"General, the Jin army has attacked the city, but we can't fight back-"
Wang Zhao, the captain of the school, plucked up the courage to persuade Li Bian: "General, Tongguan can't be defended anymore. I'll let someone protect the general to break out! As long as he leaves Tongguan and goes north to Bingzhou, the general can still join the king."
"But if I leave Tongguan, your lives will be in danger!"
"General, have mercy on my brothers! In this troubled world, human life is the least valuable, but I know that the brothers have always regarded the general as a father and brother. Over the years, the brothers have followed the general without any regrets. Is the general willing to look at them? Will you die in the hands of the Jin army without any resistance?"
Li Bian was slightly surprised. He couldn't see that the captain in front of him, who originally followed him to guard Chang'an, had the courage to surrender.
But Li Bian knew that Wang Zhao was not the only one in the Qin army who wanted to surrender at this time, so he did not intend to discuss the matter with Wang Zhao.
Wang Zhao did not stop, he quickly turned to the topic.
"It's not that my subordinates want to interfere in the government affairs of Tongguan. It's because the Jin army is too powerful and Tongguan is located in a strategic location. The Jin army must be determined to win this place. Now that the Jin army has resorted to this trick again, we can't fight back. Why don't we ask the general to lead The troops are withdrawing first to preserve their strength. After the imperial army regains the lost ground, it will not be too late to come back..."
Wang Zhao's suggestion did not mention the common people. If the army retreats, who will take care of their families?
What's more, the situation is tense now. If you hesitate for a moment, no one will be able to leave.
It is said that kindness cannot control the army. After many years of military career, Wang Zhao has long developed a heart of stone.
If Wang Zhao had said these words a few hours earlier, Li Bian would have ordered his death without hesitation.
Now Li Bian has a new plan, so naturally he won't agree with it.
But the Qin soldiers around him suddenly changed their expressions. Li Bian had great military exploits, and Wang Zhao was resourceful. They both said in secret that Tongguan could not be defended, and that Tongguan might really be destroyed.
Li Bian's answer surprised everyone on the pass, "It is precisely because Xintong Pass is located in a strategic location that we cannot give up easily, otherwise it will boost the morale of the Southerners and reduce the morale and prestige of our Great Qin soldiers!"
"However, the previous king has been killed, and the new emperor is far away in Bingzhou. Today's Qin State is no longer the Qin State of the past. The Jin army continued its northern expedition, the Murong family restored the country in Hebei, and a large number of territories fell into the hands of the enemy. The Qiang and Di in Guanzhong were raging, and various states County rebellions occurred one after another, and even the capital Chang'an was captured by the Bailu..."
Wang Zhao's words were like a basin of cold water poured on Li Bian's head, immediately extinguishing half of his original ambition.
Wang Zhao added: "Before, there was a general stationed in Tongguan, which is different. If there is really an uprising in Hebei by a county guard, please ask the general to ask the king to send an elite army to Heguan for assistance. As long as the above two points are in place. , I dare to issue a military order to defend Tongguan!"
But at the moment, holding on tightly is not feasible, and the city gate may change hands only in a matter of seconds.
Wang Zhao's cold eyes were full of stubbornness and enthusiasm. Li Bian seemed to see a bit of his own shadow. Didn't Liang Cheng, the general who conquered the South, also sneer at him?
Although Liang Cheng died long ago in Luojian before the Battle of Feishui, he was defeated by Liu Laozhi.
However, Liang Cheng thought very highly of himself and his arrogance of not taking others seriously made Li Bian very disgusted.
Li Bian felt that this assumption may not be true. For many years when he was an official in Chang'an, he had been criticized by the civil servants of the DPRK and China. He had a poor sense of civil servants. In his impression, these people were either the kind of people who only talked but did not do anything. People who talk empty talk are either treacherous villains who play tricks on power. How can such a person draw chestnuts from the fire of the imperial court?
After listening to Wang Zhao's analysis, Li Bian's face became even uglier. He had a strange feeling that this usually gentle captain seemed to be a different person at this time, and he couldn't help but feel nervous when he stood next to him. .
But thinking about Li Bian again and again, it doesn't feel strange. After all, it is human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.
In fact, Li Bian's feeling was indeed accurate.
Just last night, Jin Yiwei's secret agent lurking in Tongguan once again found Wang Zhao and promised him a huge profit, hoping that he could surrender when the Jin army attacked the city and help the Jin army seize the city.
After learning that the Jin army's reinforcements had arrived, Wang Zhao was finally moved by the Jin Yiwei's persuasion several times. He was willing to surrender, but the only condition was to ask the Jin army to let Li Bian live. Nothing more. What you want.
Therefore, Wang Zhao persuaded Li Bian to break through and go north, but he still had some scruples about the Jin army and did not dare to trust it 100%.
"The Jin army is about to enter the city. Wang Zhao, lead your people to break out from the pass! Whether you go to Bingzhou or return to Guanzhong, you are still young. You are only twenty-seven years old. I have already known my destiny for most of my life. The guard is by the late king's side and he has stayed in the military camp for most of his life. It is enough for him to live to be fifty in these troubled times."
Li Bian's eyes did not dim, but became brighter and brighter. For some reason, he seemed to have firmed up a certain idea in his heart at this time. After making that decision, he felt relieved!
Wang Zhao couldn't believe it when he heard that Li Bian agreed to break out of the siege. He once again persuaded Li Bian to leave Tongguan together, but Li Bian did not reply too much. Obviously, he would not leave the city gate he was guarding easily.
