Fenghou

"I just got the news that the imperial court's [-] troops have entered Haizhou. Wang Jian's [-] troops fought fiercely with Jin Bing's signing army in Liguo Town, west of Haizhou. The signing army retreated and retreated to Qushan County. Wan Dajun surrounded Qushan County from three directions."

"How about the navy?"

"I heard that Han Shizhong has sent troops, but the number is not too large. Only 5000 troops and [-] large ships have been dispatched. This is the internal news of the navy, and it should be more accurate."

Liu Qiong laid out a map and asked, "How many naval forces are there in the imperial court?"

"About 2 people!"

"Since there are [-] troops, why only [-] are sent? What's the reason?" Liu Qiong was really puzzled.

Wang Qing whispered: "I heard that Han Shizhong wrote to the emperor against the Northern Expedition. Could it be that he doesn't want to cooperate with the Song army?"

Liu Qiong shook his head, "Impossible, Han Shizhong is very loyal, he opposes Gui Gui, but once the court decides to go to the Northern Expedition, he will definitely go all out. He sent [-] troops, it should be the court's will, not his decision."

Tang Qian, who has been silent all this time, said: "I guess this has something to do with the court's offensive strategy. The court advances from south to north. The land part is very important to the court, and the island part is dispensable. Perhaps the court thinks that taking the land, the island It will be handed over naturally, without spending too much manpower and material resources."

Wang Qing quickly said: "General Tang is right. All the supplies of Donghai Island come from land. Once the imperial court takes Qushan County, it will cut off the supply of the island. The soldiers and civilians of Donghai County will not last for a few days!"

Liu Qiong stared at the map and asked, "Which line did the opponent's navy take?"

"They went north along the canal, went east to the sea after reaching the Huaihe River, and then took the sea route to Donghai Island."

Liu Qiong nodded, "Let's rest for two days, and then set off according to the established plan!"

……

Two days later, the fleet of the Western Army continued to set off. They did not follow the example of the Song Army by taking the canal, but went directly to the sea from the Yangtze River, and then detoured northward.

Tang Qian only guessed half of the intention of the Song army to send only [-] troops. The strategic goal of the Song army was to advance northward. Tasteless, tasteless to get, but a pity to discard, so only [-] troops were sent to attack Donghai Island.

Tang Qian guessed this point correctly, but he didn't guess half of the answers, that is, the Song Army Navy was established too shortly, and the training was far from enough. Only 5000 people could barely fight. This is the most important reason.

Thirty thousand-stone ships sailed on the old course of the Huaihe River. This is also the new Yellow River. The river is surging, and the fleet goes down the river.

Han Shizhong stood on the big boat, staring at the distant river with gloomy eyes. Seagulls appeared on the river, and they were about to reach the mouth of the sea.

In fact, Han Shizhong did not approve of this Northern Expedition. The imperial court simply did not have the strength to participate in the competition for Shandong Road.

It's all because of the emperor's impulsive mind. Although the decision to attack Shandong Road in an all-round way has been canceled and the strategy of cannibalization has been changed, Han Shizhong still has no meaning. Since occupying those states can't change the overall situation, it will cost a huge amount of money. The gain outweighs the loss , It is better to use the money to build a navy.

Speaking of the navy, it is only a recruit of Han Shizhong. It has been almost a year since he made the plan of [-] new warships last year, and not even one has started construction. It is still in the state of drawing. Said that there is no money to build ships, so his current navy is still dominated by civilian cargo ships, and the imperial court can't even pay for the transformation of civilian ships.

How can Han Shizhong be happy when he spends millions of guns and supplies hundreds of thousands of stones for a meaningless northern expedition.

At this time, the deputy general Wang Gui stepped forward and said: "Commander, the sea is just ahead, I heard that the wind and waves are quite strong, why not wait for a day or two!"

Han Shizhong immediately ordered: "Send a boat to have a look. If it's not the wind and waves, then continue to go north!"

The first thousand and 180 eight chapters seize the island

Thirty large ships of the Western Army arrived at the outskirts of Donghai Island under the cover of night, and anchored on the sea about [-] miles east of the island, waiting for news from the scouts.

At two o'clock, a small boat sailed from the night. It was the scout sent by the Western Army.

Not long after, several scouts boarded the main ship and were taken to Liu Qiong's main cabin.

