Song Dynasty

Chapter 296

Maoshi is four o'clock in the morning Beijing time in later generations, which is the time when the night is darkest and people sleep most soundly.

On weekdays, Zhong Ziang, the prince of the pseudo-great Chu Dynasty, usually sleeps until the sun is three poles before getting up, but today he has insomnia.After the fierce offensive and defensive battles at the foot of the mountain during the day, when he closed his eyes, he saw flesh and blood flying across his eyes.This kind of battle is the first time for Manichaeism.

In the past, the Manicheanism plundered states and counties all adopted mobile warfare.Hit if you can, and run if you can't.And because of the solid foundation of the people, the soldiers are hidden among the people, scattered and regrouped suddenly, making it impossible for the enemy to find them.With this hand, even the famous Li Cheng and Li Tianwang can do nothing to them.

But when Wang Shen came, the whole situation changed.The Manichaean guerrilla harassed, and the Sizhou army broke up into pieces and took the initiative to attack.He also fought with Li Cheng's Li family army on the roads and cities, divided the entire Dingzhou into frames, divided and surrounded the gods, and wiped out grid by grid.

In the end, the Manichaeism couldn't take it anymore, so they had to retreat all the way to Lianyunzhai, Taoyuan County, preparing to rest for a while, and wait until this winter.

However, as soon as I and my father arrived, Wang Shen's main force also followed, and took down all the roads and passes, completely encircling the imperial court of the divine sect in this square inch of land.

Outside is an empty Daping Dam, with the enemy cavalry raging and attacking, and the army of the God Cult has no possibility of breaking through, so they have to stick to the city wall and wait for changes.

This was the first time that the Divine Cult fought a battle to defend the city. Even though the followers were brave and fearless, the huge sacrifice still made everyone feel terrified, especially the big figures in the Cult.

Low-level believers are all brainwashed by the scriptures, thinking that death in battle is a glorious thing, and after death, one's soul can be received by the Great Ming God to go to the bright and pure land to enjoy endless blessings.

But the senior generals and officials knew that the so-called Da Mingzun, that is, those idiots, did not believe it.If the enemy chopped off his head, who knows where he will go after death?
Zhong Ziang tossed and turned on the bed in the middle of the night, his whole body ached from sleep, and couldn't bear it anymore, so he put on his armor and took a sharp ax to the second floor of the gate.

There is a one-story building above the gate of the Ming Pope's court, with four or five rooms, on which there are guards from the apostles.

At this time, they were all sitting around on the long chairs eating, and there was a strong smell of meat and wine.

Looking closely, there was a large pot of boiled dog meat, and a dozen or so soldiers were eating it red-faced.

Hearing the sound of the floor, the soldiers turned their heads and saw that it was Zhong Ziang. They all trembled and then jumped up suddenly: "Mother...His Royal Highness..."

Mani taught that eating vegetables is a devil king, and meat and meat are forbidden in the teaching. Anyone who violates it will be given fifty lashes and be expelled from the religious teaching.

Of course, this matter is right and wrong, and there are also stories of high officials secretly eating meat and drinking.In the past, the Manichaeism did not allow its followers to eat meat. It was because everyone was poor and could not afford to buy it if they wanted to.After the uprising, the former poor, lice-covered believer, you became a prince, and I became a general, rich and powerful, so naturally you should enjoy it.Otherwise, what are we going to do to rebel with our heads tied on our trouser belts.Among all the dignitaries, Yang Yao is the only one who can be strict with himself, this is the reason why he is very popular among the congregation.

The upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. Gradually, everyone doesn't take the ban on drinking and eating meat seriously.

Zhong Ziang didn't have enough sleep, and there was an evil fire in his heart. He stared at his red eyes, and asked gloomily, "What are you doing, have you forgotten the sacred teachings of the officials? Secretly drinking and eating meat is really a bear's heart." The leopard is daring? Do you know what the law I teach says?"

