On the second day of the siege, when Guo Xin came out of his tent, he found that there was a layer of mist everywhere in the camp, and there were many dewdrops on the grass leaves beside the tent. The weather above his head became very gloomy compared to yesterday, and everything was under control. It indicates that a summer rain is brewing. The weather in June is already changeable, but the siege plan may be affected by this.
However, there was no news from the Chinese army that they would suspend the siege, so the soldiers below could only prepare to attack the city as planned. When Guo Xin rushed to the place where he observed the formation yesterday, Shang Hongqian was standing at the top, and below were dozens of generals from various armies huddled together. Many generals got to know Guo Xin and made room for him to stand in the front.
After Guo Xin stood still, he could clearly see the worry hidden on Shang Hongqian's face. After a big battle yesterday, the Han army seemed to be huge, but the results achieved could only be said to have consumed some of the city's weapons and destroyed half of the insignificant towers. Therefore, if we really want to make a breakthrough, it depends on how the next few battles progress. After all, the number of Han troops is several times that of the defenders, and Zhao Siwan's original tooth soldiers and newly recruited young men in the city have limited combat power, so they will not be able to fight for a long time. Maintain the same intensity of siege as yesterday.
Therefore, in Guo Xin's view, time is the key to determining whether the Han army can capture Chang'an and grasp the entire situation in Kansai. If it cannot be done now, it will be difficult to mobilize the soldiers to fight with their lives later, and there are also It involves the provision of food and fodder for the soldiers and horses from all over the Kansai region by the Tokyo Imperial Court and the others...
Not long after, Shang Hongqian ordered an attack on the city. Today, Jingfeng Gate in the east is still the main attack, but the Tiger Shooting Cannon fired first. Then a large number of Han troops held signboards and attacked the city under the cover of their own shooters and ladders. Go on the offensive.
The city was once again involved in a melee. At this moment, Guo Xin suddenly heard a burst of thunder in his ears, and then he felt a coolness passing over the back of his unarmored hands, and raindrops had already fallen.
Everyone looked at Shang Hongqian, but Shang Hongqian stood there without saying a word, his eyebrows knitted together, still looking at the battle in the distance.
The raindrops have turned into raindrops, and the vision in the distance is gradually blurred in the rain and fog, and the rain is getting heavier and heavier. A general reminds: "The soldiers cannot attack the city in the rain, so please ask the commander to withdraw his troops." The generals immediately said. They all agreed.
"Oh God, I was wrong!" Shang Hongqian angrily pulled out his sword and struck it straight to the ground. The sword broke at the sound. Guo Xin looked and saw that it was exactly what Shang Hongqian was holding when he promised to break the city in ten days at the Chinese army's banquet. That handle.
Shang Hongqian threw away the broken sword, then grabbed the reins from the soldiers, got on his horse and said, "We are back with our troops!" After that, he left in the rain.
The rain was already heavy, and the generals did not even bother to say goodbye to each other. They rode back and announced their withdrawal.
When Guo Xin returned to the Fengguo army, his armor was already soaked through. He had just asked Guo Pu to take off his armor and wipe it, when another soldier came outside the tent to inform Shang Hongqian that he should go to meet with the Chinese army. .
Guo Xin had to take off his armor and put it on again, and followed the soldiers through the messy camp. The end was not where the generals of the Chinese army were meeting, but the big tent where Shang Hongqian rested and slept. Although it is said to be a large tent, it is actually not much larger than Guo Xin's tent. However, it is equipped with gate fences in accordance with military regulations and is surrounded by personal guards.
As soon as he entered the camp gate, Guo Xin heard a loud shout. Looking around, he saw that Shang Hongqian had taken off his armor, wearing only a single suit and dancing his sword in the rain. Two soldiers around him were holding pockets of armor for him.
When he got closer, Guo Xin discovered that Shang Hongqian was not holding an iron sword, but a bamboo-jointed steel whip about three feet long. A steel whip weighs more than ten kilograms, and even among the elites of the Forbidden Army, few people use it. However, at this moment, the steel whip is waved effortlessly in Shang Hongqian's hand. In the rain, the momentum is not reduced, and the tiger's wind is as good as the sword dance. No different.
"What a whip!" Guo Xin sincerely praised him, "Marquis Yu is so skilled and powerful. It is a blessing to the three armies."
