Under the sky

Chapter 323 Destroy the fort and gain ugliness

The battle lasted until dusk, when the Beggar Clan Fang Mingjin retreated.

On the first day of the battle, both sides suffered heavy losses. The Hengshan disciples suffered nearly a thousand casualties, and the Beggar Gang twice as many. There were swollen corpses floating on the moat, the southeast corner of the city wall collapsed obviously, and the city wall was covered with catapult arrows.Li Xuanxuan mobilized the people to repair the city wall at night, and ordered his disciples to go down to the city with slings to draw arrows. Xu Fangge sent a team to shoot arrows to cause nuisance.

The beggar camp was brightly lit. In order to scare Hengshan away, Xu Fangge ordered more torches to be lit. The camp stretched for several miles, and the firelight was as bright as day. The people on the wall and the disciples of Hengshan were all frightened.

"We will continue to attack the city tomorrow morning. Hengshan cannot hold it. This is the last battle!" Xu Fangge patrolled the camp at night to boost morale. He wanted to take advantage of Hengshan's reinforcements before they arrived, and rely on more than [-] disciples to defeat him at once. .

"Capture Hengyang and wash the city for three days!"

In order to win, he finally gave this order.Although military discipline was not strict along the way, and looting and rape were heard from time to time, Xu Fangge never issued an order to cleanse the city when the battle in Changsha was at its most stalemate.After the Kunlun discussion, Songshan did not dare to order the city to be washed even during the Shaosong dispute. Because of this, not only would there be endless troubles, but the hatred between the two families would be irresolvable. Of course, he knew what would happen to these disciples once they entered the city. .

Regardless of the rules agreed upon by Kunlun, as long as Dian Cang wins the position of alliance leader, everything will be resolved by then.

Nothing can boost morale more than these words. After a year-long campaign, the disciples who had been accompanying the army had been depressed for a long time, and suddenly the thunderous cheers reached Hengyang.

Compared with the high morale of the Beggar Gang, the Hengyang defenders were very depressed.The news of Ruan Qifeng's death in battle shocked Hengshan. On the first day, he lost his deputy leader. The people were crying. Mao Yanxue was busy comforting the people. Li Xuanxuan inspected everywhere to boost the morale of the army and ordered all doors to be closed. , and those who took to the streets without orders were killed.

Searching for all the leaders and factions is indeed more conducive to uniting morale, but facing the army outside the city, the disciples of Hengyang are still panic-stricken.

The subsequent offensive became more fierce day by day.Xu Fangge's troops divided into two groups and attacked Hengyang from the east and south by land and water. The Beggar Clan's attacks came one after another. Hengshan collected supplies from the people and used boiling oil, boiling water, falling rocks, and giant trees to resist.

Xu Fangge sent his scouts to go around Hengyang to Qidong to inquire about the news, but the news was lost. Li Xuanxuan obviously didn't want him to know about the battle in Lengshuitan, and had already arranged an ambush along the road.Xu Fangge also made arrangements in the west of the city to besiege Hengyang into an isolated city and prevent messages from outside the city from entering. At the same time, he spread rumors that Lengshuitan had been breached and that Dian Cang's army would come to join him in the near future.

This was very effective. Hengyang disciples could not receive news from outside the city and felt even more panicked. Only then did Mao Yanxue realize Li Xuanxuan's intention of sending his master and faction to prison.If rumors are allowed to spread everywhere, I am afraid that the morale of the military and the people will be weakened, and there may even be internal changes.

But this cannot completely dispel the fear of Hengshan disciples.This fear comes from long-term repression. From the beginning of the war, Hengshan was at a disadvantage and was forced to resist outside the home. The stalemate in Qidong and the losses in Changsha were too great. Almost all the disciples recruited from Guangdong devoted themselves to the battle in Changsha.

On the third day, Xu Buzhuo, the governor of Guangdong Province in Hengshan, sent two thousand light cavalry to rescue the enemy. However, the troops were too small, so Xu Fangge sent people to defeat them.On the fifth day, Xu Fangge saw the collapse of the southeast corner of Hengyang City and ordered a rapid attack by throwing stones. The five-foot-high city collapsed to a height of three feet. Top experts at this height could climb up with only two or three leaps.

The fallen earth bricks collapsed into a rugged slope, which served as a stepping stone. After nightfall, the Beggar Clan disciples piled earth into the slope under the rain of arrows, built a passage with wooden planks, and climbed over the city wall to launch a fierce attack.They once captured the city head and tried to open the city gate. Li Xuanxuan personally led the guards to defend and killed three generals of the Beggar Clan. The plum whisk in his hand was almost dyed red.The guard disciples poured lamp oil on the wooden planks to light a fire, temporarily stopping the offensive, and repaired the city wall overnight.

