Wei Zeguan was built on the bulge at the junction of Wen and Tao rivers, with mountains on both sides, firmly controlling the main channel of Jingxing.
At this time, a sturdy young military general was standing under the towering city gate with his sword in his hands. He pointed at the pile of rubble he did not want to see and said: "Quickly transport the stones to the top of the city, reinforce the fortifications, and remove the burned wooden houses." Build again.”
"Here!" Everyone behind him responded quickly.
The military commander who gave the order was called Qi Sheng, and he was the chief general of Wei Zeguan.
Qi Sheng trekked ahead for a tour, and then returned to the camp in the mountain pass. He saw more people transporting materials to build simple houses and set up tents.
During yesterday's attack, the Zhao army's powerful fire crossbows burned the Zhongshan army's original camp thatched huts to pieces.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of wood in the mountain. At this time, the few peasants in Wei Zeguan were bending down and slowly pulling the cart, and there were people pushing behind. A simple four-wheeled vehicle was filled with wooden piles. Unfortunately, it got stuck in a mud pit. In front of it, a man covered in mud was pulling and crawling on the ground. The continuous rain made the Zhongshan Army in the city not very active. Feel good.
"Guys, work harder! We're about to go up!" A high-pitched slogan echoed in the muddy mountain stream.
"One two, one two..." Accompanied by uniform shouts, baskets of stones were carried up to the top of the city.
"Zhao Jun appears five hundred steps away." The scold on the observation platform suddenly turned his head and shouted at the city.
"Be on guard! Be on guard!" There was chaos at the top of the city.
Qi Sheng quickly ran to the top of the city, and everyone hurriedly bowed and worshiped: "Captain Qi..."
Qi Sheng ignored their compliments and looked towards the mountain road.
I saw that the black flag behind the dense mountain mist had emerged, and then there were waves of familiar voices persuading people to surrender in the distance.
This was already the seventh day that Zhao Jun had launched an offensive. Facing the "generous conditions" offered by Zhao Jun, Qi Sheng couldn't help but waver.
All the fortresses outside Wei Ze Pass had been lost in the first day's offensive and defensive battle. If it were not for the mountains, rivers and natural moat of Wei Ze's main pass, their more than 3,000 remaining soldiers would not have been able to hold on for so many days.
Now that Zhao Jun has cut off all communication routes to the outside of the mountain, their lone army now knows nothing about the actual situation outside the mountain.
If not for the sufficient amount of food stored in advance, the morale of the defenders in Weize Pass would have collapsed long ago.
"Captain, don't worry. Even if Zhao Jun continues to attack for hundreds of days, he will definitely not be able to break Weize Pass." The deputy general who followed him immediately said complimentarily.
Qi Sheng shook his head, pointed at Zhao Jun who was gradually emerging in the distance and said: "We don't know the situation outside the mountain now. If it is true as Zhao Jun shouted, Manjia City has been lost. Then we will become A lone army. Wei Zeguan was able to block Zhao Jun's first battle only because the road here was not easy to travel and relied on the favorable location. If Zhao Jun did not fight, they would have surrounded us to death. I am afraid that the army of Jingxingyi alone would not last long. ."
After that, without waiting for the deputy general's reply, he turned to the scout who was standing on one side and said: "Immediately ask for help from Jingxing Yi and inform the captain of Jingxing that Wei Zeguan is in an emergency and needs support and food."
"Here." The scout responded and was about to retreat.
Qi Sheng thought carefully for a moment, then hurriedly stopped the scouts who were about to go downstairs, and continued: "We must report the actual situation at Wei Zeguan. The main force of Zhao's army may be here."
"Here!"
"Can Zhao Jun really break through?" the deputy general behind him whispered.
"Break the barrier? How does Weize Pass compare to Hangu Pass? How does Zhongshan compare to Qin? Whether you can break the barrier is not up to you and me, but to them." Qi Sheng said, pointing to the slowly advancing formation outside the city. Iron Army.
"If it is true as Zhao Jun said, Manjia has been lost, it is only a matter of time before the barrier is broken." After Qi Sheng said this, he turned around and ordered loudly: "Please cheer up, wait until Zhao Jun approaches the city gate." Release the arrow after fifty steps."
"Here!"
Qi Sheng clenched his fists. In fact, he was not from Zhongshan, but a genuine Zhao. In the past, his ancestor Qi Tong was ordered by the Marquis of Cheng to lead an army to attack Zhongshan. Unfortunately, he was defeated and captured. Duke Huan of Zhongshan surrendered to him. In Qi Sheng's generation, he himself even married the sister of King Zhongshan and became a serious relative.
If he had not reached a desperate situation, he would not have been willing to abandon all this and surrender to Zhao again.
…
It was still raining in the Taihang Mountains, and everyone seemed to be rolling in the mud and struggling to survive.
But at this time, Lingshou City had a different scene. As the royal capital of Zhongshan Kingdom, it was the center of commerce and handicraft industry of Zhongshan Kingdom.
