Winter in the northwest has always come earlier than in other places, especially when it comes out of Shimotsu Pass.

In October, if you are in Chongdu City, you can still feel a trace of refreshing autumn, but in the northwest, there is only a biting cold wind.

There was already light snow in the sky, and this was the first snow to fall from the northwest in the winter of the year. More than 200,000 troops of Dazhao, except for the local government soldiers who stayed in Lingzhou, all the Praetorian Guards marched towards Jincheng.

I don't know why, according to the pre-war arrangement, all the troops should have left for Jincheng five days ago, but Huan Guohou ordered to delay the march, and when he had to compete with God for time, he delayed the march, not only Xi Yan, but even many generals couldn't figure it out. But afraid of Huan Guohou's power and his prestige in the army, everyone did not question it.

The road from Lingzhou to Jincheng is not difficult, but it is a snowy day, and the army is marching, so the speed must be slowed down

As in the attack on Lingzhou, the Xiao Cavalry Guard and the Leopard Cavalry Guard still acted as the forwards, and the Shooting Guards and Xiong Qu Guards were in the center. Jin Wuwei, as Huan Guohou's personal soldier, naturally had to protect the Chinese army, and Huan Guohou was physically inconvenient and could only go by car, so Jin Wuwei was arranged in the position of the Chinese army in the army.

Xi Yan was dressed in a dark iron armor, wearing a big coat of the same color, the hem of the big hat was spread out, hanging on both sides of the horse's belly, calm and calm, and even more graceful.

At this time, he was riding his horse to guard his brother's carriage, although the car was warm, but Xi Yan would never violate his duty, he knew that on the battlefield, he did not need his brother's wings. No matter how cold it is outside, he must stick to it outside, and Xi Luan has no intention of accommodating, so he suffers from those winds and snows outside, but he enjoys hot tea and charcoal stove in the car.

Although it was cold, from a distance, the young general was heroic.

Looking at the light snow falling in the sky, Xi Yan was faintly worried in his heart, the soldiers sent to Jincheng to seize the ferry and ensure the transportation of grain and grass in the rear. But now that it is the twilight of the year, if the water is frozen in advance, then even if the golden city is taken, it seems that the most important meaning has been lost.

After thinking about this, Xi Yan asked, "Brother thinks when will the water be frozen?" ”

"Not more than half a month."

"Then what is the purpose of our troops in Jincheng at this time?"

"Take the ferry and transport grain by water."

"The water will freeze in less than half a month."

"Only by attacking it quickly can it be rushed. The food and grass of the army are continuous. ”

There were only a few words, but Xi Luan's tone was extremely firm, "The Uighurs are good at attacking but not good at defending, and they are good at field warfare but not good at defending cities...... If it weren't for the last resort, Wen Gulu would never have retreated to the Golden City...... They have been besieged for several days, and this time they are besieging the city, and Ben Hou is determined to win. ”

In Jincheng, hundreds of thousands of troops of Dazhao are approaching the city, and all the surrounding roads that can accommodate two horses have been blocked, cutting off all possible reinforcements. Wen Gulu, the Uighur general defending the city, stood at the head of the city, and when he saw that the Great Zhao army stretched for several miles, and the banners in the distance seemed to have touched the sky, he couldn't help but shudder.

The Uighurs were indeed not good at attacking and defending cities, and Jincheng was only a large piece of land, but in the period before the arrival of the Great Zhao army, they did not dig a single rejection pit, but only dug half a shallow trench near the city wall, and in less than an hour, the trench was refilled by the Great Zhao people.

Snow flew in the sky, and the long and agitated sound of trumpets wafted over the golden city. The tower of Jincheng is still intact, but it looks dead silent, and the Uighurs have long been lined up on the tower.

This is the golden city that Xi Yan saw for the first time.

Outside the Golden City, all siege equipment has been assembled. With Huan Guohou's order, Xiong Quwei's army took the lead. More than a dozen soldiers formed a team, holding square shields in formation, pushing the ladder slowly approaching the city wall. But every time I got closer, countless boulders fell from the walls. The heavy shield can resist the arrows, but it can't stop the rolling stones, and after several times, Xiong Quwei has killed and injured many people.

This result had long been expected by Xi Luan, so he ordered, "Catapults, bed crossbows are prepared." Archers, salvos. ”

As soon as the order was issued, the archery guards who had been in the middle of the army immediately came to the front army, and the change of formation only took place in an instant, just as the Uighurs at the head of the city were impressed by the well-trained army of the Great Zhao, countless flying arrows had already broken through the air.

