The third emperor of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 489
On the high platform of the Sui army's camp, Yang Shanhui watched the advancing Sui army. Although it was a night battle, the soldiers appeared to be orderly and there was no confusion. Under the light of the torches in the hands of the auxiliary soldiers, they looked quite spectacular.

Six thousand cavalry archers formed six phalanxes, and stopped [-] steps away from the Tang camp. If the Tang army dared to come out to destroy the attacking equipment, the strong crossbows in their hands would let the Tang army know what a storm is.

The soldiers of the "Siege Battalion" of the Sui Army gestured with large shields and swords, guarding the catapults, cart crossbows, and bed crossbows, and continued to move forward. They also stopped four hundred steps away, and some soldiers quickly pulled the horses that were dragging the equipment away. Back to the camp, other soldiers were reinforcing the catapults, while the slave soldiers were carrying stones and huge arrows with bare arms. Everything seemed busy, but they were all performing their duties in an orderly manner.

As time went by, [-] catapults and [-] crossbows and bed crossbows were put into place one after another. Two teams of cavalry rushed from the north and south and reported under the high platform: "Report to the commander, The Southern Army is already in position and can launch an attack on the Tang camp at any time."

"Report to Commander-in-Chief, the Northern Army is in position and can launch an attack on the Tang camp at any time."

Although Yang Shanhui's idea was to get entangled with the Tang army, making it impossible for Li Shimin to break the embankment, he did not put the attack direction in one place, but drew up a plan for coordinated operations between the north and the south according to the camp of the Tang army. The southern army was led by Xie Yingdeng. The Northern Army is led by Mai Mengcai, He Panren and Feng Li are the two lieutenants, he himself sits in the middle, and the commander of the navy Zhang Zhenzhou is the backup commander. Laizheng, Zhou Shaofan, Xue Wanbei and other land and water generals also have their own responsibilities .

The Sui Dynasty has vigorously excavated and cultivated underprivileged scholars in recent years. Although the talent pool is not ample, it is not as stretched as it was at the beginning. In addition, the Sui Dynasty was peaceful and peaceful, and the law and order were stable. Liaison, Zhou Shaofan, Xue Wanbei and other all-round talents with rich combat experience have all been reasonably arranged. These people either sit in the border county or go to the martial arts academy for further studies. Tsinghua Academy of martial arts is also closed now , all the students were assigned to practice in various places. Most of these students were middle and low-level military officers in the army. They were no strangers to war. When they went out with the army, they also applied the theories they had learned to actual combat. This was the opportunity Yang Tong gave them. Whether you can show your talents depends on your personal ability.

Yang Shanhui heard the words at this time and immediately ordered: "Start attacking."

"Boom! Boom! Boom..." A big man beside him raised a drumstick and beat it hard on the giant drum. The dull sound of the drum was heard far away at night. This was the order to start the Sui army's attack.

"put!"

A brigade commander of the siege battalion of the Southern Route Army shouted, and the soldiers released the winch handle of the catapult at the same time, the winch turned quickly, and the long arm threw a huge boulder violently.

As soon as the drums stopped, the north and south attacked at the same time.As a result, hundreds of huge boulders flew into the air almost at the same time, and they slashed across the night in arcs, and smashed towards the wall panels of the Tang camp, which was more than two feet high, four hundred steps away.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Huge boulders weighing hundreds of catties slammed into the Tang army camp, and a boulder hit the wooden slab wall of the Tang camp. Several soldiers on the ground were smashed to pieces, bloody and bloody, and a bed crossbow guarding the camp was also smashed to pieces, and the sound of exclamation and screams suddenly resounded!
The catapult continued to show its power, and boulders slammed into the camp wall with a terrifying whistling sound. From time to time, there were dull impact sounds and the sound of breaking the supporting wooden frame. A camp wall was hit twice in a row. When the third boulder When it came, it finally collapsed unbearably, and the soldiers of the Tang army who had escaped from being hit by the boulder were thrown out violently, crying and howling, but the battle was in full swing, and obviously no one cared about their life and death.

The Tang Army set up two defensive generals for the Sui Army's two attack points. Li Shimin's confidant General Hou Junji was in charge of the southern camp. He shouted loudly: "The bed crossbow countered, and I must shoot the Sui army's catapult to the ground."

In fact, as early as when the Sui army came to the camp, the Tang army's thousand bed crossbows were concentrated. The Tang army would not be so stupid as to give the Sui army a chance to prepare, and the powerful giant arrows were fired in the direction of the catapult in a dense manner.

