Yue Wang Zhou Xuan has eight out of forty this year.

When the first emperor Zhou Kang was alive, Zhou Xuanming stayed at home and didn't ask about the world, but secretly he was buying the government and opposition forces, and at the same time secretly supporting businessmen and wealthy households, running businesses and collecting intelligence from all over the world for him.

Zhou Xuanfu was stung for more than 20 years, and it was not until Zhou Kang died violently that he seized the opportunity and suddenly attacked.

Zhou Xuan is a nobleman, so naturally he will not declare a rebellion for no reason, and his excuse is Zhou Kang's death.

Zhou Kang died too suddenly, as if he had been murdered, so Zhou Xuan seized on this point to make a big fuss.

He declared to the public that the first emperor was killed by his queen, who is now the queen mother, and several foreign ministers died of medicine, not because of illness.

In order to find a basis for his statement, he also ordered people to spread rumors everywhere: the current queen mother has been having affairs with several ministers of the pillar state for a long time, and the current son of heaven may not be the flesh and blood of the first emperor.

This kind of nonsense, anyone with a little knowledge, I'm afraid will not believe it. But people are so strange, sometimes they know that what they hear may not be true, but they always like to talk about it and spread it around.

Especially the Li people, they are busy with food and clothing, and their lives are boring and lack entertainment. Rumors such as 'the emperor's mother-in-law stole people and killed the emperor' are very new to them. Although everyone doesn't dare to talk nonsense on the surface, they also talk about it in private.

In this way, the rumor that the first emperor was killed by medicine spread more and more widely, and many ignorant and foolish people even felt that King Yue raised troops to avenge the old emperor, but had a good impression of the rebels.

Zhou Xuan also declared to the outside world that he did not raise troops to be the emperor, but just to clear the monarch's side, kill the ministers and thieves around the new emperor, and return the Great Xia Kingdom to a prosperous country.

Zhou Xuan dared to get up, so he naturally made sufficient preparations. Not only did the imperial court have an undercover agent set up by him, but all states and counties also had his eyeliner, and even Wu Wang Zhou Ning also said hello.

Zhou Ning is an old fox, Zhou Xuan wanted to ask him to join him, but he refused on the grounds that he was old and frail and wanted to enjoy his old age in peace. It's just a joke, can you call old age and decrepit in your fifties?

However, although Zhou Ning refused to rebel with his sixth brother, he also said that he would not report it to the imperial court, let alone interfere. Like Zhou Xuan, in fact, Zhou Ning has also been secretly cultivating forces in recent years.

Zhou Xuan knew that the third brother wanted to watch the fire from the other side and reap the benefits. Oh, this kind of behavior, if it sounds good, it is called old, and if it is bad, it is indecisive and difficult to become a big tool.

Zhou Xuan thought that when he captured the two states of Yue and Chu, and his power was bigger, he would immediately send troops to seize Wuzhou. At that time, the third brother is afraid that his intestines will be repentant.

But for now, Zhou Xuan still has his eyes on Chuzhou. In order to capture the three prefectures of Chuzhou in one fell swoop, he personally led an army of 100,000 and prepared to cross the river to attack the officers and soldiers of the imperial court.

…

Linwu City.

Han Yuan and his group of officers and soldiers were worried all day long, afraid that the rebels would suddenly attack. But everyone waited for more than ten days, but still did not see half of the thief.

After a few more days, the officers and men gradually became irritable - it turned out that waiting for others to beat them was also an ordeal. Many people even hoped that the rebels would come and kill them quickly, so that everyone would be active and would not be bored in the city every day.

At this time, it was already autumn twilight, the business wind was sorrowful, and the trees were falling. The weather has gradually changed from cool to a little cold.

Han Won knew that the rebels would not delay their attack until winter, and if it entered winter, it would not be beneficial to both sides. The reason why the thieves are delayed should be some kind of idea.

At the beginning of the morning, Han Won had just woken up and was having dinner at the official residence. A personal guard suddenly ran in and said excitedly:

"Great, sir, traitor... The rebels are coming! Outside the city is densely packed with people! ”

Han Yuan was shocked and couldn't care about breakfast. He hurriedly put on his armor and hurried to the city.

