In Yecheng, Shi Hu, who had just completed the enthronement ceremony, sat slumped on the royal couch, his fat body breathing heavily, and drops of cold sweat on his face.
Liang Du captured Luoyang, which was a fatal blow to Jie Zhao.
Brutality was meant to frighten the various clans in the country and suppress people's hearts. Now that the even more brutal Liang Du is coming back, it is equivalent to shaking the foundation of Shi Hu's rule that was forged with brutality and terror.
Li Nong was defeated, and Shi Hu had only one choice left, which was to use Pu Hong and Yao Yizhong.
"Li Nong betrayed me..." The continuous bad news made Shi Hu more and more haggard, as if he lacked the strength to speak.
"Although the Commander-in-Chief is loyal, he lacks a lot of military skills." Zhang Jack's eyes flashed with joy. Li Nong was defeated, and the most powerful person in the court was his distant brother Zhang Ju, whom he had fought with eight poles.
This sentence reminded Shi Hu of the defeat of Fancheng. Li Nong's 40,000 cavalry could not attack Yue Wan's 1,000 defenders.
It's not that Shi Hu didn't know Li Nong's shortcomings, it's just that more than half of Jie Zhao's elite troops faced off against the Zhang family of Liangzhou in Longyou, and the other half faced off against Murong Ba in Jicheng.
Coupled with Shi Xuan and Shi Tao who had just killed each other, Shi Hu had no one to use and had to use Li Nong as his commander.
Li Nong's ability is mediocre, but at least his loyalty is no problem.
"What do you think should be done now?" Shi Hu also sought medical attention in a hurry.
Zhang Jack's eyes flashed, "The thieves came with only a blood spirit. They have no ambition and will not last long. As long as they guard the gates such as Chenggao and Fangtou, the thieves will destroy themselves."
His words seemed to stimulate Shi Hu, and his face turned red. "If this is the case, how long will it take to destroy the thieves? The rats in Jiangdong are ready to move, and the Yan thieves are also preparing their troops. This battle cannot be delayed for too long, otherwise we will be attacked from all sides!"
After finishing speaking, he coughed a few more times and cheered up, "Come here, summon King Yan Shi Bin, General Chariot and Cavalry Pu Hong, and Champion General Yao Yizhong to see me!"
A spring snow is sweeping over Fangtou.
The endless fields and villages were submerged, leaving only Fangtou City standing proudly in the wind and snow.
In the more than ten years since he was stationed in Fangtou, this was the first time that Shi Hu ordered Pu Hong to lead troops to join the war. In the past, he only recruited Di people to join the Zhao army.
"If Zhao loses his deer, the whole world will chase him away!" Pu Jian showed his ambition unabashedly.
"Arrogant!" Pu Hong yelled angrily, but his expression showed no sign of blame.
Pu Xiong, another son, cupped his hands and said: "Liang Du rebelled, first defeated Liu Ning, and then Shi Bao and Li Nong. Judging from this, the Shi family has nothing to show for it! Guanzhong is the place where the dragon rose. Today, Guanzhong is empty. Sir, make preparations early in the morning!"
Since the fourth year of Xiankang (338), Pu Hong and his disciples have aroused Shi Hu's fear because of their outstanding military exploits.
Shi Min and the eminent monk Fo Tucheng both advised Shi Hu: "Guan Pu has a kingly spirit, so we should get rid of it urgently."
Shi Hu became murderous, so Pu Hong claimed that he was ill and refused to go to court. He has been hiding in Fangtou.
Unable to move Pu Hong, he secretly killed his son.
Among Pu Hong's dozen sons, only Pu Jian and Pu Xiong were killed.
However, although there are only two brothers left, there are many grandchildren. Pu Jing, Pu Luo, Pu Huangmei, Pu Fa, etc. are all talented in both civil and military affairs and are brave and good at fighting.
Since moving to Fangtou, the Pu family has been blessed with many talented children and grandchildren. Compared with Shihu and others who spend their days hunting and debauchery, it is no wonder that they are feared by others.
"Don't worry, the mantis is chasing the cicada and the oriole is behind, the deer in the Central Plains is getting fat, let's see who can eat the biggest piece!" Pu Hong's eyes shot out two sharp rays, it was only because of the murder of his disciples that he could survive, and it was heartbreaking. .
