Su Dingfang didn't dare to disobey Li Ji's military orders, but he wanted to evaluate whether the benefits were worth the risk of disobeying the military orders. The most intuitive and simplest evaluation was that with the strength of the Navy alone,
Can Pingrang City be captured?
If he disobeys military orders and refuses to withdraw his troops, in order to achieve unparalleled feats and help the empire eliminate the northeastern frontier troubles for hundreds of years, he attacks Pingrang City. However, he ends up being crushed under the Pingrang City, with a bloody head and head, and is unable to break through the city and annihilate him.
The country would have really suffered a big loss and made a big joke.
When Xi Junmai heard Su Dingfang's inquiry, he quickly stood up, went to the map hanging on the bulkhead on the side of the desk, pointed to the topography of Pingrang City and said: "It's very simple, bombard the city with artillery!"
He pointed at the west city of Pingrang City and said: "Back then, King Chang'an of Goguryeo moved his capital to Pyongyang City and built an additional city in the west city. The regulations were all copied from those of the Han Dynasty. Later, King Rongliu also expanded the city and copied Chang'an City.
Because of its regulation, it is also called Chang'an City, and the Han people call it "Little Chang'an". This city is located to the west of Pingrang City, six miles east and west. It bends with the mountains and faces the Xu River in the south. It is close to the inner city of the former capital of Goguryeo in the south.
Seoul on the banks of the Han River in Baekje, and its metropolis, are called the Three Capitals in the country. However, the King of Goguryeo did not usually live in Chang'an City, but stocked armor and ordnance there in case of emergency needs.
Our army should be able to unload all the artillery on the warships and drag them on the ice of the Xu River with human and animal power until they reach the city of Chang'an. Hundreds of artillery cannons will fire in a salvo, which will definitely break the city!"
Su Dingfang stood up, stood in front of the map with his hands behind his hands, looked at it carefully, frowned and said: "Previously, the army besieged the city. It can be seen that the city wall of Pingrang City is based on rammed earth and built with blue bricks on the outside. Gunpowder can only destroy the outside green bricks.
But it is difficult to shake the rammed earth inside. Even hundreds of artillery cannons will not be able to destroy it."
Why did hundreds of thousands of Tang troops besiege Pingrang City but failed? The most important reason is that the structure of the city wall of Pingrang City is complex, and the rammed loess layer inside is tight and solid, making it difficult to blow it up with the power of gunpowder.
The tactics of using gunpowder to blow up the city walls and break into the city failed to work. We could only use human lives as in previous sieges, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and achieved half the result with half the effort.
Moreover, the power of artillery is to kill and injure soldiers. It is used to bombard city walls, but the effect is insignificant.
Xi Junmai pointed to the location of the city gate: "The city wall naturally has a core of rammed earth, so gunpowder is difficult to work, but what about the city gate?"
Su Dingfang's eyes lit up.
That's right! The city gates are all made of huge stones. It is true that even a tiny bit of gunpowder cannot be effective. However, if a large amount of gunpowder is used to bombard the city gates, the stones will loosen and cause the city gates to collapse. As long as the city gates collapse, it will become a huge
Through the breakthrough point, you can go straight into the city and fight to the inside of the city wall, making an exception to attack and capture the city wall.
Su Dingfang was not surprised that he had not thought of this method during the previous siege. Speaking of the understanding of gunpowder and the performance of firearms and the research on their uses, looking at the Tang Dynasty, no army could surpass the Navy, not even Youtun Guards.
Inside.
It's just that Xi Junmai clearly had such a good plan to break the city, but he kept it silent. It was obvious that he was resentful of the military and the imperial court for excluding the navy from the main force. He even watched the army try his best but still couldn't.
Break into the city, and still hide and laugh...
As for the countless soldiers who were lost in vain because of this, Su Dingfang didn't care.
We are not saints. When our own interests suffer losses, how many people can still be selfless and dedicate these good strategies to those who exclude them to make achievements and gain promotions?
"This is a good strategy. You can give it a try. But since we use gunpowder to bombard the city gate, what's the use of unloading the artillery on the warship and transporting it to Pingrang City?"
"Captain, the lead bullets fired from the artillery are indeed difficult to cause damage to the city wall, but a batch of kerosene bullets were just supplied a few days ago..."
"Use artillery to fire oil bombs into the city?"
"Exactly! When this 'Little Chang'an' was first built, it was used as a military fortress, hoarding a large amount of armor, ordnance, and even grain! We focused on this, and at the same time deployed artillery in all directions of Pingrang City, directing fire
Firing a volley of oil bombs into the city will not only burn the enemy's baggage, but also trigger panic among the soldiers and civilians in the city. At that time, the city gates will be blown down to break into the city, and the battle will be determined!"
