In July of the fourth year of Qianding in Xixia, the Mongolian army captured the city and captured most of the territory in Xixia except Xingling.
The clouds of war were thick and the army was pressing down on the country. Emperor Li Zunxu and Emperor Li Dewang died of fear one after another. Emperor Li Zunxu was posthumously named the English Emperor and his temple was named Shenzong. The emperor Li Dewang's posthumous temple name was Xianzong, but he did not even have a posthumous title or mausoleum title.
In a hurry, Emperor Li Dewang's nephew, the 22-year-old Nanping King Li Sui, was supported by the Xixia courtiers to succeed him. He was also the tenth emperor of Xixia since Li Yuanhao became emperor.
Li Sui ascended the throne and changed the Yuan Dynasty to Baoyi. The fourth year of Qianding also became the first year of Baoyi.
In the winter, military news came. The Mongolian Khan Temujin personally led an army to besiege Lingzhou, with great potential to capture Lingzhou City in one fell swoop.
When the bad news came, people in the Xixia government and the public were panicked, and it seemed that the dynasty was at the end of its dynasty and its strength had been exhausted.
No one knows whether Li Sui was the last emperor of Xixia Kingdom?
The Mongols were too strong, so Li Sui had no choice but to concentrate the remaining tens of thousands of Xixia's elites in the capital Zhongxingfu and the military town of Lingzhou. He wanted to rely on the natural dangers of the Yellow River and the Helan Mountains to make a final showdown with the Mongolian army.
Lingzhou is an important military base in Xixia and the last barrier of Zhongxing Prefecture, the capital. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If it survives, there is still a glimmer of hope for Xixia. If it loses, Xixia will perish.
Now that the Mongolian army is approaching Lingzhou City, how should we respond?
The young emperor Li Sui raised his head from the throne and looked at all the ministers in the palace with searching eyes.
"My lords, since the Tatar army has arrived at Lingzhou City, why don't they attack it instead of surrounding it? What are they waiting for?"
Young Li Sui asked the same question as Lingzhou guard Ning Zining.
Although he also knew the usual tactics of the Mongolian army, including encirclement and reinforcements, including deception and deceit, Lingzhou was the gateway to Zhongxing Mansion, and caring would lead to chaos, so he couldn't help but ask the ministers.
"Your Majesty, the Tatar army attacked the city all the way and was invincible, but it also suffered a lot of losses. Genghis Khan only besieged the Lingzhou City but did not attack. I am afraid that it is because he lost too many troops and generals, so he postponed the attack!"
The newly appointed right prime minister, Gao Lianghui, thought about it and stepped forward.
Gao Lianghui's words made the ministers in the palace whisper, and many people nodded in approval of Gao Lianghui's words.
The Mongolian army captured many important towns in Xixia, which must have consumed a lot of money. They also need to recuperate, and maybe they will return to Mobei soon.
"Master Weiming, what do you think?"
Li Sui's eyes rested on Duke Weiming, a nobleman of the party and a good general of the Xia people.
Wei Minlinggong had experienced hundreds of battles and had outstanding military exploits. Although he was once ambushed and captured by the Mongolian army, in terms of combat experience, no one in Xixia could surpass him.
This is also the reason why when he, the new emperor, came to the throne, he reactivated Weiming Linggong who was defeated and idled in the war, promoted the virtuous minister Gao Lianghui to the prime minister, and Zhang Gongfu to the imperial censor Zhongcheng.
He wanted to work harder, turn the tide, and bring Daxia back from the brink of destruction.
Lord Weiming looked at the gray-bearded Prime Minister Gao Lianghui, and then at the emperor's expectant eyes. He didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Genghis Khan had the heart of a tiger and a wolf, and vowed to destroy Daxia, and he would never only take Lingzhou. The Mongolian army besieged Lingzhou instead of attacking it. Their original intention was to encircle the point and mobilize reinforcements, aiming to capture Zhongxing Prefecture and destroy Xixia.
Zhongxing Mansion only has tens of thousands of remaining elite soldiers. If they send out troops, they will definitely be defeated. But if they don't attack, they can only watch Lingzhou City fall.
