There is no fire dragon in the vacant palace in early winter, and it is so cold that people shiver. But the crown prince and Concubine Xue, who were swimming in passion, sweated slightly, feeling the cold air as a stimulus.
It was another exchange that satisfied both parties. The two were lying on a narrow old reclining chair. The crown prince hugged Concubine Xue, smelling the moldy smell in the house that had not been used for a long time, and asked Concubine Xue in a low voice: Rui, did that... use it?"
Concubine Xue nodded: "It's been three times... I didn't dare to put too much each time..."
The prince let out a long breath, feeling relieved, and said to Concubine Xue with a smile: "Maybe you and I will be able to spend a good night in the bedroom soon..."
Concubine Xue smiled shyly: "No matter where I am, as long as I am with His Highness, my family likes it..." Indeed, if it wasn't for the fact that the other party was a prince who grew up in a golden nest, how could it be possible for the charming Concubine Xue to be in such a simple house? Here, do it on a mat in the dust! What a grievance! If it was any other man, Concubine Xue Gui would definitely feel that the other party did not take her seriously, and acted obscenely. But this is the prince! In doing so, he also wronged himself! Looking at it this way, the two have become partners who share weal and woe.
The prince stroked Concubine Xue's hair and said, "Yu Rui, you are my darling, I want to stay with you every day..."
Concubine Xue's eyes filled with tears: "This is the same with my family, I miss His Highness day and night, I can't hold myself..."
The two talked to each other heartily, and they were very enthusiastic. Finally, seeing that the night was dark, they had to put on the clothes of the eunuchs and maids who had only half taken off, and said goodbye reluctantly.
When the prince returned to the East Palace, he was in high spirits and couldn't fall asleep. He ordered people to serve wine and food, and poured himself a drink under the lamp. He carefully recalled the relevant words left by his mother at the beginning, and estimated when it would take effect on the emperor. Although Concubine Xue Gui hasn't released all of it, no matter how small she takes it, those things can't be excreted if they enter the body. He never said it clearly, but looking at it now, the prince thinks that the former emperor fell ill and died so quickly, which is suspicious. If the father had really done something then, like a father, like a son, it is only natural that I have done it now...
But to be honest, he doesn't believe in karma, and thinks that those are just the self-comfort of the losers. He believes in power and violence, and killing people is a one-and-done way. There is no more convenient way. He didn't think about whether someone would do something like this to him one day in the future, he just hoped to be enthroned as soon as possible, and for others, whoever he loved.
As for Concubine Xue Gui, the crown prince decided that she would get rid of her after she finished dispensing the package of medicine. How can a woman who dares to poison her husband stay? What's more, this living creature should be exterminated. She is different from her own mother, that is, her mother really used a similar drug to help her husband, while Concubine Xue Gui used the person who has always favored her. Who else would not dare to harm such a woman? In the future, the concubines and princes in the palace will all be poisoned by her. They are even more ruthless than the Crown Princess, at least the Crown Princess has not dared to poison herself...
The emperor has always felt uncomfortable in his upper abdomen recently. When he is hungry, his stomach hurts faintly, but it also hurts when he eats. Mao Daochang was very puzzled—the emperor's complexion was obviously much rosier than before, why did he look a little pale now? Is it because of the cold winter and restrained vitality? Mao Daochang naturally added some elixir for the emperor to mobilize his vitality, and urged the emperor to practice Daoyin with himself for a longer period of time to regulate the meridians.
The emperor found that if the pain came, he could relax a bit by doing some guiding movements with Taoist Mao, so he listened to Taoist Mao and used two or three hours a day to guide and adjust his breath with luck, so he felt less uncomfortable.
Shen Wen is not having a good time now. She couldn't sleep anymore and could only meditate overnight.
Calculated according to the time, Bei Rong's army is about to start attacking, but everything in the capital remains the same, and life is still going on as in the past. Shen Wen could only whisper to Su Wanniang about his nervousness. She went to the small courtyard every now and then, asking Du Juan to go back to the mansion and Ping Yuanhou to verify the various arrangements in the plan, always fearing that there would be omissions. She also told Du Juan that when the news of the war came and Marquis Pingyuan left the capital, she would live in this courtyard and provide her with cooking staff.
