Chapter 55: The Battle of Bianzhou (7)

  The autumn wind was bleak, and all things were quiet. Zhao Jie urged his horse to gallop, chasing day and night, finally catching up with the vanguard of Changsheng Army. Before Changsheng Army set out, Zhao Jie had already instructed Liang Fangxu not to directly rush to rescue Taiyuan City, as it would be a great taboo for military strategists to exhaust their troops by traveling long distances, let alone continue fighting.

  Liang Fangxu also deeply agreed, Changsheng Jun arrived at a place called Xiaonan Village, one day's journey from Taiyuan City, and set up camp. It seemed that they had been there for several days already. Today, Zhao Jiong arrived, and Liang Fangxu led the other generals to welcome him outside the camp.

  Zhao Yan didn't have time for small talk either, and as he walked, he asked: "General Liang, what's the situation with the battle at Taiyuan City?"

  "Your Majesty, the city of Taiyuan is in imminent danger. The Jin army attacks every day and if we don't send reinforcements immediately, the city will fall within a few days. I beg Your Majesty to dispatch troops today to rescue us."

  Zhao Yan said in a low voice: "Look at our soldiers now, how can they fight, and how can exhausted troops be used for battle."

  Li Fangxu said: "Your Highness, calm your anger. I also have an urgent desire to rescue Taiyuan City, and I hope Your Highness will forgive my crime."

  "Don't play with the lives of our soldiers." Zhao Yan said calmly.

  Liang Fangxu quietly followed behind, and the crowd arrived at the central military tent. Zhao Jiong also sat in the position of the commander-in-chief without being pretentious. Liang Fangxu suddenly felt that Zhao Jiong was no longer the familiar Zhao Jiong he once knew. If he had relied on his identity as a direct descendant of Zhao earlier and continued to offer advice, there might have been a disaster that would cost lives.

  Zhaobin looked at the scene with a somewhat cold and calm tone: "Our army has traveled far, lacking supplies, General Liang, how will our grain and grass be sustained?"

  "Your Highness, I have dispatched troops to gather grain and fodder from all directions, enough for our army to sustain itself for several days." Liang Fangxu replied cautiously.

  Such a large-scale collection of grain, if there are Jin people secretly working among the civilians, they will discover our military movements. Tomorrow, only send a small number of soldiers to collect grain, and buy in very little food every day, I see that the surrounding wild grass is lush, and it can be used to fill hunger.

  Zhao Yin's eyebrows slightly furrowed, Liang Fangxu was loyal and unwavering, but lacked flexibility. If An Yiqi were here, it would be better, but Liang Fangxu had been rushing day and night, and Zhao Yin couldn't say anything about it.

  "Yes, Your Highness." Upon hearing Zhao Yan say this, Liang Fangxu was startled in his heart, and indeed he had considered it inadequately.

  Zhao Yan said in a calm tone, "This matter is not General Liang's fault either. Perhaps I was overthinking it. Let the soldiers rest tightly and we will set out with the whole army tomorrow. There is still another fierce battle waiting for us."

  "I'll go and take care of it now." Liang Fangxu stood up and walked out of the central military tent.

  Zhao Yan found that Tang Yuwei was not in the army, it seemed that she had left early, but for Zhao Yan, it didn't matter. Tang Yuwei represented Feng Huang Lou, which was an enemy rather than a friend. Fortunately, Feng Huang Lou did not interfere with Zhao Yan too much. Zhao Yan had long given up hope of getting silver from selling mirrors. Anyway, the military expenses were still sufficient now. If they could resist the Jin army's invasion this time, maybe they could delay the Jin army's next southern expedition. Even if he died, what was there to fear? Zhao Yan smiled calmly and looked in the direction of Taiyuan City, muttering to himself: "Zhang Xiaochun, Wang Fen, you must hold on for me."

