Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 862: Linshan County City Falls
Inside the palace,

At the gate of the harem,

The sedan chair that came out of the deep palace did not go far before Chun He, who was accompanying the sedan chair, noticed a group of people dressed in strange clothes outside. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was His Majesty and Marquis Luo Yun and the others. Why did they come here at this time?
He approached the curtain and whispered;

"My lady, His Majesty and Marquis Luo Yun are here?"

"Oh, so early, what's going on?"

"This, Madam, I don't know."

Following Chunhe, who was dressed like a normal tutor, he shook his head.

Empress Jiang lifted the curtain and looked out. Sure enough, His Majesty was leading a group of people towards the palace gate. He was dressed the same as last time, a brocade robe with a few elegant green bamboos embroidered with silver thread on the cuffs. He wore a round-topped official hat on his head and a warm jade pendant around his waist. He looked like an ordinary lord of a wealthy family, but with an air of grace that he had never worn before.
A glimmer of hope arose in my heart, perhaps, such an ordinary family is also good.

As the sedan chair left the palace gate, the group of people gathered together.
A group of eunuchs carried the sedan chair and gently lowered it. Empress Jiang got off the sedan chair as well. Zhang Jinyu followed behind and took a quick look.
The empress always wears a phoenix crown and a gorgeous robe, with a graceful demeanor. But now she is disguised as a young nobleman, wearing a green Confucian robe, holding a folding fan in his hand, and a hairpin on his head, and even a square and wide Confucian hat. No wonder Chunhe beside her is dressed like a servant, and the old nanny from last time looks like a servant.

But in this case, a man with a noble son would look awkward no matter how you look at him. However, who could be quicker than him in terms of eye contact and courtesy?
"Your Majesty, may your Majesty live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years."

With just one sound, the people from the Imperial City Bureau behind him knelt down and followed the cheer.

"Okay, everyone, get up. Are you happy today? This palace, well, this young master doesn't need these gifts."

Empress Jiang was full of joy. She followed Emperor Wu and waved her folding fan at Zhang Jinyu and the others. She didn't look like a young master at all. She was a little puzzled as to why women who disguised themselves as men always looked like young masters.
"Yuqing, why did you come out so early? I said I was going to look for you."

Emperor Wu looked around. Wearing this outfit, he knew this was not the right place to talk. He waved his hand and the group continued to head towards Chongwen Gate.

"Your Majesty, I woke up early in the morning and couldn't fall asleep, so I changed my clothes and went out to the Yangxin Palace to look for Your Majesty at about the same time. I wanted to ask you when you would leave, but I didn't expect to meet you here."

Seeing the attitude of Empress Jiang's little daughter, Emperor Wu was in a good mood.

"You are still the same as before in the palace. You just can't wait. It just so happens that when Marquis Luo Yun came, I couldn't wait any longer. I heard that the Jia family's Rongguo Mansion held a banquet, so I went to take a look at the excitement first."

Dai Quan followed beside him and winked at Xiao Yunzi. Xiao Yunzi understood and nodded. He stayed there with a group of eunuchs accompanying him, turned around and went back. Another eunuch in charge went to the sedan chair that the Queen had just taken. No one knew what he said, but the sedan chair actually followed them back.

"My lady, last night, the eldest daughter of Rongguo Mansion, Jia Yuanchun, was granted favor and was made a noble concubine, so Rongguo Mansion is so lively today."

Dai Quan turned around and explained the reason for His Majesty. In fact, he knew that His Majesty intended to confer the title of concubine on a group of people in the harem, and Jia Yuanchun was among them. However, in the end, she was the only one who was conferred the title of concubine, and His Majesty did not mention the others.

Zhang Jinyu fell behind and kept silent. How could he butt in on the royal family's affairs? Unfortunately, Queen Jiang didn't care about these things.

"Oh, it turned out to be Yuanchun, a blessed girl. I also said that if I don't give that girl a status this year, the age will come. By the way, Marquis Luo Yun, was it your idea to deceive His Majesty?"

Empress Jiang turned around, closed the folding fan in her hand, and spoke harshly, obviously directed at herself. Zhang Jinyu instantly remembered what happened in front of Ningguo Mansion. Just thinking about it made her teeth ache. The Empress was angry, it must be because of the last time. The three princes didn't see it and caused a big trouble. Anyone would be angry.

