National color raw owl

Ding Wu glanced at all the ministers, all of them looked panic-stricken, and some even had an unconcealed look of horror on their faces, and they couldn't help sighing in their hearts. There are not a few capable ministers and generals, but now, looking around, no one can be counted on.

His heart was filled with sadness. Although he had fought bloody battles before, he was not a real military genius. If any one of the four generals of the empire was here, he would not be in the current predicament.

"My lord...!" After a period of silence, Ma Hong, Minister of the Household Department, finally stood up, lowered his head, "I...I have something to report."

"Speak!" Dingwu waved his hand and looked at Ma Hong.

"There are more and more barbarian soldiers, and now... our situation is very bad." Ma Hong hesitated, and finally said: "They already have [-] to [-] people, and they are all brutal. Kill, the defenders in the city mainly rely on the Royal Guards, the conscripted strong men are barely able to defend the city at present, but...!"

Dingwu's expression softened a lot. After all, there are courtiers talking at this time, so it's not too bad after all, "But what? What do you want to say, but it's okay to say, even if you say something wrong, I won't blame you."

Ma Hong strengthened his courage, and said: "I...I think that if this continues, the barbarians may not come up with more ways to attack the city."

A person next to him said: "Mabutang, our Wuping Mansion is extremely strong. The iron horse scimitars of the barbarians can gallop across the grasslands, but it is foolish to want to use their iron horse scimitars to capture Wuping Mansion."

"What Master Liu said is true." Ma Hong glanced at it and turned to Ding Wudao: "Your Majesty, I have already counted the total number of soldiers and civilians in the city, which exceeds 30 people. If the food in my hand can support the guards , properly deployed, enough to last for five months."

"You mean, the food in your hands can only be eaten by the Guards for five months?" Ding Wu frowned and said, "What about the other people in the city?"

Ma Hong shook his head and said: "I have been preparing military rations, and I have always calculated according to the rations of the soldiers. I have reported to the Holy One before that the food in the city can last for two months. Even the nearly ten thousand barbarian cavalry are counted among them. Now the soldiers and horses outside the city do not need to be considered. There are three thousand guards in the city. The rations are calculated based on the strength of 5000 troops. I have collected some food from the gentry in the city in the past few days, plus the original food in stock. It is conservatively estimated that it can last for five months."

Xuanyuan Shao suddenly said: "Your Majesty, the guards are hard-working, and their rations can be reduced a little, so they can sustain themselves. However, those strong men who have been recruited have worked hard to defend the city. If they can't eat enough, I will... I'm worried that they will have a different heart."

"Your Majesty, now that the isolated city is under siege, it's not just the guards who need to care about it." One person immediately said: "The hundreds of thousands of people in the city spend a lot of energy every day, and now they are all working together, just because they can barely eat their stomachs right now. But if time goes by and the people in the city have no food to eat, the consequences will be unimaginable. Ma Butang said that the food in stock is only enough for 10 soldiers to last for five months, but if it has to be distributed to tens of thousands of people, then I'm afraid I can't even last a month...!"

Dingwu's expression was even more stern.

Feng Yuanpo did have a lot of food in Hexi, but when the Liaodong Army came suddenly, he had to provide sufficient logistical support for the front line of Yanshan, and a large amount of food was dispatched from Hexi to the front line. In addition, Dingwu had always counted on Anyi and Xishan Road can supply food to Hexi, but Xishan is occupied by Chu Huan, and Yuan Chongshang in Anyi has also betrayed Qin, and the largest source of food in Hexi will be cut off.

There is not much grain produced in Hexi. In order to stabilize Hexi, Dingwu did not kill the Hexi gentry, but tried to appease the local gentry in Hexi as much as possible. Most of them entered the granaries of local gentry, and very little was paid to the court.

Knowing that the Qin army was in short supply of food, Dingwu had arranged for Ma Hong to forcibly requisition food from the local gentry. He originally planned to spread it from Wuping Mansion to the outside. The local gentry had learned from the past, so naturally they did not dare to resist too much, but just as Ma Hong started to collect food, something happened in Wuping Mansion, Zhang Tianwang Liuli sent people to assassinate the thirteen chiefs, causing the barbarians to mutiny in an instant, so there was no Opportunity to continue to collect food.

