The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 148 The Beautiful Legend of Yucheng County
As if they had received some kind of signal, except Zhao Chong who had fled deep into Ruzhou, Zhazhu, Xiao, Zhang Jide, Ma Quanzheng, Cao Zhe, Fei Zhongkang, Xie Jun, Liu Bo, Zhang Fan, Ashina Luoxue, Gadebei, Lun Jiqiong, Mo Zangqiqi and other bandits gathered again in Zhengzhou. Together with the men and women conquered along the way, their total force exceeded 100,000.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, they broke through the eastern blockade line built by Deputy Envoy Ding Hui along Guancheng, Xinzheng and Weishi, and launched a surprise attack on Zhongmou County.

Upon hearing the news, Ge Congzhou, who was organizing defenses in Henan Prefecture to fight against the troops of Yang Shouliang and Shouxin, had no choice but to send troops to rescue. Zhongmou County was the western gateway of Beijing and could not be lost, so Xie Yanzhang, the cavalry trainer, was sent to lead 7,000 cavalry and infantry troops to Hulao Pass to provide support and cut off the bandits' retreat. Jia Sheng, the commander of Heyin Cangzhen, led 15,000 state troops to retreat, saying that there was no need to fight - but to build camps and demolish bridges on important traffic routes to block the bandits' way back to the west. When the emperor returned to Daliang, he would sweep away these rats like autumn leaves.

On the 11th, Zhazhu suddenly turned into Bianliang and attacked Zhuxianyi, a key node on Zhu Wen’s grain route, in order to lure the people of Bianliang to come to the rescue.

It must be said that this move was quite vicious and brought the advantage of the cavalry to the extreme. Zhuxianyi was just outside the capital, and there was almost no garrison except for the civilians and officials who transported the baggage day and night. When Zhu Youwen, the deputy envoy of Jianchang Palace, learned that the bandits had come, he ordered the escort of the property to evacuate to Bianliang City, but it was too late. Ding Hui, Xie Yanzhang, and Jia Sheng decided to come to support.

The Shatuo people under Zhazhuling pretended to riot in front of the battle, and fled in a panic, and then defeated the chasing Bian army in Guandu Town, northeast of Zhongmu County. It was almost a replica of Qianfu's fight against Li Keyong, when the Shatuo people fought against the 70,000-strong army of various towns led by Cao Xiang and Li Jun. Seeing the enemy rebelling before the battle, should we chase them or not? If you don't do it, can the soldiers bear it? In the battle of Honggu, as a veteran, couldn't Cao Xiang see through Li Keyong's tricks? It can only be said that some fire pits are simply aimed at people's hearts.

After the defeat at Guandu, Ding Hui retreated to Zhongmou County. Xie Yanzhang and Jia Sheng each set up camp outside the city and no longer went out to fight, waiting for the Empress Dowager who was in charge of Bianliang to readjust the defense.

On the 13th, thanks to the flat terrain without any obstacles, the bandits, accompanied by the captured supplies, marched slowly to the city of Bianliang. The densely populated Central Plains is good. Many bandits even have two or three animals. One war horse, two cows, donkeys, mules, etc. The former are fattened and trimmed when not fighting, and maintain physical strength. The latter transport food and war equipment with the captured men and women. If they lose, they will throw away their things and go again.

On the 14th, martial law was imposed in Bianliang.

The capital was in a state of panic, with rumors swarming. Some said that His Majesty was killed in the river, and some said that Ding Hui died in the chaos. One moment, they said that they were going to fight outside the city. The Empress Dowager urgently summoned Hu Zhen, the governor of the Yicheng Army in Huazhou, Xie Tong, the governor of Songzhou, Pang Shigu, the governor of Xu, Si, Hao and Shou, Zhu Youyu, the governor of Pu and Cao, and Yuan Xiangxian, the commander of the militia in Bozhou, to come to the rescue. The local militias in Cai, Shen, Guang, Yu and Ying were also included in the imperial edict. Only the towns along the Yellow River could not leave because they had to protect the grain route.

The battle situation is chaotic.

Inside the Zhaoyang Palace, the Queen Mother looked at the memorial in her hand with a gloomy face.

