At the end of September, the rebels were harvesting crops in the fields outside the cities.

Subsequently, Tian Buyu suggested that Gongzizhang collect most of the grain and grass in the form of "debts", so that the rebels' grain and grass are a little more abundant, and at least it will not be a problem to survive this winter.

But Gongzizhang did not want to drag this war until next year, firstly, he had no reputation, and the more it dragged on, the more unfavorable his situation would be, and secondly, the rebels under his command did not have enough cotton clothes, and if this year's winter was too cold, maybe many of the rebels under his command would be frozen to death.

Therefore, on September 26, he summoned Niu Qian, Xu Jun, Meng Zhong, Pang Xuan and others again, and officially issued the order to attack Handan.

In the strategy proposed by Tian Buyu, the three forces of Gongzizhang, Xu Jun, and Niu Jian served as the main attack, mainly attacking the eastern city wall of Handan, and the rebels included about 25,000 troops under Gongzi Zhang, Xu Jun's 8,000 soldiers, and Niu Qian's more than 10,000 cavalry, a total of more than 40,000 troops.

The south and north of Handan were respectively attacked by Meng Zhong and Pang Xuan, with the former including 5,000 troops including the Xinwei Army, while the latter had a total of about 10,000 troops including the Tan Guards and Daijun soldiers.

In Gongzizhang's words, Meng Zhong and Pang Xuan were mainly responsible for containing the forces in the city, but in addition, Gongzi Zhang also looked forward to Meng Zhong and Pang Xuan coming up with some clever plan to break the city to help the main force break through Handan.

After all, the plan that Meng Zhong came up with during the previous Battle of Quliang was no less than the help of 50,000 troops.

It is worth mentioning that during today's meeting, Gongzizhang mentioned something to Niu Qian.

He said to Niu Qian: "Niu Sima, the main force of our army is sufficient, and most of the people in Handan do not dare to resist, but Meng Zhong and Pang Xuan have few soldiers, and they are afraid that they will be blocked by Wang Shi and will not be able to lead the army to the city and attack the city together with our army. ”

In all fairness, Gongzizhang's request was not excessive, and even quite sensible.

Take Meng Zhongjun as an example, the 4,000 soldiers that Meng Zhong had previously collected had been handed over to Gongzi Zhang, and Gongzi Zhang handed them over to Peng Zhen, who was gradually getting better, and was mainly responsible for logistics, that is, transporting grain and grass, so Meng Zhongjun currently has only nearly 800 Xinwei troops and more than 4,000 generations of county soldiers.

In the face of this amount of troops, could it be that the Wang Shi in Handan City would retreat to the city like he did with the main force of Gongzi Zhang's side? No matter how you think about it, it is more likely to have a head-on battle with the Meng Zhong army, and strive to be the first to defeat the relatively weak Meng Zhong army.

But if Niu Jian was willing to divide a part of the cavalry under his command to help Meng Zhong, even if there were only 2,000 cavalry, Meng Zhong would be able to make it impossible for Wang Shi to achieve this wish with these 2,000 cavalry.

However, in the face of Gongzizhang's request, Niu Qian's complexion changed slightly, his expression changed, and he didn't know what he was thinking, in short, he didn't agree, so that the atmosphere in the tent was quite embarrassing at that time.

Seeing this, Tian Buyu seemed to realize something, and hurriedly explained: "Niu Sima, please don't misunderstand, Gongzi doesn't mean anything else......"

"I know."

Niu Jian nodded with a smile and said to Gongzi Zhang: "Even so, after bringing it back to the camp, I will send two Xing Sima to lead two thousand cavalry each to assist Meng Sima and Pang Sima ......."

As he spoke, he looked at Meng Zhong and Pang Xuan with a smile, and nodded at them seemingly kindly.

After the day's military meeting, Meng Zhong and Le Yi returned to their Feiyi military camp in a chariot.

On the way, Meng Zhong recalled Niu Qian's attitude today, frowned and said to Le Yi: "Ah Yi, do you think Niu Qian's attitude today...... A little weird? ”

Hearing this, Le Yi smiled and said, "That's not strange, right?" If someone asks us to divide a part of the Faith Guard, we will be dissatisfied......"

