Yang Ji's military camp is located in the northeast of Madam Fan City. The reason why the camp is located here is to contain all the troops in the western part of the Eastern Turks in Madam Fan City. There are also two considerations: on the one hand, to prevent While Ashina was fleeing to the east, he was also defending against reinforcements that might be sent by Qimin Khan. Secondly, he was escorting the Po Chaoqi to prevent them from becoming an isolated and helpless army.
After setting up the camp, Yang Ji did not rush to attack the city, but adopted the tactic of besieging the city and calling for reinforcements. Since the city was surrounded by endless prairie, the Sui army did not even encircle the city, but only sent small groups of cavalry to patrol around the city. Once someone leaves the city, they will be annihilated. If there are more soldiers leaving the city, then the large army will provide timely support; if Ashina Qilifushe dares to go out of the city to fight, that is in line with Yang Ji's wishes.
The Sui army divided its forces in an orderly manner to devour the surrounding Turkic tribes, while the side of Madam Fan's city was in a miserable state.
In the city lord's palace, Ashenalifu sat on the steps in front of the door for a whole afternoon. Even if the rain soaked his clothes, he didn't care; and in front of the steps, there were several corpses that were soaked in the rain and turned pale. .
It was the soldier who kindly advised him to take shelter from the rain, but he was killed in anger by him.
The blood had long since dried up and was washed away by the rain, but everyone was worried that they would follow in the footsteps of these soldiers, so no one dared to come forward to collect the corpses.
The soldiers did not dare to approach and could only watch Ashina Qilifushe from a distance. Everyone felt powerless because of the prince's decadence.
Ashina Tlifu imagined that when his father Khan appointed him as the commander of the west, he would be followed by hundreds of thousands of troops and hundreds of thousands of herdsmen. Looking back now, how majestic it was?
But it is a pity that this glory did not last long. In less than half a year, he, the second prince of the Western Turks, became a lost dog. He went on an expedition to the Great Lakes region with an army of more than 100,000 people, but the number of stragglers who finally fled back one after another was only more than 4,000. This blow was not unkind to Ashina Chilifushe.
Although Yang Ji did not take advantage of the victory and attack the city as he feared, the entire western Turkic area is now being swept away by Yang Ji's troops. Even though Ashina Qilifushe had the intention to save him, he had no troops to mobilize. If there are no generals available, how can we compete with the Sui Dynasty's mighty army?
Yang Ji, who is now poisoning the western Turkic region, is completely digging his own roots!
Thinking of the Sui army's unscrupulous attack on the city and the bloodbath of all the tribes that belonged to him, Ashina Qilifushe gritted his teeth with hatred. If the shaman army of the Northern Khan Court did not move, the territory assigned to him by his father Khan would be completely destroyed. Ashina Lifushu has sent people to ask for reinforcements from his father Khan, but his father Khan cannot protect himself, so how can he help him?
What's more, Yang Ji is the one who is watching from outside the city. If Father Khan sends reinforcements, I'm afraid Yang Ji will be beaten and left to wait for work.
What makes Ashina Tilifushe even more sad is that more than 20 soldiers of his younger brother Bulishe were released by the Sui army today. They brought news that shocked everyone: Bulishe and the Sui army that day After the army fought and was defeated, Bu Lishe did not flee to the depths of the grassland as they expected, but was killed by Yang Ji himself before the two armies.
After the news spread wildly throughout the city, everyone was sad for Bulishe's fate, but more worried about the future. Now that Bulishe had not only been killed and his entire army was wiped out, but he himself was also dead, so How long can Mrs. Fan City hold on?
Although Ashina Simo also brought 20,000 elite soldiers, what's the use? How could it be possible to defeat the Sui army? Since everyone thought it couldn't be defended, why didn't they abandon the city and flee? Why not surrender the city?
At this time, Zong Luohu walked into the city lord's mansion quickly and saw several soldiers standing outside the door, peeking furtively inside. He asked strangely: "What are you doing? What happened inside?"
The centurion of the soldiers said to Zong Luohu: "The soldiers of Prince Bu Lishe are back. They said that Prince Bu Lishe was killed by Yang Ji on the battlefield."
Zong Luohu frowned and said, "Is the news reliable?"
The centurion smiled bitterly and said: "They have brought the head of Prince Bulishe, how can they still fake it?"
Zong Luohu nodded. It turned out that Li Daliang and An Ming did not lie to him. Bulishe was really killed in battle. He pondered for a long time and said to the centurion: "You report to the second prince for me! Just say that I have important military reports. "
"General, wait a moment!" The centurion quickly walked up the steps and stood in front of the steps to report: "Prince, General Zong is here and said he has important military information to report."
"Invite him in!" Ashinalifushe's voice was a little hoarse, and his tone was full of endless weariness.
Without the centurion's need to tell him, Zong Luohu walked directly into the lobby. He glanced at the corpse in front of the steps, saluted Ashina Chilifushe and said, "I will see the prince at the end."
Ashenalifushu sat on the steps and looked at him intently for a while, then asked in a deep voice: "I asked you to stop rumors, how did you handle it?"
