(2-in-1)

Lin Jue with some of the centaurs was the last. When you enter the city gate, you pass through the dark gate hole and arrive at the city square, and the light shines in front of you. The square inside the city gate is brightly lit with torches and dazzling lights. Groups of Liao troops are hurrying to and fro with torches, and along the side of the city wall, there are countless temporary sheds lit up, and the Liao soldiers and horses are stationed one after another, looking like temporary barracks.

It is clear that the Liao people are preparing for the defense of the city. It seemed that they already knew that there was an imminent attack on the soldiers and horses, so they were stationed under the city walls, ready to go up to the city at any time to meet the enemy. Lin Jue frowned and looked at all this, although he was a little worried in his heart, but he actually understood in his heart that it had been a few days since Zhuozhou was captured, and the news must have reached Xijin Mansion a long time ago. The news that 30,000 Great Zhou soldiers and horses were approaching across the Sanggan River must have been closely followed for a long time. Therefore, it is not surprising that the soldiers and horses are fully guarded and armed.

"King Xiao of the Southern Courtyard has an order, and the convoy from Xijing immediately went to the East Street Military Grain Depot to assemble. Come with us. Dozens of cavalry of the Liao Army galloped along the long street, shouting loudly.

Lin Jue hurriedly agreed, and ordered everyone to follow dozens of horsemen along the long street. There were few pedestrians on the long street, and it was just getting dark, but the streets were dark. As the prosperous and wealthy Nanjing Xijin Mansion of the Liao Kingdom, Lin Jue originally thought that the lights of thousands of homes were bright and the city was extremely prosperous, but the situation in front of him was not the case.

What Lin Jue didn't know was that Han Desui had already ordered the implementation of the curfew, and as soon as it was dark, all the people were not allowed to go out and had to stay at home. They have nothing to do, are they staring at them in vain? I had to go to bed. Besides, it is said that there will be another war, and the great battle a few months ago has destroyed almost the entire city, and there are dead people inside and outside the city. Now there is another war, and the people are already terrified. So as soon as it got dark, he took the initiative to close the door and shut the door, for fear of causing some trouble.

As for the so-called prosperity and wealth, it is relative. Although Xijin Mansion is a big city, it is the most successful city for the Liao people to learn the Great Zhou, and it can be said that it is the gateway for the Liao State to welcome all kinds of new things in the Great Zhou. However, the Liao people's ability to learn is really not flattering; Or rather, they don't want to learn from Da Zhou's take some bells and whistles. Whether you are unwilling to copy it or draw a tiger to become an anti-dog, in short, the city of Xijin Mansion seems a little strange. The streets were wide and straight, and the walls were tall and large, but the houses on both sides of the streets were low and dilapidated, like slums. You will never see the kind of brilliant lights that are common in the cities of the Great Zhou, with high gates and lintels. In the Xijin Mansion, the tallest buildings in addition to the city wall tower are the palace and the palace of Han Desui.

Lin Jue paid attention to this, it was not that he was idle and boring, he was observing the terrain and making the best plan for the action. And to remember the path you are traveling, so that you may not find your way in the darkness of the city.

The Dongcheng Treasury is located on the East Street of Xijin Mansion, which is a huge courtyard where all the supplies, grain, grass and military supplies in the city are hoarded. The convoy rolled into a clearing in the corner of its courtyard. It is brightly lit here, and there are many patrolling soldiers and horses shuttling between the warehouses in the distance, which is understandable, after all, it is an important place for warehouses.

When Lin Jue and the others were looking around, two obese Liao officials staggered over with a few retinues, and shouted, "Who is General Xiao Quanxiao who escorted the carriages and horses from Xijing Mansion?" ”

"What advice do you have below?" Lin Jue stepped forward and said.