"Is that so?" Meng Zhong was very surprised by Le Yi's answer, frowned and said, "If Gongzizhang asks me to do this, and I also think that this is more beneficial to the overall situation, I will not be dissatisfied......

Le Yi blinked when he heard this, and said with a smile: "That's just you." ”

"What about you?"

"I'm ......" Le Yi thought for a while and said, "I may be dissatisfied." …… I make my own judgment and don't like people dictating me. ”

Hearing this, Meng Zhong was immediately happy, and joked with a smile: "Haven't Meng Sui and Xiang Yi been interfering with you?" It turns out that you have been holding a grudge all along. ”

Le Yi was also said to be happy by Meng Zhong, and after laughing a few times helplessly, he shook his head and said: "That's different, Meng Sui, Xiang Yi, I trust them, I should say that we trust each other, even if there are any differences, I also know that they are not selfish...... But if it's someone I don't know well, I'd be upset. Speaking of this, he also frowned slightly, and asked Meng Zhongdao: "Thinking like this, how do you feel that Niu Jian doesn't completely trust Gongzizhang...... Didn't they work together for more than ten years when Zhao attacked Zhongshan? How do I feel, Niu Jian seems to be guarding Gongzizhang from taking the opportunity to dismantle the cavalry under his command. ”

"I don't know."

Meng Zhong shook his head.

I have to say that although Meng Zhong has been in Zhao for almost two years, there are not many people who can talk about friendship, and there are only Zhao Wanghe, Zhao Zhufu, Gongzizhang, Tian Buyu, Feiyi, Feiyou, Yang Wenjun, Zhao Bao, Zhao Ben, Zhao Xi, Xu Jun and a few other people, and the rest are like Xinqi, Anpingjun Zhao Cheng, Fengyangjun Li Dui, Li Ji, Zhao Ping, Niu Jian and others, and they are just nodding to each other, and even because of the relationship between different positions, the relationship is getting worse and worse.

After returning to the military camp in Feiyi, Meng Zhong told Meng Sui, Meng Hu and others the meaning of Gongzizhang, and ordered them to start preparing for the attack on Handan.

Having said that, in fact, during the period when Niu Jian led the army to attack Zhao Xi's army, the rebels had already begun to build siege equipment, whether it was the army under the command of generals such as Gongzi Zhang's Wei Yuan, Tian Huang, and Zhai Dan, or the army under Meng Zhong and Pang Xuan.

It is worth mentioning that compared with the siege equipment built by Gongzi Zhang and Pang Xuan, Meng Zhong also ordered Xiang Yi and Le Xu to supervise the construction of the well and the car.

Just like what he expressed to Yang Wenjun Zhao Bao before, although he did not agree with some of the behaviors of Gongzizhang and Tian Buyu, considering that Gongzizhang was more beneficial to the Song State after becoming the monarch of Zhao, he would not show mercy to Wang Shi's subordinates at all.

Perhaps it is also for this reason that although Gongzizhang is a little annoyed that his relationship with Meng Zhong is not as good as before, he still trusts Meng Zhong very much.

In the evening of the same day, Niu Jian really sent a Sima named "Zhang Ji" to lead 2,000 cavalry to assist Meng Zhong.

Although Zhang Ji was just a lineman, Meng Zhong did not dare to slack off, and immediately ordered Xiang Yu to prepare some wine and food to entertain Zhang Ji, and by the way, he had a relationship with this person, after all, his army wanted to attack Handan City, and when the time came, he had to rely on Zhang Ji to lead the two thousand cavalry to escort them, so as to prevent Wang Shi from seeing that his Meng Zhong army was too small and leading the army to attack.

According to Meng Zhong's understanding in the conversation and laughter, Zhang Ji is Chinese New Year's Eve six years old today, and is one of the generals that Niu Jian values a lot, and he is quite bold, and after drinking a few bowls of wine, he enthusiastically put his arms around Meng Zhong's neck and bragged about the great achievements of his ancestors.