However, the Sui army also made preparations. In front of the equipment, there was a giant shield phalanx. Each giant shield was one foot high and five feet wide. Cowhide, ordinary arrows can't penetrate the two layers of cowhide at all. The arrows of the bed crossbow are powerful. Although they can shoot through the cowhide, many arrows are stuck by the gaps between the bamboo pieces. The slave in charge of this phalanx The soldiers were not fools either. They fixed the bamboo shields with brackets and retreated to a certain safe area. Even if the arrows could penetrate, the destructive power was greatly reduced. Only some unlucky ghosts were pierced by arrows. Nailed, stabbed.

The bamboo shield array is the first line of defense for the catapult, and it also has defensive settings. These catapults modified by the craftsmen of the Sui Dynasty not only put the winch at the rear, but also added a baffle to protect the soldiers, and also used thick cowhide to protect the soldiers. Wrap all the parts of the catapult, and some of the more fragile parts are covered with iron sheets. In this way, even if the arrow of the bed crossbow hits the catapult, its power has been greatly reduced, just like ordinary arrows nailed to it , will not cause fatal damage.These defensive methods are actually quite simple and easy for people to learn, but the problem is that neither Li Yuan nor Li Mi has enough cowhide, and they can't buy it from the northern nomads. The territory of the Great Sui Dynasty, and the border with foreign races is separated by the tall and thick Great Wall. Vendors can only enter and exit through the established gates, and these open gates are controlled by strict military discipline. It is very difficult for Er Li and the others to smuggle. Disaster.Even if you get a few pieces of cowhide from some unscrupulous traders, it is not enough to make soldiers' armor, let alone make a coverall for a catapult.

Tang Jun fired five gurney crossbows in a row, and Hou Junji's expectant eyes became disappointed. He fired so concentratedly that not a single catapult fell down. What comforted him was that the shield array was showing signs of loosening. This is a good sign, so let's continue.The focus of attention is also on their own defense. Compared with the poor results of the Tang army's bed crossbow, the Sui army's catapult performance can be described as brilliant. As for the gaps, Hou Junji saw more than a dozen collapses.

But although this line of defense is no longer complete, it still has a weak defense. If left alone, the Sui army will definitely attack from these places. Although the Tang army still has follow-up defenses, it is far from enough compared to the camp wall , So Hou Junji mobilized [-] logistics troops, moved huge logs and stones, and desperately repaired the collapsed camp wall.Under the persecution of the warlord army's blade, the logistics soldiers frightened and risked their lives to repair it.

At this time, a flying boulder hit the place that was being repaired, and several wooden pillars that had just been laid were smashed to the ground. After smashing the heads of several logistics soldiers, the stone rolled on the ground and swept towards the crowd. Dozens of logistics soldiers turned around and fled in fright.

Although the catapult repeated the previous actions mechanically again and again, the excitement of the soldiers of the Sui Army never faded. Every time they saw a camp wall collapsed, they burst into cheers, and then operated the catapult enthusiastically .

On the command tower!

Yang Shanhui was expressionless and focused on the battle in the distance. Xue Wanbei, who had been arranged by him, hesitated many times. He seemed to have something to say, but he didn't dare to disturb Yang Shanhui when he saw that he was concentrating on the battle!
"If you want to ask, just ask!" Yang Shanhui said with a smile as if he knew that the other party had doubts.Looking at this young general, I felt very moved in my heart, and I also envied his father Xue Shixiong very much.

Xue Shixiong's five sons are all remarkable, and Xue's prominence in the Sui Dynasty is eye-catching.

Now the eldest brother Xue Wanshu is appointed general and earl, and sits in Qiemo County, which is the most difficult place in the Sui Dynasty. The Earl, the difference is that he is the commander of the Fourth Army, sitting in the northeast, and his future is limitless.

The third and fourth are even more remarkable. The third, Xue Wanjun, was granted the title of General of Youwuwei and Lord Fujikuni, and now he is the commander of the Sixth Army. General You Xiaowei and Deng Guogong are the main generals of the Tenth Army. They sit in Lintao and are responsible for defending the Bashu Tang army and Tuyuhun on the plateau.

As for the youngest of the Xue family in front of me, he is also a generation with both civil and military skills. He is not very old, only in his early twenties, but he has a lot of experience. Master Liang has cleaned up; although he is thrown into the martial arts academy now, it is not neglected, but cultivated. This guy will be alone sooner or later under the command of the wise and mighty emperor.

After careful calculation, among the top ten armies of the Sui Dynasty, three of the Xue brothers served as the chief generals, and the eldest and youngest are also people with a bright future in the military.

