The haze was thick and the wind was biting. Standing on the west wall of Lingzhou, I saw that the banks of the Yellow River were densely packed with camps of the Mongolian army, stretching for miles with no end in sight.
Snowflakes are falling on the wilderness, the surrounding areas are desolate, and there are corpses everywhere. Mongolian horsemen are galloping back and forth, looting in all directions, laughing and cursing, feeling satisfied and contented, as if entering a deserted land.
More than 100,000 Mongolian troops approached the city and confronted Lingzhou City across the river. Different from previous years when the Mongolian army went south to burn, kill and loot, this time, the people of Xixia knew that the Mongolian army came with the purpose of destroying Xia.
Genghis Khan, this is to destroy the Xixia country and destroy the Xixia people.
Rows of Xia people with disheveled hair were kneeling on the bank of the cold Yellow River. Groups of ferocious Mongolian knights rode up on horseback, slashing with swords and clubs. After a while, the ground was covered with corpses and blood. The corpse was pushed into the cold Yellow River, floating and sinking, and interacting with the ice particles.
The Mongol army's killing and shocking behavior left the guards on the Lingzhou city wall with different expressions. Some looked angry, some turned pale, and some were indifferent.
It is said that the Mongolian army is bloodthirsty and will massacre the city if it does not surrender. Looking at this posture today, they are threatening and frightening the Lingzhou defenders with killing.
Unfortunately, the entire Xixia people knew that Genghis Khan hated Xixia and vowed to kill all the Xia people in Xingling Land. Therefore, the Lingzhou defenders would rather be defeated by the Mongolian army than surrender.
You will die if you stand, and you will die if you kneel. The bloody and brave soldiers and civilians of Xixia can only choose a more comfortable way to die.
Snowflakes were flying, Lingzhou guard Li Deren stood on the city wall, looking at the Mongolian army camp across the river, despite the white patches on his helmet and shoulders, frowning and saying nothing.
There is still the surging Yellow River water blocking the Mongolian army. In a few days, the Yellow River will freeze and the Mongolians will be able to cross the river calmly. At that time, it was not known whether the Lingzhou defenders could withstand the Mongol army's offensive.
Seeing the river bank full of ice particles and the floating ice on the river, Li Deren's heart couldn't help but clench again.
"The scenery of the North is covered with thousands of miles of ice and thousands of miles of snow. Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, there is nothing but vastness, and the rivers up and down suddenly stop flowing..."
Subconsciously, the song "Qinyuan Spring Snow" flashed through Li Deren's mind.
The splendid figure of the Southern Dynasties, this Song Emperor, was so talented!
Fortunately for these eight thousand Song troops, although less than half of them were distributed in the city, everyone was calm and composed. At first glance, they looked like a well-trained and powerful army.
There were also the artillery carts with their faint muzzles, which chilled the hearts of the Xixia troops and at the same time made them feel much more secure.
The "rebels" had more than two hundred artillery pieces, fifty on each side of the four city walls. The Xia army was curious, but the Song army officers were confident, as if they wanted to look good to the Mongolian army outside the city.
"Your Highness, since the Tatar army has reached the west bank of the Yellow River, why don't they cross the river and attack the city?"
Lingzhou Zhizhou Ning Zining couldn't help but ask.
"Surrounding the area to call for reinforcements is Genghis Khan's usual tactic. He just wants to defeat the reinforcements coming from Zhongxing Mansion."
Li Deren said softly without looking back.
Even if Song general Cao Youwan didn't say these words, he would understand them.
After dealing with the Mongolian army for so many years and fighting for so many years, he still didn't understand Genghis Khan's character.
Those who are familiar with this series of operations, including encirclement and reinforcements, large detours, pruning and exhaustion, and fraud, are no longer familiar to those who are familiar with them.
"Your Highness, do you think the emperor will send reinforcements?"
Ning Zining held back the fear in her heart and continued to ask.
"Lingzhou is the barrier to the south of Zhongxing Mansion. If Lingzhou is broken, Zhongxing Mansion will perish. If you were the emperor, would you send an army to reinforce it?"
Li Deren's heart was heavy and he shook his head gently.
He hoped that the emperor would not send reinforcements. Zhongxing Mansion no longer has many troops. If it comes to reinforce Lingzhou and is defeated by Genghis Khan one by one, not only will it be impossible to save Lingzhou, but Zhongxing Mansion will be empty of troops, which will be in danger.
Zhongxing Mansion is in danger, and Daxia is about to perish.
"Your Highness, can these rebels who are helping to defend the city be relied on?"
Ning Zining was like a curious baby, breaking the casserole and asking the truth.
"These people are well-trained and loyal men, and their firearms are even sharper. Mr. Ning, please don't underestimate these people. When the battle comes at the top of the city, you will know how powerful they are."
