Li Junxian and Qu Tuquan looked at each other in silence.
Obviously, Li Jing, who had been criticized for his "lack of integrity" and had a bumpy career and was depressed, this time he was determined to be a loyal minister and good general.
It's just that although this will be praised by the world and will be remembered in history, it will most likely be at the cost of one's life.
Whether it's worth it or not is a matter of opinion...
However, Li Junxian and Qu Tuquan were in awe, and the former nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, Duke Wei, I will protect the whole kingdom of Your Highness to the death and safeguard the integrity of the empire!"
Li Jing waved his hands with a smile and said: "In the eyes of ordinary people, there is great terror between life and death, but for our soldiers, sacrificing their lives for the country and being shrouded in horse leather is nothing more than trivial matters. I am over seventy years old, and I have been praised and criticized throughout my life.
Ups and downs, I have already broken the world, and I have put life and death aside. Don't be so coquettish, and hurry up and make arrangements. No matter what, you have to stick to this Tai Chi Palace for a few days and give the rebels a hard blow.
Arrogant and arrogant, let him know that betraying the crown prince and going against heaven will cost him a lot!"
"Here!"
They were both soldiers who licked blood with their swords. They were used to seeing life and death. Seeing Li Jing being so open-minded, the two of them were a little ashamed. After accepting the order, they went to arrange their own affairs.
Li Jing stood with his hands behind his hands, looking at the Tai Chi Palace filled with wind and snow, feeling calm in his heart.
…
Most of the rebels entered the city from Qingming Canal and then gathered in the Yanshoufang area. After receiving orders, they attacked the imperial city. Therefore, Hanguang Gate in the southwest was the focus of the rebels' attack. Since the day when Guanlong raised troops, countless rebels took turns
They violently attacked Hanguang Gate, putting great pressure and damage on the defenders here.
Under the falling snow, a fierce battle was going on up and down the Hanguang Gate. From time to time, thunderbolts were thrown from the top of the city to where the rebels gathered below the city. The roar was endless, and smoke filled the air. All the six leaders of the East Palace and the rebels were killed or injured.
There were countless corpses lying on the walls of the city, and the battle was extremely tragic.
Cheng Chubi's armor was stained with blood, and then was frozen by the cold wind, causing the mountain armor that had been damaged by many days of fierce fighting to appear dark brown and filled with evil energy.
At the top of the city, Cheng Chubi knocked down the rebel who had climbed up to the top of the city with a knife, and then kicked him off the top of the city. He wiped the blood on his face, took a breath, and looked around. The soldiers around him were almost
Everyone was injured, but the Sixth Army of the East Palace was unable to be replenished under the siege of the rebels. Even if the soldiers were injured, as long as their lives were not endangered, they could only be briefly bandaged and treated by the doctor accompanying the army, and then continue to fight.
He was already exhausted, and if it hadn't been for the support of the belief in upholding the integrity of the empire, he would have collapsed long ago.
However, no matter how tough the nerves are, they also need a strong body to support them. Now these soldiers are almost exhausted. They may not be able to hold on when the rebels attack in the next wave. They will either be defeated like a wave or the entire army will be completely exhausted.
…
It's already the end of the battle.
At this time, a soldier rushed up from the city and came to Cheng Chubi. After saluting, he whispered: "The commander-in-chief has an order. If you can't hold on, there is no need to fight to the death. You can take advantage of the situation and withdraw from the city to Chengtianmen."
Gather down and retreat to guard the Tai Chi Palace."
Cheng Chubi was stunned for a moment, nodded slowly, and said in a solemn voice: "The last general takes command!"
When the ordering soldier left, Cheng Chubi turned around and looked at the rebels who were setting up ladders under the city and climbing towards the top of the city. He tightened his sword in his hand. Many soldiers around him heard the ordering soldier's words, but
Everyone looked dull, even a little confused...
Although there was no need to fight to the death here and they could lead the army to evacuate the city, they were not happy at all.
After two months of fierce fighting, almost half of his subordinates, Paoze, were killed in the battle. The courtyard of the Yamen of Honglu Temple behind the city gate was filled with the remains of Paoze who died in battle. Everyone risked their lives to guard Hanguang Gate. How many people's blood sprayed on the city head, and the bones fell.
Under the city, however, at this moment, we cannot hold on. Are the deaths of these people meaningful?
"General, the rebels have launched another attack!"
Captain Yiming trotted up to him and reported with a nervous look on his face.
Only then did Cheng Chubi regain his composure. He took a few steps to the top of the city with a horizontal sword in his hand. He held an arrow stack and looked down the city. He saw a tide of rebels gathering from various lanes in the distance and swarming over.
For two days, the battle at the top of the city has almost never stopped. The rebels have attacked the city in waves, and they have already lost count of how many times they have charged.
It's like going crazy...
