Juliang Pass has always been the most solid barrier in the Central Plains. However, once Juliang Pass is broken, it means that the rich and fertile Central Plains will be completely exposed to the iron cavalry of Beiliang.
The 200,000 soldiers stationed at Juliang Pass were all soldiers led by Liu Yan for more than five years. They were brave and well-trained. They were the most elite among all the armies of the State of Chen and the one that Yelu Jing feared the most. But now, he looked at the tall walls of Juliang Pass, and his silver-gray pupils flashed with a light of determination.
The Beiliang army had been here for a day and a night, but he was not in a hurry to send troops. One reason was that the Beiliang army was tired after a long journey, and the other was that he had another plan. During these twelve hours, there was always a team of people reading Yelu Jing's documents in the direction of Juliang Pass, mourning Liu Yan's loyalty to the emperor and his country, but he did not have a good end, and denouncing the king of Chen for being incompetent and framing loyal people, and recruiting 200,000 soldiers of the State of Chen to surrender and avenge Liu Yan.
"Your Highness, will this really work?" The deputy general looked at the direction of Juliang Pass in front of him with suspicion.
Yelu Jing was wearing armor and had a handsome face, but he looked feminine and cruel. He curled his lips and smiled, saying, "These soldiers worship Liu Yan as a god and are loyal to the State of Chen. It is impossible to make them surrender, but as long as their morale is disturbed and they hesitate, we can take Juliang Pass at the lowest cost!"
The deputy general nodded thoughtfully, "Then how long do we have to wait to attack?"
Yelu Jing drew out his scimitar, the scorching sun shone on the sharp blade, and a bright light illuminated his eyebrows.
"Today!"
Liu Chen went out of the city to fight, and the nine gates of Dingjing were blocked. The people in the city were panicked. They didn't know how the battle at Juliang Pass was going, but most people only had despair in their hearts.
The noble families had already secretly packed up their valuables and were ready to abandon the city and escape at any time.
"Half of the soldiers defending the city have been transferred to the front line. If we want to break through and go south, it won't be difficult if we go all out." Everyone discussed, "Your Majesty is leading more than 200,000 soldiers to defend Juliang Pass. Although they can't stop the Northern Liang cavalry, they can still delay the attack for a few days, giving us a chance to escape."
Someone doubted, "But your majesty is fighting on the front line, and we are abandoning the city and fleeing. Aren't you afraid that you will be criticized in history books a hundred years later?"
"Oh, your Excellency is wrong. Why abandon the city and flee?" Zhou Cishan smiled faintly. "We are making a strategic transfer to preserve our manpower. This time, Beiliang went south to attack the city because your Majesty was stubborn and persecuted loyal officials, which led to the separation between the monarch and his subjects and the people's resentment. This battle is bound to be defeated. Are we going to be buried with Dingjing?"
Zhou Cishan's words made everyone silent. He continued, "All of you here are the heads of various aristocratic families. You have experienced the baptism of artillery fire in one dynasty after another. The reason why our family has been able to stand firm for thousands of years and several dynasties is because we can defend ourselves and know when to advance and retreat. If we die for our country, Dachen will really have no hope. It is better for us to retreat to the south of the Yangtze River and compete with Beiliang with the help of the great river. After reorganizing our strength, we will wait for an opportunity to take revenge and recapture Dingjing."
These words were really touching and gave everyone a way out, causing everyone present to nod.
Old Master Sun hated Liu Chen to the core and wished he would die on the battlefield, but this country was still nominally the country of the State of Chen, and they still needed a leading monarch: "Lord Zhou is right. We will be loyal to our country, even if we are misunderstood. Your Majesty, this trip will be dangerous. We should appoint another monarch to lead us south and continue the foundation of the Great Chen. What do you think?"
Everyone looked at each other and pondered for a long time before someone spoke: "The royal family has not had many children in past dynasties. The two princes of the previous emperor are thousands of miles away. Now in Dingjing, only Princess Roujia has the legitimate right to succeed to the throne."
"Princess Roujia... although she is a woman, she has always been famous for her virtue. The royal bloodline of our State of Chen is respected first, and then the gender of the child. If there is no prince to succeed to the throne, the princess will inherit. It is legitimate to welcome Princess Roujia as the empress."
