Dark clouds rolled in the night sky, and the rain suddenly increased. A bolt of lightning pierced the sky like a branch, illuminating the dark army below the city and rushing in like an overwhelming force. Countless swords and guns flashed under the lightning, filled with murderous intent.
The defenders on the city were also prepared to fight to the death. Although they were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, Chang'an City had high walls and thick geographical advantages, and the Sixth Army of the East Palace had to pay a heavy price if they wanted to capture Jinguang Gate.
The only thing that made Cheng Chumo confused and uncomfortable was that his younger brother was outside the city. There was no eye for swords and arrows on the battlefield. If his brother was killed outside the city, he really didn't know what to do...
The sound of war drums gradually became thicker, beating in the hearts of the soldiers guarding the city. The wind and rain were like darkness, and the war clouds were densely covered.
Dong Gongliu, who led the soldiers in the front line, had already raised a huge wooden shield and came to the moat. Countless soldiers with squatting waists rushed out from the gap of the giant shield carrying huge sacks filled with earth and stones, and "popped" and "popped" the sacks.
"Throw it into the moat, then circle around in front of the formation and run towards the rear formation.
In this way, the sacks were thrown into the moat and splashed with water, and the moat was filled before his eyes.
On top of the city, Cheng Chumo looked solemn, took a deep breath, raised one hand high, and when it fell, all the soldiers around him would be fired. The huge crossbow had also slightly lowered its elevation angle, aiming at the moat.
Donggong Liu leads the military formation beside them. Even those huge wooden shields will be instantly shattered like cardboard in front of the powerful crossbows. The soldiers hidden behind are about to suffer huge casualties.
Cheng Chumo didn't know why Li Jing was crazy. Even though he didn't want to kill Pao Ze, his duty did not allow him to be half-hearted.
He gritted his teeth and was about to lower his raised arm when a loud shout came from behind him: "General, wait a minute, the commander-in-chief has ordered us to return to the camp immediately!"
"Well……"
Cheng Chumo almost choked with a held breath in his chest, then turned his head and stared at the soldiers who came to report the news in disbelief: "Back off?!"
The soldier rushed to him, obviously in a hurry, breathing heavily, and said: "The commander-in-chief has ordered the general to return to the camp immediately!"
Cheng Chumo finally let out this breath. Although he didn't understand why his father gave this order, it was a good thing that he didn't have to fight with his brothers on the battlefield. He waved his hands to the left and right and said, "Did you hear that? I'm retreating!"
The soldiers on the city withdrew their bows and crossbows one after another, and retreated back to the top of the city like a tide.
Cheng Chumo walked out for two steps and suddenly asked the ordering soldier: "Is it the same over at Chunming Gate?"
The soldier nodded and said: "The specific situation is unknown, but we came out together to deliver the order, and the orders we received were the same."
Cheng Chumo's mood became more and more solemn. At this time, Chang'an was supposed to be under martial law. Zuo Wuwei, who was guarding the capital, actually opened the gate and retreated to the camp under his father's order. This was equivalent to evacuating the entire Chang'an defense. Although the underlying reason was unknown.
, but the smooth entry of various armies into the city was unstoppable, and as these armies either supported the prince or supported the king of Jin entered the city, a vigorous battle to seize the throne was inevitable.
The father's position here is somewhat obvious. He seems to be neutral and does not help the two, but in fact he is afraid that he has switched his side to the King of Jin.
And my younger brother is currently serving in the army led by Donggong Liu. With his temper, he will definitely not run away from the battle. He will definitely follow the prince and fight to the death. When the time comes, the scene where brother and son meet on the battlefield will probably not be avoided...
He led his soldiers to quickly retreat to the camp.
Behind him, the army led by Dong Gong Liu was ready to fight to the death. The ladders were set up on the top of the city. The soldiers held the horizontal knives in their mouths and climbed up with all their strength. The archers climbed up the arrow towers and used arrow rain to suppress the defenders at the top of the city to cover the attack of Pao Ze.
The city was filled with war drums and countless soldiers crossed the filled-in moat and rushed towards the Golden Gate like a tide.
However, the expected stubborn resistance did not happen. The defenders on the city had already evacuated. Rolling logs and rocks were piled all over the city. Crossbow arrows with thick arms were still placed in the arrow trough of the huge crossbow, ready to attack...
Dong Gong Liu, who was on the top of the city, led his soldiers as if they were punching the air with all their strength, and they were a little dazed.
"There shouldn't be any ambush, right?"
"Send an order to the city to stop advancing! Wait until we search the city head!"
"Report the situation here to the commander-in-chief, please make a decision quickly!"
Facing the deserted city, the soldiers were a little confused. While searching up and down to see if there was an ambush, they quickly sent someone to report to Li Jing.
Under the city wall, Li Jing, who was riding on horseback and looking at the city across the moat, was also a little surprised. Zuo Wuwei's combat effectiveness has always been the first level among the sixteen guards. The most brave and good at fighting, and Cheng Yaojin's personal style
It is extremely suitable. Now he is guarding the Jinguang Gate and will not give up easily no matter what. However, the bloody battle as expected did not happen. Seeing the soldiers successfully climbed to the top of the city and raised the flag of the Sixth Army of the East Palace, Li Jing hurriedly
Send soldiers to the city to see what's going on.
After a while, reports from the soldiers and soldiers at the top of the city returned almost at the same time. Li Jing pondered for a long time and waved his hand: "Quickly occupy the Jinguang Gate and reorganize the army on the spot. Do not move without orders!"
