Yinchuan City is also called Zangdicheng. It is located at the northeast exit of Hengshan Grand Canyon. It is located at the height of the northeast exit of Guyuan Road. To the north, it is the intersection of Wuding River and Mingtang River. The rolling river water passes outside the north city, but flows into Hengshan from another exit more than 20 miles away, while another small river, gourd water passes through the city and flows into the canyon.

Yinchuan City has always been a place where military strategists must fight. There have been dozens of battles between the Song and Xia countries to compete for Yinchuan City. Yinchuan City has changed hands several times and is currently controlled by the Western Xia army. It is a bridgehead for the Western Xia army to resist the Song army's northern expedition.

Since the Song army began to prepare for large-scale war last year, the Western Xia army has not shown weakness and has begun to carry out large-scale repairs to Yinchuan City, heighten and reinforce the city walls, and install large-scale catapults.

Yinchuan City did not block the entrance of the canyon, it was actually located one mile away from the entrance of the canyon. This was also to prevent the enemy from attacking from a high place from the cliff. Although it did not block the entrance of the valley, it still blocked the necessary way for the army to go north. Even if the army could cross the low mountains from both sides, the baggage army had to pass through the city.

Xixia deployed 20,000 troops in Yinchuan City, making this city the first stumbling block in the Song army's northern expedition.

The Song army built a camp at the entrance of the canyon. The entrance of the canyon was three miles wide and the terrain was flat. The Song army's camp was formed in a plate-shaped structure and was tamped with giant trees and earth. Although it was not as wide and strong as the city wall, it was enough to resist sneak attackers. In addition, a small river flowed into the valley, with sufficient water sources and strong logistics and food and grass guarantees, so it could calmly confront the Western Xia army to attack the city.

The only flaw is the dam in Hu Xiaoxiao. Once the dam collapses, the baggage team that lasts dozens of miles in the valley will be completely lost, causing huge casualties. Zhong Shidao also fully recognizes the importance of the dam. He not only sends heavy troops to guard it, but also rebuilt a dam one mile away. Even if the Xixia army takes the dam, the flood can be intercepted in time and will not cause major losses.

The military camp has been built for five days and has basically been repaired, but the Song army has remained unmoved and has not launched an attack on Yinchuan City, nor even a tentative attack.

As night fell, Zhong Shidao came to inspect outside Yinchuan City accompanied by dozens of generals. He stared at the city for a long time and turned around and asked Li Yanqing: "Li Zhanjun thinks how can Yinchuan City be taken down?"

Li Yanqing smiled and said, "Yesterday, the general also said that the battle surrounding Yinchuan City has fought more than twenty times in the past century, and the city has changed hands several times. I believe that all kinds of strategies and means have been used up. The two armies of Song and Xia are already familiar with each other. By Yanqing, they can use surprise troops to break the city!"

"What does the surprise warrior Li Shanjun mean?"

"Now I just have an idea, it's not perfect yet. Why not ask the other generals to express their opinions."

Zhong Shidao looked at him deeply and asked the deputy general Yao Pingzhong again, "Pingzhong might as well say something!"

Yao Pingzhong pondered for a moment and said, "We have seized Yinchuan City three times, and finally the army retreated south before we had to give up. We have captured Yinchuan City three times, two of which were strong attacks, and the other was to use tricks to deceive the enemy out of the city. The tricks and tricks probably won't work. According to the humble position, we can only attack one way."

The other generals responded one after another, all thinking that there was only one way to attack. Zhong Shidao nodded, "Everyone has experience and is right. Yinchuan City has been preparing for war for a long time. It is not easy to win Yinchuan City. The key is to know yourself and your enemy. The reason I asked Li Jun first today was because the Intelligence Department had summarized a lot of important information about Yinchuan City from various channels. I knew that the main general who came out to guard Yinchuan City was Li Liangfu, the famous general of Xixia, and knew that the total force of Yinchuan City was 20,000 people. They knew that their grain storage was enough to cope with half a year. This was the credit of the Intelligence Department."

The coach's unsuspecting praise made Li Yanqing a little embarrassed. He quickly said modestly: "Everyone performs his duties. This is the matter of the Intelligence Department. The general has over-rewarded!"

"Although it's a matter of duty, intelligence is indeed very important. What do you think of Li Liangfu?"

Everyone did not answer, and Zhong Shidao said slowly: "This person is a member of the Western Xia royal family. Four years ago, Liu Jingluo led a 50,000 army to Lingzhou. At that time, the commander of Lingzhou was Li Liangfu. The Song army siege for less than half a month. The Song army retreated exhausted. King Chage of the Western Xia and Jin dynasties led 10,000 cavalry to attack the camp at night, caught the Song army off guard. That night, the entire Song army was destroyed, and only 800 people broke through and escaped. This was also the most painful failure of Liu Jingluo."

