There was a lot of discussion in Kaifeng City, and all the people were paying attention to the battle of Pingxia City, especially Fan Zheng, who was the supervisor of Pingxia City, had mixed praise and criticism.
"The official family is still too young! Yongle City, which was a natural and dangerous city during the Shenzong period, was not defended, let alone Pingxia City, which is now undefendable."
"I heard that the method of building Pingxia City was proposed by the evil doctor Fan Zheng. A doctor who relied on the official's trust actually got involved in military affairs. I'm afraid Pingxia City will not be able to escape defeat."
"A half-million-strong Xixia army is coming to attack. Pingxia City with only 20,000 people may not be able to hold out for a few days!"
………………
In Kaifeng City, every literati and scholar talked loudly, shaking their heads and sighing about the situation in Song and Xia.
"Evil doctor Fan Zheng? Evil doctor Fan Zheng's evil methods have never been defeated! In addition, he personally supervises the army in Pingxia City, so he must be confident." There are also people in Kaifeng who have great faith in Fan Zheng. After all, Fan is in Kaifeng City. However, the evil prescription has been repeatedly used to cure the disease, which makes the people have more confidence in it.
Besides, supervising the army is not about fighting, and the real commander is not Fan Zheng. It is not appropriate to attribute the responsibility for victory or defeat to Fan Zheng.
A scholar snorted coldly: "Xu Xi was also a famous person in the world back then, but the result was not just a war on paper. In the battle of Yongle City, the Song Dynasty lost 200,000 soldiers, lost troops and generals, and lost power and humiliated the country."
There was a lot of discussion inside and outside Kaifeng! No one in Kaifeng doubts the medical skills of evil doctor Fan Zheng, but not many people are convinced of his military abilities.
The court seems to be as calm as ever, but in fact there is an undercurrent. Countless officials have prepared memorials in private. Once the news of Pingxia City's defeat comes, they will swarm forward and completely overthrow Fan Zheng and the Fan family. .
"Is there any news from Pingxia City?"
In Chui Gong Hall, Zhao Xu couldn't hold back the anxiety in his heart and asked. He had asked the same question countless times.
"Report to the officials! There is no news from Pingxia City yet. According to the agreement between Fan Jianjun and Lord Zhang, Pingxia City needs to independently resist the Xixia army's siege for half a month before rescue can be carried out. The time should not have come yet." Tong Guangong vocal channel.
"Half a month?"
Zhao Xu couldn't help but look solemn. You must know that Pingxia City only has 20,000 defenders, while Xixia has a so-called army of 500,000 people. With such suspended strength, can Pingxia City really be able to stop it?
He understood Fan Zheng's plan, which was to use the Xixia army to test the power of the bastion, the divine arm crossbow and the thunder, and at the same time kill a large number of Xixia soldiers.
If Pingxia City could independently withstand more than ten times the enemy siege and at the same time kill a large number of enemy troops, it would definitely frighten Liaoxia and find a feasible way for the Song Dynasty to defend Liaoxia.
"I would rather defeat Liao Xia step by step than Fan Aiqing take risks!" Zhao Xu said helplessly.
Ever since he met Fan Zheng, Fan Zheng had set up a horse for him, and he was able to successfully take charge of the government, which can be said to be indispensable. Now Fan Zheng is putting himself in danger in Pingxia City, which makes him worry about gain and loss.
……………………
Fan Fuzhong,
"I hope Zheng'er will be safe and sound!"
Since Fan Zheng went to Pingxia City, the Ma family burned incense day and night at the ancestral temple of the Fan family to pray that their ancestors would bless Fan Zheng for his safe return.
In the cities of the Song Dynasty.
Li Qingzhao is seen leading people in Yizhuang to raise donations. Fan Zheng is fighting on the front line. She is raising donations in various cities of the Song Dynasty and using her own ability to help Fan Zheng.
As for whether Fan Zheng could come back, she never doubted it, because Fan Zheng never broke his promise to her.
………………
Inside the Liao mission.
Yelu Nanyin frowned. With 20,000 troops fighting against 500,000 Xia troops, she didn't think Fan Zheng had any chance of winning.
"Has a secret letter asking the Queen Mother of Xixia to spare Fan Zheng's life been sent out?" Yelu Nanyin frowned.
The deputy envoy of the Liao Kingdom on the side said helplessly: "Princess Qi, the secret message has been sent out long ago, but the sword has no eyes on the battlefield, and it is still unknown whether the evil doctor Fan Zheng can survive."
