Chapter 56 three

Holding on to the last ray of hope, Lu Wenhuan sent his cronies to sneak out of Xiangyang, and then asked Prime Minister Jia Sidao for help.Most of the generals in the court were fearful of the enemy, so Jia Sidao had no choice but to send Li Tingzhi, the ambassador of the Jinghu system, to lead more than ten thousand elite troops to assist Xiangyang.Over the past few years, the Yuan army repeatedly defeated the Song army rushing to assist Xiangyang. The larger battles included the Battle of Huwei Prefecture, the Battle of Wanshanbao, and the Battle of Guimenguan.The Yuan army also built a long perimeter of more than a thousand miles around Xiangyang and Fancheng, which was like a rope that strangled Xiangyang and Fancheng, effectively forming a strategic encirclement of Xiangyang and Fancheng.The Yuan army worked at every step, constantly shrinking the encirclement, building a ring city to force Xiangyang and Fancheng, and strictly sealing off land and water traffic.The two cities of Xiangyang and Fancheng are like two isolated islands in the ocean.

In the winter and October of the ninth year of Zhiyuan (1272), Xiangyang City, which had been trapped for nearly five years, was already facing severe famine. First, the people ran out of food, and then the army ran out of food. Even the bark and grass roots are unsustainable.The Yuan army often barbecued meat under the city, and the smell of meat wafted into the city. Some people who couldn't stand the hunger risked their lives to escape the city in the dead of night and went to the Yuan army camp for a full meal.At this time, Liu Zheng ordered the soldiers not only to arrange them properly, but also to bring enough food for the whole family for several days if they were willing to return to the city.Gradually, more and more people stole away from the city, soldiers began to be included among them, and some generals gradually joined them, but fewer and fewer people returned to the city after leaving the city.At the beginning, Lu Wenhuan had strictly ordered that "anyone who dares to go out of the city without authorization will be killed without an order", but the city guards saw that most of the people who went out of the city were women and children, so they couldn't bear to kill them. But they turned a blind eye to each other in a tacit understanding.Later, Lu Wenhuan worried that excessive persecution would only cause the people in the city to mutiny, so he had no choice but to let it go.

In the same month, Yuxi Timur went to Beijing to play an event, and Kublai Khan ordered him to transport the seven giant catapults conscripted from the Western Regions to the city of Xiangyang to strengthen the attacking force of the Yuan army.In the general attack, the seven cannons weighed 50 jin, and the mobile-fired catapults exerted the expected power, destroying all the hits, sinking seven feet into the ground, and Xiangyang City was in danger. Soon, Zhenjinzuo invited his father, Khan, and was allowed to go to the front line of Xiangyang to reward the whole army.Ashu, Liu Zheng and Zhenjin Battlefield reunited, very happy.Zhen Jin listened carefully to A Shu and Liu Zheng's report on the battle in Xiangyang, and asked A Shu and Liu Zheng to suspend the siege for three days, and discuss everything after three days.Although Ashu and Liu Zheng didn't understand what it meant, they still followed orders.That night, Zhenjin returned to the temporary residence, prepared letters and wine, and sent envoys to the city.

Lu Wenhuan was puzzled by the sudden stop of the Mongolian army attacking the city, so he suddenly reported to the Mongolian envoy asking to see him, thought for a moment, and agreed to meet. The envoy of the Yuan army held a sandalwood tray carved with an eagle pattern in both hands, on which were placed a letter, a jug of wine and a gold cup.Lu Wenhuan didn't understand what he meant, so the envoy held up the tray and knelt down respectfully to present it to Lu Wenhuan. Lu Wenhuan took the letter first and opened it, and was shocked.I saw that the writing on the letter was bright red, the font colors were different in shades, and it exuded a faint salty smell.

It turned out to be a blood book! After Lu Wenhuan finished reading Zhenjin's blood book, to be precise, it was a letter of persuasion written in blood, and his mood could not be calm for a long time.This outstanding general of the Song Army who was born in Shouxian County, Anhui Province in the 19th year of Emperor Ningzong of Song Dynasty (1220), has defended the city for five years without any foreign aid. Now he suddenly feels tired. The future is also full of confusion. He once hoped that the imperial court would send reinforcements to relieve the siege of Xiangyang, but as time passed, every minute and every second, his hope gradually turned into disappointment, and finally only despair remained.If at the beginning of the Yuan army's siege, he still had good reasons to believe that the long-term attack of the Yuan army on Xiangyang was due to the common hatred of the army and the people of Xiangyang and the correct planning of his commander, then now he finds that things are not as he imagined. as simple as that.Of course, the Yuan army also wanted to take Xiangyang as soon as possible and conquer the Song Dynasty in one fell swoop, but if they couldn't do it, they might as well take advantage of the siege of Xiangyang to consume the Song army's vitality to the maximum extent.

This is an obvious two-move game. The problem is that no matter which one of these two moves is taken, the Yuan army will be the final winner.And the instigator who laid out these two moves that only win but not lose is Liu Zheng, who knows the Song Army's military system and deployment of troops well. Lu Wenhuan was well aware of Liu Zheng's outstanding talent, and he also knew that Liu Zheng's final rebellion against Song and Yuan had a lot to do with his elder brother Lu Wende's jealousy.Although he is a brother, Lu Wenhuan has always been contemptuous of his elder brother's actions.He felt very sorry for Song Ting. Emperor Song didn't know how to use handsome talents like Liu Zheng, but instead hired Jia Sidao, Li Tingzhi, and Lu Wende.Yingzhou and Xiangyang are close at hand, and Li Tingzhi supervises and assists Xiangyang, and loses again and again.Veteran Xia Gui was born in the army, he went to Huai'an to appease the ambassador and also knew about Luzhou. He held the heavy soldiers of the Song Dynasty but only knew how to protect himself. "Grand Master Cricket" Jia Sidao cultivates cronies in the ruling and opposition parties, eliminates dissidents, and abuses power without authority.Chen Yizhong, Jia Yuqing, Li Tingzhi, Lu Wende and other important ministers under the Zhongshu School have attached themselves to Jia Sidao and worked as minions for the tiger; Repeatedly excluded.