Although the terrain of Linwu is not good, the whole city is built impregnable and impregnable. The whole city is 800 zhang in circumference, nearly five zhang high. The aisle above the city wall is wide, and people and horses can walk.

Han Yuan rushed to the head of the city to watch, only to see that the fog outside the city was filled, and countless flags could be faintly seen, hunting sounds, showing off their might.

He couldn't figure out how many enemy troops were coming, and he didn't dare to send people to ask for help from the other three cities.

At this time, other generals also rushed to the city.

"Han led the army, and the rebels were numerous, and I am afraid that the city will be attacked soon. Please send someone to inform the other three cities and ask them to send troops to support! ”

Wu Ji'er saw the huge momentum of the rebels, and his heart was terrified, so he immediately asked Han Won.

Han Yuan said: "Don't worry, let's see what the rebels do first." If we go to ask for help without fighting, won't we be looked down upon by others? ”

Zhang Zhuangyang hurriedly said: "Leader, now is the time when your life is at stake, how can you care about any face." If we don't go to ask for help at this time, if we are surrounded by thieves, we won't even be able to bring out the news, so what should we do? ”

Among the three brigade generals, only Li Kui did not say a word, and he knew that Han Won had his own reasons.

Han Yuan listened to the words of Wu and Zhang, and said coldly: "Do you two remember what I said before?" ”

As he spoke, he slowly drew out the sword given by the Emperor at his waist.

Wu and Zhang were dumbfounded and retreated silently, but they became more and more resentful of Han Won in their hearts.

Outside the city, after a few rounds of arrow rain, the rebels did not intend to continue the siege, but instead stationed not far from the city.

Han Won asked him to build a shed at the head of the city, and ordered his bed to be carried up. He simply sat on the bed and watched the thieves outside the city move.

"Pass my orders, and in the future, three meals will be sent to me here, and I will eat and sleep in the city."

Han Yuan commanded a few guards around him.

Ma Erhan praised: "The lord is willing to share weal and woe with the soldiers, which is really a model for the standard." ”

Han Yuan smiled: "Ma Erhan, when did you learn to be oily and smooth?" I ask you, do you know what the rebels outside the city have in mind? ”

Ma Erhan smiled stupidly and replied: "The lord doesn't know, how can he know if he marks it." ”

Han Yuan said: "Don't detour me, just tell me what you think." ”

Ma Erhan thought for a moment and said, "I think that the thief army came from afar and was tired from the march, so it should be planned to recuperate for a few days before attacking the city." ”

Han Yuan said: "There is some truth in what you say, but in my opinion, I'm afraid it's not that simple." ”

"If I come here with an army of 100,000 people, not to mention attacking the city immediately, at least I have to pretend, and give the people in the city a dismount first, so that they will be afraid, and they will never just put two arrows and finish the matter."

Ma Erhan was puzzled: "In this way, the thief army is divided." Some of them attacked Linwu, and the others went to fight Jingxing and Shangxuan? ”

At this time, Li Kui just walked over here, heard Ma Erhan's words, and said:

Ma Dutong's words have a point. A certain family also suspects that the rebels are dividing their troops, if you want to talk about recuperation, the thieves have not come to attack for more than ten days, and they are not recuperating enough? Perhaps, they don't have many troops. ”

Hearing this, Han Yuan felt a little bad in his heart. I heard that this time the king of Yue personally led a large army to attack, the status of this Linwu City is so important, how can the other party easily abandon it? Not to mention anything else, as long as the rebels take Linwu City, the follow-up grain and grass will continue to reach the front line.

"Could this just be the vanguard of the enemy? Want to try the virtual reality of Linwu City? Or are the rebels trying to lure us out of the city to fight and wait for an opportunity to besiege us outside the city? Li Kui said suddenly.

Ma Erhan shook his head, indicating that he couldn't guess.

Han Yuan said: "No matter what, all armies should not go out of the city. All we have to do is defend the city. ”

Ma Erhan said: "Sir, we really don't ask for help?" ”

"No, I don't. Not for now. Han Won said slowly.