The night was as dark as ink, but outside the city, it was a monstrous firelight, Ling Ling lit up the night miserably, and suddenly pulled out a dazzling piece of day. The red flames burned into the air, the Qin army's rows of torches seemed to burn through the sky, and the waning moon and stars fell desperately in the firelight, and ended in the sound of horses' hooves.

The wind and sand cut through the barren grass, and raised the war horse, the young man was dressed in white, and he looked coldly at the thousands of troops and horses with long swords and horses.

Tonight, it is destined to be a battle to the death.

King Fu Jian's golden armor and sword were on his side, standing majestically in front of the army, and the prime minister Wang stood on his side. He pointed his sword at Murong Chong, attached it to Fu Jian's side and said, "Heavenly King, this person is the Great Sima Zhongshan King of Yan Kingdom, Murong Chong." ”

Fu Jian's sword eyebrows were sharp, and his face full of wind and frost was a little surprised, but he didn't expect that it was such a young man who went out of the city to fight in the end, and he couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration in his heart.

He did not immediately order the siege of the city, but shouted to Murong Chong in the air, "King Zhongshan, the strength of the Yan country has been exhausted, if you lead the army to surrender to my Great Qin at this time, I promise that I will not kill a single soldier of your Yan army, and not hurt the people in the city at all." ”

Murong Chong sneered, if Hongyu fell, his arrogant and beautiful face was full of disdain, and he said coldly, "The army of Great Yan can only die in battle, and never surrender!" ”

The two thousand iron horsemen behind him were clanging, and the fire reflected on the face of the soldier Tieqing, and the spear was clenched fiercely in his hand.

Fu Jian couldn't help frowning, and a trace of tyranny rose in his eyes, "Stubborn, don't blame me for washing Yecheng in blood." ”

Just when he was about to swing his sword and order the siege of the city, suddenly, the gate of Yecheng was opened, and a white horse galloped out.

Murong Chong's heart tightened when he saw someone coming, and he asked in a deep voice, "Why are you here?" ”

Song Ling frowned and looked at the dense army of the Qin State like a honeycomb, and only roughly estimated that there were about 100,000 soldiers and horses.

She turned her face to look at Murong Chong, her eyes were unchanging firmness, and she determined, "Now that Dayan is in danger, how can I, as a citizen of Dayan, survive in peace!" ”

Big brother, Murong Ling, you don't want to see Dayan perish, right!

Murong Chong stared at her for a long time, and the girl's eyes in the firelight were firm and resolute, like the most brilliant jewel in this dark night, shining off the thousands of miles of beacon fire.

From that time on, he made up his mind to protect her in this life.

****

Historical Context

In the decades after the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains began endless melee, the Xiongnu, Xia, Di, Qiang, Xianbei five major ethnic minorities have established their own regimes in the troubled times, short and frequent dynastic alternation in this period of beacon fire in the years of sowing too many great achievements and sighs.

Such a melee of princes lasted until 353 AD, when Yin Hao's Northern Expedition of the Eastern Jin Dynasty failed, and he had no choice but to withdraw his troops back to Jiankang. The defeat of the Eastern Jin Dynasty created an opportunity for the development of Qianyan and Qianqin, and the three-point world has since kicked off.

Among the three kingdoms, the Eastern Jin Dynasty established by Sima Rui was a corner of the south of the Yangtze River, although there was a Yangtze River moat, it was not easy for foreign enemies to attack, and it was not easy for the Northern Expedition to invade, and the territory was only slightly expanded when Huan Wen was in power (Huan Wen destroyed the Han Dynasty and took the Shu land). However, the kings of the Eastern Jin Dynasty changed their thrones frequently, and when the young emperor Sima Dan was in power, he had already lost his power, although he was assisted by outstanding military politicians such as Huan Chong, Xie An, Wang Tanzhi, and Xie Xuan, but the corrupt society had already made this Sima regime that was still alive and suffering from many holes.

Although the former Qin was founded late, the territory was not vast, only the annexation of states and Chang'an, but since the Qin Emperor Fu Jian ascended the throne, he was virtuous and capable, reused the military and political wizard Wang Meng, reduced taxes for the people, and implemented new policies, which not only made the Qin State gradually come out of the tyranny of Fu Sheng (the previous king of the former Qin was brutal by nature and took pleasure in killing ministers and concubines), but also achieved the goal of enriching the country and strengthening the army, and became the most promising country in the Three Kingdoms.

