As expected, Marquis Shen did not back down, and Luo Cheng began to prepare for the aftermath.
There is a high probability that Haojing City cannot be saved.
If Haojing City is really breached, Ji Ne's life or death will be a trivial matter.
The biggest problem is that the emperor's sanctity will plummet.
Even if it was later recaptured by King Qin's army, this would still be an indelible stain.
Therefore, under the watchful eyes of all the Zhou people in Haojing City, Luo Cheng wanted to sacrifice to heaven to trigger changes in the sky and prove that Bang Zhou's destiny was still stable.
It would be better if we could protect Ho Kyung by the way.
A seed must be planted in the hearts of Shen people, Rong people, Qin Wangjun, and Zhou people.
All previous failures and humiliations were caused by Jinie's stupidity, so God ended his life with a failed war.
The major affairs of the country lie in wars and sacrifices. As the chief minister, Luo often organized sacrifices on behalf of the emperor.
Luo Cheng stood on the altar to offer sacrifices to heaven, offering various sacrifices one by one. His eyes were looking far away at the sky, as if King Su was looking at him.
"Ancestor, Cheng is really unwilling to accept this. Please forgive me."
Ji Zhao remained silent and did not speak. Everyone has his own ideas, and his descendants are not his puppets.
[The blessing of the ancestors has been withdrawn and the luck points have been returned. 】
Since Luo Cheng is a determined person, let him be.
Withdrawing the ancestral blessing and making his life a little rougher may inspire more of his potential and bring more unexpected things to the family.
Anyway, the Luo Kingdom has a strong foundation. Without internal fighting, it will not be completely defeated within a few hundred years.
Everything was ready, Liuexue's artifact was ready, Luo Cheng knelt directly on the altar and started his performance.
“King Su’s spirit shines so brightly in the sky.
Your descendants are in the world, inheriting the destiny and establishing a new dynasty.
Your good name will be passed down from generation to generation, and your descendants will pass it down from generation to generation. "
After Luo Cheng's chant was sung for the first time, all the ministers and nobles began to sing along, and slowly the whole palace could be heard chanting the saint's praises.
“O King Su, your spirit is in heaven, and your descendants are suffering.
The vicious thieves are attacking, and he says that Zhou's destiny is on the verge of collapse.
Your descendants respectfully request you that the gods in heaven may show their power.
Bangzhou's destiny is like the sun and the moon, eternal and unyielding. "
It has been circulated among the Zhou Dynasty that King Wu's successor is King Su, which is also the origin of the Luo family's destiny.
King Su is the spiritual totem of all old Zhou people and an undisputed saint, especially in the land of Haojing, with extremely outstanding prestige.
Countless Zhou people sang along, and the scene was very solemn.
Countless snowflakes, in large tracts, seemed to appear out of thin air, and the previously clear sky turned dark in an instant.
"King Su appears!"
"King Su! Save your people!"
Countless wailing sounds sounded around the altar, even the nobles and ministers were no exception.
A trace of blood flowed from the corner of Luo Cheng's mouth, and he said loudly: "Masters.
The ancestors said that the destiny of the state is clear.
We should cheer up and let King Su see this. Don’t you feel ashamed?
The Rong people are just outside the city. If we don't resist the invasion of the Rong people carefully, will we be able to have the dignity to meet the ancestral gods in the future? "
Although the Zhou people did not believe in ghosts and gods as much as the merchants, they worshiped their ancestors even more.
Luo Cheng's words cheered everyone up. King Su is a god who serves God Haotian, and they all want to see King Su after they die.
Although King Su did not directly punish the rebels, the people of Zhou at least felt confident.
Especially the soldiers, who were originally very frightened when they saw the rebels coming like a tide, but now they are more courageous.
Even if this cannot make up for the absolute gap in strength, everyone at least has hope in their hearts.
Luo Cheng prayed secretly in his heart. With the help of the heavy snow, he hoped to survive the most difficult first day of the city defense battle.
The atmosphere in Shenrong's camp was completely different from the excitement in Haojing City.
Everyone stared blankly at the suddenly darkened sky and the snowflakes that appeared out of thin air, and those snowflakes fell in the camp, bypassing Haojing City!
