Shuhan

After capturing Piyong and Jiu Temple, it was already afternoon.

Although there were still an hour or two before dark, the Han army had no intention of continuing the attack.

On the high platform, Zhang Fei grinned and seemed to be in a good mood.

"After today, Zhang He should also know that he alone cannot defend Chang'an. Surrendering early is his way out."

Wei Yan said on the side: "It is inevitable that Zhang He will resist stubbornly. I think we should continue to prepare for tomorrow's siege tonight."

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "When it gets late at night, mobilize the civilians to quietly fill in the moat."

The moat outside Chang'an City is wide and deep. Filling it up is probably not a simple matter and will take a long time.

It’s always good to prepare in advance now.

"promise."

If you fill in the moat outside Chang'an at night, you will naturally be attacked by the Wei army.

But after today, Zhang Fei still dared to leave the city if he didn't believe Zhang He.

If he did not dare to leave the city and the moat was filled, the Han army's frontline would then point directly at the Chang'an city wall.

When the troops arrive at the Chang'an city wall, it will be a matter of time before they capture Chang'an city.

Late at night.

The waning moon slowly spreads some silver light from the sky, but it cannot give people any warmth. On the contrary, it will make people feel cold all over the body.

Late at night, Chang'an City was not completely quiet.

Zhang He was a little bored, and his clothes and armor had not taken off. The smell of sweat and sticky feeling on his body made him feel a little uncomfortable.

But after listening to the report from the guarding official, the expression on his face became even more ugly.

"There are rumors all over the city that I'm going to surrender?"

He looked straight at the guarding official who came to report.

"It's spreading throughout Chang'an now, and it's very clear-cut."

Is there any sense?
This must have been done by Jian Junsi!
Now that Chang'an has been unfavorable in several battles, the morale of the army was already a little unstable. Now that news comes that he is about to surrender, how can the soldiers in Chang'an still have the will to fight?

"Where did the news come from?"

The guarding official had a helpless look on his face.

"General, it's everywhere. It's hard to count, and we don't even know where the source is."

He smiled bitterly and continued: "There are many people in the city petitioning to leave the city. If General Yan wants to surrender, he should surrender as soon as possible, and no more people will die. There are also some gangsters who take advantage of the chaos to do whatever they want in the city, and even set fire to it. It was about other people’s houses. All the generals and jailers in the city were burned down by them.”

It was late at night and the city of Chang'an was still not quiet because people's hearts were unsettled.

"Are the soldiers in the city freeloaders? Will they not suppress the chaos in the city? Is it true that no one obeys the curfew during the war? Don't they know the consequences of violating the curfew?"

The guarding official glanced at Zhang He cautiously and said, "The soldiers all thought that the general was willing to surrender, so how could he dare to suppress him?"

Who said I was going to surrender?
If this continues, I'm afraid if he doesn't surrender, his soldiers will have to carry him to surrender.

We can't continue like this, we have to make some changes.

Zhang He immediately stood up and said: "Post a notice saying: This general has never thought of surrender. Although the Han army is strong, our reinforcements from the Wei Dynasty will arrive soon. We only need to hold on to the city to repel the Han army." , why should we not be afraid? If anyone in the city disobeys the curfew, disobeys discipline, or spreads rumors, he will be punished without mercy!"

"This"

Seeing Zhang He's statement like this, the guards guarding the palace showed a look of surprise on their faces.

"General, now the Han army is watching covetously outside the city, and the morale of the troops in the city is unstable. Do you really want to post such a notice?"

Zhang He narrowed his eyes and stared directly at the guard official.

"So your surname is Wei!"

Zhang He's words made the guarding official feel nervous.

"This is indeed from Jingzhao Webster."

"Jingzhao Weishi's attachment to the Han Dynasty has already committed the crime of treason. What you did today is also an act of treason. If I don't kill you, who should I kill?"

With that said, Zhang He immediately pulled out the sword from his waist and stabbed the guarding official who was born in Jingzhao Wei family.

"Issue a notice to hunt down people from the Jingzhao Wei family and Jingzhao Du family in the city. They have all committed treason!"

Now the only way to defend Chang'an is a reign of terror.

Only when the people in the city were afraid of him and the soldiers in the city were afraid of him would they dare not mention surrender.

"Father, if this happens, we will have no way out."

Zhang Xiong had a look of anxiety on his face.

"We never have a way out!"

Zhang He shouted at Zhang Xiong, and gave Zhang Xiong a hard look, saying, "We, the Zhang family, are generals of the Wei State, so we must be loyal to the Wei State!"

After that, he placed the bloody sword across his chest and said viciously: "I will kill anyone who dares to surrender!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room, whether they were generals or officials, was as silent as a chill, and they did not dare to say anything about surrender.

