The sun rises, and the gentle sunshine slants down, illuminating the earth golden.
A faint haze of smoke floated over Tongcheng, the hanging curtains on the top of the city were sparse, and the battlements were full of black marks from the smoke of fireworks.
The wilderness was crowded with people. Thousands of bandits gathered in the southern and eastern suburbs. The big yellow flag and the big red flag were both in the southern suburbs. There was also a group of people pushing carts moving towards the western suburbs.
Based on Pang Yu's experience, it is estimated that there are more than 30,000 people outside the city, with servants being the main force.
Their level of organization is not high, but when used to attack cities, they can take advantage of their manpower.
The city walls of Tongcheng are also densely packed. All the soldiers in the city are on the city walls, numbering more than 3,000. The old people, women, and children below the city are still transporting supplies to the city walls. There are also some mobilized young refugees who are transporting them.
Stone.
The fire last night lasted for half the night, the bandits kept firing rockets from outside the city, and the bangs and gongs kept ringing. Almost no one in the city could fall asleep.
The rogues' fire attack tactics not only destroyed the hanging curtain, but also tired the defenders. At least Pang Yu didn't dare to sleep all night.
Pang Yu didn't dare to hang any more quilts. The cloths sent from the city were hung up on the wooden frame one after another. The soldiers were busy pouring water on them, but the quantity of cloths was not enough to cover all positions.
Judging from the direction in which the rogue troops were gathering, today the main force turned to Nancheng. Thousands of people were still dispatched on Zilai Street, commanded by a big red flag, with dozens of bamboo ladders and many square tables.
The focus has been changed to Nanxun Gate. There are fewer houses outside the south city. Although there is no cover, the numerical advantage can be used.
In the front row of the array in the southern suburbs, there is a long row of carts and many desks, which almost fill the front of the south wall, close to the Wuyin Temple. There are also rogues digging pits. I don’t know what they are for.
.
The bamboo ladders behind the cart are densely packed, there may be hundreds of them.
In the back room, there are countless door panels, carried by several people.
The array spread out, almost covering the countryside within sight.
Yang Erming's face turned pale, and everyone on the city wall was shocked by this formation.
"Pang Bantou, the bandits are going to attack Tongcheng from three sides."
"Sir, they want to extend the front line to disperse our troops. It seems to be three sides, but there are ponds and lakes outside the west city, and there is Tongxi across the water. Only the gate tower can be used for troops. The west side can only be used to contain it, but the actual purpose is to attack the southeast.
Both sides.
We also have tens of thousands of people, and we only defend two walls, but we still have the upper hand."
Yang Erming said in surprise, "How come there are tens of thousands of people?"
"Today, no matter men, women, old or young, everyone must fight for their homeland. As long as we work together, we will be able to defeat them."
Yang Erming nodded and looked at Pang Yu who nodded affirmatively, "As Bantou Pang said, I will also go into battle today."
Just as Pang Yu was about to flatter him, Wang Zenglu, who had been guarding the Nanxun Gate, reminded him loudly, "Lord, leader, look at the Wuyin Temple."
The two looked over there and saw a long line of people being escorted out. There were nearly two hundred people taken captive, mostly women and old people. Their hands were tied behind their backs and they were divided into several rows and knelt down. There was a person in front of them.
After digging the pit, two or three laborers stood next to it.
Those pits were only half a person high, and the excavated soil was piled beside them. The openings of the pits were not big enough to bury a person alive. If the person was beheaded, the pit would seem to be a little bigger.
Although he didn't know the specific purpose, Pang Yu knew it was definitely not a good thing.
Pang Ding, who was beside him, asked quietly, "Should we hang up the two bandits we caught last night?"
"don't want."
Pang Yu shook his head, "We just want to defend the city and don't deliberately anger the bandits."
Before Pang Ding could say anything else, a bandit on horseback had already arrived at the city gate. He carried a small buckler and shouted towards the city, "My master, the Sweeper King, is coming to Tongcheng. I want you to wait for the magistrate Yang Erming to burn incense and set up a table to welcome you immediately."
enter."
