Wentang

Chapter 707 Bombarding Liaodong City

On May [-], Li Shimin led the army to Huaiyuan.

At this time, this small town has become the frontline base camp of the Tang Dynasty. There are more than one hundred thousand troops stationed here, hoarding the army's military supplies for a month.

Here Li Shimin met Li Ji, the general manager of the Liaodong Road Army, and discussed the follow-up battle plan together.

Li Ji first reported the situation: "The Goguryeo people had already taken precautions. They built a defense line that was more than a thousand miles long according to the terrain and the city."

"And they know that they are not my opponents in the Tang Dynasty. They simply refuse to fight in the field by adopting strong walls, clearing the fields and defending the city. We have to pay a lot of sacrifices every step forward. Our army suffered more than [-] casualties just by attacking Xincheng."

Li Shimin frowned tightly, even though he had known the news for a long time.But seeing it with my own eyes at the front line made me feel even more deeply, and said: "Xincheng is already a city with relatively poor defenses. Is it so hard to crack?"

Li Jidao: "The Goguryeo people's fighting spirit is high, and it is even more difficult than you and we imagined. They often fight until the last soldier."

Li Shimin said with emotion: "Goguryeo has been established for hundreds of years and the people still have people's hearts. It is human nature to fight to the death when facing the danger of destroying the country."

Having said this, he changed the subject and said fiercely: "Because of this, it is even more impossible to let it continue to exist. This battle will definitely destroy it."

Li Ji also looked excited, pointing to the map and said: "The two most important and strongest points of Goguryeo's defense line are Anshi City in front of us, and Mudi City behind Xincheng."

"If we can't take these two cities down, even if we pull out all the surrounding cities and strongholds, we won't be able to shake their roots."

"But as long as we can capture any one, we can open a gap in their defense. Goguryeo's heartland will be completely exposed to us, and I will slaughter it."

Yueshan was also looking at the map. From the map, people who saw Goguryeo connected Fuyu City, Xincheng City, Liaodong City, Anshi City, and Jian'an City together to form a line of defense similar to the Great Wall.

Just looking at the map, many people think that as long as they attack these cities, they can break through Goguryeo's defense line and attack their hinterland.

If you really think so, you will be fooled by the Goguryeo people.

This is only the first line of defense on the surface, used to delay the time and consume Datang's military strength.

If Datang is really distracted and pulls out this line of defense one by one, he will find that winter is coming, and you will not be able to retreat.

If their scheme really succeeds, Datang will be undefeated and defeated, and Goguryeo will win without victories.

The emperor personally marched, mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops, hundreds of thousands of civilians, and consumed incalculable supplies. As a result, only the outer cities of Goguryeo were captured.

It is a victory tactically, but a failure strategically, and it will also deal a blow to the confidence of the army and the people.Datang is thinking of setting off a second large-scale attack, and it will take at least two or three years.

With these two or three years, Goguryeo has room to maneuver.

However, there are many capable people in the Tang Dynasty, and this kind of strategy can be easily seen through.

The real line of defense of the Goguryeo people was Anshi City and Mudi City, which were built according to the terrain. As long as these two cities were there, the Tang army would not be able to drive straight in.

However, seeing through it doesn't mean it can be solved. This is a conspiracy and they didn't plan to hide it from others.My city is right here, you can attack it at will.

Of course, there is another way to cross these two cities, and that is to take the risk of sending a partial teacher to copy the path and cross the natural danger to sneak attack the rear.

But to be honest, this kind of strategy is equivalent to giving away the head.

Maybe your partial division can cause great losses to the Goguryeo people, but without backup and logistics, this partial division will be wiped out soon.

So all the difficulties lie in Mudi City and Anshi City.

Seeing Yue Shan's pensive look, Li Shimin and Li Ji stopped talking and looked at him together. After all, he once said that Goguryeo would be destroyed in a month.

"Does Marquis Yue have a good strategy to defeat the enemy?" Li Ji asked.

Yue Shan didn't answer directly, but shifted his gaze to the southeast of Goguryeo, and asked, "Do you have any information about Manager Cheng and Liu Rengui?"

Li Ji talked about the latest military situation: "General Cheng is stumbling over Jili City and Shicheng City. I am afraid that it will be difficult to make a breakthrough for a while. Although General Liu captured Kaicheng City, there are changes in Baekje, and he also got stuck there."

Yue Shan asked in surprise, "Baekje really has the guts to do something?"

Li Jidao: "This is where the king of Baekje is clever. He just gathered a large army and then stood still, but we had to guard against it."

Yue Shan said clearly: "That means we can only break the deadlock by ourselves, right?"

Li Ji said: "Exactly, if we can't break through any of Anshi City and Mudi City before the fall, this war..."

He didn't say the latter words, but everyone understood the meaning.

At this time Li Shimin said: "Didn't you say that there is a way to destroy Goguryeo in a month? Quickly come up with your way."

