Under the morning sun, with a cold wind blowing, in front of the Mongolian formation, Torre and other generals under his command sat on their horses and looked toward the head of the Xingyuan Mansion city.
Early winter is the best season of the year in the Hanzhong Plain. The weather is cool and refreshing, which makes people feel refreshed. For the generals of the Mongolian army, Hanzhong is not as cold as the grasslands, but the world is desolate, and it is also a good time to fight on the battlefield.
On the wall of the north city of Xingyuan Prefecture, the Song troops stationed in helmets and armor stood solemnly with guns in hand. They were all dark and strong, and they were motionless and silent. Flags were flying at the top of the city, the war tents were fully fortified, and the muzzles of the cannons were faint, facing outside the city wall.
"The city wall of the Song Dynasty seems to be stronger than that of Fengxiang Mansion."
After watching for a moment, Liu Heima spoke first.
The Han army under his command used a trebuchet to break through Fengxiang Mansion, an important town in the northwest of the Jin Dynasty. The Xingyuan Mansion in front of him was actually similar to Fengxiang Mansion, except that the Song army was elite, so he subconsciously felt that the city was tall and easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Since the first year of Xingqing, the Song army has been reorganizing the northwest border defense. The cities on both sides of Lizhou have been repaired, enlarged and raised. Although there are not many cities, they are all first-class large and fortified cities, enough to garrison tens of thousands of troops. Enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians.
"The armor of these Song soldiers is much more majestic than that of the Jin people, and they look much more powerful. Couldn't this be Emperor Song's imperial army?"
Tabuji looked at the Song Army's equipment carefully and drooled with envy.
These armors are of high quality at first glance. If they can be snatched, they can be equipped with many military officers.
The people of the Song Dynasty were full of flowers and flowers, and their wealth was so rich that people could only imagine it.
Liu Heima has been on the battlefield for a long time and has rich experience in attacking cities. He observed carefully for a moment, pointed to the artillery on the top of the city, and introduced Torre in detail.
"Marshal, there are crenellations every eight feet in the wall. The crenellations are two feet long. Each crenel is one foot in total. Including the towers, horse faces, etc., there are about a hundred crenellations on the north wall of Xingyuan Mansion. The Song Army should have deployed a hundred crenels. A cannon the size of a door.”
Torre nodded and stared at the area around the North City Gate Tower, where there seemed to be reflections.
"Bring me the telescope!"
Torre raised his telescope and looked in the direction of the reflection. On top of the north city of Xingyuan Mansion, a young Confucian scholar in his mid-twenties seemed to be sizing up his party.
Torre was startled and looked at the city head attentively.
In front of the gate tower of the north city of Xingyuan Prefecture, a young Confucian scholar leaned against the wall and looked, surrounded by Song army generals in helmets and armor, and Song Dynasty civil servants with wide robes and long sleeves, like stars holding the moon.
Torre took a closer look and saw that the young Confucian scholar had a Chinese character face, a black futou, and a white gown. He had an upright figure and was calm and powerful. He was the leader of the crowd in the city.
"King Song!"
Torre was shocked. No need to ask, this was the legendary Emperor of the Song Dynasty.
Why is this guy so young?
"Emperor Song! It is indeed..."
Liu Heima, who was watching from the side, also noticed Zhao Hong and screamed softly.
As the prisoners of the Song army said, the Emperor of Song was indeed in the city of Xingyuan Mansion.
The telescope in his hand was the same as Torre's. They were both seized from the Song army in Ding Hainian. Due to its simple principle and easy-to-obtain materials, it was quickly popularized among the Mongolian army and was deeply loved by the generals.
"Kill Emperor Song, and all the troubles in Mongolia will be gone!"
Kuo Duan suddenly put down his telescope and shouted fiercely at the surrounding generals:
"Quick! Pull out the trebuchet and smash it down for me!"
Kuo Duan's words surprised all the Mongolian generals beside the horse.
Is this going to attack the city immediately?
"Kuduan, don't worry, it won't take long!"
Liu Heima comforted the irritable Kuo Duan.
War is not a child's play, I'm afraid Kuo Duan is just a little impatient.
"The city is high and the pond is deep. The Song Emperor is in charge, and there are firearms. I'm afraid it won't be easy to attack!"
Tabujier sighed softly, seeming to think of the Battle of Lingzhou in Xixia a few years ago.
Torre's face immediately darkened.
