Fenghou

The war drums were beating fiercely, shaking the heavens and the earth, and eight thousand soldiers rushed towards the city head like a tide carrying the siege ladder.

Kong Yanzhou had a sneer on his face. He knew very well that the Song army only had [-] soldiers, and half of the army was used to operate the bed crossbow. The key bed crossbow was wound slowly, and they could only shoot two rounds at most. A few casualties were nothing to worry about. .

The crossbow soldiers of the puppet Qi army are already in place. They insert the bottom of the shield tip into the soil and support the shield with small wooden sticks. They hide behind the shield and shoot arrows at the city. Insufficient, the dodge is slow, and more than 600 soldiers were shot in this round of arrows.

Chen Qing calmly ordered: "Don't worry about the enemy, shoot at the crossbowmen!"

These crossbowmen not only threatened the soldiers at the head of the city, but also threatened the militia soldiers in the city.

Five hundred bed crossbows were launched in the second round. The target was the 150-step crossbow army array. The crossbow army became a stationary target, and the damage was even greater. More than five hundred crossbowmen were shot and killed by jackdaw arrows, blood splattered everywhere.

Kong Yanzhou's face suddenly became very ugly. He didn't expect the lethality of the bed crossbow at the head of the city to be so amazing. Two rounds of bed crossbows shot and killed thousands of people. Seeing that the other party had another chance to launch the bed crossbow, he immediately ordered: "The crossbowmen are withdrawn!"

The remaining 300 crossbow soldiers were terrified. When they heard the order to retreat, they turned around and ran for their lives, but they only ran fifty steps. The third crossbow shot out, and more than [-] crossbow soldiers were shot in the back and nailed. die on the ground.

Chen Qing immediately ordered: "Remove the bed crossbow, and fire the city defense bow!"

The bed crossbow was quickly withdrawn, and the six thousand soldiers held their spears tightly, waiting for the enemy to come forward. At this moment, Niu Gao gave the order to shoot.

'Bang!Bang!Bang! 'There was a loud bang of clappers.

The [-] civilians lined up in the open space of the city drew their bows and shot arrows outside the city. The civilians only received half a day of bow and arrow training, but this kind of defensive bow does not need to be aimed, but only needs to maintain a [-]-degree oblique angle , Just shoot the arrow outside the city.

Ten thousand soldiers' arrows, like locusts covering the sky and covering the earth, soared into the sky at the same time, forming a cloud of arrows, flying across the top of the city to the outside of the city.

At this time, 2000 soldiers formed three long dragons and rushed on the pontoon bridge. [-] people had already rushed across the pontoon bridge, holding up the siege ladder and rushing towards the city wall.

At this moment, an overwhelming cloud of arrows appeared in the sky, then turned around and shot down densely at the soldiers of the Puppet Qi Army outside the city. Most of the soldiers' arrows fell into the water, but thousands of them also landed on the pontoon bridge. On the shore and on the shore, the puppet Qi army was caught off guard, and suddenly they turned their backs, and hundreds of soldiers fell into the water.

But the result was not ideal. Ten thousand arrows only killed more than 300 enemy soldiers. This is also because the water surface of the moat is too wide. Can't shoot from this angle.

More than 100 siege planes were hung on the city wall one after another. Chen Qing glanced at a siege ladder in front of him. The top rungs were made of wood, which made him feel relieved. Obviously, Wan Yanchang had forgotten his unique skill of breaking ladders. up.

There was no need for Chen Qing's order. The commanders and deputy commanders were all veterans killed from the mountain of corpses and blood. Under their arrangement and order, the axemen raised their big axes to strike at the crossbar.

More than [-] puppet Qi troops rushed across the pontoon bridge and gathered densely under the city wall. The vanguard was indeed the White Armored Army. They were distributed on dozens of siege ladders. They climbed up murderously, followed by a large number of puppet Qi troops behind them.

The Song Army's counterattack began. A huge log carrying thousands of barrels of kerosene fell from the puppet Qi army's head, and the pitch-black kerosene flowed everywhere. Someone reacted and shouted in horror, throwing dozens of torches down. , With a bang, the flames below the city rose into the sky, and countless people were ignited by the flames.

There was chaos under the city wall, and many burning soldiers fell into the moat like headless flies.

Chen Qing calmly ordered: "Throw the powder keg!"

Only three small trebuchets were prepared on the top of the city, corresponding to the three pontoon bridges, which were ignited and operated by three experienced deputy commanders.

The trebuchet was aimed at the pontoon, and three smoking powder kegs were thrown out one after another...

