The two cities were lost one after another, especially the incredibly powerful stone cannons used by the enemy when attacking Zhongli City, which immediately made Heyang's defensive pressure unprecedentedly strong.
After the fall of Zhongli City, Hulujin immediately recalled the men and horses assigned to the south bank, and concentrated all troops on the north bank for defense.
In view of the fierceness of the enemy's stone cannon offensive, Hulüjin did not dare to concentrate all his troops in the city. Instead, he stationed his troops along the river for dozens of miles, expanding the scope of the camp defense to reduce the power of the enemy's offensive.
Of course, he did not dare to conceal such a big thing as the loss of two cities in succession. He immediately reported it to Yedu, and also reported the enemy intelligence that his son Hu Luxian had learned on the south bank, especially the identity of the enemy general. Play together.
A few days later, a group of Yedu envoys headed by Chen Yuankang arrived at the Heyang camp.
Along with the team, there was a cart with an iron gate and an animal cage that was particularly eye-catching. Before entering the camp gate, Chen Yuankang first apologized to Hu Lujin, who was leading the crowd to greet him, and then pointed at Xue Guyan behind him and ordered: "According to the order of the Crown Prince, Xue Guyan will be imprisoned and returned to the capital for punishment as soon as possible!"
Several powerful soldiers who looked like wolves and tigers rushed forward, confiscated Xue Guyan's sword and stripped off his outer robe. They took the torture shackles and threw them into the car, just like a captured bear.
"Da Sima, save me..."
Xue Guyan knew that the blame was inevitable, but he did not expect that the prince would use such a humiliating method and detain him like an animal in front of everyone. He was filled with grief and anger for a while, watching Hu Lujin begging repeatedly.
When Hu Lujin saw this, he also looked troubled and said to Chen Yuankang: "Xue Guyan is guilty of a disadvantage in the battle, but after all, his merits can be shown. I beg Chen Youcheng to consider his dignity."
"How can I not know the meritorious deeds of Duke Qin, even though he is humble in his position? But now that the army has been defeated and humiliated the country, the whole capital has been shaken and disturbed. The prince is furious, so even in his humble position, he is just following orders."
When Chen Yuankang heard this, he hurriedly bowed to Hu Lujin and said that there was nothing he could do.
But when he saw Hu Lujin's son Hu Luxian walking into his entourage, and the servants in the team gave him another look, he reluctantly covered the cage with a cloth. It didn't change Xue Guyan's bad situation, but with this layer of curtain covering him, he wouldn't be exposed directly to the public.
Immediately, this group of people separated into dozens of soldiers and did not enter the camp. They pulled the prison car where Xue Guyan was detained and returned to Yedu along the way. The vigorous and resolute attitude also showed that the prince Gao Cheng was serious about Heyang. The anger of defeat.
Hu Lujin knew that the prince was also using this to express his dissatisfaction with him, so he invited Chen Yuankang and his party into the camp with great courtesy.
After they entered the account and sat down, Chen Yuankang looked at Hu Lujin and asked directly: "Your Majesty, I have a humble position and I would like to ask the Grand Sima. Can the Grand Sima guarantee that you will defend Beizhong City and never let the city fall into the hands of thieves again?"
When Hu Lujin heard this, he frowned slightly and was silent for a long time before he said: "The thieves attacked Zhongli City before. The power of the artillery used by the thieves was really amazing, and it was difficult for the defenders to deal with it. However, their troops were limited and they could not enter the city. The central city is already at its limit. Once we set foot on the north bank, the tens of thousands of soldiers here will surely kill them..."
"Wait a minute, what Da Sima is saying is that it is possible for the rebel army to continue marching north and reach the river bank?"
Before Hu Lujin could finish speaking, Chen Yuankang asked again.
Although he was very reluctant to admit it, when he thought about the momentum of the enemy's attack on Zhongli City, Hulujin had to admit that although he had tens of thousands of troops today, he really couldn't guarantee that he would be able to defend the northern city.
And the preparations he has made now are no longer limited to the city strongholds, but dozens of miles of river embankments on the north bank. Even if the north city is smashed to pieces by the enemy's stone cannons, he must rely on bravery in the field to prevent the enemy from landing on the river bank. Opportunity.
But Chen Yuankang had little interest in his overall tactical preparations. After confirming that Hulu Jin could not guarantee that Beizhong City would not be lost, he spoke again: "Then I will have Lao Da Sima arrange it and let me go to Zhongli City and fight with him." The thief will have a chat."
"Chen Youcheng wants...this, is this the prince's intention?"
After hearing this, Hu Lujin's face suddenly changed, and he stood up from his seat. A feeling of shame and anger surged into his heart, and he glared at Chen Yuankang and asked quickly.
"Alas, the former division was defeated, and the public sentiment in the country has become quite unstable. Han Situ and other troops went to Henan, but there has been no news yet. The prince is now struggling to maintain the situation in the capital, and Heyang has been lost again... Heyang is absolutely We can’t lose it, no matter what!”