For a time, more than half of the defenders at the head of the city had been killed and wounded, but before the Great Zhao army could attack the city, a new defender came up to fill the original position.

At this time, the catapult was also ready, and the boulders smashed into the city with ten thousand powers, but none of them hit the city wall. It will take some time for the catapult to reload, and the Songuard's bed crossbow will be useful. Almost at the same moment, the bed crossbows at the head of the city were also assembled, and the two sides were in front and behind, and the huge crossbow arrows scrambled to shoot into the enemy camp.

"Archer, five more volleys."

The Uighur soldiers at the head of the city saw a black and crushing arrow roaring towards them, and for a moment forgot to resist it, and only looked for a place to hide. Seeing this, the Da Zhao soldiers under the city took the opportunity to push the ladder cart to the city wall, and continued to climb towards the city. But often before they could reach the halfway point, they were shot by arrows from the defenders at the head of the city. Occasionally, someone was able to climb to the top, but most of them were also chopped off by the defenders' knives.

Gradually, Da Zhao's soldiers finally appeared on the city. One, two...... A Da Zhao soldier stood firm at the head of the city, and immediately more comrades came up behind him.

On the head of the city, swords and swords, flesh and blood fly. Outside the city, the sound of siege trees crashing against the gates was deafening. As the night fell, only the light of fire and shouts of killing signalled that the war was still ongoing.

The siege trees were still pounding against the gates, but the attackers had changed several times. Although he is on the battlefield, Xi Luan is still calm and calm, and he is confident.

About half an hour later, Xi Luan ordered in a deep voice: "Jin Wuwei, prepare to charge." ”

Xi Yan listened to the order, and then took the order and left. "Boom!" The city gate fell in response, and the Jinwuwei spear cavalry charged towards the city in the shape of an arrow. Xi Yan took the lead, the silver spear was a little cold, and everywhere he passed, he was killed.

The shouting and killing gradually subsided, and a bloodied general sprinted into the tent, knelt on one knee, and clenched his fists and said: "Lord Houhou, Jincheng has been captured, and Jin Wuwei is cleaning up the remnants in the city." ”

Xi Luan bowed his head slightly in response, and after a while, another counselor reported: "Lord Houhou, General Jin Wuwei captured the enemy general Wen Gulu alive, and he is outside the tent, waiting for the fate!" ”

Xi Luan's face did not change, and he said casually: "Escort back to Chongdu, let Your Majesty send you down." ”

"What about the other POWs?"

"This is my Da Zhao's land," Xi Luan raised the teacup and took a sip of it, "Do you remember the blood outside the north gate of Lingzhou City?" ”

The general's heart is cold, it has been ominous since ancient times, and Huan Guohou is afraid that it is not good to do this. Thinking of this, the general hesitated and persuaded: "But Master Hou...... The prisoners of war have no resistance, and if they are killed again, I am afraid that they will ...... Inauspicious. ”

"Ominous?" Xi Luan's face suddenly turned cold, "When the Northern Qin Fu Mang army slaughtered the people of my Lingzhou, did you think about it ominous?" If you have the courage to share the soldiers, go and get back their heads for my great Zhao people. ”

"Yes!" The general was accustomed to life and death on the battlefield, and he was also provoked by this sentence, and he came out of the handsome tent with red eyes.

Seeing Xi Yan come back, Xi Luan's eyes rarely revealed concern, "I heard that you captured Wen Gulu alive, and you made a great achievement." ”

"My brother has won the award, he is already a turtle in an urn, and whoever goes is the same."

Xi Luan smiled slightly, but he was noncommittal. He immediately asked the general in charge of statistics: "How is the damage of our army?" ”

"Among the siege troops, Xiong Quwei suffered a lot of losses, and there were almost no losses in the shooting guards. The Xiao Cavalry Guard and the Leopard Cavalry Guard are responsible for the perimeter protection, which is not yet known. ”

"Hmm." Xi Luan dropped the book in his hand, "Go into the city immediately to repair the ferry." Command the grain convoy to depart immediately. In eight hours, I will see the first batch of grain and grass at the Jincheng Wharf. ”

"Hou Ye, rest assured, the grain fleet has been waiting outside the Xiajin ferry for a long time, and it will only set off when the front-line army takes Jincheng."

"Got it, let's go down."