Zhao Tong's army camped more than ten miles away from Hangzhou City and did not approach the city.
He had too few soldiers and horses to besiege the city. Although a big city like Hangzhou has no internal and external distinctions, its area is not much smaller than Jiangning, and there are four sub-cities for defense on the outside.
The only way to attack Hangzhou is to outmaneuver it. It can neither besiege the city nor attack it by force. Everything is limited to the weakness of the troops.
From the mouths of the bandits captured in Huzhou, we learned that most of the remnants of Fang Qifu's defeated army entered Hangzhou, while a small part continued southward without knowing where to go.
In Hangzhou, Fang La originally left 20,000 to 30,000 people to hold on, and together with these defeated troops, the number was nearly 100,000.
When people attack a city, they always have more soldiers and horses than in the city, so they can attack hard. However, Zhao Yu's number of soldiers is only half of the number in the city. You can imagine how difficult it is to regain Hangzhou.
However, he was not in a hurry. After setting up the camp, he began to strengthen the fortifications and sent out sentries to investigate everywhere.
After killing several groups of scouts in the city, Hangzhou also figured out his movements, but they did not make any violent reaction. They just closed the city gates and put heavy guards on them, and came out in a defensive posture. .
Zhao Tong camped at a place on the left side of Gaoting Mountain called Liancuigang.
It is intermittently connected to Gaoting Mountain, and the terrain is relatively high. You can go straight to Hangzhou City, and you can go all the way north when you retreat, and you can also directly enter Gaoting Mountain.
There is the Gaoting Temple in Gaoting Mountain, which is dedicated to the God of Gaoting. There are also many other temples and temples. There is also a ten-mile stone city in the mountain, with castles and other buildings inside, which can be used as a garrison. It was built by Qian Liu, the governor of Hangzhou in the late Tang Dynasty. of.
This ten-mile stone city is now deserted, and there has been peace and war in the south of the Yangtze River, so the imperial court has never stationed troops there. After Zhao Tong arrived, he immediately sent Ding Daxie, Er Xia, and Shi Qian to investigate.
His stronghold in Liancui Gang did not follow the usual rules, but was arranged in an arc shape. Half of Lian Cuigang was occupied by tents, and the number of troops stationed in the stronghold was 100,000. For a while, the city of Hangzhou could not figure out how many soldiers he had here. Centaur.
According to the reports of the bandits captured in Huzhou, and the scouts sent out to find out the news, Fang Baihua and Fang Shiwu were in charge of Hangzhou at the moment.
This is normal. Fang La manages Hangzhou as the capital of the Holy Dynasty, so he will naturally keep his closest people to guard it.
Fang Baihua is his biological sister, and Fang Shishi is his uncle and brother. These are his trusted direct subordinates.
Fang Baihua has three thousand female soldiers, all of whom are women. It is said that all of them have practiced bow and horse martial arts. They can compete with men on the battlefield, and one person can even fight two or three men without losing.
Fang Shiwu was a blacksmith and was good at making weapons. Before Fang La's uprising, many weapons in the Mingjiao were made under his guidance. He was extremely powerful and proficient in martial arts. He rarely encountered opponents in horse battles, and was nicknamed "" Xiao Cunxiao".
Zhao Tong camped in Liancuigang for three days, but neither side did anything. That day, a scout came to report that two large flags had been erected at the north city wall of Hangzhou. The poles were like the mouth of a bowl, and the words were like rising buckets.
One flag says "Overthrow Zhao and Song Dynasties", and another flag says "Capture the King of Qin alive"!
Zhao Tong couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. What could he do to capture him alive? He had no meat and fish in Jiangnan, so he had to capture him alive to avenge the people. Besides, if he wanted to write about it, he should capture Zhao Tong alive, not the king of Qin, and he was not the prince of Fangla Holy Dynasty. How could this happen? Did you even use an honorific?
It seemed that this kind of thing was made by Fang Baihua. He was still very impressed by Fang Baihua. During the Liao Tournament, Fang Baihua and Hu Sanniang signed up in front of the door. Fang Baihua and Hu Sanniang had a good fight. They met their opponents and met a good talent. .
But now the fate of these two people is very different. She became the eldest princess and female general of the Holy Dynasty, while Hu Sanniang was killed by Liangshan. In the end, Song Jiang was rescued, and he escaped with Lin Chong, and is now missing.
He sighed slightly for a moment, then called people to prepare the army and horses, and wanted to go to the city to watch in person.
More than half an hour later, Zhao Tong led 10,000 soldiers, including Du Bo and Zhang Xian, to the outside of the moat in the north of Hangzhou.
I saw two huge flags erected above the north gate of Hangzhou North City.
