Fenghou

Xie Changzhi smiled and said, "This wheel is really difficult to make. It took three blacksmiths two months to cast it, and they tried dozens of times."

"Has it been field tested?"

"Of course I tried. Except for a little bump, everything else is much better than the wooden wheel. At least it won't always be broken. This can solve a big problem."

Chen Qing also knew that the biggest problem with horse-drawn carts and ox carts was that the wheels were easily damaged. Of course, the cost of making wheels from metal was too high, and it was definitely unrealistic. Even the army was also unrealistic, and they only used them on heavy trebuchets.

"How many heavy trebuchets have been built so far?"

"Reporting to Dutong, a total of 25 heavy-duty trebuchets have been built so far. By mid-January, there will be no problem in building [-] heavy-duty trebuchets."

"Where's the siege ladder?"

"There were originally [-] siege ladders in stock, and now there are [-] more, making the total more than [-]."

After a pause, Xie Changzhi said again: "I'm afraid it will take some time for the horizontal movement of the siege ladder that was requested by the governor before."

"Is it too difficult to develop?"

"It's not very difficult. Just make a pair of wheels. The key is that wooden wheels were used before, and it was inconvenient to switch between fixed and mobile. Later, I considered using metal wheels, but the cost was too high. Now I consider using wood for the wheels, but the axles It is more convenient to use copper, and the drawings have come out, but it will take time to trial and error."

"When will you expect to see the results?"

Xie Changzhi thought for a while and said, "Before next summer at the earliest."

At this time, Xu Chunlai, who joined the army of Kaicao, stepped forward quickly and said: "Dutong, you are ready!"

Chen Qing smiled at everyone: "Let's go to the testing ground!"

……

The valley is very wide, and a 350-step long city wall was specially built, as well as the city gate. The city wall is very strong, exactly the same as the solid real city wall. At this time, three heavy trebuchets stand side by side [-] steps away from the city wall. And behind the catapult, stood two hundred soldiers, all of whom were wearing fire armor, their faces were wrapped in wet cloth, and only their eyes were exposed.

Behind the two hundred soldiers stood another five hundred soldiers, each carrying a thick wet quilt.

This is actually a practice of fire attack tactics. Only an army with rich defense experience will know where the opportunities for attacking the city are?

"let's start!"

Chen Qing gave an order, the red flag was waved, and the war drums were beating loudly. Three heavy trebuchets simultaneously threw three flaming kerosene pots, and they hit the top of the city at the same time, and a raging fire ignited on the top of the city. .

Immediately after three consecutive throws, the city was already in flames.

"Attack!" The commander shouted.

Two hundred soldiers in fire armor ran forward carrying the siege ladder, and five hundred soldiers carrying wet bedding on their shoulders also ran forward.

General Wang Jing, who presided over today's drill, said to the crowd: "After the enemy's walls were ignited by the fire, the enemy soldiers basically retreated to the walls on both sides, and generally would not go down the walls. Our opportunity is here, Huo Huan After Soldiers A went to the city, they didn't put out the fire, but rushed to both sides of the city head to block the enemy soldiers on both sides. The fire-fighting soldiers were 500 people behind. Once the fire was extinguished, a large number of troops would swarm to the city."

Chen Qing nodded. This is actually because they discovered the loophole long ago when defending the city, but the enemy did not. Now they are going to use this loophole to attack the city.

The trebuchets had stopped projecting. Soldiers in fire armor built siege ladders and went up to the city. With crossbows and shields on their backs, and spears in hand, they quickly climbed up to the city, ran to both sides, and quickly formed a formation on the edge of the city wall. The two divine crossbow phalanx formed a cover for the siege army behind.

The second batch of soldiers carrying quilts also went to the city. Not long after they went to the city, the flames on the top of the city quickly disappeared, leaving only a small amount of black smoke. It is indeed a good way to put out the fire with wet quilts.

At this time, the third batch of one thousand soldiers rushed out and rushed towards the top of the city...

Chapter 521 Sending Troops

After five years in Shaoxing, the situation in Guanzhong has been very calm. In late January, the snow and ice melted, and spring plowing began in Guanzhong.

There is a Weishui tavern in the south of Jingzhao City. The tavern is so small that it is not even a restaurant. It has two floors and is not close to the main street. It is run by a shopkeeper and three assistants.

But this inconspicuous tavern is Xihe Road's eyeliner in Jingzhao City.

