Chapter 23 The two armies hold each other, and the winter in Youzhou is cold

After Yan Rou collected his troops and returned to the camp, he counted the casualties. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 Only one or two hundred of the three thousand rangers were wounded, and the two thousand foot soldiers who were sent to fill the river came back less than five hundred. Of the more than 1,500 people who were killed, only a few were shot by bows and arrows in the city, and what really caused a large number of casualties was the sudden impact of the 500 white horse righteous servants of the Youzhou army.

Yan Rou's face was not good-looking, because the death of some people was a trivial matter, but it was a major matter that affected the morale of the army, "Go out and ask, have the cavalry sent to pursue the five hundred righteous servants come back?" ”

After a while, a small colonel ran in, "Hui Sima, the brigade has never returned, only one scout has returned, and the five hundred Yi have fled westward since bypassing our military camp." However, our army chased for more than an hour and still did not see any trace of the enemy, and feared that Lord Sima would be worried, so he was specially ordered to come back to report the news. ”

"Without a trace, will they not be able to fly?" Yan Rou said angrily, but in her heart, she wondered, this is five hundred people, even if you hide it, it is impossible not to have a trace? The most worrying thing is that I don't know what the strategic intentions of these five hundred cavalry are, although Yuyang and other big cities are now in their hands, but it is not safe to have such a hidden danger in the rear. "Everyone is discussing, what is the purpose of these five hundred cavalry?"

Yan Rou let the discussion go, and the generals below naturally talked nonsense. However, after discussing it for a long time, I couldn't come up with an idea. Yan Rou moved her gaze to Lu Yu. Lu Yu actually didn't have a clue, but since the boss wanted him to say it, he couldn't say that he didn't know, so he had to answer hard, "I think there are several possibilities, one is to cut off our army's food supply." Although the distance between Yuyang and our camp is close, and we have a large army to protect us, these five hundred righteousness may not make a move to break the cauldron and take advantage of the chaos to raid and burn our grain and grass. Another is that the enemy knows that we will definitely make a large number of ladders and other siege equipment when attacking the city, so it is inevitable to send people to the nearby mountains and forests to cut wood, and they may ambush near the mountains and forests to attack our people. Then there is to go to attack Yuyang, but the city wall of Yuyang is tall and strong, there are still more than 3,000 defenders, and it should be difficult to break through if there is no internal response, so this one is not very likely. ”

After listening to this, Yan Rou felt that it was very reasonable, "There is some truth in Mr. Lu's opinion." Yuyang is guarded by my henchmen, and the people in the city who are facing Gongsun Chan have been slaughtered again, and it is unlikely that they will attack Yuyang. However, for the sake of safety, I still sent someone to inform him, so that he could cheer up and stick to Yuyang. It is quite possible that the cutting off of our grain routes and the attacking of the logging soldiers will be passed on to my general, and from tomorrow onwards, whether it is logging or escorting grain and grass, there must be 2,000 cavalry to escort it. ”

After Yan Rou finished speaking, one of the generals under the tent frowned and stepped forward, "Lord Sima, although our army has an advantage in numbers, it is only about 10,000 more than the Youzhou army. The enemy army is holding the city, and it is not easy to break through. Our army sent 4,000 soldiers and horses out of thin air to guard the grain and grass and protect the logging soldiers, but I am afraid that there will be a shortage of soldiers and horses? ”

After listening to this, Yan Rou also knew that what he said had some truth, but the existence of these five hundred people always made him feel uneasy, and there was no way to do it. "Your suggestion, Ben Shuai also understands, but these five hundred righteousness is behind my back, which always makes people take it lightly. As for the siege, I have also thought about it, and it cannot be done overnight. Today's assault was only to outpace the enemy in morale, and the moat was filled so that the infantry could attack the city. Tomorrow I feel that I must fight steadily, ensure the pressure, and through a non-stop siege, on the one hand, consume the enemy's forces on the one hand, and on the other hand, wear down their morale. If you want to break the city, it will take twenty days. Now we should flexibly mobilize 20,000 soldiers and horses, and today one army will attack the city, one army will reserve, and one army will guard the grain and grass and protect the logging infantry; Change it tomorrow, three days and one cycle. The biggest advantage of our army is that there are many men and horses, and there is enough food and grass, and the Youzhou army cannot afford to fight for it. ”

After Yan Rou finished speaking, all the generals said in unison, "Lord Sima is wise. ”

Early the next morning, Yan Rou ordered 5,000 soldiers and horses to attack the city, of which 2,000 rangers were still responsible for suppressing the archers on the city, and 3,000 foot soldiers carried sandbags, ladders, and simple siege equipment that hit wood to attack the Tucheng of the Youzhou army.

Zhao Yun took Tian Jing and others to guard the city, yesterday's situation has fully demonstrated that it is difficult for crossbowmen to play an important role under the suppression of the enemy, so today out of the arrow tower to retain some accurate marksmen, the defenders of the city are mainly infantry. The city was full of rolling wood and stones and cauldrons of boiling wastewater, and Zhao Yun also concentrated a thousand sets of armor from the whole army, all of which were equipped with school swordsmen who defended the city. Defending the city is about hand-to-hand combat, but it is not that it does not pay attention to tactics. When the enemy is under the city, he mainly retreats from the enemy by rolling wood and boiling water, and once the enemy arrives in the city, the school knife hand will hold a shield to surround it, and generally work in groups of two or three to quickly solve the enemy. And behind the school knife hand there is a row of spearmen. The spear holds a spear through the gap in the attack of the school knife hand, effectively killing and injuring enemies who ascend the city.

