Shi Le got up early, wore gold lion armor, a golden helmet on his head, and stood on the east gate holding a halberd.
Standing next to him was Monk Kongji, wearing a bright red cassock with gold thread and holding a nine-xi Zen staff in his hand.
Although the Privy Councilor Lu Qichang and the Commander-in-Chief Li Chenglie wore armor and had swords hanging on their waists, they were just for show and had no fighting power.
Cavalry General Sha Wenchen and Infantry General Le Min also had silver pewter spear heads. The armor on their bodies and the spears in their hands looked good, but their cultivation was average and of no use.
There were soldiers standing on the top of the city. Everyone was wearing armor and holding soldiers, looking to the east.
These soldiers looked okay, but in fact they had no fighting spirit. They even had a spectator mentality.
The commander of the army, Li Chenglie, looked back at the densely packed soldiers in the city. Some of them were on the roadside, and some were crowded into private houses.
Yangcheng is not that big, but with half a million troops gathered together, it is really crowded.
"Your Majesty, the soldiers in the city are too dense. Once Long Chengen uses kerosene, we will suffer heavy casualties."
Li Chenglie looked at the densely packed troops and felt very worried.
Shi Le looked back, feeling the same worry.
But Kong Ji disagreed and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. There are many people in the city, and Long Cheng'en cannot attack with fire."
Li Chenglie shook his head and said: "National Master, when the two armies are fighting, will Long Chengen still care about the people in the city?"
In Li Chenglie's view, as long as he can win the battle, he will never care about the lives of ordinary people.
But Monk Kongji said: "The commander-in-chief and the poor monk have been fighting with Long Chengen for several years. Knowing that this man is just trying to gain fame, he will never kill people maliciously."
"The soldiers are in the city, mixing with the people of Yangcheng. This is the safest way."
Li Chenglie did not agree with Kong Ji's view. He looked at Shi Le, but Shi Le agreed with Kong Ji's view and said: "The Imperial Master is right. Long Cheng'en likes to play tricks the most, so there is no need to worry about fire attacks."
When Shi Le said this, Li Chenglie couldn't say anything else.
East.
The rumble of horse hooves was heard, dust flew up in the distance, and the soldiers in the sentry tower at the top of the city blew their horns.
Woo woo woo....
The low and long horn sounded throughout Yangcheng, and everyone knew that Long Chen was coming.
The soldier clenched his weapon and stretched his neck to look east.
Soon, the handsome flag with a dragon character appeared in the field of vision.
Long Chen was wearing green dragon armor, and was accompanied by several generals including Wu Jian, Zhang Qian, Dugu Jiali, Wu Chuchu, Wu Xiangyun and Bai Tingting.
Lancers and horse archers opened the way in front, followed by infantry and siege engines.
The army slowly moved forward until they were two hundred meters outside the city. Long Chen raised his spear, and the army slowly stopped and formed an array.
Riding on the horse, Long Chen looked at Shi Le on the city, turned around and said with a smile: "Old Wu, look at Kong Jing."
When Wu Jian saw Kong Ji, the old bald donkey, he said, "It's true that this guy didn't go back to Xingqing City. He is really here."
In fact, Wu Jian hoped that Monk Kongji would return to Xingqing City, which would reduce the pressure.
If Kong Ji is not around, Long Chen can lead the four Martial Emperors to besiege him, and Shi Le will definitely be killed.
Now that Old Bald Shile is here, the situation is completely different.
"You hold your position, I'll call the formation."
Long Chen held the iron gun and walked forward slowly alone. He reined up his horse when he reached the foot of the city. He looked at Shi Le and Kong Ji and chuckled, "Shi Le, are you going to hide in the city and not come out?"
When Shi Le saw Long Chen, he said coldly: "Long Chengen, don't do this to me. If you have the guts, attack the city."
Shi Le is now more awake than ever. No matter what Long Chen says, it is a way to provoke the general, and he must not be fooled.
To say that he is huddled in the city is to say that he is huddled in the city. Say whatever you like.