Zhao Tong put up a pergola with his hands and took a look. Sure enough, on one side he wrote "Overthrow Zhao and Song Dynasty" and on the other side he wrote "Capture the King of Qin alive"!
He touched his chin and looked at the city head carefully. The North City of Hangzhou was heavily guarded. Especially after he arrived with his troops, all kinds of bows and crossbows were set up, and all the stone machines and other objects were pointed towards the city.
After a while, there was a commotion at the top of the city, and many people came in, including a woman in red who was vaguely surrounded by them.
Because of the long distance, Zhao Tong could only see the general color and figure, but he always had a photographic memory, and from the height and figure, he was sure it was Fang Baihua.
Fang Baihua separated from the crowd, walked to the edge of the pile, looked down from a distance, and shouted loudly: "But in front of His Highness King Qin?"
Zhao Tong's eyebrows twitched. This is a battlefield, a time of life-and-death hostility. Would anyone speak like this? What would other people think when they heard this?
He was silent for a few moments and then replied: "It turns out to be the Hundred Flowers Heroine. I haven't seen you for a few years. How are you always?"
The flowers above the city became excited after hearing the words. They didn't expect that Zhao Tong would still remember her. Now that Fang La was not around to watch, she was less cautious about her words: "His Highness came from afar to work hard. I should have invited His Highness to come to the city to rest, but the two of them It is really difficult to do this when the army is facing each other, so please forgive me, Your Highness!"
Zhao Tong's temples throbbed and he smiled: "Hundred Flowers Heroine is too polite."
Fang Baihua thought for a while at the top of the city. In fact, she didn't know what else to say. After all, she only talked to Zhao Tao once in Tokyo. Later, during the fight and the Lantern Festival, she only watched from a distance. So it's really not familiar.
But she didn't want to just let it go. After all, the girl's feelings had been cultivated for several years. It was the exciting moment, so she ignored the surprised looks of the surrounding generals and said loudly: "Why don't I treat His Highness to a drink of water?"
Um? Zhao Tong was stunned when he heard this. Not only was he stunned, but almost everyone in the city was stunned.
Du Bo hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this is inappropriate!"
Zhang Xian also said: "My lord, I'm afraid there is a scam!"
The generals on the city also panicked, "General Baihua, this is absolutely impossible!"
"General, what if we build a suspension bridge in the city and the Song army rushes over directly?"
"General, I heard that King Zhao Tong of Qin is full of scheming and cruel. He is known as the King of Birds. General, you must not take any risks!"
Fang Baihua couldn't hear the people's advice at this moment. She just stared at the city with bright eyes and retorted: "I have known King Qin for many years, and I know what kind of person he is. King Qin is a humble gentleman, and he is definitely not what you said." Unbearable."
Everyone around him couldn't help but grin when he heard this. If he said that Qin King Zhao Yan was a humble gentleman, they would never believe it. This man beat Wang Qing last year and killed Huaixi to the point of bleeding. Not to mention how many holy soldiers he had killed in these days. ? In the battle at Jiangning, hundreds of thousands of people might have died!
This man is an executioner, how can he be such a humble gentleman!
Zhao Tong pondered at the foot of the city. It would be nice if he could talk to Fang Baihua face to face. Although it was impossible to persuade him to surrender. After all, she was Fang La's biological sister. However, there was no way to attack the city at the moment. Hangzhou had a large city and few soldiers. We might as well take this opportunity to explore Fang Baihua's tone and see if we can find some flaws in Hangzhou.
As for the other party poisoning the wine, he is not afraid. There are only a few so-called poisons at the moment, and they can be detected with silver.
At that time, Emperor Taizu once built two warehouses of Wu and Du. Although the poison warehouse was later destroyed by Emperor Renzong, there is a poison scripture in the military genealogy of the arsenal. There is no signature on it, but you can guess that it must have been written by Emperor Taizu. But how could Taizu dare to sign his name on such a sinister thing?
This poison sutra lists all kinds of poisonous herbs and poisons in the world, as well as the methods of using them, as well as the methods to identify and detoxify them.
Zhao Tong read the Poison Scripture, but what he focused on was the method of distinguishing and detoxifying. He could distinguish poisoned things at a glance, so he was not afraid of such things.
He rushed to the city and said: "Since the Hundred Flowers Girl is so polite, then I would rather be respectful than obey your orders!"
Fang Baihua was overjoyed at the top of the city and hurriedly ordered people to go get wine, intending to go out of the city to drink with Zhao Tao.
Seeing this, the people around me were so anxious that they clapped their legs and stamped their feet. This was okay. If we really wanted to open the city gate, what would we do if there were ambushes all around and we all rushed in?
However, they had no choice but to prepare wine and ask Fang Shishi to come over and persuade them.
