Chapter 119: Intrigue and Deception
Dragon and Tiger Pass.
It is the first checkpoint of the Longyan Dynasty in Liangzhou and also the first fortress.
If Longhu Pass was lost, the Xiongnu soldiers would be able to attack and ravage the area at will. In the past half month, all the five major fortresses before Longhu Pass were breached by the Xiongnu soldiers who suddenly attacked.
"General, General, Qingfeng Gorge can't hold on any longer!"
"Retreat a thousand steps!"
"The White Cliff Army suffered heavy losses!"
"Where are the Rolling Stones, where are the Rolling Stones?"
"They are gone. There are too many Hun soldiers!"
General Zheng Yuxing, who was pacifying the Di people, was standing on a high tower at Longhu Pass at this time, looking into the distance. The whole mountain and plain were filled with soldiers from both sides, the Liangzhou Army and the Baiya Army. Several square formations were dispersed for a while and then regrouped.
But every time we gather, we lose a lot of people.
Qingfeng Gorge is the last barrier before Longhu Pass.
"Hold on, hold on no matter what!"
Zheng Yuxing gnashed his teeth and turned back and asked angrily, "Where are the arrows I want? Why haven't they been delivered yet?"
"Armor, armor!"
"And there's also golden wound medicine!"
Suddenly, he said with a bitter face: "General, we are still on the way..."
"boom!"
Zheng Yuxing was so angry that he punched the wall and said angrily, "Still on the way? It's been half a month. What on earth does this old thief Chen Ping want to do?"
The logistics support cannot keep up, so we have to fight a useless war?
Dozens of military reports have been sent back at full speed. It's been half a month, and the logistics supplies can't be delivered?
"General, the enemy has started to attack again!"
A soldier crawled in.
as expected.
At Qingfeng Gorge, deafening shouts of killing rang out again, one after another. The Liangzhou Army and the Baiya Army defending Qingfeng Gorge suffered heavy losses. Zheng Yuxing couldn't understand why the Xiongnu army was so desperate this time!
Are the lives of two hundred thousand soldiers really not human lives?
The Jiangzhou Army led by Zheng Yuxing and the 70,000 Baiya Army that came to support them totaled 150,000. Originally, they thought that since the terrain was safe, 150,000 would be a good match against 200,000. But they didn't expect that the brave and combative Xiongnu soldiers would be equipped with a lengthened Xiongnu scimitar this time. The archers and scimitar cavalry not only had strong mobility, but also doubled their lethality. In just half a month, they had already lost 30,000 soldiers!
"Damn Chen Ping!"
"What does he want to do? There is no reinforcement, no supplies! If he delays any longer, he will be selling out his country!"
"Kill them, kill them back!"
Zheng Yuxing's eyes were bloodshot, he drew his sword and roared.
Longhu Pass, we can’t lose it no matter what!
If you lose it, you will die. If you defend it, you will also die. A real man should be wrapped in his horse's hide, so why not choose to die in battle?
"Brothers, come on!"
"For my wife and children!"
"For the country!"
The Liangzhou soldiers were all excited, with red eyes.
…
"Lost again?"
Liu Zheng was still on the road when he received another battle report from the front line and couldn't help but frown.
Jiang Xuan was also worried: "Young Master, we have lost five fortresses in a row, and the reinforcements from Liangzhou Prefecture have not arrived yet, but the Baiya Army has been rushing to help. It seems that Chen Ping has really given up!"
Liu Zheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and said, "No!"
The generals looked at it.
"Sir, what's wrong?"
Liu Zheng said calmly: "Although Chen Ping wants to consume us internally, he is not a fool. If Longhu Pass is lost, the entire Liangzhou will be massacred. This is related to the entire Longyan Dynasty. No matter how he defends himself, I am afraid he will not be able to serve as the governor!"
Everyone looked at each other.
Jiang Xuan asked: "Young Master, what exactly does Chen Ping want to do?"
Qingyang Suo did not come with him this time due to physical disability, and Yinzhou also really needed someone to take charge of the rear area. So without a military advisor, Liu Zheng could only think on his own.
In the carriage, he took out the map and studied it with everyone.
He pointed to Longhu Pass on the map and said, "Longhu Pass is the most important fortress on the border and must not be lost. Although Chen Ping used the Xiongnu, he also knew that the Xiongnu were ruthless tigers and wolves. Once they were allowed in, it would be the end!"
"Everyone, look here!"
He moved his finger to the east of the map and drew a line. This line went directly through Pingzhou where King Lu was and reached Jinghua!
Jiang Xuan's face changed drastically: "Young Master, do you mean that Chen Ping is waiting?"
Liu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled faintly: "The Xiongnu army tore up the alliance and invaded. Do you think the court will not take any action?"
"I think Chen Ping is not only waiting, but he has also prepared a backup plan!"
Everyone looked at each other and took a breath.
Jiang Xuan was even more shocked and said, "He is waiting for the prince!"
Liu Zheng laughed: "That's right!"
Whenever there was a war, the princes of the imperial court would come to get military merits, especially when the old emperor was ill and the succession to the throne was unclear. If the prince could defeat the Huns, he would be praised and recorded in history. With this halo, the prince's succession to the throne would be a sure thing. But if he could not defeat the Huns, the prince would have done his best. Although he did not achieve anything, he certainly did nothing wrong.
In this situation, why wouldn’t the prince come?
so!
Chen Ping 's move was not only intended to consume the internal energy of the Baiya Army, Liangzhou Army, and Yinzhou Army, but also to pave the way for the prince!
