Concubine Dao couldn't help but be moved and asked, "What do you want to do?"
The two of them looked at each other but did not answer. Lord Feng clasped his fists and said, "How dare I ask you, what do you think of your Majesty?" Concubine Dao Guizhen understood their concerns and couldn't help but sigh and said, "It's really embarrassing that things have developed to this point. It's difficult for people. But what you said makes sense. I'm afraid I won't be able to come back if I leave! It's better to die now than live in those precarious days!" The two were overjoyed when they heard this, and Master Li asked anxiously Said: "Do you agree with my two views?" Concubine Dao nodded, glanced at the two of them, and said: "If you two have any feasible and good solutions, I am willing to cooperate with you."...
Duan Zhichun packed up and only brought gold, silver and jewelry, and should give up the rest. A close general rushed to Duan Zhichun's side, cupped his fists and said, "General, you called me?"
Duan Zhichun asked: "How prepared are the nobles?"
The trusted general said: "They are all preparing, but judging from their posture, I am afraid they will not be ready for a while! I am afraid that they will not be ready at this time tomorrow! Naturally, they have to bring their gold and silver treasures with them, and There are so many antiques, calligraphy and paintings, silks and satins, clothes and beddings, and even a lot of furniture! Many people are still reluctant to give up their land and mansions, and some have given up."
Duan Zhichun said angrily: "They are all things that cannot achieve great things!"
The general asked in confusion: "General, why do we have to take them with us? These people are simply a burden!"
Duan Zhichun frowned and said: "We must take them with us! Each of their families has rich family resources and can provide us with huge support in the future. On the contrary, if we keep them, wouldn't we be supporting the Yanyun people? Secondly, with these people If you support me, I will be more justified in counterattacking Dali in the future!" The general nodded. Duan Zhichun ordered: "Go and urge each of them immediately. They must gather outside the North City Gate in an hour!" The general asked: "What should I do if some people are unwilling or delaying?" Duan Zhichun's expression changed. Shen said, "If you dare to do this, you will be punished for the crime of collaborating with the enemy and treason!" The general agreed and ran down.
A general next to Duan Zhichun said: "General, the Ming army is coming soon, do you want to leave this gorgeous city to them?" Duan Zhichun frowned slightly and asked: "What do you mean? ?" The general looked at the beautiful Dali city around him and said to Duan Zhichun: "General, since this city no longer belongs to us, we might as well destroy it!" Duan Zhichun thought in his heart. He moved, with a look of hesitation on his face. Facing this city that was about to be gained and lost, Duan Zhichun couldn't help but feel an evil fire in his heart. Just as the general said, since he couldn't get it, he might as well destroy it. However, Duan Zhichun was a little reluctant to part with it. He just felt that if he destroyed it now, if he could counterattack in the future, he would gain nothing!
The trusted general had been following Duan Zhichun for a long time and understood Duan Zhichun's thoughts very well. As soon as he saw Duan Zhichun's expression, he understood Duan Zhichun's thoughts and said: "General, the Ming army is not an ordinary opponent. If they occupy Without this city that dominates the situation, there is not much hope for us to fight back! But if it is destroyed, the Ming army may not be interested in staying here and retreat to the east of Erhai Lake. In this way, it will be more beneficial Our future counterattacks may even achieve the effect of defeating others without fighting!"
Duan Zhichun nodded after thinking, feeling that what the general said made sense. He looked up at the general and ordered: "After you lead your troops and horses, and when the retreat is almost complete, burn the city immediately!" The general promised with clasped fists. Duan Zhichun looked at the beautiful landscape city in front of him and couldn't help but feel reluctant. He frowned and said angrily: "This is all the fault of Yan Yun!"
