At the foot of the Mianchi City, Wu Shu had a thin face and a disheveled beard. He stared at the city head with his eyes spitting fire. The Jin army built various siege equipment on the city wall, including goose chariot holes and watchtowers. Unfortunately, they could not push it to the bottom of the city. It was smashed to pieces by the Song army in the city, and there was nothing that could be done about it.

Xie Mao Ali said: "The artillery of the Song army in the city is powerful, but these siege equipment are completely useless! Your Majesty, we still need to use men to go to the city!"

Wu Shu said: "We have less than 20,000 cavalry, how can there be so many people? This place is in a valley, even if we want to capture some people! It is really hateful! I didn't expect Wang Xiaolie to be so treacherous! He would guard Mianchi and prevent us from returning. Guanzhong! The third prince urged me again and again and ordered me to return to the army. Now that I am stuck here, what should I do?"

Ali said: "Wang Xiaolie is also a laborious expedition, and the food and grass are transported from Dengzhou. In the past two months, he can still eat in Guanzhong. In a few days, it will be difficult for his army to have food and grass."

Wushu sighed: "Jingzhao Mansion is such an important place! The Third Prince and the soldiers and horses of the living daughter are all controlled by it. If I wait a few more months, the Third Prince will not kill me, and I will not be able to see the Holy Emperor!"

Speaking of this, Wu Shu looked at Mianchi City and said in a deep voice: "There are no Song army artillery at the top of the city, how could they fire so accurately? This kind of thing has never been encountered before, there must be something fishy! Alas, these Dengzhou The Military Commission is really difficult to deal with!"

Ali said: "Looking at the artillery fire in the city, the Song army's artillery must be under the city wall. I just don't know what the situation is."

Wu Shu rubbed his forehead and felt a splitting headache. When he first came to Mianchi, he was full of confidence and thought that such a small city could be conquered in one go. Now that he has been trapped in the city for a month, there is no way to do it. He only feels exhausted mentally and physically. Can't stand it any longer.

On the top of the city, Shao Yun looked at the Jin army outside the city and said to Jia He on the side: "After fighting for a month, the Jin people are still using these tactics without making any progress. Now they can't even get close to the city wall. How can we break through it?" City? Let me tell you, if we continue to fight like this and fight for another year, Mianchi City will be impregnable!"

Jia He said: "It's a pity that the commander-in-chief doesn't want to fight. Let us defend for another month, and then we will withdraw, not even Shaanxi Province. Mianchi is between two mountains, and the place is small. If we don't withdraw, what will happen to the Jin army? Method?"

Shao Yun just sighed. This kind of thing is not something he can say. A few days ago, Wang Ruohai went to the front line and specifically explained the current situation to these front line generals. But even though he knew it, Shao Yun still felt unwilling to do so.

After getting off the city wall, I saw Song Yan commanding the stone cannon below. Shao Yun said: "It's getting late, and the Jin army should be withdrawing. General Song, let's go back and have a drink. Feng Sai will guard the city tonight, and we'll have a good time." "

Song Yan said: "These stone cannons taught by Officer Dengzhou are really astonishingly powerful. Compared with before, they are many times stronger! With this kind of magical weapon in hand, it doesn't matter how many Jin troops are outside the city? I can fight again here. Accurate and fast, they will die!"

Song Yan was a native of Shaanxi County and was good at shooting. When he joined the army, he hit the target with great force. He was especially good at using crossbows. When he was defending Shaanxi Province, he caused a lot of damage to the Jin army. This time when he was defending Mianchi, he learned new techniques from Dengzhou army. He is a counterweighted stone cannon. In dozens of days, he has become extremely proficient in these stone cannons. Under his command, he can shoot fast, accurately and far, which is far beyond the comparison of previous stone cannons.

When defending the city, stone cannons were installed under the city wall. Dengzhoujun learned it from Chen Gui, the prefect of De'an. The cannons outside the city could not hit them, but the cannons inside could use the observers on the city wall to fire quickly and accurately. Use Well done, almost all siege equipment outside the city has been restrained.

Dengzhou is also studying artillery. It only took two years, but it was not powerful enough and has not been put into practical use. The simple counterweighted stone cannon is now Dengzhou's most important city defense weapon. For the Jin army outside the city, these stone cannons The gun is already giving me a headache.

Historically, counterweight trebuchets appeared in the late Song Dynasty. Artillery soon appeared, and this kind of stone cannon was eliminated. To be honest, this kind of stone cannon has a fast loading speed, requires less manpower, and can be aimed. It is better than before. I don’t know how much progress the stone cannons have made. For example, here in Mianchi, between two mountains, only ten or twenty stone cannons can seal the front, making it impregnable.

