Tian Chengsi reported the failure of this lure to Li Siye, and Li Siye was also surprised when he learned this result, he was not familiar with the name Helan Jinming. But this person's performance gave him the confidence that he could destroy the Tang Dynasty in the short term, and Li Yu could let this person take on such an important position, does it mean that Li Yu's court has only Guo Ziyi and Fugu Huaien and other talents left to support him, and the rest are all selfish and selfish mediocrities.

He happily said to Tian Chengsi: "Such a person is good for us, let him stay next to Jiangcheng and watch Guo Ziyi be eaten, which is called cold lips and teeth, and sit and wait to die." ”

Tian Chengsi smiled and flattered: "What the lord said is extremely true, as long as we eat Guo Ziyi and Zhang Xun, the rest of us are just chickens and dogs, not worth mentioning." ”

"Okay, step up the siege from tomorrow and force Guo Ziyi to surrender as soon as possible."

"Of course."

……

Nan Jiyun guarded near Jingmen Pass in Xiangyang City, closely following the Tang Army's every move, and after Helan Jinming conquered Jingmen Pass, he finally put his mind at ease, it seems that Helan Jinming is completely different from Xu Shuji, and is a general who can fight and dare to fight.

He took advantage of the night to pass through the encirclement of the Tang army and secretly sneaked back to Xiangyang City.

At night, he went directly to Zhang Xun, and at the same time brought a few camels, a few stones of rice grain, and a wolf corpse on two war horses.

When Zhang Xun saw his brother coming back, he burst into tears of joy and stepped forward to hold his hand: "You are finally back, have you ever asked for reinforcements?" ”

Nan Jiyun nodded and said: "This time I have experienced too many twists and turns, I went to ask for help from Xu Shuji, the envoy of Jingxiang Jiedu, but the other party did not give reinforcements, so I crossed the river by boat and prepared to go to Jiankang to ask for help from Your Majesty, but they sent troops to chase and try to detain me." Later, after I arrived in Jiankang, I was almost caught by the Shence army under the command of Yu Chaoen as soon as I entered the city, but fortunately, when the horse Guo Hua returned from a safari, he rescued me after seeing me, placed me in the palace and told His Majesty in person. That's why His Majesty replaced Xu Shuji, the envoy of Jingxiang Jiedu, with Helan Jinming. ”

"I was lurking in the villages near Jingmen Pass two days ago, and I learned that Helan Jinming led the army to break through Jingmen Pass and was about to rescue Xiangyang City, so I entered the city with confidence."

Zhang Xun was greatly pleased, held Nan Jiyun's hand and said: "You came back too timely, this news also came in time, there were only 300 stones left in the warehouse yesterday, even Guo Linggong ate leaves and leather, and the soldiers were hungry." Although he was able to hold on to his loyalty to the imperial court, the day of his collapse was near. ”

Nan Jiyun looked at the thin and haggard Zhang Xun, and infinite sourness swelled in his heart, and he said with a forced smile: "Now you don't have to worry, Helan Jinming will lead the Jianghuai army to attack Xiangyang City in less than three days." Zhang Gong can report the good news to Guo Linggong as soon as possible, and also inform the soldiers, so as to re-stimulate their morale and make them persevere. ”

He smiled and pointed to the brown rice on the three camels and said: "This is the food I brought back, although the quantity is not much, it can also improve everyone's food a little tonight, and it can be regarded as a celebration of the arrival of reinforcements. ”

Zhang Xun touched the rice bag with hope, touched the cold wolf corpse, turned around and said reluctantly: "Let's save the food, in case Helan Jinming's rescue attack fails, we will continue to work hard." However, wolf meat is difficult to preserve, and it can be peeled and made into barbecue tonight, which also allows the soldiers to taste the meat to some extent. ”

Zhang Xun asked Nan Jiyun to rest in the tent first, and he personally went to Guo Ziyi to report the good news to him.

Guo Linggong was also very excited when he heard this, so he ordered people to spread the news throughout the army, and the decadent atmosphere on the faces of the soldiers was also swept away, and there was a rare hoarse laughter.

