Not long after Ji Ling left, riots broke out in the city. The people who had lost all their food realized that they had no way to survive and began to fight for the remaining food and fight for it.
Ji Ling quickly led his people to suppress the war. However, for the people who had lost hope of living, rebellion seemed to be their desperate way to survive. That small-scale riot was more like a fuse, which completely detonated the people's emotions.
More and more people began to riot, and some even led the crowd to attack the palace directly.
"Rebellion, rebellion!" After hearing the news, Yuan Shu was furious. Although he knew the whole story, he didn't understand that he didn't steal it, so why would those untouchables vent their anger on him?
The chaos lasted for a day, not because of how powerful these rioters were, but because they came one after another, running out to fight or trying to open the city gate.
This made Yuan Shu angry, but also a little scared and powerless. He found that some of the soldiers in the city began to disobey his orders and even launched troops to plunder.
He just rested in the palace for a few days, why did the outside world completely change!?
Yuan Shu couldn't understand, so he could only let people suppress the rebellion. Although the rebellion was suppressed, Yuan Shu could not calm down.
Looking at the civil and military officials in the hall, the entire hall fell into an unspeakable silence.
"Why don't you speak? There is such a big thing in the city, why don't you solve it!?" Seeing the officials acting like this, Yuan Shu was even more angry. He slapped the table gum and shouted: "Why don't you say anything!?"
"Your Majesty!" Yang Hong sighed, stepped out of the queue and said to Yuan Shu: "Fei Chen is waiting for nothing, but the situation has collapsed now. The granaries in the city have been emptied by ants, and the people are hungry. Even the officers and soldiers in the army have begun to run out of food.
There is really nothing I can do about this situation!"
"Powerless!?" Yuan Shu said angrily: "Aren't you Confucian scholars who follow the law? Why don't you recruit some food and grass? Why are you powerless!"
The ministers smiled helplessly when they heard the words. The word "Dharma" is not omnipotent. The city nearest to here is stationed by the Xuzhou Army. They have to use the word "Dharma" to carry food and grass. It is hundreds of miles away. The word "Dharma" can be moved.
No, even if no one stops me, I can't do it. I'm afraid even if the great scholar comes, I can't do it.
"Your Majesty!" Ji Ling stepped out and said to Yuan Shu: "Shou Chun can no longer be defended. In my opinion, it is best for us to break out of the encirclement quickly!"
"Breakout?" Yuan Shu found it difficult to accept this word. He looked at Ji Ling and frowned: "Is there no other way?"
Ji Ling shook his head silently. Food was the lifeblood of the army. Now that food was being plundered, other than breaking out, he couldn't think of much else.
And is it really possible to escape after breaking out of the siege? Yuan Shu didn't believe it, Lu Bu was still guarding outside the city gate!
…
"Zi Yan, why did you bring so much food?" In the Xuzhou military camp, batches of food were transported from Xuzhou. This was obviously far more than what was needed for the 50,000-strong army. Wei Xu looked at the amount of food and was a little confused.
I don’t understand, do you want to live here forever?
Xuzhou is rich in food now, but it cannot be so defeated.
"Of course it's to win people's hearts." Chu Nan checked the food and grass everywhere and looked back at the thin mist over Shouchun. It was Yuan Shu's luck. I don't know if it can be regarded as the luck of the emperor. Anyway, Chu
Nan didn't see the lucky golden dragon in the sky above Xuchang.
It shouldn't count. After all, Yuan Shu, the emperor, has not been recognized by everyone. The emperor in most people's hearts is still the Han emperor of Xuchang. No matter whether the other party has real power or not, no one will question the emperor's identity.
"Win people's hearts?" Wei Xu frowned.
"Yes." Chu Nan nodded: "There should not be much food in Shouchun City now."
Although this is somewhat unethical, it can quickly stabilize the hearts and minds of Shouchun's troops and people. Now Shouchun is like a candle in the wind. A slightly stronger wind can extinguish this candle. But the next question,
When it comes to facing Cao Cao, borrowing food and grass to quickly win over the people of Shouchun can avoid a lot of trouble.
"What does winning people's hearts have to do with food? Is it possible that giving them food will bring them back?" Wei Xu was a little confused when he heard this.
"Maybe." Chu Nan didn't explain. It's almost time to close the net. If it continues, Shouchun may really become a purgatory on earth.
"Okay, don't do this. My lord has summoned everyone to discuss matters. Come with me." Wei Xu shook his head. He didn't want to know this. As a general, he just had to fight the battle well.
Chu Nan put down his account books and followed Wei Xu to the main camp. He saw Lu Bu, Chen Gong, Gao Shun and other generals arriving. Chu Nan quickly apologized and sat down at Chen Gong's commanding position.
"Zi Yan, we have been besieging Runan for many days, when will we start?" Lu Bu saw Chu Nan coming and asked, they can't stay here forever.
"Calculating the time, it's almost time. Father-in-law, Nan wants to go to Shouchun again to see the specific situation." Chu Nan said to Lu Bu.
"Are you still going?" Lu Bu frowned.
"Yuan Shu still had some confidence last time. However, now that there is a shortage of food in the city, Yuan Shu has reached his end. If we go this time, we will have a greater chance of persuading Yuan Shu to surrender. If it is too late, Nan is worried that Shouchun City will be in chaos.
