Chapter 634: Stop the army in the middle of winter

In order to eliminate dissidents and clear the obstacles to surrendering Deng, Ma Zhi set up a banquet in the general's mansion in the city, killing all He Yong and others who opposed him. At the same time, He Yong's old subordinates in the city were also killed one by one. According to statistics, the number of people killed in this turmoil reached 8,000. Originally, there were more than 30,000 Qin troops in Luanniao City. Later, Ma Tai took away 10,000 people, and now 8,000 people have been killed. Now there are less than 20,000 Qin troops in Luanniao City.

On September 13, in the fourth year of Tiantong, Ma Zhi led a group of generals to open the Luanniao City Gate and asked Deng’s army to surrender!

Li Siye led a large army into the city. After coming to the general's mansion, the position that originally belonged to Ma Zhi had already belonged to Li Siye. Li Siye sat down with a willingness, and then smiled and said to Ma Zhi: "General Ma can abandon the secret and turn to the light and surrender to my Da Deng. I am very happy. After entering Guzang City, I will definitely write to Your Majesty in person to ask for me for the general's merits!"

"Thank you General!" Ma Zhi replied with a smile.

"By the way, General Ma, I wonder what the situation in Guzang City is now? Is the Mengya tribe willing to surrender to my Da Deng?" After a few simple and polite words, he officially got to the point. Now Li Siye is more concerned about the situation in Guzang City and the situation in the Qiang tribe of Mengya tribe.

Ma Zhi replied: "Return to the general, the general had sent his son Ma Tai to lead 10,000 troops back to Guzang two days ago. Last night, he reported that he had completely controlled Guzang City. All the members of the Ying surname in the city were controlled, and there was no one who escaped the net. There was no news from the Mengya tribe yet, but the general was relieved. The Mengya tribe and the last general had been intersected for many years. If there was any obstacle, the Mo will personally go to the Mengya tribe and persuade the Mengya tribe to surrender!"

"Okay, General Ma is loyal and brave, but there is no need to worry about the Mengya tribe. Let's go to Guzang City first. The royal family of the Ying surname is of great importance and cannot be misunderstood!" Li Siye said.

"The general is wise!" Ma Zhi replied.

On September 18, in the fourth year of Tiantong, Li Siye led the main army to Guzang City. After entering the city, the first thing Li Siye did was to seal the Qin Palace in Guzang City. Li Siye also chose the former Prime Minister's Mansion as a temporary office.

After taking control of the entire Guzang City, Li Siye summoned the generals to discuss matters and said, "Guzang City is the capital of Qin and the important town of Xiliang. After taking down Guzang City, half of the eight counties in Xiliang were obtained, and the remaining half was naturally easy to capture, General Deng Zhong!"

"The last one is here!" Deng Zhong responded.

"The royal family of the Ying surname in Guzang City cannot continue to stay in Xiliang. I have decided to send people to Wancheng and be placed by the court. You can arrange a team of troops to escort along the way!" Li Siye said.

"In addition, it is September now, and there is still about one month to be in the middle of winter. The land of Xiliang will be covered with snow in winter, which is not conducive to combat. Therefore, we must take down the three counties of Jiuquan, Zhangye and Dunhuang as soon as possible. As for the northern, Tianshui, Anding and other places, we will seize them when we enter Guanzhong in the beginning of next spring!" Li Siye thought for a while and continued.

It is already mid-to-late September, and the deep winter in the northwest region is earlier than in the south. It is estimated that by mid-October, heavy snow will start to fall. There is only one month left. It is unrealistic to take down the six counties of Jiuquan County, Zhangye County, Dunhuang County, Tianshui County, Anding County, and Beidi County. Therefore, Li Siye chose to take over the three counties of Jiuquan County, Zhangye County, and Dunhuang County first, and the remaining Tianshui County, Anding County, and Beidi County. Anyway, they will pass by when they go to Guanzhong in the spring next year, so just go smoothly.

"General Ma, our army has just entered Xiliang, and we don't know much about the terrain of Xiliang, especially Jiuquan, Zhangye, Dunhuang and other places. We also asked General Ma to find some guides to guide the army so as not to delay time!" Li Siye said to Ma Zhi.

"Here! General, don't worry, I will make arrangements!" Ma Zhi replied.

After entering Guzang City, Li Siye first sent people to send all the Ying royal families left in Xiliang to Wancheng, which was disposed of by the court. At the same time, he divided his troops to seize the three counties of Zhucheng, Jiuquan County, Zhangye County and Dunhuang County.

After October, the middle of winter arrived as scheduled. Deng's army also collected the three counties of Jiuquan County, Zhangye County and Dunhuang County, but did not continue to move troops.

