Chapter 324 Shooting casually with a bow and arrow
The rumbling sound of horse hoofs became more and more intensive as the Xiliang army accelerated. The cavalry in the rear formation began to shout and shout, slapped their shields, and struck each other with their swords. The whole battlefield was boiling.
The crossbowmen of the Sichuan Army on the city wall fired arrows at Xiliang's scattered cavalry. The Xiliang cavalry immediately opened the distance between them, and raised their projectile horn bows from behind. They took off the horse's reins with both hands to draw the bow and nock the arrow.
Thousands of arrows formed a black cloud and covered the city, pressing at the Sichuan army at a projectile angle. Many soldiers were unprepared and were shot in the body.
This kind of horn bow is not very powerful. It is almost not fatal when equipped with simple armor. However, it can just shoot through light armor, cause damage to soldiers, reduce the ability to move, and there is no way for you to shoot arrows.
Don't hide.
The dense concentration of projectile bows can effectively suppress the enemy and consume the enemy's combat power.
In fact, this kind of light-kill bow and arrow has become the main battle bow of the Xiliang cavalry. It is not only used for riding and shooting to attack the city, but also for fighting on the plains. It is also a sharp weapon. It cannot kill you, but it can hurt you. The cavalry can shoot down the horse, and the infantry can't move easily if it shoots.
Only to be trampled by the subsequent cavalry charge.
Moreover, this kind of horn bow can also effectively reduce the mortality rate of horses on the battlefield. It is lightweight and is really an invincible weapon for the Xiliang army.
Such a magic weapon can only be used by the Xiliang army and the nomadic army who are good at riding and shooting.
Five thousand Xiliang cavalry charged in an S shape to fifty meters away from the wall. The closed crossbows and arrows shot at the cavalry. Because the Xiliang army's formation was too wide, the horses were fast, and the damage was minimal. Instead, the Xiliang army
While moving quickly, the bow and arrow were thrown out, hitting the defenders head and face, and the defenders could hardly lift their heads.
The Xiliang army stopped advancing when they were fifty meters away. They pulled back their horses' hooves and galloped in a parallel direction. They rolled up clouds of dust and smoke and retreated in the direction where another group of cavalry was stationed.
"What a powerful cavalry." Fa Zheng, protected by a shield, looked through the gap and said to Liu Zhang: "The Xiliang army is not only able to ride and shoot on horseback, but the horses don't walk in a straight line, and they can control the horses so effectively. It's worthy of me.
The best knight in the world."
"Don't you hate me?" Liu Zhang hit the wall with his fist and said fiercely.
The first team of Xiliang cavalry attacked in an S-shaped route and returned in a straight line. When they arrived at the place where the other team of cavalry was stationed, the other team of cavalry began to mount their horses and walked slowly towards the opposite cavalry team, while the opposite cavalry team was on the first step.
After the last member of the cavalry group entered the bow and arrow range of the city wall, he also began to move, while the first group of cavalry began to station their horses one after another.
Three teams of Xiliang cavalry formed a circular attack formation of cavalry and archery. Arrows were fired at the city head incessantly, and the Xiliang army still had a brief rest period.
The sound of "trampling" horse hooves could be heard in front of the pass. Dust and smoke were rising, and the Xiliang cavalry galloped in the dust and smoke, drawing their horned bows into a full moon.
Arrows rained down from above the city.
With rapid galloping and riding and shooting, coupled with the skill of the horses, the Xiliang army suffered very few casualties. A large number of Sichuan soldiers on the city wall were injured, bleeding and continuing to bear the suppression of the Xiliang army's arrows, with almost no power to fight back.
"Lord, this is not the way to go. The Xiliang army is consuming our army's combat power in preparation for the real attack on the city." Fa Zheng said loudly.
Looking at those powerful Xiliang cavalry, he wondered: "This Xiliang army is galloping in a twisting and turning way. Why do the arrows of the rear team and the cavalry fifty steps away just hit the wall? Do the Xiliang army know magic?"
?”
"Inertia." Liu Zhang replied casually. The horses of the Xiliang Army galloped forward in an S-shape. They turned and galloped in parallel, riding and shooting. The distances before and after were different. The soldiers who rode in parallel were the closest. Without the help of horse power, the soldiers in the rear group,
The horses' hooves shoot sharp arrows while galloping forward, and their horse power makes up for the range of the arrows.
These Xiliang troops had already figured out a method of precise riding and shooting in their cavalry battles all year round.
Liu Zhang looked at the soldiers at the top of the city. Although those soldiers who had been hit by arrows were not seriously injured, their bodies were injured and being suppressed in this way not only increased the depression of being beaten passively and lowered their morale, but also depleted their physical strength as the blood flowed out.
"Withdraw some of the city's defenders, retreat to the city ladder, and be ready to replenish the defense at any time. Hold all shields diagonally to avoid being hit by arrows. Keep your body low, and use wall stacks to block parallel fire."
