"Ten times?"

Kou Ji laughed angrily, "Do you really dare to think that if I have ten times more firearms than Qu Yechuan in the first battle, I still need to consult with you?" ”

Gao Jun smiled dryly, stroked his beard, and whispered, "I'll just say it casually......"

Zhao Zhen didn't care about the two bickering, he thought about it for a while, and said: "Since there is no way to take Xingqing Mansion in one fell swoop, then you can only slowly figure it out." ”

When Kou Ji and Gao Ji Gong heard this, they stopped bickering and nodded in unison.

In the next few days, all the soldiers and horses in the barracks helped Zhu Neng make catapults.

There are many people, and there are large areas of deforestation around it, so it saves a lot of time.

In addition, Liu Heng and Chong Shiheng also made some catapults when they attacked Jingzhou and Shunzhou, and together they just made up 20,000 of them.

20,000 catapults lined up, with no end in sight.

But after spreading out in an echelon, you can see it all at a glance.

After Zhu Neng built the catapult, he did not hesitate, found Zhao Zhen, and took the initiative to ask Ying to attack Xingqing Mansion.

Zhao Zhen saw that Zhu Neng was ready, so he did not hesitate and gave the order to attack the city.

In addition to Zhu Neng leading a part of the heavy troops to attack, Kou Ji, Chong Shiheng, and Liu Heng each led a group of soldiers and horses to attack Xingqing Mansion from the other three sides.

With Zhao Zhen's order, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses moved in response, plus those people and slaves who helped the soldiers and horses fight, the number jumped to more than one million.

Millions of people besieged Xingqing Mansion to a flood.

Standing on the Xingqing Mansion and looking down, the black crowd couldn't see the end.

Zhao Zhen stood on the high platform, looking at the soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty around Xingqing Mansion, and looking at the banner that had formed a sea of flags, and his heart was full of pride.

The shame suffered by the ancestors has been completely washed away by him.

Since then, who will dare to be arrogant with Da Song?

Since then, who dares to say that the Great Song Dynasty is weak?

If anyone is not satisfied, he can ask the millions of soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty if they agree, and he can ask the tens of millions of people in the Great Song Dynasty if they agree.

Zhao Zhen clenched his fists excitedly, and ordered in a deep voice, "Beat the drum!" Enter! ”

Chen Lin, who had gray temples, heard Zhao Zhen's order, puffed up his chest, walked to the drummer, snatched the hammer head used for the drum from the drummer's hand, held it in his hand, shook off his arms, and slammed it on the drum surface.

The drum is a brass drum.

Only a brass drum can make the sound of gold and iron.

The sound of the brass drum is far sharper than the sound of the animal skin drum.

"Knock Knock Knock ......"

Chen Lin pounded the drum face hard.

The sound of drums spread everywhere.

The moment the soldiers of the Quartet heard the sound of the drums, the shouts shook the sky.

Subsequently, eighty-one bronze drums were beaten in unison by the wrestlers, as if to meet the shouts of the soldiers.

"Put!"

Zhu Neng stood in front of the formation, and after hearing the eighty-one copper drums being beaten in unison, he roared angrily.

First row, second row, third row.

Three rows of catapults threw a large fireball into the Xingqing Mansion together.

A large fireball covered the entire city in an instant.

The sound of explosions and screams is endless.

The Western Xia soldiers and horses in Xingqing Mansion, even if they had made all the preparations, were still difficult to cope with when faced with the bombardment of a large number of catapults.

However, the momentum of Zhu Neng's siege did not weaken because of this, but became more ferocious.

When the catapults in the first three rows burst into a large fireball.

The soldiers and men of the Song army pushed the catapults in the back three rows and moved to the front.

The first three rows were reduced to the last three rows.

When the trebuchet, which had been reduced to the back three rows, stopped attacking, it moved to the catapult in front and began a new round of projection.

While the six rows of catapults alternately attacked, some soldiers pushed artillery and threw grenades.

Artillery and grenade-throwing carts were added to the battlefield.

The potholed city wall of Xingqing Mansion, which had already been smashed by catapults, was bombed with gravel all over the sky, and there were countless gaps.

The Western Xia soldiers and horses guarding the head of Xingqing Mansion were only projected by the Song army, and they could not be killed.

Stones, shells, and grenades fell from the sky, and even if they had the strength to fight the tigers and wolves, they seemed to be a little powerless, and could only be beaten passively.

