In the early morning of the fourth day after arriving at the Confession, after more than two days of hurried preparations, the young marshal's army finally marched out of the camp under the personal leadership of Xiang Kang, carrying the siege weapons such as flying ladders, crashing cars, and pontoon bridges that had been built improvised to go out of the city, and slaughtered towards the east gate of the Consideration with great vigour, and on the basis of a total strength of only more than 2,100 people, more than 1,800 people were dispatched in one breath to prepare to participate in the siege battle.

Seeing the actions of the young marshal army from a distance on the city wall, the city has been nervous for several days, of course, the alarm gong rang again and again, the guards and non-commissioned officers guarding the east gate hurriedly entered their respective posts to prepare for battle, and the reserve team hurriedly assembled and waited for orders, during which the generals roared and the soldiers shouted, panicking like a group of ants whose nests were attacked. The residents of the city were even more panicked, the adults shouted and the children cried, scrambling to close the doors and close the courtyard, and many domestic dogs were alarmed and barked wildly, which further set off the panic atmosphere in the city.

Hearing the alarm, Bao Wen, the right lieutenant who was responsible for commanding the reserves in the city, was the first to rush to the county temple hall to wait, and Wang Zhao's confidant Lu Fa, who was responsible for commanding the defenders in the city, was the last to arrive, and as soon as he came to the hall, he shouted in a panic in front of several colleagues: "County Zun, the big thing is not good, the thieves are coming to attack the city, thousands of people, with countless siege weapons, the thieves are huge, we have to fight this battle!" There's got to be a fight! ”

"Thousands?" After hearing this, Bowen couldn't help but ask, "Captain Lu Zuo, how many soldiers and horses are there for the thieves?" Didn't the scout we last come back three days ago report that the thieves had only a little over 2,000 troops? How can you send thousands of men to siege a city? ”

"It's ......." Lu Fa was speechless, and his white face was still a little red, and then he stomped his feet and said: "Oh, Captain Bao, when is this, what are you still doing with me?" Is it because of my slip of the tongue? Anyway, the thieves are coming, and there are still a lot of troops coming, so we have to fight this battle. ”

"How many troops are the thieves?" Bowen asked.

"I don't know." Lu Fa replied very briskly, and said: "I didn't send scouts out of the city, and I can't detect how many enemies are coming, in short, there are a lot of them, definitely more than the soldiers in our city." ”

"Rubbish!"

Bowen snorted coldly in his heart, but Wang Zhao, who was sitting in the hall, was not in the mood to care about the unknown report of his henchmen, so he just wiped the sweat on his face and said, "Everyone, the thieves are menacing, how should this battle be fought?" What do you think? ”

No one answered, including Lu Fan, who usually talked the most, all of them had their mouths closed tightly and didn't dare to say anything, or after Wang Zhao repeated the question again, Bao Wencai, who couldn't stand it, stood up and said: "Don't worry about the county, although the thieves are coming, but considering that the city is strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack, we only need to defend the city to the death, rely on the geographical advantage to meet the siege of the thieves, and then invest troops in the city in time to strengthen the defense and block the thieves from attacking the city, it is by no means a difficult thing." ”

"That's good, that's good." Wang Zhao wiped his sweat again and again, hoping that Bowen's prophecy would come true and let the defenders survive this catastrophe, and then Wang Zhao hurriedly asked Bowen: "Captain Bao, what should we do next?" ”

"Of course, I invite the county lord to come to the East Gate City in person to investigate the enemy's situation, and then according to the troop layout and main attack direction of the thieves, dispatch troops according to local conditions, and concentrate troops to resist the attack of the thieves."

Although he had never been on the battlefield, but just based on the military knowledge he learned in the school, Bowen put forward a quite correct suggestion, and Wang Zhao, who had already returned the military training to the teacher in the school, nodded again and again, and hurriedly said: "Okay, then you can simply follow the official to the East Gate City to investigate the enemy's situation, and then we will discuss how to retreat from the enemy." ”

According to Wang Zhao's instructions, Bao Wen, Lu Fa and several qualified county officials hurriedly followed Wang Zhao out of the house and went straight to the east gate. As a result, because of the relatively close distance, when Wang Zhao and Bao Wen climbed the city wall of the East Gate, the young marshal's army had just arrived at the city of the East Gate, and before they had time to line up the formation, Bao Wen and the others also quickly opened their eyes and carefully observed the array layout of the young marshal army, so as to judge the main attack direction and siege tactics of the young marshal army.

