When he saw that Xindeng City, where fierce battles had taken place in the previous two Eastern Expeditions, was empty, Yu Shuwen fell into great anger and fear at the same time.
This famous general and veteran of the Wei Dynasty knew very well that the opponent adopted the most targeted and possibly the most correct response strategy.
During this Eastern Expedition, the people's hearts were shattered from the very beginning. The heartbreak led to the massive flight of the Central Army, and the large-scale flight of the Central Army, especially the civilians, caused the main supply line to shrink rapidly in a way that was visible to the naked eye. This caused everyone, from the saint at the top to the ordinary people, to fundamentally lose confidence.
Specifically reflected in the front line, most soldiers were afraid to move forward. At the same time, the troops crossing Luolongtan generally lacked food reserves.
At this time, for the Dongyi people, standing firm and clearing the country was the most correct choice and response... However, facing the opponent's most correct response, Yu Shuwen seemed to have no extra way out.
"General Yu should withdraw his troops at this time, right?!"
In the open space in front of the military camp, Sima Huada looked at the military report and looked at his own father with some fear. "Why are you still chasing him? Do you want us to fulfill our oath and go together? Is he crazy?"
Sima Changying did not wear a helmet, but just sat on the horse with his hands tied, looking at the endless flat land around him... In front of him, some fields have begun to appear. This is a characteristic of the disappearance of saline-alkali tidal flats and the emergence of normal land, and the land is not bad. Fertile, but at the moment there are only some green seedlings on these fertile lands, which can be used to feed horses at most, and cannot be used as military rations... Of course, if ears grow, Sima Changying has no doubt that the governor will personally order them to be burned.
After watching for a long time, Sima Xianggong went to look at his eldest son: "Is A Zheng gone?"
"Leaved early in the morning." Sima Huada was caught off guard, but he replied immediately. "According to your instructions, I didn't say any more words to him, and I didn't let him move around in the army. I just drove him away... In fact, with Azheng's intelligence, he may have noticed something, but I used the order of loyalty to the emperor. I was prevaricated."
"That's good." Sima Changying nodded. Nian Xu came to ask. "You, Yu Shuwen, why do you want to withdraw your troops?"
Upon hearing his father's question, Sima Huada immediately remained silent and looked introspective.
"Let me ask you, why did he withdraw his troops?" Sima Changying had no choice but to put down her hands and put her hands on her knees. "I'm not scolding you, I'm asking you seriously."
"He... has a strong wall and a clear field in front of him. He has limited military rations, and the people are divided. Among the Eighth Route Army, the only one willing to go forward with him is Zhao Guang, who comes from a lowly background and doesn't care about anything... plus his self-reliance on cultivation. He and generals are not something worth mentioning in front of the Governor of Dongyi, right? If we chase forward, as long as we are out of touch behind, I am afraid that there will be no need to fortify the wall and clear the country, and the Governor will lead his army to meet him. "
"Then what?" Sima Changying couldn't wait to ask.
"Then...then nine times out of ten the army will be defeated?" Sima Huada finally showed his hands. "Coupled with the ridiculous morale of the army, I am afraid that the whole army will be wiped out again."
"But what if the army is defeated?" Sima Changying suddenly asked. "So what if the whole army is wiped out? He is a grandmaster, and there are twenty to thirty thousand soldiers blocking him... Can't I escape?"
Sima Huada was startled for a moment, as if he had realized something, but he immediately shook his head: "But if the army is defeated, won't the saint want his life? Do you want to be a fugitive? And if you have to escape, just escape, the world Although he is a big man, he is from Guanlong, Yu Shuwen, and has been guarding the family for generations, so where can he go? Does he not care about the family? "
"If he retreats without a fight, do you think the saint will kill him?" Sima Changying asked coldly.
At the turn of spring and summer, the weather was warm, and Sima Huada felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and then he realized: "So, for him, there is only one way forward, because there is still a chance to win..."
Sima Hua's voice gradually dropped when he was halfway through, because he vaguely realized something... something that was difficult to express... For example, Yu Shuwen, as the leader of the generals, would die if he retreated without a fight, so what about the man in front of him? Where is your biological father?
This seemed to coincide with some unlucky words that day.
