Drums rumbled, and the battle against Stone Castle began. Wang Zhonghe's old routine was to suppress the enemy army at the head of the city with a large number of catapults throwing stones, and more than 10,000 archers charged to the range under the cover of the catapults, and suppressed them again with a dense rain of arrows, and at the same time, the infantry began to charge, building a bridge over the moat under the cover of trebuchets and archers.

This tactic is generally based on the strong firepower of suppression, and the enemy is stronger. But at this time, in the city of Tibet, the army of Tubo was nearly 70,000 people, and the number of troops and equipment was more than that of the siege city. Attacking a city garrisoned by 50,000 soldiers with 70,000 soldiers is tantamount to suicide in the eyes of normal people. Wang Zhongsi didn't understand, but he could only attack hard, hoping that Dong Yanguang would lead 50,000 troops to raid the southern city of Shibao City under the cover of his frontal attack. Although I don't know where Dong Yanguang's soldiers and horses are now.

And Wang Zhongji has no way out, since the army from Doma City is a bet on all the pressure, his military rations have been exhausted, he has no way back, he can only hope to take Stone Castle City. Therefore, the catapults and archers of the Tang siege soldiers and horses were in full swing, sparing no effort to suppress them violently. The besieging soldiers did not just pretend because it was a feint, and Wang Zhongji demanded that they must attack the city wall and break through the stone fortress city.

However, the counterattack of the Tibetan army came quickly and fiercely. The unique dumping carts of the Tibetan people were densely placed in the open space on the inner side of the city wall. The firing range of the throwing tower is high and long, although it is behind the city wall, it can still cross the city wall and throw dozens of catties of stones into the Tang army array.

The number of nearly 500 throwing towers almost caught up with the number of catapults of the Tang army, and the large and distant boulders fell from the sky like meteorites, fell into the trebuchet array of the Tang army, and smashed into the archers of the Tang army.

The Tang army could not destroy these throwing towers hidden on the inner side of the city walls, on the contrary, they were able to smash trebuchets to pieces. The two sides bombarded each other for half an hour, and the Tang army's trebuchets lost more than 100 planes, while the Tubo people threw off the building without any damage. With the decrease in the number of trebuchets, the suppression of the fire of the Tibetan defenders on the north of Shibao City gradually weakened. The Tibetan archers at the head of the city were also able to calmly emerge from the rain of stones on the battlements, and then began to counterattack the besieging Tang army under the city with bows and arrows.

The archers of the Tang army attacked from the back, and the Tubo soldiers stood on the high city walls, and there was the protection of the battlements, so the suppression ability was extremely limited. On the other hand, the Tibetan archers were condescending, and shooting at the Tang army under the city without protection seemed much more casual and handy. Under the dense rain of arrows, the besieging Tang army suffered a large number of casualties.

This is a normal thing, but the besieging army is often the side with a large number of casualties, and in peacetime, Wang Zhongsi doesn't care. But the problem is that the number of Tang troops is not large now, and for every death, the balance of strength on both sides will be tilted more and more, and it will eventually collapse. Wang Zhongsi understood this, but fortunately, the previous fierce suppression had paid off, and dozens of roads had been erected on the moat. So Wang Zhongsi immediately ordered to launch a full-scale siege operation.

For a while, the shouts resounded on the battlefield, and the soldiers carried the ladder and charged down the city with a round shield on their heads, and rushed to the dead corner under the city wall through the rain of death arrows of the Tubo soldiers, so as to effectively avoid being shot by bows and arrows. Although the Tibetan soldiers at the head of the city could shoot arrows, they could not lean out from the chest-high battlements and shoot arrows downward, which would be tantamount to putting themselves under the target of the archers under the city. But at this time, although the bow and arrow are not very effective, there are ways. Throwing rocks and sassalwood, pouring hot oil, and throwing sandbags are all good ways to stop the siege. The well-prepared Tibetan defenders rained down the rolling wood and stones prepared on the city wall. The city screamed and bleed, and the situation was unbearable.

The siege lasted only an hour, and the Tang army had more than 7,000 dead and wounded, and the number was still rising. Every moment, many Tang soldiers fell, some spilled their blood on this strange land forever, and many more dragged their stumps and broken arms to crawl back, crying and hoping to be rescued.

In front of the Tang army, Wang Zhongsi's facial muscles twitched, and watching his soldiers and horses being slaughtered, he wanted to order to stop the siege, but he couldn't.

Li Guangbi led a group of cavalry to gallop from the side snow field, panting in front of Wang Zhonghe. Wang Zhongsi asked loudly with a look of anticipation in his eyes, "Has Dong Yanguang started to attack the city?" ”

Li Guangbi spatted at the mouth, his face turned pale, and he said in a deep voice: "Great marshal, I went around to the south of the city with my humble duties, and I didn't see a single soldier." With the current weather, it can be seen that the land of ten miles, let alone an army of 50,000? But he didn't see Dong Yanguang's shadow. ”

Wang Zhongsi's face turned pale, and he frowned: "What the hell is this dog doing?" Going against the plan and disappearing is putting us in danger. Could it be that Dong Yanguang deliberately caused us to die? ”

Li Guangbi frowned and said: "Dashuai, I'm afraid it won't be, maybe he has been delayed on the road and hasn't arrived yet." We're attacking the city early. That's good, it's wrong. The dog mongrel dares to delay the siege of the city, and it is necessary to participate in him afterwards and deal with him with military law. ”

Wang Zhongsi had not yet spoken, but when he saw Ge Shuhan, who was commanding the siege in front, riding his horse and galloping, he shouted when he saw him: "Commander, the brothers have suffered heavy casualties, why hasn't Dong Yanguang attacked the city in the south?" ”

Wang Zhongsi sighed and said, "I'm afraid I can't wait for them." ”

Ge Shuhan was surprised: "What? What's going on? ”

Li Guangbi told him about the situation he had just gone to investigate, and Ge Shuhan immediately scolded him.

