I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

The heavy armored army has intercepted three batches of grain supplies, but the area around Pingdingshan remains as still as a stagnant pool.

This unusual calm sent a chill down his spine.

Gu Xichao couldn't help but ask, "General, does the garrison commander of Pingdingshan really intend to abandon Luozhou?"

Gu Siling shook her head, her expression growing increasingly solemn.

"Luozhou is the gateway to the capital; no matter how incompetent the emperor is, he would never hand it over so easily."

"Unless this was done on the own initiative of the Pingdingshan garrison."

"But since ancient times, Luoyang has always been a strategically important location fought over by military strategists. How could Yuwen Jian send such an incompetent person?"

Gu Siling continued talking to herself, then suddenly asked, "Have you found out who the garrison commander of Pingdingshan really is?"

At this moment, a lieutenant whispered, "Reporting to the General, news has arrived from the capital: it's the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Qinglong!"

"Azure Dragon?"

Gu Siling was taken aback.

He knew that Qinglong was able to become the commander of the palace guards because he was a Grandmaster, and also because Yan Donglou had put him out to oppose the Gu family.

But I've never heard of this person having any military skills!

Moreover, judging from the movements in the Pingdingshan area these past few days, it's clear that the Azure Dragon is hiding and refusing to come out.

Little did Gu Siling know that before Qinglong arrived, the court's strategy was indeed as he had said: to divide the army into five thousand to defend the south bank against the Gu traitor.

Secondly, we must do everything we can to protect the grain supply routes in order to ensure that Luoyang is not lost.

However, both of these strategies were rejected by Hu Ruzhen and Mei Changsu.

If troops are stationed on the south bank to protect the supply lines, it will inevitably make Gu Siling more cautious in his military operations.

If he chooses to besiege the point and attack reinforcements, even if the number of troops on Pingdingshan were doubled, it would be of no use.

Only by revealing a flaw, making Gu Siling believe that Qinglong does not understand military strategy and is preserving the strength of the Imperial Guard, will he choose to remain hidden.

Only then will he feel confident enough to attack Luozhou and capture the city in one fell swoop.

As one of the rebels, he couldn't afford to delay.

Once surrounded and captured by the loyalist troops, he will suffer a crushing defeat at the Luo River.

That's why they let Gu Siling have been playing so smoothly these past few days.

Sure enough, the generals in the tent immediately became arrogant.

Gu Xichao suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter revealing utter disdain.

"Qinglong, a mere warrior, a fool who's all muscle and brains. What does he know about military strategy?"

"Well said!" General Zuo slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

"The emperor's biggest mistake was sending him to deal with the Grand General. He's practically handing Luozhou City to us!"

The tent erupted in laughter.

The Right Army Assistant General seized the opportunity to speak: "Your Highness, General, the siege of the city these past few days has shown that the Luozhou garrison is already at its last gasp."

"Now that the Azure Dragon is hiding in its shell, this is a golden opportunity!"

"This humble general is willing to be the vanguard." Gu Xichao immediately knelt on one knee: "If we attack fiercely for just one more day, we will surely break through the city."

The generals all volunteered for battle, their voices rising and falling, almost lifting the tents.

Only Yuwen Quan remained silent, standing out from the frenzied atmosphere of the tent.

Gu Siling's gaze swept over the excited generals, finally settling on Luozhou on the sand table.

This war cannot be delayed.

The sooner the war ends and a new dynasty is established, the sooner Southern Chu can settle down.

Daliang will also lose its opportunity.

So now that this golden opportunity is right in front of him, he naturally can't let it slip by.

If you continue to cut off, you will be subject to chaos.

Gu Siling slammed his fist on the sand table and said in a deep voice, "This is an opportunity we must seize. The Pingdingshan garrison is holed up and won't come out; this is the perfect time for our army to launch a full-scale attack."

He turned around abruptly and looked at the eager generals.

"Pass on my order: the entire army shall advance and attack the city day and night in shifts."

"We must take Luoyang within two days."

Yuwen Quan, standing to the side, felt something was off as he watched the crowd's frenzied behavior, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He hesitated and said, "Uncle, the original plan was to surround them without attacking, and wait for them to run out of food and collapse on their own."

"If we intensify our siege now, our casualties will likely increase significantly!"

Chapter 146 The advantage is mine

Gu Siling shook her head and said, "Your Highness, you are ignorant of military strategy and do not understand what an excellent opportunity this is to attack the city."

"The opportunity is fleeting. If we wait for the Pingdingshan defenders to realize the danger, or for the reinforcements to arrive, our army will be attacked from both sides, and we will not be able to easily win Luozhou. At that time, the casualties will only be greater."

