This general suspects this is merely a ploy by the Tang army, waiting for them to bring out the artillery. Therefore, General Gao Gu, I order you to lead five thousand cavalry and ten thousand soldiers to occupy Beiping.
The Tang army has less than seven thousand troops. If they do not use artillery to attack the city, then your occupation and defense will be unstoppable!
If the Tang army uses artillery, you only need to hold out for half a day. I will personally lead the main army with artillery to your aid, and then we can attack them from both sides, destroying them in one fell swoop! The remaining artillery of the Tang army will also be ours, Goguryeo's!
With these cannons, coupled with Goguryeo's skilled craftsmen, it will not be difficult to conquer the rich Central Plains in due time!
Yuan Gaisuwen did not give others a chance to speak and directly decided on the tactical plan.
Deputy General Gao Gu felt greatly reassured after hearing Yuan Gaisuwen's words.
It's just holding out for half a day!
He left the great hall and mustered his troops.
Fifteen thousand Goguryeo troops marched straight towards Beiping!
Two days later.
Fang Er had already left Zhuo Commandery with his guards and the Exterminator Army.
They were quietly ambushing at Shanhaiguan Pass.
Gao Gu's troops passed right under their noses.
"Young Master, shall we act?"
Zhao Hu whispered as he stood behind Fang Er.
"No hurry. Let's see if they brought any artillery."
Fang Er leaned quietly against a large tree, watching the Goguryeo soldiers marching below through his four-times scope.
After all fifteen thousand troops had passed, he still didn't see any sign of artillery.
"Damn! These sons of bitches are too cunning. They didn't fall for it!"
"Zhao Hu, take your men and sneak back to Zhuo Commandery. Have General Chai bring the artillery. Once the Goguryeo enter the city, attack directly!"
Zhao Hu responded, selecting a few team members.
They rode their horses, skirting around Beiping city, heading towards Zhuo Commandery.
Chai Shao also received the news and was somewhat disappointed.
But he followed Fang Er's instructions.
He led over six thousand men, pulling the artillery, and headed back towards Beiping.
Gao Gu's reception of Beiping city was smooth.
When Chai Shao left, he had deliberately spread news of an impending Goguryeo invasion.
The civilians in the city had already fled.
Therefore, Gao Gu was met with an empty city.
After entering the city, he did not dare to be careless and immediately ordered ten thousand soldiers to man the city walls.
He dared not ignore Yuan Gaisuwen's words.
Since the Great General said this might be a trap, then it must be a trap!
He looked towards the north.
"I hope the Great General can arrive in time."
Beiping Commandery was about five hundred li from Zhuo Commandery.
Chai Shao took his army and took two leisurely days to arrive.
Below the city.
The Tang army set up camp about a li from Beiping city!
Chai Shao showed no haste in attacking the city.
He ordered laborers to continuously cut down trees.
This made Gao Gu on the city wall feel bewildered.
"What are they doing?"
When the trebuchets were built, Gao Gu was greatly alarmed!
He clearly knew the power of the explosive packs thrown by the trebuchets!
When Goguryeo snatched the artillery, they also saw the trebuchets, but because they were too large, they couldn't be taken away.
They only took some explosive packs.
To understand the power and manufacturing method of these things, Yuan Gaisuwen had specially conducted experiments.
Gao Gu was present at the time!
An explosive pack weighing less than ten pounds had directly blown over a dozen Tang army captives into a pile of minced meat!
"Quick! Send someone to notify the Great General. The Tang army is manufacturing a large number of trebuchets. Once they have enough, we won't be able to hold for even half a day!"
A soldier behind him immediately went to convey his order.
Meanwhile, Fang Er at Shanhaiguan Pass had already received a message from Chai Shao.
He knew his plan.
He instructed Sun Zhou and others to keep an eye on the north.
He himself led the Exterminator Army and turned their direction.
They kept a close watch on the road leading from Beiping city.
As expected.
In less than an hour, they saw over ten Goguryeo cavalry charging towards them.
"Target acquired! Fire first!"
"Shoot in two volleys! The first volley is free fire, the remaining men provide follow-up shots!"
These were moving targets, and Fang Er feared these master archers might miss.
Fifty "Wolf Fang" rifles were aimed at these Goguryeo messengers.
As they got closer.
When the distance closed to about a hundred paces, Fang Er gave the order to fire.
"Fire!"
Bang bang bang! The sound of gunfire suddenly erupted from the hillside ahead.
It startled the Goguryeo soldiers.
Before they could react.
Their warhorses were already hit.
Some had their heads shot off.
Some were shot in the torso.
Others had their legs directly broken.
For a moment, the soldiers on horseback were thrown flying.
A few soldiers who narrowly escaped whipped their mounts fiercely.
Trying to charge out as quickly as possible.
But before they could charge out a few steps.
The sound of the second volley of gunfire rang out again.
When calm was restored.
Over ten Goguryeo soldiers lay sprawled on the ground.
Those thrown from their horses at high speed landed heavily on the ground.
Those who were killed on the spot were considered lucky.
Those who survived but were half-crippled looked at the hillside ahead with ashen faces.
"Have Li Daniu take people to dispose of the bodies below. Shoot anyone who is not dead."
"Prisoners are a burden right now."
Gao Gu in Beiping city was silently calculating the time.
Yuan Gaisuwen said he would arrive in half a day.
So, counting from when he sent the messengers, reinforcements should have arrived within a day at the latest.
But he waited and waited, and there was no sign of reinforcements.
Chai Shao outside the city had already produced over ten trebuchets!
These things were too simple!
Four supports, joined by a crossbeam.
A piece of wood served as the throwing arm.
One end was long, the other short.
A large stone was tied to the shorter end.
The longer end was pulled down with ropes to lift the stone.
Then, the explosive packs were placed in the throwing basket.
Cutting the rope, the stone fell heavily, and the explosive pack was thrown out.
In essence, this thing was the same principle as a seesaw.
With enough manpower, they could be made very quickly.
The continuously increasing number of trebuchets made Gao Gu's expression grow increasingly grim.
After Gao Gu dispatched his troops, Yuan Gaisuwen also left Yan Commandery with his men.
He set up camp less than a hundred li from Beiping Commandery.
But he waited and waited, and still no news from Gao Gu.
He was also starting to get uneasy.
"Could he have been wiped out directly by the Tang army?"
"Or did something else happen?"
He sent out messengers twice, but both went and never returned.
He couldn't sit still any longer.
"Send someone to find Luo Yi and have him lead his troops to Beiping to assist Gao Gu in defending the city!"
Yuan Gaisuwen said to the person beside him.
"Great General, but Luo Yi was scared by the Tang army. What if he refuses to go?"
The person beside him asked.
"Tell him that since he has already rebelled against Tang, he can only do as I say! If not, I will abandon the Tang army and deal with him first!"
"Yes!"