Early the next morning, the news from Fu County was sent to Shu County by horse. Cao Wei's general Qin Liang fought with the main force of the Han army in the north of Fu County. They defeated the center of the Han army's formation in more than an hour, and Jiang Wei's army was defeated!
The ministers were so frightened that they quickly gathered in the side hall of the palace to discuss countermeasures. But now there is a hammer countermeasure? Everyone with a discerning eye knows that there are only two options left, either surrender directly or run away!
Fei Cheng looked at the bead curtain and saw His Majesty's figure looming inside. He could not sit still. He kept turning his head and whispering something to the eunuch Huang Hao.
Although His Majesty's expression could not be clearly seen, His Majesty must have been in a panic at this time and could not even care about his movements. Huang Hao, who was sitting next to him, had his neck curled up and his waist bent, and he was no longer the same as before.
When everyone gets together, it's more of a quarrel than a discussion!
Some people yelled at Jiang Wei for harming the country. Others said that it was because everyone underestimated the ferocity of Cao Wei's general Qin Liang.
Qiao Zhou, the official of Zhongsan, scolded Jiang Wei and said what was in his heart: "Before the battle of Fuxian, we could have negotiated peace. Jiang Wei and others insisted on fighting Cao Wei's army, but now they have angered Qin Zhongming, who is like a murderer. Once the enemy army
If we invade Chengdu, what will happen to the city? What will be the situation for Your Majesty and the princes?"
The fifth prince's voice said: "Qiao Zhongsan wants to surrender?"
Qiao Zhou said angrily: "There is no good outcome for surrendering now!"
The fifth prince said: "Please father, please make a decisive decision and immediately lead the army to Qianwei County to Nanzhong, contact the Han army in Jiangzhou and other places, and still deal with the rebel army."
Qiao Zhou immediately refuted: "A hundred thousand Han troops can't resist Qin Liang. If we go to that barbaric land, how will we have the men, horses, and national strength to fight Cao Jun?"
The emperor finally spoke and said in a strange voice: "Let me think it over carefully and discuss it later."
The ministers bowed their heads and resigned one after another. Only then did Fei Cheng notice that the princes had been quarreling fiercely just now, but most of them did not actually speak! Some words were really not suitable for speaking in public.
Therefore, today the emperor summoned the ministers, not in the main hall, but in the side hall. Maybe the emperor did not intend to gather together to discuss matters at first, but wanted to meet some ministers alone. But after the ministers learned the news from the front line, they all came to the palace, and then
There was a loud argument just now.
Several ministers were scolding Jiang Wei, and Fei Cheng also had no favorable impression of Jiang Wei, mainly because the assassin Guo Xun was the one Jiang Wei brought back when he attacked Xiping County, and there were also rumors in the palace that were difficult to confirm.
, Jiang Wei condoned the assassin! But Fei Cheng still didn't follow Jiang Wei before. The matter cannot be confused. The responsibility for the battle in Fuxian should not be entirely blamed on Jiang Wei. The key is that it is beyond his power to defeat Qin Liang!
Fei Cheng didn't go to the temple anymore. After leaving the side hall, he went straight home.
When he took a carriage and walked to the street with his entourage, he saw that someone was already driving a cart full of luggage and hurriedly headed towards the city gate! News from the front line spread really fast, but with a carriage
Most of them are not ordinary people. They probably have contacts with officials in the DPRK, so they have good ears and eyes.
On the quaint brick and stone streets, people are occasionally seen hurrying on their way. There are not many people at this time. But it will not be long before the incident will spread among the streets, and the scene in the city will probably be even more chaotic.
However, the situation changes faster than expected!
Just five days later, I heard that Cao Jun's forward cavalry was approaching Fenghuang Mountain! Fenghuang Mountain is located in the north of Chengdu and is very close to Chengdu. Once they cross the Fenghuang River (Shahe), they can march to the city!
From Fuxian to Chengdu, it is 2670 miles by road. Cao's army has hardly stopped at any time since the Battle of Fuxian, and they have to step up their march to get close to Chengdu in five days!
What's more, there are Mianzhu Pass, Guanghan, Xindu and other cities on the way. It is reported that Cao Jun did not attack Mianzhu Pass, but left Deng Ai's army there to control the intersection, while the main force of Cao Jun bypassed from the north.
Zhuge Zhan at Mianzhu Pass first stood firm at the pass. When he discovered that the main force of Cao's army had detoured, he gathered the remaining troops and horses to attack Cao's rear army. Zhuge Zhan led his troops to set out in the early morning, but was still noticed by Deng Ai's army, and the two armies separated.
A battle broke out in the mountains at the northern foot of Dongling (Longquan Pass). The Han army was defeated. Zhuge Zhan and other distinguished generals of the Han Dynasty were unwilling to surrender and died in the battle.
In Guanghan near Chengdu, the officials and people of the new capital city could not hold out and did not surrender. They only waited for the decree of the Chengdu court.
Fei Cheng saw that it was getting late, so he did not rush into the palace and waited until early tomorrow morning. At this point, there was nothing anyone could do!
But Princess Shang's second brother was not at home, so Fei Chengsui called his sister, hoping to seize the opportunity to meet the family before the enemy troops entered the city.
The brother and sister had just asked their servants to prepare the carriages and horses, when the prince suddenly arrived! Originally, my sister Fei had not been married yet, so it was inconvenient to meet the prince. Now that they met in the gatehouse, they could only come forward to greet him.
The prince first turned to look at Fei, then grabbed Fei Cheng's hand and said in a trembling voice: "My fifth brother is dead!"
