Chapter 3964 Ruined Chang'an
The rain has stopped for a while, the sky is covered with clouds, and the air seems to hold water...
Although the rebellion has subsided, the situation is not yet stable. The water levels of dozens of rivers in Guanzhong have not dropped. The river embankments have been hit by floods, and dangers are everywhere. Outside the city, civilians organized by the government are everywhere, transporting relief supplies. River embankments everywhere.
Zhou Daowu rode with his helmet and armor on and led a group of soldiers along the official road at the foot of Lishan Mountain to Chang'an, arriving at the shore of Ba River in the middle of the night.
The calm and soothing Ba River in the past has become turbulent and turbulent. The turbulent river water rushes down, carrying branches, wooden piles and even animal carcasses washed upstream. Standing on the shore, Ba Bridge has long been destroyed, and only the remaining broken bridge piers are riddled with holes. This shows how fierce the war in Chang'an was that day. It was destiny for the East Palace to turn defeat into victory in a desperate situation.
I don’t know how many people will pay a heavy price for watching with indifference when Guan Long raised his troops or even helping him perpetrate evil...
But there is no need to lament and regret, taking sides in the court is so cruel. If you stand on the right side, the natural benefits will be huge. If you stand on the wrong side, you will have to bear the corresponding consequences.
Everything is your own responsibility and you cannot blame others.
He also did not want to get involved in this power struggle, so he stayed away from Liaodong and stayed out of the matter. After the storm, when the outcome was determined, he would return to the DPRK to fully support the winner. This would have the lowest benefits, but also the lowest risks. Who would have expected that it would still be affected...
The pontoon bridge was erected on the rushing river. The water flow washed away the wooden boats that served as the bridge piers, and the entire wooden bridge was swaying. Zhou Daowu had to dismount, and led his soldiers across the pontoon bridge. After reaching the other side, he got back on his horse and went straight to Chunming Gate. .
When he arrived outside the Chunming Gate, he saw the Zuowu Guards on the left side of the city gate and the Youtun Guards on the right leaning against each other. The two military camps were both with flags fluttering and their troops in full glory. Zhou Daowu secretly admired these two camps. The army has experienced After the war, one in Liaodong, marched straight into the city to siege the stronghold, and the other in the Western Region, defended the territory and defeated the barbarians. The same expedition was invincible for thousands of miles. After returning to Chang'an, its combat power was still undiminished, and it was regarded as the first-class powerful army in the world.
Cheng Yaojin is just that. He has made great achievements in the army for half his life. He is one of the only famous generals who achieved great results at the beginning of the founding of the country. As a younger generation, Fang Jun's performance is amazing. No one among the younger generation can surpass him, even Zhou Daowu. He is so conceited that he has no choice but to accept defeat.
There is inevitably some regret in my heart. Why did I turn against Fang Jun instead of building a good relationship with Fang Jun?
Soldiers had already come up to the city gate, and they recognized Zhou Daowu as his consort. After saluting him, he checked the seals and ribbons of the documents and the customs clearance documents. After confirming that they were correct, he asked, "I wonder why Governor Zhou came to the city?"
Zhou Daowu said: "I accompanied the army on the eastward expedition. I was sent to Pingrang City to escort the prisoners back to the country. Today I returned to Chang'an and entered the city to report to His Highness the Crown Prince."
The soldiers led him to a house under the city, registered him according to the form, and then gestured to the soldiers on the city to lower the drawbridge, open the city gate, and respectfully sent him into the city. He stood aside and said, "General, please enter the city! ”
A group of soldiers were sent to monitor Zhou Daowu and his personal soldiers, and went straight into the city gate.
