"Your Majesty, this Daming Prefecture is tall and deep. It's not easy to attack.
The western army under my command has been defending Xixia all year round. They are good at mountain warfare and siege warfare.
Let me handle this mission!”
Outside the Daming Manor, after Zhao Kai gave the order to set up camp and build siege weapons, the old commander of the western army, Zhong Shidao, solemnly requested.
Behind him, the soldiers of the western army also had solemn expressions, and their faces were filled with unshirkable responsibility.
Attacking a city was a difficult task that involved bloodshed and sacrifice. Zhong Shidao and his subordinates were the first to request for orders. This was because the western army was known for their ability to fight and sacrifice themselves!
The West Army was the general term for the four imperial guards in Shaanxi. This army was born in Guanzhong and was the only army that could fight in the past hundred years.
By relying on their years of fighting against the Xixia and Qingtang Qiang, the fighting strength of the Xixia army was much higher than that of the Song army.
However, this came at a heavy price. In Shaanxi, from the generals to the soldiers, the entire family had served the Western Army for several generations.
There were often people who died on the battlefield. Most of the men did not live past 30. The phenomenon of a group of widows living together was common in Shaanxi's Fourth Road!
Especially in the last ten years, under the torment of Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, and the treacherous officials Cai Jing and Tong Guan, the western army was split up everywhere.
A part of the Jiangnan army was lost, a part of Hebei was lost in the attack on Yanyun, and a part of Shaanxi was lost in the defense against the Western Xia. At the peak of their power, there were hundreds of thousands of Western troops, but now there were less than 100,000 left.
Other than Liu Guangshi, who had brought 30,000 Western troops with him, the remaining 50,000 Western troops had been brought by Zhong Shidao to follow Zhao Kai to the north!
This was the last blood of the western army, and Zhong Shidao's life's work.
And now, for the sake of the Great Song, Zhong Shidao and the soldiers of the Western Army were willing to die!
This scene caused Zhao Kai to be moved.
Although the Great Song had cowardly scoundrels like Minister Liang and Liu Guangshi, they also had loyal officials like Zhong Shidao and the soldiers of the Western Army!
It was because of them that the blood of the men of Great Song would never die!
Zong Ze and Zhang Shuye's eyes reddened."Old Zhong is already old and isn't afraid of sacrifice, so what do we have to fear?
Your Majesty, we and our soldiers are also willing to die to attack the city and recover our rivers and mountains!”
"Your Majesty, the Red Flame Army requests to attack the city and die to recover our rivers and mountains!”
One by one, the soldiers knelt down in front of Zhao Kai and asked for orders to attack the city with their blood boiling!
Looking at these adorable and respectable soldiers, Zhao Kai was extremely moved and gratified.
No matter what, as long as Great Song still had this group of hot-blooded men who were not afraid of sacrifice, Zhao Kai would not be lonely!
Even if he had to make enemies with the huge Jin Kingdom, Zhao Gou, Zhao Ji, Cai Jing, Tong Guan, and other treacherous officials, he was fearless!
Therefore, in Zhao Kai's eyes, every single one of these hot-blooded men of Great Song was precious.
How could he bear to let them sacrifice themselves in the siege?
He wanted to lead the soldiers to victory, and he wanted to lead the soldiers to victory with the least casualties!
"I already know the hearts of the soldiers!”
Under everyone's stares, Zhao Kai said,""However, I don't need you to bleed and sacrifice yourselves to attack the city.”
"There's no need to attack the city?"
When Zhong Shidao and the others heard Zhao Kai's words, their eyes were filled with deep confusion."Your Majesty, the Daming Mansion is located on a plain with thick walls. There is no other way except to attack by force.”
"We know that Your Majesty sympathizes with the soldiers and doesn't want them to suffer casualties. However, casualties are inevitable on the battlefield.
"With our passion, it is our duty to recover the mountains and rivers and save the people of the Great Song!”
Zong Ze and the others thought that Zhao Kai was unwilling to let his soldiers die, so he said so.
Only Zhong Shidao, the veteran commander of the western army, suddenly had his eyes lit up as he looked at Zhao Kai with anticipation."Could it be that His Majesty has other plans?"
Zhong Shidao was a man who had fought all his life. Compared to generals like Zong Ze and Zhang Shuye, who were civil officials and led armies, he had more experience on the battlefield. Therefore, he immediately guessed that the wise and mighty Emperor must have a better idea.
Zhao Kai nodded and smiled mysteriously."Not bad!
I don't need you to attack, I can still take back the Daming Mansion.
In less than three days, he would be able to enter the Daming Manor tonight!”
As he spoke, Zhao Kai waved his hand." All soldiers, go and rest. After night falls, prepare to enter the city with me!"”
Zhao Kai's words made Zong Ze and the others even more confused. Even Zhong Shidao couldn't figure it out."Could it be that Your Majesty is planning to attack the city at night and launch a surprise attack at night?”
However, since Zhao Kai didn't say anything, they could only suppress the doubts in their hearts and follow his orders.
After Zhong Shidao and the others left, Zhao Kai stood outside the Emperor's tent and looked at the Daming Mansion in the twilight. He smiled faintly…
Night fell.
On the top of the city wall of the Daming Manor, bonfires flickered.
The general of the Jin army, Wanyan Chang, personally sat on the city wall and arranged the defense of the Jin army at night.
As for the commander of the Jin army, Wanyan Zongwang, he was sent back to the commander's residence. After all, he was injured and needed to recuperate.
Moreover, they knew that the Song army would not be able to attack the city before they finished building the siege weapons, so they were still calm.
"The marshal has given us the heavy responsibility of defending the city wall. We must watch carefully. We can't let a single soldier of the Song army slip up at night!”
Although he didn't consider the possibility of the Song army attacking the city at night, Wanyan Chang still seriously warned the Jin army patrolling the city.
In the beginning, these Jin soldiers were still careful. However, as the night deepened, sleepiness struck them, and their willpower and spirit gradually relaxed.
Other than a few people who were left to take turns to guard, most of the Jin soldiers were sleeping soundly.
At the same time, in a dark alley in the city, a figure came out of the cellar of a deserted house.
This was a burly man who was eight feet tall. He held a spear in his hand and had a burly figure.
Behind him, figures came out of the cellar one after another like ghosts.
The gun-wielding man made a birdsong sound in the night, as if it was some kind of signal. In the other houses and alleys in the night, figures came out of their hiding places and gathered together.
There were hundreds of them!
Some of these figures were dressed in cotton clothes, some were wearing broken armor, and some were covered in blood and injuries.
However, without exception, their eyes were sparkling in the dark night!
That was an unyielding will!
"Brothers!
We've been living like ghosts for so long. It's time to make that scoundrel Liang and that damned golden man pay the price!
Minister Liang's spy sent news today that Yun King Zhao Kai has ascended the throne and become the new Emperor of Great Song!
Furthermore, His Majesty has already led a 100,000-strong army to the north, and they are currently outside Daming Prefecture!
Tonight, let us kill the golden dog, seize the city gate, and welcome Your Majesty and the royal army!”
The spear-wielding man lowered his voice in the dark. Every pair of glowing eyes, after hearing this, flashed and nodded silently!
In the darkness of the night, they…moved!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]