Zhang Fang decided not to attack Luoyang, but the war could not be stopped immediately.
We have built so many siege engines, it would be a shame not to throw them away.
It would be a waste of food not to consume so many defeated troops.
The latter is especially deadly. On the way back, I don’t know if there is enough food to eat, and I will probably eat meat again. Meat in Guanzhong cannot be eaten casually. I have eaten at Hongnong twice, how much meat can I find in the third time?
It’s difficult! Let’s consume some people first.
On September 25th, Shao Xun was woken up in the middle of the night. Then he was dressed neatly and rushed to the Pingchang Gate Tower with the Silver Spear Army and the Chinese Army with a total of 1,200 soldiers who had come down from Tai Chi Hall.
.
On the horse track, there were shouts and screams everywhere, and there were shadows and shapes, and no one could distinguish them.
"It is forbidden at night. If you run around and bump into each other, you will be shot to death regardless of whether you are friend or foe." Shao Xun gave the order directly.
The crossbowman cocked the crossbow, and the archer nocked the arrow.
"Woo--" The trumpet sounded, and dense arrows were fired.
It was like a violent storm, covering most of the horse path in an instant.
Wherever the arrows passed, there was no one left standing.
The trumpet sounds over and over again.
The archers and crossbowmen also stood on the horse path and fired at the city head, which was met with a series of screams.
"Dong dong..." The drum sounded.
The teaching team protected Shao Xun, took the lead, and rushed forward.
Several braziers at the top of the city were extinguished and the light was a little dim, but this only made the battle more eerie and ferocious.
"Bang!" Chen Yougen rushed to the front, like a furious-eyed King Kong, slashing across the opponent's face with a sword.
The others quickly followed, and under the dim yellow light, they engaged in bloody close combat with the enemy.
Shao Xun rushed to the city battlements first, chopped off the head of a person who had just come up, and then kicked another enemy who was half exposed to the bottom of the city.
There was a sound of breaking through the air behind him, and he turned sideways to avoid it.
"Dang!" The Huanshou sword hit the rammed earth city wall that was already as hard as iron, making a crisp sound.
Shao Xun struck down with his sword.
"Dang!" He was blocked by the iron armor.
However, the force of the heavy sword's slash was so great that the enemy soldiers threw away their swords, their helmets were knocked to the ground, and their bodies could not stop staggering back.
"My maidservant!" Shao Xun lost his temper, took two quick steps, grabbed the enemy soldier's hair, and pushed him into the brazier.
The enemy soldiers were struck dizzy by heavy swords. When they woke up, burning charcoal was already in front of them.
"Ah!" The scream was earth-shattering, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
Shao Xun held him down for a moment, then pushed him to the ground, then raised his foot and kicked the brazier towards the two enemy soldiers who had just climbed to the top of the city.
Hot charcoal flew in the air, making the enemy soldiers scream.
Under the moonlight, the heavy sword slashed continuously, and the sharp sword light slashed from left to right, and then from right to left. Wherever it passed, five or six enemy soldiers screamed and fell to the ground.
The soldiers in the training team imitated the same example, picked up the brazier and threw it into the enemy soldiers.
The archers followed, taking careful aim from a distance and shooting at valuable targets.
The battle is bloody and cruel, and extremely tests one's will.
The soldiers of the teaching team fell on the city wall one after another, using their bloody courage to wear away the attacking enemies bit by bit.
A flesh and blood mill, that's for sure. I don't know how many sacrifices were devoured that night.
After the Silver Spear Army followed up, the situation had completely stabilized.
They lined up in a neat array, fired their guns like dragons, and wiped out the few remaining enemies.
"Ah!" The last enemy general was forced into a corner, and dozens of spears were thrust out, nailing him to the wall.
The new recruits of the Silver Spear Army were too nervous, used too much force, and even lifted this person into the air.
Blood trickled down and formed a small pool at his feet.
"Bang!" After the spear was withdrawn, the body fell to the ground with a crash.
The enemy general opened his eyes wide and looked to the sky unwillingly.
The moon in Chang'an should also be so bright...
Shao Xun walked up and down the city with a heavy sword dripping with blood.
The enemy had stopped climbing up. Apparently they knew that reinforcements were coming to the city. This night attack to steal the city failed.
They didn't even have time to pack up their siege equipment, so they retreated hastily and disappeared into the night.
There was another sound of footsteps on the road.
The Chinese soldiers caught dozens of deserters and pushed them over.
Shao Xun snorted coldly and asked, "Where is Miao Yuan?"
"General Miao was injured and was sent back to the city." A moment later, a deserter said.
Shao Xun was silent for a while and then pulled him over.
The deserter didn't know why, but he saw the light of the sword slashing down, and his head flew up instantly.
"Abandoning the city and fleeing is a crime worthy of death. All of them will be beheaded." He ordered.
The deserters were in an uproar.
Regardless of what they thought, the soldiers of the Central Military Commission quickly slaughtered all these people with swords and guns.
