allonlinenovel Chapter 243 Li Zhen personally visits the battlefield of Tangyin City
Chapter 243 Li Zhen personally visits the battlefield of Tangyin City
The scoundrel stepped forward, his face beaming with undisguised joy, and said eagerly, "My lord, you've finally arrived!"
With just a few words, Bu Liang sketched out the ever-changing situation in Tangyin City, allowing Li Zhen to instantly grasp the subtleties of the situation between the two sides and laying the foundation for his subsequent plans.
Li Zhen gently placed his hand on the broad, thick shoulder of the man, and said with a warm yet firm tone, "Brother, you've worked hard. I came here ahead of time, estimating that our main force will arrive in a grand procession by the time the first light of dawn appears in the east. By then, the fate of these Song soldiers will probably be sealed."
Upon hearing this, Bu Liang frowned slightly, his worry evident in his expression: "But what about the situation in Puyang City? The Jin army is coming on strong and their strength should not be underestimated."
A warm smile graced Li Zhen's lips as his gentle gaze swept over everyone present, as if he could see into their eagerness and anticipation. "I'm sure you're all quite hungry, aren't you? Don't worry, I'll prepare some treats for you. However, before that, I'll need to trouble Mr. Bad to find a spacious warehouse; otherwise, this upcoming feast might not even have a place to rest."
Before long, the soldiers of Li's army in the city were all presented with steaming bowls of noodles—a famous instant noodle brand from later generations, known throughout the country as "Mouxiang." For these battle-hardened soldiers, this was undoubtedly an unprecedented culinary adventure.
Each noodle, glistening with rich broth and exuding an irresistible aroma, is a mouthful of pure bliss, prompting one to exclaim, "Such delicious food exists in this world!"
At this moment, within Tangyin City, almost all of the Li family's troops were locked in a fierce battle with the Song army, leaving them no time to worry about food. Perhaps at dawn, the troops were still fighting bravely beneath the western city wall, but by sunset, they had moved to the northern city and disappeared without a trace. This force employed guerrilla tactics with unparalleled skill. While the Song army appeared to have secured Tangyin City, in reality, the city was engulfed in flames and chaos, making the outcome as difficult to discern as trying to see through a fog.
After Luo Mingjing passed away, his younger brother Luo Mingkui naturally took over the command. This scene was quite common in the Song Dynasty military. As the saying goes, "Father and son fight side by side, and brothers are seen fighting the enemy," which is a true reflection of this situation.
Luo Mingkui slowly opened his lips, his tone tinged with urgency: "Has the area around the county government been thoroughly searched? Is the old emperor still nowhere to be found?"
A Song general with a resolute face bowed and replied, "Your Excellency, we have searched several times, both inside and outside the county government, but have not found any trace of the old emperor and the princess."
Upon hearing this, Luo Mingkui couldn't help but sigh deeply, his brows furrowed with worry. He turned to the group of generals beside him and said solemnly, "At this point, there's no need to hide anything from the brothers anymore. Issue the order: whoever finds the old emperor's whereabouts will be immediately promoted three ranks and rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold as encouragement."
Upon hearing this, all the generals were startled, secretly thinking that the reward was so great that it would tempt anyone.
In less than an hour, Tangyin City was in an uproar. The Song army surged in like a tidal wave, their fighting spirit seemingly ignited by some invisible flame, their offensive fierce to the point of fanaticism. Although the warriors of the Li family army fought valiantly, every movement revealing their indomitable will and determination, they were still forced to retreat step by step in the face of this unstoppable torrent, and the situation became increasingly critical and urgent.
As night fell, within the city of Tangyin, the clash of swords and the shadows of spears created a brutal scene as both sides engaged in a desperate struggle under the dim moonlight. In this chaotic, uncertain moment, outside the east gate, the rapid, heavy clatter of hooves shattered the silence of the night, like a harbinger of the approaching storm.
A troop of soldiers, gleaming in armor and wielding sharp weapons, surged towards the city gate like a silver torrent in the night. Well-trained and swift, they instantly routed the Song soldiers guarding the gate. The soldiers scattered in terror, and the city gate, undefended, roared open.
This unexpected reinforcement was none other than the elite of Li's army, and led by the dashing Yue Peng. He personally led his cavalry, his face resolute, his eyes gleaming with the light of certain victory. The fatigue of the long journey seemed to have left no mark on him; only the sweat still damp on his clothes bore witness to the hardships they had endured on their arduous march.
Yue Peng knew that the chieftain had ventured alone deep into the enemy city, and every moment of delay could mean irreparable loss. Therefore, although the soldiers were all exhausted, under the leadership of this valiant general, they had no time to worry about their physical fatigue. Their belief burned like a raging fire, dispelling all weariness and cold.
With a deafening bugle call, Li's army, like tigers descending a mountain, launched an overwhelming offensive against the Song army's positions within the city. This was a battle with no way out; every step was taken with unwavering resolve, every strike fueled by the fury of revenge. In the darkness, the clash of swords crisscrossed once more, but this time, the scales of victory seemed to have quietly tipped...
As dawn broke and the sky brightened, the four gates of Tangyin City were firmly under the control of the Li family army, which had rushed to the city's aid. On each city wall, several cold machine guns were densely packed, their dark muzzles like the eyes of lurking beasts, coldly watching the possible movements of the Song army.
This Li family army was vastly different from the previous garrison at Tangyin. Yue Peng's men were all battle-hardened elites; soldiers and officers alike had been tempered by fire and were of unyielding spirit. Moreover, Li Zhen had bestowed upon them the finest weapons and equipment, making this army an unstoppable force—what battle in the world could they not win?
In just half a day, the once mighty Song army of over 40,000 men was reduced to a mere 10,000, like autumn leaves swept away by the wind. Faced with the Li family army's barrage of cannon fire, the Song army's defenses crumbled step by step. Finally, amidst the continuous artillery fire, Commander Luo Mingkui had no choice but to raise the white flag and surrender.
Imagine, in just half a day, 20,000 warriors perished on the battlefield. If they hadn't surrendered, the remaining 20,000 would likely have met the same fate, all falling within this isolated city. They came with boundless hopes for the future, yearning to earn fame and fortune in this chaotic world, rather than so easily surrendering their lives to this merciless battlefield.
After several days of fierce fighting, Tangyin City finally returned to Li Zhen's hands.