On the other hand, after Yang Xiaoshan designed a handful of Huai troops to leave Changshu, he rushed to Tianjing while collecting grain and grass along the way. In this era of war and chaos, the Qing army was strong and clear. Although Yang Xiaoshan tried his best, he could only barely scrape together two million catties of grain, which sounded like a lot, but it was only enough for a month's ration for 200,000 soldiers and civilians in Tianjing.

A bright moon hung in the treetops, and Yang Xiaoshan and Wu Ruxiao sat under the big bluestone under the tree, discussing their next move. The night wind was a little cold, but it was nothing compared to the worrisome war.

"Old Wu, after passing this hill, there is Jurong in front. Let's divide the troops, I will take 10,000 people to Tianjing, and you will take 10,000 people in Jurong. Yang Xiaoshan looked at the moon and said what he had been thinking about for a long time.

"King Dong, do you think my old Wu is old, so you won't take me with you? Tianjing is in danger, and my old Wu is not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. Wu Ruxiao was a little excited, although his forehead was already full of wrinkles, his spirit was still very strong.

"Tianjing has been besieged for a long time, and it is estimated that the supply of food has long been unavailable. This time, we don't collect much grain, and if we both go, the pressure on food will be even greater. All places outside Tianjing are in a bitter battle, and the troops of Zunwang Lai Wenguang and the servant king Li Shixian don't know when reinforcements will come, and if you stay in the hilly area of Jurong, maybe you can reinforce us at the right time. Yang Xiaoshan's face was calm, and his voice was calm and firm.

"Okay." Wu Ruxiao looked at Yang Xiaoshan's clear face, knowing that the burden on his shoulders was very heavy, since he could say this plan, he must have thought about it for a long time, so he nodded and said, "However, you have to promise me two things." ”

"Oh? You say. Yang Xiaoshan was a little surprised, Lao Wu is usually sullen, rarely speaks, never complains or makes any requests, he always completes the things he explains without saying a word, and this is the first time he has spoken to himself.

"First: After we separate, you take all the food away, we hide in the mountains, and there is no food in the mountains, and second: I have to send you to the gate of Tianjing, I will lead people to attract the Qing demon to leave, and then you will send food into Tianjing." Wu Ruxiao said calmly.

"Dude!" Yang Xiaoshan was a little moved, this is the real old brother of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

"Brother, I don't know if we can meet again, this may be the last force that my old Wu can contribute to the kingdom of heaven." Wu Ruxiao said very firmly, it is hard to imagine that a few years ago, he was still an uncle who could only plan, settle accounts, and manage warehouses. War trains people and makes a weak person strong.

"Bring water, and we will replace wine with water. We all have to survive until the time comes again. Yang Xiaoshan greeted the guards.

"King Dong, your trip to Tianjing this time is much more dangerous than mine, you must cherish your life, no one in heaven can do it, but you can't do without you, you are the hope of all of us." Wu Ruxiao took the water cup and drank it all.

Yang Xiaoshan walked up to Lao Wu, stretched out his strong arms to hug him tightly, and said in a low voice: "Brother, if Tianjing falls, if you can't find me for three days, you will leave here immediately." Don't let everyone sacrifice for me! ”

"East King 。。。。。。" Wu Ruxiao said excitedly.

Yang Xiaoshan didn't speak again, turned around and left.

According to the agreement between the two, after Wu Ruxiao led 10,000 people to attract the attention of the Hunan army on the southeast side of Tianjing and transferred them away, Yang Xiaoshan led another 10,000 people to take the opportunity to escort grain and grass into Tianjing City.

It's still the season of spring, it's still the Chaoyang Gate, or it's the escort of the grain and grass class to return to the court, but everything has changed. The majestic Tianjin city wall is full of holes, the streets are scattered, no one cleans up, people's faces are gray and spiritless, and the vigorous and hopeful Tianjing City when it broke the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps and returned to the dynasty is simply two worlds, and this change took only four years.

The soldiers and civilians of Tianjing also came to welcome him, but their attention was not on him, the king of the east, but on the food he brought.

Hungry people have no dignity, they are ragged, their hair is scattered, and life has only one thing for them, the search for food.

"Don't rob! Violators are killed! "The loyal king Li Xiucheng sent people to protect the grain cart in time, and all the grain must be put into the holy treasury before being distributed equally.

"Tianjing is already short of food to this point?" Yang Xiaoshan saw that the common people dared to come to grab the grain truck, and it seemed that Tianjing's problem was even more serious than he thought.

"Dongwang, it's okay now, but it was even worse last winter, and many people didn't survive it. Fortunately, some of the grains that were planted in Tianjing City are now harvested, and they can only be dealt with corn husks and bean dregs. Li Xiucheng sighed.

"How's the battle going in Tianjing?" Yang Xiaoshan was more concerned about the situation of the Hunan army.

Li Xiucheng blushed, and said guiltily: "The subordinates are not talented, Zeng Guoquan dug Yuhuatai like an iron bucket, like a turtle, no matter how he lured it, we couldn't attack it again, they occupied here and cut off the grain road, causing Tianjing to be like this." Zeng Guofan's strategy is to starve us to death here. ”

"How many soldiers and civilians are there in Tianjing City?" Yang Xiaoshan continued to ask.

"There are about 200,000 people, 100,000 Taiping troops, 100,000 ordinary people." Li Xiucheng replied.

Yang Xiaoshan nodded, and muttered in his mouth: "Without food, the soldiers will not have the strength to fight, and they will not have the strength to repair the wall." When people don't see hope, they don't have morale, they don't have the will to fight. Xiucheng, I only brought two million catties of grain this time, which is only enough for a month, and after a month, Tianjing will still run out of food. ”

His subordinates also persuaded the Heavenly King not to let the city go, but the Heavenly King resolutely refused, saying that Tianjing was a small paradise and he would not go anywhere. There is no way for subordinates. Li Xiucheng bowed his head and said.

After hearing this, Yang Xiaoshan secretly said in his heart: "This Heavenly King is not a fool, the current Taiping Army is no longer those passionate and loyal disciples. He was afraid that he would be sold by others after leaving Tianjing, so instead of taking this risk, it was better to defend Tianjing City. ”

"Is Dong Wang Niang okay? I'll go home and see her first. Yang Xiaoshan misses Qiaomei in his heart, and he finally went home after so many years.

Li Xiucheng's face changed suddenly, and his mouth stammered.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Something happened to her? Yang Xiaoshan saw Li Xiucheng like this, and his heart hung up.

Li Xiucheng gritted his teeth, knelt down and said sadly: "Dongwang Niang is all right, it's just 。。。。。。 ”

"Just what?" Yang Xiaoshan grabbed Li Xiucheng's collar and asked.

"It's just your godsister Yingzi, she passed away." Li Xiucheng said sadly. (Yingzi was the granddaughter of Chang Dachun, the governor of Wuchang City, and Yang Xiaoshan pretended to be her brother to go to the monk's mansion.) ）

"How is that possible? She's only twenty years old! How the hell did she die? Yang Xiaoshan roared.

"The subordinates are incompetent, she was killed by someone, but the subordinates can't avenge her." Li Xiucheng endured it, tears rolling in his eyes.