"It's just that there are only 30,000 stones of food in the city, and there is a serious shortage of fodder. I just calculated it secretly and found that the food is only enough for the army and the people in the city for twenty days. And the imperial troops brought by His Majesty are all cavalry, and the fodder is only enough for ten days.
"Although Zhou Fangpei knew that Yang Guang would be furious if these words were spoken, he also knew that he had to say it, and it would be better to say it sooner rather than later. If he said it late, he might be beheaded by His Majesty the Emperor.
"What? You only have so little food and grass, how can you be a prefect?" Yang Guang scolded him repeatedly with an ugly face.
Zhou Fangpei felt very aggrieved. His Majesty the Emperor... really didn't know what to say. He had praised himself as a good prefect before, but now when he heard that there was not enough food and grass, he immediately said that he was not a good prefect.
His Majesty the Emperor did not even think about it. Yanmen County was originally a lower county. It was one of the poorest counties in the Sui Dynasty. From time to time, it was robbed by large groups of horse thieves disguised as Turks. There were only a few people, so how could there be so many in the county?
The grain and grass were forcibly collected from the people because he was worried that the emperor would visit the north and he had to offer food. This was not enough. He also managed to raise it from the landlords and nobles. They had just transported it all into the county a few days ago. Otherwise, otherwise
How can there be so much food and grass?
It's just that although Zhou Fangpei is not a Beijing official, he also knows Yang Guang's character well, and Yang Guang's emotional state at this time is very dangerous. If what he says at this time is wrong, or if he dares to refute at all, he may be killed immediately, so
He knelt down quickly and said with a panic look on his face: "Your Majesty, forgive me, it was my fault."
"How much food and grass is there? Is there any other way to raise food and grass?" After Yang Guang finished scolding, he suddenly remembered that the next defense of the city would require the strong cooperation of Zhou Fangpei, the prefect who was familiar with the place. At least if there was not enough food and grass, the prefect would have to think about it.
The methods were collected from the people, and the people were also organized to go to the city to help defend the city, etc. The prefect had to do a lot of things. He even lost the imperial chef who came all the way to cook for him. Now he even needs food for himself.
The prefect was busy making arrangements.
In short, it is obviously impossible to kill the prefect at the moment.
Besides, if you think about it carefully, the governor Zhou Fangpei didn't do anything wrong, and he responded quickly and served him very well. The beautiful girl who served him tea just now was heard to be Zhou Fangpei's daughter, and he even gave him his own woman.
Come to serve yourself, what else?
After calming down, Yang Guang is still somewhat rational, especially because he still talks about some human principles, but this kind of human principles is only for his own interests, his own life and death, and does not consider the life and death of the people.
Zhou Fangpei knew what Yang Guang meant. Although he did not want to harm the people in the city, in order to protect himself he had to say: "I will collect all the food and grass from the homes of the more than 70,000 people in the city as soon as possible. It should be able to feed at least half of the food for your Majesty's army and horses."
months.”
Yang Guang's expression softened slightly, but the worry on his brows still did not dissipate, and he said, "Have you sent someone to gather the county soldiers from all counties in Yanmen County to the county town, and bring the food and grass from each county together?"
After saying that, Yang Guang felt a little too unreasonable, and added: "Anyway, the counties must not be able to defend themselves. I wonder if the Turks will harm the people of the counties too much."
Zhou Fangpei sighed secretly. Although Yang Guang wanted to defend himself, he was right. The counties must not be able to defend themselves. Instead of doing this, they should gather their troops to the counties and cities to protect the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I have sent orders to the counties as soon as possible, asking the county soldiers to lead the grain and grass closer to the county town, and also asking the people in each county to organize a spontaneous evacuation south to escape." Zhou Fangpei lowered his head. When he said this, he
After a pause, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I am worried that it will be too late."
Yang Guang sighed, and then Pei Shiju next to him said: "Your Majesty, if there is not enough food and grass, you can slaughter 50,000 war horses first, so as to increase meat consumption and reduce fodder consumption."
Yang Guang pondered for a moment and said: "That's right, now send my decree to Yuwen Chengdu and ask him to choose old and weak war horses to kill. Only by eating meat for the soldiers guarding the city every day can they be strong. Moreover, if these 50,000 war horses have been killed earlier, it will be better."
It can save more fodder.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a loud and rapid sound of horns came from outside. The sound of the horns rose and fell, echoing in the sky, as if thousands of horns were blowing at the same time.
Everyone suddenly changed their expressions. Yang Guang suddenly changed his expression and his face turned ugly. Yuwen Chengdu had already rushed in and reported urgently: "Your Majesty, the Turkic army is coming and has now surrounded Yanmen City from all sides. I secretly said
After some calculations, there are at least 400,000 cavalry. As reported by the blue guards, the leader of the army is none other than Khan Shibi Khan of the Turks."
Although Yang Guang led the army to conquer the north and south when he was young, to be honest, most things were done by the people below him. When had he ever encountered a situation where he was surrounded and fell into a death situation, he suddenly showed fear on his face.
His face was so confused that he didn't know what to say for a moment.
Dugu Changsu, on the other hand, was very calm and said: "Your Majesty, don't be anxious. Since ancient times, only when the siege army is ten times as large as the defenders can we be completely sure. Now there are about 400,000 Turks, and we have nearly 100,000, and all the Turks are cavalry."
, and the Turks are not good at attacking cities, and Yanmenguan City has high walls and thick walls. It should be able to hold on for a period of time. When King Qin's army arrives, Your Majesty's danger will be resolved."
Upon hearing this, Yang Guang took a deep breath and slowly regained his composure. He turned his head and scanned the audience, took out his gold medal and handed it to Yuwen Chengdu, saying: "Yuwen Chengdu, I appoint you to be solely responsible for defending the city. Seventy thousand forbidden troops and
Twenty thousand county soldiers are at your disposal."
Yuwen Chengdu knelt down on one knee and said loudly: "I would rather be ruined than to protect His Majesty's safety!"
Yang Guang looked at the other civil servants. Considering that Pei Shiju had been on many missions to the Turks and knew the Turks well, he said: "Pei Aiqing, I ordered you to be the supervisor of the army and go up to the city wall to assist General Yuwen in defending the city."
Pei Shiju sighed secretly and said quickly: "I obey your order."
Yang Guang then said to Yu Shiji: "Yu Aiqing, lead the prefect Zhou Fangpei to collect all the grain and grass from the people in the city as soon as possible."
Yu Shiji quickly said: "I obey the order."
But from beginning to end, neither the person who issued the order nor the person who received the order thought about it, nor did they ask how the 70,000 people in the city would live without food rations.
In fact, many people would die before starving to death, because they were forcibly recruited by Yuwen Chengdu. The young and strong went to the top of the city and were forced to transport city defense equipment, burn kerosene, etc. Women and old bodies
The weak ones are responsible for cooking, treating the wounded, preparing siege equipment, etc.
Compared with the safety of His Majesty the Emperor, the death of more than 70,000 people from the border counties is nothing, at least that's what Yang Guang and the civil and military officials in the city thought. What's more, if the Emperor is alive, they, the ministers, can be safe and sound.