Hearing his voice, Shang Hongqian put away his iron whip and wiped the rainwater from his face casually: "It's just a show of strength. If I don't even have this ability, how can I work for the imperial officials in this place? I heard General Guo has great shooting skills and can draw a strong bow, why not try this whip too?"
After saying that, without waiting for Guo Xin to respond, he handed it to him with one hand raised.
Guo Xin took the iron whip with both hands, weighed it with both hands, and immediately had only one feeling: heavy! He held it tightly with his right hand and raised his wrist, trying to do something like dancing with a sword. However, he found that his hand strength started to get sore after just two turns, so he had to put away the iron whip and said with compliments: "Ordinary martial artists don't have to use this. Such weapons make the Marquis of Yu laugh."
Shang Hongqian laughed twice, took the iron whip back from Guo Xin's hand, and without waiting for the soldiers to come to take it, he smashed the whip head down to the ground and inserted it into the soil several inches straight.
"General Guo, come in and talk."
After entering the tent, Shang Hongqian took the fur cloak from the soldiers, put it on, and then pushed back the soldiers.
There were only two people in the tent for a while. Shang Hongqian was not in a hurry to speak. He first used the corner of his cloak to roughly wipe the rain off his face, then turned back to Guo Xin and said with a hint: "General Guo is good at using a bow, but he doesn't know how to use a whip. You must know that the heavier the weapon, the more difficult it is to control it, and the more you have to control your strength and control, otherwise you will not be able to use it powerfully, and it will easily injure yourself."
Guo Xin pondered for a moment, thinking that he was probably talking about war, so he clasped his fists and said: "The general is not good at martial arts, please ask Marquis Yu for advice."
Shang Hongqian waved his hand: "There are no outsiders here, so don't be too polite. Your father and I are old acquaintances. In this campaign, I will command the troops and it is indispensable for your father to speak in the Privy Council."
Then he said thoughtfully: "Although the method of using the whip has many advantages, there are times when the enemy is approaching and no matter how clever and clever the moves are, it cannot be taken into account. At that time, you can only use ruthless force to strike forward, even if you yourself I have to do this even if my hand is injured or my arm is broken."
This time Guo Xin completely understood: "The end of the general is unknown, and now we are in such a hurry?"
Shang Hongqian smiled when he heard this, and then sighed quietly, his expression became very bitter: "The situation is like this. The imperial court has repeatedly issued private edicts, telling me to conquer Chang'an as soon as possible, and go north to attack the leader of the bandit Li Shouzhen with Bai Wenke and others. I won’t tell lies to Guo Lang, and don’t deceive me, Guo Lang. With the help of tiger shooting cannons, how long will it take for my army to take over this city?"
Guo Xin felt that it was not necessary to guarantee the tiger cannon at this time, not to mention that if he said it too lightly, it would be easy to ride the tiger like Shang Hongqian now, so he thought for a moment and then said: "Although Chang'an City is not as big as before, but its rammed earth The brick wall is strong and difficult to attack, and I heard that Zhao Siwan has reinforced it before. Even if he has the advantage of shooting tiger cannon, it will not be easy to capture it. Therefore, I dare not say when the city will be broken."
Shang Hongqian was silent for a long time before speaking again: "Is there any other way?" It was like asking Guo Xin, but also like asking himself again.
"If you want to break the city as soon as possible, you will eventually think that, on the one hand, you will have to set up more artillery machines, or gather the artillery machines from the four cities in one place, which is the method you used in Weizhou, and on the other hand, it is very convenient to quarry stones at Lishan Mountain, and stone bullets If there is enough, we can continue to send stones day and night, not only on the top of the city, but also inside the city, thereby destroying the resistance of the soldiers and people in the city. In this way, I think it will be able to help the Marquis of Yu."
"I heard that the King of Wei said earlier that Guo Erlang was the pillar of the Han family. Today I saw that it was indeed the case." Shang Hongqian stood up and nodded readily, "Just do what Guo Lang said. Guo Lang can do everything in the army as cheaply as possible." If you have any problems with your business, just come to me."
"I will do my best in the end." Seeing that Shang Hongqian was satisfied, Guo Xin also lowered his head and accepted the errand, thinking to himself: Some things cannot be achieved by trying his best, but he just wants to know the result, but he has to do his best. Not with all your strength.
