Chapter 096: Chang'an in a Dream
In 880 AD, Huang Chaobing, a peasant leader at the end of the Tang Dynasty, entered Chang'an, and was the emperor in Hanyuan Palace, with the country name "Daqi", the establishment of the Yuan Jintong, and the amnesty of the world.
In the first month of the first year of Zhonghe (881), Tang Xizong ordered King Qin's righteous division to go to Chang'an to crusade against the Qi army, in April, Li Keyong of the Shatuo tribe led his troops to drive Huang Chao out of Chang'an, and plundered in the city. Because of his anger at the people of Chang'an, Huang Chao went on a killing spree and slaughtered countless residents, which was called "washing the city".
The Tang army was strong, and when Huang Chao left Chang'an, a fire burned the palace temple in Chang'an City, and the first place was slightly exhausted, so that Chang'an City was full of thorns after a few months, and the foxes and rabbits were vertical and horizontal, and the ruins and walls were broken, and the ground was full of rubble.
In 904 AD, just a dozen years after the Huangchao Rebellion, Zhu Wen established the Later Liang Dynasty, and in order to prevent Tang Chen from rebuilding the capital, he ordered the entire Chang'an City to be demolished. All palaces and government buildings were demolished, and the inhabitants were evicted. Chang'an City was completely destroyed, and the thousand-year-old imperial capital was abandoned as a hill.
Even if the palace is completely gone, the palace is in ruins, but the tall city walls, and the wide moat are still there, after nearly two hundred years of recuperation since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, Chang'an City has also restored some of its former style.
Fan Zhixu, the prefect of Jingzhao Mansion, who was sitting in the yamen of Jingzhao Mansion in the high hall, was staring blankly at a pile of official documents on the table.
In the first year of Jingkang, Fan Zhixu used Shaanxi Xuanfu to make more than 100,000 generals enter the king of Qin, but was defeated by the Jurchen warrior Wanyan Lou Room and 3,000 Jurchen iron cavalry, with countless casualties. Fan Zhixu fled into Tongguan. The Jin soldiers scattered around the city of Tokyo, and the imperial court took Fan Zhixu as the prefect of Jingzhao Mansion to guard Chang'an.
"I regret that I shouldn't have believed Zhao Zongyin's bald donkey!"
Fan Zhixu muttered in his mouth, and the white hair on his temples under the black gauze all showed that this Wenchen, who had commanded hundreds of thousands of troops, was already over the age of sixteen.
Tokyo City has Sun Fu, He Li's "7777 Divine Armor Soldiers" can be relieved, Jingzhao Mansion has Fan Zhixu commission hundreds of thousands of troops in a monk Zhao Zongyin, these scholars of the Great Song Dynasty, the world's big joke, the laughing stock of ancient and modern, the Jin people attack the Song Dynasty, it can be said that the hard work is high.
The minister of Jingzhao Mansion in the lobby can now be described as worried and restless. As long as the Jurchen cavalry is mentioned, it is often the hands trembling and the head is dizzy.
The Jurchen army attacked Shaanxi, all the way by leaps and bounds, only half a month, the northwest of Shaanxi has been in the hands of the enemy, the Jurchen general Wan Yan Sali led the army to besiege Chang'an City, Jingzhao Mansion is in danger.
None of the sergeants sent for help returned, and it was not known whether the urgent letter was sent or not. The golden rangers are everywhere, but I am afraid that the official road has long been cut off, and the birds are difficult to cross.
At this time, he couldn't help but complain about Wang Songlai. As the Xuanfu envoy of Lianghe and Shaanxi, why didn't he see Wang Song's army advancing into Shaanxi?
If Jingzhao Mansion is lost, where will he go if he is a parent official in this place, how will he explain to the king, and can he save his life?
"Wang Song, where are you? You have recovered Taiyuan City, why don't you enter Shaanxi and kill all the thieves?"
Distraught, Fan Zhixu stood up and walked out of the lobby, the refreshing weather outside couldn't help but lift his spirits.
His eyes swept to those former Han and Tang Dynasty palaces, the traces of knives and axes were still there, Qionglou Yuyu had become a ruined wall, and Fan Zhixu was inexplicably sad.
"The wild grass and flowers by the Vermilion Bird Bridge, the sunset at the mouth of Wuyi Alley. The change of dynasty, the vicissitudes of life, and the hegemony of the emperor are just a drop in the ocean......"
