Suddenly, a rolling stone hit the ruins of the house opposite, and heavy dust flew into the air. Several guards either tried to avoid it or shrank their necks.
Zhao Kuangyin said: If it really hits us, can we hide? If it doesn't hit us, why should we hide
Li Jixun and others looked at his dark face. Li Jixun said: The Zhou army's attack method has caused heavy casualties to the defenders. They are also piling up earth to form a slope under the city. If this continues, I am afraid that the Great Zhou has thousands of miles of rivers and mountains and tens of millions of people, and they will be consumed here; but Jinyang is an isolated city under siege, how can they survive? Moreover, if they succeed in building a hill, defense will become even more difficult.
Zhao Kuangyin stopped and said calmly: It's not that the mountain building was unsuccessful. If we only talk about consumption, the entire Northern Han Kingdom cannot outlast the Great Zhou that has already obtained the southern part of Shu Kingdom. The solution for Jinyang is that the Liao army must rescue the Northern Han. If the Liao army cannot come, even the gods cannot save Jinyang. With the current consumption of the Han army, it is not the right time yet.
He looked up at the direction of the city wall and said, "I have to go see General Feng, Feng Jinke and others, and tell them not to just focus on the earthworks on the ground, but to be careful of the underground tunnels that might blow up the city."
At this time, the shouting and beating of drums outside the city was very loud, and the battle was very tense. However, Zhao Kuangyin did not panic, but was very calm. His mood made several generals feel reassured.
Zhao Kuangyin strode up the ramp to the upper city. He was still thinking about what the Northern Han Prime Minister Guo Yuanwei said the day before yesterday: I don't always speak for Brother Zhao, but I still remember our friendship in my heart; I will only come forward if it is really important and necessary.
Hope is the reason why Zhao Kuangyin could remain calm. What people fear most is having no hope at all.
Guo Yuanwei had been an official under the Great Zhou Dynasty's founder Guo Wei. He was plotted against in an internal struggle, and Zhao Kuangyin helped him. But after Zhao Kuangyin arrived in Northern Han, he never helped Zhao Kuangyin, and Zhao Kuangyin was unwilling to take the initiative to find him in such a situation. Sometimes the position changes, and the relationship changes. If Zhao Kuangyin went to find Guo Yuanwei in a precarious situation, the other party might think it was a threat, and he might not be able to maintain the old friendship, but instead make a hidden enemy.
But Guo Yuanwei finally took the initiative to contact Zhao Kuangyin and recognized their old friendship.
This gave Zhao Kuangyin real hope: the prime minister in the Northern Han Dynasty was one of his own, and he could gain some prestige in the army in this war. He could first gain a foothold in the Northern Han Dynasty, and then slowly be promoted. This was his great hope.
At this time, they had already climbed up the city wall. Zhao Kuangyin was not afraid of arrows and looked down at the scene below. Although the thousands of troops were the enemy's troops, he still regained some of his ambitions and his heart was filled with joy.
He faced the smoke-filled wind, looked up at the sun in the sky, and took a long breath.
Yes, the enemy's siege was very fierce, and Jinyang City was not without danger of being breached; the Liao army would definitely come to rescue Jinyang, but it was unknown whether they could arrive in time. The risk was still great, but Zhao Kuangyin was not afraid of risks. He dared to capture the enemy general alive before the thousands of troops entered Chuzhou alone. Danger was nothing, as long as there was hope.
Zhao Kuangyin raised his head and looked up at the sky, silently thinking: A true man is not judged by how he behaves when he is successful, but by how he behaves when he is frustrated.
It doesn't matter if you fall from the highest-ranking general of the Great Zhou Imperial Army to the ground. At most, you can get up and start all over again. Believe in your own abilities. As long as you gain a foothold in the Northern Han, you will definitely be able to climb up and rebuild your foundation.
A ball of warm flame seemed to be burning in Zhao Kuangyin's chest
At this moment, a general suddenly walked up to the top of the city wall, whispered something in Zhao Kuangyin's ear, and then handed him a piece of paper without an envelope. Zhao Kuangyin was slightly startled after reading it: Guo Yuanwei asked him to meet, and at this time when the war was so urgent, the civil officials wanted to meet, it must be some internal matter.
I'll be there right away. Zhao Kuangyin responded first.
His steps were a little hesitant, as he had a bad feeling, but standing here, below him was a city wall more than three meters high, outside there were thousands of enemy troops, and behind him was the surrounded Jinyang City.
Cough, Zhao Kuangyin turned to Li Jixun, Shi Shouxin and others and said, I have something to do and need to go down.
What is Shi Shouxin's faith
Zhao Kuangyin said nothing. Shi Shouxin said again: Let's go with Brother Zhao.
Zhao Kuangyin did not refuse, so several people went down the wall and walked north along the main road in the middle of the ruins. From time to time, troops marched south on the road, and there were people carrying wounded soldiers on both sides. But there were no civilians. After the city was under martial law, it was strictly forbidden for strangers to walk on the cross road in the middle to avoid affecting the army's mobilization to the four cities.
