The first year of Baoyi in Xixia, New Year's Eve, Lingzhou City.
Since the Mongolian army attacked Lingzhou City at the end of November, the offensive has been rapid or slow. The war lasted for more than a month. The Mongolian and Xia sides fought bloody battles, causing countless casualties.
In Lingzhou City, there were more than 10,000 dead and injured soldiers. The corpses of the dead were piled on the teaching field, several people high. The corpses were dressed in single clothes, and their armor had been removed, so that other living soldiers could continue to defend the city.
As for the injured, there were between five and six thousand, occupying half of the barracks in the training ground. The lights were brightly lit inside, and the medical officers, sweating profusely, rushed back and forth to treat the wounded soldiers.
Heavy snowfall was falling, covering the fields, and the Mongolian army camp outside the city was shrouded in a sheet of rain and snow. Water was poured on the city head and the city walls were smooth and crystal clear to prevent the Mongolian army from attacking the city.
In the lobby of Lingzhou Yamen, the charcoal fire was blazing and warm as spring.
It is said that it is a charcoal fire, but it is actually the beams dismantled from the houses in the city, used to keep out the cold.
Li Deren is at the top of the seat, followed by several Xixia city-defending generals such as Cao Youwan and Ning Zining.
"General Cao, the war has been going on for more than a month, and Genghis Khan still hasn't retreated. Does he have to capture Lingzhou City before he gives up?"
Li Deren asked as he lit the fire, and the corners of Ning Zining's mouth raised slightly.
It's just an insignificant "servant" who seems to have been promoted and given the title of general, which is really funny.
He's just a martial artist, really not worth mentioning.
"Your Highness, the Tatar army is invading this time with the intention of destroying our country, Daxia. With Genghis Khan's temper, I'm afraid he won't retreat easily. We have to find another way."
Ning Zining spoke slowly, seemingly answering on behalf of Cao Youwan.
Cao Youwan nodded and agreed with Ning Zining's words. However, the contempt in the other party's eyes made his subconscious evil fire rise.
Is this fat old boy looking down on him?
It doesn't matter if you despise him, but it doesn't matter if you despise the soldiers behind him.
"General Cao, didn't you say that the disease is spreading among the Tatar army? Why is the attack on the city still so fierce?"
Li Deren looked at Cao Youwan suspiciously.
"General Cao, how do you know what happened in Genghis Khan's army? You're not just talking nonsense, are you?"
Ning Zining snorted coldly, his eyes looking very unkind.
"You two, what do you mean? Why don't I lead the troops out of the city and capture two Tatar prisoners for you?"
Cao Youwan felt angry and his face darkened suddenly.
The emperor said that the Mongolian army was plagued by epidemics. How could it be false?
More than 2,000 of his soldiers were killed or injured. He was already very angry, and he immediately became angry after hearing this.
The emperor ordered himself to lead his troops to come to the rescue, but two thousand Song troops had been killed or injured. Could it be that he and his brothers were fools who came to die in vain?
"Could it be said that if there is no disease in the Tatar army, you will open the city and surrender?"
Zhang Zhongxia sneered, his words filled with sarcasm.
These Xixia people didn't want to defend the city well, but they blamed themselves. Such words are really chilling.
"How dare you! How dare you talk to His Highness like this?"
A Lingzhou official stood up in the hall and shouted angrily at Cao Youwan.
"Arrogant, domineering, humble man!"
Ning Zining looked ugly, stroked his beard and said coldly.
If Cao Youwan and his men had not defended the city bravely, he would have gone into a rage.
Cao Youwan glanced at Ning Zining and everyone in the hall, sneered contemptuously, and answered.
"What did you say? Say it again!"
Yang Daquan stood up and pointed at Ning Zining, glaring angrily.
After thousands of miles of rescue, there were many casualties, and the cynicism was really unbearable for him.
"General Yang, please be patient!"
Li Deren was startled, his face turned red, and he quickly persuaded Yang Daquan and others to return, then angrily scolded everyone in the hall.
"Bold! Don't back down yet! Are you going to have internal strife?"
To be honest, without these Song soldiers, Lingzhou City would have fallen long ago.
Zhang Zhongxia patted Yang Daquan on the shoulder, and the latter sat back in his chair angrily.
"General Cao, don't be offended. There are many casualties among the soldiers in the city, and the people are suffering from cold and hunger. I am a little impatient. I hope General Cao won't be offended."
Facing the ashen-faced Cao Youwan, Li Deren bowed his hands respectfully.
The Song army came to the rescue and suffered numerous casualties, but they played a great role in defending the city. It's hard to avoid being so suspicious of yourself.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. Even if a disease is prevalent in the Tatar army, they will do everything possible to cover it up and not let us know. As for defending the city, General Cao will never have selfish motives. He will lead us and our brothers to protect Lingzhou. The city is not lost.”
Zhang Zhongxia looked at Cao Youwan and Yang Daquan, who looked gloomy, and stood up to smooth things over.
Cao Youwan and Yang Daquan are both straightforward, and they explode at the first glance. Once the relationship between the two parties is frozen, it will not be of any benefit to defending the city. If someone opens the door to steal, it will be a disaster.
"Your Highness, that's what General Zhang said. I still say the same thing. If the Tatar army wants to break through Lingzhou City, they have to step over my corpse and the corpses of my remaining six thousand brothers!"
Cao Youwan's face softened a little, stood up, and returned the salute.
If he ruined the situation and broke up unhappy, he wouldn't be able to explain it to the emperor.
"Your Highness, there are countless casualties in the city. If the Tatars continue to surround us like this, can we defend Lingzhou City?"
Ning Zining asked, stroking his long beard to ease the awkward situation.