"Actually... whether it's going forward or going forward, you can give it a try." Sima Changying didn't seem to notice his son's strangeness, and just explained calmly. "Going forward, it's a gamble that Li Ziqi's solid wall and clear country can't hold on, and he speeds up his march and bites him. It's also a gamble that the Eighth Route Army, united as one, can move forward together; going forward, it's a gamble that the saint is in a good mood, and it's a gamble that he can't blame everyone. , and even more so, he is betting on the tricks played by his family to see if he can coax the saint and try to survive... Didn’t we survive the two-horse trough before? "
"Then..." Sima Huada came back to his senses and responded at a loss. "What is this battle about? There were rumors before that the saint was deliberately killing the old people of Dong Qi, but why do I feel that he was also deliberately killing us Guanlong generals?"
"You ask me, who am I asking? I only know that normal people should stop their troops when they see hundreds of thousands of people fleeing on the road." Sima Changying remained calm. "The civilians fled like that, and they still forcefully sent out troops. They were originally meant to force their subordinates to take advantage of the situation... And if you are really being honest, Mo Yunnei, you shouldn't have asked us to go there if you were dreaming about it that night."
"Then...then father, how should we win?" Sima Huada responded carefully.
"It's very simple. I'll go forward, but you don't move... After three days, don't worry about what happens in front, leave camp immediately and return west." Sima Changying put on a helmet on the horse. "When you go back... you have to take the lead in crying. Yu Shuwen ignored the lack of food and fodder, and ignored the enemy's stronghold and cleared the country. Just because he was personally humiliated by Li Ziqi, he insisted on going his own way and ignored the overall situation... This battle is his fault! "
"Understood!" Sima Huada nodded immediately. "I understand this!"
Sima Changying glanced at her son and stood up immediately, but staggered again.
Seeing this, Sima Huada immediately stepped forward to support the other party, but couldn't help but paused, and then responded carefully: "Father... How about I run away for you? I am young after all, but it is still easy to run away. of."
Sima Changying fixedly looked at her hopeless eldest son. She was silent for a long time, and then she spoke under the noon sun: "Can you go... What is my identity? What is your identity? I am the only one going, If you try your best, the saint will not express his anger; only if I go, Yu Shuwen can have nothing to say and continue to march forward; only if I go, and I am forced by Yu Shuwen, can you and others Let’s blame this guy for everything together.”
Sima Huada nodded in understanding.
Sima Changying wanted to think about something else, but found it boring, so he simply mounted his horse and issued a military order, asking his troops to rush to the front line to catch up with Yu Shuwen's department.
When the military order was issued, a commotion immediately arose... After Sima and his son passed Luolongtan, they joined forces and moved forward. At this time, one group went forward and the other stayed behind. How could the subordinates led by Sima Changying be defeated?
Especially when the situation is now, with rumors flying all over the sky, those who bury food are burying food, and those who are afraid of war are afraid of war, why should only half of the people move forward?
However, Sima Changying has been in the army for decades, served as a general and became a prime minister, and has been in the family for generations. How come there is no dignity in the army?
After giving an order, family generals, private soldiers, and old troops naturally organized themselves to carry out punishments. Hundreds of people were killed, and no one dared to speak out, so they had to set off in a hurry. Then there was a long journey of eighty miles in one day and night, and finally on the afternoon of the second day, we arrived at a hillside twenty miles behind Xindeng City, where we caught up with Yu Shu's literary department.
Then, the latter immediately gave an extremely bad intelligence feedback.
"The sentries came to report, and I went to see it myself... Longshan City in front was also empty, and all the wells were sealed, and all the city defenses were destroyed... They even abandoned such a strong city." Yu Shuwen's tone seemed a little bit... numbness. "I never thought that I would fall into this situation one day... Sima Xianggong, have you ever thought about it?"
"Before last year, I had never thought about it." Sima Changying said sincerely with an expressionless face. "But after experiencing an incident in front of the imperial court, I have thought about all kinds of desperate situations."
Yu Shuwen nodded and did not ask too many details, but returned to the war itself: "Should we pursue you now or not?"
Sima Changying calmly replied: "General Yu has been marching forward ever since he sent out troops. I have always just followed him."
