At the end of September, civilians from Liangzhou, provisions and ten thousand righteousness began to arrive one after another from Xiaoqi.
Zhang Zhao asked Liu to be promoted to the temporary position of governor of Qingzhou, and he was called the investigation and disposal envoy of Huiqing two states.
He was asked to deploy 1,500 horsemen and 3,000 mules and horses from the Gyeongju Dangxiang. After annihilating the Dangxiang in the north of Gyeongju, he went to Changze Castle for reinforcements.
These party members in the northern part of Gyeongju were extremely unlucky. They thought they would be more prosperous by clinging to the arm of the disaster-defeating army, but instead they were carried away to Baekyan Pond with fine seals and gifts.
After the battle, hundreds of people died and fled back in embarrassment, and were completely wiped out by Liu Zaisheng's governor Huizhou and Gyeongju's southern party Xiang's troops.
Immediately afterwards, the frightened Weizhou, that is, the large Han and Dangxiang people in the Huanxian area of Shaanxi Province, with more than 30,000 Qiang tribesmen, also hurriedly took refuge.
Zhang Zhao ordered Li Yansi and Li Yanli to command the left and right, and sent 3,000 horse infantry troops from Hui, Qing, and Wei prefectures to Changze City.
From then on, not counting the civilians, Zhang Zhao himself brought 20,000 people, and then levied another 10,000 Yi Congxiaoqi.
At this time, more than 3,000 people from the three states of Hui, Qing, and Wei came, plus more than 3,000 Dangxiang and Qiang people who were frightened by him and came to seek refuge. Zhang Zhao's army numbered 37,000.
People around.
In early October, Zhang Zhao, who received Cao Yanjing's report, received the envoy sent by Ding Shenqi, and then dispatched two battalions of horse infantry from Hanhai Town to follow Ding Shenqi's envoy south.
At this time, Gao Yunquan deliberately summoned the officers of Zhangwu Army and above to have a drink. When his ears were hot from the wine, he was captured by Hanhai Town in one fell swoop.
Subsequently, Gao Yunquan, with the support of Zhang Zhao, launched a purge in Zhangwu's army, and later reached a reconciliation with Ding Shenqi.
Zhang Zhao took away more than a thousand elite soldiers from Ding Shenqi at the cost of thirty thousand guan per year.
Ding Shenqi was able to get rid of the double-edged sword in his hand, took 30,000 guan of cash, and the post of governor of Suizhou promised by Zhang Zhao, followed Cao Yanjing and left Yanzhou, putting aside the dignity of a town's military governor,
Come and serve Zhang Zhao.
At the same time, Gao Yunquan sent Zhang Zhao 15,000 shi of grain and sold it to the Guiyi Army at a fair price for 35,000 shi, which initially solved the problem of the Guiyi Army's supply of grain and grass for the siege of Xiazhou.
Three or four days later, Guo Tiance came back. Zhang Xichong and Pei Yuan had already recruited 3,000 Lingwu troops.
Two thousand of them will arrive soon, and the remaining one thousand, led by Zhang Xichong himself, will take over Youzhou as soon as Zhang Zhao gives the order.
However, Guo Tiance looked at Ding Shenqi who was walking out carelessly, and said with worry: "This man only has more than a thousand soldiers, and he has a domineering appearance. He is also the commander-in-chief of the imperial court, not a subordinate of the king.
We have waited for the athletes from Longyou in Hexi Province to fight for the king for many years, but few of them can get the position of governor of a state. Now that Suizhou has been granted to Ding Shenqi, I am afraid that the soldiers will be dissatisfied!"
Zhang Zhao nodded, "The soldiers have an idea. Let me explain it to you. Is there any way to know where Suizhou is next to?"
Guo Tiance thought for a while, "It should be Shizhou and Xizhou, which are close to Hedong."
"Then do you think someone like Ding Shenqi, if he gets the land of Suizhou and has a certain pearl in front of him, will he think of dedicating Suizhou to the imperial court and win a bigger reward?" Zhang Zhao smiled sinisterly.