Chen Qing also discovered that although the home of the Jurchen army has always been Fengxiang, the current main force of the Jurchen army is in Jingzhao. He suspects that Wanyan Helisa will attack Hanzhong from the east for the second time, and the monitoring of Jingzhao has also changed. is extraordinarily important.

The tavern owner's surname is Fang, and the three bartenders are members of the second scout battalion just like him.

This morning, the tavern was preparing to open as usual. A bartender ran back and said nervously to the shopkeeper, "The Jurchen barracks outside the city are empty. The army left at one o'clock last night!"

Shopkeeper Fang stood up abruptly and asked, "Where did you go?"

"It should have driven south, and the humble officer has investigated."

"you sure?"

The bartender nodded, "I'm sure, I asked the roadside shop twenty miles south of the barracks, and they all said that there was an army crossing the border last night, and the time exactly coincided with the time when the Jurchen army left the barracks."

Shopkeeper Fang immediately went back to write an Eagle Letter and handed it to a bartender, "Send this Eagle Letter outside the city immediately!"

The bartender took the eagle letter and hurried away.

Half an hour later, a letter eagle slowly flew up outside the southern city, circled twice and flew westward.

……

At this time, an army of [-] was assembled outside Chengji County, and Chen Qing was also wearing armor and helmet, ready to set off. Although the imperial court ordered him to return to Lin'an to report on his duties in the early spring, Chen Qing decided to attack Pingliang Mansion for the second time. No time to go to Lin'an.

Chen Qing got on his horse and was about to go out of the city. At this moment, a soldier came galloping, "Dutong, please stay!"

Chen Qing reined in his horse, and the soldier ran forward and handed him a roll of eagle letter, "This is just sent from Jingzhao City, it seems to have important information!"

Chen Qing took the information and opened it, and there was a line on it, "Twenty thousand Jurchen troops have gone south overnight, and their whereabouts are unknown!" '

Chen Qing frowned slightly. Walking southward from Jingzhao, there were only two places to go, either the Ziwu Road or the Shangluo Road, but the opponent's army was not large, only [-] troops, and at least [-] troops were needed to attack Hanzhong , What is Wanyan Drinking Lisa going to do?

After thinking for a while, he handed the eagle letter to the soldier and said, "Give the eagle letter to Zhang Sima, and ask him to send someone to notify Hanzhong immediately, and pay attention to prevent the Jin soldiers from attacking from the east!"

"Obey!" The soldier turned and went back to the barracks.

Chen Qing urged his horse to run out of the east city with three hundred soldiers...

The [-] Song Army marched to the northeast in mighty force. The [-] Song Army and [-] camels carrying tents crossed the Weishui Floating Bridge and headed north along the official road.

It's not that the Song Army has no luggage, but the luggage has already secretly gone north as early as 20 days.

The soldiers and horses were not moved, and the food and grass went first. Since November last year, the Song Army has used camels to transport food and supplies to Tongbian County, Deshun Prefecture.

And Liu Qiong led an army of [-], and had already rushed to Tongbian County with the first batch of grain and grass.

The army traveled day and night, and arrived at Tongbian County six days later. Tongbian County is a middle county in Deshun Prefecture. It is located at the west foot of Dalong Mountain, only [-] miles away from the famous Longshan Pass.

A large camp has already been set up outside the city, and all kinds of supplies are piled up neatly in the large camp. The army advances and agrees to rest. Chen Qing looks in the direction of Longshan Pass and asks, "Is there any news from Pingliang County?"

Liu Qiong hurriedly said: "It's still news from seven days ago, there is no new one for now, do you all think there should be news?"

Chen Qing said indifferently: "We dispatched troops six days ago. I believe Li Cheng also has spies in Chengji County. He must know the news about our dispatch of troops and guess that we sent troops to Pingliang County. How could he not move?"

Liu Qiong became more and more suspicious, "It is true that there is no news so far. The brothers at Longshan Pass are all normal. Could it be that something happened to the spies from Pingliang Mansion?"

At this moment, Chen Qing looked at the sky and said with a smile: "It's coming!"

Liu Qiong quickly looked up and saw an eagle flying over their camp and flying towards the county town, where the Eagle Tower was located.

Not long after, a soldier galloped out from the county seat on horseback, and was brought before Chen Qing. The soldier knelt down on one knee and reported, "Report to Dutong, Pingliang Mansion has an urgent message!"