In Du Juan's heart, he felt that Miss Shen's mother-in-law had to ask three times about a matter in different ways, but Hou Ye was not impatient, and he was really generous to her.
Marquis Pingyuan was also very nervous. His news was faster than the imperial court. He already knew that hundreds of thousands of Beirong troops were pressing down on the border, and the war was only a few days away. He was terrified. If that expert from Zhenbei Houli hadn't prepared earlier, facing such a powerful enemy, not to mention that the Shen family's army would definitely be doomed, the country would also be in jeopardy. The country would be ruined and the family would perish. Of course, the fate of himself and his family would be just like his own. That's what the two sons said at the time. He now admires the tall man in the Zhenbei Hou's mansion, so every time he gets inquiries from Miss Shen, he always answers in detail, expressing his respect for the tall man behind her, although until now he can't think of a full-blown Who is that tall man in Zhenbeihou's mansion who is eyeliner
When the war was approaching, he was most worried about Zhang Yunzheng. The eldest son, Zhang Yunming, would be with him, but the second son had to act alone, and he didn't know what he was going to do. Ping Yuanhou decided to find someone to inform him and meet him earlier.
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Zhang Yunzheng didn't think about Marquis Pingyuan now, except for occasionally thinking about Shen Wen, he forgot about his parents.
At the bottom of the valley, he looked up at the words "Bei Rong enters and must die", and said to Yulan whose face and body were covered with red paint, "You have written so many times, why is your handwriting still so bad?"
Yulan yelled at Qu: "Master! It's winter, and my arms are sore from being hung in mid-air! Go and try! See what good characters you can write!"
Zhang Yunzheng said: "Why don't you let Rose try? He has good arm strength, and he may be able to write a few strong strokes. He is not so soft!"
Yulan replied: "That lazy bastard! He sneezes when he smells the red paint, with runny nose and tears! Also, he is dead, how many people are pulling him while he is hanging in the air? Maybe he is shaking , can drag us all off the cliff..."
Zhang Yunzheng didn't want to listen to Yulan's nagging, so he snorted and walked into the valley from the mouth of the valley. Trees and branches as high as mountains were piled up at the mouth of the valley, all of which were extremely wet, and some were covered with snow. He walked slowly through the valley. Except for the large pile of wet branches at the mouth of the valley, there was nothing in the valley. . At the end of the valley, he went up the cliff with light work, opened the sealed hole where the explosives were to be buried, and found that the linen cloth inside was still very dry and no moisture had entered. He re-pasted the mud and went down the cliff again.
Back in the village of the wine cellar, there were still people carrying wine jars on their backs and continuing to transport them up the mountain. Yan Sanguan was walking by the side of the road. When he saw Zhang Yunzheng, he walked over and said, "Thirty jars of wine can be produced the day after tomorrow. Ten days later There are another twenty altars, and there will be more in a month... "
Zhang Yunzheng said: "I think it should be enough."
Yan Sanguan rubbed his hands: "I always feel that it's not enough."
Zhang Yunzheng said: "As soon as there is news from the border gate, you should take Mrs. Yan to avoid it. There will be battlefields within two hundred miles."
Yan Sanguan hesitated: "I'll send my wife away, let's stay here by myself."
Zhang Yunzheng shook his head: "No, your legs and feet are not fast enough, and you don't know how to use weapons, so you won't be able to help if you stay."
Yan Sanguan glared at Zhang Yunzheng: "You are really impolite, do you know that?"
Zhang Yunzheng said: "Let's tell the truth! You can spread some news for us on the way home..." He told Yan Sanguan what he wanted to pass on.
Yan Sanguan was shocked: "You want me to say that?!"
Zhang Yunzheng nodded: "Remember the time arrangement, once our side fights, you just say that!"
Yan Sanguan asked in a low voice: "Why?! Why do you say that we lost to Beirong?!"
Zhang Yunzheng frowned, looked for words and said: "I want... I want to..."
Yan Sanguan thought of the reason for him: "To inspire the hearts of the people! To excite the crowd! Okay, I understand! I will definitely speak for you!"
