Wangzhou Mountain
In Zhenjun City, there is a natural peak with the highest altitude, which is about as high as a city tower. Because of its geographical location close to the border, standing on the top of the mountain, you can overlook the two states of Qing and You on the opposite side, hence its name.
At this time, on Wangzhou Mountain, starting from halfway up the mountain, there were a large number of soldiers patrolling back and forth. It seemed that the mountain was closed.
If the people in the city want to climb mountains to enjoy the beautiful scenery around them, they may not be able to do so, but now the people in the city are probably not in the mood to go hiking.
With this situation, it seems that the crisis of Dai Rong's invasion has been lifted in the past few days, but in fact, this is probably just a test. It may not take a few days before Dai Rong's full-scale invasion.
After all, the people in the city, who live on the border all year round, are much more sensitive to the war between the two sides than the people in Kyoto.
The cloud of war has never dissipated, it has only been temporarily hidden. Once the time comes, it will definitely be an extremely tragic war.
The people of Ningzhou were worried, but most of them were ready to obey the orders of the city lords. Even if they were asked to go to the front line, they would not be careless.
After all, this is their homeland, the hometown where they have lived for generations since their ancestors. If they escape, where can they go?
The people of Ningzhou have a higher awareness of death than the other twenty-seven states.
On the top of Wangzhou Mountain, two people were sitting in a small pavilion. From the top of the mountain, they looked around and almost saw the entire city of Zhenjun City.
Compared with sweeping the scene inside the city, the two vague and huge cities in the distance ahead are even more fascinating.
Da Rong was able to occupy Qing and You Prefectures for a hundred years without being taken over. On the one hand, the Daliang cavalry was not strong enough, but more importantly, it took a hundred years to develop.
Darong had already built two equally indestructible huge cities in Qing and Youzhou.
Coupled with a hundred years of education, Darong followed suit and divided Qing and Youzhou into twenty-seven counties, held imperial examinations, and selected talents. With the supply of fresh blood, Darong's national power was booming.
With such a series of policies, most of the descendants of the local Liang people are completely inclined to Dairong.
Once people's hearts are bribed, they will undoubtedly go to heaven if they want to regain their so-called homeland.
Not only Su Qi'an understood this truth, but Xie Cang beside him also understood it.
He knew the purpose of Xie Cang's trip, and hoped that Su Qi'an would have the opportunity to provide a real solution and have the opportunity to regain Qing and Youzhou.
It is difficult to regain the two states, but after all, it is the former homeland of Great Liang. No matter how many years have passed, as long as the soldiers of Great Liang exist, this wish in the hearts of these warriors will never waver.
Su Qi'an can understand this belief. It has been some time since he came to the Ningzhou border.
During this period, I felt every aspect of the city and the majestic display of the Great Rong Cavalry on the opposite side.
Being on the real front line, with the feeling of making great achievements and regaining his homeland, even Su Qi'an would feel emotional at times.
As a man, a real man should take the world as his own responsibility. That is what a real man should do.
As a native of Daliang, Su Qi'an would be willing to contribute his share if given the opportunity, even if it meant leading troops on an expedition.
Su Qi'an didn't speak, just quietly drank the tea on the table, but Xie Cang beside him could feel the throbbing in Su Qi'an's heart.
In the past few days, Xie Cang has brought Su Qi'an to Wangzhou Mountain almost every day, hoping that Su Qi'an can truly achieve the pride of a great Liang man.
It's not that Xie Cang doesn't trust Su Qi'an, but that this is a front line and there is no room for any selfishness.
Xie Cang can't control those dandy princes, but Su Qi'an must know his inner thoughts.
Although in the past few days, the two of them just ate normally, went up the mountain, watched the beautiful scenery, and didn't talk much.
But the two have a real tacit understanding, and they can understand each other's meaning without saying anything.
Fortunately, this time, Xie Cang saw Su Qi'an correctly. The two looked at each other and smiled, just as Xie Cang opened his mouth to say what he wanted to say.
Suddenly, a very low and long bugle sounded.
The expressions of the two men changed instantly. They stood up and walked down the mountain as fast as possible, heading straight for the Zhenjun Tower.
This bugle, in addition to representing the assembly of the entire army, also represents the invasion of Daiei's army.
The two of them went back very quickly. In about a quarter of an hour, they returned to the lobby of the city tower.
In the lobby, everyone is here, and there is no need to ask. Just by looking at their faces, you can see everyone's solemnity.
Xie Cang and Su Qi'an walked towards the lobby one after the other, and a lookout tower appeared.
With a glance, outside Zhenjun City, about two or three miles away, densely packed troops, like a black torrent, gathered as far as the eye could see.
"Sure enough, it's time to come back." Looking at the astonishing momentum of Da Rong's army in the distance, Su Qian couldn't help but sigh.
As they expected, the attack of the Da Rong Cavalry was really just a test. It would be best if it succeeded. If it failed, then an all-out war would begin.
How many years had passed, when would the Da Rong army have such a large-scale invasion? Previously, it was just cavalry harassment at most.
