Chapter 1177 Siege
"kill!"
At the foot of Lu'an City, groups of Wu soldiers carried long light ladders and rushed towards the city wall.
The defenders on the city were raining down arrows, but they still could not stop the crazy pace of the enemy troops below the city.
The arrow pierced the unprepared neck of Sergeant Wu. The soldier who was hit by the arrow subconsciously covered his neck.
The cry of killing that had surged into his throat was suddenly blocked, and the unlucky soldier staggered a few steps and then fell to the ground.
His hands and feet were still twitching, but his vitality was rapidly draining away.
His colleagues had no time to care about him. Several pairs of feet stepped on his side, and those who came late didn't even have time to see who was lying on the ground.
“Hurry, follow up!”
The colonel holding the wooden shield saw that there were a few fewer people carrying the light ladder, and quickly ordered the people behind to make up for it.
Compared to the soldier who was killed by an arrow and shot in the thigh, unable to move forward and could only kneel on the ground and howl, he seemed luckier.
It’s just that this luck is temporary.
If this wave of siege can successfully build a ladder on the city wall, maybe he will have a chance to be sent back to the rear.
But if he retreats like the previous times, I am afraid that by the time both sides clean up the battlefield, he will have died of excessive blood loss.
Following the light echelon was the car being pushed forward by dozens or even hundreds of strong men.
During the days of siege, Zhuge Ke had already had people bulldoze all the obstacles outside the south gate of Lu'an.
The chariot with a wheel chassis is slowly being pushed near the city wall.
Halking with the car, there is also a rush car made of huge logs.
This is used to ram the city gates - and if the wall is defective, it can also be used to ram the weak points of the city wall.
Wen Qin pressed his right hand tightly on the hilt of the sword and stared with anger.
If the cavalry were not valuable and the number of soldiers in the city was far less than that of Wu's army, he would have been unable to hold back and lead his men out personally.
“Fire the arrow! Don’t stop!”
Seeing that a light ladder finally started to climb up the city wall, Wen Qin couldn't help it anymore.
He grabbed a bow and aimed at the general who was holding a round shield and directing Wu's soldiers to build a ladder.
"go to hell!"
With his roar, arrows shot like lightning towards the primary school he was aiming at.
The Wu Jun junior colonel did not expect to be shot with a cold arrow. The small round shield could not protect his body, and the arrow went straight to his face.
His screams were heard, and his face was bleeding profusely. He fell to the ground, and he didn't know whether he was alive or dead.
Wen Qin's arrow made the soldiers around him cheer loudly.
This move alone could not stop more and more Wu troops from setting up light ladders towards the city.
The light ladder is very long and exceeds the height of the city wall.
The advantage is that it is lightweight, suitable for any terrain, and fast to make.
The disadvantage is that it does not have any protection, and it is a bit expensive to use it to attack a city.
Long light ladders were erected to the top of the city. Some of the light ladders were equipped with huge hooks at the top, which hooked tightly to the parapet at the top of the city, making it impossible for the defenders to push it away.
Even if it is a light ladder without hooks, it is not easy to push it open with both hands alone.
Such a long ladder, if you want to push it down from the top of the city with both hands, you will need at least two meters of arms.
But this point is not a problem for the Wei army.
The Wei army defenders who had been prepared long ago raised their spears, which were more than two feet long, and put them on the light ladder.
The leading soldier looked at the eager soldiers Wu who had climbed halfway up, and then shouted:
“Reject!”
"drink!"
The Wei army holding the spears shouted loudly, and they all pushed out the light ladder with all their strength.
After being pushed out, the light ladder was two feet away from the city wall. Coupled with the inertia, it was almost at an angle of 90 degrees with the ground.
Coupled with Wu Bing's shaking from side to side on the ladder, the ladder finally failed to hold up and began to fall in the opposite direction.
Wu soldiers on the ladder screamed in horror and fell down one after another like ants.
Soldiers are like ants, clinging to ladders and climbing up to attack the city.
But this time, Wu Jun was obviously serious about attacking, and it was not a test attack like the previous few days.
Compared to the dense Wu troops rushing up below the city, the Wei troops at the top of the city were much smaller.
It's not that Wen Qin didn't want all the garrison troops in the city to go to the top of the city, but that the top of the city couldn't accommodate too many soldiers.
Because the number of garrison troops on the city wall is not that the more the better, but rather that they should be particular about it.
Basically, one person is arranged at each step, and a few more people are added about ten steps away to prepare. Those who hold up the fork and push the light ladder are the preparation team.
If the number of soldiers on the city wall is too dense, not only will it be difficult to move, but it will also be difficult to deploy long and short weapons, and it will accidentally injure your own people.
Only when there is a lack of support at the head of the city, the garrison on standby at the foot of the city will be mobilized to support.
As more and more light ladders came up, it was obvious that the Wei soldiers holding fork guns could not push them over.
