HLnovel Chapter 349 Defending Kaifeng
Chapter 349 Defending Kaifeng
"After the Jin people merged, they created an encirclement around the city of Bianjing, which was about a hundred miles in diameter. The surrounding area of several dozen miles became a no-man's land, making it difficult for Song scouts to figure out the situation on the Jin side."
"Soon afterward, the Jurchens launched their attack, unleashing wave after wave of fierce firepower."
"A few days later, the Jin army launched another fierce attack on the Shuilimen. Commander Yao Youzhong led his troops into battle and, after a fierce battle, finally repelled the Jin army. This man's name should be remembered."
"The weather was extremely cold at the time, which was perfectly suited to the Jurchens, but very difficult for the Song people. A few days later, the weather turned bitterly cold, with winds blowing and snow falling, but this still couldn't stop the Jurchens' ambitions."
"On this day, the Jin army attacked Tongjin Gate. At this moment, Zhao Huan personally donned his armor and delivered food to the soldiers defending the city, which greatly boosted the morale of the Song army!"
"Look, isn't this impressive! Actually, the requirements for Zhao Huan or his father are already very simple."
"It's not like we're asking them to become powerful, domineering emperors like Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, who expanded territories and were extremely domineering."
"It's just asking them not to hold us back, not to hesitate, and to show some guts. Is that going to kill them?!"
"Ahem, I've digressed. After the Song army's morale soared, their momentum was also good. They burned five enemy artillery positions and two siege vehicles."
"The next day, the Jin troops turned their attack on Chaoyang Gate, but Zhang Shuye was in charge there, so the battle went smoothly, and Zhang Shuye repelled and defeated the Jin troops."
"However, the Jin soldiers were numerous and skilled, while the Song army, on the other hand, encountered extremely cold weather, resulting in significant losses!"
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: It's actually quite good that we've been beaten to this extent. I thought we would conquer it in one fell swoop!
Da Ming Zhu Ba Ba: To be precise, the Jin army did not actually enter Kaifeng. It was because Emperor Qinzong of Song opened the city gates. Old Zhao, your grandson is really no good!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: Having such a grandson is truly like the saying goes, if it's a blessing, it's not a curse; if it's a curse, you can't escape it!
Emperor Shenzong of Song, Zhao Xu: Think about his father, there's a reason why he's so cowardly!
A Han Dynasty official: Sigh... It must be a real headache to have a leader like this. Just watching him from the sidelines is enough to drive you crazy!
……
In another timeline, Zhu Di's mood at this moment was neither good nor bad.
The actions of that scoundrel Zhao Huan immediately reminded him of his good grandson!
Compared to this, he felt somewhat at ease, at least his Ming Dynasty wasn't as useless as the Song Dynasty!
It's all thanks to that kid Zhu Qiyu and Yu Qian!
……
During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song
Zhao Xu sat in front of the screen sighing. He was too embarrassed to even mention those two good-for-nothings. One was his son, and the other was his grandson. It was too shameful!
The key point is that, throughout the world, it seems that these two are household names!
Alas, if Xu'er hadn't died young, how could it have been Zhao Ji's turn!
If he were a prince who was a painter and calligrapher, he could enjoy himself, but he is the emperor and should bear his responsibilities!
In another timeline, Empress Dowager Xiang was stunned when she heard this. She had thought that Emperor Huizong was already in a bad state, but she did not expect that his son was even worse!
Who throughout history would have thought of using divination to defend against foreign enemies?
If she had known this would happen, she definitely wouldn't have chosen Prince Duan!
Now, she's even partly to blame for the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty!
.........
The live broadcast continues.
"The situation on the Song army's side isn't very good, it's even quite bad, which makes Zhang Shuye very anxious."
He knew that if things continued like this, the Jin army would eventually breach the city, and then who knew what would become of the Zhao family's descendants!
"So his opinion actually included moving south. As descendants of Zhao Guangyi, the 'God of the Chariots' of Gaoliang River, they should have the courage to flee!"
