The fire burned half the sky red, and the shouts of killing were deafening.
The defenders at the top of the city desperately blocked the Xiazhou soldiers who kept rushing towards the top of the city in the flames of war. The two sides used the top of the city as the battlefield and launched a life-and-death struggle.
The uniforms of the defenders are very reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty. The troops with curly hair and high noses have the appearance of both Turks and Uighurs, but their clothes are just like those of the Han people. The generals actually wear many worn-out Mingguang armors and use weapons.
There are also broadswords, battle axes, spears, hooks and spears, and a long bow for each hand. They are basically the equipment of the Tang Dynasty frontier army.
Suzhou is the territory of the Long family, and its leader is called the Dragon King. Each generation of leader of the Long family is called the Dragon King.
The Long family of Suzhou are descendants of the Yanqi royal family among the thirty-six kingdoms in the Western Regions during the Tang Dynasty. After the fall of the ancient city of Bogdaqin in Yanqi, they moved to the Longyou area of Hexi. Initially, Ganzhou was originally under the control of the Long family, but Huihe
After the empire fell, Pang Teqin, one of the larger forces, also fled to Hexi, expelled the Long family from Ganzhou and occupied Nestlé.
The Dragon King had no choice but to lead his people to withdraw from Ganzhou and occupy Suzhou. Here, the Yanqi people and the Tuhun people, especially the Anxi Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty who were left behind in Hexi after the Tang Dynasty lost control of the Western Regions, completed the first national
Integration, so they accepted a considerable degree of Han culture, and learned a lot about the strategies and tactics of the Tang army. Even the weapons, equipment, and uniform styles were very similar.
After the Suzhou Long family retreated to Suzhou, they paid tribute to the rebels of the Jinshan Kingdom and became a vassal. However, the Jinshan Kingdom later lost in the competition with the Ganzhou Uighurs for hegemony and was beaten by the Ganzhou Uighurs all the way to Shazhou City, forcing Zhang Yichao to
Later, the emperor of the Jinshan Kingdom signed an alliance under the city. From then on, the Huihe Khan was the father and the Emperor of Jinshan was the son. The two parties formed a father-son kingdom. The Jinshan Kingdom was also renamed the Dunhuang Kingdom, and the Suzhou Long family broke away from the control of the Guiyi Army.
The current situation is that the Guiyi Army regime inherited by the Cao family in Shazhou, the Long family regime in Suzhou, and the Uighur Khanate in Ganzhou have wars of various sizes, and they often move back and forth between them. In-laws are friendly, and they encounter powerful foreign enemies.
When there is no threat from external enemies, they fight among themselves.
After Yang Hao fully understood the establishment and development of these three regimes, he concluded that once he suffered heavy losses under the city of Ganzhou, the Suzhou Long family and Shazhou Cao family, who were waiting and watching, would surely have the courage to join forces to liberate Ganzhou.
He mobilized 40,000 elite troops to bypass Ganzhou and attack Suzhou. After arriving in Suzhou, he sent Ai Yihai and 15,000 troops to bypass Suzhou.
, cut off the connection between Suzhou and Guazhou controlled by the Guiyi Army, and lead the main force to solve Suzhou first.
Suzhou is the weakest link among the three forces. Solving it will, firstly, put further psychological pressure on Ganzhou and Shazhou, forcing them to surrender as soon as possible. On the other hand, it can cut off the Guiyi Army and Ganzhou Uighurs.
information channels that may link them up to join forces to resist.
On the fourth day of the siege, the Xiazhou soldiers were able to rush to the top of the city to fight. The Xiazhou soldiers moved forward bravely, one after another, burning the city gates, hitting the city walls, using ladders, flying to climb the city top, and fighting to the death with the defenders.
War. It was late at night, but the sound of fighting was shocking. There were heavy casualties in the city. However, the Xiazhou soldiers who attacked the city were also shot down by sharp arrows. Dead bodies were everywhere in the small city.
However, for the Suzhou Long family, they have no retreat. This is their last resort and they can only fight to the death.
A golden gong sounded, and Yang Hao withdrew his troops.
The guard, Ahan Moer, held a torch and looked around the city. There were human corpses everywhere. The severed heads and limbs were severed. The thick smell of blood made people feel sick. The dead were piled up like mountains, with broken limbs and arms, and torsos without heads.
, Heads without trunks, charred corpses, intestines and viscera, and white bones were scattered everywhere. Thick blood, smoke and fire filled the air. This was a life-and-death killing battlefield; the enemy retreated, but he was not happy at all.
