Duan Ling woke up suddenly.
The bell rang one after another, and a panicked voice came from outside. He immediately stretched out his hand, touched the sword by the couch, and distinguished a sentence from the noisy voice:
"The Yuan Army is here!"
This is the second time in two years that the Yuan army attacked Shangjing. Duan Ling immediately put his sword on his back and took off the longbow hanging in the living room. As soon as he arrived at the courtyard, he saw boulders and cups flying in, and the fire started to spread.
Someone was running outside, shouting to put out the fire. Duan Ling crossed a street and joined the crowd delivering barrels. Soon, another boulder flew in.
"This place can't stand it anymore!" Duan Ling shouted, "All retreat to the north of the city!"
The west of Shangjing was in chaos. The Yuan army was already approaching the city without knowing it, but no one found it. The fire was everywhere, the siege ladder had been placed on the west gate, and even the Yuan soldiers raised their weapons and rushed into the city.
The city is not broken yet! It was just a sneak attack! Duan Ling jumped up to the roof, drew his longbow, and shot the fallen Yuan soldier to death. A Yuan soldier grabbed the horse, passed by the back street, was setting fire everywhere, and was shot by Duan Ling again.
With the third arrow, the enemy had already spotted him, yelled cursing, greeted him with a strong crossbow, Duan Ling hid behind the eaves, turned over, drew his sword in his hand, went out from the backyard, and stabbed one person to death.
The Patrol Division rushed in from all directions, beheading the enemy troops who rushed to the city, and finally brought the chaos under control. However, drums began to beat outside the city, and Yelu Dashi led the army hurriedly.
At dawn, Duan Ling ran to Cai Yan's house. The door of Cai's house was closed, and no one could be found. Duan Ling went to Helianbo's house again. There was no one there. The street was in chaos. I had to go home again, and saw a woman waiting in front of the house. I found out that it was from Qionghuayuan, but I couldn't name it.
"Madam invites Young Master Duan to go there." The girl bowed and said.
Duan Ling put away his bow and arrow and followed the girl. Shangjing gradually quieted down, with occasional cries, and the afternoon sun was blindingly white. When they arrived at the Deqiong Garden, the girl said, "Young Master Duan, please rest here. Madam will come to see you after finishing the affairs at hand."
"Go." Duan Ling said.
The girl hadn't left yet, but Ding Zhi followed and nodded to each other. Ding Zhi said, "What do you want to eat, son? I will tell someone to do it."
"Don't bother." Duan Ling replied.
Ding Zhi bowed and backed out. Duan Ling drank some water, used some cakes to feed his stomach, put down his sword and bow, walked out of the room, crossed the courtyard wall, looked far away, and saw the black smoke in the city, he simply turned over. Go to the house, step on the tile, sit there and watch.
"See you, Madam," said a clear voice below.
Duan Ling glanced down, Xunchun came, Xunchun first screened back, then bowed to Duan Ling.
"How?" Duan Ling asked.
"Not long ago, in the south of Jingnan, before the prince and Zhao Kui confronted Jianmenguan, Zhao Kui urgently dispatched 30,000 soldiers and horses from Yubi Pass on the east road to go south." Xunchun said in a deep voice, "I want to attack Jiangzhou and cut off the way behind the prince. , they attacked from both sides, but the troops were transferred away, but the battle was not completed, and before the reinforcements arrived, Mu Kuangda responded with the inside and the outside, and the sword gate fell."
"Within two days." Xunchun looked at the courtyard and said, "Xichuan Road has been recovered, Zhongshan will ring nine times, and the third prince will take over Xichuan City."
"At the same time, due to the lack of defense under the Yubi Pass, the Yuan people went beyond the general ridge, invaded the Liao Kingdom, and could not enter the city of Huchang, so they went straight to Shangjing. Three days ago, they sent people to disguise as a team of Hu merchants outside the Great Wall. After entering the city, they launched an ambush last night. Kill the guards, open the city gate, but luckily found out in time, Simon has to defend."
Xunchun finally said: "There are 100,000 troops outside, as if entering a land of no one, there are only 2,000 patrol officers and 10,000 unified troops in the city. Ask for help."
"Where's my grandfather?" Duan Ling asked.
"I have passed away." Xunchun said, "When the lord was leaving, he instructed that as long as the overall situation in the south is certain, no matter whether the successor is him or the fourth lord, you are His Royal Highness, and you must treat you with the courtesy of the monarch."
