Chapter 22: The Fall of Jianye

Just when I was in the secret room to force a confession, Jianye City had already arranged defense, Shang Weijun even issued an order to arrange to defend the city, although the news of the escape of the lord was deliberately publicized, so most of the forbidden troops in the city lost their fighting spirit, Shang Weijun ordered to kill hundreds of rumor-spreading "annihilation", which barely stabilized the army's heart, Shang Weijun has been presiding over the government for a long time, so the generals of the forbidden army are willing to obey orders, but 50,000 forbidden troops are not enough for the defense of the city, which makes Shang Weijun very difficult, and then had to drive the young men in the city to fight in the city, By the time the Dayong outpost army arrived, Jianye City would already be ready for a battle.

The next day, when the morning sun in the east just revealed the clouds, in the dawn that had just broke, more than a thousand black-clothed and black-armored fierce knights from far and near, led by a black-clothed general Tima standing on a small hillside, looking at the majestic Jianye City from afar, the other knights were scattered, and they disappeared in a moment, leaving only the black-clothed general and a dozen personal guards, after a while, there was a faint horn sound from the four fields, and the black-clothed general took the horn handed over by the personal guards, whining and blowing, the voice was poignant and passionate, The defenders of the city felt extremely nervous, and they couldn't wait to scream, although the generals who defended the city scolded again and again, there were still exclamations from time to time, and the Yongjun knights in the distance were standing in the forest, without a sound, after a while, there was a sound of the earth trembling violently in the distance, and the rumbling sound of tens of thousands of horses' hooves trampling the ground shook people's ears, and in a moment, thousands of black-armored knights poured out from the horizon, and at the beginning you could see that they were all groups of three or five straggler arrays, and within a few miles of them rushing to Jianye City, It can be clearly seen that they converged from the hash into a dense and orderly battle column, it was a process like flowing water, and it stopped abruptly a thousand steps away from Jianye, and then the battle array was divided from it, and a gold-armored knight slowly walked out, he was draped in a black big hat, and behind him, a personal guard knight waved a large flag, on which was a blood-red line of big characters "Tiance General Li". At the moment when the banner was unfurled, the distant and heroic horn sound sounded everywhere in the torrent of iron armor, and the murderous aura and majestic majesty of the sky made the Jianye defenders feel cold.

A literate and hyphenated forbidden soldier squinted at the banner and sighed: "Weiyuan General Li, it is really King Yong, I heard that he is the most powerful prince of Dayong, can we really hold Jianye?" A newly recruited sergeant next to him asked nervously: "Didn't you say that King Yong led the army, why is it a Weiyuan general?" The forbidden army gave him a blank look and said: "What do you know, General Weiyuan is the official position of King Yong, King Yong is his title, I heard that King Yong's flag has always been the banner of the general, some people say that it is because King Yong feels that the general is killed by him with a knife and a shot, so he attaches so much importance to it, and there is also a golden dragon flag, which is only encamped or won after the flag." The recruit said enviously: "Big brother, you know a lot." The forbidden army said proudly: "Of course, Lao Tzu saw King Yong's army when he attacked Shu, and we were friendly troops at that time." ”

"Smack, smack." Two sounds of leather whipping flesh came, and the forbidden army fell to the ground with a scream, and everyone looked back and saw an officer of the overseer looking at him with fierce eyes, and the officer said sharply: "You dare to disturb the morale of the army, if it weren't for the great enemy, this officer would have taken your dog's life first." The forbidden soldier hurriedly got up and said, "The villain doesn't dare, the villain doesn't dare." Seeing that the Overseer had gone away, the forbidden army spat out the blood foam in his mouth, cursed viciously in a low voice, and turned his head to look at the city.

Shang Weijun stood on the city wall, looking at the brave enemy army under the city, thinking in his heart, although the enemy is brave, but there are only 20,000, if he goes out of the city to meet the enemy and can catch King Yong, then wouldn't he be able to solve the crisis, thinking of this, he asked the deputy commander of the forbidden army next to him in a low voice: "The enemy is only 20,000, can we fight." The deputy commander replied, "We have no cavalry, so it is better to defend the city." Shang Weijun frowned. At this time, the enemy troops outside the city shouted and begged for battle. Shang Weijun ordered that he was not allowed to leave the city. Prepare only the sandalwood rolling stones and wait for the enemy to attack the city.