Color, he didn't know when the next time he entered the city would happen, and whether he would still be alive at that time. The miserable screams of the seriously injured and the deceased reached his ears, and his cheeks couldn't help but twitch a few times.
Subconsciously, he turned his head and looked towards the inner city.
The inner city is dark, and even the Dragon King's Mansion can't see any lights. What is the Dragon King thinking, and where should Suzhou go? It's time to make a decision...
In the Dragon King's Mansion, the current generation head of the Suzhou Long Family, Dragon King Long Hanhai, was kneeling on the futon, looking at his brothers, nephews and close generals of the Long Family who were sitting around him with a gloomy face.
"Dad, let's keep fighting. Ganzhou hasn't been conquered yet. Yang Hao actually bypassed Ganzhou to attack Suzhou. Is Suzhou so easy to bully? We have been operating for many years and finally have a piece of our own.
Place, if Suzhou is lost, where can our Long family go? Fight them to the end. They have to work hard on expeditions, cannot support the soldiers, and consume more food and grass. As long as we grit our teeth and hold on, we will definitely be able to hold on until Yang Hao retreats.
.”
Long Hanhai's son Long Zhan spoke impassionedly.
Long Hanhai's brother Long Hanjiang smiled coldly and said honestly: "Yang Hao bypassed Ganzhou and took Suzhou first because in his eyes, Suzhou is easy to fight. Do you think he doesn't have enough troops?
Humph, he also divided his troops, cut off our retreat, and cut off our communication with Shazhou. Doesn’t this look like he has insufficient troops?"
Long Zhan shouted: "I still have 25,000 elite soldiers in Suzhou, and a city to defend, and..."
Long Hanjiang intercepted and said: "Once the city is defeated, lives will be gone, what else will there be?"
After drinking his nephew, he put his hands on his knees, leaned forward slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Brother, how can you not bow your head under the roof of others? The Central Plains has been in chaos for more than a hundred years, and now it is unified by the Song Dynasty. This is the general trend of the world.
Long-lasting chaos requires great control. How long has our Western Region been in chaos? Everyone calls it the Caotou King. It has lasted longer than the war in the Central Plains. Now... it is time for a great khan to unify the Western Region and be a wise man. This
Apart from Yang Hao, who else is more qualified than him? In my opinion, it is better to surrender. We have surrendered to Shazhou, to Ganzhou, and then to Xiazhou, so why not?"
Long Hanhai sighed and said: "Hanjiang, I'm afraid... what they want is not to surrender, but to take away my title of Dragon King and my military power in Suzhou."
Long Yun, the youngest son of the Dragon King, thought for a while and suggested: "Father, why don't we call it quits first and try Yang Hao's will. At least... we can take this opportunity to let my soldiers have a rest. Otherwise, I'm afraid,
I really can’t hold on any longer.”
Long Hanhai pondered for a long time, nodded and said: "Forget it, Hanjiang, tomorrow morning, you can go out for me and test Yang Hao's tone, and then we can make a decision."
Long Hanjiang paused and said: "Yes!"
Yang Hao met Suzhou envoy Long Hanjiang in the Chinese army's tent outside Suzhou City. After hearing Long Hanjiang's intention to surrender to him, Yang Hao smiled and shook his head, saying bluntly: "There are many princes in the northwest, and there are endless wars. , I have always been strong today, and I will surrender to you. Tomorrow I will be strong, and you will surrender to me. What I rely on is the victory of one time and one place.
With this common practice, the so-called promises and contracts are nothing but empty words. Everyone claims to be a vassal today, and all they think about is how to defeat the other party tomorrow. Killing comes and goes. Victory or defeat has become a normal thing. The only unlucky people are innocent people. I In order to bring long-term peace and stability to Hexi and return to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, the only way to achieve this is to collect the military power of all ethnic groups and consolidate them under the rule of one government.
The Long family is a wealthy family in Suzhou. If you offer the city to recruit soldiers and become a family with me in Xiazhou, I will ensure that your Long family is rich and noble. Even in the Jie Mansion, your Long family will have a place. My nephew, Yun Wenyun, is a nephew of the Long family. Wu, in the future, if you make great achievements in the fields of culture, governance and martial arts, I will spare no effort to support you. Wouldn’t it be better to live like this now, living hard in the cracks between Shazhou and Ganzhou?”
Long Hanjiang said in a low voice: "Shuai Yang, after all, the foundation of Suzhou is passed down from our ancestors. Who wants to become an unworthy descendant who ruins the inheritance of our ancestors? Xiazhou has strong soldiers and horses. We are willing to surrender to Marshal Yang and pay tribute to him, and obey him." Dispatch. If... Yang Shuai is generous, then... I, the Dragon King of Suzhou, can follow the story of Shazhou and Ganzhou and form a father-son relationship with Yang Shuai. Yang Shuai is the father and the Dragon King is the son."