Seeing that Shi Le couldn't take the bait, Long Chen turned to Monk Kong Ji and said, "Old Bald Donkey, are you alive? Life is very hard."
"Do you dare to come out and kill again? I promise I won't beat you to death."
Kong Ji looked at Long Chen from the top of the city, the hatred in his heart rolling like endless water flowing from the east.
But he was not impulsive, but sneered and said: "Long Chengen, how could a poor monk fall into your trap? If you have the ability, just attack the city."
Shi Le and Kong Ji both held back their bad breaths, but refused to fight.
Long Chen had no choice but to return to his horse.
Returning to the front of the formation, Wu Jian asked: "Sir, what should I say?"
Long Chen smiled helplessly and said: "There is no way, both of us have to be cowards, and no one is willing to come out."
Zhang Qian was in trouble and said: "If they don't come out, we can only attack the city."
When it comes to siege, no one is willing to do it.
Yangcheng was fortified, and the moat outside the city alone was tens of meters wide and more than ten meters deep, making it difficult to rush to the bottom of the city.
Ye Chang rode his horse forward and said, "Sir, give me the order. If you attack with force, attack with force. Don't we, the Long Family Army, not know how to attack the city?"
The army must train when it comes to clearing roads over mountains, building bridges when encountering water, chariots, horses, footwork, and water battles.
Siege is also a basic skill of the army.
Long Chen shook his head and smiled: "I know you are brave, but I will not let my brothers make unnecessary sacrifices."
"Pass my general's order to form formations on three sides at the east gate, south gate, and north gate, set up camp, and besiege Yangcheng!"
Long Chen's order was beyond everyone's expectations.
Led 200,000 Long family troops to attack in a mighty manner, but the result was just a siege?
"Sir, our morale is strong and we can attack Yangcheng in one go."
Tang Heizi said forward, and the generals behind him also shouted that they wanted to attack Yangcheng.
Long Chen said: "Don't be anxious. Although Yangcheng is strong, it is very small."
"Shile's army of 500,000 people suddenly retreated into the city, and their food and water sources were not enough."
"We only need to besiege them until they have no food or water, and the morale of the army will be in chaos."
"We will attack the city again when the time comes and we will achieve twice the result with half the effort."
On the way here, Long Chen was thinking about how to deal with Shi Le.
Finally came up with this solution.
Yangcheng is very strong, that's true, but the city is very small, and half a million troops are crowded together. Let alone eating and drinking, even if everyone takes a poop, Yangcheng will become a big toilet.
Therefore, the wisest choice is to siege.
Shi Le thought that as long as he reduced his troops, the soldiers would not flee.
Long Chen did the opposite, letting them huddle together and slowly consume them, waiting for internal conflicts to arise.
Wu Chuchu nodded and said: "Your Excellency is right, if you surround him for ten days and a half, there will definitely be a mutiny in the city."
Bai Tingting asked: "Sir, if we are to be surrounded, we should all be surrounded. Why is Ximen not besieged?"
Long Chen ordered the siege of the east gate, south gate and north gate, except the west gate, which was equivalent to letting Shi Le escape.
Long Chen said: "Don't contain the enemy when they return, surround the enemy's remains, and don't force the enemy when they are poor. This is the way to use troops."
This is what Sun Tzu said in "The Art of War: Military Struggle". When besieging the enemy, you must leave a hole to let the enemy have a chance to escape, so that they will not fight to the death.
If Long Chen completely besieged Yangcheng, the soldiers in the city would not see a way out and would fight to the death.
Therefore, Long Chen deliberately left the west gate unsieged, in order to give the soldiers in the city a chance to survive and make them lose their fighting spirit.
"I understand, I'll do it right now!"
Wu Jian immediately followed Long Chen's instructions. Wu Jian personally guarded the east gate, Zhang Qian and Dugu Jiali guarded the north gate, and Wu Chuchu, Wu Xiangyun, and Bai Tingting guarded the south gate.
Long Chen set up another camp and led the Rebel Army to be ready to respond at any time.
