Just when Yi Zong's troops came into contact with the Huns' cavalry, about two hundred miles away from the battlefield, due north of Yuyang Fortress, two light cavalry came galloping day and night.
"The Great Chanyu... The Great Chanyu..." The two cavalrymen ran to the military officials almost crying and reported: "Something bad has happened... It's difficult for that slave to unite with the Zhelan tribe to kidnap Zuo.
The Xian King captured the Qilian Mountains. This slave supported the Xian King of Zuo as the Chanyu and himself as the General of the Zuo. He declared to the outside world that... the Great Chanyu had been killed in the Han Dynasty..."
When the military minister heard this, a mouthful of blood spat out from his mouth, and he felt a little unsteady on his feet.
Several nobles around him quickly supported him: "Da Shanyu..."
The military minister opened his eyes, looked back at the Han Dynasty frontier fortress behind him, the Yuyang Fortress, grabbed a nobleman by the lapel, and said to him: "You! Go to Yuyang Fortress for me to meet the generals of the Han Dynasty, and follow
Let him talk about what conditions are required before he is willing to let my army go out..."
Jiqu Jidiao's betrayal was almost like a bolt from the blue.
For the military officials, the act of embarrassment was not only betrayal, but also forced him to die.
The loss of the Qilian Mountains caused the entire Hexi Corridor to change hands immediately.
The Xiongnu could no longer return to Mubei or go to the Western Regions through Hexi.
If they want to return to Mubei, the Xiongnu must now cross the vast Mongolian plateau, cross the desert and Gobi, and walk thousands of miles just like their ancestors more than a hundred years ago.
Such a thing, even in the past, was extremely difficult.
For millions of years, countless nomads died on this migration route. It was not until the Xiongnu defeated the Yueshi and controlled the Western Regions that this eternal problem was solved.
From then on, the people who led the bow no longer needed to walk this road of death. They could migrate from Hexi, where water and grass were abundant and the scenery was beautiful, to Mubei or the Western Regions.
But now that this place is lost, the military minister and his army, even if they can safely withdraw from the Han territory as he had expected, they still have to face the test of the vast sea and the endless attacks of the Han cavalry.
Chase.
From Yanji to Hanhai, there are four thousand miles of long grassland.
The Han cavalry will definitely make the Huns lose blood on this road.
Now, the military officials knew that their only choice was to make peace with the Han Dynasty.
No matter what harsh conditions the Han Dynasty people put forward, he must agree.
Otherwise, the Xiongnu regime might fall apart immediately.
Only by obtaining a peace treaty with the Han Dynasty could he have the ability and time to go back and suppress the rebellions of the Qiequ Qiediaonan and Zhelan tribes, regain Hexi, and at the same time suppress the various powerful factions that must be ready to make a move now.
"Hurry!" The military minister suddenly remembered another thing: "Immediately send someone to hurry up and notify the King of Xia, and ask the King of Xia to send envoys to negotiate with the Han Dynasty, and then send someone to notify the emperor immediately..."
"No..." The military minister suddenly changed his mind and turned to look at Huyan Dangtu: "Zuo Danghu went to ask for Yang in person. We must hold firm and not let Xu Huan's army suffer any losses!"
The Xu Huan Army has now become the only hope for military officials and one of the few capitals they can rely on in the future.
The military minister believed that as long as this terrible cavalry was around, no matter what happened on the grassland in the future, he could rely on the Xu Huan army to stabilize the situation and suppress the rebellion.
and……
If Xu Huan's army had an accident and was damaged here, then...
Thinking of this, the military minister roared: "Why don't you go quickly?"
…………………………
And almost at this moment, a group of guests arrived at Pinggang City.
Holding the banner in his hand, Yang Shi looked uneasily at the densely populated Han army shooters on the tower. He had to speak again and shouted: "On the order of King Zuo Guli of the Great Xiongnu, envoy Yang Shi asked to see You Beiping of the Han Dynasty.
The governor of the county, Duke Ji, and all the distinguished ministers..."
"What are the Huns doing?" On top of the city tower, Ji Ban, the governor of Youbeiping County, was discussing with his lieutenant Chen Jun: "Is there some fraud?"
Chen Jun looked around the city and said, "I thought there would be no fraud... Why don't we let him into the city?"
Ji Ban also looked around and confirmed that there was no one else nearby except the Huns envoy who was holding a banner like a Han envoy. He was relieved and said: "Put down the hanging basket and bring the Hun envoy up!"
"No!" An officer immediately took the order.
But the soldiers on the tower all looked at Ji Ban and Chen Jun with red eyes.
In this battle, the soldiers of Youbeiping County have suffered heavy losses till now.
It can almost be said that except for Pinggang, no complete city is still in the hands of the Han army.
In this process, the ones who bear the greatest responsibility are the county guard Ji Ban and the county lieutenant Chen Jun.