Zong Luohu said: "Reporting to the prince, I have ordered the whole city to be silent and no longer allowed to talk about the defeat of Prince Bu Lishe. If anyone dares to discuss it again, they will be punished for collaborating with the enemy."
"Perhaps our ban is what people in the Sui Dynasty call deceiving one's ears and stealing the bell!" Ashina Lifushu stood up slowly. He sighed longly and said with a wry smile: "The whole city is panicked, and the soldiers They are all afraid of the Sui army and are unwilling to fight. How can it be changed by being banned? It is said that Yang Ji is very good at subduing others without fighting. Now I have deeply realized it. In comparison, we are really Too passive."
"Prince, I saw that there was a shortage of weapons and equipment in the army, so I sent two thousand soldiers to collect weapons and arrows from house to house. This can not only supply our soldiers, but also prevent the people in the city from cooperating inside and outside when the Sui army attacks the city." Zong Luo Hu glanced at Ashina Qilifushe and continued: "I can make the decision without the permission of the prince. Please..."
"You have thought very carefully, and there is no need to explain anything!" Ashinalifushu waved his hand to interrupt Zong Luohu, and asked in a deep voice: "You have been touring the whole city these days. How do you feel about the situation in the city?"
"Although I forcibly ordered the soldiers to silence, they did not dare to speak in public and instead discussed in private. I know that most people talk in the military camp, but I am worried that the soldiers will become deserters, so I also Don't dare to go too far." Zong Luohu said: "Prince, the soldiers are now afraid of Sui Ruhu, and neither dare to fight nor want to fight. The situation is not optimistic!"
"I know this! You don't need to explain it." After hearing this, Ashenalifushu walked up and down the steps a few times very irritably. Although the Sui army was good at fighting and fighting sieges, this time they came with light cavalry and almost no siege equipment. In addition, Madam Fan's city walls were tall and strong, the population was large, and there was plenty of food and grass inside. Therefore, from a purely military perspective, it would be difficult for the Sui army to attack Madam Fan's City.
However, the defenders in the city were originally distraught and fearful of fighting. Now Yang Ji used Bu Lishe's head to shake the morale of the army. Once someone could not bear the pressure and surrendered, Yang Ji would definitely win without a fight.
Thinking of this, Ashina Qilifushu couldn't help but glance at Zong Luohu. In fact, what he was most worried about at this time was the Sui Dynasty people who were doing business in Madam Fan City. Although Zong Luohu couldn't be a big thief in the Sui Dynasty, but He was the leader of all the Sui Dynasty merchants. For them, the Sui Dynasty people, it was in their best interest to surrender the city and exchange their merits.
He said: "General Zong, I have an idea in my mind, and I hope you can help me weigh it."
"I also ask the prince to make it clear that as long as I think of it, I will definitely tell you everything." Zong Luohu said quickly
"At this point, it's obvious that we can't hold on any longer. So I plan to send someone to make peace with Yang Ji." Ashina said slowly, "We can give up Madam Fan's City, or we can take this place The herdsmen and livestock are handed over to Yang Ji, but he must let us lead the army back eastward, so that we can preserve our Turkic strength to the greatest extent, but I am a little undecided for a while. What do you think about this? "
After Zong Luohu heard this, he immediately and decisively rejected Ashina Qilifushe's statement: "Please forgive me, Prince, I think your idea is not realistic at all!"
"Oh?" Ashina Qilifushu asked, "What do you mean by unrealistic?"
Zong Luohu said: "On the one hand, we have a strong city to defend and sufficient military supplies internally. General Simo and Mr. Shi may not agree; on the other hand, I don't believe Yang Ji. He will do whatever it takes to achieve his goal. Even if we give up Fan In Lady City, he will most likely send troops to intercept us halfway. And if we lose the city, he will definitely chase us all the way until we collapse."
"That's what it is!" Ashinalifushu said with a half-smile: "But I feel that the herdsmen, Sui people, Hu people, and Sogdians in the city want me to abandon the city, so that they can be protected from Set fire to poison."
Zong Luohu knew in his heart that Ashina Chilifushe was talking about him, so he bowed again and said solemnly: "Prince, don't you even believe me?"
"I really want to believe you, and I really want to believe everyone. However, the morale of the soldiers in the city is shaken, and everyone is in danger. If General Zong takes advantage of the situation and surrenders to the city, firstly, he will be in line with the people's will, secondly, he will avoid death, and thirdly, he will gain Yang Ji's reuse." Ashina Lifushu squinted his eyes and slowly said to Zong Luohu: "This is a real good benefit. If I were a Sui person, I think I would also surrender the city. Instead of fighting to the end.”
"Prince, my sect Luohu was forced to die by Yang Ji and Mai Tiezhang in the Sui Dynasty, so he went north to the Turks. Although I survived, many of my brothers died at the hands of the Sui army. I feel sorry for them. His hatred is no weaker than that of the prince." Zong Luohu pulled out a sharp dagger from his boot and plunged it into his shoulder. Blood spurted out immediately. He pulled out the dagger and held back the severe pain and said: " I am extremely grateful to the Turks, and I am completely sincere to the prince. If my sect Luohu is half-hearted, he will definitely not die well."
