Fenghou

Chapter 686
In Lingzhou, [-] troops surrounded the city from four directions. A few miles away from the city, a series of large tents continued, the momentum was huge, the flags were flying, and cavalry were constantly galloping between the camps, echoing each other .

The top of the city was also full of Song troops. Facing the massive siege of the enemy, the defenders did not panic at all. They had enough confidence. There were [-] troops deployed in Lingzhou City, as well as [-] small trebuchets and a Thousands of bed crossbows, kerosene and gunpowder are essential items. The chief general Liu Cui has rich experience in defending the city.

Even in order to resist the enemy's siege, the Song army dug a three-foot-wide moat outside the city, poured water from the Lingzhou River into the moat, and built a suspension bridge, turning Lingzhou from the city of Xixia into a Song dynasty. city.

The chief general Liu Cui stood on the head of Nancheng, squinting at the camp in Nancheng. He received a report from the outer scout Feige that the garrison in Nancheng was different from the other three places. It seemed to be Jurchen cavalry.

Liu Cui also discovered that there were a lot of war horses in the South Camp, and there was a vast galloping field to the south. Thousands of Jurchen soldiers were training on the galloping field, constantly flying on horseback.

"How many troops does General Xiang think the Jurchen Army has?"

Beside him is Liu Cui's deputy, Xiang Ying. Xiang Ying was originally a puppet Qi general who surrendered to the Song army. He was about thirty years old. , rewards and punishments are clear, very loved by soldiers.

Guan Shigu specially recommended him to Chen Qing, and Chen Qing appointed him as the commander. After becoming a general of the Western Army, he made many military exploits. He was just promoted to the commander of the upper army and is currently Liu Cui's deputy.

Xiang Ying said with a smile: "The large tents in the military camp are not only used to house soldiers, but also house horses, so it looks like there are [-] to [-] troops, but in fact it has to be reduced by half. .”

Liu Cui smiled slightly and said: "The hero sees the same thing. I also think that the opponent is about [-] people, but the cavalry is obviously not for attacking the city. They are stationed in the south city. The goal must also be the south. They are waiting for our main force to go north."

Xiang Ying frowned slightly, "Their intention of deploying this way is actually very obvious. Don't you worry that we will use Eagle Letter to report to Mingsha County?"

Liu Cui shook his head, "This is a conspiracy. It is clear that we will fight the Song army. If the Song army dare not come, then they will harvest all the wheat this year. In fact, it is not a loss. I guess at least the Xixia people are holding this Thoughts, but we will never retreat because the enemy is strong, he will definitely lead the army north."

"Then what do we need to do to deal with it?"

Liu Cui smiled and said: "The thing we have to do is to wait patiently. Although Dutong will lead the army northward, he will not be controlled by the other party. He must go northward according to his own plan."

At this moment, outside the east city wall, the sound of war drums rumbled, as if the enemy army had begun to attack the city.

The Xixia army brought [-] siege ladders. Interestingly, the Xixia army’s siege ladders are almost exactly the same as the Song army’s simple siege ladders. He hoped that after the Jurchen iron cavalry defeated the main force of the Song army, the defenders in the city would be forced to break through, so that he could win without a fight and regain Xiping Mansion.

However, Uyan Puluhun wanted to witness the Song Army's ability to defend the city with his own eyes. The morale and training level of the Song Army can be seen from the ability to defend the city. He will be more prepared to face the Song Army, so that his eyes will not be dark .

Under the persecution of Uyan Puluhun, Li Kan had no choice but to agree to use [-] soldiers to conduct a tentative siege.

The dull sound of war drums rang outside the east city, and the low-pitched horns continued to sound, 'Woo—————'

The [-] troops assembled quickly. This time, Li Kan used a group of veterans recruited from the herdsmen. They had rich experience and a high level of training. Li Kan also had a glimmer of hope that maybe they could really capture the city.

At this time, the city also began to respond quickly. One thousand bed crossbows were erected on the east wall, two thousand barrels of fire oil were transported to the upper city, sixteen thousand troops were deployed at the east wall, and six thousand men were armed with spears to prepare and attack. The enemy army fought fiercely in the city, but before the enemy attacked the city, they were temporarily in charge of manipulating the bed crossbow, and the ten thousand crossbowmen squatted half behind the female wall, ready to implement a powerful bow and arrow array.

A large number of rolling logs and stones are ready, and the soldiers are ready.

