I was living in the Five Dynasties period, just after crossing the Zhongdu Bridge.

The army sets off, with the vanguard leading the way.

In less than half a month, the main force of the Han army, led by Gao Xingzhou and Murong Yanchao, had already advanced to the gates of Ye City.

The camps stretched for dozens of miles outside the city, with Gao Xingzhou's central military tent located south of the city.

The fortifications were heavily fortified, and the trenches were deeply dug.

This is the style of a veteran general, clearly indicating a strategy of prolonged siege and siege.

Vice Commander Murong Yanchao, however, took a different approach.

He led the vanguard and advanced to set up camp near the city walls.

The soldiers in the camp, fully armored and armed, awaited the command of the central commander to drive their troops to swarm and fill the trenches.

With their strategies at odds, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers wasted their time under the scorching sun.

However, while the troops outside the city remained inactive, the people inside the city were already filled with anxiety.

At this moment, a strange scene unfolded within the city of Yecheng.

Judge Wang Min was seen kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

His behavior was not because he was afraid of death or lost his courage at the sight of the Han army.

Rather, he had already seen through the despair of the soldiers and civilians in the city.

In the past, he betrayed the Jin emperor's favor and surrendered to the Khitan, which was already a betrayal and a loss of loyalty.

Liu Zhiyuan has now declared himself emperor in Daliang, under the banner of unifying China.

The soldiers in this city have families in the Central Plains. Are there really any who are willing to fight to the death with a commander who has surrendered to the barbarians?

Actually there are!

This was not because the soldiers admired Du Chongwei's character and were determined to fight to the death for their lord.

In reality, after Yelü Deguang accepted the surrender at Zhongdu Bridge, he originally intended to kill all the surrendered soldiers of the Later Jin Dynasty, but Zhao Yanshou came out and offered a treacherous plan.

This poisonous strategy is indeed in line with Zhao Yanshou's character.

He advised Yelü Deguang to relocate the families of the Jin soldiers to the various prefectures of Heng, Ding, Yun, and Shuo.

Although some soldiers' families have not yet moved there, the plan has been in place for almost a year.

Therefore, as long as Du Chongwei does not surrender, there are indeed many soldiers in the city who have no choice but to take up arms and defend the city.

For parents, for wife and children.

But it wasn't for Du Chongwei!

"Grand Tutor Du," Wang Min kowtowed, his tone mournful.

"The mistake at Zhongdu Bridge in the past has already caused a great error. Now that the new Han dynasty has been established, why doesn't the Grand Tutor follow the opportune time and set things right?"

The soldiers in the city are all brave men; why should they be made to die by the sword over a matter of pride?

What Wang Min sought was nothing more than to pull back from the brink.

If surrendering to the Liao Dynasty in the past was for survival, then surrendering to the Han Dynasty today is for the same reason.

Why defend a besieged city to the death and force all the soldiers in the city to die for the barbarians?

Wang Min wept bitterly, her words sincere and heartfelt, striking a chord with many of the generals in the city.

Sitting in the main seat, Du Chongwei remained silent with his eyes lowered.

His silence was not due to a lack of reason or words, but rather because his mind was not on protecting the territory and its people.

In this world, some people seek fame, some seek fortune, but what Du Chongwei sought was a yellow robe.

In the past, Shi Jingtang was able to become the emperor of the Central Plains by borrowing the Khitan army. Du Chongwei, who held a large army, believed that he also had such an opportunity.

When Yelü Deguang returned north, he personally led his wife, children, and elderly relatives to see him off, demonstrating the demeanor of a filial son and grandson.

What's the point?

What he wanted was for the Khitans to keep their promise and help him become the master of the Central Plains!

In addition, his reckless gamble of being the first to advocate surrendering to the Liao Dynasty had already left him with no way out.

Although Yelü Deguang is dead, he still has troops under his command, and the Hebei region remains his territory.

He was certain that as long as he held Ye City and held out until the Khitan cavalry marched south again, the outcome of the war would be uncertain.

He was unwilling to submit to his former colleague, Liu Zhiyuan.

In the quiet of the hall, a cold laugh suddenly rang out.

Zhang Lian, who had been sitting quietly to the side, got up and stepped forward, kicking Wang Min to the ground.

This arrogant behavior shows a complete disregard for the head coach, Du Chongwei.

It turned out that Zhang Lian was not one of Du Chongwei's direct subordinates, but rather a guest general.

Some time ago, in order to protect himself, Du Chongwei sent his son Du Hongsui to Zhenzhou to ask the Liao general Ma Da for help.

