Chapter 307: A New Strategy

"Quick, quick, quick!"

The floating bridge was laid upon the water surface, and the generals immediately urged the soldiers to enter the gate tunnel and throw the sandbags into the moat one by one.

At this moment, the Xiliang generals realized what was happening and immediately organized the Xiliang soldiers to bring logs and stones to smash down below.

Chang Wei had already faced this situation during the sand table rehearsal.

He immediately ordered the artillerymen to adjust their angles to bombard the Xiliang soldiers on the city wall.

At the same time, he said to Qin Shan, "Send the flintlock infantry up."

His goal in besieging the city from all four sides this time was not to let a single Xiliang soldier escape.

Therefore, even if they used the flintlocks, there was no need to worry about the flintlocks being exposed.

Upon receiving his order, Qin Shan immediately had the flintlock infantry form three large horizontal formations and arrive at the edge of the moat.

"Load!" he ordered.

The order was passed down, and the flintlock infantry quickly loaded the ammunition.

Then, one by one, they aimed their muzzles at the Xiliang soldiers on the city wall.

"Three-stage shooting, fire!" Qin Shan continued to order.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Flame and smoke emerged from the muzzles of the flintlocks.

Lead bullets flew toward the Xiliang soldiers on the city ramparts, and small clusters of blood mist suddenly burst from the bodies of these Xiliang soldiers.

"Second rank, fire!"

The first rank of flintlock infantry finished firing and immediately retreated to the back of the formation.

The second rank of soldiers stepped forward to continue firing.

Then came the third rank, and subsequently, the original first rank of soldiers moved forward again.

They kept up a continuous barrage on the city wall.

Under the firepower coverage of the flintlock infantry, the Xiliang soldiers were suddenly suppressed and could not lift their heads.

The sky had not yet fully brightened, and they could not see clearly what the Yanzhou soldiers were holding in their hands.

They could only see bursts of flashing firelight.

Amidst the roar of the artillery, they could not even hear this sound.

But every time the light flashed, their soldiers would be killed.

A Xiliang general crouched behind a battlement, trembling with fear.

Just then, with a "hiss" sound, another Xiliang soldier groaned and fell before him.

A hole had been pierced in the soldier's chest armor, and fresh blood flowed continuously from the hole.

This scene made him even more horrified, and he crouched down tightly, refusing to stand up.

Other Xiliang soldiers also gradually dared not approach the city wall.

They saw clearly that as long as they approached the city wall, they would surely die.

While the Xiliang soldiers were being suppressed, the Wangfu Army soldiers at the city gate were still throwing sandbags.

Half an hour later, the last layer of sandbags collapsed with a crash, revealing the panicked Xiliang soldiers inside the gate tunnel.

The Wangfu Army soldiers who had been throwing sandbags were exhausted.

They had no strength left to fight, so they cleared the way.

Behind them, the heavy infantry wearing plate armor and holding long swords had long since formed their ranks.

For this forced march, only eight thousand heavy infantry wearing plate armor had followed.

Moreover, during the march, they had taken off their plate armor and carried it to make the march easier.

Upon arriving at the foot of Xin City, they had put it back on.

Seeing the city gate open, they shouted "Kill" and charged toward the Xiliang soldiers.

Because they wore heavy armor, they had always been the main force for storming fortified positions.

Relying on their impenetrable defense, they were often more courageous in charging and facing the enemy directly.

The Xiliang soldiers looked at each other, unable to decide whether to move forward or backward.

Just then, the heavy infantry rushed over and swung their swords down.

The Xiliang soldiers also raised their blades and swords to hack down, but only heard a light metallic clanging sound.

Yet the soldiers in front of them remained motionless.

At this time, the long swords of the Yanzhou soldiers stabbed into the gaps of their armor.

Immediately, the Xiliang soldiers in the front row screamed and fell one after another.

The heavy infantry did not stop; they continued to charge forward like wild bulls, constantly pushing the Xiliang soldiers out of the gate tunnel.