Duan Ling nodded, and Xunchun said again: "So, Your Highness, don't take risks. If you have anything, please let me know."
"Thank you." Duan Ling jumped off the eaves, Xunchun turned around and left gracefully.
Cai Yan didn't know where he went, but Duanling stayed in Qionghua Courtyard that night. It was as if nothing had happened in the courtyard. Duan Ling found that whenever he passed a place where there were people, both men and women in Qionghua Court would stop and bow to him.
He was worried about Cai Yan, fearing that after Cai Wen's death, he would desperately avenge his brother, so he would ask people to find out his whereabouts.
Nishikawa.
Li Jianhong was sitting on the throne. This chair was brought from Gyeonggi, but the place where this chair was originally placed has now become the territory of the Liao people.
"My father's physique was not very good back then." Li Jianhong said.
Li Yanqiu stood in the corner, looking out through the pane, the rays of light at dusk shot in one by one.
"I still remember that when I was a child, I used to chase and play in front of that chair with your third brother." Li Yanqiu said, "It's been so many years in the blink of an eye."
"You can be the emperor." Li Jianhong said.
Li Yanqiu said, "You should be."
Li Jianhong: "You do it, don't say it anymore, that's it."
Li Yanqiu shook his head helplessly, but Li Jianhong laughed.
"The third brother has a son." Li Jianhong said, "You will definitely like him when you meet him."
"Where is it hidden?" Li Yanqiu asked.
"Go to Beijing, after a few days, when you are enthroned, you will pick him up." Li Jianhong said.
Li Yanqiu replied: "It will definitely be treated as if it were one's own."
Li Jianhong nodded, the two brothers were silent for a long time, Li Yanqiu said again, "Are you going to move the capital?"
"Xichuan is the shepherd's home after all, so let's leave it to the shepherd." Li Jianhong said solemnly, "I was always opposed to moving to Xichuan."
Li Yanqiu said, "You have to beware of him."
"Right now, you must not move him." Li Jianhong said, "The new dynasty is not stable, and the nobles in central Sichuan are entrenched, so they have to go dormant first."
Li Yanqiu sighed deeply.
Li Jianhong blew a whistle, which was especially abrupt in the hall, and a guard pushed the door outside and came in.
"Bring that guy in." Li Jianhong said, "It's about time."
Li Yanqiu said, "You should have let Lord Changliu kill him, why bother?"
"I don't want to kill anymore." Li Jianhong said tiredly, "This way, enough people have been killed. Whether the shepherd wants to deal with me is not on such a person."
After a while, his subordinates brought Wu Du in. Wu Du's face was bruised, the wounds on his body were covered, and his hands were wrapped in bandages.
"Let's talk." Li Jianhong leaned on the dragon chair, while Li Yanqiu sat aside and looked at Wu Du.
"Your words determine who lives and who dies." Li Jianhong closed his eyes, "including your own life, say."
Wu Du silently stared at the white jade brick on the ground, the white tiger pattern was vivid.
"I'm saving your life because I don't want to see a mute." Li Jianhong said, "How much was Mu Kuangda involved in Zhao Kui's plan?"
"No." Wu Du said, "Master Wangbei has an apprentice who is also a killer."
"What did Mu Kuangda say?" Li Jianhong asked.
"General said." Wu Du replied, "He wants to invite this person to deal with His Majesty."
Li Jianhong asked, "Did the minister minister agree?"
"No." Wu Du replied.
"Did you refuse?" Li Yanqiu asked again.
"Neither." Wu Du replied.
Li Yanqiu laughed and said, "Really the old fox."
"What else?" Li Jianhong said, "If my subordinates asked one question and answered one question, I would have cut off my head if I couldn't say the second question."
Wu Du replied: "From the beginning to the end, he only said and did not do it, and there was no evidence. But he did have the intention of not being a minister."
"If the heart of disobedience can be convicted." Li Jianhong said, "I don't know how many people in this world have already died, that's all, let him die first."
Wu Du raised his head and looked at Li Jianhong.
"You go." Li Jianhong said, "Wherever you go."
Wu Du took a step back and hesitated. At that time, the door outside the hall was opened, and the messenger rushed in panting, kneeling in front of the hall, holding the army report in both hands.
