For a month, the Mongolian army failed to attack Huangsha City. Temujin was furious and the commanders-in-chief of Western Xia and Western Liao were ready to retreat.
It was the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, with a cool breeze penetrating my bones, dusk approaching, and the glow filling the fields.
Temujin led the four heroes out of the camp and stared at the Huangsha City standing in the cold wind in the distance. After long years of war, the newly built city had broken walls, arrow marks, and traces of explosions.
"An isolated city on the border has blocked our army for more than a month. The Chu army cannot be underestimated."
Temujin conquered east and west, swept through all the tribes on the grassland, and defeated the Khorezm Kingdom. There were thousands of large and small battles, but he never encountered a city that could not be conquered in one month.
"King Khan, I have attacked Huangsha City hundreds of times. The enemy troops have closed the city and cannot leave. The defensive equipment in the city is excellent. Our army is mainly cavalry and cannot give full play to its greatest advantage."
"Now Xiliao and Xixia have plans to retreat. Early winter is approaching. Once the snow falls, our army will be short of food and grass supplies. The general is worried that the morale of the army will be affected."
"Yes, Cao Cao's letter made my army return without success. I was really angry. I finally convinced Xixia and Xiliao. If we can't capture Huangsha City in one fell swoop, it doesn't matter even if the army enters the Chu territory, we will only be attacked from both sides.
.”
Temujin looked melancholy and his voice was gloomy. He glanced sideways at Muhuali and said, "Muhuali, there is no news from the military advisor from the North Han King's City?"
"King Khan, there has been no news for half a month!"
"The last general thought it was the best policy to order the troops to withdraw and return. Before leaving, the military advisor and the sage said that if the Emperor of Chu could not be defeated before winter, the troops must withdraw and return to the Onan River."
Muhuali, originally from another tribe, surrendered to Temujin after the defeat. Now he is one of Temujin's four heroes along with Borhu, Borshu and Chilaowen. He is a man of deep wisdom, bravery and good at fighting.
Temujin glanced at Muhuali sideways, then turned around and walked towards the tent. At this moment, there was a sudden sound of horse hoofbeats from the direction of Huangsha City. A fast horse galloped towards him. There was a man on the horse with his clothes and sleeves flying.
Flying.
"King Khan, someone seems to be coming!"
Chi Laowen reminded, Temujin stopped and turned around to look, holding the broad sword at his waist and squinting his eyes slightly.
"King Khan, the person coming on horseback seems to be the third princess!"
Mu Huali could tell at a glance that it was Asashi Haibie on the horse. Upon hearing the sound, Temujin looked excited and strode forward.
"yes!"
"yes!"
"Yes, Haibie is back!"
Temujin said with a look of doubt in his eyes. The Mongolian and Chu armies were dueling. The Chu Emperor should have imprisoned A Qi Haibie. Why did he let her back at this time?
"Da da~"
"Da da~"
The sound of horse hooves was approaching, and Achi Haibie jumped off the horse. Unknowingly, she had not seen him for half a year. When she saw Temujin, she stepped forward and bowed to salute.
"Father, the child is back!"
"Just come back!"
Temujin was full of murderous intent at this moment, looking like a loving father, with eyes wide open as he watched Asashi farewell.
"Kid, I've lost weight!"
"Father, this is not the place to talk. Let's go back!"
Temujin noticed something strange. In the past, Aqi Haibie, who was lively and lively, was like a pony galloping on the grassland. Today, when he saw her, she looked worried, with melancholy on her pretty face.
A few moments.
Temujin, Acihaibie, and the four heroes moved back to the big tent. After everyone sat down, Acihaibie looked like he was hesitant to speak.
"The four of you leave first and go take a look at each camp!"
Mu Huali and the other four stood up, saluted and left. Temujin looked at Azhi Hai dotingly and said, "My child, you have suffered a lot during this time."
"Father, give the order to retreat!"
A Qi Haibie's sudden voice sounded. Temujin was stunned for a moment, and then asked with doubts on his face.