Chen Qing took the eagle letter and looked at it carefully. There was a line on it, "5000 more troops in Pingliang County!" '

Chen Qing handed the eagle letter to Liu Qiong, Liu Qiong was suddenly surprised: "There are only 5000 more troops?"

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "5000 people is quite a lot. There used to be 5000 people, but now there are 1 troops stationed in Pingliang County, not to mention there are [-] barrels of kerosene in the city. They rely on this [-] barrels of kerosene! "

"Everyone is right. If we don't find a solution, 1 people plus [-] barrels of kerosene will be enough to hold the city."

Chen Qing nodded, and ordered to the left and right: "Send the order down, and set off early in the morning the day after tomorrow!"

……

At the same moment when Chen Qing led the army to Tongbian County, the messenger sent by Zhang Xiao to Hanzhong also arrived in Nanzheng County.

After reading the letter, Liu Guangshi laughed loudly and said, "This Chen Qing regards me as a three-year-old child."

Staff member Yang Chui'an was puzzled and said, "Why does Xuanfu envoy think so?"

"Isn't this obvious? In order not to go to Lin'an to report on his duties, he deliberately led the army to go out, but he was afraid that I would dig out his lair, so he made a fuss about the golden soldiers and asked me to deploy heavy troops to guard against the golden soldiers. The opportunity has come to dig out his lair, and this is his wishful thinking."

"The Xuan Fu envoy is really going to dig out his lair?"

Liu Guangshi sneered and said: "I have received a secret decree from the emperor. If Chen Qing refuses to return to Lin'an to report on his duties, then wait for the opportunity to take him down. His wife and children are all in Chengji County. If I take down Chengji County at this time , holding his wife and children in his hands, doesn't he believe that he can continue to fight against the court?"

"Don't forget, envoy Xuanfu, there are still [-] defenders in Chengji County!"

"I know that the capture of Chengji County is not about a strong attack, but about taking it. I sent 500 people to sneak into the city separately, and then took the opportunity to cooperate inside and outside at night to capture Chengji County in one fell swoop. As long as the city is broken, 2 people are nothing to worry about. .”

"Is the Xuan Fu envoy really going?"

Liu Guangshi stood up and said coldly: "The secret purpose of the official family is for this, how could I not go!"

An hour later, Liu Guangshi left Nanzheng with [-] troops and headed towards Xianrenguan. At the same time, he sent someone to inform the generals Wang De and Li Qiong, and ordered them to lead [-] troops each and rush to the north. Xianrenguan meets himself.

……

The [-] Jurchen cavalry and the [-] puppet Qi troops had assembled before the Ziwu Pass. Wanyan Helisa gave an order, and the [-] troops passed the Ziwu Pass and marched toward Raofeng Pass along the Ziwu Ridge.

The vanguard army is none other than Chief Wanfu Han Chang. He is a veteran of attacking Sichuan and Shaanxi, and he has been staying in Sichuan and Shaanxi. Yan Chang valued him very much, and this time he ordered him to lead an army of [-] to capture Raofeng Pass first.

Jin Bing knew that he could cross Raofengling from Chanxi Valley, and so did Wu Jie's generals, but Zhu Wu, the current leader of Raofengguan, didn't know.

Zhu Wu is Liu Shiguang's subordinate general, which is equivalent to the rank of commander. The original general of Raofengguan has been demoted and transferred to Bashu, and the various guarding troops have also been exchanged. The guarding army is the defender of Beixianren Pass, and knows nothing about the situation of Raofeng Pass.

Han Chang originally thought that there would be a fierce battle to capture the Chanxi Valley, but he did not expect that the Song Army would not have any garrisons in the Chanxi Valley, and their five thousand troops passed through the valley with ease.

Han Chang was overjoyed. He immediately divided his troops into two groups and ordered Li Shaoyong to lead 1000 people to the top of the mountain, while he himself led [-] troops to the Song Army camp behind Raofengguan.

Raofengguan can only garrison 300 troops, and other troops are stationed in the barracks behind. This battle is bound to be won by Han Chang.

Chapter 522 Another Attack

Among the many passes of Longshan Pass, Liupan Pass and Longshan Mountain, the only two passes that can be used to carry baggage, among them, Longshan Pass is the main pass, and the road is slightly wider, but it is also a winding mountain road, which needs to circle down the mountain in circles.

The Song Army's baggage consisted of [-] camels and [-] carts.

Loaded with grain, tents, firearms, kerosene, siege weapons and other large luggage, the entire luggage team had to go over Longshan Mountain after walking the Guangshan Road for two days and two nights. Fifteen carts turned over.