Liu Zhang gave the order in a deep voice, and the order was conveyed quickly.
The Xiliang army continued to mount and fire, and the three cavalry companies on the left attacked the city for an hour, until the horse power was exhausted and all the arrows in the quiver were shot.
Retreating, at the same time, three cavalry groups on the right wing of the Xiliang Army came out and marched towards Yangping Pass.
Riding on horseback, walking slowly, accelerating, and entering the attack formation, the two troops perfectly matched each other and continued to shoot sharp arrows towards the city.
The Sichuan troops in the city were completely suppressed.
"Do it." Liu Zhang couldn't help but cursed, saying that he had never fought such a useless battle. He turned around and glanced at the Xiliang Army who was riding and shooting through the gap in the wall.
Six groups of cavalry from the front and rear of the Xiliang Army conducted covering fire for two hours. The Xiliang Army's charge formation finally changed. Ma Chao's central army began to move, and about 30,000 people approached Yangping Pass.
Arriving two hundred steps away, about 10,000 Xiliang troops dismounted, separated their ranks, and brought out several cannon-like objects. Liu Zhang took a closer look and saw that they were city-carrying vehicles with rollers, but they were smaller than those used in the south.
Much larger.
The cavalry dismounted and became infantry. About 2,000 people supported the city vehicles and approached Yangping Pass. They were guarded by 10,000 cavalry on each side. They rode slowly, accelerated, charged, and shot on horseback.
The cavalry formation this time was completely different from the previous S-shaped charge formation. The cavalry escorts on both wings presented two narrow small U-shaped charges. The cavalry went straight to the sand bed protecting the city gate. Less than twenty-five steps away from the pass, they fired
Arrow, turned the horse's head, galloped a few meters parallel, and immediately turned to fight back.
The arrows fired by the cavalry on both wings no longer covered the blows, but were all shot directly above the city gate. The arrow rain was so dense that it was almost opaque. Such a rain of arrows, let alone arrows, even the wooden sticks added together were enough to kill the enemy.
The guarding soldiers were knocked away, and the soldiers directly above the city gate were almost washed with blood.
Then, the infantry of the Xiliang Army began to rush towards the city gate with the help of the huge city assault vehicle.
Xiliang soldiers began to formally attack the city. When Liu Zhang saw it, his expression twisted and he ordered in a deep voice: "Huang Zhong."
"The end will be here."
"Lead the soldiers to guard the top of the city gate. The number does not need to be large. But there must be enough backup, one team at a time to take over the defense of the city."
The dense rain of arrows from the Xiliang army was too lethal, and because of the large number of people, it could only become a living target.
"Yes." Huang Zhong took the order and left.
"Yang Ren."
"The end will be here."
"Concentrate defensive weapons to the defenders above the city gate. Tung oil, rolling logs, and boulders must be transported continuously. All bows and crossbows must be mobilized to go to the city and distribute enough arrows. Ignore the Xiliang Army's cavalry and archery soldiers, and all move toward the west.
Liang infantrymen shoot arrows."
"yes."
Liu Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. The Xiliang Army did not build enough siege equipment except the city siege vehicles. It was impossible to fly up to the city. Liu Zhang had already thought of the Xiliang Army's siege method, which was to use cavalry to suppress the city head and charge the city.
The car rushed through the city gate.
As long as the cavalry breaks into the pass, no one can stop it with the strength of the Xiliang soldiers, and they will have to abandon the city.
Therefore, the most important thing is to defend the city gate. The Xiliang soldiers must not be allowed to break open the city gate.
After two rounds of arrows, the infantry of the Xiliang Army invaded the sand bed protecting the city.
The dismounted cavalry is still a cavalry, and the Xiliang soldiers are still brave. The huge siege vehicle would be difficult to control if it were a farming Han, but the Xiliang army has it at its fingertips. Hundreds of people support the huge siege vehicle and rush towards it.
The protective sand bed rushed away.
"Ho. Ha."
The Xiliang army roared in unison, and the city-carrying vehicles with wheels accelerated violently, and rushed towards the sand bed protecting the city with great force. The thick sand bed suddenly loosened under the impact of the giant trees.
After a few seconds, there was only a "boom" sound, and the first row of protective sand beds was broken through. Sand splashed, a gap was opened in the protective sand beds, and the city rush vehicle rushed towards the second layer of protective sand beds.
The U-shaped cavalry archery formation of the Xiliang cavalry has been closed, forming a two-cycle cavalry archery system. The rain of arrows continued to cover the city head of Yangpingguan, and the defenders at the city head suffered heavy casualties.
At the same time, all the arrows of the Sichuan army were shot at the infantry in Chongmu, Xiliang. The arrows rained like locusts. The casualties of the Xiliang soldiers also increased sharply, and the two sides truly entered a bloody battle.