Looking at Jianye from afar, Li Zhen smiled lightly and said, "I don't expect them to dare to go out of the city." ”

Sima Xiong, the commander of the guards beside him, asked, "Your Highness, we only brought cavalry, how can we attack the city?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and said: "Don't worry, I'm not ready to attack the city with cavalry, although Jianye is strong, it's a pity that the army is weak, I have already arranged the internal response, let's just take a look here today." By the way, I think we'll get some out of it. ”

Sima Xiong said with a smile: "Yes, His Royal Highness said that the Southern Chu monarchs and ministers might have fled in advance, so they arranged for General Chen to intercept and pursue them first, and the secret agents came to report, then Zhao Jia really fled first, if we kidnapped their lord under the city, I don't know if they would surrender obediently?" ”

Li Zhen said: "Whether you can capture their lord or not depends on luck, you can't rely on it, or it is important to think about seizing the city, if that Shang Weijun is not familiar with military affairs, our spies really can't arrange internal response, it is difficult for the generals of Southern Chu to gain a foothold in Jianye if they are brave and good at fighting, this is a strange story through the ages, our forbidden army in Dayong is a selected warrior from the army." ”

Sima Xiong said disapprovingly: "Although the forbidden army is elite, it is far worse than His Highness's personal guards, although it is because the prince excludes our people from joining the forbidden army, but who does not know that the people who become His Highness's personal guards are all warriors who are one in a thousand." ”

Li Zhen smiled slightly, and did not refute, his personal guards of three thousand iron cavalry are all experienced in a hundred battles, and the 20,000 people he brought this time are the guards expanded on the basis of the personal guards, and the elite is far better than the Dayong forbidden army, not to mention the army of Southern Chu.

On this day, Li Zhen only ordered people to show off their might under the city, Shang Weijun did not dare to fight, and the Southern Chu army was even more depressed. At dusk, Li Zhen ordered to rest in the camp that had been set up ten miles away from Jianye, Shang Weijun saw Li Zhen retreat, so he breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion, he thought about whether it was too timid to let Concubine Shang take the prince to hide first, thinking about whether to pick them up tomorrow, and ate some things indiscriminately, Shang Weijun and Yi slept in the study, but he slept very unsteadily, and woke up from the nightmare several times. In his sleep, Shang Weijun suddenly woke up, he wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, and then, he heard shouts and scolding from far and near, he sat up, the door was pushed open, and a family member rushed in, seeing that he was awake, he shouted in horror: "My lord, it's not good, the forbidden army in the city is reversed." Shang Weijun stood up and pushed open the window, and sure enough, there was a clear and audible shouting outside, some people shouted "The enemy army has entered the city", some people shouted "The lord of the country has run away, what are we doing with our lives", most of the words were inaudible, but some people were scolding, some people were shouting incitement words, Shang Weijun's heart was as cold as ice. At this moment, he saw that fires began to start everywhere in the city, and the flames were soaring into the sky, Shang Weijun looked at the fire blankly, muttering not knowing what to say.

And at this time, the defenders of Jianye West Gate were sneak attacked, the city gate was opened, the iron cavalry of the Yongjun broke through, the streets and alleys of Jianye were not long been black-clothed and black-armored iron horses, in the sky-high firelight, their arrival was as terrifying as a ghost, the streets were full of people shouting and neighing, the Southern Chu army began to flock to the West Gate, wanting to drive the enemy out, but under the brutal killing of the Yong army, it was quickly defeated, and the remnants of the street began to flee for their lives, and even the remnants of the army began to break into the houses to kill and plunder, Jianye City, Trembling and moaning in the blood and fire.

After dawn, the Yongjun who controlled Jianye City began to rectify the order in the city, all the surrendered Southern Chu troops were driven to the camp outside the city and imprisoned, the rebel army who took advantage of the chaos and robbery was killed, and the heads were hung to show the public, all the civilians were ordered to close the door, and the fire was also extinguished under the command of the Yongjun, and then the Yongjun who controlled the city gate and the key points in the city began to check the residents in the city, all the Southern Chu royal family and officials above the third rank were arrested and waited in the prison to be disposed of, and the others were ordered to temporarily close the door and not go out, The streets and alleys are dead silent, and anyone who goes out without permission will be questioned. Shang Weijun originally wanted to take advantage of the chaos to escape, but he was captured by the Yong army, and at this moment he was locked up in the prison, and the other Chu troops who dared to resist were killed.

At noon, Li Zhen entered the city, looking at the bloodstained streets, Li Zhen smiled and said: "If it weren't for the fact that the Southern Chu monarchs and ministers were too incompetent, where would there be a reason to capture Jianye so easily." Sima Xiong looked around cautiously and replied: "Your Highness, the ministers have been rewarded, there are only some palace maids and eunuchs left in the palace, and the concubines sent by our Dayong are still there, but those princes have been taken away, and the concubines and the crown prince are not in the palace. ”

Li Zhen thought for a while and said: "Those Yongnu, you send someone to ask, if you want to return to China, let them prepare, if Zhao Jia catches it, let them continue to serve Zhao Jia, if they are not caught, arrange for them to go home, Shang Weijun is Concubine Shang's father, it is very important, you must not let him commit suicide, take a good look at him, take him back, the other Nanchu officials don't care about them, and then release them when we leave." ”

