The autumn breeze is blowing in Kaifeng City at the end of September, and all the trees that can be seen in the city have turned yellow.
Liu Yan stood on the wall of the Wengcheng at the west gate, looking at the desolation of autumn. The wilderness was mottled with yellow and green, as if everything had withered overnight, just like the Central Plains now, giving people an extremely depressing feeling. Feel.
"Headquarters."
Miao Shao strode forward wearing iron armor. Now that the army was out on the field, the generals of the New Army at all levels began to call Liu Yan "Headquarters", and Liu Yan was accustomed to this.
"All the ministries have been sent out at night. What kind of tricks are the bandits doing? There should be news soon."
Liu Yan nodded, indicating that he heard it, but still stared at the scenery outside.
"Also, half an hour ago, a team from the Zuoying camp sent an alarm that there were more than ten thousand thieves in the west of the city. The leader of the thieves was Li Laiheng. Xu Guerrilla had already led the cavalry battalion to intercept them."
Liu Yan pointed to the autumn scenery in the distance outside the city and said: "The bandits should have withdrawn. You can see that the yellow smoke in the sky in the distance has begun to dissipate, indicating that the bandits are withdrawing."
Miao Shao smiled and said, "That's what the headquarter said."
"It's just that why did Li Laiheng get so crazy that he suddenly showed up with his troops and then quickly withdrew?"
Liu Yan shook his head: "When Xu Ming comes back, there may be news."
Not long after, Xiao Dongzi and more than 200 Ye Bushou from two groups rushed back. They rushed into the west gate on horseback, and then rushed directly to the capital commander's office in the city.
At this time, Liu Yan had also returned to the capital commander's office. After learning the news, he immediately ordered someone to bring Xiao Dongzi.
"Headquarters!"
Xiao Dongzi looked sad at this time
, cried and reported the story of everyone's encounter with the rogue knight and the fierce battle.
Liu Yan frowned after hearing this. He knew Xu Mingde. On the Julu battlefield, Xu Mingde rode his horse into the slave army and saved many people, which left a deep impression on Liu Yan.
But Liu Yan never imagined that such a strong person would die in the hands of a bandit!
At this time, Xiao Dongzi knelt on the ground and cried, waiting for Liu Yan's punishment.
"do not Cry!"
Liu Yan looked at Xiaodongzi and asked: "They all call you Xiaodongzi, what is your real name?"
Xiao Dongzi wiped away his tears, clasped his fists and said, "Qizhen Headquarters, my subordinate's name is Laidong."
"Lai Dong?"
The surname Lai is rare, so it's no wonder that his colleagues in the army are accustomed to calling him Xiaodongzi, which is indeed easier to pronounce than Laidong.
Liu Yan asked Laidong to stand up and said, "Commander Xu died in the battle. You are all at fault. This town will punish you each with twenty military sticks and make a note in the military merit book. Each of you will be punished next time." In the war, three enemy heads must be beheaded to eliminate them. If one of you in this sentry fails to do so, we will all sit down together with fifty sticks to expel the new army from Qinglai Town!"
When he came to the east, he immediately accepted the order and was about to retreat. He took everyone in the sentry to go to Xun Jingyun, the governor of the town, to get twenty military sticks. However, Liu Yan stopped him: "The battle is about to begin, so I'll just remember these twenty military sticks for now." , go to the town governor to report first, and wait until the war in Kaifeng is over, and then we will all be settled. In addition, you can temporarily command this post and serve as the post commander. This town hopes that you can make meritorious deeds and don't let this town down!"
Laidong was moved in his heart, clasped his fists and said loudly: "Don't worry, the commander-in-chief, my subordinates are determined to
When the liver and brains are wiped out, you will live up to the great kindness of the town! "
On the same day, Liu Yan took the commanders of each battalion to the military camp in the city and cremated the remains of Xu Mingde and the other nine Ye Bushou.
The remains of thousands of fallen soldiers in the army have been cremated one after another in the past few days. The ashes and relics of all soldiers have been affixed with nameplates and will be taken back to Qinglai Town for burial on the day of the army's triumphal return.
At the same time, Liu Yan plans to build a Martyrs' Shrine in Qinglai Town, where the tablets of all fallen soldiers will be enshrined, so that these heroes can enjoy incense and worship, and let future generations remember the feats of these heroes.
Around the burning pile of wood, commanders from each battalion and a large number of new army officers and soldiers solemnly bid farewell to Xu Mingde and others.
Later, Liu Yan and the commanders of each battalion, as well as Xun Jingyun, Henan Governor Gao Mingheng, and deputy general Chen Yongfu gathered at the capital commander's Yamen.
