Qutang Gorge Fortress.
Zhu Wenzheng, Mu Ying, and Xiao Han successfully entered it with the main force. At this time, the Xia Army's main force was almost completely lost, and the strongest fortress was also captured.
In front of Daming, Xia Guo was like a woman who had stripped off her clothes and could be taken down at any time.
And all this, from the beginning to now, is less than a month.
Who would have thought that a month ago, the Xia Kingdom, which had spent 200,000 troops, directly guarded the pass with more than 100,000 elite Xia troops, and united with the Duan family and the Liang King in the south, with a total of 400,000 troops, would actually be here In a short period of time, it has fallen to this point.
Summer capital.
Ming Sheng, who was just about to follow Dai Shou's advice from the front line and move the country eastward to follow the power of Liang Guo and Duan family and change his family with the Ming Dynasty, read a battle report in front of him about the disastrous defeat on the front line. Ming Sheng's hands were trembling. , he simply couldn’t believe that in less than a month, an army of more than 100,000 people was defeated like this.
These are more than 100,000 elite Xia troops. Even if they stand there and let Ming kill them, they may not be able to finish them off in a month.
Why
Why did everything turn out like this in such a short period of time?
boom!
"waste!"
"They're all trash. One hundred thousand pigs would have to be killed for several months, right?"
Mingsheng slapped the table angrily, his eyes red. When he thought that he would be captured by Ming Dynasty and lose the inheritance left by his father Ming Yuzhen, Mingsheng couldn't help but feel deep fear.
I recall that back then, my father Ming Yuzhen held my hand before he died and asked me to guard the Daxia family business. Now, how will I face my father in the future?
"Your Majesty, Sir Your Majesty and the Queen Mother would like to see you."
At this moment, the eunuch's voice outside the door sounded, as if he knew that Ming Sheng was in a very unhappy mood at this time, and he seemed cautious.
"Let them in."
Mingsheng took a deep breath and calmed down his emotions. He kept calming himself down in his heart. Although he had not learned enough to govern the country, Mingsheng also knew that the more critical the moment, the more he must do it. Stay calm, otherwise, once you panic, everything will be over.
Everything is not irreversible yet. He still has thousands of miles of Shu land and tens of thousands of Xia soldiers who stayed in Shu. No matter how bad the situation is, can it be worse than when his father started a business from scratch?
"Mother, Liu Aiqing, why are you looking for me at this time?"
Mingsheng raised his head and looked at the two people. To be honest, he didn't know why his mother and Liu Ren came to him, but it was better to have someone come than to think about escaping one by one. At this time, Mingsheng still hoped that someone could Help yourself think of a solution.
"Your Majesty, we have been defeated. I am a womanizer and cannot understand the family and country in your father's eyes. However, if we continue, more innocent people will die. We should surrender to Emperor Ming."
Queen Mother Peng looked at Mingsheng with sincerity. She didn't understand what Mingsheng was thinking. She only knew that if she continued to support him at this time, mother and son might not even be able to save their lives.
However, hearing this sentence in Mingsheng's ears almost made Mingsheng's heart, which he had just mustered up the courage to be calm, almost fall to the bottom.
Did even his biological mother say this?
Are you destined to be a king who will subjugate your country?
"The Queen Mother's words are wrong!"
"We have indeed lost too many people in the war with the Ming Dynasty."
"But now that we surrender, what do those soldiers who died fighting to protect us count?"
"Although the two major defense lines of Qutang and Jiange have been lost today, I, Daxia, still have tens of thousands of powerful soldiers, hundreds of fortified cities, and thousands of miles of fertile wilderness in the middle of Sichuan are still under my control. The family property that your majesty has worked so hard to build can easily be destroyed. By giving it away, wouldn't it make His Majesty suffer the same infamy as the former Shu Han empress?"
At this time, Liu Ren, the right prime minister of Daxia, heard what Empress Dowager Peng said and immediately raised objections.
He didn't want Mingsheng to give up, so after hearing that Queen Mother Peng was coming, he decided to risk offending the royal family's dedication.
As everyone knows, his words sounded like fairy music to Ming Sheng's ears. At least, in this Daxia, there are still people who hope that he, Ming Sheng, will continue to be the emperor, right?
"But Mr. Liu, we can no longer compete with Emperor Ming, so why bother letting more people die in vain."
Queen Mother Peng opened her mouth, completely unable to understand Liu Ren's words.
"How can the sacrifice be in vain?"
