Outside the tent outside Chou Sang's shop, Zhang Jun was sitting on a chair, holding a bowl of yellow rice and eating deliciously. After eating two mouthfuls of rice, he picked up a piece of salty tofu in the bowl and took a bite. I had a small plate of kohlrabi sitting next to me and ate it with gusto.
Pickled kohlrabi is a famous product in Xiangyang. The locals also call it "Zhuge Cai". Legend has it that Zhuge Liang made it when he was in Xiangyang. Most of these legends are based on local famous products and are attached to celebrities and cannot be taken seriously. When the army is marching, because cooking is inconvenient, pickles are of great use. Wang Xiaolie built two pickle farms in Xiangyang specifically for the military. In addition to kohlrabi, another dish is salty dried tofu, which supplements protein for marching soldiers.
Two soldiers brought a pheasant to Zhang Jun and said, "I am so lucky to have shot a pheasant today. The commander is not in a hurry to eat, so we roasted the pheasant and served it to you."
Zhang Jun said: "What a shame, no wine. What's the taste of eating pheasant? Just roast it and eat it. I'll be full with just one bowl of rice."
The bowl in Zhang Jun's hand is a large bowl that can hold nearly a liter of rice. This bowl of rice is indeed filling.
Zhang Jun is very particular about his daily life. To drink good wine and eat good food, be very careful. But in the military, brown rice can also be eaten with relish. Now when we are marching, as long as we are not hungry, we can eat anything.
By the time we finished eating, it was completely dark. There was only one moon hanging in the dark sky, accompanied by scattered stars.
Zhang Jun lit a bonfire outside his tent and gathered several generals to discuss the next move.
Chai Biao said: "The soldiers who were patrolling just now said that the drums were beating continuously in Shaanzhou, and it was believed that the Jin people were attacking the city overnight. When we arrived at the city of Shaanzhou today, we saw that their soldiers' faces were yellow and they were so hungry that they were skin and bones. We don't know what they can do. Can’t hold it.”
Jiang Qing said: "Should we send someone to the vicinity of Shaanzhou so that we can help at a critical moment?"
Zhang Jun shook his head after hearing this: "We only have 700 soldiers outside the city, but we have 1,500 horses, which is not conducive to a head-on confrontation with the Jin army. Instead, we should surround Shaanzhou and choose the moment when the Jin army is tired. In an unprepared place, give them a blow to disrupt their military morale. Although Shaanzhou is difficult, three hundred soldiers entered the city today and they have food. How could they be defeated by the Jin army overnight? Let's go to bed early tonight and get up early tomorrow. At dawn When the Jin army is exhausted, suddenly attacking its weak points is the right way!"
All the generals said yes together.
Zhang Jundao: "In the past few days, in addition to attacking the Jin army, we should also understand the surrounding geography. Early tomorrow morning, send a few smart people out to investigate the surrounding terrain. To the west is Lingbao County, to the east is Shihao Town, and to the north Then go to Zhangdian Town and check out the geography of this area. There are mountainous areas in the south, we have already seen it when we came here. If the Jin Army sends troops to attack us tomorrow, we will rest in the south."
Chai Biao said: "When we enter the mountainous area, there is nowhere to supply food and grass, so what should we do?"
"Can we supply supplies here?" Zhang Jun pointed to the nearby Sangchou store and shook his head. "Sangchoudian here was originally a famous and prosperous place with a large population. Jinlu attacked Shaanxi Province and burned, killed and looted the surrounding areas. How many families are left here? I just went in and took a look. There are less than thirty people, all of them are The old, weak, and incapable of doing anything, even the women and children were taken captive. What's the difference between being inside the mountains and outside?"
Everyone nodded and said nothing more. The Jin army did not carry much food and grass. After surrounding Shaanzhou, almost everything within fifty miles around was robbed. Those who dared to resist were killed, and those who dared not resist were captured and made slaves in the military camp. Women were taken into military camps for the officers and soldiers to have sex with, or to cook on fires. The children were divided among the people. According to the custom of the Jin people, when they were raised, they became their population. Outside the mountains, supplies are also not available.
Zhang Jun turned around and said to Yang Bosun on the side: "General Yang is a subordinate of Li Kuang and is familiar with the nearby geography. Tomorrow, I will investigate the surrounding geography with a few soldiers. We set off from Xinye on the first day of the new year and arrived on the 10th. Shaanzhou. The observation is three days late, and the army is moving slowly. It is estimated that it will take at least seven or eight days to arrive. During these seven or eight days, we will help Li Kuan defend the city, so we must not slack off!"
Yang Bosun raised his hand and said yes. When leaving Guozhou, Shao Xing sent Lu Yuandeng and Yang Bosun to follow Zhang Jun to Shaanzhou. Lu Yuandeng had entered the city yesterday, while Yang Boxun stayed outside the city and followed Zhang Jun.
After discussing the details, Zhang Jun saw that it was getting late, so he ordered to rest early.
In Shaanzhou City, the officers, soldiers and people had a full meal, and everyone was in high spirits. The Jin army had dinner, lit torches, and came to kill again.
Looking at the Jin army outside the city, Li Yanxian said: "The Jinlu saw that we had reinforcements and began to attack the city overnight. Judging from their appearance, they must conquer Shaanzhou. Hum, as long as Li is alive, they will not be defeated. As you wish!"
