The intelligence sent back by the spies is not bad news. Thanks to the efforts of the Hetao army, in the entire Sashan Dynasty, only the city of Thebes in the northwest is still in the hands of Achilles. Several cavalry regiments in the Hetao have all attacked
, coupled with the cooperation of the White Tiger Honor and other infantry regiments, it is no exaggeration to describe the army as devastating wherever it goes.
Now, the three legions of White Tiger, Blood Killer and Longxiang are stationed under the city of Thebes, waiting for the follow-up army to arrive before starting to attack the city. According to the spies' reports and the estimates of Xuanji and others, the Sashan Guards in the city are really capable of fighting.
The army is about 200,000. Among them, there are about 70,000 of Sashan's elite imperial army. The original garrison of Thebes is 80,000. Zhu Chi Xiexin took away less than 50,000 noble private soldiers from the city of Babylon. But I feel
Feeling that he was at the end of his rope, Achilles massively expanded his army in the city and now has at least 150,000 new soldiers. These new soldiers have poor combat effectiveness, but if they are used to defend the city, they should be able to play a big role.
However, Memphis's Tyumen cavalry and Tiga's Western Region Allied Forces should also be in the city. The combined number of the two armies is as high as 60,000, and they are also a force that cannot be underestimated.
"Tell Blood Commander and others not to kill the Sashan people near Thebes for the time being. We will still need them to act as human shields for the siege." Luo Xiang said coldly.
The western region of Sashan and the Empire of Constantine have a national border that is nearly a thousand miles long. The Hetao is killing people in the southwest of Sashan, but all the people of Sashan are fleeing towards the Kingdom of Constantine. The relationship between the two countries has always been good, so
These people, especially the local nobles, believed that the Kingdom of Constantine would protect them.
However, having received a warning from the Hetao in advance, and coupled with the disastrous defeat of Nito that day, the Kingdom of Constantine was not willing to fall out with the Hetao at all, so it drove these people back one by one. Therefore, in the Kingdom of Sashan and Constantine,
Near the boundary, at least 500,000 Sashan people fell here. The Loop was quite satisfied with this.
As for Rouran, Ge Zhen escorted Daisler, mother and son to Rouran without encountering any obstruction along the way. However, Kipchak Khan never answered Hetao's questions. It seemed that they were still hesitating.
"Don't worry, Kipchak Khan will make a decision soon. After all, Sashan is about to perish. After we destroy Sashan, all the troops will be mobilized. Rouran will face even greater pressure." Luo Xiangyan
Said slowly.
Xuanji smiled and said: "Then, should we put a little more psychological pressure on Kipchak Khan and let the army tentatively attack the city of Thebes?"
Luo Xiang nodded with a smile: "That's almost it. Most of Sashan's land has been flattened by us, and the Bone Palace outside the city has been basically completed. It's time to deal with Acharius. Haha, if you are lucky,
We can still go back in time to celebrate the Spring Festival."
Situ Lie also grinned and said: "The great revenge has been avenged and the world has been unified. It seems that this year's Spring Festival will be very lively. Haha, those old brothers from the past will definitely get together this time."
As soon as Situ said this, Xin Ke and others burst into laughter. Since the army started to attack Dingzhou in 619, Hetao has not had a truly happy Spring Festival. Even when Haotian led the army back from the south of the river,
, Chunjian Shang, who was stationed at the border, Mu Shan, Situ and others were unable to rush back. But this time it was different. The foreign invasion had been completely eliminated. There would not be any foreign forces threatening the security of the Chinese Dynasty for at least twenty years, and the internal affairs were barely pacified.
, I can finally have a worry-free Spring Festival.
Zhang Yuewan asked curiously: "Since it's all good news, husband, why are you keeping such a straight face? It's like, like, someone owes you money."
Haotian turned his eyes and realized that Zhang Yuewan and Qiu Mu had returned without knowing when, and they didn't bother to greet them. They just said angrily: "You really guessed it right. But it's not that someone owed me money and refused to pay it back.
Someone actually dares to blackmail your husband."
Qiu Mu and Zhang Yuewan's mouths opened into an "o" line at the same time, and they said incredulously: "No way, if we in Loop don't blackmail others, others should pray to God and worship Buddha. Who dares to blackmail us?"