"Surrender your troops and attack the city!"

Zhu Neng saw that the Western Xia soldiers and horses on the head of Xingqing Mansion were killed and could not form an army, so he immediately ordered the soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty to drive a group of surrendered troops and began to attack the city.

The surrendered troops charged forward to resist most of the danger, and the Song army followed behind.

In the face of Zhu Neng's series of means, Li Deming had no way to crack it, so he could only dispatch troops and horses from the city and continuously inject them into the dilapidated city walls that had been bombed to resist Zhu Neng's attack.

……

West Gate of Xingqing Mansion.

Kou Ji and Gao Ji Gong stood side by side, listening to the southern gate of the city attacked by Zhu Neng, and there was the shouting of Western Xia soldiers and horses.

Gao Di Gong turned back to Kou Ji and said: "After Zhu Neng's round of fierce attack, the soldiers and horses at the south city gate cannot have the spare strength to resist Zhu Neng's soldiers and horses attacking the city, it must be Li Deming who has increased his troops at the south city gate." ”

Kou Ji nodded slowly and said, "Then we should also attack the city." ”

Takachi nodded.

Kou Ji waved his hand grimly.

Behind him, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses drove the troops to the west gate of Xingqing Mansion like a tide.

It was not long before Koji gave the order to attack Simon.

The Chong Shiheng Department at the East Gate and the Liu Heng Department at the North Gate also began to attack the city one after another.

For a time, Xingqing Mansion was embattled.

The huge number of soldiers and horses besieging the city made Li Deming look desperate.

There was no crack for him to drill, and he had to dispatch all the soldiers and horses in Xingqing Mansion to climb the city to defend the city.

Facing the Song army like a tide.

Li Deming has no other way but to defend it.

A big war is a day.

Zhu Neng led his troops to rush to the head of Xingqing Mansion three times, but was repulsed three times.

It was not until after dark that the fighting stopped.

The soldiers and horses entered the camp.

Kou Ji, Zhu Neng and others also gathered in Zhao Zhen's tent.

Although Zhao Zhen knew that it was impossible for Xingqing Mansion to be won in one go, he was still a little disappointed in his heart.

So when everyone was deliberating, his expression was not very good.

After everyone entered the big tent of the Chinese army, they gave Zhao Zhen a salute, sat down separately, and began to summarize the gains and losses of today's battle under Zhao Zhen's instructions.

Zhu Neng wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and said in a deep voice: "I used catapults and artillery to crush the soldiers and horses on the city head to death in the early stage, and the enemy suffered heavy losses.

But when I rushed up to the city with my men, reinforcements from the enemy also arrived.

Although the number of enemies was not as large as ours, they fought with us one by one, and drove our soldiers and horses off the city three times.

At the head of the city, I was sure to rush up again, but I was not sure to stand still. ”

Everyone was silent, and after being silent for a long time, Chong Shiheng suddenly spoke, "The enemy is desperately fighting with us, and naturally there are soldiers in our army who dare to fight to the death."

Most soldiers do not have the will to fight to the death, so they will naturally show cowardice in the face of the enemy to fight to the death.

If you want to gain a foothold in the city, you must lead a soldier who is not afraid of death. ”

Zhu Neng groaned: "Dead soldiers? ”

Chong Shiheng nodded slowly.

Zhu Neng gritted his teeth and said: "I want to stand on the head of the city, the number of dead soldiers is too small, I'm afraid it won't work." ”

Chong Shiheng said calmly: "The use of dead soldiers is far smaller than if we continue to consume, and the casualties are smaller." In today's battle, the Western Xia soldiers and horses in the city suffered a lot of losses, and we did the same.

If we hadn't replaced the soldiers and horses under our command with surrendered troops, we would have suffered even more damage.

If we continue to wear out like this, our casualties will get bigger and bigger.

It is worth exchanging the lives of some soldiers for the lives of the majority of them.

Since you are sure that you will rush forward again, you should use the dead soldiers to stand on the city for once.

As long as you gain a foothold in the city, the enemy's military morale will be chaotic, and our other three parties will be able to take the opportunity to attack the city and take Xingqing Mansion in one fell swoop. ”

Zhu Neng gritted his teeth and was silent for a long time, then nodded slowly.

"I'll go down in a moment, and I'll pick the dead."

Chong Shiheng nodded slowly and looked at Kou Ji.

