"Everything has been cleared. There are no people or crops left in the surrounding 50 miles. All the walls are fortified and the fields are clear."
Shi Le asked Shi Yuncheng to clean up 50 miles around the royal city. People and animals were allowed to enter the city, and all crops were harvested or destroyed. The policy of clearing the country with strong walls was implemented so that nothing could be plundered by Long Chen.
As long as the siege lasts for a long time, there will definitely be problems with Long Chen's transportation of supplies, and he will collapse if he doesn't attack.
Especially the barbarian cavalry, they don't bring much rations, and both the horse and the people need to eat the food.
When a war is fought to the end, what is fought is food and weapons.
"One more thing, be careful about the spies in the city. Long Chengen must have something secret in the city."
Long Chen has sneaked into the royal city several times, coming and leaving whenever he wants. There must be someone in the city to help him.
At the last moment, these people will definitely jump out to provide support.
Shi Yuncheng said: "I asked the imperial army to thoroughly investigate everyone in the city and kill all the suspicious people."
Shi Le nodded in agreement with Shi Yuncheng's approach.
In extraordinary times, it is better to kill by mistake than to leak.
"Okay, you go."
Shi Yuncheng exited the dormitory.
Concubine Li closed the door and said worriedly: "Your Majesty, Long Chengen's army is approaching the city, can we hold it?"
Shi Le glanced at Concubine Li and said coldly: "Are you afraid?"
Concubine Li nodded, shook her head and said, "As long as the king is here, I will not be afraid."
Shi Le said coldly: "Don't worry, if the city is destroyed, I will send you on your way, and you will not die in Long Chengen's hands."
Concubine Li's heart skipped a beat and she said with a trembling voice: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
He Juntao entered the inn, saw Zhe'er, and handed the secret letter in his hand to Zhe'er.
"My lord's secret message."
Zheer answered and asked, "Sir, are you planning to attack the city tomorrow?"
He Juntao nodded and said: "We will attack the city early tomorrow morning."
Zhe'er sighed: "I thought it would take several years, but I didn't expect to reach the city in one year."
To annex a country was something that everyone thought was impossible, but Long Chen actually did it, and he did it so smoothly. Zhe Er sincerely praised Long Chen for his awesomeness.
He Juntao also sighed: "Yeah, I thought it would take a few years, but I didn't expect it to be so fast."
"Are you okay here, haven't you been exposed? I heard that Shi Le is cleaning up suspicious people."
Zhe'er chuckled and said, "Then do you know who is cleaning up?"
He Juntao shook his head, folded his ears and smiled evilly: "Yan Xifeng!"
He Juntao couldn't help laughing and said: "Shi Le is really good at using people!"
"As long as you're okay, I have to leave the city."
Zhe'er advised: "If there is no emergency, don't go out yet. Your Majesty's troops are approaching the city. The city is heavily guarded. You can easily be exposed if you move around like this."
He Juntao thought about it and simply stayed in the city.
When the sun appeared on the horizon, the brazier on Xingqing City had not yet been extinguished.
The defenders in the city stayed up all night, preparing for a sneak attack.
Long Chen was the best at making surprise attacks with troops, so Shi Le ordered the entire city to be on alert at night.
A soldier looked at the rising sun in the east and suddenly shouted: "Coming, coming!"
To the east, the Long Family Army slowly appeared, like a black line stretching for several miles.
The 500,000-strong army lined up and slowly marched towards the east gate of Xingqing City.
Long Chen deliberately pulled the team apart to let the Xixia soldiers feel the despair of the overwhelming army.
The soldiers on the city looked eastward one after another, and everyone felt fear in their hearts.
Some soldiers had experienced the three battles of Zhenguo Temple, Yangcheng, and Bailang Mountain, and they had a deep fear of Long Chen in their hearts.
"Long Chengen is here"
the soldier shouted in horror.
When Shi Yuncheng and Yan Xifeng heard the noise, they immediately ran to the top of the city and saw a black line stretching for miles slowly approaching.
The dust raised by the trampling of the army blew to the royal city with the morning wind. When Shi Yuncheng saw the Long family army for the first time, he immediately picked up his telescope and looked over.
