The mouth of the Great Wall of Guangxin Army, not far from the gourd embankment, is a large town nearby. There was originally a garrison here, but in the autumn, the people in the vicinity were recruited to build the city wall, and it became a small city.

This is the first city after the Khitan crossed the border, and there are two small cities between Suicheng County and the Guangxin Army stationed in the south, and each city is within five miles of each other, forming a complete defense line. Together with the nearby cities of Busan villages and towns to the west, it was the first line of defense of the Song army against the Khitan.

On the eighth day of November, as soon as the sun rose, countless Khitan troops appeared on the horizon. With the sound of rumbling horses' hooves, the Khitan army officially moved south. The first city they attacked was the mouth of the Great Wall.

The sentry of the Song army at the head of the city was sleepy, and suddenly looked up and saw the Khitan army coming like a cloud in the distance.

Chang Fang, the general defending the city, came to the city, looked at the Khitan army surging like a tide, and took a deep breath: "It's coming, it's coming after all!" ”

After speaking, he turned around and looked at the soldiers around him sharply: "Prepare for artillery!" The whole army is ready to defend the city! ”

The soldiers agreed and quickly got busy. The Song army defended the city, and the most important thing now was artillery. As long as the artillery is there and can suppress the siege equipment outside the city, it will be difficult to break through the city.

From the mouth of the Great Wall to Suicheng County, many small cities have recently been built in this area, which are connected and echo each other. Baozhou on the railway line has tens of thousands of troops stationed to ensure a continuous supply of material resources. If you want to break through the city, you must break the system of the Song army.

The sun is rising, sprinkling thousands of red rays, and everything in the world is like a dream. There was no wind, everything seemed to stand still. The ground was covered with a thick layer of frost, and when you stepped on it, it made a creaking sound.

When the Song army was busy at the head of the city, the Khitan army camped five miles away. This distance would ensure their own safety, and the Song army would have enough time to defend itself if it suddenly attacked from the city. When the city was attacked, the distance was not far.

When he was encamped, Yelu took a few generals and led dozens of cavalry to the front of the city to check.

Seeing that it was close to a mile away from the city, Han Xie Shi said: "King, the Song army at the head of the city has cannons, which can fight a mile away." Can't get close, if you are accidentally detected by the Song army, a cannon hits, I am afraid that there will be an accident. ”

At that time, Yelu Zongzhen was outside Tanglong Town, due to carelessness, too close to the city, and was suddenly killed by the heavy artillery of the Song army, which had a great impact on the Khitan. When Jerod heard this, he did not dare to come forward again, but watched from afar.

Looking at the city, Yelu said: "This city doesn't look big, the siege can only accommodate a few thousand people, and our 50,000 army can only be trapped for a long time." ”

Han Funu said: "I'm afraid that being sleepy for a long time is not the way. We have a lot of troops, so we can surround the point and send reinforcements. This is the first city of the Song people on the border, and it must be taken very seriously. We've been around for a long time, and they'll definitely send someone to rescue us. At that time, the soldiers and horses came into use. ”

Han Xie nodded repeatedly: "This is a clever plan." Our army is not good at attacking the city, and the Song army is more favorable to field battles. If the Song army comes to help, it will be good to promote my strengths and attack the enemy's shortcomings. If the reinforcements are destroyed, the army in the city will inevitably be unstable. ”

Yelu said: "In this siege, the Holy Lord gave us most of the artillery, and we are going to take a look here." They have artillery at the head of the city, and there is artillery under our city, let's see which one is powerful. With its own artillery, the siege will be different from before. ”

Ali on the side only said: "Exactly." In the past few years, this dynasty has learned the method of Song man-made cannons and cast a lot of cannons, isn't it just to be used at such a time? The two armies are facing each other, and let's see which one is powerful! ”

Han Xie Shi and Han Funu did not speak, obviously disagreeing with Ali's words. The method of casting cannons was learned from the Song Dynasty, and the craftsmen in their own country could not be compared with the Song Dynasty, how to compare cannons? Cannons are not the same as knives and guns, if they are not as good as others, they are not as good as others, and the Khitans are not good at these, how can they be compared with the Song Dynasty? Even if this is a small city in the Song Dynasty, I am afraid that it will not be able to be broken by the Khitan cannons.

A few people looked around the city and slowly returned to the camp.

