Tumeng: I am a national advisor in the Golden Family

Chapter 470: The Song soldiers are approaching Xiangyang. Will the Southern Song Dynasty surrender?

Three days later, Zhang Yong held a grand swearing-in ceremony in Chang'an Mansion and issued a list of crusade against the Southern Song Dynasty.

It has been more than 300 years since the Zhao family usurped the Chai family, and the emperors of Zhao and Song have failed in their virtue many times.

In the past, they were repeatedly defeated by the Liao Kingdom. Li Yuanhao of Xixia rebelled, and he was defeated by Xixia again. Emperor Huiqin of the Northern Song Dynasty lost his northern territory due to the shame of Jingkang.

Great rivers and mountains, hand in hand.

As a result, all the people in the north fell under foreign rule. For a hundred years, Zhao and Song Dynasty did not want to make progress, but instead accused the Central Plains of having no heroes.

The generals of the Southern Song Dynasty launched several Northern Expeditions, and the people in the north all responded. Every time they were about to succeed, the Northern Expedition failed because of the stupidity of the Southern Song monarchs and ministers.

This is when the people of the North were liquidated after the incident, and their blood flowed like rivers.

In the Southern Song Dynasty, the land of Sichuan and Shu was lost, and later in the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, they were defeated again at the hands of the Guanzhong army. The fate of the Zhao Song Dynasty for three hundred years was exhausted. The King of Guanzhong personally led an army of 300,000 to lead the expedition.

This article of crusade against the Southern Song Dynasty immediately gained the support of the entire north, and everyone in the Central Plains and Hebei responded.

The Guanzhong army set out from Chang'an Mansion, a total of 150,000 troops, and marched toward Tangzhou in a mighty manner, preparing to join the 50,000 Central Plains army stationed here.

Zhang Yong's eldest son Zhang Dingguan led 5,000 cavalry, Chatuohua's eldest son Kebuhua led 1,000 Mongolian cavalry, Bater's eldest son Tulu led 1,000 Mongolian cavalry, Zhang Rou led 5,000 Central Plains infantry, and Shi The 10,000 Central Plains troops led by Tianze totaled 22,000 people.

As a vanguard force, they headed to Chuzhou City first and joined the 20,000 troops in Chuzhou City.

Then he set off south and began to attack Yangzhou City. On the other side of the Yangtze River waterway, Zhang Yong's newly developed warship also sailed out of Chongqing Mansion and went south along the Yangtze River.

The soldiers of Hanzhong also came out in full force and came towards the sun.

Ten days later, Zhang Yong led his army to join Tangzhou's army. A total of 200,000 troops arrived at Xiangyang City in the Southern Song Dynasty.

At this time, the gates of Xiangyang City were closed tightly. Countless Southern Song soldiers in armor were standing on the city towers, and flint cannons and sky-shattering cannons were placed on the city walls.

In addition, there are a large number of falling rocks, rolling logs, gold juice, arrows and other defensive equipment.

Xiangyang City is several feet high, with multiple castles built and protected by moats. It would be really difficult to attack from the front.

"King Guanzhong, how are we going to fight this battle?" Liu Heima asked.

The defense of Xiangyang City is very perfect. It can be seen that the defender is a very scheming person. It can be said that there are no flaws in the entire city.

"Why don't the King of Guanzhong send an envoy first to persuade him to surrender?" Cha Tuohua said.

Send an envoy to persuade Xiangyang to surrender. If the envoy is killed, it can also boost morale. Can you get Xiangyang to surrender? He hadn't considered this.

After all, according to their intelligence, there were 100,000 defenders in Xiangyang City, and there were many people from the Southern Song Dynasty army who coordinated the defense from various places.

"Take out all the heavy artillery, thunder cannons, cannons, our improved trebuchets, and gasoline cans, and let me blast them for seven days." Zhang Yong said.

I send troops to attack the city. If I send troops to attack the city, my infantry will suffer heavy casualties. It is not cost-effective at all. Why should I climb the city wall when I can carry out fire coverage from a distance?
The person guarding this city was none other than Meng Gong, the last pillar general of the Southern Song Dynasty. This man's military ability was very good.

But it's a pity that they can't use it for themselves. These generals of the Southern Song Dynasty, especially General Meng, still have nothing to say about the focus of the Southern Song Dynasty court.