For ten years, I have been on tenterhooks every day, and finally today is the day!
Pu Hong stood up with his head held high and opened the door. The cold wind and snow blew in his face.
In the wind and snow, more than 20 people from three generations of the Pu family, including Pu Jing, Pu Luo and Pu Huangmei, stood in armor.
The youngest Pu Hong is now twelve years old...
These grandchildren are where Pu Hong's confidence lies.
Returning to Guanzhong was just a last resort. Guanzhong had been destroyed for a long time since the end of the Han Dynasty and was no longer the old capital of the Han Dynasty.
Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Guanzhong has become a source of trouble. The population has withered, the fields are barren, wild beasts are rampant, and it is in ruins. The only population is also gathered in the fortresses of the powerful.
Liang Du's rebellion even wiped out the only glimmer of hope in Guanzhong.
Compared with Hebei, which is full of rich people, it is clear which one is stronger and which one is weaker.
Guanzhong is just a retreat, not a place for heroes to show their talents!
Shi Hu is terminally ill, and all the disciples have no talent to turn the tide. It is still unclear who will lose the country in the north!
"My lord's strategy is ten times that of Shihu. This battle is the beginning of the rise of our Pu family!" Pu Jian's eyes were extremely eager...
North of Yecheng.
An elite cavalry of 8,000 people was galloping towards them.
Among the riders, Yao Yizhong, who happened to be seventy years old, was also surrounded by his descendants.
On the left are the Yao Wu generals Yao Yisheng and Yao Yinmai, on the right are the Wuwei generals Yao Ruo and Yao Shuode, and behind them are Yao Xu, Yao Huang, etc., all of whom are strong and powerful men.
However, the only person who could keep pace with him was the fifth son Yao Xiang. This son was eight feet five inches tall, with arms hanging down above his knees. He was strong and talented, and was highly supported by the Jitou scholars. He was also the successor carefully cultivated by Yao Yizhong.
When they entered Yecheng in the wind and snow, Shi Hu happened to be seriously ill and could not see anyone, so he only entertained him with royal meals.
Yao Yizhong was so angry that he refused to eat. He shouted in the Taiwu Palace: "You call me to attack thieves, but why do you come here to look for food? I don't know whether your majesty is alive or dead. If I see you, I will have no regrets even if you die."
Shi Hu had no choice but to summon him despite his illness.
When Yao Yizhong saw Shi Hu dying of illness, he scolded him: "My two sons have been living and dying, so why are we so worried about illness? If we didn't have a good person to help us when we were young, and if we grew up, we would indulge in indulgence. That's why you are in trouble today! You have been sick for a long time, so you are so sick." The crown prince is young, and a hundred years from now, the world will be in chaos, and we should be worried about this now, not the little thief in Liangdu!"
Shi Hu's eyes widened, and the surrounding guards and palace people were dumbfounded.
Even Yao Yizhong's sons' eyes darkened and they swallowed hard. Shi Hu could even kill his own sons and grandsons, let alone outsiders?
"Old Qiang, don't bother me anymore!" Shi Hu waved his hand weakly, his wide eyes returned to normal.
Yao Yizhong laughed loudly: "Liang Du and others are eager to return home. They are traitors and thieves. They have no ambition. This is a success. Lao Qiang please die for the vanguard, and they can be defeated in one fell swoop."
The only person in the world who dared to speak to Shi Hu like this was Yao Yizhong.
This is not the first time that Shi Hu has been confronted face to face.
When Shi Hu was killed, Yao Yizhong claimed that he was ill and was summoned many times. When he came in to see him, he also denounced Shi Hu directly: "How can I take his arm away from him after being entrusted with it?"
Not only did Shi Hu not see any guilt, but he became even more favored.
It's the same now. Shi Hu responded with anger and said happily, "If I can defeat the thief, I will be free from illness!"
On the spot, Yao Yizhong was granted the title of Envoy Chijie, Shizhong, and General of the Expedition to the West, and was rewarded with armor and horses.
"Do you think Lao Qiang can defeat thieves?" Yao Yizhong straddled his horse in the court, rode his horse to the south, and left without saying goodbye.
Several sons kowtowed and followed behind...
