The siege of Lingzhou City failed, and in the cold and freezing, all units of the Song army were plagued by the shortage of grain, grass and cotton clothing. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoThe Tanguts even dug the Yellow River canal to flood the Song army, causing endless trouble to the 100,000 people besieging the city. The strength of the other decreased, and the Tanguts began a comprehensive counterattack.

A month ago, he came all the way like a bamboo, and now he was chased back by the pursuers, and the scenery and spirit of the past have only become regrets now. Although Mao Zheng was unwilling, he was really helpless.

When the Song army retreated, it was already a rumor, and many people only cared about their own escape, completely ignoring the military order, and when they returned to Yanzhou, there were less than 20,000 people left in the 100,000-strong army.

Fortunately, Shen Kuo, the governor of Yanzhou, was quite shrewd, and he first killed several generals who led the crowd to flee and deterred all the deserters;

Mao Zheng returned to Yanzhou, resentful in his heart, locked himself in the house and never came out. Liu Changzuo came to see him several times, but he was turned away. In the end, under Shen Kuo's mediation, Mao Zheng finally went out and released his suspicions with Liu Changzuo.

The beginning of the five-way summer was mighty, but in the end it ended like this. After Song Shenzong heard the news, he could only give up his plan to destroy Western Xia in one fell swoop, and continued to implement Fan Zhongyan's strategy of encircling and encroaching step by step. In the spring of the fifth year of Yuanfeng, at the suggestion of Shen Kuo, the imperial court decided to build Yongle City in the west of Mizhi, which directly threatened the three states of Yin, Xia, and Youzhou in the hinterland of Western Xia. Mao Zheng was also sent over because he was very talented to assist Xu Xi, who was in charge of military affairs, to manage the affairs of Yongle City.

But Mao Zheng didn't expect that Xu Xi, like Gao Zunyu, was also a person who had no ability and refused to listen to others' persuasion, and he was also very jealous, not only did he not appreciate talents like Mao Zheng, but he was wary and suspicious. Mao Zheng is under his hands, and the situation can be imagined.

Under Xu Xi's insistence, the Song army built Yongle City on top of the lack of water supply.

When the Tangut people heard the news, they immediately sent 300,000 troops to surround Yongle City. At this time, many generals who could fight, such as Chong Ge and Liu Changzuo, were demoted to their official positions because of the defeat in the battle, and the Song army was helpless in the face of the attack of the Western Xia people.

"The Tanguts are tightly defended, and we really can't break through their blockade. Could it be that Yongle City, is it really going to be lost like this?" Shen Kuo led troops to support Yongle City, but was stopped, and looked at the enemy troops in the distance and couldn't help but say.

"Shen Zhizhou, you see that someone over there is rushing over, like our people. One said, pointing into the distance.

"What? Our people! Could it be that Yongle City can't deliver the letter? Shen Kuo fixed his eyes, and sure enough, a person rushed out from the encirclement of the Western Xia army.

"Isn't that Mao Zheng? Quickly send someone to answer it. Shen Kuo recognized Mao Zheng and hurriedly sent soldiers to stop the pursuing enemy army.

"Mao Xiaoyou, why are you alone. What is the situation in Yongle City?" Shen Kuo asked by grabbing Mao Zheng's arm.

"The other people who came with me didn't make it. The situation in Yongle City is not optimistic, the party people cut off the river, and now there is a serious shortage of water in the city, and if it continues like this, it really can't last a few days. Shen Zhizhou, you have to send someone over to support you as soon as possible. Mao Zheng was covered in blood, took a cloth and wiped his face, and replied to Shen Kuo.

"There's no way! The enemy is so well defended that we can't rush through. Shen Kuo shook his head and said.

"What about that kind of general? He has always been brave in battle, and his troops are like him, and the stronger the enemy, the more heroic they will be. Isn't there anything a general can do?" asked Mao Zheng.

"Isn't he angry in his heart and unwilling to fight?" Shen Kuo said with a sigh.

