The melee beneath the city walls naturally started with the Song army having the upper hand.

The narrow tunnel cross-section effectively protected the Jin army from crossbow attacks, but it also severely hindered their speed of deployment. Moreover, Chen Gui's interesting designs always had some simple yet practical effects.

For example, the thin wall in front of the city gate, like a screen wall, effectively concealed the opening and closing of the city gate, making it impossible for the Jin people to observe the closed state of the gate. Therefore, they were almost caught by surprise at the beginning and were almost blocked at the entrance of the tunnel.

Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) was not the first time to watch the battle at close range on the city wall, so after taking a few glances to determine the battle situation, he squinted and looked north. From this position, he could clearly see Wanyan Wushu's command platform in the distance. And because Wanyan Wushu led the crowd forward to watch the battle, Zhao Jiu could even vaguely see the dense group of Jin generals under the Jin army's command platform flag.

Without anyone pointing it out, Zhao Jiu immediately realized that his body in history, as well as Han Shizhong, Yue Fei and other enemies, that is, the old friend Wanyan Wushu from Huaishang, should be there.

"Guan Jia (Your Majesty)," After an unknown period, just when most people's attention was on the city below, Chen Gui, Minister of the Ministry of War, who had rushed back after supervising the dispatch of troops to the west of the city, suddenly stepped forward, then lowered his voice behind Zhao Jiu and spoke relatively. "This is a good opportunity..."

Zhao Jiu hesitated obviously, but still shook his head firmly: "No hurry!"

Chen Gui immediately shut up and said nothing.

This conversation that was clearly trying to conceal something, was mostly missed by all but Scholar Lin, because the battle below was going excellently, and progressing rapidly. Fu Qing had basically suppressed the Jin army and had begun to tear down the tunnel walls with grappling hooks.

But good times don't last long. As they spoke, the battle situation below gradually changed... From some point on, what poured out of the tunnel were no longer ordinary Jin soldiers, let alone Zhang Yu's tofu-like supplemental troops. Instead, they were elite Jin warriors in full lamellar armor, and in groups!

Speaking of which, the Song army was no stranger to this kind of armor... because the Jin people were able to have such outstanding armor was directly related to the craftsmen looted from Tokyo City. Even if the gourd-shaped helmet was ignored, the other armor components on these Jin army's bodies were basically the most traditional and proud lamellar armor of the Song army!

At this time, the Imperial Guards and the personal troops under the command of the various commanders in the city were wearing this kind of armor.

However, precisely because they were familiar with and understood this kind of armor, the Song army instinctively fell into panic, because they were very clear about the strength of this kind of armor. Thousands of armor scales, weighing at least fifty or more pounds, and up to sixty pounds, were layered and protected, almost covering the whole body except for a few parts such as the elbows, armpits, and ankles!

Moreover, those who could move freely with such armor must be elites, one in ten or even one in a hundred.

Relatively speaking, although Fu Qing's thousand soldiers had armor, it was only ordinary single-layer iron armor. Although they were also carefully selected, it must be known that this Central Army of the Imperial Guard had only lived a peaceful life in Nanyang for half a year, and it was only expanded after taking Xiangyang. How could a unit of thousands, no matter how elite, compare with the other side?

Not to mention the weapons, this time because they were fighting under the narrow city, Fu Qing's troops mostly carried swords and sabers in order to facilitate close combat... What about facing the opponent's lamellar armor? Sharpening knives?

As a result, the battle situation below was reversed almost instantly, and the civil and military officials watching the battle on the city were also worried.

Chen Gui did not dare to be negligent. While hurriedly sending people to the west and south to check the battle situation there, he hesitated before speaking to Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao), who was still calm:

"Guan Jia (Your Majesty)... Melee combat is unfavorable. Why not let Commander Fu temporarily enter the city?"

"What if the enemy takes the opportunity to pursue?" Without waiting for Guan Jia (Your Majesty) to speak, Hu Yin suddenly interjected and asked. "What if they take our city gate again?"

