A Clash of Gods

Chapter 1485: Imperial Twilight

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The spies paid close attention to the movements of the Chu army. Zhongli Ao not only wanted to be prepared for the Chu army to launch an offensive, but also looked back and hoped for the early arrival of the Luoyang grain team.

In the Chinese army commander's tent, several generals looked tired. Zhong Liao, half of his face almost covered by beard, was silent for a moment, and finally said: "Wait a little longer, maybe the food will be delivered today. "

"Commander, I'm afraid we won't be able to wait for food." A tall general said: "Military rations have bottomed out. Luoyang should know how long our food can last. If they didn't know that Luoyang would not send food so easily, All soldiers have been reduced by half every day, and I am afraid that ten days ago there was no food left."

The thick and fat general next to him sneered and said in a rough voice: "Yaoshan is only three days' journey from Luoyang. Even if there is some delay on the journey and they are given time to rest, they should have arrived in five days. The last time the grain team arrived, it was Forty days ago, they should have known that the batch of food could only last for twenty days at most. We struggled for forty days, but still not a single grain was delivered. Commander, the court asked the soldiers to work hard, but we cannot let everyone Hungry.”

"It must be Qu Yuangu who is behind the scenes." Another general said: "Luoyang was in chaos by the Northwest Army. All the money and food are in Qu Yuangu's hands. He is worried that we will repel the Chu people and threaten him." Location, so…!”

"shut up!"

With a sharp shout, Zhong Liao glared at the general: "How dare you say such nonsense that disturbs the morale of the army? He is the prime minister, the prime minister of the Han Dynasty. He is facing the same enemy as us, so how can he worry about us repelling him? People from the Chu State? Such words that disturb the morale of the army must not be said again, otherwise military law will be enforced."

The generals could only be speechless.

After a long time, a mature and prudent general said: "Commander, no matter what, the food has been exhausted. After eating the last meal tonight, there will be no food tomorrow. If the food does not arrive today, there will be no food tomorrow." How can we explain food to tens of thousands of brothers? Military pay has not been paid, and there are already complaints in the army. If the smoke is cut off, the consequences will be disastrous."

"A few days ago, when the food supply was reduced by half, some soldiers were full of complaints. The general punished a few soldiers who talked nonsense, and temporarily suppressed the rebellion." The thick and fat general said in a deep voice: "But if there is another trouble tomorrow, It’s not a matter of three or five people.”

The tall general smiled bitterly and said: "Commander, please forgive me for being blunt, who are we fighting for now? If it is for the imperial court, why does the imperial court not care about our life and death at all?"

This is the question on everyone's mind.

Zhong Li'ao sighed and said: "Eating the emperor's salary is a matter of loyalty to the emperor. Now that things have happened, we can only do our best."

At this moment, the emergency call from Luoyang came from outside the tent. Zhong Liao perked up, stood up and said, "But the grain team is here?"

Soon, someone entered the account and reported: "Report to the commander-in-chief, Luoyang has rebelled!"

All the generals stood up, but they were all a little confused. Zhong Liao frowned and said, "Luoyang rebelled? Who rebelled?"

"Report to the commander, Qu Yuangu led the Northwest Army to rebel. They broke into the palace, Qu Manying strangled the emperor with a bowstring, and the Chu flag was raised on the top of Luoyang City. They... they have surrendered to the Chu State." The spies were angry. Out of breath.

All the generals looked at each other, feeling incredible.

Zhong Li'ao also found it unbelievable. He thought the spy had lied and said angrily: "How dare you talk nonsense here. The Chu army was blocked by us and could not move forward. How could Luoyang surrender? Qu Yuangu still had something in his hand. With 30,000 cavalry and no Chu people reaching Luoyang, how could he rebel? If you are talking nonsense, I will kill you immediately."

"Commander, there is no mistake." The spy said: "The younger one saw Qu Yuangu leading troops into the palace in Luoyang. Then news came that the emperor was strangled by Qu Manying with his own hands using a bowstring. The younger one was sealed in Luoyang. After escaping from the city before the city, I saw a flag with the word "Chu" hanging on the top of the city of Luoyang. If you are not true in one word, you will be punished by military law."