Who have you treated well over the years, but I'm afraid that the old man's white head will stay in Chang'an City!
"Let's go to the city wall and have a look."
Seeing the dignified prefect come up, the soldiers on the city wall saluted together. Fan Zhixu waved his hand, came to the city wall, and looked out.
His eyes touched the dense golden barracks outside the city, and looked at those arrogant Jurchen knights flying like horses, Fan Zhixu couldn't help but shudder in his heart, his face turned pale, and his body trembled involuntarily.
Back then, he commanded an army of 100,000, and he was not the enemy of the Jurchen 3,000 iron cavalry, but now the Jurchen army outside the city has tens of thousands of elites, and there are all foot and cavalry, how can this dilapidated Chang'an City be defended!
These golden soldiers are people, and this is clearly a life-seeking demon from hell!
"Is there any military intelligence there?"
"Xianggong, when the scouts who investigated the military situation arrived at the Suide army, they were all blocked back. Don't say that Fuzhou Linzhou, it is the Jinning Army, and there is no way to know. ”
Fan Zhixu's heart was half cold again. I'm afraid it's unreliable.
"Is there any news about Liu Guangshi, isn't he the head of the Ma Bu Army on Yan Road, where is he?"
Fan Zhixu's lips were purple, and there was no blood on his face.
"Xianggong, Liu Guangshi guards Yan'an Mansion, presumably it is difficult to protect himself......"
King Wang, the commander of Jingzhao Mansion, leaned aside and hesitated.
This Yanei is despicable and incompetent, greedy for money and lustful, the imperial army is appeased, and the military discipline is lax, relying on him to save Jingzhao Mansion, it would be good to be able to defend his Yan'an Mansion.
"This guy is a flower Tai Sui, he can't charge into battle, and no one can run away. Xianggong expected him to come to the rescue, but I am afraid that he chose the wrong person. ”
Another civil servant next to him also shook his head and sighed.
"Are we really going to be trapped in this Chang'an City?"
Fan Zhixu exhaled and forced the fear in his heart.
"It seems that this battle is inevitable, and the old man is afraid that he will be buried in this Han and Tang Dynasty old city."
Wang Yi was disdainful in his heart, and stepped forward and said: "Xianggong, if there are no reinforcements, Chang'an City will be difficult to garrison." Fanzi is powerful, can't compete with it, Xianggong waits for an opportunity to break through, and the last general is willing to stay and fight to the death with Fanzi. ”
Fan Zhixu looked at the Jin Bing camp outside the city, his face was cloudy, and he forced himself to exhale.
"The king is in charge, the thieves are powerful, and the old man can die on this city wall, which can be regarded as a well-deserved death."
Wang Yi echoed: "It's a pity that Wang Xianggong is not here, otherwise, with the ability of Wang Xianggong and the courage of the loyal and righteous army, these thieves are not like local chickens and tile dogs." It's a pity that before my king died, he couldn't see this king's face, he was really unwilling! ”
"That's what the king said!"
Speaking of Wang Song, Fan Zhixu's face recovered a little bit, and his face was a little bloody.
"Wang Song's ability is known to the world, and the Jurchens are afraid of him like a tiger, which can be described as killing gods. If Wang Song can come, Chang'an City will be saved, and the old man will be saved! ”
When he was in a desperate situation, everyone missed Wang Song, but once Wang Song lost his role, everyone shouted to kill, and the ugliness and complexity of human nature can be seen.
"Did Xianggong send someone to ask for help?"
"It has been sent early, the Loyal and Righteous Army has a large army stationed in Jiezhou and Longde Mansion, and the old man has sent two sergeants, I don't know if the letter has been sent to the Loyal and Righteous Army?"
Wang Yi looked at the soldiers of different colors on the city wall, his eyes rolled, and he thought about it.
"Xianggong might as well inform the soldiers defending the city, and say that he has informed the Hedong Loyal and Righteous Army that reinforcements will arrive in seven days, so let them hold on."
Listening to Wang Yi's words, Fan Zhixu shook his head. At this time, he was completely shrouded in pessimism and disappointment.
"How can the old man deceive the soldiers defending the city, in case the reinforcements don't arrive, won't the old man become a villain."
