Under the heavy rain, the armored cavalry moved eastward from the north side of Zhaode Hall, with a rebel army of more than 2,000 people chasing after them. Fang Jun did not dare to go south to the left side of Zhaode Hall.
There were also rebels blocking the area, and it was easy to fall into a dilemma. So we had to go north along the east palace wall, reach the wall of Wude Palace, then go west, and slowly approach the vicinity of Wude Gate.
At this time, the physical strength of the armored cavalry was almost exhausted, and it was extremely difficult to move even one step forward. The soldiers could still grit their teeth and persevere with their strong willpower, but the horses did not have that kind of will. Many horses had weak legs and fell down during the march...
Fortunately, the heavy armored infantry also retreated to the vicinity of Wudemen at this time to participate in the defense. When the armored cavalry arrived, they immediately stepped forward to set up a formation to block the rebels, giving the armored cavalry time to rest and recover.
Fang Jun got off his horse, took off his hat, and let the rain fall on his hair, which was soaked with sweat, and then flow down his neck, which was very cool.
He took a long breath, looked back at the exhausted soldiers and horses, and shook his head slightly.
It’s no wonder that the armored cavalry, which once dominated history for a while and was arrogant, will gradually disappear in the long river of history. This unit has top defense and top impact, but due to excessive consumption, it requires extremely high physical strength for soldiers and war horses.
, can only be used as a means of rushing into formation or surprise attack. If you want to become a regular combat unit on the battlefield, you are really unable to do so. Once your physical strength is exhausted and your mobility decreases, you will become a living target...
Although unable to retreat on the battlefield, the main force of the rebels still stormed Wudemen. There was no remaining energy to continue chasing the armored cavalry. The rebel army of more than 2,000 people who had been chasing behind them could not defeat the heavily armored infantry.
Due to the lack of defense, he could only wander far away from the outside and was helpless, which gave Fang Jun a precious breathing space.
*****
Li Daozong walked into Zhaode Hall with steady steps. His eyes paused on Li Zhi for a moment. He found that His Highness was still calm and a little relieved. Then he glanced at Xiao Yu, Chu Suiliang, Cui Xin and others. The first two people looked at
There was nothing unusual, except that Cui Xin's old face was full of fear, his brows were furrowed, and his mind was wandering.
But it's no wonder. As the head of the Cui family, he is like a "Tu Emperor" in Shandong. He has always been pampered and killed, but he has never experienced such a cruel battlefield in person?
What's more, the entire Shandong family has spent almost all their money to support King Jin in launching an army, and the losses they have suffered have already exceeded their respective bottom lines. If King Jin provides strong support after he succeeds, it will be difficult to recover within ten or twenty years. If King Jin
If the army is defeated, the Shandong family will most likely be in ruins. Thirty to fifty years later, the former wealthy and powerful families will collapse, their foundations will disappear, and they will be well clothed and well-fed. The descendants of the high-ranking family will also be in poverty and disappear from the rest of the world...
This is indeed too cruel for a family leader who is determined to elevate his family to the top of the world. Although the regret in his heart is not common to outsiders, it is also difficult to control his emotions and expressions.
Seeing Li Daozong's pale face and his left hand wrapped tightly, Li Zhi's heart trembled and he quickly asked: "The prince is injured? Is it okay? I will ask the imperial doctor to treat the prince."
Since Li Zhi had made up his mind to launch a mutiny to seize the throne, Li Zhi had already anticipated various situations, so he always brought the imperial physician from the Jin Palace with him in case of emergency.
Li Daozong shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, I am very concerned about you. It is just a minor injury and has been dealt with."
Li Zhi added: "The prince is the pillar of the country. Although my humerus will inevitably be damaged on the battlefield, you should be more careful and not take risks easily."
Now he is counting on Li Daozong and Yu Chigong to support the overall situation. The loss of one of these two people means disaster.
Li Daozong recounted the danger just now, and then sighed: "Although he blocked the impact of the armored cavalry, Wei Chen faced Fang Jun face to face, and was shot down by him in one round. It is really embarrassing."
With his identity, status, and experience, he no longer cares about personal victory or defeat. Although it is a bit embarrassing to be shot down by Fang Jun, it is insignificant compared to the outcome of the entire battle, so he can take it calmly.
Li Zhi was a little stunned.
In the past, many people praised Fang Jun for being "unparalleled in poetry" and "bravely championing the three armies". He had seen the former and quite recognized it, but he did not take it seriously. Fang Jun was indeed invincible when leading troops in battle.
, however, both the government and the public agree that the reason why he became an "always victorious general" is because the equipment of his army is the best in the world, and coupled with the power of firearms, every battle is won by crushing the enemy's equipment. The real strategy
, the tactics may not be so good.
Personal bravery is even more ridiculous. He just relies on a little strength to bully the weak. Others are afraid of his family background, so he can only tolerate his power. When it comes to the real battle of life and death on the battlefield, knife versus knife, gun versus gun, who can
No matter who you are?
And how nurturing is Li Daozong? He followed Emperor Taizong and made countless meritorious deeds. He charged into battle countless times and faced countless heroes in the world at that time. His force value was second only to Qi in the entire Li and Tang royal family.
