Feng Pingcheng
Qin Yuan has led his troops to attack three times
Every attack was very violent. After the stone-throwing wheels blasted by, the infantry of the Black Banner Army pushed the siege vehicle that was almost as high as the city wall and moved forward slowly. The huge siege vehicle was heavy and slow, and the ground where it passed was covered Rolled out quite deep marks. The siege engine is divided into two levels, the lower level is empty, and there is a ladder to climb to the second level. On the second floor are dozens of archers, which can shoot at the defenders on the city wall at such a height.
Right in front of the second floor is a ladder protruding obliquely, which can be leaned against the city wall. When the siege vehicle approaches the city wall, the attacking soldiers can climb directly to the city wall along the ladder. The reason why the infantry of the Sui Dynasty was victorious in all battles for a long period of time was because they had a set of reasonable tactics and a set of reasonable equipment.
This is the experience summed up after countless wars, and every kind of equipment should not be underestimated.
After hundreds of catapults suppressed, Qin Yuan led the infantry and began to charge. In front of the battering ram is an improved ballista. The launch angle is raised, and the heavy crossbow can be blasted onto the city wall, but it is definitely not as good as the defender's ballista in terms of range.
Fang Jie is a leader who is used to using a lot of equipment to minimize the casualties of soldiers, so he invests a lot of money in building equipment, coupled with the unparalleled appeal and financial resources of Hutong Tianxia, he can recruit a large number of craftsmen, so the siege The number of instruments is astonishing.
Fang Jie also personally participated in the construction of these devices. He is not a professional in this field, but he can add some novel ideas. For example, he added two huge shields to the two wings of the ballista. Although the weight of the ballista was increased and the movement was slower, it could ensure that the casualties of the soldiers operating the ballista were minimized.
At the beginning of the attack, it was a competition of long-range weapons between the two sides. The defenders on the city wall occupied a superior position and were condescending, and they could exert the power of long-range weapons better than the attacking side. However, because catapults could not be installed on the city wall, they were suppressed miserably at the beginning, and the soldiers defending the city suffered a lot of losses.
When the infantry of the Black Banner Army began to approach, Yu Xiao immediately organized the archers to fight back. Feathered arrows are so dense that they can collide together in the sky, and when you look up to the sky, they are all dim colors.
It has to be said that Yu Xiao, who was taught by Yu Manlou himself, is very capable. He used all the means available to defend the city, and arranged the rotation of the reserve team reasonably.
Three attacks in three days, although ferocious, still did not break through Feng Ping.
After the Black Banner Army's third attack gradually subsided, Yu Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat down against the wall with some fatigue. This is the first time he has faced such a tragic war. To be honest, although he is conceited, he is still a little apprehensive. When he was in Chang'an City, he was overwhelmed by Fang Jie. At that time, he could still comfort himself with Fang Jie's good luck. He always felt that if it hadn't been for the Heaven Blessing Emperor Yang Yi who wanted to hold up an iconic figure from a poor family, Fang Jie would have never been able to stand out.
So he always felt in his heart that he was stronger than Fang Jie, no matter what aspect he was in.
It was only when the two confronted head-on that Yu Xiao felt the heavy pressure. This was his first real combat, and Fang Jie had already led his troops to fight back and forth in half the Sui Dynasty.
This is not something that knowledge can make up for. Yu Xiao could tell from the methods used by the Black Banner Army to attack the city that Fang Jie had already mastered enough combat skills.
"General..."
His personal lieutenant, Du Lei, panted and squatted down beside him, his face a bit ugly: "It's not an option to go on like this. The Black Banner Army's offensive looks fierce, but they don't invest many troops. Every time our As soon as the counterattack came, the soldiers of the Black Banner Army retreated and continued to smash them with catapults... They had no intention of attacking the city with their lives. If things go on like this, the soldiers we can use will slowly be worn out Gone."
Du Lei sighed: "It seems that the Black Banner Army is not in a hurry. This is the most worrying thing. If the enemy is eager to attack and seize the city, it will be beneficial to us. But the enemy is not in a hurry, relying on equipment to consume us destroy the city defenses...the ballista on the city wall will be useless if we persist for more than ten days."
Why couldn't Yu Xiao see what Du Lei said
The Black Banner Army's offensive looks fierce and suffocating every time, but the investment in troops is indeed very small. Catapults, ballistas, and siege vehicles, these big guys showed off aggressively every time. When Feng Ping's army started to counterattack, the Black Banner Army began to retreat out of range.
This is a very clever and extremely vicious tactic, the purpose is to consume the number of soldiers defending the city, and also wear down the morale of the soldiers. The Black Banner Army can pretend every feint to be the main attack, but the defenders have to treat every feint of the enemy as a decisive battle.
If things go on like this, the physical strength and perseverance of the soldiers defending the city will be worn down less and less.
However, the side defending the city cannot slack off, the enemy can change the feint attack to the main attack at any time, and they must face it with concentration every time. If the defending side felt that the Black Banner Army was feigning an attack and did not immediately counterattack, then the Black Banner Army would immediately pounce on them like a beast.
This change was very random, completely at the whim of the commander of the Black Banner Army.
Being led by the nose made Yu Xiao uncomfortable and angry.
"Get that cannon to the city wall, and I'll talk to the city lord."
