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Volume 2: Wang Changan Chapter 30: Battle of Ulan (Part 2)

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    Chapter 30 The Battle of Ulan (Part 2)

    The clouds in the sky were very low, looking gloomy, and the wind was very cold. It still felt like winter, but the green grass on the ground had already sprouted, covering the entire earth with a wisp of green. Spring had quietly arrived.  , but a battle was about to start at this place. The iron hooves of the war horses stepped on the grass on the ground into the mud. The grass slowly raised its head stubbornly, and dozens or hundreds of horse hooves stepped on it.  The grass withered on this spring morning.

    Li Zuoguo did not pay attention to the grass under the hooves of the black clouds. The horse climbed up a slope. In front of it was the Ulan City of the Tang Army. Li Zuoguo and his generals carefully observed Ulan's defenses. They saw that the width of the front of Ulan City was about  About two miles away, Ulan City itself is a gated city. Now three ditches about ten meters wide have been dug in front of the city, and the city wall has been increased by three meters to eight meters from the original five meters.

    Ulan City cannot accommodate Guo Ziyi's hundreds of thousands of troops at all. One side of Ulan City rests on a mountain. The mountain is extremely steep, with rugged rocks and no plants at all. The other three sides of Ulan City are  The continuous large camps formed a line of defense. Except for the city wall facing Li Zuoguo's Anxi Army, the other two city walls were surrounded by Guo Ziyi's large camp, forming a large camp integrated with Guancheng.

    The cavalry camp is on the side and rear of Ulan City. It is at the corner of Ulan City and is only three miles away. It only takes a few minutes for the war horses to run three miles. Therefore, no matter which side Li Zuoguo sends troops to attack, he will face  The danger of another camp sending troops to attack.

    Li Zuoguo praised Guo Ziyi for being a famous general. He had turned Wulan City into this state in just over a month. It was really a turtle shell formation.  "

    Li Lin said behind Li Zuoguo, "Guard, no matter how well you defend, you still have to defend. Let the last general lead the troops to attack?"  "

    Li Zuoguo looked back at Li Lin and did not agree immediately. He said that we should discuss it first. Since he is here, he will definitely fight.  "

    After speaking, Li Zuoguo turned his horse back to the camp, and the hundreds of generals and soldiers behind him all urged their horses to follow. When they arrived at the Chinese army camp, Li Zuoguo sat down and said, "I am surprised that Guo Ziyi pretended to defend. The number of his troops is  To far surpass our army, they actually put on a posture of clinging to consumption. It seems that Guo Ziyi does not care about such useless things as reputation, and only focuses on results.  "

    "His posture is nothing more than to consume our army's strength and morale. When our army wants to retreat, he will send troops to defeat us in one fell swoop. This kind of strategy was used by Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi more than once against An Lushan.  Now that it has been used on us, what do you think we should do now?" After Li Zuoguo finished speaking, he looked at the generals and waited for their ideas.

    Li Qi stood up and said that Guo Ziyi's cavalry had been defeated by our Anxi cavalry. We must be able to defeat Guo Ziyi by attacking directly. Our Anxi army is invincible. As long as the garrison orders an attack, I, Li Qi, will be the vanguard to defeat Guo Ziyi's camp.  "

    Li Zuoguo smiled and said, you guys have learned how to flatter now. Guo Ziyi is not as easy to deal with as you said. Since you want to be a forward, and the encirclement is not good for the morale of our army, you will lead your cavalry to monitor Li Guangbi's cavalry camp.  Guo Bei led 10,000 infantry troops to attack Ulan.  "

    Guo Bei stood out and took orders with Li Qi. Li Zuoguo said, go get ready. After lunch, go to battle. I will hold the battle for you and see the performance of the most elite Tang army in the Tang Dynasty.  "

    After lunch, the thundering drum beat sounded in the Anxi army camp. The three camp doors opened and a large number of Anxi soldiers poured out. The Anxi soldiers formed a neat formation, almost all of them were sword and shield soldiers holding regimental shields.  The main force, about ten thousand people, formed two huge square formations with five thousand people in one square. Then the same number of people on both sides formed ten thousand spearmen, and then twenty thousand auxiliary soldiers held countless huge phalanxes.  The lengthened ladders stood neatly behind the doze. These auxiliary soldiers were also wearing iron armor, and each of them had a shield in their hands. Their main task was to use the ladders in their hands to build a bridge over the ravine for the main soldiers with swords and shields.  , set up ladders on the city wall. Their equipment was even better than the regular Tang army under Guo Ziyi in front of them. Large groups of cavalry swarmed out of the camp gate on the side, quickly forming a cavalry formation outside the camp gate and approaching the battlefield.

