Chapter 93: June Siege

Shazhou is an irrigated agricultural area protected by mountains and deserts. The abundant water of the snow-melting river has created more than ten large sieges and hundreds of small lakes, and mature farmland is everywhere. Although the Cao family has left many criticisms in terms of national and national emotions, to be fair, due to the maintenance of nearly twenty years of stability, the contributions made by Cao Yijin to the continuation of the Han family population and the Han culture in this area are still indelible. The entire Shazhou area is connected by hundreds of miles around Dunhuang, and thousands of villages are heard from each other. It is the most stable Han people's settlement in the entire Hexi. Although the Anxi Army held high the banner of the Han family, the Han customs are actually far from that of the Han people in Shazhou.

In terms of governance, the Cao regime learned from the lessons of military and military power in the late Zhang regime and controlled the proportion of military and civilians more reasonably, which also made Shazhou beneficial to the cultivation and restoration of the people of Shazhou. Of course, another outstanding result is that the military power is far inferior to its economic power.

Two or three hundred thousand people are scattered in rural areas in Shazhou. Since there was no emergency before, Dunhuang did not call on farmers outside the city to withdraw into the city.

In this hot June, tens of thousands of troops in Anxi suddenly flocked to this area. The farmers saw that they were a little panicked at first. Fortunately, the Tang army in Anxi, who was traveling around, did not disturb the people. After crossing the Hecangfeng, Murong Chunhua issued an iron order: After entering the country, the remaining people will be killed, the robbers will be killed, and the *** will be killed! The strict discipline is far superior to the gradually corrupt Guiyi soldiers.

The farmers saw the young men with spirits and said, "Oh, that's the soldiers of Zhang Dadu!"

Under the leadership of Lu Jialing, Xue Fu entered Sanjie Temple. The Anxi Army drove out hundreds of guards entrenched here. The released monk was grateful and couldn't help but burst into tears. He surrounded Lu Jialing and cried: "Master Jialing, if you come a few days later, you might not see us."

Since Sanjie Temple had a foundation for pro-Anxi, Lu Jialing suggested that Xue Fu stand up the army's commander flag here, which also sent a signal to the Buddhist community in Shazhou, implying that the Anxi Army would treat the Buddhist children well after they arrived. Sanjie Temple is one of the jungle leaders in the Shazhou area. When the cave temple outside Dunhuang City heard the news, they sent people to worship and show goodwill to the Anxi Army.

Buddhism is an extremely important social force in Hexi. From joy, funeral, wedding and burial to maintaining social security, the spiritual beliefs are all placed in temples. The construction of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, which was later famous, mainly relies on the power of Buddhism. It is possible to imagine the social force mastered by monks in Shazhou.

The first thing the temples had to do was to make the stability of the rural areas of Shazhou. Xue Fu and Murong Chunhua were busy with military affairs, so they naturally handed over all the Buddhist affairs in the entire Shazhou area to Lu Jialing to make a decision. Lu Jialing was only in his twenties, and at this time, he became an important figure in the entire Hexi Buddhist community.

With strong military strength, strict discipline and gentle ruling skills, the Anxi Tang Army quickly established the rule outside Dunhuang City and Shazhou with this comprehensive military, religious means. Half of this is attributed to Zhang Mai's activities over the past period of time, and half is thanks to Cao Yijin's more than 20 years of Shunmin education!

You should know that "The Long March Change of the Tang Army of Anxi" has long been spread throughout the villages. The Han people in Hexi have regarded Anxi as their own tribe. The people of the people lack resistance. I heard that Zhang Mai's army did not have much resistance when they entered the local rule. Many people thought this way: Cao Linggong was sorry to Zhang Dadu, so Zhang Dadu's people came to settle accounts with Cao Linggong.

Anyway, Master Cao can live under his command, from "The Long March of the Tang Army in Anxi", it seems that Master Zhang is better to the people. Master Zhang and Master Cao fight, what does it matter to the people? So most people just watch the fun, and some more enthusiastic rural areas put on incense cases to welcome the army. Of course, some people who are not convinced will make some destructive small actions, but these are just episodes, not mainstream. The countryside and rural areas of Shazhou are generally calm. If Cao Yijin saw that his confidant territory that he had been running for many years had accepted an alien ruler so easily, he would be so angry that he would jump up. However, many years later, when Zhang Mai reviewed this matter, he thought of another aspect of the matter: it was not the Anxi Army who joined the invasion of Shazhou this time, but the Hu people. Will the people of Shazhou be so obedient and so numb?

