The Jin army besieged the city, and the Song emperor’s daughter died

Chapter 238 Cannon Flying
December 29, the first year of Jingkang.

Although the heavy snow stopped, the sky was still dark. The blue-grey sky was like a thick dome, pressing down on the heads of the people, making it indescribably depressing and dull.

In the sky, more than a dozen sea turtles were circling and screaming, sharp and loud, like a mourning call, but also like a trumpet.

The soldiers guarding the city at Nanxun Gate tightly held the spears and crossbows in their hands. After a while, these soldiers seemed to feel the city wall trembling. Looking up, they saw five-colored sun flags in the distance. Coming from the sky, it stands out among the gray sky and earth.

"The Jinmen are attacking the city!"

As the messenger shouted in excitement and fear, the warning horn on the city also made a dull and powerful sound: "Buzz...buzz..."

The sound of the horn instantly resounded throughout Kaifeng City.

Everyone knows what this trumpet sound means.

The merchants that had just opened their doors to welcome customers have closed their shops. The vendors in the morning market on the street are pushing wheelbarrows or carrying cargo poles and rushing home. The people who are buying New Year's goods do not bother to bargain and take out their wallets. I threw away a few pennies, picked up the New Year's goods, held them in my arms and ran away.

The government officials of Kaifeng Prefecture had already taken to the streets to maintain order, blowing gongs and shouting: "The Jin people are attacking the city, go home quickly."

Kaifeng City, with a population of more than 150 million, became like an empty city within a quarter of an hour.

On the streets, except for the galloping horses and soldiers lining up, there was no one else.

In the Longde Palace, Emperor Daojun closed his eyes and followed Zhang Tianshi in chanting sutras and praying. In the Prince's Mansion, the Prince held the hand of Princess Zhu Lian tightly and said tremblingly: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, my sister is here, Jinren Can't get in."

In Akihito Palace, Zhao Fujin was also awakened by the dull horn sound, and asked sleepily: "Chun Xia, what time is it?"

Chunxia replied nervously: "Guan family, it was just around the clock."

Zhao Fujin flattened his arms, stretched out, and cursed with a hint of anger: "So early? You are in a hurry to reincarnate!"

……

……

The Western Route Army, which came out from Qingcheng, walked around in front of Tongjin Gate and then went straight to Nanxun Gate.

During this siege, Wanyan Zonghan's [-]-strong army pressed forward, including [-] siege infantry, [-] light cavalry, [-] heavy armored cavalry, [-] archers and [-] artillery. The remaining [-] were mostly accompanying troops. craftsmen and peasants.

In terms of equipment, there are more than 500 light and heavy artillery machines alone, as well as a hundred or so trench-filling vehicles that are no longer needed, and countless large and small ladders.

This is the entire wealth of the West Route Army.

Wanyan Zonghan's idea is very simple: attack Nanxunmen, just this one battle, or you will be benevolent if you don't succeed!

As for Wanyan Zongwang's East Route Army, the troops were divided into three routes, going around Shuimen in the west, Suanzao Gate in the north, and Tongjin Gate in the east, to contain and disperse the Song Army, and relieve the pressure of the West Route Army's frontal siege.

This arrangement means that the combat power of the East Route Army is indeed inferior to that of the West Route Army. It is best to leave the hard work of frontal siege to the West Route Army.

Secondly, Wanyan Zonghan was a little distrustful of the Eastern Route Army.These days, Wanyan Zonghan even suspected that when Wanyan Zongwang's Eastern Route Army was besieged in Moutuogang last year, had he reached some kind of agreement with the Song Dynasty?
Wanyan Zonghan's suspicion was not groundless, but based on Wanyan Zongwang's performance during this year and his outlook on the entire Jin Dynasty.

Although Wanyan Sheng's ascension to the throne was in line with the Jurchen tradition, brothers eventually succeeded each other.

