Although it was difficult to implement the alienation plan, Zhao Tai asked Wang Bin to make careful arrangements and give some eye drops to Meng Gong in the face of the two cities of Xiang and Fan, as well as the famous Southern Song general Meng Gong.
Wang Bin did not include Hu. The idea of the operation was similar to some things in history, which was to spread rumors about the Mongolian Communist Party.
After doing this, Zhao Tai focused on attacking Fancheng.
Compared with Xiangyang, Fancheng is still easier to fight.
After all, the city is located to the north of the Han River, and the Southern Song Dynasty did not focus its defense here. The main force of the Song army, as well as warehouses full of grain and military supplies, were located in Xiangyang City on the south bank.
It was early December, and the artillery battle between the Qi and Song armies was still continuing. While the artillery bombardment was going on, the filling of the river was also in full swing.
However, as the river filling progressed, the bows and arrows on the city were able to directly attack the Qi army and civilians filling the river, and the casualties on the Qi army's side increased.
At this time, the Qi army suffered thousands of casualties every day in order to fill the river.
In the Qi army's wounded soldiers camp, all the tents were overcrowded, and many soldiers and civilians injured by bows and arrows lay all over the camp.
Zhao Tai looked at the scene in front of him and said, "These wounded soldiers have lost their combat effectiveness and will find it difficult to participate in the war against Song Dynasty. Those whose injuries are stable and can withstand the bumps, please send them to the rear!"
Wang Bin nodded and then said: "Your Majesty, the Song army has sharp crossbows and sufficient ordnance reserves. The army filled the river during the day and suffered huge casualties. I suggest that we only use artillery to bombard it during the day, and then increase the manpower to fill the river at night."
The Southern Song Dynasty was indeed wealthy. In recent days, as many as 100,000 arrows were shot down the city.
The defenders of Fancheng were not short of military supplies. In order to prevent the Qi army from filling the river, arrows rained down like rain during the day, causing heavy casualties to the Qi army.
Although the Song army fired arrows at night, their accuracy was not as good as during the day.
Therefore, Wang Bin suggested to stop filling the river during the day.
Zhao Tai thought for a while and found that in more than half a month, 70% of the original 150-meter-wide moat had been filled in.
After taking it off for so long, Zhao Tai didn’t care about a few more days, so he nodded, “Okay!”
Early morning on December 15th.
Zhao Tai got up early, washed up, and ate in the tent while processing papers.
At this time, the curtain was raised and Wang Bin entered the tent, "Your Majesty!"
Zhao Tai raised his head when he heard the sound, "Have you eaten yet?"
"I have eaten!" Wang Bin replied and then got down to business, "Your Majesty, the task of filling the river has been completed."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tai quickly put down his bowl and asked, "The filled-in river section is not compacted. Can large siege equipment be passed through?"
Wang Bin nodded, "When filling the river, it is being tamped down at the same time. All kinds of siege equipment can pass through!"
Zhao Tai clenched his fists, "In that case, let's beat the drums and gather the generals and prepare to attack the city!"
It was still the three-way drum, and many generals of the Qi army gathered in the Chinese army's tent.
It has been more than a month since the Qi army arrived at the city. During this period, all units of the Qi army had been fully prepared, and Zhao Tai had also made careful plans on how to attack the city.
These days, Qi Jun has made no move, completely waiting for an opportunity.
Now that the time has come, the Qi army has filled in a large section of the moat and has the conditions to attack the city.
Then the time to attack the city has come.
In the big tent, Zhao Tai looked around at everyone without any nonsense. He directly took the wooden pole in his hand, pointed at the sand table, and said: "Everyone has a good rest today. Tomorrow, we will prepare food at the fourth watch, and the navy will set off at the fifth watch. Destroy the pontoon bridge at all costs!"
Xia Gui immediately cupped his fists and said, "Here!"