The army in his hands is just a group of rabble in his bones, Xiang Kang, who commanded the regular siege battle for the first time, of course, could not arrange any particularly complex and exquisite siege tactics, so he could only follow the military book left by the old Xiang family before, coupled with his own understanding of siege warfare, arranged a simple siege tactics corresponding to the virtual and real, and led the main force to attack the east gate, and ordered Xiang Sheng to lead more than 400 people to detour back to the south gate to launch an auxiliary attack, scattering the enemy's defenders, while deliberately leaving the west gate to leave a way for the defenders to escape, In this way, the enemy's determination to resist is shaken and weakened.

In addition, firstly, because Xiang Kang himself lacked experience, and secondly, for the convenience of attacking, the young marshal army also lined up the siege weapons brought by the army in front of the battle, and showed the siege cards of his own army early. And when he saw the troop layout of the young marshal's army, and saw the few siege weapons of the young marshal's army, Bao Wen, who had some military talent, quickly came to a conclusion and hurriedly said to Wang Zhao: "County Zun, judging from the current situation, the main direction of attack of the thieves is to take care of the east gate, and the south gate is only an auxiliary, but it has to be guarded. Therefore, the subordinates suggested that our army should concentrate its main forces at the east gate, and arrange a rear army to the south gate in case of emergency, so that we should be able to deal with the thieves. ”

"And." Bowen added: "Judging from the siege weapons of the thieves, their main goal should be our city gates, to first build a pontoon bridge to open the road to the city, and then use the ladder to attack the city to open our forces, and finally use siege vehicles to decide the victory." The subordinates suggested that we should replenish the troops on the side of the castle tower and prepare more torches and boulders to restrain the siege vehicles of the thieves. ”

Wang Zhao nodded again and again, and after hesitating for a moment, Wang Zhao, who knew how much weight he had, simply said: "Right Lieutenant Bao, you are proficient in military affairs, you come to send troops to arrange the formation, and if you say how to arrange the army, the official will arrange it." ”

Bowen was not polite, and immediately after agreeing, he used his brains and tried to figure out how to use the limited force of less than a thousand people in the city. However, at this time, Lu Fa next to him suddenly pointed to the flag of the young marshal's army and shouted in a panic: "Look, the county lord, the thieves have sent someone out, as if they want to answer us." ”

Hearing this, Bowen hurriedly turned his head, and saw that a person had rushed out of the young marshal's army, waving a small white flag, and was hurrying towards the east gate, and shouted from a distance: "Don't release arrows!" Don't shoot arrows! I'm here to deliver the paperwork! The two countries are fighting, don't cut the envoys, please don't let go of the arrows! ”

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was already an unwritten rule of not beheading envoys - that's why lobbyists and liars such as Zhang Yi were so rampant, which would see the advance envoy contact before the young marshal's army launched the siege, Wang Zhao and Bao Wen and others certainly did not feel strange, in order to find out the intention of the young marshal's envoy, Wang Zhao also ordered a ban on firing arrows early, and allowed the young marshal's envoy to cross the moat and come directly to the east gate of the city.

At this time, an accident happened, and the envoy of the young marshal army did not ask to meet with Wang Zhao, the commander of the county, but shouted loudly under the city: "Xu Shu, the envoy of the young marshal army of Great Chu, asks to meet the right lieutenant of Daqin, Bao Wenbao, and asks the right lieutenant Bao Wenbao to come out and answer." ”

The surprised eyes of everyone in the city focused on Bao Wen's face, and Bao Wen himself was even more inexplicable, saying that he didn't expect Xiang Kang to send an envoy to answer him. Surprised, Bowen didn't think much about it, and immediately poked his head out of the city, and said loudly in confusion: "I'm Bowen, what are you looking for me?" ”

"I've seen Captain Bao." Bao Wen, who has gradually become a diplomatic liar for the young marshal's army, bowed politely, and then took out a letter written in silk cloth, and said: "Right Lieutenant Bao, there is a letter here, which was handed over to you by the young marshal of my family, please let someone put down a hanging basket and let the little envoy hand over the letter to you." ”

"Don't be so troublesome, whatever is said in the letter, you just say it directly." Bowen exclaimed.

"Right Lieutenant Bao, it's inconvenient to read this letter aloud, so please put down the hanging basket." Xu Shu shook his head, and was ready to put down the letter at any time and run away - anyway, with Qin Jun's curiosity, nine out of nine would send someone down to the city to pick up the letter and watch it.

Qin Jun's curiosity was even stronger than Xiang Kang and Xu Shu expected, and before Bao Wen could figure out whether he should take the letter, Wang Zhao had already ordered someone to put down a hanging basket, Xu Shu was overjoyed, and hurriedly put the letter into the basket, in order not to be blown away by the wind, he also picked a stone from the ground and pressed it, and then arched his hand, and immediately turned around and left.

