Chapter 313: Tianjin Landing Battle

Shi Lang was horrified. How could the Jianlu also have a hot air balloon? This is a powerful weapon!

Zhou Shuai was also accompanying them. This time, Zhao Xiaofei and Zhao Xiaokun specifically asked Zhou Shuai to learn about naval warfare. Wan Shan stayed in Jingzhou to continue training the infantry.

Zhou Shuai was filled with emotion. They had originally escaped from Tianjin. Now, standing on the boat, he felt like Hu Hansan had returned.

Marshal Zhou put down his binoculars, walked over, and said to Shi Lang, "It's okay. That thing can't fly high or far. Didn't you see it's tied with a rope underneath?"

"Will they release the rope immediately after they discover us?" Shi Lang asked.

"We can observe first! We won't move for now. If there is no movement from the hot air balloon in half an hour, we will attack!" Zhou Shuai said.

"Okay!" Shi Lang immediately ordered the waving of flags to prepare the fleet for the attack.

The people on the shore had apparently spotted Shi Lang's fleet, and they began to gather, while another group went up to the city wall for defense.

Zhou Shuai and Shi Lang kept observing with telescopes and found that the rope of the hot air balloon on the opposite side had never been untied.

The two looked at each other and said at the same time: "Attack!"

Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom! The entire fleet turned sideways, aiming their guns at the positions on the shore and unleashing a barrage of fire.

The soldiers on the shore were in trouble this time. Their position was like it had been plowed, and the soldiers were instantly turned into meat paste.

After the first round of attacks, Shi Lang ordered the fleet to turn around and fire another round from the other side. Over a hundred warships, each with five guns on each side, fired over 500 rounds in one round. Another round of attacks fired another 500 rounds. The first round was with shrapnel shells, primarily for injuring the enemy. The second round was with incendiary bombs made from oil. These were all imported from Southeast Asia by Zheng Zhilong.

The Qing soldiers on the city wall had their three views completely changed. First, they had never seen artillery that could fire so far. Second, they had never seen shrapnel shells. It was a one-sided massacre. Third, they had never seen incendiary bombs. Once these incendiary bombs were launched, even those who were lucky enough to still be breathing would be burned to death.

After two rounds of artillery fire, the job was done. The landing area was cleared and no one would come out to disrupt the landing.

The Kenan Army disembarked the boats leisurely, just like they were going to the market to buy vegetables. The Qing troops on the city wall could only stare at them, and no one dared to come down to harass the Kenan Army.

When the Kenan army unloaded the cannons from the ships, the Qing troops on the city began to riot. Before the Kenan army of more than 30,000 people had assembled, a white flag was hoisted on the city wall.

Shi Lang and General Zhou looked at each other and thought, "How easy it is!" This time, the achievement is not small. Recovering Tianjin and the capital. When the time comes, he will be promoted to a higher position and become a marquis himself.

At this time, Zhao Xinhui behind him said, "Generals, the people upstairs are basically former Ming soldiers. A few of them look familiar to me. I'll go ask them who is in charge to avoid any mistakes."

Zhao Xinhui was the man who had conspired with Zhao Xiaofei to kill Feng Shengshi, Lou Guangxian, and Jin Bin. Later, when they went to Nanjing together, Zhao Xiaofei told them before leaving that if they captured Tianjin, he would become the new Tianjin General. He would be a First-Rank official and would even be granted a noble title.

Seeing this, Zhao Xinhui thought this was his chance to show off his skills, so he led the way to the bottom of the tower.

"I am the new commander-in-chief of Tianjin Garrison of the Ming Dynasty. Many of you recognize me as your boss! Who is your leader now?" Zhao Xinhui shouted loudly.

"General Zhao, I am Erzi! Do you still remember me?" A Qing soldier ran out and said.

Zhao Xinhui picked up the telescope and looked, then shouted, "Second son! You're a traitor and you're still alive? You're really lucky!"

"I was forced, Lord Zhao. Let's rebel now and submit to the Ming Dynasty again!" said the second son.

"Tell your people to throw down their weapons!" Zhao Xinhui shouted.

The son immediately shouted to the people on the city wall: "Throw down all your weapons! Quick! Lower the drawbridge!"

After Erzi gave the order, the soldiers on the city wall threw down their weapons, and the drawbridge and the city gate were slowly lowered.

Zhao Xinhui then shouted, "Everyone line up and walk out of the city!"

"Okay, Lord Zhao, please wait a moment!" said the second son.

After waiting for about half an hour, the soldiers finally came out of the city in a crooked line.

Zhao Xinhui came up to the second son and asked, "Why are you so slow? Haven't you eaten yet?"

"Oh! My Lord Zhao, how could the Jianlu let us eat enough? I can only survive by not starving, but they have wine and meat. They suddenly withdrew recently. They left behind more than a hundred real Tartars, and they rode away on horseback as soon as you fired the cannon just now." said the second son.

"Okay! Come with me to meet the two chief officers!" After saying this, Zhao Xinhui brought his two sons to Shi Lang and Zhou Shuai.

Shi Lang and General Zhou were very happy. They took Tianjin without losing a single soldier. It was really great.

Seeing Zhao Xinhui bringing over a shabby-looking surrendered soldier, General Zhou asked, "Is he the one who led the surrender?"

"Yes, sir. He used to be a centurion, a fairly righteous man, and a filial son. His mother is old and can't leave, so he had no choice but to stay and become a traitor," Zhao Xinhui said. Zhao Xinhui knew the second son's family well, so he said this in front of General Zhou.

"Where did the Jianlu go?" asked General Zhou.

"Your Excellency, they ran away during the first bombardment!" replied the second son.

"What's going on with the hot air balloons around here?" Zhou Shuai asked.

"My lord, those were transported from the capital by the Jianlu! They are used to observe the movements of the Ming army!" said the second son.

"Who invented it?" Zhou Shuai asked.

"I did hear the Jianlu people talking about a craftsman named Feng Rui who made a Kongming lantern based on the principle. He was even given an official title by Dorgon," said the second son.

"Besides observation, is there no other function?" Zhou Shuai asked.

"No, no! Apart from being able to detect the opponent before the opponent, there is nothing else we can do." said Erzi.

"Okay, I understand. Since you have surrendered, you must be a good person in the future. Go down!" said General Zhou.

"Thank you very much for not killing us!" The second son immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

General Zhou walked up to Shi Lang and said, "It looks like we'll be in the capital soon!"

Shi Lang smiled and said, "It seems that the prince's great cause is about to be accomplished! I wonder if Lord Zhou has thought about the future?"

"Master Shi, sometimes people shouldn't think too much. The prince just likes people who are obedient and work hard. Do you understand?" Zhou Shuai reminded him. He certainly understood what Shi Lang meant. He just wanted Zhao Xiaofei to wear the yellow robe, and then he would take the opportunity to become a founding duke or something.

Shi Lang saw the offended look in Zhou Shuai's eyes and said with disdain, "Thank you, Lord Zhou, for reminding me!"

"Sir Shi, the prince's ambition is not in the country, but overseas. You should focus more on studying naval warfare!" said General Zhou.

"Thank you for your advice, sir!" said Shi Lang.