SWDnovel Chapter 6 Jia Village's Desperate Defense
Chapter 6 Jia Village's Desperate Defense
It was the 10th day of the 12th month of the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), at dusk.
Outside the earthen enclosure of Jia Village in Julu, snowflakes swirled wildly in the wind, and the cold wind, like a sharp blade, scraped through the leaves, making a piercing rustling sound.
Lu Xiang-sheng stood on the high earthen platform, his heavy cotton armor already whitened by wind and frost, and the silk sash of the sword at his waist was being torn and rattled by the strong wind.
His face remained resolute and composed, but for the first time, a long-lost light and hope shone through his eyes, which should have been filled with resentment and determination.
Just two hours ago, the last urgent imperial edict was delivered to the army.
Emperor Chongzhen had not only revoked the old edict urging him to go to war, but also strictly ordered him not to engage in open battle with the Jurchens. He was to immediately gather the troops of Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei and send the entire army north to Julu to set up camp and await reinforcements.
Subsequently, a secret edict personally approved by Emperor Chongzhen was delivered, informing Lu Xiang-sheng that Emperor Chongzhen would personally lead the new army from the capital south overnight and would arrive at Julu within ten days.
Lu Xiang-sheng only needs to hold his camp and protect his soldiers, and Emperor Chongzhen will surely lead his troops to help them break through the encirclement.
At the end of that secret edict was a line of vermilion annotation, so powerful it seemed to penetrate the paper, that Lu Xiang-sheng still couldn't help but shed tears when he recalled it.
"Your life is tied to the safety of the North, and I will protect you with the world in my hands."
In this battle, you must be determined to survive and complete the crucial task of breaking through the encirclement. This is my decree and my expectation.
"I will not allow you to die."
Since he was appointed commander-in-chief to quell the rebellion and garrison Xuanda, Lu Xiang-sheng had become accustomed to the infighting in the imperial court and had been secretly hampered many times.
Yang Sichang advocated peace and procrastinated, Gao Qiqian held his troops and watched from the sidelines, and the generals of various towns all defended themselves and avoided battle. Despite his loyalty and courage, he was repeatedly pushed to the brink of despair.
In addition, given the emperor's repeated urging, he had already prepared for the worst, to die on the battlefield to prove his loyalty.
He originally thought he would die alone in battle and leave behind a desolate legacy.
Now, however, no one expected that the Chongzhen Emperor, who was always indecisive and prone to criticizing his ministers, would suddenly rouse himself when he was in dire straits, forcefully reject the peace talks, and even risk his imperial power to personally lead a strong army south to rescue him!
Hu Dawei, standing beside him, reined in his horse and approached, his voice trembling with barely suppressed emotion: "Commander, His Majesty... is he really going to lead the expedition in person? The capital region is of utmost importance; if His Majesty were to venture out lightly, what should we do if something were to happen?"
Lu Xiang-sheng slowly raised his hand and pressed it against the hilt of the knife. His knuckles turned slightly white from the force. The wind and snow fell on his angular face, but they could not extinguish the burning emotions surging in his heart.
"His Majesty's mind is made up, and there is no more hesitation."
His voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resounding.
"In the past, the court was in turmoil, and the decision to make peace or war was uncertain, which made us feel lost and unable to decide what to do. Now, His Majesty has made a clear judgment on right and wrong, rejected peace and advocated war, and even personally went to the front to command the troops."
I, Lu Xiang-sheng, have received the nation's great favor. Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will defend Jia Village to the death, protecting my thirteen thousand soldiers, and awaiting the Emperor's arrival with reinforcements!
Lu Xiang-sheng has now taken an earlier step by leading his troops to retreat and garrison at Jiazhuang.
In addition to Tianxiong Army and the Dubiao Battalion he personally led, he also combined Hu Dawei's troops from the western garrison and Yang Guozhu's troops from the Xuanfu garrison, and incorporated the scattered soldiers from Xuanda and Zhili along the way, eventually forming an army of more than 13,000 men, all of whom retreated into Jiazhuang earthen fortress.
After a brief reorganization, Lu Xiang-sheng ordered the demolition of the surrounding houses, the reinforcement of the village walls and moats with bricks, stones and wood, and the deployment of chevaux-de-frise and traps in many places, concentrating the limited firearms to guard the four gates.