The two were moving forward slowly, when a horse galloped over, and the knight approached and reported: "General Chen's scout has reported that Zhao Jia has been caught." ”

Li Zhen said in surprise: "Caught it, where is it?" ”

The knight said: "General Chen personally led people to pursue, according to the spy report of the internal line, they were captured, General Chen reported, the three thousand forbidden troops were dispersed and wiped out by us, all the royal families were caught, Zhao Jia was captured, and it is estimated that he can be escorted to Jianye tomorrow." ”

Li Zhen ordered: "Send an order to General Huang, let him bring people to support, and be sure to bring Zhao Jia back to Jianye safely." ”

After that, Li Zhen smiled and said: "Finally achieved the mission, if we can't catch Zhao Jia, our trip will be in vain." Sima Xiong, do you remember what I told you, I'm a little worried, you go there immediately and make sure it's safe. ”

Sima Xiongwei obeyed the order, after instructing his deputy to protect King Yong, he rushed away with doubts, long before entering the city, King Yong ordered him to send someone to a place in the northern suburbs, and it was strictly protected, he vaguely knew that person was an official of Southern Chu, but he didn't know why His Royal Highness regarded that person as more important than anything else.

After arriving in the northern suburbs, Sima Xiong saw the small Zhuangzi from afar, surrounded by more than 100 knights outside, the water was impassable, Sima Xiong came to the front, and saw that the Zhuangzi plaque was written with the words "Zangyunzhuang", although Sima Xiong was only rough and ink, but he also felt that those words were very delicate and elegant. He rode his horse to the front, and Captain Duan, who was guarding the door, greeted him and saluted with a sword. Sima Xiong asked, "How is the situation?" ”

Captain Duan replied: "General, after we surrounded this place, only a little child came out to ask what was going on, and I only replied that this was the military order of King Yong, and he went back, and there was no movement inside after that." ”

Sima Xiong shook his head suspiciously, he didn't know why King Yong did this, and let himself come to pass the word for him. He got off the horse, stepped forward and knocked on the door, and not long after, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old handsome young man opened the door, looked at him calmly and asked, "May I ask what the general commands?" ”

Sima Xiong said: "The last general, Sima Xiong, on the order of His Royal Highness King Yong, came to ask to see Mr. Jiang Zhejiang. ”

The little guy smiled and said, "General, please come in." ”

With the little guy into the Zhuangzi, Sima Xiong felt comfortable in his heart, although this Zhuangzi is not big, but there are also a few pavilions and pavilions, between the pavilions or flowing springs, or vines, pines and bamboos, a fresh and elegant, the little guy walked briskly, took Sima Xiong along the bluestone path, a moment to a small pavilion hidden in the green bamboo forest, standing in front of the pavilion door is a handsome young man with a bit of coldness, he looked at Sima Xiong with a smile, and said: "The general turned out, my son-in-law should have greeted him personally, It's just that Gongzi Xi is a bachelor of Southern Chu, so it is inconvenient to be demoted to greet him, and he also asks the general to forgive him. ”

Sima Xiong listened to this person's voice, first a chill, then awe-inspiring, and immediately held the sword at his waist, this person has an elegant appearance, but his voice is feminine and sharp, Sima Xiong has been around King Yong all the year round, and knows that there is only one kind of person with such characteristics. He asked in amazement, "Who are you, and why are you here?" ”

A cold light flashed in the man's eyes, and he said: "The slave Li Shun was originally an errand boy in the Nanchu Palace, because he was friendly with Lord Jiang, and he was impatient with the intrigues in the palace, so he got out a few days ago and waited beside Gongzi, which made the general suspicious." ”

Sima Xiong nodded suspiciously and said, "Please take me to see Master Jiang." ”

Li Shun turned around, opened the pavilion door, and invited Sima Xiong in. Sima Xiong glanced at him again and walked into the small pavilion. At a glance, I saw a handsome young man sitting behind a bookcase, looking at himself lightly, on the bookcase in front of him, there was a book spread out, and some manuscripts, and the sheep's pen stained with this ink was placed on the pen stand, it seemed that before he came, he was writing something.

Sima Xiong saw this young man, and suddenly remembered what he had seen this person, three years ago, in Shuzhong, he had seen him in the camp, when he came with Prince Nan Chude, and had a secret conversation with His Royal Highness King Yong for a while, and then at the banquet, this young man forced the King of Shu to death with the song "Breaking the Array", but unfortunately he only remembered that this person was Counselor Jiang, but he didn't know that the Jiang person he came to see today was him.

