Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 269 Xu You: I will act according to circumstances

On October 13, 127 catapults from the outskirts of Dian County threw stones into the city day and night.

No one in the city dared to walk on the streets. Officials and soldiers walked close to the houses for fear that they would be suddenly struck by rocks falling from the sky and be smashed to pieces, with flesh and blood flying everywhere.

The Qingzhou army stood on a watchtower that was higher than the city wall. They calculated the distance just right and shot down Yuan soldiers behind the parapets with rockets and crossbows. Killing them was as easy as mowing grass, and they almost made them cry for their parents.

During the seven or eight days of defending the city, the enemy always came up with new tricks, which made Yuan's army just adapt to the offensive, but they were caught off guard the next day. It was like thunder and wind, and the situation was unpredictable.

The Yuan soldiers in Du County seemed to have become a testing ground for siege warfare, and all kinds of siege equipment and methods of the Qingzhou Army were tested here.

Xu You, Gao Gan and others were also extremely anxious and exhausted, running around in a desperate situation. Even with Xu You's wide knowledge, he had never seen so many ways of siege and so many devices.

In addition to digging underground, they even built a mound of earth in the south of the city and slowly filled it up, which made Yuan's army exhausted both physically and mentally. They were on edge day and night, fearing that the city wall would suddenly collapse at night and the enemy would take advantage of the situation to rush in, so that they were awakened by the fear every night.

Not only did the soldiers become completely indifferent to the reward money, food, silk, gold and jade items, even Xu You secretly had the idea of ​​surrendering the city.

This city could not be defended. Just like in the Battle of Changping, the Zhao army, surrounded by the Qin army, had long lost their morale.

The enemy put pressure on the city and harassed it day and night. Zhu Ling's troops in Ling County were completely wiped out. Even Zhu Wenbo himself did not escape and was killed in the chaos.

Benchu ​​didn't know whether he had received the letter or not, but Du County was just one step away from being breached.

Mencius said: "A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall."

Xu Ziyuan should have made plans early.

Xu You said in his heart.

He just looked at Gao Gan, who was directing military operations with a gloomy face because he had not rested well all night, and his eyes were red, looking like he was ready to fight.

Xu You wanted to say something, but when the words came to his lips, he was intimidated by Gao Yuancai's aura. He was afraid that if his words wavered, he would let Gao Gan draw his sword and kill him, and use his head to boost his fighting spirit.

After hesitating for a moment, Xu You decided to suppress his turbulent emotions and wait for a few more days. If reinforcements did not arrive, he would sneak out of the city and surrender. He thought that considering his friendship with Chenliu Prefect Zhang Mengzhuo and Liu Xuande's kindness, he would not kill the surrendered soldiers.

The people in Du County were in turmoil, while Liu Bei and Guo Jia stood on the slope, shielding their eyes from the glaring sunlight with their hands, and looking out at the Qingzhou army taking turns to attack the city with great momentum.

Even in a siege battle where victory was certain, each military camp was divided into left and right sides, forming a battle formation to be on guard against the main force of Yuan's army that might arrive at any time.

The scouts and the light cavalry of the Huben cavalry stayed within a range of fifteen miles, never giving the enemy cavalry a chance to launch a surprise attack.

Guo Jia leaned forward and stared for a long time, then he retracted his gaze and scratched the hair on his temples. The living conditions during the expedition camp were poor, and he sweated a lot every day. He only took a bath once every ten days or so, so it would be strange if he didn't feel itchy all over.

Scratching his back again, Guo Jia cleared his throat and said, "Your Excellency's tactics are so surprising and your moves are so accurate that the enemy will surrender wherever you attack."

Seeing the envoy frowning slightly while observing the battle formation, although he was very puzzled, Guo Jia still told the truth that the enemy defending Du County was no longer a threat.

In fact, he was also very curious. Lord Xuande attached great importance to the use of equipment, armor, and military equipment.

