The sky is high and the clouds are light, the north wind is howling, and on the bleak earth, a black army appears at the end of the intersection of heaven and earth, boom! Boom! With a low drum sound, the main force of the 80,000 Tang Army finally arrived at the boundary of Shule, which is the ancient city of Jiashi fifty miles away from Shule, the city is not tall, it was originally the capital of Jiashi, and Shache, depending on the migration of many rivers, with the reduction of water and decline, and finally was annexed by Shule State, becoming the east gate of the east of Shule.

Most of the wars between the countries of Anxi are cavalry battles on the plains, rarely attack the city and capture the tragedy, coupled with the sparse population here, a little casualties will surrender, the construction of the city is far less important than the Central Plains, most of them are simply tamped with soil, can block the cavalry's long drive straight in, the Tang army in front of the Jiashi city is like this, the city wall is about three zhang high, tamped with soil, filled with sand in the middle, the whole city is about 600 steps long from east to west, 400 steps wide from north to south, a total of six city gates for people to enter and exit, And it is not like the Central Plains city wall to build a horse face (protruding a piece of the city wall, easy to eliminate the dead end of the defense), it can also be seen that the people here are very weak in the sense of defending the city, it is no wonder that Shule has the defense of the green ridge in the west, the difficulty of the desert in the east, and there are few large-scale foreign invasions, and the Tubo army arrived from Tochar, with the weakness of Shule, it immediately surrendered to Tubo to save the royal family and the people.

But the Great Cannibals are different, their invasion is more of a cultural and religious destruction, so the resistance of the countries in the Western Regions to the Great Food is often more tragic and long-lasting, at least this is the case in Shule, the Great Food in the countries west of the Green Mountains forcibly promote Islam, aroused the strong resistance of the Shule King Pei Leng. When the Great Food Army had just crossed the Green Ridge, Pei Lengleng led the Shule Army to attack the Great Food Army, but it was ultimately defeated due to the huge difference in strength.

At this time, there was no longer a grand occasion of merchants and camels, it was more like a sleeping old man, the walls covered with mottled years were only defended by thousands of food troops, and the city was empty, all the inhabitants were forcibly moved to Shule City, all the dwellings were torn down, and the wells were sealed. I couldn't hear a dog barking, and I couldn't see a piece of green, and in the cold wind of early winter, more than 2,000 Great Food Defenders were like indifferent statues, motionless watching the approach of the Tang Army.

The army of 80,000 was divided into three phalanxes from far to near, and finally slowly stopped three miles away from Jiashi City, Zhang Huanyue immediately stepped forward, surrounded by hundreds of generals, standing on a high ground to look at the scene of Jiashi City, he was the first time to see the big cannibal who had defeated the Tang army. They advocate black, whether it is the crescent moon military flag or the armor, it is the same color of black, but they are far away, and they can't see their faces clearly, which leaves Zhang Huan with a little regret.

After looking at it for a moment, he turned back to the generals and smiled: "You say why the big cannibals don't just give up the Jiashi, but let thousands of people fill the gaps between our teeth, what is the reason?" ”

Seeing Cheng Lie's eagerness, he knew that he had learned some art of war in the military academy, and he had the intention to show off one or two. He smiled and said, "General Cheng, please speak!" ”

Cheng Lie is known as the first fierce general of the Xiliang Army, but there are not many opportunities to fight, he has been stationed in Hehuang, he has not participated in many battles, this Western Expedition, he happened to study in the military academy again. Until a few days ago, Pei Mingyuan came to Anxi. He led 10,000 Qiang troops to follow the west, and when he saw Zhang Huan asking him, Cheng Lie stepped forward and bowed and saluted: "My subordinates think that the big cannibals stationed in the weak army in Jiashi have two purposes, one is to block our offensive momentum, and the other is to explore our strength, and it is not to sing any empty city plan to scare us." ”

"I actually know the empty city plan. Not bad. It's a bit of progress. Zhang Huan smiled at him gently, looked at Wang Siyu and said, "What does General Wang think?" ”

Wang Siyu also bowed down and replied: "I basically agree with General Cheng's opinion. After all, the last battle between Datang and Da Shidi was decades ago, and our army came overwhelmed, so there was no reason why they didn't want to know what our strength was, but his subordinates had another idea to supplement the general's opinion. ”

"What thoughts?" Zhang Huan asked in a low voice.