"Bring your personal guards with you. Tonight, I will make Chang'an's heads roll!"

That night.

With lightning speed, Zhang He ransacked the residences of Jingzhao Wei and Jingzhao Du. Hundreds of people from both families were killed.

For a moment, the bloody terror silenced the entire city of Chang'an.

The next day.

Zhang Fei then learned the news in the city.

Zhang Fei's big black face showed a sneer, and his eyes also had a cold look.

"No wonder the civilians made such a big move last night. They went to fill in the moat of Chang'an City. There was no response at all from the city. It turned out that they were going to kill people."

There was no anger on Wei Yan's face, but a look of pleasure.

"That's good. We don't have to worry about whether Zhang He is willing to surrender. Now we only need to attack the city. He just killed so many people in Chang'an City. The morale of the soldiers in the city must be in chaos. We should take this opportunity to defeat him in one fell swoop." Capture Chang'an City."

Zhao Yun said, "It will take at least five days to fill in the moat. Why not take advantage of these five days to knock down several cities around Chang'an, so that even if Wei's reinforcements arrive, we can know in advance."

The siege must be carried out now, but unless the moat is filled up, there is no way to launch the siege.

"No, since Zhang He wants to defend Chang'an, he won't just watch us fill up the moat outside Chang'an City. He may come out of the city to harass. Zilong, the cavalry under your command is at stake at this moment and it is not appropriate to leave. The commander-in-chief of Hanzhong can lead his infantry to capture Zhidao Pavilion, Ba Ling and other places to cut off Chang'an's retreat."

Wei Yan's eyes lit up and he immediately said: "The last general takes orders!"

. . .

On the other side, Nanzheng.

Nanzheng was an ancient city in the Zhou Dynasty. When Liu Bei was the King of Han, it served as the capital of the Han Kingdom for a period of time. It is now the Guanzhong Administrative Office.

"Finally arrived in Nanyang." Hurrying slowly, Liu Chan finally arrived at Nanzheng, the Hanzhong Administrative Office.

In the government office, Liu Ba, Liao Li and Yang Yi all paid homage to Liu Chan.

"I'll wait to see His Highness!"

"Old minister, I pay my respects to His Highness."

Liu Ba is an old acquaintance, and Liao Li and Yang Yi are also extraordinary people.

Liao Li was evaluated by Zhuge Liang as "the outstanding talent of Chu" and was compared with Pang Tong.

In the original time and space, after Liu Chan succeeded to the throne, Liao Li relied on his talents and openly criticized Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Xiang Lang, Wen Gong, and Guo Youzhi, and also slandered other ministers. Therefore, at the request of Zhuge Liang, he was deposed as a citizen and exiled to Wenshan County. Then he died in depression.

Now he is not so arrogant, and the Battle of Yiling has not yet started, Liu Bei and Guan Yu have nothing to scold at all, so they are still being used in high positions.

Yang Yi was initially the chief clerk of Fu Qun, the governor of Jingzhou, but later defected to Guan Yu and became a meritorious official. Liu Bei appointed him as General Bing Cao of the Left Army, promoted to Shangshu, and finally moved to Zhuge Liang's Prime Minister's Mansion to join the army for the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Because of his outstanding abilities, he was also highly valued by Liu Bei.

"Everyone, please get up. No need to be polite."

Liu Chan smiled and helped these ministers up.

"I just spent one day repairing in Nanzheng, and the next day Qingcheng will set off to enter Guanzhong via Baoxie Road."

The Han army entered Guanzhong from Chencang Road and fought all the way to Chang'an. Now, no matter which road they enter Guanzhong, it is a smooth road.

There is no need to fear that Wei troops will attack them.

As the road is relatively fast and easy to travel, it is naturally Baoxie Road.

"His Majesty is in charge of Guanzhong, so there is no need to disturb him. In fact, His Highness should not go to Guanzhong. He should return to Chengdu to guard the rear."

Liu Bei and Liu Chan were both core figures of the Han Empire. It was very dangerous for both of them to be on the frontline at the same time. If something happened, wouldn't the country collapse?
"My father is already old. I am entering Guanzhong this time so that my father does not have to worry too much about the military. Besides, my coming there will also be beneficial to the gentry in Guanzhong."

Liu Chan knew how Liu Bei was doing, which was why he had to go to Guanzhong.

Coupled with Liu Chan's martial arts training hall and his status as the prince of the Han Dynasty, he naturally has the effect of attracting the attention of the nobles, and this effect is much stronger than that of Liu Bei.

Although Liu Bei is the emperor, he is already old after all, and he may stop working at some point.

Liu Chan is like the rising sun, and there are still many situations. As the future emperor of the Han Empire, it is actually more important and more effective for those Guanzhong nobles to gain Liu Chan's trust than to gain Liu Bei's trust.