"They guard the tranquility of Shu, the Kingdom of Heaven, and inherit the will of the martyrs who died on the battlefield. Ever since they followed the late emperor to lay such a huge foundation, there is absolutely no one in our Daxia who is greedy for life and afraid of death!"
"Even if we lose in the end, we must let Mingren see my Daxia's character!"
"As long as we retreat to Chengdu at this time, relying on the natural security in the middle of Shu and the fortified city of Shu, we can accumulate strength and make a comeback in the future. It is not known!"
Liu Ren is impassioned, holds his head high and holds his chest high. His oratory talent can be said to be very high, making everyone who hears his words unconsciously feel excited.
Listening to Liu Ren's impassioned speech, Mingsheng's eyes couldn't help but shine for a moment.
yes!
I haven't lost yet!
I also have hundreds of strong cities in Shu, a land of abundance, and thousands of miles of fertile fields! There are also loyal ministers willing to follow him! He Mingsheng hasn’t lost yet!
It's not Xu Da, Tang He, or Chang Yuchun who came. Xiao Han brought a group of young people not much older than himself. Why should he be afraid of them?
"Liu Aiqing is worthy of being the pillar of my Daxia. From now on, my country, Daxia, will be entrusted to Aiqing."
Mingsheng finally made up his mind and handed over to Liu Ren.
What Ming Dynasty sent this time was only a hundred thousand troops. Those powerful people who occupied a large population usually treated him in both ways, but he tolerated it.
Now that Ming Dynasty has invaded, do they still want to stay out of it?
Don't forget, Ming Dynasty is notoriously unfriendly to powerful families, but Ming Sheng doesn't believe that those powerful families really give up their land and population.
"Your Majesty!"
Queen Mother Peng was startled and spoke to Mingsheng.
I thought that since the matter had come to this point, she, the Queen Mother, came to persuade her personally, so Ming Sheng would follow her advice, and it seemed that Ming Sheng had such intention at the beginning.
"Mother, don't say any more words!"
"The land of Shu is still there. If I hand over this great river and mountains to Zhu Yuanzhang, wouldn't I be just like Liu Chan?"
"For the sake of my people in Daxia and the foundation of my father's emperor, I will definitely lead Daxia soldiers to fight Zhu Yuanzhang one by one!"
Mingsheng gritted his teeth, fire dancing in his eyes.
If it were in the past, within the imperial court, all the elders of the two dynasties had high positions of power, and Ming Sheng would not be able to lead the Xia Kingdom.
But at this time, Dai Shou, Wu Youren, Zou Xing and others had all died in the battle. A large number of nobles who followed Ming Yuzhen in starting a business were almost all killed or injured. country’s power.
As long as he enters Shu and defends Chengdu, what can the Ming army do to him?
At this moment, ambition arose in Mingsheng's heart. He finally gained power, but his opponents were a group of younger Ming soldiers who were about the same age as him.
They can gallop around and win thousands of miles, why can't they do it themselves?
At this moment, Mingsheng had already attributed Xia's defeat to the fact that Dai Shou and others underestimated the enemy and were arrogant, which led to the loss of his own troops and generals.
If he could gain military power and lead the expedition himself, he would definitely not be afraid of Mu Ying or Xiao Han.
"Your Majesty, don't listen to slander..."
Queen Mother Peng would like to say again that she has already seen that Ming Sheng cannot be Daming's opponent. If he continues, he will only die.
"enough!"
"Come here! The Queen Mother is tired. Send her back to the palace!"
Mingsheng waved his hand and spoke coldly.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Liu Ren's eyes lit up and he saluted Ming Sheng.
Ming Sheng couldn't give up the power he had, and he was even more reluctant than Ming Sheng. After all, his competitors were dead, and he was about to be defeated by one person and surpassed by ten thousand people. How could he surrender?
"Pass on my decree, reorganize the troops and horses in the capital, and set off tonight to move to the western capital, Chengdu."
Ming Sheng waved his hand and gave the order directly.
"Emperor... alas!"
Queen Mother Peng looked at Ming Sheng. Several eunuchs around her had already helped her over. She opened her mouth, but finally sighed softly and said nothing. She had no choice to try to persuade Ming Sheng.
His son was like a gambler who was losing his mind. No matter what, he was going to put his last possession on the gambling table.
Late at night.
The city gate of Xiadu opened, and Ming Sheng sat on a tall horse and marched in front of the army.
"The whole army obeys the order!"
"Move the capital!"
Mingsheng shouted loudly and led the Xiadu garrison towards the west.
