Overnight, Weiguan, where the defense was empty, suffered a fire, just like the battle of Song Zou's fire on Yubiguan. Weiguan was completely occupied, and the gate was broken. The real main force of Yong Kingdom was immediately led by Ju Ling and rushed in. Inside the pass, and marched rapidly toward Jeju.
An army of 25,000 people dragged down the main force of Zheng State in Xundong. Now there are less than 10,000 soldiers in Jeju City, and Zheng State is about to face the fate of subjugation.
And Jiang Heng's strategy is exactly to plan, to lure the main team of Juicong into the hinterland of Zheng State, open an opening, and pull them to the front of Jeju City, and after the troops can be effectively dispersed, they will fight decisively.
"What if Juicong wasn't in this team?" Jie Gui said.
"He must be there," Geng Shu said, "he will never be absent from the moment he takes the King Zheng City."
No one knows Juicong better than Geng Shu. In this war to destroy the country, Juicong will not pretend to be someone else. He must personally break through the capital of Zheng Kingdom, walk up the steps in front of the palace, and enjoy his life with the greatest satisfaction. moment.
When they arrived in Jeju, they saw Yong State's soldiers and horses camping outside the city. Juicong sent troops to attack Xunshui, but to hold him back. He led 50,000 Yong army light cavalry into battle, crossed Weiguan, and headed for Jeju. .
Now these 50,000 people are digging tunnels in an orderly manner, using the method that Zhao Ling used to attack Luoyan, to let the city wall collapse in an instant, to declare their revenge to the Zheng people.
Juicong went personally, and in front of the 50,000-strong army outside the city, he said to the prince: "Give me the traitor Jiang Heng! I know he is in the city! Zhao Ling! You jump off the city wall again! I I will spare the lives of all the people in your city!"
Jiang Heng and Geng Shu had hurried into the city, and Sun Ying received them at the east gate, took them up to the city tower, and hid behind the corner tower.
Thinker
Nine thousand soldiers were sparsely arranged on the city wall.
Crown Prince Ling led the group of ministers, facing Juicong's provocation on the battlefield outside the city, unmoved, but laughed.
"The tide has turned," said Prince Ling. "Today it's your turn to call, King Yong."
Juicong was playing with the Lie Light Sword in his hand and looked at the city head. Zeng Yu and Juicing were protecting him. Every soldier in Yong Kingdom had a deep hatred for the Zheng people. Once the city wall was broken, the massacre of the city was inevitable.
"Your fake father has been dragged in the water by my army," said Juicong, "he won't come to save you! The fall of the territory is just around the corner, what else do you have to say now?"
"The battle for the subjugation of the country will never end!" Prince Ling said, "King Yong, don't talk nonsense any more! Come and attack the city! Blood debt is paid in blood!"
Juicong sneered, knowing that Prince Ling would not surrender the city, he turned around and ordered. The cavalry came, and after several days of rapid marching, before they could rest for a while, they began to attack the city without drinking a sip of water!
In an instant, Jeju became a battlefield. Jeju was sealed for more than 400 years. It was the place where Marquis Zheng made his fortune. The plains outside the river are sparse and suitable for planting, but the foundation is not as solid as Xichuan and falling geese. Juicong used a new method to block the Jishui in the upstream, intending to push the log through the flood of the river, and then let the soldiers step on the log and board the tower after the flood was removed.
"I'll leave it to you." Prince Ling hurried down the city wall and glanced at Geng Shu when he parted.
Geng Shu nodded, Jiang Heng and Jie Gui watched the flood roar from afar, and the logs were piled under the city wall.
"How many days can you hold on?" Jie Gui said.
"Three days at the latest," Geng Shu said, "the city wall will be broken, and street fighting will be the main force to hold back their main force."
Jie Gui was silent, and after a while he said, "What do you want to do?"
"Jie Gui." Jiang Heng said suddenly.
Jie Gui turned his attention to Jiang Heng, Jiang Heng descended the city wall, but Geng Shu did not follow, and began to line up his troops, arranging defenders at the height of the city wall, and withdrawing 7,000 people into the city, occupying various strategic positions.
Jiang Heng stood on the Jeju Bridge, and the main street was empty.
Jiang Heng said, "I've made up my mind."
Jiang Heng turned around, faced Jie Gui in the middle of the bridge, and said, "Jie Gui, I have decided to restore the status of Prince Wen. From this moment on, I will be Zhi Wen as far as you are concerned."