An official with a big rosacea on his face arched his hand and said, "I'm the treasurer here, General Xiao, your mission has been completed, and the rest will be handed over to us." You can take your people to the barracks to rest. We took over all the supplies for the carriages and horses. ”

Lin Jue and the others were stunned, Lin Jue smiled and said, "This adult, how did you say this?" Our task is to escort this batch of supplies and grain to Dading Mansion for delivery, and then we can complete the mission. Along the way, we must ensure the safety of materials, and we must not immediately drive and ride half a step. Otherwise, when the time comes, there will be a shortage of food and grass, and we will not be able to tell, and we will not be able to bear this responsibility. ”

"Don't you understand? You don't need to continue to escort this batch of grain and grass supplies, that's it. This is where the settlement will be. Got it? We'll take a look at the items later. Got it? Another fat official with a large face and a beard frowned impatiently.

"It's that you didn't understand, our General Xiao has made it clear, our duty is to escort the material convoy to Dading Mansion. Not here. It's just a passing refreshment. Sun Dayong shouted beside him.

"What? Didn't you get orders? These materials were left in Xijin Mansion as military salaries. The rosacea officer frowned.

Lin Jue frowned and said, "Order? Whose order? We did not receive such an order. ”

The rosacea official scolded: "Damn, these guys don't do things well, and they hurt us in vain." I don't make it clear to them. ”

"It's just that it's giving us trouble all day long." The bearded official echoed.

The rosacea official turned his head to Lin Jue and the others: "That's it, then I will convey the order to you, the order we received is that the king of the Southern Courtyard Han ordered to leave this batch of materials, grain and grass from Xijing Mansion for military use." If we want to unload the truck and put it into the warehouse immediately, there must be no mistake. General Xiao, you don't have any doubts this time

I asked. ”

Lin Jue understood a little in his heart, because there was going to be a war, so Han De just took the opportunity to detain this large piece of materials and grain for military supplies. This is probably the main reason why he and others are still allowed to enter the city at such a time. When you know that the siege soldiers are already dozens of miles away, under normal circumstances, no one will be allowed to enter the city again. But a convoy full of grain and grass supplies is definitely an exception.

Seeing Lin Jue groaning, the rosacea official thought that Lin Jue no longer had any objections, so he waved his hand and instructed the people around him: "Go and ask someone to prepare to unload the car and inspect the goods." Hurry up with your hands and feet. Damn, I'm afraid I won't have to sleep tonight. Someone is preparing a wine and food for a night snack or something. ”

One of the attendants nodded in agreement, turned and left. Lin Jue suddenly shouted, "Wait." You can't unload the car. ”

The rosacea and beard were stunned, and the bearded official frowned and shouted: "General Xiao, this is the order of King Han of the Southern Courtyard, you dare to obstruct it?" Your soldiers and horses in Xijing Mansion are so coaxing? You Xijing Datong is also the soldiers and horses under the jurisdiction of the Southern Privy Council, let's say it's you, you Xijing Guard commander is afraid and doesn't dare to disobey the order of the king of Han. ”

Lin Jue arched his hand and said: "Naturally, I don't dare to disobey, but the rules are the rules." We did not receive an order from King Han, and we are afraid that we will not succeed based on the dictation of the two of us. Something went wrong, and I can't afford to be a little lieutenant. Until I have a clear order, you can't be unloaded and we can't leave. ”

The rosacea official said angrily: "How can this be true, we have already conveyed the order, but you don't follow it, do you have to ask King Han to come and tell you in person?" ”

Lin Jue smiled: "I'm really sorry, the stakes are very high, and I can't help but act carelessly." We don't have the guts to let King Han come in person, but we can have a warrant or something. ”

The rosacea and the beard stared at Lin Jue, and seeing that Lin Jue looked like he would not back down, he finally stomped his feet and said, "Okay, you are ruthless." Let's go and report to King Han, and say that you people don't listen to his orders. I want him to explain it to you in person. Hum! It's your own fault, but don't blame us. ”

Lin Jue smiled and said: "The two of you, please take care of our official duties, I believe that King Han will not blame us." ”

The two treasurer officials left angrily, and everyone around Lin Jue also sighed. The cart could not be unloaded for them, because as soon as it was unloaded, it was exposed. There were only 500 people escorting the car, and there were more than 1,000 people in Lin Jue's personal guard cavalry battalion, and the official documents found on Xiao's body wrote the names of the Liao generals who escorted the car and the number of Liao soldiers. Therefore, only 500 people could enter the city openly in disguise as Liao soldiers. The remaining 500 people will not be able to enter the city, which will not be possible, and the number of people entering the city will be too small to stir up the wind and waves. Lin Jue thought about letting the remaining five hundred brothers pretend to be coachmen, but the official document also stated the number of coachmen and handymen who escorted the car. A few people would be fine, but five hundred more would obviously raise suspicions.