  Taiyuan City of Shanxi Province

  The city had been besieged for several months, and the state's grain supply was cut off, with no reinforcements arriving. The military and civilians inside the city had already suffered eight or nine out of ten casualties. That night, Xin Xingzong killed the patrolling Song soldiers and quietly climbed up onto the city wall.

  "Who!" The Song army guarding the city was awakened by the faint footsteps, holding knives and swords pointing in the direction of the sound. Xinzong saw that things were exposed, and at this time, he couldn't care about many things. He led his trusted followers to attack the Song army on the gate, and the Song army on the wall resisted while shouting loudly for support. Xinzong originally wanted to quietly take down the city gate, but now he could only open the city gate before the Song army reinforcements arrived.

  It so happened that when Xingzong Xin attacked the city gate, it was the time for the Song army to change shifts. There were only a few dozen Song soldiers on the city wall, and some had already fallen asleep. The Song soldiers had suffered from hunger and had little energy left in them. It was also late at night, and they were naturally tired and their combat effectiveness was low. On the other hand, Xingzong Xin's personal soldiers seemed to have stored up food and had a lot of energy. Before the defending Song army could organize an effective counterattack, they were driven back by Xingzong Xin.

  Xingzong swung his sword and beheaded a Song soldier, blood splashing out and spraying Xingzong's body. Ignoring the bloody stains on him, he kicked away the headless Song soldier and hastily shouted to his trusted aide beside him: "Quickly send the signal."

  The trusted follower hastily pulled out the fuse of the gunpowder from his body and leaned it against the torch beside him. A pungent smell of gunpowder wafted out, and thick smoke rolled in instantly. The loyal follower who lit the fuse strongly endured the pungent smoke, coughing constantly as he waved the fuse towards the outside of the city. Only then did Xin Xingzong feel at ease. After killing all the Song soldiers on the city wall, he led his personal troops towards the main gate. When Xin Xingzong arrived at the gate, there were seven or eight corpses of Song soldiers and his loyal followers on the ground. Two Song soldiers leaned against the gate, glaring angrily at Xin Xingzong and his men. One of the Song soldiers shouted: "You traitors will not die a good death!"

  Xingzong Xin laughed maniacally: "I'll die after you, watch me send you off. The two Song soldiers couldn't withstand two blows and fell into the pool of blood. Xingzong's trusted aide wanted to go forward and pull out the wooden wedge blocking the city gate, but suddenly a Song soldier covered in blood pounced on him, using his chest to block the wedge. The aide was shocked and quickly became enraged, crazily stabbing the Song soldier's body with his knife.

  Song Jun's mouth was full of blood, and he laughed maniacally: "I've managed to buy some time." As he spoke, he glared hatefully at Xin Xingzong and the others behind him, before collapsing limply to the ground.

  Xingzong hastily stepped forward to move the soldier's body, his mind repeatedly replaying the soldier's gaze. He couldn't help but shudder, and with a loud creak, the heavy city gate opened a crack. Xingzong was filled with frenzy, as long as he handed over Taiyuan City to the Jin people, he would surely be rich and noble for the rest of his life. At this time, shouts and killings came from the direction of the Taiyuan City Governor's Mansion, Xingzong was startled, pushed away the guards beside him, and personally went to move the heavy city gate.

  Wanyan Zonghan outside the city did not sleep tonight, and in the evening, there was a faint cool breeze at the foot of Taiyuan City, blowing the surrounding grasses to flutter.

  Wanyan Zonghan summoned all the generals, and the army had already been notified to be fully armed and waiting for orders. Everyone was guessing, looking like they were going to have a night battle, but the generals in their hearts did not think so, knowing that their own army was not good at night battles, and it was completely dark at night, what's the point of fighting? They believed Wanyan Zonghan would not be foolish enough to let the Jurchen soldiers go to their deaths for nothing.

  Many generals had complaints in their hearts, this Wanyan Zonghan is really not a good thing, it's so late and he doesn't let people sleep, but instead he's here stargazing, what's the point of finding us to do this. But Wanyan Zonghan's subordinates were all afraid of his cruelty, no one dared to raise objections.

