When the war smoke was rising on the West Road in Xuanfu Town, the Monolith Castle on Shangbei Road in the east was as usual. Strictly speaking, it could not be regarded as business as usual, because there were more noises of birds echoing in the mountains.
In the past two days, in order to please the emperor, General Zhang Xiong of Dushi Fort transferred nearly two thousand border troops from the Bianyuan Pass to assist Zhu Houzhao in his large-scale hunting operation. Two large mountains are located on the north side of Dushi Fort.
It is very majestic, but Zhu Houzhao ordered all the prey in the two mountains to be driven from the forest to the valley at one time to conduct a large-scale hunting operation, with the purpose of hunting more rare and exotic animals.
Liu Jin had already proposed to rebuild the leopard house. The year before last, Zhang Yanling accompanied Zhu Houzhao to capture a leopard in Xishan and then raised it on Qionghua Island in the middle of Taiye Pond. But later, the leopard was killed by Empress Zhang because
Empress Zhang thought that the prince was not doing his job properly and was losing his ambition by playing with things, so she sent someone to shoot him.
Even Zhang Yanling felt that Queen Zhang went too far in that matter. Thinking about it afterwards, it may have deeply hurt Zhu Houzhao's heart. The reason why the relationship between mother and son was not harmonious must be the result of these similar behaviors.
.
Liu Jin was the person close to Zhu Houzhao, and he knew best how to figure out Zhu Houzhao's thoughts. Including this hunting matter, Liu Jin actually did what he wanted. And if he could catch another tiger and leopard to rebuild the leopard house, it would not only make up for Zhu Houzhao's
The regret in his heart also declared Zhu Houzhao's authority as the emperor. After the Leopard Room was rebuilt, no one could stop Zhu Houzhao's behavior, not even Empress Dowager Zhang. This was the best way to vent.
Of course, Zhu Houzhao immediately agreed to the proposal. He had previously thought about capturing large beasts alive, but it was difficult to achieve. Now Liu Jin proposed it, and General Zhang Xiong said that there was no need to worry about transporting it back to the capital. Zhang Xiong said,
If he caught tigers, leopards, jackals, etc., he would order them to be imprisoned in strong cages and send someone to escort the emperor all the way to the capital.
In this case, what reason is there not to rebuild the leopard house? So this hunt is extremely important.
Two thousand frontier soldiers plus hundreds of Jinyi guards were comparable to the scale of a large-scale battle. It took everyone a day to build a fence in the valley. Thousands of logs were cut down to form a strong fence in the valley.
Fence. Starting early the next morning, two thousand soldiers began to drive away the wild animals from the other sides of the east and west mountains with loud noises.
For a while, horns were blaring, shouts were being shouted, and the sound of gongs and drums was echoing in the mountains and forests. All kinds of wild beasts in the forest were frightened and jumped around, howling in fear. Those who knew it knew that this was a hunt, and those who didn’t knew that it was a hunt.
I thought there was a battle happening here.
Zhang Yanling did not join in. On the one hand, Zhang Yanling did not want to get involved in this matter. In any case, it was a ridiculous thing. Although Zhang Yanling needed to gain Zhu Houzhao's trust and further consolidate the relationship with him, she did not bother to be like Liu Jin and others.
, adopt these means. Moreover, Liu Jin and others and Zhang Xiong are already serving
On the other hand, if he gets involved again, Liu Jin will think that he is competing with him. On the other hand, Zhang Yanling is still worried about the disappeared Tatar soldiers. Will they follow them and will they find out?
The identity of the emperor was quite worrying. So Zhang Yanling took the initiative to request someone to patrol the perimeter and search.
Zhu Houzhao's mind was on hunting, Liu Jin's mind was on Zhu Houzhao, and it didn't matter whether Zhang Yanling was around or not. Therefore, the two of them didn't care what Zhang Yanling did. Zhang Yanling was happy not to get involved in this matter.