Even though Marquis Shen decisively blocked the news and destroyed the stone tablet, it was of no use. This kind of gossip could not be blocked at all.
Everyone wanted to spread rumors, and the whole camp was talking about it, especially the officials of Shen State, who had gone through the whole process completely.
That stone tablet has also been seen with one’s own eyes, and no one will forget the words on it.
"Rebels raise armies, cholera reigns, and snow falls in June to show the power of heaven!"
Someone couldn't help but read it out, and then a cold and ominous feeling crawled into his heart, and he couldn't help but shudder.
Those snowflakes fell leisurely into their necks. Whether it was the coldness of the snowflakes or the coldness in their hearts, everyone couldn't help but shiver.
Marquis Shen was now a little glad that he was sending troops with the Rong people, otherwise the current Shen soldiers might not be able to fight.
A person like King Rong, who was outside Bangzhou's system, couldn't help but rub the skin on his arms, goosebumps arose.
"Is he so evil?" He couldn't help but ask: "Is your King Su really that godly? There are many records about him in our clan's classics. He is a very ordinary person."
There are indeed many records about King Su in the Rong clan's classics, but relatively large failures are basically not recorded.
To embellish a relatively minor failure, call it a tie.
As for the winner, I didn’t record it because I didn’t have one and couldn’t make it up.
Marquis Shen himself was inexplicably horrified. Among the current princes, he was indeed a hero.
But facing God, how could we not feel guilty.
That was King Su, the ancestral spirit who served the supreme god Haotian according to legend.
After the shock, the realistic side emerged. He suppressed his guilty conscience and smiled at everyone: "My lords.
The emperor was held hostage by traitorous ministers. This is God weeping for him.
Facing the heavy snow in the sky, we will build our glorious history and make our ancestors proud of us.
Soldiers, the time has come to make great achievements, rush into Haojing and rescue the emperor.
When the time comes, you will be alone in Haojing and hold a ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven, so that heaven can hear your achievements.
I promise that the soldiers who step into the city first, whether they are compatriots or slaves, will establish a kingdom!
All officers and soldiers who have achieved military success this time will be rewarded three times! "
Marquis Shen's order was passed out by the messengers, which sorted out the scattered people.
Especially those slave soldiers, King Su is simply an enemy to them.
Faced with King Su's miracle, they didn't care at all. They only wanted to get the reward promised by Marquis Shen and escape from the status of slaves.
Marquis Shen said to King Rong again: "King Rong, start attacking immediately. The snow is getting colder and colder.
At that time, the soldiers will not be able to even stretch their arms and legs, and they will probably suffer a big loss when facing the Zhou army defending the city. "
King Rong simply said: "Okay, I will give the order right now."
The two reached an agreement and began to attack the city according to the previously prepared battle plan.
"Dong dong dong!"
The three-tone drum sounded, and the soldiers of the Shen-rong coalition began to attack the city.
Of course, the first group to attack the city were the cannon fodder slave soldiers. Almost all of these slaves were unarmored and only wore clothes made of coarse linen. They held simple knives and wooden shields in their hands and swooped on the walls of Haojing like locusts. , their purpose is very clear to both sides, which is to consume the defense resources in Haojing City.
"Squeak~"
"Boom!"
The heavy bronze city gate suddenly opened, and the rumbling chariot sped out. Guo Shifu, clad in bronze armor, stood majestically on the chariot with a long sword in hand.
Haojing's military strength is indeed small, but things like tanks are still enough.
Although many bankrupt Chinese people no longer know how to use chariots to fight, those small nobles who own fiefs are well-trained warriors.
Father Guo Shi led the army of chariots and slammed into these slave soldiers from the side. Under the huge power of the horses and bronze chariots, blood and flesh were instantly scattered, and shrill screams resounded all around.
Red and white flesh and blood were spread on the ground, and those colorful things burst out from no part of the body.
On this wide flat land, the power of the chariot is decisive. Even the slave soldiers wielding broken knives cannot even touch the people on the chariot, and the Chang Ge specially used for chariots can easily harvest their lives.
