Although Yuehailou gathered the main troops and horses on the south bank of Yingshui River and formed a camp to intercept the soldiers and horses returning from the south of Chushan, on the north bank of Yingshui River (left bank), Xuchang, Wanqiu, Xiangcheng, Shenqiu, Ruyin, Xihua and other cities There are still a large number of soldiers and horses stationed there.
As the capital of Chenzhou, Wanqiu is where the Yuehai Tower is located. It is also located east of the mouth of the Cai River into the Yingshui River, facing the Shangshui River on the south bank across the Yingshui River. Its strategic position is the most prominent, and the Yuehai Tower must not be missed by Wanqiu. , there were more than 10,000 soldiers and horses left behind.
As the governor of Xuzhou, Xuchang is not only the only way for Western Front reinforcements and grain to go south, but also has the important task of guarding the troops and horses in Xiangcheng and other places. There is no room for failure. Yue Hailou ordered General Jiang Zhaode to lead nearly 10,000 troops to control it. Xuchang and several walled cities on the north bank of Yingshui River.
On the one hand, Yuehai Tower's troops are limited, and on the other hand, the city of Xihua is small. Even if it is expected that the Chushan sneak attack force Ma Nan will pass through Xihua, Yuehai Tower can only rely on the original more than a thousand defenders. Three more battalions of elite soldiers from the direct line will be added to participate in the defense.
Generally speaking, a small city less than a thousand steps square, with more than two thousand men and horses who are determined to resist, and two to three thousand young and strong civilians in the city who can be recruited to participate in the defense, should be intimidating to the Chushan army.
In fact, since the Chushan Army raided Bianliang, they did not have enough time to attack the strong city and fortress, and they also needed to avoid a stalemate that would lead to a large number of casualties as much as possible. Therefore, they exercised great restraint and did not attack the walled city.
The only time to attack a city was the Battle of Jundu Village. The purpose was to seize thousands of good horses in Jundu Village to facilitate the return south. After going south along the Cai River, Weishi, Fugou and other fortresses were far away from Cai. The river was very close and the defenders were actually very weak, but Xu Huai would rather spend more time dividing his troops to besiege and detour rather than waste his troops attacking these fortresses.
Sometimes even when he gained an absolute advantage in field battles, but some enemy troops were stubbornly resisting, Xu Huai would rather leave them alone and let them escape, rather than forcefully attack them in order to capture a few more heads.
In the view of Xihua Guard General Hong Chenggui, Chushan's sneak attack troops should withdraw south along Caihe River into Xihua County. They should bypass Xihua City and enter Yingshui directly from Caihe River, and then find a way to break through on the south bank of Yingshui. If there is a blockade, the best way to evacuate is along the banks of Nishui River and Ru River.
Under the bloody sunset, Hong Chenggui stood on the Xihua North City Tower. At first, he saw that the troops retreating from the south of Chushan did not continue to the river mouth downstream. Thousands of troops were directly on the deserted beach more than ten miles north of Xihua City. Abandoning the ship and landing, he thought that Chushan's troops were withdrawing from the south to take the land route directly from the northwest side of Xihua City to the north bank of Yingshui River to prepare for crossing Ying.
There is nothing difficult to understand.
Landing from the north of Xihua City, it is only twenty miles away by land to the north bank of Yingshui River. If it is temporarily impossible to break out to the south bank of Yingshui River, it is also an option for Chushan troops to camp on the north bank to rest.
At least at this moment, Hong Chenggui and other generals did not think that the Chushan Army would attack Xihua City regardless of casualties, but he soon realized that he was wrong.
Under the protection of two thousand guards and cavalry, groups of Chushan Army soldiers formed a formation in the wilderness on the north side of Xihua City. Later, more than 200 chariots were used to surround the camp, and more than 3,000 soldiers returned to Yi. The family retreated into it. Under the lighting of piles of bonfires, hundreds of large and small boats collected from Bianliang, Yanling, Weishi and other places first unloaded thousands of grains and grains, and then filled them with sand. Scuttled in the Cai River.
