Noble First Daughter-in-law

Chapter 1164 The Jade Plate
At the end of September, the grass gradually withered and the branches turned slightly yellow.

However, the bleak and solemn feeling of autumn does not come only from these natural scenery, but more from the heavy city gate covered with knife and sword marks, and the bloodstains on the city walls on both sides.

Luoyang, the Eastern Capital City that Chu Yang had painstakingly built, like the brightest pearl in the Central Plains, had now become an isolated island in the vast ocean. Except for the team that had been sent out ten days ago to transfer grain to Luocang and had returned, there were almost no people coming in or out. It was often attacked by Sheng's army, and it looked so lonely and desolate, tragic and helpless.

But today, Luoyang City is bustling like a last gasp.

Before daybreak, a commotion was heard on the city wall. Someone brought bucket after bucket of water and poured it down from the city wall to wash away the bloodstains that still smelled of blood. It didn't matter even if they were not completely washed away, because immediately, someone took a bright red silk ribbon and hung it down from the city wall to cover the broken city wall that had been baptized by several battles. The bright color of the red silk was illuminated by the rising sun, so brilliant and dazzling that the whole city seemed to be burning in flames all of a sudden, revealing a kind of final glory that was on the verge of collapse.

Outside the city gate, the city had long been fortified and all the trees and shrubs had been cleared away, but a three-story earthen platform appeared on the flat wasteland to the east.

That was the altar where Liang Shide wanted to offer sacrifices to heaven.

He had people go out of the city to build the earthen platform several days in advance, and had people move the altar, offerings, bronze tripod and other items up there last night. After being exposed to the night dew all night, these things were all quietly waiting on the altar for today.

Compared to the quiet altar, the city was bustling with noise.

Before the city gates were opened, a large group of troops were already lined up in front of the city gate, with flags fluttering and drums and music playing. On one of the golden chariots sat a middle-aged man with a dragon robe, a stout physique, fluttering beard and a complacent look on his face. It was Liang Shide, who had occupied Luoyang for several years. He was leading his ceremonial guard and "civil and military officials" from the Ziwei Palace, preparing to leave the city for a sacrifice.

In the city, which had been silent for a long time, people also leaned out to watch this scene.

In the past few months, the common people of Luoyang have suffered another devastating loss of life since they experienced the raging war when Chu Yang left the Eastern Capital. They could never have imagined that Luoyang City would be hit by war again, and that the city would be under attack for several days in a row. The people in the city were in panic, but Liang Shide would not allow the city gates to be opened regardless of victory or defeat, so that they could only huddle in the city, listening to the sound of people banging on the city gates and the deafening sound of killing every few days or several times a day.

And this is just a fear in the mind.

What really made them live a life worse than death was that Liang Shide did not prepare enough food before the war. Although Yuwen Cheng did not completely block the passages around Luoyang City, it was not so easy to fight out. The food in the city had long been exhausted, but Liang Shide himself blocked the city gates and did not allow any civilians to leave the city. Until now, a grain of rice in Luoyang City is even more expensive than a golden melon seed. The princes and nobles can only eat coarse grains, and the common people are the worst. They can only eat floating soil mixed with rice bran.

Now, they were all too hungry to have any strength left, and even though it was so lively, few people went out to watch.

But Liang Shide couldn't care less about these.

At this moment, he was sitting in a golden carriage - this was one of the utensils used by the emperor that he found in the Ziwei Palace after he entered Luoyang City. Of course, there were others that he had already enjoyed in these days. This golden carriage and the utensils on the altar outside the city were what he had wanted to use for a long time, but he had always been dissuaded by people around him. Until today, he finally got what he wanted.

That's what a real man should do!

Thinking of this, Liang Shide, who was sitting in the golden carriage, couldn't help but stroke his beard and laughed triumphantly. However, in this somewhat stiff smile, his eyes couldn't help but sweep from the sky in front of him where colorful flags were fluttering to the two sides of the city wall -

There, there was gunpowder that he had asked people to prepare long ago.

There are also several places in the city that he has people prepare for. Liang Shide has never planned to leave this city since the day he occupied it. Even though Xiao Yuansui is now trapped in Hulao Pass and may not be able to rescue him, if the siege continues, he and the people of Luoyang will be trapped to death here, but it doesn't matter.

If he dies, he will die in Luoyang!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The guards standing on both sides of the golden chariot couldn't help showing surprised expressions when they heard his laughter - these days, Liang Shide's temper became more and more strange. Sometimes he was very excited and felt that the world was under his control, and sometimes he was extremely panicked, fearing that Yuwen Cheng would attack the city at the next moment. Once he fell into this mood, he would suddenly become furious, whip the people around him, and make them all go to the city wall to fight and resist the enemy's invasion.

