Chapter 434: Pioneer Asahan

On the eighth day of the sixth month, Ali Hague, the deputy marshal of the Mongol expedition to the south, led the commander of the expedition to the southern capital, Liu Quan, Guo Kan, Atahai and 30,000 horses arrived at Baihe City outside Xiangyang City. Early the next morning, Liu Cheng led 1,000 sailors to Wanshan Fort to inspect the local topography and prepare to build a shipyard on the spot. So far, a total of 60,000 Mongolian soldiers have gathered outside Xiangyang City, which is roughly the same number as the number of people in the Xiangyang Military Region.

As the Mongol army outside Xiangyang gathered more and more, the atmosphere in the city became more and more tense. Lü Wende and Lü Wenhuan personally went up to the city wall every day to inspect the defense line, and ordered Lü Shimeng to raise the seven-day battle report to one report every other day. The soldiers defending the cities of Xiang and Fan were divided into two shifts day and night, and they were ready for battle, and the regimental defense members were also organized to take charge of logistics work. All the people near the city gate were moved to safety, and their dwellings were requisitioned by the government and used by the army.

It is about 2,000 miles from Xiangyang to Lin'an, and according to the speed of 600 miles, I will not be able to see the battle report of the Xiangyang Military Region until about four days later. At the end of the meeting on 13 June, I received news that the 60,000-strong Mongol army had gathered in Xiangyang.

After reading the battle report of the Xiangyang Military Region, I said: "The Mongolian army has arrived outside Xiangyang City, and the Aiqing under the Military Affairs Yuan, the Military Department, and the Privy Council will stay for the time being, and the rest of the Aiqing will retreat first. ”

Jia Rudao first said: "Your Majesty, it seems that the general attack of the Mongols is about to begin. ”

"Well, I estimate that as soon as the Mongolian coach Ah Shu or Boyan arrives, they will attack." I was a little nervous and a little excited at the same time, "Lu Aiqing, have the first batch of artillery and projectiles been transported into Xiangyang City?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, the first batch of twenty artifacts, one thousand projectiles, and five hundred soldiers of the artillery battalion have secretly entered Xiangyang City under the escort of the Black Carbon Regiment. The artifact that is going to be placed on the city wall has been drilled in the city wall in accordance with the method of indirect aiming of war guns pioneered by our dynasty, and it is expected to be completed in the near future. ”

The indirect aiming method of war artillery mentioned by Lu Xiufu was first used in 1126 by Chen Gui, a famous artillery expert in the Song Dynasty in China, in the garrison of De'an. This method of indirect aiming is a great innovation in the history of world artillery, hundreds of years before the West.

"Okay, when the time comes, use artillery and grenades."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Yin Yinglei Yin Aiqing, Wang Anjie Wang Aiqing, thank you for your Lin, thank you Aiqing."

"The minister is here."

"The Lin'an Military Region and the Royal Forest Army are ready to go to Xiangyang at any time."

"Yes, Your Majesty, your ministers obey."

"Yin Aiqing, has the reorganization of the Lin'an Military Region been completed?"

"Back to Your Majesty, it has been completed, and the Lin'an Military Region has a total of 12,000 people in the newly formed independent compartment, and it is currently being trained."

"Okay, Lu Aiqing, order the Sichuan Military Region, Luzhou Military Region, and Yangzhou Military Region to pay close attention to the movements of the Mongolian Army's eastern and western armies."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Also, Lu Aiqing and Fan Aiqing, the restructuring of the provincial system has been completed during our trip to the DPRK, and the former Guangnan Military Region will be renamed the Guangxi Military Region from today, and the Military Affairs Yuan and the Military Department will immediately make arrangements."

"Yes, your ministers obey."

On June 15 of the fourth year of Xianchun, it was more than half of the hour (10 o'clock in the morning).

The two guards on the arrow tower at the east gate of Xiangyang City first saw the dust in the distance, and one of them hurriedly lifted a simple telescope, only looked at it for a while, and then said: "Quick, it's a Mongol, report to General Lu." ”

After receiving the news, the main general of the East Gate, Lu Shi, rushed up to the arrow tower rubbing, rubbing, rubbing. "Yes, it's the Mongol cavalry." Lu Shikui went downstairs and said, "All armies pay attention and be on alert." Where is the herald? ”

"General, I'm here." A short herald said.

"Dog, report to the boss immediately."

The dog's surname is Chen, nicknamed Ergou, is one of Lu Shikui's heralds, because of his fast movements, quite a light foundation, he was promoted to the captain of the herald team by Lu Shikui. Ergou received the order, knowing that the military situation was urgent, he didn't dare to slack off, so he ran away and soon came to Xiangyang Marshal's Mansion.

"Report, marshal, the vanguard of the Mongolian army, the Asahan Division, is heading towards my east gate."

"Asahan Khan?" Lu Wende said, "Let's go, go and see." ”

Lu Wenhuan and Lu Wenxin escorted Xiangyang coach Lu Wende to the city tower left and right. The three of them looked down and saw that one hundred and fifty meters away, flags were waving, and the black ground was covered with nearly 10,000 Mongolian soldiers, all of them cavalry.

