The rise of the prince

Chapter 292
The black cloud was pressing down on the city and the city was about to be destroyed, and Jiaguang opened golden scales to the sun.

The most worrying situation happened. The rebel army approached the city and began to set up camp outside Luzhou City. They dug deep ditches and cut down surrounding trees to build horses and fences.

That night, people in the city were panicked, and many people were restless.

Di Zhi stayed at the top of the city all night, and even slept in the bedding of the top of the city.

Early the next morning, the plain south of Luzhou city had completely changed.On the wilderness, there are deep ditches where the horses are placed. The white tents stretch for several miles. There are dense figures everywhere, and the flags are all over the sky. Some people continue to enter the camp through the woods in the south. The camp is also expanding from east to west.

Standing at the top of the city, it was the first time Li Xingzhou had seen a war of this scale. Not to mention anything else, the camp that stretched for more than ten miles was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

The defenders at the top of the city were also more or less affected, swallowing saliva unconsciously, their hands and feet trembling.

"How many are there?" Li Xingzhou asked.

Di Zhi said: "Looking at the number of tents, there should be more than ten thousand people, and there will be more people coming one after another."

Li Xingzhou nodded. These people set up tents outside the city, meaning they would live here until Luzhou was destroyed. It seemed that the rebels were determined to take Luzhou this time.

By noon, almost all the rebels had arrived one after another, and there was a company camp outside Luzhou City.

After several days of continuous rain, the weather began to clear up, and the scorching heat of summer also followed, filling the air.

Li Xingzhou looked at the rebels from a distance: "Di Zhi, when do you think they will attack the city?"

Di Zhi turned his head, cupped his hands and said, "In my opinion, at least five or six days later, all the siege equipment prepared by Luzhou was in the camp. The light ones were captured by us, and the heavy ones have been burned. They need to make temporary .”

Saying this, he pointed to the west side of the rebel camp: "My lord, look over there."

Li Xingzhou looked in the direction he pointed, and sure enough, a large number of rebels were cutting down the forest nearby, and then hauled the wood to the western camp.

Di Zhi explained next to him: "As soon as there are more people, the siege ladders will be faster, but the siege towers and siege vehicles will be very slow, and the siege ladders need to be smoked after they are built, otherwise they will slip if they step on them. .The city of Luzhou is two feet high, and the ladder is at least two feet five feet high. If it slips, they will definitely not be able to climb it."

While talking, he said worriedly: "But my lord, what my subordinates are most worried about is the east gate."

"East gate."

Di Zhi nodded: "I talked to the gate official, and he said that the east gate of Luzhou collapsed five years ago, and after it was rebuilt, it was more than six feet shorter than the other gates. My subordinate also went to see it in person yesterday, and it was indeed as he said. It is said that there is a section of the city wall that is about thirty steps short, but it is about eight feet shorter."

"Bachi." Li Xingzhou nodded, Bachi is almost two meters, it is indeed a question: "Can it be temporarily raised?"

Di Zhi shook his head: "There is a city tower built on top of it. To increase the height, the tower must be demolished. The gain outweighs the loss."

"I understand, I will let Qifang's Xiang army temporarily strengthen there, just in case." Li Xingzhou said.

"Is this battle report true?" After the death of the Empress Dowager, and being forced to put the royal family under house arrest, the emperor had been in a bad mood recently, but when he saw the southern battle report presented by the Privy Council today, his face turned rosy, and the hand holding the paper trembled slightly.

"Reporting to the emperor, it is indeed true. It was presented by Yang Hongzhao's own soldiers, and the handwriting can be matched." Wen Daoli, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, reported.

Wen Daoli looked to be about 50 years old, tall and plain, his skin was dark due to the wind and sun at the border.

Not long after he returned to Beijing, Zhong Daoyu entrusted him with many affairs of the Privy Council. After all, Zhong Daoyu was old and his energy was not as good as before.

However, he was not the only one waiting in the side hall of Changchun, Wang Yue, Pingzhang Shi under Tongzhong Shumen, Yin He Zhao of Kaiyuan Mansion, Ji Chunsheng, envoy of martial arts, and Zhao Guanghua, commander of the guard army Ma Jun.

"Wen Daoli is the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, in charge of military affairs, why did you guys come here?" the emperor asked.

