Seiwa

Zhending City could not be attacked for a long time, King Yan became ruthless and ordered to mobilize all the artillery in the army, and the group bombardment was not worth the price.

No matter how strong the city was built, it could not withstand hundreds of iron balls being thrown upwards.The city wall was quickly smashed to the point of being pitted, and several city gates were crumbling.

Geng Bingwen knew the power of this move, and immediately ordered his soldiers to block the three sides of the city gate with earth and rolling logs, leaving only the south gate, and redoubled their troops to defend.

The city gates on all sides were blocked, which certainly made it more difficult for the Yan army to attack the city, but it was also equivalent to blocking their own way of life.

Trapped in the city under a great defeat, the soldiers' emotions were already unstable, and they blocked the gates on all sides, telling everyone to stick to the truth, and their chances of survival were slim.It is impossible for Zhu Di to spend money with him before the end of the mountain, and Geng Bingwen will naturally not make such a mistake.

What's more, the tens of thousands of troops in Zhending City still have to eat, and the south gate is left behind, also to wait for reinforcements and grain trucks.

What Geng Bingwen can think of, Zhu Di will not ignore.He didn't intend to give Geng Bingwen any chance to turn the tables. He ordered to continue the bombardment and at the same time sent cavalry to intercept the grain trucks and reinforcements.Shen Xuan led the Yanshan guards and seized the military rations brought in from Shandong. Zhu Neng repelled the reinforcements commanded by Yongping Wu Jie and completely cut off Geng Bingwen's retreat.

Amidst the bombardment, Geng Bingwen walked up to the top of the city again, looking at the densely packed Yan army preparing to ascend the city, feeling complicated.

King Yan does have the style of Emperor Taizu Gao. In terms of military strategy, he has a decisive personality and sophisticated methods. The young emperor is definitely not his opponent.

Is it...

Do not!

Shaking his head vigorously, the orthodoxy of the world is Emperor Jianwen!King Yan is just a vassal, but also a traitor!

"Beat the drum, attack the city!"

King Yan rode on a horse and stood under the big banner.

He has a burly figure and a resolute face.

The saber points to the truth, this battle must go to the city!

"Siege!"

The battle flags of each army were fierce, and the Yan army who was attacking the city set up a long ladder, and amidst the shouts, they climbed to the top of the city desperately.

Boulders fell side by side at the top of the city, and in the smoke and dust, many of the Yan army who attacked the city fell from mid-air, and the casualties increased every time.

Yan Jun set up more long ladders, and the death of his comrades aroused their anger and blood.

The defenders at the top of the city also tried their best, and behind the huge wooden boulders were boiling water, hot oil, and rain of bows and arrows.The Yan army who had climbed to the top of the wall was quickly hacked to death by random knives. Before he died, he desperately bit the throat of a defender. Amidst the screams, he grabbed the opponent and fell to the top of the wall together.

If you can't live, you go to die, there is no way out.

The ever-increasing number of casualties made Zhu Di frown. Compared with the wealthy Emperor Jianwen, although his soldiers were good at fighting, the number was limited after all.He really couldn't afford to fight a war of attrition.

With the sound of drums, the soldiers who attacked the city retreated, and King Yan ordered to continue the bombardment.He couldn't believe it anymore. With the artillery of the whole army, we couldn't make a hole in the Zhending city wall.

It's a pity that God is helping Geng Bingwen. When the Yan army set up the artillery and filled it with soil, gunpowder and iron balls in sequence, black clouds gathered in the sky, thunder exploded one after another, and raindrops as big as beans poured down , Watered out the torch in the hands of the Yan army, and also chilled the heart of Yan Wang.

The defenders in the city were stunned for a moment and cheered loudly. Geng Bingwen didn't care to wipe off the rain on his face, and shouted to King Yan below the city: "Zhu Di, how dare you take it if God doesn't give it to you!"

The roar of thunder could not conceal Geng Bingwen's angry shout.

The morale of the defenders in the city suddenly rose, and King Yan's face instantly became gloomy.

"withdraw troops!"

Zhu Di was indeed irritated by Geng Bingwen, but he did not lose his mind, attacking in the rain was tantamount to letting his soldiers die.

Yan Jun Ming Jin retreated to the camp, the defenders at the top of the city were still cheering, how many days of being aggrieved, finally they can feel proud and elated.

"Zong Rong, the traitor's momentum has weakened, how about going out of the city to fight back?"

Geng Bingwen shook his head, he was also not dazzled by the temporary victory.If Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, or Li Wenzhong and Lanyu were here, this plan would work.But he is not any of the above-mentioned people, and none of his generals is as talented as these people.On the contrary, from Zhu Di's body, he could see the shadows of Xu Da and Li Wenzhong.

