In any siege or defense battle, the construction of tall buildings is an important means. There are two uses.

First of all, the aspect of siege tactics. Whoever is tall can occupy the commanding heights.

For example, Chahan piles up earth mountains, which are high and flat with the city. However, if the defender has built a tall building and the height is sufficient, he can condescend and strike Chahan from a high place with firearms, bows, and even trebuchets. Combined with the protruding outer side of the horse face on the city wall, there are high, low, outer and inner, so that a three-dimensional defense network can be formed. Of course, tall buildings can be built not only in the city, but also in Chahan, and if the tall buildings he builds are higher than the inside of the city, or about the same height as the inside of the city, he can also suppress the city in turn.

Secondly, the reconnaissance aspect. Only by climbing to a high place can you overlook the enemy army, so that you can know the enemy's movements well.

Chahan has built several tall enemy towers, not to mention for the time being. Just say that in the city, as early as before the arrival of the Yuan army, Deng She had built many watchtowers at the four corners of the city wall and in the city. When Chahan arrived, he sent soldiers with good vision to watch every day. When Xu Jizu and Guo Conglong went out of the city, the two shallow and narrow ferries that the Yuan army deliberately withdrew were discovered by these soldiers.

After a few days of observation, as Deng She expected, they clearly discovered the location of the tunnel dug by the Yuan army. According to their findings, Hong Jixun, Ji Zongzhou and other soldiers were divided into three routes. On the one hand, digging a long trench in the city to prevent the Yuan army from entering the city through tunnels as a passive defense; While moving towards the direction of the mountains of earth piled up by the Chahan army, the excavation speed of the extension of the outer decay tunnel was accelerated. At the same time, he also began to dig anti-tunnels outside the city to prevent the Yuan army from collapsing the city wall.

In the process of excavation, and through the method of "urn listening", the direction of anti-tunnel extension is corrected at any time. The main camp of the Yuan army was more than ten miles away from the city, and it was separated by a moat, and the amount of construction was very large. Both sides are working day and night.

In order to confuse the defenders, while digging tunnels, Chahan supervised the construction of the earth mountain every day, making a posture of preparing for the earth and mountain to be attacked. Deng She also inspected the city every day despite his illness, and from time to time organized a team of soldiers with loud voices to shout outside the city, showing a triumphant posture after successive victories.

In addition to piling up mountains of earth and digging tunnels, Chahan also significantly tightened the siege of the city.

Before Jizu and Guo Conglong broke through, the Yuan army was still a little blind to the deployment of the east, west, and north sides. Now, land and water have been completely cut off. It's a net. Even if it's a bird, I'm afraid it won't be able to fly. Deng She sent three or four messengers one after another, wanting to go to Jinan and southeast to understand the situation, but without exception, they were all intercepted by the Yuan army and could not pass through.

Deng She sneezed, feeling that something was wrong with this matter, and his heart was faintly uneasy. He said to Hong Jixun: "Chahan surrounds my city, first loosen and then tighten. There must be a mystery in it. As he spoke, he shuddered.

The place where he spoke to Hong Jixun was in the house. Seeing this, the maid who was waiting on the side was clever, and when she saw this, she hurriedly added a few pieces of coals to the charcoal basin, and lifted it with tongs, and the flames rose as high as she wanted. The interior warms up slightly. Mrs. Wang also accompanied her, knelt in front of the couch, and obediently picked up the thin blanket and helped Deng She put it on her body.

Hong Jixun turned his eyes twice towards Mrs. Wang, replied to Deng She, and said: "The old thief is cunning, and his ministers look at his past battles and use more strategies. This time, it was loose first and then tightened. Something is wrong when I think about it. ”

Ji Zongzhou and Zhang Yu were also on one side. Ji Zongzhou said: "The Yuan army has been in Yidu for many days. Twice confronted the lord, but both failed miserably. Now the weather is getting colder and colder, and in normal years, Shandong is about to start snowing now. Once it snows, it's okay inside my city, but it's inevitable that he won't be able to bear it outside the city. The minister thought that the reason why Chahan was loose first and then tightened was because of this. I want to break our city before it snows. ”

Zhang Yu agreed with Ji Zongzhou's words, and extended it, and said with longing: "As long as the snow falls, it will be difficult for the Chahan army to hold on for a long time. The siege of the city of Yidu is not far away. ”

Deng She shook his head and said, "Soldiers, the country's major affairs." Since Chahan has brought tens of thousands of troops, how could he not take the falling snow into account? Even if it snows, I'm afraid he won't just give up. Most of the military horses he brought were from Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, and the climate in these places was often colder than Shandong's in winter. A little snowfall won't be a big deal. ”

"His rations?"

