Dark mountains undulate under the sky, the night wind stirs the waves, the forest sea surges like a tidal wave, and the sounds between the mountains are like dragons and tigers roaring, low and startling.
Zhu Houzhao, Zhang Yanling and others stood on the dark south city wall, with the night wind blowing their cloaks.
Everyone looked at the open field under the south city, where torches were shining like stars in the sky, and countless Tatar soldiers were busy. Since the evening, they had been cutting down trees and building siege equipment.
This is true in the south city, and it is also true outside the north city. Talents such as Zhang Yanling came from the north city wall to inspect, and Batu Meng's soldiers and horses in the valley there are also starting to build siege equipment again.
"It seems that the Tatars are going to attack the city with all their strength. I'm afraid it will be a long day tomorrow." Zhang Yanling said softly.
Zhu Houzhao looked serious and said nothing.
Zhang Yin said solemnly: "It's a pity that there is not enough firewood in the city. Otherwise, we can still use fire attack."
Zhang Yanling shook his head and said: "Even if there is enough firewood, it is useless. The fire attack method can only be used once. After the Tatars suffered a loss, this method is useless. If the city is on fire, they will retreat and watch. Unless we have
Inexhaustible firewood is piled under the city
It burned for three days and three nights so that the Tatars could not attack at all. But that was actually not possible. The city wall could not withstand the fire. After yesterday's fire, several places below the north wall collapsed during the heavy rain, which was caused by the fire.
The city bricks were broken, and the rainwater washed away the bricks, causing the collapse."
Zhang Yin nodded and said nothing.
Liu Jin frowned and said: "Master Hou, can we defend against the Tatar attack tomorrow?"
Zhang Yanling slowly shook his head and said: "I don't know."
Liu Jin said: "What is this? I don't know what it means?"
Zhang Yanling said: "In a pincer attack from the north and south, and the southern city is so open, the Tatars can devote all their troops to a full-scale attack. We currently have only more than 1,500 fighting men, and there are insufficient arrows and a shortage of defensive materials. Once the Tatars launch an attack
If we attack, we will immediately fall into complete passivity. I'm afraid... we won't be able to sustain it for even an hour."
"Can't you hold on for an hour?" Liu Jin said in shock.
Zhang Yanling said: "The Tatars were hit hard so they built these siege equipment, but in fact, they don't need to do this at all. They just need to rest and reorganize, build some ladders and climbing equipment, and they can break the city in one go tomorrow."
The city fell into a deathly silence, no one spoke because they didn't know what to say.
"At worst, if we fight with them, we will die together. I will not let them catch me. I will fight to the death with them tomorrow. I will not lose the face of my ancestors of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Houzhao gritted his teeth.
Zhang Yanling looked at Zhu Houzhao and nodded slightly. This young emperor was still bloody after all. During the past few days of being besieged, although there were timid and frightening moments, he was always able to remain calm, which shows his inner strength. Perhaps
He does like to act willfully, have fun, and do ridiculous things. However, Zhang Yanling believes that he will not compromise with the Tatars. If he is greedy for life and afraid of death, I am afraid that he will be in panic at this moment and want to surrender to the Tatars.
The son surrendered.
"The emperor's safety is the most important thing. Mr. Marquis, we have to find a way. If we die, we will die. Nothing can happen to the emperor. Mr. Marquis, you are resourceful, please think of a way. I, Liu Jin, kowtow to you."
Liu Jin suddenly knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Zhang Yanling, tears welling up in his eyes. Zhang Yanling hurriedly pulled him up and said, "Eunuch Liu, what are you doing?"
Liu Jin wiped her tears and said: "Master Hou, our family has no skills, neither literature nor martial arts. At this time, our family can't help at all. In this situation, as long as the emperor can get out of trouble safely, our family will We are willing to go to the eighteenth level of hell. As long as we can save the emperor, our family is willing to do anything. The Marquis is a capable man, and now I am afraid that only the Marquis can come up with a solution. Our family has no other intentions, but I really hope we can figure out a way out of this dilemma."
Zhang Yanling knew that Liu Jin's behavior was not entirely a show. It should be partly an expression of true feelings. You know, Liu Jin had served Zhu Houzhao for more than ten years, and he had served Zhu Houzhao in the East Palace for more than ten years when Zhu Houzhao was still a child. Naturally, they have quite deep feelings for each other. The current situation is critical, and Liu Jin is naturally extremely worried.
What's more, this is not only a matter of Zhu Houzhao's life and death, but also his life and death. If something happens to Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin will actually have no way to survive. Zhu Houzhao is everything to him.
In fact, it is not only Liu Jin who is like this to Zhu Houzhao, but Zhu Houzhao is also like this to Liu Jin. Although it is between master and slave, they are both living people, and they must have feelings after getting along for a long time. Otherwise, Zhu Houzhao would not have committed the crime before Liu Jin. When I made a mistake, I spared him under pressure.
"Eunuch Liu, I will naturally do my best to get the emperor out of trouble. Not only are you willing to do anything for the emperor, but we, as ministers, who don't think so? Not to mention that I am the emperor's uncle. I will do my best both in public and private affairs. With all my strength. When you do this, it seems as if I, Zhang Yanling, am unwilling to contribute." Zhang Yanling frowned.
Liu Jin said hurriedly: "No, no, I have absolutely no intention of doing so. Master Hou, it is our family that has acted rudely. We have absolutely no intention of doing so."
Zhu Houzhao said from the side: "Uncle, Liu Jin doesn't mean that. Don't worry too much. He just cares about me. I know that although he is usually talkative, he is still loyal to me. Uncle, there is no need to think too much, I I know that the situation at this moment is unimaginable, and we will just have to fight to the death tomorrow."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Please come down to the city and have a rest. I will inspect the city again to make sure that nothing is missed. At this time, people's hearts are flustered, so we must be careful. The emperor does not have to worry too much. Maybe tomorrow... our reinforcements will arrive, and we will not It can be known.”
