In the winter of the first year of Baoyi in Xixia, on November 18, there was heavy snow on the east bank of the Yellow River.
The Yellow River froze, and the Mongolian armies from the east and west finally gathered together and settled in the south of Lingzhou City. The white Mongolian camps are endless, and the tiger-skin gold tent mounted on a giant vehicle is where Genghis Khan, the emperor of the Great Mongolia, handled political affairs.
The cold wind was biting and the snow was flying. Outside Genghis Khan's tiger-skin tent, the warriors of the Xue Army were guarding the Mongol Khan, who had great martial arts and conquered the world.
The Qixue Army, also the imperial guard of Genghis Khan, was mainly composed of meritorious sons of Mongolian nobles. Each Qixue Army soldier has the salary and military rank of an ordinary general. Their commander is Genghis Khan's "Four Heroes" with outstanding martial arts: Mu Huali, Chi Laowen, Borhu, and Borshu, also known as "Four timid Xue".
The Qixue Army has strict military discipline and extraordinary treatment. The status of an ordinary Qixue Army soldier is even higher than that of a thousand-household official. The Qoxue Army maintained the rule of Genghis Khan and also established the basis of the Mongol Empire's rule.
It's just that beauties grow old and heroes grow old. Among Genghis Khan's "Four Heroes", Borshu, who was still dying, also died of illness on the way to conquer Xixia.
The "Four Heroes" were all dead, and three of the "Four Dogs" were also lost. The eight famous generals who conquered the world with Genghis Khan have all withered away, leaving only one of the youngest, the most powerful Mongolian general, Subotai, still charging into the battle. Accompanying Genghis Khan.
In the big tent, there was a blazing charcoal fire. The old man was lying on the felt. He had a long beard, his face was scorched, and his beard and hair were all white.
"A man's greatest pleasure is to subdue the crowd, defeat the enemy, seize everything he has, ride his steeds, and have his beautiful wives and concubines."
Genghis Khan, a genius of a generation, is already over sixty-five years old. Even though he destroyed countless countries, was a nightmare for countless countries in Europe and Asia, and was feared, surrendered and hated by countless people, no one could defeat time and injuries.
In the tent were all powerful generals who had conquered the world and made all the countries in the four directions fearful. However, in front of this sick old man, everyone was respectful and did not dare to say a word.
"Abu, how are you?"
The bald middle-aged majestic man who greeted me was Ogedei, the third son of Genghis Khan. He knelt in front of Genghis Khan's bed, his concern palpable.
"Abu, do you want to call the doctor over? How about retreating?"
Another kneeling man was a tough man in his early thirties, full of anger and anxious eyes. This is Torre, the fourth son of Genghis Khan and a famous general in the Mongolian army.
Genghis Khan's first wife, Borte, gave birth to four sons: the eldest son Shuchi, the second son Chagatai, the third son Ogedai, and the fourth son Tolei. The fourth son followed Genghis Khan in his eastward and westward expeditions and made great contributions. The eldest son Shuchi has passed away; the second son Chagatai is in charge of decrees, is knowledgeable and talented, and stays in Mobei.
Accompanying Genghis Khan on this expedition were the third son Ogedei, who was in charge of the government and the potential successor to the next Great Khan of Mongolia; and the fourth son Tuo Lei, who was 80% of the elite in the army and the favorite of his father Genghis Khan.
"It's okay, help me up!"
Genghis Khan pushed away the hands of his two sons and struggled to sit up. Although he was still domineering, his cloudy eyes were no longer as fierce as before.
"Didn't that little emperor of the Jin Kingdom send troops to reinforce the Tangwuti people?"
After taking a sip of hot milk tea, Genghis Khan asked warmly.
His beloved concubine accompanying the army followed suit, kneeling behind Genghis Khan and gently beating his shoulders.
So, Genghis Khan's favorite concubine, whose father and husband were both killed by Genghis Khan, and her sister Ye Suqian, became Genghis Khan's concubines.
"Bo Lu and Shi Tianze are using troops in Hebei and Shanxi, near Bianliang City. The Jin people are tired of coping and dare not move. Maybe in a few days, the Jin people will send envoys to come and make peace. I, the Mongolian cavalry, travel all over the world, Not everyone dares to commit suicide like Tang Wuti."
Wokuotai was careful and tried to say some comforting words.
With Genghis Khan's extremely competitive character, he could not say anything domineering to the Jin man, otherwise Genghis Khan would become angry again and his health would be even worse.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Ogedai finished speaking, the fierce general Subotai couldn't help but burst into a fit.
"Didn't the emperor of the Jin Dynasty want to send some Princess Wen to surrender? Why is there no movement at all now? Do these golden dogs not want to live anymore?"
Wo Kuotai frowned secretly. He belittled the Kingdom of Jin and wanted Genghis Khan to rest and recuperate, but was interrupted by these rough-and-tumble generals, and everything came to nothing.
The Jin people are also new emperors who ascended the throne. They are willing to work hard and endure hardships. Once the Mongolian army comes to attack and storm the city, the Jin people will definitely bow their heads.
The new emperor of the Jin Dynasty ascended the throne and did not send any girls from the clan to get married. This was unusual. Something must have gone wrong there.
"These dog thieves from the Wanyan family will take advantage of the Tangwu Ti Kingdom to cut down the gold. Subotai, when the time comes, you will kill the golden dog corpses everywhere. Aren't there only Henan and Shaanxi left with the golden dog? Let’s talk about it after Shaanxi is leveled!”
When he mentioned the feuding Kingdom of Jin, Genghis Khan placed the golden cup in his hand heavily on the table next to him, with an angry look on his face and started coughing violently.
"Don't worry, Khan! I will make the golden dog's blood flow all over the Wei River!"