Although the night was very deep, Liu Qiong hadn't fallen asleep yet. He stood in front of the map and meditated. In fact, he was still waiting for news from the scouts.

The leading scout knelt down on one knee and saluted: "See Dutong!"

"Please get up! Tell me about the situation on the island."

The scout stood up and said: "We first found the fleet of the Song Army. They did not go to the island, but anchored in the strait between the land and the island. It seems that they have cut off the land connection of the island."

Liu Qiong found the strait mentioned by the scouts on the map. It was very narrow, located between two counties, and looked like a very wide river.

"How wide and long is the strait?"

"Reporting to Dutong, the width is about three miles, and the length is about twenty miles. There are piers on both sides, and ferries are usually used to commute, but now they are completely controlled by Song army ships."

Liu Qiong nodded. Song Jun's actions were within his expectations. With only [-] troops, don't expect to capture Donghai County.

"Have you gone to the island yet?"

"We went to the island later, all the way to the city of Donghai County."

"How is the county seat?"

"Beizhi feels like a very dilapidated county town. It has not been repaired for at least several decades. The county town is not big, with a circumference of at most ten miles and a height of about two feet."

"What about the population and the garrison?"

"Bizhi and his subordinates finally found a village. After some general inquiries, the population of the city used to be more than 5000, but they were all transferred to the other side. There are only a large number of garrisons left in the city, about [-] people."

At this time, Tang Qian, who was silent at the side, suddenly asked: "After you inquired about the military situation, did you send someone to stay and monitor the villagers?"

The scouts shook their heads and said, "We left quickly after we inquired about the news. We didn't leave any soldiers behind, so we didn't feel safe!"

Liu Qiong frowned and said, "General Tang thinks those villagers will report it?"

Tang Qian was very experienced. He found a loophole in it, and sighed: "Since the other party evacuated the people in the city, but did not evacuate the fishermen on the island, I think these fishermen are actually their eyes and ears."

Liu Qiong walked a few steps behind his back and said, "If those fishermen are eyes and ears, then the information they provide may not be accurate, right?"

"That's true. In a small county with a circumference of only ten miles, there are 5000 troops in the garrison. It's a bit exaggerated!"

The scouts were all ashamed and said: "The humble officer is careless, but he didn't find any loopholes in the information."

"It has nothing to do with you, step back!"

The scouts bowed their heads and retreated.

Liu Qiong smiled at Tang Qian: "What should we do next? Does Old Tang have any ideas?"

The two have worked together for many years, and they have a tacit understanding with each other. Tang Qian also smiled and said: "I guess Song Jun also went ashore to ask these fishermen, but he was frightened by the information provided by the fishermen, so he didn't dare to attack the city. I think we should Boldly attack the city, and seize Donghai County in one fell swoop before the Song army reacts."

"It's exactly what I want, the opportunity is not lost, we will attack the city tonight!"

……

The defenders in Donghai County actually only had 3000 people, and they were led by a signatory commander. They lied to the outside world that there were 5000 people, and they arranged villagers to be their eyes and ears. Han Shizhong was deceived by these villagers, thinking that there was really a With fifteen thousand troops, Han Shizhong had to abandon his plan to attack the city and block the strait instead.

However, Tang Qian, who was extremely experienced in scouting, discovered the loopholes. Since Jin Bing evacuated more than 1 people in the city, but ignored the very few fishermen outside the city, this is really unreasonable.

The commander of Jin Bing is called Hu Lin, a native of Yizhou on Shandong Road, about 40 years old, he was originally one of the generals of the militia army on Shandong Road, after Wanyan Wushu was transferred to Shandong Road, all the [-] militia troops were converted into regular troops, Hu Lin naturally became a signing general.

He is a local faction of Shandong Road, not Li Cheng's old subordinate, so he is not very popular with Li Cheng, so he was sent by Li Cheng to guard Donghai Island.

Although Li Cheng also knew that the Western Army would probably send a large army to capture Donghai Island, but being able to predict it did not mean that he would be able to defend Donghai Island. A strong navy was needed to hold Donghai Island. Without a navy, it is naturally impossible to defend the island.

Li Cheng is very pragmatic. He knows that once he deploys heavy troops on Donghai Island, it will be easy for the opponent's navy to cut off the supply and contact with the outside world, and finally the whole army will collapse.

Of course, Li Cheng would not risk the army, so he withdrew all the population on Donghai Island to the land, sent Hu Lin to lead 3000 people to guard Donghai County, and used suspicious tactics to falsely claim that there were 5000 people.

