Chastity Layman

Not far from Shiping City, a stone watchtower stands in the dark night.

The bunker is tall and mighty, up to ten feet high, with a square shape. There is a vertical rectangular lookout hole on the southeast and northwest walls every few floors, and there are shooting holes under the hole.

The bunker was built not far outside Shiping City, between the lake and the mountains.

Such watchtowers can be seen everywhere in today's Tonghai Governor's Mansion. This is also the defense of the watchtowers designed by Qin Lang himself. It was first built in the Longyou area to prevent the Qiang people such as Dangxiang who came and went like the wind.

The watchtower is tall and strong, which is not only a beacon tower, but also a fortress.

Because the watchtowers are very high, and they are all built on some high ground with good vision, so they can find the trace of the enemy early, and send warning signals through beacons, horns, flags, etc. in time. , stationed soldiers.

If the Qiang cavalry invaded, the soldiers could immediately retreat into the blockhouse. Qiang cavalry generally had no choice but to face these stone blockhouses, and the dog bit the hedgehog.

This kind of watchtower is built with big stones for the walls, and the structure is stable. The inner and outer walls are built with big stones, the core of the wall is filled with small stones, and the mud is cemented. The entire watchtower is small and large, and on the bottom floors, there is only one door for entry and exit, and this door is so strong that it can be directly pushed to death from the inside, and it is impossible to enter.

On the lower floors, there are no holes, doors and windows at all. In front of the watchtower, which is at least four or five feet high, it is quite difficult to get in through climbing and other means.

Such a watchtower does not require many soldiers to garrison, but it can play a very important role. And Qin Lang built a group of blockhouses in Longyou back then, there was a blockhouse here, and a blockhouse there, these blockhouses alone are really nothing to fear, if I can't beat them, I just walk around.

But the problem is, if there are more such watchtowers, it will be different.

A small watchtower can hide a dozen soldiers, and a large one can hide a hundred soldiers. The dry food and water stored in it can often last for more than a month.

When the soldiers in ten or hundreds of watchtowers gather together, it is not a small number. If the enemy cavalry bypasses them, they will not only face the threat of shooting arrows from the towers, but also worry about their future. I'm worried that the soldiers in the watchtower will come out.

Qin Lang proposed in Longyou that instead of building big cities or the Great Wall, build more watchtowers.

The watchtower is not big, and it is easy to build. It is not only a beacon tower, but also a fortress, or a Tibetan military post. If the soldiers are outside and encounter an enemy attack, they can retreat into the nearby watchtower.

Watchtowers can also mobilize assembly, sneak attack, block enemy troops and so on through the beacon fire and other connections.

Before this bunker tactic was fully implemented in Longyou, Dangxiang and Tuyuhun were successively surrendered by Qin Lang's active attack.

Later, Qin Langshi enfeoffed Annan Wu'an Prefecture. When he got there, he found that there were many barbarians and the folk customs were strong, so he asked his vassals and knights to build watchtowers on the territory.

It is unrealistic for a knight to build a large castle, but it is actually relatively easy to build a watchtower several or even ten feet high.

Under the active promotion of Qin Lang, Wu'an prefecture has built thousands of watchtowers in these years, known as the leader of thousands of watchtowers.

And he fought all the way to Yunnan, and after he established Tonghai Dudufu, in the plan for Cheng Chumo, a very important military defense plan was to build several central fortresses in Jianshui, Butou and other important transportation points, and then On several traffic lines, build more watchtowers.

These watchtowers are not only beacon towers, but also post stations, military forts, patrol stations, etc. They are easy to build but very strong.

The watchtowers in Shiping are relatively small watchtowers. They are also made of stone, with a rough and solid outside and a flat and smooth inner wall.

The construction cost of watchtowers is not high, and the construction speed is also fast, but they are easy to defend and difficult to attack. It can be said that it is the most cost-effective gadget in the defense of Tonghai Tang Army.

