"firearm!"
Queen Mother Xiaoliang gritted her teeth when she saw that the wall-cutting technique failed again. The sudden appearance of firearms from the Song Army caused heavy casualties to the Xia Army.
"Dig a tunnel!"
"Siege engine!"
"Ladder!"
"Trebuchet!"
"Night fight!"
The Xixia army tried all their tricks, used all their weapons, and even spared their lives to attack the city. However, even if they had the upper hand for a while and even stormed the city wall, they were defeated because of the thunderous firearms of the Song army.
It has been more than ten days, and Pingxia City is still as stable as Mount Tai.
"This is simply unreasonable!"
Seeing that Xia Jun was once again defeated by Zhentian Lei's attack, Queen Mother Xiaoliang was almost furious, and her nails directly scratched her beautiful face.
The Xixia army has never fought such a useless battle. They obviously have absolute strength, but they can't do anything against the small Pingxia City.
"Queen Mother, we can no longer attack Pingxia City. The divine arm crossbows and the Song army's firearms are too lethal. Our army has already suffered 30,000 casualties." Weiming Awu cried out.
Due to the special shape of the bastion, the power of the God's Arm Crossbow was undoubtedly displayed. In addition, the thunder's lethality was amazing, and the continuous siege caused heavy casualties to the Xixia soldiers.
"Thirty thousand soldiers!"
The Xixia generals looked embarrassed. The losses suffered by the Song army in defending the city were naturally minimal. They had been fighting the Song Dynasty for many years, and there had never been a precedent of losing 30,000 soldiers and horses in a siege.
But in the small Pingxia City, the Xixia army suffered a big loss.
In more than ten days, the Xia army not only failed to make any achievements, but also lost more than 30,000 soldiers. Even in the brutal siege of Yongle City, Xixia did not suffer such losses.
"We can't retreat! The Song Army cannot have endless firearms. Once the Song Army's firearms are exhausted, it will be the end of the Song Army." Liang Yibu objected directly.
Wei Ming A Wu angrily said: "Who knows how many firearms the Song Army has and how many divine arm crossbows and arrows it has. Thirty thousand of my Xixia men have died in battle. How many lives of soldiers have to be sacrificed to exhaust the Song Army's firearms? Four Ten thousand? Fifty thousand?"
Weiming Awu's series of rhetorical questions left Liang Yibu speechless.
"So what if we break through Pingxia City at all costs? With the financial resources of the Song Dynasty, we can build a Pingxia City in another twenty days, but it takes twenty years for Xixia men to grow up." Weiming Awu was heartbroken. road.
Other party generals also requested to withdraw their troops! Figure it out slowly.
Liang Yibu retorted: "You generals know that you feel sorry for our soldiers, but have you ever known that once we retreat, the Song Dynasty's annual coins will be completely abolished, and the grain production of Jingsai Army will be under the threat of Pingxia City. Complete desolation is a price you are willing to bear."
"Once we retreat, it means that Xixia is helpless against Pingxia City. In the future, all the cities in the Song Dynasty will be replaced by Pingxia City's fortification method, and Xixia will no longer have a way to suppress the Song Dynasty."
"At this moment, we are cooperating with the Liao State to intimidate the Song State. If our army retreats, what will we do to the Liao State?"
………………
Liang Yibu naturally opposed the withdrawal of troops. The reason why the Liang family was in the dictatorship of the mother party was because they relied on the military exploits of the Xia Dynasty to gain a firm foothold.
He often told his subordinates that the reason why he sent troops southward year after year was to make the Song Dynasty fear Xixia and to seek peace for the country.
But now the army has invaded Fuyan Road and only captured Jinming Village and killed three thousand Jinming Village soldiers. Now it has besieged Pingxia City and has not achieved any success.
Once the war fails, the military glory that the Liang family relies on for survival will be lost, which Liang Yibu cannot accept.
Facing Liang Yibu's series of rhetorical questions, the Dangxiang generals were silent. Obviously, the appearance of Pingxia City made the Xixia generals see the crisis.
Once the Song Dynasty replicates Pingxia City on the Song-Xia border, it will probably be more difficult to attack the Song Dynasty in the future.
Queen Mother Xiaoliang couldn't help but fell into a dilemma. One was the situation of the Liang family, and the other was the lives of the Xixia soldiers.