They had limited supplies, and the soldiers were hungry and demoralized as they marched.
However, Emperor Chongzhen, who had also anticipated this, issued an urgent imperial edict to Gao Qiqian, ordering him to do everything possible to send grain to Lu Xiangshan.
Gao Qiqian had been hindering Lu Xiang-sheng at every turn, but that was because he was acting in accordance with the wishes of Emperor Chongzhen.
But now that Emperor Chongzhen has changed his mind again, he, as a servant of the emperor, has no choice but to obey.
A large-scale northward march to aid Lu Xiang-sheng was impossible—because at this moment Yue Tuo was leading the Eight Banners army, pressing their forces step by step, clearly intending to restrict their movements.
But sending light cavalry in batches to secretly deliver supplies was not a problem.
Although the Guan Ning Army could not fight the Jurchens head-on in the open field, in small-scale cavalry battles, the Guan Ning Army's iron cavalry always had the upper hand.
The smaller the number of soldiers in a small-scale battle, the greater the advantage for the Guan Ning Army and the elite border troops of the Ming Army.
However, when it came to large-scale field battles with organized units, the Ming army was easily defeated and fought separately.
This is also an old problem for the various armies of the Ming Dynasty throughout this generation.
With the continuous small-scale supply of food and provisions from Gao Qiqian, Lu Xiangsheng's troops, though not exactly well-supplied, were in much better shape than before.
The starving Tianxiong Army and the soldiers from Xuanda, Shanxi, were finally able to eat hot food, and their morale improved somewhat.
The remaining provisions were enough to sustain the entire army for two more days, at least enough to allow the soldiers, who had been starving and exhausted for days, to have a full meal in a short time, to hold their weapons firmly, and to defend their camp.
Meanwhile, at the Jize camp, fifty miles away from Jia Village, Gao Qiqian was also clutching the third urgent imperial edict, his knuckles white from gripping it so tightly that fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
The imperial edict was sharp in tone, beginning by condemning Lu Xiang-sheng for sitting idly by while his troops were occupied, which led to Lu Xiang-sheng's forces being surrounded and intercepted by the Qing army, resulting in heavy losses. He should have been held accountable and punished after the war.
But then she changed the subject and pointed out his only way out:
At present, it seems that Yue Tuo has tied down the Guan Ning army camp. However, on the other hand, it can also be said that Gao Qiqian led more than 30,000 troops to draw the attention of Yue Tuo's army.
Emperor Chongzhen needed Gao Qiqian to leave enough infantry to hold the camp and continue to contain Yue Tuo's army of over 10,000 men.
He himself needed to lead the elite cavalry of Guan Ning northwards overnight, and arrive at the flank of Jia Village before dawn on December 12th to await orders, and cooperate with the new army's iron cavalry to attack Dorgon's flank, thus creating an opening for Lu Xiang-sheng's breakout.
What truly shocked Gao Qiqian was the promise at the end of the imperial edict, which struck at the heart of the Guan Ning border army with every word:
"For their meritorious service in protecting the emperor and defeating the enemy, the entire Guan Ning army will receive double pay for three months; all officers below the rank of general will be promoted three ranks and granted fertile land outside the pass; those who kill enemy leaders will be rewarded with ten taels of silver, and those who capture flags and break through enemy lines will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and their positions as hereditary households of one hundred."
If they can protect me, defeat the enemy's advance, and rescue Commander Lu, I will treat all the generals of Guan Ning as my trusted confidants, and they will guard Liaodong for generations to come, never suspecting me again..."
Having spent half his life in the court and military, Gao Qiqian had long understood the nature of emperors. The former Chongzhen Emperor was ungrateful, suspicious, stingy with practical benefits, and often used his subjects as scapegoats.
But now the emperor seems to have changed his temperament drastically. He speaks with decisiveness and ruthlessness, and is more adept at winning people's hearts with benefits and suppressing his generals with kindness and power.
Therefore, one must act with even greater caution and strive to curry favor in order to maintain the emperor's trust and secure one's future wealth and status.
Even if we take a step back and say that all of this is just a show put on by the emperor, isn't it just courting death for him, a servant of the emperor, to dare to obstruct at a crucial moment?
