In fact, Lu Xun secretly made countless preparations for this battle.
With the speed at which he led his army to cut off the Han River, even if Hu Zhi could arrive at normal speed, it was still unknown whether he could break through the Wu navy defense line on the Han River and re-establish contact with Xiangyang.
But people always like to never look back until they hit the south wall, and never give up until they see the Yellow River.
The current situation in Xiangyang is that the Wei State has a sufficient army in the north, which is only separated by a river, but they can only watch helplessly as the Wu army besieges Xiangyang.
When at a loss what to do, normal people will naturally think in their hearts, "I knew this was the case, it would be better to...".
Or the idea of "why don't you...".
As I walk along this road, and it doesn't work, I always subconsciously fantasize about whether it would be better if I take another road.
Guanqiu Jian had been in Jingzhou for a long time, and he had accumulated a lot of experience in military matters.
After all, before the Wei State lost Guanzhong, small-scale encounters between Xiangyang and Nanjun had never stopped.
It's just that this is the first time Guanqiu Jian has encountered such a big battle.
Moreover, they were attacked from the north and south by Lu Xun and Feng Yong at the same time.
No one else has this kind of treatment, so it’s normal to make some mistakes.
Although Feng Yong ran away halfway through the fight.
There is a feeling of giving up halfway.
But a person’s name is like a tree’s shadow.
Facing the notorious Feng Gui King, Guanqiu Jian, who personally stationed at Caoqiao Pass, still did not dare to be careless after the Han army on the other side withdrew.
The company sent more than ten teams of scouts to confirm that the Han army had retreated to Wuguan, and then he dared to lead his troops back to Xiangyang to aid.
What he didn't expect was that the situation in Xiangyang had deteriorated to this extent.
Being anxious, he naturally had a bad tone.
It's just that Hu Zhi is also holding back his anger.
Who among the leading generals on the front line likes to be like a puppet, restrained by those gadgets in the rear?
The victory was due to them.
If you lose the battle, all the responsibility lies with you.
Unfortunately, Hu Zhi is now facing the second situation.
Facing the Han River water defense line deployed by Lu Xun himself, Guan Qiujian and Hu Zhi naturally had a huge headache for the Wei State, which did not have many naval forces in the first place.
"What do we do now?"
Hu Zhi didn't pay attention to Guan Qiu Jian's tone. He just looked at Guan Qiu Jian and asked.
Guanqiu Jian has been in Jingzhou for a long time and is familiar with the situation in Jingzhou. If he doesn't even have an idea, then the two of them are waiting to be punished!
Unexpectedly, Guanqiu Jian shook his head:
But I heard him say:
"No one has any good ideas for the current plan. We can only see if we can rely on Fancheng to rebuild a pontoon bridge on the Han River and connect it with Xiangyang."
Hu Zhi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when he heard this. Doesn't this mean he has to break through Lu Xun's water defense line?
After thinking about it, Hu Zhi asked again:
"Where's Shangyong? Can you let Shangyong's defenders put pressure on the Wu invaders from the west?"
Hearing this, Guanqiu Jian showed a wry smile:
"When Emperor Wen was there, the power of wealthy families in Shangyong and other places was not small. When the late emperor ascended the throne, the Shen family dared to privately engrave official talismans and give them to others in the name of the emperor."
Having said this, Guanqiu Jian sighed:
"After Sima Taifu personally put down the rebellion of Shangyong Mengda, the imperial court wanted to check the fields of the local people with Ding's household registration, but was unexpectedly stopped by Sima Taifu."
"It is only said that the Shu captives were tied up with a dense net, so they were abandoned. The great Wei Dynasty should use the outline, and the officials will naturally be happy, so the court will not mention this matter again."
"In addition, Sima Taifu has been guarding Wancheng for a long time, encouraging farmers to grow mulberry trees, and prohibiting floating fees. Therefore, most of the southern native officials are grateful for Sima Taifu's kindness."
In fact, the problem of tyranny in Shangyong and other places has extremely complicated historical reasons.
More recently, it can be traced back to at least the period when Emperor Wu and Liu Bei fought for Hanzhong.
(Note: Shangyong and other places belonged to Yizhou during the Eastern Han Dynasty)
A little further away, it can even be traced back to Liu Biao, Liu Yan, Zhang Lu and others.
Shangyong and other counties are located at the junction of Nanyang, Xiangyang and Hanzhong.
And it is surrounded by Bashan Mountain, making the road difficult to travel.
