The news of the rogue bandits' attack has been going on for five days.
Xu Zongxian, the magistrate of Zhenyuan, held his support on the female wall and looked at the sky-covering flags stretching out of the military formation outside the city, frowning.
He had known that the rogue bandits were coming. In the past few days, gentry who had fled from the river valley into the city had been sending intermittent information.
The thieves built strongholds in the valleys, felled forests and harvested wood, incited people in the fields and villages to denounce big households, used lynchings, stormed forts and destroyed strongholds, burned IOUs, and gave farmland and grain to tenant farmers and long-term and short-term workers to deceive people's hearts.
But Xu Zongxian never thought that rogue bandits would dare to attack the city.
County magistrate was his first official position selected by the Ministry of Civil Affairs after he was elected. His term had expired and he was just waiting for inspection.
A good friend who entered the Imperial College in the same year wrote a letter some time ago saying that due to the invasion of the Jin Dynasty in Beizhili, there were vacancies of varying degrees of officials in various places, and he advised him not to miss the rank of county magistrate.
Even if you go to a government in Beizhili to get an eighth-level experience, it will be much better than being a county magistrate in Shaanxi.
Xu Zongxian wrote back saying that he was not afraid of bandits, and told his friends of the same year that the situation in Shaanxi was a little more difficult, but it was not enough to scare away the imperial officials.
What Liu Wu, Liu Liu and Han Dynasty slaughtered were nothing more than hungry people gathering together.
His Zhenyuan, even now, still has thousands of residents in the city, and there are more than 10,000 people outside the city. He can protect the people under his rule, and the people can also protect him.
What's more, as a border town, the county treasury is equipped with all kinds of weapons, and the city is very dangerous. Even if there are only 500 defenders, they can block the attack of 5,000 people from the east.
As for the gathering of hungry people, the more people come, the better it can be defended.
If 100,000 people come, he doesn't even have to defend, he can win in two days.
But it wasn't until he was woken up this morning that Xu Zongxian knew that the thieves in Shaanxi were not all hungry people like Liu Wu Liu Liu Han Chao Zai.
Outside the east gate of Zhenyuan City, Wei Qian'er rode out into battle alone, carrying his shield and riding his horse across the stone bridge on the moat.
He looked at the closed city gate twenty or thirty steps away, and at the fully loaded bows and arrows of the hastily assembled defenders on the city wall, and shouted loudly: "I am ten times as powerful as you. Surrender quickly to ensure the safety of the people. Dare to add With one arrow, the commander fired all the artillery, but don’t blame it for killing the people!”
Across the moat, a banner with the Chinese character Liu on a red background and gold rim fluttered.
Xu Zongxian looked at the neat cavalry under his banner, everyone wearing red cotton armor, and the artillery placed by the river, and he couldn't help but feel fear in his heart.
He withdrew his gaze, searched the faces of his friends at the top of the city and the secretary's office, and asked, "Where is Cui Cong, the supervisor?"
The supervisor's name was Cui Cong. He was originally an official in charge of horse administration at Taipu Temple in Shaanxi Province in Pingliang Prefecture. His rank was higher than that of the county magistrate. However, after too many war horses died, he was demoted to Qingpingyuan as the supervisor.
In the first two years, the county could not collect taxes. After Lao Dianshi left, no one from Dianshi took up his post, and there were no inspectors. Xu Zongxian did not ask the court for new inspections. Later, he simply exempted all inspectors and minzhuang. Yes, basic defense depends on the benefactors of Qingpingyuan.
Therefore, in Zhenyuan County, Supervisor Cui Cong was the only military talent Xu Zongxian could rely on.
After asking around the book office, no one knew where Cui Cong had gone, which made Xu Zongxian as anxious as an ant on a hot pot.
Seeing that the magistrate was anxious, the county clerk had no choice but to ask the Minzhuang, led by the military secretary, who was gathering on the city. Finally someone said: "Sir, Superintendent Cui seems to have gone to the county treasury!"
