Chapter 597: Shanhaiguan

A day later, Li Yan came to Shanhaiguan with artillery and more than 1,000 cavalry. At the same time came a detachment of baggage troops, carrying a large amount of ammunition. Only a little food was brought, the war had just begun, and there was no need to replenish the food.

The reason why he came here in person was because Shanhaiguan was too important. If it can't be taken down as soon as possible and let the Qing army gain a firm foothold, then Zhili will never have peace. The Qing army did not need to make a detour to Mongolia, and it would be much more convenient to enter the customs from Shanhaiguan nearby, whether it was to attack or fight for the Central Plains.

After listening to Wang Renfu's report, Liang Zhenfang knelt down and pleaded guilty: "Dashuai, I acted recklessly and launched a hasty attack, causing the enemy to seize the corpses and equipment of my comrades. ”

Li Yan said casually: "Get up, I already know." In war, where is there a perfect thing. If we are worried that our new weapons will be taken away by the enemy, we will become timid and dare not attack, then is there still the blood of a soldier? ”

"Xie Dashuai's teachings." After Liang Zhenfang thanked him, he stood up.

After that, Li Yan ordered: "Today, the troops will continue to rest and recuperate, and tomorrow they will start attacking the city." The long ladder to cross the moat is ready, right? If the enemy destroys the drawbridge, the only way to cross the river is to use a long ladder. ”

"Twenty pairs ready." Wang Renfu replied: "Ten long ladders to the city have also been prepared. ”

Li Yan asked again: "The experience of the last time in Tongzhou has been exchanged with the troops who have just been transferred, right?" ”

"I've told them that there will be no problem." Wang Renfu assured.

Li Yan was more satisfied, and ordered: "Well, you go and let the troops prepare." Keep an eye on the enemy's movements and be prepared for a night attack. ”

"My subordinates understand."

The next day, before dawn, the troops set off. Before the sun came out, it was outside the city of Ciro. The artillerymen, under the command of the artillery captain, immediately placed the artillery in the designated position, and the soldiers piled the sandbags that had been prepared long ago into bunkers. Five four-and-a-half-inch guns were placed at the five-hundred-hundred, while the three-inch guns were advanced to four hundred paces, aimed at the drawbridge of the moat.

At this time, the defenders of Ciro City had just risen, and the sentries only realized that the enemy had come to the front after hearing the noise of the troops outside the city, so they hurriedly reported to Shangfeng. By the time Wu Sangui and the others knew the news, Li Yan was completely ready here. Moreover, cannons were also placed outside the drawbridge on the west side, and the opportunity to counterattack was lost.

As soon as Li Yan received the report that the artillery had been prepared, he immediately ordered the shelling to begin.

The rumbling of artillery began to sound, including the bombardment of the southwest corner of the city by four-inch guns, the bombardment of the suspension bridge tower by the three-inch guns, and the sound of artillery counterattacks on the city of Xiluo.

The four-and-a-half-inch cannon hit the city wall with a loud bang, and only the one-foot-thick city wall shook every time it was hit, and large sections of the city bricks were shattered, and the earth inside fell down with a clatter.

Wu Sangui had just climbed the city wall of Xiluo City, and immediately went down again. He knew that Xiluo City could not be saved, so he immediately returned to Shanhaiguan City with his own soldiers.

"What's going on? What's going on? Tang Tong asked uneasily. He was awakened by the sound of cannons, and his armor was not properly put on, so his own soldiers hurriedly put him on.

Wu Sangui said dissatisfiedly: "Hurry up and let your people go up to the city wall!" Li Yan called. After that, he ordered his own soldiers: "Go and inform General Gao, let him lead his troops to the city immediately!" ”

Now that there are only a thousand of his soldiers in the city, how can he not be anxious when he listens to the dense sound of artillery in the west? It was also a coincidence, it happened to be his people guarding last night, Li Yantian started to attack as soon as it was light, and the other two subordinates were still sleeping in the camp.

As for the Qing army, they are all happy in the city. Even the soldiers of the Han army lived in the houses outside the Yamen of the General Army. The girls in the brothels in the city were forcibly dragged and locked up by them, and they were simply used as camps @ prostitutes.

A moment later, Gaudi came up with his troops. "How's it going?" he asked. Sounds like a lot of artillery. ”

Wu Sangui said helplessly: "Xiluo City can't hold it, and it's about to attack here." ”

"So fast?" Gaudy asked incredulously.

Tang Tong said: "You haven't seen the power of Li Yan's cannon, in an hour, it collapsed Lu Long's city wall." ”

Before he could finish his words, he saw a large cloud of dust rising from the southwest corner of the city of Cilo.

Wu Sangui said to himself in surprise: "So fast? ”

At this time, Hauge also came up with his relatives. Originally, he was still a little relaxed and looking forward to it, but he finally had the opportunity to fight with Li Yan. But when he saw the dust on the other side of the city, he knew that the walls of the city had been blown down. It's not like they haven't knocked down the walls before, but they've never been so fast, and it wasn't a day or two of continuous bombardment to bring them down. But less than two quarters of an hour after the cannon sounded, he was really surprised.

"I've seen Prince Su." Wu Sangui and others saluted Haoge.

Hauge said casually: "No courtesy." How many enemies are there? ”

Wu Sangui replied: "Li Yan came with more than 20,000 men and horses this time, and the number of artillery pieces reached more than 50. The walls of Ciro have been blown down, and they will soon be attacking the city. Please show Prince Su. ”

If it were an ordinary enemy, Hauge would definitely lead someone out and scatter the enemy. But the opponent was Li Yan's troops, so he didn't dare to do it. After his subordinates went back, they reported the battle with Li Yan in detail, and in the face of Li Yan's phalanx and artillery, if they were not prepared at any cost, it was best not to rush hard. And he only brought two thousand cavalry this time, the others were infantry, and he didn't have much capital.

However, now that there are troops of Wu Sangui and others, he naturally will not use his subordinates. Then he commanded, "Then go out of the city and fight." The enemy had not yet crossed the moat, and when they came, they were attacked with cavalry. ”

Wu Sangui remembered the battle outside Funing City three days ago, how could he have any chance to attack halfway? His cavalry was pushed five hundred paces away, how could he attack? When Li Yan's artillery comes, there will be no chance.

Wu Sangui immediately bowed his hand and said: "The morale of our army is lost, please Prince Su send the Great Eight Banners to help in the battle." ”

Tang Tong and Gao Di also reacted immediately, and requested: "Please Prince Su send the elite of the Eight Banners to help in the battle." ”

Although Hauge also wanted to weaken the strength of the two white flags, it was not this way. So he ordered: "You just have to concentrate your subordinates to fight, and the city pass will be guarded by my elite of the Eight Banners." ”

Wu Sangui and the others were choked up and didn't know what to say. If they dare to go out of the city, they still need to pull up the elite of the Eight Banners?

A soldier ran up and half-knelt down to report: "Uncle Yu! The suspension bridge cable broke and the suspension bridge was lowered. Enemy brigades are crossing the river. ”

Wu Sangui immediately said, "Oh, so fast. Now it's too late to prepare to go out of the city to fight. Let's guard the castle. ”

Haoge glanced at Wu Sangui coldly, and instructed the guards with an expressionless face: "Let Suke Saha bring two white flags up, and then transfer another thousand Han troops to help defend the city." ”

The time has come for the two white flags to repay the debt.

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