Once again, the Yuan army's attempt was thwarted. Even trying to dig a tunnel into the city was just a dream!
Peng Zao took dozens of prisoners into custody, went to an open area, stripped them of their armor and clothes, tied them with ropes, and dragged them to the center of the city, where they used to behead people.
The cold wind was biting, and the prisoners without clothes shivered.
But Marshal Peng didn't show much pity. He raised his rawhide whip and whipped the first person hard!
Snapped!
There was a crack of the whip, and a blood mark... Peng Zaozhu gritted his teeth, and whipped again, and blood splashed. The Yuan soldiers couldn't help but let out a wail.
Then Peng Zaozhu picked up the whip and beat him mercilessly, until he was bloody and bloody, making the ghost cry and the wolf howl!
At this moment, Tang He rushed over.
"Young Marshal Peng, these Tatars may be useful, but don't kill them."
Peng Zaozhu paused for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and smiled, "Is this what Young Master Zhu meant?"
Tang He said nothing with a sullen face, which was regarded as acquiescence.
Peng Zaozhu nodded and said: "When the two armies are fighting, it is indeed unlucky to kill prisoners indiscriminately. It is Master Zhu's clever plan to catch them this time. I accept his favor... but I cannot spare these beasts!"
Tang He was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, are you trying to show your face?
Peng Zaozhu suddenly stamped his feet fiercely and said: "Last autumn, the Tatar Prime Minister Tuotuo led hundreds of thousands of people and marched into Xuzhou... They killed everyone they saw, robbed things they saw, set fire to do evil, and they did everything! I, I
My mother was killed by them, my wife is dead, and my two children, one is three years old and the other is one year old...are also dead!"
Peng Zaozhu's hair stood on end, furious, glaring at Tang He with a pair of blood-red eyes.
"You said, can I not avenge this? We have sworn that if we catch a Tatar, we will twitch the skin, bruise the bones and spread the ashes!"
Tang He was stunned. What could he say?
Reason with Peng Zaozhu, saying that these are not the people who killed your relatives, and you should not vent your anger... Tang He couldn't say this. When the officers and soldiers broke through Xuzhou, no one, no matter the soldiers or civilians, the elderly or children, could escape the murderous hands.
In this case, there is nothing wrong with placing the blame on Yuan Bing.
It is true that some people were wronged for doing this, and some innocent people died miserably, but in such a world, where can one go to complain?
Tang He was dejected and came to see Zhu Chongba. Zhang Ximeng was also there. When he saw Tang He lowering his head, he knew what was going on... Don't forget, his parents also died at the hands of Yuan Bing!
"My benefactor, let's discuss tomorrow's battle!" Zhang Ximeng could only pretend not to see it.
Zhu Chongba was startled and nodded. In fact, he experienced the feeling of family destruction earlier than anyone else. The unforgettable pain once kept Zhu Chongba awake all night, and life was worse than death.
"If one day, we will make the people live in peace, without refugees or war disasters from generation to generation!" Zhu Chongba gritted his teeth and vowed.
For an ordinary person, it would probably be the complaint of a keyboard warrior, but when these words came out of Zhu Chongba's mouth, it was different.
In fact, this is indeed the case. After Zhu Chongba ascended the throne, he formulated the strictest household registration system. Changing his identity was not allowed, which meant that he would not become a refugee. Generation after generation, he was tightly restricted. Perhaps from the perspective of future generations
Come on, this is a stupid policy.
But in troubled times, families may be destroyed in the next second. Stability is really important to the people.
Zhang Ximeng didn't say anything more, just said: "My benefactor, Jia Lu is very smart. He dug a tunnel while digging a mountain of soil, so that the soil dug out of the tunnel could be piled on the mountain of soil. He failed tonight, and tomorrow
The mountains will definitely be used to attack the city, and the return artillery we have been worried about may also appear!"
There seems to be no controversy about what the Huihui Cannon is. It is probably a counterweight trebuchet. Because it is well-made, it can fire stone bullets of more than 100 kilograms. There are records in history books that it penetrated seven feet into the ground. It should be a relatively large one.
.
There is no doubt that such a large stone hitting the city wall would be fatal.
However, there are also records saying that artillery fire burned the houses in the city, and the stone bullets could not set the houses on fire. Therefore, there is another theory that the fire oil thrown by the cannons was actually strong fire oil.
With two views, it’s hard to say who is right... So what does Zhang Ximeng think?
He all agreed that Master Duan Shui belonged to him.
In fact, Zhang Ximeng studied the equipment in Haozhou City, including the bronze cannons, and he roughly figured out the essence of the Huihui cannon.
This thing is indeed a counterweighted trebuchet, which can hit up to four hundred meters.
But the projectiles of the trebuchet are different. They can shoot individual stone projectiles to break down the city, or they can use scattered projectiles to cover enemy soldiers with stones to kill and injure active forces.
