Li Shimin personally went to the camp of the logistics army to find Li Su, naturally he did not come to drink wine and eat meat.

Of course, being able to drink alcohol is a bonus.

Because of the failure of the siege, Li Shimin had doubts about his choice, and then naturally thought of not accepting Li Su's advice at the beginning, so he regretted it and wanted to come to talk to Li Su, which was the main reason why Li Shimin came here.

The two of them sat around the fireplace, drinking wine and eating meat very comfortably, everyone sat casually, and spoke casually, throwing the etiquette of the monarch and the minister out of the clouds.

Nibbling on the leg of mutton, Li Shimin said while eating: "You must have heard of the results of today's siege, right?" ”

Li Su nodded: "The minister heard about it." ”

Li Shimin's chewing speed gradually slowed down, and when he talked about the war in front of him, he didn't even feel in the mood to eat meat.

Sighing worriedly, Li Shimin said: "The war is not good, the method of attacking the city is still the same as Keliaodong City, but the earth-shaking thunder you created does not seem to play a role in this battle, I thought that I would be able to conquer Anshi City today, but I did not expect to return defeat, Anshi City is still in the hands of the Goguryeo guards." ”

Li Su also sighed: "Yang Wanchun is indeed a character. ”

Li Shimin nodded with deep feelings: "Yes, this person is one of the best among many veterans of my Tang Dynasty, I only hate him as an enemy general, and he can't be used by me." ”

"Your Majesty, the minister thought about it for a long time today, and guessed that Yang Wanchun should have heard about the breakthrough of Liaodong City, so he hurriedly strengthened the city wall before the battle, so the earth-shaking thunder almost failed, well, the way to strengthen the city wall in a short period of time is to pour glutinous rice juice on the bricks and stones of the city, and now it is winter, and the glutinous rice juice is poured on the city wall and quickly solidifies and freezes, so the city wall becomes more and more solid and reliable, so the earth-shaking thunder explodes at the head of the city and cannot produce enough power to blow up the city wall."

"The second way is to lay another layer of bluestone on the road at the head of the city, so that the destructive force generated by the explosion of the earth-shaking thunder can be buffered, and the city wall under the bluestone will be kept safe. After thinking about it, today's siege failure is probably due to these two reasons. ”

Li Shimin laughed and said: "Coincidentally, Niu Jinda happens to be the same as your guess, and he is worthy of being your closest crown conferrer, and his ideas are surprisingly tacit." ”

After laughing a few times, Li Shimin's face gradually sank, with a hint of worry between his eyebrows, and sighed: "Today not only failed to attack the city, but also fell into the trap of the enemy, even the hard-trained thunder throwers were almost wiped out, my soldiers suffered a lot of losses today, how can this city be overcome next, to be honest, I have no idea in my heart, Zizheng can have a good plan to overcome it?" I'm listening. ”

Li Su took a sip of wine from his cup and sighed: "Your Majesty has no idea, and the minister has no idea......"

Li Shimin looked at him expectantly: "In addition to the earth-shaking thunder, have you created a sharper firearm?" ”

"Nope." Li Su said decisively.

Firearms are too against the sky, the invention of the earth-shattering thunder can be regarded as a leak of heaven, I don't know which unknown direction the original historical trajectory will be pulled away, if a new firearm is made, Li Su is afraid that he will be struck by lightning.

In fact, Li Su can make newer firearms, when he wanted to ask Li Shimin to marry Dongyang, he had drawn a blueprint of a mine and a hundred tigers running thunder arrows, and planned to use the drawings as a bargaining chip to ask Li Shimin for marriage, and later Li Shimin broke him up with Dongyang Shengsheng, Li Su hated it, and the two drawings also disappeared from this world forever with the burning.

I can make it, but I don't dare to make it.

Li Shimin's face was suddenly full of disappointment, and he took a sip of wine with a depressed expression, and then sighed long.

"Okay, then according to Zizheng's opinion, can Anshi City have a good way to overcome it?" Li Shimin then asked again.

