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The Jurchens' siege seemed to be very methodical. Six hundred catapults began to bombard the city top wildly, but it was not a chaotic and random attack. The target of the bombing was very clear, limited to 500 steps on the east and west sides of Fengqiu Gate.
The land of Lixu is the concentrated bombing area of 600 catapults. This can be said to be an extremely smart approach.
With the number of Jurchens' 600 catapults, it is unrealistic to carry out comprehensive bombing and destruction of the ten-mile-long northern city wall of Bianliang. Therefore, concentrating on one point is the Jurchens' siege strategy. This is both
The firepower of the limited catapults can be concentrated to effectively suppress the distance between the east and west sides of the city building, causing effective damage to the defense system of the city wall, and allowing the Zhou Forbidden Army to evade the numerous defensive equipment and manpower.
Bianliang is the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, where all the best military resources are concentrated. The Forbidden Army of the Great Zhou Dynasty has the largest number of the best defensive weapons. This includes nearly 700 bed crossbows and more than 180 three-bow bed crossbows.
These are the besiegers' nightmare.
All these bed crossbows are installed on the walls of the North City. The four city gates are relatively densely packed. There is also a bed crossbow every twenty or thirty steps on the city wall as a defensive weapon to destroy important targets. In this situation
Next, the Jurchens' approach of only attacking Fengqiu Gate was to render most of the bed crossbows and three-bow bed crossbows ineffective, and only the defense systems on both sides of the Fengqiu Gate tower could function.
In terms of manpower, although the Forbidden Army of the Great Zhou Dynasty has a large number of soldiers and horses and young and strong people who are willing to defend the city, no matter how large the number of people is, it cannot exert its advantage in a small area. The two sides of the long city tower can not provide enough manpower at most.
Fifteen thousand people were defending at the same time. That was already a very dense formation. But if enough space was given to the defenders of the Zhou Dynasty, the entire North City wall could definitely accommodate 130,000 to 40,000 people. Because the top of the Bianliang City wall was
The width is several times wider than that of an ordinary city. Ordinary city walls are generally more than twenty steps wide. This is already a very majestic city wall. For some cities, thirty steps is the limit, but the width of the city wall in Bianliang City has reached
A staggering seventy steps. At the top of the entire city wall is a huge square, which can accommodate as many people as you can imagine.
The Jurchens used this concentrated attack method to maximize their strengths and avoid weaknesses, making up for their lack of comprehensive siege equipment by breaking through a little bit, and avoiding suffering huge casualties during the siege.
Six hundred catapults frantically smashed rocks and frozen-hard mud onto the city. It was like a rainstorm of mud, stone and earth within a short distance of the city. The arrows on the city were
Towers, various temporary fortifications, battlements, and crossbows on the city walls were all destroyed one after another in this crazy bombing. More than 10,000 defenders within the area were trembling and hiding behind the battlements, and were smashed to death on the sides of the city towers.
Countless people were injured.
However, the catapults also suffered strong counterattacks from the three-bow bed crossbows set up on the city towers and city walls. Some bed crossbows that were outside the attack range could also counterattack within the attack range.
The throw distance of a catapult is not very far. The catapults of the Zhou Dynasty only have a throw distance of 300 steps, not to mention that most of them are Jurchen catapults built according to the drawings. Even if they try to restore them according to the drawings, they still hire craftsmen to supervise the construction.
, as a result, the range is still only 280 steps. Therefore, in order to achieve the best bombing effect, all Jurchen catapults must be driven within 300 steps to attack the city, in order to throw the frozen soil to the
On the city wall, in order to meet the height requirements, it is necessary to sacrifice the attack distance, so in fact, the Jurchens' 600 catapults are within a distance of about 250 steps. At this distance, the defender's crossbow
Naturally, they will give them a strong counterattack.
Hundreds of catapults under the city were quickly destroyed, which was the result of the crossbows at the head of the city. The crossbows mobilized from both sides also fired fiercely at the catapults within the range, and the thick and powerful crossbows focused on the catapults.
At key positions, the catapult can be destroyed into a pile of rotten wood.
But after all, the number of catapults had the upper hand. The dense rain of mud and rocks on the city head was not only extremely lethal, but also produced a large amount of choking smoke. The city head that was attacked was wrapped in gray-yellow smoke.