It is surrounded by mountains and forests inside, surrounded by rivers outside, and there are all attractive fertile fields in between. The corn is now growing in full bloom, and the newly emerged ears exude a native fragrance. Even in the fields by the river, many vegetables are planted.
The Zhongshan Palace was built close to the mountains and rivers. It has carved railings, jade columns and brightly painted buildings. Its shape and scale are better than those of other countries in the Central Plains.
Even if Zhongshan Kingdom has been fighting for years, the war has never spread to this place for decades.
Lingshou's Yiju was rich and prosperous. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Duke Huan of Zhongshan moved his capital here.
...However, the atmosphere in Lingshou City is not very good these days.
In the past, the grand scene of hawkers and businessmen on the streets rubbing shoulders with each other has gone away.
From Zhao State in the south, tens of thousands of troops marched northward, and the movement was too great.
Naturally, Wang Jicuo of Zhongshan had already learned of this matter. Since the new king came to the throne, Zhao Guo has threatened him not once or twice. Usually, he can be settled by giving some gold, silver and silk, but this time Zhao Guo seems to be serious about it.
In more than two months, more than a dozen cities on the south bank of the Hutuo River have become enemies. Ji Cuo was shocked and angry, so she wanted to respond actively. However, tens of thousands of troops from the Zhongshan Kingdom had just marched to the front line, and before they reached the frontal battlefield, they were driven down the Hutuo River to feed the fish by the Zhao army. Nowadays, the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty are wrangling every time they go to court.
Ji Cuo was very angry. As the first king of the Zhongshan Kingdom, he did not want to seek peace. After all, he still had the right to control the water of the Hutuo River. How could he be willing to humble himself unless he had to? Moreover, if Zhao Jun is allowed to come and go as he pleases, wouldn't Zhongshan Kingdom become King Zhao's back garden?
Ji Cuo was unwilling to accept it. However, the main station faction has been unable to come up with a decisive countermeasure. The battle on the front line is also in a mess, and news of the city's fall has come one after another. All kinds of obscure things made his will waver.
Princess Yinji seized the opportunity and persuaded him again: "The king should select talented people and reward the officers and soldiers heavily, so as to achieve a long-term solution."
Ji Cuo was now frightened. When he heard what his beloved concubine said, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh and asked: "How do you choose talents and appoint them? How do you know who is loyal and who is traitorous? Now in the court, Doctors attack and slander each other, but everyone is really..."
Yin Ji's red lips parted slightly, and her voice had a certain charm: "Your Majesty, spend less time with those Confucian scholars and more time with civil and military ministers. Over time, Your Majesty will naturally be able to tell who is a loyal minister and who is a treacherous minister."
Ji Cuo lowered his head and said nothing, then sighed again after a long time.
Yin Ji Qiao stood aside and did not dare to say anything.
After a moment, Ji Cuo suddenly nodded to her seriously and said, "Madam's words do make sense. So what do you think I should do?"
Yin Ji pretended to be deep in thought and said slowly: "Today, the following countries are fighting endlessly. All countries are dominated by the army, and they are constantly increasing taxes to support the army. The king's civil and military skills are comparable to those of the sages, and I am the king. As long as you can stay away from the treacherous ministers, you will definitely make our Zhongshan Kingdom stronger." At this point, Yin Ji paused and said with a normal face: "In the battle against Yan, the prime minister plundered hundreds of miles of land for our Zhongshan Kingdom. Why doesn’t the king ask Prime Minister?”
"Xiangbang..." Ji Cuo glanced at his concubine. Gu Zi nodded.
…
Dark night falls quietly in the Zhongshan harem. Yin Ji stood alone in front of the moonlit window, wondering what she was thinking.
"Madam." The palace maid whispered from one side.
Yin Ji turned around and looked at the young lady who had just returned from the Prime Minister's Mansion, her long eyebrows frowning slightly.
…
Before dawn the next day, it was already the time of the dynasty.
In the Zhongshan Palace, after all the ministers had finished their salutes, Ji Cuo couldn't wait to ask: "Is there any battle report coming from the front?"
There was a sudden silence in the audience.
Sima Xi came out and bowed in obeisance: "Your Majesty, the Zhao army captured Manjia City, but did not continue to besiege Fanwu and Donghuan. Now the Zhao army has withdrawn to the Taihang line and is attacking Jingxing with all its strength."
Chu He, the superior officer, came out and said: "Your Majesty, we need to increase troops to the front line as soon as possible. Fanwu City's military strength is weak and the defense may be sufficient, but it is impossible to shake the Zhao army's position. The superior general has launched several attacks on Manjia City. They all returned in vain. If Zhao Jun is allowed to continue attacking Jingxing Pass, our Zhongshan Taihang barrier will be lost."
Zhang Deng, the superior officer, came out of the queue and said to Chu He in a bad tone: "The previous 30,000 troops were annihilated in one battle. How can we increase the number of troops? Where can we increase the number of troops?"
