Shuhan

“If we want to break through the Hongnong defense line, it will take a lot of time.

The Wei army built forts on dangerous roads and terrain. According to information collected by scouts in recent days, there are at least forty or fifty fortresses on this defense line that stretches for dozens of miles.

If we were to take down so many fortresses one by one, it would probably take a lot of time and cost many soldiers' lives.

If it is not removed, the logistics and food supply routes may not be smooth."

Can the Han army pass through the Hongnong Defense Line?

you can!

But the soldiers could pass through, but the teams transporting grain could not.

Unless you destroy all the Wei army’s strongholds.

Otherwise, when food and grass were being transported to the rear, the Wei troops in these forts would come out and harass the food delivery team.

If we want to assign a special cavalry to guard the grain team, it would be impossible.

Cavalry is precious. If they keep following the grain transport team, not only will it waste manpower, but it is also questionable how much use they can be.

A sneak attack only takes a moment. You are always on guard, but there is always a loophole.

Is it possible to guard against thieves day and night?

"If the road is blocked, can we open up a water route?" Zhang Bao's mind was active and he thought of using the Yellow River waterway.

The Yellow River is a big river with turbulent water. The Han army can call in boats at Fenglingdu and transport grain on the river. What can the Wei army do to them?
Huang Quan shook his head and said, "If the general can think of this, then the Wei army will naturally think of it too. Not to mention that the Wei State has a navy on the river, even if there is no navy, there are more than a dozen water forts along the river. In addition, many places are blocked across the river, so it is difficult to pass through!"

This one doesn’t work, and that one doesn’t work either?

"It would be great if we could lure the Wei army out and engage in a field battle with them."

Ma Zhong said on the side.

The losses in the offensive and defensive battles must have been huge.

But field combat is different.

Ma Zhong was confident that he could defeat the Wei army in a field battle and thus break through Wei's Hongnong defense line.

"As far as I know, the person in charge of Hongnong's defense in Wei is Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Shang is cautious in using troops and will not take risks. A few days ago, we clashed with Wei scouts, and the Wei army suffered heavy losses. Xiahou Shang did not even try to spy on our intelligence, and he even gave us all the wilderness outside the fortress and city."

Huang Quan smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "Asking such a person to fight with us outside the city is harder than climbing to the sky."

It is difficult to attack.

There is no way to fight.

For a short time, the situation seemed to be at a stalemate.

"General, didn't the Academy of Sciences send over a lot of thunder bombs? These guys are powerful siege weapons. If we can use thunder bombs to break into the stronghold, the situation will surely be resolved soon."

Liu Chan established the Hall of Hundred Craftsmen in the Chang'an Palace, which was a great encouragement to the people of the Han Dynasty.

The gunpowder that was on the verge of a breakthrough achieved a technological breakthrough in just a few dozen days.

Many people died because of this, but the person who invented the thunder bomb was directly granted the title of marquis.

The lives of more than a dozen academy officials, plus the title of marquis of the Han Dynasty, and the direct evolution of gunpowder from the original very simple black powder to the thunder bomb.

That is the power that can explode.

of course
This power is not very effective for the gates of large cities, but it is very effective for the small gates of fortresses.

"The Sky-shaking Bombs can indeed reduce a lot of losses in attacking the strongholds, and can also speed up the attack, but the problem is that the number of Sky-shaking Bombs sent by the Academy of Sciences is not enough. There are forty or fifty strongholds on the Hongnong Defense Line. If we want to capture all of them, these Sky-shaking Bombs are definitely not enough."

Even if the Academy of Sciences worked at full capacity, the production of the thunder bomb would be extremely limited. In addition, they had to be supplied to several large armies, so naturally the amount each army received would be less.

Liao Hua snorted and said, "Then let's go find the Prime Minister and ask the Academy of Sciences to dispatch enough thunder bombs!"

The output of the Academy of Sciences is limited, so all we need to do is increase it!

Huang Quan shook his head.

He is closer to the center of power than Liao Hua, so naturally he knows more inside information.

"It's not that the Academy of Sciences can't speed up the production of thunder bombs in a short period of time. It's just that the spies of the Wei Kingdom's School Affairs Office have recently set their sights on thunder bombs. If we want to produce more thunder bombs, we have to recruit more people, and these recruits need to be carefully screened. If the people of the Wei Kingdom's School Affairs Office know the formula of thunder bombs, I'm afraid that it won't be long before the Wei army has thunder bombs in their hands."

Huang Quan sighed and said, "Prime Minister, you have your own difficulties."

Upon hearing this, Liao Hua naturally stopped talking.

"Attacking the strongholds is a must. The Wei army doesn't know how many thunder bombs we have. We can use thunder bombs to break through the first few strongholds, then release the Wei army in the strongholds and let them flee into other strongholds to spread fear. If the Wei army guarding the strongholds knew that we have such a powerful weapon, I'm afraid there would be room for persuasion. There is no need to use thunder bombs to attack every stronghold!"

