Dingzhou City, State Shepherd's Mansion.
As soon as Yu Wen entered the back house, he smelled a strong smell of medicine when he moved the tip of his nose.
The dark clouds in the sky were low, the cold wind was howling, and the faint crying sound from the side made him tighten his neck.
'It is rumored that Master Zhou suddenly vomited blood for three liters, it seems that it is not groundless! '
He thought silently in his heart, but there was a look of sadness on his face.
The situation in Dingzhou was urgent, and the governor Gao Shun had completely relinquished his duties, so all the heavy burdens were placed on Xu Chun.
Yu Wen sighed, just appearing now, it really seems like destiny.
"Master Yu!"
The servants went in to report, and not long after, a housekeeper came out to greet him: "I don't know why my lord is here?"
"It's just a small thing...it's the severe winter, and the dripping water turns into ice. The soldiers in the city urgently need 3,000 sets of winter clothes, as well as charcoal, medicinal materials, etc..."
As Yu Wen spoke, he saw a look of embarrassment on the housekeeper's face.
The siege of the city by the army not only delayed the autumn harvest, but the money and grain of the counties and counties were also lost. Of course, at this time, there is only this lonely city in Dingzhou.
Fighting wars is all about military supplies, and even if the state shepherd has to raise funds, it is not easy.
'Especially... The aristocratic family is a fool! Seeing that there is only one lonely city left in Dingzhou, and the imperial court reprimanded it in name, but no heavenly soldiers came. How can you not know how powerful it is? In addition, the spies from the Xie family and the Lin family continued to spread the news, and they began to refuse more than a month ago. They couldn't force it, and they only paid a few dozen stones of grain, just like sending a beggar...'
Taxes can't be paid, and the aristocratic family can't do anything, even Yu Wen knows that Zhoucheng has reached a desperate situation!
Unless Zhang Wenzhen dared to kill all the big families in the city and collect all their food and property, he would never survive next spring.
But if you really want to do this, especially under the premise that the army is suppressing the border, it is just a dead end.
What the gentry asked for was nothing more than the guarantee of land and the right to become an official. To be honest, they didn't care who was sitting on the dragon chair.
What's more, the city is full of civil and military, and these families are also inextricably linked, or they are members of them at all. Even if Zhang Wenzhen wants to attack, he will not be able to avoid backlash!
"Alas... Internal and external difficulties, the State Shepherd is in a hurry, it is understandable..."
Yu Wen's eyes flickered, and then he said what he meant: "Besides... my general heard that Mr. Zhou Mu's condition has worsened, so he specially ordered me to come here to say hello, if you dare to ask Mr. Zhou..."
"Woo..."
At this moment, the inner house cried loudly.
On the sickbed, Zhou Mu Xu Chun was as thin as a stick, his face was as white as paper, with only a slight blush on his cheeks, it was obvious that he had reached the final dying stage.
He stretched out his chicken-claw-like hands, as if he was about to grab something, and there was a whoo-hoo sound in his chest.
"Master... But what do you want to confess?"
The wife Zhang asked, and quickly scolded the surrounding concubines and maidservants: "Hush your voice, do you want the master to go away in peace?"
She is also from a family background, so she is very able to live in the place, especially after Xu Chun's death, she immediately takes charge of the power of life and death, and it is just a matter of whim to drive away a few concubines and maidservants.
Those few concubines had sons and daughters to rely on, but those who didn't were immediately frightened. Seeing the master's dying appearance, they completely lost their minds and didn't dare to move at all.
"Country... country..."
Xu Chunnu moved his lips, and finally spit out a few words: "The state is in trouble, and I will pay Zhang Wenzhen, Dong... Dong..."
However, he couldn't continue speaking any more, and as soon as he dropped his palm, he held his breath.
"master!!"
Mrs. Zhang reached out her palm and saw that Xu Chun had stopped breathing, so she couldn't help but wept bitterly as she caressed the corpse.
For a moment, the entire inner house was filled with crying.
When Yu Wen and the housekeeper were looking at each other, a servant ran out, holding the prepared filial piety uniform and black belt, but broke down in tears: "Steward Qian, master... master has gone..."
As soon as these words came out, the butler's lips were also black and blue, as if he had lost his backbone in an instant.
Even Yu Wen fell into a trance when he saw the Dinghai Shenzhen collapsed in the city.
In a daze, he didn't know how many words he said, met a few people, and said goodbye in a daze. Looking at the gloomy sky, Yu Wen suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
"Master Yu!"
When he reached a street corner, two servants beside him who seemed to have been waiting for a long time came up to greet him immediately: "My master is here to invite you!"
"You are… "
Yu Wen's eyes moved, but he didn't say much, and followed them.
Outside the corner of the street, there was a carriage, which was covered on all sides, and the windows were covered with black cloth. It was obvious that it had been prepared for a long time, and Yu Wenyi was bold enough to get in directly, and the carriage immediately set off.
I don't know how long it took before the carriage stopped behind a big house. Yu Wen shook his collar and entered the house, and was immediately led into the secret room by a housekeeper.
"Master Yu is here too!"
The room was brightly lit, and there were already seven or eight people sitting there. Under the dim light, their complexions were cloudy and uncertain.
"So it's you!"
