Chapter 151: Conquering Gaoping
Facing the first battle heading straight to Gaoping, Qiao Yan did not have the extra energy to consider winning over the Qiang tribe and using them for his own purposes.
Gaoping City is bordered by the Qingshui River in the south and the Yinma River in the north. The river surrounds the city as a moat. There are mountains not far away on the east and west sides, and the distance is not enough for people to launch an attack from a high position. Instead, it limits the deployment of soldiers to attack the city.
Then the only thing we can do is to follow the river valley and launch an attack on the city.
But this is still an absolutely fortified city.
In the past, Emperor Guangwu wanted to pacify the separatist forces of Wei Xiang in Longyou, and the thorn he wanted to remove was Gaoping. However, Gao Jun, a general under Wei Xiang who was guarding Gaoping, managed to hold the city for more than a year. If his military advisor Huangfu Wen had not been killed as an envoy, Gao Jun would not have surrendered just because he lost someone to plan and advise him.
Even though Gaoping City has not yet built a second outer city wall due to the establishment of Yuanzhou during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the inner city alone is enough to cause trouble for attackers.
so--
Just quick attack!
The entire team she led was like a sharp arrow piercing the heart of Liangzhou, bringing a thunderous force to the glorious reputation in this battle!
She couldn't be blocked by Gaoping City, like the Liangzhou rebels who surrounded Chencang and became a negative example of wasting military strength and being killed in the evacuation!
Qiao Yan looked coldly at the river valley ahead.
In order to reduce losses in the siege and to intimidate Beidi County and Anding County, these Qiang people had no choice but to become victims of her sword.
As for the Han people, they were forced to conscript into the logistics and transportation team.
Although Gai Xun's position as the prefect of Wudu County was deprived by Dong Zhuo, it did not affect the reputation he had accumulated as an official during his time as the chief secretary and prefect of Liang Province.
Under his overall planning and coordination, these people did not make any resistance moves that would cause trouble for Qiao Yan after hearing that they did not need to be deployed to the front line of the siege, but only needed to assist in the transportation of supplies.
After all, if they could recapture Anding County, it would not be a bad thing for them.
With this exchange of manpower, Qiao Yan had the opportunity to free up the excess logistical personnel and rush to the front with the soldiers carried by the cavalry. After completing the construction of the camp in the middle section of the valley, he invested in the creation of siege equipment.
At first glance, it sounds like a direct expressway along the Jingshui River Valley and the Qingshui River Valley to Gaoping, but the journey is actually four hundred miles!
According to the marching speed of ancient infantry, she would need to walk for at least a week.
Therefore, she would only choose to advance at a forced march on the road approaching Gaoping. Similarly, it was impossible for things such as ladders and battering rams to be manufactured within Bingzhou.
Fortunately, Ma Jun was clever and combined the chariot chassis of the ladder and heavy hammer and the material carrier into one, which really saved her a lot of trouble. In addition, the hammer head had already been made in Bingzhou, so there was less trouble in making it using local materials.
Xun You was the military strategist, and Jia Xu provided assistance by providing experience from Liang Province, which made the marching of the front and rear armies in an assembly line operation.
The only person who can be considered as an idle person seems to be Cheng Yu.
While riding on his horse, he sighed, "It's rare that I don't have to deal with the affairs of the state, but can ride a horse to enjoy the scenery of mountains, rivers and streams without having to work hard. I am a little uncomfortable with it."
After saying this, Jia Xu couldn't help but cast a speechless look from the side.
Qiao Yan smiled and said, "Once we take over Gaoping City, you won't be so comfortable, sir."
Yes.
After arriving in Gaoping, Cheng Yu would inevitably be busy as he deployed the battle line using this fortress as a foothold.
With someone guarding this place, the troops she brought this time will not become consumables as the battle in Liangzhou lasts for a long time. They will continue to receive reinforcements from the surrounding areas and will have a stable anchor that will not be easily repelled.
But before that, the premise of all plans is to capture Gaoping City!
Win this battle!
Zhong Qiang of Gaoping City did not expect that Qiao Yan would send troops to Liangzhou in April after occupying Ziwuling Mountain for the Southern Xiongnu, and head straight to Gaoping with a clear goal.
But when the shadow of Gaoping City appeared in front of Qiao Yan in the misty night, this city with high north and low south still looked like a monster leaning over to drink water from the Qingshui River.
The source of water is the city wall outside the south gate.
Yes, Wengcheng.
Even though Gaoping was just a city in the northwestern border area, and even though the defensive system of the 瓮城 was not popularized until the end of the Tang Dynasty, Gaoping did have this thing.
