Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4219 Last Stand?
Tongguan, heavy rain.

The rain poured down from the sky like pouring water. The wind blowing from the Yellow River stirred the rain curtain and rolled it up. The rain was flying, covering the Yellow River, the mountains, and the city gates, creating a vast mist.

Inside the barracks, Li Zhi looked at the haggard and crumbling Yuwen Shiji in front of him, and felt that the gloom in his heart was more than three points compared with the wind and rain outside the window.

It's fine if the navy may raid Hangu Pass. After all, Hangu Pass has been the key point separating east and west since ancient times. With Luoyang as a buffer, coupled with the dangerous terrain and heavy troops, it should be safe... But if Zheng Zheng of Xingyang If Luoyang rebelled against the water, the land of Luoyang would bear the brunt. Once Luoyang fell, the navy's soldiers could reach Hangu Pass directly.

And once Hangu Pass falls...

Just can't imagine.

At this moment, His Royal Highness Prince Jin was already in a panic, and hurriedly looked at Xiao Yu, Chu Suiliang, Cui Xin and the others beside him, with a panicked look on his face, and asked anxiously, "This...how can I do it?"

Xiao Yu frowned, looked at Cui Xin, and asked: "Shandong families have always advanced and retreated as one, united in the same spirit, and have traveled to various places for hundreds of years, and they are very close to each other. Now I want to ask Cui Gong, Will Zheng Rentai turn his back on the Shandong aristocratic family and do something treacherous and shameless?"

The Zheng family in Xingyang is a prominent family in Shandong with deep roots. Zheng Rentai is also a minister of Zhenguan and a famous general in the world.

Although Cui Xin never entered the imperial court in his life, but as the Patriarch of Qinghe Cui Clan, his knowledge, wisdom and ability are all the top choices. Hearing Xiao Yu's slightly dissatisfied question at this moment, he naturally understands the meaning of his words.

But he could only show a bitter face, and said helplessly: "If the old man went to Xingyang in person in normal times, and then contacted the heads of various families in Shandong to put pressure on the Zheng family, it is natural that he would not listen. But the current situation is urgent, and contacting the heads of various families is costly. The time may not be in time. Moreover, if the navy really decides to fight Xingyang to the death as Duke Ying guessed, Zheng Rentai may not listen to the old man's words... After all, family inheritance is more important than everything else. When facing the survival of the whole family, Where can there be more scruples?"

With the knife resting on his neck, perhaps Zheng Rentai himself can be steadfast and unyielding, facing death as home, but the survival of the family is at stake. How dare Zheng Rentai act as a hero for a while and drag the family into a situation where there will be no redemption?
He even said with certainty that as long as the navy stormed Xingyang, regardless of casualties, Zheng Rentai would surrender [-]% of the time...

But in this way, Tongguan is in danger.

The Shandong family raised [-] young and strong men to support Tongguan, and almost took the time to gather countless money, silk, food and fodder, thinking of fighting against the sky to change their fate, and from now on follow the example of the Guanlongmen Clan in the past to enter the center and take power.

Unexpectedly, in just a few months, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Not only is victory far away, it is even on the verge of life and death...

The remorse in my heart is just like the water of the Yellow River rolling and rushing.

Yuwen Shiji took a sip of tea, endured the aches, dizziness and fatigue all over his body, barely cheered up, and said in a hoarse voice: "Ding is Dingmao, even if Zheng Rentai betrayed his promise, it can't erase the Shandong family's support for His Royal Highness King Jin." Thanks, Mr. Cui, don’t worry too much.”

Steady Cui Xin first, then looked at Li Zhi who looked panic-stricken, and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, there is no need to be like this. Throughout the ages, whoever has achieved great things has gone through hardships and faced dangers like a disaster? Become a great tool. Besides, it is not on the brink of extinction, even if the land of Kanto is lost, it may be a good thing."

Most of the people here are not familiar with military affairs. Although they have read a few military books, they have never experienced strategizing and decisive victory on the battlefield. They heard that Xingyang, Luoyang, and Hangu Pass might fall one after another. They were already terrified. It’s also a good thing.” They were all at a loss and didn’t know why.

Chu Suiliang wondered: "Although I have never joined the army, I know a thing or two about military affairs. Luoyang and Hangu Pass are the barriers to the east of Tongguan. Once it falls, Tongguan has no danger to defend and no way to retreat. Fight to the death with the Donggong army. The Donggong army is well-equipped and powerful. The Tongguan army of more than [-] is considered elite, except for the Youhouwei. The rest of the Shandong private army is temporarily recruited. More wins less, how can there be a good thing?"

Yuwen Shiji endured bouts of dizziness and explained: "As Zhu Huangmen said, our army is low in combat strength and has not yet fought. If we want to defeat the Eastern Palace army, we can only hope for righteousness and high spirits. Morale. Think back to the time when Han Xin lined up against the water and fought to the death, defeating the Zhao army with a weak force, why? Put him to death and survive."

Everyone was stunned.