After walking for a while, they turned around and walked onto another street. There was no one on this street. Zhao Kuangyin and the others walked to a door, lifted it slightly and found it was half-closed, so they walked in.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with this trip. If the Northern Han court really wanted to harm him, Guo Yuanwei would not set a trap for him. Even if he didn't help him, at least he could stand idly by.
When they entered the house, they saw Guo Yuanwei sitting alone. Zhao Kuangyin and others entered and greeted each other with fists.
Guo Yuanwei said: Brother Zhao is in danger
Zhao Kuangyin hurriedly asked: How can you say this
Guo Yuanwei's eyes swept across the faces of Shi Shouxin and several others, and he said in a deep voice: His Majesty has discussed with several ministers to tie Brother Zhao to the Zhou army camp in exchange for a temporary ceasefire by the Zhou army.
Zhao Kuangyin had already guessed that something was wrong, and he felt nervous when he heard this. He sat there, his hands under the table, clenched into fists. He was still at the front, doing his best to defend the city. He just thought he had some hope, but in the blink of an eye, he was being sold out.
His heart seemed to have suddenly fallen into an ice cave, but he was also burning with anger. But being angry was useless. Only the villagers pounded the ground with their hands and shouted. Zhao Kuangyin asked coldly: How long will the truce last
Guo Yuanwei said: Your Majesty first asked for fifteen days, but King Zhou only agreed to three days, and later they agreed to five days.
Zhao Kuangyin's face turned even darker. What was the use of five days? He was only worth so little. He was not only desperate, but also ashamed. He used to be the number one general of the Great Zhou Imperial Army, but he had fallen to such a state.
Guo Yuanwei sighed and said: Your Majesty wants to do that, and I have no way to persuade you.
Zhao Kuangyin suppressed his anger and asked: When did it happen
Guo Yuanwei pondered and said: The Zhou army shot the letter onto the top of the city wall yesterday, but His Majesty informed us of the letter this morning.
Zhao Kuangyin nodded. He couldn't help thinking: Guo Yuanwei is the prime minister, it's not impossible that he knew about this overnight. After all, the Northern Han ruler may not have informed the ministers immediately. In addition, according to what Guo Yuanwei said just now, the two sides had bargained for a while before letting the ministers know this morning. It's not even noon yet, and it took half a day to bargain back and forth. Although it's possible, Zhao Kuangyin already suspected that Guo Yuanwei knew about it yesterday and refused to come to inform today.
Zhao Kuangyin usually behaved kindly, but he never regarded people as selfless good people. He guessed Guo Yuanwei's intention: if he didn't tell him, he was afraid that he would drag him into trouble when he was desperate. But if he told him too early, if something went wrong, it would not be good for him.
However, Zhao Kuangyin still clasped his fists and said: Mr. Guo, you have shown your kindness by coming to tell me in advance and taking such a great risk.
Guo Yuanwei shook his head and said: "I really have no choice." He stood up and said with a folded hand: "It is inconvenient to stay here for a long time. I will take my leave first. Brother Zhao, take care of yourself."
After Guo Yuanwei left, Li Jixun, Shi Shouxin and others were also angry and afraid. Shi Shouxin waved his fist and said: Rather than dying like this, it is better to let us open the city and have a good fight with Zhou Jun, and die happily.
Zhao Kuangyin frowned. He completely agreed with Shi Shouxin's words, but it was obvious that the Lord of Northern Han would not agree. He still wanted a truce for five days.
Several people there looked sad and indignant.
Shi Shouxin also frowned and said: The Lord of Northern Han will not agree to our brothers taking up their weapons and charging towards the Northern Han Imperial City. If we sell us out, we will also teach them a lesson.
Zhao Kuangyin did not comment, but in his heart he completely rejected Shi Shouxin's method. If he rushed to the Northern Han imperial city, he would definitely die, and his head could be sold. After dying, others would find an excuse to say that he was a traitor or a spy who took advantage of the chaos to rebel, and he would be cursed if he died.
At this time, Li Jixun said: We are brothers. Since it has come to this, it is better for us to die together. It is a pity that I have not yet avenged my eldest son on Li Yun.
Zhao Kuangyin turned around and looked at the exit of the house. He thought that he could try to escape alone and hide somewhere, but he would have no chance of survival. Jinyang was now a closed city. Without proper preparation, where could he hide in the city without being searched? If someone saw him, he would be exposed. Moreover, he had no food prepared, so he would have to go out to find food and water. If he was in a hurry, he would be easily found.
This is also a way to die. Not only will you not survive, but you will also be caught in a more embarrassing and humiliating way.
Let's leave this place first, Zhao Kuangyin said.
A few people came out of the dilapidated house together. As soon as they walked onto the small street, the person next to them asked: Brother Zhao, where are we going now
Zhao Kuangyin looked at the empty street and wondered where he could go in such a big world.
His ambitions cooled down little by little, and the whole world seemed to have turned gray and black, even though the sun was glaring overhead. Zhao Kuangyin raised his head and sighed: I have been a hero for half my life, but I ended up being plotted against by villains and dark corners.
Several big men were all in a state of sadness. Black smoke and gunpowder were floating in the air, and there were ruins to the south. There were leaves and debris floating in the wind in the air, and it was a desolate scene all around.
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