"Zhong'an, I'm already old." Geng Bingwen pressed one hand on the bricks, with a desolate look on his face.

Geng Bingwen had never felt so powerless when he fought with Emperor Gao of Taizu, wiped out Yuan soldiers, fought fiercely against Chen Youliang, and against Zhang Shicheng, because he knew Zhu Yuanzhang's great talent and strategy. fear?

Emperor Jianwen of Nanjing made Geng Bingwen shaken.

Favoring corrupt Confucianism, ignorant of military affairs, listening to one side, and often having a twitch in the head, making incredibly stupid decisions, such an emperor made him feel powerless, very powerless.

No wonder Zhu Di rebelled.

When this thought suddenly appeared in his mind, he couldn't help being horrified, why would he think so?

"General Rong?" Seeing Geng Bingwen's complexion suddenly changed, a general asked cautiously, "But what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Geng Bingwen settled down and said, "Strengthen the defense of the south gate and the fortifications at the top of the city, the rebels will not let it go."

"Follow the order!"

The general promised to go down the city ladder.Geng Bingwen also walked down the wall. Before leaving, he turned around and glanced in the direction of the Yan Army Camp. Under the dark clouds, the Yan Army Camp was covered by the rain curtain. Faintly, Geng Bingwen felt a sense of uneasiness in his heart. An uneasy feeling of impending danger.

It rained heavily for two days in a row, and the sky seemed to have broken a hole. The rain was mixed with hail, the temperature dropped sharply, and the breath that was exhaled in the morning and evening condensed into frost.Many Yan soldiers thought of the frontier fortress. It was autumn and it would snow soon.

Meng Qinghe sat in Shen Xuan's tent, holding a bowl of ginger soup and drinking slowly.With Shen Xuan's cloak wrapped around her body, she could still feel the chill.

The wind and cold have not recovered, and he can barely act on his own, but he can't kill the enemy with a knife on the battlefield.

Throughout the battle of Zhending, Meng Qinghe became a bystander.Not wanting to be seen as useless, volunteered to work in the logistics department.The officer in charge of dispatching military rations was not considered an acquaintance, and had only dealt with him a few times in Yan Wang's mansion. He thought Meng Qinghe couldn't help much, but he didn't expect that the military rations, mules, horses, carts, and carts were arranged in an orderly manner after he arrived for two days.If Shen Xuan hadn't sent someone to look for him, Meng Qian would probably have taken root in the logistics department.

Dr. Zhao checked Meng Qinghe's pulse and left another bottle of pills.

The temperature changed suddenly, and many strong soldiers also caught cold. The smell of ginger soup was always wafting in the barracks. King Yan and his two sons drank a large bowl with their noses held.Zhu Gaosui was so hot that he jumped up, and Zhu Gaoxu was not much better.

Meng Qinghe has been resting in Commander Shen's tent.The heavy rain was torrential, and many tents could no longer accommodate people, so everyone could only squeeze together for convenience.Meng Qing and his two previous tentmates were huddling together with two thousand households, there was no place for Meng Qian to do anything in the tent, so it was only logical to stay in Shen Xuan's tent.

After drinking a bowl of ginger soup, I finally felt much warmer.Meng Qinghe got up and moved his hands and feet, the curtain of the tent was lifted, the cold wind blew the rain, and Shen Xuan walked in.

Just walking back from King Yan's tent, his whole body was washed like water.

"command."

Meng Qinghe hurriedly handed over the cloth towel, and Shen Xuan removed the dripping armor casually. The clothes inside were also soaked, sticking to his body, revealing a strong back and a thin waistline.

Long black hair draped over his shoulders, while Shen Xuan untied the tie, tilted his head slightly, with a straight nose and red lips, eyebrows as thick as ink, and sharp eyes, obviously a picture of a beauty undressing, but it is impressive Without even the slightest bit of charming thoughts, I was afraid that I would be split in half by this blade-like beauty.

A military officer's uniform was presented, and the cold fingertips inadvertently brushed the back of his hand. Meng Qinghe lowered his eyes and told himself that it was an accident.

There are so many accidents every day, I get used to it.

He forced himself to get used to it, his heart rate soared two hundred at every turn, and he would have a heart attack sooner or later.

After fastening the belt, Shen Xuan's eyes fell on Meng Qinghe's face. Seeing that the other person had a calm expression, he raised his eyebrows, and sat on the edge of the couch, also quietly lost in thought.

Apart from the sound of rain falling, there was only the breathing of the two people in the tent.