Zhao Tai pointed at the artillery array and continued: "The artillery team fires at five o'clock. No later than three quarters before the hour, a section of the city wall will be blown down!"
The artillery of the Qi army had been firing at Fancheng for more than a month. The bombarded city wall was already crumbling, and it was just short of the final kick.
"I obey!" Qi General Wu Guoan clasped his fists.
Zhao Tai then glanced at the rest of the crowd and said, "Everyone has a meal at five o'clock, and prepare a military formation outside the city before Chen time. There is no clever plan in this battle. The artillery team will destroy the city wall. The first to enter Fancheng will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins, and the military town to which they belong will be given double pay!" "
When many generals heard this, their eyes suddenly turned red and they all clasped their fists, "I obey!"
After Zhao Tai gave his instructions, he asked everyone to go back and prepare, then have a good rest and act as ordered tomorrow.
During the day, the Qi army stopped filling the river, and even the sound of artillery fire stopped.
In Fancheng, Liu Zheng couldn't hear the sound of cannons, and he felt a little irritable in his heart.
After he hurriedly handled his official duties, he put on his armor and went to the city to observe the situation outside the city.
"Control officials!" A subordinate saw Liu Zheng, stepped forward quickly, and presented a letter.
Liu Zheng frowned and took it, "Where is Thief Qi shooting a surrender letter again?"
After learning that the guard general of Fancheng was Liu Zheng, Zhao Tai took the trouble to send a letter to the city to persuade Liu Zheng to surrender to Qi.
Liu Zheng took the letter and didn't bother to read it. He was quite disgusted with Zhao Tai's behavior of recruiting surrender several times.
This Zhao Tai didn't know what was wrong with him. He seemed to think that he would surrender, and kept promising him money, official positions, and even women.
Zhao Tai surrendered to him without any mention of national justice and directly promised money.
There was no response to the first letter, and he did not change his strategy in the second letter. He directly increased the amount of money, as if he was only interested in money.
These surrender letters promised more and more things, but Liu Zheng felt that Zhao Tai was not surrendering, but humiliating himself.
Liu Zheng directly tore the letter into pieces and said with a black face: "This is what the Qi thieves did to disrupt the morale of our army. From now on, if the Qi thieves shoot letters into the city, they will destroy them directly without asking for permission!"
Liu Zheng casually handed over the letter and expressed his position in front of many generals to show his loyalty to the Song Dynasty and his determination to fight against the Qi army.
Many Song generals felt excited when they saw this.
At this time, Liu Zheng walked to the city wall and first took a look at the Qi army camp from a distance.
The previously lively and busy camp was quiet today. Except for a few soldiers patrolling, there were almost no people in the camp.
Liu Zheng frowned and leaned out to look down at the city. His heart immediately shuddered and his expression became solemn.
At this time, Qi Jun could not be seen outside the city, and Qi Jun had completely stopped filling the river.
The river filling project was huge, and it took the Qi army a month to fill the soil to the bottom of the city.
Although it has not been completely filled in, the remaining distance can be passed by setting up a flying bridge during the siege, so there is no need to continue filling in the soil.
Liu Zheng looked at the bottom of the city. The originally wide moat had turned into a murky stream. His face sank, "Qi thieves are about to attack the city!"
When many Song generals heard this, their expressions became serious.
They followed Liu Zheng's gaze and saw the scene below the city. They could also tell that the Qi army had completed preparations for attacking the city.
At this time, they looked at the peaceful Qi army camp in the distance, and one of them said: "Commander, the Qi army is recharging its strength. Maybe they will attack tomorrow."
Liu Zheng sneered. He looked at an artillery not far away, walked over quickly, and asked, "Is it loaded?"
After getting a response from the soldiers and confirming that it was a loaded artillery piece, Liu Zheng took the torch handed over by his subordinates and lit the fuse with a sneer.
"Boom!" A loud noise from the top of the city disturbed Qi Jun's dream.
