Han officials

Chapter 120 Undercurrent
The background of Ma Rui, the magistrate of Xigaima County, is actually similar to that of Wei Zhe. Both are sons of powerful people in border counties.

The only difference is that Wei Zhe was from Liaodong, while he was from Wuyuan County, Bingzhou.

Due to the similar living environment, Ma Rui's style of doing things in Xigema County is quite similar to Wei Zhe's.

Yao Xi had originally wanted to recommend this person when he returned home to report on his work during the New Year's Day this year, but...

Forget it, it's too late to say anything now.

In front of Zhong Jun, Yao Xi did not hide his worries.

"The Goguryeo offensive is getting more and more intense, and the city gates are about to collapse."

"Then block them!" Zhong Jun said without hesitation, "Even if the battle reaches every street and alley, I will fight the Goguryeo people to the death!"

After saying this, he couldn't help but stroke the ring-handled sword at his waist, his eyes full of determination.

However, Yao Xi glared at him angrily when he heard this: "Why are you afraid of death, sir?"

"Have you forgotten? During the winter training at the Military Academy two years ago, the Lord Lord said that defending a city should not be a desperate defense."

Yao Xi said hesitantly, "If we seal the city gates, we won't be able to leave the city in time to respond when the prince arrives!"

Seeing him mention the Military Academy, Zhong Jun couldn't help but fall silent.

But after thinking for a moment, he shook his head with a firm expression.

"Your Excellency once said, 'A general should think of defeat before he thinks of victory.'"

"If I want to see reinforcements, I have to live until that time first!"

Hearing this, Yao Xi pondered for a long time and finally nodded silently.

That night, he ordered the young and strong men in the city to fill the city gates with stones, and if there were not enough stones, they would demolish the houses.

At this point, the city of Sigaima is in a desperate situation!
……

At the same time, in the Goguryeo camp.

In the brightly lit general's tent, only Bayer and Guduer were sitting at the top.

Although Bayer was the leader of this expedition and Guduer was his deputy, there was not much difference in their status.

This is because Gu Duer was one of the five tribes of Goguryeo, so naturally they did not dare to underestimate Bayer, a general from another family.

Especially when his 20,000 troops were mostly composed of warriors from five groups including Guilou and Junnu.

Bayer said with a grim expression, "Is there any news from Shang Yintai?"

"No news has come yet. The Buyeo people must still be attacking the city!"

Gu Duer heard this and said with disdain, "Only the king would take those old Buyeo dogs seriously!"

Although Goguryeo originated from Buyeo, they had long since disenchanted with this ethnic group.

Even in the eyes of many Goguryeo people, the Buyeo Kingdom was a group of corrupt old stubborn people, and like their king, they would sooner or later be annexed by Goguryeo.

If Gao Nanwu had not insisted on his own way this time, the marriage proposal would never have been proposed within Goguryeo.

When he heard him say this, Bayer couldn't help but frown and felt inexplicably uneasy.

He could only order again: "Send more scouts and make sure to find out the movements of the Han army!"

But it would have been fine if he didn't mention this matter. As soon as he mentioned Gu Duer, he got a headache.

"Send more scouts? We already have insufficient scouts!"

Gu Duer didn't know why the Xuansou people were so fearless that some of them even took the initiative to get involved.

During these days, at least 500 Yicong cavalrymen from all over Xuanchuo have arrived in Xigema County.

They did not actively attack the Goguryeo camp, but just wandered in the wilderness from time to time.

How should I put it? They're like a group of hyenas and jackals, they'll come up and bite you out of the blue.

They harassed Goguryeo's food supply, captured and killed Goguryeo scouts, and intercepted messengers. Gu Duer did send a large army to encircle and suppress them, but the enemy would escape if he made a little noise.

There is no Han Chinese character at all, it is completely a grassland style.

Of course, there was no major damage, just a little delay.

However, thinking back to the tribal warriors lost during the siege, Gu Duer suddenly couldn't help but say, "How about... withdrawing the troops?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Bayer was shocked.

He glared at Gu Duer and said angrily, "The king has entrusted us with such an important task. How can we give up halfway?"

However, Gu Duer was not afraid at all, he just moved his butt awkwardly.

But he also had his reasons. Gu Duer confidently said, "The Lelang Han army has been dispatched en masse, and the inner city has been attacked again. The king is now in danger. How can we sit idly by and do nothing?"

The more he talked, the more confident he became. He glared at Bayer and said, "Is the king's safety less important than your military achievements?"

Upon hearing this, Bayer naturally could not admit it and immediately denied it repeatedly.

However, Gu Duer's words finally wavered Bayer.

Although the king repeatedly instructed him before the troops went out to fight, telling him to just focus on the battle and not worry about the rear.

But that being said, who knows if the king really thinks so in his heart.

If he knew that the city was in danger and did not withdraw his troops, would he be falsely accused of having ulterior motives afterwards?

Even if the king really thought so at the beginning, would he have any opinion of him in the future?

For a moment, all kinds of concerns suddenly flooded into Bayer's mind.

However, thinking of the crumbling city of Segema during the day, Bayer gritted his teeth and shook his head: "Don't even mention the withdrawal!"

Seeing that he was so stubborn, Gu Duer had no choice but to walk away with a gloomy face.

After returning to the headquarters, Gu Duer thought about it and still felt that there was a problem.

"No, we can't let our men waste away here any longer!"

Gu Duer said to Narisi, the young master of the Guannu tribe gathered in his tent, "So many men from our five tribes were killed or wounded in this expedition, but we gained very little. This is definitely a trap."

After all, Gao Nanwu’s interests are not the interests of the five tribes of Goguryeo, so they don’t care about the overall situation.

Gu Duer only knew that if they continued to attack the city, who knows how many of their five men would die.

By then, Gao Nanwu probably won't give any compensation, but will instead control them even more wantonly.

In fact, Gao Nanwu has promoted a large number of generals from other families in recent years in order to suppress the power of the five tribes of Goguryeo.

Although these five tribes were the strongest backing of the Goguryeo king in the early days, as Goguryeo became more and more feudal, Gao Nanwu felt that these five tribes became more and more annoying.

Gu Duer knew this clearly, and Najisi, the young master of the Guannu tribe, also knew this.

"The talk of taking over the Han Chinese population of Xuanchu and letting the five tribes split up has been a lie." Naris couldn't help but regret it. "It seems that the talk of taking over Xuanchu County was fake, and the real purpose was to weaken our strength."

Najisi became increasingly angry as he thought about it. He couldn't help but slap the couch and said, "Why bother with Ba Ye'er? Why don't we gather our men and go there ourselves? What can he do to me?"

Najis is not being arrogant, but they really have the ability.

If the relationship really breaks out, most of the Goguryeo army outside the city will probably go against Bayer.

However, Gu Duer only gave it a brief consideration and then shook his head.

"No, this is too reckless and will definitely give the king a handle."

Even if they successfully led their troops back by then, Gao Nanwu would definitely use this as an excuse to weaken them.

After pacing back and forth in the tent for a while, Gu Duer suddenly had an idea and immediately came up with a plan...

(End of this chapter)