Li Jing is not his unscrupulous cousin Chen Sangliang. When he encounters a strong city in Xiongguan, he can only think about how to steal and do not consider how to deal with difficulties head-on. In order to have more famous cities in the Central Plains and the heroic gates outside the Great Wall in the future, Li Jing knew that Lengquan Pass was not easy to fight, but still faced the difficulties. After careful preparations, on May 30, the soldiers of the Sui army finally launched a frontal attack on Lengquan Pass.

The biggest difficulty in attacking Lengquan Pass is that the road is narrow and the troops cannot be deployed. Large-scale attack weapons are more difficult to approach the gate wall. The soldiers of the Sui army can only attack the gate gate by a small amount of troops in batches. The tactics that the military strategists hate the most. The Taiyuan Army can take advantage of the top of the gate wall, the sheep and horse wall, the gate tower and the high ground on both sides to give the Sui army a three-dimensional attack. Under normal circumstances, as long as the defenders do not make any mistakes, there will be no problems in the internal rear, no matter which Sui general comes to command the war, it will be as embarrassing as the Persian boss Xerxes I was in the Hot Spring Pass.

Fortunately, Li Jing was destined to be unlucky like Xerxes. Not to mention the huge gap in command art, the development and progress of weapons and equipment also determined that the Taiyuan Army could not reproduce the glory of the 300 Spartan warriors. When the Sui Army officially launched the formal investigation, the first thing that came on the stage was the bronze cannon that appeared hundreds of years in advance, which caused the Taiyuan Army to suffer twice and was afraid of it as a tiger.

It must be admitted that the Li brothers and the Taiyuan Army are also very good at learning experience and lessons. Knowing that the Sui army's artillery was powerful, they not only prepared a large number of earth sacks in the pass to block the door at any time, but also spent a lot of effort to strengthen the walls and the building. At the same time, the narrow terrain south of Lengquan Pass was also the confidence of the Taiyuan Army to deal with the Sui army's artillery. Previously, in order to show off their power, Chen Sangliang used artillery on the Taiyuan Army twice, and arranged twelve artillery pieces, occupying more than twenty feet in width. Therefore, the Taiyuan Army always believed that the Sui army's artillery could only be exerted by the power, otherwise the shells fired on the surface would definitely hit the artillery in front.

Li Jiancheng's confidant Zhang Lun, who was in charge of Lengquan Pass, was soon stunned. The twenty cannons brought by the Sui army could not be arranged in a row in the valley road. At most, three cannons could only be placed horizontally in the valley road. However, under the command of Yuan Tiangang, the soldiers of the Sui army crossed the fifteen cannons on a relatively open gentle slope southeast of Lengquan Pass. In order to transport the heavy artillery to slow artillery, the soldiers of the Sui army also laid straw and horse manure on the slope to reduce friction and facilitate transportation. The other five cannons were arranged by the Sui army soldiers on the Fenshui River southwest of Lengquan Pass, forming a cross-covering angle of Lengquan Pass. No artillery was directly arranged on the front of the Lengquan Pass as usual, and the front space was also given to the Sui army soldiers to line up to protect the artillery array.

What made Zhang Lun and the soldiers of Taiyuan Army even more stunned was that the distance between the Sui army artillery and Lengquan Pass was one mile away, and the farthest was more than one and a half miles away. This distance was not only far away from the range of the Lengquan Pass's slashing machine and strong bows and crossbows, but even the bed crossbow that could shoot 500 steps on the wall of Lengquan Pass could only barely hit the closest Sui army artillery at most. At that time, it would definitely be the end of the strong crossbow, and its power was already very pitiful. Seeing this scene, Zhang Lun couldn't help but scream in a desperate tone, "Can the thief cannons hit so far? How is this possible?"

He had no experience and could not accumulate experience. In order to suppress the formation of the Sui army and boost morale, Zhang Lun decisively ordered the Taiyuan Army's twenty bed crossbows to fire first and shoot the nearest Sui army artillery. As a result, although the giant arrow with an axe at the front barely shot more than one mile away, most of them were already very accurate. Only five or six arrows could barely shoot near the Sui army's cannon, and luckily shot a Sui army gunner who could not dodge.

Everyone knows how slow the bed crossbow is. Before the Taiyuan Army cannons were fired, the Sui Army cannons were arranged one after another. Then, the Sui Army gunners trained by Yuan Tiangang quickly calculated the shooting height and aimed at the target. After Yuan Tiangang waved the flag, the Sui Army cannons immediately began to roar and exert their power. The Taiyuan Army's bed crossbow formation would never have the chance to fire together.