"Always obey fate! Fan Taicheng gave me a cure for port wine stain. I saved her life, which can be regarded as retaliation." Yelu Nanyin sighed.
The deputy envoy of the Liao Kingdom nodded and said, "Now, Your Highness, Princess, should consider what the position of the Liao Kingdom will be after this battle?"
Yelu Nanyin suddenly fell into a dilemma. As a native of the Liao Kingdom, she naturally hoped that the Song Dynasty would be defeated and the Liao Kingdom could take the opportunity to make the Song Dynasty surrender. However, Fan Zheng was in Pingxia City, and she hoped that Fan Zheng could create another miracle and defend Pingxia. city.
Suddenly, an envoy from the Liao Kingdom hurriedly returned from outside and said with a panic look on his face: "Princess Qi, a great victory in Pingxia City! The Song Dynasty has won!"
"The Song Dynasty wins!"
The entire Liao delegation was stunned. Pingxia City was unsafe to defend. They never thought that Pingxia City could be defended.
"really?"
Yelu Nanyin said ecstatically, but then realized something was wrong, and quickly sat up straight and said: "It seems that the reinforcements from the Song Army are coming very quickly this time!"
The envoy of the Liao Kingdom shook his head and said: "Your Highness the Princess does not know that this time it is not the reinforcements from the Song Kingdom that arrived, but Pingxia City with 20,000 troops to resist Xixia's 500,000-strong attack for half a month. Instead of capturing Pingxia City, they attacked Killed fifty thousand Xixia soldiers."
"Kill fifty thousand soldiers! Is this impossible?" the Liao deputy envoy exclaimed.
The Liao envoy said bitterly: "This is an urgent message from the Song Dynasty. Now it has spread throughout Bianjing."
The deputy envoy of the Liao Kingdom couldn't help but be shocked. Pingxia City 800 miles away hastened the summons, I'm afraid it will definitely not be false!
"Inquire immediately about the details of the battle in Pingxia City." The deputy envoy of the Liao Kingdom took a deep breath and said solemnly.
The results of the Battle of Pingxia City were really weird. If this battle was true, the situation that had been stable for decades in the Song, Xia, and Liao Kingdoms might have changed.
"Yes!" the Liao envoy said after receiving the order.
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"Great victory in Pingxia City!"
"Twenty thousand defenders defended Pingxia City for half a month and killed 50,000 Xia soldiers."
As the 800-mile hastening stagecoach whizzed by, the city of Kaifeng suddenly began to boil.
"How can this be?"
Countless people were shocked. The 20,000 defenders faced off against the 500,000 Xixia defenders. Not only did they hold on for half a month, but they also killed 50,000 Xixia soldiers.
"Isn't this a lie about military information?"
One person murmured.
All the people in Kaifeng fell silent. After all, such an outrageous record was really unbelievable.
"Other people will definitely not believe it, but he is the evil doctor Fan Zheng!" A Kaifeng citizen said firmly, stroking the intestinal carbuncle wound on his lower abdomen.
"Let me tell you why the evil doctor Fan Zheng went to Pingxia City to supervise the army. This must be his evil recipe." A merchant suddenly realized.
"Taking Pingxia City as the evil party?"
Many people were stunned and couldn't believe it.
"What's so strange about this? Didn't Fan Zheng still have a way to heal the city back then?"
"Fan Zheng's evil side has never been defeated. No wonder he dared to stand alone in Pingxia City."
"God has eyes, Fan Zheng's evil recipe has finally harmed Xixia."
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The people of Kaifeng originally questioned the outrageous results of the war, but after learning that it was Fan Zheng's evil recipe, their attitude changed drastically.
Fan Zheng's evil prescriptions have always been unpredictable, and many of them, which seemed incredible, turned out to be true one by one. The people of Kaifeng have long been accustomed to this.
When the good news of the 800-mile expedited operation reached the Chui Gong Hall, the entire palace couldn't help but feel a sensation.
"Good! What a Pingxia City, it lives up to its name!" Zhao Xu was excited when he saw the good news.
All the officials also came after hearing the news, and they all looked at the good news in front of them in disbelief.
"Congratulations to the official family!"
All the officials were also happy and congratulated one after another.
"We are impeaching Fan Zheng, the supervisor of Pingxia City, and the generals Zhong Pu and Yang Weizhong lied about the military situation!" Yang Wei, the censor, came out and angrily shouted, pouring cold water on the excited officials.
