In the second year of Baoyi in Western Xia, in the middle of summer, on the bank of the Yellow River, at the foot of Helan Mountain, an important town in Western Xia, Lingzhou City.

The Yellow River is surging north, Helan Mountain is silent, they have witnessed the vicissitudes of the world for hundreds of millions of years, and they have also witnessed the tenacity and tragedy of Lingzhou City under the desperate situation.

On the city wall, flies "buzzed" and flew around, lingering, whether it was the dirty blood on the city wall, or the blood stains and wounds on the deceased, they were the target of their search.

The traces of smoke and fire on the walls were everywhere, the battlements were dilapidated, and the defenders on the city walls were yellow and thin, and they were weak.

The streets of the city are littered with the bodies of fallen civilians, which the sergeants are carrying and then burning. The Mongolian army besieged the city, and could not go out of the city to bury the corpses, so they could only take cremation, which also saved all kinds of disputes and embarrassment. Many of the houses had no roofs, the beams had been torn down for winter fires, and the resistance to the Mongol army outside the city was full of rubble, no different from the wilderness.

The city is full of white flags, the money is flying, the cuckoo is crying blood, and the people wearing linen and filial piety abound, everyone's face is sad, and the tears seem to be about to drain.

A battle to defend Lingzhou City has separated many Lingzhou families forever, tens of thousands of people have starved to death, frozen to death, and the streets and alleys of the city are filled with the trauma of war.

Even so, even after an eight-month siege, even if he starved to death, died of disease, and froze to death, Lingzhou City was still as alive as Xiao Qiang.

starved to death, died of illness, froze to death, and perhaps had family members by his side, and there was a trace of comfort in his soul. If he surrendered, not to mention the endless humiliation, he would most likely be slaughtered by the Mongol army.

Perseverance and patience, Lingzhou City, the heroic city, is looking forward to the dawn of the eastern sky.

Li Deren, the abolished prince of Western Xia and the defender of Lingzhou, went to the head of the city, walked along the city wall all the way, looking at the guards on the city wall with blank eyes and wounds, and worries came from it.

Food has been run out of food in the city, and tree bark, grass roots, and cannibalism have become a daily routine. If it continues like this, it won't take ten days and half a month, and Lingzhou City will be self-defeating.

In recent days, the Mongolian army outside the city has not attacked the city. First, it was a hot day, and the Mongol army was not used to attacking the city on a hot day; Second, most of the Mongol army retreated, and the number of Mongol troops besieging Lingzhou City could not support the siege battles. They simply sent out rangers to cut off traffic and prevent the defenders of Lingzhou City from leaving the city in search of food or fleeing.

But even so, the city no longer has the ability to take the initiative to destroy the enemy. Due to the lack of food, almost all the war horses have been killed, and under the hunger, the Xia army seems to be unable to continue.

Li Deren's gaze swept to the north. Lingzhou City is like this, no need to ask, Zhongxing Mansion may not be able to hold on.

"Ning Xianggong, you're here too."

Seeing that Ning Zining also went to the head of the city and comforted the soldiers on the city wall, Li Deren took a few steps forward and bowed his hand to greet him.

"Your Highness, you're here too."

The two looked at each other, and they both smiled wryly.

The state affairs are difficult, and no one can feel at ease.

"Your Highness, the reinforcements of the Song people are far away. If this continues, the soldiers and civilians of Lingzhou City will starve to death! ”

Ning Zining couldn't help but complain.

It is said that the Song people waved their troops to rescue, why did it take more than half a year for the people in the city to starve to death, and they didn't even see a single figure of the Song army.

"Ning Xianggong, there is something I want to discuss with you."

Better do it than wish it done. Looking at the Mongolian army camp outside the city, Li Deren secretly made up his mind.

"Your Highness, you have something to say."

Ning Zining replied, listless.

Seeing that his face was white and fat, Li Deren couldn't help but muttered secretly. The city is out of food, and Ning Lao is a father-in-law, but he looks good.

"Ning Xianggong, you also know the current situation."

Li Deren put his hand on the city wall, and he beat his spirit under the scorching sun.

"In the eighth month of the Tatar siege, there was no food in Lingzhou City, and tens of thousands of people starved to death. If it continues like this, I'm afraid it won't take more than a month, and the people of Lingzhou City will die. ”

"Your Highness, what do you mean ......"

Ning Zining was still a little ignorant.

"Ning Xianggong, I mean, instead of sitting and waiting to die, it is better to fight."

Li Deren pointed to the Mongolian army camp outside the city, his face solemn.

"I want to lead the army and horses in the city to go out of the city to attack the Tatar military camp, grab some food, and let the soldiers and people in the city have something to eat."

"Sneak attack on the Tatar barracks?"

Ning Zining's eyes were full of surprise, and then his head shook like a rattle.

"Your Highness, you are the guard of Lingzhou City, and you must not have an accident! This is not good, let's discuss it later! ”

Li Deren: Isn't this a joke? The best thing the Mongolian army is at is the strategy of luring the enemy, if the whole army is wiped out of the city by sneak attack, Lingzhou City will be finished.

"Ning Xianggong, the Tatar army has besieged the city for several months, and I didn't expect our army to sneak out of the city to attack. It's the hot season, and the Tatar knights are not good at the hot weather, and the night sneak attack will surprise the other party. ”

Li Deren patiently persuaded.

If the Mongol army of 100,000 was in charge, Genghis Khan would not dare to go out of the city and attack. Now there are only 10,000 horsemen outside the city, and it is worth taking a risk to die and survive.

