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Although the Eastern Army of the Zhou Army was the fastest advancing army in the Northern Expedition, it still ran into trouble when it reached Jiangdu. The reason is that the city walls of Jiangdu are strong and high, one of the capitals in the world, and have the title of Dajian City. And the city is backed by the Yangtze River, so it only needs to defend one wall on the bank. This made it much easier for the defenders to deploy their troops.

Moreover, it is easy for the intelligence department's spies to plot against the people's strong army in other places, but it is difficult in Jiangdu. The reason is that Jiangdu was the distribution center of the overseas trade of the Great Sui, and merchants from Japan, Nanyang, Dashi and other places traded with the merchants of the Central Plains here.

On the contrary, Yuming's father, Yu Huahe, after occupying Jiangdu, wantonly scraped the people's ointment, which aroused the anger of the surname Jiangdu. This made them have no good impression of Yuming, who is Yuhua Ji'er.

In addition, the Jianghuai army repeatedly publicized in the city, saying that Yuming had massacred the Shandong Shi clan in Beiping, and this time he came to Jiangdu, he would definitely attack the Jiangnan Shi clan. The surnames in the city were rarely united, vowing to resist the attack of the Zhou army.

As early as before the arrival of the Zhou army, Du Fuwei crossed the Yangtze River south and stationed in Jiankang, and a cadre of staff and military attaches of the Jianghuai army also moved.

Subsequently, Du Fuwei appointed his Du Yu to stay in Jiangdu, ordered him to defend Yangzhou to death, and dragged the main force of the Zhou army here. In his opinion, the walls of Jiangdu are high, the grain and grass are sufficient, and the surnames in the city are united, so it should not be a big problem to keep it for half a year. At that time, Li Yuan may intervene in this battle, and after the Tang army sends troops, the siege of Jiangdu can be alleviated, and the Jianghuai military regime can still be preserved.

Du Yu suffered from Yuming when he was in Luoyang, and he always wanted revenge in his heart.

After he suffered a loss, he no longer dared to despise Yuming, and after his father Du Fuwei left, he ordered the city gate to be closed, and arranged a large number of city defense equipment and materials on the city wall. Jiangdu is backed by the Yangtze River, and outside the south gate is the water wharf, which is garrisoned by the sailors of the Jianghuai Army, which can slowly and continuously send in arrows and rolling stones and wood. There is a long-term foundation.

Jiangdu was originally a solid city, south to the Yangtze River, east to the sea, west by the canal, north to the Central Plains, is a strategic position of its important city. If Yuming wants to cross the Yangtze River and occupy the land of Jiangdong, Yangzhou, the capital of the river, is a hurdle that cannot be bypassed.

As the vanguard of the attack on Jiangdu, Luo Cheng commanded the Zhou army to attack for five days in a row, but because the opponent was heavily guarded, the city was strong, and the rolling stones and trees were sufficient, there was no progress, but many soldiers were lost.

The fortified city of Xuzhou was like a tiger blocking the advance of the Eastern Army of the Zhou Army at this time.

On the sixth day, Yu Mingfang led the main force of the Eastern Army to sweep away other counties north of the Yangtze River and reinforce them. After he learned that Luo Cheng had failed in the attack a few days ago, he immediately convened a combat meeting to brainstorm and discuss how to break through one of the world's strongest cities.

"Your Majesty, the defense of Jiangdu City is very tight, there is a ditch outside the city, and the ditch is covered with iron nails, and it is impossible to pass through it without filling it up. And outside the ditch, there is also a moat five zhang wide, with a depth of water. This moat system is formed by diverting water from the Yangtze River. Therefore, it is a non-stop flow of living water, which is difficult to fill. The Jianghuai army set up a large number of trebuchets on each section of the wall. On the first day, when our army was filling the moat, it was attacked by their boulders and suffered heavy casualties......" Luo Cheng said with a sad face.

According to him, the Zhou army barely filled a section of the moat for the attack in Tianhou. But also suffered heavy casualties under the city walls. They braved the rolling stones and arrows above their heads, set up ladders and climbed the city walls, and finally climbed to the top of the city, only to find that the enemy had a fortress behind the city walls, in which the archers cast cold arrows. The troops attacking the walls were completely unable to gain a foothold, and stood still for only a moment before being driven down.

After Luo Cheng introduced the situation of the five-day siege, he said with a ashamed face: "Your Majesty, the Jiangdu City has thick walls and complete materials to defend the city. Therefore, although the first few **** launched a fierce attack, it has been in vain, compared to the record in Gaoyou, it is really a little embarrassing! ”

"General Luo, don't blame yourself, I know that you have done your best!" Yu Ming reassured.

Song Jingang and other generals listened to Luo Cheng's introduction, and they were all a little worried.

If the Zhou army is desperate to attack the city with all its might, even if it can really conquer Jiangdu, it will inevitably suffer huge losses. What's more, listening to Luo Cheng's introduction to the defense of Jiangdu City, if you take human lives to pile up, you may not be able to pile up Yangzhou.