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

There were three violent explosions in succession. Tens of thousands of poisonous nails were shot on the three pontoon bridges. Thousands of soldiers on the shore and on the bridge were shot by the poisonous nails. The shock wave of the other pontoon bridge was blown off, and because the explosion point was slightly higher, the shock wave was a little weaker.

The second round of throwing was about to start, and at this time, hundreds of soldiers of the White Armored Army had already rushed to the top of the city, but they were shocked to find that the top three rungs had been cut off, and they could not climb up to the top of the city at all. .

But without giving them a chance to regret, several spears stabbed down together, and the sharp hair points pierced the armor and body. The top soldier screamed and fell to the city, engulfed by the flames.

In the distance, Kong Yanzhou was stunned. He never expected that the siege battle would become so brutal. This was something he had never encountered in the 20 years he had been in the army. Was the violent explosion a firearm?

"Dutong, withdraw the troops first! If this continues, all the brothers will be burned to death."

The army was about to be withdrawn just at the beginning, and Kong Yanzhou was furious, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and order: "Withdraw the army!"

'when!when!when! ' The bell for retreat rang.

Chapter 316 Jiangling

But Kong Yanzhou never imagined that the withdrawal of troops now would lead to more serious casualties.

At this time, there is no need to order a retreat. There is already a sea of ​​fire under the city. The Song army threw [-] barrels of kerosene. Arrows fell like raindrops, and countless people were shot and killed in the moat.

Gunpowder barrels continued to explode above the heads of the crowd, poisonous nails flew, and cries and wailing resounded outside the city.

Chen Qing's heart was as hard as iron, and he ordered coldly: "Shoot from the bed crossbow!"

Five hundred bed crossbows were brought up again, and the dense iron arrows were shot at the chaotic crowd of enemy soldiers. This time, the jackdaw arrows exerted a powerful power. Down.

Immediately afterwards, the second gurney crossbow was fired...

The entire outside of Jiangling City seemed to have turned into a hell on earth, and even the soldiers on the top of the city were terrified, and they couldn't even shout their cheers.

The siege battle in less than an hour was ended by the Song army with an asymmetrical tactic. The puppet Qi army suffered heavy losses. The 7000 troops invested exceeded [-] people, and only [-] people died. Flee back in embarrassment.

This fierce battle made Kong Yanzhou extremely unwilling, and he had to withdraw his troops back to the camp. The morale of the entire puppet Qi army was in a slump...

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then ordered all the generals above the commander to be summoned to the top of the city, and he said to everyone: "Kong Yanzhou's army basically belongs to his private army. He originally had 5000 people, but he was lost on the Han River." 5000 people, lost more than 1 people today, and now there are only [-] people left. Based on this, the army will not be able to attack Jiangling City. I believe he will not launch a large-scale offensive again. If he doesn't go to Jiangling City, he can't go back and explain, I guess he will probably attack Jiangling tonight or tomorrow night."

Speaking of this, Chen Qing smiled again: "But everyone, don't forget, we also have an army ambushing outside the city. This is a process of mutual games. I will leave Jiangling to command the cavalry tonight. If I am not in the city , General Niu Gao will take over as the chief general."

Niu Gao nodded silently, he deeply felt the heavy responsibility on his shoulders!

……

Inside the camp, Kong Yanzhou summoned three confidant generals to discuss countermeasures.

Kong Yanzhou said in a sad tone: "Today's battle was really unexpected. Everyone said that Chen Qing defended the city very well. Now I have learned that he has used kerosene and gunpowder to the extreme. We are not prepared enough, and we don't have large-scale catapults or the like. Siege weapons, coupled with our lack of numbers, led to today's disastrous defeat. My army lost half of it in the two battles. If I continue to fight, my strength will be completely lost. At that time, I will never get the recognition of the golden soldiers. In any case, we can no longer attack cities like today."

"But Dutong issued a military order in front of Marshal Dong. If he can't take down Jiangling, he can't explain to Marshal Dong!"

"I think we should report the situation to Wan Yanchang. He knows Chen Qing very well and understands our defeat better. As long as he speaks, even if I issue a military order, Mr. Dong will have nothing to do with me."

"Is Dutong planning to retreat to Xiangyang?" asked another general.

Kong Yanzhou walked to the big tent, looked at the city wall in the distance, and said for a long while, "I'm really not willing to retreat like this! Besides, we will retreat after a single battle. It's not easy to explain to Wan Yanchang. We must at least fight repeatedly. In the realm of repeated defeats and repeated defeats, Wan Yanchang will let us go!"

