The general stationed in Luoyang under Shi Siming was his favorite general Zhou Zhi.
As Shi Siming's right-hand man, Zhou Zhi won the latter's respect.
In the early years, when the Yan army returned from victory, when the credit was distributed, the army's Sima ranked Zhou Zhi behind Shi Siming's son on the merit list.
After seeing this, Shi Siming was furious and shouted on the spot: "How can you put Zhou Zhi under my son?!"
Since Zhou Zhi became a stayer in Luoyang, he has lived up to Shi Siming's trust and conscientiously carried out the order, which is to collect all the wealth in Luoyang and move it to Shi Siming's base.
Shi Siming knew that after An Qingxu's death, the Yan Kingdom was not far away from being destroyed.
Tian Chengsi, who was stationed at Tongguan, would definitely give up his post and go south to seek survival.
Once Tongguan is lost, Luoyang will be wide open, and there will be no need to defend this dragon city.
Under such circumstances, trying to seize Luoyang's wealth for one's own use has become the most important thing.
When Guo Ziyi led an army of 100,000 people and arrived at Luoyang City, Zhou Zhi was arranging the defenders while trying to delay time and consolidate the city defense.
Unexpectedly, after the Northern Tang army arrived at Luoyang City, Guo Ziyi did not even go through the process of persuading them to surrender, but directly ordered hundreds of large long cannons to be fired together, directly bombarding the city gates.
Amidst the thundering sound of cannons, cannonballs fell like raindrops on the city wall of Luoyang.
Bricks and stones flew everywhere, and the watchtower collapsed.
Zhou Zhi had only heard about the power of artillery in the Northern Tang Dynasty, but had never experienced it personally.
Moreover, as a warrior, he thought he could not do such a shameful thing as running away without engaging the enemy.
Besides, the city of Luoyang was strong. According to Zhou Zhi's idea, he could use the defense of the city to maximize the damage to the effective forces of the Northern Tang Dynasty and create an advantage for future wars.
But after actually seeing firearms, Zhou Zhi realized how wrong he was.
Hundreds of large long cannons fire one round every minute, and every three rounds, the barrels are cleared.
On just the first morning, the artillery shells of the Northern Tang Artillery Army poured into Luoyang as if they were free of charge. The city wall near the city gate alone was hit by thousands of shells.
With each bombardment, Zhou Zhi had the illusion that the earth was shaking, as if the entire city was crumbling under artillery fire.
He knew in his heart that according to the bombardment speed of the hundreds of artillery pieces of the Northern Tang Army, it would not take long for Luoyang City Wall to have gaps. By then, the morale of the army would probably collapse.
In desperation, Zhou Zhi planned to execute Luoyang's retreat plan in advance, that is, while the city was still in his hands, he would set fire to the entire city of Luoyang, and then use the opportunity to retreat eastward.
However, what he didn't expect was that long before Guo Ziyi's army arrived in Luoyang, a special team had sneaked into the city in advance.
In the early morning, the sun had just risen.
Standing in the center of the small courtyard, the squad guard tightened the armor on his elbows, stuck the crossbow behind his waist, put the dagger in his sleeve, and said to the people next to him: "Beizhen Fusi is lurking in Luoyang.
Today, I finally made it through. A pound of fire in this poor place costs a hundred coppers."
Hearing Ban Weizheng's words, the surrounding Jin Yiwei laughed, and their original nervousness was swept away.
Ban Wei Zheng: "Later today, Marshal Guo's army will arrive at the west gate of Luoyang, where the defense should be the strictest. We are lying in ambush in the north city, waiting for the war to start, and then go around the east side of the imperial city and open the gate as planned.
North city gate, and then assist our army in the north to ambush and enter the city."
Everyone nodded together.
An hour later, it was already bright.
The sound of artillery sounded in the west of Luoyang City, making the whole city tremble slightly.
Ban Weizheng stood up, stretched, and said to the others: "The army has arrived, and it's time to do something."