"Laizhou and other southeastern coastal counties have already entered its hands. Laizhou is where Xianmao Pingzhang Tuntian is located, although many of this year's harvest have been shipped to Yidu. But there is a lot of private storage. Couldn't he raise a month or two of military rations? What's more, the villages and counties near Yidu have all been taken by him. There is no need for Jining to transfer, and the grain copied on the spot is enough for him to hold on for a while. ”

Deng She was a little remorseful, and said: "I really didn't expect Chahan's soldiers to be so sharp!" I thought that the garrison on the southeast coast was sufficient, not enough to hold off the attack of Chahan, but at least it would be no problem to hold out until reinforcements arrived. Unexpectedly, in just a few days, almost all of them fell! He has always shown confidence in front of the soldiers, Hong Jixun and others can be regarded as cronies, and there is no need to hide his true thoughts.

Zhang Yu and Ji Zongzhou were silent.

Hong Jixun said: "No matter what, fortunately, Jinan and Tai'an are still in the hands of our army." As long as these two places are not lost, it is equivalent to wedge two nails in Chahan's back. The Lord has no need to worry. Just wait for Xu Pingzhang and Guo Conglong to reopen the road with Haidong, and wait for our reinforcements to arrive. I have a strong city inside, reinforcements outside, and Ji and Tai in the back, and even if there are 300,000 troops and horses in Chahan, what are you afraid of? ”

When the news of the fall of the southeast coast first came, Hong Jixun had a brief loss of consciousness. But his character has a tenacious side, when he was poor and weak, despised by others, and able to be a Kunpeng far-sighted, first cast Guan Duo, and then from Deng She, born with the ambition of raising his eyebrows and swallowing the eight wildernesses, not to mention a small setback at this time? I regained my strength early and regained my fighting spirit.

In this respect, Dunshe has something in common with him. is like the question that Deng She once pondered: Although the mandate of heaven cannot be violated, but if you don't do it, how can you know what the mandate is? After a little remorse, he coughed a few times, a touch of red appeared on his cheeks, and he cheered up, and said with a smile: "What Mr. said is very true.

"I heard that when Shi Jiabao took advantage of Pan Cheng's rebellion and attacked my Liaoxi, it was difficult to advance an inch in front of Li Ye's defense line. Therefore, lament: with his failure, in vain became the name of Li Ye. The old horseman of Chahan, whose name is Zhenyu. I have just entered the Central Plains in Haidong, and I am worried that no one will bring a sacrificial knife. He is learning from the family treasure, and he has specially come to achieve our prestige! Ladies and gentlemen! In this battle of Yidu, the heroes are all waiting and watching. Wang He, Meng Youde, and Fu Youde, their lords are all known as the south of the Yangtze River, and they also have the title of overlord. Today, I will also let them see what kind of romance our heroes in Haidong and Shandong have. ”

has been in the top position for a long time, and the change of Dunshe is also obvious. Not only is the ability to win people's hearts, give speeches and agitation, command operations, and other aspects are constantly improving, but also personality and ambition are also imperceptibly changing. At this time, although he was sick, he was agitated. Despite the predicament, the heroes are heroic.

Mrs. Wang, who knelt at his feet, was full of wonder. Seeing such a heroic Lang Jun, she said in her heart: "King Yan, His Royal Highness King Yan." A wave of unprovoked emotion flooded over my heart. I felt that my whole body was hot, and I couldn't help but feel soft in my hands and feet, and I looked outside, and secretly complained: "Why is it not dark in the sky!" ”

Outside the hall, Luo Lilang trotted in. On a cold day, he was sweating profusely, and he didn't have time to salute Deng She, so he hurriedly said: "Authentic, authentic,......。 ”

"What's wrong with the tunnel?"

"Dig through!"

Deng She Huoran got up, and Hong Jixun and the others also stood up. Hong Jixun asked, "What's going on?" But ran into a Tatar? Sweat flowed down and got into Luo Lilang's eyes, he rubbed his eyes, nodded hurriedly again and again, and said: "Just outside the city, just after crossing the moat, I ran into the tunnel of the Tartar!" Dunshe asked, "Who is commanding?" Luo Li replied: "General Li and Fu Youde." ”

"Fu Youde?"