Zhong Liao looked at the spy, and his body suddenly shook twice. Before the generals could react, a mouthful of blood spurted out and sprinkled on the table in front of him, but his body had already fallen backwards.

"Commander!"

"Commander!"

The generals hurriedly rushed forward, and two generals on the left and right supported them. All the generals looked at Zhong Li'ao with concern. Zhong Li'ao slumped on his chair, looked left and right, glanced at everyone's eyes, and showed a wry smile. He sighed: "The Zhong family has received the emperor's favor. I just wanted to use my old body to splash blood on the battlefield, but I don't even have this chance. I am a big man who has been killed by heaven. I have no way to save myself." Qi and blood surged up, and again It was a mouthful of blood spurting out.

"Please call the doctor!" someone shouted.

"Commander, you... you have to hold on...!" Someone was already choking: "If something happens to you, what will these tens of thousands of brothers do?"

Someone quickly took a towel and wiped the blood from Zhong Liao's mouth.

Zhong Liao smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying: "Qu Yuangu has rebelled, and there will be no more food."

"Commander, we will fight back to Luoyang immediately." The thick and fat general clenched his fists and said angrily: "That bitch Qu Yuangu committed regicide and treason. We will cut him into pieces."

"Luoyang City has been sealed. We all know how strong it is." General Bian Shang said: "There is enough food in the city. We will not have a grain of food after tonight. Before we reach Luoyang, everyone will starve to death halfway. How to fight?"

"I will kill them even if they starve to death."

The generals quarreled for a while, and Zhongli Ao coughed. The generals quickly calmed down and looked at Zhongli Ao.

It can be said that the Han army is in a desperate situation now. There are enemy troops in front, rebellion in the rear, no food in the army, and the collapse of the Han army is imminent.

No one would have expected such a result.

How could the Han army, which once swept across the north, fall into such a desperate situation

Zhongli Ao calmed down and said, "Zhai Zhi!"

The mature and prudent general who was only a few years younger than Zhongli'ao immediately stepped forward and held Zhongli'ao's wrist. Zhongli'ao sighed and said: "The country has been destroyed and there is no way to recover. Now we have to consider the lives and deaths of these tens of thousands of brothers. , I will write a letter of resignation now. You and your people should go to the Chu army camp immediately, see Yue Huanshan, and give him my letter."

"Going to the Chu army camp?" Zhai Zhi was a little surprised, but he immediately understood: "Commander, you...?"

"I will write a letter of surrender and ask for the surrender of the Chu army. It has nothing to do with you or the entire army. You have fought hard to the end, and I am the one who is surrendering." Zhong Liao said slowly: "Let's gather our troops later. Horse, prepare to return down the mountain."

When the generals heard this, their colors changed, and they all knelt down on one knee. Some of them were already crying: "Commander...!"

"The failure to protect the Han Dynasty is my fault alone." Zhong Li sighed proudly: "I am ashamed of the late emperor and the prince of Changling...!"

The Chu-character flag was raised in Luoyang, and Zhong Liao was in desperate situation, preparing to surrender. Yue Huanshan, the commander-in-chief of the Chu army, knew nothing about all this.

More than ten days ago, Yue Huanshan prepared to launch a fierce offensive against Yaoshan. Although the Chu army was victorious, Yue Huanshan also knew in his heart that the sooner he attacked Luoyang, the sooner the pressure on the court would be reduced, and one hundred thousand The army was in the territory of Han State. Although there were grain collection teams to collect grain and grass on the spot, the main source of logistics was shipped from Chu State.

Going deep into the territory of Chu State, the logistics line is long, and the supplies consumed every day are an astonishing number.

After the Qin-Huai War, the State of Chu was severely depleted. This Northern Expedition was intended to take advantage of the civil strife in the Northern Han Dynasty to achieve a quick victory. However, the war was delayed for nearly a year. Although the imperial court seized the king of Huainan and the Donghai family to replenish the treasury, the long-term The consumption of time has made it difficult for the court to bear its burden.