County treasury?
Xu Zongxian originally wanted to ask Cui Cong whether to fight or surrender, but when he looked in the direction of the county treasury, he already knew Cui Cong's answer.
Stacks of dust-covered magic machine arrow carts were rolled out from the county treasury, and the civilian men gathered by Cui Cong carried bundles of weapons to the city. Only then did the benefactors ride horses up the city wall from the horse road, and ran across the barbican to deliver the message: "Sir, Supervisor Cui is asking you to stabilize the enemy army first and delay the attack. He will be here soon."
Then the enemy army drove mule carts loaded with gunpowder into the East Gate Wengcheng, used shovels and picks to lift up the bricks and stones on the Wengcheng floor, and dug tunnels.
Cui Cong led more than a dozen county student members who arrived late. He stepped onto the city and took a look at the city. He looked around at the defenders at the top of the city and asked the county magistrate: "Sir, you...have done nothing?"
Xu Zongxian was very confused about this question: "I'll wait for you!"
Cui Cong closed his eyes with some helplessness. This magistrate was good at everything, but he didn't know how to fight.
When he first heard the news that the rebels had entered the valley a few days ago, he suggested that the county magistrate's office should discuss the matter of defending the city. However, the gentry and officials in the county believed that the rebels did not dare to attack the city.
He and the county officials were not in the same system, so he had to give up and go to the county treasury to inventory weapons and equipment, contact the county student members, and ask them to prepare to defend the city.
In the early years, Zhenyuan was often plundered by the northern barbarians who broke into the border wall. Therefore, in military affairs, local soldiers knew more about the importance of military affairs than the exiled officials.
At this time, Xu Zongxian started to panic and asked: "Cui Jianzheng, the bandits are approaching the city, what should we do?"
At this moment, a benevolent army came running along the north city wall and reported: "My lords, there are more than a thousand thieves arrayed on the plateau outside the north gate, and they have robbed more than 300 garden horses."
"You bastard!"
Cui Cong cursed, waved his hand and asked, "Are there any casualties in the benevolent army?"
The sources of the herding army of Yuanma Temple are complex, including reorganized army, full army and demobilized army. In fact, they are mainly divided into benevolent troops from the conscripted army and troops drawn from the guards.
But by this time, there were so many deserters at the guard station that it was too late for the hookers to come out. Therefore, the horse herding soldiers in Qingpingyuan were all benefactors, and they were not exiled from the army. They were basically recruited refugees.
Because Qingpingyuan was in charge of many horse farms and selected land suitable for growing grain, the drought also had a great impact on them.
It's amazing to say that the drought left the enemy's army with insufficient food, and Cui Cong refused to receive food every time he submitted a letter.
Later, he changed his strategy and instead of asking for food from the army, he told the Trilateral General Office and Pingliangxingtaipu Temple that there was not enough food for the horses in the pasture, so he could always ask for beans.
And there are a lot of beans. After all, it is known that one horse can eat as much as eight people, and the number of horses in Qingpingyuan is five times that of the enemy.
Therefore, Cui Cong's enjun's food was not bad, and he was a very enviable job in Zhenyuan County during the drought.
"A few people were detained, but they did not use weapons. They asked us to come back and send a message that surrendering to Kaicheng would not hurt any officials or civilians."
Cui Cong breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that he was okay, but then he started to worry about gains and losses.
If word spreads that thieves don't kill people, the city will be more difficult to defend.
After all, defending a city is never the job of one or a few people.
It requires the officials, troops and people in the city to reach an agreement on the issue of defense.
But at present, it seems that this requirement is difficult to meet.
The magistrate asked him what to do. Cui Cong thought about countless opportunities to win in his mind. Finally, he took a deep breath and asked with firm eyes: "Xu parents, I can hold off the enemy for half a day. Can you and your colleagues take over the city?" Are all the people moving westward?"
Xu Zongxian was greatly surprised and blurted out: "All of them move westward?"