In addition, Liu Chan is still young now, so it is normal for the nobles to serve him as clan girls. If he is adopted as his wife and concubine, then the nobles will be promoted to the status of the emperor's relatives. How noble is that?

In comparison, Liu Bei is older and in poor health. Compared with Liu Chan, he has no advantage in this regard.

"His Highness's martial arts lecture hall can indeed draw people's hearts and care for them."

Yang Yi nodded.

"But Guanzhong is dangerous. I hope His Highness will not take any risks when he arrives in Guanzhong. If His Highness has any shortcomings, it will be a loss for the people of the world."

"If a gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall, he will naturally know it."

Liu Chan waved his hand and asked: "Is the matter of military food and civilian work going smoothly?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ba immediately said: "It's pretty smooth, but in a few months, I don't know if it will be as smooth as this."

"The Han army is making rapid progress in Guanzhong. If Guanzhong can be provided with part of the food and grass, the logistical pressure will be greatly reduced."

If Xiangyang transports grain to Guanzhong, ten portions of grain and grass will only arrive at one or two portions.

Thinking about it from another perspective, if Guanzhong can provide one or two pieces of food and grass for the Han army in front, then Xiangyang will save ten pieces of food and grass supply pressure.

"I hope so."

The Northern Expedition of the Han Dynasty was a battle that destroyed the country. Failure in this battle was related to the fate of the country.

At this time, no one dares to hold back, and no one wants to hold back.

After having a banquet with Liu Ba, Yang Yi, and Liao Li in Nanzheng, Liu Chan went through some supplies, and in the early morning of the next day, he quickly headed towards Guanzhong from Baoxie Road without stopping.

At the same time, in Luoyang, Sima Yi, as an envoy, read Cao Pi's edict in front of Xiahou Mao and Xiahou Shang.

".I order you two to lead 10,000 imperial troops and rush to Chang'an under starry night for a period of one month. No mistakes!"

After reading the edict, Sima Yi looked at Xiahou Mao and Xiahou Shang and said with a smile: "Two generals, please prepare quickly. The one month period mentioned by your majesty includes the time when I come here. Now the two generals have eighteen left." day."

The 18th?
The straight-line distance between Luoyang and Chang'an is only more than 700 miles, but if you include the twists and turns of the road, the distance is nearly a thousand miles. In other words, even if they set out today, they would have to march more than 50 miles in one day.

There is no doubt that this is a challenge for the Forbidden Army.

Xia Houmao looked a little uncertain. He stepped forward and asked Sima Yi, "Don't you have anything else to say, Your Majesty?"

Sima Yi naturally knew what Xia Houmao meant, but his expression remained as usual, he shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty has nothing else to say to you."

Xia Houmao touched the bridge of his nose, feeling a little unnatural.

In fact, he has been on tenterhooks these past few days.

There is no way not to be frightened. He was guarding Chang'an, but he escaped from Chang'an privately. If we dig deeper, the emperor could chop off his head.

Unexpectedly, there is no punishment at all.

of course
It wasn't like there was no punishment at all. Your Majesty still let him go back to Chang'an.

But there is a difference between going to support Chang'an and staying in Chang'an.

After all, those who stayed behind in Chang'an would be punished by death if they lost Chang'an, and if the Han army attacked Chang'an, it would also be punished by death.

It seems that His Majesty still feels sorry for his family.

Xia Houmao immediately puffed up his chest and said, "Since the military situation is so strong, we will set off tonight without any hesitation!"

He now hopes that Zhang He can guard Chang'an, so that maybe he will not be punished for leaving his post without permission.

If Chang'an is lost, based on his understanding of His Majesty's temperament, he may be exempted from the death penalty, but he will definitely not be able to escape the living crime.

Xia Houshang nodded lightly and said, "Now I'll prepare something later."

Seeing Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Mao leaving, Sima Yi shook his head.

The talents of the Cao family and the Xiahou family are starting to run out. Next, the world of Wei will not be in charge of the Cao family and the Xiahou family.

The opportunity for his Sima family to take advantage of the situation has come!

He rolled his eyes and asked the internal officials following him, "Where is the prince?"

The internal official was stunned for a moment, and then said: "The prince's supervision of the country is either at the Shangshutai or in the Queen's Jiaofang Palace."

Sima Yi nodded.

"Now that you've come to Luoyang, why don't you meet the queen and the prince?"

As someone close to Cao Pi, Sima Yi knew much more about Cao Pi's physical condition than other courtiers.

He has almost burned the hot stove, and now the cold stove of the prince also needs to be heated in due time.

Only in this way can Sima Yifang remain invincible! (End of chapter)