The Youzhou army attaches great importance to today's battle to defend the city, the defenders in the city are about 7,000, there are more than 2,000 people defending the city, and 1,000 reserve white horses are from passing materials and rescuing the wounded. The east gate, the west gate, and the north gate are each guarded by 300 soldiers. 1,000 soldiers and horses are used as a mobile force to support all parts of the country at any time. Li Yizi took the remaining 1,500 white horses to rest and wait.

The tactics are one aspect, and the key is to look at morale, so that the soldiers defending the city have the spirit of not being afraid of death. Therefore, Zhao Yun took all the generals and officials to the city to defend, and what he wanted was to boost morale. Beicheng is under the greatest pressure and is the main battlefield, where more than 1,000 troops are concentrated. Li Dang and Leping, one carrying a double axe on his back, and the other holding a huge scimitar in both hands, stood in the first row of school knife fighters, with a very majestic taste. They looked back at Tian Jing and Lu Qilin, who were holding spears, and were faintly complacent. The heart said, so that the spear is hiding behind, or we make the short blade of the bullishness, thinking in the heart of the face is expressed.

Tian Jing looked at these two guys and laughed in his heart, these two guys are still beautiful, I will know the strength of the enemy after a while, if it wasn't for the master who ordered me to take care of these two reckless guys, I would have gone to Xicheng to command the defense. Lu Qilin doesn't care so much, as long as Tian Jing is, he will be there. Gongsun Xu was younger and much calmer than them, and Zhao Yun arranged for him to lead five hundred people to defend Dongcheng with a few captains under the original Gongsun Fan's account. General Li Yizi led 500 men to defend Xicheng. Liu Yong's temperament was more weak, and Zhao Yun arranged for him to organize the reserve Bai Ma Yi to transport supplies.

Without encountering a large-scale bow and arrow suppression, Yan Rou's 3,000 infantry rushed to the city with almost no casualties. Under the leadership of their respective generals, some of these foot soldiers climbed the city on a ladder, and some used striking wood to attack the wooden gate.

In the siege battle, after all, the defender has the advantage, and a burst of rolling wood and stones are thrown, and the besieging side often suffers many casualties. After the ladder is close to the wall, the defenders can also push the ladder out with a spear hook, plus a large area of waste water and fire oil. The besiegers lost at least two men and horses before they could reach the city.

However, sooner or later, the besieging side will attack the city wall, and the earth city of the Youzhou army is not high, which will speed up the enemy's landing on the city. Once there is a place to successfully ascend the city, it is the main tactic of the besieging side to quickly concentrate on breaking through, and then occupying a section of the city wall, so that the people behind can continue to ascend the city. However, Zhao Yun didn't give the other party a chance, no matter where anyone landed in the city, the school knife hand quickly surrounded it, and then the spearman attacked from behind. The enemy is often dismembered by the Youzhou army's knives or pierced by the guns before his feet have just landed.

When several waves of Dengcheng's troops were slaughtered, Yan Rou's army's offensive slowly slowed down. After all, when the battle damage reaches a certain level, the troops may retreat or disperse.

However, the pause was only short-lived, and the troops under the city slowed down for less than a breath before they began to storm the city with all their might. Zhao Yun looked into the distance and saw that the cavalry that had suppressed the archers in the city had basically become a warlord, and because the melee in the city could not attack, they pointed their arrows at their own infantry. Zhao Yun thought to himself, Yan Rou is ruthless enough, this is to fight with our army regardless of casualties, I believe that when our strength to defend the city is insufficient, it will be the day of Yan Rou's all-out attack. However, now is not the time to think about this, Zhao Yun ordered the cities to hold on, and let the mobile troops be ready to support the northern city at any time.

Li Dang and Leping were both covered in blood, especially Li Dang, who was both muddy and bloody, had a big face, but they were all happy. Although it is not the first time to kill someone, killing five people in a row is still a great achievement worth showing off. Tian Jing looked at the two of them, and his heart was also warm, the original gentleman who bullied men and women was now a qualified fighter. In fact, if it wasn't for his assistance just now, the two of them don't know how many injuries they have suffered to hold on to until now. But the two of them are still pretty good, Tian Jing gave them a thumbs up.

Li Dang turned around and laughed, and when he turned around again, he found that the enemy had begun to attack the city again, and some people had already landed in the city, so he shouted "Look at the little master's plate axe" and rushed up again. Tian Jing and Lu Qilin immediately took the spearmen to press up step by step.

……

At sunset, the shouts of killing in the city finally faded away, and the enemy troops under the city slowly retreated. Zhao Yun looked at the corpses piled up on the enemy city wall, roughly calculated the casualties of his own soldiers, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, at least for now, everything was within the range of bearability. If you continue like this, you can last for at least half a month.

The defenders of the city were so tired that most of them lay on the edge of the city walls, and basically did not even have the strength to move. After this fight, all they wanted to do was sleep, and they didn't even have the strength to eat. Li Dang Leping had already fallen asleep in the corner of the wall holding the blade, snoring like thunder. Liu Ying led the reserve Bai Ma Yi to clean up the battlefield and treat the wounded from one side, and at the other hand arranged for men to guard against the enemy's night attack. Tian Jing told Liu Yong that he must pay attention to collecting the enemy's armor, which is a magic weapon to defend the city behind. Liu Yong had all the things that could be used as protection from the enemy soldiers be removed, and then the corpses were thrown down the city.

A gust of north wind blew, freezing cold, and the night by the Lu River was particularly cold. I don't know when the snow will fall this winter, so I hope I can hold on for a while longer, right? Tian Jing looked at the cold battlefield, thinking about Xiao Liu and countless reserve white horse servants who were involved in the war because of themselves, and secretly decided, no matter what, I must take them to live together.