In fact, he didn't want to target Cao Youwan, it was just that the army was besieging the city, and he was under great pressure and depressed.
"The country of Daxia has become like this, do we still have a way out?"
Li Deren shook his head gently, with emotion in his tone.
"As long as Lingzhou City remains, Zhongxing Mansion will be safe and sound. Now it depends on us and the Tatar army, who can withstand it."
Li Deren sat down, his face looking haggard and sad.
Seeing the sighs and sighs of everyone in the hall, Cao Youwan frowned slightly.
Li Deren and Ning Zining, including these Xixia generals and officials, all seemed a little pessimistic about defending the city.
People's hearts are floating, which is not a good sign.
"Your Highness, everyone, whoever wants to surrender to the Tatar army can just leave the city. I will live or die with Lingzhou City. Even if the Tatar army enters the city, my brothers and I will persist until the last moment. We will be destroyed together. I won’t beg for mercy.”
Cao Youwan spoke impassionedly and loudly.
Your grace is like the sea! What the emperor told him was to hold on to Lingzhou. Once Lingzhou City was lost, how would he face the king?
After much deliberation, the only option was to live or die with Lingzhou City.
"Your Highness, the Tatar army is ambitious and has no faith. Lingzhou City cannot be lost, and we will not surrender. If the Tatar army wants to take Lingzhou City, then use their corpses to fill it."
Another Song general, Yang Daquan, echoed Cao Youwan and said loudly.
"Speaking of street fighting, the Tatar army must be no match for our... army."
Zhang Zhongxia almost revealed his true feelings, but quickly changed his tune.
"No matter whether Lingzhou City can be defended or not, I will never open the door to the thieves!"
The "rebels" were so fierce, and he felt a little cowardly. Ning Zining said it with a blushing face.
If Lingzhou City can be defended, he can still save his life. But once Kaicheng surrenders, it is inevitable that the lives of the 200,000 people in the city will not be saved.
The Mongolian army's fighting tradition is that anyone who attacks a city and uses arrows and stones to defend the enemy is considered to be refusing orders. When the city is captured, all the people in the city will be killed.
The Mongolian army attacked Lingzhou City, causing countless casualties, at least 20,000. Genghis Khan also aimed to destroy Xia, and hated the Xia people in Xing and Ling areas. Once the Mongolian army captures Lingzhou City, they will definitely leave no chickens or dogs behind.
In this case, we can only fight a bloody battle with the Mongolian army.
"That's what Mr. Ning said. We are all united. Genghis Khan wants to capture Lingzhou City. Just dream!"
Another Xia general, Ye Li Zhonghe, also said with a blushing face.
"Your Highness, we have killed and injured tens of thousands of soldiers, but the blood of the soldiers will not be shed in vain. The Tatar army has been attacking the city for more than a month, and the number of casualties is at least 20,000. Your Highness, don't worry, I and my brothers are here, Lingzhou City We will definitely be able to defend it!”
Cao Youwan said with his fists clasped, his tone much gentler.
This deposed prince is the backbone of the army and people of Lingzhou City.
"Dad, Lingzhou City can definitely be defended! Those Tatar soldiers are no match for us at all!"
Li Deren's son Li Weizhong suddenly ran out of the back hall, holding his little fist and speaking impassionedly.
Everyone in the hall laughed.
"Okay! Let's work together as one to defend Lingzhou City! Guard the wives, children, and children behind us!"
Li Deren was excited and smiling.
As long as the soldiers and civilians in the city are united in resisting the enemy, there is hope for Lingzhou City.
"General Cao, how about we go to the city wall and encourage the soldiers?"
"Okay! By the way, let's see how the Tatar army survives in the ice and snow?"
Li Deren took Cao Youwan's arm, and Ning Zining strode out together.
Cao Youwan felt relieved and strode forward.
The emperor said that the Mongolian army was the biggest threat to the Song Dynasty. They came all the way to help, but he would not surrender with the Xixia people and die in vain.
If you want to die, you must die vigorously, and you must die on the battlefield.
Now it seemed that Xixia people had strong bones and strong blood, which made him feel relieved.
As for what happens in the future, let’s talk about it while we are guarding.
"Commander Gao, who is this guy? Why is His Highness so polite to him?"
Ning Zining grabbed a Xixia general guarding the city and asked in a low voice.
Ning Zining was in charge of civil affairs and was far less familiar with Cao Youwan's identity than these Xixia generals who were guarding the city with the Song army.
"Yes, they are just some strong people. How can they be more powerful than the governor of the state? It is really vulgar!"
Another civil servant also said something resentful.
"Xiangong Ning, Xianggong Liang, you don't know this?"
Commander Gao glanced at Ning Zining and Ning Zining in surprise, his face glowing red.
"Two ministers, this is not a civilian. This is Cao Youwan, the great general of the Song Dynasty, the deputy commander of the Xingyuan Rongsi. He and another general Yu Jie came to rescue according to the order of the emperor of the Song Dynasty. We are from Daxia!”
Commander Gao and the soldiers of the Song Army fought side by side on the top of the city every day, depending on each other for life and death. How could they hide such a paper-thin matter as the identity of the Song Army.
"Song...jun! We are ordered to rescue!"
Ning Zining was shocked. Under the shouts of others, he woke up from a dream and hurriedly followed.
No wonder Li Deren was so polite to Cao Youwan, that's why.
Since they were ordered to come to the rescue, then the Song Kingdom in the south was also involved in this Xiameng Kingdom War?
In this way, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty would not stand idly by. It was impossible for him to let ten thousand Song Dynasty soldiers fend for themselves in Lingzhou City.
If the Song Dynasty could pour out all the country to help, Daxia would really be saved!
