Due to the rejection of the surrender plan, the next day, the Tang army had to bite the bullet and launch another siege battle. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info Because of the deterrent move of the severed finger the night before, Qi Zhanali did not push back to save the strength. After careful redeployment, the Tang army launched another fierce siege battle in the afternoon of the next day.

This time, the Tang army lengthened the ladder to four zhang to ensure that there would be no embarrassment yesterday. Under the cover of more than 800 trebuchets, 40,000 Tang troops and Hui troops of the mixed siege soldiers and horses swooped down on the city wall to the extreme left of Fanglin Gate.

The defenders of the city learned the lesson of yesterday, and they concentrated their troops in the area of Fanglin Gate, Jingyao Gate, Guanghua Gate, and nearly 40,000 defenders gathered on the short city wall of more than eight miles connected by the three city gates. If it weren't for the width of the city wall, Shi Siming might even have to double the strength of the defense.

The fierce battle between the two sides this time was a hundred times more fierce than yesterday's battle. Although the number of defenders increased, the 10,000 cavalry marksmen of the Hui army played a huge role in the siege, lining up on the other side of the moat and killing the defenders on the walls with accurate arrows, causing great damage. Moreover, the soldiers besieging the city were also led by the Uighurs, and their hooks exerted great power, not only killing a large number of defenders, but also fixing the ladder with the hook, so that the defenders could not overturn the ladder with a long pole to defend the city.

At the end of the fierce battle, the besieging soldiers and horses attacked the city again. The defenders continued to reinforce the city with a large number of reinforcements, and the two sides launched a fierce tug-of-war at the city. The battle for each broken wall was extremely fierce, and countless soldiers died on both sides. It wasn't until dark that under the indiscriminate fierce shooting of the arrow tower at the head of the city, the soldiers and horses besieging the city had to reluctantly withdraw their troops and return to the camp. Because of the limitation of daylight, although they dispatched nearly 100,000 troops to attack in an all-round way, it was already an impossible task to attack the city after dark.

After dark, the two sides fell silent. They counted the dead and wounded, and the armies of both sides were shocked and heartbroken.

More than 36,000 soldiers and horses were killed and wounded, and 20,000 horses were lost. More than 200 catapults were destroyed. Among them, 8,000 Uighur soldiers were killed and more than 5,000 were wounded. The Tang army lost 11,000 killed and wounded more than 10,000. Nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses were killed and wounded on the defending side, more than 16,000 were killed in battle, and the rest were wounded. After two days, the besieging side lost nearly 60,000 soldiers, and the defending side lost nearly 40,000 soldiers. In just two days, more than 50,000 lives were devoured on the battlefield in the northern city of Chang'an, and more than 50,000 people were injured to varying degrees and lost their ability to fight.

……

The cold wind of the night blew across the battlefield outside Hong Lim Gate, whistling and wailing over the corpses lying in the field. The smell of blood and stench mixed with the cold wind blew towards Chang'an City, and the lingering smell of corpses permeated the city, engulfing the entire Chang'an City. This stench is difficult to eliminate by any means, and the smell of death cannot be diluted by closing the doors and windows and burning the strongest incense pieces.

In the Taiji Hall of the Imperial City, Shi Siming sat in the center, and more than a dozen generals were listed below in the candlelight. Shi Siming's face was gloomy, and the anxiety in his eyebrows was obvious. Although he once again repelled the soldiers and horses besieging the city today, the casualties in the past two days made it difficult for Shi Siming to accept. There were only more than 100,000 defenders in the city, and more than 40,000 were killed and wounded in the two-day siege, and the available soldiers in Shi Siming's hands were less than 70,000. Among the 70,000 soldiers and horses, more than 10,000 were recruited temporarily after being transferred 100,000 troops by Yan Zhuang. These 10,000 recruits are only used as logistics soldiers and horses, and they are completely useless.

The situation was grim, Shi Siming never expected that in the case of defending the city with such a strong city, and with so many troops defending the city, the number of casualties on his side would be so heavy. It was so heavy that it was hard for him to accept.