Even though Tongguan has gathered nearly 15 troops at the moment, it seems that the strength of the troops has increased sharply, but in fact, everyone knows that when facing the elite Donggong troops, the mob recruited in such a hurry must not be predicted simply by the number of troops. The outcome of the battle.

Li Zhi stabilized his mind and said: "Duke Ying's intention is that once Luoyang, Hangu and other places are lost, we will be cut off from the rear, isolated and helpless, and we will all die. On the contrary, it will be able to stimulate the morale of more than [-] soldiers under his command. Are you willing to fight to the death...in order to bridge the gap in equipment and combat power between the enemy and us?"

"Ahem... that's exactly the case. The so-called trapped beasts are still fighting. Since they know that the way back is cut off, who is willing to kneel down and beg for surrender and allow the slaughter?"

Just as he was talking, soldiers from outside entered and reported that Yu Chigong had returned in the rain.

Li Zhi: "..."

Anger suddenly rose in my heart.

Now the situation is corrupt and is at stake, all because Xingyang, Luoyang and other places cannot hold on.The reason why Xingyang, Luoyang and other places cannot be defended is not that the troops in these two places are insufficient. Both Xingyang and Luoyang are places occupied by aristocratic families. It is easy to pull up an army of more than 5000 people. How many troops?There were at most [-] people who followed Liu Rengui to the north.

Naturally, there is no shortage of soldiers, but it is the major general who is terrible.

Zheng Rentai is vacillating and cannot be trusted, so only Yu Chigong is qualified and capable of taking command.

As long as you call on the local aristocratic families to recruit private soldiers and donate armor, with Yuchi Gong's ability, you will naturally have the power to fight.

In the worst case, it can severely damage the navy, delay its advance along the Yellow River, and buy more time for Tongguan.

However, now Yuchi Gong has not waited for the battle with the navy, so he let go of the Kanto land without authorization and returned to Tongguan...

When it comes to military affairs, Li Zhi is at a loss; but when it comes to playing politics, Li Zhi is extremely talented.

So in an instant, he understood that Yu Chigong's intention for this move was to worry about the loss of power, and even the safety of his tens of thousands of guards...

For the sake of selfishness, regardless of the overall situation.

But still the same sentence, there is no shortage of troops right now, but there is an extremely lack of generals to command the troops. Even if he wants to withdraw the selfish Yu Chigong to show off to the public, he can only be patient...

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhi said, "Please come in to talk, Duke E!"

"Here!"

The soldiers withdrew.

After a while, Yuchi Gong stepped in with his helmet on, knelt down on one knee, and saluted: "I have an audience with Your Highness!"

He galloped all the way, and after passing the Hangu Pass, he encountered heavy rain, his body was already drenched, and now he knelt down on one knee, the hair under his pocket and the jacket under his armor were dripping with rain, and the ground was soaked. Blockbuster.

Li Zhi hurriedly said: "Duke E please hurry up! Why don't you go change your clothes first and then come to discuss the matter, otherwise, if you catch the wind and cold, who will the king rely on?"

Now is not the time to show your majesty, you must take measures to win people's hearts by being courteous and corporal, otherwise if you lose this battle, the great majesty will be useless...

Yu Chigong showed gratitude on his face, slightly excited, and said loudly: "Nowadays, traitors are rampant, stealing tripods, causing the rules and regulations to be reversed, and the monarch and ministers to be out of order. Your Highness, the battle report of the Kanto is now being submitted, and we dare not delay."

Li Zhi's face was moved, and he hurriedly said: "The Duke of E is loyal to the country and loyal, how can this king be able to do it? Come here, pour tea as quickly as the Duke of E!"

When Yu Chigong was seated, he took a sip of tea, and then shared his guesses.

The atmosphere in the barracks became more and more heavy, because this was consistent with Yuwen Shiji's words and confirmed each other, and there was no luck...

Li Zhi looked around, sighed and said, "What should we do now?"

Although just now, Yu Wenshi said that it was "a fight to the death", or that there was a possibility of death, but Li Zhi was not stupid, and he naturally understood how slim the probability was...

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Chigong said loudly: "Why do you need to worry, Your Highness? At this time, Tongguan has accumulated more than [-] elite soldiers and powerful generals. All you need to do is to immediately mobilize all forces to counterattack Chang'an. Take advantage of his unpreparedness and give a thunderous blow, and great things will happen." !"

Yuwen Shi and those who wanted to say this sentence were a step too late at the moment, choked for a while, and had to add: "What Duke E said is not bad, as long as the army raids the city of Chang'an, it will inevitably trigger a chain reaction. There must be someone from the Sixteenth Guards Army to respond to His Highness's call and send troops to assist."

When he said this, Li Zhi immediately remembered that he had secretly sneaked into Chang'an to make contact, and when he came back, he said that "we will send troops to respond when the army arrives at the city of Chang'an", his heart skipped a beat and his eyes lit up.

If that person is true to his word and believes in it, and sends out his troops to counterattack, that person responds with an army, and with the combination of inside and outside, capturing Chang'an is as easy as flipping the palm of the hand...

(End of this chapter)