Pang Meng judged that Liu Xiu came so quickly and in such a hurry, so he must be planning to fight him desperately.
Due to this concern, Pang Meng did not dare to attack Taocheng with all his strength. At the same time, he sent a letter to Dong Xian, asking Dong Xian to send troops to reinforce him.
Dong Xian received the message from Pang Meng and without much hesitation, he first sent Su Mao with an army of 30,000 to Taoxiang, and then sent Jiaoqiang with an army of 50,000 to Taoxiang.
Su Mao and Jiaoqiang, commanding a total of 80,000 troops, entered Taoxiang territory one after another, and together with Pang Meng's army besieged Taocheng.
Dong Xian himself, together with Liu Yu, led his main army, and then followed up. Liu Xiu had already led his army to Rencheng, and the battle with Pang Meng was about to break out. What Dong Xian was planning in his heart was that when Liu Xiu and Pang Meng,
When Su Mao and Jiao Qiang were fighting fiercely, he led his army to attack again. In this way, he could completely wipe out the Han army, and even if he was lucky, he could successfully capture Liu Xiu.
According to Pang Meng's judgment, since Liu Xiu arrived at Rencheng with a rapid march, he would definitely lead his army to attack on his own initiative.
But this time his judgment about Liu Xiu was wrong.
It is true that Liu Xiu arrived at Rencheng by means of a forced march day and night, but after arriving at Rencheng, Liu Xiu stationed there, showing no signs of reinforcements to Taoxiang, and no intention of fighting Pang Meng to the death.
.
This move of his made Pang Meng, a monk who knew Liu Xiu very well, confused as to what kind of medicine Liu Xiu was selling in his gourd.
In fact, Liu Xiu thought very simply. The reason why he made the emergency march and rushed to Rencheng as soon as possible had only one purpose, which was to give reassurance to his own defenders in Taocheng.
He used practical actions to clearly tell the Taocheng garrison led by Chen Jun that despite the large number of enemy troops outside the city, you should not panic or be chaotic. I, Liu Xiu, have personally led my army to rescue you.
As for the specific time he chooses to launch an attack on Pang Meng's army, he has to find a suitable fighter opportunity. At least now is definitely not a good time to launch an attack.
Liu Xiu now only has 5,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry. The enemy's Pang Meng has about 50,000 troops. Su Mao, who is reinforcing Pang Meng, is more powerful and has 80,000 troops. Together, the total strength is 130,000.
.
This was nearly four times the strength of the Han army. No matter how proud Liu Xiu was and how little he paid attention to the other party, he would not bring only 30,000 men into a head-on confrontation with the other party's 130,000-strong army.
So Liu Xiu had to wait until Wu Han, Gai Yan, Wang Liang, Wang Chang, Ma Wu, Wang Ba and others led their troops to arrive. Before they arrived, Liu Xiu could not do anything in Rencheng.
However, the news that Liu Xiu arrived at Rencheng in time did boost the morale of the Taocheng defenders.
Chen Jun organized the soldiers and civilians in the city to strengthen the city's defenses. Many houses in the city were demolished by them, and the door panels and windows were used as shields, the beams and pillars were used as rolling logs, and the walls and foundation stones were used as stones.
In short, everything that can be used in the city is used and moved to the top of the city for defense against the enemy.
Pang Meng's army camp. Inside the Chinese army's tent. Pang Meng sat in the middle, with Su Mao and Jiaoqiang sitting on both sides of him. Pang Meng was the first to ask: "Did Liu Xiu send troops to go north today?"
All the generals looked at each other and shook their heads. One general raised his hands and said, "Reporting to your Majesty, Liu Xiu is holding his troops in Rencheng and not a single soldier has left the camp!"
Pang Meng frowned, looked at Su Mao and Jiaoqiang, and said: "Liu Xiu led his army and traveled hundreds of miles day and night. He thought he was coming to fight with our army, but now he is sitting firmly in Rencheng. Liu Xiu means,
It’s really unpredictable!”
Jiaoqiang snorted disapprovingly and said with a sneer: "Whether Liu Xiu is willing to send troops to fight or not, let's defeat Taocheng first!"
He stood up and said: "Currently, there are only more than ten thousand defenders in Taocheng. Our army can break the city without any effort."
Pang Meng frowned and remained silent.
