0p0 Chapter 241 Tangyin City Falls, Li Family Army Engages in Street Fighting
Chapter 241 Tangyin City Falls, Li Family Army Engages in Street Fighting
Sure enough, at noon on the third day, when the sun was blazing, the Song army, like the light of dawn, tore through the impregnable defenses of the Li family army at the east gate of Tangyin City. This news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching Bu Liang's ears. He immediately gave the order, and a yellow signal flare streaked across the sky, brilliant and urgent, like the prelude to the battlefield.
As that dazzling yellow light burst forth against the azure sky, the warriors of the Li family army, who were engaged in fierce battle with the Song army atop the city walls, seemed to receive some mysterious summons. They sheathed their weapons and orderly withdrew from the smoke-filled battlefield, turning instead to the intricate alleyways within the city. Following the carefully planned layout of the previous day, an even more brutal and intelligent street battle quietly began.
Sunlight filtered through sparse clouds, dappling the ancient and resilient land and adding a touch of tragic grandeur to this historical clash. Every bluestone slab and every narrow alley became a stage for the battle of wits and courage between the two sides, and the desire for victory burned like an inextinguishable flame in the hearts of every warrior.
Upon learning that the fortifications of Tangyin City had been breached, Song general Luo Mingjing showed no joy whatsoever. Instead, he appeared solemn and gave instructions to the generals beside him one by one.
"I will personally lead the troops into the city to wipe out the remaining enemies. You must guard all the city gates and key passes strictly, and do not let any escapees take the opportunity to escape, so as to avoid further trouble."
In truth, Luo Mingjing secretly planned to personally embark on the journey to find Emperor Huizong of Song. The recent invasion of Tangyin County by a large army was all due to Emperor Huizong. He knew his subordinates' temperament well—reckless and disregarding consequences. If they were to accidentally harm the old emperor, how could he explain it to Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou?
Surrounded by his personal guards, Luo Mingjing slowly passed through the south gate of Tangyin City and stepped into this tranquil and orderly city. As soon as he entered, his gaze involuntarily swept over the streets on both sides. Shops stood in rows, arranged neatly like chess pieces on a board, each guarding its own territory. The ground was spotless, without a speck of dust, not even a fallen leaf to be found.
This scene filled Luo Mingjing with inward admiration. Li Zhen's methods of governing the region were truly extraordinary. In this chaotic world, to see such a clean and orderly city was a rare sight. Even in the bustling capital of the Song Dynasty, he had never witnessed such a well-ordered and spotless scene. Under Li Zhen's governance, Tangyin City seemed to have become a pure land, inspiring longing in all who beheld it.
Just as Luo Mingjing began to stride deeper into the territory, a Song soldier rushed up to her, panting, and stammered:
"General...General, please stop! Ahead lies the fierce battleground between our army and the Li family's army. The Li family's weapons are exceptionally sharp, and in just a short time, we have already lost more than a dozen soldiers. The situation is dire!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Mingjing frowned slightly, pondering to herself: According to the war rules of this era, once the city walls are breached, the city is like an undefended place, handed over to the attackers without resistance. What is there to say about subsequent resistance?
Luo Mingjing turned her head slightly, her eyes sharp, and ordered the captain of her personal guard beside her in a deep voice: "Lead a team of elites, break through the front lines, and strike straight at the heart of the enemy."
Upon hearing this, the captain of the personal guard immediately mounted his steed, his armor gleaming in the sunlight. Behind him, his guards were also elite soldiers, each exuding valor and possessing impeccable equipment. Undeterred, they galloped forward, charging into the smoke-filled streets ahead. Their disdain for the Li family army was as sharp and unyielding as the weapons in their hands.
With a rapid and powerful roar of hooves, Luo Mingjing's personal guard captain led over thirty elite soldiers, charging into the front line of the Li family army's fortified defenses like a whirlwind. The captain, wielding a gleaming saber, moved with agility, pointing directly at a Li family army warrior who was intently manipulating a composite bow, an arrow piercing the air.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Three shots rang out suddenly, like the whisper of death. Two bullets pierced the captain of the guard's neck and chest with deadly accuracy, leaving a gruesome spray of blood. His body jolted, and like an autumn leaf in the wind, he fell limply to the ground, twitching a few times before falling silent. His unbridled warhorse, terrified, reared up and galloped away, disappearing instantly into the smoke of the battlefield.
The remaining guards, witnessing this scene, were all stunned, as if time had frozen at that moment. The sudden death of their commander and the escape of their warhorses were like the removal of a pillar from their hearts, and an indescribable shock and confusion filled the air.
"Da da da... da da da..."
A sudden burst of rapid and fierce machine gun fire shattered the silence of the battlefield like a death knell. Before the Song soldiers could even recover from this unexpected attack, several fell from their horses, their battle robes stained with blood, their lives extinguished in an instant.
The remaining Song soldiers, witnessing this scene, were filled with undisguised terror. Without hesitation, they turned their horses around and fled this death trap. The instinct for survival made them forget the glory and dignity of the battlefield, leaving only a deep fear of death.
Although Li's army was running low on ammunition, in this life-or-death street battle, they no longer needed to be stingy with their precious bullets. Every bullet carried their desire for victory and their hatred for the enemy, striking fiercely at the fleeing Song soldiers. Gunfire, shouts, and the sound of horses' hooves mingled together, creating a tragic and heroic battle scene.
A common Song soldier lying on the ground glanced at the retreating guards, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips. He spat on the muddy ground and muttered, "Hmph, a bunch of useless good-for-nothings! If we had their fancy equipment, we would have charged in and wiped them out long ago."
Witnessing his personal guard captain die a gruesome death at the hands of the enemy, and his warriors retreat in defeat, Luo Mingjing was consumed by rage. This time, his anger was no longer a simple emotional fluctuation, but transformed into a raging inferno on the battlefield.
"Pass on my orders!" His voice was deep and powerful, each word echoing through the camp like a war drum. "Immediately assemble the strongest shield bearers and the sharpest spearmen, have them line up in formation, and charge into battle with me! I will personally lead this iron torrent to utterly crush those arrogant Li family troops, and let them know that the price for provoking me, Luo Mingjing, is to be paid in blood!"
Under the Song army's relentless and fierce attack, the soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, holding high their sturdy shields, like an unstoppable torrent, and successively conquered two streets. The dawn of victory was faintly visible before the threshold of the county government office.
Upon hearing the news, Bu Liang rushed over, his brow furrowed in deep thought. After a moment, he turned to the officer from Li's army beside him, his voice steady and decisive: "Retreat. Abandon the county government office. We must find another location as our new command center. But during the retreat, be sure to carefully plant explosives within the county government office. Since we cannot hold this land, we must not allow it to fall easily into the hands of the Song army and become their spoils of war."