Fenghou

Chapter 699 Decisive Battle ([-])

Three days after Brother Li Cha's army entered Xingqing City, Chen Qing finally got a detailed report.

In the big tent, Xiao Yuan, a scout who escaped from Xingqing City, reported the situation of Xingqing Mansion to Chen Qing and the generals.

"Brother Li Cha entered the city at night. There were [-] soldiers who followed him into the city. They burned, killed and looted for a whole night, and they didn't stop until dawn. At dawn, the gate of the east city opened. I don't know how many people escaped from the city."

"What about the dignitaries?" Zhang Xiao asked.

"Reporting to Sima, the mansions of the rich and powerful were the hardest-hit areas, and almost none of them were spared. Both Zu Renbali and Xia Jinfeng were killed, and their heads were hung at the gate of the mansion. The same goes for the Cao Mansion."

Cao Baozong, who was sitting in the corner, suddenly turned pale. Although his wives, concubines and children have escaped, the maids in the mansion are still there, and many of the maids are still in love with him. If they were still in the mansion, they would surely be doomed.

"General Cao, why is brother Li Cha so cruel to the powerful? Does he not want the powerful to support him?" Chen Qing asked from the side.

Cao Baozong smiled wryly and said: "It should be related to a list that asked the emperor to execute Brother Li Cha. Seventy-four ministers and dignitaries signed the list, and the emperor decided to pretend to be sick and seal the country, tricking Brother Li Cha to return to Beijing. Brother Li Cha should have gotten this list."

"Then how is Xixia's situation?" Chen Qing asked Xiao Yuan again.

Xiao Yuan quickly bowed and said: "Report to Dutong, no one knows the specific situation, but there are many rumors that the emperor is dead, but at dawn, there is news that brother Li Cha has proclaimed himself the supervisor of the country, but the prince has not ascended the throne, the prince's I don't know if I live or die."

Chen Qing nodded. It doesn't matter whether Li Qianshun is dead or not. As long as the emperor is always seriously ill, the prince has no hope of enthroning. Brother Li Cha is in control. Even the emperor and the prince are dead, but no news has been announced. This possibility is even greater. At a certain point, it is announced that the emperor and the prince died at the hands of the Song army, and he can ascend the throne smoothly.

"How about Li Kan's army?" Yang Zaixing asked.

This is also the main aspect that everyone is concerned about, and all the generals straightened up.

"There were only [-] troops that entered the city at night, and they were all from Brother Li Cha's army. There was no Li Kan's army. The next day I went to the military camp outside the city and bribed a soldier on the grounds of inquiring about relatives. He told I, Li Kan's [-] troops surrendered about [-], and the others were either killed or fled back home. Li Kan and his son are dead, and their heads were shown to the three armies."

At this moment, all eyes in the big tent turned to Chen Qing, Chen Qing nodded, and said to everyone: "As I promised before, to ensure that the soldiers go home for the New Year, now the time is ripe!"

Two days later, the [-] Song Army began marching northward. If the [-] defenders in Lingzhou were included, then the Song Army had invested [-] troops in this decisive battle.

Thirty thousand camels loaded with food and grass followed behind the army, and there were five thousand camels on the snowy ground responsible for pulling sleds, on which were placed all kinds of heavy siege weapons, as well as kerosene, gunpowder, armor, tents, etc. supplies.

There are plains from Mingsha County to the north, covered with thick snow, which is very suitable for sled sliding, so there is no need to slide on the cold Yellow River ice.

The decisive battle is not to directly win the Xingqing Mansion, but to clean up the surrounding cities first, mainly the four cities of Jingzhou, Huaizhou, Shunzhou, and Dingzhou. The population of these cities is not large. The farthest is Dingzhou, with a population of [-].

In fact, except for Dingzhou, the Xixia court had already given up these cities, and it would be a waste of troops if they couldn't defend them. However, Brother Li Cha didn't think so. He opposed giving up any cities. Ten thousand troops were placed in four cities, each with ten thousand troops.Even if he can't defend these cities in the end, he will use his troops to contain the Song army and consume the Song army's strength.