"Shut up! If you dare to talk nonsense again, beware of military law!"
Torre looked unkind, and Tabujier immediately closed his mouth knowingly.
The Mongolian generals looked at the city head together. Liu Heima observed the words and suggested:
"Marshal, our army is good at field battles. Attacking the city is a last resort. Otherwise, we should encircle the point and call for reinforcements. First drain the water in the moat and let the common people of Jin and Song people fill the trenches. Then build earthen forts and use them to return. If artillery attacks the city, it will be difficult for the Song army’s artillery to be used.”
The Huihui Artillery learned from the lesson of being too close in the battle with the Song Army. Wo Kuotai personally ordered the recruitment of new trebuchets made by craftsmen from the Western Regions. The Huihui cannon is so powerful that it can fire boulders weighing hundreds of kilograms, with a range of more than 200 steps. Although it is not as good as the "heavy return artillery" that fired 150 kilograms of boulders and had a range of 300 steps during the Xiangyang Battle of Song and Meng, it was already a weapon in war.
The impregnable city wall of Fengxiang Mansion was destroyed by this kind of return cannon.
"Liu Heima, this time it depends on your Han army! Tabuji'er's troops are also at your disposal!"
Torre looked at Zhao Hong on the wall in the distance with cold eyes.
"Kuduan, you lead our cavalry to the west, meet up with Subutai's troops, and ask him to move east quickly, and together we can attack Xingyuan City!"
There are 10,000 Han troops in Subotai's army. They are needed to attack the city. If I had known, there would be no need to divide the troops.
After passing the military order, Torre turned the horse's head, and the generals followed suit.
Liu Heima secretly shook his head. I originally wanted to surround the spot and call for reinforcements, but now it seems that I am afraid that we are going to attack by force.
While Torre and others were looking at the top of the Xingyuan Mansion city, Zhao Hong and others were also looking outside the city.
The flags of the Mongolian army's camp were flying, the Mongolian army filled the wilderness, and it was boundless. The Song army generals at the top of the city all looked solemn.
"Your Majesty, the Tatars have 30,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry, a total of 40,000 troops! It seems that the Tatar army has divided its troops, and another part has gone to Lizhou West Road!"
Zhao Shu said after guessing, his brows tightening.
"Your Majesty, it seems that the Tatar army is about to attack the city."
Meng Gong watched the people in the Mongolian army camp coming and going, making various siege equipment, and he could see the clues at a glance.
The reason why the Mongolian army was able to destroy cities and demolish strongholds is inseparable from the skilled craftsmen in the army.
"Do you know all those Tatar generals?"
Zhao Hong's eyes rested on Torre and other Mongolian generals.
"Your Majesty, Subotai is already in his sixties, so the Tatar general should not be Subotai. Our army has few opportunities to fight against the Tatar army, and most of them are unknown to us. However, with the style of the armor on these Tatar generals, With his age and bun, the middle-aged Tatar general in golden armor in the middle should be the famous Torre."
Zhao Shu had fought against the Mongolian army on Lizhou West Road and probably knew the appearance and identity of the Mongolian generals.
"Tore!"
Zhao Hong was startled and raised his telescope to watch. The Mongolian general who was firmly in the middle position was indeed impressive and extraordinary.
Torre looks domineering, but his face is ferocious. He seems different from the handsome and unrestrained Torre in movies and TV series!
Where is Guo Jing? Hurry up and kill this thief for me!
"Subotai went to Rishu West Road. The commander of the 40,000-strong army cannot be anyone other than Torre!"
Zhao Hong put down his telescope and said coldly.
"Pass this order, whoever can kill Torre will be rewarded with a reward of 100,000 yuan as the commander-in-chief of the roadside army!"
"Your Majesty, I must do my best to kill this thief!"
Meng Gong stood up first, clasping his fists to ask for orders.
"Your Majesty, I will kill this thief to relieve Your Majesty's worries!"
Zhao Shu and other generals clasped their fists together to request orders.
"I'm just talking. The purpose of war is not to kill a certain general, but to kill the opponent on a large scale. Let's work together."
"I will obey His Majesty's teachings!"
Everyone saluted together, all convinced.
There is no doubt about the teachings of the Martial Arts Hall.
"Your Majesty, if the Tatar army takes advantage of the passage, will they attack Xingyuanfu City?"
Chen Longzhi asked stupidly.
