People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1619: Cut off the message, troops surround Chang'an

Chang'an, the magnificent imperial capital, stands on the Guanzhong Plain.

Majestic and solemn, solemn and luxurious.

Absolutely inviolable.

Countless people enter and exit the twelve city gates in an orderly manner every day, busy with their own lives.

It’s just past May and the weather is already extremely hot and humid.

Suddenly, a Qianniu Guard came running from the west along the Wei River to the Jinguan Gate in Chang'an, exhausted.

Just as he arrived at the city gate, Qianniu Guard lost control and fell to the ground, falling off his horse.

The people around him quickly retreated in fear, and the guards at the left gate rushed forward to help him up.

Only then did they discover that there was a broken arrow stuck in the back of this Qianniu Guard and blood was already flowing out.

It can be seen that this man was hit by an arrow very early, but the arrow did not hit the vital point, which allowed him to break the long arrow and rush to Chang'an.

But when we arrived in Chang'an, it was the end.

He lay on the ground, extremely exhausted, raising his head with great difficulty, grabbing the 800-li urgent report on his waist, looking at the left gate guard beside him, and said with rapid breathing: "Lanzhou was defeated, the left guard general Wang Xiaojie was killed by the water attack of King Peng, King Peng broke into Dingxi, captured the left Jinwu guard general Ma Sizong, and is besieging Tianshui. Report to the general immediately, quickly..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the Qianniu Guard turned his head away and fell silent.

The left gate guard at the side immediately put his hand on his heart, and realizing that he was still breathing, he immediately asked his men to settle him down, and he quickly ran towards the palace.

At the same time, the people of Chang'an who heard the news were also in an uproar.

King Peng is coming back to kill us.

Tianshui is not far from Chang'an.

Half a year ago, they learned that Crown Prince Li Chongzhao, who disappeared in the East Palace bloodbath and the Chang'an skyfire, had actually escaped to Yangzhou.

With the support of Prince Qi, Princess Wencheng, Grand Tutor Pei Xingjian, and Grand Preceptor and Minister of Zongzheng Temple Wei Siqian, Li Chongzhao ascended the throne in Yangzhou.

Then he honored the Queen Mother as the Grand Empress Dowager, denounced Li Dan for plotting to murder Emperor Zhongzong, ascended the throne through a palace coup, and called on the whole country to attack him.

However, not many provincial governors across the country responded to the call for an expedition, and the only one who actually sent troops was Li Xuan, who had returned from the Western Regions.

Li Xuan led his troops directly to block the outside of Lanzhou City, and then questioned Fan Yunxian how Emperor Zhongzong died.

Fan Yunxian couldn't answer.

In an instant, the people of Guanzhong knew that there was doubt about the death of Emperor Zhongzong.

Chang'an, Luoyang.

Among the people in the two capitals of the east and the west, countless disgusting rumors and conspiracies were spread.

But soon, the rumor died down.

The imperial court sent troops.

Twenty thousand men were drawn from the Sixteen Guards in Chang'an to go to Luoyang, ten thousand were drawn from the Sixteen Guards in Luoyang, plus forty thousand were drawn from the local government troops, and finally a total of 70,000 men were used to attack Yangzhou.

Thirty thousand troops were drawn from the Sixteen Guards of Chang'an, plus twenty thousand troops from Lanzhou, Ganliang and Shasu, plus the twenty thousand drawn out troops, a total of seventy thousand troops, to attack Changzhou.

Although everyone in the Tang Dynasty regarded Li Xuan as the next generation's military god, the next generation is just the next generation.

Some people even directly analyzed that Li Xuan was short of food and weapons, and even his soldiers were not united. As long as they could defeat him in summer or autumn, the northwest could be secured.

Other Chang'an citizens might not necessarily admit it, but they certainly recognized the military equipment.

No one in the world can compete head-on with the Tang Dynasty.

Even when Li Xuan conquered Tubo, it was because he had endless logistical support from the central government behind him.

Without almost endless crossbows and arrows, even Li Xuan would not be able to defeat Tubo.

