《明史·列传·卷一百九十三》
当时，大势已去，守城士卒寥寥，贼人架设飞梯进攻西直门、平则门、德胜门三门。
是时，事势已去，城陴守卒寥寥，贼架飞梯攻西直、平则、德胜三门。
At that time, the fall of the dynasty was almost inevitable, and the city was defended by only a few soldiers as the enemy rammed flying stairs to attack the Xizhi, Pingze, and Desheng gates.