In Jiangling, Liu Yu ordered the grain, grass and baggage to be transported to Dangyang City first. After the grain from Xiakou arrives tomorrow, he will start his army and march north to Xiangyang.
Liu Muzhi sent a letter from Beijing telling Liu Yu that Zhuge Changmin had treason in his heart and should be on guard against it. Liu Yu thought over and over again and decided to speed up the pace of the Northern Expedition, capture Xiangyang first, and then deal with Zhuge Changmin.
After learning of Liu Yu's military order, General Ning Shuo Zang Xi asked in confusion: "Captain, why don't you stabilize the rear first and then plan for Xiangyang? Aren't you afraid of sacrificing the good and chasing the weak?" After the death of his wife Zang Ai, Liu Yu even treated his wife's two brothers. Treated favorably, the eldest brother Zang Tao was the minister of Tongzhi Sanqi and the Taiwei who consulted to join the army; Zang Xi was the general Ning Shuo.
"Zhuge Changmin is just suffering from scabies. There is Dao He in the capital, Dao Lian in Jingkou, and Huaisu and Tanshao helping him. Zhuge Changmin cannot make trouble." Liu Yu said: "But Yang Anxuan is different. Once Let him pacify the Qin Dynasty and get the wealth of the Qin State, as well as tens of thousands of war horses and armors. These will be in his bag. How can a foolish future resist?" Just as Liu Yu was preparing to prepare his troops, Liu Jingxuan, the governor of Northern Jizhou, sent a letter The secret message forced him to give up the idea of a northern expedition.
In the letter, Liu Jingxuan sent a letter written by Zhuge Changmin to him. Zhuge Changmin's letter wrote: Liu Yi is ruthless and willful, bringing about his own destruction.
The heresy will be over, the world will be at peace, and wealth and honor will be shared by all. Liu Yu broke out in a cold sweat. Although Zhuge Changmin's letter did not spell out the words clearly, the implication was that he wanted to share wealth and honor with Liu Jingxuan and deal with him together.
Liu Jingxuan also told Liu Yu the content of his reply to Zhuge Changmin in the letter: Since the time of Yixi, he has served in three states and seven counties. He is always afraid of good fortune and disaster, and wants to avoid profit and live in loss. The purpose of wealth is not what he should do. Dare to be.
Liu Yu smiled and said: "I will live a long life." Letters from Liu Muzhi came one after another, reporting that Zhuge Changmin controlled the military power in the capital, and sent his younger brother Zhuge Liming to station in Stone City, Zhuge Youmin to station in Xinting, and his younger brother Ning Shuo. General Zhuge Xiuzhi also led the left guard general, and Zhuge Shudu was transferred to Yuzhou Sima... Liu Yu looked up to the sky and sighed: "It seems that God is helping Yang Anxuan, not allowing him to send troops to the north." He divided the 40,000 soldiers and horses into four groups, and Tan Daoji , Zang Xi, Shen Linzi, Tan Zhi and others led 20,000 troops to Jingzhou; Yu Qiujin and Liu Zhong led 5,000 troops to Xiakou; Wang Zhongde was recommended as the governor of Jiangzhou, and Ningni General Liu Zunkao led 5,000 troops Ma Shou was stationed in Xunyang, Jiangzhou, and he and Shen Tianzi returned to Jiankang with the remaining 10,000 soldiers and horses.
When Zhuge Changmin learned that Liu Yu had returned to Beijing, he was shocked and confused. He wrote to Liu Jingxuan, the governor of Northern Jizhou, and was disappointed with the reply he received.
"It's not what you dare to do," Liu Jingxuan refused to join him in resisting Liu Yu. It's hard to sing alone. Thinking of Liu Yu's illustrious military exploits, Zhuge Changmin did not dare to act rashly and ordered Zhuge Limin and others not to move. He hoped that Liu Yu would not notice his thoughts and took a step back to think that he had not really raised his troops to rebel. Liu Considering his reputation, Yu couldn't do anything to him.
Even if he was removed from office and became a citizen, the wealth he had gained over the years would be enough to make his clan members rich for several generations, and he would just be a comfortable rich man.
After calculating the date of Liu Yu's return, Zhuge Changmin worked tirelessly every day to bring the civil and military officials from Beijing to Xinting to greet him. However, for three days in a row, he only saw the arrival of ships carrying baggage. He asked the soldiers on board and said that Liu Taiwei was still setting up defenses in Jiangzhou.
On the evening of March 16, Liu Yu took a speedboat to enter Chapukou and enter Xizhou City. Zhuge Changmin was shocked when he heard the news, and hurriedly went to the Taiwei Mansion overnight to ask for an audience.
Liu Yu ordered Ding Ao to hide behind the tent and go to the lobby to greet him. The two of them entered hand in hand. Liu Yuping retreated from the crowd and drank and joked with Zhuge Changmin. They talked about the past, and the two of them laughed constantly.