Silence can also make people feel at a loss, Meng Qinghe finally couldn't bear it anymore, and said: "Commander."

"kindness?"

Shen Xuan's voice was a little hoarse, with an unusual laziness, Meng Twelve Lang gritted his teeth and held back!

"My lord's call, is it for the siege of the city?"

"Yes." Shen Xuan sat upright, obviously upset about this matter.

If you can't attack Zhending, you can't open the road to the south.Even if he went around, with Geng Bingwen's sophistication, it's hard to say he wouldn't attack from behind.At that time, the enemy will be attacked from both sides, and the outcome will be even more unpredictable.What Shen Xuan thought in his heart happened to be King Yan's worry, Zhang Yuzhu Neng and others probably didn't know about it, but no one talked about it.

It's not that I don't want to say it, but I can't say it.

Speaking out will not help the war, but will damage morale.

King Yan was very irritable, like a trapped animal, and so were his generals.

The Zhending City defended by Geng Bingwen is really a stick in the throat for the rebel Zhu Di.He even started to complain about his father, killing so many heroes of the founding of the country, why did he leave Geng Bingwen behind?

If he had been stabbed at the beginning, would he still have such a headache now?

After thinking about it, when things have come to this point, complaining won't do anything.He Shoufangkuan and others put forward the suggestion of temporarily withdrawing troops and returning to Peiping, and Yan Wang was also seriously considering it.There were only so many soldiers under him, and they were all buried under Zhending City, so he didn't have to continue to rebel, he just hanged himself with a rope and went to see his father.

Hearing Shen Xuan explain the situation clearly in a few words, Meng Qinghe was very surprised, firstly because Shen Xuan told him such a secret, and secondly because he was worried about the current situation.He knew that it was difficult for Yan Wangjing to succeed, but he didn't fully understand the twists and turns in the middle. Is Geng Bingwen really so powerful?

His eyes rolled, if this Marquis of Changxing is really an impassable mountain, if he bumps into it hard, his head will be broken, then find a way not to bump into it hard, and move the mountain away.

The story of Yugong Yishan is known to children of all ages.

Geng Bingwen is not too good at Wang Wu, the king of Yan is always a lot higher than Yu Gong, right?

"You mean?"

Meng Qinghe's words made Shen Xuan's eyes brighten, Yan Wangtong's generals seemed to be on the tip of their horns, thinking about how to defeat Geng Bingwen, never thinking about letting him move.

As the benchmark of the rebels, King Yan's status is unshakable. Geng Bingwen is just the commander-in-chief appointed by the imperial court. Isn't it just a matter of imperial edict to let him lead the army or go home to see his grandson?

"Reporting to the commander, Geng Bingwen is leading the army outside, and the news is not clear and he has suffered consecutive defeats, so it is convenient to act."

Meng Qinghe thought very clearly. It has been two months since King Yan raised his troops, and the imperial court sent no less than 40 to [-] troops.Emperor Jianwen was far away in Nanjing, and his confidants were all rotten Confucians who didn't know how to fight. If you want to consult someone, you may not get good advice.Wei Guogong knows the soldiers, but the key is that Emperor Jianwen believes him?Willing to listen to him?

Geng Bingwen's retreat to Zhending City was originally a good move to contain the King of Yan. If he deliberately picked a bone, it could also be a strong evidence of his passive sabotage.As long as someone in the court reads his book, saying that he and the king of Yan have already exchanged secrets, sang double reeds, and caused the imperial army to be defeated, it is difficult to guarantee that Emperor Jianwen would not think too much.

How did the Tongguan natural barrier fall during the Anlushan rebellion in the Tang Dynasty?

In the final analysis, but a few words of slander.

As long as Geng Bingwen can be removed, let the court send another general officer, such as Cao Guogong Li Jinglong, is a good candidate.In this way, are you afraid that the city will not be able to go down?

Meng Qinghe had his own drafts in his heart, and listed them one by one, which was well-organized and well-founded, and Shen Xuan couldn't stop nodding when he heard it.

Imagine replacing Geng Bingwen defending Zhending City with Li Jinglong. Even if the number of soldiers defending is doubled, the situation will be very different.

It is by no means empty talk that one general is incompetent and exhausts the three armies.

"It's not too late for this matter. I suggest sending people to Nanjing as soon as possible. There should be a lot to do."

Shen Xuan listened, thought for a moment, and immediately got up to see Zhu Di.Before walking out of the tent, he looked back at Meng Qinghe, and just one glance made Meng Qinghe smart, and suddenly remembered the prairie wolf that he hadn't dreamed of for a long time.

Is he thinking too much?