In fact, he was also playing drums in his heart. Are the firearms brought by the Song Army really so powerful? Can it really resist the wolf-like Mongolian army?
"Your Highness, those "rebels" are probably not ordinary people, right?"
Sure enough, Ning Zining asked again in a low voice.
He also often fought fiercely on the battlefield. He could tell at a glance whether he was an ordinary citizen or a soldier.
These "rebels" are so elite that even the Lingzhou garrison can't match them. They are definitely not just ordinary people.
"Ms. Ning, you are too nervous. You should relax."
Li Deren laughed. He did not answer Ning Zining's question, but turned his head and walked towards the city gate tower.
He promised Luo Shichang to keep his mouth shut, and of course he would not leak information about the Song Army at will.
Ning Zining nodded and refrained from asking.
The "rebels" treat Li Deren respectfully and are not his private soldiers. I am afraid not many people believe it.
"Ms. Ning, the war is about to begin. Come with me to the training ground to see how the new recruits are doing."
The defense of Lingzhou is likely to last for a period of time, and the training of the new recruits may be related to the success or failure of the defense.
"Your Highness, I also want to see if these new recruits are really useful?"
Ning Zining nodded and quickly followed.
Li Deren organized and trained the new army in the teaching field, and it was impressive. He also wanted to see if it was really as magical as the legend said.
"Mr. Ning, the battle to defend the city in Lingzhou may be protracted. With these men from Daxia risking their lives, there is hope for Lingzhou City."
Thinking of the upcoming fierce battle, Li Deren felt heavy in his heart.
With more than 10,000 new soldiers defending the city, the chances of Lingzhou City being defended would be much greater, but this would also mean losing countless young lives. How would he explain this to their families?
A mother wants a son, a wife wants a husband, and a child wants a father!
What can he do to calm the trauma caused by this war?
In the large training ground in the west of Lingzhou City, the cold wind was biting. More than ten thousand recruits were blushing and breathing white air. Everyone was holding a red-tasseled gun. They thrust out and retracted together with the roar of the officers in front.
"Listen to my command, move forward, retreat, leap forward---thrust!"
The officers taught by words and deeds, and the recruits were sweating profusely and full of energy. Li Deren was dazzled and his palms were sweating.
In the past few months, these strong men from Lingzhou City had been practicing every day with the Song Army instructors. They were so impressive and impressive that it actually frightened him.
Just looking at this posture, they are already as good as the soldiers at the top of the city, and they are enough to go up to the city to defend against the enemy.
"You all know who is outside the city. If you don't fight for yourselves, no one can save you! When stabbing, hold the spear in your hand steady and just thrust out. When two armies meet, the brave will win. Don't back down. Behind you is yours. Parents, wives and children!”
The officers shouted loudly, one in Dangxiang and one in Chinese, and all the recruits heard it clearly.
"Everyone, follow me! Kill!"
The instructor roared angrily, and stabbed out the spear in his hand with such precision and sharpness that a subconscious chill filled Ning Zining's heart.
"kill!"
The recruits brandished their spears and followed the instructors, thrusting out violently. Countless spear heads shook, causing Ning Zining's expression to change dramatically, and he took a step back unconsciously.
These new recruits are so fierce. Isn't this an elite force that Li Deren trained privately?
This will lead to the destruction of the country and the destruction of the species, and the private goods are finally taken out.
"Your Highness, are these the spear masters you hired? Why do they all seem to be the same spear technique?"
After Ning Zining finished asking, he suddenly wiped his eyes.
"Your Highness, is that the Crown Prince? Why is he doing this nonsense too?"
Li Deren was startled by Ning Zining's words. He looked up and sure enough, in the first row of recruits, a short figure stood out with a gun, his face was serious and presentable.
That was his seven-year-old son Li Weizhong.
"The Kingdom of Daxia is on the verge of life and death, and even the children stand up to defend the country. How can this be nonsense?"
After Li Deren finished speaking, he looked at the crowd carefully and smiled.
"Ms. Ning, it seems that your fourth son and sixth son are also in the queue."
Ning Zining looked carefully and frowned.
"Why are these two bastards here too?"
He has many wives and concubines, many sons and grandsons, most of whom are playboys, who spend their days eating, drinking, having fun, and living a life of luxury. Fortunately now, two of them suddenly came to the teaching field.
"They are very good, and they are also my good sons and daughters in Daxia!"
While Li Deren was excited, he was also muttering secretly in his heart.
The "quick fix" method of the Song Dynasty really worked. Just the stabbing skills and the practice of queues made these ragtag people in the city completely transformed, as if they were different people.
It seems that the scholar-bureaucrats of the Song Dynasty are fatuous and corrupt, but the soldiers below are still hot-blooded.
Having said that, if the Mongolian army comes to attack in full force, Lingzhou City will naturally defend it. He, Li Deren, could not surrender without a fight, and the people of Lingzhou behind him would not allow him to do so.
