Liu Xiu looked outside the city and said nothing. They were fighting an uncertain and hopeless battle. He murmured: "I wonder what the situation is like in Xinye and Huyang."
If Li Yi can firmly hold back the Huyang County soldiers in Huyang, and Liu Ji successfully captures Xinye, then Xinye can also divide its troops to assist them.
Deng Yu whispered: "According to the news we have received so far, the war situation in both places is not very optimistic."
Liu Xiu didn't speak anymore. This was the last thing he wanted to see now.
"It's time to eat, it's time to eat!" Gai Yan and Zhu You led several soldiers of the Chung Ling Army up the city wall. The people carried large wooden barrels, some containing rice, some vegetables, and broth.
Chaoyang Granary has a lot of food stored in it. Now there are less than a hundred of them, so they are very rich in food. Jiuer helped Liu Xiu fill a bowl of soup, brought it over, handed it to Liu Xiu, and said: "My lord, Have a bowl of soup!”
Liu Xiuben couldn't eat, but he also knew that if he didn't replenish his strength, he wouldn't be able to hold on. He thanked Jiu'er, took the soup bowl, and took a sip. He blinked and said with a smile: "Dog meat Soup?"
Jiuer nodded repeatedly and said with a smile: "My people made it, doesn't it taste good?"
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, dog meat was particularly popular, but ordinary people would definitely not be able to afford it. If one stone of grain could be exchanged for a dog, it would be considered good.
Liu Xiu smiled at Jiu'er and said, "It's delicious!" He bit the bullet and drank the bowl of broth in two or three mouthfuls, then handed the empty bowl back to Jiu'er and stopped eating.
While the defenders on the city were munching on their meal, a soldier shouted loudly: "A troop of troops is coming from outside the city!"
When Liu Xiu heard this, he immediately stood up, walked to the arrow stack, raised his eyes and looked out.
Sure enough, a group of people was walking in the distance. Because the distance was too far, it was difficult to see clearly. The only thing that could be judged was that there were many people and the size of the group was large.
Everyone else on the top of the city stood up one after another. People were still holding their rice bowls and looking nervously at the group of troops that were approaching Chaoyang City.
As time went by, the distance between the men and horses became closer and closer, and people finally saw it clearly. Some people exclaimed: "It's Shandu County soldiers! It's Shandu County soldiers coming!"
"There is also the Hecheng Fortress Army! Look at the flag, there is the Hecheng Fortress Army!"
People were shouting loudly. Liu Xiu looked solemn and said nothing. He was really afraid of what would come. What they wanted to see most now was their own reinforcements, but what happened was the enemy's troops.
The Shandu County soldiers plus the Hecheng Fortress Army totaled two thousand. The arrival of these officers and soldiers was undoubtedly the most fatal blow to the morale of the defenders.
They withstood the strong attack of 3,000 Chaoyang County soldiers on their own, which was as far as they could go. Now that the other side had another 2,000 fresh troops, how could they fight this battle?
People's faces looked uglier than the last. Some people couldn't stand up and fell to the ground, with their heads hung down. They were disheartened and had no fighting spirit at all.
A soldier not far from Liu Xiu murmured: "It's over, it's all over, we're all over!"
Hearing the soldier muttering to himself as if he was mourning for his heir, Liu Xiu came back to his senses. He glanced around and saw that everyone on his side had desperate expressions of imminent disaster. He took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "What are you all afraid of?"
His sudden voice startled everyone around him. People raised their heads and looked at Liu Xiu blankly.
Liu Xiu said loudly: "From the day we decided to start the uprising, we have put life and death at risk! Overthrowing the traitorous court, recovering the country of Han Dynasty, and saving all people from fire and water. This road is extremely dangerous. Is it possible?
Do you know now?"
When people heard this, their faces turned red and their heads hung lower. But this time they were not in despair, but in shame.
Liu Xiu continued: "We men with great ambitions have vowed to fight against recklessness and continue the great cause of our ancestors. Why should we return our corpses wrapped in horse leather? In today's battle at Chaoyang, we have vowed to make the Han army famous, so that all knowledgeable people in the world will
If you can be inspired by us, stand up and rebel! For this reason, Xiu Dan begs for death rather than living!"
His words were sonorous and powerful, and they rekindled the fighting spirit of everyone who had fallen into despair.
The people who were slumped on the ground stood up one after another, and even the wounded soldiers sitting on the ground helped each other to stand up and looked at Liu Xiu helplessly.
Everyone is afraid of death. This is the nature of the species and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Once people establish their faith, people's fear of death will be greatly reduced.
Now Liu Xiu is establishing faith for people, overthrowing Wang Mang and restoring the faith of the Han Dynasty.
Zang Gong looked at Liu Xiu, who looked gentle on the outside, but was filled with huge energy inside his body. He was full of energy, raised his arms and shouted: "Your Majesty is willing to follow General Liu, but I want to die rather than live. I swear to fight to the death with the reckless thieves."
in the end!"
Following Zang Gong's response, everyone else also said in unison: "I am willing to follow the general, but I want to die, not live!"
The emotions of the defenders were aroused by Liu Xiu, and the emotions of the Chaoyang County soldiers outside the city were also aroused by the arrival of Shandu County soldiers.
In this battle, the defenders were desperate, so how could the attacking Chaoyang County soldiers not be desperate? Their strength was clearly ten times that of the rebels, but they could not defeat Chaoyang City. From top to bottom, they became more and more discouraged as they fought.