In the last two months, since Wang Shen's army entered Hunan, the Manichaeism has collapsed on the battlefield.The army suffered repeated defeats and casualties, and the morale of the army was already low.They were stunned to discover that eating vegetarian food and chanting scriptures alone could not protect them from surviving on the battlefield, and their superstitious belief in the leader and the so-called Great Ming Zun began to waver.

As a result, Zhong Xiang and Zhong Ziang also severely punished the soldiers who committed crimes. They often beheaded and drowned to restrain the troops with cruel means.

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhong Ziang's face became gloomy.

Seeing that the situation was not good, a man who looked like a captain plopped on the ground and begged, "Your Highness, it's too cold on this mountain. The church members have been fighting all day, and their physical strength is weak. I can't bear it without eating some meat. Look. Your Highness, for the sake of us being old brothers in the sect, please forgive us this time!"

Zhong Ziang sneered: "According to the rules of my god religion, eat meat and drink secretly, whip fifty, and rush back to my hometown. Now, the fierce battle ahead is in full swing. When there is an emergency, we should use extraordinary means. Only in this way can the morale of the army be boosted, and the discipline can be spared." I have forgiven you, but I must not forgive you."

He clenched the ax in his hand, and was about to chop off the captain's head with one axe.Suddenly, a soldier standing by the window shouted: "His Royal Highness, Captain, there are many people over there, and the situation seems to be wrong."

There were clattering footsteps, although the killing sound at the foot of the mountain was loud, but it was still so neat and clear, it sounded like something was wrong.

Zhong Ziang's heart shuddered, he gave up the idea of ​​killing the captain Liwei, walked to the back of the window, and looked intently.

I saw a group of people coming quickly from there, about 30 to [-] people, all with weapons in their hands.Judging from their neat formation and the spirit exuded from their bodies, it is obvious that they are a team of well-trained elites.

Zhong Ziang shouted: "Who is it, what are you doing in the palace in the middle of the night?"

While speaking, the group of people had already reached the gate of the palace.

A tall fat man was the leader, and he cupped his hands slightly: "I'm in Xiagutianhou, Tie Zhu, the imperial physician of the imperial hospital, may I ask which general is on duty?"

"It turned out to be Tie Zhu, blind your dog eyes, didn't you see that it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" a soldier shouted.

Zhong Ziang also asked, "Tie Zhu, what's the matter?"

Niu Gao: "I have seen His Royal Highness, the minister has urgent military affairs and needs to meet the officials. Please open the palace gate and let me in."

"Urgent military affairs, what military affairs do you have as an imperial physician?" No matter how stupid Zhong Ziang was, when he saw Niu Gao bringing so many soldiers over, he knew something was wrong, and scolded: "You brought so many soldiers here, and you still have to return in the middle of the night." I didn’t light any lanterns and torches, what on earth do you want to do, get the hell out of here right now, and we’ll talk about something in the morning.”

"Dawn, I'm afraid it will be too late." Niu Gao shouted angrily: "Prince, people inside, listen up, there are spies from the Sizhou Army in the palace, and they want to do bad things to the officials. Brother Yao According to the secret order to lead the troops into the guard, Qing Jun side. You wait to open the door quickly, otherwise, it will be regarded as a rebellion, and they will all be killed."

Beside him, a soldier couldn't help asking Zhong Ziang: "His Royal Highness, what is the side of the Qing emperor?"

"It is to eradicate the treacherous ministers around the emperor." Zhong Ziang was angry and anxious, and cursed loudly: "Tie Zhu, you rebellious, get out of here immediately, maybe you can spare your life!"

Niu Gao laughed loudly: "I got Brother Yao's order to bring people into the Palace of Guards. Except for his orders, no one can speak well."

"Yang Yao is rebellious, be on guard, level!" Zhong Ziang was startled, and a strange thought came to his mind: Could it be that Yang Yao wants to take the throne from his father?

As soon as he yelled this sentence, he saw a hard bow appearing in Niu Gao's hand at some point.

