By the 24th, the Liyang attack and defense had become so intense that Meng Yishan had to put on armor himself and go into battle to boost morale.
She Feihu secretly arranged for dozens of elite archers to shoot at the city. Unfortunately, Meng Yishan was hit in the cheek by a stray arrow.
The general's life and death were unknown, so the generals of the Hanghu Army became disheartened, and She Feihu finally made an effort to capture Nancheng.
Thousands of soldiers of the Hanghu Army abandoned the city and fled from the unencircled north gate. They were ambushed again at the southeastern foothills of Maoshan Mountain and were unable to escape a devastating blow.
Liyang is not far from Jiangning, but because the Zhejiang and Fujian troops occupied Liyang at the western foot of Maoshan Mountain as early as the 21st, in just a few days, scouts and outposts penetrated into the area east of Maoshan Mountain, and Liyang was defeated.
The news took a whole day to reach Jiangning.
Tian Chang and the Zhejiang-Fujian Middle Route Army led by She Feihu had 30,000 soldiers and horses, threatening tens of thousands of civilians. On the night they captured Liyang, they took advantage of the severe cold and freezing conditions to break camp from Liyang and march north to Jiangning.
Come.
The magistrate of Jinshan County in the southwest of Jiangning abandoned the city and fled, allowing the Zhejiang and Fujian troops to capture the outpost without any effort.
On the 25th, it was also the day when Gao Zongting secretly arrived in Jiangning, and also the day when Wang Xueshan secretly reported to Huaidong to meet the King of Lu to march into the camp. On the middle road of the Zhejiang and Fujian Army, the two armies on the right wing, with about 60,000 troops, marched from the southeast and southwest.
Approaching within a hundred miles of Jiangning.
In the Wenhua Palace, Liyang fell and Meng Yishan's life and death were unknown. Chen Xiyan felt as if he had been beaten. He was stunned on the spot. Sadness welled up from his heart. He couldn't help but shed tears. His skinny cheeks were covered with tears. He knelt in the palace and knocked on his forehead.
With a "bang bang" sound, he said: "My loyalty to the imperial court can be seen from the sun and the moon. If the emperor leaves the capital, the country will still be there, and the imperial family will not survive!" Although Chen Xiyan's voice was hoarse, it was deafening.
Emperor Yongxing Yuan Jianwu was shocked by the news of the fall of Liyang, but when he heard Chen Xiyan's words, his eyes turned green with anger, and he cursed unscrupulously: "You old man, you dare to curse the clan, and you are not afraid of me punishing you for bullying."
Your crime?"
Zhang Yan, Zuo Chengmu, and Cheng Yuqian knelt down in panic to persuade him, saying: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Prime Minister Chen is also sincere and impulsive. He made a mistake..." At this time, Wang Xueshan was forced to kneel down to plead with Chen Xiyan.
"Kneel down!" Yuan Jianwu suppressed the anger in his heart and wanted to drive Chen Xiyan out. He was already very annoyed with Chen Xiyan. If it weren't for the situation in Jiangning that couldn't be separated from Chen Xiyan, he would have wanted to give Chen Xiyan death on the spot.
Chen Xiyan knocked on his head and made a bang bang sound. Zhang Yan was afraid of giving a signal to the Huangmen eunuchs next to him to help Chen Xiyan out. If Chen Xiyan tried to remonstrate with death, the whole situation would be out of control.
The blood from his forehead flowed into his eyelids, and his vision was blurred. Chen Xiyan helped him out dizzy, and rushed Wang Tian and Yu Xinyuan into the palace.
Chen Xiyan went back to the political hall to bandage his wounds and apply medicine. After sitting for a long time, the emperor did not come to see him. Although he was dizzy and disheartened, Chen Xiyan did not care about how the emperor discussed with everyone in the Wenhua Hall.
Wang Yue, an aide, prepared a carriage and sent him back to his palace to rest first. He still hoped that the emperor would not be stupid enough to abandon the city and flee. He was still sad about the destruction of the Hanghu Army.