There was a burst of curses from the soldiers at the top of the city. Since the man was still far away and could not be hit with stones, they all threw tiles at him. The tiles were just a little short of distance, and several more medicine crossbowmen from the Yang family aimed at him.
When shooting arrows, the crossbows they use are meant for shooting at animals in the mountains. They cannot be compared with the military crossbows used by Pang Yu. Their range and power are inferior, so they have to smear poison on the arrows and wait for the animals to die from the poison.
.
The cavalryman seemed to have expected it. As soon as he saw an arrow being shot, he protected his upper body with a round shield, turned his horse's head and ran away.
He returned to the red flag and reported to the leader of the bandit for a moment, then the leader waved his hand in the direction of Wuyin Temple.
The servants beside the pit started at the same time and stuffed the people's heads into the pit, just like planting a tree, planting a person upside down.
The people's cries shook the earth, but no one resisted and allowed the bandits to bury them.
When the people were all dug into the earth pit from head to toe, the cries became loud and loud, and then there was a loud shout from the Xiong group, and someone immediately began to fill in the soil, and the soil soon flooded the mouths and noses of the people.
While pushing the soil, step it down firmly with your feet.
At this time, the people began to struggle. Their bodies kept twisting and their legs and feet kicked up and down crazily. Some of their feet were stretched straight and shaking violently like chaff. Hundreds of pairs of feet were dancing strangely in the air, but silently.
No interest.
The defenders on the top of the city were stunned, watching everything happening below the city.
Pang Yu was also stunned. The people he had dealt with all his life were not religious men and women. He had experienced many fierce struggles, but he had never imagined that such a scene would appear in the world.
Those who were buried had no threat or hatred towards the bandits, yet they were treated so cruelly that they felt it was hard to breathe for a while.
There was silence at the top of the city, a suffocating silence. After a while, someone started to cry softly. Not far from Pang Yu, Wang Wenyao covered his face and burst into tears.
Hundreds of twisting legs and feet outside the city gradually came to a halt, and their legs and feet drooped softly, like a tombstone made of legs and feet.
"Not as good as a beast."
Yang Erming's voice trembled and he murmured.
A cavalryman ran out from under the yellow flag and galloped to the outside of Nanxun Gate. The horse's speed did not slow down all the way. He stood up slightly on the horse and shot an arrow towards the top of the city.
The arrow hit the door panel of the tower with a bang, but fell down instead of being inserted into the door panel.
There was a letter tied to the arrow. A soldier picked it up and sent it to Yang Erming. Yang Erming looked at it for a moment, gritted his teeth for a moment, and then handed it to Pang Yudao, "Pang Bantou, you can reply."
Sixteen words were written on the letter paper: "Fly to capture Tongcheng, offer the city to gain wealth, destroy the city and kill everyone, you will decide on your own."
Pang Yu looked at it for a moment, but he insisted on conquering Tongcheng and wanted Tongcheng to surrender.
What they did just now seemed to be their decisive move.
"Reply, write five words."
He Xianya quickly responded, "Which five words to reply to?"
Pang Yu looked coldly at the red flag outside the city, "The word "Fei" is wrong."
With tears on his face, Wang Wenyao laughed loudly and said, "Come down and write!"
After saying that, he strode into the gatehouse.
It was quiet again on the city tower. Pang Yu looked at the legs and feet that were no longer moving outside the city. He suddenly held the lower edge of the gap in the battlement with both hands and climbed up the gap. Then he stepped onto the battlement and stood high on the city wall.
Not only the soldiers nearby on the city could see him, but tens of thousands of bandits below the city were also attracted by him. From the perspective of the bandits, a government official stood abruptly on the skyline of the city wall.
The surrounding soldiers gathered around unconsciously. Pang Yu glanced at the soldiers below the city. They saw strange faces. Before today, they had just lived in the same city and had no feelings for each other. But now they suddenly felt so...
kind.
Pang Yu pointed to the city in front of him and said loudly to them, "Who can tell me what is in the city behind you?"
A soldier said loudly, "I have a house and I have a mother."
"Well said, what else is there?"
Another soldier responded, "My wife, children, brothers, and the whole family are in the city."