Even at its peak, its strength was only 20,000 to 30,000. At a rough glance this time, there were as many as 50,000 cavalry, not counting the tens of thousands of infantry behind them.
This kind of posture is not about attacking the city, but about taking Ningzhou.
"Mr. Fan, has the scout sent a message to Kyoto?" Xie Cang asked.
"The scouts set out an hour ago. It will take at most three days for Kyoto to receive the news."
Xie Cang nodded and had to admire Fan Wenzhong's vicious eyes. He was worthy of being a veteran who had guarded the border for more than 20 years. Any trouble in the Da Rong army on the opposite side would not escape Fan Wenzhong's prediction.
"Fan...Mr. Fan, tell me, they suddenly gathered so many troops, are they going to attack us?"
The person who asked the question was Zhao Ang. Although he concealed it well, everyone could still see the nervousness in his heart.
Don't blame him for being so worried. This formation, let alone him, was the first time even Xie Cang had seen it.
"It's possible!" Fan Wenzhong said.
"Ah... Mr. Fan, is it true? What should we do? Otherwise, we..."
Zhao Ang was obviously shocked by Fan Wenzhong's words, his expression changed instantly, and he said almost subconsciously.
However, just when he was about to say something, Zheng Liang, who was silent, suddenly stood up and interjected.
"Mr. Fan, Da Rong's army seems to be menacing and has the intention of attacking the city, but the juniors are not talented. According to the junior's observation, Da Rong's army has a large number of people, but its assembly speed is slow. It looks like a demonstration against us. "
"Junior knows that Zhao Ang is a bit frivolous and does not have much combat experience, but since we have come to the front line, we are definitely not people who are greedy for life and afraid of death. If this is what junior thinks, I hope Mr. Fan will not scare Zhao Ang."
As soon as these words came out, not only did veteran generals like Fan Wenzhong look at him with suspicion, but even Su Qi'an looked at Zheng Liang.
I thought that Zheng Liang would be an unlearned young man like Zhao Ang, but Su Qi'an looked down upon him.
A few short sentences not only stopped Zhao Ang from saying the wrong things, but also changed Fan Wenzhong's view of them in one fell swoop.
No one can be as good as Zheng Liang, even if he is just pretending.
Fan Wenzhong withdrew his gaze and said to Zheng Liang, "Haha, no wonder I said that Old Zheng sent you here. Little baby, in terms of insight, you follow Old Zheng."
"Fan Laomiu praised me. There are still many juniors who don't know how to do it. This time I came to the front line. Grandpa said that I must learn from Fan Lao."
In response to Zheng Liang's flattery, Fan Wenzhong nodded, looked at the assembled Da Rong army in the distance, and then said.
"Zheng Wawa is right. The Da Rong army is coming fiercely this time, not to attack Zhenjun City, but more to show off."
"But don't be too happy too early. Da Rong was able to gather 80,000 troops for the first time. The purpose is not to suppress the military city, but the entire Ningzhou."
"If you want to take Ningzhou, you have to launch an attack on nine other military cities at the same time. It is impossible with an army of 80,000, so this is mostly the previous strength."
"But once a fight starts, anything will happen on the battlefield. Once one of the ten cities is in danger, Da Rong will definitely invest follow-up troops. Therefore, in order to deal with this battlefield, all of you must be under my command and mobilized. During this period, no If you have any doubts, remember that I mean whatever you say!”
Fan Wenzhong has said so much, and the last sentence is the key point. To put it bluntly, all of them are just chess pieces, and everything must be commanded by Fan Wenzhong.
Even if Fan Wenzhong asked them to serve as vanguard soldiers and die, they would still have to endure it.
These words are the ones that hurt the hearts of these young masters the most. Just kidding, they are the same size as marquises, let alone the background behind them.
If he really died here, it would be a shame. In order to gain military glory, he risked his life, but he couldn't do it.
But if they refused, it would be more embarrassing than anything else. Who knows what Fan Wenzhong, a veteran with his weird temperament, would do to them.
Everyone present was silent, no one spoke.
Fan Wenzhong seemed not to notice. He paused for a while and continued, "I am not a heartless person. You are all the descendants of my old comrades. What really happens, I don't want to see those old men chattering."
"The war is coming. I'll give you an opportunity to leave Zhenjun City before the full-scale attack by Daiei's army, and return to Kyoto to enjoy your life as a young master. However, there is one condition for leaving. You must lift the military power and keep the army here. "
"Either stay with me and go into battle to kill the enemy. If you encounter any danger, please wish yourselves good luck."
After the words fell, the hall fell into silence again.
Fan Wenzhong's words indeed left them with a chance to survive, but if they left, the army could not take them away, which also made them feel sad.
Most of these 3,000 to 5,000 troops were raised with money from their respective families.
Otherwise, I really think that the imperial court would be so relieved that it would hand over the army to these princes, and no one would be allowed to spend money.
But Fan Wenzhong's words to ask them to hand over their troops would undoubtedly drain the firepower.
Their lives were saved, but they lost their army. Will life be better after they return?
But if you stay and lose your life, what's the use of having so many troops?
In this seemingly dilemma, someone soon made a choice.
