Early in the morning, the sky was gloomy, the cold wind suddenly rose, and tiny snowflakes were floating between the sky and the earth. Winter is finally here!
At this time when everything was desolate, in the north of Luoyang City, there was a large army marching, with horses and chariots rolling around.
A large number of Tang troops braved the severe cold and arrived at the Hui'an Gate in Luoyang in neat formations. Li Shimin, Xia Yu and other big bosses were all there with their banners.
Zheng Jun's alarm bells sounded immediately, like a frightened bird.
However, the Tang army did not attack the city, but pushed out rows of prison cars from behind the formation.
With Zheng Jun looking puzzled, a group of Tang troops waved white flags and pushed the prison cart to the moat, only thirty steps away from the city wall.
Although Zheng Jun was very vigilant and had his bow and crossbow drawn, he did not attack rashly.
Immediately, a mighty Tang general with a beard on his face rode out on horseback and shouted to the city: "Cheng Yaojin of a certain family! You Zheng Jun brothers, you should recognize a certain family, right?"
In the past, after Li Mi's defeat, Cheng Yaojin also served under Wang Shichong for more than half a year, so many Zheng soldiers knew him.
Seeing that it was this old man, many people in the city had complicated expressions, but no one dared to talk to him.
If this was misunderstood and colluded with the Tang army, it would be a death penalty. But unconsciously, Zheng Jun lowered the crossbow in his hand.
Seeing that no one paid attention to him, Cheng Yaojin was not annoyed. He just pointed at the prison car behind him and said with a proud look on his face: "Have you seen the prison car behind me? Do you know who is in it?"
"Let me introduce you to everyone: this is the Emperor of Daxia, Dou Jiande, this is his Queen Cao, and this is his crown prince. And this is the Prime Minister of Daxia, Qi Shanxing."
…
Cheng Yaojin took the trouble to introduce Zheng Jun one by one, and Zheng Jun's face became more and more ugly and frightened.
After introducing more than 20 prison cars behind him, Cheng Yaojin puffed up his chest and said with authority: "How is it, do you understand? The reinforcements you are waiting for are over. From the emperor to the civil and military ministers, everyone has been
Our Tang Dynasty gave us a spoonful of stew."
"Therefore, there is no hope for Luoyang. Brothers, please surrender immediately. Wang Shichong is not a master of the Ming Dynasty, so there is no need to die with him."
The monarchs and ministers of Daxia in the prison car were all ashamed and angry to death after hearing this.
Everyone lowered their heads, their faces flushed, and their whole bodies trembling. If they had to choose again, many people would probably rather die than surrender.
The huge humiliation of being shown off like a monkey under the spotlight is unforgettable!
At the top of Luoyang City, there was an eerie silence.
Although it is still not certain whether what Cheng Yaojin said is true or false, many people in Luoyang City knew about Li Shimin's return eastward.
Yesterday, their prince Wang Xuanying had just been beaten so severely that he almost didn't escape.
Therefore, many people believe it, but because they believe it, they become desperate.
Luoyang City has been without food for a long time.
The people no longer have any food, and all livestock and livestock have been slaughtered.
Even more than ten days ago, people began to dig grass roots and peel tree bark to satisfy their hunger. Many people starved to death every day.
Walking on the street, you can see swollen and hungry corpses everywhere, and the court's body collection team is already overwhelmed.
The terrifying scene was like a doomsday ghostland.
Even the high-ranking dignitaries and the military in the past have changed from three meals a day to one meal a day, which can only barely prevent them from starving to death.
But this small amount of food supply may be cut off at any time.
Living such a miserable life, the reason why Luoyang still persists is that he still has hope in his heart and looks forward to Dou Jiande's reinforcements.
But if the reinforcements are gone, is there any hope for Luoyang?
For a moment, at the top of Luoyang City, the crossbows in Zheng Jun's hands were lowered lower and lower, and everyone's faces were filled with deep despair.
Yang Wang, the guard on duty, also looked livid.
He wanted to encourage morale, but he didn't know where to start, let alone what to say.
"Come, please go and inform your Majesty of the situation and ask for your decision." In the end, he said nothing and just threw the problem to Wang Shichong.
Cheng Yaojin saw Yang Wang and noticed that Yang Wang sent someone to report.
So, he was not in a hurry, just sat on the horse and waited leisurely. Anyway, the duck was already cooked and could not fly even if he wanted to.
After a while, Wang Shichong came in a hurry.
The imperial palace of the Pseudo-Zheng was located along the Luoyang Palace of the old Sui Dynasty, just northwest of Luoyang City, and next to Hui'an Gate, so it came very quickly.
Wang Shichong was not the only one who came.
Behind him were the crown prince Wang Xuanying, Duan Da, Yang Gongqing, Chen Zhilue, Dong Jun, Guo Shizhu and other remaining important civil and military officials.
"Your Majesty." Yang Wang saw this and hurriedly saluted.
"Where is the person?" Wang Shichong's face was ashen and he looked panicked.
Yang Wang did not speak, but silently pointed to the city.
Wang Shichong hurriedly rushed to the edge of the city, scratched the battlements, leaned forward, and saw more than twenty conspicuous prison cars at a glance.
His heart suddenly sank, and he said in a trembling voice: "I, Wang Shichong, who is His Majesty the Emperor of Xia Kingdom?"
