But at dawn, an armed force of 1,000 men came from the east of the Han River to the foot of Hanzhong City, and shouted to the head of the city that it was an envoy sent by the emperor.

The soldiers at the head of the city hurriedly went to inform Guo Linggong, Guo Ziyi was shocked when he heard it, but he did not suspect that this was Li Siye's plan to earn the city. Because the Han River passed through the city, it was impossible for the army from the north to go around to the east of the city if it did not capture Hanzhong.

"Order the three armies to line up and welcome the imperial envoy into the city."

Guo Ziyi slowly opened the east city gate and ordered two teams of soldiers to go out of the city and line up on the left and right sides respectively in case anything happened. His father and son then rode out of the city, looking at the envoy for a moment or two, only to find that it was a rootless eunuch, and Guo Xi's face suddenly darkened.

Guo Ziyi glanced at his son with a slightly cold expression, and greeted the envoy with a smile: "The envoy, please follow me into the city for a while." ”

Unexpectedly, the envoy shook his head and said: "I heard that Li Siye led the rebels to attack the city in the west of the city, so we won't go in, so as not to interfere with Guo Linggong's military affairs, I will read His Majesty's decree here, Guo Ziyi will listen to the decree!" ”

Guo Ziyi hurriedly led the generals to kneel on the ground to receive the order: "Minister Guo Ziyi received the order." ”

"Door, since the farewell in Guanzhong, whether Guo Aiqing's body is still healthy, I am very concerned about you. Now I heard that the rebels and thieves were attacking Hanzhong with a large army, and it may be difficult to hold on. Aiqing must not put his own body in an isolated city, and should seek a way out as soon as possible. I want you to lead your army down the Han River and retreat to Jingxiang. On the occasion of this national crisis, the good general Weiqing is the only one who remains, and I hope you can return to the dynasty as soon as possible and share the righteousness of the monarch and the minister. The edict is on the right, please follow it. ”

"Thank you!" The lieutenant envoy stepped forward to hand over the holy decree to him, and Guo Ziyi struggled to get up from the ground.

The eunuch smiled and stepped forward and said: "This word is full of grace, Your Majesty misses you very much, I hope you can leave for the southeast as soon as possible." ”

In this regard, Guo Ziyi only replied: "The ministers should follow suit." ”

Suddenly, the rumbling of cannons sounded from the west of the city, and the earth made a slight trembling sound, and the envoy of the court turned pale and hurriedly turned around and got on his horse and said: "Our family will go back to the emperor to return to the emperor, and Guo Linggong will then lead the army to follow." ”

None of the more than 1,000 people sent by the imperial court left Guo Ziyi behind, and they all fled as if they were heading downstream along the Han River.

Guo Ziyi turned back to the city and immediately climbed the city tower to command the battle, the artillery of the Hexi Army blew up so that the soldiers were all staggered, he climbed to the battlement with the flagpole and shouted: "When the enemy shoots artillery, hide in the corner, don't be injured by shrapnel!" ”

Suddenly, a black ball cannonball exploded next to him, and shrapnel flew and blew him to the ground. Guo Ziyi staggered and stood up, feeling a little painful in the squeaky nest, and reached out to touch it before feeling blood flowing out.

The soldiers helped him to the bottom of the city tower, Guo Ziyi sat and sighed: "The Xuanwu cannon of the Hexi Army is really powerful, the old man wears fine-scale chain mail and a coat of bright light armor, but it can't even withstand the fragments of the cannonballs." The soldiers on the city wall had many casualties, and when the Hexi army attacked the city later, how could they resist it? ”

Li Siye rode his horse outside the city and ordered loudly: "Continue to fire artillery, and the three armies will begin to attack the city!" ”

Artillery shells continued to explode on the top of the city, and the soldiers of the Hexi Army had already rushed to the moat with the bridge planks and erected the wooden bridge on the river. Li Siye ordered someone to load the Fuyuan crossbow with a crescent shovel arrow, and aimed at the iron cable on the suspension bridge to shoot, but several bursts of fire did not achieve any results.

