One Piece of Song Dynasty

Chapter 228 Song Army’s 2nd Northern Expedition (2)

Generals such as Guo Yaoshi and Yang Keshi had no idea that the Liao army had entered the city. They were still organizing forces outside the imperial city to attack the city. Gao Shixuan and Yang Kebi led a group of Song soldiers carrying a large log and slamming it against the gate of the imperial city. The bang-dong-dong collision gave hope to the Song army outside the imperial city and fear to the Liao army inside the imperial city.

The Liao soldiers hid in the gate towers and battlements of the city wall and shot arrows desperately from a high position. Arrows came down like rain, a group of Song soldiers fell down, and another group of Song soldiers rushed up immediately.

The big logs continued to hit the city gate. There was a sudden crash, and Liao soldiers violently pushed down a row of rolling logs and stones from the city gate tower. The rolling wood and rocks were so powerful that they knocked Song Bing off his back.

Yang Keshi was anxious and said to Pharmacist Guo: "We must break the city tonight no matter what, otherwise we will be in danger. Now we are alone and our survival depends on tonight."

Pharmacist Guo looked up at the sky. He was very aware of the dangerous situation in front of him. He said: "Calculating the time, Liu Guangshi's reinforcements should have arrived, but why is there no news yet? Could it be that they are not coming?"

Yang Keshi had a premonition that the situation was not good. He had a conflict with Liu Guangshi not long ago, and his relationship with Liu Yanqing had never been good. The father and son should not delay important events for personal reasons.

Gao Shixuan and Yang Kebi continued to organize forces to attack the city gates. The Song army knew very well that these two city gates were related to success and failure, and to their own life and death.

The violent banging sound echoed over the imperial city again and again.

At this time, the commander of the city gate guard ran into the main hall in a panic and reported: "The Queen Mother, there are cracks in the city gate. If it is knocked down like this, the city will be broken in less than an hour. The Queen Mother must make plans in advance."

Concubine Xiao De did not respond. She did not know that Yelu Dashi had entered the city. She thought, why haven't Xiao Qian and Yelu Dashi returned to the city to rescue them? Could it be that my daughter, Xiao Pu, was going to die in Yuanhe Hall? She looked around, her heart suddenly felt painful, and she was a little reluctant to leave. She suddenly thought of the dead Yelu Chun, and two lines of tears rolled down silently from the corners of her eyes.

"Deputy Commander, Deputy Commander, it's not good, reinforcements from the Liao Kingdom have entered the city." Huzi ran over and said to Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun asked: "Speak slowly, the Liao reinforcements entered the city so quickly."

Huzi nodded and said: "Yes, the cavalry reinforcements from the Liao Kingdom have entered the city, and our people also saw that all the gates in the city except the Imperial City are closed."

Zhao Yun said: "That's it. The thousands of imperial troops entering the city are in danger. It's going to be dark now. In this case, Hu Zi, you and our people will continue to monitor closely, and then look for the right opportunity if there is any helplessness. Rescue the generals of the imperial army who have escaped, but don't let anyone see you, and don't identify yourself to anyone. Remember, you only need generals, not soldiers, and you must inform Commander Liang's decision first."

Huzi replied: "Yes, deputy commander, but don't you allow us to have contact with the imperial army?"

Zhao Yun said: "These thousands of troops are easy to get but one general is hard to find. These people entering the city must be the elite of the imperial army, not to mention the generals. Instead of letting them die in vain here, it is better to save them, so that maybe in the future It will be of great use. Of course, we didn't save them in vain. After we save them, we can't release them to the court. When the time comes, they will be sent to the adults through secret channels. This matter is settled. You go and do it. I will report the matter to the adults, and if there is a problem, I will take the responsibility."

Huzi clasped his fists and said, "Yes, deputy commander, my subordinates understand."

Soon Liang Xing got Zhao Yun's decision and told Niu San: "Niu San, you send people to follow Deputy Commander Zhao's people, but don't let anyone see it. If someone sees their actions, you have to do it." Clean up the tail for Vice Commander Zhao’s people, in short, this matter must be done secretly.”

Niu San cupped his fists and said, "Yes, Langjun."

The sky was getting dark, and outside the imperial city, the Song army was still violently hitting the city gate with big logs. Suddenly two sentries came and reported to Yang Keshi that they found a Liao army coming from the northwest, all cavalry, full of murderous intent.

Yang Keshi was shocked: "Where did the Liao cavalry come from?"

Pharmacist Guo judged: "It is likely that the reinforcements from Xiao Qian or Yelu Dashi have entered the city."

Yang Keshi asked: "Isn't the city gate controlled by our army?"

Pharmacist Guo was also a little puzzled. Suddenly when he saw Zhen Wuchen, he suddenly realized that the city gate might have been lost. He hurriedly ordered Zhen Wuchen to take people to each city gate to check.

The four generals Yang Keshi, Guo Yaoshi, Gao Shixuan and Yang Kebi immediately held a meeting to discuss it. Yang Keshi believed that the current situation was very dangerous and he should stop attacking the city and gather his troops to retreat to the Yingchun Gate area. Yang Keshi thought that Yingchun Gate should still be in the hands of the Song army, and the team could safely leave the city from there.

The Song army entered the city through Yingchun Gate. Yang Keshi thought that the roads in this area were familiar and would be convenient for retreat. In panic, Yang Keshi made another mistake. The Khitan people in the Yingchun Gate area hated the Song army the most. How could Yang Keshi dare to retreat his troops to this area? Isn't this like jumping into a fire pit?

The gate of Yuanhe Hall was closed by Concubine Xiao De. She took out a white ribbon from a sandalwood box. This white ribbon had been with her for many years, and it finally came in use today.

Just when Concubine Xiao De was about to commit suicide, suddenly, the city gate guard commander shouted outside the palace gate: "Queen Mother, good news, the Song Army has retreated, the Song Army has retreated."

Concubine Xiao De was surprised and happy when she heard this. She opened the palace door and quickly ran to the tower to observe. I saw two rows of cavalry standing solemnly outside the city gate. Sure enough, their own team had returned. Concubine Xiao De's nose became sour, and tears flowed down involuntarily. With tears in her eyes, she smiled and waved to the Liao army.

The Song army continued to retreat towards Yingchun Gate. A sentry came and reported to Yang Keshi and Guo Yaoshi: "The dust is rolling outside the city, and a large group of cavalry is coming. I don't know whether it is the Song army or the Liao army."

Pharmacist Guo's face changed greatly when he heard this: "It must be reinforcements from the Liao army again."

Yang Keshi and other generals did not believe it. They thought it must be Liu Yanqing who sent a large army to respond. Yang Keshi, Guo Yaoshi and other generals climbed up to take a look, and saw groups of cavalry gathering under the gray city wall.

Medicine Master Guo had sharp eyes. He noticed that the flag of Xiao Qian, the King of the Fourth Army, was erected on a tomb of King Yan outside the city. He said, "Look, isn't that the flag of the King of the Four Armies?"

Yang Keshi and other generals followed Guo Yaoshi's hand and saw the flag of the king of the four armies fluttering in the evening wind. The generals looked at each other in astonishment.