    The infantry who left the camp advanced slowly to the sound of military drums. Every ten steps, the sword and shield soldiers struck the shield with their swords and shouted loudly in unison.  He marched forward with a loud sound, taking ten steps forward with a loud shout. The shield was like a wave, the sword was like snowflakes, and the spear was like a forest of thorns. A murderous aura rushed towards Ulan. The auxiliary soldiers followed behind, silently advancing in step with the sword and shield soldiers in front.  As long as they can complete three battles, they can be converted into regular soldiers. The treatment will be completely different. Moreover, once they become regular soldiers, they are truly qualified to receive military honors. Therefore, the eyes of the veterans who have fought hundreds of battles in front of them are cold and calm, and the eyes of the auxiliary soldiers are cold and murderous.  His eyes were filled with eager and impulsive anticipation.

      The people of Anxi have never been afraid of war, nor are they afraid of fighting. The harsh natural environment and the situation of being surrounded by enemies on all sides have long inspired the military spirit of Anxi soldiers. Looking at the vast grassland, the unity of heaven and earth, self-generated pride, the nation can also join the Anxi Army and become a member of the Anxi Army.  Being a professional soldier means having enough food for the family, supporting future generations, and respect.

    A special before-and-after comparison of veterans, especially those who have been in the army for more than five years, turns out that according to the military regulations of the Tang Dynasty, there are no such benefits at all. The sources of veterans are diverse. When you become a frontier army, you are ready to bury your bones on the frontier. The service of the Tang Dynasty frontier army  The period has reached five years, but is there anyone who will actually release you after five years?  Dream on, the longest soldier in Anxi has been a soldier for thirty-five years. His ancestors have been soldiers here since the establishment of the Anxi Protectorate. He is the third generation, and his ancestors are also in the Anxi Army.  Sun Tzu is preparing to become a soldier.

    The veterans were Li Zuoguo and his son who brought about the changes in the Anxi Army. Being a soldier was no longer a hard job. They would give their lives to the fighting families but could only get a meager pension. Now they have joined the soldiers of various ethnic groups. For the Tang Dynasty,  There is very little sense of belonging in Anxi, and it has not been long since Anxi can live the life it has now. Everyone has a comparison, so Li Zuoguo and his son have become the most prestigious people in the Anxi army. All the soldiers have great respect for Li Zuoguo and his son.  The fanatical worship of us, this is the true commander who treats us soldiers as human beings. There is so much pension for those who die in battle, and it can actually be distributed to the hands of relatives. This is not a matter of money, but a kind of attention and recognition, so  After Li Siye died, Li Zuoguo sent troops to attack the Tang Dynasty. The army was the first to change its mentality and follow. There was no objection at all in this process.

    The most interesting thing is that several of Li Siye's original generals, Yin Xiushi, stayed in Tongguan. Alishe hesitated. After Duan Heng and others announced the result, these veteran generals under Li Siye expressed their hope to Li Zuoguo to hand over their military power.  The soldiers under their command were the most angry group. Under Li Zuoguo's appeasement, a large part of the troops sent out this time were veterans under Li Siye, and the rest of the veterans such as Alishe, Li Yuexing, Gao Chengwei, Liu Han and others were not deprived by Li Zuoguo.  Their military power also allows them to defend their own defense areas to prevent any changes in the Western Regions, because Li Zuoguo's rule in Anxi does not rely on generals, but on the entire military spirit. Almost all mid-level officers are trained in the officer system. They  They are the most loyal group of people. If you want to rebel with just a few generals, that is just a dream.

    Nominally, 10,000 infantry troops went out to attack the city, but in fact, 30,000 people directly participated in the siege. Otherwise, the 10,000 sword and shield soldiers alone would not be able to solve the city walls and ravines. The role of the auxiliary troops is now more than just sentry.  On duty at night, the auxiliary soldiers of the Anxi Army can be used as the entire Tang Army. They have all undergone formal training for more than a year, and the classification is also very strict. The 20,000 auxiliary soldiers now on the battlefield are actually the same as the regular soldiers.  They are all full-time professional soldiers, but they have not really been on the battlefield. The test of blood and fire on the battlefield is where they are tempered.

    At this time, Wulan City was also mobilized. The city defense items such as stone-beating gold juice had been placed. Groups of Tang troops were ready with swords and guns. The crossbowmen were also ready and were taking out the quivers on their waists.  The arrows were only placed in the most convenient locations, and pots of braziers were also brought up, which were also weapons used to defend the city.

    Guo Ziyi personally boarded the city of Wulan. Before the army set off, Guo Ziyi worked hard and was very haggard. But when he actually stood on the battlefield, Guo Ziyi became calm. All the arrangements had been made.  Now it is time to do everything possible to secure Tianming, so Guo Ziyi has become a confident commander. Standing on the city, Guo Ziyi looked at the Anxi Army, which only dispatched 30,000 infantry. He thought that this was just a trial attack, because the spearmen were not suitable for attacking the city.  The cavalry was placed behind the infantry, numbering about 10,000, to guard against cavalry raids here.

