My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 128: Food supplies are running low, and the rebel army is gaining momentum.

March of the fifth year of the Zheng Guang era (524 AD).

After the start of spring, the temperature in the northern border region gradually warms up, the snow melts, and a scene of vibrant life unfolds.

Inside the Wubao.

Morale is low and the morale is low.

Hou Jing was somewhat worried. The food in the fortified village was running low. If Gao Huan and Gao Yu hadn't stockpiled food in advance, the food reserves would probably have been exhausted by the time the cold winter months arrived, with thousands of people and horses feeding themselves.

It has been besieged for more than half a year, judging from the current situation.

The situation is unlikely to improve in the short term.

Not to mention the soldiers and retainers in the fortified village, even Hou Jing felt that if the court did not send a large army sooner or later, the country would be doomed.

He arrived at the inner courtyard, where Gao Huan was teasing Gao Cheng and the others. Gao Yang, who had always been disliked, seemed to be getting better, but he still had dark skin. Compared to his twin sister, he was completely different, let alone compared to Gao Cheng.

Although Gao Cheng is young, his facial features are very similar to Gao Huan's, and his skin is also very fair, which fully reflects the excellent and powerful DNA of the Gao family.

When Gao Yang stumbled and crawled to Gao Huan's feet, Gao Huan frowned, but still picked him up and teased him for a while.

But he quickly turned and handed it to the maid beside him.

What a pitiful child.

Gao Huan and Lou Zhaojun treated Gao Yang differently because he did not inherit the Gao family's excellent DNA. Even the maids in the fortified village would occasionally show disdain for Gao Yang.

"Ahui, come here!"

Hou Jing squatted down and waved. Gao Cheng rushed over with a smile. Hou Jing chuckled and tickled him with his beard. After a few tickles, Gao Cheng ran away in disgust.

Gao Huan approached Hou Jing and asked, "Wan Jing, what is it?"

Hou Jing still had a smile on his face, but he whispered a reminder, "The people in the fortified village are already restless. I just had several servants killed."

"No problem. Anyone who dares to sow discord among the people should be killed on the spot."

"I wonder how things are going on Moheduo's side."

Gao Huan looked eastward and shook his head, saying, "I don't know. The last news came several months ago, but it should be fine. If Wuchuan had fallen, the rebels in the east would have attacked long ago."

"I'm afraid their situation will be even more difficult than Huai Shuo's."

Gao Huan did not respond. For now, he could only continue to hold his ground and maintain the stalemate with the rebels.

Everything else is meaningless now.

The snow has melted; the imperial army should be arriving soon, right?
"Wan Jing, take some men to Huai Shuo City and find out from General Yang how much grain Huai Shuo City still has."

"We need to make plans as soon as possible."

………………

The imperial court was not entirely inactive.

As early as November of the fourth year of the Zheng Guang reign, the imperial court had already issued an edict appointing Yuan Yu, the Prince of Linhuai, as Grand Commander, in charge of all military and political affairs in the northern expedition.

Yuan Yu immediately dispatched troops to occupy Yunzhong, the main passage for the Six Garrisons to advance south. In early February of this year, the fifth year of Zheng Guang, he sent two large armies, one heading north from Wuyuan and the other heading north from Baidao.

This left and right correspond perfectly to Huai Shuo and Wu Chuan.

Unlike the people in Luoyang, Yuan Yu knew how serious the situation was for Huai Shuo and Wu Chuan, so he hurriedly dispatched troops to relieve the siege.

As a result, Li Shuren suffered a major defeat on the Baidao side, while on the Wuyuan side, Po Liuhan Baling also led his army to a great victory over the imperial army sent to quell the rebellion.

The large army, hastily conscripted, was simply courting death by engaging in open battle with the soldiers of the Six Garrisons, and they died peacefully as a result.

These two armies didn't even make a ripple, and the news didn't even reach Huai Shuo and Wu Chuan, so the people of Huai Shuo and Wu Chuan always thought that the imperial court hadn't sent any troops to quell the rebellion at all.