If these two people had not ignored and neglected their duties even after the imperial court reported the invasion of the Huns, the situation in Youbeiping County would never have deteriorated to this point.
You must know that Youbeiping County's defense force has always been the strongest among the Yanji counties.
One hundred and fifty years ago, General Qin Kai sent his troops northward to expel Donghu and established a county here. Youbeiping County has been a militarized county.
In the whole county, there is no city that is not fortified, and no people that is not armed.
There is also a straight Qin Road that runs through the county, connecting Liaodong with Andong and Jicheng.
Since the founding of Youbeiping County, it has never been in such a mess as it is today.
Now, except for Pinggang City, which is still in the hands of the Han Dynasty, all other places have fallen.
In fact, if it were not for the urgent reinforcements from the two counties in western Liaoning and eastern Liaoning, desperately blocking the southward path of the Xiongnu cavalry, and involving a large number of Xiongnu troops, I am afraid that even Pingggang would have been lost now!
And Pinggang is the largest military fortress in the entire Yanji and even the entire northeastern Han region!
Since General Qin Kai built this city, it has never fallen into the hands of Hu Qi.
Even if the world was in chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty, King Zang Ba of Yan could still rely on this city to deal with Hu Qi.
The reason why the county governor and the county lieutenant neglected their duties has long been known to everyone.
It's just that these two people have never gotten along.
When this happened, both of them wanted to dig holes for each other so that they could gain the upper hand.
The result is that each other pulls back.
They made repeated mistakes in command and issued various contradictory orders. Just like the garrison of Nazi County, they could have withdrawn.
But the county governor asked them to hold on for three days.
If that's the case, then so be it!
But unexpectedly, the county captain sent an order asking them to abandon Zi County and withdraw to Pinggang.
These two conflicting orders directly caused the two captains of the Zixian garrison to weigh the situation.
There is no way to defend with peace of mind, nor to retreat in an orderly manner.
Finally, Zi County was conquered by the Huns, and the city was reduced to ashes.
I just pity the two thousand defenders, they are all good sons and husbands!
Ji Ban and Chen Jun also knew how big a trap they had created.
Therefore, these two people have been trying their best to claim credit these days, even referring to deer as horses, misappropriating the military achievements of their subordinates, coercing and inducement, and forcing the military judge in the county to revise their report.
I want to use this to escape the punishment and liquidation after the war.
Even if it weren't for the fact that fools now know that surrendering to the Huns has no future, these two people might have knelt before the commander of the Huns army and handed over the entire Youbeiping to them.
At this moment, they ignored the looks of the soldiers on the entire city tower. In their eyes, this Huns envoy had become a life-saving straw.
As senior bureaucrats of the Han family and feudal officials in charge of a county, they knew very well the terrifying aspects of the current Han Dynasty system.
Regarding other matters, the people below may be able to deceive the princes in the court and hide it from the emperor's eyes and ears.
But military matters cannot be completely concealed.
After the war, the emperor will definitely send the censor, the minister, the minister, and the chief minister of the prime minister's office to form a joint investigation team to station in each county, go deep into the local area, visit soldiers and officers, and inquire about the entire war process.
By that time, even if they have extraordinary abilities, they will not be able to hide it.
Their only hope now is that God will bless them and a miracle will happen.
But this time the Huns envoys came, in their eyes, it was already a miracle.
Ji Ban and Chen Jun knew very well that when the Huns came at this time, they were not here to subdue the weak, but they must be here to negotiate.
After all, so far in the war, the Huns have suffered setbacks on all fronts, and the imperial newspaper has even publicly announced the great victory in Shanggu and the annihilation of King Li's army in the right valley of the Huns.
Victory, for the Han Dynasty, was just around the corner.
And the two of them couldn't wait to get a piece of this victory cake, and try their best to smear themselves with as much glory as possible.
In their report to the court, the two men even took credit for the reinforcements from Liaodong County and Liaoxi County.
It's not that they are crazy, it's just fear and fear.
And now, this Huns envoy has undoubtedly become their last life-saving straw.
Therefore, as soon as the sheep food was brought to the city tower, Ji Ban and Chen Jun immediately rushed to see him.
"Why is the envoy here?" Chen Jun asked a little reservedly, but Ji Ban didn't care about his appearance at all. He looked at him almost eagerly: "Your envoy is here, but he is here to serve you.
The order of King Zuo Guli?"
When Yang Shi heard this, he was also a bit unimaginable.
He even doubted that his eyes still looked like a Han Dynasty official?
In the past, Sheep Food would definitely have taken this opportunity to trick these two fools.
But now, the Huns' desire for peace is higher than that of Ji Ban and Chen Jun.
Before leaving, King Zuogu Li repeatedly requested that he must negotiate peace terms with the Han people no matter what. As long as the Han army could get out of the way, the Huns would pay any price!