The assembly of [-] soldiers was completed, and the commanding general was Li Kan's eldest son Li Ke. He waved his spear and shouted: "Beat the drums, the first army is attacking!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

With the rapid sound of war drums, [-] soldiers rushed towards the city wall. They carried siege ladders and long rafts. It is also made of fir trees, four feet long and eight feet wide, with large iron nails at both ends, which are directly nailed into the soil. They put the rafts on their heads to resist bows and arrows, and run at the front. The army paved the way.

On the top of the city, the lieutenant yelled loudly to the eagle, "The bed crossbow is ready!"

The soldiers on the top of the city quickly loaded their arrows and prepared to shoot. The bed crossbows of the Western Army were no longer flat. The flat crossbows occupied too much area and were difficult to arrange on the top of the city. The Western Army invented the crossbow several years ago. Type bed crossbow, a tube of five arrows fired at the same time, need two people to string, one person to load the arrows, three people can operate.

This kind of cylindrical bed crossbow is not actually called a bed crossbow anymore. It is called jackdaw crossbow or barrel crossbow inside the Western Army. Its range is not as far as the previous flat bed crossbow. It is only [-] steps, but it is enough, and It has been reduced from five-person operation of the bed crossbow to three-person operation, and its volume has been reduced by more than half, so it can be launched just on the city wall.

"Fire arrows!"

With the sound of clappers, a thousand bed crossbows were fired at the same time, and five thousand jackdaw arrows shot out powerfully, drawing parabolas in the air, and shooting at the main force of the Xixia army [-] steps away.

The soldiers of the Xixia Army who were running raised their shields to defend, but what they encountered was the invincible Jackdaw Iron Arrow. The powerful Jackdaw Arrow pierced the shield, and also shot through the body behind the shield. Soldiers screamed one after another. Some were shot through the head, some were nailed to death on the ground, and some soldiers' shoulder bones were smashed, rolling and crying on the ground in pain.

The powerful bed crossbow killed and wounded more than [-] Xixia soldiers in the first round.

But the Xixia army did not waver at all, and continued to speed up and run wildly. Soon they ushered in the second round of bed crossbows. The powerful iron arrows shot down, and a series of soldiers fell head-on. Nearly [-] soldiers disappeared in the attacking team again. middle.

The enemy army has rushed to within a hundred steps of the city, and shouted to the eagle: "The bed crossbow retreats, and the ten thousand arrows shoot!"

One thousand bed crossbows were moved away, and the ten thousand step archers squatting by the parapet opened their bows at the same time to release arrows. Suddenly, thousands of arrows were fired from the top of the city, forming an arrow net in the sky. The soldiers under the city shot over their heads.

The soldier arrows are two feet and five inches long, made of jujube wood or beech wood with high density, the shaft is thick and long, and the front arrow is also quite heavy. This kind of arrow is fired with a large defensive bow, but the range is not far , with an average of only seventy or eighty steps, thrown down from the top of the city, its penetrating power is no less than that of jackdaw arrows. If the quality of the shield is not too strong, it can also be pierced by soldier arrows.

Of course, the Xixia army also has high-quality thick shields, but these high-quality shields are all in the hands of the emperor's guards, and these herdsmen have their own weapons, armor and horses. The so-called shields are made of leather by themselves. The shield, if you think it is simple, how can it withstand the powerful standard soldiers and arrows of the Song Army.

Under the tens of thousands of arrows, the casualties were extremely heavy, with a kill rate as high as [-]%. Twenty-five hundred attacking soldiers were shot by the arrows, and the city was full of mourning. It surpassed the puppet Qi army.

This is also the result of backward equipment. Of course, it is also related to national power. The armor and equipment seized from the Song Dynasty in the past has almost been exhausted. The armies in Xixia are all poorly equipped, which fully reflects the declining national strength of Xixia.

Even Wuyan Puluhun shook his head secretly. No wonder the Xixia army was defeated by the Song army. The equipment was too simple to withstand the Song army's bows and arrows.

Li Kan couldn't hold back his face, he yelled sharply: "The second army also presses down!"

Li Ke was a little hesitant. If he attacked the city like this, even if [-] people couldn't take it down, he might as well withdraw his troops, but his father's military orders were overwhelming, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and shout: "The second army goes up!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The drums sounded again, and the [-] soldiers of the Second Army rushed up like a tide.

(End of this chapter)