Zhu Houzhao nodded, knowing that what Zhang Yanling said was comforting words, so he did not criticize it. So, accompanied by Liu Jin and others, he went down to the city.
After Zhang Yanling and others respectfully sent Zhu Houzhao away, they stood at the top of the city and stared at the busy enemy camp below in silence.
Chen Shi said: "Master Hou, please go and rest. We will leave the patrol of the city to us. Master Hou has also been busy all day."
Zhang Yanling slowly shook his head and said: "How can we sleep now? The city will be destroyed tomorrow. Tonight is our last chance. We must do something. Otherwise, we will sit back and wait for death tomorrow."
Zhang Yin said solemnly: "But now, what can we do?"
Zhang Yanling turned to Zhang Yin and Chen Shiyi and smiled: "Do you two want to go to the Tatar camp?"
Zhang Yin and Chen Shiyi were shocked and said: "Master Hou means... to attack the camp?"
Zhang Yanling nodded slowly and said: "Capture the thief first. Capture the king first. Tomorrow, Nancheng will be the most dangerous place. If we want to break it, we have to break here. If we can capture the Tatar leader of Nancheng, we may be able to reverse the situation."
Zhang Yin and Chen Shi looked at each other and were both dumbfounded. The Marquis actually wanted to capture the enemy chieftain in the Tatar camp. This was too dangerous. The Tatar camp was brightly lit and everyone was busy. This was not the case.
A sneak attack, once discovered, will immediately lead to a siege. This is not a good idea.
"Finding wealth in danger, I know it is very risky, but we have no retreat, we can only take the risk. Even if it disrupts the Tatars' attack plan and delays their attack time, we will be one step closer to the arrival of reinforcements. Even if we die,
In the enemy camp, I can be considered as loyal and tried my best. At this point, we have no soldiers and no supplies, so we can only use strange and dangerous moves." Zhang Yanling said softly.
Chen Shiyi breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice: "I will take people with you, Lord Marquis. You don't have to take risks. I have nothing to worry about. If I die, I will die. Master Hou must not have anything happen to me, otherwise it will be dereliction of duty."
Zhang Yin said: "Brother Chen, I will go with you. You are highly skilled in martial arts, and I have more combat experience than you. I am good at attacking camps. If you and I work together, we can hope to succeed."
Chen Shi waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, brother Zhang, you have a family. My wife is pregnant, so how can I take risks? I'm a single man with nothing to worry about, so I'll just go."
Zhang Yin laughed and said, "What are you talking about? You and I are sworn brothers, how can I teach you to commit danger alone?"
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice beside him: "There is no need to be humble, let's go together. If we can't succeed tonight, we may not be able to survive tomorrow. If we all die in the enemy camp, we will have company on the road to hell. Let's talk and laugh to see the king of hell."
That’s it. Brother Yuancheng, gather the brothers from the gun team, eat and drink, check the firearms, and prepare to go."
Zhao Yuancheng nodded in agreement and went to prepare himself.
Zhang Yin and Chen Shiyi stopped arguing. The Marquis said the same thing. They may not be able to live tomorrow, and there is nothing to fight about. Those who stay may not be able to go home alive.
Everyone arranged their equipment and quickly gathered on top of the city wall. According to Zhang Yanling's arrangement, they wore tattered shirts over their armor, untied their buns, and let their hair down, dressing up like Tatar soldiers. This move concealed the fear of Tatars crossing the river during the day.
It was used during the time. Although there must be flaws if you look closely, it was night, so it might confuse the Tatars.
After getting ready, it was already the second watch. A group of people descended from the west city wall. The west city wall was built along a steep slope, with a cliff below, so there was no need to worry about Tatars peeping here.
After descending from the city, a group of thirty people used prepared ropes to move along the edge of the steep slope to the outside, disappeared into a dark forest, and disappeared.
Soon after, a small group of black figures carrying wood appeared from the bonfire on the west side of the Tatar camp and walked towards the camp.
Two Tatar soldiers patrolling the edge of the camp spotted them immediately. They came over and yelled, "What are you doing?"
Zhang Yin walked in the lead and pointed to the wood on his shoulder. The Tatar soldier said: "Why did you go to the west to chop wood? You know you are lazy. Everyone chops wood in the forest down the slope. It's really strange.
.Are you from the front army or the rear army?"
Zhang Yin smiled but said nothing.
The Tatar soldier came closer and said, "Why don't you say anything? I want to ask you something. Why do you look so unfamiliar?"
Zhang Yin stepped forward with a smile, suddenly reached out and grabbed the soldier's throat, squeezed hard, and there was a soft click. The soldier's throat shattered and his body fell limp. The other Tatar soldier next to him turned around and ran away.
.A dark figure caught up with him extremely quickly and hit the soldier on the back of the head with a tree trunk he was carrying on his shoulder. The soldier fell to the ground with a thud.
"Tug it away! Throw it down the slope." Zhang Yanling shouted in a low voice.
Several captains quickly carried the two bodies and threw them down the slope.
"Alimu, are you okay over there?" Two other patrol soldiers holding torches in the distance heard the movement and asked this way.
"It's okay!" Zhang Yin replied vaguely.
The two Tatars took a few steps this way, then turned and walked away.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the camp carrying the logs. They happened to encounter a group of sweaty Tatar soldiers who were tired of carrying logs. They had no time to look at the group of people in front of them. So Zhang Yanling and others walked around carrying the logs.
Afterwards, he disappeared into the chaotic crowd.