This statement was seconded by everyone, and the suggestion to support Princess Roujia as emperor was unanimously approved.
Zhou Cishan lowered his eyes and sneered - women are weak and always easier to control.
The nine gates were blocked, and Dingjing was like an isolated island. People outside could not get in, but people inside wanted to get out.
The actions of the family fell into the eyes of those who were interested, and some people ran to tell them that the family planned to abandon the city and go south. The already panic-stricken people suddenly fell into despair and fear. Some people cried and some took advantage of the chaos. The soldiers guarding the city were ordered to maintain law and order, running around, but they could not take care of the whole city.
The palace maids and eunuchs in the imperial city felt that they could not escape death, and they all hugged their knees and cried, not knowing where to go. The guards were ordered to guard the imperial city, but they also neglected to guard certain places.
It was at this time that Yelu Zhen led people to kill.
As soon as she entered the dungeon, she saw Shen Jinghong, who was tied with iron chains and covered with wounds. Although his breath was weak, his phoenix eyes were still as bright as stars, clear and energetic.
Being looked at by such eyes, Yelu Zhen couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart. She took a deep breath, came to her senses, and stepped forward to cut off the iron chain that locked Shen Jinghong.
"What are you doing?" Shen Jinghong's voice seemed to be soaked with thin ice, cold and thin.
Yelu Zhen smiled bitterly: "I'm here to save you."
Shen Jinghong chuckled lightly, without any gratitude, but rather a little mocking: "Princess Jing'an thought that she could escape Dingjing by escaping from the Dali Temple?"
"I'm not Princess Jing'an!" Yelu Zhen suddenly shouted out of control, his icy blue pupils rippling like a lake with a stone thrown into it, "I... I'm Yelu Zhen, I'm from Beiliang!" Yelu Zhen held the sword, stared at Shen Jinghong, and said word by word, "Our Beiliang army is about to attack the city, and the aristocratic families are ready to abandon the city and flee south. You have offended the aristocratic families, and now someone from the aristocratic families wants to kill you. Come with me, you are a hero of Beiliang, I can save your life."
Shen Jinghong sneered disdainfully: "I'm from Chen."
Yelu Zhen said coldly: "Beiliang is about to break through Dingjing, and you can only survive by becoming a Beiliang person."
Shen Jinghong looked at Yelu Zhen with a smile, without hiding his smile. There was mockery in Shen Jinghong's eyes: "Yelu Zhen, you are just a chess piece of Beiliang, you have no say."
Intense love and jealousy emerged in Yelu Zhen's eyes: "Don't you believe me? How I treat you, can't you feel it? You are wholeheartedly protecting her, but you were thrown into prison and tortured. Did she come out to save you? Don't you have any resentment towards her in your heart?"
Shen Jinghong said coldly: "I got what I wanted, so why should I resent it?"
Yelu Zhen staggered back two steps, staring at Shen Jinghong hatefully, and sneered for a long time: "Are you just seeking death? I'm afraid it's not up to you."
Yelu Zhen raised the sword across Shen Jinghong's neck and said coldly: "If you want to die, hit the sword. If you don't want to die, follow me."
Shen Jinghong felt the chill on his neck, but he showed no fear, as if he was sure that Yelu Zhen would not kill him.
At this time, the sound of fighting was heard outside. Yelu Zhen's face changed and said, "The people from the aristocratic family are here!"
Yelu Zhen's face showed anxiety. She put down her sword, grabbed Shen Jinghong's wrist and walked out. Shen Jinghong's eyes flashed and let her pull him.
When the two came out of the tiger prison, they saw a fight outside. There were not many assassins sent by the aristocratic family, and they fought with the two masters brought by Yelu Zhen. Those assassins did not expect to encounter such resistance in Dali Temple at this time, so the people they sent were not very skilled. They were killed by the two Beiliang masters in a short time, but the two Beiliang masters were also seriously injured.
Yelu Zhen asked the two masters to open the way, and he pulled Shen Jinghong to try to escape.
