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The casualties of the strong attack on the prefecture were too tragic. Meng Jian gritted his teeth and ordered the guards to withdraw from the Jiaxiang, but he did not let the defenders retreat into the military camp to defend the enemy. He still sent out 140 or 50 people to rush to the nearest north city gate.

These armored soldiers rushed to the north city gate and directly climbed the city wall. They blocked the city road inside the city gate with horses, deer antlers, wooden beatings, rolling stones, etc., so as to ensure that when reinforcements arrived, they could enter the city gate from the north city gate as soon as possible.

Meng Jian then found the door panel and other debris and piled them into the alley as an obstacle to prevent the Tongbai Mountain soldiers from chasing them. Then he led less than 400 soldiers left, dragging Cao Cheng, who was still struggling fiercely, cursing him, retreated to the military camp.

In addition to three or five or dozens of military servants in the Qing Shun Army, there were also many young children who were not of the age of the army like Cao Cheng, who had been practicing martial arts since childhood.

The Meng family is a large family in Shuozhou. Each family gathered together young children and armed soldiers, and there were more than a hundred people.

The Cao family was just Cao Shixiong. Because the old lady was still alive, there was no household registration. The family lived in the back house of the state yamen. However, the Cao family's children were not allowed to be taken into account in Tongbai Mountain. There were also eighty or ninety young children and armed soldiers, and they fled into the military camp by escorting women and children.

Meng Jian retreated to the military camp. Two or three hundred young children wore shabby armor eliminated by their parents, held swords and rods in their hands, and clamored to go out to fight. Fortunately, they were grabbed by many women and servants.

Although there were no pursuers who came directly to the barracks, Meng Jian did not dare to be careless at all.

In addition to blocking the front and rear gates of the barracks, he also ordered various obstacles in the camps, and ordered the armored soldiers, swords, spears, bows and crossbows to form a formation. In addition to gathering more than 200 soldiers, a new team was formed to supplement the lack of troops, and he also scolded and ordered the young children and women and children from all over the family to return to the barracks.

Meng Jian dared to breathe a little relieved at this time. Although there were still many young people who had not retreated at this time, he had no time to take care of it, for fear that he would be ruthlessly eaten by the Tongbai Mountain soldiers galloping in the streets and alleys.

At this time, he was just secretly glad that the number of soldiers in Tongbai Mountain who entered Kelan City was limited.

Otherwise, Meng Jian would suspect that he might be slaughtered by the simple defensive measures of the barracks and the soldiers who were killed, the soldiers, and a group of young children who were useless except for their fever.

Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui arranged many things to evacuate so that he had time to reunite with the rescued family.

Wang Gaoxing was over fifty years old. His wife and eldest son stayed in his hometown to handle family affairs and family property. His second son was studying in Bianjing. He only had a concubine and the youngest son born to him followed him to Lanzhou to take office.

Qian Zerui was over 40 years old, and his eldest son also started a family and stayed in his hometown. He took his wife, second son and young daughter to Lanzhou to take office.

It was also Cao Shixiong who wanted to threaten King Gou Xing, and Qian Zerui surrendered the enemy together, so he did not make things difficult for their family, and the female family members were not harmed. However, these twists and turns also made both families feel like they were escaping from death.

Time is too tight. Wang Gaoxing, Qian Zerui and Jia Xiaocai said a few words, and Xu Huai sent someone to invite him.

The battle between Jiajie Lane has ended. Except for guarding the people and horses and some of the prisoners who were driven to pile up obstacles into Jiajie Lane, the other generals and soldiers were hurrying to rest.

The war will rise again at any time, and it is impossible to go into the house and sleep comfortably. Everyone curled up or lie down to rest under the eaves of the corridors and rooms. Their armor was not untied, and they were mostly wrapped in a thick felt to keep the cold. Some people still spoke in a low voice with their eyes open, but most of them had already fallen asleep, and the sounds were rising and falling, like thunder.

