After Sun Hao learned of the results of the surprise attack, he discussed with Pang Tong and Guo Jia and decided to temporarily withdraw the cavalry units of Zhenxi Right Guard, Zhenxi Vanguard, Zhenxi Rear Guard and Personal Guard from the plateau area.
Sun Hao knew very well that with the strength of the Songfan Kingdom and the special environment of the plateau, it would be impossible for the Zhenxi Army to defeat the Songfan Kingdom in one blow. The two sides would inevitably have to go through a protracted war.
The eldest prince of Songfan Kingdom, Songfan Sangji, led 600,000 Snow Mountain Iron Cavalry and millions of gathered pastoral cavalry and stationed them on the edge of Wuerpo.
Sun Hao had to lead hundreds of thousands of Zhenxi troops and station them on the edge of Wuerpo.
The only difference is that the Songfan Army was stationed above Wuerpo, while the Zhenxi Army was stationed below Wuerpo.
Just as the Zhenxi Army and the Songfan Army were confronting each other in the border area between the Western Regions and the plateau, the army of the Jiang family in Fuzhou suddenly split into two groups in Qizhou.
They attacked the two gates of the capital city - Hangu Pass and Guangcheng Pass.
Seeing the rebels once again defeated in front of the walls of Hangu Pass, Sun Zhe couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Today is the third day that the rebels have been attacking Hangu Pass. Relying on the 15-meter-high city wall of Hangu Pass and the sufficient manpower of the defenders inside Hangu Pass, Sun Zhe is confident that he can reach the rebels living in the Jiang family of Fuzhou at Hangu Pass.
But there was a hint of worry between Sun Zhe's brows.
"Wei Hu, is there any new news from Guangcheng Pass?" Sun Zhe asked Wei Hu, the commander of the family troops, in a deep voice.
Wei Hu shook his head and said, "General, there is no new news from Guangcheng Pass today."
"No news is good news. Once Guangcheng Pass falls, it will be useless even if we defend Hangu Pass as strong as an iron wall."
After the army of the Jiang family of Fuzhou was divided into two groups in Qizhou, the troops that attacked Hangu Pass were composed of 300,000 Tianwei troops, 200,000 Fuzhou wing troops and 200,000 Rouran cavalry.
The troops that attacked Guangcheng Pass were composed of 400,000 Xianbei cavalry and 400,000 Khitan cavalry.
Logically speaking, neither the Xianbei cavalry nor the Khitan cavalry were good at attacking cities, and the garrison strength of Guangcheng Pass was the same as that of Hangu Pass, so Guangcheng Pass should have an easier time.
However, when the 400,000 Xianbei cavalry and 400,000 Khitan cavalry arrived at Guangcheng Pass, they also brought with them hundreds of thousands of Qizhou people who they had looted along the way.
Under the threat of Xianbei cavalry and Khitan cavalry, hundreds of thousands of Qizhou people had to serve as cannon fodder and launch an attack on Guangcheng Pass.
Cui Xiumei, who was standing next to Sun Zhe, gritted her teeth and said, "Those Tartars are really too cruel. They actually used this method of attacking the city like ants."
Sun Zhe sighed and said, "War means achieving the goal by any means necessary.
I only hope that the Jiang family of Fuzhou can still save face and not follow the example of the Xianbei and Khitan people and adopt the same ant-like siege tactics against our Hangu Pass."
Cui Xiumei shook her head and said, "The Jiang family of Fuzhou even dared to collude with the Xianbei Khanate and the Khitan Khanate. What else can't they do? I think we must be well prepared."
Sun Zhe nodded slightly and said, "Immediately submit a petition to the court, requesting that they send more arrows to Hangu Pass.
If the Jiang family of Fuzhou really adopts the ant-like siege tactics against Hangu Pass, then we will have no choice but to harden our hearts and fight on."
At this time, inside the Tianwei Army camp, staff member Gongsun Yu hesitantly said to Tianwei Protectorate Grand Commander Jiang Shun: "Grand Commander, Hangu Pass is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and there are two regiments of the Imperial Guard stationed there.
If we continue to attack with such force, even if we can capture Hangu Pass, my Tianwei Army will probably not be able to attack the capital."
Jiang Shun sighed and said, "What else can we do?
We, the Tianwei Army, can't follow the example of the Xianbei and Khitan people and use the people like ants to attack the city!"
Gongsun Yu, the aide, then said in a deep voice, "Grand Commander, those who accomplish great things do not dwell on trivial matters, and history is written by the victors.
If my Tianwei Army fails to capture the capital this time, and the Grand Commander fails to ascend the throne, perhaps in the end..."
Aide Gongsun Yu did not finish what he was saying, but Jiang Shun understood what he meant.
"But if we adopt the ant-attacking method, I'm afraid the Jiang family of Fuzhou will lose the support of the people in Qizhou."
"Grand Commander, now is not the time to consider the people's sentiments. That is something you should consider after you ascend the throne and become emperor.
Moreover, this time our Tianwei Army has invited 400,000 Xianbei cavalry and 400,000 Khitan cavalry, so there is no question of winning the hearts and minds of the people."
"Alas—it seems I have no choice but to harden my heart."
Inside the Anyang Palace, Emperor Chen Xun spoke solemnly to the Left Prime Minister Lu Zeng and the Right Prime Minister Fan Ziyong, "Have you two seen the latest battle reports from Hangu Pass and Guangcheng Pass?"
Left Prime Minister Lu Zeng nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I have already read it."
Right Prime Minister Fan Ziyong followed up, saying, "Your Majesty, I have also seen it."
Emperor Chen Xun said angrily: "I never thought that the Jiang family of Fuzhou would be so shameless. They followed the example of the Xianbei and Khitan peoples and also adopted the ant-like siege method against Hangu Pass."
The Left Prime Minister Lu Zeng then said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. The Jiang family of Fuzhou, the Xianbei people, and the Khitan people will only consume some of the defense equipment at Hangu Pass and Guangcheng Pass by using the ant-like attack method.
Hangu Pass and Guangcheng Pass currently have sufficient defensive equipment such as arrows, rolling logs, and thunder stones. The ant-attached siege tactics will not have a significant impact on Hangu Pass and Guangcheng Pass."
Left Prime Minister Lu Zeng's words reassured Emperor Chen Xun. "Where have all the troops from the various border protectorates gone to?"
Right Prime Minister Fan Ziyong immediately said, "Your Majesty, the 320,000-man army from the Ganyang, Huaide, and Shaochang Protectorates has entered Daizhou and will reach the capital in about ten days.
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