The Liu Jingluo mentioned here by Zhong Shidao refers to Liu Fa, the commander of Xihe Jingluo. His reputation in the Northwest Army was even above Zhong Shidao. Unfortunately, his disastrous defeat four years ago made him accountable by the court. In addition, he was old and it was difficult to have a chance to turn around. This time, the Song army attacked Xia. Although the commander was the Grand Marshal Tong Guan, the commander of the Western Front Army was Liu Fa.

Zhong Shidao glanced at everyone and continued: "Li Liangfu is a typical defensive general. He is good at defending but not good at attacking. His biggest feature is that he uses various heavy defensive weapons and is good at using tinder oil. I guess a large number of heavy trenchers have been deployed on the top of his city, and we also need to prepare. This is why I have not attacked Yinchuan City for a few days."

"When will the Grand Marshal plan to attack?" asked Deputy General Yao Pingzhong.

“Tonight!”

Mr. Zhong calmly said to everyone: "Tonight we will start the first time we will not contact the attack!"

In the first update, two thousand Song soldiers rushed out of the barracks. They lined up on the high ground one mile away from the city. The fire crow was a long-distance arson weapon of the Song army. They used bamboo strips and tinder oil paper to take off with ejection, but there was a gunpowder tube at the tail. After the gunpowder was ignited in mid-air, the fire crow could fly more force and fly three miles at the farthest. In the end, the gunpowder would ignite the fire crow, turning the fire crow into a burning fire ball, flying into the city, and igniting the enemy's tent or warehouse. It was tried and tested in combat against the enemy and became a powerful arson weapon for the Song army.

Two soldiers used the divine arm bow as the catapult, one person ignited the fire and the other person ejected it. A black fire crow rose into the air and flew towards Yinchuan City. The fuse lines at the tails of all the fire crows had been lit, flashing with starry light.

When the flight was halfway through, the stars in the air suddenly became dazzling, and the gunpowder was ignited. The fire crow, which had already had its elasticity, increased its strength again and flapped its wings and flew into the city. When the fire crow crossed the city wall, the sky became particularly spectacular, and the fire crow turned into a bunch of fire, rushing towards every target in the city.

Immediately after the second and third rounds of Fire Crow took off, and the sky turned into a sea of ​​fireworks, which was particularly gorgeous and dazzling.

Although there were no tents in the city, but instead built barracks with bricks and mud, three thousand fire crows still caused quite a lot of trouble to the city. Fires caught everywhere in the city, thousands of soldiers ran around the city to put out the fire, and the Yinchuan city was in chaos.

The south city was very quiet. Eight thousand Xixia soldiers stood at the city, not disturbed by the chaos in the city. The main general Li Liangfu stood down the city tower and gritted his teeth as the Song army launched a fire attack.

Li Liangfu is about thirty years old this year. He is of medium figure and strong. Under his brows as rough as a brush, his eyes are as sharp as an eagle. He is the royal family of Xixia and was originally named Duke of Wei. He made contributions to guard Lingzhou four years ago and was awarded the title of Prince of Zhongwei. He is also a famous general in Xixia.

Li Liangfu himself is good at using fire. How could he tolerate Song Jun attacking him with fire? He immediately ordered: "Prepare the catapult, fireball attack!"

The eight-foot-long catapult pole squeaked open, dozens of soldiers pushed the winch, and dozens of huge fireballs with a diameter of eight feet were ready. These fireballs were made of cloth soaked in oil and dried. The outside was soaked with tinder oil, which had huge impact and elasticity. Coupled with the burning fire, the destructive power was amazing.

At the command of Li Liangfu, the soldiers lit the fireball with a torch. The huge fireballs burned and were thrown out by a long pole. The fireballs soared into the air and flew into the valley. The fireballs landed three hundred steps away, and then bounced high and continued to fly towards the Song army's camp.

A huge fireball hit the wall facing the camp. The soldiers standing on the city wall shouted, and raised their shields at the same time, "Boom!" The huge impact force knocked over and fell to the ground. The burning fireballs immediately flew into the Song army's camp. But the Song army was prepared for a long time, how could these big fire balls rush into the camp?

Tens of feet away from the battalion, the Song army pulled up a large net in the air. The fireball hit the big net and then fell to the ground. More than a dozen soldiers below acted together and quickly extinguished the fireball with the stream water.

The fireballs of the Xixia army came fiercely, and the fireballs that hit the camp were silently annihilated, but most of the fireballs were blocked by the camp walls and continued to burn on the empty mud. The smoke rolled and the flames were blazing. Although there was no news, they also created a tragic atmosphere of war.

Zhong Shidao squinted his eyes and observed the trajectory and landing point of the fireball in the air, and quickly calculated the number and strength of the trenchers on the city. He knew a little about how to deal with the trenchers of the Xixia people.
Chapter completed!