My younger brother Zhuge Liang

Chapter 401: Breaking the City with One Drum

"Soldiers! Today's battle is a once-in-a-lifetime God-given opportunity! The main force of Cao's army has been tricked and transferred to Huaibei! Huainan is empty, and only two-tenths of the troops remain!
Killing one thief today is worth killing three thieves in the future! Conquering one city today is worth conquering three cities in the future! Making a contribution today is worth three times the contribution you would make in normal times!
I, Wei Yan, never lied. The Lord has approved it. Anyone who makes a gain today will be awarded three times the amount of merit! The same applies to rewards and pensions!
How many times in a lifetime will there be such an opportunity to kill fewer people and gain more profit? If not now to make achievements, when will you make achievements? "

As Liu Bei's siege troops formed up in the east of Anfeng County, Wei Yan also carried out the final pre-war mobilization.

He did not play tricks, but directly lured people with benefits and convinced them with reason, making everyone fully realize that today was a godsend opportunity to kill the enemy and gain merit.

The western part of Huainan is empty, just like breaking a bamboo. The first few sections may be a bit of a hindrance, but as long as you can get through it, the subsequent problems can be easily solved.

After taking Anfeng City, it would be easier to attack Liaoxian, Yiyang and other places where the troops are more scarce and there are fewer strategic locations to defend.

Wei Yan's call did have an effect. Thousands of elite soldiers waved their weapons and shouted in unison:

"Wan Sheng! Wan Sheng! Wan Sheng!"

"Kill the enemy and serve the country! Today!"

"You will be rewarded for your meritorious service! Today!"

While the heavy infantrymen in steel-filled lamellar armor shouted in unison, the siege soldiers and crossbowmen in half armor or carrying large shields were also busy. While the enemy was stunned and confused, they pushed four siege carts and struggled to move towards the moat.

Seven or eight catapults were also deployed to the firing positions.

The range of the catapults was slightly longer than that of the crossbowmen on the lintel, so there was no need to deploy them too far forward. Wei Yan placed half of the catapults a hundred steps away, and the remaining half seventy or eighty steps away from the city wall, but they were all equipped with thick shields to block arrows.

The four trebuchets were placed very close together to hurl stone bags, forming a rain of stones to cover the top of the city and kill the enemy's manpower, rather than using large stones to destroy the city wall. Small stones are affected by air resistance and slow down more seriously, so they are not easy to reach far, so they must be thrown closer.

Those well-lane carts were also slowly pushed to a position thirty or forty steps away from the moat. Considering that the river was more than ten steps wide and there were still twenty steps to the base of the city wall after crossing the river, in total, the well-lane carts were eighty steps away from the base of the city wall, which was just enough to suppress the archers on the wall from a high position.

As these siege weapons were pushed forward, Cao's army was of course desperately using bows and crossbows to resist.

But Wei Yan's siege vehicles were designed and built by Zhuge Liang himself, and the guardrails and arrow shields were very tight. Arrows stuck in the wooden boards and became useless, and all the soldiers pushing the carts were well protected.

In order to prevent the center of gravity from being unstable when pushing, and also to reduce the weight and make pushing faster and easier, there was no one on the top of the well when pushing. After it was pushed into place, the sharpshooters carefully selected from the army went up the tower one after another.

The stairs of the well were also hung, and there were wooden boards outside to block arrows, so Cao's army could not shoot the soldiers who were climbing the ladder. This continuous useless work really hit the morale of Cao's army.

However, Cao's army knew that they were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of the number of troops, and did not dare to send death squads out of the city to destroy the siege weapons. They had already lowered the gates of the city gates and even destroyed the suspension bridge of the moat, completely giving up the possibility of crossing the river.

This defensive posture naturally put them in a passive state of being beaten unilaterally.

Wei Yan was in no hurry at all. He just let Cao's army feel the increasingly desperate atmosphere as they were gradually covered by denser rain of gravel and arrows.