Just when Zhuge Changmin relaxed his vigilance and was drinking heavily, Ding Yi sneaked out from behind the tent, strangled Zhuge Changmin's neck with his arm, and killed him.
Liu Yu ordered that Zhuge Changmin's body be sent to Tingwei for conviction, and then sent Ding Hao, Shen Tianzi and others to lead the army to arrest Zhuge Limin and other party members.
Zhuge Limin heard the news and fought to the death; Zhuge Youmin fled to the mountains and was reported and executed a few days later. His cousin Zhuge Xiuzhi was also beheaded; Zhuge Shudu was originally a Taiwei man who joined the army and gained Liu Yu's trust. Yang did not take part in Zhuge Changmin's rebellion, and Liu Yu did not hold him accountable, so he transferred Zhuge Shudu to Northern Jizhou.
In Jiankang City, Liu Yu was busy appeasing the people and reorganizing the court, and a critical moment was also reached outside Chang'an City.
Yao Hong ordered the Lantian garrison to return to Chang'an to aid Chang'an, and Yao Zan was ordered to lead 20,000 troops and horses to withdraw to Chang'an City. The garrison of Lantian City was less than ten thousand, so Yin Hong, the general of the auxiliary state, had to withdraw from the city and abandon the camp.
Yin Hong was very dissatisfied with the house arrest of the crown prince Yao Bi and the elimination of Yao Bi's party. Under his deliberate indulgence, the news spread that Prince Yao Hong led 20,000 elite troops and was defeated by 5,000 Jin troops. Only a hundred people escaped. The soldiers of the Qin army called for Guangping Duke Yao Bi to come out and lead the army in battle.
The calls of the Lantian soldiers could not reach Chang'an City. Yao Hong had already managed Chang'an to a great extent. Yao Bi secretly sent people to sneak out of the mansion to contact his cronies and appeal to the emperor Yao Xing, but they were all caught and thrown into prison by the soldiers guarding the palace. .
In Xianyang Hall, Yao Xing was ill and lying in the palace. The servants and guards around the hall were replaced by Yao Hong's confidants.
Seeing that Yao Xing could not afford it and that Yao Hong was in control of the court, Huangmen Shilang naturally refused to offend the prince who was about to succeed him for the sake of the dying emperor. Yao Xing occasionally woke up and asked about the news that the prince and Duke Guangping were in harmony and that the brothers worked together to defend against foreign enemies.
After Wang suppressed the evil and won a great victory, he returned to Zhengcheng and once again wrote to Qin Chen Liugong Yao Gu to persuade him to surrender.
When deserters from Hongmen brought the news that Prince Yao Hong's army had been wiped out, Yao Gu was so shocked that he fell into a trance. Prince Yao Hong commanded 20,000 elite Qin troops, and they were burned to pieces by 5,000 Jin troops. There were more than 10,000 people in the city of Zheng County. How could the isolated city resist that attack?
"Sky Fire". Zhao Xuan was defeated, and the Qin army gathered up the corpses and burned them. Yao Yu stood at the top of the city and watched thousands of soldiers turn to ashes in the flames. The scene appeared in his mind from time to time. When he closed his eyes, he saw Zhao Xuan looking for him with his eyes open. Life.
After learning that 20,000 Qin troops were burned to death, Yao Yu lost his soul and feared that he would also turn into a ball of charcoal and ashes.
Wang Zhene wrote a letter to surrender. Yao Yu urged Yao Gu to surrender and save his life. Yan Hui, Yang Qian and others began to persuade him, and Yao Gu decided to surrender Zhengcheng.
Yan Sheng, the captain of the Yue Cavalry School, tried to persuade him to no avail, so he led his 3,000 troops to open the west city gate and fled to Chang'an at night. Lu Gui, the evil faction in Wangzhen, chased and killed thousands of people and returned, transporting the corpses to the gate of Zheng County for public display.
Yao Gu no longer had the will to fight, so he surrendered at Xianguan. Wang Zhene entered Zhengcheng and sent Lu Gui, Zhou Chao and others to escort the Qin army back to Hongnong. He secretly ordered Lu Gui and others to kill the prisoners in Dingcheng and Tongguan.
The Qin army surrendered more than 8,000 troops, but only Yao Guan, Yao Yu and more than 1,000 people reached Hongnong. Yang Sheng, the chief secretary of Hongnong, received a secret letter from Wang Zhene and left Yao Yu in Hongnong City. He scattered Yao Yu, Yang Qian and others to live in Lianchi, Xin'an, and Yiyang, and secretly sent people Monitor their behavior.
Yang Anxuan learned that Wang Zhen had taken advantage of Zheng City and ordered an attack on Lantian City. Rixin quickly built many catapults in these days, and stones rained down on the city. The leather curtain hung by the Qin army on the city was soon hit by flying stones and fell into pieces.