After two major defeats, Yuan Yu was so frightened that he dared not send troops out to attack again. He then held his ground in Yunzhong and sent someone to report the details to Luoyang.

Only the elite troops of the central army can compete with the brave soldiers of the Six Garrisons.

At least that's what Yuan Yu thinks.

March sixteenth.

The personal guards sent by Yuan Yu delivered the news to Luoyang. In addition... bad news also came from Longxi.

The rebel army led by the Mo brothers has already caused most of Liangzhou to fall, and their forces are now pointing towards Qinzhou and Liangzhou, just one step away from completing the "severing of the Longxi" (a strategic point in Liangzhou).

It was completely different from what the imperial court had planned.

After a harsh winter, the rebels' momentum only grew stronger.

Inside the Shiqian Hall.

Yuan Xu had no interest in reading. He looked at Yuan Ziyou and Gao Qian beside him and asked, rather bewildered.

"Ziyou, Qianyong... have I really been wrong?"

"Perhaps I should have followed the suggestion of the Duke of Chenliu and taken this rebellion of the people of the Six Garrisons seriously from the beginning?"

The series of bad news gradually made Yuan Xu realize that things were spiraling out of his control.

The rebels are gaining momentum and things are not as easy and simple as they were described during last year's court assembly.

Last year's court meeting.

Yuan Yi spoke with absolute certainty that the rebel army had little food and supplies, and that they would only last through the winter.

The rebel army would inevitably be demoralized and suffering from hunger and cold, allowing the imperial army to easily quell the rebellion by marching north.

But what about now?

Yuan Yu's army was easily defeated by the Six Garrisons rebels, as easily as kicking a stray dog ​​to death on the roadside.

With such fierce troops from the six garrisons, can they really be easily subdued?
Yuan Ziyou immediately shook his head in rebuttal, correcting him, "Your Majesty! You must not have such thoughts. How can you easily admit your mistakes when you have worked so hard to establish your prestige? What mistakes has the emperor made? The emperor cannot issue an edict of self-reproach, for that would lead to the downfall of the country. Even if there are mistakes, they are the fault of the court officials. The decline of the government and the rebellion of the border towns are all due to the lack of benevolent governance by the Prince of Jiangyang and others. Tomorrow at court, Your Majesty should..." Upon hearing this, Yuan Xu, who had been confused, suddenly brightened up and turned from worry to joy, saying, "With Ziyou's help, I have no worries."

The next day.

Inside the Tai Chi Hall.

Yuan Xu spoke with a stern face and a cold tone.

“Last year, when the Rouran king rebelled, the King of Jiangyang proposed that the Duke of Chenliu be ordered to lead a northern expedition against the Rouran. After the Duke of Chenliu returned from the northern expedition, he submitted a memorial to me requesting that the town be changed to a prefecture. At that time, I refused the Duke of Chenliu’s request because I believed that the laws of our ancestors could not be easily changed.”

"I have been thinking about this day and night, and I believe that someone in the court must have leaked the news, causing the people of the Six Garrisons to have improper thoughts, which has led to the disaster we have today!"

Everyone secretly sized up Li Chong.

Li Chong looked terrified, then helplessly closed his eyes.

If the emperor asks you to take the blame, how can you refuse?
Just as Yuan Ziyou said.

Even if there is a mistake, it is the fault of the subject. If you, Li Chong, had not insisted on proposing to "change the towns to prefectures" in court, how could those barbarians in the Six Towns have suddenly rebelled?

It was all because of Li Chong's memorial that the Six Garrisons had given them unwarranted hope!
Yuan Xu paused for a moment and then said, "I do not mean to blame anyone, but the rebels in the Six Garrisons have not yet been quelled. The Duke of Chenliu has led several northern expeditions and has gained a thorough understanding of the northern frontier. I intend to have the Duke of Chenliu lead troops north again to suppress the rebels. I wonder what the ministers think?"