Compared with the calm outside the city, the situation in Dunhuang City is much more complicated!

Zhang Mai's strategic means to the people in the Shagua area are generally not to conquer, but to strive for it.

Xue Fu understood Zhang Mai's considerations, so after the army arrived in Dunhuang, he did not attack the city immediately, but occupied important roads everywhere to cut off communication inside and outside the city. Although Cao Yuande still had nearly 10,000 troops at hand, he had no courage to go out of the city to fight in the field at this time! Xue Fu did not seem to plan to attack for force.

From yesterday's besiege to now, there have been constant arrow books shooting into the city. There is no threat in the arrow books. On the contrary, it is all the words of Anmin. The arrow books drafted by Lu Jialing use very plain and even a bit of literary flavor to tell the people of Dunhuang: First, the Anxi army advanced eastward because the Cao family was sorry for Zhang Dadu and colluded with the Hu people to encircle Zhang Dadu in Yumen Pass, so the general Anxi led his troops to slander the people and punish the people; Second, after the army entered the city, it would never disturb the people, and the army would not be punished; Third, the residents in the city should not follow Cao Yuande to help the evildoer and start to welcome the army as soon as possible, but if they are still obsessed, the day when the city is broken will be the time to judge accomplices!

Dunhuang is a cultural center in the northwest. The literacy rate of residents in the city is close to 30%, so the content of the arch book spread quickly. Since the arch book is written in a different form, it is easy to read. A literate person reads it and the person who listens to it can pass it on.

At first, Cao Yuande and Yan Yifeng kept sending people to monitor the ***, but later even the officers and soldiers themselves privately circulated the archery book. Many of these officers and soldiers' families were also in the city - or outside the city. At this time, the overall situation was obviously under the control of the Anxi Army. In addition to the very few Cao's loyalty, how many people would be willing to take the family to follow Cao Yuande to jump into the fire pit?

The difference between the same race's *** Ge and the foreign race's war of resistance. If the army of aliens were surrounded outside the city at this time, the military and civilians in the city might be able to support the Cao family and swear to defend the city to the death. But now Xue Fu has made a clear statement outside the city: I am here to trouble the Cao family and has nothing to do with others! In addition, what happened during this period has caused the people to have general dissatisfaction with Cao Yuande's words and deeds. A feeling that Cao Yuande could not control began to surge and penetrated from the people into the army.

In Lu Jialing's words, this siege was not a military battle, but a war!

——————————

In the city, in the side alley of the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall, several low voices were talking.

"I'll see my elder brother tonight. I've agreed."

The eldest brother in this sentence is Zhang Yi.

"Tonight? Where is Luan Ding'an?"

"He yelled at us like a dog before, but after Anxi arrived yesterday, he became quiet like a cat. I said I was going to see my elder brother, so he closed his eyes."

"I didn't expect Cao Yuande's dog to become so fast."

"Wouldn't you go quickly? In a few days, Dunhuang will change its surname to Zhang! We have to move faster. As far as I know, the Murong family seems to have moved now."

———————————

When inside and outside Dunhuang, the Guiyi Army and the Anxi Army were busy, a terrible helplessness grabbed Cao Yuande's heart!

The development of the situation has been out of his control. Not only has the connection with Yizhou and Guazhou been cut off, but even in the city, he feels that he can no longer control it.

The people who monitored the Li family and the Murong family suddenly lost contact with him. What is the latest move of the Li family and the Murong family? I suddenly didn't know. Cao Yuande sent someone to scold and monitor the leaders of Li and the Murong family, but the people sent out did not come back. Was he killed by the Murong family and the Li family? Or did the people sent to betray him?

No matter what the answer is, it is extremely terrible!

The intelligence surveillance system is like this, and the military's movements are also a bit strange. Some generals seemed hesitant after receiving their orders. No one spoke when they held a military meeting in the morning. A voice seemed to echo in the silent venue: "What else can I do now?"

