Prince of Zhou, Prince of Zhao, the families of the princely estates, and the common people in the city fled through the north gate in a desperate swarm.
These civilians knew all too well that from the moment they had begun to hold the city, surrender was no longer an option. Li Zicheng had long ago established his rules:
For those who surrendered before the siege began, the Shun Army would not kill a single soul upon entering.
For cities captured after one day of fighting, the garrison would be slaughtered, and thirty percent of the city’s population would be put to the sword.
For cities captured after two days, the garrison would be slaughtered, and seventy percent of the population would be killed.
For cities that held out for three days, the city would be sacked upon its fall. Every man, woman, child, and elder would be butchered—even the yellow dogs guarding the doors would be skinned for their meat.
Chapter 308