This raid dealt a huge blow to the morale of the Hengyang disciples. Many disciples had restless nights, fearing that the day would come, and cries and sobbing could be heard in the barracks.

Mao Yanxue came to the Lin family mansion near the east city wall.This large manor has been requisitioned as a nearby central camp to supervise the war. Li Xuanxuan requisitioned this place not only because it was closer to the battlefield, but also because of the plum trees in the courtyard.

The headmaster was resting on an imperial chair.

Li Xuanxuan had changed his clothes. Under the light gray robe, he wore a chainmail woven with gold and steel wires. It was soft and tough. The original light blue plain robe was stained with blood. After the blood dried, it almost turned into a black robe. .But Li Xuanxuan did not throw away the blood-stained robe. She had it washed and dried. Tomorrow she would put on this robe and go to the battlefield. Seeing the blood stains on the leader's body, the disciples of Hengshan would believe that the leader would fight with them.

Perhaps it seemed that the master was fighting together with his disciples, but the disciples did not have soft gold chain mail under their robes. Mao Yanxue thought of this and immediately stopped.

"If we can't hold on, Hengyang will fall soon." Mao Yanxue said, "The leader should prepare a retreat."

"I know." Li Xuanxuan slowly opened his eyes, with a rare tiredness in his eyes.

"Xu Buzhuo is gathering troops and horses from Guangdong to come for reinforcements, but it will take time for the large group to arrive. The leader can go south to meet with them, resist the enemy in Shaoguan, and then go south to Suicheng to wait for an opportunity to counterattack. As long as the leader is there, there is still a chance. "

"If Hengyang is lost, this war will be over." Li Xuanxuan said, "Deputy Commander Mao knows it very well."

Of course Mao Yanxue knew that all the granaries of Hengshan were in Hunan, and it would not be easy to counterattack by Guangdong alone, but there was still a chance for Kunlun to discuss it together. "The most we can do is cut off the land." Mao Yanxue advised, "Hengshan will not be destroyed."

"That's just the difference between today and tomorrow." Li Xuanxuan said.

"Master, there is always a perfect strategy." Mao Yanxue urged again.

"When you are thinking about a perfect strategy, the war has already begun. Before you think about a perfect strategy, the war will have ended long ago." Li Xuanxuan said, "Then you will understand that there is no perfect strategy in this world, only the determination to act according to the situation and fight to the end."

Mao Yanxue was stunned. A long time ago, she competed with Li Xuanxuan for the position of head. At that time, there was also Senior Brother He Junqiao.Senior Brother He was considered to be the one with the best chance to take over as the leader. His younger brother even married Zhuge Yan's sister. However, in just a few years, Li Xuanxuan emerged and replaced Senior Brother He. The changes were so fast that even Senior Brother He could not guess the future. The leader’s thoughts.

Too pushy, Mao Yanxue thought.She didn't understand why the leader was determined to fight for the position of alliance leader, and why he was determined not to seek peace and fight a difficult war for this purpose.No matter how strong Hengshan is, how can it fight against Dian Cang and the Beggar Clan at the same time?No, Mao Yanxue thought, perhaps it should have failed earlier. Without the rescue from Shaolin and Qingcheng, Hengshan would have fallen long ago. The leader... put the entire Hengshan into danger for his own selfish reasons.

My parents-in-law, husband, and son are all still in Hengyang. How will I protect my family after the city is destroyed tomorrow?She hoped that Li Xuanxuan would retreat so that her family could follow him and escape Hengyang.

"I will hold on to the end until Hengyang City is defeated." Li Xuanxuan said, "Tomorrow Qin will lead the army to guard the east." She paused for a moment, then continued, "I will send guards to protect you and your family members."

Mao Yanxue's heart shivered: "Thank you, Master."

Li Xuanxuan watched Mao Yanxue leave, and she could see through Mao Yanxue's confusion and cowardice.In the past, Mao Yanxue was also a competitive girl, with her own ideals and ambition to compete for the leadership.She was smart and skillful, but after she failed to compete for the headship, she chose to marry the man she wanted, a man whose power and wealth were far less than hers, but who could make her happy and be willing to have children for him.

Only smart people understand how extravagant it is for a woman to marry simply because she "likes" it. It means that she already has everything and does not need a man to give her anything more. Even the children of the Jiu Family cannot afford this luxury. .

But this is not the reason why Mao Yanxue has become cowardly. She has become cowardly because she is no longer strong, no longer moving forward, has no more desires, and has no higher ladder for her to climb.She became conservative, timid, and no longer visionary.

She didn't stop because she got married, but she decided to stop moving forward. She didn't let herself become a better person, so many years later, she became corrupt. She didn't see that when Dian Cang started planning for hegemony and attempted to If Hengshan gets his hands on the position of alliance leader, he will have no choice but to start a war.No, as early as the beginning of the Kunlun Conference 90 years ago, the remote causes of today's war were laid. This war is inevitable.