He must be thinking too much.

Zhu Di was in a dilemma in the tent. He was really unwilling to withdraw his troops, and he couldn't afford to withdraw his troops.Hearing Shen Xuan begging to see him, he was surprised, didn't he just leave not long ago?

Someone invited someone to come in, and after listening to Shen Xuan's words, King Yan slapped his thigh hard, saying, why didn't he think of that!

"Xuan'er came up with this plan?"

"Going back to the prince is a job under the humble rank."

"Oh?"

"Meng Qinghe."

"Okay!" King Yan ordered Zhang Yu and the others to be invited, and then said to Shen Xuan, "This son is indeed a great talent, please treat him well, he will be of great use to him alone."

"My humble servant, Xie Wangye."

"Get up!"

While speaking, Zhang Yu, Zhu Neng, Tan Yuan and others had arrived one after another. For some reason, the King of Yan did not send anyone to notify He Shou, not even Fang Kuan and others.

Everyone stood in the tent, looking at the smile on King Yan's face, they were very puzzled.When King Yan personally told the strategy offered by Meng Qinghe, everyone suddenly realized.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui turned their gazes to Shen Xuan. When they came in, Shen Xuan was standing beside his father. Could it be that he came up with this plan?

"This is a good plan." Zhang Yu said, "Zhang Bao is still in our army, so we can send him to Nanjing together."

"Our army can also start today to help the plan."

"You can also send someone to contact the Zhending garrison, and it is true that Geng Bingwen has pledged allegiance to the prince."

Around the central issue of how to pour dirty water on Geng Bingwen, everyone will brainstorm.After a while, he listed various feasible methods, and King Yan nodded frequently.

Poor Marquis Changxing in Zhending City, he still doesn't know that he will fall from his horse in front of an unknown pawn's trick soon, and he has nowhere to cry.

After the king of Yan and the generals agreed, they immediately sent someone to bring the captured Li Jian, Ning Zhong, Gu Cheng, Liu Sui and others to the front. In front of everyone, he forced out a few tears and lamented that he was persecuted by the treacherous officials in the court. , Qi BingJing had no choice but to bring out his father to play emotional cards with everyone.

Holding Li Jian's hand, "You are a dear relative!"

Lifting the arms of Ning Zhong and Gu Cheng, "Both are people trusted by Emperor Taizu Gao, how dare you be disrespectful!"

He personally helped Liu Sui up, his voice was trembling, "Commander Liu is suffering, it is impossible to be lonely, and it is not a lonely wish to meet the swordsman of Changxing Hou!"

After all, he asked Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui to come forward to greet several old Hongwu officials.Ning Zhong and Gu Cheng were moved to tears on the spot, and Li Jian also shook his head and sighed. Only the commander Liu Sui remained unmoved, but deeply remembered Yan Wang's reluctance to meet Geng Bingwen with swordsmen.

The next day, the heavy rain gradually stopped, and King Yan ordered the whole army to withdraw to Peiping.

Before leaving, the King of Yan suddenly showed his style and asked people to send more than a dozen carts of grain intercepted to the city of Zhending. I don’t want to start another war, so I’m offering food and grass to express my heart.”

After shouting, the people left, but the food remained.

Bathed in the sight of the defenders, Geng Bingwen knew he had been hacked, but he couldn't break the situation. He could only allow the opponent to pour dirty water on him, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn't wash it off.

Not long after the Yan army withdrew to Peiping, the Zhending battle report spread to Nanjing.

The 30 army was defeated, and Geng Bingwen retreated to Zhending.

Emperor Jianwen sat in Fengtian Hall, his face pale.

Censor Kang Yu jumped out again, yelling that the king of Yan had raised his troops for two months, the imperial court had dispatched hundreds of thousands of troops, and countless grain, fodder, carts and horses. He had not won a single victory but lost everything. Didn't the emperor reflect on this? This is a warning from heaven?

"I think that if you don't wait ten years, you will have navel-biting regrets! Your Majesty, please reconsider the proposal of cutting the feudal clan!"

After speaking, he lay down on the ground and began to cry.

Emperor Jianwen had a headache from his crying, so he could only retreat and discuss again.

On the same day, Xu Zengshou, the governor of the left, met Yang Duo and others who had secretly arrived in Nanjing from Beiping, and Zhang Bao, who had transferred from Geng Bingwen's command to King Yan, was with him.

After seeing the token brought by Yang Duo, Xu Zengshou burned a few pages of letter paper in his hand, "I have a house in the west of the city, you can live in it temporarily. Don't go out easily if you have nothing to do, so as not to be recognized by others."