This time, with Wang Xiaojie as the general, the attack on Changzhou was originally a 50-50 match, but with the support of countless military equipment from the Ministry of War, there was no reason for Li Xuan to not be defeated.

The rumor spread throughout Chang'an in a very short time, but few people mentioned the difficulty of the mountain road and the miasma on the plateau.

So now, when the people of Chang'an heard the news that Wang Xiaojie was defeated in Shanzhou and Tianshui was besieged, they were immediately furious.

Next, the news that King Peng was about to return to Chang'an spread throughout Chang'an in a very short time.

It was at this time that all sixteen gates of Chang'an City slammed shut.

Chang'an was closed and the people were not allowed to enter or leave.

But outside the Chunming Gate in Chang'an, a team of cavalry was already heading towards Luoyang frantically.

However, just when they were ten miles away from Chang'an, a volley of crossbow arrows flew up from the mountains and forests on both sides.

Covered it heavily.

In an instant, half of the galloping cavalry had disappeared.

The next moment, as more crossbow arrows flew up, Zhou Qian, dressed in red and golden armor, led two teams of Qianniu Guards and attacked directly.

One side was well prepared, the other side was caught off guard.

One side is experienced in battle, the other side is eager to run.

In the end, at a very small cost, Zhou Qian cut off the way for Chang'an to report news to Luoyang.

Soon, everything was thoroughly cleaned up, and Zhou Qian turned around and headed towards Chang'an.

The gates of Chang'an have been closed, but the sixteen guards around Chang'an are gathering rapidly.

……

A night of panic.

Rumors abound.

On the second day, the city gates were still closed, and many people who wanted to leave the city were completely blocked inside.

Xue Guwu appeared calmly on the city gate.

As the flags were waved, the Left Guards, Right Guards, Left and Right Leading Guards, Left and Right Mighty Guards, Left and Right Military Guards, and Left and Right Valiant Guards, totaling 20,000 people, lined up in an orderly manner around the city of Chang'an.

Countless large and small crossbows and catapults were continuously transported out of the city.

On the city wall, the gate guards on the left and right had completely closed the city gate and scattered all over the wall. More crossbow arrows were transported to the city gate.

Xue Guwu looked towards the end of the sky and earth in the distance. He was confident that even if Li Xuan really came to kill him, it would be impossible for him to break through Chang'an City.

Chang'an City, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, was not easy to capture. As long as he waited for a while until Luoyang's support arrived, even if Li Xuan led a large army to attack, he would be trapped.

But Xue Guwu felt vaguely uneasy.

It was inevitable that the imperial capital of Chang'an was not easy to conquer. What he was worried about was Li Xuan and his means of manipulating people's hearts.

Wang Xiaojie was questioned again about the cause of Emperor Zhongzong's death under the city of Lanzhou, but he could not answer. Li Xuan even suspected that Emperor Zhongzong died at his hands.

There was even the murder of the deposed Crown Prince Li Xian, which later caused a huge uproar.

Because of this incident, in Luoyang, Dou Xuande, Doulu Qinwang and others were still targeting Ma Sizong.

Yes, they were the ones who kept targeting Ma Sizong.

No one is a fool. The cause of death of Emperor Zhongzong could not be made public, and the deposed Crown Prince Li Xian was killed by Ma Sizong. The awe of the people of the world for the Li Tang royal family was rapidly weakening. So, one day, someone might directly rush to the palace and kill Li Dan.

This is something that people like Dou Xuande, Dou Lu and Qinwang are extremely taboo about.

In other words, Ma Sizong had to send his troops to the west now, otherwise, in Luoyang, those memorials alone would be enough to overwhelm him.

But now it is unknown whether Ma Sizong is alive or dead. If he falls into Li Xuan's hands, who knows how much trouble Li Xuan will use him to stir up.

King Peng has always liked to manipulate people's hearts.

But in the past, he was always dealing with external affairs, so the court was not too worried.

But when he arrived in Chang'an, the court began to worry.

Especially Xue Guwu, especially Xue Guwu.

Without anyone saying anything, Xue Guwu knew that Li Xuan would not let him go so easily.

……

"Woo woo woo..." The loud sound of the trumpet finally rang out between heaven and earth.