Xu Xin'an and Xu Ling led 4,000 infantry and 2,000 naval troops from Xinyang and Chushan City.
After Tianqian controlled the mouth of the Cai River into the Ying River, he mainly set up camp at the mouth of the southeast corner of Xihua City, relying on navy warships.
In addition to retaining more than forty regular warships, this part of the Chushan army also filled the remaining two to three hundred boats requisitioned from the people at about the same time with sand and scuttled them in the Yingshui River downstream of the river mouth.
.
When it was almost midnight, the stars and moon were in the sky, the sky was clear, and the bonfires and torches reflected each other, which was perfect for a night battle.
In addition to the two thousand guard cavalry blocking the land gap in the northwest of Xihua City and intercepting the two thousand cavalry approaching from the northwest, the eight thousand Chushan infantry north of Yingshui were divided into sixteen teams, carrying ladders and other simple siege equipment.
, advancing together to the foot of Xihua City; part of the navy sailed against the current into the Yingshui River south of Xihua City, and part of the navy entered the Shuanglanggou River that passed under Xihua City and flowed into Yingshui, clearing out the traps laid by the defenders in the river.
obstacle.
The horn sounded low and the war drum beat. At this moment, the wind suddenly became violent, causing the trees to shake and the grass to snap.
More bonfires were lit at the top of Xihua City. All the defenders were urgently mobilized from the barracks and climbed to the top of the city. Wearing strong armor and holding sharp knives, they looked at the Chushan Mountain that was pouring down the city like a black tide with a depressed mood.
General pawn.
Hong Chenggui and other defenders were all direct descendants of Yue Hailou. Looking at the situation, it was confirmed that the Chushan Army was going to fight to the bitter end and wanted to attack the city from all directions at the same time. Although they were frightened, they also ran to the city wall, urging the soldiers to carry bundles of arrow feathers.
At the top of the city, the soldiers were urged to carefully inspect the bowstring and crossbow machine.
Sections of logs have long been tied up with ropes on the outside of the city wall. When the Chushan army approaches, they can directly tie the ropes and throw the logs down; wheelbarrows are filled with bricks and stones, and when the time comes, they can be dumped directly from the crenels.
Let it go.
A large iron pot was piled with firewood. At this time, it was also lit. The mixture of tung cypress and gold juice in the iron pot was heated and boiled. The smell was pungent.
As this was not enough, Hong Chenggui and other defenders ordered to collect a large amount of firewood and throw it directly under the city. When the Chushan army approached the city, they set it on fire. They also used horses and carriages one by one to separate the city walls for defense.
Without any temptation, the Chushan generals who fought the last battle, including the rebels and the Guiyi generals, all regarded death as if they were home. They raised their shields from all directions, fearlessly facing the rain of locust arrows, and directly pressed into the city, killing one of them.
Set up a ladder and secure it to the city wall with one end with an iron hook.
Although some people were shot to death by arrows before they reached the city, although the generals who were approaching the city were constantly hit by rolling stones and falling trees. Some of them had their arms and limbs broken, while the more serious ones died of bloody wounds on the spot. Boiled tung oil and golden juice were poured on them.
It was even more miserable when it was rained down and stained, and burned to pieces when set on fire, but this could not slow down the determination and speed of the Chushan Army generals to attack by ladder.
The defenders defended the city wall with spears, swords and shields, and of course they had an overwhelming advantage.
Even if the generals of the Chushan Army attached ladders to attack, some of them would be stabbed by spears and struck by swords and fall down. They would fall into the firewood burning under the city and could only roll to extinguish the flames on their bodies.
Some unfortunate people were also doused with fire oil, their clothes and armor were ignited, and they were quickly burned to death. They could only scream and wail and struggle to death.
Fortunately, Xihua, as the county seat, is located in the hinterland of the Hehuai River. The city walls that have been in disrepair for a long time are less than two feet high. There are no city towers, war sheds and other ancillary defensive buildings, and even the stacked walls are incomplete.