Under the night, several villagers came to report, and someone asked them about the garrison and population in the city.

This is the second group of people in three days to inquire about the military situation. The first group of people is the Song Army. They have blocked the strait now. Who is the second group of people? Could it be the Western Army?Or Song Jun.

Hu Lin frowned and pondered for a moment. He still sent a few spies to investigate the situation at Buffalo Bay in the northeast corner. Buffalo Bay is the only place where ships can berthed ashore. Whether it is the Song Army or the Western Army, they have to go ashore from the east. You can only go to Buffalo Bay.

……

In the middle of the night, the large ship of the Western Army began to dock at Buffalo Bay, and one by one soldiers rushed down from the large ship and began to line up quickly.

Two miles away, three spies lying in ambush on a hill saw a huge ship approaching the shore and saw countless soldiers lined up on the shore. They were so frightened that they turned around and ran back to the city to report.

Thirty large ships quickly unloaded [-] troops, and the remaining [-] sailors remained on board to protect the fleet.

At the fourth watch, the [-] troops were ready to line up, and under the leadership of Liu Qiong and Tang Qian, they rushed to Donghai County, about ten miles away to the southwest.

The city of Donghai County was brightly lit, and all three thousand defenders went to the city, most of them concentrated in the east city and the north city.

The chief general, Hu Lin, was even more nervous. He had judged that the army that invaded at night was the Western Army, not the previous imperial army. Whether he could hold the county town, he was not sure at all, and he was even a little pessimistic.

Li Cheng did not give them fire oil, did not give them large defensive weapons, such as trebuchets, bed crossbows, etc., only soldiers' crossbows.

It would be fine if the city was tall and strong, but the city was dilapidated. It had been eroded by salt, alkali, wind and rain for many years, and it hadn’t been repaired for 30 years.

Not only the main general Hu Lin is pessimistic, but all the soldiers are pessimistic and their morale is low. They are not regular soldiers at all, but the state soldiers from Yizhou. They became a regular army last year. They belong to the army raised by their stepmothers. Among the Jin soldiers, the [-] Tiefutu, then [-] Donghu soldiers, and then [-] signing troops withdrawn from Henan Mansion, the lowest rank are them, [-] Shandong road signing troops, converted from state soldiers Come.

Although they are local snakes, they are discriminated against. Now they have to face the powerful Western Army with troops several times their own. Every soldier is full of despair.

"They're here!"

Someone yelled, and saw a large army marching towards the city. Under the moonlight, the guards at the top of the city could see it very clearly.

The first thousand and 180 chapters nine seize the island

An army of [-] marched to the foot of Donghai County. Liu Qiong looked at the bright lights above the city and smiled at Tang Qian: "They actually found us here, and they seem to be preparing to fight us at night."

Tang Qian also laughed and said, "This city wall is really dilapidated. I guess a battering ram can directly destroy the city wall!"

Liu Qiong pondered for a moment and said: "Pretend to use a battering ram, use iron fire thunder, and break the city in the west of the city!"

Tang Qian fully agreed, and immediately said: "I will lead [-] troops to the west of the city!"

Tang Qian led [-] troops to evacuate and made a detour to the west of the city. At this time, the western army brought out a huge battering ram, which was made of a hundred-year-old ironwood. Dozens of trees were found in Quanzhou and made into a ram. Thirteen heavy battering rams.

This one is one of them. It is five feet long, three feet in diameter, and weighs ten thousand catties. It takes 150 soldiers to lift it.

If you add the shield guards on both sides, it will take a full 1000 people to form a large siege formation.

The huge battering ram was placed three hundred paces away. The lights of the Western Army were brightly lit, shining like daylight. All the soldiers on the top of the city saw the huge battering ram placed on a high place outside the eastern city. Hu Lin shouted: " Concentrate the crossbowmen on the east side!"

Two thousand soldiers gathered in the east city, all with bows and arrows, ready to shoot the attacking soldiers of the western army.

The attacking soldiers of the Western Army had already appeared. Two groups of soldiers stood on both sides of the battering ram, each with big arms and round waists. There were also [-] soldiers holding large shields, obviously preparing to cover.

Although a thousand siege soldiers are ready, they have not attacked for a long time, as if they are waiting for something?

"General, are they waiting for dawn?" A general asked in a low voice on the top of the city.