    Guo Ziyi also wanted to see the combat power of the Anxi Army. He stood under a huge banner with the character "Tang". The place where Guo Ziyi stood was a city tower. Almost all the Tang troops on the city could see the general's uniform as long as they raised their eyes.  Silver armor.

    Li Zuoguo stood on a wooden platform about four meters high. This platform was at the entrance of the Anxi Army camp. In front of it stood neatly five thousand Mo Dao soldiers. At this time, the Mo Dao soldiers were already wearing armor and were all sitting on the ground.  After resting, Li Zuoguo saw that the spearmen in front had stopped advancing, and the sword and shield soldiers were still advancing, but they all stopped when they reached about fifty meters more than the spearmen. About two thousand people behind him quickly dragged about a dozen soldiers with oxen and horses.  Hundreds of huge wooden catapults moved forward.

    This kind of catapult can launch stones ranging from 50 to 100 kilograms to 500 steps away, which is already an incredible distance. Although the weight of the stone is not heavy, its huge inertia cannot be blocked by armor.  If the quality of the city wall is poor, it will not be able to withstand such a blow. This is one of the reasons why Li Zuoguo dared to attack the city.

    Li Zuoguo¡¯s confidence is?¡¯s long-range power prevailed. Although Li Zuoguo did not want his soldiers to be injured, this is inevitable in war. It is impossible to just shake the body and unleash the bastard¡¯s energy on the enemy and then bow down. Li Zuoguo ordered the attack. "

    The messenger quickly passed on the order, and the sound of the military drum changed to a very slow rhythm. The stone-throwing machines had already arrived. Basically, each stone-throwing machine was followed by a number of ammunition trucks, which were filled with stones.  , there are ten stone-throwing machines that are much taller than the ones next to them. Many of the structures are also made of iron. They look different from other stone-throwing machines. The stone bullets used are obviously better than those of other stone-throwing machines.  The bullet should be big.

    The Anxi soldiers operating the stone-throwing machine were busy preparing. Twenty people served a stone-throwing machine. The huge winch was tightened. Two people carried the stone bullets and put them into the pockets where the stone bullets were placed. The iron latch rod was inserted into the stone-throwing machine.  Holding the winch and making all preparations for firing, an officer shouted an order to test fire a round."

    Guo Ziyi frowned on Ulan City. There were also stone-throwing machines in Ulan City, but there were not many of them. They were far less numerous than the stone-throwing machines brought out by the Anxi Army. Moreover, Guo Ziyi could see that the Anxi Army's stone-throwing machines were  The stone machine can move freely under the pull of more than a dozen livestock. The stone machine in hand cannot do this. There is also a range. It seems that the stone machine of the Anxi Army is still 450 meters away from the Ulan City Wall.  He stopped at about 700 meters, which is a distance of nearly 700 meters. Not to mention a bow and arrow at this distance, not one of the twenty stone-shooting machines in Ulan City can defeat half of this distance.

    Such a passive defense of the city would probably cause heavy casualties. Guo Ziyi's heart sank. At this time, the Anxi Army's trebuchets in front began to fire. The winch rotated crazily, pulling a long lever, and a trebuchet with the sound of howling wind.  With an arm swing, a stone the size of a coffee table was thrown into the air. It only took a little over a second for the stone to cross a distance of 700 meters. Only crosses were launched. Three of the ten stones hit the city wall. Guo Ziyi felt it under his feet.  The vibration shows how powerful it is.

    The five stones failed before they reached the city wall, and fell into the ravine in front of the Ulan City Wall. Two stones were obviously larger than the other, but they flew the farthest, and they were the ones with the largest cross.  The two stones launched by the stone machine flew directly over the city wall into Ulan City. One stone collapsed the wall of a house, rolled several times and stopped in the courtyard, causing no casualties, while another huge stone  It hit directly in front of a Tang Army soldier not far behind the city wall. Although the boulder was irregular in shape, it still showed a round shape. So the boulder bounced up and rushed directly into the middle of the unlucky Tang Army.  So the first casualty figure in the attack on Ulan City appeared.

    Two Tang soldiers were smashed to pieces and died on the spot. Among the five injured, two lost a left leg and one had both legs broken. The last impact of the boulder was on the unlucky guy's leg.

    Guo Ziyi's brows jumped. Such a powerful trebuchet was not good. As soon as he thought about teaching the distance here, the Anxi army's trebuchet went berserk. A hundred quick stone bullets flew towards Ulan City with a roar. At first, they looked like small black dots.  , followed by the feeling like a frog looking at raindrops, every raindrop is so big.

