"Your Majesty, there is still no movement from the Tang Army!" In the Gao Chang Palace, a general reported.
In an instant, the entire palace was shrouded in a layer of pressure. Originally, the Tang Army's continuous attacks had put a lot of pressure on the officials of Gao Chang.
However, they now found that the most torturous thing was not when the Tang Army moved, but when the Tang Army did not move. That was a kind of torment for the city of Gao Chang.
"Could it be that the Western Turks' reinforcements are here?" Qu Zhisheng asked hopefully.
A general of Gao Chang shook his head and said, "No, the Tang Army did not move a single soldier or horse under the city. They are just besieging the city.
"Could it be that the Tang Army wants to besiege the city of Gao Chang until there is no food and soldiers? Then the Tang Army is wrong!" Qu Zhisheng sneered.
The officials of Gao Chang were silent. They did not have the heart to interrupt Qu Zhisheng. If the Tang Army wanted to besiege the city of Gao Chang, they would have burned down the city of Gao Chang. However, now that even the hot air balloons had landed, there was obviously a backup plan.
When Qu Zhisheng saw the reaction of the officials, his originally excited heart suddenly turned cold.
"Back to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Army has issued an ultimatum?" Suddenly, the envoy of Gao Chang came in a hurry again.
"Ultimatum?" The officials could not help but be stunned.
The envoy of Gao Chang said with difficulty, "The Tang Army said that if Gao Chang does not surrender three days later at noon, they will storm the city of Gao Chang. When the city is breached, don't blame the Tang Dynasty for being ruthless."
"Three days later at noon!" Everyone could not help but be shocked. In the past, the Tang Army only sent a letter of surrender, but this time, the Tang Army sent an ultimatum. Obviously, the Tang Army's patience had been exhausted.
In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Qu Zhisheng. Gao Chang's future was in his hands.
"If the Tang Army attacks the city, I, Gao Chang, can hold on for a few days," Qu Zhisheng looked at the generals of Gao Chang and said.
"As long as Gao Chang City exists, I, Gao Chang, fear no enemy." The Gao Chang Garrison General said confidently.
Only then did Qu Zhisheng suddenly breathe a sigh of relief. However, General Gao Chang changed the topic and said, "However, the Tang Army has newly added gunpowder weapons with invincible power. Tian Tian City was destroyed by these weapons. I have never seen such weapons before, so I don't have any confidence."
Gao Chang's officials nodded one after another. Before, even if the army of the Tang dynasty came, they still had the confidence to defend Gao Chang City. However, the gunpowder of the Tang dynasty really made them helpless.
"So, Gao Chang City can't be saved?" Qu Zhisheng said coldly.
Looking at Qu Zhisheng's gloomy eyes, General Gao Chang couldn't help but shiver and said, "I will do my best. Unless I die in battle, I will not let the Tang Army step into Gao Chang City."
Only then did Qu Zhisheng's eyes soften a little. He looked around at the officials and said firmly, "Tell the city to speed up the production of defensive weapons. Don't give up until the last moment. Maybe the army of the Turks will arrive in the next moment."
"Yes!" The officials responded and left one after another to prepare for the defense of the Tang Army.
When all the officials left, Qu Zhisheng suddenly collapsed on the throne. Once Gao Chang fell, the officials might be fine, but he would end up the most miserable. Even if he surrendered, the best treatment he could get was to become a puppet of the Tang dynasty, just like Tuyuhun's surrender. He might even lose his throne and be taken to Chang 'an City. Like Xieli, he would become a trophy for the Tang dynasty to show off.
Either way, Qu Zhisheng, who had just tasted the danger of power, was unwilling. Of course, this was only the treatment after he surrendered. Once the city was breached by the Tang Army, he was likely to be killed by the Tang Army who had suffered heavy casualties to vent their anger.
