Northern Dynasties Imperial Industry

"This is where the enemy's main attack is, but the crossbows and arrows they are equipped with are not enough. I repeatedly called for help, but no one came, so the enemy broke through and attacked the city. This was a deadly battle, and finally it was a lucky break. The enemy has retreated, but the situation will become more serious next time. General Xiao is requested to quickly deploy to replenish our army’s lost troops and expended equipment!”

Because the city defense line he was stationed in was breached by the enemy in the first round of siege, Lu Zilong also felt guilty and restrained his attitude, but he still refused to admit his mistakes and felt sorry for the losses of his troops. Soon after the battle, he asked Xiao Maha for compensation.

After a fierce battle, Xiao Mohe's physical strength was greatly exhausted, and he was almost shot on the top of the city. He was somewhat exhausted mentally and physically. He was leaning on the top of the city to catch his breath and rest. When he heard what Lu Zilong said, he said angrily. : "The enemy retreated not long ago, and all the troops suffered heavy losses. We still need to take a careful inventory. We will talk about this later!"

As he spoke, he walked to another city. Lu Zilong was afraid that his troops would not be replenished in a timely and effective manner, so he shouted behind him: "If our troops cannot be replenished, it will be difficult to fight again later." !”

Xiao Mohe just snorted coldly after hearing this, and left the place without looking back.

After a battle, although the defenders in the city successfully resisted the Tang army's attack, they also suffered huge casualties and material losses. In particular, most of the arrows, which were most effective in blocking the enemy, were consumed, so that a layer of arrows was scattered everywhere outside Qiantang City, which was densely packed and very dazzling.

Xiao Mohe wanted to send a team of sergeants out of the city to pick up those arrows and reuse them, but there were Tang Army rangers patrolling not far away, obviously to warn the defenders of taking the opportunity to clean up the battlefield. While maintaining awe, they were gradually cleaning up from the outside of the battlefield to the inside. Without sufficient mobility, you will have to be controlled by others in war.

After taking stock of the supplies in the city, Xiao Mohe made a secret calculation in his mind. It was obvious that the remaining supplies were no longer enough to sustain a war of the same intensity as before.

Especially when the two sides were really fighting hand to hand, the defenders in the city were obviously at a disadvantage. Just when the northwest corner of the city wall was breached, nearly a thousand casualties were caused, so Lu Zilong felt distressed and lost his temper. Because most of the casualties were his men.

"We still need to ask Nan'an to quickly reinforce a batch of supplies, and the wounded must be transported to Nan'an for treatment and recuperation. Staying in the city will depress morale!"

After taking stock after the war, Xiao Mohe secretly made a calculation in his mind.

Qiantang City was built near the water, so communication with the rear was naturally very convenient. When the battle was fierce just now, two large ships were sailing in the Qiantang River, and they would immediately send reinforcements as soon as the battle in the city became unfavorable. Therefore, it seems that the Tang Army is only attacking Qiantang City, but in fact it is fighting the entire Kuaiji area on the south bank of the Qiantang River. As long as Qiantang City is in need, people and materials will be continuously transported from the rear.

Xiao Mohe used flags in the city to notify the large ships on the river to approach, then informed the generals on the large ships of the situation in the city, ordered them to send away the wounded, and then quickly transported a batch of urgently needed supplies across the river.

When the big ship docked at Qiantang City, there was another group of Tang Army knights galloping next to it, trying to get close to the big ship. However, the big ship was moored at the Qiantang Ship Market, where the river was open and bounded by A deep water area was manually excavated, and a water drainage was directly connected to the water gate of Qiantang City. Before Qiantang City was captured, it would be difficult to pose an effective threat to these ships on land.

When this situation was reported to the Tang Army's camp, General Shi Ning couldn't help but frown, realizing that this battle to break through the Qiantang River might be more difficult than he imagined.

Since the Tang army attacked from land, and the waterways in various parts of Wuxing were also in dry season, it was difficult for large warships to sail into the Qiantang River. And if the offensive on land alone is not enough to break through the river defense line.

Moreover, the fighting spirit of the Qiantang City defenders in front of them was also very tenacious, and they still gritted their teeth and endured the powerful offensive of the Tang Army. It should be noted that even the Tang army would be unable to carry out such high-intensity siege warfare frequently in a short period of time. Even without considering the consumption of materials and casualties, it would be difficult to sustain it simply by physical strength.

"It seems that we can't just attack head-on, we must use other means!"

Shi Ning knew very well that there were many existing problems and shortcomings that could not be overcome by sheer willpower. They had to be faced and dealt with correctly. The enemy has made full use of the Qiantang River to build a defense line, and the Tang army must also strengthen its waterway combat capabilities and successfully break through the obstruction.

