Fenghou

Li Sanghuai quickly bowed and said: "They did not resist, but three of them wanted to escape, but we stabbed them to death without hesitation."

Niu Gao nodded and said: "Although their morale is low, I don't expect them to surrender the city. Even if the soldiers have this idea, the generals may not."

"Then Niu Dutong decides how to fight?" Liu Qiong asked from the side.

Niu Gao slowly said: "The opponent has kerosene and catapults, we can't fight at close range, medium catapults are not scary, as long as we take out heavy catapults, we can destroy everything."

After speaking, he looked at Zhang Xiao and waited for Zhang Xiao's opinion. Zhang Xiao said lightly: "I support General Niu's plan and use our most advantageous siege weapon to take Chitang Pass!"

……

In the night, the camp of the Song Army rose up and began to march toward Chitang Pass in the north. Behind the team, ten trebuchets rumbled, and each trebuchet was pulled by twenty cows. Slowly, surrounded by five thousand soldiers closely guarded.

At dawn, the [-] former soldiers of the Song Army arrived at Chitang Pass and began to set up camp ten miles south of Chitang Pass.

The chief general, Zhang Zhongfu, got the news and rushed to Guancheng in the south. He stood on the top of the city, looking at the Song army camp gradually appearing ten miles to the south. As mentioned above, his Chitang Pass is not a natural danger, can they defend it?

Of course Zhang Zhongfu also knew that Chen Qing led more than a thousand soldiers to defend the Jiandao Pass, preventing tens of thousands of Jurchens from going south.

But the situation is different. The Jurchens are all cavalry. They have no siege weapons or kerosene, so they can only attack the city with death. If the defenders are strong, they can indeed hold the pass. The tens of thousands of Song troops with weapons in the city are completely different. The Song army only needs to use heavy trebuchets to destroy Guancheng.

Do you hope that the Song Army did not carry heavy trebuchets?What a naive idea.

For a while, Zhang Zhongfu had nothing to do, and the general next to him, Wang Xie, said: "Dutong, if you really can't keep Guancheng, it's good to keep your troops, at least one of the two guarantees can be kept."

Zhang Zhongfu shook his head, "That's because you don't understand the Jurchens. They don't care about the life and death of the Han people at all. They only care about Guancheng. If we lose Guancheng without losing our troops, they will definitely think that you retreat without a fight. , we must die, so we have no other way but to fight to the death."

Zhang Zhongfu looked back at the generals, each with a look of despair on their faces.

Chapter 898

That night, ten heavy trebuchets finally arrived at Chitang Pass. Niu Gao immediately ordered that after a simple overhaul, the siege trebuchets launched an attack on the city overnight.

Outside Chitang Pass, ten heavy-duty trebuchets approached Guancheng rumblingly. On the head of Guancheng City, more than a thousand soldiers guarding the city looked at the huge trebuchets, like giant beasts, and couldn't help trembling. , Chaos broke out in Guancheng, Deputy General Wang Jingfeng ordered all materials to be moved back, except for twenty medium-sized trebuchets.

Twenty medium-sized trebuchets are ready. This kind of trebuchet can throw a weight of 150 catties [-] steps away. Zhang Zhongfu also knows that the power of the trebuchet is too small. In order to increase the range, Zhang Zhongfu used the cowhide invented by the craftsman of the Kingdom of Jin. fireball.

This kind of cowhide fireball is actually an imitation of the firecloth ball of the Song army. The Song army packed a cloth ball with firecloth densely. There was no firecloth in the Kingdom of Jin, so they wrapped it with raw cowhide layer by layer to make a ball with excellent elasticity. , weighing about twenty kilograms, covered with kerosene.

The biggest advantage of this kind of cowhide fireball is its good elasticity. Although the range is only 150 steps, it will continue to bounce forward and stop after rushing for a mile.

Wang Jingfeng watched the enemy trebuchets getting closer and closer. He had to seize the opportunity and immediately yelled, "Launch!"

The twenty medium-sized trebuchets of the defenders launched at the same time, throwing twenty red fireballs into the sky. Above and below the city, all eyes were fixed on the fireballs in the sky.

The fireball fell at 150 steps, then bounced high again, and continued to move forward at a very fast speed.

Commanding the trebuchet Commander Ma Wei saw that the opponent's fireball was coming fiercely, and it was too late to put the blocking wooden frame in front of the trebuchet, so he shouted, "Build a shield formation!"

Thousands of soldiers raised their shields to assemble, and quickly formed ten huge shield arrays, and the roaring fire oil ball hit the shield array heavily, making a "bang!"Boom! ' With a loud sound, the kerosene ball bounced high again, passing over the head of the trebuchet.

