Back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty to be the emperor

Chapter 365 Shanzhou Offensive and Defensive Battle (1)

Shanzhou was the land of Qiang in ancient times. In the second year of Emperor Wu Yuanshou ([-] BC), the Han army marched westward to the Huangshui River Basin, and the Han general Huo Qubing built the Xiping Pavilion, a military stronghold. This was the beginning of the establishment of Shanzhou; Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty Set up Xiping County, governing Xidu County (now Xining City), expanded to Xiping County in the third year of Wei Wendi Huangchu ([-] A.D.), and began to build a city here. It was renamed Huangshui County in Sui Dynasty. Since Tang Dynasty, it was established as a prefecture , changed its name to Shanzhou, located at the westernmost end of the Hehuang Valley, the north and south mountains face each other, and the Huangshui River flows around the city in the west. Rebuilt, the city wall is tall, with complete offensive and defensive facilities. There are more than [-] infantry and cavalry stationed here. It is the crown of the border states and the front line against Tubo. Military discipline was strictly enforced, and the defense in the city was known for being orderly. However, when the Tubo army rolled in, there was still an uproar on the top of the city, just because the enemy's strength was too shocking. some.

"Bastard, what are you panicking about? The whole army listened to the order and cheered up Lao Tzu, don't let the Tubo bastards take it lightly!"

Seeing the Tubo army rolling in like locusts, Cheng Hedong was also extremely anxious, but when he saw his soldiers exclaiming in alarm, he immediately became angry and roared angrily, finally calming down the nervousness of all the officers and soldiers. Emotions were forcibly suppressed.

"My lord, the thief is so eager to give credit, if you don't accept it with a smile, you will really be sorry for the thief's kindness."

Although Zhuang Mingyi was a civil servant, he was courageous and not afraid of battle. Seeing that the atmosphere on the top of the city was too tense, he couldn't help but feel a little worried, so he said something with a smile, in a flat and calm tone. And relaxed, although there is not much rhetoric, but the meaning of self-confidence is very strong.

"Zhuang Sima is right. With so many mobs, it's really tiring to kill. We can barely deal with it."

After all, Cheng Hedong and Zhuang Mingyi have been cooperating for a long time, and the tacit understanding between each other is not lacking. After hearing Zhuang Mingyi's words, he knew the intention of Zhuang Mingyi's words. When the city officers and soldiers saw that the two chief officials in the city were so proud and regarded the Tubo army as nothing, their uneasy mood was immediately relieved, and their morale gradually increased unconsciously.

"Woooo..."

A shrill horn sounded, and the Tubo army that was approaching slowly stopped at a distance of less than two miles from the city. Instead of camping on the spot, they set up a strong attacking formation under the city. Take the posture of Shanzhou in one go.

"Listen, people in the city, my prime minister leads a million-strong army to sweep across the wilderness. If you surrender early, you will be able to keep your wealth. Otherwise, you will die without a place to bury yourself!"

The formation of the Tubo army was adjusted very quickly, and it took only an incense stick of time before the formation was completed. Soon after, one of them rushed his horse to the bottom of the city and persuaded him to surrender with his voice.

"court death!"

Cheng Hedong, who was originally observing the enemy's formation, was furious when he heard that the Tubo general was making a big fuss under the city. The famous general is shot with one arrow.

"what……"

When the Tubo general under the city was complacent, he suddenly saw Chenghe Dong's arrow aimed at himself, and was frightened immediately, and he turned his horse's head and leaned over the horse's back, regardless of face. , turned around and rushed back towards the formation, a series of movements were very smooth, but it was too late, but after hearing the sound of strings, the carved feather arrow pierced the space like a shooting star, and shot into the Tubo Pianjiang's vest was so painful that he let out a roar, and then fell off the horse, his hands and feet twitched a few times, and his life returned to Huangquan.

"Major Minister, the Tang thief is extremely rude, and the final general requests to lead his troops to attack the city!"

"Grand Minister, the final general is willing to lead his troops to take the city, and if he does not capture this beast alive, he will not withdraw his troops!"

"President, you just give the order, the last general is willing to be the vanguard!"

At the Tubo Central Army, Hezzan, Dawang and other Tubo chiefs who were surrounded by Gar Qinling were all irritated by Cheng Hedong's actions, and they all came out with red eyes, each shouting for battle.

"Second brother, the thieves are too rude. They should be exterminated. However, our army has just arrived, and the siege equipment is not ready. If we attack the fortified city by force, we may lose more soldiers and horses. Please ask the second brother to investigate."

Although Gar Zanpo was also very angry at Cheng Hedong's actions of shooting and killing people in front of the formation, he was not dizzy because of this, and after thinking about it for a while, he sincerely remonstrated.

"Zan Po, you want to grow others' ambitions and destroy your own prestige. If you are afraid, just stay and go, but someone is not afraid, this city will take it by himself!"

The head of the ten thousand, Herzzan, is impatient, and has always been at odds with the prudent Gar Zanpo. Hearing that Gar Zanpo advocated a slow attack, Herzzan refused, staring at his bloodshot eyes, He yelled angrily.