Yue Hailou took over the land of Xu, Chen, and Yingzhou, and the limited resources were only enough for him to squeeze out
We have been going back and forth to strengthen the defense facilities of core cities such as Xuchang and Wanqiu, but we still have no time to take care of the walled cities such as Xihua.
In addition to the Chushan Army's sword and shield men who risked their lives to attack the city, spearmen approached the city and directly raised their spears with long handles to stab the defenders who poked their heads out of the crenellations.
Hundreds of elite archers also braved the rain of arrows coming from the locusts, and went to shoot at the city defenders at a close distance, doing everything possible to reduce the pressure on the generals of the attached city.
On the outside of the North City, dozens of axe-throwers posed a greater threat to the defenders at the top of the city.
Under the cover of a large shield, the ax thrower walked to only twenty or thirty steps away from the city wall. A light and sharp flying ax was accurately thrown at the defender's head and chest. It was difficult to defend against even the tough armor.
It can directly break the shield, and it is also the first to open a gap here, helping the generals who have ascended first to gain a foothold at the top of the city.
After opening the gap, Wang Ju, Niu Er, Han Qihu and other generals led their guards to the city to fight.
Wearing two layers of armor, Wang Ju ignored the rain of locust arrows on the flanks and used an iron gun to overturn the horses, shield chariots and side carriages on the city wall that weighed more than three to four hundred kilograms or even six to seven hundred kilograms.
The generals and elite armored soldiers attacked fiercely with swords, spears, iron maces, large shields, hammers and axes and other sharp weapons. They cut down and killed the enemy soldiers who were blocking the advancing city wall mercilessly, step by step.
They headed towards the north gate and stormed over.
No matter how strong the defender's will to resist, they may be able to withstand the storming of the city by the rebels and the returning generals, but after being torn open, how can they be a match for the guards?
What's more, Wang Ju was wearing strong armor and personally led his troops to the city with Niu Er, Han Qihu and other brave generals to storm the city.
Seeing Wang Ju and other generals taking the lead, cutting down and assassinating dozens of soldiers like tigers descending from the mountain, the defenders on the left and right sides of the north city gate soon became unable to resist. However, the space at the top of the city was small, and their retreat quickly led to greater chaos.
Chen Man took advantage of this opportunity and directly led his troops from the annexed city on the north city gate to the top of the city to expand his victory.
Although Chen Man was a general in Guiyi, he continued to lead his troops after the battle at Zhuxianyi.
Xu Huai not only asked Zhou Luo to lead more than a hundred Yanling rebels to join Chen Man's army, but also sent Liu Yueting and dozens of bodyguards to follow Chen Man to help him strengthen military discipline and regulations and the propaganda and restraint of many purposes of the Chushan Army.
Purely in terms of the composition of the soldiers, Chen Man's troops did not change much, and they even had no time for additional training all the way south. However, this time they stormed Xihua City, from Chen Man on down, his troops all showed strong fighting spirit and ability.
It is called first-rate martial arts.
After Chen Man led his troops to occupy the North City Gate, and when the follow-up troops arrived, he took the lead and led his troops to kill deep into Xihua City. He was the first to kill in front of the county government office, and together with other soldiers and horses, guarded General Hong Chenggui and
Hundreds of remnant soldiers surrounded the county government office.
At this time, Xu Huai could no longer waste his troops and forcefully invade the county government office surrounded by strong walls. He ordered the north, south and south gates and side gates of the county government office to be blocked, and opened the dozens of barrels of kerosene remaining at the top of the city to pour into the county government office.
into the courtyard and then set it on fire with rockets.
The county government compound is less than a hundred steps deep and wide, but it has hundreds of houses, which are extremely densely packed.
Although the building itself was covered with bricks and tiles, the beams, columns and strips were all made of wood, which was soaked in kerosene and ignited. As more and more firewood was thrown into the courtyard, the wind turned strong and the fire quickly spread.
Xu Huai also ordered the soldiers who wanted to climb over the wall to escape from the fire bombs to be shot without mercy...