When Cao Yuande came back from the city gate, he and his guards walked on the street, with some windows and alleys shooting at him. Is that gaze laughing at him, or is he pitying himself? Or is he going to plot against himself?

After returning to the mansion, Cao Yuande felt that even the attendant's eyes became strange!

The sky outside the patio was filled with gorgeous sunlight, and the afterglow of the setting sun was scattered in every corner of the backyard of Cao Mansion. This was the yard that Cao Yuande assigned to Kalawa. Since the war started, Kalawa has walked out of the small house where he was secretly hiding and came to the largest yard in Cao Mansion. Since Cao Yuande broke with Zhang Mai, he had to please Via, so he worshiped Kalawa more carefully than worshiping his father.

At this time, an angry roar came from the yard, and some of the people serving were driven out: "Get out, call Cao Yuande! I want to ask clearly what's going on!"

"Why are you going crazy?" Cao Yuande stepped into the hospital gate and was very dissatisfied with Karawa's disrespect for himself in front of the servants.

"What's crazy?" Kalava said angrily in a tone of inciting troops and asking for guilt: "What did you do? He actually made Zhang Mai surrounded the city! How did your Guiyi Army defend the territory? He actually let the Anxi Army fight to the doorstep of his home to know!"

"I want to ask you more!" Cao Yuande said angrily: "Didn't you say that your Khan trapped the main force of the Anxi Army in Gaochang? Now look - go out and see! What is outside Dunhuang City - there are at least 40,000 to 50,000 troops! Yesterday you said that the Viaga in Gaochang had the upper hand, but today I doubt whether the entire army was wiped out! Otherwise, how could so many people come!"

Kalava was also tightened in the dark center. In this city, when the army besieged the city, if the people still have choices, and even the soldiers still have choices, then the two people who had no choices were Cao Yuande and Kalava. In this dilemma, both of them were a little confused. Both of them could no longer get rid of the predicament in front of them. All they could think of was the mistakes they made.

The messenger of Viaga shook his head and shouted: "Impossible, impossible! They can't break through the encirclement of our Khan so quickly. Even if they break through, they can't cross Yizhou and invade Dunhuang without a sound. Something went wrong, something must have happened. Yes..." Kalava suddenly seemed to have realized something: "It must be someone who betrayed you within your Guiyi Army, and it was someone they secretly let in, so that he was like this! Cao Yuande, I really misunderstood you, even the control of the inside is like this, it must be like this! I was really blind to join forces with you."

———————

The meeting with Kalava ended in a bad mood. When he came from the backyard, Cao Yuande knew that foreign players could no longer rely on them.

The only thing you can rely on now is yourself!

"Zhao Yan Yifeng!"

The sun sets, and the dim room is filled with seven confidants, including Yan Yifeng. At present, they are the only ones Cao Yuande can believe.

"Now, Xue Fu besieged the city, Ma Jirong is accomplice to the tiger regardless of his family's righteousness, Kang Xing has betrayed him again, Dunhuang is in danger, and the few people sitting in the house are working together. I hope everyone can come up with an idea!"

"The eldest son," Yan Yifeng said: "We are already confused. Now only the eldest son's order is to obey. Please tell me."

"Okay!" Cao Yuande: "My idea is to continue to fight! Gaochang is now surrounded by ten sides, and Yumen Pass will be broken at any time. As long as Gaochang is captured, the Anxi Army will lose its nest. As long as Yumen Pass is captured, the Anxi Army will be headless. Therefore, the current situation seems dangerous, but as long as you persist, we still have the opportunity to turn defeat into victory! One peak, pass the order, and some scholars, farmers, industrial and commercial enterprises in the city will be sent out, and one rank will be divided into three squads to defend the city. When fighting, those who take a step back will be killed! The street opposite the city gate is full of firewood. If the city gate falls, the enemy will be introduced into it and burn the street to kill the enemy! The enemy will advance again, and fight with the enemy in the street! In any case, be sure to drag it to the city of Gaochang and until Zhang Mai is killed!"

When the generals heard this, they looked embarrassed. Yan Yifeng saw that Cao Yuande looked bad, and suddenly stood up and said, "We should obey the order of the eldest son and fight to the end!" The generals also quickly set up an oath with Yan Yifeng.