Liu Zheng gritted his teeth: "This old fox!"
At this moment, the cruelty of politics was truly exposed to Liu Zheng for the first time. Since ancient times, when have those who fought for power ever cared about the lives of the people, or the lives of the soldiers? As the saying goes, one general's success is based on the sacrifices of thousands of soldiers. How many intrigues and deceptions are there behind the succession of an emperor?
"Then, sir, what should we do?"
Jiang Xuan said anxiously.
Liu Zheng looked at the military newspapers and fell into deep thought.
In fact, whether the prince comes or not has little impact on him . After all, Liu Zheng has not yet come into contact with the level of the princes fighting for the throne. But if the prince can really take the throne, then Chen Ping, the absolute supporter of the prince, will gain power. How can Liu Zheng be safe?
certainly.
Liu Zheng would not sabotage the prince's efforts to repel the enemy. If the enemy could be repelled sooner, the soldiers would suffer fewer losses and the people would be slaughtered less, which would be a good thing. At that time, at most Liu Zheng could flee to Loulan, and he would still be able to make a living.
so.
What he was worried about now was that even if the prince led his troops to help, he would not be able to deal with these Hun soldiers?
"Extended scimitar..."
Liu Zheng looked at the military newspaper and frowned slightly.
Isn't the elongated curved sword equivalent to the Mo Dao or Tang Dao? This kind of sword is indeed extremely lethal. It seems that my arrival has caused a butterfly effect in this world. The Xiongnu royal court must have improved this long sword based on their own Mo Dao, which caught the Liangzhou army off guard.
It seems that the Longyan Dynasty army at this moment is completely vulnerable in front of these brave and warlike Hun soldiers!
Liu Zheng suddenly had an idea: "Send a pigeon to Zheng Yueru right away!"
Jiang Xuan clasped his fists and listened.
Liu Zheng said: "Tell Zheng Yueru to order the forage team to go to the front line. She will go south quickly to purchase a large number of bamboo poles. Remember, make sure to keep the branches and leaves together. It is best if they are freshly picked!"
Everyone was confused.
Jiang Xuan blinked: "Young Master...what do you want the bamboo pole for?"
Liu Zheng said: "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up! Remember, the more the better! No matter how much money you pay, you must send people to the front line as soon as possible!"
Although Jiang Xuan didn't know what Liu Zheng wanted to do, he always carried out Liu Zheng's orders without compromise. He immediately jumped out of the carriage and gave the orders.
At this time, it was getting dark, and the 80,000-strong Yinzhou Army began to set up camp.
…
Beijing.
Inside the palace.
The old emperor sat quietly on the dragon throne. Although his face was full of wrinkles and he looked like he was about to die, he had a kind of awe-inspiring power and majesty when he sat there, making people dare not look at him. You know, when he was young, the old emperor had killed countless people.
This most powerful man in the Longyan Dynasty, no one knew how scheming he was. It only took him a word to kill anyone.
"Are you all dumb?"
"Hmm? Are you all speechless? The agreement just signed, the Huns are rampaging 50 meters away, who will give me an explanation?"
The old emperor said angrily, followed by a coughing fit.
All the civil and military officials in the court knelt on the ground, shouting at the emperor to take care of his health.
"Dragon body?"
"Who cares about my dragon body? The Huns are coming to attack us, who cares?"
The old emperor was very angry.
Empress Zheng Fu said beside him, "Your Majesty, please don't get angry. The Lu prince's army is already preparing. We are the great Longyan Dynasty with millions of soldiers. Why should we be afraid of a mere Xiongnu?"
All the civil and military officials in the court echoed this.
The emperor smiled coldly: "Prince Lu?"
"If the vassal kings of the world were of one mind with me, how could they allow the Xiongnu to break through five of my fortresses?"
The entire hall was silent.
Zheng Fu winked at a young man among the civil and military officials.
The young man in brocade clothes clasped his fists and came out: "Father, I am willing to lead 30,000 soldiers to help Liangzhou!"
This child is Zheng Fu's biological son, the third prince Xie Ling. He has been smart and clever since childhood, well-read in scriptures, and is also the most favorite son of the current emperor. If it were not for the order of seniority, he would definitely pass the throne to Xie Ling.
As soon as Xie Ling came out, the old emperor finally smiled: "My son is very comforting to me!"
In the crowd, another person stood up anxiously. He looked older than Xie Ling and a head taller than Xie Ling, but he was not as likable as Xie Ling, with a slightly pointed face and monkey chin. This was the current crown prince, Xie Fang.
"Father, I am also willing to go to Liangzhou to provide assistance!"
"Father, I am willing to go too!"
"I swear that I will not be defeated until I return to Beijing!"
But after all, he was the second one to stand up, so his effect was not as good as Xie Ling. Sure enough , as soon as Xie Fang came out, several princes volunteered.
The old emperor laughed and was very satisfied.
Several princes were very active.
But of course it is impossible to let them all go, wouldn’t that cause chaos?
The emperor groaned and said, "Very good, very good. I am very relieved!"
"In that case, order Crown Prince Xie Fang to be General Pingbei and lead an army of 50,000 to rush to Liangzhou for assistance!"
Xie Fang was overjoyed and knelt down to thank him for his grace.
"Order the Third Prince Xie Ling to be the General of Suppressing the Enemy and lead an army of 50,000 to rush to Liangzhou for assistance!"
The entire hall fell into silence at the same time.
Your Majesty, what does this mean?