He gave a military salute with his surname, this person he admired in private, although he didn't quite understand why the king of Shu would commit suicide when he heard his tune. He said respectfully: "The last general, Sima Xiong, is the commander of King Yong's personal guard, and at the behest of His Royal Highness, he came to greet Mr. His Highness said that he was busy with military affairs today, and he wanted to come to visit Mr. in the evening, hoping that Mr. would be willing to meet him." ”

I said lightly: "Jiang is now a grass people, and it is like house arrest, what qualifications do you have to refuse the visit of His Royal Highness King Yong, but I don't know what crime I committed in the lower body, Jiang is only a fourth-grade servant when he is an official, I heard that I will be imprisoned above the third grade, why do I, the former fourth-grade, also have to go to prison?" ”

Sima Xiong said embarrassedly: "Lord Jiang's words are serious, His Royal Highness cares for Mr. very much, and he is really worried that Mr. will be disturbed by the rebellious army, so he sent someone to protect him, please don't be surprised by Mr., if there is anything inconsiderate, please don't blame us rough people under His Highness." ”

I smiled and said, "Since the general is here, Xiao Shunzi, pour a cup of tea, please sit here." ”

Sima Xiong hurriedly said: "Sir, don't be polite, the last general dares to disturb Mr., if it is convenient, please prepare a side room casually, and you can handle military affairs under it." ”

I glanced at him and said, "Thief, you take this general to the guest house to rest." The thief walked out from behind me, saluted Sima Xiong, and said, "General, please come with me." ”

Sima Xiong glanced at the little scholar who had barely noticed just now, and said goodbye to me and left.

I smiled slightly, and said to myself: "No wonder His Royal Highness King Yong is famous in the world, and a personal guard commander is so clear about etiquette and knows how to advance and retreat. ”

Xiao Shunzi said in a low voice: "I didn't expect King Yong to pay so much attention to you, you see if we should leave now." ”

I shook my head and said, "Sooner or later, the world will be Dayong's, if I leave like this, I will inevitably become a prisoner, so let's wait for him to make it clear." ”

Li Zhen came to the palace of the king of Chu, ordered the palaces to be closed, and only left a side hall for office, he was dealing with military affairs while waiting for the news of Princess Changle, fortunately, it didn't take long for a personal guard to come to report and said: "Your Highness, Her Royal Highness the princess has returned safely, just wait outside the palace." ”

Li Zhen was overjoyed, and said as he walked to the door of the palace: "Changle, Changle, are you here?" With his shout, a plain-clothed girl ran towards him from outside the hall, he hugged his sister's delicate body, and said with a smile: "Imperial sister, you have finally returned to the second brother's side, from now on, you don't have to be afraid of anything." By the way, what about the person who escorted you, Liang Wan? A frightened look flashed in Princess Changle's eyes, and she said, "Brother Huang, Sister Liang is crazy, and everyone else is outside." Li Zhen frowned and said, "Pass them in." ”

With his voice, more than a dozen big men wearing cloth clothes and describing themselves as haggard walked in, and the two people who walked at the back of them dragged the crying Liang Wan, and when they saw King Yong, their eyes flashed with a look of relief, and they knelt down and bowed. Li Zhen asked them to get up and asked, "What happened, what's wrong with Liang Wan." ”

The leader of the Han said: "Your Highness, Liang Wan has taken refuge in His Royal Highness the Prince, and it is also the decision of the Fengyi Sect Master." ”

Li Zhen's expression was cold, he had already guessed this matter, but he didn't expect the Fengyi Sect Master to be so arrogant, he asked, "How do you know, and what's wrong with Liang Wan." ”

The big man thought to himself, if he continued to say it himself, I am afraid that he would say something that should not be said, that terrible person, if he really became the enemy of His Highness because of this, then the situation of His Highness who was embattled would be even more critical, he bowed again: "Your Highness, your subordinates dare not forget the cultivation of Your Highness in the south of the Yangtze River, and this matter is also a last resort, please ask Your Highness to take care of the villain's family." With that, he drew his saber and swung it at himself. When he pulled out his saber, the guards in the palace thought that they were going to assassinate and were about to step forward to stop him, who knew that he would commit suicide, Li Zhen was horrified, and was about to ask the others again, only to see those people say in unison: "Please take care of your family on your Royal Highness, and take care of your Highness." After that, they committed suicide with a knife, and for a time there was blood flowing in the hall. Princess Changle exclaimed, hiding her face and not daring to look back.

Li Zhen was puzzled, he looked at this strange scene in a daze, and didn't know what to say. asked Princess Changle, but Princess Changle only knew that her people had been kidnapped, and she was not harmed at all, and soon after, she and these spies were released, but Liang Wan went crazy, and she asked those spies, but they were silent. After listening to Princess Changle's answer, Li Zhen was even more confused, what happened?

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