"Yes!"

After Yang Duo and the others left, Xu Zengshou returned to Duke Wei's mansion as if nothing had happened. He learned that Xu Huizu had been summoned by Emperor Jianwen to discuss matters, so he quickly changed into casual clothes and took a few long-term followers straight to Nanjing's most famous weathering place, hoping to meet Cao Guogong by chance. Li Jinglong, this is the best place to set up an ambush.

That night, Xu Zengshou and Li Jinglong got very drunk together, Xu Huizu was so angry that he blew his beard and stared, but Xu Zengshou didn't take it seriously at all. For the next period of time, he hung out with Li Jinglong almost every day.

Xu Huizu finally couldn't bear it anymore and changed his family law. Zuo Dudu, whose son was about to marry a wife, asked for leave for seven days in a row.

Wei Guogong struck too hard, Zuo Dudu was seriously injured, within ten days and half a month, he probably wouldn't be able to get out of bed.

Even so, Xu Zengshou's goal has been achieved.

Cao Guogong Li Jinglong, who was moved by his talk, was in frequent contact with Imperial scholar Huang Zicheng. When the heat was almost ready, Xu Zengshou sent his confidants to contact Yang Duo and asked him to take Zhang Bao to see the prince-in-law, Wang Ning.

Xu Zengshou sneered when he heard his confidant report that Wang Ning had sent someone to monitor the Censor Zeng Fengshao's residence. This Zeng Fengshao and Geng Bingwen had a long-standing quarrel. He took the lead in impeaching King Yan, but the emperor vomited blood in anger. He has been recuperating at home these days.Now that Zhang Bao brought evidence of Geng Bingwen's conspiracy with the King of Yan to his door, even if he spit out his blood, he would still have to jump for a while.

"It's almost done."

Sure enough, as soon as Zeng Fengshao's impeachment memorial was released, Huang Zicheng immediately fanned the flames, and Emperor Jianwen also became suspicious of Geng Bingwen.He couldn't allow him to doubt that the 30 troops were still led by the veteran Geng Bingwen, and they were thrown into the water without even a splash. Is this justified?

Huang Zicheng saw that the fire was almost ready, and immediately said: "Victory or defeat is a common matter in military affairs, your majesty does not need to worry about it. Now I have a plan, I can gather 50 soldiers from all over the world and attack Beiping from all directions. If you are outnumbered, you will surely be captured."

Hearing these words, Emperor Jianwen's expression improved a little, but Qi Tai, Minister of the Ministry of War, sounded an alarm in his heart.

Sure enough, when Emperor Jianwen asked who could replace Geng Bingwen as the leading general, Huang Zicheng recommended Cao Guogong Li Jinglong before Qi Tai spoke, and added a sentence, "If Cao Guogong was used before, the Yan army would have been defeated." .”

Big talk without shame, nonsense!

Also a scholar, Qi Tai understood military affairs far better than Huang Zicheng.

Although Li Jinglong was the son of Li Wenzhong, the founding general, he was far behind his father. It would not be an exaggeration to describe him as Zhao Kuo, who was talking on paper.

Using such a person to command 50 troops, isn't it to deliver food to King Yan?

Qi Tai resolutely opposed Huang Zicheng's proposal, and Wei Guogong Xu Huizu also disagreed.However, Geng Bingwen was suspected of having an impure relationship with the King of Yan, and Xu Huizu was the brother-in-law of the King of Yan. Even Qi Tai's opposition could not shake Emperor Jianwen's heart.

Ever since, in September of the first year of Jianwen, Zhu Yunqi gave Li Jinglong the seal of command, and also gave him the Tongtian rhinoceros belt, and personally sent him to the battle.

This time, Emperor Jianwen learned to be smart, and didn't say anything that would make him bear the name of killing relatives. He only told Li Jinglong, "I have entrusted the army to you, and you can let go of anyone who is disobedient. I only have one Request, we must defeat the Yan army!"

It was rare for Emperor Jianwen to be reliable, but God's will tricks people, God specially made things difficult for him, and made him entrusted to others.

At that time, the eunuchs in the palace had already sent the news of the emperor's change of coach, and Geng Bingwen also received the order to return to Nanjing.

Looking at Zhending City, which had been stationed for dozens of days, Changxing Hou was very sad, and he must have anticipated the possible consequences of the imperial court's change of commander.

If it was Wei Guogong, Wu Dinghou, or even Taizu's adoptive son Ping An, who would not be better than Li Jinglong?

It just happened to be such an unreliable one!

With a sigh, Geng Bingwen set foot on his way home, leaving only a precarious city and endless regrets behind him.