The defenders at the top of the city were cleared too quickly. Two soldiers had just picked up a rolling log and were about to drop it when more than a dozen arrows were fired at them. One soldier was hit by several arrows and fell down all of a sudden. The rolling log hit him.
Another soldier screamed at his feet.
Xiliang soldiers broke through the three-story sand bed and crashed into the city gate. The huge and fast city ramming vehicle hit the thick iron gate, making a huge "frame" sound. Liu Zhang and the Sichuan soldiers felt their feet trembling.
The tung oil was poured down the city through the levered supports, drenching the Xiliang soldiers and Chong Mu, and shooting rockets at the same time. Many Xiliang soldiers were on fire, rolled all over the ground, and were nailed to the ground by the arrows fired by the Sichuan army.
"Bang, bang." Under the cover of the cavalry, the Xiliang infantry accelerated the city ramming vehicle from a distance of more than ten meters and slammed into the city gate. The soldiers protecting Chongmu suffered all casualties, and the infantry behind them immediately came to make up for it.
.
The city gate trembled and the gray stone fell. The Sichuan soldiers behind the city gate moved various heavy objects to resist and used solid wood to hold the city gate tightly. These soldiers fully knew the consequences of the city gate being knocked open. Xiliang, who was riding and shooting
The soldiers will rush in immediately and trample them into a pulp.
Everyone tried their best, the muscles on their faces were condensed together, the autumn heat invaded their bodies, and they were sweating like rain.
In the fierce battle for the city gate, accompanied by the Xiliang soldiers' cavalry shooting, the Sichuan army poured down hot tung oil, shot down rockets, and smashed down rolling logs and thunder stones. The war between the two sides entered a fever pitch.
The Xiliang army's siege team of three thousand men soon ran out. The living wood was burned black by the fire and became brittle inside. The wooden blocks continued to fall off after hitting the city gate with great force, and finally it was in disrepair. General Pang De immediately commanded the next group of Xiliang soldiers.
Support the second siege vehicle and enter the siege queue.
The two sides fought fiercely. From sunrise to dusk, Pang De personally organized several infantry attacks. The Sichuan army continued to replenish its garrison strength, and finally was unable to hold the city gate. The Xiliang army ran out of horse power and arrows and retreated.
After a day of fierce fighting, the Sichuan army suffered a lot of casualties, and countless wounded soldiers were added to the wounded barracks again. Liu Zhang looked at these wounded soldiers and deeply understood the importance of armor. If equipped with Roman heavy ring armor, the Xiliang army's cavalry and archery would not be effective.
any effect.
Liu Zhang was deeply aware of the importance of these elite units, heavy infantry, elite cavalry, and elephant soldiers. However, it was just that the Southwest Silk Road was not open. These were all illusions.
"Lord." Fazheng followed Liu Zhang to inspect the wounded barracks and said as he walked: "I didn't expect the Xiliang cavalry to attack the city so powerfully. Ma Chao will come back tomorrow. My subordinates suggested that all bows and arrows be taken out, regardless of whether they are crossbowmen or not.
They are all equipped with bows and arrows."
"Yes." Liu Zhang frowned and said in a deep voice: "Xiliang soldiers attacked the city, and there was almost no hand-to-hand contact. Bows and arrows are indeed the most lethal weapon, but..." Liu Zhang thought for a while and said: "Ma Chao will not be that stupid, I believe
The Xiliang army must be building siege equipment. When they have the siege equipment, I think these dismounted Xiliang soldiers are no worse than infantry. That will be the hardest time."
Fazheng nodded worriedly.
"Qiang in Tsing Yi." Liu Zhang muttered silently. Today's attack on the city has once again confirmed this point. The Qiang in Tsing Yi is indeed working hard but not making any effort. However, because there is no one to lead the way, they are looking at the turtle and having no idea what to say.
After inspecting the wounded soldiers, Liu Zhang walked out of the wounded soldiers' camp and saw Guan Yinping pulling out an arrow to heal a soldier's wound outside the camp. His expression was serious, and even his eyes showed concern and kindness, not like being artificial.
"Lord, I killed five horse bandits today. You have to remember, there are still ninety-five left before you can marry a beautiful wife." He said loudly.
The woman standing behind the curtain clenched her pink fists and gritted her teeth.
"I remember it."
Liu Zhang answered and walked towards Guan Yinping. Seeing Guan Yinping dressing the wound skillfully, Liu Zhang asked with a smile: "Sister Guan San, why are you so skillful? Are you born in a military family? Who is your father?"
"Your Excellency, you are really smart, but my father is a junior officer, and the emperor's uncle with such a lofty status would not recognize him." Guan Yinping replied casually.
"You are so clever." Liu Zhang said in his heart, but Guan Yinping made up his own words and even flattered himself. As expected, flattery should not be listened to casually.
