Dongfang Jing came all night, and was supported on a horse by a general. The horse's hoofs were covered with new mud.
"My lord, what do you mean, Demon Queen Su locked up Cangzhou and sent the family's army to die? This is more like a way to eradicate dissidents." Dongfang Jing said in a deep tone.
"Bo Lie, there is something wrong with this. Empress Su has put so much effort into this, and now it is equivalent to giving up the entire Muyun Prefecture."
Dongfang Jing thought for a moment and said, "She figured out that the master would launch this crusade. Now, the four eagles of Cangzhou, the leader of the aristocratic family Zhang Qi, and even the entire army of the aristocratic family are all dead."
"What she is planning is not just to protect the emperor. Cangzhou is an imperial state, and the family was originally the most important. Now, it is estimated that almost all the power has been taken by Su Yaoyue."
"My lord, don't underestimate the imperial power of this small court. If you use it to make a big fuss, it will probably have unexpected effects."
Xu Mu was silent for a long time, "In other words, those aristocratic families in Cangzhou are blocking the Demon Queen's way?"
"Absolutely. I guess it was Zuo Shiren's flanking attack that made her change her mind and take advantage of the situation. She only defended Cangzhou and got rid of those aristocratic families. Still, her original intention was to watch the whole world. It’s getting more and more chaotic.”
"The long bow detected that there is an unknown army in Cangzhou."
"That's it." Dongfang Jing's face remained calm, "My lord, there is no need to care about this. Just follow the original plan and capture Yuncheng."
"If my estimate is correct, the army in Cangzhou is already repairing the city gate and preparing to defend it to the death. My lord, please do not get angry. If we attack by force at this time, we will definitely suffer heavy losses."
"Bo Lie, of course I know. In order to attack Yuncheng earlier, I have taken six thousand pairs of robes and armor from the Cangzhou family to see if I can earn the city gate."
Dongfang Jing rarely smiled, "My lord, this is a clever plan. However, my lord's Yi Jia army cannot leave rashly. It's best to wait until the war breaks out. Zhang Shun will be busy at the North City Gate, and my lord will take another 6,000 people to wait for the opportunity." .”
"I've checked and found out that the guard at the south gate of Yuncheng is just an ordinary junior general who is considered to be part of the lord's plan. In addition, I have informed Dou Tong at the north gate to act according to the original plan. In addition, Xiao Meng Huo's side, the next day or two will also arrive."
"It is certainly safer to siege the city for a long time. But no matter what, our Shuzhou army is all out, and the defense is too empty."
Xu Mu nodded.
This time, not only did he have 6,000 people, but more than 10,000 people were behind him, dormant, waiting for the opportunity to follow him into the city gate.
To be honest, in the round of ambushing the family's army, Shuzhou's losses were minimal.
…
The sky was getting brighter, but the sky above Yuncheng was still gray.
Zhang Shun pressed his sword impatiently and kept looking at the top of the city. Unfortunately, he was disappointed again. Except for the Shu people's encampment for the siege, no reinforcements were seen.
"My Zhang family is full of loyalists, and my father died in battle! How dare you not send reinforcements to this court!"
Actually it was sent.
Wei Diao had previously sent more than 10,000 Xiaer troops. But Zhang Shun always felt that such a mud-legged rebel was more like an abandoned son.
If they really wanted to rescue, why not send the most elite National Guard Battalion in Cangzhou?
"General, the big man at the bottom of the city has been fighting for several days and has been cursing non-stop." Youbu will report back.
"That lunatic Mo Li." Zhang Shun said angrily.
He had seen it before. Under the due north city gate, the giant man riding a tall horse, carrying an ax, kept scolding Yuncheng.
Things like "The whole family will starve to death", "I will give birth to a child and be a beggar, and I can't get even half a steamed bun in eight days"... these are all words like this.
It's not that I haven't tried it before, just to boost morale. He specially selected a few skilled generals to fight with the big man. Unfortunately, seven of them died, and six of them died. One of them pretended to be dead and crawled back while the big man rode back to the camp to eat.
Yuncheng's morale has dropped to freezing point in the past few days.