Enduring humiliation to survive, in the end there is only shame and no way to survive.The only way out is to seize every opportunity, accumulate advantages bit by bit, and win at key points.

Of course, complete failure is also possible.

By then, your own path will stop here.Li Xuanxuan knew better than Mao Yanxue that Hengyang City could not be defended.She has no intention of retreating. She is well aware of the consequences of defeat. Once the city is defeated, she will live and die with Hengshan.Hengshan may not be destroyed in this battle, but that is only a matter of time.

Everyone racks their brains for victory, but there is always only one winner.

She suddenly thought of Gu Qingshang.According to Lan Shengqing's report, the child first joined the spy team, and then joined the Qingcheng team on the battlefield.Always so stubborn, Li Xuanxuan sighed in his heart and looked at the plum tree in the atrium.

The flowering period is too early, and the new buds on the dead branches have not yet grown.

Before dawn, the sound of drums and horns startled the Hengshan disciples, and the leader summoned all the disciples guarding the city. "The Beggar Gang has issued an order to plunder the city. You all know what will happen after the city is captured." Li Xuanxuan said.She put on a light blue robe splattered with black blood stains. She still looked calm and indifferent. Her voice was gentle but firm and powerful: "I hope you understand that you are fighting for yourself."

"Two days. I received a report from the spies last night," Li Xuanxuan said. "Dian Cang has withdrawn. Within two days, Vice Commander Lan will lead the Qingcheng coalition forces to come to rescue."

The Hengshan disciples burst into cheers and their morale was high.

This is a lie. The communication between Hengyang and Qidong has been cut off for a long time, but it is not important, because after Hengyang is lost, no one will come to hold her accountable for lying.

At dawn, the Beggar Gang launched an offensive. Xu Fangge had already decided on a strategy and launched another attack from the southeast corner of the city where the wall collapsed.The Beggar Gang cut down wood to make boards and hit the city wall with catapults to widen the gap. The disciples held huge shields to block the arrows and piled up soil. The ships sailed to the bottom of the city. Groups of Beggar Gang disciples invaded Hengyang from the gap and fought with the elite guards of Hengshan. The army is at war.The arrows were raining down like rain, and the Beggar Clan disciples had to move the corpses in front to avoid blocking the road. But by the afternoon, the stacked corpses had filled the gap, forming a corpse path, which was enough for people with lower martial arts skills to climb over the corpses. city ​​wall.

Xu Fangge did not just focus on the gap. Relying on his military superiority, he also attacked the east wall. The leaping figures on the arrows dispersed the firepower of the Hengyang defenders.

The Beggar Gang disciples who invaded the city started fighting in the streets and snatched the city gates. Li Xuanxuan commanded the guards to resist.Her whisk is clipped with thin iron wires. Once it hits an opponent, it will be like a sharp blade scraping it. Although it is elegant and elegant, it is by no means a weapon suitable for use on the battlefield.

She held a fly whisk in her left hand to defend herself, and with her right hand she pulled out the sword on her back - a famous weapon forged with black gold: "Red Plum".

Wherever the red plum blossoms pass, blood flowers bloom.

After nightfall, the beggar gang lit torches and continued to attack the city.Mao Yanxue was guarding the east wall, and just giving orders made her exhausted.

She saw large fireballs piercing the night sky and falling into the city from the damaged area on the east side. They were the few flints left after the Beggar Clan attacked Changsha. Xu Fangge waited until the opportunity came before using them.The flint hit the houses in the city and immediately caught fire. The raging fire illuminated the missing corner. In the dark night, the southeast corner was particularly bright.

If his family hadn't been "protected", maybe Mao Yanxue would have opened the city gate and surrendered, but that didn't matter anymore. More and more enemy troops were pouring in from the southeast corner.It was dark and the sight was blocked, so the small boats that were originally easy to maneuver actually blocked the river. The boats were connected like a bridge. Enemies rushed ashore and poured in through the ever-expanding gap.

More and more people advised Li Xuanxuan to retreat, and some people suggested opening the west gate to let the people escape. Li Xuanxuan knew that once the city gate was opened, the flight of refugees would break the morale of the army, so she followed them to flee. She remained unmoved and sent people to command. Fight the fire while fending off the enemy.Seeing that their leader was taking the lead, the disciples of the Wei Army were highly motivated and restricted the disciples of the Beggar Clan to the southeast corner.

However, this was in vain. Xu Fangge moved a chair and sat in front of Hengyang City, overlooking the distance.Since being injured in Kunlun Palace, although his legs are not disabled, they are often sore after fatigue, and his light weight skills have been compromised.