Wang Siyu stared at the city for a moment, and then said: "My subordinates are thinking, will the big cannibals have another ambush in the city, and when our infantry is attacking the city, they will suddenly rush out and kill us by surprise?" ”

Zhang Huan nodded, which also made some sense, "Then according to your opinion, how should this city be taken?" ”

"The subordinates suggested digging trenches first, or using fire oil to block the enemy's cavalry attack, and then using giant stones to directly smash the city wall, so as not to engage them in close combat."

Zhang Huan looked up at the sky, the sun was about to set in the west, and the sunset was full of sky, he immediately ordered: "The army will retreat two miles and camp in the camp, and the fortification battalion will dig three trenches!" ”

Under an order, the army slowly retreated, set up a large camp five miles away from Jiashi City, that night, the Tang army began to assemble stones in the barracks, two thousand fortifications dug three long trenches five hundred steps away from the city wall, 10,000 cavalry in a hundred steps away for them to guard, although the Tang army was in full swing, but the city was still very silent, there was no movement.

The night was quiet, the moon slowly creeping up the sky, still a waning moon, and the silver light illuminated the gray meadows that rose and fell like the vast sea and the dense tents, and there was a low mound in the camp, on which grew three hundred-year-old red willows, close to the tents, and the dry river of Xiduo meandered to the south.

Zhang Huan stood on the hill with his hands in his hands, the silver moonlight sprinkled on his face, the years were like a clever makeup artist, silently carving Zhang Huan's temperament and face, in the years of marching, the beard has been shaved off, and his ribbed face is unreservedly set off, the sharpness in his eyes has gradually been restrained, showing more of a mature and calm demeanor, but it is this peace that makes people feel a kind of inner majesty.

At this time, there was a slight sound of footsteps behind Zhang Huan, and he stood still about a foot behind him, as if he was afraid to disturb his contemplation.

"Mingyuan, is that you?" Zhang Huan asked lightly.

"It's me!" Pei Mingyuan replied in a low voice: "My subordinates still have one more thing to report. ”

"Come on! Sit down and talk. ”

Zhang Huan sat down on a stone, and he waved his hand to let Pei Mingyuan sit opposite him. smiled slightly: "I heard that you gave birth to a girl."

Pei Mingyuan thought of his daughter, his eyes showed a look of pity, he shook his head and smiled: "Although the little guy was born very thin, his cry is very loud, and he can cry for an hour in one breath, which makes people have a headache."

Zhang Huan smiled, "This is a sweet headache!" ”

He suddenly thought of Cui Ningdi's son, who he hadn't seen until now! I couldn't help but sigh secretly in my heart, so I changed the topic and smiled: "What did you remember and forgot to tell me?" ”

"Actually, it's not forgetting. I also just heard Li Xuhe talk about it, it is said that Li Li has built a new hall in the Taimiao, which has not yet been completed, but it is rumored that it is Prince Yu who said three words to Prince Yu, Pei Mingyuan suddenly felt that it seemed inappropriate to call directly, but he couldn't stop it, so he shouted: "Du Mei also told me that Li Li's attitude has changed greatly recently, Zhang Potian's birthday, and he personally came to congratulate him." This has never happened before. ”

Of course Zhang Huan knew why, he smiled faintly, but didn't say anything, Pei Mingyuan saw that he didn't seem to take it to heart, and couldn't help but be a little anxious: "Emperor Xuanren died unexplained, there are many dissatisfied people in the center of the clan, this is your opportunity, if you don't seize it, time will pass, and it will be too late when the new emperor is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people." ”

Zhang Huan stood up and patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry! I know what to expect. ”

Pei Mingyuan also sighed and said, "Go sick." Please forgive me for saying that most of the people who follow you want to run for a future, and they all hope that you can get to that position, this is not just your business alone, but also the interests of the entire force group behind you that supports you, and it is also the wish of hundreds of thousands of Xiliang soldiers. Today. You already occupy half of the Tang Dynasty, and if you can't get to that position, I'm worried that the Tang Dynasty will one day go to split. ”

Zhang Huan stared at the west with his hands behind his back, didn't he know? No! He knows this better than anyone else, as early as the day he knew his life experience, the seedling of ambition sprouted in his heart, and he started a business all the way to today. He was no longer satisfied with seizing a throne. His mind has become broader, whether the territory of the Tang Dynasty can extend to the endless West. Whether he can become a veritable Khan of the Earth and the Heavens, from this point of view, ascending to the throne of the Tang Emperor is only the first step in realizing his ambitions.