Cao Yuande was overjoyed and said, "If you work together with me, we will definitely be able to overcome this level! As long as you repel the enemy and kill Zhang Mai, the future Hexi world will be shared by me and you!" The seven generals present were given three levels on the spot, and Yan Yifeng was also appointed as the Shaobao.

When the generals came out, they all blamed Yan Yifeng and said, "General Yan, now people in Dunhuang City are unwilling to fight. Not to mention the people, even soldiers don't want to fight. Now they have to give up a household. Isn't that forcing the people to cause trouble? They also said they wanted to pile up firewood and burn the city. How can they accept such a command that both sides suffered losses?"

Yan Yifeng said: "If you don't accept it, I'm afraid that the eldest son will cut us on the spot!"

"But I can't handle it now. No one will listen to us. Someone has to force the people to serve as soldiers. But now even the soldiers are not willing to join the army, and only someone can take the lead in surrendering to the enemy. How can we get rid of the children?"

Yan Yifeng smiled and said, "This is because you are confused. You have accepted the order, but you didn't say when to go and we just send the order. As for whether the generals and soldiers listen to the order, it is the matter of the generals and soldiers."

The generals asked, "But when the eldest son asked, how should we answer?"

Yan Yifeng sneered: "Look back... and let's talk about it then!"

The generals turned their worries into joy, but Yan Yifeng was thinking about the general's words just now: "Take the lead in surrendering to the enemy, take the lead in surrendering to the enemy..." His heart tightened: "Oh! My father took people to siege Zhang Mai. This is a serious crime. If I don't make a great contribution quickly, the Yan family will be uprooted in the future! This head that has been used by Anxi cannot be snatched away."

That night, he drafted a letter and led some of his confidants to the west gate in the name of patrolling the city, and came to a remote corner with the lights on.

Outside the city, the soldiers of Anxi Army saw that the lights were strangely lit up, and a group of people approached. Yan Yifeng was overjoyed and was about to shoot the arrow tied to the letter. Suddenly, he became confused. He was stunned and looked back and saw dozens of people coming up. Yan Yifeng was shocked and shouted, "What are you doing!"

But the whole person had been pressed down, and someone even snatched the letter from his hand and handed it to someone. Yan Yifeng barely raised his head, and saw the face of an acquaintance clearly under the fire, and said in surprise: "Mu...Murong Teng! Why are you..."

———————

After the generals left, Cao Yuande calmed down from joy and excitement.

Can the arrangement just now really turn the tide?

Although Yan Yifeng expressed his loyalty loudly, Cao Yuande still felt uneasy from the doubtful eyes of the generals.

As soon as he looked up, he found a strange maid pouring tea. Cao Yuande was suspicious of being a dark ghost and saw the fierce light in her eyes!

"Where is Haitang?" That was the eldest maid who was used to serving him.

"I... don't know..."

The little maid was actually trembling with fear, but Cao Yuande believed that he was guilty!

"There is a problem with the tea!" He jumped up suddenly, grabbed the maid's mouth and poured it down. The maid struggled in panic, "Swallow it!" Cao Yuande said angrily. He covered her mouth and pinched her nose. The maid choked, and the tea flowed out from the corners of his mouth and even from his nose.

The maid did not have any symptoms of poisoning. After Cao Yuande found out that he had misunderstood, he became even more ashamed and angry.

"roll!"

The two guards ran in when they heard the sound, and came in a hurry. One of the sword fell out of the sheath. Cao Yuande was shocked: "You want to assassinate me?" He noticed that the guard was a little unfamiliar, "Where is Luan Yong?"

"Little... I don't know." The guard said hurriedly: "It was the second young master who transferred the little one..."

"Second Young Master?"

He grabbed the knife and slashed, and the guard ran away in a hurry.

"The eldest son is crazy, the eldest son is crazy!"

The maid and the guard suddenly ran away. Just yesterday, the mansion was still under his control, and the city was still under his control, but now the surroundings became empty, and the deep courtyard became dead quiet, a kind of quiet that was enough to make people crazy!

It took a long time, and finally someone came in pushing the door that was covered by the wind.

"Luan Yong, is it Luan Yong?"

But what I walked in was a more familiar face, a relative I had recognized since childhood—

"Brother, it's me."

Cao Yuanshen!
Chapter completed!