Kou Ji groaned: "Since Zhu Neng is sure to rush to the city again, and he wants to use the dead soldiers to gain a foothold on the city, then we shouldn't stay tomorrow." We should go all out to attack the city and strive to take Xingqing Mansion as soon as possible. ”

Chong Shiheng and Liu Heng nodded in unison.

Kou Ji looked at Zhao Zhen and asked, "What do the officials think?" ”

Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice: "Since you all feel that you want to use the dead, then use it." I will give their wives and children generously when I turn around. ”

Kou Ji saluted Zhao Zhen and said, "The ministers replace the soldiers, thank you to the official family." ”

Zhao Zhen nodded and did not speak again.

Kou Ji looked at Zhu Neng and said, "I'll accompany you to choose the dead." ”

Zhu Neng nodded heavily.

Subsequently, the two said goodbye to Zhao Zhen and left the Chinese army's big tent.

As the saying goes, mercy does not command soldiers.

can exchange the lives of a few people for a victory in a war, as long as he is a leader of the army, he will not hesitate to choose to sacrifice a few people.

Kou Ji and Zhu Neng arrived in the barracks.

Some of the soldiers had already fallen asleep, while others lay on the thatch, chatting about the day's war.

The two did not enter the tent of the soldiers, but only paced vigorously around the tents of the soldiers.

The two of them paced until dawn before they sent someone to wake up the soldiers.

The soldiers were summoned to the school field in a daze.

All of them were dazed and dazed.

Zhu Neng stared at the soldiers in the school field, and said in a heavy voice: "Today, I will lead a team of soldiers and horses to firmly root the city, and it is possible that the whole army will be wiped out."

So I need to pick a group of people who are willing to accompany me to my death. ”

When the soldiers heard this, they were in an uproar.

A lieutenant stared at Zhu Neng with a solemn face and asked, "The general wants to be tied to the city with his brothers?" ”

Zhu Neng was stunned for a moment and nodded slowly.

The lieutenant asked again, "If the whole army is destroyed, the general will also die?" ”

Zhu Neng nodded without hesitation.

The captain raised the spear in his hand and saluted Zhu Neng, "Since the general is not afraid of death, he is not afraid of death, and he is considered a lowly position." ”

"Count the villain as a ......"

"The villain also goes to ......"

"Humble!"

"The last will go!"

“……”

In the face of the threat of death, they were not timid or afraid.

One by one, they took the initiative to ask for help.

Many of them don't understand the truth, they only know that they are Zhu Neng's soldiers, and if Zhu Neng dares to die, they dare too.

Zhu Neng saw that the soldiers took the initiative to ask for help, shook his fists, and said in a deep voice: "It's all good!" ”

"Anyone who is willing to go, stay in the school field, and the others will retreat to the edge of the school field!"

Koji ordered from the sidelines.

The soldiers who were unwilling to send them to death hung their heads and left the school in twos and threes.

Someone walked halfway, hesitated for a long time, struggled for a long time, and returned to the school grounds.

Zhu Neng stared at them and did not speak.

Kou Ji spoke again: "The only son in the family, who has Gao Tang and his wife and children, and those who are under the age of eighteen, quit!" ”

None of the soldiers in the school grounds left.

Seeing this, Kou Ji's face was a little serious.

Zhu Neng stared at a lieutenant who stayed in the school yard, and said in a low voice: "You were brought out by me from Hexi, I remember that you have an old mother in your family, and you are the only son in the family, you quickly retreat." ”

The captain stared at Zhu Neng and said seriously: "Since the general remembers that the lowly post came out of Hexi, then he shouldn't let the lowly post leave." We are soldiers and horses trained by generals, so we should follow the generals and live and die together. ”

Zhu Neng stared at the captain who spoke with a solemn expression, "I received your wishes." But rules are rules. ”

Zhu Neng was unwilling to clear the lieutenant, and said to Kou Ji: "Take the register!" ”

Kou Ji nodded slowly, sent someone to get the register, and instructed the clerks, counselors, and officials in the army to compare them one by one.

In the end, more than 600 people were eliminated.

Many of them are under the age of 18.

In the end, only 4,352 remained.

Compared with the 300,000 Western Xia soldiers and horses in Xingqing Mansion, 4,352 people are obviously very small.

Compared with the hundreds of thousands of Great Song soldiers and horses stationed outside Xingqing Mansion, 4,352 people are still small.