In November of the fourth year of Tiantong, Guanzhong and Chang'an City, the prosperous Chang'an City, now it seemed particularly depressed. At the beginning of the year, the Deng army invaded a large-scale attack, and the Qin army retreated everywhere. Baoxi Road and Mei County lost tens of thousands of elite troops. A few days ago, the Ma clan who guarded the eight counties of Xiliang surrendered to the Deng army, resulting in the loss of the seven counties of Wudu County, Longxi County, Jincheng County, Wuwei County, Jiuquan County, Dunhuang County, and Zhangye County, and lack of heavy troops to guard. I believe that after the beginning of spring, the Deng army will advance eastward, Beidi County, Tianshui County, and Anding County will be difficult to defend. Since Geng Yue's defeat in Ji County, the Qin army has lost all its elite troops on the western front, and the entire western part of Guanzhong is useless. As long as the Deng army wants to come, they can reach Wugong County at any time. Then they will go to Chang'an City.

On the Zhuque Street in Chang'an City, Qin Prime Minister Li You and Censor Bai Li Jin walked together on the street, and their expressions were not so good. There were only three of the five auxiliary ministers of Qin. Among them, Wang Feng died in Xingyang City, Geng Yue died in Mei County, and Ying Huai guarded Hulao Pass to death. Now, in Chang'an City, only Li You and Bai Li Jin were supporting him.

"Li Xiang, I heard that Your Majesty has not been in such good health these days!" Baili Jin and the Qin general Meng Zhan were from the same era. Among the five auxiliary ministers, they are the oldest, and now they are white-haired old men. However, in recent years, the talent of Qin has withered, so Baili Jin had no choice but to stay in the court.

Li You showed a worried expression on his face, nodded, and said, "Yes, yesterday, the Japanese prince came to the palace to meet His Majesty and found that His Majesty's spirit was much worse than before. Especially after the news of the fall of Xiliang came, His Majesty fainted in anger, and his body became worse than before when he woke up."

Last month, the Ma clan treason and surrendered to the enemy, and the counties of Xiliang were successively lost. All the Ying clan members who remained in Xiliang were captured by the Deng army. After Qin Emperor Ying Zhuang learned the news, he fainted in anger. The imperial physicians tried hard to rescue him. After waking up, Ying Zhuang immediately sent someone to kill all the descendants left by Ma Sheng, without leaving any of them.

The ministers in the court felt sorry for the experience of the Ma family, but no one spoke to dissuade them, because everyone knew that due to the fall of the Ying clan of the Xiliang family, the power of the Qin clan was suddenly lost by 80%. Ying Zhuang was filled with a resentment and had to vent it. As a member of the Ma clan of the Xiliang clan, the two sons left by Ma Sheng naturally became Ying Zhuang's punching bag. Originally, Ying Zhuang planned to deprive all Ma Sheng of all his honors, but was dissuaded by the ministers. After all, this matter had nothing to do with Ma Sheng, and Ma Sheng was also killed in battle for the country. It was really disappointing to treat a deceased hero in this way, so Ying Zhuang stopped this idea.

"The country is in trouble now. Your Majesty's dragon body is not good and the prince is young, which is really worrying!" Baili Jin sighed and said.

"So we ministers must share our worries with His Majesty. By the way, I heard that Zhao Jun has caused a lot of trouble in Chang'an these days?" Li You asked.

At that time, Li Siye forced the Qin County to destroy all the main forces on the western front of the Qin army. The main general Geng Yue died in battle and the troops headed straight to Chang'an City. At that time, there were only 10,000 defenders in Chang'an City. In order to resist the Deng army, Qin sent envoys to Jinyang for help. Zhao Kuo sent Zhao Kuo to lead 30,000 elite troops into Chang'an City. Later, although Li Siye led his army to fight in Xiliang, Zhao Kuo and the 30,000 Zhao army did not leave and remained in Chang'an City.

After all, the Zhao army came from afar to help Chang'an, so the Qin court was very tolerant of them. Generally, everything happened was turned into small things and small things, so that the Zhao army became more and more unscrupulous and caused something every now and then.

"Yes, they went to hunt near Mount Li a few days ago, and several hunters bumped into them and were killed by them!" Bai Lijin said gritting his teeth. These are all citizens of Qin, and they were killed by the Zhao army like this. As the top leaders of Qin, they were unable to hold them accountable. They really felt ashamed of the people.

"Oh..." Li You was speechless after hearing this, because what if he knew? He didn't dare to do anything to the Zhao army at all. Not to mention that Qin and Zhao are allies now, the Zhao army came from afar to save Qin. Just say that now in Chang'an City, the Zhao army has more Zhao army than the Qin army. If you really want to conspire, the Qin army may not be able to beat the Zhao army? Besides, even if you can beat it, it will be a catastrophe for Chang'an City.

"Li Xiang, can you ask Zhao Jun to leave?" Baili Jin asked Li You.

Li You shook his head and said, "This is impossible. If the Xiliang counties are still in the hands of our Great Qin and the elite Xiliang are still there, it may be possible. However, now the majority of Xiliang counties are in the hands of Deng's army, and the elite Xiliang are all lost. At this time, let alone asking Zhao's army to leave, even if Zhao's army leaves early, we must try our best to keep it, because once the Deng army resolves the war in Xiliang, it will advance eastward to Chang'an. Without Zhao's army, we will find it difficult to stop Deng's army."