According to Zhang Ji, his ancestor was the Jin State doctor "Xie Zhang", a courtier of the Jin Wen Gong, and a neighbor of the famous minister "Jie Zitui".

On the way to flee to Chong'er of Jin Wengong, Jie Zitui cut shares and took meat to satisfy Chong'er's hunger, which can be described as loyal, but after Chong'er returned to the Jin Kingdom to inherit the throne, because the courtiers who fled together at that time invited merit in front of Chong'er, Jie Zitui disdained to be in his company, so he took his old mother to the mountains to live in seclusion.

At that time, Xie Zhang was upset about Jie Zitui, wrote a paragraph on the wooden board to record the exploits of Jie Zitui, and hung it on the city gate.

When Duke Wen of Jin saw this piece of wood, he was quite ashamed, so he personally led people to the deep mountains where Jie Zitui lived in seclusion, hoping that the latter would come out of the mountains to assist him.

Zhang Ji proudly said that among the courtiers of the Jin State at that time, only his ancestor Xie Zhang was unhappy with Jiezi.

Looking at his rather proud appearance, Meng Zhong wanted to say that there was actually a story to follow.

Yes, Jin Wengong Chong'er is a very stubborn person, and Jie Zitui is more stubborn than him, in order to wash away his "ungrateful" responsibility, Chong'er simply asked the soldiers to set fire to the mountain and forced Jie Zitui to come out of the mountains; As for Jie Zitui, he would rather be burned to death in the mountains.

In other words, Xie Zhang's kindness, instead of helping Jie Zitui get the reward he won, indirectly killed Jie Zitui.

But looking at Zhang Ji's rather complacent appearance, Meng Zhong was very interested in not telling him the follow-up he knew.

On September 27, Gongzizhang sent an order to Meng Zhong, to the effect that he would lead his army to attack Handan the next day, and ordered Meng Zhong to lead his army to feint at the southern gate of Handan and contain part of the forces of Wang's division.

After getting the news, Meng Zhong first discussed with Zhang Ji, probably because Meng Zhong treated him with respect, Zhang Ji said very happily: "(Niu Qian) Sima ordered me to lead the army to assist Meng Sima, and Sima will regard me as your general, just give orders." ”

Meng Zhong responded with a smile: "Then it's up to Sima Zhang." ”

"Where, where."

The next day, September 28, Meng Zhong left Xiang Yi and Le Xu and 500 Dai Jun soldiers to guard the Feiyi military camp, and took Le Yi, Meng Sui, Meng Hu, Wu Ying, Hua Hu, Mu Wu, Le Jin and others, as well as nearly 800 Xin Wei soldiers and more than 4,000 generations of soldiers, to the south of Handan.

From the side, there are also 2,000 cavalry led by Zhang Ji to respond, and are responsible for the liaison with the main force on Gongzizhang's side.

Around the end of the hour, Zhang Ji rode his horse to Meng Zhong's chariot and reported with his fists in his fists: "Meng Sima, Anyang Jun has also led the army to Handan. ”

Meng Zhong nodded, and estimated in his heart, feeling that he and Gongzizhang should be able to arrive at the South City Gate and the East City Gate of Handan at the same time at about the same time - after all, it was too early to go to the place, and the Wang Shi in the Handan area was not guaranteed to attack him first.

After about half an hour like this, Meng Zhongjun ran into an army head-on, judging from the banner of the opposite army, it should be the army under the command of Zhao Yuan, the guard of Yanmen.

Seeing this, Meng Zhong ordered Meng Sui to order the latter, together with Hua Hu, Mu Wu, and Le Jin, to lead the Daijun rebels under their respective commands to protect the six well chariots in the army, after all, it is a real advantageous weapon that can pose a threat to Handan, otherwise relying only on the siege ladder and the rushing car, I am afraid that more than half of the soldiers under Meng Zhong's command will be killed, and it will be difficult to shake the city defense of Handan.

After sending orders to Meng Sui and others, Meng Zhong summoned Meng Hu and Wu Ying, and intentionally ordered them to lead 2,000 foot soldiers to cooperate with the cavalry under Zhang Ji to defeat the Zhao Yuan army on the opposite side.

