Shang Hongqian left as quickly as he came. He left without stopping in Xinfeng and returned to the Central Army.
However, the vanguard army suddenly became busy because of the military order he left. More than 2,000 infantry troops in the city had to leave. With the donkeys, horses, equipment, and the baggage and grain accumulated in the early stage, it was difficult to leave at once. Although such a task suddenly fell on Guo Xin's shoulders, he had experienced several expeditions in the Fengguo army and had accumulated considerable experience in military affairs, so he would not be at a loss when doing it, not to mention his platoon. The formation envoy was only a "temporary leader" and a "quasi-informant". In the army, Wang Jin was indispensable for his guidance and guidance.
In this way, the vanguard army finally arrived at Chang'an City at the end of May.
The Chang'an City that stands in front of Guo Xin at this moment, or the city that has now been renamed Yongxing Mansion, is already a new city that was rebuilt by Han Jian, the military governor of the Later Liang Dynasty. The original outer city of Chang'an was abandoned and razed to the ground. , only the original imperial city was retained as the Waiguo City, so the scale and structure were not even as large as those of Chang'an City in the previous dynasty. Today, there are only five city gates surrounding the entire Chang'an. The famous Zhuque Gate has been abandoned during the reconstruction. Only Anshang and Hanguang gates remain in the south. There were originally two gates in the west. Only Shunyi gate remains, and Shunyi gate remains in the north and east. A number of city gates were also abandoned, with only Xuanwu and Jingfeng gates retained.
After a brief discussion with the other commanders, Guo Xin and Wang Jin decided to temporarily station the vanguard army at an unknown Sakahara outside Jingfengmen.
After the vanguard army set up camp, Zhao Siwan in the city did not send troops to cause trouble, but Guo Xin did not dare to let down his guard. While nervously supervising the construction of artillery carriages in the army, he sent out scouts to observe the enemy's situation throughout the day. Even he himself led several The soldiers went to the edge of the city to observe in person, but several times they found that the city wall was always bare, without a flag showing, and it took a long time to see a human head flashing between the battlements.
When Guo Xin is preparing for battle, he occasionally likes to stand on an unknown mound somewhere. Looking from a high place, it seems that the whole world can be seen. The world around him was calm and vast, with vast plains stretching from his feet to the distance, and the rolling mountains on the horizon seemed endless... He liked the feeling of having such an unobstructed view, which made him feel that his life would also be here. Growing freely in this infinite vast world.
It's just that there are imperfections in this infinitely vast world. The ruins a few miles away are the most abrupt and eye-catching part, and the city of Chang'an lies frozen among the piles of wood and rocks. Chang'an like this always becomes very dim and blurry in Guo Xin's eyes, giving him another feeling - fragile and small.
Even though Chang'an City still stands there flatly and is very solid and complete after recent repairs, it still doesn't look taller than Weizhou City, or even far less majestic than Taiyuan Prefecture. In more senses, the city in front of us is far from the Chang'an that symbolized prosperity and glory in the pre-Tang Dynasty. Decades of troubled times between feudal lords and towns not only destroyed a dynasty, but also destroyed the city that carried it. Countless cities of significance were destroyed.
After the end of May, in June, Shang Hongqian led the imperial army to conquer Zhao Siwan. The main force of nearly 20,000 soldiers and horses finally arrived in Chang'an along the official road. Guo Xin got the news and according to the rules, he should go to the Central Plains in advance. The army pays homage. He originally wanted to go with Wang Jin. After all, Wang Jin was still the commander of the army, but Wang Jin refused to go to see him no matter what. Guo Xin no longer insisted and only brought a few soldiers out of the camp.
It had rained all night the day before. The morning after the rain was very fresh and the road was not too muddy. After a few miles, I saw smoke filling the official road not far away. But it was not the morning fog, but the military fog. In the middle of the stove is the smoke from the fire. Countless men and horses extended along the official road into the distance, and the smoke also moved forward along the official road until it obscured the team behind them. From a distance, the entire army looked like a long and looming dragon in the smoke.
Guo Xin met Shang Hongqian in the Chinese army's tent in the middle of the "Changlong". There were also more than a dozen commanders of the Chinese army's big and small teeth. When he stepped into the tent, he unexpectedly found Shang Hongqian in the tent. Drinking with the generals.
Shang Hongqian raised his glass before drinking, and pointed with his other hand at Guo Xin, who had entered the tent, and introduced to everyone: "This is Guo Xin, the former army envoy, and the son of Guo Que'er, the privy envoy of the current dynasty."
Hearing this, the tent became lively: "You know, that Guo Erlang who shoots tigers!" "Is it also Guo Xin who worked as a gunner with Han Xun under Weizhou City?"
Guo Xin smiled and clasped his fists and saluted all the generals: "I have seen all the generals."
Shang Hongqian waved his hand: "Serve General Guo wine!"
The soldiers offered a cup of wine, and Guo Xin drank it all without hesitation.
After a few cheers, Shang Hongqian asked again: "Let me ask you, how is Chang'an right now? What is the Zhao thief doing in the city?"
"According to what the general has seen, the city gates of Chang'an are closed day and night, and the enemy troops cannot leave the city. I'm afraid they are just sitting on pins and needles at this time."
Someone interrupted: "Then Zhao Thief is probably busy looking for Da Liang Bai Ling!"
Shang Hongqian laughed along with everyone, and casually asked Guo Xin: "When our army arrives, with the help of artillery and machine guns, how long does General Guo think it will take to capture Chang'an?"
Guo Xin thought for a while: "Before I came here in the end, I thought it would only take three to five months. Now that I have come here and seen the morale of the army and the generals, I feel that it only takes one month to break the city and defeat the enemy, and kill Zhao Siwan." Send it to the palace."
There were cheers in the tent again: "Well said!" "The morale of the army is like a rainbow, and we will be able to break the city in a month."
Unexpectedly, Shang Hongqian suddenly slammed the table: "One month is too long!"
Everyone was still stunned when they saw that Shang Hongqian had suddenly stood up from his seat and pulled out the sword hanging from his waist with a clang. Whether it was because of drunkenness or excitement, he blushed and raised his sword and shouted: "The traitor! The traitor is vulnerable to a single blow. Within ten days, I will hang Zhao Siwan’s head on the Chinese army’s banner! Our army will win!”
"Must win! Must win!" Shang Hongqian's move ignited the atmosphere, and everyone stood up and cheered enthusiastically.
When everyone's enthusiasm calmed down a little, Shang Hongqian finally remembered Guo Xin who was still standing in the tent and told him: "Without further delay, you go back and arrange the artillery cart carefully, and we will do it again tonight." After resting, our army will attack the city tomorrow."
"The last general takes orders."
Guo Xin rode out of the Central Army and was suddenly shaken by the cold wind coming his way. The scene in the account just now is still vivid in my mind. When I said that I would conquer the city in one month, it was already more of a show. I didn’t expect that Shang Hongqian would dare to say it more than me. He bluntly said that he would conquer the city in ten days, and it didn’t look like he was joking. !
Shang Hongqian's eagerness to attack the city made him very confused. Recalling that Shang Hongqian personally came to the army to supervise the advancing army and specifically ordered to stop the extension of the waterway for transporting grain from the Wei River to the Bahe River, it may not be a simple incident. An act of establishing prestige, but because of food and grass?