The [-] army marched eastward with their luggage. Three days later, the army arrived in Pingliang County again, and the Song Army set up a camp five miles west of the county seat.

The four gates of Pingliang City were closed, and the city was under martial law. No one was allowed to go to the streets, and anyone who disobeyed the order was shot to death. The defenders were afraid that there would be scouts from the Song army lurking in the city, and they should join forces from inside and outside to seize the city.

The chief general of the garrison is called Li Jinrui, he is the younger brother of Li Cheng who controls the capital, and he can be regarded as one of Li Cheng's capable generals.

Of course, Li Jinrui was Song General at the beginning, but he was still the head of a horse army, but the real insight was his brother Li Cheng, who was promoted and reused all the way, and now he has been in charge for three years.

Li Jinrui was tall and strong, but his mind was not simple. When the Song army was still a hundred miles away, he ordered the whole city to be under martial law and the people were not allowed to go to the streets.

The county magistrate also proposed to recruit some civilians to work for the army, but he also flatly rejected it. Li Jinrui knew very well that Chen Qing had been trying to pacify Liangcheng for a long time, so how could there be no scouts from him in the city?

Soldiers moved thousands of barrels of kerosene to the top of the city and deployed them on the north, south, west, and west sides of the city.

Li Jinrui squinted at the Song army camp in the distance. He estimated that the opponent's number was around [-] to [-], which was much smaller than the [-] troops he was worried about. In this way, even if he had only [-] troops, he could still defend it. Pingliang City.

Li Jinrui heaved a sigh of relief, he was very worried these days, his elder brother led an army to attack Hanzhong, and only sent him [-] reinforcements to defend Pingliang City by relying on fire oil, but Chen Qing was an expert at playing with fire, What if he came prepared?

But now, Li Jinrui felt that even without kerosene, relying on the tall and thick walls, he could still withstand the attack of [-] to [-] troops.

"Pass down the order, beware of the enemy attacking the city tonight, and leave 3000 people to defend the city at night!"

……

Li Jinrui's guess was wrong. After the Song army set up camp, the first thing to do was to assemble the trebuchets. Thirty heavy trebuchets required [-] craftsmen to equip them for a day and a night, including the time for debugging.

Before Chen Qing brought a hundred cavalrymen and a dozen craftsmen to the east city, in a wasteland hundreds of miles away from the city wall, Chen Qing saw a mud pit. Inside the mud pit was a large black stone weighing at least fifty or sixty catties. The description in the scout intelligence is exactly the same, and it is similar in terms of distance.

Chen Qing pointed at the mud pit with his horsewhip and said: "That mud pit is the sign. It is exactly 350 steps from the mud pit to the city wall. This is the credit left by our scouts."

The craftsmen were overjoyed. With this mud pit as a reference, they began to lay down wooden stakes for positioning. Perhaps this is the technology of the Song Dynasty. If you want to be accurate, you must be meticulous, and you must not be careless in every detail.

In a short while, they laid thirty wooden stakes, ready for the attack tomorrow night.

By the evening of the second day, all thirty heavy-duty trebuchets had been installed and debugged, and their tall, giant-like figures could be clearly seen from the top of the city.

Li Jinrui was secretly startled, he guessed right, Chen Qing had been preparing for so long, and he really came prepared. Thirty heavy trebuchets had a range of at least [-] steps, and the trebuchets at the top of their city only had a range of [-] steps. The range of left and right, the range of the god arm crossbow is not enough, and other ordinary crossbows can't deal with it, only the bed crossbow.

Fortunately, Li Cheng thought carefully and sent them [-] bed crossbows with a lethal range of [-] steps, which were just right for dealing with heavy trebuchets.

"Take all the bed crossbows to the East City!"

Li Jinrui has already realized that the Song army is likely to attack the city tonight, and it must be the east city.

……

At two o'clock, the Song army started to move. Thirty heavy-duty trebuchets began to line up and drove out of the camp. On average, three bulls pulled a heavy-duty trebuchet. They were all made of metal wheels and walked very smoothly on the muddy ground. Thousands of Song troops have deployed the site in advance, placing huge baffles in front of the wooden piles.

Of course, the Song army had to guard against the attack of the bed crossbow on the top of the city. Fortunately, every heavy trebuchet was made of metal shafts, not Jinren or Xixia trebuchets, which were simply tied with belts.