Zhang Yunzheng didn't comment, watching Yan Sanguan who had set up a new goal and walked away eagerly.
Zhang Yunzheng looked back to the north, the sky was overcast and cloudy, as if it was going to snow. Zhang Yunzheng took a deep breath, he was ready.
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In the hall of the Yancheng Central Army, the map was hung high, and the information came intermittently:
"Report! At the end of Mao this morning, the Northern Rong army passed the Yuyang border monument for fifty miles!"
"Report, three days ago, Bei Rong soldiers were found in Qiuzhuang, a hundred miles away from Daqingling, and the civilians who hadn't left were slaughtered..."
Ji Wenzhao pointed out the area on the map, and said to Zhenbei Hou Shen Yi, Shen Jian, and a group of military advisers and staff: "This area is steep and steep, and the main force of the general army will never take this route, otherwise the defenders will resist with heavy troops, and the terrain will be beneficial." , can easily win."
Zhenbei Hou agreed: "The hundreds of thousands of Beirong's main forces are indeed in the north of Yancheng."
Ji Wenzhao went on to say: "Then this army must be a side branch of the Beirong army. It must be some elite soldiers leading the mob to disperse the main force of our army."
A military division asked: "Why did the Ji military division say that?"
Ji Wenzhao said eloquently: "If our army sends a large number of troops to intercept, the main force of the Northern Army in the north will cover up and kill them. You see, they just crossed the border from the north, and they are going to do both. They have several times the number of me, so they can easily Cut off the connection between the two forces of our army, first eliminate our soldiers on the border, and then flank the soldiers sent by our army with Beirong on the Northeast Road. Our army is not strong enough, and if we disperse it, it will be even more vulnerable. "
Another military division pointed to the map and said: "But if they cross this mountain, they can go directly to the coast. Even if they are a mob, if they burn, kill and loot all the way, they will be invincible. What's more, the people along the coast The annual disaster is not serious, and the people are relatively wealthy, so the Beirong army can easily obtain supplies, advance quickly, and go straight to the capital!"
Shen Yi and Shen Jian exchanged glances - they knew that this was what Shen Wen said happened.
Ji Wenzhao nodded heavily: "That's right, so we must send people to stop them, but we can't send heavy troops, it is best to use small teams of elite soldiers to stop the enemy according to the terrain."
Shen Jian pointed to the map and said, "Master Hou, they came from Daqingling in the northeast, please give me a thousand people. There is an ancient Great Wall here, which can stop them!"
Marquis Zhenbei frowned: "We don't know how many enemy soldiers arrived, is it enough for you to bring a thousand people?"
Shen Jian said hurriedly: "Master Hou! It's too late to investigate! The terrain over there is dangerous, and it's useless if there are too many people. Just now the Ji Junjun said that we can't send too many troops. Please allow us to set off immediately, otherwise we won't be able to get there. gone."
Zhenbei Hou looked at this second son, suddenly reluctant to give up. This son has been by his side since he came, and has taken charge of the Chinese army for him..."
Zhenbei Hou hesitated and said, "But, you..."
Shen Jian seemed to know his concerns, and said: "Master Hou, I have been discussing matters with the Ji Junshi recently, please allow me to entrust the Chinese military supplies to the Ji Junshi."
Ji Wenzhao immediately saluted and said, "Master Hou, I have indeed been working with Governor Shen during this period, and I am familiar with the transfer of the Chinese army, so I can take over all the responsibilities."
Zhenbei Hou looked at Ji Wenzhao with some displeasure: Modesty is indeed not Ji Wenzhao's strong point.
Shen Jian said: "Master Hou, give the order quickly, I will order troops and set off immediately."
Shen Yi said: "One of my guards happens to be a hundred miles northeast of the city, and Governor Shen can lead a thousand people."
Shen Jian said: "That's fine, it can save some time!"