After saying that, he bowed to his superior and said, "Your Majesty, I think it is not appropriate to continue fighting with the State of Zhao. At this time, the enemy is strong and we are weak. Now that the southern bank of Hutuo is our land, it has actually fallen into the hands of the State of Zhao."
"Could it be that Dr. Zhang Deng accepted a bribe from Zhao Guo?" Chu He suddenly said sarcastically.
Zhang Deng suddenly said angrily: "Nonsense! You are slandering!"
Chu He's words really touched Zhang Deng's sore spot. It was true that he had accepted bribes from Zhao, but who among the gentry in Zhongshan had not accepted bribes from Zhao? Moreover, just because he accepted bribes does not mean that he betrayed his country and surrendered to the enemy. He sincerely felt that it would be better to make peace with Zhao State. According to the current situation, it would be Zhongshan State that would suffer if the war continued.
But this guy, now in front of King Zhongshan, openly criticizing in the court, what he did was a bit unethical.
"Arguing over such trivial matters will be of no benefit to the battle ahead!" Sima Xi scolded.
Chu He glanced at Sima Xi, and then continued to bow to his superiors: "Your Majesty, the soldiers in the Taihang Mountains are still fighting bravely against the enemy. If the king sues for peace from Zhao at this time, the soldiers will be heartbroken."
Wang Deng was so angry that he wanted to explode, but Chu He always used his personal flaws to criticize him, which made him feel very difficult to deal with. But this Chu He, like that Gongshu Jie, was indeed a rare clean slate, and he couldn't catch the opponent at all.
"If we continue to fight, how can Zhongshan defeat it?" Zhang Deng retorted.
Chu Hedang even said: "Does the doctor mean to hand over the land that my Zhongshan ancestors worked so hard to give to the Zhao people? Do you still want to persuade the king to give up the title and surrender to the Zhao State on behalf of the Zhao State? You also say that you have not accepted the Zhao State Bribery!”
Why did this guy get involved in accepting bribes again? Zhang Deng's forehead was full of black lines and he said angrily: "My innocence will be judged by your Majesty. Fight to fight and damage to damage. Why are you fighting at this time? How can we regain the lost ground if we fight with Zhao Jun at this time?"
Chu He also shouted angrily: "The State of Zhao not only wants me, Zhongshan, to cede all the land on the south bank of Hutuo, but also wants the king to give up his title. Does this mean that I, Zhongshan, have become a vassal of the State of Zhao?"
Prince Jicuo of Zhongshan, who had been silent for a long time, nodded immediately when he heard the title question, appreciating Chu He's attitude. The name of the king was a pain point that he could not accept. Compared with it, the loss of ground did not seem so serious. After all, the land has been lost, but the king's title is still there.
Chu He continued: "Now our country of Zhongshan only needs to join forces to resist the enemy. At the same time, we can send envoys to contact Qi, Wei, and South Korea to attack Zhao together while Zhao is attacking Zhongshan!"
Zhang Deng said coldly: "The main force of the Qi State is still fighting fiercely with the Yan army at the gate of Jidu City. In addition, has the doctor forgotten that the King of Qi once humiliated my king? And the Chu State has united with the Qi State to launch a declaration of war against the Qin State?" Wei and South Korea now have Qi and Chu outside. Let alone whether they are willing to send troops to break with Zhao. Even if they send troops, how many troops can they send? Can they solve the siege of Zhongshan?"
Chu He couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling. Regarding some news, he was indeed not as well informed as this sycophant.
"At this time and that time, the tiger and wolf spirit of the Zhao Kingdom now is better than that of the ancient Qin." Chu He bowed to his superiors and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to send envoys to all countries to explain the power to the princes in order to find troops to relieve the siege."
As if grasping the last straw, Ji Cuo nodded frequently and said: "What you say makes sense, what you say makes sense!"
Sima Xi's face on the left suddenly turned gloomy, and he was about to step out of the queue to make a speech. Suddenly a voice came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent report from Jingxing."
The voice entered the hall, interrupting Sima Xi who was about to speak.
"Quick announcement." Ji Cuo said immediately.
After a cup of tea, a figure covered in blood staggered into the magnificent hall.
The general, stained with blood, knelt down in front of his superiors and shouted sadly: "Your Majesty, Jingxing has been lost!"
"What?" Ji Cuo suddenly stood up from the king's couch.
All the ministers in the palace also had expressions of astonishment on their faces. The only capital Zhongshan can afford at this time is gone?
"Jingxing has been lost..." Ji Cuo muttered, feeling completely discouraged and collapsed on the king's couch.
"Who is the commander-in-chief of the Zhao army?" Sima Xi asked out of nowhere.
"Orchestra." The bloody man said sadly.
"Orchestra!" The people in the palace exclaimed again.
"Lechi led a Zhao army of more than a thousand men, bypassed Wei Zeguan from the Taihang Trail, and attacked Jingxing City with the Zhao army in front." The bloody man said sadly.
The former Prime Minister of Zhongshan has now become the last straw that breaks his own.