In fact, his loyalty and confidence are being drained by Da Song's current situation little by little. How could he not know that Xiangyang City is now besieged by the Yuan army, and has no strength to struggle. In addition to the loss of war, the poverty of the people and the exhaustion of the soldiers, Xiangyang is like a tiger trapped in an iron cage with bruises all over its body. There is no other way out than the dying struggle. What should he do? If he insists on going his own way, the people of Xiangyang will pay a heavier price for his going his own way. He is not afraid of death.Long before Xiangyang suffered more severe shelling, Liu Zheng personally went to the city to persuade him to surrender, and he replied that Liu Zheng was all arrows.He saw that Liu Zheng was hit by an arrow, but Liu Zheng's words hit him deeper than the arrow hit by Liu Zheng: "The overall situation is settled, why should the general stick to a little loyalty and make the innocent people of Xiangyang suffer? I advise you The general complied with God's will and offered the city to come down. If not, he should go out of the city and fight me decisively, so as not to disgrace the reputation of a warrior. Is it an act of a brave man to hide in the city like a general?"

This is Liu Zheng.This is him Lu Wenhuan. Liu Zheng threw the arrow on the ground, covered his wound and still shouted to him: "The general has ruled me with a lonely city for several years, and now the bird is flying away. My Emperor Dayuan loves the general for his outstanding intelligence, loyalty and trustworthiness, and a special edict: If you come to surrender , the lives of the general and the people in the city must be preserved, and the general and his subordinates will all be promoted to rank. Please, general, take into account the will of God above and respond to the will of the people below, and make a quick decision."

He ignored it. At the time of Maochen, the Yuan army launched a general attack on Fancheng.The defenders of Fancheng resisted with a weak force, and gradually became invincible. The outskirts of Fancheng and Furencheng were all captured by the Yuan army.Fancheng was captured by Liu Zheng, a general of the Yuan army, and Fan Tianshun, a general of the Song Dynasty, was defeated and died by hanging himself in the defending place.Niu Fu led hundreds of dead soldiers to fight in the streets, and burned down the streets when they encountered houses.The Yuan army was also very tenacious and pressed on every step of the way. Niu Fu was seriously injured and died by jumping into the fire.The beneficiary general Wang Fu also died, and Fancheng fell.Now that Fancheng has fallen, Xiangyang has no chance of regeneration.

So far, what I have paid for my indifference are the ruined walls and the bloody corpses.When Lu Wenhuan was walking amid endless groans and curses, he felt for the first time that he was stupid. Is this really what he wants to see and get?It turns out that belief can be dismembered like a human body, and once the belief is dismembered, all that remains is endless regret. What should he do?What on earth should he do? Lu Wenhuan's gaze landed on the jug hesitantly.Is that a blood bar?As stated in the letter.The man who wrote the letter is willing to pay his own blood for his final decision.

The messenger took the golden cup next to the wine jug, poured a glass of blood wine, and drank it down. Lu Wenhuan waved his hand feebly: "Go back first, let me think about it before replying." The envoy put down the tray, gave a deep respectful salute, and exited the meeting hall.Lu Wenhuan slumped in the commander's seat for a long time, and ordered the public to come and see him. In the early morning of the third day, white flags were planted all over Xiangyang City, the gates of the city were opened wide, and Lu Wenhuan came out in white clothes.Zhen Jin personally went to the city gate to welcome Lu Wenhuan, and put the velvet cloak bestowed by his father Khan on Lu Wenhuan's body. Liu Zheng, A Shu and An Tong all came to meet Lu Wenhuan.When Lu Wenhuan saw that Liu Zheng's shoulder was still wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage, he suddenly felt very sorry. "I'm sorry, General Liu, I offended Lu." "It's okay, it's okay! What can this little injury do to me? What's important is that the general and I have gone through life and death fights and finally came to the same goal by different routes and walked together." "Lu Mou is ashamed!" "If the general is still worried about it, why don't you punish yourself with three cups later, no, three bowls, I prepared all the bowls for the general." Liu Zheng said, laughing heartily, his laughter seemed to have The special appeal swept away the long-standing melancholy in Lu Wenhuan's heart. He took a deep look back at Xiangyang City, which faced him silently.It's over, everything is over, together with the predictable fate of the Song court. A ragged Captain Song walked up to Zhen Jin and Lu Wenhuan holding a sandalwood tray in both hands. The wine jug and the gold cup were still on the tray, but the wine in the jug was empty. "Your Highness, let me tell you: This morning, the guilty minister just drank the last drop of wine." Lu Wenhuan said slowly and with a double meaning. Zhen Jin smiled: "Yes. Drink with the general, the wine is really sweet." So far, the battle of Xiangyang, which lasted five years, finally cleared up, and the door to the south of the Yangtze River was opened.The gentle breeze of the river sounded the prelude to the subjugation of the Song court, which is located in the south of the Yangtze River.