Others don't know the details of Wuping Mansion, but Dingwu knows very well that there is a serious shortage of food in the official warehouse. Even if all the gentry's food in Wuping Mansion is forcibly confiscated, it will not be enough to support the rations of more than 30 soldiers and civilians in Wuping Mansion. At this time, in order to resist external and foreign invasions, the city must naturally work together from top to bottom. Once the grain reserves of the gentry in the city are really forcibly confiscated, it may cause chaos among the gentry in the city, and the consequences will be even more disastrous.

Ding Wu pondered for a moment before asking Ma Hong: "Ma Aiqing, what's your idea?"

Ma Hong hesitated before saying helplessly: "Your Majesty, my minister... I can't change the food, and I have nothing to do. According to my estimate, within half a month, the people in the city will start to be short of food, and within 20 days at most, the Holy Majesty will To allocate food to the people in the city, even if I lead people to collect all the food in the city and distribute it according to the head, the food in the city can only support the entire army and people in the city for at most two months."

Dingwu snorted coldly, and said: "That is to say, even if the barbarians fail to capture Wuping Prefecture, after two months, we will starve to death in the city?"

Ma Hong fell to his knees with a "plop" and tremblingly said: "I... I just reported the truth and did not dare to hide it. I... I feel that for the safety of the Holy One, this city But can't you just stick to it forever?"

"Don't defend the city?" An official immediately shouted: "Is it impossible to open the city and surrender? Your Majesty, even if you are smashed to pieces, you have to fight the barbarians to the end." He also said: "Mabutang, our food can support Two months, how long can the barbarians last? They have come from far away, and there is no logistics team at all. The more people there are, the more food they need. You have seen it before. When the barbarians came, they did not see them at all. Food team, even if they carry their own rations, how long can they last? Three to five days, ten days and half a month, or a month? Let's compete with them and see who can't last in the end .”

Ma Hong frowned and said, "My lord, that's not the case. Apart from Yanshan, the rest of Hexi's troops are in Wuping Prefecture. There are thirteen big cities in Hexi, and countless small ones. Except for Wuping Prefecture, which is guarded by guards , the defenses of other cities are weak, and the barbarians have a large number of people, although they can't take down Wuping Fucheng, but they can easily attack other cities, especially small cities with weak defenses."

The official at the side said: "Ma Butang, I understand what you mean. You mean that the barbarians looted everywhere to replenish the military supplies. Is that what you mean?"

"That's right, that's what it means." After all, Ma Hong still has some experience in the matter of money and food. He talked about it in public this time. In the final analysis, he was still worried that there would be a sudden shortage of food in a few days, and Ding Wu would inevitably make trouble for him. , put the responsibility on his head, since this is the case, it is better to explain the matter in public. There is a good reason for the lack of food at the time. Compared with Ding Wu who is likely to kill him because of the lack of food, it is better to tell the truth at the risk of being reprimanded today. To be honest, Ding Wu will not As for today's meeting because of this, I will have my own head, "Wuping Fucheng was besieged, all roads were blocked, and all the supplies, we can only rely on what is in the city, and it is impossible to send a grain of food into the city, while the barbarians It can be supplemented by looting."

The official laughed and said: "Ma Butang, you must know that Hexi is not a land of grain production. Even if there are grains in each city, the amount is very small. Do you know that there are 6 or [-] barbarians outside this city?" Bing, in addition to these people who eat food, the horses they sit on must also eat food. It is winter, so naturally there is no place to find horse feed, so they can only be fed with grain. Add up, that is more than [-] mouths , may I ask which city has so much food to support them?"

"One city can't do it, what about two cities, three cities, ten cities?" Ma Hong argued.