The target of Li Jing's artillery attack was not the Lengquanguanguan wall that had been repeatedly reinforced, nor was it the Closed door that would definitely be blocked. Instead, the bed crossbows closed by the Taiyuan Army and the catapults inside the pass, as well as the Taiyuan Army built fences and earthen fortifications on the high grounds on both sides of the Lengquanguan. The first round of volleys bombed the top of the Lengquanguan wall. The heavy solid iron bullet hit the wall with a loud roar, and three expensive and time-consuming Taiyuan Army bed crossbows were scrapped on the spot, and they took away more than 30 Taiyuan Army soldiers' lives. In addition, there was a shell that crossed the wall and directly hit the wall, smashing a Taiyuan Army catapult.

Amid the screams of Taiyuan soldiers, the Sui army artillery continued to roar like thunder, and solid artillery shells continued to hit the wall up, down, inside and outside, deep bullet craters on the wall, choking dust on the stack of arrows, and the Taiyuan army soldiers hit the top of the wall, and the wood chips that hit the sky were tiled, and the ones who rushed into the gate were watching the Taiyuan army soldiers who were in trouble or the catapults suffered. The deafening roar of artillery shells kept echoing in the valley, while the Taiyuan army soldiers lay on the wall, trembling, and prayed that the Sui army shells would never hit them.

Zhang Lun was also forcibly pressed by his personal soldiers to the dead corner of the shooting behind the arrow pile. He watched the soldiers of the self-soldiers run away in front of the constantly bouncing artillery shells, screaming and killing. He saw that the repeatedly reinforced Guanlou still could not resist the Sui army's artillery, and was still vulnerable in front of the artillery shells and became riddled with holes. He also saw that the bed crossbows that the self-soldiers spent a lot of money to build turned into parts and wood chips. Zhang Lun was confused and didn't know how to crack the artillery tactics of the Sui army, nor how to restore confidence and fighting spirit in the face of these terrible weapons. The only thing Zhang Lun could do was to pray that the Sui army's artillery shells and gunpowder would be used up quickly, or to stop bombarding with artillery, and send troops to attack with real swords and gunpowder.

Of course, Li Jing would not let Zhang Lun do what he wanted. Not to mention that the Sui army had sufficient ammunition, the Sui army's subsequent attack pressure was not very large. After taking Lengquan Pass, if the main force of the Taiyuan Army chose to stick to other small cities, then the Sui army would not have to use too much ammunition to break the city. It would be even more important if the main force of the Taiyuan Army retreated to the old nest Taiyuan City in full. Taiyuan City was very high, deep and solid. However, the valley terrain of the three mountains and two rivers in Taiyuan City was destined that the Sui army could take down the city without relying on artillery, so the Sui army's artillery kept roaring, and Li Jing had no intention of stopping the artillery tactics at all.

While the Lengquan Pass defenders were trembling under the cover of Sui army artillery, Li Jiancheng and Li Er brothers also brought the first army to the north of Lengquan Pass to watch the battle. However, their eardrums were not only trembling with the roar of Sui army artillery, but they were still blocked by the loyal Taiyuan soldiers before they could get close to the north gate of Lengquan. They reminded them: "The two governors, you can't go forward any more. The shells of the Chen thief's army sometimes crossed the Guancheng and rushed to the front. A brother was almost hit just now."

"Can the thief's guns be so far?"

Li Jiancheng looked up in surprise, but coincidentally, a Sui army shell passed Lengquan Pass and hit Li Jiancheng more than a hundred steps ahead. After landing, he couldn't stop. He bounced up and jumped out eight or nine steps before stopping. Seeing this scene, Li Jiancheng and Li Er couldn't help but look at each other, and they saw the shock on each other's faces.

After a lot of time, Li Jianchengcai said to himself in the constant sound of cannons: "I didn't expect that Brother Ying Liang's cannons are so powerful. It seems that even if he doesn't know our water attack tactics, it will be difficult for us to stick to the flood season of Fenwen Ershui."

"Brother, in fact, you and I know very well that Lengquan Pass is not reliable. Lengquan Pass is not a city or not. It is impossible to station too many troops, and there is no way to effectively rotate the army to assist in defense and defense. It can't withstand the frontal attack of the Chen thief army at all costs." Li Er sneered: "If you want to defend the Crip Rat Valley, guard the Spirit Stone City first! Losing the Spirit Stone City is equivalent to losing more than half of the Crip Rat Valley natural danger. How long can the remaining Lengquan Pass block the bandit army? The overall strength of the bandit army is far above our army. Even if our army still has Jiexiu to defend, the bandit army can calmly siege the city and divide the troops to attack Taiyuan City. Even if the bandit army refuses to divide the troops, how long can it last for a small Jiexiu city?"