Yang Hao laughed loudly, shook his head and said: "Master Long, you are joking. Yang Hao is a minister of the Song Dynasty, not the emperor of a country or the king of a city. How dare he form a father-son relationship with the Dragon King of Suzhou? Please reply to the Dragon King, he has asked to surrender. I have sincerity, and I also have the sincerity to accept the surrender. However, my conditions cannot be changed. I will present the city and engage in war. Other than that, I have no other plans. I will not move any of the Long family’s private property, slaves or servants. I I know that the Long family in Suzhou is good at doing business, and I still have the post of transfer envoy in the commander-in-chief's house, and I am waiting for the Dragon King to take office."
Long Hanjiang said with a bitter look on his face: "Yang Shuai..."
Yang Hao stood up and said loudly: "Xiaoyu, see the guests off!"
The peace talks failed, so they had to fight again. The next day was another bloody battle. Two days later, Dongcheng fell. Xiazhou soldiers rushed into the city and forced the defenders to go straight into the inner city. Long Zhan, Long Xiang, Long Yun and other Long clan The brothers personally led the three thousand elite soldiers who guarded the Dragon King's Mansion to fight out in bloody battles. Only then did they retake Dongcheng and reaffirm their control over Suzhou.
However, Xiazhou soldiers fought all the way to the inner city of Suzhou, which caused an astonishing psychological shock to the senior officials of the Dragon King's Mansion. Everyone now understands that Suzhou may fall at any time. Once it falls, they will lose everything. , according to the practice on the grassland, the defeated will become the slaves of the victor.
Once you become a slave, when will you be able to rise to prominence again?
Early the next morning, a no-war sign was hung on the top of Suzhou City, and Long Hanjiang led a mighty peace negotiation team to rush to Yang Hao's camp again.
Yang Hao had just finished practicing his martial arts and practiced swordsmanship with the dog again. Then he returned to the tent, washed and changed clothes under her service. After getting dressed, he changed into an arrow sleeve and rushed forward feeling refreshed. The peace envoy from Suzhou City has arrived again.
This time, Yang Hao didn't get up to greet him outside the tent like last time. He just sat in the tent, hung his helmet on the school helmet, lined up on both sides, and waited murderously for Long Hanjiang to enter the tent to see him. He didn't want Long Hanjiang to enter. When they arrived at the tent, eight people unexpectedly followed them. As soon as these eight people entered the tent, the fragrant wind burst out, refreshing the people's hearts and minds, and immediately washed away the desolate atmosphere in the tent.
Yang Hao looked at the case in shock, and saw that following Long Hanjiang were eight girls in colorful clothes, with graceful figures, veils covering their faces, and misty temples. Yang Hao looked at the girls who accompanied Long Hanjiang in
Mu En, Mu En grinned at him, and Yang Hao suddenly understood, Daqing... This time, the Long family even used a beauty trap.
Although the gauze covers the face, it cannot hide the pretty and delicate facial features at all. Instead, there is a looming hazy temptation. The bridge of the nose is high, and the soft gauze gently rises and falls with the breath. It has just arrived in August.
It was a hot day, so the girls didn't wear much. They wore thin clothes to cover their bodies and had curvy figures. If you look closely, you can see that the eight beauties have different styles.
There are some with straight hair, some with curly hair, some with black hair, some with blond hair, some with blue eyes, and of course some with black eyes; some are slim and tall, with a pair of overhanging slender thighs, a small waist and a plump bust.
Buttocks, tempting nosebleeds; some are petite and exquisite, like girls who have not yet grown up; some are plump, some are slender; some have eyes, some are charming, some are cool and arrogant, and some are innocent and innocent.
evil……
All of them are pretty, delicate and charming, but they have different styles, temperaments, and body shapes. Suzhou Dragon King seems to have collected all the beauties with different body shapes, different styles, different skin colors, and different races at once.
It was packed and delivered to him.
Yang Hao could tell that some of the blond beauties were not pure whites. It seemed that these beauties were all mixed-race. Mixed-race people indeed had a special flavor than ordinary beauties.
Eight beauties with different styles, Pingping Tingting, stood there and immediately attracted everyone's attention. They stood on both sides, pressing their hands on the hilts of their swords. The generals and colonels who were not squinting at first also stared at these with good eyes.
Beauty, it is not easy to see one such beauty, let alone eight at once.
After a moment of shock, Yang Hao calmed down. He smiled slightly, looked at Long Hanjiang and said, "Master Long, what do you mean?"