He led Chen Shiyi, Zhang Yin, Zhao Yuancheng and others into four small teams and wandered around Dushi City to be on guard, just in case.
In the evening, a large number of wild animals were driven out of the mountain forest, and some of them rushed into the fence of the valley in a panic. Zhu Houzhao was so happy that he opened his mouth from ear to ear and looked at the wild animals that broke into the fence from a distance. Although there were no
I saw white tigers, but at least I saw two leopards, a group of forest wolves and several bears. Just putting these wild animals on Qionghua Island is already very lively.
Zhu Houzhao was concerned about how to capture them alive. Liu Jin came up with an idea and said: "Your Majesty, you can use ropes to tie them later. I heard that horse breeders use ropes to tie horses, so we do the same."
Do it. Select some strong soldiers, go in with a thick rope and tie it up. A dozen or so people will use their strength together. Even a big black bear who is blind will not be able to resist. Just drag it to a wooden cage and lock it up."
Although he couldn't participate in this method and lost some sense of participation, Zhu Houzhao could only settle for the next best thing and just catch him.
Just as he was saying this, he suddenly saw Zhang Xiong running from the fence. He was running so fast that he even fell down at the foot of the hillside where Zhu Houzhao was standing. He looked really embarrassed. Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin couldn't help laughing.
stand up.
"General Zhang, what's going on? You have to kowtow in front of the emperor before you kowtow. Why are you kowtowing at the foot of the hillside? Do you think you are worshiping a god?" Liu Jin laughed and joked loudly.
"Your Majesty... It's not good! It's not good!" Zhang Xiong's voice was trembling, and he shouted loudly and ran up the hillside.
Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin were both startled. Zhang Xiong's voice was full of fear, which could be felt. Zhang Xiong stumbled to Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin, his face flushed and his expression extremely nervous.
"What happened? The beast ran away? Or did the beast hurt someone?" Zhu Houzhao frowned.
Zhang Xiong said hurriedly: "No, it's the Tatars. The Tatars are attacking the city wall. I just received a report that the Yandun at Xifengkou in the north was attacked by Tatar soldiers and horses."
Liu Jin frowned and said: "Aren't there soldiers and horses left behind? Aren't there more than three thousand soldiers in Dushi City, and aren't there more than a thousand people on the city wall?"
Zhu Houzhao said: "Yes, why are you panicking? The Tatars are attacking, just fight them off."
Zhang Xiong gasped: "Your Majesty, they reported that there are at least tens of thousands of Tatars in the valley outside Xifengkou. There are only two hundred people stationed at Xifengkou. How can we hold it? At this moment... I'm afraid it has been lost."
"What?" Zhu Houzhao exclaimed. Liu Jin was also stunned, and the sweat on his forehead immediately poured out.
After learning the news, everyone was panicked. Although Zhang Xiong was extremely reluctant, he had to bite the bullet and take two thousand exhausted soldiers who had been busy for a day to the Great Wall Pass for reinforcements. Zhu Houzhao and others immediately withdrew their troops.
Waiting for news in Shicheng.
The matter was far more serious than Zhang Xiong reported. Just when Zhu Houzhao learned that the Xifengkou Pass in the north was under attack, Zhang Yanling also encountered a dozen soldiers coming over the mountains at the mountain pass south of Dushi City. They came from
Those who came from Chicheng, Longmen in the southeast, were sent by Zhao Yongsheng.
They set out yesterday afternoon and walked over mountains and ridges for a day and a night, and they were exhausted. From their mouths, Zhang Yanling learned an explosive news. Tens of thousands of Tatar troops started marching in the early hours of yesterday morning.
A fierce attack was launched on the city wall defended by Longmen.
Zhao Yongsheng led the defenders of Longmen to defend desperately, but there were too many Tatar troops and they continued to fight. By the afternoon, many city walls were breached. Although Zhao Yongsheng fought hard to kill them, there were only less than a few defenders left.
Four hundred people. So Zhao Yongsheng sent these dozen soldiers to Dushi City to deliver the message.
