When Chen Yulong brought back the news that Han Zhaoxing's life and death were uncertain, they already believed that this person was more than auspicious, but now that he has come back again, they were surprised, and everyone felt complicated.
It seemed that even his subordinate Chen Yulong was not obviously happy.
Because the reason why Han Zhaoxing was able to turn back from the dead was probably because he was captured, and he was released after being captured, which has to make people imagine.
Han Zhaoxing rode back to the city alone, the horse under his crotch was still his horse, but the horse lost his soul just like a human being, the soldiers died in battle, and the general survived, what a shame it was.
"Master Yuan, do you want to open the city gate?" the city gate guard respectfully asked.
Yuan Mao stood at the top of the city, looking at the horses that were anxiously trampling back and forth in the snow, and Han Zhaoxing who described himself as embarrassed, feeling a little hesitant in his heart. He recognized that horse, it wasn't a Liaodong horse, nor a Qin horse, but a pure-blooded Jurchen horse that had been seized before, and he couldn't find a better horse than it in Liaodong, so it was naturally taken in by the Chief Soldier subordinate. A good horse also needs a good general to control, and now this horse still has a trace of the majestic spirit of a Jurchen horse, just like Han Zhaoxing, it is full of the depression of a defeated general.
At this time, he was guarding Guangning, and Han Zhaoxing rode back to the city alone. He was suspected of collaborating with the enemy. It was only natural for him not to open the city gate, but if he didn't open it, Han Zhaoxing would only have a dead end, and everyone around him was watching him.
Yuan Sikong took advantage of the chaos and followed up, yelling anxiously in his heart: "Don't drive, don't drive."
Yuan Mao closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Open the city gate."
"Father!" Yuan Shaoxu was anxious.
Once Han Zhaoxing returned to the city, the military power in Guangning was no longer in Yuanmao's hands.
"My lord, this is..."
Yuan Mao waved his hand to stop those who dissuaded him: "I was a general in the same dynasty as Han Zongbing, and we also guarded Liaodong together. Although he was defeated this time, if he refused to defeat the general behind closed doors, wouldn't it make other soldiers feel cold? Moreover, Han Zongbing must Know the enemy situation better than scouts, open the door."
"Father, what if he cooperates with the enemy!"
Yuan Mao's eyes showed coldness: "If he colludes with the enemy, I will kill him with my own hands. After this battle is over, I will plead guilty to the court." Yuan Mao's resolute and upright voice was mixed in the bitter cold wind. The majesty makes people dare not comment.
The city gate guard shouted with great reluctance: "Open the gate, and welcome the commander-in-chief of Han back to the city."
Yuan Mao walked towards the stairs, and when he passed by Yuan Shaoxu, he patted him on the shoulder seriously: "You have joined the army, and outside of home, there are only masters and slaves, no father and son."
"... yes." Yuan Shaoxu bowed with an extremely unwilling expression.
Yuan Sikong was soft-spoken, not even qualified to express dissatisfaction like Yuan Shaoxu, but just clenched his fists and glared at Han Zhaoxing viciously.
Yuan Mao is a very talented person, honest and upright, and well-managed the army, otherwise he would not be a thousand households in his first year. The only reason why he was not promoted was that he did not fight and had no opportunity. On the other hand, Han Zhaoxing, Although he was in the general army of Liaodong, he suffered repeated defeats. He lost Qingzhou first, and then lost Huangshui. Half of Liaodong was ruined by him. If he were to take charge of the defense of Guangning, it would be difficult for Guangning to survive. !
Regardless of my lord, Yuan Sikong doesn't know what Han Zhaoxing's background is, but appointing such an incompetent person in an important position is simply poisoning the Central Plains.
Yuan Mao went to meet Han Zhaoxing himself.
After Han Zhaoxing entered the city, he burst into tears, with a face of remorse and self-blame. Yuan Mao didn't comfort him, but waited for his mood to stabilize, and asked him about the situation of the war that day, and how he was able to return to the city.
