Li Bai's headquarters set up another battalion on the north bank of the North River. and Li Yanzhi's department sandwiched the prisoners of war in the middle. At night, in order to prevent the prisoners of war from rioting or escaping, the patrol guards of the two battalions were all on standby. After another two days, the military rations, supplies, ordnance, and so on were all sent to the camp. The prisoners of war were also taken away separately and sent to the counties under Haitou's rule, where they were guarded by local county soldiers.

Haitou was originally the seat of the Governor's Mansion of the Western Regions, and Li Bai was also quite familiar with it, and the officials stationed in Haitou and even the squires, etc., did not show obvious resistance to the entry of the Liangzhou army. Thanks to the autumn of the Liangzhou Army, the life of the people in Haitou City is also as usual. If it weren't for the arrows stuck in the earthen wall and the blood stains on the city from time to time, no one would have believed that a few days ago there had been a not-so-fierce battle on the wall.

After the baggage was ready, Li Yanzhi and Li Bai joined forces and marched north. Follow the path Zhao Zhen came from, ready to deliver the final blow to this self-defeating captain Wuji. Although the main force of Zhao Zhen's department was basically wiped out before, for the capture of Gaochang, whether it was Li Bai or Li Yanzhi, they were all beating drums in their hearts. Li Bai is better, after all, he still knows a little about Gao Chang's recent situation. However, Li Yanzhi has a black eye on this, and he doesn't know what to ask.

When camping in the valley at night, Li Yanzhi ordered the soldiers of the Jianrui battalion to climb the mountain and serve as a guard post for the army. Li Bai looked at the soldiers of the Jianrui battalion who appeared and disappeared from time to time on the mountains on both sides, and said to the left and right: "Everyone says that Li Dingdong has a way to train soldiers. In the past, it was only others who spread falsehoods. Seeing it today, Fang Zhiguo is worthy of the name. ”

According to the appearance in his memory, Li Bai drew a map of the city defense of Gaochang City. Immediately summoned more than 100 generals from the two armies to the military council. When the generals entered the tent and stood still, they saw that behind Li Bai, the huge city defense map he had drawn was hanging on it. Li Bai didn't talk too much nonsense, pointed to the city defense map, and introduced the basic situation of Gaochang City to the generals.

During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Han Dynasty, the Western Regions Protectorate was established not long ago, sent by Emperor Wu, the second division general Li Guangli led the army to march to pacify the Western Regions. In the first year of the first century, Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty disposed of the post of captain of Wuji here, specializing in reclamation. It is at an angle with the Western Regions Protectorate. Gaochang and Haitou successively became important towns in the Western Regions.

Gaochang City is slightly rectangular, long from north to south and slightly narrow from east to west. The defense system of the entire city is divided into the outer city and the inner city. If you add the Wuji captain Zhao Zhen private soldiers, and build a solid palace wall for his own governance as a fortification, now Gaochang has three walls.

The base of the outer wall is nearly four zhang wide and more than three zhang high, and is built of rammed earth. The circumference is estimated to be about 1,600 zhang, a total of nine gates. Judging from these circumstances, the Gaochang City in front of him can still be called a strong city. Gaochang faced the mountains in the north and was not suitable for launching an attack from here, and the terrain on the other three sides was flat and unhindered. If you want to attack the city, the Liangzhou army also has many options.

However, this kind of tight and strong three-layer defense is indeed a headache. If it weren't for the fact that the main force of Zhao Zhen's troops had been defeated and arrived at the Liangzhou army under the city, they would have to face the 8,000 soldiers defending this fortified city.

"If you have any ideas, you can speak freely." After Li Bai introduced the natural situation in Gaochang City and its vicinity, he looked around at everyone and said. The generals looked at the Gaochang map that Li Bai hung up, and their expressions were all in thought.

"Long history, now the enemy army is undermanned, even if all the garrisons in the city are stationed in the city, it is only two people who are guarding the width of one zhang. Our army can storm the southern city during the day. If the enemy is overwhelmed, the rest of the garrison must be transferred to assist in the defense. We can send a group of elite soldiers to go around the north of the city at night, looking for an opportunity to overcome it in one fell swoop. ”

Li Bai looked up and saw that the person who spoke was Cao Jian, a subordinate of Li Yanzhi. Deng Shi nodded approvingly, then looked up and asked, "Do the generals have any other opinions on this?" All can be said explicitly. ”

Li Yanzhi hugged his fists and said: "Long history Mingjian, I think that it is not enough to storm the southern city during the day, and several trebuchets can be made to bombard the southwest or southeast corner of the city day and night." Even if the enemy's city is strong and cannot be destroyed for a while, it must be made to feel critical. If the division is surprisingly able to climb to the north side of the city, he will set fire to the north city head and the left side as a signal. At that time, the army can gather and attack. ”

"After conquering the outer city, Changshi can strictly enforce military discipline and prohibit soldiers from indiscriminately killing innocents and looting property. Then he entered the inner city, and shot into the inner city with a bow and arrow, and affirmed that those who captured Zhao Zhen would be given a heavy reward. The generals who stayed in the city were all recruited by Zhao Zhen from the township near Zuo, and they were not loyal to him. This is so great that it can be a pawn. I will wait for a day, if no one surrenders Zhao Zhen, it will not be too late for the three armies to attack the inner city again. Such a family's words are expected to be detailed in history. ”