But Zhu Neng was already very satisfied.

With these more than 4,000 people following him to the bloody battle on the head of the city of Xingqing Mansion, he will definitely be able to gain a firm foothold in the city.

After daylight.

A new round of siege began.

The method of siege is much the same as yesterday.

The only difference was that Zhu Neng got off the horse, held the knife, and stood among the foot soldiers.

Catapults, artillery, and grenades bombarded the southern city wall of Xingqing Mansion again.

The Western Xia soldiers and horses had yesterday's combat experience, so they were particularly cunning when they fought today.

One by one, they hid with their backs against the battlements in the city wall.

Although the casualties were not small, they were far less than yesterday's.

Under the suppression of artillery and catapults, the Western Xia soldiers and horses could not show their heads.

Zhu Neng led the soldiers and horses to rush to the southern city wall of Xingqing Mansion.

With the experience of going to the city three times yesterday, Zhu Neng is naturally a little faster to go to the city today.

Although the momentum of the enemy's resistance became more ferocious, Zhu Neng and the others still rushed to the city.

After rushing to the city, it was a tragic hand-to-hand killing.

Zhu Neng took the lead and killed him.

The soldiers who followed behind him naturally followed and killed.

There are constantly soldiers who follow Zhu Neng's footsteps to climb the city wall, and there are constantly soldiers who die in the fight with the Western Xia people.

Blood flowed down like water.

The corpses rained down.

The scene was very tragic.

Zhu Neng led the army to tear and kill for a long time, and barely occupied a five-zhang long place on the head of the city.

It's just that his footsteps haven't stood firm, and his old opponent Ye Li Yuqi led a team of soldiers and horses to kill.

Ye Liyu begged for the convenient mobilization of Western Xia soldiers and horses on the head of the city, and led heavy troops to suppress Zhu Neng.

Zhu Neng's living space was suppressed to a radius of three zhang in an instant.

At this critical moment, a loud roar sounded over the city.

I saw that the captain who had been eliminated from the team of dead soldiers by Kou Ji led another 600 people who had been eliminated to the city.

"Thief! Hugh wounded my general! ”

The captain led the new army to attack the city, relieving Zhu Neng's pressure.

The two joined forces and quickly exaggerated the living space on the city wall.

As their living space expanded, more soldiers and horses poured into the city.

Siege warfare is like a flood discharge.

If a gap is made in the levee, only a small amount of water will flow out, and it will not cause much damage to the levee.

But if you tear a slightly larger hole in the embankment, the flood water inside will rush out and break the entire embankment.

This was the case with the Great Song Dynasty's attack on Xingqing Mansion.

Zhu Neng led the army to occupy a five-zhang area on the city wall, and the soldiers and horses that could come up were limited.

But the more places he occupied, the more soldiers and horses poured in.

until the enemy is crushed.

"The South Gate has been breached!"

I don't know who shouted.

All the soldiers shouted along.

The sound spread throughout Xingqing Mansion.

Hearing this, Kou Ji, Liu Heng, and Chong Shiheng of the other three gates of Xingqing Mansion ordered their soldiers and horses to spare no effort to storm Xingqing Mansion.

The news that the South City Gate was breached affected the fighting spirit of the other three Western Xia soldiers and horses, so the three of Kou Ji attacked the other three gates very smoothly.

When the sun set, the four gates of Xingqing Mansion were breached.

The soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty poured into Xingqing Mansion like a tide.

But the war is not over.

The remnants of the Western Xia soldiers and horses, in the streets of Xingqing Mansion, fought street battles with the soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty.

Some of the soldiers and horses retreated into the inner city and defended it by the inner city walls.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses of the Great Song Dynasty have already broken through Xingqing Mansion.

It is impossible to give up Xingqing Mansion because of a little resistance.

Therefore, the Western Xia soldiers and horses in Xingqing Mansion are just dying and struggling.

But even so, they chose to die to the end.

After Koji broke through the West Gate, he did not participate in the subsequent battle.

He rushed to the south gate and went out to see Zhu Neng.

Zhu Neng led the army to personally rush to kill this time, taking the lead, and indeed played an exemplary role.

But he also suffered a lot of injuries because of this.

He was stabbed three times.

If it weren't for the soldiers who were brought back in time, I am afraid that they would have lost too much blood and died.

After Zhao Zhen got the news, he rushed to the tent where Zhu Neng was with the imperial doctor as soon as possible.