"Your Highness, you can't go either! You are the backbone of the military and civilians in Lingzhou, but you can't make mistakes. ”

Ning Zining flatly refused, thought about it for a moment, and then said in a low voice:

"Your Highness, do you want to let the Song army go and sneak attack? The Song army is brave and good at fighting, and has firearms, they go, maybe they can succeed. ”

After fighting side by side for eight months, Ning Zining still did not know the strength of the Song army. The firearms are fierce, the soldiers are warlike and well-trained.

The Song army is so fierce, then let the Song army go out of the city and sneak attack.

"Ning Xianggong, the firearms of the Song army have been used up, and more than half of them are killed or wounded. Our Xia people's own affairs, do we still have to let Song Jun fight hard? ”

Li Deren shook his head and vetoed Ning Zining's proposal.

If it weren't for the Song army to help defend the city and train new soldiers, Lingzhou City would have been captured long ago.

"Your Highness, there is no way for the old minister. The Tatar soldiers were strong and strong, well-fed and well-fed, and recuperated. Our army has suffered countless casualties, and the rest are basically new recruits, not to mention a sneak attack, even whether they can hold the city wall or not, it makes people feel uncertain. The Song army is all tigers and wolves, and if they go, they may have some chance of winning. ”

Ning Zining's old face flushed, and he still insisted on reasoning.

More than half of the Song army was killed and wounded, and the Xia people were also killed and wounded, so it is not known whether they can escape this catastrophe.

"This ......"

Li Deyi was a little hesitant for a while.

The Song army was fierce, but they were guest troops, and more than half of them were killed or wounded. It seems unreasonable to let the Song army go out of the city to fight.

"Your Royal Highness, didn't you say that Emperor Song would drive the expedition in person and wave his troops to save him? Where are the centaurs now? Isn't this a joke about the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in my Great Xia! ”

Ning Zining spoke unceremoniously, Li Deren was shocked into a cold sweat, he looked around, and hurriedly whispered:

"Ning Xianggong, this must not be heard by others! After all, the Song army helped defend the city, and there were many casualties, and they were kind to my Great Xia. Emperor Song has not yet come, perhaps there is something else. Don't complain and wait and see. ”

Ning Zining was still a little unconvinced, his eyes swept to the group of figures on the city wall, and sneered.

"Your Highness, Cao Youwan is here, go out of the city to attack the Mongolian army, you should tell him face to face!"

Cao Youwan went up to the city wall, and when he saw the weak Xia army guards on the city wall, his brows were tightly locked.

There is a shortage of medicine and food, and if this continues, Lingzhou City must be broken.

Seeing that Ning Zining and Li Deren seemed to be arguing about something at the head of the city, Cao Youwan walked over.

"Your Highness, Ning Xianggong, you are all here."

Defending the city together for seven or eight months, this Li Deren and the former prince of Western Xia took the lead, and if the command was determined, he admired it.

However, Ning Zining, the governor of Lingzhou, hid in the rear and didn't say anything, he was full of official authority, and he was fat and fat. I don't know, the whole city is out of food, how did he raise him so wide-hearted and fat?

"General Cao, there is something I want to discuss with you."

Li Deren looked embarrassed, Ning Zining no longer hesitated, and directly expressed his intention.

Cao Youwan is as fierce as fire, with an excellent face, as long as the words are appropriate, it is estimated that the other party will not refuse.

"Ning Xianggong, if you have something to say!"

Sure enough, Cao Youwan spoke quickly and without hesitation.

"General Cao, now that there is a shortage of food in the city, I have discussed with His Highness, and you will lead the elite under your command to go out of the city to attack the military camp of the Tatar army, seize some food, and relieve the people in the city. What do you think? ”

Ning Zining said loudly, noticing the embarrassment on Cao Youwan's face, and followed along.

"General Cao, the defenders are too weak, most of them are new soldiers, it may be okay to defend the city, but it is probably enough to go out of the city and attack the camp of the Mongolian army. The soldiers of the Song army are brave and good warriors, and only you can compete with the Tatar army. If you cower in the city, everyone will starve to death sooner or later! ”

Ning Zining's words, the surrounding soldiers all heard it clearly. Cao Youwan's face immediately turned red.

"General Cao, if you don't want to, or if you have difficulties, you can not go, this king will personally lead his troops to go, and General Cao will answer our army."

Li Deren blushed secretly and hurriedly spoke.

The matter of Lingzhou City was forced by outsiders and embarrassed him, but there seemed to be no other solution.

"Your Highness, that's what I mean. Instead of besieging and trapping the Tatar army, it's better to go out of the city and take a gamble! ”

Cao Youwan's face was red, and he clenched his fists and said, impassioned.

He himself felt that the defenders were too weak to be the best choice for a sneak attack out of the city.

"Your Highness, please allocate another 2,000 soldiers to me, I am willing to lead the headquarters and the Xia Jun brothers to go out of the city to kill the enemy!"

Li Deren breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"General Cao, now that the matter is now, there is no other way, so I will bother you and the brothers."

There is no way, it seems a bit despicable, but no one has a choice.

"Your Highness needs no politeness. In the next carefully follow the military orders to defend the city, if Lingzhou City falls, there will be no face to return to the Great Song Dynasty! ”

Cao Youwan clasped his fists and saluted, and said goodbye to the city wall.

"What a loyal man! Emperor Song has these tigers and wolves, why not take it in the world! ”

Li Deren looked at Cao Youwan's back, shook his head and sighed.

Ning Zining's old face turned red inexplicably.

I don't know, is Emperor Song as rumored, when will he be able to wave his army to come?