The matter was not over, after hurriedly crossing the moat, Xu Shu suddenly turned around and said loudly at Bao Wen: "Right Lieutenant Bao, it's time to do it, our young marshal Xiang doesn't have much time, if you don't hurry up and do it, when we enter the city, it will be too late for you to do it again!" ”

After all, in fact, Xu Shu, who still cares about his own life, ran away, but Bowen heard something wrong from Xu Shu's strange words, and hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed the basket before everyone, took out the letter from the basket and watched it, but only looked at the general content, Bowen was completely dumbfounded - the letter was written in handwriting similar to Bowen, and the content was that Bowen told Xiang Kang that Wang Zhao was indiscriminately promiscuous, did not distinguish between right and wrong, and sent his friend Duan Zixing to prison for questioning with only a fake book; He also said that he was worried that sooner or later he would end up with the same fate as Duan Zixing, and he had long hated Wang Zhao, and was ready to suddenly kill Wang Zhao and surrender to Xiang Kang, but he was worried that he would not be able to convince the public after killing Wang Zhao, and would be victimized by Wang Zhao's subordinates, so he asked Xiang Kang to prepare, as long as he saw the fire in the city, he would immediately send troops to attack the city, and accept his surrender of the city! And at the end of the letter, of course, it looks very much like Bowen's autograph!

"Right Lieutenant Bao, what is written on it? Let the official take a look at it too. ”

At this time, Wang Zhao had already come up with a suspicious face, trying to read the letter with Bao Wen, but Bao Wen was taken aback, subconsciously folded the letter and held it tightly in his hand. Why don't you let the official take a look at it too? ”

"What should I do?" Sweat quickly seeped out of Bowen's brain, and he wanted to hand over the letter to Wang Zhao, explaining that this was Xiang Kang's shameless separation, but considering the experience of his friend Duan Zixing, Bowen didn't have the courage - the taste of prison food was not delicious. But if you don't hand over the letter, Bowen can't explain it to Wang Zhao and the others, so in a hurry, Bowen really doesn't know what to do.

"Captain Bao, what exactly is written in the letter?" Wang Zhao asked again, and said, "Also, what should you do if you sweat so much?" ”

There was nothing to be done, trembling, Bowen could only slowly reach out and hand over the letter, and slowly let go of his hand, but at this time, a gust of wind blew, and the letter in Bowen's hand flew up and fell down the city. Bao Wen was even more shocked when he saw it, and Wang Zhao on the other side was suspicious, and immediately shouted: "Send someone down to the city to pick up the letter!" ”

According to Wang Zhao's order, soon a defender put down a soldier with a rope and went to the city to pick up letters, when everyone's attention was attracted by this, Bowen also made up his mind, taking advantage of everyone's unpreparedness, hurriedly and quietly went down to the city, during which Wang Zhao's fellow villagers found out, and immediately shouted loudly, Bowen immediately rushed to run, Wang Zhao turned around and saw the anger, and hurriedly shouted: "Quick, send someone to stop him!" ”

Several relatives rushed down to the city to chase Bao Wen, and at the same time, the letter that had already fallen down the city had also been picked up by the Qin soldiers in the lower city, and when the letter was sent back to the city and handed over to Wang Zhao, Wang Zhao only read the content of the letter cursoly, of course, he was immediately furious, and roared: "Bao Wen, dare to do this!" Quick, send someone into the city to get Bowen back to the official! Dare to resist, don't kill! ”

According to the siege tactics left by the ancestors of the old Xiang family, first two hundred young marshal soldiers went out of battle with long shields and crossbow arrows, holding shields against the rain of arrows hurriedly cast by the defenders, trotting to the edge of the moat, forming temporary fortifications with long shields, covering the crossbowmen of the young marshal's army behind the shield and releasing arrows to suppress the enemy defenders in the city. Then more than 100 young marshals and soldiers carried pontoon bridges, planks, ropes and other objects to the moat to build temporary pontoon bridges. During this period, the two sides continued to shoot crossbow arrows, and soldiers on both sides were constantly killed and injured by arrows, but because both sides were rookies and broilers, this frequency was not high.

Still rookies and rabble, under the enemy's crossbow arrows obstruction and destruction, the young marshal's sappers were clumsy, and even dropped a pontoon bridge into the moat and was washed away by the river, and at the same time the casualties during the bridge were quite small, a pontoon bridge was not built, there were already seven or eight people killed and wounded by the Qin army's crossbow arrows, and the young marshal sergeant continued to dodge left and right in order to avoid the arrows, which seriously delayed the progress of the project.

