The night sky was as deep and dark as ink dye, with a branch-like lightning flashing across, thunder rolling, and heavy rain pouring down.
Under the torrential rain, the gunfire was as dense as fried beans.
When the heavy rain first fell, it wetted the flint and gunpowder, causing the musket to malfunction and be unable to fire. After the ignited thunderbolt was thrown out, the fuse was soaked by the rain and turned into an iron lump... Youtunwei was caught off guard by this weather.
The resulting accident was inevitably a little panicked. They were defeated by the rebels who were charging up like a tide. They lost their outer positions and had to retreat towards the Butokuden Hall.
Naturally, the retreat was not just a panicked escape, but rather relying on nearby buildings to build temporary defense lines while fighting and retreating, removing the doors and windows of palaces and pavilions, and shooting out of the windows to delay the rebels' pursuit.
Unexpectedly, such a temporary defense line worked wonders. The building blocked the rain and prevented the firearms from malfunctioning. The fierce firepower inflicted heavy casualties on the pursuing rebels. The blood flowed like a river, and every step forward had to be braved by a hail of bullets.
Pay a heavy price.
The disadvantage is that the window orientation of the building limits the direction of firearms attacks and cannot intercept the enemy in all directions. Therefore, after paying a heavy price, the rebels bypassed the window orientation of the building and attacked the building from both sides or the back door.
.
Under the heavy rain, the battle situation changed. The battlefield was cut into pieces based on each building. The two sides defended and attacked around each building. Every inch of land must be fought for, and the battle was fierce.
…
Yuchi Gong returned to Zhaode Hall from the frontline battlefield wearing a raincoat. He took a sip of the hot tea handed to him by his own soldiers, shuddered, and complained to Li Daozong: "It rains in autumn and it's cold at the same time. The weather is really bad like a dog's day."
it's too cold!"
Li Daozong raised his head from behind the bookcase and said calmly: "If it hadn't been for such a sudden heavy rain, we would be in a dilemma now and on the verge of collapse."
Without such a rain, Youtunwei's firearms would be able to exert their maximum power. How could human beings be able to withstand the power of destroying the heaven and the earth?
Yuchi Gong nodded in agreement, came to the side of the bookcase and sat down, put the tea cup on the bookcase, sighed and said: "Although the battle line has been pushed forward a lot, the enemy troops relied on the buildings to fight back hard, and the firepower
It’s still very powerful, and our losses are too great.”
Li Daozong remained silent.
He is sitting here, summarizing the battle reports sent back from the front and making specific commands. He naturally knows what the situation is ahead. The obstruction of the building completely eliminates the impact of rain on firearms. Even if he cannot snipe from all directions, the right guard now occupies
There are several palaces with very important strategic positions. Every step forward on our side will cost us mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
So far, it is absolutely impossible to say that Li Daozong still has no regrets in his heart. However, he joined the army as a young man and has a perseverance. He will not become disheartened and change his ways because of a temporary setback.
"How can a person achieve great things without bloodshed and sacrifice? For Emperor Taizong's last wish, no matter how high the price is, it is worth paying. After the soldiers have beaten the captain, the captain will fight, and the captain has beaten the deputy general. When the generals are all beaten, I will go up.
."
Li Daozong had a resolute face, suppressing the trace of regret, and his heart was as hard as iron.
This aura of putting oneself in danger to survive can indeed improve the army's combat effectiveness, but Yuchi Gong still looked worried: "You have to know that the reason why Youtun Guards are rampant in the world and have great military exploits is not only because of their sharp and invincible firearms.
, their heavily armed troops are also unparalleled in the world. However, until now, there has been no trace of either the armored cavalry or the Mo Dao team under Fang Jun in the past."
Li Daozong was silent.
The great weapon of "armored cavalry" once showed great brilliance on the battlefield during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was invincible in attacking cities and plundering territory. It could be said that it was invincible. Especially in field battles, it could defeat a hundred enemies.
It's just that this unit is too wasteful. It not only consumes a lot of refined iron to build soldiers and armor on war horses, but also requires exquisite technology. As the Jin Dynasty moved south and abandoned too much property, the population of the Southern and Northern Dynasties was sharply reduced.
As a result, the number of craftsmen has dropped sharply, and there are only ten craftsmen capable of making "equipped iron cavalry".
In a sense, Emperor Taizong's "Xuanjia Iron Cavalry" was a "simplified version" of the armored cavalry during the "Three Thousand Fighting One Hundred Thousand" battle at Hulao Pass. With the national power of the Tang Dynasty at that time, it was no longer possible to form an army with more than 100,000 soldiers.
Three thousand "armored cavalry"...
However, Fang Jun didn't know where he got the exquisite iron smelting skills, so that the output of the Fang family's iron factory not only exceeded that of the Changsun family, which originally had the largest iron output, but also actually opened up more than one level, making the amount of refined iron more and more.
More and more, coupled with the establishment of a foundry bureau, the use of water-powered forging hammers to forge armor, saving time and effort, high quality and low price, they actually formed an "armored cavalry" force, and used it to run rampant in the world, never losing.
.
The "Mo Dao Team" of Youtun Guard is equipped with armor made of fine iron. The Mod Dao are all made of fine steel. How much more powerful is its combat power than the "Mo Dao Team" of other troops?
Now there is no trace of these two troops. It is obvious that Fang Jun regards them as a reserve team and is waiting for him. Even if he has broken through Wudemen and Qianhuamen at a great cost, these two armed forces must be waiting for the rebels after they break through.
The most powerful army in the world is still a bloody battle...