Three points in the world, Qianyan is the strongest. In terms of national strength and generals, Qianyan is the best of the Three Kingdoms. The Xianbei Murong clan of Yan State developed from the Liaodong Peninsula, all the way to attack the city, break the Fuyu, attack Goguryeo, destroy the Ran Wei, dominate the Central Plains and a large area in the north (including Anhui, Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shanxi and other places), swallow Shandong in the north, occupy Luoyang in the south, and the surrounding small countries are all tribute. The Murong clan has been brave for generations, and famous generals such as Murong Ke and Murong Chui have been famous and intimidating, and they are the most powerful and powerful powers in the Three Kingdoms.

However, the rise and fall of a dynasty was predetermined, and the trajectory of the history of the Yan Kingdom began to take a turn from the untimely death of Dazai Murong Ke.

In 367 AD, Murong Ke, the king of Taiyuan, the Dazai of Yan, died.

(Murong Ke, the fourth son of Murong Hao, the former Emperor of Yan Wenming, a famous general of the Sixteen Kingdoms, an outstanding politician and military strategist, is the mainstay of the Yan State.) He led the army at the age of fifteen, and spent his life on the battlefield, retreating from Zhao to capture Youzhou, destroy Fuyu, capture Goguryeo, Ran Wei, break Duan's Qingzhou, occupy Luoyang in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, collect Shandong, pacify civil strife, and deter foreign enemies. He is great but diligent in the rule of officials, officials to Dazai but lenient to others, always in power but dedicated to assisting the young emperor, dedicated to the country, not selfish. ）

Dayan has no Murong Ke, like a broken arm, but to deter foreign enemies, there are still brave and warlike Wu King Murong Chui father and son, and the national situation is not to worry. When Murong Ke was dying, he instructed Murong Wei, the young monarch of Yan State, "King Wu will be ten times more talented than me, if I pass away, I hope that Your Majesty will entrust the government to King Wu, and Dayan should be able to ensure peace and prosperity." ”

However, Murong Wei, who was eager to take power, did not adopt Murong Ke's words, and only arranged for Murong Chui to be given a vacant position as a chariot general, and the affairs of the court completely relied on Murong Comment, who talked on paper.

Murong Ke is dead, Murong Chui is alienated again, and Huan Wen, the prime minister of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, finally looks forward to the great opportunity of the Northern Expedition to Qianyan.

In the tenth year of Jianxi, in 369 A.D., in April, Huan Wen personally led an army of 50,000 to expedition to Qianyan with Huan Chong, the assassin of Jiangzhou, and Yuan Zhen, the assassin of Yuzhou.

Yan sent the general Murong Zhong to lead 20,000 troops to resist, but was defeated by Huan Wen and Murong Zhong was captured.

The morale of the Jin army increased greatly, and they went all the way down the Yellow River until they reached Jinxiang.

The Yan court was shocked, and then sent the general Murong Li, but they were all defeated.

The Jin army was like a bamboo, and the long knife pointed directly at the head of the fang three hundred miles outside the city of Ye.

The Great Yan Dynasty was terrified.

****

Yan Guo Yecheng

The majestic and solemn walls of the imperial palace stretch for thousands of miles from the north of the city, like a golden section line separating the royal dignitaries from the common people. The Golden Tiger, the Bronze Bird, and the Ice Well stand tall, even if you are only a half-foot child, standing on the long street of Yecheng from afar, you can also see the unreachable magnificence.

Hundreds of rammed earth steps are connected to the Taiji Hall of the Discussion of Politics, the left drum and the right bell in front of the palace, there are many huge bronze birds and beasts standing behind the hall, all of which are ordered by Emperor Shi Hu of Zhao Wu to move from Luoyang, the capital of the Western Jin Dynasty, after Emperor Jingzhao Emperor Murong Jun destroyed Ran Wei and moved the capital to Yecheng, everything was maintained as Zhao and Ran Wei were as they were.

