Chapter 3428 Prepare with both hands
The moment the Goguryeo cavalry suddenly burst out of the snow, dense war drums sounded at the top of Pingrang City. The drums rumbled, pushing the atmosphere of the war to its peak in an instant!
Looking down from the top of the city, the north wind is raging and the blood flowers are dancing. Countless Goguryeo cavalry are rushing in like a tide, filling the sky and the fields, endless. When they entered the place where they could shoot an arrow, the Tang troops guarding the city wall fired crossbows and arrows at the top of the city. The enemy troops at the front were hit by arrows and fell down one after another, tripping up their companions in front and behind them. The charge formation was instantly chaotic. .
However, the Goguryeo people were able to gradually migrate southward from the ice-covered Far East and then conquer this land in Liaodong, relying on their brave and fearless character and their proficiency with bows and horses. At this moment, the forward formation was in chaos, but the soldiers behind did not panic. They either raised the reins and rode their horses to jump over their companions at the bottom, or pulled the reins to control the horses to go around on both sides, and soon rushed to the bottom of the city despite a rain of locust arrows. .
When the cavalry who rushed to the city turned over and dismounted, infantry carrying ladders and other siege equipment were already running from behind. The cavalry ignored the rain of arrows above their heads, ignored the casualties of themselves and their horses, erected the ladder, and climbed up brazenly. climb.
Every Goguryeo soldier knows that the royal city has fallen and that the king is in danger. If the royal city cannot be captured at this moment, then Goguryeo will be completely destroyed and will be annihilated.
These 50,000 to 60,000 cavalry are worthy of being the elite of Goguryeo. They were the ones who fought bloody battles at the top of the city to block the Tang army's tidal offensive, trying to keep Pingrang City intact. Unexpectedly, they were ordered to go north to pursue the Tang army, but in the blink of an eye, a naval force stole their home and blew up the tower. Naturally, they were both aggrieved and angry. This time they rushed back through the starry night, but in the end it was still a step too late, and even the palace had fallen.
The general, Eulji Jizu, was sitting on a horse with a spear in his hand and wearing heavy armor. His horse was already covered with snow and ice. He raised his head and looked at the Pingrang City in the wind and snow in front of him, watching the raging fire above and below the city. During the war, there was not much sadness in my heart, only infinite emotion.
The "Eulchi" family was actually not from Fuyu, the main body of Goguryeo, but from Xianbei in the north. Their original surname was "Yuchi" and they also served as military attaches during the Northern Wei Dynasty. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the world was at war, and our ancestors were defeated and persecuted, so they had to flee to Goguryeo with their families. Goguryeo has always had the habit of re-employing exiled Han officials, so they were able to join the army. Later, they made many military exploits and became a prominent martial arts family in the Goguryeo army.
His father, Eulji Mundeok, defeated the Sui army in the Sasu River outside Pyongrang City during the Sui Dynasty's Eastern Expedition, which shocked Goguryeo and was regarded as the "God of Military" by Goguryeo.
It's a pity that his father Eulji Mundeok was killed by the Tang army in the battle of Ansi City.
Hatred?
In fact, it cannot be said that the two countries are fighting for their own masters. It is not a personal grudge. There is no complaint about who lives and who dies. Moreover, even though the Eulji family has lived in Goguryeo for several generations, they do not have much sense of belonging to Goguryeo. Their ancestors were military attachés in the Northern Wei Dynasty. At that time, the living habits of the Xianbei people had gradually moved closer to those of the Han people. Therefore, the ancestors of the Eulji family were also literate and familiar with Chinese classics. The customs and classics of the Han family were passed down from generation to generation. , the children write Chinese characters, speak Chinese, read Chinese books, and are both civilized and military.
The most splendid civilization in the world, once you penetrate into it and appreciate its unparalleled charm, it will be difficult to identify with other cultures.
Therefore, Eulji Jizu never thought of himself as a Goguryeo. At most, he considered himself a Han Chinese in exile. This time he sent his troops to counterattack Pingrang City, which was the last effort he devoted as a minister. If he could capture Pingrang City and annihilate this navy, he would naturally be regarded as a hero of the restoration of Goguryeo; if he could not conquer the city, then he would Find your own way.
Either take these soldiers south or flee towards the Far East, with such strength that you can choose a place to occupy the mountain and become the king; or simply abandon your armor and surrender.
It would not be bad if he could return to the Han Dynasty where his ancestors had been wandering for a long time and become a minister of the Tang Dynasty...
So this time he counterattacked Pingrang City, he had no ambition to win. It didn't matter whether he could defeat it or not. There was always one or more retreats waiting there, and he could take them however he wanted.
