If Huang Li were present, he would suggest using trenches against trenches and digging trenches to approach the city wall in a zigzag manner, thereby reducing the damage caused by enemy artillery fire.

As long as one or two of the enemy's trenches can be captured, tunnel operations can be carried out and underground tunnels leading to the city wall can be dug.

When attacking Yiling City in the future, the biggest obstacle to tunnel blasting is the moat. Whether it is dredging and drainage or earth bag filling, as long as this difficulty can be overcome, success will be worth looking forward to.

As for time, more than ten days should be enough. The Qing army in Huguang suffered a disastrous defeat, and almost all its troops were in Yiling. Not to mention that there are no reinforcements yet. Even if they can be gathered, it will not be so fast.

As for the Sichuan Qing army in Wushan City, although they won the city defense battle, they probably suffered considerable battle losses. This can also explain that Li Guoying had to wait until the Eight Banners Army from Xi'an arrived for reinforcements before he dared to take action.

Similarly, the Green Camps of Shaanxi and Henan, which have already occupied Zhushan and Fang counties, most likely do not dare to go deep alone and will wait until the army gathers before acting in a unified manner.

"Unfortunately, this is only a possibility. We cannot be 100% sure that Li Laiheng will still keep his troops to guard the home." After Huang Li evaluated and analyzed again, he came to a somewhat helpless judgment.

Hope arose in Li Yue's heart, but he still had doubts. He hesitated and asked: "Mr. Huang, besides blasting the tunnel, are there other ways to destroy the city?"

Spending all the accumulated resources and mobilizing most of the troops is a desperate move. If you cannot break the city and win, even if the loss is not big, it will be an unbearable defeat.

The pear is so big! Huang Li feels a little heavier on his body.

"There is another way, that is, without fear of casualties, get close to the city wall or city gate, and blast it from the outside." Huang Li narrowed his eyes and said, "I just don't know if our army can blow open the city gate.

Can’t we attack the city?”

Li Yue's eyes lit up again and he said: "If you can blow open the city gate, which is the first priority in the siege, it will be much easier than climbing ladders with ants to attack the city!"

In ancient siege operations, city gates were the key targets of attack. Compared with thick and tall city walls, city gates were undoubtedly the weakest link in the entire city structure.

By breaking through the city gate, the army can march straight in, which is much more efficient than climbing over the city wall.

Therefore, even if there are ladders to climb the city, they are mostly used to disperse and contain the defenders, and the city gate is still the focus of the attack.

Huang Li smiled bitterly. He could imagine how many casualties there would be if he braved the enemy's artillery fire and sent explosives under the city gate.

The city gate is a weak point, and both the attacker and the defender are clearly aware of it. The defenders will inevitably strengthen the defense at the city gate and use means such as urns and hanging gates.

"Even if there is a backup plan, there is no guarantee that Yiling will be able to be conquered." Huang Li scratched his head and cautiously took a precaution first, "Whether we fight to the death or not, it is ultimately up to the Duke to decide."

Li Yue looked at Huang Li and asked tentatively: "If the attack on Yiling fails in the end, will Mr. Huang stay?"

Huang Li lowered his eyes and fell into silence.

In his opinion, if we can't hold on to this corner of the country, then we should move to a place where the Qing government's control ability is weak.

However, Li Laiheng's unit has soldiers and family members, and it is definitely difficult to move the family and the family over a long distance. If it is carried out reluctantly, it will inevitably lead to a narrow escape.

From his innermost thoughts, he certainly didn’t want to sit here and wait for death. Leave early and you’ll be safe. When the Qing army gathers and surrounds you, it will be too late to escape.

Under Li Yue's expectant and anxious gaze, Huang Li finally raised his head and said in a deep voice: "If you really can't take the initiative to fight back, then there is only the last way. Divide the troops into two parts, and one part will hold on to Maolu Mountain.

, one unit jumped out of the encirclement, cooperated internally and externally, and broke the siege of the Qing army."

Li Yue nodded repeatedly and said: "This strategy has less risk and can be implemented."

Huang Li gave a wry smile and said: "The troops are not originally large, but if they are divided into two groups, how strong do you think they can be in combat?"

Li Yue was stunned and looked at Huang Li doubtfully.

Huang Li sighed and explained: "I hope that the Duke of Guo can contact each family. If he cannot withstand the Qing army's attack, he will retreat to Xingshan and finally join forces. The number of troops has increased, but the food and grass supplies are not enough.

”

Combining troops to fight can be regarded as sincere unity and unified orders. However, it was forced by the situation. Each unit suffered a defeat. It is unknown how many troops will be left in the end?

Besides, after joining forces, the number of troops can indeed be expanded, the consumable food and grass supplies will also be greatly increased, and the logistics pressure will increase sharply.

The consequence of this is that the time for the inside line to hold on will be greatly shortened. It used to be seven or eight months in history, but now it may only be three or four months!

If the external troops cannot break the siege of the Qing army within three or four months, they will become a wandering army without a base, and the consequences will be quite serious.

Li Yue quickly understood what Huang Li meant. He nodded first, then frowned.

Huang Li smiled faintly, reined in his horse, and sped up.

After all, I still have to try it out in Yiling first. Maybe if I give it a try, my bicycle will turn into a motorcycle; if I take a gamble, my motorcycle will turn into a Land Rover.

………………

The sun sets in the west, dyeing the sunset on the mountainside red. The village is busy again, people are returning from work, and people at home are making fires to cook, and smoke is curling up.

Ying Weier returned home carrying a small bamboo basket, pouting, looking very unhappy.

"I told you, Mr. Huang hasn't come back yet!" Yingying reached for the bamboo basket and warned with concern: "Go and rest quickly, the injury is not fully healed yet!"

Ying Weier crotched her little face and muttered: "It's been several days, why haven't you come back? I specially asked Xiaohu to dig the bamboo shoots and give them to him!"

Ying Ying took out the bamboo shoots in the basket and said with a smile: "If you want to thank me, don't rush in these few days. Mr. Huang will definitely come back, and there will be time to dig them up by then."

Ying Weier sighed like a little adult, sat on the small bamboo stool, looked at the fire in the stove, her eyes flashed.

Ying Ying shook her head and thought the girl's appearance was quite funny, so she joked: "Do you miss Mr. Huang, or do you want to eat his roasted chicken legs?"

On the night of the barbecue, when Ying Ying went to deliver the meal, Huang Li asked her to take the chicken legs and wings back. Ying Ying just tasted it briefly and thought it was delicious. Ying Weier's mouth was full of oil after eating. Wow delicious.
Chapter completed!