"Of course I know this. The only thing I miscalculated is that your brother-in-law's plan to be Wang Fubao, who lost the vital Lingshi City early on." Li Jiancheng admitted that his second brother was not wrong, and then said: "But your tactics of defending the enemy also have weaknesses. First of all, our cavalry is pitifully small, and we have no chance of winning when fighting guerrilla wars with the enemy with many cavalry. Secondly, the innate weaknesses in Taiyuan City. You also know that the enemy has no choice but to take action as long as we can draw water into the city, and we can only surrender."

"Soldiers are more important than elites!" Li Er said confidently: "As long as you dare to hand over all the cavalry to me, I can keep the food roads of the Chen thief army uneasy day and night! I don't take several cavalry generals seriously under Chen thief's command!"

"As for diversion of water to flood the city, it doesn't matter." Li Er sneered again: "Not to mention that Chen thief is fake benevolence, righteousness and love for the people, and refuses to use this poisonous plan, even if he really diversion of water to flood the city, what does it matter? In the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhibo colluded with Han Kangzi, Wei Huanzi attacked Jinyang City, and led the Jinhe Fen River to flood the city. Zhao Xiangzi, who was guarding the city, led the army to live in a nest, hung a pot and drank it, and still held it for three years, and finally won the opportunity to turn defeat into victory! Chen thief really wanted to diversion of water to flood the city, which is amazing. We just imitate Zhao Xiangzi."

"What should the people do?" Li Jiancheng asked back: "The main force of our army retreated to Taiyuan, and the war burned into the hinterland of the area controlled by our army. Wouldn't the people under our army be damaged and suffered from the war? Besides, in the Spring and Autumn Period, Jinyang City was sparsely populated, so Zhao Xiangzi could live in a nest and drink in a cauldron. Now the population of Taiyuan City is more than 100,000. Do you ask these 100,000 people to follow us and drink in a cauldron?"

"Brother, I really don't understand. Are you really a bodhisattva? Or is it a woman's kindness?" Li Er sneered and said sarcastically: "Brother, if you love the people so much, then why did you follow your father to raise an army? Even if you are strict in governing the army and do not violate the people at all, are the enemy soldiers you killed on the battlefield not human life? Are they not ordinary people when they were young and old?"

"On the battlefield, you will die, I killed people for self-defense." Li Jiancheng replied coldly: "I am not like you. Do you dare to say that my father raised an army and started the war was not incited by you? On the battlefield, you not only do not regard the lives of the enemy as human life, but also do not regard the lives of our soldiers as human life! When have you considered the safety of the soldiers, and how can you consider how to minimize the casualties of soldiers under your command as much as possible?"

Without speculation, Li Er was ready to refute, but the sound of Sui army artillery in front suddenly stopped. The earth, which had been trembling for a long time, suddenly returned to calm. Li Jiancheng and Li Er knew that there must be an accident ahead, so they quickly rushed to Lengquan Pass and rushed into Lengquan Pass, which had been bombarded by Sui army artillery. When they reached the northern gate of Lengquan Pass, which was already full of corpses and even the gate building had completely collapsed, Li Jiancheng and Li Er first saw that a Sui army envoy who was holding a white flag was shouting loudly under the pass, while the Taiyuan army soldiers were silent, and no one cursed and refused to surrender. The guard Zhang Lun also looked cold and did not refuse the surrender word and half sentence.

Seeing this situation, Li Er, who knew that his morale was frustrated, didn't even blink his eyelids, immediately pulled his bow and shot it out, and in the face of the Sui army envoy who was hitting the white flag, the Sui army envoy screamed and fell to the ground, and a roar suddenly sounded on the Sui army position in the distance.

The incident happened suddenly, not only did Zhang Lun and other Lengquanguan defenders scream in shock, but Li Jiancheng was also shocked, and then immediately turned to Li Er and roared: "Who told you to shoot arrows? The two countries fought against each other and came to fight, and the enemy envoy was holding a white flag. Why do you still shoot arrows?! Are you not afraid of the enemy's revenge on our envoy in the future?"

"Of course I'm afraid, but what I'm afraid of is the wavering of the army." Li Er sneered, then whispered to Zhang Lun in the distance, "Didn't you see it? Even Zhang Lun was a little shaken. If you don't do this, Lengquan Pass will be even more unable to defend!"

While Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth, Zhang Lun hurried to the Li brothers, and hurriedly explained, "The two generals, the last generals just wanted to drive him away after hearing the words of the Chen thief envoy. Unexpectedly, before you could speak, you came. By the way, you are invited down quickly. It's dangerous here, and the thief army may be about to fire again."

