The skin on Liu Bei's face was twitching, his eyes were wide open, and his whole body seemed to be petrified.
Zhuge Liang's mouth also opened slightly, and the feather fan in his hand hung in the air. He could no longer move, his face was full of disbelief.
"How is it possible? How could Cao Zixiao be defeated?" Zhuge Liang stood up and asked sternly.
Chen Dao grimaced and truthfully reported the information Cao Ren had just sent.
Zhuge Liang, who had just stood up, fell down again, with horror on his face, as if he was unwilling to accept the fact that Yan Liang had once again discovered his plan.
Liu Bei woke up from his petrification, and his eyes suddenly shot towards Zhuge Liang. His deep-set eyes were full of resentment.
"Prime Minister Zhuge, is this your clever plan? Now how do you want me to end it?" Liu Bei asked angrily.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, let me think about it carefully." Zhuge Liang pretended to be calm, but there was cold sweat on his forehead, showing the anxiety and helplessness in his heart.
Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang angrily, with disappointment in his eyes.
While Liu Bei and his ministers were suffering from panic and torture, Yan Liang was already writing the reward decree with great interest in the imperial tent at Chu Camp in Liyang.
Imperial Guard Guo Huai served in the defense of Puyang, and was promoted to the title of Marquis of Ting, and was promoted to General Fenwu.
Zhao Yun defeated Cao Ren and saved Puyang, and his contribution was indispensable. He increased the number of households in the city by 300 and gave him a hundred gold.
"Prime Minister, you are really Zhuge Liang's nemesis. I think your classmate must hate you to the core right now." Yan Liang said with a smile.
Pang Tong smiled and said nothing, but his eyebrows flashed with a bit of pride.
For Pang Tong, thwarting Zhuge Liang's plan was indeed a satisfying relief for him.
When he was in Xiangyang, he and Zhuge Liang were studying at Lumen at the same time. Zhuge Liang could always win the appreciation of teachers and students with his boastful tongue.
People at that time rated them as "crouching dragon" and "phoenix chick", but the title of dragon was obviously higher than that of phoenix.
This also means that the people of Xiangyang believe that Zhuge Liang is more talented than Pang Tong.
But Pang Tong knew very well that Zhuge Liang's talent lay more in playing power. When it came to governing the country and bringing peace to the world, he, Pang Tong, was the best person in the world.
Now, Pang Tong has seen through Zhuge Liang's schemes time and time again. He has also proved to the world that his talent is actually better than that of Wolong.
"The sneak attack on Puyang failed, and I heard that Kong Ming had nothing to do. It has been almost five months since the siege of the city. It is almost time to deal with Guan Yu." Pang Tong's words contained a hint of solemnity.
Snap!
Yan Liang slapped the case and shouted happily: "The Prime Minister is right, tell me my decree, starting from tomorrow, I will blast the city with city-breaking cannons. Guan Yu's butt has been frozen, now it is time to knock him on the head."
.”
The decree was issued and the three armies were in a state of excitement.
The next day, the Chu army gathered at the four gates of Liyang. They began to carry out a continuous saturation bombardment of Liyang City with nearly 700 city-breaking cannons.
The target of Yan Liang's bombardment this time was not the double thickened city wall, but directly inside the city.
Huge stone bullets roared past, crossed the Liyang City Wall, and hit the city like a meteor shower all over the sky.
Those ice-covered houses were already fragile, and they collapsed in an instant under the bombardment of boulders.
Hundreds of Han soldiers and civilians who hid under them and had no time to escape died under the collapsed buildings, either crushed to death by beams or blasted to pulp by huge rocks.
During the day, the Chu army bombarded the city with cannons and destroyed the houses in the city. At night, the Chu army used water dragon cannons to attack the city with floods.
The houses were destroyed, and the Han soldiers and civilians in the city lost their shelter from the rain. With nowhere to hide, they were drenched by the floods and suffered countless deaths from frostbite.
Guan Yu had no choice but to order all the soldiers and civilians around the city wall to move to the center of the city to avoid the bombardment of the Chu army's city-breaking artillery.
As a result, tens of thousands of Han soldiers and civilians were crowded into the narrow area in the center of Liyang, eating, drinking, and sleeping together. It was smelly, crowded, and miserable.
This little pain is nothing, the real pain comes from hunger.
As the city was besieged for more than five months, the food and grass in the city were almost exhausted. Not only the people, but also the army's supplies were shrinking.
Guan Yu knew very well that once the food was exhausted, General Yan Liang could easily capture Liyang City without spending a single soldier.
In the military mansion, the aroma of meat filled the air.
Guan Yu stared at the wine and meat on the table with a look of confusion on his face.
At this time, Guan Xing walked into the hall and reported to Guan Yu the situation in the army.
"Commander Father, the Dongying camp has almost run out of food and fodder. Ten soldiers were dissatisfied with the rations and started making trouble. I have arrested all the leaders."
Guan Yu had just picked up a piece of horse meat with his chopsticks. When he heard Guan Xing's report, he immediately lost his appetite and slammed his chopsticks on the table.
"Anyone who dares to cause trouble and disturb the morale of the army will be beheaded in public display!" Guan Yu showed no mercy and issued a killing order angrily.
"No." Guan Xing responded hurriedly.
