Mikuni convenience store

124 Fellow countryman, open the door. Do you want to buy something?

"Smash it for me!"

Zhang Xian shouted at the top of his lungs.

At this time, he was in a difficult situation.

Even though Zhuge Tian let him use various siege weapons from the beginning, now thinking about it, I realize that Zhuge Tian was the one who got the greater advantage.

Because there are various other methods of attacking a city besides attacking it head-on.

For example, sieges without water and food, digging tunnels, etc.

It was only at this time that Zhang Xian realized that other methods were not working.

Siege?

They were attacking this section of the city wall, and people from Wolong Village kept coming out to watch the fun and point fingers at them.

Besides, even if Zhuge Tian and the others were not allowed to come out, the food and drink in Wolong Village would not be used up in ten days or half a month.

Other means such as digging tunnels are also useless.

There were only 500 people in total, and it was okay for them to use catapults to attack the city in full view of the public.

Even a fool can see that hundreds of people need to be assigned to dig tunnels or something.

"My lord, there are clearly no defenders on the walls of Wolong Village. If we throw rocks and bombs while reducing the number of soldiers operating the trebuchets and letting them use ladders to attack the city, it might be effective."

Although Huan Jie is not very popular now, he still gave Zhang Xian an idea.

Zhang Xian thought about it and finally nodded and said, "Okay, let's give it a try!"

Today's catapults require about twenty people to operate.

Zhang Xian first sent two fewer people to each catapult. This way, the catapult could still be operated, but it was more difficult.

This saved fifty people, and reduced the number of aircraft attacking the city simultaneously from twenty-five to twenty, saving nearly a hundred people.

While the catapults were continuously firing stones, the hundred-plus people rushed directly towards that section of the city wall from the side.

When they were about to arrive, they stopped the attack of the catapults and let the remaining people rush towards the city wall.

As long as these 500 people can rush up the city wall and plant their flags at several flag-planting positions, they will win.

Seeing the soldiers at the top about to climb up the city wall, Zhang Xian's face was filled with joy.

There was no movement on the city wall at the moment, so they were almost certain to succeed if they attacked.

But just when Zhang Xian thought the situation was settled, he was surprised to find that the soldiers at the top of the ladder retreated in a hurry.

"What's wrong? Why are you retreating? Attack! Anyone who dares to retreat will be punished by military law!"

Although Zhang Xian was shouting from behind, his soldiers would retreat when they were about to reach the city wall.

In desperation, Zhang Xian could only withdraw his troops and then called over the captain of his personal guards who was leading the attack on the city.

"Zhang Zhong! Why are you backing down at the last minute?"

"My lord..." Zhang Zhong said with a bitter face, "It's not that we brothers want to retreat, we are all forced to retreat."

"Forced to retreat?"

"Well, when we were about to reach the top of the city wall, a lot of wooden sticks suddenly stretched out from the wall and hit us hard on the forehead and chest."

"We were clinging to the ladder and had no way to gain leverage, so we had no choice but to retreat."

Zhang Zhong also knew that the people of Wolong Village were showing mercy.

Not to mention that what was extended was not a spear, even if it was a wooden stick, if it was not extended slowly to force them back, but was directly stabbed out quickly with increased force, the force would be enough to push them off the city wall.

"You said that when you were about to reach the city wall, someone inside forced you down with a stick?"

Zhang Xian was a little puzzled.

How could he know that although the outside of the city wall looked covered with stone bricks, the top part was actually made of compacted clay like the bottom of the city wall.

Instead, a hollow room about one person high was built using stone slabs about 50 to 60 centimeters thick.

Further up are the battlements.

There are many round holes with a diameter of seven or eight centimeters between the stones.

The soldiers defending Wolong Village were actually hiding in there.

No matter how hard you throw the stone bullets, you will never be able to break through these fifty or sixty centimeters of stone.

When Zhang Xian's soldiers were about to rush up with ladders, they simply used wooden sticks to force these soldiers to retreat.

When it comes to real fighting, they will switch to spears.

At that time, the defenders inside can just hold their spears and poke around outside.

Zhang Xian had never thought of such a hollow-top city wall. He was speechless for a moment and didn't know what to say.

He could only glare at Huan Jie, blaming him for all the bad ideas he came up with, and then continue to let the soldiers throw stones.

Anyway, the contract didn't specify how long the siege would take.

As long as he kept ordering his men to throw stones and bullets, even if they could not break through the wall of Wolong Village for the time being, at least he would not be considered a loser.

He can then slowly think of a solution.

Anyway, he was not afraid that the people from Wolong Village would rush out, and he even expected that they would rush out.