If Liu Xiu suddenly leads his army to attack the city when his side is attacking the city with all his strength, it will be very detrimental to his side! Before he could speak, Su Mao said: "King Dongping, I think General Jiao's words are right!"
"Oh?" Pang Meng looked at Su Mao in confusion. Jiaoqiang was a brave but reckless man, but Su Mao was different. This man was resourceful and had a deep city. He asked, "General Su, do you have any plans?"
What's the point?"
Su Mao smiled slightly and said: "There are only more than 30,000 troops under Liu Xiu's command. The reason why he is unwilling to go to Rencheng to fight is obviously because he is afraid of the strength of our army. Since Liu Xiu is unwilling to take the initiative to fight, we will force him
He's ready to go to war! There is Liu Xiu's confidant General Chen Jun in Taocheng. As long as our army attacks the city with all its strength and Taocheng is in danger, Liu Xiu can't just sit back and ignore it. He can only lead his army to help. By then, our soldiers will
Liu Xiu can be killed outside Taocheng!"
After Jiaoqiang heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up, he grinned and said, "That's right! That's right! That's what I meant!"
Pang Meng thought about it carefully and felt that what Su Mao said was reasonable. He asked again uncertainly: "Liu Xiu really only has more than 30,000 troops in Rencheng?"
A general immediately stood up, stepped in and saluted, and said: "Your Majesty, it's absolutely true! Liu Xiu did arrive at Rencheng with 5,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry!"
Pang Meng narrowed his eyes. No matter how good Liu Xiu is at fighting and scheming, what tricks can he pull off with just thirty thousand people?
After thinking about it, Pang Meng finally made up his mind and said loudly: "Tomorrow, our army will attack Taocheng with all its strength!"
To make a long story short, the next day, the three generals Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiaoqiang led their respective troops and went straight to Taocheng.
The spies of Pang Meng and others were all over Ren City, and Liu Xiu's spies were also all over Taocheng. Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiaoqiang led an army to invade Taocheng, and the news soon spread back to Ren City.
city.
After Long Yuan received the news, he immediately reported it to Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu was at the military camp in the camp, watching the drills of his own soldiers. Long Yuan hurried over and said: "Your Majesty, Pang Meng, Su Mao, Jiao Qiang, have led their troops out to attack Taocheng in a large scale!"
Hearing this, all the generals present were shocked. Everyone looked at Liu Xiu. Only Liu Xiu was left to give an order so that he could lead his troops into battle.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Liu Xiu seemed to be fine. He just nodded slightly and said lightly: "I understand."
"Your Majesty, Taocheng's garrison only has more than 10,000 men, while Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiaoqiang's troops have more than 100,000 men. If our army does not rush to reinforce it immediately, Taocheng will be lost!"
"Taocheng is in danger, your Majesty, please send troops to rescue immediately!"
"Your Majesty..." All the generals said to me, they all advocated sending troops immediately to rescue Taocheng.
Liu Xiu smiled indifferently and said affectionately and relaxedly: "Generals, don't worry, Taocheng is impregnable. Even if there are more enemy troops, they can only look at the city and sigh, and cannot cross the thunder pool!"
All the generals looked at a loss. Taocheng was not a big city, and there was no natural danger to rely on. There were only 10,000 defenders in the city, and there were indeed more than 100,000 enemy troops. In this case, Taocheng
Can the city still be defended?
No one present could understand where Liu Xiu's confidence came from.yyls
Liu Xiu said with a smile: "I have already sent 50,000 troops to Taocheng. Pang Meng, Su Mao and Jiao Qiang want to attack Taocheng. They are asking for trouble!"
Everyone present opened their mouths in surprise. His Majesty sent 50,000 troops to Taocheng. When did this happen? Why had I never heard of this? Besides, where did our side get the 50,000 troops?
horse?
Liu Xiu waved his hand impatiently and said: "Continue to drill! Please be serious, the war is coming, the soldiers must not be sloppy in their drills!"
The generals of the Han army all had question marks on their foreheads, but they did not dare to ask more questions. They could only follow Liu Xiu's order and continue to drill on the school military field.
Liu Xiu had received news that Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiaojiao were attacking Taocheng, but he was completely unmoved. The army stayed in the camp and closed it for training.