Father Guo Shi stood on the chariot and laughed wildly. At this moment, he really felt that he was not inferior to his father. The soldiers of the Zhou army on the city wall also cheered thunderously.
This one-sided crushing was a huge boost to everyone's morale, especially the Zhou people who had just experienced a miracle.
Groups of messengers continued to convey news from the front line to Jinie, "Your Majesty, Duke Guo led the chariots to fight. They were unstoppable. The Shen thieves suffered heavy losses and had no power to fight back."
Ji Nie was very happy and smiled at everyone in the palace: "Guo Gong is indeed the most trusted minister among us. He is indeed brave and resourceful."
In front of Haojing City, Guo Shifu was passing by the slave soldiers, killing wantonly, when he suddenly heard a loud shout, and then the same rumble of chariots, "Zhou traitors, I will avenge you with your life."
Of course, it was impossible for the high-speed chariot to stop. When it broke through the queue of slave soldiers, Father Guo Shi controlled the chariot and looked at the shouting man. He didn't recognize him at first glance.
"Gu Nai is the emperor's third prince, the Guo family. He is a prince and a minister of the emperor. You, a thief, don't get out of your car and accept your surrender."
Before a war, it was a common behavior in wars of this era to declare one's family status, tell one's noble lineage, and overwhelm the opponent.
Another very important function is that the big shots are usually captured and asked for ransom, so that they are less likely to lose their lives.
Sure enough, what Guo Shifu said, the general opposite saw that he was Dr. Shen Guoqing, so he did not bring humiliation to his family.
He directly urged the soldiers who were driving to confront Guo Shifu. Although Guo Shifu was a member of the armed forces, due to his status, even the archer who was the leader had to obey him.
Guo Shifu ordered the charioteer to drive forward as well. There was no room for shooting arrows at such a close distance.
The two of them rushed forward. He was tall and strong. With one strike, he knocked the opponent's general's hand numb, and with another strike, he was pulled out of the chariot.
With two random swings of his sword, he killed the other two people on the opposite chariot.
Seeing how brave Guo Shifu was, the soldiers who followed him cheered even louder, driving their chariots and killing slaves who had no ability to resist.
Marquis Shen was not in a hurry at all. Slave soldiers were consumables, but he didn't expect to be able to seduce a general from Haojing City.
"If a chariot attacks without infantry cover, it's really looking for death. Call in the sharpshooters and shoot him directly!"
Guo Shi's father killed a circle and was ready to go back. He should not have gone to the battle in the first place. These slave soldiers were consumables, and the precious combat power of the chariot soldiers should not be used here.
The archers on the city wall were covering Guo Shifu's retreat. No one noticed that several large and round archers were holding weapons that were obviously larger than ordinary bows and arrows. They were fully drawn and aimed at Guo Shifu's back.
"Puch!"
Several hidden arrows swished through the chaotic battlefield. Some of them were nailed to the bronze armor, but one passed through the gap between the armor and instantly penetrated Guo Shifu's body, and a flesh-piercing sound rang out.
This sudden change shocked everyone instantly. The chariot rushed into Haojing City under the driving of the charioteer. Blood surged from Guo Shifu's mouth and he died.
The messenger brought the news to Jinie.
"Report..."
"Your Majesty, when Duke Guo returned to the city, the Shenrong thieves used hidden arrows, and Duke Guo died."
Ji Ne couldn't believe her ears. She had won a big victory just now, so why did she die in the blink of an eye?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Ji Neqiang laughed to herself: "Guo Gong is so brave, how could he die on the battlefield?"
The footsteps of the Shenrong rebel army did not stop for a moment, and the slave soldiers swarmed in on the corpses that covered the open space.
There were more than a dozen of these slaves carrying a long ladder, and their morale was very high. The promise made by Marquis Shen just now was engraved in their hearts.
People who have never been slaves will never understand how desperate this status is. For generations, they are not even considered human beings.
They didn't ask for a feudal state, and they didn't understand what a feudal state meant, but Marquis Shen said they no longer had to be slaves, and they were willing to give everything.
Even life.
The life of a slave is worthless!