Therefore, he sent an order to the rear to dispatch part of the naval force from the Yangtze River waterway to the south via the sea route and into the Qiantang River. They would cooperate with the main force's land offensive and strive to break through the blockade in one fell swoop and invade the Kuaiji area. Before that, of course, the main force must continue to maintain the offensive to continue to increase pressure on the enemy, hoping to gain a turning point.

Not to mention Shi Ning's plans here, when the news that the war in Qiantang City had come to an end reached the south bank, Chen Qian and Hou An, including all the soldiers, were overjoyed. As long as the Tang army can be intercepted north of the Qiantang River, it means that they are in an invincible position. Then they need to continue to hold on and wait for opportunities to counterattack.

"The lower official once said that Xiao Mohe is the most brave general in Jiangdong. Today, with the strength of his unified army, he successfully blocked the Tang army on the north bank and cut off the strong military power of his division from the south. Do you believe it now? "

Feeling proud, Hou Andu looked at Chen Qian and said with a smile. He himself is not a man of great magnanimity, and he is still a little concerned about what happened in the past. Now that he has defeated the enemy's edge by fighting hard with his soldiers on the Qiantang River defense line he has arranged, naturally he can't help but show off.

"I know how brave Lord Hou is, and I know how to know people, and I can see it now!"

When Chen Qian heard these sarcastic words, she didn't show any displeasure on her face. Instead, she looked at Hou Andu with even more joy and admiration, looking sincerely convinced.

After Hou Andu heard this, he burst out laughing again: "Your Majesty, please feel at ease when you come here, gather the people, appease people, your Majesty's business is about military affairs along the river, blocking the enemy's troops, and official affairs!"

These words were even more rude, as if she was bluntly saying that Chen Qian had no ability to dispatch troops or respond to the enemy. Although Chen Qian could still keep the smile on her face, the generals behind her were already angry. Incessantly.

"Since the enemy army has been blocked and their strength has been severely defeated, it is time to take advantage of the victory to pursue it and use the attack instead of defense! The general will lead a division to sneak across the north at night and attack the enemy camp in order to recover Wuzhong as soon as possible. I beg your Majesty's favor. allow!"

Han Zigao and other generals were not willing to let Hou Andu's subordinates be the only ones to win, so they all clasped their fists and asked for a fight.

"You and other disciples are indeed loyal and brave. You should carefully plan the camp matters and act decisively!"

Chen Qian first looked at her confidants with approval and said, then turned to look at Hou Andu and asked with a smile: "According to the Duke's opinion, is this feasible?"

Hou Andu naturally knew what these people had in mind, but it was Chen Qian's subordinates who requested to fight. It would be gratifying to succeed, but he would not lose anything if he failed. Chen Qian might even be more attached to him because of the loss of troops and generals. For his own sake, Hou Andu had no objection and immediately arranged for a boat to send Han Zigao and his party north at night.

Shi Ning has been in charge of Yingzhou for several years, and naturally knows that the southerners are accustomed to camp tactics, so he also attaches great importance to camp defense. However, because the Tang army brought a large amount of chariots, horses, armor and supplies, the camp was very wide. In addition, the enemy took a detour upstream and quietly crossed the river, and then launched a night attack from the side. Although the camp gave a timely warning and quickly launched a counterattack , drove the enemy out of the camp, but several camps were still breached and some supplies were lost.

After checking the battle damage in the early morning and weighing the situation, Shi Ning decided to retreat more than ten miles to camp, and the sergeants rode back and forth to attack the city.

As for Han Zigao and others' successful attack on the camp, there was naturally another round of cheers and celebrations after they returned to the other side. It also made the people on the south bank feel more and more that the Tang army was actually nothing more than mediocre. As long as the tactics and tactics were appropriate and their advantages were fully utilized, the opponent would be far from the same. What an invincible and powerful opponent.

In the next few days, the Tang army continued to attack Qiantang City during the day. Although the offensive was no longer as fierce as it was at the beginning, it also put a lot of pressure and damage on the defenders in the city. At night, they withdrew their main camp to the north and Be careful and alert. Although several more night attacks on the camp were arranged on the south bank, they were not successful. Instead, some soldiers were lost due to the lengthened journey.

But in any case, the momentum of the Tang Army's advance was finally intercepted north of the Qiantang River, and the fighting situation between the two sides turned into a stalemate along the Qiantang River.

However, this state did not last long, because new changes soon occurred. Someone in Wuxing in the north could not bear the harsh treatment of the Tang army, and sent a message to the south, hoping that King Linchuan could launch a counterattack as soon as possible.