In the past few decades, no matter which force owns this place, it must appease the local powerful.
Hu Zhi frowned:
"General Guanqiu has been guarding Jingzhou for so many years, but he still can't get the officials from the mediocre land to return to the imperial court?"
When Guanqiu Jian heard this, he immediately cursed in his heart:
What nonsense are you talking about!
During the reign of the late emperor, Sima Taifu was an auxiliary minister and a scholar in Shangyong and other places. Which one was not loyal to the imperial court?
When the late emperor visited Xuchang eastward, Sima Taifu retreated to Luoyang, and the Wei Dynasty even lost Guanzhong.
I have to guard against both Wuguan in the north and Wu people in the south. How can I have the energy to control Shangyong and other places in the west?
To be honest, with the current situation in the world, it is rare that these places have not been in chaos and have the intention to re-affiliate to Xishu.
Still want Shangyong to send troops?
Not talking about Sima Yi, are all the Shu captives in Hanzhong dead?
Seeing Guanqiu Jian's ugly face, Hu Zhi coughed and did not ask any more questions, so he had to change the subject:
"Is there enough food in Xiangyang City?"
Guanqiu Jian's face was gloomy.
Hu Zhi's heart sank, and his expression became grim:
What do you mean?
After working in Jingzhou for so many years, I didn’t do this well, and I didn’t do that well either. What on earth did you do?
While he was thinking, he heard Guanqiu Jian finally say:
"When Emperor Wen was there, all the ministers in the court discussed the matter of Jingzhou. They all said that there was no valley in Xiangyang. On this reason, Zhonghou (that is, Cao Ren) asked to return Tunwan City."
"After Emperor Wen agreed, Zhonghou also burned the two cities of Xiangfan and returned to the north. Later Sun Quan sent people to occupy Xiangyang, and Zhonghou followed the order to attack and regain Xiangyang again."
"In order to prevent the people south of the Han River from being forced by the Wu people, not only ordinary people, but also many Yi people were moved to the north of the Han River by Zhonghou."
"Over the years, the land between Xiangyang and Nanjun has become white! Therefore, most of the food in Xiangyang is transported from the north."
Having said this, Guanqiu Jian closed his mouth.
(Note: In the original history, Lu Xun of the Wu State wrote to Sun Quan because of the lack of food in Jingzhou, asking Jingzhou soldiers to farm the fields; when Yang Hu of the Jin State took over the defense of Jingzhou, the army did not have enough food for a hundred days, which shows that Jingzhou's food is tight)
When Hu Zhi heard this, he was silent for a while, and then asked:
"How long can the remaining food in Xiangyang City be enough for the defenders?"
"Most of the military rations in Jingzhou are stationed in Wancheng. There is not much food in Xiangyang, and it can only last for three months at most."
In fact, if he did not take away part of the defenders, Xiangyang's military rations could last for a month at most.
There is actually no way around this.
After all, Xiangyang is on the front line and is separated by the Han River. It can be said to be an isolated city south of the Han River.
No one with any military knowledge would put a large amount of military rations there.
"Three months..."
Hu Zhi pondered and looked up to the south again.
"In other words, even if Xiangyang is not breached by the Wu invaders, it can only defend it for two more months at most?"
Xiangyang has been besieged for almost a month.
After deducting this month from three months, doesn’t it mean that there are only two months left?
Guanqiu Jian still didn't answer, he also looked up to the south.
Maybe it can last two and a half months?
Because it is very likely that Qiaozhong has been lost!
If the losses of the defenders in Peizhong were too great and unable to return to Xiangyang City, then the number of Xiangyang defenders would be even smaller.
But similarly, the fewer the defenders, the harder it is to defend a big city like Xiangyang.
"There are still two months left, so try to open up connections between Xiangfan and Xiangfan."
It is useless to talk more, so Guanqiu Jian and Hu Zhi began to try to connect Xiangyang from Fancheng.
It's just that Fancheng is adjacent to the Han River in the south, and it can be said that it is under the eyes of Wu Jun's navy.
As soon as the two men made a move, they were immediately informed by Wu Jun.
"Come up, General, there seems to be some movement among the bandits in Fancheng!"
Lu Xun seemed to have expected it, and smiled calmly:
"I originally thought that the thieves would come down the river from Shangyong, but I didn't expect that they would still force their way through Fancheng."
Speaking of this, Lu Xun seemed to be thinking, and then there was a look of disbelief on his face:
"Maybe the traitor has given up on Xiangyang?"