In his spare time, he often called together craftsmen to study and discuss how to improve the use of equipment, from siege vehicles, ladders and wooden bridges to armor and ironware, and even horse gear. Not only did he improve the saddle, he also added horse nails, and put heavy armor on the strong and sturdy horses, so that the cavalry could advance without retreating, and would not turn back, and would strike the enemy's flanks.

This time, double stirrups were added, which not only brought out the advantages of horse archery, but also made it difficult for the cavalry to fall off the horse during frontal charges and close combat, so as not to be trampled by the hooves of the horses behind.

In addition to military affairs, agricultural affairs also involved the manufacture of water wheels for irrigation and iron tools for plowing the fields, which were distributed by government officials to every household in order to make farming more convenient.

In order to motivate the craftsmen, they were even divided into different grades, with the best ones receiving monthly rewards, salaries and fine silk fabrics.

What the superior likes, the subordinates will like even more. Emperor Xiaoling employed craftsmen only for entertainment, while Duke Xuande used craftsmen for military and agricultural affairs.

It is said that oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are oranges, while those grown in the north of the Huai River are tangerines. Although the leaves are similar, the tastes are actually different.

But it was really fun to go on an expedition with the envoy. Over the years, Guo Fengxiao offered suggestions and advice, and Lord Xuande was able to implement them, defeating the enemy so badly that they fled in panic, leaving their weapons and armor unarmed.

Apart from Envoy Liu, there is probably no other wise leader in the world who can share the same mind as him.

Guo Jia couldn't help but sigh secretly.

Liu Bei turned around and chuckled, saying, "In all things, sharp tools should be used first. Ancient sages built nests with wood to avoid poisonous insects, and drilled flint to make fire to remove the stench of fish. These are all sharp tools. How can officials look down on craftsmen? Many of the world's evils are nothing more than the wrong use of people."

Then, Liu Bei raised his whip and pointed at the city wall, saying with a smile: "If Yuan Shikai was like me, valuing craftsmen and benefiting the common people and soldiers, the soldiers would not have been beaten by me and fled in panic even though they were defending the city."

"I saw that Yuan's soldiers had not slept all night, so they were in a panic and acted in a disorderly manner. They were also confused when putting out the fire. It is obvious that they have been distracted for a long time. Even if there are sufficient food and grass in the city, chaos will break out within a few days."

Having said that, Liu Bei couldn't help but shook his head.

"What worries me now is that the bait is gone. Will Yuan Benchu ​​come as scheduled?"

This was the place for the decisive battle that he carefully selected for Yuan Shao. The Huan River flowed hundreds of miles to the north. Although food and supplies could be conveniently transported by the river, in addition to Yu County, there were only four counties left in Ganling to the south of the Huan River: Yimu, Dongwucheng, Ganling, and Beiqiu.

If Yuan's army was defeated, to the northwest was the Huan River, to the southwest was Jieqiao, to the south was Dongjun, to the northeast was Ge County, and further east was the Yellow River.

If Yuan Shao dared to force a crossing of the Huan River while being pursued, and the defeated soldiers pushed and shoved to seize the pontoon bridge to escape, countless men and horses would have died.

It would have been even better if Yuan's soldiers had not fled but instead defended the city.

At present, tens of thousands of troops are taking turns to practice siege. Even the auxiliary soldiers and craftsmen in the entire army have accumulated a lot of experience, which is just enough for them to surround and attack several cities.

After hearing this, Guo Jia couldn't help but joked: "Yuan Benchu ​​rose to power because of the Battle of Jie Bridge. Could it be that Jie Bridge will also be his burial place?"

Liu Bei also smiled and replied: "This is beyond my ability to predict. It is probably God's will. Perhaps this can avenge Gongsun Bogui's shame at Jieqiao."

The two men rode their horses back to the camp while chatting and laughing, but what Liu Bei did not expect was that the sound of soldiers shouting and killing was heard in Du County that night.

Even the Han soldiers under his command were alarmed, thinking that the enemy had brazenly rushed out of the city.

(End of this chapter)