The soldiers of Cao's army became more and more frightened at this time, and they were a little afraid to move forward. When Guo Huai saw this situation, he decisively replaced all the overworked archers.
In exchange for the few five hundred Wuhuan soldiers assigned to him. These five hundred string-control warriors can be called super marksmen. Their sparse shooting did not constitute a rain of arrows at all.
But countless Cao soldiers were controlled by the sparse and condescending arrows on the other side of the moat. Anyone who crossed the river and walked into the middle would definitely have a feather arrow stuck in their forehead or chest.
The soldiers across from Cao were so frightened that their faces were ashen and they retreated without obeying the command. Guo Huai thought to himself, this is good. If everyone's archery skills were so accurate, how many arrows would be saved.
Xun You had been watching the battle, but at this time he rode up to Cao Cao and said, "My lord, please retreat for the time being. You have your own plan to break the city."
Soon after, Xun You returned to the military camp and said to Cao Cao: "My lord, Sun Tzu said: the first is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the army, and the third is to attack the city. All strategically important cities have thick walls. It is high and protected by ravines, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Therefore, Sun Tzu said that attacking a city is a last resort strategy. "
Hearing this, Cao Cao looked around the generals and said with a smile: "This general naturally understands, but I didn't expect that Yuan Jun would still have such a strong will and fighting power despite his new defeat. Yuan Shao, this son, is really not simple. Yuan Xi The combat effectiveness of the formed Qingzhou Army is no worse than our Yanzhou Army. Gongda, didn’t you say you have a clever plan to break the city? Come on and tell me.”
Xun You nodded and replied, "Your Majesty, your strategy is to surround without attacking, and wait for the opportunity. As the saying goes, it will be exhausted in one go, but it will weaken again, and it will be exhausted after three. This is true for elite soldiers, let alone a newly defeated division. We are at this moment If we don’t fight, we can wait until the morale of his army is weakened, the city is still alive, and the spirit of the city’s death and people’s death has worn off, and then we can attack again, and we will definitely win a complete victory.”
Cao Cao hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "Gongda, we can't afford to wait. It's not like you don't know the food situation in the army. It's only enough for ten days at most."
Xun You laughed out loud and said, "My lord, you are worrying too much. It won't take so long."
Seeing Xun You so confident, Cao Cao was a little puzzled: "But Liyang City has a lot of food and grass, so they may not necessarily lose confidence. On the contrary, they will get a chance to recuperate. By then, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult to win."
Xun You then explained: "I have thought of this a long time ago. During the siege of the city, we can lure the enemy out of the city and eat him away bit by bit outside the city."
Cao Cao's eyes lit up and he asked: "The plan will be settled."
Xun You was plotting against Yuan Jun. At the same time, Jia Xu was plotting against Cao Jun. In the darkness, which was still a long time before dawn, Zhang Xiu led a group of cavalry to stop on the mountain road on the right. The mountains here are too steep and the terrain is too complex, and the soldiers are a little scared.
Zhang Xiu didn't understand why Jia Xu wanted him to lead his troops here to ambush him. Jia Xu didn't say anything, and he didn't dare not ask. However, his lord Yuan Xi wanted everyone to listen to Jia Xu and Zhang He, so he would lead his men. Come here, after all, just obey the orders.
Jia Xu only said it was an ambush, and when he saw Cao's soldiers, he went up and beat them violently. But Cao Bing ate too much to hold himself up. Why did he come here if he had nothing to do? He felt that his escape this time was probably in vain. When I get back later, I want to ridicule Jia Xu and let him come up with random ideas. Isn't this tormenting people? Besides, why don't you send someone else to come? You have to let me come. You know how difficult this road is, it's true! !
The roar of hoofbeats in the distance startled Zhang Xiu. I'm going to come. Is this Jia Xu a human? Ten thousand elite soldiers passed through the dense forest ahead like a whirlwind and rushed towards the fork in the mountain road here.
Zhang Xiu immediately ordered all soldiers to enter a state of combat readiness, ready to rush over and intercept the oncoming Cao army.
