Fourteen years of the Great Qian Dynasty have passed, and on the first day of the new year, Wei Ming led his men to spend time outside Shangzhou.
Tens of thousands of soldiers were eating in the camp, and it was steaming with heat.
"There is meat today, but it is a pity that there is not enough wine." Liao Jie, the chief attendant who accompanied us, said: "The Duke said that Shangzhou is not a big city. Once the strong city is captured, there will be enough wine and meat."
Wei Ming looked at the soldiers who were gobbling up the food and said: "Conquer Chang'an. Let alone eat meat, women can do whatever they want."
Liao Jie said with a smile: "When we get to Chang'an, I'm afraid everyone in the city will run away."
"They can't run away." Wei Ming shook his head, "Where can they run? If they don't have food to eat, they will starve to death in the middle of the road. If they stay, they might still have a chance to survive."
Liao Jie hesitated for a moment, "Last time Huangzhou massacred the city, there were some objections in the army."
"Who?" Wei Ming's eyes were slightly cold, "But those from the Tang Dynasty?"
Liao Jie nodded.
"They don't know anything. Without Huangzhou massacre, how could Songzhou come down in one go?"
Wei Ming patrolled all the way, and Liao Jie followed beside him. Looking at the faces of the foreigners, he suddenly felt in a trance.
A group of cavalry arrived outside the camp and were then brought in.
"General Wei."
The envoy came closer and said: "The Duke of the State is asking me, when will Sangzhou be captured?"
Wei Ming is Shi Zhongtang's core teammate and his confidant. Therefore, even urging is more tactful.
Wei Ming's face turned green and he said: "Please go back and report to the Duke. We will conquer Shangzhou within five days."
The envoy did not want to offend him and said with a smile: "Before the official came, the Duke said that Wei Ming's military use was too ruthless, and his sharpness was second only to Zhe Ming's. However, his overall Zhe Ming was not as good as him."
Shi Zhongtang imitated the Northern Xuanjia Cavalry and set up three thousand tiger and leopard cavalry, led by the fierce general Ashina Zheming.
This is a provocative method.
Wei Ming said in a deep voice: "Report to the Duke, Shangzhou will be conquered in three days."
Just after the New Year's breakfast, Wei Ming summoned the generals to discuss matters.
"The Duke is watching us. Little Shangzhou is blocking the front. Can we break it in three days?"
Wei Ming looked at his subordinates, "I made a promise to break the city in three days. If we can't break it in three days, I will charge into the battle myself. Just wait...and enter the death camp!"
The generals were shocked and said, "Take the order!"
"Set off!"
The army moves out.
…
"Where are the people? Where are the reinforcements?"
Liao Jie, the governor of Shangzhou, walked back and forth in the lobby like an ant on a hot pot, going out to look outside from time to time, as if he could hear the footsteps of reinforcements.
Sima Wuzhang sat peacefully, still handling political affairs.
The scout came, his face was livid, either because he was blown by the cold wind or because he was afraid.
"Your Majesty, the army of Wei Ming has been dispatched."
"Isn't this the New Year?" Liao Jie stamped his foot, "That's all, it's just death."
Wu Zhang put the processed documents on Liao Jie's desk. Liao Jie waved his hand, "How can I care about this at this time? Hurry up and get the men in the city to assemble."
Wuzhang said: "The official has already ordered them to prepare, but after the Huangzhou massacre, we can't expect too much."
Liao Jie looked relieved, and then the scouts arrived again.
"Your Majesty, there are tens of thousands of rebel troops coming this way."
"Tens of thousands!" Liao Jie smiled bitterly, "We in Shangzhou only have five thousand troops, how can we be our opponent?"
Sangzhou belongs to the hinterland of the south, and there is a large army from southern Xinjiang in front of it, so there are not many people in Sangzhou.
"That thief actually plotted rebellion!" Liao Jie said through gritted teeth.
Wu Zhang cleaned the brush, hung it on the pen holder, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, let's go!"
"good!"
The two went to the top of the city and saw smoke and dust billowing in the distance.
Teams of scouts were desperately rushing back.
"The enemy is coming." Liao Jie looked around and saw that most of the defenders looked pale.
The sound of horses' hooves was like thunder, getting more and more intensive.
Groups of cavalry rushed over with joy.
