Chapter 4903 Forced to Help
"Zuo Xiaowei put down his weapons and dispersed on the spot to wait for the follow-up. The An clan surrendered in Kaicheng and asked his family to move to Guanzhong. Then Zuowu Wei, Zuo Xiaowei, and Anxi Army jointly submitted a letter to put an end to the war in Fanhe City. Stabilize the situation in Hexi and ensure the smooth flow of the Silk Road.”
Su Liangsi was eloquent and well-organized, and explained Pei Xingjian's strategy clearly.
Niu Jinda thought for a moment and said in a deep voice: "This matter is serious and I don't dare to specialize in it. I need to report it back to the camp and let the commander make a decision."
Su Liangsi nodded and said: "This is natural. I just ask Duke Langya to suspend the attack on Fanhe City. After all, they are all soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. Killing each other like this is really painful for the relatives and happy for the enemies."
"The attack can be stopped, but the siege cannot be lifted before the commander makes a decision."
Marching to fight is not just about formulating strategies and deploying tactics. What is particularly important is how to boost and maintain the morale of the army. Now that the army has gained momentum in attacking Fanhe City, the suspension of the attack has already dampened morale. If the entire army retreats and lifts the siege When Cheng Yaojin couldn't reach an agreement and had to besiege again, it had a huge impact on the morale of the army.
Once morale is low and the morale of the military is unstable, even if we can still win in the end, the price we have to pay will be extremely huge.
Su Liangsi was also a man who knew soldiers and understood that Niu Jinda's request was not excessive: "Yes, but a path still needs to be opened so that the doctor who comes with me can carry medicines into Fanhe City for treatment. Zuo Wuwei attacked Fanhe City fiercely. There must be countless casualties in the city, and we cannot ignore death.”
"I will ask someone to open a channel to allow the Anxi Army to enter the city for treatment. In addition, if the medicinal materials or doctors are not enough, Zuo Wuwei can provide support at any time."
"This is very good. Please report it to Duke Lu immediately."
*****
The wind was strong, the sky was freezing, and snowflakes were raging in the darkness.
The lights on the top of Fanhe City are like beans, hiding the towering city wall in darkness. In order to prevent the enemy from firing firearms at the top of the city and inside the city at night, the defenders on the top of the city did not dare to light too many candles, so as not to give the enemy a clear coordinates, which makes the huge city look even more eerie and dilapidated.
An Yuanshou came to the city under the escort of a group of Anxi Army cavalry. He looked up at the broken city wall and took a deep breath.
The An family has been reproducing in Liangzhou for more than ten generations, guarding Guzang and intimidating Hexi. Although they have never established a country, no matter how dynasties change in the Central Plains, they are like a "country within a country", with prosperity and glory ranking first in the world. .
However, to this day, because of his wrong prediction and foolish actions, he is in a desperate situation and his demise is imminent...
If this catastrophe cannot be eliminated and the An family is completely wiped out, even if he dies fighting, how can he meet his ancestors under Jiuquan?
No matter what, we must protect the entire clan, no matter how humiliating it is.
Riding to the city, An Yuanshou pulled off the felt hat on his head, raised his face and shouted towards the tower: "I am An Yuanshou, open the door quickly!"
The guards on the city tower had already been alerted. After hearing this, they couldn't help but look at each other.
They knew that the marshal was not in the city. In the past few days, when facing Zuo Wuwei's fierce attack, his wife had been in charge and even went to the top of the city. However, they had no idea where the marshal was going. Now, a man claiming to be the marshal came out of the city. People clamored to open the door quickly... How dare you open this door?
The guard lay on the top of the city and looked down, but the night was too dark and the lights were insufficient, so he couldn't see his face clearly. Moreover, even if he saw that it was indeed the commander, he didn't dare to open the door rashly.
Who knows whether the commander was kidnapped by the enemy?
"Wait a moment, Commander, I will notify my wife to come and meet you!"
The defenders on the city made a wise move. Since they didn't dare to take the initiative to open the door, they found someone who could.
Now in the city, the only one who can make the decision is Mrs. Zhai Liuniang.
An Yuanshou: "..."
I am a handsome man, but I actually want my wife to come and identify me and confirm that he is correct before I can open the door? !
Feeling depressed and furious, he shouted: "Why don't you go quickly? Just wait and be careful of the military stick!"
The defenders on the city quickly sent two people down from the tower and ran to the government office in the city to notify Zhai Liu Niang.
In the government office, a lamp is as bright as a bean.
Now that Banwa City is under siege and all transportation is cut off, any materials must be used carefully, and candles must be used sparingly...
Just after dinner, Zhai Liuniang and An Zhongjing were sitting in the dark room. Mother and son sat opposite each other, holding teacups and full of worry.
After Zuo Wuwei made a tentative attack, he immediately launched an all-out attack. Although it was not conducive to attack in the cold winter, Zuo Wuwei had the advantage in strength after all. Facing Zuo Xiaowei who was defending the city, he used all kinds of firearms. They bombed indiscriminately and launched continuous fierce attacks from the gaps in the city wall.
Although the soldiers who defended the city repulsed the enemy's charges time and time again, they suffered extremely heavy casualties. What is particularly important is that the morale of the army dropped rapidly due to the siege of the isolated city. I am afraid that it will not take long before it collapses. At that time, the city may surrender, Or tie up their mother and son to take credit...