"Zhao Shou asked us to tell Mr. Zhang that he estimated that the Tatars knew the emperor's whereabouts, so they launched a massive attack. The Tatars' intention was to break through Longmen Station, cut off the emperor's retreat to the south, and then besiege him to the north. Zhao Shou
Bei said, please hurry up and protect the emperor as he goes south, leave the Shangbei Road and go west before the Tatar troops block the way back, and seek the protection of the army in the west. He will fight to the last moment to buy time for the emperor to retreat south.
."
Zhang Yanling's heart went cold after hearing this report. Unfortunately, he guessed the matter, and the news was indeed leaked. What Zhao Yongsheng said was not a random guess, it must be a carefully considered judgment. Calculating the time, these soldiers set out yesterday afternoon, and until now
It's been a day
In one night, Zhao Yongsheng used 400 troops to resist the attack of nearly 10,000 Tatars. It was impossible to withstand the attack. He could not hold out for long. It is estimated that the dragon gate was broken before it got dark yesterday. The Tatars may have already
They all entered Yanshan on Shangbei Road.
When Zhang Yanling hurried back to Dushi City, he saw all the Han generals getting ready. When Zhang Yanling asked, he learned that the pass of the Great Wall in the north was attacked by Tatar soldiers and horses. Although Zhang Yanling was shocked, he was also completely sure of the Tatar soldiers.
Ma is here just for the emperor.
Zhang Yanling rushed to Zhu Houzhao's residence. Zhu Houzhao had already put on his armor and clothing. Liu Jin and others were carrying large and small packages on their bodies, looking panicked.
"Master Marquis, where have you been? Let your people pack their bags. We have to leave here quickly. Tens of thousands of Tatar troops are already attacking the northern pass. We have to leave here overnight. The sooner the better."
Liu Jin saw Zhang Yanling and said hurriedly.
Zhang Yanling looked at Zhu Houzhao, who said in a panic: "Uncle, we have to leave quickly, there are tens of thousands of Tatars. We have just received the news. The Xifengkou Pass has been breached, and the Tatar troops will soon attack
Attack in. The enemy is outnumbered and we are outnumbered. Although I am not afraid of the Tatars, I can't force them. It's better to leave here quickly. I will lead the army to fight them when I turn around."
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid we won't be able to leave. I just received the news from Zhao Guard at Longmen Station. Longmen Station was attacked by more than ten thousand Tatars yesterday and should have been lost by now." Zhang Yanling said softly.
"What?" Zhu Houzhao exclaimed and sat down on the chair.
Liu Jin was shocked and said: "Master Hou, are you kidding me? Are you saying that the Tatars attacked from two directions?"
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Eunuch Liu, how can you joke about this kind of thing?"
Liu Jin said loudly: "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and leave. If you don't leave now, how long will it take?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "Yesterday afternoon, there were only 400 soldiers left under Zhao Yongsheng. How long do you think Eunuch Liu can last? I'm afraid he won't last even an hour. The purpose of the Tatars is obvious, they are here for the emperor. The Tatars
Knowing that the emperor was in Dushi City, he attacked in two ways
The purpose of attacking Chicheng is to cut off the passage to the south and trap us here. This is a pincer attack from the north and the south. Does Liu Eunuch understand? The Shangbei Road is long and narrow in the south and short in east and west. It must be too late for us to retreat south now.
.If you encounter Tatars in the mountains and wilderness, you will definitely die."
Liu Jin looked at Zhang Yanling speechless for a long time. Although he didn't want to believe it, he knew that Zhang Yanling was definitely not an alarmist. If the Dragon Gate had been broken yesterday and the Tatars had entered the Ming Dynasty, the passage to the south would have been cut off by now. Now go to
If you go south, you will definitely encounter the Tatars head-on.
"Uncle, what should we do now?" Zhu Houzhao tried his best to stay calm, but his eyes betrayed him. His eyes were full of deep fear.