In the end, Lin Jue decided to unload some of the supplies on the cart and let more than 500 brothers hide in the cart. Every car now looks like it's piled up, but it's just a stack of supplies around the cart, and it's all empty in the middle. It was the weapons and equipment that the more than 500 brothers and a large number of Fallen Goose Army themselves were hiding. As soon as the tarpaulin is lifted, it will be revealed to the world, so Lin Jue desperately stopped the soldiers and horses at the city gate from scrutinizing one by one. At the same time, prevent those people from stabbing in the car with scimitars, that is, for fear of stabbing through the sack and injuring the brother hiding in the middle of the car.

When they get here, they can't be unloaded, so wouldn't it be immediately exposed. You have to find a chance to get the people in the car out. At the same time, as long as the car is unloaded, it will immediately be fully exposed, because more than half of the materials on the car are missing, and the middle is empty, which will immediately arouse the suspicion of the Liao people.

"My lord, will Han Desui really come to deliver the order in person?" Sun Dayong asked softly.

Lin Jue smiled: "Probably not, how could he come for this kind of thing in person." At most, send someone to give orders. It would be better if he himself came. We just captured the thief and captured the king first, and took him down. Is there still a fight in this siege? ”

Everyone nodded, indeed, if Han Desui really came, he would not let go of this opportunity. Capture the opposing general, and then you can take the city without much effort. However, as Lin Jue said, Han Desui would not come in person for this matter.

"Thanks to them for giving us such a big place to prepare. Immediately move the cart and horse into a corner, and the brothers in the cart can come out. All the preparations were done, and we started as soon as we first shifted. Everything went according to plan. Tell the coachmen that after a while, they should not run around, but find a warehouse to go in and hide, and never drill around. We're here to save them. Lin Jue quickly gave an order in a low voice.

The carriage and horses slowly moved to the corner of the storeroom. Someone tried to come to inquire, but was stopped by Ma Bin and others.

Ma Bin scolded angrily: "What? Lao Tzu wants you to take care of your own carriages and horses? Who knows when the order will come? Aren't drivers allowed to drink saliva and rest? Aren't horses allowed to eat and drink? Shall we arrange our own affairs? Outrageous. If you are verbose, Lao Tzu will tell you to look for teeth all over the ground. Get out of the way. ”

Those are just small officials in the treasury, and they don't dare to follow the theory of being a soldier, coupled with Ma Bin's fierce and vicious appearance, no one wants to meddle in things. So there are many of them

Turning their heads and hiding far away, as long as these people don't leave, they don't have to collide with them.

The carriages and horses slowly moved to the corner of the wall on the west side, and hundreds of cars gathered together, forming a barrier at once. After the wind lantern near the left was extinguished by Bai Bing and Sun Dayong's stones, the light in the corner became even more dim. In the dimness, figures appeared in the cart, and one by one the blades and crossbow firearms and equipment were taken out, and everyone quickly changed their equipment. The horses that pulled the carts were unmounted, for hundreds of them were horses mounted on war horses, and were only temporarily brought into the city by the carts.

After a busy time, everything is ready, and the day has passed the first change. According to the agreement, Han Gang and Ma Qingshan's soldiers and horses will arrive under the city at the beginning of the shift, and the siege battle will also start at the same time. When the siege battle on the outside begins, the inside will also be on the inside. Therefore, everyone stayed quietly in the dark, listening intently to the movement outside, waiting to hear the shouts of killing outside the city.

……

Outside the southern city of Xijin Mansion, Han Gang and Ma Qingshan led 30,000 soldiers and horses to arrive before the first shift. Returning to the city of Xijin Mansion and seeing the black shadow of the tall city walls and towers of Xijin Mansion again, Ma Qingshan felt an emotion in his heart that he didn't know how to describe.

