Chapter 236 Are you and your son singing the same tune?

Western Xia.

Xingqing Mansion.

When Mei Zang heard that the officials of Song State could not even control a little kid, he was so angry that he laughed.

You are his father, and you can’t control him?
A Xixia official said: “I think this is actually an excuse for the other party. They just don’t want to negotiate with us.”

Mei Zang also asked this minister, “What is your next plan?”

The other party said, “Replying to the Queen Mother, at this moment, we can only fortify our walls and clear the fields, and concentrate some of our heavy troops in the state capital. The Song army has come from afar, so they must not have much food and grass. We can send hundreds or thousands of cavalry as rangers to harass and block their food supply. When they run out of food, maybe we can still save them.”

This was actually a tactic that was tried and tested when Li Yuanhao was alive.

When the Liao Kingdom attacked Western Xia, it did not gain any benefit because of this strategy of Western Xia.

Including the Liao Kingdom’s second attack on Western Xia, it was also because the grain route from the south was blocked by them at the Yellow River, making it impossible to successfully join forces with the Liao Kingdom’s troops from other routes, so the Liao Kingdom had to give up halfway again.

If there wasn’t a detachment of several thousand men in the north, they would have been able to capture Mei Yi.

The Liao Kingdom’s second war against Western Xia was not likely to yield a very good result.

Mei Yi was the wife of Li Yuanhao’s son Li Ningge.

Later, she was snatched away by Li Yuanhao, who also called her the “new queen”.

With a plan to deal with the situation, Mei Zang doesn’t need to worry too much.

He immediately gave orders to station heavy troops to garrison Xiazhou City and Youzhou City, to fortify the city and wait for the attack from the State of Song.

As for Zhao Xin…

After taking over Yinzhou and the Zuoxiang Shenyong Army, it is naturally impossible to stop moving forward.

Because the strategy for conquering Hengshan can only be considered as the beginning.

There are many Dangxiang tribes living in the Hengshan area.

After getting to know Zhang Kang, Zhong Yan, and Weiming Mountain.

You say these Dangxiang tribes are loyal to Western Xia, so they are definitely loyal to Western Xia.

But you say how loyal they are, but it’s not clear.

After all, it seems like everyone is gathering under the flag of Western Xia to make a living.

We fight wars together and rob women together. That’s about it.

of course!

Li Yuanhao of Western Xia was still very capable.

even……

He also seemed to want to create his own Xixia script.

The only other person like this that Zhao Xin knew of was probably Songtsen Gampo, who ruled the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the Tang Dynasty.

Unfortunately……

Compared with Songtsen Gampo, Li Yuanhao is not much worse.

After all, Songtsen Gampo at least didn’t steal his son’s wife.

If Zhao Xin wanted to succeed in his strategy for Hengshan, he had to capture Xiazhou City, Youzhou City, and even Longzhou City. These cities were located next to large rivers and controlled water sources and transportation routes. He also had to persuade the Dangxiang tribes living in the Hengshan area to submit to him.

This is the most important thing!
Zhao Xin said to the generals: “Even though we have conquered this city and this land, they are not ours yet. The key is how to make them submit to us. What do you think?”

Weimingshan’s younger brother, Weimingyishan, took the lead and said, “I am willing to go and persuade them.”

Zhao Xin asked, “How can you convince them?”

Weiming Yishan said, “I am also a Tangut. And as far as I know, the Tangut people don’t want to fight. If I can tell them that the elite troops of Xixia have been wiped out by Your Highness, they will definitely surrender.”

Zhang Kang also thought it made sense, and said to Zhao Xin: “Your Highness Prince Yu, if that is true, then we may not be afraid of our food and supplies being looted by the Western Xia along the way, but we may even be able to get a lot of help.”

Zhao Xin also looked at Wei Mingshan and said, “You are his elder brother, what do you think?”

Wei Mingshan always felt that his younger brother was careless and not very reliable.

But it is true…

The Dangxiang people actually didn’t want to fight, but his brother was right about that.

He replied to Zhao Xin respectfully: “Your Highness Prince Yu, I think it’s worth a try!”

Zhao Xin said, “Well, Weiming Yishan! I’ll leave the matter of persuading them to surrender to you! Tell them that I don’t want to fight either. In fact, I prefer peace. So, this time we are going to fight only to kill the main culprit! If they believe me, then let their chief come to see me. If they still want to resist, don’t blame me for taking action against them as well. If this can be done, I will give you a great credit!”

Afterwards, Weiming Yishan and his men went there happily.

