Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 432 An Unprecedented Tactic! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The Tang army's cannons roared on the east bank, and three test-fired shells, with sharp whistles, swept across the boiling water and slammed heavily against the outer side of the west wall of Wugu City.

Stones flew everywhere and dust rose. Although the soldiers on the city wall were prepared, they were still shocked by the terrifying power.

Yuan Nanjian stood atop the city wall, letting the rubble sweep past him, his gaze fixed on the figure beneath the black banner on the opposite bank.

"General!"

Deputy General Gao Yanfu stepped forward hastily: "The Tang army's artillery range far exceeds expectations; the western bank dike is entirely within their range!"

Yuan Nanjian tightened his grip on his sword: "Have the dam garrison retreat three hundred paces. Now that Li Chengqian has arrived, he will not be satisfied with just a test shot."

Sure enough, at dawn the next day, the Tang army launched its first wave of attacks.

The sky above Wugu City was shrouded in smoke from cannon fire, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder.

On the city wall, Yeon Nam-geon looked at the Tang army waiting in full battle array on the opposite bank, his eyes showing no fear, only firm determination.

"Pass down the order: everyone stay at your posts and do not panic!"

Yuan Nanjian's voice echoed on the city wall, and the soldiers responded in unison, gripping their weapons even tighter.

At this moment, in the Tang army formation, Li Chengqian was standing on a makeshift watchtower, carefully observing the defensive fortifications of Wugu City.

Pei Xingjian stood beside him, holding a piece of intelligence in his hand.

"Your Highness, according to the scouts, Yuan Nan has built a dam on the west bank of the Boiling River, intending to flood our army!"

Pei Xingjian pointed to the map and reported to Li Chengqian: "The mountain roads of Wandu Mountain are also full of traps."

"Does he think he can stop me with these?"

A cold glint flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Pass down the order to bombard the west bank dike!"

"promise!"

With Pei Xingjian's approval, thirty new-style cannons roared in unison, and shells rained down on the west bank embankment.

Loud explosions continued, and mud and gravel flew everywhere, instantly leaving the newly built dam riddled with holes.

"Report——!"

A scout rushed into the city: "The west bank dike is severely damaged. General Gao requests permission to detonate the buried gunpowder!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Nanjian shook his head and sighed:
"Tell Gao Yanfu that it's unnecessary. Since Li Chengqian has already seen through it, detonating it will only be a waste of gunpowder. Let him lead his men back into the city."

After saying this, he turned to the general behind him and asked, "Li Jixun, how is the trap arrangement on Wandu Mountain Road?"

The general behind him replied, "As you instructed, the cliffs on both sides are piled with boulders, and all the traps are properly disguised. If the Tang army dares to come, they will never return!"

Yuan Nanjian nodded, then glanced at the generals and said solemnly:
"Order the entire army to abandon the outer defenses and concentrate forces to defend the city. We must make Li Chengqian pay a bloody price for every step he takes forward!"

"As ordered!"

Meanwhile, on the opposite bank, Li Chengqian was using a telescope to take in the entire deployment and adjustments of Wugu City's defenses in the Tang army camp.

“Yuan Nanjian is decisive.”

He made a casual comment, and then gave the order:
"Order the artillery to extend its fire to cover the entire area from the west bank to the city wall. The engineering battalion shall immediately erect a pontoon bridge. I must establish a camp on the west bank of the Boiling Water before sunset today."

"Your Highness!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Xingjian said with slight concern, "Yuan Nanjian's decision to abandon the outer perimeter is too decisive; there might be a trap."

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian smiled, a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth: "Of course he's bluffing. The Wandu Mountain Pass is his real killing move. Summon Su Dingfang!"

A moment later, Su Dingfang, dressed in military attire, strode into the tent: "Your Highness."

"Commander Su, lead five thousand Black Armor Guards, carrying three hundred 'Thunderclap Bombs,' and maneuver to the southern foot of Wandu Mountain. Once the main force begins its attack on the city, blast down the cliffs on both sides of the mountain path, thwarting their plans to ambush you."

"The last general takes command!"

Just as Li Chengqian had predicted, when Tang engineers began to erect pontoon bridges under the cover of artillery fire, dozens of giant ballistae were suddenly launched from the top of Wugu City.