But today's Jin Dynasty court is not only composed of Jurchens, but also old ministers of the Liao Kingdom. Whether these people are Khitans or Han people, they have been deeply influenced by Han culture for hundreds of years. In their view, they are gifted with imperial power. To be stable, it should never be about brother and brother, but father, father and son.

Wanyan Zongwang, as the second prince whom Jin Taizu Wanyan Aguda loved most, was the best at fighting, and had the most brains, it was hard to say that he didn't have other thoughts.

Wanyan Zonghan himself would occasionally have such sweet dreams, let alone the second prince?

So before sending troops to attack the city today, Wanyan Zonghan had already sent his most trusted messengers back to Huining Mansion with a personal letter to meet Wanyan Sheng.

There was only one sentence in the letter: "If the battle of Kaifeng fails, investigate the second prince in detail."

Wanyan Zonghan was riding on a war horse, looking at the majestic south gate of Kaifeng City with some confusion. He himself didn't understand why he wanted to send this letter to Wanyan Sheng. If the battle of Kaifeng was really lost, he would return to Huining. Can't we talk about it after we meet Yan Sheng in person?
Do you have to take the extra step to write a letter?
"Commander!" Wanyan Loushi called from beside him. Wanyan Zonghan finally came to his senses, turned around and ordered: "Light cannon attack the city!"

In the first step of siege, firepower coverage first destroys the defensive materials and equipment of the defenders at the top of the city, clearing as many obstacles as possible for the subsequent battle to climb the city.

More than 300 light artillery vehicles that had already been lined up were ordered to fire a hundred guns.

Stones the size of bowls fell like raindrops on the top of Wengcheng. The Song Army's twin cannons that were originally mounted on the top of the city were smashed into pieces before they could fire. Those who survived the first wave of attacks were smashed into pieces. The Shuangxiao Cannon and Fangzi Crossbow also launched a counterattack.

The twin cannons fired fire bombs soaked in fire oil, making a hunting sound in the air and looking amazingly powerful.

However, due to the range, most of them fell within ten feet of the Jin Army's light artillery array. The impact on the Jin Army's light artillery was negligible. Only a few of them performed exceptionally and fell into the Jin Army's light artillery array. Several vehicles were destroyed and burned.

When it comes to range, the Song Army's bed crossbow is the most powerful.

It easily penetrated the Jin Army's light artillery formation. Although the crossbow arrows were also tied with lit oil cloth, as long as they were hit, the artillery carriage would instantly fall apart.

However, crossbow arrows are crossbow arrows after all, and it is difficult to cause large-scale damage. In the years of fighting with the Song Dynasty, the Jin people had long known how powerful the bed crossbow was, so generals with a little experience would not use light cannons. Like candied haws, you can wear them directly.

Because every time the bed crossbow fires a round, it requires complicated operations before it can fire another round. Its rate of fire is at least three times slower than that of the Jin Army's light artillery.

Therefore, the counterattack of the Wengcheng defenders had just begun. The Jin army's light artillery dealt another round of damage, and the double-width cannon and bed crossbow on the top of the Wengcheng city were smashed and very few were left.

The kerosene barrels stored at the top of Wengcheng were also smashed to pieces. The thick kerosene had just spread all over the city. Then a flint fell, and the top of Wengcheng was instantly engulfed in a sea of ​​fire. Several people who had no time to run were The Song army was wrapped in flames and fell from the city top screaming hysterically. The few remaining double-twisted cannons and bed crossbows also crackled and burned.

As the official history said: "Every time a cannon hits the city, the rope nets, dung soil, large pillars, and upper floors are all broken, making it impossible for the guards to stand."

A small urn city, in Wanyan Zonghan's eyes, could be destroyed with a snap of his fingers. In less than half an hour, the defenses at the top of the urn city had been completely destroyed. The Song troops defending the city retreated one after another and returned to the main gate of Nanxun Gate. Above the city.

Wanyan Zonghan snorted coldly and issued another military order: "Attack the city with infantry."

Thirty thousand infantry troops were ordered to carry various ladders and roar towards the undefended Wengcheng.

(End of this chapter)