"Release! Take your time, aim and shoot, and shoot at Cao's archers and officers!"

On the chariots, Wei Yan's several garrison commanders who commanded the archers, each in charge of a chariot, were slowly and methodically carrying out the command of accurate shooting. There were not many people that could stand on the chariots, and the four chariots combined only had a few dozen archers, definitely not more than a hundred.

With this firepower density, if we continue to shoot randomly and suppress blindly, the effect will be too poor. Moreover, it is not easy to transport arrows to high places, so it is better to shoot accurately and aim.

This depressing atmosphere of accurately shooting and killing several Cao army archers every once in a while made Cao army dare not show their heads at all. Gradually, the defenders also hid behind the battlements and shot from the side, which greatly reduced the pressure on the soldiers who were preparing to build trench bridges under the city.

The only counterattack threat that Cao's army posed to the chariots with wells was to use three-bow crossbows to shoot at the chariot bed, hoping that the iron arrows of the three-bow crossbows would pierce the wooden boards and kill the soldiers in the chariot bed.

Unfortunately, Anfeng was a small county, and there were very few crossbows in normal times, and almost no catapults for defending the city, so they had to make them on the spot. The craftsmen in the city were not necessarily professional, and many knowledgeable craftsmen were taken away by Cai Yang, Qin Qi and others.

This stretched defense was quickly suppressed by Wei Yan, allowing him to safely build the trench bridge.

Once the trench bridge was built, Wei Yan was not in a hurry to let the soldiers carrying ladders or pushing light ladders rush in. Instead, he let a group of soldiers holding large rattan shields, carrying earth and shovels cross the river first.

After crossing the river, the soldiers immediately and methodically built a row of shield walls on the other side of the moat to protect the bridgehead. Then they turned around and shoveled soil to cover the head of the trench bridge, which was originally just relying on gravity to rest on the river bank, to ensure stability.

This move was also what Zhuge Liang advised him before the battle.

If you only use simple flying ladders to attack the city, the ladders and the soldiers carrying them are very light, so such details are unimportant.

However, if you want to push a light wheeled ladder across the river, it is easy to cause the other end to be lifted up by the lever and even slide into the river the moment the ladder reaches the bridge, because one end of the bridge vehicle is under too much pressure and the geology on the riverside is soft. If the soil sinks and there are large rocks in the soil,

Others might not pay attention to such details, and would make mistakes on the battlefield. However, Zhuge Liang was cautious throughout his life, and he had a good foundation in science and engineering. An engineering project with Zhuge Liang as an advisor would never leave such loopholes.

Everything was stable and there was no chance left for Cao's army.

The unknown general of Cao's army defending the city just watched Wei Yan's troops build bridges in an orderly manner and carry or push the equipment across the river according to the importance of the equipment. The discipline was really frightening.

After all, after crossing the river, a normal army would rush directly to the base of the city wall, thinking of setting up the flying ladder as soon as possible. How many generals could restrain their soldiers and let them stand still with rattan shields and support their comrades behind them after crossing the river?

That was a dangerous position only 20 steps away from the city wall. The longer you squatted, the greater the risk of losing your life. Being able to stand still in such a position for a long time without advancing or retreating, even with heavy armor and rattan shields, was a very remarkable psychological quality.

Who knows if there is a strong man on the top of the city who can throw a stone twenty steps away and hit the rattan shield? Who knows if there is a crossbowman targeting you?

As the ladders were set up, groups of armored soldiers began to climb, carrying swords and shields.

Wei Yan arranged a team of soldiers for each flying ladder, about thirty or forty people. The first five used short weapons and shields to clear the way, then ten horse-cutting swordsmen came in, and then long weapons were arranged at the back.

Dozens of flying ladders were distributed on a front several hundred steps wide. At every moment, hundreds of soldiers under Wei Yan were climbing up hard, sharing the defensive firepower of Cao's army.