The last group of scouts entered the city and the city gate was closed.
"Block it!" Wu Zhang ordered.
He looked at Liao Jie and said, "Please say a few words to encourage the soldiers."
Liao Jing was about to speak but stopped.
Just as he was about to speak, he saw infantry appearing in the distance.
The densely packed infantry were marching slowly. At first glance, they looked like countless ants moving.
The cavalry moved out of the way and the infantry stepped forward until they stopped more than a mile away from the city.
Under the banner of the Chinese Army, Wei Ming looked at the city. Zhang Yi beside him introduced: "Liao Jie, the governor of Shangzhou, is famous for his generous and tragic poems. With him in charge of the defense of Shangzhou, it will not be easy to fight."
"There are only five thousand men and horses in the city, and most of them have never experienced a battle. However, our troops are all tigers and warriors, and one can be as good as ten." Wei Ming said contemptuously: "I said three days, not making a random promise. In fact, in my opinion
, Sangju can be destroyed in one day!"
Zhang Yi said: "We still have to look at Liao Jie."
"It will be the courage of an army!" Wei Ming said: "Get ready!"
The siege equipment that had been built long ago began to advance.
Wei Ming raised his hand and said solemnly: "For the sake of the Duke!"
"For the sake of the Duke."
Everyone around me read it again.
This is the rule Wei Ming has recently established.
He pulled out his long sword, pointed at the city head and shouted: "Our Southern Xinjiang Army..."
"Must win!"
Amid cheers, the siege began.
At the top of the city, Wu Zhang was analyzing to Liao Jie, "Most of our troops have never fought, and the enemy troops are all tigers and wolves. Shangzhou cannot be defended."
Liao Jie pressed the handle of the knife and said, "Then you will die for your country!"
"Your Majesty is wise." Wu Zhang said: "However, the rebels are powerful. At this moment, the longer Shangzhou can resist, the more prepared the subsequent counties will be."
"This is my fate." Liao Jie smiled and said, "I used to have a thousand words in my mind, but now I only have one sentence..."
He looked around and said: "Death to repay the king!"
He pulled out his horizontal sword and shouted: "Today, there is only death!"
"Destroy the city in three days!"
The enemy troops are shouting.
Three days!
This is an extremely contemptuous slogan, treating the defenders as nothing.
"I'm waiting for you!" Liao Jie didn't have any skills and retreated to the back.
I have practiced martial arts and commanded from the front.
"Fire the arrow!"
Arrows rained down from the city head.
The enemy troops fell down under the city, and the archers among them raised their heads and shot arrows at the top of the city.
From time to time, a sergeant was shot for sticking his head out and rolled down the city.
Amid the miserable howls, the officers and soldiers turned pale.
A rebel climbed up the wooden ladder.
"Get out of the way!"
Wu Zhang rushed forward, and just when the rebels were about to jump up, he slashed his head with a knife.
He raised the head and roared: "I am the Tang Dynasty..."
"Wan Sheng!"
The defenders cheered.
This sword can be said to have injected soul into the defenders.
In the first wave of attacks, although the morale of the defenders was good, they suffered heavy casualties due to being out of battle for a long time.
The enemy broke through the city again and again, and the defenders had to gather superior forces to counterattack and drive the enemy back.
Every time, Wu Zhang can be seen.
At nearly noon, Wei Ming ordered the sound of gold.
The rebels retreated calmly and even took advantage of the defenders' inexperience to pursue them. They counterattacked and almost broke the city. Fortunately, Wu Zhang was nearby and led his reserve team to drive back the rebels who had almost broken through to Liao Jie.
.
Wei Ming saw this scene and asked, "Who is this person?"
"Sima Sima of Shangzhou, Wu Zhang."
"That's right. But it's just a mantis arm used as a cart."
Wei Ming said contemptuously.
At the top of the city, Wu Zhang slowly sat down, leaning against the battlements and panting.
"How many days do you think you can hold on?" Liao Jie asked.
Wu Zhang said: "Two or three days."
The smell of blood at the top of the city was strong. Liao Jie retched and gasped: "How long can we hold on if we gather the young men in the city together?"
Wuzhang shook his head, "It was okay before, but after the rebels massacred the city in Huangzhou, the people didn't dare."
