The outer city of Chengji County is being built in full swing. Twenty thousand troops and three thousand craftsmen are involved in the construction of the city. The distance between the inner and outer city is about 500 paces. The original moat has become an inner city river. The outer city wall is taller and stronger, and it is more
With such generosity, Chengji County suddenly became a great city in the world.
All the military camps and training grounds in the city were moved to the outer city, freeing up a lot of land to build an inner-city warehouse, and moving the warehouses outside the city to the inner city.
Chen Qing also ordered the clearing of vacant houses in the city, and nearly 10,000 houses were acquired, all of which were requisitioned for official use and prepared to be used to resettle refugees.
At the construction site of the outer city, Chen Qing and more than a dozen officials were inspecting the progress. The official responsible for building the outer city this time was still Hu Yanyun. He had just returned from Yuchang Valley. The construction of Guancheng over there had been completed and was handed over to
He joined the military, and as soon as he returned to Chengji County, he received the important task of building the outer city wall.
Chen Qing saw that the city bricks and wood were neatly stacked, the road was clean and flat, and various tools were neatly placed. Cars transporting mortar were lined up, and huge wooden towers lifted the city bricks and mortar onto the city wall.
, everyone performs his or her duties in an orderly manner.
“Well done!”
Chen Qing sincerely praised: "This kind of construction management can produce high-quality city walls. At this point, General Huyan, not many people in the Song Dynasty can match him."
Hu Yanyun said quickly: "Thank you for the compliment, Commander-in-Chief. I have always been doing logistics and warehousing. I am used to being neat and orderly, and I don't see mess. I specially sent out supervisory soldiers. If I saw craftsmen who were littering, I would fine them heavily and deduct their wages on the spot."
If personal interests are at stake, no one would dare to litter them..."
Chen Qing nodded and asked, "Can it be completed by the end of the month?"
Today is the eighth day of March, and there are still more than twenty days before the end of the month. Hu Yanyun thought about it in his mind and nodded, "It should be possible. The main city wall will definitely be completed, and there may be some finishing touches, such as roads and outer moats.
etc."
At this time, Jiang Yanxian said from the side: "Jing Lue Envoy, I think it is necessary to consider how the soldiers from the outer city can quickly retreat to the inner city."
Chen Qing smiled and said: "What do you think, Mr. Jiang?"
"I would like to consider whether we can build two walls between the inner and outer city, one on the east and one on the west, say one foot wide, so that the soldiers can quickly retreat to the inner city."
Next to him, Lu Wei said: "But will this also make it easier for the enemy to attack the inner city along the wall?"
"As long as there is defense, it shouldn't be impossible. Using strong crossbows and kerosene firearms can prevent the enemy from attacking, and even blow up the city wall at a critical moment."
Chen Qing thought for a moment and said: "There is no need to build a city wall. It is enough to build three aerial cable suspension bridges."
“The chain suspension bridge is great!”
Jiang Yanxuan praised: "Building the city wall is too complicated, but the cable bridge is simpler."
At this time, a soldier rushed over and whispered a few words to Chen Qing. Chen Qing's face changed slightly and he said to everyone: "Go back to Jinglue Mansion first, there is an urgent military situation!"
Chen Qing led everyone back to the Jinglue Mansion. At this time, everyone knew what had happened? The Jin soldiers were going to attack Pingliang City in a large scale.
In the staff hall, Chen Qing pointed to the sand table and said: "Ten thousand Jin soldiers and 20,000 Puppet Qi troops have arrived at Pingliang Mansion. It should be said that this was within our expectation. It was a precursor to attacking Xihe Road, but the number of troops was relatively small.
,This shows what?"
Zhang Xiao said from the side: "It is very likely that there are differences within the Jin Kingdom, which prevents the Jin Kingdom from investing more resources to deal with us!"
"I also agree with the disagreement theory!"
Jiang Yanxian said from the side: "First of all, there is the conflict between Wanyan Wushu and Wanyan Chang. Wanyan Wushu cannot just watch Wanyan drink Lisa and seize Bashu. He will definitely use his influence to prevent the Jin Dynasty court from attacking Shaanxi.
With the support of the road, the Jin soldiers are now also deployed on three fronts and cannot be limited to the western front. Moreover, the Jin soldiers have suffered heavy losses in recent years and their population has dropped sharply. They will no longer deploy hundreds of thousands of troops as they did in previous years."
Chen Qing nodded, "Both of you are right. In fact, another possibility is the enemy's strategy. Pingliang City is not Chengji County, and I am not stationed there myself. Wan Yanchang thinks that we should use 50,000 troops to attack
There is no need for Pingliang City, and too many resources are invested in Pingliang City, which will inevitably affect their attack on Chengji County."
