A strange-looking siege equipment passed by. It was a four-wheeled cart. There were two tall pillars on the body, which was much higher than the Shouzhou City Wall. Between the two pillars there was a very tall pillar.

A small house can accommodate about two or three people standing.

Xu Xian curiously asked Zhao Hongyin beside him, "What is this thing for?"

"This is a nest car. The commander can get into the wooden house. The soldiers can pull the wooden house to the high pole and observe the enemy's situation in the city from the observation hole!"

"Oh, I didn't expect there to be such a thing. What's that one with a long neck and an iron sheet at the back?"

"That's a goose cart. I guess it's used to attack cities. It has an iron sheet as a cover. It's much easier to use than a ladder."

"Where's that iron house...oh, I recognize it. It's used to knock down the city gate!"

"I finally recognized one. Fortunately, you are a military attache from the fifth rank. You came back to Tokyo and got two military books from me to study on your own!" Zhao Hongyin slapped his lower back, "No, I can't stand anymore. I have to rest.

Take a break!”

As he spoke, he found an empty piece of grass and sat down. With a tired look on his face, Xu Xian leaned over and asked, "What's wrong with my father-in-law?"

Zhao Hongyin bowed his hands and said: "It's okay. I've been very tired in the past year and can't do things as well as I can. I must be really old. I will resign to the emperor when the battle in Huainan is over."

Xu Xian advised: "Don't worry, father-in-law. I'll ask my doctor to diagnose and treat you later. You'll probably be fine after taking a few decoctions. You're already in your sixties. It wouldn't be a bad idea if you could resign early and enjoy family happiness."

Good thing."

"Haha... I really want to spoil my grandson and enjoy two years of peace and happiness. Officially, with Yuen Long and you supporting me, the family will not be in decline."

While the two were talking, they heard a burst of explosions at the top of the city. Chai Rong used the summoning meteorite technique again. After a hail of bullets, the city was in a mess. Before the Tang army came up, the Zhou army's siege equipment fell under the soldiers' hands.

Under the push, he slowly approached the Shouzhou City Wall.

The soldiers pushed the ladders and the goose carts were set up on the city wall. They were densely packed and almost occupied half of the wall. The Tang army rushed to the top of the city without using swords and guns. They used local materials to move the stone bullets on the wall and rolled down the ladders and goose carts.

Zhou's soldiers, who had just climbed halfway, retreated in fear. Those who had no time to escape were hit with broken bones and tendons.

The army's siege vehicles near the city gate had also pushed over. Hundreds of soldiers pulled the huge wooden pile to the limit, and then pushed it hard. Wood chips flew everywhere, and a huge hole immediately appeared at the bottom of the suspension bridge.

The suspension bridge was originally made of ordinary wood, and it had been hanging on the moat for many years and had long since rotted. It only took a few hits before the suspension bridge completely fell apart. The soldiers of Zhou cleaned up the remaining wood chips and pushed the siege truck under the city gate.

Another powerful impact.

The city gates are mostly made of jujube and elm wood, wrapped with iron sheets and inlaid with rivets. It is not that easy to break through the city gates. After several hits, the city gates did not move at all. A soldier lay in the crack of the door and looked in.

After taking a look, he turned back and said: "The city gate hole has been blocked by sacks filled with earth and rocks."

As soon as he finished speaking, a stone bullet fell on his head, and his head was almost smashed into his stomach. Seeing this, other Zhou soldiers quickly shrank into the siege vehicle, and the stone bullets poured down like raindrops.

The iron roof of the city car was smashed out of shape in an instant.

The Tang army did not feel timid because of the Zhou army's huge siege equipment. Instead, they became more and more courageous as they fought. The catapults in the city almost never stopped. The number seemed to be several times more than before. It is estimated that they were rushed within this month.

Many Zhou soldiers were killed and wounded by stone bullets before they reached the city walls.

As for the bottom of the city wall, it was even worse. Rolling wood, thunder, rocks, gold soup, and boiling oil all fell overwhelmingly. The Zhou army that was attacking from behind could not get even half a cent. The remaining limbs and broken arms under the city wall were already thickly built.

layer.

