Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 132 Entering Shangbei
Shangyu was the transportation center and important military town in the Guanzhong and Longyou regions during the Qin and Han Dynasties.Among the counties in Longyou, Tianshui County produced the most grain; among Tianshui counties, the area along the Weishui River in Shangyu County produced the most grain (Note ①).

One of the reasons why Zhuge Liang agreed with Deng Ai's attack on Shangyu City was that if Shangyu could be captured, the military rations in the city could be provided to the Northern Expeditionary Army for the attack on Longyou, and the demand for military rations in the rear could be reduced.

After two and a half hours (five hours) of difficult marching, Deng Ai and others finally arrived at the foot of Shangyu City at around four quarters of Yin time (four o'clock in the morning).

But at this time, another accident suddenly appeared.

Shangyu is located in the south of the Wei River, and there happens to be a large flock of ducks and geese in the pond next to the city.The march of nearly 3000 people will inevitably disturb the ducks and geese, and when the ducks and geese make a noise, it will surely disturb the defenders in the city.

At this time, Su Gu, the leader, was completely sluggish. They marched hard, crossed the mountains, drank ice and lay in the snow, took a prize, picked bells on horses, overcame many difficulties, and finally arrived at Shanggu, but now they were about to be destroyed by a group of ducks and geese. Lose big things.

Su Gu wanted to cry but had no tears, his face collapsed, startled ducks and geese, not to mention whether he could go back alive, even if he went back, his wisdom would be ruined.

For a moment, the entire queue stopped, and everyone looked at Shangyu not far away, not knowing what to do!

In the middle of the crowd, Deng Ai, who was organizing the queue, saw the queue stop, and for some reason, he was going to ask Su Gu.

Seeing Deng Ai coming, Su Gu took off his velvet hat, faced the snowflakes, and said to Deng Ai with a sad face: "General, there are ducks and geese ahead. If I pass by, I will disturb them, and their cries will wake up the enemy. We should wait What should I do?"

When Deng Ai heard this, he patted Su Gu on the shoulder and said with a smile: "March immediately, let the soldiers drive away the ducks and geese, and make them scream. If they can't scream, they will be dealt with by military law."

Su Gu couldn't understand Deng Ai's thoughts at all, looked at him in shock, and wondered if Deng Ai's brain had been frozen.

Su Gu swallowed his saliva, hesitated for a while, and asked, "General, isn't he afraid that ducks and geese will disturb the enemy?"

Deng Ai laughed loudly, raised his hand and said, "Don't be afraid, go quickly."

Su Gu was already in despair, thinking of Deng Aiyou's great kindness as a matchmaker for him, he sighed in his heart, forget it, he should repay him with his life, but unfortunately he didn't see the unborn child in the family.

Su Gu was heartbroken, and led several people into the pond by himself.

Su Gu stepped into the mud with his large military boots, bent over, and waved his hands to drive away ducks and geese.In an instant, the ducks and geese inside and outside the pond flapped their wings, scurrying around, and flying white feathers.

"quack!"

"quack!"

In the originally silent field, the sound of ducks and geese could be heard endlessly, and the sound spread to the city.

The young defenders who had been sleeping soundly on the city wall were disturbed, patted the middle-aged Wei Jun, and asked in a low voice, "Second Uncle, what's going on? Why are there ducks calling outside?"

His second uncle squinted his eyes slightly, turned over and continued to close his eyes, muttering: "What's so strange, it's the first time you've stood watch for your father. I don't know that this duck crows every night. It's strange if it doesn't. Don't worry about continuing to sleep."

The nephew put his heart down and closed his eyes. After a while, he snored and fell asleep.

Deng Ai, who was outside the city, saw the loud sound of ducks and geese, and immediately ordered the sound of the bugle. The sound of ducks and geese was mixed with the bugle, so that the Wei army on the wall in the distance couldn't tell the difference.

But the soldiers of the Han army who were nearby moved when they heard the sound. They were wearing white cotton robes and armor, and ran towards the city wall.

Nearly 3000 people stepped on the snow, and the crackling sound was completely covered.