Dou Jiande heard the call, looked up at Wang Shichong, and said with a wry smile and loneliness: "Brother Wang, Dou Jiande is here."
As the saying goes, "A fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken." Nowadays, he has no shame in calling himself a loner.
Wang Shichong glanced at Dou Jiande, without distinguishing between true and false, and turned around quickly: "Quick, who has seen Dou Jiande? Is it true to identify him?"
He still had the last bit of luck in his heart, hoping that Li Shimin was deceiving him.
Because it was really hard for him to believe that how could Dou Jiande, who came with an army of more than 100,000 men, be easily defeated by the far inferior Li Shimin?
What's even more incredible is that the emperor and his ministers were almost stewed with a spoonful.
How miserable is this failure!?
"Your Majesty, I have dealt with Dou Jiande." At this time, Yang Gongqing stepped forward quickly.
You must know that Yang Gongqing was also born in the rebel army and was from Hebei. During the old Sui Dynasty, he had many dealings with Dou Jiande.
"Great. Come and have a look." Wang Shichong was overjoyed and hurriedly pulled Yang Gongqing over.
Yang Gongqing also picked up the battlements and looked carefully at the bottom of the city. His face was ashen when he saw it. Who could it be if it wasn't Dou Jiande?
"Your Majesty, it is indeed Dou Jiande." General Yang's face was full of bitterness and he almost collapsed.
When Wang Shichong heard this, there was no luck in his heart. In great despair, he couldn't help crying out: "Brother Dou came with an army of more than 100,000 people. The soldiers and horses are strong, why is this!?"
He hated Dou Jiande for his incompetence.
An army of hundreds of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of pigs, wouldn't be easily defeated by others, right? Hebei Hero, his real name does not match his reality!
Upon hearing this, Dou Jiande became even more ashamed and embarrassed.
He looked up to the sky and sighed, even swallowing tears: "Brother Wang, there is no need to say more. Dou made a mistake for a moment and made others achieve world-famous fame. It is too late to regret it."
"Now, Dou is a prisoner and cannot save Brother Wang anymore. Please take care of yourself, Brother Wang."
Seeing the end of Dou Jiande's hero, Wang Shichong felt as if he saw his own fate, and for a moment he swallowed harder: "It's all Brother Dou who has been implicated!"
Dou Jiande was speechless. It was useless to say anything now.
On the Tang Army's battlefield, Li Shimin, who had been watching with a cold eye, felt mixed emotions in his heart when he saw this, and he didn't feel much proud of the winner.
"Since ancient times, heroes have died and beauties have grown old, which is the most sad thing." Li Er felt sad.
Xia Yu on the side was stunned and said with emotion: "This Dou Jiande can be considered a generational hero and is very popular among the people of Hebei. It's a pity that he was born in the wrong era and chose the wrong opponent."
Indeed, it’s not a good choice for you. You have to go against the chosen one, Emperor Zhenguan Li Er. If you don’t lose, who will lose!?
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, until he was so flattered by Xia Yu's magic stroke that he felt so comfortable that he almost got drunk before he drank.
Under the city, Cheng Yaojin met the king, and Dou and Dou were already chatting with each other, so they raised their hands to Wang Shichong on the city and said, "Your Majesty, do you still recognize Old Cheng?"
Although he looked down on Wang Shichong, he was his old master after all, so he still had to show some etiquette.
Otherwise, if you are complacent and make fun of your old master in public, your reputation will be notorious and reviled by others.
Cheng Yaojin is such a shrewd person that he will naturally not fall into the trap of others.
Wang Shichong glanced at Cheng Yaojin coldly.
This thing turned into ashes, and he recognized it. He couldn't help but sneered: "It turns out to be General Cheng. It's rare that he has gone to another high branch and still recognizes his old master."
Cheng Yaojin was so angry: You old guy, you are already on the verge of death, yet you are so venomous, you will stab someone in the lungs!
However, he couldn't talk back, so he had to hold back his anger and said with a dry smile: "Your Majesty is still as charming as ever, which is gratifying. But now that the situation is over, your Majesty should know that nothing can be done against fate. Please consider the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Luoyang and make an early decision."
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"I, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, are kind and generous. If Your Majesty is willing to accept the surrender of the country, he will not treat you lightly. Otherwise, if the city is destroyed, there may be unbearable things to say."
Listening to Cheng Yaojin's seemingly respectful but actually threatening words, Wang Shi's blood pressure soared.
In the past, with his ferocious and cruel temper, he would have ordered the arrows to be fired, but now that the situation is over, he has no intention of revenge.
More importantly, it's time for him to consider a way out for the Wang family.
Zheng Guo is already finished, but it is only two days too late or two days early. He can die, but the Wang family cannot be finished together.
At that moment, Wang Shichong suppressed his anger and said with a bitter smile on his face: "General Cheng, please wait a moment while I and the ministers deliberate."
When Cheng Yaojin heard that there was a way out, he smiled and cupped his hands: "Your Majesty, please help yourself."
On the battlefield, Li Shimin and Xia Yu looked at each other and smiled. They both felt that sending a tough guy like Cheng Yaojin to persuade them to surrender was really a party man.
"Your Highness, shall we wait?" Xia Yu shrugged.
"Just wait." Li Shimin said with a leisurely look, "Don't be in a hurry." He believed that Wang Shichong would make a wise choice.