This was a secret weapon prepared by Yeon Nam-geon to counter the Tang army's firearms.

These ballistae were improved, with a range far exceeding that of ordinary ones. Their specially made heavy arrows whistled through the smoke and flew straight at the Tang soldiers' engineers who were working.

"Raise your shield——!"

Pei Xuan, who was in command at the front, roared.

The shield bearers rushed forward, but the heavy arrows were incredibly powerful, piercing through several shields in succession. Amidst screams, more than ten engineers fell to the ground.

"Artillery suppression—!"

Pei Xuan shouted angrily.

The Tang army's artillery immediately adjusted its firing angle, and the shells slammed into the ballista positions on the city wall.

"Oh!"

A ballista was hit directly and instantly shattered into pieces, the soldier operating it was blown to pieces.

But more ballistae are still being fired in a frenzy.

"No, this won't do; the losses will be too great!"

Pei Xuan said with a stern face, "Go and report to His Highness the Crown Prince immediately!"

soon.

Li Chengqian then learned of the news.

However, he remained calm and immediately ordered, "Tell Pei Xuan to stop the engineers' work and have the musketeers move forward to exchange fire with the ballistae."

"Your Highness!"

Pei Xingjian was startled and quickly said, "The range of a musket is not as good as that of a ballista, this..."

"Just do as instructed."

Li Chengqian waved his hand dismissively.

Before long, three thousand musketeers lined up and stood in a row on the east bank of the Boiling Stream.

"put--!"

As the commander waved his flag, gunfire erupted like popping beans, and lead bullets rained down on the city walls.

"Bang bang bang!"

Although most of the bullets struck the battlements and sparked, causing no real damage, they effectively disrupted the operation of the ballistae.

Because the crossbowmen were suppressed and unable to raise their heads.

Yuan Nanjian, observing this scene from the city tower, couldn't help but sneer, "Li Chengqian has run out of tricks. Order the crossbowmen to fire in shifts, maintaining continuous firepower..."

Before he finished speaking, something strange happened.

A violent explosion suddenly occurred at one corner of the city wall, sending debris mixed with human remains soaring into the sky.

It turned out that the musket bullets had accidentally hit the gunpowder barrels piled up next to the ballista.

A series of explosions followed, and half of the ballista position was instantly turned into an inferno.

"Hahaha! Heaven is helping the Great Tang!"

The Tang army on the east bank erupted in thunderous cheers.

"See that? Practice frugality."

A smug smile appeared on Li Chengqian's lips: "Sometimes, luck is also a part of strength."

After saying that, he added sternly, "Savings battalion, continue your work! We must cross the river today!"

With the threat of ballistae gone, the efficiency of Tang engineers increased dramatically, and by sunset, three pontoon bridges had already spanned the boiling water.

The main force of the Tang army began to cross the river.

That night, the Tang army's western camp was brightly lit, facing off against the torches atop Wugu City, creating a suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.

The real siege began the next day.

The Tang army's artillery advanced to the west bank and bombarded the city walls directly.

The city walls, built of massive stones, continued to crumble under constant bombardment, but remained sturdy overall.

"Your Highness, the city walls are stronger than expected!"

The artillery battalion commander reported: "At this rate, it will take at least five days to blast a breach."

"Too slow."

Li Chengqian shook his head: "Yuan Nanjian won't give us five days."

After saying that, he turned to look at Pei Xingjian beside him: "Is everything ready?"

Pei Xingjian nodded and said, "As Your Highness instructed, the Academy of Sciences' latest 'siege hammer' has been delivered to the front lines."

The so-called "city-breaking hammer" is actually a super cannon, with a barrel that requires ten people to hug and a charge of five times that of an ordinary cannon.

When this enormous machine was dragged to the front of the battle by dozens of horses, even seasoned veterans of the Tang army were shocked.

"Loading, target, city gate—!"

Li Chengqian decisively gave the order.

The deafening roar shook the earth, and the cannonball struck the iron-clad city gate directly. The heavy gate trembled violently, and a noticeable dent appeared on its surface.

The second, the third. When the fifth shell hit, the city gate burst open!

"The city gate is broken!"

The Tang army cheered wildly.

