The Eighth Wise King became addicted to eavesdropping on the silly princess' thoughts

Chapter 345: Capture Xiazhou City in Half a Day

Old General Zhe Dejian looked in shock at the thousands of armed defenders within three hundred steps of the city wall who were left with only scattered figures fleeing in the smoke and fire after the thunders.

After the Song army's catapult position launched another round of thunder bombs at the city wall, the Song army's archers and siege infantry launched a charge amid the rumbling sound of thunder.

General Zhe came to his senses when he saw the agile figures of the Song army soldiers climbing up the high city walls using the siege ladders. In just one hour, Xiazhou City had been breached!

Xiazhou City defender Ye Liren was carried down the city wall by his personal soldiers.

Ye Liren, who was still in shock, was a brave general. Although he was terrified by the enemy's thunder, he was absolutely unwilling to give up Xiazhou City.

Ye Liren tried his best to stop the frightened soldiers who were fleeing in all directions, and organized and assembled the troops to engage in fierce street fighting with the Song army that had entered the city.

After the city gate was opened, Wu Xing led 6,000 elite Moyun cavalry to charge forward. Ye Liren, who had just assembled tens of thousands of troops and was preparing to meet the enemy on the spacious main street, ordered a charge to meet the enemy.

Ye Liren, who was determined to fight the enemy to the death, led the charge, with red eyes, wielding a large spear and aiming straight at the main general of the Song army.

Wu Xing laughed and waved his hand! Half of the Moyun Cavalry soldiers who were charging in front on horseback took out the wooden-handled grenades developed by Lord Shen Qiu, pulled the strings one by one, and threw them at the enemy with all their might.

Wu Xing and half of the forwards did not throw out grenades. Instead, they charged forward with their swords pointed at the enemy to protect the brothers who were throwing the grenades.

"Boom..." "Boom..." "Boom..." The thunder that exploded in the enemy group blew the elite Dangxiang soldiers and their horses to the ground, frightening them into chaos.

Ye Liren and more than 30 personal soldiers who were rushing in front were not affected at all. They roared, "Are your thunderbolts going to stop? I will take your lives with my own hands!"

The furious Ye Liren's eyes were bleeding, and he swung the spear weighing hundreds of pounds and smashed it hard on Wu Xing's head!

The enemy was coming with great force. Wu Xing was afraid of hurting the brothers behind him, so he did not dare to dodge. Instead, he held up his sword with both hands and blocked the large spear that Ye Liren was smashing down.

The enemy's spear was so heavy and powerful that it made Wu Xing's arms numb and his blood boil. Chen Qing, who was in charge of Wu Xing's right wing, had a gleam in his eyes. He thrust the spear in his hand, and the tip of the spear made of snow-white iron went directly into Ye Liren's left rib.

Ye Liren screamed in pain as all the strength in his body was drained away by the severe pain. Wu Xing gathered all his strength and surged upwards. His broadsword knocked the enemy general's iron spear flying. With a turn of the blade, the enemy general's head fell to the ground!

The main general Ye Liren was killed in the battle, and the Xixia army was in great chaos. They shouted wildly and circled their horses and fled in all directions.

The elite Mo Yun cavalry, like a tiger into a flock of sheep, charged into the chaotic formation of tens of thousands of enemy troops that had just assembled.

More than an hour later, the Regent recalled the troops that had left the city to pursue the enemy and ordered the soldiers to clean up the battlefield.

Xiazhou City had just been seized by Li Yuanhao and his son. The city was basically inhabited by Han people. When they saw the Song army entering the city, the people, who had suffered from the destruction and bullying of foreigners, ran out with tears in their eyes, welcoming the Han soldiers who came to rescue them.

After following His Royal Highness the Regent into the government office, the old general Zhe Dejian was still excited, his face flushed, his heart pounding, and he was very emotional.

In this battle, it took more than two hours to capture Xiazhou City, which had steep terrain, strong walls and was easy to defend but difficult to attack. More than 8,000 enemy troops were annihilated, more than 12,000 were captured, and less than 10,000 enemy troops escaped through the west gate.