Some soldiers from Wu had already climbed to a place less than ten feet away from the city head.
“Smash!”
I don’t know where the loud shouting came from, but I saw stones and trees falling from the top of the city like raindrops.
"ah!"
As a shrill scream sounded, the Wu soldier at the top of the light ladder screamed miserably. He was hit by a stone and could no longer hold on to the ladder, so he turned over and fell down.
What's even worse is that after someone was hit, they subconsciously tried to grab something, but they didn't fall directly.
Instead, he tumbled down the ladder. The unlucky man following him had his neck pressed to a weird angle with a click.
The two of them became ghosts with the same fate.
Those who are more experienced, if they feel something is wrong with the people above, have already put their heads close to the ladder, and their whole body is tightly attached to the ladder, trying to avoid being implicated.
This wave of operations by the defenders at the top of the city stopped the Wu army's offensive.
Before Wen Qin, who was guarding the tower, smiled, he suddenly felt a shock on his feet, and at the same time a huge sound came:
“Boom!”
It turned out that the ram that was pushing Wu Jun had been pushed to the city gate, and Wu's soldiers pushed the huge ram and started to rush into the city gate.
Although he knew that the city gate was very thick and could not be opened by ordinary rush vehicles, Wen Qin still felt a little worried as he felt the faint numbness coming from the soles of his feet.
I saw him shout loudly:
“Get off the stone mill!”
The Wei troops guarding the city gate shouted in unison, pushed out the huge stone mill that had been prepared, and smashed it at the Wu army outside the city gate.
Wu Jun, who was rushing towards the city gate, felt something strange above him. As soon as he raised his head, he saw a huge shadow falling from the sky.
Before they could see what it was, the stone mill fell down.
Wu Jun, who had no time to avoid, was smashed to pieces on the spot.
Some heads are gone, leaving only the body.
Some have lost their upper body, leaving only the area below the waist.
But I saw red and white splashed all over the car.
The sticky liquid is mixed with unknown large and small lumps.
Even though it was a thick log, a gap was made by the stone mill, and the sawdust flew away.
"pull!"
Stretched out his neck and saw the miserable condition of Wu Jun's soldiers below, grinned, and gave instructions loudly.
“One, two, get up!”
The Wei soldiers pulling the thick rope at the top of the city shouted slogans and began to exert force.
Although using chains instead of thick ropes may be stronger, it will also increase the weight and make it more difficult to pull up.
The most important thing is that iron is very important and there is no need to use this place.
The stone mill, which was stained with unknown objects like the logs, began to rise slowly.
The Wu soldiers who had escaped were almost frightened when they saw Shi Mo being pulled up again. They fled in all directions, not daring to push the cart and continue to rush into the city gate.
The Wei soldiers on the city ignored them, but pulled the stone mill to a certain height and lowered it again.
Click!
No matter how thick the solid log is, it can withstand the grinding stone, but the other parts that support it are not as strong as it.
After a while of noise, the car was finally completely destroyed by a stone mill.
Seeing this, Wei Jun cheered loudly again.
It's just that although the Wei army temporarily stopped the Wu army's offensive.
But there were still too many Wu troops rushing up.
The next wave of Wu troops carrying light ladders rushed up again, and with them, there were several ladders.
If the Wei army at the top of the city can push away the light ladder, then the heavy siege equipment with a base, such as the cloud ladder, cannot be shaken by them.
"Lift!"
With an order, the second ladder controlled by pulleys began to rise slowly, moving towards the top of the city.
“Bang!”
After the end of the ladder was set up on the city wall, Wu Jun pushed the base of the ladder again to make it close to the root of the city wall.
“Kill, go to the city and kill the thieves!”
A cloud ladder with a base is not only more difficult to destroy than a light ladder, but the **** is also gentler than most light ladders, making it easier for siege soldiers to climb.
The Wei army at the top of the city saw that they could not destroy the ladder, so they immediately picked up the stone and were about to throw it down.
Suddenly, a hail of arrows struck towards the city!
Linche and Jinglan, which were originally extremely cumbersome, finally arrived belatedly and were pushed within the range of the bow and arrow.
Although there are not many heavy siege equipment, there are only about a dozen.
But their height has faintly exceeded the city wall, and the Wu army's crossbowmen at the top were shooting arrows at the defenders at the top of the city frantically.
Especially the location at the top of the city corresponding to the several ladders is their key area of care.
This is the first time that the Wu army's crossbowmen have suppressed the Wei army since the siege.
The Wei army was caught off guard and many people fell down at once.
The soldiers of Wu who were attacking the city suddenly felt that the pressure was relieved.
“Up, up, up! The thief has been suppressed!”
The pioneer officer took the lead and quickly climbed up the ladder.
The first one to attack the city is a great achievement.
"The general has an order. After the city is broken, if the sword is not sealed for three days, all the wealth and silk from the children will belong to you!"
As Zhuge Ke's military order spread throughout the army, the Wu army officers and soldiers who were already red-eyed were very excited.