Meng Yishan may be suspected of being greedy for merit, but if Chen Xiyan hadn't made the appointment, he wouldn't have been able to go to Beijing alone to meet the saint.
As long as Meng Yishan does not enter Jiangning City, the Hanghu Army can learn from the Jiangzhou Army and stay on the outside for the time being. There is no need to rush to block the front of the Zhejiang and Fujian Army and annihilate it.
The carriage stopped. Chen Xiyan thought he was home. He opened the curtain and was about to get off when he found the carriage parked on the street. There was a man standing on the street. He was so dizzy that his vision was greatly affected and he could not see clearly.
"It's Mr. Zeng." Wang Yue, an aide, said in Chen Xiyan's ear.
"Mr. Zeng, please get in the car." Chen Xiyan also had doubts in his mind and needed to ask Zeng Mingxin for advice. When he saw him taking the initiative to block in front of the car, he asked him to get in the car.
Zeng Mingxin, who had white hair and no servants accompanying him, climbed onto the carriage with difficulty with the support of Wang Yue, sat down opposite Chen Xiyan, looked at each other and remained silent for a long time.
"Old Duke sees the world as clearly as a candle. I dare to ask him if he has any different aspirations in Huaidong?" Finally, it was Chen Xiyan who broke the silence and asked this taboo topic.
Wang Yue, who was sitting on the shaft of the carriage instead of the coachman driving, was secretly shocked. He didn't know the details of the Wenhua palace dispute, but hearing that Chen Xiang talked about this sensitive topic with Zeng Mingxin without concealment, he knew that the situation had reached a point.
The most critical moment.
The critical situation is not only that the Zhejiang and Fujian rebels are about to attack the city, but also that the will to defend the city inside and outside the court is on the verge of collapse.
"If Jiangning can hold on for more than a month, there will be no ambition in Huaidong. If Jiangning collapses in an instant, if there is no ambition in Huaidong, what will happen to the people of the world?" Zeng Mingxin said.
Wang Yue listened with emotion outside the car curtain and thought: After the She family lost Eastern Fujian, they have become a cornered beast and can only make a last-ditch gamble in Jiangning. After the Zhejiang and Fujian troops captured Huizhou, they stopped in Ningguo to lure reinforcements.
The troops came from far away, divided and attacked them. The Huaidong Army rushed in, and even if they won, it was a tragic victory. Only the Jiangning side was strong and clear. As long as the city of Jiangning was not lost, the Huaidong Army came slowly from the left wing, and the Jiangzhou Army slowed down from the right wing.
Come on, the vast area from Mount Yi to the north to Jiangning City is a big trap for the Zhejiang and Fujian armies. Even if the She family can get food from Huizhou, it can last for half a year, but the morale and morale of the army will definitely not be able to support the forced attack on Jiangning for a month.
.
When the Zhejiang and Fujian troops became exhausted under Jiangning City, the Huaidong Army and the Jiangzhou Army joined forces to attack from a pinch, and the outcome was self-evident.
It was also based on this that Wang Yue initially advised Chen Xiyan to invite the Hanghu Army to march into Jiangning to assist in defense. Unexpectedly, it was his suggestion that caused Meng Yishan and the main force of the Hanghu Army to cover Liyang.
As Zeng Laogong said, as long as Jiangning is not lost, Huaixi has Dong Yuan, Jiangzhou has Yue Lengqiu, and Jinghu has Hu Wenmu, Huaidong will be able to endure even if it has any objections.
When the situation developed to this point, Wang Yue was left with only frustration, disappointment, and loss. His original ambition to assist Chen Xianggan in his career had long since disappeared.
"If the old Duke said so, why did he stay in Jiangning City instead of going?" Chen Xiyan asked.
When Lin Fu ran a Huaidong bank and came to Jiangning to raise money, Mu Guogong was the first among the city's dignitaries to respond. Even though some secrets were not known to outsiders, Chen Xiyan and Wang Yue were sure of Zeng Mingxin's stance of supporting Huaidong.