Zhenbeihou didn't want to do this in his heart, Shen Jian's judgment was right, that place was high and dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, but if the enemy was outnumbered, even if the location was favorable, he had to fight to the last man. Moreover, the vague meaning in the words of the Ji Junshi is that our army cannot disperse its forces, lest it be broken by the Beibei army. If a small number of soldiers are sent, the brigade retreats to Yancheng, even if it is cut off by the enemy, there will not be too many loss. But the soldiers who have already left the city seem to have only one way to die...
Shen Jian looked at Zhenbei Hou anxiously: "Your Majesty!"
Zhenbei Hou's throat choked up: As a general, he has to go to the battlefield at any time and dedicate himself to the country. No matter how reluctant he is, he has to. He gritted his teeth and hummed.
Yan Shi, who was far away in the corner, said, "I am walking with Governor Shen."
Zhenbeihou looked at Yan Shi, who hurriedly lowered his head. Zhenbeihou didn't have a deep impression of Yan Shi, he knew that she came with Ji Wenzhao, she was Shen Jian's brother-in-law, and she was considered a relative of his own no matter what. He intends to get in touch, but this Yan Junshi doesn't show up often, but now he wants to go to this extremely risky place with Shen Jian, he wants to take a good look at this brave counselor. But Mrs. Yan didn't look up, Ji Wenzhao said: "This Mr. Yan is quick-witted and flexible, and can help Governor Shen."
Zhenbeihou nodded and waved his hands, indicating to let them go out, so as not to reveal his sadness in his tone.
Shen Jian and Yan Shi went out of the hall together, Shen Jian hurriedly said to Wang Zhi and Zhang Ding who were guarding outside the door: "Get ready to go, we are going to fight."
Wang Zhi responded, Zhang Ding started to tremble, and murmured: "War...fight...it's terrible..."
Shen Jian saw him like that, and said, "Don't go! It's not enough to save you on the battlefield! You stay!"
Tears welled up in Zhang Ding's eyes, and he said, "Thank God! Thank you Supervisor!"
Shen Jian ignored him and left in a hurry.
Zhang Ding said to Wang Zhi tremblingly: "Brother Wang, I am so lucky!"
Wang Zhi was full of plans on how to stab Shen Jian in the back to complete his career of promotion and fortune, and he said to Zhang Ding absent-mindedly, "Yes, yes..."
Yan Shi told Shen Jian that we would meet at the gate of the city for a while, and then separated from him. He first ran to find Duan Zeng who lived nearby, and whispered to Duan Zeng anxiously, "We're leaving right now, are you ready? Go to the east gate and wait. Have you given all those things to Governor Shen?"
Duan Zeng nodded: "It's been prepared a long time ago, the things are given, see you later!"
Then Yan looked for the students from Yan's Academy who had been on standby with her on the hill. Yan looked at several people and said, "We're going to the front line, I don't know if we can come back, is there anything you don't want to go?"
These people had been following her to set up organs and city defenses, and they had long considered themselves the backbone of the army. Although they were nervous at this moment, they all nodded and said, "Of course we will!"
They are only 16 or 17 year olds. Although they have been a little stronger after coming here for the past year, in Yan's eyes, they still belong to the shape of bean sprouts. Yan suppressed her emotions, and said as calmly as possible: "You take your luggage and wait for me at the east gate. If someone asks, just say that you have heard the news..."
One person interrupted: "It's what we want to follow!"
Yan nodded, said goodbye to them, went to her residence to pick up her luggage, asked someone to lead a horse for herself, tied the luggage, got on the horse and ran to the courtyard where the second official Yan lived.
The whole city of Yancheng is on alert. From the moment Bei Rong violated the border, Ji Wenzhao started the city defense steps he had organized in the past: all the village chiefs took turns guarding the street entrances, and interrogated idlers. If anyone wants to go out of the city, he must have a guide issued by the Zhenbei Hou Zhongjun.
Relying on the badge of the Chinese army, Yan went all the way, and when he reached Yan Erguan's place, when he knocked on the door, Yan Erguan opened the door, and Li Chang Chen was beside him. Yan hurriedly said to Chief Chen: "Everyone forms a team, and within an hour, we will arrive at the northeast city gate. This is the guide!" She handed a piece of paper to Chief Chen, and said to the second officer Yan : "Father, you have to listen to Brother Ji's orders in the city!" Turn around and leave.