Wang Yi sighed secretly. This old minister, is it stupid to read, at this time, he is still thinking about these imaginary names, Jingzhao Mansion let this minister guard, it is strange that he can keep it!
The sound of a desolate trumpet came from outside the city, but it was the Jurchen army that was about to attack the city.
"Xianggong, Fanzi is about to attack the city, you better go back to the Yamen to sit in the town, just hand it over to the last general here!"
Thousands of troops and horses rushed outside the city, the hideous faces of the golden soldiers were in full view, Fan Zhixu's face was pale, the sergeants on the city wall were also solemn, many of them were afraid, and everyone clenched the weapons in their hands.
Two guards, one on the left and one on the right, carried Fan Zhixu, who was pale and had weak legs and feet, and headed towards the city.
"Brothers, get ready for battle!"
Wang Yi drew his sword and cried out.
"Brothers, we have asked Wang Song for help, as long as we hold on for three days, the Hedong Loyal and Righteous Army will come to reinforce, and we must hold it!"
The Song troops on the city wall were all in good spirits, everyone mustered up courage, and there was a glimmer of hope in their hearts.
Wang Song has repeatedly broken the gold people, and the elite of the loyal and righteous army has long been known to the world. With the moat and city walls, it should not be a problem to hold it for three days.
The battle was fierce, the city was full of corpses and wounded, the Jin soldiers climbed to the city, the Song army fought bravely to kill the enemy, the two sides came and went, the flesh and blood on the city head were flying, the blood was splashed, the killing was inseparable, and the vicious battle was endless.
Wang Yi led a team of personal soldiers, there was a danger on the city wall, he led people to rush there, the siege of the city of the Jin soldiers continued to fall from the city like dumplings, the Jin soldiers suffered heavy casualties, the offensive slowly slowed down.
Wang Yi's heart stabilized a little, looked at the Song army that had the advantage at the head of the city, and nodded secretly. The Jurchen cavalry is certainly strong, but the foot soldiers are no more than that.
A small Taiyuan city, with tens of thousands of Jurchen troops, Wanyan Zonghan personally sat in the town, a few thousand Song troops, and more than 10,000 township soldiers, all of whom defended it for more than 200 days, not to mention the incomparably strong Chang'an City.
It seems that even if there are no reinforcements, Chang'an City can be defended for a month or two, unless the food and grass are cut off.
Suddenly, the Jurchen army camp outside the city was noisy, and countless Jurchen knights gathered in formation, beating horses and swarming towards the eastern city wall.
Wang Yi couldn't help but wonder in his heart. The eastern city wall was also guarded by thousands of Song troops, could it be that the Jurchens wanted to use cavalry to attack the city?
Just when Wang Yihu was suspicious, the sergeant was sweating profusely and ran over in a panic.
"Wang Rong, why don't you defend the city at the north wall, but come to the south city?"
Wang Yi was shocked and immediately sank his face.
"General, Fan Zhixu, this old man, he ordered the sergeant to open the East City, and he escaped first. The Fanzi cavalry took advantage of the situation to enter the city, and the brothers couldn't stand it anymore!"
Wang Yi's eyes were so dark that he almost couldn't stand on his feet and fell to the ground.
"General, give the order quickly, it's too late!"
The anxious gazes of the sergeants swept over, and Wang Yi calmed down, waving his hand weakly.
"Pass the order down and withdraw from Chang'an City from the West City Gate!"
The Jurchen cavalry outside the city, under the siege of the Chinese army, Wan Yan slowly pulled out his sword, and pointed at Chang'an City in front of him, his face was cold, and his eyes were hideous.
"Warriors, go into the city and relax the ban for three days!"
Thousands of iron horsemen came out horizontally, and the Jurchen knights brandished their sharp blades, all screaming wildly, like demons from hell, heading towards the east gate of Chang'an City.
Above Weishui, Wang Yi led hundreds of his remnants of the defeated generals, looking painfully at the black smoke billowing from Chang'an City in the distance, and the sound of cries and fighting seemed to hover in his ears......
In September of the third year of Jingkang, the Jurchen army besieged the city, and Fan Zhixu, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, abandoned the city and fled, and was killed by the rebels on the way to escape. The Jurchen army took advantage of the situation to break through Chang'an City, burn and loot, and set fire to the city when leaving, and the thousand-year-old city experienced another catastrophe and was suddenly reduced to rubble.