Zhang Bao plays with psychology.

How to serve one table of food to two or even three tables of people, this is the skill of a commander.

"That's a good idea!"

Ma Zhong clapped his hands and smiled, saying: "If you want to attack, then take down Hebei City, and then attack the small forts along the way. When the guards of the other forts of the Wei army see this, they will definitely not dare to resist our Han army!"

The gate of Hebei City is made of wood, not iron, and can be broken by thunder bombs.

Now time is life.

Time is the key! If the Hongnong defense line can be broken, then the Hongnong County City behind will be vulnerable, and only the Hangu Pass behind will be a tough nut to crack.

Zhang Bao no longer hesitated.

Xiang Chong has already gained the support of the Hedong Liu family in Yanchi and has made a breakthrough.

His Zhang Bao's breakthrough must be greater than Xiang Chong's.

He immediately said:
"Let's prepare food at 5 a.m. today, and send out troops to capture Hebei City early tomorrow morning!"

The reputation of Thunder Bomb must be made famous with one shot!

Zhang Bao just wanted to make it look like this.

Even Hebei City couldn't withstand the thunderous bomb. Can the gates of your fortresses withstand the power of the thunderous bomb?
He wanted to scare the Wei troops guarding the camp!
Resistance leads to death, surrender is the only way out!
The next morning.

The sky was just beginning to turn pale, and in the hazy morning mist, the Han army had quietly gathered outside the city of Hebei.

Unlike conventional siege warfare, the Han army's array did not include large siege equipment. Instead, it had an elite vanguard of suicide squads.

Each of these warriors is an elite selected from the army. They wear heavy armor and hold sturdy shields. In their arms, they hold tightly the secret weapon of the Han army - the thunder bomb.

The leader of the death squad, a strong man with a full beard and sharp eyes, glanced at the soldiers behind him, each of whom had a firm and resolute look in his eyes.

"My men, if we can take over Hebei City, we will both be rich!"

This mission is of great importance and will directly determine the direction of the war.

These first warriors were promised generous rewards.

After finishing this job, I will never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of my life.

woohoo~
Following a low and firm command, the vanguard suicide squad rushed towards the gate of Hebei City like an arrow from a bow.

The Wei army on the city wall obviously did not expect such an attack. What they saw was a group of desperate Han soldiers, holding shields, approaching the city gate at a rapid speed.

"What are these Han troops doing?"

"Without ladders or battering rams, how did they break through the city?"

"Could it be that they are here to die?"

To the Wei army's astonishment, the Han army's vanguard suicide squad had already arrived at the city gate.

They quickly lit the fuse of the thunder bomb in their arms, and then retreated swiftly just before the explosion.

"Boom!" A deafening roar broke the tranquility of the early morning, like the wrath of heaven, and the explosive power of the thunderbolt was instantly apparent.

The city gate was blown into several pieces under the huge impact force, with rubble flying everywhere. The city gate was wide open, revealing the panicked Wei army in the city.

"Oh my goodness, what is this?"

"God's punishment, this is God's punishment!"

"Could it be that the Emperor of Han is the real Son of Heaven?"

The defenders of Hebei City on the city wall were in complete chaos.

The main force of the Han army outside the city had been waiting for this moment.

When they saw the city gate was blown open, Zhang Bao immediately launched a full-scale charge.

"Send out the entire army to attack and take Hebei in one battle!"

"Come on!"

"Kill!"

Tens of thousands of Han soldiers rushed towards the open city gate like a torrent. Their shouts, the sound of war drums, and the sound of iron hooves were like thunder, as if they were going to break through the sky.

The Wei army in the city seemed to be in a panic in the face of this sudden attack.

They tried to organize an effective defense, but it was too late.

The Han army poured into the city like a flood that broke through a dam.

The battle entered a white-hot stage. The Han soldiers fought bravely, while the Wei army tried to stabilize their position in panic.

But without the protection of the city gates, they were already in an extremely passive position.

As the battle continued, Hebei City was filled with swords and arrows raining down.

Although the Wei army fought bravely, they were gradually overwhelmed by the fierce attack of the Han army.

Finally, after fierce fighting, Hebei City was completely captured by the Han army.

On the top of the city wall, the Han army’s flag was flying high, announcing the victory of the battle.

The Wei troops in the city, whether surrendering or fleeing, were unable to change the situation.

In less than a day, Hebei City was captured. This is your Majesty's foresight, this is the strength of the Academy of Sciences, and this is the necessity of establishing the Hall of Hundred Craftsmen.

Today, I, Zhang Bao, will loudly say to you, the Kingdom of Wei:
Sir, times have changed!
PS: There are guests at home these two days, and we need to entertain them. We apologize for the inconvenience. (End of this chapter)