Golden branches and jade leaves

Chapter 74
Chapter No.17: Sunrise Like Blood
After leaving the palace gate, there was already a panic outside, and people were screaming everywhere.According to the practice in the palace, the New Year's banquet lasts until dawn, and the banquets in the front hall and the back hall are not over yet.

The Liao Kingdom was originally a minority government outside the Great Wall. Taking advantage of the frequent wars in the Central Plains, it went south and established a country named "Liao". The enemy ravaged the Central Plains for decades. At that time, all the separatist regimes in the Central Plains bowed their heads to the Liao people. It was not until the rise of the Liang Kingdom that after several fierce battles that Emperor Wu of Liang led the army to drive the Liao people out of the Great Wall.

After the decline of the Liang Kingdom, the Liao people made a comeback. Although they did not have the momentum to loot the world in the past, their harm was still not small. Many small northern countries were broken by them and suffered a lot.

Da Qi borders the Northern Liao, so it has been attacked and plundered a lot by it. In the past few years, the state of Qi was not stable and its national strength was not strong. There were several times when the Liao State conquered the frontier and fortified the city, massacred the city and wiped out the clan.In the early years of Emperor Qi Wu's succession to the throne, the Liao people once assembled 20 cavalry, like a sandstorm and a gust of wind, they rushed into the territory of Qi State, approached the capital, and besieged the capital for nearly half a year. , but had no choice but to retreat.It has not been more than 30 years since that fierce battle, and many people in the capital have fresh memories. Countless prosperous frontier towns and rich villages have been destroyed. The slightest resistance of the people would lead to death, and the failure to resist would inevitably result in being robbed and enslaved.

At that time, the capital was trapped for half a year, and the people were panicked and impetuous.Moreover, at that time, Qi State was far from being as prosperous and rich as it is now, and the Liao people came suddenly, and there was not enough food and grass in the city. In the end, there was almost a tragedy of cannibalism.Fortunately, the Liao State labored on an expedition, and the internal supply of food and grass was also difficult. Finally, the troops were withdrawn, which gave the endangered Qi State a chance to breathe.

That battle made the arrogant Emperor Wu deeply ashamed. From then on, he spent his whole life mobilizing troops, conquests everywhere, rectifying food and grass, and establishing Qi's powerful and invincible cavalry. In the next few decades, countless countries were destroyed, and the national strength doubled.After several bloody battles, the Liao people were driven far away from the Great Wall, and they were ashamed.But it is still impossible to cut the weeds and eradicate the roots. Every autumn and winter, the Liao people must gather troops to plunder the border, making the people in the north miserable.

The Liao people were ferocious by nature, destroying the country and slaughtering the city at every turn. The iron cavalry of the Liao country was excellent, and they moved like the wind, making them hard to defend against.The people of Qi State were even more afraid of the invasion of the Liao people. Now that they heard the news that the Liao people had suddenly killed them, the whole court was in chaos.

"My lady, now all the ladies are gathered in the Fengyi Palace, why don't you go over there?" Seeing that Su Mi was walking in the direction of the Qianqing Palace instead of the Harem Palace at all, Xiao Luzi reminded him kindly.Could it be that the master was frightened by the news?
"I know," Su Mi interrupted him, "I'm going to Qianqing Palace. You can go to Fengyi Palace for me first." What's the use of going to Fengyi Palace? It's just a group of women. Just panic talk.

Seeing Su Mi's determination, Xiao Luzi had no choice but to accept the order and leave.

Su Mi walked quickly towards the Qianqing Palace. The guards and eunuchs in the Qianqing Palace had seen her all the time, and they were all in a panic at this moment, so naturally they would not stop her.Su Mi entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation unimpeded.

The ministers in the palace have already assembled.It seems that when the news was just delivered, they came directly from the banquet in the front hall.

No matter how critical the situation was, it would be inconvenient for Su Mi to show up as a concubine on such an occasion. She turned around and went into the small side room next to her, and stood behind the bead curtain hanging down to the floor, listening to the discussions in the palace.

Prince Yu was standing on the side of the desk, and said: "...you don't need to panic. Although the Liao people have already approached the city, the emperor led the army to leave in less than ten days, and they can return to help at any time. Our Qijing city wall is indestructible, and we have enough food and grass. , as long as we can stick to it for about ten days, the reinforcements will definitely arrive. At that time, we should cooperate with the outside world, and we must let the Liao army come and go..."

Qi Long's expedition took away most of the generals. At this time, most of the entire hall was filled with civil servants. Hearing Qi Hao's high-spirited and loud remarks, the tense and panic atmosphere eased a little.

Qi Hao quickly gave a few more orders, which were nothing more than regular orders such as assigning tasks, stabilizing people's hearts, not being able to leave his post without authorization, and killing those who dare to spread rumors without mercy.

After discussing for more than half an hour, Qi Hao urged all the ministers to leave one after another and perform their duties.

After everyone dispersed, Su Mi came out.Qi Hao had already noticed her coming, and asked with some surprise: "You don't stay in the back hall, what are you doing here?"

"How could it be possible for the Liao army to appear outside the city without a sound? Could it be that their horses have grown wings?" Su Mi didn't say a word of nonsense, and asked the key points directly.