That night, they filled the jar with cold water from the city's well, and drank it as wine, and the black porridge made from the bark and leaves of the tree, and a small piece of wolf meat every day, was their most sumptuous feast.

Since early in the morning, Nanjiyun has been guarding the city walls, looking at the end of the undulating curve of the earth, where there is hope that they will survive.

The sun rises and sets, the moon rises to summon a starry sky, and the white star rises in the east, followed by a day and night. He just nailed his feet to the top of the city, and barely moved his position with his hands on the battlements. He had only drunk a few sips of water in the past three days, and other than that, he looked eagerly into the distance, and would never slack off.

Sometimes he almost saw hope, and faintly heard the sound of drums and horses' hooves in the distance, and several of the besieging Yong troops seemed to have been drawn to the southwest, which was the only way to get here from Jingmen Pass. The more obvious these marks were, the more excited he became. However, these clues are gradually disappearing, and a burning heart is gradually cooling.

Zhang Xun came to his side, stretched out his hand to support his shoulder, and said in an apologetic and comforting tone, "I sent a scout to investigate yesterday. Helan Jin clearly came from Jingmen Pass to Xiangyang, but as soon as the other party made contact with a team of Yongjun to lure the enemy, they were quickly defeated and retreated, and the two sides did not even fight head-on. ”

Zhang Xun's words don't need to be said more clearly, Nan Jiyun understands in his heart that Helan Jinming and Xu Shuji are just a raccoon dog, he didn't think about rescuing Xiangyang City at all, but just came to the front line to rub the heat, so as to show his credit to the emperor of Chang'an.

They knew that the loss of Xiangyang City was a matter of course, but they still refused to accept their fate in their hearts. Zhang Xun and the eldest grandson Quanxu, as well as Nanba and Lei Wanchun, have agreed between them to swear to live and die with Xiangyang. But before they decided to defend it, they had to find a way to persuade Guo Ziyi to leave Xiangyang.

They didn't want him to make a living, nor did they want him to withdraw from Xiangyang to be left alone, and their decision even went against Guo Linggong's wishes. But they knew that Datang couldn't do without Guo Ziyi, and any of them could be sacrificed in Xiangyang City, but Guo Ziyi couldn't. Guo Linggong is the last hope of the Tang Dynasty, the only famous general who can lead Jiangdong to compete with the north by virtue of his prestige and comprehensive ability.

He was now filled with swaying refined egoists who read the books of the sages but were used as tools to enslave others. They have no loyalty to the Tang Dynasty at all, and some only have the illusion of swaying from side to side and high-ranking officials. If the imperial court is handed over to such a person, the Tang Dynasty will not be able to support it for three months, and sooner or later it will be completely broken by Li Siye.

Zhang Xun organized all the middle and low-level generals, knelt in front of Guo Ziyi's tent, and collectively begged him to break through and withdraw from Xiangyang.

Guo Ziyi categorically refused, and said in a stern and hurried tone: "When I stayed in Jingxiang, I repeatedly stated to Your Majesty that Xiangyang is the most inmissible barrier in the Tang Dynasty, and once Xiangyang is lost, the entire Jiangdong will be fully exposed to the siege of the Central Plains, Shuzhong, and Hanzhong. What face do I have to see the emperor, and what face do I have to see the merits of the past dynasties on the Lingyan Pavilion? ”

Zhang Xun and Nanba and the others knelt down and refused to get up, and said in a hoarse and sad voice: "Ling Gong stayed in Xiangyang, what is the benefit of Xiangyang, and what is the benefit of Datang." Now that the ammunition is exhausted, even if the gods descend to earth, they can't save Xiangyang. Today, the court is full of corrupt people, and Ling Gong was able to save the Tang Dynasty, and his merit was far better than dying in Xiangyang. Only if you are out and speak for Xiangyang for help, our persistence may have a glimmer of life. ”

Guo Ziyi was silent, they were right, staying in Xiangyang and dying is equivalent to dying in vain, only by withdrawing to dominate the imperial court, Xiangyang may still be alive, although this may be just beautiful wishful thinking, he should also try.

Finally, he walked out of the tent, looked at the generals kneeling on the ground, and let out a sigh and said, "From this day on, my sins will become more and more numerous. ”