Liyang is a small city, but it is also a fortress.
If the defenders have enough morale, it will be easier to hold on to this city than a big city like Xinyang and Kaifeng.
pity.
The defenders in the city had no fighting spirit at all.
The squatting tiger cannon was swung there and fired only one round. Before the cannon could be delivered, a white flag was erected in the city.
Zhang Lei had retreated long ago, and the remaining three thousand defenders were all old, weak, sick and disabled, and they were meant to be used as cannon fodder.
But these three thousand defenders are only weak and not stupid.
How could he fight to the end for Luo Paopao?
So Song Yang's plan to recapture Liyang before dark was actually completed ahead of schedule.
It's just the beginning of the hour, and it's even early in the evening.
"Haha! This Tiger Crouching Cannon is a good imitation!"
Song Yang entered the city and saw the fifteen squatting tiger cannons in the warehouse.
Zhang Lei ran in such a hurry that he had no time to take away this iron lump.
What's more, in actual application, their Crouching Tiger Cannon is completely inferior to that of the Renaissance Army.
"Your Majesty, the barrel of the Crouching Tiger Cannon has been inspected. There are fifteen Crouching Tiger Cannons, fourteen of which are qualified products."
Yu Ming came with the test results.
"Haha! The yield is quite high! These fourteen Tiger Crouching Cannons were sent directly to the artillery camp. The one that failed was melted!" Song Yang waved his hand.
The Tiger Crouching Cannon was lifted down, and several barrels of black powder were immediately discovered.
Song Yang could tell just by looking at it that the composition ratio of the black powder was vastly different.
It can be said that it is a miracle that it can explode.
"Pour it out, pour it out, it will take too long to light the fire!" Song Yang curled his lips and said impatiently.
"Your Majesty, there is no food in Liyang City." Cui Qiang saw the food depot and ran over to report.
After the siege of Xinyang, he no longer needed to guard Macheng and Yinshan Pass, and Yu Ming transferred him to the front line again.
After that, Cui Qiang followed the main force northward.
"Go to Kaifeng immediately to arrange transportation. Tomorrow is the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. Let's rest for three days and celebrate the New Year in Liyang!"
Song Yang said in a good mood.
"Yes. I will take care of my humble duty right away." Cui Qiang said goodbye and left.
Yu Ming is back again.
"Your Majesty, another three thousand troops have surrendered. Look..."
"Huh? Just now, I just said that Cui Qiang should go back to transport grain and grass, and let him take away these three thousand surrendered troops. There should be no hidden dangers in Liyang City." Song Yang said without thinking.
Liyang is now the front line, and no one can guarantee that the surrender of troops will not cause trouble.
The best way is to send it away.
Therefore, Cui Qiang originally went back to collect food and fodder, but also took on the job of escorting surrendered soldiers.
"Although this Liyang is not big, it is a solid fortress. It's a pity that the bandit soldiers have no intention of holding on."
After everything was arranged, Song Yang climbed onto the tower.
"Back when Taizu crossed the Yellow River, he was blocked by Li Yang for three months and almost failed. Today, the prince went north to fight against the thieves, and he made a big effort! But the late prince was so powerful in martial arts!" Yu Ming said with a smile as he followed Song Yang.
.
"Hey! You're getting better and better at talking nice things!" Song Yang shook his head.
"What I'm telling you is the truth. If you don't believe me, why don't you ask them?" Yu Ming pointed to the guards around him.
The guards naturally patted each other again, and Jing picked up some nice words.
Song Yang listened happily for a while before getting down to business.
"The day after tomorrow is the New Year's Eve. Tomorrow we will prepare wine and meat for the soldiers to eat."
"Do you need to prepare wine too?"
"Well, it's Chinese New Year. Everyone except those on duty can have a drink."
Song Yang was in a good mood and gave the soldiers a drinking ban.
What I drank was actually a small cup, about three or four taels.
The wine brewed in Jiangzhou is only about 30 degrees.
It's not too much for the soldiers to drink three or four ounces of wine.
It can also be used to warm up the body on cold days.
Since Jiangzhou hired a winemaker, the production of wine has also increased year by year.
Now the ban on wine has been lifted and it has become a daily drink for people in Jiangzhou.
It's just that Song Yang stipulates that you must be over 16 years old to buy or drink alcohol.
When the soldiers heard that there was wine and meat, everyone was very happy.
I thought I was in a faraway land in the North, and this year I would just deal with it.
Unexpectedly, the prince came and brought fine wine and delicious food.
"My lord, the spies reported that the thief king Luo Xin fled to Handan."
Early the next morning, Yu Ming came to report.
"Handan? So fast? It seems like this guy ran away just after we came out of Kaifeng!"
Song Yang was somewhat impressed. Luo Xin's ability to escape was indeed outstanding.
I originally thought I could catch him and kill him with my own hands to avenge the assassination.
But now Song Yang feels that the possibility of catching Luo Xin is not high!
"Your Majesty, let's continue chasing after the New Year. I don't believe we can't catch up!" Yu Ming said, clenching his fists.
All that was left in the Northern Expedition were the finishing touches.
The biggest fish is Luo Xin. If we catch him, the Northern Expedition will be over.
"Well. Then let's see where he can run. If he can run to Siberia, I think he is very powerful, so I will spare his life!"
Song Yang curled his lips and said.
"Siberia?" Yu Ming scratched his head and muttered in confusion.
"Northland! The land of the far north! The land of bitter cold!" Song Yang stressed.
"Oh. Then if Luo Xin can survive in that kind of ghost place, I will admire him very much..." Yu Ming touched his chin and said.
The new year is coming as promised.
On the evening of the 29th, the grain, grass, wine and meat from Kaifeng arrived.
Early in the morning on New Year's Eve, the cooking class started getting busy.
Yesterday the soldiers came back from cutting a lot of dry firewood outside the city, and today the cooking class is going to prepare a feast of meat and wine.
Hand-made mutton, simple and rough.
The braised pork is bright in color, plump and juicy.
Fresh Yellow River carp, we cut the ice and lowered the net last night, and collected a hundred or dozens of them this morning.
The roasted chicken and roasted duck are scraped and ready to be sliced.
There are also cabbage and potatoes stored in winter. Vegetables in winter are more rare than meat.
If such a sumptuous meal were to be seen by the thieves, they probably wouldn't even need to fire a single cannon, and they would all be dropped directly.
It was noon in the midst of all the busy work.
It was freezing outside when he went out, so Song Yang postponed the dinner at noon.
There is no need for the soldiers to sit outside. There are many places in Liyang City now. You can just pick some nearby houses and put the banquet inside.
Officers and subordinates above the rank of squad leader can go to the Yamen to dine.
Song Yang set up five tables in the Yamen, and everyone joined in the fun.
The food and wine were put on the table, and Yu Ming came back.
He went to patrol the city just now.
Yesterday we drew lots to draw the soldiers who will patrol the city today.
They can only wait until the next shift to come back for dinner.
Of course, the food and wine were all hot and fresh, so they were left for them.
"Everyone, we have been fighting for more than half a year this year. We are all tired. We haven't been home for a year, so we must be homesick."
"I assure you that the war will end in the first half of next year."
"Eliminate the remaining forces of the bandits and expel the Japanese pirates, and the Central Plains will be back under the control of Daqian."
"1,600 of the soldiers we came out with are buried in the North, and their bones have been transported back to their hometowns. Their sacrifices have brought peace! And Daqian is strong again!"
"Everyone, we still need to work hard for the final battle!"