The journey was not peaceful. They met waves of people, but most of them were civil officials or servants. Seeing the two Beiliang people were ferocious and bloody, they fled in fear. Yelu Zhen had no time to chase these soldiers. When those people saw Yelu Zhen holding Shen Jinghong, they guessed that Yelu Zhen had led people to rescue Shen Jinghong from the Dali Temple. After escaping, they shouted that Shen Jinghong was rescued by Beiliang people and that Shen Jinghong was a Beiliang spy.
These words hit the mark of Yelu Zhen. She looked back at Shen Jinghong proudly and said, "Soon everyone in the city will know that you are a Beiliang spy. Shen Jinghong, if you don't want to submit to Beiliang, you can only submit to Beiliang."
Shen Jinghong's face was pale and his eyes were dark and deep, making it difficult to see what he was thinking.
There were crowds of people at the gate of Dingjing City. The dignitaries who were rarely seen on weekdays gathered here and clamored to open the city gate. The onlookers were shocked and terrified, talking about it but not daring to step forward.
"You are going to abandon the city and flee!"
"Did the army at Juliang Pass fail?"
"I heard that the Beiliang people are fierce and brutal. Once they enter the city, we will be finished!"
The soldiers guarding the city looked at each other, and one of them stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has ordered that the city gates must not be opened. Anyone who leaves the city will be killed without mercy!"
The first person was Zhou Cishan. He said coldly, "Your Majesty is unkind and has killed loyal people, causing great disasters. We will obey the will of heaven and support Princess Roujia as the emperor, escort the new emperor out of the city, and preserve the bloodline of the Chen and Liu royal families!"
The soldiers were shocked and looked at the carriage behind Zhou Cishan.
A white hand lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing a soft face as bright as the moon, which made people respect it at a glance.
"Meet the princess!" The soldier knelt down.
Today, Princess Roujia rarely wore a golden dress, and her majesty was even more majestic than usual, and people dared not look directly at her. She got off the carriage and walked slowly in front of everyone, holding a jade seal in her hand.
"This is the imperial seal. Seeing the seal is like the emperor himself!"
Princess Roujia said, and everyone knelt down. A sea of heads pressed down, and only she stood proudly in front.
"Long live the emperor!"
"Beiliang is attacking the city, Dingjing is in danger, and I am ordered to command the ministers." As soon as Princess Roujia spoke, everyone quieted down and listened to her instructions. Therefore, although her voice was not loud, it was clearly heard by everyone.
The kneeling people were panicked and uneasy. The emperor led the army in person, which was more dangerous than good. Princess Roujia was in charge of the imperial seal, and now she brought ministers from aristocratic families to the city gate. Her intention was obvious - Princess Roujia was going to cross the river with the aristocratic families and abandon them! When
this thought came to mind, many people cried out in fear and helplessness.
Zhou Cishan and others smiled, waiting for Princess Roujia to give the order to open the city gate, so that they could take gold, silver and jewelry and leave Dingjing. Anyway, their family's roots are in Jiangzuo, and there are natural barriers, so they are not worried about Beiliang's iron hoofs going south.
Princess Roujia's eyes swept coldly over the nobles in brocade robes in front of her, and slowly said: "Pass on my order, block the nine gates, and no one is allowed to abandon the city and flee, otherwise they will be killed without mercy!"
Zhou Cishan raised his head suddenly and stared at Princess Roujia in disbelief.
Not only him, but everyone was stunned. The kneeling people still had tears in their eyes. At this time, they all stared at Princess Roujia blankly, thinking that they had heard it wrong.
"Your Highness!" Zhou Cishan gritted his teeth and said, "The Beiliang people will soon break through Juliang Pass and will kill to Dingjing within half a day. If you don't leave and fall into the hands of the Beiliang people, you will be worse off than dead!"
Princess Roujia said calmly: "If that day comes, I will stand on the city wall and sacrifice my life for my country!"
Princess Roujia stood in the moonlight, and the cold moonlight cast a bright and sacred halo on her. Her voice was neither fast nor slow, but it penetrated deeply into everyone's heart.
"The royal family of Chen and Liu has been appointed by Heaven. If we abandon our people and flee the city today, the sky will fall, the people's hearts will be scattered, and the State of Chen will perish. If we defend this city together with our people, as long as the people's hearts are still there, the State of Chen will exist. Even if we lose a city, people with lofty ideals in the world will flock to it to drive out the Tartars and take back Dingjing!" Her voice was soft but full of power, infusing those hesitant hearts with firm strength, "Please believe the people, I will definitely be with the people, live and die with the State of Chen, and will never abandon anyone!"
