The staff returned to their tents, sat down at the table and began to think about countermeasures.
The scouts who explored Huilang Mountain have returned a long time ago. Dakang's army has already stationed a large army at the other end of Jishui Lake, and the lake is too deep to pass through.
So now the only way left is to return to Dangxiang from Qingshui Valley.
Qingshui Valley was blocked by the Iron Forest Army. Unless they could find a way to cross the lake or deal with trebuchets and heavy crossbows, this situation would be almost unsolvable.
But for a while, I couldn't think of any good solution.
When Li Jikui opened the tent and came in, the staff saw the soldiers training on the school field through the gap in the curtain, and suddenly asked:
"Commander, what do you think is the best way to deal with crossbows?"
"Of course it's a shield."
Li Jikui asked: "Why do you ask this, sir?"
"Commander, if we make a strong enough shield, can it be used against crossbows and trebuchets?"
"Yes, the heavy crossbow is also a type of crossbow, but it is more powerful. The same goes for the stones. As long as our shield is strong enough so that they cannot break it, it will be fine, right?"
Li Jikui's eyes lit up: "Sir, I still have to trouble you about this matter."
The staff knew that the situation was critical and immediately left the tent.
Shields are one of the most commonly used equipment in the cold weapon era. Making shields is also one of the main jobs of military craftsmen. It does not require smelting or forging, and it is very simple to make.
In just half an hour, the craftsmen made a thick giant shield and a special cart according to the staff's requirements.
The giant shield is twenty centimeters thick, and is lined with a thick iron plate on the outside. It takes three people to carry a shield, making it perfect for dealing with heavy crossbows.
The special cart was directly pieced together from thick logs, which were also covered with a layer of iron plates. The cart was made so large that soldiers could push it forward without worrying about their heads at all while hiding under the cart.
Li Jikui was very satisfied with this: "Sir, have you tried it? Can you withstand it?"
"We tried it. Unless the Tielin Army throws millstones down from above, there is no way they can break open the cart."
The staff member said confidently: "It's just that those giant shields are a bit heavy, and ordinary soldiers may not be able to lift them. It requires some strong men."
"That's great. Sir, just keep an eye here while I go pick some strong soldiers."
Li Jikui said and ran out.
Making shields was not a technical job. The staff mobilized hundreds of soldiers to help, and it only took an hour to build dozens of giant shields and more than a dozen special carts.
Li Jikui also selected hundreds of strong men from the army to serve as shield bearers.
They are sworn enemies who are incompatible with each other, so naturally there is nothing to be polite about.
After being fully prepared, Zhuo Ban immediately led his men to launch a fierce attack on the south side of Qingshui Mountain again.
On the other side, soldiers also pushed carts slowly towards Qingshui Valley.
On the south side of Qingshui Mountain, Zhong Wu frowned slightly as he looked at the party soldiers carrying giant shields up the mountain.
As a veteran who has been on the battlefield for a long time, he could see the party members' plans.
However, Zhong Wu is not a character who gives up easily. Whether the opponent's shield is stronger or his own heavy crossbow is more powerful, you have to try it to find out.
When the enemy walked ten feet away from the heavy crossbow, Zhong Wu ordered the attack without hesitation.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew out and hit the giant shield with a bang.
The three party soldiers who were holding up their shields were knocked over by the huge force, but they quickly got up, raised their giant shields and continued to move forward.
"Catapult, get on!"
Zhong Wu gestured expressionlessly.
The soldiers beside the catapult had already prepared for the attack. After receiving Zhong Wu's order, they immediately used their sledgehammers to smash the trigger of the catapult.
Whoosh whoosh!
Stones the size of fists flew towards the path.
However, the party members had already been prepared.
The captain leading the team roared angrily, and the team immediately stopped.
The giant shield was tilted at about forty-five degrees, and then supported on the ground with a thick stick. All the warriors hid under the giant shield.
Bang bang bang!...
The stones hit the giant shield one after another, making a muffled sound, but they could not be broken at all.
When all the stones fell, Captain Dang Xiang gave the order, and the team began to move slowly again.
"Brother Zhong, heavy crossbows and catapults can't stop them, what should we do now?"
A captain looked at Zhong Wu worriedly.
This path is the only checkpoint on the way up the mountain. As long as you rush past it, there will be no obstacles behind you, and you can rush directly to the mountain.
There are only a few hundred Tielin Army soldiers in Qingshui Mountain. If the party members are allowed to rush up, they will die without a burial place.
"Don't worry, sir, I've already prepared a backup plan."
Zhong Wu said coldly: "Replace the catapult with a kerosene jar."
Actually, he doesn't want to expose himself to the kerosene attack just yet, but he doesn't have to.
The stones in the catapult basket were replaced with football-sized jars, and they were thrown out again.
The party members immediately adopted the turtle shell formation and defended on the spot.
Small jars flew into the crowded path one by one, landed on the giant shield, and were smashed to pieces.
"Why is there something wrong with the sound this time?"
Many party soldiers noticed something strange.
The captain reached out and touched the shield, his expression suddenly changed: "No, it's lamp oil!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw several rockets flying out from the Tielin Army position.
boom!
The path immediately turned into a sea of fire.
All the party warriors were burned and howled miserably, throwing down their giant shields and rolling on the ground.
At this moment, another piece of rocks flew overhead and covered the path.
Without the protection of the giant shield, they could only resist the rocks.
Even if he was lucky enough not to be hit by a stone, he would soon be engulfed by the flames that spread throughout the mountain road.
The smell of burnt hair, blood, and flesh wafts through the mountains and fields, which is nauseating.
In just two rounds of attacks, the party's warriors who attacked the mountain were almost completely damaged.
The mountain attack plan failed again.
On the other side, Jin Feng also made the same choice as Zhong Wu.
A small part of the canyon turned into a sea of flames, and hundreds of party soldiers emerged from under the carts, rolling towards the river on the right.
As a result, before he could reach the river, he was stoned to death on the river beach.
The party's breakout plan failed again.
"It's over!"
The staff who were watching the battle sat down on the ground, their faces pale.
At this time, he no longer had the extravagant hope of marching south, he only hoped to bring the team back.
But the canyon in front of us has become a chasm that separates life and death.
Tens of thousands of Dangxiang's Southern Expedition Corps were all trapped in the short few kilometers between Gray Wolf Mountain and Qingshui Valley.
The most terrible thing is that there is no food at all.
That night, Li Jikui sent people to try another breakout, but the result was still unsuccessful.
Of the thousand party cavalry responsible for the breakout, less than a hundred returned alive.
When we got up the next morning, the cooking camp no longer opened the big pots, but only used small stoves to cook some food for the officers.