Who would say no?

The barbarians in the north are fierce and ruthless; who would be willing to lead an army to quell a rebellion?

Let whoever wants to go go, just don't let them go.

Yuan Yi and Yuan Yong, unusually united in opinion, exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Chong sighed inwardly, knowing he couldn't avoid it, and quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, last year when I led the army north, I personally witnessed the suffering of the soldiers and civilians in the six garrisons. That is why I proposed changing the garrisons to prefectures, so that the soldiers and civilians in the six garrisons could be grateful for Your Majesty's grace and put their minds at ease. This old minister was foolish and never expected that it would lead to such a disaster. I deserve to die ten thousand times!"

"Today, Your Majesty not only does not hold me accountable for my mistakes, but also allows me to lead troops north to serve the country. I am deeply grateful. However... I am nearly seventy years old and have health problems. I am really not fit for military service. I beg Your Majesty to consider my situation and choose another worthy minister."

Yuan Xu's smile vanished abruptly, and he stared coldly at Li Chong.

"Is this how the Duke of Chenliu serves his country?"

"Since this matter arose because of Duke Chenliu, it should naturally be resolved by Duke Chenliu."

Speaking of which.

Li Chong dared not refuse any longer and could only bow down to express his gratitude.

The imperial court immediately appointed Li Chong as the Grand Commander of the Northern Expedition, granting him the authority to hold imperial credentials and the privilege of establishing his own government. Prince Yuan Yu of Linhuai was placed under Li Chong's command.

He began to mobilize the central army and followed Li Chong north.

Besides.

Another old acquaintance of Gao Yu was also in the army.

Cui Xian was appointed by the court as the General Who Pacifies the Army and went north with Li Chong.

When Li Chong and Cui Xian led an army of 100,000 to Yunzhong.

It's already mid-May.

Huai Shuo and Wu Chuan have been holding out for more than half a year.

at the same time.

The Rouran royal court.

"When will the Khan send troops south to quell the rebellion? The court will offer generous rewards after the rebellion is quelled!"

The imperial court also dispatched a special envoy who broke through the encirclement to reach Anagui and request assistance.

Anagui laughed.

After his raids south last year, he was filled with fear and anxiety.

Fearing that the Great Wei court might launch another northern expedition in anger, he had no choice but to flee into the depths of the northern desert.

But who would have thought?
What happened next completely exceeded his expectations.
Four of the six towns that were causing him the most trouble had rebelled.

Faced with the rebellion of the Six Garrisons, the imperial court was not only helpless, but even had to send a special envoy to humbly beg him to send troops to help the court quell the rebellion.

"Hey, the sweltering heat is just around the corner, how can we possibly mobilize troops?"

"In a few months, when the autumn air is crisp and the grass is lush and the horses are fat, I will personally lead my troops south to relieve the court's urgent crisis and help it quell the rebellion!"

The more anxious the court was, the less anxious he could be.

If the Great Wei suffers a few more defeats, the situation will worsen.

Couldn't he then ask for a higher price?

"The military situation is urgent, and we urge the Great Khan to send troops as soon as possible..."

"I also want to send troops as soon as possible, but last year's heavy snow caused great losses to the tribes. Without benefits... even as Khan, I would find it difficult to get the tribes to follow me in raising troops and marching south."

The envoy gritted his teeth and said, "Once the rebellion is quelled, the court will surely reward you handsomely. I would like to ask the Khan to first gather his people, would that be alright? Otherwise, even if there are rewards, how can they be transported to the north and given to the Great Khan?"

"Let's not talk about that for now."

Anagui remained noncommittal, simply holding the envoy's hand, "Ah, you've traveled a long way, you must be exhausted. Someone! Prepare a feast!"

In short.

If you don't see a rabbit, don't let go of the hawk.

P.S.: Could you all help me reach 4000 monthly votes? I promise I won't go out during the May Day holiday; I'll stay home and focus on writing to repay you all!

(End of this chapter)