The following heavy infantry caught up and soon occupied the city gate.

More soldiers rushed into Xin City.

"Kill..."

With the four city gates occupied, the Wangfu Army soldiers roared and charged into the city.

Facing the large number of Yanzhou soldiers, the Xiliang soldiers, already terrified on the city wall, collapsed like a mountain.

When the sun rose above the willow branches, the entire Xin City was taken over by the Wangfu Army soldiers.

"Hahaha..." As he rode his horse through the gate tunnel, Chang Wei let out a hearty laugh.

Zhao Xu wore a smile; Hengshan County and Xin City were now connected in a line.

He had successfully seized the dominance of Xinjun.

As for the other small county towns, they were usually garrisoned by only a few hundred to a thousand Xiliang soldiers and were not to be feared.

Just take it slowly.

"Stop laughing for now, immediately send someone back and have the laborers transport the grain and fodder to Xin City," Zhao Xu said.

Once the news of the capture of Xin City spreads.

Tuoba Wuji, with his main army out in the field, will certainly bolt the gates of Jincheng to prevent a surprise attack.

And the Xiliang main army currently outside is surely still being led in circles by Liu Tan, unable to return in time.

Therefore, now is the best time to transport the grain and fodder.

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei immediately summoned the Scout Commandant and ordered him to dispatch soldiers to Hengshan County and Feihu Pass to mobilize laborers to transport the grain and fodder.

After the Scout Commandant left, Chang Wei said, "Your Highness, upon learning that Xin City is lost, Tuoba Wuji will certainly realize he has been tricked and will hold Jincheng tightly; in that case, Jincheng will be difficult to attack next."

"Hmm, Tuoba Wuji will indeed think that way, but we will not be attacking Jincheng next," Zhao Xu said.

Chang Wei's pupils dilated slightly, and he said, "Your Highness, I have guessed what Your Highness intends to do next; please allow me to speak first to see if I am right."

Zhao Xu nodded with a smile on his face.

"Besiege a point to strike the reinforcements!" Chang Wei blurted out.

"Not bad, you have truly made progress," Zhao Xu laughed out loud, "Next, we shall indeed besiege a point to strike the reinforcements."

The number of troops in Jincheng is certainly not something Xin City can compare to; after all, Xin City is merely the administrative seat of the eastern prefecture and cannot be compared to Jincheng, which Xiliang regards as its lifeline.

Therefore, attacking Jincheng is not something that can be won in a day or two.

It is even possible that it could take several months.

And if the time drags on, the Xiliang main army will return to reinforce, and they will be caught in a pincer attack from front and back.

Turning from an advantageous position to a disadvantageous one.

After thinking of this, he decided to feint once more.

Besiege Jincheng.

Wait for the ninety thousand Xiliang troops to arrive, then set an ambush to annihilate this Xiliang army, and only then slowly deal with Jincheng.

Not long after the main army entered the city.

Soldiers came to report that they had seen Xiliang scouts on the city walls.

When the Xiliang scouts saw the Yan Wang soldiers and the Yan Wang Flag all over the city walls, they immediately headed in the direction of Jincheng.

Jinzhou and Yanzhou are similar in that they both have terrain that is long from north to south and short from east to west.

Xin City is to the east of Jincheng, and the distance between the two is only a two-day journey.

After the Xiliang scouts arrived at Jincheng, they immediately told Tuoba Wuji the news that Xin City had been captured.

At this moment, a layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out on Tuoba Wuji's back.

Tiny beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead.

Silent for a long time, he slowly sat down, "I have been tricked; this is a strategy of feigning an attack in the east while striking in the west, and the Yan King Army at Huaicheng was merely bait."

Thinking that the Yan Wang Army was at Xin City, only a two-day journey away.

And might already be marching toward Jincheng, he felt a wave of terror in his heart and immediately shouted, "Immediately raise the drawbridge and bolt the city gates!"