Only then did Han Zhaoxing confess that Zhuo Letai captured him and more than 4,000 soldiers alive, and let him go back to the city alone to persuade him to surrender.
Han Zhaoxing said with tears: "If it weren't for the four thousand soldiers still in the hands of the gold thieves, how could I have the face to survive in the world."
Yuan Mao asked for instructions: "Lord Chief Soldier, how should we deal with it now?"
"Where is Master Li?"
"Master Li went to the capital to ask for help."
"How about the food, grass and armor in the city?"
Yuanmao reported truthfully. There are still 4,000 soldiers in the city, but 600 of them are disabled, and a few hundred are in charge of various supplies such as grain, horses, armor, and clothing. He even integrated the guards raised by the officials and generals. Not more than 3,000 people. The only good thing is that there is enough food and grass to last for a year.
After Han Zhaoxing listened, he was silent for a while, and then he said after a long while: "Zuo Letai leads 70,000 troops. Ten will besiege them, five will attack them, and the gold thieves are twenty times as large as mine. The weather is cold, and it is not conducive to besieging the city for a long time. We must attack them." .”
"The weather is so unfavorable for fighting, and siege is the next choice. The last general thought that Zhuo Letai wanted to make peace, and letting you come back was a signal."
"He let me back to persuade me to surrender." Han Zhaoxing touched his forehead, "If I don't surrender, those four thousand soldiers will die soon. Why don't we think of a plan to deceive him."
Chen Yulong said: "If he surrenders immediately, Zhuo Letai must be suspicious, why don't he let one or two thousand soldiers come back first to show his sincerity."
In other words, there is no need for the rest.
Yuan Mao immediately objected: "No. If Zhuo Letai puts spies in it, it will cause a catastrophe." Let alone one or two thousand people, even if one is released, it may be bought by Zhuo Letai with a lot of money.
"Is there another good strategy?" Han Zhaoxing looked around the crowd.
There was a silence.
Han Zhaoxing raised his tone: "Should I just let my soldiers fend for themselves?"
Yuanmao cupped his hands and said: "Master Zongbing, let's assume that they all died in Mao'er Valley."
Yuan Sikong nodded appreciatively, there is no solution to this matter, if you want to preserve Guangning, you must abandon them.
Han Zhaoxing slapped the table hard, his beard trembled with anger, he stared at Yuan Mao but couldn't speak, after all, these words sounded extremely ironic, and it was hard for him to refute.
The room was silent again, obviously everyone agreed with Yuan Mao's words, after all, except for Han Zhaoxing and Chen Yulong, all of them were generals of the Guangning Guard, and they were not convinced by Han Zhaoxing at all.
Han Zhaoxing also pondered for a moment, and then said: "If I feign surrender and lure Zhuo Letai into the city, what if I set up an ambush to arrest him?"
"This is a plan." Yuan Mao said, "However, as Lord Chen said, this surrender is not good, and Zhuo Letaiwan will not believe it. If you want to feign surrender, the time is ripe."
"Why is the time ripe?"
"In the first battle, both the enemy and us were injured, so it would be logical to feign surrender at that time."
Han Zhaoxing's cheeks twitched, he lowered his head and thought for a long time: "In the final analysis, we still have to guard."
"yes."
"Okay!" Han Zhaoxing stood up, "We swear to live and die with Guangning!"
All the soldiers roared in unison: "We swear to live and die with Guangning!"
"Yuanmao."
"The end will be here."
"Follow me to inspect the city defense situation."
"yes."
Han Zhaoxing left the chamber first, and Yuan Mao followed.
When he reached the door, Han Zhaoxing found Yuan Sikong hiding in the corner: "Where did you come from?"
"This is the son of the last general, who came to deliver the meal."
It was only then that Han Zhaoxing remembered that he had seen him on the training ground that day, and he didn't care, so he left in a hurry.
Yuan Mao said: "Kong'er, go back."
"Father, mother is worried about you and elder brother, fan..."
"Put it somewhere." Yuan Mao was in no mood to eat, so he left without looking back.
