The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

Chapter 150 Aguda: The Korean soldiers are no match for him

The Russian delegation left that same day, without taking anything with them, as it was confiscated by the Ministry of Rites. The reason given was that they were delivering gifts, and it was unacceptable to take them back with them.

In reality, Liu Mu didn't intend to do it; it was the Ministry of Rites that made the decision on its own. The Ministry of Rites always received the least amount of money, but did the most work, such as promoting opera, the imperial examinations, and compiling history for the Ming Dynasty.

Upon learning the news, Liu Mu immediately instructed Zhao Fengnian to issue an imperial decree that evening, bestowing the ten noblewomen upon the ten military commanders of Lianghuai, and thoughtfully sending people to deliver them to their residences.

When Zhao Fengnian returned and reported back, the generals seemed to dislike it and even looked disgusted. However, since it was a gift from the emperor, they could only take it home and raise it.

The maids were sent to the palace. They were exceptionally strong and much more useful than the eunuchs for physical labor, and they also added some life to the palace.

In the early morning of 1676 AD, which was the first day of the Han Dynasty in 1877, three cannon shots rang out from all the city gates of Beijing, marking the third year since the Han army entered the capital.

Beijing remained as usual, and officials had already entered their rest period. Meanwhile, in Uiju, far away in Korea, Zhao Lie's 20,000-strong army was already poised to attack the city.

Zhao Lie rode a white Liaodong horse, wearing an earth-yellow general's uniform underneath and a black fox fur coat on top, exuding an air of nobility.

However, with the army about to attack the city, Zhao Lie looked at Wu Zhaoqian, who was riding a donkey, with a puzzled expression.

"Old Wu, what's going on with this Joseon Kingdom? Uiju City is built close to the mountains and forests, and they don't even defend the west side. Even if the army bypasses it, they can't do anything about it."

Wu Zhaoqian slurped down a mouthful of strong liquor, his face regaining a rosy hue, and pointed towards the city wall, shaking his head.

"Now that you're a marquis and governor-general, you should learn to observe the times and assess the terrain!"

"The Korean state had no choice but to arrange things this way because their national strength was too weak to defend the long Yalu River border. They could only build Uiju City on the riverbank, mainly to facilitate naval defense. The only drawback was that in winter, once the Yalu River froze, the Korean border would be undefended, and the army could charge in and penetrate into the plains."

"Therefore, Huang Taiji of the Manchu Qing Dynasty attacked Korea twice in winter. But this time, we only have 20,000 troops and insufficient supplies. We cannot, like the Manchu Qing, launch a surprise attack on Seoul to force the Korean king to surrender. We can only advance step by step, sustaining ourselves through war!"

After Wu Zhaoqian finished speaking, he dismounted from the donkey, spread the leather cushion on the snow, and sat down on it.

He said all this, and he still stayed in Ningguta because he admired Zhao Lie's character: he would ask questions if he didn't understand, and he would learn slowly if he couldn't learn it. He was also kind to others.

After listening, Zhao Lie also gained some insights. He immediately waved for Agu to come over and asked:

"Aguda, our army's provisions are less than three days' worth. How long will it take you to breach Yizhou City?"

Aguda paused for a moment upon hearing this, then revealed a disdainful expression. "Governor, this city wall is only twelve feet high. As long as the arrows can suppress it, it can be breached in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!"

Zhao Lie glanced at the walls of Yizhou and found they were only twice the height of Aguda's. He immediately gave the order:

"Aguda, after the city falls, collect all the provisions and supplies, and enlist all able-bodied men who can wield a sword into the army!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

After receiving the order, Aguda strode towards Yizhou City. He felt nothing for the cruel-sounding military order; his heart was filled only with the desire for war.

This is the guarantee of his family's livelihood.

His only son lived in the military governor's mansion, where he was served by a wet nurse and had a steward in charge of affairs. He also experienced the joys of aristocracy.

"Archers, advance!"

"Tulichen, you lead the troops to attack the city!"

At Aguda's command, ten thousand Jurchen cavalrymen dismounted and approached the city wall with bows and arrows in hand.

These Jurchen people from Heilongjiang were all natural archers. Their shooting speed might not be fast, but their power was extremely strong.

As for why firearms weren't used, it was mainly because they were traveling light and didn't have enough gunpowder. Wu Zhaoqian suggested that it would be best to use it in open field battles or when attacking the royal city.

The burly man named Tulichen, whom Aguda called, was the commander of the three thousand Beihai servants who had joined the army.

Upon receiving the order, he led his men forward, pushing the ladder, and even lowered the angle to adapt to the North Korean city.

There's no way around it, the city wall is just too low!

The defenders on the city wall were terrified. They only had two thousand soldiers in the entire city, and the people, having suffered two massacres by the Manchus, were even more afraid to go out and stayed at home.

Upon seeing the Korean soldiers on the city wall preparing oil and molten gold, Aguda immediately ordered his men to fire arrows.

In these siege battles, heavy arrows, as thick as a thumb, were hurled. They could not harm armored soldiers from a hundred paces away, but ordinary Korean soldiers, most of whom were also unarmored, quickly suffered casualties.

Seeing that the city walls were being suppressed, Tulichen immediately led his army to attack the city. Yizhou City was mainly defended by the Yalu River and had no moat. Now that the Han army was attacking from the west, the siege ladders were able to be mounted on the city walls without any obstruction.

One by one, the North Sea savages, clad in blue cloth-covered iron armor and carrying Korean arrows and muskets, began to climb.

These people were from tribes whose tribes were destroyed by the Han army during the war. They had no family members at the time and could only join the Han army by relying on military merit. Naturally, they fought bravely. When one was knocked down, another would take his place.

However, with the help of the high walls, they could rush to the top in just a few steps. After losing more than a hundred men, some brave men stood firm on the top of the wall.

On the city wall, these Korean soldiers could still shout and yell, but when the two sides fought with cold weapons, they were like castrated men, and their heads were easily cut off by these North Sea savages.

In particular, when these North Sea savages accidentally dropped their hats, revealing their rat-like braids, they exerted a greater pressure on these Korean soldiers, which was amplified many times over. Uiju had been brutally massacred by the Manchus on two separate occasions.

The new North Koreans here.

Even if you're just listening to stories, you've already heard them.

Just as Aguda had predicted, as more and more North Sea barbarians climbed onto the city walls, the Korean soldiers began to flee in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

These Korean soldiers were defeated quickly and fled just as fast. When Aguda led his troops into the city, he found that some Korean soldiers could walk swiftly even while carrying people on their backs.

However, Aguda did not order a pursuit.

According to Wu Zhaoqian, although Korea is mountainous, it lacks plains. The Han Dynasty only needs to occupy the large plains in the west, and these people will have to come out again.

At that time, they became obedient subjects.

Yizhou City had no more than two thousand soldiers and no more than ten thousand civilians. The grain they plundered was far from enough to feed them. Zhao Lie immediately led his troops south again. The city was left undefended because the remaining people were the elderly, women, and children; the able-bodied men had all been taken away.

With the help of the enemy and the ferocity of the army, the Han army captured nine cities in the north within half a month, and even took the important city of Anzhou.

Just then, a dozen or so wealthy-looking Korean gentry arrived uninvited.

Author Fat Fish Is Not Afraid of Fire's latest work, "The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: Starting with an All-In Bet on Beijing," is exclusively released for the first time!