People cannot breathe invisible objects in the smoke and dust. In this situation, it is not easy to save lives, let alone fight back. Under the military order not to go down to the city until death, a large number of defenders on the city wall because
Unable to avoid the blows of the rain of stones, they were killed and injured by falling rocks. In the end, all the defenders could do was to huddle in the blind spots under the towers and battlements, holding their heads with their arms and shivering like frightened little animals.
After all, the hiding place was limited, and a large number of soldiers had no place to hide, so they could only stay away from the north side of the city wall and concentrate on the south side of the city wall. Because the city wall was wide, the distance of 70 steps could be enough for the Jurchens' catapults.
The projection distance is temporarily out of reach. However, this basically gives up monitoring and counterattack on the north side of the city wall, making the Jurchens' catapult strikes even more unscrupulous.
The bombing of catapults is endless. The Jurchens are well prepared in advance. They have prepared a large number of catapults with stone bombs and frozen soil. The number seems to be enough even if they bombard for a day and a night. However, the life of catapults is limited, and such high-speed catapults
Under the intense projection, dozens of catapults disintegrated without receiving any attacks.
Although such bombing is scary, it is actually very important for defending the city.
Although Fang Liang seemed passive and suffered heavy casualties, there was no danger of the city being breached. What the defenders were paying close attention to was actually the movements of the Jurchen army's main formation. To capture the city, they relied on catapults.
Bombing would not work. The city walls of Bianliang City were not made of paper. Catapults might destroy some facilities, but they could not destroy the main body of the city wall that was three feet high and more than seventy paces wide like a hill lying in front of them. With that,
The walls of Bianliang City are so strong that even if they are bombarded by these catapults for a month, there will be no problem. Using the bombardment of catapults to suppress the soldiers and horses at the city head, and then launching a charge and siege operation is the well-known purpose. The Great Zhou Dynasty
This is actually what the soldiers are most worried about.
However, the Jurchens didn't know what they were thinking. They didn't seem to send out soldiers and horses to attack the city under the cover of catapults. All the soldiers and horses were ready and ready to attack, but they took no action.
The catapults continued to throw stones towards the city head, as if they would not stop until the city wall collapsed.
Two hours later, the catapult bombing finally ended. The Zhou defenders stood up from the countless rocks and mud, each one like a ghost emerging from a grave, covered with gray and black dust and mud.
Except for eating a lot of plaster, they were unharmed. The generals roared hoarsely, asking the defenders to prepare for the opponent's attack. The supporting soldiers and horses on the walls on both sides also stepped on the stones on the ground.
A lump of mud ran towards the city wall. Everyone knew that the real siege of the opponent's troops was about to begin.
However, the Jurchen soldiers and horses did not go as they expected, and the catapults began to evacuate. After experiencing high-intensity projections, these catapults were shaky and in urgent need of repair and reinforcement. The defenders were wondering whether the opponent was actually aware of this.
Is that enough? Is this the way the Jurchens used to siege the city? Thinking that you can attack the city with a catapult? This is too funny.
Just when the defenders at the top of the city were confused, another fifty or sixty catapults slowly drove out of the Jurchen formation. They said they were catapults because their appearance and structure were very similar to catapults.
The catapult in front of me is twice as tall and wide as the ordinary catapult. The two main masts of the ordinary catapult are about one foot high, and the length of the throwing arm is only two feet. But the height of the catapult in front of me is more than two feet.
The length of the arm is nearly four feet. In addition to the chassis, the main high mast and the throwing arm are all black and shiny, and they are definitely not made of logs. You must know that there are many factors that influence the range and strength of the catapult, but the final
The key is the selection and length of the throwing arm and high mast. It is impossible to connect mortise and tenon in these parts where the force is extremely strong. What is needed is a log with suitable hardness and toughness throughout the entire length to serve as the main component.
Often the damage to the catapult is due to the wear of the crankshaft, the breakage of the throwing arm or the breakage of the fixed masts on both sides, because these are the three most critical stress-bearing parts of the trebuchet. It can be said that there are many difficulties in the selection of log materials.