Hu Lin shook his head, he didn't know, "Maybe their main force is not ready yet."

……

At this time, in the west city on the other side, there were only more than 300 defenders on the top of the city, mainly concentrated near the west city gate. They looked out of the city vigilantly. In the strait, the Wanshi cargo ship of the Song Army can still be faintly seen on the water.

Of course, the west city leads to the wharf, and when you go out from the city gate, it is a spacious and flat avenue. On both sides of the avenue five hundred steps away, three thousand soldiers of the Western Army under the leadership of Tang Qian have been waiting in ambush.

There are piles of rocks on both sides, and the Western Army can only rush into the city along the official road, so the target of Tie Huolei must also be the city gate.

Their use of Iron Fire Thunder was specially approved by Chen Qing, and they were allowed to use it at critical moments in sieges or water battles. The specific right to use it was in the hands of the chief general Liu Qiong, who decided under what circumstances to use it.

Of course, Liu Qiong also knew that Tiehuolei was of great significance, so he would not use it lightly.

It can be used to attack Donghai County, and he is not worried at all that the opponent will transport the invalid Iron Fire Thunder back to Jinan Prefecture.

Behind the pile of rubble, five soldiers have already used the rubble as cover and are gradually approaching the city wall. These five soldiers are firearm soldiers, who are responsible for keeping and using firearms. They have undergone special training and are very experienced.

They carried a big box in their hands, and inside the box was an iron dog, which weighed 240 catties. Of course, it was not as good as a [-]-jin iron ox. It was finally a medium-sized iron fire thunder, and it was very suitable for attacking a dilapidated county like Donghai County. For a strong city like Taiyuan City, iron dogs are not suitable, and iron oxen must be used.

The power of the Iron Fire Thunder is far less exaggerated than the aerial bombs of later generations. After all, it is just a black powder weapon. It is definitely useless against concrete walls, but it is effective against earth or brick walls. But if it is a city wall built with large bluestone , Even using the iron ox has no effect.

The battering ram in the east city successfully attracted the attention of the defenders at the top of the city. Even the defenders at the head of the west city were uneasy. They looked back to the east from time to time. They were worried that the east city gate would fall, but they didn't know that the danger was right under their feet. .

Five firearms soldiers moved quickly towards the city gate against the city wall. At this time, the defenders at the top of the city had to lean down to look down to find them, but the west side was very quiet, and there was nothing unusual, so the soldiers were naturally not special. pay attention to.

The five soldiers finally stuck to the city gate. The city gate was slightly concave, with a protruding eaves above it. As long as they were close to the city gate, the soldiers on the top of the city could not see them.

Five firearms soldiers acted together, using a special hook knife to hook the iron hoop on the city gate. This is an innovative invention of the Firearms Bureau. In the past, a tripod was used to withstand the iron fire mine, but it was easy to be unstable. The Firearms Battalion The craftsmen in China invented different hanging tools according to various types of city gates.

Some have cracks on the door, so a knife is inserted into the crack. There is a hook on the handle of the knife, and each iron fire thunder is designed with an iron ring, which is hung on the hook.

And there is an iron hoop at the gate of Donghai County in front of you, so use a hook shaped like a clothes hook, insert one end into the iron hoop to hook it, and hang the iron ring of Tiehuolei on the hook at the other end.

But eighty catties is still too heavy, so I use two iron rods to support it slightly, so that it will be safe.

A soldier smashed the wooden shell covering the match with an iron-pointed hammer, another soldier ignited a torch, and lit the match with the torch, and the five ran towards the pile of rubble.

"There is a situation below!"

The soldiers above suddenly saw the figure rushing into the pile of rocks and shouted loudly.

Dozens of arrows were shot at the pile of rocks, but it had no effect. These soldiers were lying on the ground, covering their ears with their hands. All three thousand soldiers of the Western Army blocked their ears with their hands.

"Boom!"

An earth-shattering explosion sounded, and suddenly thick smoke filled the air, gravel and sawdust flew up, and the soldiers on the top of the city couldn't stand upright and fell to the ground. The violent explosion made them cry out in pain.

The huge impact force also collapsed the suspension bridge and fell heavily on the ground. At this time, all kinds of gravel and sawdust fell from the sky.

The thick smoke dissipated slowly, revealing the dark city gate hole. Most of the city gate was blown away, but the city wall at the city gate was a little stronger, and it did not collapse. side.