Yu Wen naturally recognized that these were middle-level civil and military personnel in the state city, who belonged to the kind of people who were not well-known but held key positions and were very important.
Of course, the same is true for him himself. Although he is only the governor's document, he can enter and leave the mansion of the state shepherd and get close to Zhang Wenzhen.
Such power, but being connected in such a way, just thinking about it, his hands immediately began to tremble, but his eyes were a little fiery.
"Very good! When Master Yu saw us, he didn't turn around and leave, and he didn't scold us immediately, so it can be seen that he is also a fellow!"
A young voice came, and a man who looked like a nobleman came to the throne: "Xie Wusi, my brother, I have met you all!"
"Thank you family?"
Yu Wen nodded: "No wonder you can invite so many people, what do you want to do?"
"You should ask your master about this!"
Xie Wusi smiled and said: "Your Excellency just came out of the State Shepherd's Mansion, but Xu Chun is dead?"
Yu Wen's heart trembled, he was surprised that Xie's family was well-informed, but he still nodded. After admitting this, everyone in the hall was different, but they all felt relieved.
"Zhou Mu has always been generous and kind to us, but small favors, how can they compare with the righteousness of life and death for the people in the city?"
A middle-aged officer spoke indifferently.
"That's right... Dingzhou City is about to be destroyed, and we should discuss the way forward, and at the same time, plan for Zhou Mu's funeral!"
A civil servant next to him said: "At least... with the promise of Wuzhen, the army will not commit any crimes after entering the city, and even the state shepherds will be pardoned. This is not in vain for the friendship of our colleagues..."
"Exactly!"
When several officers heard this, their eyes lit up and they echoed loudly.
Hearing this, Yu Wen's hair stood on end, and he firmly remembered the civil servant who spoke, and thought to himself: "In terms of his thick skin and ruthless mind, this person can be said to be a handsome man for a while, and he must never be offended in the future..."
"very good!"
Xie Wusi was overjoyed: "All of you are dedicated to Master Wang, and you are all great heroes!"
Everyone didn't dare to talk, but Yu Wen wanted to find a way out, and he agreed with a few words, but he agreed half-heartedly, and then his face showed a look of embarrassment: "It's just that most of the military power in the city is in Zhang Wenzhen's hands. People are Zhou Mu's confidants, loyal to the imperial court, difficult to deal with..."
"Besides... there are still those messengers!"
"Zhang Wenzhen was only a lieutenant general before, so why should he be afraid?"
A few officers next to him said: "In terms of seniority in the army, you have to be ranked behind a certain family, and you are wronged by the order of the state shepherd. Who would listen to him?"
"There are several people who can help, at least Ximen is not a problem! As for Zhang Wenzhen?"
A sneer appeared at the corner of Xie Wusi's mouth: "Since this person is determined to resist the Heavenly Soldiers, we can only send him to die. Not only is he going to die, but the family can't escape either!"
This cold murderous aura immediately shocked Yu Wen.
…
"Although I already knew the truth of the relative restraint of qi and number, I don't want the qi in Dingzhou city to decline to such a degree after Xu Chun's death!"
The old Taoist returned to the post station and called Confucian scholars and generals: "Let me prepare, it's time to go!"
"But once Xu Chun died, there was immediate instability in the city?"
The Confucian scholar stroked his beard and sighed.
"As long as we find any clues, I will contact Zhang Wenzhen immediately to act first, and I will try my best!"
The general snorted coldly.
"This is the number of days, and it cannot be redeemed by human power!"
The old man gave a wry smile, all the aristocratic families in the city are preparing for the way out, and they have other ideas, what can they do if they wait for foreigners
If you use mana and supernatural powers to forcefully suppress it, is it true that the hidden power on the opposite side is a vegetarian
And forcibly resisting such luck, even if it is oneself, will be deprived of merit and bring about bad results.
"Go to rest! Go to rest!"
Therefore, I can only sigh.
"Alas...you..."
This general stomped his feet. If the old man was determined not to help, he would at most inform Zhang Wenzhen to strengthen his guard, but other things were simply unthinkable.
"Unexpectedly... Since the chaos at the end of the Shang Dynasty three hundred years ago, the world has changed, and it has entered a time of intense..."
A trace of sadness appeared on the old Confucian's face, but he didn't say much.
It is obvious that nothing can be done now, and they have no obligation to accompany loyal ministers to death.
…
Time flies.
Six years of Ping An have passed, and it will be seven years of Ping An.
The world is still in chaos, and in Dingzhou, the battle to besiege Dingzhou City has finally reached the last moment.
The death of Xu Chun brought a trace of sadness to the New Year, not only cleared away the last trace of joy in the festival, but also seemed to draw the final end to the rule of the old court in Dingzhou.
"Tabuchet, fire!"
Qi Lin and Chen Jingzong spend their spare time taking turns attacking the city every day, and they keep increasing their strength.
Under the situation of the unification of Dingzhou, all places are stable, so they have enough leisure to slowly grind this strong city.
The aristocratic families in the city couldn't bear it any longer, and they circulated surrender documents one after another, secretly colluding with each other, and their power grew stronger and stronger.
"And then on!"
Wearing armor, Qi Lin roared loudly, watching the soldiers rushing up in waves, as well as flying arrows and throwing stones, his eyes turned to the direction of Luoshui from time to time, and he didn't know what he was thinking.