In Jiazhuang, no one, male or female, old or young, slept. However, most people are ordered to stay at home. Only a small number of people were waiting behind the village gate to welcome Lu Xiangsheng back.
The strong crossbows blocked the formation, and only two-thirds of the Ming army soldiers who went out to fight returned. There were still many people who were supported or carried on their backs by their comrades. Every soldier who entered Zhuangzi sat down on the ground as soon as they reached a safe place, wheezing and wheezing. It was obvious that they had exhausted their energy and were exhausted.
The soldiers who had been waiting for a long time quickly went to help their comrades. The treatment that needs treatment and the rest that need to be taken are already prepared.
"Where is Mr. Lu? Is Mr. Lu okay?"
People kept asking about it, with concern.
"Your Majesty, you'll be outside the village after you're done."
Hearing this news made people feel relieved. However, when Lu Xiangsheng finally entered Zhuangzi, everyone who greeted him was shocked.
Lu Xiangsheng was seen covered in blood, with several arrows stuck in his body, not including the broken arrow shafts.
"My lord, how are you?"
Looking at the crowd gathered around him, Lu Xiangsheng casually thrust the rolled-edged sword into the ground, making a "bang" sound, then let go, and one of his own guards came to hold him, while he himself said a little tiredly: " I'm fine, has General Yang broken out?"
Yes, Ning Wan, I actually guessed it right. Lu Xiangsheng broke out with great fanfare just to cover Yang Guozhu's breakout.
Hu Dawei, who was in charge of looking out for the movement in Jiazhuang, heard this and quickly reported: "Don't worry, sir, the general will be watching. He should have broken out!"
Hearing this, Lu Xiangsheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then the sacrifices of the soldiers will be worth it!"
Having said this, he paused and then ordered: "Everyone, go and rest. The next battle will be even more intense!"
Mr. Jia, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but shed tears and said: "Your Excellency, for the sake of the people of Jiazhuang, you go to such great lengths to defend Jiazhuang with your precious body. Old man... On behalf of the fathers and fellow villagers of Jiazhuang, I kowtow to you!"
After saying this, he knelt on the ground. Several Jiazhuang squires behind him also knelt down to kowtow to Lu Xiangsheng.
Lu Xiangsheng actually had a chance to live, but he wanted to share life and death with his men, so he gave up!
After withdrawing into Jiazhuang, although there was a defensive place that could be relied on, the people of Jiazhuang were in danger. Lu Xiangsheng did not want to act alone regardless of the life and death of the people of Jiazhuang, and insisted on staying to share life and death.
Such officials are rare in the entire history, let alone in this dim late Ming Dynasty.
But there is a saying that goes like this: adversity brings out heroes, and hardship reveals true love. In the late Ming Dynasty when thousands of horses were silent, Lu Xiangsheng was considered to be a man who loved his soldiers as his own son and his people as his own son! In addition, Li Dingguo is also considered as one who loves his soldiers as his sons and his people as his sons.
For such officials, the people are naturally very grateful.
Besides, when Lu Xiangsheng saw Mr. Jia and others about to kneel to him, he showed a trace of shame instead, and quickly stepped forward to help him up. At the same time, he said sincerely: "I am ashamed of you fellow villagers. The emperor entrusted me with such a heavy responsibility, but I failed to do so." Defeating the Manchu Tatars has caused you, my fellow countrymen, to fall into a trap. After all, I read the books of sages and received their teachings, so how could I abandon my fellow countrymen!"
He had long figured out that the only way to save Jiazhuang was to let the Manchu troops withdraw. As for defeat, he has no extravagant thoughts and is unrealistic. Even if the Qing Dynasty retreats, the certainty is not high, but there is hope after all, so this strategy was devised. Even if Jiazhuang's defensive force is weakened again, Yang Guozhu must be covered to break out.
Soon, Jiazhuang returned to silence. Those who were on duty braved the severe cold to monitor the movements of the Manchu Tatars; those who were not on duty quickly rested and prepared for the fierce battle after dawn.
Time passed slowly. No matter what, the sun rose as usual, rising higher and higher. On the cold earth, the crowd started to get busy like ants again.
By noon, another burst of noise could be heard from the Chinese military tent at Gaoqiqian Camp.
Although Yang Tinglin is a civil servant, he has a loud voice. I saw him rushing towards Gao Qiqian and said loudly: "Director Gao, it's been a few days, but our army has only advanced five miles! Even at a snail, it is probably faster than this! You are not afraid that you will be killed if you fail to rescue. Lu Shangshu?"
Gao Qiqian looked a little haggard, with panda eyes, as if he hadn't slept well at night. Hearing Yang Tinglin's question, he was about to say something, but the generals on both sides had already started shouting and answered for him.
"Mr. Yang puts it lightly. There are 100,000 Manchu and Qing troops in front of us, which is more powerful than us. It is already a miracle that we have not been defeated!"
"Yes, we have persisted until now. Is it easy?"
"Master Yang, you can go out and take a look. We really have to do our best. If Mr. Lu really has an accident and the emperor wants to punish us, he admits it. We really have to do our best!"
"..."
Not only them, but also Gao Qiqian, after hearing their words, sighed and said: "This battle is indeed difficult. It's not that we don't save, it's really impossible to save!"
In Gao Qiqian's military career, this was the first time he fought against the Manchu and Qing troops for so long. You know, this is a field battle, not a city defense battle. He knew that his subordinates were indeed working harder than before. Who made the Manchu and Qing army strong? There is really no other way!
Because of this, thinking about the emperor's will and worrying, Gao Qiqian never had a good sleep at all. As soon as he fell asleep, he had nightmares. Either he dreamed that the camp was attacked by the Qing army, or that Lu Xiangsheng was killed and he was buried with him.
At this time, he had actually given up on rescuing Lu Xiangsheng, because in his opinion, it was impossible for his side to defeat the Manchu and Qing troops in front of him. Although it is an exaggeration to say that the Qing Dynasty had an army of 100,000, there must be 40,000 to 50,000 after all!
Gao Qiqian's calculation at this time was to ask Yang Tinglin, a civil servant, to say a nice word for him afterwards. Maybe the emperor would really believe that he had tried his best and would not need him to be buried with Lu Xiangsheng.
At this time, Wang Chengen arrived here.
Gao Qiqian asked why he came, and couldn't help but secretly complain. He quickly explained the current situation. Although it was a bit exaggerated, it was basically not a lie. Yang Tinglin supplemented this point. Finally, Gao Qiqian said: "Eunuch Wang, our family is really powerless in the current situation. Got it!"
When Wang Chengen heard this, he couldn't help but be surprised. He also didn't expect that there would be such a situation here. If Gao Qiqian had just said this, he wouldn't have believed it. But this civil servant under Lu Xiangsheng and Yang Tinglin, who Yang Sichang did not deal with, both said so, so there would be nothing wrong.
He had never had such an experience before, and he had no ability to command a war. After hearing this, he remembered the importance the emperor attached to Lu Shangshu and his mission here, and he couldn't help but become anxious: "What should I do?"
A group of people, there is nothing they can do. You look at me, I look at you, big eyes and small eyes, nothing can be said!
If you fight, you cannot defeat; if you retreat, you cannot retreat. It feels like this group of living people are going to be suffocated to death!