"How does Dutong plan to attack the city?" Several confidants felt that the lord was about to launch an offensive.

Kong Yanzhou said indifferently: "Chen Qing captured Changde Mansion with warships. Although we don't have such tall warships, we have medium-sized warships and siege ladders, so we can climb into the city at night."

……

As soon as night fell, Chen Qing led more than a dozen soldiers out of the city from the south gate, and rushed westward under the cover of night.

In a forest more than ten miles away, five thousand cavalrymen were patiently waiting for the order to attack. They were ready. When Chen Qing came to the edge of the forest, brothers Liu Cui and Liu Qiong came up to meet them. "

Chen Qing waved his hands and said, "How are you preparing, brothers?"

"Report to Dutong, you can attack at any time!"

Chen Qing nodded, and asked again: "Have the enemy's spies come here?"

"No! Commander Zhao said that the enemy troops only moved within five miles around Jiangling City, and did not continue westward."

"Zhao Xiaoyi has been here?"

"He has been in close contact with us, allowing us to grasp the movement of the battlefield!"

"Take a break first, I guess there will be a chance to send troops tonight."

……

At the first watch, two scout cavalry rushed from the east. They were brought in front of Chen Qing, and they knelt down on one knee to salute, "See Dutong!"

"Is there any movement in the puppet Qi army?" Chen Qing asked with a smile.

"There has been movement. We found that they have brought a cargo ship of [-] shi, full of soldiers, and headed for Jiangling City, passing through Xiashui!"

Xiashui flows into the Yangtze River from the east of Jiangling. There is a Cao River connecting Xiashui and the moat of Jiangling City. Jiangling's water city gate is also on the east side. Obviously, the other party wants to imitate himself in Changde Mansion and use warships to attack the city. The news about Kong Yanzhou is very well-informed!He actually knew about the Changde Mansion.

"Is Song Jun moving?"

"Yes! The Song army began to gather in the east city."

The time has come, Chen Qing immediately ordered: "The whole army is on horseback, ready to go!"

Five thousand cavalry mounted their horses one after another, and Chen Qing led the five thousand cavalry to the northeast...

The leader is a big ship of two thousand shi, followed by more than [-] small boats. It seems that they have learned well.

The number should not be too many. Kong Yanzhou personally led [-] troops to participate in tonight's raid.

On the top of the city, six thousand defenders gathered towards the east city one after another, but they were running close to the female wall, and the puppet Qi soldiers outside could not see them.

In the eyes of the puppet Qi army in the distance, the city is very quiet, full of the peace of the war. The Song army seems to be completely unaware that the puppet Qi army will arrive in the middle of the night. This false tranquility can even be felt by ordinary soldiers.

Of course Kong Yanzhou knew it too, but he had no choice. The arrow had already been wound and had to be fired. No matter whether he won or lost tonight, he could give Wan Yanchang an explanation. sharp.

The boat was still sixty steps away from the city, when suddenly they heard 'Boom!Boom! With a loud sound, more than a dozen red fire oil balls flew towards the ship.

Nine of the kerosene balls hit the ship, causing fires to ignite on the deck and the hull. Kong Yanzhou shouted, "Shock! Shock!"

There was still some time before the ship was completely burnt down, and he had to use this short time to let the soldiers rush to the top of the city.

The big ship speeded up and rushed towards the water city gate. Suddenly, nearly a hundred bed crossbows and three hundred god-armed crossbowmen appeared on the city wall. They fired at the same time, and the dense arrows shot at the big ship like a storm.

The deck of the big ship was full of soldiers of the White Armored Army who were about to rush to the city. They were carrying short ladders and were eager to rush to the top of the city. An iron arrow shot through, and the soldiers fell down one after another. After a round of strong bow and crossbow shots, there was no one standing on the deck.

But it doesn't matter, the puppet Qi army still has [-] soldiers, as long as the first big ship can touch the bow, the small boats behind can quickly build a pontoon bridge.

Kong Yanzhou put all his eggs in one basket, but the Song army was also unequivocal, and did not give them any chance. The fire oil ball hit the two thousand stone ship headed by it continuously, and the whole ship was engulfed by raging fire. The flames were scorching, and they jumped off the boat one after another.

The big ship was still thirty steps away from the top of the city, but the whole big ship was engulfed in flames, and it turned into a fire boat. Even if it got close to the city wall, no one could get on it.

A dozen or so small boats built a pontoon bridge in the back. The soldiers rushed to the pontoon bridge, but they couldn't get on the big boat. Anyone who went up would be a dead end.