The heavy rain made a crackling sound on the window, the cold wind blew in through the cracks in the window, and the candlelight flickered and flickered. Li Daozong and Yu Chigong sat on either side of the bookcase, holding tea and drinking in silence, and were speechless for a while.
The situation is too passive...
A school captain opened the door and walked in quickly. After saluting, he reported: "Commander Qi, His Royal Highness the King of Jin is here."
Yuchi Gong frowned and asked curiously: "Your Highness is not staying at Chengtian Gate to command from the center, how did you come here?"
The strategic position of Chengtian Gate is very important. It is almost the same as Xuanwu Gate. It can be attacked when advancing and defended when retreating. Moreover, now that Cui Xin is leading the Shandong private army to fight against Liu Rengui who has entered the city, King Jin needs to command and dispatch at Chengtian Gate to stabilize the morale of the army and come here.
What does Zhaode Hall do?
Be a supervisor?
Just playing the piano randomly...
Li Daozong also sighed, but did not say much. He called Wei Chigong: "Everyone is here, go out to greet them."
Yu Chigong looked unhappy and pursed his lips as he went out with Li Daozong. He saw Li Zhi coming in the rain surrounded by a group of guards and servants.
"The general has met His Highness!"
"Please get up quickly!"
Li Zhi took two steps forward and saluted Li Daozong in front of the door. Yuchi helped him respectfully and said solemnly: "The two generals led their armies to fight to the death here. The soldiers fought bloody battles and suffered countless casualties. I feel like sitting on pins and needles at Chengtian Gate, so I came forward."
Come here and fight side by side with you loyal ministers and righteous men. Whether it is victory or defeat, life or death, we will never leave!"
He was always good at speaking high-sounding words, and he would never admit that he was afraid of death when he stayed at Chengtianmen...
Yuchi Gong was fierce-tempered and straightforward. When he heard this, he frowned and said, "Your Highness loves the soldiers like a son. Everyone in the army is grateful and willing to die for Your Highness. However, the battle situation in the city is also extremely important now. If Cui Xin is defeated,
As a result, Liu Rengui will go straight to Chengtianmen, and then..."
"Outside the door is not the place to talk. Your Highness, please explain in detail after entering."
Li Daozong interrupted Yu Chigong's words and asked Li Zhi to enter. Then he raised his head and glanced at Yuchi Gong, shaking his head slightly.
He knew that Yuchi Gong was going to blame Li Zhi for ignoring the overall situation and allowing the war in Chang'an City. He thought the same way, but now that Li Zhi was already here, could he still be rushed back?
Since it cannot be changed, there is no need to say ugly words...
Yu Chigong understood what Li Daozong meant, and with a sullen face and holding his breath, he accompanied Li Daozong to invite Li Zhi to sit inside the house without saying a word.
Xiao Yu, Chu Suiliang and others also entered immediately...
Although the place was conquered at an ominous hour to serve as a "command post", all facilities in the Zhaode Hall are fully equipped, and the imperial troops did not destroy the utensils when they retreated. Therefore, after Li Daozong and Yuchi Gong were stationed here, they boiled water and cooked rice.
The living facilities will be carefully inspected to make sure there are no traces of poisoning before they are requisitioned.
At this time, a captain boiled water, made tea, and put it on the bookcase. Li Zhi took the main seat, and Li Daozong, Yu Chigong, Xiao Yu, Chu Suiliang and others took their seats respectively.
Li Zhi looked at Li Daozong and said with emotion: "When the Tang Dynasty was founded, my father commanded thousands of troops and conquered half of the country. He was surrounded by advisers like a rain and generals like a cloud. Everyone claimed to be loyal to the father and would not change his life or death. However, when
When their father passed away, they all forgot about their father's wishes during his lifetime. They only wanted to cater to the false emperor and promoted him to a noble position. Why did they care about the friendship in the past? Only the king of the county stepped forward to fulfill his father's last wish.
Raising troops brazenly, regardless of one's own victory or defeat, honor or disgrace, should be an example for Zhenguan's honorable ministers!"
He was naturally grateful to Li Daozong. If he hadn't raised his troops from Xuanwu Gate and marched into Taiji Palace, he would have been surrounded and suppressed in the south of Chang'an City at this moment, defeated and completely defeated.
Therefore, he was willing to give Li Daozong the highest praise, and after the achievement was accomplished, he would be promoted to a higher rank and regarded as the leader of meritorious service.
Li Daozong hurriedly left his seat and saluted: "Your Highness, you are ridiculous! As you said, we have followed the late emperor for many years, and conquered so many great kingdoms in the east and west. The late emperor regarded us as brothers and sisters without hesitating rewards for our loyalty.
I have never believed in it, how can I not be grateful for such a favor for the rest of my life? Although I am jealous of talents and cannot go against God's will, I must do my best to fulfill the late emperor's unfinished will. Even if thousands of people criticize me and tens of thousands of people scorn me, I will fight to the end!
"
These words were spoken from the bottom of his heart. In fact, it didn't matter to him whether Li Chengqian or Li Zhi was the emperor. No one could shake his position. But it was his loyalty to His Majesty Li Er that made him willing to embark on this dangerous journey.
On the road, he will not hesitate to lose his reputation.
Yuchi Gong was silent on the sidelines. Compared with Li Daozong, his purpose seemed a bit dirty and he couldn't take action.
It was raining heavily outside the window, and intensive gunshots and fighting sounds could be heard faintly. Colonels and scouts were coming and going non-stop, footsteps were hurried, battle reports from everywhere were flying in like snowflakes, and the atmosphere was tense and urgent.