shao Er Lai Shang was a famed Northern Court general and a close confidant of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

He stood on Dazai Prefecture's ramparts, watching the Ming army's camps in the distance, his expression resolute.

"Send the order down: hold Dazai Prefecture to the death; anyone who dares speak of surrender shall be beheaded!" Shao Er Lai Shang said in a deep voice.

He had already received Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's command to hold the line, buying time for the capital's defenses.

He knew he might not be able to hold, but he had to.

"Lord, the Ming army has sent people," the retainer reported.

"If not seen, shoot them outright," Shao Er Lai Shang said coldly.

The news that the messenger was shot reached the Ming army's camp.

Li Wenzhong laughed.

"Good, you have backbone, Yong Er, this battle must be fought beautifully," he turned to Zhu Yong.

Zhu Yong nodded and said, "Older cousin, rest assured."

April 16, early morning.

The Ming army began bombarding Dazai Prefecture.

This time, the bombardment lasted two hours.

Dazai Prefecture's walls were sturdier than Ōno Castle's, but could not withstand such fierce fire.

After two hours, three sections of the wall collapsed.

"Kill!"

Zhu Yong again led his troops in a charge.

This time, the defenders resisted with extraordinary ferocity.

Shao Er Lai Shang personally led a unit, fighting a bloody battle with the Ming army at the breach.

Zhu Yong surged at the front, Double Hammers cutting a path of destruction.

But the defenders poured in, using flesh and blood to block the Ming army's advance.

The battle raged from dawn until the afternoon.

Eight thousand Dazai Prefecture defenders fell, and the Ming army suffered its heaviest casualties since the war began, over a hundred killed and wounded.

Shao Er Lai Shang fought to the last, and was killed by Zhu Yong's hammer.

Dazai Prefecture fell.

After Li Wenzhong entered the city, he looked at the bodies strewn everywhere and was silent for a moment.

"Build the capital watchtower, eight thousand heads," he ordered.

Another capital watchtower was erected.

The news reached Kyoto, and Zuoli Yiman was utterly despondent.

All three defensive lines in Chikuzen Province were breached.

The Ming army, approaching Kyoto, had only the final barrier left: Omi Province.

"General… what shall we do…?" the old minister asked in a trembling voice.

Zuoli Yiman closed his eyes; after a long while, when he opened them, a resolute determination flashed in his gaze.

"Gather all forces and fortify Omi Province; this time, I will personally oversee the battle!" he gritted his teeth.

The Northern Court's final decisive battle was about to begin.

But the Ming army's advance did not halt.

At the end of April, the Ming army finished its rest and continued northward.

The target: Omi Province, Kyoto's last barrier.

In the seventh year of Hongwu, the war in Wa Country intensified further.

And the outcome of this war had already been sealed the moment the Ming army set foot on Wa Country's soil.