If three people had stopped the Xixia army from attacking the city, it might have been about the same. The 20,000 defenders actually killed 50,000 Xia soldiers while defending the city. This was simply impossible.
Other officials also woke up from their ecstasy. The Song Dynasty and Xixia were often at war. They naturally knew that they had an advantage in the battle to defend the city, but Xixia had an army of 500,000.
The two sides fought for half a month, and the Song Dynasty actually lost less than 2,000 people, and the Xixia people died 50,000 people. According to previous battles, this was impossible to do anyway.
"No! This matter should be true!"
Unexpectedly, the old party leader Lu Dafang personally rectified Fan Zheng's name!
"Ms. Lu, how can you believe such ridiculous words!" Yang Wei looked at Lu Dafang in disbelief.
Lu Dafang shook his head and said: "The design concept of Pingxia City is to use offense instead of defense. It is not surprising that Pingxia City can kill so many Xia soldiers. What really surprises me is that Pingxia City can defend five people alone." An army of 100,000 men attacked for half a month."
Other important ministers also nodded. They had witnessed the power of the Divine Arm Crossbow and the Sky-shattering Thunder with their own eyes. Both of them were magical weapons that mainly focused on attack power, and their lethality was naturally astonishing.
In their speculation, Fan Zheng was able to use such a magical weapon to inflict heavy damage on the Xia army. Even if it finally fell, he could kill a large number of the Xixia army before it fell. From then on, Xixia would be wary of attacking the Song army's castle.
Obviously, Fan Zheng gave them a bigger surprise. Not only did he kill a large number of Xia troops, he also successfully defended ten times more of the enemy's siege for half a month.
"I ask the supervisor to use all his strength to make divine arm crossbows and thunderbolts, and then transform the frontline villages into bastion structures." Privy Councilor Zeng Bu said excitedly.
The great success of Pingxia City is enough to prove that the bastion, the divine arm crossbow and the thunderous thunder are an invincible combination. Once the frontline villages are transformed into bastions, coupled with the divine weapons such as the divine arm crossbow and the thunderous thunder, the Song Dynasty The forts on the border will be covered with sharp thorns like hedgehogs, causing invading enemies to prick their heads and bleed.
"allow!"
Zhao Xu said loudly.
"God's Arm Crossbow, Sky-Shaking Thunder! Bastion!"
All the officials in the court couldn't help but be stunned. They had only heard of the Divine Arm Crossbow, but they knew nothing about the Sky Thunder and the Bastion.
Zhao Xu gave a slight signal, and the privy envoy Zeng Bu laid out the plans for Pingxia City.
Now that the battle of Pingxia City has ended, the secrets of Bastion and Zhentian Lei have been made public, so naturally there is no need to hide them anymore.
"Such a weird way to build a city!"
"A firearm that sounds like thunder, a thunder that can kill any living thing within five steps!"
"When combined with the arrows, the armor-piercing divine arm crossbow can be used!"
All the officials in the court couldn't help but take a breath of cold air. It's no wonder that the important officials in the court had no doubts about the strange battle report from Pingxia City.
"What a man who uses offense instead of defense!" Su Shi exclaimed.
All the officials were silent. Ordinary castles focus on making the walls taller and thicker, so that the invading enemies can do nothing. However, the bastion did the opposite. It did not pursue the height and danger of the walls, but used the shape of the castle to match the divine arm. The crossbow strives to kill the enemy to the greatest extent, using offense instead of defense, not to mention the powerful killer weapon of thunder.
"Su Aiqing, publish the official newspaper immediately and spread the word about Pingxia City's victory throughout the world!" Zhao Xu ordered.
After the invasion of Xixia, the hearts of the Song Dynasty were unstable. Many people attributed the invasion of Xixia to the abolition of Sui coins. Now the victory in Pingxia City can calm people's hearts.
"By the way, I will show the Queen Mother the good news of Pingxia City. I have accomplished what she failed to do. I am sure the Queen Mother will be happy!" Zhao Xu said proudly.
After the war between Song and Xia began, all officials in the court vaguely missed the days when Empress Dowager Gao was in power, spent money to buy a peaceful life, and even secretly plotted to welcome Empress Dowager Gao back.
Nowadays, Pingxia City's victory is enough to prove that his tough concept is correct. Xixia is not invincible.
Under Zhao Xu's intimidating gaze, each minister bowed his head and bowed his head, fearing that Zhao Xu would see the slightest dissent.