The second official Yan said with difficulty: "Son! You have to be careful!"
Yan changed his mind again, hurriedly pulled Yan Erguan aside, and whispered in his ear: "Father! No matter what others say about me, don't believe it! You can pretend on the surface, But don't be sad, just wait here for me to come back!" Her eyes were frighteningly bright, staring at Yan Erguan, who stuttered: "Okay... okay... I don't believe it..."
When Yan got the answer, she turned her head and shouted into the back room: "Mom! I'm out to play! I'll be back in a few days!"
Second Madam Yan put on her clothes and came out in a hurry, crying and pulled Yan Shi's hand, Yan Shi anxiously asked Second Madam Yan to hold it for a while, and then said: "Mother! I have to go!"
Mrs. Ji Yan was also coming out of the other room. Afraid of being entangled, Mrs. Yan hurriedly said to her: "Eldest sister! Help me take care of my parents!" She had no time, and took her hand from Mrs. Yan's hand , hastily ran out of the courtyard gate.
Ji Yan agreed to her back with a crying voice, and hurriedly comforted the crying Mrs. Yan.
Li Chang Chen took the guide and said, "I'm going to greet someone!" He also ran out.
The second official Yan looked at the half-open courtyard door with disappointment, and there was nothing outside the door. His tears stopped in his eyes, and after a while, he said to Mrs. Yan, "Why are you crying? She said to play, and she just went out to play. Like before, if you have enough of being outside, you will come back naturally..."
The Second Madam Yan cried and took the arm of the Second Official Yan and asked, "Really?!"
The second official Yan raised his head to look at the sky, not letting his tears flow, and said, "Of course! Could your husband's words be wrong?"
Second Madam Yan nodded in tears: "No... not wrong..."
Ji Yan also sobbed and said: "She is not an ordinary person, she survived a catastrophe, my aunt should know."
Second Madam Yan nodded: "I know, I know, she will definitely come back."
Riding on horseback, Yan went to the woodcarving shop again, and opened the door. The young man opened the door and blinked vigorously. Yan asked, "Your father has already left?"
The young man moved his face closer, saw Yan Shi clearly, and said, "I left six days ago." Yan Shi thanked him.
She got on her horse and ran to the city gate, and saw Shen Jian and Shen Yi talking, a few students from Yan's Academy and Duan Zeng and Wang Zhi were waiting, with a small group of soldiers beside them.
Seeing Yan Shi coming, Shen Yi said, "I'll take you a ride to the place where my guards are stationed." Yan Shi knew that with Shen Yi following, Wang Zhi would not be able to do anything on the way, so she relieved herself, shook her head and said, "You guys go first In one step, I summoned some volunteer soldiers from the people, and when they are all here, I will lead people to chase you."
Shen Yi nodded and said, "Okay, let's go."
Shen Yi led a small group of soldiers, escorted Shen Jian and others, and went all the way to the blocking area.
Yan waited until the young men led by Li Chang Chen arrived, and then led them out of the city on the road.
They walked all the way for two days, and when they reached the foot of the mountain, Mrs. Yan whispered to Li Chang Chen: "There are spies up there, so if I say anything there, you have to follow me and don't reveal anything to other people."
Li Chang Chen was angry when he heard it, but he endured it and nodded.
When Yan and his men finally climbed up the narrow ridge of the high mountain, they found that there were not many soldiers around Shen Jian, all of them were armed with simple bows, arrows, knives and guns, and everyone was looking to the north against the dilapidated city wall. Yan raised her head and looked into the distance, her heart shrank into a ball for a moment: Just like the picture that flashed in her mind at that time, there were countless banners in the valley in the distance, under the white snow, all over the mountains and plains, Bei Rong's army had arrived.
She hurried up to Shen Jian, and asked loudly: "Didn't General Shen say to give it to a thousand people? Why are there... not many people?"
Shen Jian sighed and said: "The thousand people stationed here mostly went to help the people evacuate yesterday, and now there are only more than three hundred people who can come. General Shen went to find people elsewhere."
Yan said anxiously: "I only found more than sixty people!"
