A few days later, Chen Chong returned to Luoyang. Although he came and went not long ago, his mood changed. His idea of resigning, which he had carefully considered before leaving, was wavered at this time.
Chen Chong thought, in fact, the unification of Kyushu was not a great achievement. If the people could not live and work in peace and contentment, the world would be peaceful and peaceful, and the great ambition and hegemony would not be worth commemorating. However, although this kind of thing sounds simple, among the previous emperors of the country,
I'm afraid only Emperor Taizong Xiaowen did it. And if he resigned and went into seclusion like this, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to realize his ideals. He still wanted to do more and leave more traces in the world.
For a moment, Chen Chong recalled many policies that he had thought about before but had no conditions to implement. For example, the lifting of the power of conscription of states, counties, and county chiefs, and the official transfer of all meritorious officials at all levels directly to the imperial court; and the abolition of corvee service outside of military camps.
, reform the tax system; and abolish the five prefectures after the war and establish military towns, etc. Of course, what Chen Chong wants to do most is to summarize the achievements of Zhang Zhongjing, Hua Tuo and other famous doctors since the Guanghe period, and compile a new book
Medical Code. After all, in the previous years, Chen Chong was mostly known as a famous general who was sure to win in conquests. However, compared with this title, Chen Chong still hoped to leave an impression on future generations that would leave countless people alive.
However, this can only be realized after Wu is defeated. Chen Chong looked through the military reports in the Prime Minister's Palace, thinking about the future policy outline, and planned to discuss it carefully with Yun Chang and Yide after they returned from their warning.
But after the war in Jingzhou entered the stage of siege of Jiangling, the progress became extremely slow.
Jiangling is the seat of the Sun family's Jingzhou governor. It has been an important town in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River since the Chu State, and is the hub of north-south and east-west transportation. Since Zhou Yu took charge of Jingzhou, Jiangling has been operating as a military important town. It is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and serves as a barrier to the left side of the Yangtze River.
, the last time Liu Xie crossed the river, Sima Yi led his troops across the north of the Yangtze River and captured almost all the cities in Nanjun, but failed to capture Jiangling City. It can be said that he was the most powerful vassal of the Southerners.
The outer city of Jiangling is more than 20 miles in circumference, divided into east and west cities, with a sub-city inside. The south of the city is adjacent to the river, and a high dam is built to shield the river. The terrain inside the high dam is flat. It was originally a silkworm, tea and fish market, and many vendors set up tents.
Houses are inhabited. The walls on the east, north and west sides are high and thick, surrounded by a moat, which is filled with water from the river. The river surface here is winding, with many branches and rivers, and is said to have as many as a hundred islands. There is a large swamp not far to the north of the city, which is convenient for transportation.
People dug the branches of the river to connect with it. Not to mention the cavalry, it was difficult to move across it. It was also difficult for the navy to get close to the big ships, so they could only use small boats to transport troops.
After Guan Yu joined forces with Zhang Fei, he sent a letter to Chen Chong saying: They have raised mountains outside the city to challenge them, but the walls of Jiangling are indeed high and dense, the results of the attack are really unsatisfactory, and the defender of the city is Sun Sheng, a relative of Sun Quan.
, failed to persuade them to surrender many times, so they could only continue to attack. Fortunately, although the results were slow, they were still advancing steadily. From October to March now, the Han army successively captured Jinan City outside Jiangling City and the south embankment of the city.
East Outer City. It can be seen that no matter how the Wu people resist, in the face of the absolutely superior strength of the Han army, it is only a matter of time before the city falls. Chen Chong is also convinced of this.
One evening in February of the eighth year of Yanxi (228), Chen Chong was studying in his mansion. The February night came very early, and Chen Chong lit the lights early. At this time, a cool spring breeze blew in from outside the door, attracting
The candle flickered, bright and dim intermittently. After reading for a while, Chen Chong reluctantly felt that his eyes were a little dim. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, and became even more tired. In the end, he fell asleep. In a daze, Chen Chong only felt that there was a person standing in front of him.
The figure swaying in the wind looked very familiar. Who was it? This thought flashed through Chen Chong's mind, but he fell into a deep silence. The figure in front of him still swayed back and forth, and he remained motionless.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past his eyes, blowing the figure away! Chen Chong was startled, and he woke up as he sat up in horror. Only then did he realize that it was a dream. Looking around the study room, it was already dark.
One day, the moonlight filtered in from the door and window, and you could see that the usually invisible dust was boiling in the white stream, and there was still a little red on the wick in front of you. Chen Chong breathed a sigh of relief, and then he realized that it was the wind that turned the candle light.
After blowing it out, he lit the fire again and continued to read "Jia Meng Fu" in his hand. However, he just woke up and felt dizzy, so he couldn't read it.
At this time, someone knocked on the door outside the house, and after asking, I found out that it was the student Deng Zhi who had arrived in the middle of the night. Deng Zhi was wearing a narrow-sleeved military uniform suitable for riding horses, and deerskin boots on his feet. His cloak was covered with dust from the journey, and he looked
Chen Chong was very happy to see him coming. Originally, his family had rested at this time, but Chen Chong still called Dong Bai to cook, and then joked with him: "You are not leading troops in Nanfu, but you are here at this time."
When you come back, do you have anything happy to tell me?"