"The Yuan people went south, and 100,000 cavalrymen besieged Shangjing. Yelu Dashi asked for help! I beg your majesty to relieve the siege of Shangjing!"
Li Jianhong had just returned to Xichuan when a fire suddenly broke out in the backyard, causing him to be at a loss for a while.
The Yuan people came too fast. As soon as Zhao Kui sent the Rong Defense Army away, the Yuan people drove straight in and entered the territory of the Liao Kingdom. What was more troublesome was that the Liao people were almost powerless to resist, and the territory north of Huchang City was large. fall. Zhongjing has sent troops to support, Yelu Dashi quickly recalled the troops borrowed by Li Jianhong, hoping that he can save the urgent need.
"The minister thought that we should not send troops." Mu Kuangda said.
Nishikawa Golden Palace waited for nearly ten years, and finally came to a person in charge who all ministers had to bow their heads.
However, Li Jianhong did not wear the imperial robe, and his temper was different from that of the previous emperors. The ministers escaped a purge from Zhao Kui and persuaded him with utmost loyalty that this was the best time to win Liaoyuan in one fell swoop. - The reason is very simple: the snipe and the clam compete, and the fisherman wins.
Since the Battle of Huai Shui, I have waited for so many years for the opportunity of Yuan and Liao to start a major war. How could Shang Zi and the capital have not avenged their revenge, how could they send troops without authorization
Take 10,000 steps back and say, return the borrowed Liao army, that's all.
You can't lose your trust in Yelu Dashi and make the world laugh at it, so it's always alright to go slowly, right
Your Majesty, you defended the capital city for Yelu Dashi, and it is only natural for the Liao people to repay their kindness.
…
Li Jianhong just listened impatiently, frowning into a knot.
"Your Majesty?" Mu Kuangda asked tentatively.
Li Jianhong: "Are you finished?"
The ministers in the hall all looked at Li Jianhong, and had long heard of King Beiliang's stubbornness, and it was true.
"Your Majesty." Mu Kuangda said, "With the death of the first emperor, a country cannot live without a monarch for a day. At this time, it must be enthroned as soon as possible to appease the people's hearts. The issue of sending troops can be discussed in the long run. There is no country in the world without a monarch. It is not appropriate to send troops to assist neighboring countries.”
Li Jianhong replied: "Don't rush to call your majesty, I promise you? Go to prepare now, the fourth prince will ascend the throne tomorrow, the military department will be counted, the balance will be left, and the expedition will be set off tomorrow afternoon."
"But you have to choose a date to ascend to the throne..." Qin Tianjian said.
Li Jianhong glanced at Qin Tianjian, who knelt on the ground and said, "This is against the rules!"
"Your Majesty." Mu Kuangda insisted, "The elders and the younger are orderly, and they must not violate the rules. Even the heavenly family must abide by them."
"When the solitary king was chased by Zhao Kui's men and ran around the northern border." Li Jianhong said casually, "Why don't you say that the elders are in an orderly manner?"
The hall was silent, Li Jianhong's words were threatening - if I don't send troops, I will wait for the case to be overturned.
"Then Your Majesty must ascend to the throne first." Mu Kuangda finally gave in and said, "In extraordinary times, the ceremony can be completed as soon as possible. Your Majesty sits in the center of the court, and then sends the Yanzhou and Huben troops to cooperate with the Eagles to attack the Yubiguan Yuan army defense line. If you don’t return to the army to save yourself, in this way, the danger of Liao can be solved.”
"The danger of the Liao Kingdom can be solved." Li Jianhong said coldly, "But if you go to Beijing, there will be nothing left."
"When the Yuan people attack a city, they will naturally slaughter another city." Mu Kuangda said, "such karma will be on his descendants in the future. It was the same when the Liao people trampled on my Dachen country with iron hooves. Your Majesty, go to Beijing. It must be unstoppable.”
Li Jianhong didn't say any more, and said casually: "Let's retreat to the DPRK, ascend the throne tomorrow, everything is simple, the Ministry of War has ordered them to go ahead, prepare food and grass tonight, tomorrow at noon, if there is no delay, come to see you by yourself, and retreat to the DPRK."
Li Jianhong has listened to it for so long, and he is indifferent. If anyone dares to defy the yin and the yang, he will surely become the first emperor in history to execute the ministers one by one with a sword in hand. Officials, look at me, I look at you, knowing that an era has passed, each shook his head, sighed for a while, and had to leave.