Zhenguan Crown Prince Li Chengqian

Chapter 72 The Battle of Minzhou (6)

Tiemenguan

Qin Huaiyu: "Your Highness, the rising smoke from Erlang Mountain should be the start of our army's general attack.

The final general sees that their good days are coming to an end. Once our army breaks through Minzhou, we will wait to encircle and wipe them out behind the iron gate. "

For Li Chengqian's contemplation, there should be no problem with Qin Qiong's ability to conquer Minzhou. The Tuyuhun army in Minzhou is fighting fiercely with the Tang army in Xikaido.

The only thing he was worried about was the direction of Taozhou. According to reports from spies, more than [-] enemy troops had assembled on the west bank of the Tao River and were rushing to repair the crossing bridge. The real danger of Tiemenguan was coming.

Li Chengqian: "It's not that simple. The enemy army in Taohe is about to cross the river. That's the most terrible thing. What we want to think about now is how to defend here. Let's talk about how the defense is going."

Qin Huaiyu went to the map and said: "Your Highness, the available troops in the pass are less than 500. The east and west sides of the iron gate are guarded by ministers and Chu Mo each, and the rest are guarded by Heng Lian and Zhang Sizheng. People rule.

All crossbow arrows, rolling wood and thunder stones can be found in the pass, and they are all ready.

Fortunately, there are cliffs on both sides of the city pass, and the enemy can only attack on the narrow path in front of the pass. In addition, our army captured a lot of arrows this time, so it should not be a big problem to defend the west side. "

"But the east side is just the opposite. Your Highness has also seen that the east side has a wide frontage. Once the retreating Tuyuhun army from Minzhou launches an attack, it will definitely be a bloody battle."

While the two were discussing the defense of the pass, Heng Lian hurriedly walked up to him and saluted, "Your Highness, the Tuyuhun army will cross the Tao River and reach the pass before dark."

At dusk, the fire burned and the clouds flowed, the setting sun was like blood, and the cold wind blew on people's faces like knives.But whether it was the defenders of the iron gate or the Tuyuhun people who came to tackle the pass, they couldn't care less about hypocrisy.

"Siege", a general Tuyuhun rode on a black horse and waved his hand.The front team of the siege held their shields, and the soldiers behind them carried the ladders, and under the cover of archers, they attacked the iron gate like a tide. .
On the fourth day, the Tuyuhun defenders in Minzhou dispatched more than [-] people to seize the only passage to Taozhou, and formed a two-sided attack with the enemy troops who came to Taozhou to increase their personnel. The crumbling iron gate was even worse, but Qin Qiong's troops still had no news.

The wind was violent and the snow was blowing, the sky and the earth were completely white, arrows were stuck on the wall, and the thick snow could not cover up the bloodstains.

The broken Dragon Flag of the Tang Dynasty was still fluttering above the gate. Although the soldiers of the Tang army guarding the city were full of looks, their eyes were deep and energetic.

On the seventh day, even Li Chengqian himself didn't know if he would be able to defend until the reinforcements came. These seven days were as long as seven years. Inside the iron gate, there was already no ammunition and food. There were fierce tigers in the east and powerful enemies in the west.

Originally there were more than 1000 soldiers in the whole army, but now there are only more than [-] soldiers left, and there is no grain left.

Fortunately, the sun was covered by heavy snow for several days. Due to the cold weather, the number of people who died of frostbite and frostbite increased sharply. This also forced the Tuyuhun army who came to seize the pass to stop their attack.

Li Chengqian had already ordered to kill the horses for food, but the soldiers couldn't bear to do it, because there were too few horses and there were only thirty horses left, and the three meals a day had been changed to one meal a day, or even one meal every two days.

When they are really hungry, the soldiers will kill a horse to make soup. First, they can drink enough water, and second, they can resist the severe cold.

And the wounded who were seriously injured and unable to go into battle also committed suicide one after another in order to leave a bite for their brothers.

Li Chengqian: "The horse must be killed. If the soldiers can't even eat enough to eat, how can they defend against the enemy? If there is a mistake at the Iron Gate Pass, the enemy army will flee from here to Taozhou. Isn't the brother who died for so many days dead in vain?" ?”

Qin Huaiyu said with a troubled face: "Your Highness, this is really not enough, and the reinforcements don't know when they will arrive. If we finish eating now, how can we survive?"

The argument between Li Chengqian and Qin Huaiyu alarmed many soldiers, everyone came out of the barracks one after another and surrounded Li Chengqian.

"Confused! Why is the enemy attacking our army so desperately? It's because Minzhou has already been captured by our army. They are trying to survive. The rabbit is in a hurry and needs people, let alone the army.

Why do you think the enemy stopped attacking today? They are accumulating strength and preparing for the last fight. "

Li Chengqian was furious, shouted, and stabbed the horse beside him with a knife.

"咴-"

With a cry of grief, blood mist sprayed Li Chengqian all over.

"Kill the horse and get the meat!" Li Chengqian yelled, "Everyone must be full, and those who disobey the order will be beheaded!" After saying that, Li Chengqian strode away.

The soldiers headed by Qin Huaiyu looked at the convulsing horse lying on the ground, bleeding profusely, until it died.

After a while, several pawns brought out more than ten horses from the stable.

Li Chengqian, who had already boarded the tower, saw this scene from a distance, and finally burst into tears... "Teacher, how is your side? There is no food now, and there is no news about Minzhou.

The Tuyuhun people have attacked more and more recently, the city lacks food and clothing, and the soldiers suffered heavy casualties... I don't know how long I can defend. "

Li Chengqian muttered to himself, "When the horses are finished eating and the people are dead, the palace will be exhausted..."

"Report—" A sudden shout broke Li Chengqian's meditation.

"What's the matter?"

"His Royal Highness, something is not right—the enemy army in the direction of Minzhou has joined the enemy army in the east, and it seems that the whole army is going to be dispatched to prepare for the final attack. Once the battle begins, the enemy army in the west will also swarm. !"

"What?" Li Chengqian yelled suddenly, his blood rushed to his forehead, and he was almost shaky due to lack of food for several days.Standing behind him, Henglian and Zhang Sizheng quickly supported him!

Li Chengqian looked up at the sky, and the snowflakes were like madness and gray... "What can we do now?" After Li Chengqian finished speaking, he suddenly opened his eyes angrily and slapped his palm on the brick wall, "Heading! Kill the horse and take the meat The army is full, and they will guard the iron gate to the death!"

"promise"

Cheng Chu on the side silently drank the last few sips of wine from the jug on his waist, and then threw the empty jug out. "In this life, I am honored to be able to fight with Your Highness on the battlefield. It is the blessing of the last general to kill the enemy and serve the country. Take care, Your Highness."

After speaking, Li Chengqian gave a salute, and ran to the top of the city with a few relatives.

The story is divided into two parts. After the Tang army captured Minzhou, King Tuyuhun didn't care about the defenders of Dongshan, and hurriedly fled towards Tiemenguan with the remaining 5 horses.

Afterwards, Uncle Qin swung his troops forward and together with Hou Junji, attacked the Dongshan defenders.But it took too much time after all, and I don't know if Li Chengqian and the others can wait for the army to arrive.

A hundred miles away from the iron gate, Qin Shubao was urging the West Kaido army to speed up their march.

(End of this chapter)