Haotian said angrily: "Obsburg, which other country is there besides Obsburg? Damn, seeing that we don't want to fight with them, he actually took the opportunity and opened his mouth. One hundred thousand taels of gold, he really thought
This gold comes from the ground."
"One hundred thousand taels of gold?" The two women no longer opened their mouths wide, but seemed to find it difficult to close them.
Luo Xiang said calmly: "One hundred thousand taels of gold is nothing, as long as Obsburg really doesn't interfere. Obsburg is the overlord of the Western Continent. If they insist on interfering in the final battle between us and Sashan,
, then I don’t know how many innocent soldiers will die on the battlefield. Don’t forget, Lord, after all, Achilles is the son-in-law of Nicholas II. We have killed so many grandchildren of Nicholas II, so it makes sense for him to send troops to help. However,
, this bastard is indeed a little too dark."
"Black?" Qiu Mu rolled his eyes. Is there anything darker than the Hetao in the world? Not to mention anything else, on that day Nito and Xinke fought, and more than 20,000 soldiers were captured. Xinke just extorted 50,000 taels of gold from the opponent.
Let them go. Compared with the lion's mouth engraved on the letter, Obsburg is already very shy.
Haotian turned his head: "Military advisor, how much gold and silver did we plunder from Sashan?"
"There are no complete statistics yet, but in the city of Babylon alone, five hundred thousand taels of gold and at least one million taels of silver were obtained." Xuanji said without hesitation.
"Ah?" Not only Zhang Yuewan and Qiu Mu, but also Xian Lianchen and Xin Jiao had little stars in their eyes. Five hundred thousand taels of gold and one million taels of silver. This was just the city of Babylon.
If you add up all the data, can it become a mountain of gold and silver?
Although Haotian knew that this harvest was not small, he did not expect to obtain such a huge wealth just from the city of Thebes. This was only gold and silver. If you include those rare treasures, the value must be more than 100,000 yuan.
Multiple times. The most important thing is that when Zhu Chi Xiexin sneaked away, he also took away the most valuable part of the city of Babylon.
Thinking of this, Haotian felt that his throat was a little dry: "Well, Sashan is really rich." He couldn't help but think of the situation when the Hetao army captured the Shengjing Imperial City of Tiandu. At that time, Haotian immediately said
Soldiers were ordered to seal the treasury, which contained everything except money.
The rats came in pairs. When they saw someone coming in, they looked at it lazily and then continued to sleep. The big ones were as big as cats. Dragon robes and other sundries were piled everywhere. Chu Xiangcheng put the household
When the officials who had not yet been slaughtered were asked, they found out that since Emperor Zhongxing succeeded to the throne, the treasury has been almost abandoned. Since then, all tax revenue has been directly divided between Emperor Zhongxing and An Yongchang. As for military expenses, it is like
It was like squeezing toothpaste out of the inside. Xuanji's temper was already very good, but he was still so angry that he cursed his mother. When he thought about this, Haotian was so angry that his teeth itched. Therefore, the Hetao army was in Tiandu Shengjing.
A vigorous campaign of confiscation of homes was launched.
Later, Hetao adopted various methods, including extortion, and squeezed less than 50,000 taels of gold from relatives of Han Cheng and other favorites of Emperor Zhongxing. Even so, Haotian was already very pleased.
.
"Hey, I made a fortune this time!" Although Haotian is not a money-grubbing person, his eyes shine with excitement.
Luo Xiang reminded: "My lord, I still want to give Obsburg one hundred thousand taels of gold, one hundred thousand taels of gold."
Haotian waved his hand, showing his rich man's demeanor: "One hundred thousand taels, don't worry, we have plenty."
Luo Xiang couldn't help but laugh, and Xin Jiao and others also burst into laughter. Xian Lianchen picked up Hao Jin, pointed at Haotian with a smile and said: "Jin'er, look at your money-obsessed father."
"I also want gold, lots and lots of gold, as well as silver and pearls and emeralds." Hao Jin pointedly said.
"What did you use it for?" Xin Jiao asked puzzledly.
Hao Jin slowly shook his head, with a serious demeanor, and said solemnly: "If you want to win your sister, hide her in a golden house!"
Haotian: "..."
Luo Xiang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
"I have long said that these two little bastards must stay with me and cannot be taken by Uncle Chu and Bian Shuai. Look, what has happened now?" Hao Tiantian said anxiously in the bedroom.
