The five-day deadline for Shu to surrender had long passed, and Meng Chang obviously had no intention of surrendering.
Previously, the Zhou army's eastern route started from Suizhou on April 18, arrived in Mianzhou on April 23, and accepted the surrender of Mianzhou city on the same day; on April 23, Shi Yanchao led his troops north to Jianmen Pass, and after a raid of 290 miles, they suddenly arrived at Jianmen Pass on April 29.
Shu general Han Baozheng hastily gathered his troops to fight, and the two armies fought fiercely at Hanyuanpo. Shi Yanchao personally led a large cavalry to break through the Shu army camp, penetrated half a mile from the center of the Shu army camp, and drove straight into the Shu army camp unstoppable, burning the Shu army's central army flag; the main general Han Baozheng led his personal soldiers to fight to the death, but was pierced through the chest by Shi Yanchao's spear. More than 10,000 Shu troops were defeated, and countless surrendered.
On that day, Jianmen Pass was captured and the gate was wide open, and Cao Bin led 40,000 troops to enter the pass. The northern defense line of Shu Kingdom collapsed completely, and the battle to attack Shu had just lasted for two months.
Upon hearing the news, Guo Shao led his troops towards Chengdu.
In the imperial palace of Chengdu, Meng Chang looked at the court, which was obviously much less crowded than usual, and asked: Where are some ministers? Why don't they attend the court
A civil servant took out a stack of memorials and whispered: "Your Majesty, these are all claims of illness. There is also a concubine who was about to give birth and fell off a horse.
Meng Chang raised his head to the sky and sighed: "My Meng family has been providing fine food and clothing to support scholars for decades, why do they say this to me?" Then tears began to flow, and all the sparsely scattered officials in the palace felt sad.
It was a cloudy day, and the wind was blowing outside, blowing into the hall and causing the curtains on both sides to flutter. No one in the hall spoke, only the sound of the wind. Meng Chang felt that this magnificent palace had become particularly desolate at this moment, and the curtains were fluttering as if the entire imperial city was swaying in the wind and was about to collapse.
Meng Chang raised his head, looked eastward and listened attentively. It was still so quiet. In fact, all the news was heard from others. He had never seen a Zhou army soldier in person. Maybe all this was a dream, all fake.
But in the wind, I seemed to hear the roar of swords and horses.
Madam Huarui advised him last night to disband the harem and let the maids go home. She said that even if they were not released, they could not remain faithful to His Majesty. The Zhou army soldiers would come here two thousand miles and would be unbridled. They would treat this place as a big brothel and wantonly abuse His Majesty's wives, concubines and maids.
You, Meng Chang, were furious, ashamed and anxious. One by one, you will become slaves of a conquered country. Your property will be taken away, and your wives and concubines will be taken to the military camp to be prostitutes. The enemy will not let you go. His fingers were trembling.
The voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying an inexplicable atmosphere of fear in the echo.
He suddenly shouted: "Who will fight for me in the decisive battle with the Zhou army under the city?"
No one answered, Meng Chang was furious: I want to lead the army in person. At this time, a group of people hurried to dissuade him, but Meng Chang shouted, "Do you think I can't lead the army? I am the son of Emperor Gaozu."
At this moment, a eunuch ran in to report: Hou Mao has returned alone and is outside the palace, but his clothes and armor are in disarray.
Which Hou Mao Mengchang asked.
The eunuch said: The Defense Commander of Xingzhou, the military general who made great contributions in defending Qingniling.
Meng Chang seemed to remember and said: Pass it in.
After a long time, a short general walked into the hall. His armor was tattered and ragged, but he still had a sword hanging on his waist. Immediately, a civil servant asked, "Who is he? How dare he bring a sword into the hall?"
The eunuch said: "Li Shijun, please look carefully, that sword is Gaozu's sword. Who dares to take his sword?"
After hearing this, Hou Mao took off his sword from his waist in a daze, knelt in the hall, and held the sword in both hands. His expression looked a little dull: Your Majesty, this sword was awarded to my father by Emperor Gaozu. My father used it to protect the people of Shu. Now I cannot defend the land and the people for Your Majesty. I feel ashamed of the royal grace and my father. I will return this sword and ask Your Majesty to grant me death as an apology.
Everyone fell silent.
Meng Changdao: How did you come back
Hou Mao said: I first held my ground at Qingni Ridge and waited for reinforcements. The Zhou army swarmed in and attacked from many sides. After my troops dispersed, they were sparsely populated and their defenses were broken. I led my troops to retreat. When I heard that General Han's reinforcements had arrived in Xingzhou, I led the rest of my troops to join General Han. The general gathered troops from all over the country in Xingzhou, concentrated his forces to fight a decisive battle with the Zhou army, and was defeated. General Han retreated to Jianmen Pass, and I followed him.
On April 29, the eastern route of the Zhou army actually crossed the entire territory of Shu and went around to the back of Jianmen Pass. General Han died in battle at Hanyuan Slope. I was ordered to stay at Jianmen Pass. At that time, most of the soldiers had fled. The Zhou army attacked from both inside and outside. I had no choice but to gather people to defend Jianmen Pass, but was defeated. I fell from the city into a ravine, but luckily survived and returned by a small path at night.
Meng Chang was moved and stepped down from the throne. Hou Mao quickly picked up his sword again.
