The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
Su Dingfang didn't dare to disobey Li Ji's military orders, but he wanted to evaluate whether the benefits were worth the risk of disobeying the military orders. The most intuitive and simple assessment among them is, can Pingrang City be captured by the navy alone?
If he disobeys military orders and refuses to withdraw his troops, he attacks Pingrang City for the sake of unparalleled feats and helps the empire eliminate the northeastern frontier troubles for hundreds of years. However, he ends up being crushed under Pingrang City, his head is bleeding, and he fails to break through the city and annihilates him. The country would really suffer a big loss and make a huge joke.
When Xi Junmai heard Su Dingfang's inquiry, he quickly stood up and came to the map hanging on the bulkhead on the side of the desk. He pointed at the topography of Pingrang City and said, "It's very simple. Bomb the city with artillery!"
He pointed at the west city of Pingrang City and said: "Back then, King Changshou of Goguryeo moved his capital to Pyongyang City and built an additional city in the west city. The regulations were all copied from those of the Han Dynasty. Later, King Rongliu also expanded the city and copied Chang'an City. Therefore, it is also called Chang'an City, and the Han people call it "Little Chang'an". This city is located to the west of Pingrang City, six miles from east to west, bending with the mountains, facing the Xu River in the south, and close to the inner city and south of the former capital of Goguryeo. Seoul on the banks of the Han River in Baekje, and its metropolis, are known as the Three Capitals in the country. However, the King of Goguryeo did not usually live in Chang'an City, but stocked armor and ordnance there in case of emergency needs. Our army should be able to unload all the artillery on the warships and drag them on the ice of the Xu River with human and animal power until they reach the city of Chang'an. Hundreds of artillery cannons will be fired in a salvo, which will definitely break the city!"
Su Dingfang stood up, stood in front of the map with his hands behind his hands, looked at it carefully, frowned and said: "Previously, the army besieged the city. It can be seen that the city wall of Pingrang City is based on rammed earth and built with green bricks on the outside. Gunpowder can only blow up the outside green bricks. But it is difficult to shake the rammed earth inside. Even hundreds of artillery cannons will not be able to destroy it."
Why did hundreds of thousands of Tang troops besiege Pingrang City but failed? The most important reason is that the city wall of Pingrang City has a complex structure. The rammed loess layer inside is tight and solid, and it is difficult to blow it up with the power of gunpowder. As a result, the Tang Army's strategy of using gunpowder to blow up the city wall and break into the city since the Eastern Expedition has not yet been completed. If it can be effective, it can only be filled with human lives as in the past siege wars, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and achieves twice the result with half the effort.
Moreover, the power of artillery is to kill and injure soldiers. It is used to bombard city walls, but the effect is insignificant.
Xi Junmai pointed to the location of the city gate: "The city wall naturally has a core of rammed earth, so gunpowder is difficult to work, but what about the city gate?"
Su Dingfang's eyes lit up.
That’s right! The city gates are all made of huge stones, and it is indeed difficult for a tiny bit of gunpowder to be effective. However, if a large amount of gunpowder is used to bombard the city gates, it will loosen the stones and cause the city gates to collapse. As long as the city gate collapses, it will become a huge breakthrough. You can go straight into the city and fight to the inside of the city wall, and attack the city wall with an exception.
Su Dingfang was not surprised that he had not thought of this method during the previous siege. When it came to understanding the performance and uses of gunpowder and firearms, looking at the Tang Dynasty, no other force could surpass the Navy, not even Youtun Guards. Inside.
It's just that Xi Junmai clearly had such a good plan to break the city, but he kept silent about it. It was obvious that he was resentful of the military and the court for excluding the navy from the main force. Even watching the army try their best but still unable to break into the city, they would hide aside and snicker...
As for the countless soldiers who were lost in vain because of this, Su Dingfang didn't care.
We are not saints. When our own interests suffer losses, how many people can still be selfless and dedicate such good strategies to those who exclude them to achieve success and gain promotion?
"This is a good strategy. You can give it a try. But since the city gate is bombarded with gunpowder, what's the use of unloading the artillery on the warship and transporting it to Pingrang City?"
"Captain, the lead bullets fired from the artillery are indeed difficult to cause damage to the city wall, but a batch of kerosene bombs were just supplied a few days ago..."
"Using artillery to launch kerosene bombs into the city?"
"Exactly! When this 'Little Chang'an' was first built, it was used as a military fortress, hoarding a large amount of armor, ordnance, and even grain! We focused on this, and at the same time deployed artillery in all directions of Pingrang City, directing the fire Firing a volley of oil bombs into the city will not only burn the enemy's baggage, but also trigger panic among the soldiers and civilians in the city. At that time, if the city gates are blown down and the city is broken into, the battle will be decided!"
