Chapter 974: Besieging the City and Fighting for Aid (Part 2)
Faced with the enemy's endless harassment, Lun Jiale finally realized the enemy's tactics of exhausting his troops. He had to change his strategy, slow down the march, stop and go, and let the soldiers rest during the march, but the Tang army still
The constant harassment prevented the Tibetan soldiers from taking a normal rest, and the soldiers were extremely trapped.
Two days later, the army crossed the Xiaoqing River. The other side of the river had a wide view and was dotted with large areas of grassland. This is a famous pasture in Yazhou, covering hundreds of miles in radius.
The Tubo army preferred the grasslands to the woods, and it was difficult for the enemy to harass them. Lun Jiare was about to order the soldiers to rest where they were, but there was no chance. A patrol sentry rushed over and shouted: "General
, the enemy’s main force was found ahead, ten miles away!”
Lun Che was shocked. He quickly opened the curtain and looked eastward, and sure enough he saw a black line in the distance.
He immediately ordered: "The whole army lines up and prepare to fight!"
Although he also knew that the soldiers were in dire straits, he had no choice now. Resting now would be a dead end, and he could only force himself to fight the enemy.
Twenty thousand soldiers quickly gathered into two large square formations. The density was very high, just like two hammers. Even the cavalry may not have the advantage. This is also determined by the characteristics of the Tubo army. They use short weapons.
Then close combat would be more beneficial to them.
The 45,000-strong army led by Guo Song slowly approached. A few miles away from the back of the Tibetan army, Pei Xin led 5,000 cavalry and appeared on the west bank of Xiaoqing River, cutting off the Tibetan army's retreat.
Lun Jiare already understood in his heart that the previous harassment by the Tang army was because the main force was waiting for them. He was really uneasy. He had an ominous premonition in his heart that this battle might be a disaster.
At this time, Lieutenant General Lun Boren suggested: "I'm afraid the enemy troops have already arrived. We can ask for help from Yazhou City. As long as Shang Dongzan sends 10,000 troops to attack the Tang army from behind, we will have a chance to win."
Lun Jiare sighed, "It's still a hundred miles away from Yazhou City. I'm afraid we won't have enough time."
On Bo Ren's silence, it was indeed too late.
Lun Buhan added: "Shang Dongzan knew we were coming. Logically speaking, he should send troops to meet us, so we may still have a glimmer of hope."
Several generals nodded, and the general's analysis made sense. Lun Che turned around and shouted to the soldiers: "In the past hundred years, our ancestors fought hundreds of battles with the Tang army, and we basically won. Soldiers,
Show your courage and don’t let our ancestors be humiliated. Even if we die on the battlefield, it is our glory. For the glory of our ancestors, we must win this battle!"
The blood of the 20,000 Tibetan soldiers was ignited, and he roared loudly, "This battle will be won! This battle will be won!"
Three miles away, 45,000 troops fluttered their flags, their horses neighed, and they were about to gallop, but were constantly being restrained by the cavalry. Under a black dragon red flag with a gold rim, coach Guo Song calmly watched the Tibetan army's morale become high.
He slowly ordered: "First Army and Second Army, attack!"
"Woo——"
The low horn echoed in the wilderness, and two cavalry archers of 5,000 people rushed out of the team on the left and right, sweeping towards the Tibetan army like two long dragons.
.........
At the top of Yazhou City, Tubo general Shang Dongzan stared at the west with a solemn expression. He had previously received a letter from Tibet's Flying Eagle and knew that 20,000 reinforcements had already set off. Judging from the time, the 20,000 reinforcements should arrive in the next two days.
Perhaps care leads to chaos. The 20,000 reinforcements are too important to him. With the addition of 20,000 reinforcements, Yazhou's military strength will reach 50,000. Yazhou will be completely stable. They will have a foundation in Bashu, thus achieving Zanpu's first goal.
stage strategic goals.
Now Shang Dongzan is very worried that the Tang army will block this army. Of course, just as Lun Jiure expected, he can send troops to receive reinforcements, but Shang Dongzan also has his difficulties. With fewer troops sent, it is easy to be defeated by the enemy troops outside the city.
If they send too many troops, they can easily be annihilated by the enemy's concentrated forces. If all the troops are sent out, what will happen to Yazhou City?
So Shang Dongzan was in a dilemma. At this time, Lieutenant General Lun Duosang whispered: "General, we also have cavalry. Why not send a cavalry team to investigate the situation first. If the Tang army really wants to concentrate its troops and annihilate our reinforcements, then we must
Send an army to rescue."
Shang Dongzan glanced at him and asked, "How many troops do you think is appropriate?"
"If we are besieged, I think it is appropriate to send 20,000 troops. The number is too small and it will be easily annihilated by the enemy."
"What if the enemy just makes a false shot? When we send 20,000 troops to respond, the enemy will concentrate their forces to attack Yazhou City. Do you think the 10,000 troops can hold it? Or the enemy will concentrate their forces to surround and annihilate our 20,000 reinforcements.
military."