He could have been able to stall and observe in the past, but now that the emperor is personally leading the expedition, his escape route has been cut off. If the emperor makes even the slightest mistake, he will face a death sentence!
Therefore, he either led his troops north to protect the emperor, hoping to gain even greater wealth and glory after the war by virtue of such merit.
Either remain inactive and wait for the emperor's return, then Gao Qiqian will be the first to have his home confiscated and be executed!
Moreover, this battle does not require a desperate assault; the primary task is simply to lead elite cavalry in a flanking ambush, contain the enemy forces, and protect the emperor.
He had a clear understanding of how he could amass immense wealth without exerting his full strength.
After figuring out the intricacies of the situation, Gao Qiqian immediately convened his generals, including Zu Kuan, Wu Xiang, Zu Dabi, and other generals of the Guan Ning Army.
Gao Qiqian sat upright in the tent, his usual smooth and timid demeanor gone, replaced by a stern expression. He read the imperial edict aloud in front of everyone, especially the part about the emperor's bestowal of titles and promises, every word of which was clear and distinct.
The tent was initially deathly silent, then a suppressed uproar erupted.
The Guan Ning Army had been stationed in Liaodong for a long time, fighting bloody battles with the Eight Banners for years. Large sums of military expenses were embezzled at each level before they were distributed. Moreover, the imperial court had been in arrears with military pay for many years, and it was already a luxury to be able to pay half of the amount on time.
I have never seen such a generous reward, such a promotion and land grant, such a hefty reward for beheading someone!
What was even more tempting was the emperor's promise of "never being suspicious and guarding Liaodong for generations," which struck right at the heart of these Liaodong military leaders, placing the wealth and honor they had always dreamed of right in front of them!
The generals discussed the matter amongst themselves, but in the end, they pushed Wu Xiang forward to answer.
Wu Xiang's eyes burned with determination. He cupped his hands and volunteered for battle, saying, "The supervising officer has ordered that the Emperor's personal campaign is of utmost importance to the nation. We, the soldiers of Liaodong, have received the Emperor's favor for generations, and it is our duty to march north and protect him! This humble general is willing to lead my cavalry as the vanguard!"
Zu Kuan, already known for his bravery and warlike nature, could no longer contain himself under the weight of the reward. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying:
"The Jurchens have been raiding our borders for years, and we have long harbored resentment! Now that His Majesty has arrived in person and offers generous rewards, it is time for the brave soldiers of Guan Ning to fight the enemy and achieve merit! This humble general is willing to lead three thousand of his personal guards and iron cavalry straight into the enemy's ranks!"
Deputy generals Zu Dabi and Jin Guochen responded one after another and volunteered to fight.
It is evident that, stimulated by the generous rewards of promotion and wealth, as well as the substantial rewards of land outside the Great Wall, the Guan Ning Army could become even more courageous and fearless.
At this moment, the fighting spirit inside the tent was palpable, with no intention of delaying or observing; all that remained was the desire to achieve merit and be rewarded.
Seeing that the generals were already eager to fight, Gao Qiqian immediately made a decision on their deployment.
Leave 15,000 infantrymen to hold the Jize camp, keep Yue Tuo's troops firmly in check, stabilize the camp and avoid unnecessary battles, and prevent him from sending troops north.
He personally led the Guan Ning Army's most elite 3,000 personal guards and 5,000 combat cavalry, totaling 8,000 cavalry. After reorganizing, he was to set off under cover of darkness on the night of the 11th.
The entire army must lie in ambush on the southeast high ground of Jia Village before dawn on the 12th. As soon as the emperor's cannon fires, they will attack from the flank and flank Dorgon's main force!
"Remember this, everyone." Gao Qiqian stood up and repeatedly instructed, "The first priority in this battle is to protect the Emperor, and the second is to defeat the enemy. The safety of His Majesty is of paramount importance. Protecting the Emperor will be an unparalleled achievement, and the glory and wealth of the rest of your life will depend on this one action!"
"With such a great achievement before us, if any foe shrinks back in the face of battle or misses the opportunity, there's no need for His Majesty to punish them; I'll behead them first and offer them as a sacrifice to the flag!"
The generals responded with a resounding roar, and each took their leave to personally reorganize their own household guards and direct subordinates.
Emperor Chongzhen's five thousand new troops had successfully marched nearly two hundred li.