Fires ignited on top of the city, and Tang's soldiers threw huge fireballs into the goose cart. Heart-rending screams immediately sounded from inside. Zhou's soldiers, who were on fire, rolled down from the cave wailing.

He kept screaming and rolling on the ground. The comrades around him ran and beat him hard with their guns to help him put out the fire. When the fire was put out, he was already dead, leaving only a bloody and charred corpse...

There was already thick smoke billowing inside the goose cart, and all the wood was on fire. Red flames shot out of the hole, and soon even the iron sheet was burned red. With a stone bullet, the long "goose neck" suddenly became

It collapsed and turned into sparks falling down all over the sky.

Xu Xian felt pity that the siege equipment that had been made with great effort was destroyed so easily, but when he saw several goose carts being pushed up, he couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty has really spent a lot of money!"

Zhao Hongyin laughed and said: "I have never seen such a large-scale siege battle in my life. What generals fear most is siege battles. If they are not careful, things will change. Our Majesty is really capable."

Vigor.”

"How many days does your father-in-law think it will take to capture Shouzhou City?"

Zhao Hongyin bowed his hands and said: "If we can't capture this formation today, we probably won't be able to capture it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. You don't know the reason why one effort can only be exhausted after another."

Xu Xian disagreed, "The Tang troops in the city are all the same. They are all made of flesh and blood and can withstand several such attacks."

While the two were talking, they saw two more huge siege vehicles slowly passing by. They were several feet tall, half a foot taller than the Shouzhou city wall, and several feet long and wide.

It was wrapped with wooden boards and cowhide on three sides, leaving only rows of arrow holes, and it moved slowly after being pulled by oxen and pushed by people.

This is Lu Gong's car, which is comparable to a small moving castle. Behind Lu Gong's car, there are wooden curtains, which are directly connected to form safe troop transport channels, which can provide an endless supply of troops for Lu Gong's car.

Lu Gong's chariot did not lean against the city wall, but stopped a hundred steps away from the city wall. The archers of the Dianqian Division could not wait to shoot arrows towards the city head to clear the way for the attacking Zhou army.

They were condescending, and the Tang army who was fighting the enemy on the top of the city had no place to hide. Two waves of arrows rained down and they were immediately killed and injured. The resistance on the city suddenly decreased, and the morale of the Zhou army who was in a panic on the ladder and goose cart was boosted and they took the opportunity to jump onto the city wall.

, and joined forces with the Tang army to fight.

The narrow half of the city wall instantly became the life and death line between the two armies. Both sides fought with guns and arrows. Anyone who came near this place would either be killed or kill others. At this moment, no one cared about their own life, and no one cared about the lives of others.

, the soldiers from both sides were almost facing each other with long spears.

No one dodges, and there are no tricks. When a soldier stabs the opponent's chest with the tip of his gun, when he lowers his head, he will find that his lower abdomen has also been stabbed through. The injured soldier Tang jumped straight into the arms of soldier Zhou.

Come down to the city and beat each other to pieces...

Suddenly there was a roar under the city wall, and groups of Tang soldiers holding large shields were seen rushing up along the horse road to the city. They formed a half circle in small groups, using shields as cover to charge against Zhou soldiers.

This group of Tang troops holding shields were quick and well-coordinated in their movements. They had definitely been specially trained before. Zhou Jun had never seen such a fight before. Every one of them was knocked upside down, but there was no longer a female wall behind them, and they all screamed and fell to the bottom of the city.

.

Immediately afterwards, another soldier came over with a crossbow and aimed it at Lu Gong's car. The thick arrows easily penetrated the cowhide board, and blood splashed out from the hole and dyed it bright red.

Chai Rong in the chariot observed everything at the top of the city through the observation hole. He sighed and said: "The Tang army is not only brave and organized, but they can also improvise some tricks at critical moments, catching people off guard. They are a perfect group of soldiers."

enemy."

There were two people standing next to him, one was Wang Yanchao, the military governor of the Zhongwu Army, and the other was Du Yu, the former commander of the palace and Li Chongjin, the military governor of the German army.

good suggestion.

