The rebels ignored the exhaustion after a long march and launched an offensive directly without waiting for the entire army to complete their assembly, which was somewhat beyond Zhao Wushan's expectations. He did not expect that his opponent would act so decisively. Even as soon as they came up, they launched an offensive regardless of the consequences.
Of course, while Zhao Wuhu was commanding the defensive operations, he occasionally looked back and saw Jiang Xin's head hanging high on the tower. I can't help but make some malicious guesses. Were the rebels motivated by the head? It's just that this guess flashed through Zhao Wushan's mind. Only they themselves can know what the rebels really think.
It's just that the rebels' offensive looks very fierce, and their posture is also very wide. The crossbows and bows and arrows covering behind them were also desperately suppressing the city. However, the overall strength of the offensive was not strong, and the actions it carried out did not look like attacking the city, but instead seemed to be done deliberately for someone to see. The defenders on top of the city repelled several rebel attacks without much effort.
Especially those doors, because the special guns became damp and hardened and could not be broken open, making them unusable. They could only use ordinary guns with more impurities instead. Several veteran soldiers cleaned and inspected the cannons for more than an hour. After finally firing, the rebel offensive was like the tide receding, and it retreated completely in an instant.
Although these cannons did not play a decisive role. But the momentum of the defenders was adequately controlled. The artillery also relied on its long-range advantage to destroy a few crossbows of the rebels, which also greatly reduced the threat faced by the garrison at Guan Guan. Its deafening sound also demoralized the rebels who saw cannons for the first time for most people.
It's a pity that these cannons not only caused heavy damage to the enemy, but also made the garrison of Guan Guan almost disorganized. Although these cannons were fired, the experienced veterans had already carefully inspected them. When loading the powder, we did not dare to charge it all, but adopted a gradual increase method. But among the six cannons, two still exploded.
The dozens of sergeants next to the two artillery pieces were blown to pieces with their flesh and blood flying everywhere. If it weren't for these cannons, they would have been deployed more dispersedly under Huang Qiong's suggestion, and Huang Qiong would personally hold down the formation from behind. He personally beheaded several retreating sergeants and stopped the artillery from exploding, causing chaos among the garrison. Maybe the defenders on Guancheng would be blown up by their own cannons and their position would be disrupted.
Facing these cannons that injured the enemy and even himself, Huang Qiong could only smile bitterly. They could only order that the use of these cannons be strictly prohibited in subsequent battles. In order to prevent these cannons from exploding again, they did not mess up the enemy's army, but instead messed up their own position.
After the last wave of the rebels' offensive was defeated, Huang Qiong came to the location of the exploding artillery. Seeing the powerful explosive force of the bombed barrels, the two cannons were knocked off their mounts and tilted to the side, leaving only half of the barrels. Look at the people around, except those who have seen the power of these cannons in the border army. When the rest of the people looked at these cannons, they looked in fear and sighed for a long time.
** is **, even if it is a brand-name ** with more impurities, its power cannot be guaranteed. Although it has not reached the full charge, even these impurities can be so powerful. The cannon weighing several thousand kilograms, which was difficult for dozens of people to carry, was actually lifted off the mount with such ease. If these cannons can be used normally, they will be even more powerful.
Just when the power of these cannons was needed, something like this happened. How can we not make people sigh with regret when they have an empty weapon but cannot use it? Turning his head and looking at the corpses left by the rebels on the battlefield outside the pass, Huang Qiong also shook his head in silence, even feeling sad.
Although there were not many casualties on both sides in today's war, it was still a battle anyway, so how could there not be casualties? It's just that these people who died in the battle, no matter which side they belonged to, or why they died in this battle at Hulao Pass, they were all citizens of Daqi after all. Huang Qiong was somewhat saddened by the fact that he did not die on the battlefield against foreign enemies, but died in cannibalism.
After sighing for a long time, Huang Qiong said to his colleague who was also frightened by the scene in front of him: "The soldiers who were killed today by my king to maintain military discipline on the battlefield were all for a reason, so there is no need to hold them accountable. Report deaths in accordance with the rules. That’s it, give some money for burial to the families. For the officers and soldiers of our army who died in battle, we need to find some way to get some coffins.”
"The sergeants who died because of the explosion of cannons must be given more compensation. What should be given must be given willingly, and it must be given in full, and the people who served the court cannot be allowed to bleed and shed tears. Of course, it must be distinguished from those officers and soldiers who were killed because of their retreat. Come on, the grace given must not be average. If so, who will be willing to work for the imperial court in the future?"
Regarding Huang Qiong's instructions, the colleague agreed without any hesitation. For him, the world is too big, even the emperor in Jingzhao Mansion is not as big as the King of England who can decide his life or death now standing in front of him. Whatever he said was what he said, and it didn't cost him a fortune anyway.
As long as the British king is here, the court will definitely not deny these money and goods. Even if the imperial court really did not admit it afterwards, the family property of Mr. Jiang, whose head is currently hanging high on the flagpole at the critical moment, can more than make up for these shortcomings. Anyway, the King of England doesn't seem to be interested in asking how much property can be confiscated from Jiang's home, right? At most, you can just get less of it yourself.
He had thought that with his own instructions, so many things had gone through this guy's mind. He even focused his attention on the family property of the murdered Jiang. Huang Qiong, who was already a little worried about this guy, was about to give this guy a warning.