The sixth leader of the East Palace and the subordinate officials of the East Palace were all frightened by the crazy formation of the rebels, and they all knew that the rebels' fierce attack regardless of casualties must be a sign of something happening, but the only channel for the East Palace to inform the outside world or cancel information is Xuanwu
Xuanwu Gate was heavily guarded inside and outside, and even a fly passing by would have to be closely interrogated for fear of being infiltrated by rebel spies. Therefore, it was very inconvenient for the message to be transmitted. We had no idea what happened to make the Guanlong rebels so hysterical.
…
Seeing the rebels once again setting up ladders and starting to attack, Cheng Chubi took a deep breath, turned around and looked around at everyone, and said, "You must have heard the commander-in-chief's order just now?"
Everyone nodded, but no one said anything.
Cheng Chubi clenched the horizontal sword in his hand and gritted his teeth and said: "I know that you have long been determined to die. Even if you die here, you don't want to retreat in embarrassment and cause the city gate to fall, causing so many people to die in vain! But!
This is an order from the general, and it is a strategy formulated by His Highness the Crown Prince, and we must obey it!"
He stared at his bloodshot eyes and said word by word: "Leave it to be useful, cooperate with the strategy formulated by His Highness the Prince and the Marshal, and fight the enemy to the death!"
There was silence for a while, and then the soldiers in front of them shouted in unison: "Here!"
The Tang Army attached great importance to military discipline. They marched at the sound of drums and retreated at the sound of gold. However, no disobedience was allowed when an order was issued. Therefore, these soldiers were unwilling to do so, but they did not dare to disobey orders.
Cheng Chubi swept his eyes over the faces of the people in front of him, and said solemnly: "But even if we evacuate, we can't give the rebels such an advantage! Listen to my order, and the remaining gunpowder in the general will be used up with thunder and lightning."
They are all buried under the city gate, and I will give the rebels a big firecracker!"
"Here!"
The dead morale finally recovered, and the soldiers immediately dispersed and continued to defend the city to resist the rebel attack and buy time to plant gunpowder.
Half an hour later, when the gunpowder was laid, Cheng Chubi ordered the entire army to withdraw from the city.
Six soldiers in ragged clothes and bruises withdrew from the Hanguangmen gate tower. Many of them could only help each other and stagger away towards Chengtianmen.
Cheng Chubi was the last to lead his troops to withdraw from the city and asked: "Who is responsible for igniting the gunpowder?"
The soldiers around him were silent for a while.
Although the city gate has been defended for many days, the amount of gunpowder equipped earlier was very large, and it was of little use when defending the city. It would even be troublesome if the city wall was accidentally blown down, so there was a lot left. There were so many.
Once the gunpowder is ignited, its power is enough to cover a hundred feet in radius, and the person responsible for the ignition has no time to escape.
Whoever is responsible for igniting the gunpowder is no different from dying...
A soldier who was carried on a stretcher by Pao Ze raised his hand and said loudly: "Report to the general, I am responsible for this mission because of my humble position!"
Everyone followed the sound and showed admiration.
Cheng Chubi stepped forward and looked down at the soldier lying on the stretcher. Judging from his military uniform and armor, he was a soldier.
The soldier had wounds all over his body, his left leg had been severed by a sharp blade, blood was leaking out of the gauze bandage, but his face was flushed in the cold weather, and he was obviously having a fever.
There are various signs that this soldier has suffered from iron poisoning. Even if a miracle doctor is here, he may not be able to survive, so he accepted this life-or-death mission.
But even so, there is great terror between life and death. Even if people know that they will die, how many people can go to death calmly?
This is a true warrior!
After a short moment of silence, Cheng Chubi said slowly: "Report your life, official position, and place of birth. After the war, I will personally report your merits to you!"
The soldier grinned, but his injuries affected his body. He took a breath of cold air in pain, sweated, and said weakly: "The humble post of Donggong Sixth Recorder is joined the army. Cao Wang is from Yuxiang, Hedong County, Puzhou. Both parents are in the humble family.
I have two brothers, both working as farmers in the countryside, and they are already married, so there is nothing to worry about in the humble position, and death is not a problem. Moreover, the humble servant was seriously injured, and there is no reason to survive. I would like to use my broken body to serve His Highness the Crown Prince."
Cheng Chubi was not good at words, so he reached out and patted his shoulder twice, and said in a deep voice: "If I am lucky enough to survive, after this battle, I will go to the Ministry of War in person to plead for your merits, and I will send you every cent of the pension you receive."
In my house, as for the rank, it can be inherited by your brother or your descendants, and you will never break your promise!"
The soldier nodded repeatedly and said gratefully: "The general has always strictly prohibited justice, and I am grateful for the humiliation of my position. Please retreat quickly. If you are caught by the rebels a little too late, it will be very bad."
After some reorganization of the Sixth Army of the East Palace, many generals and commanders were almost changed. However, Cheng Chubi was dull and not good at speaking. Although he was a son of Duke Lu, he was still not respected by others. However, later, the soldiers under his command discovered that Cheng Chubi
Although Bi was dull and resigned to death, he was fair in dealing with things and extremely protective of his shortcomings. He never treated any of his subordinates badly.