The fifth prince was Liu Chen. Fei Cheng asked hurriedly: "What happened?"
Fei Chengdao: "My father just issued an edict to prepare for the death of the country. When my fifth brother heard about it, he went home and killed his wife and the whole family! Then he committed suicide in the house!"
The two brothers and sisters, as well as the servants next to them, were stunned on the spot. They were not sure whether they were shocked by the emperor's surrender order or the death of the fifth prince. My sister Fei's face was pale. She probably felt the death of the fifth prince and his family the most, because
She knew and had contacts with Cui, the wife of the fifth prince!
The prince said again: "Siyuan (Zhuge Zhan) and the others are also dead."
Fei Cheng wiped away his tears and choked with sobs: "I have heard this. Your Highness, please come to the hall to speak."
The younger sister had just met the prince and had already seen the ceremony, so the three of them returned to the hall and sat down together.
The sun has set, the light is gradually dimming, and the surroundings are shrouded in a hazy twilight. Only the chirping of insects has been restless in the courtyard.
Something happened to the royal family, but the prince rushed to see Fei Cheng in person, which surprised Fei Cheng. Although the two families were related by marriage (continued marriage), the etiquette had not been completed after all.
At this time, the prince's words finally cleared up some of Fei Cheng's doubts, "Not long ago, I heard from my brother-in-law that General Qin Zhongming of Cao Wei had written letters with General Fei?"
The younger sister was sitting on her knees with her eyes lowered, and it was not etiquette to look directly at the prince. But when she heard this, she suddenly turned her head and glanced at the prince. The prince seemed to have been paying attention to his sister, and then he also looked at her.
, his expression seemed a bit complicated.
Fei Chengdao said: "Qin Zhongming was still a minor official in Cao Wei. When Cao Shuang attacked Han, Qin Zhongming blocked his father's troops at the southern foot of Taibai. My father thought Qin Zhongming was a talented person, so he tried to win over him."
He shook his head gently, "However, times have changed. Qin Zhongming was in a dangerous situation in Cao Wei at the beginning, which is why my father thought of wooing him; now he is the general of Cao Wei, with power over the government and the public, and he has conquered the Han Dynasty.
What escape route is needed! Everyone depends on the situation."
My sister's eyes showed anger: "He is an official of Cao Wei, why must he have trouble with the Han Dynasty?"
Fei Cheng said solemnly: "His ambition is not small!" He paused and added, "This person's reputation rose quickly, but he has gone through many battles without any defeat. He relied on the prestige of force to gain great power.
It is really unlucky for the country of Han to encounter such a person. Jiang Wei led an army of 100,000 and almost all the elites of the country were in his hands, but he could not withstand it for a day!"
He turned to look at the prince and said, "Your Highness is the eldest son of His Majesty and the Crown Prince of Han. He only needs to obey your Majesty's edicts and provide assistance."
Perhaps because his sister was by his side, the prince finally calmed down some of his panic and sighed: "Cao's army has been brutally exposed. I am most worried that Qin Liang's army, which has just experienced a bloody battle, will enter Chengdu and go on a killing spree, destroying the people!"
Fei Cheng sighed: "Your Highness is so benevolent and righteous!"
After saying this, he glanced sideways at his sister and then said: "When Your Majesty leaves the city, I should follow Your Majesty. Although my father and Qin Zhongming are only separated by letters through letters, once I see Qin Zhongming, I will do my best to persuade him."
He should not harm the people of Yizhou."
The prince nodded and said: "Bo Xu has the style of his father."
Fei Chengdao said: "Although the Fei family is from Jingzhou, the people of Yizhou have loved their late father for many years, and they are unable to lead troops to resist Cao's army. Only now can they die for the people of Yizhou."
The prince applauded and said after a while: "I just came from the fifth brother's house. Then I'll say goodbye. I'll go to the fifth brother's house again."
Fei Cheng's brother and sister paused to say goodbye, then stood up to see the prince out of the gate.
Seeing that it was already getting late, Fei Cheng had no choice but to cancel his trip to his second brother's house. Early the next morning, at dawn, Fei Cheng had to go out to the palace.
My sister also got up very early. When Fei Cheng saw her, he warned her: "The Wei army has arrived in the north of the city. After I go out, I may not be able to return home. There has been a bit of chaos in the city recently. My sister should not go out. It's better to stay at home."
Fei seemed to sense the meaning of separation, and said with a worried expression: "Elder brother has finished his official duties and will go home as soon as possible!"
Fei Cheng nodded and was about to turn around when his sister's voice said again: "Eldest brother! After meeting Qin Zhongming, eldest brother, don't say anything to provoke him, think of some way to admonish him."
"I know, don't worry." Fei Cheng agreed and walked towards the stable.
When Fei Cheng rushed to the palace, he saw his second brother in the palace, but the two brothers did not bother to say anything. In the courtyard outside the main palace, several ministers were already kneeling on their knees, crying bitterly!
The so-called ceremony of preparing for the subjugation of a country is actually to surrender directly without any conditions! Now that Qin Liang's army defeated all the main forces of the Han army before approaching the city, the court really has nothing to talk about. Life and death, honor and disgrace, can only be decided by others!
The country is the emperor's country. The emperor himself issues edicts to surrender, and the ministers can only follow the emperor.
But this matter must be recorded in the annals of history! Fei Cheng and others cannot just focus on grief, they must still maintain His Majesty's etiquette, at least do their best to prevent the Emperor from suffering additional insults.