The Jurchens captured Xiongzhou in half a month and killed nearly 150,000 troops of the Guangxin Army and the Yongning Army of the Baoding Army. Even with Bai Qi in charge, Xiongzhou City could not escape the capture.
As a result, Bai Qi had no choice but to lead the 40,000 remnant troops in defeat. Fortunately, the Jurchens suffered huge losses in the siege and were extremely exhausted, so they did not pursue them. In fact, if the Xiongzhou defenders could persist a little longer, they would probably be defeated by the Jurchens.
He wanted to retreat first. Unfortunately, the quality of today's Dazhou soldiers and horses was too low. They persisted for seven days without seeing a single soldier come to rescue. They had reached the limit of their psychology, so they were completely defeated.
The situation took a turn for the worse, and Guo Xu's hoped-for results were completely in vain. But the bad news didn't stop there. On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the peaceful New Year's Eve, Taiyuan Prefecture, an important town in the northwest of Gyeonggi Province, fell. The Liao army stormed Taiyuan Prefecture at a cost of 30,000 people.
Cut off the road for the northwest army to come to the capital. The 250,000 soldiers and horses from the northwest are receiving the imperial order and heading to the capital to defend it. They have arrived in Lanzhou and are about to go south to the capital via Taiyuan Prefecture. But after Taiyuan Prefecture was captured,
The path of the 250,000-strong army was cut off, and the situation suddenly became extremely embarrassing.
This is exactly the plan set by the former Jurchen leader Wanyan Aguda and several powerful tribal chiefs of the Liao Kingdom. The goal of the Liao army is Taiyuan Prefecture, because it is to cut off the northwest army's road to Bianliang. After taking Taiyuan Prefecture
, the Northwestern Army of the Great Zhou Dynasty had to go through a lot of troubles if they wanted to reinforce the Gyeonggi area. They had only one way, which was to re-capture Taiyuan Prefecture to open up the passage. Other than that, there was no other way. It was unrealistic to go around.
The purpose of the Liao people guarding Taiyuan Prefecture was to prevent the Northwest Army from moving. Even if the Northwest Army made a detour, it would be attacked by the Liao Army on the flanks. Not to mention that such a large number of soldiers and horses would not march from the official road but from the official road.
It is obviously impossible to travel two to three hundred miles around the mountains and rivers of Jin. Unless all the luggage and materials are discarded, it will be difficult to move.
Of course, the Jurchen army did not live up to this good situation. After Xiongzhou was captured, the Jurchen army only rested for two days before moving southward. In the five days since the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, the Jurchen army attacked all the way to the southwest, and even Kebao
Prefecture, Zhending Prefecture. Then they attacked south along the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain, defeated Zhaozhou and Xingzhou and captured Handan. Wherever they went, the defenders of the prefecture were invincible and did not dare to resist. The people brought their families with them.
When fleeing south, the official roads and trails to the south were blocked by carriages and horses, people were squeezed, men and women were frightened, children were crying, and everyone had pale faces, and they were in panic all day long.
The people in the north originally wanted to reunite with their whole families to celebrate the New Year, but they had to flee south with their families. On New Year's Eve, it was originally a time for family reunions with the sound of firecrackers, but there were countless people in the cold.
They stumbled and walked in the bone-chilling dark night. They only knew how to run south, away from the Jurchens who invaded like tigers and wolves. It is said that wherever these Jurchens went, they were scorched earth, and all men, women, old and young were killed. They could not stay.
After they came down, they could only run south as hard as they could. Although they didn't know if running south would mean they could escape the Jurchens' butcher's knife, but all the people almost had a consensus that the Gyeonggi region was the safest place.
Yes, the emperor and the court will definitely find a way to resist the enemy. That is their only hope.
The New Year of the third year of the Great Zhou Dynasty came quietly under such circumstances.
…
Bianliang, Beijing, New Year's Day
1. In previous years, the city would have been decorated with lanterns and colorful lights and bustling with people. Men, women and children, old and young, dressed in new clothes, would go out to the temple fair after the reunion dinner and watch the dragon lantern dancers. The emperor would also come out on the morning of the first day of the new year.
Patrolling the streets and having fun with the people. The sound of firecrackers in the streets and alleys will continue, and the gongs and drums at several major temple fairs will also be noisy.
However, this New Year, the entire capital was deserted, like a dead city. The shops on the streets were closed, and passers-by were hurriedly walking in the cold wind, shrinking their heads and frowning. Most of the shops did not even put up peach charms or hang lanterns, Xiangguo said.
There are also few people in the temple fair squares such as Xingguo Temple and Xingguo Temple. Although there are some fragrant aromas lingering on the streets, and occasionally the laughter of people in high-rise courtyards can be heard, but compared with the desertedness of the entire capital, it is like
It's like an illusion on the clouds, as ethereal and distant, so out of place.
The reason is naturally because the news of the Jurchens going south is no longer a secret, and the people in the entire capital have already known the dire situation. The Jurchens' army has conquered the important town of Handan, and is less than 600 miles away from Bianliang.
The smell of blood can already be smelled in the air. The Jurchens are coming. They are about to attack Bianliang City. At this time, unless someone is heartless, who has the heart to celebrate the New Year?
There is no need to inquire about the news from the north. Every citizen in the capital can deeply understand the danger of the situation. A curfew has been implemented in the capital a few days ago, and several large battalions of the Forbidden Army have been transferred into the city from the school camp outside the city.