After Princess Roujia finished speaking, there was a long silence under the city wall. No one knew who uttered a soft sob first, which was like a cluster of flames falling into an oil pan, setting off a shocking noise. Countless people cried loudly, and under the leadership of the officials from humble families, they shouted "Long live His Majesty". They supported this benevolent and wise new monarch from the bottom of their hearts.
The voice of "Long live the king" spread from the foot of the South City, almost all over the city, and deeply into every heart of the people.
Zhou Cishan and others looked at Princess Roujia with sullen faces. They didn't expect things to turn out to this point. This was not the same as what they had agreed. Establish a new king, abandon the city and flee south. With the will of the new king, they can order the city garrison to escort them south and reduce the risks on the road. This was what Princess Roujia first proposed to them! This is a win-win situation for both the aristocratic family and the princess. He agreed after a little thought. He went into the palace with several ministers to welcome the imperial seal and support Princess Roujia. However, when they arrived at the city gate, in front of the people, she changed her mind...
He looked at Princess Roujia's goddess-like graceful and noble face, and suddenly realized that he was being used!
She never thought of abandoning the city and running away, but she really wanted the seal and the throne! She used their desire to survive to gain the support of all officials, and won the hearts of the people in front of the common people. At this time, the people's hearts were overwhelming like a wave. Even though they were aristocratic families, they could not compete with the people's hearts that were like a landslide and tsunami!
Zhou Cishan was filled with regret. He had underestimated Princess Roujia, but he also didn't understand why Princess Roujia didn't flee south. Wasn't she really afraid that the Northern Liang army would break into the city? If the Chen army was defeated and the Northern Liang invaded, how many days could she, the empress, last, and what good would happen to her?
The nine gates were blocked, and no war reports came in. In their opinion, this was the worst news. Would they really die in the city?
The crying had not yet stopped, and suddenly the ground shook. It was the sound of thousands of troops galloping. All the crying stopped abruptly, and they looked at the city gate with horror. The soldiers on the city wall looked out and their faces changed drastically.
"Report - a large number of troops are rushing here!" The soldiers guarding the city were pale and their teeth were trembling. "The night is too dark. I can't see clearly whether it is the Chen army, or, or the Northern Liang army..."
Everyone was in chaos and cried.
Princess Roujia's expression remained unchanged. She raised her voice and said to the soldiers, "Hurry up and find out before reporting!"
However, before the soldiers could receive the order, they heard a familiar song coming from outside - it was the war song of the State of Chen!
Only the army of the State of Chen would sing a triumphant war song!
With tears still on their faces, everyone smiled in surprise and delight: "It's our army, our army of the State of Chen! This is a triumphant war song, we won! Did we win!"
Princess Roujia smiled faintly, but she didn't seem surprised. She turned around and ordered, "Everyone disperse, make way for the road, and welcome the heroes of our State of Chen!"
After saying this, the crowd dispersed, and everyone stood on both sides, looking nervously and excitedly at the direction of the city gate.
The sound of horse hooves came to the outside of the gate, and the city gate slowly opened. The soldiers of the State of Chen were wounded, but they smiled. They all raised their weapons and shouted mightily: "The State of Chen, long live! The State of Chen, long live!"
The rhythmic shouting led the people of the whole city to shout wildly, and everyone's face was filled with the relief and ecstasy of surviving the disaster.
The smile in Princess Roujia's eyes was unfathomable. She looked at Liu Chen, who was surrounded by the crowd, and there seemed to be no embarrassment of the new emperor meeting the old emperor.
The team entered the city and slowly stopped.
Liu Chen rode forward and looked at Princess Roujia.
Liu Chen smiled slightly and said, "I am not in the capital. I have to trouble my elder sister to guard the city."
Princess Roujia was about to nod when she saw the man not far behind Liu Chen. The darkness covered his figure, but the torch illuminated his handsome face. Princess Roujia's pupils shrank, and she looked at the figure in astonishment, muttering: "Uncle... Emperor..."
He... is not dead?
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