Xin Jiao quickly comforted him and said, "Uncle Chu and Commander Bian probably don't know how to teach these things."
"Then it must be Lianchen, Qiu Mu, and Yue Wan. I don't know what they have in their minds all day long. These two little bastards have been taught bad things." Haotian said angrily.
.
Xue Qingcheng pouted on the side and said: "Why don't you say that the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked? Jin'er must have inherited your virtue." Seeing that Haotian was still aggrieved, Xue Qingcheng said with a smile:
"If these two are little bastards, then who are you, husband, and who are you, eldest sister?"
Haotian was suffocated. Thinking that Xue Qingcheng was right, he quickly kept silent.
Xue Qingcheng thoughtfully helped Haotian take off his belt and said, "You, you worry about these little things all day long."
"Are you not worried? The world belongs to these two brothers. If they are not upright, how can they govern the world?" Haotian said angrily.
"Okay, what you said makes sense." Xue Qingcheng was too lazy to listen to his complaints, casually hanging her coat on the side, and asked doubtfully: "Husband, since Li Xiaomo is determined to leave, why don't you always let him go?
Sa Shan is already a grasshopper after the fall. Without the aid of the Obsburg Empire, we will be able to capture the city of Thebes in a month at most. Since Li Tieming is critically ill, filial piety is human nature. Husband, what are you doing?
Why bother?"
Haotian sighed. He didn't like discussing these issues in the room, especially when he was preparing to rest with his woman. But since Xue Qingcheng asked, he had to give her an explanation: "There is an undercurrent of darkness in China."
The clouds are overwhelming the city, and I'm afraid he will be involved in the whirlpool unconsciously after he returns."
"Whirlpool?" Xue Qingcheng looked at Haotian in confusion, and Haotian said helplessly: "There are some things that no matter how hard we try, we can't change them in the end. After all, people's hearts are unpredictable, and we can't use our own thoughts to measure the thoughts of others.
.Don’t think too much, just let nature take its course.”
Three days later, the Hetao army abandoned Babylon, which had become an empty city, and slowly moved northwest. Here, they would join forces to kill the White Tiger and other legions, and try their best to capture the city of Thebes and complete this two-year revenge.
war.
The Obsburg Empire was indeed trustworthy. After sending one hundred thousand taels of gold, Nicholas II did not hesitate to order the 150,000 troops stationed in the Principality of Behn southwest of Obsburg to retreat.
, it is indeed a wise saying.
"Money can make the devil push. Alas, as long as the Obsburg Empire does not participate in the war between us and Sashan, then the one hundred thousand taels of gold will be worth it." Although it still hurts a little, it is anyway.
Haotian is okay with being generous to others.
Qiu Mu smiled and said: "Of course, the money is not yours anyway."
"What do you mean it's not mine? This gold has already gone into our pockets, so of course it's ours." Haotian said with his eyes widened.
"My lord, Li Xiaomo, the deputy commander of the Huben Army, would like to see you." The respectful voice of the soldiers came from outside the carriage.
Haotian's eyebrows wrinkled, and Zhang Yuewan and others also felt a little bit in their hearts. In the past few days, this was the fifth time Li Xiaomo asked to see Haotian, and without exception, the content was that he wanted to go home quickly.
"Please." Haotian shouted in a deep voice.
Li Xiaomo is indeed a smart man, and Luo Xiang admires his meticulousness and caution. When other senior generals in Hetao came to see Haotian, they all rushed directly to the reception room of the Qingyun and went there very rudely.
He sat down on the chair and then enjoyed the delicious tea brewed by Xin Jiao. However, Li Xiaomo always informed someone outside the car first.
Soon, Li Xiaomo's figure appeared in the living room. Xin Jiao brought him a cup of tea, and Li Xiaomo took it respectfully, then sat opposite Haotian honestly.
"Xiao Mo, this is already the last battle against Sa Shan. As a soldier, it is such an honor to show off one's power and return the favor. Can't you wait for these ten and a half days?" Haotian said slowly.
"The tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop; the son wants to be raised but cannot wait for his relatives. It is important to carve stones and show the eternal prestige, but Xiao Mo is just a mediocre person. He just hopes to be by my father's side at the last moment of his life." Li Xiao
He said respectfully.
