GBP Chapter 31 Attacking the Mountain Stronghold
Chapter 31 Attacking the Mountain Stronghold
??
With his strength greatly increased, Liu Ye decisively continued to attack the bandit army's stronghold.
Three days after the Lantern Festival, Lin San sought out Mr. Yan to discuss how to deal with the government's offer of amnesty. Just then, someone reported that a troop had appeared at the foot of the mountain and was heading towards the stronghold. Lin San and Mr. Yan simultaneously asked, "Are they government troops?"
The soldier who delivered the message shook his head and said with a hint of panic, "They're not wearing the official soldiers' matching padded jackets; they look like the team we encountered in Chengmai County."
Just as he feared, Lin San stood up abruptly, both shocked and furious: "These people are despicable! They even chased us all the way here!"
Mr. Yan asked the soldier who brought the news, "Are there only them? Not a single officer or soldier?"
After receiving a definite answer, Mr. Yan said to Lin San, "General Lin, don't panic. There are no government troops, only this private army. Since they are not alarming the government, they probably have other purposes. There is still room for maneuver."
Lin San was agitated and paced back and forth: "What is their purpose? Our mountain stronghold has no treasures, but we have caves that produce salt. However, the Han people also have salt. It's not like we have anything special."
Mr. Yan said, “I don’t know either, but one thing I’m sure of is that they don’t come with good intentions. Our stronghold is one of the best in the entire Qiongzhou Prefecture. Fighting on flat ground is one thing, attacking a stronghold is another. Since they dare to come, they must have the means to break through the stronghold!”
Thinking of the enemy's formidable firearms, Lin San felt a lack of confidence. "If that's the case, what should I do? I can accept amnesty from the government troops, but they are not the government. What should I do?"
"Let's wait and see, and act accordingly!"
Another soldier reported: "The enemy has arrived outside the stockade gate and has formed ranks."
Whether they stick their necks out or not, they'll still get stabbed. Lin San gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go see if they have three heads and six arms."
Upon reaching the wooden stockade wall, the two saw that the guards, about 300 paces outside the stockade, had formed a long, two-row formation with two cart-like objects sandwiched in the middle, supported by a thick iron pipe. Lin San didn't recognize what they were, but Mr. Yan's expression changed drastically: "Cannons! They actually have cannons? Good heavens, these aren't just private troops; they're clearly more elite than the government army!"
He hurriedly said to Lin San, "General Lin, the situation is not as we imagined. We are in great danger. They actually have cannons. This wooden wall will definitely not be able to stop them!"
Apart from the prefectural city, none of the counties and prefectures in Qiongzhou had a decent cannon. Lin San had never seen a cannon before and asked in bewilderment, "What is a cannon? Is it also a firearm? Could it be more powerful than their own muskets?" In his opinion, the musket, which could kill the enemy invisibly, was already an amazing weapon.
In his haste, Mr. Yan's voice rose, completely abandoning his usual refined demeanor, and he loudly proclaimed: "In the past, when the imperial court fought a great battle against the Jurchens at Ningyuan, it was no match for the old slaves in open battle. It was only through the sharpness of its artillery that it was able to repel the Jurchen army. Records show that 'eleven Western cannons were mounted inside Ningyuan City, firing from the city walls continuously. Every shot hit a target that caused devastation for several miles.' The power of cannons is incomparable to that of muskets!"
Lin San was a little dizzy and couldn't understand what Mr. Yan was saying. The words about the imperial court and the Jurchens, the great battle of Ningyuan, and the devastation of several miles contained a lot of information, and he didn't know what they represented.
Seeing that Lin San still didn't understand, Mr. Yan sighed, realizing that he couldn't explain it to the bandit general on this remote island in a short time.
"In short, their cannons are far more powerful than muskets; there's no way to stop them. General Lin, you'd better make plans soon!" Regardless of whether Lin San would listen to his advice, Mr. Yan had already begun looking around for a way out. He was willing to assist Lin San, but he didn't intend to die an unjust death.
The voices from the other side began to shout: "Listen up, you bandits! You have one incense stick's time to lay down your weapons, open the gates, and surrender. Otherwise, guns and cannons have no eyes, and the lives of your entire band will be in danger!"
The soldiers made a commotion. Although they had been defeated by this army, field battles and city defense were two different things. They could not beat them, but they could at least defend the city. The idea of surrendering within a time limit was too arrogant!
Lin San was furious and, ignoring Mr. Yan's warning, yelled, "Such arrogance! The warriors of my mountain stronghold will fight to the death! Let's fight them to the death!"
The mountain stronghold was his means of survival. He could accept the government's offer of amnesty, since it was just a nominal title and his actual strength remained. But opening the gates and surrendering to the opposing force would be tantamount to losing his entire fortune. Qiongzhou was vast, but where would Lin San find a foothold?
His former prestige remained, and the soldiers raised their hooks and shouted to boost their morale.
The guards fell silent, standing there quietly. A few men busied themselves taking iron balls from the two-wheeled cart, piling them next to the iron pipes, and lighting torches.
The mountain stronghold watched the other side's actions, unsure of what they were doing, and dared not leave the stronghold to meet the enemy. They just stood there dumbfounded, and for a moment, both sides fell into silence.
About half an incense stick later, the other party shouted again: "The time is up. You have sought your own death. Don't blame us for showing no mercy!"
How cunning! The time hasn't come yet. Lin San spat angrily, venting his dissatisfaction. For some reason, he felt a vague fear that the incense stick's time would end too soon. The other party's confidence made him feel very insecure.
The two men opposite simultaneously lit a fuse on one of the iron pipes, creating two conspicuous bursts of sparks from their side. Moments later, flames spewed from the two pipes, accompanied by two deafening roars that nearly shattered the soldiers' eardrums, leaving them utterly shocked and pale. They had never heard such a loud noise before; even thunder couldn't have made it louder.
Before they could even understand what was happening, two iron balls came hurtling towards them. One slammed into the wooden wall, the wooden planks utterly unable to withstand the immense kinetic energy of the shell, instantly creating a hole. The soldiers standing on it lost their footing, many falling to the ground, two even tumbling down the wall. The other iron ball flew just over the top of the wooden wall, making a few cracking sounds. Two people were grazed by it, staggering backward and falling to the ground. The last one fared the worst, struck directly in the chest by the iron ball, falling off the wall without uttering a sound, flying several meters before landing on the ground.
Lin San witnessed the power of the iron ball firsthand. One of the two men struck had his left arm completely severed, while the other had half of his face sliced off, exposing the bone. Neither died immediately, but they writhed and screamed on the ground, blood pooling around them. The surrounding soldiers were terrified, retreating hastily as if getting closer to these two meant getting closer to death. Lin San's fear was no less than theirs. Looking at the man who had been directly struck and sent flying off the wooden wall, his chest riddled with holes, ribs broken, flesh mangled, he was already dead.