This morning, [-] troops arrived in Lingzhou, and the food and supplies also arrived at the same time.

With the arrival of [-] troops, the city of Lingzhou obviously couldn't accommodate them, not to mention the huge amount of supplies, and to prevent them from being destroyed, it was imperative to find a new logistics center.

In the big tent of the Chinese army, Liu Cui pointed to the sand table and introduced the situation of several cities to everyone.

"The closest to our Lingzhou City is Jingzhou City. The city wall is about [-] miles in circumference, and its size is only equivalent to an ordinary county town in the Central Plains.

Chen Qing pondered for a while and asked, "Is the low population itself a small population, or is it the result of relocating the population?"

"All of them. Originally, the population was only over [-] people. After [-] people moved away, only [-] people remained. But he is not the least. The least is Huaizhou, with only [-] people."

"Wait a minute!"

Chen Qing interrupted Liu Cui with a smile, "Continue to talk about Jingzhou City, how difficult is it to attack?"

"Jingzhou City is not high, only two feet high, without a moat, and the city wall is relatively old, built of rammed earth. I feel that it can be smashed down with a trebuchet. Of course, it can also be smashed open with a battering ram. Door."

Chen Qing glanced at Liu Qiong, and Liu immediately understood, stepped forward and said, "I am willing to lead the army to capture Jingzhou City!"

Chen Qing said happily: "I will give you [-] horses, [-] infantry and [-] cavalry, one hundred siege ladders, twenty catapult chariots, one battering ram, one thousand barrels of kerosene and gunpowder, two Take Jingzhou for me in a few days, and you can accept prisoners of war!"

"Follow the order!" Liu Qiong took the order and left.

Everyone was in a hurry and asked for orders to attack the city. Chen Qing waved his hands and said with a smile: "After listening to Liu Tongzhi's introduction, I will give everyone a chance to attack the city."

Liu Cui continued: "Huaizhou City, Shunzhou City, Dingzhou City, and Jingzhou City are about the same size, and the defense structure of the city is also almost the same. I feel that they are built from the same mold. The difference is the population. The population is the largest, around [-], Huaizhou is the least, only [-], Shunzhou is the same as Jingzhou, the four cities have [-] troops."

Chen Qing nodded, "Then follow the established plan, clear the surrounding areas, and finally besiege Xingqing City. Let's draw lots!"

Chen Qing wrote the words Huai, Shun, and Ding on three pieces of paper, mixed them with a bunch of blank papers, and asked everyone to draw lots. Liu Cui got Shunzhou, Li Muqing got Huaizhou, Tang Qian got Ding State.

Chen Qing said to the three of them: "You decide the strategy of attacking the city yourself. I still have two conditions. First, two days. Second, I can accept prisoners of war."

Seeing that everyone was puzzled, he explained: "Xixia is rich in mineral deposits, and we need manpower to mine them. Prisoners of war are the most suitable ones. They can even be registered as miners and make a living by mining."

Everyone saluted together, "I understand!"

"Of course, the premise is that the opponent is willing to surrender. If he is unwilling to surrender and resists in the corner, then shoot him to death!"

The three took the order and left, Chen Qing apologized to Gao Ding and Yang Zaixing beside him: "There are only three chances, we can only talk about it next time."

Zhang Xiao said with a smile on the side: "Actually, there is still a chance. When we attack Dingzhou, Brother Li Cha will probably send troops to support it. Then it is necessary to intercept and kill this support army."

Dingzhou is located in the north of Xingqing Mansion, and it is Brother Li Cha's lair. He is likely to send troops to rescue, so intercepting his reinforcements is more important than attacking Dingzhou.

Chen Qing smiled slightly at the two of them and said, "Why don't you two draw lots again?"

Gao Ding sighed, "Give this chance to Lao Yang! His eyes are about to burst into flames. I'm afraid he will kill me with a sword after I get it."

Yang Zaixing snorted, "Just as long as you know what you're interested in!"

Chen Qing smiled and nodded, "Yang Tongzhi makes a plan first, let's discuss it!"

(End of this chapter)