Zhang Huan suddenly turned around and smiled at Pei Mingyuan: "I heard that you went to Jerusalem back then, so after this battle, can you send an envoy to Baghdad on my behalf?" ”

In the early morning of the next day, the big drum of the Tang army sounded low again, shaking people's hearts, and the black and oppressive army was overwhelmingly approaching Jiashi City, and ten huge stones in the army were slowly moving, looking from afar, as if ten giant spirit gods standing up to the sky, rumbling and rolling resounded throughout the heavens and the earth.

Today's defenders on the city are the same as yesterday, there are still only a few thousand, on a mound about two miles south of Jiashi City, the general Moyali stared at the Tang army's ground team with a serious expression, he had heard the defeated Tubo remnants say that the Tang army has a kind of heavenly thunder, which is extremely powerful, and the Tubo army is defeated under this kind of heavenly thunder, so he wants to see the so-called heavenly thunder of the Tang army with his own eyes in Jiashi City.

Muyali was about forty years old, extremely burly, with a fluffy shawl and curly hair that made him look like a lion, he was also a famous general, he had always been silent, but when it came to the name of the Persian butcher, everyone in Baghdad knew it, his ancestors were Persian nobles, at the age of twelve, he joined the army of the caliph Abbas and marched into Byzantium, and personally slaughtered hundreds of boys of the same age as him, and was deeply appreciated by Abbas, and promoted him to the position of a tent guard, and at the age of twelve he became the youngest guard of the caliph.

After the new caliph ascended the throne, he did not like his cruelty, so he sent him to Egypt to fight, he became a subordinate of Aros, and followed him to the north and south, and made great achievements, but his ambition to go up has never subsided, in this battle between Agush and Aros for military power, he was co-opted by Agush, betrayed his landlord general, and killed Aros with his own hands.

Although Agush won military power, he was not good at fighting, so he handed over the command of the battle to the battle-hardened Meryali, who had participated in many wars against Byzantium, and had witnessed the power of Greek fire, so that when he heard that the Tang army had a new weapon, the Tang Lei, he was deeply jealous, and wanted to see its power with his own eyes, so as to decide what to do.

At this time, the adjutant general of Muryali saw that the cavalry of the Tang Army was galloping towards this side in the distance, and he immediately urged his horse to rush up to the hill and shouted: "General, the Tang Army is about to attack, please evacuate immediately!" ”

But Moyali didn't move, he wanted to know if the thunder that the Tang Army fell from the sky was sent by a distant stone thrower.

The stone of the Tang army is less than a mile away from the city, and the big food army is also good at using the stone throwing machine, knowing that it is very powerful, especially the Tang army's stone throwing machine exceeds the largest one of their own army, which makes the defenders all tremble.

Ten stones have stopped in front of the trench five hundred steps away from the city wall, this kind of stone is also the latest development by the Xiliang Military Weapons Division, using the principle of rolling on the well platform, the original need for 300 people to twist the lever reduced to 100 people, the farthest can be hundreds of pounds of boulders smashed a thousand steps away, and the range can be adjusted.

The drums of the Tang army also stopped, the heaven and the earth were silent, only the sound of a squeaky winch was heard, the whining ——, was mixed with a sharp whistling sound, ten swarthy boulders rose into the air, drew an arc, and smashed into the wall of Jiashi City.

Rumble! Four boulders hit the city wall, and the city wall was knocked out of two gaps one zhang wide, and the yellow dust flew all over the sky, and dozens of big food soldiers had no time to dodge, and were smashed into meat pies by the boulders.

"Put!" The commander of the stone shouted again, and ten more boulders flew into the air, and after adjusting the firing range, this time the hit rate increased significantly, a total of seven boulders hit the city wall, the city wall shook violently, and with a bang, a section of the city wall near the city gate collapsed, revealing the yellow sand filled inside.

"Put it again!"

The third round of stones was shot, not only a section of the city wall collapsed in half, but also two huge stones hit the city gate one after another, and the iron bolt that locked the city gate broke, and it was suddenly shaken open, revealing a ruined wall in the city.

At this time, a scout soldier rushed over, and he stopped in front of Zhang Huan and reported loudly: "Governor Qiqi, there are a thousand Great Food Soldiers fleeing westward. ”

"Stop the stone attack." Zhang Huan resolutely ordered: "The army advances, give me the Pingjiashi City!" ”