Long Hanjiang bowed and said: "Yang Shuai, our Long family really has no intention to be an enemy of Yang Shuai, and we do have sincerity to join Yang Shuai. After returning to the city the day before yesterday, Hanjiang reported the commander's intention to the Dragon King. The Dragon King thought hard about it.
Today, I sent Hanjiang here today to once again express the sincerity of our Long family to Yang Shuai. The Long family... is willing to cut off the title of King of Suzhou and submit to the banner of Xiazhou..."
Yang Hao's eyebrows were raised, and he was beaming with joy. Long Hanjiang continued: "The Dragon King of Suzhou is willing to take Commander Yang as the master and accept the post of transfer envoy. Suzhou's administration and military affairs will be directly subject to Xiazhou's orders, taxes, and people."
Xiazhou control, but..., there are two conditions."
"You tell me."
"One: My brother Hanhai is still stationed in Suzhou and will not go to Xiazhou to take up a post; secondly: the Suzhou army will obey Yang Shuai's orders and be restrained, but my brother will also be responsible for the defense of Suzhou and directly control it."
Yang Hao was startled, and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What does this mean? It has a name but no reality. How is it any different from those who claim vassal status after defeat and dominate the territory?"
Long Hanjiang said: "Yang Shuai, we are willing to surrender. If Commander Jie repays his favor, he should give me some conveniences, right? What's more, this is very different. Our Long family has actually handed over Suzhou and handed over Suzhou."
The people of the state were restrained by Commander Yang, and they just wanted to temporarily retain a certain amount of military power. This... was also because some elders of the Long family still had doubts. It was just to appease everyone's hearts. As time goes by, Suzhou will not be firmly controlled by Commander Yang.
control?"
Yang Hao thought: "Suzhou has handed over the civil and economic power. With time, I can indeed gradually strengthen the infiltration control of the army and take it completely into my hands. But this... requires a peaceful external environment, and it takes ten or twenty
Years of effort, and if Suzhou follows this approach, Ganzhou and Shazhou will definitely follow suit. If all the states in the Hexi Corridor follow this approach, then I will not actually have complete control over the Hexi Corridor at all.
If there is any trouble, why don't they stand on their own two sides?"
When Long Hanjiang saw Yang Hao bowing his head and thinking deeply, he lost no time in taking a step forward and said respectfully: "My brother is sincere and has some concerns. I hope Yang Shuai will understand. At the same time, to show his sincerity, my brother also dedicated these women to Yang Shuai."
, serve Yang Shuai around, please Yang Shuai will accept you."
Yang Hao slowly raised his head and smiled, but he didn't accept it: "Master Long, you have collected a few beauties from Suzhou City, and you want me to abandon your original plan?"
Long Hanjiang said sternly: "Yang Shuai is wrong, they... are not women gathered from ordinary people's homes in Suzhou City."
He pointed at the beauty with enchanting blue eyes and blond hair, and another woman with a curvy figure and extremely charming body, and said: "These two are my brother's biological daughters, Long Ling'er and Long Die'er."
He pointed at a long-sleeved Su Luo, an elegant and charming girl, and another beautiful lady with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like stars, skin like jade, tender white and dewy skin, and said with a shy smile: "They...are the ones below.
daughter."
Long Hanjiang moved his fingers to the petite and cute little Loli and said: "This is my niece..."
Long Hanjiang told them one by one that these eight women were all close relatives of the Long family. Yang Hao was dumbfounded. After Long Hanjiang introduced them one by one, he sighed: "Yang Shuai, this... can't be done.
Do you want to prove the sincerity of my Long family to surrender to Yang Shuai?"
Yang Hao slowly grabbed the tea cup, turned it half a circle in his hand, and looked up. Eight pairs of bright eyes, some beautiful, some charming, some charming, some elegant, some innocent, some shy, some curious, were all paying attention.
In his case, even if these delicate and precious golden branches and jade leaves are given away today, they feel humiliation in their hearts, but compared with the fate and future of the family, they still have the consciousness to dedicate themselves. What's more, this wielder
Marshal Yang, who was killed by the soldiers, did not have a vicious appearance with a bloody mouth and fangs, and... was quite handsome. Now, they also wanted to know how Marshal Yang of Xiazhou would choose.
Yang Hao brought the tea cup to his lips, took a sip, and said with a faint smile: "Yang commanded a hundred thousand soldiers and conquered the west. Now if he changes his original intention due to the charm of women, how can he be a man?"
