The first attack on Ningyuan resulted in heavy losses. The Baoyi and Mongols were naturally ignored, but the Zhenyi suffered more than two thousand casualties.

Among them, dozens of officers such as Beile Degelei and Gushan Ezhen Turge were killed in the battle. How could this old slave not feel sad and angry?

Looking at the flames and smoke rising from the wooden stake array in the distance, the old slave felt that the time was almost right, so he gave another order.

The clatter of hooves echoed as Jiannu cavalry units galloped forward, pressing in from the east, west, and south. From a hundred meters away, the cavalry fired rockets, then galloped to the first trench and fired at the wooden stakes.

Thousands of war horses galloped, the thunder of their hooves shaking the ground slightly. Add to that the shouts and cries of the Jiannu, and the power was truly astonishing.

Fan Wencheng smiled a little. This was also his strategy, to divert the defenders' manpower and attention so as to facilitate a sudden attack.

"The Jiannu's cavalry and archery--" On the top of the city wall, Xiong Tingbi sneered and shook his head.

No matter how much they tried to create a scene, the trench was there. Even without the wooden stakes, the defensive power wouldn't be much reduced.

If the Jiannu's goal was to attack the city, it would not be the beginning of victory, but the beginning of a nightmare.

Although this was the first time Ningyuan City was attacked after the completion of its defense system, the Ming army had already conducted many drills around attack and defense.

Therefore, the officers and soldiers defending the city, including Xiong Tingbi, were quite confident. They remained calm during the battle and killed a large number of enemies with their stable performance.

"Send an order, telling the defenders outside the city to prepare to retreat into the city." Xiong Tingbi pondered for a while and issued a new order again.

There is no obvious difference between continuing to defend outside the city with deep trenches and high fortifications, or luring the Jiannu to the city and killing a large number of them, as both aim to kill the enemy.

Xiong Tingbi felt that this was the last of the Jiannu's madness, and if they were repelled again, they would have no choice but to withdraw in disgrace. Giving them some hope, luring them to the city and giving them a heavy blow, should be able to destroy more of the enemy.

Moreover, Xiong Tingbi also wanted his soldiers to try out the defense of the city. After all, this bastion-like defense system had not yet been tested in actual combat.

In Xiong Tingbi's view, if the bastion showed great advantages in actual combat, the Ming army would be able to advance to Jinzhou, Dalinghhe, and even Guangning, and exert greater oppression on the Jiannu.

The order was quickly relayed to the garrisons, and preparations began immediately. The heavier artillery pieces were moved first, and the remaining ammunition and supplies were brought into the city, increasing the number of weapons and troops on the city walls.

The officers and soldiers all knew that they had to voluntarily abandon their positions outside the city and rely on the city to fight the enemy in the next round.

While the troops were busy making preparations, the Jiannu were still struggling. The flames of the wooden stake formation and the silence of the Ming army on the battlefield gave the Jiannu hope and courage, and their shouts became more powerful.

"Report to the Khan, the enemy troops below the city are wavering and showing signs of retreating into the city."

"Report to the Khan, the enemy forces on the city walls have increased, and the enemy forces below are frequently maneuvering, seemingly moving supplies into the city."

Nurhaci listened to the scout's report, and his expressionless face softened slightly. He waved his hand and said, "Go again."

Fan Wencheng listened carefully and felt proud in his heart, but he tried his best to be reserved and did not dare to show any excessive pride or complacency.

Faced with the brilliant tactic of burning the wooden stakes, the Ming army was thrown into disarray and prepared to retreat if defeated. But did my brilliant plan stop there?

The strange shape of Ningyuan City was not lost on Lao Nu and Fan Wencheng. The horse-faced soldiers transformed themselves, using crossfire to fill in the blind spots of the enemy below.

Although they understood it, they had never truly experienced it and underestimated the destructive power of the bastion.

According to Fan Wencheng's strategy, after reaching the city, they would push the artillery they carried up to bombard the city walls.

Although they all knew that the artillery on the city wall of the Ming army had an advantage in range, what did it matter how many Han soldiers who operated the artillery died?

At the same time, the soldiers who attacked the city could also dig into the weak defense between the two corners of the city gate and use grappling ladders to climb the city walls to fight.

We cannot guarantee that this three-pronged approach will capture the city, but it is the closest to success.

Although the battlefield was ablaze with flames and billowing with smoke, the fighting was not intense. Both sides were making arrangements according to plan, waiting for the moment when the real battle would break out.

When the wooden stake array was burned to pieces and could no longer hinder passage, the Jiannu's real attack finally began.

One after another, tall and huge behemoths appeared on the battlefield, advancing along the path cleared by the army and approaching the trench.

Xiong Tingbi held up the telescope and observed carefully. It took him a long time to seem to recognize it. Could it be a trench bridge, or a trench car?

The trench bridge was designed to pass through obstacles such as trenches or moats outside the city, and served as a temporary bridge for the mobility of the siege troops. Its shape is a bit like the folding fire ladder of later generations.

During the Song Dynasty, trench bridges were fitted with wheels and made into carriages for easy movement. The width of the trench bridge depended on the width of the moat or ditch, so most of the time, the bridges were built using local materials after observation by the attackers during a siege.

A trench-filling cart, also known as a trench-filling cart, was loaded with rocks and earth, which it dumped into the trench upon reaching its edge. It was protected by vertical planks, which protected the crew from arrows and stones as they pushed forward.

Both machines had wheels and were of varying shapes, so Xiong Tingbi couldn't tell them apart at first. But that didn't stop him from giving orders to the defenders on the city wall, adjusting their artillery and preparing for the bombardment.

Learning war in war is a long process. Even if you are a veteran who has experienced many battles, you will encounter new problems and new tactics.

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