The Maojin knife from the late Jin Dynasty

Chapter 337 Crossing the river with partial troops

"It's snowing..." Liu Tai couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the sky starting to snow.

Although he had expected this to happen, Liu Tai still felt a headache when it actually arrived.

Because it only snowed initially, Liu Tai organized another offensive. He first used a brazier cart to burn off the Dragon Breaking Stone, and then the soldiers held a shield in one hand and a triangular pyramid in the other, and defeated the Zhao State's armored guards stationed in Wengcheng. Successfully Capture Xia Weng City.

However, Liu Tai soon discovered that You Ziyuan had consciously arranged for the soldiers to retreat and burned the road between the Wengcheng and the main city wall.

If you want to attack the main city wall, you are still looking up. At the same time, due to the distance between the Wengcheng and the main city wall, it will be very difficult for your own siege weapons to launch an attack.

But Liu Tai was not in a hurry. He captured the Wengcheng and sent his soldiers to rebuild the Wengcheng.

If it is not suitable for your own army to attack, then modify it to facilitate your own attack. If it is not suitable for the use of siege weapons, then modify it to be suitable for the use of siege weapons.

Because it had snowed, You Ziyuan boiled snow water every day and poured water on the main city wall to reinforce it. There were soldiers stationed above with crossbows. Obviously, if he ignored the attack, he was afraid of suffering a lot.

Compared with his opponent, Liu Tai's tactics were much simpler. He demolished the walls of the barbican facing his own side, then dug tunnels to connect with his camp, established a new defense system, and gave him space to use his siege weapons.

All in all, Liu Tai had no intention of taking risks where he could play steadily.

After capturing the Wengcheng, for me, I have secured the bridgehead to continue the attack. I just need to continue to push forward step by step using the method of forming a stronghold and fighting a dull battle!

If the weather is unfavorable, he will just hide in the military camp decisively.

You Ziyuan couldn't help but frown as he watched Liu Tai's attacking rhythm in taking down Wengcheng in Tongguan.

Although it was true that he took the initiative to release the Wengcheng to Liu Tai, it was Liu Tai's soldiers who knew the means to quickly assassinate his own soldiers, so he was also afraid that Liu Tai would take advantage of the situation to attack the main city.

So after his soldiers almost retreated to the main city, they directly burned the wooden bridge connecting Wengcheng to the main city.

Normally, Liu Tai would have repaired the wooden bridge, then attacked the main city of Tongguan, braving the severe cold and continuing to fight with him, thus giving himself a chance to wait for his work.

But Liu Tai didn't. He only sent people to live in Wengcheng, and then used Wengcheng as a cover and began to build corridors generously. There was really nothing he could do against Liu Tai.

For Liu Tai, there was no thought that he had already captured Wengcheng and that he could capture the main city wall no matter how hard he worked.

After all, Liu Tai himself knew very well that he was about to attack Wengcheng for the second time. Although he used the Shengsheng Battalion and Pili Chariot to suppress it, it would be at least about a week before he attacked again.

However, there has not been much repair in Wengcheng during this period. It is obvious that You Ziyuan focused his main energy on the garrison of the main city wall.

If he attacks at this time, he is simply gambling with the lives of his soldiers, so he naturally needs to be cautious and cautious.

After all, even if You Ziyuan sets up defenses on the city wall, no matter how well he sets up defenses, there is an upper limit. At most, he just piles up more city defense materials. It is impossible to hide the Gundam!

So, take your time, Liu Tai is not in a hurry.

Faced with Liu Tai's policy of fortifying the stronghold and fighting the war, You Ziyuan was very troubled.

Because Liu Tai stopped attacking at this time, all preparations made by You Ziyuan became meaningless.

He could only watch helplessly as Liu Tai continued to build defense facilities and provide and manufacture platforms for Liu Tai's siege weapons.

You Ziyuan also tried to use his crudely made catapult to compete with Liu Tai's catapult, but soon You Ziyuan could no longer hold on.

Because Liu Tai's trebuchet has been modularized, all kinds of accessories and parts are prepared. If it breaks, it can be replaced directly. Under the operation of the professional engineering team, it has basically achieved absolute suppression.

Although You Ziyuan's catapult has the advantage of height, the biggest problem is that even if it is crudely made, it is still the top engineering weapon of this era.

In this method of directly using the elites who operate the engineering as miscellaneous soldiers, coupled with the continuous damage of various catapults, You Ziyuan quickly fell into a disadvantage in this counter-attack tactic.

Next, Liu Tai did not let the thunderbolt cart throw stones to hit the city wall, because the catapults of this era could damage wooden objects, but they could not collapse the city wall made of rammed earth, let alone You Ziyuan also asked his soldiers to pour water on the wall, thus adding a layer of frost armor to the wall.