It was supposed to be a good year. Shaanxi and Guo were newly acquired, Wuning was pacified, and Xuan and Jin were frightened. The old rival Li Keyong was besieged by Zhao and Yan again. Li Sian and Zhang Guiba had already surrounded Luzhou, and Zhaoyi was within reach. Although Zhao Kuangning was jumping for joy, he never dared to attack with all his strength. Wang Gong and Wang Yao in the west surrendered, and the Daliang army took Jiang and Jinzhou without bloodshed. The army was approaching Pubanjin, and the Tang emperor was dying in Shouyang Mountain. Although the resistance was quite fierce and difficult to fight, it was not as difficult as the Xu people. It was not a dream to swallow up the remnants of the whale and enter Chang'an. It seemed that they could have a good winter solstice, but the dismounted thieves rushed straight to Bianliang.

Ge Congzhou dispatched troops and defeated Yang Shouliang and Yang Shouxin's attempt to capture Luoyang, and achieved remarkable results, but in the eyes of the Queen Mother, he was already a sinner. He only cared about his head and not his buttocks, and was killed by the bandits in Bianliang, causing panic in the capital, which greatly disappointed her.

And Ding Hui. He followed Huang Chao to fight for thousands of miles across the country, and was highly recommended by the ministers as the one who understood the bandits' minds the best. But this is what happened?
Xie Yanzhang was knocked off his horse by an unknown barbarian in the Guandu horse battle and was nearly beheaded... The so-called first cavalry general of Daliang now seems to be a tall man among short men. There are not many generals inside and outside who are good at horse battles. How high can the real level of Xie Yanzhang, the first cavalry general, be?

The good news is that the soldiers from Bozhou and Yicheng have arrived, and Bianliang is relatively safe. We just need to wait for the troops from all directions to gather together. If the pig-like people don't leave, we will annihilate the bandits under the city.

The Queen Mother rubbed her temples and continued to read Ge Congzhou's urgent report: "...The Western bandits are arrogant and have rushed forward recklessly. They are rushing to the middle of the river to besiege Wei to save Zhao. At this time, just use the capital as bait. Once I have properly dealt with the military affairs in Luoyang, I will advance overnight... Please ask the state soldiers and local militia to dig trenches and plant trees, fortify the walls and clear the fields, rely on the water on all sides to trap the bandits in one corner, fortify the city and wait for me, and do not engage in battle. Let the foreign troops gather... This is the best way... I have carefully considered the situation and will risk my life to chase them. I will not let them cross Bianliang even a mile or half an inch and offend the majesty of the two emperors at the gate..."

Ge Congzhou's strategy to defeat the enemy was exactly the same as she had guessed.

But the Queen Mother no longer dared to trust this man completely. However, she would not show this distrust in public. After reading it, the calm Queen Mother thought for a while and calmly ordered: "Let the Secretariat send an envoy to tell Ge Congzhou that I don't blame him. Save the land of Heluo for me, so that I don't have to worry about Liang and Xin. Don't worry about Bianliang, panic, and miscontrol the overall situation."

Being attacked by the bandits was her worst-case scenario. Since she had chosen to send all her forces to attack Keyong and Li Ye, this was the price she had to pay. Relying on the state soldiers, local militias and a small number of imperial guards left behind in the country, coupled with the small number of cavalry, it was difficult to destroy the bandits who came and went like the wind.

The responsibility cannot be entirely blamed on Ge Congzhou.

The diva is wise.

After finishing the trivial matters, the Queen looked at the map with a wooden expression: The terrain of the Central Plains is too bad. Apart from the Yellow River and Hulao Pass, there is almost no geographical advantage. What should we do if the Tang ruler invades every autumn in the future? Build a village along the way, learn from the Tang Dynasty to deal with Tubo, and store a large number of troops in the prefectures and counties to prevent autumn? If this goes on for several times, they will be defeated without fighting. Perhaps we should consider moving the capital to Xuchang or Songzhou.

The palace gates were wide open, and she went to the north city to inspect the enemy situation.