In history, it saved the Southern Song Dynasty from fire and water many times, but unfortunately, it was still jealous of the civil servant group in the end. He failed in his ambition in his later years and died young in his fifties.

Then the monarchs and ministers of the Southern Song Dynasty followed their old tricks and conferred the title of Grand Master.

"Yes! Follow the order of the King of Guanzhong."

Just when the Guanzhong army was about to set up weapons and prepare to bomb Xiangyang City, a group of envoys from the Southern Song Dynasty actually came out of Xiangyang City and came to Zhang Yong's military camp.

"It's strange. The emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty actually dared to send an envoy to see me. I didn't even see the envoy they sent last time, but they still sent it this time."

"King Guanzhong, if you don't want to see him, I will blow him away immediately." Cha Tuohua said.

"No need, go and bring him in. I want to see what tricks the envoy of the Song Dynasty wants to play with me." Zhang Yong said.

The soldiers guarding the camp did not dare to neglect. After checking these envoys one by one to confirm that they did not carry weapons, they were brought to Zhang Yong's Chinese army tent.

"Liu Qi, the envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty, paid homage to the King of Guanzhong." An old man in his fifties bowed to Zhang Yong and said.

"Well! Why did your envoy come here? Could it be that he came to surrender to me?" Zhang Yong sat on his chair and asked.

"Reporting to the King of Guanzhong, you guessed right. I, the Song Dynasty, are willing to surrender, and the official is here to discuss surrender with you on behalf of the imperial court." A Southern Song official named Liu Qi said.

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Yong was completely confused. What the hell, I just arrived with my army and I didn't even fire a single cannon. You are actually about to surrender.

"Are you coming to surrender on behalf of the entire Xiangyang, or are you coming to surrender on behalf of the Southern Song Dynasty court, or the Emperor Zhao Yun of the Southern Song Dynasty," Zhang Yong said.

"King of Guanzhong, I am not coming here on behalf of Xiangyang City. I am coming here on behalf of the imperial court of the Great Song Dynasty and the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty to ask for surrender." The envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty bowed his head, saluted to Zhang Yong, and spoke.

Is there any mistake? The Southern Song Dynasty actually wanted to surrender to itself.

"What method of surrender do you want?"

"I, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, would like to use the Yangtze River as the boundary to redefine the national boundaries with the King of Guanzhong. I, the Song Dynasty, will surrender to the King of Guanzhong and provide 50 million Sui coins to Guanzhong every year.

There are also various kinds of tea, silk, and porcelain, which are sweating to Mongolia and professing vassalage to Wang Lin in Guanzhong. "The envoy from the Southern Song Dynasty said.

Hahaha, you surrender, do you call this surrender? It's been going on for a long time, are you here to negotiate? Do you think I am the Jin Kingdom, or the previous Liao Kingdom?
"It's okay to surrender, but all your Southern Song armies must surrender to my army immediately. The gates of Xiangyang City will be opened to welcome my army into the city. Your Emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty will come to see me in person, and I will accept his surrender. And don’t kill him.” Zhang Yong smiled and said.

"King of Guanzhong, I, the Song Dynasty, sincerely surrender and are willing to pay tribute to the King of Guanzhong every year.

This tribute is for Wang Ning in Guanzhong, not Mongolia. "The envoy from the Southern Song Dynasty was afraid that Zhang Yong didn't hear clearly, so he stated his conditions again.

During the Wokuotai period, Mongolia proposed this condition to the Southern Song Dynasty during its first southern expedition.

As long as the Southern Song Dynasty agreed to this condition, Mongolia would promise never to invade the Song Dynasty again, but the King of Guanzhong actually refused to accept it!
"I heard your words very clearly, but what I want is the country of the Southern Song Dynasty, not the coins. Your only chance of surrender is for the entire army to surrender to me. There is no second way." Zhang Yong said.

"Wei Chen already knows what the King of Guanzhong wants. Please allow me to go back and report to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. I really can't make the decision on this matter." The envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty bowed to Zhang Yong and said in a low voice.

There was no other way. He did not come here to surrender sincerely, but to buy time, so the emperor of the Song Dynasty also gave him a lot of power. All conditions could be agreed to, as long as they could buy time.

"That's fine. Then you can go back! I won't embarrass you." Zhang Yong said.

