Guiyi Fei Tang

Chapter 112: Soldiers Surrounding the War
"Sorry..."

"Everyone, take good care of the herd. Winter is coming soon. If you want to have food to eat, you better behave yourself!"

"A bunch of dog slaves... ugh!"

At the end of August, at the foot of Yanzhi Mountain, the grassland gradually turned yellow, and gusts of autumn wind carried the fragrance of grass and the scent of livestock.

Dozens of herdsmen were waving whips on the grassland, shouting one after another, with perverted satisfaction and pride on their faces.

Under their whips, the enslaved slaves were grazing silently on the grassland, their eyes filled with numbness and sorrow.

In the distance, groups of cattle and sheep were leisurely eating grass, occasionally making a few soft calls, which seemed particularly harmonious.

On this grassland close to Yanzhi Mountain, slaves silently endured the hardships of life, while herders enjoyed the joy of harvest.

Although the scenery on the grassland is beautiful this autumn, the fate of the slaves is heartbreaking.

All this would have continued like this, but if nothing unexpected happened, all this would be broken today.

As time gradually approached noon, a head of ten households turned around and was about to tell the herdsmen beside him to prepare meals, but he did not expect that a smoke signal rose in the northwest direction of them.

"A has been notified! Smoke has risen from Yanzhi Mountain!"

"What did you say?"

When the head of the ten households saw the herdsman in front of him widen his eyes, he quickly looked behind him.

I saw a smoke beam rising from the direction of Yanzhi Mountain in the distance, and after this smoke beam rose, another smoke beam appeared one after another.

"Enemy attack! Retreat to Banhe!"

The ten heads of households reacted quickly and immediately began shouting to retreat.

In response, the herdsmen did not resist, but drove the herds to retreat.

Because they needed to drive the herd, they could not move fast.

As time passed, they suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves behind them.

"Buzz, rumble—"

The head of the ten households looked back and saw elite cavalrymen in armor galloping towards them from a distance. The flags in their hands were the Three Stars Flags.
"Don't worry about the herd, retreat!!"

Between life and death, the ten heads of households decisively abandoned their herds and retreated with dozens of herders.

Compared to them, the slaves who originally had numb eyes suddenly had a sparkle in their eyes.

They hurriedly turned their horses around and fled towards the elite cavalry who were holding high the Three Stars Flag.

"You bastards! When I catch you, I'll skin you alive and tear out your tendons!"

The head of the ten households was furious and helpless. Everyone knew that he couldn't catch these people, but he still cursed a few times.

"The Heavenly Army! The Heavenly Army is coming!"

"The Tang Dynasty... The Tang Dynasty has finally come to save us!"

Some of the slaves shouted for the arrival of the heavenly army, while others wept and murmured about the Tang Dynasty.

As hundreds of elite cavalry arrived, the leading cavalry commander was none other than Suo Xun, the commander of the Zhangye Zhechou Army.

"Jiu Juyan, you take a team of people to guard them and the herds, I will continue to advance towards Fanhe!"

Suo Xun did not stop, but after giving an order, he led the remaining elite cavalry and galloped towards Fanhe.

Jiu Juyan stayed behind with a team of fifty elite cavalrymen, and a cavalryman beside him was looking at Suo Xun's departing back and said dissatisfiedly: "You are a resolute man after all, and he just ordered you like this..."

Although Jiu Juyan was born as a servant of the Zhang family, he was promoted to the rank of Guoyi Duwei. However, he never expected that Suo Xun did not take him seriously. He came when he was summoned and left when he was dismissed.

Perhaps in Suo Xun's view, these generals under Liu Jilong were simply benefiting from Liu Jilong's influence.

When it comes to the ability to march and deploy troops, they can never compare with the sons of serious powerful families.

"Just do your own thing!"

Jiu Juyan spoke in a deep voice, and then began to command the elite cavalry to gather the surrendered slaves and herds.

Since Liu Jilian invaded Changsong twice, the vigilance of Fanhe and Jialin was undoubtedly reduced a lot.

Even Moli and Mang Longhua, who had promised Shang Moling that they would send light cavalry to search from west to east, could not help but slack off after Shang Moling left.

Their slackness gave Zhang Huaishen the opportunity to advance straight ahead.

Large numbers of herds of livestock and slaves were taken under Zhang Huaishen's command. It was not until Zhang Huaishen led his troops to within twenty miles of Fanhe that Moli of Fanhe City belatedly learned of Zhang Huaishen's existence.

"Liu Jilong, the pig-dog, his plan turns out to be here!"