However, the cheers quickly turned into gasps of surprise.

"how so?!"

"Damn Goguryeo people!!" Behind the city gate, there was another inner gate made entirely of huge stones.

"As expected, Yuan Nanjian has prepared a second line of defense."

Li Chengqian's eyes narrowed slightly, and he made a decisive order: "Send the order: continue bombarding with the 'siege hammers,' and prepare the infantry to attack the city!"

Just as the Tang army's attention was drawn to the city gate, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from the direction of Wandu Mountain Road.

Yuan Nanjian dispatched Li Jixun with 5,000 elite troops, who, under the cover of the mountain road, suddenly launched an attack and rushed straight to the flank of the Tang army.

"coming."

Li Chengqian seemed to have anticipated this: "Order Su Dingfang to launch an attack."

As the signal flare soared into the sky, Su Dingfang's troops, who had been lying in ambush on the south side of the mountain road, suddenly attacked and cut off the Goguryeo army's retreat.

At the same time, dozens of "heaven-shaking thunderbolts" flew out from the Tang army formation and landed accurately on the mountain path.

This was the strategy that Li Jing offered before he left.

Amid the explosion, rocks collapsed, and logs and stones fell in droves, causing heavy casualties among the Goguryeo ambushers.

"General, Li Jixun's troops have been ambushed and suffered heavy losses!" a scout on the city wall urgently reported.

Yuan Nanjian's face turned ashen: "Order Li Jixun to retreat back into the city!"

But it was too late. Su Dingfang had blocked their retreat, and the Tang army's musketeers fired volleys of gunfire, causing Goguryeo soldiers to fall in droves.

Li Jixun was hit by several bullets and was on the verge of death when his personal guards risked their lives to save him.

"This humble general has failed the general's trust." After saying this, he breathed his last.

Yuan Nanjian closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "Give General Li a proper burial. Everyone, retreat to the second line of defense."

The next three days became a nightmare for Wugu City.

The Tang army bombarded the city walls day and night, causing cracks to appear in many places.

Yeon Nam-geon personally went to the front line to command the defending troops in a desperate resistance.

Boiling water was stained red with blood, and corpses piled up like mountains beneath the city walls.

In the early hours of the fourth day, accompanied by a deafening roar, the western wall of Wugu City finally collapsed, creating a gap more than ten zhang wide.

"Army attack!"

Li Chengqian's long sword pointed directly at the gap.

The Tang army surged toward the breach like a tide, only to encounter a second line of defense meticulously prepared by Yeon Nam-geon behind the breach.

This is an inner wall three zhang high, with numerous firing holes on the wall, and a deep trench dug in front of the wall.

The Tang soldiers at the forefront were instantly felled by a hail of arrows.

"Sure enough."

Li Chengqian seemed unsurprised: "Order to halt the attack."

"Your Highness!" Pei Xingjian asked, puzzled, "Our army's morale is high."

"There's no need to make unnecessary sacrifices."

Li Chengqian gazed at the tall figure atop the city wall and thought, "Yuan Nanjian is a true man, but the fate of Wugu City was already sealed."

He turned to Pei Xingjian and said, "It's time for the Academy of Sciences' new weapon to make its debut."

That night, the garrison of Wugu City discovered that countless lantern-shaped objects were rising from the Tang army's ranks and slowly drifting towards the city.

"Is it a Kongming lantern?" a soldier asked, puzzled.

Yuan Nanjian climbed the city wall and saw thousands of lanterns floating in the night sky, twinkling like stars, a magnificent sight, yet with an indescribable eeriness.

What kind of tactic is this? I've never heard of it before.
Fear and unease spread through everyone's hearts.

"wrong."

Suddenly, Yeon Nam-geon snapped out of his daze: "Quick! Pass down the order! All troops, take cover! These are no ordinary ones!"

Before he could finish speaking, the first 'lantern' fell into the city.

A deafening explosion, accompanied by towering flames, instantly engulfed half the street.

Immediately afterwards, more 'lanterns' fell like a rain of death.

This is not an ordinary Kongming lantern, but a 'fire rain bomb' newly developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Each lamp had a ceramic jar filled with hot oil and a bundle of explosives hanging below it.

