Chapter 600: Fierce Battle with Wugu

Xiao Xia led 30,000 troops and 10,000 camels to Wugut City. The army settled down and the 10,000 camels returned to transport food.

Xiao Xia stood on a high place ten miles away and looked at Wugu City. The weather was fine and there was no tree around Wugu City. Wugu City was particularly clear. He smiled at Zhang Zhenzhou and said, "What does Sima think this Wugu City looks like?"

Zhang Zhenzhou thought for a moment and said, "I think it looks like a ladle with a handle in front. The Goguryeo people had the idea to build a wall on the mountain. It would be very difficult for people to climb to the top of the mountain, and they would definitely not be able to climb up the wall."

Xiao Xia pointed his sword at the narrow valley one mile long ahead. "To attack Wugut City, we must first capture that narrow valley. If the enemy throws rocks from above, or blocks the front and back, or uses fire attack, the soldiers in the valley will be finished. So not only is it difficult to attack the water scoop, but just attacking the handle of the water scoop will cost us a heavy price, at least thousands of people will die, and we may not succeed."

"Does your Highness have any ideas?"

Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, "If we can't attack from the front, can we attack from the back? What does the back of Wugut City look like?"

Zhang Zhenzhou shook his head. "Without a map, no one probably knows."

Xiao Xia immediately said: "We can go over the mountain and take a look behind it."

Xiao Xia immediately ordered Shen Guang to lead a mountain scout team to cross the mountain to the south of Wugut City to check the situation.

Wugut City is surrounded by mountains that are rugged and steep, and ordinary people cannot climb up the mountains at all. However, the mountain scouts are the elite of the elite selected from tens of thousands of mountain troops. In today's words, they are top rock climbing experts.

Although Shen Guang grew up in a plain and water town, he has superb martial arts skills and is one of those martial arts masters who can climb up a city wall without the help of any tools.

Although there was no road and they encountered cliffs at all times, the twenty scouts still climbed up step by step. They left grappling hooks at the most dangerous places for them to use when they came back.

The sky gradually darkened. Shen Guang led twenty mountain scouts over the mountains and arrived behind Wugut City. They were all stunned. There was a river not far from the south exit of Wugut City, flowing to the southeast, which should lead directly to Yalu River.

Shen Guang sent two of his men to explore along the river to see if there was a way to the other side.

They slowly approached the south gate of Wugut City. The south gate was built on an open gentle slope. The city wall was tall and solid, about four meters high. It was obviously a barbican structure. A small stream flowed out of the city, flowing down the slope that was dozens of meters long, and finally flowed into the river.

The city gate is made of wood, which is inevitable because Goguryeo had not yet mastered the technology of wrapping the door with iron sheets, and there was no moat. The South City Gate was indeed easier to attack than the North City Gate because the terrain was open and there was no narrow valley a mile long.

Shen Guang understood immediately that Wugut City only defends the north but not the south, so there are not many defensive fortifications built on the south side, and the Sui army cannot cross the mountain. However, they never thought that although the Sui army could not cross the mountain, they could first go south to Yalu River, and then go north along the Yalu River, thus going around to the south of Wugut City.

At noon the next day, Shen Guang returned to the camp with the scout team.

After listening to Shen Guang's report, Xiao Xia carefully looked at the map, thought for a long time, and then sent someone to find Yingyang Lang Laiyuan.

Lai Yuan is Lai Huer's second son. He is a brave general who is unrivalled in his ability. More importantly, he is not only brave but also clear-headed and is fully capable of handling matters on his own.

Historically, Lai Yuan participated in Yang Xuangan's rebellion, but now he no longer has that opportunity.

Xiao Xia said to him, "General Lai, you can lead 10,000 troops to go around the back of Wugu City. Shen Guang will lead the way for you. Attack the south gate of Wugu City from behind and capture Wugu City. I will remember you as the first meritorious service!"

Lai Yuan bowed and said in a deep voice: "I will never let Your Highness down!"

