With this in mind, Du He asked Xiang An Longma how Zhang Xiong was. is the kind of character who is only utilitarian and desperate, or a good official who cares about the people and cares about the safety of the people.

An Longma said with a solemn face: "Lord Zhang is naturally the kind of good official who asks for the people's life. If it weren't for that, it wouldn't have been so loved by the people of Gaochang. ”

Du He smiled slightly, it's good that there is a weakness, I'm not afraid of how loyal he is to Gao Chang, I'm afraid that he is the kind of person who is hard-hearted and regards human life as nothing, nodded, and made up his mind in his heart, so that An Longma retreated.

The next day, early in the morning, Du He asked people to invite Zhang Xiong. He saw that Zhang Xiong's status was extraordinary and his age was also high, and he did not embarrass him, but gave him a tent for reading, but only restricted his access. He himself is also knowledgeable, knowing that he is old and weak, and there is no possibility of escape, so he stays in the tent honestly.

Du He took him to the depths of the Chiting Valley, near the end of the Chiting Ancient Road, pointing to the fortifications left behind...... A piece of stone wall, said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang is planning to use these things to defend against my Tang Dynasty's tiger and wolf army?" ”

Zhang Xiong's face was not good, and he said angrily: "General, why is this, humiliating me, the general of the defeated army?" ”

Du He knew that he was worried about the fiasco, and thought about it, so he smiled and said: "Mr. misunderstood, you underestimated me Du He too much." I, Duhe, don't want to find confidence in you, I just want you to recognize a fact! ”

"Deputy Chief Jiang, I'm going to bother you next!" Du He said hello to Jiang Xingben, who had already prepared on the side.

Jiang Xing's status is above Du He, but Du He's performance has convinced him along the way. knew that he was not good at military strategy, and he obeyed his orders. Listening to his words, he also commanded his subordinates to push up the prepared crossbow, stopped five hundred steps away from the stone wall, and controlled the crowd in front of him, ready to start the test firing.

Zhang Xiong also understood a little, and his face showed a slight sarcastic ridicule, a little contempt. He knew that the Tang Dynasty had sharp equipment, so when he built this stone wall, it was quite strict, and the material used was the blue brick and stone of the city wall, which was extremely strong and could block bows and crossbows. The bow and crossbow are five hundred meters away, and it is difficult to leave a mark on the blue masonry.

Du He was confident, he had already seen the power of the crossbow. Although this was the first time that this real sword had shot at the stone wall, he did use the power of the crossbow to shock Zhang Xiong, especially the new crossbow that he had improved.

The pull force of the big bow crossbow on the old crossbow is as high as 12 stones, that is, it requires about 1,400 catties of strength to pull. Therefore, every time the bow is drawn, it is necessary to rely on the power of oxen and horses, or four or five people to pull together. Twelve stones is the limit, and continuing to enhance the pulling force of the bow and crossbow can certainly make it more powerful, but it also requires more manpower and more effort, so it is not practical.

But after Duhe invented the pulley block according to the principles of physics, the situation was different. With the help of a pulley block, one person can pull a thousand pounds of heavy objects, and there is no scruples. Therefore, Jiang Xingben increased the pulling force of the bow and crossbow to sixteen stones this time, which made its power overturn. If he didn't continue to increase it, the hardwood and bowstring would not be able to bear it, and he still had the heart to strengthen it to eighteen or even twenty stones.

This time to test the crossbow, Jiang Xingben personally copied the knife, he used the pulley group to open the bowstring, signaled the people on the side to load the arrows, seven arrows of different sizes and lengths, loaded into the trajectory. After aiming at the target, he first said hello to Duhe, and then pulled the trigger, and the strong reaction force drove the crossbow arm and even the bowstring. Seven arrows roared out, flashing at a speed that was indistinguishable to the naked eye, and only a crisp sound was heard from a small stone wall a hundred paces away, and everyone's eyes were immediately attracted by the stone wall that made a strange sound.

"Huh?" The soldiers who were watching the excitement on the side opened their mouths one by one, as if they were competing with whose mouth was bigger.

Zhang Xiong was even more shocked, his eyes were full of fear, and his face was bloodless: in front, at the stone wall, seven arrows, arrows and arrows were all shot into the stone wall, especially the arrow in the center of the bowstring was seven inches long, five inches wide, and three feet long.

"Go on!" Du He waved his hand.

Jiang Xingben smiled heartily and brought a new type of stone car.

This time it was not one, but twenty, and the stone-throwing carts came four hundred paces from the stone wall, and a hundred stone-gunners were on standby.

With a command, the whistling boulder smashed into the stone wall intensively. It was just a cup of tea, and the twenty stone wheels each shot two boulders, and forty boulders smashed into the stone wall with a "bang, bang, bang", smashing the stone wall to pieces in an instant.

Du He waved his hand to let Jiang Xingben and them retreat, and said with a smile: "This is the latest offensive and defensive equipment developed by my Datang, the maximum firing distance of the crossbow can reach seven hundred steps, and it is extremely powerful." The stone truck can throw a hundred pounds of boulders, and the range is also 400 meters, you can also see it. The biggest feature of this new type of device is that it has a fast rate of fire, great power and long range. It's easy to suppress from a distance, and it's so powerful to have only twenty cars, and you can imagine what it would be like if there were a hundred, two hundred, or three hundred. ”

Zhang Xiong's face turned paler, and his body trembled faintly.