"Well said! Parents, wives, children, brothers, we are all in this city, and our home is in this city."
Pang Yu's face twitched, "Behind you are your families. Today is a critical moment of life and death. They have no other support. The only support is you. If you escape from the city, you will watch them being knocked down like that in an hour."
Buried in the earth."
Pang Yu pointed in the direction of Wuyin Temple. The nearby soldiers listened carefully to Pang Yu's words. Everyone's face was full of fear and anger.
They were too far away to know, but the tragedy in Lujiang and Chao counties had already spread.
Civil unrest like Huang Wending's is just a struggle for local interests, which hardly harms ordinary people. Everyone can sit back and watch the excitement, and even make a fortune. But what we are facing today is the life and death of everyone in the city. The scene just now has no impact on these lives.
For people in southern Zhili, they have never seen it in their deepest nightmares.
"Don't think you can survive on the mercy of your enemies, because they have no mercy.
You are all the heads of your family. Today, this wall is your home and the life of your wife, children, parents. If you want to die, you must die on the city wall. If you die on the city wall, your family can survive in the city.
I ask all of you to testify today that I, Pang Yu, will never leave the city wall alive unless I fight off the bandits today."
Yang Erming shouted excitedly, "I swear that if the bandits do not retreat, I will never leave the city wall alive."
All the soldiers and strong men looked excited. Pang Yu knew that the time had come. At this time, they needed to turn their fear into courage.
Pang Yu raised his right hand and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Kill the bandits and protect our homeland!"
The soldiers and strong men responded in unison, "Kill the bandits to protect our homeland."
Intense emotions spread quickly, and calls to "protect our homeland" rang out from everywhere on the city wall, spreading in waves along the city wall.
Pang Yu saw that the atmosphere was intense and the purpose of boosting morale had been achieved. Although people in other positions could not hear the encouragement, the atmosphere here would spread and morale would naturally improve.
Then he jumped off the wall and said to Wang Zenglu, "Catch that bandit and bring him here, the younger one."
Wang Zenglu squeezed out of the crowd and accepted the order, but the surrounding soldiers were still in a state of excitement.
At this time, Wang Wenyao had written a reply, dried it, sealed it and handed it to Pang Yu. Then a strong man drew his bow and shot back. There was a burst of cheers from the top of the city. The waiting rogue cavalry rode over, leaned over and picked up the letter.
Arrow, then turned around and headed towards the yellow flag.
Pang Ding whispered from the side, "Master, did you say not to anger the bandits?"
"Now they're the ones irritating me."
Pang Yu stared at the red flag and said, "Go and burn the hidden rope."
"What if the city is destroyed..." "That's no use. I will definitely be dead on the city wall by then. What I said will count. People must have credibility."
Pang Ding wanted to say more, but there were shouts and curses all around. The young gangster was escorted over. He was covered in blood and tied up. He was grabbed by two people, biting his lips and looking left and right.
As he passed by, all the soldiers punched and kicked him, and some shouted, "Burn him to death."
Pang Yu stopped everyone, grabbed the young man, and pressed him against the gap in the battlement. The young man was already seriously injured. As soon as Pang Yu let go, he fell to the ground. Two strong men next to him immediately held him up.
Everyone knew what Pang Yu was going to do, so they gathered around.
Pang Yu took the short spear from a soldier beside him, turned around and rushed towards the young man, stabbing him fiercely with the spear. The tip of the spear penetrated the young bandit's back. The young man tilted his head back and made a gurgling sound in his throat.
The sound suddenly disappeared.
The surrounding soldiers cheered loudly. At this time, no one knew what mercy was.
The spearhead did not penetrate, so Pang Yu pushed forward with all his strength, and the spearhead finally penetrated the young man's chest.
Pang Yu continued to push the spear with all his strength, and the spear shaft slowly advanced along the wound. Finally, half of it passed through the man's chest, and then Pang Yu let go.
"hemp rope!"
After a while, the young man's body fell freely until the rope around his neck was straightened. The body shook violently, and then began to sway from side to side. The fall stopped just now, and the neck bones of the body had been broken.