After all, they have 500 people, while Wolong Village has only 100 people.

But even if they slowed down their attack, the stone bullets were becoming fewer and fewer.

Zhang Xian didn't dare to send too many soldiers to look for stone bullets.

If too many people are sent, what should we do if the people in Wolong Village rush out?

However, after more than a day, Zhang Xian had very few stone bullets left.

Just when Zhang Xian was feeling worried, Zhang Zhong came over with a strange look on his face and said, "My Lord, someone asked if we should buy stone bullets."

"Ah?" Zhang Xian was so worried that he couldn't sleep well yesterday. He was stunned when he heard Zhang Zhong's words.

Many of Liu Biao's men came from Xiangyang to watch the show. Who would dare to sell stone bullets to them at this time?

"Who is selling it?" Zhang Xian was a little touched.

Anyone who can help me at this time is like a timely help!

"It's... the people of Wolong Village."

"Oh, yes...what did you say?" Zhang Xian's voice changed. He even began to suspect that he didn't sleep well last night and heard the splits.

"Those who came to sell stone bullets were all residents of Wolong Village. They came out from the side, pushing out a lot of them on carts."

Zhang Xian was still a little skeptical, so he walked out of the tent and saw quite a few people from Wolong Village.

Some were pulled out by carts, some were carried on shoulders, some were held in their hands, and some were carried in backpacks.

Seeing Zhang Xian leading his men out of the tent, the villagers didn't recognize him, but seeing someone coming out, they all shouted happily, "Fellow countryman, would you like to buy some stone bullets?"

"My fellow countryman, our stone bullets are very strong. I guarantee you can throw them onto our city walls!"

"Fellow countryman, there are talismans drawn on our stones!"

"Look at this stone bullet, fellow! It's so big and round!"

Zhang Xian was a little confused.

Although this is just a bet, we are actually attacking your Wolong Village.

Now that so many people have come out of Wolong Village to sell stone bullets, this is...

If Zhang Xian were a modern person, he would probably use the adjective "abstract".

Abstract, really too abstract!

"My lord, our stone bullets...will last us two days at most."

Zhang Zhong whispered beside Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian was also very angry at the time, and he looked down on Zhuge Tian.

I just agreed to this bet, but now I find out it's full of traps.

Their logistics alone can't keep up.

The two days that Zhang Zhong mentioned are still two days of sparse rainfall.

"Buy it!" Zhang Xian felt a burning pain on his face.

But now it has come to this, wouldn’t it be even more embarrassing if I admit defeat?

At this time, I can only bite the bullet and fight on.

The Zhang family was originally a prominent family.

Although their main power is in the three counties, they actually have industries in Xiangyang City.

The three counties are experiencing a period of transition, affecting only the people of the three counties and having no impact on the Zhang family.

It was even the Zhang family who took the lead in hoarding food and controlling food prices.

So Zhang Xian is actually very rich.

The industries in Xiangyang City alone can bring in a lot of money.

The stone bullets sold by the people of Wolong Village are not expensive, only a few hundred coins each, and there are group purchase prices if you buy in bulk.

Zhang Xian gritted his teeth and asked Zhang Zhong to buy them all.

Then the stone bullets thrown towards Wolong Village became more frequent.

Unfortunately, the situation that Zhang Xian expected, where the wall of Wolong Village was broken, did not happen.

So many stone bullets were thrown, which meant that some of the bricks in the city wall were cracked and broken, but it had no effect on the entire city wall.

Just when Zhang Xian thought that Wolong Village selling him stone bullets was the limit of his imagination, more people from Wolong Village came to the edge of their camp the next day.

"Fellow villager, would you like to buy some fresh eggs? They'll give you the strength to throw the stone!"

"My fellow countryman, our bacon is delicious. It's all slowly smoked over a wood stove. It's completely different from those bacon that's smoked over a quick fire!"

"Fellow countryman, I have quite a few plasters here that are incredibly effective for back pain, leg pain, and so on. This is a recipe taught by the legendary doctor, Mr. Yuan Hua. You've been throwing stone bullets here for a few days, so I'm sure many of you have back pain, right?"

"My fellow countryman, I play the 竽 (竽) instrument. Would you like me to perform for you? Just give me some money."

The entrance to Zhang Xian’s camp had turned into a big market, selling everything.

One by one, they called out to their fellow villagers affectionately, holding their respective products in their hands.

Zhang Xian wouldn't believe it if Zhuge Tian hadn't instructed him to do so.

Insult, this is absolutely a naked insult.