Heading south from the capital, it's only 300 li to Julu. With plenty of time to rest, this highly mobile new army can already reach the designated battlefield ahead of schedule.
By the early morning of December 11th, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
Emperor Chongzhen, clad in silver armor, rode his horse through the central army of the imperial guards.
After days of continuous travel, his cheeks were white from the cold wind, and his lips were slightly chapped, but his eyes were even sharper and calmer, showing no signs of fatigue or wavering.
Huang Degong personally led 3,000 elite cavalry as the vanguard, while sending out elite cavalry along the way to clear out scattered Qing scouts and conceal the main army's movements.
Zhou Yuji commanded the battalion and the Tiger Guard battalion to closely protect the central army, with the firearms battalion following closely behind.
The entire army traveled 100 li a day without stopping, carrying loads on mules and horses and frequently changing horses.
Officials in the prefectures and counties along the way had not even heard of the emperor's personal expedition, and the Jurchen army was even more unaware of their movements.
After slightly moving his thighs and feeling the stinging pain of the tender flesh on the inside of his thighs being chafed, Chongzhen, with a clear mind, began to plan again:
According to the original historical timeline he was familiar with, on the morning of December 12th, Dorgon would gather his main forces to launch a fierce attack on Jiazhuang.
At that time, Lu Xiang-sheng's army was exhausted and his troops were worn out. He fought until his entire army was wiped out and he died on the battlefield.
Now that they have taken remedial measures in advance, Lu Xiang-sheng's troops have some food reserves and have also reduced their forces to garrison Jia Village in advance, they can hold out for a longer time than in the original history.
I will send my troops to travel day and night, and I am sure I can reach the battlefield before the enemy's general offensive.
At that time, all we need to do is wait for the right opportunity to launch a surprise attack and disrupt their siege plan, which will surely open up a way for Lu Xiang-sheng to break through!
"Your Majesty, urgent report from the scouts." Zhou Yuji rode closer, his tone grave, interrupting Chongzhen's thoughts.
"Commander Lu has gathered the entire army to defend Jia Village. The fortifications are well-prepared, and the food supplies can last for three days."
The Jurchen cavalry is rapidly closing in, and Dorgon has led his elite troops from the Plain White and Bordered White Banners, along with over 12,000 Han soldiers, to the outskirts of Jia Village.
Our scouts discovered a large number of Bayara guards and armored soldiers outside the Eight Banners army, along with countless bondservants and servants. This Eight Banners army is extremely fierce!
Chongzhen nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the direction of Jia Village, his fingers secretly clasped together.
Twelve thousand elite Eight Banner troops were the core force in this siege of Lu Xiang-sheng, while the remaining more than ten thousand were mostly Ahahan soldiers and laborers.
He had three thousand elite cavalrymen who could launch a surprise attack to open a breach, while the Tiger Guard heavy infantry would guard the rear, and the five hundred firearms battalion would harass and contain the Jurchen cavalry.
In addition, Gao Qiqian can command at least 5,000 Guan Ning cavalry to come to the rescue, and Lu Xiangshan's main force should still have no less than 3,000 cavalry. Breaking through the gap should not be a problem.
Dorgon, this scoundrel is cautious and suspicious by nature, and rarely takes risks.
Furthermore, the Jurchens only entered the pass to plunder wealth and had no intention of fighting a bloody battle with the main force of the Ming army. Once they realized that Jiazhuang was prepared and was attacked from both sides by the emperor's personal guards and the Guan Ning cavalry, they would suspect that the Ming army had set up an encirclement trap. Their first reaction would not be to fight to the death, but to shrink their formation and retreat to protect themselves.
This was precisely the flaw that Chongzhen wanted to exploit.
The goal of this battle is not to annihilate the enemy forces, but to break the encirclement, rescue Lu Xiang-sheng, and stabilize the situation in southern Ji.
At the same time, this victory established their authority, and by employing both kindness and force, they won over the hearts of the Guan-Ning army, giving the beleaguered Ming Dynasty another chance to breathe.
As for inflicting casualties on the Jurchen army, we can only do our best. The Ming army is too weak now, and we cannot wipe out the tens of thousands of troops capable of field battles in one battle, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Order the entire army to speed up the march."
Emperor Chongzhen issued another order.