Yu Shuwen nodded again, but seemed to be retorting: "The military rations are already very dangerous. When crossing the beach, the soldiers took the opportunity to bury the grains."
"So should we pursue him or not?" It was Sima Changying's turn to ask impatiently.
"If you chase, you may still have a chance of survival, and you may end up with a hard-fought escape, or even a crime that is not a war. If you don't chase, you will only become the laughing stock of the world!" Yu Shuwen thought for a moment and gritted his teeth. "How not to chase?!"
Sima Changying wanted to nod, but for some reason, he couldn't help laughing.
"We are grasshoppers on the same rope, what's so funny?" Yu Shuwen frowned and scolded.
"Actually, I knew you would think so before I came here, but it's still a little strange..." Sima Changying smiled. "Do people like General Yu only care about their own merits and don't need to consider other people's?"
"Who else are you considering at this time?" Yu Shuwen also sneered immediately. "Are you thinking about people like you? Aren't we all the same? Am I the only one with three heads and six arms? For me, if His Majesty hadn't obviously meant to involve each other, those timid and fearful people should have done it long ago. Kill Ji Qi, and then let you and I take charge of the military... Li Ziqi will be trapped at that time."
"That's not what I meant..." Sima Changying sighed and tried to say more, but finally gave up.
In this way, in the evening, Yu Shuwen's department took the lead in arriving at Longshan City.
On the second day, Yu Shuwen's troops left Longshan City and continued eastward. After gathering Zhao Guang's troops who came to join them later, Sima Changying also led his troops into Longshan... That night, there was a commotion. The soldiers of Sima and Zhao were too They were tired and refused to set up camp anymore. They ignored military orders and entered Longshan City to rest.
But this time, Sima Changying did not pursue it too much.
However, the shortage of water in the city caused the order in the army to become even more chaotic. On the second day, after a long struggle, the troops were finally lined up... Many sergeants took the opportunity to hide in the ruins of the city and were unwilling to come out.
Zhao Guang still wanted to look for him, but Sima Changying just ignored him because the outposts coming from behind and behind him were clear. Although Yu Shuwen in front had conquered several small villages, he still didn't encounter the main force of the Dongyi people, and he still couldn't. Received decent supplies, but at the same time, the armies at the rear were nowhere to be seen.
As for the number of troops and provisions at this time, Sima Changying was used to seeing troops and had already made an estimate - the two troops that originally had 30,000 soldiers in theory would be good at 20,000 at this time, and the provisions they brought , and only seven or eight days.
This is mid-April.
In other words, just over ten days after crossing Luolongtan, the main force in front of the Central Route Army fell into a state of disconnection, insufficient supplies, disorganized troops, and exhausted soldiers.
The troops continued to move forward for another day. On this day, there were already many sporadic battles with Yu Shuwen's troops in front. There were also gradually more Dongyi sentry cavalry and practicing special cavalry in the surrounding area. After many years of military career, Sima Changying They were keenly aware that the Dongyi people were about to counterattack... because they had noticed the embarrassment and weakness of this army, and they had to take action immediately before they could withdraw to deal with the Southern Route Army coming from the sea.
Sure enough, the battle emerged sooner than expected.
Or, the elite central army of the Wei Dynasty, which had lost military morale, was more vulnerable than imagined.
One afternoon later, the third day that Sima Changying had agreed with his son had just passed. His headquarters and Zhao Guangbu were marching hard in the fields from the burned-out village. Just now, there was only constant traffic on the road ahead. The sentries and many sergeants who had fallen behind to rest for no reason suddenly turned into a large defeated army...
Nothing beats demoralization and war weariness, it turns out.
After Sima Changying asked, he found out that most of Yu Shuwen's troops in the front did not have time to fight the Dongyi people. However, the sentry cavalry detected that the main force of the Dongyi army appeared further ahead. The Dongyi people seemed to be launching a large-scale counterattack, and then took advantage of Yu Shuwen's opportunity. When Shuwen personally led his elite soldiers forward to verify the military situation, the Guanxi garrison troops who were thousands of miles away from home immediately collapsed on the wilderness and fled backwards, as if they had received a long-awaited signal.
Moreover, Sima Changying and Zhao Guang were involved.
There were at least 20,000 to 30,000 troops abandoning their baggage, armor and soldiers, pushing and trampling on each other, fleeing wildly, and even internal armed conflicts broke out.
