"Father, please think about how we should deal with the army of bandits outside the city." Yuan Feng also asked Yuan Chaoju.
Several people in the room, whether they were masters or servants, all laid their eyes on Yuan Chaoju.
At this moment, there were hurried footsteps coming from outside the house.
A servant broke in, appeared in front of the county magistrate, and said, "Sir, someone from the government office has sent someone to ask Commander Yuan to pay a visit to the county government office."
As he said that, he glanced at Yuan Chaoju in his seat.
After hearing this, Yuan Chaoju knew that he could not escape.
"Commander Yuan, I will go with you." The county magistrate stood up from his seat and prepared to accompany Yuan Chaoju to the county government office.
Such a big thing happened in Guo County. Even if Yuan Chaoju was not in his house, he still had to go to the county government office.
"Okay, let's go together!" Yuan Chaoju nodded.
The servants of the mansion arranged a sedan chair, but Yuan Chaoju and Yuan Feng chose to ride horses and left the sedan chair with the county magistrate.
The three people rushed to the county government office with several servants.
News of the bandit's appearance outside Guo County spread throughout the city. It was almost impossible to see pedestrians on the street. All the doors of every household along the road were closed, and even the shops facing the street had their doors closed and were no longer open for business.
On streets without pedestrians, it is easier for horses to run without worrying about hitting pedestrians.
However, the county magistrate's sedan was holding them back, and it was difficult for the Yuan family and his son to leave each other alone and go to the county government office alone.
The group soon arrived at the county government office.
Several government servants who had been waiting by the hearing drum in front of the government office for a long time saw the county magistrate and others arriving. They hurriedly greeted them, took the reins from Yuan Chaoju and his son, and moved the horses away for resettlement.
The remaining government servants took Yuan Chaoju and others to Houya.
"Commander Yuan, I have been waiting for you." County Magistrate Zhou Shouchi saw Yuan Chaoju coming and hurriedly greeted him.
Yuan Chaoju first took a look at the county magistrate of Guo County, and then noticed that there were many people wearing official uniforms standing in the houyamen. It seemed that they were all from the yamen.
"This will be Magistrate Zhou of Nao County." The county magistrate was afraid that Yuan Chaoju might not recognize him, so he explained in a low voice.
Zhou Shouchi personally moved Yuan Chaoju to his seat before returning to his own seat.
"I don't know why the county magistrate sent people to find me in such a hurry?" Yuan Chao asked straight to the point.
Zhou Shouchi didn't say any nonsense, and said directly: "Now the bandit army is besieging Guo County, and there are no suitable defenders in the city. It happens that I heard that Commander Yuan is in Guo County, so I hope that Commander Yuan can communicate with me. The officials will guard Guo County together."
He bluntly stated his intention to invite Yuan Chaoju over.
"There are so many talented people in Guo County. I'm afraid it's not appropriate for me to command the defense of the city!" Yuan Chaoju frowned.
At this moment, all he was thinking about was how to escape from Guoxian County smoothly. As for defending the city, he had never thought about it. Moreover, he knew that even Daizhou City could not stop the bandit army. They are not as good as Nao County in Daizhou City, and it is more difficult to get benefits from the bandit army.
Zhou Shouchi was stunned for a moment, not expecting Yuan Chaoju to back down.
"We really can't find a better general in Guoxian County. I hope Commander Yuan will take over the responsibility of defending the city for the sake of the people of Guoxian County and the imperial court." Zhou Shouchi moved out of Dayi.
At this time, Nao County had no better candidate to defend the city. He knew that if he wanted to defend Nao County, he most lacked an experienced military general like Yuan Chaoju. Otherwise, he really didn't have much confidence in relying on patrolling Zhao Xing to defend the city.
Yuan Chaoju frowned, not wanting to agree to the other party's request to defend the city.
He knew in his heart that there was no difference between defending the city and staying to die. After finally escaping from Daizhou, he didn't want to die here in Guo County.
"Commander Yuan, there is indeed a shortage of guards in the city, so just agree to it! What's more, even if you don't agree, you won't be able to get out of the city now. Once Guoxian County falls, you will also fall into the hands of the bandits." The county magistrate is here. Persuasion from the side.
On top of the city guard, he stood on the same line as Zhou Shouchi.
As officials of Nao County, they can only protect themselves if they keep Nao County safe. Once Nao County falls into the hands of bandits, they will not end well.
"Father, please agree. Whether you like it or not, we are all in the city now, and we will share the prosperity and loss of Guo County." Yuan Feng also persuaded from the side.
Yuan Chaoju pondered for a moment, and finally nodded helplessly.
He was unwilling to accept the responsibility of defending the city, and equally, he knew he had no choice.
"Everyone in Guo County has been entrusted to Commander Yuan." Zhou Shouchi stood up and bowed deeply to Yuan Chaoju.
Yuan Chaoju accepted the other party's salute calmly, and then said: "I will take people to the city wall now to see the situation outside the city. However, the county magistrate has to make other preparations. I can only say that I will try my best to defend Guo. county."
He really wasn't optimistic that he could hold on to Nao County.
Yuan Feng led his horse forward along the street and asked: "Isn't my father supposed to be fighting the bandits in Daizhou at this time? Why did he suddenly come to Guoxian?"
"Daizhou City is lost." Yuan Chaoju said with half-squinted eyes.
Yuan Feng was shocked when he heard this, stopped, and asked nervously: "When the child left Daizhou, didn't his father already lead thousands of soldiers and horses from Zhenwuwei into Daizhou City? How come you captured Daizhou so quickly?”
"The thief's firearms were sharp, and dozens of cannons were blasting into the city from outside the city. The guards on the city wall couldn't withstand a few cannons, so they could only hide to avoid the cannons. The thief took the opportunity to use ladders to climb up the city. He took down the northern city gate in one fell swoop and it took less than half a day." Yuan Chaoju looked disappointed.
When he was young, he relied on the city wall to kill the northern barbarians who came in from the north to plunder. He was not so sad at that time. Now that he has become the commander of the Zhenwu Guard, he has not been able to defend Daizhou City for even a day.
Yuan Feng said with a surprised look on his face: "Are the thieves really so fierce?"
"The rebels have sharp firearms and have an advantage in armor. It is difficult for ordinary frontier troops to be their opponents, and the soldiers and horses of the guards are even less capable. If we want to completely eliminate these traitors, either the Qi Army of the past will reappear, or we can only Send out several times more troops to encircle and suppress them, otherwise it will be difficult to eradicate the Liu bandits in Datong." Yuan Chaoju sighed.
Yuan Feng furrowed his brows and said, "The bandit attack is sudden. Taiyuan Mansion may not be able to mobilize so many soldiers and horses to deal with this bandit army. If so, wouldn't Taiyuan Mansion be in danger?"
"This is also the reason why my father came to see you." Yuan Chaoju said, "Originally, my father and your eldest brother wanted to take their things and leave Guo County as soon as they found you, but now it seems that they can't leave today and can only wait. It’s tomorrow.”
Yuan Feng said: "The county magistrate of Guoxian County is a cautious person. Once he found out that the bandit army had captured Yanmen Pass, he implemented a curfew and blocked several other city gates, leaving only the north gate open for an hour every day. "