To the west of Tezhong are Fangling and Shangyong.
If we say that when Dawu attacked Peizhong, the bandits from Shangyong and other places were unable to reinforce in time because of the obstruction of Bashan.
So now that Xiangyang has been besieged for so long, it stands to reason that the bandits from Shangyong and other places should also have arrived.
To be honest, Lu Xun would be a little worried if the thieves' reinforcements came from Shangyong and other places.
Because in Shangyong and other places, not only can you reach Xiangyang directly by water, but you can also go ashore halfway and take the land route.
As for fighting the Wei army on land, Lu Xun naturally did not dare to be completely at ease.
Nowadays, there has been no movement from the Shangyong thief, which makes Lu Xun, a calm man, unable to help but feel happy:
In the past, Guan Yu attacked Xiangfan, but Shangyong's reinforcements never arrived, so he was defeated and died.
Now that I am attacking Xiangfan, Shangyong's reinforcements never arrive. Could it be that this is God's will and that I am destined to succeed?
Thinking of this, Lu Xun's eyes flashed, he subconsciously looked at the north, and then immediately ordered:
"Come here, take my warrant and go to General Bu. Tell him that he must send more scouts and be careful of the bandit troops in Shangyong and other places. If there is any news about the bandit, he must report it immediately!"
"Here!"
After giving the instructions, he looked in the direction of Fancheng again with a smile on his lips:
"Want to rebuild a pontoon bridge across the water from Fancheng? I wonder how many naval forces you have?"
No navy?
If you want to cross the Han River, just dream!
This is also the reason why he destroyed the Xiangyang City Water Wall immediately after cutting off the Han River.
The purpose is to eliminate as much as possible the navy troops deployed by the Wei thieves in Jingzhou.
At this time, on the wall of Xiangyang City, Puzhong, the guard of the Wei army, looked at Xianshou Mountain outside the city in the south, with a look of worry on his face.
Xianshou Mountain, which was originally the gateway to Xiangyang, was now filled with the flags of Wu State.
Turn your head again and look north.
The surface of the Han River was covered with densely packed water troops of the state of Wu.
But the only hope, the upward direction, is still missing.
At this time, Pu Zhong was already a little desperate.
Xiangyang City is indeed very large, with very high and thick walls.
But at this time, Puzhong hoped that Xiangyang City could be smaller, even smaller.
Otherwise, when the Wu army is ready, the defenders in their hands will continue to rush between various sections of the city wall.
Not to mention that the Wu invaders now occupy high places such as Xian Mountain and can clearly see the layout of the city.
As time goes by, the soldiers will inevitably become exhausted.
If the imperial reinforcements cannot arrive in time, it will only be a matter of time before the city falls.
While I was thinking about it, I heard a reward:
"General, the Wu invaders shot the letter into the city!"
"Oh?" When Pu Zhong heard this, his heart moved and he stretched out his hand and said, "Show me."
When I opened the letter, as expected, it was a letter from Wu Kou to persuade him to surrender.
It was nothing more than a million elite soldiers besieging the city. Wang Shi was benevolent and could not bear the suffering of the people and soldiers in the city from the unnecessary war, so he persuaded himself to open the city gate and surrender.
Before Pu Zhong finished reading, he tore it into pieces and said to the soldiers:
"From the top of Xiangyang City, you can see the north bank of the Han River. The imperial reinforcements have arrived and are trying to break the siege."
"The advantage of the Wu invaders lies in the navy. What else is wrong?"
"But how can the navy attack the city? Therefore, as long as we defend the city and do not surrender, the thieves have nothing to do."
Having said this, he glanced around again, raised his voice, and said:
"If any letters from thieves enter the city again in the future, they will be burned and not allowed to be kept privately. Otherwise, they will be executed!"
All the soldiers responded with a roar.
Lu Xun, Zhu Ran, and Bu Zhi fired letters of persuasion into the city from different directions, but received no response.
Knowing that the defenders in the city were determined to defend the city, they began to prepare for the attack.
Before the use of counterweighted trebuchets in sieges, the methods of siege basically did not change much no matter what time or era.
Push the cart, set up the ladder, climb the cart, build the mountain of earth, dig the tunnel...
It's all done at the cost of human life.
Although now, due to the illegal crossing of a certain country turtle, Ji Han has embarked on a completely different path, and at the same time mastered the counterweight trebuchet more than a thousand years in advance.