The glory of Yecheng Imperial Palace is still the same, but in less than 30 years, it has been the Sanyi Dynasty, from Later Zhao to Ran Wei, and then from Ran Wei to today's Dayan. In the long course of history, it is never the rule of emperors that is eternal, and high walls often last longer than dynasties.

Now that the Jin army has come to Yecheng 300 miles away, if it breaks again, Yecheng will change hands again.

At this time, in the Taiji Palace, the young emperor Murong Wei shook his hand and smashed the battle report into the main hall, which shocked the Taifu Murong Ping, who was led by the hundred officials, to take a step back.

"Murong Li is also defeated! The Jin army is now less than three hundred miles away from the Fengyang Gate of Yecheng! After Murong Wei saw the successive defeat reports, his hands trembled with anger, and he was secretly indignant in the sleeve of the golden thread inlaid with dragons.

"At the beginning, who of you said that Huan Wen had a false name, and who said that the Eastern Jin Dynasty was not to be feared? Now they're all coming to our doorstep! He questioned sharply, his cold gaze directed at Murong Ping, and there was a trace of panic in his voice in addition to anger.

Murong Ping secretly gasped in his heart, the anger of this little emperor was obviously directed at him. He hurriedly raised his eyes and looked at the pearl and jade curtain behind the dragon chair, but the Queen Mother did not say anything, it seemed that she wanted to make Murong Wei angry first.

After some speculation, Murong Ping decided to keep silent for the first time and let him play the "emperor's majesty". When the little emperor's anger passes, he still has to rely on him with a good voice.

"Speak! Aren't you all very good at talking? There's no way to break the enemy now?! Murong Wei was angry and anxious, and stood up with a slam on the dragon case, "I, the foundation of the Murong clan for several generations, fixed the north, destroyed Ran Wei, and now in the hands of Lone, can't I even keep the capital!" ”

Murong Ping knew that Emperor Yan was really angry this time, so he quickly knelt down first, but he still didn't dare to answer.

The hundred officials also followed Murong Ping closely and knelt down one after another.

Seeing that Murong Ping remained silent, the officials with strong eyes all got the signal, and they didn't dare to come up to answer.

At this time, a young man with a martial crown stood up, he took two steps forward, and pleaded in a condensed voice in this silent court, "Brother Chen is willing to lead the army to Fangtou, not to break the Jin army, and swear not to return to the court!" ”

The young man is not very old, and his figure is not burly, but the firmness but the sound of the ground stirred up a clear stream in this treacherous court, washing away the old scheming and deep calculation, washing away the inaction of not caring for himself, just for the belief of swearing to defend his family and country.

He is Murong Chong, the king of Zhongshan, Murong Wei's younger brother, who has been good at riding and shooting since he was a child, can wear Yang in a hundred steps, and is good at making spears, and can be an enemy of ten. When he worshiped Da Sima (the official position of Murong Ke) back then, he was just ten years old, which really shocked the government and the opposition, and he was also a spectacle, as well as his handsome and unparalleled appearance.

Murong Wei was taken aback, he looked at this extraordinary younger brother, and his heart was moved, worthy of being the son of my Dayan Murong clan, this indomitable fortitude was very similar to their father back then.

But at the same time, he also sighed secretly in his heart, although Murong Zhong and Murong Li were not as powerful as Murong Ke, they were all generals who followed the first emperor's expedition to the south and the north, and even they were defeated, so you can imagine how brave the army led by Huan Wen was. Although his younger brother has ambition and courage, after all, he is the leaf of nobility watered by the royal greenhouse, and he is far less than a general who has fought in the Gobi for a long time, and he is afraid that it will be embarrassing.

As if seeing Emperor Yan's worries, Murong Chong gathered his court clothes, knelt down on one knee and hugged his fists, "Your Majesty, the Jin army is only three hundred miles away from Yecheng, if you don't send troops to intercept it, it will only take ten days to break Yecheng at most!" Although the younger brother is young and has no experience in leading the army, the younger brother has the determination to fight to the death with the Jin army, unless they step on my corpse, they will not lose an inch of Yan country. ”

The young man's voice was excited, his handsome face was full of firmness that he had never felt before, and the morale of Yan Guo, which was originally low, seemed to regain the bravery of his former war horses in his every word.