The field was filled with a strong smell of blood, and even the Silver Spear soldiers who had just gone into battle and killed people were a little uncomfortable with it.
"Jin San, Lu Heigou!" Shao Xun shouted.
"Here." The two of them stepped forward in unison.
"Take people out of the city to chase and kill, as long as the bull market is limited." Shao Xun ordered.
"promise."
"Do you know how to pursue me?"
"Multiple torches, many beating of war drums, running in single file, no more than three hundred steps." The two men replied as if they were endorsing each other.
Multiple torches are used to create the illusion that there are more people on your side.
The same goes for beating war drums multiple times, and they can even be placed in different directions to confuse the enemy.
These are night fighting tactics, especially effective when the enemy is retreating.
Run in a column, stop after three hundred paces, reorganize your formation, and then continue the pursuit.
This measure is to prevent encounters with enemy reinforcements or counterattacks by troops cut off from behind.
Shao Xun laughed after hearing this. The student soldiers had really worked hard and memorized the skills they usually learned by heart.
Now it's time to put them into practice.
****
The Silver Spear Army who went out of the city in pursuit came back before dawn, with almost no casualties, but not many gains.
The enemy troops ran very fast, and it was difficult to tell where they were going in the darkness. In the end, only a few dozen stragglers were killed - people who got separated due to poor eyesight.
Over the next few days, the enemy's offensive gradually subsided.
Occasionally, a nervous attack occurs, but the number of people is not large.
On the 26th, the east city was attacked.
For a time, Wang Bing was in a hurry and allowed the enemy troops to rush to the city. In the end, he relied on the 3,000 auxiliary soldiers reinforced by Shao Xun to rely on their numerical advantage to annihilate the enemies who broke through - those who attacked the East City.
By the end of the day, more than 400 people had been killed and wounded in the defenders' front and rear.
If Dongcheng fails, attack Nancheng again on the 27th.
The new recruits of Miao Yuan wanted to escape, but they didn't dare.
Shao Xun personally led the reserve Silver Spear Army to press the battle, joined the battle at the critical moment, and finally repelled the enemy.
On the 28th, there was a small fight in Xicheng.
He Lun responded calmly and had more soldiers, so Zhang Fang could not succeed.
By this time, both sides understood that the Battle of Luoyang was over.
If you don't succeed at the beginning, the opportunity will be lost forever.
The Western Army's current attack is more like covering for a retreat or other actions.
Moreover, they no longer send out elite soldiers. Those who attack the city are either weak soldiers or defeated soldiers who are contained. Naturally, there will be no results. They are just giving death to the opponent, and even helping their new soldiers grow.
On the last day of September, thousands of cavalrymen of the Western Army gathered outside the city.
The infantry broke out of camp and walked away in an orderly manner.
Later, the cavalry also mounted their horses and disappeared into the distant sky.
The city of Luoyang burst into warm cheers on the spot.
It has been more than two months since the beginning of the Sikong Northern Expedition. During this period, there have been ups and downs, and many twists and turns. Those who are still standing here feel like they are surviving a disaster.
And all of this is inseparable from that man.
The golden-armored warrior stood on the tower, bathing in the setting sun and its glow.
He is the Dinghai Shenzhen who has been able to persist in Luoyang until now.
His prestige is no longer in doubt.
After withdrawing from the city, Shao Xun returned to Jinyong City. The first thing he did was to go to the princess's residence to report and ask for instructions.
When others see it, they praise it.
Shao Sima was not only a good fighter, but also very loyal. Even when Sikong was away, he would always ask the princess for instructions and report everything.
The princess has also gained a lot of military morale recently.
She took the maids in the mansion and the female relatives of other families who lived in the house to sew the soldiers' uniforms and boost their morale.
Even twice, he personally cooked meals and took his servants to carry them to the top of the city to feed the troops. Well, not everyone could eat it. After all, it was just such a small amount. It is said that Shao Sima and
The officers of the teaching team shared the meal.
Her behavior was relatively rare at this time, so the effect was particularly good and it indeed played a role in boosting morale.
"Why did Zhang Fang leave now?" Concubine Pei asked softly through the window.
"I just heard that this guy may have stolen the tombs of the princes of the past dynasties, or even the imperial mausoleums." Shao Xun replied: "That's what he is like. If a thief doesn't escape and take something back, the soldiers will also complain.
, I won’t go on an expedition next time.”
"It's really heartbreaking." Concubine Pei sighed.
Shao Xun was silent.
His eyes wandered over the blurred window paper, feeling as if Concubine Pei had changed into a new set of clothes.
I ask for instructions every day and change it every day. The style is still different and I wear it in different ways.
This is a game between adults, hazy and endlessly enjoyable.
But Shao Xun knew that Concubine Pei was sensible. With Sikong still here, there was no way she could do anything.
Yes, the education of gentlemen and women at this time was indeed diverse, the constraints of ethics and education were greatly reduced, and the atmosphere was relatively open, but after all, there were still a small number of people like Sima Rui's mother who spread a lot of rosy news.