Yuan Sikong watched everyone in the room go to work on their own, guarding their lunch boxes, feeling quite uncomfortable. As long as he is three years older, he will be able to join the army. Now he has enthusiasm and military skills, but it is useless.
Looking at the back of Han Zhaoxing who was going away, Yuan Sikong's eyes became deeper and deeper. This person is indecisive, with mediocre talents and learning. If he dies in the hands of the gold thief, it will be a one-and-done one. He even suspects that Zhuo Letai let Han Zhaoxing back because he is incompetent.
Yuan Sikong gritted his teeth, worried, picked up his lunch box, and chased after him.
Under the city wall, Yuan Shaoxu found him first, took him aside, frowned and said, "Didn't Dad tell you to go back? Why do you always like to go to the important things and places."
Yuan Sikong had a bitter face: "Brother, you and your father have not returned home for several days, and your mother misses you day and night, and you can't sleep or eat. She told me to watch you eat your meals."
Yuan Shaoxu showed a trace of shame: "Then you don't come here, go back to the meeting hall and wait."
Yuan Sikong was about to add excuses when he heard a sound from the city wall, and the sentinel blew the horn, two short and one long, it was the signal of the enemy's attack.
Yuan Shaoxu left him and rushed up the city wall.
Yuan Sikong put the lunch box aside, and followed a few soldiers up in the chaos. Everyone knew that he was the son of Yuanmao, and they didn't know whether he should take care of it, so no one went to do it.
Yuan Sikong hid in the most secluded place. Looking outside, he saw a group of Jurchens riding lightly on snow. The horses were not fast. Looking carefully, each horse was tied with a soldier of Sheng, who was following the horses. Stumbled and ran.
Walking to the place where the bows and arrows were out of reach, the cavalry team stopped, and the leading general shouted angrily, "I am the forward general Manghuaer, Han Zhaoxing, will you surrender or not?"
Han Zhaoxing's face was livid and he didn't speak.
Manghuaer asked three times in a row, each roaring louder than the other.
Seeing that no one answered, he laughed wildly: "I have an army of 100,000 soldiers from the Kingdom of Jin, and I will destroy your mere egg city, and I will come down just around the corner. I will lead the eldest prince Hong En, come and tell me, if you surrender, you will not be killed!"
Han Zhaoxing played tricks on Chen Yulong.
Chen Yulong yelled back: "You're a barbarian, you're so daring, you won't get off your horse and kneel down to me, Dasheng Emperor Tianwei."
"The defeated general, An dare to speak bravely? Hahahahaha—"
Chen Yulong's face was distorted with anger.
Mang Huaer gestured to his subordinates.
The subordinates dismounted one after another, cut off the ropes that bound the dozens of soldiers with their waist knives, drove them into a ball, and then began to pour lamp oil on them.
Then, the fire engulfed them in an instant.
More than a dozen soldiers and captives screamed and howled, and they were blown into the air by the cold wind, which was so dark to the bone.
The people on the city wall were full of anger and unbearable, their eyes were about to bleed, and many soldiers showed fear on their faces.
Yuan Sikong stared blankly at the soldiers who were eroded by the fire and rolled helplessly and desperately on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.
A moment ago, he was still a living person, but in the blink of an eye, he turned into a fireball. When they were alive, they were other people's fathers, husbands, and sons. They all had their own laughter and tears, memories and stories, but now they all turned into a horrible mess.
How cruel this is, how cruel this is!
Manghuaer rode a horse, jokingly circled around the soldiers who were burned to death, and roared arrogantly: "If you surrender, you will not be killed! Otherwise, I will use the corpses of four thousand of your soldiers to build a ladder, climb up your city wall, and kill them." Just your men, steal your women, hahahahaha—"
The group of Jurchen cavalry followed suit and shouted: "If you surrender, you won't kill! If you surrender, you won't kill! If you surrender, you won't kill!"
Yuan Sikong's legs softened, and he sat on the ground while leaning on the city wall. His eyes were bloodshot and red. In addition to trembling and fear, there was burning anger.