Outside the city, the vanguard of Tianshu Battalion has arrived under the city wall. Amidst the loud and exciting sound of war drums, the soldiers scrambled to climb the ladder...
"Just like that?" Even Tian Luo couldn't believe it. After using the throne of the Qin kings of all dynasties, the central gate of Kanai, known as the most dangerous place in Jinei, the throat of Weirui, and the second hundred and second pass, was broken through like this. Got it!
The Qin army did not fight back, and did not even fire an arrow. After the Jin army came to the city, the Qin army gave up their troops and surrendered to the Jin army.
Just when the flags were changing at the top of the city, a huge cry came from the Qin army that surrendered in large numbers!
"General!"
Then, the sound of something falling from a high place came from the top of the city and stopped at the bottom of the city.
Tian Luo, who had just arrived outside the gate of Tongguan City, saw a corpse in front of him.
"There are still loyal people in the Qin State." Although Tian Luo did not recognize the people who committed suicide by throwing themselves into the city, people who can prove their will through death are worthy of respect. "Let's raise a tomb outside the city and give him a good burial!"
"promise!"
Tian Luo got off his horse and entered the city under the welcome of the soldiers. Wang Zhao just came down from the city. He ignored Tian Luo who passed by him and went straight to the man who was heartbroken and lifeless. With a corpse.
"General, general...jun"
At the moment when the Jin army captured the city, Li Bian chose to throw himself into the city and commit suicide in full name.
"The person who committed suicide was Li Bian?"
"Hey, General, what are you asking for?" Tian Luo's guard called Wang Zhao.
Wang Zhao's voice was choked with sobs: "Yes, the one who surrendered to the city was Tongguan General Li Bian, General Li."
"Then who are you?" After sighing in his heart, Tian Luo regained his consciousness. The man in front of him was somewhat kind-hearted and did not forget his old master. It was his randomness that aroused his interest.
Wang Zhao's eyes were red, and he replied without looking back: "I am Wang Zhao. I was ordered by the late king to serve as the Zhenglu Colonel and follow the general to guard Tongguan."
Tian Luo nodded, he was still someone who was favored by Fu Jian.
If he remembered correctly, Tian Luo remembered that nearly two years ago, the late Emperor Xiaowei had decreed that his eldest brother Xu Zongwen should be made the captain of the Xiaoqi School.
"Are you willing to surrender and follow my general to the west into Guanzhong?"
"The general is loyal to the Qin Dynasty. Before committing suicide, he promised that the soldiers can leave on their own. Wang Zhao has also agreed to the surrender of the Jin Yiwei. Wang Zhao is willing to follow the general."
"But Wang Zhao has a request, and I ask the general to grant it."
"any request?"
Tian Luo is very happy. He can have one more capable general under his command. Why not?
"General, the secret report of the Imperial Guard." The guard handed a secret letter from his hand. Tian Luo immediately opened it, read it carefully and then turned his attention to Wang Zhao.
Since it was Jin Yiwei who came into contact with him, it shouldn't be a big problem.
The Jinyi Guards usually have two options to rebel against the enemy generals. One is to promise huge profits. Most of these people have no talent and no virtue or have talent but no virtue. Afterwards, the Xiaoqi Army will not arrange military positions. At most, they will report to Xu Zongwen and let the court give them a false name.
The other type of people are those who have ambitions that are difficult to achieve, talents that are difficult to develop, and people who have both ability and political integrity, and are loyal and filial. This type of people will be noted in the secret report by the Jin Yiwei. This type of people are often accepted by the various battalion commanders of the Knight Cavalry Army and absorbed into them. A member of the Knights.
After reading the Jin Yiwei secret report just now, Tian Luo already got the answer he wanted.
Wang Zhao closed Li Bian's eyes, took off his cloak and covered Li Bian's body. After completing all the procedures naked, he stood up slowly and said: "Please general, be kind to the officers and soldiers in the city. They are all loyal men who follow the general." , please also ask the general to bury General Li generously, it was he who saved the whole city's soldiers with his own life."
"There is no problem. The Cavalry Army has always been clear about good and evil. After capturing or surrendering a city, military discipline will be strictly enforced. No messy and dirty things will happen. Moreover, our General Zhengbei has issued seven prohibitions and five prohibitions to the entire army. Fourteen Cuts, you can go out and ask about the reputation of our heroic cavalry army."
Regarding the reputation of the Knight Cavalry, it is not just Tian Luo who is so confident, but also all the battalion leaders are so confident.
"As for giving General Li a grand burial, that is not a problem. Our Cavalry respects generous people, especially General Li's heroic feat of sacrificing his own life in order to save his subordinates. I really admire him! Even if Captain Wang doesn't mention this matter, I will Order people to repair the tombs, and never let the loyal bones be scattered on the road!"
Tian Luo replied to Wang Zhao one by one, with good reason and evidence.
"In that case, Wang Zhao is willing to surrender!"
Before he finished speaking, Wang Zhao bowed and said, "General, please forgive me for not being able to perform a full salute because I am wearing armor."
"I won't care about these red tapes. Okay, okay! Being able to get Wang Xiaowei's service will make our Tianshu camp even more powerful!" Tian Luo comforted Wang Zhao and asked the latter to bury Li Bian's body before looking for him.
Soon, all the soldiers from Tianshu Camp entered the city and completely took over Tongguan within an hour. After that, Zheng Lue's Zhaozhao Camp also began to enter the city one after another...