The official said with a sneer: "I am afraid that the towns around Wuping Prefecture have been robbed by the barbarians before. They still want to rob food, so they can only go to farther places, move back and forth, and rob food everywhere. By then, they will be exhausted. Liang, how can we still have the energy to attack Wuping Prefecture? In the end, as long as we stick to the city, we will be able to survive until the barbarians retreat in disgrace." Turning to Dingwu, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think that the barbarians made a big move. Invaders, Wuping Prefecture may not be an isolated city, foreign barbarians invade, do people all over the world watch? I think they will find a way to expel the barbarians first, maybe there are reinforcements coming to rescue."

The officials immediately whispered and whispered.

Dingwu said indifferently: "Ma Aiqing, you keep saying that we are short of food, and that the barbarians can plunder in Hexi to supplement logistics. Do you want to say that we can't support the barbarians?"

Ma Hong hurriedly said: "Chen....Chen didn't mean that...!"

"Then what do you mean?"

Ma Hong thought for a while, and finally said: "I... I think that in the current situation, I should... call for reinforcements!"

"Reinforcement, please?" Ding Wu squinted at the surrounding ministers, seeing that everyone lowered their heads and did not speak, he asked, "Where are the reinforcements you mentioned?"

"This...!" Ma Hong also lowered his head, sweating slightly on his forehead, raised his hand and wiped it with his sleeve, and took a peek at Dingwu, "Chen... I dare not say ...!"

"Since you said you have reinforcements, why don't you dare to say so?" Ding Wu frowned and said, "I said before that now that the barbarians are approaching the city, as long as there are good countermeasures, it doesn't matter, I won't blame you."

The other ministers were also puzzled. Everyone knew the current situation in the world quite well. Hujin Meilong in the south was defending Hebei Qingtian King, so they did not dare to act rashly.On the other side of Yanshan Mountain, the main force of the Qin army was struggling to resist the Liaodong army, and even with this change, the barbarian soldiers on the front line might have rebelled. Before the barbarian messenger sent the news of the barbarian rebellion to Wen Pu, the chief general of the Qin army in Yanshan, so that Wen Pu could prepare for the front-line barbarian cavalry rebellion, but whether Wen Pu got the news first, and how to deal with the change, Hexi Bian has not received any news, and the possibility of Wen Pu suddenly appearing in Wuping Mansion for rescue is too small.

To the west of Ruo, before Dingwu used Anyi Yuan Chongshang and Xishan Qiao Mingtang as horns to prepare for the defense of Chu Huan's Northwest Army, and even sent Feng Polu to lead tens of thousands of cavalry to support, but the result was a crushing defeat. In a short period of time, Huan has completely destroyed the defense on the western front. As long as the Northwest Army marches into Hexi, there will be almost no strong defense along the way.

Besieged on all sides, how can reinforcements come?

Ma Hong knelt down on the ground, and said bravely: "My lord, the reinforcements I mentioned are... Chu Huan's Northwest Army!"

As soon as this remark came out, the surrounding ministers were in an uproar. Many people thought that there was something wrong with their ears, and they misheard Ma Hong's words. Even Ding Wu felt a little surprised. .

Xuanyuan Shao, who had been silent all this time, finally said: "Ma Butang, you mean to ask Chu Huan for help?"

Ma Hong raised his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, the only one who can support Wuping Mansion to defeat the barbarians is Chu Huan's Northwest Army."

"Ma Butang, did you not sleep well?" Xuanyuan Shao sneered unceremoniously: "Who is Chu Huan, don't you know? He has already established himself as king and rebelled against the court. Everyone got to punish him The traitor, you want us to ask him to come to rescue? Even if we want him to come, is he really willing to fight the barbarians?"

"That's right." Immediately someone said, "Chu Huan's wolf ambition is well known in the world, how could he come to rescue Wuping Mansion?"

Hearing the voices of questioning from all around, Ma Hong lowered his head and didn't dare to speak for a while. Ding Wu pondered for a while, and instead of reprimanding Ma Hong, he unexpectedly asked Ma Hong: "Why did Ma Aiqing think of sending someone to Chu?" Huan asking for help? How did you know that Chu Huan would come to rescue him?"