"After reaching Jia Village, which is fifty li away, we will find a place to camp and rest. Let the soldiers work hard for a while longer. After this battle, I will personally reward the three armies!"
"I obey your decree!"
Zhou Yuji accepted the order and immediately mounted his horse and galloped away.
Emperor Chongzhen looked up and gazed south, his eyes piercing through the snow-covered landscape, landing on the isolated village of Jiazhuang.
Lu Qing, hold on for two more days.
In this life, I will never let you be buried in the desolate winter wilderness!
……
On the night of the eleventh day of the twelfth month of the eleventh year of the Chongzhen reign, the area surrounding Jia Village was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.
Dorgon personally led the main force of the Eight Banners to surround the small village of Jia overnight, making it completely impassable.
The felt tents stretched out across the open fields, and the firecrackers lit up the sky for dozens of miles. The Bayala guards patrolled the camp all night, and the crisp sound of armor plates clashing together was particularly jarring in the cold winter wind.
Inside the Qing army's main tent, Dorgon sat upright in the center, clad in light cotton armor, his expression composed, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. Beside him, Dodo, unable to contain himself, raised his whip, eager to fight, his face full of arrogance.
"Fourteenth Brother! Lu Xiang-sheng only has a remnant of ten thousand troops. They have been besieged by our army for several days. Their food supplies will run out and their morale will collapse. Why wait until tomorrow?"
Tonight I will order Bayara to launch a full-scale attack on the stockade walls, break through the camp in one battle, behead Lu Xiangsheng, and return north laden with spoils as soon as possible!
Dorgon glanced up and swept his eyes over his younger brother, the fierce look in his eyes suppressing his brother's impetuousness.
"Do not be impatient. Lu Xiang-sheng is no ordinary general. He is strict in disciplining his troops, and the Tianxiong Army are all soldiers who will fight to the death."
Even a cornered beast will fight to the death. A night attack would only increase the casualties of our elite Eight Banners troops. Our army has been fighting in the border region for two months, and our soldiers are already exhausted. There is no need to take any risks.
"Just wait until dawn, then bombard the stockade walls with artillery, launch a simultaneous attack from all four sides. With no food supplies inside and no reinforcements outside, it will surely fall within two hours."
Dorgon had already uncovered the details of Lu Xiangsheng's tribe:
Lu Xiang-sheng's isolated army was trapped, while Gao Qi-qian, who commanded tens of thousands of troops to the south, was held back by Yue Tuo and had no intention of coming to his aid.
Emperor Chongzhen was known for his timidity and indecisiveness, and his court was constantly at war with the enemy, making it even less likely that he would send troops south.
Lu Xiang-sheng is now a sitting duck in their Eight Banners army, unable to escape. They only need to proceed steadily and surely to achieve complete success. Why risk further casualties?
Dorgon was averse to taking risks in his military campaigns and preferred to achieve the greatest results with the least cost.
It's not worth risking your own elite troops to encircle and annihilate a lone army. Besides, he didn't want to give Huang Taiji any more ammunition.
But to his utter surprise, just when he was certain that the battle was over and Lu Xiang-sheng was doomed, two elite Ming armies, capable of overturning his entire plan, had quietly approached the battlefield, lying in wait.
At midnight, Lu Xiang-sheng personally inspected the camp in Jia Zhuang Village.
As the wind and snow intensified, the soldiers on the stockade walls showed no sign of their usual dejection.
Each of them carried the dry rations they had been given, their swords and spears gleaming coldly. Their eyes no longer held the desolation of facing death, but only the perseverance and hope of holding out for reinforcements.
The entire army knew that the imperial court had dispatched a large army to rush to their aid overnight, and they would arrive soon.
They are no longer alone in a desperate situation; they still have a way out and hope!
Lu Xiang-sheng inspected every section of the stockade wall and every guard post, reassuring the soldiers and stabilizing their morale.
Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei were guarding the east and west gates respectively. Looking at their soldiers whose morale had been rekindled, they were filled with emotion.
In the past, the two of them followed Lu Xiang-sheng, knowing full well that they were on a dead end, they could only grit their teeth and fight to the death.
Now that the Emperor's reinforcements are in sight, there is hope for survival. Even if we bleed and die in this battle, it will be a worthy death!