At the critical moment, Zhong Ziang fell short.

A strong arrow was shot into the room against his helmet, only a scream was heard, and it was unknown which unlucky guy was shot.

"Archer, archer, kill Tie Zhu!" Zhong Ziang yelled hoarsely.

At this time, Yue Yun who was standing behind Niu Gao said, "For the nonsense, call in!"

When he was at the level, he roared, hugged a gate stone next to the gate with both hands and shook it, then pulled it out of his hand, and threw it viciously towards the gate.

"Boom!" There was a loud noise.

Zhong Xiang's palace used to be just a villa of a landlord, after several generations and Yang Yao's repairs, it finally looked like it.However, generally speaking, the defense is still very poor. The gate of the courtyard is just like the wooden gate of an ordinary monastery.

Seeing Yue Yun's supernatural power, the soldiers all cheered: "General Ying Xiang is also a god!"

All the Manichaean priests upstairs were in chaos: "The rebels have come in, the rebels have come in!"

Zhong Ziang was so startled by Yue Yun's great strength that he broke into cold sweat and shouted hoarsely: "Go down and block the gate of the palace. There are not many rebels. There are tens of thousands of soldiers on our mountain. Just guard the gate and wait until the reinforcements arrive. There is no place for a thief to die."

While talking, he beat and kicked all the soldiers in the house downstairs.

Such a big movement at the gate of the palace has already alarmed the soldiers of the other guards in the palace. The torches and lanterns were all lit up, lighting up the courtyard like daylight, and figures everywhere came out of the house, carrying weapons and rushing towards the gate of the palace.

Weapons collided, knives cut into the human body, blunt objects smashed bones, and the painful cries of the wounded resounded through the sky in an instant.

Looking intently, the enemy general who used the door as a stone to open the palace door earlier rushed into the crowd like a whirlwind with a handful of bones in one hand, opening a hole of air in an instant.

With one blow he smashed the helmet of a cathedral soldier to pieces, snatched a lantern between his fingers, and threw it upstairs.

With a loud cry, Zhong Ziang picked up the torch and threw it down, hitting a Manicheist soldier on the head.The tung oil inside spilled out, and the flames ignited him into a burning man.

Amidst the screams, the man jumped directly into a pond under the eaves, rolling over and over.

Another lantern was thrown up, followed by a torch, Zhong Ziang was simply too busy.

In a blink of an eye, thick smoke rose from the floor.

Zhong Ziang roared loudly: "Hold on, hold on, reinforcements are coming!"

Just as he was about to rush down the stairs, he heard Niu Gao yelling loudly: "Listen, brothers, Prime Minister Zhong himself is unrighteous, and the remnant soldiers abuse the people. You don't deserve to be the leader of my god religion, and you are not worthy to be the king of my Great Chu. Evil ways. Tonight, Emperor Ming issued a revelation, ordering Brother Yao to go to the evil and restore the righteousness, and revive the divine religion. If you put down your weapons and kneel down and beg for mercy, it can be regarded as an uprising before the battle. Otherwise, not only you will die immediately. Once Brother Yao ascends the throne, you and others Family members will also be implicated."

Hearing this, the guards and soldiers were shocked. They didn't know what to do for a while, and some people started to retreat quietly.

"Ah... Yang Yao, Yang Yao is really rebellious... this rebellion... kill them, kill them!" Hey, another arrow came, Zhong Ziang didn't dare to delay, under the protection of several soldiers, he went along Follow the corridor on the second floor and run towards the main hall.

While running, he yelled loudly: "Father, Father, hurry up and wake up, Yang Yao is rebellious, Yang Yao is rebellious!"

"You, you, you guys, go to the barracks to send reinforcements over!"

At this time, the wooden corridor had already started to burn, and the flames shot up into the sky.

The entire false palace was illuminated like daylight, and the scenery in front of him was slightly distorted by the heat.

(End of this chapter)