With both sides facing death, he was really hesitant to bet on the safety of Lingzhou and the future of Zhongxing Mansion.
"Your Majesty, Genghis Khan besieged Lingzhou instead of attacking it because he wanted to encircle a point and recruit reinforcements. This is the consistent tactic of the Tatar army. If he sends reinforcements, he is afraid that they will be lured and annihilated by the Tatar army. As a result, Zhongxing Mansion's troops will be weak and the Tatar army will be defeated. We will take the opportunity to capture Zhongxing Mansion."
Weiming Linggong frowned and said it.
Zhongxing Fucheng is high and deep, easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is guarded by elite soldiers and is impregnable. Without the elite troops of Zhongxing Mansion being mobilized, it would be difficult for the Mongolian army to conquer Zhongxing Mansion. The Mongolian army besieged Lingzhou but did not attack, just to see if the Xixia court dared to risk losing Lingzhou.
Genghis Khan's move was quite poisonous.
"So, Lingzhou City, the imperial court must save it?"
Li Sui frowned, then smiled coldly.
"Genghis Khan is an old thief with arrogant ambitions. He wants to destroy my country, Daxia!"
The defender of Lingzhou was the deposed prince Li Deren, who was also his uncle. He felt relieved that Li Deren would guard Lingzhou City. However, there are only 20,000 garrison troops in Lingzhou City, which is difficult to deal with the 100,000-strong Mongolian army that looks like wolves and tigers.
The main force of Xixia has been exhausted in Helan Mountain, and it is necessary to recruit enough new soldiers, which cannot be completed in the short term. It's hard for a good woman to make a meal without rice. Xixia is really on the verge of national subjugation this time.
"Your Majesty, don't be disappointed!"
Gao Lianghui persuaded the emperor, but she shed tears first.
Knowing that Genghis Khan had ulterior motives and had dug a trap, the Xixia army had no choice but to jump into it.
If you want to kill a thief, you can't save him. Is this what we call the sign of national subjugation?
"I am neither pessimistic nor disappointed. Even if I fight to the last soldier, I will not admit defeat to Genghis Khan."
Li Sui regained his composure and seemed to have made a decision.
"Your Excellency Weiming, our Daxia has lost its troops and lost its territory, leaving only Zhongxing Prefecture and Lingzhou. If we lose Lingzhou again, Daxia will be dead. I have made up my mind to send troops to reinforce Lingzhou. You hurry up and mobilize the army. We will soon send troops south to repel the Tatar army!"
"Your Majesty, I have a script!"
Luo Shichang, the envoy of the Nanyuan Hui Xuan, raised his eyebrows, stood up immediately, and presented the report to Emperor Li Sui.
"Ms. Luo, do you have anything to say?"
Li Sui frowned and asked softly.
"Your Majesty, sending troops to reinforce Lingzhou is related to the survival of our Great Xia. I have written a report."
Luo Shichang looked calm and bowed, but his words were not polite.
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, the Tatar army surrounded Lingzhou. Did the Lingzhou defender ask for reinforcements?"
Luo Shichang's words made all the officials in the palace nod. Li Sui was startled and then reacted.
From beginning to end, Lingzhou guard general and deposed prince Li Deren did not seem to ask the court for help.
"Ms. Luo, Lingzhou didn't ask for help. Maybe it's because the Tatar army isolates the north from the south. Shouldn't we send troops to reinforce it? If Lingzhou is captured by the Tatar army, can Zhongxing Mansion still hold on?"
It was Duke Wei Ming again who spoke angrily with a black face.
"The soldiers of Zhongxing Mansion, plus all the government officials and civilians in the city, are only one hundred thousand. The Tatar army has more than one hundred thousand soldiers. If you bring all the Zhongxing Mansion defenders, can you be a match for the Tatar army?"
Luo Shichang didn't hesitate and asked directly.
This famous prince was arrogant and domineering, relying on the emperor's trust to make his own decisions, and the Great Xia court almost became his single voice.
At this critical moment of Xixia's life and death, he could not let Wei Minglinggong keep his words to himself, and everyone became his vassals.
