Chapter 439: Holding Xian City Under Siege

Latest URL: Yongcheng.

Mule Hongzhen rode his horse through the battlefield, which was filled with smoke.

Every time the horse's hooves landed, they made a slight "squelch" sound.

At this moment, the land north of Yongcheng had already been dyed red by the blood of soldiers from both sides.

The blood gathered in low-lying areas, forming shallow pools of blood.

"Great Khan, compared to the Ningjindusizhizhan, the casualties of our Northern Di soldiers this time are even greater." Tiemuta's gaze roamed over the battlefield.

The soldiers the Great Song army left behind to cover their retreat had been wiped out last night during their artillery bombardment, infantry slaughter, and the final charge of the Heavy Cavalry.

Now, the battlefield was covered with the corpses of soldiers wearing Silver Armor.

Although they, the Northern Di, had undoubtedly won.

They had still suffered over ten thousand Cavalry casualties and over fifty thousand Infantry casualties in this battle.

This did not even include the casualties from the Xiliang and Ma Jin armies.

After a headcount, the Great Song Northern Expeditionary Army had left behind about one hundred and forty thousand dead and wounded soldiers.

In terms of the number of soldier casualties, the difference between them was not very large.

Unlike at Ningjin Dusi, where they had achieved an almost one-sided victory, losing only eighty thousand men in the entire war while annihilating a forty-thousand-strong Northern Di army.

"It is said that the Imperial Guards who set out on this expedition were all equipped with Armor and firearms manufactured by Yan Wang, and they were also trained by Yan Wang's generals." Mule Hongzhen's gaze rested on a dying Imperial Guard soldier who was groaning.

"This time, it was mainly them who caused significant casualties to our Northern Di." Mule Hongzhen continued, while taking a bow and arrow from a general beside him, drawing the bow fully, and shooting at the Imperial Guard soldier.

After a "swish" sound, the Arrow struck the Imperial Guard soldier's neck, and the soldier's head drooped.

"Great Khan's archery is still peerless under heaven." Tiemuta flattered him at the right moment, then added, "Indeed, the generals say that the Servant Soldiers suffered quite a bit from the Imperial Guards' armor, but even so, our true losses were only ten thousand or so Cavalry, while what they lost were elite Imperial Guard soldiers."

To him, if the Servant Soldiers died, they died;

it was of no importance.

But the Great Song's Imperial Guards were different.

This battle made them see clearly that only the Imperial Guards could fight them head-on.

These aristocratic clan troops lacked morale, and their equipment was not as refined as that of the Imperial Guards.

I fear that these troops sent by the Great Song aristocratic clans were not their elites at all.

The aristocratic clan soldiers were only fit to fight the newly recruited Xiliang soldiers and Ma Jin's soldiers.

"Hmm, although Yang Feng escaped, I fear the Imperial Guards in his hands number no more than twenty or thirty thousand, and there are not many aristocratic clan troops left either. Now that they have gone to Xian City, we can just surround the city with our main force," Mule Hongzhen said.

Now, the Great Song army's supply lines were cut off.

For the Great Song troops in Xian City, he only needed to cut off their food and water.

He believed that within a month, the Great Song troops inside the city would have to come out and surrender themselves.

"Yes, Great Khan." Tiemuta's face was full of smug smiles.

In this Northwest campaign, victory was within their grasp.

After being smug for a while, he suddenly remembered the battle in the east, "I wonder if Wulanba has moved south yet. If we can successfully take Yanzhou at the same time, the Great Song will truly be in the pocket of our Northern Di."

Mule Hongzhen looked toward the east, his gaze seeming to travel thousands of miles.

"Wulanba has always been cautious in his actions; there should be no mistakes. Besides, there are Gaoli troops assisting. How could those few men of Yan Wang withstand four royal camps and Gaoli?" The Northwest campaign was going well, and Mule Hongzhen was full of confidence.

Tiemuta nodded and followed his father toward Yongcheng.

At this time, Gule, Wuyan, and Ma Jin were already waiting for them at the city gate.

"You must immediately reorganize your troops and follow our Northern Di main force to advance toward Xian City. The Northwest campaign hinges on this one battle." Raising his hand to excuse the three from bowing, Mule Hongzhen said.

"Yes, Khan." Gule and the others were extremely respectful.

