Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Sun Li thought both points were good.

However, it must also be said that

"Your Majesty's two measures will likely be met with resistance from scholars."

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "I don't need the support of all the scholars."

"As long as a portion of the literati stand on the side of the imperial court, it will be fine."

"Could it be that there are truly scholars in this world who can command a hundred followers at a single call?"

"Should we call on all intellectuals to resist the imperial court?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Li shook his head and said,

"No, that won't happen; too many people will talk too much."

"When there are too many people, it becomes impossible to reach a consensus."

"Let alone resisting such a major event as the imperial court."

"And there are hardly any great writers in the world today,"

"The most famous example is probably Yang Shi, who stood in the snow outside Cheng's door,"

"However, he could only influence some people in the Neo-Confucian school."

Zhao Yuan knew the story of Cheng Men Li Xue (standing in the snow outside Cheng's door).

But he forgot what the main character's name was, and upon hearing this, he said...

Where did Yang Shi serve as an official?

Sun Lidao said, "He had denounced Cai Jing in his early years."

"Therefore, his career was not smooth,"

He served as a county magistrate in Jiangnan for a long time.

"He also opened a school in Jiangnan to teach,"

“He taught many disciples.”

Zhao Yuan, however, knew little about these schools of thought.

Therefore, he had no interest in Yang Shi.

Hearing that they were still in the Jiangnan region, he said no more.

Han Shizhong and his two companions returned on horseback shortly after they left.

Arrived at the city walls,

Yao Pingzhong couldn't help but say,

"Something terrible has happened! The Western Xia people are driving away the people."

Zhao Yuan smiled and said, "Let's talk about it up in the city."

The three men rode their horses from the passageway to the city wall.

He dismounted when he got close.

Han Shizhong cupped his hands and said, "We've walked seven or eight li outside the city."

"Then we saw many Western Xia people heading towards Xingqing Prefecture."

"We looked to the east and west sides again,"

“People from the Western Xia are coming here from all over the place.”

Sun Li frowned and asked, "Are they planning to use civilians to attack the city?"

Ma Lin asked in confusion, "Those people are also Western Xia people."

"How dare they drive their own people to their deaths?"

Han Shizhong shook his head and said, "It's not necessarily because they drove them away."

"The people of the Western Xia were naturally fierce,"

"Women often take the lead,"

"The Tangut tribe's practice of universal conscription has only been abolished for a few years."

Zhao Yuan said, "Whether they came voluntarily or were driven here,"

"They are all Western Xia people, not citizens of my Great Liang."

"We will attack as soon as they besiege the city."

"And the news that the Duke is leading his army to attack should have spread by now,"

"Even if the Western Xia troops outside the city don't completely collapse by then,"

"They certainly wouldn't dare stay outside the city walls,"

"Wait until we attack from both sides."

Chapter 1914 Forced March

Sun Li nodded and said, "If Renzhong's army doesn't march in a hurry,"

"The army led by Duke Zhong will soon threaten Lingzhou,"

"The Western Xia troops outside the city cannot hold out for long."

Han Shizhong shook his head and said, "Hengshan is steep and difficult to traverse."

"Even if Renzhong marches at full speed, it will be difficult to intercept Zhong Gong's troops."

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Don't think about it so much."

Even if Zhong Gong's troops arrive a few days late,

"Are we, with our five thousand soldiers, not even able to defend Xingqing Prefecture?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Lin immediately replied,

"I swear to follow the King to the death."

"I swear to follow the King to the death."

"I swear to follow the King to the death."

The soldiers immediately joined in the shouting.

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Don't make it sound like the situation is so serious."

"Our army possesses formidable weapons such as fire mines and the divine crossbow,"

"I'm afraid the Western Xia people don't even have enough siege equipment."

"Order the other three gates to each send one hundred men to the South Gate."

Soon, the South Gate mobilized a thousand archers and prepared for battle.

Countless black dots also appeared on the distant horizon.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

Amidst the resounding bugle calls,

The Western Xia troops advanced to within a few miles of the city and formed ranks.

Behind them followed countless Western Xia people.

Many of the siege weapons were actually driven by the common people.

Soon, several arrow towers, each five zhang tall, were pushed to the front of the battle line.

The arrow tower was entirely constructed of sturdy wooden planks.

It was covered with cowhide for fire protection.

It takes hundreds of people to pull and push a single arrow tower.

Only then can we move forward slowly.

Manufacturing siege equipment outside Xingqing Prefecture was not easy.

When the Western Xia Dynasty was founded,

Li Yuanhao also knew that compared to the Song Dynasty, the Western Xia was superior.

It is just a small place, and the Yinchuan Plain is a rare "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall".

Fearing an attack from the Song Dynasty,

He then ordered that all the large trees between Lingzhou and Xingqing Prefecture be cut down.

To prevent the Song army from reaching the city walls,

Siege weapons can be manufactured using locally sourced materials.

The emperors of the Song Dynasty consistently maintained military force against the Western Xia.

Therefore, all the rulers of Western Xia maintained this national policy.

Only saplings were planted outside the city.

Once they grow up, they are cut down.

This was originally intended to protect against enemies.

Now, however, this has become a problem troubling the Western Xia people.

Renli had previously manufactured siege equipment by sending people across the Yellow River.

Then the timber was felled from the Helan Mountains and transported here.

Therefore, he was afraid that the siege equipment would be destroyed by the Liang's firearms a few days ago.

Today, Renli brought out all the siege equipment that had been made in the camp.

"Ho!"

"Ho!"

"Ho!"

Amidst the shouts of the Western Xia people,

The arrow towers were getting closer and closer to the city wall.

One hundred steps!

Ninety steps!

Eighty steps!

Seventy steps!

Sixty steps!

"stop!"

One of the soldiers kept calculating the distance.

When he reached a point sixty paces away, he shouted loudly.

Liu Qi glanced at the spot where the arrow tower stood.

"The Western Xia's bows and arrows were lethal at a range of about fifty paces."

"The arrow tower is two zhang higher than the city wall,"

"They can attack the people on the city wall from the arrow tower,"

"If we use the Western Xia people's bows and arrows,"

"It will be very difficult to shoot and wound the people on the watchtower."

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "They're forcing us to use the Divine Arm Crossbow."

"Then we'll use our crossbows on them."