The fierceness of the siege soldiers and horses is not afraid of death, and they do not hesitate to fight for their lives is one reason. The tactics of fighting for one's life really made it difficult for the defenders to parry. But the besieging side has every reason to do so, they are the soldiers and horses led by the new emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and they can only move forward and not retreat. In addition, they had an army of 160,000, and 60,000 dead and wounded in two sieges seemed worth it to them. In order to recapture the capital of Chang'an, they may rather bury all 160,000 troops than recapture the city. And he can't stand such an exchange of troops.

But Shi Siming believes that another reason for such huge casualties is his own soldiers and horses. Especially the generals under his own command obviously felt slack and afraid when defending the city. The generals cowered, how could the soldiers have fighting spirit. This is the reason why the besieging soldiers and horses attacked the city twice and the city wall twice. If it weren't for luck, the city would have been breached today.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this commander is extremely dissatisfied with today's battle. Today's battle is worse than yesterday's, and if it weren't for the fact that the enemy army could not attack again after dark, we would have been caught in the street fighting after the city was broken. Ask yourself if you're doing your best. ”

The first sentence Shi Siming opened his mouth made all the generals be poured a scoop of cold water on their heads. After these people fought bloodily, they thought that they could be praised by the marshal, but they did not expect that what would come was complaining, doubting, and reprimanding. All the generals frowned, dissatisfied.

"Marshal, the last general thinks that all the generals in today's battle have fought bloodily, and the soldiers are not afraid of death. Repelled the unprecedented fierce siege of the Tang army and severely demoralized the Tang army. The last general believed that the soldiers had done their best, and the battle was a success. Tian Chengsi arched his hand and stepped forward.

The generals cast a grateful gaze at Tian Chenghe, General Tian still dared to speak, and these words also made everyone feel that their efforts were still in the eyes of others. But they were also a little worried that Tian Chenghei would not annoy Marshal Shi by talking like this. Marshal Shi was not very satisfied with General Tian in the past two days.

"Was the battle a success? Tian Chenghei, you love to be a good person. In such a successful battle, our army suffered more than 20,000 casualties, how do you explain it? In two days, our army lost 40,000 elite soldiers, and you tell me that the defense of the city was successful? We only have 70,000 soldiers and horses left, tell me, can Chang'an City still be defended? Tian Chengsi, you come and tell Ben Shuai. Shi Siming sneered.

Tian Chengsi frowned and said, "Marshal Shi, our army has suffered 40,000 casualties, and the enemy's casualties are even heavier. They fought with their lives, and we successfully resisted, and in the eyes of the general, this was a success. As for the question asked by the marshal, the last general could only say that it was not important whether he could hold Chang'an City or not, what mattered was that the soldiers had done their best. ”

"Do your best? What are you talking about? What Ben Shuai wants is to hold Chang'an City. You don't want to think about it, Chang'an City is lost, where can we go to settle down? We must defend Chang'an City, and we must not lose the city. Tian Chenghei, Ben Shuai is not allowed to say such things again. ”

Tian Chengsi frowned and pondered for a moment and said, "Marshal Shi, I understand your feelings, but the marshal can't be so impatient. If the current situation develops, no matter how hard we try, Chang'an City may be difficult to hold. ”

"Nonsense! Tian Chenghei, you are so bold, you dare to shake the heart of the army and say such a thing. If it weren't for the fact that you are a veteran in the army and have made meritorious contributions, this commander would have beheaded you for the crime of shaking the morale of the army. Shi Siming said angrily.

Tian Chengsi said quietly: "Marshal, whatever you think, it's okay if you want to kill the lowly position, but there are some words that the lowly position thinks it's better to say it clearly." After saying these words, the marshal may dispose of the lowly position at will. ”

Shi Siming said angrily: "Your courage is getting bigger and bigger. ”

Tian Chengsi arched his hand and said: "The humble post is also for the sake of the marshal, and when the humble post was appreciated and rescued by the marshal, he swore to be loyal to the marshal wholeheartedly." Therefore, these heartfelt words should be said from the bottom of my heart. Buried in my heart and didn't say it, but it was disloyal to the marshal. ”

Shi Siming's face was full of anger, and he glared at Tian Chengsi fiercely.

