After galloping all night, at sunrise, everyone had arrived at the east-west official road leading to Qingyang. Because Li Maozhen had previously captured Qingyang and led his troops to march eastward, wherever he went, it was like locusts passing through. The cities and villages were dilapidated and deserted, and the people were either Either die or flee, starving to death everywhere, and no one is around.
Naturally, the inns along the way were not spared. They were all burned down by the rebels. There were no pedestrians on the road. Although the sun was rising and the sun was shining, everywhere it went was dead silent.
Li Zhongyong and Chen Liqiu had already led troops ahead, but the army needed to carry a large amount of baggage and supplies, and the marching speed was very slow. It should still be on its way to Qingyang at this time.
Yu Yi had been on duty at Dali Temple for many years and was good at tracking. Based on the footprints on the road and the trampling of weeds on both sides of the road, he determined that his army passed by here around noon yesterday.
He raised his head and pointed to the west, "Your Majesty, this is only about two hundred miles away from Qingyang. Your Majesty and the others should be arriving soon."
Changsheng nodded.
"Although this small fork road to the north takes dozens of miles, it can avoid Qingyang and go directly to the Western Regions," Datou said. "If we go west, we have to pass through the city."
Changsheng didn't answer. He also understood what Datou said. He was weighing whether to take the big road or the small road. Taking the small road can save time to the greatest extent and avoid unnecessary complications. If they take the main road, they will be blocked by the Qingyang defenders. At that time, the group may face the situation of attacking Qingyang together with Batulu and others, which will definitely waste time.
Seeing Chang Sheng's delay in speaking, Yang Kai guessed what he was thinking, "My lord, let's take the high road. With our help, we can capture Qingyang faster. We can also directly take the two thousand cavalry from the general to the Western Region."
Datou disagreed with what Yang Kai said, "I'm not arrogant. No matter what happens to Duke Ji, the five of us can handle it. Is it necessary to lead troops there? Their horses are not good. They can't run fast and are holding them back." Son."
Changsheng said, "You don't understand what Yang Kai means. I want to bring the cavalry there not to deal with the difficulties the Ni family is encountering now, but to escort food and grass in the future. There are many bandits on the road from the Western Regions to Qingyang. Bandits, the food convoys need soldiers to accompany them to protect them.”
Hearing what Changsheng said, Datou suddenly realized, "Then take the high road, capture Qingyang first, and then rush to the Western Regions. Duke Ji Guo is very smart. He must have a way to delay time until we get there."
After finishing speaking, Changsheng looked at Yu Yi and Shi Xuanming, both of whom nodded in agreement. Confidence was gradually built up through countless battles and victories. Everyone on his side was already confident. After experiencing the battle at Gupo Mountain, His morale is as high as a rainbow and he is fearless.
Without saying much, Changsheng turned his horse's head and galloped westward, with three bloody horses following closely behind.
While everyone was talking, Miss Bai had been hovering high. When she heard the whistle from the big head, she immediately swooped down to greet him. The big head jumped up and landed on the back of the eagle. Miss Bai immediately used her strength to climb up and flap her wings to fly high.
Before midnight, everyone caught up with the convoy carrying grain and grass. At this time, it was less than fifty miles away from Qingyang.
When the five people arrived at the east of Qingyang City, their own soldiers were already in their positions. The forwards formed their troops from the east of the city to confront the defenders in the city, while the rear troops began to set up camp and bury pots to make rice.
At this time, the three men from Batulu were leading the vanguard from the east of the city to confront the rebels in the city. The Han people had a habit of marching and fighting, that is, they like to scold the formation. The so-called scolding the formation does not mean greeting the enemy's relatives with foul language, but It is to express one's just position in public and denounce the enemy's illegal behavior, which also includes intimidation and persuasion to surrender. Don't underestimate the scolding formation. Although it seems to be of no use, it can actually disrupt the enemy's military morale and lower the enemy's morale.
Changsheng and others rode directly to the front of the battle. Seeing Changsheng and others arriving, Batulu and the others were overjoyed. Although they knew that Changsheng and others appeared here because the affairs at Gupo Mountain were going very smoothly, the three of them Still eager to ask for confirmation, after learning that Changsheng and others had completely wiped out the Japanese pirates and won a great victory, the three of Batulu couldn't help but cheer loudly and were very happy.
Time is tight, and the business manager is concise and concise. "An accident occurred when the Ni family raised food and grass for us from the Western Regions. We have to rush to the Western Regions as soon as possible. How many rebels are there in the city? What is the situation?"
"There are 30,000 rebels and 20,000 newly recruited soldiers, a total of 50,000 troops," Li Zhongyong said solemnly, "They also know that once Qingyang is recaptured by us, Fengxiang will lose its barrier, and we can send troops to conquer at any time. Therefore, we are determined to resist stubbornly and defend the city to the death."
After Li Zhongyong finished speaking, Chen Liqiu said, "Leave this to us. You can rush to the Western Regions as soon as possible. If you need to lead troops there, take the cavalry with you."
"Yes, the enemy is stubborn and will never surrender voluntarily. Moreover, they force the people in the city to carry bows and stones to help defend the city. The war here will not end in a short time." Li Zhongyong said.
Changsheng did not answer. After a brief pondering, he jumped up, activated the Pure Yang Spiritual Energy to perform the Fire Volley, suspended in the air, raised his breath and spoke, "I am Li Changsheng, the heroic prince of the Tang Dynasty. The rebels and people in the city, please listen carefully. , within a stick of incense, we will open the city gates and surrender to the imperial court, and the generals and officers at all levels will be promoted to one level, and the people will forget the blame and let their affairs be in peace. After a stick of incense, we will forcefully break the city. After the city is broken, we will no longer accept surrender. We will slaughter the city with blood, chickens and dogs. Do not stay."
Changsheng means raising one's energy and making a sound, which spreads everywhere. Hearing what he said, there was an uproar inside and outside the city.
Changsheng only shouted once before he gathered his spiritual energy and floated back onto the horse.
Everyone on his side looked at him with surprised eyes. Everyone knew him and knew that he would do what he said and would never bluff. But massacring a city was no small matter. Killing all the people in the city was not what a righteous master should do. Things to do.
"Lao Wu, what will you do if they don't listen to your threats?" Batulu stared at Changsheng with his big eyes.
"Slaughter the city," Chang Sheng said with a gloomy face, "They should know who I am. If they don't eat the toast, then I can only let them drink the fine wine. If necessary, I can only kill to stop the killing."
"Bad people kill innocent people indiscriminately, don't you become a bad person by doing this?" Batulu was stunned.
"Don't worry, Senior Brother, they will surrender," Changsheng said. "I have long been notorious, and everyone in the world knows that I am ruthless, and they also know that I can do whatever I say, so they don't dare to take risks."
"In case they don't surrender, you can't kill innocent people indiscriminately. If the soldiers die, they will die. The common people are so innocent." Batulu warned.
"The moment they stepped onto the city wall and helped the rebels defend the city, they were no longer innocent," Changsheng said.
"When did you become so cruel?" Batulu was displeased.
Chen Liqiu interjected from the side, "Boss, please stop causing trouble. I agree with Lao Wu's approach. The reason why people in the world dare to do evil wantonly is because the price of doing evil is too small and the punishment is too light. Moreover, we have already said that if they If it turns a deaf ear, it’s their fault.”
While everyone was talking, the rebels in the city had already started shouting, saying that surrendering the city was a big deal and they would need three days to discuss it.
Faced with the shouts of the rebels in the city, Changsheng ignored them and waited until a quarter of an hour later before speaking out again, "In a quarter of an hour, we will storm the city..."