What is your military rank? Meng Chang asked.
Hou Maodao: Defense Commissioner of Xingzhou.
Meng Chang said: I heard that you have made great contributions, but no one promoted you.
What kind of official position did Hou Mao say hurriedly? I have no courage or strength. My father once said that I cannot learn martial arts. I tried to study literature but achieved nothing. Later, I had no choice but to inherit my father's legacy and practice martial arts. I will be grateful if I can get any official position.
Meng Chang said: I will appoint you as the Grand Marshal of the Army and lead me out of the city to fight a decisive battle.
Hou Mao was stunned and said: "I thank your majesty for your grace, but are the imperial guards willing to leave the city and set up their battle array now?"
At this time, Li Hao finally spoke up and advised: Your Majesty, you must not force the imperial guards, be careful of mutiny.
Meng Chang did nothing and didn't know what to do. After he left the court, he saw a Tang Dynasty porcelain bottle on the cabinet, so he went up to pick it up and threw it to the ground with a bang. His face was very scary: "The jade and the stone will be destroyed together." Haha
Upon hearing the voice, Lady Huarui came to the front hall and called out, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
After a moment, he thought about the possible treatment he might receive, his face was filled with fear, and his hands and feet were shaking. Yes, death is the end of everything. Meng Chang looked up at the beams. Lady Huarui hurried forward and advised: Your Majesty, sit down and calm down first, there will be a way.
Meng Chang burst into tears and shook his head vigorously, saying: "I have never suffered any hardship, and I can't stand that kind of torture. Go find me a white silk."
Lady Huarui persuaded him gently, saying: Emperor Gaozu founded the country decades ago, and the royal family has long been known to the world. Your Majesty, even if you lose your country, as long as you endure this difficult time, you will definitely be a noble. You are of noble birth, and it will never change in your lifetime. As long as you change your mind and live a noble life of luxury, there are many people in the world who cannot live for nine generations. Your Majesty, think about it carefully.
Meng Chang said: I have lost the throne, what use am I to you
Madam Huarui said hurriedly: "I am just feeling sorry for your majesty, not for myself. I am just a woman, a withered flower, and the title of imperial concubine is just a figment. Without your majesty, I am nothing. What else can I lose?"
What should I do then? Meng Chang asked in a daze.
Madam Huarui immediately dismissed her attendants and said softly: I have found a small path for Your Majesty, which may be of some help to Your Majesty.
A few years ago, I helped a woman named Jingniang. She is now a close friend of Guo Shao. If we can contact her, she might be willing to repay the favor she had done us. Jingniang is in the Zhou army camp and is difficult to contact. However, I have already thought of a way, which is to contact a woman named Wushan Bailao first.
Bai Sanniang, the White Lady of Wushan, is the ex-husband of Wang Zhaoyuan's son-in-law. The eunuchs around me found out that Wang Zhaoyuan also wanted to find a way out through Bai Sanniang. Wang Zhaoyuan finally revealed his true colors. He is a jester; he is not good at big things, but he has many friends and ways to gain personal connections. He must have a way to find Bai Sanniang.
What I mean is that Your Majesty should order Wang Zhaoyuan to take one of our people to find Bai Sanniang; and then contact Jingniang through Bai Sanniang because Bai Sanniang is just a casual acquaintance, and I have only asked her for a prescription and a reward; Jingniang, on the other hand, is more reliable, and I have met her in person.
Meng Chang was confused: "What a roundabout way. If you can speak in front of the blacksmith Guo, she will help you and me."
Madam Huarui said: "She is helping Your Majesty for my sake; even I am helping Your Majesty. We are all trying to find a solution for you. Everyone in this palace can only rely on Your Majesty. If we don't help you, who else can we help?"
Lady Huarui's eyes were full of tears, but she smiled: "Your Majesty, do you still remember that you built a crystal palace for me on the Mohe Pond? No one has ever been so kind to me."
She murmured, "I am also afraid that I might face a fate worse than death. People are so terrible. I have wanted to die many times. Anyway, I have enjoyed my noble and good life. If I die now and keep my loyalty to Your Majesty, I may even be able to seek a good reputation in the end. However, Your Majesty is such a noble person, what does it mean to sacrifice me?"
She seemed to be confiding, she had never said these words in front of Meng Chang, it was all retribution, I must have been a bad person in my previous life, so I was born as a singing girl. Your Majesty made me extremely noble, but all this is just the moon in the mirror and the flowers in the water, just a dream, and it will eventually be returned. People with poor fates will not have a good ending. I will wither like a peony in Chengdu Prefecture. I hope that I can atone for my sins with this broken body and tainted soul, and the world will be peaceful when I am reborn in the next life.
Meng Chang frowned: I don't understand what you mean by saying this, are you asking me to surrender
Lady Huarui came back to her senses from her trance, bit her teeth lightly, looked at him and said: Your Majesty, is there any other way besides surrender? Your Majesty, have you thought it through? Do you really want to die for your country
Madam Huarui's words were very harsh. Meng Chang stood there in a daze, touched his neck, swallowed, and seemed to be wondering what it would feel like to hang himself.
There is still a way to survive. If your majesty wants to fight for it, just surrender, Madam Huarui said simply. The word "surrender" was repeatedly emphasized, becoming particularly clear.