The Ye Ting Ling Li Yi, the Xuanhui Envoy Jiang Xuanhui, the Kaifeng Yin Zhang Tingfan, the Imperial City Envoy and the General of the Left Yulin Guard Wang Yanzhang and others led the servants, ministers, and guards and followed closely.

The emerald green Bian River meanders through the jungles on both sides to Songzhou.

The Queen of Heaven looked into the distance, her lips moving: "When will the smoke of war end? The victors will be victorious and the losers will all flee eastward..."

Look at the city. The autumn wind blows the fallen leaves, and the fields and markets are devastated. The town is in ruins, and there is no smoke or fire. Including the men and women captured by the bandits, more than 100,000 people are scattered across the plains, which is a spectacular sight.

"The bandits are extremely powerful..." She looked abnormally calm.

She is like a god overlooking the chaos of the world, always looking at everything with an attitude that is detached from the mundane world. If you peek closely at her eyes, you can see that she has seen through the mundane world.

This beautiful and unparalleled girl, who was once famous in the southern country, has been completely ruined since she was attacked by the Tongzhou army, just like a painting that has lost its color...

"The Queen Mother is at Fengqiu Gate!" Some Bian soldiers shouted excitedly.

The Queen smiled and nodded to him.

"Long live!" The troops cheered loudly.

The dismounted bandits on the other side of the moat were in an uproar when they heard the noise.

Those petty thieves from the Han and Tibetan communities stared at the Queen Mother intently, as if they were eyeing the most delicious delicacy, wanting to engrave the Queen Mother's appearance in their minds forever.

"Damn it, how can there be such a beautiful woman in the world. No wonder Zhu Wen treated her as a treasure even after she was beaten to death. If it were me, I would also seduce my soul."

"The Saint's Consort He Shufei is far inferior to this one."

Amidst the buzz of discussion, a group of officers rode their horses to the moat and uttered blasphemous words towards Fengqiu Tower.

"Ahui, no matter how many times Zhu Wen has ridden you, no matter how many warriors will beat you in the future, and no matter how many dead wood will be used to fill your Yang Yuan, in the spring of the second year of Zhonghe, you are just a slave of our Tongzhou army, a bitch who was fucked to pieces by me, hahahaha." Fei Zhongkang laughed lasciviously, licking his lips and savoring the taste.

"Once I conquer Bianliang, I will let the whole city of Bianliang see how their queen was tortured to death."

"What do you mean the most beautiful woman in the Central Plains? I think she is just a slut who likes to be abused. If you don't want to be played with, just surrender. Saint Li is kind and will not embarrass you."

Liu Bo, the flying cavalry captain, raised two fingers and looked up at Fengqiu Tower proudly: "My dear sister, you have two choices now. One is to open the gate and welcome the royal army." Liu Bo put away one finger: "The second is to let us break into the city and let those Tibetans who have not taken a bath for more than ten years and have body odor all over their bodies be tortured to death for a whole month, and then die with your dirty and lowly meat bowl."

"Filthy words, so obscene..." Wang Yanzhang was so angry that his face turned red. Your Majesty is really crazy! Let a woman sit in Bianliang and endure such humiliation. How cruel. Your Majesty can't protect his wife and prevent the Queen from being humiliated and hurt. What kind of man is he?

Zhang Tingfan sighed to the sky, "Your Majesty, it's time to return home, otherwise the Queen will continue to be defiled like this." Although it was only verbal, even he couldn't stand it... The ministers looked at each other. Every sentence of the Queen's love story shocked them, and they were speechless.

The Bian army warriors on the city wall either bravely observed the Queen Mother, or cursed at the bandits, or felt sorry for the Queen Mother's experience in their hearts.

"Queen, please return to the palace." Xuanhui Envoy Jiang Xuanhui and Ye Ting Ling Li Yi respectfully advised. If this group of people continued to speak obscenely, they were afraid that the Queen's heart would collapse. The Queen was already very depressed...

The Queen's ancient well is calm and peaceful.

Since she grew up, Yin Lihua's beauty spread throughout the states, and she became accustomed to being scrutinized, envied, greedy, hateful, and longingly stared at by all kinds of men and women.

Life is full of trials and tribulations, and she tried to treat this as a form of practice.