"The Zeng family has been favored by the imperial family for generations. Jiangning is falling apart, and some people must be buried in its stead. This old man has no other uses, so I came here to be with Chen Xiang!" Zeng Mingxin said calmly!
.
"Has the news about the Wenhua Palace been spread?" Chen Xiyan asked eagerly.
"Everyone knows it!" Zeng Mingxin said.
Wang Yue was also hesitant. The matter of the court fight in the Wenhua Palace was originally a secret discussion, but it actually became known throughout the city in a short period of time.
Of all the people in the Wenhua Palace, someone must have been bribed by the She family. Who could it be? Although Cheng Yuqian and Zuo Chengmu had selfish motives, they were not as capable as the eunuchs in the palace. It was Wang Xueshan.
?
Wang Xueshan was involved in every bad chess move Jiang Ning made, but he couldn't figure out what benefits Wang Xueshan would get from selling it to the She family as the Minister of Household Affairs. Even if the She family captured Jiangning, the Jiangzhou Army and the Huaidong Army would not be able to win.
It is difficult to defend it for a long time under the attack of the She family. What the She family should seek is Jiangxi. What benefits can Wang Xueshan get from the She family? Could it be that Wang Xueshan has something that falls into the hands of the She family?
Wang Yue shook his head. Even if he had suspicions at this time, there was no way to trace them at this time. Emperor Yongxing fundamentally no longer trusted Xiang Chen. He thought secretly: The situation has developed to this point, even if Emperor Yongxing is determined to stay.
, and it cannot restore the turmoil in military morale.
"The emperor doesn't want to leave, but no one will push him away; the emperor wants to leave, but even if you try hard, Prime Minister Chen, you can't keep him. The longer you stay, the more you will become enemies," Zeng Mingxin said sadly, "No matter who spreads the story about Wenhua Palace,
Come out, things are irreversible, how can Prime Minister Chen blame Huaidong for taking advantage of the situation?"
Chen Xiyan was speechless and burst into tears, saying, "What a great country, what a great country!" He felt his heart aching and couldn't speak any more.
When night fell, the rebel outpost had arrived outside Wangshan Gate in the south of the city, and the whole city was in panic.
The palace sent people to invite him twice, but knowing that Emperor Yongxing would not change his mind, Chen Xiyan was disheartened and shut out the palace ministers twice. It was not until Zhang Yan came in person that he was allowed in.
"The She family's power in Jiangning will not last long. There is still something to be done when patrolling Huaixi!" Zhang Yan urged.
"Jiangning always needs someone to stay. If the emperor still trusts me, I still have a head to offer," Chen Xi said decisively, "Wang Xueshan, Wang Tian and others persuaded the emperor to go to Huaixi, then let them go to Huaixi, I
Wait for them under the Nine Springs!"
Zhang Yan still felt chilled in his heart after hearing Chen Xiyan's words. Seeing that he had made up his mind, it was difficult to persuade him. Besides, the emperor did not really want Chen Xiyan to accompany him to Huaixi. Jiangning had to leave someone to clean up the mess.
Although Wang Xueshan implicitly stated that he was familiar with the situation in Jiangning and that Jiangning was not irreversible when the emperor went to Huaixi, Zhang Yan also knew that even if there was no conclusive evidence, he could not allow anything that might benefit Wang Xueshan to happen.
"Is the emperor going to Jiangmen?" Zeng Mingxin asked.
Zhang Yan looked hesitant.
"Bah!" Zeng Mingxin said angrily, "I really shouldn't ask this question. If you go east to Weiyang, why aren't you afraid that the Huaidong Navy's 20,000 troops will come to greet you? If you go directly to the north, why won't you be worried?
Lin Tingli and Huaidong wear the same pair of trousers? Apart from walking upstream through Jiangmen and heading west to Luzhou or Chizhou, what choice do you have? I’m really stupid, asking even more will arouse suspicion! Bah!”
Wang Yue sneered in his heart, Mu Guogong was determined to die. At this time, thinking about the old relationship between the clan, he felt all kinds of unbearable in his heart. He asked this question because he wanted to point out a way for the emperor to survive, but Zhang Yan's hesitation ruined it.