Jie Gui smiled and nodded.
"In the name of Juicong, I implore you to help me." Jiang Heng said, "In the past, you gave everything for my father, and he died at the hands of Juicong. Now I want to avenge the revenge of the year for him and exterminate the thief Juice. Cong."
"I owe my allegiance to you, Prince Wen." Immediately, Jie Gui lowered his injured left hand, pressed his right hand to his chest, and knelt on one knee on the Jeju Bridge.
"Please wake up." Jiang Heng said solemnly, "I will never forget your loyalty."
Under the dim sky, Jie Gui was like a sculpture. Jiang Heng stretched out a hand, pressed it on Jie Gui's shoulder, bowed to hold his right hand, and pulled him to stand up.
"Let's go," Jiang Heng said. "Success or failure is at this moment."
In the last second day of Prince Ling's life, he didn't go anywhere, so the guards stopped all the news and stayed in the palace.
"What is the rule of law and ethics?" Prince Ling smiled at Zhao Jiong, "Now you can get out of the way."
Zhao Jiong didn't say anything, he just looked at Prince Ling's body intently, his snow-white skin and body lines were very symmetrical, like snow.
Zhao Jiong and Prince Ling hugged each other, Prince Ling freed one hand and put down the curtain, other than that, it was the two of them breathing.
From dark to dawn, and until the last day of his life, Zhao Jiong served Prince Ling to bathe, burn incense, and wipe every inch of his skin with a cloth.
Zhao Jiong was naked, knelt on one knee in front of Prince Ling and kissed his body.
"What are you wearing today?" Zhao Jiong said, "Will you be wearing a royal suit?"
"No." Prince Ling said, "that linen robe. I remember the linen robe I wore when we first met when we were children."
So Zhao Jiong brought a sackcloth robe and bound it for the princeling, who was not wearing any underwear, and his figure was looming under the cloth robe.
The two of them were like sculptures. Under the skylight under the corridor, they looked at each other for a long time, until the sound of killing in the distance was getting closer, and the cry of "Broken the city-" spread outside the palace.
"Your Majesty," Jiang Heng said as he walked into the courtyard, "the time has come."
Prince Ling let go of Zhao Jiong's hand and said, "Then, I'll go first."
Zhao Jiong nodded, but Prince Ling did not look back and followed Jiang Heng out of the palace.
Later, when Jiang Heng stepped out of the courtyard, he heard a soft sound. It was the sound of a dagger piercing flesh and blood, and the sound of an iron blade cracking bones. He had heard this sound countless times. Behind them, Zhao Jiong pierced his heart with a dagger.
There was already chaos in the Zheng Palace, with corpses lying on the ground in front of the main gate outside the palace. Juicong's army kept entering the capital, but they were intercepted by soldiers who had been ambushed in advance in various streets.
"Your Majesty!" The ministers panicked and shouted, "Let's go! Get out of here! The Yong army has entered the city!"
Prince Ling turned a deaf ear, and after taking off his royal clothes, he only wore a sackcloth robe, and he didn't even have a sword around his waist. He looked at his country and his subjects with ease.
In the distance, a fire broke out in Jeju, and Yong Jun was constantly approaching in a passage opened by the fire.
"Let's start." Jiang Heng said in a low voice.
Prince Ling did not speak, turned around and went to the front of the ancestral temple, and went up the stairs. Geng Shu's face was covered in blood, he came in armor, and joined them in front of the ancestral temple.
Jie Gui also came, and the four climbed the steps and entered the ancestral temple of Zheng State.
Prince Ling had bathed and burned incense today, and his body was not stained with blood. He faced the tablets of the ancestors and lit the lamps one by one.
"Three, please accompany me for a glass of wine." Prince Ling poured another drink and distributed it among the three.
Jie Gui glanced at Jiang Heng, Jiang Heng signaled to drink, so the three of them drank each.
Geng Shu lost his strength in the fierce battle, his hands were still shaking a little, and nodded to Jiang Heng. Jiang Heng knew that he needed to rest. Later, Jiang Heng would lie in a pool of blood, with Geng Shu in his arms, and the head of Prince Ling beside him.
As long as Juicong approaches, Geng Shu will launch a decisive blow.