This battle made them realize that without the Northern Di, they would not be the Great Song's match and would only face destruction.

Now they could only follow the Northern Di closely.

The order was issued.

The Northern Di generals, the Xiliang generals, and Ma Jin went back separately.

One hour later, the main force marched toward Xian City in a grand procession.

At the same time the Northern Di main force set out, Yang Feng was leading the remaining troops in a forced march toward Xian City.

Although he had sacrificed an arm to win time for the Northern Expeditionary Army to escape the Yongcheng battlefield.

But he knew the speed of the Northern Di Cavalry; if they did not march quickly, he feared they would be caught by the Northern Di before they even reached Xian City.

It was just that the great battle had just ended, and the soldiers had not had time to rest.

During the forced march, soldiers kept falling behind, and when they reached Xian City, only one hundred and twenty or thirty thousand troops remained.

"General Yang, you have finally come."

As Yang Feng arrived with Dou Xiao and the others, Zhao Heng immediately went out to welcome them.

After arriving at Xian City, he had sent out Cavalry to scout.

The Northern Di Cavalry that had come out of Xiao Pass had indeed controlled all the roads leading south.

Large numbers of Northern Di Cavalry were roaming in Qinzhou, attacking the Great Song's Scout, and the Scout could not send news to Wuguan at all.

Upon learning this news, he felt as if he had been struck by a hammer.

In such a situation, they could only hold Xian City.

Thinking that he only had one hundred thousand troops with him, while the Northern Di had numerous troops, he could not help but feel despair, fearing they would not last many days even if they held out.

Now that Yang Feng had retreated from Yongzhou, how could he not be happy?

Not to mention that the strength in Xian City had increased, allowing them to hold out for a longer time.

With this old general here, he also felt more at ease.

The Second Prince was also by Zhao Heng's side, and he wore an equally surprised and delighted expression.

Now, he no longer dared to mock Yang Feng.

The battles ahead would still have to rely on this veteran general to fight.

"Your Majesty, sigh..." Yang Feng stood up, tilted his head, and sighed.

He saw the joy of Zhao Heng and the Second Prince, but he could not feel happy at all.

His beloved general Ao Bing had died in a desperate situation, and in the battle of Yongcheng, the Northern Expedition army had suffered losses of nearly half.

Although they had now joined forces, they could only hold Xian City to the death.

Seeing Yang Feng like this, Zhao Heng could not help but feel guilty in his heart.

Along this journey, he had indeed been blinded by victory and had neglected this veteran general.

He said, "Old General Yang, it is my fault. From this moment on, all troops and horses within Xian City are under the command of the Old General. Anyone who dares to disobey military orders shall be executed without mercy!"

Hearing this, Yang Feng felt slightly comforted in his heart, and he said, "Your Majesty can send men to Wuguan to request reinforcements, and also send for help from His Highness Yan Wang?"

"I have sent them, I have sent them, but, but the Northern Di Cavalry are running rampant in Qinzhou; whether they can receive the news is truly hard to predict." Zhao Heng's face was dejected.

Yang Feng sighed slightly again, then immediately pulled himself together.

After all, he was a veteran general who had long experienced the battlefield; to him, what was more important now was to strengthen the defenses of Xian City.

Only in this way would there be hope of waiting for reinforcements.

Thinking of this, he immediately dispatched generals to take stock of the provisions, repair the city walls, and at the same time transport the only Artillery in the army onto the city walls.

In the battle of Yongcheng, they had lost more than half of their Artillery, and they had abandoned another portion on the road during the forced march.

They had only brought back seventy-three pieces of Artillery.

And the Imperial Guards who fled with Zhao Heng had only brought fifty-two pieces of Artillery.

There were a total of one hundred and thirty pieces of Artillery left in Xian City, a number that was already inferior to the Northern Di.

Upon receiving Yang Feng's orders, the generals immediately went to perform their respective duties.

Even Dou Xiao and Han Yun did not dare to disobey.

This time, they had witnessed the methods of this veteran general.

Now that they also had the Imperial decree, they dared even less to provoke Yang Feng.

They were busy for an entire night.

The next morning, the morning sun dispelled the darkness.

The soldiers guarding the battlements of Xian City saw dust rising on the main road leading to Yongzhou.

The Northern Di army had arrived.