We are all smart people, so there is no need to talk nonsense.
If Hetao can capture the city of Thebes within three to five days, then Li Xiaomo will definitely insist on fighting this final battle. However, Thebes City has always been an important town in the northwest border defense, and there are at least 20 people inside.
More than half of the tens of thousands of troops are quite powerful in combat. Even with the strength of the Hetao army, I am afraid that it will take less than ten days and a half to capture the city.
Li Xiaomo was also helpless. The Qinchuan Li family's fast ride was faster and faster. In the latest letter from home, his uncle Li Tieyang said in the letter that Li Tieming was unconscious, but he kept shouting to himself.
Name. My brother and others, Li Xiaoran, have already died in the Yinfeng Castle. If I can't go back, then I'm afraid my father will really die in peace.
Haotian sighed: "Since you insist on doing this, general, I, Haotian, will no longer stop you, lest others say I am unkind. But you must be careful along the way."
Li Xiaomo said gratefully: "Thank you, Lord, for your permission."
"This is human nature. General, take care along the way." Haotian said somewhat helplessly: "The future is long, so be careful."
Li Xiaomo's eyebrows twitched slightly. Haotian seemed to have something in his words, but because he was worried about Li Tieming's condition, Li Xiaomo's mind seemed a little slow. After a few more pleasantries, Li Xiaomo was ready to leave.
"There is no need to bring your own soldiers. Military advisor, prepare an eight-hundred-mile horse for General Li so that he can return to Qinchuan in the shortest possible time."
"Ah?" Li Xiaomo was shocked. Although Sashan was swept back and forth by the Hetao, except for the city of Thebes in front of him, almost all the people in the country were slaughtered, but even Haotian did not believe that the Hetao could kill Sashan.
If we eradicate it completely, there will definitely be some stragglers and bandits along the way. Without personal soldiers around, is it too dangerous for me?
But after thinking about it, Li Xiaomo felt relieved again. If he was accompanied by personal soldiers, his speed would inevitably slow down. Besides, with his own skills, he couldn't escape even if he couldn't defeat him?
As soon as Li Xiaomo stepped off the Qingyun, Luo Xiang opened the door and walked in. He asked curiously: "Why is General Li so anxious? When he walked, he was as fast as a whirlwind, and he almost blew me away."
"Who told you to be so thin, sir?" Xian Lianchen said with a smile.
"That's right, grandpa is as thin as a bamboo pole." Hao An said cheerfully.
Luo Xiang didn't take it seriously and just laughed.
"I have approved his return home immediately." Haotian said calmly: "But I asked him to keep all his soldiers."
"Oh?" Luo Xiang sat down while thinking: "My lord, Li Xiaomo is a talent, not only in terms of talent, but also in terms of character. Isn't it inappropriate for you to do this?"
If Li Xiaomo heard Luo Xiang's words, it would be enough to express his condolences. Luo Xiang rarely praised others, but he praised Li Xiaomo so much. Even Haotian and others looked at him in surprise.
After a long time, Haotian finally said: "As long as a person is flesh and blood, there is something in his heart that he can't let go of. He insists on leaving, and it's useless no matter how hard we try to keep him. It's going to rain, and my mother wants to get married, let him go.
.”
Luo Xiang also understands Haotian's helplessness. They all appreciate Li Xiaomo's talent, but now there is an undercurrent surging in China. Even Haotian, who is thousands of miles away, has felt the turmoil. This time Li Xiaomo goes back,
You will inevitably be caught in the whirlpool.
"What's the matter, sir?" Haotian asked, putting Li Xiaomo's matter aside for the time being.
"The Obsburg Empire has sent a letter. They hope to have a good negotiation with us about the Sashan issue."
"What? You really can't feed the dog enough!" Haotian was furious. One hundred thousand taels of gold had already made him and Ou Shui feel hurt. Unexpectedly, Ou Bsburg really thought that he was weak and easy to bully, and he actually went too far.
: "Sir, what else do they want?"
Haotian was angry, which shocked Xin Jiao and others. Hao An raised his head and looked at his father in confusion, but Hao Jin could sit still and still sat on Ying Ji'er's lap, looking at Ying Ji'er.
Ji'er, Zhang Yuewan and the other girls beat each other up.