Now they have received Li Yuan's reaction to the battle of the Southern Expedition, according to the information from Luoyang, Li Yuanji has led an army of 150,000 troops, east out of Tongguan, straight to Luoyang to kill, and is currently facing off with the Zhou army in the Yanshi area. Since Luoyang was the capital of the Zhou Dynasty and a heavily guarded place, the Tang army did not make much progress. But judging from the strength invested by the Tang Army, it is clear that these troops are not the main force of the Tang Army.

Therefore, Du Ruhui deduced that the Tang army should have another big move, and would never allow the Zhou army to destroy the Jianghuai army and take Jiangnan.

Fang Xuanling also said with a worried face: "Your Majesty, we have to quickly think of a plan to break the city." You must capture Jiangdu City in the shortest possible time, otherwise there will be danger! According to the report just sent by Mrs. Red Sleeves, if we fail to conquer Jiangdu as soon as possible, once Li Yuan sends reinforcements, our army will be in the predicament of being caught between the Tang Army and the Jianghuai Army from inside and outside, and the situation is worrying......

Before Yu Ming could answer, Song Jingang said with a big grin: "Master Fang doesn't have to worry, the soldiers will block, and the water will cover the ground, our Zhou army has always fought more with less, and this time it is just the same as before." As long as our army is united and works together, even if Li Yuan sends his two most capable sons, Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, to come to the joint duel, in front of His Majesty, he will only have to kill the feathers and return! ”

Luo Cheng said gloomily: "General Song, don't be careless!" Li Shimin defeated Xue Ju, Liu Wuzhou, and Xiao Miao, the first general of the Tang Army. Our army had fought against him before, and knew that this man was difficult. Although our army may not be afraid of him. But if the Tang Army and the Jianghuai Army are allowed to form an internal and external attack on our army, it will be difficult for us to win! ”

After Yu Ming heard this, he also said: "General Luo is right, strategically we must despise the enemy, but tactically we must attach importance to the enemy. Although we have always preached that the southern expedition will be won, it is used to promote the surname and soldiers. When you really march and fight, you must not be careless. Like this battle of Jiangdu, but the biggest test for our army! Therefore, our army must remember: do not despise the enemy! Don't be careless about Jingzhou......"

After a pause, he glanced at the generals and said, "Do you brothers have any good plans for how to break through Jiangdu?" ”

As soon as Yu Ming's voice fell, all the generals immediately offered their plans.

Song Jingang immediately said: "Your Majesty, can we use the same set of fire attack methods when we were in Xia County, Hedong, to burn the city with crude oil and burn all the walls of Jiangdu, so that we can use the fire to burn the city gate and successfully enter Jiangdu." ”

"General Song, although this method is good, it is impossible now!" Luo Cheng immediately vetoed it.

"General Luo, why is it impossible?" Song Jingang frowned.

Luo Cheng shook his head and said: "The Jiangdu guard is Du Yu, Du Fuwei's second Du Yu, this person is cunning and abnormal, he has probably heard of the battle case of our army using fire oil to burn the city tower, causing the city gate to burn down and attack the city. So he sealed all the gates with stones. The stone at the gate is now as thick as the walls of the city. If you use this method again, I'm afraid you won't be able to open the city gates! ”

After hearing this, the generals couldn't help but be speechless for a while, they didn't expect Du Yu to have such a determination to defend to the end, and he dared to fill the gate of Jiangdu City, one of the capitals of the world, with stones, and really put on a posture of breaking the boat. I don't care if I do this, I don't care if I will destroy the city.

Fang Xuanling frowned at this time, and suggested: "Your Majesty, when the lower officials were above, they saw a big river with rippling blue waves in the north of Yangzhou City. In the past few days, due to heavy rains, the water of the canal has skyrocketed, and if we dig the embankment and divert water to irrigate the city, the river will break! ”

As soon as Fang Xuanling's voice fell, all the generals looked horrified.

Luo Cheng immediately retorted: "Lord Fang, this plan is not feasible!" Although the surname in the city is not as cooperative as Gaoyoucheng before, it is also a fresh life. If the embankment is dug and the water is diverted to irrigate the city, although the Jiangdu city can be broken. But the city is bound to suffer heavy casualties. How can we bear it? ”

The other generals also objected, and only Song Jingang expressed support for Fang Xuanling.

The two sides even scolded for this.

At this moment, Yu Mingfang slapped the table suddenly, glared angrily and said: "At the moment of the great enemy, everyone is not united, and they want to find a way to break the city, but they are coaxing here, how can they be unified?" ”

After he scolded everyone, Fang expressed his opinion on Fang Xuanling's plan: "Although Lord Fang's plan is good, I don't agree!" My army originally came to the south to save the world, how could I take the initiative to divert water to irrigate the city? In that case, even if I can break the river capital, how can I be at peace with my heart? ”

Seeing that the emperor had already vetoed the matter, the generals were all relieved and stopped arguing.

However, after rejecting the resolution, the generals discussed it for a long time, but they were never able to come up with a safe plan. It is not only necessary to reduce the casualties of soldiers, but also to break through the city as soon as possible, how can it be so easy?

Yu Ming saw that after discussing for a long time, there was no result, but it was already very late. In desperation, he had to order everyone to go back and rest first, and then discuss it again tomorrow morning.

It's just that he didn't notice that Fang Xuanling, who was the last to leave the big tent, showed a hint of determination in his eyes.

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