However, Liu Tai's army, especially the Shengsheng battalion and catapults, were not idle either.

First, continue to rely on the walls of the Wengcheng to build oars, so that the Shesheng Battalion can continue to shoot soldiers consciously. At the same time, the Thunderbolt Chariot also begins to play its role.

Liu Tai made grinding tools and made huge ice balls that had been frozen for a day or two. At least the center was not yet frozen. He used a catapult to throw them directly onto the city wall. Water splashed everywhere and ice fragments flew everywhere.

Don’t you want this city wall to freeze into ice? I’ll help you!

Anyone who gets wet in winter can easily get typhoid if they don't take a hot bath and change into dry clothes.

Liu Tai didn't believe it. His army has only now barely completed the supply of charcoal fire to ensure that the soldiers can have hot water to bathe in winter. Where can you get the energy guarantee to ensure that the soldiers can bathe!

It can be said that when Liu Tai started to let the Thunderbolt Car throw these half-ice and half-water ice balls towards the city wall, You Ziyuan thought Liu Tai just wanted to make the road on the city wall smooth.

But as the water splashed around every time, as long as the soldiers stationed on the city wall, even if they could avoid the crossbow arrows of the Shesheng Battalion with the help of the city wall, they could not avoid the splash!

After all, this ice ball cannot hit people, but the water splashed inside will bloom on the city wall.

And if he found that there were few people on the city wall, Liu Tai would not hesitate to arrange his soldiers to attack.

After all this trouble, even Wanderer Yuan would find it very difficult. After all, in this era, although Zhang Zhongjing had suppressed typhoid fever.

But that is only when there are doctors and medicines available, and moreover, the possibility of cure is only available to nobles from aristocratic families.

As for the common people who participated in the war, basically as long as they got wet or caught a cold, they would be on the verge of death.

You Ziyuan soon discovered that with the stalemate over time, his soldiers were not killed in battle, but various non-combat attrition. Even You Ziyuan began to organize his soldiers to attack Liu Tai.

But the camp built by Liu Tai based on the urn city was really strong. In order to avoid any tunnels, he even dug out the land where he camped. The soil was used to build the platform for the catapult, so You Ziyuan's counterattack failed. The damage is greater.

At the same time, if someone is injured on the battlefield, they will be quickly sent through the corridor to a safe area where the wanderers can't attack, and handed over to the medical camp for treatment. All in all, although the front line and You Ziyuan fought fiercely, Liu Tai's logistics base in the rear was quite well established.

Although it has entered winter, the low temperature in this winter can be treated equally. Although Liu Tai did not dare to brave the wind and snow to attack Tongguan, relying on the energy system he built with his own hands, Liu Tai was very confident to see who was more resistant to freezing. .

Later, You Ziyuan copied Liu Tai's tactics, but it only made the barbican city stronger. Even if a soldier got wet, he could immediately retreat to the rear, take a hot bath with snow water, and dry his clothes with charcoal fire.

Liu Tai said to Xun Chuo, "Send a letter to Chu Hui and ask him to prepare snow boots for walking on the ice in winter, as well as winter cold-proof military uniforms for the soldiers, and help the soldiers complete the change within at least a month!"

"I obey!" Xun Chuo replied to Liu Tai, and immediately went down to write instructions for Chu Hui to transport.

Liu Taize looked at Tongguan calmly and said, "Winter may not be my friend, but it is definitely not your friend!"

Although in this relatively static war, our own soldiers were at a disadvantage, You Ziyuan could only continue to persevere.

Otherwise, what should we do? After all, Wengcheng can be abandoned, but the city wall of the main city of Tongguan cannot be abandoned!

At least with the blessing of ice and snow, even Liu Tai gave up the idea of ​​continuing to attack and could only use remote harassment!

However, under such static consumption, You Ziyuan found that his soldiers were lost very quickly.

This kind of loss does not necessarily mean that the soldiers died on the same day, but soldiers are prone to non-combat attrition, and they even need someone to take care of them. Some soldiers even survived the first cold and went to garrison the second time, only to be killed. The cold water in the ice ball splashed all over me, and it was really impossible to recover from the second cold.

This forced You Ziyuan to ask for help from the rear. He needed more soldiers and more supplies.

However, the size of the Zhao State at this time is here. Where can they get the materials and manpower? It is already very good to squeeze out the wave of soldiers in the hand of You Ziyuan to fight against Liu Tai. Do they still expect to recruit another 100,000 soldiers? Wanderers are far behind.

Wen Qiao looked at the heavy snow that had fallen for a whole month and had successfully turned the river into a solid ice surface, and said to Liu Ming:

"General, your Majesty and Zhao General You Ziyuan have been at Tongguan for a long time. The attention of the entire Zhao Kingdom has been attracted. Now that the ice on the Yellow River has formed, we can try to cross the river!"