They set up the siege ladder on the wall and began to climb the wall, and the artillery fire on the city began to stop. As if resurrected, the Tang army came out of all corners and began to throw sassalwood and arrows downward on the top of the city.

Li Siye saw that the city wall could not be attacked for a long time, so he hurriedly ordered someone to sacrifice the hot air balloon, the magic weapon in the air, which could more accurately suppress the fire on the city wall with fierce fire and thunder.

The soldiers of the Tang army not only had to withstand the ladder and attack of the Hexi army below, but also from time to time there were fierce fire and thunder thrown overhead, and the grease rolled and tumbled with the flames. There was nowhere to hide on the narrow city wall, and they were on fire, and they fell and rolled under the city wall with the Hexi soldiers who rushed up.

Guo Xi hurriedly went to find Guo Ziyi, and frankly said that the city could no longer resist, and hoped that his father would make a decision as soon as possible.

After Guo Ziyi thought hard, he walked down from the city tower and asked the soldiers to advertise the people and gentry, telling them that the Tang army was about to abandon Hanzhong City and leave, and asked the people about their intentions, if they were willing to follow the Tang army, they would quickly retreat, and the soldiers guarding the western city wall could hold out for an afternoon at most.

When Guo Ziyi first arrived in Hanzhong, he cherished the people and sympathized with the gentry, and the people were grateful for his kindness and were willing to help the old and the young go to Jingxiang with him.

Guo Linggong was moved, and said to the people: "If you are willing to go with us, go home now to pack up the softness, and leave at dusk today, we will leave the city and go south to Jingxiang." ”

That night, the soldiers lit torches, Guo Ziyi rode out of the East City Gate on a war horse, and ordered a part of the army to escort the people to go first, and the rest of the people in the rear were ready to guard against the pursuit of the Hexi army at any time. It's just that the people's speed slowed down the journey, and they only traveled more than 40 miles that night. At this speed, it only takes half an hour for the Flying Tiger to catch up.

Li Siye finally entered Hanzhong as he wished, but more than half of the city's hukou escaped, which was not a loss for him. In times of war, population is one of the most scarce resources, and it takes decades for lost people to recuperate.

The Hexi army pursued and captured several families of civilians who had fallen behind on the road, brought them back to the city, and escorted them to Li Siye.

When he saw that the people were bound with ropes, he angrily rebuked the soldiers, saying, "How can you tie the people so forcefully? Whether to go or stay is entirely up to them. ”

He asked these people with Yan Yuese: "Tell me, why do you want to follow Guo Ziyi to Jingxiang?" ”

The people looked at each other and did not dare to speak, for fear that they would have their heads cut off if they said the wrong thing.

Li Siye smiled and comforted them: "Don't be afraid, even if you say the wrong thing, I won't blame you." ”

A bold boy suddenly spoke: "You are traitors, traitors burn, kill, loot, and do all kinds of evil. ”

"I see." Li Siye expected that everything was the result of propaganda, these Hanzhong people had never seen their Hexi army, how could they know that they burned, killed, and plundered, it must be Guo Ziyi's malicious propaganda to bring rhythm, which made the people so afraid of them.

When Li Siye thought about it like this, he had an idea in his heart, and said to these people: "If what Guo Ziyi said is true or false, you will soon know." This king has always been merciful to his people, and not only will I not kill you, but I will give you silk and money.

"Oh, thank you, King! Thank you, King! Several people hurriedly kowtowed in thanksgiving, but Li Siye waved his hand and said: "Don't be busy thanking you first, I have something to ask you, as long as you agree to do it, not only give money, but also give a lot of land, so that you can become a big family in Hanzhong." How is it? ”

Several people couldn't help but be alert, and asked with low eyebrows, "I don't know what the king wants us to do?" ”

"Wait here for now, and then someone will come and tell you." Li Siye turned around and left the hall.

After a long time, a very bookish official came to the hall, each of them handed them a piece of paper, and said with both hands: "You write down the contents of the paper, you have escaped from Guo Ziyi's escape team, why should you run back, because you found that Guo Ziyi was short of food and grass, and he encouraged you people to go to Jingxiang to prepare to eat you as food." ”