In the middle is Long Chen's military flag. Under the flag is a row of generals wearing fine armor. Next to them are elite cavalry. Behind them are infantry and barbarian cavalry.
The army pushed over in mighty force.
Yan Xifeng looked east and secretly clenched his fists.
"Hurry and report to father, Long Chengen is here!"
The messenger immediately rushed into the palace to report that Shi Le was discussing defensive strategies with Lu Qichang and Li Chenglie.
"Your Majesty, Long Chengen has arrived!"
Shi Le and the other three stood up, looked at each other, and immediately left the palace and arrived at the city.
Looking at the mighty Long family army pressing forward, Shi Le's face was expressionless, Li Chenglie's eyes revealed fear, and Lu Qichang's eyes flickered.
The three of them each have their own thoughts. Shi Le is determined to defend the royal city and kill Long Chen under the city; Li Chenglie is afraid of Long Chen; Lu Qichang wants to take this opportunity to make meritorious deeds and save the Lu family.
"Meet the enemy!"
Shi Le said something, and Lu Qichang immediately shouted: "Beat the drum, prepare for war, and meet the enemy!"
dong dong dong
The war drums beat at the top of the city, and the rumble of the drums spread throughout the royal city, and 300,000 soldiers arrived at the city wall at the same time.
The crossbows were set up on the city wall, the crossbowmen were ready, and the catapults and kerosene were ready in the city.
When the people in the city heard the sound of drums, they huddled in their homes and did not dare to go out.
When the concubines in the palace heard the sound of the drum, they were very frightened.
They heard that Shi Le was seriously injured, Kong Ji was killed, Shi Haoran was also killed, and Xixia was about to perish.
Moreover, when Xingqing City is captured, Shi Le will kill them first.
The concubines and maids gathered in front of Taizu Temple, kowtowed to the wooden statue of Taizu of Xixia and prayed.
outside the city.
Long Chen led 500,000 troops and stopped 500 meters outside the city.
This distance can prevent you from being shot by a bed crossbow.
The farthest range of the bed crossbow can reach one thousand meters, but the best attack distance is 500 meters.
This distance is also the optimal attack distance of artillery.
The range of the bed crossbow is similar to that of artillery, because the gunpowder made by Long Chen is not powerful enough.
There is nothing that can be done about it, because the purification technology can only go so far, and it is impossible to increase the power.
However, the speed of the cannonball is much faster than that of the bed crossbow, and the impact is greater.
Wu Jian raised the command flag, and the Long family army and the barbarian cavalry stopped.
Gongsun Linglong immediately ordered the artillery battalion to form an array, and one hundred artillery pieces were aimed at the east city gate.
When he was in Linglong Pavilion, Long Chen expected to cast two hundred cannons to be enough, but the country's limited power and casting ability were limited, and in the end only one hundred cannons were cast.
During the last decisive battle at Bailang Mountain, the power of the artillery was not fully demonstrated.
The greatest use of artillery is in siege. Cannonballs can easily destroy city walls.
The artillery lined up in a row, and the infantry and shield soldiers immediately went in front to resist the random arrows of bows and crossbows.
The cavalry was arrayed on both wings, and the infantry was arrayed behind the artillery, ready to attack Xingqing City at any time.
After the formation was arranged, Long Chen slowly rode out. Behind him was a woman, it was Shi Jingxiang.
When Long Chen headed towards Xingqing City, Shi Jingxiang caught up with Long Chen.
News of the victory at Bailang Mountain reached Xifeng City, and Shi Jingxiang immediately chased after him on horseback.
Originally, Long Chen didn't want Shi Jingxiang to come. He didn't want their father and daughter to meet on the battlefield.
But Shi Jingxiang was a fierce woman, and she had to do what she decided to do. Long Chen couldn't stop him, so he asked her to follow him.
When they arrived at the city, Long Chen looked at Shi Le and said: "Shi Le, you know that the destruction of the country is imminent, why bother to resist and drag the people of Xixia to death?"
"Come out and die, and I will save your concubines from dying."
Long Chen refused to open any pot, and Shi Le was so angry that he cursed: "Shameless thief, my king's head is here, if you have the guts, come and get it!"