Guo Tiance understood immediately, "This Suizhou was captured by my rebel army at the risk of my life. If the court dares to take it, it will be a failure to me and it is their fault. Then we...hehe! Your Majesty is wise!"
Guo Tiance knew Zhang Zhao's strategy, which in layman's terms was to be both responsible and established.
The Guiyi Army regarded themselves as loyal ministers, and if they wanted to seize the imperial court's territory, they always had an excuse. When Ding Shenqi's head started to heat up, he gave the Guiyi Army an excuse.
"Send someone to select and transfer a few smart people from Liangzhou's volunteer army to join Ding Shenqi. When we are free, let them encourage Ding Shenqi."
Zhang Zhao waved his hand and asked Guo Tiance to go down and do some work while he began to make preparations for departure.
At this point, Zhang Zhao had a total of 40,000 horse infantry, more than 20,000 civilians, more than 60,000 people plus tens of thousands of mules and horses, pressing along the Hongliu River in the direction of Xiazhou in a mighty manner.
....
The name Hongliu River sounds ordinary, but after arriving in Xiazhou, the Hongliu River will change its name, and that is the famous Wuding River.
The poor bones by the river are like those in a spring boudoir dream.
After only one day's journey along the river, the 60,000 rebel troops arrived five miles outside Xiazhou City.
Thanks to me, King Zhang, there was really no cockcrow on this journey, and all the surrounding tribes were cleared by the cavalry of the rebel army.
After arriving at Xiazhou City, King Zhang Zhao was immediately dumbfounded. He took dozens of fine cavalry to climb the hillside outside Xiazhou City to investigate in person. After watching for a long time, Zhang Zhao put his hands on his hips and blurted out the words "Your uncle."
Xiazhou City at this time was the historically prosperous Tongwan City, which was expanded from Sheyan City in the Han Dynasty.
In the past, Helianbofa brought hundreds of thousands of people from the Yixia region north of the Ling Dynasty to this place, and then steamed the earth to build a city. They cut it into an inch and then killed the author and built it together.
In other words, this Tongwan City was built with Sanhe soil and glutinous rice slurry. Every time a section was built, the supervisor would test the quality with a small awl.
As long as this section of the city wall can be penetrated even an inch by a pendant, the craftsmen who built the city will be killed and the corpses will be built into the city.
Under such stringent requirements, Tongwan City was naturally extremely strong. After its completion, it was divided into two inner and outer cities, and the inner city was divided into two east and west cities.
The circumference of the east city is more than five miles, and the circumference of the west city is nearly five miles. The city wall is eight or nine meters high and three meters wide. Because it is made of glutinous rice paste and triple soil, it presents an off-white color, quickly becoming a white city.
The city defenses are equipped with turrets, horse faces, crenels, urns, trenches, and moats, especially the horse faces that are more than ten meters long and several meters wide. Only a few dozen people can block a large area.
In addition, there are also insidious tiger drops on the city wall. This thing is to dig holes in the city wall, and cover them with various objects on weekdays. In times of war, the covers are removed.
When the battle started, the attacker managed to jump onto the city wall, but because he couldn't see clearly what was happening on the wall, he would jump directly into the tiger's fall without paying attention.
The Tiger Drop is more than one meter high, and is filled with spikes made of bamboo and wood. If it falls, at least the hands and feet will be pierced, and even the tiger will not be able to climb up, so it is called the Tiger Drop.
Although there were few soldiers in trouble at this time and could not hold the whole city, they could only concentrate them all in the west city of the inner city, but this only increased the difficulty of the attack.
If Li Yiyin wanted to use the tens of thousands of people in the city to defend two cities with a combined circumference of about ten miles, he would not be able to defend them even if the entire city's soldiers and civilians were exhausted.
But now it is just right to only defend the smaller West City. The Hongliu River outside the city flows around the West City, providing a sufficient water source and forming a defense. As long as enough food is stored, it will be impossible to attack it.
For Zhang Zhao, what is even more fatal is that with the quality of Xiazhou City, it is very likely that black powder cannot be exploded.
After reading it, Zhang Zhao's face turned green. This Helian Bobo is really fucking sick!
In this poor place, a fortified city similar to Xiangyang and Fancheng in the Southern Song Dynasty was built.