There are many talented people from Jiangdong, and their comeback is unknown.
Looking at the mountains and rivers on both sides, Mingsheng's heart surged. Zhu Yuanzhang started his career in Jianghuai in the south. The large number of talented people from Huaixi in the court were almost all from the same county. There are so many talents in Jiangnan, so there is no reason for him to be so fertile and vast. Sichuan Tianfu is worse.
At this moment, Ming Sheng seemed to have seen that he had entered Shu, entered Chengdu, defeated the Ming army, gathered strength, and made a comeback.
Between the Northern Yuan Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, they fought vertically and horizontally, and finally captured the Central Plains and achieved supreme hegemony.
For a moment, Mingsheng felt the sound of horse hooves under his feet become lighter, and he felt quite energetic.
There is a vast world ahead, and we can finally achieve great things!
Boom boom boom!
Just when Mingsheng felt that his dream of hegemony was at his feet, the sound of artillery fire suddenly sounded, and the next moment the sound of killing shook the official road, and the Xia army passing on the road was directly cut off.
"kill!"
"Capture Ming Sheng alive!"
"Kill!"
"Whoever captures Mingsheng will be rewarded with thousands of gold coins and will be granted the title of Marquis of ten thousand households!"
…
Amidst the shouts of killing, He Wenhui jumped out of his horse and tore through the Xia army's front formation. He was unstoppable and with his arms wrapped around him, Ming Sheng was captured by He Wenhui like a little chicken.
boom!
"Tied!"
With a muffled sound, Mingsheng was thrown to the ground by He Wenhui like a piece of garbage, and he grinned in pain.
"This, this general, I am the son of Daxia. As long as you follow me from now on, I can give you the title of general-in-waiting!"
"As long as you escort me back to Chengdu, you will be the general of Daxia, commanding all the troops and horses of Daxia."
Mingsheng endured the pain and persuaded He Wenhui to surrender. His dream was suddenly shattered and He Wenhui grabbed him with one hand. Mingsheng was almost heartbroken, but he still managed to stay calm and spoke to He Wenhui.
Only by convincing He Wenhui would he have a chance. Even though Ming Sheng knew very well that the success rate of doing so was almost zero.
But, no matter what, you still have to give it a try.
"You are not the Emperor of Xia, so we haven't arrested you yet."
He Wenhui raised his head and looked at Ming Sheng like a fool.
Is this kid out of his mind?
You are going to be subjugated soon, why are you poaching people here?
Not to mention that my relatives and friends are all in the Ming Dynasty, I am afraid that I will be captured by Xiao Han and Mu Ying within a few days of becoming your general.
Moreover, there are soldiers and horses all over the country. How many soldiers and horses can your Xia Kingdom have in the whole country?
Are you trying to seduce me with this thing?
Do you look down on me, He Wenhui, too much?
Immediately, a large group of Ming army soldiers rushed up and tied up Ming Sheng Wuhua.
"Let me go!"
"Let me go!"
"You bastards, if you go deep alone, aren't you afraid of being surrounded and killed by my Daxia warriors?"
Liu Ren roared angrily. It had only been a few days since He Wenhui captured Jiange Pass. He had traveled hundreds of miles from the northern border. Naturally, it could not have been a large-scale operation.
It was only through galloping all the way with the elite of the headquarters that he was able to appear at this moment and directly capture Ming Sheng and all the important officials of the Xia Kingdom.
"Don't be afraid."
"If you don't surround us and save your good-for-nothing and your emperor, we would have come here in vain."
"Really, everything went as expected by Feng Xue. Brother, I will accept this great contribution."
Hearing Liu Ren's words, the corners of He Wenhui's lips curled up.
Xiao Han's arrangements for He Wenhui had been made from the beginning.
At this time, the main force of the Xia Kingdom on the eastern front collapsed, but there were still tens of thousands of Xia Kingdom's remnant troops scattered within the Xia Kingdom. If they were eliminated one by one, a lot of time would be wasted.
Therefore, under Xiao Han's arrangement, He Wenhui led his elite guard battalion all the way from taking Jiange Pass to attack thousands of miles and ambush here. Sure enough, since the Ming Dynasty sent out only the younger generation this time, although the Xia Kingdom failed The speed was much faster than the original trajectory, but Ming Sheng and others were not convinced and chose to go west to Chengdu and dived directly into He Wenhui's ambush.
It can be said that Xiao Han had everything planned out. The main force on the eastern front was defeated, and the scattered Xia army lost the ability to surround He Wenhui with a large force.