"Major Minister, we are waiting for an army of more than [-] to fill up the city of Shanzhou. How can we allow Tang thieves to be so rampant!"

"President, strike, the last general is willing to lead the attack!"

"Prince, we are all willing to fight, please grant your permission!"

All the Tubo generals were warlike, no one wanted to be left behind, they shouted in a chaotic manner, everyone wants to fight, everyone is fighting for the first, the momentum is extremely high.

"Ok!"

Although Gar Qinling has reined in the troops for more than half a month, the preparation work has never been relaxed. He has already had a good plan to break the city. The only difference is the morale of the troops. At this moment, seeing the generals asking for a fight, I was very satisfied in my heart, but I didn't express my opinion in a hurry, but let the generals make a lot of noise, and then raised my hand, stopping the shouting of the generals, Looking around the crowd solemnly, he lowered his hands and ordered in a murderous manner: "Hetzzan is the first to attack, Dawang is the second, and Suo Lunzan is the third. They will attack again and again in order to break the city in one fell swoop. Order to unfold, cut off the flow!"

"promise!"

After Gar Qinling made up his mind, all the generals dared not be negligent, bowed their promises, and rode back to the headquarters one after another. After a while, amidst the sound of horns, all the Tubo soldiers and horses mobilized together When he got up, first, Hezzan led his cavalry to the front of the moat and suppressed the archers at the top of the city with cavalry shots. Immediately after, all the Tubo soldiers untied the small cloth bags hanging from their waists and packed them up on the spot. The soil came, and then, either on horseback or on foot, under the cover of a large group of cavalry, they flocked to the side of the moat one after another, and threw the cloth bags filled with soil into the moat.

"Let the arrows, quick, let the arrows!"

As soon as the Tubo army moved, Cheng Hedong had already guessed the opponent's intention to cut off the moat, and he couldn't help feeling a little anxious, angrily commanding the crossbowmen on the top of the city to shoot arrows to hinder the opponent's actions, but the people on the top of the city There were no more than a thousand crossbowmen in total. Under the suppression of the opponent's cavalry brigade, the results of the battle were really not good. Although they shot and killed hundreds of Tubo soldiers who advanced aggressively, their own side also lost dozens of troops. Looking at a section of the moat due to the west was filled with flat ground by the Tubo army.

"Fill the city, fill the city!"

Seeing that the moat had been filled in less than half an hour before the start of the battle, Herzan was so proud that he led his [-] cavalry brigade to gallop back and forth under the city, while constantly suppressing the enemies at the top of the city with cavalry and shooting. Fighting back, yelling loudly and ordering the army to move forward to fill the city.

"Quick, lift the cylinder up!"

The Tubo army is clearly prepared this time, with more than [-] horses and horses cooperating quite tacitly. Under the command of the horn, groups of infantry and cavalry, braved the arrows that were constantly shot down from the top of the city, desperately pushed forward to the bottom of the city. One by one, cloth bags filled with soil were piled up under the city. Although the price was not small due to the hard work on the top of the city, nearly [-] soldiers fell under the city. The progress has never stopped, and the speed of the pile is astonishingly fast. In just a moment, it has already reached half of the city wall. Go, the Min Zhuang who shouted and commanded the assisted guards lifted the tanks of vegetable oil and kerosene to the top of the city, and poured them down the city regardless, pouring oil on the Tubo soldiers who rushed to the city.

"Ignite! Cast!"

The Tubo army who filled the city were not stupid. Seeing the continuous pouring of oil from the top of the city, they didn't dare to delay any longer. Several lit torches floated down from the top of the city, and landed unsteadily on the chaotic Tubo army. The fire burned up unstoppably in an instant, and hundreds of unlucky Tubo soldiers were burned to death. The human-shaped torch was lit, and the sound of howling was so loud that it became one piece.

"Fire the arrow, let it go quickly, those who retreat will be killed without mercy!"

Herzzan was complacent, but he didn't expect such a fire attack from the defenders, he became anxious immediately, and then saw that the chaos army covered in fire was rushing towards the main formation, his eyes were so wide that they almost dripped out. The blood came, but he didn't dare to let the rebel army rush in, so he could only order to shoot and kill his defeated soldiers with a livid face.

"what……"

"No……"

"General, please forgive me..."

Now that Herzzan had given the order, the archers and cavalry who had already been waiting in full force did not dare to neglect, and despite their complacency, they still became ruthless and poured a rain of arrows on the fleeing rebel army , Immediately, there was a burst of miserable howls.

"Hahaha... It's a small gift, it's not a respect, Tubo children, come again if you have the courage, and kill as many as there are!"

"Tubo dog thief, come to die, grandpas are waiting!"

"Burn these sons of bitches, burn, burn, burn!"

Seeing the Tubo army burned down by a big fire, the morale of the defenders on the top of the city was high. Under the leadership of Cheng Dongdong, they all pointed at the chaotic Tubo army below the city, laughed and cursed loudly, outraged Herzzan, who knew a little Chinese, was furious.

(End of this chapter)