Mongol Siege of Lingzhou

Timeline

1. 1226Outside Lingzhou · LingwuAfter advancing east along the Hexi Corridor, the Mongols turned toward Lingzhou, where Western Xia concentrated a large force for defense. Situated on the east bank of the Yellow River at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains, Lingzhou was the chokepoint on the route to the capital Zhongxing Fu; both sides regarded it as a must-contest position.
2. 1226Lingzhou and the Yellow River crossing · LingwuThe Mongols attacked Lingzhou's walls fiercely with mounted archers and siege engines, and attempted to control the Yellow River crossing to cut off reinforcements. The Western Xia garrison resisted stubbornly behind the city's defenses; the two sides struggled back and forth, and the fighting was extremely brutal, with corpses strewn across the outskirts of Lingzhou.
3. 1226Lingzhou · LingwuUnder prolonged siege and attacks from within and without, Lingzhou's defenses were finally breached. After the city fell, most of the Western Xia garrison was killed or captured; the northwestern shield was lost, and Zhongxing Fu was directly exposed to the Mongol advance, dealing a fatal blow to Western Xia's national strength and morale.