"The moon shines brightly over the sea, the pearls shed tears; the sun shines brightly over the blue sky, the jade smokes..." Her eyes were slightly closed, and a trace of red flowed from the corners of her mouth. She would just treat this evil skin as if it was not her own...

Li Yi and Jiang Xuanhui rushed forward and shouted, "Queen of Heaven! Queen of Heaven!"

Wang Yanzhang was furious. He slid behind the queen before the waiter and opened his hands to the left and right. He gently lifted her up and caught her. He didn't even bother to taste the fragrant body odor that penetrated his nostrils. He turned around and shouted to the soldiers upstairs: "Shoot, shoot!"

"Release..." A handsome falconer panted, holding the bow in his left hand, with his right palm bleeding in the air. Before the arrow was put on the bowstring, he fell to the ground with a bunch of arrows stuck in his throat; his eyes were fixed on a hare that had been trampled into pieces on the ground. Damn, you look like me...

In the river, Shouyang Mountain has long been a Shura field.

On the sixth day of September, Zhu Wen arrived.

On the seventh day, Zhu Wen ordered people to shoot a letter to persuade Li Ni to surrender, saying that he had prepared two kings and three ministers, and was willing to respect Li Ni as the King of Qin, with Chang'an as the capital, and a fief of 30,000 households, which was higher than the princes. He was the commander of all military affairs in Guanzhong. He did not call himself a vassal in the letter, but still treated the emperor as the emperor in his fiefdom. He said that as long as he accepted this edict, he would withdraw his troops immediately and marry his eldest daughter Zhu Lingya to Li Ni's eldest son; but to no avail.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the Bian army began to attack fiercely. In order to seize Shouyang Mountain, the southern stronghold that controls Pubanjin, Zhu Wen divided his troops into dozens of groups and attacked day and night for four consecutive days until September 11, without stopping for a moment; he was completely reckless and took on Xu and Cai. The battle on the twelfth day was still fierce. Zhu Wen was armed and led the front line in person. Li Ni's army used the stronghold and terrain to fight desperately. Both sides risked their lives. The most intense fighting was a mountain of corpses on the road in front of Xiebei Stronghold, and the soil was dyed red.

It was impossible to stand in front of several other villages, as there were only pieces of hearts, lungs, internal organs, intestines, and all kinds of broken limbs.

The subsequent attack and defense were still extremely brutal.

In addition to hand-to-hand combat, he also used all kinds of despicable tactics, such as arson, poisoning, throwing rocks, and digging tunnels. Zhu Wen really didn't expect Li Ni to be so tenacious. And there was no warrior who killed Li Ni and surrendered. Are they all so loyal?
Wang Congxun, He Chuyu, Tao Jianzhao, Liu Xun and others stationed in Hedong County, which controlled the northern passage of Pubanjin, also went out of the city to fight against the Bian army to prevent the loss of Shouyang Mountain, harassing the grain route through Yuxiang and relieving Li's pressure. But the effect was not very good. The sage strictly ordered them not to come to rescue, but to defend Hedong City to the death, and be careful that Zhu Wen suddenly changed his target.

On September 14th, there was a heavy rain, and thick fog rose over the mountains.

So that night Zhu Wen organized his troops again and personally led the team to launch a surprise attack. In fact, he was an expert in night battles and fog battles, and was good at fighting in special environments. But this time his opponent was not the arrogant and defenseless Cai generals like Qin Xian and Zhang Zhi. This was not a large plain like the bank of the Bian River. The royal army camped against the mountain, with water sources, gullies, earth mounds, streams, whirlpools and other terrains, and trenches were dug. The soil was muddy and slippery after the rain. In addition, there were thickets of thorns and bushes, making it difficult to display. It was indeed difficult to fight. In the dark, the Bian army suffered many injuries and more than a dozen people were trampled to death. Zhu Wen himself had several bruises on his face, which made him very angry.

