The strength of many people, although this Dragon Gate Stone was indeed not something an individual could move, yet with the combined efforts of hundreds of laborers, after one hour, that enormous Dragon Gate Stone was finally slowly lifted again with a grating sound.
"There... there seems to be something inside!"
The Dragon Gate Stone had only been lifted to a height of less than a person when Cheng Shuye, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly shouted.
"Don't go in yet, it's dangerous!"
Just as he was about to step forward, Wang Bing, standing beside him, reached out and pulled him back.
"That's right, stay calm. Wait until they are completely ready before going in!"
Zhang Xiaochun added with composure.
"Yes, I was rash!"
Looking at the calm and collected demeanor of Zhang Xiaochun and Wang Bing, Cheng Shuye was filled with admiration. Although he hadn't seen very clearly just now, he could distinctly see that the space was packed full with all sorts of supplies.
With so many supplies before them, these two officials could still remain so composed!
Just this composure alone made him admire Wang Bing and Zhang Xiaochun immensely.
It wasn't until the Dragon Gate Stone was lifted about ten feet high that the laborers brought large wooden beams and completely propped up the stone.
As soon as the laborers finished, Cheng Shuye, who was standing beside Zhang Xiaochun, could no longer hold back. Grabbing a torch, he ran directly into the vast underground palace.
Looking at the mountains of sacks piled high inside the grand underground palace, Cheng Shuye's hands began to tremble.
When he, with trembling hands, opened one of the sacks and saw the fine white rice pouring out with a rustling sound, he was completely beside himself.
"Grain, it's all grain! So much grain!"
Hearing Cheng Shuye's voice, Zhang Xiaochun and Wang Bing exchanged a glance with leisurely expressions, then with a flourish of their hands, they signaled for the men they had brought to begin the unloading.
"Fellow villagers, you all see it, don't you? Below are all grains and the supplies we desperately need! This is Heaven blessing our Great Song! Master Yuan Miao has brought you much-needed grain and various supplies! Don't rush, after the officials have inventoried everything, it will be distributed according to your needs!"
Seeing the surrounding commoners beginning to crowd forward, Zhang Xiaochun cleared his throat and shouted loudly.
"Heaven bless Great Song!"
"Heaven bless Great Song!"
"Heaven bless Great Song!"
Following Zhang Xiaochun's words, the entire city of Taiyuan erupted into a sea of joy, and countless commoners began to cheer spontaneously.
The onlookers who had been drawn by curiosity also joined in the effort to help carry the supplies. Soon, sacks of grain and boxes of medicine were piled up in the open space near the Huguo Formation.
"Now I have confidence that we can defend Taiyuan for another year or so!"
Watching the commoners beaming with smiles, Wang Bing said to Zhang Xiaochun with a laugh.
"After this battle is over, we should really visit the Shenxiao Palace and properly thank that Master Yuan Miao!"
Patting Wang Bing on the shoulder, Zhang Xiaochun also joined the inventory team with a smile.
Hearing the cheers coming from Taiyuan, Wanyan Zonghan, in the Jin army camp outside the city, couldn't help but frown.
"Send some men to investigate and find out what's happening in the city!"
"Yes!"
After the trusted soldiers left, Wanyan Zonghan turned back to the generals before him.
"This Taiyuan city has been under siege for so long without success. What are your thoughts?"
It had been more than half a month since they arrived outside Taiyuan, yet all they had managed to do was suffer casualties without finding a good way to conquer the city.
Even Wanyan Zonghan was beginning to feel a headache at this point.
"Marshal, why don't we simply surround and blockade it? There are hundreds of thousands of people in Taiyuan. I don't believe their food supplies can last long!"
After Wanyan Zonghan finished speaking, Wanyan Loushi was the first to step forward.
"That's right, Marshal. How important is Taiyuan city? The Song people know it well. As long as we secure a few key passes, I don't believe they won't come to the rescue! If they dare to come, our warriors will show them the might of our Great Jin!"
"Indeed, if those Song people dare to come, the iron cavalry of our Great Jin will teach them a lesson!"
After Wanyan Loushi spoke, several Jurchen generals beside him also expressed their agreement.
"Wanyan Loushi, receive my order!"
After a moment's hesitation, Wanyan Zonghan finally made up his mind. The additional 100,000 troops from the homeland had already arrived, bringing his forces to a total of 200,000.
Keeping such a large force bogged down outside Taiyuan, the enormous expenditure of grain and fodder was becoming unsustainable.
"Your subordinate is here!"
"I will give you 80,000 men. You will completely surround this Taiyuan city. If any Song troops come to the rescue, show no mercy, and annihilate them all!"
"Yes!"
"The rest of you, prepare your gear. We will depart in three days and continue south!"
"Yes!"
As Wanyan Zonghan and his generals were deliberating, Han Mo, accompanied by Li Bao, once again boarded a warship of the Mingzhou Navy.
"How is it? Have you all mastered the new equipment we prepared for you?"
Looking at the two small trebuchets added to the bow and stern of the warship, Han Mo turned to Li Bao beside him.
"My Lord, rest assured. I have had them practice day and night, and they are now capable of engaging the enemy."
When it came to these new devices, Li Bao's face immediately lit up with joy.
Unlike the old, cumbersome trebuchets, the ones Han Mo had equipped them with this time did not use the original design. Instead, they extensively incorporated springs.
If this were on land, the advantages might not be so apparent, but in naval warfare, the benefits were immense!
The tension produced by standard-issue springs could be measured!
Although, as time went on and due to lifespan issues, the power generated by these springs would decrease.
However, at least for the short term, they didn't need to worry about this problem. What Li Bao liked most was the limiting plate on the trebuchet.
With this device, they could roughly control the throwing distance! This seemingly small modification had directly increased their hit rate by thirty percent.
Even so, out of ten shots, they could only hit five or six. However, with the high-explosive gunpowder developed by Han Mo, a single hit was enough to send a thousand-ton sea vessel to the bottom of the ocean!