Renduo Baozhong said solemnly: "The Queen Mother, I have discovered another suspicious thing, that is, no reinforcements from the Song Army have been found since our army besieged Pingxia City!"
Empress Dowager Xiaoliang couldn't help but shuddered. Now the Xixia army has besieged Pingxia City for more than ten days. It stands to reason that Jingyuan Road has already received the news. According to the attitude of the Song Army in the past, the Song Army has rushed to the rescue non-stop. But now However, Xixia's scouts did not find reinforcements from the Song army.
"Yes, it seems that the Song Army deliberately asked us to attack Pingxia City." Weiming Awu exclaimed.
Thinking of the weird structure of Pingxia City and the various powerful weapons, everyone in Xixia couldn't help but feel shocked. All the behaviors of the Song Army were strange.
Empress Dowager Xiaoliang looked around at her elder brother and the Xixia generals who were leading the battle, and said solemnly: "The Ai family understands that the battle in Pingxia City will definitely be dangerous. However, the battle in Pingxia City is related to the national destiny of the Song and Xia countries. If we win this battle, we will win. Xia can force the Song Dynasty to pay tribute. If this battle fails, the Xia Dynasty will completely lose the opportunity to suppress the Song Dynasty. I will give the generals three more days. If they cannot capture Pingxia City within three days, they will withdraw immediately!"
"I obey your orders!" A group of Xixia generals accepted the orders one after another.
At this moment, the war drums are beating.
The Xixia army once again attacked the city, withstood the attack of the divine arm crossbow, and attacked Pingxia City again.
"God's Arm Crossbow!"
"Gold juice! Leimu! Rolling stone!"
This time, the Pingxia City defenders did not stop holding back, and used traditional city defense methods and firearms.
At the same time, the Song Army also began to sparingly use Thunder Thunder! Unless there is an urgent military situation such as the Xia troops attacking the city wall, thunderbolts will be used to repel the Xia troops. Of course, this will also cause the Song army's casualties to surge.
Watching more and more injured soldiers being transported to the wounded barracks, Fan Zheng couldn't help but frown and directed a group of military doctors to provide emergency treatment.
"Master Supervisor, it is urgent for the Xia army to attack the city. Why don't you come to the city wall and command in person..." a Forbidden Army general said worriedly.
The Xixia army was attacking the city, but Fan Zheng, as the supervisor of the army, was doing his job as a doctor. This was too derelict in his duties.
"Don't worry, as long as the thunderbolts are not used up, Pingxia City cannot be destroyed! The two generals are veteran generals in the army, and Fan's step forward is just adding trouble!" Fan Zheng said lightly. As a doctor, Fan Zheng Naturally, we know our strengths, and hasty command is the source of disaster.
At that moment, Fan Zheng sprinkled a handful of gunpowder on the injured soldier's wound and ignited it directly. As the smell of gunpowder filled the air, the injured soldier screamed, and the bleeding wound gradually stopped.
"Next!" Fan Zheng waved his hand and said calmly.
"But what if the Thunderbolts run out?" The general of the Forbidden Army on the side listened to the sound of Thunderbolts roaring outside the city and worriedly asked. Now that the military situation is urgent, Thunderbolts are being consumed rapidly.
Fan Zheng sneered and said: "To exhaust Pingxia City's thunder, Xixia will have to pay at least 100,000 casualties of soldiers. Do you think Xixia is willing to pay such a huge price?"
When he customized the checkered iron shell, he had decided on this number. He did not believe that the military discipline of the Xixia soldiers was so iron-clad, and they still insisted on attacking the city with 100,000 casualties.
"One hundred thousand!" The Forbidden Army general couldn't help but open his mouth.
You must know that Pingxia City only has 20,000 soldiers. If the 20,000 defenders can exchange for 100,000 Xixia soldiers, even if Pingxia City is attacked, they will die well.
"Don't worry, Pingxia City can't be destroyed!"
Fan Zheng patted the Forbidden Army general on the shoulder and glanced at the tent next to the wounded soldiers' camp. There were neat stacks of explosive packets inside. The wounded soldiers recovering from the injuries on the side were cooperating with each other to move ten or twenty kilograms of explosives. The gunpowder was carefully folded into cubes.