The center blossomed and surrounded the points for reinforcements, which accelerated the speed at which the Xia troops scattered throughout the Xia Kingdom were dealt with.
Then, as expected, the scattered armies from various parts of the Xia Kingdom will either choose to come to rescue Emperor Ming Sheng, surrender to the Ming Dynasty, or hide in the deep mountains and old forests and become bandits.
It can be said that as long as there is a little problem, He Wenhui's team will be killed thousands of miles away.
Fortunately, everything was as expected. One hundred thousand Ming troops marched westward. Despite the huge geographical disadvantage, they defeated Xia, Liang, and Duan, a total of nearly four times their own strength, but it only took a month.
"Come here, let me know the news. It means that Sheng has been surrounded by me, and you will gain the maximum!"
He Wenhui waved his hand and said with a smile.
Next, He Wenhui just needs to sit back and wait. With Ming Sheng as the bait, he only needs to arrange and publicize it well so that the armies from all over the Xia Kingdom think that Ming Sheng is being besieged by him. He is not afraid that those troops who are loyal to the Ming family will not Come.
He Wenhui, just prepare an ambush and the enemy will come to send you away.
Wenzhou City.
One of the key cities in Sichuan.
"General, Your Majesty and thousands of Chinese troops are besieged by He Wenhui's troops outside the imperial capital. Can we go to King Qin to rescue them?"
Deputy General Wang Xingzu took a piece of information and said to Wenzhou Guardsman Ding Shizhen.
"You want to say that His Majesty's army consists of thousands of soldiers, half of whom are palace residents. After such a long time, the Ming army should have captured His Majesty, right?"
"But, in this case, He Wenhui chose to stay there and build fortifications instead of leaving. All of this clearly shows that he is encircling the point and calling for reinforcements. Please put him in the urn, right?"
Ding Shizhen looked at Wang Xingzu and asked.
There was a calm look in his eyes, as if he had already seen through everything and remained calm.
"General..."
Wang Xingzu paused for a moment. Unexpectedly, Ding Shizhen, who had been preparing to mobilize the army for a long time, actually saw it more clearly than he did. Could it be that this was just a face-saving project done by the general to pacify popular opinion?
"General... then you..."
After hesitating for a while, Wang Xingzu still said.
"hehe."
"You see, why don't you just go?"
"If we don't go, what's the difference between us and those rebellious officials and traitors who defected to the Ming army?"
"Qutang and Jiange have been captured, and His Majesty has not managed to return to Shu. There are only two ways left before us, either surrender to the Ming army or fight for the country."
"If you were fighting for your country, how could you know that His Majesty was in jail and not rescue him?"
"I'm going here, not just because I can definitely rescue His Majesty, but because I want to let Your Majesty know that there are still loyal ministers in Daxia! The legacy of the late emperor is still there!"
"After I leave, I order you to lead the remaining eight thousand people to continue to guard Wenzhou. If I don't see my return, I will not open the city gate."
Ding Shizhen laughed, his eyes full of freedom, then put his hand on Wang Xingzu's shoulder, and spoke expectantly to his old general.
Even Ding Shizhen himself couldn't tell whether he could come back after leaving. After all, the elite soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were famous all over the world. The powerful armies of Meng Yuan, Chen Youliang, and Zhang Shicheng all fell to the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty one after another. Although Ding Shizhen thought he was training and leading troops. His abilities will not be weaker than those of Ming Dynasty generals.
However, the situation was over. When he arrived, no one knew how many people would be there in the Ming Dynasty. Once he left, it would be the Hongmen Banquet. Originally, Ding Shizhen had planned to go out in full force and live up to being an official in the Xia Kingdom. It's a pity that after all, he couldn't let go of Wenzhou City, which he had taken care of for many years, so the previous scene happened.
"The last general... will definitely live up to the general's expectations. He is always present in the city!"
Wang Xingzu was shocked, and then said loudly, how could he not understand the meaning of Ding Shizhen's mouth, even though the job Ding Shizhen gave him was not a good job, and he would even die in a short time.
However, as the commander-in-chief of one side, Ding Shizhen could still sacrifice his life in order to be loyal to Daxia. His Wang Xingzu had a life, so why would he cherish this life?
"good!"
Ding Shizhen shouted "Hello", then took ten thousand Xia troops and headed towards the Xia capital. He was a pedantic person who stubbornly believed that in life, there are things to do and things not to do. Even if he leaves and never comes back, he will never come back. Just die.
(End of chapter)