"King Guanzhong, since we have decided to negotiate peace, can you stop the army? If we can't reach an agreement and you lead your army to attack the Southern Song Dynasty again, we will have nothing to say." The envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty bowed to Zhang Yong, He spoke.

When Zhang Yong heard this, he sneered. He had come to surrender sooner rather than later, but it happened that when my army arrived at Xiangyang City, you ran out and surrendered.

If you really want to surrender, then when you started to mobilize the army, you should have sent an envoy to Guanzhong Palace to talk to me as soon as possible.

In this case, I will still believe that you are somewhat sincere. But now this is the case. Do you think I'm an idiot? I can't see you're trying to stall for time?
"I led an army from afar. If I don't attack the city and seize the territory, what will the soldiers in our army eat and drink? Could it be that you, the Southern Song Dynasty, will pay for the food and grass for my entire army?" Zhang Yong asked.

"King Guanzhong, what you are doing is unreasonable. We are already negotiating, how can you go to war rashly? Why don't you stop fighting for half a year. After half a year, I will come to you to continue talking in detail." The envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty said. said.

"Haha! Someone will send him out and send him back to Xiangyang City." Zhang Yong waved his hand and said. You are not here to surrender, you are here to delay and buy some time for the Southern Song army.

Xiangyang City is said to be garrisoned by a hundred thousand troops, but Zhang Yong doesn't even want to say how big this is. Over the years, the Southern Song Dynasty has been asking about it, and even sent troops to attack during his Western Expedition. There has been little time to recuperate.

The current Southern Song Dynasty is truly weak on the outside and weak on the inside, not even strong on the outside but capable on the inside.

"You! King Guanzhong, you are also a prince, how can you be so rude, I am the envoy of the Song Dynasty and you are so negligent to me?" Liu Qi said angrily.

"I just neglect you, what can you do?

Let me tell you the truth, I have no intention of discussing surrender with you in the Southern Song Dynasty. My surrender plan is to knock down Xiangyang City.

Take down the Yangtze River Basin, take down Jiangning Prefecture, take down Pingyang Prefecture, take down all the territory of your Southern Song Dynasty, and then go to Lin'an City to accept the surrender of your Emperor Zhao and Song Dynasty. "Zhang Yong said.

"You! You!! How can Wang Ning of Guanzhong be so rude? I, the Song Dynasty, intend to come to repair and become your vassal state. Aren't you satisfied?" Liu Qi, the envoy of the Southern Song Dynasty, said.

"It's useless to talk more! Come and see the guests off!" Zhang Yong said.

Soon, two Guanzhong soldiers rushed in, escorted the Southern Song envoy directly, and then blasted them out of the military camp on the spot.

"King Guanzhong, why don't you accept this proposal from the Southern Song Dynasty? It would be better to talk to them about the conditions, for example, let them cede Xiangyang City to us." A Central Plains general who accompanied the army asked.

This condition can be said to be very generous. During the period of the Great Khan Ogedai, when the Mongolian army conquered the Southern Song Dynasty, they set such conditions to make the Southern Song Dynasty a vassal state of Mongolia and pay tribute every year just like they did to the Jin Kingdom.

It's just that this condition was imposed by Mongolia, and the Southern Song Dynasty did not agree, so the fight finally broke out.

"This general! This envoy from the Southern Song Dynasty did not want to negotiate with us at all. He wanted to delay time. The King of Guanzhong saw through his conspiracy and drove him out." Guo Kan stood aside He spoke.

"Yes, if you want to negotiate with us. Then why not come to the Guanzhong Palace? There is news that our army has been touched.

The Southern Song Dynasty should have known about it for a long time. This envoy stayed in Xiangyang City and waited until our troops reached the city. Then he came out and said he wanted to surrender. Isn't this delaying time? "A Guanzhong general said.

"What's more, this time the King of Guanzhong personally led an army of nearly 300,000 people, and divided his troops into four groups to attack the Southern Song Dynasty. How can there be any reason to retreat at any time?" he said.

"Okay, this is just a delaying tactic for the Southern Song Dynasty. If he really wants to surrender to me and become my vassal state, he would have already sent envoys to my Guanzhong Palace when I mobilized the army.

And you should have heard what this guy just said. He hopes to be able to stop fighting for half a year. In this half year, he can do a lot of things. "Zhang Yong said.

"Guanzhong Wang Yingming, we will launch an attack immediately."