The arrival of the Shandu County soldiers and the Hecheng Fortress Army seemed to give the Chaoyang County soldiers a shot in the arm. The county magistrate Yi Zhen and the county lieutenant Xie Sheng were even more excited. They went to greet the Shandu County soldiers in person.
The Shandu County soldiers were commanded by the county captain Li Ying and the fortress army commander Fu Chen. Li Ying, Yi Zhen and Xie Sheng were old acquaintances. After meeting, everyone bowed their hands to each other and exchanged greetings for a while.
After the greetings, Li Ying took the lead to get to the point and asked: "Magistrate Yi and County Lieutenant Xie, I wonder what the current war situation is like?"
Yi Zhen and Xie Sheng looked at each other, and the latter said: "After yesterday's day and night of fierce fighting, the rebel army suffered heavy casualties and is at the end of its war effort. Our army itself... also suffered some casualties!"
As he spoke, he waved his hand sideways and said: "Li County Lieutenant, Fu Junhou, please come to the camp!"
"please!"
Li Ying and Fu Chen led their soldiers into the Chaoyang County soldiers' camp.
The camp was a temporary structure and was very crude, without even a defensive wall. Of course, the Chaoyang County soldiers led by Yi Zhen and Xie Sheng did not believe that the rebels could take the initiative to attack from the city.
In the camp of the Chaoyang County soldiers, both Li Ying and Fu Chen noticed that the Chaoyang County soldiers were full of wounded soldiers. There were rows of wounded soldiers lying in the tents.
From this we can also see how intense the fighting was yesterday and how strong the offensive power of the rebels was.
Just looking at the battalion full of wounded soldiers, Li Ying and Fu Chen had already cast a shadow on their minds, feeling that the next battle might not be easy to fight.
Entering the Chinese military tent, everyone sat down one after another. After some pleasantries, Xie Sheng said: "We estimate that there are less than a hundred rebel troops in the city now."
Seeing Li Ying and Fu Chen both raising their eyebrows in disbelief, Xie Sheng added: "No more than one hundred and fifty people at most."
Li Ying picked up the tea bowl and took a slow sip of tea. Then he cleared his throat and said: "Since there are only so many rebels left, Magistrate Yi and Lieutenant Xie only need to launch another round of strong attacks. They can easily
Chaoyang City has been captured."
Xie Sheng smiled bitterly and said: "Now our soldiers are physically and mentally exhausted, and they are no longer able to launch a new round of strong attacks! Fortunately, Li Xianwei and Fu Junhou came to the rescue in time, which can relieve our urgent need!"
While talking, Xie Sheng also specially bowed his hands to Li Ying and Fu Chen.
Li Ying and Fu Chen didn't believe Xie Sheng's words at all. If there were really less than a hundred defenders left, wouldn't your Chaoyang County soldiers have captured Chaoyang City long ago? Why did you wait until now? Xie Sheng said this,
There is no doubt that he wants his side to take the lead. When his side successfully captures Chaoyang City, the casualties will be his own, but the credit will go to others.
Li Ying and Fu Chen looked at each other, and the former said happily: "Xie County Lieutenant, our army has traveled a long distance and is exhausted. We can only take a rest today and wait until tomorrow to assist your army and attack Chaoyang."
His words were very skillful. He did not put himself in the main offensive position, but assisted the Chaoyang County soldiers to attack the city.
Yi Zhen and Xie Sheng looked at each other and couldn't help but sigh secretly. They knew very well what Li Ying was thinking, but at this critical moment, Li Ying was still hiding his selfish intentions. His vision and tolerance were so narrow.
Really annoying.
Xie Sheng said seriously: "Li County Lieutenant, if you delay for one day, the rebels will get a chance to breathe. Now that the rebels are at the end of their war effort, this opportunity must not be missed, and it will never come back!"
Li Ying shrugged and said cheerfully: "If Xie County Lieutenant is worried that the rebels will get a chance to breathe, he can consider launching multiple feign attacks today to prevent the rebels from resting!" I can also take a closer look and occupy the area.
How strong is the rebel force in Chaoyang City?
Xie Shengfu said, if we still have the strength to fight again, why should we ask for help from your troops? He said: "Li County Lieutenant..."
As soon as he started talking, Fu Chen answered: "I think Lieutenant Li's words are reasonable. Our soldiers have been traveling all night to rescue Chaoyang. They are exhausted and unable to fight today. Lieutenant Xie should lead the troops of Chaoyang County."
, continue to attack the city and not give the rebels a chance to breathe."
Xie Sheng almost laughed, laughing angrily. He turned to look at Yi Zhen, who shook his head slightly at him, indicating that he must not get angry. Now they can only count on the Shandu County soldiers and the Hecheng Fortress Army. Xie Sheng sighed
With a loud voice, he said straight to the point: "The battle has reached this point, and I am no longer afraid of the jokes of you two. I have more than 3,000 soldiers in Chaoyang County, and now there are only more than 600 soldiers left to fight. I really can't do anything more."
Siege the city!"
Li Ying and Fu Chen looked at each other and murmured to themselves, "How about it? More than 3,000 people were defeated and only about 600 people were left. This shows how powerful the rebel forces in the city are. If our side rushes to attack rashly, wouldn't we be making the same mistake again?"
Xie Sheng continued: "However, I can assure Li County Lieutenant and Fu Junhou that the rebel forces in the city are indeed at the end of their strength. The two commanders have their own troops and can easily capture Chaoyang City with just one storm!
"
As he spoke, he looked at Yi Zhen and said sternly: "I can also promise you two that after Chaoyang City is captured, County Magistrate Yi and I will report to the county government. The merits of Chaoyang will be recorded.
The county magistrate and I cannot take any advantage."