Liu'an City is the county seat of Lujiang County, a Wei thief. The richest place in the whole county is here.
Even the generals who originally wanted to rob the people in the surrounding area had their eyes shining brightly at this time.
They really did not expect that General Zhuge would issue such a military order.
After all, it stands to reason that His Majesty’s move to the north on such a large scale this time naturally has the intention of opening up territory.
If the city is really conquered, it will be Wu’s own territory from now on.
Especially for counties like Lu'an, for the sake of future governance, they generally will not send troops to wash the city easily - unless it is difficult to attack for a long time, in order to stimulate the morale of the soldiers.
But how long has it been since we attacked the city?
Especially if you don’t seal the sword for three days, this is basically half a city massacre.
"If you don't seal the sword for three days, whoever grabs it will get it. If you don't do it now, then when will it be more important?"
The generals of each battalion shouted with their faces flushed and kept inciting: "Which battalion is the first to break the city will be selected first."
"If this generation of wealth is snatched away in one fell swoop, what will the wife at home have to worry about? We have to fight hard, brothers!"
Looking at the generals who were shouting with excitement, Zhuge Ke's eyes were slightly gloomy.
It was just this gloominess that he hid well in his eyes.
For him who is quite ambitious and thinks very highly of himself, he is really reluctant to issue such military orders to stimulate the soldiers to use their lives.
At the same time, I was a little unhappy.
After learning all this, he looked at Wu Jun who was in high spirits.
Fu Qian said "Hey tui!" and spat out to show his disdain:
“How is this different from a thief?”
Luo Xian glanced at him and said:
"This is a common thing before the battle. If you want to lead the army into battle in the future, you will have to get used to it."
They had promised to take all the treasures in the city when they had been besieging the city for a long time and could not capture the city. When the morale of the generals and officers was low.
Fu Qian curled his lips:
"If you have no choice but to use this action to stimulate the soldiers, it is already right and wrong, and it is the way of a general."
"Moreover, I have observed that among the Wu army, both generals and soldiers are accustomed to this kind of thing."
“If the Wu army has this kind of attitude, it will definitely not be the enemy of Han soldiers in the future.”
Luo Xian chuckled:
“How many people in this world can compare with the Prime Minister, and how many people can compete with the Master?”
“That’s right.”
It is easy to say that orders are enforced and military discipline is strict, but it is extremely difficult to implement them.
The two of them talked about the matter in front of them independently, and even had the intention to comment on Wu Jun.
Wen Qin, who was inside, felt the strength of the Wu army's siege and suddenly increased it again.
“Don’t retreat, anyone who retreats will be killed!”
“Prepare the battalion, bring up a battalion!”
Wen Qin stood on the city tower, paying close attention to the war, and at the same time constantly dispatching troops and generals.
The military order was quickly passed down, and the Wei army's reserve battalion, which had been waiting at the foot of the city wall, rushed up the city wall from the **** as quickly as possible.
The soldiers of Wu who had just managed to fall onto the city wall were attacked by several spears before they could enjoy the joy of being the first to climb up the city wall.
Then he was pushed out of the city directly.
The screams seemed so insignificant on the battlefield where the killing was overwhelming.
…
This fierce offensive and defensive battle did not come to an end until the sun set on the top of the mountain.
Two city walls of the Wei army were captured by the Wu army, but in the end Wen Qin mobilized reserve troops to fill the gap in time, so the problem was not too big.
However, Wen Qin was not happy at all.
The reinforcements coming from Hefei were blocked outside.
And the Wu army's offensive at the south gate was so fierce that it was really beyond his expectation.
As for the Wu army, their losses were much heavier.
All the rushing chariots and ladders were damaged. Only the few wells and adjacent chariots that were not close to the city head were pushed back and repaired.
It is night, when soldiers on both sides go to sleep, recover their strength, and prepare to fight again the next day.
Zhuge Ke, however, took advantage of the darkness and came to the rear army under the pretext of patrolling the camp.
At the rear army, Quan Cong, the commander-in-chief of Wu State, was waiting for his arrival.
“Grand Governor, it depends on you whether Dawu can break through the predicament and compete in the Central Plains.”
Zhuge Ke saluted to Quan Cong with a solemn face. At the same time, he took out a silk book from his arms and handed it to Quan Cong:
“This map is a map of the passes of the Wei army that was drawn by Ke after many detailed expeditions to the north and dozens of additions over the years.”
“The Governor is leading the army to the north this time. If this plan can help the Governor a little bit, Ke will be satisfied.”
Quan Cong took the map solemnly and said in a solemn tone:
“If someone is successful in his journey north this time, it’s all thanks to General Zhuge!”
“I will leave all the routes behind me to General Zhuge.”
Zhuge Ke nodded:
“Please don’t worry, Commander-in-Chief.”
There was light shining in both of their eyes.
(End of this chapter)