Quyang is located in the northwest of Dingzhou, just at the intersection of Taihang Mountain. The road in the mountains follows the valley of the Lushui River and goes north to Lingqiu and Flying Fox. This is an important road in the Taihang Mountains, and the Song Dynasty attached great importance to it and built a series of fortresses along the river valley. These fortresses are not large, and the most important role is to delay the attacking Khitans, and at the same time give early warning.

On the fifteenth day of October, the sky was overcast and gloomy, and the north wind was howling, and it was cold and biting on people. There were snowflakes faintly, but I couldn't see clearly. Stretching out his hand, he only felt that his hand was cold, and when he looked closely, he didn't see the shadow of snow.

At the head of the city, several soldiers held muskets and leaned against the female wall to avoid the cold wind coming from the splitting face.

One of the soldiers stood up, stamped his numb foot vigorously, and cursed. In today's cold weather, I was sent to guard the city, which is really unlucky. Fortunately, it will be dark, and when the shift is handed over, I must have a good drink.

By chance, he turned his head to look out of the city, and suddenly his mouth opened wide. After a while, he shouted hoarsely: "The Khitans are here!" ”

The rest of the soldiers didn't react at all, and still cowered there. The standing soldier stretched out his legs and kicked wildly, and just said: "Hurry up, the Khitans outside the city are here!" The Khitans are here, beat the drums! ”

Several of the soldiers came to their senses and hurriedly got up. Lying on the female wall and looking out, I saw that in the vast twilight in the distance, countless knights rushed over. Under the gloomy sky, it looked like a giant beast.

In an instant, the city was boiling. The soldiers guarding the tower hurriedly beat the hanging war drums.

Pan Yuezheng, the magistrate of the county, was about to have dinner, when he heard the sound of drums, he called a platoon to come, and said, "Go out and see, what is the matter with the drums?" ”

Before the platoon went out, a soldier rushed in and said in a loud voice: "Yuzhi County, the big thing is not good, there are Khitans attacking the city outside the city!" ”

Pan Yue was stunned for a moment, came back to his senses, and said sharply: "What nonsense!" There are five villages in the Taihang Mountains in the west, and no one reports the enemy! Could it be that the Khitans could break through the five villages in one day and directly attack the city of Quyang? Go out and take a closer look at who is disturbing the morale of the army! Catch it and punish it severely! ”

The soldier said: "Zhixian, now that the city is in chaos, where can you still ask?" It's better to go out quickly and calm people's hearts, and wait for the little one to go up to the city to see. Looking at the city, it seems that there is really an enemy attacking. ”

Pan Yue stomped his foot, and had no choice but to order the servant to take his official uniform.

On the other side, Gao Min, the commander of the guarding city, walked out of the official office quickly while putting on his armor. Seeing that there was already a mess outside, he shouted like thunder: "What chaos! Pass my order, all the soldiers stick to the sentry post, who dares to leave without a fight, behead! ”

The pro-soldiers on one side agreed and turned over on their horses. While shouting Gao Min's military order, he generally walked slowly. Gao Min's personal soldiers immediately lined up and drew out their long horses, which were murderous.

Gao Min put on his armor and said, "Follow me to the city!" Deputy Commander Hong, immediately call the troops of the battalion! ”

The deputy commander on one side, Hong Fang, promised to take a group of officers from the battalion headquarters and urgently began to recruit all departments. This is a well-trained army, and there are all kinds of rules and regulations in the army in peacetime, but now they are just acting according to the system.

Gao Min took his own soldiers and strode towards the city. Seeing the chaos in the city, he couldn't help frowning. said to the soldiers around him: "Quickly go and inform Pan Zhi County, there is no chaos in the city now!" Let him immediately lead the people of the yamen to suppress the order, and don't make trouble! ”

Quyang City is very small, and it is not long to go to the bottom of the city. As soon as I approached the city wall, I heard the noise of the city's head, and the earth-shattering shouts of killing outside the city.

Gao Min frowned, and strode up the city tower with his own soldiers. As soon as I went to the top of the city and looked out, I saw that countless Khitan cavalry had gathered under the city wall, and I saw that the city was about to be attacked.

Mao Qin, the general of the city tower, walked over quickly and sang a promise to Gao Min.

Gao Min said: "Where did the Khitan people outside the city come from? Why is there no message, and suddenly you are in the city? ”

Mao Qin said: "The commander of the envoy, the last general will see that the Khitan people are from the Taihang Mountains. It is estimated that they broke through several villages in one day, and no one was able to escape to report the news, because we had no information at all. It seems that it should be the Khitan army. ”

Gao Min looked at the city, looked up at the sky again, and said, "It's going to be dark soon, and it's not easy to attack the city at night." You order the defenders, each holding his position, and not panicking. We have plenty of food, grass and ammunition in the city, and we have artillery, so we are not afraid of the Khitan siege! ”

Mao Qin agreed, and quickly walked up and down the city wall to order. Seeing Gao Min coming, the somewhat flustered city head slowly settled down.

It was getting dark soon, but the Khitans outside the city did not look like they were encamped, but were busy under the city walls. As the sky darkened, torches were lit one after another, and they looked shadowy.

Gao Min was a little surprised, and said: "Look at this, are the Khitans going to attack the city overnight?" ”

After speaking, he lay down at the head of the city and looked down. I saw that the Khitan was building a ladder there, and some of the soldiers put another set of armor on their bodies in the night. On the other hand, a large number of torches are being prepared.