Tian Chengsi said to himself: "Marshal Shi, you also know the current situation. If there is no miracle, Chang'an City will be lost. Now the imperial court is sitting idly by, and we have asked them to send troops to reinforce them, but there is no response. The new emperor of the Great Yan Kingdom ascended the throne and strictly controlled the government, and you also know that Yan Zhuang is extremely unfriendly to you. He won't send troops to the rescue. This is one of them. Second, we may be able to resist the 160,000 siege soldiers and horses in the northern city, and we have lost a lot of soldiers and horses, and their losses are even greater. Even if they run out of soldiers and horses, they may not be able to attack Chang'an City. However, the marshal must not forget that Wang Yuan's 110,000 divine army was eyeing Jinzhou and Pizhou. They are the elite of the Tang Army. When we and Li Mao are both defeated, will his Divine Strategy Army stand by and watch? Definitely not. Li Mao will definitely order Wang Yuan to participate in the siege. The third is that the grain and grass in the city are in urgent need of grain and grass now, and the grain and grass stored are only enough for the soldiers and horses for more than ten days, and it is still in the situation that the people are out of food. The people will be in turmoil if they don't have food for three days, and our troubles are not only outside the city, but also inside the city. If the city is in chaos and the city is attacked, can the city still be defended? It's simply impossible. These three points are destined to be impossible to hold Chang'an, no matter how strong the city defense is, it can't be held, so the humble position said to do our best, and the big deal is to die with the city, and it can be regarded as our last loyalty to the Great Yan Kingdom. ”

Shi Siming's face was pale, if what Tian Chengsi said was unreasonable, it would be fine, but what Tian Chengsi said was the biggest worry in his heart, so he was anxious and dissatisfied with the course of the war. But although what Tian Chengsi said was very reasonable, it also ignited the anger in his heart, how could he tolerate Tian Chengsi shaking the army's heart so much in front of the generals.

"Tian Chenghe, no wonder you cowered during the battle, it turns out that you have long lost your fighting spirit. These words of yours are all nonsense, and they are all words that shake the morale of the army. If Ben Shuai spares you today, wouldn't it be that the army's morale is sluggish, and it will be difficult to clean it up. Someone came, dragged Tian Chenghei down, and beat sixty military sticks. Shi Siming shouted loudly.

The guards rushed forward, grabbed Tian Chenghe, who was pale, and dragged him down. The generals rushed forward to intercede. Shi Siming said in a deep voice: "Whoever dares to intercede will be engaged in military law." ”

The generals looked at each other and did not dare to speak again. Tian Chengsi laughed and said: "Don't intercede for me, if I take these fifty military sticks so that Chang'an City can be defended, I will admit it." It's a pity that I can't help with these fifty sticks. Marshal, I advise you not to deceive yourself. At present, there is only one way to go, and yesterday Li Mao sent someone to announce the decree, which is the best way out. Not only you, the marshal, but all the soldiers will be forgiven. Commander, why do you insist on going your own way. ”

"A hundred sticks!" Shi Siming shouted.

The guards dragged Tian Chengsi down and pressed him down on the steps outside the Taiji Hall, and the military stick crackled and began to wave it, and Tian Chengsi began to be punished.

No one can survive the punishment of a hundred military sticks. To put it mildly, a hundred military sticks is fifty military sticks, and the weak will also be beaten to death. Luo Yue glanced at Cao Jilian, Cao Ji understood, and hurriedly moved to the door of the hall, he wanted to go and say hello to the soldiers who were executed, and asked them to show mercy to their subordinates. But their actions were discovered by Shi Siming.

"Luo Yue, Cao Ji, what are you doing sneakily? Do you also think that Tian Chenghe's words are right and Marshal Ben's words are wrong? ”

Luo Yue hurriedly said: "How dare you dare to be lowly, the marshal will not be wrong." The humble post just wanted to go to the toilet and wanted to ask General Cao if he was going. ”

"Phew, don't think that Ben Shuai doesn't know your intentions, the two of you have a private friendship with Tian Chenghei, do you want to intercede for him?"