I have to say that the Zhao Yuan army on the opposite side has at least about five or six thousand, and Meng Hu and Wu Ying only have two thousand soldiers.

"Let me see the strength of the cavalry of the Zhao State!"

After giving the order for the front army to prepare for the attack, Meng Zhong said secretly.

It turned out that having a large number of cavalry on the side was really conducive to opening up the situation quickly.

No, when Meng Hu and Wu Ying led 2,000 foot soldiers to attack Zhao Yuan's army from the front, Zhang Ji's 2,000 cavalry from the side, or even around the back of Zhao Yuan's army, made the original situation of head-to-head confrontation with each other suddenly became a situation where Meng Zhongfang attacked Zhao Yuan's army from three sides.

I saw that under Meng Zhong's distant attention, Zhang Ji, who saw the right time, led two thousand cavalry to directly enter the Zhao Yuanjun, and with the speed of the war horse, he chiseled through the formation of the Zhao Yuanjun in an instant, so that the formation of the Zhao Yuanjun was immediately disturbed by the cavalry, and countless Zhao soldiers shouted loudly and fled in panic.

But even so, Zhao's army was pursued and killed by Meng Zhong's army for a while, resulting in at least hundreds of Wang Shi Zhao soldiers being killed by Zhang Ji's cavalry and the chariot led by Meng Hu during the rout.

I have to say that this is the first time that Meng Zhong, Le Yi, Meng Hu and others have witnessed the combat effectiveness of cavalry on the battlefield.

After repelling Zhao's army, Meng Hu praised the cavalry under Zhang Ji's command, but Zhang Ji said with a smug face that it was nothing at all.

He told Meng Zhong, Meng Hu and others that when Niu Jian led more than 10,000 cavalry to fight into the army of tens of thousands of Zhongshan Kingdom, the scene was shocking.

Hearing this, Meng Zhong and Meng Hu could only regret this, because the war that Zhang Ji said happened when Zhao attacked Zhongshan for the second time, and at that time, Meng Zhong, Meng Hu and others were only a few years old, and of course they had no chance to meet the most brilliant victory of Zhao State's cavalry in Zhang Ji's mouth.

In fact, when Zhao attacked Zhongshan for the fifth time the year before last, the Zhao cavalry led by Niu Jian also severely damaged the army of Zhongshan State, but it was a pity that Meng Zhong and others had just arrived in Zhao State at that time and missed the opportunity to witness the 10,000 cavalry charging into battle.

Compared with those wars, today can indeed only be regarded as a small fight.

Relying on Zhang Ji's 2,000 cavalry to deter Wang Shi, Meng Zhongjun finally arrived at the southern suburbs of Handan before Gongzizhang agreed to attack Handan.

At this time, the southern suburbs of Handan City were empty.

Looking up at the south gate of Handan City, I saw that the city gate was closed, and there were many guards on the city wall, with a solemn and solemn atmosphere.

When Le Yi, Meng Sui and others were arranging troops in the southern suburbs, Meng Zhong frowned slightly and looked at the South City Gate in the distance.

I still remember that in the spring of last year, when he followed the envoy of the Song State Li Shi to the Zhao State, he entered the city through the south gate of Handan, but he did not expect that a year and a half later, he would lead the army to attack this city gate.

What made Meng Zhong feel even more emotional was that before he set off from Mengyi to come to Zhao, he also swore to his mother Ge and sister Meng Yan that the war in Zhao had nothing to do with him, a Song person, but he didn't expect that he, a Song person, would eventually be involved in the war of Zhao State.

"Ah Zhong."

I don't know how long later, Meng Sui came to Meng Zhong's chariot, clasped his fists and said, "The soldiers are ready, just waiting for your order!" ”

Meng Zhong nodded, stood on the chariot and turned his head to look at the army under his command.

I saw that the soldiers under his command were lined up neatly at this moment, the middle army in the front team was the infantry led by Wu Ying, and the middle army was the infantry led by Huahu, Mu Wu, and Le Jin, and was also the main force responsible for the six well chariots, in addition, the left wing was Zhang Ji's 2,000 cavalry, and the right wing was the chariot led by Meng Hu.