At the beginning of the war, in addition to the troops stationed in various places, Qin State was only tens of thousands of elite troops from Xiliang. However, now Ma Zhi and Xiliang elite troops surrendered to Deng, resulting in the loss of any troops in the western part of Guanzhong. If the Zhao army does not rely on the Zhao army, would it be possible to draw troops from Hulao Pass and Lantiangu?

"But if the Zhao army continues like this, Guanzhong will probably stir up changes before the Deng army can attack!" Baili Jin said worriedly. Qin's roots in Guanzhong were basically not deep. If Zhao army was allowed to act recklessly, it would probably not be a problem with the Deng army at that time, but how to deal with the anger of the people of Guanzhong.

Li You thought for a while and said, "About this, I will go to Zhao Kuo, the chief general of the Zhao army. At the same time, the Deng army has now established the victory in Xiliang. I am afraid that it will enter Guanzhong eastward in the spring of next year, so I want to advise Your Majesty and ask the Zhao army to go to Longguan to garrison to resist Deng's army."

"It's better to go to Longguan than to be in Chang'an!" Baili Jin nodded.

Li You and Baili Jin entered the palace together and came to Yingzhuang's bedroom. As soon as they entered the bedroom, the two of them smelled the pungent smell of medicine. They were immediately worried, afraid that something would go wrong with Yingzhuang's body.

When they happened to see the imperial doctor who was treating Ying Zhuang, the two stopped him and asked, "Imperial doctor, what is the health of Your Majesty?"

Seeing that Li You and Bai Li Jin were the two auxiliary ministers who stopped him, the imperial doctor said, "My lords, Your Majesty's health is no longer a big deal, but he is still relatively weak and needs rest. He can't do anything anymore!"

When Li You and Bai Li Jin heard this, they felt a little panicked. Everyone knows this. But in the current situation of Qin State, can Ying Zhuang, as the emperor, rest with peace of mind?

"We understand. Remember, you must not let others know what you said to us today. Do you understand?" Li You said.

"Don't worry, the emperor must keep his mouth shut and will never say it out. If nothing is wrong, the emperor will go and prescribe medicine for His Majesty first!" said the imperial physician.

"Go!" Li You nodded and said.

After the imperial doctor left, Li You and Bailijin walked to Yingzhuang's bed. Yingzhuang saw Li You and Baili in, and quickly stood up and said, "Li Xiang and Baili are here, but what's wrong with Xiliang? Or is there something wrong with Hulao Pass and Lantiangu?"

Li You looked at Ying Zhuang's pale face and said, "Don't worry, your Majesty is now in mid-winter, and the Deng army in Xiliang will not do anything. Hulao Pass is a powerful pass in the world, and our army has tens of thousands of elite troops stationed, so there will be no accident. As for Lantiangu, Wu'an Jun is a famous general in the world. With him, the Deng army will not do anything."

"That's good! That's good!" Ying Zhuang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this. During this period, he was under too much pressure. The Ma clan of Xiliang surrendered to the enemy and treason. The members of the royal family who remained in Xiliang were beaten up by Deng's army and humiliated their ancestors. For this reason, Ying Zhuang locked himself in the Taimiao for several days and could not let go for a long time. Later, although the family killed Ma Sheng's two sons, it also attracted a lot of criticism, making people feel that Ying Zhuang was poor and after slaughtering the heroes.

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that you need to rest now. Just let the ministers deal with these matters. The dragon body is important!" Li You said.

"Haha! Li Xiang, the Qin Dynasty is in the midst of life and death, and the country is in danger, how can I rest at ease? By the way, I wonder if Li Xiang and Doctor Baili will enter the palace today?" Ying Zhuang said with a tragic smile.

Seeing Ying Zhuang's state, Li You didn't know whether he should say the words he had prepared, but if he didn't say them, it would probably become more and more intense. After hesitating for a moment, Li You decided to say them and said, "Your Majesty, I want to invite Zhao army to Longguan to garrison!"

"Why?" Ying Zhuang asked in confusion.

Li You and Bai Li Jin told Ying Zhuang about what Zhao Jun did over the past few days and the importance of Longguan.

When Ying Zhuang heard this, he was furious and said, "It's outrageous. Did the Zhao army regard my Guanzhong as their Jinyang City? He is so bold and arrogant!"

"Your Majesty calm down!" Seeing Ying Zhuang so angry, Li You hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, now we still have time to rely on the Zhao army. If you can bear some things, you can bear them!"

Ying Zhuang took a deep breath and said, "Li Xiang, you are right. Zhao Jun is really not suitable to stay in Chang'an. It's better to let them go to Longguan, but is Zhao Jun willing to go?"
Chapter completed!