Don’t tell me yet!

Although Weiming Yishan looked frivolous and not very reliable, he did a good job in persuading people to surrender.

That’s less than ten days.

Immediately afterwards…

He led a group of Dangxiang tribal chiefs to see Zhao Xin.

But I feel like these chiefs don’t have much power.

after all……

If he really had power, he would probably be in Xiazhou City, Youzhou City, or even Longzhou City now.

of course!

Better than nothing!
Zhao Xin also asked them to send people to monitor the small paths in Hengshan.

Cast a wide net.

Once the Western Xia cavalry were discovered, someone would be sent to notify him in advance.

At last……

Don’t forget to reward them.

of course!

I don’t have it with me now, so I can only give it to you after the war is over.

After quickly solving the problem of the Dangxiang tribe in the Hengshan area, Zhao Xin led his army and continued westward along the Wuding River. At this point, the Wuding River flowed westward, and the first place they arrived at was the Xiazhou City of Western Xia, formerly known as Tongwan City.

In the past, Emperor Taizong, that is, his great-grandfather, sent troops to attack here. In view of the fact that the Dangxiang tribe here often used this city to harass the army, they destroyed the city and moved all the people in the city away.

however……

As time went by, the city was rebuilt almost entirely on the original site.

The siege was going to be quite a headache.

But the good thing is…

Zhao Xin had basically anticipated that this day would come.

therefore……

These siege equipment were brought together.

Previously, people had collected a lot of oil on Fuyan Road, which can be used in the siege.

An incendiary bomb can burn for about twenty to thirty seconds.

It is also filled with some rags or something to increase the burning time.

Of course!
How to make sure that each incendiary bomb lands at one spot is a big problem!

and so……

Zhao Xin also brought ten counterweight catapults.

Make the landing points as consistent as possible in theory.

But it still depends a bit on appearance!

one way or another!

You have to give it a try, right?

The method of attacking the city was to first use the lead vehicle and the shed to fill up some ditches outside the city.

of course!

At this time, the defenders in the city would definitely use catapults and other devices to disrupt their actions.

but……

Since this car is built quite sturdily, it is not so easy to be smashed to pieces under normal circumstances.

While the lead vehicle was working, the artillery and muskets could not be idle. The artillery could find a high point, or if there was no high point, they could dig the earth and pile up a hill to create a high point.

Provide cover for the lead vehicle operation.

As for the guns…

The same is true.

Some simple wooden platforms can be built.

For example, a nest car, and then shoot at the defenders on the city wall from inside the nest car.

Those equipped with rifled muskets and Minié bullets will be given priority.

On the day Zhao Xin arrived in Xiazhou City, everyone began to perform their duties.

The newly surrendered Dangxiang tribe also brought some people to help them dig earth and build hills.

In fact, you don’t need to build it too high or too big, just make it the same as the enemy, find the right angle so that the artillery can penetrate the defenders of the enemy’s city wall in a straight line.

It is about as high as the city wall of Xiazhou City.

This difficulty will definitely be greatly reduced.

At this time, Xiazhou City…

There were about 30,000 to 40,000 defenders in the city.

In addition…

There must be some civilians as well.

However, although they are called civilians, they are actually similar to the army. Except for children and women who are not as tall as the wheels, all other men can be regarded as the enemy’s manpower.

Before preparing to attack the city, of course, it is necessary to persuade the people in the city to surrender.

But it didn’t work!
Let’s get started!

As all the Song troops cooperated closely.

soon……

In just half a day, the outer city of Xiazhou was breached by the Song army.

After all, which good guy would use fire to attack a city? The key also lies in artillery and muskets.

The soldier was dumbfounded when he saw it.

Just hearing the earth-shaking sound was enough to break down the strength in their hearts.

Xixia originally thought that with the strong city walls and geographical advantages of Xiazhou City, they would not be able to last more than a month.

In a month’s time, coupled with their active harassment of the food supply routes, the Song army would certainly not have much food left. By then, the Song army would have to withdraw.

But who would have thought that dreams are beautiful, but reality is so cruel.

Under the multi-dimensional attack of the Song army, the Xiazhou defenders could not even hold out for half a day.

of course!

If the defenders of Xiazhou City insisted on fighting for their lives, then the Song Army would have to take down the outer city and then attack the inner city, which was divided into two parts, the east and west cities, so it would definitely cost a lot.