Lai Yuan immediately led an army of 10,000 to the southeast. This place was Dandong in later generations. The terrain was high in the north and low in the south. There were mountains in the north, and hilly areas in the south and east.

The army walked for more than 50 miles, the terrain became lower and lower, and after passing through a hilly area, they arrived at the north bank of the Yalu River. They continued to walk northeast along the Yalu River for about 30 miles before seeing a tributary, which was the river behind Wugut City.

The army continued to move north along the tributary, and as night fell, they arrived behind the city of Wugut.

The top of the mountain in Wugut City has a wide view and dozens of watchtowers have been built on it. When the 10,000 Sui troops were heading north along the Yalu River, the sentinels on the top of the mountain discovered them.

At this time, the southern city wall of Wugut was full of soldiers, thousands of them drew their bows and arrows, ready for battle.

Commander Yi Ji Wende had a gloomy look. He did not expect that the Sui army would go around to his south and attack the south city of Wugut. This was a bit troublesome. The south city did not have many fortifications. Although the city walls were very high, they were far inferior to the dangerous north side.

Yi Zhiwende shouted, "Success or failure depends on this battle, archers, get ready!"

Three thousand soldiers drew their bows and arrows at the same time. At this time, Lai Yuan also ordered: "Prepare crossbows to shoot and suppress the enemy!"

The characteristic of the Sui army was all-out attack and defense. All 10,000 soldiers raised their crossbows and aimed at the city wall two hundred steps away.

With the sound of a gong, a battle of bows and crossbows broke out between the two sides.

The Sui army fired thousands of arrows at once, and the sky was covered like a dark cloud. The number of crossbows of the Sui army was three times that of the enemy, and the range was much longer than that of the enemy. After only two rounds of arrows, they suppressed the enemy.

Ten medium-sized catapults began to be pushed forward slowly, with hundreds of soldiers holding up shields for protection. The catapults were about seven feet high, but the throwing poles were three feet long, and they could throw objects weighing thirty kilograms two hundred steps away. These were also the most advanced medium-sized catapults in the Sui Dynasty, light and flexible, with extremely high precision. They were usually hung on camels, and the camels carried them during marches.

The enemy's guarding bows were only a hundred steps away and could not do anything to the catapult. A dozen craftsmen quickly calibrated the direction and distance. The catapult's throwing pole was pulled up with a creaking sound, and a thirty-jin iron fire bomb was placed in the throwing pocket.

As the command flag was waved, the soldiers lit the fuse. In just a moment, ten iron fire mines were fired almost at the same time. They drew ten parabolas and accurately hit the opponent's wooden door. The sharp long nails were firmly nailed to the wooden door.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of violent explosions sounded at the same time, flames burst out, thick smoke rose, stones and broken wood flew, the soldiers on the top of the city wall screamed and fell to the ground, the city wall collapsed, and Yi Zhiwende was also hit by a piece of shrapnel and fell to the ground, bleeding profusely.

When the smoke cleared, the city gate disappeared, revealing a large dark hole.

Lai Yuan shouted, "Kill!"

He waved his sword and rode his horse to rush towards the city gate. Ten thousand soldiers shouted like thunder, and three thousand cavalrymen ran in the front and rushed into the city first. They drew their bows and shot arrows at the soldiers on both sides of the city. The soldiers on the city wall had not yet recovered from the huge explosion. Everyone was filled with shock and fear. They could not organize any resistance and fell down one after another after being shot by arrows.

"Boom!" Another explosion sounded, and the inner city gate of the city gate was blown open. Ten thousand Sui troops rushed into Wugut City like a tide.

There were continuous explosions in the city. Goguryeo people were in extreme panic and despair, and they knelt down and surrendered.

At this time, the north gate was also opened, and Xiao Xia led the main force into Wugut City.

The enemy's main general, Yiji Wende, was seriously injured and eventually died in Ugut City due to excessive bleeding.

(End of this chapter)

previouscatalognext