This stumbling block is the tall and solid Shouchun City. It is Cao Cao's old subordinates who guard Shouchun City. Shouchun is not only the governing office of Yangzhou. And it is a strategic place. But Zhang Zhao, the governor of Yangzhou, is now in Wu County in the south of the Yangtze River. and so. It is extremely important who will be the prefect of Jiujiang and Shouchun.
Because Man Chong was originally Cao Cao's surrender. And the martial arts are mediocre. Let him guard Shouchun. Many people opposed it. It's just that Liu Xin tried his best to reject all opinions. Resolutely handed over Jiujiang to Manchong. Man Chong is trusted by Liu Xin. Excited. Get up early and greedy the dark every day. Focus on the defense of Shouchun.
originally. Liu Xin transferred 8,000 troops from the Fifth Army to him. Plus Shouchun's original two thousand local army. It can be enough for ten thousand people. Relying on the strong walls of Shouchun. It is not a problem to keep for ten days and a half months.
Suddenly one day. Man Chong received the order. The eight thousand soldiers of the Fifth Legion will be transferred northward. The strength of Shouchun City suddenly became empty. Although Shouchun is still some distance away from the front line. The situation at the time was not particularly tense. But Man Chong is still keenly aware of some dangers.
Manchong immediately sent someone to notify Kuaiqi, the prefect of Runan. Let him be on guard. Runan is a barrier to the northwest of Jiujiang. As long as Runan does not lose. Whether it is Cao Cao or Yuan Shao. I can't call here for the time being. But Kuaiqi is the child of the Kuai family in Xiangyang. Self-reliance on identity. Don't care about the warnings of pets. In just one day, Runan was lost. He almost died. He fled back to Xiangyang in a hurry.
While sending people to warn Kuaiqi. Manchu also strengthened Shouchun's defense. The first thing is to enlist the people. Liu Xin has always opposed the enlistment of Minzhuang to engage in work such as city defense and transportation. One is that these people have not been trained. It is easy to cause large casualties. On the other hand, except for the slack season. At other times, if the people are recruited, it will definitely affect production. But the situation is urgent now. Relying on two thousand local troops alone will definitely not be able to defend Shouchun. Man Chong only risked being punished by Liu Xin. Order the conscription of Minzhuang.
The people in Shouchun used to have a very difficult life. Since Liu Xin came here. They gradually solved their food and clothing. So their love for Liu Xin comes from the heart. I heard that the prefect conscripted the people. Sign up one after another. Crowded in front of the gate of the prefect's mansion. More than 13,000 people were recruited in half a day.
The second thing Manchong does is to build a strong wall and clear the land. Full of pet's Jianbi Qingye has done quite thoroughly. Not only the people in the villages around Shouchun City were all evacuated into the city. Even the people in Xiacai County, more than fifty miles northwest of Shouchun, were ordered to retreat into Shouchun City. Only an empty city was left for Cao Cao. Thus. Although there are many more people in Shouchun City. Accommodation is a big problem. But there were also 500 more trained local army soldiers. These people will become the backbone of the city.
Next. Manchu began to integrate the power of defending the city. He broke up the local army and the Minzhuang and regrouped. Every eleven people form a team. The captain is a local army soldier. The team members are ordinary people. The soldiers are equipped with crossbows and swords. Minzhuang is equipped with a spear and putter. The use of crossbows requires certain training. Even if it is rationed to Minzhuang, they will not use it. Minzhuang's task is to throw boulders and rocks down the city. Pour gold juice and red-hot iron sand. Another is to use the push rod to knock down the enemy's long ladder.
The weather is hot now. After the soldiers of the Fifth Legion opened. Some armor and baggage for winter wear were left. Man Chong has used them all now. Distribute it to those people who are strong. Although wearing these armors looks very uncomfortable. But the protective power of the armor is first-class. It can well protect these people who don't have much combat experience. Significantly reduce casualties.
Manchong divided the 1,500 local army soldiers and 10,000 civilians into three formations. Defend the city. One pull training. Take a break. Change every two hours. Day and night. Another thousand local army soldiers serve as reserves. Be ready to fight desperately against the enemy army climbing up to the top of the city at any time.
Such intense preparations began after the soldiers of the Fifth Army were transferred. Many officials in Shouchun City were very disapproving of Manchu's practice. But yesterday. News of Runan's fall came over. The whole city suddenly became tense.
Man Chong put on heavy armor. In Shouchun City, they went door to door to appease. Mobilize everyone. In case of war. Ask them to provide timely support to the defenders on the front of the city. in fact. Man Chong does not need them to fight in the city. As long as they can provide some logistical support. Such as transporting supplies, cooking and delivering meals, ambulance of the wounded, and so on.
Because after Liu Xin captured Shouchun. The gentry here has been cleansed. Many gentry who supported Yuan Shu and Liu You were ransacked. And these gentry married for a long time. They have long been one with each other. and so. Those surviving noble families have such simple requirements for Manchu. It also adopts an attitude of positivity and yin violation. Some people even began to collude secretly. Want to be Cao Cao's internal response.
but. The people in Shouchun City. Including the people who have been evacuated by pets are very positive. Many people also offered to go up to the city to defend against the enemy. They have just had a good life for more than a year. I don't want to just lose it. Manchong certainly did not agree to their request. If you let these people without the slightest training rush on. Not to mention the vain increase in casualties. It will also disrupt the original defense. but. Man Chong also made a two-handed plan. Organize the young and strong men among the people. Let them be responsible for transporting supplies and wounded people up and down the city. By the way, let them feel the atmosphere of the war. If necessary, it can be used as a reserve team.