The entire Dali city was a chaotic and miserable scene, with cries and shouts echoing over the city. The common people had a herd mentality. Seeing the nobles preparing to flee, they became panicked and followed suit, preparing to flee with their families. Almost every household in Dali City is preparing to escape, carrying ancestral memorial tablets and bringing gold and silver items with them. Furniture is not willing to be given up, and bedding is not willing to be left behind. Oxen carts and horse-drawn carriages are crowded in the streets and alleys, and the city gate is almost blocked. It's overwhelming. Looking at such a scene, Duan Zhichun couldn't help but burst into tears, and couldn't help but say: "We Dali people are really the best people in the world! With them sharing life and death with us, we will definitely be able to make a comeback in the future!" At this time, Duan Zhichun is probably going to be the best people in the world! Think of yourself as Liu Bei.
However, the advancing speed of the Ming army greatly exceeded Duan Zhichun's expectation. The scouts came to report: "Reporting to the general, tens of thousands of Ming warriors are coming here at full speed. The distance is no more than thirty miles!" Duan! When Zhichun heard this, he was shocked and did not dare to delay immediately. He ordered his trusted subordinate Meng Ke, the same general who had just suggested to Duan Zhichun to burn Dali City, to lead a large army and bring the gold and silver that had been packed away. Cai Bao escaped through the north gate.
News of the imminent arrival of the Ming army spread in Dali City. The people panicked and rushed out of the city for their lives, trampling on each other and killing hundreds of thousands. But there were some rogues who saw that the situation in Dali City was out of control, so they took advantage of the situation and broke into the houses of wealthy people, looted, killed and set fires. Suddenly, screams and screams could be heard one after another in Dali City, mixed with the crazy laughter of the gangsters. In troubled times, human life is as cheap as a dog. The city of Dali at this moment is the perfect interpretation of this sentence!
However, the gangsters could not be arrogant for long. Soon, Meng Ke personally led his soldiers to arrest all the gangsters who took advantage of the situation and killed them in the streets as a warning. The situation in Dali City soon calmed down.
Meng Ke sent people to various places to maintain order and persuade the people to return home and stop running around. Some people listened to the advice and went home, but some still insisted on leaving the city and fleeing for their lives.
Xingfang led tens of thousands of war horses and galloped all the way. In the evening, they saw the city of Dali. Dali City is located on the bank of Erhai Lake, nestled against the green Diancang Mountain, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with beautiful scenery. It really feels like a fairyland on earth. Si Xingfang immediately led the army to the city gate.
At this moment, the city gate opened wide. Si Xingfang raised his sword, tens of thousands of warriors ready to attack.
I saw that the first person to come out of the city gate turned out to be a middle-aged woman with noble temperament and gorgeous clothes. She respectfully held a mahogany box inlaid with gold in her hands. Behind her were many people. The one on the left was wearing armor and should be a general of the Dali army. The two on the right were wearing scribes' robes and should be civil servants of the Dali court. After these people, there were a group of people without weapons. sergeants and government officials.
Xingfang looked at them calmly. Everyone came out of the city gate and went straight to the Ming army formation. Immediately, the woman in the head knelt down on the ground, and everyone behind them followed suit. The woman held up the gold-inlaid mahogany box high and said loudly: "The noble concubine Dao of Dali took the officials of the Dali City Hecheng garrison and surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, and asked the Ming Dynasty for mercy!" The people behind her followed in unison: "Please the Ming Dynasty. mercy!"
Xingfang raised his voice and said: "The Ming Dynasty accepts your surrender!" When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but put down most of their fear. Concubine Dao Guifei couldn't help but happily bowed: "Thank you, General, for showing mercy!" Everyone followed and bowed: " Thank you, General, for showing mercy!"
Si Xingfang raised his voice again and said: "According to the decree of King Yan, all those who submit to the Ming Dynasty are the subjects of the Ming Dynasty and are protected by the laws and the army of the Ming Dynasty. If anyone dares to harm the people of Dali, he will be severely punished! This law belongs to me, the Ming Dynasty. The officers and men of the rank and file join in the obedience of all of you!" When everyone heard this, they were pleasantly surprised, and the remaining worries were completely put down.
Everyone respectfully bowed and thanked Concubine Dao, and then she stood up, held the gold-inlaid redwood box to Xing Fangma, raised the wooden box high above her head, and said: "This is the jade seal passed down from generation to generation by the Dali royal family. Please accept it, general." !”