"Wait!"

Meng Zhong pressed his hand.

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a roar of killing from the northeast, accompanied by the sound of war drums like thunder.

Obviously, Gongzizhang's army had already launched an attack on the east gate of Handan.

Seeing this, Meng Zhong immediately waved his hand and shouted in a deep voice: "Drumming! Get ready to attack! ”

"Knock knock—"

"Knock knock—"

In the sound of blood-pumping war drums, the Wuying team in front of the formation slowly spread out to the two wings, and in an instant, Hua Hu, Mu Wu, and Le Jin led the Daijun soldiers under their command, pushing a total of six well chariots, and slowly approached the southern city wall of Handan City.

In view of the fact that Meng Zhongjun was only responsible for feints, the order issued by Meng Zhong was still relatively conservative, that is, with the help of wells and crossbowmen to effectively shoot Zhao pawns in Handan City, as for breaking through the city gate or something, he didn't think about it at all, and he didn't dare to think about it.

After all, at this moment, Handan City is overloaded with Anpingjun Zhao Cheng, Fengyangjun Li Dui, Yanmen Shou Zhao Yuan, Lingshou Shou Li Wei, Zhao Ben, Lian Po, Zhao Jun and others' armies, the total strength is probably as many as 50,000 people, how can he capture the city with only 5,000 soldiers and 2,000 cavalry?

It was precisely because they never thought of breaking the city that the siege steps of the Meng Zhong army were relatively orderly, and in a full quarter of an hour, the foot soldiers of the Meng Zhong army were just pushing the six well carts to slowly approach Handan.

At this time, on the south tower of Handan City, Yang Wenjun Zhao Bao and Zhao Ben, as well as Zhao Yuan, the guard of Yanmen, were frowning at the actions of the rebels outside the city.

During this period, Zhao Yuan frowned and asked, "What the hell are those six behemoths?" ”

Hearing this, Yang Wenjun Zhao Bao shook his head slightly, stroked his beard and said, "It looks a bit like the Mo family's building car......"

"What's that?" Zhao Yuan asked curiously.

Zhao Bao shook his head when he heard the words and said, "I don't know." …… The old man had only heard that the children of the Mo family had invented a war weapon called the Lou Che, but it was unknown what its effect was. ”

Speaking of this, he stroked his beard and guessed: "It may be that Meng Zhong saw this kind of siege equipment when he was reading the Mojia classics...... That kid is a disciple of Master Zhuang, and the books he has read are very miscellaneous, and the Tao, name, Confucianism, law, soldiers, and ink may all be involved......"

Hearing this, Zhao Ben said in surprise: "I have also read the Mo family's books, but there are only Mo Zhai's remarks on it, how can there be such siege equipment?" ”

Indeed, there are Mojia books widely circulated in the world, such as the "Book of Ink", but they are basically the thoughts of Mo Zhai, the great son of the Mo family, and there will be no siege weapons such as building cars at all, and according to legend, those weapons that can be used for war are basically passed on by word of mouth among the disciples of the Mo family, and will not be lost in the world, so as not to become an accomplice of the invasion of small countries by large countries.

Therefore, when Qiu Liang of the Mo family found out that there were building cars in the Song army, he was very shocked, and immediately thought of their old opponent Gongyi clan, after all, the methods of building these siege weapons are all secret things of the Mo family, and only the Gongyi clan has the ability to break the weapons they have created, and even improve them to make them more effective on the battlefield.

"Humph!"

With a light snort, Zhao Ben said in a low voice: "Even if there are six weapons that don't know what they are, then Meng Zhong will not want to break through this city gate!" ”

Hearing this, Yang Wenjun Zhao Bao stroked his beard, smiled and said with relief: "You can rest assured, looking at his deployment and use of troops today, you know that he didn't think about storming the city at all, he was just a feint to contain some of the troops in the city for Gongzizhang......"

Speaking of this, Zhao Bao turned his head slightly, looked at the left flank of Meng Zhongjun, and looked at the two thousand cavalry led by Zhang Ji.

He was thoughtful.