Shen Jian said resolutely: "Then we have to hold on! You command everyone to pile up stones and build some fortifications! When it gets darker, I will go down to find out the truth."
Yan shook his head and said, "Don't take any risks, Supervisor Shen, you should stay here!"
Shen Jian said with great righteousness: "No, I want to meet those Beirong people, fight with them, and see if they are strong or weak."
Yan Shi disagreed even more, and said: "You are the coach here, you can't take any risks!"
Shen Jian was very stubborn: "It's not about taking risks, it's about giving them a head-on blow!"
Yan was in a hurry: "Absolutely not! We must stay in danger and not attack!"
Shen Jian finally felt a little helpless: "Okay, I have to check the way they came up, right? It should be fine!"
The two are husband and wife, and they matched well. With a worried expression on his face, Yan began to direct people to build fortifications. Fortunately, there are some stones all over the hillside, and some arrow stacks can be built on the dilapidated city wall, but in a hurry, there are not enough manpower to build many, and the arrow stacks seem very careless.
In the afternoon, when the winter sky darkened, Shen Jian "resolutely" wanted to take people down the mountain in Beirong. With such a disparity between the enemy and ourselves, the opponent seems to have hundreds of thousands of people, and they only have a few hundred people here.
Wang Zhi felt that this opportunity was very good, just as he was about to follow Shen Jian away, Shen Jian turned to him and said: "You don't have martial arts, so just stay here and guard."
Wang Zhi said: "I can follow the supervisor..." It will kill you!
Shen Jian smiled and said, "Your loyalty is commendable! When I have a chance later, I will only take a few soldiers to see the enemy, and they won't fight. It should be fine."
Wang Zhi gave up as soon as he heard it.
Shen Jian led four or five people to the outside of the dilapidated city wall, carefully walked down the steep hillside, and disappeared behind the jagged rocks and some low and dry bushes. Standing behind the ruined wall, Yan looked down the mountain and murmured, "I hope he's okay..."
Although some of the nervousness she showed was for Wang Zhi to see, but she was really nervous. Yan felt that the palms of her hands were wet, her chest was tight, and there were insects crawling on her skin... When this feeling of fear struck, she almost wanted to jump towards the wolf-like rocks below, and die first. , It is better than suffering a little bit like this.
In order to distract herself, she recalled the dream that Shen Wen told her over and over again. It was here that Shen Jian fought with Bei Rong, was stabbed in the back by Wang Zhi, and was found by Huo Luo, the second son of Bei Rong Khan, who cut off his head after being killed...
Yan Shi calmed down, her heart was cold, and her mind was extremely clear: Huo Luo? Is the fire booming? This time, I have something for you!
The leader of this army on the Beirong side is exactly Huo Luo.
After half a year of mobilization, Tugu Khan finally assembled more than half a million people, which is a huge scale in Beirong. There are more than 300,000 real sergeants in it, and the rest are nomads with no combat experience and family members of the sergeants, young and old.
This is a war that has to be fought. Successive years of drought have resulted in the desertification of large areas of the grassland. The annual rain is just enough, but the heavy snowstorm in the severe winter has froze a large number of livestock to death. Tugu Khan had long wanted to send his troops south, otherwise the hungry and cold people might turn against each other and rob each other. Finally, one year when the weather was good, the horses were fattened, and some supplies were collected, Tugu Khan couldn't wait to send troops. Although the best autumn has passed by the time the various armies are mobilized, he doesn't want to wait another year, lest the Southern Dynasty recover from the disaster year and strengthen its defense. Besides, winter is also a good day for fighting. The soldiers of the Northern Army are used to the severe cold and wear animal skins, and can ride horses and shoot arrows in the snow. As for the siege, Bei Rong had already prepared tools such as siege cones, ladders, and catapults. With the cover of a strong bow, they would definitely be able to climb the walls of Yancheng. What's more, someone from the Southern Dynasty actually came to contact, saying that the city gate would be opened for Beirong at that time. Regardless of whether this is fraud or not, as soon as the city gate is opened, it is enough to rush in. Who can resist the tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Bei Rong soldiers who are like wolves and tigers
Tugu Khan's layout was that he and his eldest son He Duo led the main force to approach Yancheng from the north, and first concentrated their forces to eliminate the border garrison. He is absolutely sure of this. With more than 200,000 cavalry against the opponent's infantry and thousands of cavalry, the main force of Shen's army can be completely defeated in one confrontation! After Shen's army was defeated, they would surely retreat to Yancheng. At that time, he besieged the city with heavy troops, and then divided the troops into two groups. He let his eldest son He Duo lead 140,000 cavalry from the west road, bypassing the mountains and entering the Central Plains. Yancheng was besieged, and there was no obstruction from the Shen family's army near the border. The West Route Army is a uniform cavalry, so it should be unimpeded all the way.