On the opposite side, Xia Houyuan carefully identified the path, cursing in his heart, damn, Xun You is tricking me, why can't I see where the fork in the road he mentioned is.
Suddenly, a captain next to him pointed to Xia Houyuan and said, "General, look, this is right here."
Xia Houyuan reined in his horse and took a look. There was a fork in the road on the right side, and a bottomless hanging pit on the left side, which was exactly the same as what was said on the sand table. So he immediately waved his hand to stop the cavalry.
"Quick, go to the right fork to ambush, be quick." Xia Houyuan yelled at the top of his lungs. After listening to his words, the soldiers immediately divided into two teams, pressing forward against the stone walls on both sides of the fork in the road. In this way, after everyone has entered, you can turn your head and adjust each one, and then you can wait for your work.
Two long, winding black dragons had just made their way into the fork in the road, and at that moment, they were shot out by a hail of arrows that were ready to strike. The formation was immediately in chaos.
Zhang Xiu's soldiers were all infantry, which was deliberately arranged by Jia Xu. Zhang Xiu understood this very well. The road was too difficult. The cavalry is not conducive to combat and will cause chaos.
In fact, Cao Cao also thought of this, but it was half an hour after Xia Houyuan set off. How can the lethality of infantry be compared with cavalry? That was on flat ground, but the situation was different in such a steep terrain.
The two teams, like two opposing carriages, collided suddenly at the intersection, causing an earth-shattering roar. The respective vanguard troops quickly strangled together. The team retreated due to frustration. The difference is that behind Zhang Xiujun is Chaotian Road, while behind Xia Houyuan is a hanging pit.
Xia Houyuan was behind, urging the cavalry to go deep into hiding. Unexpectedly, they were suppressed by the rain of arrows, and the rapidly retreating horses were crowded to the edge of the hanging pit.
Xiahou Yuan was about to dismount and avoid the middle of the road when he suddenly heard a few "brave" soldiers shouting loudly: "Protect General Xiahou, protect General Xiahou." Then they ran past Xiahou Yuan shamelessly and became a deserter.
When Xia Houyuan got angry, he drew his knife and wanted to kill them. But Xia Houyuan was exposed to Yuan Jun's field of vision. This is human nature. "Come on, I am Xia Houyuan, Xiahou Miaocai, I am waiting for you and thousands of households, hahahahaha! Meng De, I will take the first step."
Zhang Xiu watched all this with cold eyes and ordered, "Archers, let go." He saw thousands of arrows raining down at Xia Houyuan like a parabola. After a while, Xia Houyuan was hit by more than seventy arrows. Everyone still remembers Jackie Chan's movie "Myth" , the scene where the rebel generals ambush Meng Yi?
"General Xiahou, take care." I saw Zhang Xiu galloping towards him, stabbing Xiahouyuan with his spear. General Xiahouyuan, one of Cao's eight tiger cavalry, dramatically withdrew from the stage of history. Although he was not killed by Huang Zhong and Fa He was about to behead him, but was ambushed and shot by Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu, which was very sad.
As soon as General Xia Houyuan died, Cao's leaderless soldiers suddenly lost their consciousness of resistance. Everyone was terrified, and countless people fell into the hanging pit without being killed.
Others relied on the speed of their horses to escape along the mountain road. After these people returned to the camp, they even said in a flattering manner: "Lord, we fought a bloody road and came back to report the news."
Cao Cao took a look and said, oh, more than 5,000 people came back to report. Isn’t it too much? In grief and anger, each of these soldiers was beaten with fifty military sticks. Several leading generals were beheaded.
In this battle, Zhang Xiu not only "killed" general Xia Houyuan, but also captured nearly 3,000 Cao soldiers and horses. This was the second victory for Yuan Xi's army after the Battle of Puyang.
Liyang.
A soldier ran in from outside and reported loudly: "Report, General, there is a letter sent from outside the city, saying it is for you."
Zhang He frowned and asked, "Oh? Who wrote it?"
The soldier said loudly: "The signature above is Cao Sikong, the great Han Dynasty?"
Zhang He opened the letter and saw that it was a letter persuading him to surrender. So he also wrote an insulting letter, and after finishing it, he asked the soldier just now to go out and shoot arrows out of the city.