Because they could not use the Ge Gongche, the soldiers who climbed up lacked cover and relied on armor and shields to greatly reduce the damage of Cao's arrows. However, the blunt force of rolling logs and stones was impossible to defend against, and the soldiers who were hit still fell down the ladder screaming.

Those who were hit by rocks would be disabled if not killed, and those who were hit by wood would at least be injured from falling.

The best luck would be to raise the shield to cushion the impact. Once the shield is hit by a stone, most people would have to abandon the shield to relieve the force. If a second stone hits you, it would be very dangerous. The only way to save your life at this time is to rush as fast as possible. Don't get hit by two rounds of stones while climbing the ladder. You must use the little time gained by abandoning the shield to rush up quickly.

When two meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins! Only the one who rushes fast can survive!
With a series of muffled "bang! bang!" sounds, soon more than a hundred armored soldiers were knocked down by rolling logs and rocks, wailing at the foot of the wall.

But Wei Yan knew that he must not show mercy at this time. At the beginning, before the flying ladder formation was fully deployed, the enemy's defensive firepower was relatively dense. Frequent casualties were inevitable.

He gritted his teeth and sent orders to the garrison commanders on the four carriages, asking the sharpshooters to adjust their targets and stop shooting at the Cao army's archers, but to shift their firepower toward the Cao soldiers who were throwing logs and rocks.

At the same time, he also took the risk of issuing a somewhat dangerous order: "Tell those catapults that are throwing stone bags not to stop! Smash the wall sections that Cao's soldiers are throwing the most rocks at! Smash where Cao's soldiers are throwing the most rocks!"

The officer in charge of the catapults was horrified: "Sima Wei, this might hit one of our own people! Our stone sacs are hard to control and will scatter once thrown out."

Wei Yan: "Just hit Cao thief on the head! It's better than being hit by Cao thief and unable to fight back! Don't hit too many, just hit him ten times and then stop, I will lead the team to climb the city!"

The catapults under Wei Yan's command began to risk their lives to carry out the new order. Suddenly, several sections of the city wall were smashed by the rain of rubble, and the frequency of throwing wood and stones was greatly reduced.

During this time, the four light wheeled ladders of Wei Yan's army finally crossed the river and reached the city wall. These professional ladders, which were more stable and easier to climb than simple flying ladders, joined the battle, and finally made Wei Yan's army's charge into the city smooth.

Wei Yan seized the opportunity, picked up a horse-slashing sword in one hand, took a round shield in the other, removed the decorations on his armor, put on a gray cloak-like leather robe, and led a group of soldiers to charge onto the city.

The idea of putting on a thick leather cloak was also something Wei Yan came up with on the spur of the moment after observing the battle situation just now.

Iron armor can only protect against heavy blows, but not against attacks from boiling water or lime.

Having a leather cloak covering your head and face will make you much safer. It can also conceal the characteristics of high-level generals' fine armor and avoid being targeted by fire.

After a while, Wei Yan led his team across the river and deployed them on a light ladder vehicle at the gate of Anfeng, which was already in chaos.

Wei Yan was not the first to climb the ladder. There were already more than a dozen soldiers in front of him, bravely climbing the same ladder.

It was just that other people either held a horse-slashing sword with two hands or used a short weapon with a shield. There was only one person like him who could wield a five-foot horse-slashing sword with one hand and hold a shield with the other.

"Kill the enemy and make a contribution! Today!"

"Kill the enemy and make a contribution! Today!"

Some of the soldiers in front of Wei Yan were stabbed down from the top of the city wall by Cao's army, but more of them gradually gained a firm foothold. This was because most of the soldiers in the front row were swords and shields, and even if they climbed the wall, they were pressed down by the dense spears and piercings and could not stand up.

Wei Yan finally managed to squeeze forward and immediately felt the overwhelming pressure. He gritted his teeth and charged forward with all his might with his shield. Although his shield was cracked by the huge force, he still managed to deflect at least five or six spears.