"Chun Nan nodded.
When Lu Bu heard this, he looked at Chen Gong.
Chen Gong nodded and said: "It would be good if we could defeat the enemy without fighting. Now Yuan Shu is no longer a match for our army. The real trouble is the grass. We really can't wait any longer."
Lu Bu nodded, looked at Huang Zhong and said, "In this case, Han Sheng will accompany Zi Yan for another trip."
"Here!" Huang Zhong stepped out and saluted Lu Bu.
After Chu Nan simply packed up, he took Huang Zhong and Zhou Cang directly to Shouchun.
Seeing the gatekeepers who had completely lost their energy and energy going to pass the message, Huang Zhong looked at Chu Nan and said: "My lord, the morale of the Shouchun defenders seems to be low, and the general will see that the city defense is much weaker than before.
"Sir, if we send troops to attack the city directly at this time, we may be able to defeat Shouchun directly."
Chu Nan nodded. He felt more intuitively. The popularity and aura of awe-inspiring people attached to the city wall were pitiful. Compared with the last time he saw it, it was far behind.
"If Yuan Shu is still stubborn today, he will have no choice but to send troops directly!" Chu Nan said with a smile.
"Crunch~"
Just as Chu Nan and Huang Zhong were talking, they saw a gap in the city gate opened. Chu Nan led the two of them directly into the city. Under the leadership of the city gate general, they went all the way to the palace.
When I came to Shouchun last time, although Shouchun City was not prosperous, it was not bad compared to most cities and had some atmosphere. However, after entering Shouchun again, I saw the people on both sides of the street looking at them numbly.
There is a suppressed madness on Zhang Zhang's face, which is yellow and thin, as if it could turn into a demon at any time and choose people to eat.
A person who is crazy about hunger can do anything. But now, Shouchun gives people the feeling that he has reached the edge of explosion, and the only thing missing is a fuse.
Chu Nan, who was walking on the road, was a little distracted when he saw this scene.
Not only the people of Shouchun, but also the soldiers along the way looked weak.
As the initiator of all this, Chu Nan couldn't tell how he felt at the moment. After silently following the city gate generals all the way to the palace, the palace eunuch led a group of people into the hall.
In the main hall, after hearing that the Xuzhou envoy had arrived again, Yuan Shu summoned his ministers to see Chu Nan for the first time. Yesterday's meeting did not come up with any effective solution. In other words, Yuan Shu had lost the ability to break the situation.
Yuan Shu, who did not believe in evil, personally investigated the grain depot, but it was too late. There was very little food left in the grain depot, and there was not much food left in the city. To make matters worse, people's homes were also plagued by ants, so they wanted to collect it from the private sector.
Food had become a luxury, and Yuan Shu suddenly felt a little desperate.
Everything else is easy to say. These soldiers have no food and grass. Who is willing to work for him? The 200,000 troops that were his confidence before may now become a tyrant who can backfire on him at any time. Yuan Shu quickly summoned the ministers for discussion, but by chance
It is difficult for a woman to make a living without rice, so what can the officials do now? Even in this current situation, breaking out of the encirclement has become a luxury.
Therefore, when he heard that Chu Nan was looking for him again, after hesitating for a long time, Yuan Shu chose to see Chu Nan.
"I've met the general!" Seeing Yuan Shu, Chu Nan saluted Yuan Shu and said, "I haven't seen him for many days. The general's complexion seems to have deteriorated a lot."
Yuan Shu frowned and looked at this man who ignored his imperial majesty. It was just that this time, he could not scold him as confidently as last time. But now that he had recognized the reality, he probably no longer had the qualifications to put on airs.
"No need to be polite." Yuan Shu took a deep breath, looked at Chu Nan and said, "I don't know why you came here this time?"
"I came here to save the general!" Chu Nan said calmly.
"Save me?" Yuan Shu looked at Chu Nan a few times and snorted coldly: "You want me to surrender to Lu Bu?"
"My lord has no such intention." Chu Nan shook his head: "The general only needs to give up Shouchun City."
Yuan Shu is of little value now.
"What difference does it make if I give Shouchun City to Cao Cao or to Lu Bu?" Yuan Shu snorted coldly. He knew that Shouchun could no longer be defended, but he was reluctant to give it away like this.
"The difference between life and death, general, don't forget that you are arrogantly proclaiming emperor, which is tantamount to rebellion and want to exterminate the clan!" Chu Nan looked at Yuan Shu and smiled and said: "Cao Cao went out on behalf of the imperial court. It is said that there is no day in the sky, so the general did this
, as far as the imperial court is concerned, it is a crime that cannot be forgiven. The general will not think that just a small Shouchun City can erase the general's mistakes, right?"
Yuan Shu heard this and sneered: "Then Lu Bu can let me go?"
"After all, the general and my lord were allies in the past. My lord cannot bear the general's death. As long as the general gives up Shouchun, my lord has agreed and ordered the scholar Chen Gong to personally send the general a hundred miles away. The general can go to Xuzhou to Hebei
, you can also go to Lujiang. In short, as long as the general is willing to give up Shouchun to avoid some casualties of soldiers and civilians, the life and death of the general has nothing to do with our Lord." Chu Nan looked at Yuan Shu and said sincerely: "This may be the last time the general survives.