He naturally knew that the output of Zhentian Lei was limited in a short period of time, so he shipped in a large amount of gunpowder in advance. Even if Zhentian Lei ran out, the famous explosive packs of later generations would still be enough to make the Xixia army drink a pot.
For three whole days, Xixia soldiers attacked Pingxia City day and night!
However, under the protection of the bastion, the divine arm crossbow and the thunder, Pingxia City was crumbling, but it never fell.
The closest thing to success was when the Xia Army directly captured one corner of the bastion. However, the special structure of the bastion allowed the captured corner to be attacked simultaneously by both sides. At the same time, with the support of Zhentian Lei, the Song Army was incapacitated. casualties, and eventually retook the city wall.
"We can't fight any more! The Queen Mother should withdraw her troops! Our army has already suffered fifty thousand casualties!" Wei Ming A Wu said sadly.
The three-day siege battle directly killed 20,000 Xixia soldiers, but the Song army's firearms were still not exhausted.
"There is no way to withdraw. The Song army's firearms are about to be exhausted. As long as they attack the city again, they will definitely be able to capture Pingxia City." Liang Yibu said unwillingly.
"It's almost every time. Doesn't Sir Xiangguo think that the Song army deliberately asked me to wait for the attack and die?" Weiming Awu retorted.
Whether it is the divine arm crossbow or the Song Army's firearms, they will be most lethal only in places where soldiers attack intensively. The Song Army could often use firearms in advance, but when the Xia Army saw hope, they used shock weapons again and again. The sky thunder defeated Xixia's attack, and then used the divine arm crossbow to continuously harvest the lives of the Xia army.
"Withdrawing the troops now, will the sacrifices of the soldiers before have been in vain?" Liang Yibu asked.
Empress Dowager Xiaoliang was heartbroken when she heard this. She led an army that was claimed to be 500,000, but in fact it was only 300,000. Now in the small Pingxia City, 50,000 have been lost.
"Do you know how many firearms the Song Army still has? The Song Army also has divine arm crossbows, plus 20,000 defenders. Even if Pingxia City is captured, the Song Army will lose 20,000 soldiers, and Daxia can lose another 50,000 soldiers. ?" Weiming Ah Wu said with a sad smile.
Suddenly the Xixia generals fell silent. The population of Xixia was a hundred times that of the Song Dynasty. If they were to fight for troops, Xixia could not afford it, let alone the Song Dynasty using 20,000 more soldiers in exchange for 50,000 or even more Xixia soldiers.
Xixia has always been dominant in field battles, focusing on plundering. If after defeating Pingxia City, they find that the gains are not proportional to the effort, the hearts of the Xixia generals will immediately be shaken.
"Reporting to the Queen Mother, reinforcements from the Song Army have been discovered fifty miles to the east!"
"Song cavalry was discovered thirty miles northwest!"
Suddenly, news of reinforcements from the Song Dynasty came one after another, and they surrounded the Xia army in a fan shape.
"The reinforcements from the Song Army are coming. Doesn't it just prove that Pingxia City is at the end of its war?" Liang Yibu said happily instead of worrying.
The reinforcements from the Song Army had not arrived before, but now they have arrived. It is obvious that the time agreed upon by Pingxia City has arrived. This also shows that Pingxia City's firearms have been almost exhausted.
"No! As long as Pingxia City still has firearms, it will be impossible to capture it in a short period of time. If the Song army takes advantage of it again, our army may be in danger of being wiped out." Weiming Awu tried his best to dissuade him.
"But the opportunity to conquer Pingxia City is right in front of us. If we miss it this time, will I have to sacrifice the lives of 50,000 soldiers to make up for it next time?" Liang Yibu said angrily.
For a while, the Xixia generals were caught in a tangle.
"Retreat!" Suddenly Empress Dowager Xiaoliang said in a firm voice, "Since we agreed to retreat in three days, and since Pingxia City has not been captured in three days, then we must retreat."
"The Queen Mother is wise!" the Xixia generals said in relief.
Pingxia City is really too dangerous, and they really don't want to let Xixia men die in vain anymore.
"But..." Liang Yibu still wanted to fight for it.
"The Ai family has decided to withdraw our troops immediately!" Empress Dowager Xiaoliang said unmoved. It was not that she didn't know that Pingxia City was at the end of its strength, but she did not dare to bet. She was the Empress Dowager who listened to politics behind the curtain, and her power foundation was not stable. Once the Xixia soldiers suffer too many losses, they may be abandoned by the Xixia nobles.