It is not difficult to guess that Deng Zhi, as a frontline general, would not leave the battlefield easily. Only after victory and the entire army could not rest and mobilize, would he have room to come back. After Deng Zhi sat down, he forced a smile and said slowly: "
The teacher knows things well. When I return to Luoyang this time, I mainly want to tell the teacher two things. The first thing is victory. Just five days ago, our army captured the inner city of Jiangling!"
Chen Chong showed that he was indeed like this. He took out a document he had written a long time ago from the desk, turned to Deng Zhixiao and said: "The whole court has been waiting for this news for a long time! I have even written the official notice for awarding the commander-in-chief and the three armies."
, just waiting for you to come and get it.”
But to Chen Chong's surprise, Deng Zhi immediately showed an extremely embarrassed look. After receiving the letter, he hesitated to speak, apparently having some unspeakable secrets.
Seeing him like this, Chen Chong asked him: "Is it possible that there were too many casualties during the attack on the city? Does Yun Chang need to rest for a while?"
Deng Zhi shook his head and muttered: "Our army took turns attacking the city. There were some injuries, but many of them were treated, so the casualties are not serious." After a pause, he lowered his head, not daring to look at Chen Chong, and whispered: "It's just...
…It’s just that when the marshal entered the city, he…”
Chen Chong was suspicious and asked: "What happened to Yun Chang when he entered the city?"
Deng Zhi said fearfully: "I dare not say it!"
Chen Chong was furious and hammered the case with his hand. The slips fell to the ground. He stood up and pointed at Deng Zhi and said, "If you don't tell me, what will you do when you come back? Tell me quickly!"
Deng Zhi burst into tears immediately, fell to his knees on the ground, and said with sobs: "Teacher, you have to hold on! When the marshal entered the city, the Wu people had not been completely wiped out. Two of them, who were good at shooting, ambushed them halfway.
Marshal, an arrow hit the marshal..."
When Chen Chong heard this, he suddenly felt the world spinning. He barely stood upright and asked feebly: "How is Yun Chang's injury?"
"At that time, the marshal thought that the overall situation was settled and did not wear armor. As a result, the arrow pierced his chest and he was seriously injured on the spot. After the marshal returned to the camp, several doctors accompanying the army treated him overnight, but they were helpless. Before I left, someone followed me
I said, the Marshal's body can only last until next month at most, and he will die at any time."
After hearing this, Chen Chong was very calm. He slowly leaned over and sat down, looking straight ahead. After a long time, Fang said one sentence: "Yun Chang has gone." After saying that, he suddenly felt a stinging pain in his heart, like a needle pricking.
His eyes suddenly darkened, and he almost fell to the ground. Deng Zhi, who was beside him, was mentally prepared and quickly came over to help Chen Chong and let him sit on the straw mat again.
But this was not enough for Chen Chong to recover from the heavy blow. He felt that his whole body was constantly switching between cold and heat, his ears were covered by a vague buzzing sound, and his hands could not stop shaking. Yun Chang
Really gone? Yunchang really gone! When Chen Chong thought of this, he felt an unbelievable dreamy feeling. How could Yunchang abandon him and leave? In his mind, Yunchang seemed to be
Although I often lament my aging, as long as I see or think of Yun Chang, all the hesitation and confusion will be filtered into a kind of pure courage. After Chen Chong found out that he had lost him, he even couldn't breathe for a while. His original complete self seemed like
It was hollowed out instantly.
Only then did Chen Chong realize that he had never thought that Yunchang would die too.
When Chen Chong recovered from his confused state, all his family members and disciples gathered around him. Chen Chong held Dong Bai's hand. He had thousands of words to say, but could not express them. He paused for a long time and only said one sentence:
"Yun Chang is dead!"
After a while, he asked Deng Zhi gently: "Bo Miao, before you leave, does Yunchang have anything to say to me?"
After finishing speaking, he was panting and saw Deng Zhi take out a letter from his arms. After it was quiet, Deng Zhi read it word by word: "As a general, you should accomplish extraordinary feats. Even if you go through thousands of dangers and brave all kinds of difficulties, you will succeed."
I want to bring peace to all people, and I will die without regrets. I originally wanted to wipe out the bandits and bring peace to the world with my brother. Later, I wanted to wrap my body in horse leather and die on the battlefield. Now I have accomplished it. I am so lucky! I am so lucky! I hope that my brother will not think about me and bring peace to the Three Wus.
To harmonize all directions and achieve the achievements of three generations, it is the best for people to be ministers!"
After finishing reading, Deng Zhi looked at Chen Chong and saw that the teacher silently took the marshal's suicide note, read it several times, and finally shed tears.
Chen Chong put the letter away and waved everyone away. He began to walk slowly under the bright moon, recalling the deeds of the brothers together. For a long time, his mind
Recalling the initial vows made by the four of them when they became sworn brothers: "I don't want to be born in the same year, the same month and the same day, but I want to die in the same year, the same month and the same day." Now two people have left, and this time, Chen Chong truly feels that his end has been reached.
It can be seen.
When he returned to the main room, he placed the memorial tablet of Yun Chang, wrote a poem beside it, and then burned it. The whole poem said:
"When we are young, it is easy to break up in the early stages. We will grow old together and it will not be the time to separate again."
Forgot to say a bottle of wine, it’s hard to remember yesterday. If you don’t know the way in a dream, how can you comfort your lovesickness.”