At this time, two thousand soldiers of the Song Army came running from the rear carrying a huge baffle and placed it in front of the trebuchet, so that they would not be afraid of the enemy's kerosene ball.

A round of fire oil ball attack was not dangerous, but the Song army no longer gave the opponent a second chance to launch. Ten heavy trebuchets launched at the same time, and ten thin-skinned fire oil tanks rose into the air. Each fire oil tank Weighing about eighty catties, there was also a raging fire outside.

Seven of the ten huge kerosene cans smashed on the top of the city, and the other three smashed into the city. The clay pots were smashed, and the kerosene poured out, which was immediately ignited by the fire on the debris, and the city was instantly turned into a sea of ​​flames. .

The soldiers of the Allied Army on the city wall reported the wet quilts and rushed forward, trying to use wet quilts to put out the fire. I haven’t learned how to put out fires with sand, but I have become very proficient in using wet quilts to extinguish fires. up.

But the speed of extinguishing the fire was far behind the Song Army's firing speed. Just after one round of shooting was completed, the second round was launched. In this round, all ten fire oil tanks hit the top of the city. On the top of the city, the fire ignited again. . More than 100 fire fighting soldiers turned into fire men, howling and fleeing to the city.

Immediately after the third, fourth, and fifth rounds of catapults were fired, the entire city was turned into a sea of ​​fire, with thick smoke billowing and flames flying, and all the soldiers were forced to go down to the city.

The trebuchet continued to move forward a hundred steps, throwing dozens of fire oil tanks again, and the city became a sea of ​​flames. Twenty trebuchets were engulfed by the flames, and the [-] barrels of gunpowder stored under the city were ignited, causing an earth-shattering explosion. , forming a huge mushroom cloud.

The defenders were terrified and retreated one after another. Within two miles from the south city, there was no more soldiers.

Niu Gao waved his hand, "Deploy the bow and arrow array, strike the battering ram!"

Ten thousand crossbowmen rushed forward and formed a large crossbow formation about a hundred steps away from the city wall. Hundreds of soldiers ran towards the city gate with a huge battering ram in their arms...

At this time, the trebuchet was still firing, throwing bundles of wheat straw weighing a hundred catties into the city, and the fire was so intense that it was impossible for any hiding soldiers to gain a foothold.

'one two Three! ' shouted the soldier, holding the battering ram and slamming into the city gate.

'boom! 'With a loud noise, the city gate shook violently, and dust fell from it.

"Come again!"

Holding the battering ram, hundreds of soldiers retreated dozens of steps, shouted, and rushed forward holding the battering ram.

'boom! ' There was another earth-shattering muffled sound, and the city gate was knocked open.

It can be seen that the flames are rising in the city and the smoke is filled. Dozens of soldiers moved two big stones to hold the gate of the city.

At this time, the Song army's offensive stopped, and everyone was waiting patiently for the fire to subside.

At the fourth watch, the fire gradually became thinner, and Niu Gao immediately ordered: "Strike with crossbow arrows!"

Thousands of crossbowmen fired arrows into the city together. Ten thousand arrows were fired together, and a huge cloud of arrows soared into the sky, flying into the city, and shot three rounds in a row to ensure that there would be no ambush.

Niu Gao swung his saber, "A large army enters the city!"

A thousand soldiers carrying wooden boards entered the city first, and they moved very quickly. They used wooden boards to pave a three-hundred-foot-long boardwalk in an extremely short time, and then five thousand heavy shield troops entered the city. Running with heavy shields, behind them came ten thousand horsemen, followed by ten thousand crossbowmen, and finally ten thousand spearmen.

Of course not so fast, and the valley can't accommodate so many people.

In the valley, the soldiers of the Heavy Shield Army were lined up in fifty rows with hundreds of people, and they advanced rapidly. Behind and on both sides of the Heavy Shield Army were [-] cavalry. The army advanced extremely fast, and continuously occupied barracks and warehouses , It can be seen that the withdrawal of the Confederate Army was very hasty, the warehouse door has not been opened, and many personal items in the barracks have not had time to take away.

There was still a mile away from Beichengguan, and suddenly dense arrows shot in front of them. Ten thousand soldiers of the Xie army gathered here, and launched a surprise attack on the Song army with bows and arrows.

It's just that they met the cautious Niu Gao, who insisted not to use cavalry to attack, but to open the way with soldiers with heavy shields, just to guard against the enemy's bow and arrow attacks.

The soldiers of the Song army shouted, raised their shields to resist the bow and arrow, and stepped forward step by step. There were dozens of steps away from the enemy's bow and arrow formation. Killing the archers is like a tiger like a flock of sheep, killing the enemy's corpses all over the field, and blood flowing like a river.