"Yes, all the people and merchants in the city moved westward and entered Guyuan territory sixty miles west. They transported weapons and food to the southwestern fortress. I can stand there waiting for reinforcements."
Seeing the shocked expressions of everyone on the city wall, Cui Cong sighed in his heart.
It was difficult for him to explain the city's offensive and defensive issues to these officials who had no knowledge of military affairs, so he had to say: "Zhenyuan City has more than four square miles and more than 1,700 crenellations. I only have 500 benefactors."
The city was very tall and strong, and the terrain was very dangerous, but Cui Cong believed that he would lead his 500 benevolent troops to retreat to the fortress southwest of the city with weapons and supplies. Even if there was no moat there, it would be easier to defend it.
A city is a permanent military formation, and it needs to be equipped with a field force corresponding to its size to maximize its defensive effectiveness.
What's more, they also have a defensive purpose. What is the purpose of defending the enemy?
"The governors of the three sides have stationed in Ningzhou, and the bandits have only two possibilities at this point. Either Ningzhou has fallen and fell into the hands of the bandits; or the bandits dare not attack Ningzhou and march against Guyuan, which lacks troops."
Cui Cong explained: "We are guarding Zhenyuan. The people in the city can only get in and out, which consumes a lot of money. There are many battlements. We need to mobilize civilians to prepare the city gate. If it is attacked, it will be broken."
"The thieves have occupied Zhenyuan and will still march westward. There will be no soldiers to defend Guyuan. When the time comes, the thieves will loot everywhere. We and all of us are deeply responsible for our crimes, and I am afraid we will not escape death."
Cui Cong pointed to the southwest castle in the distance and said: "If I defend for half a day, Xu's parents evacuate the people and store the food and weapons in the fortress. When the people withdraw, I will also lead 500 benevolent troops to garrison the small fort. There is only one person in that fort." One hundred and seventy crenellations.”
"What's more, with the mountain wall to the west, even if the bandits besiege me day and night, I still have enough troops to guard day and night. As long as the fortress is still there, the bandits will not dare to cross me and wait for reinforcements. No matter where the reinforcements arrive from the east or west of the valley, we can Protect Guyuan, there is nothing to be robbed in Zhenyuan County, and the bandits will retreat in a few days."
Cui Cong cupped his fists and said, "This is the only chance Cui has to win."
To the ears of the officials in the city, these words were not what they were.
He focused on Guyuan Prefecture, Pingliang Prefecture, and Qingyang Prefecture to imagine this battle.
When the battle is over, the city will still be back in their hands.
The most important thing is that Cui Cong's job is horses. As long as most of the horses are still there and the city is not lost, he is not responsible.
Therefore, Zhenyuan City was not considered, but the city walls were filled with Zhenyuan County officials. If the city fell, their guilt would be worse than death.
People looked at each other in confusion. They insisted on defending the city and still had the reputation of loyalty. If they abandoned the city and moved away, even if they could win the battle in the end, their careers would be over.
The first person to speak was the county magistrate, who flatly refused: "Master Xu, there are enemy troops in the east and north of the city. Who can guarantee that there will be no enemy troops in the west of the city? If you rush out of the city, you will lose everything. It is better to defend and seize the opportunity." Help can give us a chance of survival."
The Hufang Secretary also said: "There are many battlements, so we will recruit militiamen. The villagers know their loyalty and will defend it to the death."
Xu Zongxian also said: "This city cannot be lost, and the benevolent army cannot leave. We can only defend it to the death. Defending the city is not because of the high danger of the city, but because of the people's hearts in the city. We are united as one, and the thieves will not be able to break the city. If you are frightened, this Even if the city is impregnable, it cannot be defended."
After that, the county magistrate said to Cui Cong: "Cui Jianzheng, you know the best about soldiers, so think about how to defend the city to the death."
Speaking of this, Cui Cong knew that his suggestions were useless, and the instructions made sense. If there were enemy troops in the west of the city, his plan would not be completed.