Lun Duosang was a little unable to answer the question, and said after a while: "So I would like to send a team of cavalry to check the situation first and understand the situation thoroughly before making a decision."
Shang Dongzan nodded. Although this suggestion would delay the opportunity, for now, it is indeed the most reasonable.
He immediately ordered: "Order five hundred cavalry to go out of the city to inquire about the situation!"
The south city gate opened, and a group of 500 Tibetan cavalry galloped out, their horses galloping towards the west.
Tang army scouts immediately discovered the movements of the Tibetan army. Zhang Lingyun immediately made an immediate decision and left a thousand cavalrymen to continue to monitor Yazhou City. He led four thousand cavalrymen to go around the trail and outflank them.
.........
On the battlefield, drums beat like thunder, and 10,000 horse archers galloped around 20,000 Tibetan soldiers. Arrows were fired at the enemy like raindrops. The Tibetan soldiers used their shields to cover themselves and struggled to support themselves, but soldiers continued to be shot.
Fall to the ground.
Guo Song calmly looked at the attack of the cavalry on the battlefield. Seeing that the time was ripe, he ordered: "Attack the cyclone cannon!"
The cyclone gun generally refers to a movable giant crossbow or trebuchet, which is carried on the back of a camel. It first appeared in the Battle of Anxi. The army of Guo and Song Dynasty used a mobile trebuchet carried on the back of a camel. It consists of two parts. The trebuchet
The main body and base plate weigh more than a thousand kilograms. It is actually a small trebuchet. Its advantage is that it is quick and easy to assemble. It can be disassembled into two pieces and carried on the backs of two camels. When needed, it can be directly installed on the base plate and used.
.
However, the disadvantages of this kind of trebuchet are also obvious, that is, it is too small and has a short range. It can shoot about twenty kilograms of kerosene balls, etc. It will be very difficult to shoot iron and fire mines.
At the beginning of the year, the Ordnance Supervision developed a new type of mobile trebuchet. It is also called a box trebuchet. As the name suggests, it is installed in a carriage, a bit like the missiles carried by trains in later generations.
The carriage is very large, five feet long, two feet wide, and one foot high. There are four pairs of huge wheels on both sides. It weighs six thousand kilograms and needs four camels to pull it. This time, four of these box-type trebuchets are usually used to dismantle them all.
It was then transported to Bashu and assembled in Mingshan County.
Guo Song gave an order, and sixteen camels appeared pulling four box trebuchets. They were divided into two teams, escorted by three thousand cavalry, and came to both sides of the Tibetan army.
Hundreds of soldiers quickly unloaded the trebuchets for placement. Generally, a trebuchet takes half a day to assemble. This box-type trebuchet only takes a cup of tea to complete the placement. Remove the wheels, place the carriage on the ground, and open it.
The carriage board and four large trebuchets appeared.
The soldiers of the Firearms Battalion creaked open the trebuchet's throwing pole, and placed four large iron fire mines on the throwing pocket.
The large trebuchet is exposed.
Lun Cheer was taken aback. The enemy was about to throw stones. He shouted: "Squat down and defend with your shield!"
Twenty thousand Tibetan soldiers crouched down and held up their shields to resist the incoming boulders. However, what they encountered was not a boulder, but a large firearm that could send them to hell.
'Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!' There were four loud noises, and four large iron fire thunders emitting green smoke were thrown towards the dense enemy group. The soldiers of the Tang Army also lay down one after another and blocked it with shields.
Body.
"Boom! Boom..."
Four large iron fire mines exploded in the Tubo cluster. The explosion was earth-shattering, smoke filled the air, and blood and flesh flew everywhere. Thousands of poison-quenched iron nails inside shot out in all directions. Countless Tubo soldiers were shot, and even several catapults were shot.
The machine was also covered with broken nails.
The war horses several miles away were so frightened that they roared and retreated continuously. Although the soldiers had blocked their ears and the horses' ears, the powerful explosion still shocked the horses and the soldiers deeply.
When the smoke had just dissipated, Tang Jun's second round of iron fire lasers came, and four more large iron fire thunders exploded in the crowd. The sound of strong explosions, desperate howls, and screams before death were all drowned out by the thick smoke.
Already.
After two rounds of explosions, the box trebuchets began to retreat. The Tubo army was still in an extreme state of shock. The team had already been blown to pieces. Several large pits appeared inside, and there were stumps and broken arms everywhere.
Plasma and brains were mixed together, bloody corpses were piled together, and some undead soldiers were still struggling in the pool of blood.
More soldiers were frightened and collapsed on the ground, not daring to move. Extreme fear enveloped their hearts. They were frightened and completely collapsed. Two rounds of eight large iron fire mines caused nearly 10,000 casualties.
Guo Song waved his sword and ordered: "Attack! Surrender will not be accepted."
"Woo--Woo--"
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The horns were wailing, the war drums were beating loudly, and tens of thousands of Tang army cavalry were shouting and killing the Tibetan army several miles away.