At noon that day, the Guanzhong army moved out all the heavy artillery, thunder cannons, cannons, and the latest improved version of the trebuchet.

The heavy artillery made by Zhang Yong has a range of 230 meters. After various improvements, it can now fire cannonballs the size of small melons, which is extremely powerful. The walls of some small cities can be destroyed with one shot.

Even the city walls of Xiangyang City cannot get any advantage in the face of such powerful heavy artillery. (The author specifically checked the relevant information. The height of the Xiangyang City Wall in the Southern Song Dynasty was about 8.5 meters, and the thickness was about 5 to 6 meters. It was built in a trapezoidal shape.)
The newly improved catapult has an attack range of 160 meters. As for the thunder cannon, it is mounted on a high platform.

Basically all the long-range weapons were put out, including hundreds of cannons and catapults, forming a huge deterrent.

"Fire! Fire!"

Boom!Boom!Boom!Boom!Boom!
A burst of artillery fire! The entire city wall of Xiangyang was blazing with flames, and a large number of soldiers were turned upside down by the bombing.

A large number of soldiers from the Southern Song Dynasty were blown into the sky without even reacting.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Ah! Ah!"

"All soldiers, don't panic. Move the defensive equipment down the city wall first." The general guarding the city wall said.

"General's order, don't panic, please protect the city defense equipment first." The herald shouted loudly.

The sound of banging and banging explosions was endless, and the entire city tower was filled with soldiers running for their lives.

He really didn't expect that the firepower of the Guanzhong army was so fierce. The last time Mongolia invaded the south, they also dispatched a kind of catapult with explosive packs, as well as the flying thunder cannon.

But this time, the huge and heavy artillery brought out by the Guanzhong army was something he had never seen before.

The King of Guanzhong seems to have come up with a brand new weapon again.

Under the absolute suppression of firepower, the city wall of Xiangyang suddenly turned into a sea of ​​flames. The power of hundreds of cannons firing was beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Just the shock wave and loud noise caused by the explosion caused many soldiers to suffer from tinnitus and even bleeding.

There was a cloud of smoke above the city wall of Xiangyang. The fire was soaring into the sky, and the ears of a large number of soldiers were buzzing, and they could not hear any sound at all.

They could only see the general opening his mouth and saying something to himself, but they couldn't hear a word of the specific words.

The explosion continued, and the artillery shells of the Guanzhong army were released towards Xiangyang City as if they were free of charge.

On top of the city tower, the originally majestic soldiers of the Southern Song Dynasty had withdrawn and did not dare to show their heads at all.

No one expected that the firepower of this Guanzhong army would be so fierce. White smoke, various gravels, and iron filings were everywhere on the city tower.

When the heavy artillery hits, it will also be mixed with some iron filings, which will increase the lethality. Even if the soldiers hit by these iron filings do not die on the spot, they are hopeless.

After all, wound infection, some things cannot be solved in this era, and Allicin Zhang Yong kept it strictly confidential.

Above the city tower, the screams of soldiers were everywhere, after the fire started.

Zhang Yong asked the trebuchet to pour a large amount of gasoline on the city, and the flames burned even more intensely.

The bombing lasted until the evening of that day before the troops stopped. In the next few days, Zhang Yong did not let the soldiers idle and began to forge various siege equipment and siege ladders.

The people in the artillery battalion only do one thing every day, which is to load artillery shells, fire the artillery, then carry the artillery shells over, and continue to pretend to be brave and fire.

At the same time, Zhang Yong also dispatched 20,000 Mongolian cavalry under his command. They kept shouting at the city every day, showing a posture of attacking the city anytime and anywhere.

The defenders in the city had to stand on the city wall, but as long as they stood on the city wall, they would be greeted by various shellings.

Although I can't blow up your city walls, I can blow up your people. Under such high-intensity bombing, the casualties of the soldiers were very heavy.

Moreover, countless gaps have been blown out of the city wall of Xiangyang City, but it was also revealed at this time how strong the trapezoidal defensive walls in the Central Plains region are in resisting attacks.

If this were a Western city, it would no longer be able to withstand Chen Po at this time, but even so, under Zhang Yong's bombardment of hundreds of cannons every day.

The entire Xiangyang City was also crumbling, and the morale of the defenders in the city had dropped to the extreme.

"This is not the way to go, General Meng. I am willing to lead an army out of the city to fight." A Southern Song general looked at him and said.

(End of this chapter)