The length, hardness and toughness of logs have extremely high requirements, so it is not easy to find the right material. Often only one or two of the conditions can be met, but the completely suitable log material is one out of ten thousand. This is also a catapult
The limitations of this kind of siege equipment mean that it can only be used makeshift in many cases. Not only does it have a high damage rate, but its power and range are actually very average.
However, it is really incredible that the dozens of catapults in front of us have such a high height and such a long throwing arm. The thickness of the throwing arm is no more than the thickness of a bowl, but it can be up to four feet long.
It couldn't be a wooden catapult. A catapult actually required more than a dozen strong horses to pull it forward. This was definitely not the weight of an ordinary catapult. The experienced Zhou generals on top of the city saw the appearance of the catapult below the city.
When they saw these giant catapults, they were full of doubts in their hearts. They all thought that this thing was by no means as simple as an enlarged ordinary catapult.
Their guess was indeed correct. Although this thing is an enlarged version of an ordinary catapult, it is by no means as simple as an ordinary catapult. It was built just three days ago using more than 300 carts and spent nearly a month.
A kind of siege equipment that was transported to the front line from the Zhongjing Road in time was a giant catapult named 'Tianlei' by Wanyan Agu himself. This was also the one dedicated to Wanyan Agu by military advisor Li Guoqiu besides the Iron Buddha Tu
The second type of weapon is used to attack cities and demolish strongholds.
The Li family, descendants of the Southern Tang Dynasty, have been hiding in the mountains and fields for generations. They have never forgotten to avenge their family and country and cherish the desire to restore the country. In addition to studying and practicing martial arts, the Li family's children also study various military techniques, battle formations, strategies and
Siege equipment and means. Li Guoqiu was the best among them. Before defecting to Wanyan Agu, Li Guoqiu made careful preparations and research. Many of the results of research require certain conditions before they can be implemented.
Yan Agu's large-scale mining of iron mines in Liaodong gave Li Guoqiu the most important conditions for realizing these ideas. In addition to the corresponding armor design, the most important thing for the Tiefutu heavy cavalry is who can have so many elites.
Iron is used to create such a unit. Wanyan Aguda has such basic conditions, and Iron Buddha Temple was finally a great success.
In terms of the manufacture of siege equipment, Li has studied various offensive and defensive equipment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and naturally has some experience. For example, in terms of siege methods, things like catapults actually have a limited role. It is actually an auxiliary.
Siege equipment. The cost of making a catapult is far more than the role it can play. In other words, the catapult is a very low-cost siege equipment and is often used by opponents because of its short range.
Counterattack, the losses are huge, but in terms of siege methods, the catapult is indeed suppressing the opponent's
It is very useful in counterattacking and destroying the defensive facilities on the city wall, but it seems indispensable in storming the city.
In view of this contradiction and contrast, enhancing the power of the catapult and increasing its range are the directions that must be considered. Li Guoqiu's method was to replace the main components with fine iron castings and increase their size to make the catapult a
The iron ore controlled by Wanyan Aguda allowed him to realize this idea. In fact, the first larger and taller projection tower was built before the army was launched. Trial
Although the result after shooting was not completely satisfactory to Li Guoqiu, it was enough to make Wanyan Aguda and others smile from ear to ear in amazement. This giant trebuchet can project a heavy object weighing two hundred kilograms up to eight
A distance of a hundred steps away, this can completely achieve the purpose of hitting the enemy at a distance that the opponent cannot reach. The weight of the thrown heavy object is as high as two hundred kilograms, and its power is staggering. Previously, the catapult only
It can throw dozens of kilograms of stones, and if it falls on the city head, it will at most cause casualties and damage to some fragile defense systems. And such a giant catapult can project a two hundred kilograms of heavy objects falling from the sky. Let's just say it's a human.
It is a solid city wall, battlements, and solid fortifications and shelters will also be destroyed by it. If it hits a person, it will be a ball of flesh. If it hits a house, it will break through the wall. Even if it hits the ground, it will break out.
Here comes the big hole. This is the real siege weapon.
Wanyan Aguda witnessed the two hundred kilograms of bluestone being smashed on the ground in the target area, creating a hole about ten feet in size on the ground. The broken bluestones splashed within a radius of seven to eight feet, and the nearby vegetation was destroyed.