But the problem now is that after the Battle of Wuding River, the morale of the Western Xia army is generally low.

after all……

Although Western Xia had already established a country, it still retained some common problems of all nomadic peoples, such as running away if they couldn’t win. Anyway, the most important thing was whether they could save their own lives and the lives of their people!
Some tribal chiefs and soldiers in the city dropped their weapons and surrendered.

When the Xixia garrison commander saw that all his men had surrendered, he had no choice but to surrender as well.

can only say……

Mei Zang is not here!
If it weren’t for the Zang family who could hold on here, there would probably still be a fight!

of course!

Surrendering so quickly was definitely something that the ministers of Western Xia and the Mei Zang clan had never expected.

After taking Xiazhou, Zhao Xin then attacked Youzhou.

When the Youzhou garrison commander heard that Xiazhou was gone, he fled with his men overnight!
As for Longzhou…

Since he couldn’t escape, he simply surrendered the city.

Zhao Xin doesn’t even need to fight.

Zhao Xin was also speechless.

Can you guys be a little more manly?
And you still retain such a large population, I’m very scared.

I’m afraid that you will stab me in the back at any time.

What Zhao Xin was actually thinking was, anything taller than the wheels should be cut down.

But Zhao Xin couldn’t express this idea.

after all……

If I show it, wouldn’t it seem like I’m narrow-minded?
however……

Zhao Xin is actually not a person with a small heart.

He was just very alert and cautious about it.

With the recovery of the three states, and the submission of the Dangxiang tribes in the Hengshan area, Zhao Xin suddenly took back the entire Hengshan area. The surrounding tribes sent people to request submission, and the number of foreign soldiers suddenly increased by 70,000 to 80,000.

To be honest! Now, Zhao Xin feels that he dares to fight even Xingqing Mansion.

If they had not suddenly received a warning from the Liao Kingdom.

This autumn, for some unknown reason, the Liao Dynasty’s ruler, Yelu Zongzhen, made a special trip to the Yalu River. It was probably because something went wrong in North Korea or the scenery there was beautiful, so he went there to recuperate.

When he learned that the Song Dynasty was attacking Western Xia, he was naturally very concerned.

Xixia was his younger brother, used to contain the Song Dynasty in the northwest.

If Western Xia was really destroyed by the Song Dynasty, then the Liao Kingdom would lose an ally.

They immediately sent envoys to Tokyo City to inform them that it was against the rules for the Song Dynasty to attack Western Xia, as Western Xia was the country of their uncle and nephew. The key point was that the Song Dynasty had not informed them in advance.

You should know that they informed the Song Dynasty in advance when they attacked Western Xia.

They could regard this as disrespect from the Song Dynasty towards their Liao Kingdom.

of course!

When sending envoys to Tokyo City, Yelu Zongzhen probably had not imagined that Zhao Xin had already taken over the entire Hengshan area.

The Liao envoy said to Zhao Xin righteously: “My lord requires you, the Song Dynasty, to return Yinzhou, Xiazhou, Youzhou, Longzhou, and Suizhou to Xixia.”

Zhao Xin then asked: “What if I don’t return it?”

The Liao envoy said: “If you don’t return it, then we will fight!”

Zhao Xin also said: “Didn’t you Liao Kingdom fight Xixia before? Why can’t you fight Xixia when I fight Xixia? I just want them to behave themselves from now on. Isn’t this a good thing for you and me!?”

The Liao envoy did not listen to Zhao Xin’s sophistry and said directly: “Anyway… Having said that, I hope you, the Great Song, can weigh it for yourselves.”

Zhao Xin really wanted to kill the person in front of him.

But there’s nothing I can do!
indeed!

He should quit while he’s ahead.

I definitely can’t go to Xingqing Prefecture.

only……

He would definitely not return the Hengshan area to Western Xia.

Anyway…

Let’s talk slowly.

Zhao Xin then started to play tricks and said, “This matter is not something I can decide alone. I have to go back and ask my father. I will give you an answer after I have discussed it with my father. Now… you can go back to Liao first. When there is a result, we will naturally send someone to talk to you. Although I have already covered the sky with one hand in the Song Dynasty, I have to respect my father’s opinion, right? Otherwise, people who don’t know will think that I am the emperor of the Song Dynasty. I am just the second son of an ordinary emperor of the Song Dynasty.”

But the problem is…

The envoys from Liao came from Dongjing City, and it seems that the officials of the Song Dynasty said something similar.

It’s not up to him to decide this matter.

You’d better go and discuss it with Prince Yu.

Are you two, father and son, singing the same tune?

(End of this chapter)