〖In the second month of Guiyou, the 22nd year of Xiande, King Yong Li Zhi defeated the Northern Han again, but the ruler of the Northern Han issued an decree to make Weiyuan General Long Tingfei regain his love. , Li Zhi was defeated and retreated, but his troops were not greatly damaged. In March of the same year, Dayong North Han negotiated peace.
At the beginning of April, King Li Xian of Qi went south, Chen Bing Xiangyang, and then Prince Jue of Germany defeated Xiangyang. Then there were people in the court saying that Prince De had the military power in his hands, and he was training troops from time to time to attack the north. Therefore, Dayong sent troops to attack Chu. Regret, ordered Prince De to go to Xiangyang at night.
— "The History of Chu in the Southern Dynasties: The Biography of Prince De Jue"〗
I stood in front of the window with my hands behind my back, looking at the cold moonlight, Xiao Shunzi was standing behind me, and Chen Zhen was standing at the door. Xiao Shunzi said, "Sir, how do you plan to reply to the letter from His Royal Highness Prince Yong? The messenger is still waiting."
I said lightly: "You write a reply for me, saying that King Qi will definitely not be able to win. If Prince De is here, even if Prince Yong comes in person, it will not be so easy to break through Jingxiang, which is guarded by Prince De. I am a minister of Nanchu, why? There is a reason to take refuge in Dayong. But it seems that Dayong is about to start an army, Chen Zhen, you have to send someone to monitor Liang Wan well, I think they should make some moves."
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, I nodded, Chen Zhen stepped forward to open the door, and a fourteen-year-old boy walked in and said with one knee, "Young Master, there is urgent news that the King of Dayong Qi, Li Xian, is attacking. Xiangyang."
I smiled lightly, Li Xian still knows the art of war, if Jingxiang falls into Dayong's hands, then the connection between Shuzhong and Jiangnan will be cut off, then Dayong can devour Nanchu whales. But I believe in the ability of Prince De, Jingxiang's defense is very strict.
In the next few days, there was a lot of discussion in the court. Dayong attacked Southern Chu, causing those ministers to be both afraid and angry. Some people angrily asked Dayong to ask the guilt, but more people were there discussing how they offended Dayong. Some people even said that they should immediately submit to Dayong, expressing his guilt and asking Dayong to withdraw his troops. It was Shang Weijun, the prime minister, who had a firmer stance and asked to send envoys to question Dayong why he committed the crime for no reason. Although this proposal was unanimously agreed, the people of the Manchu Dynasty were even more uneasy, so people secretly visited Mingyuelou for several days. Want some reassurance. I have not stopped these, even the ministers in the DPRK have lost confidence in Nan Chu, what else can I do
I asked Xiao Shunzi to take out the military deployment map of Xiangyang and carefully study it. Xiangyang is actually composed of Xiangcheng and Fancheng. The two cities face each other across the Han River and are connected by a pontoon bridge. The enemy's split attack will inevitably weaken the strength and cannot break through. If the enemy attacks a city, the soldiers of the two cities can exchange support through the pontoon, coupled with the protection of the navy, so Xiangyang is easy to defend and difficult to attack. When Prince De arrived in Xiangyang, he sent someone to send me the defense plan and asked me to advise him. I did not give a clear answer, but gave Prince De the design of a pontoon bridge. If the original wooden bridge was damaged, it would be difficult to repair it. Instructed to erect two rows of stakes in the river, each stake is hammered into the bottom of the river with a few feet of wood, with iron chains on it and wooden boards on it, which is a pontoon bridge that can be repaired at any time. Bell's fishing net took samples to Prince De, and asked him to put the fishing net underwater during the battle to prevent the water ghosts from attacking and destroying the pontoon bridge. I just gave Prince Germany a picture and a fishing net. As for how to deploy the defense, it is Prince Germany's own idea, which has nothing to do with me. It seems that if Prince De guards Xiangyang, he will not easily fall, but King Qi doesn't know that Xiangyang is easy to defend and difficult to attack.