"At this moment, the garrison of Luozhou is exhausted, while our army's morale is high."

"Even if we pay a price, as long as we can quickly break through this city, we can advance directly to the capital or retreat to defend the natural barrier of the Luo River."

"At that time, Your Highness will be invincible."

Yuwen Quan wanted to say something, but was interrupted without hesitation by the assertive Gu Siling.

Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trivial matters.

Gu Siling said firmly, "Luozhou has been the site of more than fifty large-scale wars throughout history."

Historians have all noted that it was on this ancient battlefield that the rise and fall of countless dynasties were determined.

"Controlling Luozhou means controlling the throat of the imperial court."

"No matter how you look at it, the troop strength in the battle is 160,000 to 10,000, so the advantage is on our side."

"Issue the order to launch a multi-pronged assault."

"Yes!"

At Gu Siling's command, the offensive of her troops became even more ferocious.

In an instant, war drums thundered and battle cries shook the heavens.

After a day and a night, the north, east, and west sides of the city were all in dire need of help.

Despite the continuous application of molten gold to the city walls and the relentless pelting of logs and stones, they could not stop the relentless advance of the enemy troops.

On the city walls, the defending soldiers fought valiantly, their bodies piled up like mountains.

The blood quickly turned the originally bluish-gray city bricks into dark red.

"kill!!!"

The garrison commander of Luozhou cleaved the head of the enemy soldier in front of him with a single stroke, and hot blood splattered all over his face.

He was panting heavily when he turned around and roared, "Where are the reinforcements?"

"Why haven't the reinforcements from Pingdingshan arrived yet?"

The lieutenant, covered in blood, staggered over.

"General, we've sent out over a dozen letters requesting reinforcements, but there's been absolutely no response from Qinglong!"

"Azure Dragon! I'll fuck your grandma!"

Upon hearing this, the defending general's eyes widened in fury, and he slashed his long sword fiercely at the enemy's spear, sending sparks flying.

He looked out of the city and saw that the Gu family army's offensive was coming wave after wave, like an endless tide.

They keep coming in like zombies.

The defending troops inside the city were exhausted, their arrows were almost gone, and they had few logs and stones left.

This situation almost drove him to despair.

Not long after, a messenger covered in blood stumbled over, his voice trembling with tears.

"General, the eastern city has fallen, and the enemy has already broken in."

The garrison commander's vision went black, and he nearly collapsed.

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, gritting his teeth and roaring, "Order all brothers who can still move to defend the inner city to the death!"

"Even if we fight to the last man, we will never let that traitor Gu take Luozhou so easily!"

On the flat-topped mountain, Qinglong stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards Luozhou City.

His deputy behind him was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

"My lord, the main force of the Gu bandits is entirely engaged in the siege. They've sent numerous requests for reinforcements already. Are we really not going to come to their aid?"

How can we save him?

Qinglong (Zhu Houcong)'s lips curled up in a strange way as he spoke calmly.

"Before the troops were dispatched, the imperial court's order was to defend Pingdingshan to the death. Now, if we go to rescue them, all my brothers will die."

"But if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold; if Luoyang falls, how can Pingdingshan survive alone?"

The deputy general anxiously pointed to the distant city of Luozhou, which was engulfed in flames of war.

"Sir, it's not too late to send reinforcements!"

The Azure Dragon slowly turned around and looked at the chattering passerby.

This passerby was sent by the Dragon-Capturing Guard to assist him in defending the city.

He was also a capable general who knew military strategy.

"Are you in a hurry?" Qinglong asked calmly.

The next second, before the lieutenant could react, he suddenly felt a chill in his chest.

puff!

A hand had pierced through his chest.

The passerby's eyes widened in disbelief, and he looked down.

He watched helplessly as that hand slowly closed inside his chest cavity.

His five fingers precisely gripped his still-beating heart.

"It undermines morale."

Qinglong spoke slowly and deliberately, laughing cruelly.

"Fortunately, this commander is exceptionally clever and managed to find you, this treacherous spy with thick eyebrows and big eyes."

Passerby A looked up, his face ashen.

He coughed up blood, and with trembling hands, he raised his hand, trying to grab Qinglong's collar.

"Traitor... thief..."

"Take care."

Qinglong abruptly pulled his hand away, and a bright red heart was forcibly ripped out.

He then gave a disdainful smile and casually tossed the still-convulsing heart onto the ground.

He shook the blood off his hands and said indifferently.

"Drag him away, chop him up, and feed him to the wolves in the mountains."

"Yes, sir."

The guards fell silent, dragging the still convulsing corpse away quickly.

Zhu Houcong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing towards Luozhou City. He was waiting, waiting for Luozhou to fall completely…