"Our army has been collecting intelligence all night. Li Thief is sending troops to transport the captured artillery everywhere. It is estimated that at most half a month, at least hundreds of large and small artillery can be gathered. By then, the bandit army will definitely attack again. Kaifeng The situation is already very critical!”
Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu both looked ugly. The powerful firepower of the new army gave them confidence. However, the Liuzhou thieves were gathering artillery in large numbers, and the firepower was very likely to exceed that of Liu Yan's new army. Coupled with the Liuzhou thieves' sufficient strength, Can Kaifeng City still be defended?
Xu Ming, Miao Shao, Zhang Yi, Shen Tuo, Wang Bo, Qian Qian, Xun Jingyun, Wang Yue and others also looked gloomy. The battle had already caused thousands of casualties to the New Army battalions. Now Li Zicheng mobilized a large number of artillery to attack. Everyone They are all worried that the New Army battalions will suffer heavy casualties again.
Liu Yan looked at everyone's faces. Although he was also worried, he couldn't show it. After all, he was the one who showed their courage. If even he was panicked and overwhelmed, then there would be no need to fight this battle.
"According to our army's combat experience in Julu, Jinan, Liaodong and other places, even if the enemy's artillery is numerous, as long as a large number of sandbags and earth-moving vehicles are prepared to protect the military formation, the damage caused by rogue artillery can be greatly reduced."
Liu Yan then looked at Gao Mingheng: "So Gao Futai will have to work hard. Starting today, he will immediately mobilize the young men in the city to collect all the sacks, bamboo baskets, cloth bags and other items, and put them all into soil to make earth bags."
"These earthbags must be built up on top of the city to form a defensive line. The town will send army lieutenants to guide them on the specific methods."
"In addition, Gaofutai will also mobilize at least 500 large vehicles, with earth bags tied and fixed on them, and the large vehicles will be converted into earth vehicles so that they can accompany the soldiers of the New Army battalions out of the city for combat use."
Gao Mingheng said: "Don't worry, Mr. Liu, I will go and do it today, five days, no! As long as three days, even if I work day and night without eating or sleeping, I will prepare the soil defense line and the soil vehicles."
"Okay, I'll be happy to help you."
At this time, Chen Yongfu said: "The rebels are powerful now. Although General Liu killed hundreds of thousands of people, the rebels still have at least hundreds of thousands of troops. If Li Zicheng is allowed to gather so many artillery, I am afraid that even these local bastards will be killed." Being able to truly defend against artillery fire is just a drop in the bucket.”
"In view of the general's opinion, it is better to send troops to intercept the bandits' men and horses transporting artillery everywhere. We do not want to intercept the entire bandit convoy, but at least we can allow the bandits to get less artillery."
Liu Yan
But he disagreed: "There is no problem in theory, but it is difficult to do it in detail. Where did the people and horses of the bandits transporting the artillery pass through? How many people and horses were escorted by each convoy? These are all unknowns, and under the strong cover of the bandit army, It will be difficult for our army to accurately grasp this information."
"In addition, how many troops and horses are General Chen prepared to send to intercept? Li Zicheng has hundreds of thousands of troops in his hands. He can divide his troops as much as he wants and transport artillery from all directions. But this town only has tens of thousands of elite troops, and the number of cavalry is even rarer. It is impossible to divide his troops everywhere. If you attack, it will be too easy for the bandits to defeat you one by one!"
Chen Yongfu said worriedly: "Are we just going to watch the thieves transfer the artillery?"
Liu Yan knew that Chen Yongfu was questioning the anti-artillery ability of earthen sandbags. After all, Chen Yongfu had never seen it before, and it was understandable that he did not believe that mere sand and soil could block powerful artillery shells.
"Haha, don't worry, General Chen. The sandbag method deployed in this town will definitely achieve great results. In addition, our army's artillery battalion is not a vegetarian. Although the number of artillery is relatively small, its accuracy and firepower are by no means better than those of the bandits. Difference!"
"Besides, aren't there more than two hundred artillery pieces on the walls of Kaifeng City? By then, these artillery pieces will be under the command of General Chen, and they will assist our artillery battalion in combat, and they will definitely be able to make further achievements."
Chen Yongfu nodded doubtfully, but he was still worried.
"General Liu, hehe."
Gao Mingheng said: "Actually, I have another plan to make all the hundreds of thousands of bandit soldiers under Li Thief die under the walls of Kaifeng City!"
Liu Yan glanced at Gao Mingheng and naturally knew what this guy was thinking, so he said coldly: "
Gao Futai wanted to dig up the Yellow River embankment and flood Kaifeng, right? "
All the generals of the new army changed their faces in shock. Gao Mingheng and Chen Yongfu were also shocked. They did not expect that Liu Yan also thought of this method.
