Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Several generals who were frowning and discussing the strategy of breaking the city turned around at the same time after hearing what Du He said.

"A pile of dirt?"

Everyone asked in unison.

Du He didn't expect such a big reaction from these generals. He nodded and whispered.

"Since the walls of Anshi City are high and strong, and the number of defenders inside is roughly the same as ours, a strong attack will not only cause huge casualties, but it may not be possible to capture the wall."

"I think we can build a dirt hill outside the South City Gate and pile it up as high as the city wall. Then we can organize heavy-armored infantry to attack the city with the help of the dirt hill!"

Relying on their armor and weapons, the Tang army was almost invincible in field battles.

However, there was no particularly good way to break through the city. They could only rely on the most primitive siege methods, using catapults, crossbows and battering rams, and sending out the first batch of soldiers to forcibly climb the city walls.

If Anshi City had earthen walls like Liaodong City, fire attack could be tried, but the walls of Anshi City were all made of stone slabs and there were many defensive weapons inside, so fire attack would not work.

Li Ji nodded thoughtfully and said, "Although piling up dirt is a stupid method, it is the best way to bring out the strength of our soldiers!"

"I think we can first use the tactic of piling up earth to attack the city!"

Hou Junji and Zhang Liang didn't have a good solution either, so they followed suit.

"Give it a try!"

Seeing that the three generals all agreed with Du Heti's method of siege, Li Chengqian did not hesitate and immediately gave the order by slamming the table.

"Since everyone agrees, let's build a hill of earth to attack the city!"

"Huai Dao, invite Junior Architect Qiu Xingyan and several famous craftsmen over here!"

Qin Huaidao's voice was immediately heard from outside the tent.

"promise!"

After a while, Qin Huaidao brought Qiu Xingyan and several well-known craftsmen over.

After they entered the tent, they bowed to Li Chengqian and several generals.

"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and to all the generals."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Qiu Xingyan and several craftsmen bowed again, then sat cross-legged stiffly on the Futuan Mountain at the back.

Li Chengqian got straight to the point and said, "Master Qiu, the army is going to build a hill of earth outside the south wall to attack the city. You should figure out how to do it."

"As ordered."

Qiu Xingyan responded respectfully.

Then he brought a group of craftsmen with Li Ji, Hou Junji, Zhang Liang and others to urgently discuss the specific plan.

After making a suggestion, Du He became invisible again.

He and Li Chengqian, like two spectators, sat aside and watched quietly the heated discussion among the generals and craftsmen.

They didn't finish their discussion until it was getting dark.

Li Chengqian gave the order directly: "Huai Dao, have someone bring in the food. I want to entertain all the generals and famous craftsmen!"

"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

Qiu Xingyan and several craftsmen had a meal with the prince for the first time, and they all had excited expressions on their faces.

Looking at the delicious food brought in by the waiters, the group of people were drooling.

The meals His Royal Highness the Crown Prince eats are indeed dozens of times more delicious than what they eat!

After a short banquet, several generals and craftsmen hurried back to make preparations because the official siege would begin tomorrow.

Only Li Chengqian and Du He were left in the tent.

"Hiccup~"

Du He burped, touched his round belly, and spoke to Li Chengqian with a serious face.

"Your Highness, the matter of Zhang Junyi being forced to flee from the battlefield should be reported to Your Majesty as soon as possible. Let Your Majesty send someone to investigate it thoroughly!"

"If Zhang Junyi is involved with the King of Wei, that would be interesting!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, then said in a deep voice: "I will write the military report now!"

After saying this, Li Chengqian spread out a piece of rice paper, picked up the pen, dipped the ink, and started writing.

As for asking Du He to write a military newspaper, that was impossible. He had been fighting with the army for so long and had never picked up a pen once.

Half an hour later.

Li Chengqian finally finished writing the military report.

While rubbing his wrist, he handed the rice paper covered with densely written words to Du He and spoke in a tired tone.

"Du He, please take a look and see if there are any omissions or anything that needs to be supplemented?"

Du He took the rice paper and looked at it carefully.

In addition to reporting Zhang Junyi's escape from the battlefield, Li Chengqian also wrote down the news of several recent battles and the Baekje rebellion in great detail.

After a while.

Du He pointed to a passage and said, "Your Highness, the consequence of Zhang Junyi's desertion from the battlefield only states that there were more than 6000 casualties. It feels a bit lacking."

Li Chengqian frowned and asked, "How do you think it should be changed?"

Du He thought for a moment and said, "Zhang Junyi's escape from the battlefield not only caused the army to lose the opportunity to completely wipe out Gao Huizhen's 6 troops, but also almost wiped out our 8-strong army!"

"In addition to the casualties of more than 6000 elite soldiers, generals such as Li Daozong, Zhishishili, Qibi Heli and Ashina Mishe were all seriously injured."

"Not only do we have no chance of fighting now, but we are also about to face another 10-strong army from Goguryeo. The situation is precarious!"

"Moreover, among the generals of the army, there may be people with evil intentions like Zhang Junyi. Please ask the court to investigate the mastermind behind this!"

After hearing Du He mention a long list of changes, Li Chengqian handed over the pen and said with a pout.

"Du He, you have to re-transcribe it after changing so many contents? Why don't you write it?"

"Your Highness, I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave first."

Before Li Chengqian could react, Du He had already rushed out of the tent.

Li Chengqian shook his head helplessly: "This guy runs really fast!"

There was no other choice, so Li Chengqian had to take out a piece of rice paper and copy it again.

After writing, Li Chengqian stamped it with the commander-in-chief's seal and the prince's seal, sealed it, and called in his personal guards.

Li Chengqian handed the military report to his personal guard and said, "Send the messenger to Chang'an tomorrow morning and send the military report 800 miles away!"

"promise!"

After receiving the military report, the guards quickly left the tent.

...

The next day.

After killing chickens and sheep and having a big meal, the Tang army began a vigorous siege.

Under the command of Zhang Liang, tens of thousands of soldiers kept moving stones and digging soil.

Under the cover of hundreds of catapults, thousands of shield soldiers and thousands of archers, Qiu Xingyan led thousands of craftsmen to build the earthen hill bit by bit.

The crossbows and archers on the southern wall of Anshi City also began to shoot fiercely at the Tang army.

The crossbow arrow, as thick as a forearm, almost penetrated the three layers of armor and shields of the Tang army.

On the banks of the Pianling River outside the south city.

Du He and Li Chengqian looked at the overwhelming arrows in front of them, their mouths wide open in surprise.

This was the first time they had watched a siege battle up close after so long of fighting.

Li Chengqian murmured in a low voice: "No wonder it's so difficult to attack the city. Even wearing heavy armor, we can't withstand this dense rain of arrows!"