The second son, Huo Luo, led the Eastern Route Army. He did not go with his father and brother, but launched from the east. On the one hand, it was to disperse the forces of the Southern Dynasty, and on the other hand, it was a coincidence. Because it was not the main force for the attack, Huo Luo's army was mainly composed of 30,000 troops under his command, and the other 80,000 to 90,000 people were all miscellaneous people. Even if they were blocked by Shen's army in the mountainous area, after Tugu Khan surrounded Yancheng, he sent tens of thousands of people there, attacking back and forth, and they would wipe out the defenders. Although the troops on the east road were not strong, after passing through the mountains, there were not many obstacles. They could burn and kill wantonly along the way, creating a huge momentum, boosting the momentum of the middle and west roads, and destroying the defense heart of the Southern Dynasty.
Yancheng is besieged, how long can it resist? Once Yancheng was broken, the main force in the center could openly go south, and the three sharp knives on the left, middle and right echoed each other, and the Southern Dynasty became a weak piece of fat, only to be slaughtered.
Huo Luo was very angry. He knew that his eldest brother had many elites under his banner, so he took charge of the long-distance west road war, and his own troops were small, so he was sent to the east road army. Although he was the weakest of the three, Huo Luo didn't think he would do worse than his elder brother. He is eager to try, ready to compete with those useless Han people!
His team set off first and wanted to cross this mountainous area. If the Shen family's army came to intercept him, he felt that he could completely defeat the enemy, and there was no need for his father to send people to flank him. He urged hundreds of thousands of people from the grasslands to the mountain area, rushing day and night, wanting to cross the mountain as soon as possible, cross the east of Yancheng and enter the coast. In terms of time, he was a few days faster than Tugu Khan planned.
The sun set behind the clouds, and the sky was almost completely dark. Yan Shi ordered people to prepare torches, and put them on the remnant wall as soon as it got dark. People were in the preparation room, there was movement outside the remnant wall, several soldiers raised their bows and arrows, and someone shouted outside: "It's us! Governor Shen is injured!"
Yan exclaimed: "Quick, go help them!"
Chen Lichang and a few young men went out of the wall, and Wang Zhi also rushed to the side of the wall. Soon, a man with Shen Jian on his back, with several people supporting him, climbed up from the steep rock with difficulty. Shen Jian's face was covered in blood, and his light-armored battle robe was also covered in blood. Half of the arrow shaft stood upright on his back, and a large cloth strip soaked in blood was tightly wrapped around his chest.
They entered the ruined wall, and Yan hurriedly said: "Quick, put it down!"
People put Shen Jian on the ground, Shen Jian was half sitting and leaning on a soldier's arm, Duan Zeng rushed over to give Shen Jian his pulse.
Another person reported: "We approached the army of Beirong, and they spotted us and shot arrows at us. The governor was shot in the back! Beirong's strong bow is very powerful, and the arrow pierced through the armor!"
Yan Shi was so anxious that she couldn't say anything: "This... this... how... how... what to do? Draw the arrow..."
Duan Zeng shook his head and said, "You can't pull out the arrow! The point of the arrow will come out with flesh and blood..."
Shen Jian spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to say: "Hurry up! Go and report to Lord Hou. There should be more than 100,000 troops in the Beirong army, among them... tens of thousands of soldiers... others... seem to be civilians..." He swallowed hard , "Quick, go..." Eyes closed.