Wang Yue arched his hands: "Your Majesty, it is related to the situation in the southern war, and as a veteran..."

"I want to hear the truth." The emperor knocked on the table and said.

Wang Yue was embarrassed, and then did not change his face, "The southern war situation is part of it. This battle report involves King Pingnan. He is the grandson-in-law of the old minister. The old minister cannot just sit idly by."

He Zhao was even more embarrassed, and said bluntly: "King Pingnan is also a registered official of my Kaiyuan Mansion."

"General Zhong is not feeling well, and sent his ministers to listen to the hadith and report back." Zhao Guanghua was justified.

When it came to Ji Chunsheng, he said honestly: "I can't let go of my son, please forgive my sin."

"Hum..." the emperor just snorted, but didn't say anything, his complexion was rather ruddy.

"How did Yang Hongzhao deal with it?" the emperor asked again, his tone apparently better.

Wen Dao quickly replied: "Back to the emperor, at first Yang Hongzhao planned to go directly south, take advantage of the opportunity to take down the important town in the south, and dredge the waterway of Suzhou, but later found that the rebels had [-] warships in the south, blocking the river, so he had to turn to the towns in the east. Prepare to recover the area east of Ansu Prefecture."

"Bastard! How dare he build so many warships privately in a small Ansu Mansion!" He Zhao couldn't help cursing.

Wang Yue also nodded: "It seems that the Ansu Mansion's rebellion has been planned and prudent for many years, and it didn't happen overnight."

The emperor didn't comment, but pointed at Wen Daoli: "Go on."

"Yes, Your Majesty.

According to the judgment of Chen and General Zhong after discussing overnight, the rebels took such a risk and transferred the eastern and southern defenders to go north. In all likelihood, something happened to the north, and the rebels could not resist, so they would rather leave the southeast empty than take risks. troops. " Wen said carefully.

"The north of Suzhou is the Huaihua Mansion. Yang Hongzhao's waiter reported that the rebels had already mobilized tens of thousands of troops and gathered on the border of the Huaihua Mansion in the north, preparing to attack Luzhou City. But now they are taking the risk of mobilizing troops from the southeast. It is likely that they will eat in Luzhou." A big defeat! And this defeat hurts the muscles and bones, causing them to jump over the wall in a hurry."

"Luzhou? The son is going to Luzhou!" Ji Chunsheng also said hastily.

Both Wang Yue and He Zhao glanced at him, the corners of their mouths raised.

Sure enough, as soon as the words came out, the emperor clenched his fists tightly, as if he was frowning and thinking about something, "I let Yang Hongzhao go west, just to distract the rebels and win a chance for Xingzhou. After all, his filial piety is commendable. What do you say?
Hey, but Yang Hongzhao said that Xingzhou only brought a thousand people, how can a thousand people make things happen? "

He also asked everyone this question.

In fact, everyone vaguely had these thoughts, because there was civil strife in Luzhou, but the situation changed suddenly after King Pingnan led people there. The timing was too coincidental, but the question is, as the emperor said, how can a thousand people make things happen?what can be done.
There are [-] rebels, no matter how you think about it, it is impossible, so no one dares to speak out.

"Your Majesty, I feel that no matter what the north is like, the emptiness in the southeast of Suzhou is true, and it is a great opportunity!

Yang Hongzhao marched into the eastern part of Suzhou, and he could send another general to attack the southern part of Suzhou and regain the waterway.If things are as expected and true, then the rebel army going north is to encircle King Pingnan, which can also solve the siege of King Pingnan. " Wen Daoli said.

"But right now we don't have a boat in hand." He Zhao frowned.

When the emperor heard this, he nodded and said: "Yes, what if it is true."

At this moment, Ji Chunsheng suddenly said: "Your Majesty, there is a boat, the palace has a boat!"

The emperor was taken aback, "Where is the boat?"

"Wangfu!" Ji Chunsheng said excitedly.

"How much?" the emperor asked, and everyone looked at him with bright eyes.

"Two." Ji Chunsheng compared two fingers.

Everyone was speechless for a moment
Ji Chunsheng hurriedly said: "I didn't make it clear. Although there are only two ships, they are not ordinary ships. They are Miss Qiu'er's big ship! They also carry artillery."

(End of this chapter)