After weighing the pros and cons, Ma Da, in order to protect the Hebei region, transferred two thousand soldiers from Youzhou left behind by Zhao Yanshou and placed them under the command of Zhang Lian to assist in the defense of Ye City.

Afterwards, he sent his general Yang Gun with 1,500 Liao soldiers and 1,000 Youzhou soldiers to Yedu.

The most formidable force in the city was this mixed Han and non-Han Chinese army from Yan and Zhao.

This is precisely the source of Du Chongwei's confidence to challenge Liu Zhiyuan.

It wasn't about the number of troops, but rather the attitude of the Liao Kingdom.

"Your honest advice is truly touching. However, your Emperor Liu may not be as kind-hearted as you."

Zhang Lian leaned down and stared intently at Wang Min.

"Back then, when Xiao Xuanwu withdrew from Daliang, he left 1,500 soldiers from Youzhou to garrison the city. Those soldiers, heeding your offer of amnesty, opened the city gates and surrendered to Liu Zhiyuan. What was the result?"

Zhang Lian straightened up and looked around at the generals in the hall.

"All 1,500 men were stripped of their armor and weapons and killed at Fantai!"

They had never even received the late emperor's favor; they were all forced by military power and still ended up with their heads separated from their bodies.

"Grand Tutor Du was a high-ranking official personally appointed by the late emperor. If he were to open the city gates and surrender, would Liu Zhiyuan allow him to die a natural death?"

Zhang Lian's words were exactly what Du Chongwei wanted to hear.

What he feared most was the retribution later.

Du Chongwei's noodles twitched, revealing a slight smile.

"General Zhang is right, and I will never compromise."

A few days ago, I sent my son Hongsui to Zhenzhou to ask General Mada for help.

General Mada, a man of great principle, agreed to lead 1,500 Liao cavalry and 1,000 Youzhou infantry to our aid. This clearly shows that the Liao emperor has not abandoned us.

Then he got up and quickly walked down the steps, grabbing Zhang Lian's arms with both hands.

"I hope General Zhang will send another trusted light cavalry to break through the encirclement and head north."

General Ma Da, please quickly dispatch a large army and march south from Zhenzhou.

As soon as reinforcements arrive, the Han army outside the city collapses without a fight.

When that time comes, I will reward those who have rendered meritorious service and will certainly not treat General Zhang unfairly.

Zhang Lian bowed and accepted the order, readily agreeing and vowing to live and die with Ye City.

"Rest assured, Grand Tutor, I will take care of it immediately."

The two looked at each other, both appearing to be on good terms.

However, you can't see into someone's heart.

After leaving the hall, Zhang Lian looked up at the sky, a cold laugh running through his mind.

Asking for help?

Where can I seek it? To whom can I seek it?

Du Chongwei was trapped in Yecheng, cut off from all communication, and still dreaming of the Khitan army marching south to relieve the siege.

Zhang Lian came from Zhenzhou and had a clear understanding of the situation in the north.

The Khitan were already in great chaos.

Yelü Deguang died suddenly, leaving the Liao dynasty's imperial line in limbo.

His nephew, Wuyu, took advantage of the chaos and was proclaimed emperor in front of the Zhenzhou army.

This was an act of acting first and reporting later, and Empress Dowager Shulu, who was far away in the capital, was furious when she heard the news.

The old woman had always favored her youngest son, Yelü Lihu, so how could she tolerate Wu's attempt to usurp the throne?

Empress Dowager Shulu had already mobilized the main force of the Liao Kingdom and ordered Yelü Lihu to lead the army south to quell the rebellion.

Wuyu also led his army back north to meet the enemy.

The Khitan's most elite cavalry are now gathered on the banks of the Huang River, preparing to fight each other.

Who has the time to care about the fate of the Central Plains?

As for the Mada of Zhenzhou.

The isolated army was stranded outside, surrounded by Han Chinese righteous armies filled with righteous indignation.

Ma Da was preoccupied with his own problems, and the 2,500 men he could spare to go south with Yang Gun were already at their limit.

To expect him to mobilize all his forces to rescue Ye City is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Ye City has become an isolated island.

Zhang Lian kept this from Du Chongwei and cooperated with him in holding the line.

All because there was nowhere left to retreat.

If Liu Zhiyuan surrenders, he will surely die; there is no way to return to Youzhou.

Only by relying on the defenses of Ye City and the grain and fodder accumulated by Du Chongwei can we succeed.

Only then could they have a chance to drag the Han army outside the city into a quagmire and thus fight their way out.