From the late autumn to the early winter of the fourth year of Jingtai, the Northern Liang army swept across the entire territory of Yanzhou and almost recaptured the entire Yanzhou without a single blow. Then the three armies gathered near Jinyang Pass and formed a confrontation with Wanyan Aguda who was stationed here.

potential.

While good news about the war situation in Liaodong continued, the situation on Pinghan Road took a turn for the worse.

Hanzhou City

At the gate of the city, soldiers with wounds all over their bodies, supporting each other, limped into the city one after another. This scene continued to play out in these days, and these were all wounded soldiers who were removed from the big and small lotus seeds.

A troop of more than a hundred soldiers and horses galloped into the city from afar. The leader of the general, whose robes were still stained with blood, was clearly the second eldest son of the Chang family, Chang Jingzhe, the envoy of the Pinghan Dao Protector.

As soon as Chang Jingzhe entered the city, he rushed to the general's mansion without stopping, and staggered all the way to the door of the meeting hall.

When he reached the door, the son of the Chang family, who was covered in blood, took a deep breath before pushing the door open and entering.

"Father, eldest brother. I lost the Big and Little Lotus Seed Mountains, please punish me!" Chang Jingzhe watched Chang Hantang and his eldest brother kneeling on the ground with a plop, their faces trembling, and there was still a little blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.

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Chang Jingan walked up quickly, pulled his brother and said, "Get up, it's not your fault. The gap in our military strength is too huge."

In the past two months, the news of Emperor Wanyan Honglie's personal expedition in Northern Jin Dynasty has finally been confirmed. More than 300,000 Jin soldiers have been attacking the Big and Little Lianzi Mountains day and night. The Big and Little Lianzi Mountains, which were originally planned to hold out for half a year to a year, have finally been defeated.

It fell under this fierce offensive.

Chang Hantang looked at his son, sighed and said: "Get up, just come back."

"Woo~"

Chang Jingzhe, who escaped from the heavy siege, finally couldn't bear it anymore and cried loudly: "I have more than 43,000 frontier soldiers, but only more than 2,000 of them have been withdrawn. Twenty-four of the Chang family's children died in the battle."

Man, I’m not willing to give in, father. Woohoo~ I’m back, but my brothers will never come back!”

The tip of Chang Hantang's nose felt sour, and he walked tremblingly in front of his son and stretched out his hand: "Get up! I, the son of the Chang family, can bleed, but not shed tears!"

"promise!"

Chang Jingzhe struggled to stand up and wiped the tears from his eyes.

The father and son sat down around a map of Pinghan Road, their faces solemn. Now that the Big and Small Lianzi Mountains have fallen, I believe that the soldiers of Beijin will soon appear under Hanzhou City.

The east and west sides of Hanzhou City are built against the mountains. The terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Only the north side will face the enemy. This is why it is used as the last barrier of Hanzhou City.

Although they will not be besieged by the Jin soldiers in the city, Hanzhou City must not be lost. Once Hanzhou City is lost, the entire territory of Hanzhou will not be protected. The Pinghan Road border troops can only fight to the death with the Jin soldiers in Hanzhou City.

"Father, there are only 70,000 troops stationed in my city now, and there are as many as 300,000 golden soldiers. According to the momentum of Wanyan Honglie's attack, I'm afraid the attack will be brutal from the beginning." Chang Jingan frowned and said.

"Wanyan Honglie came in full force, we don't have enough troops!" Chang Hantang said with narrowed eyes.

Chang Hantang had guarded the border for decades during his military life, but this was the first time he encountered such a dangerous situation like today.

"Father, why don't you evacuate to Jizhou first, and it will be fine if my eldest brother and I are here in Hanzhou City!" Chang Jingzhe said with some worry.

"Yes, father, just listen to our advice and go to Jizhou." Chang Jing'an also agreed.

The two brothers had tried to persuade Chang Hantang countless times since they learned about Wanyan Honglie's personal expedition. They were obviously worried that their father would be in danger if he stayed in Hanzhou City, but Chang Hantang was determined not to leave.

"Absurd! How can I leave? I have been fighting with the Jin people for half my life. You let me leave at this critical moment? Escape in the middle of the battle? Then won't I, Chang Hantang, become the laughing stock of the world?" Chang Hantang's eyes widened with anger.

Said: "You two brothers have to mention this matter again!"

"well!"

The two brothers sighed together, knowing that they could not persuade their father.

Chang Jing'an pursed his lips: "Since father won't leave, then we have to increase the defensive strength of Hanzhou City, right? There are still 60,000 to 70,000 garrison troops in Jizhou, we can transfer some more!"

"No, a lot of Jizhou's troops have been mobilized. They must not be moved again!" Chang Hantang rejected his son's suggestion with a wave of his hand.

Chang Jingan's face was filled with bitterness. This would not work and that would not work. This was the first time that Pinghan Dao Jiedu envoy was in trouble.

In fact, the two brothers knew why Chang Hantang refused to mobilize more troops from Jizhou.

At present, Beijin's offensive direction is only focused on Hanzhou and has not mobilized troops in Jizhou. Because the road in Jizhou is relatively difficult, it is difficult to march or transport siege equipment, which is equivalent to a natural barrier.

But this does not mean that there is no possibility of being attacked. Historically, Beijin has often taken the direction of Jizhou when launching troops on Pinghan Road.

Chang Hantang said in a deep voice: "If we deploy more troops from Jizhou, Jizhou will become an empty frame. We cannot afford to take this risk!"

"Then what should we do? Hanzhou City's troops are not strong enough to hold on for too long!" Chang Jingan said with a frown.

Chang Hantang walked around the room with his hands behind his back, and his straight back seemed to bend a little unconsciously. It is really a headache to encounter such a battle when you are old.

After a long time, Chang Hantang finally stopped and said calmly: "Send a report to the court to ask for reinforcements!"

"Ask for help?"

The two brothers were stunned and looked at each other.

"Father, the Ministry of War is controlled by the Yuwen family. The Yuwen family has always regarded us as a thorn in their side, how could they send troops to help me?" Chang Jingan shook his head, feeling that his father's proposal was not feasible.

"When King Fu rebelled, an old man named Yu Wen Hongru came to our door and asked his father to send border troops to quell the rebellion. My father refused. Today we ask them for help, but they will never agree. If we do this, wouldn't we put our faces up to others?

Our Chang family cannot afford to lose this person!" Chang Jingzhe also objected.

"Well, it was in the past. When the Nangong family was here, how could my Chang family send troops to Jiangnan to quell the rebellion?" Chang Hantang sighed and sat back on his chair.

As the two major families of the Qi Party, they naturally have their own tacit understanding. The Chang family is responsible for the border, and the Nangong family is responsible for the interior. They do not interfere with each other's military power.

"Having said that, the Yuwen family must also hate us for this." Chang Jing'an said silently.

"My Chang family has been guarding the border for decades. Which generation has not had any of the Chang family's children die in battle outside the border? I have a clear conscience." Chang Hantang raised his hand: "If the Yuwen family is willing to send troops, it would be best. If the Yuwen family is not willing to send troops, it would be best.

"

Chang Hantang paused for a moment, and after a while the old voice sounded again: "If they refuse to send troops, then all of my Chang family's 200,000 border troops will have to die in battle, and it won't be our turn to worry about the future.

That’s it! Let’s go to the table!”
Chapter completed!