Chapter 92 The Incident
Shuofang County is one of the border counties in the north. Jilu Pass is an important military stronghold of Shuofang County along the Great Wall in the west of Yinshan Mountain. It is the pass for communication between Dajing and Beiliang. It can communicate with Beiliang to the north. The situation is complicated and there are occasional battles.
As soon as the news of the attack on Northern Liang came out, a large number of troops were deployed in the plains of Xihe in Shuofang, and stockades were built, with traffic covering an area of 20 miles. They were just waiting for the final deployment so that they could launch a full-scale attack to the north.
The situation was originally very good, and all that was left was for the commander-in-chief, Duke Gu Chengye of Zhen Guo, to return.
Unexpectedly, Beiliang took the initiative to attack Shuofang.
Because they were always on guard, the Liang army was quickly sniped back without suffering major losses. However, after two consecutive victories, they underestimated the enemy, and at the instigation of the eunuchs who supervised the army, the general of the guard army personally led 50,000 cavalry out of the border to pursue the enemy, but they were ambushed and the army was almost wiped out.
The life and death of the guard general is unknown.
The situation took a turn for the worse.
The general of the guard was Gu Ci's second brother, Gu Xun.
The Prince of Pingyang is in the army, so the battle report he sends cannot be false.
Wang Muyi didn't understand this, but she still felt a little nervous. She was worried and said to him, "There will always be winners and losers in wars, don't worry."
Nian Xi was in an indescribable mood at this moment.
Gu Ci had not shown up for a long time a few days ago, and she thought something had happened in the Gu Mansion, and she was worried all day. Later, Pei Jian told her that nothing would happen. Gu Ci also told her that his father would return to the northern border soon and the situation was still good.
So she felt relieved.
Just when they thought that this crisis would be avoided and the Gu government would not repeat the mistakes of the past, they heard news of a battle from the front.
Nianxi herself didn't know. Maybe it was just like what her cousin Mu said, winning and losing were common. But the words sent by the prince gave her a strong premonition -
The unpredictability of fate and the irresistible premonition.
Nianxi hurried home.
Obviously, my father and brother had also heard about this, and everyone had a look of worry on their faces.
If we say that the whole court was in an unprecedented state of self-confidence before, then at this moment, the news of the annihilation of 50,000 cavalrymen was like a bolt from the blue, waking up the sweet dreams of everyone, including His Majesty.
Cavalry is the most expensive and elite type of soldier, and is the main force in the battle between the Jing Dynasty and the Liang bandits.
During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, the troops fighting against the Liang people were infantrymen. It was only in the past few decades that they were able to raise war horses and train cavalrymen. Now that 50,000 cavalrymen have been annihilated, it is a heavy loss and a huge blow to the Jing Dynasty.
Jing Chao fell into a depressed mood.
However, Gu Chengye, who was called the Great War God by His Majesty, had his schedule delayed again and again and could not return to the front line to command, so he still stayed in the capital.
Because this great defeat was caused by Erlang of the Gu family's reckless attack, someone in the Zhenguo Mansion must take responsibility for this.
Gu Chengye was the first to bear the brunt.
No one realized it would be so easy to lose.
When Gu Chengye knelt outside the Jianzhang Palace for a day and a night, begging to return to the northern border, His Majesty simply avoided him and did not grant his request.
But the situation is getting worse.
News kept coming back from the front. The Liang army was unstoppable, attacking Shuofang and Wuyuan counties, burning, killing, and looting, leaving empty cities wherever they went.
Such looting provided Liang's army with food and fodder, while the remaining cavalry of our army was also eliminated in one defeat after another.
When Emperor Jing finally realized that something was wrong and sent Gu Chengye to the northern border, the army had already been surrounded by Liang bandits in Weichicheng, where they had to fight a desperate battle.
If they lose this battle and the siege of Chicheng falls, the Liang army will be able to move directly south and threaten the capital.
However, at the beginning of the war, Gu Chengye had already injured himself from kneeling. Even if he traveled day and night, it would be difficult for him to save the collapsing building.