Inside the government office, Mo Li paced back and forth. After muttering, he immediately stopped and pointed at the two officials and said:
"Send light cavalry to Jialin and Guzang to ask for help, and tell them that Zhang Huaishen from Ganzhou led nearly 10,000 Han slaves out of Yanzhi Mountain to attack Fanhe City!"

"In addition, we are going to set fire to all the unharvested grain outside the city. I will burn the grain to ashes rather than give them a single grain!"

"Nearly ten thousand Han slaves?" The two Jieers looked at each other, but Mo Li glared at them.

"If you don't tell us more about their numbers, how can Shang Moling and the others take them seriously?!"

"Yes..." The two Jieers did not dare to refute and could only do as Mo Li said.

Soon, the Tangqi rushed to the East Gate with the message for help.

At the same time, many slaves who were harvesting outside the city were ordered to prepare bonfires while harvesting.

If Fanhe did not produce fat, Moli would have wanted to fill the fields outside the city with fat.

Under his intensive arrangements, as time approached the You hour (17:), a large number of troops began to appear on the horizon to the west of Fanhe City.

"Beep--"

"Everyone retreat back to the city!"

"Set fire! Set fire!"

Amid the shouting of the barbarians and elite cavalry, many slaves were driven back into the city with whips.

There were many clever slaves among them. They lay in the millet and wheat fields, trying to evade the foreign soldiers, thinking that the foreign soldiers had no time to search for them. However, more slaves were driven into Fanhe City.

The slaves were dressed in tattered clothes, their faces showing a mixture of fatigue and fear.

As they poured into the city, the foreign soldiers inside immediately waved their whips and drove them away mercilessly.

For a moment, the city of Fanhe was filled with the coughing and groaning of slaves, but they were eventually drowned out by the louder sounds of whipping.

"Quick! Carry the logs and stones onto the bridle path!"

"Give me a hundred men to carry the crossbow arrows and push the ballistae and catapults!"

In front of the armory in the corner of the city, more than a hundred foreign soldiers drove thousands of slaves to transport city defense equipment.

Those slaves who tried to slack off or take a break would often be whipped by the foreign soldiers until their skin was torn and flesh was exposed. The blood stained their clothes red, reflecting the despair in their eyes.

Occasionally, a slave would collapse due to overwork, and at this time a hint of relief would often flash in his eyes.

However, such relief is a luxury, because what awaits them will be an even crueler fate.

The whips in the hands of the foreign soldiers fell on them mercilessly, and some slaves were even beheaded while they were unconscious. The blood was like a wild horse that had been unrestrained, spraying in the dust.

On the city walls, the slaves looked particularly small, but their labor supported the city's defense.

Although they were unwilling to help the foreign soldiers defend the city, they had to do so in order to survive.

"Array up!"

Outside the west gate of Fanhe City, the afterglow of the sun shone on dozens of fluttering Sanchen flags. The war patterns on the flags danced in the morning breeze, as if telling of the upcoming conquest.

The armor was like the sea, with 1,500 elite soldiers wearing heavy armor, holding spears and standing tall.

Behind them, eight thousand laborers were escorting cartloads of siege equipment and supplies, and behind the laborers were thousands of rescued slaves.

At this time, their eyes had regained their spirit, and were filled with hatred. They stared at Fan Hecheng with gritted teeth.

Holding whips in their hands, they drove nearly ten thousand cattle and sheep for the army.

"Suo Xun led the soldiers to form a battle array, Jiu Juyan led 5,000 civilians to put out the fire and harvest the grain, Chen Jingchong led 1,000 civilians to build siege equipment, and the rest of the people set up camp and cook!"

On horseback, Zhang Huaishen gave military orders to everyone in an orderly manner, and the entire Ganzhou army began to act.

Seeing such a scene in front of him, Mo Li, who had just climbed onto the city wall, looked unpleasant.

The civilians and pastoral slaves were fine, but the thousands of armored soldiers and elite cavalry patrolling the periphery all demonstrated Ganzhou's determination in this battle.

"Have the Tangqi been sent out?!"

Mo Li turned back to question a Jie'er, who nodded and said, "We have sent them out, but they will not arrive in Guzang until daybreak at the earliest."

"That's enough!" Mo Li gritted his teeth and looked back: "Even if you take into account the time it takes to send troops, it will only take three days at most."

"I just don't believe that he can lead his troops to capture Fanhe City in three days!"

"Tell the soldiers not to be reluctant to use firewood, but to boil water and scald these dogs to death!"

"Yes!" Jie'er nodded in agreement. Suddenly, people gathered on the top of Fanhe City, and Zhang Huaishen outside the city was also ready.