But Zhang Xian had no way to chase them away. This was the entrance to their village. Why should he chase them away?

The contract at that time did not say that the people of Wolong Village were not allowed to come out and sell things!

Zhang Xian was so angry that he ordered his men to close the camp. He felt that as long as he ignored the other party, they would get bored and leave.

The stone bullets he bought at a high price yesterday can be used for at least three or four days!

Unfortunately, Zhang Xian thought that if he closed the camp, the other side would be helpless. He underestimated the "troublemakers" in Wolong Village.

You have to know that except for the real people who came later, many of the people in front were Liao Hua's bandits and Gan Ning's pirates.

Not many of these people are good people.

It is not an exaggeration to say that he is a scoundrel.

Seeing that Zhang Xian's camp was still closed, they immediately started barbecuing in the upwind direction.

Then sprinkle it with barbecue powder made from spices such as cumin, fennel, and star anise ground into powder by Wolong Village.

He stayed close to Zhang Xian's camp, roasting the food while fanning himself with a big fan.

The smell of barbecue will not be trapped in the camp.

Follow the wind and go into the camp.

Zhang Xian can control the soldiers under him, but can he also control their salivary glands?

Everyone inside was working hard to operate the catapult and drooling wildly.

It was physically demanding work, and the food we ate was just ordinary military rations, such as steamed bread and corn porridge.

Without oil and water, you will get hungry quickly.

Attacking the city with this smell is an epic torture.

Even Zhang Xian himself couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

"Hahaha, this Zhuge Hanxing kid is too mean!"

"How on earth did he come up with such a nasty trick?"

"I originally thought this guy was just a philistine, but I didn't expect him to be so insidious. Whoever messes with him will be in trouble!"

Those who came to watch the show in Xiangyang City did not expect to see such a wonderful scene, and they all laughed so hard that they fell over.

"Where's that sneaky?" Kuai Qi said helpfully, "You don't know the composting area in Wolong Village. It's where everyone's daily waste is piled together and used as fertilizer."

"The smell is enough to make a person unable to eat for three days. If he ordered people to pile those things upwind, that would be really mean!"

"Hahaha, that's because you don't understand this guy." Pang Shanmin said with a smile: "Those filthy things may disgust people, but they can't be sold."

"Now, I guess he can force Zhang Xian to buy these things."

The two of them were old pickers, and they both had smiles on their faces when talking about Zhuge Tian.

Just as they said, Zhang Xian couldn't hold on in the camp for half a day.

There was no way. The soldiers in the camp were already in low morale, and after being attracted by the fragrance, they had even less desire to fight.

In this situation, Zhang Xian was really afraid that the people in Wolong Village would rush out and they would not be able to form an effective resistance.

Anyway, we have already spent a lot of money this time, so let’s buy some food to boost morale!

Thinking of this, Zhang Xian directly bought all the food on sale.

However, he was also afraid that Zhuge Tian would tamper with the food, so after buying it, he did not let the people of Wolong Village leave. Instead, he said, "Eat some of what you each sold."

The people in Wolong Village were stunned. Zhuge Tian said that people outside were stupid and had a lot of money, and it turned out to be true.

We made a lot of money selling stone bullets yesterday.

When they were digging clay to build the city wall, they also dug up a lot of smaller stones that were originally useless. However, each stone can be sold here for hundreds of coins.

It’s the same thing today. Not only did we sell off the leftover food, but we also let them eat it themselves?

The man who was shouting about selling eggs had cooked eggs. He just peeled the shells and put them in his mouth. After that, he drank a few sips of water and continued eating.

The others were similar. In just a few moments, half of what Zhang Xian bought was eaten by the people of Wolong Village.

"Stop! That's enough, go away!" Zhang Xian's temple was throbbing.

If he had a blood pressure monitor at this moment, he would have known that his blood pressure was about to explode.

I distributed the things to the soldiers below and decided to withdraw today.

Zhang Xian had a lot more white hair in just three days.

Now he knew he had become a joke.

The only thing that would do is make the joke less funny.

Zhang Xian was furious: "Tomorrow, no matter what, we must capture the city walls. Anyone who retreats will be punished by military law!"

"Aren't those people from Wolong Village hiding under the city wall and poking you with sticks? Even if you fall from the ladder, you are absolutely not allowed to retreat!"

He knew for sure that Wolong Village would not take any harsh measures against them, and planned to take advantage of this.

As long as he doesn't care about casualties, even if dozens or hundreds of people die, he must attack the top of the city.

In Wolong Village, Zhuge Tian looked at Zhang Xian's camp and said, "We've made enough money. Let's get rid of him tomorrow!"