The huge force of the collision even broke a relatively inferior spear shaft. Two Cao soldiers, who were weak in physical strength, were pushed so hard that their knuckles were bleeding and their spears fell out of their hands and fell to the ground.

Wei Yan's shield was shattered in this collision, completing its historical mission. Wei Yan also took advantage of the enemy's weapons being swept away, swung his horse-slaying sword with both hands, and swept across, directly wielding three or four spearmen who were staggering.

The comrades around him were encouraged by Sima Wei's leading by example, and they also began to try to charge with their shields, tear open the Cao army's formation, and create opportunities for close combat. The two sides fought in chaos, like minced meat.

After some soldiers under Wei Yan were stabbed by spears, the defensive power of the steel-filled armor was extraordinary. Even if the spear could slide into the gap between the iron bars and penetrate the armor, it would be blocked by the iron bars and could not penetrate deeply.

Some soldiers threw their swords on the ground, grabbed the enemy's gun barrels with both hands, pushed them back and twisted them to the side, trying to seize the guns and fight.

Cao's soldiers naturally held on to their spears tightly and refused to let go. Some Cao's soldiers who were caught off guard were dragged forward and fell out of the army. They were soon hacked to death by Wei Yan's soldiers, and the gap in Cao's spear formation was torn wider and wider.

Amid the bloody fight, more and more Wei Yan's soldiers went up to the city. Finally, soldiers using steel-filled halberds climbed up the wall in groups and stood firm. The disadvantage of weapon length was quickly equalized.

The one-piece forged halberd head can better grip the enemy's weapon in such a melee. Often, one halberd soldier from Wei Yan's army can lock the weapons of two or three enemies - as long as you are strong enough.

The physical advantages gained by Wei Yan's troops from the two meals of wine and meat last night and this morning were fully utilized at this moment.

This phenomenon became more and more obvious as the bloody fight dragged on.

"Only the main culprit will be killed! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

"Cao Ren has been defeated! Huainan will be destroyed!"

Wei Yan and his soldiers became more and more courageous as they fought more bravely. Then he suddenly had an idea and led the team himself, shouting new slogans while fighting, in order to undermine the morale of Cao's army.

Of course, Cao Ren had not been defeated in Fuli, but the Cao army in Runan did not see any friendly troops coming to support them. They only saw their own soldiers being withdrawn continuously, and they were suspicious.

This suspicion gradually fermented as the morale of Cao's army declined and as Wei Yan's troops fought more and more courageously and with greater momentum. Many of Cao's soldiers actually believed Wei Yan's calls, causing the army to become even more chaotic.

Wei Yan fought hard and killed more than ten people, including several officers, among whom there seemed to be a military commander and a quchang.

The resistance of Cao's army finally wore out, and more and more Cao's soldiers began to flee in chaos, and some even jumped out of the city to escape.

Wei Yan charged into the tower, took control of the gate, and joined forces with the troops outside who were carrying battering rams to knock down the gate, opening the east gate of Anfeng. The surging rear army poured into the city, and this county town, the gateway to Huainan, was broken on the first day of the formal attack.

Wei Yan didn't feel any pain at first, but after opening the city gate, he realized that several wounds on his body seemed quite painful.

In the bloody fight just now, if he hadn’t been wearing a one-piece forged breastplate, I’m afraid he would have had two lives instead of enough to die.

Now that the city gate was open, all his courage was gone and he could only lean on the ground with his sword to catch his breath while waiting for the military doctor to bandage and clean his wound.

"We captured Anfeng in one day, and it only took two days to assemble the siege equipment. Now that my lord has made an exception and appointed me as a captain, no one should object by saying 'Wei Yan is too young'." Wei Yan thought happily and let the military doctor deal with him as he fell into a deep sleep.

(End of this chapter)