Li Su scratched his head and said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty, the minister is still the same sentence, after Wang Shi conquered Liaodong City, he should not have gone south to attack Anshi City, the risk is too high, and now Wang Shi is blocked under Anshi City, to be honest, the minister can't think of a good way to break through this city." ”

Li Shimin showed a look of disappointment, stared blankly at the charcoal fire, and muttered: "Could it be that I can only follow the example of Emperor Yang of Sui and return in vain?" After teaching me to return to Chang'an, He Yan faced the scholars and people of the Tang Dynasty, as well as those family gates, I don't know how many people were waiting to see my jokes, I ...... How can they get their wish! ”

Li Su saw that Li Shimin frowned, and couldn't help sighing: "If Your Majesty doesn't want to hastily withdraw your troops back to Chang'an, the minister has a advice here, please accept it." ”

"What advice do you have, just say it." Li Shimin cheered up.

Li Su said slowly: "Resolutely give up attacking Anshi City, leaving only 20,000 or 30,000 soldiers and horses to contain Yang Wanchun's troops and horses, the main force of the army camps north, still back to Liaodong City, and then according to the minister's opinion, Wang Shi divided his troops under Anshi City, respectively, to the north of the new city, Fuyu City attack, the south of the left 20,000 soldiers and horses and Zhang Liang's 20,000 troops quickly rendezvous, contain Yang Wanchun's department, the east is the main force of the army, the capital Pyongyang, three ways to attack, there is always a way to open the situation, the Goguryeo chess game to live. ”

is still playing the same old tune, still being loyal to the ear, Li Shimin frowned, and endured it without squeaking.

Li Su originally had a stomach to say, but when he looked at his words and looks, he saw Li Shimin showing such an expression, his loyal words came to an abrupt end, and after sighing gloomily, he refused to speak again.

The atmosphere in the camp was inexplicably silent, and there was a bit of embarrassment in the silence.

After a long silence, Li Shimin took a sip of wine and said slowly: "Today, I have sent Niu Jinda to lead 20,000 elite cavalry to the north, and above the key pass between the garrison Xincheng and Yanjin City, Niu Jinda admonished me, saying that the northern Jin tribe may lend troops to Goguryeo, although I don't believe it, but I have to guard against it, Zizheng has said so many times to divide the army, I have kept it in mind, even if I don't agree with it, but the current attack on Anshi City has reached a stalemate, and it is not a big problem to divide 20,000 elite cavalry, maybe I can also receive unexpected surprises, so I am like a stream of advice this time, Accepted Niu Jinda's request, and this move also coincided with Zizheng's strategy of dividing the troops at the beginning......"

Hearing that Li Shimin had promised to divide his troops, even though he only sent 20,000 soldiers and horses north to guard against the Ya tribe, Li Su was still happy in his heart.

In any case, at least a defensive line has been laid in front of the north, and the possibility of being attacked behind the main force of the Tang Dynasty has been greatly reduced.

Seeing Li Su's expression of joy, Li Shimin also smiled: "Look, I'm not so stupid, right?" War depends on the time and situation, and every decision I make may not be in line with everyone's wishes, but my choice must be the one I think is the most suitable for the situation. ”

"Your Majesty." Li Su smiled and gave a sycophant.

The long-lost sycophant made Li Shimin extremely happy, and his mood was unconsciously much brighter.

Li Su didn't give him too much time to be happy, and immediately added: "The minister dares to ask Your Majesty, now that my royal division can't advance or retreat under the city of Anshi, what should I do next?" ”

Li Shimin smiled and glanced at him angrily.

"It's impossible to give up the attack on Anshi Castle." Li Shimin said categorically, at this moment he returned to the appearance of the ruthless emperor who killed decisively: "Divide 20,000 soldiers and horses to station in the key pass, our army has no worries, the next thing is to attack Anshi City, no matter what, Anshi City must be defeated!" ”

Li Su said lightly: "However, Yang Wanchun, the city lord of Anshi, is not so easy to deal with, two days of fighting, I believe that His Majesty has learned this person's means, the minister looks at this person who is brave and strategic, has the capital of a hero, is the most difficult enemy general in Goguryeo, if there is enough food in Anshi City, the minister feels that with Yang Wanchun's ability, he can defend for at least half a year, but my Wang Shi cannot attack him for half a year, the variables are too great, and we don't have so much grain and grass to consume with Yang Wanchun, he can afford it, we can't afford it, he is not afraid of the stalemate, but we are afraid." ”

Li Shimin sighed and said, "So, what does Zizheng mean is to give up attacking Anshi City and pull out the camp to the north to take Pyongyang?" ”