Zhao Guang was horrified and quickly tried to stop and control, but Sima Changying and a group of close soldiers stood silently on the hill beside the road, watching the army collapse like a mountain.
He had already realized this scene.
And to be honest, it's useless to save them... It's better to let these people escape on their own and escape as soon as possible.
About half an hour later, Yu Shuwen returned in embarrassment with some of his elite troops. He immediately found Sima Changying and gathered with him.
The two faced each other, and Yu Shuwen was the first to yell: "Sima Xianggong, are you just letting yourself go like this?"
"You have destroyed the entire army, how can you blame me?" Sima Changying sneered. "We won't be around for long, so why don't we let them escape as much as possible... What's going on at the front? They can't be suspected soldiers, right?"
"The front is real..." Yu Shuwen suppressed his dissatisfaction and tried his best to deal with it. "Li Ziqi is here in person, and there is also the banner of the Wang family of Dongyi Kingdom... The Green Dragon Army, the Golden Frog Army, the Red Phoenix Army, and the Black Dragon Army are all here!"
"Even if we fight, we are no match for him." Sima Changying responded calmly. "Unless we have 120,000 elite soldiers marching together... I will feel more confident."
Yu Shuwen continued to sneer, and was about to scold him, but turned back suddenly.
It turned out that war drums suddenly rumbled in the east, and a strange golden frog flag suddenly appeared in the distance. It seemed that some Dongyi people who had no idea whether to live or die were rushing in and pursued them without waiting for the group.
"It's a deputy flag, not a general, but at most a nephew of the leader of the Dongyi Kingdom. It's a pity." Yu Shuwen gritted his teeth and led his private soldiers to drive away, heading straight to the opponent's flag, as if preparing to attack and behead him.
When he was about two or three hundred steps closer to the opponent, he used his true energy, jumped into the air from his horse, and the generals behind him also released their true energy and waved with all their strength. With this true energy, he Shuwen held the knife and drew a huge ink-colored mark in the air, then dropped it heavily and hit the flag accurately.
But just when he was about to succeed, a sound like a dragon's roar suddenly sounded on the battlefield, and then a ball of green immortality energy rolled in from the east, and in turn, Yu Shuwen's path was already very long. The exaggerated weak water energy was easily dispersed.
Yu Shuwen himself also fell down in mid-air and fell to the ground on the spot.
This scene caused the Wei army to flee even more desperately. Even the few soldiers and elites who had just formed a formation to lend their true energy were completely at a loss.
Of course, the master is not easy to die. Yu Shuwen could not have been completely defeated by Li Ziqi who was far away from the tower. He immediately tried to rise again with the help of a weak water energy... However, that The huge amount of Changsheng Qi had no intention of letting go, but continued to suppress it condescendingly.
The two kept fighting with each other, making a lot of noise, but Yu Shuwen was obviously at a disadvantage.
After about ten times of exchanges of Qi between the two parties, a golden light suddenly flashed in the sky, flew from afar, and directly pierced half of the sky filled with green and ink colors, and was suddenly snatched away by the ink-colored Qi. A three-point gap was created, allowing the latter to successfully escape from the battle along the sides and bottom of the green infuriating energy.
What was even more unexpected was that after the golden light passed through the great master's zhenqi ball, it was unharmed and continued to fly and fall somewhere else.
"What a handsome kung fu!"
In mid-air, Li Ziqi's voice was still majestic. "Is it General Zhao? Moyun Golden Winged Dapeng is well-deserved!"
As soon as he finished speaking, another golden light flew over. The speed and color were not as good as the previous one. Then he faced the immortal energy and stabbed hard, but it did not pierce, but fell back.
"It's also very good." Li Ziqi sighed with emotion. "Zhongyuan is really full of talents...talented people!"
Moreover, they probably knew it well, and neither Yu Shuwen nor the two condensation and elixir masters who later assisted him knew that he was completely defeated, so they did not say anything.
However, the three people on Wei's side did not say anything, but it did not delay someone from shouting curses under the Changsheng Zhenqi:
"Li Ziqi... do you want to save me, or do you want to take the opportunity to kill me? After this battle, I, Wang Yuande, will definitely impeach you in front of the king!"