Faced with such a tower-like watchtower, Duan Yi couldn't say anything, so he planned not to move him first, but directly attacked Shiping City. He thought that as long as he could sneak into Shiping City, the team of Tang in the watchtower would Soldiers don't care at all.

Duan Ping led more than a hundred young men to the city, and erected a long ladder.

Amidst the croaking of frogs, their movements were completely covered up.

In the city, several barbarian tribesmen were dozing off.

Tonghai Prefecture has Tonghai, and under Tonghai there are military cities, guards, and towns, such as Butou and Jianshui, all of which are military cities. Dozens to one or two hundred people.

Although Shiping is also located on an important traffic road, but because it lives to the west of Tonghai Mansion, it is not the most critical place for the garrisons.

There are only 200 people stationed in a regiment of the navy, and these 200 people are stationed in ten watchtowers around Longhu. A regiment of 200 people is responsible for patrolling, and a brigade of 100 people is responsible for guarding ten watchtowers. .

The military strength seems a little stretched.

But the entire navy is only three thousand. When Qin Lang was still there, he didn't feel that there was not enough troops. Everywhere in the Tonghai Mansion, pancakes were spread thinly at once.

For this reason, the captain of the regiment stationed in Shiping can only rely more on the local Tutuan braves to assist in the defense. For example, the captain himself is usually stationed in Shiping Yacheng, and one hundred patrol teams are One team is stationed, and the other team goes out to patrol the city, taking turns to exchange.

In addition, he established the Shiping Security Regiment, the Unity Battalion, the Strong Squad, the Inspection Brigade, and the Joint Defense Team in Shiping County. The Unity Battalion is responsible for assisting the garrison of the watchtowers.

The strong class is responsible for the guards, attendants, and prison guards of each yamen.

The patrol brigade is to assist the patrol team to patrol the roads and catch thieves and thieves.

The joint defense team sank to the countryside, responsible for maintaining the law and order in the countryside, and assisting in food collection and conscription.

In Shiping City, there is usually only one team of fifty Tang troops, but there are five hundred county security teams to assist in defense. Similarly, in a watchtower, there are only ten Tang soldiers from one fire, but there are a hundred native soldiers from the Unity Battalion.

Tang Jun generally stayed in the watchtower, while the Tuanjie Battalion was outside the watchtower.

Even these security regiments, solidarity battalions, inspection brigades, strong squads, joint defense brigades, etc. are actually recruited by barbarians to take turns on duty, not fixed, usually for a period of two months, so these barbarians are generally very ordinary .

That's it.

The outer city of Shiping, that is, the city defense of Cangcheng, is guarded by the security team, while Yacheng is guarded by the team of Tang Jun.

Although a whole team of fifty people was sent to guard the city at night, when the door was closed after dark, these barbarians relaxed their vigilance.

Especially after midnight, most of them were already yawning, and some even fell asleep directly.

Although Cangcheng is not too big, but fifty people are divided into guards, and the defense is actually not tight.

The people from Wumabu set up ladders and quietly climbed up the not too high city wall, but they didn't respond at all.

With the knife in his mouth, Duan Ping used both hands and feet, and quickly climbed to the top of the wall.

It was quiet on the top of the city, there were a few lights in the distance, and a few barbarians were sleeping soundly against the battlements.

Duan Ping took down the knife in his hand, and touched it quietly with his companions, without making a sound.

Those barbarians didn't find any murderous intentions at all.

a gesture.

Several people started at the same time.

He covered his mouth and nose, stuck his neck, and stabbed him fiercely with a short knife.

Several barbarians struggled, but they couldn't even transmit the warning voice, and were killed immediately.

The wind blows.

The smell of blood filled the air.

Duan Yi also jumped onto the top of the wall. He glanced at the barbarians who were staring wide-eyed and dying, "Tang dog, bah!"