A moment later, Shi Shifu hurried to the city, but he was a tall man with thick eyebrows and beard. When he saw Fang Baihua, he said anxiously: "Sister Baihua, what are you doing?"
Fang Baihua didn't even look at him, she just said, "I'm going to have a drink with King Qin outside the city. Brother Fifteen, don't stop me!"
Fang Shiwu clenched his fists in anger: "Sister Baihua, that King of Birds is insidious and cunning. He has killed countless brothers of my Ming Cult these days. This is a blood feud. How can you drink with him? What will the disciples in the sect and the soldiers in the army think when they see this?" "
Fang Baihua shook his head and said: "Brother Fifteen, you are short-sighted. When I was in Tokyo, I listened to the gentleman from the Washi Teahouse giving lectures. When the two armies were fighting, it was common for them to drink and reminisce before the battle. Only in this way could they show their magnanimity and demeanor. It won’t delay the war later.”
"Baihua you..." Fang Shishi's beard trembled, but there was nothing he could do against Fang Baihua. Fang Baihua was not only Fang La's biological sister, but also the only daughter-in-law of their clan in this generation. Whether she was an elder brother or a younger brother, he would give in to everything. After keeping her close to her, she developed a somewhat indulgent temperament, so she was the only one who would listen to what Fang La said, but now Fang La is not in Hangzhou!
Fang Baihua said: "Brother Fifteen, you don't have to say anything anymore. I'll take Huo Niang and Yulian with me. After passing the suspension bridge, you can pull up the bridge plank again and see if King Qin will embarrass me!"
When Fang Shiwu heard this, his expression immediately changed. He left the city without saying a word, and he only took two people with him. What a big deal!
Huo Niang and Yu Lian are the leaders of the female army. Although their martial arts skills are extraordinary, what's the use of just taking them out? If the Bird King really had evil intentions, it would be impossible for the three of them to come back!
Fang Shishi gritted his teeth at this moment and could only take a step back to speak: "Baihua, if you really want to go out, I won't stop you, but you definitely can't just take Huo Niang and Yulian with you. I'll order 10,000 soldiers and horses here." You go with me, and you’ll come back after you’ve had a drink.”
There was nothing he could do about it. Although he knew that Fang Baihua had been to Tokyo before, how did he get to know the King of Qin? There are no good people in the royal family of the Song Dynasty. Although Fang Baihua is willful, her thoughts are simple. She doesn't know what happened in the past and it's hard to talk about it. But today, the army is approaching the city. If she goes out, she is afraid that she will be deceived!
Fang Baihua shook her head when she heard this: "Brother Fifteen, I have made up my mind, just bring Fire Lady Yulian with me. You don't have to stop me. King Qin is a gentleman and will never make things difficult for you!"
Fang Shiwu was born with a dark face, and now it was even darker than ink. He opened his mouth and wanted to continue to dissuade him. At this moment, the wine was delivered. Fang Baihua rushed to the two women behind him and said: "Fire Lady Yulian, follow me." Out of town!"
The one called Huo Niang was also dressed in red, with a red handkerchief wrapped around her head, and two lancets on her back. After hearing this, she took the wine jar and held it in her arms.
Yu Lian was dressed in black, carrying a sword, and also took the wine bowl and held it in her hand.
Fang Baihua walked toward the city. Fang Shishi hurriedly followed: "No, Miss Baihua. If Shenggong knows about this, I'm afraid he will be blamed!"
Fang Baihua paused in her steps, then turned around and said, "Brother Fifteen, don't use Sheng Gong to oppress me. Now there are only you and me in Hangzhou City. Even if Sheng Gong blames me, you have to wait until I leave the city to finish the drink!"
Fang Fifteen had no choice. When he arrived at the city, he hurriedly summoned his troops and planned to leave the city with Fang Baihua. Fang Baihua's face turned cold: "I said it's just the three of us who will go out. Brother Fifteen, don't force the girl to fall out. It will be embarrassing for everyone."
Fang Shiwu was so angry that he was breathing heavily, but he couldn't just let it go. Watching Fang Baihua get on his horse and take Fire Lady Yulian out of the city, how could he dare to pull the suspension bridge again, just pile all the soldiers and horses in the city? At the door, if a person sees that the situation is bad, he can rush out to save others.
Fang Baihua was so excited that she crossed the moat with her two girls and headed straight for Zhao Tong's army.
Zhao Tong watched Fang Baihua riding out of the city with three horses, and couldn't help but shook his head. Behind him, Du Bo wondered: "This woman is brave, which is rare!"
Zhao Tong sighed: "She knew I wouldn't make things difficult for her, so she dared to act like this."
Du Bu couldn't understand the reason, and even Zhang Xian didn't know. Zhao Yu said again: "In this woman's heart, I am a gentleman, how could I do something that humiliates my reputation?"