At dusk, twenty huge machines rose from the ground under the joint efforts of the civilians. Facing these twenty huge machines, Zhang Huaishen frowned and asked Chen Jingchong beside him: "Why are these catapults different from the ones used by our army?"

"Replying to the governor..." Chen Jingchong bowed and said, "This is a trebuchet that has been improved upon by Zhechong. Although it looks heavier, it is more powerful and can throw stones farther!"

"It is precisely because of these catapults that Zhechong dares to say that he can capture Fanhe City!"

After Chen Jingchong finished speaking, he turned around and ordered more than ten armored soldiers drawn from Shandan: "Come, test fire a round and see!"

"Yes!" Upon hearing this, more than a dozen Shandan armored soldiers began to command the civilians to weight the counterweight box of the Shandan catapult, and placed a stone weighing dozens of pounds on the parabolic belt.

If anyone in the future who has a little knowledge of military affairs could see this giant device, he would definitely be able to accurately tell its name... Huihui Cannon.

As all operations were ready, the armored soldier immediately looked at Chen Jingchong: "General Chen, we are ready!"

"Let go!" Chen Jingchong responded without hesitation.

Following his order, the Shandan catapult immediately made a dull thumping sound.

Before everyone could react, the stone weighing dozens of pounds was thrown out, drawing a perfect arc in the air, crossing a distance of two hundred steps, and directly hitting the outer wall foundation of Fanhe City West.

But there was a loud "bang" and the outer wall foundation that was hit was filled with dust, which scared the soldiers and civilians inside and outside the city.

"This... this trebuchet can reach so far?!"

Suo Xun, who was commanding the soldiers to form a battle array, was cheered up, but Moli in the city was frightened.

"What the hell is this thing? How can it fly so far and exert such a powerful force?!"

As the smoke and dust settled, a corner of the rammed earth outer wall foundation collapsed, making Mo Li's scalp tingle.

Although the walls of Fanhe City were nearly two meters thick, they could not withstand such heavy bombardment.

For a moment, Mo Li regretted his earlier lies about being able to hold out for three days.

"Okay!" Zhang Huaishen turned to look at Chen Jingchong with a burning gaze: "These twenty trebuchets are now in your hands."

"If there are any stones missing, you can mobilize the people to look for them. Anyway, I don't want them to stop. We must take over Fanhe City as soon as possible!"

"I obey your command!" Chen Jingchong bowed solemnly.

Soon, the Shandan catapult, which he had debugged, began to work.

Ten huge Shandan catapults began their roar with the cooperation of soldiers and laborers.

With the loud noise of the mechanism, the heavy boulder cut through the sky like a wild beast that had broken free from its reins, carrying the order of death and flying towards Fanhe City.

Every quarter of an hour, dozens of huge rocks fell like meteorites, most of them smashed into the city, and a small number smashed onto the city walls, making a dull and deafening roar.

"Bam—"

"Uh-huh!"

"Help! Help!!"

"my leg!!"

Inside the city, houses collapsed one after another under the merciless blows of huge rocks, dust flew everywhere, and the wailing of the wounded in the rubble rose one after another, desperate and desolate.

The soldiers on the city wall watched as the cracked walls became increasingly fragile under the impact of the huge rocks. Everyone's heart seemed to be suffocated by the huge rocks, and fear and powerlessness were intertwined in their eyes.

Compared with fighting in the wilderness, defending the city is the battlefield that can best test the psychological quality of soldiers.

The huge rock that could fall at any time was like a sword hanging over everyone's head, and no one knew when it would fall.

When the catapults started to attack, Moli, who had been showing off his might in front of the city wall, had now hidden under the city wall.

On the horse path, armored soldiers and slaves lay down behind the parapet, even though the parapet could not stop the falling rocks.

Seventy years later, Fanhe City once again suffered an attack more fierce than any previous war.

The armored soldiers and slaves leaning against the parapet were sweating profusely, with fear and despair appearing on their faces.

However, outside the city, Chen Jingchong and his men were loading the boulders coldly and skillfully, throwing them out again and again.

Facing the Fanhe City that was hit by falling rocks, they felt no wavering in their hearts and their faces showed excitement.

When Shandan catapults were in Shandan, they were often used as training equipment for infantrymen, but they could not be operated at will due to the difficulty of finding the site and stones.

Now that the opportunity was before them, a dozen armored soldiers, accompanied by thousands of civilians, were eager to throw out all the huge stones they had collected in the past few days until the Fanhe city walls were completely destroyed!

"Bam—"

"Everyone get off the horse! Lean against the city wall and wait for nightfall!!"