Ordered the imperial doctor to help Zhu Neng diagnose and treat.

When Kou Ji arrived, the imperial doctor had already begun to help Zhu Neng treat his wounds.

Zhu Neng was lying on the bed, his face was pale, his lips were a little pale, but his expression was a little restrained.

The imperial doctor moved the knife on him, but he turned a blind eye, just glanced at Zhao Zhen frequently with an embarrassed face.

There is no other reason, just because Zhu Neng has a scar, on the thigh, the imperial doctor wants to help him diagnose and treat, and it is indispensable to go to clothes.

Zhao Zhen watched from the side again, and he naturally felt embarrassed.

Zhao Zhen looked at Zhu Neng's expression and was also amused, "You see what I have done, I will not suffer for you." ”

After Kou Ji entered the tent, he just heard Zhao Zhen's words.

Kou Ji said frankly: "I'm used to him, but he just isn't used to being stared at by the officials." ”

Zhao Zhen was stunned for a moment, and said in amazement: "Can't I see it?" ”

Without waiting for Zhu Neng to talk to Kou Ji, Zhao Zhen whispered to himself: "When I was washing, there were seventeen or eighteen people standing on the side waiting for ......."

Kou Ji smiled bitterly.

Zhu Neng, who was lying on the bed, also pulled the corners of his mouth.

I don't know if it's because of the pain or something else.

Kou Ji didn't say anything more, and Zhao Zhen didn't say anything more.

The two waited quietly next to them, until the imperial doctor had finished treating Zhu Neng's injuries, and Zhao Zhen asked, "How is Zhu Aiqing's injury?" When will it be restored? ”

The imperial doctor wiped the fine sweat on his forehead and said softly: "Back to the official's house, although General Zhu is seriously injured, he has deviated from the vital point everywhere, and he has no worries about his life. After a month or two, you will be cured. ”

Zhao Zhen let out a sigh of relief and said slowly: "That's good, if I lose a tiger general because of unfavorable diagnosis and treatment, I'm afraid I will have a heartache for a lifetime." ”

When the imperial doctor heard this, he was a little embarrassed.

Zhao Zhen was staring at the sidelines, even if he had the courage to do anything, he didn't dare to do anything about diagnosis and treatment.

Kou Ji also breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the words of the imperial doctor.

After Zhao Zhen sent four eunuchs to serve Zhu Neng, he sighed: "Xingqing Mansion...... Broken ......"

Kou Ji whispered on the side: "The minister is about to explain this matter to the official family. ”

Zhao Zhen looked at Kou Ji with a puzzled look.

Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "Although the outer city is broken, there is still a palace city in the inner city, and now it is still under the control of the Western Xia people, and they are obviously ready to resist to the end." The Tangut people in the city were very hostile to us, from the old man in his sixties to the naughty boy of seven or eight years old, he would come out of the cold and hurt the officers and men of our army. ”

Zhao Zhen was slightly stunned, frowned, and said, "Even if I defeat the Western Xia, won't I be able to get the hearts of the people of the Western Xia?" ”

Kou Ji was silent for a moment and said: "It can only be said that Li Deming takes good care of the people in Xingqing Mansion, so it is difficult for the official family to buy their hearts for a while." ”

Zhao Zhen sighed: "Isn't there anyone who has taken refuge in my Great Song?" ”

Kou Ji said frankly: "There are only some merchants, and there are some Song people who escaped from my Great Song Dynasty. ”

Zhao Zhen said with some interest: "I don't look down on them......"

Kou Ji smiled bitterly and did not speak.

Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "Send someone to tell Li Deming that if he surrenders to sincerity now, I can spare his life." ”

Koji still didn't speak.

Zhao Zhen has now given Li Deming the opportunity to surrender, and that is because Zhao Zhen wants to win the hearts of the people in Fuqing Mansion.

Kou Ji knew Zhao Zhen's thoughts, so he didn't speak.

Zhao Zhen was silent for a long time, and then added, "If he doesn't want to, then take Li Deming's head to see me." As for what the soldiers and horses in the city are doing in the city, I don't care. ”

If Huairou can't do it, then he can only use the knife.

This is Zhao Zhen's mind.

Zhu Neng lay on the bed and said weakly: "It's a pity that the minister is not angry, and he can't personally take Li Deming's head back and present it to the official family." ”

"Heal your wounds!"

Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji said in unison.