Yang Zaixing said: "What do you mean by Du Tong, Wan Yanchang underestimated the enemy?"
"It's not entirely an underestimation of the enemy. I think Wanyanchang can only use so many troops at most."
Chen Qing glanced at everyone, and then said slowly: "I believe that Jin Bing is also preparing for war. From the perspective of the general, Wan Yanchang also has a question of which is more important in his mind. It is impossible for him to regard Pingliang City as Ji County.
To attack, 30,000 troops are actually quite a lot for him, just like when we attacked Pingliang City, we only deployed 20,000 troops, which is actually the same truth."
"Capital, should we support Pingliang?"
Chen Qing shook his head, "Pingliang City is guarded by Niu Gao. I'm not worried. The key is Chengji County. We need to speed up the construction of the outer city wall. In addition, the people within a thirty-mile radius of Chengji County must enter the city!"
Pingliang City is filled with murderous intent. Thirty thousand Jin-Qi coalition troops have already arrived and set up a camp three miles east of the city.
Chen Qing's guess was absolutely correct. Wan Yanchang only sent 30,000 troops to attack Pingliang City because the main force of the Jin army wanted to attack Chengji County and could not waste too many resources on Pingliang City.
The main general who attacked Pingliang City was Wanyan Ahuli, the second son of Wanyan Xieye, the commander of ten thousand men. He was about thirty years old and a fierce general in the royal family of the Jin Kingdom.
The Jin Kingdom had no spies in Pingliang City, and they did not understand the situation of the Song army in Pingliang City, so Wan Yanchang misjudged it. He thought that Pingliang City had the same number of troops as Lanzhou City and Huangzhou City, with five thousand people.
This is actually the standard for the Xihe Army. Five thousand people are stationed in important cities, and only a thousand people are stationed in ordinary prefectures. But Wanyanchang forgot one thing. Pingliang City does not belong to Xihe Road, and it is the bridgehead of the Song Army's eastward march. Its importance
And its strategic value is currently second only to Chengji County.
If Wan Yanchang knew that the army in Pingliang City had reached 18,000, he would not have easily sent 30,000 to attack the city. As Yang Zaixing judged, Wan Yanchang had underestimated the enemy.
Wanyan Ahuli once participated in Wanyan Wushu's attack on Ganquan Fort. He had a deep understanding of the Song army's fire oil and poison nail firearms. This time he was a little confused about the attack on Pingliang Mansion. He didn't know how to start?
He sent people to invite his deputy general Han Chang to discuss it. Although Han Chang's qualifications and experience were greater than Wanyan Ahuli's, he was from the Jurchen royal family and his father was Wanyan Xieye, King of Liao. He could not compare with him in this status.
I can only serve as a lieutenant.
Han Chang thought for a while and said: "I suggest that we first test the attack with 10,000 Qi troops. If the attack goes well, we can increase the offensive at any time, turn the test attack into a formal attack, and capture Pingliang City in one fell swoop."
"What if the other party is very sharp?"
Han Chang sighed and said: "If the opponent is very sharp and the 10,000-strong army suffers heavy casualties, according to my humble experience, even our 30,000-strong army will still not be able to capture the city, but the losses will be even heavier."
Wanyan Ahuli also felt the same and nodded, "Okay! Let's test the attack with 10,000 troops first."
The next morning, 30,000 troops lined up in the open space outside the east city. The 30,000 troops were in the shape of "pin". In front was a formation of 20,000 soldiers, all soldiers of the puppet Qi army. Behind them was a formation of 10,000 Jurchen troops.
Tens of thousands of troops fluttered their banners and were full of murderous intent.
This time the Jin soldiers carried hundreds of large siege ladders, which were also specially built by Jingzhao City craftsmen. As long as this siege weapon is hung on the city head, it will be impossible to get rid of it, and the siege army will have multiple siege ladders.
City point.
On the top of the city, 7,000 Song troops were waiting with spears in hand, but this was only a part of the army. There were 8,000 new troops below the city, forming a bow and arrow formation, and 30 heavy trebuchets were ready.
In addition, three thousand reserve troops have been gathered below the city, ready to go to the city to support at any time.
Lieutenant General Wang Duo whispered to Niu Gao: "General, have you noticed that their siege ladder is a bit special!"
Niu Gao nodded, "Actually, three siege ladders are merged into one. In this way, soldiers can dodge left and right, or cover each other. The range of the upper city is also larger, and its effect is far greater than that of three siege ladders."
ladder."
"It is indeed a powerful siege weapon. I'm afraid only kerosene can deal with it."
"That's true, but the kerosene should be poured in last."
As soon as Niu Gao finished speaking, a low horn sound came from the distance, and the sound of "woo" resounded throughout the wilderness.