Just think about it, those are incredible results of the battles, and those shocking sounds of thunder. It made General Zhe, who had fought in battles all his life, feel like he was in a dream. His head was a little dizzy and his steps were a little unsteady.

Regent Zhao Defang smiled at General Zhe who looked like he had lost his soul, and pushed the hot tea in front of him, "Old General, drink a cup of hot tea to calm your nerves!"

The old general smiled embarrassedly, picked up the hot tea and drank it sip after sip, and finally calmed down.

Putting down the teacup, he looked at the calm and composed Regent Prince with excited and eager eyes, and said, "Your Highness, with the two powerful weapons, the Divine Arm Bow and the Thunder Bomb, plus that magical artillery, the world is vast and your Highness can take it all!"

Regent Zhao Defang took a sip of tea elegantly and replied slowly, "For the happiness and peace of the people of this world, this king must take steady steps. After taking over all the prefectures of Xixia within a month, send officials from the Great Song Dynasty to govern the local areas. Then, this king will return to the Great Song Dynasty, recuperate for a year, and then take over the Liao Kingdom."

Zhe Dejian looked at the modest Regent Prince and bowed with great admiration, "Your Highness is wise and intelligent, and only with foresight can we have long-term peace and stability. I admire you."

After the southern army Cao Wei joined forces with the commander of the Feiyun Cavalry Yun Fei, they led the army to attack Xiliang Prefecture and captured the city in one day. After returning to capture Xiping Prefecture, the army waited in the city to join forces with His Royal Highness the Regent to capture Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of the Western Xia Kingdom.

Xingqing Prefecture was known as "the south of the Yangtze River in the northern frontier". It had fertile land and benefited from irrigation by the Yellow River. It could grow various cash crops such as rice, wheat, cotton, and vegetables. It was the richest prefecture in Western Xia.

Li Yuanhao set up the capital of the Western Xia Kingdom in Xingqing Prefecture because he saw that the food and supplies needed by the court could be guaranteed.

To the southeast of Xingqing Prefecture is Xiazhou City, which has steep terrain, strong city walls and is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and Xiping Prefecture, which is heavily garrisoned. These two cities block the capital Xingqing Prefecture and are enough to stop the offensive of the Song army.

Li Yuanhao, the King of Western Xia, was discussing with his ministers in the Council Hall of the Royal Palace about which general to send with troops to support Xiazhou and Xiping Prefecture.

Xixia's fierce general Ye Li Yui stepped forward and volunteered, "Lord, I am willing to lead 30,000 troops to support my eldest brother Ye Liren in Xiazhou City. My two brothers will fight side by side and will definitely keep the enemy out of Xixia's gate."

"Good!" Li Yuanhao said with relief, "General Yeli, the 30,000 troops supporting Xiazhou City are now handed over to you. I hope you two brothers will work together to drive the Song army back to Song State."

Young general Li Chenghuan also stood up impatiently, clasped his fists and asked, "My lord, I am willing to lead 30,000 troops to support General Ma of Xiping Prefecture."

Li Yuanhao laughed loudly, "Great! Our Xixia country is strong and our soldiers are eager to fight. General Li, support Xiping Prefecture..."

"Report!... Report to the king, urgent military information has come from the front line!" The eunuch's voice was urgent at the door of the hall.

Li Yuanhao's body shook!

"Come in and report!"

A dusty messenger was brought into the hall, knelt on one knee, raised the parchment book in his hand above his head, and said in a panic, "Reporting to the king, Xiazhou City, Xiping Prefecture, and Xiliang Prefecture have all been captured by the Song army!"

Li Yuanhao stood up with a thud, his face pale, "How could it be? How could it be? In just two days, two reinforcements were sent to support, and the three state cities that were heavily defended were breached by the Song army?!"

Li Yuanhao grabbed the ruler at hand and smashed it hard at the messenger!

"How could this happen? How could this happen?!...~"