"It's okay, the city gate has its own arrangements. If they chase after us, a mere few hundred soldiers will surely be strangled clean." Chen Gui immediately responded, as if he had a well-thought-out plan.

"What about the tunnel?" Hu Yin looked at the complex city defense buildings behind him, and almost instinctively believed the other party, but continued to ask relentlessly.

"I just thought about it, we can wait until the tunnel is close to the city wall, and drop stones from the city to temporarily seal the tunnel entrance." Chen Gui immediately replied again. "Then we can also add some ramming poles overnight, and strike the top of the tunnel from the city wall. If all else fails, we can also use grappling hooks to pull the tunnel away from the city wall... This is actually very effective, because the grappling hooks are equipped with the pulleys made by Guan Jia (Your Majesty) before, and the force is extremely strong, and even the most solid tunnel can be torn apart."

Hu Yin immediately stopped speaking.

Moreover, the two Chancellors were sitting in town in the imperial palace. Hu Yin, Chen Gui, and Lin Jingmo had the highest political status on the city. After the two men finished talking, Scholar Lin did not say much, and everyone naturally looked at Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao).

However, Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) turned around, did not look at the few civil officials, but looked at Wang De instead: "Wang Qing, you seemed to want to speak just now?"

"Yes!" Wang De quickly responded. "Guan Jia (Your Majesty) said before that if Commander Fu's battle is unfavorable, he will allow the minister to go out to rescue him, but since Vice-Chancellor Hu and Minister Chen have good ideas, the minister dare not say more."

"Can you deal with these armored soldiers under the city?" Zhao Jiu asked seriously.

"Lamellar armor." Wang De, who was as strong as a bear, glanced at Hu Yin, and then replied extremely quickly. "They are not afraid of swords and sabers, but are most afraid of hammers and long axes... The two hundred Beiwei troops under my command do not have a single cavalry, and they are all like me, wearing heavy armor and using long axes! If Guan Jia (Your Majesty) allows me to go out to battle, as long as I lead these two hundred long-axe Beiwei troops, let alone bring Commander Fu back safely, I can easily sweep the several tunnels under the city!"

Zhao Jiu nodded expressionlessly in public: "Then I will be here to watch the general sweep the city below."

Wang De was naturally overjoyed, and the surrounding military generals and soldiers were also quite excited. Chen Gui, Hu Yin, Lin Jingmo and below, the civil officials on the city looked at each other, each speechless... Compared with these rude military men, these smart people keenly noticed Guan Jia (Your Majesty)'s abnormal posture after arriving at the battle today.

Fu Qing was already a little flustered under the city. The Jin army's heavy armored soldiers had also broken through the tunnel entrance and regained control of the surrounding area of the tunnel, but fortunately, Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao)'s decision on the city came very quickly, so after about a quarter of an hour (mainly because Wang De's Beiwei troops spent time putting on armor), Wang De personally led two hundred heavy armored long-axe personal troops out of the city to support them.

Once Wang Yecha (Wang De's Nickname) left the city, the battle situation under the city was easily reversed again.

Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) could see clearly on the city that the two heavy armored infantry collided, and both sides almost actively met each other in a charge. Wang De took the lead alone, and the long-handled axe was easily swung up. With just one axe, he directly hit the gourd-shaped helmet on the head of a Jin army officer in front of him. The quality of the helmet was excellent and it did not break, but the axe blade penetrated deeply into it. The Jin army officer, who should have been a puliyan (deputy of the mouke, leader of fifty), fell back with his head up after receiving this blow, and never moved again... As for the other long-handled heavy armored soldiers, although they were not as brave as their own commander, when the axe was swung up, even if the axe blade was difficult to hit the vital point, the weight of the axe itself was like a sledgehammer, which could easily make the opponent lose combat effectiveness through the armor.

It can only be said that, as Wang Yecha (Wang De's Nickname) said, long-handled axes are surprisingly effective against heavy armored infantry!