When news of the massacre in Huangzhou came, the people of Sangzhou became pale when they heard the name of the rebels.
"We have to find a way!" Liao Jie sighed: "I don't know when the reinforcements will arrive."
Wu Zhang smiled and said, "At times like this, it's all about self-protection."
"What's the meaning?"
"There won't be any reinforcements."
Liao Jie slowly sat down and said feebly: "How could this happen? How could it happen?"
"Shi Zhongtang is ambitious and has been gathering strength. Chang'an gave him all the money, food and weapons that should have been given to Northern Xinjiang. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, there is an endless stream of convoys going to Southern Xinjiang. His Majesty and the imperial concubine's adopted son
Well! He is naturally loyal, at least, stronger than the so-called Yang Ni from Northern Xinjiang."
Wuzhang sneered and said: "But look now, the northern Xinjiang has not moved south, but Shi Zhongtang is attacking cities and territories."
"Damn it!" Liao Jie gritted his teeth and said, "Generals like this should not let foreigners do it."
"It's too late." Wu Zhang shook his head.
"The original Xianggong Zhang did a good job, even Zhang Chumao is better than Shi Zhongtang." Liao Jie suddenly looked sad, "My youngest son is going to Chang'an to prepare for the imperial examination at the beginning of the year. I have prepared a few poems and prepared
Celebrating him, now..."
Wu Zhang said: "Before the general trend, personal life and death, honor and disgrace are nothing. I just have one thought." He got up, looked at the rebels, and said: "Kill more rebels!"
In the afternoon, the siege continued.
The rebel attacks became more and more fierce.
When the sun sets, the city looks dilapidated.
The rebels began to withdraw.
On the second day, the defenders' performance was actually better.
Liao Jie was overjoyed.
The same was true for Wu Zhang, but he still kept calm, "After a fight yesterday, the soldiers practiced their skills. Today they are much more calm."
But obviously, those who sharpen their weapons in battle are no match for the sophistication of the rebels.
By the afternoon, a breakthrough was made at the top of the city, and the rebels had already rushed into the city.
A group of young men rushed over and were all chopped down in a short time.
The young men behind him shouted and ran away.
Wu Zhang came with the last reserve team, and used archers to shoot intensively, and then moved forward with spears.
"kill!"
A rebel stabbed four people in succession with a knife. After being stabbed twice, he still killed another person before falling down.
The bravery of the rebels shocked the defenders.
On this day, more than half of the defenders were lost.
"Tomorrow." Wu Zhang stood at the top of the city and said, "Take tomorrow."
Wei Ming returned to the camp.
"Most of the defenders have been lost, and the rest are seriously injured. The city will be destroyed tomorrow." The general who led the army to attack the city today said with a smile.
"Tell the Duke that the city will be destroyed tomorrow!"
Wei Ming said: "Since the army was launched, we have defeated three states in a row. It is an overwhelming force!"
Everyone laughed.
The atmosphere here is relaxed, but the city of Sangju is gloomy and gloomy.
"I'm afraid the city will be destroyed tomorrow."
The people were talking a lot.
"I'm just afraid of massacre."
The women held their children in their arms, wishing they could fly away with their wings.
"It would be fine if we didn't resist."
"yes!"
The morale of the people is unstable, and the morale of the military is not much better.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on tomorrow."
Early morning on the third day.
The people who were worried about the rebels massacre the city had no sleep at all.
Not long after, they heard the sound of horse hooves.
"It's Wu Sima."
Someone looked out from the crack in the door and saw Wu Zhang walking alone.
"What use can he do alone?"
The voice gradually became louder, but Wu Zhang remained unmoved.
When he reached the top of the city, he asked, "Where is the envoy?"
"Your Majesty had a fever last night and said he would come later."
"good!"
In the morning light, the rebels appeared.
"Today, we must break the city!"
The rebels are coming with force.
As soon as they made contact, they showed even more ferocious methods than the previous two days.
Wu Zhang was going back and forth to rescue.
Near noon, Liao Jie came.
"kill!"
Wuzhang ran wildly at the top of the city. He had just driven away a wave of rebels, and then another wave came.
He ran tirelessly and slashed...
"Sima!"
A soldier who lost his arm knelt down and said, "We can't hold on any longer."
"We can stand it!"