The Puguan defense system consisting of Shouyang Mountain, Hedong County, Iron Chain Bridge, and Chaoyi seemed to be no easier to attack than the Twelve Linked Cities of Tongguan. Zhu Wen really wanted to ask the Yellow River: Why are all the advantages of the terrain occupied by Guanzhong? His hatred for Li Ni grew stronger day by day. Li Ye, Li Ye! These days, he silently recited this name thousands of times in his heart, secretly hoping that he would not fall into his hands, otherwise he would personally cut open this kid and the bitch He Yuqing and Zhao Ruxin and kill them inch by inch to vent his anger.

September 15th, sunny, after two days of rest, the Bian army started the meat grinder again. Zhu Wen no longer had much time to slowly deal with Li Ni. The dismounted bandits were approaching Bianliang, Shouliang and Shouxin were wreaking havoc in Luoyang, and there was a trend of attacking the three cities of Henei. Everything was in turmoil. Although the Queen Mother did not send anyone to urge him, he knew his wife's character very well: once she ordered the troops to withdraw, there would be no room for maneuver or argument.

"Pull up the mountain!"

"Pull up the mountain!"

The iron boxcars rumbled forward, and the Bian army crowded together and pushed them at a trot.

……

The Saint Cat was behind a moss-covered boulder, holding a bow in his left hand, with a quiver full of arrows hanging from his waist. He was sticking half of his head out, squinting his eyes to observe the enemy.

"Your Majesty, you should go back to the village?" The soldiers beside him whispered to the emperor with disheveled hair. It was indeed miserable. Due to a lot of bow shooting, the palm and base of Li's right hand had been rotten and festering. He was wrapped in several rags and could no longer hold the knife to expand the bowstring. A few tatters of clothes and armor fell off his body. The wounds on his forehead from bumps and knocks opened from time to time, and the blood flowed slowly into the corners of his eyes.

"Replying to the chicken." The saint brushed his messy hair and said, "When a man dies, the birds fly up to the sky. Besides, it will take more than half a month to reach the end of the mountain and water. We still have nearly 20,000 people, no shortage of food and water, and the village is still there. How long will Zhu Wen's sow chew? Wait, it will rain in a few days, and then the dogs of Bian will have a hard time. When we can't hold on any longer, I will lead my men to break out and defend Hedong County."

"Okay, okay, the saints are less afraid of death than us."

"I'll die if I want to. It's not worth it to have the emperor buried with me."

Yin Shouzhi spat out the grass stem in his mouth and slapped his thigh: "This is fucking exciting!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" A charge horn sounded from the bottom of the embankment. As the dense footsteps approached, the noise became clearer.

"Little Li, why are you still resisting?" A familiar voice entered the saint's ears: "Come out and receive the imperial edict. For the sake of Li Shimin, I will give Li a chance to live."

"Ha!" The saint sneered, "I am stubborn, soft-hearted, thick-skinned and thin-skinned. It's easy to kill me, it's just a knife, but it's hard to kneel down and dance for you." Whoosh. An arrow was shot out, and a grinning Bian soldier rolled on the ground, holding his crotch and screaming.

"Kill this little thief today!" Zhu Wen gritted his teeth and laughed excitedly and cruelly. He had seen Li Ni's true appearance. This day next year will be the day of your wife and children's death.

"Hahaha!" The saint tore off the bandage on his hand, narrowed his eyes, drew a bow with his left hand like a full moon, and shot an arrow like lightning. Before the flag bearer could react, the white banner behind the old dog of Bianliang had snapped and broke straight from the air onto Zhu Wen's head. The repressed resentment in his chest and all the experiences since he traveled through time were all spurted out at this moment with a curse: "Kill this old thief today!"

Zhao Fu, Yin Shouzhi, Wang Gui, Sima Kanwu, Li Zan and other officers were so angry that their eyes turned red: "Let's kill this old villain today!"

Dense groups of infantrymen were emerging from the stockade, ditches, bushes, and bamboo forests like mushrooms after rain, shouting and screaming, "Destroy Zhu Quanzhong!"

"Kill!" the Bian army roared.

"I'll chop you to death, you Henan native dog!"

Wearing a long sword and holding a Qin bow, his head and body are separated, but his heart is not broken. Sincerity is brave and he also uses force, he is strong and cannot be bullied. After his body dies, his spirit becomes a ghost, and his soul becomes a hero!

(End of this chapter)