However, the throne had an invisible magic that made Qu Zhisheng reluctant to give it up. Even if there was a glimmer of hope, he was still unwilling to give up the throne. In his heart, he had been waiting for the arrival of the reinforcements of the Western Turks. He always believed that Satoshi Tani, who hated the Tang dynasty to the core, would never sit back and watch the Tang dynasty annex Gao Chang.
As the anxious time passed, three days slowly passed. Soon, the time for the Tang Army to issue the ultimatum was coming.
All the defenders of Gao Chang were ready for battle. The Tang Army under the city wall was in an attack formation. The hot air balloons that had landed for three days rose again. Everyone knew that as soon as the time came, it would be the time for the Tang Army to launch an attack.
"Your Majesty!" Suddenly, the general guarding the city saw Qu Zhisheng leading the officials to the city tower.
Qu Zhisheng ignored the general and went straight to the city tower. When he saw the Tang Army, his heart could not help but sink.
"The reinforcements of the Western Turks haven't arrived yet?" Qu Zhisheng frowned and asked.
The general of Gao Chang lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, we are surrounded by the Tang Army. There is no information from the outside world at all. However, according to the Minister's observation, the Tang Army has not been mobilized. Obviously, they have not encountered any foreign enemies."
"That Ashina Khoru, after taking so much wealth from Gao Chang, will only hide in Khagan Butoh?" Qu Zhisheng roared.
The general of Gao Chang said helplessly, "General He Lu only has 20,000 men. I'm afraid he won't dare to attack the 100,000 Tang Army."
Qu Zhisheng could not help but feel a sense of powerlessness. At this point, he could only rely on the strength of Gao Chang City. However, at this moment, Gao Chang City was extremely weak.
"Time is almost up. Your Majesty should make a decision as soon as possible. Otherwise, once the Tang Army starts to attack the city, everything will be a foregone conclusion," the envoy of Gao Chang advised.
Qu Zhisheng could not help but struggle. Everyone knew that Qu Zhisheng had been shaken.
Under Gao Chang City, Hou Junji looked at the majestic Gao Chang City and could not help but frown. With his many years of siege experience, even if the Tang Army attacked Gao Chang City, they would definitely suffer heavy casualties. Fortunately, there were firearms supervisors this time.
Hou Junji personally led the generals to the entrance of the tunnel. When he saw Meton, who was already there, he asked, "Mo Jiu, how is the preparation of the firearms supervisor?"
Meton cupped his hands and said, "Replying to the Great General, the tunnel has been dug. Now, only the last step is to place the gunpowder.
Hou Junji said coldly, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's start."
Meton waved his hand. One by one, the soldiers of the firearms supervisor carried long coffin-like boxes into the tunnel.
"Coffins!" The faces of the generals could not help but turn black. They were fighting a war, not performing rituals.
Meton explained, "Although the climate in Gao Chang City is dry, the area under Gao Chang City is still wet. In order to ensure that the gunpowder is dry, I placed the gunpowder in the coffins. This can ensure that the gunpowder is dry, and the enclosed space can double the power of the gunpowder."
After listening, Niu Jinda grinned and said, "Using coffins for the funeral of Gao Chang City is quite appropriate."
Under everyone's gaze, the firearms supervisor placed dozens of coffins under Gao Chang City. After setting up the fuse to a safe place, they sealed the tunnel.
"As long as the General gives the order, we only need to light the fuse here, and Gao Chang City will definitely fall in one shot," Meton said proudly as he raised the torch.
This move Meton was copying the siege of the Tianping Heavenly Country. Back then, the Tianping Heavenly Country went north and broke through many cities. Using coffins to store gunpowder could be said to have contributed greatly. Everywhere they went, there was no city they could not break through. Of course, in the end, the Tianping Heavenly Country was also defeated by this move. The Xiang Army also used gunpowder to break through Tianjing City, and the Tianping Heavenly Country was destroyed.
"It's that simple?" Hou Junji said in surprise.