"Why does Emperor Qinzong insist on staying here? If it were Emperor Huizong, he might have run away long ago. It's better to stay alive than to run out of firewood. It's another way!"
"After all, the Jurchens are currently on a very strong offensive. For the Song army to defeat the Jurchens would be a complete rout; the chances of them winning are extremely slim!"
"Judging from the actual results, Zhong Shidao's advice was very accurate, and even somewhat predictable."
"If Zhao Huan had believed him back then, things wouldn't be like this now, and the course of history might even be different!"
"So Zhang Shuye immediately wrote to Zhao Huan, hoping that he could go to Xiangyang immediately, and that they would help him break out of the siege and then discuss the aftermath."
"Zhao Huan is a man of wavering mind. After hearing what Zhang Shuye said, he also considered heading south."
"But for a dynasty, the most terrifying thing is not an incompetent emperor, but a hesitant emperor."
"Zhao Huan was too hesitant and indecisive. From the moment he ascended the throne, everything seemed to follow a predictable pattern."
"From the moment he appointed Li Gang until now, everything he has done seems to have been a constant oscillation between those who advocate war and those who advocate peace!"
A spoiled young man from the Ming Dynasty: It seems he wants to go south, but he's a bit hesitant. But if he had decided earlier, none of this would have happened!
Cheng Yaojin of the Tang Dynasty: Several emperors of our Tang Dynasty ran away, but they all came back! What's there to be afraid of!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: ? ????...If you can talk, then shut up!
A spoiled young man from the Song Dynasty: That's true. If we hesitate, we'll miss many good opportunities!
Yu Qian of the Ming Dynasty: Indeed, we learned a lesson from the Song court, but times have changed.
An official from the Han Dynasty said: "The Song Dynasty just kept missing opportunities. Other dynasties always seem to have missed more opportunities than the Song Dynasty!"
Emperor Shenzong of Song, Zhao Xu: ...
A minor official in the Qin Dynasty: Sigh... It's no use saying more!
……
"Just as Emperor Qinzong of Song was hesitating, the Jin people sent another high-ranking official from the Song court. This person was Hu Zhiru, who had returned to defend the emperor."
"After receiving the letter from Emperor Qinzong of Song, Hu Zhiru was very loyal and set off with more than 10,000 people. However, he was not very lucky and encountered a group of Jin soldiers in Gongzhou."
"This group of Jin soldiers consisted of two thousand Jin heavy cavalry led by Wanyan Loushi. That sounds incredibly fierce, so Hu Zhiru was unlucky enough to be wounded and then captured!"
Jin Man: It's you who called me Fat Beating Didi!
Hu Zhiru: I came in a Jurchen chariot!
The people of Wanchaozhong: They were saved, yet it seems they weren't!?
"The Jin soldiers were also extremely arrogant, disregarding the Song army, and directly threw Hu Zhiru down the city walls, even saying:
"You southern barbarians! Your reinforcements have all been captured by us! Why don't you surrender now?! If you resist again, this is what will happen to you..."
Everyone in the Song Dynasty: Good, good, good! This is the first time we've been called "southern barbarians"!!!
"Such measures have indeed dampened the morale of the soldiers in Kaifeng, and even the common people are filled with fear. The entire city of Kaifeng seems to be permeated with a suffocating atmosphere."
"It seems that only now has everyone realized that the Jurchens are unstoppable. Can these people in the city really force the Jurchens to retreat?"
"Zhang Shuye's plan has virtually no chance of being implemented. If there had been a chance to escape a few months ago, now they are surrounded by the Jin army, and not even a bird can fly out!!!"
"Breakout is impossible; we can only hold out to the death. We either surrender or suffer the same fate as Taiyuan. At this point, everyone in the city understands that Tokyo is on the verge of collapse."
"Perhaps one day will be the day the Northern Song Dynasty perishes."
"So a few days later, Wang Zongchu, the commander of the palace guards, led a portion of his troops out of the city to fight a decisive battle with the Jin army. After a bloody battle, most of them were killed or wounded!"