Today's Shouyang City has long lost its majestic appearance as an important town in Huainan.
The city walls of Luocheng were severely damaged in previous wars and have not been systematically repaired so far. The streets in the east of the city are dilapidated, and there are few pieces of wood on the docks. The weirs were washed away and collapsed by the surge of water due to lack of maintenance. There are many buildings on both sides of the river.
There are tidal flats distributed.
In just one year, Shouyang went from a bustling and prosperous Huainan city to a ruined one. The devastation of the war on the world can be seen clearly.
Today's Shouyang Luocheng is completely disordered, but there are still many residents who were originally here and people from all directions. The reason why they still linger here is not because they have any deep attachment to this city, but because they are still here.
It is more dangerous outside the city. There are many powerful bandits who plunder people and rob property. Shouyang still has a good reputation. Generally speaking, bandits do not dare to invade, so it has become a temporary shelter for the helpless people.
In today's Shouyang Jincheng, there are still Hou Jing's cousin Wang Xiangui, as well as generals such as Tian Ying and Guo Luo who fled from Liyang. Originally there were more than 3,000 soldiers left behind, most of whom were recruited from Huainan, but as Wang
The dignitaries surrendered to the Eastern Wei Dynasty in order to protect themselves. Many of these soldiers fled for fear of being moved to Hebei. Today, there are less than a thousand defenders in such a large city, and the power can be said to be extremely poor.
It is precisely because of the dilapidation and poverty of Shouyang City that Li Bomu, the governor of West Yanzhou from the south, did not even bother to move to Shouyang after he took control of Hefei, and still left Shouyang Jincheng with Wang Xiangui and his troops.
Yang Zhong also had some understanding of the changes in the situation in Shouyang, but when he actually arrived here, he found that the ruin of Shouyang was much more serious than imagined. At the same time, he couldn't help but lament Li Tai's plot.
Being shrewd, he did not regard Shouyang city defense as the focus of the battle with Murong Shaozong. Now even if the city is in ruins, it will not hinder the implementation of the next plan.
"Immediately tell the city guard that a certain general is newly appointed by the imperial court as the governor of Nansi Prefecture, Xiahou Shijun. He is here to visit the city lord. Please come out to greet him as soon as possible!"
When Yang Zhong led his troops to Luocheng, soldiers patrolling the city came over after hearing the news. He reined up his horse and shouted loudly to the soldiers standing at the gap in the city wall and looking around.
After hearing this, these soldiers went back to the city in a noisy manner. No one even came to check the authenticity of the identities of Yang Zhong and his party, so they went into the city to report.
More than a quarter of an hour later, an armored general came riding up with more than a dozen soldiers. Since the city gate had long been blocked and had not yet been opened, a group of people could only continue to communicate at the gap in the city wall.
The general first asked a few questions and examined the tokens handed over by Yang Zhong, but still cautiously asked them to stay outside the city for the time being.
"A certain group of people were persecuted by the Westerners, but they still rushed here to warn me. They were exhausted all the way. You and other soldiers did not want to be grateful and repay me, but you refused to leave the city!"
When Yang Zhong heard this, his eyes immediately widened, and then he raised his arms and shouted angrily: "My sons, follow me into the city! If there is no supply of beef and mutton today, we will kill people and drink blood!"
While they were talking, a group of men and horses poured into the city noisily from the damaged part of the city wall. After seeing this, the guard naturally did not dare to stop him any more, so he could only retreat in a hurry and ran into the golden city to report the news to the general Wang Xiangui.
Wang Xiangui was sitting in the trapped city, just drinking and having sex with prostitutes every day. When he heard that tens of thousands of troops from the Western Wei Dynasty were marching towards this place, he was so frightened that the wine glasses in his hands fell to the ground, and he complained endlessly in his heart.
He feels like crying but has no tears left. How come all the most unfortunate things in the world have happened to him?
He followed Hou Jingbai all the way and fled to Shouyang. He was a die-hard member of his party and was arranged to stay at the Shouyang base camp, which showed Hou Jing's trust in him. However, two bastards, Tian Ying and Guo Luo, escaped from Liyang and told
His prince had disappeared from the south of the Yangtze River. Another envoy from the Poyang King of the Southern Liang Dynasty attacked Shouyang. When he saw that he could not defend himself, he surrendered to the Eastern Wei Dynasty in order to protect himself.
But the news came again that Hou Jing had taken over the power of Jiankang, which naturally made Wang Xiangui regretful. He wanted to flee south but was afraid that Hou Jing would ask him about the crime of betrayal. He was trapped in Shouyang and didn't know which day he would be recruited to Ye.
City and sentenced to death.
He himself was extremely worried about his situation, but he didn't expect that the Western Wei Dynasty would raise troops to attack again. With Shouyang's current dilapidated state, how could he hold it? This simply didn't leave him any way to survive!
Wang Xiangui was so sad that he almost lost his breath, but then he heard shouts and curses coming from outside Jincheng, and his thoughts turned to the group of defeated Yiyang troops who had entered the city in a hurry.
After thinking about it, he led the Shouyang general into the city, intending to take a closer look at the enemy's situation.
Naturally, Yang Zhong would not go to the meeting alone. After arguing with each other for a long time, he was allowed to lead dozens of his elite soldiers into the front hall of the state capital to meet Wang Xiangui.
Although Wang Xiangui did not know Yang Zhong, but seeing his tall stature and impressive temperament, he still asked a few questions to see if he was from the south. Yang Zhong was naturally not afraid of such temptations and talked about the personnel customs of the Southern Dynasties.
Wang Xiangui was so stunned that he no longer dared to doubt his identity.
