Unparalleled Concubine

The process of attacking Xiangyang was very smooth, beyond Li Xin's expectations. Originally, in Li Xin's opinion, it would take at least one day for the Ningzhou Army to enter Xiangyang City. Who knew it only took half a day , Li Shuo not only entered Xiangyang City, but even captured half of Xiangyang.

So much so that just after noon, Li Xin and Mu Ying had already stood on the tower of the west wall of Xiangyang City.

General Li looked down at this majestic city with his hands behind his back. After a long time, he said with emotion: "I remember that when I read the letters of predecessors in the capital more than ten years ago, I mentioned Xiangyang City, saying that the whole family of the Zhong family lived in Xiangyang. Guarding Xiangyang City, resisting the tyrannical Northern Zhou Dynasty for decades, at the worst time, four generations of the Chong family defeated three generations, and Ding Li, the eldest son of the Zhong family, inherited the position of the Patriarch, only 17 years old."

There was a period of time in those days when the disparity in power between the Southern Jin and the Northern Zhou reached a certain level. The arrogant Xianbei people would go south to invade the Dajin River and Mountains at every turn. Carry, during those decades, the Zhong family really defended Xiangyang with the blood of generations.

It is also for this reason that no matter how careful the emperor of the Ji family was, he never trusted the Zhong family. The Pingnanhou's mansion or Chen Guogong's mansion are far inferior to the Chong family in the Jin Dynasty.

Speaking of this, Li Xin sighed: "But it will be very different in a few decades."

"Xiangyang City is still the old Xiangyang City, but the people guarding the city are no longer the original family members."

Mu Ying bowed her head and chuckled: "If they are willing to die and carry the thunder thrown by our catapult, no matter how heavy the casualties are, it will not be so easy for the Ningzhou army to climb the tower and defend the first wave. It will take at least three days for the army to break through the city."

"As for the generals guarding the city of Xiangyang, it's really outrageous that they just let go of the city wall and lost their greatest support."

Mu Ying has been in the army for these years, and his vision and knowledge are not comparable to that of Mu Lang in the capital. He said in a deep voice: "It's just that Lord Hou didn't make firecrackers. As long as the Ningzhou army enters the city, there will be enough Even the thunder from the sky can slowly advance in the city calmly, now that there are firecrackers, the Ningzhou army will only advance faster."

Li Xin looked calm, and said, "Brother Mu, how long will it take for Li Shuo to win the entire Xiangyang?"

"It's impossible to tell."

Mu Ying lowered her head slightly, and said: "If Xie Jing is smarter, try to avoid the streets at this moment, and fight with the Ningzhou army in the alley, retreating while fighting, General Li will probably have to fight hard for five or six days or even longer Only time can drive the Hanzhong Army and the Ankang Army out, and they themselves have to bear a lot of casualties."

"If Xie Jing is stupid and wants to come out to fight the Ningzhou army head-on, it is estimated that the Hanzhong army will be completely defeated in a short time, and the entire Xiangyang will fall into the hands of the general tomorrow."

"These generations of Ji's family are cronyists."

Li Xin snorted: "Just Xie Jing, relying on the crony of the Empress Dowager Xie, can still be praised by the Ji family to such a high level, even if the little emperor replaces Xie Jing with Xie Dai, we are working in the southwest There are also a lot of difficulties, this Xie Jing relies on his status as the emperor's uncle, to be stupid all the way, and to rise to the top all the way!"

In this regard, Li Xinxin naturally felt a little resentful.

During the Renchen Palace Change, although he had no capital at that time, he was undoubtedly the one who contributed the most, and he was also the one who risked his life to gamble. As a result, Li Xin did not get the status he deserved with due credit.

What's even more exaggerated is that Xie Dai, who was still a noble son in Sanyin when the Renchen Palace changed, was quickly transferred to the capital and gained far more trust than Li Xin.

The Habayashi Guards cannot guard the Forbidden Palace, but the Qianniu Guards led by Xie Jing can.

It is precisely because of this distrust of "outsiders" that the situation has gradually become what it is today.

For more than ten years, Li Xin has always looked down on Xie Jing, the country's uncle, from the bottom of his heart, and he still does so until now.

Mu Ying lowered her head slightly, and said: "General, the current situation is very favorable to us, should the last general lead a group of troops to help General Li, so that there will be no more risks, and the general will soon be able to take down the entire Xiangyang."

"I don't need it for now."

Li Xin frowned and said, "Li Shuo has been training soldiers for so many years, but he has never actually fought a war. It is also a good thing to train him. After all, winning Xiangyang is just the beginning. After Xiangyang, there is still a long way to go."

Speaking of this, Li Xin suddenly remembered something, and said: "Now, someone will send a message to Li Shuo at the front, telling him that there is no need to kill them all. If there are imperial troops who are willing to surrender, our department is also willing to surrender. Brother Mu You send some people to follow the Ningzhou Army to receive the surrendered soldiers."

Although the current Southwest Army has not reached the peak of this era in terms of military quality, it is not much inferior to any army. However, the Southwest Army also has the Achilles heel of the Southwest Army, that is...the number is too small.