When Lin Fu first set up a bank, Mu Guogong spent a large amount of money. His vision was extraordinary, and he must have a deep understanding of Huaidong.
Duke Mu asked this question: Did he guess that Huaidong would meet him halfway?
Zhang Yan looked ashamed and had no shame to ask Zeng Mingxin for advice, so he bowed and left.
Soon the imperial edict appointing Chen Xiyan to stay in Jiangning was sent to the government, but it did not indicate the time when Emperor Yongxing and his officials left Jiangning.
Although Emperor Yongxing went on a hunting tour in Huaixi, he only conveyed secret orders to officials above the fifth rank and ordered them to accompany him, but the news quickly spread throughout the streets. Even if there were no traitors to cause trouble, it would have been impossible to hide the news at this time.
People with a little respect were eager to pack up their belongings and flee Jiangning. The city was in chaos, and no one had the intention to clean it up.
The guards at the top of the city fled in large numbers, and even the Jiangning navy escorting the hunting patrols also fled in large numbers. Soldiers and armor were scattered all over the streets, and they all felt that it would be easier to escape if they were among millions of people.
For a time, the people in Jiangning City were in a panic and were in complete chaos.
Chen Xiyan reluctantly cheered up. Zeng Mingxin and Wang Yue followed him around the city. After all, there were some loyal soldiers who followed them and managed to stabilize the situation on the city. However, people were robbing, raping, and killing people everywhere in the city. It seemed like the final madness.
, stood at the top of the city and saw fires breaking out in dozens of places in the city, and the government officials were completely paralyzed.
At dawn, there was a faint light of fire in the sky, and it seemed that a larger outpost of the rebels was approaching the outskirts of Jiangning. At this time, there was also a group of people holding torches walking in the direction of Gongcheng, heading towards the naval garrison in Yijiangmen.
Go to camp.
The emperor left the palace - Chen Xiyan knelt down towards the place where the fire was held and bowed three times as a farewell to the emperor.
Chen Xiyan stood up and looked at the group of people coming out of the palace from the top of the city. He felt sad and reluctant, and asked Zeng Mingxin: "Old Duke, please tell me the truth at this time. Huaidong will be halfway there
Will you welcome me?"
Although the main force of the Huaidong naval force is still far away from Jiangning City, and only a small number of outpost troops have entered the Prison Island outside the mouth of Jinchuan River, it is not certain that Huaidong has other backup forces; it is also possible that Lin Tingli was convinced early and led his army to the south of Luzhou
Welcome.
Even at this moment, even though he knew that the emperor's trip to Huaixi was irreversible, Chen Xiyan still hoped in his heart that the emperor could enter Shouzhou smoothly.
Although Dong Yuan is the leader in Huaixi, Liu Tingzhou, Tao Chun, Xiao Kui'an and Chu King Yuan Hancheng are all powerful, so it is still possible for the emperor to gather forces loyal to the imperial family in Huaixi.
"Stupid, stupid!" Zeng Mingxin cursed, hating the fact that iron cannot become steel. "If Huaidong doesn't welcome him, will Dong Yuan or Yue Lengqiu really have the strength to accommodate him? How stupid! How stupid!"
"What?" Chen Xiyan asked in surprise, "Even if the emperor is allowed to go to Huaixi, will there be plans for Huaidong?"
"Gao Zongting is in Jiangning, will you see Chen Xiang or not?" Zeng Mingxin said.
"So what if Lin Fu comes in person? The situation is over, unless Huaidong can turn into 20,000 elite soldiers here!" Chen Xiyan said in frustration. The front troops of the rebels are less than thirty or forty miles away from here, and the morale of the troops in the four cities of Jiangning
There were so many generals fleeing privately that Chen Xiyan could not stop him with his personal prestige. As long as the emperor followed the navy out of the city, they might not be able to hold on for even more than half a moment, and Huaidong's soldiers and horses would not be able to catch up even if they had wings.
Chen Xiyan didn't believe that Gao Zongting could change anything by entering Jiangning alone.