The Japanese pirates rushed straight to Ande Gate, and the pressure on Ande Gate increased greatly. The soldiers rushed to
Shoot arrows from under the city.
However, the Japanese pirates had been on the battlefield for a long time and had rich experience in fighting. They did not gather together, but moved in a scattered and serpentine manner towards the city gate, making it difficult for the Ming army to aim. The Ming army's archery skills were also poor, and they shot down a large number of arrows, which looked spectacular. However, after such a fierce operation, it was obvious that the results were poor. They did not cause any substantial damage to the Japanese pirates. They just forced the Japanese pirates to be careful to guard against the arrows on the city wall, and their movements were a bit awkward.
While dodging the feather arrows, the Japanese pirates would also fire arrows and cannons from time to time, and they almost always succeeded.
Before long, eight Ming soldiers were shot dead by the Japanese pirates, and more than a dozen Ming soldiers were shot and wounded.
The Japanese pirates became more and more arrogant, and the Ming army became more and more frightened. The panic on Ande Gate was suffocating.
After Yu Daxian led the reinforcements to arrive, especially the reinforcements of the musketeers, the arrogance of the Japanese pirates was somewhat subdued.
"Where is the general's cannon? Aim a few shots at the Japanese pirates outside to kill their arrogance!" a general shouted loudly.
Pang Shi on the city wall hurriedly moved the general's gun carriage, put wooden pillows on it, moved the gun barrel, aimed it at the Japanese pirates under the city, loaded it with gunpowder, put in lead shells, held a torch close to the fuse, and lit it.
"Okay, now let's teach Wo Ji a lesson!"
When the Ming army saw the General Cannon being deployed, they gathered around the cannon and looked toward the city, expecting to see the cannon blow up the Japanese pirates.
Artillery has a large killing area, unlike muskets and feather arrows which are point-to-point, and it is difficult for the Japanese pirates to dodge by moving.
So the Ming army was very much looking forward to it.
boom!
There was a deafening roar! Like the world-destroying thunder exploding in my ears.
There were screams!
The Japanese pirates below the city were startled, but they did not suffer any damage. On the contrary, the Ming army on the city suffered heavy casualties.
The screams came from the city.
It turned out that the cannon that fired the gun had not been used for many years and was poorly maintained. It exploded on the first shot. As the Ming army was densely populated nearby, the cannon exploded and killed five Ming soldiers on the spot, seriously injured eight people, and slightly injured more than ten people.
"The first shot exploded. This is not a good sign."
"Isn't this a warning from God, telling us that we can't defend Yingtian and that we should escape early?"
"Even the general's cannon is supporting the Japanese. How can we defend this city?"
There were screams from the city. The impact of the artillery explosion was far more than just physical damage. It also caused tons of mental damage. For a moment, the people on the city wall were in panic, and there was a lot of pessimism.
"Bullshit, what about God's warning and Yingtian being unable to defend! Anyone who dares to talk nonsense and disrupt the morale of the army will be killed without mercy!" The military academy waved the whip and severely lashed those who spoke ill of others.
After a beating of the whip, the bad-mouthing stopped.
However, the suppression by the military academy only made people shut up, but the fear in their hearts could not be suppressed.
"Release the carrier pigeon to urge the earth to respond to the sky!"
"Step up the conscription of civilians to defend the city..."
Lives were being passed down from the city walls.
The people on the city walls were in panic, and those inside the city were even more terrified. Especially when the officers and soldiers forcibly conscripted the people to defend the city, the panic in the city was even more extreme, and many people resolutely resisted going up the city walls to help defend the city.
Human beings are selfish by nature, and people's hearts are selfish. Selfless people are rare. If a friend dies, I will die too. This is what most ordinary people really think at this time. Going to the city wall to help defend and face the Japanese pirates who kill without blinking an eye, how dangerous it is. It is much safer to stay under the city, because there are people on the city to block it. If the Japanese pirates break through Yingtian City, they can at least live half a day longer than the people on the city.
Therefore, many people resisted going up the city walls. When they were conscripted by officers and soldiers, they cried, made a fuss, and even threatened to hang themselves. Some of their family members even threw a tantrum. Only when the officers and soldiers put swords to their necks did they reluctantly go up the city walls.
Of course, there were still many people with high ideological awareness who cooperated well and even took the initiative to go up to the city walls to assist in defense.
For example, these beggars and hooligans in front of us.
"Sir, officer, we are beggars in the city. We don't produce anything. It is the elders and villagers in the city who give us rice, flour, and money to feed us. We have received the kindness of the elders and villagers in the city, and we always want to repay them. It's just that we have no money or things to give, and we have no ability to repay. Now that the Japanese pirates are attacking the city, our chance to repay the elders and villagers has come. We must join in defending the city, fight the Japanese pirates to the end, and swear to repay the elders and villagers for saving our lives!"
A beggar who was short, shabby, and wore a tattered hat but looked strong, led a group of about eighty beggars and took the initiative to find the officers in charge of conscripting the people at the foot of the city, and sincerely asked to join the defense.
"We want to report to Si, and they want to join the defense. Even if they have to sacrifice their lives, they can't let the Japanese pirates set foot in Yingtian!"
"We want to fight the Japanese pirates! We are not afraid of death, and we are not silver. We just need some leftovers."
"I came here to escape the disaster. Fortunately, the elders of Yingtian took me in and fed me with their leftovers. Today is the time for me to repay them. We are willing to defend the city for the elders of Yingtian. If the Japanese pirates want to enter Yingtian, they have to step over us."
As soon as the beggar leader finished speaking, the beggars behind him came forward one after another and volunteered to do the job.
The officers who were conscripting civilians looked at the beggars. They were all men, ragged, unkempt, tall, short, strong and thin. They were all between 20 and 40 years old, and they were all in their prime. They were moved. It was rare and precious that the beggars were grateful and took the initiative to help defend the city.
"We, and us."
Behind this group of beggars, a group of ruffians came running, about seventy or eighty people, shouting as they ran.
"What are you going to do? With the Japanese pirates around us, if you cause trouble, don't blame me for being rude." The officer frowned. He was familiar with many of these ruffians. They were the bad guys who usually roamed the streets, idled around, sneaked around, provoked trouble, and molested decent women. Naturally, he didn't have a good impression of them.
"Bah, don't look down on us. We can also tell good from bad. Sir, we also want to join in defending the city. On weekdays, we have caused trouble to our fellow villagers. Now that the Japanese pirates are here, it's our chance to atone for our sins."
A thug stood up, spat a mouthful of thick phlegm, patted his chest hard, and said in a loud voice.
"We haven't done anything good on weekdays, and the folks all look down on us. Now let us show you that we are also capable! We know we are wrong, and we want to atone for our sins. We are also good people!"
"There are Japanese pirates outside. We must kill them, wash away the shame on us, and let the elders and fellow villagers look at us with new eyes."
"I want to defend the city and kill the Japanese pirates. Today I will show you whether I, Shang Shi Fang Ah San, am a hero!"
A group of ruffians also spoke in unison, firmly demanding to take part in defending the city and killing the Japanese pirates.
The officers looked at the hooligans who volunteered to join the fight and raised their eyebrows, looking at them with a new respect.
There is nothing better than admitting one's mistakes and correcting them. A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold.
What's more, these ruffians are all young and strong men, and they are usually brave people.
The officers were also moved.