On the hilltop near Loubanzhai, Zhang Guang looked at the Jin army galloping past and said to Wei Shouquan: "It is still early August, the autumn wind has not yet risen, and the stable horses are not fat. Why did the Jin army go south at this time? Ordinarily. We have to wait until October, the time is right.”
Wei Shouquan said: "Since entering Shaanxi, the whereabouts of the Jin Army have been uncertain. In the past few years, the timing of the Jin Army's move south has been hard to predict."
Zhang Guang lowered his head and thought for a while and said: "We should report to Jinzhou urgently, lest the Song army be unprepared and be attacked by the Jin army."
Wei Shouquan said: "That's right. Also, our village is not far from the main road, so we must be prepared for a sudden attack by the Jin army."
Zhang Guangdao: "That's right. There are a lot of Jin troops coming this time. I don't think they will be as laissez-faire as before."
After Aunt Zhou passed away, Zhang Guang and Wei Shouquan joined forces and moved here to mix with Aunt Zhou's old troops. These days, although there are no large numbers of Jin troops moving south, everyone still feels the tense atmosphere. In the past few days, the number of Jin troops heading south suddenly increased, so they were closely observed.
Back at the village, the more Zhang Guang thought about it, the more something was wrong. He said to Wei Shouquan: "Brother, there are a lot of Jin troops going south this time. As long as one or two thousand soldiers are sent, they can defeat our stronghold. We must make preparations in advance, send women and children into the mountains, and pay close attention to the entrance of the valley." In addition, we must quickly send people south to notify the arrival of the Jin Army."
Wei Shouquan said: "I think so too. The arrival of the Jin Army this time is unusual and cannot be taken lightly."
In the county government office of Guo County in the north, Wanyan Ben saw him sitting down and asked the magistrate of Guo County: "Are there any rebel camps nearby? I have been harassed repeatedly along the way, which is really annoying! If there are rebels, The mountain stronghold should be destroyed as soon as possible while the army is passing by!"
The county magistrate said: "There is a village called Loubanzhai, which is located in the upper reaches of the Yongxing River, right on the main road to Xixia and other places. During the Han Dynasty, the overseas Chinese established Yunzhong County there, but it was abandoned soon after. Yang Ye set up a village there, which was regarded as a great Part of Yanmen Pass. A few years ago, there was an Aunt Zhou who was exiled there and refused to obey the jurisdiction of the imperial court. A few days ago, Aunt Zhou was beheaded in Lanzhou, and two groups of strongmen came to occupy the place and cause chaos."
Wanyan Ben met and said: "These birdmen have occupied the mountain stronghold and committed all kinds of evil. What's so great about it? Sa Ci Na, you take two thousand soldiers and horses to level it! After tying down the mountain stronghold, go with my soldiers and horses in Xiurong County ahead. Meet you! The military march is urgent and there must be no mistakes!"
Sachi sang with his hands crossed, turned around and hurried away.
Wanyan Benjian said to the county magistrate of Guo County: "It's better to prepare food and grass. The army is out of date and cannot go hungry. If there is any neglect, military law will not tolerate it!"
The county magistrate surrendered his hands and obeyed the order. He turned around and left the official hall, but he was secretly complaining in his heart. How could a small county in Guo County prepare food and fodder for tens of thousands of troops? I hope that surrounding counties like Wutai and other counties will send food and grass as soon as possible.
After giving the instructions, Wanyan Ben saw him in the official hall and called all the generals to inquire about the itinerary. After asking, he frowned.
Wanyan Yinshu of Taiyuan got the news that the Song army was about to attack, and urgently reported to Nianhan of Xijing. Nianhan's army had not yet assembled, so he asked Wanyan Benjian, who was beside him, to lead 20,000 cavalry and rush south. Food and grass are provided by the prefectures and counties along the way. If there is any neglect, Wanyan Benjian will handle it.