Wang Yanchao stroked his beard and said: "It is said that the Southern Army is not strong in combat, but today I finally made my officials look at it with admiration. Such brave soldiers who are not afraid of death are rare to see among the Northern Army."

"Wang Qing, you are wrong. The southern army is indeed not as powerful as the northern army. The Tang army in Shouzhou City is so brave and brave. It is true that soldiers are confidants. It is Liu Renzhan who has the ability. He is not only able to recruit soldiers.

He has a good heart, and his fighting methods are even more brilliant. In this regard, I am far behind him."

Li Chongjin asked: "Your Majesty, do you want to attack again? If there are too many casualties, I'm afraid things will change!"

"I may not be as good as Liu Renzhan in leading troops, but my determination and will must be stronger than his. If I stop now, even the civilians who died under the city wall will be unable to bear it. Send an order to Han Lingkun to continue sending people.

onslaught."

The Zhou army's attack did not relax because of the temporary setback. Instead, it became more and more fierce. Without the use of catapults and crossbows, they relied on full-blooded hand-to-hand combat with the Tang army. This battle lasted from morning to afternoon without even taking a breath.

Never stopped.

At dusk, countless corpses were piled up and down the city walls. Burnt goose carriages and ladders were densely covered. The soldiers on both sides also showed signs of fatigue, especially the soldiers of the Zhou army who had become fearful after being unable to attack for a long time.

Everyone looked at the wooden cabin on the chariot from time to time, hoping that Ming Jin's order to withdraw the troops would come from there. Seeing the wooden chariot slowly lowering in the afterglow, everyone seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

Xu Xian stood up and patted the dust on his butt, saying, "Finally, we can go back to camp and rest!"

Zhao Hongyin shook his head and said: "That doesn't seem to be the case, look at Yuen Long!"

Following Zhao Hongyin's hand, Xu Xian saw Zhao Kuangyin leading a group of soldiers into Lu Gong's car and climbed up the stairs to the top.

"Does Your Majesty want him to attack the city?"

"It must be so!" Zhao Hongyin nodded, and although there was a worried look on his face, he said, "Fortunately, Yuen Long already has a daughter-in-law."

Xu Xian didn't know what to say and doubted whether Zhao Kuangyin was his biological son. Suddenly someone walked straight up to Xu Xian and looked up and saw that it was Old Mu Tou's subordinate, "Xu Yuhou, Mu Tou asked you to lead

Five hundred people are passing by."

"What are you doing? Do you want me to attack the city?"

Zhao Hongyin quickly kicked Xu Xian, "This is a military order. It's not your turn to negotiate terms. Anyway, Ning Xiu is already pregnant."

What kind of bullshit logic is this? Do you deserve to die if you have offspring?

Old Mutou told him that it must be Chai Rong's order and he had to go. Xu Xian immediately selected 500 people from the Red Scarf Capital to go out to see Chai Rong.

Unexpectedly, when Chai Rong saw Xu Xian, he said, "A red scarf is fine, let's go!"

Chai Rong said and walked to the side of Buhu. He didn't call Hongjindu the name before hearing the meaning of his words.

Xu Xian asked Old Mutou strangely, "What is your Majesty going to do?"

Old Mu replied: "Where did all this nonsense come from? Hurry up and pick up those shields!"

There are hundreds of heavy shields placed in the open space beside them. They are made of cowhide, iron sheet, and elm wood. Even if the divine arm crossbow can penetrate them, it will not have the power to cause damage to people.

Old Mutou asked his men to lift Chai Rong, while he held a large ocher-yellow flag representing the emperor on his shoulders and told Xu Xian: "Your Majesty's safety will be left to you."

Xu Xian quickly called the soldiers of Hongjindu, held their shields in front of him and surrounded Chai Rong. Chai Rong waved his hand and said: "Go forward!"

Hundreds of people were slowly approaching the city wall on the chaotic battlefield. Xu Xian immediately understood what Chai Rong was going to do. He was going to the city to boost morale.

Speaking of which, the soldiers of the Five Dynasties were a bit naughty. They often cheated and surrendered to the enemy during battles. But if the general could take the lead in the charge, they could fight to the death. If the emperor took the lead, the effect would be doubled. The Battle of Gaoping is

A prime example.
To be continued...