…
Xi Junmai was articulate and thoughtful, and he explained the strategy of attacking the city. It was obvious that he had planned it for a long time, and his strategy was rigorous and meticulous, with no oversights. It was indeed feasible.
This is not to say that Xi Junmai is better at using troops than the generals who followed His Majesty Li Er in the Eastern Expedition, but that the tactics required for firearms are completely different from those in the past. Those brave generals on the battlefield and famous contemporary commanders have been fighting for a lifetime, and their thinking has been solidified. How difficult is it to suddenly change their combat thinking?
Just like this artillery, even if you give them a thousand cannons, it will be in vain, because if the soldiers have not gone through long-term training, countless cannonballs and countless barrels will be ground out bit by bit, and they will not even be able to aim accurately. …
Su Dingfang stood in front of the map, pondered for a while, and made up his mind: "Immediately send my order to the general to unload all the artillery on the warships and transport them to Pingrang City. The entire army gathered and took advantage of the gap between the Goguryeo army's pursuit to the north to storm Pingrang. Rangcheng! This commander has a huge stake in this battle. He can only succeed and cannot fail! Even if we fight to the death with only one soldier left, we must capture Pingrangcheng and overthrow Goguryeo!"
Today, Goguryeo has a vast territory and a large population. It has become stronger and stronger gradually, gradually threatening the enemy's northeastern border.
The failure of this Eastern Expedition not only dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Tang army, but also consumed countless supplies of food, fodder, and weapons. Within ten years, it would be difficult to organize another large-scale offensive war. The rise of such a powerful country on the border of the empire will inevitably affect the long-term peace and stability of the empire. Fighting will definitely continue. If the Tang army does not attack Goguryeo, it is feared that Goguryeo will invade the Tang Dynasty in the future.
And if the empire conquers Goguryeo again in the future, how much national power will it consume and how many soldiers will be killed?
The empire has reached a prosperous age, but its foundation is not yet stable. If the capital of the country squanders its national power, years of hard work by both the government and the public will be wasted. Not to mention how sad and desolate it is that each and every one of the lively sons of the Tang Dynasty was buried in Liaodong and their blood was spilled in foreign lands...
Although Xi Junmai tried his best to dissuade him, he did not expect Su Dingfang to be so decisive. He was stunned for a moment and asked instead: "Commander, has it been decided?"
Su Dingfang glared at him and said angrily: "Which of you lieutenants and generals is not eagerly waiting for me to disobey my order and then order an attack on the city? I am willing to fulfill your desire for success, but the ugly words are ahead. I will bear the blame for disobeying orders, but if we cannot capture Pingrang City, I cannot afford to lose that person!"
If the navy would rather disobey orders and attack Pingrang City aggressively in an attempt to seize unparalleled achievements, but end up with a broken head and bloodshed... even if they would become a laughing stock in the world, they would be mentioned in the history books. He, Su Dingfang, will be ridiculed by future generations.
Xi Junmai quickly patted his chest and assured: "Don't worry, Governor, even if you risk your life, we will definitely capture Pingrang City and overthrow such powerful enemies of the empire as Goguryeo!"
Everyone in the Tang Dynasty knew that the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo was not only for the unparalleled feat of unifying the world, but more importantly, to eliminate this rising power as soon as possible, otherwise it would become a serious trouble in the future! And once Goguryeo falls, the empire's eastern and northern frontiers will be free of powerful enemies, and they can concentrate their efforts on conquering Tibet.
After all, Tubo was the real powerful enemy of the Tang Dynasty!
Su Dingfang nodded and said: "Go down and deliver the order. The troops will light fires and cook food. They will set out early tomorrow morning and arrive at Pingrang City! In addition, send people to the north to inform the British Duke that the navy will sacrifice their lives for righteousness and is willing to continue the unfinished business of the army. Overthrow the enemy's country and die without hesitation!"
"Here!"
Mr. Xi agreed, turned around and went out to convey the military order.
Su Dingfang stood at the porthole, looking out with his hands behind his hands. He saw that the sky was gloomy, dark clouds were rolling, and the vast sea was like a deep black pool that was daunting.
In a moment, the military order was conveyed to each warship. Immediately, countless soldiers ran excitedly to the deck and raised their arms and cheered. Even the sea breeze could not cover up the shouts!
The Navy is imbued with Fang Jun's imprint from top to bottom. From the day it was formed into the army, "pioneering and enterprising, never turning back" has been the spirit of the Navy. Above the sea and within the seven oceans, all enemies must surrender. However, the footprints of the Navy must not be limited to the ocean, but must extend to every country connected by the sea, making all foreign countries and foreign lands surrender to the artillery fire of the Navy. Down.