Liu Zhang smiled and said to Guan Yinping: "I see, I always hit the mark with one guess."
While Guan Yinping was tying the soldier's gauze, he despised Liu Zhang in his heart, "You have to slut you, it's silly to feel good after being deceived."
"Since the girl comes from a military family and is good at bandaging, and I saw you shooting arrows accurately today at the top of the city, how about I make you a corps commander?"
Ma Yunlu, who was not far away, heard Liu Zhang's words and immediately became angry. It was not because Liu Zhang wanted to seal off Yinping and become the corps commander, but because of the previous sentence.
"Captain?" Guan Yinping was stunned for a moment and bowed to Liu Zhang indifferently: "Then thank you, sir." Anyway, he didn't suffer any loss.
"You still call me your lord? Since you have inherited the military position, you should call me lord." Liu Zhang looked at Guan Yinping and said with a smile.
"Ah?" Guan Yinping raised her head and looked at Liu Zhang in surprise. Only then did she realize that she had been tricked by Liu Zhang. The lord of the Han Dynasty was not someone who could be called out casually. The Han people were based on loyalty. Once he was called out, unless there was a major reason, his life would be ruined.
You cannot change it. Even if you change it for major reasons, it will bring a stain on your career.
How can Guan Yinping dare to call Liu Zhang the Lord? She is Guan Yu's daughter. Guan Yu educates his children regardless of gender, and the standard is not to embarrass him. Therefore, Guan Yinping can be highly skilled in martial arts, and similarly, Guan Yinping must also be as strong as Guan Yu.
General loyalty.
If it had been anyone else, they could have managed to scream in this last resort situation, but Guan Yinping couldn't.
He called Liu Zhang Lord and let his father know that even if Liu Bei and Liu Zhang were hostile in the future, Guan Yu would not let Guan Yinping change his family.
Guan Yinping completely believed that if he betrayed Liu Zhang, even if Guan Yu was chased into Maicheng by Liu Zhang, he would not hesitate to kill this unfaithful daughter.
Thinking of that situation, Guan Yinping couldn't help but shuddered and called Lord Liu Zhang. Regardless of whether he wanted to or not, the road was going to be dark, so where could he go?
"Why aren't you shouting?" Liu Zhang put his hands behind his back, looking proud of his lord.
"Sister Guan San, don't you think your official position is low?" Haoshuo asked from the side.
Liu Zhang waved his hand generously and said, "Well, the corps commander is indeed wronged. Let's make the girl a senior officer. I'm afraid others won't accept it. Once you have achieved military merit, I will immediately make you a centurion or above. How about that?"
"
"You should be a grown-up at the age of fourteen or fifteen, why don't you thank me soon, my lord." Guan Yinping looks more mature, so it's amazing that she is older.
She was so anxious to wink at Guan Yinping, as if this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she was even more anxious to lose this opportunity than herself.
"I, I..." Guan Yinping hesitated, and the red skin on her little face was cramped. She didn't know how to answer. Suddenly she remembered what she had just said to the woman on the couch. She raised her head and said to Liu Zhang: "Sir, you are not a little girl.
I don't want to accept the appointment of an official, but in fact, the little girl is very happy. As a commoner, it is really an honor for a little girl to be an official under the emperor's uncle."
"But." Guan Yinping had a look of loneliness on his face: "It is said that no merit will be rewarded. Now I am being rewarded for no merit. Not only are the other Sichuan soldiers dissatisfied, but I myself feel guilty, so I wait for the little girl to kill all the people.
Hundreds of horse bandits must be happy to accept the reward from the emperor, and they will feel at ease at that time."
Liu Zhang thought to himself that at such a young age, he is still very witty and much better than other girls of the same age. He nodded and said: "That's fine, then I will wait for Miss Guan to make meritorious service."
Liu Zhang said and walked away. Guan Yinping patted his chest gently and exhaled. At this time, Ma Yunlu rushed over and asked loudly: "Sister, how can you do this? Don't you know it's my brother outside?"
Are you serious about shooting? Can't you just shoot casually with a bow and arrow?"
"Sister, you misunderstood."
"Don't deny it. I just heard what Liu Zhang said. He also praised you for your good archery skills. Are you good at shooting with empty arrows?"
"Sister, when will you change your temper? We are in the enemy's camp now. Don't accidentally reveal your secret. I am on top of the city, so many people are watching, and your brother's army is so dense. I will
If you miss the shot, won’t the people next to you doubt it?”
"Oh, that's it." Ma Yunlu responded, with no doubt in his mind.
Guan Yinping suddenly felt guilty about what he said and didn't doubt it? Then there was no need to shoot him again and again, right? But why was he shot at that time?
Guan Yinping didn't know that he didn't like Xiliang Bing from the bottom of his heart.