In the Mongolian formation outside the city, all the Mongolian generals looking at the city had gloomy expressions on their faces.
They seemed to have never experienced such a brutal siege. And this is the only time in their lives that they have seen such a horrifying firearm.
In the first half of the siege, the Xia army also had such firearms, but they were just scattered. Later, they used them on a large scale and in a steady stream. They were obviously directed at the main siege force of the Mongolian army.
If that's the case, it's really an ulterior motive!
"Why are the Tang Wu Ti people's firearms so powerful?"
The muscles on Subotai's face, who was commanding the battle of the Mongolian Central Army, trembled slightly.
After nearly a year of fighting in Xixia, there were not many casualties at Lingzhou City. If this fight continues, the entire Mongolian army will probably die.
"There are so many firearms, I didn't expect them to be so scary!"
Chahan felt depressed and let out a long sigh.
The casualties today alone are probably three to four thousand.
The Mongol army suffered heavy casualties, and Genghis Khan's health was in serious trouble. Could it be said that this was God's punishment for the Mongol army's massacre of souls?
The other general who commanded the siege, Ashu Lu, also had a gloomy face and said nothing.
The death and injury of so many Mongolian warriors was beyond his expectation.
Since the Xixia people had such ferocious firearms, why didn't they take them out earlier and had to wait until the moment when the country was almost destroyed?
Under the banner of the Mongolian Central Army, coach Torre's face was gloomy and his eyes were ferocious.
"Report, Captain Guo Kan was killed in battle!"
The sergeant stepped forward to report, and Torre couldn't help but be stunned.
Guo Kan was a rare warrior among the Mongolian army. He was good at riding and shooting, and was extremely fierce. Unexpectedly, he fell down at the foot of Lingzhou City.
"These Tang Wu Ti dogs have destroyed Lingzhou City. I must kill them all, not a single one is left!"
When Torre reacted, the riding whip hit the low table in front of him, cups and saucers flew everywhere, and the floor on the table was mixed with water, milk, and meat, making it a mess.
As the siege commander, I personally supervised the battle, but I didn't expect that the Lingzhou defenders were so tenacious. The Mongolian warriors in the army were either dead or wounded, and the wounded soldiers behind them were all in the camp, all covered in bloody flesh, and the injuries were shocking.
Who created such an evil firearm?
In the twelfth year of Jiading, Tuo Lei accompanied Genghis Khan on his western expedition and besieged Talihan Village. The soldiers and people of Talihan held on to the danger, and the Mongolian army besieged it for seven months and conquered it. All the soldiers and people of the city were massacred by Torre.
In the 14th year of Jiading, also following Genghis Khan's Western Expedition, Torre led his elite troops to besiege Malu. The chief of Malu went out of the city and surrendered. He dragged out the mines and promised not to kill. After entering the city, he only selected 400 craftsmen and massacred all the residents and surrendered soldiers. The number of dead reached 700,000, and the city of Malu was razed to the ground.
In May of the same year, the mines were towed to attack Shabuer. The city sent the priests and gentlemen out of the city to ask for surrender. The mines were not allowed, so they ordered trebuchets to be set up to attack you fiercely. After entering the city, they sent troops to kill them. In addition, the cities of Tusi, Naisa, and Zhifein were all slaughtered. On the way back, they attacked Yeli, but the soldiers and civilians of Yeli City resisted. Tuo Lei allowed the residents in the city to surrender and avoided massacre, but all the tens of thousands of soldiers in the city were killed.
The Mongolian army has a total of about 130,000 people. Except for 30,000 people who are entrusted to Tolei's three brothers, the remaining 100,000 people are controlled by Tolei alone.
For Torre, who had always been accustomed to massacre the other side, but now he was massacred by the other side, and many of his trusted generals in the army suffered heavy casualties, this really made him furious and unbearable.
Xia people, when did they become so ferocious?
We must kill them all!
"Torre, it's useless to get angry. It seems that Lingzhou City will not be captured for a while, so we should find another way."
Chahan had a dark face and whispered advice from the side.
Torre pondered for a moment and then asked.
"Chahan, how many defenders are there in Lingzhou City? How many people are there?"
"Torre, there should be 20,000 defenders. There are 120,000 to 30,000 civilians in Lingzhou City. With the people pouring into the city, there should be around 200,000 people."
Chahan was born into a noble family in Xixia, so he was naturally very familiar with the two important economic and political towns in Xixia.
However, Torre's question also made him secretly frightened. If the city is destroyed, I am afraid not a few of the 200,000 people will be left alive.
"Two hundred thousand people!"
Torre frowned, looked at the generals around him, and suddenly spoke.
"Chahan, Xili Qianbu, do you think Zhongxing Mansion also has such firearms?"
If Zhongxing Mansion also had such firearms, it would be difficult to defeat them.
"Zhongxing Mansion is the capital of the country. Lingzhou City has it, so Zhongxing Mansion naturally has it."
"Yes, there must be some in Zhongxing Mansion. I don't know when King Xia made these firearms?"
Xili Qianbu and Chahan spoke out one after the other.
Zhongxing Mansion has taller walls, more guards, and firearms, making it much more difficult to attack than Lingzhou City.
"There should be one? Why doesn't it exist in Heishui City? There isn't one in Ganzhou, Liangzhou, or Shazhou, but there is one in Lingzhou and Zhongxing Prefecture?"
Tuolai looked at Xi Li's head with doubt in his eyes.
"Torre should have just been built by King Tangwuti. Otherwise, Shazhou and Liangzhou would not be so easy to capture."