"The general of the Ben army is unfit to be a commander!"
In the court, Emperor Jing personally gave this eight-character evaluation to Gu Chengye and the entire Zhenguo Mansion.
Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the Lord.
The higher you were praised at the beginning, the harder you will fall now.
However, Your Majesty and the entire court have underestimated Northern Liang, the bravery and fearlessness of the Liang people, and this nation's desire for survival.
Even at the beginning of the war, His Majesty did not dispatch soldiers to the north to provide assistance.
This resulted in the siege of Akagi being isolated and helpless.
Thanks to the proposal of the crown prince at that time, the Western Frontier Headquarters moved its garrison northward, and the reinforcements were able to arrive in time, lifting the siege of the isolated city. The Liang army suffered a setback and the situation was eased.
…
Nianxi hasn't seen Gu Ci for many days.
You don't need to see how bad the situation is.
In teahouses, taverns, and on the streets, everyone talked about the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion with a gnashing look on their faces, as if the defeat with the Liang army was all due to the Gu family.
The reverence and respect I once had are no longer there.
Nian Xi sent people to Gu's house twice.
On the day when Gu Ci came of age at the age of 20, she personally went to the house and presented the coming-of-age gift she had prepared.
There is almost no one visiting the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
The scene of carriages and horses filling the gate in the past seems like a distant dream.
Mrs. Wang fell ill as early as when the news of Gu Erlang's life and death came. Duke Zhenguo was still in the palace and had not returned. The whole mansion was in a state of sadness.
No one remembers Gu Ci's birthday, not even himself.
Gu Ci welcomed her to his yard.
It's only been a few days since I last saw him, but he has changed a lot. His former clean and cheerful appearance now seems to be covered with a layer of gray.
"Nian'er."
When he saw her, his voice was sincere and tired. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I've been too busy recently with family matters."
As he spoke, his eyes began to turn red.
Nian Xi remembered that she had once told him to remember to tell her no matter what happened and not to let her worry.
This fool still remembers such things at this time.
How could Nian Xi blame him? Seeing him look powerless and helpless, she felt sad too.
Pretending not to notice his red eyes and bloodshot eyes, she walked forward, held his hand and said softly, "Today is your birthday, did you forget?"
"Really?" Gu Ci looked back at her in confusion.
Unexpected changes occurred at home, which almost crushed him. He no longer had the initial hope of coming of age, and was completely in a state of despair.
The battle reports from the front were more depressing than the last time, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"No," Gu Ci was still considerate, stroking Nianxi's hair, and said apologetically, "I won't celebrate your birthday this year, but I still want to thank you for thinking of me."
He spoke softly, but he was like a pond filled with water, ready to burst at any moment. Nianxi couldn't bear him to bother comforting her anymore, even though he was the one who needed comforting the most.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Nian Xi looked at the dark circles under his eyes and said softly, "You haven't slept for a long time, right?"
"The most important thing for you now is to get a good night's sleep. Everything will be fine."
How pale and powerless language is at this time.
Nian Xi herself didn't know when she would get better, but she sincerely hoped that Gu Ci would not encounter so many disasters.
Gu Ci forced a smile, only moving the corners of his lips, but he had already used up all his strength, "I'll take you home."
How could Nian Xi be willing to let him run back and forth again? She shook her head and said, "The carriage is just outside the door. I will go by myself later."
Gu Ci held her hand and said seriously, "Nian'er, I want to stay with you."
In fact, he missed her very much these days.
Whenever his emotions were about to collapse, he would rely on the sweetness with Nianxi to hold on.
Because he cannot fall, the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion cannot fall either.
"Okay, then I won't leave."
Nian Xi held Gu Ci's hand and walked into the inner room. This was her first time to come to Gu Ci's bedroom, but they had no romantic thoughts at all.
"Just lie down and take a nap. I'll stay outside with you, okay?"
"You are too tired and need to rest." She advised softly, "If you also collapse, who will take care of Madam Wang?"