"Why did you suddenly order your father to withdraw his troops?"
"Father, the Chu State is powerful. I have seen with my own eyes the prosperity of the Chu State's imperial capital. It is definitely not the grassland tribes we attacked in the past. The Chu State's generals gathered together and millions of warriors. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment under the rule of Emperor Chu.
"
"The Kingdom of Chu is no longer a sleeping lion, but a king looking down upon the world. When the child learned that Emperor Chu was at war with his father, he also sent troops to the Fusang Empire to fight against the four major and fifth-level empires with the power of one country. This was his father's
I'm afraid the emperor doesn't have this majesty."
Azhaibei had lived in the Chu Palace for half a year and had a good understanding of Emperor Chu's behavior. He did not want Temujin to become an enemy of Emperor Chu without being completely sure.
Temujin fell into deep thought. Azhai was right. He was indeed different from the past. It might be because of his age, otherwise he would not have been deceived by Cao Cao's letter.
Using the power of one country to fight against the four major fifth-level empires, this Emperor of Chu is indeed crazy. Does he really have information that can defeat the four kingdoms?
"Haibei, if we order the withdrawal now, we will have to return empty-handed. The gains outweigh the losses. When will my father return without success?"
Temujin was unwilling to give in. A majestic voice sounded, and Asashihai got up and came to sit next to him.
"Father, it doesn't matter if we return without success. At least our army can preserve its strength. As early winter approaches, heavy snow will soon seal the mountains and thousands of miles of grassland will be frozen. Every severe winter is the most difficult time for our empire. Father, we are still
We must put the people first, they are the foundation of the country."
"Next spring, the grass will grow and the orioles will fly. Our Mongol Empire will stretch for tens of thousands of miles. Let's rest for a year, restore our national strength, and let the people spend this winter safely. Then we will look at the world, and my father will make a final decision."
"The master and the saint are no longer with my father. Didn't Mu Huali and the others see the clues about Huangsha City?"
"Clues?"
"Haibie, did you discover something?"
Temujin looked solemn, narrowed his eyes slightly, and sounded an urgent voice.
"Father, we have not captured Huangsha City for more than a month. This is just a new city just built by the Chu army. Father, do you know why this is?"
"Why?"
"The army and the people are united in Huangsha City. Liu Bei, the general who defends the city, is a powerful man and treats the people well. Now our army has no name, but the Chu army has the support of the people. How can my father capture it?"
"Furthermore, I have been in Huangsha City for the past two days and found that the powerful generals of Chu State gathered together. Their legions are all elite Chu troops. Why did they close the city and not come out? It is obvious that the time has not come. Have you ever thought about it?
The Chu army will sneak attack on the Onan River, and Huangsha City is just here to contain my father's army."
A Cihai's farewell words were like a thunderbolt, and at the same time as he suddenly understood, a biting coldness ran down his back.
"Sneak attack on the Onan River?"
"Someone is coming!"
Temujin shouted loudly, and two Mongolian soldiers from outside the big tent rushed in, knelt down and saluted, and heard him sternly say: "Send orders to the four heroes, the four mastiffs, and the eight tigers to come to the big tent to discuss matters."
Leaving Wancheng in the Chu State, passing through the Beihan King's City and crossing the Guna River, you can reach the Onan River Khan King's City in the hinterland of the Mongol Empire.
Temujin always went to war, and only a few soldiers were left in the Khan City. The others were old, weak, sick, and disabled. If the Chu army could really defeat his two major military plans outside the Northern Han City, it would be difficult to march straight to the bank of the Onan River.
Not impossible.
It was early winter in the third year of the Chu Kingdom.
Temujin's army withdrew from Huangsha City, and the Mongol army's six-month campaign ended without any resolution.
During this battle, Temujin suffered a huge inner shock. He seemed to have aged ten years. Liu Bei in Huangsha City learned that Temujin had withdrawn his troops and summoned the generals to discuss matters in the general's palace.
past.