The frequency of falling rocks became shorter and shorter, with a huge rock weighing dozens of pounds falling almost every few breaths.

Although they could not destroy the city walls in a short period of time, they were able to destroy the people's hearts and morale.

War is cruel. The falling boulders will not only kill the foreign soldiers, but also many slaves.

Some of these slaves were from Yanqi, some were from Kucha, and some were Han people.

In front of the boulder, regardless of nationality, everyone will become a pile of rotten meat.

Just as Zhang Huaishen said at the beginning, war is not a joke, and necessary sacrifice is absolute for victory!
The "bang bang" sound of falling rocks was like drumsticks, hitting everyone's heart heavily every time.

On this battlefield filled with smoke and flying boulders, every falling rock mercilessly tells the cruelty of war.

The Shandan catapults were in action, and siege equipment such as battering rams, cloud chariots, and well siege weapons were also assembled under the operation of other civilians.

Originally, Zhang Huaishen was planning to storm the city walls, but when he saw the power of the Shandan catapult, he immediately changed his strategy.

Now these siege engines have become auxiliary, and the twenty Shandan catapults have become the ultimate weapon for attacking Fanhe.

The catapults were still firing, but the sun was gradually sinking into Yanzhi Mountain.

The Ganzhou army's barracks were built with the hard work of the civilians, but Zhang Huaishen did not stop throwing stones at Fanhe City.

Not only that, he also ordered his elite cavalry to search for places with huge rocks, as if he was going to mine and transport back the rocks within a radius of more than ten miles.

Under such an attack, the walls of Fanhe City continued to collapse and could not last the three days mentioned by Moli.

"Go prepare the gate-blocking vehicles. Once the city wall collapses, immediately block it with the gate-blocking vehicles and then repair the city wall!"

"Carry all the stones down, and repair the collapsed sections of the wall. Hold on until Qiliben leads the reinforcements, and the Han slaves outside the city will retreat!"

Inside the city, Moli continued to make arrangements, hoping that the two thousand elite cavalry led by Shang Moling would arrive in time for the rescue.

Just when he placed his hopes on Shang Moling, Shang Moling rushed towards Changsong City under the cover of night.

"Hurry up, hurry up, we can take a break after we finish mowing this piece!"

"Damn it, I've never had such a great time harvesting crops in my life!"

"Haha, the foreign dogs in the city only dare to harvest the food in the north of the city. The food in the other three sides belongs to us!"

The night was as dark as ink. In the fields outside Changsong City, there was a bonfire every few dozen steps to illuminate the surroundings. The blazing flames seemed like the brightest stars in the night sky, illuminating the harvested wheat fields.

In the fields, the soldiers waved their scimitars and quickly harvested the heavy ears of wheat. Their clothes were soaked with sweat, but no one stopped what they were doing. Everyone's face was abnormally red.

The camp of the Umudu tribe not far away stretched for several miles from north to south. General Dugazhi divided his light cavalry into three groups, and they have been harvesting grain since yesterday evening until now.

Now the camp was filled with piles of food, and thousands of tents were disassembled into thousands of animal skin bags, filled with heavy food.

Inside the tent, Dugazhi stretched out his hand and put it into the bag full of corn. He felt the corn squeezing his hand, and he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"Good, good, good! This trip we got enough food for the entire tribe to eat for a year. Good! Good!"

A series of good words are enough to explain Dugazhi's mood at the moment.

He looked at Dulun Xijia in front of him and said seriously: "We must increase the patrol strength outside tonight. After tonight, we can retreat at noon tomorrow."

"Retreat?" Du Lunxijia asked in confusion, "We still have a piece of grain in the east of the city that we haven't harvested yet. Are we just leaving like this?"

"We have to go..." Dugazhi took a deep breath and said, "That madman Shang Moling is probably on his way here."

"It would be best if the Tang army could hold him back, but I don't think the Tang army would be so kind. I guess we've been used as bait by them."

"But we do need Changsong's food, so I asked Du Lunxi to take 2,000 bags of food back to Baitinghai first."

"I hope they are safe..."

"Beep--"

Before Dugazhi finished speaking, a loud and shrill whistle was suddenly heard outside the tent, causing the father and son's faces to change suddenly.

"Enemy attack!!"

In the darkness of night, a hoarse warning sounded from the tents.

At the same time, the dull sound of horse hooves was heard in the darkness from the northwest.

On horseback, the dusty Shang Moling looked frantically at the Umo camp several hundred steps ahead.

"Kill you first, then kill that pig-dog Liu Jilong!!"

"kill--"

(End of this chapter)