"I found what you are looking for. Write it on this square silk. Take it." The window opened, revealing Concubine Pei's angry face.
Shao Xun took the silk and read it roughly.
"Are the Xiongnu worth your trouble?" Concubine Pei was a little puzzled: "If Zhang Fang retreats, Luoyang should be at peace, right?"
"It's just peace for a while." Shao Xun said: "Sima Ying is in full decline. If he is defeated, his next target will be Sima Yong. If he is not defeated, can Sikong An stay in Luoyang and issue orders?"
Sima Ying and Sima Yong are allies. After defeating Sima Ying, they must march into Guanzhong to fight against Sima Yong's forces.
Instead of completely wiping them out, Sima Yue would just pop the champagne at halftime and get drunk.
The battle still has to be fought, but Luoyang may indeed usher in a rare period of calm.
When Concubine Pei heard this, she rolled her eyes at Shao Xun and said, "You know Sikong better than I do."
Shao Xun smiled awkwardly and said vaguely: "Sikong has great ambitions, and of course he will wipe out the princes one by one."
While he was replying, he looked at Juan's beautiful handwriting on the silk.
Concubine Pei is indeed very talented in literature. She read through so many files and historical materials, and the final summary is very concise.
Shao Xun had a rough understanding of it after reading it.
To put it simply, in the past, the Xiongnu south of Wei Wu in the deep interior, their power gradually grew, and they were divided into five tribes to weaken their power.
Each department appointed a commander, and the Wei people were selected as Sima to supervise. At the end of Wei Dynasty, the commander was changed to the captain.
The Zuobu Duwei commanded more than 10,000 people and lived in his hometown of Zishi County (today's south of Linfen City, Shanxi Province).
There were more than 6,000 captains of the right army, living in Qi County (southeast of today's Qi County, Shanxi Province).
There were more than 3,000 southern captains living in Puzi County (today's Xi County, Shanxi Province).
There were more than 4,000 northern captains living in Xinxing County (now Xinzhou, Shanxi).
There were more than 6,000 captains in the central region, living in Daling County (now northeast of Wenshui, Shanxi Province).
Regarding the Southern Xiongnu, Cao Cao's attitude has always been to force them to serve as soldiers and fight against all forces.
He was also very vigilant, splitting the Xiongnu into five tribes was a move, and at the same time he continued to levy their population - "Call the powerful right people to the shogunate; when the powerful right people are exhausted, they will send out the Ding Qiang as a righteous obedience."
"And because the army went out for an expedition, I asked for my strength. After the officials and soldiers had gone, I moved their homes a little and sent them back and forth to Ye, with tens of thousands of people..."
Cao Cao's routine was to serve as officials for the upper class of the Huns, with elite soldiers as "righteous followers", and ordinary herdsmen to accompany the army on expeditions. Not to mention, after the Huns became soldiers, they had to move away their families, tens of thousands of them.
These Huns who arrived in Yecheng were basically assimilated by the Han people. If you ask them now, most of them don't know whether their ancestors are Huns or Han, so they will default to "Wei people", and now they will default to "Jin people", language, clothing
, living habits have completely changed, and the cultural characteristics of the ethnic group have been lost.
Cao Cao's actions reduced the population of the Southern Xiongnu to only a few hundred thousand at the end of the Wei Dynasty.
At the beginning of the Jin Dynasty, the Xiongnu from outside the Great Wall returned, and there were nineteen species before and after. There were only three large-scale ones, one was "more than 20,000 people", one was "100,000 men and women", one was 29,300 people, and the rest
There are around 10,000 people, or even just over a thousand people.
Therefore, the current five Southern Xiongnu tribes, excluding the population lost after the Jin Dynasty's war conscription - not only those who died in battle, but also those whose families were moved to the hinterland of the Western Jin Dynasty after becoming soldiers - there are probably men, women, old and young.
There are approximately 4 to 50 million people, including more than 100,000 adult males.
This power is quite big.
In the case of extreme conscription, theoretically all adult men would have to go into battle, which would be hundreds of thousands of Huns soldiers.
Of course, for the sake of sustainable fishing, we generally don’t do this nonsense. Recruiting 50,000 people is enough. Even if 50,000 people think it will affect their livelihood, sending out 20,000 to 30,000 people will be enough, supplemented by 100,000 people.
Tens of thousands of Han people formed the so-called "Hongnu army".
If the Luoyang Central Army is still there, and all the light and heavy cavalry units, as well as the armored cavalry units are fully organized, they can fight with them, and the probability of victory is very high.
But now, I won’t say anything!
Shao Xun collected the silk and said goodbye and left.
Peace comes to Luoyang? It doesn't exist, it's just a truce.
The next enemy will most likely be the Huns.
Will Sikong send him into battle? It's very possible.
Planning ahead is a must.
Before that, he had another important thing to do: a messenger came from Yecheng to inform the emperor's brother Sima Ying that he might send troops to escort the emperor back south in the near future, and ordered the generals left in Luoyang to welcome him.
Chapter completed!