Li Xiang carefully analyzed the terrain of Zhenla and Pyu, and finally chose to attack Pyu.
The border area of Zhenla is mountainous and long, which is not suitable for the Tang army to deploy, so Li Xiang plans to start a war in Pyu. Since the two countries have formed an alliance, the Zhenla army will come to support and kill the armies of the two countries on the land of Pyu. Then all that will be left is the harvest.
As long as the troops sent by Zhenla are elite, the remaining troops will not be of much use. Although we cannot kill them on their territory for the time being, after killing their elite, we can take their territory whenever we want.
The Tang army did not have much advantage at night, and it was not easy to deploy various weapons and equipment, so Li Xiang chose to attack during the day.
According to Li Xiang's previous ideas, there should be a Great Wall built in the border areas. Later, after fighting more wars, Li Xiang realized that this was unlikely. It was only because the Central Plains dynasty had the strength to build the Great Wall in the border areas.
As for other small countries, they simply do not have this ability. If they had this ability, they would have invaded the Central Plains dynasty long ago.
Take the border areas of Pyu Kingdom for example. Many places don’t even have a border, and there are only some troops stationed on the mainland.
At this moment, Li Xiang, Changsun Chong and others had already left the border, and the Yakou Pass was ahead.
Judging from the mountains on both sides, this place looks like an adult's tooth, so it is called Yakouguan, and it is also a dangerous place.
Originally there were only more than 2,000 people here, but because of the frequent military operations in the north recently, the Pyu Kingdom court sent support troops. Together, there are at least more than 5,000 people stationed on both sides of the pass.
"The people south of the pass were originally stationed here. The military camps on the left and right sides are recent additions. They don't pose a significant threat to us. The biggest threat comes from the approximately 500 people on the peaks on either side. Although they're not numerous, they've built a massive stone structure on the mountain. If we force our way through, the falling stones on either side will cause the greatest damage to us."
Chang Sun Chong has already figured out this place. Apart from the falling rocks on the mountain, the army on the ground is not very powerful at all. At most, we can destroy these people with two charges. Moreover, after passing through here all the way to Wa City, there is no pass...
"That depends on our artillery. We should try to have them destroy the rocks on both sides as quickly as possible. Once all the rocks fall, it will be difficult for us to pass through, but it won't be too dangerous."
Li Xiang's method is very simple. After daybreak, our artillery will launch the attack first, and then blow down the stones placed on both sides. Anyway, there are no one of our people below, so no matter where these stones fall, it has little to do with us. Of course, we must investigate clearly how many stones there are on the mountain.
Chang Sun Chong's men have already reached this point and will start shelling after dawn. After the shelling is completed, they will have to see the situation on the mountain. If there are still other dangers, the worst that can happen is that they will just have to add some more shells.
In addition, there are 500 people under Huo Qubing, who are also joining the army of 1,500 chieftains. Mountain fighting is not a difficult task for them.
Li Xiang also realized at this time that no matter how strong a small country's determination to resist is, and no matter how much preparation they have made, the lack of comprehensive national strength has already made them lose half of the war. You may have various strategies on the battlefield, but in the face of absolute strength, these strategies may not be useful.
Although the Pyu troops in the border areas had received notices to be alert for a while, nothing happened in the first few days, so these people began to slack off.
What's more, there were Tang Dynasty merchants there yesterday. If the two countries were to go to war, would those Tang Dynasty merchants be stupid?
The sun rose as usual, but except for the sun on the top of the mountain, there was fog in the valley. Except for the sun shining in at noon, there was no sun in the valley at other times, so it was very humid inside.
The Pyu army was preparing for drill as usual. They had only started training recently. Before that, they could not drill once a month. After all, the food in the army was just enough to fill their stomachs. Who had the time to waste their energy?
But now the war is about to start. If you don’t train your body well, you will be like cannon fodder on the battlefield. So there is no need for the superiors to shout loudly. They have already headed towards the playground.
Chang Sun Chong had seen their training methods a long time ago, which was the same old way of fighting. According to your current training methods, no matter how hard you try or how much energy you put in, I'm afraid that in the end you will not be a match for our Tang Dynasty.
Moreover, these countries in the south were too weak and did not even have armor. Some people could not even put on complete clothes before they joined the army.
"Your Highness, the artillery is ready and can fire at any time."
People in the distance began to report through flag signals.
"Then there's no need to wait. Let's begin our Tang army's southern expedition."
Li Xiang found a comfortable place to sit. On the peaks on both sides in front of him were stones prepared by the Pyu army. Once the Tang army launched an attack on the people on the mountain, these stones would be pushed down, causing heavy losses to the Tang army.
But now Chang Sun Chong has figured it all out, and our artillery has been moved to the best firing positions. It's hard to say who these stones will hit later.
"As you command."
After receiving the order, the messenger immediately began waving the small red flag in his hand.
The orders were conveyed one after another and soon reached the artillery positions. The artillery was now made entirely of iron.
Although it is still a muzzle-loading artillery, its power is quite strong.
As the deafening sound came, more than fifty powerful cannons had already fired.
Some soldiers in the Tang Dynasty army saw the 5,000-jin Shenwu cannon for the first time, and saw rocks falling from the cliffs in the distance. They could hardly believe their eyes.
Can you hit him from such a distance?
Several shells hit the cliffs in the distance. This was all to confirm the location. After that, the real bombardment began...
