Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 158: Ge Yu Ruo Luo Xing (4)

In the tent of the commander-in-chief of the Rear Eyebrow Army, the three generals, Vitaz, Farone, and Cantano, were at loggerheads.The confidant of Crown Prince John, General Vitaz suggested that the rear column should be retreated immediately to avoid being surrounded by Roma Turks.But two other generals, Farone and Cantano, both quarreled with him, and one demanded to attack the Turks eastward in support of the emperor's main force.Another thinks that the situation is unclear in the dark and should be defended on the spot.

Lumei Crown Prince John's face was pale. He was known for his handsome appearance and demeanor, but at this moment he was sitting on the ground with no regard for decency.The destruction of the Northern Army, the fatigue of the long-distance march, and the sudden appearance of the main force of the Turkic army could not be found everywhere.John Komnenos had completely lost confidence in this campaign. He had hoped to establish his prestige to inherit the throne through this expedition, but he encountered a shameful failure.

Just now Farone tentatively sent hundreds of cavalry to attack eastward. It started smoothly, but was suddenly attacked by Turkic cavalry from the hills on both sides of the road. Spiked antlers, in which infantry archers hid and shot arrows at the tall reed-browed cavalry.The horses of many cavalry were tripped in the dark, and very few were able to retreat back to the camp.

General Kantano said loudly: "Don't step into the trap of the Turks!" General Vitaz also said: "Your Highness is the country's last hope!" Only Faron loudly demanded to join the emperor immediately.John Komnenos was full of frustration, and couldn't quite listen to what the three generals were arguing about.

The sound of Turks shouting and shooting arrows outside did not stop.A small camp in the east was breached by the Turks, and the road was crowded with rout soldiers and livestock. The frustration and fear brought by the retreaters quickly infected the entire rear column.Especially those peddlers who mixed in the 'rebellion' army, used their three-inch tongue to exaggerate the horror of the Turkic people as much as possible.

In the dark, the torches that the Turks kept shaking could be seen clearly, and occasionally there were reflections from the sharp scimitars.Behind the low wall of the guard column, Lumei soldiers carefully avoided the arrows falling from the sky, when suddenly there was a rush of horseshoes.The defenders looked out through the gaps in the wooden fence, and a group of Lubrow Guards cavalry holding high the eagle emblem flag rushed out of the darkness.These cavalrymen had obviously just experienced a fierce battle. Many horses and armors still carried Turkic arrows. Two messengers were surrounded by these cavalrymen. One of them was holding a double-headed eagle emblem scepter. A symbol of the status of the herald of Emperor Lexai.

These more than sixty riders rushed to the edge of the trench without slowing down before stopping.The cavalry came to the bottom of the arrow tower suspension bridge, spread out in a well-trained manner, kept their spears on guard against the Turks outside, and let the two emperor's messengers clustered in the middle come to the front of the suspension bridge.A messenger tightened the reins vigorously, and the horse under his crotch neighed.The messenger held up the scepter high, the golden double-headed eagle emblem was extraordinarily dazzling under the firelight.Another shouted, "Pull down the drawbridge!"

The officers guarding the camp hurriedly checked the code words and passwords in the army, and immediately lowered the suspension bridge without daring to neglect.The cavalry of the Praetorian Guard rushed past, surrounded by the emperor's messenger.As soon as the last rider stepped on the opposite bank, the suspension bridge was pulled up behind them, and the Turkic cavalry who followed were shot back by a burst of crossbow arrows behind the wall.

In order to guard against the tricks of the Turks, behind the suspension bridge, five or six hundred heavy infantry armed with round shields lined up on three sides, and more than sixty cavalry were oppressed in a small open space.The surrounding Lumei soldiers extended their bright torches to the cavalry, and the horse snorted uncomfortably. The cavalry who had just rushed over from the darkness suddenly felt the flames were dazzling, and they couldn't see the situation around them clearly. There were still rows of bow and arrow fingers on the wall. watching them.The two messengers got off their horses, and one held a scepter and shouted loudly: "It is His Majesty's order, take us to see His Highness John quickly."

Crown Prince John was informed by the guards that the message brought by the emperor's messenger was of such importance that no other general should be present at the time of its delivery.John Komnenos was full of surprise, "Could it be that Your Majesty has found it difficult to overcome the siege of the Turks and demanded that he quickly return to Lumei to inherit the empire?" Whenever the old emperor died, it was the generals of the Lumei Empire who supported themselves best time.Filled with unknown apprehension in his heart, he immediately asked the guards to take the two emperor's messengers to his private tent.

In order to ensure the safety of His Highness, the two messengers removed their swords, and after a detailed body search by the guards to ensure that they were not carrying sharp weapons, they were allowed to wait in the camp.A moment later, when John saw the two uninvited guests, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, it turned out to be the faces of Xia Guo people.Under the reflection of the fire, Zhao Xingde's expression was solemn and calm. He looked at John Comnenos with hope, as if the hope of the Lumei Empire lay in His Highness.

