bookcurios Chapter 359 The troops are approaching the city
Chapter 359 The troops are approaching the city
It turned out to be just as Zhang Heng and Qin Xiangqian had expected.
The Qiang soldiers who fled back met Daigongshan on the way and told him everything that happened in the empty city. When Daigongshan heard this, he was so angry that he gritted his teeth.
"Damn it! We finally got all the food and supplies, and they were just thrown away like that!"
He was furious and immediately led everyone to the empty city. However, when they arrived, they found that the city was deserted.
Qin Xiangqian and others headed eastward without daring to stop.
Originally, they could reach a county town by turning fifteen degrees northeast, but they were filled with fear and chose to ignore it and instead ran straight towards Chang'an.
That night, they rushed to Anhua City, but unexpectedly encountered Qian Dazhuang deploying defenses there.
When the prefect of Weizhou learned that Qian Dazhuang and others had arrived in Anhua City, he acted decisively and ordered his men to unite the troops from the two previous counties to strengthen the defense of Anhua City.
Some government soldiers were temporarily recruited, so the total number of people suddenly reached more than 60,000.
Qian Dazhuang was also appointed as the garrison commander of Anhua City.
After all, they arrived at the city gate late at night, and the soldiers guarding the city were suspicious and did not dare to open the door easily.
After hearing the news, Qian Dazhuang acted cautiously. After multiple verifications, he dared to order the city gates to be opened and let these people into the city.
When he learned that they were going to Dingxi for reinforcement but were attacked on the way, Qian Dazhuang could only mourn for them silently in his heart.
"Since you are here to reinforce our Dingxi Army, you have just met the real boss. How about combining your two armies and adding them to our garrison in Anhua?"
Zhang Heng and Qin Xiangqian, both defeated, were now as weak as frost-bitten eggplants, speechless. Qin Xiangqian, in particular, had lost half his men and horses, and even his words were no longer confident.
"Since you have no objection, I think General Zhang has more men under his command, so the position of Left General of the Anhua City Garrison Army should be held by General Zhang."
Zhang Heng was originally the left general, and now he simply became the left general of Anhua City, so he naturally had no objection.
But Qin Xiangqian felt extremely upset. After all, he used to be a right general, but now he suddenly became powerless and without any position. He couldn't help feeling depressed.
"General Qin, don't be upset. I already have someone for the position of Right General. For the time being, you can serve as a counselor under General Zhang. Your actual position in the court will not change."
In this extraordinary period, there really isn't much to worry about. Besides, I'm short on manpower right now, and if we all unite, there has to be a leader and a deputy.
So Qin Xiangqian had no choice but to accept it.
A counselor general, also known as a lieutenant general.
This is not an insult. After the war, when we return to Gyeongju, everything will be the same as before.
……
Sima Yan learned that none of the soldiers he had sent out had returned, and then he received news that they had lost 10,000 men and were now hiding in Anhua City.
Moreover, the Qiang soldiers continued to advance, and the county closest to them had fallen.
When the officials of the Prince of Qin's Palace learned of this, they immediately fell into panic.
Someone proposed peace talks.
Zhao Qin originally wanted to wait for Yan Ruxiang to come back before making plans, but unexpectedly, news came from Yanzhou that 100,000 troops were dispatched from Shangjun and Dingbian at the same time and were already at the gates of the city.
"Yanzhou can muster 300,000 troops, and the terrain here is dangerous, so it's not something the enemy can easily capture."
Sima Ling seemed calm and composed on the surface, but in fact he had already made up his mind.
When the other officials heard this, they also felt that Sima Ling's words made sense, and they all echoed him, saying, "Your Excellency, you are right."
"King Qin, if Yan Ruxiang were to send troops to Shangjun now, could he defeat the enemy in Yanzhou?"
Kong Sijin spoke at this time.
He knew in his heart that Zhao Qin wanted Yan Ruxiang to come back, but it was no longer necessary for him to come back at this moment.
Zhao Qin carefully considered what the people below said, and then focused on Kong Sijin's proposal, then nodded and said:
"I think it is necessary for General Yan to lead his troops to recapture Shangjun."
When he said this, his heart was bleeding. It was these people who originally came up with the idea of giving up Shangjun.
"Even if we take Shangjun now, it won't mean much. Not only will we have to fight Liang, but there's a high probability that the Xiongnu will march south."
Sima Ling pressed his hands on his abdomen and said with disdain.
"Then according to Lord Sima's wishes, how should we proceed?"
Although Kong Sijin had a look of dissatisfaction on her face, she still suppressed her anger and asked.
"General Yan's troops were originally in Hancheng, but later moved north to Suide to prevent the Xiongnu from Bingzhou from crossing the river. I believe they should reinforce Yanzhou and drive out the invading enemies from Liang."
Sima Ling's words immediately caused a lot of discussion in the hall.
It’s not that there is anything wrong with what he said, but everyone couldn’t figure out the intention of Sima Ling’s proposal at this time.
Zhao Qin thought this was feasible and nodded again, saying, "Let's do this. Let General Yan dispatch troops to Yanzhou to drive out the enemy from Shangjun. Yanzhou will then be able to focus on dealing with the enemy from Dingbian."
When Sima Ling saw that Zhao Qin agreed to his suggestion, he began to think secretly in his mind.
Because Gyeongju needed more troops and defenses at this time.
Secondly, the peace talks with the Qiang soldiers still need Zhao Qin’s approval.
Darasimbu sent out more than 20,000 men, joined forces with Moulihei's 50,000 men, and added 70,000 men drawn from Daigongshan, to prepare for an attack on Gyeongju.
There are still 250,000 Qiang people as reinforcements behind.
Although the military force seems powerful, in fact only less than 100,000 people can actually participate in the battle.
There are 50,000 profiteers among them, but they are not cavalry, but a transport brigade that can fight and march.
……
Yan Ruxiang never expected that Shangjun, which could have been recovered in one fell swoop, ultimately did not receive Zhao Qin's order.
Instead, he was asked to assemble his troops and march towards Yanzhou.
He sighed helplessly, gathered his lost mood, quickly wrote an order and handed it to the guard, asking him to deliver the letter to Hancheng as quickly as possible.
In Suide in October, the cold wind is biting and piercing, like a sharp blade mercilessly cutting through the streets.
It passes through the narrow streets, rolling up the yellow fallen leaves on the ground, making a rustling sound, as if nature is singing in a low voice, telling the vicissitudes and changes of the years.
The mountains in the distance are looming in the morning light, like a shy girl covered with a thin veil.
At the foot of the mountain, the ancient city of Suide stands quietly. The city walls have been baptized by the years and appear mottled and vicissitudes. The bluestone paved road shines with a cool luster in the cold wind, as if silently recalling the prosperity and bustle of the past.
On both sides of the street, the bare branches of the old locust trees point straight to the sky, like indomitable warriors, defending their last position.
Occasionally, a few early-rising crows fly by, leaving behind a series of lonely calls that echo in this quiet and slightly desolate ancient city, adding a bit of sadness and bleakness to this cold picture.