"I don't dare to be lowly, and I don't have the intention of being lowly. But Marshal, tomorrow may be another big battle, and if these 100 army sticks are beaten, General Tian Da's life may not be guaranteed. At present, the enemy is harming himself, how is it good? Luo Yue said in a deep voice.

"Don't you dare, isn't this an intercession for him? Aren't the three of you friends privately? Okay, Ben Shuai will let you share the difficulties. If you are afraid that Tian Chenghei will be killed, then you will each take thirty military sticks for him. Shi Siming sneered.

Luo Yue and Cao Ji scolded in their hearts, but they were helpless. The two were carried out by the guards, pressed on both sides of Tian Chenghe, picked up their pants and began to hit the board. Tian Chengsi looked at the two of them left and right, his eyes showed gratitude, and he stopped talking. The three of them gritted their teeth and supported themselves, letting their own skin and flesh open from the beating of the military stick, without saying a word.

"Shi Chaoyi, tomorrow will give you the last day deadline, if you can't open up the grain road and bring back the grain from Chongtong Pass, you won't be able to escape. Also, Chen Wannian, tonight you are responsible for enlisting in the Latin army in the city, and I will see 20,000 new troops tomorrow morning. If you fail to complete the mission, you will also be severely punished by military law. No matter what method you use, this commander must have soldiers and food, and this commander must defend Chang'an City. Ben Shuai will never surrender. Whoever dares to say a word of surrender again, Ben Shuai will not be spared. Shi Siming said these words with a gloomy face, got up and left angrily.

……

Ten miles west of Chang'an City, Wang Yuan, Gao Xianzhi and others also witnessed the tragic siege battle on the second day. Although I didn't experience the battle, the scene of the battle in the distance was just as shocking. After the battle was over, Wang Yuan and Gao Xianzhi sat opposite each other by a small bonfire and talked in a low voice.

After Wang Yuan threw a withered branch into the bonfire, the flames of the bonfire jumped up, Wang Yuan rubbed his hands against the flames, and asked Gao Xianzhi in a low voice: "Brother, what do you think of this war today?" ”

Gao Xianzhi's handsome face was silent, and his eyes stared at the dancing flames and said, "If the offensive and defensive sides play so desperately, it will definitely be a lose-lose situation. In today's battle, it can be seen that the besieging soldiers have begun to attack the city with all their might. The defenders are also defending the city with all their might. In today's battle alone, the two sides are evenly matched, and it depends on who can hold on. At this time, whoever can't stand it first will be the loser. But in fact, whoever wins in the end is also a loser, because they have to pay a huge price. The winner at this time is probably not any of them. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "What does my brother mean...... Who is the winner? ”

Gao Xianzhi smiled slightly and said, "Brother Xian, do you still want to watch the two tigers fight here?" It's time to order the mobilization of the Divine Army's army here, ready to reap the benefits of the fisherman. If nothing else, such a tragic siege battle will continue in the next two days, and at that time, as soon as the Shence army emerges, the defenders in Chang'an City will collapse. I don't think you want to stay out of it. ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "Brother, you guessed my mind wrong this time, I thought about it carefully, it seems that we shouldn't make any moves at this time." ”

"Why is that? Don't you really want to reap the benefits of the fisherman? Gao Xianzhi was surprised.

Wang Yuan groaned: "Of course I want to, but as my brother said, at this moment, when the two sides are inseparable from each other, once my Divine Command Army appears, this balance will be broken. If Shi Siming saw my Shence Army army appear on the edge of Chang'an City, what would he think? ”

Gao Xianzhi frowned and said, "He should be disheartened and lose his fighting spirit." Because he can't afford to join the siege of the city. ”

Wang Yuan nodded and smiled: "That's right, in this case, he may give up Chang'an directly." However, can we attack Chang'an in front of Li Mao openly? Li Mao will not allow us to do this. And if we do this forcibly, will we not be openly resisting the decree and telling the world that we have rebelled? ”

Gao Xianzhi frowned and said, "What you said seems to make a lot of sense. But are we just going to stand still? After all, it's not the worst yet, and the new emperor hasn't shown any hostility towards you. You also agreed that counterinsurgency is the first priority, first to quell the rebellion, and then to decide on the next step depending on the attitude of the new emperor. How can we sit idly by and watch the besieging troops defeat the city? ”