He felt that Cao Cao was a bit ridiculous. How could he come up with such an idea? It had no lethality at all.
After the soldier received the letter, Jia Xu picked it up and read it. Then Jia Xu said quietly, "I'm afraid Cao's thieves are going to attack the city."
Zhang He was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "Oh? How can you see it? Sir, please speak clearly!"
Jia Xu smiled and said: "Obviously, the letter just now is a delaying tactic, trying to stabilize the general and make the general think that he can't do anything to us, so he can relax his vigilance. But don't forget that Xia Houyuan and Cao Cao are brothers, there is no reason not to take revenge. "
In this regard, Liu Bei also avenged Guan Yu in history. Unfortunately, Cao Cao finally restrained himself, but Liu Bei did not.
Jia Xu is Jia Xu. He is indeed very wise and cannot be ignored.
Wen Chou on the side asked aloud: "Then what should we do?"
Zhang He heard the words and said with a smile: "The soldiers are coming to take over, and the water is coming and the earth is covering us up. What else can we do?"
Wen Chou advised, "General, it's better not to go up to the tower in the future. It's too dangerous."
Zhang He smiled bitterly and said, "No, I must go up, I must go up. Otherwise, I will not be able to live up to the kindness of the young general."
As expected by Jia Xu, before dawn the next day, Cao Jun's infantry, cavalry, archers, and other troops pressed forward, sneaking up and killing without even blowing their horns.
mean. Fortunately they were prepared. Cao Ang also had a white cloth wrapped around his head, claiming that he was avenging his uncle Xia Houyuan. The question is: Xia Houyuan was killed by Zhang Xiu, is it none of his business?
This time Cao Cao still surrounded the four gates and attacked. The positions of Han Hao and Xia Houyuan were filled by Xiahou Dun and Le Jin respectively, and the other personnel remained as usual. Thanks to the help of wooden towers and columbines, Cao Jun had an understanding of the situation in the city and took precautions in advance, so the casualties were much smaller. The arrows shot from the wooden tower are also much more accurate, and the waste situation is improved than before.
Zhang He led his men to supervise the battle back and forth between the city gate and the four corners. He had not slept for almost three days. Liyang City had lost the protection of the moat and was in danger of being breached at any time.
The defense is much worse than before. Today alone, the southeast corner and the west and east gates were breached three times. If it weren't for the soldiers fighting to the death, the enemies who climbed up the city wall would have started a new round of street fighting. Fortunately, Zhang He's men had more Euphorbia desperadoes, and he forced them off the city again and again.
There were fewer arrows on the towers, and the offensive at the bottom of the city waxed and waned and became fierce. If all the arrows weren't quenched with poison, I'm afraid the city would have been destroyed long ago. Even if this is the case, I won't be able to hold on for much longer.
On the morning of the eighth day, when the second group of exhausted soldiers got up from their sleep to take over, the scene above and below the city had become a different scene.
Today is the fifteenth day since Cao Jun attacked the city. Due to a serious shortage of troops, a large number of fortification soldiers, including blacksmiths and cooks, had to go to the city to kill the enemy.
Cao's troops from eight directions have climbed up the ladder and climbed the wall. Most of the city defenders gave up archery and started hand-to-hand combat with Cao Jun from a high position. The close-quarters fighting showed that the siege battle was coming to an end. It seems that Li Yang can't save it.
The most violent attacks by Cao's troops came from the north gate where Le Jin mainly attacked, and from the west gate where Li Dian mainly attacked. The guard of the north gate is Gao Lan, and the guard of the west gate is Wen Chou.
The stone-throwing machine on Cao Jun's wooden tower would from time to time throw the stones that were doused in kerosene, wrapped in rags, ignited, and thrown into the city. The city was filled with deafening cries, fires broke out everywhere, and thick smoke covered the sky with fire debris. The city of Liyang, littered with corpses, turned into a hell of Shura, and the tragic atmosphere of doomsday was unbearable to watch.