    The sound of "Boom, boom, boom" became one. At least thirty stone bullets were hit on the city. Suddenly, the flesh and blood were covered in blood, and the broken limbs and arms were flying around. There was a panic in Ulan City. More than twenty stone bullets directly hit the city.  Hitting the city wall, the sound made by the city wall made the Tang Army soldiers who heard it look ugly, fearing that the city wall would collapse under such a bombardment.

    Guo Ziyi shouted and all the soldiers on the city wall came down and waited against the city wall. Only observers were left on top, and no one was allowed to move within fifty steps of the city.  "

    After all, the Tang Army was also an elite. After listening to Guo Ziyi's order, it quickly took action. The subsequent rounds of stone bombs fired by the Anxi Army's stone machine did not cause too many casualties. It was only the first round that caused dozens of casualties. Basically,  Those who were hit and scratched were dead, with many dead and few injured. After five rounds of shooting, the trebuchet stopped, the drums of the Anxi Army's march sounded, and 10,000 sword and shield soldiers advanced slowly.

    Although Guo Ziyi's Anxi Army's trebuchets did not cause many casualties during the attack, being beaten without being able to fight back was the most damaging to morale. Now that the infantry of the Anxi Army came up, Guo Ziyi ordered the soldiers hiding from the stone bullets under the city to go up the city wall and advance slowly.  The sword and shield soldiers were not in a hurry, as if they were going to walk slowly until dark.

    Guo Ziyi was about to attack the Anxi Army, and immediately ordered all the crossbowmen to prepare. When the crossbowmen were stringing up the crossbows, the Anxi Army below who had not yet entered the shooting range suddenly shouted in unison. The sound was like a mountain collapsing and the ground was cracking. They stopped in the distance.  The stone-throwing machine suddenly started firing again. Guo Ziyi's face darkened, and he cursed the Anxi Army for being cunning. At this time, they actually suppressed the stone-throwing machine. But now they definitely can't let the soldiers go down to the city to escape. They can only bear such a loss.  The precision of the stone machine is limited, and it does not kill many soldiers each time. Such losses are completely feasible for Guo Ziyi, who has hundreds of thousands of soldiers.??Withstand.

    However, the Anxi Army shouted desperately but did not attack immediately, but the trebuchets fought happily. The Tang Army soldiers were flying with blood and flesh on the city wall and became decorations on the city wall. The Tang Army, who had been waiting for the battle, was a little panicked at this time.  It wasn't even a moment before the boulder would fall on his head. The feeling of waiting for death to arrive was the most terrifying. Guo Ziyi was so angry that he was about to explode. Li Zuoguo was so cunning, threatening him with just the stone machine and the tens of thousands of infantry below.  , has actually caused hundreds of casualties to his soldiers, which is simply devastating to morale.

    Guo Ziyi was about to give the order to ignore the order for the soldiers to go down to the city to escape. Anyway, the Tang army went up to the city faster than the Anxi army. The Anxi army outside the city suddenly stopped shouting. After the stone machine fired the last round of stone bullets,  It also stopped. About fifteen rounds of stone bullets had been fired. Five or six of the stone-shooting machines had problems. Moreover, the battle lasted for more than one day or two. Such specialized stone bullets were not easy to find.

    The auxiliary soldiers suddenly came out empty-handed. Each auxiliary soldier was in a group of eight. The auxiliary soldiers carrying the huge wooden plank bridge were in front, and the auxiliary soldiers carrying the ladders followed behind. Each auxiliary soldier moved quickly.  Running, as long as they can rush to the position and put the board bridge and ladder in their hands, the task will be completed. The battle will naturally be completed by the sword and shield soldiers who follow them. Although they also have high-quality horizontal swords at their waists,  Military orders are military orders.

    The short distance of a few hundred meters was only enough for the Tang army on the city to fire two or three rounds of crossbows. This sudden charge did not panic Guo Ziyi. His city defense general first ordered the crossbowmen to fire crossbows, and the dense arrows only flew.  After leaving the city wall, they fired at the Anxi auxiliary soldiers who had entered the shooting range. Under the command of their respective officers, the auxiliary soldiers raised their regimental shields to cover themselves. Although some soldiers still fell, the damage caused by the crossbows had been reduced to a minimum.

    The speed of running while carrying the shield slowed down, but the trotting speed was still maintained. When the first auxiliary soldier successfully added the Banqiao to the first gully dug by the Tang army in front of the city wall, the swordsman led by Guo Bei behind him  The regular shield soldiers attacked. Even during the charge, these regular sword and shield soldiers maintained a formation of ten people. They were cold and precise, without shouting at the top of their lungs. They were the cold and proud Anxi warriors, marching towards victory.  Not even death can stop them.

    Chapter 30 Battle of Ulan (Part 2)

    Chapter 30 Battle of Ulan (Part 2)
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