I was very surprised when the branches were smashed, and the leaves fell off. I thought it was like thunder falling from the sky, so I named it "Sky Thunder Car". Although the manufacturing cost is extremely high and the manufacturing difficulty is also extremely difficult, it is completely
Yan Agu immediately decided to start manufacturing such heavy siege equipment. For this reason, there were thousands of exhausted miners in the mines of Liaoyang, and there were also many exhausted souls in the smelting plants on the outskirts of Liaoyang. But
These are nothing to Wanyan Aguda. Human life is the least valuable thing, and it is absolutely worth it to exchange for such a powerful siege equipment.
Li Guoqiu made further improvements. The biggest improvement was in the throwing objects. Throwing a few hundred kilograms of heavy objects sounds simple, but it is not practical. Where to mine these huge rocks and transport them with the army? So the throwing objects are actually
Extremely important. However, Li Guoqiu quickly found a suitable throwing object. He prepared two types of ammunition for the Tianlei vehicle. The first one was the slag leftover after iron-making in the smelter. Because the level of iron-making was low.
, after the slag solidifies, there is still a large amount of iron slag in it. It only needs to be melted back in the furnace to cast the slag into scrap iron slag balls. The size is not large, but the weight can reach the standard of about two hundred kilograms. This
After the thing cools down, it actually becomes something like a big iron ball, but it will break into pieces and splash after being hit hard, which is an excellent effect.
The second kind of cannonball was actually inspired by Li Guoqiu after he learned the details of the battle between the Jurchen army and the Liao people in Liaoyang Prefecture. After personally testing the black oil emerging from the ground, it had the property of burning violently.
, Li Guoqiu had a bold idea. He ordered people to bake a large spherical pottery about two feet in diameter, poured black oil into it and sealed it. After weighing it, the weight was about 180 kilograms, which was just right.
The conditions for the projection of the thunder car. The thick pottery did not break during the projection process. It only shattered after landing, and black oil flowed all over the floor. The black oil burned for a long time after being ignited and then extinguished. After the black oil flowed,
The land several feet in radius was burned into a mess. Li Guochou was so excited that he almost went crazy. This was the most ideal result in his mind. This was the weapon that could cooperate with the thunder vehicle to cause great deterrence and damage to the enemy during the siege.
of ammunition.
Both types of ammunition were used, and a lot of them were transported with the arrival of the Tianlei truck.
The manufacturing of the Heavenly Thunder Chariot was very expensive, which once affected the expansion of the Iron Buddha. But in the end, Wanyan Aguda would rather delay the update of the Jurchen cavalry's weapons and armor, and would also prioritize the use of resources to the Iron Buddha.
The construction of the Tianlei Chariot and the construction of the Tianlei Chariot. Because Wanyan Agu knew that these were the trump cards to influence the battle situation.
The two hours of bombing before the six hundred catapults was just an appetizer. After the sky mine trucks slowly entered the battlefield, the real show began. There were only sixty sky mine trucks, but when they lined up in a row,
After taking root 300 steps away from the city at a distance of thirty steps, the huge spoon-shaped throwing basket on the high-raised throwing arm is as frightening as the raised head of a poisonous snake. Both sides of the city are above and below the city.
In fact, none of the soldiers and horses had ever seen the power of this heavy catapult. The Jurchen soldiers and horses below the city were full of expectations, but the Zhou soldiers and horses at the top of the city were filled with panic.
"Get ready!" The flag was raised high.
Dozens of operators turned the machine shaft, tightened the thick rope, and pulled down the top of the high-raised throwing arm. On the other side, a thousand-kilogram iron box with a counterweight was hoisted high, and the two ends of the entire throwing arm were stressed.
, bent into a bow shape that shoots upward into the sky. One end of the thrown basket fell to the ground, and the huge traction force made the crankshaft creak, and the entire structure made a sound of being stressed, making people feel that the entire structure would collapse at any time.
General collapse.
Eight strong men worked together to lift a black ball-shaped object, slowly put it into the throwing basket, then raised the fence around the throwing basket and quickly retreated.
"cast!"
The command flag fell heavily amid the hoarse and sharp command.