"Without reinforcements, our city, Yuncheng, will be in great danger." Wei Diao approached and frowned.
"Do your job well." Zhang Shun replied without a good expression, and hurriedly walked towards the city wall.
It's a pity that I haven't taken a few steps yet——
Suddenly, he heard the whining of horn trombones, accompanied by the sudden sound of war drums.
"General, the Shu people are attacking the city!"
"Shu people attack the city——"
Zhang Shun was startled, then walked up to the top of the city, widened his eyes, and looked at the battle situation outside the city.
Under the gray sky and in the mist, phalanxes one after another were gathering outside Yuncheng. The sound of the Shu army's morale-boosting voice pierced his heart like a sharp sword.
He knew that in the past few days, the Shu people had added a lot of reinforcements, at least 20,000 to 30,000. In addition to the original, that is to say, the Shu army surrounding Yuncheng, there are at least more than 50,000 people.
"Hold Yuncheng to the death!" Gritting his teeth, Zhang Shun drew out his sword and quickly gave the order.
In Yuncheng, the vanguard battalion, defense battalion, and reserve battalion are all on standby. Under the instigation of Cangzhou generals, they rushed towards the city wall with iron bows on their backs and swords and shields.
The civilians who had finally organized themselves began to push the baggage of the city under the gate of the due north gate.
"General Zhang, the Shu people are going to attack the north gate! We and others will defend here to the death!" Wei Diao's face also changed greatly.
Ignoring Wei Diao's words, Zhang Shun frowned and went to the other three gates, assigning 3,000 more men to each gate to garrison them.
"General Zhang, the enemy force at the north gate is strong——"
"What do you know?" Zhang Shun sneered and glanced at Wei Diao, "Throughout the ages, have you ever used the strategy of attacking the east and attacking the west? If you knew the art of strategic warfare, the original Xia'er Army would not have lasted nearly a year. We can’t even defeat the entire Muyun State.”
Wei Diao gritted his teeth and said nothing.
"Guard Yuncheng. I have received the information. In three days, Cangzhou reinforcements will arrive! We are the imperial masters and we will fight to the death!"
Zhang Shun's lie finally made many soldiers cheer up for a moment.
…
"What, what?" Under the cloud city, Si Hu looked confused.
"Brother Tiger, the fucking attack on the city is about to start, you get back!" Dou Tong shouted anxiously.
Si Hu said "Oh" and hurriedly turned his horse's head, dragging the double-edged giant ax and running towards the camp.
Just wait for Si Hu to run back.
Dou Tong's face regained its calm expression.
"Connect the shield formation to cover the siege rifles at the rear!"
Seriously speaking, Yuncheng's terrain is slightly convex, it is a mountain city, and there is no moat. But outside the city, Zhang Shun laid tight fortifications and traps.
There was the thick armor camp in Shuzhou, trying to clear out the trap. As soon as they got closer, they were greeted by cloud city, and they were hit by dense flying arrows.
Even though they were wearing thick armor, less than half of the thick armor camp of more than 300 people died in an instant.
"Get ready to roll the log!" Zhang Shun's eyes were cold. When the city was being fortified and the wilderness was being cleared, he had his soldiers transport all the trees that were cut down into the city and use them as baggage for the defense of the city.
"Dou Feng, push the catapult!"
A member of Dou Tong's family, after hearing the order, turned back and roared the order.
Not long after, a series of rush-made small catapults, about ten in number, were lined up like a long wall, whistling and throwing huge rocks towards Yuncheng.
The entire Cloud City, with its ancient walls, seemed to be crumbling.
…
"My lord, Dou Tong has already begun to attack the city. According to my lord's wishes, the attack will be fierce. In addition, the Xiaoman King sent people over and began to approach the city gate to contain it."
"Know."
Xu Mu turned around and glanced at the army behind him. Among them, there are also six thousand Yijia's "Family Army". Everyone's face revealed fighting spirit.
"March!" Xu Mu said coldly.
"My lord has an order, march!" One by one, Shuzhou's generals began to lower their voices and pass on the order.
Not long after, the vast army of 178 people began to march forward.
