Although the lingering drizzle has stopped, the ground is still wet. Outside Jinyang City, there is a busy scene, like a large construction site.
Guo Shao sat in front of a rough chopping board in the tent, which was made by craftsmen from trees cut nearby. He put his elbows on the chopping board, rubbed his forehead with his big palms for a while, and then put them on his chin. He was silent for a long time, his eyes were a little absent-minded.
By chance, Guo Shao's thoughts were a little confused. A very strange scene popped up in his mind, the movie New Dragon Gate Inn, where the post station was besieged by the factory guards, and the people inside escaped through the tunnel; later, someone lost a piece of silk scarf or something, and it was blown back by the wind, thus exposing his whereabouts.
However, Guo Shao himself knew that in reality, it was almost impossible for Zhao Kuangyin to dig a tunnel out of the city. Even if he attacked from outside the city, it would be a huge and noisy undertaking.
Your Majesty, I dare to say that you think too highly of Zhao Kuangyin. His current situation is no longer the same as before. Seeing Guo Shao's expression, Zuo You couldn't help but speak.
Guo Shao shook his head and said stubbornly: As long as Zhao Kuangyin is alive, he is my opponent. To despise the opponent is to despise oneself.
His understanding of Zhao Kuangyin is different from that of everyone else, perhaps because of the obsession brought to him by the title of Emperor Taizu of Song in history. In addition, Guo Shao had come through the days of the Tokyo Mutiny, and he seemed to be able to empathize with Zhao Kuangyin's hatred because if he had failed at the time, he could not imagine how painful and hateful he would be. All the people he cares about will face the situation of being at the mercy of others, and he will lose too many big things because of failure, which he really cannot afford to lose.
Guo Shao thought silently: The threat that he could not let go of the most was not those who had wronged him, but on the contrary those who hated him extremely. If the person who hated him was also very capable, then it would be even more dangerous.
In fact, Guo Shao had deep respect for Zhao Kuangyin, but since it was a life-and-death situation, there was no point in discussing it. It was better for me to live than for you to live.
"We need to set up sentries within a radius of 20 miles. Have you arranged it?" Guo Shao asked deliberately, and then pondered, "They don't have wings, so they can't fly in the sky. In case they escape through the tunnel,
Qin Shitou clasped his fists and said: Your Majesty, everything has been done as you wish.
Guo Shao thought for a while and said: Lu Chengyong, you and the personal guard cavalry will also be under the command of Tan Shitou.
Zuo You heard this and said: Your Majesty
Guo Shao interrupted him without further ado: The best defense is offense, and the most effective way to ensure safety is to eliminate threats.
He also asked Jingniang to bring the files from the Military Department over for review.
Among the spies of the Great Zhou Dynasty in Jinyang, the two most important ones were Hongying, who was by Yang Ye’s side; the second was the one who was keeping an eye on Zhao Kuangyin’s whereabouts. Even one of Zhao Kuangyin’s personal soldiers was coerced and bribed into secretly joining the army. Although the spies this time did not play a big role for the time being, in Guo Shao’s opinion, they were more cautious and meticulous than before.
Guo Shao pondered and cleared his mind again. He had considered everything carefully, but in the end he still had to capture Jinyang.
After a long time, Guo Shao and several of his followers walked out of the tent, and the noise immediately hit them. Even though the felt cloth of the tent was not very soundproof, it was completely different when there was something blocking it; as soon as he walked out, he saw the busy construction scene outside the city.
In the distance, there were flashes of fire and billowing smoke; houses were being burned. The population density of the Northern Han was not even comparable to that of the Central Plains, but large cities like Jinyang were surrounded by city walls; some houses affected the construction of the Zhou army's siege works, so they had to be burned down and demolished.
The Zhou army of more than 100,000 men had been here for a long time, and the Northern Han army seemed determined to defend the city and had never come out. Except for the city within the walls of Jinyang, all places outside were abandoned by the Northern Han.
Whenever Guo Shao arrived at a place, military generals would come to pay him a visit after hearing the news.