Swords, shields and other weapons were also placed beside you.

There were also people holding wheat cakes and jerky in their hands, but they were so sleepy that they ate for a few bites and fell asleep. The water in the skin was splashed out, and there was no feeling.

Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui walked to the East Courtyard where Xu Huai temporarily acted as the command post.

In the yard, there were only three guards guarding the post in full spirit, and the others were curled up in front of the porch to sleep. The two tiptoed into the lobby and saw Xu Huai and a middle-aged general sitting at the table discussing something. A young general was sitting in the corner with a spear in his arms. He was awakened by the movements of Wang and Qian, and sat upright. A black-faced man hugged an iron shield and snored even louder than thunder. He didn't care at all that someone was entering the room, and saliva flowed out of the corner of his mouth.

"Wang Langjun, Qian Langjun, please sit down and talk."

Xu Huai asked Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui sat down. When asked about the arrangements for the evacuation, a guard walked in with his hands and handed over the seal of the letter in his hand, saying, "Langjun Xun wants to ask the military marquis to bring this letter back to Bianjing..."

Xu Huai took the letter, took a look, and then collected it personally.

Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui knew about Xun Yannian's surrender to the enemy in prison, but this matter was extremely sensitive. He did not ask in a hurry before. Seeing Xun Yannian not showing up, he delivered a letter to Xu Huai. He was also confused and asked, "Why is this Xun Langjun?"

"Mr. Xun knew that it would be a big feud to surrender to the enemy. He had no face to return to Bianjing to meet his old friend. He had just died. This is the letter left for his son." Xu Huai said.

"..." Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui were all stunned. They didn't know whether they had been imprisoned, or tortured, or tortured, or threatened by family members. They could hold on to their integrity, and they had no intention of demanding harshness from Xun Yannian. They just sighed, "Mr. Xun also went astray by just one thought..."

"At this time, I would like to invite two men to come here to recommend my uncle Wang Ju to meet the two men."

Xu Huai put the matter of Xun Yannian behind his mind, introduced Wang Ju, Wang Gaoxing, and Qian Zerui to meet each other, and said,

"The right and wrong of the Jingsheng Army's changes, the two northern expeditions and defeats against Yan should be determined. My uncle and I were lucky enough to die back then. In order to avoid persecution from enemies, we had to hide our identity. Wang Bing's grandfather was assassinated in Tongbai Mountain, and Cai Ying personally caused a huge disaster in Tongbai Mountain. There are many things that Wang Bing's grandfather is the most clear about. Whether we escort Wang Bing's grandfather to Ren Lanzhou for thousands of miles is still loyal or ulterior motives, the facts will surpass all quibbling. Now, we invite the two men to come over, not to say anything about the old things that happened back then. In fact, the situation facing us at this time is too dangerous. Xu Huai had shallow experience and was also panicked for a while. Some things still need to be found in the king and the two men of Qian to discuss them..."

The first northern expedition to Yan failed. Many people in the court and the country and even Hedong regretted the killing of Wang Xiaocheng and evacuating Jingsheng's army from Yunshuo. However, Cai Ying and other officials of the war-fixing faction had not lost their power, and these voices did not surface.

This northern expedition to Yan not only caused tens of thousands of generals to be destroyed, but even directly shook the foundation of the country.

At this time, don’t mention rumors of accusation. Even if Cai Ying killed Wang Xiaocheng’s true edict, no one would suspect that the old incident would be overturned.

If it were not forgery of the imperial edict, or even the officials personally admit their mistakes for the old things that happened in the past, it would not be surprising. As the main driving force behind the northern expedition to Yan, Cai Ying was only responsible for the tragic consequences caused by the two northern expeditions to Yan, and there were only two endings of exile or decree.

Therefore, at this time, Xu Huai's life experience was no longer an obstacle.

Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui didn't think they needed to avoid anything. If Xu Huai asked, they would be willing to submit memorials for the old things that year.