It turned out that this time the five-way expedition was actively suggested by Chong Ge, but now that the battle has been lost, many civilian officials have begun to put all kinds of charges on Chong Ge's head, completely ignoring the hard work he has made today. Emperor Shenzong's heart was the same as Mingjing, of course he would not really punish Chong Ge severely, but he still demoted Chong Ge. Chong Ge was angry in his heart, this time no matter how dark the fight was outside, he would not move.

"Shen Zhizhou, let me persuade him. The general is also bitter, and I still understand him. After Mao Zheng heard what Shen Kuo said, he thought for a moment and replied.

"It's okay, you were brought out by a kind of general, and he always praises you on weekdays. If you persuade him, you may be able to persuade him. Shen Kuo nodded and agreed, and sent someone to send Mao Zheng to the station.

Chong Ge was also very happy when he heard that Mao Zheng was coming, so he walked out in person and took Mao Zheng into the house. But after hearing Mao Zheng's intentions, his face suddenly drooped, sat back on his seat, and said in a nonchalant tone: "You want me to send troops to Yongle City? ”

Mao Zheng didn't expect Chong Ge to be so angry, but he still persuaded: "Of course, this doesn't matter about Xu Xi's affairs." That guy was stubborn and only talked about on paper, and I didn't like him either. I know that General Chong has always had the ambition to recover the lost territory in the northwest, and if Yongle City is captured by the enemy, I am afraid that it will be difficult to recover the northwest land. ”

"I didn't do anything to be sorry for the imperial court, and I also persuaded Xu Xi to let him not build a city there, but he didn't listen to me, so what can I do? He replied.

"It's not a pity that Xu Xi died, but I have 200,000 soldiers in the Song Dynasty, so does General Chong really don't care? Although General Chong is usually strict, I know that General Chong loves nurses the most, and he compares his heart to his heart, is General Chong willing to see those 200,000 people die tragically?" Mao Zheng said with tears of excitement in his heart.

When he heard this, he couldn't say it for a while, but after a while, he opened his mouth and said, "You, you! I really don't know what to say about you." I'll tell you the truth, it's not that I don't want to go to the rescue, it's that it's useless for me to go. Yongle City is located on a hill and is very short of water. There is no water, and when you are surrounded by party members, you will die as many people as you go. If the water source is sufficient, as soon as he Xu Xi closes the city gate, the party members will have another 300,000 people, what can they do. I tell you, I can't let my soldiers go to their deaths. ”

Mao Zheng heard what he said, and his heart sank, he was not an ignorant person, and he also understood the real danger of Yongle City.

"Is there really no way to do it?" asked Mao Zheng.

"So far, there is only one way. That is, while the morale of the soldiers is still there, they are desperate to break out. As long as they decide to break through, I will send troops to meet them, so that there may be a chance of survival. However, as far as Xu Xi is concerned, he is stubborn and self-serving, and he still wants to save face, he will definitely not choose to break through. Said Tane.

"In this case, I will go back to Yongle City, and I must let Xu Xi order a breakthrough. Mao Zheng said.

"If you don't listen to me, Xu Xi won't listen to you. Said anxiously.

"But I have to give it a try, I can't watch 200,000 soldiers die in vain. Mao Zheng said sadly and indignantly.

He didn't speak for a long time, and lowered his head as if he was thinking about something.

Mao Zheng saw that he no longer spoke, said goodbye, and turned around to leave.

It was at this time that he said, "Don't go back." You have made a lot of contributions to the army this time, and I, Shen Zhizhou, Liu, and the general will jointly write to you to ask for credit. You are still young, stay, there are still many battles to fight with the party members in the future. ”

When Mao Zheng heard this, he replied in a pause: "I really came to the northwest this time to make meritorious contributions. But there are still 200,000 soldiers waiting for me in Yongle City. The general can rest assured that when I return, I will definitely stay under the general's command and never leave again. To be honest, it's only when you fight with the general that you are happy. After Mao Zheng finished speaking, he left without looking back.

In the spring of the fifth year of Yuanfeng, the Western Xia army conquered Yongle City, the defender Xu Xi was killed, and 200,000 soldiers and entourages of the soldiers defending the city were killed. Five roads to the summer, and finally ended in failure.