"Ms. Luo, do you mean not to reinforce Lingzhou? The Tatar army is approaching Lingzhou City, and Lingzhou City is in danger. What are your intentions?"
Weiming Linggong was stunned for a moment, and then roared fiercely.
These scholar-bureaucrats can recite poems and write poems all day long, and they know nothing about arranging troops and deploying troops externally.
"Your Majesty, please don't speak harshly to me. Let me ask you, how many thousands of soldiers are there guarding Zhongxing Mansion?"
Luo Shichang said coldly, not moved by the anger of Lord Wei Ming at all.
"There are 50,000 garrison troops in Zhongxing Mansion, plus ministries and government officials, there are 100,000 people. Luo Xianggong, why do you ask these?"
As Lord Weiming spoke, his momentum weakened.
These 100,000 mobs faced off against Genghis Khan's 100,000 cavalry, and it was a field battle on the plains. The odds of winning were really low.
"Your Majesty, there are 50,000 garrison troops, but only 30,000 fighting troops. With all the troops in Zhongxing Mansion, they are no match for the Tatar army. Sending troops to rescue Lingzhou will only lead to self-destruction, and Zhongxing Mansion will not be able to escape. Even though we know it is. It is not a wise man to jump into a trap. Your Majesty, think twice."
Luo Shichang played loudly and never gave in.
When it comes to national affairs, ministers are not allowed to ask, where does the courage come from? How domineering?
Genghis Khan's scheming, besieging the city and calling for reinforcements can be seen by any fool, so why do he still have to jump into the trap and not allow others to doubt him?
"Luo Shichang, according to you, both your Majesty and I are stupid? Have you ever been on the battlefield? What qualifications do you have to talk nonsense here? Since you are so smart, then you would like to ask, how can Lingzhou City not lose ? Just sit on the sidelines and watch?"
The words of Duke Wei Ming immediately caused a commotion in the hall, and many civil servants could not help but speak back.
"Master Wei Ming, according to you, if you have never been on the battlefield, why can't you worry about national affairs?"
"Your Majesty Weiming, you have been on the battlefield and lost tens of thousands of troops, and you were also made a prisoner of Genghis Khan. If it weren't for Xiangzong's marriage and intercession to Genghis Khan, would you still be able to come back alive, and would you be able to stand here and speak so loudly?"
"It is a national matter, the survival of Daxia, how can you, a defeated general, be allowed to shut up his voice? Is this really unreasonable?"
"You are not allowed to say anything, how domineering your majesty is!"
Li Zhong'e, the Minister of Rites, Zhang Gongfu, the Censor Zhongcheng, and others came out one after another and criticized Wei Minglinggong.
It's okay to be domineering at ordinary times, but at the critical moment when the Xixia country was ruined and the family was destroyed, he still didn't allow the ministers to express their opinions. He was too arrogant and unbearable.
"I'm just worried about national affairs, that's not what I meant. Whether or not to reinforce Lingzhou City depends entirely on His Majesty's judgment!"
Weiming Linggong knew that he was wrong and no longer fought back sharply.
In fact, he himself was hesitant to send troops to reinforce Lingzhou. He knew most of Genghis Khan's tricks, and he was even more afraid of them.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are so ambitious. Your Majesty, please give me a holy judgment!"
Luo Shichang struck while the iron was hot and remonstrated again.
"All the ministers have temporarily withdrawn from the court. Li Yuanji, Gao Lianghui, Wei Minglinggong, and Luo Shichang went to the imperial study room to meet the emperor. The matter of reinforcements to Lingzhou will be discussed later."
While the ministers were disturbing each other, Li Sui stood up with a cold voice and walked towards the side hall.
The new emperor was decisive and strong, and the ministers had no choice but to retreat. Li Yuanji, Gao Lianghui, Wei Minglinggong, and Luo Shichang looked at each other and left the hall one after another.
Luo Shichang came out, looked around and saw that there was no one around, waved to the guard, inserted an ingot of patterned silver, and whispered a warning.
"Go to the military camp quickly and find General Yu Jieyu!"
To reinforce Lingzhou, the emperor was ready to make a move. At this point, we can only place our hope on this eloquent Song general.
