As early as a few days ago, many guards and officials from the southern cities secretly sent people to Huzhou to surrender, saying that they were willing to surrender to the court. Now, tens of thousands of Song troops have been rolling in, making many cities north of Hangzhou dare not resist, and they all surrendered in a glance.

In just over half a month, more than a dozen prefectures and counties, including Xiuzhou, Guangde, Changhua, etc., were defeated without any attack. Even Wukang, Deqing and other cities that had just been recaptured by the Wu army, did not take any effort to open the city and surrender the Song army, and they took down a city almost in one day.

This made the three Song army divided their troops and made their march faster and faster. Everyone thought that they could face the city of Hangzhou in a short time and use a fatal blow to the counter-army of Fang La, which completely brought this great contribution to pacifying Jiangnan.

The most urgent of these is naturally the Huaibei Road troops led by Zhang Gun. After winning four cities in a row, the troops pointed directly at Lin'an City, which was at the throat of the Hangzhou main road. As long as this city can be taken, there will be no barriers to defend Hangzhou in the rear. He can lead his army to flatten the river until the city of Hangzhou, and launch a frontal attack on the capital of Wu.

On the ninth day of the ninth month, on the Double Ninth Festival, the Huaibei army had surrounded this small Lin'an county town. Compared with the Song army's power outside the city, the less than 3,000 Wu troops guarding the city were already scared and trembling. Many people had the idea of ​​opening the city to surrender. Only because their county magistrates were becoming more and more powerful, they did not dare to take action.

He Guangchang stood at the top of the city, looking at the scene where the flags covered the sun, and when he reached the forest of guns, his face became extremely serious. But he turned around suddenly and shouted loudly to the many defenders around him: "My fellow villagers, I know that Lin'an is in danger now, and the enemy's strength is more than ten times that of my enemy. But I hope that all brothers can defend the city with me. As long as there is one person alive, I will never surrender in Lin'an City!

"I think you should never forget what life we ​​lived two years ago? The Song court was unrighteous, corrupt officials were rampant, and there were countless taxes. How many people were forced to destroy their families by those corrupt officials raised by the dogs and mothers. It was His Majesty who led the crowd to give us the order that we took back everything we belonged to. Now, the court's hawks are coming, which is when we are loyal to His Majesty!

"My Lin'an is the gateway of Hangzhou. As long as we guard one more day, Hangzhou will be more safe and prepared. I believe that it won't take long to fight, and General Fang, they will definitely come to rescue us in time! As long as everyone is willing to give it a try, I Lin'an will be able to guard that time!"

The effect of this statement was clearly visible. The defenders and even countless people in the city were infected by his words and shouted: "We will never betray Your Majesty, and we will never betray County Magistrate He, and we will live and die together with Lin'an!"

Hearing this roar of unity, He Guangchang finally had a little smile on his face: "Well said, we will surely achieve this final victory!"

"We will win! We will win! We will win!" In the shouts of the military and civilians, He Guangchang looked at the tall general wearing armor and swords beside him, bent down with his fists, and said with great tribute: "General Fang, after the war begins later, I, Lin'an, will give you all."

"Don't worry, as long as we live for a hundred years, we will definitely defeat the Song army." A complex light flashed in the eyes of General Fang, and then he solemnly promised. After pausing, he suggested again: "Mr. He, you should go back to the yamen quickly. I will leave the defense matters on the city to me, otherwise I will be able to hurt you if I have no eyes."

"No, I have promised everyone that they will live and die with Lin'an. How can they retreat in the last moment? I have been guarding the city with you since then. Although I am only a scholar, I still have the strength to smash a few stones down!" As he spoke, He Guangchang had already strode to the stones piled up by the city wall. He bent down and moved the stones about a foot square, and he leaned towards the battlement of the city wall with panting, which made the others stunned.

Just then, hearing the shouts in the city also caused a stir in the Song army lined up outside the city. Then, Zhang Gun had already stepped forward and shouted to the city: "Let me listen carefully, and I will only give you one chance. As long as you open the city and surrender at this time, I can guarantee that you will be left with your lives. Otherwise, when my army attacks the city, it will be a disaster!"

As soon as he finished speaking, tens of thousands of troops behind him shouted loudly: "Surrender open the city! Surrender open the city!" The voice rolled in, shocking the defenders who had just raised some morale and felt a sense of panic.

Seeing this, He Guangchang was annoyed at that time. He poked his head out and shouted loudly: "You hawk, dog, don't daydream! I, Lin'an City, are united and defended to the end, and will never surrender to you!" As he said that, with the force of his waist and arm, he really raised a large stone worth dozens of kilograms, shouted loudly, and greeted Zhang Gun's head under the city.