However, Wang and Qian at this time, apart from seeing Xu Huai admit their life experience in person, they did not expect that Wang Ju, another important figure in the Wang family, would still survive in the world. They were also shocked and forgot to ask Xu Huai how bad the current situation was.

"..." Xu Huai continued, "The day before yesterday, Chihu's troops attacked the city and rushed to the Beixing Village of Yanmen Pass. After an hour of attack, the defenders could not resist surrender. If it were not expected, the Chihu people should have captured all the cities of Yanmen Pass. The only thing that makes people feel a little thankful is that the deputy envoy of Transportation Guo Zhongxiong Guo Langjun led his troops to avoid Yingzhou City in time, and led 20,000 troops to hold in Yingzhou City for three days, and the Chihu people have not yet been allowed to enter the city. However, Guo Langjun's persistence can only gain more time for the evacuation of the periphery. No reinforcements will go to Yingzhou to rescue. When Chihu people transfer more siege troops and equipment to the city of Yingzhou, it will be a matter of time before Yingzhou falls..."

"Where are Liu Shizhong and Cai Yuanyou?" Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui were not officials of the Cai clan, so there was no need to respect Liu Shizhong in front of Xu Huai. Cai Yuanyou gave him any respect and asked directly by name.

Xu Huai said: "Xiaosheng, the main force of the Xuanwu army broke south. Liu Linggong fell off his horse and died under the enemy's sword. Liu Yan, Liu Junhou and Chen Yuan, Chen Junhou led the remaining troops to break out of the siege and retreated into the western mountain. Cai Yuanyou and other Xuanwu, Xiaosheng, commander of the capital, and the whereabouts of Du Yu Hou are unknown..."

"Is it really impossible to rescue Yingzhou?" Wang Gaoxing and Qian Zerui asked in a panic in his chest.

"Not mentioning the combat effectiveness of the two armies, just talking about the number of soldiers: in addition to Yingzhou, the 20,000 troops were besieged in Yingzhou, there were 10,000 troops on Linfu Road, and there were more than 7,000 troops in Shuozhou and Langu. Hedong was in Xinzhou, Taiyuan Wenhengyue, and Yinchao two 5,000 imperial guards. In addition to the 50,000 troops that had already gathered in Yunshuo, the 15,000 rebels who had rebeled in Yunshuo, and in addition to the more than 10,000 troops of Datong surrender, at least 50,000 elite cavalry gathered to the Zhengyunshuo area, and at the same time, they also gathered large-scale troops in front of Liaoyang. It should be between 80,000 and 100,000, and they will be killed in Yanji," Xu Huai said.

"To be honest, if the court reacted a little slower, Bianjing would not be able to defend it - this is also my urgent need to find two men to come over. This involves the choice of the destination for everyone to evacuate: if the reinforcements of the court can arrive at any time, everyone will take their family to Loufan City and defend Gucheng by themselves; if Hedong is destined to become a bloody battlefield for repeated battles with the Chihu people, everyone should take their family to Fulin Road or the hinterland of Guanzhong; if Bianjing is difficult to defend, the best arrangement I can make for everyone is to evacuate everyone to Tangzhou and Dengzhou first-step, or go in step by step, everyone can retreat to Fuzhou first and Linzhou to watch the situation..."

There are two main directions for escaping from Kelan City. One is to escape to Loufan County in the south, and the other is to pass through the Yangguang old road and flee to Taiyuan. However, both directions are not within Xu Huai's choice.

Needless to say, Taiyuan is destined to fall. Loufan County is only fifty or sixty miles away from Kelan. There are official roads all the way, but snow is difficult to walk. When Cao Shixiong heard the news, he led the cavalry back to rescue. Jiaxiao, who was slow to walk, was still on his way to Loufan County. It was hard to say that he could escape Cao Shixiong's bloody revenge.
Chapter completed!