It was the New Year at this time, but Lingzhou did not have the atmosphere of the New Year. The city was full of troops, the households were reorganized, and many houses were occupied by military soldiers. The bustling streets in the past also seemed deserted.

Ling Jie Chuqing walked on the street in the early morning with a heavy face and a hurry. Today, he was on duty at the top of the city wall, and another busy day.

At this moment, a sudden sound of cannons came, and the city was trembling. Ling Jie Chuqing was stunned and said to the personal soldiers beside him: "Have the sun risen yet, the Song army came to attack? Why can't the smoke of gunpowder be seen on the top of the city?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his personal soldiers pointed outside the city and said, "Taiwei, it seems that the Song army set off firecrackers?"

Ling Jie Chuqing heard this and looked up, and saw smoke from outside the city. He was shocked and said, "Go faster and see what's going on!"

When we arrived at the city wall, we saw Dangxiang's artillery position hurriedly loading medicine and filling the bullets, and iron balls were scattered on the city wall. We held the city wall and looked outward, and saw a large number of Song army artillery pushing towards the city in the dark light outside.

He turned around suddenly and ordered Jie Chuqing to sternly say to the guards at the city: "How could the Song army artillery be allowed to reach the city? Quickly fire artillery and kill the Song army outside the city! How can our city be defended at such a close distance!"

The guard said, "Taiwei, the Song army secretly pushed the artillery under the city at night. Who knows? As soon as the sky dawn, they started firing artillery, making us unpredictable. The artillery over there was loading artillery, and wait for a while before driving the Song army away."

While he was talking, the sound of cannons sounded at the top of the city wall. Dangxiang's cannons fired out and covered all the cannons of the Song army. However, the accuracy was limited, and there was not even a single shot that hit the Song army's cannons, which only injured some soldiers.

The Song army outside the city saw the Dangxiang artillery position, hurriedly adjusted the gun mouth, and the two sides rushed forward. At this time, Ling Chuqing discovered a serious problem. The Dangxiang artillery on the city was unable to move, and the advantage of range was useless, and it completely became a counterattack between the artillery on both sides. The Song army's artillery was far more accurate than Dangxiang, and it was better to fight quickly. In just a short while, the advantages and disadvantages were distinguished.

Ling Jie Chuqing understood the situation and was shocked. How long can Dangxiang last if he continues to fight like this? Once the cannons on the top of the city are broken by the Song army, how can the city still be defended? Looking around, I don’t know what to do for a moment.

Outside the city, Di Qing held up a telescope and looked at the city wall with Zhang Yu and others. Within half an hour, the Song army suppressed the Dangxiang artillery on the city wall and couldn't help but feel happy. In this way, it would not take too much time to capture Lingzhou.

Putting down the telescope, Zhang Yu said: "It seems that it can be knocked out the cannons on the top of Dangxiang City in just one or two days. At that time, the army outside the city will form an array, and I will lead the troops to attack the city in person! Capture Lingzhou and see how long Dangxiang can hold on!"

Di Qing said: "This is the key place that Dangxiang is second only to Xingqing Prefecture, and it is not so easy to attack. Today is the sixth day of the first lunar month, and there should be one month left to attack the city. We don't have to hurry. Wait until the melons in Lingzhou are ripe and pick them at will, wouldn't it be nice?"

Zhang Yu said: "What the Taiwei said is that it has been nearly four months since the dispatch of troops last September, which is really impatient!"

Di Qing said: "As long as we conquer Lingzhou, everything ahead will be worth it. The court officials think we are slow, but the time to conquer Lingzhou is too heavy. After one or two months of going to Lingzhou, what else can others say? The 300,000 army has been fighting for several months, and there is no major chaos. I am worthy of the court to capture Dangxiang Chongcheng!"

Lu Zhengdao: "What the Taiwei said is that as long as Lingzhou is captured, Dangxiang will only be the Xingqing Prefecture, and it will be difficult to resist."

Di Qing nodded, raised the telescope in his hand, and looked at the city wall with artillery fire. At this time, the artillery soldiers on both sides had been fighting for a long time, and the smoke was everywhere around the city, and it was not clear. It can be seen briefly that the artillery soldiers on the city wall had been firmly suppressed.

At the end of Lingzhou city, Wei Minglangbu looked at the flames flashing from time to time at the mouth of the Song army under the city, frowned and said to Ling Jie Chuqing beside him: "How great will it go on like this! The Song army has many cannons and is accurate in shooting. How can we be their opponents! In more than an hour, half of the cannons on the top of the city have been destroyed. How long can we last? We must find a way to prevent the Song army from doing this!"