Many soldiers in the city had fled back from Yaoguan. From their mouths, they learned that the Jin army had weapons capable of blowing down the walls of Yaoguan. The morale of the Qin army was extremely low, and various rumors spread.
Yin Hong led his own soldiers and shields to patrol the city wall day and night, cheering up the soldiers.
"Be loyal to the emperor and serve the country",
"Protect the country and protect the family" is said smoothly, but how can it be worth it?
The "rain of stones" kept falling. On March 19, a grain truck transporting grain in Chang'an was hijacked. There was only enough food in the city for five days. The morale in the city was on the verge of collapse. There were many fights between soldiers in one day.
Yin Hong had no choice but to quietly open the north gate at night, led more than 10,000 soldiers to flee to Chang'an, and handed over Lantian City to the Jin army.
On March 24, Yang Anxuan led 20,000 troops to the east gate of Chang'an City. Wang Zhen'e led 10,000 troops to join him. Liu Zhong led his troops to attack Jingshang, and his ships approached the Wei Bridge, threatening the north of Chang'an. .
In Xiangyang, Zhongxinhe mobilized 20,000 county and garrison troops, escorted grain and grass from Shangluo through Yaoguan to come for reinforcements, and under Chang'an City, the number of Jin troops increased to 50,000.
Yang Anxuan ordered Zhu Lingshi to lead 10,000 troops to Ankang City to meet Yang Siping. On March 30, Yang Siping and Zhu Lingshi worked together to defeat Ankang City, and reached the south of Chang'an City on April 2. Together with Liu Zhong's navy, the Jin army's strength around Chang'an reached more than 65,000.
There were about 40,000 defenders in Chang'an City. Facing the Jin army approaching the city, no one dared to leave the city to challenge.
The lights in the consultation hall stayed up all night, Yao Shao kept coughing, and Yao Hong frowned and couldn't think of a solution.
The edict summoning Yao Yi, Yao Chengdu, Yao Hui, Yao Chen, Yao Xuan and others to lead their troops back to Chang'an had already been issued, but not a single reinforcement had arrived. Yao Hong kept asking Pang Tong, the Minister of War, where the reinforcements were?
"Your Highness, the Duke of Qi fought fiercely with the puppet Xia army in Anding City and was unable to escape; Qingshui Gong had already come to help, but the Li Run Qiang tribe rebelled and had to return to conquer; Xiangyang Gong was in a stalemate with the Jin Liangzhou army in Chenliu , unable to return support.”
"Where is Taiyuan Duke Yao Yi? Why don't you see him sending troops?" Yao Hong frowned and said: "The Puban River crossing is Tongguan. Why didn't Taiyuan Duke send troops to capture Tongguan, cut off the Jin army's retreat, and then take advantage of the situation to regain Dingcheng? The siege of Zhengcheng and Chang'an should be easy to solve, why is he holding back his troops?" The ministers were silent, Yao Yi is Yao Hong's half-brother, and if he is holding back at this time, he may have other thoughts.
The courtiers outside the palace quickly stepped inside and reported loudly: "General Yao Chengdu of Ningdong has an urgent report." A chamberlain reported the urgent report to Yao Hong. After seeing it, Yao Hong's face turned pale and his hands trembled slightly.
Liang Xi asked: "Your Highness, what did General Yao report?" Yao Hong took a deep breath and handed the urgent report to Ren Qian, the attendant, and motioned for him to read it in public.
"...Taiyuan Duke Yao Yi was bewitched by Sima Sunchang. He proclaimed himself emperor in Puban and spread it to Xizhou County. Zuo Chang's servant Zhang Chang and his servant Zuo Ya tried to dissuade him and were killed with a stick. Taiyuan Duke took the sword as an oath and ordered his ministers to guard the Xiongnu Fort. The stored military supplies were transported to Puban to recruit soldiers and horses, but the minister refused to comply. Taiyuan Gong sent the general Guo Guo to lead the light cavalry to attack Anyi City. Please make your decision early..." There was a dead silence in the hall, and Yao Yi's rebellion was like adding fuel to the fire, which was already in danger. Da Qin pushed hard into the fire pit again.
Yao Hong looked at the ministers in the palace and asked sadly: "With internal and external troubles, could it be that God wants to destroy Qin?" Yao Shao, who was hiding in the soft couch, struggled to sit up and said: "Your Highness, in the critical autumn of life and death, we must work together to fight against the Qin Dynasty." In case of national calamity, I ask Your Highness to release Duke Guangping and Duke Nanyang, so that Duke Guangping can lead the army to fight against the enemy." Liang Xi and others looked at each other, and finally bowed and said, "I second the proposal." After the battle at Hongmen, Yao Hong recognized The Qing Dynasty's own military ability was limited. Yao Shao, Duke of Dongping, was old, vomiting blood and hurting his body, and it was difficult to command the battle. It seemed that Yao Bi had to be released.