Cao Jun came very quickly. The war started as soon as it started. There was no sign in advance. An overwhelming army appeared under Shouchun City. There was almost no line and attacked the city. Although this elite force suffered a big loss in the battle against Hulao Pass. But the Battle of Runan regained some confidence in them. The empty city of Shangcai gave them a new perspective on the Han army.
I saw Cao Jun rushing over the city like ants. Both the local army and the people on the front of the city began to show cowardice. Some people’s calves have already begun to tremble. Seeing the man pet. One grabbed the crossbow. At the Cao Jun under the city, he shot an arrow. There was a "swish". A Cao Jun soldier who was charging fell down.
There was a burst of cheers from the top of the city. Man Chong threw the crossbow to the soldier next to him. He said loudly: "Look, everyone. Cao Jun is just a body of flesh and blood. There is no three heads and six arms. There is nothing to be afraid of. One arrow down is still dead. To protect your family from the enemy's bullying. Kill."
The local army soldiers and civilians on the head of the city shouted in unison. The feather arrow shot at the enemy like a locust. From time to time, Cao Jun soldiers fell to the ground with arrows. but. More Cao Jun soldiers stepped on the bodies of their companions. Braving the arrow rain. Continue to rush forward.
quickly. Cao Jun approached the moat. Some Cao Jun soldiers jumped off the moat. Braving the arrow rain of the Han army. Floating bridges were erected on the moat. Man Chong sneered. He shouted in a deep voice: "Change the rocket."
One rocket fired toward the floating bridge. Fire dragons soon appeared on the moat. Some Cao Jun soldiers who had just rushed to the pontoon screamed and rolled into the moat. Now the river is soaring. The moat of Shouchun City is more than two feet deep. Most of the Cao Jun soldiers came from the north. Not accustomed to water. Many people flopped and sank to the bottom of the river.
Cao Jun, who has gone through many battles, will not be stumped by a small moat. The pontoon will fail. Then fill it with soil. Two hundred thousand Cao Jun gave full play to the advantage of large numbers of people. Sandbags filled with mud were thrown into the moat. The water in the moat hardly flows. Sandbags will not be washed away when thrown in. The higher the pile, the higher. Soon it came out of the water.
The Han army relied on the advantage of the range of the crossbow. Constantly hit the enemy. Many Cao Jun soldiers carrying sandbags collapsed without rushing to the moat. The companions behind simply pushed them and sandbags into the moat. In the end, Cao Jun has many people. In a blink of an eye, dozens of embankments made up of sandbags and corpses appeared on the moat. This moat can no longer be a barrier outside Shouchun City.
This time. Cao Jun did not rush towards the city wall recklessly. Instead, line up on the other side of the moat. Holding the big shield step by step, pressed towards Shouchun. Although the Han army bows and crossbows are good. But it couldn't penetrate Cao Jun's big shield. Can only watch the brigade Cao Jun getting closer and closer to the city wall.
suddenly. There was a shout from Cao's army. Hundreds of long ladders all set up on the city wall. Countless Cao Jun soldiers held the long ladder with one hand. Holding the ring head knife in one hand. Climbing desperately to the top of the city. Cao Jun soldiers who climbed the long ladder immediately lost the cover of the large shield. The Han army bow and crossbowmen have their abilities again. And so close to each other. Almost all arrows can be achieved. It's just that Cao Jun is too much. However, there are only five hundred crossbowmen on the front of the city. Just keep shooting down. How many Cao Jun can be shot dead
At this moment. Min Zhuang, who had been hiding behind the crossbowmen, began to show off. Rolling logs and rubbing stones were thrown down the city. The Cao Jun soldier on the long ladder was beaten to blood. Screamed and fell down. What's worse is being topped with gold juice and iron sand. Suddenly it was so hot that the skin was ripped apart. Both gold juice and iron sand are very poisonous. It is not only difficult to cure after being topped. And the pain is unbearable. The howls are creepy. Cao Jun's offensive also stagnated.
suddenly. A team of Cao Jun's crossbowmen rushed through the moat. A counterattack was launched from the bottom of the city towards the head of the city. Many inexperienced people shot arrows. But they have heavy armor protection. The casualties are not very large. After all, the power and range of Cao Jun's bow and crossbow could not be compared with that of the Han army. And Shouchun City is as high as several feet. When the arrow reached the top of the city, its power was greatly reduced. The armor made by the Han army with high-quality iron is completely defensible. Some wounded soldiers and Minzhuang were soon carried down to the city by the people of the city. Receive treatment. And these people also really felt the cruelty of the war.
The entire Shouchun offensive and defensive battle lasted for two hours. Cao Jun used various methods. They were all resolved one by one. Simultaneously. Manchong is to ensure that the soldiers and the people who defend the city have plenty of physical strength. Also adjust the rotation time to one hour.
Cao Cao saw that a small Shouchun city was so tenacious. Could not help being furious. Personally beat the drums of war. Another wave of Cao's army swarmed towards Shouchun City.