Yue Shan said with a smile: "My method is very simple. I smashed their tortoise shells openly. But before attacking Anshi City, I have to pull out the nail of Liaodong City first."

Liaodong City is right in front of the Datang Huaiyuan camp, if you don't pull it out, you will be in danger.

Li Ji smiled and said: "Heroes see the same thing. I also think that Liaodong City should be pulled out first. But the Goguryeo people understood this. They put tens of thousands of troops in this city, and stocked up enough food and grass to feed the whole city for half a year in advance." , it is very difficult to win it.”

"It's good that it's difficult, so it's challenging. I also need a target to try out my tactics, and it's suitable for me to practice with." Yue Shan said.

"Yue Hou has a solution? But this is the first city, we can't have too many casualties, otherwise even if we take it, it will dampen morale and be detrimental to the follow-up operations." Li Ji was afraid that he would waste his life, so he quickly reminded road.

Yue Shan chuckled and said, "Don't worry, my lord, whether my plan works or not, the casualties will not exceed a thousand."

Li Ji frowned, and said: "Then Li will wait and see."

The other generals who are working also have different expressions, some believe, some do not believe, some are half-believing, but generally speaking, there are more people looking forward to it.

No way, Yue Shan is also famous.The founder of the military academy, the creator of Wanqi, the creator of the new military training method...Everyone innately thinks that he understands the military method, so I can finally see him this time, so I am naturally looking forward to it.

Yue Shan asked Li Shimin for orders: "Saint, please allow me to attack Liaodong City tomorrow."

Li Shimin knew Yue Shan's tactics, and they had discussed it many times before.But this tactic has never been used in actual combat, and he doesn't know the specific effect, and he is looking forward to it.

After all, if it is really as useful as Yue Shan said, Mudi City, Anshi City, is nothing to worry about, and it may not even take a month to destroy Goguryeo.

Now that it's finally time for verification, he will naturally not refuse, and solemnly said: "Okay, I'm sure."

Yue Shan, who received the military order, made a mission assignment on the spot.

Wan Qi stood guard around and attacked the Goguryeo people who came to help.As for the retreat of those who blocked Liaodong City... there was no need to consider this at all.

Liaodong City is an isolated city, used to delay the consumption of Tang troops.The guards of Liaodong City had already blocked all the gates of the city. Either they persisted until the end, or the city was broken and everyone became prisoners together. There was no option to escape.

So Wanqi just needs to be optimistic about his surroundings so that he will not be attacked by the Goguryeo people.

The reason why Wan Qi was assigned to guard the mission was that Yue Shan was most familiar with this army;

The main force for attacking the city is still the army, but Yue Shan doesn't have to worry about this.Datang has surrounded Liaodong City in groups, and tomorrow as long as the time comes, they can directly order the attack on the city.

The second order is for those who go to the camp first, let them gather the whole army and follow the orders to go to the city tomorrow.

The fourth and most important order was for Han Dong.

"General Han, the glory of the Shenwei Army depends on tomorrow's battle."

Han Dong said excitedly: "Please rest assured Yue Hou, the final general will never disappoint the saint and your expectations."

Yue Shan said: "Okay, with this statement, I am more confident in tomorrow's battle. Remember, [-]% solid ammunition, [-]% cracked ammunition, the amount of ammunition should be sufficient for two hours of bombing."

Han Dong took the order solemnly and said: "Here, the last general is going to prepare."

After speaking, he saluted Li Shimin and Li Ji and left.

Now everyone knew that Yueshan was planning to attack Liaodong City with the Shenwei Army as the main force, and they all started discussing it.

The Shenwei Army and the others naturally knew that the most mysterious and rumored most powerful army in the Tang Dynasty was directly under the emperor's management, and even the Privy Council had no right to intervene.

Everyone only knows that they hold the artifact artillery, but the specific combat effectiveness is not very clear.

Although artillery played a vital role in the battle to capture Xieli alive, most people never saw it with their own eyes.Hearsay is naturally less shocking, and some people are even skeptical.

This time I can finally see the power of the legendary artillery, so I am naturally curious.

Li Ji also has expectations. He only knows that artillery is very powerful in field battles. Could it be useful to siege a city?

At the end of the meeting, everyone dispersed, only Su Dingfang, Xi Junmai, Jing Hengyan and others came to visit.Yue Shan talked with them and let them go back to camp.

In wartime, emergencies may arise at any time, and as chief generals, they cannot leave their posts without authorization.Even if Li Shimin hadn't held a meeting of senior generals today, they wouldn't have had the chance to meet.

The next day, except for those who had a mission, all the senior generals in the front line of the Tang Dynasty came to Liaodong City, ready to see how Yueshan attacked the city, or to see the power of the artillery in the siege battle.

Feeling the chilling atmosphere of the battlefield, Yue Shan's mood became much heavier.