"Don't ask me, I can't answer this question, I even want to go out and ask the general of the Liao people outside the city." Qi Hao smiled bitterly, and said: "Unfortunately, the fact we have to face now is—— ―They have already arrived, and they are surrounding the walls of our Daqi capital."

"This is impossible! Even if they can break through Juyuguan, can they kill all the defenders of Juyuguan? Even if the Liao people are brave and invincible, it will take more than ten days to get from the border to the capital quickly." The distance is long, and there are many villages and towns scattered along the way, they walked all the way, did no one see it?"

"It's impossible, as long as everyone I've met..." Qi Hao stopped speaking halfway through, Su Mi was startled, she already understood what he meant,
The northern part of Daqi was originally surrounded by mountains, and the news was blocked.Just kill all the people you meet on the road, massacre villages when you meet them, and destroy towns when you cross towns.

Su Mi suddenly thought of the [-] reinforcements led by Mu Qinghan and the team full of food and grass. According to the time, they should have met with the Liao army five or six days ago.This time, the Liao army was so powerful that it wiped out [-] troops on the road without a sound, and there was not even a single person who came back to report the news? !
"I also hope that when I wake up, this is just a nightmare, but the reality cannot allow us to deny that the Liao people are just that powerful." Qi Hao smiled wryly, and he held Su Mi's hand. What taboo.The two walked out of the Qianqing Palace side by side, and went up to the gate tower of Shenwumen.

Before today, for Su Mi, the term Liaojun only existed verbally, in books, in memorials...but now it is nakedly presented in sight.

Su Mi looked far and wide, although there was a high city wall, but the layers of black soldiers were like swamps all over the ground, and the sky was full of dark clouds, which could not be seen at a glance.There are many spears and halberds, the dark armor and the flickering swords create a sense of oppression that hits the face, the cold iron is severe, and it goes straight to the heart.

Su Mi was dizzy for a while, looking down from the highest part of the Daqi Palace, it seemed as if she was about to sink into the endless dark swamp below, and the solid bricks under her feet turned into mud.

At this time, there were hands supporting her in time, and she turned her head to meet Qi Hao's clear gaze, "You will be scared too?" He teased, then raised his head and pointed to the distance: "Look at this area The endless soldiers and horses look like a swarm of locusts?"

Su Mi glared at him, still in the mood to joke at this moment.Looking at it from such a long distance, these black crows and horses really looked like locusts overwhelming the sky, but she knew that once these soldiers and horses entered the city, it would be far more vicious and ruthless slaughter than locusts.

"I'm just having fun while suffering. Even if we die here immediately, we won't be able to retreat from the enemy." Qi Hao replied with a wry smile.

Feeling the complaint in her eyes, he sighed softly: "It would be great if they were really locusts that only eat food and grass. Unfortunately, what they eat is not only food, but also human life."

Su Mi broke free from his support and walked up to the top of the city. She pressed against the rough bluestone wall and looked into the distance.Try to calm your mind.

The night was fading away, the eastern sky was glowing with a misty white, and the sun was about to rise.

At this time, most of the people in the capital should still be immersed in sleep. When they wake up and find these uninvited guests outside the city, which represent blood and killing, what kind of panic and chaos will it be.

"Just now you said in the hall that the reinforcements might come back within ten days... Is it true?" Su Mi turned her head and stared at him and asked.

Qi Hao was silent for a moment, then looked into the distance and said: "If I were the Liao army, I would set up an ambush on the road. If the army doesn't come back to help, that's fine. Once the army returns in a hurry and ambushes right in the middle, it will definitely wipe out the enemy outside the city. At that time, all the emperors of Daqi fell into their hands, so why worry about the capital not being broken?"

"The more labor-saving method is to secretly contact Nanchen. The two sides will attack, and the success will be accomplished. By then, the disaster of our Daqi's destruction of the country will not be far away."
"Then the emperor is in danger." Su Mi's expression changed.There is also Chen Lie, although his martial arts are outstanding, but in the chaos army, even if your martial arts are world-class, you can't beat four hands with two fists.

"No," Qi Hao shook his head and said, "I think the emperor is safe, at least much safer than us. Even if the emperor asks for help, Ni Yuan is a famous general who has experienced many battles, and he will not let him go." This kind of thing happened. The return aid is certain, but it is absolutely impossible within ten days."

Su Mi smiled bitterly, "That is to say, there will be no reinforcements at all for the time being."

Qi Hao nodded bitterly, Su Mi pondered for a moment, and asked, "How many soldiers and horses are available in the capital?"

Qi Hao frowned, "There are still more than 3 imperial guards guarding the capital, plus the guards at the city gate, the guards in the palace, the soldiers and horses of the Ministry of Punishment, and the rest of the troops, the sum total is only [-] It's just people."

Su Mi was sad, because of Qi Long's personal conquest, most of the imperial guards who had defended the capital were taken away, plus the [-] troops taken away by Mu Qinghan, who reinforced the border, made the current defense in Qijing even more difficult. It was just strangely empty.How to fight this battle? !
"The sun has risen." Qi Hao said suddenly.

Su Mi turned around, the sky in the distance was full of rays of light, and the sun jumped out from the sky.The entire eastern sky was glowing red against the rising sun.

"People in the world say that the setting sun is like blood, but who knows that the rising sun is also as bright red as a curtain of blood..." Su Mi murmured ecstatically as she watched the touching blush.

(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please visit www.CMFU.COM, more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)
(End of this chapter)