He bowed to those around him and said: "Xu parents, colleagues, since we have made up our minds to defend to the death, I think the most important thing at the moment is for us to work together to count the defenders, divide the defenders into five groups, and deploy defenses on all sides."
"Place a guard on each side, in order of priority. The most urgent point is the east gate, followed by the south wall, then the north gate, and finally the west gate."
After Cui Cong finished speaking, everyone nodded, and then he continued: "Xu's parents will lead another group of reserve troops and horses to coordinate in the city. If there is an emergency from all sides, they will send reinforcements; if there is no danger in the city, they will recruit people and prepare for the transportation of grain and grass." Weapons, raising wood, fire, oil, food, dung, and water.”
Xu Zongxian knew that his ability was not in the military, and he felt that what Cui Cong said was reasonable, so he nodded to him and said, "Just follow what Cui Jianzheng said."
Then he turned to look at the people around him, bowed his hands in a circle, and said: "Everyone has heard that Cui Supervisor is from the Ministry of War. The city has fallen, so Yuan Ma can still be taken away; we are all local officials. If Zhenyuan falls, no one can escape the blame of the imperial court."
Immediately, four gates of defense were arranged, and the most important east gate was handed over to Cui Cong. The remaining three sides were guarded by the imperial edict and two scholars who had read military books.
At this time, the earth mountain built by Liu Chengzong outside the city had been completed.
The mountain was two feet higher than the city wall. He climbed the mountain and looked through the telescope, and saw officials in colorful official uniforms gathered on the city gate tower.
I also saw that a lot of defensive weapons had been placed on the city wall.
Knowing that the possibility of letting the city collapse without attack was slim, he ordered the flag bearer to wave the flag, recall Wei Qian'er from the city, and called Cao Yao to climb the mountain and hand over the telescope.
"Brother Cao, what do you think those things are on the city?"
Cao Yao took the telescope and looked at it, grinning: "Isn't that a nest of beasts in disguise?"
Liu Chengzong said angrily: "I'm not asking you to watch people or guard city equipment. I have never used those things and I don't know them."
"That car is a magical arrow, there is a bowl-mouthed cannon on the city, the wooden box is a hundred tigers running together and it is also a rocket, and there are general cannons... You have to get down from here in a while, rockets and cannons can hit this place .”
Liu Chengzong was surprised and said: "Can a rocket hit so far? I released one at Yuhe Fort, and it flew thirty steps into the sky."
"Yes, it depends on how it is done. The medicine must be compacted and the thread must be drilled straight. The fire must fly straight after it comes out of the thread. If the craftsman does not compact the medicine and drill the hole straight, it will be messy. fly."
After speaking, Cao Yao turned around and said: "We don't know how the rockets are made in the city, so it's better to be careful. But I think these beasts in clothes are all at a good distance on the city tower... I'll try to push Hongyi up the mountain. Bombard the city gate tower?"
Liu Chengzong estimated the distance and found it was about two hundred steps. Then he raised his arm and pointed at Cao Yao and asked, "The man in the green robe is the county magistrate. Can you get it right?"
Cao Yao shook his head decisively: "Give me a wind-chasing gun and I can kill him. Asking me to use a cannon to aim at a person would be too much."
As he spoke, he called on the artillerymen to push the red barbarian artillery up the winding dirt road along the mountain, saying: "Seven pounds of closed-mouth iron bullets will definitely not work, but if you spray them with loose bullets, I think I can knock down all the bullets."
"Let's spray. After spraying on the east side, first use two siege vehicles to cross the bridge to feint attack, and then attack on the south side."
A moment later, just as the gate tower officials were about to disperse, Cao Yao set up his big treasure on the mountain, aimed at the city gate tower and blasted it, causing the entire mountain to be filled with smoke.
For a moment, there was chaos at the top of the city. The artillery positions lined up along the moat also roared in unison. One cannon fired at the top of the city, so heavy that the defenders did not dare to raise their heads. The mighty army then pushed the siege vehicles. Cross the moat.