"Yes, the minister means to level the capital city first, the capital city is peaceful, the king of Goryeo and Quangai Suwen and others are all captured, Goguryeo will be chaotic, there is no government decree, the dragons have no leader, there is no title of the lord of the country, the princes of the cities in the country can not call for the assembly of soldiers and horses in the country, they can only choose to fight separately, Your Majesty, if you gather the troops of the whole country of Goguryeo, its momentum is vast, as little as 100,000, as much as 200,000, but if it is only the princes of the country to gather soldiers and horses, as little as 120,000, as much as 30,000 or 40,000, the king of Goryeo and Quangai Suwen in our hands, Their strength was cut into a small piece, and our Tang Dynasty Wang Division could be divided and suppressed, and each one was broken, so the minister thought that our army should go north to divide the troops and take the capital Pyongyang. ”

Li Shimin frowned and didn't say anything, and Li Su was not in a hurry, just hanging his head and slowly drinking and eating meat.

After a long time, Li Shimin said slowly: "What Zizheng said is reasonable, it is the theory of seeking the country, I listened to it, but ......"

Li Shimin paused and said: "However, I still want to give it a try, let's set a ten-day period first, within these ten days, my Wang Shi will attack Anshi City by any means at any cost, and I will bet on whether I can capture it within ten days, if I still can't conquer it in ten days, I will order to pull out the camp and go north, according to Zizheng's words, and take the capital Pyongyang." ”

Li Su's lips squirmed a few times, and he wanted to say that the fighters on the battlefield changed instantly, and many unpredictable changes could have occurred in ten days, but thinking about Li Shimin's words just now, it was clear that he had accepted his own advice, if he still did not oppose it, I am afraid that he would break up with Li Shimin again today, and it is a trivial matter to break up unhappily, I am afraid that Li Shimin will simply veto his advice, and fight with Yang Wanchun to the death under the city of Anshi.

Looking at Li Shimin's expression, Li Su did not doubt that he would really do this, and Li Shimin had already agreed to his advice with some hesitation, obviously from the depths of Li Shimin's heart, he was very reluctant to give up attacking Anshi City, and promised to pull out the camp and go north in ten days, which could only be regarded as a helpless choice.

Seeing that Li Su wanted to speak and stopped, Li Shimin seemed to know what he was thinking, so he sighed and said: "I also have difficulties, I raised the army of the country to the east, what you courtiers and the people see in the eyes is the victory or defeat of each war, how much land you occupy, and how many enemy troops you kill, but in my eyes, I can't just see this, I also have to take care of the thoughts of the scholars and the people in the Tang Dynasty, my every move on the battlefield of Goguryeo is closely watched by the people of the world, if the war is unfavorable, The family of the Tang Dynasty is not laughing at hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but about me, the emperor......"

"Zizheng is trying to imagine, if our soldiers only attacked under the city of Anshi for one day, and found that they could not capture it, they withdrew their troops and diverted their routes, and after it was passed to the Tang Dynasty, how would the family gate valve see me? The history book of the strategy of attacking Anshi Castle will be passed down to future generations, and how will future generations view me after a thousand years? Therefore, I must try again under the city of Anshi, to see if I can capture it, if I still can't capture it after ten days, then I will withdraw my troops to the north, I will not have too much pressure, do you understand what I mean? ”

Li Su nodded, he completely understood.

Having said so much, in fact, it can be summed up in one sentence, running too early and losing face.

may know that Li Su has complained in his heart recently, and Li Shimin cannot use the majesty of the emperor to solve the problem of resentment in the hearts of his courtiers anytime and anywhere, so Li Shimin's posture today is already very low, his tone is gentle, and he is emotional and reasonable.

Li Su knew that it was not easy to achieve the current result, but there were still some unpleasant premonitions in his heart, which were just unwarranted intuition and could not be spoken, so he had to forget it after thinking about it.

What is the outcome of this war, whether it is won or lost, Li Su already feels that he has a clear conscience.

****************************************************************

On the second day, the commanders of the Chinese army gathered with drums, and the monarchs and ministers discussed the siege again.

The effect of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder was greatly weakened in this battle, and the rest was only a conventional siege method.

Since ancient times, there have been many siege methods, such as going to heaven and earth, setting fires, digging tunnels, buying internal responses, openly surrendering, etc., in order to take a city, it can be said that from ancient times to the present, it can be said that it has exhausted its efforts, of course, the process does not know how many lives to pay.

Li Shimin convened the generals and discussed how to use conventional methods to conquer Anshi City with the lowest cost and the fastest time.