After Li Yanzhi finished talking about his own plan, he saw Li Bai bowing slightly, then raised his head and looked around, and asked, "Why do you think you are like this?" ”

The generals in the tent looked at each other, inquired about their opinions from their expressions, and then bowed their hands one after another: "We will second." ”

"In that case." Li Bai looked at the generals and said with a straight face: "At the end of tomorrow, the whole army will be mobilized. There are still two or three hundred miles to Gaochang, and the cavalry of all departments go to various sentinels to find out the enemy's movements! ”

"Yes!" The generals in the tent each bowed down and hugged their fists, and then came out of the tent one after another.

"Dingdong stays!" Li Yanzhi was taking a few steps back, and was about to turn around and leave the account, but when he heard Li Bai's words, he hurriedly turned around and saluted: "If Changshi has any orders, please say them clearly." ”

"A while ago, I saw your soldiers climbing mountains and mountains, as if walking on flat ground. I was emotional. Now I will ask Dingdong, can your department go forward ten miles first, thinking that the army is ahead? ”

Li Yanzhi was stunned for a moment, and then saluted: "Changshi commanded, but he didn't dare to disobey." After arriving in Gaochang, he led his troops to choose a place to set up camp for the army. ”

"There's Lao Dingdong. In the previous great victory of the North River, I have sent a messenger back to the state to report it. Now that we are marching into Gaochang, we hope that all the generals will work together to triumph again. ”

"Beihe Kejie relies on the long history of the Ming Judgment. He didn't dare to take credit for ......" Li Yanzhi said this, and it was not against his heart. When he was still in Dunhuang, the proposal of dividing the soldiers into two ways was approved by Li Bai. If it weren't for Li Bai's trust, this matter might not have been possible.

Li Bai laughed: "Dingdong is too modest." If Gao Chang can be restrained in this go, he must not be stingy with rewards. He walked to Li Yanzhi's side, patted him and said, "Why don't we bring the army to my account in Dingdong and govern the Western Regions together?" ”

Li Bai said the words of invitation, which surprised Li Yanzhi. He hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Guangwu is in person, and Longxi is still undecided." Within a few years, the thieves had twice crossed the border. The generals under the command of Bing are soldiers, and the family is small and mostly in Guangwu County. Moving to the Western Regions, I'm afraid there will be a lot of inconvenience......"

Li Bai originally asked tentatively, but when he heard Li Yanzhi's answer, he could only sigh secretly in his heart, and then turned around and walked to the front of the case: "Since Dingdong has a plan, I will no longer force it." After the defeat of Gaochang, I became the envoy of the table, and then sent Dingdong to lead the army back to the east. ”

"Thank you for the long history." Li Yanzhi saluted again, saw Li Bai sit down after a few cases, waved his hand again, and turned back to leave the account.

After returning to the camp, Li Yanzhi immediately summoned the generals to count the soldiers, ordnance, grain and grass. and brought more than a dozen craftsmen and healers. The next day, the whole army marched and continued along the valley in the direction of Gaochang.

A lightly armed infantry of a hundred-man squad in the Jianrui battalion climbed the bald mountains on both sides first, acting as a sentry for the whole army. Several squads of horsemen also stepped forward. Seeing that the baggage was all loaded, Li Yanzhi immediately ordered the whole army to be mobilized.

After a ten-day trek, Li Bu, as the vanguard of the whole army, has reached the suburbs of Gaochang. During this time, they were only harassed by a small group of enemy horsemen. However, under the counterattack of their own cavalry, these small groups of enemy cavalry who were ordered to attack and harass were also killed, and they fled, and no one dared to provoke this vanguard force rashly.

After arriving at the outskirts of Gaochang, Li Yanzhi ordered his soldiers to camp on the spot, dig trenches, and build horses to resist. There are few trees here, and it is obviously impossible to erect a camp wall and wooden fence, but the trenches and horses are rejected, etc., which makes the county soldiers not ambiguous at all.

In addition to setting up camp, the county soldiers also cut down all the trees they could loot in the vicinity, and ordered the soldiers to assist the craftsmen in making trebuchets. The cavalry also went out in all directions, collecting all kinds of enemy intelligence, and at the same time reconnoitring around, once the army was short of food, these cavalrymen could go out in all directions to collect the food of the four military camps.

Maybe it was in a hurry, maybe the soldiers who carried it out did not follow the military orders. Although the grain planted in the fertile fields near the left side of Gaochang City was either harvested or burned clean. However, more than a dozen miles away from the city, near the mountains, there are still several large fields outside the small tunpu that have not been harvested or burned. Tao Heng organized the cavalry to collect on the spot, and on the other hand, he sent people to report to Li Yanjiong, who was building a fortress outside the city.