Le Jin and Li Dianjun had completely attacked the city. Gao Lan's deputy general Li Li, because he was a civil servant, was immediately beheaded and chopped into pieces after the city was breached. Gao Lan was stabbed in his left arm, and the enemy opened the north gate. Xiahou Dun laughed loudly outside the city.
After a burst of war drums beat. A large group of cavalry swarmed in from the city gate, killing everyone they saw, and divided into several groups to expand in all directions, hoping to touch the southeast, northwest, and connect the enemies outside the city to enter the city.
The soldiers in charge of the defense, in distress, fired all the huge crossbows on the crossbows, and then fled in all directions with loud cries. As a result, they were all killed by the cavalry. The battlefield at the North Gate was in chaos, and it was difficult to distinguish between ourselves and the enemy.
The next person to be breached was Wen Chou's Ximen. Li Dian, who was defeated last time, was the first to board the city this time and killed more than twenty defenders desperately, opening a gap for his troops to ascend the city.
Wen Chou was defending on the other side and didn't bother to take care of him. When I turned around, it was already too late. A large number of black-armored Cao troops had already fought hand-to-hand with the defenders.
After Zhang He heard the report, he ordered Guo Huai and Zhang Xiu to guard the south gate and east gate at any cost to prevent Cao's army from joining forces.
Then he summoned a group of cavalry and charged towards the north gate of the city with the roar of hooves. Tian Yu also brought his own infantry, and two angry waves pressed towards the west gate. The battle was fierce.
In the fierce bloody battle at the head of the city, the cavalry armies of Le Jin and Li Dian successfully joined forces on the northwest corner of Liyang City Street. As the defenders of Liyang City advanced, the infantry from behind also poured in like a tide.
Wen Chou and Gao Lan commanded the defeated troops to retreat into the city, while blocking the incoming Cao army.
The thick city walls completely lost their role of defense and protection, and brutal street fighting began in full swing.
Zhang He came to the northwest corner and happened to encounter the defeated troops of Wen Chou and Gao Lan. Gao Lan cried and thanked him: "It's no use, General. I lost the North Gate. General, please kill me."
Wen Chou's face was as cold as water and he said sternly: "I am also guilty, but now is not the time for punishment. The general gives me a chance. I would rather die in battle than be executed."
Zhang He turned over and dismounted, held the two men's hands, and said in a deep voice: "The battle is not over yet, and we have not lost yet. Don't say any depressing words. Even if you die, I, the general, will die with you."
The sound of hooves rumbled, the flames of war raged, and the shouts shook the sky. Xiahou Dun's cavalry were already fighting a hundred feet away.
"Bring me my gun." Zhang He shouted loudly with his eyes red.
Immediately a soldier handed over a gun. Zhang He grasped the handle of the gun tightly and stabbed a white horse behind him into the belly. Blood spattered and the horse neighed and fell to the ground dead. Blood flowed like a spring from the fist-sized wound.
"Today, I will make an oath to kill the horse with everyone. We will share life and death, never leave, and we will live and die with Li Yang. If there is a person who escapes alone, there is such a horse." When Cao Ren defended Xiangfan, he also swore to kill the horse and finally defeated Guan Yu.
Wen Chou's resolute face showed a sad smile. He reached out, took the horse's blood, smeared it on his face, and said loudly: "We will share life and death, never leave, and swear to live and die with Li Yang."
Gao Lan smeared the horse's blood on his face and shouted, "I swear to live and die with Li Yang, and to follow the general to the death."
Zhang He shouted at the top of his lungs: "Generals, listen to the order. From now on, everyone will work on their own. No one should care about anyone else's life and death. They will not give in an inch and fight for every inch of ground, so that Cao's army cannot advance even one step. We must fight until there is only one soldier left." Until death."
Gao Lan got on his horse and said: "General, don't worry, my soldiers will never take a step back. Even if it's a wall or a room, they have to deal with Cao Bing clearly."
Wen Chou and other generals also mounted their horses and deployed their troops to meet Cao Jun. The horses neighed and rushed towards Cao Jun.
Zhang He's eyes filled with tears. He didn't know if he would ever see these guys with blood boiling all over again.
