Zhu Ya and Yang Zaixing wanted to compete, and just when Zhu Li was about to agree.
Suddenly, two guardsmen who were guarding the general's mansion rushed into the hall in panic, carrying a blood-covered guard.
"General, General, disaster has occurred."
"General, urgent news from Youzhou: Fanyang has fallen."
As soon as the three men entered the hall, the two guards in charge of holding them shouted impatiently.
This sudden scene shocked all the civil and military officials in the hall. How could Fan Yang fall
When Zhu Li, Yuchi Jin and others heard the news, they immediately gave up their attention to Zhu Ya and Yang Zaixing, and quickly walked towards the three soldiers who broke into the hall.
"Fan Yang fell, what happened?" Zhu Li looked at the two guards grimly with his eyes fixed and his face as dark as water.
Just now, they were talking about the war in Youzhou, and in the blink of an eye they received the news of the fall of Fan Yang. How could Zhu Li and others not be surprised? You know, Zhu Li had just intended to select someone to help Yue Pengju pacify Yingzhou. This news came too suddenly.
In Zhu Li's mind, the news of the fall of Fan Yang was simply a fairy tale to him; Zhang Guimou was in charge of Juyongguan, and Gao Yuan and Yue Pengju were in Jizhou, and Fan Yang suddenly fell. Is this a joke
The two guards did not respond to Zhu Li's question. Instead, they stood on the left and right and suddenly turned their heads to look at the middle, at the guard they were holding. It was obvious that the news came from this guard.
Following the two people's gaze, Zhu Li immediately looked at the palace guard in the middle.
The guard's armor was torn, his body was covered in blood and dust, and his lips were as cracked as the cracks in saline land. He did not look very well and was in a very depressed state, obviously due to running non-stop all the way.
"Hurry, get him some water, quickly." Seeing the other person's appearance, Zhu Li immediately walked forward while ordering someone to get water.
He took the palace guard in his arms, half-supported him and laid him flat in his arms. This state must be caused by excessive fatigue. The best way was to let him rest immediately.
But the situation was urgent and everyone was still waiting for news, so Zhu Li could only relieve his body and mind first.
This palace guard was indeed very thirsty. He had been running for three days and three nights, starting from Youzhou and having to avoid countless Di people on the way, all the way to Shanyang. In the past three days, he had hardly taken a drop of water except for dry food. How could he not be thirsty
After drinking three or four bowls of water, the guard regained some spirit. During this process, all the civil and military officials in the hall, including Zhu Li, kept looking at him eagerly. Although they looked anxious, no one asked any questions.
It was not until the palace guard regained some spirit that he looked at Zhu Li and said hurriedly, "General, disaster has occurred. Fanyang has fallen. We are defeated. There are so many Di people everywhere."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the people in the hall became even uglier. Guo Qizuo immediately interrupted and asked, "How did Fanyang fall?"
"I don't know either." The palace guard was stunned, and then responded a little ashamed, his eyes full of fear and shock: "Originally, General Gao was stationed in Yongjiwu, General Yue was stationed in Fengnan, and we were confronting the three brothers of the Gao family and the Li Kuangwei brothers in Pingzhou." (Yongjiwu: now Fengrun)
"Just a few days ago, countless Di people suddenly appeared from the direction of Wuzhong, all over the mountains and plains, and we couldn't stop killing them. General Yue had no choice but to lead us to fight and retreat, but there were too many Di people, and more and more Di people kept coming from the northeast. We just defeated one wave, and another wave came, and it was endless." (Wuzhong: now Zunhua)
"It was so tragic. Many of our brothers were so exhausted that they couldn't even lift their spears. We suffered heavy casualties. When we retreated to Youzhou, we met General Gao Yuan who had also been defeated. It was at that time that we discovered that Fan Yang had fallen. We didn't even know who captured Fan Yang." Having said this, the palace guard's face was full of bitterness.
Everyone would feel bitter. They fought desperately in the front to protect the people of Youzhou and the capital of Fanyang. But when they retreated to Youzhou, they found that the capital had already fallen. What a great irony and blow it was to them.
"The two generals made the decision immediately. General Yue led his troops to withdraw to Mozhou, and General Gao retreated to Yizhou. At the same time, they sent several messengers to Shanyang to report the news. I was just one of them." The palace guard revealed everything he knew.
This sudden change caught Zhu Li and others off guard. In other words, even Yue Pengju and Gao Yuan didn't know how Fan Yang fell. Such a strange thing actually happened.
Guo Qizuo's face was equally solemn. He asked, "Are they all Di people? Are they Khitan people or Xi people?"
"Both." The palace guard answered without thinking.
"Zhang Guimou has been stationed in Juyongguan. If the Di people invaded in large numbers, it is impossible that we did not receive any news." Zhu Li frowned and pondered in confusion.
"General, you are absolutely right. The cavalry are galloping and making a lot of noise. There is no way they can avoid our scouts. The most likely scenario is that the Di people are not riding horses, but are entering the pass lightly." Guo Chongtao seemed to have thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he spoke.
When he said this, it immediately attracted everyone's attention. Everyone in the hall, including Zhu Li, looked over at once. Their puzzled expressions clearly showed that they were expecting him to continue.
At this time, Guo Chongtao naturally did not want to keep everyone in suspense, and immediately went on to explain: "In the first year of Tianbao, the court set up a horse purchasing bureau in Wuzhong."
As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately caused many civil officials to ponder.