"Please general, please allow Ju to be the vanguard. We will definitely capture the enemy's forward position!" Li Ju couldn't help but speak.

Wen Qiao said to Liu Ming, "If I were the enemy, I would secretly dig ice at night to form a natural defense line. This kind of ice is usually invisible, but if our armored army accidentally steps on it, You will definitely suffer a big loss.

Therefore, Qiao suggested that all soldiers who can swim tie an empty gourd around their waists. If they can't swim, it is best for each team to carry a small boat over! "

Hearing Wen Qiao's words, everyone couldn't help but look at each other. Such an insidious idea was obviously not something that normal people would come up with. The guys opposite should not be so inhumane and have such dirty hearts!

However, Liu Ming heard Wen Qiao's words and nodded decisively in response.

This forced crossing plan was a strategy formulated by Liu Tai. Liu Ming did not want to fail due to details, so he said decisively, "It should be so!"

Soon, snowflakes were still flying in the sky, and Li Ju's army, as the vanguard, began to sneak across Puban.

In such a cold weather, the soldiers on the other side did not expect that Liu Ming, who had been sitting still for a long time, would take action.

In fact, these soldiers were just standing guard as if to cope. Everyone preferred to stay in the camp to avoid the wind and snow.

In addition, both Liu Ming and Wen Qiao overestimated the soldiers stationed here.

Because facing Li Ju's sneak attack, the soldiers here were not prepared at all. They were rushed to the other side by Li Ju, and then the camp along the river was taken away.

Even this kind of relaxed and freehand feeling made Li Juxin panic. There shouldn't be any traps on the opposite side, right?

Otherwise, how could it be so easy to be taken care of by myself?

This is unscientific. Doesn’t the other party know the importance of this ferry? ?

It can only be said that both Liu Ming and Wen Qiao regarded this place as a ferry stationed by Han people. They at least had basic discipline and attached great importance to this ferry. But the problem is that the Huns were stationed here, and the main soldiers stationed there were also Huns. people.

The Huns themselves were not good at this kind of stalemate war, especially when Liu Ming came to Hedong and did nothing. It was impossible for the Huns themselves to cross the river to fight Liu Ming. After it snowed and the cold fell, they became even more lazy.

It's just that Puban is an important ferry after all. When Li Ju almost succeeded in a surprise attack on the ferry and led the main force across the river, the Huns' sentries immediately conveyed the news of Puban's fall to Chang'an, and the whole of Chang'an was shocked!

Originally, the entire court was thankful that You Ziyuan successfully resisted Liu Tai, but with the fall of Puban, the entire Zhao court felt suffocated. Under such circumstances, Pu Tai came out and said:

"It's not Liu Tai, it's just Liu Tai's partial army. He hasn't crossed the river yet, so I still have some difficulties. Now when he crosses the river, it's all flat ground. Look at me. I'll order all the Huns cavalry to capture and kill him."

Everyone could not help but breathe a sigh of relief when they saw Pu Tai in such a posture. No matter what, at least there was still the main force of the Huns in the court.

When I thought of this, I suddenly regained some morale!

Pu Tai summoned 30,000 Huns cavalry, which could be said to be the last strength of the Huns.

Now if we want the Xiongnu regime to continue to exist, then no matter what, we have to fight against Liu Tai's partial army this time!

After all, Liu Tai himself thinks he can't defeat him, but Liu Tai's side army can't be as powerful as Liu Tai!

As long as this partial army is defeated, Liu Tai may have no choice but to retreat from Tongguan. Zhao will be saved after all!

No matter what, Pu Tai went towards Pu Ban with a bit of uneasiness, but also a bit of determination.

However, such a large-scale march was naturally detected by Liu Ming's scouts who were preparing to outflank Tongguan.

Knowing that the main force of the Xiongnu army was attacking towards him, Liu Ming was not surprised but said happily:

"All the troops will follow me and destroy the bandits, then attack Tongguan!"

"Yes!" No one present raised any objection.

Because of Liu Tai's belief accumulated through fighting all the way, it is impossible for his army to lose in a field battle with other armies outside the city!

To the Han army, these Xiongnu soldiers were clearly a free gift of military merit!

Pu Tai led the Xiongnu army to find Liu Ming's troops, and Liu Ming immediately led the entire army towards Pu Tai's army very proactively.

Each Han army was like a hunting beast, which made these Huns soldiers feel fear from the bottom of their hearts.

Charge, decisive battle, collapse... Pu Tai watched blankly as the opponent tore apart his entire army's front line at a devastating speed.

The number of soldiers was almost the same, but they were vulnerable to the opponent. Even he himself was directly drowned in the rebel army.

The only thing I heard before I died was the constant echo of the voice of "one man acts as five barbarians"!

(End of this chapter)