North of Yanmen Pass, Wanyan Benjian's troops encountered no problems and quickly moved south. As soon as he passed Yanmen Pass and arrived at Daizhou, Wanyan Benjian felt that there was a shortage of food and grass, and his marching speed slowed down. When we arrived in Guo County, the problem became even more serious. How could a small county town support 20,000 soldiers and horses with food and grass? We can only stay here for a few days and go around to collect food and grass.
According to intelligence, the Song army in the south had begun to attack, and Jiexiu fell quickly. Wanyan Yinshu can retreat to Xihe and Pingyao to confront the Song army. Due to the relative lack of troops, the situation in Taiyuan is very bad.
Wanyan Ben saw that he was very anxious, but there was not enough food and grass, so he had no choice. While trying every possible means to collect them in Nao County, Xinzhou in front was asked to prepare early.
Outside Pingyao City, Wu Jie and Liu Qi were also as anxious as ants on a hot pot.
The Song army used Guan Shigu to attack Xihe, and Wu Jie and Liu Qi attacked Pingyao. They made a false attack on Xihe and mainly attacked Pingyao. They wanted to capture Pingyao and then quickly move northward.
As expected, Wanyan Yinshu was deceived and took charge in Xihe County himself, while Wanyan Yuying guarded Pingyao County. However, after two days of attacking, Pingyao was still as stable as Mount Tai, and Wu Jie and Liu Qi could not sit still.
The Song army must attack Taiyuan City quickly, otherwise the Jin army's reinforcements will go south and things will be in trouble. Wang Xiaolie's troops were still gathering behind him and were not ready to join the battle. Wu Jie and Liu Qi were caught off guard when they encountered reinforcements from the Jin Army.
Looking at the city wall of Pingyao, Wu Jie said to Liu Qi: "We have artillery, and the Jin army also has artillery. Attacking the city will be troublesome. Although our artillery can hit farther than the Jin army's artillery, after all, we are on flat ground. There is no way to attack the city." The artillery on the city can hit far. In the past two days, as long as the artillery is placed in one place, it will be attacked by concentrated firepower from the artillery on the top of the city. How can this be done? We must find a way!"
Liu Qi said: "I have a way, but it won't work if I don't know."
Wu Jie hurriedly said: "Just say it! At this time, try any method!"
Liu Qi said: "The artillery at the top of the city can hit far, but it's just high. There is a flat plain around Pingyao City, and there are no mountains. We have to build a mountain! Choose a place on each side of the city and build a high platform with soil. Then push the cannon Go up to the high platform and blast the city wall from a high place, and there will be nothing you can do in the city."
Wu Jie thought for a while and said: "We have spent two days under Pingyao City, and we really can't afford it! Think again, think again, is there any other way!"
Liu Qi spread his hands and said: "What else can be done? This is the only solution we have now."
Wu Jie was so anxious that he walked twice on the ground and sighed: "This is the only way, so let's do it. From tonight onwards, everyone will come out to pile up the platform, and they must pile it up as soon as possible! We really can't run out of money under Pingyao City. get up."
After saying that, Wu Jie stared at the sky stupidly. After a while, he said: "Captain Zhao is in Jiexiu. He asks several times a day how the siege is going. How should I answer him? Should I tell him to wait a few more days for us to build a high platform?"
After speaking, he kept shaking his head.
Liu Qi next to him sighed secretly, not knowing what to say.
After having artillery, those who defend do not know how to use it, and those who attack do not know how to use it. The artillery of the Jin Army was built according to the Song Army and was almost identical. The same cannon, placed on top of the city, would of course hit far, but there was nothing anyone could do about it. Outside the city, no matter how the artillery was deployed, it was always suppressed by the artillery at the top of the city. If you don't use artillery to attack the city, you can't even attack the city. With the cooperation of artillery, the troops defending the city have too many means to defend.
Wu Jie and Liu Qi tried their best in the past two days, but they couldn't attack Pingyao City.
