I

Nao Dai seems to be suffering from tunnel phobia. Whenever he sees the criss-crossed tunnels, he feels nauseous and dizzy for no reason.

That Lu Xiangsheng outside was considered a famous general in the world, but he acted so rogue in battle!

There is no skill to speak of, just consolidate the camp first and establish yourself in an invincible position. Then let the civilian workers dig trenches, sometimes digging into a Z shape, sometimes digging into a C shape, and sometimes digging into an O shape. The soldiers hid in the tunnels, slowly approaching the city wall, and at the same time were responsible for protecting the diggers.

After digging close to the city and passing the city defense artillery fire boundary, the tunnel was changed into a tunnel.

There were tunnels everywhere outside the city, and the defenders had no idea which way the tunnels were dug. Several tunnels were dug all the way to the city, and then a large amount of explosives were transported... Boom!

This method of warfare must meet two conditions: first, the siege team has a military advantage, otherwise the defenders will fight desperately and fight into the tunnels at all costs; second, it can only be used to capture small and medium-sized cities, such as Tianjin and Jeju. A big city like Shangqiu and Shangqiu would have to be blown up by a massive amount of explosives.

It just so happened that the Phoenix City and the Bastion in front of them were both small cities that could be blown down.

"Haven't you heard yet?" Naodai asked anxiously.

Inside the city, under the wall.

Every five or six steps, there is an Eight Banners soldier lying on the ground listening to the sound with a bamboo tube.

A soldier replied with a grimace: "Beizi, the enemy's artillery interference makes it difficult to hear clearly. Moreover, the enemy's tunnels have not been dug into the city, so we have to go outside the city to hear clearly."

"Then go outside the city quickly!" Nao Dai scolded.

The Eight Banners soldiers hung down from the city wall. They did not dare to go through the city gate because there was no urn to protect them.

"Bang bang bang!"

In the circular tunnel outside the city, the Datong army immediately looked out, and the melee soldiers raised their shields to help block the arrows.

Two unlucky Eight Banners soldiers were hit by bullets in mid-air. At the same time, the bows, arrows and fire guns on the city also took the opportunity to shoot at the tunnel.

These Eight Banners soldiers were really not afraid of death. They fell to the ground with bullets in their hands, and then lay down to listen carefully.

"Someone is digging a hole down here, almost to the root of the wall!" an Eight Banners soldier shouted.

Naudai immediately ordered: "Throw rocks and hit them hard to collapse the tunnel!"

It was impossible to pour water, it would take time to dig holes, and it would also take time to move water. It was impossible for the Datong Army to let the defenders do whatever they wanted.

Under Naudai's order, big stones soon fell from the city. Unfortunately, the rocks are still not heavy enough. There are logs in the tunnel to support it, and it is very deep from the ground. Some falling rocks will not collapse at all.

Naudai was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead. If the tunnel was not destroyed, this section of the city wall would be blown up in a day or two at most.

"Go out of the city and fight!" Naodai could only take risks.

The city gate slowly opened, and the Eight Banners soldiers came out pushing the carriage. This is a makeshift truck. Because it is not used in mountainous areas, Phoenix City does not have a reserve of trucks.

"General, the enemy has opened the city gate. Do you want to take the opportunity to attack?"

"No need, just shelling."

Naudai built an enemy tower with a sharp angle for Phoenix City. There was no blind spot for firepower. If he just rushed over like this, it would be a disaster if the enemy closed the city gate.

"Boom boom boom!"

There were several artillery pieces that had been pointed at Nagato for a long time, and now they immediately fired at the carriage.

Four shots missed and one shot hit.

The makeshift carriage was obviously of poor quality and was shattered with just one shot.

When Naudai learned of the situation, he said angrily: "Get back and close the city gate!"

The Datong Army's tunnel is too close to the city wall, and the fire cannon soldiers can shoot at any time. Without the protection of the carriages, if they forcefully go out and destroy the tunnel, all those Eight Banners soldiers will definitely die.

Just when Naudai was anxious, an officer came up with a suggestion: "Beizi, we can estimate the location and dig a tunnel from the city to connect with the enemy's tunnel. At that time, the Eight Banners warriors can follow the tunnel to follow the tunnel on the opposite side. The southern barbarians are fighting!"

"What a great idea!" Naudai was overjoyed.

Stonemasons and carpenters from all over the city were recruited, and it would be better if there were miners. The Korean serfs who evacuated to the city were also forced to help dig tunnels.

Not only were tunnels dug at relevant locations, Nao Dai also dug more than a dozen tunnels at the same time, all the way to the outside of the city.

As night fell, both sides were still working in the tunnel. When one group got tired of digging, they would change to another group.

The Datong Army habitually raises hot air balloons every two hours and stays in the air for half an hour at a time.

Yu Dongbao has been a soldier for two years. He is not afraid of death in fighting, but he is afraid of riding in a hot air balloon.

He was chosen as the lookout soldier because he had strong mental arithmetic skills and was familiar with various flag orders.

Holding the telescope, Yu Dongbao looked around, and suddenly his eyes widened.

I saw someone waving a torch on the northern wall of Phoenix City, shaking it three times before putting it down.

After a while, the torch was waved again and shaken three times before being put down.

This was the signal that Zhang Fengyan made an appointment with Lu Xiangsheng. After the hot air balloon took off at night, he raised the fire three times as a signal and attacked the city at the fourth watch that night.

Lu Xiangsheng quickly learned the news and said: "It seems that Zhang Fengyan was ordered to guard the north city wall. Let's pretend to attack the east city, make more noise, attract the enemy's troops, and then break through from the north city wall!"