When the sun went down, at the Mianchi County Yamen, Shao Yun ordered a sheep to be cooked, brought out a jar of wine, and drank with several generals.

After three bowls of wine, the topic opened up and several generals started chatting about the South China Sea and the North.

Jia He said: "We have defended Shaanzhou several times, but nowhere has it been as enjoyable as this time? There are reinforcements, food and grass in the back, and the equipment in the city is sophisticated, but there is nothing Wushu can do. There are tens of thousands of soldiers and horses behind him. We have to think Isn’t it easy to destroy him?”

Song Yan said: "That's true. Who would have thought that in just a few years, the offensive and defensive changes of both sides would reach this point? If Wang Zhenfu hadn't been so worried, we could have wiped out all Wushu under Mianchi City this time!"

Lu Yuandeng said: "I think what Wang Zhenfu said is reasonable and not too cautious. Wu Shu is the fourth prince of the Jin Kingdom. If he is destroyed, how can the Jin Kingdom give up? They will definitely send a large army to attack Dengzhou, and they will not be able to defeat the enemy. living."

Jia He said: "It's just meat near the mouth, but you can't eat it. Doesn't it make people feel itchy? It really makes people hate it so much!"

A few people talked endlessly about each other. They all felt that it was really unacceptable to let Wu Shu go so far.

After drinking for three rounds, Shao Yun said: "I heard rumors that Jing Lu intends to join forces with Dengzhou's army. What do you think?"

Jia He said: "Just make up your mind after this matter is over. How can we interrupt?"

Lu Yuandeng said: "In more than a year, Wang Zhenfu came to rescue twice. To put it bluntly, without Dengzhou's army to rescue us, it would have been difficult for us to save our lives last year. I think Wang Zhenfu treats people well. It is really rare to lead troops with a method."

Song Yan said: "The Dengzhou Army is indeed different from other armies. On the battle formation, everyone is vying for the lead, and there are many powerful generals. And there are all kinds of fantastic ideas. Like the new stone cannon used by Mianchi this time, it has huge power .If there is such a sharp weapon, how did the Jin army defeat Kaifeng Mansion a few years ago? Dozens of stone cannons are placed under the city. No matter what you are, you can't get close to the city! And I heard people say that there are more powerful ones in Dengzhou's army. !”

Shao Yun sighed: "This matter really only depends on the manager's opinion, and we can't interfere. According to common sense, if we join forces in one place, with Dengzhou behind Guozhou and Shangzhou, we are not afraid of the Jin army. Dengzhou has Shangzhou and Guozhou State masking, safer—"

Jia He interjected: "If this were not the case, how could Wang Zhenfu bring troops to help twice in a year?"

"Yes." Shao Yun nodded. "Our two armies will benefit from cooperation. However, when the imperial court sets up town and governor envoys, it is precisely for them to protect the place and serve as a barrier for the court. In the eyes of the imperial court, these town and governor envoys It should not be too large, otherwise it will be difficult to control the situation. Wang Zhenfu is in charge of Xiangyang and the three states of Rutang and Deng, but the rest of the places are also guarded by his soldiers, and they have always been united. If they join forces with us again, I am afraid that the imperial court will—— "

Having said this, Shao Yun shook his head.

Lu Yuandeng said: "The purpose of joining forces is to fight against the Jin people. This year, the Jin soldiers searched the mountains and seas, and the officers and soldiers fled to the sea. How embarrassed! Even if we don't want to, we can't say anything when we join forces. We are afraid that the king will suppress the power.

When the disaster is over, shouldn’t we just ignore the gold thief?”

Jia He nodded repeatedly. Yes, the Jin army is powerful. At this time, he is afraid that it will be difficult for his men to control it. There must be something wrong with the court's brain.

At this time, Wang Xiaolie was not the most powerful local force. There were Kong Yanzhou, Li Cheng, Ma You and others in Jinghu, who not only occupied several states, but also rebelled frequently. They often attacked the government troops and looted everywhere. There were also people from Dongting Lake.

After the death of Yang Yao and Zhong Xiang, they gathered the leaders of several states and regained their momentum. Cheng Changyu, as the envoy of Dingli Town and a knowledge of Dingzhou, launched an encirclement and suppression campaign, which failed many times.

At this time, the imperial court simply couldn't take care of Wang Xiaolie in Xiangyang. There were many rebel forces further south. What's more, Wang Xiaolie had defeated the Jin army many times, which was the time to win over. Especially after Fuping's defeat, Zhang Jun was about to win.

Boost morale.

Sichuan-Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hedong, Jingxi and Jinghu roads were under the control of Zhang Jun. At this time, Zhao Gou of Yuezhou was beyond his reach. The area around Dengzhou in Xiangyang was actually blocked by the governors of the towns on the Huaihe and Jinghu roads.
Chapter completed!