Before Huo Qubing's army could reach the city, Su Dingfang continued to attack the city. After five days of continuous attack, he again suffered casualties of 5,000 troops, while Yanjing's casualties had reached 30,000.
Obviously, the city of Yanjing is running out of gas, and the reason why it can continue to hold on is just to take human lives to fill the gap.
Five days later, Huo Qubing's 55,000 troops finally arrived at Yanjing City and joined Su Dingfang's 45,000 troops. The total number of Qin troops also surged to 100,000.
As for the total number of defenders in Yanjing City, the cumulative casualties reached 70,000, a loss of nearly seven-tenths of their troops.
More than half of the 30,000 regular troops had suffered casualties, the 10,000 clan soldiers had been completely wiped out, and only a little over 10,000 of the 60,000 men originally recruited were left.
Although there are still 60,000 defenders in Yanjing City, four-fifths of them are civilians. Is there any reason why 100,000 Qin troops cannot attack Yanjing City like this?
"Commander, General Huo Bing, you are finally here."
After Huo Qubing and Zhang Liang arrived, Su Dingfang personally went out of the camp ten miles to meet each other, and said with a smile: "With General Huo Bing's help, there is no need to worry about Yanjing being unable to defeat them."
"Even without Huo, Yanjing City still can't stop Su Shuai. Instead, Huo comes to take some of the credit. Please don't mind Su Shuai." Huo Qubing said with a humble face.
Before entering the camp, Huo Qubing had already visited the city walls. The city walls had been smashed and cracked, and the city defense was even more dispensable. It was obvious that Yanjing was on the verge of breaking the city.
Even if Huo Qubing did not bring reinforcements, Su Dingfang could still attack Yanjing, but the casualties might be greater.
"What are you saying, General Huo? They are all brothers, there is no way they can be robbed." Su Dingfang said.
Huo Qubing was relieved when he heard this.
The city of Yanjing was about to be destroyed. With such a huge contribution, as long as someone came here, he could get a share of it. And Huo Qubing arrived at the last moment. He was suspected of maliciously grabbing the work.
Huo Qubing was also afraid that Su Dingfang would be dissatisfied because of this, but Su Dingfang was far more generous than he expected and didn't care at all about giving him a share of the credit, which Huo Qubing admired deeply.
"Now that our 100,000-strong army has gathered together, even if Yanjing City is a turtle shell, we can still smash it into pieces."
Su Dingfang's eyes were full of confidence, and he ordered in a deep voice: "Send the order, the whole army will attack..."
Before the word 'city' was uttered, someone came from below to announce: "Commander, the lord's special envoy has arrived."
Not willing to be neglected, Su Dingfang quickly led his generals to greet him, but he didn't expect that the person walking out of the carriage was actually a woman.
After seeing Ye Qingmei's unfamiliar face, Su Dingfang, Huo Qubing and others all showed doubts, and secretly thought: There has never been a precedent of using a woman as a special envoy before. What is this woman's identity that qualifies her to become the lord?
special envoy?
Among the crowd, only Li Hongzhang knew Ye Qingmei, and he immediately exclaimed: "Miss Ye, why are you here?"
Ye Qingmei smiled brightly and said: "Of course I came to surrender Liu Che."
"What?"
Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, Huo Qubing and other generals all exclaimed, while Zhang Liang looked thoughtful.
Talk about surrendering Liu Che? How is this possible?
Anyone in the Northern Han Dynasty could surrender, but Liu Che, who proclaimed himself emperor, could not, because even if he surrendered, he would not end well.
In addition, Liu Che had no intention of surrendering at all. If he really wanted to surrender, how could he coerce the people of the city to fight against the Qin army, and would rather turn Yanjing into a dead city?
"Mr. Li, how did Miss Ye manage to become the lord's special envoy?" Su Dingfang asked in a low voice.
Li Hongzhang glanced at Ye Qingmei and replied in a low voice: "She is Gongsun Xuanyuan's adopted sister. The Lord intends to marry the Gongsun family, and she is the target of the marriage between the two families."
"Oh I got it."
Su Dingfang, Huo Qubing and others were surprised when they crossed east. It turned out that there was such a relationship, and they could serve as special envoys as women.
But with the lord's behavior, how could he let his fiancée put herself in danger and come to surrender to Liu Che in person?
The generals were really puzzled by this.
Ye Qingmei glanced at the generals who were gathered around and pointing at her, frowned and asked: "Generals, what are you talking about?"
But he secretly thought: Zhang Liang, Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, Huo Bing... they are all historical celebrities, and they are all handsome men. Unfortunately, they are all married old men.
After listening to Ye Qingmei's words, Zhang Liang stood up and asked: "Madam, why did my lord send you as a special envoy to carry out the surrender?"
"Husband, madam?"
Ye Qing's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and then she seemed to think of something, and shyly covered her face and said, "I hate it, don't scream, I'm not a lady."
"Okay ma'am."
Ye Qingmei: "..."
I don't know how many people along the way mistakenly thought she was Qin Hao's wife. Ye Qingmei explained each one, but it was of no use at all. Now she is too lazy to explain.
"Madam, the risk of persuading Liu Che to surrender is too great. How could my lord allow you to risk your life?" Xue Rengui asked.
After Ye Qingmei hesitated for a moment, she said truthfully: "This... is what I asked for myself."
This time, Ye Qingmei came to persuade Liu Che to surrender. It was actually Ye Qingmei's request, but she was unanimously opposed by the civil and military officials.
Not only Qin Hao objected, but even her sworn brother Gongsun Xuanyuan also strongly opposed her coming to surrender Liu Che, saying that he was going to die, but Ye Qingmei insisted on her decision.
Ye Qingmei believed that since Liu Che, the great emperor of the Han Dynasty, would rather subjugate his country than ally with the Manchus, he would not let his civil servants and the people of the city be buried with him because he understood the righteousness well.
Now that the war in Youzhou has become a foregone conclusion, the Northern Han Dynasty has only four cities left to lose, and its military strength is only tens of thousands. Continuing to resist stubbornly is just a sacrifice in vain, and it has no meaning at all.
Now that the Manchu and Qing armies are in front of them, the Han people should not continue to fight to the death. If they continue to fight, they will only end up benefiting the Manchus.
Ye Qingmei believed that as long as Liu Che made clear his interests and explained the truth, he would most likely surrender voluntarily.
Ye Qingmei's words convinced Qin Hao and also convinced all the ministers.
The Qin army lost 25,000 elite troops under Yanjing City. Although Yanjing is about to be conquered now, it would be better if you can get Liu Che to surrender voluntarily.
However, regarding the choice of envoy, Qin Hao was obviously unwilling to let Ye Qingmei go. After all, there were many eloquent people in the Qin army, so he would not let his fiancée risk being an envoy.
Regarding Qin Hao's rejection, Ye Qingmei was very confused, but retorted: It is safest to use a woman as an envoy. Liu Che is a wise king, and he will not embarrass a little girl like her in any case.
Qin Hao felt that what Ye Qingmei said was reasonable, and seeing Ye Qingmei's persistence and attitude of wanting to do everything for him, he was moved and agreed to let her go as an envoy to persuade Liu Che to surrender, and
Two masters and three hundred cavalry were sent to protect Ye Qingmei when he came to Yanjing.
After hearing Ye Qingmei's explanation, Su Dingfang and other generals suddenly understood. Now they finally understood why the lord let his wife put herself in danger.
"Madam, you are so righteous, we all admire you."
All the generals saluted in unison. Even military advisor Zhang Liang looked at Ye Qingmei with respect.
Ye Qingmei's face was full of helplessness, she said that I was not a lady.