But when talking about the enemy's situation, Yang Zhong's words seemed to hit Wang Xiangui's heart with a heavy hammer. For example, the city of Yiyang was tall and vast, and his lord Xia Houqiang had more than ten thousand people, but he was still defeated by the West.
The army of the Western Wei Dynasty tore the city defense apart and massacred the city for several days, etc.
When Wang Xiangui heard the last part, he felt completely despaired and his face was as pale as paper. When Yang Zhong saw this, he said solemnly: "My city is no longer defended, but I am not willing to surrender to the Westerners. The general is a hero from the north and the south.
With the majestic city of Shouyang in hand, you should cheer up and fight to occupy the city. Do you think you can't kill it even if you have to draw your neck?"
After hearing this, Wang Xiangui opened his mouth but could not say anything. Although he was extremely desperate, he did not want to show his timidity in front of a stranger like Yang Zhong, so he just remained silent.
Yang Zhong still said to himself: "My lord had surrendered to Murong Xingtai, Duke of Yan, who was in Xuanhu. However, it was difficult for the southerners to gain trust from Beitou, so Murong Xingtai could not come to rescue him. Now the general has already
It is the right time for a celebrity in the north to invite Murong Xingtai to rescue him. I am also willing to follow the general to defend this city and defeat the Western Army to avenge my lord!"
"You barbarian, what do you know!"
When Wang Xiangui heard this, his eyes lit up at first, and then he smiled bitterly and sighed. Now he was looking forward to the arrival of strong reinforcements from the Eastern Wei Dynasty, but he was also afraid that the Eastern Wei Dynasty would take him to Yedu to question him.
After hearing this, Yang Zhong sneered and said: "What the general fears is nothing more than the Eastern Dynasty pursuing and punishing the former rebels against the princes. But even I, an outsider, can see clearly that the princes have become more powerful than Jiangnan and hold the power of a country. Their party members
It will definitely become more prosperous. If it fails in the coming year, its disciples will never be tolerated in the south of the Yangtze River, and they will move from Beitou to the Eastern Dynasty. If the Eastern Dynasty severely punishes the general, it will block the people's road to Beitou. General Gao is decisive and wise, how can he be so unwise?
?If the general is really not tolerated, why should the general continue to guard Shouyang?"
Hearing this, Wang Xiangui's face suddenly showed excitement. He pointed at Yang Zhong and laughed and said: "I have many mediocre people in my tent, and they can't help me share my worries. I hope you have the courage of Xiong Zhong, who can use his plans to make things happen."
His wisdom is no less than that of Wang Wei, a disciple of Prince Hou!"
But after a while, he sighed again: "I really don't have any affectionate relationship with Murong Shaozong, and now Shouyang is in dilapidated condition. Even if I write to ask for help, he may not be willing to come!"
"Shouyang is the capital of Huainan, and the general is submitting a letter to Murong Xingtai. How could he not be moved?"
When Yang Zhong said this, his expression became a little weird, and he took a deep breath before continuing: "If the general is afraid that Murong Xingtai cannot rescue him in time, he might as well write to tell him that the prince has been defeated by Jiankang.
He is so poor that he has nowhere to go, but a few of his close associates have sent the imperial seal from Nanliang to the general. If Murong Xingtai heard about this, he would have traveled day and night to come to his rescue!"
"The Imperial Seal, what is that?"
Yang Zhong originally thought that Wang Xiangui would be amazed by the clever idea when he told him such words that even his jaw dropped, but he didn't expect that Wang Xiangui looked at him with a blank expression and asked: "Not to mention that the prince has not yet failed.
, Even if this happened, why did Murong Shaozong have to come to rescue me?"
"This this……"
After Yang Zhong was stunned for a short time, he patiently explained the origin of the Chuanguo Jade Seal and its significance to a political power. General Gao Da was now plotting to usurp the country. If he could get the blessing of the Chuanguo Jade Seal, he would be popular. And Murong Shaozong
If you know this but don't come to rescue, you will definitely be severely punished by General Gao.
It is still difficult for an ignorant person to understand the meaning of something beyond his cognitive scope in a short period of time. After listening to Yang Zhong's explanation, Wang Xiangui shook his head and sighed: "General Gao is of Xianbei descent, even if he wants to be emperor
That is also the emperor of the Lu family. As you said, the late emperor of the Wei family can still command the world without getting this jade seal, but you and other idiots from the Han family believe in these false things! In my opinion, it is better to prepare more gold and silver gifts to bribe and plead."
"Be sure to add the matter of the imperial seal!"
Yang Zhong knew that only by adding this section could Murong Shaozong rush to Huainan impatiently. Without this, Wang Xiangui might not be able to do so even if he made a golden statue of himself and sent it there.
"Just spend more pen and ink!"
Wang Xiangui snorted coldly after hearing this, but seeing Yang Zhong's insistence, he said in a deep voice: "If Murong Shaozong enters the city and doesn't see this thing, you, a barbarian, can never escape the blame!"
"If Murong Xingtai does not come, the general and I will both wait for death. Only when reinforcements arrive in time can we hope to survive. But if we can defeat the enemy, I will die without regrets, so why should I fear Murong Xingtai will be punished!"
After Yang Zhong heard this, he said generously with a serious face.
When Wang Xiangui saw his heroic spirit, he was quite upset for a while. He summoned the civil servants of the government to write a letter, and after Yang Zhong checked it, he arranged for an envoy to cross Huaibei with a lot of goods and go to Xuanhu.
Ask for help.
After the messenger set off, Yang Zhong suddenly lost a lot of scruples. Taking advantage of the banquet hosted by Wang Xiangui, he directly controlled the people in charge who gathered in the mansion, summoned his subordinates from outside the city into the city, and quietly waited for the arrival of Murong Shaozong.