"Exactly..." Yang Shi bowed his hands like a scholar-official of the Han Dynasty and said: "My lord, King Zuo Guli, is deeply aware that the war has been going on for a long time, the two countries have been fighting continuously, and the war has injured Li Shu, causing the two countries to be at odds, and he can't bear it in his heart.
Therefore, I sent an envoy to discuss the truce with your country!"
"My lord has something to say: If your country is willing to make peace with our great Xiongnu, then my lord will immediately release two thousand Han Dynasty people as a sign of sincerity, and return your country's Zi County, Xuanyang and ten other cities and fortresses..." Sheep Shi
Said softly.
But in the eyes of Chen Jun and Ji Ban, it was like the sound of nature.
They almost couldn't help but want to agree immediately!
Did the Xiongnu release the captive people and return the city to the fortress?
As long as it comes true, it will be a huge achievement in any case, and it will even be enough for the two of them to bribe a group of literati, paint them with makeup, whitewash themselves, and even mold them into moral mamas, sage figures who can influence Yi Di.
only……
Ji Ban and Chen Jun looked at each other. They were completely unable to reply to each other now.
Because, now, the main force of the Han army in Beiping County is not their subordinates and tribes.
They were county soldiers led by Gongsun Xuan, the governor of Liaodong County, and Wang Fu, the governor of Liaoxi County.
As for the troops possessed by Youbeiping County, there are now only five thousand defenders in Pinggang City.
The other troops were all wasted in the war because of their random command and mutual quarrels.
Thinking of this, the two people also sighed.
Gongsun Xuan and Wang Fu are not easy people to talk to.
The former is a native of the Qi State and a supporter of the Gongyang faction. He believes in the distinction between China and Yi and the doctrine of revanchism. Now, people are in the midst of a fight and asked him to stop. No one except the emperor has the ability.
As for the latter?
Then the reason is even bigger.
Wang Fu's eldest brother is Wang Chulong, the contemporary Shandu Marquis!
Thinking of this, the two of them couldn't help but feel downcast.
With these two people here, the two of them and their subordinates are now red-eyed for their military exploits.
How easy is it to get them to listen to you?
When Yang Shi saw this situation, he immediately said: "Two Ming Gongs, my lord has something to say. If you two can promote the friendship between Han and Hungary and make peace between the two countries, my lord is not only willing to surrender all the captured Han people.
, release the soldiers, return all Han Dynasty cities, and are willing to compensate your country for this..."
"Compensation?" Ji Ban and Chen Jun heard this and were very excited.
If there is compensation, then...
"Exactly..." Yang Shi knew the problems facing the Xiongnu now, especially the problems facing his master.
It can only be described as urgent!
Therefore, he gritted his teeth and said: "My lord is willing to persuade our country's Great Chanyu to cede Munan to your country..."
"In addition, my lord is willing to pay your country 5,000 war horses, 3,000 cattle, 100,000 sheep, 5,000 male slaves, and 3,000 female slaves every year as payment for the marriage..."
Speaking of this, Yang Shi was also very distressed and wanted to cede land and pay compensation. This was something that the Han Dynasty did not agree to when it was in the most embarrassing situation.
But now, the Xiongnu had no other choice but to pray for help from the Han Dynasty.
In fact, Yang Shixin had to rejoice that he seemed to be lucky enough to meet these two senior officials in the Han Dynasty who were considered 'relatively friendly' to the Xiongnu. Through them, he could influence the Han Dynasty's monarchs and decisions.
However, Ji Ban and Chen Jun were delighted when they heard this.
If this is true, as long as they can facilitate this matter, wouldn't they become national heroes?
Maybe even a lot of political capital can be gained?
As for other people’s opinions?
What does it have to do with them?
"Good!" Ji Ban almost couldn't wait to reply: "If your lord is really like this, it will be a blessing to the people of both countries! Please tell your lord that I will definitely facilitate this matter. However, to show your sincerity, please release the three people first."
Thousands of people of our country!”
Definitely!
He must have an excuse to coerce Gongsun Xuan and Wang Fu.
At the same time, he also needs this matter as evidence to ask his backer to come forward.
"It's a deal!" Yang Shi said without hesitation.
……………………
After seeing off the Huns envoy, Ji Ban ordered to summon Pinggang officials, and immediately took out a pen and paper to write a letter to his patron.
It didn't take long for him to write an eloquent and expressive article. Then, he used his privileges as a county magistrate to forcefully mobilize the carrier pigeons that were originally stipulated to only be used for emergency communication with Chang'an and Jicheng.
At the same time, Chen Jun also sent a homing pigeon flying.
Of these two homing pigeons, one flew southward to Qinghe County, where Wei Qihou was.
And the other one flew to Linzi, Qi State. (To be continued.)