A group of Jin Yiwei disguised themselves as Luoyang people and followed the surrounding neighbors to escape along the long street.
Arriving at the outfield of Jixingfang, there were city defenders blocking the exit, not allowing anyone to pass, and ordering the people to move back.
Ban Wei Zheng hid behind the crowd and looked towards the defenders. He saw a large number of soldiers carrying clay pots one by one from the carriage and carrying them to the market.
A companion asked Ban Weizheng: "Brother Ben, what are they doing?"
Ban Weizheng took a deep breath and whispered: "They want to burn the city."
When the Jin Yiwei heard this, they were all stunned.
Ban Wei Zheng: "These soldiers under Shi Siming's command looted all the goods in the city, and then burned the city of Luoyang. They not only blocked the Tang army, but also burned the supplies in the city, forcing Marshal Guo's army to stop.
Waiting for the baggage."
Someone added: "There are still 300,000 people in the city."
Ban Weizheng frowned and changed from his usual lazy look. After thinking for a while, he said: "Everyone is divided into two teams. The first team rushes to the north city to seize the city gate according to the original plan; the second team comes with me.
, to prevent the enemy from burning the city."
A guard in Jinyi advised: "Brother Bang, the enemy troops responsible for burning the city are probably hundreds of people. We are small. If there is a fight, we may not be able to eat anything."
Ban Weizheng said solemnly: "I have my own way. You can go to Beicheng and don't stay."
Soon, the first team of Jin Yiwei left Fang Street and walked quickly towards Beicheng.
Ban Weizheng was hiding in the dark. When he saw more and more people gathering in the courtyard, he gestured to his companions around him, telling everyone to follow him.
Arriving at the forefront of the blockade, Ban Weizheng carefully leaned towards the defenders, aimed at the gap, pretended to stumble, slipped through the defense line, and bumped into the Luoyang defenders' cart carrying kerosene.
A can of fire oil placed high on the carriage was hit, fell to the ground, and shattered into pieces.
The guard responsible for guarding the carriage was furious and cursed loudly: "Looking for death!"
While cursing, the guard raised his spear and wanted to stab Ban Wei Zheng.
Ban Weizheng pretended to be frightened, fell to the ground in the kerosene, and stumbled into the crowd.
Some people smelled a pungent odor on Ban Weizheng's body and couldn't help but take a closer look.
After understanding the situation, someone shouted in shock: "This is kerosene! These soldiers want to burn Luoyang!"
Suddenly, the crowd was filled with anger.
The people of Luoyang pressed forward one after another, shouting curses.
Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, some guards raised their bows and arrows and shot arrows at the people in an attempt to kill them.
Ban Weizheng hid behind the crowd, took out the hand crossbow from his waist, pinpointed the enemy's position, and shot the two archers to death first.
Seeing soldiers being killed, the noise in the place suddenly became quiet.
At this time, I don’t know who shouted from behind: “If the fire breaks out, we will all die! Why don’t we rebel now!”
As soon as this statement came out, echoes suddenly arose one after another.
"It's better to fight than to be burned to death!"
"Kill these conscienceless beasts!"
Thousands of Luoyang people, led by a few "leaders", broke through the defenders' defense line, using whatever they had at hand that could be used as weapons, and began to kill desperately in order to survive.
Facing this group of civilians waving bricks, farm tools, poles and other objects, even though the defenders were well-equipped, they were helpless with their fists. In the end, they were surrounded in a corner and beaten to death one by one.
On the spot.
By the time the last guard was killed, the originally angry people's emotions had reached a boiling point.
At this time, someone didn't know who shouted again: "Both the left and the right are rebels, it's better to use your life to gain a future... If you are brave, go to the city gate with me to join the army of the Northern Tang Dynasty and get some credit!"
As soon as he finished speaking, "many people" echoed him.
Seeing that there was a leader, the common people took their own "weapons" and marched towards the city gate in a mighty manner.