Du He said: "How? In fact, he himself was taken aback by the scene in front of him, and the performance of the crossbow and stone cart was far beyond his expectations. However, his face was very calm, but he was a little proud and complacent in his heart. These two things are so powerful, so velocity. He, a "physicist" who is better than Newton, has made great contributions.

"My 100,000 troops of the Tang Dynasty arrived in Gaochang in these days, when 100,000 troops came to the city, and 100 stone trucks and 100 crossbows were arrayed outside Gaochang City. I really want to know how long this first fortified city in the Western Regions can hold on! Du He said provocatively, his tone quite arrogant.

But Zhang Xiong didn't find it difficult to hear, because he knew that Du He had the qualifications to be arrogant, and their Datang also had the qualifications to be arrogant. He hesitated again and again, sighed and said, "Alas, I already knew that Datang couldn't be provoked." But His Majesty insisted on going his own way, and now that retribution has come, it is time to pay the price. General Du, you don't have to say anything, I understand what you mean. If you can trust me, this old bone, I, Zhang Xiong, am willing to send Gaochang on your behalf to persuade the king to surrender. But I hope that the general will promise one thing, no matter what, he can't embarrass the people of Gaochang and the Gaochang royal family, so that they can be treated as they deserve. ”

He was already a wise man with extraordinary intelligence, and he had already seen Du He's intentions, and his heart was full of amazement, like a wave, unable to calm down.

In fact, as early as last night, he expected that Du He would use himself to persuade Gao Chang to surrender, and he also made up his mind to pay attention. No matter what Du He said, no matter how good his eloquence was, he ignored it and ignored it. Even if you can't save Gaochang, you can't become Gaochang's sinner who died in the country, and laugh at the world.

But Du He's approach was far beyond his expectations.

Du He didn't open his mouth to persuade, let alone say a word, but let him recognize the facts, recognize the gap between Gaochang and Datang, and make him deeply aware that Gaochang no longer has any hope, continue to hold on, and only the people of Gaochang suffer.

After thinking about it, he thought about the scene of Gaochang breaking through the city wall after the Tang army broke through the city wall because of his stubborn resistance.

"Refreshing!" Du He put his hands together and "snapped", to deal with this kind of smart person, he should use a smart method, a thousand words, far less than his own perception, and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang is quick to talk, and I Du He can also promise you." As long as I, Du He, am here, as long as I can eliminate this military disaster without bloodshed, I will definitely not let the people of Gaochang and the royal family suffer any unfair treatment. ”

Zhang Xiong said: "I hope General Du can remember today's words." ”

Du He said proudly: "Once the word is spoken, it is difficult for the horse to chase." ”

After a pause, he continued: "I'll repair the book and persuade me to surrender, and everything will be Mr. Lao Zhang." ”

Du He immediately wrote a letter of persuasion and handed it to Zhang Xiong.

Seeing Zhang Xiong leave, Du He laughed, and said confidently to Luo Tong and Fang Yiai: "Zhang Xiong is going, I believe that it won't be long before Gaochang will be my Datang!" ”

Luo Tong was a little worried: "Qinglian is not afraid that he is an expedient measure, under the pretext of persuading him to surrender, he ran back to Gaochang, not only did he not persuade Ko Wentai, but used his intelligence to deal with our army?" ”

"No, it won't!" Du He smiled confidently: "There is no need to worry about this, Zhang Xiong is a smart person who can see the situation clearly, he is not the kind of foolish and loyal minister, let alone the kind of rat who complains about surrender when he hears that my Tang Dynasty is strong." It's the kind of cadre who sincerely thinks about the future of Gaochang, as long as Gaochang has a glimmer of hope, he will not give up. But the destruction of the 70,000-strong army of the Western Turks has greatly reduced his prestige, and he himself will not be able to protect himself, let alone protect Gaochang. Our army is coming, and now there is no hope for Gaochang. In this case, smart people make smart choices! What's more, even if Zhang Xiong doesn't keep his promise, we are still fearless. ”

"I thought I got the news that Liu Changshi had convinced King Yanqi. Yanqi is willing to pour 23,000 soldiers from all over the country to help, and the vanguard of 5,000 cavalry will arrive tonight. The remaining more than 10,000 people are also speeding up the march, and it is estimated that they will arrive at noon tomorrow. We have enough strength to wait for the arrival of Chief Hou. Just ......"

Du He clenched his fists and didn't continue, what he wanted to say was that as soon as Hou Junji came, he would share his share of Gaochang's merits.

At that moment a flying pigeon flew and landed on Duhe's shoulder.

He caught the flying pigeon, and lightly untied a silk scroll from its feet, which was the flying pigeon sent to him by Huangfu Haohua, who had sneaked into Gaochang City early, and gently unfolded the silk scroll, but saw that the silk scroll was written: "Koji Wentai is the reason for this, and his son Koji Zhisheng succeeds as the king of Gaochang!" ”

(To be continued)