Fortunately, he knew that Hengyang would be captured at noon tomorrow at the latest without taking the lead. As long as he sat in command and kept the offensive uninterrupted, this battle would end with the victory of the Beggar Gang and Dian Cang.

Dian Cang becomes the leader?It doesn't matter, let Zhuge Tingguan, that loser, indulge in addiction for ten years. Once he completely controls the Beggar Clan, he will have nothing to do with him from now on.

The casualties will be heavy, but worth it.

There was a soft "bang" in the distance. The sound was very small. It was not obvious among the deafening sounds of killing, but it was still abrupt.Xu Fangge looked back. It was too far away to see clearly. He didn't care until he heard panicked shouts and cheers coming from Hengyang City.

"What happened?" Xu Fangge asked around, but no one could answer.He saw the scout team running towards him.

"Ship!" the scout shouted, "Hengshan's ship! Coming from the Xiang River!"

Xu Fangge was shocked, and the second and third scout teams came running.

"There is fire in the west of Hengyang. They are cavalry. I don't know how many there are!"

"Hengyang opened the west gate, and a supporting army entered Hengyang City!"

Xu Fangge saw a row of dense firelights approaching him along the river bank.

■

When the Beggar Clan disciples discovered the Hengshan boat on the bright river, it was already too late.More than a dozen large boats were sailing down the Xiang River. The Beggar Clan disciples with torches were like living targets. They had nowhere to hide under the rain of arrows. Crossbows and catapults were able to smash the boats into pieces.

Although there was no giant ship like the Five-Tooth Warship, Meng Chong was already a giant compared to the civilian ships. The Beggar Clan's ships were blocked on the river, making it impossible to escape. Meng Chong bumped into the ships, making loud noises one after another.

"Light the lamp! Shoot the arrows! Throw stones!" Yin Molan raised his knife high and gave orders to the leader Meng Chong.Only then did the big ship light up its torches. As the torches in front were lit, the fires lit up behind them, making the river surface bright.

The panicked Beggar Clan disciples could not distinguish the number of enemies and were ambushed on the river where they could not advance or retreat. Some of them fell to the river surface while being pushed, and the rest were either killed by bows and arrows or trampled.

The disciple who fell into the river was not lucky. Nearly a hundred boats followed Meng Chong. The people on the boat used spears, bows and arrows to kill the disciples who fell into the river.The Beggar Clan disciples were all exposed to the light, and the fire originally used to capture Hengyang became a guiding light, guiding them to hell.

The Beggar Clan disciples who had not yet crossed the Xiang River were caught off guard by the sudden change and began to retreat.Once the position is loosened, it cannot be held back. Even if the leading generals continue to wave flags and beat drums and deliver orders, they cannot stop the retreat.Yin Molan ordered arrows to be fired towards the river. The Beggar Clan disciples who were in chaos fought back sporadicly, but could not shake the dozen or so large ships.

Then they saw the cavalry coming along the river.The leader was slender, carrying a Tang sword, and his long hair tied high high in the wind. He led a group of cavalry to charge towards the Beggar Gang camp south of the Xiang River, forcing the Beggar Gang disciples on the riverside into the river.

What is more terrifying than the attack by the Qingcheng and Hengshan coalition forces is fear.In the dark night, there were countless enemies, ambushes, and arrows and stones thrown from the river. What made them even more panicked was that when they looked back at the Chinese army camp, they found that the camp had been engulfed in fire.

Xu Fangge was also attracted by the fire from behind and turned back.The Chinese army camp was gone. In order to capture Hengshan as quickly as possible, he almost went out in full force. He even commanded from the front line. Except for the wounded soldiers, the Chinese army camp was almost empty.

Defeated, once the team on the battlefield believes that their side has been defeated, the soldiers will flee. The fleeing team cannot be contained, especially in such a dark night.

Xu Fangge looked back at the river. Waves of fleeing Beggar Clan disciples were rushing towards him. He ordered the team to reorganize. However, no matter how the flag behind him shook the flag vigorously and beat the war drums that resounded in the sky, he could not stop the retreat like a tide. potential.

"Clean up the team!" Xu Fangge raised his true power and shouted, but there was nothing he could do to save the situation.

"Gang leader, retreat quickly!" Zhao Zhiwu ran to his side, "If you don't retreat, we will fall!"

The Hengshan ship has docked, and a large number of disciples have landed on the shore to hunt down the Beggar Clan disciples.At this moment, the east gate of Hengyang opened and a team rushed out of the city.

Xu Fangge almost gritted his teeth. He tremblingly mounted his horse and retreated eastward.

A Qingcheng team rushed out of the fierce fire of the central military camp, led by Shen Congfu and Peng Tiancong.

Tonight's fight was quite long.

(End of this chapter)