On April 14, King Li Xian of Qi ordered a siege of the city, and the offensive was in full swing. The soldiers of Dayong were not afraid of casualties and desperately attacked the city. Prince De ordered the navy to attack the infantry of the King of Qi with bows and arrows, forcing them to retreat, and the King of Qi made a second comeback. , they used trebuchets to force back the navy, and the army took advantage of the situation to attack the city and attacked the north gate of Xiangyang day and night. Seeing that the situation was in critical condition, Prince De led 3,000 cavalry out from the south gate and attacked the side of the Yong army. The Yong army did not expect Nanchu. The army dared to leave the city, and their positions were in chaos. King Li Xian of Qi ordered to send 5,000 elite cavalry to meet the enemy, and led Zhao Jue to the east gate to defeat them with rolling wooden stones. Li Xian was furious and sent 20,000 troops to defend the two flanks. He urged the 80,000 troops to attack the north gate in turn. The north gate was in jeopardy. After a sneak attack from the back, the two sides attacked. Li Xianjian suffered heavy losses and had to retreat. Zhao Jue pursued for 30 miles, and the Yong army was heavily injured. Zhao Jue retreated. , Southern Chu defenders 70,000, 20,000 casualties, this is a tragic victory. When the Yong army retreated, Zhao Jue immediately sent people to report the victory in the middle of the court and asked for reinforcements.
In the court at this time, Zhao Jia looked at Zhao Jue's badge of victory and was both happy and worried, he said: "Everyone, although Uncle Wang has won, but Dayong's army is ten times stronger than me, what should we do? OK?"
Shang Weijun replied: "Reporting to the lord, although Dayong lost the alliance this time, our troops are far inferior to Dayong. Why don't we take this opportunity to send someone to ask Dayong for peace."
After hearing this, everyone said that this should be the case. At this moment, someone reported that the envoy sent to Dayong had returned, and Zhao Jia quickly ordered him to go to the temple. This envoy, Fu Yulun, was a Tanhua in the sixteenth year of Xiande, and now serves in the Ministry of Rites. He knelt down and said: "This minister has sent an envoy to Dayong, but he was stopped by King Li Xian of Qi before he entered Dayong. He claimed This time the army invaded Chu for the sake of the Qing monarch, and this is a letter from the Qi king to the lord of the state."
Zhao Jia hurriedly asked the waiter to take it over, and after a closer look, the following was written on it.
"King Dayong Qi pays homage to the lord of Southern Chu, this time raising troops is not for other things, Prince De Zhao Jue, Langzi Ambition, sits in Xiangyang, fiercely fights horses, peeps at my Dayong border from time to time, and what's more, intends to snatch the divine weapon, If this person is not eliminated, there will never be a peaceful day in Dayong Nanchu. This king and the country’s lord, uncle Lang, are close relatives. If you don’t believe it, please order him to return to the court. You will definitely push back three and four, and refuse to accept. The situation is great, once the lord of the kingdom restores the imperial business, and that person raises the army to cause chaos, I, Dayong, will not be able to intervene. If the lord of the kingdom relinquishes his military power, our two countries will be in harmony as before. That's it."
Zhao Jia looked at it and felt chills all over his body. If you want to believe it, you suspect that he is alienating the ruler and ministers. If you don't believe it, since Zhao Jue returned from attacking the Shu Kingdom, he has repeatedly asked for money and food for the military, and since he settled in Xiangyang, he refused to return to the DPRK. Could it be true? Revolting, and thinking that Zhao Jue's voice is far superior to himself, he can't help but feel jealous. Indifferently said: "Uncle Wang wins, he should also return to the court to receive the reward, pass on his will, and make Prince Zhaode return to the court."
Zhao Jue, who was far away in Jingxiang, refused to return to the court after receiving the decree. The above stated that the military situation was urgent and he could not return to the court for the time being. Originally, Zhao Jia had only one point of suspicion towards Zhao Jue. A little bit more suspicious, and several edicts were issued. At first, Zhao Jue refused to comply with the order on the grounds that the generals in foreign countries would not accept the order, but Zhao Jia's edicts became more and more sharp, and finally, even the courtiers also raised their eyebrows. Suspicious, in desperation, Zhao Jue handed over Jingxiang's defense to Rong Yuan, and returned to Jianye with some personal guards. There are still dozens of miles away from Jianye. A plain-looking man came to block the road and gave Zhao Jue a letter. Zhao Jue opened it and looked at it, but it was a line of elegant and elegant handwriting.
"It was a big mistake that you didn't return at the beginning, and it's even more wrong to come back today. Only now, you might as well turn back to Jingxiang and support your troops."
Zhao Jue looked at it, sighed, burned the letter on the fire, and said, "Thank your master for me, and tell him that Zhao Jue is not a traitor."
The man retreated silently.
When he arrived at Jianye, Zhao Jue went to the palace gate to ask for a meeting, but was imprisoned by Zhao Jia's edict. Although Zhao Jue explained the reason for his unwillingness to come back, it was of no avail. In Zhao Jia's heart, if he was worried that King Qi Li Xian would not retire as promised. , Zhao Jue had been convicted long ago. While Zhao Jue was in prison, suddenly some courtiers came to the table and demanded that Zhao Jue be killed, but Zhao Jia was not confused yet, but released Zhao Jue from prison and temporarily placed him under house arrest.