Not to mention, the reinforcements of the Song Army have arrived, and the chance of breaking through Pingxia City is even slimmer. It is better to conserve strength and plan for it slowly.
That night, the Xixia army pulled out their strongholds and withdrew overnight.
When Song general Yao Xiong received the report of the horse detection and arrived outside Pingxia City, he saw that the Xixia army had disappeared without a trace. Only the corpses of Xixia soldiers on the ground proved how fierce the war had been.
"This is really a siege, not a siege."
Seeing such glorious results, Yao Xiong could not believe that the Xixia army of 500,000 troops besieged Pingxia City. Instead of capturing Pingxia City, they suffered heavy losses.
"I'm afraid that 40,000 to 50,000 Xixia soldiers were killed in the battle!" General Guo Chengguo, who came after hearing the news, couldn't help but click his tongue when he looked at the corpses of Xixia soldiers on the ground.
"Pingxia City!"
The second general looked at the strange-looking Pingxia City and couldn't help showing a hint of horror.
"No wonder Fan Jianjun asked me to wait for rescue later. Is it because he was afraid of scaring away Xia Bing?" The two looked at each other and said strangely.
The two did not enter Pingxia City, but immediately led their soldiers to follow the Xixia army.
"Victory!"
Watching the reinforcements continue to pursue the Xixia army, Zhong Pu still looked at the city in disbelief.
Twenty thousand people resisted successive attacks by half a million people, and they managed to hold on for half a month, and even killed 50,000 enemy troops! It's a miracle.
"Victory!"
The entire Pingxia City also received the news of Xixia's withdrawal and cheered.
"Bastion, divine arm crossbow! Sky-shaking thunder!" Yang Weizhong also looked in amazement. This battle seems dangerous, but everything is under the control of the Song Army. As long as the shaking thunder is not exhausted, they will always control the outcome of the war. Rhythm is what leads to today’s brilliant results.
However, they knew that all this victory was attributed to one person, the supervisor-evil doctor Fan Zheng.
Why do the two of them call Fan Zheng the evil doctor Fan Zheng when he is a military supervisor? This is because this military supervisor is still in the wounded barracks and is constantly treating the seriously wounded. He is completely a military doctor and does not look like a military supervisor. .
"Ask the supervisor immediately! How to deal with the corpses outside." Zhong Pu ordered.
A messenger immediately went to the wounded camp and returned in a hurry.
"The supervisor has an order! After counting the war merits, burn them all! Otherwise, a plague will occur!" the ordering soldier replied.
"The military supervisor has an order, follow the order!" Zhong Pu said without hesitation.
Yang Weizhong couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Burning so many corpses was not an easy job.
However, neither of the two generals raised any objections. After all, Fan Zheng had conquered everyone with his magical performance.
At that moment, the gates of Pingxia City were opened, and a large number of soldiers began to count their military merits and burn the bodies of Xixia soldiers.
"Fifty-three thousand enemies killed!" Yang Weizhong looked at the results of Pingxia City in disbelief.
Zhong Pu suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and said: "How many casualties did our army have?"
Yang Weizhong looked strange and said: "Four thousand were injured and one thousand eight were killed."
"A thousand and eighty dead?" Zhong Pu said in disbelief.
Yang Weizhong nodded and said, "This is all thanks to our Supervisor Fan. If it weren't for his superb medical skills, at least five hundred more soldiers would have died."
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but have a strange expression. Not only did they defend Pingxia City, but they killed 50,000 Xixia soldiers, while losing less than 2,000 of their own. Once such a record is revealed, the government and the opposition will probably be shocked.
"It's time to report victory to the court!" Zhong Pu said excitedly.
Yang Weizhong couldn't help but nodded ecstatically. After such a record came out, although the first achievement was made by the supervisor Fan Zheng, the two of them would inevitably be promoted and make a fortune.
At that moment, a messenger with one person and three horses galloped towards Kaifeng City.
"Great victory in Pingxia City!"
"Twenty thousand defenders killed fifty thousand enemies!"
Everywhere he went, all the cities in the Song Dynasty were shocked.
(End of chapter)