Chahan's words made Torre think deeply.
"Chahan, go to Lingzhou City again tomorrow and tell Li Deren that if he is willing to surrender, I swear to let all Lingzhou soldiers and civilians go and I will never regret it."
Torre frowned at Chahan.
"Torre, I can go into the city. But Li Deren is tough, and Tang Wu's soldiers are full of fighting spirit. If I go, it will make them more arrogant. In my opinion, it is better not to go, but it will increase the number of guards. prestige."
Chahan was frightened again and replied listlessly.
Genghis Khan hated Xixia to the core, Tuo Lei was murderous, and the Mongol army had no faith and surrendered to slaughter. Isn't it fantastic that the Lingzhou garrison would surrender?
Moreover, since Cao Youwan scolded him as a fatherless, shameless beast, he never wanted to enter Lingzhou City again.
He didn't want to be pointed at his nose and scolded again.
"Chahan, tell me, why don't these thieves in Lingzhou City surrender?"
Torre asked bitterly, his eyes flashing coldly.
"What else could be the reason? Isn't it just that the chickens and dogs that were killed will not be left alive! The Xia people have no way to retreat. This is like a dog jumping over the wall in a hurry. There is no way to retreat!"
Chahan didn't speak, but Xili Qianbu had already spoken for him.
The Mongolian army burned, killed, looted and hunted in all directions in Xixia. The people of Xixia fled into the mountains one after another, digging through the earth and rocks to avoid them.
The land of Xing and Ling is the last and strongest fortress of Xixia. The Mongolian army repeatedly invaded Xia, but Zhongxingfu and Lingzhou were never captured. This was a thorn in the hearts of Genghis Khan and all the Mongol army generals, and they always wanted to get rid of them.
The Mongolian army likes to massacre the city, including women and children. Under such circumstances, Lingzhou City will naturally not surrender.
"It seems that Lingzhou City cannot be captured in an instant. I'm afraid it will have to be besieged for a long time. When there is no food or drink in the city, and a large area of the city freezes to death and starves to death, it will naturally surrender."
Ashu Lu, one of the generals, looked pale as he watched the fighting at the top of Lingzhou City.
The defenders of Lingzhou City were so tough and hard-core that even he himself did not believe that these guys would surrender in Kaicheng.
The Mongolian army suffered heavy casualties during the siege, which probably boosted the morale of the Lingzhou defenders and made them unwilling to surrender easily.
"Siege? I'm afraid it's not that easy! Don't forget, we are in a world of ice and snow. At least Xia Bing stays in the city, has a house to live in, and is free from diseases."
Sure enough, Chahan shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Even Subotai, the most powerful general in the Mongolian army, was helpless. He still could not capture Lingzhou City despite suffering heavy casualties. Torre and the generals all had dark faces and remained silent.
The epidemic is prevalent in the Mongolian army, and tens of thousands of soldiers have lost their combat effectiveness. As time goes by, the Mongolian army cannot receive treatment. Who knows how much it will lose? How long can the war continue?
The key is that Genghis Khan's physical condition is worrying. With Genghis Khan's hatred for Xixia, I'm afraid Genghis Khan will not withdraw his troops easily if he doesn't capture Lingzhou City.
Once Genghis Khan made a decision, no one among the generals, including his sons, dared to question or object.
Once Genghis Khan decided to continue the siege, no one would dare not work hard. But in this way, casualties are inevitable. As for whether Lingzhou City can be captured in a short time, no one knows.
"It's a drag. It's better to discuss it with Wo Kuotai and divide the troops to attack the Jin people first to see if they can seize some medicinal materials and cut off the Tang Wu Ti people's retreat. Without reinforcements and food and drink, people's hearts will be scattered, and Lingzhou City will be destroyed. It will destroy itself without attacking."
Chahan frowned and advised softly.
Attacking Lingzhou City by force does not seem to be a good choice, nor is it in line with the Mongol army's long-standing tactics. To besiege Lingzhou City, ten thousand Mongolian cavalry would be enough.
"Chahan, you have a good idea. Just surround Lingzhou City. If it doesn't work for half a year, then a year. We will trap them to death and starve them to death. See how long they can survive!"
Torre immediately became excited, then shook his head in frustration.
"With the Great Khan's temper, it may not be easy to persuade him to retreat!"
Genghis Khan was already furious because he failed to capture Lingzhou City. Asking him to retreat now would be tantamount to adding fuel to the fire and would be counterproductive.
"Then let Yelu Chucai do some divination again, or let Ye Sui persuade him. Maybe the Great Khan can avoid attacking Lingzhou City and go to a good place in the south to recuperate. In this ice and snow, the Great Khan's body may not be able to bear it."
Chahan was worried and whispered.
A hundred thousand troops can stay in the ice and snow for one month or two months, but will they have to endure three to five months or even half a year?
"I'm afraid Dahan won't give up easily!"
At some point, Wo Kuotai came over and was fascinated by the fighting at the top of Lingzhou City.
All the generals looked at each other, speechless for a moment.
Even Wokuotai and Torre were pessimistic about persuading Genghis Khan. They were afraid that the storming of Lingzhou City would continue.
However, many generals here have lost confidence in attacking Lingzhou City.
In Lingzhou City, which still stands tall in the distance, the scene of an iron-blooded fight is still there. The faces of Wo Kuotai and other Mongolian generals are as dark as water, and some generals are worried.
Many people are looking forward to never having to experience such bloody and brutal fighting again tomorrow. Such cruelty is shocking, but there is no hope of destroying the city.