The longevity energy obviously weakened, but Li Ziqi did not say a word.
However, the man under the Golden Frog did not calm down at all, and his voice became more and more angry: "It doesn't matter if I die alone... It's just that in today's battle, these few people together are no match for you, and the morale of the army has already dropped to this level. However, you force us to fortify our walls and clear our country, and abandon our cities and lands. What are your thoughts behind this? Is it because after the war the year before last, the lands in these states were all given to us, the Wang family's children?"
Li Ziqi finally spoke up, but he was also suppressing his anger: "General Wang is overthinking!"
Taking this opportunity, one black, two gold, and three light spots had quickly retreated and temporarily returned to the hill.
Moreover, those who can fly with Qi are at least masters of Condensation Pill or above. There are only a thousand people in the world, and many of them are destined to be scattered in gangs, sects, civil servants, spies, and local systems. If placed in the army, some Counting one by one, it must be a Zhonglang general... Therefore, after the two golden lights appeared, Sima Changying became a little serious, but she only thought that one of the Zhonglang generals had a conscience and took the initiative regardless of the power of the great master. It is really rare to come to rescue.
At this time, after seeing these three people clearly, his lips trembled - without him, the extra person was a Zhonglang General, and he was very familiar with him. He was one of his closest relatives, Sima Changying, who had been on a business trip before. Halfway through the trip, Sima Zheng was supposed to return to the imperial palace.
"Grandpa!"
Sima looked pale and asked in panic as soon as he landed. "Why did you lose like this?"
Sima Changying hesitated to speak and could only smile on the horse: "Why are you back?"
Sima Zheng felt sad for a moment: "I asked for this job because I overheard that a wise acquaintance was behind the scenes. The front would be defeated, so I came over to see the situation and see my father and ancestors... After I went back that day, I thought more and more on the way. The more I worried about my grandfather, I turned back to look for him, only to find that my grandfather and my father had already divided their forces. Then I hurried over, only to find that they were completely defeated."
"You're here just in time." Before Sima Changying could respond, Yu Shuwen intervened. "Right now, the army is defeated like a mountain. When the main force of Dongyi's four armies and the masters of the army arrive at the rear, we won't be able to leave even if we want to... I just fought, and I clearly noticed that Li Ziqi himself must have suffered some hidden injury, or was tired. If you go too far, you can't pursue us... Let's go together quickly. Sima Erlong is in front, General Zhao is sweeping over, and Sima Xianggong and I are leading the elite private soldiers to beat the horses below and rush back all the way."
Zhao Guang on the side stamped his feet and pointed at the completely disordered defeated soldiers around him: "But going back like this is almost equivalent to the annihilation of the entire army. How will I explain to the saint then?!"
Sima Zheng was also sad.
However, Sima Changying looked at the three of them, and then at the infuriating energy spreading in the distance, and then sighed on the spot: "General Yu, do you remember what I said a few days ago?"
Yu Shuwen was confused: "What words? What words at this time? Still not leaving?"
"I laughed at you back then. You only cared about your own achievements and didn't care about others... You thought I was the one who didn't care about other generals." Sima Changying pointed her finger at the defeated soldiers who were running around in embarrassment and stampeding out of control. "But actually, I wanted to ask, had General Yu ever thought about them? Did you expect that 80% of the time that day, and why did you still insist on marching?"
"Compassion does not command troops!" Yu Shuwen was stunned for a moment, and then immediately replied proudly. "Xiangong Sima, you have also been a general and a prime minister. Why are you so pedantic at your age? In this situation, 20% is already the best, so you should take a gamble!"
"If he hadn't become so pedantic, how could he have become a general?" Sima Changying answered seriously on his horse. "It's because I know that I can't just care about myself, I have to consider the ups and downs, so I can be a general and a general. But you were thrown into the guard of Beihuang at the height of the sun..."
Yu Shuwen was startled for a moment, and then he stared at the old man in front of him in the rebellious army, as if he was meeting him for the first time: "Sima Xianggong, you are right, but this time I didn't take advantage of the people below. Am I the only one who values my life? Isn't it you who forces the soldiers to carry sixty days of food? Isn't it His Majesty who forces us to march but cannot reach Luolongtan?"