Chang Fang at the head of the city looked at a few people, and said to Cui Qun, the deputy commander beside him: "Those few people who watch the city must be Khitan leaders." It's a pity that the artillery at the head of the city is so far away that there is no accuracy. If they had come closer, they would have been killed! ”

Cui Qun said with a smile: "Instructed, when Taiwei Du rescued Tanglong Town, several cannons outside the city resulted in the Khitan lord and caused countless chaos. The Khitans have suffered a loss, how can they still come forward? They learned so well that they only watched from a distance. ”

Chang Fang nodded: "Yes, the Khitans have been in Youzhou for more than half a month, and they have not attacked until they have come here, and they will inevitably come badly." It is more than 20 miles away from Suicheng, and it is impossible to cut off the connection. If you are alone, you will be in trouble. ”

Cui Qun said: "Jing Taiwei's 50,000 army, how can he be surrounded and killed by the Khitans?" Rest assured, we're fighting them. ”

Yelu entered the tent, took a seat in the middle, and said, "Let's camp and rest today, and tomorrow morning, when the artillery is arranged, we will attack the city!" ”

The generals will make a promise together.

Han Xie Shijiao hand: "King, less than five miles away is the Song army city, send troops and horses first, guard the road, and block the reinforcements." If there is an endless stream of reinforcements, it will not be easy to attack the city. ”

Yelu nodded his head: "Yes, our 50,000 troops have come to attack this small city, and that's what we want to do, to besiege this city." Tomorrow, Han Funu will take 5,000 men and guard the road to this city. If there are any reinforcements, as long as I confront them, I will send the rest of my troops and horses and annihilate them all outside this city! If there is no city to rely on, why be afraid of the Song people! ”

Han Funu forked his hand and said yes. The Song army's reliance was to defend the city. If there is no city, the Khitan column will go south, how can the Song army stop it? The small city in front of me is estimated to have few soldiers and horses, and there is not enough food and grass, so if there are no reinforcements, see how long they can hold it.

Yelu said: "A few days ago, King Tie Bu led 30,000 soldiers and horses to attack Dingzhou, but one of them was careless, and the Song army captured the flying fox and blocked the retreat. The first battle was unfavorable, and many generals in the army were afraid. In this battle, we must cheer up and not give the Song army a chance. This victory will be won, and the Holy Self will lead a large army south. As long as these cities on the border are breached, there is grain and grass in them, and hundreds of thousands of troops will not worry. ”

The Khitan army of 400,000 people went south, and the most worrying thing was grain and grass. In the surrounding states, 300,000 troops were temporarily requisitioned, transported grain and grass supplies, and did some miscellaneous work. But if the time goes by and there are soldiers who transport grain, I am afraid that there will be no food in the country. Only by going south as soon as possible and borrowing the grain and grass of the Song Dynasty can the war be fought. Although the small city in front of him is not big, as long as one is breached, it is enough for tens of thousands of troops for more than ten days.

Ali only said: "I came this time, and I brought one hundred and twenty artillery pieces. Tomorrow they will line up outside the city and bombard the city as best they can. I've seen this city today, and I don't think I can withstand many shells. Crashed down the city wall, see what else the Song army can do! ”

Yelu didn't nod: "In the army, you are most familiar with artillery. All artillery in the army is under your jurisdiction. Be sure to use it well and collapse the wall of the Song army in the shortest possible time. When the Song army attacked the king, it used artillery to collapse the Quyang city wall and lay the foundation for victory. I heard that the Song people only attacked for one day, and the city wall collapsed the next day. Our artillery is worse than that of the Song army, and it is also good to use three or five days to collapse the city wall. Hundreds of thousands of troops behind are waiting for news of our breakthrough. ”

Ali only crossed his hand and promised. Lang Sheng said: "The last general has tried in China, as long as it takes ten miles of cannons, it will take one or two days to collapse the ordinary city wall." In front of him is a small city newly built by the Song people, which is not strong, and it is not difficult to break through. ”

Yelu nodded repeatedly: "That's the best!" The biggest difficulty for us here is that the Song army does not fight with us in the field, but only defends the city. As long as there is a way to break through the city, this battle will be a great victory. After going all the way south, how did the Song people resist! ”

The generals said yes together.

For many years, the obstacle to the Khitan people's southward movement was the pool of this city after city. Due to the poor siege ability, the Khitan army was often blocked by the city, and finally failed.