If there were really 50,000 troops entering Taocheng, then they were haunted! The 50,000 troops Liu Xiu mentioned were completely false and were only used to stabilize the morale of the troops.
In fact, the Taocheng defenders still numbered 10,000 people, but many people in Taocheng voluntarily joined the defense team, which invisibly increased the strength of the defenders.
In addition, when Liu Xiu did not come, most of the soldiers and civilians in Taocheng were dejected and had no confidence in this battle, and no people were willing to participate in the defense of the city.
The arrival of Liu Xiu brought hope to both the army and the people of Taocheng, and the people's morale was also aroused, and they were ready to face the enemy's attack with high morale.
Therefore, Liu Xiu did not send 50,000 soldiers to Taocheng. To be more precise, he sent hope and fighting spirit to Taocheng.
Liu Xiu stood still in Rencheng. Next, Pang Meng, Su Mao, and Jiaoqiang attacked Taocheng. This was not a feint attack, but a real attack.
The siege of the city by more than 100,000 troops can be described as overwhelming. Standing at the top of the city and looking out, the enemy formations outside the city are connected one after another, overwhelming, and you can't see the edge at a glance.
As the commander-in-chief of the entire army, Pang Meng waved his flag forward and gave the order to attack.
As the drums sounded, the first row of phalanx advanced forward. Even if it was just a tentative attack, there were tens of thousands of soldiers.
Twenty small square formations with five hundred people as a unit marched forward in a row.
Chen Jun, the general of Taocheng, personally climbed to the top of the city and looked at the enemy troops advancing outside the city. He pointed at the phalanx outside the city and said to everyone on the left and right: "These must be Pang Meng's subordinates!"
Most generals arrange their troops in units of one unit, each unit in a square formation. However, Pang Meng prefers to arrange his troops in units of qus, each unit in a phalanx.
Such an arrangement of troops is a sign of extreme confidence in oneself, because the formation will be more flexible and changeable, but similarly, it will be more difficult for the soldiers to cooperate, and the quality requirements for the soldiers will be higher.
Chen Jun narrowed his glasses and said quietly: "Pang Meng sent his own elite men into battle at the beginning. Today's battle is not a feint attack, but a real fight!"
As he spoke, he said to the people around him: "Send the order and the whole army is ready to fight! In addition, inform the people in the city to collect as many logs and stones as possible to prepare for emergencies!"
"Yes! General!" The surrounding generals stepped in and saluted, conveying Chen Jun's general order.
When Pang Meng's army advanced to within fifty steps of Taocheng, Chen Jun waved his sword forward and shouted: "Fire arrows!"
"Fire arrows!" The messengers pulled their necks and roared loudly, and the sound of arrows fired one after another on the top of the city.
Buzz! A rain of arrows rose into the sky above the city, piercing the sky with a harsh whistling sound, and smashed into Pang Mengjun's camp.
Bang bang bang! The arrows were nailed to the shields raised by the people, making a crackling sound. From time to time, soldiers screamed and fell to the ground.
After one round of arrow rain, there was a second round and a third round. Round after round of arrow formations smashed into the camp of Pang Meng's army, causing more and more casualties to the advancing Pang Meng's army.
The phalanx of Pang Meng's army rushed to the city wall despite the rain of arrows flying down from the city top. Then, ladders were set up one after another. Some Pang Meng's army fired arrows at the city's top, and some Pang Meng's army fired arrows at the city's top.
Follow the ladder and start charging towards the city head.
At this time, all the rolling stones prepared in advance came into use. Stones were smashed down from the top of the wall by the defenders. They were as dense as hailstones. Each rolling wood smashed into the crowd of Pang Meng's soldiers below the city, who screamed in agony.
Sounds everywhere.
The siege battle was all started, and the soldiers of Pang Meng's army kept climbing up the ladder as if they were drunk.
Some people were shot down by arrows, some were knocked down by stones, and some were thrown away from the air by the defenders and ladders.
Pang Meng, who was watching the battlefield in the Chinese army, had always remained calm. He was a veteran who had been on the battlefield for many years. He had seen too many such scenes in his life. He slowly looked to both sides of him, his eyes
Sweep towards Su Mao, stand out.
Su Mao and Jiao Qiang were not fools, so they naturally knew what Pang Meng meant. They both waved their swords forward at almost the same time, sending their respective subordinates onto the battlefield to join the battle.