When the secret guard sent Asi Haibie to Huangsha City, he sent two imperial edicts at the same time. Liu Bei did not expect that Emperor Chu was strategizing and was absorbed in the matter. Now that the Mongolian army had withdrawn, he decided to carry out the instructions conveyed in Emperor Chu's letter.
The second edict.
A few moments.
Lu Bu, Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, Su Lie, Chu Ya, Pang De, Zhang Xiu, Li Jue, Guo Si, Dian Wei, Ma Chao, and Qiu Feng arrived at the general's mansion. The generals were confused. The Mongolian army had withdrawn. Liu Bei asked them to
Something will happen when you get up.
When Liu Bei saw everyone gathered, he turned around and picked up the imperial edict from the wooden table behind him. Upon seeing this, all the generals came out and knelt down to salute, and a powerful voice sounded.
Emperor Chu had already guessed that Temujin would withdraw his troops, so he passed an imperial edict to the generals to go to Yongjiang City. The battle against the Fusang Empire was the greatest military action of Emperor Chu's time.
Zhang Xiu, Li Jue, and Guo Si still stayed in Huangsha City to guard with Liu Bei. The other generals left the general's mansion and rushed back to the military camp to order the three armies to prepare. At dusk the next day, the Chu army left Huangsha City in large numbers.
"My emperor is unparalleled in his resourcefulness, strategizing, and victory. He is truly admirable."
Liu Bei stood upright, looking at the yellow sand and dust rising into the sky outside Huangsha City, and looking at the Chu army leaving in a mighty manner. A look of determination appeared in his eyes, and his mutterings disappeared in the cold wind.
.............
On the East China Sea, a ship was moored at a pier outside a seaside fishing village. Cold mountains loomed in the distance, and smoke curled up where the sea and sky met.
Three figures swept down from the ship. Only one person turned around and paid the fare. The three of them stood on the dock. The man in the lead said politely: "Old man, is this the land of Soochow?"
"Haha, I have long seen that the three of you are from outside. This is the land of Soochow, but it is just a small fishing village."
"The three of you are magnificent, have lived a wealthy life, and look like merchants. You should be heading to the imperial capital."
"That's right, old man, we are going to the Soochow Imperial City. I don't know how to get there?"
When the voice of inquiry rang out, the old man tied the boat to the wooden pile on the dock and said again: "Passing through Yulong Village, there is a city a hundred miles ahead. Once there, the three young masters can buy fast horses and go to the imperial capital.
Ten days."
After the old man finished speaking, the three of them handed some broken silver to the old man again, got up and walked towards the Yulong Village in front of them.
"Sir, we have been wandering at sea for a month. What on earth are we here for?"
at this time.
The person who spoke was none other than Luo Shixin, and the one who was called the Young Master was of course Emperor Chu. A month ago, he secretly left the imperial city, taking only Bai Qi and Luo Shixin with him. After a month of going to sea, he finally came to the place in front of him.
Yulong Village.
Very few people knew about Emperor Chu's trip. He planned to travel quietly to all the countries in the East China Sea, saying that he wanted to understand the customs and customs.
Do you believe it?
I don’t believe it anyway!
Fusang, a coastal city in the Chu Kingdom, invaded the country and the smoke was rising. How could he have the heart to travel around?
"Shixin, remember what I told you. Don't ask too many questions that you shouldn't ask. If you talk too much, you will make mistakes!"
Emperor Chu scolded him sternly, and with a flick of his sleeves he led the two of them into Yulong Village. This village was located in the northernmost part of the Soochow Empire. It had not experienced the devastation of war for decades. The common people were men farming and women weaving. They usually caught fish and sold it, and their lives were miserable.
Also calm.
The three of them passed through Yulong Village. Because they were outsiders, the people in the village did not have much interaction with them. Bai Qi bought three horses in the village at a high price.
Looking at the backs of the three people riding away, the man who bought the horse knocked the money bag in his hand, sneered, a cunning light flashed in the corner of his eyes, and a contemptuous voice sounded.