However, the weather was like this and he couldn't control it. As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes. It was destined to be like this.

"Your Highness, you are very observant. I was the one who brought this up. I was thinking that the last time it was because of the Jia family's affairs that delayed the Highness's trip and caused her to give up halfway. So this time, I have to go back and eat, and let them spend some money as compensation."

Listening to Marquis Luo Yun's nonsense, Queen Jiang laughed angrily;

"Wrong logic, that is you, Luo Yunhou, speaking nonsense in broad daylight."

"Yes, I am wrong."

Zhang Jinyu quickly admitted her mistake. It is said that women and villains are difficult to deal with, which is absolutely true.

"Okay, this trip to Rongguo Mansion was also my idea. I should go to congratulate them today. Marquis Luo Yun, what are you sending to Rongguo Mansion?"

I don't know if the couple is of the same mind. As soon as the Queen finished asking, Emperor Wu Zhou Shihong asked again, asking what gift to give. How could you ask like that? Zhang Jinyu had a headache. Why did she run into the palace in a daze and suffer with him?
Thinking about how to reply,

The group arrived at the Chongwen Gate, where the guard Yu Dingzhi had been waiting. He quickly opened the door. Yu Dingzhi, who had received the message, stood there pretending not to see anything. He caught a glimpse of Marquis Luo Yun among them, and was deeply impressed. The Marquis was indeed capable. Even when His Majesty went on a secret tour, he had to follow him and serve him.
After a group of people left the palace, a large carriage came from nowhere. Emperor Wu and Empress Jiang, together with Dai Quan and Chun He, got in. Before they entered, Ning Bian and others had already dismounted and walked over to join the team behind Liu Chen, surrounding the carriage.

"What are you doing outside, come in,"

"Uh, yes, Your Majesty, no, it's Master Huang."

Hearing that the emperor called him, Zhang Jinyu raised his legs, climbed onto the carriage, opened the curtain and sat in. With a wave of Liu Chen's whip, the carriage slowly moved and headed east.

The rising sun is shining brightly, and the sky is clear, it is a good day.

inside the carriage,
Zhang Jinyu sat next to Dai Quan, sitting upright. Opposite him were the old nanny and Chun He, just like last time.
Just when she was about to take a break, Queen Jiang tapped her palm with her folding fan, with a smile in her eyes. This kid deserved a beating, and she deliberately reminded him;
"How come you are so quiet? The emperor asked you what gift you sent to Rongguo Mansion, but you kept silent. Could it be that it was a treasure?"

Hearing the Queen's voice,

Zhang Jinyu's mouth twitched, feeling a little embarrassed. How many things in the capital could be kept secret from the Imperial City Bureau? Was there any treasure? What was sent? After a while, the people from the Imperial City Bureau would compile a book of the things sent by various mansions and send it to the palace.
He cleared his throat and replied sincerely,
"Your Highness, the Marquis' Mansion doesn't have much to show for itself. We sent some local specialties and old ginseng from outside the Great Wall before. I thought we couldn't always send these things. Your Highness also knows that it's bitterly cold outside the Great Wall, and there aren't many valuable things. So I shamelessly asked Yang to borrow some money and had the people in the Mansion send them over. It's both generous and beautiful."

Don't mention it, what a coincidence.

Last night, Qin Keqing asked Zhang Jinyu what gift to send. Zhang Jinyu suddenly had an idea. What gift could be compared to silver? Although it was vulgar, it was practical. Thinking that Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai had been living there, Fengjie must be short of silver. From the last time, the matter between him and Li Wan required her to cover for it to some extent. So sending silver with them could be considered as a thank you.

I just felt that the car suddenly became quiet, and everyone inside looked at me with strange eyes, even the Emperor Wu had a joking look in his eyes.

"You are so bold, kid. The gifts from various places have already been given. You are giving again. Where is the rule?"

"Tell me, how much did you give?"

Queen Jiang was also full of surprise. She continued to ask,
"My Lord, I gave you 9,000 taels, and I thought that the gift of 1,000 taels would make it a perfect sum."

Zhang Jinyu moved the corners of his mouth and uttered these words,
Queen Jiang reached out and hit him with her folding fan.
"You really know how to avoid being at a disadvantage. This is the first time I've seen someone give a gift like this. It's a rare sight."

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam."