He spat at a few corpses in disdain, and then waved his hand, so they continued to remain silent, touching the city wall, rushing to the horse road to the city, and touching the city all the way down.

Things were easier than expected.

There were no guards at the city gate, and the barbarians thought there were mosquitoes, so they all ran to the top of the city, where it was cool with the wind and no mosquitos.

Duan Yi rushed to the city gate with a knife in his hand, and took off the heavy gate bolt with one hand. The gate was pushed open, and the Wumaman who had already touched the gate swarmed in.

"Ah Ping, you stay here and guard the city gate, I will lead people to kill Yacheng."

"I'll go with Grandpa."

"You were injured a few days ago and haven't fully recovered. Just stay here. Let's guard the city gates, even if we close the gates and beat the dogs. When the sun rises, we will avenge our grievances and revenge, and we will not let anyone go!"

Duan Yi said to his son, "If those savages who are dogs for the Tang people are willing to surrender, then don't kill them first, just disarm and tie them up. If they are willing to kill the Tang people, then they are our own people."

In the dark night.

Duan Yi bid farewell to his son, and rushed to Yacheng in the center of the city barefoot with a bloody knife, followed by thousands of Wumabu Manding carrying harpoons.

There were also many mandarins who rushed into the city through the open city gate, and then scattered along the street under the leadership of several leaders.

The killing begins.

······

On the watchtower not far from the city, two Tang soldiers were on duty, and the young Zheng Enyang stood seriously on the top of the watchtower holding a rifle.

In the middle of the night, the cold air on the tall watchtower was overwhelming, and the night dew was warm.

Zheng Enyang put on a cloak and stood guard very seriously, while Yan Shizhu, who was very tall and even a little fat, leaned against the wall and took a nap.

There are ten Tang troops stationed in the tower, and another hundred local regiments to assist in the defense. The Tang army was stationed in the watchtower, and the united soldiers were in the barracks outside the watchtower. Ten Tang soldiers would send two of them to be on duty every night to watch the night.

Generally, two people take turns to watch the night, one person watches the night and the other rests, one keeps watch for the first half of the night and the other keeps watch for the second half of the night.

"Uncle, wake up!"

The young Zheng Enyang was only in his teens, and he himself didn't quite know whether he was sixteen or seventeen. Originally, he was a recruiter in Wu'an Prefecture during the last pacification of the barbarian chaos. Later, he killed two barbarians because of his meritorious deeds. He wanted to stay and serve as a soldier, so when Tonghai set up recruitment, he was selected as Tonghai.

Young people are more energetic, and their partner Yan Shizhu, who is in his thirties, can sleep for almost a night every time, but Zheng Enyang never complains, and even volunteers that he can attend the meeting more. Yan Shizhu also liked this young man very much, and would often pass on some of his valuable battlefield experience to him. Although the two were in the same army, they were more like mentors and apprentices.

Under normal circumstances, Lao Yan can usually squint overnight.

"Why, you're sleepy, so I'll do it for you, and you'll sleep for a while." Lao Yan opened his eyes, lifted the blanket on his body, and yawned.

"Uncle, there seems to be something wrong. There seems to be movement in Shibeng City. Listen carefully!"

Lao Yan stood up immediately, walked to the side of the wall and looked in the direction of the city, but saw that it was vaguely visible in the dark night.

But when he held his breath and listened quietly, there seemed to be a faint voice in the wind.

Lao Yan listened for a while, but couldn't be sure, "Light up the signal lanterns, and send a signal to the watchtower in Yacheng!"

"Could it be that I heard wrong?"

"It doesn't matter if you hear it wrong, it's okay to be careful, wait for them to reply to the signal!" He patted his painful buttocks, "You keep an eye here, I'll go down and wake up the fire chief first."

"Why don't you confirm it before calling? If it's all right, I'll disturb the fire chief to rest."

"It's okay, Huo Chang is not a narrow-minded person."