There were bloody battles ahead of the city, but he felt very relaxed. But he also understood that there were still two Tang Army cavalry behind him that had been chasing him since he returned south to counterattack Pingrang City. If he hadn't stopped and rested all the way, he might have already engaged in battle.
At this moment, the two Tang armies will inevitably arrive one after another, leaving little time for them to attack the city. It can only take an hour at most. If they win, they can rush into the city and see the Tang army's navy destroy them and occupy the city. If they lose, they must withdraw their troops and stay away from peace. Rangcheng, and then made a decision, whether to lead the army away from Zhanshan and become king, or to surrender and submit to the Tang Dynasty.
He had already made preparations, he could advance, attack, retreat or defend, and he thought he was absolutely foolproof.
……
How could the soldiers of Goguryeo have the thoughts of Eulji's successor? They traveled hundreds of thousands of miles under the stars and night to return. Naturally, they wanted to conquer the city in one fell swoop, annihilate the Tang army, and then defend Goguryeo. Therefore, they went all out as soon as they came up, regardless of casualties, and attacked the city crazily.
Because the Tang army's previous process of conquering Pingrang City had already been passed on to the army through scouts, some quick-thinking generals and lieutenants led their troops straight to the west gate. They thought, since the west city gate had been blown down by gunpowder and could not be repaired in this cold weather, and since the Tang army could attack Pingrang City from here, why can't we follow suit and take this route?
However, when they finally arrived outside the west city gate despite the crossbows and arrows of the Tang army at the top of the city, the scene in front of them stunned these Goguryeo soldiers...
Under the light of the lights, an "Ice City" rose from the ground. Not only did it tightly block the collapsed city gate, it even connected with the city walls on both sides. It shimmered like a celestial palace.
Seeing that the "city wall" is taller than the ordinary city gate, and is straight and steep and full of solid ice, even a monkey can't climb it, right?
The ladder is not long enough...
……
Behind Eulji Jizu, Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo each led a cavalry and followed them leisurely.
The enemy troops numbered tens of thousands, all of whom were elite Goguryeo troops. The two sides had fought several times since their retreat to the north. Each had its own victory or defeat, and they were quite wary of each other. Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo did not dare to pursue too closely. If the Goguryeo cavalry suddenly turned back and the two sides got into a melee, they would suffer a big loss.
Fortunately, the enemy's purpose is to return to Pingrang City, and they only need to stay firmly behind it. After arriving at Pingrang City, no matter whether the navy captures the city or not, the enemy's cavalry will be attracted to attack. Taking advantage of the situation to cover up the attack, and attacking from inside and outside with the navy, we can definitely defeat the enemy in one fell swoop.
When they arrived two hundred miles north of Pyongjang City, they learned that Eulji Jizu had led his army to attack the city.
At the same time, they also received the message from the scouts sent by the Navy that Pingrang City had been destroyed, the palace was captured, and Yeon Gaesumun committed suicide in desperation.
Goguryeo fell...
Xue Wanche and Ashina Simo gathered together and looked at the good news delivered by the scouts. They clicked their tongues in unison and looked at each other speechlessly.
So damn envious and jealous...
This is the work of destroying the country! As a military general, even when the Tang Dynasty was at its peak, how many opportunities would he have to destroy the country in his lifetime? Su Dingfang's crime of disobeying General Li Ji's order is still under discussion. After all, the Navy is not affiliated with the Tang Dynasty military. Strictly speaking, it is His Majesty's private army. No one except His Majesty can reward or punish him.
To take a step back, even if he is guilty, what kind of crime cannot be written off for such a huge achievement?
If such meritorious deeds were placed on any general in the Eastern Expedition Army, the title of a Duke would never be lost after the war, and his descendants would reap the benefits for three generations. Even for the rejected navy, Su Dingfang could be granted a title with this attack, otherwise it would be unjustifiable.
Xue Wanche sighed, handed the good news to the navy scout, and said: "Immediately go north and report this news to the British public. General Ashina and I immediately ordered our troops and horses, took the retreat of the Goguryeo cavalry, and entered the city. The navy is attacking from both inside and outside, and it’s up to us to fight.”
"Here!"
The navy scout breathed a sigh of relief. He was most afraid that Xue Wanche would be jealous of the navy's achievements, and would not go all out, deliberately procrastinating and leaving the navy's only son to face a powerful enemy. Now with Xue Wanche's guarantee, he immediately rode north to catch up with the Tang army.
When the scouts walked away, Ashina Simo coughed dryly and said in a low voice: "General Xue, the enemy troops have returned to Pingrang City to support them, and they are eager to return. The morale of the siege of the city must be high at this moment, or we can wait a little longer. Wait until the enemy's morale is reduced before making a surprise attack..." (End of Chapter)