After a few words in the car, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.
outside the car,

A group of people had already passed the south bank of Qinghu Lake, turned to the street corner, and turned south, they arrived at the downtown area. There were many more people traveling, and early rising merchants also came into the city to unload goods. The city was bustling with traffic, and the scene was prosperous.

The shouting sounds from the street came one after another. The tavern had already opened for business. With the waiter's shouting, the waiters were busy inside and outside. The people who had meals in the morning were mostly students who were taking exams. They sat around and talked loudly. It was very lively.

The carriage curtains were drawn back,

Emperor Wu looked at all this through the crack in the car window. The capital city was peaceful. It seemed that the system of civil servants and cabinet ministers that the court had insisted on over the years was still effective.

"Lord Luo Yun, what do you think of the capital?"

"Your Majesty has the world in his heart and governs the world with sincerity and filial piety. This is the best example of a wise ruler since ancient times."

As the saying goes, a thousand words are not as loud as flattery. You can't pour a basin of cold water on someone when they are happy. Who can be happy?

As expected, Emperor Wu looked overjoyed, lowered the curtain, and said with a smile;

"You kid, you're just saying some flattering words. Dai Quan, look at me. When did I learn this from you?"

"Oh, Your Majesty, you are joking. The Marquis is very witty and I cannot compare with him. But what the Marquis said is absolutely right. Your Majesty is kind and benevolent. All the civil and military officials are grateful for your grace. Now that the government is stable and the people are harmonious, how can the world not prosper?"

Almost in the blink of an eye, the most flattering words came out of Dai Quan's mouth casually. Others didn't think much of it, but Zhang Jinyu sighed in her heart, he is really the steward of the six palaces, his flattery skills have returned to basics.

Jingnan,

On the north side of Linshan County, in the wilderness, there was originally a peaceful and tranquil scene. The vast grassland swayed gently in the breeze, like a vast green ocean. At this moment, the sound of horse hooves passed by, and the peaceful atmosphere was instantly broken.

"Report, General, the Taiping sect has mobilized a large army and surrounded us on three sides. They have begun to attack Linshan County City fiercely."

At this time, all the generals of the imperial army that was heading south had gathered in the camp. They looked solemn and said nothing, as if they were waiting for something.

Suddenly, they heard the report from the scout outside the big tent. They looked at each other and immediately realized that the time had come.
Wang Ziteng, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly opened his eyes, with a gleam in his eyes. Today was a matter of life and death. He looked at General Lu in the east seat with a hint in his eyes.

Lu Daiyuan received the signal, nodded, stood up and clasped his fists;
"General, the soldiers in the county city can barely hold out for three days. It is better to send out the troops, line up in front, put pressure on them, find their flaws, and decide the outcome in one battle."

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"Okay, General Lu is right. Since the Taiping Sect can't wait any longer, generals, I will not say any more unnecessary words. We must win this battle!"

"Must win!"

The generals stood up and shouted,

Then they clasped their fists and walked out one by one.

After a while,
Above the camp, there was a desolate sound of trumpets, accompanied by the sound of drums.

To the south,
at the same time,

There was also movement in the Taiping Sect's camp. It seemed that in an instant, soldiers from both armies came out of the camp at the same time and lined up in front of their respective camps. Both sides moved forward slowly.
Like two parallel black lines, relying on each other,

When the two sides were three miles apart, they stopped in formation. The soldiers and infantrymen were wearing heavy armor, holding large shields and long spears, and lined up tightly. The rows of sharp spear heads flashed coldly under the sunlight, like a forest of stars.

Behind the heavy armored soldiers were the archers, holding crossbows, ready for battle. On the two wings of the central army were Jia Lian and Wang Ren, each leading 20,000 cavalrymen for protection.

At this moment, Jia Lian, who was sitting on his horse, looked at the dark mass of enemy troops opposite him, and his mouth was bitter. Nearly 300,000 troops were lined up in a row, and the momentum was unparalleled. Jia Lian, who had never experienced this, how could he bear it? He regretted it in his heart. If he had known earlier, he would not have gone to the Beijing camp.
Now, it was too late to regret. Thinking that my uncle was in the center of the army, I turned around and saw the central formation, with soldiers and armor standing in rows, cold lights flashing, elite murderous auras, overwhelming the sky and the earth.