It was my idea to ask for Zhao Jue to be killed. After I got a message from Chen Zhen that Zhao Jue would not commit a rebellion, I thought of this method. Zhao Jue is a loyal minister and a stupid person. If he had come back immediately , Zhao Jia will definitely know that he is wrong, so Zhao Jue can go back to Xiangyang soon. Since he didn't come back at first, and now he comes back again, he seems guilty of being a thief. Zhao Jia is a wiser person, so he can't help but be suspicious, not to mention I don't think Zhao Jia is any smarter than an idiot. After Zhao Jue was placed under house arrest, I was really embarrassed. According to my thoughts, it would be better if Zhao Jue could not come out, so that the opportunity I needed would come soon. I really can't bear the situation of suffering words. Even if Nan Chu is going to perish, it should be after the people who love it do their best. So I wrote to Rong Yuan at the time, telling him to instigate the officials to come forward and demand Zhao Jue be executed. The messengers I sent were very fast. Not long after Zhao Jue arrived in Jianye, the people sent by Rong Yuan arrived. He sent people to provoke those who were afraid of Dayong to show up. Sure enough, Zhao Jia was not confused yet. I still have general confidence in Zhao Jue. I saw so many people asking to kill Zhao Jue, but I became suspicious. Zhao Jue's life was saved, and now we need to see when he can return to Xiangyang, which depends on Dayong. helped.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for King Qi to attack Jingxiang again. This King Qi is really too patient. If it were King Yong, I'm afraid he would have to wait longer. Rong Yuan can finally do it and stabilize the situation in Jingxiang. The urgent arrival of the documents made the lord wake up immediately, and hurriedly sent Zhao Jue back to Xiangyang. Zhao Jue didn't care about anything, and immediately brought his personal guards on the road. Not long after he arrived outside the city, Zhao Jue saw a handsome and elegant young man sitting in the Shili Pavilion. There was a pot of wine and two wine cups on the stone table in the pavilion. Behind him, stood a plain-looking middle-aged man. , In the four corners of the pavilion, there are two half-boys of fifteen or sixteen years old standing everywhere. Zhao Jue threw off the saddle with a smile, and gave a deep salute in front of the young man: "Thanks for being rescued by Suiyun, Zhao Jue is very grateful, and I am ashamed to be sent to you today."
I stood up and saluted: "The lord has a lot of good fortune. Naturally, those ghost tricks can't hurt the lord. The lord is going to Jingxiang, and the future is far away, so I came with Yunte to see him off."
A servant stepped forward, poured two glasses of wine for us, and then quietly backed away. Zhao Jue saw that the servant was smart and handsome, and couldn't help but feel good about him, and said: "Suiyun has been pampered for the past few years, these servants As soon as I saw it, I knew it was everyone's demeanor, and there was a little more of a bookish scent."
I smiled lightly, raised my glass and said, "I persuade you to have a glass of wine, I will go to Jingxiang and wish Lu Ping."
Zhao Jue raised his glass and drank it and said, "It's a pity that Suiyun refused to go to Jingxiang with me. If there is Suiyun in town, Jingxiang will be safe."
I chuckled and said, "Your Highness, didn't you look down on Mr. Rong?"
Zhao Jue stood up and said: "Okay, I will see you a thousand miles away, and I will finally have to say goodbye. The military affairs of Jingxiang are urgent, and I am in a hurry to hurry, so I will leave. When the Yong army is defeated, you and I will meet again for a drink. If you are unfortunate, please follow me. Come and pay homage to my grave."
Hearing this, the wine glass in my hand almost slipped. Today I taught him a lesson. In the past two years, I have gradually gained some experience in divination, but this morning, after taking a bath and burning incense, I taught him a lesson, but I got A fierce hexagram means that the middle way will die prematurely. Now that Zhao Jue's words contain a fierce letter, it is even more chilling. Zhao Jue got on his horse and was about to leave when I suddenly said: "My lord, I have two attendants, although they are young, but they are quite proficient in martial arts, so I will ask them to accompany the lord to Xiangyang on behalf of Suiyun, and also talk about the fact that the lower officials cannot accompany him. It's a pity. Pioli and Bai Yi, you guys have come to see the prince." Zhao Jue looked at the two children who came forward to salute, and smiled bitterly: "Suiyun, it's a long journey, why don't you embarrass the children?"