.The streets are full of chaos and mobilization of soldiers and horses every day, and the entrance of the city has already banned the entry and exit of any common people. Many people regret it. More than a month ago, many people heard the news and left the capital to go south to avoid disaster.
They chose to wait and see. Now, none of these people can leave. The imperial court has issued a ban prohibiting anyone from leaving the capital. Anyone who escapes from the capital at this time will be accused of disturbing people's hearts and will be beheaded. The imperial court's ban
It also proves the danger of the situation from another angle.
On the outer city wall of Bianliang, a large number of defensive materials have begun to be transported to the top of the city. A large number of crossbow carts from the Forbidden Army warehouse were loaded on carts and transported to the bottom of the city wall, and then were carried up the city wall one by one. Kaifeng
The government officials have started to go door to door to inform the young and strong men of the people, telling them that they are not allowed to hide. Once the government notifies them, they must report to the government office. Of course the people understand that this is recruiting young and strong men to prepare for the defense of the city.
.When Bianliang City is attacked, young and strong civilians will be recruited to defend the city, carry supplies, and climb the city to fight.
All of this indicates that Bianliang City is on the verge of war. The threat of Jurchens has enveloped the capital from hundreds of miles away. In this New Year, the capital is not enveloped in a peaceful atmosphere, but in a peaceful atmosphere.
People were panicked.
Guo Xu sat blankly in the imperial study room in the side hall of Chongzheng Palace. He was wearing a grand crown dress. On the first day of the new year, according to the rules, he led his ministers to pay homage to the ancestors of heaven and earth, so he wore the most solemn dress.
Crown gown. At this moment, he hadn't had time to change out of the gown.
His mood was very complicated. When he worshiped in front of his ancestor's tablet not long ago, he was full of shame. The Zhou Dynasty, such a glorious and powerful country, has now turned into this in his own hands.
.he kneels
When I stood in front of the memorial tablets of my ancestors, I really felt like I couldn't see them. Because of my incompetence and stupidity, the Zhou Dynasty was about to be ruined in my own hands. How unwilling I was, how deep in my heart I was.
of anxiety.
There was a sound of footsteps, Guo Xu looked up and saw Lu Zhongtian walking in.
"Grandpa, have all the ministers dispersed?" Guo Xu hurriedly stood up and asked.
Lu Zhongtian nodded and said: "They refused to leave, so the old minister advised them to be sent away. They hoped that the emperor would come up with countermeasures, but the old minister knew that the emperor might not be able to come up with any countermeasures now, so instead of making noise here,
It’s better to let them leave.”
Guo Xu sighed and sat down slowly, frowning and said: "Yes, what can I do? I don't know what to do now."
Lu Zhongtian said lightly: "The emperor now knows that the old minister's suggestion was right. The emperor was unwilling to accept it, and still hoped that the soldiers and horses of Bianzhen could compete with the Jurchens. Now you understand, my soldiers and horses of Dazhou have no chance at all.
They are no match for the Jurchens. I had already listened to the advice of my veteran ministers and had withdrawn all the troops to the capital to defend them to the death. This would not have ruined the hundreds of thousands of troops in the border towns. This time it will be even more difficult."
Guo Xu looked ashamed and sighed: "I never thought that the Jurchens could be so cunning. What I don't understand is how the Jurchens knew about my plan. They actually laid siege to the city to ambush the reinforcements halfway.
.I even have some doubts about whether there are Jurchens in the imperial court."
Lu Zhongtian frowned and said: "What does the emperor mean by this? The only people who know the emperor's plan are the emperor, the old minister and a few people around the old minister. Could it be that the emperor suspects that the old minister is collaborating with the enemy?"
Guo Xu hurriedly waved his hands and said: "No, no, how could I think that? I just think something is fishy."
Lu Zhongtian said coldly: "Your Majesty, it's best not to think wildly. If the Emperor is suspicious of others at this moment, the situation will become even more uncontrollable. If the Emperor doesn't even trust the people around him, do I still dare to give advice to the Emperor?"
Guo Xu hurriedly said: "Grandpa, please don't worry about it. I have absolutely no intention of doing so."
Lu Zhongtian snorted and said nothing. Guo Xu said softly: "Grandpa, what should we do about the current situation? Grandpa must help me think of a countermeasure. They are only a few hundred miles away from the capital."
Lu Zhongtian muttered: "Your Majesty, the old minister has issued an order. The Shun'an Army and the Ansu Army have quickly withdrawn to the capital. The Pingding Army and the Weisheng Army on the Hedong Road and the Anli Army in the north are also on their way to the capital. They will be here soon.
We will arrive in the capital. The 30,000 soldiers and horses of the Daming Prefecture are also heading south under the starry night. In this case, we should be able to gather about 140,000 soldiers and horses in the capital. In addition to the 200,000 forbidden troops in the capital, when the Jurchens arrive in the capital, we will
There are still 340,000 soldiers and horses waiting for them. In terms of numbers, we still have an advantage. The Jurchens' 250,000 soldiers and horses are now only less than 210,000. I think we can still fight."
Guo Xu shrank his head and frowned and said: "It's a pity that the Northwest Army was stopped to the west of Taiyuan Mansion. Hey, let me tell the truth, I have no confidence in defending Bianliang. Today, the censor Zhongcheng Shen Fang proposed to me that I should go south
Xun, grandpa, how about... let's leave Bianliang to avoid the limelight? We can go to Jiangning Mansion or Hangzhou."
Lu Zhongtian glared at Guo Xu and shouted in a deep voice: "Your Majesty wants to escape?"
