Chapter 791 Kyoto, Kyoto
Kyoto.
The black clouds are like ink but have not covered the mountains, and the white raindrops are like pearls jumping into the boat.
The clouds piled up like endless waves rolling in the sky, brewing a big storm.
Master Tong stood on the towering city wall, and the scene outside the window was a mess.
Some of the people in the suburbs of Beijing fled to Guangde Prefecture, and some fled into the capital.
Kyoto was too big, so the rebel army could only guard the city gates, and only sent people to patrol outside the city gates.
Master Tong looked coldly at the group of chaotic soldiers who were cutting down trees and setting up camp like ants.
"Didn't you expect that a bunch of rabble would push us to this extent?"
The officials went up to the city wall one after another.
When it comes to their own life, no one will take it lightly.
"What is Li Aotian doing? Why doesn't he come to protect Kyoto?" An official was so angry that he spoke without thinking.
"There's no movement in Xiangzhou! Where's Xie Lantian?!"
The towering city walls gave the gentlemen confidence. They did not think that the rebel army could enter Kyoto, but being trapped in Kyoto was both embarrassing and frustrating.
If they were not there, the warm spring days would be perfect for a spring outing.
The messenger who was ordered to go to various states and counties to ask the Zhou troops to come to the king's defense was discovered by the rebel army as soon as he climbed down the city wall through the rope.
After a fierce battle, the defenders of the Great Zhou on the city wall pulled and dragged the messenger, who was almost covered in blood, back to life.
"Quick! Carry it down!"
There was a brief commotion on the city wall.
Master Tong stood there for a while, and seeing neither the signs of reinforcements nor any signs of the enemy's army attacking the city, he walked down the city wall.
Other officials followed closely behind, talking a lot along the way.
"The walls of Kyoto are high and steep. Even if the rebels have catapults, they can't destroy the walls. They will probably surround the city and retreat when they realize that they can't do anything."
The city wall of Kyoto is at least ten zhang high, and there is a moat twenty to thirty zhang wide outside the city.
There are tens of thousands of Kyoto Guards inside Kyoto.
If you really risk your life and fight the rebel army, you may be able to fight your way out.
In the city, many soldiers who retreated from the battlefield of Guangde Prefecture were re-recruited.
As Su Xuanming walked on the street, he could hear them talking about Yunzhou with their companions and relatives from time to time.
"Mom, I really don't want to go to the battlefield. Since the last time, I just wanted to protect you, Dad, my wife and children. But the military orders are hard, I have to go."
"Mom, don't worry about me. How can a mere rebellion army compare to the Yunzhou army?"
"Of course not. It's safer for us to defend the city than to be used as cannon fodder."
"After seeing how powerful the Yunzhou Army is, I always feel that other armies are just so-so."
Look at the chaotic army outside the city. Most of them are ragged civilians. They are driven forward to serve as laborers. Their situation is even worse than that of refugees.
Su Xuanming continued to move forward.
The willow trees beside the Bian River have sprouted, and the fortune-telling stalls under the trees have disappeared. However, the Zhang family paper shop by the river is doing a booming business.
"My dear, are you asking about the Taoist fortune teller? He left a long time ago and went to Yunzhou last year. This old Taoist priest has some skills and was able to predict the siege of Kyoto today. He also advised me, but unfortunately I didn't listen."
Boss Zhang felt both sad and happy. He regretted not listening to the Taoist's advice and leaving Kyoto earlier, but he also felt that it was a good thing that he did not leave Kyoto, as his business had been incredibly good in the past few days.
Many elderly people know that if the city is broken, they will definitely not be able to escape, so they want to prepare their affairs after death in advance.
You need a set of paper houses, cows, horses, servants, and paper ingots.
The life that we couldn’t live in life, we hope to live after death.
Su Xuanming waved his hand, thanked Boss Zhang, and went to Fuquan Teahouse.
Friends and relatives who had a close relationship with Yunzhou left Kyoto one after another, and the last wave of people left with Chen Yixuan.
There are few people in Kyoto that Su Xuanming cares about.
This also led to Su Xuanming not being able to get timely news from the court.
He could only go to Fuquan Teahouse to find out the news.
Customers flocked to Fuquan Teahouse.
The aroma of tea and snacks fills the air.
The sound of storytelling and the music of the zither are all pleasant to the ears.
The bustling scene inside the teahouse and outside the city seemed like two different worlds.
Su Xuanming randomly found an empty table and sat down, ordered a pot of tea and a rose dessert, and listened attentively to people's conversation.
"During the morning court today, the new Minister of War and Marquis Dingyuan almost came to blows."
"Oh? Isn't Dingyuan Hou a good guy? He always says yes to whatever you ask him. How could a good guy actually take action one day?"
"Hehe, ten taels of silver, and I'll tell you why we fought."
"roll!"
A few people laughed and stopped talking about this. At this time, they dared not speak carelessly. What if they were caught by the Imperial City Bureau as spies? Wouldn't it be unfair?
Su Xuanming frowned. Couldn't he get any information out at all?
"Marquis Dingyuan believed that these rebel troops were only the vanguard, and were obviously waiting for the arrival of other troops before launching a general attack. Therefore, he advocated taking the initiative to attack outside the city."
Su Xuanming smiled and stepped aside to make room for the newcomer. "Madam of the Prince of Jiguo, please take a seat."
The wife of the Prince of Jiguo smiled tiredly and ordered a bowl of milk.
She touched the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. Kyoto was surrounded, and several more wrinkles were carved on her brows.
Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze, and she told Su Xuanming the news he wanted to know: "The new Minister of War rejected this strategy, believing that relying on the city walls and moat would ensure safety."
"The emperor and many other high officials agreed with the new Minister of War's speculation, and Marquis Dingyuan was so angry that he fell ill in bed."
Su Xuanming is not good at military affairs, but he understands people.
The new Minister of War was promoted from the Quanzhou Naval Division. He had achieved very good results in the fight against the Japanese pirates and enjoyed great prestige along the coastal areas.
Although Marquis Dingyuan had not been out of the mountains for a long time, when he was young, he fought in many battles, had both victories and defeats. He took the initiative to attack the grasslands, defended the borders, and even went to Poyang Lake to suppress bandits.
One specializes in maritime affairs, and the other is not specialized, but knows a lot.
On the matter of Kyoto, Su Xuanming is more inclined to Dingyuan Hou's speculation.
Su Xuanming served tea instead of wine to the wife of the Prince of Ji, and everything was said without words.
The wife of the Prince of Jiguo wanted to curry favor with Su Xuanming, so she told him all the news she knew.
"At first, before the capital was besieged, Grand Tutor Tong asked the capital's guards to take the initiative and attack, relying on the Yangtze River to stop the rebels in the south."
"The emperor disagrees. He believes that once the Kyoto guards leave, the Kyoto guards will be empty and it will be easy for Duke Yun to take advantage of the situation."
Su Xuanming...
At that time, Yunzhou and Kyoto were separated by Li Aotian's army in Suining County!
The wife of the Prince of Jiguo pulled the corner of her mouth, with a faint smile: "Who knows what he really thinks? He said so, and everyone believed it. After all, the Great Zhou is his family's world, there is no need for the eunuch to be anxious when the emperor is not."
"Fortunately, he is not completely confused. He still knows to write a letter to Li Aotian. If the situation is not good, he can let Li Aotian bring troops over."
The young lady of the Duke of Ji frowned and asked in confusion, "Why hasn't he come yet?"
Su Xuanming was also puzzled. Li Aotian was not the kind of person who would retreat when faced with difficulties. He should have come when the rebel army crossed the river!
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