……
It was cloudy and not raining today, but Zhou Daowu entered the city from Chunming Gate and rode his horse through the long street. There was not a single pedestrian along the way. Only groups of soldiers led by Dong Gongliu walked neatly from time to time, fully armed and with a solemn momentum. Dongshi, Pingkangfang and Chongrenfang on both sides of the north and south were originally the most prosperous places in Chang'an. They were usually crowded with merchants, pedestrians like ants, and barbarians in strange clothes could be seen everywhere. But now they are deserted, decadent and depressed.
Signs of damage after the war can be seen everywhere on the walls, houses, and shops along the street.
Zhou Daowu couldn't help but sigh. Since the Sui Dynasty built the Metabolism Energy Process in the old land of the Han Dynasty as the capital of the empire, this city has become the center of the world. It is not only the core of imperial power, but also brings together the wealth from all over the world. When the Tang Dynasty was founded, Zhenguan came. With great efforts in governance and prosperity of all industries, it has already become the largest and most prosperous capital city in the world. At its peak, the number of soldiers, civilians, and merchants in Chang'an reached nearly one million.
Now suffering from the ravages of war, once dilapidated and decayed, I don’t know how many years and hardships it will take to restore its former glory.
Although a country is large, if it is warlike, it will perish.
The ancients are sincere and I can't deceive them...
Passing Yanximen and walking along the long street to Chengtianmen, what he saw on the way shocked Zhou Daowu. Several of the main entrances of the East Palace and Taiji Palace were riddled with holes, damaged and collapsed. Chengtianmen had been completely dismantled, and countless young masters and craftsmen were carrying it. Masonry, timber, foundation clearing, rebuilding.
Standing in front of Chengtian Gate and looking south, the imperial city, which was originally the headquarters of many central government offices, was almost razed to the ground. The dilapidated houses were demolished one by one by the soldiers. The beams and columns were collapsed, and the bricks and tiles were everywhere. Yi.
Zhou Daowu stood there blankly, somewhat in disbelief.
Although he was born in the Zhou family in Runan, he moved to Chang'an after his father died. He grew up here since he was a child. He went in and out of the palace as if he were on the ground. It is hard to imagine that a war could destroy such a magnificent and prosperous Chang'an city to such a state...
……
The imperial guards outside Chengtian Gate came forward to inquire about their identity. After entering the palace, Zhou Daowu dismounted his horse and followed the two chamberlains into the palace. Wherever he looked, he was more and more horrified and shocked. What kind of tragedy this majestic Tai Chi Palace had experienced. How can the fighting between them make the city of Chang'an more dilapidated than the city of Chang'an?
The Tai Chi Palace, which used to be grand and magnificent in the past, is in a mess. Almost all the beautiful scenery has been destroyed. Broken walls and ruins are everywhere. Each of the gorgeous palaces has suffered varying degrees of damage. Dense scaffolding covers every corner of the palace. , countless craftsmen are climbing up and down to repair it.
Arriving outside the Wude Hall, the chamberlain came in to play the sermon. Zhou Daowen was waiting outside the door. He felt a chill on his forehead. He looked up and saw dense clouds piled up one after another. Fine raindrops sprinkled down, and in the blink of an eye they formed a line and gathered together. The dilapidated Tai Chi Palace was shrouded in mist and rain, making it even more desolate.
After a moment, the chamberlain turned around and said respectfully: "His Royal Highness is discussing matters with several ministers in the palace. Please invite the Governor of Zhou to come in and have an audience."
Zhou Daowu frowned.
He returned to Chang'an this time with the intention of meeting the prince in private, and was forgiven by the prince emotionally, and would no longer pursue the matter of killing the prisoners. However, if there were too many people present, it would be inevitable for someone to add insult to injury, and the prince should not be too partial... …
It's just that we have reached the end of the field and it is no longer appropriate to retreat.
I had no choice but to nod, straighten my clothes, step up to the stone steps in front of the door, and enter the Wude Hall under the gaze of two lifelike white jade lions...
There was a faint sound of arguing in the hall, but it stopped abruptly when Zhou Daowu stepped into the hall.