His attack on the city actually took a huge risk. After all, the movement inside the city was still unknown. Even if the King of Jin rebelled, what he did was to anticipate the enemy's opportunity and occupy the important area of Jinguang Gate first, opening up the connection between the inside and outside of the city;
If the King of Jin did not rebel, he would have indulged himself in illness and entered the capital, which would be a serious crime and suspected of treason.
Now that the Golden Gate has been captured, it is better to be safe, otherwise when the army arrives outside the Tai Chi Palace, there will be no room for change...
"Here!"
The soldiers climbed into the city from the top, opened the city gate, lowered the drawbridge, and nearly 10,000 troops swarmed into the city, while the rest rested on the spot.
…
On top of the Chunming Gate tower, Niu Jinda looked down at the city with a stack of arrows in his hand. In the night, the densely packed Youhou guards marched in slowly like a forest, like a wall, until they reached the moat. Someone was standing by the river with a bow and an arrow.
He rushed straight to the city head from bottom to top. The soldiers quickly raised their shields in front of Niu Jinda. With a "grab" sound, the arrow pierced the wooden shield hard.
The soldier felt his arm shake violently and exclaimed: "This arrow has the power of at least five stones!"
It is said that the Nanliang general Yang Kan had amazing physical strength. He used a bow of twelve stones, but he could still use six stones on horseback. He could kill an enemy general hundreds of steps away as if he were trying to retrieve something from a bag... This is of course an exaggeration, not to mention whether there is anyone with such magical power.
It's amazing that no bowstring can withstand such a huge force. If it is pulled halfway, the bowstring will break.
In today's army, there are only a few people who can use the five-stone bow. The one among the Youhou Guards who has this magical power is none other than Yuchi Gong.
"Hey, there's a letter!"
The soldier took off the wooden shield and pulled out the arrow. When he lost the arrow, he saw something tied to the arrow shaft. He took it off and opened it. He found it was a letter wrapped in oil paper and hurriedly handed it to Niu Jinda.
Niu Jinda took it, and the soldiers behind him brought the pine oil torch that crackled in the rain close to him. When he took a closer look, he immediately took a breath of cool air.
It was actually a message to attack the prince...
At this time, there was also a clamor in the city, which was chaotic at first, but gradually became clear: "The prince is cruel, poisoned and killed the late emperor, persecuted his brothers and sisters, raped sycophants, and alienated villains. God cannot bear it, and God will punish him!"
The roars reached the top of the city clearly in the rainy night, and the soldiers guarding the city turned pale and fought.
Although many of them realize that it is now impossible to escape a battle to seize the rightful father, when this memorandum reaches the city, it means that this battle is inevitable, and it is difficult for almost all soldiers to stay out of it.
The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were warlike. Because they could accumulate military merits, make wives and children, and be promoted to nobles. Even if they were not successful, they could still earn a piece of permanent land, and the whole family would not have to pay exorbitant taxes. But that was a foreign war. During the civil war, the swords were drawn.
He was beheaded in the past, his head was missing and his body was missing, and he was left in mourning without even a pension. If he was defeated, except for the generals who commanded the army, where would there be rewards for small soldiers?
Niu Jinda took a deep breath, folded the letter and wrapped it in oil paper again, and handed it to the soldiers beside him: "Send it to the commander-in-chief quickly. At the same time, inform the right Houwei that he has the intention to attack the city, and ask the commander-in-chief to make a decision!"
Originally, it was his duty to defend the city. Whoever wanted to attack the city could only pass through him, otherwise he would not even be able to enter the city. But now that the battle for the throne was involved, and the battle for the heir apparent was imminent, how could he still do it?
Can you decide?
"Here!"
The soldier held the letter in his arms and rushed down to the city.
At this time, another arrow was shot from the city. This time, the shot was a little off target. It flew past the wooden shields raised by the soldiers, and hit the window frame of the tower behind Niu Jinda, making a "grab" sound.
The soldier hurriedly ran to pull out the missing arrow. Sure enough, there was a letter on the arrow shaft. After untying it, he handed it to Niu Jinda.
This time it was a letter of surrender...
"The prince is unprincipled and favors treacherous sycophants, which has led to chaos and evil. He has also poisoned the late emperor's plan. Now it has been confirmed and irrefutable. People and gods are angry! The wise men of the world should rise up and punish him..."
Niu Jinda's eyes widened, the prince actually poisoned the late emperor?
If it is said that there is no such thing, since the King of Jin dares to say that it is "certified," he must be extremely credible. Regardless of whether it is true or false, the prince is in trouble this time.
He was just about to let someone send this letter away when another arrow was shot from under the city. He was blocked again by his own soldiers with shields, and an identical letter was handed into his hand.
This time Niu Jinda opened it and took a closer look, and couldn't help but let out a heavy breath.
It turned out to be a copied "Edict of the Late Emperor"...
Whether or not there is a posthumous edict is a completely different situation. The prince is the crown prince of the country. After the death of the late emperor, it is natural for the prince to ascend the throne. Even though countless people know that the late emperor tried to depose the prince several times, he still did not depose him in the end, so the prince has great honor and status.
The King of Jin raised an army to seize his direct heir, which was an act of rebellion against superiors. Even if there were people following him, more people would still strongly condemn and fight back. The prince is the one who has great righteousness, so how can he be insulted lightly?
But if the King of Jin really had a posthumous edict in hand, the situation would be completely opposite.
Although the late emperor passed away, he was extremely prestigious during his lifetime and had countless supporters in both the government and the public. Even after his death, there were countless people who were willing to go through fire and water to save his life.
Now that the King of Jin has the edict in hand, the prince's righteousness is completely gone. The situation is reversed, and good and evil change positions...