Before he finished speaking, the Sui army had already fired artillery again, and another shell was bombarded towards the city of Lengquan Pass. The soldiers were afraid that Li Jiancheng would be in trouble, so they quickly pulled Li Jiancheng down the wall. Li Er also quickly got down the wall, leaving Zhang Lun to lead the Taiyuan army soldiers to continue to support the wall with holes. After evacuating Lengquan Pass and returning to the safe area, Li Er smiled and said to Li Jiancheng: "Brother, how about it? It's time to make up his mind? Now I'm adopting my strategy to fight against the enemy, it should be too late!"

"Don't think about it!"

Li Jiancheng's answer surprised Li Er. At the same time, Li Er clearly saw that there was blood red in Li Jiancheng's eyes, and his face twitched and said, "Don't think I'll hand over the military power to you! Your heart is too cruel. If I give you military power, I don't know how many soldiers of our army will die because of you! I don't know how many innocent people will be implicated and die! I can't take away the military power in your hands, but if you want me to give it to your army, dream!"

?Li Ertou was once intimidated by his brother's momentum and was a little timid, but after he came to his senses, Li Er also gritted his teeth and said, "Brother, so, are you my younger brother, I have led the troops from here to leave?"

"If you want to be a bandit and go to someone else's house, I won't keep it." Li Jiancheng's expression was extremely ferocious and said with a smile: "But don't think you can go back to Taiyuan City! Don't think that you can control the entire Taiyuan City by joining forces with the fourth brother. I have brought two of the four old general managers, and the remaining two general managers, do you think they are really just obedient to the fourth brother?! I left them in Taiyuan City, have you never thought that they might help the fourth brother launch a mutiny and steal the control of Taiyuan City? If you leave, I will give them orders to do what they should do!"

After saying a grin, Li Jiancheng sneered again and said, "Also, do you think I really don't know about the beautiful girl you secretly gave Feng Li jewelry. I'll tell you the truth. I know the list of gifts you gave him and the name of the beautiful girl. Feng Li took the initiative to tell me that if you think you have bought him, just go back to Taiyuan City!"

Li Er was rarely speechless, and looked at his angry brother as if he didn't know him. However, Li Jiancheng said again: "I have decided! No matter whether Lengquan Pass can be defended or not, I will try my best! If it is really time to stop, I will consider retreating to Taiyuan City! If you want to become a bandit and join others, I will not try it!"

After saying that, Li Jiancheng ran away angrily, leaving Li Er sweating like a slurry in the same place. He wanted to break up with his brother several times and led his army to leave, but he also understood that his army was short of clothes and food, and his morale was low. If he really wanted to break up with his brother, there would definitely be no one who really followed him. At that time, he would not only be like a loser, but he would not have the chance to make a comeback. He could also die at any time, or even freeze to death and starve to death!

When Li Er was worried, the artillery of the Sui army also roared outside Lengquan Pass for a whole day, until the evening was withdrawn and returned to the camp. Although Li Jing did not launch an ant attack, the artillery of the Sui army easily destroyed most of the fortifications of Lengquan Pass, and at the same time it defeated the Taiyuan army without any temper and did not even have a counterattack. So on the way back to the camp, Li Jing also confidently told the Sui army generals, saying: "The morale of the enemy is depressed. Our army can start tomorrow to send a toad cart to fill the trenches, and we can attack the trenches in the future!"

There is still evidence that the morale of the Taiyuan army has declined. That night, a Taiyuan army soldier quietly came out of the pass and came to the patrol sentry of the Sui army, begging Li Jing for reception on behalf of the Lengquanguan army. After the meeting, the Taiyuan army soldier truthfully reported that he was Zhang Lun of Lengquanguan, and said to Li Jing that the killing of the envoy today was not the original intention of the Lengquanguan army, but the right governor Li Er personally shot the arrow and asked Li Jing to understand the difficulties of the Lengquanguan army and not to abuse and kill the Lengquanguan army who was unfortunately captured on the battlefield.

Li Jing readily accepted the plea from Zhang Lun's personal soldiers, saying that he would never kill the killing envoys on Zhang Lun and Leng Quanguan Guards, and then wrote a letter to ask the personal soldiers to take them back. However, Zhang Lun's personal soldiers said: "General Li, the villain cannot go back. There is a supervision team sent by the left governor to monitor him. When Xiao was in the lower gate, he still took the risk of beheading his head. He would definitely be discovered when he returned. General Zhang did not expect the villain to go back, but just let Xiao take the words to him."
Chapter completed!