It was a late night.
Yuan Sikong was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly awakened by a loud noise. He jumped up from the bed in an instant, his eyes widened, his face covered in cold sweat, and his mind was somewhere between lucid and fuzzy.
After being silent for a while, he identified it carefully and found that he was not a nightmare, and there was really a sound outside.
Since the start of the war, in order to prevent spies from entering the city, Guangning Guard has already enforced a curfew. At this time, there should be no noise outside, unless something happened!
Yuan Sikong rolled over and got out of bed, quickly put on his clothes, and ran out.
Opening the door of the mansion, the scene in front of him was unforgettable for his life.
There were forests of torches, people's heads were surging, and countless wounded and disabled soldiers stepped across the streets of Guangning City like walking corpses, leaving muddy and blood-stained footprints. A strong smell of blood mixed with a gloomy cold air rushed into every pore of Yuan Sikong. He was trembling, his legs were weak, and he had to hold the door with his hands so as not to collapse.
He saw people covered in blood, people with missing arms and legs, people with eyeballs hanging from their chins, and a blur of people lying on wooden boards who didn't know if they were alive or dead.
It was the first time he saw a defeated army, the first time he faced such disability and death, the first time he felt the despair that could suffocate people.
"Sikong!"
A familiar voice pierced his eardrum amidst the noise, he turned his head and saw it was Xu Hu.
Xu Hu ran over and pushed him into the mansion: "What are you doing out here, go back quickly!"
Yuan Sikong grabbed Xu Hu's breastplate: "Uncle Xu, what's wrong! What's wrong!"
"General Han and the gold bandits fought in Maoer Valley and were defeated. Except for the center Chen Yulong who fled back to Guangning with 2,000 soldiers..." Xu Hu sighed heavily, "The whole army was wiped out."
Although he had already guessed it, but at the moment when it was confirmed from Xu Hu's mouth, Yuan Sikong still felt a bone-chilling chill piercing through him, and he tremblingly said: "Where is my father?"
"Master Qianhu is arranging the wounded and dispatching troops to strengthen the city defense."
"Where is he? I'll go find him."
"Oh, Sikong, won't you add to the chaos if you go now, why don't you come and help me take care of the wounded soldiers."
"Also."
Yuan Sikong was about to go out when he heard a call from behind: "Second brother."
Yuan Nanyu came out on crutches at some point, and even Yuan Weiling hurried over.
Yuan Sikong couldn't stand it and said: "Yu'er, go back to rest immediately, your leg injury is not healed, don't..."
"Are we defeated?" Yuan Nanyu grabbed Yuan Sikong's arm with a look of fear on his face, "Are the golden men going to invade Guangning City?"
Yuan Weiling scolded: "Don't talk nonsense, Guangning is guarded by father, and gold thieves can't get in!" There was a slight tremor in her clear voice.
Yuan Sikong took a deep breath: "Eldest sister is right, Guangning has a father, don't be afraid." He turned to Yuan Weiling again, "Sister, you must stay with your mother, winter is just the time when her old asthma is coming. When it's happening, don't let her think wildly."
"Don't worry." Yuan Weiling pulled Yuan Nanyu, "Yu'er, I'll take you back to your room."
"Second brother, where are you going?"
"I'm going to treat the wounded soldiers." Yuan Sikong ran out of the mansion without looking back, and followed Xu Hu.
Yuan Mao temporarily placed the wounded soldiers in the homes of ordinary people in the city, and asked all the doctors in the city to treat them. Yuan Sikong is not considered a doctor, and his medical skills are superficial, but because most of the injuries of the soldiers are on the surface but not on the inside, he can do what he can learn.
In addition, he also recorded the residences, injuries, wounds, and medications of more than 400 wounded soldiers, sorted them out according to the severity of the injuries, and copied several copies for the doctors who treated them.
When Yuan Mao found him, he had been up all day and night without sleep.
Yuan Mao pulled him aside and said seriously, "Who told you to come here?"
"Konger wants to help, so many wounded soldiers, Konger..."
"This is not a place for children!" Yuan Mao sternly said, "Go home immediately."
Yuan Sikong was not afraid of Yuanmao this time, and said straightforwardly: "Father, Guangning is in a hurry, everyone is in danger, since I can do one or two things, how can I stand by and watch?"
"You are still young, so you know that fighting is not a child's play!"
Yuan Sikong stared at his bloodshot eyes, and retorted: "Yue Yun joined the army at the age of twelve, Gan Luo envoy Zhao at the age of twelve, and Luo Shixin suppressed the rebellion at the age of fourteen. The ambition is not young, so what is Konger's joke?!"
"You..." Yuan Mao looked at the resolute sharpness in Yuan Sikong's eyes, and was speechless for a moment.
"Father." Yuan Sikong took Yuan Mao's hand and said sincerely: "Konger wants to share his worries, Konger knows no less than others, doesn't daddy trust Konger?"
Yuan Mao lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Father doesn't want you to see the cruelty of the world too early."
"If the city of Guangning is destroyed, Kong'er will not only 'see', the people in the city will not be able to hide from the saber of the gold thief." Yuan Sikong trembled, "In any case, we must defend Guangning, Kong'er can do it." What, you must go all out."
