The bustling Zhuque Street in the past is now much deserted.
People walking on the street are walking in a hurry. If you look closely, you will find that there is a trace of uneasiness in their eyes.
Occasionally, if a naughty child runs around and laughs a little, he will be quickly grabbed by an adult, put under his arm without any explanation, and walked home.
The news that Dou Jiande led an army of 200,000 to attack the King of Qin had already spread throughout Chang'an.
As the capital of a country, people living in Chang'an are no longer unfamiliar with various military affairs.
Dou Jiande's 200,000 troops, plus Wang Shichong's 100,000 troops, that's a total of 300,000 people!
This is a force that can destroy the world!
Therefore, even if the emperor has announced to the world: King Qin will defend his position and will not let the bandits enter the pass!
But everyone here knows clearly: King Qin has less than 100,000 people under his command!
With 100,000 versus 300,000, and still being attacked from both sides, failure seems to be only a matter of time.
Once the King of Qin on the front line is defeated, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong and others can go up the Yellow River and approach the vast land of Guanzhong!
At that time, this empty Chang'an City will be nothing more than a lamb to be slaughtered under the steel knife!
Every time they think about this, the people in Chang'an become more and more panicked all day long.
In the Daxing Palace, compared with the frightened people of Chang'an, Li Yuan's life at this time was even worse.
The last information Li Shimin sent was three days ago!
During these three days, was Hulao Pass defended? Did Luoyang send troops? But there was no news at all!
"Da Lang, how is Chang'an? Nowadays, people's hearts are in turmoil, and there must be no problems in Chang'an!" With a gloomy face, Li Yuan turned to ask Li Jiancheng, who was also looking haggard.
Li Jiancheng pursed his dry lips and replied in a deep voice: "Back to my father, the Qianniu Guards have been patrolling Chang'an day and night for the past two days, killing some young people with heavy punishments! Therefore, Chang'an is still relatively stable now.
The price of food in the West Market has tripled in the past two days."
Li Yuan was silent for a moment, then nodded and said: "In troubled times, you have done a good job in using important regulations! As for food, this is a year of great harvest, and there is no shortage of food for the time being. If those grain merchants want to increase their prices, just let them go!
When we really need food, just grab a few and chop them down!"
"Here!"
Hearing what Li Yuan said, Li Jiancheng nodded in agreement, then he hesitated again, and then asked tentatively: "Where is the second brother..."
"Erlang, he..."
Hearing Li Jiancheng ask about Li Shimin, Li Yuan couldn't help but rub his temples, and then sighed deeply and said: "Hey... He was asked to retreat to Tongguan at that time, but he insisted on going his own way! It's better now, because the entire Tang Dynasty is in trouble.
, does he regard himself as the undefeated God of War just because he won a few battles?!"
When Li Jiancheng heard Li Yuan's complaints, he didn't know what to feel.
On the one hand, Li Yuan distanced himself and complained about Li Shimin, which was what he wanted to see.
But on the other hand, if Li Shimin loses this battle, Datang's position will be in jeopardy!
If the Tang Dynasty is gone, what's the point of fighting for the crown prince?
"Hey... the second brother probably has his own plans. After all, the Tang Dynasty is also his home! He will not put himself in danger!"
With the same sigh, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuan both lost their intention to talk at this moment. They both raised their heads and looked at the small patch of sky outside through the palace door.
Time passed quickly.
When the burning clouds in the sky spread out like waves.
The disturbing street drum also sounded endlessly.
The irritating sound of drums made pedestrians on the street walk faster and faster, leaving them no time to even look up and appreciate the beautiful scenery on the horizon.
The guard at the east gate of Chang'an City is a tall man from Guanzhong with a full beard.
A big face, a big nose, a big mouth, all put together, plus a shaggy beard, this look always makes people think that he is a bit aggrieved if he doesn't want to be a bandit.
Halfway through the street cleaning drums, the number of people leaving the city gradually became less and less. Occasionally, one or two people came into the city, and the bearded men had to take a look in person before letting them go.
"Hey, the city of Chang'an is not stable. You should be brighter with your tactics! The day before yesterday, Lao Wu from Ximen was caught by the Qianniu Guards and whipped twenty times because he accidentally let in a spy.
I'm still lying in bed and can't get up. I went to see him yesterday and it was so miserable..."
After taking a bite of the hawker's filial pear, the bearded man did not forget to teach his stunned subordinates, telling them not to make mistakes at this critical moment!
"Boss, wasn't that old Wu beaten because he took black money from a spy? We confiscated it, so what are we afraid of?"
After hearing the miserable words spoken by the bearded man, a fledgling soldier suddenly muttered unconvinced...
"Collect black money?!" The bearded man glared when he heard this, and the pear core in his hand hit the soldier's helmet with a whoosh, and the juice splashed everywhere!
"Bah! That's bullshit collecting black money! A few copper coins are also called black money? Tell me, who hasn't received some filial piety? How can you support your mother with just the salary from being an errand? Drink the fine wine of the Xiao family?
Old Wu was a city gate official, not a scout camp. How did he know that the lame man was a spy? He only received a few copper coins, but how could he be beaten like that? Those damn Qianniu Guards, because their fathers were ministers and nobles,
You look at us like we are bugs, we are trying to find faults in the eggs, bah! The general will not care about such a trivial matter when he comes! Who are they?"
Perhaps because he had been bullied so much by the Qianniu Guards in the past two days, the bearded man became more and more excited as he talked, and in the end he became hysterical! He pointed at the city and scolded him for a long time, and finally he got tired of scolding, and then he gradually came to his senses.
When the fierceness passed, a guilty conscience gradually gained the upper hand. The bearded man looked around and saw no one around, and relaxed a little: "Ahem, just listen to what I just said. Who dares to spread it out? Hehe!"
Several of his subordinates were silent, and their heads were shaking rapidly.
You are just a fool spreading the news. If those old soldiers hear it, do they care if you are the one who spread the news? Take it first and then talk about it!
Looking at his obedient subordinates with satisfaction, the bearded man picked up the big bowl on the table and took a sip of water, and then said: "Oh, I forgot about it just now! From now on, all your hands and feet will be given to me.
Keep it clean. If anyone wants to cause trouble to me at this time, I will skin you alive! Did you hear that?!"
"I heard it, I heard it! Brothers, I promise not to accept even a single date from now on!"
"Humph, that's pretty much it! Time's up, close the door!"
The bearded man snorted proudly, put his hands behind his back, and prepared to let his men pack up the tables and chairs and go into the city.
However, just when the bearded man was about to enter the city gate.
On the street outside the city, there was a faint sound of horse hooves.