Wang Li Yuanji, among the entire Guanlong clan, only a few people such as Yuwen Chengdu and Pei Yuanqing could defeat Li Daozong, but now they were defeated by Fang Jun in one round...
Even though Li Daozong has grown older and is no longer at his peak, the huge disparity in military power between the two sides greatly exceeded Li Zhi's expectations.
The more this happened, the more Li Zhi regretted it. If he had known that Fang Jun was so amazing and talented, he should have captured him at all costs. If Fang Jun was there to motivate him today, how could he have ended up like this?
Desperate situation?
Even without Fang Junzhi's support, his father had already deposed the prince, and it was him, Li Zhi, who ascended the throne as emperor. Why would there be any need to take risks and put himself in danger to survive...
"The prince does not need to blame himself. Fang Jun left the armored cavalry at the end. It was obvious that he had planned it for a long time. The prince was still able to block the charge of his cavalry through calculation and unintentional. Not only did he keep his position, but he also prevented me from getting caught in the chaos.
, I feel nothing but gratitude in my heart."
Under the current situation, Li Daozong and Yu Chigong are his two thighs, both of which are indispensable. In addition to trying to comfort him, he cannot say a word that may cause ambiguity and cause Li Daozong's dissatisfaction...
Li Daozong was also an open-minded person, so he dismissed the matter and said with a solemn expression: "Li Huaiqin and Liu Keman have been defeated. An Yuanshou still doesn't know what the situation is. It's too late to attack Xuanwumen... Wait until the prince left.
Once the guards have properly placed the prisoners, they will definitely enter the palace from Xuanwu Gate to support Wude Palace. By then, the Youtun Guards will no longer have any worries and their troops will be doubled, which will be extremely detrimental to us."
Li Zhi nodded. The word "extremely unfavorable" was euphemistic enough. In fact, if the Wude Palace could not be captured before the crown prince's left guard led the troops into the palace, the mutiny would have been declared a failure. Not even a single right guard could be defeated.
What's more, add the prince's left-back rate who is known as "the first rate in the East Palace"?
Seeing that Li Zhi understood the difficulty of the current situation, Li Daozong pondered for a moment and advised: "This place is a dead place. Once we fail to capture the Wude Palace, there is no way to retreat. Your Highness has a thousand-horse body and golden branches and jade leaves. You cannot tread in dangerous places.
In the opinion of a humble minister, it is better to return to Chengtianmen and sit in charge."
If you are in Taiji Palace, once you are defeated, you will have no way to go to heaven and no way to enter the earth. You will either die in battle or be captured. There is no way to escape. If you return to Chengtianmen and find that something cannot be done, you can take advantage of the chaos and escape to Chang'an.
In the city, I believe that Li Zhi must have made arrangements in advance. Whether it is the imperial city or various places, as long as he hides, it will be difficult to be discovered for a while.
Then he took advantage of the chaos and escaped from Chang'an City, whether he returned to Shandong to regroup, fled to the south of the Yangtze River and made a comeback, or even became anonymous or traveled across the ocean... he could always save his life.
The reason why he raised troops to help Li Zhi was because Li Daozong believed that His Majesty Li Er's wish was for Li Zhi to inherit the throne and ascend the throne as emperor. As a minister loyal to His Majesty Li Er, he would help His Majesty Li Er fulfill his last wish at all costs.
If this led to Li Zhi's defeat and death, Li Daozong would never accept it...
Xiao Yu also advised: "Your Highness, what the Prince of Jiangxia County said is reasonable. As the saying goes, if a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, it is relatively safer to sit at Chengtianmen."
If King Jin doesn't leave, these people can't leave. Although they have already made preparations, even if King Jin is defeated, there will be a way to explain it clearly to His Majesty and eliminate the impact without bearing too many consequences. However, this war is in chaos.
If something unexpected happens among the rebellious troops, where can you go to reason?
You have to save your life before talking about anything else.
Chu Suiliang and Cui Xin, who were on the side, also agreed and gave advice.
Li Zhi was silent for a long time. How could he not know the danger at hand? He was indeed deeply wary of charging into battle on the battlefield. However, if he withdrew from Zhaode Hall at this moment, wouldn't it mean that he had admitted defeat?
Even if he admitted defeat, how could he hope that the soldiers would accept death and capture the Takedoku Hall?
Taking a deep breath, Li Zhi shook his head and said: "I won't leave!"
Before anyone could persuade him again, he waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "Not only will I not leave, I will personally go into battle and fight alongside the soldiers. This battle will be life or death. There will be absolutely no luck!"
Even if they can successfully escape Chang'an after the defeat, so what? The Guanlong Clan has been completely defeated and cannot protect itself. The Shandong family has almost devoted all its efforts to support itself and has no energy left to make a comeback. The Jiangnan nobles are deeply influenced by the Royal Navy and cannot survive at all.
I don’t dare to continue to make a comeback with myself...
It's already a dead end.
Could it be that he is running for his life like a mouse, wandering alone to the ends of the earth from now on?
If that's the case, it's better to fight now, and even if you die, you will have a happy ending.