King Zhang now somewhat understands why Brother Zhao from Breaking Bad destroyed Xiazhou City. This Xiazhou City is too difficult to defeat.
At the top of Xiazhou City, Li Yiyin looked at the Guiyi Army who were constantly mobilizing outside the city and setting up camp with a sneer.
Before Zhang Zhao came, he had already reduced all his troops to Xiazhou City and stocked up enough food for eight months.
He also sent more than a dozen groups of messengers to the imperial court. Li Yiyin wanted to dedicate the four states of Xia, Sui, Yin, and You to the imperial court, and was willing to move all his relatives to Tokyo.
The Dingnan Army has been separatist in Yinxia and Yousui for hundreds of years. Knowing that there is such an opportunity to take back the four states, the court in Tokyo will not let it go.
He only needs to hold on for a few months. Once the imperial army arrives, Zhang Zhao cannot help but retreat.
.....
"The whole army entered the east city of Xiazhou, built an earth wall opposite the west city, and blocked all the surrounding arteries.
Build a large trebuchet, dig river channels, cut off the water from Hongliu River, and divert it to Wushui ten miles away."
In the military tent that had just been set up, all the generals were confused when they heard Zhang Zhao's order. Ma Yaozi asked cautiously.
"The Hongliu River is a big river in Xiazhou. Just diverting water to Wushui will take two or three months to complete the work.
It will be deep winter by then. The army is stationed in the wild, and there must be many soldiers suffering from frostbite.
Let's try to attack by force first. If it doesn't work, we can retreat to Changze City and Yanzhou and come back next spring."
Bai Congxin immediately jumped out and expressed his disagreement, "If we send troops this year, the autumn harvest has been delayed. If we do it again next year, spring plowing will also be delayed. An army of tens of thousands cannot afford such trouble."
If the imperial court sends thousands of soldiers into Xiazhou City when we retreat, it will be even more troublesome."
"But this Xiazhou City is Tongwan City built by 100,000 people from Helianbobo of the Huns. It is stronger than our Liangzhou City. Even if we attack by force, I am afraid it will not be captured in a month or two." Zhe Bu.
Jia Shi said worriedly.
Zhang Zhao looked at Shen Nianban in the corner who was hesitant to speak, and waved to him, "Shen Nianban, do you have any good suggestions?"
Shen Nianban stood up slowly after hearing the words, "I have just inspected Xiazhou City with the king. This city is indeed very majestic and extremely difficult to break. The Li family of the Dingnan Army has been here for hundreds of years. I want to store food in the city."
Quite abundant.
But when I look at the surrounding fields of Xiazhou, I see that there are not many trees on the mountains, and there are no traces of recent large-scale logging. I have a question? Do the military and horse residents in Xiazhou City not need to make fires to cook?"
Huh?
Zhang Zhao stood up immediately, and the generals in the tent also fell silent.
That's right! Since the four fields of Xiazhou were reclaimed relatively early, there are no forests anymore, and there are only sparse trees on the mountains in the distance.
There are tens of thousands of people in Xiazhou City. They use a lot of firewood to make fires for cooking every day, right? They also need to use firewood for heating in winter. Do they have that much reserve?
"Zhongde is indeed attentive, and he will reward you with twenty pieces of colorful silk!" Zhang Zhao was overjoyed.
"Du Lun, Chixin, please go back to Liangzhou and ask the ministers to rush to make five thousand sets of quilts and ten thousand sets of cotton clothes to Xiazhou.
The armies blocked the four gates of the west city of Xiazhou and told the men to capture Xiazhou City and then return home!"
As soon as the generals in the account heard that Zhang Zhao was going to release the quilts and cotton-padded clothes controlled by Shang Cao and other war preparation materials, they immediately sensed Zhang Zhao's determination.
Because these supplies do not belong to the Jiedu Yamen of Longyou, Hexi, nor to the Prince of Han's Palace, but to Zhang Zhao's personal property.
With these five thousand sets of quilts and ten thousand sets of cotton coats, the soldiers can survive this winter even if they squeeze in.
This chapter has been completed!