Gao Mingheng laughed and said with a little contentment: "It seems that heroes really have the same idea. I didn't expect General Liu to also think of this clever plan!"
Historically, Gao Mingheng commanded the Kaifeng garrison to resist Li Zicheng's army. Later, due to the lack of food and grass, most of the city's population died of starvation. He then sent people to break the Yellow River embankment and flood Li Zicheng's bandit army.
At the same time, Li Zicheng also decided to dig up the Yellow River embankment to flood the city with water.
The final result was that the Yellow River flooded Kaifeng City, which not only caused heavy casualties to Li Zicheng's army, but also caused heavy casualties to the people in Kaifeng City. Although Li Zicheng finally withdrew his troops, corpses littered the city of Kaifeng, and countless corpses in the flood could be seen in the downstream cities.
Liu Yan looked at Gao Mingheng's proud look. This man was considered the number one figure in history. He was able to defend Kaifeng City against the siege of Li Zicheng's army. Although it was also due to the contributions of Chen Yongfu and other generals, as well as a lot of luck, it was also It is enough to show that Gao Mingheng still has some tricks.
In addition, Gao Mingheng later became an official and returned home, and encountered Qing soldiers entering the customs. This man was able to rally the children of his clan to resist the Qing soldiers, and there was no stain on his righteousness.
only……
Liu Yan waved his hand and said: "Gao Futai, the plan to flood Kaifeng City is over. This town will never allow anyone to have this idea!"
"Why?"
Gao Mingheng looked at Liu Yan in surprise. There is such a good way, why not use it?
Liu Ya asked: "Since Gao Futai thought of water,
Yankai closed the city, so I would like to ask: How many ships has Gaofutai prepared as standby? How much food has been prepared to evacuate people? How much sand, stone and wood were prepared to strengthen the city walls and gates? "
Gao Mingheng was speechless because he had not made any preparations.
"Once the Yellow River embankment is dug, the torrential flood will not be able to distinguish between ourselves and the enemy. Not only Li Zicheng's hundreds of thousands of bandits and bandits will be drowned, but also hundreds of thousands of people in Kaifeng City, as well as tens of thousands of our new army. Soldiers!"
Liu Yan stared at Gao Mingheng and said coldly: "The water attack strategy is a plan to kill everyone together. Gao Futai had better stop it. If anyone dares to take the risk and put our new army officers and the people in the city to death, then this town I don’t mind crushing it to ashes!”
After hearing this, Gao Mingheng was shocked and confessed, and immediately gave up the water attack strategy.
On that day, the people in the city were mobilized by a group of officials led by Gao Mingheng. After a large amount of money and grain were scattered, countless sandbags and earthbags were driven out for three consecutive days and continuously transported to the walls of Kaifeng City, and then placed in various departments of the New Army. With the help of the soldiers, an anti-artillery fortification soon appeared on the city wall of Kaifeng City. All the defenders, the defensive equipment, and the various artillery on the city head were all protected.
At the same time, Gao Mingheng recruited more than 530 taels of various carts from all over the city, and also mobilized a large number of carpenters to reinforce and modify these carts day and night, turning them all into earth-moving carts. And key parts such as axles have been reinforced.
On the fifth day, Liu Yan inspected the fortifications on the walls of Kaifeng City. Although they were not as good as those on the Hongluo Mountain defense line in Liaodong,
It's a certain level, but it's almost enough to stop opponents with half-baked artillery abilities like the rogue thieves.
At this time, Liu Yan determined that even if Li Zicheng could obtain a large number of artillery, he would not be able to find a sufficient number and elite enough gunners. Therefore, despite the large number of artillery among the bandits, the firepower in actual combat was actually at a discount.
"Well, very good. The city's defense is basically up to standard."
Liu Yan smiled and said to Gao Mingheng beside him: "In addition, I would like to ask Gao Futai to work harder and move the people near the city wall to prevent accidental injuries from bandits and artillery fire."
"It's easy to say, I..."
Before Gao Mingheng could finish speaking, he heard a roar of firecrackers coming from outside the city, followed by a second and third blast.
Liu Yan and others hurriedly looked outside the city. To the west, a group of new troops ran back from the west without stopping their horses at night. At the same time, they kept firing in the air with blunderbuss to warn the city.
About a mile away behind that team of Ye BuZhou, a large number of bandit scouts appeared, numbering in the hundreds.
Later, Liu Yan and others saw countless invading army flags appearing in their field of vision, and countless armies pressing over in mighty force.