Jiang Heng temporarily asked him to sit on the side of the Qinglong statue, the protector of the country of Zheng.
"I'm going to ambush on the roof." Jie Gui replied.
Jiang Heng accompanied Prince Ling, Prince Ling said: "It's strange to say, Jiang Heng, I had this idea on the first day I met you."
"What are your thoughts?" Jiang Heng remembered the day he accompanied Ji Xun and Zhao Jie to their deaths when they were in Luoyang.
"This life will come to the end," said Prince Ling. "The person who accompanies me may be you. Now my hunch has become a reality."
"You're not dead yet." Geng Shu said.
Prince Ling smiled and knelt in front of the statue in Heyi, and shouts came from the ancestral temple.
"Jiang Heng," Prince Ling said to Jiang Heng again, "do you want to know the future of the world?"
Jiang Heng replied: "Do you want to divination?"
Prince Ling picked up the fortune-teller filled with bamboo sticks and said, "As a monarch, let me make a divination for the luck of Shenzhou, and I don't know if it's accurate or not."
Geng Shu was still adjusting his breath after the sculpture, Jiang Heng took out his dagger and said, "Bu, I'd like to know too."
But at this moment, Jiang Heng suddenly felt a numbness that spread from his tongue to his arms, and then quickly spread to his whole body.
I can't move... Jiang Heng couldn't even speak, the first thought was: the glass of wine.
Prince Ling turned his head and smiled at Jiang Heng.
The fire of Jeju Castle began to spread, and the flames flew along the east and south of the city. The 50,000 iron cavalry of Juicong scattered into the city, and smashed a bloody road. The autumn maple leaves were like blood, and the enemy troops guarding the main street were quickly wiped out by him.
"News—" The letter came galloping, "The road in front of the palace has been cleared, and General Zeng has captured the palace!"
"Juice!" Juicong shouted not far away.
Ju Ling led the army to come, Ju Cong said, "How's it going on your side!"
"The west of the city is under control!" Ju Ling shouted, "But the fire was so big that many soldiers were trapped in the sea of fire! We are trying to find a way to get out! Don't kill any more! Brother Wang!"
Juicong sneered, Zeng Yu came over and shouted: "Your Majesty! The ministers are all in the palace!"
Juicong said, "Where's Zhao Ling?"
Zeng Yu said: "He fled to the ancestral temple! There are still 800 soldiers in the imperial army, guarding in front of the ancestral temple!"
"Zeng Yu is going to help the princess put out the fire!" Ju Cong said, "I still have something to say, so I have to chat with Zhao Ling!"
Ju Cong dispatched 3,000 soldiers and horses towards the last road cleared in the sea of fire, towards the ancestral temple built high on the mountain by the Zheng Kingdom. The flames and thick smoke on both sides seemed to be a grand national sacrifice.
"Cut the wheels," Juicong finally instructed Zeng Yu, "Cut the grass and remove the roots, and leave no one behind."
Zeng Yu sighed, nodded reluctantly, and ordered the soldiers to prepare the wheels. Next, Zheng Guo will usher in the real subjugation of the country and the extinction of the species - all adult men taller than the wheels will be beheaded.
The last 800 imperial guard troops gathered in front of the ancestral temple. Juicong only used one round of charge and arrow rain to make the 800 corpses lay on the ground, and the blood dripped down the steps. .
Before getting off his horse, Ju Cong rode his horse up the steps to the eight giant cauldrons on the square outside the Dezong Temple. bell.
"Send the tripod back to Anyang." Juicong ordered, "Where's Zhao Ling?"
"It's in there!" shouted the guard.
Yong army surrounded the important places around the ancestral temple, holding a strong crossbow, rushed into the main hall of the temple in an instant, dispersed, and pointed the strong crossbow to the center.
"Sure enough, it's all here." Juicong was wearing armor, and the whole body was made of stainless steel, but when he heard the sound of the armor, he walked into the temple of Zheng Guozong.
"Crash, crash", Prince Ling was shaking the lottery in his hand.
The numbness of Jiang Heng's lips and tongue slowly receded, but it was too late. Prince Ling actually put anesthesia in that glass of wine!
Juicong only glanced at Jiang Heng, and when he saw that he slowly took out his dagger, he knew that Jiang Heng intended to kill himself. After all, with Jiang Heng's martial arts, he was prepared, and it was harder to kill himself than to ascend to the sky.
