Changsun Wuji was cautious about the news coming from Hexi.
It only took Kuai Ma three to five days to arrive in Chang'an from Hexi, and it was not too late to make a decision until the next news came back from Hexi.
After making up his mind, Changsun Wuji put the two battle reports in the drawer under the desk before returning to the desk, turned around and asked, "How is the current situation of the battle?"
Yu Wenjie, who returned here, raised his head from a pile of documents, rubbed his red eyes, shook his head and said: "The battle around the imperial city has continued, but Dong Gong Liu has been defending desperately, with little effect."
Yuwen Shiji's meeting with Changsun Wuji that day widened the rift between the two, but this was not enough to make the Yuwen family completely break with Changsun Wuji. Therefore, after returning home, Yuwen Shiji sent Yuwenjie over to serve under Changsun Wuji's account.
Guan Long is connected with the branches and is one with each other. They are not just withdrawing when they see an opportunity...
Changsun Wuji looked heavy, nodded slightly, walked to the map hanging on the wall, stared at the map without saying a word.
The atmosphere was very heavy.
Since the day of the uprising, the Guanlong army has been attacking the imperial city day and night. More than 100,000 troops have taken turns in battle, trying to bring down the Sixth Army of the East Palace. As a result, the strength of the Sixth Army of the East Palace was far beyond Changsun Wuji's expectations. They defended for many days, but not only did they not show any signs of collapse, but they also suffered heavy losses from the initial hasty response. They gradually became familiar with the current war, and now they are in a stalemate on offense and defense. There is a stalemate.
On the contrary, due to the poor quality of the soldiers, the casualties on Guanlong's side are increasing...
The supply of grain and fodder is actually better. After all, Guanlongmen has been operating in Guanzhong for many years and has accumulated savings. There are also many forces close to Guanlongmen secretly supporting it, so it can still be sustained. However, the loss of soldiers left Changsun Wuji helpless.
The Guanlong clan clans had too little military power directly, so they had to rely on their own soldiers, servants, and bankers when raising troops. A small number of regular troops shouldered the heavy task of attacking the enemy, and faced the stubborn resistance of the Sixth Army of the East Palace. lost heavily.
Especially in the Battle of the Foundry Bureau, Changsun Wuji sent out two regular armies in succession. As a result, they were first bombarded by artillery, and then there was a loud bang in the Foundry Bureau's warehouse, and countless soldiers were turned into powder, leaving the Guanlong army that was already lacking. Elite troops are increasingly stretched thin.
If there is no elite army, how can we attack the imperial city and defeat the Sixth Army of the East Palace?
Not to mention that once Fang Jun leads the Anxi army back to the East Palace, how can these ragtag groups resist the elites of hundreds of battles who are fighting fiercely with the Dashi army?
In fact, half of the Right Guards are still entrenched outside the Xuanwu Sect, so all his thoughts of coveting the Xuanwu Sect have to be put on hold for the time being, and he does not dare to take advantage of it...
Sighing, Changsun Wuji felt helpless.
I think back then, the Guanlong clans started out with military power, and each clan had countless elite soldiers in their hands. Only then were they able to occupy the center, seize power, and raise more armies in the turbulent times. Such a virtuous cycle has created a century-old glory for Guanlong Gate Valve.
However, to this day, the Guanlong clan only has the seemingly glamorous honor and wealth left, but the military power on which it was based has been completely lost. At such an important time, it is impossible to raise a powerful army. The implementation of the attack is really pathetic...
After thinking for a long time, Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice: "Write an edict and order the Guanlong families to mobilize their troops again and storm the imperial city! We can't continue in this stalemate. One more day of delay will be too much for Guanlong." It is in danger of eternal destruction.”
Dong Gong Liu led a powerful force and firmly defended the imperial city and occupied a favorable location. Guanlong's army launched several large-scale attacks to no avail, resulting in heavy losses. If we continue to attack fiercely, the losses will only increase, and even the foundations of each Guanlong family will be filled in.
But now that the matter has come to this, where is the chance for a calm siege?
No matter how slow the Eastern Expedition army moves, it will return to Guanzhong sooner or later. On that day, the various factions in the DPRK will have to sit down and discuss tit-for-tat how to distribute the benefits. If they are not careful, it will be a disaster. And the Eastern Expedition army is almost entirely in the hands of forces that favor the Eastern Palace. Once the negotiations break down, the Guanlong clan will definitely suffer.
Especially the half of the Youtun Guards and the Anxi Army in Fang Jun's hands. Although they seemed to be fighting endlessly with the Dashi Army in the Western Regions thousands of miles away, for some reason, Changsun Wuji always felt like a thorn in his back. Dare to relax even a little bit...
Yu Wenjie was a little dull, but in the end he did not refute. Instead, he nodded and said, "Well, I'll do it right now."
This military remonstrance is at stake with the foundation and future of the Long Clan clan. Even if the Yuwen family withdraws from this, they will suffer the same consequences if the military remonstrance fails. They will never be exempted from punishment just because they withdraw midway. Back then, the Yuwen family enjoyed all the glory and wealth with the support of Guan Long, but now, they have to bear all the consequences of Guan Long's actions.