Ling Jie Chuqing said: "The Taiwei, there is only one way, which is to go out of the city to drive away the Song army's artillery. If you don't go out of the city to fight, and let the Song army fight against us like this, you will definitely not be able to hold on to the top of the city! Be elected as a good general and go out of the city to rush for a while!"

Wei Minglangbu looked outside the city and said in a deep voice: "The Song army sealed the city gate with cannons. How can we go out to fight? If the city comes out, the Song army outside the city will be hundreds of thousands of them, and they will not be their opponents. This matter should be carefully planned and not be reckless."

When Wei Minglangbu heard that he was going to leave the city to fight with the Song army, he felt a drumbeat in his heart. Since Du Zhongxiao opened up the Hequ Road, the Dangxiang people were beaten to the core and did not dare to fight with the Song army in the field. Relying on the strong city, Wei Minglangbu could lead troops to defend and fight with the Song army in the field, so let it go.

In Jingzhou City, Han Qi handed the official documents to Liu Ji on the side and said, "In Lingzhou, Taiwei Han has ordered the artillery to push the artillery near the city wall to fight Dangxiang artillery, and it has gained the upper hand in one day. According to Taiwei Di, it is estimated that in just five or six days, the defense at the top of the Dangxiang city will be able to be eliminated. At that time, what is the difficulty of Yifu attacking the city? Zhao Zi has already decided to go north. Why not stay in Jingzhou for a few days and see how the movements in Lingzhou are there?"

Liu Ji read the official documents and said, "That's good. I saw that I had arrived at Xingqing Prefecture City and left without siege. I was unwilling to accept it."

Han Qi said: "Yes, now it seems that Dangxiang has no good way to resist us. If you don't take the opportunity to destroy it, it will be bad if you stay."

Until now, Dangxiang was passively beaten and had no power to fight back. With the railway, the army could be transferred easily. Han Qi was unwilling to do so without taking advantage of this good opportunity to destroy Dangxiang. When he defended the northwest, his military strength was not strong and he was defeated near the Zhenrong Army. Han Qi has been worried about these years. Now he has the opportunity to avenge his previous shame, so how can he let it go.

Liu Jidao: "Our 50,000 troops are in Jingzhou. There may be some shortcomings in besieging Xingqing Prefecture, but there is more than halting Xingling Prefecture. So I will stay here first to see if Taiwei Di can capture Lingzhou in a short time. Once Lingzhou is broken, our two divisions will join forces, how difficult is it to destroy Xingqing Prefecture!"

It took only one day to get from Jingzhou to Xingqing Prefecture. Han Qi's army stationed in Jingzhou, but actually monitored the Dangxiang army in Xingqing Prefecture, making them afraid to leave the city. In this way, Di Qing could let go and attack Lingzhou with all his strength, without worrying about the Dangxiang Army's harassment.

Han Qi stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the Helan Mountains not far away. After a while, he turned around and said, "Ten years ago, the imperial court fought against Dangxiang. Even if there was a small victory, the war would be defeated. When the imperial court was overwhelmed, the soldiers on the front line had no desire to fight and had to negotiate peace with Dangxiang. How could he think that in more than ten years, we would be able to enter a land without a man, and we would not dare to go out of the city to fight! Now, thinking about all the past, it seems like we were in a dream."

Liu Jidao: "Who can think about the vicissitudes of life and great changes in the world? For more than ten years, Dangxiang was not the Dangxiang person more than ten years ago, and the Song Dynasty was not the Great Song Dynasty. The Grand Marshal led Zhao Zi to 30,000 troops, and traveled 3,000 miles away, and was invincible. Who dared to believe it more than ten years ago?"

Han Qi shook his head: "To be honest, Zhao Zi is an old general on Hequ Road, and his combat is in his own way. This battle is entirely up to him, and there is no problem on the road. I can only say that from Du Zhongxiao to Suizhou to train the new army, he has really practiced the rules, leaving behind such an army and such generals."

Speaking of this, I won’t say anything more. In fact, Du Zhongxiao’s achievements in Hequ Road should have been the one who commanded the destruction of Dangxiang. It was just that due to various reasons in the court, Du Zhongxiao returned to the court, and Han Qi and Di Qing came.
Chapter completed!