"So, we all have to pay the price." Sima Changying also stared at the other party seriously. "I have done something wrong, and I will pay for it. Even if you run away, you will still have to pay... Believe it or not, even a saint will have to pay back sooner or later!"
Yu Shuwen was dumbfounded. After all, he just rolled his sleeves and then led his troops away. Zhao Guang also felt confused and flew directly to his own army formation.
But Sima Changying looked at his second grandson who seemed to have woken up: "Azheng... do you know what happened that night? Did you ask Bai Yousi?"
Sima Zheng was so confused that he could only nod randomly.
"You know it, I'm sorry, my grandfather failed to set a good example for you." Sima Changying confessed sincerely. "But today is not the time for this, you'd better go! In fact, if you don't come today, I will use my own life to make a difference for you and your son. If all three generations of my ancestors and grandchildren go back, I will be the leader of all the generals. First of all, according to that saint, we will not let our whole family go; now that you are here, I will do this even more so that I can not lose my dignity as a grandfather in front of you..."
Sima Zheng was in mourning, so he stepped forward to hold the horse's rein, and then thought about something.
"I know what you want." Sima Changying immediately took her grandson's hand. "You think, if one person has to die to save the whole family from the sins, why don't you die... It's a bad word, you are not qualified... not even your father! After that night, although the saint's momentum continued to escape for half a year , but when he wakes up, he still has to avoid it, I can’t do it until I die!”
Sima Zheng completely lost his composure and burst into tears.
"Okay." Sima Changying turned over and dismounted, continued to hold the opponent's hands, and then gave instructions to the left and right. "Lucky for you, you can go back with Azheng this time! I'm old, you help him get on the horse for me."
The soldiers and generals felt as if they were being pardoned after hearing this, but they immediately stepped forward, pushed and pulled Sima Zheng and helped him onto his horse. Sima Zheng was determined to stop him, but on the one hand, he knew his grandfather's truth in his heart, and on the other hand, his grandfather took the initiative to use his true energy to control himself. Due to his emotional instability, he did not dare to use force without permission to avoid accidental injury... He was actually helped up by those generals.
At this time, Sima Changying held hands and looked up to see his grandson. For some reason, he, who had not lost his composure in public after what happened that night, actually had a sore nose at this time and shed tears:
"Zheng'er... When the late emperor destroyed Dong Qi and Nan Chen, the world was almost unified. I just thought that the world would return to peace, and the Sima family would also have to create a great and long-term inheritance. In addition, you are extremely talented, so I devoted myself to teaching you how to do it. A loyal and filial son, your father and your uncle are bastards, so I restrained my habits and set an example with you... As a result, the situation has deteriorated, and my grandfather can only become a bad person again, but I don't know whether I should let go or not. You are also bad... As for today, we, our grandparents, might as well make an agreement. I will set a final example for you, and you will have some room for change in your heart in the future. Just do your best in everything... okay or not?"
By the end, it was almost pleading.
On the other side, the conversation had stopped at this point, and since he was a general after all, and had been taught about life and death since he was a child, Sima Zheng could only burst into tears and nodded on his horse.
With just a nod, Sima Changying let go of his hand, staring blankly at a group of generals and private soldiers surrounding his family's hope, which was also the most upright side of his family, and quickly followed the defeated army westward.
I don’t know how long it took before the Prime Minister of Wei looked back and looked at the old man Jian Jia who came behind him:
"It's a joke to Governor Li."
"How can you not be a husband if you pity your son?" The old man Jian Jia, Li Ziqi, the governor of Dongyi, stood with his hands behind his hands and his face was serious. "If people like your grandson were born on our East Island, I would be able to die without any regrets."
"A treacherous minister is not worthy of the law, but my grandson, you Dongyi are not worthy of you." Sima Changying replied seriously as well.
"Oranges are oranges when they grow in Huainan, and oranges when they grow in northern Huaibei. When you are in the Eastern Kingdom, you will be the arms of the country like me." Li Ziqi was still serious. "Even though your grandson has some skills, seeing the world is in chaos, and being born in our Eastern Kingdom, he may not be without the possibility of making great achievements..."