His head drooped strangely.
The cheers from the top of the city skyrocketed, and the rogue formation was noisy. They yelled and cursed at the top of the city. There were also passionate curses on the top of the city, as if they wanted to kill each other with sound waves.
Tens of thousands of people above and below the city who had never met each other became each other's mortal enemies in just one day.
... Hongyi's corpse was shaking on the Nanxun Gate, and waves of passionate shouts came from the city wall.
"This city is difficult to fight."
Geli squinted his eyes and shook his head, as if he hadn't woken up, "Don't let the defenders fight tooth and nail when attacking a city."
"Planting a few heads is just to break their courage."
The sweeper king's face was full of curly beard. He looked at his eyes with dissatisfaction, "You can't fight hard just because you want to. I have seen many cities. If you can't fight hard, you can break it when you enter the city."
Kneel on the ground and beg for mercy.
I am traveling all over the world just for my own pleasure, and it is interesting to think about it."
Ge Liyan said expressionlessly, "Then please sweep the floor first."
"Go first, go first. If someone follows us into the city, don't blame me for being rude."
Ge Li sneered with a sneer, "Don't worry, no matter how clean you are, I won't care about you."
Zhang Xianzhong chuckled twice, rode his horse and came between the two of them, hugged each other and said, "Brothers, don't make trouble and take advantage of the people in the city.
Don’t talk about who comes first and who comes last. Since we are a joint force, we will fight together. If we break the city, you will divide it first, and I will be the last to divide it."
Both of them were unruly people and did not answer Zhang Xianzhong's words.
Seeing that the two of them were silent, Zhang Xianzhong withdrew his hand and said angrily, "You guys, donkey balls, you all look up to me and me to come together to join forces. There is no need to hurt the peace of the county. If we don't fight in the future, let's talk about it. Can we fight together today?"
talk."
The sharp eyes glanced at the King of Di, and then said to Zhang Xianzhong, "Old man, please give me a trumpet."
"Big drum."
Ge Liyan didn't say anything, just pulled the horse's head and left.
The Sweeping King looked at his back and said fiercely, "I'll plant a few heads and when will it be his turn to speak."
Zhang Xianzhong patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It's important to attack the city."
The Sweeping King snorted and rode his horse in the direction of Wuyin Temple. Hong Qi next to him quickly followed.
Zhang Xianzhong licked his lips, blew out a handful of snot, and wiped his hands on the turban of a servant next to him.
Zhang Xianzhong put away his smile and asked, "Who wrote the letter just now?"
Gao Zhao, a member of the old camp next to him, said in a low voice, "What I said to you, sir, was written by a boy soldier from Gushi. He was originally a bookboy from Tongsheng's family, and I asked him to write it because he knew some words."
"Why did Guan Gou say that Fei was written incorrectly?"
Gao Zhao didn't know how to answer. Zhang Xianzhong basically didn't retain any scholars in his army, and killed a group of people before leaving Henan. There were no writers in the camp, so he had to find a book boy, who often made mistakes in writing.
Looking around and seeing no one to help him out, Gao Zhao had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "My subordinates asked the kid to come over and question him. If he really made a mistake in writing, he must be punished."
"What shall I punish him for?"
Zhang Xianzhong wiped his nostrils with the back of his hand and said, "It's just wrong. Sixteen and fifteen are correct. It will be useful and you can keep them together."
Gao Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. He was not afraid of punishing the book boy, but he was afraid that he would be implicated.
Zhang Xianzhong chuckled, "Flying to Tongcheng, the official dog said it was wrong, but I said it was right.
Fly over and get it.
Little kid!"
"The child is here."
"Your brother died here. If you want to take revenge, break the city first."
"Listen to the master's instructions."
"You go and lead the boy army from your own post. Go up to the fifth post and enter the city first. You will be the eldest son."
The little boy's bright eyes flashed, "Thank you, Master, for the promotion."
A quarter of an hour later, a drum sounded in the southern suburbs formation of the rogue bandits, and howls to the sky broke out from the rogue bandit array.
Amid the deafening shouts, an ocean-like crowd swarmed towards the city wall.