I said lightly: "They are skilled in bowing and horses, and they will not miss the prince's itinerary."
Zhao Jue wanted to persuade him again, but seeing that my intention was firm and time was running out, he had to wave the whip to leave and leave.
Zhao Jue rushed all the way. Except for changing horses, he even ate and slept on the saddle. He was worried that the two children Jiang Zhe sent by his side would not be able to support him, but every time he looked, he could see the spirit of the two children. They looked perfect, so Zhao Jue stopped worrying about them later. Seeing that there are still more than 300 miles to go, one more horse should be able to reach Xiangyang. Zhao Jue stretched his waist immediately and said: "Okay, there is a tea shed in front of us. Let's take a break here, have lunch, and then rush to Xiangyang. How about it?" Everyone was very happy. They are exhausted, and although they have to hurry, it is good to have a rest for a while.
Thief Li and Bai Yi heard Zhao Jue's order, and Thief Li got off the horse first, took a few steps to the tea shed, and ordered to clean up a few tables and put hot tea on it. Although the tea shed is small, there are some side dishes such as salted peanuts. Li also let him put it on, turned the boss's messenger around, and tidied up the seat after a while, but Bai Yi automatically went to ask for the copper basin of boiling water, washed it clean, took out the square towel from the package, and waited for Zhao Jue to sit down. I came to serve him to wash his face and brush the dust. Although Zhao Jue is a royal family, but after many years of fighting on the battlefield, the enjoyment of these noble families has long been out of reach. Seeing this pair of servants so capable, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. After he sat down, drank a cup of hot tea, and devoured dry food with salted peanuts, he saw that Thief Li and Bai Yi had already finished eating early, and were in the process of eating. There the boss was urged to feed the horses. Zhao Jue couldn't help but say: "What a pair of capable children, Jiang Zhuangyuan is really good, training a pair of servants to such a degree."
One of his personal guards smiled and said, "If the adults like it, go back and tell Lord Jiang, and ask them to serve."
Although Zhao Jue knew that not to mention the two servants and servants, it is common for wealthy families to love concubines and maids as gifts, but he still shook his head and said, "A gentleman does not win people's love, these two children were not trained casually. "
Everyone chatted and laughed for a while, Zhao Jue ordered to go on the road, at this moment, a personal guard suddenly screamed, everyone looked, but saw a silver arrow shot through his vest.
Everyone was a member of the military, and immediately looked for obstacles to avoid, but heard a loud laugh, a man in white slowly walked out of the forest, I saw that this man was very handsome, and Xiu Wei's figure was wrapped in the white samurai robe. Standing upright, a large silver-white bow with an almost perfect arc hangs from the left shoulder, and the quiver of the same color is tied diagonally around the waist. Both the clothes and the bow and arrows are exquisite and unusual. It is obvious that their owner is a very elegant person. Zhao Jue said with a chill in his heart: "It was Duanmuqiu, the prodigal son of the silver bow."
The man in white said with a smile: "The villain is exactly. I heard that Prince De is here, and he came here to pay his respects. If the prince does not abandon him, I invite the prince to take a rest in the humble house."
Zhao Jue listened to his gentle words, but the inner meaning was extremely arrogant, and said coldly: "This king is busy with military affairs, so I don't dare to delay. Your Excellency secretly attacked, thinking that you are here to assassinate this king."
Duanmuqiu said disdainfully: "I have never been willing to sneak attack and plot, otherwise the arrow just now will cost the prince's life. As for the sergeant, he just said hello himself, and the prince will not be surprised if he comes."
Zhao Jue said coldly: "This king has always treated his subordinates like brothers and sisters. Your Excellency is such a lowly soldier, no wonder you didn't serve in the Dayong Army. Who in the world does not know that the golden bow is the eldest grandson, and the silver bow is Duanmu, and the generals are under the command of King Yong. , leading the army to fight, invincible, and you Yin Bow Duanmu, you can only fight bravely in the rivers and lakes."
Zhao Jue's words must have stinged Duanmuqiu's heart, and a cold murderous aura flashed in his eyes, and said coldly: "I am here only to prevent the prince from escaping, and now it seems that I will not do anything. But I don't know that the lord can escape a few arrows from me."
A coquettish voice said: "This girl dares to make a deal, you can't shoot him to death." Following the voice, a beautiful woman in red came out. But it is a female Rakshasa-like character. Zhao Jue couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "So you're here too. No wonder, your brothers and sisters are always inseparable."
The woman said coldly: "Prince De also recognizes this girl, it is an honor."