Fu Youde just went to the city to talk to General Li. So it just happened to catch up. ”

Dunshe stretched out his arms, and the maids helped him put on his coat and armor, and led everyone out. Mrs. Wang said, "Your Highness? Deng She turned around: "What?" Mrs. Wang still knelt on the ground, forgot to get up in a panic, grabbed the corner of her skirt, pressed one hand on the ground, leaned forward, worried, a thousand words, into one sentence, and said: "Be careful! ”

Deng She smiled and said, "Lady, wait for the good news." ”

It was afternoon, and it was cold in the courtroom. The wind was so strong that the trees bent over. The weather is cloudy and sunny, and it gradually becomes gloomy. Deng She had just left the room when a gust of cold wind swept in, blowing the little heating he had brought out of the room clean at once. Like entering an ice cave. At the head of the city in the west, there was a sudden thunderstorm, which came too suddenly, and the sound of the explosion was very loud, which frightened everyone.

Deng She stopped slightly, turned his head to look west, and there was the direction of Tai'an and Jinan. Suddenly, a bad thought came to mind. Probably alarmed by the drought and thunder, a flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he seemed to guess the reason why the siege of Chahan was "loosened first and then tightened". But he looked at Hong Jixun, but he didn't say his guess, and now is not a good opportunity.

He soon took another big step. On both sides of Hong Jixun and the others, who were fluttering in white, the guards followed jaggedly, and the crimson cloaks were flying and rolling.

The first group of soldiers had already entered the tunnel. Because of the narrow tunnels, there are not many soldiers entering it. There were only twenty or thirty people. When Dun She arrived, there was also a reserve of less than 100 people at the entrance of the tunnel, ready to go. These soldiers were singled. Everyone, either on their face or on their body, had visible scars. Even those with crippled hands and feet are included.

The hands and feet are mutilated, and they seem to be not as sound as their limbs, but the tunnel is a closed environment. What determines life and death is not how skillful the stick is, but mainly depends on courage. Go ahead, it's the enemy. On either side, there is nowhere to retreat. If you have to go back, the tunnel will be occupied by the other party. The tunnels are no more than two people wide, and the low ones are not even as high as one person. Therefore, what is valued is not the technique of killing, but the courage of the soldiers to dare to die.

Haidong has a more thoughtful arrangement for the discharge of soldiers, and the fact that he refuses to quit the army with his hands and feet proves to a large extent that this soldier is an outlaw. Under such conditions, it is actually much stronger than a stick.

Monk Li and Fu Youde were standing at the entrance of the tunnel, and when they saw Deng She coming, they took a few steps forward to greet them. Deng She asked, "What is the situation in the tunnel?" It's a difficult question to answer. People outside the tunnel, no one is underground, and they can't say what the situation is in the tunnel. For the sake of insurance, Monk Li arranged hundreds of soldiers outside the tunnel to prevent the tunnel from being lost, and the Don't teach the Yuan army to rush out.

Monk Li said: "Our sergeant has only been down the tunnel for a short time. The last general listened to the urn at the right time, and the sound of shouting and killing was dull. In less than two quarters of an hour, several bodies had already been dragged out. Half of them are pawns. ”

Deng She turned his eyes to look and saw that there were more than a dozen corpses placed at the entrance of the tunnel. The deaths were tragic. Half of the corpses dragged out of the city were the corpses of the Yuan soldiers, which proved that the other party dragged out at least half of the corpses of the Haidong soldiers. Hong Jixun pointed to the tunnel cave and asked, "Aren't the firewood and poisonous smoke in the cave already being released?" Why are the casualties still so large? ”

Monk Li said: "Although I have poisonous smoke, Chahan has already prepared. The soldiers who entered the tunnel, like our army, all had masks of vinegar slurry. Vinegar detoxifies. No matter how fierce my poisonous smoke is, it will be difficult to harm it in a short time. ”

Excavation entrance of the tunnel, where several clay jars are placed. Deng She listened to Monk Li's explanation, did not say a word, and came to the side of the pottery jar. The tank is covered with cowhide, and you can hear the movement underground.

He listened attentively to his ears. With some noise, the sound of killing underground is ambiguous. The soldiers who enter the tunnels carry special weapons and cannot be too long. Cui Yu specially used fine iron to make it. There are also firecrackers that go down. Occasionally, the sound shook the clay jar and buzzed.