Although the second curved door outside the city gate looks a bit crude, it does not change its essence of being able to effectively block attacks from battering rams.
Fortunately, Qiao Yan was not completely unprepared for this.
She glanced at Ma Jun and saw that Ma Jun gave an instruction that everything was in order.
She glanced at Xun You again and saw that he had also given instructions to complete the inventory of personnel in each department.
She then took a deep breath and issued an order: "All troops, speed up the march and attack the city!"
This was a city that was more difficult to conquer than any she had experienced before.
Xiliang's martial spirit gives this city a stronger shell than anywhere else.
But all the preparations she made for attacking this place were by no means in vain!
And if even she can't capture the first city of Gaoping, there is no other team in the world that can do it.
The last march in the night was like the last friction before the fire was lit, until the first arrow shot at the top of Gaoping City pierced through the throat of the defenders on the city wall. In the rain of arrows, the siege vehicle was quickly pushed to the bottom of Gaoping City and made the first impact on the outer gate, completely igniting the spark with a long tail.
The collision between the iron tip of the hammer and the red pine iron-leaf gate of Gaoping made a turbulent sound that echoed throughout the early morning.
What followed were urgent reports from the city walls.
Even though Qiao Yan didn't understand the other party's language, it was not difficult for him to tell from the hurried tone that this was the signal of "enemy attack".
However, the poor defense of the southern city wall, and the advantage she had taken by marching to the foot of the city under the cover of night, allowed her to build a "bridge" across the moat before enough enemy troops arrived at the city wall.
The ladders following the battering ram have been pushed to the foot of the city.
At this time, the cavalry also quickly dispersed along both sides of the southern city wall, shooting at the soldiers on the city wall who were rushing towards the south gate.
To be precise, not all the cavalry.
Those were archers who could shoot two crossbows, specially selected by Qiao Yan from the cavalry!
The defenders on the city wall who responded to the battle hastily thought that the enemy was still out of the range of their shots. Due to the shortage of defenders, they chose to wait a little longer. However, they did not expect that the enemy's arrows had already taken the lead and were flying towards them mercilessly.
The slightly bright environment seemed to give them a slight advantage in assessing the range, but it also became the cause of their deaths.
What they could not have imagined was that the battering ram operated by the other side under the chariot cover was more powerful than an ordinary war hammer!
Today, battering rams are no longer just pushed by manpower, but move along with suspended cables, using experienced pushing methods to achieve the best impact effect.
But with the addition of Ma Jun, the use of pulleys was added to the acceleration of the battering ram, making it even more labor-saving.
When the leader of the Zhong Qiang in the city was awakened to fight the enemy, Qiao Yan's side had already blasted open the outer gate of the Gaoping city wall.
Almost at the same time, several soldiers who had advanced with ladders climbed up to the city wall and attacked the archers on the inner city who were trying to intercept the battering ram and launch a second impact.
"Who is coming?" The Zhong Qiang leader reorganized the soldiers in the city and ordered the reorganized team to go to the south to conduct offensive and defensive battles, while asking the subordinate who reported the news.
This can't be Huangfu Song.
He was extremely wary of Huangfu Song, and always had people watching the movements in Chaona City. If he wanted to raise an army, there would be no way that no one would report it!
The situation was similar to what Qiao Yan had guessed.
The subordinate quickly replied: "The general who broke into the city wall claimed his name was Lü Fengxian from Wuyuan, and he was following the order of the governor of Bingzhou to fight against the enemy."
Wuyuan? Bingzhou Mu? Why is she here!
Leader Zhong Qiang's face changed, and he immediately realized that the current situation might not be so favorable for him.
Even if it was really Huangfu Song who attacked the city, he had fought with the enemy many times and had been wary of him recently. Therefore, he had a rough idea of how many men Huangfu Song had and how capable this man was.
But if the Governor of Bingzhou attacks, the situation will be very different.
The fact that the enemy, as outsiders from Liangzhou, were able to advance all the way to the city of Gaoping meant that they could not have been a team with too few people.
She was able to break through the outer city at such a fast speed, obviously she was well prepared!
Thinking of the conclusion he got from Han Sui after reporting the news to him, the leader of Zhong Qiang couldn't help but curse in his heart, "Han Sui misled me!"
But it was no use for him to blame the other party for making a mistake in judgment at this time.
Before he led his team to the city, the second city gate that was hit by the battering ram was inevitably blasted open in the inward direction as the inner city failed to block it.
However, on the city wall connected to the city wall, the damage caused to the Bingzhou army by the defenders was extremely limited!