But fortunately, everyone is a rookie, the Qin army guards in the city are all temporarily recruited from the county temple, but they have received the most basic military training, even if they have touched the Qin crossbow before, they have not let go of many arrows, and the hit rate in actual combat is naturally not higher there, plus the young marshal crossbowmen continue to harass arrows under the city, and occasionally blind cats can hit the defenders in the city like dead rats, so the crossbow arrow hit rate of the Qin army defenders is of course lower, so no matter what, they can't shoot away the young marshal army engineers who are desperately building bridges, I could only watch as the young marshal sappers pulled up the pontoon bridges one by one, gradually opening the road directly to the city.

Finally, the five pontoon bridges have been built successfully, each person can get the hardware reward of the young marshal army engineer cheered and ran back to the formation, the young marshal army flag array during the flag wavering, in the sound of war drums, two young marshal army of 100 people lined up to go out, one of them carried ten flying ladders, the other 100 people team pushed on a crash car, one after the other and the flying echelon strode forward, and continued to accelerate in the advance, quickly rushed to the east gate city wall.

At the same time, the south gate was also beating drums, and the young marshal's military department, which was responsible for the auxiliary attack, also launched an attack on the south gate at the same time.

At the same time, at the critical moment to test the ability of the young marshal's army to attack fortifications, a thin smoke suddenly rose in the city, and then the smoke quickly became thick and black, and it was vaguely seen that while the fire was rising, more smoke appeared one after another. Seeing this scene, the defenders were of course in an uproar, and the morale of the army was shaken at the same time, and the morale of the young marshal was also directly affected, and the young marshal and soldiers were thunderous with joy, and the flying echelon and the city-ramming convoy were all moving fast, and the shouts of excitement resounded throughout the battlefield......

"Kill! Kill! Whoever enters the city will have a bounty of one hundred! ”

Roaring excitedly, the morale of the young marshal soldiers who were already very high was even more morale, and the young marshal soldiers who carried the light flying ladder took the lead, holding a shield and taking the lead in stepping on the pontoon bridge to rush through the moat, and miraculously carried ten flying ladders across the moat, and couldn't wait to put the flying ladder on the head of the city, and rushed to the city without saying a word. And the young marshal's crash convoy also performed well, pushing the bulky crash car was also fast, just a young marshal's flying ladder took the head of the city, and the young marshal's crash car had already rushed onto the moat bridge!

At this time, the fire in the city has become more and more obvious, and the noise in the city can be clearly heard even at the position of the city wall. The young marshal's soldiers were in high spirits, stepping on the ladder and constantly charging up, and soon several soldiers rushed to the top of the ladder, wielding swords and hand-to-hand combat with the defenders of the city. During the hard fighting, there were even two warriors of the Young Marshal's Army who climbed up again with blood on their faces after being hit by stones and falling off the ladder, and their spirits were extremely high.

Under the hail raining stones, the young marshal's ramming car gradually pushed to the city gate, and the young marshal soldiers who controlled the crash worked hard to push the crashing wood, hitting the city gate hard, and every time the striking wood with iron horns at the front end, it also slammed the city gate with a creak, and the dust fell. And no matter how much the defenders in the city smashed stones and threw torches, they couldn't stop the young marshal soldiers with high morale from slamming into the door.

The first to create a miracle is still the flying echelon, in the fierce battle, a young marshal army warrior saw the opportunity to suddenly jump from the top of the ladder to the top of the city wall, and was still desperately injured, slashing to a Qin army soldier who tried to pounce and push himself down the city, and there was a young marshal soldier who bit his weapon to follow, and also jumped to the city wall, waving a knife to help his companions hold this gap, covering more companions to take the opportunity to go to the city. Although the soldiers of the Qin army also tried their best to block it, their morale was not high, and the quality of individual soldiers did not have any advantage, so they couldn't cut down the two young marshal soldiers who had already killed the red-eyed soldiers, and they could only watch in horror as the young marshal soldiers continued to rush up the city wall from this gap, and gradually seized a city head position.

"Woo! Good! ”

The cheers resumed, and another warrior of the Young Marshal's Army rushed to the top of the city wall from another flying ladder, and successfully cut down a nearby Qin army flag. The young marshal soldiers in the distance outside the city cheered loudly, but Xiang Kang sighed and muttered: "The enemy is too rookie, and there are still people in the city who set fire to respond, and it is difficult to win this battle." In this era when there are not even "Thirty-six Strategies" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", I take the lead with some discordant plans and fake books out of nothing at every turn, and reduce the difficulty of siege, is it too bullying? It's hard for my army to get tempered in tough battles, and it's not conducive to the growth of my army. ”

After muttering that this was not conducive to the training and growth of his army, Xiang Kang did not hesitate, and immediately invested two hundred-man teams to strengthen the offensive, and shouted: "Tell the officers and soldiers of the whole army that after the city of Tak Yu is defeated, half of the money and grain in the county treasury will be used to reward the whole army, and everyone will have a share!" ”