"What a fool. They are just three old horses, and they are willing to pay three times the price for them!"
With an excited look on his face, the man put his money bag into his clothes, turned around and shouted into the yard: "I'm going to Fuyang City, I'll be back in a while!"
A little while.
A woman appeared in the yard, dressed simply. She looked at the man's retreating figure, looked sideways, and cursed loudly.
"You are a murderer!"
"Did you buy a horse and prepare to go to Fuyang City to find your sweetheart?"
Although Fuyang City was the smallest city in the Soochow Empire, it had just fallen into the night and the city was already bustling with lights, feasting, and noise.
Emperor Chu and the others entered Fuyang City Gate before it closed. At this time, they were already in a restaurant. The three of them were sitting by the window, with a panoramic view of the street view.
The meal had not yet been served, and the restaurant was noisy. Soon, the conversation of several people nearby attracted the attention of Emperor Chu.
"Have you heard that the Northern Wei Empire's army has already captured three cities on the southern front? The emperor ordered General Taishi and General Lu to go to defend the enemy. I don't know if the Northern Wei Empire can be defeated this time."
"I'm afraid your news is from a month ago. The latest news from the front line is that General Taishi and General Lu have recaptured the three cities and are confronting the Northern Wei army at the foot of Xiangdong City. It is not yet known who is stronger and which is weaker."
"Tieniu, your news is too late. Forget it, just drink. Even if the war spreads, it will not reach Fuyang City. The Northern Wei Dynasty has been spying on me, Dongwu, but it has never crossed Luling County for a day."
"Yes, we ordinary people can actually control national affairs. We just need to live a good life. Ten years ago in the battle of Luling County, the Northern Wei Empire felt that no one of its 120,000 warriors dared to fight against it. But what happened?
The emperor's imperial commander personally defeated them, and the entire Northern Wei army was almost annihilated."
"I know about the battle of Luling County. The emperor personally led the army in that battle, with overwhelming force and momentum like a rainbow. The sea water that was killed was as red as red and the wails were like thunder. This was the only way to gain peace in Soochow for these ten years."
Tieniu said happily, but the other two people looked down upon him and raised their glasses to drink.
"Tieniu, everyone in Soochow knows about the battle in Luling County ten years ago, but you can't say something new every time."
Faced with the contempt of the two men, the strong man known as Iron Bull turned red, whether because he was drunk or because he was angry with his companions.
When Emperor Chu saw that the conversation between the three of them was over, he turned around and the waiter had already put down the food. When he was about to signal Bai Qi and Luo Shixin to eat, he heard Tieniu's displeased voice.
"Who said we have something new? You absolutely don't know about this thing I know."
The two put down their wine glasses, looked at each other, smiled, and said in unison: "Then you should tell me, you won't say that you peeped at Widow Zhang taking a shower, right?"
"A dog looks down on others. Who am I, Tieniu, to be like that? I have stopped peeking at her for a long time. She is mine now."
"Okay, today I will let you know that I, Tieniu, am also a person who does great things!"
With a proud look on his face, Tieniu raised his hand and drank the wine in the glass, looked around and said in a low voice.
"Outside Fuyang City, a group of people found a treasure underground. It is said that it was a thousand years ago..."
Before Tieniu finished speaking, his head hit the wine table, and his two companions laughed and mocked.
"You have such little drinking power and you still come out to brag. It's really funny."
The two laughed loudly and raised their hands to shake Tieniu, only to see a pool of blood appear on the table. They were shocked and raised their hands to lift Tieniu up, only to see blood gurgling from his forehead.
"boom!"
"boom!"
The two of them were so frightened that they fell down from the wooden bench, put their hands on the ground, and quickly retreated, their trembling screams spreading.
"Killed!"
"Killed!"
Everyone in the restaurant was shocked. They followed the sound and saw that they were all in panic. At this time, Emperor Chu and the three people sitting at the window seats had long disappeared, leaving only the aroma of the food and the smoke rising up. (To be continued)