On the one hand, they had to endure the disturbances from the soldiers who climbed up the curved city wall, and on the other hand, their arrows were blocked by the well-equipped shields of the Bingzhou army.
Especially the guy who played the loudest.
Last year's attack on Luoyang seemed to have not allowed him to fully relax. Half a year of sharpening his sword was just allowing him to accumulate strength. Now facing this strong city of Liangzhou, he finally had the opportunity to show his skills!
It is true that he did not let his personal bravery get in the way.
He simply rushed to the front and, relying on the defensive ability of his chain mail, fought his way into the city gate.
At this moment, the soldiers controlling the siege ram quickly led the siege ram to the side as they had practiced earlier, making way for the Bingzhou army that was rapidly pouring in from the rear.
The successful attack on the two southern city gates caused the soldiers who were pouring into Gaoping City like a tide to let out a mixed shout.
It seemed like a joyful celebration of their phased achievements, and it also seemed like the fatigue of the early morning just needed such a sound to boost morale.
But no matter what the reason was, there is no doubt that when Zhong Qiang tried to teach these invaders a lesson, an astonishing aura emanated from the opposing team, which made people tremble as if they were seeing a tiger or a leopard.
This aura becomes even more terrifying as the warriors in the team fight first.
In the ears of the Qiang people who did not know Chinese very well, these shouts turned into just one word:
kill!
Kill all their opponents!
It was precisely because of this momentum that the fight inside the city gate, even though it allowed the defenders of Gaoping City to regain the advantage for a while and caused many of the Bingzhou army's vanguards to fall in the gate, the subsequent support teams quickly took their places.
Moreover, as Lu Bu charged in, he and Qu Yi led the crowd to climb the inner city wall and, with the cover of bows and arrows, turned the advantage they had regained into a state of completely opening a breakthrough.
The moment the defense line was broken, the following cavalry quickly filled the position without any special instructions or dispatches.
The role that cavalry can play in a siege is limited.
But what they needed to do at this time was not to open the barriers of the fortified city, but to quickly occupy the streets and alleys to disintegrate the Qiang people's attempts to counterattack.
Then these cavalrymen dragging their sophisticated long swords became killing machines.
Seeing this scene, leader Zhong Qiang broke out in a cold sweat.
He was able to lead the Zhongqiang tribe, which was said to have a population of 100,000 people, so he was certainly not a cowardly person.
But how many cavalry and infantry in the city belong to the Han army on the opposite side?
When he was at a slightly higher position on the street, all he could see was a crowd of people.
He also saw that in the close combat where many people from both sides fell, those who were constantly being engulfed in the wave of black armor were all people on his side.
This made it impossible for him to make an accurate judgment.
How many people are there on the other side outside the city?
He could only hear the echoes spreading back and forth between the city walls and the mountains, filling his eardrums, as if it was not coming only from the south. That's at least a number in the tens of thousands.
However, he could not retreat at this time. He knew very well that in such a narrow battle, if he chose to abandon his weapons and flee, there would be no other outcome except death. So he immediately gestured to his herald.
The herald officer, who always had the loudest voice, immediately shouted out, "Fight for Zhong Qiang!"
But before he could utter the word "fight", a long white feather arrow pierced his throat.
Leader Zhong Qiang looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the one with the most outstanding aura in the opposing team had already climbed to the top of the city wall of Gaoping under the protection of the sword and shield soldiers around him.
She looked down at this side from a high position. Even though her expression could not be seen clearly, one could feel that she was really aggressive as she switched from attacking the city to plundering the city!
And in her hand, was a heavy bow that could be used for long-range shooting!
The arrow that killed the messenger was shot by the Marquis of Leping.
In the fierce attack of this arrow, the leader of Zhong Qiang suddenly realized that the other party had another name, called -
General of the Cavalry!
But when he reacted at this time, it was too late!
On the morning of that day, Huangfu Song's army stationed in Chaona City welcomed a special visitor.
Although they had not seen each other for several years, he still remembered that the messenger who came to report the news was Cheng Yu from Dongjun who had worked with Qiao Yan to complete the strategy of internal and external cooperation.
Since his appearance as an adult was fixed, Huangfu Song would naturally recognize him. However, compared to his appearance six years ago, after the experiences in Leping and Bingzhou, he had a more calm aura of having everything under control.
Huangfu Song felt relieved.
Since Cheng Yu is here, Qiao Yan must be here too.
But what Huangfu Song never expected was that what came out of Cheng Yu's mouth would be -
"General Huangfu, your Excellency invites you to have dinner in Gaoping to discuss the attack west of Liupan Mountain."
Wait… where to?
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