Chinese Jurchens are also Jurchens and cannot be completely trusted.

Therefore, Zhang Fengyan had to do something to exchange for Lu Xiangsheng's trust.

That is...arson!

Only when there was a raging fire in the city could Lu Xiangsheng dare to believe that it was really an inside job. The fake traitor didn't dare to play like this, because once the fire broke out, the whole city would be in chaos, and the Datong Army could attack by force.

Time passed and it was already the fourth update in a blink of an eye.

After the tunnel was close to the foundation of the city wall, horizontal excavation began. The wider the dig, the better, so that more gunpowder can be accommodated, which can be detonated by noon tomorrow at the latest.

"Dang Dang Dang!"

Diagonally below the pit wall, there was the sound of a hammer hitting an iron drill.

The Datong citizens were stunned and quickly realized: "The Tatars dug tunnels out of the city, and they dug deeper than us!"

"boom!"

A piece of mud sank in, revealing a hole as big as a head.

Both sides were holding lanterns, and by the light, they stared at each other through the entrance of the cave.

"kill!"

A Datong civilian husband took an iron drill and dug it into the hole, stabbing it into the opponent's eye socket.

In addition, it is impossible to fight because the tunnels on both sides are at different heights. If you want to completely open up, you have to continue to work hard.

"Beizi, dig it through, dig it through!"

Naudai had been standing nearby. When he heard the news, he quickly sent soldiers into the tunnel.

Under the walls of the city, it became chaotic and noisy.

Zhang Fengyan heard the sound from the northeast corner and said to the soldiers around him: "There's something going on over there. Let's set fire in advance!"

These Chinese Jurchens are all locals and are very familiar with the situation in the city.

The fuel for the fire was readily available because the defenders had prepared firewood.

Dozens of people had already dispersed into various streets. Zhang Fengyan waved torches on the city wall, and his companions began to set fire to the city.

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen houses were on fire, and the fire crackled and burned more and more fiercely.

At this moment, the civilians on both sides have already exited the tunnel. The soldiers stabbed each other with swords across the entrance of the cave. They did not use spears because the tunnel was too short to maneuver.

The holes dug were too small and had different depths, so no one could get through.

I stabbed them with knives for a long time, but none of them were killed. The most serious injury was just a cut off finger. Another day of beating would not kill him.

Naudai was anxiously waiting for news from the tunnel when he suddenly heard noises coming from the city. He turned around and saw flames bursting out behind him. He suddenly panicked and said, "Eight Banner Warriors, guard the city wall strictly. The Nanmanzi have internal agents in the city! Don't put out the fire. Don't put out the fire. The enemy is going to take the opportunity to attack the city!"

Some Eight Banners soldiers have already taken the initiative to run to the city to put out the fire.

Naodai sent more than a dozen soldiers to ride along the streets to deliver the message, and scolded all the soldiers who rushed to put out the fire to go back to defend the city.

The Eight Banners soldiers could only return to the city one after another, but from time to time some people turned their heads and looked into the city. They were sent to garrison Phoenix City, and they came together with their whole family. They usually farmed outside the city, but now they have all withdrawn into the city.

What should I do if not only my family but also my entire family’s property is burned down in a fire?

Some Eight Banners soldiers begged: "General, put out the fire first, don't let the city burn down!"

"All the soldiers are at the top of the city. You are not needed to put out the fire!" Naudai said angrily.

The civilians, craftsmen, merchants, and serfs in the city, as long as they had hands and feet, were organized by Naodai's personal soldiers to put out the fire.

But in the middle of the night, it was dark, and people were panicking because of the fire. How could they be organized? They were all fighting the fire spontaneously, and the efficiency was extremely low. Many people only shouted in panic.

Seeing that the city was burning fiercely, Lu Xiangsheng said: "Fire!"

"Boom boom boom!"

As the cannon sounded, the Datong army slowly came out of the tunnel carrying the ladder and pushed towards the city wall step by step.

"Fire back!" Naudai shouted.

The shouts of killing in the east of the city shook the sky, and Nao Dai gathered his troops and came over.

But he didn't worry about the north and west of the city, so he went to inspect them personally, encouraging the soldiers to defend them all the way.

When passing by Zhang Fengyan, Zhang Fengyan suddenly pointed to the north: "Beizi, there are enemy troops attacking the city here too!"

Naudai quickly picked up his telescope, stood by the parapet, and looked out into the dark city. The soldiers around him also subconsciously watched.

Zhang Fengyan pretended to check the enemy's situation, limped, and took the opportunity to walk to Nao Dai. Lameness was the best cover. Naodai's soldiers did not stop him. They even did not notice Zhang Fengyan approaching because they were checking the enemy's situation.

"As expected, they are attacking from the east and from the west. There are quite a few enemy troops here!"

Naudai put away his telescope and was about to send an order to call the reserve team over to strengthen the defense. Suddenly he felt a push on his vest, and his whole body leaned forward, subconsciously grabbing the female wall.

Zhang Fengyan pushed with all his strength, but where could he catch it?

Naudai's upper body was all sticking out of the arrow-chop opening. After barely stabilizing, Zhang Fengyan grabbed his belt again, lifted it up with all his strength, and pushed forward again.

"ah!"

The leader of Phoenix City was actually pushed off the city. And he didn't fall to death yet. He groaned when he hit the ground. Both arms were broken because he used his hands to cushion the fall.

At the same time that Zhang Fengyan took action, the nearby Chinese Jurchens also came quietly and stabbed Naodai's soldiers from behind.