After several twists and turns, the close confidants around him did not dare to approach, and the guards were also very cautious.

Hearing his laughter at this moment, everyone didn't know if he was going to have another attack, and they all held their breath, fearing that any movement would draw his attention to themselves. However, Liang Shide didn't pay any attention to them. After laughing, he suddenly said, "Guan Chiying."

Upon hearing this name, the guards around showed disdain on their faces.

Someone lazily called out, "Guan Chiying."

This name spread around, and soon, a thin figure hurriedly ran up from behind. It was Guan Chiying.

He was wearing court robes, which no one knew they had been taken out of some warehouse. Even the corners of the robes were wrinkled. He looked cowardly. He walked to the side of the golden chariot and stopped to salute: "King Xia..." Xia was the name of the country proposed by Liang Shide himself.

When the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven is over, he will call himself King of Xia, but a few days before that, his close confidants, including civil and military ministers, have already called him that.

Liang Shide glanced at him, then looked at the street, and then said, "Where are the people?"

Guan Chiying was stunned for a moment, and also looked around, and immediately said: "Today, King Xia is ascending the altar to offer sacrifices. It is such a big event that we cannot let these people come out and disrupt the order. Therefore, I have asked people to keep them under control and not let them come out."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp voice came from the other side of the golden chariot: "King Xia is offering sacrifices. It is such a big event. How can the people not congratulate?"

Guan Chiying frowned and looked up. The person who spoke was none other than the eunuch Wei Yu.

This man was a small fourth-rank eunuch who stayed behind in Ziwei Palace when Chu Yang left Dongdu. After Liang Shide invaded Luoyang City, he surrendered immediately without any resistance, and has been serving Liang Shide ever since, just like the first lord. Liang Shide was not used to having such a person around him at first, but Wei Yu was a master of flattery and changing with the times, and soon he was able to serve him comfortably, and later, Liang Shide even became dependent on this person.

Hearing his words, Liang Shide showed an unhappy expression on his face and looked at Guan Chiying coldly.

At this moment, Guan Chiying's scalp also felt numb.

He and Shang Ruyi agreed on this time. As long as Hulao Pass could achieve a great victory, Yuwen Ye could lead his troops to attack Luoyang. Once Liang Shide went out of the city to offer sacrifices, it would give them an opportunity to take advantage of. But at this time, the common people should not get involved, after all, swords and knives have no eyes.

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Besides, after eating leaves and loose soil for so many days, which ordinary person has the energy to come out and watch all this fun?

Guan Chiying smiled and was about to explain something, but Wei Yu said coldly, "Sir, King Xia asked you to come here, not to explain, but to do something."

Guan Chiying's eyes turned cold and he glared at him fiercely.

Wei Yu did not flinch either - similarly, he also looked down on Guan Chiying, a servile and weak-willed man. But this man had to pretend to be a loyal minister and a good general. Besides, he was of no use himself. He was just a pawn who followed Chen Cai back to Luocang. Chen Cai died, and he did not even bring back an extra bag of grain. Just because he persuaded his family and several other old stubborn families to finally submit to King Xia and submit a congratulatory message for this sacrifice, he became a hero.

The two men confronted each other for a moment.

Just when the atmosphere was somewhat tense, a clear and solemn voice sounded behind Guan Chiying: "King Xia."

Hearing this, Liang Shide had to turn slightly from the golden carriage, and saw that the official Guan Ao was standing behind Guan Chiying, his cousin. Compared with the thin and somewhat panicked Guan Chiying, he had a calm temperament and a calm look, which made people feel more convincing. He said slowly: "The auspicious time is coming. If we drive all the people out, we can certainly congratulate King Xia, but the personnel will be in chaos and it will inevitably delay the time."

"..."

"If King Xia doesn't care, then we'll do it right away."

Hearing this, Liang Shide's expression changed slightly - he couldn't miss his auspicious time, which he had calculated after a long time; besides, after today, he was afraid that there would be no more...

He immediately said, "No need."

After saying that, he waved his hand gently, and Guan Ao took Guan Chiying back into the team of officials. Only Wei Yu glared at them coldly.

Only after returning to the team did Guan Chiying heave a sigh of relief, and turned to Guan Ao and said, "Thank you, brother."

Guan Ao looked solemn, looking at the still closed gate in front of him - there was an auspicious time to open the city gate, and it was now. Although his face showed no expression, people close to him could still see that his forehead was covered with cold sweat. He lowered his voice and asked, "All of us don't believe in you, but in that jade tablet."

As he said this, he glanced at Guan Chiying sharply.

"Are you sure that the King of Qin and his wife will be able to arrive today before the auspicious time?"