After reading it, Gao Min shook suddenly: "It's not good, it seems that the Khitans really can't wait for the night, and they are going to attack the city overnight!" Pass my order, the soldiers in the city are divided into three groups, and they take turns to defend the city! Also, take the oil you have and light torches along the walls! ”

The herald on one side promised and walked quickly.

Gao Min said in a loud voice: "What about Shen Fengzhou? Quickly find Shen Fengzhou to see me! ”

After a while, Shen Fengzhou ran over quickly and sang a promise to Gao Min.

Gao Min pointed to the outside of the city and said: "The gunners at the head of the fast-moving city immediately get ready, see the place where the Khitans are setting up a ladder, and fire artillery there!" Tell them that the Khitans will not be able to build a ladder under the city! If there is a mistake or omission, they will not be spared! ”

Shen Fengzhou sang loudly and walked quickly. He was the artillery commander of the battalion, and all the artillery of the city was under his command.

When he was in a hurry, the deputy commander made Hong Fang come quickly, and said to Gao Min: "The whole army has been concentrated, except for the Mao Qin headquarters guarding the city, the rest are obeying orders under the city." Command, seeing that there are a lot of Khitans outside the city, do you want to send more people to the city? ”

Gao Min said: "Order Li Yi to take all his troops to the head of the city and guard the west and south of the city." Mao Qin's department guarded the east and north of the city. Liu De is in the city with his subordinates, and he will listen to orders at any time! Looking at the appearance of the Khitans outside the city, it seems that they are going to attack the city overnight. You go and inform Pan Zhixian, let him stabilize order in the city, and arrange for people to prepare meals for the soldiers guarding the city. This battle is a tough battle, and the Khitan will not die, so don't be careless! ”

Hong Fang said yes with his hand, turned around and walked quickly. When he came up just now, the magistrate Pan Yue had just put on his official uniform and went to the front office, and he was a little flustered. It is said that he is also a military general, and with this appearance, I don't know if I can survive tonight.

At this moment, there was a roar next to it, and the city walls trembled slightly.

Gao Min hurriedly looked out at the head of the city, and saw that the newly sent cannonballs fell near the Khitans who were building the ladder. Before they could react, it exploded with a "bang", and several soldiers lay on the ground screaming.

Gao Min slapped the city wall suddenly: "Okay, let the artillery not be stingy with shells, and don't let the Khitans gather under the city!" ”

As the Song army in the city slowly stabilized, the artillery began to fire. I couldn't see clearly in the night, so I could only use the light of the torches outside the city to shoot cannons wherever there were Khitan people building ladders. Soon, the Khitans were scattered and slowly retreated.

Gao Min let out a sigh: "It's still easy to use the cannon." Looking at the appearance of the Khitan outside the city, there are really a lot of people who come. Tonight's siege is not easy to deal with. ”

At this moment, Mao Qin finished arranging, returned to the city tower, and sang a promise to Gao Min.

Gao Min said: "Today, the Khitans suddenly attacked, are your subordinates okay?" Tonight is bound to be a fierce battle, so they know it. ”

Mao Qin said: "I was a little flustered at the beginning, but now I am much better. All the departments are in place, just waiting for the Khitans to attack. ”

Gao Min looked at the night sky that had completely darkened, and said, "Then wait for the Khitans to attack." As long as we hold on tonight and block the first wave of Khitan attacks, it will be easy to do. The Khitans came from the Taihang Mountains, the mountain roads were inconvenient, there were no siege equipment, and they could not bring more grain and grass, so their offensive could not last long. When they are exhausted, it will not be our greatest achievement to fight out of the city! ”

Mao Qin said yes, nervously looking at the Khitan army outside the city.

Suddenly, a low horn sounded in the night. The voice was low and powerful, as if it had hit a person in the chest.

With the sound of the horn, the Khitan people outside the city shook the sky, and the tide attacked Quyang City.

The Song army was at the head of the city, only to see countless streams of people gushing out in the night, boundless, attacking straight towards the city. The artillery at the head of the city shot out, fell in the Khitan crowd, and knocked down several soldiers. When it blew up, it injured a few more people. The Khitans on one side were just like they couldn't see it, regardless of it, huddled together and only rushed forward.

When they arrived at the bottom of the city, the Khitans set up a ladder and climbed up one after another.

The Song army at the head of the city picked up the muskets in their hands and shot at the Khitans besieging the city. The Khitans besieging the city were too dense, and I don't know how many people fell. It's just that the Khitans are like crazy, someone falls, and immediately someone climbs up, completely ignoring life and death.

Gao Min saw it at the head of the city, and he only felt frightened. Defending the city has an advantage, the Song army at the head of the city is very calm, and it can also push the Khitan ladder from the city wall. Not to mention that there was still hot oil at the head of the city, which burned hot, and poured down along the city walls, only to hear the ghosts crying and howling wolves under the city.

However, the Khitans are like crazy, they just don't retreat. The dead and wounded and howling Khitans under the city could not affect the other soldiers at all. It was as if they couldn't see, they just climbed up the ladder for their lives.

Gao Min only felt that his head was buzzing, his spirit was highly tense, and his consciousness was already blurred. The soldiers on one side continued to release their guns, and some of them already had broken barrels, so they could only load bayonets and wave them in the air. The officer on one side was hoarse and roared there.