Relatively speaking, the Jin army's heavy armored warriors fell into the same embarrassment as Fu Qing's troops before... because Wang De's Beiwei troops were as heavily armored as them, but they did not have the armor-piercing weapons like the opposite side.

This is not their fault, because they were originally cavalry!

As long as the warhorse charged, the ordinary spear plus the mass of the warhorse itself was the number one armor-piercing weapon... Otherwise? Did they usually carry long-handled axes to charge? At most, they would be equipped with a fist-sized hammer, using the horsepower to hammer and kill the enemy's heavy armored infantry. At this time, they dismounted to fight, and were holding a close combat posture. Even if some of them carried hammers, how could they swing them against the long-handled axes on the opposite side?

In fact, this axe was so easy to use that Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao), who was watching the battle on the city wall, almost wanted all of his Imperial Guards to switch to long-handled axes.

Moreover, not to mention how Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) continued to daydream, returning to the present, the opportunity was revealed, and Fu Qing was not incompetent. He ordered the original melee troops to disperse and assist Wang De's troops in strangling the trapped Jin army's heavy armored soldiers, while urging the grappling hook troops to quickly hook and dismantle the tunnel.

The Jin army was temporarily restrained, and could only watch helplessly as the tunnel was continuously torn and destroyed. From a distance, the five tunnels were shrinking together, as if five tentacles were rapidly retracting.

"Fourth Prince!" Han Chang, who had sharp eyes, spoke first. "The tunnel is damaged, and the offensive behind the sheep and horse wall will inevitably be blocked... Do you want to withdraw the troops?"

Wanyan Wushu turned his head and glanced at the other party with cold eyes.

Han Chang had no choice but to explain in a low voice: "This general is not saying to stop the siege, but since the tunnel is broken, it can only be said that the Song army must have a way to deal with the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda). It is difficult for the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda) to form an army. It is better to let those five hundred people withdraw first, and then let Zhang Yu continue to send troops through the tunnel to fight."

"That's right." Chizhan Hui also persuaded. "Fourth Prince, the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda) is too precious. Since it is not successful today, why let them be damaged in vain?"

"What you said makes sense." Wanyan Wushu looked at the Dragon Banner on the opposite city wall thoughtfully, and nodded along with the situation. "But if you want to protect the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda), why do you want them to withdraw? Have you ever thought about it, the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda) is the most elite unit of our army. Once they withdraw in a defeated manner, the morale will inevitably be greatly damaged!"

Han Chang, Chizhan Hui, and Bali Su, who had not spoken all the time, were almost stunned.

"You go." Wushu withdrew his gaze from the Dragon Banner, turned his head, and pointed at Han Chang to give an order solemnly. "Let Zhang Yu withdraw all his troops, and send your regular troops to advance in five routes from the tunnel, taking advantage of the large number of Song troops under the city! Today I want to see your Han Chang's troops engage in melee combat with the Song army under the city until dark! Then withdraw the army together with the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda) in a grand manner!"

The meaning of this remark was very clear. They were no longer hoping to use the tunnel to siege the city, but only to use it as a safe passage for transporting troops into the sheep and horse wall.

Hearing this, Han Chang, the Han army commander, who had seemed somewhat lazy and contemptuous since arriving under Nanyang City, suddenly became serious, bowed his head in agreement, and then quickly put on his armor and left.

The other generals, Han Chang's many Meng'an and Mouke naturally followed, and the rest of the people also became solemn, no longer in the posture of constant discussion as before.

The war did not stop. Zhang Yu was naturally overjoyed to hear this order, and from Li Dayin, who had just been promoted to deputy military commander, to Zhou Bin, a newly promoted soldier who was about to enter the tunnel to support, almost everyone was relieved.

In this way, Han Chang's troops suddenly invested a large amount of combat power, which proved that Wanyan Wushu's method was unexpected, but actually had excellent results... The Song army huddled under the city, and the remote projection power on the city could not be used at all, and they could only watch the melee below. The arrival of the Jin army's elite reinforcements quickly diluted the Tie Futu (Iron Pagoda), making the previous phenomenon of long-handled axes restraining heavy armor no longer obvious.