"You'll know once you try," Meton said confidently.
At this moment, the sun had risen to the sky. It was noon. The Tang Army's deadline had arrived.
"Light the fuse!" Hou Junji ordered coldly.
"Yes, sir!" Merton said. He raised the torch and was about to light the fuse.
"Wait! Gao Chang has already surrendered. There's no need to blow up the city. "Suddenly, Xin Yaoer's joyful voice rang out from the front.
Everyone raised their heads and saw that the white flag of surrender had already been hung on the top of Gao Chang City. They could not help but let out a heavy sigh of relief. As expected, Qu Zhisheng could not withstand the pressure of breaking through the city and had decided to surrender.
Everyone could not help but look at Mo Jiazi regretfully. Since Gao Chang had surrendered, they naturally would not be able to see the power of Mo Jiazi's gunpowder.
However, what stunned everyone was that Mo Jiazi acted as if he did not hear Xin Yaoer's voice. He directly lit the fuse.
"Mo Jiu, what is the meaning of this? Gao Chang City has already surrendered. Why do you still want to light the gunpowder?" Xin Yaoer angrily rebuked. If Gao Chang City had taken the initiative to surrender, then everyone would have contributed to this battle, and he was the one who had contributed the most previously. However, if the Firearms Supervisor directly broke through the city wall, then the credit for this battle would definitely belong to Mo Jiazi.
Meton said indifferently, "General Hou has already given the order to light the fuse. I naturally have to obey General Hou's order. Moreover, our army besieged Gao Chang City. If Gao Chang City surrendered, the countries in the Western Region will definitely think that Gao Chang was forced to surrender. Now that our gunpowder has broken through the city wall of Gao Chang City, we will personally show the power of the Tang Dynasty to the world. Let me ask you, in the future, who will dare to challenge the power of the Tang Dynasty?"
Xin Yaoer flew into a rage and said, "It's easy for you to say. Isn't it because of your selfishness that you and the Firearms Supervisor stole the credit for you?"
As soon as Xin Yaoer's voice fell, he suddenly felt the ground beneath his feet tremble. Suddenly, a loud noise came from the ground. Everyone looked up in horror. Gao Chang City Wall, which was 15 meters high, was cut in half like a piece of paper. More than 30 meters of the city wall was blown down.
"The power of gunpowder is actually so terrifying!" All the Tang generals stared at Gao Chang City Wall with their mouths agape. They had overestimated the Firearms Supervisor, but in the end, they realized that they had underestimated the power of the Firearms Supervisor.
From then on, the city wall would be the strongest shield for thousands of years. Now, it finally met the sharpest spear — gunpowder.
Meton patted Xin Yaoer, who was stunned, and said with a sigh, "I do have selfish motives. But my selfish motive is that I want to personally test the power of gunpowder in actual combat. Gao Chang City, which has already been deployed, is the best opportunity. Otherwise, the Tang dynasty will only have the most powerful weapon but have never used it. In the end, it will only be an armchair strategist."
Hou Junji looked deeply at Meton and said, "Mo Jiu is right. The Tang dynasty has such a powerful weapon, so we should show it. From now on, no one in the world will dare to provoke the Tang dynasty. Otherwise, Gao Chang City will be an example."
"Guards! Attack the city! "Hou Junji suddenly shouted.
In an instant, military drums sounded. A large number of Tang Army suddenly rushed toward the collapsed city wall of Gao Chang. The Gao Chang defenders, who had been stunned by the explosion, could not resist at all.
Only on the city wall of Gao Chang, Qu Zhisheng, who was scared out of his wits, cried and laughed. "I surrendered voluntarily. I surrendered voluntarily."
However, Gao Chang City was in chaos. No one cared about the former king of Gao Chang. As the Tang Army attacked the city, the defenders of Gao Chang surrendered one after another. There was no longer any resistance.
At this point! Gao Chang City fell.
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