"Dashuai, this can be pitted by that dog mongrel, how can this attack the city? We couldn't even attack the city, and the brothers were suppressed and slaughtered under the city. Geshuhan said loudly.

Wang Zhongsi said: "But if we don't break through the city, what can we do? If there is no food in the army, can it still be stationed here? There was no food on the way back, and there was no way back for us. ”

"But I can't attack it like this. The Tibetans have not yet figured out how many men we have, and once they know that we have only 50,000 men, will they not defend and attack and fight against us head-on? When the time comes, we won't be able to withdraw if we want to. According to the humble position, kill the mules and horses in the army to satisfy hunger, and they don't need to pull the cart anyway. If it doesn't work, he will kill the war horse and eat meat, in short, he will have to stay up until Dong Yanguang arrives to attack the city, otherwise he will die in vain. ”

Wang Zhongsi frowned and said, "The city can't be attacked, but there is no way to retreat." Ordered to stop the siege and prepare to fight to the death with the Tibetan soldiers and horses. ”

"Dashuai is saying that the Tubo people will go out of the city for a decisive battle?" Li Guangbi said.

"No, the Tubo people are so bold?" Geshuhan shouted.

Wang Zhongsi sighed and said, "You are also a general who is in charge alone, why don't you understand this truth." Yesterday, when our army came, it was dark, and the Tibetans couldn't figure out how many soldiers and horses we had. That's why I ordered to storm the city early in the morning, and cooperate with Dong Yanguang's soldiers and horses to take the city in one fell swoop. But now that Dong Yanguang is gone, and all the strength of our army is unobstructed by the other party, do you still think that the Tubo people will easily let us go? ”

Ge Shuhan and Li Guangbi both looked sad, Wang Zhongsi had already made it very clear that when the plan to attack Dong Yanguang before and after made a mistake, the Tubo people knew that the number of Tang troops in front of them was less than their own troops, and they would never give up this opportunity. Although the Tang army could not ask for the siege of the city, it was much easier to kill and injure the opponent in siege combat. If the Tang army did not attack the city, they would also take the initiative to seek battle.

"Go and give the order to stop the siege. At this point, you can only gamble on your luck. It's a pity that this is on the Gobi, otherwise you can use a suspicious tactic. But there is an unobstructed view here, and there is not even an ambush place, and the Tibetan people will not be afraid. I only hope that the leading coach of Tubo is a coward, otherwise the decisive battle will be inevitable. Wang Zhongsi said in a deep voice.

Goshuhan immediately gave the order to stop the siege, and the besieging soldiers were relieved and retreated like a tide, leaving behind corpses and wounded soldiers who were struggling and moaning in the snow.

Wang Zhonghei is like a god, but this time is the last time he wants his prediction to be accurate, how he hopes that his judgment can be correct. However, his judgment proved to be as accurate as ever.

When the Tang army was breathing, they listened to the long sound of the horn in the stone castle city, and the humming echo echoed on the snowfield. A moment later, the north gate of Shibao City opened, and groups of Tibetan cavalry and camel cavalry poured out of the city like a torrent, unhurriedly lined up outside the north gate. Tens of thousands of cavalry were overwhelming, like a huge carpet spread among the mottled snow.

Ge Shuhan and Li Guangbi were terrified in their hearts, they both had a fluke mentality, hoping that Dashuai's judgment was wrong, but it turned out that Dashuai was completely right. The Tibetans almost did not hesitate at all, and immediately went out of the city to fight head-on.

Wang Zhongsi sat on his horse and said in a deep voice: "Take my blade, and fight to the death with the Tubo people today." Serve me Datang allegiance, and the opportunity to kill the enemy and make meritorious service has arrived. ”

One of the guards handed Wang Zhonghe's blade, which was a spear. It had been a long time since Wang Zhongji had used a weapon to kill the enemy in person, and it seemed that he was ready to die here.

Ge Shuhan whispered to Li Guangbi: "Guangbi, this battle is more auspicious, you will retreat immediately with the marshal, after I break the army, we must ensure that the marshal evacuates safely." ”

Li Guangbi nodded and said, "That's exactly what I think, but after I break off, you escort the handsome man." ”

Ge Shuhan smiled and said: "Guangbi, I won't listen to you this time, I'm better at fighting than you." I don't have a single officer under my machete. Besides, don't think I'm killing myself, I'll go back alive. ”

Li Guangbi opened his mouth and didn't speak, but only bowed his hand slightly: "Then it's up to you, you must come back alive, and I still have to drink with you." It tastes best with your drink. ”

Ge Shuhan laughed and said, "Don't worry, definitely." ”

As he spoke, the horn sounded again in the formation of the Tibetan cavalry, and the black-pressed cavalry began to charge slowly, and the snow splashed under the horses' hooves, raising a piece of snow and ice crystals to cover the sky in front of them. The winter sun was shining, and the snow particles floating in the air actually refracted colorful light, forming a huge rainbow.

This is the most chilling rainbow that the soldiers of the Tang Army have seen in their lives.