"These are useless." Sima Changying bowed his hands. "Please, Grand Governor, for the sake of my tacit understanding, kill me immediately, and then send a letter to Dengzhou... If my children and grandchildren can be saved through this, it will also be beneficial to the Eastern Kingdom."
Li Ziqi nodded heavily, and with just a wave of his sleeves, a stream of immortality energy enveloped the person in front of him like green smoke... But after a moment, a few drops of blood spattered out and fell on Governor Li's clean clothes. On the sleeve.
Seven days later, the leading three armies on the east side of Luolongtan were defeated. Sima Changying died in the battle, and the news that the remaining five armies fled in embarrassment reached the imperial court. Sima Zheng, who was crying in tears, asked to lead an army to counterattack and respond.
The saint hesitated for a moment.
Seeing this situation, Mr. Xiao Zhang proposed a veto motion on the spot: "At this time, the front line is completely lost. Wouldn't it be absurd to send out another army and lose another army? In comparison, the safety of the saint is paramount, so we should gather the entire army. Please move to Dengzhou."
This proposal received the saint's nod and attracted everyone's attention, but no one said anything.
After receiving the news, the rear army camp where the imperial commander was located immediately lost control, and the civilians and soldiers fled without restraint.
The holy cavalry set off on its journey, and after only half a day of walking, it was completely out of order. The palace ladies and chamberlains all fell out of line, the civilians abandoned their baggage, soldiers and horses were scattered on the road, and some bold sergeants even robbed their fellow soldiers on the side road and raped the palace ladies.
In the evening, when we returned to the camp set up on the road, order was barely restored.
"What should my father do? What should my father do?"
As soon as he returned to the previous camp, Zhou Xingfan came straight to find Zhan'er, his eyes were red, and he questioned him on the spot. "If Zhang Han doesn't save the dog thief, then uncle won't save him? Why didn't he say a word?"
Lai Zhan'er's face turned red: "I just want to save him, but how can I save him? Your father walked by water, heading straight to the mouth of Shoukawa..."
"Uncle, why do you need to deceive yourself?" Zhou Xingfan asked bluntly. "As long as we can hold off here for a day or two, will my father have a little more chance of survival on the South Road? Isn't that saint greedy for life and afraid of death?! That thief Zhang Han is just..."
Before he finished speaking, Lai Zhan'er reached out and quickly covered the other person's mouth, just like an adult holding down a child. At the same time, an invisible energy quickly isolated the surrounding area.
It turned out that Lai Zhan'er was also upset. When his nephew came to question him, he actually forgot to take precautions.
The camp where Lai Zhan'er was located was theoretically the secondary camp of the Chinese army. There were many officers around, not to mention the current chaos? If this word gets out, his life will really be at risk.
However, the more you fear, the more you get... Zhou Xingfan cursed loudly. There was indeed a group of middle and low-level servants and officials who were lighting a fire outside the tent. They clearly heard it, and then they turned pale in astonishment.
Of course, most of them continued to pretend not to hear anything and just bowed their heads in silence.
But after a while, a clerk from the Ministry of Justice only went to relieve himself, but then came straight to the emperor under the eyes of others.
Arriving at the imperial tent, it turned out that the imperial tent was huge and located on a flattened hill, so it had not yet been erected. The emperor only stood on the hillside under the setting sun with many civil servants and chamberlains, watching coldly and in a heavy atmosphere.
Seeing the opportunity, this person shouted from a distance, saying that he had something to report, but was stopped by the Jinwu Guards outside. He could only ask to see high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Justice as an official of the Ministry of Punishment. At this time, he had nothing to say. Among the civil and military officials in front of the emperor, who got the message Wang Daiji, the Minister of Punishment, immediately walked down.
"Is that so?" After listening to the narration, the yellow-bearded minister was stunned for a moment, and actually had some doubts. Then he turned to look at the man next to him who was covered in dust but obviously had a machete hanging on his head. "Zhang Sanlang, how do you think this matter should be handled?"
Zhang Xing was speechless and gestured towards the side of the hill with his mouth open, where the view above could be blocked.