The hundred officials unconsciously looked at this royal nobleman, unconsciously infected by his momentum of seeing death as home, and gradually recalled the scene of their Xianbei clan dominating the Central Plains.

It's just that when the country is dying, people's greed still can't help but be troubled, and after a moment of emotion, they began to continue to play their own small calculations.

Huan Wen is the first powerful general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, proficient in the art of war, with the army like a god, once led the army to destroy the Cheng Han in one fell swoop, broke the Zhuge Liang gossip array, and seized all the land of Shu; Before the first attack, Qin Ru entered a no-man's land, approaching Chang'an, the capital of Qin; The second attack on Yao Xiang won a complete victory and went straight to Luoyang. There are many rumors in the market that Huan Wen dispatched troops, and he must be completely sure, invincible, and invincible.

The only person who can compete with famous generals like Huan Wen is Murong Ke, the deceased King of Taiyuan. At the most glorious time of the Yan Kingdom, it had seized the important town of Luoyang from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, but now it is the time when the generals of the Great Yan are not in charge, and it is not easy to resist the Jin army under the command of Huan Wen.

I'm afraid that Yecheng really can't hold it......

However, at this time, Murong Ping actually hoped that Murong Chong could go to the battlefield, and the reason was not simply that he felt that this young man was talented and could break the Jin army and so on. You must know that Emperor Murong Wei of Yan has no children, and if there are three long and two short in this series of wars, then the one who can ascend to the throne in terms of identity is another emperor's concubine - Murong Chong, King of Zhongshan. That is enough to be arrogant for another ten and a half years, as soon as he thought of this, he secretly raised his eyes and looked at the queen mother, and a sneer secretly crossed his scheming face, if Murong Chong died in battle, then his power would be enough to support Murong Wen, the king of the belt, and then this Dayan court would not be his final say.

This is also the reason why he has not stood up to stop Murong Chong until now.

Murong Chong's back was erect, his kneeling posture had not changed, and he was still waiting for Murong Chong's order.

Murong Kai, the hussar general who was kneeling in the second place, quietly looked up at the figure that was as straight as a pine and cypress, and his eyes were as dim as a cloud, and his eyes suddenly brightened, flashing with the bearing and hope of a country. If it was two years ago, he would have had such courage, no matter what the court was, just as a soldier on the battlefield, if a foreign enemy came to attack, I would have punished him from afar.

It's just that in the two years since the death of his father Murong Ke, he has seen through this rotten and paralyzed mud wall-like Dayan court, Taifu Murong Ping and the Queen Mother can be enough to control the government with one hand, and all officials see the wind and make the rudder for their own benefit, even if you are full of pride and dare to be handsome, you are also miserably reprimanded for your ambition. King Wu's father and son are the best examples.

Murong Chui, the king of Wu, was brave, and at the age of thirteen, he went out with Murong Ke on the expedition, and made many miraculous achievements, and his general's talent was comparable to his father. King Wu's eldest son, Murong Ling, endowed his father with courage and wisdom, and conquered the Quartet at a young age and never failed. His father's last words were also to hope that Emperor Yan could rely on King Wu, and Da Yan would be worry-free.

He knew very well in his heart that now the only one who could save Dayan from danger was Murong Chui, the king of Wu. However, the Empress Dowager was worried about the merits of King Wu and Murong Clan, fearing that the reuse of King Wu's father and son would affect their power, so she repeatedly slandered the young emperor and alienated Murong Chui's father and son. The Queen Mother even single-handedly manipulated the affairs of the court, deposed the military power of King Wu, and only gave him an idle position as a chariot general, and even his previous court was dismissed.

Relatives are involved in politics, pro-ministers, far loyal and good, the Great Yan Dynasty is now a miasma, even after he is famous, but he is weak, although he has a heart, but he is still powerless to change the signs of the gradual decline of the Yan Kingdom.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but lower his eyes, and his eyes were once again stained with gray.

Although Tunqi Lieutenant Duan Sui and Lieutenant Song Xu admired Murong Chong's courage and courage, but the two looked at the whole dynasty, neither anyone advised them, and the main battle faction was still unclear, the two looked at each other tacitly, and chose to kneel in place and wait for the change.