Long Hanjiang said: "What is a real man? Mencius said: Wealth and honor cannot be slutty, poverty and lowliness cannot be moved, and power cannot bend. This is what a real man is. But beauty cannot deceive this one. Heroes and beauties complement each other, and even Yasheng can't.
See no objection."
Yang Hao said amusingly: "Master Long's "New Interpretation of Mencius" is quite refreshing and unique. However... Ganzhou Yeluohe Khan took the daughter of General Cao of Shazhou as the ninth princess and married him again.
So what if my daughter is given to the fourth son of General Cao? Has it ever prevented the overt and covert fighting between Gansha and Shazhou? Determining friends and enemies by marriage is simply unreliable. And..."
His expression became serious, he put down his teacup, stood up solemnly, and said in a deep voice: "On the way west, my Xiazhou soldiers slept in the open air, wearing the stars and the moon. On the battlefield, they threw their heads and blood, marched forward bravely, fearless of life and death, not to let me Yang Hao
How many beautiful concubines can I take back to serve on the pillow mat? If I agree to exchange these beauties for Suzhou to retain military power, it will be a blasphemy to our fallen soldiers in Xiazhou!"
The two rows of generals and commanders in the tent suddenly turned their gazes to Yang Hao, and all the enchanting beauties in front of them disappeared.
"Master Long, please reply to the Dragon King. Yang Hao also holds the greatest sincerity and is willing to give him another day to consider it. There is no room for bargaining on my conditions. If the Dragon King agrees, the wealth of the Long family will not be affected at all. I hope
He can open the city gates and turn conflicts into jade and silk. Yang Hao leads his majestic troops to put an end to thieves and pacify the people, rebuild ancient roads, bring peace to things, and benefit the people. If the Dragon King is still stubborn when the sun rises tomorrow morning, I will fulfill my oath.
Xiazhou declares the oath to the world!"
Long Hanjiang was shocked and blurted out: "What oath?"
"Those who follow me will live, those who go against me will perish!"
The generals in the tent straightened their backs in unison and held down their sabers. At this moment, the murderous aura radiated from the men swept away all the enchanting rosy aura that filled the tent!
Caochengchuan, Yanlan Defense Envoy's Mansion.
Zhe Weixin grabbed the bars of the cell with both hands, glared at Chizhong angrily, and shouted: "Chizhong, my family treats you well, how could you do such a thing?"
Chi Zhong smiled deeply and said: "Young General, the officials... have treated me well. A good bird chooses a tree to live in, and a good minister chooses a master to serve. The unification of the Central Plains is the general trend, and small prefectures want to stop it.
The pace of the Song Dynasty's westward advance was basically like a mantis trying to use a chariot. Chi's actions were just to understand the general trend and to move to higher ground from Dali."
Zhe Weixin sneered and said: "You are going to a higher place? Be careful and you fall. If you fall to pieces, my father... will never let you go!"
Chizhong held up his helmet, smiled lightly and said, "Zheshuai? Haha, you should be more worried about Zheshuai."
Zhe Weixin said calmly: "Do you have the guts to fight against my father? If the Song army had the strength to swallow up the northwest in one fell swoop, why would they resort to such dirty methods? When my Zheyang family and Li Guangrui of Xiazhou were enemies, how could the Central Plains not reach our house?
State, now that Captain Yang has a strong army and strong horses, he is even better than Li Guangrui. When our two families joined forces, would the Song Dynasty dare to attack with all their strength? The Khitan people in the northern country are not vegetarians."
Chi Zhong glanced at him and said: "Third Young Master, does Chi still want you to teach me these principles? Who said... I must use beatings?"
He took the time to arrange his robes and sneered: "In three days, it will be the birthday of the Second Grand Master Zhe. Your whole family will gather at Baihuawu in Fuzhou. You said that at that time, my general will lead his troops to Baihuawu.
It is said that the soldiers have mutinied, the whereabouts of the third young master are unknown, and Chi can't hold him back, please call for reinforcements, and take advantage of his unpreparedness to capture your family in one fell swoop. Do you still need to spend a lot of effort?"
Zhe Weixin's expression changed drastically, and Chi Zhong laughed loudly and said leisurely: "Look, the Qin State has strong soldiers and horses, and the power of the other six countries is invincible. However, at the meeting in Mianchi, Lin Xiangru was within five steps, and he could make the King of Qin strike the fou. Why?"
If the timing is chosen well, the anger of a common man can turn the world into peace. It is true that Chi does not have the strength to have a fair fight with Zhe Shuai, but..."
He walked to the cell door, paused, and said coldly: "As long as the opportunity is used properly, even the wealthy Zhao Guan family can't do things, but I, Chi Zhong... can do it.