Subutai was overjoyed and immediately took the order.
Destroy Xixia and cut down the Jin along the way, killing two birds with one stone.
"Abu, don't be angry!"
"Profuse sweat, take a rest."
Wo Kuotai and Chong Fei were both frightened and persuaded one after another.
Genghis Khan's body is not as good as before, so he must not get angry again, otherwise, the consequences will be unpredictable.
"Yelu Chucai, please tell the Great Khan a divination, when will Lingzhou City surrender?"
Wo Kuotai looked at the bearded man kneeling in the corner of the tent and urged him.
Yelu Chucai was born into a Khitan aristocracy and was the ninth grandson of Yelu Abaoji, Taizu of the Liao Dynasty. His father was the son of Yelu Lu, the Minister of the Jin Dynasty, Youcheng.
Ten years ago, the Mongolian army captured Yanjing, the Jin Dynasty, and Yelu Chucai was captured. Genghis Khan learned that he was talented and full of economics, asked him about the plan of running the country, and appointed him Bijachi.
As Bijachi in charge of military documents, Yelu Chucai was highly regarded by Genghis Khan because he was good at divination of stars and proficient in medical techniques. During Genghis Khan's Western Expedition, Yelu Chucai accompanied the army to predict good and bad luck for Genghis Khan and the Mongolian army.
"Khan, let me do the math."
Yelu Chucai glanced at the angry Mongolian generals in the tent and hesitated.
These arrogant soldiers only knew how to enjoy killing and looting, but they did not know that Genghis Khan's condition was unexpected. If he did not cultivate himself, his days would probably be numbered.
But if his prediction is not accurate, if Genghis Khan becomes furious or the Mongolian kings settle accounts, wouldn't he be in for a big disaster?
"Why are you asking him about these things? Are you saying that you can't even capture the small Lingzhou City?"
Genghis Khan was noncommittal, his mind returned to the war in Lingzhou City, and his white eyebrows twitched.
"Don't the Tang Wuti troops in Lingzhou City plan to surrender in Kaicheng yet?"
In the ice and snow, 100,000 soldiers are eating horses and chewing, and the number of sick people is increasing day by day. This is not a long-term solution.
What he didn't know was that the army had been out fighting for a year, and the disease had begun to spread among the army, but no one dared to report it to him.
"Great Khan, Li Deren, the guard of Lingzhou City, is the former deposed prince of Tang Wuti, and has a high prestige in Lingzhou. Lingzhou is also the southern barrier of Zhongxing Mansion, the capital of Tang Wuti's country. If Lingzhou loses, Tang Wuti will die. In my opinion, I’m afraid Lingzhou will not surrender easily.”
Subotai's analysis was reasonable, and everyone nodded.
"Emperor Tang Wuti...hasn't Zhongxing Mansion sent reinforcements yet?"
Genghis Khan's face darkened and he asked in a hateful voice.
When the Mongolian army approached Lingzhou City, Genghis Khan did not attack the city immediately. Instead, he chose to encircle the city for reinforcements, hoping to attract reinforcements from the Xia people in Zhongxing Prefecture and defeat them in one fell swoop.
Although the Mongolian army was victorious in consecutive battles, it suffered heavy losses and had to be repaired. The city wall of Zhongxingfu, the capital of Xixia, is tall and strong, easy to defend and difficult to attack. And siege is the shortcoming of the Mongols.
Encircling the point for reinforcements can not only consume Zhongxing Mansion's effective troops, but also prevent the Mongolian army from casualties and successfully capture Zhongxing Mansion.
As for the small Lingzhou City in front of him, Genghis Khan didn't take it seriously.
So many important towns in Xixia were captured by the Mongolian army. Lingzhou was not the strongest, nor did it have the largest garrison. It may only take a few days to conquer Lingzhou.
"Abu, not yet. I don't know what these guys are doing. Maybe there is something wrong with Zhongxing Mansion. Maybe there are no troops to send."
Wo Kuotai's heart skipped a beat and he quickly replied.
The Xia army in Zhongxing Prefecture did not reinforce Lingzhou as expected, leaving the Mongolian army waiting in vain for more than a month. It also caused Genghis Khan, who boasted of being a god with soldiers, to lose face in front of his generals.
First, his eldest son Shuchi died of illness, and then Muhuali passed away. Before the expedition, Genghis Khan's health was much worse than before, and now Borshu died of illness in the army. In addition, the Xixia people did not reinforce Lingzhou as expected. He was furious and turned into anger. Next, Genghis Khan's health plummeted, which was worrying.
"Yelu Chucai, what do you think? How long can the Tang Wu Ti Kingdom survive?"
Genghis Khan's turbid eyes once again turned to the bearded Yelu Chucai in the corner of the tent.
Yelu Chucai was good at divination of stars and was loved by the Mongolian generals in the army and the nobles on the grasslands.
"Great Khan, even if he sends troops, he will be defeated. Maybe the Tangwuti people have given up on Lingzhou. I did some divination and it turns out that the Tangwuti Emperor's star is weak and I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on for long."
Yelu Chucai spoke softly, his heart pounding.
Before his expedition to Xixia, Genghis Khan's horse was frightened and fell down while hunting, causing him to fall into coma and fever. I thought nothing was wrong, but who knew that after nearly a year of fighting, Genghis Khan's illness would become as serious as it is now.
Since the expedition to Xixia, generals such as Wo Kuotai and Tuo Lei had attacked the city and charged into battle. Genghis Khan hardly traveled with the army and tried to avoid fatigue. Who knew that Genghis Khan's health was getting worse and worse.
Heroes grow old, and no one can withstand the passage of time. If we don't withdraw from the army and recuperate, I'm afraid something big will happen.