Upon impact with the ground, the earthenware jar shattered, and the burning oil splattered everywhere, immediately igniting the fuse.

In an instant, Wugu City was engulfed in flames.

"Put out the fire! Put out the fire quickly!"

Yuan Nanjian roared, but it was all in vain.

Oil and water could not extinguish the raging fire; in fact, they only fueled it. People were horrified to discover that even the stones were burning.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing houses, streets, and people with nowhere to escape.

Screams, wails, and the sounds of collapsing buildings intertwined to create a symphony of hell.

Gao Yanfu rushed up the city wall: "General! The entire western part of the city is on fire, and the civilians have suffered heavy casualties! Please give the order... to retreat!"

"Retreat? Retreat to where?"

Yuan Nanjian stared at the city, now a living hell, his eyes bloodshot: "As long as Wugu City stands, I stand! If Wugu City falls, I fall!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he drew his black gold sword: "All those who can still fight, follow me and charge out of the city! Even if we die, we will take a piece of the Tang army!"

Suddenly, the city gates burst open, and Yeon Nam-geon personally led the remaining thousand or so defenders in a suicidal charge.

They stepped over charred corpses and trudged through burning streets, rushing towards the Tang army's positions like moths to a flame.

Li Chengqian watched this scene from afar and waved gently.

The musketeers fired a volley.

The charging Goguryeo soldiers fell like wheat being harvested. Yeon Nam-geon, riddled with bullets, still used his sword to support himself, struggling to get up.

A troop of Tang cavalry charged forward, with Pei Xingjian leading the charge.

As the spear swept across, Yuan Nanjian's head flew up, arcing through the air before finally landing on the burning scorched earth.

Those eyes, which refused to close, reflected the towering flames of Wugu City.

As dawn broke, the fire gradually died down.

Li Chengqian stepped into Wugu City, walking on the embers.

As far as the eye could see, there were only broken walls and charred corpses.

The air was filled with a nauseating, burnt smell.

Occasionally, survivors would crawl out of the ruins, only to be quickly taken away by Tang soldiers.

"Your Highness!"

Pei Xingjian reported: "The city has been basically cleared. Our army suffered more than 3,000 casualties, and the number of enemy killed is too high to count."

Li Chengqian nodded silently and walked towards the city center.

There, a charred Tang Dynasty dragon flag is being raised.

"Send the order!"

His voice was calm: "Give him a proper burial, in accordance with the rites for Yuan Nan. Also, record the details of the Battle of Wugu City, and report the results of the 'Fire Rain Bomb' to Chang'an."

"Your Highness!" Pei Xingjian hesitated, "Is this battle... too much?"

"Too much? Cruel?"

Li Chengqian picked up the conversation, his gaze sweeping over the hell on earth before him:
"Practice frugality. Remember, sometimes the quickest mercy is the most extreme cruelty. After this battle, Goguryeo had no more courage to resist, and many fewer people died."

After saying this, he turned and looked towards Pyongyang: "Now, let's see how Yeon Gaesomun chooses—to fight or to surrender."

In the distance, the surviving residents of Wugu City silently collected the remains of their loved ones.

Several children squatted by the ruins, digging with their bare hands, seemingly trying to find some surviving objects.

A Tang soldier passed by, glanced at the children, took out a flatbread from his pocket, broke it into several pieces, and gave them to them.

The children timidly accepted the food and began to wolf it down.

Li Chengqian watched this scene from afar for a long time, then softly said to Pei Xingjian:

“Allocate a portion of the military rations to provide relief to the surviving civilians. Tell them that as long as they behave themselves, the Tang Dynasty will not exterminate them.”

"Yes."

As he walked out of the city, Li Chengqian took one last look back at Wugu City, where the smoke had not yet dissipated.

He knew that the destruction of this city would forever change the nature of war.

From this day forward, cities will no longer be fortresses; the air will become the new battlefield.

Meanwhile, the Tang Dynasty had already gained air superiority.

This was an unprecedented tactical exercise.

"Go back to camp."

He turned his horse around and announced loudly, "In three days, we will march on Pyongyang."

The setting sun, like blood, shone on the Tang army's black armor, giving it a cold, hard sheen.

The convoy silently marched eastward, leaving behind only a still-smoking ruin.

(End of this chapter)