…
Xi Junmai was articulate and thoughtful, and he explained the strategy of attacking the city. It was obvious that he had planned it for a long time, and his strategy was rigorous and meticulous, with no oversights. It was indeed feasible.
This is not to say that Xi Junmai is better at using troops than the generals who followed His Majesty Li Er in the Eastern Expedition, but that together with firearms, the tactics required are completely different from those in the past. Those brave generals on the battlefield have been fighting for a lifetime, and their thinking has already changed.
After solidification, how difficult is it to suddenly change his combat thinking?
Just like this artillery, even if you give them a thousand cannons, it will be in vain, because if the soldiers have not gone through long-term training, countless cannon shells and countless barrels will be ground out bit by bit, and they will not even be able to aim accurately.
…
Su Dingfang stood in front of the map, pondered for a while, and made up his mind: "Immediately send my order to the general to unload all the artillery on the warships and transport them to Pingrang City. The entire army gathered and took advantage of the gap between the Goguryeo army's pursuit to the north to storm Pingrang.
Rangcheng! This commander has a huge stake in this battle. He can only succeed and cannot fail! Even if we fight to the end with only one soldier left, we must capture Pingrangcheng and overthrow Goguryeo!"
Today, Goguryeo has a vast territory and a large population. It has become stronger and stronger gradually, gradually threatening the enemy's northeastern border.
The failure of this Eastern Expedition not only had a severe blow to the morale of the Tang army, but also consumed countless supplies of food, fodder and weapons. Within ten years, it would be difficult to organize another large-scale offensive war. And such a powerful country was rising on the border of the empire.
, will definitely affect the long-term peace and stability of the empire, and the war will definitely continue. If the Tang army does not attack Goguryeo, I am afraid that Goguryeo will invade the Tang Dynasty in the future.
And if the empire conquers Goguryeo again in the future, how much national power will it consume and how many soldiers will be killed?
The empire has reached a prosperous age, but its foundation is not yet stable. If the capital of the country squanders its national power, the hard work of the government and the public will be wasted for many years. Not to mention that each of the vigorous and vigorous sons of the Tang Dynasty died in Liaodong and their blood was spilled in foreign lands. What kind of sadness and sorrow would it be...
Although Xi Junmai tried his best to dissuade him, he did not expect Su Dingfang to be so decisive. He was stunned for a moment and asked instead: "Commander, has it been decided?"
Su Dingfang glared at him and said angrily: "Which of you lieutenants and generals is not eagerly waiting for me to disobey my order and then order an attack on the city? I am willing to fulfill your desire for success, but the ugly words are ahead.
I will bear the charge of disobeying orders, but if we cannot capture Pingrang City, I cannot afford to lose that person!"
If the navy would rather disobey orders and attack Pingrang City aggressively in an attempt to seize unparalleled achievements, but end up with a broken head and bloodshed... even if they would become a laughing stock in the world, they would be mentioned in the history books.
He, Su Dingfang, will be ridiculed by future generations.
Xi Junmai quickly patted his chest and assured: "Don't worry, Governor, even if you risk your life, we will definitely capture Pingrang City and overthrow such powerful enemies of the empire as Goguryeo!"
Everyone in the Tang Dynasty knew that the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo was not only for the unparalleled feat of unifying the four seas, but more importantly to eliminate this rising power as soon as possible, otherwise it would become a serious problem in the future! And once Goguryeo fell, the eastern and northern borders of the empire would be destroyed.
Without strong enemies to attack, you can concentrate your efforts on conquering Tubo.
After all, Tubo was the real powerful enemy of the Tang Dynasty!
Su Dingfang nodded and said: "Go down and deliver the order. The troops will light fires and cook meals. They will set out early tomorrow morning and arrive at Pingrang City! In addition, send people to the north to inform the British Duke that the navy will sacrifice their lives for righteousness and is willing to continue the unfinished business of the army.
Overthrow the enemy's country, and you will die without hesitation!"
"Here!"
Mr. Xi agreed, turned around and went out to convey the military order.
Su Dingfang stood at the porthole, looking out with his hands behind his hands. He saw that the sky was gloomy, dark clouds were rolling, and the vast sea was like a deep black pool that was daunting.
In a moment, the military order was conveyed to each warship. Immediately, countless soldiers ran excitedly to the deck and raised their arms and cheered. Even the sea breeze could not cover up the shouts!
The Navy is imbued with Fang Jun's brand from top to bottom. From the day it was formed into an army, "forge ahead and never give up" has been the spirit of the Navy. Above the sea and within the seven oceans, all enemies must surrender.
, however, the footprints of the navy must not be limited to the ocean, but must extend to every country connected to the sea, making all foreign countries and foreign lands subject to the cannon fire of the navy.