At the same time, it can also throw heavy fire oil to set houses on fire and burn down cities. In history, the Mongols probably used heavy fire oil when they conquered Xiangyang.
"Judging from the three Lu Gong chariots, Jia Lu's army must have a large number of very sophisticated return artillery pieces. Our only way is to wait for the Yuan soldiers to take action, and then destroy all their return artillery pieces!"
Zhu Chongba thought for a moment and nodded. In fact, this was the result of their discussions for many days. The returning artillery was the best weapon for attacking cities and territories in the Yuan Dynasty.
As long as the returning artillery is defeated, Haozhou City will be temporarily safe.
But it’s easier said than done.
"Sir, our numbers are not enough, and our range may not be as far as that of the Yuan army. Is it really possible?"
Zhang Ximeng said: "My lord, I am not completely sure, but since I used the artillery that day, I have collected some gunpowder. And I plan to change the kerosene into a gunpowder can. If this thing explodes, it can hurt people.
If we can destroy the Huihui artillery, we still have a chance!"
Zhu Chongba did not hesitate. After these days of fighting, he already trusted Zhang Ximeng very much. What's more, is there a better way?
Just when they were discussing, Peng Zaozhu suddenly came over. He just bowed deeply to Zhu Chongba.
"Master Zhu, if you want me to do anything, just tell me, I will listen to you!"
There was a strong smell of blood on Peng Zaozhu's body. Needless to say, the fate of those prisoners would definitely not be good, and they might have been brutally killed. Everyone knew it, but did not say anything.
Zhu Chongba whispered: "Young Marshal Peng, there are only seventy trebuchets here right now, which is far from enough. Do you think you can think of something?"
Peng Zaozhu simply agreed, "Okay, I'll go find my father now." He paused again and added: "You are a capable Tatar fighter, I admire you!"
Marshal Peng went to find his father. Zhang Ximeng couldn't help but feel happy in his heart. He and Zhu Chongba discussed it until midnight. After taking a short rest, the sky became brighter. When people saw the situation outside the city clearly, they couldn't help but be stunned and their hearts beat faster.
What a good old man Jialu!
He took advantage of the darkness to transport a hundred artillery pieces up the mound separately and arranged them.
Under the mound, it was divided into five positions, and 200 return artillery pieces of various types were arranged. All the belongings were taken out.
These artillery pieces are very particular. The ones on the mound are fired into the city, using heavy fire oil. The return cannons under the mound are used to fire stone projectiles to attack the city walls.
"Master Jia, Haozhou is not a fortified city. With so many cannons, we should have taken them out long ago and smashed open the city walls." The person who spoke was Che Libuhua, the one who did not dare to attack the city and only dared to plunder the people.
of waste.
Jia Lu looked forward with a sullen expression, as if he didn't hear anything. Cheli Buhua was bored by making a big fuss.
Jia Lu's thoughts were all in the city. He reflected on the fighting these days. He realized that there were no simple thieves in the city. He even felt that there was a master with all-around civil and military skills, giving guidance to the red scarf.
Nowadays, back-and-forth is the best decisive game, just like the contest between Mozi and Gongshuban, it all depends on who has more trump cards.
The city didn't seem to have any preemptive strike plans.
"Send the order, let go!"
Jalu didn't want to wait any longer and launched the attack first. No matter what arrangements there were in the city, it was impossible to have more and better return artillery than his!
It’s time to decide the winner!
One by one, the jars filled with kerosene crossed the city and fell into Haozhou. The jars exploded and the kerosene sprayed everywhere, like a sea of fire.
All the defenders were frightened. They hurriedly used sand and soil prepared in advance to cover the burning kerosene, cut off the air, and control the fire. In the end, there was no great loss.
At this moment, everyone was very impressed. Fortunately, all the buildings near the city wall were demolished. The fire oil cans fell on the open space. Even though the fire was blazing into the sky, the buildings could not be burned.
If it had not been demolished, who knows if all the houses in the city would have been set on fire!
This old man is really evil-minded.
It's rude to come and go without reciprocating. If you old man takes action, we won't be polite.
The trebuchets in the city had already arranged their positions under Zhang Ximeng's calculations. As the Yuan army fired cannons and exposed their positions, the Red Scarf Army made final adjustments and aimed them all at the mound.
"fire!"
Following the order, jars similar in size to those of the Yuan army also flew out. The number was only half of that of the Yuan army, whizzing across their heads and landing on the Yuan army's mound.
After a brief silence, there was a violent explosion on the mound, and smoke and fire shot into the sky. After another moment, a flame ten times larger shot up, like a fire dragon, rushing towards the sky.
The surrounding Yuan soldiers' artillerymen, as well as those precious lump-like returning artillery pieces, were all caught in the sea of flames.
"It's kerosene, the kerosene has been ignited!"
Zhang Ximeng danced and was extremely happy. With one volley, three mounds were engulfed in fire, and hundreds of Yuan soldiers' artillerymen were caught in the sea of flames.