Xingfang dismounted from his horse and took the jade seal with both hands. Tens of thousands of soldiers couldn't help shouting in unison: "Long live, long live..." Naturally, this long live did not refer to Si Xingfang, but to the Ming Dynasty.
Immediately, the Ming army entered the city under the leadership of Concubine Dao and others. Seeing that the city was intact, Xingfang felt a little surprised and said: "I thought Duan Zhichun would destroy the city before retreating, but I didn't expect that the city was safe and intact!?"
Everyone smiled, and Concubine Dao Gui said: "Duan Zhichun really wanted to destroy the city, but Lord Li and Lord Feng and General Meng Ke did not carry out Duan Zhichun's rebellious and unconscionable act, and the city was saved. , and also protected the city from the gangsters before the general arrived!"
Xingfang couldn't help but be moved.
Lord Feng smiled and said: "Thanks to the empress for taking charge of the overall situation, otherwise this city would not have been saved so easily!" Lord Li and Meng Ke agreed. As the saying goes, everyone carries the sedan chair. This kind of thing is only interesting if you say it to each other. Dao Guifei quickly humbled herself.
Xingfang nodded and said sternly: "The contribution you made to the city is secondary, but the contribution to protecting the city is even greater! Don't worry, our Ming Dynasty has always made clear rewards and punishments. You have made such a great contribution, and I will report it to Your Majesty and the Cabinet." , Your Majesty and the cabinet will definitely reward you based on your merits!" Everyone was overjoyed and thanked him quickly.
Master Li glanced at Meng Ke and smiled: "Duan Zhichun ordered General Meng Ke to burn the city, but he never expected that General Meng Ke loved Dali as much as his life, how could he destroy every plant and tree in Dali!" Meng Ke Ke snorted, "General, he is too ridiculous. He can even issue an order to destroy Dali City! If we compete with others, we will lose if we lose. Why do we do such evil things that make our ancestors miserable? Come!"
Duan Zhichun led the army to flee north. In the evening, the army ascended Diancang Mountain. Duan Zhichun stood on a cliff and looked back towards Dali City, but he did not find the scene of blazing fire as he expected. He couldn't help but feel surprised and confused.
At this moment, a scout galloped over on horseback and reported: "General, the several nobles and Lady Dao who were following us suddenly turned back to the city."
When Duan Zhichun heard this, he was very surprised and asked, "Did you turn back?" The scout nodded and said, "They turned back." Duan Zhichun asked, "Why did they turn back suddenly?" The scout shook his head and said: "I don't know. I didn't receive any news. I just saw them suddenly turning back to Dali City!" Duan Zhichun frowned and murmured: "What on earth are they doing?" Looking up Looking towards Dali City in the distance, I saw that there was no movement at all in the city that should have been devoured by raging fire. I couldn't help but feel a bad feeling in my heart, feeling that I might have been plotted against.
At this moment, another scout came flying over. He ran straight to Duan Zhichun's side before reining in his horse, turned over, ran to Duan Zhichun's side, and said with a panic look on his face: "Oh no, General, the Ming army has entered the city!"
Duan Zhichun was shocked and said angrily: "Is this so possible? Why didn't Meng Ke set the fire?"
The scout swallowed his saliva, looked a little strange, and said: "It was General Meng Ke, Concubine Dao, Master Li, and Master Feng who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty in the city!"
Duan Zhichun felt unbelievable, stared and shouted angrily: "You mean, Meng Ke betrayed me? And Dao Guifei Master Li and Master Feng?"
The scout nodded hesitantly and said, "I'm afraid that's it!"
Duan Zhichun's heart aroused boundless anger, and he wished that Meng Ke and Dao Guifei should be cut into pieces. He gritted his teeth and said: "These rebellious people who seek glory from the Lord! They will not die a good death! They will not die a good death!" However, Now he can only show off his ability. How to kill them well, but there is no way at all. He just hopes that Yan Yunjun will kill them all. However, he himself also knows that this expectation is almost impossible. possible.