Speaking of which, what Yang Shanhui admires the most about the Xue brothers is not that they are all outstanding and have a bright future, but that their brothers are sensible, know how to advance and retreat, and know current affairs!They were divided into five shortly after they were entrusted, and they each ran their own small homes. Although they did not show a posture of not being in touch with each other, they seldom got together, and even if they got together, they were not complete. They were undoubtedly wise and smart. As a result, brothers Yang Gongren, Shidao Yang, brothers Li Jing and Li Ke, brothers Mai Mengcai and Mai Zhongcai, brothers Zhou Shaozu, Zhou Shaofan, and Lai Shi brothers... all followed suit.Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan also live in their own mansions, although they are also of the same family, Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan live in their own mansions, which is not substantially different from the separated family. He will not compete with his half-brother Pei Xingjian for his father's property.

Yang Shan will have three sons, but his son is young and has not yet reached the time of separation, but he will be separated one by one in the future. In fact, Yang Shan will think that the early separation of the family is only good for the family itself. Suspicion is one thing, the important thing is that the departure of each son is a kind of experience, and there will be no major mistakes when the father is watching. When the father is gone, they have matured, and even if they have no ability to make progress in the future, they can keep the family. The ability to work is still there, and although the brothers are separated, there have been no family property disputes, and the brotherhood is not harmed. This also allows them to help each other and support each other for a long time.

As the founder of the family separation trend in the Sui Dynasty, although the emperor never expressed anything to the Xue brothers, the attitude shown by the Xue brothers must have made him appreciate and trust him more than before. Thousands of times more precious than real gold and silver.

But after Xue Wanbei got Yang Shanhui's permission, he said very sadly: "Commander back, before his father died, let us brothers must learn from his disastrous defeat, and repeatedly warned us brothers, asking us to avoid night battles as much as possible. In night battles, the advantage lies in the defending side, while the attacking side is at an absolute disadvantage. First, it is difficult to use semaphore to command in night battles; The flanks and rear of one side; the fourth is that even if they win, the enemy chieftain can escape in the dark, and counterattack by taking advantage of the chaos of the attacking side to clear the camp... These problems are also mentioned in military books, but the right servant shoots them with To fight the night battle with dignity and integrity, the general will not understand!"

Yang Shanhui couldn't help laughing: Xue Wanbei, who has successfully suppressed bandits many times, will not be ignorant of the military wisdom of "soldiers are impermanent, power is impermanent, water is impermanent". With his level, he shouldn't ask such naive questions. Ying Ying's decision had doubts, but he asked bluntly because he was afraid of offending himself, so he asked in the way of asking for advice. His conversational art not only made people hate him, but also made people feel good about him.

Looking at the polite Xue Wanbei, Yang Shanhui tried his best to get rid of the idea of ​​beating up his son, and said with a smile: "You are right, but our army has the ability and experience to fight at night. Of course, the problem of the enemy chieftain fleeing cannot be solved, but the problem is that no matter whether it is me or the emperor, no one wants to capture Li Shimin alive, nor does he want him to die."

Xue Wanbei said in astonishment: "It is well known that Li Yuan relies heavily on the Li clan. Ever since Li Xiaogong was dismissed tragically, Li Shimin has become the only person in the puppet Tang Dynasty who has experience in commanding a large army. Wouldn't it be good to catch him?"

Yang Shanhui asked back: "Do you know the reason why the Tang army has been defeated repeatedly?"

Xue Wanbei said without hesitation: "Naturally, our army is brave and good at fighting, and the general uses his troops wisely; the bandit army is weak in combat power and morale, and the general is incompetent..."

"The opinions of the families are not reliable!" Yang Shanhui shook his head, and without waiting for Xue Wanbei to ask again, he said directly: "It's not that what you said is wrong, but that it's not all right. No way! In fact, the Holy One attaches great importance to Li Shimin and the puppet Tang generals."

Xue Wanbei savored Yang Shanhui's words carefully, and he came to his senses, "Does Pushe say that the puppet Tang court is the root cause of the Tang army's repeated defeats?"

Yang Shanhui nodded and said, "That's right! The puppet civil servants of the Tang Dynasty stretched their hands too far, causing the soldiers in front to restrain their hands and feet. This involves civil and military competition for military power, and there are other competitions as well."

Xue Wanbei suddenly asked: "The commander-in-chief is saying that Li Shimin will deal with Li Jiancheng?"

Yang Shanhui smiled faintly: "Li Shimin, who fought alone and tied his hands and feet, is not a big threat to our Great Sui, but his existence at least cannot make the various forces of the puppet Tang become one. For my Great Sui, the living Li Shimin It's worth more than being dead."

Xue Wanbei understood, nodded and said: "It turns out that this servant had a thorough plan long ago, so he launched the night battle, but the general will be presumptuous."

Yang Shanhui smiled wryly when he heard the words. In fact, he didn't want to fight at night because there were too many variables, but the problem was that he had to fight!It's just that they can't let too many people know the root cause of this war, otherwise, it will cause panic.

(End of this chapter)