"Report to the official family that the Liao envoys are asking for a meeting and requesting mediation in the war between Song and Xia." Su Shi reported.
The expressions of all the officials in the court suddenly changed. Xixia had always been suffering from scabies and itching, and the real enemy of the Song Dynasty had always been the Liao Kingdom.
"Liao!"
Zhao Xu's face darkened. The Liao Kingdom was indeed evil-minded. Now in the battle between Song and Xia, the Song Dynasty had finally gained some upper hand, and the Liao Kingdom immediately jumped out to intervene.
"What do you all think?" Zhao Xu asked back.
Zhang Dun immediately stepped forward and said: "I object! Now that the Song Dynasty finally won a great victory, how can we let Xixia off easily! I think that we should ignore the mediation of Liao Kingdom and take this opportunity to build a fortress on the front line of Song and Xia Dynasty and attack with the whole army." , to regain the lost ground during the Shenzong period."
Lu Dafang shook his head and said: "No! The Liao Kingdom is powerful. Now it is just the war between Song and Xia. The Song Dynasty has already consumed countless grain and grass and is unsustainable. If the Liao Kingdom is completely angered and the Liao and Xia countries attack at the same time, the Song Dynasty may be attacked from both sides."
"What are you afraid of? Once all the cities on the front line of the Song Dynasty are transformed into fortress structures, and we use divine arm crossbows and thunderbolts, why should we be afraid of Liao Xia?" Zhang Dun said proudly.
Zhang Dun has always advocated being tough on Liao and Xia and pursuing a border-opening policy. Not to mention the successful example of Pingxia City. Once the transformation is successful, the Song Dynasty's defense power will be greatly increased, and naturally it will not be afraid of Liao and Xia.
"The Liao Kingdom mostly has cavalry, and they mainly focus on plundering. There are no natural barriers blocking Yanyun's Sixteen Prefectures. If the Liao Army goes south and is surrounded but not attacked, all the roads in the north will be under the Liao's cavalry." Lu Dafang retorted. .
"If the Liao Kingdom dares to go south, then we will start a full-scale war. We, the Song Dynasty, have unparalleled firearms and occupy a favorable location. The outcome of this battle is still uncertain." Zhang Dun said forcefully.
Seeing the two prime ministers quarreling with each other, all the officials in the court were also divided into two groups, arguing endlessly, and Zhao Xu couldn't help but feel a headache.
Seeing this, Su Zhe stepped forward and said: "The Liao Kingdom's mediation is naturally not good-hearted. However, the Liao Kingdom is powerful. It would be best if it does not anger the Liao Kingdom. However, if the Song and Xia want to cease the war, the Liao Kingdom alone cannot do it. The court can ask Xixia We can personally send envoys to come for peace talks. This will last more than a month, and our army can take the opportunity to build a bastion on the front line. By then, whether peace talks will happen or not will be decided by the Song Dynasty. "
"What Mr. Su said is true! Fan Taicheng once said! There is a protracted war between the Song Dynasty and Liao Xia. It is impossible for the Song Dynasty to defeat Xixia in one battle." Lu Dafang also nodded.
Zhao Xu had just verified the power of the bastion, the divine arm crossbow and the thunderous thunder. He was originally inclined to Zhang Dun's tough attitude. When Lu Dafang mentioned Fan Zheng's protracted war theory, he suddenly realized that he was too impatient. "
"As Xianggong Su told me, I conveyed it to the Liao envoys. The peace talks between Song and Xia require the Xixia envoys to send envoys in person." Zhao Xu followed the good path.
"The officials are wise!"
A group of conservatives and neutrals took orders one after another.
"Immediately send an order to Pingxia City to reward the three armies. Fan Zheng's duty as supervisor of the army has been completed. He will immediately return to Beijing to be responsible for peace talks with Liaoxia." Zhao Xu ordered again.
All the officials nodded. Fan Zheng had just defeated the Xia army in Pingxia City, and the peace talks with Xixia would definitely be a deterrent to Xixia. Another reason was that Fan Zheng had found a cure for facial diseases for Princess Yelu Nanyin of Liao Kingdom. If you are kind to him, he can be said to be the best person to negotiate with Liaoxia.
"Fan Zheng!"
Zhang Dun and Zeng Bu looked at each other, their hearts heavy. The influence of the evil doctor Fan Zheng on the official family was too great, which was extremely detrimental to the new party.
(End of chapter)
