Chapter 16, the next battle

Outside the southwest gate of Pinggang County, there has long been a mess. A few wisps of smoke floated by. It was supposed to be a pleasant scenery of spring, but now it has become a gloomy darkness. Zhou Zhi, the southern captain, wore armor and had empty sleeves under his left arm. He stood pale on the edge of the tower. When he raised his eyes and looked down the city, he could see at a glance that countless peaceful rebels were gathering in a market on the suburbs of the southwest.

In the morning, these thieves had launched an attack. Fortunately, the county capital was taller and stronger than the ordinary county. Even if the soldiers defending the city could not be taken care of at the end because of the small number of people, and even there were many defensive loopholes, they finally managed to hold on. Up to now, most of the soldiers guarding the southwest gate have leaned against the wall to rest. They are all sad, either dirty or scarred. From a spiritual point of view, they are no different from those bandits and refugees.

At this moment, Zhou Zhi was extremely sad and kept muttering in his heart: What an eventful autumn!

As far as the current situation is concerned, it is not too difficult for Pinggang County to hold on to the city. Three days ago, Wen Chou, the southern captain, had led the rest of the expedition to Changcheng to return. Combined with the current strength of the county government, there are generally 2,000 to 3,000 troops. However, despite this, the biggest problem is not the number of troops. After all, the people brought back by Wen Chou are a newly defeated army, and the morale impact will even be transmitted to other soldiers in the city. Coupled with the popularity of thieves, the contrast formed by the other is clear at a glance. In addition, Xiyang County is also being attacked by Zhang Wan's rebels. With the current situation of Xiyang County, it is only a matter of time. Once Xiyang County is lost, Pinggang County, the county seat, is in a state of inclusion.

The most terrible thing about people's hearts is still the laxity of people's hearts!

Zhou Zhi is a experienced person, and he knows very well that this is the most important problem.

Leaving aside, Taipingdao openly raised the flag of righteousness, which is a major disturbance across the country. In the final analysis, some poor people who don't have enough to eat are forced to rebel. Although Pinggang County has a high wall that can temporarily block those rebels, you should know that there are also poor people in the city. Even if it is only a few, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no erratic people like Zhang Wan. As the situation in Youbeiping County becomes more and more serious, it is uncertain what these people will think. If internal and external problems are complicated, the consequences will be unimaginable.

At the thought of this, he couldn't help sighing and raising his only right hand and patting him fiercely on the city stack.

At this time, a soldier who ran from under the city came to Zhou Zhi in a hurry and reported: "Lord Zhou, the thief was attacking the East Gate, and Vice Tian asked Lord Zhou to draw 200-step archers to support."

Zhou Zhi was full of anger, but his voice was not too fierce and said, "My archers here have gone to the East Gate. Who will guard the southwest gate? Why didn't Tian ask Captain Wen for someone?

The deputy Tian in his mouth is Tian Kai. Since he returned with Wen Chou, he has been assigned to guard at Dongchengmen in the past few days. He was not dissatisfied with Tian Kai. In fact, he had some complaints about all the defeated soldiers, including Wen Chou. It was these people who were clamoring to go on an expedition. He patted his chest and said that it was also these people who broke the thief in ten days. However, it took 15 days before and after attacking Changcheng County. Not only did he not break the thief as scheduled, but also let Taipingdao rob the food. Dao, sneak attack on the rear.

Three thousand good elite soldiers turned into defeated soldiers.

The messenger looked embarrassed and said hesitantly, "Lord Tian said that if you are close to here, call 200-step archers to fight against the enemy for the time being!"

Zhou Zhi said angrily, "Is it close to here? Didn't he imagine that the thieves outside the city were also close to here?

The soldiers were at a loss and swallowed saliva in their throats.

After a long time, Zhou Zhi took a deep breath. He turned to the outside of the city and carefully looked at the situation on the market not far away. The market was quiet, and only the curling black smoke was unpredictable in mid-air. Turning around, he said to the messenger in a solemn tone, "Only a hundred-step archers. You go back to restore your life, and I'll transfer someone over later.

The messenger was frightened and quickly answered, "Yes, yes, the villain is going now."

After the messenger left, Zhou Zhi ordered a hundred-step archers to rush to the Dongcheng Gate to help.