  Taiyuan City's city head suddenly burst out with shouts of killing and the collision sound of weapons, just at this time Taiyuan City's city head lit up a white spot of firelight, which was very dazzling in the night color. Thick smoke rolled up, straight to the clouds. Wanyan Zonghan drew his dagger and laughed wildly: "There is an internal response from our Great Jin in the city, the city gate will soon be yours, tonight is the best opportunity to take down Taiyuan City, everyone must fight bravely, on the day of breaking the city, the whole army will have a three-day carnival. The first to enter Taiyuan City will be promoted three levels and rewarded with a thousand gold, go for it!"

  Great rewards must have brave men; although fighting at night was very unfavorable for the Jin people, but Wanyan Zonghan's conditions were too tempting, and the generals could not refuse. The Jin soldiers carried the cloud ladder and ran quickly, killing towards Taiyuan City.

  Although people often stumble over corpses in the dark and trample each other, resulting in numerous deaths, it cannot stop the Jin army's desire for rewards and attacking Taiyuan City. Moreover, Wanyan Zonghan had already confirmed that there were collaborators within the city who had taken control of the city gates, so under such favorable conditions, not being skilled at night battles was no longer a problem.

  Zhang Xiaochun and Wang Bin were discussing how to respond when a soldier rushed in, covered in blood, and reported: "Sir, it's not good! Xin Xingzong led his trusted men to take down the city gate. It seems they had colluded with the Jin army beforehand. The Jin army actually launched a surprise attack at night!"

  Wang Kan stood up and drew his sword, saying angrily: "I've had enough of Xin Xingzong. Watch me go and behead him." With that, he strode out of the mansion.

  Zhang Xiaochun also knew that this was not the time to be calm, and immediately ordered the generals around him: "You all lead your troops and horses, and rush to rescue General Wang as soon as possible. There must be no mistake."

  "Yes, sir." The generals took orders and left in a hurry. Zhang Xiaochun had his subordinates help him put on his armor, although he was a civil official, but at this moment, who could think of that much? He held a long sword and walked out of the mansion with big strides.

  Wang Kun led hundreds of people to rush over, and from a distance saw Xinzong's dozens of close relatives who were moving the city gate. Wang Kun roared: "Xin Zongxiao, quickly leave your life."

  Xingzong Xin heard Wang Yun's roar and was suddenly startled, and he couldn't help but rush out of the gap that could only pass one person without fully opening the city gate. The trusted followers behind him saw Wang Yun and others coming from afar with a momentum of turmoil, and they all rushed forward in unison, but as a result, no one could get out. Some people even raised their weapons to hack at the people who blocked their escape in front of them, and within a very short period of time, eight or nine people were killed.

  Three of them barely escaped, and Wang Zong had already arrived. The Song army soldiers showed no mercy to the rebels, killing all of Xin Xingzong's loyalists who were crowded at the gate with their swords.

  In the distance, the Jin army had already charged over. Wang Fu's eyes narrowed and he quickly moved to move the corpse away. The Song army soldiers also came to their senses and hastily threw the corpse aside. Everyone worked together to push the heavy city gate, fortunately Wang Fu arrived in time and closed the gate before the Jin army broke through it.

  Xin Xingzong hastily ran to the front of the Golden Army's formation, and Wanyan Zonghan calmly said: "Xin Xingzong, what about the city gate you were supposed to guard?"

  "Huai Yuan Jiangjun, Wang Ben suddenly killed me, I fought to the death but was defeated and retreated." Xingzong said hastily, his voice trembling slightly.

  "That's desertion in the face of the enemy!" Wanyan Zonghan said with a cold smile.

  "General, listen to my explanation, ah~~!" Wanyan Zonghan's knife had already cut into Xinzong's body. Xinzong's eyes were filled with complex emotions, wondering if what he did was right or wrong, and soon his pupils dilated and he died.