But the engineering camp was Ji Han's secret. Especially after the Yang Yi incident, Feng Duhu paid more attention to the confidentiality of the engineering camp.
Although the Wei State also knew something about stone cannons, they did not have professionals, a large number of experiments, and a large number of actual combat situations.
It is impossible to make a high imitation. The most you can do is make a copycat version, or even a Xixi version.
Ma Jun is powerful, but no matter how powerful he is, how many nails can he drive?
Not to mention those projectile parameters.
Let’s just say that the craftsmen who build this thing need to be trained.
And the soldiers who operate this thing also need to be trained.
This also involves certain knowledge of mathematics, physics, materials, mechanisms, etc.
Ji Han's engineering battalion already has a prototype of standardization, but it will take a lot of time to prepare to build qualified stone cannons that are powerful enough and large enough to take down a big city.
Not to mention the Wu State, which only heard the name of the stone cannon but never saw the reality.
The southeast of Xiangyang City is the main attack direction of Wu State, and it is also where Zhu Ran is located.
In order to capture Xiangyang City as soon as possible, Lu Xun assigned Zhu Ran with the most elite soldiers.
Group after group of Wu soldiers, auxiliary soldiers, and civilians braved the rain of arrows, and under the cover of the soldiers in the front row holding large rafts, they carried earth bags on their backs, pushed carts loaded with earth and rocks, and kept pouring them into the moat.
.
During this process, people were constantly being shot by stray arrows, falling to the ground wailing, or being seriously injured and killed.
This is the price that must be paid, and it is just the beginning.
A few days later, Zhu Ran stood at the foot of Xiangyang City and promised to the Wu soldiers who were about to attack the city:
"The general only wants Xiangyang. After the city is destroyed, all the gold and silk for the children in the city will be taken by you."
"But if you are unsuccessful in attacking the city," Zhu Ran looked at everyone and said word by word, "then the gold and silk of the children in your family may be owned by others!"
After speaking, he drew his sword and shouted, "Attack the city!"
The rumble of war drums sounded.
The Wu soldiers carrying ladders and other siege equipment began to rush towards Xiangyang City.
"Fire the arrow!"
The garrison at the head of the city watched Wu Jun come within shooting range and began to give orders.
Logically speaking, in a big city like Xiangyang, in addition to the moat, there should also be a sheep wall under the city.
In front of the sheep wall, one or even several horse barriers can be arranged.
This can cooperate with the defenders at the top of the city to continue to consume the troops of the siege party.
However, there were too few Xiangyang defenders at this time, so Puzhong had no choice but to gather all his troops into the city.
This allowed the Wu army to attack the city directly after filling in the moat.
The arrows were like locusts, but they did not frighten the attacking Wu army.
Not only that, but after Zhu Ran tested it out and roughly figured out the number of defenders, he immediately invested heavy troops.
Wave after wave of offensives, with no regard for casualties.
"Crack!"
A light ladder with an iron hook was set up on the city wall and firmly hooked on the female wall.
Wu soldiers below the city began to climb up with all their strength.
When they were halfway up, stones and rolling logs were suddenly thrown down from the top of the city.
Many unlucky Wu soldiers were beaten to a bloody pulp on the spot.
As for some light ladders, before they could be set up at the top of the city, the Wei army was already prepared at the top of the city, stretched out their long spears, and shouted in unison to get the ladders out.
The ladder is not so easy to damage.
The thick chassis means that the soldiers who can stand on the narrow city head cannot easily destroy it.
But it is also not enough to protect the siege soldiers.
Every time he climbed halfway, Wu Bing would fall from the air like a dumpling in the water.
There were shouts of killing, wailing, and the human body was hit by some object, making a dull sound like beating leather...
It lingers in the sky above Xiangyang City and lingers for a long time.
Zhu Ran did not go to the front to supervise the battle, but handed the front line to Zhu Yi.
As for himself, he returned to Xianshou Mountain, stood on the top of the mountain, and looked at the head of Xiangyang City.
Beside him are the soldiers with the best eyesight in the army.
"General, the commander of the bandit army is here!"
Zhu Ran nodded and said nothing.
This direction is the main route in and out of Xiangyang, and it is also the most convenient location to attack the city.
It is understandable that the thieves guarding the city put heavy troops here.
"Send someone to tell the Cavalry Commander (i.e. Zhu Yi) to continue sending more troops!"
"Here!"
"Send someone to the west and tell the infantry general that we can start."