The battle of a few months ago is still in front of us, and it is unforgettable. Afterwards, Ma Qingshan reflected on his actions in commanding the siege battle countless times, and in the end he could only attribute everything to the will of heaven. The combat strategy and method adopted by himself should be said to be effective, and the siege strategy of the virtual and real city played a very good role in the stalemate that could not be attacked for a long time. After the southern gate was captured, a large army entered the city, and it was only one step away from completely annihilating the enemy, who would have expected that a large number of reinforcements from the other side would suddenly arrive and suddenly make their own side suffer a fatal blow. What is it that all this is not providential?

But in any case, that battle became a stalk in Ma Qingshan's heart, and many people also attributed the defeat of the war to Ma Qingshan's command in private, which also made Ma Qingshan feel very uncomfortable. At this moment, when 30,000 soldiers and horses arrived at the city, looking at the torches at the head of the city, and looking at the towering city wall in front of him like a giant python, although Ma Qingshan's heart had a desire to be ashamed, it was more of a fear and worry that came from the depths of his heart.

Will that scene from a few months ago be repeated? I escaped death last time, will I die here this time? Is this Xijin Mansion a place of shame for himself, or a place of taboo in his fate? Is it that I can't get over a hurdle in this life? Ma Qingshan's thoughts were surging in his heart, and it was difficult to calm down.

Compared with Ma Qingshan, Han Gang came with a heart to fight to the death. At the time of the Battle of Xijin Province, he had been taken to Zhuozhou and imprisoned. After hearing the news of the defeat in the war, in addition to shock and regret, it was more of an unwillingness. Han Gang's thoughts at the moment were actually very simple, he didn't think that this siege would be successful, he only regarded this siege as a brave and fearless desperate move, completing his duties as a soldier. In fact, he was ready to die, because this attack was tantamount to death. 30,000 people attacking the city, without decent siege equipment, this is obviously not a good idea.

"Brother Ma, can we start?" Han Gang asked in a deep voice.

Ma Qingshan nodded and said, "It's okay to start, but Lord Han, brother once again emphasizes that we don't have to attack to the death, we just need to feint." When the gates of the city were taken and invaded into the city, it was only then that the real desperate effort was made. There is no need to kill or wound too many brothers in the feint of the city walls. ”

Han Gang frowned and said, "Brother Ma, you always say that you can take the city gate, where do you get your confidence?" How can the gates be taken? You don't know what to say. Call me so confused. ”

Ma Qingshan arched his hand and said, "Lord Han, you will soon understand what is going on, this matter ...... I won't be able to tell. It's not that I'm confident, it's that I'm confident in the people who helped us in the siege. You know that man, too, and you'll see him soon when we take this city. If we can't attack it, then we don't need to see each other, because we are all going to die here, and we will naturally meet under the spring. ”

Han Gang took a sip and said, "Hey, it's really hard to talk to those of you who have read some books, and it's as uncomfortable as pulling half of the." That's it, I won't ask. Drag that kid out, tie it to the flagpole, and get ready to storm the city! ”

Even if it is a feint, there is no need to cower, what you want is to make a big show and put on a posture. 30,000 Great Zhou soldiers and horses formed dozens of phalanxes and began to advance to the city. The foundation left by the Northern Expeditionary Army is good, not to mention the soldiers, but in terms of equipment alone, it has left a lot of good equipment. In addition to the standard armor and blades, the soldiers also wore many large shields that were originally designed for siege. The shield array is a new combat method that Yang Jun trained for the Northern Expedition, and it has also been applied by Han Gang, Ma Qingshan and others at this moment.

More than 20 phalanxes slowly advanced with shields, and when they came into range of their bows and arrows, these shields would effectively prevent their own soldiers and horses from being shot.

However, there is a secret weapon to be used by the siege soldiers. When the phalanx in the middle was out of range of the opponent's ordinary bow and arrow at a hundred and fifty paces, suddenly a huge flagpole was erected. A person is tied to the top of the flagpole. The man was like a crab in the cold wind of the autumn night, crying loudly.

"Daddy, Daddy, help me! Save me! "The person on the flagpole is Han Desui's beloved son, Han Zongze, who is familiar with military books and is extremely intelligent, but he was captured when he was not good enough to go out of the mountain.