The people who were building the fortifications here were Gao Yanchou's Jiannan Army, and the workers included craftsmen and soldiers recruited from various states and counties. Many people were seen digging trenches with hoes, and some were carrying mallets and singing while working hard to tamp the earth and build walls.
There was no movement on the opposite city wall. No one paid attention to the Zhou army working because the fortifications they were building were at least a mile away from the city wall. The conventional heavy weapons at this time were catapults and crossbows, with a range of at most two or three hundred steps. It was futile to deal with the Zhou army a mile away; unless the Northern Han army rushed out.
Gao Yanchou and other generals dismounted, greeted each other, and then came up to report what they were doing. Gao Yanchou pointed to the unfinished earth wall and said: We are going to build two fortifications, this is the outermost one. From far to near, we will build the outer perimeter first to prevent the Northern Han army from rushing out of the city and attacking. The fence is composed of an earth wall and a deep ditch. In addition to defending against the defenders' counterattack, the ditch can also be used to drain water and sewage.
After listening to this, Guo Shao nodded repeatedly and praised Gao Yanchou a few words.
Gao Yanchou presented a scroll of drawings. Guo Shao unfolded it and took a closer look. He saw that it was a rough blueprint drawn with a brush. Anyway, he had never seen a detailed blueprint here. Gao Yanchou said: This map was planned by the Minister of Works. Your Majesty, we will dig another ditch closer to the city. From there, we will block the confluence of the moat and the Fen River. The two ditches will first divert some of the water in the moat, and when the water is shallow, we will transport soil to fill the river in preparation for the siege.
Guo Shao immediately encouraged him, "General Gao, please focus on military affairs. I will remember your contributions today."
Gao Yanchou clasped his fists and said: "I am willing to serve your majesty at the cost of my life."
Guo Shao said goodbye to Gao Yanchou, exerted a little force on his legs, and then rode his horse around the city to check other places. All the troops were stepping up their preparations, and the rain had not stopped a while ago.
The central army also urged the troops outside Jinyang to hurry up, because this battle was not just about attacking the city. Guo Shao looked a little worried. He was not unhappy, but he was worried about too many things, which was a habit under psychological pressure.
In this battle, more than 200,000 troops have been deployed. Any mistake in any link will affect the overall situation. But at least for now, all links are clamped in various places. Guo Shao couldn't help but think of chess. Generally, after the pieces on the chessboard are spread out, most of the pieces are clamped. If you move one, you will face the opponent. It is very similar to the current situation.
Guo Shao's intention was to clamp down on other places and then seek a breakthrough in Jinyang, solving the entire situation from one core place; while the enemy forces in various places wanted to break through from other places to break the deadlock, and the ultimate goal was also to save Jinyang.
He once again looked at the thick and tall Jinyang city wall for a long time.
This city is difficult to attack and it will probably take a long time. Zuo You's voice broke Guo Shao's meditation.
Guo Shao said: We are not afraid of the Northern Han army fighting with us in the fortified city; as long as Li Chuyun and the Liao army can hold out, and don't let the Liao army go south to attack our siege troops.
Zuo You asked in a low voice: What if Li Chuyun failed to stop the Liao army
The only way to reduce losses is to withdraw troops immediately and abandon the overall strategy. Guo Shao said decisively.
Of course, he did not want to see that kind of consequence. Mobilizing more than 200,000 troops, and many civilians who were transporting food and working, would consume a huge amount of national treasury and national strength; and Li Chuyun had only the elite imperial guards in his hands. If he was defeated, it would certainly weaken the imperial guards. In the end, he returned empty-handed and gained nothing. It was obviously a very failed war.
Moreover, Zhao Kuangyin might run away in this war; Guo Shao put himself in Zhao Kuangyin's shoes and thought that if he were Zhao Kuangyin, he would not want to stay in Jinyang any longer. He should flee far away and hide in a place where the power of the Zhou Dynasty could not reach, instead of competing head-on with others in strength, and look for opportunities to plot or assassinate. This is the wise approach when the gap between the strong and the weak is too big.
Guo Shao clenched his right fist and unconsciously punched his left palm twice. He gritted his teeth and stared at the city that was so close.