After hesitating for a moment, Guan Xing said cautiously: "Father, handsome, not having enough food and grass is not a problem after all."
Guan Yu pondered for a moment, then waved his hand and said: "Immediately lead a thousand men and horses to collect grain and grass from civilians' homes. Take as much as you can and bring them all back to the army."
Hearing this cold command, Guan Xing was shocked and his expression changed.
"The food in people's homes is less than that in the army. If it is collected by force, it will cost their lives." Guan Xing couldn't bear it.
Guan Yu said coldly: "National affairs are the most important thing. At this point, we can only sacrifice these people and prioritize the preservation of the army."
Guan Xing remained silent and lowered his head silently. Although he knew what Guan Yu said was reasonable, he still had tolerance in his heart.
"You are my son Guan Yu, how can you be benevolent as a woman!" Guan Yu was very dissatisfied and said sternly: "Those people sacrificed for the Han Dynasty. Their sacrifices were worth it. You should be happy for them.
Rather than being so kind as a woman."
Guan Xing's expression changed and he said hurriedly: "I understand, I'll do it now."
Guan Xing did not dare to disobey Guan Yu's order, so he hurriedly resigned and sent the order.
Watching his son leave, Guan Yu lowered his head and glanced at the meat and wine on the table. He was so anxious that he violently turned the table over.
The spoils of that case were immediately spilled all over the floor.
The soldiers waiting on the left and right looked at the steaming meat on the ground, each with a look of pity on his face, and secretly swallowed his saliva.
Guan Yu stood up quickly, turned around and walked away.
As soon as Guan Yu walked away, the soldiers in the hall rushed forward and grabbed the horse meat on the ground. They didn't care about the dirt, just wiped it twice and stuffed it into their mouths, and chewed it hungrily.
Liyang City, which was already a hell, is bloody again.
Guan Xing led a thousand soldiers and began to break into the homes of civilians like robbers, plundering everything they could eat.
The people only have a few rations of food left. Once it is taken away, it will be a dead end. Naturally, they will not hand over the food and grass happily. In order to survive, of course they will resist.
Guan Xing followed Guan Yu's orders and used violent methods. Anyone who resisted would be beaten with fists and kicks, and even killed.
The people in the city were already dizzy from hunger. They were weak and unarmed. How could they defeat a group of tiger and wolf sergeants? Not only were they beaten in the end, but all their food was still robbed.
The entire Liyang City suddenly started to cry and howl in an extremely tragic manner.
After a lot of looting, most of the food left by the people in the city was robbed. The danger of the Han army running out of food and grass was finally alleviated slightly, and the morale of the army, which was on the verge of collapse, was finally calmed down.
The army has food, but the people who have no food are in a dilemma of life and death.
In order to survive, they had to eat mice, insects, ants, tree bark, etc., anything that could be eaten.
When the bark of the trees was stripped off and tortured by hunger, people finally began to lose their humanity.
As the siege entered the sixth month, the people in Liyang City began to exchange children and eat each other.
The situation in the city is basically under Yan Liang's control.
Although Guan Yu strictly guarded the four gates, and most of the soldiers and civilians who tried to cross the city were captured and executed, there were still some lucky people who were able to cross the city and escape the hell on earth of Liyang.
Yan Liang learned from the mouths of these escapees that Guan Yu and the people were stealing food, and that the people in the city had reached a desperate situation where Yi Zi could eat each other.
Hearing this astonishing news, Yan Liang and the ministers were all shocked.
"When the world rises and falls, the people who are most injured are indeed the common people." Yan Liang sighed.
"At this point, Guan Yu would rather let the people of the city starve to death than resist to the end. It seems that he is determined to live and die with Liyang City." Pang Tong frowned.
In the big tent, all the ministers fell into silence.
It's not that everyone has no confidence in capturing Liyang, it's just that they were shocked by Guan Yu's actions.
After pondering for a long time, Yan Liang slammed the case and said resolutely: "Pass on my decree and send people to Liyang to see Guan Yu and tell him that I can allow him to release the people in the city and give these innocent people a way to live."
All the ministers were shocked, as if they had never thought that their emperor, who was always cold and iron-blooded, would have such a kind side.
When Yan Liang launched his army, he vowed to personally end this troubled world and let the people live in peace.
However, if there is no need to kill, how can we create peace?
This is all Yan Liang can do to the dying civilians in Liyang.
Yan Liang, who had always followed his own path, did not bother to publicize these vows to his ministers.
Although Yan Liang did not confess his true feelings, all the ministers were moved by what Yan Liang did, and their admiration for Yan Liang could not help but increase.
After the decree was passed down, a messenger went straight to Liyang City to convey Yan Liang's intentions to Guan Yu.
In the military mansion, when Chen Qun, Guan Xing and other Han civil and military officials heard what Chu envoy said, they all expressed surprise and relief.
Guan Xing and others looked at Guan Yu with eager eyes, hoping that Guan Yu would agree to Yan Liang's proposal.
After all, once these tens of thousands of people are released from the city, not only will the Han army be relieved of a lot of burden, but these people will also be able to find a way to survive, which is the best of both worlds.
Guan Yu's face was as gloomy as iron, and his sunken eyes were filled with anger.
After a moment of silence, Guan Yu slammed the case and shouted: "Come here, drag this Chu dog out and behead him on the spot!" (To be continued...)