After Duan Zhichun learned that Dali City had surrendered to the Ming Dynasty army, he knew that the situation was even more unfavorable to his own side, so he immediately ordered the army to speed up its retreat. Fortunately, the army has already entered Diancang Mountain. The mountain roads are rugged, the mountains are high and the forests are dense, so the Ming Dynasty's war cavalry can no longer keep up. Before early morning the next day, Duan Zhichun led his army to retreat into Fengxian County. Immediately summoned all the trusted generals to discuss countermeasures.
The hall was quiet, and everyone looked dejected. Now the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Facing the Ming army that forced back the Tianzhu army and wiped out the Bagan army overnight, everyone has lost confidence and just wants to escape as far away as possible.
Duan Zhichun saw everyone's demoralization and was secretly anxious. Pretending to be calm, he smiled slightly and said: "The Ming army has temporarily taken advantage, but it is not certain who will win in the end! I firmly believe that our coalition forces will eventually be able to recapture Dali!"
In the past, every time such a pure speech was given, the generals would involuntarily regain their confidence. However, today, after the generals heard these words, they only felt that they fell on deaf ears, and their hearts were still very heavy. An ugly-looking, dark, short and stocky general asked: "General, can we really defeat the Ming army?" The generals looked at Duan Zhichun. Duan Zhichun said resolutely: "It must be possible! As long as we have the confidence!" The generals looked at each other and sighed two or three times. It was obvious that no one believed Duan Zhichun's words at all. No wonder, the generals have seen how powerful Yan Yun is, and it is hard to believe that there is still a chance to turn defeat into victory.
To turn defeat into victory, the first question is how to defeat the Ming army in front of us? The hundreds of thousands of our own troops are certainly not enough. To defeat the Ming army, we must rely on foreign aid. The Bagan people suffered heavy losses and may not be able to recover from the fall. It is hard to say whether the Tianzhu people can compete with the Ming people!
Duan Zhichun saw the expressions of the generals in his eyes and knew that if he could not dispel everyone's doubts, he would not talk about counterattacking Dali. He was afraid that his group would fall apart before long! When I thought of this, I couldn't help but feel a chill in my heart. I pretended to be calm and said: "In fact, the Ming Army is not as powerful as you think! And we are not as weak as you think! It is not difficult to defeat them!"
The generals were greatly surprised and looked at Duan Zhichun, thinking: 'Why is the general still so confident? Is there really no other way? 'When I think about this, I can't help but have some expectations in my heart.
Just listen to Duan Zhichun say: "It's true that the entire Bagan army was wiped out. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing." At this point, he glanced at the generals, who looked at each other in confusion, and did not understand what Duan Zhichun said. mean? Why is it not a bad thing if the entire army is wiped out?
Just listen to Duan Zhichun continue: "King of Bagan, I know this person very well. He is a irritable and very face-saving person. The entire Bagan army was wiped out. For others, it may be frightening. , no longer dare to provoke the Ming army; but this is not the case for the Bagan king. Not only will the annihilation of the entire army not frighten him, but it will make him furious, and then seek revenge from the Ming army! We can definitely Let’s add some fire to the anger of the Bagan King! If the Bagan King devotes all his country’s strength to counterattack the Ming Army, humph, even if the Ming Army is strong, it will be enough for them!”
The generals couldn't help but nodded after hearing Duan Zhichun's words.
Duan Zhichun continued: "There is also Tianzhu." He glanced at everyone and said with a smile: "During the confrontation between Tianzhu and Yanyun people, they actually did not suffer a loss. Earlier outside Longwei Pass, didn't the Tianzhu people repel the Ming Dynasty? An attack by the war cavalry?" Duan Zhichun was talking about the previous incident where Huang Xin led 10,000 war cavalry to rescue Longwei Pass. Huang Xin used 10,000 war cavalry to counterattack the opponent's hundreds of thousands of troops, but was eventually defeated by the Tianzhu people's war elephants. , the loss is not small.