The only solution now is to go all out.
*****
The imperial city was besieged by the Guanlong rebels. Except for the Xuanwu Gate in the north, the rest of the city gates had long been sealed and no entry or exit was allowed. The civil servants and generals who entered the palace before the Guanlong uprising could only stay in the palace.
The harem was strictly taboo, so the prince temporarily used Hongwen Hall as his first residence, while a group of civil servants and military generals lived in Sherenyuan to the west of Taiji Hall.
After staying up all night again, all kinds of military matters came one after another. The civil servants and generals were so busy that they didn't know the morning. When they suddenly looked up, they saw the east was white...
The younger ones took a short rest and had breakfast, then saved up and stayed in Taiji Hall to assist the prince in handling military affairs. However, several elderly ministers could not bear it and retreated to Sherenyuan early to stay at the beginning of their stay. Eat, wash up, and get ready for a nap.
In a pavilion on the east side of Sheren Courtyard, Xiao Yu and Cen Wenwen had just had breakfast. They were sitting together drinking a cup of tea and resting for a while before going to bed.
Xiao Yu held the pot and poured tea for Cen Wenwen. He looked at the latter's dejected expression and said worriedly: "Brother Jing Ren is ill and has no bones. It's better not to suffer like this. If something happens, go to the Tai Chi Hall for consultation." Fan, if you have nothing to do, just stay here and cultivate yourself."
Originally, Cen Wenwen was seriously ill, and having to consult military aircraft for many days in a row made it even more unbearable. His skinny body was shaky, and he couldn't even lift his eyelids...
After taking a sip of tea, Cen Wenwen sighed: "At this time when the country is in dire straits, how can we stay out of the situation because we pride ourselves on being loyal to the country? If this old man like me can help His Highness share your worries, I will be considered a worthy death. Just bear with it, no matter what. Even if I can’t get through it, I have no regrets.”
Xiao Yu sighed softly and was silent for a long time before sighing: "We are loyal, and His Highness the Crown Prince naturally understands it in his heart. It's just that there are differences between near and far, and closeness. I'm afraid that even if this crisis can be solved, our achievements will also be the same. It is difficult to enter His Highness’s eyes.”
"What does Shi Wen mean by this?"
Cen Wenwen raised his snow-white eyebrows, looking puzzled.
"Shi Wen" is Xiao Yu's word. With his seniority and status, there are only a handful of people who can match it with the word in person...
Xiao Yu smiled bitterly and said: "It's not me who is making trouble, but the situation is like this and we have to think more carefully. In this military admonishment, our family has tried their best. For this reason, there are countless people who have stained their shirts with blood. It can be said that they have given their all." All. However, given His Highness's trust and love for Fang Jun, and the record of the right garrison guarding the Xuanwu Gate, I am afraid that when the crisis is resolved in the future, Fang Jun will be the first to attack."
When Cen Wenwen heard this, his heart sank.
His eldest brother died early, leaving only one son, Cen Changqian, who had always been pampered and protected by him. However, when the academy students accepted the prince's order and went to the foundry bureau to guard it, they were eventually unable to do anything and the foundry bureau fell. As a result, the students detonated the weapons in the warehouse. Gunpowder blew up more than 10,000 rebels, which was considered a great achievement.
However, since then, although the Youtun Guards outside the Xuanwu Gate in the north of the city have successively accepted many defeated students, there has been no news about Cen Changqian. This makes Cen Wenwen often feel palpitated and have to think about the worst. What if Cen Changqian was buried in the foundry and turned into powder? How should he face such bad news, and how should he explain to his dead brother and sister-in-law?
Seeing Cen Wenwen raising his eyebrows and opening his mouth to speak, Xiao Yu waved his hands and continued: "When you and I are in the realm, how can we care about such merit and wealth? But you and I don't care, but it doesn't mean that the children in the family don't care. This Cidong Palace encountered an unpredictable crisis and was in danger of overthrowing at every turn. The sons and daughters of our family went forward one after another and sacrificed their lives for the sake of righteousness. Besides the righteousness, don’t we also have the merit of following the dragon to protect us from the sky? If the first attack fails, The children in the family will definitely feel that they have been treated unfairly, and when the time comes, they will inevitably feel unhappy and cause trouble to Xiao Qiang..."
Cen Wenwen looked solemn and snorted in his heart.
After all, isn't it because you, Xiao Yu, are dissatisfied with Fang Jun's position in the eyes of His Royal Highness? But if it was normal, he would naturally be too lazy to care and let them fight on their own. But in this critical moment, if Xiao Yu had other ideas in his mind, it might cause the monolithic East Palace to fall into internal fighting. Even torn apart...
Cen Wenwen was rather disdainful of Xiao Yu's mention of this matter at this time. After three dynasties, this person has always stood firm. His political wisdom is rare in the world, but his utilitarianism limits his actions. Even if he seizes great power, he can only be called a "powerful minister", which is of no benefit to the country.