Standing alone in front of the battle, he saw several generals in armor appear on the city tower, and then stepped forward dozens of steps, and said loudly: "Listen to the people above, the pioneer of the Mongol conquest of the south, Ashuhan is here, and anyone dares to fight with me?" ”

Lu Wenxin received Lu Wende's instructions, and shouted angrily: "Ignorant child, my Xiangyang army is not brave enough to be a puppet, and if you invade our territory, you will inevitably die here. Lu Wenxin was full of anger, and his voice immediately spread throughout the entire Mongolian military array.

Azihan laughed and said: "My Mongolian army marched south, but it was in accordance with the will of heaven and did the right thing for heaven. It is clear that you Xiangyang Lu are cowardly, and no one has the courage to go out to fight against your family's rare master. After speaking, with a move of the spear, dozens of loud voices suddenly came up, shouting in unison: "Nanren rat gall, our army will win." The Lu family is full of turtles. ”

Lu Shikui, the chief general stationed at the east gate, was young and vigorous, and he was furious when he heard it: "Marshal, let the last general go out to meet this Azhuhan and behead him, so as to strengthen the prestige of our army." ”

Among the many disciples of the Lu family, Lu Shikui's martial arts are the highest, Lu Shikui's talent is excellent, compared to Lu Shi, Lu Shidao and others' martial arts are more than a step higher, in the battle of Anyang Beach that day, A Thorn Han fought against Lu Shishu, Lu Shidao was slightly inferior, and Lu Shi said that the brothers could only fight with Lu Shikui to a draw, because Lu Shikui thought that he was completely sure to defeat A Thorn Han.

Lu Wende laughed and said: "Heroes don't have the courage of a horseman, turtle? Isn't the turtle nice? It has a long life and strong defense. Shi Kui, without the order of the commander, no one is allowed to fight privately, and those who violate the order will be beheaded. These Mongols under the city, let them toss. ”

Lu Shikui didn't dare to talk back, and replied, "Yes, handsome." ”

Lu Wende looked up at the sky, saw that the sun was shining, and immediately ordered: "Come on, send cold water to the brothers on the city tower, Xiangyang in June has entered the hot season, let everyone quench their thirst first, and then talk about the rest." ”

After a while, the regimental defense in the city brought buckets of clean cold water. Lu Shikui walked to the city wall with a bowl of water and shouted at the Mongolian army outside the city. Lu Shikui has strong martial arts skills, his voice is loud, and he said while drinking: "Mongolian child, keep calling, come up after calling, your Lu Ye invites you to drink water." ”

In the distance, Ah Tinghan snorted, reversed the muzzle of the gun, and said, "Keep scolding, don't stop." ”

The weather was hot, and the Mongolian soldiers couldn't help but swallow their saliva when they saw the Xiangyang army in the city drinking water, but the Mongolian army was strictly disciplined, although they wanted to drink, they were not moved, and the formation still did not move at all.

About a quarter of an hour later, there was a close sound of gongs and drums in the Mongol army, and Azihan lifted his spirits and retreated into the formation, waving his spear into the sky, and said, "Attack the city." ”

As soon as Azhuhan's voice fell, the Mongolian army first launched 25 stone throwers and 39 chariots with large siege crossbows, and these more than 20 stone throwers were all medium-sized double-tip stone throwers, and each stone thrower was operated by 60 to 80 people.

There are three types of stone throwers currently used by the Mongolian army, which are divided into three types: light, medium and heavy. Light stone throwing machine, cast by two people, stone bullets weigh half a catty, mainly used to meet the enemy; Medium-sized stone throwing machine is divided into single tip, double tip, whirlwind, tiger squat, etc., by 40~100 people working together, can fire 25 kg of stone projectiles, the range of 80 steps; The heavy stone throwing machine has five and seven cannons, which requires 150~250 people to pull the cannon rope, and can fire 70~100 pounds of stone projectiles, with a range of up to 50 steps. This heavy cannon is the most powerful, but it is very bulky, and it must be used with a fixed gun mount, and it is mostly used to attack and defend cities.

The catapult came to a halt about sixty meters away from Xiangyang City, a distance that could already be covered by archers, and hundreds of Mongol Hercules held huge shields to the left and right of the catapults and siege crossbows to cover the launch of the catapults and the archers.

Ashuhan coldly ordered, "Let go." ”

With A's order, countless stones were thrown towards the walls of Xiangyang City, and at the same time, huge crossbow arrows shot out towards the city tower. However, the distance of 60 meters seemed a little far for the Mongolian stone throwers, and it was basically inaccurate, and most of the stones fell in a haphazard manner in the moat.

"Advance twenty meters." ”

Forty meters is the effective range of a catapult. However, the distance of 20 meters was not very easy, and the Xiangyang army, under the command of Lu Shikui, continued to shoot feather arrows outside the city. Although the archers of the Xiangyang army were far inferior to the Mongols, they were condescending and not to be underestimated, and the Mongols would pay a certain number of casualties every time they took a step forward.

In a rare situation, he stepped forward and stood at the forefront of the team, his spear fluttering wildly, and all the feathered arrows were swept to the ground. "Cavalry and archery troops, out of battle, covering the trebuchets."

In the Mongolian army array, 3,000 cavalry marched forward, came to a distance of 40 meters, the formation was scattered, one by one the cavalry archers opened their bows and arrows, and then, one by one, the feathered arrows were shot mercilessly towards Xiangyang City, and the momentum of the Xiangyang army was suppressed in an instant. It is undeniable that the Mongols' cavalry and archery capabilities are indeed not comparable to those of the Song army. A nation that grew up on horseback since childhood, this skill is indeed miraculous.