After hearing Duan Zhichun's words, everyone felt refreshed and nodded.
Duan Zhichun said: "As for the Tianzhu people being forced to retreat, haha, that's because they were careless. The food and grass base was attacked and the food and grass supply was not available, so they had to retreat temporarily. I think the Tianzhu people must be very angry and eager to be defeated in such a confused way. I want to seek revenge from the Ming Dynasty! The next time the Tianzhu army confronts the Ming army, they will definitely learn a lesson and will not repeat the same mistakes again! I think the Tianzhu army has a very strong combat effectiveness, especially the war elephant troops, even if it does not surpass the Ming army. We have strength, but it should be between equals! The Tianzhu people are making a comeback, and this family alone may be difficult for the Ming army to deal with!"
After listening to Duan Zhichun's analysis, the generals couldn't help but change their views. They felt that the situation was indeed as the general said. Although the Ming army was currently arrogant, their own side actually had the upper hand! The depression was instantly swept away, and all the generals regained their confidence, feeling that their side was still capable of fighting.
Duan Zhichun saw the change in the expressions of the generals and couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was really worried just now. If the morale of the army could not be stabilized, even if the Tianzhu and Bagan people succeeded in counterattack, Dali would not belong to them at that time. The Duan family belongs to the people of Tianzhu and Bagan. If that happens, he won't die in peace.
Duan Zhichun immediately said to a middle-aged man of medium build and calm expression: "Duan Jiang, you can go to Bagan and persuade the King of Bagan to raise troops for revenge as soon as possible. I won't tell you how to do it specifically. I believe you will This matter can be done well." Duan Jiang promised with clasped fists.
Duan Zhichun thought for a moment, glanced at the generals, and said: "The most urgent task right now is whether to abandon Fengyu County? You all can tell us your opinions."
Meng Tuo said loudly: "Of course we have to hold on! After listening to what the general said just now, we have a good chance of winning. In this case, it is more beneficial for us to hold on to Fengyu County!"
Another general frowned and said: "Even so, we must be able to hold on!" Looking at Duan Zhichun, "The Ming Army will probably attack soon. Can our army withstand the Ming Army's attack?" "This general's name is Ba Yi, a member of the Baiyi tribe, and one of the most important trusted generals under Duan Zhichun.
Meng Tuo said carelessly: "What's the problem? Fengyu County is sitting on such a steep mountain. Even if the Ming army doubles again, we can still withstand it!" Several generals nodded in agreement. Meng Tuo looked at Duan Zhichun and said, "General, if we occupy Fengyu County, when the Tianzhu and Bagan people counterattack in a big way in the future, we can take advantage of the opportunity to take back Dali City in one fell swoop!"
Duan Zhichun nodded thoughtfully. He raised his head and glanced at the generals. Seeing that no one objected, he said: "Meng Tuo's words are very reasonable. We want to occupy Fengyu County!" The generals worshiped together: "The general is wise!"
Transfer to Dali City beforehand. Concubine Dao Guifei hosted a banquet in the palace. Meng Ke, Master Li, and Master Feng were all present to accompany her. After drinking for three rounds, Concubine Dao clapped her hands. Immediately, three graceful maids came to the palace carrying three very noble wooden boxes with gold rims. Xingfang looked puzzled and turned to look at Concubine Dao. Imperial Concubine Dao smiled slightly, stood up, walked to the palace ladies, and opened the three wooden boxes one by one. Immediately, the entire hall was illuminated by jewels and jewels. Concubine Dao Gui smiled and said: "General, this is a little bit of our thoughts. It's not respectful. Please accept it, General!"
Xingfang saw that the treasures in the three wooden boxes could be said to be rare treasures, and he couldn't help but be very moved. However, when he thought of Yanyun's military method, his heart trembled, and he quickly waved his hands and said: "Absolutely not! Absolutely not!" !”
Concubine Dao Guifei and others showed surprise. They did not expect that Xingfang would not accept these priceless treasures.
What happened after all, let’s see what happens next.