Yuan Mao sighed softly, and patted Yuan Sikong's head: "You are a good boy, it's fine, you can treat the wounded here, but pay attention to rest, don't wear your body down."
"Kong'er understands." Yuan Sikong asked back, "Father, how is the current military situation?"
"Han Zhaoxing lay ambush in Maoer Valley. His life and death are uncertain. The soldiers who accompanied him died or were captured. Those who returned to Guangning only had more than 2,000 soldiers and many were disabled." Yuan Mao's gaze drifted to the north involuntarily, "Jin People are marching towards Guangning with a large army, and the military situation is worrying."
Yuan Sikong bit his trembling lips: "How many soldiers and horses does the Jinren have?"
"It is said that there are 100,000 soldiers and horses, and the scouts reported that they are at least 70,000."
Yuan Sikong clenched his fist tightly: "How many troops can we mobilize?"
Yuan Mao lowered his head and did not answer.
"Father, what's the use of hiding from me?"
"Including the 2,000 soldiers brought back by Chen Yulong, there are no more than 4,000."
Seventy thousand against four thousand, Yuan Sikong only felt a chill run through his body.
"Lord Li has already sent people to call in reinforcements. The Zuo Tunwei may still send two thousand troops. If we get six thousand troops, I will have another city to defend. I will not be afraid of gold thieves."
"Father, as long as there is enough food and grass in the city, we will definitely be able to defend it!"
Yuan Mao nodded: "The grain and grass in the city are enough for one year old."
Yuan Sikong felt at ease, and there were many battles where few soldiers forced the army to retreat. Although the situation was critical, it was not hopeless.
—
Although the city was full of wounded soldiers, Yuanmao was well managed and remained in order. However, rumors and fears were everywhere in the city, and the people were panicked.
A few days later, they got even worse news. The 2,000 reinforcements sent by Zuo Tunwei were ambushed by the Jin people halfway and wiped out.
On October 28th of the 16th year of Zhaowu, the eldest Jurchen prince Zhuo Letai led 70,000 troops, with the heart of tigers and wolves to dominate Liaodong, crossed Huangshui, and marched into Guangningwei.
No one would have thought that this battle would occupy a place in the magnificent history of the Dasheng Empire.
On the day when the army came down, there was a blizzard, the cold wind raged, and the whiteness covered every inch of permafrost in Liaodong, but it could not cover the people who were covered in darkness and covered the mountains and fields. It was not only 70,000 people, but even 70,000. Sharp blades, 70,000 hungry wolves, and 70,000 devils, once they break through the city gate, Guangning will bloody the earth, leaving no armor left.
Yuan Mao stood at the top of the city, staring at Zhuo Letai's blood-colored commander-in-chief flying dazzlingly in the wind and snow, and did not move for a long time.
"Lord Qianhu." A soldier climbed up the city wall and said respectfully, "The scouts report that Zhuo Letai has camped ten miles outside the city."
"Keep watching."
"yes."
Yuan Shaoxu said: "Father, I don't know how many days the heavy snow will fall. I'm afraid that as soon as the snow melts, Zhuo Letai will attack the city."
"With his strength, the siege will inevitably cause countless damage. I heard that this man is brave and resourceful. I'm afraid he won't be so reckless. Let's just wait for it to change."
"Besides Zuo Tunwei, where else can we go to ask for help..."
Yuan Mao frowned. It was difficult for him to have extravagant hopes for being able to invite reinforcements. From the abandonment of the seven prefectures in northern Liaoning, he could actually see the attitude of the imperial court. Lost like a child.
The desire of the country is only the ears of the land. When a dynasty can already retreat step by step to the king's land, I am afraid that it will not last long. Of course, Yuan Mao only dared to think about it in his heart, he was only a fifth-rank guard, and he didn't dare to speculate on the emperor's heart, he only wanted to guard Guangning and his hometown.
—
This heavy snowfall may have been an eye-opener for God, and he was very competitive for three days. The snow was knee-deep and it was difficult to move.
Yuan Mao and Yuan Shaoxu hadn't returned home for several days, Yue Qingshuang was worried about her husband and son, so she prepared hot meals and asked Yuan Sikong to deliver them.
Yuan Sikong stepped on the snow and passed the most lively streets and alleys in Guangning. In the past, there were many shops here, and there was a constant stream of people coming and going. Zhang Xiazi's bun shop on the street has been open for more than 20 years, and the business is booming. His whole family loves to eat. Now almost all the shops are closed, and those who have relatives and friends who can go to them have left the city early to seek refuge. The street scene is bleak, which makes people feel very uncomfortable.
When Yuan Sikong found Yuanmao, he was discussing the military situation, and the map of Liaodong was spread on the huge platform.
Yuan Sikong walked in quietly, Yuan Mao just glanced at him, and continued talking to Chen Yulong.
Although Chen Yulong is above Yuan Mao, he is a general of the Han army and cannot interfere with the defense of Guangning City. Li Boyun is not here, and Qian Anyu is a civil servant who does not know how to lead troops to fight. The actual highest commander of Guangning Guard is Yuan Mao .
Yuan Sikong put down his food, looked at him and leaned over, wanting to look at the map, he was small, but no one noticed him.
At this time, a sergeant was heard shouting "report" and rushed into the house in a hurry.
"Lord Qianhu, Han... Zongbing Han is back!"
Everyone in the room was astonished.