At the same time, as the continuous stream of Jin army's main force replaced the laborers and supplemental soldiers of Zhang Yu's troops, the demolition of the tunnel was also forced to be stuck at the sheep and horse wall.

"Guan Jia (Your Majesty)!"

The evolution of the battle situation had exceeded everyone's expectations, and Chen Gui instinctively asked Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) for instructions.

"Activate the backup city gates, rotate attacks, and suppress the opponent." Behind the parapet's shields, Zhao looked at the movements below expressionlessly. As many people had guessed, he made a decision without hesitation, and that was to increase troops and fight to the end. "Liu Yan, go down and find Fu Qing and escort him into the city... When Yang Yizhong breaks the tunnel in the west, let him come back and wait to replace Wang De. Just leave one commander-level general outside the city to preside over the battle!"

Speaking to this point, without waiting for the surrounding people to say anything, Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) paused and continued coldly: "Jin Wushu (Wanyan Wushu) just wants to demonstrate today, and I am determined to accompany him to the end, you don't need to say more!"

Chen Gui reluctantly cupped his hands.

Immediately, strange changes occurred on the northern city wall of Nanyang City... Suddenly, several walls were knocked open by the Song army from the inside, revealing several city gates hidden inside.

Needless to say, this was Chen Gui's design, one of the methods to send troops to raid the outside of the city when necessary, and one of the means to secretly send Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) out when necessary. At this time, however, he was forced to expose it in advance by Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) himself.

Speaking of which, Chen Gui behaved extremely passively today, but this does not mean that Minister Chen was incompetent, nor that he did not have the decisiveness, but rather that today's battle was completely different from Chen Gui's idea of defending the city from the very beginning.

Chen Gui painstakingly designed and created a Nanyang city defense system, from the inner and outer trenches of the sheep and horse wall, to the completely new design on the city wall, to other various things, basically a kind of thinking that followed the characteristics of cannon warfare, and then used the depth of the city defense to kill and exhaust the opponent as much as possible.

This idea actually coincided with Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao)'s.

However, before entering the cannon warfare stage, it must be said that Minister Chen's thinking was generally more conservative.

But what about today's battle? In fact, it has shifted and gone out of control from Chen Gui's hands from the very beginning.

The people who caused all this were none other than Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao) and the Fourth Prince of the Jin Kingdom, Wanyan Wushu. These two supreme commanders of the two armies used the new thing of the tunnel to continuously personally micro-operate and add chips with a tacit understanding, and their respective decisions were unusually quick.

Rather than saying that they were reacting to the other's moves, it was better to say that they were showing their determination to each other.

In this situation, no matter how rational the people below are, what can they do?

Don't you see, Du Yuming deliberately turned off the radio, and still couldn't avoid the guidance of the supreme commander, let alone Minister Chen and Commander Han who were in front of the supreme commander?

Returning to the present, with Zhao Guan Jia (Emperor Zhao)'s micro-operation instructions, the battle under the city wall and behind the inner trench quickly entered a new stage.

Up to this point, the Jin army's adding chips had actually reached its limit, because they were restricted by the speed of dispatching troops from the tunnel entrance. The Song army's combat power was originally slightly inferior, especially after the remote projection on the city wall was passively stopped, it seemed even more weak. Fortunately, there were still multiple city gates that could be used, and they could calmly dispatch troops from the city gates in large numbers to rotate and fight in a flexible manner.

Therefore, the battle under the city quickly entered a crazy and seemingly meaningless consuming posture.

However, neither Zhao Jiu on the city wall nor Wanyan Wushu hundreds of steps away wavered in the slightest.

In fact, this battle continued until the sun set in the west, and both sides were even prepared for a night battle!

However, the Song soldiers suddenly discovered that the wet felt on the tunnel had long been dried by the sun, and immediately projected rockets loaded with gunpowder over the tunnel... As the five tunnels illuminated the night sky like five torches, and meandering in the twilight like five fire dragons, the fighting of this day came to an end.