It is probably impossible to surrender, Yang Wanchun is the hero in the Goguryeo Kingdom, this person is not convinced by anyone, only himself. His tactics are unpredictable and very clever, yesterday the two armies attacked and defended, and he completely had the upper hand, and Li Shimin had no doubt at all, as long as Yang Wanchun did not take the initiative to give up Anshi City, he could defend this city for more than half a year, since people had the upper hand, of course it was impossible to recruit him, maybe at this moment in Anshi City, Yang Wanchun was playing the idea of surrendering Li Shimin.

The monarchs and ministers gathered in the tent and discussed for a whole day, but they still couldn't come up with a very effective solution.

Anshi Fortress is located in the south of Goguryeo, its surrounding terrain is flat, not by the mountains or by the water, the four walls of the city are connected end to end, it is an oval shape, there is a moat under the city wall, and the city walls are all made of solid stones, it is difficult to break through the ordinary way, it can be said that this is a city that is flat and stable, and it is almost impossible to find flaws.

Such a city seems ordinary, but the generals who have been killed for a long time know that this kind of city is the most headache, if it is attacked directly by brute force, then it must pay a great price, and the number of soldiers lost in battle may be in units of 100,000, if it is used...... Yang Wanchun has been running Anshi City for many years, and the soldiers under his command are all the strong generals and soldiers he has personally trained over the years.

The monarch and the ministers discussed for a whole day, and the headache was also a whole day, and finally Li Shimin could only reluctantly order, continue to attack the city tomorrow, or use the earth-shaking thunder, no way, after integrating all the siege methods of the monarch and minister, after thinking about it, the victory rate of the earth-shaking thunder is relatively high.

…………

In the early morning of the next day, the Tang Army battalion outside Anshi City once again dispatched the whole battalion and approached the city of Anshi. At the same time, Niu Jinda led 20,000 elite horsemen out of the camp and drove north.

As the drums of war rumbled, the second siege began.

Last time under the city wall, more than 2,000 mine-throwers of the Tang army were killed by the enemy troops who raided out of the city and almost suffered casualties, which was also the biggest loss of the Tang army's first siege. However, fortunately, the technical requirements for the thunder thrower are not high, and the burly and powerful one is selected, and the process of throwing the earth-shaking thunder is taught several times, and it is probably all over, so during the siege of the city, the Chinese army formation quickly walked out of more than 5,000 thunder throwers.

Li Shimin suffered a loss or a long lesson, this time with the thunderbolt out of the battle there are more than 10,000 cavalry, they closely follow the thunderbolt phalanx, always vigilantly staring at the direction of the city gate, if Yang Wanchun repeats the old trick, send the enemy out of the city to kill the thunderbolt, the Tang army's 10,000 cavalry will be the fastest speed to go up, cut off the enemy's retreat, and wipe it out of the city.

The size of the thunder throwers was nearly doubled, and the earth-shaking thunder thrown was also overwhelming, and the target of the thunder was different this time, they gave up throwing at the head of the city, but walked to the moat and threw the earth-shaking thunder towards the city gate.

The sky was full of dark shadows, and when I looked up, the air was full of small black clay pots that were flying at high speed with green smoke.

The small clay pot fell outside the city gate, and the explosion sound was like a thunderbolt in the nine heavens, rumbling and shaking the heavens and the earth, and outside the city gate filled with gunsmoke, it seemed that the entire city was trembling slightly in the explosion.

Compared with the tentative siege on the first day, this time the Tang army did its best.

Li Shimin's personal saying that the ten-day period is not a joke, as the emperor of the half-life army, he also perceived that the city of Anshi could not be consumed for a long time, and the enemy of the Tang army was not only Yang Wanchun, but the subjects and the army of the whole country.

In order to boost the morale of the soldiers, Li Shimin even issued an order again, if the city of Anshi is broken, the soldiers can be allowed to slaughter the city for five days, that is to say, within five days after the city is broken, the Tang army can do whatever they want in this city, whether it is women, looting property, killing people or setting fires, they can do whatever they want.

In this era, the slaughter of the city was the best reward for the soldiers, not only to make money by looting, but also to reduce the pressure by killing, as for the women of the city, it was even more difficult to resist.

With such a rich reward in front of them, the morale of the officers and soldiers of the Tang Army suddenly rose to the peak, and everyone had a green light in their eyes, staring at the city gate that was constantly trembling by the explosion, just waiting for countless earth-shattering thunders to blow up the city gate, and then everyone rushed up to rush into the city to make a fortune and kill people to relieve pressure.