Thousands of powerful crossbows were aimed at Jiang Heng and Prince Ling at the same time.
"King Yong is finally here," Prince Ling said softly, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Juicong stopped a few steps away from Prince Ling. He felt that there might be someone behind the Qinglong statue. It's always better to be careful in everything.
At this distance, he has armor to protect himself, even if the opponent draws a sword and pounces on him, he can't help himself, not to mention that Prince Ling is dressed in commoners and has no weapons on his body.
"What are you doing?" Juicong said sarcastically, "May your ancestors bless you?"
"Fortune-telling of the world's qi," Prince Lingdao said, "divine the fortune of Shenzhou. It is said that before the monarch is about to die, divination is the most effective. Is King Yong anxious to kill me, or do you want to see the result?"
Ju Cong leaned the Lie Light Sword in front of him, like a towering mountain, and the armor reflected the luster in the autumn sun cast by the skylight at the top of the ancestral temple, like a god of war.
"It's okay to have a look." A smile appeared on Juicong's face.
"Crash, crash, crash" three times, Prince Ling shook the last three times.
Jiang Heng was already able to move. His original plan was to stab the princeling to death and then pretend to commit suicide by pretending to be dead. Then Geng Shu came forward, lifted the princeling's head, and suddenly assassinated Juicong, attracting the attention of the guards. Jie Gui finally Appearing from the side, a sword stabbed Juicong to death.
But now they have missed the best opportunity because of that glass of wine.
Geng Shu couldn't move for a short while, just at the last moment before Juicong walked into the ancestral temple, he recovered faster than Jiang Heng - but he did not act rashly, but clenched the black sword and calculated the distance.
He didn't know that Prince Ling had poisoned them for the sake of it, it was not important anymore, the opportunity was fleeting, and it could be salvaged. As long as Juicong took two steps forward, Geng Shu would have a certainty of success.
Nai Juicong never stepped forward, as if he felt that there was someone in ambush behind the Qinglong statue. After being assassinated by Jiang Heng, he was still very careful, even if he was protected by heavy armor, he would not rush into danger.
A bamboo sign made a soft sound and landed on the ground.
Prince Ling pulled his hair, picked up the bamboo stick, and then got up lightly, and at this moment, he turned around and faced Juicong.
Juicong raised his eyebrows.
"King Yong," Crown Prince Ling smiled slightly, "As you and I wish, Shenzhou will be prosperous and auspicious."
Jiang Heng suddenly realized one thing:
The fifth great assassin who only exists in legends and has never been seen!
A few steps away, Juicong was about to speak, either sarcastically or ordering an arrow to be fired, but his eyes suddenly widened.
Prince Ling flicked the bamboo stick, and the bamboo stick dropped, turning into a light and shadow flying in the air—
In an instant, the tough bamboo stick was in front of him!
At the juncture of life and death, Juicong immediately grabbed the Lieguang Sword to block, but the bamboo stick was too small, wiping the blade of the Lieguang Sword and flying straight over!
Only half an inch away, only half an inch away, Juicong backed away, but everything only happened in a flash of lightning!
The bamboo sticks are silent, and in the middle of the juice Cong is the weakest throat in the body, which is still unarmored!
In an instant, the bamboo stick pierced Ju Cong's neck, nailed it in the middle of his throat, castrated and blocked, and the end of the stick was exposed outside the back of his neck.
Juicy Cong: "… "
Juicong made a painful sound and fell to the ground, and Prince Ling's smile contained a wish-fulfilling mockery. The next moment, Yong Jun shouted and came to protect him, while the rest fired arrows at the same time.
With a loud roar, Geng Shu turned out from behind the statue, hugged Jiang Heng, rolled around, and rushed behind the pillar. Prince Ling closed his eyes, and fired a thousand arrows, all of which hit him, and the momentum brought him into the Qinglong statue.
The blood burst out and sprayed all over the hall. Prince Ling's whole body was shot through by arrows, and blood poured out of his mouth, spraying in front of him, like a bright red flower cluster.
Prince Ling was nailed to the Qinglong statue by thousands of arrows, and finally raised his hand, pointing at Jiang Heng, then at Juicong, his fingers trembled, a little, as if to signal, and then lowered his head.
In the sixth year of the third and sixth year of Emperor Hui's reign, in autumn, King Zhao Ling of Zheng died.