Now, the traitors of Taiping Road concentrated on attacking the southwest gate and the east gate. Although the number of traitors in Taiping Road is limited, they are generally instructed to deliberately attack at the two gates, constantly consuming the energy of the city's defense. This is very difficult for Zhou Zhi, Wen Chou and others. After all, it is not clear which gate Taiping Road will launch a general attack from. Of course, there is no other way now, only passive soldiers can block the water and cover the earth. Fortunately, the traitors do not have much siege equipment for the time being. Except for some simple wooden ladders and climbing ladders made of tree trunks, it is not easy to seize the city building with these appliances alone. This is also the only place in the city that can be relieved at present.

How can I know that just after the 100-step archer left at the southwest gate, Zhou Zhi was climbing the tower from the lower camp area of the city. Suddenly, he heard bursts of shouts from the distance outside the city, and then the soldiers guarding the Acropolis Tower shouted. He subconsciously accelerated his pace and happened to meet the panicked military Sima.

"Has the traitor attacked again?"

"Yes, my lord." Military Sima quickly replied.

Zhou Zhi couldn't help but say that he ran to the tower in three steps and two steps to look out along the wall.

Only countless traitors waved all kinds of weapons, some of which could not even be regarded as weapons, while roaring extremely angry from their throats and charging towards the tower. The market where the traitors hide is like an ant's nest. As if they were stimulated by something, countless ants rushed out of here.

"Lord Zhou, what's going on today? I just played a round in the morning, and now it's coming again?" The military Sima, who followed Zhou Zhi closely, said worriedly.

"Well, what else can I do? It's going to die. Tell the archers to be ready, and all the armored men are on standby behind the gate. Zhou Zhiyu frowned. Of course, he knew that this situation was different from usual, but even if it was different, he still had to deal with it in the same way.

"Yes." The military Sima answered and turned around and ran down the tower quickly.

The camp downstairs had heard the movement outside the city for a long time. The soldiers in the camp all looked nervous and couldn't help but say that they were armored and determined. However, there are very few people who really wear heavy armor, and these are still elite guards drawn from the Taishou Mansion. After receiving the order, these armored men immediately came to the gate of the city gate and lined up in a phalanx to wait.

Zhou Zhi walked around the city wall and solemnly encouraged all the soldiers behind the city stack to cheer up.

"Over there, come on, go to a few people."

"All the bows and arrows are ready, fast and move faster."

"Open the bow! Put on the arrow!"

The commanders at all levels shouted in a hasty tone to prepare their soldiers one by one.

After turning around, Zhou Zhi returned to the steps of the tower, which is the highest position of the whole city wall. He looked coldly at the approaching crowd of traitors and suddenly found that there were more people holding bows, crossbows and torches in the city. He couldn't help but feel nervous: Where did these people... come from?

In the past few days, he did not find that the Taiping Road traitors in the city had bows and crossbows. At least not as many as they are now. The only explanation is that the Taiping Road rebels rushed to more reinforcements. But with these poor farmers alone, even if they come to the reinforcements, where did the reinforcements get so many bows and crossbows?

Before he could figure out a clue in his mind, there was a sound of arrows from the city.

In an instant, dozens of arrows have been shot at the city, and two soldiers who have not responded quickly fell to the ground on the spot. However, after all, most of the rebels in the city have not been strictly trained, and they don't even know how to shoot arrows after approaching the range. Therefore, most of the arrow feathers in this first round are crooked, and they have not been able to get close to the city wall. Therefore, even if it is shot, it doesn't matter if it's just a skin injury.

Several guards quickly moved out their shields to block Zhou Zhi. Zhou Zhi immediately reacted and shouted, "Shiel defense, quickly, stand up all the shields."

A series of shield walls were soon erected on the head of the city to block the gap between the city stacks. The archer either hid behind the city stack or behind the shield wall and stared down through the gap.

Zhou Zhi did not go down the steps. Although his position is quite risky, he must observe the situation on the battlefield at all times. He drew his sword with his only left right hand and shouted, "Archer, get ready."

Other military commanders passed on Zhou Zhi's words one after another, and bows and arrows were immediately prepared on the whole wall.

Zhou Zhi watched the rebellion in the city get closer and closer, and more and more arrows from the other party arrived at the head of the city. He silently calculated in his heart, from 80 to 60 steps, and from 60 to 40 steps. At this time, he shouted again, "Let the arrow."

"Quickly, shoot arrows."

"Eat, shoot accurately."

"Arrow, shoot arrows."

One round after round of arrow curtain on the wall rushed down the city, and more than a dozen traitors wrapped in yellow scarves rushed to the front were shot down on the spot. However, the traitors did not stop. They stepped on the bodies of their companions or the bodies that were still screaming and continued to pour into the tower, just like an unremitable flood.

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