Seeing Hu Lujin's appearance, Chen Yuankang also stood up and looked at him and replied: "I have brought several thieves and generals Li Tai with me on this trip. The prince told me that if Da Sima can protect Heyang, I will bring the thieves with me." All the people came to the river to kill the sworn sworn. But if the Great Sima... I know that this situation is unbearable, but the Great Sima should also understand that there is absolutely no room for failure in Heyang! May I ask the Great Sima, should I go to the humble position?"
Hearing Chen Yuankang throw the question back to him, Hu Lujin's expression darkened again. He stood there frozen for a long time, then suddenly let out a long sigh, turned to the north, bowed his head to the ground, and said in a bitter voice: " I have disgraced the king and insulted the country's prestige... Chen Youcheng came from afar, so he must not know the details of the enemy. My dog, Fenglexin, has returned from Henan and can serve as Chen Youcheng's guide."
The fall of the two cities of Heyang was to the Eastern Wei Dynasty the current situation was like a leaky house that rained all night. The situation here could not continue to deteriorate.
Since I have exhausted all my strength here, I can only find a solution from the enemy's side. However, things like suing for peace and persuading surrender should obviously not be done by Gao Cheng, the newly in charge of military affairs. Hulüjin, who is on the front line and is at a disadvantage in combat, should do it. Hard to blame.
When Beizhongcheng's letter asking for a discussion was sent to his desk, Li Tai was also a little confused. Although he also felt that he had played well here in Heyang, but this was the endurance of the Eastern Wei Dynasty? He was already embarrassed to the point of wanting to pass. To deal with the threats posed by oneself in ways other than combat.
However, after thinking about it for a while, he could understand the situation and mood Gao Cheng was facing at this moment.
As a second-generation powerful man, apart from being shot by his father when he was young because he could not sit firmly on the back of an ox while running, Gao Cheng rarely experienced extremely dangerous situations. At least he was involved in several unsuccessful attempts to murder his boss. Compared to his father Gao Huan who ran away, his endurance and resilience were far inferior.
Li Tai had the perspective of a later person and understood that this turmoil was a near miss for the Eastern Wei Dynasty. But in Gao Cheng's view, every change that happened after his father's death was a new challenge. New pressure.
This process of constant pressure is uncomfortable for anyone, and the limit that everyone can bear is different. Gao Cheng is a smart man. Compared with his father who was always ready to risk his life, he With more chips and more choices in hand, you will naturally be happy to solve problems in more ways.
Not to mention Li Tai, a little butterfly in the great era, in the original history, Hou Jing had completely rebelled and defected to the two countries. Even though successive campaigns failed to pacify him, Gao Cheng was still willing to lower his profile and try.
He appeased Hou Jing and surrendered.
Although Li Tai's rebellion did no more harm to the Eastern Wei Dynasty than Hou Jing's rebellion, he is now one step away from the north bank of the Yellow River, so he absolutely needs to be dealt with carefully.
But this is an analysis from the perspective of the Eastern Wei Dynasty. Li Tai himself had little need for such a meeting.
To be honest, being able to capture Zhongli City was already his limit, mainly because Hulujin sent people south to cut off his retreat so that he could not escape.
Before this, even Heyang Nancheng was just an unexpected gain. In the final analysis, it was just because Xue Guyan flirted with others first and seduced him here step by step.
If Xue Guyan hadn't gone ahead and besieged Jingu City, he would have either been sleeping in Hanguan City or gone to Yingchuan to pay homage to the General of the Universe. As for being trapped on this river bridge, unable to advance or retreat?
He was on the front line now, and it was always inappropriate to contact the enemy's envoys rashly. If others found out, he would inevitably have to gossip. But when he saw the list of envoys sent by the other party, he couldn't help but feel a little moved.
Chen Yuankang was one of the most important counselors in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. He was deeply valued by the Gao family and his son. Li Tai had also admired him for a long time and did not object to meeting him.
However, if it was just Chen Yuankang, it would not be worthy of Li Tai meeting him in front of the battle. Among the key companions were his relatives who stayed in the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
This made Li Tai unable to refuse. Although his relationship with his relatives in the Eastern Wei Dynasty was not very deep, after all, the blood relationship was here. If he refused outright, his relatives would end up like He Basheng's sons.
He would inevitably feel regretful about the outcome, unable to let go, and it also gave people a feeling of being too cold and indifferent.
So he immediately replied to the letter, agreed on a time to meet with the other party, and went straight from Nancheng to Zhongli City to wait.
After receiving Li Tai's reply, both Hu Lujin and Chen Yuankang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At last, Li Tai was not so heartless that he refused to communicate without regard for the safety of his loved ones.
So they immediately arranged the boat according to the time provided by Li Tai. Chen Yuankang, Hu Luxian and two sons of the Li family in Longxi went with them. Under the escort of more than a dozen guards with only short blades, they took the small boat to Hezhou.
Go up to Zhongli City and leave.
At the same time, Li Tai was already wearing armor, surrounded by all the soldiers, standing outside the north gate of Zhongli City and waiting quietly for the arrival of his relatives.