"Your Majesty, I said before that, judging by the formation of the barbarians, this time they are determined to capture Wuping Mansion." Ma Hong raised his head and said, "I thought that the enemy was outside and we were inside. It is possible to obtain food from outside, and the barbarians are outside, tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, it is not difficult to plunder in Hexi, even if he allocates [-] soldiers and horses to rob food and grass, the remaining soldiers and horses are enough to trap us , although Hexi is not rich in food, it is absolutely not a problem to plunder them everywhere and support them for three to five months, but we...we can't sustain it for that long at all. Once there is no food in the city, it will be... ...!" Gritting his teeth, he said bravely, "That's self-defeating!"

Someone was about to reprimand him, but Ding Wu had already raised his hand, signaling not to say more, but he knew that what Ma Hong said was true, if the city was really short of food and could not continue to resist, he would He is the king of a country, and even his martial arts are extraordinary, but he can't stop the invasion of tens of thousands of barbarian cavalry.

"The sacred dragon body is noble, and safety is paramount. We hope that the barbarians will retreat and turn the crisis into a safe place for Wuping Prefecture, but what if the barbarians can really survive?" Ma Hong said: "And the barbarians don't know how to attack the city now. , but if they know that they can use siege weapons to attack the city, and then arrest craftsmen to make siege weapons for them. I thought that the only ones who could only ask for help from the outside world and have the strength to stand up to the barbarians... and only Chu Huan's Northwest Army...!" Wei raised his head, seeing that Dingwu was looking at him, Immediately lowered his head and prostrated himself on the ground, "Your Majesty, this subject is really speaking from the bottom of my heart. I just hope that Your Majesty will think twice. Now that the army is overwhelming, Your Majesty.... Your Majesty should focus on the overall situation!"

After a silence, Ding Wu finally said: "Do you think I should send someone to ask Chu Huan for help?"

All the ministers looked at each other in blank dismay, not daring to speak. In fact, many people didn't want to find reinforcements. After all, the isolated city was trapped. If the barbarians were determined to destroy the city, without foreign aid, the city would be destroyed one day. At that time, the city was devastated, and few of the officials present were likely to be able to survive. If reinforcements were invited, there would be more hope of surviving.

It's just that Ma Hong said that he would send someone to Chu Huan for help, and everyone felt a little suspicious. Chu Huan had already established himself as the king, and he blatantly played the banner of opposing Qin. It is surprising that Ma Hong, the strongest branch of the Qin forces, mentioned this person without being mentioned by others. Just as Xuanyuan Shao said just now, whether to send someone for help is certainly a matter, but Chu Huan would Not being able to rescue is even more critical.

Fighting for supremacy in the world, with a black heart and a ruthless hand, Chu Huan has come to this day, no one would think that Chu Huan is an honest and good person. At this time, Chu Huan would be benevolent if he didn't take the opportunity to attack. How could he help Qin to repel the barbarians? Barbarians?

Ding Wu stared at Ma Hong, scanned the crowd, pondered for a long time, and then asked: "Ma Aiqing, do you think if I send someone for help, Chu Huan will send troops to help?"

Hearing Dingwu's tone loosen, Ma Hong hurriedly said, "My lord, if you want Chu Huan to send troops to rescue, there will always be a price to pay for that..."

"Oh?" Ding Wu smiled, "What price?"

"Since Chu Huan...since he is the king, the Holy Majesty...the Holy Majesty will decree to make him the king, and it's okay...you can give him the northwest and other places." Ma Hong decided With a smile, Wu pretended to be brave and said: "If he... If he puts forward some other conditions, as long as it is not too much, we... we can agree to him for the time being, so that as long as he agrees Send troops and let his Northwest Army fight with the barbarians, no matter whether they win or lose, they will be greatly injured...!"

"Propose conditions?" Dingwu leaned forward slightly, "What conditions do you think I should agree to him? Give him my throne, what do you think?"

Ma Hong heard that although Ding Wu's tone was gentle, the meaning in his words was icy cold, his heart was chilled, before he could speak, he heard a "choke" sound, Ding Wu had already pulled out the Son of Heaven sword.