"Last year, General Pengju and General Gao attacked Jizhou. When they were about to fight to the death, they found that the horse-purchasing station there was already empty. At that time, we guessed that it must be Li Quanzhong who moved the war horses in the horse-purchasing station to the rear of Pingzhou."
"It is now certain that Li Quanzhong colluded with the Xi people. And this warrior also said that among the Di people who participated in the attack, there were both Xi people and Khitan people. It can be seen that Li Quanzhong also colluded with the Khitan people."
"If Li Quanzhong has a way to lure in most of the Di people who are coming lightly, and add Wuzhong's war horses, it would not be surprising that such a large number of Di cavalry appeared out of nowhere in Jizhou and Youzhou." Guo Chongtao analyzed slowly.
But just as Zhu Li said, Juyongguan and Xifengkou were controlled by their people. Even if the Di people entered the pass lightly, where did they enter from? Even Guo Chongtao couldn't figure it out.
"Waterway." Guo Qizuo suddenly squinted his eyes and spoke.
"Water route!" Guo Chongtao was immediately enlightened when he heard this. "Yes, it must be water route. Pingzhou is adjacent to the sea in the east, and Yingzhou is also adjacent to the sea. If Li Quanzhong sent people to pick up the goods by boat, then it is understandable that these Di people suddenly appeared in Pingzhou and even Jizhou."
Living in the inland for a long time has made many people's thinking rigid, and water routes have become a blind spot for them. However, once Guo Qizuo pointed it out, everyone immediately understood. After much calculation, they realized that only water routes were possible.
"You two gentlemen have a point. The sudden appearance of the Di people in Jizhou is a fact. There is no point in overthinking it." Zhu Li said in a deep voice, "The key now is Fanyang. Fanyang was suddenly captured. Even until now, we don't even know who the enemy is. Don't you think that it is more terrifying to have such a venomous snake hidden in the dark?"
Everyone fell silent when they heard this. Even Guo Qizuo and Guo Chongtao didn't know, let alone them. The Ghost Guards were controlled by these two.
The situation is obviously very bad, but at this moment, we must act decisively, otherwise no one knows what will happen next.
Zhu Li hesitated for only a moment before giving the order: "Pass the order, Yanmen Pass, Piantou Pass, and Junduxing, all enter emergency combat readiness status."
"Yang Zaixing."
"I'm here." At this time, Yang Zaixing had already lost interest in competing with Zhu Ya. When he heard Zhu Li calling his name, he immediately bowed and responded.
"Shanyang also needs to enter a state of preparation for war. No one is more familiar with the defense here than you. You continue to stay in Shanyang." Zhu Li instructed with a serious face.
"promise."
Although Zhu Ya had just been fighting with Yang Zaixing for an opportunity to attack, at this moment, seeing that Yang Zaixing was ordered to stay in Shanyang, he was not happy at all. Zhu Li's worried mood naturally infected him.
He and Zhu Li have the same blood, so it's natural that they will have an influence on each other.
"Zhu Ya, He Huihu, and Cheng Huaixin." After instructing Yang Zaixing, Zhu Li looked at Zhu Ya and the other two.
"I'm here." He Huihu and Cheng Huaixin immediately bowed.
"I'm here too." Zhu Ya followed suit and said immediately.
"You three, follow me to Yizhou immediately." Zhu Li decided decisively and resolutely.
After the fall of Fan Yang, if Li Keju and the others were still alive, their best route of escape would be to retreat westward to Yizhou. Regardless of whether there was hope or not, Zhu Li had to go and see them. Those two people were a thorn in his heart.
"promise"
"I'll go too." Yuchi Jin said quickly.
Zhu Li looked back at her, his focus slightly condensed, and he decisively refused: "No."
"Why? Lord Li and my elder brother are probably dead or alive. Shouldn't I go and take a look?" Yuchi Jin's face flushed red as she objected vigorously.
"I know you are worried about Mr. Li and Brother Yuchi, but it is not convenient for you to go at this time." Seeing the other party's state, Zhu Li's heart softened and he patiently comforted him.
"We don't know the enemy who captured Fanyang yet. We may encounter danger at any time when we go to Yizhou. It is better for you and the two gentlemen to stay in Shanyang."
"But... ... ."
"No buts." Zhu Li said firmly.
The fall of Fan Yang was so inexplicable that Zhu Li felt as if he was being stared at by a poisonous snake. This danger was hard to explain and could be understood as an intuition.
He is a soldier. No matter how dangerous the road ahead is, he must charge forward without retreating and will have no regrets even if he dies.
But Yuchi Jin didn't have to take risks with him. A man is born to live for his family and relatives. If even the people he loves meet with an accident, then what is the point of fighting for his life, let alone taking the other person on an adventure. Only a sick person would do that.
"Sir, gather the Ghost Guards immediately and find out who captured Fan Yang as soon as possible?" After almost forcefully rejecting Yuchi Jin, Zhu Li turned to Guo Qizuo and said earnestly.
"Yes." Guo Qizuo did not dare to delay and responded immediately.
It's not that there are no ghost guards in Fanyang City, but now not even a single message has been sent back. It is conceivable that the person who captured Shanyang must have blocked the city gates and even used some means to prevent the ghost guards from sending any messages.
If this person was Li Quanzhong, he would not have needed to do this. After all, everyone in Youzhou knew that Li Quanzhong and Li Keju were at odds with each other. Li Quanzhong had no reason to do this, so the person who captured Fan Yang must be someone else. Guo Qizuo really wanted to know who this person was.