Waiting until Han Dong in the rear sent back the news that everything was ready, Yue Shan symbolically informed Li Shimin, and said to the messenger:

"Pass down our military order that the Shenwei Army's [-] cannons will fire ten bursts of live ammunition, targeting the city towers, archery towers, and parapets of Liaodong City."

The messengers rushed to the artillery position immediately to convey the military order.

It didn't take long for a cannon to sound, and then a puff of smoke appeared on the wall of Liaodong City.

Seeing that many people didn't understand, Yue Shan explained: "The first shell is testing the distance, adjust the muzzle."

Everyone showed a look of sudden realization.

After a while, there was another cannonball, and this shell accurately landed on the top of the tower, smashing a corner of the towering tower to pieces.

"Okay." Everyone couldn't help applauding.

Yue Shan also couldn't help nodding his head. Without an aiming instrument, he could find the right angle with two test shots. It can be seen that the Shenwei Army has not been idle all these years.

He reminded again: "Everyone, be careful, you must open your mouth later, otherwise your ears will be blasted by the sound of the cannon and you will become deaf."

Although everyone was puzzled, they opened their mouths slightly obediently.

Soon the Shenwei Army proved with facts why they were asked to open their mouths.

A deafening roar came from behind, and the earth trembled.

Even though Yue Shan had reminded them that they were mentally prepared, several people were so frightened that their legs gave way, and they would have made a fool of themselves on the spot if they hadn't been supported by the people around them.

At this time, the city of Liaodong became dilapidated almost in the blink of an eye, and the screams could be heard clearly from miles away.

"Boom boom boom..."

When the gunfire stopped, everyone was shocked to find that the majestic and majestic city had become dilapidated.In particular, several city towers and arrow towers basically collapsed.

Li Shimin stood up directly from his chair, and kept observing the situation at the top of the city with a telescope.

It can't be seen with the naked eye, but the binoculars can clearly see that the city has turned into a purgatory on earth.

There were stumped limbs and broken arms everywhere, and it was shocking whether it was blood or meat sauce, and many people who were not completely dead were wriggling and howling.Those who were lucky enough not to be hit by the shells fled like bereaved dogs.

Yue Shan suppressed the nausea in his heart, and issued the second order: "Thousands of cannons fire in salvo, ten bursts of solid bullets, the target remains the same."

Not long after, more intense roars sounded one after another, which lasted for half an hour.

In just half an hour, the city of Liaodong completely changed its appearance - it was about a foot shorter than before.

Cannons are so powerful?Yue Shan was also very surprised.

But soon he discovered the reason, it wasn't that the top of the city was flattened, but that the female wall was smashed down.Does this conform to his cognition?

This kind of solid bullet has strong destructive power against bunkers such as female walls and city towers, but its power against solid city walls can only be said to be average.If you really want to flatten the top of the city, you need a bomb made of explosives.

But even so, it was very shocking.

Everyone couldn't help opening their mouths wide, staring blankly at the masterpiece of the artillery.He shouted desperately in his heart, is this the legendary artifact artillery?It's too... It can't be described in words.

Yue Shan was also looking at the top of the city with binoculars, and when he found no one alive, he was about to issue a third order: "Pass my military order, five hundred cannons will open and fire, target the city..."

Before the order was finished, Li Shimin on the side said quietly: "Persuade to surrender."

"Well, what?" Yue Shan didn't hear clearly and asked.

"Don't waste shells, let someone persuade you to surrender." Li Shimin repeated.

His expression was very complicated, with excitement, hesitation, and sadness... If Yue Shan didn't know him very well, he would think he was wrong.

"Uh, okay." Yue Shan didn't understand what happened to Li Shimin, but he didn't intend to resist.It's just a matter of sending someone to shout a few times, and nothing will be delayed.

So the order was changed to let the first person to go to the camp to persuade them to surrender.

As soon as his order was issued, Changsun Wuji, Ma Zhou and others bowed deeply to Li Shimin and said: "The sage is kind, and I would like to have pity on the people of the enemy's country, and I will respect you."

"Alas." Normally Li Shimin would have been very proud, but this time he just let out a long sigh, waved his hands and didn't say much.

But at this time, Yue Shan also understood what Li Shimin meant.

In previous wars, swords were used, and it took time to kill people.Take the siege in front of us as an example, tens of thousands of people attacked for two or three days, and at most thousands of people were killed or injured.

But now, in less than an hour, the thousands of defenders on the top of the city have been reduced to meat.

Although the people who died were from Goguryeo, things hurt other people.

It was the first time to witness the efficiency of hot weapons to kill the same kind with their own eyes, and everyone was frightened.

But Yue knew that their "kindness" could only exist for a short while, and they could only be excited when they got used to the power of the cannon.

It didn't take long for the persuading personnel to shout, and a white flag was raised over the city of Liaodong.Then a hanging basket was lowered with an emissary inside.

The messenger brought a message that Liaodong City was willing to surrender.

(End of this chapter)