In the [-] bow and arrow formation, [-] cavalrymen were killed, and the archers collapsed in just a moment, crying and wailing, desperately fleeing to the top of the city. The corridor was crowded with soldiers, begging and crying loudly.

Zhang Zhongfu sighed and ordered: "Open the city gate!"

After giving the order, he himself quickly climbed down the ladder to Guancheng, got on his horse, and fled northward with more than a hundred soldiers.

At this time, the city gate could not be opened, and the city cave was full of soldiers, blocking the gate, blocking the way up to the city, and blocking the way out of the city. Thousands of Xie soldiers fell into despair.

A general rushed over and shouted: "There is an order from the commander-in-chief, those who surrender will not die!"

The cavalrymen of the Song Army shouted together, "Those who surrender will not die!"

In an instant, the enemy soldiers knelt all over the ground, and all the soldiers threw away their weapons and raised their hands.

As the sky gradually dawned, the gates of the North Gate opened wide, and groups of soldiers from the Confederate Army were escorted out by the cavalry, and all kinds of armor, supplies, food and grass were piled up like mountains.

In this battle, the Song army wiped out 1 enemy troops at a cost of less than [-] casualties, captured more than [-] of them, killed more than [-], and less than [-] escaped with the leader Zhang Zhongfu.

The Song army then went northward and occupied Xiurong County and Dingxiang County in Xinzhou. At this time, Niu Gao received the news from the scouts that a Khitan cavalry of more than [-] people was coming from the direction of Daizhou to Xinzhou. Just entered Xinzhou.

Chapter 899 Party item

Niu Gao placed the command and logistics in Xiurong County. Xiurong County has a small population of only 2 people, but the county seat is very large, with a perimeter of more than 5 miles around the city wall, and [-] people can easily be stationed there.

Niu Gao originally thought that he would encounter Khitan reinforcements when he entered Chitang Pass, but he didn't expect that the main force of the opponent had not even entered Xinzhou.

This made Niu Gao a little strange, and he immediately asked Wang Jingfeng, the lieutenant general who surrendered to the enemy.

Wang Jingfeng sighed and said, "This Khitan cavalry should have arrived at Xiurong County three days ago, but they were dragging their feet and didn't want to rescue us at all."

"Is this Khitan cavalry discriminating against you?"

"There is a bit of discrimination, but it's not the main reason."

"Then what's the main reason?" Niu Gao asked again.

Wang Jingfeng smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, we all know the reason. They were afraid that after they entered Xinzhou, the Song army would march directly along the Hutuo River into Daizhou, cutting off their escape route."

Zhang Xiao who had been silent beside him suddenly asked, "Are they transferred from Yanshan Mansion?"

"That's right. They were transferred from Yanshan Mansion at the beginning of the year and came here from Feihuxing, so they have been stationed in Daizhou and refused to come to Xinzhou and Xianzhou. If the situation is not good, they will immediately return to Yanshan Mansion instead of Return to Datong Mansion."

Niu Gao waved his hand and asked the soldiers to take Wang Jingfeng down. He turned around and asked Zhang Xiao, "Let's decide! Should we encircle and wipe out this army, or force them to leave?"

Zhang Xiao said indifferently: "They are not an army of clay sculptures. They will honestly wait for us to encircle and wipe them out. They should have sent troops to encircle them when we sent out scouts. Now that they have been coming and going for two days, I am afraid that they will not be able to encircle them again. Realistic."

"Then at least give it a try!"

Niu Gao immediately ordered Liu Qiong to lead an army of [-] to go north from Loufan Pass and occupy Shanyang County, Shuozhou as soon as possible. He himself led [-] cavalry to chase after the enemy.

The [-] cavalry galloped towards Daizhou like the wind and lightning. After traveling for hundreds of miles overnight, they arrived at the place where the Khitan cavalry was stationed before. Sure enough, the Khitan cavalry had disappeared.

Not reconciled, Niu Gao continued to pursue along the official road, and arrived in Yanmen County two days later. Huang Yishan, the magistrate of Yanmen County, went out of the city to welcome the Song army.

Huang Yishan is a local, he was born in Taixue. His father, Huang Ying, served as Daizhou General Judge for more than ten years, but he retired last year.

Niu Gao didn't make things difficult for him, and asked: "I'm chasing Khitan cavalry, does the county lord know where they are going?"

Huang Yishan quickly bowed and said: "Mr. Xiao Wan led [-] cavalry to go west, saying they were going to support Xinzhou, but they came back yesterday morning."

"Then, where did you go?" Niu Gao asked anxiously.

Huang Yishan pointed to the east and said: "I went to the east. It is said that there are enemies in the east. In fact, we all know that they came from Yanshan Mansion. They should withdraw to Yanshan Mansion."

Niu Gao immediately ordered his men to go to the east to check, while he asked the soldiers to rest and eat dry food.