Yue Huanshan thought far ahead. He knew that he had indeed achieved a great victory by conquering cities and territories in Han Dynasty, but whether to attack Luoyang was really a big problem.

If Zhong Li'ao is defeated and the city of Luoyang is defeated, it may already be winter, and more supplies will be needed at that time. If Luoyang can be captured quickly and supplemented, everything will be easy, but if it falls into a protracted war and cannot attack Luoyang for a long time, then So what

It's not that he doesn't know that Luoyang City is the largest city in the world. It is not only huge, but also strong.

Qu Yuangu had 30,000 cavalry. He knew very well that the city was full of money and food. He also knew that it was a fool's errand to quickly conquer the strong city with elite soldiers.

But Luoyang is right in front of us. This time is an excellent opportunity to unify the country since the separation of the north and the south. Yue Huanshan cannot miss it, and Chu State cannot miss it.

How to capture Luoyang while ensuring adequate logistics was a question that Yue Huanshan thought about day and night.

However, in order to reach Luoyang City, the last hurdle of Yaoshan Mountain must be overcome.

There can be no hesitation, let alone long delay.

But just when Yue Huanshan was preparing to launch a fierce offensive, King Yiheng suddenly arrived.

Qi Ning is a member of the Jinyi Qi family, and Yue Huanshan is a fierce general promoted by the Qi family. To be fair, the first time he saw Qi Ning, Yue Huanshan still felt a sense of intimacy deep in his heart.

Naturally, King Yiheng did not come to drink with him and argue with him. He just asked Yue Huanshan to stand still and guaranteed that within half a month, even if Zhongli Ao did not surrender, the Han army would collapse.

King Yiheng said calmly, but Yue Huanshan was doubtful.

Half a month is not a long time, but it is definitely not a short time either.

If the offensive is launched continuously, within half a month, it should be very possible to capture Yaoshan and then advance to Luoyang.

But if we stand still and the Han army collapses or even surrenders within half a month, that would be the best. Once a decisive battle occurs, there will inevitably be heavy casualties. It is of course a dream for the opponent to surrender without a fight.

But if Zhongli Ao still refuses to surrender after half a month, and the Han army still does not collapse, then what? It should be noted that half a month will not only increase the huge consumption, but also give the other party plenty of time to take a breath and prepare.

But in the end Yue Huanshan believed King Yiheng's words.

Qi Ning agreed to stay for only one night and left early the next morning. Yue Huanshan didn't even know when Qi Ning left.

Seeing that time passed day by day, there were only a few days left before half a month, and there was no sign of retreat on the Yaoshan side. Yue Huanshan only felt that what Qining said would most likely not come true, but he didn't expect that at noon , Qining has already arrived at the camp.

"Are you anxious, General?" When Qi Ning saw Yue Huanshan, he smiled and said, "There are still a few days left in half a month. Don't be anxious. Maybe Zhong Li'ao will send a letter of surrender today."

Yue Huanshan was still doubtful.

Qi Ning gave some words of comfort and knew that Yue Huanshan liked to play chess. He even asked someone to bring a pair of Go and started playing chess with Yue Huanshan in the tent. Yue Huanshan didn't know that Qining Hulu sold it. What kind of medicine, but after all, the time limit has not yet reached, and it will take a few more days. Since the young prince wants to play chess, he will accompany him.

It's a pity that the young prince's chess skills are too ordinary. Although Yue Huanshan conceded seven points, he still won two games in a row. In the third game, Yue Huanshan was really embarrassed and deliberately made mistakes one after another, allowing the young prince to win. One game.

He had also heard about the Jinghua Book Club. It was said that Qionglin Academy, represented by Qi Ning, was very brilliant. Qi Ning was not only excellent in calligraphy and painting, but also had amazing chess skills. However, the young prince in front of him seemed to have just started playing chess. It’s really not worth mentioning, so is the news coming out of Jinghua Book Club just a lie