"General Zong, I'm just speaking out of my feelings, why should you do this?" Zong Luohu's act of self-mutilation and the spurting out of blood eliminated the doubts in Ashina Qilifushe's heart, and he shouted loudly and moved: " Someone come!”
"What are the prince's orders?" The centurion rushed into the hall with a dozen soldiers and asked loudly.
Ashina Lifushe hurriedly ordered: "Bandage General Zong immediately to stop the bleeding."
"Yes!" The centurion didn't know what happened, but they still hurriedly used medicine to stop the bleeding and bandage the wound for Zong Luohu.
Zong Luohu remained calm-faced and silent until the soldiers finished bandaging, then Ashina Chilifushe sighed and said, "I misunderstood General Zong, please forgive me."
"Prince, you're welcome!" Zong Luohu said in a deep voice: "As long as the prince believes in my sincerity towards the Turks, let alone this minor injury, it doesn't matter if I lose my life?"
"Yes!" Ashina Lifushu nodded: "I still rely on you a lot, so I'll go down and recuperate first."
"Yes!" Zong Luohu reluctantly backed away.
After Zong Luohu retreated, the lobby of the City Lord's Mansion became quiet again. Ashina Qilifushu stared at the white rain curtain in the distance and remained silent.
Although the defeat of Bulishe seriously affected his plan, in addition to Ashina Simo's 20,000 elite soldiers, the Northern Khan Court also had 20,000 shaman troops in the city. As long as he persisted here to the end, the shaman army chief general Lei Meng could send troops to contain Yang Ji, so he could hold Yang Ji back.
Even if Mrs. Fan's city was lost in the end, as long as he held back Yang Ji and bought his father Khan time for peace talks, this would actually be an overall victory.
As for the western Turkic region, including Madame Fan City, although it fell, the Sui Dynasty did not look down on this kind of territory at all, so it was meaningless for Yang Ji to occupy it now. In the end, it still belonged to their Turks.
. . . . . .
Zong Luohu was sent back to the Zongfu by Ashina Qilifushe's personal soldiers, and his wife Yanshi welcomed him out. Yanshi was also a heroic woman who was skilled in bow and horse. She was also a big thief in the past, and she was not the same as her husband. I didn't recognize him, but when I saw that my husband's upper body was covered in blood and his shirt was torn apart, I knew that my husband was injured. She was startled and quickly stepped forward and asked: "Lang Jun, why are you injured? Could it be that the Sui army has entered the city?"
"No problem!" Zong Luohu shook his head and told her: "Take some money to drink for the soldiers."
"Okay!" Mrs. Yan quickly arranged for the housekeeper to take some silk to Ashina's soldiers.
Zong Luohu returned to the study and ordered a close soldier: "Get Zong Han for me immediately!"
"Here!" The soldiers rushed away.
Zong Luohu sat down, looked down at his tightly wrapped shoulders, and couldn't help but sneer secretly: He has never been loyal to the Turks, and has always been happy to kill Turks. Ashina Lifushu asked him to die for the Turks. How is this possible?
His oath just now was also correct. He was indeed sincere to the Turks, but this sincerity was based on Xue's father's hatred. It was based on the premise of the Turks' destruction, rather than dying for the Turks.
Soon, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door, and the soldiers reported at the door: "Alang, General Zong Han is here."
"Let him come in and see me!" Zong Luohu said quickly.
The door opened, and Zong Han, a confidant of Zong Luohu's clan, hurried into the study: "See the head of the family!"
"Sit down and talk." Zong Luohu asked him to sit down. Only then did Zong Han notice his injury and said in surprise, "Master, what's wrong with you?"
"I almost died in the hands of Ashina Qilifushe." Zong Luohu said coldly: "That bastard deliberately tested me. If I say even half a sentence wrong, he will have me killed. If you don't harm yourself, Mingzhi, I can’t come back.”
Zong Han asked: "Master, is the problem really so serious?"
"Of course!" Zong Luohu said with a sneer: "Ashena Lifushu has become a soldier, so he must have a lot of eyes and ears in the city. All my actions in the city are seen by him. And I am not only The Sui people still have two or three thousand soldiers and horses, so of course they doubt me and worry about me, so they deliberately call me to test me."
Zong Han said worriedly: "Master, what should we do now?"
"That's why I came to you." Zong Luohu pondered for a while and asked, "Have you contacted the merchants in the city?"
Zong Han said to the head of the family: "Master, under the guise of surrendering weapons, I contacted all the major merchants in the city! The merchants I contacted included not only our Sui people, but also the Hu people and Sogdians, but the ones I actually contacted and negotiated with were Only we Sui people."
"Well, well done!" Zong Luohu nodded and asked, "What are their requirements?"
"They don't have any requirements." Zong Han said: "They just hope that when the Sui army enters the city, they will not loot them. As long as this condition is met, they will join us to dedicate the city, asking for people and things."
"Okay!" Zong Luohu said: "If you go to them again, just tell them that when the Sui army enters the city, you only need to hang a red flag at the door, and the Sui army will make no mistakes. This is also what General Li Daliang said."
"Here."