Yan turned around, saw Wang Zhi at a glance, pointed at him and said, "You, take the torch and go back to Yancheng! Don't stay, report the military situation to Lord Hou!"
Wang Zhi was overjoyed, turned around and was about to leave. Yan said to the others: "Did you hear that?! The Northern Army has tens of thousands of soldiers, and we must defend to the death! If anyone wants to escape, go down the mountain now! The remaining People, don’t even think about surviving! If the enemy wants to leave when they attack, I will kill him with my own hands!”
She used to have a neutral voice, but now she sounds thin and thin, a little hoarse.
Chen Lichang said in a hey voice: "If you die, you will die! I will not run away!"
Many people also responded: "I can't escape!"
Several students of Yan's Academy also said loudly: "It's a pity to serve the country..." "If a man dies, he will die..."
But one person said in fear: "I... I want... to go down the mountain..."
Chen Lichang saw that the man was one of his volunteer soldiers, and said angrily: "Little brother, what you fight for in your life is your integrity. You are a man, so you can't embarrass me like this!"
The man was almost crying, and stammered, "But... I... I really... can't stand it..."
Another person also said: "I...I also want...want to leave... I thought it was just for fun, but I didn't expect...they are so close..."
Li Chang Chen was in a hurry: "You...you really..." Seeing that he was about to rush over to beat that person, Yan stopped him and said, "It's okay! If you want to leave, let's go now!" She said to Wang Zhi: "You are right for Hou Master said, we people will not take a step back!"
Those who stayed said: "Yes! Don't take a step back!"
Yan's asked someone to give Wang Zhi a torch, Wang Zhi carried the luggage, and the other two also carried the luggage, and Wang Zhi led the way down the mountain. He had just walked down the ridge for more than a dozen steps when he heard Duan Zeng say, "Mr. Yan! Not good! Supervisor Shen is dead!"
Then came Yan's shout: "Mr. Shen! Mr. Shen!"
Duan Zeng's voice: "No way! He died..."
Yan said: "Mr. Shen, I will definitely avenge you!"
Wang Zhi walked back and saw Shen Jian with his eyes closed, his face ashen, while Duan Zeng shook his head.
Yan turned her head to see Wang Zhi, and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Hurry up and report the news! Tell the Marquis that Governor Shen died for the country! But, we will avenge him!" The people behind her shouted: "Revenge! !Revenge!…”
The other two also urged: "Hurry up... let's go... Otherwise, it will be dark and the mountain road will be difficult to walk!"
Wang Zhi turned around and left. He took two civilians down the mountain cautiously overnight, not daring to stay at night, and walked in the direction of Yancheng. A person whispered: "It's terrible! There are so many Beibei troops! There are all over the mountains... Fortunately, I ran back..."
Wang Zhi also felt very lucky, if he stayed, even if he stabbed Shen Jian to death, it would be difficult to escape from the battlefield. Now that Shen Jian is dead, it seems that the people on the mountain will not survive. Needless to say, when reporting to the prince, it can be said that he accompanied Shen Jian to investigate the military situation, and he pushed him to the arrows of Bei Rong Yashita, that's why he was shot to death... I will definitely be rewarded, but the two people around me know the inside story, if they tell others when they arrive in Yancheng, if their words are written into the memorial...
When they reached dawn, Wang Zhi said, "I really can't walk anymore, let's rest for a while!"
Those two men were not serious soldiers, and they were really tired from marching for so many days, so they agreed to Wang Zhi's suggestion. Wang Zhi found a leeward slope, and the three of them lay down, and the other two soon fell asleep. Wang Zhi took out the saber, and each of them killed the two of them. Thinking that Bei Rong was about to call, it was not a big deal to have multiple corpses, and they didn't bury them. They just searched their luggage to see if there was any available. He took the dry food for the two men, but did not move the gong in the luggage. He also wondered for a moment: Why do both of them have gongs? But when he killed someone, he always felt a little flustered, remembering that the man said that he thought he was just here to cheer, and he also thought it was to cheer for the soldiers. He didn't dare to stay longer, and then walked towards Yancheng.
Soon it was dawn. Wang Zhi turned his head inadvertently while walking, and a black smoke rose from the mountainous area he left.