Right now.
Xijing, this thousand-year-old ancient capital, is now plunged into a purgatory of blood and fire.
After half a month of extremely brutal siege, all the soldiers under the command of defending general Zhang Zhongfang were killed or wounded.
Arrows, logs, and stones had long been used up, and cannibalism even occurred in the city.
In the end, the rebels used human lives and crude equipment to forcibly destroy several parts of the city wall, and a tide of rebels poured into the city!
Zhang Zhongfang led his personal guards in a final street battle, was wounded dozens of times, and died of exhaustion.
Xijing fell.
Li Jingang proudly occupied the ruined palace hall left by the previous dynasty, stepping on the corpses of the defenders and the cries of the people.
He came from a humble background and could barely read or write, but at this moment he was overwhelmed by the huge victory and desire for power.
Ignoring Yang Yan's earnest advice, under the instigation of Ma Zongliang, Li Hu and other generals, Li Jingang declared himself emperor, named the country "Dafeng", and changed the era name to "Shun Da"!
For a moment, demons were dancing wildly in the hall.
These rebel leaders, covered in blood, knelt down and shouted "Long live the emperor".
Li Jingang was very proud and gave generous rewards:
Yang Yan was appointed as the Prime Minister, in charge of government affairs;
Ma Zongliang was the general in charge of the entire army;
His nephew Li Hu was the commander of the Yulin Army and was responsible for the security of the "Imperial Palace".
Afterwards, in order to reward the "meritorious officials", vent his animal desires and replenish military supplies, Li Jingang brazenly ordered to "put down the sword for three days"!
The so-called "closing the sword" does not mean stopping the war, but rather allowing the rebels under his command to plunder, rape and massacre in the city!
Wealthy merchants were the first to be hit. Their savings were looted, their homes were burned down, and any resistance was met with extermination.
Ordinary people were not spared either; their food, property, wives and daughters all became spoils of war for the rebels.
Flames shot up into the sky in Xijing City, and cries of crying, begging for mercy, and wild laughter were heard everywhere. The once prosperous city turned into a ghost town in one day.
When the news came out, the world was in an uproar again!
This made the already precarious Dayin Dynasty even worse.
.....
Mengjin, the main camp of King Jin.
Inside the central army tent, the scent of incense curled up in the air, but it could not dispel the heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
Prince Yinxi of Jin sat in the main seat, his face as gloomy as water, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the armrests of the rosewood chair, making a dull tapping sound.
Below, trusted advisers and generals stood on both sides, all holding their breath in concentration.
"Your Highness," a counselor said cautiously, breaking the silence, "the envoys from the capital are still waiting for an audience at the post station. Their words are extremely sincere, almost...almost begging Your Highness to send troops to the king's aid. You see..."
Another general couldn't help but grumble, "Your Highness! This is a godsend opportunity! The Crown Prince is unjust, and the court is incompetent. This has allowed the Tartars to approach the city, and our prestige has been completely shattered!"
"Carrying His Majesty's blood edict, you will lead your troops south, under the pretext of 'clearing the imperial court and resisting the Tartars.' You will surely seize control of the situation and bring the people of the country under your rule."
"idiot!"
Prince Jin interrupted him abruptly, his voice cold and stern, "Heading south now? To be buried with that loser Yin Zhao?"
"Haven't you heard about the 90,000 Tartar cavalrymen stationed north of the river? That's 90,000 cavalrymen!"
"Although our army is large, it has been fighting for days and is still exhausted. Moreover, it is difficult to transport food and fodder. If we confront the Tartars head-on now, what are our chances of winning?"
"Even if we win a tragic victory, how many of our troops will be left? Wouldn't that just allow others to take advantage of us?"
He paused, his eyes gleaming with shrewd calculation. "What's more, back in Xijing, Li Jingang has actually proclaimed himself emperor! He's even blocked Tongguan! This is a real threat! A bunch of peasants actually dare to covet divine artifacts!"
The counselor nodded in agreement, "Your Highness, you are wise. The imperial court is now in a state of ruin, but directly engaging the main force of the Tartars is certainly not the best strategy."
"Why not sit back and watch the fight between the two tigers? Let the Crown Prince and his court fight it out with the Left Wise King first."
"When both sides are defeated, Your Highness will then use the force of thunder to drive out the Tartars, win the hearts of the people, and restore order."
"How will the envoy from the capital respond?" someone asked.
King Jin pondered for a moment, a sneer appearing on his lips:
"Reply? Of course I have to reply."
"Tell the messenger that I am fully aware of the national crisis and that justice is paramount. I have immediately ordered the mobilization of elite troops and the collection of food and fodder. I will soon launch an attack on the Tartars!"
Everyone was stunned. Didn’t they say they would not save him?
Looking at the puzzled eyes of the crowd, King Jin sneered:
"Just pretend, won't you?"
"The army must move slowly. They will encounter many difficulties along the way, such as insufficient food and fodder, refugees blocking the road, and harassment from small groups of rebels!"
"In short, I want the world to see that I have tried my best, but I truly lack the strength to do so."
"When the outcome in the capital is almost clear, it won't be too late for us to 'accelerate' our advance."
"Your Majesty, your opinion is excellent!"
Everyone suddenly understood and praised the plan for its foresight, as it not only maintained a righteous cause but also avoided wasting strength.
"As for Xijing..." A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the King of Jin. "Li Jingang may be a minor affliction, but he controls the natural fortress of Tongguan and should not be underestimated."
"Inform the guards at Hangu Pass to keep a close watch and refrain from attacking for now."
"After we've dealt with the situation in the capital, we'll come back and deal with these clowns!"
…
Capital city, Taiji Hall.
The new emperor Yin Zhao was worried and exhausted by the approaching army of Zuo Xian Wang. Then a fast horse came with an urgent military report from 800 miles away.
"Your Majesty! Urgent news from Xijing...Xijing! Zhang Zhongfang fought and died for his country. The city...the city has been captured!"
"The bandit leader, Li Jingang, he... he's proclaimed himself emperor in Xijing! He's even been given titles like Prime Minister and General, and he's currently slaughtering and looting people in the city!"
The messenger knelt before His Highness, his voice filled with tears and fear.
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