Wuzhang took advantage of the lull in this wave of offensive and said loudly: "The rebels said they would defeat Shangzhou in three days, but now there is still half a day, Shangzhou is still there!"
"I'm here, and so are you!"
The rebels were angry.
Wei Ming said angrily: "Incompetent!"
Seeing the sun setting in the west, Wei Ming took a deep breath, killed the general who came to plead guilty, and then attacked the city himself.
The rebels came in waves.
Wu Zhang and the defenders were now aroused with enthusiasm and continued to counterattack.
When the sun set, the rebels retreated with hatred.
The remaining defenders were looking at Wu Zhang.
Wu Zhang stood there, covered in blood. The evening breeze blew gently, and he suddenly smiled and said: "It's done."
That night, the people in the city knew that the city would be destroyed tomorrow, and the women all put ashes on their faces, or decorated themselves with men. The men were all trying to think of how to make themselves look more honest...
Wuzhang ordered the army to open its doors and serve food and wine.
The remaining defenders took turns feasting on each other.
dawn.
The people were ready to meet the rebels.
The defenders were also ready to surrender.
The waning moon still hangs in the sky, its cold light shines on the street, and a lonely rider comes.
Ta-ta!
Ta-ta!
Someone peeked out from the crack in the door.
"It's Wu Sima."
"This is about to open the city and surrender!"
"That's fine!"
The defenders took shelter from the cold wind under the city and lost the will to continue fighting.
After holding on for three days, they completed their mission.
They gathered together in twos and threes, talking about what would happen if they surrendered.
"Maybe I'll do some hard work!"
"If the reinforcements don't arrive, it's no wonder we are here."
The sound of horse hoofbeats was heard, and everyone turned their heads to look.
A horseman came slowly, approached, and dismounted.
Wu Zhang looked at the soldiers, handed them over, and then climbed up the steps.
The rebels are coming and there is a lot of noise.
Wu Zhang stood alone on the top of the city, and footsteps came from behind him, followed by Liao Jie's voice.
"Why do you have to hold on for half a day longer?"
"The rebels said they would capture the city in three days. If the city is really captured in three days, the rebels will become more arrogant and the subsequent states and counties will become more timid."
He turned back and said with a smile: "We gave the rebels a head-on blow."
Liao Jie's face was sore from the morning wind.
"Siege the city!"
Wei Ming personally led the team.
"General, there is only one person at the top of the city."
Wei Ming saw it and said, "It's Wuzhang!"
A sergeant came up.
Walked behind Wu Zhang.
Then another...
One after another, the defenders came up silently.
Wu Zhang looked at them and said happily: "We, the Tang Dynasty, will revive again."
"Siege the city!"
Wei Ming shouted.
The wooden ladder was put up on the top of the city, and with just one wave of impact, the remaining defenders were wiped out.
Wu Zhang, who had lost an arm, stood there, looking at Wei Ming who climbed to the top of the city, and said with a smile: "Coming?"
Wei Ming stood firm, and Liao Jie stepped forward and presented the seal with both hands, "I am willing to surrender."
Wu Zhang looked at Liao Jie in disbelief.
"He who knows the current affairs is a hero." Liao Jie's face turned red.
The governor of a state has surrendered. This is a good sign!
This also made up for the mistake of not breaking the city for three days.
Wei Ming was overjoyed.
At this time, the people in the city came out.
Men, women and children knelt down.
"I'm waiting for you!"
Wei Ming laughed and pointed at Wu Zhang, "What about you?"
Wuzhang held his sword and saluted in the direction of Chang'an, "Your Majesty, Wuzhang, bid farewell to you today."
Wei Ming nodded slightly, "This man is brave and will be of great use after he surrenders."
Wu Zhang stood up and suddenly rushed forward.
He tried his best to swing the sword, but because he was missing an arm, the sword deviated from the direction.
Wei Ming was angry and swung his knife.
The light of the knife flashed.
Wu Zhang fell.
He looked at the sky with a smile, looked at Wei Ming who came over and raised his sword, and said: "I will live up to the Tang Dynasty."
The big flag at the top of the city fell together with the head.
In the fifteenth year of Daqian's reign, it's the fourth day of the lunar month.
The city of Shangzhou was defeated, and the governor Liao Jie surrendered to the enemy.