Yu Xiao was silent for a while, then looked out from the hole in the battlement. On the high slope far outside the city, there was a man in a black robe standing there, as straight as a javelin. Yu Xiao knew that all the attacks came from that person. The man stood on a high place and observed the battle situation with clairvoyance. There was a burly man holding a big flag beside him to wave the big flag according to his instructions at any time, and the attacking army would change tactics immediately.
That person must be Fang Jie.
If the Black Banner Army is an unparalleled monster, then Fang Jie is the brain of this monster. Yu Xiao knew very well that as long as Fang Jie stood on that high slope, he would always be passive.
"I'm going out of town to talk to Fang Jie."
He squeezed out a few words between his teeth, and there was a venomous determination in his tone.
…
…
A soldier of Yu Xiao came down from the city wall in a hanging basket, waving the white flag in his hand and walked towards the camp of the Black Banner Army. He was soon picked up by a group of Black Banner Army soldiers and escorted into the camp. Then, a handwritten letter from Yu Xiao was handed over to Fang Xie, and Yu Xiao asked Fang Xie to meet him six hundred steps outside the city.
Fang Jie couldn't help smiling when he read the letter, and told the messenger that I would come as promised.
In the morning of the next day, Fang Jie walked out of the camp alone. The black flag army cavalry Chen Dingnan's troops were assembled to stand ready. Fang Jie's personal soldiers were also ready to rush over under the command of Qi Lin and Nie Xiaoju. But Fang Jie was not a little nervous, because he guessed what Yu Xiao was going to do.
Yu Xiao arrived early and waited. He even asked someone to bring down a table and two chairs. He sat on the chair and squinted his eyes to watch Fang Jie slowly walk over.
When Fang Jie was approaching, Yu Xiao got up to greet him: "Jue Xiao, long time no see!"
Fang Jie also clasped his fists together: "Brother Dingcheng, are you here all right?"
The two smiled and sat down immediately.
Yu Xiao was silent for a while and then said: "Since I know you're here, I don't want to beat around the bush, so I just said it directly. After all, you and I still have a classmate friendship, and it would seem hypocritical to talk about other things."
"please."
Fang Jie made a gesture of invitation.
"I'm from Sui."
Yu Xiao sorted out his words and said: "There is no doubt about it. No matter where I am, I am a Sui man. Although my father was killed by the court, he was still the general of the Sixth Army of the Son of Heaven. He is still wearing battle armor. Our Yu family has not walked behind others in any war in the Sui Dynasty for nearly 200 years, I am not wrong about this."
Fang Jie nodded, but didn't speak.
"So, I want to ask you to retreat."
Yu Xiao seemed to be very sincere and said: "I am from the Sui Dynasty. Even if I work for Zhu Chengtian in Fengping, I can't change my origin. I can tell you very seriously that sooner or later Fengping will belong to the Sui Dynasty. No need If you come to fight, two years later, I will let the flag of the Sui Dynasty be hung on the wall of Fengping City. Do you believe that I can do it?"
Fang Jie nodded: "I believe, Brother Dingcheng has such abilities."
But he shrugged again: "But, don't you think this joke is not funny at all?"
Yu Xiao said seriously: "I'm not joking. If you bring troops to fight, the loss will definitely not be small. Even if you take Feng Ping, you will be seriously injured. But just give me two years, and I can take Feng Ping without bloodshed." Excuse me, no matter what, this is better than you and I meeting each other, right?"
Fang Jie smiled: "You were wrong about one thing, so everything you said was wrong."
Yu Xiao's expression changed: "What's the matter?"
Fang Jie looked at his hand and said calmly, "I came to beat Feng Ping, not for Da Sui. In other words, it wasn't Da Sui who wanted Feng Ping, but I who wanted it."
As soon as these words came out, a strangeness flashed in Yu Xiao's eyes.
"Juexiao has great ambition."
He sighed, then leaned forward and asked, "So, how about we decide the outcome in another way? After all, solving problems is not just about war."
Fang Jie looked at him and asked, "Did you kill me, or did I kill you?"
"No no no."
Yu Xiao waved his hand and said, "Why do you have to fight to the death? When I was in Chang'an City, Jue Xiao, you always walked in front of me. To be honest, when I entered the Yanwu Academy, I only had one opponent in my eyes, and that was the boy from the Pei family." He and I both know that the outcome between us is within a hair's breadth, and whoever wins or loses is possible. One or two years before the exam, the entire city of Chang'an even bet on the two of us, betting on me After winning the first place, he began to win the championship... "
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Then I came, so there is nothing to do with you two."
The corner of Yu Xiao's mouth twitched unnaturally, but he did not retort: "Yes, you are here, and the point that everyone in Chang'an City paid attention to before has changed. Pei Chuxing and I have become your foil, which looks so ridiculous. At that time, I was thinking, what are you doing? Over the past few years, I have been thinking that if I have the opportunity, I must compare with you, seriously."
Fang Jie was silent for a while and then said: "It seems a bit childish and ridiculous to talk about these things on the battlefield, but... I will help you."
This sentence, I will grant you, made Yu Xiao unable to move back in terms of momentum.
"Wen or Wu? But you have to weigh it carefully. Now you are a prince with 100,000 soldiers under your command, and I am just a criminal in the Sui Dynasty. So you have to understand that you will suffer a lot in this competition. How about You draw the road, and I'll take the trick."
Yu Xiao asked.
He was still trying to get back the weak point in his momentum.
Fang Jie seemed a little casual and said: "I'm free, you do your best."
Yu Xiao froze, murderous intent suddenly appeared.