Yan Ping said: "After more than ten days, I finally had a good meal today. I have endless strength! The Jin army came just in time!"
After saying that, he stood beside the city, picked up a big hook, and looked at the city with a pair of tiger eyes.
Song Yan directed the soldiers with powerful crossbows on the city wall to check the arrows and prepare for battle.
Shao Yundao: "Observe, do the generals need to take turns to rest? Look at the Jin army. They are attacking the city day and night, and they have to prepare to face the enemy tomorrow."
Li Yanxian said: "Don't be hasty, wait until midnight and then rotate again. If the Jin Army is really cruel, they will not stop day and night from now on. We will not be afraid of them if we divide them into several groups! We need to rest, and Jin Lu also needs to rest!"
While they were talking, the Jin army's forwards were approaching. Jia He stood at the top of the city, loudly commanding the stone cannons below the city to aim at the goose carts and rush carts in front, and attack from time to time. By the time the Jin army got close, most of the goose chariots and charge chariots were destroyed. Several cyclone cannons at the top of the city aimed at the remaining goose carts, destroying them all with just a few shots. The Jin army was used to it, and they rushed up with the ladder and shouting.
The stone cannons under the city have a longer range. When fired, the cannonballs just hit the city wall and are extremely powerful. However, as the Jin army approached, the stone cannons under the city were useless. Although the cyclone cannon at the top of the city has a shorter range and less power, it fires quickly and poses a great threat to the Jin army.
The Jin army's ladder was set up on the top of the city, and the soldiers on the city took the fork and pushed the ladder hard. The Jin army below pressed against the foot of the ladder and held on for dear life. The advance team of the Jin Army behind them climbed up the rickety ladder with their spears in hand, and the sound of killing was loud for a while.
Seeing the Jin army on the ladder getting closer to the city, Yan Ping shouted angrily. The long hook in his hand suddenly swung up, hooked the top Jin Jun, and dragged him to the top of the city. A soldier next to him flashed a long sword in his hand and chopped off his head with one blow.
Yan Ping shook his hand and threw the soldiers on the hook towards the city. The soldiers of Jin who were on the ladder were hit in the head, and several of them rolled down immediately. Yan Ping didn't even look at it. He hooked the ladder with a big hook in his hand and pulled it wobblingly.
In just the blink of an eye, the sound of killing was heard from the top of the city.
Zhang Chi watched on the side with his scalp numb. After joining the army, he trained in the military camp for a year. This was the first time he experienced a real war. The living lives turned into silent corpses in the blink of an eye. For those who have never experienced war, this scene is too shocking.
Li Yanxian saw Zhang Chi's face turning pale. Said: "General Zhang, on the battlefield, it's either you live or I die! If your knife can't cut out, the enemy's knife will cut on your own neck. There is no room for luck in this matter!"
Zhang Chi bit his lip, nodded and said: "That's what the observation said! I understand!"
After saying that, he stretched his bow and nocked an arrow, and shot down a soldier who was holding the foot of the ladder next to him with one arrow.
Li Yanxian nodded with satisfaction and said nothing more. When they first enter the battlefield, most people go through an adaptation process. It is not easy to pass the psychological test of suddenly participating in such a tragic battle.
In less than half an hour, the corpses of the Jin army under the city had piled up like mountains. Seeing that the siege of the city was failing, the Jin army's offensive was suspended.
Li Yanxian took advantage of the free time to redistribute manpower. The north of Shaanzhou is adjacent to the Yellow River. Although it is frozen at this time, it is not conducive to siege. There is no city gate in the south, and it is also not the focus of the Jin army's attack. Only on the east and west sides, the Jin army focused its attacks.
After discussing with Zhang Chi, the three hundred soldiers he brought into the city were assigned to the east and west walls, and each sent their generals to take command. Li Yanxian stood on top of the city tower, facing the biting cold wind, holding a long knife in his hand and looking coldly outside the city.
Lou Su was riding on his horse, looking at the loud killing noise outside Shaanzhou City, and couldn't help but frown. After a long time, he said: "Hundreds of soldiers have entered Shaanzhou City today. It will not be easy to attack again. But if we don't attack and the Song army comes to help, we will fall short in more than a month. How can we be willing to do so!"
Seeing the discount, he stayed silent. Lou Su said: "General Zhe, we can't stop these days. No matter how many people die, we will break Shaanzhou! You lead your troops and attack the city day and night. Don't slack off! I will send another general to pursue those who escaped today." That group of Song troops, lest they cause trouble!"
You can ask for a cross and say it is. There was no other way, so I called my subordinate generals to rearrange the attack.
Of course, Lou Su gave priority to using the available Fuzhou soldiers to attack the city, while leaving his own Jurchen troops until the critical moment. As a surrendering soldier, of course it should be used in this way. Jurchens go to the battlefield for everything, so why do they need to surrender their troops? Lou Su knew that if Zhang Jun's cavalry escaped from the encirclement today, it would be a big disaster in the future if not handled properly. Even if they cannot be eliminated, troops must be sent to watch over them. Otherwise, if those cavalrymen keep harassing the weak points of the Jin army, they will be in trouble in the future.