Wang Daiji understood, and immediately took a few steps over there, and waved the person over. The official was actually careful, but he saw that there were too many people around, and their clothes were of different shapes, especially Zhang Sanlang who was being asked. , just walked to the Jinwu Guards group on one side, did not get close, but felt relieved,
However, when the man turned around, Zhang Xing just winked at Qin Bao, who was following behind him. The latter immediately understood and suddenly stepped forward from behind, holding the man's waist with one hand and holding the other man's waist with the other. He pinched the clerk's mouth tightly.
Zhang Xing did not hesitate, and immediately pulled out the sword from the waist of Ding Quan, the Jinwu guard on the side, stepped forward, used the cover of the terrain to dodge the possible direction of the jet, and killed the man with one knife.
Then he calmly handed the blood-covered knife back to Ding Quan, who had not yet reacted. There was no blood on his body.
Up and down, as silent as a cicada, they just watched Qin Bao bend over and drag the body away.
But at this moment, another change occurred. Suddenly, not far away from the imperial palace, Eunuch Yu came quickly and asked on the spot: "Your Majesty saw the Minister Wang leaving suddenly and asked him what happened when he was in trouble."
Wang Daiji was at a loss and just went to see Zhang Xing.
Zhang Xing was slightly confused, then gritted his teeth and said, "I was the one who made the noise. I will go with Wang Shilang."
Eunuch Yu looked at the other party in surprise and then at the blood on the ground. He could only suppress his panic and nodded with all his strength.
After a while, Eunuch Yu and Wang Daiji led Zhang to the front of the emperor. All the civil and military officials were there. The emperor frowned and asked Wang Daiji: "Wang Qing, what happened? You left without permission?"
Wang Daiji immediately moved out of the way, revealing Zhang Xing behind him.
Zhang Xing, without waiting for Wang Daiji to speak, immediately raised his hands and saluted: "Reporting to your majesty, I, Fulongwei Deputy Chang Inspector Zhang Xing, just saw several cranes flying towards me at the foot of the mountain with my colleagues, and gathered in front of the emperor. For a moment, I didn't know what to do. Just because I know Wang Shilang, I asked Wang Shilang if he wanted to report to the Holy Master, and I didn't want to disturb him...but the crane also flew away."
The emperor was surprised for a moment: "Is it true?"
"It's true." Eunuch Yu suddenly lowered his head and moved forward. "Reporting to the saint, I just went to announce the decree and saw the crane rising into the sky at the end."
"It's indeed true." Wang Daiji immediately agreed. "It's a pity that it flew away."
The emperor nodded slowly.
"Your Majesty, this is a good sign." At this moment, Mr. Zhang Han, who had no idea what had happened, suddenly came out and congratulated him with a smile. "The crane is a messenger from heaven. Your Majesty is blessed with good fortune and God's will favors you."
The emperor immediately took a long breath, and then looked at Yu Changji, who was silent: "If you have this good omen, come and report it in time, and be rewarded... I am the deputy inspector, and I will select a county guard for him as a reward!"
Then, he turned around and walked directly to the imperial tent that had been set up.
In front of the imperial tent under the setting sun, Zhang Xing raised his head in astonishment. He didn't know whether he should feel ridiculous or lucky, but there was definitely no surprise. He asked himself that he had experienced a lot when he became emperor two years ago, and he had a clear conscience. Moreover, there is merit and service, but in the past, all kinds of extra money and hard work failed to buy an official, but today, because of a lie to fend off the situation, he easily gained the governor of this county?
At the same time, how many civilians and soldiers were killed in this almost child's play Eastern Expedition, and how many good people were forced to rebel?
Why did Sima Erlong cry bitterly in front of a person like him?
Why is Xiao Zhou so rude?
The country and the world, the people and officials, top and bottom, rich and poor, what do they mean in the eyes of this emperor?
While he was stunned, Yu Changji came over, clasped his hands and asked calmly: "You wanted to go to Hebei before? There is a vacancy in Wu'an County, how about it?"
Zhang Xing was silent for a while, just not saying anything.
Yu Changji nodded: "Then let's go to Wu'an... I'll write the paperwork and ask Eunuch Yu to give it to you tonight."
Then, the husband did not blame him, but turned around and went into the royal tent.
But Zhang Xing remained silent.
ps: I routinely dedicate a new book "The King of Thieves in the Late Ming Dynasty"... The end of the Ming Dynasty, the end of the Ming Dynasty, it is very difficult to write it well.
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