Zhou Daowu gathered his mind and walked into the palace. The light was a little dim. He squinted slightly and saw clearly that the prince was sitting on the throne. Xiao Yu, Liu Jie, Fang Jun, and Ma Zhou were seated on the left and right respectively, and they all looked up to him at this moment. It seems.
He took a few strides to come to Li Chengqian, knelt down on one knee, performed military salutes, and said loudly: "The last general, Zhou Daowu, was ordered to escort the prisoners back to the country. Come and report to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Li Chengqian was as gentle as ever, with a smile on his fair and fat face: "Coming back from Liaodong, it is difficult to travel through thousands of mountains and rivers. You have worked hard on the road. Looking at your face, you are dark and thin. You must have suffered a lot. It's a little while." Let’s take a rest later so that Linchuan won’t feel distressed.”
"Daowu" is the word of Zhou Daowu, it is written in words, not a name...
Seeing the prince's gentle and caring expression, Zhou Daowu felt relaxed in his heart and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Highness. I was about to return from Liaodong at the end of my journey. I encountered a blizzard and extremely cold weather, and the road was blocked by heavy snow. I had no choice but to stay in Liaodong City, thinking of Chang'an." I am very worried about the situation. If I take a step back tonight, I beg you to forgive me!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Ji, who was sitting beside him, frowned and asked, "May I ask how many prisoners Zhou Dudu was ordered to escort back to China?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Zhou Daowu's heart sank. Sure enough, he was targeted, but it was not the expected Fang Jun, but Liu Jie, the man who killed a thousand swords...
He replied with a guilty conscience: "There are tens of thousands of people."
Liu Ji sneered: "I don't even have accurate figures. It shows that Governor Zhou is not very interested in this military matter... So have all these prisoners arrived in Guanzhong at this moment? The time is just right. Guanzhong is currently suffering from a military disaster by the rebels. , is in dire straits and needs huge manpower to rebuild it. The general’s trip is like giving help in times of trouble, and His Highness the Crown Prince will give it a commendation.”
Li Chengqian touched the short mustache on his lips, feeling a little embarrassed.
There have been rumors about Zhou Daowu's killing of prisoners for a long time, and Li Chengqian also believed that it was probably the case. However, he had heard of the rumors circulating in the city that "killing prisoners would harm the peace of the world". Even if they were just prisoners, even if they were slaughtered, they would be It was a last resort, just punishing Zhou Daowu a little. You can't blame Zhou Daowu for the defeat of the Eastern Expedition and the injury to your father just for the sake of a few prisoners, right?
After all, he is also a post of meritorious service and his own brother-in-law. Zhou Daowu cannot bear such a big crime...
But Liu Ji made this matter clear at this moment. As a prince, he could not pretend to be confused. There must be an explanation for right and wrong.
Zhou Daowu had already greeted Liu Jie's eight generations of ancestors in his heart at this moment, but even though he was still angry, he had to take off his headband and put it on his side. Instead, he knelt on his knees and said in a voice of shame, anger and guilt: "Your Highness Mingjian The climate in Liaodong is harsh, the road is difficult to travel, and winter supplies are extremely scarce. As a result, the prisoners suffered from frostbite on a large scale. Some people suffered from severe frostbite and died from the cold. Some people had severe frostbite and could not be cured. The general could only kill and exile them to avoid dragging down the army. Although this was a helpless move, it was a real violation. Military law, willing to be punished!”
Liu Jie said disdainfully: "You put it lightly. Killing the captives harmed the peace of heaven and made God's anger fall, which led to the setback of the Eastern Expedition. How can it be easily overturned with a mere punishment?"
He turned to look at Li Chengqian and said: "Your Highness, I would like to ask the Three Law Divisions to conduct a joint trial. Once it is confirmed that Zhou Daowu killed the prisoners, he should be beheaded according to the law to set an example to others!"
Zhou Daowu was so frightened that his complexion changed...(End of Chapter)