Zhao Wushu walked over, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the momentum of the rebels has declined today. The sky is getting dark now, and there will probably be no more offensives. At most, it will be a small-scale harassment, and the general will I'm completely confident that I can handle it. You'd better take a rest first, I'll see that your face doesn't look too good in the end."
"You are now the backbone of the troops at Hulao Pass, and you are no match for us strong men who are used to hard work. If anything happens to you, it will be the biggest blow to the morale of our army. There are generals here who are watching, Your Majesty, you can rest assured. If you are still a little worried, you can leave the royal guards behind to assist the general."
After hearing Zhao Wushan's words, Huang Qiong hesitated for a moment, then nodded and walked down the city wall. Indeed, it was a fast pace along the way. After entering the customs, I had to deal with so many things before I had time to rest. Although his body bones are not bad, they are not made of iron after all. After so many hard-working things, it is impossible not to feel tired.
Originally, Huang Qiong wanted to rest in the tower, but considering that he was here, those ordinary soldiers might not dare to rest. Huang Qiong finally decided to follow the good example and went down to the Dutong Yamen to rest. But after having a simple dinner and entering the room arranged for him by his colleague, Huang Qiong was stunned.
After lighting several braziers and making the room extremely warm, there were actually two plump and charming women wearing only a hoodie waiting for him. Seeing the scene in front of him, Huang Qiong frowned and wanted to get angry. But facing these two women who were cautious and ready to serve him, it was difficult for him to express his anger.
He knew that the scene in front of him must have been staged by that stupid colleague to please him. This guy is blindly trying to please himself, but he doesn't know that doing this kind of thing on the battlefield is a taboo for leading troops. His approach is almost equal to destroying the morale of the army. He really thinks of himself as one of those dudes who only know how to eat, drink and have fun.
Huang Qiong, who wanted to get angry, finally suppressed his anger after hesitation. As Huang Qiong said himself, he has no habit of venting his anger on others. Huang Qiong, who wanted to get angry but didn't, ignored the two women in the room. He left the room that had been decorated as a gentle nest, called Liu Hu outside the door, got on his horse and returned to Dongguan.
Seeing Huang Qiong who had just left and then returned, Zhao Wushu looked confused. Seeing Zhao Wusha who was a little surprised, Huang Qiong could only smile bitterly and said: "Someone is a bastard himself and regards me as the same bastard as him, and wants to put me in an unjust situation. I can't stay with Dutong Yamen any longer." Now, I can only come over and squeeze in with General Zhao."
"Tonight, I will rest in the city tower. Also, go and count how many livestock there are in the pass now. All of them have been slaughtered. If there are not enough pigs, sheep, chickens and ducks, the cattle that were brought into the pass by the traitorous generals will also be slaughtered. Yes. Soldiers can save everything from life to death, but they cannot save on food rations. If you don't eat meat, you will not have the strength to fight."
After hearing Huang Qiong's instructions, Zhao Wushu was stunned for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty, it's not a big deal to kill other animals to give the brothers extra food. Afterwards, just compensate the people who were requisitioned with some money and food. But this The slaughter of cattle needs to be reported to the state capital. If you slaughter cattle without authorization, it is a serious crime and will violate the "Da Qi Law". The punishment can be as low as a hundred, and in the serious case, you may be exiled."
Since the founding of the country, Daqi has been based on agriculture. Because horses are expensive, farmers generally farm land mainly with cattle. The hinterland where Hulao Pass is located is not a nomadic area, so cattle are extremely important to farmers, so the control of cattle is extremely strict. Anyone who innocently slaughters farm cattle is violating the criminal law and will be severely punished.
Not to mention ordinary people, even the government must be held accountable. Even state and county officials would not dare to kill a farm cow easily. Many people around Hulao Pass were coerced by Jiang Xin into the pass. The cattle are the lifeblood of the farm family. Even if the clothes are not worn, the cattle must be carried. At present, the number of cattle in the customs is definitely not a small number.
Even though I know what the King of England said is right, this vegetarian diet is far less resistant to hunger than meat-based food. There is a fishy smell in the stomach, which makes the soldiers stronger. But Huang Qiong's order still somewhat made Zhao Wuhe hesitate.
Zhao Wushan was worried. Huang Qiong waved his hand and said: "Whether or not you are responsible is a matter of hindsight. Let's talk about it later. Now the weather is getting colder every day. They only eat carrots and cabbage. How can the soldiers have the strength to go to the battlefield to fight? It can be warm there. Body? I ask you to do it, just do it. If anything happens, I will take care of it for you, so you have nothing to worry about."
"That colleague, I don't want to see him now. You will send someone to him later and tell him about my order and ask him to implement it immediately. If the soldiers can't drink broth to warm themselves tonight, I will He is the only one asking. Also, the compensation given to the people must be in place and the amount must be sufficient, and no one is allowed to have a hand in it."
"Jiang Xin defected to the rebels with the intention of murdering the prince. According to the crime, it is not an exaggeration to confiscate his house. The compensation for the people will be calculated as double the property taken from Jiang Xin's house. If I hear that his insufficient compensation causes public resentment, I will Send him and Jiang Xin to keep him company. The sword of Shang Fang in my hand can kill more than just military officers. I will not be lenient when killing civil servants."