More than [-] troops ruled the southwest, naturally there is no problem, but wanting to enter the capital is a bit of a dream. Therefore, no matter who raises an army, the most important thing is to quickly expand their team during the process of raising troops, or recruit troops. That's fine, or it's good to accept surrendered soldiers, in short, we must turn one of our subordinates into ten as soon as possible.

Li Xin is not the same as those who raised troops in history. He has his own "basic board", but this does not prevent him from accepting soldiers like the Hanzhong Army. The Hanzhong Army is not weak. After being reorganized by the Southwest Army It can quickly form combat effectiveness and is a rare source of high-quality soldiers.

Mu Ying lowered her head immediately, and said in a deep voice, "The general will do it."

"Brother Mu, you don't need to go in person, just send one of your lieutenants to do it."

Mu Ying immediately lowered her head, turned around and called a subordinate of the Southwest Army, and after giving the order, she stood back behind Li Xin.

At this moment, Li Xin was watching the scene in the distance with the binoculars, but the houses in the city were criss-crossed, and he couldn't see it very clearly. He put the binoculars back into his arms, glanced back at Mu Ying, and said lightly: "Brother Mu also stayed with Huzi for a few months, tell me your opinion."

Li Xin's restrained smile turned serious.

"Is this firecracker usable?"

"Available."

Mu Ying quickly gave the answer, but after a pause, he continued: "Although this thing is novel, it is not particularly powerful. From the point of view of General Mo, it is enough for our department and the Ningzhou Army to deploy two to 3000 people each." It’s almost enough, no more is useless.”

This is a very pertinent opinion.

To put it bluntly, although the firecracker is a hot weapon, it is not a musket after all. It has too many shortcomings, such as slow reloading speed, not strong enough power, and sometimes it will explode the chamber. More importantly...

This era is not without long-range attack weapons.

The destructive power of an old crossbowman is far better than that of a firecracker.

In fact, in another world, neither firecrackers nor muskets have completely replaced the status of bows and crossbows.

Li Xin nodded and did not continue to discuss this topic.

"When we win Xiangyang, that big flag can be erected."

Chapter 1050 Meet the old friend

The Ningzhou Army's attack on Xiangyang was extremely smooth, mainly because the Ankang Army under Pei Jin, fearing the unknown firearms in the hands of the Southwest Army, took the lead in withdrawing from Xiangyang City, leaving only the Hanzhong Army, which had already suffered heavy casualties. defend the city.

People are competitive.

If everyone stayed to defend the city together, the main body would be separated from the Forbidden Army. The elite Hanzhong Army might fight to the death in Xiangyang City, and it would bring great trouble to the Southwest Army.

But the Ankang army withdrew directly.

This will inevitably make the soldiers of the Hanzhong Army feel uncomfortable. Our Hanzhong Army resisted the Southwest rebels on the front line and suffered heavy casualties. You Ankang Army didn't move a single soldier, so you just deserted?

However, the Hanzhong Army and the Ankang Army are equal in rank. Xie Jing has no power or qualification to restrict Pei Jin, so he can only watch helplessly as he leads his troops away.

After Pei Jin left the field, it was a foregone conclusion that Xiangyang City would be broken. The only difference was when the city was broken.

In a big mansion in the east part of Xiangyang City, Zhong Heng, who was in a state of embarrassment, bent over and stood behind Xie Jing, lowered his head and smiled wryly: "General, General Pei has led his troops to evacuate Xiangyang. Our Hanzhong army is retreating steadily. The enemy is already approaching the East City, if we don't make a decision, the remaining half of our Hanzhong Army's strength will be lost!"

Xie Jing didn't have any skills at all, he was already in a mess at this time, he was afraid that he would be punished by Emperor Yuanzhao after he withdrew his troops back to Beijing, and he was also afraid that the Hanzhong army would really be wiped out in Xiangyang City, so this uncle of the current emperor Gritting his teeth, he opened his mouth and said, "You can retreat, but you must get the iron pipe in the hands of the Southwest Army. Can't escape the guilt!"

Zhong Heng said with a bitter face: "General, those soldiers of the Southwest Army holding iron pipes are tightly guarded by their shield soldiers. Right now, our people dare not go to the battle at all. How can we get that thing? It's not time to worry about these things, people are dying all the time ahead, the general must make a decision as soon as possible!"

Xie Jing was still a little hesitant, he looked at Zhong Heng, and said, "General Xiaozhong, my Hanzhong Army... How many casualties have there been?"

"I'm afraid there are as many as [-] to [-]."

Zhong Heng smiled wryly and said: "The main reason is that the morale of the soldiers on the front line has been lost. No one knows how to deal with those iron pipes of the Southwest Army, nor how those things hurt people. Some people even regard the Southwest Army as gods and ghosts." You monsters don’t dare to charge up and kill them at all.”

"Li Shuo of the Southwest Army is leading people slowly towards the east city. At this speed, our people can last for another two or three days at most, and the whole of Xiangyang will fall into the hands of the Southwest Army. Instead of this, it is better to withdraw for now. Keep fighting."

As he said that, Zhong Heng lowered his head slightly, gritted his teeth and said, "The great general is the uncle of the emperor, and the last general is also a descendant of the Chong family. It is not a big crime to withdraw at this time. We may still be able to protect ourselves. If the Hanzhong army is completely killed and wounded, Then you may not be able to protect your status as an uncle, the great general!"