"I'm in the city, why don't they attack the city!"
Zhao Hong smiled slightly and faced Zhao Shu.
"Zhao Shu, I'll leave it to you and Meng Gong to defend the city. Discuss any issues and take care!"
Torre and others must have seen him, otherwise they wouldn't have surrounded the city with an army. It seems that an offensive and defensive battle is inevitable.
"Your Majesty, as long as you are not on the city wall, this battle will be much easier to fight."
Zhao Shu bowed his head and said with a smile on his face.
The emperor's presence on the city wall can certainly boost morale, but if he does something bad, no matter how many Mongolian troops are killed, it will be meaningless.
"Your Majesty, you can rest assured and stay at the Yamen of Xingyuan Mansion. If the Tatar army breaks the city, you can cut off my two heads!"
Meng Gong directly wanted to issue a military order to himself.
The emperor is just a burden here, so how can we fight?
"I'm going! Why am I blocking the road!"
Zhao Hong said something dissatisfied and shouted loudly to all the soldiers on the city.
"My good men of the Song Dynasty, Xingyuan Fucheng will be left to you! The Song Dynasty will not forget you, and I will not fail you!"
After Zhao Hong finished shouting, he made a ninety-degree bow.
These fearless young people may shed their blood and die again.
"Long live Long live Long live!"
Zhao Shu took the lead, pumping his fists and shouting.
"Long live Long live Long live!"
Meng Gong, Chen Longzhi and others shouted in unison.
Zhao Hong did not go down the city from the horse path behind him, but walked around the city wall, waving to the soldiers frequently, sometimes patting the soldiers on the shoulders, and smiling kindly.
The shouts of "Long live" on the city wall shook the heaven and the earth, one after another. Wherever Zhao Hong went, the soldiers brandished their swords and guns, their faces were red and their ears were red, and they were shouting at the top of their lungs.
Meng Gong and Chen Longzhi looked at each other and smiled.
The emperor was close to the people and loved his soldiers as his own children. This "tour performance" could use the morale of the soldiers and be more conducive to defending the city and killing the enemy.
Zhao Hong pressed his hands gently, and the shouts of the Song army soldiers stopped for a while. Zhao Hong looked solemn and sang loudly, but it was the song "Man Jiang Hong" that has been passed down through the ages:
"I was so angry that I leaned against the railing, and the rain stopped. I looked up, roared to the sky, and my heart was full of passion..."
The Mongolian army wants to break through Xingyuanfu City unless their blood makes the Han River behind Xingyuanfu City red.
Zhao Hong sang, first the generals beside him sang in harmony, and then all the Song army soldiers on the city started singing together.
"...The disgrace of Jingkang has not yet been over. The hatred of the ministers, when will it be extinguished? Driving a long chariot, trampling through the gap in the Helan Mountains, with great ambitions to eat the meat of the Huns. Talking about drinking the blood of the Huns..."
The song was loud and impassioned, and Zhao Hong finally descended from the city. Zhao Shu, with a calm face, handed down the military order.
"Send the order, the whole army is ready to fight!"
The emperor's saucy maneuvers greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers guarding the city, and they no longer needed to mobilize.
Zhao Shu looked at Meng Gong, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:
"General Meng, you are in charge of the artillery at the top of the city. What do you think?"
Meng Gong was the emperor's favorite general, otherwise the emperor would not have brought him to Hanzhong. Moreover, Meng Gong was a commander of the Jinghu border army, and his official position was much higher than his. Giving face to Meng Gong means giving face to the emperor.
"Thank you General, I will obey your orders!"
Meng Gong clasped his fists and solemnly gave the order.
Anyway, I finally caught up with this national war.
The song of the Song Army on the top of the city was loud and clear. Torre and others who were riding back to the camp turned their heads in surprise.
"I just like to play tricks on myself and play with these useless gadgets!"
Kuo Duan looked at the top of the city of Xingyuan Mansion and cursed fiercely.
"These guys are not simple. I'm afraid it won't be easy to attack the city!"
Liu Heima felt heavy and sighed.
"Ignore them. Once we capture this ruined city and kill them until they bleed like rivers, let's see if they are still so arrogant!"
Torre said coldly, turned his head, and rode into the camp.
He had experienced such battles so many times that he had become accustomed to them and was not surprised.
However, although he could not understand the heroic singing of the Song Army, he could feel that it would take some effort to capture the united Xingyuan City.