Su Gu, who was driving ducks and geese, suddenly looked at Deng Ai with admiration when he heard the mixed voice.

He already understood that these ducks and geese had been kept under the city for so long, and the city guards must be used to duck calling.

Therefore, the calls of ducks and geese will not only not expose themselves, but also cover up the sound of the Han army marching.

Seeing Deng Ai beckoning him to go over, Su Gu ordered his subordinates to continue chasing ducks and geese, and stepped forward to answer.

Deng Ai looked at Su Gu energetically, with a serious expression, put his fingers on the city wall, and whispered to him: "You immediately take the red armored guards, climb over the city wall, open the city gate for the army, and remember not to disturb the people in the city."

Su Gu bent down, lowered his head to listen, nodded repeatedly, and finally replied in a low voice: "No!"

When Su Gu was about to turn back and leave, Deng Ai called him to stop.

Deng Ai took a step forward, patted Su Gu's arm, and said in a warm voice: "When Ai invited the general to come out of the mountain, he once said that the general will surely honor his ancestors and leave his name in history. The general should not live up to Ai's high expectations."

After a pause, Deng Ai warned: "Be smart, don't disturb the soldiers in the city."

Su Gu bowed his waist and bowed his hands to salute Deng Ai, then took a big stride, waved his hand, and led five hundred red armored guards, and rushed towards the city wall of Shangyu.

The five hundred red armored guards were divided into several teams, crossed the moat in the narrow place, and gathered under the city wall.

Su Gu led the team, looked at the towering city wall, raised the hoe in his hand, and ruthlessly dug into the trapezoidal city wall made of rammed loess (Note ②).

After a while, the crowd dug out a small hole for climbing up. Several soldiers who were short and good at climbing climbed up with the help of the small hole dug, carrying ropes on their backs.

The soldier who was the first to turn over the wall, looked around the quiet surroundings, quickly fixed one end of the rope to the city wall, and threw the other end down. The rest of the red armor soldiers under the city wall methodically grabbed the rope and climbed up.

A moment later, all the red-armored guards had already boarded the city wall. Under the command of Su Gu, they divided into several small groups and touched the Wei army guarding the city wall.

The soldiers of the Wei army who hadn't fought for several years had no defense at all. In their sleep, they were killed by red armor guards one after another. They wiped off their necks and fell into the cold snow. The blood flowing out overflowed the white ground. .

Su Gu carried a double mace on his back, and held a ring sword in his right hand. He tiptoed down the tower, and saw several soldiers of the Wei army under the gate hole, leaning on the brazier and squinting against the city wall.

Su Gu motioned for one person, one by one, and several people sneaked past.After everyone was ready to take their positions, Su Gu nodded, then suddenly stepped forward with his left hand, covered Wei Jun's mouth, and wiped the ring head knife with his right hand towards his neck.

The soldiers of the Wei Army suddenly opened their eyes, and when they were struggling, they were already understood, their feet loosened, and they died in Su Gu's arms

After Su Gu's inspection, he saw that the guards had been dealt with, but he left the watchman who was watching the night to continue beating on the wooden clapper.

In the end, Su Gu took several people, took advantage of the moonlight and the light of the brazier in the city, took down the door latch, kicked the ground with both feet, and pushed open the city gate forcefully.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The gate of Shangyu City was opened, and at the same time, the suspension bridge on the city was lowered.Su Gu was at the gate of the city, holding a torch, and waved it three times at the gate of the city as a signal.

When Deng Ai saw the signal, he held the tooth flag high and led the army into the outer city of Shangbei.
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①In the fourth Northern Expedition in history, Zhuge Liang used kite flying tactics to compete with Sima Yi for the wheat in Shanggu, and finally harvested most of the wheat in Shanggui for military use.

②The ancient city walls were only covered with bricks since the Ming Dynasty. Except for the city walls of Beijing and Nanjing and the city walls of Xi’an, most of the other city walls were only covered with bricks inside and outside the city gates and outside the city walls.

The city wall is trapezoidal, such as the ancient city wall of Xi'an, and even in modern times, some people can climb it with bare hands.

(End of this chapter)