The attack on Xiangyang was very smooth, so smooth that it was beyond Li Xin's expectations. In Li Xin's opinion, it would take at least one day for the Ningzhou army to enter Xiangyang City. Who knew that after only half a day, Li Shuo not only entered Xiangyang City, but even took half of Xiangyang.

So much so that just after afternoon, Li Xin and Mu Ying had already stood on the tower of the west wall of Xiangyang City.

General Li looked at the majestic city with his hands on his back. After a long time, he sighed: "I remember when I was reading the letters from my predecessors in the capital more than ten years ago, I mentioned Xiangyang City and said that the Zhong family was all guarding Xiangyang City and resisted the powerful Northern Zhou Dynasty for decades. At the most tragic time, four generations of the Zhong family fought for three generations. The male of the Zhong family was the oldest and inherited the position of the head of the family, at the age of seventeen."

For a period of time, the power gap between the Southern Jin and Northern Zhou reached a certain level. The arrogant Xianbei people would always go south to invade the Great Jinjiang Mountains. The eastern front could be defended by natural dangers, while the Xiangyang City could only bear it. During those decades, the family of Zhong really defended Xiangyang with the blood of generations.

It is precisely because of this reason that even though the emperor of the Ji family was very cautious, he always had no doubts about the Zong family. This was the treatment that the Zong family had to fight for dozens or hundreds of lives. Whether it was the Pingnan Marquis Mansion, which later won even better military achievements, his status in the Great Jin Dynasty was far less than that of the Zong family.

Speaking of this, Li Xin sighed: "It's been very different after decades."

"Xiangyang City is still the same as before, but the people guarding the city are no longer the members of the Zong family."

Mu Ying lowered her head and smiled: "If they were willing to die and bear the thunder that we threw in the catapult, no matter how serious the casualties were, they would not be able to climb the city tower so easily and defend the first wave. It would take at least three days for the Ningzhou army to break the city."

"And the general who guarded the city in Xiangyang City was so inconsistent that he actually let go of the city walls and lost their greatest support."

Mu Ying has been in the army for many years, and his vision is not comparable to that of General Mu Lang in the capital back then. He said in a deep voice: "Even if the Marquis did not make a musket, as long as the Ningzhou army enters the city, there are enough thunder, and they can also slowly advance in the city without rushing. Now with muskets, the Ningzhou army will only advance faster."

Li Xin's face was calm and he spoke, "Brother Mu, how long will it take for Li Shuo to take over the entire Xiangyang?"

"This is not accurate."

Mu Ying lowered her head slightly and said, "If Xie Jing is smarter, she will try to avoid the streets and fight with Ningzhou troops in the alleys, fighting and retreating. It is estimated that General Li will have to fight for five or six days or even longer before he can drive the Hanzhong Army and Ankang Army out, and he will also have to bear considerable casualties."

"If Xie Jing is stupider and still has to come out to fight with the Ningzhou army head-on, it will probably not take long before the Hanzhong army will flee completely. The entire Xiangyang will fall into the hands of the general tomorrow."

"These generations of the Ji family are nepotism."

Li Xin groaned: "As a guy like Xie Jing, relying on Empress Dowager Xie's nepotism, he can be praised by the Ji family to this level. Even if the little emperor replaces Xie Jing with Xie Dai, it will be much more difficult for us to do things in the southwest. Xie Jing relies on his identity as an emperor and uncle to be stupid all the way and rise to the top!"

In this regard, Li Xinxin was naturally a little resentful.

During the Renchen Palace change, although he had no capital at that time, he was undoubtedly the one who contributed the most and was the one who sacrificed his life to bet. After the result, Li Xin did not get the status and trust he deserved.

What's even more excessive is that Xie Dai, who was still a noble son in Shanyin during the Renchen Palace change, was soon transferred to the capital and gained a trust far better than Li Xin.

The Yulin Guard cannot guard the Forbidden Palace, but the Qianniu Guard led by Xie Jing can do it.

It is precisely because of this distrust of "outsiders" that the situation has gradually become what it is today.

For more than ten years, Li Xin has looked down on Xie Jing, the uncle of the country, and he remains the same until now.

Mu Ying lowered his head slightly and said, "General, the current situation is very beneficial to us. Should we not be the last general to lead troops to a group of General Li? In this way, there will be no more risks. The general will soon be able to take down the entire Xiangyang."

"No need for the time being."

Li Xin frowned and said, "Li Shuo has been practicing military training for so many years, but he has never fought in real wars. Practicing his hands for him is also a good thing. After all, taking down Xiangyang is just the beginning, and there is still a further way to go after Xiangyang."

Speaking of this, Li Xin suddenly remembered something and said, "Now, please send a message to Li Shuo on the front line, telling him that there is no need to kill him. If there is any imperial army willing to surrender, our army is willing to surrender. Brother Mu, please send some people to follow the Ningzhou army and accept the surrendered troops."

Although the Southwest Army has not reached the peak of this era in terms of military quality, it is not much inferior to any army. However, the Southwest Army also has the fatal weakness of the Southwest Army, that is... the number of people is too small.

There is naturally no problem with more than 100,000 troops ruling the southwest, but it is a bit of a dream to invade the capital. Therefore, no matter who raised the army, the most important thing is to quickly expand your team during the uprising, whether it is recruiting troops or accepting surrendered troops. In short, one of your subordinates must be turned into ten people as soon as possible.

Li Xin is different from those who have raised troops in history. He has his own "basic base", but this does not prevent him from accepting surrendered soldiers like the Hanzhong Army. The Hanzhong Army is not weak at all. After being reorganized by the Southwest Army, it can quickly form combat power and is a high-quality source of troops that cannot be obtained.

Mu Ying immediately lowered her head and said in a deep voice: "I'll do it all."

"You don't need Brother Mu, just send a deputy general to do it."

Mu Ying immediately lowered her head, turned around and called a subordinate of the Southwest Army. After giving orders, she stood behind Li Xin.

At this moment, Li Xin was using the Qianli Mirror to see the scene in the distance, but the houses in the city were crisscrossed and they were not very real. He took the Qianli Mirror back into his arms, glanced back at Mu Ying, and said lightly: "Brother Mu has also been with Hu Zi for several months, tell me your opinion."

Li Xin smiled calmly and looked a little serious.

"Is this musket available?"

“Available.”

Mu Ying quickly gave the answer, but after he paused, he continued: "But although this thing is novel, it is not particularly powerful. In the opinion of the general, our troops and Ningzhou Army will be almost the same as two or three thousand people. It is useless to have more."

This is a very pertinent opinion.

To put it bluntly, although muskets are thermal weapons, they are not muskets after all. They have too many shortcomings. They are slow to fill, not powerful enough, and sometimes they will explode. What's more important is...

This era is not without long-range attack weapons.

An old crossbowman's destructive power is far better than a musketeer.

In fact, in another world, neither musket nor musket have completely replaced the status of crossbows.

Li Xin nodded and did not continue to talk about this topic.

"When we take down Xiangyang, that big banner can be erected."
Chapter completed!