Half an hour later, the men came back to report that a lot of horse excrement was found on the official road to the east, and there were traces of the horseshoes of the brigade cavalry, which should have passed yesterday.

Niu Gao ordered the army to continue to pursue eastward, and arrived at Fanshi County the next afternoon. The direction went.

Now Niu Gao was at a loss, they chased until now, but the distance between them was getting farther and farther, he ordered Li Sanghuai to lead a hundred scouts to continue to chase eastward, even if they chased to Yanshan Mansion, they had to confirm the opponent's location.

After resting for half a day, the army returned westward to Xinzhou.

……

Just the day before Niu Gao attacked Chitang Pass, Zhe Yanzhi and Li Muqing led an elite army of [-] and [-] camels along the Rabbit River into Xinqin County of Linzhou. Their task was to capture the three armies of the four states in the west, Wipe out the remnants of Xixia entrenched in Fuzhou.

After the Western Xia Dynasty was destroyed, many nobles followed Brother Li Cha and fled to Datong Mansion. The Kingdom of Jin promised Xixia to re-establish the country in Datong Mansion, but when Brother Li Cha made this request, the emperor of the Kingdom of Jin flatly rejected it. The reason is that They did not deliver the million taels of silver as agreed.

The Emperor of the Kingdom of Jin then engulfed the most elite cavalry of [-] Iron Harriers in Xixia, but under Wan Yanchang's persuasion, Emperor Wanyan Quan of the Kingdom of Jin still allocated Fuzhou to Xixia in the face of the [-] Iron Harriers. remnant forces.

The remnants of Xixia started to act immediately, first expelling all the Han people in Fuzhou to Linzhou, turning the whole Fuzhou into a party, and collecting sporadic party members living in various places.

In the winter of the previous year, Xiahou Liang rebelled against the 1 Dangxiang Army stationed in Montenegro. The Dangxiang Army killed the general Cao Baohui and came to Fuzhou to join the New Dangxiang Army. After several years of accumulation, the New Dangxiang Army has [-] people. General Xia Houliang and Deputy General Shang Dongyan commanded.

At present, the supreme leader of the prefecture is still Brother Li Cha, and Bari Zuren is the chief administrator. There are more than [-] party members, most of whom are herdsmen from the grasslands in the central part of Xixia.

The 1 soldiers that the party members worked so hard to accumulate were favored by Wan Yanchang. Wan Yanchang ordered them to join the defense system of the entire northeast of the river and be responsible for defending the three armies of the four states in the northwest. Expand the surrounding states and counties.

But this kind of expansion is not to increase soldiers, but to increase pastures and rob food and wealth. The party members have learned a lesson. They no longer plunder Han people as slaves. These Han slaves will become hidden dangers, but let them plant in various places Grain, and wait for the grain to be ripe before grabbing the grain.

When Zhe Yanzhi and Li Muqing led an army of [-] people into Linzhou, it happened that the wheat had just matured.

Xinqin County is a small county. It used to be home to the families of soldiers from the Western Army. Now the population of the county is less than [-] households, more than [-] people. The older ones are unwilling to leave their homeland and still live in Xinqin County.

Back then, the core areas of the Zhejia Army were Fuzhou and Linzhou. Zhe Yanzhi was very familiar with Xinqin County, but he didn't know Xinqin County now. Small and large cracks.

The gate of the city was not closed, and he led hundreds of people into the county seat, only to see that the county seat was deserted and there was not a single pedestrian in sight.

When they came to the county government office, there were two old soldiers dozing off at the entrance of the county government office. stand up.

"Where's your magistrate?" Orihiko asked loudly.

"The magistrate is not here, aren't you... from the party?" The two veterans finally recognized that the army in front of them was not from the party.

"We are the Sichuan-Shaanxi Army. We came from Jingzhao, and there are tens of thousands of troops outside."

"Ah! The Western Army is here. Great, we are saved!" The two veterans cheered loudly with great excitement.

Orihiko was at a loss, "What are you talking about? What can help?"

"Dangxiang people are coming to grab the grain, and the magistrate is taking everyone outside to grab the wheat!"

It turned out that was the case, and Orihiko then suddenly realized that this was the tradition of the Xixia army back then. Every autumn harvest, the Xixia army would cross the border to snatch people and food, and it is still the same now.

Orihiko nodded, "Take me to see."

The two veterans discussed it, and one would continue to guard the county government office, while the other would lead the way to the wheat field.

"In the south, I'll take the old general there."

A veteran soldier walked down the steps, saw Zhe Yanzhi's face, and suddenly froze. After a while, he said excitedly, "You are...you are the governor of Zhe Yanzhi?"

Chapter 900 Grabbing Wheat

Orihiko smiled and said, "You know me?"