This was really beyond the expectations of Zhang Gun and his subordinates. Since they arrived in Huzhou, they could almost take down every city without bloodshed, which made them feel that the Wu army did not dare to resist before they arrived in Hangzhou. So even though they were shouting in the city just now, they did not take any warning. It was not until the big stone roared down from above that Zhang Gun was so shocked that he shouted in a low voice, and quickly pulled his horse and flashed backwards.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough, and He Guangchang's strength was indeed not too great. The stone hit the ground only five or six feet away from his horse's head, smashing out a large amount of smoke and dust. Despite this, it scared General Zhang very much, and made him lose face, and his face turned distorted by shock and anger.

The generals and soldiers beside and behind were even more frightened, so they rushed forward and quickly raised their shields to completely block him. If the enemy suddenly set off another wave of arrows, something would really happen to his general.

Zhang Gun retreated and shouted loudly: "Surprise me! Archers, shoot arrows for me, and after breaking the city, everyone will be rewarded!" He was really angry, not only because of his fear, but also because of his face. Since the defenders of Lin'an City are so stubborn, let them know what the result would be to resist our imperial army!

With his order, more than two thousand archers who had already prepared were immediately taken forward and then shot the arrows upwards like raindrops. Suddenly, a scream of screams sounded from the city wall at the top of the city wall. The defenders quickly found a place to hide from the rain of arrows, and the simple shields were also supported one by one.

But this rain of arrows was just an appetizer for this siege battle. While suppressing the defenders, more people were shouting and rushing forward. The two or three thousand people in front of them were carrying two capsules of earth and stones and rushed directly to the small and shallow moat. With a shout, thousands of bags of earth and stones were thrown into the river, and in an instant, the moat water was cut off, paving the way for the army behind.

Then, another team of people pushing various siege equipment rushed forward, ladders, rushing cars, breaking city rams... All kinds of weapons from all walks of life were leaning against the city walls and gates in an orderly manner. Before the enemy had organized a decent defense system, they were about to attack the city in all directions.

Although Zhang Gun was impatient and greedy for merit, he was still very capable as the commander of the road. Just from his linked siege arrangements, we can see that there is no shortage of effort on this on weekdays. Under this arrangement, the Song army was also brave. Soon someone climbed up along the ladder. At some weak points of the city gate and the city wall, various city-breaking weapons began to thrust, causing the entire city wall to tremble.

After all, Lin'an is just a small county town, and the city walls are neither high nor thick. With the full attack by tens of thousands of troops, I am afraid that it may not be able to defend it for a day. The city is broken, just today!

Even though He Guangchang did not avoid arrows at this time, running back and forth on the city wall, inspiring a group of soldiers, under the threat of the rain of arrows coming from the sky, the defenders were still struggling and it was difficult to organize decent resistance. After all, they were not elite troops of the Wu army, and had never experienced such a life-and-death battle before, so it was naturally difficult to achieve too much effect.

Seeing this, Fang Bainian lifted his knife to inspire the morale of the army, while dragging He Guangchang to go down to the city: "Mr. He, you really can't help here, so you'd better go back first, I will lead the troops to defend the city."

But He Guangchang still had the same attitude: "No! Since I have said that I will live and die with everyone, there is no possibility of escaping alone. You don't have to persuade me anymore. Even if I die, I will die at the head of Lin'an City!"

"Then... I can only say a word of sorry..." Fang Bainian said, and the knife in his hand suddenly rushed forward and immediately penetrated into County Magistrate He's chest and suddenly emerged from his back.

"You--!" He Guangchang's eyes wide open, full of shock and disbelief. He really didn't expect that this city guard who had always cooperated with him would suddenly kill him. Even if he would be wary of anyone, he would not be wary of Fang Bainian, because Fang Bainian is a brother of Fang La's clan. Anyone could surrender and betray him, but he would not...

how so?

This was He Guangchang's last thought, but he could no longer get the answer to this question.

After killing He Guangchang with one knife and shocking everyone on the city wall, a trace of pain flashed in Fang Bainian's eyes, and then he was replaced by Jue Jue. He immediately shouted: "Stop it all, open the city gate, we have surrender!"

The two backbones died and surrendered. Even though the soldiers wanted to hold on, they no longer had the courage and confidence. After only a moment of silence, the defenders at the city top threw their weapons to the ground, and at the same time moved various heavy objects blocking the city gate. Then they raised the huge latch, and with a loud bang, the city gate opened...

"We are willing to surrender outside the city. He Guangchang, who is fighting stubbornly, has been killed by villains!" Seeing the Song army coming, Fang Bainian quickly shouted loudly, and at the same time he also threw down the weapons in his hand.

With his words, Lin'an City, the last portal in Hangzhou, finally fell completely!
Chapter completed!