Both of them were silent, and Zhao Tao sighed again. He did not expect that Fang Baihua only had three people out of the city. If he took the opportunity to capture Fang Baihua at this moment, the rebel army in Hangzhou would definitely be in chaos. Even if there were more soldiers in the city, they would probably not be able to escape. He would not be able to defend Hangzhou, and he could even use Fang Baihua to blackmail the opponent and propose various favorable conditions to capture Hangzhou.
But he couldn't do that. There was something he could do and something he couldn't do. This kind of thing just couldn't be done.
Fang Baihua came closer, looked at Zhao Tong with his eyes, cupped his fists and said, "His Royal Highness, King Qin, are you okay?"
Zhao Tong looked her up and down. Fang Baihua was basically the same as she was a few years ago. She had big eyes, big mouth, fair skin, and a free and uninhibited look.
He recalled in his mind the scene of Fang Baihua and Hu Sanniang rolling and thrashing in front of the palace gate that day, and he couldn't help but smile: "The heroine of Baihua, her style remains the same!"
Fang Baihua's face turned slightly red when she heard this, but she didn't hesitate. She jumped on her horse and ordered Huo Niang and Yu Lian behind her to pour wine.
The two women looked at Zhao Tan curiously. According to the propaganda of the army and Mingjiao, this King of Qin Zhao Tan was a murderous big devil and the first-class scum of the Zhao and Song royal families. But at this moment, he looked gentle and elegant. He has a strong aura of a scholar, but he doesn't look like a devil at all.
After the wine was filled, the two people hurriedly took it forward. Fang Baihua said: "Please have a drink, Your Highness."
Zhao Tong smiled and jumped off the horse, followed closely by Zhang Xian, then took out a small silver knife from his arms and stepped forward to test the wine. Originally, silver needles were used to test wine, but no one would carry that kind of thing with them. , this small silver knife was given to Zhang Xian by Jian Suyi when he was in Broken Jade Tower before he left Tokyo, and asked him to take it with him for emergencies.
Zhang Xian tested the wine with a silver knife. The fire lady over there suddenly became a little unhappy and said, "What are you doing? Do you suspect that my general has poisoned the wine?"
Zhang Xian refused to pay attention to her. After trying it, he stepped back. Zhao Tao stretched out his hand to pick up the wine bowl. At first glance, he saw that it was not a fine wine, but just an ordinary Huadiao. He nodded and said: "Now that the two armies are facing each other, it is rare. You trust Baihua Nu so much, come on, I will give you a bowl."
Seeing Zhao Tao's boldness, Fang Baihua couldn't help but let him respect him first. She put the wine bowl to her mouth before she could say anything, drank it down, and then said with a swipe of her lips: "I respect you, Your Highness."
Zhao Tong smiled slightly, drank a bowl of wine, and then said: "If the city of Hangzhou is destroyed one day, what will the Hundred Flowers Heroine do?"
Fang Baihua chuckled and said, "Your Highness underestimates Baihua. With Baihua in Hangzhou City, how can it be easily broken in Hangzhou?"
Zhao Tao looked a little disappointed when he heard this: "That's true. The walls of Hangzhou City are strong and there are 100,000 soldiers. It's not easy to break... Bring me some wine!"
Later, Huo Niang hurriedly stepped forward to pour the wine. She couldn't help but think to herself that although King Qin of the Song Dynasty had a bookish temperament, he didn't show off when he drank and talked. He was considered a good man. No wonder his general wanted to go out of the city to have a drink with him.
The two of them drank another bowl of wine, and Fang Baihua said, "Your Highness, if our holy army goes north to Tokyo and smashes the imperial court, what will happen to you?"
Zhao Tong burst out laughing and said, "I have never thought about it, but I think Baihua and you guys would have a hard time crossing the Yangtze River!"
Fang Baihua smiled and said: "Your Highness is arrogant, Huo Niang, please pour some wine!"
Huo Niang stepped forward to pour wine again, and the two of them drank another bowl. They chatted for a few more words, all about the events of the ring. Then, you drank one bowl and I drank the whole jar of wine.
At this time, Fang Baihua cupped his hands and said with a blushing face: "Your Highness, Baihua is drunk, so I'll take my leave."
Zhao Tong nodded, watched as the two women helped her onto the horse and returned to the city, then turned around and got on the mount, heading back to Liancuigang Dazhai.
After arriving at the camp, he had just sat down in the Chinese army's tent when a soldier came to report that Ding and Ding Xie had returned from exploring the stone city in Gaoting Mountain.
Zhao Tong couldn't help but his eyes lit up when he heard this, and said: "Call them over to talk."
(End of chapter)