Zhai Liuniang sighed: "I don't know what your father's situation is now. I hope Pei Xingjian will not just sit back and watch the situation in Hexi deteriorate."
Now the only one who can stop Cheng Yaojin is Pei Xingjian who is in Ganzhou. But after all, stopping Cheng Yaojin will inevitably offend others. Will Pei Xingjian offend a Zhenguan noble like Cheng Yaojin because of the situation in Hexi?
It is even possible that An Yuanshou would be tied up and sent to Chang'an as soon as they met...
An Zhongjing also sighed: "There are many dangers for my uncle to go to Chang'an. The Yin family may not be reliable. Money and silk are attractive to people. If the Yin family has evil intentions due to greed, the uncle will be in bad luck. The most important thing is that if the uncle cannot rush there, In Chang'an, no one will lend a helping hand to save my An family."
In a desperate situation and helpless, any slight setback may lead to the destruction of the whole clan.
At this moment, a soldier came quickly from outside and said in surprise: "Mrs. Qi, Mr. Young Master, the soldiers at the top of the city said that the commander-in-chief has returned and is calling the door at the bottom of the city!"
Zhai Liuniang was immediately overjoyed. An Zhongjing had already jumped up: "Why don't you hurry up and welcome your father back?"
The soldier said: "It's dim under the city, and the commander-in-chief didn't bring any seal with him. They don't dare to do it. They kindly ask Madam to come and recognize him."
Zhai Liuniang also stood up: "It's always better to be cautious. I'll go right away!"
An Zhongjing grabbed his pocket and put it on: "I'm going with my mother!"
……
An Yuanshou was finally welcomed into the city. The three members of the family looked at each other with haggard expressions. Who would have thought that a few days ago, a prominent family, with military power and wealth, was now on the verge of destruction. The gap between before and after was as big as a world. The difference was so huge that it was unbearable and almost made me cry.
In the house under the city, Zhai Liuniang calmed down and asked: "I am going to Ganzhou. I wonder if I can tax Pei Xingjian?"
An Yuanshou sighed and shook his head: "Persuasion is enough, but it is not much different from no persuasion."
Zhai Liuniang was confused: "How do you say this?"
An Yuanshou wiped his face and explained Pei Xingjian's conditions one by one...
As soon as he finished speaking, An Zhongjing became furious and shouted: "That's too much! My An family has been rooted in Liangzhou for two hundred years, and I have tens of thousands of soldiers under my command. Even if I fight to the last soldier, I will definitely be able to defeat Cheng." If you bite the gold and smash these counties in Hexi, you will die. You must not grovel and beg for mercy!"
"Mother!"
An Yuanshou was so angry that he kicked his son aside and said angrily: "Your father, I endured the humiliation for the sake of my clan, but in your mouth, it turns into groveling and begging for mercy? It would be a pleasure for you and me to die. At most, the whole family will be neat and tidy." , but what about the family? What about the ancestral graves? With no inheritance and no worship in the ancestral hall, you and I are the eternal sinners of the An family!"
An Zhongjing was too shy to speak.
Zhai Liuniang frowned and said: "The situation is urgent and we are in a desperate situation. Why should we vent our anger on our son?"
After a pause, he said: "Although I am humiliated by this, if I can save the whole clan, I have to do it."
In just a few days, Banhe City suffered heavy losses under Zuowuwei's fierce attack. Faced with heavy siege, it was impossible to replenish supplies. The morale of the army dropped rapidly. If we continue like this for a few days, I am afraid it will trigger a mutiny in Xiaoying. The Shi'an clan died without a burial place.
An Yuanshou said: "I am now afraid that after we surrender, Pei Xingjian will tear up the previous agreement and kill us all. By then, we will be defenseless and can only be slaughtered..."
Zhai Liuniang thought for a while, shook her head and said: "No, Pei Xingjian was promoted by Fang Jun. At a young age, he was already the Protector of Anxi and one of the most senior officials in the court. In a few years, he was transferred back to Chang'an to serve as Prime Minister. It’s almost a sure thing. Such a promising young official values his reputation more than his life. How can he go back on his word and make money by breaking his promise?”
An Yuanshou was just undecided before, but when his wife said this, he no longer worried: "Let's do it this way. No matter what, it's good that we are still here."
But having said that, if the family fortune accumulated by the ancestors for hundreds of years is lost in his hands, how can one not feel the blood dripping from his heart and feel the pain in his bones?
At this time, An Zhongjing came over and asked, "What's going on over there, uncle?"
It is not impossible for the whole family to surrender and move to Guanzhong. If the money and silk from my uncle's side are safe and sound, they can buy fields, manors, and houses in Guanzhong, and they will still be well clothed and well-fed.
Mentioning this matter, An Yuanshou clenched his fist and smashed it on the table with hatred, gnashing his teeth and tearing his eyes apart: "The Yin family's dog thief colluded with Cheng Yaojin to kill my brother, embezzle my family's money and silk, and even worse, he If our family is framed and framed, I will fight to the death!”
Zhai Liuniang hurriedly asked: "What's going on?" An Yuanshou recounted what he learned from Pei Xingjian. Zhai Liuniang's eyebrows stood up and she was filled with anger. She angrily said: "How dare Yin Hongyong do this? Our two families are They are family friends. Now that our family is in dire straits and we are asking for help, he just refuses to pay attention. He is actually so sinister and vicious that he will die sooner or later!"