In a few days, Li's troops had carved out an area, dug trenches one after another, and erected horse-resisting watchtowers, thinking that they were camping places. After Li Bai then led the main force to arrive, the generals of the army only expanded slightly, and the camp could basically accommodate the whole army. In addition, several trebuchets led by the craftsmen and soldiers were also prepared. The soldiers of the Jianrui Battalion are coming out in all directions, looking for stones, dirt and other objects. Dozens of roughly processed stone projectiles are ready next to the trebuchet.

The next day, the well-prepared Liangzhou soldiers finally launched an attack on Gaochang City. Although it was hastily made, but it was not shoddy at all, the trebuchet threw stone projectiles wrapped in soil towards the southeast corner of Gaochang City. As these stone bullets bloomed on the city wall and all over the houses in the city, the Battle of Gaochang officially began!

Li Bai came to Li Yanzhi's army a few more times ago and asked Li Yanzhi to leave the shield-bearing cars that he had made temporarily before he came. Subsequently, Li Bai's infantry pushed this small shield cart, carried the shield, and braved the arrows in the city to launch an attack on Gaochang.

A stone bullet smashed into an enemy tower made of clay in the southeast corner of the city. In an instant, a large hole was smashed into the enemy tower, and several enemy soldiers guarding it fell to the top of the city. A few unlucky ones stood in a bad position, and when they stumbled, they fell straight down the inside of the city wall. Falling from the city that was more than three feet long, these people only had the breath to come out, but not the breath to enter. I can't live now.

The defenders in the city were not the hardcore under Zhao Zhen's command. It is a good family who was forcibly recruited from the township near Gaochang. They rely on the military cantonment on weekdays and rely on farming land for the military cantonment to maintain their basic livelihood. Since the great turmoil in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Central Dynasty has not been able to effectively govern the Western Regions, which on the one hand has led to a sense of alienation from the central government among the people in the Western Regions, and on the other hand, these generals stationed in the Western Regions can usually only use restraint methods to maintain their extremely limited loyalty.

Under such conditions, these forcibly recruited soldiers naturally do not have a good impression of Zhao Zhen, and I heard that Zhao Zhen led the army to attack, but suffered a big defeat. The generals who fled back to the city one after another were only a few hundred. In order to whitewash their failures, these generals who fled back portrayed the Liangzhou army as extremely powerful. In particular, the hundreds of soldiers of the battle front battalion led by Li Yanzhi himself, and the more than 200 armored cavalry, at this time, in the word of mouth of the Gaochang generals, they have long become three-headed and six-armed, invulnerable, and murderous demons.

Before the battle, there was such a fear of difficulties, coupled with the fact that he witnessed the stone bullets flying in the distance smashing the enemy tower, and the robes who fell on the city wall suddenly wailed, and many of the other Gaochang generals were resigned. However, the main force of Li Bai's department approached the seemingly impregnable Gaochang city wall step by step with an expressionless face.

"Annexed City!" With the rumbling drums behind the battle, more than a dozen specially made elongated ladders set up the city wall of Gaochang City. The Liangzhou soldiers under Li Bai's command climbed one after another, braving the bows and arrows and rolling wood and stones that fell from time to time in the city. Rao is the first soldier climbed upwards regardless of his body, but he still fell down from the city one after another under the stubborn resistance of the enemy troops in the city.

Li Bai knows very well that above the battle array, especially this kind of brutal siege warfare, sometimes it is often a one-time thing. He looked at the trebuchet beside him, which was more than two hundred paces away, and threw another round of stone projectiles. This time, the stone projectile adjusted its direction, and instead of bombarding the southeast corner of the city wall, it turned to the middle of the city, and flew towards several sections of the city wall with cloud ladders.

The stone projectile rolled and swirled, breaking through the air in front of it, and in a few breaths it flew towards the city. After a while, there was a loud bang in the houses behind the women's wall. A stone projectile flew over the city and then fell, and a rammed-earth grass house turned to powder. In the midst of the ruins, the cries of women and children were heard.

When the Gaochang sergeant at the head of the city saw this scene, he was stunned. However, in this stunned effort, several stone bullets roared after him. One of them smashed directly into the battlement wall. The rammed earth wall immediately collapsed like papier-mâché. And among the others, another one smashed accurately on the city wall. One of the soldiers standing in front of the landing point was smashed out of the air, and before he could even let out a terrible howl, he jumped over the female wall like a broken sack and smashed straight into the roof of a house near the city wall.

Seeing this situation, coupled with the stone bullets whistling in the air again, the defenders of the city shuddered and sought an opportunity to dodge. Although the trebuchet's chance of hitting was not high, it had already caused great fear to the enemy army at the head of the city.

"Beat the drum three times!" Li Bai waved his left hand vigorously, and the drummer behind him had already followed the instructions and struggled to beat the giant drum in front of him. Under the urging of the drums, the Liangzhou soldiers who had entered the city struggled to climb up again. It's the city in the blink of an eye!

"Kill!" The Liangzhou soldiers who climbed to the top of the city grabbed their weapons one after another, jumped onto the city wall, and killed the stunned and frightened enemy troops on the city. And after a period of short-handed encounters, the defenders who failed to drive the Liangzhou soldiers down the city, looking at the more and more Liangzhou soldiers in the city, many people have turned around and fled to the various steps of the city wall!