Outside Lucheng, the vast army of Liang people was already waiting. The ladder truck was like a giant monster, looming in the misty sky.
Jinglan chariots and siege chariots, driven by civilians, also entered the battlefield.
Dong Wen was wearing golden armor and a gold-lined cloak, riding on an armored horse, holding a gold-plated iron gun in his hand. While holding the reins, he raised his head and looked at the city gate not far away.
Time is running out. If winter snow comes, not to mention attacking the city or setting up camp outside will be a problem.
"Listen to my military orders!" Dong Wen raised his head and yelled angrily, and the horse began to feel impatient, and thick turbid air came out of the horse's nose.
"Within three days, I, Liangzhou's 100,000 sons, will vow to break through Lucheng, capture the civilian thieves alive, and give birth to priests and horse military advisors!"
"The first person to ascend and capture the city will be awarded the rank of fourth-grade general and be rewarded with three thousand gold coins!"
"Beat the city with drums!"
"kill!"
Outside Lucheng, the cheering sounds shook the sky and seemed to pierce the eardrums.
Standing at the top of the city, Xu Mu stood silently, one hand coldly pressing on his sword. Time was running out, and if the little crybaby wanted to break the city, he had to take advantage of these few days.
"Lord, there are no three gates around. All four gates of Lucheng are surrounded."
"Understood. Send someone to inform them, and we will guard the city gates as previously agreed. In addition, there are many fires in the city. If there is another incident of throwing animal corpses, they must be burned as soon as possible."
"Got the order!"
Xu Mu nodded and looked outside the city again, looking at the Liang army outside the due north gate, like a rising tide, rushing toward Lucheng crazily.
"Defend the city! Fight to the death with Liang Gou!" Xu Mu suddenly drew his sword.
Above the city, military orders were passed down from level to level, and the sky was filled with roars.
…
"Military advisor, the snow has begun to fall."
In the carriage, Jia Zhou nodded, wrapped his warm robe tightly around his body, then slowly stretched his hand out of the carriage window and took a drop of cold water.
This battle, up to now, according to the original plan, after setting up a trap to kill Sima Xiu, has been completed.
But Jia Zhou was not satisfied yet.
In the next year's battle against Liang, he wanted to fight harder, at least to increase his chances of winning by 10% or 20%.
"Military advisor, we are not far away from the border of Liangzhou. My lord's intelligence says that the Liang people have already laid siege to the city. If not, choose one of the gates and launch a surprise attack to help my lord."
"No need." Jia Zhou shook his head, "My lord can hold it. If Sima Xiu is here, he will definitely let Dong Wen retreat. Dong Wen is already like a madman. Fan Lu, send an order for the entire army to bypass Lucheng.
"
"Military advisor, go around, go around Lucheng?"
"Exactly. I said before, but for seven or eight days, with my lord's ability, there will be no problem in defending Lucheng."
"The military advisor, the reason for bypassing Lucheng is——"
Jia Zhou raised his head and looked at the winter mist in the distance, "In seven or eight days, it will be covered with heavy snow. Among them, we also have to count the march schedule of our teacher in Liangzhou."
"At most three or four days, the attack on Lucheng failed, so Dong Wen had no choice but to retreat. He wanted to go back, but I had to stop him halfway, including the Xiqiang people. If he couldn't go back in time, there would be one person who froze to death.
Twenty to thirty thousand, you’re done.”
Saying that, Jia Zhou sighed.
"There was nothing wrong with Sima Jingmou's original plan. It's a pity that he died in Shuzhou. Dong Wen is unwilling to accept it in his heart. He who has endured it for twenty-three years just doesn't want to endure it anymore."
"The battlefield is changing rapidly. It is so sad for Sima Xiu."
"Military advisor, why don't you attack Liangzhou by surprise?"
Jia Zhou smiled lightly and said, "The army suddenly attacked Liangzhou. Not to mention the remaining defenders of Liangzhou, I'm afraid we have just entered the hinterland of Liangzhou and we will be greeted by winter snow."
"I advise my lord to make a winter expedition, firstly for Sima Xiu's sake, and secondly, because I want to gain more chances of winning in the next year's war."
"As soon as Liangzhou is defeated, my lord's great cause will spread. One day, my lord will control several states to the west. Who dares to say that the people of Shu will not be able to conquer the world!"
"Fan Lu, you still need to learn more about the art of war and tactics."
After just saying that, Jia Zhou suddenly fell silent again. Holding the cloth handkerchief left by Fang Simiu, he frowned again and fell into deep thought.
…
Cangzhou, outside the Jinluan Palace.
A figure in a phoenix robe stood on the edge of the jade railing carved with dragons and phoenixes. He raised his head and looked at the sky in the distance. Winter was approaching, and there were already sporadic white spots wherever he looked.
"Queen, your Majesty, there has been something unusual lately." A eunuch who served as a close servant came over and spoke in a low voice.
"Recently, I have secretly entertained many courtiers."
"Let it go." Queen Su was not surprised and said calmly.
The eunuch was startled, then hurriedly bowed his head and retreated.
"A sheep in a sheepfold, no matter how noisy it is, is still a sheep. Ah Qi, are you right?"
A handsome figure stood on the glazed tiles, holding a sword, his head lowered, silent and did not speak.
"I forgot again, you are a mute slave."
The phoenix robe carefully turned around in the cold wind, and laughed like a silver bell from time to time, "I heard that Xu Buyi's child has been born, and I can't wait."
In the cold wind, the last queen of the Ji Dynasty looked at her growing belly with a gentle expression.
"My son-in-law is destined to be the emperor when he is born. No one can stop him! Even if Xu Buyi conquers Liangzhou, he cannot stop him."
In the corner of the Cangzhou Palace, there is a small side hall. In the past, it was only used as a residence for concubines. However, as the concubines continued to die, it has become vacant now.
Occasionally, some little eunuchs would lead the little palace maids to come here and cause mischief.
At this moment, Yuan An, who was wearing a golden cloak, was looking out of the hall with eyes full of expectation. Unfortunately, no one came back until dusk and sunset.
"Wei Gong, they don't help me!"
An old eunuch nearby saw Yuan An's sadness and his eyes turned red for a moment.
"In the entire Great Era, Duke Wei is the only loyal person. Those civil servants and generals don't listen to me, they only listen to the queen!"
"Your Majesty, don't be anxious, I will think of a solution later."
"Wei Gong, this is my blood edict! Please think of some way to give it to a good minister. If the queen gives birth to a dragon son, my wealth and life..."
Yuan An burst into tears and couldn't talk anymore. In the past, he might have been happy, but after understanding the queen's methods, he found that if he didn't do something, it would be too late.
The old eunuch took the blood edict and smelled the smell of red ink from a distance. But he didn't say anything, knelt down on the ground, held his head with Yuan An and cried for a while before walking out of the side hall.
Outside the side hall, the wind was still very cold.
A sneer appeared on the corner of the old eunuch's mouth, he took out the blood edict from his arms and threw it into the furnace of Yuting.
"Go and inform the queen that your majesty's red ink... blood edict, I have burned the seventh copy today."
The little eunuch who just ran over rubbed his nose in the cold wind and showed a funny look, then he started running again, all the way to the imperial study room.
"Once Mr. Yuan Hou is gone, there will be no one in the world to help the country." The old eunuch stood in the wind, shook his head and sighed twice, retracted his hands into the sleeves of his robe, and slowly walked away.