"Commander, the scouts report that the main force of the Qing army has completed the encirclement on all four sides, and each gate is guarded by Eight Banner soldiers. They will launch a general attack at dawn."
Hu Dawei reported in a low voice, "Our army has limited firepower and ammunition, which can only support two rounds of strong attacks. We may not be able to hold out for long..."
"There is no need to fear battle." Lu Xiang-sheng said firmly, his gaze fixed on the depths of the snowstorm to the north. "His Majesty will surely arrive tomorrow! We only need to hold out for two hours until reinforcements arrive, and that will be a great achievement!"
I hereby issue this order: all soldiers must remain in their armor and horses at all times, on high alert throughout the night; anyone who dares to abandon their post or undermine morale will be executed without mercy!
"Your subordinate obeys!"
At the same time, thirty miles southeast of Jia Village, in a dense forest, Gao Qiqian's eight thousand Guan Ning cavalry had quietly laid an ambush.
The heavy snowfall conveniently concealed their movements, and all eight thousand knights dismounted to rest. Their warhorses were tethered deep in the dense forest, and the soldiers wrapped themselves tightly in their cotton armor and ate dry rations on the spot to conserve their energy.
Gao Qiqian sent dozens of spies to infiltrate the area around the enemy camp, to investigate the strength and weakness of the Eight Banners' defenses, and to wait for the northern cannons to fire.
December 12, Mao hour.
As dawn broke and the eastern sky began to lighten, the snow gradually subsided.
Dorgon donned his armor and mounted his horse. With a single command, dozens of Qing army cannons roared in unison, their shells whistling as they crashed into the earthen walls of Jia Village.
In an instant, dust flew up and walls collapsed around Jia Village, and several breaches were blasted into the village walls.
The Aha soldiers, pushing shield carts and forming a defensive formation to cover the Eight Banners infantry behind them, charged towards the gate from all sides under the supervision of the Bayara Guard.
In an instant, shouts of battle shook the heavens, and a rain of arrows pressed down on the city like dark clouds, covering the entire stockade wall!
Lu Xiang-sheng personally went up to the south gate to supervise the battle, holding a large sword and directing the troops on the spot.
The soldiers of Tianxiong Army relied on the stockade walls and fought desperately to resist with firearms, bows and arrows, and rolling logs and stones!
Smoke filled the air and blood and flesh flew everywhere on the stockade walls. The battle had entered a fierce stage from the very beginning, with each section of the battlements being fought over repeatedly!
The Qing army's offensive was like a raging tide, but the Ming army in Jiazhuang was like an iron nail rooted in the ground, fighting to the death without retreating, showing no signs of defeat whatsoever.
Dorgon stood on the high ground to the north, coldly surveying the battle situation, his brows gradually furrowing.
Something is wrong!
Lu Xiang-sheng's remaining troops should have been starving and freezing, their morale low, so how could they have such a tight defense and such unwavering fighting spirit?!
This is clearly a well-prepared and highly motivated force, not at all like a lone army trapped in a desperate situation!
Just as he began to have doubts, three muffled cannon shots suddenly rang out from the northern wilderness!
The deep, desolate sound of cannons pierced through the smoke and cold wind, echoing across the fields.
Immediately following, the earth trembled slightly, and a powerful cavalry force suddenly emerged from the northern highlands!
Three thousand warhorses galloped forward, their roar like thunder!
A large flag fluttered in the wind amidst the ranks, its insignia "Guardian" prominently displayed, waving wildly!
At the front of the imperial army's central formation, a young figure in silver armor stood tall and imposing, drawing his sword and pointing it at the enemy flag ahead, his eyes flashing with cold light. It was none other than Emperor Chongzhen, who was personally leading the expedition!
"Reinforcements have arrived! Hahahahahaha!!!"
The Emperor hasn't abandoned us! Break through! Break through!!!
The imperial reinforcements have arrived! Brothers, kill the slaves!!!
Kill the slaves and break out! Kill the slaves and break out!!!
The morale of the Jia Zhuang defenders was greatly boosted by the arrival of reinforcements. They cheered and then launched a fierce counterattack led by their officers!
Dorgon was greatly alarmed, and the Qing army's besieging forces also experienced a commotion.
The situation changed drastically, and they became the ones being surrounded!