Because they are worse off than dead.
Under the temptation of freedom, after leaving many corpses behind, the leading slave soldiers had already rushed to the gate of Haojing City.
They all raised their shields above their heads to guard against the sudden arrows.
Long ladders were erected on the top of the city. Under the urging of the drums, the slave soldiers began to climb one after another, like ants. It was very spectacular.
Not only were these slaves trying to attack the city wall directly, but there were also some slave soldiers holding huge knocking logs, breaking through the blockade of arrow rain, and shouting chants in unison to hit the city gate.
The bronze city gate is very solid, and the wood chips are flying, as if it is standing still, but if you look closely, the whole door is trembling slightly.
The soldiers guarding the city were not idle either. The well-trained Chinese picked up the poles and lifted the long ladder on the top of the wall according to the situation during training.
Those slaves who climbed on the long ladder fell straight down one after another, like dumplings, causing heavy casualties.
These long ladders are not like siege weapons like cloud ladders that cannot be pushed at all, and they are relatively easy to handle.
But as King Rong asked Rong archers to join in to cover these slave soldiers who were constantly charging upward, the Zhou army's casualties began to increase.
The Dongyi people are definitely the best at archery, but these Xirong people are not bad either.
Hunting in the vast land of the northwest requires high archery skills. These archers with accurate archery skills put tremendous pressure on the Zhou army's defenders.
After all, from time to time, I see an arrow suddenly stuck in the face of a comrade next to me. The feeling of shadow shrouded in death does require a relatively strong psychological quality.
Haojing City is the largest city in the entire Zhou Dynasty after Luoyi. It not only increases the difficulty for the attackers, but also requires extremely high troops for the defenders.
Just the troops needed to completely defend the city would almost exhaust the city's military reserves. Since there were still reserves left, the slave soldiers could only be driven up the city wall.
Today's wars have always been about using chariots to fight the enemy in the field, and there are very few situations where it is necessary to defend a city.
The soldiers of the Rong people and the slaves of the Shen Kingdom seemed to be inexhaustible, and they rushed towards the city in a steady stream.
And seeing the number of rolling logs in Haojing reduced, they began to use ladders,
"Report..."
The voice of the messenger came towards Jinie like a reminder.
The battle lasted from morning to afternoon. The Shen-rong coalition forces never stopped for a moment and attacked regardless of the cost.
Suddenly loud cheers came from the city gate.
"Report..."
"Your Majesty, the west gate has been breached and the Shen thieves have entered the city."
When this news came, everyone's faces instantly turned pale.
Luo Cheng sighed slightly, but he still couldn't survive the most dangerous first day.
He looked up at the sky, remembering what his ancestors had said to him, and suddenly felt what it meant to be God's will, which is like a knife and cannot be disobeyed.
…
The rebellion of Marquis Shen exposed the weakness of the Zhou royal family to everyone. In theory, the breach of Haojing would cause huge damage to the sanctity of the emperor.
However, the information obtained from the ruins shows that although the Zhou people criticized King You of Zhou for angering Heaven, a large number of poems praising Zhou's destiny were unearthed during the same period.
This is a very strange phenomenon, as the anonymous poet of the Tang Dynasty said - "How can God's will be shown like a sword? The king's destiny is in Zhou but not in You."
All the blame for the breach of Haojing City was placed on King Zhou You. Everyone, including the princes, had no doubts about the destiny of Emperor Zhou.
According to historical records, the ancestor of the Luo royal family, the Marquis of Luo, who was the head of the Zhou Dynasty at that time, held a ceremony to worship the heavens in Haojing City, and caused a magical heavy snow in the season of June, which caused All Zhou people believed deeply in the destiny of heaven.
Most scholars believe that this was a later forgery, but the materials excavated from the tombs all record this incident, and even the Rong people's ruins also have this record. Various signs indicate that this incident is true.
The Luo royal family has a small population and has always lived in seclusion. They are also very secretive about the various miracles in the history books. The core members never accept interviews from the outside world. Therefore, the author has not yet concluded whether this matter is true or false. ——"The Rise and Fall of the Zhou Dynasty"