Fortunately, after seeing this, I felt a little comforted. I thought that with a few old generals here, no matter how many enemy soldiers there were, they were just a mob.

Just at this time,
The Taiping Sect's army actually stopped and stood there motionless, and each group of soldiers raised their shields to defend themselves. At this time, the leader Chu was riding on a horse, looking at the imperial court's troops, and couldn't help but admire them.
"These are the elite troops of the imperial court. As long as we win this battle, the imperial court will not lose its strength for a while, which will give us a chance of survival."

"Master Chu, don't try to boost others' morale and destroy your own prestige. They are just some government troops, how elite can they be? Wang Ziteng is too cautious and has no manliness at all. Leading the army to fight is just a joke."

Wei Siyuan sneered. If he hadn't had the advantage of weapons and armor before, he would have been really afraid of them. But now he had all the weapons and armor under his command, as well as a large number of people. If he couldn't win, he might as well go back and hug his children.

"That's right. If it were me, it would be better for us to lead the army to attack and capture Wang Ziteng alive, and then ask the old emperor in the capital to pay silver to redeem him. I am willing to be the vanguard."

Tang Zheng, the leader of the Five Elements Banner, threw his arms wide and shouted loudly,

The hall masters and incense masters around were all ready to make a move.

Unexpectedly, Chu Yiyue smiled slightly and raised his hand to stop him.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Now, neither Wang Ziteng nor I am in a hurry, but Linshan County can't wait. At that time, it will be Wang Ziteng who will be anxious. When people are anxious, they are prone to make mistakes. Today, with the purpose of killing the imperial soldiers, tell Du Hufa to attack the city more fiercely. I think the prince also understands what I mean."

"Yes, Master Chu, I will pass on the order right away."

"Boom boom boom! Woohoo!"

With the sound of drums and trumpets,

The rear army that besieged the county city, led by Du Shaoqing, stepped up their siege efforts.

"Han Douming, lead the army and supervise the battle. Let all the slave soldiers keep up and attack continuously. If anyone retreats, kill him! The leader has ordered that things should be moved up."

"Yes, protector."

Han Douming, the leader of the Five Elements Banner, clasped his fists and led his troops to supervise the battle. Below the county city,
A crowd of people lined up in a row, fearlessly climbing up the ladder, just to climb into the city. Unfortunately,
After a fierce fight,

Subsequently,

It's just that a corpse fell from the sky, followed by another one, and so on.

Seeing more and more casualties among the soldiers defending the city, Wu Shiming's face turned cold. He thought to himself that something had changed. He led the reinforcements to the top of the city wall and looked north.
I saw that the imperial army had already lined up in the north of the city, facing the Taiping army for several miles. It seemed that the Taiping people could not wait any longer. Looking at the imperial army that was still unaware of the situation, they sighed in their hearts, "Well, life and death are all up to fate."
He immediately summoned his trusted guards and whispered to them,
"You guys, inform the Crown Prince immediately and prepare to break out of the siege. Let General Kou lead the troops forward."

"Yes, General."

Then, the guards took the order and left. However, on the city walls, soldiers were fighting fiercely, and many of them died together. Some of the walls were already in danger.

"Report, General, the enemy troops are attacking the south gate very fiercely. If no reinforcements are sent, I'm afraid we can't hold it."

"Report, General, the enemy troops have attacked the west gate several times, but were counterattacked by the general defending the city. If no reinforcements arrive, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on."

After a while,
Then the battle situation at the other two city gates came in. It was obvious that they could not hold out for much longer. Wu Shiming's face turned cold and he ordered his attendants:
"Send the order immediately. Give up the West Gate and South Gate. Have the garrison lead the troops to retreat to the East Gate. Don't worry about the inside of the city. You guys, lead the troops to retreat along the city wall to the East Gate. Be quick and don't linger in the battle."

"Yes, General."

Several trusted generals understood the general's meaning and left after receiving the order.

Then,

The three gates of Linshan County City suddenly seemed to be undefendable. The Taiping Sect slave army below the city gradually attacked the top of the city wall. More and more people came.

Suddenly, a shout was heard, and the city gate was slowly opened. The Taiping Sect slave soldiers rushed in like crazy.

"Han Douming, hurry up, lead the troops to the top of the city and change the flag, quickly."

"Yes, General,"

Then, people kept shouting!
"The city is broken. The city is broken."

(End of this chapter)