More importantly, the big ship stopped when it was twenty steps away from the city wall, and the siege ladder could not reach the city wall.

The soldiers stomped their feet anxiously, Kong Yanzhou looked at the two thousand stone ship completely engulfed by the raging fire, his heart was full of despair.

But at this moment, there was a commotion in the military camp in the distance, crying and shouting suddenly broke out, and then the flames quickly ignited.

Kong Yanzhou's eyes widened suddenly, what's going on?

He turned his horse's head and led more than a hundred soldiers and generals to the camp three miles away, and one mile away from the camp, he saw that the camp was engulfed in flames.

The soldiers ran wildly in all directions, and behind them were countless Song Army cavalry soldiers. Groups of Song Army cavalry soldiers were so sharp that they killed the deserters crying for their fathers and mothers, and their corpses lay all over the ground.

I saw a general, followed by hundreds of cavalry, waving Fang Tian's painted halberd to kill, blood and flesh flew everywhere he passed, and heads rolled to the ground.

"It's Chen Qing! It's Chen Qing!" More than a dozen generals shouted in panic.

Kong Yanzhou suddenly yelled, turned around and fled. He understood that Chen Qing didn't evacuate at all, he was just pretending to evacuate, and he was waiting for himself!

Kong Yanzhou also found the best reason for his defeat. Chen Qing did not withdraw at all, and he fell into a trap.

He didn't care about attacking the city anymore, and he didn't care about the life and death of the soldiers in the camp, so he ran to the east with four thousand soldiers to escape...

317 Chapter Yusha

It was getting brighter, and the night battle was over. The [-] puppet Qi troops who stayed in the camp were attacked by [-] cavalry led by Chen Qing. The morale of the puppet Qi army collapsed, and they lost all fighting spirit. It's easy, Chen Qing once again killed the order, refused to accept the surrender, and used the enemy's head to judge his merits.

The cavalry of the Song army went on a rampage, killing only heads and blood flowing into rivers. In this battle, more than 300 people were beheaded by [-] puppet Qi soldiers, and only more than [-] escaped by chance.

Niu Gao brought more than a dozen generals out to meet Chen Qing. Chen Qing told them: "Clean up the battlefield, burn the corpses and bury them deeply. There are a lot of looted property in the camp. Collect them. The army must maintain a high level." Be vigilant and prevent the enemy from attacking again."

"Humble post obeys orders!"

Niu Gao saluted and asked: "Is Dutong going to pursue Kong Yanzhou's remnants?"

Chen Qing nodded, "They fled in the direction of Fuzhou. Wherever these people go, it must be a catastrophe for the people."

Chen Qing summoned the cavalry, and then led the cavalry brigade to rush to the east...

Kong Yanzhou was originally planning to flee to Xiangyang, but Chen Qing's unexpected appearance gave him a reason to question Dong Xian. This is a typical intelligence error leading to a wrong decision, and Dong Xian bears the inescapable responsibility.

Kong Yanzhou led his army to flee along Xiashui for a day and a night, tired and hungry. Although he looted two villages along the way and got some food, rice, chickens and ducks to satisfy their hunger, the soldiers were still suffering from hunger and cold, and their morale was low.

How can it not be demoralized?The property they looted over the years was placed in the barracks, and the barracks were destroyed, and they had nothing left.

If these soldiers let them plunder wealth and insult women, their morale is high and they are willing to work hard, but if they are allowed to suffer losses, they will be renounced, and their so-called loyalty will be gone.

Kong Yanzhou also knew it well. He summoned all the soldiers and surrounded them with torches to illuminate the night. He stood on a big rock and shouted loudly: "Forty miles ahead is Yusha County. There are no soldiers guarding it. Everyone cheer up." Spirit, enjoy it after entering the county, make up for the loss of property, and boost my morale!"

Now more than 4000 puppet Qi soldiers screamed excitedly, gearing up, Kong Yanzhou asked loudly again: "Do you want to rest now or go?"

"Let's go!" More than 4000 people shouted together.

Despite the hunger and cold, his morale was lifted again. Kong Yanzhou waved his sword, "Go to Yusha County!"

He led more than 4000 troops to Yusha County, dozens of miles away...

Yusha County is a middle county, located at the junction of Fuzhou and Jiangling Prefecture, the only county town within a hundred miles around, about fifty miles away from the Yangtze River.

At dawn, Kong Yanzhou finally reached the city of Yusha County. The city wall was clearly visible two miles away.

But when they saw the county seat and the city gate, the four thousand soldiers shouted excitedly and rushed towards the city gate desperately. Set off!"