Countless white cavalry rushed into Xue Guwu's sight.

White?

Xue Guwu was slightly stunned, and his face instantly turned ugly.

Because at the end of his sight, countless cavalrymen wearing white linen mourning clothes were quickly heading towards Chang'an.

White flags, white banners, and white cavalry. When the soldiers outside Chang'an City saw this scene, they couldn't help but burst into an uproar.

A lot of things flooded into their minds in an instant.

The death of Emperor Zhongzong, the bloodbath in the Eastern Palace, the escape of Crown Prince Li Chongzhao, the accession of the Crown Prince in Yangzhou, the death of the deposed Crown Prince Li Xian...

Countless past rumors quickly appeared in the eyes of all the soldiers. They looked at their comrades in the distance who were wearing white linen mourning clothes, and their eyes couldn't help but hesitate.

……

Under the black banner, Li Xuan led the way.

Wang Fangyi, Li Duozuo, Qu Chongyu, Tang Zhenxing, Lun Gongren, Li Gu, Ren Enci, Cui Ding, Zhou Qian and countless other generals led their troops to follow Li Xuan.

They were all dressed in white linen mourning clothes, looking in the direction of Chang'an City. Although their eyes were firm, they still couldn't help but flash a hint of hesitation.

Chang'an City, that is Chang'an City.

The imperial capital of the Tang Dynasty.

In other words, Empress Wu and the Emperor were not in Chang'an now. Otherwise, just being so close to Chang'an City would be enough to make them breathe rapidly and look nervous.

Five miles away from Chang'an City, Li Xuan's banner stopped first.

Immediately afterwards, military flags waved and military orders were passed.

The next moment, Wang Fangyi had led 10,000 troops towards the northwest of Chang'an City, as if he wanted to bypass the military formation in front of him and head towards the north gate.

There are three city gates on the north side, but they are all on the west side of the imperial palace, and the rest are the inner courtyard of the imperial palace.

However, the inner courtyard of the imperial palace was guarded by imperial guards. Although he was not worried when Wang Fangyi charged towards the imperial palace, Xue Guwu still could not help but dispatched the left and right guards to guard against it.

Under the big banner, the military flag waved again. Li Duozuo had led 10,000 cavalrymen of the Right Guard towards the south gate of Chang'an City.

Xue Guwu did not dare to be careless, as the Left and Right Guards, the Wei Guards, and the Left and Right Leading Army Guards had already followed him towards the south gate of Chang'an.

To the west of Chang'an City, there are only the Left and Right Guards and the Left and Right Xiao Guards, numbering over 10,000 people.

Among them, the right guards are the most numerous.

The five thousand right guards looked with complicated expressions at the Right Guard General opposite them, and the eight thousand right guards, five thousand left guards, about ten thousand brave guards, three thousand left Qianniu guards, and three thousand left Jinwu guards under his command, a total of twenty-nine thousand people.

Only by adding the left and right gate guards on the entire Chang'an city wall, Xue Guwu would have the actual military force to fight against Li Xuan.

Of course, Xue Guwu now has Chang'an as the leader, and Li Xuan's troops are not all present.

Once a war breaks out between the two sides, it will inevitably be a bloody battle.

……

Li Xuan raised his head, his gaze passed Xue Guwu and fell on the entire Chang'an City.

The grass and trees are green and the population is bustling.

It is still the familiar Chang'an City.

Li Xuan gently swung his right hand backwards.

The next moment, a thousand right guards immediately stepped forward, and soon, a tall mourning shed was built in the west of Chang'an City.

There is only one.

Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty.

It faces east and sits west, overlooking the entire Chang'an city.

Li Xuan walked forward alone and calmly, and stopped at the farthest range of the Fuyuan Crossbow, which was the location of the spirit shed. Then, looking at the countless soldiers in Chang'an City, he called out calmly, "Bring the Right Guard General Ma Sizong."

Two war horses immediately stepped forward, and they were Zhou Qian and Cui Ding.

Among them, a general who was tied up and dragged appeared in front of everyone.

This person was none other than Ma Sizong, the General of the Left Jinwu Guard.

(End of this chapter)