The Zhending garrison had less than 2,000 troops on the north bank, and was almost completely annihilated by Su Yong and his cavalry.
Except for a few people who fell into the river and drowned, no one escaped. They either died or were captured.
In order to frighten the defenders in the city, Su Yonglin also ordered that all the more than 700 captured golden soldiers be beheaded in front of the defenders in the city, threatening the defenders in the city to surrender quickly, otherwise no chickens or dogs would be left when the city was broken.
Of course Ugu Lun Wo Lun would not open the city and surrender. He ordered the defenders to fire arrows and use crossbows to fight back, forcing the coalition's deterrent troops to retreat.
So Su Yonglin led his troops back, set up camp, and surrounded the city, leaving no way for them to retreat.
A forceful attack was not possible. Su Yonglin looked at the tall and majestic Zhending city wall and the quite spacious moat, and felt that if he tried to force a forceful attack, he would have to lose the elite main force of the Victory Army here.
But it won't work if he doesn't attack. With such a city nailed here, he can't go anywhere.
Even if you can go, you will be very worried. There are fewer troops left to besiege the city, and you are afraid that you will not be able to encircle it. If there are more troops left, you will not have enough troops to attack the place, and you may fall into another dilemma.
Moreover, if they continue to go north regardless of their true determination, their back roads and food routes may be cut off by the defenders who come out of the city. Not only will they fail in their efforts, but they will also be in danger of being overthrown.
Su Yonglin looked at the tall Zhending city wall and was very distressed.
On the other hand, Wugulunwo Lun felt that there was nothing wrong with this. At least the Zhending city was here and the troops in the city were still there, so Su Yonglin's main force could not go anywhere.
If he is in danger here, the entire Hebei West Road will be safe. Just wait quietly for reinforcements.
So it's strange that on the battlefield at this time, Wu Gulunwo Lun was the one who took the initiative.
"If we hold on for one more day, the rebels will fall one day closer. If we hold on here, the main force of the rebels will not be able to go anywhere. Once other places are safe, troops will be sent to assist, and we will definitely be saved!"
He continued to boost morale and gave large amounts of money to the soldiers defending the city to calm their hearts. As a result, the panic in the city caused by the coalition forces' breach of the shore defense gradually subsided, and everyone performed their duties and prepared to defend the city.
Su Yonglin did not immediately order an attack on the city. He only ordered the army to take a brief rest and then build a temporary bridge across the Hutuo River to facilitate the transportation of supplies.
Next, he looked around Zhending City, looking left and right and couldn't find a way to break the city. While he was distressed, Xin Qiji came to see him.
"Why did you come to see me?"
Su Yonglin and Xin Qiji were walking in the camp and asked with a smile: "Have you read the manuscript I gave you?"
"I haven't finished reading it yet, because there is a lot of content and it is very novel. I have been deeply attracted by it. I would like to ask the general to give me more time to read it carefully and think about it."
"Of course, you can watch as long as you want."
Su Yonglin patted him on the shoulder: "Look more, maybe I can give you a different perspective on the problem."
"Yes, my subordinates will discuss their doubts and insights seriously with the general after reading it. I also hope that the general will give you some advice."
"must."
Su Yonglin smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, General."
Xin Qiji saluted respectfully, then straightened up and said: "General, given the current situation, I really don't think that storming Zhending City is the right thing to do."
Su Yonglin suppressed his smile and nodded.
"I don't think this is the right approach either. The walls of Zhending City are tall and the moat is wide and deep. If we attack by force, the losses will be too great and it will dampen the spirit of our army."
"So I think that our army needs to find another way, and if the main force of our army is delayed in Zhending City, it will greatly affect the attack on other state capitals on Hebei West Road, and it will give the gold thieves time to organize more troops to launch a counterattack. Therefore, my subordinates believe that the city cannot be besieged for a long time."
Xin Qiji said: "My subordinates think that an army can be left to besiege the city. The large army should rush north quickly, call on more people to resist, and build momentum. The speed of the advance cannot be delayed, and the northern gold thieves cannot be allowed time to organize their forces. .”
Su Yonglin looked at Zhending City.
"It is reported that there are many soldiers in Zhending City, and most of them are Jurchens. They can be converted into regular soldiers at any time. If there are few soldiers left, it will be impossible to surround the city. If there are too many soldiers left, it will be difficult to make progress. You'an , now we are in a bit of a dilemma.”
Xin Qiji thought about it and felt that it was indeed a problem.
To solve this problem, the natural way is to continue to recruit more troops from the rear. This is of course feasible, but the pressure on food and fodder will also be greater.
During the war, the coalition's logistics supplies were provided by the Shengjie Army's base camp on the one hand, the grain depots captured in various places for supplies on the one hand, and the support of local powerful armed forces on the other. The three aspects combined to maintain the coalition's logistics.
Increasing military strength affects all aspects, and requires a lot of preparations, which is a huge workload.
In this current situation, time is obviously the most important thing.
Su Yonglin clasped his hands behind his back and lowered his head, feeling that he had lost the initiative in this battle and was being led around by the city's defenders.
This is not a good sign.
Losing the initiative on the battlefield is a very serious matter and must not be taken lightly.
Although this is often the case in siege operations, it is very disadvantageous to be in a strategic offensive situation but lose the initiative by being suppressed by a strong city.
The initiative must be taken back.
How to take back the initiative?
Su Yonglin's eyes moved back and forth between Zhending City and Hutuo River Embankment. Suddenly his eyes lit up and a plan came into his mind.
"You'an, I've thought of a way."
"ah?"
Xin Qiji hurriedly asked: "What can we do?"
"A way to take back the initiative!"
Su Yonglin smiled and said, "Do you know the battle against Yecheng when Cao Cao attacked Hebei at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty?"
"Cao Cao attacks Yecheng?"
Xin Qiji thought for a while and said, "I have heard about it, but I don't know the inside story."
Su Yonglin pointed to Hutuo River.
"What's this?"
"Hutuo River."
"What's in the river?"
"water."
“What can water be used for?”
"Water... water attack?"
Xin Qiji looked at Hutuo River: "Did Cao Cao attack Ye City with water?"
"No, it's because Shen Pei's nephew Shen Rong opened the city gate to Cao Cao."
"That……"
"But before that, Cao Cao used floods to cut off traffic inside and outside Yecheng, so that most of the people in Yecheng died of starvation and lost the ability to fight for a long time. People in the city were unstable, so Shenrong opened the city gate to survive."
Su Yonglin said slowly: "Although the water attack cannot directly destroy the city, it can intimidate people and make them fall into despair, so that they can do all kinds of unbelievable things. And that is our chance to win!"
Xin Qiji nodded thoughtfully.
"Then what does the general plan to do?"
"Dig a river, dig a big river, surround Zhending City, then dig a dam, divert water into the river, and use floods to isolate traffic inside and outside Zhending City. He wanted to use a moat to protect me, so I did the opposite. Go ahead and trap him to death!"
Su Yonglin clenched his fists.
Xin Qiji was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, he clenched a fist with one hand and opened it with the other, hitting them together.
"That's it! Digging the river channel and filling it with water from the Hutuo River will turn Zhending City into a dead city. Traffic inside and outside will be isolated. The people in Zhending City will in turn be trapped by us!"
"That's it."
Su Yonglin clenched his fists and said: "Besides, the Hutuo River here is an above-ground river. We need to dig a river channel of the same height, which is equivalent to building a dam. If there are soldiers and horses in the city trying to break out, it will turn into an attack from above, and our army will stick to the dam. Being condescending, the situation on the battlefield is directly reversed!"