Deng She was listening, and a head popped up in the tunnel. His face was covered in mud and blood. didn't wait for everyone to see who he was, only shouted: "The Tartars are fierce, quickly send the rear team into the cave!" Then he went back into the tunnel.

The soldiers waiting outside the cave all marched according to the size of the ten-person team. Thirty people entered in a row. It is inconvenient to toss and move in the tunnel, and it is already the limit to enter thirty people at a time. Ji Zongzhou sighed: "It's a pity that General Guo is out of the city!" "Everybody knows what he means. Underground can be said to be a real narrow road to meet the brave wins, if Guo Conglong is here, Wanfu is not brave, no matter how many enemies there are, it is difficult to be an opponent. Deng She smiled and said, "Even if I go out of the city from the dragon, will there be no warriors in my city?" ”

Monk Li said: "The last general is willing to take the lead!" ”

Deng She smiled: "This is not the general's appointment. He glanced at Fu Youde beside Monk Li, "Besides, there is a folk proverb in Shandong: Ten tigers from the south are not as good as a wolf in the north." Why use General Li to go out! After saying that, it seemed that he suddenly woke up, only to realize that Fu Youde was from the south, and said to Fu Youde: "The saying of the tiger and wolf is just a proverb." General, don't be surprised. ”

Fu Youde is not a southerner, his ancestral home is Suzhou, in the Huaisi area, between the north and the south. But his lord Chen Youliang occupies most of the territory in the south of the Yangtze River. Originally, when Deng She mentioned the "folk proverb", he was unhappy. Deng She added another sentence as if he had added to the snake, which made him rise up to win and be strong. The more he said, "Don't be surprised", the more unwilling he became.

What's more, Deng She mentioned Guo Conglong. On the day Guo Conglong Chongjian fell, Fu Youde was stimulated to the point of boiling blood and willing to be a drum. Although Guo Conglong went out of the city to the southeast now, as Deng She said, "Are there no warriors in the city?"

He leaped out, looked angry, and said, "General Li has a heavy responsibility. Although he is not a Haidong general, he is also a Han man. Now Chahan is besieging the city, and he is a generation of Hulu. Under him, he and His Royal Highness King Yan have the same hatred and hatred. If you are allowed by His Royal Highness, you are willing to lead the army to the ground and fight to the death! ”

"The general is a guest from afar, how can he work for the general?"

"Does Your Highness look down on our southern husbands?"

"Why did the general say this!" Deng She seemed to be forced to say, "Since the general is asking for it, it is better to obey than to be respectful." Come! With the general's fine armor and iron armor. I'm waiting for the general's good news. ”

Fu Youde is a messenger and does not wear armor. Hearing Deng She's order, Monk Li took a set of high-grade fine armor. Help him put it on. The weapons built by Cui Yu are all piled up outside the tunnel entrance. Fu Youde chose to take advantage of it, inserted three or four short halberds in his waist, held a short spear in his hand, and said to Deng She: "The armor is on your body, and you can't salute." Your Highness, please listen to the sound of the urn. "Put on your mask, jump down the tunnel, bend down and drill inside.

Although Hong Jixun can be called Deng She's confidant, he can see that he is using a trick, but he does not understand what he means. Fu Youde? The reputation is not obvious. Do you use such effort? Even if he goes down the tunnel, will it really help the battle situation in the field? Deng She smiled without saying a word, put it on the urn of his ear, closed his eyes and listened carefully.

In the underpass, Fu Youde entered alone.

The height of the tunnels is not consistent, the highest part can walk with a straight waist, and the lowest part has to be bent over. The first half, with 100 steps, is very quiet. Near the moat, the earth on the walls of the cave gradually became wet. A short walk afield, blood soaked the bottom of the tunnel. The air pipes arranged on both sides of the tunnel are made of cooked copper, and Fu Youde accidentally touched them, and they were hot and hot. The further you go, the smoke gets thicker and thicker. The sound of slashing and slashing became clear from faint to ear.

The underground is already depressing, and wearing a mask makes people more and more breathless.

Deng She raised his head sideways, signaled Ji Zongzhou, Zhang Yu and the others who were whispering to stop their voices, and said, "Fu Envoy has encountered the enemy army. "The cold wind blew the dust outside the cave and lifted it up all over the sky. A few guards couldn't stand the wind and cold, raised their feet slightly, and stomped on the ground a few times. Fu Youde looked up and listened, there seemed to be some voices coming from the surface, but he didn't have time to pay attention to it. The tragic scene of the battle in the tunnel had already appeared in front of him.