After about an incense stick, John Komnenos walked out of the tent, his face even paler.Since then, the two emperor's messengers have followed him every step of the way.The Crown Prince summoned several generals, showed Emperor Alexei's imperial decree, and decided to leave a few infantry to guard the luggage in the camp, while he personally led the main force of the rear army to approach His Majesty the Emperor.None of the generals dared to question, and immediately split up to prepare.Not long after, the various heavy infantry and light infantry battalions lined up, and in accordance with the regulations of the Lumei army, they opened their camps in an orderly manner.

The cavalry waved their long swords to drive away the defeated troops and peddlers who were congested on the road, and the heavy infantry who followed hurriedly pushed the defeated army across the road, the transport vehicles and the antler pickets deliberately set by the Turks They were all pushed by the side of the road. The infantry in front had already made contact with the Turkic people who separated the main column from the rear army. Although the archers in the rear could not see the position of the Turkic people clearly, they still advanced and released arrows under the command of the officers.The arrow feathers kept flying towards the direction where the torches were swaying. Although only a very small number of Turkic cavalrymen were 'shot', these Turkic cavalrymen were forced not to approach.

In order to protect the safety of Crown Prince John, under His Royal Highness's order, the Imperial Guard cavalry who accompanied the emperor's messenger surrounded him heavily.Looking at John Komnenos with pale lips who seemed to be holding back his anger and fear, Wang Tongdeng grinned and said, "Go straight, I really have you." Emperor Lumei's imperial decree was written on parchment, Zhao Xingde wrapped the dagger presented by Chun Yuzhen inside, forged a wax seal with a vague seal on the outside, claiming that this was a secret order that only Crown Prince John could read, and avoided the guards' search.When the crown prince heard that the messenger conveyed that Emperor Alexei ordered him to lead the army to rescue immediately instead of passing the throne to him, his expression immediately changed and he hesitated.If Zhao Xingde hadn't put a dagger on his neck, he might not be willing to send troops now.

Zhao Xingde smiled lightly, and said in a deep voice: "The general is away, and the emperor's fate is not acceptable. If this Highness didn't want to do something like this, we wouldn't have to take such a big risk." The two real emperor's messengers had just left the camp Soon, he was tied up by the Imperial Guards of the Xia Kingdom and hid in an unknown mountain col on the road. He only waited for the dust of this battle to settle before sending people to search for it.

In the dark night, except for the Turkic cavalry who kept running with torches in the distance, no one dared to hold up torches at will.The Imperial Guards of the Xia Kingdom had nothing else to do except closely surround Crown Prince John to prevent emergencies.Zhao Xingde temporarily played the role of Crown Prince John's herald leader. Whenever he needed to urge a certain army to step up the attack, he would humbly ask for instructions. ordered.Crown Prince John was so obedient to him that the original Commander of the Guards and Heralds was a little jealous.

More than [-] Lumei Rear Army columns marched east while attacking. The Turkic cavalry only harassed in the distance. The Turkic defense line in front was quickly smashed by the Lumei heavy cavalry and heavy infantry.Crown Prince John Komnenos breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that the two officers of the Imperial Guard of the Xia Kingdom did not deceive him just now. The Turkic troops were insufficient. Between the main column and the rear column, only bluffing troops were deployed. .

While threatening him with a dagger, Zhao Xingde claimed to have seen the Turkic people tie the torches to the swaying branches. "I can assure Your Highness that the Turks are attacking the Antioch army in the front with all their strength, and it is absolutely impossible to eat up the rear army in one bite." John Komnenos suddenly remembered the threat of Officer Xia. "Most of the troops loyal to the Komnenos family are by His Majesty's side. If they are wiped out by the Turks, the foundation of the Komnenos family's rule of the empire will be destroyed. Even if His Highness is lucky enough to ascend the throne for the time being, there will be a rebellion in the near future." They lost their lives in the chaos and lost their country. Only by rescuing them from the siege of the Turks can His Highness win the support and loyalty of the legion, and successfully ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor."

Now that I think about it, what the Xia man said made some sense. "Maybe, he saved the rule of the Komnenos dynasty." John Komnenos thought with some humiliation, but he still stared at the officer who was obviously the mastermind full of hatred, and Zhao Xingde actually turned his head to him He saluted with a smile.

"Brother Zhao, it seems that His Highness remembers you." Wang Tongdeng looked at Zhao Xingde, who was calm in the firelight, and sighed, "I can be called brave, but I really didn't expect that you could do something like holding the crown prince hostage and almost beheading the general and seizing the army."

Zhao Xingde smiled slightly and said: "No matter what his status is, compared with the lives of hundreds of brothers, he is just a scrap of paper." If he was in Bianliang, he might not have done such extreme things.The Jietie case was falsely accused and Zhang Bing died, which greatly changed Zhao Xingde's state of mind.He noticed the gaze of John Komnenos not far away, turned around and smiled apologetically at him, and gave him a military salute.

"Brother Zhao, have you ever thought that if this fails, we will all die in the Lumei barracks?" Wang Tongdeng asked.

"In life, there are always some things that are worth sacrificing your life to do." Zhao Xingde said in a deep voice, under the light of the fire, a smile suddenly appeared on his face, and in the distance, the big face of Emperor Lumei The battalion is already in sight.