Wang Yuan looked at Gao Xianzhi quietly, and he suddenly understood. Gao Xianzhi still didn't want to see himself really rebel in his heart. For him, he hoped that he and Li Mao could coexist peacefully after the rebellion was quelled. Although it was just a good wish, before Li Mao turned his face, he couldn't have rebellious behavior, otherwise there would be resistance in Gao Xianzhi's heart. Of course, Wang Yuan didn't want Gao Xianzhi to have resistance, he would rather help Li Mao than let Gao Xianzhi have a pimple in his heart. Only when Li Mao's reckoning with himself becomes a fact after the counterinsurgency is put down, he is afraid that he will truly stand on his side. Until then, Gao Xianzhi will still hold on to a glimmer of hope for reconciliation.

Wang Yuan understood Gao Xianzhi's thoughts, after all, as a minister of the Tang Dynasty who had been loyal to the Tang Dynasty, it was difficult for him to get rid of the idea of loyalty to the monarch at once. Although Gao Xianzhi has expressed his dissatisfaction with the imperial court many times, he has also expressed his recognition of his concept that he will not be loyal to one person. But Wang Yuan could see the struggle in his heart. No one wants to be called a rebel and a thief, and no one wants to betray everything they once supported, which is the limitation of everyone who has been nourished and nurtured by this era. To really get them out of these thoughts, I am afraid that the only way to change them is to change them with cruel facts.

Wang Yuan decided to respect Gao Xianzhi's heart, Gao Xianzhi was one of the few people he could make friends with in this era, and Wang Yuan didn't want him to have a problem in his heart. Although with Gao Xianzhi's cultivation, he would not express his opinions fiercely, but he must give Gao Xianzhi enough respect, after all, he and Gao Xianzhi are already inseparable, and his feelings cannot be ignored.

"Brother, you're right. Counterinsurgency should be put first, and the problem of the rebels should be resolved first, and then the decision should be made depending on the development of the situation. I'm a little selfish. So let's immediately send troops to come and put pressure on Shi Siming to make him completely collapse? Or will it wait for the decree of the new emperor to decide? After all, Li Mao did not give an order for us to approach Chang'an, and I am afraid that if we send troops here without permission, we will be misunderstood and blamed by him. Wang Yuan said.

A smile appeared on Gao Xianzhi's face, he was very happy that Wang Yuan could make such a decision. In his heart, he actually didn't want a situation between Wang Yuan and Li Mao that he had to rebel, he still hoped that the two could live in harmony. All he could do was try to persuade Wang Yuan not to act radically, which was what he thought was right.

"Brother Xian, sooner or later, the army will be mobilized, once Chang'an is taken, we don't have to enter Chang'an City, but we must also attack Tongguan immediately and prepare to recover Luoyang. Are you really planning to wait until next spring to attack? Once Chang'an is recovered, the situation will be reversed, and we should not wait for the weather to warm up, but we should move forward with all our might, regain the lost ground as soon as possible, and put down this rebellion. As for the new emperor's undecreed matter, I don't think there is any need to worry about it. Since we don't mean to be in Chang'an, we rush to the south of Chang'an, which can not only approach Tongguan, but also deter Chang'an City, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone. ”

Wang Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, just follow my brother's words." Everything is for the sake of counterinsurgency, and the rest is put aside for the time being. I hope that Li Mao will not take this article as one of my crimes in the future. ”

Gao Xianzhi smiled and said, "Brother Xian, don't always think about things in the worst way. I'm not speaking for the new emperor, think about it, if you are guilty, won't I be able to get rid of it? You and my brother are grasshoppers on a rope, and no one can escape. However, the rebels are not settled, how can they think about those things first? As I said, no matter what happens in the future, I will never stand against you. ”

Wang Yuan waved his hand and said: "Brother doesn't need to say much, I believe that my brother is open-minded, I don't have any doubts about my brother, and I understand what you think in your heart." Let's turn around here, I will go to Jinzhou to mobilize troops and horses, you go to Pizhou to mobilize troops and horses, and two days later, we will join forces thirty miles southeast of Chang'an City. ”